bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet, entrepreneurship and high-quality economic development
Authors: Cao Jingbo , Kang Chenyu
Published: January 2024

The Internet, as an important infrastructure for the development of digital economy, is crucial in the process of economic high-quality development. The annual panel data of 284 cities above prefecture level in China from 2009 to 2020 are selected as the research object, and the principal component analysis method is used to measure the indicators of high-quality development of the economy; at the same time, fixed effect, mediation effect, threshold effect and spatial Durbin model are established, and entrepreneurship is included in the research system to explore the Internet, entrepreneurship and high-quality development of the economy The relationship between the Internet, entrepreneurship and economic high-quality development. The results of the study show that: (1) overall, the Internet promotes high-quality economic development; (2) the Internet will promote high-quality economic development by inspiring entrepreneurship, and when entrepreneurship is active to a certain extent, the positive impact of the Internet on high-quality economic development will be more obvious; (3) the level of high-quality development of neighboring economies promotes each other, and the Internet of the surrounding cities has a favorable impact on the high-quality development of the city's economy. favorable impact, this city Internet will, also promote the surrounding economic high-quality development. Therefore, high-quality economic development can be promoted by accelerating the construction of new digital infrastructure, coordinating the layout of Internet infrastructure and improving the incentive mechanism for entrepreneurs.
A study of the effect of quartz-to-cristobalite transformation on SiC generation in metallurgical-grade silicon production
Authors: 田 嘉禾 , Wei Kuixian , Deng Xiaocong , Ma Wenhui
Published: January 2024

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an essential intermediate product formed during the smelting process of metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si), and its production efficiency is a key factor in determining the overall efficiency of MG-Si production. In this study, we investigated the effect of quartz-to-cristobalite transformation on SiC generation in industrial silicon production and elucidated the differences in the reaction characteristics of quartz and cristobalite when they interacted with carbonaceous reductants. The experimental results indicated that the rate of direct carbothermal reduction of cristobalite was 1.45 times that of quartz. Moreover, the indirectly formed SiC layer in the cristobalite/C diffusion couple exhibited a thickness of 920.87 µm, which was 1.55 times that in the quartz/C diffusion couple. Both the reaction thermodynamic calculations and crystal transformation theory analysis revealed that the changes in the chemical energy and crystal structure of SiO2 during the phase transformation process reduced the stability of cristobalite compared with quartz at high temperatures. Consequently, cristobalite reacted more easily with C at high temperatures to form SiC and SiO. The results of the study are highly significant for improving the reaction mechanism in the smelting process of MG-Si and enhancing the production efficiency of MG-Si.
Determination and Health Risk Assessment of Carbamate Pesticide Residues in Date Palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) Using QuEChERS Method and UHPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Morsi Rana , Ghoudi Kilani , Meetani Mohammed A.
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to investigate carbamate pesticide residues in different varieties of date palm fruits in the UAE, utilizing UHPLC-MS/MS. For sample preparation and clean-up, the efficiency and performance of different QuEChERS dispersive solid-phase extraction kits were compared. Precision and recovery were assessed at 10 𝜇g kg-1 for the three kits, revealing that Kit 2 demonstrated the best performance. The selected QuEChERS method was validated to detect 14 carbamate residues in 55 date samples. The method exhibited strong linearity with R2>0.999 and low LOD (0.01- 0.005 𝜇g kg-1) and LOQ (0.003- 0.04 𝜇g kg-1). Excellent accuracy (recovery: 88-106%) and precision (RSD: 1-11%) were observed, with negligible matrix effect (-4.98-13.26%). All samples contained at least one carbamate residue. While the majority of detected residues were below their MRLs, carbosulfan was found in 21 samples, propoxur in 2 samples, and carbofuran in 1 sample above their MRLs. To assess potential health risks for date consumers, the hazard index (HI) was calculated for carbosulfan, phenmedipham, carbaryl, propoxur, carbofuran, and methomyl. All HI values were below the safety limit of 1.0, indicating that the consumption of dates does not pose a non-carcinogenic health risk for adults and children.
Controlling edwardsiellosis caused by Edwardsiella piscicida and mitigating drug-resistant gene dissemination: Bacteriophage EPP-1, a promising antibiotic alternative
Authors: Han Ganghua , Huang Ting , Liu Xinchun , Liu Ruyin
Published: January 2024

