bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Мягкая сила США как инструмент внешнеполитического влияния на Союзное государство
Authors: ТОМА А. Ю.
Published: December 2021

В настоящее время Союзное государство, оформляющееся
как самостоятельный центр силы, сталкивается с новым вызовом в виде мягкой
силы США. Анализируя характер геополитических противоречий в треуголь-
нике США – Китай – Россия можно прогнозировать новый виток противостоя-
ния, который станет серьезным вызовом для безопасности Союзного государ-
ства Беларуси и России в долгосрочной перспективе.
Статья посвящена анализу мягкой силы США в отношении Союзного
государства. Автором рассмотрены понятия «мягкая сила» и «жесткая сила», а
также выделены их главные отличия. В статье выявлены и проанализированы
современные институты «мягкой силы», с помощью которых США могут ре-
шать целый спектр стратегических и тактических задач в отношении Союзного
государства. Представлена авторская классификация данных институтов и при-
ведены примеры влияния на Союзное государство.
В результате исследования предложены рекомендации для выстраивания
эффективной системы мягкой силы в Союзном государстве Беларуси и России.
Во-первых, автором рекомендовано принять Закон «Об иностранных агентах»
по аналогии с тем, который действует на территории Российской Федерации.
Во-вторых, автор рекомендует создавать и поддерживать собственные «инсти-
туты мягкой силы», как на территории Союзного государства, так и за его пре-
делами. В-третьих, актуально скорректировать систему финансирования инсти-
тутов мягкой силы в сторону создания союзного фонда поддержи обществен-
ных инициатив с возможностью предоставлять грантовую поддержку не только
юридическим, но и физическим лицам, работающим в сфере «новых медиа».
Greater Eurasian partnership: economic perspectives of integration with the EAEU
Authors: IVANTSOV A. V.
Published: December 2021

This article analyzes the current state and future prospects of integra-
tion associations and formats of multilateral economic cooperation from the point of
view of the implementation of the Comprehensive Eurasian Partnership initiative.
The author analyzes the role of this initiative as an instrument of Russian politics and
assesses its potential for strengthening international cooperation in Eurasia. In partic-
ular, it analyzes the possibilities of harmonizing key projects and initiatives within
the EAEU. The work examines the potential of the largest multilateral formats in
Eurasia as in the economic sphere – the Comprehensive Regional Economic Partner-
ship, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Eurasian Economic Union, etc. to multilateral
economic projects in Eurasia as a locomotive for promoting strategic interests, as
well as realizing the potential of the EAEU.
It is concluded that institutional overload is observed in the economic sphere of
Greater Eurasia, caused by the existence of a number of parallel developments of in-
tegration initiatives and mechanisms of economic cooperation. Based on the forego-
ing, the strengthening of the EAEU as the institutional core of Greater Eurasia can
become the basis for the formation of a regulatory mega-space. However, the aggre-
gate economic potential of the EAEU member states does not allow the Union to be
the largest economic pole and a leading center for the development of multilateral in-
stitutions in Greater Eurasia. It is assumed that the solution to this problem could be
the development of the Comprehensive Eurasian Partnership towards the conjugation
of the EAEU and RCEP – the largest format for developing rules for international
economic interaction in Asia and formulating specific proposals for building a system
of mutually beneficial relations between the largest players of Eurasia, in which all
interested states will be involved on mutually beneficial terms to strengthen interna-
tional cooperation.
Новые тенденции в расстановке политических сил ФРГ (на примере избирательной кампании 2021 г.)
Authors: ШАРАПО А. В.
Published: December 2021

В статье осуществляется сравнительный анализ итогов пар-
ламентских выборов в ФРГ в 2021 г. Автором также рассматриваются пос-
ледствия данной избирательной кампании, которые заключались в значитель-
ном изменении политического потенциала ведущих германских партий, ухода
из политической жизни Германии многолетнего канцлера А. Меркель и форми-
рования новой правящей коалиции. В новое правительство ФРГ вошли три по-
литические партии: социал-демократы, свободные демократы и зеленые. Феде-
ральным канцлером был избран лидер СДПГ О. Шольц, который представил
правительственную программу, нацеленную на продвижение обновленной
стратегии развития ФРГ в последующие десятилетия.
Несмотря на то, что анализ итогов и последствий парламентских выборов
в ФРГ в 2021 г. представляет значительный интерес для комплексного изучения
различными исследователями, актуальность и новизна событий и процессов,
которые проходили в ФРГ весной – осенью 2021 г., определяют явно недоста-
точное их освещение в научных публикациях.
Итоги и последствия избирательной кампании 2021 г. требуют дальней-
шего всестороннего исследования в связи с их важностью для определения бу-
дущих направлений как внутренней, так и внешней политики современной
Германии, которая способна оказывать значимое влияние на европейскую и
мировую политику, в том числе путем определения стратегии развития ЕС и
воздействия на решения иных европейских государств.
О развитии туристической дипломатии Китая с соседними странами в XXI веке
Authors: СЯНЦЯНЬ ЛЮ
Published: December 2021

