bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GENERAL PURGE OF THE RCP (B) IN 1921 (ON THE MATERIALS OF THE BRYANSK PROVINCE)
Authors:   Academician I.G. Petrovskii Bryansk State University (Russia), Zhuravskaia A. V.
Published: July 2023

The article is devoted to the study of extraordinary personnel policy measure - the general purges in 1921. On the materials of Bryansk province the activity of the commission for checking and purging the Party personnel is shown. The reasons for exclusion from the party and data on the social structure of the excluded, withdrawn and dropped out are given. Attention is paid to their labor activity, behavior in society and attitude to the Soviet power. The documents show that many expelled from he Party did not seek to return to the Party ranks. Mostly those who held responsible positions (employees) showed a desire to restore their lost status. At the same time, it was noted that party members often remained unaware of their party status for some time, which caused a passive and irresponsible attitude to work. Nevertheless, in the course of the purge, an inventory of members of the provincial organization was carried out and the party members with "corrupting" influence in the region were found. The introduced into the scientific turnover archival materials and periodicals make it possible to consider the peculiarities and results of the purge of the party ranks in Bryansk province.
Political Theology of Contingency: Reading Materialists with Carl Schmitt
Authors: Rebrov Sergey A.
Published: July 2023

Political theology is one of the most problematic spheres in modern political theory. The clash of positions between supporters of individual interpretations of this discipline, on the one hand, is a serious problem, however, in this sense, the absence of strict definitions opens an opportunity for the most unusual forms of interaction between politics and religion. Even in the case when religion acts exclusively as an analogy of any other worldview position. The study relies on a comparative historical analysis of various definitions of political theology; the method of philosophical deconstruction is used for a general description of the possible combination of the principles of political theology and materialism. This research considers the possibilities of a conceptual combination of the principles of political theology and materialistic philosophy, the foundations of which in both cases are the concept of the specific angle, which at the worldview level can acquire a characteristic of God as a political founder.
Russian Civilization: Civilizational Approach in Political Theory
Authors: Mchedlova Maria M. , Bukin Oleg A.
Published: July 2023

Discussions about the applicability of the civilizational approach in political science correlate with methodological and discursive rethinking of linear philosophical and political interpretive projects. The search for new epistemological and ontological optics of modern political constructions is largely focused on the value-symbolic parameters underlying the civilizational approach. The civilizational paradigm is one of the conceptual schemes of political theory, which makes it possible to interpret political institutions, processes, and world politics through the lens of more stable and deeper factors - value systems and culture. Becoming the identifying basis of politics and the legitimizing ideological and semantic content of instrumental strategies, the civilizational approach appeals to the multiplicity and equality of the paths of historical and political formation. In political discourse, the relevant intentions are the plots of ensuring the completeness of sovereignty, historical memory and falsification of history, a common value-semantic space, national unity, and many others. The point of concentration of scientific and ideological-political search is the definition of the civilizational status of Russia. According to the authors, giving Russia a civilizational status allows us to offer adequate explanations of its socio-political ontology and phenomenology, stable and transient parameters, invariant and innovative characteristics. The emphasis is on the metaphysics of Russian statehood as determined by the specifics of civilization.
PERHITUNGAN KLAIM JAMINAN HARI TUA PADA BPJS DALAM PERSPEKTIF AKAD KAFALAH
Authors: Amri Aulil , Yunita Nurma
Published: July 2023

The Old Age Guarantee Program (JHT) is one of the BPJS programs. JHT has a benefit value that can be claimed by former employees. In practice, the calculation of JHT claims must be in accordance with the BPJS policy. When viewed from Islamic law, the guarantee is called kafalah. However, in the kafalah contract, the calculation of JHT claims and the value of the benefits has gaps that are not in accordance with Islamic law. This thesis is focused on answering three important things, 1) How is the calculation on the BPJS policy regarding JHT for PT IMARA employees. 2) What are the benefits received by former employees of PT IMARA on JHT claims. 3) What is the perspective of the kafalah contract on the calculation of claims and the value of JHT benefits for employees at BPJS PT IMARA. This research is a qualitative research that is descriptive analysis with a sociological normative approach, where the data obtained comes from observations and interviews. The results of the study show that, first, the calculation of old age security claims is a combination of the basic salary and fixed allowances reported by PT IMARA to BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. The amount of JHT contributions for participants receiving wages is 5.7% of income, with details of 3.7% being borne by the company and 2% being borne by the employee himself which is deducted from the salary. Second, the benefits of JHT are in the form of cash, the amount of which is the accumulated value of the contributions plus the results of the development. Third, the calculation of JHT claims and JHT benefits in the perspective of the kafalah contract that is applied to PT IMARA when viewed from the pillars of kafalah is in accordance with the Shari'a. However, under the terms of the kafalah contract, this is contrary to the Shari'a because the contributions of BPJS participants are developed by placing them in several portfolios, including conventional bank deposits or bonds based on interest loans. In the development of claims there is also a 5% interest where the interest follows the BI Rate system.
The Crimean Tatars (3)
Authors:   Michigan State University, Fisher Alan W.
Published: July 2023

