bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival of hibernating little brown bats that are unaffected by white-nose syndrome: Using thermal cameras to understand arousal behavior
Authors: Gmutza Haley J. , Foster Rodney W. , Gmutza Jonathan M. , Carter Gerald G. , Kurta Allen
Published: February 2024

White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that has decimated hibernating bats from multiple North American species. In 2014, the invasive fungus arrived at a hibernaculum of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) inside the spillway of Tippy Dam, located near Wellston, Michigan, USA, yet surprisingly, this population has not experienced the declines seen elsewhere. Unlike a typical subterranean hibernaculum, light enters the spillway through small ventilation holes. We hypothesized that this light causes the hibernating bats to maintain a circadian rhythm, thereby saving energy via social thermoregulation during synchronous arousals. To test this idea, we used high-resolution thermal cameras to monitor arousals from October 2019 to April 2020. We found that arousals followed a circadian rhythm, peaking after sunset, and that most observed arousals (>68%) occurred within a cluster of bats allowing for social thermoregulation. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that light-induced synchronized arousals contribute to the unprecedented absence of mass mortality from white-nose syndrome in this large population. Using light to maintain a circadian rhythm in bats should be tested as a potential tool for mitigating mortality from white-nose syndrome. More generally, studying populations that have been largely unaffected by white-nose syndrome may provide insight into mitigation strategies for protecting the remaining populations.
Book review: Spanish Tourism Geographies. Geographies of Tourism and Global Change
Authors: Lapointe Dominic
Published: February 2024

Blanco-Romero, A., Blázquez-Salom, M. (2023). Spanish Tourism Geographies.Geographies of Tourism and Global Change. Springer, Cham. 480p.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39780-6_1
Projected Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality Based on Observed Adherence to Colonoscopy and Sequential Stool-Based Screening
Authors: Meester Reinier G.S. , Lansdorp-Vogelaar Iris , Winawer Sidney J. , Church Timothy R. , Allen John I. , Feld Andrew D. , Mills Glenn , Jordan Paul A. , Corley Douglas A. , Doubeni Chyke A. , Hahn Anne I. , Lobaugh Stephanie M. , Fleisher Martin , O'Brien Michael J. , Zauber Ann G.
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Modeling supporting recommendations for colonoscopy and stool-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests assumes 100% sequential participant adherence. The impact of observed adherence on the long-term effectiveness of screening is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of a program of screening colonoscopy every 10 years vs annual high-sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing (HSgFOBT) using observed sequential adherence data.

METHODS:

The MIcrosimulation SCreening ANalysis (MISCAN) model used observed sequential screening adherence, HSgFOBT positivity, and diagnostic colonoscopy adherence in HSgFOBT-positive individuals from the National Colonoscopy Study (single-screening colonoscopy vs ≥4 HSgFOBT sequential rounds). We compared CRC incidence and mortality over 15 years with no screening or 10 yearly screening colonoscopy vs annual HSgFOBT with 100% and differential observed adherence from the trial.

RESULTS:

Without screening, simulated incidence and mortality over 15 years were 20.9 (95% probability interval 15.8–26.9) and 6.9 (5.0–9.2) per 1,000 participants, respectively. In the case of 100% adherence, only screening colonoscopy was predicted to result in lower incidence; however, both tests lowered simulated mortality to a similar level (2.1 [1.6–2.9] for screening colonoscopy and 2.5 [1.8–3.4] for HSgFOBT). Observed adherence for screening colonoscopy (83.6%) was higher than observed sequential HSgFOBT adherence (73.1% first round; 49.1% by round 4), resulting in lower simulated incidence and mortality for screening colonoscopy (14.4 [10.8–18.5] and 2.9 [2.1–3.9], respectively) than HSgFOBT (20.8 [15.8–28.1] and 3.9 [2.9–5.4], respectively), despite a 91% adherence to diagnostic colonoscopy with FOBT positivity. The relative risk of CRC mortality for screening colonoscopy vs HSgFOBT was 0.75 (95% probability interval 0.68–0.80). Findings were similar in sensitivity analyses with alternative assumptions for repeat colonoscopy, test performance, risk, age, and projection horizon.

DISCUSSION:

Where sequential adherence to stool-based screening is suboptimal and colonoscopy is accessible and acceptable—as observed in the National Colonoscopy Study—offering screening colonoscopy can increase screening effectiveness.
Family Coping Strategies and Quality of Life of Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Health Care in Indonesia
Authors: Setyoadi Setyoadi , Efendi Ferry , Haryanto Joni , Rosyidawati Fitri , Dima Kristianingrum Niko , Srihayati Yati , Dewi Sartika Lestari Ismail Dina
Published: February 2024

