bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The feasibility of immunocorrective therapy in the treatment of children with new tuberculosis cases
Authors: Myronchuk Yu. V. , Raznatovska O. M.
Published: March 2023

Aim. To substantiate the expediency of the immunocorrective therapy use in combined treatment by studying the effectiveness of the immunomodulator azoximer bromide aimed at correcting the immunological changes in children with new tuberculosis (TB) cases.
Materials and methods. The study on the effectiveness of immunocorrective therapy in the complex treatment of children with new TB cases was conducted at the beginning of antimycobacterial therapy (AMBT) and at the end of the maintenance phase (MF) of AMBT. For this purpose, 51 children with new TB cases and immunologic changes were included in the study and divided into 2 groups: 26 children received immunomodulator azoximer bromide in the combined therapy on the background of AMBT (main group) and 25 children were assigned to receive only AMBT (control group). The groups were identical in age, sex, prescribed AMBT regimens, and severity of the specific process. The children from the main group along with the standard AMBT additionally used azoximer bromide (immunomodulator) to correct immunological changes: for children under 10 years of age – 6 mg twice a day, for children over 10 years – 12 mg twice a day; the treatment course – 14 days. The study results were processed on a personal computer using the statistical package of the licensed program Statistica, version 13 (Copyright 1984–2018 TIBCO Software Inc. All rights reserved, License No. JPZ804I382130ARCN10-J).
Results. Given the results obtained, the use of immunomodulator azoximer bromide in the complex treatment for children with new TB cases, alongside normalization of all cytokine profile indicators and the balance in the regulatory system of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, helped to achieve by the end of treatment: a shorter average time to culture conversion by 0.9 (1.5 (1.0; 2.0) months against 2.4 (2.0; 3.0) months; P < 0.01), positive radiological dynamics of 77 % (χ2 = 5.79; P < 0.01), reduced time of destruction healing by 2.1 (1.7 (1.0; 2.0) months against 3.8 (3.0; 4.0) months, P < 0.02), shorter average time of the basic AMBT course by 1.5 (6.2 (5.6; 6.8) months against 7.7 (6.0; 9.3) months; P < 0.01). Combined treatment tolerability was satisfactory in all 100 % of cases.
Conclusions. Immunomodulator azoximer bromide as a part of the combined therapy for children with new TB cases can not only restore the body immune reactivity, but also reduce the specific process activity on the background of AMBT, shorten the average time to culture conversion by 0.9 months and destruction healing by 2.1 months, reduce the average duration of the main AMBT course by 1.5 months. In addition, this approach to therapy helps to conduct standard AMBT without changing the treatment regimen.
Chronic lymphoproliferative diseases and cardiovascular risk (a literature review)
Authors: Samura B. B. , Panasenko M. O.
Published: March 2023

Heart dysfunction that occurred after using of anticancer drugs and monoclonal antibodies may be a limit factor in treatment of chronic lymphoproliferative diseases (CLPD). Cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity include hypotension, hypertension, arrhythmias, conduction disturbances, pericarditis, thromboembolic events, heart failure, death. The risk of cardiotoxicity may be increased by some factors that include drug exposure, age, history of heart diseases, arterial hypertension, drug combination, previous radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The aim of the work is to assess the impact of anticancer treatment on the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients with CLPD according to the world scientific literature data.
It is important to detect the cardiovascular toxicity before the development of clinical manifestations of damage to the myocardium and blood vessels. The role of markers in identifying the risk group of adverse cardiovascular events remains unclear. Early diagnostics and determination of prognostic factors of cardiovascular toxicity, which develop after anticancer therapy of CLPD, are important and not solved problems.
Conclusions. The prognosis for the development of cardiovascular events after antitumor treatment of CLPD remains unfavorable. Clinical monitoring, imaging methods, determination of the biomarker levels (natriuretic peptides, troponins) for cardiotoxicity risk stratification are recommended during antitumor treatment to identify early signs and risk of cardiotoxicity. The use of the latest biomarkers and their combinations may be a way to improve the assessment of the cardiotoxicity risk in CLPD. To date, there is no sufficient evidence on the feasibility of routine determining these biomarkers, which indicates the need to plan new studies.
Post-COVID syndrome in children: whether a change in lymphocyte count is a risk factor for its development?
Authors: Lychkovska O. L. , Kvit D. I. , Kulachkovska I. Yu. , Sadova О. M. , Zhyvko L. Ya. , Dats-Opoka М. I. , Kosmynina N. S.
Published: March 2023

