bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Psychological Stress on the Response to Periodontal Treatment: Protocol for a Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Vargas Villafuerte Kelly R , Palucci Vieira Luiz H , Oliveira Santos Karina
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

The interaction between stress and periodontal treatment is a topic of growing interest. It stands out as a field of research that sheds light on the complexity of oral health in individuals subjected to high levels of emotional stress.

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to provide a protocol for a systematic review to examine the scientific evidence related to the influence of psychological stress on the response to periodontal treatment.

METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines will be followed, and the study is based on a formulation of PECO (Participants, Exposure, Comparators, and Outcomes) questions. This systematic review will involve a literature search covering studies published from January 2000 to May 2024. It will include searching the PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOHost, Scopus, and ProQuest databases to identify relevant studies. After selection, data extraction and quality assessment (using the Ottawa-Newcastle Scale) of the included studies will be carried out. The objective is to integrate high-quality evidence on how psychological stress impacts the outcomes of periodontal treatment. Depending on the number and methodological consistency of included studies, the results may be presented by meta-analysis or qualitative synthesis.

RESULTS

The current stage of the study consists of selecting studies for the systematic review as outlined by this protocol. The search, screening, and data extraction began in January 2024. The final results are expected by July 2024, with final manuscript submission planned for November 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

This review will help clarify how psychological factors, such as stress, influence the results of periodontal treatment, providing valuable guidelines for future research and helping clinicians make decisions about the best treatment options for patients.

CLINICALTRIAL

Open Science Framework (OSF) Registries qfs6p; https://osf.io/qfs6p

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

PRR1-10.2196/56765
Unveiling the Construction of Overall Meaning: A Social Semiotic Analysis of the Anti-War Discourse in Lynn Nottage’s Ruined
Authors: Cheng Rui
Published: January 2024

Lynn Nottage’s drama, Ruined, depicts the profound and far-reaching consequences of warfare on both individuals and communities. With deliberate emphasis on the harrowing experiences of Congolese women, this play is concerned with the intricate web of human rights challenges that plague conflict-ridden regions. Halliday’s social semiotics understands and analyzes how meaning is constructed in various discourses, which can provide a framework for probing the relationships between language, communication, and society, and how these entities interplay to convey meaning and mediate social interactions. This paper delves into the discursive cues that construct the overall meaning of Ruined through the lens of Halliday’s social semiotics, and further explores the social-cultural contexts constructed by Nottage as well as the anti-war keynote embedded within her play. By examining the ideational, interpersonal, and textual expressions throughout the text, this analysis suggests that the adopted framework can provide valuable insights into understanding how discursive strategies serve character development, relational dynamics between characters, and the underlying message of the targeting play, which can also be taken as an attempt at multidisciplinary interpretations on literary works.
The Impact of Structured Aerobic Exercise Programs on Health-Related Physical Fitness Parameters in High School Students
Authors: Sharma Pranav , Chauhan Sanjay Singh , Bhima Chaugule Shetiba
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of structured aerobic exercise programs on health-related physical fitness parameters in high school students. A sample of 300 students participated in a 12-week intervention, engaging in supervised aerobic activities three times a week. Pre- and post-assessment measurements included cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. Results revealed significant improvements across multiple fitness parameters. Cardiovascular endurance, assessed through a timed mile run, showed an average increase of 15%. Muscular strength, measured by the number of push-ups and sit-ups, exhibited improvements of 20% and 18%, respectively. Flexibility, assessed through the sit-and-reach test, saw an average enhancement of 12%. Additionally, there was a positive trend in body composition, with a collective reduction in body fat percentage by 3%. Structured aerobic exercise programs proved effective in enhancing health-related physical fitness among high school students. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating regular aerobic activities into school curricula to promote overall fitness and well-being in adolescent populations. Integrating such programs may contribute to establishing lifelong habits of physical activity, positively impacting long-term health outcomes.
Characterization of Na and K Level in Ujjaini River Water in Amethi, UP, India
Authors: Tripathi Anurag , Singh R P
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Ujjaini River is the main source of water for aquatic life and household things related to human beings. The traditional living drinking water quality assessment can evaluate wholly the impact of river water quality on human body. Drinking water safety is an important part in water scientific field. In the presented study a number of water samples were collected from selected sites of Ujjaini River in Amethi, UP India in the month of August-2020. The collected water samples were carried out to the laboratory to analyze the Na and K level to check the suitability of water for drinking and cooking purposes, by using standard procedures. People usually identify River water pollution when people start getting sick while drinking it, once discovered River water pollution needs to be addressed, both to clean the contaminated water and to prevent its spread. At result it was found that these parameters were present in permissible limits according to the BIS and WHO standards yet we should check the quality of River water time to time. People can help to prevent the River water pollution by disposing of hazardous materials like oil, paints, unused prescriptions and solvents responsible in a facility which is certified to handle such materials.
From AI Labs to Clinics: A Review of 21st-Century Drug Candidates Powered by Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Bagane Mayur , Jorgewad Dr. Rajesh
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This article explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on drug discovery. Traditional drug discovery, slow and serendipitous, struggled to meet urgent medical needs. Artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative force, harnessing vast scientific data to predict drug properties and efficacy with remarkable precision. From identifying novel targets to designing custom molecules, AI streamlines selection, reduces costs and opens doors to previously unexplored therapeutic avenues. Breakthrough candidates like Atacicept, GTX-007, and AB-928 showcase the power of AI in accelerating drug discovery, introducing innovative strategies, and paving the way for a future of precision medicine and improved patient outcomes. This review explores the multifaceted impact of AI on drug discovery, highlighting its potential to revolutionize how we combat disease.
Affect and creative performance: The mediating role of work engagement
Authors: Ye Lan , Chu Xiao
Published: January 2024