This work is a translation from English of the second part of the scientific work of Alan Fisher, the famous historian, professor at Michigan State University, USA. His work The Crimean Tatars was published in 1978 in the USA. In the second part of the book, the author considers the following issues: 1. Reorganization of Crimea; 2. Catherine II and Islam; 3. Administrative structure; 4. Tatar nobility; 5. Crimean clergy; 6. Tatar emigration; 7. Russian colonization; 8. Russian administration of Crimea in the 19th century; 9. Administrative structure organization; 10. Tatar mirza class; 11. Tatar land ownership; 12. Military service of the Tatars; 13. Cities of the Crimea 14. Tatar peasants. 15. Crimean Tatar national awakening; 16. Destruction of Tatar architecture; 17. Russia and Crimean Islam; 18. Education; 19. Gaspraly (I. Gasprinsky); 20. Gaspraly’s followers; 21. Young Tatars. In general, the second part of the work considers the Russian period of stay of the Crimea.
Wilson – Konovalov Disease: Clinical Cases with Different Manifestations and Outcomes
Authors: Samodova O. V. , Smirnova G. P. , Krieger E. A.
Published: July 2023

Аim: to describe clinical cases of Wilson – Konovalov disease in pediatric patients.

Key points. The first clinical case demonstrates the manifestation of Wilson – Konovalov disease with unexplained mild elevation of aminotransferases at the age of 6 years. Despite the persistent hyperenzymemia, no additional laboratory tests were prescribed. At the age of 10, the patient showed signs of liver failure and neurological symptoms. Laboratory and instrumental examination enabled to diagnose Wilson – Konovalov disease at the stage of liver cirrhosis. The diagnosis was confirmed at the Federal medical center. The diagnosis was delayed and made 4 years after the hyperenzymemia was first revealed. The relief of clinical signs was observed after the orthotopic transplantation of the right lobe of the liver from a living related donor. The patient was under surveillance for 10 years after the transplantation.

The second clinical case shows another variant of the course of the Wilson – Konovalov disease manifested as an acute hepatitis. To clarify the etiology of the disease, the patient was hospitalized. In 2 weeks, the patient developed symptoms of acute liver failure, progressive hemorrhagic syndrome, acute hepatic encephalopathy. Death from fulminant hepatitis occurred in 3 weeks after the disease onset after the disease onset.

Conclusion. Healthcare workers should be aware of clinical signs of Wilson – Konovalov disease. Screening for the disease is recommended for children with an unexplained increase of liver transaminases, acute liver failure, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
Coffee cooperatives and cross-border side-sales in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: two sides of the same coin
Authors: Slosse Wannes , Buysse Jeroen , Vijaya Vijaya , Schoors Koen , D’Haese Marijke
Published: July 2023

In the Eastern DRC, coffee farmers combine the different sales outlets available to them. Cooperative members sell coffee to the cooperatives they belong to as well as to informal markets, which include a channel of illegal cross-border smuggling. In this conflict affected region, the informal cross-border markets persist irrespective of the presence of cooperatives. This paper seeks to understand the motivating factors of the side-selling behavior of coffee cooperative members. We study the coffee production and sales of 339 cooperative members in the region and use a double hurdle model to understand which farm characteristics relate to the side-selling behavior. The omnipresence of side-selling in the cooperatives suggest that the unstable political and economic environment is conducive to this co-existence of informal trade and cooperative membership. Side-selling seems a deliberate strategy by the farmers that is tolerated by the cooperatives. The results suggest that farmers who are in a more precarious situation are more inclined to engage with informal markets. This is further underscored by the effect of food insecurity and lack of credit. Hence, the informal market is a safety net that allows immediate payment of coffee in contrast to cooperatives that are more formally organized.
A Proposed Islamic Multidimensional Framework of Poverty: Interviews with Global Experts
Authors: Sevinç Nurgül , (Corresponding Author) Mehmet Bulut
Published: July 2023

This study tests the proposed Islamic framework for defining poverty and its dimensions. The study has adopted a qualitative method of expert interviews to validate the proposed Islamic multidimensional poverty framework. Eight global experts on poverty were interviewed. The study’s main findings show that spirituality has priority over other biological, psychological, social, knowledge and material dimensions regarding the definition and measurement of poverty. Hence, spirituality will be the dimension shaping the remaining domains. This finding implies a policy change to reduce poverty, mainly focusing on solutions including and prioritising spirituality, which can be subjects of future research. There is no consensus on a certain list of poverty dimensions and measures. The extant conventional literature has taken a reductionist approach to poverty and less emphasised the non-material dimensions. Meanwhile, the literature on poverty from an Islamic perspective is mainly normative. In both cases, there is an absence of studies that have proposed encompassing dimensions of poverty and its measures.
Impact of the Events of Saqifa on the Formation of Differences between the Islamic Sunni and Shia Tradition
Authors: Tahiiev Akif
Published: July 2023