Дипломатия крупной державы, соседская дипломатия, ди-
пломатия развивающихся стран и дипломатия многосторонних международных
организаций являются важными компонентами дипломатической схемы КНР.
Основные ориентиры внешней политики Китая в отношении соседних
стран заключаются в следовании принципам дружественности, партнерства,
добрососедства, желании поддержать безопасность и процветание стран – сосе-
дей. Автор считает, что взаимодействие Китая с соседями характеризуется со-
существованием сильных и слабых сторон, частым общением на официальном
уровне и недостаточным количеством неправительственных обменов, что при-
водит к неполному пониманию внешней политики Китая и его намерений в
странах, имеющих общую границу с Китаем.
Туристическая дипломатия интерпретируется автором как составная
часть общей дипломатии Пекина, эволюционировавшая с периферии внешне-
политической деятельности на передовую и ставшая неотъемлемой частью
национальной дипломатии. Рассматривается развитие туристической диплома-
тии Китая с Россией, Южной Кореей, Японией, Ассоциацией государств Юго-
Восточной Азии (АСЕАН) в XXI в. В статье с достаточной полнотой раскрыты
содержание и роль туристической дипломатии в отношениях КНР с соседними
государствами, выявлены ее структурные элементы, охарактеризованы норма-
тивная база и формы, сформулированы предложения по развитию.
Исследование основано на национальной китайской историографии, а
также работах российских и западных авторов. Его базой стали документы КПК,
правительства КНР, министерств и ведомств республики. Широко использованы
историко-повествовательный, историко-сравнительный, институциональный,
статистический методы, а также метод включенного наблюдения и анализа до-
кументов.
Материал изложен на основе системного и ценностного подходов. Обос-
нован вывод о том, что туристическая дипломатия способствует экономическо-
му развитию и культурным обменам, а также достижению баланса в междуна-
родных политических отношениях. Автор подчеркивает необходимость гибко-
го использования такого инструмента, как туризм, в условиях борьбы с панде-
мией COVID-19 и ее последствиями, а также призывает к глубокому обсужде-
нию вопроса о перспективах развитии туристической дипломатии в постеэпи-
демическую эпоху
Brodie Abscess
Authors:   Broomfield Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, UK, Mohamed Abdishakur , Gangadharan Vinay ,   Broomfield Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, UK, Jutla Sukhdeep ,   Broomfield Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Published: December 2021

Brodie abscess is a relatively rare subacute form of osteomyelitis that is difficult to diagnose due to its insidious onset and limited initial systemic response. We present a case of Brodie abscess in a person with knee pain, swelling and antalgic gait. Diagnosis was made initially using plain radiography, this was supported by magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed on bacterial culture of the surgical samples.
İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliğinde Yüz Yüze ve Uzaktan Eğitim Sistemlerinin Karşılaştırılması
Authors: DALYAN Hatice , DALYAN Orkun , ÖZTÜRK Ömer Faruk , PİŞKİN Mehmet
Published: December 2021

Bu çalışmada, iş sağlığı ve güvenliği eğitimlerinde en etkili eğitim türünün tespiti amacıyla 60 beyaz yaka personelden oluşan gruba farklı zamanlarda yüz yüze ve uzaktan eğitim sistemleri uygulanmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen verilerin istatistiksel analizinde Sosyal Bilimler için İstatistik Paketi 24.0 programından faydalanılmıştır. Katılımcıların 52’si (%86.7) erkek, 33’ü (%55) evlidir. Katılımcıların 31’i (%51.7) 27-35 yaş aralığındadır. Katılımcıların sadece 15’i (%25) lisansüstü düzeyde öğrenim durumuna sahiptir. Katılımcıların 39’u (%65) 10 yıldan fazla mesleki tecrübeye sahiptir. Yüz yüze eğitimden elde edilen verilere göre, 36-45 yaş, lisans mezunu ve 1 yıldan az mesleki tecrübeye sahip personellerin diğer gruplara göre yüz yüze eğitim sistemine daha olumlu cevaplar verdiği tespit edilmiştir. Uzaktan eğitimden elde edilen verilere göre, 45 yaş üzeri, ön lisans mezunu ve 10 yıldan fazla mesleki tecrübeye sahip personellerin diğer gruplara göre uzaktan eğitim sistemine daha olumlu cevaplar verdiği tespit edilmiştir. Uzaktan eğitim yönteminin yüz yüze eğitim yöntemine göre çok yüksek düzeyde etkili olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Soğuk İklimin İş Kazalarının Oluşumuna Etkisi: Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde Bir İşyeri Örneği
Authors: SARAÇ Elif , YOZGATLIGİL Ceylan , ÇALIŞKAN Deniz
Published: December 2021

