bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting the availability of hybrid cerebral and myocardial revascularization
Authors: Tarasov R. S. , Danilovich A. I.
Published: February 2023

Aim. To analyze factors affecting the availability of hybrid cerebral and myocardial revascularization by synchronous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Material and methods. This retrospective study included 263 patients with coronary and internal carotid artery involvement undergoing PCI and CEA during the period from 2011 to 2017.

Results. The study revealed the following factors increasing the availability of revascularization: hybrid cerebral and myocardial revascularization, successful PCI using drug-eluting stents, postPCI TIMI flow grade 3, and radial access for PCI. The following factors reduced the availability: polyvascular disease >50% in three beds, prior PCI, left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, left coronary artery involvement, living without a family, staged revascularization, CEA before PCI, unsuccessful/complicated PCI with post-PCI TIMI flow grades of 0-1, residual SYNTAX score >9, emergency hospitalization and multiple emergency PCI of the coronary arteries in the long-term follow-up period.

Conclusion. Comprehensive analysis of clinical, demographic, anatomical, angiographic, and perioperative factors made it possible to identify predictors that affect the availability of hybrid revascularization.
Perceptual effects of lexical competition on Cantonese tone categories
Authors: Soo Rachel , Babel Molly
Published: February 2023

Listeners use lexical information and the speech signal to categorize sounds and recognize words despite substantial acoustic-phonetic variation in natural speech. In diachronic mergers, where systematic variation acts to neutralize lexical contrasts, the role of the lexicon becomes less clear. We examined how lexical competition structures phonetic variability of (merging) lexical tone categories in Cantonese using three experiments. Listeners categorized tokens from lexical tone continua generated from minimal pairs (Experiment 1: Word identification) and categorized tokens from tone continua generated from word-nonword pairs (Experiment 2: Lexical decision). The presence of a lexical competitor at both continuum endpoints in Experiment 1 maintained more discrete categorization functions for non-merging tone pairs than in Experiment 2 where only one endpoint was a word. In the merging tone pairs, categorization was less discrete and the effect of lexical competition was different. Exploratory data from a goodness rating task, Experiment 3, suggest that lexical competition affects internal category structure for merging tones, but not non-merging tones. Overall, these data provide evidence that tone mergers affect phonetic category boundaries and internal category structure in the lexicon, and that, for non-merging tones, the range of acceptable phonetic variation is constrained by the presence of a lexical competitor.
Pronominal representation of the experiencer when expressing indifferent and non-indifferent attitudes in Russian-language discourse
Authors:   Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, Nichiporchik Elena V.
Published: February 2023

The author of the article aims to test the assumption that the representation of the subject of an indifferent attitude in the phraseological units of the Russian language by the first-person pronoun is not accidental. The regularities of the experiencer's representation in messages about indifferent and non-indifferent attitudes are found in contexts with a stylistically neutral verb volnovat' [agitate, bother, cause concern, etc.]. The source of the material is the resources of the Russian National Corpus and Google Books Ngram Viewer. The corpus tools for extracting and processing information, methods of quantitative analysis, and generalization of the obtained data were used. In messages about indifferent and non-indifferent attitudes, constructed using the verb volnovat', the predominantly pronominal representation of the experiencer is found. The representations of the experiencer by the first-person pronoun menya [me] quantitatively prevail over other pronominal representations. Participants of the Russian-language discourse are more inclined to inform about the state of concern, a non-indifferent attitude to something, than about an indifferent attitude towards what constitutes a private or social being of a person. Messages with the representation of the experiencer by pronouns of the first and third persons, which statistically outperform messages with the representation of the experi-encer by pronouns of the second person, differ in the spheres and, accordingly, in the genres of their predominant use. Journalistic writing is more focused on communication in the “here and now” format, an open dialogue about what excites or should excite each and many; therefore, the experiencer in messages about a non-indifferent attitude is more often represented by pronouns menya [me], nas [us], ikh [them], in messages about an indifferent attitude -pronouns nikogo [nobody], menya [me], ikh [them]. In literary discourse, the narrator focuses on the inner world of the character, hence the most frequent representations of the experiencer are ego [his], eyo [her]. The pronominal representations of the experiencer are fixed in combinations with the verb volnovat' mainly in messages about indifferent and non-indifferent attitudes, localized in the present tense. The exception is representations of the experiencer by pronouns ego and eyo with the verb volnovat' in literary texts: combinations of these pronouns with the verb volnovat' in the past tense outperform by frequency the combinations with the verb forms in the present tense. The pronominal representations of the experiencer in combinations with the verb volnovat' are predominantly contact and prepositive, that indicates on the action of speech stereotypes, leading ultimately to the formation of speech patterns -the preservation of form and content in the form of combinations that blur the borderline between free word combinations and reproducible units.
Cognitive-pragmatic program “Law of Conscience” in the film construct “Boys”: The target vector
Authors:   Xi 'an International Studies University, Ivanov Dmitry I.
Published: February 2023