There were a number of events in early Islamic history that caused controversy among the first generations of Muslims. In our opinion retrospective analysis of these events can reveal the prerequisites for the emergence of certain characteristics that have become specific to the main directions of Islam. This essay presents an analysis of one such event and its impact on the differences in the sources of Sunni and Shia Islamic traditions. During the events of Saqifa the successor to the Prophet was chosen, which played a significant role in the division of the Muslim community. We analyzed how these events influenced the understanding of divine law and the role of ijma and aql in Sunni and Shia doctrines.
Ideological Framing, Mosques, and Conflict: Bargaining Position of Salafi Movement in Lombok, East Indonesia
Authors: (Corresponding Author) Saparudin Saparudin , Emawati Emawati
Published: July 2023

The Salafi movement is a transnational Islamic group that uses mosques to mobilize its followers and promote its ideological framing. The differences in understanding and practicing religious rituals and worship between the Salafi and mainstream Islamic organizations, such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Nahdlatul Wathan (NW), have triggered tensions and social conflicts during the construction of new Salafi mosques. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze how Salafi strengthened its existence amid the conflicts by disseminating its ideological framing through the new mosque on the Island of Lombok, Indonesia. Based on the theory of social movement as the cognitive framework, this study also argued that although the ideological framing propagated by Salafi through its mosques fueled social conflicts, it became the strategy for bargaining position amid the mainstream Muslims in Lombok. The emergence of the conflicts was used as the reason for the Salafi group to build new mosques or seize control of pre-existing mosques. This condition did not undermine Salafi as a minority and a new emerging Islamic group. Instead, it empowers the bargaining position of the transnational Islamic group in its own right. For Salafi, owning and controlling the holy places is the opportunity to mobilize collective actions and its social proponents to disseminate the Manhaj Salaf ideology. In conclusion, this study contributed to explicating the dynamics of local Salafi in the discourses of the contemporary global Islamic movement.
Peninggalan Kesultanan Singgora sebagai Warisan Ketamadunan Melayu-Islam di Songkhla, Thailand Selatan
Authors: Welani Irna , (Corresponding Author) Dony Adriansyah Nazaruddin
Published: July 2023

The city of Songkhla in Southern Thailand was originally from a Malay-Muslim kingdom called the Sultanate of Singora Darussalam. This sultanate was located in the Khao Daeng hilly area in the present Singhanakhon area. The city which was previously named Singora was founded in the early 17th Century by a Persian merchant named Dato Mogol (or Datuk Mughal, also known as Datuk Muzaffar) who later ruled Singgora under the name of Sultan Muzaffar Shah. His death caused this sultanate to be continued by his son, Sultan Sulayman Shah, who succeeded in bringing Singora to its glory. After his death, he was replaced by his son named Sultan Mustapha Shah. The prolonged conflict of the late 17th Century led to the collapse of this kingdom. However, it is still difficult to find detailed and up-to-date references to this sultanate and its legacy. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the history of the Sultanate of Singora and its legacy as the heritage of a Malay-Muslim history of civilization in Songkhla. Data and information for this study were obtained through literature review, field study, discussion and interviews with related institutions and local communities. The results of this study show that the Sultanate of Singora once ruled for 75 years (1605-1680) in this area based on evidence of historical sites such as the tomb of Sultan Sulayman Shah and his family, a city wall, a network of forts, and a moat. It is hoped that Songkhla’s heritage can be preserved as archaeological sites because indeed it can uncover the history of the Malay-Muslim civilization in Songkhla for present and future generations.
The Israeli Digital Diplomacy Directed to the Arabs: An Analysis of the “Israel speaks Arabic” Facebook Page
Authors: S. I. Shalash Linda
Published: July 2023

Due to advances in technology, foreign countries and their diplomats have resorted to social media to reach a wider and more global audience. Israel, like many others, has taken advantage of the digital world to improve its image in the Middle East. In fact, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs started a special department for digital diplomacy, which manages dozens of digital pages in multiple languages. This paper investigates the strategies that Israel has employed in its digital diplomacy in recent years to improve its image with its Arab neighbors by analyzing approximately 600 posts published on the Israeli Facebook page “Israel Speaks Arabic.” Results of the analysis reveal that the page employs many propaganda strategies to attract Arabs and earn their recognition and acceptance of Israel, such as positing digital publications in frameworks related to conflict, responsibility, and morality in a way that shows Israel as a rational, democratic, peace-loving state that cooperates with its Arab neighbors. “Israel Speaks Arabic” also employs persuasive means that address passion and desires using religion and the humanization of the occupation and its army. Other strategies include the manipulation of terminology, repetition, the amplification of events, and the employment of eminent Arabic voices against the Palestinians that serve Israel’s narrative at the expense of the Palestinian one. The article rests on framing theory.
Constructing the Shape of the ‘Holy’: The Umayyad Conception of al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’s Identity
Authors: (Corresponding Author) Haithem F. al-Ratrout , F. Qamhieh Khaled , El-Awaisi Khalid
Published: July 2023

