bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of Physiological Performance Measures in Arid and Humid Military Operational Environments
Authors: Ashworth Edward Tom , Keaney Lauren Catherine , Cotter James David , Kilding Andrew Edward
Published: July 2021

BackgroundMilitary personnel often deploy into hot environments that impose substantial strain on physical and cognitive performance. Hot environments can present as arid or humid and occur in different terrains, requiring different operational approaches. The aim of this study was to characterise the physiological, cognitive and perceptual strain experienced by military personnel during typical operations in arid and humid environments. MethodsNine pack-fit military personnel participated in two heat-stress tests to exhaustion, one in an arid environment (44°C, 21% humidity) and the other in a humid environment (33°C, 78% humidity). Participants walked at 5 km.h-1 while physiological, cognitive and perceptual measures were recorded. Tests were terminated volitionally, or by excessive core temperature or heart rate. Results The operational environments induced similar physiological stress, resulting in no difference in time to exhaustion (p = .155). The humid environment saw a greater elevation in core temperature (+0.3°C, p < .001) and heart rate (+5 b.min-1, p < .001). Skin temperature was greater in the arid environment (+0.4, p < .001) as was sweat evaporation (+0.3 L.h1, p = .045). Baseline performance predictors only provided moderate predictions of performance, whereas changes in perceptual measures provided the best performance predictors during the exercise, specifically perceptions relating to thermal sensation (β = -.65 - -.80) and sleepiness (β = -.79 - -.87). While no differences in cognitive performance were observed, greater cognitive stress was reported by participants over time, regardless of environment (all p < .011). ConclusionsThe humid operational environment elicited a greater thermal strain that may threaten safety, and impair performance, to a greater degree than the arid environment. Perceptual measures of thermal sensation and sleepiness were the best predictors of test termination and could likely be used to monitor thermal tolerance in field settings.
Systematic retrospective analysis of 10 cases of neuroendocrine tumors of the ovary: diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chang Shuzhen , Cai Mingbo , Feng Wenlong , Liu Liya , Li-ping HAN
Published: July 2021

Background

Neuroendocrine tumors of the ovary are uncommon malignant carcinomas with a poor prognosis. There are no standardized management guidelines because of lack of knowledge about these tumors. The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of ovarian neuroendocrine tumors (ONETs).
Results

Median age at diagnosis was 38.4 years (range 20–58). The main clinical presentations were abdominal pain or a pelvic mass. Two patients underwent fertility-sparing surgery and the others underwent cytoreductive surgery. The finial diagnosis depended on postoperative histopathology. According to the staging standard of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), three patients had stage I disease, one stage II, and six patients had stage III disease. Eight patients received chemotherapy alone postoperatively, one was maintained with Olaparib after chemotherapy, and one received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. The follow-up time for patients raged from 10 to 48 months. One patient died, while the other 9 patients were in follow-up. Seven patients experienced tumor recurrence.
Conclusion

Ovarian neuroendocrine tumors are characterized by high malignancy, low incidence and poor prognosis. Histopathological analysis is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Surgical resection may be the first choice of therapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy and possible radiotherapy may prolong the survival of some patients.
Brass products in the coronet excavated from a M2-numbered Sui-Tang-dynasty tomb situated in Kun Lun Company in Xi'an, Shaanxi
Authors: Shao Yanbing , Jiang Fengrui , Du Jingnan , Yang Junchang , Zhang Quanmin
Published: July 2021

In this study, the brass wires in the coronet excavated from M2 tomb in Xi'an, Shaanxi, dating back to Sui-Tang-dynasty were probed via portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) techniques. The wires were found to be composed of 83 wt% of copper, 12 wt% of zinc, and 3 wt% of tin. According to the metallographic analysis, the wires were formed by integral hot forging, and were then installed on the coronet after surface cold shaping, via cutting and hammering during the production of the support parts. It indicated that the composition of brass was evenly distributed without obvious composition segregation, revealing the features of the second stage of brass smelting in ancient China, which may prove brass had appeared and brass smelting technology had been mastered in the Sui-Tang-dynasty in the Central Plains of China. In addition, the use of brass in the coronet was in accorded with the hierarchical symbol given to the material by the feudal society. And the selection of brass was based on the dual combination of the excellent mechanical properties and the golden surface of brass. Thus, brass in the Sui-Tang-dynasty historical period was the tangible evidence of the development level of metallurgical technology, and also reflected the artistic and social attributes given to materials by different stages of social development.
Chemical composition and vasodilator activity of different Alpinia zerumbet leave extracts, a potential source of bioactive flavonoids
Authors: Silva Munyck Almeida da , de Carvalho Lenize C. R. M. , Victório Cristiane P. , Ognibene Dayane , Resende Angela C. , de Souza Marcelo Vieira
Published: July 2021