The aim of the study: to find risk factors for post-COVID syndrome formation based on the analysis of the dynamic leukocyte count, the relative and absolute blood lymphocyte contents.
Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of medical records of children, aged 10–17 years, who were hospitalized during the second wave of the pandemic (January – July 2021) to the CNE “Lviv Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital “Ohmatdyt” with a diagnosis of moderate COVID-19. A total of 46 children were selected, among them 26 children (post-COVID(-) group), who had no symptoms after COVID-19 and 20 children (post-COVID(+) group) who described various complaints related to disfunction of different organ systems, which affected a normal child’s life.
Results. All children from the post-COVID(+) group complained of fatigue, about a third of children – headache (30 %), which were not observed before the disease, quarter of children (25 %) had problems with concentrating, one fifth (20 %) – periodically felt unmotivated anxiety. Analysis of the leukocytosis dynamics, absolute and relative lymphocytosis in the control after one week ±2 days revealed no significant changes in these indicators in the post-COVID(-) group of children. While in the post-COVID(+) group, a slight increase in leukocytosis (from 3.9 × 109/L to 4.05 × 109/L, P = 0.13) was accompanied by a significant decrease in the number of lymphocytes, both relative (from 27 % to 16 %, P = 0.002) and absolute (from 1.51 × 109/L to 0.51 × 109/L, P = 0.001).
Conclusions. Patients with persistent lymphopenia or hyperlymphocytosis (one week ±2 days) during acute period of COVID-19 represent a “vulnerable cohort” concerning long-term persistence of symptoms, including severe asthenia. The tendency towards normalization of lymphocyte number can be considered as a protective factor for the formation of post-COVID syndrome, while the negative dynamics or its absence – as a risk factor for prolonged persistence of symptoms.
Association between morphological manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease and biochemical markers of inflammation
Authors: Stoikevych M. V. , Haidar Yu. A. , Mylostуva D. F. , Klenina I. A. , Tatarchuk O. M. , Karachynova V. A., V. A.
Published: March 2023

Aim. To determine morphological and morphometric changes in the structure of the mucous membrane of the large intestine and their relationship with the content of short-chain volatile fatty acids and fecal calprotectin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Materials and methods. We examined 68 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including 30 women and 38 men aged 20–66 years, 55 patients were with ulcerative colitis and 13 patients – with Crohn’s disease. Histological examination focused on changes in the mucous membrane of the large intestine. Determination of short-chain volatile fatty acids in feces was performed using gas chromatography. Calprotectin content was measured in fecal samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results. Significant correlations were found between epithelial disruption and changes in crypt architecture, infiltration density, and histological activity. The higher degree of inflammation in patients with severe course was combined with a lower level of tissue nonspecific protection, which was detected by the number of goblet cells, eosinophilic and neutrophilic leukocytes. There was a decrease in the fecal concentration of butyric acid in patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease compared with controls, but a more significant decrease was observed in patients with severe nonspecific ulcerative colitis.
The data have confirmed the association between inflammatory bowel disease and the content of short-chain volatile fatty acids, fecal calprotectin in coprofiltrate, which was evidenced by the presence of correlations between low content of short-chain volatile fatty acids and eosinophilic infiltration (r = -0.412; fecal calprotectin levels and disease severity (r = 0.589; P = 0.001), atrophy (r = 0.458; Р < 0.05), infiltration density (r = 0.434; Р < 0.05).
Conclusions. All patients with inflammatory bowel disease are characterized by a specific histological picture, which reflected the different degrees of inflammation. Morphometric parameters more accurately show significant atrophic changes in the mucous membrane of the large intestine. The data have confirmed the association between inflammatory bowel disease and the content of short-chain volatile fatty acids and calprotectin in coprofiltrate.
Hypoglycemia in patients with COVID-19: risk factors and prevention of complications
Authors: Halushko O. A. , Protsiuk O. V. , Pohorila O. I.
Published: March 2023

The aim of the work is to analyze the available scientific information and generalize the main results of modern research on the causes and risk factors of hypoglycemia in patients with COVID-19.
Materials and methods. A search and analysis of full-text articles was carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. The search was conducted using the key terms: COVID-19 and hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia in COVID-19 patients and treatment of COVID-19 and hypoglycemia from the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to July 1, 2022.
Results. The analysis of literary sources made it possible to identify three groups of factors that lead to the occurrence of hypoglycemia in patients with COVID-19: peculiarities of the diabetes course in patients with COVID-19 and the influence of concomitant diseases, side effects of certain groups of drugs and methods of therapy and prevention; shortcomings in the organization of treatment and patient care. Hypoglycemia has been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular and total mortality in patients with diabetes, may trigger the development of a cytokine storm during COVID-19 disease, and negatively impact mortality and length of hospital stay in COVID-19.
Conclusions. To prevent hypoglycemic states in patients, one should avoid sudden changes in the type and dose of hypoglycemic drugs, periodically monitor the HbA1c level, expand the reach of patients with virtual consultations and telemedicine programs. In the case of determining the program of treatment and vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with diabetes mellitus, the known and possible hypoglycemic effects of drugs and vaccines should be taken into account.
Factors of QTc interval prolongation in patients with arterial hypertension
Authors: Tselik N. Ye. , Bilchenko O. V.
Published: March 2023