Background: The intricate caregiving responsibilities undertaken by family caregivers in the care of patients with chronic diseases induce stress, potentially reducing the family’s ability to provide effective care. In instances where family caregivers of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are unable to employ effective coping mechanisms, there exists the potential for an adverse impact on the patient’s quality of life. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between family coping strategies and the quality of life of patients with T2DM undergoing treatment in primary health care in Malang, Indonesia. Additionally, it sought to investigate the influence of demographic factors on both family coping strategies and the quality of life of these patients.Methods: The study employed an observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The participants included 327 individuals with T2DM and 327 family caregivers, selected from 16 primary healthcare centers using cluster random sampling techniques. Data were collected using the COPE Brief questionnaire to assess coping strategies and the DQOL (Diabetes Quality of Life) questionnaire to measure the quality of life. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Spearman rank test and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The findings of the study revealed that a majority of family caregivers employed adaptive coping strategies (93.9%), while a significant proportion of individuals with T2DM reported having a good quality of life (84.1%). The analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between family coping strategies and the quality of life among T2DM patients. Specifically, better family coping strategy was associated with higher quality of life in T2DM patients (p=0.000; r=0.447; α=0.05). Also, a comprehensive demographic analysis revealed that education significantly influences both the variables of family coping strategies and patient quality of life, with odds ratios of 1.284 and 1.561, respectively.Conclusion: The research findings emphasize the mutual influence between family coping strategies and quality of life of T2DM patients. Nurses should prioritize attention to demographic factors such as education, age, gender, and duration of diabetes to enhance family coping strategies and improve the patients’ quality of life.
Patterns, processes and models - an analytical review of current ambiguous interpretations of the evidence for pre-Pleistocene glaciations
Authors: Molén Mats O.
Published: February 2024

Models (paradigms) and former interpretations have often been presupposed when conducting field research. In the 19th century diamictites were for the first time interpreted to have originated from ancient glaciations. These interpretations have to a large part prevailed in the geological community, although there has been much progress in the areas of sedimentology, glaciology and physical geography. The present work is an effort to find criteria which most clearly discriminate between geological features produced by different processes, mainly glaciation and mass flow, the latter predominantly sediment gravity flows. Geological features which have been interpreted to have formed by glaciation throughout pre-Pleistocene Earth history are compared to similar-appearing geological features formed by mass flow and tectonics, so as to uncover variations in the appearance between features resulting from these different processes. The starting point for this comparison is documentation of the appearance of Quaternary products of erosion and deposition, in order to discern the origin of older formations. It is shown that the appearance and origin of pavements, dropstones, valleys, small-scale landforms, surface microtextures and most other geological features may in some cases be equivocal, but in others the details are indicative of the process which generated the feature. Detailed geological field data which have been compiled by geologists from outcrops of pre-Pleistocene strata, more often than is considered in most papers, commonly point to a mass flow origin, mainly a sediment gravity flow origin, rather than a glaciogenic origin. A process of multiple working hypotheses or interpretations is therefore advocated, based mainly on a comparison of the appearance of features formed by different geological processes documented from different research disciplines. Instead of starting with current interpretations or models, this multiple working hypothesis or methodology helps to avoid confirmation bias and jumping to conclusions.
Bűnbe esett balladai hősök. A népi jogtudat megjelenése Arany János balladáiban
Authors: Kiss Anna
Published: February 2024

Fallen Ballad Heroes. The appearance of the popular sense of justice in the ballads of János Arany In my study, I examine the emergence of popular legal consciousness in some of János Arany's ballads. The world of law can often seem chaotic, but folklore and the fiction that uses it as a source help us to understand how our ancestors lived and thought, what moral and legal norms governed their everyday lives. I also look at how the perception of crime has changed.
Using Darwin’s Pangenesis Correspondences to Examine Science as a Human Endeavor
Authors: Lorsbach Anthony , Antink Meyer Allison
Published: February 2024

This lesson used the correspondence of Charles Darwin as an exploration of nature of science (NOS) in a historical context. Specifically, we used his original correspondence about his “provisional hypothesis” of pangenesis as a novel way to explore a scientist’s social community. Darwin’s community of friends and colleagues in the natural sciences at the time of his writing of his 1868 book Variations formed the basis of this lesson. One basic descriptor of NOS, science as a human endeavor, was used to drive explicit reflection. These letters were rich in detail regarding the idea of science as a community of practice. Our elementary education students’ responses indicate the letters surprised them in how personal the correspondents were with one another and how reliant Darwin was on his friends and colleagues for input on his work. Darwin became human as students imagined Darwin’s mental state and how he wrestled with his idea and made it public. Students learned that despite Darwin’s fame, his idea of pangenesis lacked empirical evidence and thus received little support. They discovered an eminent scientist who was insecure and nervous and who worked hard to develop, study, and publicize his novel idea. This contrasts with popular views of major scientific figures as natural geniuses rather than their success resulting from labor and perseverance.
A Comparison of Measured Outcomes across Tree-Thinking Interventions
Authors: Daniel Kristy L. , Ferguson Daniel , Leone E. Austin , Bucklin Carrie J.
Published: February 2024