Drawing on self-determination theory, the purpose of this study was to investigate how affect influences employee creativity through work engagement (absorption and attention). In Study 1 we recruited 143 participants to assess their perceptions of affect, creative performance, and
work engagement. Study 2 is a longitudinal study in which we examined the stability of the relationship between affect and work engagement with a sample of 87 government employees from Beijing. Positive relationships were identified between affect, work engagement, and creative performance.
The result emphasizes the key role of affect in fostering absorption and attention, and consequently, creative performance is amplified. In the context of China’s academia and researchers, the substantial significance of affect in boosting creative performance is demonstrated. The study
shows that work engagement mediates the influence of affect on creativity. Work engagement is regarded as a valuable psychological phenomenon due to its significance in terms of creative performance and individual well-being.
Loneliness status and influencing factors among rural left-behind children in China: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Xiaolin , Xiong Yan , Zhou Zhenqian , Zeng Ming , Li Han , Lu Chunxia , Dong Weixin
Published: January 2024

We investigated the current status and main factors of loneliness among rural left-behind children. We conducted a survey of 812 rural left-behind children in China using the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Children’s Loneliness Scale, the Social Anxiety Scale for Children,
the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, and the Piers-Harris Child Self-Concept Scale. Results showed that (a) 66.26% had a sense of loneliness; (b) there were correlations between loneliness and 7 sociodemographic variables, social anxiety, self-esteem, and self-concept; (c) grade,
age, parental separation duration, contact frequency with parents, social anxiety, self-esteem, and self-concept were the main factors influencing the level of loneliness among rural left-behind children. Recommendations for parents and teachers are suggested.
The psychometric properties of the Utrecht Homesickness Scale among Chinese college freshmen
Authors: Xuan Zhang
Published: January 2024

I examined the validity and reliability of the Utrecht Homesickness Scale (UHS) in the cultural background of China by translating the original UHS into Chinese. The formal scale was formed through exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and checks of internal consistency
reliability and test???retest reliability. The pretest and formal test samples comprised, respectively, 436 and 687 freshmen from universities in China. The final Chinese version of the UHS had 20 items separated into five dimensions: missing family, loneliness, missing friends, adjustment
difficulties, and missing home. According to the statistical results, the Chinese version of the UHS has adequate psychometric properties and can be used to assess the homesickness of college freshmen in China.
The HEXACO model of personality is associated with loneliness in a university setting
Authors: Chang Kaixia , Zhao Longlong
Published: January 2024

[Article Retracted] The problem of loneliness among college students has attracted extensive attention from researchers. As a fundamental psychological framework, personality traits are associated with loneliness. Thus, we conducted a survey of 688 college students in Mainland China to examine the relationship
between the HEXACO personality traits and loneliness. Regression analysis revealed a negative association between loneliness and the personality traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience, and a positive association between loneliness and the personality traits
of honesty???humility, emotionality, and extraversion. This model explained 33.78% of the variance in loneliness. Implications of the findings are discussed.
The relationship between primary-school childrens’ moderate to vigorous physical activity, cell phone screen time, and cell phone dependence
Authors: Hu Shunding , Ren Liangying , Liu Haibin
Published: January 2024

We explored the relationship between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), cell phone screen time (CPST) and cell phone dependence with 715 children at primary schools in China. The students completed the Children’s Leisure Activities Study Survey-Chinese edition, the
Mobile Phone Usage Frequency Scale, and the Self-Assessment Questionnaire on Adolescent Mobile Phone Use Dependence. The results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the children’s mean daily MVPA time and cell phone dependence, cravings, and physical and
mental effects; those children who did not meet the World Health Organization???s recommended MVPA levels had stronger cravings for cell phones. In addition, there was a low to moderate positive correlation between CPST and cell phone dependence. It is recommended that primary school students
participate in more MVPA and reduce their CPST to reduce the cravings for cell phones and the negative physical and mental effects of cell phone use.
Goal reasonableness and grassroots civil servants’ blame-avoidance behavior: Roles of felt accountability and power???responsibility matching
Authors: Xu Ke , Gu Dongming , Zhou Ming
Published: January 2024

Blame-avoidance behavior in the context of different goal-setting and accountability pressures has become a hot topic in academia. We employed the theory of planned behavior to explore how goal reasonableness affects blame-avoidance behavior in a sample of 394 grassroots civil servants
in China. We found a negative relationship between goal reasonableness and grassroots civil servants’ blame-avoidance behavior, with felt accountability acting as a mediator. Further, power???responsibility matching moderated the relationship between goal reasonableness and felt accountability.
This study will help to improve the incentive assessment mechanism for grassroots civil servants and motivate them to maintain accountability for their work.
Travelers’ intentions and behaviors regarding central bank digital currency use
Authors: Han Heesup , Quan Wei , Chua Bee-Lia , Lho Linda Heejung
Published: January 2024