The relevance of determining the factors of the prolonged QTc interval development in patients with arterial hypertension is high, as it solves the issue of preliminary diagnosis among patients from risk groups and allows adjusting the diagnostic and therapeutic tactics of managing such patients.
Aim: to determine factors for the development of prolonged average daily QTc interval in patients with arterial hypertension.
Materials and methods. The study included 195 patients with arterial hypertension, who were divided into 2 subgroups: 175 individuals with a normal average daily duration of the QTc interval and 20 patients with a prolonged average daily duration of the QTc interval. All the patients underwent 24-hour heart rate monitoring and determination of blood pressure variability. At the stage of involving patients in the study, the following were performed: anamnesis collection and determination of physical data (estimation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure).
Results. The study has revealed risk factors of daily QTc interval prolongation in hypertensive patients with further developing a prognostic model with high sensitivity (88.9 %) and specificity (70.6 %). Prolongation of QTc in patients with hypertension was associated with such parameters: male sex (OR = 4.292 [95.0 % CI 1.337–13.779], Р = 0.014), body mass index (OR = 1.107 [95.0 % CI 0.987–1.243], Р = 0.083), mean 24-hour diastolic (OR = 1.076 [95.0 % CI 1.017–1.139], Р = 0.011) and pulse blood pressure (OR = 1.075 [95.0 % CІ 1.012–1.141], Р = 0.018), time since hypertension was diagnosed (OR = 1.093 [95.0 % CI 0.997–1.197], Р = 0.057) and office pulse blood pressure (OR = 0.948 [95.0 % CІ 0.900–0.999], Р = 0.046).
Conclusions. The study has determined risk factors of developing a prolonged average daily QTc interval in patients with hypertension, which will allow correcting diagnostic and treatment tactics of management for patients from risk groups.
The influence of systemic inflammatory markers on the development of obstetrical complications in pregnant women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Heriak S. M. , Oleksiak O. I.
Published: March 2023

The increasing prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among the female half of the population is the reason for the increased interest of scientists in the course of COPD and its impact on pregnant women. At the same time, the chronic lung inflammatory process leads to the development of obstetrical and perinatal complications during pregnancy.
The aim of our study is to establish the features of changes in the cytokine profile in pregnant women with COPD and their role in the development of obstetrical and perinatal complications.
Materials and methods. 77 pregnant women with clinically and instrumentally verified signs of COPD were examined, who were divided into 2 subgroups depending on the degree of bronchial obstruction: IA – 43 pregnant women with FEV1 ≥80 %, IB – 34 pregnant women with FEV1 50–79 %. The control group consisted of 27 healthy pregnant women. The cytokine profile was determined and a correlational interaction with the degree of bronchial obstruction and the frequency of obstetrical and perinatal complications was established.
Results. Our analysis of cytokine profile indicators in pregnant women with COPD at the stage of mild and moderate bronchoobstruction has shown a characteristic and significant increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and a simultaneous decrease in the level of anti-inflammatory IL-10 (P ≤ 0.05). Dysregulation of the inflammatory response in COPD in pregnant women became the main basis for the development of obstetrical and perinatal complications. We have established that an increase in the degree of bronchoobstruction was also associated with a higher detection frequency of such pregnancy and childbirth complications as anemia by 3.1 times, the threat of preterm birth by 9 times, preeclampsia by 7 times, placental dysfunction by 3.4 times, intrauterine growth restriction by 8 times, premature birth by 3.5 times, premature rupture of membranes during labor by 4 times, and fetal distress by 3 times.
Conclusions. In pregnant women with COPD, an increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines – IL-1β (rI = -0.81, rII = -0.67), IL-6 (rI = -0.88, rII = -0.78), IL-8, TNF-α was found to be directly proportional to the degree of bronchial obstruction, and inversely proportional level of anti-inflammatory IL-10 (rI = 0.80, rII = 0.86), which can be an early prognostic criterion for the development of obstetrical and perinatal complications.
Bedaquiline resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis during antimycobacterial therapy and its impact on clinical outcomes (clinical cases)
Authors: Raznatovska O. M. , Yasinskyi R. M. , Shalmin O. S. , Fedorets A. V. , Svitlytska O. A.
Published: March 2023

Aim. To analyze the nature of Bedaquiline (Bdq) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) during antimycobacterial therapy (AMBT) in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), its impact on clinical outcomes and to detect risk factors for the Bdq drug resistance development on the example of own observed clinical cases.
Materials and methods. 2 clinical cases of own observations of the Bdq resistance development in MBT during AMBT in patients with MDR-TB who were treated at the clinical base of the Department of Phthisiology and Pulmonology of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University – Pulmonary Tuberculosis Department No. 2 of the Communal Non-profit Organization “Zaporizhzhia Regional Phthisio-Pulmonology Clinical Treatment and Diagnostic Center” are presented.
Results. The presented clinical cases confirm the literature data that the treatment effectiveness in patients with Rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) and MDR-TB is associated with Bdq drug resistance. Regarding the reasons for the development of acquired Bdq drug resistance, the second clinical case, like the examples of other authors, demonstrates low adherence to treatment. There is no data in the literature about the lack of controlled treatment at the outpatient stage as a risk factor for Bdq drug resistance and negative clinical outcomes in patients with MDR-TB, which would complement the scientific experience in this problem.
Conclusions. In both clinical cases, Bdq drug resistance was acquired (secondary), and had an impact on the clinical outcomes of tuberculosis treatment. The risk factors for Bdq drug resistance and negative clinical outcomes were lack of controlled treatment at the outpatient stage in the first case and low adherence to treatment in the second one.
Does the Nobel Prize reflect current scientific and academic values?
Authors: Teixeira da Silva Jaime A.
Published: March 2023

