bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mid-Treatment Response to 177-Lutetium Dotatate Predicts Overall Outcome in Patients With Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Halperin Reut , Tirosh Amit
Published: June 2024

PURPOSE

Patients with advanced, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WD-NETs) often require both peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) and subsequent chemotherapy. However, no mid-PRRT predictors are available to identify patients who will not benefit from subsequent PRRT to limit their radiation exposure. Our aim is to characterize patients for whom subsequent PRRT is less efficacious on the basis of mid-PRRT evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of patients with WD-NET who underwent ≥four PRRT cycles. Data gathered included demographics, tumor grade, stage, and response (partial response [PR], stable disease [SD], and progressive disease [PD]) on the basis of RECIST 1.1 criteria and
68
Ga-dotatate positron emission tomography-computerized tomography pretreatment, after second and fourth treatment cycle, 6 months after fourth cycle, and at last follow-up.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients (51.6% women; age at diagnosis 66.0 ± 1.65 years), with pancreatic NET (PNET; n = 24), small intestine NET (n = 13), or other NET (n = 14), received PRRT, resulting in PR (n = 21), SD (n = 23), and PD (n = 3). Of the patients reaching PR after PRRT, most reached PR after two treatments (70.4%), with only 11.8% PR occurring between subsequent cycles (
P
= .001). Furthermore, patients with PR at mid-treatment had higher PR rates after PRRT completion than those with SD (
P
= .007). Patients harboring PNET who achieved PR had a more pronounced reduction of tumor burden in additional cycles than patients who did not (25.6%
v
1.5%;
P
= .03, respectively). On the multivariable model, adjusted for grade and primary site, PR at mid-treatment evaluation was associated with a 20.9 adjusted odds ratio for additional PR at PRRT completion (
P
= .002).

CONCLUSION

Mid-PRRT assessment predicts subsequent PRRT response in patients with WD-NET, especially those with PNET, informing personalized management and consideration of reduced bone marrow radiation exposure in high-risk patients.
Notes Toward a Theoretical History of Indic Media
Authors: Thirumal P. , P Narmada , Chintakunta Himabindu
Published: June 2024

This study demonstrates how Brahminic embodiment provides a constraining milieu for the growth of technology in different historical and epistemic epochs. Brahmanic comportment allows for appropriating technology in a way that creates a historical continuity with an auratic past and disallows the agential power of technology to extinguish the spirit of the Indic auratic past. In effect, Brahmanic comportment disallows technological advancement and human flourishing.
Opportunity Unraveled: Private Information and the Missing Markets for Financing Human Capital
Authors: Herbst Daniel , Hendren Nathaniel
Published: June 2024

We examine whether adverse selection has unraveled private markets for equity and state-contingent debt contracts for financing higher education. Using survey data on beliefs, we show a typical college-goer would have to repay $1.64 in present value for every $1 of financing to overcome adverse selection in an equity market. We find that risk-averse college-goers are not willing to accept these terms, so markets unravel. We discuss why moral hazard, biased beliefs, and outside credit options are less likely to explain the absence of these markets. We quantify the welfare gains for subsidizing equity-like contracts that mitigate college-going risks. (JEL D82, D83, G51, I22, I23, I26, J24)
Personalized Pricing and Competition
Authors: Rhodes Andrew , Zhou Jidong
Published: June 2024

We study personalized pricing in a general oligopoly model. The impact of personalized pricing relative to uniform pricing hinges on the degree of market coverage. If market conditions are such that coverage is high (e.g., the production cost is low or the number of firms is high), personalized pricing harms firms and benefits consumers, whereas the opposite is true if coverage is low. When only some firms have data to personalize prices, consumers can be worse off compared to when either all or no firms personalize prices. (JEL D21, D43, D82)
Hope and the joy of living, in Pieper’s philosophy
Authors: Lasala Teresa
Published: June 2024

