bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Critical Review of the Institute of Multiple Recidivism in the Modern Criminal Law of the Republic of Serbia: The Controversy of the Current Legal Solution and Possible Solutions
Authors: Munjiü J. R.
Published: January 2024

After being derogated several times, the institute of multiple recidivism was re-incorporated into the Republic of Serbia’s positive criminal legislation with the intention of giving intentional perpetrators of crimes punishable by imprisonment, who were previously convicted at least twice for criminal offenses committed with intent to imprisonment for at least one year, harsher penalties and disabling them from committing criminal offenses in the future. Numerous disputed scenarios required national jurisprudence to find solutions, with the challenges of calculating the criminal range and the level of the lower threshold of the imposed criminal sentence standing out in particular. The observed institute was analyzed primarily through the prism of rationality, justification, and expediency of the current normative solution, within which the author attempted to provide answers to potentially contentious issues. The findings of the conducted research indicated that the new concept of the institute of multiple recidivism is incorrect because the threshold of half the penal range is excessively high and does not leave enough space for the court to objectively weigh the circumstances of each specific case. Furthermore, the findings suggest that in some cases, an approach based on alternative measures may be a more convenient solution, as well as that the application of the existing legal solution regarding the observed institute is merely legitimate in relation to some categories of perpetrators who are declared “incorrigible.” The conducted research concludes that, due to the arguments presented in the paper, there is a high likelihood that the institute of multiple recidivism will again be derogated from the Republic of Serbia’s legislation if the provision of Art. 55a of the Criminal Code remains unchanged.
Formsand Types of the Use of Specialized Knowledge in Russian Legal Proceedings: Current State and Prospects
Authors: Dyakonova O. G.
Published: January 2024

The work of knowledgeable persons involved in legal proceedings by officials conducting legal proceedings is of primary significance. The work of knowledgeable persons is inter-procedural in nature. The use of specialized knowledge is characterized by a special form. The paper presents the opinions of researchers and the author concerning classification of forms and types of the use of specialized knowledge in Russian legal proceedings. The author concludes that classifications are important for the development of academic thought and practice in relation to different types of legal proceedings. The majority of researchers are in favor of distinguishing two forms of using specialized knowledge — procedural and non-procedural forms. Forensic examination is one of the main and common types within the procedural form. In addition, the author focuses on participation of a specialist in production of procedural (including investigative) and judicial actions, consulting an expert and other procedure participant. The types of the use of specialized knowledge within the framework of the nonprocedural form in terms of content, to a certain extent, are compatible with the types identified within the framework of the procedural form. Specific types can also be identified, e.g., medical forensic examination (expertise), revisions, audits, etc. Alternative expertise takes a special place among the types of the use of specialized knowledge in the nonprocedural form. Its normative regulation has not developed, and the use of its results in legal proceedings as evidence is still in question. At the same time, many types within the framework of the procedural form are normatively regulated. However, the shortcomings of normative regulation as well as not fully developed methodological aspects prevent the use of the results of these types of forensic examination (expertise) in legal proceedings. In relation to some types within the framework of the non-procedural form, the results of which are now actively used in legal proceedings, there is neither normative regulation nor theoretical justification based on a unified approach. In this regard, it is especially important to unify not only the forms of using specialized knowledge, but also the types, based on a general theoretical expert approach, as well as ways to use their results in legal proceedings.
Sustainability as a Foundation for the Philosophy of International Law — Reopening Relations among Peoples
Authors: Carty A.
Published: January 2024