The al-Aqsa Mosque, the holiest site of the Holy Land, underwent a major architectural transformation initiated by the Muslim Umayyad Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān (r. 66-86 AH/ 685-705 CE). Through his comprehensive construction program, ‘Abd al-Malik established the architectural importance of the Sacred Rock and elevated it as one of the fundamental Islamic religious foci. The vision behind the mosque's design is filled with religious enthusiasm and serves as a powerful architectural manifestation of ‘Abd al-Malik's political manifesto rooted in religious expression. This study provides an analysis of the process of creating the general shape of the ‘Holy’ within the sacred architecture of the al-Aqsa Mosque and its reflection in the general image of Bayt al-Maqdis' skyline. The research employs an interdisciplinary approach, re-examining and re-evaluating the historical literature and connecting it to archaeological observations and architectural coordination relevant to the subject of the study. The findings of this research shed light on the design concept of the al-Aqsa Mosque and make a significant contribution to clarifying our understanding of the early Islamic architecture of the site.
Harmony of Sacred Numbers Functions in the Works of Belles-Lettres from Islamic Perspective
Authors: (Corresponding Author) Nazilya Abduova , Abduov Mukhammadgali , Kagazbayev Zhanbyrbay , Sateeva Botagoz , Kadina Zhanby
Published: July 2023

Since ancient times, numbers have played an important and multifaceted role in human life. In many cultures, especially in the Islamic one, individual numbers were given special significance. In this regard it is necessary to study the origin of so-called sacred numbers, which have been an important aspect of Islamic cultural heritage. The present research paper focuses on the semantics and meaning of "three", "seven" and "forty" which have become sacred numbers due to objective and subjective factors. An analysis of the use of a group of sacred numbers in Islam was researched. Also, the meaning of sacred numbers in everyday life was investigated. As a result of the comprehensive study, we can admit that special properties of sacred numbers lies in the law of creation. Special attention was paid to show the role of sacred numbers in revealing the artistic merits of works of fiction, as well as the peculiarities of their use in religious heritage. It is obvious that the main scientific conclusions drawn by the authors will be a renewed impetus, particularly for young researchers to develop new ideas in this field.
Kesihatan Mental dan Motivasi Pelajar UNISSA Terhadap Pembelajaran dalam Talian Semasa Pandemik Covid-19
Authors: (Corresponding Author) Ummi Fa'izah Abdul Rahman , Asmad Arman
Published: July 2023

This study aims to identify the level of mental health and the level of motivation among undergraduate students of UNISSA during online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This quantitative study uses a descriptive survey method through a questionnaire. A systematic random sampling method was used to obtain 584 undergraduate students from UNISSA students as a study sample. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is used to measure students' mental health levels while the Learning Motivation Strategies Questionnaire (MSLQ) is used to measure students' motivation levels. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study found that undergraduate students have a moderate level of mental health and a high level of motivation while following online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is expected to contribute to students, lecturers and Higher Education Institutions in understanding the importance of maintaining good mental health during the pandemic. The findings of this study also found that UNISSA's role as an Islamic university in providing support to students was clearly proven, especially in difficult circumstances during COVID-19.
Extracting Variable Definitions from Documents on Chemical Processes Utilizing Semantic Information on Variables
Authors: Numoto Masaki , Kato Shota , Kano Manabu
Published: July 2023

Mathematical formulas are essential tools for conveying mathematical
concepts. Definitions of symbols in mathematical formulas often vary
among different documents; thus, knowing the definitions is fundamental
to grasping the semantics of the formulas. This research targets how to
extract definitions of symbols representing variables from documents on
chemical processes. We defined three features focusing on the unique
usage of variable symbols and definitions in these documents and
proposed a new variable definition extraction method. We compared the
performance of the proposed method with that of a representative
conventional method using 45 papers on five chemical processes. The
proposed method achieved higher accuracy than the conventional one for
four processes. We also demonstrated that our newly defined features
contributed to the performance improvement and that the proposed method
can achieve high accuracy with a small number of training datasets.
The prevalence of IgG anti-ACE2 antibody in patients with COVID-19 and its suggestive role in the progression of COVID-19
Authors: Cheng Yu , Xu Zhen , Ding Menglei , Lu Liu , Yu Shanshan , Zong Ming , Fan Lieying
Published: July 2023

Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), a key component in
renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been identified as the functional
receptor for mediating the entry into the cell of SARS-CoV-2. The
correlation between anti-ACE2 antibodies and COVID-19 outcome is less
well-defined. Herein, serum sample were collected from 134 inpatients,
22 outpatients, 40 convalesces and 12 healthy individuals, with
real-time PCR-confirmed SARS-COV-2 infections. The anti-ACE2 antibodies
were tested by ELASA and anti-SARS-COV-2 antibodies were analyzed by
chemiluminescent immunoassay.We found that patients with COVID-19 show a
high prevalence of autoantibodies against ACE2 and exhibit marked
increases level compared to healthy control. The highest level of
anti-ACE2 was observed in death, male, and longer time of admission
group. Thus, significant negative association between serum anti-ACE2
antibodies levels and anti-SARS-COV-2 in different severity group was
observed. We conclude that patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2
infection had a high prevalence of Anti-ACE2 antibodies. Its negative
correlation with anti-SARS-COV-2 antibodies may lead to pro-inflammatory
responses and weaken the protective power of humoral immunity by
enhancing RAS pro-inflammatory axis.
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PV MODULE BACKSHEETS
Authors: Wild Paul de , Wild-Scholten Mariska de , Goudswaard Imco
Published: July 2023