This article considers the author's version of a film construct's sociocognitive modeling based on the original theory of cognitive-pragmatic programs (CPPs). The relevance of this kind of modeling is due to both the social significance of the studied conceptual film text, and the complexity of its analysis as a synthetic text of culture. The source of the research is the film construct of the famous Soviet film Boys. To substantiate the author's methodology, the traditions of psychology and modern sociocognitive ideas are used. The goals of the leading CPPs' initial formula of the film construct (“The Law of Conscience”) envisage the implementation of three main processes: (a) transformation and adjustment of the basic cognitive-mental subsystems of consciousness of a “problem” teenager who has fallen into the zone of influence of destructive CPPs; (b) the formation in his mind of a constructive personal, social and civic identity; (c) “withdrawal” of a teenager from the zone of activity of destructive-manipulative programs with their subsequent blocking. These processes determine the general target vector for the implementation of the “Law of Conscience” CPP. In the aspect of goal-setting, the program works simultaneously in two modes: goalsetting for oneself and goal-setting for the object of socialization (adolescent). At first the goal-setting is active and meaningful only for the program itself; the adolescent is aware of the formal presence of a goal, but does not identify it as his own; therefore, the degree of activity of the consciousness of the subject-personifier remains extremely low. To solve this problem the CPP bearer must find out how the consciousness of the object of socialization has changed as a result of destructive influence through observation (over the adolescent or his parents, the source of his desocialization) and analysis of behavior. The “Law of Conscience” CPP, activating the second mode of goal-setting (for a teenager), seeks to personify the goal formed in its structure and create conditions under which the teenager begins to perceive it as his own. The “Law of Conscience” CPP is focused primarily not on the “result at any cost”, but on the activation and maintenance of the internal activity of the processes of harmonious cognitive-mental rehabilitation of the adolescent's consciousness, which is realized in the scene of the trial of V. Kireev as a result of a speech by the head of the camp, P.V. Antonov. The “Law of Conscience” program cannot make a choice for the teenager. He must start the movement, feeling support by himself. A simple rule works here: “the ‘other' believes in me - I must justify his belief in himself - I must accept his trust as my own - I must learn to believe in myself”.
Organizational and pedagogical conditions as factors of the quality of education of Russian language teaching in bilingual rural schools
Authors:   Federal Institute of Native Languages of Peoples of the Russian Federation, Ivanova Alena V.
Published: February 2023

In the Russian Federation, bilingualism and multilingualism are becoming an integral part of modern society. The problem of ensuring the availability of quality education, regardless of the place of residence and the language of instruction, is a priority task of the Russian education system. Organizational and pedagogical conditions can become one of the factors for obtaining high-quality education, regardless of the place of residence and language of education of students. The article presents the results of a study aimed at identifying organizational and pedagogical conditions that contribute to improving the quality of Russian language teaching in rural schools that conduct educational activities in their native language. A leading research method is questionnaire survey, which involved respondents from four regions - the Republic of Altai, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Tatarstan, Tuva - in which official languages are Russian and that of the republics. The research material was based on the responses to questionnaires of 368 respondents in three groups: heads of rural educational organizations, Russian language teachers, students in grades 5-9 and their parents. In addition, the following methods were used: observation, conversation, interviews, questionnaires, content analysis, and study of school documentation. Based on the theoretical analysis of sources on the research topic, the concept of “organizational and pedagogical conditions” was specified; the definitions of the types of conditions - motivational, administrative and managerial, personnel, material and technical, control and evaluation - were clarified and formulated. The results of the study allowed identifying these conditions as factors that ensure quality and presenting them in terms of motivation (for what purpose?), organization (what and how?), personnel (who?), logistics (where and by what?) and evaluation and control (how?). The results obtained helped to formulate methodological recommendations for creating organizational and pedagogical conditions as a set of certain pedagogical measures to influence participants in educational relations. These measures ensure the improvement of the quality of education and are aimed at the formation of balanced bilingualism in children in bilingual education. For our multilingual country, state support for Russian and the native languages of its peoples is necessary not only as a factor of sociopolitical development, but also as a guarantee of state security of a multinational state.
Orthodoxy's contribution to the formation of the social health institution in Russia
Authors:   Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the Far East, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Popovkina Galina S.
Published: February 2023