We live in a practical society, where work is a god to be worshipped. The almost totalitarian situation implies that most people live to work and even the spare time we dispose of is destined to rest, in order to continue with our productive life, not to live a meaningful one. The result is that there is no time to devote to personal enrichment. When the most of time and efforts are destined to work, there is nothing left to culture, arts, meditation, and philosophy. And these are the activities that precisely are to lead us to feel the joy of life.
When there is nothing more than work to define who we are and what being alive means, then appears boredom and fatigue, because we miss something important. Life loses the taste of the new and its sense. Josef Pieper thinks that hope is the best attitude to walk the way of life. Hope teaches us that, in the end, it’s all right. Not a fairy tale, but a good life to live. The alternatives are certainly dreadful. One of them is a flattery optimism, condemned to frustration, and the other is hell, where desperation dwells, as Dante told us.
Pieper was a Christian philosopher but lately the topic has been studied from other points of view. The power of hope shows itself in its capacity to change reality, to change our mind, first. And to change society. The real question is what we are living for. The answer could be to become the best version of ourselves and to leave a better world behind us. We can achieve this goal if we are hopeful and confident people. No matter how difficult the way may be, when there is a will, there is a way. So, let’s go and enjoy the walk. Whatever may happen, it pays the bill.
The banality of Being and Becoming
Authors: Papagiannis Lampros
Published: June 2024

Throughout the history of philosophy there seems to be a distinction between or among schools of thought. For instance, idealism and materialism or behaviourism and natural predisposition. This article deals with the distinction between Being and Becoming demonstrating not only its importance, but also its internationality, as it appears that the distinction between Being and Becoming, which often takes the form of rivalry, does not concern Western philosophy alone, but it can be found, though under different forms, in the East, too. Several examples will show that, one way or another, the differentiation between the unborn, undead, perfect Being and the everlasting, never-ending Becoming go beyond the rivalry between the Monists (Parmenides, Zeno, Melissus) and Heraclitus. Please be advised that this article will only try to present this matter based on specific examples from the history of philosophy from Greece, India, and China. As it becomes understandable such a matter can (or should) be dealt with in a much larger scale, perhaps as the topic of a doctoral thesis.
Gender sociology
Authors: Tyernovaya Lyudmila
Published: June 2024

The textbook reveals the main issues of the history of the women's movement in the world and Russia, traces the events that make it possible to mark the transition from the struggle for fundamental rights and freedoms to the demands for women's participation in the political life of society, which became a distinctive feature of this movement at the beginning of the XXI century. Various aspects of gender policy and the status of women are analyzed from national, regional, professional, confessional and other perspectives.
It is addressed to students in an enlarged group of specialties and training areas 39.00.00 "Sociology and social work" (39.03.01, 39.04.01 "Sociology", 39.03.02, 39.04.02 "Social work"). It will be of interest to historians, cultural and political scientists, as well as to a wide range of readers.
Physiological activity, severity of neurotic symptoms and personality traits of patients in a
psychiatric day ward in the initial and final phases of the psychodynamic psychotherapy process. Quasi-longitudinal pilot study.
Authors: Konop Magdalena Anna , Sobański Jerzy , Klasa Katarzyna , Mielimąka Michał , Dembińska Edyta , Rutkowski Krzysztof
Published: June 2024

Aim of the study

The aim of the study was to explore HR (heart rate) and EDA (electrodermal activity) activity of patients in the initial and final phase of a 12-week psychodynamic psychotherapy process. The physiological data obtained were corelated with psychological variables (questionnaire results of patients).

Subject or material and methods

Data from 12 patients with a diagnosis of neurotic disorders and/or personality disorders were analysed. Patients were examined with the MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), KON-2006 (Neurotic Personality Questionnaire) and Symptom Checklist "O". Physiological data were collected using a galvanometer and a pulsometer.

Results

The results of psychological questionnaires in the final phase of psychotherapy showed a reduction in symptoms in most of the scales compared to the initial questionnaires. Patients' EDA and HR scores decreased in the final phase of psychotherapy compared to the initial phase. Most of scores of personality disorder traits showed a negative correlation with EDA and a positive correlation with HR, neurotic personality traits correlated positively with EDA and negatively with HR. At the end of the psychotherapy process, a positive correlation was observed between personality traits and physiological measures.

Discussion

The obtained results suggest that psychotherapy can lower the intensity of the physiological activity of patients. Psychotherapy probably has the potential to change the direction of physiological responses of patients with personality disorder traits.