Phylogenetic tree diagrams are commonly found in introductory biology curricula and represent the evolutionary relationships of organisms. Tree-thinking, or the ability to accurately interpret, use, and generate these phylogenetic representations, involves a challenging set of skills for students to learn. Although many introductory biology courses incorporate tree-thinking instruction, few studies have identified which instructional methods provide the best learning gains for students. We gathered data from 884 introductory biology students using the Basic Evolutionary Tree-Thinking Skills Inventory (BETTSI) to measure tree-thinking learning gains. We measured tree-thinking differences across five sections of introductory biology, each offering a different instructional intervention, and compared differences among STEM majors and non-STEM majors. After calculating paired differences, we performed a two-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s post hoc test to identify significant differences among and between the different interventions. We found that students who engaged in active tree-thinking instruction had significantly higher tree-thinking learning gains than students who participated in passive or no instruction. Furthermore, these learning gains became even more significant as active-learning became more multifaceted. These active-learning approaches also removed knowledge gaps between STEM majors and non-majors. Instructors must select explicit and active pedagogical approaches to support student tree-thinking to accomplish positive learning gains for all students.
The Effects of Economic Growth on the Aid–Conflict Nexus
Authors: Choi Yunhee
Published: February 2024

Can foreign aid reduce violence in recipient countries? Empirical studies on the aid–conflict nexus have had mixed results. This paper argues that foreign aid can alleviate political violence in the recipient country, especially when it contributes to economic growth. To test this hypothesis, I collected data on aid-receiving countries in Asia from 1980 to 2010 and empirically examined the relationships among development aid, winning coalition size, economic growth, civil wars, and domestic terrorism using a moderated mediation model. I find that the impact of foreign aid on economic growth depends on the size of the winning coalition. Countries with larger winning coalitions tend to have faster economic growth. And consequently, these countries are less susceptible to civil wars and domestic terrorist attacks.
Effect of sowing date of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) mother plants on germination of their seeds
Authors: Bellalou Aharon , Rubinovich Lior , Asher Aviv , Dekalo-Keren Miriam , Abu-Aklin Waffa , Sokolskaya Rachel , Ferber Ana , Galili Shmuel
Published: February 2024

Quinoa production in Israel has great agricultural potential as a dual-purpose plant for grains and as a fodder crop. One of the main problems in growing quinoa in Israel is the low germination percentage of seeds from local production. This might be due to non-optimal seed production
for growers. Thus, our main objective was to examine the effect of mother plant sowing dates on the germination parameters of quinoa seeds. Sowing date of quinoa mother plants affected the germination percentage and quality of the seeds. Mother plants sown during July-October produced more
viable seeds than mother plants sown in November-January. This could be due to the prevailing hot temperatures during the filling phase of the developing seeds on the plant. Because the harvest date for July-October sowings is still within the rainy season in Israel, it is likely that quinoa
can be grown for seed production in dry areas such as the southern Arava.
GENETIC PREDICTORS OF TOXIC EFFECTS OF METHOTREXATE IN CANCER PATIENTS
Authors: Fishchuk L. , Skavinska O. , Ievseienkova O. , Rossokha Z. , Sheiko L.
Published: February 2024

Today, methotrexate (MTX) is used in combination with other medicines to treat a wide range of malignancies. Despite its proven high efficacy, MTX often causes serious side effects, which may result in the need to reduce the dose of MTX or discontinue the drug altogether. This, in turn, can provoke the development of MTX resistance and cancer progression. Predicting the risk of MTX-induced toxicity is currently difficult due to the variability of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in different patients, so the scientific literature is intensively searching for potential biomarkers. Based on the data available in the current literature, we analyzed the relationship between variants in the genes encoding the key components of MTX intracellular metabolism and the MTX-induced side effects and drug response. According to the results of our work, the most studied variants are those of the SLC19A1 gene, which encodes the reduced folate carrier protein 1, and the MTHFR gene, which encodes the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. Studies of the effect of methylation of the promoter regions of genes on the therapeutic effect of MTX are also very promising. In conclusion, the study of molecular genetic markers of MTX toxicity is extremely relevant and necessary because it can help to avoid the effect of multidrug resistance and improve the quality of life and survival of patients.
TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT-ASSOCIATED miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, AND miR-23b-3p EXPRESSION IN PROSTATE CANCER WITH DIFFERENT PROGRESSION RISK
Authors: Borikun T. , Mushii O. , Pavlova A. , Burda T. , Zadvornyi T.
Published: February 2024

Background. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). At the same time, the mechanisms and features of the interaction between tumor cells and individual components of the TME in PCa remain not fully elucidated. The aim was to study the expression levels of tumor-associated miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p in the PCa tissue and to analyze their relationship with the features of TME. Materials and Methods. The work is based on the analysis of the results of the examination and treatment of 50 patients with PCa of stages II—IV. The expression of miRNA in the PCa tissue was analyzed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin (VIM), and CD68 in PCa tissue was determined by the immunohistochemical method. The identification of mast cells in the PCa tissue was assessed by the histochemical method. Results. The analysis of the expression levels of tumor-associated miRNAs demonstrated that the tumor tissue of patients with a high risk of PCa progression was characterized by 4.93 (p < 0.01) and 8.97 (p < 0.05) times higher levels of miR-19a-3p and miR-23b-3p, respectively, compared to similar indicators in the group of patients with a low risk of PCa progression. The levels of miR-7-5p and miR-19a-3p expression in the PCa tissue correlated with the expression level of α-SMA (r = 0.49 and r = 0.45, respectively; p < 0.05) and VIM (r = 0.45 and r = 0.46; respectively, p < 0.05). A direct relationship (r = 0.44; p < 0.05) was established between the level of miR-7-5p expression and the degree of infiltration of the prostate gland tissue by tumor-associated macrophages. Conclusions. The features of the expression of tumor-associated miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p indicated the prospect of their use as markers of the aggressiveness of the PCa course.
MANEC TUMOR OF RECTUM. A RARE CASE SERIES OF 3 PATIENTS AND A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Govindaraj R. , Govindaraj Sh. , Prakash C. , Govindaraj S.
Published: February 2024