The article attempts to build a general picture of the influence of Orthodoxy on the formation of Russian medicine. The influence of Christianity on medicine has already become a subject of research for philosophers, historians and ethicists; therefore, the methodological basis of the research was the idea of the Dilthey hermeneutic circle, which requires going back from consideration of specific aspects to a general panoramic vision of the phenomenon. Based on the analysis of published works and sources on the history of the Church and medicine, a conclusion is made about the institutional and value influence of Orthodoxy on Russian medicine. Institutional influence manifested itself in certain aspects of the formation of the state medical system. First of all, thanks to the transmission of the traditions of ancient medicine by the Church, the foundations of hospital medical care were laid: monastery hospitals became the first organized places of medical care in Russia, from which hospital services for the population in Russia emerged. Another aspect of the institutional influence of Orthodoxy is the creation of the level of nursing staff in hospitals, which began as a community of sisters of mercy. The Church was the inspirer and, in some cases, the direct organizer of the training of nurses and the introduction of their work in hospitals, thus forming the branch of professional nursing education, which later went outside the Church and was adopted by state medicine. Speaking about the influence of the Church on medical science in Russia, we can say that the Church did not initiate any scientific research in the field of medicine and did not provide targeted support for medical research. Monasteries stood at the origins of the emerging medical science in Russia, contributing to the penetration and accumulation of scientific knowledge in the country. The value influence of Christianity on medicine in Russia is determined by the emergence and formation of special ethical views, which became an integral feature of the Russian doctor. In fact, domestic medical ethics originates in monastic hospitals. The main moral principles of Russian medicine are service and love for a person, sacrifice, altruism and selflessness. The ideal of a doctor, faithful to their duty of caring for their patient - a holy doctor - also came to Russian medicine from Orthodoxy. Thus, Orthodoxy played a key role in the formation of organized medical care for the population (the creation of hospitals, the introduction of nurses in medical institutions) and the medical ethics of medicine in Russia.
Chronotopicity of the concept “power” in the Russian language (On the archeology of power in Russian texts)
Authors:   Humanities and Education Science Academy (Branch) of V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Shevchenko Oleg K. ,   Crimean Branch of the Russian Philosophical Society
Published: February 2023

The author understands the concept “chronotope”, introduced into scholarly discourse by Russian researchers A. Ukhtomsky and M. Bakhtin, as a unity of the temporal and topological (spatial) being of any object or phenomenon. However, the identification of a language's ability to express the telicity of a particular reality's chronotope presents a great challenge. In other words, it is the ability of a natural language to observe phenomena singled out by researchers in the chronotope aspect without damaging the meanings and conceptual intuitions rooted in it. It is especially important for such phenomena as state, power, or politics. Following the style of Michel Foucault, the author of the article has carried out a thorough archaeological analysis of the concept “power” in the Russian language, referring to rare dictionaries, historical and etymological studies and specialized reference books. The research has shown that power in the Russian language is something physically tangible; it is not achieved, but granted or gained. It is not just a certain aspiration, ability or a set of skills, but a special condition having an objective and physiological embodiment, which is unavoidably obvious. In the Russian semiosphere, there exists a chronotopic unity of temporality and topology of ideas about power, the latter being alive, plastic, fluid, diverse, and adjusted to a specific space, transforming its owner and never stopping in its existence. Structurally, this single reality looks as follows. Power is the center, core and fundamental concept. Strength, will, law, and freedom are the immediate visible manifestations of power-wielding reality in the chronotope. They are associated with individuals who are power-holders. Moreover, an essential element is the format of freedom, which is bestowed only by the state of power. Influence, domination, and management are technical elements of power unlocking its inherent potential to change, transform and metamorphize the surrounding reality. State and possession are the two concepts embracing and including all the previous realities, except for power itself, which is the sphere's core, source and, as it were, mathematical point. State and possession make an all-out effort to objectivate the abstraction, embody it and its satellites and technical elements into the generally accepted reality. Possession is the final and, in a sense, peripheral concept of the semiosphere. But it is peripheral in the sense that power does not exist as such beyond its limits. Possession is a shell formalizing power, its border, limitation and periphery. Finally, possession is crucial to understanding the specific features of the Russian semiosphere of power, without which it (power) will remain a lifeless operational term for private laboratory research of separate insignificant elements of reality.
UN reform and its impact on the contemporary international relations system threats and challenges
Authors:   Vyatka State University, Vlasova Ksenia V. ,   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences (IE RAS), Timchenko Vladislav A. ,   Vyatka State University
Published: February 2023