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Factors of stroke misdiagnosis at the onset of myastenia gravis
Authors: Alibekov Ailer R. , Goldobin Vitaliy V. , Yuldashev Hosiddin F. , Klocheva Elena G. , Lubenets Irina A. , Nurmakhanbetova Aruzhan Zh.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis is a rare autoimmune disease,which is difficult to diagnose mainly in the initial stages, when there are single symptoms of the disease or an atypical course. Diagnostic errors are associated with the fact that myasthenia gravis and other diseases of the nervous system have similar symptoms. The most common misdiagnosis in the onset of myasthenia gravis is a stroke. However, the reasons for a false diagnosis remain unspecified and poorly understood.
AIM: To determine the factors leading to misdiagnosis of a stroke in the onset of myasthenia gravis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 133 patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis were divided into two groups. Patients with misdiagnosed stroke at the onset of myasthenia gravis formed the first group, the rest of the patients – the second group. A comparative assessment was performed according to the age of myasthenia onset, the clinical variant of the onset, primary symptoms, the duration of diagnosis, and the severity of the disease at the time of the correct diagnosis, with the percentage of misdiagnosis calculation.
RESULTS: Stroke as misdiagnosis was established more often than others (in 23% of all cases and in 44% of incorrect diagnoses). In the 1st group, complaints of dysarthria and dysphagia were significantly higher, myasthenia gravis began acutely more often, the age of myasthenia onset in patients of the 1st group was statistically higher than in the 2nd. There was no difference between the groups in terms of diagnosis duration, the disease severity, and the history of previous stroke.
CONCLUSIONS: Factors leading to stroke misdiagnosis at the onset of myasthenia are advanced age and acute onset with bulbar disorders.
Strategy of stage treatment for patients with perforated diverticulitis: first experience
Authors: Bezmozgin Boris G. , Poryvaeva Evita V. , Pirozhkova Ekaterina A. , Babkov Oleg V. , Yastrebov Ivan P. , Batyrshin Ildar M. , Surov Dmitry A. , Demko Andrey E.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND: The results of surgical treatment of patients with perforative diverticulitis of the colon are still unsatisfactory today. Since the majority of patients undergo Hartmann surgery, the main problem is a large number of stoma patients. Three quarters of them live with a stoma for a long time, which negatively affects their quality of life and increases the cost of treatment.
AIM: The purpose of this research work is to improve the immediate results of treating patients with perforative diverticulitis and peritonitis by using staged surgical tactics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The reaserach included 14 patients with perforative diverticulitis Hinchey grade II-III. The average value of the Mannheim peritoneal index is 18.9 ± 6.3 points. At the first stage of surgical treatment, all the patients underwent colon resection with a zone of perforation of the diverticulum and leaving its muffled ends in the abdominal cavity. After lavage and drainage, temporary closure of the anterior abdominal wall was performed. After 24–48 hours, all the patients underwent colon reconstraction.
RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 52.3 ± 12.4 years with 4 women (28.6%) and 10 men (71.4%). The average duration of the first stage was 105.7 ± 27.2 minutes, the second one — 113.2 ± 40.5 minutes. The average hospital-stays were 16.4 ± 7.2 days. There were no anastomosis failures and no lethal outcomes. Complications were noted in 9 patients (64.3%), grade I according to Clavien – Dindo — 83.4%.
CONCLUSIONS: The tactics of early surgical treatment is a promising concept for patients with perforative diverticulitis. It provides rapid elimination of the septic focus during the first surgical operation, assumes early reconstruction of the intestine without increasing the number of complications and mortality, and can be used in patients with peritonitis.
Impact of urate-lowering therapy on the course of chronic kidney disease in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Mazurov Vadim I. , Sayganov Sergey A. , Martynov Anatoly I. , Bashkinov Roman A. , Gaydukova Inna Z. , Sapozhnikov Kirill V. , Tolkacheva Daria G. , Sableva Natalia A. , Tsinzerling Alexandra Yu.
Published: January 2024

The presented study has been carried out to identify the effect of urate-lowering therapy with xanthine oxidase inhibitors on glomerular filtration rate and serum uric acid in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials has been conducted; its results based on meta-analysis has been evaluated.
A systematic search and selection of publications in Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and eLibrary databases has been performed. The studied drugs were xanthine oxidase inhibitors: allopurinol and febuxostat. The study considered the following parameters such as efficacy endpoints, namely, glomerular filtration rate and serum uric acid after 3–15 months of follow-up. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity of the included randomized controlled trials has been assessed as well as publication bias and risk of systematic error. Synthesis has been performed using bivariate meta-analysis assessing residual statistical heterogeneity.
7 selected randomized controlled trials (1203 patients) have been included in the meta-analysis. This analysis revealed that medication urate-lowering therapy (allopurinol or febuxostat) was associated with higher glomerular filtration rate (+3.0 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% confidence interval +0.4 to +5.6; p = 0.022) compared with the controls (placebo/no urate-lowering therapy) at 3–15 months of follow-up. Along with this, medication urate-lowering therapy (allopurinol or febuxostat) has been found to result in lower serum uric acid (−3.3 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval −3.8 to −2.8; р 0.001) compared to the controls (placebo / no urate-lowering therapy) at 3–15 months of follow-up.
The results of the meta-analysis have demonstrated a positive role of allopurinol and febuxostat in increasing glomerular filtration rate and decreasing serum uric acid in patients with chronic kidney disease and asymptomatic hyperuricemia. The presented data suggest that therapeutic measures aimed at the elimination of asymptomatic hyperuricemia, including the use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, may be important in slowing the progression of chronic kidney failure and may be additional factors of nephroprotection.
Surgical aspects of the treatment of a patient with actinomycosis of the colon complicated by the formation of a colovesical fistula
Authors: Sigua Badri V. , Kurkov Alexey A. , Lataria Elguja L. , Kozlova Olga P. , Gurzhiy Dmitrii V. , Vinnichuk Sergey A. , Efimov Alexey L. , Chizhov Gleb V. , Khvatov Andrey A. , Zemlianoi Viacheslav P.
Published: January 2024

Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by bacteria from the Actinomycetaceae family. The causes of abdominal actinomycosis are usually destructive appendicitis, prolonged presence of an intrauterine contraceptive or perforation of the colon. Of the internal organs, the left colon and sigmoid colon are most often affected, which often leads to surgical complications. At the same time, diagnosis is significantly difficult due to the nonspecific nature of the clinical presentation, which is similar to that of oncological diseases, and verification of the process is possible only with microscopic examination in a specialized institution.
A clinical case demonstrating the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment of widespread abdominal actinomycosis complicated by the development of a colovesical fistula is presented.
Pemberdayaan ekonomi lokal petani keramba Dusun Jatimulyo, melalui pelatihan usaha produk olahan makanan berbahan dasar ikan air tawar
Authors: Khoiroh Fauziyatul , Naufalian Hafizh , Lutfiyah Elsa , Untari Sri
Published: January 2024

Student Service carried out by State University of Malang Students with the theme "Local Economic Empowerment of Cage Farmers in Jatimulyo Hamlet through Business Training for Processed Food Products Made from Freshwater Fish" aims to hone skills and explore knowledge, especially in the field of innovative food processing made from freshwater fish as an effort to reduce losses and improve the economic welfare of cage farmers. The implementation methods are socialization, demonstration to partners and entrepreneurship training. The processed food products are nuggets from tilapia and meatballs from milkfish. The product is a frozen food product using vacuum packaging. The frozen food method was chosen because it is done with processing production costs that are not too expensive and the manufacture is not too long. Still, the method can produce processed products that are attractive, can be stored for a long time, and increase the selling prospects of freshwater fish. The results of the joint evaluation in the form of sharing obtained satisfactory results. This is evidenced by several positive opinions expressed by cage farmers. In addition, the implementation of business training by the student service team showed that there was a change in the knowledge and experience of Jatimulyo Hamlet cage farmers in making frozen food products made from freshwater fish.

Pengabdian Mahasiswa yang dilaksanakan oleh Mahasiswa Universitas Negeri Malang dengan tema “Pemberdayaan Ekonomi Lokal Petani Keramba Dusun Jatimulyo Melalui Pelatihan Usaha Produk Olahan Makanan Berbahan Dasar Ikan Air Tawar” bertujuan untuk mengasah keterampilan dan menggali ilmu pengetahuan terutama dalam bidang pengolahan pangan inovatif berbahan baku ikan air tawar sebagai upaya mengurangi kerugian dan peningkatan kesejahteraan ekonomi petani keramba. Adapun metode pelaksanaannya yaitu sosialisasi, demonstrasi kepada mitra dan pelatihan kewirausahaan. Produk olahan makanan yang diciptakan adalah nugget dari ikan nila dan bakso dari ikan bandeng. Produk tersebut merupakan produk frozen food dengan menggunakan kemasan vacum. Metode frozen food dipilih karena dilakukan dengan biaya produksi pengolahan yang tidak terlalu mahal dan pembuatannya tidak dengan proses yang terlalu lama, namun metode tersebut dapat menghasilkan produk olahan yang menarik, dapat disimpan lama, dan meningkatkan prospek jual dari ikan air tawar. Hasil dari dilaksanakannya evaluasi bersama dalam bentuk sharing, didapatkan hasil yang memuaskan. Hal ini dibuktikan dengan beberapa pendapat positif yang disampaikan oleh petani keramba. Selain itu, dengan dilaksanakannya pelatihan usaha oleh tim pengabdian mahasiswa ini menunjukkan hasil bahwa adanya perubahan pengetahuan dan pengalaman petani keramba Dusun Jatimulyo dalam membuat produk frozen food olahan makanan berbahan dasar ikan air tawar.
Сравнительный анализ методик игры yа кларнете и саксофоне
Authors: Люй С.
Published: January 2024

Практика применения новых методик игры на саксофоне и кларнете за долгие годы все ещѐ не выработала единственного и верного обоснования. Эта достаточно актуальная современная проблема в музыкальном мире, существующая в области игры на различных духовых инструментах. Если постепенно возможно будет восполнить этот недостаток, то возможно произойдѐт огромный прогресс в искусстве игры на саксофоне и кларнете. Методики игры на кларнете и саксофоне имеют много общего, но также имеют свои отличия, которые могут влиять на подход к обучению и требования к музыканту. В статье автор проводит краткий сравнительный анализ методик игры на кларнете и саксофоне.
Национальная культура
Authors: Висаитова Б.Х.
Published: January 2024

Культура — это совокупность моделей поведения, установок, идей и традиций определенной группы людей или общества. Эти традиции и групповое поведение часто передаются из поколения в поколение, и для их изменения может потребоваться много времени. Большинство обществ обладают уникальными культурами, хотя географически схожие могут иметь общие черты или нормы. В данной статье исследовано понятие национальной культуры. Рассмотрено понятие культура. Изучены основные факторы формирования национальной культуры.
Средства выражения градуальности в современном английском языке
Authors: Андиш И.Б. , Тоцкая О.В.
Published: January 2024