Conclusions

Physiological activity can potentially be used as an objective measure of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The study should be repeated on a larger group of subjects to confirm the results we obtained.
Efficient Project Scheduling with Autonomous Learning Opportunities
Authors: Hill Alessandro , Vossen Thomas W. M.
Published: June 2024

We consider novel project scheduling problems in which the experience gained from completing selected activities can be used to accelerate subsequent activities. Given a set of potential learning opportunities, our model aims to identify the opportunities that result in a maximum reduction of the project makespan when scheduled in sequence. Accounting for the impact of such learning opportunities causes significant complications, due to the cyclic nature of the learning relations and their interference with the precedence network. We propose additive and subtractive algorithms that iteratively reschedule the project using an enhanced topological sorting algorithm. Learning opportunities are integrated, activated, and potentially deactivated in each step by maintaining the acyclicity of the combined precedence and learning network. To illustrate the challenges that arise in this setting, we first consider the special case where activities can learn from at most one other activity. Subsequently, we extend our approach to the general case that admits multiple learning opportunities. We show that our approaches guarantee the construction of an optimal solution in polynomial time. In a computational study using 340 small and large resource-unconstrained PSPlib instances, we analyze the model behavior under various scenarios of learning intensity and learning opportunity. We demonstrate that significant project speedups can be obtained when proactively accounting for learning opportunities.

History: Accepted by Pascal van Hentenryck, Area Editor for Computational Modeling: Methods & Analysis.

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.0107 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2023.0107 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Molecular Characterization of Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV) and Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV) in Honeybees (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) from the Campinas Region
Authors: Nogueira Márcia Furlan , Malossi Camila Dantas , Frediani Maria Giulia Britto , Pereira David , Prado Simone de Souza , Araujo Jr. João Pessoa , Menezes Cristiano
Published: June 2024

The occurrence of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has prompted extensive research on the role of viruses, including Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), and Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), in honeybee health. This study investigated the presence and the genetic characteristics of DWV, ABPV, and BQCV in Apis mellifera colonies in a Brazilian apiary in Jaguariúna, SP, Brazil. A total of 11 apparently healthy colonies were sampled, and adult honeybees were submitted to a multiplex PCR. Results showed that six studied colonies tested positive for ABPV in at least one sampling, while one tested positive for BQCV. DWV was not detected, nor were co-infections observed in the sampled colonies. Although the infected colonies did not exhibit clinical signs of disease, the fluctuating presence of ABPV and BQCV suggests temporal variations in viral dynamics, possibly influenced by environmental and nutritional factors. The absence of DWV detection may be attributed to low infestation levels of the Varroa destructor mite in the sampled apiary. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships between the obtained ABPV and BQCV sequences and strains from South America. These findings contribute to the limited knowledge of viral epidemiology in Brazilian honeybee populations.
Parameters of Religious Popular Discourse within Theolinguistic Frameworks
Authors: Kapranov Yan , Cherkhava Olesya , Wierzchowska Anna
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The article aims to explore theolinguistics, a discipline at the intersection of theology and linguistics, with a focus on developing it as a distinct academic field. It examines the conditions that foster conceptual meanings within religious language and delves into analyzing religious discourse (RD) and its variants like religious popular discourse (RPD) in the context of theolinguistics.

Material and methods

The study utilizes a comparative etymological approach to understand the conceptual-semantic shifts influenced by religious beliefs. The methodology encompasses examining RD through various perspectives, including the analysis of religious texts in communicative scenarios and the interplay of genre, language, and religion. Additionally, the study focuses on the criteria for distinguishing different institutional types of discourse, particularly RD and RPD.

Results

The article identifies theolinguistics as a field deeply rooted in fideism, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming the original meanings of linguistic units in religious contexts. It exposes the significant transformations in religious terms due to secularization trends and discusses the concept of RD within academic discussions. The study categorizes RD into various forms such as missionary, fideistic, and sermon-like discourses. It also delineates the core and variant parameters in the organization of RPD, highlighting its sociolinguistic nature and its role in status-oriented institutional communication.

