bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuing professional development (CPD) training needs assessment for medical laboratory professionals in Ethiopia
Authors: Gebregzabher Endale Hadgu , Tesfaye Firehiwot , Cheneke Waqtola , Negesso Abebe Edao , Kedida Gizachew
Published: June 2023

Background

Continuing professional development (CPD) is required for health workers in practice to update knowledge and skills regularly to match the changing complexity of healthcare needs. The objective of this study was to identify the training needs of Medical Laboratory professionals in Ethiopia.

Methods

A total of 457 medical laboratory professionals from five regions and two city administrations were involved in the study. Data were collected from August 02 to 21, 2021 with structured self-administered online tool with five-point Likert scale. The tool had consent, demography, cross-cutting issues, and main activity area specific to medical laboratory.

Results

Majority of the participants were male (80.1%). Participants from Amhara region 110 (24.1%) were the largest groups in the survey followed by Oromia 105 (23%) and Addis Ababa 101 (22.1%). The study participants comprised 54.7% with a bachelor’s degree, 31.3% with a diploma (associate degree), and 14% with a master’s degree. The participants had varying years of service, ranging from less than one year to over 10 years of experience. Most of the participants work as generalists (24.1%) followed by working in microbiology (17.5%) and parasitology (16%). The majority (96.9%) were working in a public sector or training institutions and the rest were employed in the private sector. Our study showed that the three most important topics selected for training in the cross-cutting health issues were health and emerging technology, computer skills and medico-legal issues. Topics under microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics were selected as the most preferred technical areas for training. Participants have also selected priority topics under research skill and pathophysiology. When the laboratory specific issues were regrouped based on areas of application as technical competence, research skill and pathophysiology, thirteen topics under technical competence, four topics under research skill and three topics under pathophysiology were picked as priority areas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study identified that CPD programs should focus on topics that address technical competence in microbiology, clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics. Additionally competencies in research skill and updating knowledge in pathophysiology should also receive due attention in designing trainings.
NIPSNAP1 directs dual mechanisms to restrain senescence in cancer cells
Authors: Gao Enyi , Sun Xiaoya , Thorne Rick Francis , Zhang Xu Dong , Li Jinming , Shao Fengmin , Ma Jianli , Wu Mian
Published: June 2023

Background

Although the executive pathways of senescence are known, the underlying control mechanisms are diverse and not fully understood, particularly how cancer cells avoid triggering senescence despite experiencing exacerbated stress conditions within the tumor microenvironment.

Methods

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic screening was used to identify differentially regulated genes in serum-starved hepatocellular carcinoma cells and RNAi employed to determine knockdown phenotypes of prioritized genes. Thereafter, gene function was investigated using cell proliferation assays (colony-formation, CCK-8, Edu incorporation and cell cycle) together with cellular senescence assays (SA-β-gal, SAHF and SASP). Gene overexpression and knockdown techniques were applied to examine mRNA and protein regulation in combination with luciferase reporter and proteasome degradation assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was applied to detect changes in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in vivo gene function examined using a xenograft model.

Results

Among the genes induced by serum deprivation, NIPSNAP1 was selected for investigation. Subsequent experiments revealed that NIPSNAP1 promotes cancer cell proliferation and inhibits P27-dependent induction of senescence via dual mechanisms. Firstly, NIPSNAP1 maintains the levels of c-Myc by sequestering the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXL14 to prevent the proteasome-mediated turnover of c-Myc. Intriguingly, NIPSNAP1 levels are restrained by transcriptional repression mediated by c-Myc-Miz1, with repression lifted in response to serum withdrawal, thus identifying feedback regulation between NIPSNAP1 and c-Myc. Secondly, NIPSNAP1 was shown to modulate ROS levels by promoting interactions between the deacetylase SIRT3 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). Consequent activation of SOD2 serves to maintain cellular ROS levels below the critical levels required to induce cell cycle arrest and senescence. Importantly, the actions of NIPSNAP1 in promoting cancer cell proliferation and preventing senescence were recapitulated in vivo using xenograft models.

Conclusions

Together, these findings reveal NIPSNAP1 as an important mediator of c-Myc function and a negative regulator of cellular senescence. These findings also provide a theoretical basis for cancer therapy where targeting NIPSNAP1 invokes cellular senescence.
Global molecular evolution and phylogeographic analysis of barley yellow dwarf virus based on the cp and mp genes
Authors: Wei Shiqing , Chen Guoliang , Yang Hui , Huang Liang , Gong Guoshu , Luo PeiGao , Zhang Min
Published: June 2023

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) has caused considerable losses in the global production of grain crops such as wheat, barley and maize. We investigated the phylodynamics of the virus by analysing 379 and 485 nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding the coat protein and movement protein, respectively. The maximum clade credibility tree indicated that BYDV-GAV and BYDV-MAV, BYDV-PAV and BYDV-PAS share the same evolutionary lineage, respectively. The diversification of BYDV arises from its adaptability to vector insects and geography. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses showed that the mean substitution rates of the coat and movement proteins of BYDV ranged from 8.327 × 10− 4 (4.700 × 10− 4–1.228 × 10− 3) and 8.671 × 10− 4 (6.143 × 10− 4–1.130 × 10− 3) substitutions/site/year, respectively. The time since the most recent common BYDV ancestor was 1434 (1040–1766) CE (Common Era). The Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) showed that the BYDV population experienced dramatic expansions approximately 8 years into the 21st century, followed by a dramatic decline in less than 15 years. Our phylogeographic analysis showed that the BYDV population originating in the United States was subsequently introduced to Europe, South America, Australia and Asia. The migration pathways of BYDV suggest that the global spread of BYDV is associated with human activities.
Prognostic effect of atrial fibrillation on survival in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Du Meiling , Wang Xiaoyuan , Zhang Aiai , Li Feixing , Yi Mengyang
Published: June 2023

Objective

To systematically evaluate the prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods

The Chinese and English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database were systematically searched to include observational studies on the prognosis of AF in cardiovascular events or death in patients with HCM; these were evaluated using Revman 5.3.