The term Mixed Adeno-Neuro-Endocrine Carcinoma (MANEC) was introduced in 2010 by the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Digestive System. It refers to a neoplasm with dual epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation, each component representing at least 30% of the tumor. It is an uncommon tumor accounting for < 3% of all colon and rectum malignancies. We report three cases of this extremely rare MANEC of the rectum. All three cases presented with hematochezia, variable constipation, and abdominal pain. They were diagnosed and staged appropriately with colonoscopy, biopsy with immunohistochemistry, and imaging. They underwent an anterior resection with circular stapled anastomoses. Because of the low incidence of this histotype, we reviewed the clinical presentation, diagnostic characteristics, and treatment of MANEC of the colon and rectum.
Вплив форми латерально-впорядкованих наноструктур на ефективність поверхнево-підсиленого раманівського розсіювання
Authors: Indutnyi I.Z. , Yukhymchuk V.O. , Mynko V.I. , Mamykin S.V. , Mazur N.V. , Isaieva O.F. , Dzhagan V.M. , Danko V.A. , Yefanov V.S. , Korchovyy A.A. , Lytvyn P.M.
Published: February 2024

Методом iнтерференцiйної фотолiтографiї на рельєфоутворюючих халькогенiдних шарах As10Ge30S60 сформовано два типи бiґраток з латерально-впорядкованими куполами та лунками. Покриття таких бiґраток шарами алюмiнiю (80 нм), срiбла (70 нм) та золота (10 нм) дозволило отримати два типи SERS пiдкладинок. Методом атомної силової мiкроскопiї дослiджено змiни морфологiї поверхонь SERS пiдкладинок в процесi їх формування. Показано, що перiоди обох типiв SERS пiдкладинок становлять ∼1200 нм, глибини лунок i висоти куполiв дорiвнюють ∼350 нм. Наступне осадження на сформованi рельєфи шарiв металiв незначно впливає на дiаметри лунок та розмiри куполiв. Вимiрювання спектрально-кутових залежностей вiдбиття поляризованого свiтла вiд сформованих SERS пiдкладинок в дiапазонi довжин хвиль 0,4–1,1 мкм та кутiв падiння 10–70∘ продемонструвало, що на цих пiдкладинках спостерiгається збудження як локальних плазмонних резонансiв (на структурах з куполами), так i плазмон-поляритонних поверхневих хвиль (на обох типах структур). Продемонстровано, що сформованi структури з латерально-впорядкованими куполами та лунками є ефективними SERS пiдкладинками. Встановлено, що структури з куполами на порядок ефективнiше пiдсилюють раманiвський сигнал вiд стандартного аналiту R6G при використанi для збудження раманiвських спектрiв лазерного випромiнювання з довжинами хвиль 457, 532 та 671 нм. Цей факт зумовлений тим, що при нормальному падiннi збуджуючого лазерного випромiнювання на структурах з куполами ефективно збуджуються локалiзованi плазмони в спектральних областях з максимумами 488 та 676 нм, а для структур з лунками, згiдно з їхнiми спектрами поглинання, такi особливостi не спостерiгаються.
Inhomogeneity of the Ideal Gas of a Finite Number of Particles with Angular Momentum Conservation
Authors: Naplekov D.M. , Yanovsky V.V.
Published: February 2024

We continue to study various aspects of the behavior of a classical ideal gas in a stationary axisymmetric container. The symmetry of the vessel leads to the conservation of the gas’s angular momentum and, hence, the state of gas rotation. We consider the case of a nonrotating two-dimensional gas of a finite number of colliding particles. In this case, the gas statistical distributions differ from the classical ones found in the nineteenth century. We will show that the filling of the axisymmetric vessel with a nonrotating gas is not uniform and provide the exact spatial distribution of gas particles. This previously unknown distribution depends on all the particle masses and is found explicitly. The absence of a rotation in gas layers is shown through the investigation of the distributions of the tangential components of particle momenta. We also show that, for any number of particles in a container, the behavior of a massive enough particle may be unusual. The analytic results are confirmed by simple numerical experiments.
ПОБУДОВА УГРУПОВАННЯ КОСМІЧНИХ АПАРАТІВ,ЩО НЕПЕРЕРВНО ПОКРИВАЄ ПРИСТРОЯМИ «ГОРИЗОНТАЛЬНИХ СПОСТЕРЕЖЕНЬ» ЗОНУ ОХОПЛЕННЯ ОРБІТАЛЬНОЇ ГРУПИ
Authors: Лабуткіна Т.В. , Ананко Р.В.
Published: February 2024