Настоящая статья посвящена описанию градуальных характеристик некоторых частей речи и грамматических конструкций современного английского языка. Каждая часть речи и каждая грамматическая конструкция имеют свои семантические и понятийные корреляты. Понятийные категории коррелируют с лексико-грамматическими классами слов и структурнограмматическими конструкциями, являющимися одновременно коррелятами других категорий. Эта множественность и негомогенность понятийно-языковых корреляций характеризует, в том числе, категорию градуальности.
Exploring environmental sustainability practices in MSMEs: Insights from Malaysia
Authors: Wei Chong Chin , Oluwaseyi Ojo Adedapo , Chew Gan Geok
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this research is to assess the current implementation level of environmental sustainability practices, including green human resource management and green knowledge sharing among Malaysian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The practices investigated are also supported by ways of determining how MSMEs are motivated to implement them and what constraints inhibit such practices. This is a descriptive study, and the MSME (organization) is the unit of analysis, and the owner or manager is the target of the respondent. A total of 300 questionnaires were disseminated to Malaysian MSMEs by using convenient sampling, and the response rate was 48.7%. Overall, the findings reflect the moderate sustainability implementation level of MSMEs. This demonstrates a positive and proactive stance towards environmental sustainability among MSMEs. However, cost reduction and efficiency were reported as the most significant motivators, while lack of support and information from the government as well as social influence were reported as the main constraints. This study provides meaningful insights on pro-environmental practices, green knowledge sharing, and green HRM in improving sustainability practices in MSMEs. MSMEs that voluntarily see sustainability challenges as business opportunities might be ahead of regulations and could draw benefits from this position. The findings also help MSMEs frame their green activities to drive their business capability of creating and retaining greater value in their core business competencies and competitiveness.
Software reliability prediction using ensemble learning with random hyperparameter optimization
Authors: Habtemariam Getachew Mekuria , Mohapatra Sudhir Kumar , Seid Hussien Worku
Published: January 2024

The paper investigates software reliability prediction by using ensemble learning with random hyperparameter optimization. Software reliability is a significant problem with software quality that developers face. It involves accurately predicting the next failure. In recent years, machine learning techniques and ensemble learning approaches have been applied to improve software reliability prediction. These approaches aim to analyze historical data and develop models that can accurately forecast when failures are likely to occur. The article proposes an ensemble learning regression model using Ridge, Bayesian Ridge, Support Vector Regressor (SVR), K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm (KNN), Regression tree, Random Forest, Neural network, and Decision Tree as base learners. Ridge is used as a combiner model. Each base learner hyperparameter is tuned using a random search algorithm automatically. A random hyperparameter search optimization algorithm selects the hyperparameter and adjusts it for overfitting and underfitting. The base models are tuned to minimize bias and variance. The performances of the models are evaluated using standard error measures such as Mean Squared Error (MSE), Sum of Squared Error (SSE), and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE). The proposed ensemble model is compared with existing models using a benchmark dataset. The Iyer,and Lee, and Musa datasets are used for the experiment. The dataset is scaled using standard methods like logarithmic scaling, lagging, and linear interpolation. The results of the statistical comparison show better performance by our proposed model as compared to existing models.
Machine learning algorithms-based decision support model for diabetes
Authors: Kanagarathinam Karthick , Manikandan R , Kumar T Sathish
Published: January 2024

This research explores the application of machine learning (ML)-based risk prediction models in early diabetes disease detection for healthcare professionals. Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide. In light of significant advancements in biomedical sciences, vast volumes of data have been generated, including high-throughput genetic and diagnostic data sourced from extensive health records. Leveraging an initial diabetes risk prediction dataset from the University of California Irvine (UCI) ML repository, our research focused on supervised learning techniques, constituting 85% of the employed methods. The remaining 15% comprised unsupervised learning approaches, specifically association rules. A key contribution of this study lies in the development of an optimal prediction model utilizing supervised ML algorithms. The Boruta feature selection algorithm was employed to identify pertinent features, and the subsequent models were validated using a preprocessed dataset containing 10 attributes. Notably, the risk prediction models generated through random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) exhibited impressive average accuracies of 98.13%, 97.37%, and 97.22%, respectively, as determined via 10-fold cross-validation with 15 repetitions. Furthermore, these models achieved exceptional area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of 1, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively, showcasing their robustness and efficacy in diabetes risk prediction.
Development and Preliminary Validation of Self-management Scale for Breast Cancer Patients in a tertiary hospital in southeastern Nigeria
Authors: Okpalanma Nneoma Ngozi , Ogbonna Brian Onyebuchi
Published: January 2024