Results

After systematic search and screening, a total of 11 studies with a high study quality were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that patients with HCM accompanied by AF had a higher risk of all-cause death (odds ratio [OR] = 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.18–3.47; P < 0.001), heart-related death (OR = 2.62; 95%CI: 2.02–3.40; P < 0.001), sudden cardiac death (OR = 7.09; 95%CI: 5.77–8.70; P < 0.001), heart-failure-related death (OR = 2.04; 95%CI: 1.24–3.36; P = 0.005), and stroke death (OR = 17.05; 95%CI: 6.99–41.58; P < 0.001) compared with patients with HCM without AF.

Conclusion

Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for adverse survival outcomes in patients with HCM, and aggressive interventions are needed in this population to avoid the occurrence of adverse outcomes.
CNETML: maximum likelihood inference of phylogeny from copy number profiles of multiple samples
Authors: Lu Bingxin , Curtius Kit , Graham Trevor A. , Yang Ziheng , Barnes Chris P.
Published: June 2023

Phylogenetic trees based on copy number profiles from multiple samples of a patient are helpful to understand cancer evolution. Here, we develop a new maximum likelihood method, CNETML, to infer phylogenies from such data. CNETML is the first program to jointly infer the tree topology, node ages, and mutation rates from total copy numbers of longitudinal samples. Our extensive simulations suggest CNETML performs well on copy numbers relative to ploidy and under slight violation of model assumptions. The application of CNETML to real data generates results consistent with previous discoveries and provides novel early copy number events for further investigation.
mHealth to improve implementation of TB contact investigation: a case study from Uganda
Authors: Gupta Amanda J. , Turimumahoro Patricia , Ochom Emmanuel , Ggita Joseph M. , Babirye Diana , Ayakaka Irene , Mark David , Okello Daniel Ayen , Cattamanchi Adithya , Dowdy David W. , Haberer Jessica E. , Armstrong-Hough Mari , Katamba Achilles , Davis J. Lucian
Published: June 2023

Background

Implementation science offers a systematic approach to adapting innovations and delivery strategies to new contexts but has yet to be widely applied in low- and middle-income countries. The Fogarty Center for Global Health Studies is sponsoring a special series, “Global Implementation Science Case Studies,” to address this gap.

Methods

We developed a case study for this series describing our approach and lessons learned while conducting a prospective, multi-modal study to design, implement, and evaluate an implementation strategy for TB contact investigation in Kampala, Uganda. The study included formative, evaluative, and summative phases that allowed us to develop and test an adapted contact investigation intervention involving home-based sample collection for TB and HIV testing. We concurrently developed a multi-component mHealth implementation strategy involving fingerprint scanning, electronic decision support, and automated reporting of test results via text message. We then conducted a household-randomized, hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial comparing the adapted intervention and implementation strategy to usual care. Our assessment included nested quantitative and qualitative studies to understand the strategy’s acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, and costs. Reflecting on this process with a multi-disciplinary team of implementing researchers and local public health partners, we provide commentary on the previously published studies and how the results influenced the adaptation of international TB contact investigation guidelines to fit the local context.

Results

While the trial did not show improvements in contact investigation delivery or public health outcomes, our multi-modal evaluation strategy helped us identify which elements of home-based, mHealth-facilitated contact investigation were feasible, acceptable, and appropriate and which elements reduced its fidelity and sustainability, including high costs. We identified a need for better tools for measuring implementation that are simple, quantitative, and repeatable and for greater attention to ethical issues in implementation science.

Conclusions

Overall, a theory-informed, community-engaged approach to implementation offered many learnings and actionable insights for delivering TB contact investigation and using implementation science in low-income countries. Future implementation trials, especially those incorporating mHealth strategies, should apply the learnings from this case study to enhance the rigor, equity, and impact of implementation research in global health settings.
Emergent states in systems of chiral self-propelled rods
(a)
Authors: Kürsten Rüdiger , Levis Demian
Published: June 2023

We study inherently chiral self-propelled particles, self-rotating at a fixed frequency, in two dimensions, subjected to nematic alignment interactions and rotational noise. By means of both homogeneous and spatially resolved mean field kinetic theory, we identify various different flocking states. We confirm the presence of the predicted phases using agent-based simulations, in particular, an homogeneous nematic phase at low frequencies, followed by a microflock pattern phase at larger frequencies, characterized by finite-size nematic clusters. We emphasize that special care has to be taken within the simulations in order to avoid artefacts, and present a non-standard simulation technique in order to avoid them.
Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone Is an Effective Indicator of Antral Follicle Counts but Not Primordial Follicle Counts
Authors: Zhou Yiran , Scott Kate L , Quin Eilish , Pankhurst Michael W
Published: June 2023

Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a biomarker for predicting antral follicle counts but there is no clear consensus on whether AMH is indicative of primordial follicle counts in humans. Mice were used as a model species in this study to obtain accurate follicle counts across the reproductive phase of life. Serum AMH was measured in 62 female C57Bl6/J mice aged 25 to 401 days. Primordial and primary follicles were determined by stereological counts and all secondary and antral follicles were counted in serial histological sections. Serum AMH was most strongly correlated with small- and medium-sized antral follicles. Immunohistochemistry and stepwise multiple regression confirmed that these follicle development stages are the key determinants of serum AMH, with little contribution from other stages. Primordial follicles were not found to have strong correlations with serum AMH or antral follicle counts, particularly in younger females, but the strength of the association appeared to increase with age. This result is likely attributed to high interindividual variation in primordial follicle activation and preantral follicle survival rates. Recent large studies in human populations have shown similar results but the primary limitation of these studies was that primordial follicle counts were determined from ovarian cortical biopsies, where regional variation in follicle distribution may affect the quality of the data. In the present study, whole ovaries were surveyed, eliminating this limitation. The findings indicate that primordial follicle counts are not closely related with either serum AMH or antral follicle counts in females in the early phase of the reproductive phase of life.
Art2 mediates selective endocytosis of methionine transporters during adaptation to sphingolipid depletion
Authors: Hepowit Nathaniel L. , Moon Bradley , Ebert Adam C. , Dickson Robert C. , MacGurn Jason A.
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACT2

Accumulating evidence in several model organisms indicates that reduced sphingolipid biosynthesis promotes longevity, although underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In yeast, sphingolipid depletion induces a state resembling amino acid restriction, which we hypothesized might be due to altered stability of amino acid transporters at the plasma membrane. To test this, we measured surface abundance for a diverse panel of membrane proteins in the presence of myriocin, a sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitor, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Unexpectedly, we found that surface levels of most proteins examined were either unaffected or increased during myriocin treatment, consistent with an observed decrease in bulk endocytosis. In contrast, sphingolipid depletion triggered selective endocytosis of the methionine transporter Mup1. Unlike methionine-induced Mup1 endocytosis, myriocin triggered Mup1 endocytosis that required the Rsp5 adaptor Art2, C-terminal lysine residues of Mup1 and the formation of K63-linked ubiquitin polymers. These findings reveal cellular adaptation to sphingolipid depletion by ubiquitin-mediated remodeling of nutrient transporter composition at the cell surface.
Public management reform under the dome of accruals (Presidential Decree 54/2018): Investigation of the effects on the financial information and the audit of the General Government entities
Authors: Goumas Spyridon , Karastogiannis Pavlos
Published: June 2023

Presidential Decree 54/2018 legislated the introduction of accrual basis accounting from 1/1/2023 to all entities of the General Government of Greece in accordance with the European System of Accounts 2010. We study the effect of accrual basis accounting under the 54/2018 on financial information and audit of entities, as well as the transition process. The research was conducted using the qualitative method, the structured interview protocol was the data collection tool and the participants were the employees of the Third Department of the General Government Accounting Plan. We find that there will be objective information of the entity's financial position and performance, depreciation, provisions, impairments and fair value of assets. Transparency and accountability are strengthened, audits are facilitated to establish useful sound financial management, there is a central control of public finances and the phenomena of corruption and financing of public officials will be reduced. The job of the audit  mechanisms is strengthened, audits become more effective and the way available resources are managed is more precisely controlled. Major difficulties during the transition are the lack of personnel and an appropriate accounting information system, and in combination with the covid-19 pandemic, it was noted that the transition cannot be implemented on 1/1/2023 and for that reason our results suggest an extension to 2025 for the transition, proposal which was implemented on July 30, 2022 with Law 4964/2022.

 

EL Classifications: H83, P41, M48.

Key words: Accrual Accounting, Accounting Reform, General Government, Accountability, Audit.
The Macroeconomic and Social imbalances in the Eurozone in the period of Economic Crisis (2008 - 2014)
Authors: Tamourantzis Asimakis
Published: June 2023

This paper attempts to shed light on the economic and social effects of the economic crisis among Member States of the Eurozone in the period 2008-2014 emphasizing the imperative revision of the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact. Particular emphasis is given to the growing Macroeconomic and Social imbalances between Euro (€) North and Euro (€) South, which had posed a threat to the economic viability and social cohesion in the Eurozone.

 

JEL Classification: D63, E02, E60, E62, H30

Key words: Eurozone crisis, Economic Inequality, Macroeconomic Imbalances, Social Imbalances, Stability and Growth Pact
Proposal for an Information System of the Greek Tourism Satellite Account
Authors: Diakomihalis Mihail , Pappas Theodoros
Published: June 2023

This paper gives a first look at the innovative Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) information system, which includes all the functions and procedures of updating the chain of TSA Tables, starting from data entry, storage and management of data, updating of TSA Tables, after the necessary statistical analysis, and finally the possibility of capturing the economic results of tourism activity in an economy.

The methodology applied allows the connection of the tables and the export of reliable and timely results. The proposed information system aims not only to improve the efficiency of tourism data management but also to facilitate their collection and ultimately the functionality and usefulness of TSAs.

The results expected from the proposed implementation will provide academics, professionals and tourism policy makers with new perspectives on the evaluation and improvement of tourism and on regional and national economic development (Wu, Liu, and Song, 2018). The TSA is integrated into the general information System of National Accounts (SNA).