Conclusions

The article concludes that religious discourse constitutes a distinct category of institutional discourse, crucial for disseminating ethical values and religious beliefs. It sets forth criteria for identifying RD as an independent form, emphasizing its unique communicative structure, thematic focus, and methodological aspects.
Compulsive hoarding – research, social and personal problem
Authors: Guzy-Steinke Halina Maria
Published: June 2024

The paper discusses the syndrome of compulsive hoarding in three aspects: difficulties in defining the phenomenon, features characterising those affected, and auxiliary guidelines in working with hoarders, aimed at taking control over the urge to collect and hoard unnecessary items. The analysis focuses on the problems related to the diagnosis of affected people, the process of support for those affected and the scale of the problem. On the basis of estimates, state that there are between 1% and 2% of people in the entire population suffering from compulsive hoarding which can directly threaten their lives. This amounts to between 3 and 6 million people in the United States, between 4 and 9 million people in the European Union, and between 64 and 129 million around the world. Solutions used in Western European countries towards dysfunctional people with the use of the organisation plan showed only minimal improvement of their living conditions. Aid programmes and day care centres show that effectiveness thereof in combating hoarding is low due to the lack of the hoarder’s engagement.
Actual safety of the youngest road users at pedestrian crossings
Authors: Gudzbeler Grzegorz , Nepelski Mariusz , Dobrowolska-Opała Magdalena , Struniawski Jarosław
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The article analyses the impact of legal regulations increasing pedestrian rights at crossings (introduced in the amended Road Traffic Law on June 1, 2021) on the actual safety of the youngest road users at pedestrian crossings. In accordance with the law, the scope of the pedestrian protection in the area of pedestrian crossings was increased. It was happened mainly because of imposing additional obligations on the vehicle driver.

Material and methods

In our study we used the method of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the content contained in scientific publications, programs and reports, normative acts related to the thematic area and statistical data. Police statistical data for the last quarter of 2023 collected in the Accident and Collision Registration System (SEWIK in Polish) were of particular importance for us.

Results

It might seem that over time, drivers will get used to the new regulations, and pedestrians, the youngest ones, will enter into some kind of synergy with them. The presented data show that the number of children aged 7-16 involved in road accidents at pedestrian crossings has significantly increased. The number of injured children has also increased.

Conclusions

We proved that the changes to the road traffic law introduced on June 1, 2021 (increasing the scope of pedestrian protection in the pedestrian crossing area by imposing additional obligations on the vehicle driver) have not had the expected (positive) impact on the actual safety of the youngest road users using pedestrian crossings. At the same time, the opposite tendency was demonstrated, i.e. the changing safety of the youngest people at pedestrian crossings, unfortunately with a downward trend.
The importance of mobile applications in reducing food waste - the example of the TooGoodToGo application
Authors: Balińska Agata , Werenowska Agnieszka , Jaska Ewa
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The main goal of the presented research is to recognize the role of the application in the process of reducing food waste. The specific goals are to identify the reasons for using the "food saving" application TooGoodToGo and to verify the level of respondents' satisfaction with using the most popular application of this type in Poland.

Material and methods

The analysis is based on a survey of Generation Z using an online survey questionnaire that was available in Q4 2021. The survey was opened by 477 respondents, of whom174 responded positively to the filter questions. They constituted the survey sample.

Results

The research showed that "food saving" applications may be important in creating pro-ecological behavior. To be effective, they must meet users' expectations in terms of, among others: safety and costs of use.

Conclusions

TooGoodToGo is an example of the potential of mobile technology to solve social problems and shape pro-environmental behaviour. According to the study and in line with the first hypothesis, the use of the TooGoodToGo app is determined by economic factors and the need not to waste food. According to our study, the most important functions are free use and payment security (H2). It was assumed and confirmed that the TooGoogToGo app meets users' expectations, as evidenced by the satisfaction rate at a good level. Security and identification of personal data, app design and emotional attachment are key factors positively influencing app user satisfaction. For satisfaction to be rated at a good level, the design and operation of the app should be simple and easy to use.
Security of logistical processes of service enterprises in the supply chain under the conditions of "green requirements"
Authors: Krupnik Dorota , Szczerbak Monika
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The aim of the article was to analyze and evaluate logistics processes on the example of selected organizations in terms of the risk of implementing sustainable development in the supply chain. An attempt was made to assess the adaptation of supply chains to the new conditions resulting from the Green Deal.