Анотація. На сьогодення все більш актуальні спостереження орбітальних об’єктів із застосуванням пристроїв орбітального базування. Супутникова система спостереження орбітальних об’єктів має містити дві складові. «Остов» системи складуть різновисокі орбітальні угруповання з підтриманою регулярною структурою («сузір’я Волкера»); нетривалі у часі місії «наближених спостережень» (необхідні при реалізації операцій орбітального сервісу) мають виконуватися угрупованнями космічних апаратів, що формуються з «парку» космічних апаратів, який буде створено в навколоземному просторі. Запропоновано метод початкового балістичного проектування угруповання космічних апаратів-спостерігачів, яке забезпечує неперервне покриття миттєвими зонами застосування встановлених на них пристроїв спостережень області оточення спостережуваної групи орбітальних об’єктів. Космічні апарати-спостерігачі реалізують «горизонтальні» спостереження (вісь симетрій миттєвої зони застосування пристрою спостереження, яка прийнята конусоподібною, лежить у площині миттєвого місцевого горизонту космічного апарату). Початкове балістичне проектування орбітального угруповання (яке є частиною більш повної задачі, що містить подальше уточнення структури угруповання і управління цією структурою), здійснюється на основі модифікації методу проектування орбітального угруповання повного покриття області висот над поверхнею Землі зонами застосування пристроїв спостереження орбітального базування. Запропонований метод спрямований на вирішення задачі при жорсткому обмеженні часу в процесі виконання місії. Приведені розрахунки щодо обґрунтування введених спрощень та розрахункові приклади застосування запропонованого методу.
Examining the Assessment Practices of Foreign Language Novice Teachers
Authors: Cote Parra Gabriel , López Alexis A.
Published: February 2024

This paper reports a mixed-methods study at a public university in Colombia. It describes the classroom assessment practices and challenges of 75 novice foreign language teachers. To gather the quantitative data, the participants completed an online survey. For the qualitative data, 11 key informants participated in one-on-one online interviews. Findings revealed that novice teachers predominantly used summative assessment in the classroom and aligned their assessment instruments to large-scale tests. Moreover, novice teachers faced many challenges with classroom assessment, including determining how to assess their students, developing assessment instruments, and interpreting and using assessment scores to inform teaching and learning. In conclusion, novice teachers need more knowledge, skills, and support to handle daily assessment-related tasks.
Application of Neural Networks for Image Segmentation in the Prob-lem of Fast Global Routing
Authors: Kadirliev Timur Maratovich , Telpukhov Dmitry Vladimirovich , Solovyev Roman Aleksandrovich
Published: February 2024

The paper explores the possibilities of using neural network methods to solve the problem of global routing for VLSI ASIC design. An algorithm has been developed for generating a training dataset based on the Lee algorithm, which allows one to synthesize three-dimensional matrices with obstacles and points that need to be connected. The U-Net fully convolutional neural network, effective for semantic segmentation of images, was selected for training. The quality of the results was assessed using a validation data. A significant reduction in routing time compared to the Lee algorithm was shown, but the share of unbroken routes was only 37%. Ways to improve the training dataset and adapt the approach to real conditions using DEF and GUIDE files are proposed. In general, the work demonstrated the potential of neural network methods to speed up the global routing task, but continued research is required to improve the quality and reliability of the results. The work is useful for specialists in the field of integrated circuit design and machine learning.
Optimization of a Number Division Algorithm in the Residue Number System Based on the Akushsky Core Function
Authors: Lutsenko Vladislav Vyacheslavovich , Babenko Mikhail Grigoryevich , Tchernykh Andrei , Lapina Maria Anatolievna
Published: February 2024

Residue number systems find wide application in cryptography, digital and image signal processing, and other domains necessitating division operations. Nevertheless, division is the most computationally intensive activity in residue number systems. An optimized division algorithm based on the Akushsky core function is presented in this paper. The suggested method exhibits superior computational efficiency when compared to the conventional iterative division.
Checking Programs for Compliance with MISRA C Standard Using the Clang Framework
Authors: Buchatskiy Ruben Arturovich , Churkin Yan Andreevich , Chibisov Kirill Alekseevich , Pantilimonov Mikhail Vyacheslavovich , Dolgodvorov Egor Viktorovich , Vyazovtsev Andrey Viktorovich , Volokhov Aleksey Georgievich , Trunov Vladimir Vladimirovich , Mirakyan Gayane Hovhannes , Kitaev Konstantin Nikolaevich , Belevantsev Andrey Andreevich
Published: February 2024

