bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teoría del voto moral; un primer bosquejo
Authors: Gutiérrez Sánchez Héctor
Published: October 2024

El artículo busca presentar un nuevo modelo explicativo de la preferencia política (principal, pero no exclusivamente electoral). Se propone que las personas tendrán preferencia por los actores e instituciones políticos que coincidan con sus valores morales, pero no se asume que los ciudadanos conozcan sus propios valores ni sepan que éstos determinan su preferencia, en lugar de ello, los electores sólo experimentarán sentimientos positivos o negativos hacia diferentes políticos y la mayoría de las veces no legitimarán tales sentimientos. El texto comienza exponiendo la propuesta, posteriormente se le coteja con las principales corrientes sobre comportamiento político-electoral (sociológica, psicológica y racional), para luego mostrar algunas evidencias empíricas iniciales (de entrevistas y una encuesta) donde la variable asociada a este “voto moral” mostró más potencia estadística que las variables de las otras tres corrientes.
El asociacionismo político: un marco de análisis desde la cultura política
Authors: Ranchero Ventura Pablo
Published: October 2024

Este artículo contiene un marco de análisis para el estudio del asociacionismo político; el cual se comprende como una forma específica de participación política y consiste en ciudadanos organizados que persiguen bienes colectivos cuyo principal objetivo es influir en la toma de decisiones políticas. De este modo, se retoman algunos conceptos, variables y dimensiones de la cultura política ofrecidas por Almond y Verba en su obra clásica The Civic Culture. El propósito del trabajo es identificar los elementos teóricos, metodológicos y empíricos que nos ayudaran a identificar los factores individuales que inciden en la participación política de los ciudadanos a través de asociaciones. Entonces, al retomar las orientaciones políticas, las posturas relativas al sistema político y las actitudes ciudadanas frente al gobierno se podrá configurar un “modelo explicativo” que nos permita analizar los elementos de una cultura política democrática de participación.
Análisis del comercio intraindustrial entre Alemania, China, India y EE.UU, periodo 2009-2022
Authors: Norabuena Trejo Pierina
Published: October 2024

Este artículo analiza el comercio intraindustrial entre Alemania, China, India y EE.UU.  en el periodo 2009-2022. En este sentido, las variables de índice global de competitividad, el Índice de Globalización KOF y las exportaciones de alta tecnología (que explican el comercio) se convierten en indicadores clave para evaluar el desempeño de los países tecnológicamente avanzados. Los datos provienen del Banco Mundial, de los Datos Macro y del Instituto Económico Suizo, utilizando el modelo de datos de panel de efectos aleatorios, donde el índice global de competitividad, índice de globalización KOF y las exportaciones de alta tecnología tienen relaciones estadísticamente significativas con el comercio en un nivel de significancia del 5 %. Estos resultados se asocian con cambios en el comercio.
Financiamiento y rentabilidad: caso microempresa grupo Isidro S.A.C.
Authors: Sáenz Melgarejo Justina , Macedo Hurtado Alejandro
Published: October 2024

En este artículo se ha determinado el nivel de correlación entre las decisiones de financiamiento y la rentabilidad en la microempresa Grupo Isidro SAC, ubicado en la ciudad de Huaraz, en el periodo 2023. El tipo de estudio es aplicada, cuantitativa, correlacional, transversal, no experimental y de caso. La información provino de la entrevista estructurada cerrada y de la revisión documental de informes contables. Los principales resultados obtenidos sobre el financiamiento indicaron los directivos que evalúan los costos de financiamiento y acceden a entidades bancarias; sobre su rentabilidad, desconocen la capacidad de solvencia, y el margen de utilidad y no evalúan con aplicación de ratio financieros. Se concluye en que, existe correlación entre el financiamiento y la rentabilidad alcanzado el valor de coeficiente de 0.612, resultado que significa una correlación moderada.
DETERMINATION OF OPTIMAL PARAMETERS OF DRIP TAPE FOR MECHANIZED LAYING
Authors: Martynova Natalia , Balabanov Viktor , Miheev Pavel , Karpov Mihail
Published: October 2024

The introduction of drip irrigation systems in irrigated areas is impossible without the creation of special machines for laying drip tape. The advantage of in-soil laying of the tape is the absence of losses due to evaporation of irrigation water and the inadmissibility of its heating to temperatures dangerous for the plant in the hot season. To ensure high-quality laying of the drip tape in the soil, constant tension of the tape is required when the speed of the machine fluctuates or it suddenly stops. The absence of constant tension will lead to jamming of the tape in the laying pipe or its twisting, which will make further operation of the drip irrigation system impossible and will require repair work that requires additional labor costs. Constant tension of the tape ensures its precise location in the soil, which will eliminate additional pressure losses when the position of the tape changes during operation of the drip irrigation system. To maintain constant tension, a permanent brake is required. This creates additional tensile forces applied to the tape. The tape is also affected by the resistance of laying it in the soil. The research was aimed at establishing the numerical values of the forces acting on the drip tape to assess their impact. The most popular tapes on farms are those with a thickness of 0.15...0.25 mm due to their low cost. Research has established that for underground installation it is desirable to use a tape with a thickness of at least 0.2 mm. When using a tape with a thickness of 0.15 mm, tensile forces can lead to dangerous deformations of the tape, making it impossible to further use
Operational dispatch control of water distribution in irrigation systems according to the calculated increment of volumes
Authors: Ol'garenko I. , Ol'garenko Vladimir , Ol'garenko Vladimir , Korzhov Ivan
Published: October 2024

