bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Réussir les transitions en s’inspirant de pratiques traditionnelles, un paradoxe ? Entre idéalisation et pragmatisme, la fluctuation
Authors: Brun Jean-Louis
Published: April 2024

Les transitions qui sont les enjeux actuels de civilisation appellent une évolution de notre rapport au monde. Nous avons étudié, par l'observation participante et la description dense, l'évolution du rapport au monde dans deux pratiques fondées sur des textes : le Karatédo et la franc-maçonnerie. Une homologie est montrée entre le dispositif pédagogique de ces pratiques et l'auto-organisation des systèmes vivants. Dans les deux cas, entre un texte-mémoire que l'on pourrait croire déterministe et une interaction cohérente, adaptative et évolutive avec l'environnement, une médiation relevant d'un "ordre par fluctuations", procédant à la fois de déterminisme et de créativité, se révèle comme facteur simultané de stabilité et d’évolution. Ce phénomène pourrait être inspirant pour la réussite des transitions : une pédagogie fondée sur ces principes pourrait favoriser l'adoption d'un nouveau rapport au monde et stimuler une inventivité porteuse de solutions innovantes pour l'avenir.
Médiatisation et métamorphose dans la culture musicale. Des jams de jazz aux jams de black music à Buenos Aires
Authors: Vargas Emiliano
Published: April 2024

L'article décrit les caractéristiques du processus de métamorphose de l'identité de la jam session en tant que forme de vie dans la sémiosphère en se basant sur l'étude d'un circuit de jam de black music situé dans la ville de Buenos Aires. L'article rend compte des changements dans la dynamique de la médiatization dus à la transition numérique et de certaines de ses conséquences au niveau culturel. L'hypothèse suggère que les possibilités d'interaction offertes par la transition numérique affectent les affordances musicales qui constituent le type de performance des formes de vie étudiées. L'analyse se déroule en deux phases. Dans un premier temps, elle aborde la médiatisation des playlists numériques et leurs effets sur le type de performances proposées par les jams sessions étudiées. Le second moment analyse les transformations médiatiques des profils Instagram pendant la pandémie dans une perspective synchronique.
Des Dieux aux hommes et de la Terre à Gaïa. Transitions dans les mythes et dans certains discours contemporains : éléments pour une caractérisation sémiotique de la transition
Authors: Guillén Santiago
Published: April 2024

Cet article étudie la notion de transition en relation aux concepts de devenir (Zilberberg et Fontanille), de parcours/passage (Basso Fossali) et de concept (Bergson). Après une lecture critique de la littérature existante, nous définissons les phénomènes de transition sur les plans figuratif, narratif, énonciatif, axiologique et praxéologique. Nous étudions ensuite un ensemble de textes mythiques puis de discours contemporains sur la transition écologique dans le but de mieux comprendre la tension inhérente aux institutions symboliques entre l’être et le devenir, le transitif et l’intransitif, l’abstraction fixiste de l’être et du concept dans le logos, et la réalité du devenir donnée à voir par le mythe. Notre article est guidé par la problématique suivante : en quoi l’étude de la transition dans les textes mythiques peut-elle nous permettre d’avancer sur certaines problématiques sémiotiques actuelles et nous aider à mieux analyser les discours contemporains sur la transition et en relation à la crise environnementale ?
La Grande Réinitialisation : projet, symptôme ou promesse ? La transition comme une arme de guérilla sémiotique
Authors: Haboyan Razmik
Published: April 2024

La grande réinitialisation est une des formules les plus discutées sur internet depuis l’avènement de la Covid-19. C’est le nom de la cinquantième réunion annuelle du Forum Économique Mondial mais c’est également le titre d’un ouvrage-manifeste rédigé par le fondateur du Forum Klaus Schwab et par l’économiste Thierry Malleret, traduit et diffusé en plusieurs langues. C’est en outre le nom d’un grand projet de transformation in progress, qui trouve un espace de déploiement sur le site de l’organisation, dont la dernière série des conférences portait sur l’impératif d’élaborer un nouveau Great Narrative. Au-delà des enjeux politiques et économiques ambitieux et des critiques excessives et démesurées dont cette expression est la cible, par cet article, nous proposons une lecture sémiotique de cette formule médiatique, à la fois pluridiscursive, stratifiée et intégrant plusieurs supports, déclinée en plusieurs objets, portée par un éthos protéiforme générant une polyphonie objectale, et dont la notion de transition s’avère être l’une des clés interprétatives indispensables à sa description.
Religiosité d’intonation et régimes conversationnels au cinéma. Sokourov et ses dialogues avec Soljénitsine
Authors: Ghazaryan Madlena
Published: April 2024