Edwardsiella piscicida causes significant economic losses to the aquaculture industry worldwide. Phage-based biocontrol methods are experiencing a renaissance because of the spread of drug-resistant genes and bacteria resulting from the heavy use of antibiotics. Here, we showed that the novel Edwardsiella phage EPP-1 could achieve comparable efficacy to florfenicol using a zebrafish model of Edwardsiella piscicida infection and could reduce the content of the floR resistance gene in zebrafish excreta. Specifically, phage EPP-1 inhibited bacterial growth in vitro and significantly improved the zebrafish survival rate in vivo (P = 0.0035), achieving an efficacy comparable to that of florfenicol (P = 0.2304). Notably, integrating the results of 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomic sequencing, and qPCR, although the effects of phage EPP-1 converged with those of florfenicol in terms of the community composition and potential function of the zebrafish gut microbiota, it reduced the floR gene content in zebrafish excreta and aquaculture water. Overall, our study highlights the feasibility and safety of phage therapy for edwardsiellosis control, which has profound implications for the development of antibiotic alternatives to address the antibiotic crisis.
Evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal properties of copper oxide nanoparticles after combination with tissue conditioner used in complete prosthesis
Authors: Nikanjam Saeed , Yeganegi Aria , Alikhani Mohammad-Yousef , Farmany Abbas , Ghiasian Seyed Amir , Hasanzade Roghayeh
Published: January 2024

Background
Tissue conditioners are used for treating and improving the tissues supporting complete dentures. On the other hand, recent advances in nanotechnology have revolutionized various fields of science, including dentistry. Moreover, some nanoparticles exert antimicrobial properties.The present study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial properties of copper oxide nanoparticle-based tissue conditioner used in complete prostheses.
Methods
The present experimental study included 126 tissue conditioner samples with different concentrations of copper oxide nanoparticles (0%, 0.625%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20% w/w). The samples were incubated with Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans in 24-well plates for 24 hours. Then, samples from the wells were re-incubated for 24 hours, and the microorganisms were counted.
Results
The culture media containing E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa showed significantly different growth between different nanoparticle concentrations following 24 hours (P < 0.001), showing a reduction in bacterial growth with increased nanoparticle concentration. Both bacteria did not show any growth at the 20% concentration. However, C. albicans showed significant differences in growth between different nanoparticle concentrations following 48 hours (P < 0.001), showing a reduction in growth with increased nanoparticle concentration. Also, the least growth was observed at the 20% concentration.
Conclusions
In the present study, the CuO nanoparticles were made properly in the suitable sizes. Moreover, the tissue conditioners containing copper oxide nanoparticles showed acceptable antimicrobial properties against E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans.
MRI-based vertebral bone quality score as a novel bone status marker of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Yang Dan-dan , Li Yi , Tian Jiang-yu , Li Ya , Liu Jian , Liu Yun-song , Cao Xin-wen , Liu Chuan
Published: January 2024

Purpose: To evaluate the application of MRI-based L1-L4 vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score in assessing bone mineral density (BMD) for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).
Methods: We reviewed the data of AIS patients between January 2021 and October 2023 with MRI, whole-spine plain radiographs, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and general information. VBQ L1-L4 score was calculated using T1-weighted MRI. Univariate analysis was applied to present the differences between variables of patients with normal group (Z-score>-2.0) and low-BMD group (Z-score≤-2.0). The correlation between the VBQ score and QCT Z-score was analyzed with Pearson correlation test. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the independent factors related to low BMD. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to analyze the diagnostic performance of VBQ L1-L4 score in distinguishing low BMD.
Results: A total of 136 AIS patients (mean age was 14.84±2.10 years) were included, of which 41 had low BMD. The low-BMD group had a significantly higher VBQL1-L4 score than that in normal group (3.48±0.85 vs 2.62±0.62, P< 0.001). The VBQL1-L4 score was significantly negative correlated with QCT Z score (r = − 0.454, P< 0.001). On multivariate analysis, VBQL1-L4 score was independently associated with low BMD (OR: 4.134, 95% CI: 2.136–8.000, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve indicated that the diagnostic accuracy of the VBQL1-L4 score for predicting low BMD was 81%. A sensitivity of 65.9% with a specificity of 88.4% could be achieved for distinguishing low BMD by setting the VBQL1-L4 score cutoff as 3.18.
Conclusions: The novel VBQL1-L4 score was a promising tool in distinguishing low BMD in patients with AIS and could be useful as opportunistic assessment for screening and complementary evaluation to QCT before surgery.
The Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as a Near-term Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy: A Propensity Score Matching Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Weifu , Zhang Kongzhi , Chen Shiguang , Wang Xiaolong , Yu Wenchang
Published: January 2024

Objectives To investigate the value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for predicting the near-term efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods In this retrospective study, data were collected from locally advanced HCC patients treated with HAIC between January 2018 and June 2022. Patients were categorized based on their pretreatment NLRs and analyzed via propensity score matching (PSM). The primary study endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety.
Results This study included 104 patients. Using X-tile software, the optimal pretreatment NLR cutoff was 2.90, and patients were divided into a high NLR subgroup (>2.9) (n=44 patients) and a low NLR subgroup (≤2.9) (n=60 patients). Following PSM, 43 matched pairs were analyzed. Patients with a low pretreatment NLR exhibited a significantly greater ORR (69.8% vs 37.2%, P=0.002) and improved PFS (6.7 months vs 3.8 months, P=0.007) than did those with a high NLR. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that a high pretreatment NLR is an independent negative prognostic factor for ORR ([HR], 3.464; 95% CI, 1.383-8.678; P=0.008) and PFS ([HR], 1.634; 95% CI, 1.026-2.600; P=0.038). No significant differences in the incidence of adverse events (AEs) were observed between the groups.
Conclusion The pretreatment NLR is a readily obtainable and effective biomarker for predicting the near-term efficacy of HAIC in patients with locally advanced HCC.
Estimation Ion Transport Parameters in PVFM Based Solid Polymer Electrolyte using Trukhan Model
Authors: Pandey Kamlesh , Dwivedi Mrigank Mauli , Sanjay Sharda S. , Asthana Nidhi
Published: January 2024