Goal: to improve the methodological approach to developing an algorithm for operational dis-patch control of water distribution based on the calculated increment of water volumes in irri-gation canals. Materials and methods: the dispatch control methodology is described, which is based on the typification of flow conditions between two partitioning structures in technical and functional directions, as well as on the development of systems for unifying channels and their modes using similarity theory methods, which are widely used in hydromechanics and hydraulics. The basis for the implementation of the similarity theory is the principle of using similarity numbers, that is, combinations of dimensionless parameters that determine the char-acteristics of the unsteady motion of a heavy, incompressible, viscous fluid in channels. Re-sults: the general tasks of the dispatcher were determined to re-regulate the hydraulic regime of sections of the irrigation system, without tying them to specific types of hydraulic struc-tures. The main provisions of the method of dispatch control of water distribution based on the calculated increment of volumes, determination of the time of re-regulation between the main and compensating processes of re-regulation are substantiated. Four types of situations are identified when solving dispatch problems of water distribution, which are determined by comparing the volumes and flow rates installed on the site, for each of which the inherent re-regulation order is determined. Conclusion: the article outlines a new methodological ap-proach that ensures the joint use of the method of similarity theory and a simulation experi-ment with the Saint-Venant equations for steady and unsteady water flow in the canals of ir-rigation systems, to solve problems of operational dispatch control of water distribution ac-cording to the calculated increment of volumes.
ORGANIZATION OF SEED PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS ON IRRIGATION AND IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES (BY THE EXAMPLE OF SPRING WHEAT)
Authors: Valiev Ayrat , Khismatullin Mars , Serzhanov Igor' , Safiollin Faik , Sochneva Svetlana , Vafin Radik
Published: October 2024

his paper presents a brief summary of research work carried out in 2012-2022. on the irrigated fields of the peasant farm of IP "Vafin R.K." Laishevsky and LLC AF "Kyrlay" Arsky municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan on the selection of short-stemmed, resistant to lodging, diseases and pests, highly responsive to additional moisture of such spring wheat varieties as Zlata, Kazanskaya Yubileynaya, Omskaya 33 and varietal technology for their cultivation. It was found that when placing spring wheat on a layer of irrigated perennial grasses and after spring rapeseed, optimizing nutrition backgrounds, using modern biologics and seed protectants, high-quality basic and pre-sowing soil preparation, compliance with sowing methods and timing, intensification of crop care techniques, including digital technologies for determining the timing and quality of irrigation, provides more than 6.0 tons/ ha of grain with a yield of commercial seeds at the level of 65-76%, with a mass of 1000 seeds of 40 or more g corresponding to the second class of quality in terms of gluten, protein, vitreous and grain nature.
Essays Celebrating John L. Holland’s Autobiography and Contributions to Career Theory, Research, and Practice
Authors: Montalvo Brian , Briddick William , Nauta Margaret , Carr Darrin , Sargent Amanda , Simusa Stephen , Kennelly Emily , Peace Carley , Osborn Debra , Peterson Gary
Published: October 2024

This book is a collection of nine reviews of John L. Holland's autobiography, My Life with a Theory: John L. Holland's Autobiography and Theory of Careers. This Festschrift honors John Holland and consists of contributions from colleagues, pupils, and friends.
Cooperação dos Geoparques mundiais da Unesco para a implementação da Agenda 2030 das Nações Unidas
Authors: Dos Santos Anna Lethicia , Campos Juliano Bitencourt , Da Rocha Bandeira Dione , Carelli Mariluci Neis , Miziescki Mikael , Da Silva José Gustavo Santos
Published: October 2024

Os Geoparques Mundiais da UNESCO (UGGps) propõem um conceito holístico de gestão territorial, tendo como fundamento o ideal de que o patrimônio natural, mais especificamente o patrimônio geológico, atrelado ao patrimônio cultural, deve ser preservado ao mesmo tempo em que se promove o desenvolvimento sustentável das comunidades locais. No ano de 2015, a Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) aprovou a Agenda 2030, destinada a acabar com a pobreza e proteger o planeta. A presente pesquisa tem por objetivo entender o alinhamento existente entre os UGGps, o desenvolvimento sustentável e a Agenda 2030. Se propuseram os seguintes questionamentos: a) os UGGps podem ser considerados territórios voltados ao desenvolvimento sustentável? b) os UGGps efetivamente contribuem para os objetivos da Agenda 2030? c) além dos oito Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODSs) selecionados pelo Programa Internacional de Geociências e Geoparques (IGGP), há que se falar em cooperação também com os outros nove ODSs? Como resultado, observou-se que os UGGps contribuem efetivamente para a Agenda 2030 por meio de uma série de boas-práticas alinhadas aos objetivos propostos na agenda.
ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS PRIVADAS: UMA ALTERNATIVA NA CONSERVAÇÃO DA BIODIVERSIDADE
Authors: Menegasso Juliana Debiasi , Harter-Marques Birgit
Published: October 2024