Le sujet de cet article est l’étude de l’intonation religieuse dans des conversations attestées dans le cinéma documentaire, intonation qui émerge toujours à partir d’une transition fragile entre régimes de communication poussés au-delà de l’intimité. Dans certaines attestations cinématographiques, la tension entre intimité et universalisation des valeurs peut apporter un pli religieux au discours, et ce pli peut se voir renforcé par l’énonciation filmique. Le cas d’étude analysé, à savoir le film documentaire d’Alexandre Sokourov Le Nœud. Dialogues avec Soljénitsine, tourné en 1998 pour le studio Nadezhda (Saint-Pétersbourg), démontre que certains films documentaires focalisés sur l’attestation d’une rencontre peuvent échapper à la définition d’une simple interview et se rapprocher d’une conversation intime, imprégnée d’une intonation religieuse. Notre recherche s’inscrit dans la quête de ce qu’on appellera une « intonation religieuse » de la conversation, se situant ainsi au croisement de la sémiotique visuelle et la linguistique interactionnelle.
Monoclonal Antibody and Blood Plasma ABO Blood Group Based Therapy Against COVID-19
Authors:   Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian, China, Yirga Shimuye Kalayu , Lin Minhui ,   Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian, China, Hu Jianda ,   Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian, China
Published: April 2024

In new decade new coronavirus emerged. By August 2020, there is no accepted antiviral drug or antibody against COVID-19. COVID-19 (SARSCoV- 2) has nucleic acid sequence similarity 96% with bat coronavirus, 79.6% SARS-CoV-1. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 have common human hostcell ACE2 receptor. This similarity helps for effective vaccine and antibody development. At Wuhan, China, convalescent plasma therapy achieved 70% recovery results. ABO blood group susceptibility study revealed O blood group were very low risk whereas A were at high risk against COVID-19. ABO natural antibodies have positive effect to slowdown COVID-19 in less hygienic environment (less developed) regions. Isolation of specific antibody from EBV transformed B-lymphocyte recovered patients is encouraged. Production of potent neutralizing antibody and vaccine is required. We identified the sensitive immunogenic amino acid segment (318-510) in S1-protein domain that contains important and essential amino acids including cysteine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, which associated with ACE2 expression.
Recurrent Hypoglycemia: Endoscopic Ultrasound to the Rescue
Authors:   Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, SA Anikhindi , AA Anikhindi ,   Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, P Anikhindi ,   Department of Pathology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, S Badwal ,   Department of Pathology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, E Belho ,   Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, N Mehta ,   Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, A Kumar ,   Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India, A Arora ,   Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi, India
Published: April 2024

Insulinoma is a rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with an incidence of 4 per million. Ectopic insulinomas are even rarer and comprise 1-2% of these cases. In cases which have established endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, a high-index of suspicion must be maintained since conventional tests like Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may miss these tumors. Endoscopic ultrasound can be utilised in localisation as it is more sensitive and specific compared to CT or MRI with an added applicability in obtaining a biopsy. However, operator skill and experience play a crucial role in identifying extra-pancreatic insulinomas.
Role of Aflatoxin B1 as A Risk for Primary Liver Cancer in India
Authors:   DrNB Resident Gastroenterology, Max Superspeciality Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad, India, Khanna Deepanshu , Kar Premashis ,   HOD, Department of Gastroenterology, Max Superspeciality Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad, India
Published: April 2024

The most well-known primary liver cancer in the world is Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Its prevalence is alarmingly increasing and has drawn public attention on a global scale. With regard to regional variation, racial differences, and socioeconomic level, it occurs more frequently in underdeveloped countries than in industrialised ones. Aflatoxin use is one of the main risk factors for HCC. Aflatoxin B1, a genotoxic hepatocarcinogen, is thought to induce cancer by causing DNA adducts in target liver cells that result in genetic alterations. HCC may result from a mutational impact caused by DNA adducts at the codon 249 hotspot in exon 7 of the P53 tumour suppressor gene, which interacts with the guanine bases of liver cell DNA. Aflatoxin-contaminated food affects about 4.5 billion people worldwide, mostly in developing nations with poor incomes. Treatment of crops that are prone to fungal contamination, proper food handling techniques, and the use of chemopreventive intervention are all part of prevention. Additionally, in order to maintain efficient food regulation systems and reduce the risk of aflatoxins contaminating food, a networked collaboration of several sectors, including public health, agricultural departments, and the media, is needed.
Concepts to Consider When Choosing an Assay to Predict Potentially Fertile Sperm
Authors:   Androlab Inc, Chicago, IL, USA, RS Jeyendran
Published: April 2024

The primary goal of semen analysis is to determine whether or not an ejaculate has a sufficient number of potentially fertile sperm to achieve the desired outcome of conception. Given the significant advancements in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in developed countries where IVF and ICSI are widely available to address male-factor fertility concerns, then what is the remaining utility of semen analysis? For many physicians and patients, assays to evaluate the fertilization potential of semen continue to be essential as a gateway to specialists who can perform the aforementioned ART procedures. Most initial semen analysis requests are from gynecologists, general practitioners, family practitioners, and urologists who wish to advise their patients regarding their fertility status. If male-factor infertility is detected, only then can these physicians refer patients to reproductive endocrinologists, often due to insurance considerations. Infertility is also a global concern, and many doctors and patients worldwide do not have access to the advanced technologies that are available in wealthy, developed nations. For these patients, knowing the fertility status of the man is necessary in order to overcome infertility.
Unnatural Thiamine Radical Enzymes for Photobiocatalytic Asymmetric Alkylation of Benzaldehydes and a-Ketoacids
Authors: Yang Yang , Liu Xin , Xu Sheng , Chen Heyu
Published: April 2024