Biosynthetic route for the synthesis of nanoparticles involving fossil extract is a modest eco-friendly process, the study focused on a relatively new class of functional materials known as polymerized ionic liquids The synthesized nanoparticles were then characterized through UV-Visible, FTIR and X-ray diffractionspectroscopy.Nanoparticles incorporated in polymers providing an exciting base for newer technology for the development of cost effective electrochemical and devices. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVAM) is one of the eco-friendly semi-crystalline polymers which has inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds, whose degree is greatly dependent on the texture of the polymer. We have fabricated a naturally plasticized nanopolymer electrolyte membrane with high ionic conductivity using nano MMT incorporated in PVAM. Randomly interwoven nano-fibrous structures are generally preferred for electrolyte systems due to their continuous structure. The use of nano-composites provided a better polymer interface as well as the high free volume size, through which molecules transport occurs in nano-composite membrane matrix. The advantage of a surface comprised of ultra-fine, continuous nano fibres naturally becomes highly porous. Nano composite membrane due to its high porosity becomes a major responsive factor to enhance the ionic conductivity. We have considered a comparative study of these fabricated nano-composites. The structural behaviour of the polymer nano-composite membrane was investigated by XRD, FTIR, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopic technique. XRD curve revealed the amorphous nature of membrane, which is favourable for the better conduction and sensing behaviour, as the conductivity-frequency plots showed the Universal power law. The asymmetric shape of the Dielectric relaxation plots given a strong evidence of low frequency dispersion and deviation from the pure Debye behaviour.
Shared regulatory function of non-genomic thyroid hormone signaling in echinoderm skeletogenesis
Authors: Taylor Elias , Heyland Andreas
Published: January 2024

Thyroid hormones are crucial regulators of metamorphosis and development in bilaterians, particularly in chordate deuterostomes. Recent evidence suggests a role for thyroid hormone signaling, principally via 3,5,3',5'-Tetraiodo-L-thyronine (T4), in the regulation of metamorphosis, programmed cell death and skeletogenesis in echinoids (sea urchins and sand dollars) and sea stars. Here we test whether TH signaling in skeletogenesis is a shared trait of Echinozoa (Echinoida and Holothouroida) and Asterozoa (Ophiourida and Asteroida). We demonstrate dramatic acceleration of skeletogenesis in three classes of echinoderms: sea urchins, sea stars, and brittle stars (echinoids, asteroids, and ophiuroids). Fluorescently labeled thyroid hormone analogues reveal thyroid hormone binding to cells proximal to regions of skeletogenesis in the gut and juvenile rudiment. Immunohistochemistry of phosphorylated MAPK in the presence and absence of TH binding inhibitors suggests that THs may act via phosphorylation of MAPK (ERK1/2) to accelerate skeletogenesis in the three echinoderm groups. Additionally, we detect thyroid hormone binding to the cell membrane and nucleus during metamorphic development in echinoderms. Together, these results indicate that TH regulation of mesenchyme cell activity via integrin-mediated MAPK signaling may be a conserved mechanism for the regulation of skeletogenesis in echinoderm development. Additionally, TH action via a nuclear thyroid hormone receptor may regulate metamorphic development. Our findings shed light on potentially ancient pathways of thyroid hormone activity in echinoids, ophiuroids, and asteroids, or on a signaling system that has been repeatedly co-opted to coordinate metamorphic development in bilaterians.
Exploring Core Themes in Nuclear Pollution Research: Insights from Ibn Khaldun’s Ecological and Economic Perspectives
Authors: Ren Huichan , Abdullah Suhaila
Published: January 2024

This study focuses on a comprehensive examination of the core themes in nuclear pollution research, utilizing Ibn Khaldun’s ecological and economic perspectives. The primary content of this study is to examine Ibn Khaldun’s ecological perspective and explore the probable consequences of nuclear pollution on ecosystems, specifically emphasizing its influence on the sustainable development of human society. Concurrently, the authors utilize Ibn Khaldun’s economic framework to examine the effects of nuclear pollution on the economic equilibrium. Subsequently, the authors extend these effects to assess their impact on the prosperity of metropolitan areas and the sustainability of civilization. Although there has been extensive research on nuclear pollution, approaching the issue from the perspective of Ibn Khaldun’s writing is indeed a novel and groundbreaking endeavor. Due to the interdisciplinary character of this study, the authors employ a bibliometric analysis method, a literature review, and a logical analysis method. The primary objective of this study is to improve understanding of the challenges posed by nuclear contamination and to promote cooperative strategies for achieving environmentally and socio-economically sustainable development.
Correlation between sentinel lymph node biopsy and non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 breast carcinoma: comparison of invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma
Authors: Cipolla Calogero , Lupo Simona , Grassi Nello , Tutino Giuseppe , Greco Martina , Eleonora D’Agati , Gebbia Vittorio , Valerio Maria Rosaria
Published: January 2024