As áreas protegidas privadas (PPAs) são fundamentais para preservar e conservar a biodiversidade, contribuindo na manutenção dos processos ecológicos. Por este motivo, atores privados estão cada vez mais gerenciando terras para a conservação, originando PPAs. Visto a importância dessas áreas, este estudo teve como objetivo apresentar a evolução dos aspectos históricos, definições, classificações e a situação das áreas protegidas privadas no contexto internacional. Para isso, foram utilizados dados do Banco de Dados Mundial sobre Áreas Protegidas (World Database on Protected Areas – WDPA). A pesquisa constatou a existência de 34.492 PPAs, com maior concentração na América e na Europa. Nos últimos 20 anos foram criadas mais de 12.000 novas PPAs, após a realização dos congressos mundiais de parques. A maioria das PPAs se enquadra nas categorias IV e V da União Mundial para a Conservação da Natureza (International Union for Conservation of Nature -IUCN), situadas, principalmente, em ambiente terrestre e de água doce.
PLANEJAMENTO E GESTÃO DO TERRITÓRIO DAS FALÉSIAS DE PIPA E BARRA DE TABATINGA – RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
Authors: Nonato Junior Raimundo , Oliveira Julia Diniz de , Amorim Rodrigo de Freitas
Published: October 2024

O planejamento e gestão do território de áreas naturais, com intenso fluxo de turistas, como as das Falésias de Pipa e Barra de Tabatinga – Rio Grande do Norte, envolvem um cenário muito amplo de medidas, estratégias e ações, demandando uma análise para além do viés físico-natural e seus processos. É nesta direção que esse artigo discute a gestão normativa do território na área de falésias, seus desafios/contradições e as estratégias para o planejamento territorial de espaços desta natureza. Para tanto, foram realizados os seguintes procedimentos metodológicos: levantamento bibliográfico e documental, com foco na identificação dos instrumentos normativos que orientam o uso e ocupação das áreas de estudo, trabalho de campo em Pipa e Tabatinga e reuniões técnicas com representantes do Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Meio Ambiente (IDEMA), Defesa Civil e secretarias municipais de meio ambiente e urbanismo, entre fevereiro de 2021 e fevereiro de 2022. Em síntese, os resultados apontam que é preciso pensar as formas, funções, processos e estruturas que compõem o cenário paisagístico das falésias e planejar as ações e usos delas, no curto, médio e longo prazo. Ao final, sugere-se uma sistematização da gestão territorial em diferentes escalas.
A geszti Tisza-kastély örökségközvetítő felújítása : Történeti és kortárs eszközök egyensúlya az értékmegőrzésben
Authors: Vukoszávlyev Zorán
Published: October 2024

Az egykoron Bihar, ma Békés vármegyéhez tartozó Geszt határ menti település Nagyvárad és Gyula között félúton. A legtermészetesebb vidéki lét megtapasztalására ad lehetőséget az ide érkezőnek – azzal a tudattal, hogy évszázadok ősi öröksége, családi hagyománya kötődik szorosan e kis (ma is) zsáktelepüléshez. A falu főútjának beépítése és a vele északon párhuzamosan futó, erdősítéssel és szántókkal kísért házsor a faluközpontnál felszakad, a kiterjedt fás-ligetes részen a református templom és a kastély (gazdasági épületeivel és parkjával) rangos helyzetképet alkot. Közel 300 év távlatában mutatkozik meg egy családi otthon története, tárul fel egy több mint 200 éves épített örökség képe, mely a Tisza családon keresztül összefonódott mintegy másfél száz éve Magyarország történelmével – a hely két miniszterelnököt adott az országnak, majd negyedszázad vérzivatarai után mintegy hét évtizedig (számos értelemben határhelyzetéből adódóan) feledésbe merítve várta megújulásának lehetőségét. Az újra-megtalálás szándéka hozta fordulat már évtized-közeli, mind a történetírás, mind az örökségvédelem eszközrendszere terén. Kilenc év áldozatos munkájával a geszti Tisza-kastély ismét a nemzeti emlékezet méltán reprezentatív helyszínévé vált: mind a személyeken keresztüli történelmi olvasat, mind az annak környezetét biztosító épített örökség vonatkozásában.
On the Right Track?
Authors:   , van Leest Anna Maria Cornelia
Published: October 2024