The use of central bank digital currency (CBDC) is an emerging issue in the tourism industry. We uncovered travelers’ intention with respect to CBDC adoption by broadening and intensifying the technology acceptance model (TAM). A total of 598 valid samples were examined and showed
that TAM variables, confidence, competence, and consumer innovativeness sufficiently contribute to explicating the intention generation process of travelers for CBDC adoption. The cross-national influence of China and the US on the intention to adopt CBDC was also explored by adding nationality
as a moderator. This research is one of few studies unearthing travelers’ behaviors for CBDC use, which enriches the extant tourism literature.
Exploring the influence of a hotel’s green animation advertising on green brand attachment: Green brand uniqueness as a mediator
Authors: Qi Hu , Wenye Geng , Yuan Hongzhou
Published: January 2024

With fierce competition in the hotel industry, an important issue is how to create a differentiating advantage and customer brand attachment through marketing tools. The purpose of this study was to explore whether green animation advertisement can positively affect green brand uniqueness
and green brand attachment. We used convenience sampling to collect 386 valid questionnaires from consumers who had seen Agoda’s hotel animation advertisements. The results show that three elements of green animation advertisements (reliability, attractiveness, and informativity) positively
affected the green brand uniqueness, which positively affected green brand attachment. In addition, green brand uniqueness had a mediating effect between green animation advertisement and green brand attachment. This study provides another perspective on the role of green hotels in maintaining
customers’ brand attachment.
Job autonomy, harmonious passion, and work engagement: The moderating role of observational monitoring
Authors: Wu Di , Lin Haitianyu
Published: January 2024

Job autonomy serves as an effective catalyst for passion and engagement in the workplace. However, the rapid advancement of information technology has greatly facilitated observational monitoring, which has the potential to diminish the benefits of job autonomy. Drawing upon self-determination
theory, our study explored the mediating role of harmonious passion for work in the relationship between job autonomy and work engagement, as well as the moderating role of observational monitoring in the relationship between job autonomy and harmonious passion for work. Findings from a two-wave
survey conducted among incumbent employees (1 = 281) revealed that harmonious passion for work partially mediated the relationship between job autonomy and work engagement. Further, when employees perceived a high level of observational monitoring, the positive impact of job autonomy
on harmonious passion for work was weakened. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are thoroughly discussed.
Resilience and well-being of Chinese primary-school teachers: Social support as a mediator
Authors: Huang Yazhou , Huang Jianyi , Huang Xiaoyun , Li Fanglu
Published: January 2024

We used the aligning well-being and resilience in education (AWaRE) cognitive model to understand how resilience develops and maintains the wellbeing of primary-school teachers in China. We also assessed the mediating effect of social support between resilience and well-being of 351
primary-school teachers. The results of our survey indicated the following: (a) resilience positively predicted social support and teacher well-being; (b) social support was found to be a significant predictor, indicating a positive association with teacher well-being; and (c) social support
mediated the relationship between resilience and teacher well-being. The findings provide evidence for the feasibility of the AWaRE model and explain a key mechanism through which resilience positively influences teacher well-being. Therefore, educational trainers can implement interventions
related to psychological resilience to enhance teacher well-being.
Sistem Operasional Housekeeping Departement di Hotel
Authors: Paradita Ni Putu Dena , Koerniawaty Francisca Titing
Published: January 2024

Sistem Operasional merupakan cara melakukan suatu pekerjaan yang dibuat secara terurut untuk memastikan kegiatan operasional berjalan dengan baik dan sesuai dengan yang berlaku. Tujuan pembuatan SOP adalah untuk menjelaskan perincian atau standar yang tetap mengenai aktivitas pekerjaan yang berulang-ulang yang diselenggarakan dalam suatu organisasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana sistem operasional Housekeeping Departement di Grand Serela Yogyakarta dan kendala-kendala yang dihadapi housekeeping dalam menjalankan sistem operasional. Penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini kualitatif dengan observasi dan wawancarai kepada beberapa informan yaitu dua staf dan 2 trainee di departemen housekeeping. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sistem operasional di Hotel Grand Serela Yogyakarta dalam meningkatkan pelayanan sudah diterapkan sesuai dengan SOP yang ada dihotel, meskipun masih ada beberapa yang belum sesuai dengan SOP. Kendala-kendala yang dialami dalam sistem operasional ditambah kembali seperti alat-alat cleaning yang digunakan agar bisa lebih efisien dalam pengerjaan kamar dan pengawasan untuk staf/trainee dalam menerapkan SOP hotel.
 