Material and methods

Risk estimation using the SCOR model and modified PESTEL. A model of the external and internal supply chain system with a sequence of connections between its links and an information flow integrator reducing the risk of disruptions.
A comparative method for assessing the degree of implementation of the goals of the 2030 Agenda by selected organizations.

Results

Using the selected example, an external and internal supply chain system was identified.
The importance of selected measures and indicators for assessing the effectiveness of supply chains was emphasized, taking into account the SCOR model, drawing attention to the lack of environmental attributes in this model.
A modified PESTEL model was proposed to analyze and assess threats to global supply chains due to the possibility of destabilization in conditions of global sustainable development.
It was proposed to implement the requirements of the organization management system based on the requirements of the ISO 28000 standard.

Conclusions

The article focuses on issues important for the security of supply chains in conditions of sustainable development. Companies face constraints and disruptions from external factors that impede flows in supply chains. institutional customers and individual clients.
The search for stability for the safe conduct of manufacturing and commercial processes forces organizations to look for effective risk assessment tools (e.g. SCORE, PESTEL) and new management methods.
Supervision and Control over the Operators of Essential Services, Digital Service Providers and Entities Providing Cybersecurity Services
Authors: Karpiuk Mirosław
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the legal regulations governing the issue of supervision and control of compliance with cybersecurity standards by entities responsible for safeguarding cyberspace against threats.

Material and methods

The primary research method used in this paper is the doctrinal legal research method. It was applied to analyse the applicable legal regulations governing the supervision and control of activities in the sphere of securing cyberspace against attacks. In turn, the law theory method, also used in the studies whose results have been presented in this paper, allowed the assessment of actions being taken as part of supervision and control.

Results

The fact that the issues of supervision and control in cybersecurity are subject to statutory regulations should be regarded as positive. However, these legal acts exhibit certain flaws.

Conclusions

The legal regulations concerning security architecture must, on the one hand, take into account the freedom of service provision in cyberspace and, on the other hand, keep a lookout for continuous threats concerning unlawful interference with information and communication systems which are intended to provide such services and at the same time allow their use by customers.
Parents' awareness of the functioning of children with autism in the school environment. On the example of parents Szczecin schools
Authors: Nermend Małgorzata , Flaga-Gieruszyńska Kinga , Tarczyńska-Łuniewska Małgorzata , Nermend Kesra , Grima Simon
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The purpose of the article is to explore public awareness of knowledge autism and the phenomenon of discrimination in the school environment, their social and legal aspects. The scope of the study included the identification of problems related to the knowledge of the child's functioning, affected by autism , diagnosis and psychological-educational and medical assistance, the role of institutions and the family, the attitude towards children at school and outside school, and respect for the rights of children with autism.

Material and methods

A survey was conducted using a survey questionnaire. The survey was addressed to parents of students from three elementary schools witch were chosen for their variation in academic performance. The ranking was divided into a national part and a summary for eighteen provincial cities, in which 10,306 elementary schools qualified. In addition, a face-to-face interview was conducted with school principals.

Results

The results of the study are disturbing and indicate limited public awareness and unsatisfacto-ry understanding by the public of the occurring problem regarding people affected by autism. Studies show that society is is quite negative about the parents of children with dysfunctions.

Conclusions

The results of the survey indicate moderate public awareness among respondents regarding those affected by autism. The results obtained can contribute to a deeper reflection and awareness of the disorders and functioning of the child, and the implementation of measures to better understand the issues related to the functioning of a student with this condition. The results of the study may help in the decision of the Polish school to promote the discussed issues.
De Cuba a Chafarinas: Memoria carcelaria de Emilio Bacardí Moreau
Authors: Chichester Ana García
Published: June 2024