The questions guiding the research in this dissertation are (1) what aspects of student achievement, perceived student attributes, and student background characteristics teachers consider when formulating track recommendations and how do these aspects conjointly predict teachers’ track recommendations, and (2) whether these aspects are predictive of students’ secondary school performance. Track recommendations and students’ secondary school performance are primarily determined by students’ most recent achievement in primary education. Differences in achievement largely explain differences in track recommendations between students with different backgrounds. Bias related to students’ background characteristics are present but are generally small.
Altogether, the findings of this dissertation suggest that educational inequalities are not primarily caused by the track allocation process but are present prior to and during primary education and are solidified by the way in which the Dutch secondary school system is organised. Due to early tracking, and the hierarchical and rigid system, the system offers few opportunities to reduce differences between students from different backgrounds. Although several policy changes have been made in the last decades, the achievement gap between students from different backgrounds persists. More drastic interventions than changes in the time schedule for administering the school leavers’ test or mandatory versus non-mandatory adjustments of the track recommendations are needed to effectively reduce educational inequalities before and after the transition from primary to secondary education, including postponing the selection moment by introducing heterogeneous lower secondary education.
William Wordsworth, Child of Nature, Child of the Century: The Crisis of The Prelude in European Context
Authors: Johnston Kenneth R.
Published: October 2024

When he first heard in May of 1804 that Bonaparte intended to declare himself emperor, Beethoven famously tore off the dedication page of his third (‘Eroica’) symphony. In roughly the same time-frame during 1804–05 Wordsworth was coming to the conclusion of his first full version of The Prelude (completed May 20, 1805), with similar attention to Napoleon. I want to use this compositional coincidence as a lead-in to a concentrated reading of Book X of The Prelude which can lead to a stronger connection between Wordsworth and not just Beethoven, but the whole of nineteenth-century European literature, especially the great tradition of novels in France. By following carefully his intricate structuring of the stages of his crisis and its resolution we can arrive at a new way of seeing Wordsworth’s links to the broad landscape of nineteenth-century European literature.
‘The Great Distinction of Our Nature’: Imagination and Commerce in the Later Wollstonecraft
Authors: Hobday Alexander
Published: October 2024

This article elucidates a central but underexplored theme in Wollstonecraft's later writing: the distinction between the imagination and commerce. After the French Terror, Wollstonecraft begins to write of the imagination, rather than reason, as the defining feature of human nature. It is the imagination, she argues, that will enable the continuation of civilisational progress in the face of the retrogressive forces of commerce. This article argues that Wollstonecraft distinguishes between the two in accordance with three areas of concern: the distinction between humans and animals; the difference between higher and lower pleasures; the distinction between self-interest and social being. It also argues that Wollstonecraft's perspective in these three areas is shaped by her particular intellectual background, that is, by her reading of Rousseau, her civic humanism, and by her Socratic ethics.
Travelling in Romantic Bildungsroman Narratives
Authors: Nivala Asko
Published: October 2024

The early nineteenth-century bildungsroman is often understood as a coming-of-age story of the protagonist, which implies that temporality is more constitutive for its composition than spatiality. In contrast, my paper focuses on the motif of travelling in German and British bildungsroman narratives. Opposed to the previous allegorical understanding of the Romantic bildungsroman, I suggest that the methods of the spatial humanities open up a new perspective on bildungsroman narratives by showing how their travel itineraries were used in the construction of Europe before and after the Napoleonic Wars. The itineraries annotated from the corpus suggest that the classic Grand Tour to Italy remain important, especially in German Romanticism, whereas northern regions are also popular in British texts. A few narratives emphasise the region of Greece in defining the European frontier in relation to the Ottoman Empire, while Russia and Poland are not popular settings for bildungsroman narratives.
THE IMPACT OF EVASION OF CONTRACT SIGNING ON THE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF THE CUSTOMER AND THE PARTICIPANT IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
Authors:   Tula state university, Tula, Russia, BELYATKINA K.A. , KRIVOVA YU.YU. ,   Financial university under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
Published: October 2024

The purpose of the research. The article considers the issue of recognizing the participant who submitted the only application for participation in the procurement as a result of competitive methods of determining a supplier (contractor, executor) as an evader of contract conclusion. Proposals are made to improve the legislation on the contractual system in the sphere of procurement in terms of fixing the possibility of concluding a contract between the customer and the participant who evaded the conclusion of the contract in the absence of intent due to the occurrence of objective reasons. To achieve this goal, the authors analyze the practice of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia and its territorial bodies concerning the issue of the absence of intent of the participant from evading the conclusion of the contract. The scientific innovation of the work consists in the authors' attempt to comprehensively consider the legal regulation and law enforcement practice in the case of evasion of the sole participant of the procurement from the conclusion of the contract and the impact of this fact on the customer's ability to maximize the use of available resources allocated for the relevant financial year to meet the need for the acquisition of goods, works, services in a timely manner. Results. At present, there are numerous cases of failure of a procurement participant to sign a contract in a timely manner due to an unforeseen situation in the absence of a real intent to evade the conclusion of the contract. As a result of consideration of the case, the control body does not include such a participant in the register of unfair suppliers (contractors, executors), but also the possibility for the customer to conclude a contract with such a participant at the legislative level is not provided. In order to eliminate this gap, the authors propose to grant the relevant right to the customer to conclude a contract, fixing it at the legislative level.
SABOTAGE IN RUSSIAN CRIMINAL LAW: HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF LEGISLATIVE REGULATION
Authors:   Academy of Leadership and Business Process Administration of the Federal Tax Service of Russia - Volga, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, KUZNETSOV A.P.
Published: October 2024