İş sağlığı ve güvenliği konuları kapsamında sıcaklıkla ilgili olaylar, tüm dünyada kaygı oluşturmaya devam etmektedir. Uzun süre sıcak ya da soğuğa maruziyetle çalışanlarda dikkat ve konsantrasyon bozuklukları, ağır fiziksel işlerde zorlanma, yorgunluk, bitkinlik, vücudun asit baz dengesinde değişimlere bağlı kan dolaşımının etkilenmesi ve ayrıca bunlara bağlı düşmeler işe uyumun azalması hem medikal tedavi gerektiren hastalıklara hem de uzuv kayıplarına varabilen yaralanmalara neden olabilmektedir. Fakat bu konuda yapılan çalışmalarda iş kazalarının kesin ve birincil etmeni olarak soğuk ya da sıcak iklim doğrudan hedef gösterilemeyebilir. Bu korelasyonel/ekolojik araştırmada; Türkiye’de en soğuk iklime sahip illerinden biri olan Erzurum’da araç bakım onarımı ile uğraşan bir fabrikada son 6 yıla ait iş kazası verileri incelenerek konunun önemine vurgu yapılmaya çalışılmıştır. İş kazalarının yoğunlukla soğuk geçen aylarda gerçekleştiği, Ortalama ve Medyan (ortanca) iş kazası sayıları incelendiğinde ise 6 yıl içerisinde toplam 40 iş kazasının olduğu görülmüştür. Bu fabrika özelinde az sayıda iş kazası olması nedeniyle istatistiksel anlamlı bir ilişki tespit edilmemiştir. Bununla birlikte Erzurum ilinde soğuk havanın Ekim ayında başlayarak Nisan ayına kadar yoğunlukla hissedildiği göz önüne alındığında bu dağılım soğuk iklimin iş kazalarına etkisi olduğu yönünde bir bulgu olarak kabul edilebilir. Soğuk hava koşullarının hâkim olduğu Erzurum ilinde tüm işkollarını içerecek şekilde serinin genişletilmesi ile iklimin iş kazası ve yaralanmalarına etkisinin ayrıntılı incelenmesinin iş sağlığı ve güvenliği uygulamalarına katkı sağlayacağı sonucuna varılmıştır.
Pandangan Dalam Kalangan Kaum Melayu dan Cina di Kawasan Sibu Terhadap Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST)
Authors: Abang Ahmad Zaini Dayang Airil Izzah , Kadam-Kiai Stanley Bye
Published: December 2021

Pelaksanaan GST merupakan satu strategi makroekonomi dalam merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi di peringkat nasional. Pengumuman pelaksanaan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) untuk menggantikan Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan (SST) pada April 2015 yang lepas telah membangkitkan keresahan dalam kalangan masyarakat. Lebih keruh lagi apabila masyarakat terpengaruh oleh andaian negatif tentang GST dan pada masa itu, Barisan Nasional (BN) terpalit dengan skandal rasuah serta hutang negara melambung naik. Keresahan rakyat apabila terdapat persepsi bahawa GST berpotensi untuk meningkatkan kos sara hidup. Tingkah laku politik masyarakat juga berubah terutamanya semasa Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 apabila pertama kali dalam sejarah UMNO-BN telah kalah dan diganti dengan Pakatan Harapan (PH). Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menganalisis persepsi kaum Melayu dan Cina terutamanya di sekitar kawasan Sibu yang berada di kawasan Democratic Action Party (DAP) iaitu parti pembangkang, terhadap pelaksanaan GST dari aspek pengetahuan am mengenai GST, kesannya terhadap taraf kehidupan dan sumbang saran dasar tersebut kepada mereka. Objektif kajian ini adalah menunjukkan bahawa terdapat persamaan dan perbezaan mengenai GST dalam kalangan kaum Melayu dan Cina serta mengenal pasti sama ada kaum Melayu masih setuju dengn pelaksanaanya jika kutipan GST untuk membayar hutang negara.
Sistem Monitoring Kadar Gas Metana (Ch4), Gas Amonia (Nh3) Dan Gas Karbon Dioksida (Co2) Pada Tempat Pembuangan Sampah Untuk Pencegahan Penyakit Ispa Berbasis Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Nugroho Lova , Saptono Rachmad , Hariyadi Aad
Published: December 2021

Adanya teknologi Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) dimanfaatkan untuk membuat sistem sistem monitoring kadar gas pada tempat pembuangan akhir sampah, khususnya tiga gas yang akan dimonitoring yaitu gas metana (CH4), gas amonia (NH3) dan gas karbondioksida (CO2) yang dapat mengakibatkan penyakit infeksi saluran pernafasan. Sistem monitoring ini memanfaatkan teknologi Wireless Sensor Network supaya dapat memonitoring daerah yang lebih luas dengan menggunakan jumlah node yang banyak. Hasil komunikasi menggunakan modul nRF24L01 dari node sensor ke server dengan model komunikasi peer to peer dalam kondisi Line of Sight dapat berkomunikasi pada jarak maksimal 120meter dengan rata – rata delay yaitu 6.98s dan packet loss saat pengiriman data sebanyak 14% yang termasuk kategori buruk menurut ITU-T G.114. Kemudian untuk mengetahui kualitas jaringan saat melakukan pengiriman data dari server ke firebase dengan software wireshark didapatkan delay 261ms, kemudian untuk packet loss didapatkan nilai 8.3% masuk ke dalam kategori baik menurut ITU-T G.114.
Telecontrolling Smart Fish Feeder Berbasis Mikrokontroler Dan Aplikasi Android
Authors: Almufaridz Prayogo Khanua , Kusumawardani Mila , Saptono Rachmad
Published: December 2021