Increased deployment of solar PV enables the transition to decarbonized
energy systems, capable of tempering the dire consequences of global
warming. Even though backsheets are very important regarding lifetime
energy yield of the PV module, the environmental impacts of their
production, use and end-of-life (EoL) processing are largely neglected.
As part of a recently finalized Dutch national project EXTENSIBLE
(Energy yield assessment of neXT gENeration and SustaInaBLE backsheets)
the environmental impacts for 7 different polymeric backsheets have been
evaluated via a life cycle assessment (LCA). The selected backsheets
include 3 traditional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - based
backsheets with a fluorine containing outer layer (two white pigmented
and one fully transparent). The other 4 backsheets are novel
high-performance polyolefin (PO) -based backsheets, manufactured by
Endurans Solar , also including one transparent
version. From results of the LCA it is concluded that in comparison with
PET-based backsheets and fluoropolymer containing backsheets, PO-based
backsheets perform best in terms of energy yield, reliability and
environmental impacts. The production of fluoropolymer- and PET-based
backsheets cause substantial environmental impacts, especially regarding
climate change and ozone depletion. This conclusion is corroborated by
recent literature data. Regarding the EoL phase, it was shown from a
theoretical assessment that pyrolysis of the spent backsheets
potentially leads to much lower GWP when compared to incineration,
especially for the PO-based backsheets. Incineration of the shredded and
solid backsheet material causes direct emissions of CO
with a limited heat recovery potential only. Deploying pyrolysis for
spent PO-based backsheets significantly improves their life-time GWP per
kWh produced. Pyrolysis offers the possibility to recover a large part
of the polyolefin as an usable pyrolysis oil that might serve as
feedstock for chemicals or as transportable liquid fuel for the
generation of process heat in recovery boilers, thereby avoiding the use
of new fossil resources. EoL pyrolysis (or incineration) of
fluoropolymer-based backsheets is problematic due to the presence of
fluorinated hydrocarbons, leading to corrosive and/or toxic products.
Differential responses of macroinvertebrates and phytoplankton to river health status in different habitats
Authors: Chen Changming , He Kejian , He Yangyidan , Feng Xuekai , Tang Hong , Yang Liling , He Yuan , Wenna Lyu
Published: July 2023

Assessing river health by combining different biological taxa can
provide more reliable results. However, there is still a lack of
in-depth research on how different taxa respond to river health and what
kind of supplementary ecological data might be provided. In this study,
we set up 31 survey sections in the main streams and major tributaries
of the Babian River to investigate the conditions of river habitat,
macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, water quality, riparian zone, and
societal value. Indexes of biotic integrity of macroinvertebrates and
phytoplankton (B-IBI and P-IBI) were constructed, and assessments of
biotic integrity, water quality, riparian zone, and societal value were
conducted. The responses of macroinvertebrates and phytoplankton to
river health were analyzed across the Babian River basin, as well as
those in rivers with-various substrates, river widths, elevations, and
flow velocities. The results showed that 1) both B-IBI and P-IBI could
distinguish between reference and impaired sites, and could be used to
assess the target watershed, but their assessment results were both
sub-healthy. 2) Both B-IBI and P-IBI accurately reflected the overall
water quality (comprehensive pollution index, CPI) and TN condition, and
partially reflected the status of the riparian zone, but neither one was
able to reflect the results of the societal value survey. 3) The
applicability and assessment effectiveness of B-IBI and P-IBI in
different habitats revealed obvious differences: phytoplankton more
comprehensively reflected the river health than macroinvertebrates in
pebble and sediment-dominated rivers, wider and narrower rivers,
high-elevation rivers, and low-velocity rivers. However, phytoplankton
were not able to indicate NH -N and COD
conditions across the whole watershed or in different
habitats. In contrast, macroinvertebrates responded better to CPI, NH
-N, and COD throughout the entire
watershed, as well as in rivers that were narrower, pebble-dominated, at
low-elevation, and with high-velocity. In summary, macroinvertebrates
could effectively account for the insufficiency of phytoplankton in the
assessment of organic pollution and oxygen-consuming pollutants due to
their sensitivity to NH -N and COD .
The findings will provide data and theoretical support for selecting
biological taxa and constructing multimetric indices in river health
assessment.
Is the level of varicella-zoster virus IgG associated with symptomatic status of genital herpes simplex virus infection? A case-control study
Authors: Palmer Bret S. , Tang Alan , Winchester Stephen , Atkins Mark , Barton Simon , Kelleher P.
Published: July 2023