Background: Recent studies have suggested that axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) can be avoided in women with cN0 breast cancer with 1-2 positive sentinel nodes (SLNs). However, these studies included only a few patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), so the validity of omitting ALDN in these patients remains controversial. This study compared the frequency of non-sentinel lymph nodes (non-SLNs) metastases in ILC and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).
Materials Methods: Data relating to a total of 2583 patients with infiltrating breast carcinoma operated at our institution between 2012 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed: 2242 (86.8%) with IDC and 341 (13.2%) with ILC. We compared the incidence of metastasis to SLNs and non-SLNs between the ILC and IDC cohorts and examined factors that influenced non-SLNs metastasis.
Results: SLN biopsies were performed in 315 patients with ILC and 2018 patients with IDC. Metastases to the SLNs were found in 78/315 (24.8%) patients with ILC and in 460 (22.8%) patients with IDC (p= 0.31). The incidence of metastases to non-SLNs was significantly higher (p = 0.02) in ILC (52/78 - 66.7%) compared to IDC (207/460 - 45%). Multivariate analysis showed that ILC was the most influential predictive factor in predicting the presence of metastasis to non-SLNs.
Conclusions: ILC cases have more non-SLNs metastases than IDC cases in SLN-positive patients. The ILC is essential for predicting non-SLN positivity in macro-metastases in the SLN. The option of omitting ALND in patients with ILC with 1-2 positive SLNs still requires further investigation.
Impact of the serum creatinine and cystatin C ratio for prediction of sarcopenia and prognosis in biliary tract cancer
Authors: Fukushima Ryosuke , Harimoto Norifumi , Okuyama Takayuki , Seki Takaomi , Hoshino Kouki , Hagiwara Kei , Kawai Shunsuke , Ishii Norihiro , Tsukagoshi Mariko , Igarashi Takamichi , Araki Kenichiro , Shirabe Ken
Published: January 2024

Background
Sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor in cancer patients. In recent years, there have been reports that serum creatinine and cystatin C (Cr/CysC) ratio is associated with sarcopenia. However, the prognostic value of the Cr/CysC ratio in biliary tract cancer is unclear. We evaluated the impact of the Cr/CysC ratio on sarcopenia and prognosis in biliary tract cancer.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 190 patients with biliary tract cancer who had undergone surgical resection from January 2017 to March 2023. Frozen serum samples collected at the time of surgery were used to measure CysC. We calculated the Cr/CysC ratio and investigated the relationship with sarcopenia and the prognostic significance.
Results
Serum Cr/CysC ratio was statistically related to both skeletal muscle index and handgrip strength, both of which are diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia (skeletal muscle index: R2 = 0.096, p < 0.001, handgrip strength: R2 = 0.20, p < 0.001). The optimal cutoff value of the Cr/CysC ratio for sarcopenia was 0.848. The low Cr/CysC ratio group was significantly associated with higher preoperative CRP and lower albumin, lower skeletal muscle index, lower handgrip strength, and higher intramuscular adipose tissue content. In multivariate analysis, patients with a low Cr/CysC ratio showed poorer overall survival (hazard ratio 2.60, 95% confidence interval 1.07–6.29, p = 0.033), which was significantly worse than in those with a high Cr/CysC ratio.
Conclusions
The Cr/CysC ratio could be used as a marker to evaluate sarcopenia in patients with biliary tract cancer. Moreover, a low Cr/CysC ratio predicts poor prognosis in biliary tract cancer patients.
Point cloud simplification algorithm based on voxel convex hull
Authors: Zhang Haiquan , Luo Yong
Published: January 2024

In order to solve the problem that the speed of feature-based point cloud simplification methods is slow, a point cloud simplification method based on voxel convex hull is proposed in this paper, which avoids the calculation of a large number of features and has good simplification effect. In this method, point cloud is quickly voxelized, and then the voxels are divided into two types according to the number of points in each voxel: less-point voxel and more-point voxel. Less-point voxels are simplified directly using uniform sampling method. More-point voxels are simplified by using the voxel convex hull method. The convex hull volume and directed projection area of points within each more-point voxel are calculated as voxels’ feature values, and then the point cloud are divided into groups according to the feature values and points in different groups are simplified separately. Finally, the simplified point cloud is obtained by fusing the simplification results of less-point voxels and more-point voxels. The reduction ratio of point cloud is controllable and the parameters are easy to be set in this method. Experiments show that the simplification time of this method is more than 50% lower than that of the simplification method based on curvature and clustering. The retention of point cloud features of this method is obviously higher than that of traditional methods such as uniform sampling method, and the average curvature is improved by about 10%. Moreover, the reduction ratio of this method is controllable, and the parameters are flexible and easy to be set.
Assessing Nurses’ Professional Competency in a Tertiary Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study in Palestine
Authors: zaitoun Rasha abu
Published: January 2024