Despite substantial progress made toward elucidating the elegant natural radical enzymology with thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)-dependent pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductases (PFORs) and pyruvate oxidases (POXs), repurposing naturally occurring two electron TPP-dependent enzymes to catalyze single-electron transformations with significant synthetic value remains a daunting task. Enabled by the synergistic use of visible-light photocatalyst fluorescein and a set of engineered TPP-dependent enzymes derived from benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD) and benzaldehyde lyase (BAL), we developed an asymmetric photobiocatalytic decarboxylative alkylation of benzaldehydes and a-keto acids to produce highly enantioenriched a-branched ketones. Mechanistically, this dual catalytic radical alkylation involves single-electron oxidation of the enzyme-bound Breslow intermediate and subsequent interception of the photoredox-generated transient alkyl radical. In conjunction with visible light photoredox catalysis, thiamine radical biocatalysis represents a new platform to discover and optimize new asymmetric radical transformations which are unknown to biological systems and not amenable to small-molecule catalysis.
Deciphering the Atomic Size Factor in the TiNiSi type Zintl phase CaAg0.5Al0.5Ge
Authors: Ponou Simeon
Published: April 2024

The electron precise Zintl phase CaAg0.5Al0.5Ge (≡ Ca2AgAlGe2) was rationally obtained using the pseudo-element concept whereby the divalent Mg position in the prototype CaMgGe (8 ve/f.u) is completely replaced by an equiatomic mixture of monovalent Ag and trivalent Al atoms, while the TiNiSi type structure is retained. According to the Zintl-Klemm concept, formal valence electron transfer from the active metal Ca to the polyanionic AgAlGe2 sublattice is assumed, indicating a charge balance phase showing no significant phase width despite randomized Ag/Al mixing. However, the calculated band structure obtained based on first principles DFT method (LMTO code) and the chemical bonding analysis with the help of crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) and electron localisation function (ELF) could confirmed that, due to the difference in atomic size between Ag and Al, the Al–Ge chemical bond is essentially covalent, in contrast to the rather polar Ag–Ge bond. These indicate the ionic formulation for Ca2AgAlGe2 to be (Ca2+)2Ag+(4b-Al–)(2b-Ge2–)2, since the bond-ing electron pairs are shared between Al and Ge, while Ag+ is essentially cationic. This is also in agreement with an elec-tron localization function (ELF) topology analysis, revealing monosynaptic valence basins on Ge atoms (lone pairs) and only on the Ge–Al bonds (two-center, two-electron bond). Hence, due to relatively similar atomic size between Al and Ge, an accumulation of charge density on the AlGe4 tetrahedra is observed leading to strong Pauli repulsion, while Ag–Ge bonds are depleted. These findings are interesting regarding the influence of the geometric factor on the stability and physical properties of the TiNiSi type structural family in general.
Bonding-Directed Crystallization of Ultra-Long One-Dimensional NbS3 van der Waals Nanowires
Authors: Lopez Diana , Zhou Yinong , Cordova Dmitri , Milligan Griffin , Ogura Kaleolani , Wu Ruqian , Arguilla Maxx
Published: April 2024

The rediscovery of one-dimensional (1D) and quasi-1D (q-1D) van der Waals (vdW) crystals ushered the realization of nascent physical properties in 1D that are suitable for applications including photonics, electronics, and sensing. However, despite renewed interest in the creation and understanding of the physical properties of 1D and q-1D vdW crystals, the lack of accessible synthetic pathways for growing well-defined nanostructures that extend across several length scales remains. Using the highly anisotropic 1D vdW NbS3-I crystal as a model phase, we present a catalyst-free and bottom-up synthetic approach to access ultra-long nanowires, with lengths reaching up to 7.9 mm and with uniform thicknesses ranging from 13 to 190 nm between individual nanowires. Control over the synthetic parameters enabled the modulation of intra- and inter-chain growth modalities to selectively yield 1D nanowires or quasi-2D nanoribbons. Comparative synthetic and density functional theory (DFT) studies with a closely related non-dimerized phase, ZrS3, show that the unusual preferential growth along 1D can be correlated to the strongly anisotropic bonding and dimeric nature of NbS3 Type-I. These results, owing to the ubiquity of dimerization in Peierls-distorted 1D crystals, will open opportunities to grow ultra-long nanowires for high-fidelity optical and electronic devices approaching the sub-nanoscale regime.
Effectiveness and safety of biological therapy in patients with severe asthma in a real clinical practice
Authors: Sergeeva Galina R. , Emelyanov Alexander V.
Published: April 2024