The development of the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) Tourism Satellite Account model, named “OLAP- TSA-Model”, for integrating the data from the SNA Tables after the necessary processing and consideration of tourism data sources in the TSA tables, their transition from one TSA table to the next, to seamlessly complete them and reveal the values of the economy attributed to the tourism activity of a country, are the subject of research of this paper.

 

Keywords: System of National Accounts, Tourism Satellite Account, Information System, Tourism, Greece.

 

Jel: E290, L830, O100, R150
Analiza składu chemicznego preparatów zawierających ekstrakt z bzu czarnego
Authors: Uram-Dudek Angelika , Wawer Iwona , Paradowska Katarzyna
Published: June 2023

Bez czarny (Sambucus nigra L.) jest szeroko rozpowszechniony; jego kwiaty i owoce to surowiec wykorzystywany w tradycyjnej medycynie oraz do suplementacji diety. Celem pracy było zbadanie 5 preparatów (o statusie suplementów diety i preparatów specjalnego przeznaczenia żywieniowego) wspierających układ odpornościowy dzieci w wieku od 1. roku życia i starszych, zawierających sok lub ekstrakt z owoców bzu czarnego. Oznaczono zawartość związków polifenolowych, antocyjanówi flawonoidów, witaminy C oraz cukrów. Do określenia zawartości witaminy C wykorzystano metodę UV-Vis, pasmo w zakresie 245–260 nm, a do oznaczenia zawartości antocyjanin z owoców bzu czarnego charakterystyczną absorpcję przy 520 nm. Największą zawartość polifenoli miała próbka nr 1 – z dodatkiem soku z bzu czarnego. Próbki nr 3, 4 i 5 miały znacznie mniejszą zawartość związków polifenolowych pochodzących z ekstraktu z owoców. Zawartość witaminy C w preparacie 1 i 2 była znacznie większa niż w preparatach nr 3, 4, 5, zawierających ekstrakty z owoców bzu czarnego oraz aceroli. Wykonano pomiar zawartości cukrów z zastosowaniem skali Brixa. Wyniki analiz mogą być przydatne w projektowaniu preparatów z dodatkami ekstraktów z owoców bzu i naturalnych witamin wspierających odporność u dzieci.
Porównanie właściwości kosmetycznych i dermatologicznych ekstraktu oraz fermentu z owoców rokitnika zwyczajnego otrzymanego w procesie fermentacji z wykorzystaniem grzyba herbacianego kombuchy
Authors: Ziemlewska Aleksandra , Klimczak Katarzyna , Zagórska-Dziok Martyna , Nizioł-Łukaszewska Zofia
Published: June 2023

Kombucha to napój o działaniu prozdrowotnym wytwarzany poprzez fermentację słodzonej herbaty przy użyciu symbiotycznych kultur bakterii należących do rodzaju Acetobacter i Gluconobacter oraz drożdży z rodzaju Saccharomyces wraz z kwasem glukuronowym. W pracy porównano właściwości kosmetyczne i dermatologiczne ekstraktu z owoców rokitnika zwyczajnego (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) oraz jego fermentu otrzymanego w procesie fermentacji za pomocą grzyba herbacianego. W tym celu fermentowane i niefermentowane ekstrakty porównano pod względem składu chemicznego, poddając je analizie chromatograficznej HPLC/ESI-MS. Oceniono aktywność antyoksydacyjną badanych próbek z wykorzystaniem testówDPPH i ABTS. Określono także cytotoksyczność, przeprowadzając testy Alamar Blue i Neutral Red, oceniające stopień żywotności oraz metabolizm komórek skóry: fibroblastów i keratynocytów. Potencjalne właściwości przeciwstarzeniowe określono na podstawie ich zdolności do hamowania aktywności metaloproteinaz: kolagenazy i elastazy. Ponadto zostały przeprowadzone testy aplikacyjne, które wykazały pozytywny wpływ ekstraktów oraz fermentów na transepidermalną ucieczkę wody z naskórka (TEWL) oraz nawilżenie skóry. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że zarówno ekstrakt z owoców rokitnika zwyczajnego, jak i ferment otrzymany za pomocą kombuchy mogą stanowić cenny składnik produktów kosmetycznych.
Właściwości odżywcze ziemniaka (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Mystkowska Iwona , Zarzecka Krystyna
Published: June 2023

Celem pracy było dokonanie przeglądu literatury naukowej dotyczącej zawartości wybranych składników odżywczych w bulwach ziemniaka oraz możliwości ich wykorzystania. Ziemniak (Solanum tuberosum L.), będący jedną z najważniejszych roślin jadalnych świata, stał się cenionym produktem spożywczym, ze względu na cenne właściwości odżywcze, dietetyczne i zdrowotne. O wysokiej jakości bulw decyduje zawartość składników chemicznych oraz niska zawartość związków toksycznych. Głównym składnikiem ziemniaka jest skrobia, stanowiąca około 10–16% jego masy, zawartość białka wynosi od 1,5 do 2,3%, przy czym ilość pełnowartościowego białka, zawierającego wszystkie aminokwasy egzogenne, to około 1%. Kolejnym składnikiem mającym wpływ na kształtowanie wartości odżywczej bulw jest błonnik pokarmowy, który stanowi 2,5% świeżej masy. Ziemniaki są ważnym źródłem wielu witamin: C, B1, B2, B6, PP, E, K, kwasu pantotenowego i kwasu foliowego. Największe znaczenie ma witamina C, której zawartość wynosi około 20 mg w 100 g świeżej masy bulw. W ziemniakach występuje około 0,1% lipidów, które zawierają nienasycone kwasy linolowy i linolenowy, określane jako witamina F. Dzięki małej zawartości tłuszczu niska jest wartość energetyczna ziemniaków,mieszcząca się w przedziale 60–70 kcal w 100 g tego warzywa. Bulwy ziemniaka są źródłem polifenoli oraz makro- i mikroelementów. Szczególnie cenne są: potas, wapń i magnez, które mają działanie zasadotwórcze. Spożycie 200 g ziemniaka pokrywa 8–30% dziennego zapotrzebowania na potas, jod, magnez, żelazo, fosfor, miedź i wapń. Dietetycy twierdzą, że jego wartość odżywcza jest tak duża, iż ziemniaki mogą stanowić przez pewien czas jedyny składnik pożywienia człowieka bez uszczerbku dla jego zdrowia.
Oficjalne wizyty państwowe w Toruniu w latach 1920-1939
Authors: Grzebieniak Anna
Published: June 2023