A polyphenol-rich extract with an expressive vasodilator effect was obtained from fresh leaves of Alpinia zerumbet (AZ), a medicinal plant. The vasodilator effects of AZ obtained from different extraction conditions were studied in perfused mesenteric vascular bed, and total polyphenol content (TPC) was determined for all samples. Chemical composition of AZ was analyzed by UHPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS, and a list of putative compounds was obtained by a molecular network. Briefly, results obtained indicate a 50% hydroethanolic extract from fresh leaves (AZE4) as the best extraction condition, presenting the greatest vasodilator effect (ED 50 = 7.1 µg ± 1.73) and TPC (16.30 mg GAE/g ± 0.44). Flavonoids were detected as main constituents and alpinetin, kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide, (-)- epicatechin and pinocembrin were identified as major compounds. The last effective extraction condition was 50% hydroethanolic extract from dried leaves without heating, which showed the smallest vasodilator response (ED 50 = 29.1 µg ± 4.3) and TPC (6.35 mg GAE/g ± 0.08), reinforcing the use of fresh leaves and heating step to improve extracts performance. The vasodilator effect and the main flavonoid composition of AZE4 provide experimental support for the indication of this extract as a potential source of bioactive flavonoids for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Analysis of Regulatory T-cells-specific mRNAs for Improving Prognosis, Immunotherapy Response and Therapeutic Resistance of Patients With Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ju Mingyi , Fan Jingyi , Zou Yuanjiang , Yu Mingjie , Jiang Longyang , Wei Qian , Bi Jia , Hu Baohui , Wang Lin , Guan Qiutong , Song Xinyue , Dong Mingyan , Yu Lifeng , Wang Yan , Wei Minjie , Kang Hui , Xin Wei , Zhao Lin
Published: July 2021

Background: Prostate cancer recognized as a “cold” tumor has an immunosuppressive microenvironment in which regulatory T-cells (Tregs) usually represent a major role. Therefore, identifying a prognostic signature of Tregs has promising benefits of improving survival of prostate cancer patients. However, the prognostic signature based on Tregs-specific mRNAs for prostate cancer is lacking. Methods: We systematicly analyzed transcriptional profiles of Tregs and 19 other immune cell types using 42 purified immune cell datasets from GEO to identify Tregs-specific mRNAs, and develop and validate a prognostic signature of Tregs (named “TILTregSig”) for monitoring prognosis of prostate cancer using TCGA and ICGC datasets. We also applied the signature to five immunotherapy response datasets and GSCALite to analyze the potential of the TILTregSig for predicting CIT response and cancer therapeutic resistance.Results: We develop the TILTregSig comprising five mRNAs (SOCS2, EGR1, RRM2, TPP1 and C11orf54) for prostate cancer patients. We find that the TILTregSig is a stronger predictor for tumor immunity compared with tumor mutation burden (TMB) and glycolytic activity which have been reported as immune predictors. Further analyses indicate that the TILTregSig may influence tumor immunity mainly by mediating tumor-infiltrating Tregs. Moreover, the TILTregSig also shows promising potential for predicting cancer immunotherapy (CIT) response and therapeutic resistance in multiple cancers.Conclusions: Our study has highlighted the value of the TILTregSig as a prognostic biomarker of prostate cancer from a tumor-infiltrating Tregs perspective, and strengthened its potential application as predictor of CIT response and cancer therapeutic resistance, which warrants further.
Cezanne enhances epithelial mesenchymal transition and prevents anthracycline-induced apoptosis via AKT/mTOR signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhong Xiao-Ping , Wang Jiahong , Mei Jie , Lu Lianghe , Ling Yihong , Li Shaohua , Tang Shijie , Kan Anna , Guo Rong-ping
Published: July 2021

Background

Anthracycline resistance have hindered the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Translational research is therefore in need to find potential combinations by studying the resistance mechanism of anthracycline. In our published work, we found Cezanne could predict the efficacy of adjuvant TACE (ad-TACE) and induce epithelium mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We hereby conduct a sequential investigation to reveal the role of Cezanne on EMT and its potential to retard resistance.
Methods

The response of Cezanne in patients treated with adjuvant TACE after hepatectomy was evaluated. Functional assays were used to examine the resistance function of Cezanne to anthracyclin. In-situ tumorigenesis models and intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy experiment were used for in vivo verification.
Results

High expression of Cezanne correlated to a better outcome. Multivariate analysis showed low expression of Cezanne and the application of postoperative ad-TACE therapy were independent prognostic risk factors. However, patient outcome was significantly shorter in high Cezanne group of ad-TACE patients. In vitro assays revealed that HCC functions were inhibited after overexpressing Cezanne (OE-Cezanne). After treated with epirubicin, however, OE-Cezanne cell lines did not respond to treatment. In vivo experiment was consistent with in vitro assays. Besides, high Cezanne transforms cell morphology and is correlated to the activation of EMT related genes. Gene set analysis showed that Cezanne can regulate PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin can reverse the resisting effect of Cezanne on HCC cell lines.
Conclusions