The presented article examines the problem of criminalization of the legal phenomenon of "sabotage", its etymology, conducts a historical and legal study, pays special attention to legislative regulation in the early years of Soviet power, and then during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), which, taking into account the increased public danger, in conditions of increasing internal and external external threats have predetermined its inclusion in the Criminal Code, and a distinction is being made from related acts.
IMPROVING METHODS OF COUNTERING EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors:   North Caucasus Institute for Advanced Studies (branch) of the Krasnodar University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Nalchik, Russia, SHKHAGAPSOEV Z.L.
Published: October 2024

The article examines modern measures to counter extremism and terrorism in the Russian Federation, as well as ways to improve them. The author focusses on the need for in-depth scientific analysis of these phenomena to develop adequate legal and socio-economic measures. Particular attention is paid to analyzing existing federal laws and identifying regulatory gaps that may make it difficult to effectively counter threats. The article emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach in anti-terrorism activities and the need to adapt legislation to modern challenges, thereby ensuring increased national security and stability of the state system.
Maternal and Fetal Factors that Affect Preterm Birth at the Professor Ngoerah Central General Hospital
Authors: Budiani Ni Nyoman , Sudarmi Ni Luh , Ariyani Ni Wayan
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Preterm birth occurs in 7-10% of all live births, leading to complications such as low birth weight, asphyxia, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia, which increase the risk of neonatal death. This research aims to prove the influence of maternal factors (age, occupation, marital status, gravida, hypertension) and conception results (number of fetuses and ruptured membranes) on preterm birth. Method: This correlational research, using a cross-sectional approach, was conducted at Prof. Ngoerah Hospital, Bali, in 2021. The study population included all women who gave birth in 2020, fully recorded in medical records, with a total sample size of 997 women, obtained through total sampling. Data were analyzed using crosstabulation, Chi-square test (X²), and binary logistic regression with computer assistance, setting significance at α 0.05. Results: Preterm birth was significantly influenced by maternal age (p=0.001), occupation (p=0.001), blood pressure (p=0.000), and the condition of the amniotic membranes (p=0.000). These factors collectively contributed to 22.7% of the variance in preterm births. Conclusion: Maternal factors such as age, occupation, blood pressure, and amniotic membrane condition significantly influence the incidence of preterm birth. Preventive measures, focusing on education before and during pregnancy, are crucial to reducing the risk of preterm births.
Digital sexual literacy: the potential for online spaces to support sexual literacy among young people
Authors: Power Jennifer , James Alexandra , Waling Andrea , Pym Tinonee , Lim Gene
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Health literacy is defined as the capacity, resources and insight to seek information, ask critical questions and be an advocate for one’s health. Sexual literacy is framed in similar terms, relating to the capacity to navigate emotionally and physically safe sexual encounters and to hold a critical and assertive stance on relationship dynamics, gender and consent. In this paper, we present findings from a qualitative study that explored how young people’s use of the internet develops sexual literacy.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 young people (aged 18–25). Interviews explored the ways in which young people participate in online spaces to learn about sex, relationships, bodies and other aspects of sexual health. Data were analysed using qualitative, inductive thematic coding techniques.

Results

Young people described learning about sexual health online as a process of exploring ideas, topics or experiences (going down ‘rabbit holes’). It was rarely the case that young people searched for specific information. Young people described engaging with multiple sources of content and multiple people online to learn about relationships or sex. This was often personal. Young people wanted to understand their own experiences and hear stories from people with similar experiences. Engaging with multiple sources, stories and people enabled critical reflection and peer-based learning.

Discussion

Building sexual health literacy is not simply about providing young people with sexual health information. Rather, it is about supporting young people to develop critical insight and capacity to reflect deeply on experiences and issues that affect their sexual relationships. The online environment supports sexual literacy as it enables critical inquiry, access to multiple perspectives, peer connection and personal reflection.
Estradiol and progesterone from pregnancy to postpartum: a longitudinal latent class analysis
Authors: Dukic Jelena , Johann Alexandra , Henninger Mirka , Ehlert Ulrike
Published: October 2024

Introduction

During the peripartum, women undergo significant hormonal changes that are crucial for fetal development and a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period for mother and infant. Although several studies have determined healthy norm ranges of estradiol and progesterone, there are discrepancies among the reports, rendering it unclear which hormone levels are linked to adverse health outcomes. To account for the impact of sex steroid patterns on health outcomes in mothers and children, a longitudinal assessment of different parameters is needed.

Materials and methods

We longitudinally assessed a cohort of 130 women over five months during pregnancy and postpartum. The women provided saliva samples and completed psychosocial questionnaires. Hormone analyses were conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Different parameters of estradiol and progesterone were analyzed and evaluated in relation to psychometric variables. To examine the presence of heterogenous hormonal trajectories in the peripartum, we applied group-based trajectory modelling as a special case of latent-class group analysis.