W artykule opisano okoliczności oraz przebieg wizyt w Toruniu osób zajmujących najwyższe stanowiska we władzach państwowych i wojskowych odrodzonej Rzeczypospolitej. Przyjęte ramy czasowe obejmują okres od roku 1920, w którym wojsko polskie przejmuje Toruń z rąk niemieckich w konsekwencji postanowień traktatu wersalskiego, do wybuchu II wojny światowej w 1939 r. W opisie zdarzeń wykorzystano materiały z prasy ukazującej się w regionie oraz informacje pozyskane w trakcie studiów nad materiałami archiwalnymi pozyskanymi w trakcie kwerend odbytych w Archiwum Państwowym w Toruniu oraz Bydgoszczy.
Przemiany demograficzne ludności Torunia w latach 1946-2019
Authors: Rakowski Witold
Published: June 2023

Przedmiotem badań jest ludność Torunia i jej zmiany w latach 1946–2020. Celem opracowania jest przedstawienie zmieniającego się znaczenia przyrostu naturalnego i salda migracji w przyroście rzeczywistym ludności Torunia w poszczególnych podokresach. W opracowaniu wykazano, że wzrost liczby ludności Torunia występował do 1999 r. Od początku 1946 do 1990 r. włącznie przybyło w mieście 136 tys. osób, w tym z przyrostu naturalnego 59 tys. Od 2000 r. liczba mieszkańców Torunia malała głównie na skutek odpływu ludności. W połowie lat pięćdziesiątych współczynnik przyrostu naturalnego kształtował się w granicach 18%, a od 2018 r. jest ujemny. Dodatnie saldo migracji bardzo wysokie w latach 1966–1981, od 2000 r. przełkształciło się w ujemne. Zmalała płodność kobiet, w tym szczególnie w wieku 15–24 lat oraz dzietność i współczynnik reprodukcji brutto.
Madonna z Gostkowa w zbiorach Muzeum Okręgowego w Toruniu Uwagi o proweniencji
Authors: Rydelska Lena
Published: June 2023

W artykule omówiono problematykę proweniencyjną oraz zagadnienie autentyczności rzeźby Mater Dolorosa z Muzeum Okręgowego w Toruniu. Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2020-2022. W pierwszej części artykułu został zweryfikowany stan badań oraz przywołano wyniki kwerend archiwalnych, pozwalające na odkrycie nieznanych dotąd losów obiektu. W tekście umieszczono analizę przemian struktury rzeźby na podstawie badań in situ, dokumentacji konserwatorskich oraz zdjęć archiwalnych, popartych analizą badań m.in. zdjęć wykonanych tomografem, w świetle UV, oraz badaniem składu pierwiastkowego polichromii.
The Bell Tower of the Vilnius Cathedral – History and the Present
Authors: Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė Sigita
Published: June 2023

The belfry is an element of key importance in the complex of the Vilnius Archcathedral Basilica and the Higher and Lower Castles, as well as one of the main vertical landmarks of the Old Town of Vilnius, which has become a symbol of the city. As a heritage object, the building is acclaimed for its volume, décor elements and authentic constructions. The 13th century tower originally was part of the defensive wall. Its ground floor has survived almost in its entirety. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved brickwork structures in Lithuania. In Lithuania, the appearance of large bells is related to the name of Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas. The master K.S. Skobeltas cast the first large bell for this ruler in the second half of the 14th century. In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, bells and cannons were most often cast in weapon foundries by the same masters. Sigismund Augustus established such a foundry in the territory of the Lower Castle in the 16th century. From the 16th century onwards, bells began to be cast in Varniai, Kaunas and Nesvizh as well. In 2002, six large bells were consecrated in the Vilnius Cathedral Square and installed in the belfry. It was a gift from the Archdiocese of Cologne to the Vilnius Cathedral and the city. As a token of gratitude to Archbishop of Cologne Joachim Meisner (1933-2017), the largest bell was given the name of Saint Joachim. In 2002, the bells were cast in one of the largest foundries of Germany, “Petit und Edelbrock” in Westphalia, which is in operation since the second half of the 18th century. The clock of the belfry of the Vilnius Cathedral is the oldest and most important clock in the capital of Lithuania. It was installed in this tower in 1672. It is presumed that the mechanism of the clock was produced in Germany, but the name of the master is unknown. The date 1803 incised on the forged frame bears witness to the last significant repair of the clock, supervised by the elder of the Vilnius clock makers’ guild Juozapas Bergmanas. When the clock tower of the Vilnius Town Hall collapsed in the late 19th century, this mechanism became the city’s main clock. The bell cast in 1673 by Jan Delamars, the bellfounder working in Vilnius, strikes the hours in the cathedral belfry. Its height is 58 cm, and its diameter is 107 cm. The bell is a work of art: it is encircled with a Latin inscription and an ornament, and decorated with the figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the patrons of the Vilnius Cathedral, Saint Casimir and Saint Stanislaus.
Technika mistrza Behema ujawniona przez dzwon
Authors: Bochniak Andrzej
Published: June 2023