Background: Within the dynamic realm of healthcare, evaluating nurse professional competence is critical for ensuring high-quality patient care and advocating for continuous improvement in nursing education and practice. This study aims to evaluate the professional competence of nurses in a West Bank tertiary hospital using the Nurse Professional Competence (NPC) Scale and to identify associated factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was used, and206 nurses participated in the study. The NPC scale, consisting of eight competency domains and 88 items, was utilized for self-reported competence assessment. Demographic and work-related data were collected and analyzed for correlations.
Results: The mean professional competence level was 79%, with variations across competency domains. A positive association was found between the number of workshops and competence levels in multiple domains. However, no significant differences were observed based on demographic and work environmental environment factors.
Conclusion: This study contributes valuable insights into the multifaceted dynamics influencing nursing competence. Thisstudyhighlights the significance of ongoing education, targeted training, and support systems to ensure nurses' continuous professional development and the delivery of optimal patient care.
Implications: This research informs curriculum enhancements in nursing education and proposes strategies to increase the quality of patient care.
Circ_0001756, a novel biomarker, promotes breast cancer progression via miR-584-5p/TRAF6 signaling axis
Authors: Wu Jun-ying , Wu Xi-xi , Shi Li-yan , Wang Ling-xia , Wang Zhuo , Cao Ying , Shao Xue-jun , Wang Bo , Yang Huan
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) appear to exert critical functions in breast cancer (BC). The objective of this study is to explore the usefulness of circRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of BC.
Methods
The Gene Expression Omnibus database was referenced to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in BC. We found that circ_0001756 was associated with the malignant potential of BC. Also, the expression levels of circ_0001756 in BC tissues and cell lines were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The functions of circ_0001756 were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The luciferase reporter and rescue assays were used to clarify the molecular mechanisms of circ_0001756. Additionally, the clinical value of circ_0001756 as a serum biomarker and potential correlations with the clinicopathological characteristics of BC patients were investigated.
Results
Circ_0001756 expression was upregulated in BC tissues and substantially correlated with tumor size and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. Knockdown of circ_0001756 markedly inhibited the malignant potential of BC both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0001756 acted as a miR-584-5p sponge to regulate TRAF6 in BC cells. Serum levels of circ_0001756 were significantly higher in pre-operative BC patients than in healthy controls, fibroadenoma patients, and post-operative BC patients. Also, serum circ_0001756 was remarkably correlated with tumor size, patient age, metastasis state, and TNM stage. The combination of the traditional tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 15 − 3 with circ_0001756 significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy of BC.
Conclusion
Circ_0001756 promotes the malignancy of BC through the miR-584-5p/TRAF6 signaling axis. Additionally, serum circ_0001756 is a promising biomarker for screening and diagnosis of BC.
Serum Zinc , Copper and Selenium Levels and Psoriasis in US Adults:A cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2011-2014
Authors: Zhao Xiya , Li Junqin , Li Xinhua
Published: January 2024

Several studies have suggested an association between serum copper, zinc, and selenium levels and psoriasis, but the results are disputable. Using data from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study examined the association of serum copper, zinc, selenium, and copper/zinc ratios with psoriasis in U.S. adults aged 20 years and older. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of serum copper, zinc, selenium, and copper/zinc ratios with psoriasis. A total of 3405 adults (1671 men and 1734 women) were enrolled. No significant correlations were found between psoriasis and serum copper, zinc, selenium, and copper/zinc ratios (highest versus lowest quartile) in multifactorial analyses with ORs of 0.65 (0.33, 1.29), 0.73 (0.39, 1.36), 0.82 (0.46, 1.47), and 1.05 (0.55, 2.00), respectively. The findings do not support a significant correlation between serum copper, zinc, and selenium levels and colorectal cancer risk in the general U.S. population.
Long COVID Diagnostic with Differentiation from Chronic Lyme Disease using Machine Learning and Cytokine Hubs
Authors: Patterson Bruce , Guevara-Coto Jose , Mora Javier , Francisco Edgar B. , Yogendra Ram , Mora-Rodríguez Rodrigo A , Beaty Christopher , Lemaster Gwyneth , Kaplan Gary , Katz Amiram , Bellanti Joseph A.
Published: January 2024