Indonesia merupakan negara yang dikenal dengan budidaya perikanannya. Pemberian pakan yang teratur berperngaruh pada sistem pengelolaan budidaya ikan yang baik agar memperoleh ikan yang berkualitas. Namun pada saat ini sistem pemberian pakan masih berorientasi pada sumber daya manusia yang masih manual sehingga mengakibatkan jadwal dan ukuran pemberian yang tidak menentu menjadikannya perbedaan setiap pemberian pakan. Perencanaan pemberian pakan harus tepat agar pertumbahan ikan cepat. Pada penelitian ini dibuatlah alat pakan ikan otomatis yang dinamakan “smart fish feeder”. Alat ini menggunakan sistem kontrol berbasis mikrokontroler yang terhubung dengan internet dan aplikasi android. Dalam rangkaian sistem kontrol menggunakan Arduino uno yang disambungkan dengan ESP32 sehingga terhubungkan dengan internet, selain itu juga terdapat beberapan komponen aktuator dan sensor. Sistem kontrol tersebut mendapatkan masukan untuk mengatur alat smart fish feeder melalui smartphone yang telah terinstal aplikasi smart fish feeder. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian yang telah dilakukan, untuk sensor ultrasonik didapatkan rata – rata nilai kesalahan sebesar 6, persentase kesalahan sebesar 0.896%, dan keakurasian sebesar 99.104% dengan jarak pengukuran 5 – 25cm dan sensor loadcell didapatkan rata – rata nilai kesalahan sebesar 2.8, persentase kesalahan sebesar 0.067%, dan keakurasian sebesar 99.933%.
Evaluation of Clinical Follow-Up of The Patients Monitored at Home Due To COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Esen Ayse Didem , Arica Secil , Ozdemir Mikail
Published: December 2021

Aim: The most valuable approach to prevent the spread of the novel COVID-19, which is a pandemic today, is to detect, isolate, and treat patients. The majority of patients are mild or asymptomatic cases. These cases are followed up and isolated at home in many countries. With a governmental decision issued in Turkey, it has been deemed appropriate to follow up the suspected, contact or definitive diagnosis patients who do not indicate inpatient treatment, have a mild clinical course, or do not have a risk factor that may lead to a severe course of COVID-19, at home by the family practice units. In this study, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of the patients with COVID-19 who were being monitored at home.

Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional observational study. In this study, 321 people who were registered at the Education and Family Health Centers of our hospital and followed up as COVID-19 suspects, contacts, or definitive cases were identified. Home follow-up data of these patients between April 1-30 were obtained retrospectively from the records of family health centers. Data, such as the presence and course of symptoms of people followed at home, their isolation status, medicine usage status, and test results were recorded electronically for further analysis.

Results: In this study, 321 patients, 163 (50.28%) males, and 158 (49.22%) females were included. Among 321 patients, 287 (89.41%) were contact patients, 54 (16.82%) were suspected patients, and 28 (8.72%) had a definitive diagnosis. The mean age of the patients was 40.00±20.68. Among the patients included in this study, 27 (8.41%) were hospitalized, symptoms worsened in 8 (2.49%), 5 (1.56%) were re-applied to the hospital, 5 (1.56%) were re-hospitalized, and 28 people (8.72%) were administered medication.

Conclusion: The mean age of patients who complied with the measures of isolation was higher than patients who did not. The mean age of hospitalized patients was higher than in non-hospitalized patients. The frequency of observed symptoms was consistent with the previous studies in the literature.

Keywords: cough, fever, pandemics, quarantine, SARS-CoV-2
Depression, Anxiety and Sleep Disturbance in Primary Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Yurtsever Ceyhun , Aykanat Yurtsever Burcu
Published: December 2021

Aim: In Turkey, family physicians and family health nurses are among the groups fighting COVID-19 on the frontline. This study was aimed to determine depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders and related factor during the COVID-19 pandemic in FPs and FHNs working in Rize. Methods: Single-centered, a cross-sectional web-based survey study was conducted between July 21-31, 2020 in Rize, Turkey. Demographic characteristics and information related to the COVID-19 pandemic were collected from primary health care workers and depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were evaluated by Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. A total of 109 primary health care workers were included in the study. Results: While 48 (44%) of the primary health care workers had at least mild depressive symptoms, 46 (42.2%) had the least mild anxiety symptoms. Sleep disturbance was also found in 48 (44%) of them. The frequency of psychological symptoms was higher in women, nurses, and those who thought that their protective equipment was insufficient. Sleep disturbances were more common in primary health care workers with psychiatric illness and who suspect they have had COVID-19 at any time. Conclusion: Primary health care workers had a high rate of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It would be beneficial to make special interventions to promote mental health for primary health care workers, who are among the frontline groups in the fight against COVID-19. Keywords: anxiety, COVID-19, depression, health care worker, sleep disorders
Investigation of the Relationship Between Postpartum-Specific Anxiety and Maternal Attachment and Affecting Factors in a Turkish Sample
Authors: Duran Songul , Kaynak Serap
Published: December 2021

Aim: Postpartum-specific anxiety is associated with impaired mother-infant attachment, postpartum depression, reduced probability of breastfeeding, increased risk of infant abuse, and increased probability of anxiety in children and may lead to psychological, cognitive, and psycho-motor disorders in child development. This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to determine the effect of anxiety level in the postpartum period in women on maternal attachment.

Methods: The participants were 384 postpartum women who have a 1-3-month old baby. Data were collected using a personal information form, Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale, and Maternal Attachment Inventory.

Results: It was found that the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale in women was at a medium level, while maternal attachment was at a high level. While the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale was at higher levels in those who were younger, unemployed, and had no other children, the younger age of the partner increased the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale score. No statistically significant relationship was found between Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale and maternal attachment.

Conclusion: It is seen that to evaluate women in terms of anxiety in the postpartum period and to provide the necessary psychosocial support is necessary. The fact that maternal attachment in women was high may have had a positive effect on her relationship with postpartum anxiety.