Hans Behem, the bell founder who came from Nuremberg to Krakow 500 years ago, cast a magnificent bell, which, even today, continues to fascinate with its size and sound. The paper contains some technical insights about this bell. Even now, we can learn a lot about the technique that the master used years ago when making the cast, because the traces (jagged edge, veins on the lampshade, etc.) on the surface of the bell clearly indicate this. From other traces – incl. traces of the clapper – it can be concluded that the bell was properly operated and that it was in good technical condition. There were also some omissions but they did not affect the overall durability of the bell. The lampshade also features elements that were not present after the bell was cast. For example, the name and surname of Behem and the place of his origin were carved on the lampshade in Latin and German, but it is not known exactly when and under what circumstances it happened.
Sztuka ciesielska więźby wsporczej dzwonu Zygmunta i jego sąsiadów
Authors: Karczmarczyk Stanisław
Published: June 2023

The Sigismund bell, suspended on the yoke without a crank, generates a large load during ringing, which can be estimated at the level of over three times its weight. It is enough to realize that its weight (determined for the first time in its history) with the yoke and bearings measured during the renovation and maintenance carried out in 2001 was 12.6 tons. Even before the comprehensive renovation carried out in 2001, it was necessary at the beginning of the 1990s to carry out reinforcement in the form of non-steel strands, which stiffened the truss skeleton. The strings strengthening the Sigmund Bell’s truss were then installed as an ad hoc operation in a situation when, during the ringing, elements wooden supporting truss hit the brick walls of the Sigismund Tower. This could lead to irreversible deformation of the brick tower. The operation of these reinforcements was corrected on an ongoing basis by appropriate tensioning on the introduced turnbuckles. This method of regulation functions up to the present day as a reaction to changes occurring in the carpentry joints of the oak truss of the bell. The basis for these corrections of the tension of the tendons are the current measurements of the scale of deflections of the bell’s support truss, carried out during the ringing after winter periods. On the basis of experience from the last 20 years, i.e. the period after the renovation of the yoke and the bell heart carried out in 2001, the values of the measured deflections are in the range from 6.0 to 8.0 mm. The deflection values are measured at the level of the platform situated at the height of the yoke and the bell bearing. The magnitudes of the deflections accompanying the ringing process are the highest at the level of the Sigismund Bell as the highest level where this type of impact occurs. On the anniversary of the installation of the Sigismund Bell, it is worth realizing the high craftsmanship of the carpentry art, which provided the possibility of assembling and ringing both the Sigismund Bell and the other bells installed in the tower (Cardinal 3.5 t, Urban 3 t, Wacław 1 t, Stanisław 6 t).
Literacka legenda Zygmuntowskiego dzwonu. Zygmunt w poezji
Authors: Rokosz Mieczysław
Published: June 2023

The Sigismund Bell as a masterpiece of Renaissance bell-founding with its vastness and sound qualities already inspired poets contemporary to its creation. In the 16th century, the Bell was the theme of the works of the Polish-Latin poet Andrzej Krzycki and Mikołaj Rej. In the Old Polish era there were other men of letters who wrote about the Sigismund Bell, although not necessarily in verse. In the era of partitions, slavery and Poland’s non-existence – in the 19th century – the enormous Wawel bell funded by the great king in the times of the power of the Polish-Lithuanian state grew to the role of a link between the great past and the present. It rose to the level of a symbol raising hopes for the rebirth of the state. Especially the tolling of the Sigismund Bell for the Resurrection on Easter raised hopes for the resurrection of Poland. The poets such as Edmund Wasilewski – a romantic eulogist of the beauty of Krakow’s historical monuments, with Wawel at the forefront, Wincenty Pol, Teofil Lenartowicz, Maria Konopnicka, and Lucjan Rydel expressed this role of the sound of the Sigismund Bell. However, it was only Stanisław Wyspiański who most clearly and fully expressed in his dramas (Wesele, Wyzwolenie, Akropolis) the symbolism of the bell born in the 19th century, the evolution of the meanings of its sound – from the sound of mourning to the sound of calling to act and the sound of heralding the rebirth of the state. Echoes of the Sigismund Bell are also present in the poetry of Józef Piłsudski, a soldier of the Legions. Finally, there is a well-known patriotic poem-song: Jak długo na Wawelu Zygmunta bije dzwon, tak długo w sercach naszych rozbrzmiewa polski ton, [As long as the bell on Zygmunt’s Wawel tolls, the Polish tone resounds in our hearts,] announcing victory and existence.
Tipificación del acoso persecutorio (stalking) en el código penal brasileño y en la legislación comparada: un análisis crítico-sociológico de su eficacia
Authors: Ambrosio Felipe Augusto Rodrigues , Kmiecik Paola Gabrieli
Published: June 2023