This opinion paper puts forward arguments that reflect how science’s most elite prize, the Nobel Prize may be, despite its grand stature, somewhat out of touch with the functionality of grassroots science. There is a disconnect between limited fields of study to which the prize is awarded and the interdisciplinary nature of complex research. This is the first weakness. The second limitation is the focus on a single individual, occasionally on two or three when the prize is divided, even though much research is frequently collaborative. This is particularly true in the biomedical and natural sciences, which tend to involve individuals with multiple skills, each or all of whom may be equally deserving of the Nobel Prize, given their collective participation. The Nobel Prize also tends to display poor cultural, linguistic and gender representation and/or bias. Finally, retractions of papers by select Nobel Prize laureates suggest that even these elite academics are not immune to the ills of science and academic publishing and that affect all scientists in a complex global web.
Living in the modern society of colonial Joseon as a patient: a study on Yi Sang’s literature focusing on diseases and physical sicknesses
Authors: Kim Gia
Published: March 2023

This study aims to discuss the body experiencing modern society and modernity realized through the body by analyzing the disease and physical sicknessness depicted in Yi Sang’s literature. Until now, Yi Sang’s literary research has focused on the subject’s death impulse (Thanatos) and the image of death in his works, so this study aims to present a new perspective on Yi Sang’s literature. Specifically, this paper explores works that illustrate diseases such as syphilis and tuberculosis and examines the author’s subjective consciousness. In short, this paper discusses Yi Sang’s attachment to life, which appears as a sexual impulse (Eros), by analyzing narratives that mention prostitution and syphilis among Yi Sang’s works. Meanwhile, this article reveals the author’s guilt about his inability to function properly due to syphilis. Furthermore, this paper manifests how Yi Sang presents his sick body that experiences the modern society of colonial Joseon by describing how he implements the body with tuberculosis. Therefore, in each analysis process, this study reads Yi Sang’s specific texts by referencing his various works to understand his esoteric world and literary image. Moreover, this paper reveals that the author reflects on his critical reasons for such a modern society and violent hygiene discourse in his independent literary world and identity as a patient.
Finding female identity in the Neo-Confucian country of Joseon: analysis of female-related crimes in “Sabeobpumbo” (司法稟報)
Authors: Han Boram
Published: March 2023

This research analyzes female-related cases in Sabeobpumbo (사법품보, 司法稟報) to examine Joseon women’s identity and perceptions of their role in the patriarchal society. Since women’s chastity was directly related to their social value, it was sometimes traded for their lives. Women were often unfairly reprehended when involved in domestic conflicts because of their lower status and they have been understood as individuals who faithfully followed the agnatic principle. However, there were exceptions, and Sabeobpumbo contained extraordinary accounts of various Joseon women in which they were described as independent and displayed active defiance in response to their highly conservative society while hoping to break free from the rigid social structure. In some cases, Joseon women decisively left their husbands for various reasons, mostly involving financial instability or neglecting duties. Furthermore, some women went to incredible lengths to preserve their husband’s and his family’s dignity. Interestingly enough, these women were not only absolved from their actions but even met with silent approval from the public. These examples provide an intriguing perspective that directly clashes with the accepted norms during the Joseon Dynasty and calls for further research on the complexities of female identity as a Joseon woman.
Dangla-Migama and Afro-Asiatic IV: Root initial *ḅ- with C2 sonants
Authors: Takács Gábor
Published: March 2023

The paper is a new contribution to revealing the Afro-Asiatic heritage in the lexical root stock of the Dangla-Migama group of Chadic languages by means of inter-branch comparison primarily using, among others, the ancient Egypto-Semitic etymological evidence.
For better or for worse: Politics marries pop culture (TikTok and the 2022 Italian elections)
Authors: Battista Daniele
Published: March 2023

This contribution focuses on analysing political communication in Italy during the 2022 national elections, with particular attention to the TikTok platform, where prominent Italian political leaders have appeared. To this end, we used a combination of social analysis tools, including Fanpage Karma and Blogmeter Live Insight. The collected data were scrutinized using a multidisciplinary approach that combines Political Communication Theory and Media Analysis. The aim is to explore the role of pop culture in political communication and understand how this phenomenon influences political participation and users’ choices. Furthermore, the possible consequences of the growing popularity of pop political communication on political representation are examined, as well as whether this is a momentary or long-lasting phenomenon.
Lung histopathology evaluation of an X-MAID patient with a novel mutation in MSN
Authors: Abrego Fuentes Laura , Mandola Amarilla B. , Ngan Bo
Published: March 2023