Keywords: postpartum, anxiety, children, bonding
Discriminative Localized Sparse Approximations for Mass Characterization in Mammograms
Authors: Makrogiannis Sokratis , Zheng Keni , Harris Chelsea
Published: December 2021

The most common form of cancer among women in both developed and developing countries is breast cancer. The early detection and diagnosis of this disease is significant because it may reduce the number of deaths caused by breast cancer and improve the quality of life of those effected. Computer-aided detection (CADe) and computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) methods have shown promise in recent years for aiding in the human expert reading analysis and improving the accuracy and reproducibility of pathology results. One significant application of CADe and CADx is for breast cancer screening using mammograms. In image processing and machine learning research, relevant results have been produced by sparse analysis methods to represent and recognize imaging patterns. However, application of sparse analysis techniques to the biomedical field is challenging, as the objects of interest may be obscured because of contrast limitations or background tissues, and their appearance may change because of anatomical variability. We introduce methods for label-specific and label-consistent dictionary learning to improve the separation of benign breast masses from malignant breast masses in mammograms. We integrated these approaches into our Spatially Localized Ensemble Sparse Analysis (SLESA) methodology. We performed 10- and 30-fold cross validation (CV) experiments on multiple mammography datasets to measure the classification performance of our methodology and compared it to deep learning models and conventional sparse representation. Results from these experiments show the potential of this methodology for separation of malignant from benign masses as a part of a breast cancer screening workflow.
Patient-Derived Organoids in Precision Medicine: Drug Screening, Organoid-on-a-Chip and Living Organoid Biobank
Authors: Zhou Zilong , Cong Lele , Cong Xianling
Published: December 2021

Organoids are in vitro self-assembling, organ-like, three-dimensional cellular structures that stably retain key characteristics of the respective organs. Organoids can be generated from healthy or pathological tissues derived from patients. Cancer organoid culture platforms have several advantages, including conservation of the cellular composition that captures the heterogeneity and pharmacotypic signatures of the parental tumor. This platform has provided new opportunities to fill the gap between cancer research and clinical outcomes. Clinical trials have been performed using patient-derived organoids (PDO) as a tool for personalized medical decisions to predict patients’ responses to therapeutic regimens and potentially improve treatment outcomes. Living organoid biobanks encompassing several cancer types have been established, providing a representative collection of well-characterized models that will facilitate drug development. In this review, we highlight recent developments in the generation of organoid cultures and PDO biobanks, in preclinical drug discovery, and methods to design a functional organoid-on-a-chip combined with microfluidic. In addition, we discuss the advantages as well as limitations of human organoids in patient-specific therapy and highlight possible future directions.
The Relationship Between CEO Duality and Business Firms’ Performance: The Moderating Role of Firm Size and Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Mubeen Riaqa , Han Dongping , Abbas Jaffar , Álvarez-Otero Susana , Sial Muhammad Safdar
Published: December 2021

This study focuses on exploring the relationship between chief executive officer (CEO) duality and firm performance. We focus on how the size and corporate social responsibility (CSR) of firms moderate this relationship. In terms of size, business organizations are of two types: small and large firms. This study uses datasets of listed Chinese business firms included in the China Stock Market and Accounting Research database. It employs a generalized method of moment’s technique to explore the connection between CEO duality and the performance of Chinese business firms through double mediation effects. Our empirical analysis showed that CEO duality has a significant negative relationship with firm performance. We also explored the moderating effects of firm size (small and large) and CSR practices on the relationship between CEO duality and improved performance of Chinese firms. Large firms and CSR practices showed significant and positive moderating effects on the relationship between CEO duality and firm performance. Conversely, with CEO duality, small firms showed a negative moderating influence on firm performance. This inclusive model provides valuable insights into how the dual role of the CEO of a firm affected the performance of Chinese firms through the moderating role of CSR practices and firm size for better business performance. The study offers empirical and theoretical contributions to the corporate governance literature. This research framework might help researchers in designing robust strategies to evaluate the effects on firm performance. Researchers may gain helpful insights using this methodology.
Immobilized Bisphosphonates as Potential Inhibitors of Bioprosthetic Calcification: Effects on Various Xenogeneic Cardiovascular Tissues
Authors: Zhuravleva Irina Y. , Dokuchaeva Anna A. , Karpova Elena V. , Timchenko Tatyana P. , Titov Anatoly T. , Shatskaya Svetlana S. , Polienko Yuliya F.
Published: December 2021

Calcification is the major factor limiting the clinical use of bioprostheses. It may be prevented by the immobilization of bisphosphonic compounds (BPs) on the biomaterial. In this study, we assessed the accumulation and structure of calcium phosphate deposits in collagen-rich bovine pericardium (Pe) and elastin-rich porcine aortic wall (Ao) and bovine jugular vein wall (Ve) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) or diepoxy compound (DE). These tissues were then modified with pamidronic (PAM) acid or 2-(2′-carboxyethylamino)ethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic (CEABA) acid. Tissue transformations were studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. After subcutaneous implantation of the biomaterials in 220 rats, calcification dynamics were examined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, light microscopy after von Kossa staining, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy The calcium content in all GA-cross-linked tissues and DE-cross-linked Ao increased to 100–160 mg/g on day 60 after implantation. BPs prevented the accumulation of phosphates on the surface of all materials and most effectively inhibited calcification in GA-cross-linked Ao and DE-cross-linked Pe. PAM containing -OH in the R1 group was more effective than CEABA containing -H in R1. The calcification-inhibitory effect of BPs may be realized through their ability to block nucleation and prevent the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals.
Shall I Show My Emotions? The Effects of Facial Expressions in the Ultimatum Game
Authors: Ferracci Sara , Giuliani Felice , Brancucci Alfredo , Pietroni Davide
Published: December 2021