Aim. To assess effectiveness and safety of biological therapy in patients with severe asthma during 5 yr follow-up.
Materials and methods. We recruited 129 adult outpatients (29% males) aged 18–81 yrs with severe asthma were followed up during 5 yrs and were examined for every 3–6 months. Eighty five patients were treated by conventional therapy (ICS/LABA ± tiotropium, montelukast, OCS) only and 44 pts additionally received biologicals (оmalizumab – 9 pts, мepolizumab – 8 pts, benralizumab – 11 pts, dupilumab – 16 pts). Pulmonary function tests were measured by dry spirometer (2120, Vitalograph Ltd., UK). Eosinophil count in blood was assessed by automatic haemoanalyser. Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide was measured by a chemiluminescence analyzer (LR4100; Logan Research, UK). Asthma control and quality of life were assessed by using Russian versions of ACQ-5 and SGRQ.
Results. The use of biologicals led to a more significant reduction of exacerbations and OCS use, improvement of lung function, asthma control and quality of life, decrease of eosinophil and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide than conventional therapy of severe asthma (p0.05). Systemic side effects were not registered, frequency of local adverse reactions (edema, hyperemia and itching at injection site) was 14%.
Conclusion. Long-term use of biologicals added to conventional therapy in patients with severe asthma is characterized by high effectiveness and favorable safety profile.
Differences in the elastic work of breathing of the pulmonary parenchyma in patients with bronchial asthma and COPD
Authors: Tetenev Konstantin F. , Bodrova Tamara N. , Bespalova Inna D. , Teteneva Anna V.
Published: April 2024

Aim. To determine and compare the work of breathing to overcome elastic resistance (Ael) in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with similar changes in the elastic properties of the parenchyma in the same settings of ventilation disorders (grade 1).
Materials and methods. Differences in the manifestations of similar changes in the elastic properties of the lungs in patients with BA and COPD were evaluated. To identify differences, a comparative study was conducted on Аel overcome in BA patients with positive bronchodilator (with salbutamol) and bronchoconstrictor (with methacholine) tests, with reduced and preserved bronchial conductance (groups 1 and 2, respectively), and in COPD patients with negative bronchodilator and bronchoconstrictor tests (group 3). All study patients showed a grade 1 lung ventilation disorder (a decrease in the one-second forced expiratory volume by 15–35%). The results were compared with each other and with the control group (group 4, healthy non-smokers). All study patients were comparable by age and sex. The respiration mechanics was studied using simultaneous registration of spirogram and transpulmonary pressure, and the parameters of bronchial conductance and ventilation were determined using body plethysmopressography using the Jager software and hardware system.
Results and conclusion. In COPD patients, Ael was significantly increased (p0.05), whereas in both BA groups, it was unchanged. Increased elastic work of breathing in patients with COPD may be associated with the involvement of certain types of contractile elements, which are preserved in patients with BA at the initial stages of the disease.
Pulmonary fibrosis after a new coronavirus infection – versions and controversies: A review
Authors: Shchepikhin Evgeny I. , Shmelev Evgene I. , Ergeshov Atadzhan E.
Published: April 2024

Fibrosis is a dynamic process characterized by a typical cascade of events as a result of overexpressed repair of connective tissue in response to injury, and manifested by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. The development of fibrosis is a determining factor in the pathogenesis, clinical course and prognosis of many diseases, among which interstitial lung diseases occupy a special place. According to a large Russian registry (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04492384), in a third of patients with COVID-19, the volume of lung parenchyma involvement exceeds 50% (CT 3-4). The rapid growth in the number of patients who have had a coronavirus infection with lung damage has raised the issues of its long-term consequences to the number of the most relevant in internal medicine of the current time. Often, in the outcome of a coronavirus infection, patients retain clinical and functional changes that are similar to interstitial lung diseases of a different origin, the prognosis of which is determined by the development of interstitial fibrosis and the rate of its progression. This article is an attempt to consider topical issues of fibrogenesis in patients who have undergone a new coronavirus infection through the prism of polar data on immunobiology, clinical course and prognosis.
Prevention and treatment of COVID-19 based on post-genomic pharmacological analysis: Systematic computer analysis of 290,000 scientific articles on COVID-19
Authors: Torshin Ivan Yu. , Gromova Olga A. , Chuchalin Alexander G.
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted pressing challenges in biomedical research methodology. It has become obvious that the rapid and effective development of treatments for “new” viral infections is impossible without the coordination of interdisciplinary research and in-depth analysis of data obtained within the framework of the post-genomic paradigm. Presents the results of a systematic computer analysis of 290,000 scientific articles on COVID-19, with an emphasis on the results of post-genomic studies of SARS-CoV-2. The futility of the overly simplified approach, which considers only one “most important receptor protein”, only one “key virus gene”, etc., is shown. It is shown how post-genomic technologies will make it possible to find informative biomarkers of severe coronavirus infection, including those based on complex immune disorders associated with COVID-19.
The role of spectral analysis of cough sounds in the diagnosis of COVID-19
Authors: Budnevsky Andrey V. , Ovsyannikov Evgeny S. , Avdeev Sergey N. , Choporov Oleg N. , Feigelman Sofya N. , Maksimov Alexey V.
Published: April 2024