Background: Self-management process of diseases aims to equip patients with specific information that will improve adherence with prescribed medication and develop strategies that will help to maintain good quality of life. This study developed and validated a self-management scale for breast cancer patients in two tertiary hospitals in southeastern, Nigeria.
Methods: A set of 35-potential self-management model was developed for the breast cancer patients in 2 domains from extensive literature search. The Instrument was validated using Delphi technique, item-total correlation analysis, factor analysis, construct validity and reliability analysis. Consensus was reached on the content validation of the self-management scale with mean score > 3.5, median > 3.5, absolute value between the median and mode < 1.00.
Results: Forty-three items emerged after content validation in 2 domains: demographic characteristics of patients, and self-management content. Construct validity for selected items of the instrument showed values above 0.5. Item-total correlation analysis resulted in 31-items of the instrument. Factor analysis revealed a multi-dimensional instrument. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined with values between 0.5 - 0.8. The Cronbach’s alpha for the reliability of the items of the instrument were : Items 1 to 11: 0.60; Items 12 to 17: 0.60; Items 18 and 19: 0.80; Items 20 to 30: 0.50; and Items 31 to 33: 0.60.
Conclusion: Preliminary validation of the instrument showed the instrument is valid but the internal consistency needs to be evaluated further with larger population size. The self-management scale revealed level of self-management among the breast cancer patients. This instrument should form a reliable tool for evaluating self-management in breast cancer patients in Nigeria.
Mutations in IDH1/2 Genes Predict Better Disease Outcome of Glioma Patients-A Study from Western India
Authors: Gohil Nikul , Bhalala Neha , Mistry Mittal , Trivedi Priti , Trivedi Trupti
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH) plays an important role in cellular metabolism. In gliomas, the mutational status of IDH1/2 genes have paramount significance, however, study from Western India is limited. Therefore, the current study we sought to explore the clinical impact of IDH1/2 mutations for glioma patients from Western India.
Materials and Method: A total of 50 pre-therapeutic, histopathologically confirmed patients with astrocytoma tumors were included and IDH1/2 mutations were detected using real-time PCR. IDH1/2 mutations were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and disease outcome. Data was evaluated by SPSS software.
Results: The overall incidence of IDH1/2 mutations was noted in 24% (12/50) of glioma patients. Out of 12 patients whose tumors showed IDH mutations, 83% patients have IDH1 mutations, whereas 17% showed IDH2 mutation. Further, in IDH1 mutations, IDH1 R132H & IDH1 R132C mutations were noted in, 80% and 20% of patients, respectively. When correlated with clinicopathological parameters, significant inverse correlation was found with patients age (χ2= 9.75, r = -0.476, p=0.001) and grade of tumors (χ2=17.51, r =-0.636, p=0.0001). In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, a part from age (Log rank=5.443, p=0.020), IDH mutation status (Log rank=3.855, p=0.050), and both, IDH mutation and low grade glioma tumors (Log rank=6.492, p=0.039) remained significant parameters for predicting better 24 months PFS and OS of glioma patients. However, in multivariate survival analysis using Cox Proportional Hazard Forward Stepwise Model, only combination of low grade glioma with presence of IDH mutation emerged at step one as positive significant independent prognostic factor that predict better PFS (HR=2.92, 95% CI=1.12-7.61, p=0.028) and OS (HR=3.0, 95% CI=1.45-6.19, p=0.003).
Conclusion: Based on this data, we concluded that for glioma patients, apart from patients age, low grade tumors with presence of IDH mutations remained significant independent positive prognosticators and would be helpful to clinicians for better management of glioma patients.
Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and Survival of Gastric Cancer in Iran: A review of evidence
Authors: Rezaei Saeed
Published: January 2024

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer and the fourth in terms of cancer-related death worldwide. The GC is the most commonly diagnosed and the most important cause of cancer-related death in Iranians. Due to the significant burden of stomach cancer in Iran, we aimed to review all articles that have been conducted on the Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and survival of Gastric Cancer in Iran and compare them with the global situation. We surveyed Google Scholar, Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Science Direct databases using the keywords of Gastric Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Gastric Neoplasm, Stomach Neoplasm, and Iran and obtained English language articles. After a two-step screening of articles, 51 out of 202 remained eligible for our study (related to Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and survival of stomach Cancer in Iran). We found that although Iran is one of the high-burden countries for GC, the incidence rate and mortality rate are very different in different provinces (up to a six-fold and thirty-fold difference in mortality rate and incidence rate have been reported respectively in reviewed articles between Northern and Southern Iran). Considering that the initial stage is one of the most important and probably the most important prognostic factors, through upper endoscopy screening, the disease can be diagnosed in earlier stages and the survival of patients can be improved. We recommend the Ministry of Health identify high-risk people according to their combination of risk factors (especially geographical region) and make a national cost-effective screening algorithm for Iran.
The Parasitic Plant Cistanche violacea (Desf.) Beck from Ghardaïa (Algeria): A Source of Biologically Active Compounds
Authors: Djemouaı Nadjette , Saad Somia , Baali Faiza , Meguellati Hassina , Benzetta Hanane , Foughalia Abdelhamid
Published: January 2024