Operational System is a way of doing work that is made in an orderly manner to ensure operational activities run well and in accordance with applicable regulations. The purpose of making SOP is to explain fixed details or standards regarding repetitive work activities organized in an organization. This study aims to find out how the operational system of the Housekeeping Department in Grand Serela Yogyakarta and the obstacles faced by housekeeping in running the operational system. The research used in this study was qualitative by observing and interviewing several informants, namely two staff and 2 trainees in the housekeeping department. The results showed that the operational system at the Grand Serela Hotel Yogyakarta in improving services has been implemented in accordance with the SOP in the hotel, although there are still some that are not in accordance with the SOP. Obstacles experienced in the operational system are added again such as cleaning tools used to be more efficient in room work and supervision for staff / trainees in implementing hotel SOP.
Exploring contributing factors to PISA 2022 mathematics achievement: Insights from Indonesian teachers
Authors: Wijaya Tommy Tanu , Hidayat Wahyu , Hermita Neni , Alim Jesi Alexander , Talib Corrienna Abdul
Published: January 2024

As an international benchmark, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 evaluates the educational performance of 15-year-old students across various countries. It has been observed that the average mathematics score globally declined in 2022. Understanding the responses of mathematics teachers, as practitioners, to the PISA 2022 results is crucial for evaluating the reasons behind this decline in mathematics scores. This research aims to explore and understand the perspectives of Indonesian mathematics teachers on the factors contributing to the low PISA 2022 mathematics scores. This study employs a qualitative approach, with participants being randomly selected and includes interviews with 36 mathematics teachers in Indonesia. According to the statements provided by teachers, the decline in mathematics scores in the 2022 PISA, relative to the years 2018 and 2015, can be attributed to six primary factors: pandemic-related issues, curriculum, individual factors, resource limitations, student factors, and parental involvement. Subsequently, mathematics teachers provided several recommendations for the government, schools, and parents that might enhance student mathematics achievement. These recommendations include conducting more training, improving ICT facilities in schools, and strengthening parental knowledge about the importance of parental support. The findings of this study offer various recommendations that could be implemented by the government, schools, and mathematics teachers to improve student mathematical achievement and potentially increase PISA scores in 2025.
Symbolic significance and cognitive dimension of the Latvian landscape
Authors: Nitavska Natalija
Published: January 2024

As well as physical reality, the landscape is also an emotionally symbolic structure that closely intertwines with human cognitive perception, self-identification, with the perception of the homeland, as well as affects our daily habits. The landscape, as a cultural expression, forms a close connection with historical and political events, with traditions and customs, with each individual and with the nation as a whole, all of this manifests itself in a symbolic sense of the landscape, often used as a national recognition, for marketing purposes, but the symbols of the landscape are also a close connection between each individual and their native place and ancestors. The research analyses various aspects and phenomena that influence the symbolic importance of the landscape and relate to both cognitive aspects of each individual or community, nation, and collective memory and other expressions of identity and self-awareness. The landscape has a holistic nature that explains the close connection of several processes, both physical changes in landscape and changes in perception of each individual, according to the political and social situation of the country. Not least importance has the history of the development of the landscape perception of each country, which has been formed relatively recently in Latvia and art, photograms and the systematic division of the landscape created by researchers also play a big role in it. The regional context and cultural and historical division of Latvia should also be noted in the creation of landscape symbols. Cognitive processes are therefore associated with such concepts – Genius Locci, memory and event landscapes, landscape identity, place names, landscape biographies, etc. As a result, the author's model for the development and operation of the symbolic meaning of the landscape is presented, reflecting the structure and specificity of the symbolic creation of the landscape, as well as related processes that influence the symbolic meaning of the landscape.
The profile of Lithuanian architects in relation to the professional generations active today
Authors: Riaubiene Edita , Navickeinė Eglė , Dijokienė Dalia
Published: January 2024

The research focuses on the professional profile of architects by analyzing their identity and creative principles. The aim is to explore the professional community of Lithuanian architects who are currently shaping the built environment, to identify their heterogeneity in terms of professional generations. The problem of the research is shaped by the current controversies in the field of architecture concerning the changing status, activities, and responsibilities of the architect. The relevance of the study lies in several aspects: the lack of in-depth sociological research on the professional community of Lithuanian architects; the attempt to verify and clarify the results of the semi-structured interview study Lithuanian Architects on Architecture, and the reflection on the global architectural situation and the new agenda for architectural design towards a high quality built environment. The study adopted a mixed methods research design. This involved the collection, analysis, and interpretation of both quantitative and qualitative data. This methodology is chosen because the research requires a complex and multifaceted approach to the phenomenon of architecture and the problems of architectural practice. It also allowed a larger group of research participants to be reached (450 respondents).
The questionnaire contains 13 questions, each is structured in a multiple-choice format, with one option being an open-ended question. The questions are grouped under several themes: 1) the nature and fields of architectural practice and the concept of architecture; 2) the scope of practice and the allocation of professional time; 3) selfdetermination and professional loyalty; and 4) creative principles. Descriptive statistical methods were used to process the survey data. Content analysis and, to some extent, thematic analysis were used to analyze quantitative data from open-ended questions.
The study highlights that the professional generations of architects analyzed follow the general trend of architecture, refuting the hypothesis that the approach of each generation is significantly different. However, it has been observed that the representatives of each generation show a particular attitude in a specific area, which indicates the dynamics of an attitude or predicts a change in the architectural community as a whole. The youngest generation of architects is an indicator of change. It is characterized by seeing a great diversity of aspects in architecture and architectural practice.
Green Infrastructure Development within Urban Environment provided by Privately Owned Public Spaces
Authors: Stokmane Ilze , Dubate Marta
Published: January 2024