MISRA C is a collection of rules and recommendations for C programming language that is the de facto standard in industries where security plays the key role. The standard was developed by the MISRA (Motor Industry Software Reliability Association) consortium and includes a set of recommendations that allow the C language to be used to develop safe, reliable and portable software. MISRA is widely used in many industries with high reliability requirements, including aerospace, defense, automotive and medical. We have developed static checkers to check code for compliance with MISRA C 2012 secure coding standard. The developed checkers are based on the LLVM/clang compiler infrastructure. This paper describes the strategies underlying the design and implementation of checkers. Using MISRA C 2012 example suite, the proposed checkers determine compliance or violation of the recommendations with high accuracy. The checkers also show greater coverage and better performance than Cppcheck, a popular open-source static analyzer.
About Cloud Request Protection
Authors: Varnovskiy Nikolay Pavlovich , Martishin Sergey Anatolievich , Khrapchenko Marina Valerievna , Shokurov Alexander Vladimirovich
Published: February 2024

The article examines the well-known cryptographic problem of obtaining data from a database by a client so that no one with access to the server except the client himself could obtain information about this request. This problem known as PIR (Private Information Retrieval) was formulated in 1995 by Chor, Goldreich, Kushilevitz and Sudan in the information-theoretic setting. A model of cloud computing is proposed. It includes a cloud, an authentication center, a user, clients, trusted dealer, an active adversary executing the protocol in the cloud. The attacking side has the ability to create fake clients to generate an unlimited number of requests. An algorithm for the organization and database distribution on the cloud and an algorithm for obtaining the required bit were proposed. An injective transformation of bit numbers represented in the l-ary number system by words of length d into words without repeating digits of the same length with an alphabet of 𝒍̂ digits is used, i.e. a transformation {𝟎, ..., 𝒍 − 𝟏}^𝒅 → {𝟎, ..., 𝒍̂ − 𝟏}^𝒅 was constructed. This transformation reduces the probability of disclosure of the requested bit number. The communication complexity and probability of revealing required bit were estimated, taking into account the performed transformation.
DNA extraction from infected or not wheat leaf tissue v1
Authors: Schwessinger Benjamin
Published: February 2024

This protocols is part of the ANU Biosecurity mini-research project #1 "Plant Pathogen Diagnostics: Visuals, subcultures, and genomics". You will be provided four pots of 3-4 week old wheat plants that have been infected with different wheat pathogens. Each pot has been infected with one major pathogen. You will not know which pot has been infected with which pathogen. However, you will be provided a compendium of 10-15 wheat pathogens that will guide you to identify the infective agent for each treatment group. The fifth treatment group will be uninfected wheat plants which will be clearly identified. You can use treatment group #5 as negative control for your experiments. In total, each group will obtain five pots each: This specific protocol is a step by step guide to sample representative leaf material for each treatment group and to extract DNA from these samples with the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit. We use a kit in the course to speed up the process and make it reliable. Though it is important to understand the rough principles of DNA extraction as this process might influence the outcome of pathogen detection and identification in a biosecurity setting. We provide a short description of each step and its function in the protocol. In addition, please consult the handbook of the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit provider for further details as required. The final goal is to achieve the following: sample representative leaves with symptoms for each treatment group [TG1-TG4] that contain enough infective agent for DNA based pathogen identification. sample representative leaves without symptoms for TG5. extract pure and high quality DNA that allows for PCR amplification of marker gene regions (bacteria and/or fungi) and direct DNA sequencing of total DNA. This protocol is applicable for week 2. Protocols progress overview: Week 2 Sampling of two representative leaves and subsections thereof. Wee 2 tissue rupture with metal beads when tissues is frozen (performed by demonstrator). Week 2 DNA extraction from ruptured leaf tissue. The whole process follows the following major steps. Sampling -> Tissue rupture -> Tissue lysis -> Clearance of material -> DNA precipitation -> DNA binding to silica matrix -> Washing of impurities -> DNA elution from column and collection.
Selective Inclusion? Insights Into Political Parties' Recruitment of Immigrant Background Candidates in Bolzano
Authors: Zogu Giorgia , Schönthaler Sophia
Published: February 2024

Political parties can be crucial gatekeepers to the political participation of immigrants. This article analyzes the political selection strategies of political parties at the local level. The case study focuses on the multi-ethnic city of Bolzano in Northern Italy, which is home to a significant migrant population as well as three autochthonous language groups: Italian, German, and Ladin. First, the article gives an overview of the political lists presented at the last local elections in 2020. Second, it discusses party strategies to recruit candidates with an immigration background. The presented insights are drawn from seven “elite” interviews (i.e., with high-ranking party representatives). Overall, the findings indicate that diversity stemming from migration does not have a significant impact on the recruitment strategies of the province’s political parties’: Despite electoral lists containing an increasing number of immigrants, who have migrated to South Tyrol since the 1990s, neither newer nor traditional parties adopt significant strategies to recruit candidates with an immigration background. Overall, the diversity on political lists mostly reflects the existing language cleavages of the autochthonous population, while diversity stemming from immigration is still largely overlooked. However, the results also show that while neither of the parties is fully inclusive or exclusive in their selection methods, we identify a tendency toward selective inclusiveness of certain immigrant groups.
Political Professionalization Beyond National Borders: An Analysis of Italian MPs in Overseas Constituencies
Authors: Boldrini Matteo
Published: February 2024