The present study aims to determine the contents of total polyphenol (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) and evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Cistanche violacea (Desf.) Beck. The extraction of bioactive compounds from the whole plant of C. violacea (Desf.) Beck was carried out by three different methods, including maceration, Soxhlet, and ultrasound, with ethanol and water as solvents. The results showed that the ultrasound ethanolic extract recorded the greatest amounts of TPC with 188.95 ± 2.2μg gallic acid equivalent/mg dry extract, while for TFC, it was the maceration ethanolic extract with 40.26 ± 6.02µg quercetin equivalent/mg dry extract. The High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) results showed the presence of phenolic compounds, with 32 identified compounds in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. The different extracts showed antioxidant capacities for DPPH, ABTS, phenanthroline, and reducing power assays. The highest antioxidant ability was observed with the ethanolic extract obtained by the maceration method (IC50 33.35 ± 1.4 and IC50 < 12.5 μg/mL for DPPH and ABTS tests). The antimicrobial investigation on seven microbial strains revealed that the ethanolic extract ultrasound showed moderate antibacterial activity (18.66 ± 1.1mm) against only Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, while the other extracts showed weak or no antimicrobial activity. This work suggests that C. violacea (Desf.) Beck has antioxidant properties of natural origin, which justify its traditional use in treating many conditions related to oxidative stress.
Sensory Acceptability and Nutritional Attributes of Hummus Developed from Pearl Millet (Bajra) Microgreens
Authors: Yadav, S. , Awasthi M.
Published: January 2024

Microgreens are young, tender greens and are excellent source of vitamins, minerals, bioactive and health-supporting components. But they have shorter shelf life. Therefore, the present study was conducted to prepare hummus from Pearl Millet microgreens and to evaluate its sensory and nutritional attributes. Microgreen-based Hummus was prepared by chickpeas and microgreens blended in different ratios. All the ingredients used in making hummus were procured from the local market. Chickpeas were soaked in water overnight and then strained and boiled. Microgreens were grown in an indoor setup. Different variations of hummus were developed using chickpea and microgreens i.e. T1 (100:0), T2 (80:20), T3 (60:40) and T4 (40:60), respectively. The formulated hummus was subjected to sensory evaluation to test its acceptability using a 9- point Hedonic scale. Hummus developed with the incorporation of 60 per cent pearl millet microgreens (treatment T4) was most acceptable out of all treatments. The incorporation of microgreens in hummus can be done to deal with the issue of short shelf life of microgreens. Conversion of Microgreens into Hummus can be a solution to make it rich in phytochemicals, carotenoids and phenolic compounds.
Influence of Forest Strips on Changes in Soil Properties in the Agrolandscape
Authors: Koshelev A.V. , Shatrovskaya M.O. , Kretinin V.M.
Published: January 2024

Background: In Russia 5.2 million hectares of protective forest plantations were created on agricultural land. Forest strips optimize moisture turnover, heat and gas exchange of the territory and transform agrarian landscapes into more sustainable forest-agrarian ecosystems (agroforest landscapes). Studying the impact of shelterbelt forests on the transformation of soil properties in the context of climate change (organic carbon storage) is an important problem. The aim of our research was to study the effect of shelterbelt forests on soil indicators and to digitally map the contours of forest-meliorated soils on the test site using GIS-technology and field studies. Methods: In the present study, the methodology of soil studies in agroforested soils (1978) and the methodology of assessing the accumulation of substances in plants and soils in agroforested landscapes were used to study forest-meliorated soils. We proceeded from the position that the reclamation effect of forest belts occurs at a distance of 30 heights. The research was conducted from 2016 to 2022. Result: Research has established, that the soil profile under the forest belt has an organogenic horizon A0 (forest floor); the thickness of the humus horizon (A+B1) under the forest belt is 8-10 cm higher compared to other zones. Spatial distribution of humus content in the A+B1 horizon from the forest belt to the centers of inter-belt squares (zone 20H) is not characterized by great variability and clear patterns and on average makes 1.15-1.2%. The increase in calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content in the soil occurs in the direction from the forest belt to the 20H zone. The indicator of dense residue in terms of the content of readily soluble salts is not relevant in estimating the forest belt’s influence on transformation of soil properties. A preliminary digital map of the contours of forest-reclaimed soils has been compiled. The obtained materials will serve as a basis for modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of soils under forest belts in the zonal section and improving soil fertility in the interstrip space.
The Contributions of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the Growth and the Development of Nigeria During First Republic
Authors: LO Buhari
Published: January 2024

This study examines the personality of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the making of Nigerian nation in the First Republic. The study found out that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a significant role in Nigeria’s independence movement during First and Second Republics. The study notes that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was thrice a major contender for Nigeria’s highest office. He was a key player in the intra-party power tussle that erupted in 1962 that led to disturbances in Western Region House of Assembly. Also, the study examines major challenges faced by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and how he eventually became the Federal Commissioner of Finance and the Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council in 1966. The study employs primary and secondary source materials including books, journal articles and other scholarly publications to interrogate the study. It concludes that Awolowo was responsible for much of the progressive social legislation that made Nigeria a modern nation today.
A Solution for Ambient Storage of DNA
Authors: Phillips John H
Published: January 2024