Aim. To evaluate the possibility of using spectral analysis of cough sounds in the diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection COVID-19.
Materials and methods. Spectral toussophonobarography was performed in 218 patients with COVID-19 [48.56% men, 51.44% women, average age 40.2 (32.4; 51.0)], in 60 healthy individuals [50% men, 50% women, average age 41.7 (32.2; 53.0)] with induced cough (by inhalation of citric acid solution at a concentration of 20 g/l through a nebulizer). The recording was made using a contact microphone located on a special tripod at a distance of 15–20 cm from the face of the subject. The resulting recordings were processed in a computer program, after which spectral analysis of cough sounds was performed using Fourier transform algorithms. The following parameters of cough sounds were evaluated: the duration of the cough act (ms), the ratio of the energy of low frequencies (60–600 Hz) to the energy of high frequencies (600–6000 Hz), the frequency of the maximum energy of the cough sound (Hz).
Results. After statistical processing, it was found out that the parameters of the cough sound of COVID-19 patients differ from the cough of healthy individuals. The obtained data were substituted into the developed regression equation. Rounded to integers, the resulting number had the following interpretation: "0" – there is no COVID-19, "1" – there is COVID-19.
Conclusion. The technique showed high levels of sensitivity and specificity. In addition, the method is characterized by sufficient ease of use and does not require expensive equipment, therefore it can be used in practice for timely diagnosis of COVID-19.
Clinical and morphological features of lung injury long-term after SARS-CoV-2 recovery
Authors: Baimakanova Gulsara E. , Samsonova Maria , Chernyaev Andrey L. , Kontorschikov Andrey S. , Belevskiy Andrey S.
Published: April 2024

Aim. To study the clinical and histological profile of lung tissue in patients with persistent pulmonary disease, respiratory symptoms and CT findings after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Materials and methods. The study included 15 patients (7 females and 8 males) with a mean age of 57.7 years. All patients underwent laboratory tests, chest computed tomography, echocardiography, and pulmonary function tests. Pulmonary tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage samples were obtained by fibrobronchoscopy, transbronchial forceps (2 patients), and lung cryobiopsy (11 patients); open biopsy was performed in 2 patients. Cellular composition, herpesvirus DNA, SARS-CoV-2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, galactomannan optical density index, and bacterial and fungal microflora growth were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage. SARS-CoV-2 was also identified in samples from the nasal mucosa, throat and feces using a polymerase chain reaction.
Results. The results showed no true pulmonary fibrosis in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection with persistent respiratory symptoms, functional impairment, and CT findings after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The observed changes comply with the current and/or resolving infection and inflammatory process.
Conclusion. Thus, no true pulmonary fibrosis was found in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection with persistent respiratory symptoms, functional impairment, and CT findings. The observed changes comply with the current and/or resolving infection and inflammatory process.
Gradient-Based Algorithms in the Brachistochrone Problem Having a Black-Box Represented Mathematical Model
Authors: Dębski Roman
Published: April 2024

Trajectory optimization problems with black-box represented objective functions are often solved with the use of some meta-heuristic algorithms. The aim of this paper is to show that gradient-based algorithms, when applied correctly, can be effective for such problems as well. One of the key aspects of successful application is choosing, in the search space, a basis appropriate for the problem. In an experiment to demonstrate this, three simple adaptations of gradient-based algorithms were executed in the forty-dimensional search space to solve the brachistochrone problem having a blackbox represented mathematical model. This experiment was repeated for two different bases spanning the search space. The best of the algorithms, despite its very basic implementation, needed only about 100 iterations to find very accurate solutions. 100 iterations means about 2000 objective functional evaluations (simulations). This corresponds to about 20 iterations of a typical evolutionary algorithm, e.g. ES(µ,,,λ).
New Threats and Innovative Protection Methods in Wireless Transmission Systems
Authors: Bilski Tomasz
Published: April 2024

Many improvements in the field of wireless communication can be observed nowadays. Some developments are gradual, others are revolutionary. It is obvious that each innovation in the area may lead to new security threats and vulnerabilities. Such technologies and transmission methods as: Near Field Communication (NFC), Visible Light Communication (VLC), handover, mesh networks, 5G cellular network, mobile IPv6, beamforming, cooperative beamforming, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), transmission in Extra High Frequency (EHF) band are very important from the security point of view. In order to preserve high level of security one needs to identify, analyse and classify distinctive sets of threats and vulnerabilities as well as some emerging data protection opportunities related to innovative wireless transmission methods and technologies. This identification, analysis and classification is a main purpose of the paper. It will focus on cryptography in wireless systems, security vs. energy tradeoffs, physical layer security. For example, common problems related to cryptography may be solved with a use of physical layer security. Data confidentiality may be fulfilled with a use of beamforming and jamming, authentication may be performed with a use of out-of-band authentication model.
DVB-T Channels Measurements for the Deployment of Outdoor REM Databases
Authors: Kliks Adrian , Kryszkiewicz Paweł , Cichoń Krzysztof , Umbert Anna , Perez-Romero Jordi , Casadevall Ferran
Published: April 2024