Adjuvant anthracycline-based TACE treatment after curative surgery can reduce the recurrence rate in HCC patients. However, in patients with high Cezanne expression, the efficacy of TACE may be undermined by EMT inducement. We discovered Cezanne modulates EMT by activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and provided evidence for the rationale of combining mTOR inhibitor with TACE to prevent recurrence in HCC patients.
A Visual Analytics Framework from Geological Modeling to Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Hu Die , Cartwright Stephen , Lei Zhengdong , Hui Gang , Samoil Steven , Chen Zhangxin
Published: July 2021

Immersive technologies such as virtual reality has shown great potential in to enhance many important workflows the oil and gas industry. Immersive technologies have many natural advantages. These include enhanced spatial perception of 3D data, spatial user interfaces and interactions, the ability to provide collaboration space and incorporate analysis techniques. To take advantage of these technologies in the reservoir engineering domain, a visual analytics framework is established to demonstrate how these technologies may be used effectively. This framework allows a user to progress from geological modeling to reservoir simulation in an interactive and highly effective application. First, geological uncertainty analysis is conducted to screen representative realizations as candidates for simulation. Visualization and analysis of these representative realizations may then be performed in virtual reality using reservoir connectivity analysis of a tight oil reservoir. This application supports natural interactions, improved working space, and effective perception of underground connectivity. For this reason, it is more convenient and natural to work between a reservoir scale model and a set of candidate local realizations. This platform provides a basis for future data analysis methods and ways of interacting and visualizing data that support this analysis.
Spatial Variability of Soil Moisture in Mining Subsidence Area of Northwest China
Authors: lu bai , yajing wang , Zhang Kai , kaikai bao , jiangang zhao , xiaonan li
Published: July 2021

The current research only investigate the impact of coal mining on deep soil moisture from the perspective of the absolute value of soil moisture. This study applied the combined method of classical statistics and multi-dimensional geo-statistics to analyze the changes of soil moisture of time and space from 0-10m in the mining face of Nalin River No.2 Mine in Northwest China from the perspective of spatial variability. The results of the study showed that in time distribution, on the whole, the soil moisture in the partial areas of the 1-year and the 2-year subsidence area was lower than that in the control area, and the variability increased, but as the subsidence entered a stable period, the degree of variability decreased; vertically observed, in space distribution, the 0-10m soil moisture in the control area had obvious distribution rules with low spatial variability. However, the spatial variability of soil moisture in the 1-year subsidence area and the 2-year subsidence area increased, and the variability showed a trend of increasing continuously with the increase of depth. During the principal component analysis, it was found that the change of soil texture caused by coal mining subsidence, the change of microstructure of soil pores caused by geotechnical deformation, as well as the preferential flow caused by changes in groundwater level were the main reasons for the increasing spatial variability of soil moisture. This study revealed the principals of spatial variability of soil moisture in coal mining subsidence areas in Northwest China, which can provide a scientific basis for the restoration of mining areas.
Crystalline and magnetic properties of CoO nanoparticles locally investigated by using radioactive indium tracer
Authors: Santos Renata , Cabrera-Pasca Gabriel , Costa Cledilane , Santos Brianna , Otubo Larissa , Pereira Luciano , Correa Bruno , Effenberger Fernando , Burimova Anastasia , Freitas Rafael , Carbonari Artur
Published: July 2021

We herein report a comprehensive investigation on the magnetic, structural, and electric properties of CoO nanoparticles with different sizes by local inspection through hyperfine interactions measured in a wide range of temperatures (10-670 K) by using radioactive 111In( 111Cd) tracers with the perturbed angular correlations (PAC) technique. Small cobalt oxide nanoparticles with 6.5 nm have been prepared by the wet chemical route, which has shown essential to incorporate radioactivity tracers during nucleation and grown syntheses. Nanocrystalline samples with 22 nm size were obtained by thermal treatments under low pressure of helium at 670 K. The hyperfine data were correlated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), ZFC-FC magnetic measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to describe the structure, magnetic properties, size, and shape of samples. An analysis of the temperature evolution of hyperfine parameters revealed that the structural distortion and the magnetic disorder in the core and on the surface layer play an important role in the magnetic behavior of CoO nanoparticles.
Integrated Western and Chinese Medicine Interventions for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Sum Chi Him , Ching Jessica , Zhang Hong-Wei , Loo Steven , Lo Cho Wing , Lai Mei Kwan , Cheong Pui Kuan , Yu Chau Leung , Lin Zhixiu
Published: July 2021

BackgroundAtopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease characterized by recurring episodes of itchiness with skin erythema and surface damages. Chinese medicine (CM) is widely used for the management of AD in China not only by its own, but also used in combination with conventional therapy (integrated Western-Chinese medicine, ICWM) in China. Although many clinical trials on the effectiveness of ICWM on AD have been reported; however, up to date, no sound evidence has been established on the clinical effectiveness and safety of ICWM for AD. ObjectivesTo systematically review the currently available clinical evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of ICWM for AD. MethodsRandomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials, which investigated ICWM interventions with at least one control group using the same conventional interventions, no treatment or placebo treatment, were included. Four English (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED) and three Chinese (CNKI, CBM, WanFang Med) databases were searched. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane’s tool. Meta-analysis were performed to pool the data. ResultsFrom 1473 database entries, 55 studies were included, of which 5953 participants aged between 35 days to 67 years old were involved. Duration of treatment ranged from 1 to 24 weeks. Only 2 studies were judged to be at low risk of bias, 3 studies at unclear risk of bias, and the other 50 studies at high risk of bias. The research findings suggested that ICWM was superior over WM alone in improving clinical severity of AD (measured by EASI, SCORAD), health-related quality of life (measured by CDLQI, DLQI), long term control of AD (recurrence rate), patients/ investigator global score (effectiveness rate), and serum IgE level. No more adverse events associated with ICWM was found when compared with WM alone. ConclusionAdopting ICWM may be superior to using WM alone in managing AD without risk of more adverse events. However, the current available evidence is still too weak to generate conclusive results.
GA-BP Neural Network Regression Model for Predicting the Soil Moisture of Ecological Slope Protection
Authors: Liu Dunwen , Liu Chao , Tang Yu , Gong Chun
Published: July 2021

The neural network optimized by genetic algorithm(GA) is an efficient and accurate prediction method, which can quickly find the optimal solution through high-speed computing capability and self-learning function. The neural network model optimized by GA is applied to the prediction of soil moisture of ecological slope protection, which provides reference for practical application of slope vegetation screening. In this paper, nine meteorological factors and soil moisture data were obtained by field monitoring instruments and related meteorological data. Considering the lag of meteorological factors, the neural network optimized by GA is used to predict the soil moisture of 8 meteorological data. The results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the prediction model are 0.22726 and 0.41234%, respectively, indicating that the prediction model runs well. Through V-fold cross-validation, it is found that the prediction results of the model is accurate and stable. The algorithm combining artificial neural network and GA can well predict the soil moisture of ecological slope protection, with high prediction accuracy, and has a good application prospect in other fields.
BRCA1/2 Mutation Testing Among Adult Women With HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Results From a Multi-Country, Real-World Study
Authors: Lux Michael Patrick , Lewis Katie , Rider Alex , Niyazov Alexander
Published: July 2021

Purpose: We assessed real-world patient demographics and breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 or 2 (BRCA1/2) mutation testing rates among adult women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC). Methods: Oncologists across the US and EU5 abstracted data from medical charts for 8–10 consecutive adult women presenting with HER2-negative ABC in 2015 and 2017. BRCA1/2 mutation (germline and/or somatic) testing was analysed overall and stratified by factors: region; year of data collection; hormone receptor (HR) status; age group; practice setting.Results: Records on 6161 adult women with HER2-negative ABC were provided by 742 oncologists. Overall, 28% of women with ABC received BRCA1/2 mutation testing. Compared with patients tested for BRCA1/2 mutations, untested patients were more likely to be aged ≥45 years, have HR-positive/HER2-negative ABC, have no known family history of breast/ovarian cancer, and be postmenopausal (all P < 0.0001). BRCA1/2 mutation testing rates were significantly lower in the EU5 versus US (21% vs 50%; P < 0.0001). Significantly lower BRCA1/2 testing rates were observed in women aged ≥45 versus <45 years, women without versus with a known family history of breast/ovarian cancer and women with HR-positive/HER2-negative ABC versus advanced TNBC (all P < 0.0001).Conclusions: BRCA1/2 mutation testing rates were low, and disparities were observed in demographics and clinical characteristics among patients who received a BRCA1/2 mutation test versus untested patients. Consistent with updated international guidelines, opportunities exist to increase BRCA1/2 mutation testing, particularly in patients aged ≥45 years, with HR-positive/HER2-negative ABC, or without a known family history of breast/ovarian cancer.
Minute-Ventilation Variability During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Is Higher In Idiopathic Dyspnoea Subjects Compared To Subjects With Breathing Pattern Disorder.
Authors: Eaton Andrew
Published: July 2021