Background: The cell cytoskeleton is regulated by the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of proteins, forming links between transmembrane proteins and the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Phosphorylation and activation of these proteins enable interactions with partners critically involved in shape regulation, such as actin filaments, transmembrane proteins, and scaffolding proteins. The MSN gene encodes moesin, which is ubiquitously expressed in lungs, spleen, kidney, endothelial cells of vessels, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. Deficiency or dysregulation of moesin, called X-linked moesin-associated immunodeficiency (X-MAID), is characterized by severe leukopenia affecting T cells, B cells, and neutrophils. To date, the clinical picture of patients with X-MAID is variable.

Aim: We describe the presentation, immune-workup, and lung histopathology findings of a young male patient with X-MAID and multi-organ involvement, whose severe pulmonary vein stenosis necessitated a double lung transplant.

Methods: A thorough review of the patient’s chart was performed.

Results: The patient presented with a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections, oral thrush, and 3 major bacterial infections requiring admission and antibiotic therapy. His immune evaluation was remarkable for low T cells, and normal numbers of B and NK cells. At age 4 years he underwent a double lung transplant due to severe pulmonary vein stenosis and pulmonary hypertension. He further developed chronic kidney injury post-transplant. Clinical trio whole exome sequencing revealed a novel hemizygous variant in the MSN gene (c.278dupT; p.L93FfsX21), predicted to cause loss-of-function in moesin. Histologic evaluation of the lung tissue before transplantation identified profound abnormalities in alveoli formation.

Conclusion: Patients with moesin deficiency may present during infancy or childhood with a severe form of the disease, including combined immunodeficiency with lymphopenia and neutropenia, while adults may have a milder clinical picture. The novel MSN mutation described here adds to the known spectrum of disease and highlights the non-redundant functions of moesin, particularly in the lung.

Statement of Novelty: We report the first lung histopathological description of an X-MAID case, in a pediatric patient with recurrent infections, cytopenia, and autoimmunity who underwent a double lung transplant.
The Competitive Foundations of Price Cap Regulation
Authors: Weisman Dennis L.
Published: March 2023

Price cap regulation (PCR) as commonly implemented closely approximates atomistic Cournot competition in terms of the pass-through of industry and firm-specific cost-reducing innovation when the invariance property holds. A key finding is that the aggregate pass-through of cost-reducing innovation under PCR exceeds that under Cournot, holding the number of firms constant. The welfare gains under PCR are greater than Cournot when cost-reducing innovation is endogenous, the invariance property holds and demand is highly inelastic.
Sensitivity assessment of dielectric modulated GaN material based SOI-FinFET for label-free biosensing applications
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Goyal Amit Kumar
Published: March 2023

This work presents the sensitivity assessment of gallium nitride (GaN) material-based silicon-on-insulator fin field effect transistor by dielectric modulation in the nanocavity gap for label-free biosensing applications. The significant deflection is observed on the electrical characteristics such as drain current, transconductance, surface potential, energy band profile, electric field, sub-threshold slope, and threshold voltage in the presence of biomolecules owing to GaN material. Further, the device sensitivity is evaluated to identify the effectiveness of the proposed biosensor and its capability to detect the biomolecules with high precision or accuracy. The higher sensitivity is observed for Gelatin (k = 12) in terms of on-current, threshold voltage, and switching ratio by 104.88%, 82.12%, and 119.73%, respectively. This work is performed using a powerful tool, three-dimensional (3D) Sentaurus Technology computer-aided design using a well-calibrated structure. The results pave the way for GaN-SOI-FinFET to be a viable candidate for label-free dielectric modulated biosensor applications.
Female physician and pregnancy- effect of the amended German maternity protection act on female doctors’ careers
Authors: Puhahn-Schmeiser Barbara , Hennel Eva K. , Gross Christiane , Raestrup Heike , Bühren Astrid , Mangler Mandy
Published: March 2023

Objectives

In Germany, the 2018 amended Maternity Protection Act frequently leads to fundamental restrictions for female physicians, especially surgeons, and now even also for students impeding the progress of their careers. Our goal was to assess the current situation for pregnant female physicians and students, respectively, and their perspective on this amendment regarding their career path.

Methods

A nationwide survey was conducted in Germany from December 2020 to February 2021. The questionnaire included 790 female physicians and students who were pregnant after the inception of the amended Act. Those women pregnant after the beginning of the corona pandemic were excluded.

Results

The survey revealed that two thirds of female physicians worked a maximum of 50% in their previous professional activity as soon as they reported pregnancy. Amongst medical students this amounted up to 72%. 18% of the female physicians and 17% of the female medical students respectively could not follow the sense of these restrictions. 44% of female medical physicians and 33% of female students felt their career impeded. This led up to 43% amongst female medical doctors and 53% amongst female medical students, respectively, who were concerned to announce their pregnancy. As a consequence, pregnancies were reported at 12 weeks in female physicians compared to 19 weeks in medical students.