In this paper the analysis of the spectrum occupancy in the TV band is provided based on the outdoor measurements campaigns carried out in Poznań, Poland in 2013 and 2014. The goal of this work is to discuss the stability and other important features of the observed spectrum occupancy in the context of outdoor Radio Environment Maps database deployment. Reliable deployment of these databases seems to be one of the critical points in practical utilization of the TV White Spaces for cognitive purposes inside buildings and in densely populated cities. The results obtained for outdoor scenario are briefly compared with the previous measurements conducted indoors in Barcelona, Spain, and in Poznań, Poland.
Review of Simulators for Wireless Mesh Networks
Authors: Owczarek Piotr , Zwierzykowski Piotr
Published: April 2024

The research of computer networks construction of models that reflect the current audited environment to carry out practical research is extremely dicult and often involves signicant costs. Hence, the popularity of simulation tools that help developers to determine as early as at the stage of the simulation whether a given solution can be deployed in a real network. However, over time many dierent simulation tools have been developed, each with dierent characteristics, dierent uses, dierent strengths and weaknesses. It is the task of the researcher then to select, before starting the actual research, one of the available simulators in accordance with the needs and adopted criteria of evaluation. In the article the authors present issues related to the simulation tools and the main advantages of simulation as well as their drawbacks. To help researchers select an appropriate simulation environment, the authors present statistical information gathered during a literature survey of a number of research articles from the most popular publishers in which the selected simulators were used in initial system design.
Statistical Analysis of Message Delay in SIP Proxy Server
Authors: Abaev Pavel , Razumchik Rostislav , Uglov Ivan
Published: April 2024

Single hop delay of SIP message going through SIP proxy server operating in carriers backbone network is being analyzed. Results indicate that message sojourn times inside SIP server in most cases do not exceed order of tens of milliseconds (99% of all SIP-I messages experience less than 21 ms of sojourn delay) but there were observed very large delays which can hardly be attributed to message specific processing procedures. It is observed that delays are very variable. Delay components distribution that is to identified are not exponentially distributed or nearly constant even per message type or size. The authors show that measured waiting time and minimum transit time through SIP server can be approximated by acyclic phase-type distributions but accuracy of approximation at very high values of quantiles depends on the number outliers in the data. This finding suggests that modeling of SIP server with queueing system of G|PH|c type may server as an adequate solution.
Design and Development of Miniature Dual Antenna GPS-GLONASS Receiver for Uninterrupted and Accurate Navigation
Authors: Sudhir N. S. , Manvi S. S.
Published: April 2024

Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and GPS-GLONASS receivers are commonly used for navigation. However, there are some applications where a single antenna interface to a GPS or GPS-GLONASS receiver will not suffice. For example, an airborne platform such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ( UAV ) will need multiple antennae during maneuvering. Also, some applications will need redundancy of antenna connectivity to prevent loss of positioning if a link to satellite fails. The scope of this work is to design a dual antenna GPS-GLONASS navigation receiver and implement it in a very small form-factor to serve multiple needs such as: provide redundancy when a link fails, and provide uninterrupted navigation even under maneuvering, also provide improved performance by combining data from both signal paths. Both hardware and software architectures are analyzed before implementation. A set of objectives are identified for the receiver which will serve as the benchmarks against which the receiver will be validated. Both analysis and objectives are highlighted in this paper. The results from the tests conducted on such a dual antenna GPS-GLONASS receiver have given positive results on several counts that promise a wider target audience for such a solution.
Subjective Assessment for Standard Television Sequences and Videotoms - H.264/AVC Video Coding Standard
Authors: Trzcianowski Łukasz
Published: April 2024

This paper presents comparison of videotoms and standard television sequences in terms of image distortions and perceived subjective quality affected by H.264/AVC compression with changed bit rate. Results from initial tests, performed as laboratory exercise can be a reference to show scale of diversity in both level of degradation and Mean Opinion Score (MOS) evaluation. Results and comments included in this paper give overview on the codec influence on videotoms and can suggest approach for further tests and experiments.
Performance Comparison of Four New ARIMA-ANN Prediction Models on Internet Traffic Data
Authors: Babu C. Narendra , Reddy B. Eswara
Published: April 2024