Since the industrialisation era, there has been a trend towards radial sprawl, rapid development and concentration of people in the largest cities. Historically, people needed space outside their homes to interact and communicate to each other. In the city it was provided by public open space, forming the centres of social life. The conditions and opportunities for people to use outdoor space have also changed with changing eras and political power settings, along with the scale of development, security concerns and ownership of space in the city. The aim of the study is to explore the nature of Privately Owned Publicly – Accessible Spaces (POPS) and their potential development contribution to urban green infrastructure, developing design and planning recommendations for the development of Privately Owned Publicly – Accessible Spaces in the urban environment. The research carried out during the literature review and analysis of city plans of the cities introduced POPS program shows the relevance of the topic of private ownership of public open space in the world's major metropolises, but that it is conceptually possible to adapt it to smaller-scale urban planning, for example by applying it to private investors and developers in their requirements for new buildings and sites development.
Community Engagement in Urban Experiments: Joint Effort for Sustainable Urban Transformation
Authors: Treija Sandra , Stauskis Gintaras , Korolova Alisa , Bratuskins Ugis
Published: January 2024

The increasing complexity of urban regeneration issues has recently made multi-stakeholder collaboration an important part to solve policy problems. While residents form an important part in a variety of collaborative governance processes, approaches used are often criticized as too formal, and lacking more inclusive participation. Therefore, new informal mechanisms of collaboration are sought, to ensure a more effective engagement and representation of population groups. Although community-led participation is the approach that leads to a more effective collaborative process, issues of power and inequality are a challenge in many places in planning practice [13]. Ways of civic empowerment, communication, and negotiation provide participants with transformative learning opportunities so that not only their arguments change but also the participants of the participation process themselves [6]. In order to test urban development ideas, the notion of "urban experiment" has been developed in recent years as a recognized and effective approach. The urban environment is viewed as a creative laboratory for testing the implementation of diverse initiatives and innovations [8]. The inner-city neighbourhoods in many cities are struggling to ensure vitality and liveability, thus these areas often represent a widespread location of urban experiments. In addition to these questions, the problem of community representation manifests itself in many inner cities. The potential to transform city centre streets and vacant areas into user-friendly urban spaces and the impact of those transformations on the city’s livability were recently tested by Riga municipality. Urban experiments varied in scale and form, resulting in street pedestrianization, urban gardens, and other temporary initiatives, which allowed more space for walking and cycling, street sales, social events and other activities. Thus, the aim of this article is to explore processes of testbed planning with regard to the role of community participation in the designing, implementing, and analysing phases of the experiment. After presenting the findings, the article concludes with a discussion on factors that influence public participation in collaborative governance including communication, the balance of interests, and the degree of resident involvement in decision-making.
Kinetic model in the agglomeration design: on the example of Lviv
Authors: Habrel Mykola , Kosmii Mykhailo , Habrel Mykhailo , Kovalchuk Inna
Published: January 2024

The kinetic components of local settlement systems with implemented processes related to the movement of people, materials, energy, information, etc. are studied. A kinetic model of the organization and controlled development of local settlement systems is proposed, which is built on the knowledge of movement theories and the properties of space associated with them and provides an opportunity to organize connections between its subsystems and elements of various spheres. The nature of kinetics (movement) in urbanized systems is concentrated in the systems' processes, events, and behavior. Their study and modeling are accompanied by the analysis of phenomena that occur from the point of view of time (presented in the form of a function where time is independent), as well as random events, which by their nature are poorly predicted. The provisions of the kinetic model are applied to the analysis, evaluation, and justification of the concept of spatial organization and development of the local settlement system "Great Lviv". The prospects of Lviv as an agglomeration in the system of connections and relations with the environment are revealed. The requirements for development and conceptual proposals for the optimization of movement within the agglomeration are substantiated. It is defined that requirements and proposals should be oriented toward the search for solutions that reveal the uniqueness of the city space and its surroundings, ensure the harmonious integrity of the agglomeration, and the practical "mounting" of communication functions into the structure of the space.
On Defining Smart Cities using Transformer Neural Networks
Authors: Khurshudov Andrei
Published: January 2024

Cities worldwide are rapidly adopting “smart” technologies, transforming urban life. Despite this trend, a universally accepted definition of “smart city” remains elusive. Past efforts to define it haven’t yielded a consensus, as evidenced by the numerous definitions in use. In this paper, we endeavored to create a new “compromise” definition that should resonate with most experts previously involved in defining this concept and aimed to validate one of the existing definitions. We reviewed 60 definitions of smart cities from industry, academia, and various relevant organizations, employing transformer architecture-based generative AI and semantic text analysis to reach this compromise. We proposed a semantic similarity measure as an evaluation technique, which could generally be used to compare different smart city definitions, assessing their uniqueness or resemblance. Our methodology employed generative AI to analyze various existing definitions of smart cities, generating a list of potential new composite definitions. Each of these new definitions was then tested against the pre-existing individual definitions we’ve gathered, using cosine similarity as our metric. This process identified smart city definitions with the highest average cosine similarity, semantically positioning them as the closest on average to all the 60 individual definitions selected.
Zinc level and effect of zinc supplementation on growth in a subset of Sudanese children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Suliman Omer , Elamin Hiba
Published: January 2024