Conclusions

Analyses of the current survey revealed that a relevant number of female physicians and medical students felt impeded in their career path through the application of the amended Maternity Act.
Specifications of standards in systems and synthetic biology: status and developments in 2022 and the COMBINE meeting 2022
Authors: König Matthias , Gleeson Padraig , Golebiewski Martin , Gorochowski Thomas E. , Hucka Michael , Keating Sarah M. , Myers Chris J. , Nickerson David P. , Sommer Björn , Waltemath Dagmar , Schreiber Falk
Published: March 2023

This special issue of the Journal of Integrative Bioinformatics contains updated specifications of COMBINE standards in systems and synthetic biology. The 2022 special issue presents three updates to the standards: CellML 2.0.1, SBML Level 3 Package: Spatial Processes, Version 1, Release 1, and Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL) Version 3.1.0. This document can also be used to identify the latest specifications for all COMBINE standards. In addition, this editorial provides a brief overview of the COMBINE 2022 meeting in Berlin.
Computation of the steady-state probability of Markov chain evolving on a mixed state space
Authors: Zakrad Az-eddine , Nasroallah Abdelaziz
Published: March 2023

The partitioning algorithm is an iterative procedure that computes explicitly the steady-state probability of a finite Markov chain 𝑋.
In this paper, we propose to adapt this algorithm to the case where the state space

E
:=

C
∪
D

E:=C\cup D

is composed of a continuous part 𝐶 and a finite part 𝐷 such that

C
∩
D

=
∅

C\cap D=\emptyset

.
In this case, the steady-state probability 𝜋 of 𝑋 is a convex combination of two steady-state probabilities

π
C

\pi_{C}

and

π
D

\pi_{D}

of two Markov chains on 𝐶 and 𝐷 respectively.
The obtained algorithm allows to compute explicitly

π
D

\pi_{D}

.
If

π
C

\pi_{C}

cannot be computed explicitly, our algorithm approximates it by numerical resolution of successive integral equations.
Some numerical examples are studied to show the usefulness and proper functioning of our proposal.
Sentences Apparently About Composite Objects: True Even Without Composite Objects
Authors: Ioannou Savvas
Published: March 2023

A compositional nihilist believes that the only objects that exist are simples. However, a non-nihilist believes in the existence of composite objects and challenges the nihilist to explain why there are true sentences about chairs, tables, etc., if composite objects do not exist. Different nihilist views have been suggested to explain this (the paraphrase strategy and the truthmaker theory), but I believe that they are unsuccessful (either they do not successfully paraphrase every sentence apparently about composite objects, or they are not precise about the truthmakers of those sentences). I will suggest that a new truthmaker theory, which uses resources from Cameron’s truthmaker theory and van Inwagen’s paraphrase strategy, can give such an explanation and does not face the problems of other theories. Therefore, we have a good reason to accept this truthmaker theory as the best nihilist way to accommodate sentences apparently about composite objects.
Crystal structure of phenyl(3,3-dichloro-1,3-dihydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-2-one)methanone, C7H4Cl2N2O
Authors: Bai Su-Fen , Li Shan-Shan , Liu Jia-Xuan , Tian Chun-Yu , Li Xiao-Long , La Xiao-Jin
Published: March 2023

C7H4Cl2N2O, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 6.215(2) Å, b = 16.544(5) Å, c = 8.561(3) Å, β = 108.707(4)°, V = 833.8(5) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0339, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1265, T = 296 K.
Performance analysis of WEDM during the machining of Inconel 690 miniature gear using RSM and ANN modeling approaches
Authors: Raj Atul , Misra Joy Prakash , Singh Ravinder Pal , Singh Gurminder , Sharma Shubham , Eldin Sayed M.
Published: March 2023

The present work aims to carry out a feasible study of wire electro-discharge machining (WEDM) during the machining of Inconel 690 superalloy gears. Processing conditions of power-on time, power-off time, current, and spark-gap voltage are varied to evaluate the process performance in terms of material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR), and wire consumption. Parametric optimization has been carried out using combined approach of response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). Results revealed that ANN predicted values are 99% in agreement with the experimental results which validates its effectiveness as compared to RSM predicted values. A viability study of noise characteristics of the processed gear is also done using a noise testing setup. Additionally, FE-SEM has been used to analyze the machined surface’s topography. Greater discharge energy brought by a longer pulse length raises the values of MRR, SR, and recast layer thickness (RLT). This study explores the capability of WEDM to produce a more precise and smooth gear profile as compared to other conventional machining methods. Additionally, RLT and microhardness of the machined surface have been critically studied to comprehend the better understanding of the process mechanism.
Major biochemical constituents ofWithania somnifera(ashwagandha) extract: A review of chemical analysis
Authors: Abdelwahed Mahmoud Tareq , Hegazy Maha A. , Mohamed Ekram H.
Published: March 2023