Objectives Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is a common infection, affecting
90% of the population by age 50. Recurrent symptomatic outbreaks,
experienced by a minority, have significant psychological and
psychosexual effects. The Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), resembling HSV2,
shows potential for a functional cure via vaccination. This study
investigates the link between low VZV antibody levels and recurrent HSV
outbreaks. Methods During this case controlled study a total of 110
patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic HSV1&2 were recruited during
their sexual health screen. Serum samples were collected between Aug
2019 - July 2022, breaks in the study occurred due to COVID and
Monkeypox outbreaks. Primary outcome measure was the serological status
of HSV and VZV and VZV IgG titre level. Results The average age was 37.3
years (range 21-65 years). For asymptomatic genital HSV2 the average VZV
IgG titre was 2373.9 IU/mL (n=17) and 1219.0 IU/mL for the symptomatic
group (n=67); p=<0.00001), with similar results for HSV1.
Conclusion There is a strong association between average higher
varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG level and being an asymptomatic carrier
of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)1&2. Further research is planned.
Escitalopram-induced QTc prolongation and its relationship with KCNQ1, KCNE1, and KCNH2 gene polymorphisms
Authors: Chen Zimu , Xu Zhi , Gao Chenjie , Chen Lei , Tan Tingting , Jiang Wenhao , Chen Bingwei , Yuan Yonggui , Zhang Zhijun
Published: July 2023

Aims: We investigated the influence of KCNQ1, KCNE1, and KCNH2 gene
polymorphisms along with clinical factors on escitalopram-induced QTc
prolongation. Methods: A total of 713 patients prescribed escitalopram
were identified and had at least one ECG recording in this retrospective
study. 472 patients with two or more ECG data were divided into QTc
prolongation (n=119) and non-prolongation (n=353) groups depending on
the threshold change in QTc of 30ms above baseline value (∆QTc≥30ms). 45
patients in the QTc prolongation group and 90 patients in the QTc
non-prolongation group were genotyped for 43 single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs) of KCNQ1, KCNE1, and KCNH2 genes. Results: Patients
with QTc prolongation (∆QTc≥30ms) still got higher escitalopram dose
(10.3mg) than patients without QTc prolongation (9.4mg), although no
significant relationship was found between QTc interval and escitalopram
dose among all patients. Patients who were older, or with coronary
disease, or with hypertension were significantly at risk for QTc
prolongation (∆QTc≥30ms). Concomitant antipsychotic treatment was
associated with a longer QTc interval (7.469ms). Additionally, the
distribution of KCNE1 rs1805127 C allele, KCNE1 rs4817668 CC genotype
KCNH2 rs3807372 AG genotype differed significantly between the QTc
prolongation and non-prolongation groups. Conclusion: Patients with QTc
prolongation got higher escitalopram dose. Meanwhile, Greater age,
coronary disease and hypertension are risk factors for QTc prolongation.
Patients prescribed escitalopram would have longer QTc interval when
prescribed concomitant antipsychotics at the same time. Moreover,
polymorphism of KCNE1 and KCNH2 SNPs play a role in escitalopram-induced
QTc prolongation.
Local Currency Bond Market Development and Currency Stability amid Market Turmoil
Authors: Kim Cheonkoo , Park Donghyun , Park Jungsoo , Tian Shu
Published: July 2023

This study examines the association between local currency (LCY) bond market development and currency stability. Using data from global economies, this study finds that in economies with more developed LCY bond markets, exchange rate volatility is lower during market turmoil. Currency volatility is lowered in bond markets with a greater share of LCY bonds and long-term bonds, even during normal times. The findings suggest that LCY bond market development contributes to financial stability especially during stress times.
Agricultural production in Ukraine: An insight into the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on local, regional and global food security
Authors: Teixeira da Silva Jaime , Koblianska Inna , Kucher Anatolii
Published: July 2023

The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war is affecting Ukrainian agriculture. For example, Ukraine is no longer able to export agricultural products such as grains and cereals by sea to regional (European) and international markets, although this has been partially mitigated by the creation of a ?grain corridor?. As a result, food security in Ukraine, and to some extent, in the region (EU) and globally, is at some risk, especially in countries that rely heavily on agricultural imports from Ukraine. About 70% of the land in Ukraine is used for agricultural production. This paper provides an overview of Ukrainian agricultural production using statistics for 2018?2022, based on available literature, as well as FAO and official Ukrainian government statistics. Global production of the main grain crops and cereals (wheat, maize, barley, rapeseed, and sunflower), ranging between 2.9 and 6.6%, showed an upward trend in 2017?2021. Ukraine accounted for 9, 12, 12, 14, and 50% of the global trade market (import + export) in 2020/2021 for wheat, maize, barley, rapeseed, and sunflower oil, respectively. About 75% of agricultural products and services (892,852 million UAH in total) come from the crop industry, with the remainder from the livestock industry. Fertilizer export was banned in 2022.
Correlation and path coefficient analyses of dry weight yield components in the common sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.)
Authors: Zavoshti Shabnam , Sabaghnia Naser , Moayed Farid
Published: July 2023