A case-control interventional study was conducted to determine serum zinc levels in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), and to compare them to the levels in normal children and to the levels after 6 months of zinc supplementation. A total of 74 patients and 30 normal children, considered as control for the zinc levels, were included. The clinical findings, including anthropometric measurements, were obtained. Serum zinc levels at start and after 6 months, for the patients and at the start for the controls were measured. The mean age at enrollment and diagnosis were 7.5 ±4.8 years and 5.5 ±2.4 months respectively. Male to female ratio was 1:1. Patients showed very low zinc levels at enrollment (0.268 ±0.146 mg/l), while the controls had a mean zinc level at lower limits of normal (0.542 ±0.087 mg/l), p value 0.04. After zinc supplementation, zinc levels in patients increased significantly with a p value=0.04. Zinc supplementation had positive effects on weight and height, with a p value of 0.001 for both. The increase in body mass index (BMI) and head circumference (HC) were not significant, p value of 0.058 and 0.067, respectively. Likewise, zinc supplementation had positive effects on the heamatological indices as an increase in hemoglobin levels and a decrease of leukocyte counts, with p=0.004 and 0.005, while the increase in platelet count was insignificant, p value=0.058. Furthermore, zinc supplementation decreased the frequency of hospitalization significantly. We recommend considering zinc supplementation as one of the standard-of-care interventions in Sudanese children with SCD.
Electrophysiology of ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder 1
Authors: Elmalik Salah
Published: January 2024

Ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder-1 (ATLD1, OMIM # 604391) is a very rare clini¬cal condition, characterized by slowly progres¬sive ataxia with onset in childhood, associated with oculomotor apraxia and dysarthria. Laboratory findings reveal increased susceptibility to radiation, with a defect in DNA repair. Patients with ATLD1 show no telangiectasia, have no immunodeficiency and also have preserved cognition. Reflexes might be initially brisk and later be¬come reduced associated with axonal sensorimotor neuropathy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects cerebellar atrophy. The condition is caused by mutations in the MRE11A gene. The present study reports on the neurophysiologic finding in 8 Saudi patients, belonging to 3 Saudi families, who have genetically confirmed ATLD1. All investigated patients had cerebellar atrophy on brain MRI (5/5). Electrophysiologic studies showed normal motor conduction velocity (MCV) of median (8/8) and tibial (2/2) nerves, while 5/6 (83%) had normal peroneal nerve MCV. The distal motor latency (DML) for median, tibial and peroneal nerves was within the normal range in all examined patients. The amplitude of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of median and tibial nerves was also normal, while that of the peroneal nerve was normal in 3/6 (50%). Two of seven (29%) patients had reduced amplitude of median nerve sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) while 3/8 (38%) had reduction in the amplitude of sural nerve SNAP. These findings favor an axonal type of neuropathy predominately affecting the sensory fibers (axonal sensorimotor neuropathy).The present study constitutes the largest cohort of ATLD1 patients worldwide who had electrophysiologic tests.
The story of the Sudanese Conjoined twins, Hassan and Hussein
Authors: Elhaj Yousif
Published: January 2024

Not Available
The engraved code of professionalism and ethics: Story of Sudanese conjoined twins
Authors: Salih Mustafa , Swar Mohammed
Published: January 2024

Not Available
About the Cover (Volume 23, Issue 2, Year 2023)
Authors: Anonymous Anonymous
Published: January 2024

Not Available
Removal of Monovalent and Divalent Cations from Brine Water by Electrodialysis Using Modified Polyethersulfone Membranes
Authors: Khalaf Zainab A. , Mohammed Jawad Sarah S.
Published: January 2024

In electrodialysis, an ion exchange membrane removes unwanted ions from wastewater and toxic metal ions from effluents. Montmorillonite-based modified "polyethersulfone membranes" have been studied as a potential small-scale electrodialysis approach for removing ions from wastewater. The study featured several steps, including solid polymerization, electrolyte balance, and removal of each component from the water. The study used three distinct “cation-exchange membranes (CEM)" types. The selected water body was diluted 100 times before being added to the electrodialysis cell in amounts of the center, cathodic, and anodic chambers, each containing 55, 30, and 40 mL. The initial pH for the real solutions of the water body was 7.16 at 25°C. Compared to "Sulfonated poly arylene ether sulfone (S-PESOS)" (23.23%) and Nafion® (35.34%), "hexamethylenediamine (HEXCl)" stands out as the only cross-linked material with significantly high-water content. When the membrane water content is too high, the membrane may lose its mechanical strength and cannot provide enough ionic conductivity. The semi-empirical model's parameters were estimated to simulate the elimination of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ by three membranes. HEXCl and S-PESOS were electrodialyzed and used to treat the serial dilution from the water with cationics. The removal rate gradually rose after the electrodialysis started.
نوع المكاسب و أثرها في التفاعلات التعاونية الدولية: دراسة حالة
Authors: خلف ا.د عمار حميد ياسين , م.م عبد الله رشيد مجيد
Published: January 2024

في هذا البحث، تم استكشاف تأثير نوع المكاسب على التفاعلات التعاونية الدولية لاسيما في مجال مواجهة التحديات المناخية. تبين أن المكاسب النسبية تلعب دورا حاسما في توجيه سلوك الدول فيما يتعلق بالاتفاقيات البيئية الدولية. ويعكس هذا التحليل دروسا مهمة لصياغة السياسات والجهود الدولية في مجال ذاته.