The absence of a diagnostic for long COVID (LC) or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) has profound implications for research and potential therapeutics. Further, symptom-based identification of patients with long-term COVID-19 lacks the specificity to serve as a diagnostic because of the overlap of symptoms with other chronic inflammatory conditions like chronic Lymedisease (CLD), myalgic encephalomyelitis-chronic fatigue syndrome (ME-CFS), and others. Here, we report a machine-learning approach to long COVID diagnosis using cytokine hubs that are also capable of differentiating long COVID from chronic Lyme. We constructed three tree-based classifiers: decision tree, random forest, and gradient-boosting machine (GBM) and compared their diagnostic capabilities. A 223 patient dataset was partitioned into training (178 patients) and evaluation (45 patients) sets. The GBM model was selected based on performance (89% Sensitivity and 96% Specificity for LC) with no evidence of overfitting. We tested the GBM on a random dataset of 124 individuals (106 PASC and 18 Lyme), resulting in high sensitivity (97%) and specificity 90% for LC). A Lyme Index composed of two features ((TNF-alpha +IL-4)/(IFN-gamma + IL-2) and (TNF-alpha *IL-4)/(IFN-gamma + IL-2 + CCL3) was constructed as a confirmatory algorithm to discriminate between LC and CLD.
İstanbul İçin CBS Tabanlı Makine Öğrenmesi İle Sel Duyarlılık Haritasının Oluşturulması
Authors: KOYUNCU Zehra , EKMEKCİOĞLU Ömer
Published: January 2024

Bu çalışma kapsamında meydana gelebilecek olası bir sel olayının gerçekleşebileceği yerin önceden tahmini ve tespiti için makine öğrenmesi yöntemleri kullanılarak coğrafi bilgi sistemleri (CBS) tabanlı bir sel duyarlılık haritalama modeli oluşturulması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında incelen bölge olarak ise Türkiye’nin metropol kenti olan İstanbul ili seçilmiştir. Literatürden elde edilen sel envanteriyle oluşturulan örneklem kümesi önce sel olmayan noktaların rastgele oluşturulması ile genişletilmiş olup, ardından sınıf dengesizliği rastgele alt örnekleme (RUS) tekniği ile giderilmiştir. Bu yaklaşım Türkiye’ de gerçekleştirilen sel duyarlılık haritalamaları çalışmaları için ilk kez uygulanmıştır. Rastgele orman (RF), stokastik gradyan artırma (SGB) ve XGBoost algoritmaları olmak üzere üç farklı makine öğrenmesi algoritmasının performans karşılaştırmaları gerçekleştirilmiştir. En yüksek model performansının XGBoost ile elde edildiği, bu metodu ise sırasıyla SGB ve RF’nin takip ettiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca, RF ve SGB modellerinin sel olmayan noktaların neredeyse tamamını doğru olarak bulduğu, sel olan noktalarda ise %90.67’lik bir başarı sergilediği görülmüştür. Fakat, çalışmanın esas amacını kapsayan sel gerçekleşen noktaların belirlenmesinde XGBoost modeli %92.00’lik bir başarı ile diğer iki metoda üstünlük sergilediği tespit edilmiştir. Sel olayını etkileyen parametreler incelendiğinde ise İstanbul için seli en önemli parametrenin yağış olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmış olup, yağışı sırasıyla drenaj ağına uzaklık ve eğri numarası takip etmiştir. Sonuç olarak çalışma kapsamında İstanbul’da gerçekleştirilen sel duyarlılık haritalamaları çalışmaları için ilk kez uygulanan bu çerçevenin kullanımının sayısı ve etkileri giderek artırılarak sel olaylarına karşı daha yaygın alanlara uygulanması gelecek vadedici bir yaklaşım olacaktır.
Understanding Creadox through the Semiotics of Cooperative Transactions
Authors: Sarré-Charrier Mathilde
Published: January 2024

In a context of uncertainty, it is crucial for organizations to anticipate the future of the society to orientate their decisions and actions. In this context, they use creativity methods applied to future studies, that include uncertainty both at the level of the result and in the creative process. During the divergence phase intentionally a very high quantity of ideas is produced (Aznar, 2005), in this process where the future is expected to be different than the present. And even if breakthrough ideas and originality are fully expected at the end in the main deliverable, it happens that originality, blooming in the divergence stage, tends to disappear further after the convergence. This issue can be compared to the “creadox” (Byttebier et al., 2007) a neologism that refers to a rich divergence phase which paradoxically, at the conclusion of the convergence phase, barely leads original ideas. The most innovative ideas are eliminated simply because at that stage they appear to be unrealistic and unfeasible. Research in creativity indicated the importance of considering a stage between the divergence and the convergence at the level of the clustering (Tassoul & Buijs, 2007). In this paper we tend to sketch the “creadox” by means of the “Semiotics of Cooperative Transactions” theory (Zacklad, 2020). We start by presenting the main categories of the Semiotics of Cooperative Transactions framework. We describe, through various categories of artefacts, both the idea production and the tools that punctuate the creative process. And we analyze the transformation of the ideas in concepts and then in valuables deliverables. We illustrate these transformations through a case study involving issues related to the orientation of technological decisions in relation with long term society evolutions in several organizations in France. We question how ideas are grounded in the documents produced during the creative process and at the end in the main deliverables. We conclude with the territorialization of the original ideas within the organization, a dimension to explore in further research to avoid the “creadox”.
Tinkering, Tools and Techniques – Creativity in German Engineering Education
Authors: Deckert Carsten , Mohya Ahmed
Published: January 2024