The article discusses the activities of the United Nations, which is considered to be the only current world universal international intergovernmental organization. The aim was to study the causes of the decline in the UN effectiveness and to analyze options for a possible reform. Having studied various UN documents (the Charter, resolutions, proposals of the secretaries-general, press releases, etc.), the authors inferred that a series of crises and failures of the UN put the majority of states in need of its reform. The reasons for the UN possible transformation, according to researchers, can be: (1) the UN disregard by the great powers and the conduct of military operations without a corresponding resolution; (2) the privileged powers have little regard for the opinions of the so-called “small” countries; (3) excessive bureaucracy and inefficient spending of the UN general budget; (4) the uncertainty in the declared goals and functions of various departments, which leads to duplication of their activities. In connection with these identified reasons, the UN comprehensive reform has now become considered one of the most urgent and complex tasks in contemporary international relations. The study notes that the problem of the UN reform has been of concern to the international community since the 1990s, when some of the reforms were presented and partially implemented, for example, regarding the activities of the Secretariat or the formation of new organizations under the UN auspices. However, the reforms of the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, the UN financing, etc. are still controversial. At the same time, the problem of reforming the Security Council is the biggest discussion theme. The authors inferred that disputes on the transformation of the Security Council are conducted in two main directions: regarding the increase in the number of countries in the Security Council and the presence of the veto power of the permanent members. In addition, the difficulties of the reform process lie in the fact that the member states of the Security Council express different ways of resolving the problem and cannot come to a single solution or compromise at the moment. The article provides an analysis of various options for the Security Council reforms proposed by the Group of Four, the African Union, Unity for Consensus, and others. As a result, none of the projects can find sufficient support from other states, which makes it very difficult to discuss and find a single version of the reforms. The authors conclude that in the medium term major changes are not expected in the issue of the UN reform, which is associated with the presence of primary global tasks (for example, overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic), as well as internal crises of individual states and associations.
Students scientific socialization in the preparation for subject olympiads
Authors:   Dostoevsky Omsk State University, Boldovskaya Tatiana E. , Devyaterikova Marina V. ,   Omsk State Technical University, Raskina Irina I. ,   Omsk State Pedagogical University; ilitary Academy of Logistics named after General of the Army A.V. Khrulev
Published: February 2023

The modern development of society imposes new requirements for the present-day graduates of the university. Today, the formation of professional hard skills is no longer enough for a competent specialist. The analysis of the labor market research shows that social soft skills of a graduate are currently in demand, for example, teamwork skills, self-development skills, high communication skills, interpersonal and intercultural interaction skills. Soft skills reflect the potential of the ability to learn and the social skills that are necessary for effective interaction. One of the ways to form soft skills for a graduate is the scientific socialization of a student through preparation and participation in subject olympiads of various levels. Scientific socialization is a cognitive activity, through the assimilation of knowledge, values and norms. The educational environment of the university becomes a platform for the scientific socialization of students, which, simultaneously with their professional training, is also an educational environment responsible for the development of their personal potential. Educational activity at the university is understood as the activity of managing, supporting and accompanying the process of becoming a person as a subject of professional culture. The article considers the scientific socialization of students on the example of preparation for olympiads in mathematics at various levels. Educational work in the process of preparing for the olympiads in mathematics at various levels is implemented, among other things, through the formation of the following universal competencies (UCs) among students: UC-1, system and critical thinking; UC-2, project development and implementation; UC-3, teamwork and leadership; UC-4, communication; UC-5, intercultural interaction; UC-6, self-organization and self-development. It is concluded that the olympiad movement at the university contributes to the deep assimilation of the fundamental foundations of the studied discipline; forms divergent thinking based on innate abilities, experience of creative activity, curiosity and interest; educates a person's readiness for self-education based on internal motivation and conscious activity. The systematic participation of students in various olympiads contributes to improving the efficiency of the educational process and mobilizes the intellectual, creative and communicative abilities of the participant. Thus, the subject olympiad is one of the ways to form social soft skills.
Methods of assessing the development of special stamina in female sprinters during the initial sports specialization
Authors:   Moscow Finance and Law University, Romanova Svetlana P.
Published: February 2023