Background: Patients with abnormal breathing responses often report presenting with debilitating symptoms that negatively impact both physical and mental quality of life.Objective: To compare time-domain variability of ventilatory components of Idiopathic dyspnoea and Breathing Pattern Disorder during a progressive maximal exercise test, evaluating their relationship to other variables usually obtained during a cardiopulmonary exercise test.Methods: Analysis of time-domain variability (RMSSD) of minute-ventilation (VE) during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test of 13 subjects with Idiopathic dyspnoea and 13 subjects with dysfunctional breathing pattern. Data was compared by a two-tailed Student T-test.Results: Idiopathic dyspnoea subjects exhibited a greater Minute-Ventilation Variability (31.5 ± 6.2 Vs 25.4 l/min ± 8.0, p >0.05). Inspiratory tidal volume time ratio (VTin/ti) (1.96 ± 0.7 Vs 2.58 ± 0.6, p >0.05) and Breathing Frequency (35 ± 9.3 Vs 43 breath/min ± 8.2 p >0.05) were also significantly lower in Idiopathic Dyspnoea compared to Breathing Pattern Disorder subjects.Conclusions: Time-domain variability of minute ventilation during exercise is greater in Idiopathic Dyspnoea compared to the Breathing Pattern Disorder subject’s possible highlighting a lower ventilatory threshold.
Wastewater-based epidemiology predicts COVID-19 community prevalence
Authors: Layton Blythe , Kaya Devrim , Kelly Christine , Williamson Kenneth , Bachhuber Silke , Banwarth Peter , Bethel Jeffrey , Carter Katherine , Dalziel Benjamin , Dasenko Mark , Geniza Matthew , Gibbon Dana , Girard Anne-Marie , Haggerty Roy , Higley Kathryn , Hynes Denise , Lubchenco Jane , McLaughlin Katherine , Nieto F. Javier , Noakes Aslan , Peterson Matthew , Piemonti Adriana , Sanders Justin , Tyler Brett , Radniecki Tyler
Published: July 2021

Wastewater-based epidemiology uses pooled wastewater samples to monitor community health and has been used extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic to track SARS-CoV-2 RNA shed by infected individuals into wastewater. Wastewater concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been positively correlated with contemporaneous counts of COVID-19 cases, making it useful for following relative disease burden trends within a community. However, the statistical associations are too weak for wastewater-based epidemiology to reliably predict reported case counts, limiting its potential. Here we show that wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are highly correlated with the community prevalence estimated from 8 randomized household community surveys in 6 Oregon communities over a 10-month period. We found that wastewater-based epidemiology is a significantly better predictor of COVID-19 community prevalence than reported case counts, which suffer from systematic biases including variations in access to testing and underreporting of asymptomatic cases, even after accounting for uncertainty inherent in the wastewater and prevalence estimates by using Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, our results show that wastewater-based epidemiology can identify the rise and fall of neighborhood-scale COVID-19 hot spots and provide rapid information about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants at the neighborhood- and city-scale through sequence analyses of the wastewater. These results validate the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology to be a quantitative method to predict the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and identify the presence of variants of concern in a given community or neighborhood, independent of availability and access to individual-level testing. These advantages in combination with its scalability, relatively modest cost and low labor requirements, makes integrating permanent wastewater-based epidemiology infrastructure into public health systems a key component in creating pandemic-resilient cities in the future.
Antioxidant Hydrolysate Production From Bovine Collagen With Trypsin; Optimized by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Pakbin Babak , Allahyari Samaneh , Dibazar Shaghayegh Pishkhan , Brück Wolfram Manuel , Vahidi Roghayeh , Mahmoudi Razzagh
Published: July 2021

Objective: Gelatin is a byproduct of meat industry and its hydrolysates showed several functionalities such as antioxidant activity. Response surface methodology (RSM) is a statistical method to mode and optimize biological processes. The purpose of this study was to describe and optimize the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions including time, temperature, pH, and enzyme/substrate ratio (E/S) to produce protein hydrolysate with antioxidant functionality from bovine gelatin by RSM. The scavenging activity was also evaluated using the DPPH method.Results: In this study, we developed and evaluated a model using RSM to describe and optimize conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis of bovine gelatin by trypsin to produce a protein hydrolysate with antioxidant activity. The model was observed and fitted with desirable adequacy and sufficiency. We found that the antioxidant activity increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing pH, E/S ratio and time of enzymatic process. However, temperature had no significant (P < 0.05) effect on the antioxidant activity of the hydrolysate. The optimum hydrolysis conditions were observed at the temperature 30-50 °C, pH 8.0, E/S ratio at 2.5 after 2 h of trypsin hydrolysis. The results showed that the hydrolysate under these conditions had greater antioxidant activity.
Examination of Common Exams Held by Measurement and Assessment Centers: Many Facet Rasch Analysis
Authors: KAYA UYANIK Gülden , DEMİRTAŞ TOLAMAN Tuğba , GÜR ERDOĞAN Duygu
Published: July 2021