عندما تتوقع الدول مكاسب نسبية  تفوق الخسائر المتوقعة من التعاون، فإنها تكون أكثر عرضة للالتزام بالاتفاقيات والتفاعل الإيجابي مع الشركاء الدوليين(الواقعية الجديدة). على العكس، إذا كانت الخسائر المتوقعة أكبر من المكاسب، فإن التعاون الدولي يصبح أقل احتمالا، ويمكن أن يؤدي إلى تجنب الالتزام بالاتفاقيات أو حتى الانسحاب منها. هذا يظهر جليا في دراسة الحالة والمثال المستخدم حيال انسحاب الولايات المتحدة من بروتوكول كيوتو واتفاقية باريس للمناخ. بينما الاتجاه الليبرالي الجديدة يدفع إلى أهمية معالجة قضايا الغش والارتداد عن الالتزامات كوسيلة لتعزيز التعاون بين الدول من خلال تبادل البيانات والمعلومات وغيرها بدلاً من الاهتمام بنوع المكاسب. هذه الجهود، يمكن ان تنعكس ايجابياً على تضافر الجهود والتفاهم المشترك وصولاً والنتائج المثلى.

هذا النقاش النظري، يسهم في معرفة فهم دوافع وسلوك الدول في العلاقات الدولية. الواقعية الجديدة تركز على القوة النسبية ودورها في تعزيز المصالح الوطنية وهي من توجيه سلوك الدول. في الجانب الآخر، الليبرالية الجديدة تؤكد على الأبعاد الإيجابية للتعاون الدولي والقيم المشتركة والأخلاقيات في توجيه سلوك الدول.
أثر العقوبات الدولية على قطاعي النفط والغاز الروسيين
Authors: د. نسرين فالح حسن
Published: January 2024

لم يتم وضع اقتصاد بحجم الاقتصاد الروسي تحت مجموعة واسعة من العقوبات الاقتصادية مثل تلك المفروضة الآن نتيجة غزوها لأوكراني، ونتيجة لذلك تراجعت صادرات

الدول التي تفرض عقوبات على روسيا بنسبة (60%) عن معدل صادراتها في النصف الثاني

من عام 2021.

ويبين الاعتماد غير المتكافئ بين روسيا وأوروبا مدى تأثر روسيا بالعقوبات، فتشكل الصادرات الروسية إلى اوروبا حوالي (83%) من صادرات روسيا الكلية، بينما تعتمد أوربا بـ (46%) فقط من وارداتها من الغاز على روسيا، ومن جانب آخر، فإن روسيا ستفقد إمكانية استغلال البنى التحتية التي أنفقت عليها أموال كثيرة لنقل الغاز إلى أوربا من أنابيبها الواصلة بحقولها الغربية والشمالية، ويتوجب على روسيا الآن ترك هذه الأنابيب، والاعتماد على خط نقل (Power of Siberia 1) الذي يوصل الغاز إلى الصين، ولكنه ذا قدرة (38) مليار م3 فقط، ولا يصل إلا إلى حقول محدودة هي (Kovykta وChayanda).
الصراع الامريكي الروسي على الثروات الطبيعية في منطقه بحر قزوين
Authors: الجبوري صباح محمد صالح
Published: January 2024

تمتلك منطقة بحر قزوين اهمية كبير لما تحويه من ثروات طبيعة كانت محرك لطبيعة التفاعلات الدولية وبالأخص بين الولايات المتحدة الامريكية وروسيا الاتحادية، اذ ارادت واشنطن السيطرة علي موارد الطاقة في المنطقة واضعاف التأثير الروسي هناك وتطويق ايران ومنعها من التسلل الى دول بحر قزوين، وسعت الولايات المتحدة الامريكية الى خلق وضع جديد يتمثل في ابعاد خطوط نقل الطاقة في المنطقة عن الهيمنة الروسيه، وقد أثر على اتساع قاعدة الصراع التقارب الأذربيجاني- الامريكي من أجل استثمار الموارد النفطية،  والقرار المنفرد هذا كان دون مشاورة شركائها الأساسيين روسيا وإيران، وتزعمت كذلك حملة من اجل اعادة تقسيم ثروات بحر قزوين بين الدول الخمس، في وقت ترفض فيه إيران هذا التوجه من أذربيجان بكونها لم تحسن اختيار شريك مناسب، وأن ذلك سيفتح أبواب المنطقة أمام النفوذ الغربي، مما يؤثر على استراتيجية كل من روسيا وايران في المنطقة .
واقع السياسة الخارجية العراقية تجاه دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي بعد العام 2005
Authors: أ.م.د وجيه حميد زيدان  , الباحث : جمال مالك عشم خلف
Published: January 2024

أدت المتغيرات السياسية في العراق بعد الاحتلال الأمريكي عام ٢٠٠٣، إلى التأثير على الكثير من المواقف السياسية الخارجية العراقية تجاه دول المنطقة، لا سيما دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي، فالسياسة الخارجية العراقية بعد الاحتلال غالباً ما كانت تمثل مراحل تنافر بينها وبين دول المجلس، بسبب ارتباط الكثير من القيادات العراقية وصناع القرار بسياسات لا تتوافق مع رؤية دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي وأهدافها.