Over the past fifteen years, research has demonstrated the central role of interpersonal emotions in communicating intentions, goals and desires. These emotions can be conveyed through facial expressions during specific social interactions, such as in the context of coordination between economic agents, where information inferred from them can influence certain decision-making processes. We investigated whether four facial expressions (happiness, neutral, angry and disgusted) can affect decision-making in the Ultimatum Game (UG). In this economic game, one player (proposer) plays the first move and proposes how to allocate a given amount of money in an anonymous one-shot interaction. If the other player (responder) accepts the proposal, each player receives the allocated amount of money; if he/she rejects the offer, both players receive nothing. During the task, participants acted as the responder (Experiment 1) or the proposer (Experiment 2) while seeing the opponent’s facial expression. For the responders, the results show that the decision was mainly driven by the fairness of the offer, with a small main effect of emotion. No interaction effect was found between emotion and offer. For the proposers, the results show that participants modulated their offers on the basis of the responders’ expressed emotions. The most generous/fair offers were proposed to happy responders. Less generous/fair offers were proposed to neutral responders. Finally, the least generous/fair offers were proposed to angry and disgusted responders.
Biomarkers of Response to Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation in Localised Prostate Cancer
Authors: Pechlivanis Maree , Campbell Bethany K. , Hovens Christopher M. , Corcoran Niall M.
Published: December 2021

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a hormone driven cancer, characterised by defects in androgen receptor signalling which drive the disease process. As such, androgen targeted therapies have been the mainstay for PCa treatment for over 70 years. High-risk PCa presents unique therapeutic challenges, namely in minimising the primary tumour, and eliminating any undetected micro metastases. Trials of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy aim to address these challenges. Patients typically respond well to neoadjuvant treatment, showing regression of the primary tumour and negative surgical margins at the time of resection, however the majority of patients relapse and progress to metastatic disease. The mechanisms affording this resistance are largely unknown. This commentary attempts to explore theories of resistance more broadly, namely, clonal evolution, cancer stem cells, cell persistence, and drug tolerance. Moreover, it aims to explore the application of these theories in the PCa setting. This commentary also highlights the distinction between castration resistant PCa, and neoadjuvant resistant disease, and identifies the markers and characteristics of neoadjuvant resistant disease presented by current literature.
Epithelial and Neural Cadherin in Mammalian Fertilization: Studies in the Mouse Model
Authors: Verón Gustavo Luis , Veiga María Florencia , Cameo Mónica , Marín-Briggiler Clara Isabel , Vazquez-Levin Mónica Hebe
Published: December 2021

Successful mammalian fertilization requires a well-orchestrated sequence of molecular events leading to gamete fusion. Since this interaction involves Ca2+-dependent adhesion events, the participation of the Ca+2-dependent cell-cell adhesion proteins Epithelial (E-cad) and Neural (N-cad) cadherin is envisaged. We have previously reported the expression of E-cad and N-cad in human gametes and showed evidence of their involvement in sperm-oocyte adhesion events leading to fertilization. To overcome ethical limitations associated with the use of human gametes in fertilization-related studies, the mouse has been selected worldwide as the experimental model for over 4 decades. Herein, we report a detailed study aimed at characterizing the expression of E-cad and N-cad in murine gametes and their involvement in murine fertilization using specific antibodies and blocking peptides towards both adhesion proteins. E-cad and N-cad protein forms, as well as other members of the adhesion complex, specifically β-catenin and actin, were identified in spermatozoa, cumulus cells and oocytes protein extracts by means of Western immunoblotting. In addition, subcellular localization of these proteins was determined in whole cells using optical fluorescent microscopy. Gamete pre-incubation with anti-E-cad (ECCD-1) or N-cad (H-63) antibodies resulted in decreased (p < 0.05) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) rates, when using both cumulus-oocytes complexes and cumulus-free oocytes. Moreover, IVF assays done with denuded oocytes and either antibodies or blocking peptides against E-cad and N-cad led to lower (p < 0.05) fertilization rates. When assessing each step, penetration of the cumulus mass was lower (p < 0.05) when spermatozoa were pre-incubated with ECCD-1 or blocking peptides towards E-cad or towards both E- and N-cad. Moreover, sperm-oolemma binding was impaired (p < 0.0005) after sperm pre-incubation with E-cad antibody or blocking peptide towards E-cad, N-cad or both proteins. Finally, sperm-oocyte fusion was lower (p < 0.05) after sperm pre-incubation with either antibody or blocking peptide against E-cad or N-cad. Our studies demonstrate the expression of members of the adherent complex in the murine model, and the use of antibodies and specific peptides revealed E-cad and N-cad participation in mammalian fertilization.
Blood Cell In Vitro Cytokine Production in Response to Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation in a Healthy Population: Effects of Age, Sex, and Smoking
Authors: Rodas Lluis , Martínez Sonia , Riera-Sampol Aina , Moir Hannah J. , Tauler Pedro
Published: December 2021