Prediction of Internet traffic time series data (TSD) is a challenging research problem, owing to the complicated nature of TSD. In literature, many hybrids of auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and artificial neural networks (ANN) models are devised for the TSD prediction. These hybrid models consider such TSD as a combination of linear and non-linear components, apply combination of ARIMA and ANN in some manner, to obtain the predictions. Out of the many available hybrid ARIMA-ANN models, this paper investigates as to which of them suits better for Internet traffic data. This suitability of hybrid ARIMAANN models is studied for both one-step ahead and multistep ahead prediction cases. For the purpose of the study, Internet traffic data is sampled at every 30 and 60 minutes. Model performances are evaluated using the mean absolute error and mean square error measurement. For one-step ahead prediction, with a forecast horizon of 10 points and for three-step prediction, with a forecast horizon of 12 points, the moving average filter based hybrid ARIMA-ANN model gave better forecast accuracy than the other compared models.
THE NEED FOR BUSINESS MODELS IN ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Authors: Mendes Hugo João de Assunção , Paiva Teresa Maria Dias de , Felgueira Teresa Maria Monteiro , Alves Catarina Afonso , Costa Adriano Azevedo
Published: April 2024

Objective: Accessible, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism has gained significant prominence, reflecting a growing global awareness of the need for inclusive and environmentally responsible travel practices. The literature gap found regarding the absence of a comprehensive business model is the main goal of this research.
 
Theoretical Framework: This study systematically compiled and evaluated the recent research studies on Accessible, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism to contribute to the evolution of business models in the broader scope of tourism and tourism services.
 
Method: A three-step process was followed to achieve this goal, comprising an initial research phase and a detailed performance analysis using various bibliometric techniques and visualisation tools, culminating in carefully selecting pertinent articles.
 
Results and Discussion: The study confirmed the scarcity of articles that address this topic, with a tendency to conceptualise entirely new business models instead of adapting existing frameworks with new value propositions making them more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable.
 
Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research provided insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of tourism. These implications could encompass all tourism areas, from hospitality to restaurant offers. It presents an important managerial clue to guarantee the tourism businesses' true inclusiveness and sustainable characteristics.
 
Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by filling a gap. The relevance and value of this research are its managerial contributions, which confirm the need to incorporate characteristics of accessibility, inclusion and sustainability into any tourism business model.
THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN GUIDING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO CREATE THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A STARTUP
Authors: Matoug Sabir Ben , Zehouani Abderrazzak , Lazhar Belkacemi Mohammed , Ziadi Sami , Belarbi Ghania , Abada Mustapha
Published: April 2024

Objective: This resvalueearch paper aims to shed light on the role of entrepreneurship education in realizing the personal and professional project of a university student within the framework of a startup. This is considering that entrepreneurial learning or (entrepreneurship education as some call it) is one of the basic courses that help the university student form a vision about future projects and professions.

 

Theoretical Framework: Entrepreneurship education is a set of formal education methods that is based on informing and training any individual who wishes to participate in social economic development, through a project aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial awareness, establishing business projects or developing small business projects.

 

Method: In order to be able to become familiar with this topic and address the problem at hand, we relied in this study on the descriptive and analytical approach, by describing entrepreneurship education, and analyzing the extent of the role that entrepreneurship education plays in guiding and assisting university students in establishing a startup project.

 

Results and Discussion: The study reached several results, the most important of which is that entrepreneurship education plays a major role in creating personal and professional projects for university students and transforming them into a startup capable of finding innovative solutions to the problems at hand. The study also found that building a university student’s personal and professional project requires many acquisitions and skills that qualify him to establish a startup enterprise, such as: teamwork and team building skills, leadership skills, effective communication skills, and problem-solving skills.

 

Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurship education in realizing the personal and professional project of a university student especially in the form of startups, which would lead to its itegration in Higher education programmes.
Editorial: How Well do the New NZ Science Management Structures Function?
Authors: Shorland Brian
Published: April 2024

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Australian and New Zealand Science - Problems for Innovation
Authors: Robinson Tony
Published: April 2024

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Accounts and Index
Authors: Editors
Published: April 2024

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A Theoretical Study on the Effectiveness of Grassroots Social Governance
Authors: Du Huanhuan
Published: April 2024

Social stability is one of the important pursuits of rulers with great priority over other aspects. From the perspective of social construction, social stability marks the stability and happiness of people’s lives, so the improvement of people’s happiness is important. Social stability is also the premise of people’s peace and contentment for harmony. Grassroots social governance is an important part of social governance that is a necessary prerequisite for maintaining social stability and promoting social development. This paper explains the necessity of improving the effectiveness of grassroots social governance, points out the shortcomings of the current system, and analyzes and discusses methods to improve its effectiveness.
Utilisation of Waste Shea Nutshell Fine-Grained Particles to Enhanced Strength and Durability Behaviour of Concrete
Authors: Zievie Patrick , Paa-kofi yalley Peter , Danso Humphrey , Antwi Kwaku
Published: April 2024