بعد عام 2005، شهدت السياسة الخارجية العراقية تجاه دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي تحولات بارزة. مع تحسين الأوضاع الأمنية في العراق، سعت الحكومة العراقية إلى تعزيز العلاقات مع جيرانها الخليجيين. تركزت جهود التقارب على التعاون الاقتصادي والتبادل الثقافي، مع رغبة في تعزيز الاستقرار الإقليمي. ورغم التحديات التي قدمتها بعض الخلافات السياسية والتوترات، إلا أن العراق سعى إلى بناء جسور الثقة والتفاهم مع دول المجلس. هذا التحول في العلاقات يعكس التطلعات الجديدة للعراق نحو الشراكة الإقليمية المستدامة وتحقيق الاستقرار في الخليج.
الأمن الوطني العراقي والتهديدات السيبرانية... الإرهاب السيبراني إنموذجاً
Authors: صالح شيماء تركان
Published: January 2024

أدى الانتشار الهائل في استعمال شبكات الانترنت في العراق إلى إحداث (ثورة كبرى) تركت تأثيراتها على جوانب الحياة كافة، ومن بينها الأمن الوطني للدولة العراقية الذي أصبح يواجه تحديات جديدة، تمثلت بالتهديدات السيبرانية. فالتطور التكنولوجي الذي شهده العراق في مجال المعلومات والاتصالات خلال العقد الثاني من الألفية الثالثة والذي تزامن مع ضعف الأمننة لدى البنية التحتية الوطنية (أمنية أو مصرفية أو شخصية) أدى إلى أن يصبح العراق منكشفاً أمام التهديدات بمختلف أشكالها. ومن الملاحظ إن أكثر المؤسسات العراقية تتعاقد لتجهيز معلوماتها من أقمار صناعية ذات مورد خدمة واقع خارج الحدود العراقية، الأمر الذي يؤدي إلى مرور تلك المعلومات في خوادم تلك الدول، ورجوعها إلى العراق، وبالتالي فإن هذا الإجراء يشكل خرقاً لأمن المعلومات العراقي. وعليه، لا بد لاستراتيجية الأمن السيبراني العراقي أن تنطلق من مبدأ أساس هو ضمان أمن العراق وحماية وجوده في الفضاء السيبراني، وحماية بنية معلوماته الحيوية، وبناء مجتمع انترنت موثوق به ورعايته والتعامل مع التحديات السيبرانية التي تهدد أمن العراق وسلامته، عن طريق تبني مجموعة من الإجراءات التي تعمل على حماية فضاء العراق السيبراني والدفاع عنه.
التنافس الاستراتيجي في إدارة النظام الدولي :الصين و الولايات المتحدة الامريكية انموذجاً
Authors: احمد هبة حسن رؤوف
Published: January 2024

شهدت مدة نهاية الحرب الباردة تفوق استراتيجي للولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، إذ جمعت بين امتلاك القوة والقدرات من جانب ، و القدرة على التأثير من جانب اخر، وقد مكنها ذلك من الهيمنة والسيطرة على النظام الدولي ، في الوقت الذي كانت دولا أخرى تبحث عن الحصول عن  المزيد من القوة، و السعي لتغيير الوضع القائم للنظام الدولي والحد من استمرار الهيمنة الأمريكي وقيادتها للنظام  إلى وضع جديد في إطار نظرية تحول القوة، على غرار الصين و بالفعل ، ما أن بدأت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية تستشعر خطر الصعود الصيني كمنافس جدي لها، خاصة على المستويين الدبلوماسي والاقتصادي ، لما لهذا المستوى الاخير من ثقل و تأثير ضمن سياسة  تحول القوة  والزحف الهادئ باتجاه الاقاليم الاخرى . و بناء عليه  تستهدف هذه الدراسة البحثية معالجة موضوع التنافس بين  كلا من الولايات المتحدة الامريكية  والصين وكيفية ادارتهما للنظام الدولي من خلال استراتيجيات الهيمنة و توازن القوى ، و محاولة بيان ملامح مستقبل هذا التنافس بين الطرفين.
Political Islam and Secularism (Turkey as a Model)
Authors: Amanj Ali Othman
Published: January 2024

The study explores the intersection of "political Islam" and secularism, with a particular focus on Turkey as a model. Influenced by its historical legacy and cultural diversity, Turkey's social and political landscape provides a compelling case study for understanding the complex dynamics between political Islam and secularism. This introduction highlights the importance of studying this topic, defines the problem of the study, summarizes the purpose of the study, describes the approach taken, and gives an overview of the structure of the study.

The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating elements from political science, history, sociology, and cultural studies. Uses qualitative study methods such as archival analysis, in-depth interviews, and literature review to collect and analyze data. By combining these approaches, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between political Islam and secularism in Turkey.

The study is divided into sections covering the concept of political Islam, the meaning of secularism, Turkey’s unique position between secularism and political Islam, and a synthesis of the main findings and ideas. Through its analysis, the study contributes to broader discussions about the compatibility of religious and secular ideologies in diverse societies, offering implications for both Turkey and other societies grappling with the challenges posed by political Islam and secularism.