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a very popular medicinal herb originated mainly in India and found in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Ashwagandha has gained recognition as the most revered plant in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies indicated that it is used as anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, adaptogen, memory enhancer, and possess an effect on neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it was revealed that the plant exerts antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, aphrodisiac, and cardiovascular protection activities. Due to the biological and nutritional importance of nutraceuticals, particularly ashwagandha, and as part of the ongoing research of the natural products and its bioactive phytochemicals, this review aims to summarize the recent analytical techniques that have been reported for the determination of different chemical constituents ofWithania somniferaquantitatively and qualitatively, and to highlight new challenges.
Legal Regulation of Taxation of Transnational Corporations in the European Union
Authors: Smyrnova Kseniia , Mykievych Mykhailo , Fedorova Alla , Bratsuk Ivan , Makarukha Zoryana
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to identify the principles of taxation of transnational corporations in the European Union (EU), as well as the effectiveness of legal norms in this area based on the analysis of Ukrainian and world studies. The leading approach to the study of this problem is the method of review and critical analysis of the scientific literature on the subject of the study, as well as methods of logical deduction, scientific abstractions and a systematic approach that allows a comprehensive examination of the differences in the taxation procedures of transnational corporations in the EU Member States. The study presents topical issues of tax harmonisation in the field of taxation of transnational corporations in the European Union. The paper notes that the priorities of the EU Member States are aimed to a greater extent at combating the erosion of the tax base and tax evasion by transnational corporations than at eliminating tax obstacles in the internal market.
On the Preservation of Illegal Street Art
Authors: Crettez Bertrand , Deloche Régis
Published: March 2023

Protecting street art faces significant hurdles. To overcome them, Salib, P.N. (2015. The law of Banksy: Who owns street art? The University of Chicago Law Review, pp. 2293–2328) proposes to unbundle the various rights that art ownership usually implies. Specifically, he proposes to treat the finder of a street art piece as a minority shareholder in this piece, granting him some percentage of its value. We provide an economic analysis of this proposal by refining a simple discovery process model involving street art finders and the owners of the premises where street art is found. We consider both the optimal number of researchers and the share of the street art value that should accrue to a finder. We also pay attention to the co-determination of the numbers of seekers and street artists. We find that a change in the share of the value of discovered street art has an ambiguous effect on the numbers of seekers and street artists. Moreover, relying on this share alone cannot guarantee that the equilibrium values of the numbers of seekers and street artists are equal to their socially optimal values.
Detection of microplastics in water using electrical impedance spectroscopy and support vector machines
Authors: Bifano Luca , Meiler Valentin , Peter Ronny , Fischerauer Gerhard
Published: March 2023

The detection of microplastics in water requires a series of processes (sample collection, purification, and preparation) until a sample can be analyzed in the laboratory. To shorten this process chain, we are investigating whether electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) enhanced by a classifier based on support vector machine (SVM) can be applied to the problem of microplastics detection. Results with suspensions of polypropylene (PP) and polyolefin (PO) in deionized water proved promising: The relative permittivities extracted from the measured impedances agree with literature data. The subsequent classification of measured impedances by SVM shows that the three classes “no plastic” (below the detection limit of 1 g plastic per filling), “PP” and “PO” can be distinguished securely independent of the background medium water. Mixtures of PO and PP were not examined, i.e. either PO or PP was filled into the measuring cell. An SVM regression performed after the SVM classification yields the microplastic concentration of the respective sample. Further tests with varying salinity and content of organic or biological material in the water confirmed the good results. We conclude that EIS in combination with machine learning (MLEIS) seems to be a promising approach for in situ detection of microplastics and certainly warrants further research activities.
Parametric analysis of heat flux inhibition in the solar wind: a macroscopic quasilinear approach
Authors: Ahmed Shahzad , Sarfraz Muhammad , Aziz Tahir
Published: March 2023

Magnitudes of electron temperature anisotropy and solar wind heat flux are defined with different physical mechanisms e.g. microinstabilities, interparticle collisions, and adiabatic expansion. In the dilute space plasma limit, the present study assumes the interplay between anisotropic core-halo electron components, their relative drift, and relative density of the halo electrons to determine the dynamics of backward and forward-propagating whistler heat flux instabilities along the ambient magnetic field. To investigate the feedback effects of these micro-instabilities in reshaping solar wind distributions and the total heat flux regulation, we formulate quasilinear kinetic equations on the basis of taking the macroscopic velocity moments. For the same input parameters of linear analysis, numerical solutions of the quasilinear equations indicate the time-scale variations, electrons and protons population, wave intensities, and constraints on the heat flux. In future perspective of the global-kinetic solar wind model, the present formalism may be an important step with the inclusion of radial and nonthermal effects.
New evidence for Middle Bronze Age chronology from the Syro-Anatolian frontier
Authors: Herrmann Virginia R. , Manning Sturt W. , Morgan Kathryn R. , Soldi Sebastiano , Schloen David
Published: March 2023