El delito de acoso persecutorio ha sido recientemente tipificado en el ordenamiento jurídico brasileño, y la importancia del examen temático se traduce en las innumerables situaciones de acoso que se producen a cotidiano, especialmente en relación con las mujeres, con el ánimo de amenazar la integridad física y psicológica de las víctimas; restringir su capacidad de movimiento; o invadir su esfera de libertad e intimidad. La investigación examina las características del delito, haciendo un enfoque histórico y de derecho comparado. Finalmente, hace un análisis crítico de la insuficiencia del derecho penal, concluyendo que toda la cuestión implica una perspectiva multifactorial, pasando por la ejecución de políticas públicas eficientes, no reduciendo el número de casos sólo por la simple protección penal.
¿Son los plazos de garantía un límite a la exigencia de durabilidad de un bien?
Authors: Isler Soto Érika
Published: June 2023

El trabajo analiza comparativamente si es posible considerar que los plazos de extinción de las prerrogativas derivadas de las garantías de conformidad, excluyen otro estándar de durabilidad mayor. Al respecto se distinguen tres situaciones. Una primera solución prohíbe la obsolescencia programada. Otras legislaciones, sin sancionar la obsolescencia, contemplan otros deberes que trascienden el plazo de las garantías (repuestos, información).  Finalmente, en una tercera situación, se omite una referencia explícita acerca de la vigencia de plazos mayores. No obstante, ello no excluye su procedencia, si se los derivan del principio de consumo sustentable o del interés general o público.
El menor de edad en la relación de consumo en Colombia: una revisión a la clasificación de consumidor vulnerable
Authors: Báez Mesa Dacmar Andrea
Published: June 2023

Los cambios culturales y dinámicas del mercado han convertido el consumo en elemento importante de las sociedades modernas involucrando a los niños, niñas y adolescentes como sujetos consumidores, en categoría de compradores, influenciadores de compra o en usuarios finales lo que los vincula en la relación de consumo; sin embargo, a pesar de que son sujetos activos en esta relación, las categorías de clasificación de consumidores no permiten una protección efectiva de los derechos de los menores lo que hace importante revisar la clasificación de consumidor vulnerable adoptada por el ordenamiento jurídico español como medio para la realización efectiva de sus derechos.
Rhabdomyosarcoma of the nasal cavity: a case report
Authors: Huang Meiying , Deng Bifan
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Rhabdomyosarcoma is a high-grade malignant neoplasm with skeletal muscle differentiation; a common soft tissue sarcoma in children but considered one of the rarest in adults. Case description: We report a case of 35-year-old male with a chronic productive cough and haemoptysis for five days. A CT scan of the nasopharynx revealed a blocked left maxillary and ethmoid sinus with bone destruction. These findings raised a suspicion of a tumour, and trans-nasal endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. Discussion: Nasal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare adult malignant tumour. Most patients have lymphatic metastasis or skull base tumour infiltration at the time of the initial diagnosis and treatment, which poses a challenge to the diagnosis and management. Conclusion: Nasal acinar rhabdomyosarcoma, one of the histopathological types of rhabdomyosarcoma, has rapid disease progression and high mortality. Therefore, the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma requires a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy to work together to achieve the best care for the patient.
Classification of soybean pods using the deep learning techniques
Authors: Bandeira Poliana Maria da Costa , Villar Flora Maria de Melo , Bandeira Priscila Pascali da Costa , Dias Iara Aparecida
Published: June 2023

Crop productivity estimate aims at the economic definitions about crop, agricultural management, and land use, among others. However, it is common to observe the use of visual methods to estimate the productivity of the soybean crop through the classification of pods, resulting in a slow, costly method besides being susceptible to human errors. Thus, the objective of this work was to carry out the training of two deep learning methods to classify soybean pods according to the number of grains based on images obtained using a smartphone. Data collection was carried out at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV). Data consisted of capturing images from a smartphone and training two deep learning models: Mask R-CNN and YOLOv4. To capture the images, the soybean pods were pulled from the plants and placed in a white-bottom container. This procedure occurred for each plant collected. Both models tended towards a better classification for the two- and three-grain pods, reaching a value of 90% for the F1 score metric. This fact may have occurred because of the greater amount of these two types of pods present in the chosen cultivars. Finally, the potential of using deep learning to classify soybean pods based on the number of grains was observed.
Investigation on low-loss hollow-core anti-resonant terahertz fiber
Authors: Li Lin , Lin Dongfeng , Meng Fanchao , Zhao Yiming , Cui Yiping , Cao Yin , Liu Hongwei , Mu Hongqian , Niu Yingli , He Jingwen , Liang Sheng
Published: June 2023

In this work, a hollow-core anti-resonant terahertz (THz) fiber with elliptical cladding and nested tubes is proposed and fabricated. It is an effective way to reduce the loss of THz waves by transmitting them in an air core and breaking the material absorption. After parameter optimization of the initial structure, multiple transmission windows exist in the 0.2–0.8 THz band, where confinement loss is as low as 3.47×10−3cm−1 at 0.8 THz. At 0.2–0.7 THz, confinement losses lie between 10−3 and 10−2cm−1. The 3D printed samples are characterized by a THz time-domain spectroscopy system. Experimental results showed that the designed fiber structure transmits loss coefficients up to 10−2cm−1 in the 0.2–0.8 THz band (the minimum value is located at 0.46 THz, corresponding to a loss coefficient of 0.0284cm−1). The experiments show that the designed THz fiber achieves a good transmission effect.
Simulation study of an x-ray sub-picosecond resolution detection system based on time-domain amplification
Authors: Wang Gang , Liu Yiheng , Yan Xin , Gao Guilong , Wang Tao , Li Lili , Zhao Yuetong , Zhao Jinbo , He Kai , Tian Jinshou
Published: June 2023