Among European countries, Italy is one of the relatively few cases to provide a quota of reserved parliamentary seats for non-resident citizens. Despite an increased scientific interest in the topic, the group of MPs elected in Overseas Constituencies remains overlooked in the available literature. The gap relates to factors such as their socio-biographical profile, precedent careers, parliamentary activity, the role played in their recruitment by the party abroad or at a national level, and their style of representation. In this vein, the article investigates the career profiles of Italian MPs elected in Overseas Constituencies from 2006 (the first elections with the introduction of citizen representatives living abroad) to 2022. Based on an original data set and through an analysis of their biographical and political characteristics, the article builds a typology of elected MPs abroad by cross-referencing two dimensions derived from the literature: the linkage with the host country and the presence of previous political and associational experiences. The analysis shows that different types of MPs have different career lengths and a different capacity to collect preference votes.
Migrants’ Political Participation and Representation in Poland: What Do Political Parties Have to Offer?
Authors: Pacześniak Anna , Wincławska Maria
Published: February 2024

Since 2018, Poland has been a net migration country, yet public debates on migrants and migration remain scarce and have been defined by a reactionary nature. This article, adopting a political opportunity structure perspective, focuses on political parties as the main actors shaping opportunities and constraints for migrant political participation and representation in Polish society. Based on a qualitative content analysis of party manifestos and parliamentary debates, and using the deductive thematic analysis framework, this study analysed three types of arguments parties have adopted regarding the admission of migrants. The findings revealed that Polish political parties, failing to see non-voting migrants as promising electoral targets, have weaponised the migrant issue and used it as an element of the partisan battle to attack opponents, especially during the election campaign period, instead of stimulating migrants’ political participation and offering them channels for representation.
ENERGY ABSORPTION AND DEFORMATION PATTERN OF CIRCULAR HYBRID CRASH BOX SUBJECTED TO FRONTAL LOAD
Authors:   Mechanical Engineering Departement of Brawijaya University, WAKHIDAH DELIA HANI , CHOIRON MOCH. AGUS ,   Mechanical Engineering Departement of Brawijaya University, IRAWAN YUDY SURYA ,   Mechanical Engineering Departement of Brawijaya University, PURNOWIDODO ANINDITO ,   Mechanical Engineering Departement of Brawijaya University
Published: February 2024

Crashworthiness is related to the ability of a structure to reduce the effects of a collision risk of injury to passengers and the risk of damage to vital parts of the vehicle. Geometry design of crash box is one important parameter to increase crashworthiness performance by increasing energy absorption through progressive deformation. In previous studies, circular crash box absorbed higher energy than other geometry design. Besides that, another parameter is material design. In other studies, the hybrid model absorbs more energy with a less increasing mass. Hybrid crash box combine low-density and high-strength of composite materials with aluminium materials are affordable and ductile to increase energy absorption. This study aims to develop circular hybrid crash box by variating fibre orientation angle of composite and hybrid material configuration. Crash box design is investigated by using computer simulation with ANSYS Workbench. The crash box materials used are Carbon Toray T300 – Epoxy Resin (CCE) and Aluminium Alloy 6063 (AA6063). Eight of circular hybrid crash box models subjected to axial loading with a speed of 10 m/s. The frontal loading is modelled by setting impactor with mass of 100 kg. Energy absorption and deformation pattern were observed. The results showed that the Al-Ko45 model with orientation angle [45/- 45,-45/45]5 and hybrid material configuration of composite inside has highest energy absorption of 8.24 kJ. The deformation pattern in the aluminium part is mixed of concertina at the first stage then continued by diamond pattern, The deformation composite part is dominated by local buckling with transverse shearing. The fractions or folds of composite is functions like foam-filled filling folds of aluminium deformation to initiate progressive crushing folding that can increase the crashworthiness characteristic as the energy absorption.
La renovación de la historia política de América latina (1990-2020)
Authors: Bohoslavsky Ernesto
Published: February 2024

Este artículo muestra algunos de los rasgos que ha desarrollado la historia política latinoamericana en los últimos treinta años. Los historiadores de la política se han concentrado en los procesos electorales (empadronamiento, campañas, máquinas políticas, etc.), las complejas relaciones entre prensa y política, la sociabilidad de las elites (clubes, tertulias, partidos políticos, círculos intelectuales, etc.) y las maneras en las cuales las identidades políticas fueron construidas, difundidas y desafiadas. Tres temas en particular son revisados en este artículo: primero, los límites, significados y posibilidades de la ciudadanía en el siglo xix; en segundo lugar, las nuevas interpretaciones sobre los populismos clásicos de mediados del siglo xx, que usan acercamientos más sensibles al rol activo desplegado por la clase trabajadora, y en tercer lugar, la naturaleza de los regímenes militares asentados desde la década de 1960.
MRI radiomics based machine learning model of the periaqueductal gray matter in migraine patients
Authors: Mese Ismail , Karaci Rahsan , Altintas Taslicay Ceylan , Taslicay Cengizhan , Akansel Gur , Domac Saime Fusun
Published: February 2024