This paper aims to examine and assess the questions included in the “Turkish Common Exam” for sixth graders held in the first semester of 2018 which is one of the common exams carried out by The Measurement and Evaluation Centers, in terms of question structure, quality and taxonomic value. To this end, the test questions were examined by three specialists with expertise in different fields in terms of structure, content, and taxonomic values. The test questions were then rated by raters with expertise in different fields according to the criteria set by the researchers. Hence, the study employed the descriptive survey model. The data obtained from the assessment of the questions were analyzed using the Many Facet Rasch Model (MFRM). According to the findings, of the 20 questions included in the exam, 5 (five) are in the category of “Remembering”, 12 (twelve) in the category of “Understanding”, 2 (two) in the category of “Analyzing” and 1 (one) in the category of “Evaluating.” Accordingly, the number of questions that measure higher-order thinking skills was lower than the number of lower-level questions. In addition, the study contained three facets: raters, tasks (items), and criteria. There were no differences among the raters (a Turkish Education Specialist, a Program Development Specialist, and a Testing and Assessment Specialist) in terms of severity and leniency: all the raters were in agreement. Finally, in this study, the questions met the criteria measuring the structural features, while they failed to meet the criteria measuring the quality and clarity.
Impact of teleworking on job satisfaction among Slovakian employees in the era of COVID-19
Authors: Karácsony Peter
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic, which became a global crisis in 2020, has radically transformed people’s normal lives in a matter of weeks. In addition to the health consequences, the virus has had a significant impact on the society and the economy, including the labor market. The present study aims to assess how traditional working has been transformed into teleworking in Slovakia. The study examines whether Slovakian workers are satisfied with teleworking. The questionnaire survey was conducted in December 2020 during the second wave of the coronavirus in Slovakia. Based on the obtained results, a significant relationship between teleworking satisfaction and salary satisfaction, supervisory support, and job autonomy was found. Based on the obtained results, teleworking introduced due to the coronavirus had a clear positive effect on job satisfaction of the examined Slovakian employees. As a result of teleworking, the relationship between manager and subordinate has improved, and work-life balance has also developed favorably.
AcknowledgmentsThis study was funded by the Pallas Athéné Foundations.
The Using of Stochastic Modeling Methods in Criminological Forecasting of Individual Criminal Behavior of Serial Killers
Authors:   Irkutsk Institute (Branch), All-Russian State University of Justice, Rumyantseva Y.N.
Published: July 2021

The article considers the stochastic modeling method used in criminology, which is understood as predicting changes in a system with variables ranging randomly with individual probabilities, which allows us to describe the state and probabilistic development of crime, its determinants, individual types, as well as the identity of criminals. The author investigates the possibilities of using this method for criminological purposes, when modeling and predicting the individual criminal behavior of serial killers. The hypothesis and the main conclusions obtained by M. V. Simkin and V. Roychowdhury in stochastic modeling of murders committed by A. R. Chikatilo, in particular, the possibility of using the Cantor`s or «devil's staircase» are checked. Thus, the author analyzed the data on 60 murders committed by M. V. Popkov, also known as the «Angarsk maniac», on the territory of the Irkutsk region in the period from 1992 to 2006. It is suggested that the total number of crimes committed by the «Angarsk maniac» also resembles the «devil's staircase», and the method used can indeed be extended to similar crimes. The author focuses on the fragment of the «Popkov staircase» in the period 1997-1998 as an abnormal surge in the activity of the criminal: an attempt is made to explain the number and frequency of murders by the Kantor staircase method and the pathological drive to kill people diagnosed in the criminal (homicidomania with sadistic elements). Investigation of the actual data on the probabilities of murders committed by M. V. Popkov, obtained by calculation and the theoretical model R. Lange is almost identical, which allows us to model the daily probability of murder as a function of the number of days that have passed since the last crime.
The Discrediting Factor in the Legal Responsibility Implementation Mechanism: General Theoretical Aspect
Authors:   Academy of Law and Management  of Federal Service of Punishments Execution, Vorobyev S.M. , Kusmin I.A. ,   Irkutsk Law Institute (Branch), University of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study is a general theoretical characterization of the discrediting factor in the mechanism of legal liability implementation. The authors indicate the negative impact of discrediting on the effectiveness of legal liability and, in general, the work of bodies and officials in bringing to justice and its implementation. Specific forms (manifestations) of discredit are named, and their analytical description is given in relation to the subject of study. The necessity of countering discrediting at various stages of the dynamics of responsibility, including law-making and subsequent law enforcement activities, is justified. The relationship between the quality of the general legal theory of legal responsibility and the interdisciplinary methodology is indicated. It is proposed to develop a scientific and legal strategy to expand the research tools for understanding the social and legal reality that develops around the organization and implementation of activities for the assignment of legal responsibility. Based on the specifics of the discrediting effect, the article discloses the specifics of the discrediting factor in relation to the system of law enforcement agencies directly involved in the mechanism of implementing legal liability. The authors use statistical data indicating the level of trust in the institutions of public power, taking into account the discrediting influence exerted on them, and formulate the basic guidelines for the intensification of a comprehensive fight against discredit in the mechanism of legal liability implementation.
METAPHORICAL COMPARISONS WITH THE COLOR STANDARD (BASED ON THE MATERIAL OF RUSSIAN LITERARY DISCOURSE)
Authors: RUMYANTSEVA Marina V.
Published: July 2021