Shea nutshells possess properties that stabilise soil enough to resist water penetration. It is a waste material and incorporating it as an additive material in concrete will be a means by which it can be recycled. With this projection, the study incorporated shea nutshell particles (SSP) as fine aggregates in concrete. The aim was to determine their influence on strength and durability properties. Fine aggregates were partially replaced with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% SSP based on the weight of the aggregate, and labelled as A0, S10, S20, S30 and S40 respectively. Concrete cubes of size 150 mm and cylinders of diameter 150 mm and height of 300 mm were prepared and cured for 7, 14, 28, and 90 days. The concrete was tested for density, compressive strength, split tensile strength, water absorption, and sulphate attack. The inclusion of the SSP did not improve the compressive and split tensile strengths. However, water absorption and sulphate attack decreased with further addition. Though, strength properties did not appreciate, values at 10%, 20% and 30% additions in 28 and 90 days satisfied the 28 days minimum requirement of 25 N/mm2. Hence, the study recommends the use of SSP in concrete production up to 30%.
Experimental Investigation into Strength Properties of Ribbed Mild Steel Reinforcing Bars (RMSRBs) Produced by Local Companies in Ghana
Authors: Danso Humphrey , Sumaila Mohammed
Published: April 2024

The construction of high-rise buildings has increased the production and demand of ribbed mild steel reinforcing bars (RMSRBs) in Ghana. This study aimed at investigating the strength properties of RMSRBs manufactured in Ghana from scrap metals. Three steel-producing companies were considered for this study. A total of 90 samples of 12, 16, and 20mm diameters with lengths of 500, 50, and 20mm were used for the study. The prepared specimens were subjected to tensile strength test, chemical composition analysis, micro-hardness test, and microstructure analysis. The results indicate that the average tensile strength of between 576.00 and 768.40N/mm2 were above the minimum tensile strength of 250N/mm2 recommended by ASTM E8/E8M-16a. The carbon equivalent values (CEVs) of between 0.287 and 0.333% obtained were almost within the range of 0.3 to 0.55% recommended by ASTM A706/A706M-09b. It was also identified that the average Vickers hardness values of between 255.76 and 295.38HV were acceptable. The microstructural images showed good distribution of the pearlite and ferrite of the core. One Way ANOVA results indicated that the differences in the tensile strength values for 12mm (p-value ˂0.000) and 16mm (p-value =0.001) were statistically significant, however, the 20mm (p-value =0.138) was not statistically significant. The study, therefore, concludes that the strength properties of the 12, 16, and 20mm diameters of the RMSRBs produced by the three different companies in Ghana meet the standard requirements, and are recommended for use by contractors for the production of reinforced concrete.
Las soberanías yuxtapuestas: los piratas y los narcotraficantes en la literatura latinoamericana y su relación con el Estado
Authors: Cupic Tijana
Published: April 2024

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar las novelas latinoamericanas sobre la piratería del siglo XIX con las novelas sobre el narcotráfico del siglo XX para demostrar que los negocios del crimen organizado crean su propia soberanía yuxtapuesta a la soberanía estatal y que tanto los piratas como los narcotraficantes están en la constante renegociación de su relación con el Estado. Las novelas que se tomarán en cuenta son: del siglo XIX, El filibustero (1864), del escritor mexicano Eligio Ancona, y Los piratas en Cartagena (1886), de la escritora colombiana Soledad Acosta de Samper; del siglo XX, Contrabando (1991), del escritor mexicano Víctor Hugo Rascón Banda, y La Virgen de los Sicarios (1994), del escritor colombiano Fernando Vallejo. El trabajo se divide en dos apartados; el primer apartado trabaja la relación entre los piratas y narcotraficantes con el Estado. Se discuten las actitudes de los escritores de la época hacia el Estado y las implicaciones de los actores estatales en el negocio ilegal. El segundo apartado discute la existencia de las soberanías yuxtapuestas que se representan a través la creación del imaginario social de la piratería y del narcotráfico. Partiendo de los recursos históricos y políticos sobre la piratería y el narcotráfico, este trabajo pretende crear un ambiente interdisciplinario para discutir el crimen organizado en la literatura y su influencia política en la sociedad.
 
Palabras clave: la piratería, el narcotráfico, la soberanía, el Estado, la ambigüedad, la literatura instrumental
 
ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to compare 19th-century Latin American novels about piracy with 20th-century novels about drug trafficking in order to demonstrate that organized crime creates its own sovereignty juxtaposed with state sovereignty and that both pirates and drug traffickers are constantly renegotiating their relationship with the state. The literary corpus from the 19th century includes El filibustero (1864), by Mexican writer Eligio Ancona, and Los piratas en Cartagena (1886), by Colombian writer Soledad Acosta de Samper; from the 20th century, Contrabando (1991), by Mexican writer Víctor Hugo Rascón Banda, and La Virgen de los Sicarios (1994), by Colombian writer Fernando Vallejo. This paper is divided into two sections; the first section deals with the relationship between pirates and drug traffickers and the State. It discusses the attitudes of the writers towards the State and the implications of the State actors in the illegal business. The second section discusses the existence of juxtaposed sovereignties represented through the creation of the social imaginary of piracy and drug trafficking. Drawing on historical and political resources on piracy and drug trafficking, this paper aims to create an interdisciplinary environment to discuss organized crime in literature and its political influence on society.
 
Keywords: piracy, drug trafficking, sovereignty, State, ambiguity, instrumental literature