Background and purpose – The aim of the study was to investigate the question: Can MRI radiomics analysis of the periaqueductal gray region elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying various migraine subtypes, and can a machine learning model using these radiomics features accurately differentiate between migraine patients and healthy individuals, as well as between migraine subtypes, including atypical cases with overlapping symptoms? Methods – The study analyzed initial MRI images of individuals taken after their first migraine diagnosis, and additional MRI scans were acquired from healthy subjects. Radiomics modeling was applied to analyze all the MRI images in the periaqueductal gray region. The dataset was randomized, and oversampling was used if there was class imbalance between groups. The optimal algorithm-based feature selection method was employed to select the most important 5-10 features to differentiate between the two groups. The classification performance of AI algorithms was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis to calculate the area under the curve, classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values. Participants were required to have a confirmed diagnosis of either episodic migraine, probable migraine, or chronic migraine. Patients with aura, those who used migraine-preventive medication within the past six months, or had chronic illnesses, psychiatric disorders, cerebrovascular conditions, neoplastic diseases, or other headache types were excluded from the study. Additionally, 102 healthy subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Results – The algorithm-based information gain method for feature reduction had the best performance among all methods, with the first-order, gray-level size zone matrix, and gray-level co-occurrence matrix classes being the dominant feature classes. The machine learning model correctly classified 82.4% of migraine patients from healthy subjects. Within the migraine group, 74.1% of the episodic migraine-probable migraine patients and 90.5% of the chronic migraine patients were accurately classified. No significant difference was found between probable migraine and episodic migraine patients in terms of the periaqueductal gray region radiomics features. The kNN algorithm showed the best performance for classifying episodic migraine-probable migraine subtypes, while the Random Forest algorithm demonstrated the best performance for classifying the migraine group and chronic migraine subtype. Conclusion – A radiomics-based machine learning model, utilizing standard MR images obtained during the diagnosis and followup of migraine patients, shows promise not only in aiding migraine diagnosis and classification for clinical approach, but also in understanding the neurological mechanisms underlying migraines.
Study protocol of the Hungarian Longitudinal Study of Healthy Brain Aging (HuBA)
Authors: Bankó Éva M. , Weiss Béla , Hevesi István , Manga Annamária , Vakli Pál , Havadi-Nagy Menta , Kelemen Rebeka , Somogyi Eszter , Homolya István , Bihari Adél , Simon Ádám , Nárai Ádám , Tóth Krisztina , Báthori Noémi , Tomacsek Vivien , Horváth András , Kamondi Anita , Racsmány Mihály , Dénes Ádám , Simor Péter , Kovács Tibor , Hermann Petra , Vidnyánszky Zoltán
Published: February 2024

Background and purpose – Neurocognitive aging and the associated brain diseases impose a major social and economic burden. Therefore, substantial efforts have been put into revealing the lifestyle, the neurobiological and the genetic underpinnings of healthy neurocognitive aging. However, these studies take place almost exclusively in a limited number of highly-developed countries. Thus, it is an important open question to what extent their findings may generalize to neurocognitive aging in other, not yet investigated regions. The purpose of the Hungarian Longitudinal Study of Healthy Brain Aging (HuBA) is to collect multi-modal longitudinal data on healthy neurocognitive aging to address the data gap in this field in Central and Eastern Europe. Methods – We adapted the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging study protocol to local circumstances and collected demographic, lifestyle, mental and physical health, medication and medical history related information as well as recorded a series of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. In addition, participants were also offered to participate in the collection of blood samples to assess circulating inflammatory biomarkers as well as a sleep study aimed at evaluating the general sleep quality based on multi-day collection of subjective sleep questionnaires and whole-night electroencephalographic (EEG) data. Results – Baseline data collection has already been accomplished for more than a hundred participants and data collection in the second session is on the way. The collected data might reveal specific local trends or could also indicate the generalizability of previous findings. Moreover, as the HuBA protocol also offers a sleep study designed for thorough characterization of participants’ sleep quality and related factors, our extended multi-modal dataset might provide a base for incorporating these measures into healthy and clinical aging research. Conclusion – Besides its straightforward national benefits in terms of health expenditure, we hope that this Hungarian initiative could provide results valid for the whole Central and Eastern European region and could also promote aging and Alzheimer’s disease research in these countries.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with a benign prognosis in an immunocompetent patient : A case report
Authors: Özdemir Zeynep , Teker Serap Ruken , Yüksel Burcu , Soysal Aysun
Published: February 2024

John Cunningham virus (JCV) is most commonly acquired in childhood and is often asymptomatic throughout life. However, in the case of primary or secondary immunosuppression, it is known to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in the central nervous system. Hereby, we describe a rare case of PML in a patient without known factors of immunosuppression or use of immunomodulation. A 53-year-old female patient was presented with progressive left-side weakness and tremors in the left hand over a period of two months. The patient was diagnosed with PML based on history, examination, cerebrospinal fluid markers, histopathology, and brain magnetic resonance imaging at presentation. Despite detailed examination, nothing was found in the patient to cause an immunosuppressed state. Therapy was started with mirtazapine with significant neurological improvement.To our knowledge, PML in immunocompetent patient with bening prognosis is a very rare condition. There is also no effective treatment. Our case is a complicated example of this condition.