The article presents a methodology for assessing the development of special stamina in female sprinters during the initial sports specialization training. The methodology was developed taking into account their age characteristics, the period of sports training, the needs of the kind of sport. The theoretical justification of this technique is based on the following factors: (1) the insufficiency of generally accepted tests for identifying the reasons limiting the special stamina development and slowing sports achievement results down; (2) various kinds of special sprinter stamina manifestations by running different distances (for example, 0-30 meters for speed and strength stamina, 30-90 meters for alactic and anaerobic stamina, 90-150 meters for alactate-lactate anaerobic stamina); (3) the possibility of individualizing the development of special stamina, depending on what distance segments the speed decreases. According to the developed methodology, special stamina development is assessed during training though preliminary, operational and final control. The mean idea of its development is the usage of a generally recognized set of test exercises, such as the flying 30 m sprint test, 60-meter standing start (fixed in the Federal Standard for Athletic Sports Training) in combination with 150-meter sprint in segments: 0-30 m, 30-90 m, 90-150 m, which is an additional test similar in structure to competitive activity. The analysis of taking generally accepted tests makes it possible to determine the maximum speed capabilities, speed-strength abilities, and speed stamina, to reveal the athlete's reserves for further special stamina development. The analysis of taking the 150-meter sprint test allows clarifying information about the performance of female sprinters' special stamina at the distance segments, thereby determining the reasons that limit the achievement of the special stamina development and slow athletics sprint sports results down. Based on the data obtained within the framework of various types of control, the coach can individualize the process of special physical training in sprint. The effectiveness of the methods for assessing the development of special stamina for female sprinters during the initial sports specialization was confirmed itself during the research. A conclusion was made about the possibility of its application in sports practice.
Public-private partnership in the field of transport: main mechanisms and prospects for improving legal regulation
Authors:   Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University, Cherkasov Konstantin V. ,   Vyatka State University,   All-Russian State University of Justice, Piptyuk Anna V. ,   Russian State University for the Humanities
Published: February 2023

Transport infrastructure is one of the most important elements of human livelihood throughout the lifetime of humankind. The level of the State's economic, social and defence security, which determines its further development and status in the international community, is directly related to the quality of the sector in question. At the same time, the establishment and maintenance of transport facilities go beyond the competence of public authorities. Moreover, in times of economic crisis, the state budget does not always have the amount of money needed to maintain existing and build new transport links. This determines the need to involve private partners in the tasks of the public sector. In the context of the present study, the authors attempt to identify the best public-private partnership arrangement. In preparing the presented work, the provisions of normative legal acts and the practice of their application, scientific sources of both monographic and periodic nature by Russian and foreign authors, and statistical data were used. The basis of information processing was general (analysis, synthesis, historical) and specific (statistical and dogmatic) scientific methods. Their application made it possible to formulate the main conclusions and proposals for improving the current legislation in the area under analysis. As hypotheses, the authors put forward theses (1) on the lack of transparency of competitive procedures provided by law to select the party to the public-private (municipal-private) partnership agreement and concession agreement, which results in the low efficiency of contractual structures; (2) on the appropriateness of competitive procedures preceding the conclusion of any public-private agreement (contract) exclusively in electronic form. According to the results of the study, the authors conclude that the key criterion for determining the effectiveness of a public-private agreement is the transparency of the procedures preceding its conclusion. Among the conceptual proposals for improving the current legislation are the transition to a document-free form, as well as the use of technologies that allow excluding any manipulation in competitive procedures (blockchain).
Energy poverty: an overlooked determinant of health and climate resilience in Canada
Authors: Riva Mylène , Kingunza Makasi Sophie , O’Sullivan Kimberley C. , Das Runa R. , Dufresne Philippe , Kaiser David , Breau Sébastien
Published: February 2023

Objective

Despite Canada being an important energy producer, not all Canadians can access or afford adequate levels of energy services at home to meet their needs, maintain healthy indoor temperatures, and live a decent life—a situation known as energy poverty. Depending on the measure, 6–19% of Canadian households face energy poverty. Health risks associated with energy poverty are documented in countries with milder climates. This study explores, for the first time in the Canadian context, the association between energy poverty and health.

Methods

Cross-sectional data are from the 2018 Canadian Housing Survey. Analyses are conducted on a sample weighted to represent 14 million Canadian households. The associations between expenditure-based and self-reported measures of energy poverty and self-rated general and mental health were assessed using logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounding variables.

Results

The odds of rating one’s general (OR: 1.48; 95%CI: 1.29, 1.70) and mental (OR: 1.21; 1.04, 1.41) health as poor are significantly higher for Canadian adults in households with a high share of energy expenditure to income. The likelihood of poor general and mental health was significantly higher for those dissatisfied with the energy efficiency of their dwelling, and with their ability to maintain a comfortable temperature both in the winter and in the summer.

Conclusion

Exposure to energy poverty is associated with significantly increased likelihood of poor general and mental health. Given the high proportion of Canadian households facing energy poverty, with demonstrated implications for population health, tackling energy poverty is essential for an equitable energy transition and for climate resilience.
Ruxolitinib as a therapy choice for refractory pruritus in a patient with essential thrombocythemia with CALR mutation
Authors: Kubra Cerci , Pusem Patir
Published: February 2023

Refractory pruritus associated with Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) is rare. Herein, we present the first report of resistant pruritus responsive to ruxolitinib in an ET patient with a calreticulin mutation.
Polar and extrahilar renal arteries: A case report
Authors: Yoanna Vladimirova Tivcheva , Mihail Angelov , Nikolai Krastev , Cvetomir Kirilov , Dimo Krastev , L Jelev , A Apostolov
Published: February 2023