Dates differ by up to 150 years in the protracted debate around the chronology of the Middle Bronze Age Near East. Here, the authors present radiocarbon and ceramic evidence from destroyed buildings at Zincirli, Türkiye, that support the Middle Chronology. Ceramics from late Middle Bronze Age sites in Syria and Anatolia, and Bayesian modelling of 18 well-stratified radiocarbon samples from site destruction contexts attributable to Hittite king Ḫattusili I, indicate a date in the later seventeenth century BC. Since the Northern Levant connects the Mesopotamian and Eastern Mediterranean second-millennium BC chronologies, this evidence supports the convergence of these long-debated schemas, with implications for the start of the Late Bronze Age and the rise of empires.
ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES OF UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO GRADUATING BUSINESS STUDENTS
Authors: Reil S. Romero  , Ramonchito M.Nalangan
Published: March 2023

Business management students are expected either to become entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs – an individual who act like an entrepreneur in a specific business organization. This study investigates the personal entrepreneurial competencies of graduating business students in the lens of MSI’s 10 Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs) for the purpose of curriculum development. The MSI’s Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies questionnaire was utilized to determine the personal entrepreneurial competencies of graduating business students. The respondents were 132 graduating business students. ANOVA was used to determine the difference between the personal entrepreneurial competencies as well as the difference of PECs between programs (Marketing, Financial, Human Resource Management, and Business Economics). The graduating business students possess the competencies of an entrepreneur, either entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial. Hence , the University of Mindanao should supplement this through various programs and learning modalities that would sustain the development of students’ entrepreneurial competencies.
Investigación en musicoterapia sobre la relajación, estado emocional y reducción del dolor en el enfermo oncológico / Research in music therapy on relaxation, emotional states and pain reduction in oncology patients
Authors: Rodríguez Rodríguez Pilar , Sánchez Barba Mercedes , Del Barco Morillo Elvira
Published: March 2023

El principal objetivo de esta investigación ha sido acercar la musicoterapia a pacientes oncológicos y comprobar si hay mejoras en su relajación, estado emocional, y dolor una vez finalizada la sesión de musicoterapia. Los resultados se han obtenido sobre una única sesión y las sesiones llevadas a cabo se han realizado tanto individual como grupalmente. Se han analizado ítems de relajación, alivio de dolor y estado emocional antes y después de realizar la terapia. Han participado 79 pacientes, de los cuáles, 10 pacientes se encontraban ingresados en la planta de oncología, 62 pacientes recibían quimioterapia y 7 pacientes estaban ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados paliativos. Las sesiones se han realizado con música en directo y la participación ha sido activa o pasiva, a petición de los propios pacientes. Se ha intentado propiciar un ambiente de tranquilidad, humor y libre expresión. Los resultados analizados cuantitativamente, muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la reducción de dolor, aumento de relajación y mejora del estado emocional.Palabras clave: Musicoterapia, pacientes de oncología, creatividad, bienestar físico y emocional. AbstractThis research aims to approach music therapy to oncology patients and to   evaluate whether their relaxation, physical comfort and pain increases once the session has finished. Results were obtained on a single session and sessions conducted were performed both individually and as a group. Items of relaxation, pain and emotional state have been analyzed before and after implementing the therapy. Seventy nine patients have participated in this research from whom 10 of them were hospitalized in the oncology unit, 62 patients were receiving chemotherapy treatment and 7 of them were hospitalized in the Palliative Care Unit. Live music has been used in the sessions and the participation of the patients has been active or passive, according to their request. An atmosphere of tranquility, humor and free speech has been fostered. Results, which have been quantitatively analyzed, show statistically significant differences in pain decrease, relaxation increase and emotional state improvement.Key words: Music therapy, oncology patients, creativity, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Potential of pulp production from whole-tree wood of Betula platyphylla Roth. based on wood characteristics
Authors: Zhao Xiping , Guo Pingping , Peng Haixin , Zhao Penghui , Yang Yongqiang , Zhang Zhaolin
Published: March 2023

To ascertain the possibility of using branchwood, trunkwood, and rootwood of Betula platyphylla Roth. in papermaking, this study investigated tissue proportion, fiber features, and major chemical components in whole-tree wood of the tree species. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the rootwood had a significantly lower density and vessel proportion, higher ray proportion, wider lumen, and thicker wall of fiber than the trunkwood and branchwood (p <0.05). The branchwood had a significantly shorter fiber and smaller length/width than the trunkwood and rootwood (p <0.05). The trunkwood had significantly longer and narrower fibers with thinner wall and higher cellulose, but lower hemicelluloses than the branchwood and rootwood (p <0.05). The study concluded that the trunkwood of B. platyphylla was suitable for producing good paper, while the branchwood and rootwood met the basic requirements of papermaking and could be used to produce low-grade paper.