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial forage crop with
desirable forage properties adapted to temperate climate conditions. The
purpose of this research was to study the phenotypic correlation
coefficients between dry forage yield and some morphological traits, and to
identify the direct and indirect effects of the associated traits. Thus, 32
ecotypes (landraces) were assessed in the randomized complete block design
layout with four replications. Positive and statistically significant
correlations were determined between total dry weight (TDW) and all measured
traits except for internode length (IL) [r=0.29, P>0.05]. Regarding the
variance inflation factor (VIF) as a multicollinearity statistic, number of
nodes per main stem (VIF=1407.4) and number of internodes per main stem
(VIF=1371.6) were removed from the analysis. Path coefficient analyses
indicated that number of leaflets per leaf (NLL) [0.59 direct effect],
height of the longest stem (HLS) [0.42 direct effect], and dry weight/fresh
weight ratio (DFR) [0.27 direct effect] were influenced by TDW as a
first-order trait. Five traits considered secondary or tertiary traits
affected TDW - number of stems per area (NPA), number of stems per plant
(NSP), number of leaves per stem (LS), length of inflorescence (LI) and stem
weight/leaf weight ratio (SLR). The importance of main stem properties such
as length or height, number of leaves, and number of leaflets can be used
for selection in breeding programs aimed at improving common sainfoin forage
yield under semi-arid conditions.
Effect of compost with banana peel and Moringa leaf powders on seed yield and yield components of green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)
Authors: Madhuri B. Fernando W. , Seran Thayamini
Published: July 2023

The one-factor experiment was carried out in 2019-2020 at the University
farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka to study the
effect of compost with banana peel and Moringa leaf powders on seed yield
and crop residue of green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek). It was laid out
in a complete randomized design with eight replicates and the following
treatments: T1 - control (100 g of compost alone), T2 - 100 g of compost + 9
g of banana peel, T3 - 100 g of compost + 6 g of banana peel + 3 g of
Moringa leaf, T4 - 100 g of compost + 4.5 g of banana peel + 4.5 g of
Moringa leaf, T5 - 100 g of compost + 3 g of banana peel + 6 g of Moringa
leaf and T6 - 100 g of compost + 9 g Moringa of leaf powder per polybag
(0.07 m2). The results showed that the application of compost with 4.5 g of
banana peel and 4.5 g of Moringa leaf powders (T4) produced remarkable
changes in the number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, seed weight
per plant, pod yield and seed yield than the other treatments. At the
harvest, treatment T4 had the highest value (1,587.1 kg/ha) of seed yield,
and treatment T1 gave the lowest value (906.1 kg/ha). The present study
suggests that the application of 100 g (equivalent to 14.3 t/ha) of compost
with 9 g (equivalent to 1.3 t/ha) of banana peel and Moringa leaf powders at
a 1:1 (w/w) ratio would result in optimum seed yield of green gram in sandy
regosol. The combined application of locally available banana peel and
Moringa leaf powders could be used with compost for increasing the seed
yield of green gram with less environmental impact.
Focal myocarditis, an unusual imitator: Case report and short literature review
Authors: Jovanovic Nikola , Jovanovic Nikola
Published: July 2023

Introduction. Acute myocarditis is a serious inflammatory condition of the myocardium. Clinically, symptoms may differ from case to case, and as such can pose a significant diagnostic dilemma. Here we present a case of acute focal myocarditis with markedly elevated troponins, in which diagnosis was finally made using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Case outline. A male patient, 26-year-old, without cardiovascular risk factors presented with severe chest pain, diaphoresis, pallor, and dyspnea. Blood pressure was 160/110 mmHg, and electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST-segment elevation in inferior leads. In laboratory there was an extreme elevation of Troponin. Inferior-posterior-lateral STEMI was suspected, and initial treatment was given according to that suspicion. The patient was then sent to catheterization laboratory for further evaluation, which showed absence of coronary artery disease. A working diagnosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) was established. To distinguish MINOCA from other causes of myocardial injury with elevated troponins, a CMR was done, and its finding was consistent with focal myocarditis of inferolateral localization. Further treatment consisted of beta blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and avoidance of strenuous activity for the next six months. The patient fully recovered and had no further complications with ECG only showing flat T-wave in D3 lead. Conclusion. Focal myocarditis is an unusual manifestation of myocardial disease and can confuse physicians, especially if it occurs along with elevated cardiac markers and ST-elevation, but in a young patient, without any known comorbidity, this diagnosis must be considered. Here, a CMR may be a useful tool.
An automatic segmentation of breast ultrasound images using U-Net model
Authors: Radhi Eman , Kamil Mohammed
Published: July 2023