Modern linguistic studies of cultural manifestations of different ethnic groups that found their place in the language prove that language affects how a person perceives the world around him or her. The language creates a naive picture of the world, which is based on popular wisdom and knowledge of cultural ethnic or universal human norms and traditions. This picture has its own unique laws, different from the scientific picture of the world, dictates its own categories of space and time, as well as color and function.
This article presents a linguoculturological analysis of metaphorical comparisons with a color standard to identify regular metaphorization models, the frequency of choice of a particular comparison agent, which indicates a subject of thought that does not have a conventional color meaning in the language. This study focuses on metaphoric coloratives in Russian fiction of the 20th century. The metaphorical comparisons-coloratives were selected by continuous sampling in the amount of 275 units, while the analysis covered lexemes-agents.
The results show that the main colors of figurative comparisons-coloratives of the literary discourse were yellow, red, white, black, brown, gray, green, and blue. A classification of reference color agents is compiled, containing seven semantic groups, which can be correlated with both agents and references comparison, which allows using the formula of the semantic comparison structure. As a result, the quantitative indicators of formulas for different coloratives were obtained, with phytomorphs being the most frequent standards of red, yellow, brown, blue, and green. The second place belongs to reamorphs, which are rich, but not the only source of black standards. Naturmorphs are in the third place; these are the suppliers of agents of black, as well as yellow and gray. They are followed by gluttomorphs, which are the leading white standards. Zoomorphs are uniformly present in almost all colors except brown and blue. A small number of anthropomorphs agents are red standards, and hemo­morphs agents are green standards.
Approbation of Approaches to Assessment of ESG Risks of Russian Companies at the Regional Level
Authors: Emelyanova Е. S. , Vasiliev L А.
Published: July 2021

Climate change is a serious, widespread threat and requires an urgent global response, including in the management of environmental risks. The authors of the study, the results of which are presented in this article, first of all, set the task of assessing the ESG risks of Russian companies at the regional level. The methodology of the study was based only on the analysis of environmental risks due to the historical features of the development of the Russian Federation, the approach of S&P Global in the field of corporate sustainability assessment was adopted, and then the initial values of the companies ‘ E-ratings were adjusted using the impact map developed by the United Nations. To test the proposed approach to assessing environmental risks, we used a sample of data on types of economic activity in the context of the subjects of the Russian Federation. As a result of applying the proposed approach to data sampling, companies were assigned to one of the three categories that determine their exposure to E-risk: high, moderate, and low environmental risk. The E-risk exposure was also assessed based on the company’s regional affiliation to the relevant federal district. The main conclusion of the study was the confirmation of the need to improve the quality of analytics of companies ‘ exposure to environmental risks, the need for more detailed information disclosed by companies.
Questions to the Domestic Practice of Inter-Budgetary Regulation in the Pandemic Situation of 2020
Authors: Morozov О. V. , Biryukov А. G.
Published: July 2021

In the context of the development of the pandemic in 2020, the federal budget and subnational budgets of the Russian Federation were executed with significant deviations from the indicators and norms approved by the relevant laws and decisions. Certain provisions of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation were suspended. A mechanism for flexible execution of budgets has been formed. Its use led to a significant increase in budget expenditures and the federal budget deficit, despite the fact that the current law on the federal budget determined a high level of its surplus. The subjects of the Russian Federation and municipalities in the conditions of the pandemic formed a new order for additional financial resources, the amount of which was specified and changed during 2020. These circumstances affected the level of budget security of the consolidated budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and caused a radical increase in inter-budget transfers compared to 2019. To assess the effectiveness of decisions in the field of inter-budget regulation implemented in 2020, a general analysis of the conditions of legal regulation, as well as the timing and consequences of the distribution and provision of inter-budget transfers from the federal budget to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation was carried out. A methodology is proposed and a factor analysis of the relationship between the volume of federal support and the needs of the regions in obtaining it is carried out. The results of the evaluation indicate both that there is no strict correlation between them, and that additional support was not accompanied by the setting of appropriate goals and objectives, and the timely preparation of a methodology for allocating resources. The proposed methodology for assessing the mechanisms and results of the distribution of financial assistance for each subject of the Russian Federation has shown its effectiveness and can be recommended for its application in future periods.
L'état et la nation
Authors: Ehrlich Stanislaw
Published: July 2021