The need for a solution for room temperature storage of DNA is well known. Studies were conducted to assess stability of EBV DNA using Daykin Molecular Solutions GeneGuardDNA (Georgia). All laboratory testing was done at Prime Laboratories in Van Nuys California. The objective is to demonstrate sample stability of EBV DNA during shipping, storage, and multiple freeze/thaw cycles. To achieve the objectives, the study was divided into two parts; Part 1 to demonstrate stability during shipping and multiple freeze/thaw cycles. Samples were labeled as P1-1 (Positive sample 1, P1-2 first freeze/thaw, P1-3 second freeze/thaw, etc.). In Part 1 the standard deviation between positive samples ranged from 0.08 CTs to 0.25 CTs with no gradual deterioration detected with more freeze/thaw cycles). The average was 0.17 CT’s which is within the instrument’s precision range. In the past we have had no instance of repeating the same extracted sample more than two times. In Part 2 we demonstrated stability during storage. 185 archived clinical samples stored at room temperature from 2013 through 2017 were randomly chosen. DNA was extracted from these samples and EBV DNA assay testing was performed. The results from the new test were compared to the original results obtained for the samples. Concordance and p values were calculated to show the effects of long-term storage on the results of the EBV DNA assay. Pearson correlation coefficient between the original and recent assay results was 0.9564 with a p value of p<0.001 indicating statistically significant correlation between the two assay results. EBV DNA showed no deterioration of sample Ct signal was observed due to Freeze/Thaw cycles and the results were stable across multiple cycles for a period of 6 years at room temperature.
Herd mentality and Autopoiesis in B-Schools’ Research: Here to Stay?"
Authors: James Reynold
Published: January 2024

While the academic literature reveals that significant parts of management research generated by B-Schools has provenly been worthless for over four decades, what’s surprising is that there seems to be no end in sight to this predicament, attributed mostly to ‘physics envy’ and the bureaucratization of B-School research. This article enriches this debate by foregrounding the aspects of herding and autopoiesis that have been rather underplayed in the literature concerning the mostly worthless B-School research.
Bird Biodiversity and Ringing Data Analysis at Shakpak Pass in the Tanirtau (2017-2022)
Authors: BT Berdikulov
Published: January 2024

The Shakpak Pass, located in the foothills of the Western Tien Shan, is a significant migration route for birds. This work presents the ringing data collected between 2017 and 2022, providing insights into the diversity, abundance, and seasonal occurrence of bird species at the pass. The study reveals several key findings, including the identification of rare species, the documentation of migration patterns for both passerine and non-passerine species, and the notable reappearance of a species that had been absent for an extended period. These results deepen our understanding of avian ecology and biodiversity and underscore the importance of long-term monitoring efforts for effective conservation strategies.
Immune Responses to the human retroviruses HIV-1 and HTLV-1
Authors: Alkhatib Ghalib
Published: January 2024

Retroviruses are viruses that integrate their reverse transcribed cDNA into the host genome. Integration into the host DNA ensures their replication and generation of new viral particles. In this minireview I will focus on the interaction of two huma retroviruses with the immune system. Both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the human T cell leukemia virus are retroviruses that target the CD4+ T lymphocytes. The CD4 T lymphocytes play a central role in the immune system and help coordinate the immune response by stimulating other immune cells, such as macrophages, B lymphocytes, and CD8 T lymphocytes, to fight infection. HIV-1 weakens the immune system by destroying CD4 T cells resulting in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In contrast, HTLV-1 infection results in the transformation of these cells causing human T cell leukemia.
Prostate Cancer Screening Methods and Its Management Along Its Precision Medicine Recent Approach in The Light of ESMO Guidelines, A Review Article
Authors: MQ Baig Major
Published: January 2024

Risk of clinically significant prostate cancer is related to age, family history, PSA level, free and total PSA ratio as well as finding of digital rectal examination DRE, subclinical prostate cancer is common in men over 50 years of age, hence PSA (Prostate specific Antigen) testing Has been recommended in men over 60years of age if PSA level is more than 2ng/ml. The 5 - year survival rate for prostate cancer in India is 64%. Although many cancers deem fit for cancer screening but prostate cancer screening having limited role author will try described about current recommendation of prostate cancer screening, recent data of HBCR Hospital based cancer registry shall also be discussed in order to understand disease burden in Indian context, along with management of prostate cancer in depth. Recently precision medicine has opened its wings for prostate cancer as well what we achieve out of it shall further address in this review article.
Prevalence of Nomophobia and Addiction to Smartphone among University Students in Tunisia Running Title: Prevalence of Nomophobia among University Students
Authors: Sellami Rim
Published: January 2024