Medical imaging, like ultrasound, gives a good visual picture of how an organ
works. However, a radiologist has a hard time and takes a long time to
process these images, which delays the diagnosis. Several automated methods
for detecting and segmenting breast lesions have been developed.
Nevertheless, due to ultrasonic artifacts and the intricacy of lesion forms
and locations, the segmentation of lesions or tumors from breast
ultrasonography remains an open issue. Medical image segmentation has seen a
breakthrough thanks to deep learning. U-Net is the most noteworthy deep
network in this regard. The traditional U-Net design lacks precision when
dealing with complex data sets, despite its exceptional performance in
segmenting multimedia medical images. To reduce texture detail redundancy
and avoid overfitting, we suggest developing the U-Net architecture by
including dropout layers after each max pooling layer. Batchnormalization
layers and a binary cross-entropy loss function were used to preserve breast
tumor texture features and edge attributes while decreasing computational
costs. We used the breast ultrasound dataset of 780 images with normal,
benign, or malignant tumors. Our model showed superior segmentation results
for breast ultrasound pictures compared to previous deep neural networks.
Quantitative measures, accuracy, and IoU values were utilized to evaluate
the suggested model?s effectiveness. The results were 99.34% and 99.60% for
accuracy and IoU. The results imply that the augmented U-Net model that has
been suggested has high diagnostic potential in the clinic since it can
correctly segment breast lesions.
Decision Support System to Determine The Price of Used Computer Based On Specification and Usage Duration Using Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Vitianingsih Anik Vega , Ravino Rahman  , Anastasia Lidya Maukar  , Litafira Syahadiyanti  , Seftin Fitri Ana Wati
Published: July 2023

Using computers at work or others has many positive impacts, including a special program that simplifies data and media processing. Certain software applications will, for some time, require high computer specifications. Many people have computers and want to fulfill the application requirements by selling computers to upgrade the specifications. However, some people are not very knowledgeable about calculating the cost of a used computer. One of the things that are done to make it easier for users to determine the price of a used computer is to create a decision support system that will assist in determining the price of a used computer based on specifications and usage duration. The Fuzzy Logic method was used in this study by comparing the accuracy results of the Fuzzy Mamdani and Sugeno methods. The parameters are based on the purchase price of all computer components, including Processor, Motherboard, RAM, SSD, HDD, VGA, PSU, and Case and usage duration. Fuzzy Mamdani is proven to have a higher accuracy with a value of 71% when compared to Fuzzy Sugeno. Based on measurement findings and a comparison of the methods used. Therefore, Fuzzy Mamdani is recommended for future studies using the same parameters. The benefits of this research include a recommendation system that will make it simpler for the general public to determine the selling price of used computers based on their specifications and usage duration. Another advantage is that it makes it easier for the general population to become a reference when buying or selling used computers, mainly assembled computers.
Plasma Cell Detection in Multiple Myeloma Cases Using Mask Region Based Convolutional Neural Network Method (Mask R-CNN)
Authors: Milyun Ni'ma Shoumi  , Radian Malek Rayrendra  , Dwi Puspitasari  , Pramana Yoga Saputra
Published: July 2023

Multiple myeloma cancer is the third major of hematologic malignancy after lymphoma and leukemia, which is about 1% of 13% of hematologic malignancies. Unlike other cancers, myeloma does not form a tumor or lump, but rather causes an accumulation of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow which is more than 10% and paraprotein in the body. One of the first steps in diagnosing Multiple Myeloma cancer is by detecting plasma cells in a bone marrow sample taken from the patient's body. Blood samples are taken on several preparations, and the number of plasma cells will be counted from the entire sample. If the number of plasma cells is more than 30% of all cells that have nuclei, then the patient is diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma cancer. The process of detecting plasma cells and calculating the entire sample takes quite a long time and can lead to misdiagnosis due to inaccuracy in the calculation process and the fatigue factor of the medical personnel who check it. In this study, a model was developed to detect Plasma Cells in Multiple Myeloma Cases Using the Mask Region Based Convolutional Neural Network (Mask R-CNN) method, which is expected to speed up the diagnosis process. The use of the Mask Region Based Convolutional Neural Network (Mask R-CNN) method is implemented using the SegPC-2021-dataset for the model training process, and data from the Kepanjen general hospital for the testing process. Using this dataset, the mAp value is 75.94%, the mean precision is 73.93%, and the mean recall is 53.9%.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Voice Control Technology: A Case Study of Xiaomi Smart Devices
Authors: Traiyatha Punyanut , Buranasiri Jiroj
Published: July 2023

The research aims to examine the factors influencing the adoption of artificial intelligence voice control technology. The purposive sampling technique was applied to collect the sample of 400 people who had experience in using Xiaomi smart device. The online questionnaire is the instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze the respondents’ characteristic. The inferential statistics include Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) are applied to disclose the impact of utilitarian benefits, hedonic benefits, symbolic benefits, social presence, and social attraction on the adoption of artificial intelligence voice control technology. The results of this research can be used to improve the voice command technology for future users. Additionally, the study’s report can be used for developing voice control systems in smart devices for other business enterprises. Subsequently, the users’ concern about the risk of using voice commands would subside and this technology would be widely accepted.