Results

Estradiol and progesterone levels rose towards the end of pregnancy and dropped sharply after birth, with considerable individual variation, particularly during pregnancy. However, their ratio remained stable. We identified three estradiol trajectory subgroups and two progesterone subgroups. Age influenced progesterone levels, with older pregnant women having higher levels than younger women. Anxiety and depressive symptoms had a predictive value for trajectories of specific subgroups of women. The study also revealed two distinct subgroups regarding the course of estradiol and progesterone fluctuations as well as their ratio.

Conclusion

This study provides insights into the course and fluctuation of salivary estradiol and progesterone levels among healthy women during the peripartum period, highlighting significant variations in hormone levels but stability in their ratio during this time. The finding of distinct sex steroid courses in the peripartum is new and suggests the need for further research to explore their impact on health outcomes. Our preliminary results suggest that hormonal fluctuations at the end of pregnancy appear to be a normal occurrence and might even be a protective factor for associated psychological symptoms and sleep disturbances in women.
Parameter optimization for stable clustering using FlowSOM: a case study from CyTOF
Authors: Tao Weiyang , Sinha Anirban , Raddassi Khadir , Pandit Aridaman
Published: October 2024

High-dimensional cell phenotyping is a powerful tool to study molecular and cellular changes in health and diseases. CyTOF enables high-dimensional cell phenotyping using tens of surface and intra-cellular markers. To utilize the full potential of CyTOF, we need advanced clustering and machine learning methodologies to enable automated gating of the complex data. Here we show that critical modifications to a machine learning based FlowSOM package and precise parameter optimization can enable us to reliably analyze the complex CyTOF data. We show the impact of key parameters on clustering outcomes while addressing bugs within the publicly available package. We modified the FlowSOM pipeline to fix the bugs, enable scalability to handle large datasets and perform parameter optimization. We further validated this modified pipeline on a substantial external immunological dataset demonstrating the need of data-specific tailored parameter optimization to ensure reliable definition and interrogation of immune cell populations associated with immune disorders.
Multi-omics insights into the energy compensation of rumen microbiota of grazing yaks in cold season
Authors: Bai Jie , Tang Lijuan , Bi Yanliang , Li Mingliang
Published: October 2024

Background

The ability of yaks to adapt to the extreme environment of low temperatures and hypoxia at cold seasons on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is related to the host genome; however, the convergent evolution of rumen microbiomes in host adaption is unknown.

Methods

Here, we conducted a multi-omics study on the rumen fluid of grazing yaks from warm (July) and cold (December) seasons on the QTP to evaluate the convergent evolution of rumen microbiomes in the adaptation of grazing yaks to cold-seasons environments.

Results

The results showed that grazing yaks at cold seasons had higher fibrolytic enzyme activities and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations, and the relative abundance of Firmicutes and the ratio Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was significantly higher than that of yaks at warm seasons. Macrogenomic analyses showed that genes involved in forming VFAs and arginine were significantly enriched in cold-season yaks. Transcriptome analyses of the rumen epithelium showed that 72 genes associated with VFAs absorption and transport were significantly upregulated in cold-season yaks. Metabolomic analyses showed that the levels of ornithine, related to efficient nitrogen utilization, were significantly upregulated in cold-season yaks.

Conclusion

The synergistic role of rumen microbiomes in the adaptation of grazing yaks to extreme environments at cold seasons was revealed by multi-omics study.
The SocialAI school: a framework leveraging developmental psychology toward artificial socio-cultural agents
Authors: Kovač Grgur , Portelas Rémy , Dominey Peter Ford , Oudeyer Pierre-Yves
Published: October 2024

Developmental psychologists have long-established socio-cognitive abilities as fundamental to human intelligence and development. These abilities enable individuals to enter, learn from, and contribute to a surrounding culture. This drives the process of cumulative cultural evolution, which is responsible for humanity's most remarkable achievements. AI research on social interactive agents mostly concerns the emergence of culture in a multi-agent setting (often without a strong grounding in developmental psychology). We argue that AI research should be informed by psychology and study socio-cognitive abilities enabling to enter a culture as well. We draw inspiration from the work of Michael Tomasello and Jerome Bruner, who studied socio-cognitive development and emphasized the influence of a cultural environment on intelligence. We outline a broader set of concepts than those currently studied in AI to provide a foundation for research in artificial social intelligence. Those concepts include social cognition (joint attention, perspective taking), communication, social learning, formats, and scaffolding. To facilitate research in this domain, we present The SocialAI school—a tool that offers a customizable parameterized suite of procedurally generated environments. This tool simplifies experimentation with the introduced concepts. Additionally, these environments can be used both with multimodal RL agents, or with pure-text Large Language Models (LLMs) as interactive agents. Through a series of case studies, we demonstrate the versatility of the SocialAI school for studying both RL and LLM-based agents. Our motivation is to engage the AI community around social intelligence informed by developmental psychology, and to provide a user-friendly resource and tool for initial investigations in this direction. Refer to the project website for code and additional resources: https://sites.google.com/view/socialai-school.
Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in reducing neuropsychiatric symptomatology after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Riccitelli Gianna Carla , Borgonovo Riccardo , Villa Mariasole , Pravatà Emanuele , Kaelin-Lang Alain
Published: October 2024

Background

Neuropsychiatric disorders are highly disabling in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, and psychopharmacological treatments often fail to adequately mitigate their detrimental effects. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an emerging treatment in neurology and psychiatry, showing potential in treating psychiatric disorders.