Introduction: The vascular system has a high frequency of variations, which are of interest to both anatomists and clinicians, as well as surgeons. The renal vasculature is quite variable and given the significant number of variations, the latter has proven difficult to classify. The conflicting terminology is often the cause of a poor understanding of the clinical implications of the presence of such variations. We present a case of bilateral accessory arteries, which can be classified as polar and extrahilar. Background: Variants of the renal artery are a common finding with additional vessels in up to 30% of cases. The supernumerary arteries are of end type and often enter the kidney outside the hilum. The arteries that enter the kidney in its upper or lower pole are referred to as polar arteries. Case report: During a routine dissection of a 73-year-old, female, formalin-fixed cadaver at the department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology at the Medical University of Sofia, we discovered a right inferior polar artery and a left extrahilar renal artery, both originating from the abdominal aorta. The right kidney was located at the level of L1- L2. Conclusion: Accessory renal vessels have been an object of multiple cadaveric and in vivo studies. The terminology and classification of such variations in regard to their origin, course, and site of entrance in the kidney are conflicting and often prove inadequate to convey the clinical and surgical importance of their presence. Knowledge of such variants is of great significance when performing an explorative laparotomy, kidney transplantation, and assessing kidney injury. Such vessels are as well associated with cases of hypertension, hydronephrosis and other conditions.
What psoriasis can hide
Authors: Salmón-González Z , Herreras-Martínez R , Latorre-Asensio M , Nieto S , Garilleti C , Rodríguez Duque MS
Published: February 2023

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (DAAT) is a genetic disorder that manifests as pulmonary emphysema, liver cirrhosis, and, rarely, as the skin disease panniculitis [1], but other rare skin manifestations had been described previously in literature [2]. Despite being one of the most frequent genetic diseases, professionals need high clinical suspicion for its diagnosis.
Isolation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from mouse embryos at E12.5 v1
Authors: Tonelli Francesca
Published: February 2023

Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from genetically altered mouse strains are a powerful resource for investigating the consequences of defined genetic mutations at the cellular level. Here we describe a protocol for the isolation of MEFs from mouse embryos collected at E12.5. MEFs obtained by this procedure are suitable for use in biochemical assays and for further genetic manipulation (e.g. viral transduction). This protocol was adapted from: Durkin ME, Qian X, Popescu NC, Lowy DR. Isolation of Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts. Bio Protoc. 2013 Sep 20;3(18):e908. doi: 10.21769/bioprotoc.908. PMID: 27376106; PMCID: PMC4928858.
Hardware Implementation of Digital Operational Low Power Units in FPGA
Authors:   The United Institute of Informatics Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, 220012, Belarus, Bibilo P. N.
Published: February 2023

The results of experiments on hardware implementation of various VHDL models of operating devices in FPGA oriented to reducing power consumption are described. Operating devices are also called finite state machines with data paths. It is established that the VHDL model based on clock gating, which is most effective for custom VLSI, can not be implemented in FPGA. Effective models for FPGA are VHDL models based on zeroing unused operands or storing their values in additional memory registers. After conducting an experimental comparison of various methods for a specific operating device (or other digital device), the designer can choose a suitable (compromise) method of VHDL description, considering the obtained values of the parameters of power consumption, performance and hard­ware complexity. The article is a direct continuation of the previous article [1], which describes in detail the models under study and presents the results of experiments on hardware implementation of the same operating devices as part of custom CMOS VLSI
System of Operations on Associative Heterarchical Memory
Authors:   Artificial Intelligence Agency, Moscow, 127473, Russian Federation, Dushkin R. V. , Lelecova V. A. ,   Artificial Intelligence Agency, Moscow, 127473, Russian Federation, Eidemiller K. Yu. ,   Artificial Intelligence Agency, Moscow, 127473, Russian Federation
Published: February 2023