Immune system functionality has been commonly assessed by a whole-blood or isolated-cell stimulation assay. The aim of this study was to determine whether cytokine production in whole-blood-stimulated samples is influenced by age, sex, and smoking. A descriptive cross-sectional study in 253 healthy participants aged 18–55 years was conducted. Whole blood samples were stimulated for 24 h with LPS and concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were determined in the culture media. Among parameters considered, statistical regression analysis indicated that smoking (change in R2 = 0.064, p < 0.001) and sex (change in R2 = 0.070, p < 0.001) were the main predictors for IL-10 production, with higher values for women and non-smokers. Age was also found to be a significant predictor (change in R2 = 0.021, p < 0.001), with higher values for younger ages. Age (change in R2 = 0.089, p = 0.013) and smoking (change in R2 = 0.037, p = 0.002) were found to be negative predictors for IL-6 production. Regarding TNF-α-stimulated production, age (change in R2 = 0.029, p = 0.009) and smoking (change in R2 = 0.022, p = 0.022) were found to be negative predictors. Furthermore, sex (change in R2 = 0.016, p = 0.045) was found to be a significant predictor, with lower values for women. In conclusion, sex, age, and smoking were found to be independent determinants of stimulated cytokine production. While female sex is associated with higher IL-10 and lower TNF-α production, aging and smoking are associated with lower IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α production.
AGEs-Induced and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/Inflammation-Mediated Regulation of GLUT4 Expression and Atherogenesis in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Passarelli Marisa , Machado Ubiratan Fabres
Published: December 2021

In recent decades, complex and exquisite pathways involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and inflammatory stress responses have been demonstrated to participate in the development and progression of numerous diseases, among them diabetes mellitus (DM). In those pathways, several players participate in both, reflecting a complicated interplay between ER and inflammatory stress. In DM, ER and inflammatory stress are involved in both the pathogenesis of the loss of glycemic control and the development of degenerative complications. Furthermore, hyperglycemia increases the generation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which in turn refeed ER and inflammatory stress, contributing to worsening glycemic homeostasis and to accelerating the development of DM complications. In this review, we present the current knowledge regarding AGEs-induced and ER/inflammation-mediated regulation of the expression of GLUT4 (solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 4), as a marker of glycemic homeostasis and of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development/progression, as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in DM.
New Non-Invasive Method for the Authentication of Apple Cultivars
Authors: Barberis Elettra , Amede Elia , Dondero Francesco , Marengo Emilio , Manfredi Marcello
Published: December 2021

Food authentication is very important to protect consumers, sellers, and producers from fraud. Although several methods have been developed using a wide range of analytical techniques, most of them require sample destruction and do not allow in situ sampling or analysis, nor reliable quantification of hundreds of molecules at the same time. To overcome these limitations, we have developed and validated a new noninvasive analytical workflow for food authentication. The method uses a functionalized strip to adsorb small molecules from the surface of the food product, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the desorbed analytes. We validated the method and applied it to the classification of five different apple varieties. Molecular concentrations obtained from the analysis of 44 apples were used to identify markers for apple cultivars or, in combination with machine learning techniques, to perform cultivar classification. The overall reproducibility of the method was very good, showing a good coefficient of variation for both targeted and untargeted analysis. The approach was able to correctly classify all samples. In addition, the method was also used to detect pesticides and the following molecules were found in almost all samples: chlorpyrifos-methyl, deltamethrin, and malathion. The proposed approach not only showed very good analytical performance, but also proved to be suitable for noninvasive food authentication and pesticide residue analysis.
Psychological Distress in Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: The Role of the Sociodemographic Variables, Uncertainty, and Social Support
Authors: de Sousa Anderson Reis , Teixeira Jules Ramon Brito , Palma Emanuel Missias Silva , Moreira Wanderson Carneiro , Santos Milena Bitencourt , de Carvalho Herica Emilia Félix , Almeida Éric Santos , Florencio Raíssa Millena Silva , de Queiroz Aline Macêdo , Merces Magno Conceição das , Mota Tilson Nunes , Araújo Isabella Félix Meira , Silva Josielson Costa da , dos Santos Sélton Diniz , Camargo Emerson Lucas Silva , Lourenção Luciano Garcia , da Silva Richardson Augusto Rosendo , Carvalho Evanilda Souza de Santana , Lua Iracema , Barros Sônia , de Araújo Tânia Maria , Oliveira Márcia Aparecida Ferreira de , Pereira Álvaro , Abreu Wilson , da Cruz Sequeira Carlos Alberto
Published: December 2021

Objective: To analyze the relationships between sociodemographic variables, intolerance to uncertainty (INT), social support, and psychological distress (i.e., indicators of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) and perceived stress (PS)) in Brazilian men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with national coverage, of the web survey type, and conducted with 1006 Brazilian men during the period of social circulation restriction imposed by the health authorities in Brazil for suppression of the coronavirus and control of the pandemic. Structural equation modeling analysis was performed. Results: Statistically significant direct effects of race/skin color (λ = 0.268; p-value < 0.001), socioeconomic status (SES) (λ = 0.306; p-value < 0.001), household composition (λ = 0.281; p-value < 0.001), PS (λ = 0.513; p-value < 0.001), and INT (λ = 0.421; p-value < 0.001) were evidenced in the occurrence of CMDs. Black-skinned men with higher SES, living alone, and with higher PS and INT levels presented higher prevalence values of CMDs. Conclusions: High levels of PS and INT were the factors that presented the strongest associations with the occurrence of CMDs among the men. It is necessary to implement actions to reduce the stress-generating sources as well as to promote an increase in resilience and the development of intrinsic reinforcements to deal with uncertain threats.
Tourists’ Behavioral Characteristics Regarding Island-Based Tourism Destinations through the Perspective of Spatial Constraints: A Case Study of Yangma Island in China
Authors: Ma Xintao , Hu Yuna , Liu Yongwei
Published: December 2021