Purpose – Engineers are expected to be the creative problem solvers and innovative tinkerers of a company. This article examines to what extent German tertiary education lives up to this expectation. The analysis of German module descriptions in engineering shows that there are no courses dedicated to creativity and that creativity and its techniques are mentioned only sparsely in the modules of the engineering curriculum. Surveys amongst our students show that they are usually familiar with techniques which are based on generating alternatives such as brainstorming and morphological box, but lack knowledge about techniques based on challenging assumptions such as forced connection. They tend to favour discursive techniques over intuitive ones and techniques which use generation of alternatives as an idea-generating principle. A combination of creativity techniques seems to be most conducive to creative output in our course. Finally, we present some first findings on creative sessions in remote work with the help of virtual whiteboards, which have gained in importance since the pandemic. Methodology – Firstly, we present an document analysis of the modules of Bachelor and Master programs of mechanical engineering at German universities and universities of applied sciences. Secondly, we present results from surveys in our Master course in “Innovation and Technology Management” where we gathered data from students over several years and performed an external evaluation of the output using Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT). These results include which creativity techniques the students know prior to the course and which they prefer as well as which techniques seem to be conducive to engineering creativity. Furthermore we surveyed their experiences with creative sessions as remote work. Conclusion – Overall, the article shows the importance to teach prospective engineers the basics in creativity. Students should have the opportunity to acquire knowledge about and apply different creativity techniques, as different techniques have different strengths and weaknesses and, thus, different areas of fruitful application. They should also have the chance to try out different modes such as in-person sessions and virtual sessions, as some of the future work will most likely shift online. Furthermore, a combination of different creativity techniques makes it more likely that engineers break through their usual systematic-analytic way of thinking and helps them to think outside the box to find creative solutions for the pressing problems of our time.
Problem structuring in decision-making: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Sanchez-Valenzuela Kenia , Gastélum Chavira Diego Alonso , Ballardo-Cárdenas Denisse , Valenzuela Flores Victoriana
Published: January 2024

Bibliometrics is a field of research that quantitatively analyzes bibliographic material. To this end, this article proposes a bibliometric analysis of the structuring of the problem for decision-making between 1980 and 2019, using the Web of Science database to collect scientific information. The objective of this research is to show bibliometric indicators including the total number of publications and citations, and h-index, as well as authors, countries, universities, sources and categories. The results show the relevance of the study topic, which increased in 1990, with 2018 and 2019 being the years with the greatest scientific production. Likewise, the United States and London are the countries that have the greatest production of documents on the subject and are key in the network of collaborators. The article may be useful for researchers and students who want to delve deeper into the topic, providing help to build a solid theoretical framework. Vosviewer software was used as a tool to build and visualize biliometric networks.
Adaptation of the legal regulation of the institution of fatherhood to advances in medicine: history and modernity
Authors: Mun Victoria A.
Published: January 2024

The author examines the role of biomedical research in the legal regulation of establishing paternity in the Russian Federation in the period from the adoption of the first Family Code in 1918 to the present. It is noted that today this problem has acquired an interdisciplinary nature of research and is the subject of study of various fields of scientific knowledge, including historical, philosophical, social, biomedical, and legal sciences. Paying special attention to the relationship between law and medicine in matters of establishing paternity is conditioned by the inevitable consequences for all persons involved in this proceeding. The author comes to the conclusion that since the twentieth century to the present, medicine has undergone significant, qualitative changes in its development, methods of conducting examinations, technical support for DNA research, and personnel qualifications have been improved. However, the presence of such factors as: random coincidences, certain requirements for the collection of DNA samples of materials, the probability of identification, fragmentation of population-genetic materials — indicates that, in general, the expert opinion is presumptive.
Youth volunteering: representation in social media
Authors: Kicherova Marina N. , Yurina Elizaveta A. , Кaravaytseva Tatyana V.
Published: January 2024

The article presents the results of an empirical study that reveals the features of youth volunteering through representation in social networks. Within the framework of the ecosystem approach, new practices of interaction between volunteer associations are considered, problem areas and promising areas for the development of volunteerism are identified. Data collection was implemented based on a combination of methods: content analysis of thematic posts in the communities of volunteer associations in the VKontakte social network and a semi-formalized interview with volunteers (10 informants). The study has found that the representation in social networks fragmentarily reflects the practical activities of volunteers, there is a lack of information about current opportunities for volunteers, a predominantly regional agenda is presented, there is no data on current national and international projects, instead of announcements of upcoming events, a review of past events dominates. At the same time, the representation of volunteering provides the following social functions: information on the areas of activity, involvement of new participants, and highlighting past events. The ecosystem approach to the analysis of modern volunteer practices has shown resource opportunities and identified the problem areas related to representation, awareness, choice of direction of activity, attraction of resources, and organization of partnership programs. Based on the results of the study, recommendations are proposed for the development of volunteering practices among the youth, increasing the social activity of young people.
Constitutional judicial control as a means of directly ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens
Authors: Tarasov Alexei V. , Gogleva Ksenia Yu.
Published: January 2024