Text processing in natural language remains an important task for the field of development of artificial intelligence methods and tools. Since the twentieth century, artificial intelligence methods have been divided into two paradigms — top-down and bottom-up. The methods of the ascending paradigm are difficult to interpret in the form of the output of natural language, and the methods of the descending paradigm are difficult to actualize information. Taking into account the authors approach to the construction of artificial intelligence agents, the processing of natural language must be performed on two levels: on the lower level, using methods of the bottom-up paradigm, and on the upper level, using symbolic methods of the top-down paradigm. The authors of the article have already introduced a new mathematical formalism based on the notion of a hypergraph — associative heterarchical memory (AH-memory). Such memory should simplify the process of natural language processing with new technologies. Earlier the authors group has thoroughly analyzed the problem of symbol binding in the application to АН-memory and its structure. In the first paper, abstract symbol binding was performed using multi-serial integration, eventually converting the primary symbols received by the program into integrated abstract symbols. The second paper provided a comprehensive description of the AH-memory in the form of formulas, explanations of them, and their corresponding diagrams. Although there are many possible modules to use, the developer working with AH-memory should choose those parts of AH-memory which are required for successful and efficient functioning of the AI agent. The article will be of interest to developers of artificial intelligence methods and tools, mathematicians and specialists in natural language processing.
Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling of Shear Behavior of Concrete Deep Beams Reinforced with Internal Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars by ANSYS
Authors: Mohammed Shuaaib , Rafiq Serwan , Aziz Zana
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper is to numerically trace the behavior of concrete deep beams reinforced with internal Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars and containing no web reinforcement by using ANSYS program. For this purpose, a finite element model is used for concrete deep beams that previously examined in an experimental study and its predicted failure loads were compared with the actual failure loads. The results of the finite element model were in a good agreement with observations from the experimental study. The comparisons showed that the used model has the ability to capture the shear behavior, as well as load-deflection response and crack patterns of deep beams reinforced with internal GFRP bars in the entire range of loading. The paper is also covered a parametric study on shear span-to-depth (a/d) ratio, GFRP reinforcement ratio and concrete compressive strength which they usually have high impacts on the behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete beams. The results of the parametric study showed that the ultimate failure load of beams reinforced with GFRP bars was higher than that of steel-reinforced concrete beams. The maximum failure load was observed to decrease by decreasing the a/d ratio. The stiffness and ductility of the beams were increasing by increasing the reinforcement ratio.
EUGENICS AS IT WILL BE
Authors:   Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Derkach Vadym
Published: February 2023

The potential social effect of technologies for correcting ontogenetic programs in order to improve human qualities (eugenics) is considered. The expected trend in the development of reproductive technologies is to achieve a level at which the duration of intellectually productive longevity will increase critically, which inevitably actualizes eugenic logic. Under liberal values, genome editing technologies themselves do not carry any significant shifts and significant problems regarding the regulation of what is permissible in this edit. However, it is the lengthening of life expectancy, which can be partially facilitated by such editing with an investment in the future of descendants, that is the most reliable aspect of the developers’ efforts. As a result, this will lead to a radical transformation of a number of social institutions associated with the reproduction of people, during which acute ethical conflicts arise.
Geisinger High-Risk Osteoporosis Clinic: Narrowing Post-Fracture Care Gaps and Lessons Learned
Authors: Olenginski Thomas
Published: February 2023

Background: In 2008, Geisinger Rheumatology established a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) termed HiROC (High-Risk Osteoporosis Clinic). Inpatient HiROC teams integrated with outpatient HiROC clinics. Aim: We review the history of Geisinger HiROC, performance and lessons learned. We examine this: In a high-risk, post-fracture, drug-indicated patient without treatment contraindications, was patient treated? If a patient chose followup with Geisinger primary care physician (PCP), was that patient treated? Results: Four Geisinger HiROC analyses are presented: 2008-2011; 2013-2015;2016; and 2017-2018. HiROC treatment rates are 80 %, 75.4 %, 74 %, and 72 %, respectively. Geisinger PCP treatment rates are 32.2 %, 13.8 %, and 14 %. (PCP data from 2017-2018 not included) 2008-2011 analysis included 888 patients, mean age 76.1, 77.6 % women and 22.4 % men. Mean 25-OH Vit. D was 25.6. Hip fractures represented 58.2 % of cohort and vertebral fractures (VF) 11.6 %. At discharge, 44.3 % went to Rehab, 31.5 % to Nursing Home (NH) and 24 % home. Six- month mortality was 14.7 % and HiROC followup 51.5 %. 2013-2015 analysis included 1279 patients with mean age of 77.8 and 74 % women, 26 % men. Hip fractures were seen in 67.6 % and VF in 6.6 % and mean 25-OH Vit. D was 25.8. Patients chose HiROC 42.6 %, 37 % HiROC patients were lost to followup, and 6 month mortality was 16 %. GHP insured 27.4 % and within GHP-insured patients, HiROC treated 74.7 % versus 19.7 % by Geisinger PCP. In 2016, we reported 380 patients, mean age 78, 69 % women, 31 % men. Hip fractures accounted for 74.5 %, VF 6.6 %, with mean 25-OH Vit.D 25.8 and 17 % six month mortality. Patients chose HiROC 46 % of time. HiROC initiated treatment in 74 % compared with 14 % by Geisinger PCP. 2017-2018 analysis included 740 patients, mean age 78, with 89 % women and 11 % men. Hip fractures accounted for 78 % and VF 6.6 %. HiROC was chosen by 45 % patients and 6-month mortality was 14 %. HiROC initiated treatment 72 % of time. Conclusions: Geisinger HiROC treated high-risk, post-fractured, drug indicated patients 72 - 80 % of time, far superior to Geisinger PCP rates of 13.8 - 32.2 %.
Acute Left Heart Failure in the Emergency Room
Authors: Jerjes-Sanchez Carlos , Mondragon Christian , Lozano-Corres Victor , Gomez-Gutierrez Rene , Vargas Arturo , Guajardo Mauricio , Almaguer Erasmo , Quintanilla Juan , Jimenez Vicente , Torre-Amione Guillermo
Published: February 2023