The factors affecting tourist behavior are complex and diverse, but research on its effect from a purely spatial perspective is still limited. The aim of this paper is to explore the dichotomous interaction between tourists and islands: the behavioral patterns of tourists in island destinations and the mechanisms by which island spaces constrain tourist behavior. This study uses fine-grained global positioning system (GPS) tracking data actively authorized and released by tourists. We empirically studied tourist behavior from a spatial constraint perspective and discovered the following: island space has a strong influence and constraining effect on tourist behavior; different spatial attributes have different constraining effects on tourist behavior; and people with different identities interact with different attributes of space to produce different spatial properties, resulting in a ‘harmony-contradiction’ model of spatial interaction. These findings are of great value in expanding the perspective of spatial constraints and exploring the interactions between people and land. They are also of great practical significance in promoting spatial planning synergy, facilitating the construction of high-quality island-based tourism destinations, and building a harmonious relationship between people and land.
Dopamine and Methamphetamine Differentially Affect Electron Transport Chain Complexes and Parkin in Rat Striatum: New Insight into Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity
Authors: Bazylianska Viktoriia , Sharma Akhil , Chauhan Heli , Schneider Bernard , Moszczynska Anna
Published: December 2021

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly abused psychostimulant that is neurotoxic to dopaminergic (DAergic) nerve terminals in the striatum and increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). In vivo, METH-mediated DA release, followed by DA-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in pre- and postsynaptic neurons, mediates METH neurotoxicity. METH-triggered oxidative stress damages parkin, a neuroprotective protein involved in PD etiology via its involvement in the maintenance of mitochondria. It is not known whether METH itself contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and whether parkin regulates complex I, an enzymatic complex downregulated in PD. To determine this, we separately assessed the effects of METH or DA alone on electron transport chain (ETC) complexes and the protein parkin in isolated striatal mitochondria. We show that METH decreases the levels of selected complex I, II, and III subunits (NDUFS3, SDHA, and UQCRC2, respectively), whereas DA decreases the levels only of the NDUFS3 subunit in our preparations. We also show that the selected subunits are not decreased in synaptosomal mitochondria under similar experimental conditions. Finally, we found that parkin overexpression does not influence the levels of the NDUFS3 subunit in rat striatum. The presented results indicate that METH itself is a factor promoting dysfunction of striatal mitochondria; therefore, it is a potential drug target against METH neurotoxicity. The observed decreases in ETC complex subunits suggest that DA and METH decrease activities of the ETC complexes via oxidative damage to their subunits and that synaptosomal mitochondria may be somewhat “resistant” to DA- and METH-induced disruption in mitochondrial ETC complexes than perikaryal mitochondria. The results also suggest that parkin does not regulate NDUFS3 turnover in rat striatum.
The p38 MAPK Components and Modulators as Biomarkers and Molecular Targets in Cancer
Authors: García-Hernández Laura , García-Ortega María Belén , Ruiz-Alcalá Gloria , Carrillo Esmeralda , Marchal Juan Antonio , García María Ángel
Published: December 2021

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family is an important bridge in the transduction of extracellular and intracellular signals in different responses at the cellular level. Within this MAPK family, the p38 kinases can be found altered in various diseases, including cancer, where these kinases play a fundamental role, sometimes with antagonistic mechanisms of action, depending on several factors. In fact, this family has an immense number of functionalities, many of them yet to be discovered in terms of regulation and action in different types of cancer, being directly involved in the response to cancer therapies. To date, three main groups of MAPKs have been identified in mammals: the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and the different isoforms of p38 (α, β, γ, δ). In this review, we highlight the mechanism of action of these kinases, taking into account their extensive regulation at the cellular level through various modifications and modulations, including a wide variety of microRNAs. We also analyze the importance of the different isoforms expressed in the different tissues and their possible role as biomarkers and molecular targets. In addition, we include the latest preclinical and clinical trials with different p38-related drugs that are ongoing with hopeful expectations in the present/future of developing precision medicine in cancer.
Genetic Variation in MicroRNA-423 Promotes Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Chemoresistance in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Morales-Pison Sebastian , Jara Lilian , Carrasco Valentina , Gutiérrez-Vera Cristian , Reyes José Miguel , Gonzalez-Hormazabal Patricio , Carreño Leandro J. , Tapia Julio C. , Contreras Héctor R.
Published: December 2021

MicroRNA-423 (miR-423) is highly expressed in breast cancer (BC). Previously, our group showed that the SNP rs6505162:C>A located in the pre-miR-423 was significantly associated with increased familial BC risk in patients with a strong family history of BC. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the functional role of rs6505162 in mammary tumorigenesis in vitro to corroborate the association of this SNP with BC risk. We found that rs6505162:C>A upregulated expression of both mature miR-423 sequences (3p and 5p). Moreover, pre-miR-423-A enhanced proliferation, and promoted cisplatin resistance in BC cell lines. We also showed that pre-miR-423-A expression decreased cisplatin-induced apoptosis, and increased BC cell migration and invasion. We propose that the rs6505162-A allele promotes miR-423 overexpression, and that the rs6505162-A allele induces BC cell proliferation, viability, chemoresistance, migration, and invasion, and decreases cell apoptosis as a consequence. We suggest that rs6505162:C>A is a functional SNP site with potential utility as a marker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy monitoring in BRCA1/2-negative BC patients, as well as a possible therapeutic target.