Objective

This study investigates the efficacy of a novel, dual-site sequential rTMS protocol designed to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms in a TBI patient who was refractory to conventional treatments.

Methods

A 34-year-old woman with severe head trauma and complex psychopathology underwent 20 daily sessions of focal-coil rTMS, combining inhibitory stimulation (1 Hz) on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and excitatory (10 Hz) on the left DLPFC, guided by a neuronavigation system. Psychiatric and neurocognitive assessments were conducted at baseline and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks following the beginning of rTMS treatment.

Results

After 2 weeks of treatment, the patient showed decreased impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, along with improvements in attention and processing speed. After 4 weeks, impulsivity further declined, though no other significant changes were noted. At 8 weeks, a persistent positive effect was observed, including enhanced positive emotions.

Discussion

These findings suggest that guided, alternating neurostimulation of the DLPFC may modulate activity within cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits, providing a promising alternative for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms in TBI patients who are resistant to traditional treatments.
Bibliometric analysis of the interplay between epilepsy and microglia: trends, hotspots, and emerging research areas
Authors: Zhang Shouye , Yang Xiaotong , Wang Yuping
Published: October 2024

Background

Epilepsy, a common neurological disorder, has been increasingly associated with neuroinflammation, especially microglia activation. To gain insights into the research trends and patterns in this intersection, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of studies published between 2005 and 2024. Using the Web of Science Core Collection, we identified 1,229 relevant articles and reviews, focusing on the relationship between epilepsy and microglia.

Methods

We employed the Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer to analyze the data. Our search strategy combined epilepsy-related terms with microglia and microglial cell keywords. The analysis encompassed publication trends, country and institutional contributions, journal sources, authors, keywords, and thematic evolution.

Results

The number of publications has steadily increased, particularly after 2019, indicating growing research interest. The United States, China, and Germany emerged as the most productive countries, with extensive collaboration between China and the United States. Epilepsia and Journal of Neuroinflammation were the most influential journals. Aronica E, Vezzani A, and Engel T were the most prolific authors. Thematic analysis revealed clusters focused on temporal lobe epilepsy, epilepsy-related disorders, and microglia activation. Over the past several years, research has shifted from fundamental brain function studies to in-vivo investigations of specific molecular mechanisms. The CSTB (−) mouse model and NF-κB signaling pathway both merit further in-depth investigation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this bibliometric study reveals a surge in epilepsy-microglia research, led by key countries, journals, and researchers. Temporal lobe epilepsy, epilepsy-related disorders, and microglia activation are focal themes. Future directions include exploring microglia activation mechanisms, utilizing animal models, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Survival outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation in Germany: real-world evidence from an administrative database between 2010 and 2019
Authors: Heger Jan-Michel , Borchmann Peter , Riou Sybille , Werner Barbara , Papadimitrious Michael S. , Mahlich Jörg
Published: October 2024

Background

Limited real-world evidence is available for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in Germany.

Objectives

This study aims to describe the real-world survival outcomes of patients with DLBCL who received ASCT in Germany after diagnosis.

Design

This study is a retrospective database analysis covering the period between 2010 and 2019.

Methods

Unadjusted overall survival (OS) was plotted using the Kaplan–Meier estimator for the overall population and stratified by relapse status. A Cox regression was run to identify factors that influence OS.

Results

A total of 112 patients received an ASCT, with the average time from first-line treatment to ASCT being 11.7 months. The median OS estimated by Kaplan–Meier was 83.4 months for the entire cohort. The only variable that significantly reduced the OS was the presence of subsequent treatment after ASCT in a time-dependent model.

Conclusion

OS after ASCT for DLBCL patients in Germany is higher than previously reported and may still be considered a valid option for carefully selected patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL.
Pathways for non-manufacturers to drive generic drug repurposing for cancer in the U.S.
Authors: Crittenden Devon , Gallagher Raquel , Milans del Bosch Fernanda , Fox David M. , Kleiman Laura B.
Published: October 2024