In its formative period the state welds together groups of kindred language, religion and customs. A nation bereft of a state structure has a small prospect of survival, since it is weaker than nations which possess their own apparatus of force. The former is constantly endangered and is often helpless before the latter. The struggle for statehood is hence the most conscious expression of the effort to maintain national distinctness. Moreover, a nation deprived of statehood enjoys small prestige among its own group members, nor can it create an image which arouses the respect of other nations.A striking phenomenon in the investigation of the state and the nation is the parallelism in the condition of their origin.The nation thus arises as a result of an extended processes of integration ; white the consolidating nature of national awareness makes it analogue of the state organization as a universa[ organization.It is possible to distinguish three types of nation-building processes :a) within the framework of native state organization which arises directly as a result of an external threat,b) within the bouddaries of farmer colonies which are accepted as the national state borders,c) the shaping of national entities of the foundation of federated forms of the state.An analysis of the different variants of historica[ experience suggests certain general propositions :1. The emergence of the state, or at least of a state organism, as a rule precedes the formation of the nation ;2. because of its general all-embracing character the state organization is the decisive factor of the nation-building process.The author deals also with the problem of the federal state and the national question. The different types of federations influence the national problem in different ways.
Le pacte culturel : de sa genèse à son application
Authors: Daubie Christian
Published: July 2021

The Belgian Parliament passed in 1973 a law protecting the ideological and philosophical tendencies; this text is a legal translation of an agreement between most of Belgian political parties, the «culturalagreement».The laborious elaboration of this text especially is to be seen in connexion with the existence, since 1970, of autonomous cultural communities.This agreement organizes, in the «cultural» sphere, a protection of ideological and philosophical tendencies, more especially in connextion with political families, according to the traditional approach of the pluralism - more precisely of the plurality - in the Belgian State.The cultural agreement has two objects in view : to prevent and to bring remedies to the discrimination by specific guarantees (rather «negative»).The law institutes an organ of control, a national permanent Commission, with a principally consultative competence.The agreement is protecting at first minorities and majorities, with a political expression; the efficiency of these provisions chiefiy depends on the collaboration and the reciprocal confidence between the «culturalpartners».
Deux réflexions sur le religieux et le politique
Authors: Moulin Léo
Published: July 2021

Religion, that globalising influence par excellence, constitutes the most powerful known factor of political, economic, social, and national integration. However, religion can also at times be a factor of disintegration ornon-integration, because of its historic vision. The lesions of millenarianisms prefigure the hopes, problems, failures and the illusions of society.Time has, in itself, an ideological dimension that varies according to the perception that one has of it : positive or negative, turned toward the past of the future, inevitably neutral or progressive.
L'opinion publique et les conflits de classes
Authors: Delruelle Nicole
Published: July 2021

This article tries to confront the answers to certain questions in the opinion poll with the analysis (as proposed by Dahrendorf) of class conflict in our types of societies.It is wrong to say that people have modified the image they have of society, or that they would not consider it in terms of division and conflict any langer : conflicts are rather well perceived by public-opinion ; their aggravation is felt by many.According to the results of the poll, public opinion holds it that positions in the professional authority structure tend to be no longer identical with positions in the authority structure in society as a whole. This distinction goes together with a diminution of the importance of the professional role.  While quite well perceiving authority conflicts, the public seems to try to keep at some «distance» from these conflicts.According to their electorate's structure, political «families» express images of society either rather in terms of division and coercion (being associated with a larger dissatisfaction, with feelings of relative deprivation), or more in terms of integration (being associated with more satisfaction).
De samenvoeging van de gemeenten en de gemeentelijke bestuurskracht
Authors: Maes Rudolf
Published: July 2021

The law of december 30, 1975 sanctioned the plan, established by the government to merge the larger part of the Belgian municipalities.From january 1, 1977 on, the number of communes would thereby be reduced from 2,359 to 596. Whereas in 1975 more than 81 % of the communes still counted less than 5,000 inhabitants, this percentage will in the future amount only to 18.6 %.The legislator and the government have primarily considered the strengthening of the municipal governmental capacity as a normal result of the scale effect.  Since the mergers would result in a higher number of inhabitants - and necessarily also in larger areas - it was taken for granted that the necessary means would now be available to ameliorate the municipal services. Such a scale-effect can actually be noticed for the following items : the actual municipal services, the number and qualifications of the municipal personnel and the financial strength. Complementary, both legislator and government took a few measures concerning the professional situation of the municipal personnel and concerning the municipal finances. Same of these measures however don't stimulate the normal results of the scale-effect but rather tend to slow these down. Yet, reassuming, one may say that the scale-effect wilt have a positive result in strengthening the municipal governmental capacity. 

However, the mergers leave quite some questions unanswered concerning several important aspects of municipal governmental capacity - especially regarding the municipal autonomy and competencies, and thedemocratic organisation and functioning. Also, some important points need to be clarified as to the future position of the inter- or supramunicipal cooperation structures, which remain necessary.