The article offered to the reader is devoted to the study of the institution of constitutional judicial control as a means of directly ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens. The authors argue that the institution of specialized judicial control is an integral element in ensuring the balance of the branches of government, providing a system of checks and balances in a democratic state based on the rule of law, especially in the context of a “legal explosion” and active juridification of public relations. The latter necessitates the existence of an effective mechanism of constitutional and control activities for the observance of the rule of law, both the procedure for adopting normative legal acts, and the compliance of their provisions with the content of the Basic Law of the state in order to prevent violations of the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, as the main task of balanced activity of all branches of government. Combining normative control and “advisory” functions in their activities, as well as interpreting constitutional provisions, specialized bodies of constitutional control make decisions that, in fact, become the “standard” of law enforcement and fundamentally affect the legal policy of the state in the field of protecting human rights and freedoms and citizen. Special attention is paid to the empirical analysis of the resolutions of the supreme body of judicial constitutional control of the Russian Federation, as well as a number of foreign bodies of constitutional justice, in the field of protection and restoration of violated constitutional rights of citizens in the framework of the a posterior abstract and specific normative control, as well as a priori normative control, which is a novelty of domestic legislation.
Organizational and legal basis for the development of the concept city public administration
Authors: Mutalipov Rakhmon B.
Published: January 2024

Currently, few Russian scholars agree on a single concept of public city administration. The unification of the concept of public administration of cities, including partial unification, in Russian science is a debatable issue. In this paper, we put forward and test the hypothesis that it is possible to find common foundations of the concept of public city administration, despite its specificity. The author also determines the content foundations of this concept. The concepts of “public administration” and “city” are not currently fixed in the norms of international law and Russian legislation, therefore, it is proposed to provide them with a legal definition. The concepts of cities’ public administration are united by the fact that they are a documentary expression of public administration as a single activity, and they also aim at implementation in cities. The content of the foundations of the studied concept includes the city’s main goals and the principles of public city administration, which are recommended to be included into the federal legislation. The methodology of the study is based on the dialectical method, which has helped determine the foundations of the concept of public administration of the city. The use of the comparative legal method has contributed to identifying the distinctive features that characterize the concept of public administration of the city.
On the legal nature of the legally significant message
Authors: Bocharov Nikolay S.
Published: January 2024

This article notes insufficient legislative regulation and the unresolved issue of the legal nature of legally significant communication and its purpose in the system of civil law norms and principles. The author considers the current theories related to the definition of the legal nature of a legally significant communication, analyzes the approaches used by scientists in the formation of these theories, in view of which he concludes that they do not meet the challenges of modernity and the intended purpose of the norm of the Article 165.1 of the RF Civil Code . Of the theories presented, the author believes, the perception of a legally significant communication as a special legal action (act) better reflects the reality. In answering what is a legally significant communication in addition to the action as such, the author identifies a number of functions (principles) that this institution is endowed with, believing that this will serve as a basis for further research of the topic.
Free legal aid in the United States of America
Authors: Rossiev Viktor V.
Published: January 2024

Free legal aid is one of the fundamental institutions of ensuring human rights guaranteed both by the norms of international law and the norms of national legislation of most civilized countries in the world. It is based on the idea of providing legal assistance for the public good — the “pro bono” principle. This article considers the system of free legal aid operating in the territory of the USA in a positivist and historical-legal context. The tendency of gradual expansion of the scope of application of free legal aid from exclusively criminal cases to the spheres of civil and administrative proceedings is revealed. Special attention is paid to the subject composition of the system of free legal aid in the USA: the role of the Bar, legal clinics at higher education institutions that train students in legal specialties, legal services corporation, and other participants. The results identify the groups of persons eligible to receive pro bono legal aid, as well as types and methods of providing pro bono legal aid, mechanisms of financing of the relevant activities. The advantages of the US model of free legal aid include: public funding of the private sector of free legal aid, wide spread of the idea of pro bono assistance among representatives of the legal community, and developed system of clinical education in US law schools, among others; its disadvantages are: insufficiently clear normative fixation of the procedure, forms of free legal aid, subject composition of persons entitled to receive this type of assistance, the responsibility of the legal profession for the provision of free legal aid, the responsibility of the legal profession for the provision of free legal aid, and the responsibility of the legal profession for the provision of free legal aid. These advantages and disadvantages of the American system of free legal aid have share an insight into the modernization of the Russian institute of qualified legal aid provided to persons on a pro bono basis.