This study proposes what we believe to be a novel x-ray detection
system that achieves a temporal resolution of 930 fs with
photorefractive and four-wave mixing effects. The system comprises two
parts: a signal-conversion system and signal-acquisition system. The
signal-conversion system is based on the photorefractive effect, which
converts x-ray evolution into the variation of infrared interference
intensity. The signal-conversion sensor consists of ultra-fast
response LT-GaAs and a high-resolution interference cavity, achieving
a resolution of  767 fs. The signal-acquisition system
consists of a time-domain amplification system based on four-wave
mixing and a high-resolution signal-recording system with a resolution
of 21 ps, providing a temporal resolution of 525 fs.
All-optical spiking neural network and optical spike-time-dependent plasticity based on the self-pulsing effect within a micro-ring resonator
Authors: Wen Jin , Zhang Hui , Wu Zhengwei , Wang Qian , Yu Huimin , Sun Wei , Liang Bozhi , He Chenyao , Xiong Keyu , Pan Yu , Zhang Ying , Liu Zhanzhi
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we proposed an all-optical version of photonic spiking neurons and spike-time-dependent plasticity (STDP) based on the nonlinear optical effects within a micro-ring resonator. In this system, the self-pulsing effect was exploited to implement threshold control, and the equivalent pulse energy required for spiking, calculated by multiplying the input pulse power amplitude with its duration, was about 14.1 pJ. The positive performance of the neurons in the excitability and cascadability tests validated the feasibility of this scheme. Furthermore, two simulations were performed to demonstrate that such an all-optical spiking neural network incorporated with STDP could run stably on a stochastic topology. The essence of such an all-optical spiking neural network is a nonlinear spiking dynamical system that combines the advantages of photonics and spiking neural networks (SNNs), promising access to the high speed and lower consumption inherent to optical systems.
Single-pixel Image Reconstruction Using Coherent Nonlinear Optics
Authors: THOMAS MATTHEW , Kumar Santosh , Huang Yuping
Published: June 2023

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel hybrid optoelectronic system that utilizes mode-selective frequency upconversion, single-pixel detection, and a deep neural network to achieve the reliable reconstruction of 2D images from a noise-contaminated database of handwritten digits. Our system is designed to maximize the multi-scale structural similarity index measure (MS-SSIM) and minimize the mean absolute error (MAE) during the training process. Through extensive evaluation, we have observed that the reconstructed images exhibit high-quality results, with a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) reaching approximately 20 dB and a structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of around 0.85. These impressive metrics demonstrate the effectiveness and fidelity of our image reconstruction technique. The versatility of our approach allows its application in various fields, including Lidar, compressive imaging, volumetric reconstruction, and so on.
Nor from the Second Level: Multilayer juxtaposition and the Two Social Reality approach
Authors: Suharto Adam Muhammad Taufiq Mohamad
Published: June 2023

In the Malaysian short film, Nor from the Second Level, in addition to the use of Soviet montage editing techniques, the juxtaposition between the Malaysian deputy prime minister’s speech and the monologue of Nor, the protagonist, creates a conflicting discourse about the survival of the working class and other marginalized groups during economic turmoil. The juxtaposition of the two voices is aligned with the concept or approach called ‘Two Social Reality’ and was conceptualized by the Malaysian social anthropologist Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, who argued that our overall social reality is defined by the social phenomena that take place within the two social realities: ‘authority-defined’ and ‘everyday-defined’.
Sentir ante otros
Authors: Fernández Deagustini María del Pilar
Published: June 2023

El estudio propone revisar la articulación entre miedo y género (gender) en Siete contra Tebas. Para ello,considero necesario observar el contexto emocional integral de la tragedia, que presenta un contrapunto con la emoción contraria (Rét. 2.5, 1382bss.): el coraje. En el proceso dramático, constituido por la puesta en escena de emociones dinámicas (Konstan 2006), observo el contexto en el que surgen y se manifiestan, para reflexionar sobre qué propone el dramaturgo a través del juego con el par antagónico phóbos- thársos.
Según el enfoque constructivista, las emociones son producto de las interacciones sociales, que emergen y evolucionan de un contexto particular (Konstan 2011). Dicho enfoque invita a superar el estudio de las relaciones entre hombres y mujeres adoptando una visión mayor, que involucra el estatus cívico de la emoción (Allard-Montlahuc 2018). Analizar contextos, más que estados de ánimo, permite subrayar la fluidez en la forma en que las emociones se distribuyen entre los géneros.
Sostengo que no se puede simplificar el antagonismo coro/ rey como una mera oposición de géneros; tampoco como una simple contraposición entre miedo y coraje. En el contexto integral de la obra, el miedo, que aparece inicialmente presentado como una emoción negativa que “daña desde dentro” (vv. 191-194) se propone en la segunda parte como la única salida posible ante la maldición familiar. La exhibición de ambas emociones constituye un recurso dinámico y programático para involucrar y orientar a la audiencia en relación con la acción que se desarrolla, en un proceso que depende de la capacidad única del teatro como espectáculo.