Users of technology have to increase the time spent on their phone to feel satisfied, and express incessant and compulsive monitoring habits. For this reason, smartphones were designed as potentially addictive. This was a quantitative cross-sectional study describing the prevalence of nomophobia among students in University of Sfax in Tunisia. The predominant age range was 18-20 years with a predominance of the female gender (60%). According to the nomophobia questionnaire (NMP_Q), (99.6%) of the students were nomophobic. This result was reinforced by the Smartphone addiction scale (SAS_SV) which revealed that (97.4%) among them have an addiction on their smartphones. Our results provide a solid basis for developing recommendations for awareness about this topic. Deducing the prevalence of nomophobia especially among young people is a social emergency given its bio-psychosocial impact.
"“Let Me Be Your Dog” or Not: A Qualitative Exploration of Narcissist Victim Traits in the Workplace"
Authors: Dineva Sonya
Published: January 2024

Albeit the socially recognised narcissistic personality disorder is documented to be prevalent within leaders in many organisations, the victims of narcissistic behaviours and their experiences have been explored much less. Aiming at understanding the effects of narcissistic management upon employees generally residing within narcissist victim traits as well as their reactions and coping mechanisms, this qualitative study voiced and thematically analysed the narratives of eight participants interviewed in the UK. Four overarching themes emerged: (a) narcissistic tactics; (b) interpersonal effects; (c) intrapersonal effects and (d) effects on work, suggesting that although submissive individuals have been considered a good match to dominant leaders in the past, this ‘fit’ does not always guarantee harmonic collaboration. Instead, it is argued that there are specific factors that can provide such synergy and concluded that only a sufficient level of psychological need satisfaction of both parties can lead to successful outcomes. Thus, this research contributes to clarifying the mechanism of interaction between narcissistic leaders and their victims in the workplace, further proposing ideas for practical application of its findings and future research that will explore unhealthy interpersonal relationships and create awareness for positive change.
Does Cooperative Conflict Management mediate the relationship between Diversity Appreciation and Self-Efficacy for Teamwork with Dissimilar Team-mates?
Authors: Coetzer Graeme , Jackson Ronald , Evans Jocelyn
Published: January 2024

This research study examines the mediating influence of a problem-solving conflict style (PSCMS) on the relationship between diversity appreciation (DA) and self-efficacy for teamwork with team-mates who are perceived as dissimilar (SEDT). One hundred and ninety-six undergraduate business management students completed self-assessment measures of DA and SEDT, and identified a close associate who completed an observer version of the Dutch conflict management style scale. Product moment correlations were used to examine the hypothesized relationships between SEDT and both DA and PSCMS, and both the Hayes process and the Sobel test were used to test the hypothesis that PSCMS mediates the relationship between DA and SEDT. SEDT was significantly correlated with both DA (r = 0.34, p < 0.01) and PSCMS (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). DA was significantly correlated with PSCMS (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). Both the Hayes process and Sobel test (Z = 3.91, p < 0.001) confirmed that PSCMS partially mediated the relationship between DA and SEDT. Educators and practitioners need to be aware of the influence of DA and PSCMS on SEDT. Development activities that promote both diversity appreciation and use of a problem-solving conflict management style should help improve team member confidence in their ability to work with team-mates who they perceive as significantly different from themselves. This is the first study to examine the relationships between DA, PSCMS and SEDT. The results of this study highlight the importance of promoting both diversity appreciation and a problem-solving conflict management style as part of the process of helping team members develop confidence in their ability to successfully work with team-mates who they perceive as dissimilar.
Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Male Breast: a Rare Case Report
Authors: Sharma Manupriya
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Primary Neuroendocrine (NE) Carcinoma, male breast is an extremely rare malignancy. NE breast carcinomas comprises of a heterogeneous group of tumors which exhibit morphological features similar to NE tumors of gut and lungs. This case highlights the clinical features, histogenesis and diagnostic criteria of this extremely rare entity.
Investigation of pre-service TESOL teachers’ perceptions towards multimedia– based textbook development and usage
Authors: Smagulova Gulnur , Sarzhanova Galiya , Romanenko Svetlana , Bobesh Roza , Jangeldinova Saltanat
Published: January 2024

The purpose of the study is to present the results of investigating pre-service teachers’ perceptions of their readiness to develop and use multimedia-based English language training textbooks.  The dimensional structure of the designed readiness is regarded as a complex personal integrative quality. A corresponding   survey questionnaire is compiled to determine its content. The study included 81 senior students from the foreign language faculty at Karaganda Buketov University. The research's methodology included statistical analysis of quantitative data, experimental training and participant self-assessment questionnaires. Preliminary tests were conducted in both the experimental and control groups aimed at identifying participants’ perceptions of their initial level of readiness for the development and use of multimedia-based textbooks. Participants in the experimental group participated in an experimental course on technology development and   the use of multimedia-based textbooks with the presentation of their final project. When the teaching period was over, the post-test was taken. The results demonstrated the efficiency of the complex assessment of readiness in the mentioned area enabling the definition and correction of gaps in its structural content. The designed course proved its effectiveness in practice as asserted by the post-test scores.