Repurposing generic drugs as new treatments for life-threatening diseases such as cancer is an exciting yet largely overlooked opportunity due to a lack of market-driven incentives. Nonprofit organizations and other non-manufacturers have been ramping up efforts to repurpose widely available generic drugs and rapidly expand affordable treatment options for patients. However, these non-manufacturers find it difficult to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S. Without a straightforward path for approval and updating drug labeling, non-manufacturers have relied on off-label use of repurposed drugs. This limits the broad clinical adoption of these drugs and patient access. In this paper, we explore the regulatory landscape for repurposing of small molecule generic drugs within the U.S. We describe case studies of repurposed drugs that have been successfully incorporated into clinical treatment guidelines for cancer without regulatory approval. To encourage greater adoption of generic drugs in clinical practice–that is, to encourage the repurposing of these drugs–we examine existing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pathways for approval of new uses or indications for generic drugs. We show how non-manufacturers, who are generally more active in generic drug repurposing than manufacturers, could utilize existing regulatory authorities and pathways, and we describe the challenges they face. We propose an extension of the existing 505(b)(2) new drug application (NDA) approval pathway, called a “labeling-only” 505(b)(2) NDA, that would enable non-manufacturers to seek approval of new indications for well-established small molecule drugs when multiple generic products are already available. It would not require new chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) data or introducing new drug products into the marketplace. This pathway would unlock innovation broadly and enable patients to benefit from the enormous potential of low-cost generic drugs.
Genome-wide investigation of WRKY gene family in Lavandula angustifolia and potential role of LaWRKY57 and LaWRKY75 in the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis
Authors: Kelimujiang Kelaremu , Zhang Wenying , Zhang Xiaxia , Waili Aliya , Tang Xinyue , Chen Yongkun , Chen Lingna
Published: October 2024

The WRKY transcription factors are integral to plant biology, serving essential functions in growth, development, stress responses, and the control of secondary metabolism. Through the use of bioinformatics techniques, this research has effectively characterized 207 members of the WRKY family (LaWRKY) present in the entire genome of Lavandula angustifolia. Phylogenetic analysis classified LaWRKYs into three distinct categories based on conserved domains. Collinearity analysis revealed tandem repeats, segmental duplications, and whole genome duplications in LaWRKYs, especially for segmental duplication playing a significant role in gene family expansion. LaWRKYs displayed distinct tissue-specific expression profiles across six different tissues of L. angustifolia. Particularly noteworthy were 12 genes exhibiting high expression in flower buds and calyx, the primary sites of volatile terpenoid production, indicating their potential role in terpenoid biosynthesis in L. angustifolia. RT-qPCR analysis revealed a notable increase in the expression levels of most examined LaWRKY genes in flower buds in response to both intense light and low-temperature conditions, whereas the majority of these genes in leaves were primarily induced by drought stress. However, all genes exhibited downregulation following GA treatment in both flower buds and leaves. Overexpression of LaWRKY57 (La13G01665) and LaWRKY75 (La16G00030) in tobacco led to a reduction in the density of glandular trichomes on leaf surfaces, resulting in changes to the volatile terpenoid composition in the leaves. Specifically, the content of Neophytadiene was significantly elevated compared to wild-type tobacco, while compounds such as eucalyptol, cis-3-Hexenyl iso-butyrate, and D-Limonene were produced, which were absent in the wild type. These findings provide a valuable reference for future investigations into the biological functions of the WRKY gene family in L. angustifolia.
Intercropping of tobacco and maize at seedling stage promotes crop growth through manipulating rhizosphere microenvironment
Authors: Ma Junmei , Liu Di , Zhao Peiyan , Dou Min , Yang Xiuhua , Liu Shulei , Nian Fuzhao , Tong Wenjie , Li Junying , Xu ZhaoLi , Zhang Liuchen , Zhang Hong , Li Yongzhong , Deng Xiaopeng , Liu Yating
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Changes in the rhizosphere microbiome and metabolites resulting from crop intercropping can significantly enhance crop growth. While there has been an increasing number of studies on various crop combinations, research on the intercropping of tobacco and maize at seedling stage remains limited.

Methods

This study is the first to explore rhizosphere effects of intercropping between tobacco and maize seedling stages, we analyzed the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients in the soil, and revealed the important effects on soil microbial community composition and metabolite profiles, thereby regulating crop growth and improving soil balance.

Results and discussion

Compared with mono-cropping, intercropping increased the biomass of the two crops and promoted the nutrient absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Under intercropping conditions, the activities of sucrase, catalase and nitrate reductase in tobacco rhizosphere soil and the content of available potassium, the activities of nitrate reductase and acid phosphatase in maize rhizosphere soil were significantly increasing. Rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal communities such as Sphingomonas, Massilia, Humicola and Penicillium respond differently to crop planting patterns, and soil dominant microbial communities are regulated by environmental factors such as pH, Organic Matter, Available Potassium, Nitrate Reductase, and Urease Enzyme. Network analysis showed that soil microbial communities were more complex after intercropping, and the reciprocal relationship between bacteria and fungi was enhanced. The difference of metabolites in soil between intercropping and monocropping system was mainly concentrated in galactose metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, and the content of carbohydrate metabolites was significantly higher than that of monocropping soil. Key metabolites such as D-Sucrose, D-Fructose-6-Phosphate, D-Glucose-1-Phosphatel significantly influence the composition of dominant microbial communities such as Sphingomonas and Penicillium. This study explained the effects of intercropping between flue-cured tobacco and maize on the content of soil metabolites and soil microbial composition in rhizosphere soil, and deepened the understanding that intercropping system can improve the growth of flue-cured crops seedlings through rhizosphere effects.