Acute heart failure (AHF), a rapid or gradual onset of symptoms and/or signs of heart failure severe enough for the patient to seek urgent medical attention, represents a significant and growing healthcare burden. With a prevalence of approximately 1%–2% of the adult population, over 5 million Americans and 15 million Europeans, with a yearly incidence of 550,000, rising ≥ 10% among the elderly. Despite therapeutic advances in chronic heart failure, the prognosis of AHF is poor, with in-hospital mortality ranging from ~2% in hypertensive AHF up to 40-60% in patients with cardiogenic shock, which is a life-threatening state characterized by tissue hypoperfusion resulting in severe multi-organ dysfunction and death. Although no current therapeutic approach has improved mortality in this patient population, incorporating standardized, multidisciplinary shock teams may change. In addition, correct and expedited identification and management of AHF can be challenging due to the heterogenicity of its clinical presentation, precipitant factors, and comorbid conditions. Thus, clinicians involved in patient care should perform a structured diagnostic work-up, starting with high clinical suspicion, followed by key diagnostic tests, including biomarkers, lung ultrasonography, and echocardiography, allowing recognition of the different clinical and hemodynamic profiles and providing guidance to perform further tests and therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the healthcare burden of acute heart failure, highlights the importance of its expedited recognition, and details a proposed diagnostic work-up and individualized management approach in the emergency department. We also perform a concise review of current international guideline recommendations. Future research directions are also provided.
Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction and its association with Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Brandon Lisa , Connolly Niall , Hensey Mark , O'Connor Stephen , Kenny Rose , Maree Andrew , Cruz-Gonzalez I
Published: February 2023

Aortic stenosis remains the most common valvular abnormality that requires intervention and is becoming more prevalent with an ageing population. Untreated symptomatic severe aortic stenosis is associated with a mortality of 50-60% within two years. Valve replacement either surgical or transcatheter remains the only effective treatment. The autonomic nervous system involuntarily controls many basic cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary functions and plays a central role in the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction has shown to be a marker of increased mortality. We discuss current methods to assess autonomic function, alongside abnormalities noted in common cardiac conditions and their correlation to mortality, and review current literature available that confirms severe aortic stenosis is associated with dysregulation of cardiovascular autonomic system.
Cryptochrome: An ancient blue light photoreceptor impacts modern mammalian physiology
Authors: Smith David
Published: February 2023

Cryptochromes, evolutionally conserved and retained in mammals as transcriptional regulators having a repressive role in the transcription-translation feedback loop, the molecular mechanism behind the control of the endogenous mammalian circadian clock. This clock mechanism regulates the oscillation of a huge number of clock-controlled output genes. This in turn is responsible for modification of the physiological response of most organs and tissues, to coordinate with diurnal and seasonal changes in light and nutrient availability. Cryptochromes have also been found to participate in additional signalling cascades, outside of the circadian system, forming supplementary feedback loops that initiate cross-talk between systems influencing metabolism, inflammation and DNA damage response to maintain cellular homeostasis. This physiological organisation system has developed from Palaeolithic man but is still relevant in our modern world.
Growth hormone’s impact on adipose tissue and aging
Authors: Berryman Darlene , List Edward , Lach Grace , Young Jonathan , Kington Zoe , Kopchick John
Published: February 2023

A reduction in growth hormone has repeatedly been shown to improve healthspan and lifespan in mice and attenuate age-related conditions in subsets of comparable clinical populations. While aging results in progressive physiological changes in many tissues that leads to declines in biological function, this review will focus on the role of growth hormone in adipose tissue with respect to the aging process. Growth hormone dramatically and uniquely alters adipose tissue mass, composition, function and distribution, with decreases in hormone action resulting in a counterintuitive “healthy obese” state. As clinical studies are somewhat limited, much of our understanding of this hormone’s unique effect on adipose tissue and aging comes from mouse lines with specific alterations to the growth hormone axis. Thus, this review will provide an overview of the healthspan and lifespan consequences of growth hormone action in mouse lines and briefly describe comparable clinical conditions. The review will also summarize the general changes in adipose tissue with normal aging as well as the unique changes in this tissue in response to growth hormone.