RESUMEN: Este estudio es una relectura de la memoria del destierro y presidio de Emilio Bacardí en las islas Chafarinas en el norte de África como ejemplo de literatura carcelaria. Se explora el texto de Bacardí como testimonio personal, así como de denuncia de violaciones de derechos humanos. Igualmente se considera la obra como un documento transnacional, histórico y político que deja huellas de la experiencia particular de presidiarios cubanos en los años culminantes de la guerra contra España y la transición hacia un nuevo orden administrativo y político en la isla. Este estudio al igual considera De Cuba a Chafarinas dentro de la producción literaria de este período, es decir, los diarios de la Guerra de Independencia o diarios de campaña. ABSTRACT: This article is a rereading of Emilio Bacardí's memoir of his exile and imprisonment in the North African islands of Chafarinas as an example of prison poetics. It explores Bacardi's text as a personal testimony as well as a denunciation of human rights violations. It also considers the text as a transnational, historical and political document that traces the particular experiences of Cuban prisoners during the culminating years of the Cuban wars against Spain and the transition toward a new administrative and political order on the island. This article also offers a reading of De Cuba a Chafarinas within the literary production of this period, namely diaries of the War of Independence or diarios de campaña .
El general en el ocaso de la guerra: Dos cartas inéditas de Máximo Gómez en el archivo del Coronel Ernesto Fonts y Sterling
Authors: Pérez Lisandro
Published: June 2024

RESUMEN: Se dan a conocer por primera vez dos cartas personales del general Máximo Gómez escritas durante el verano de 1898 que reflejan el estado de ánimo y el pensamiento del general ante la entrada de los Estados Unidos en la guerra por la independencia cubana. Las cartas están dirigidas a mi bisabuelo, el coronel Ernesto Fonts y Sterling, quien en aquel momento era el secretario de Hacienda del Consejo de Gobierno de la República de Cuba, y forman parte del archivo del coronel. El archivo, que contiene 124 documentos, ha estado por más de un siglo en posesión de mi familia, pero ahora está disponible públicamente en el Cuban Heritage Collection de la Universidad de Miami. ABSTRACT: Revealed here for the first time are two personal letters written by General Máximo Gómez in the summer of 1898 that reflect his mood and thoughts in the face of the entry of the United States in the war for Cuba's independence. The letters were addressed to my great-grandfather, Colonel Ernesto Fonts y Sterling, who at the time was the secretary of the treasury of the governing council of the Cuban Republic, and form part of the colonel's archive. The archive, which contains 124 items, has been in my family for more than a century but is now publicly available at the Cuban Heritage Collection of the University of Miami.
Enhanced p-type conductivity of hexagonal boron nitride by an efficient two-step doping strategy
Authors: Cheng Yuang , Chen Yang , Lv Bingchen , Shi Zhiming , Yue Yuanyuan , Jia Yuping , Jiang Ke , Wei Xiaoyu , Li Dabing , Zhang Shanli , Sun Xiaojuan
Published: June 2024

The present study proposes a two-step doping strategy for achieving efficient Mg doping of h-BN, involving an additional post-annealing treatment. This approach leads to ∼108-fold enhancement in conductivity of h-BN, compared with the as-doped h-BN grown by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The mechanism for large enhancement in h-BN doping efficiency after post-annealing was investigated, providing evidence that this treatment not only facilitates the nanoparticle decomposition and incorporation of Mg atoms into h-BN, but also restores its lattice defects. The efficient two-step doping strategy for p-type h-BN in this study enlightens its promising prospects for ultraviolet optoelectronic devices.
Optimal scale sizes and average-profit efficiency under uncertainty: A chance-constrained DEA approach
Authors: Parhizkar Miyandehi Leila , Amirteimoori Alireza , Kordrostami Sohrab , Soufi Mansour
Published: June 2024

When the costs of the inputs and outputs of the units under evaluation are known, the evaluation of the profit efficiency of the units is one of the most significant evaluations that can provide valuable information about them. In this research, first, a new definition of the optimal scale size based on the maximization of the average measure of profit efficiency is presented. The average measure of profit efficiency develops the concept of economic efficiency measure by introducing a more accurate measure of efficiency compared to the measure of comparative and profit efficiency. It has been shown that the average measure of profit efficiency in a convex space is equivalent to the measure of profit efficiency in constant returns to scale technology, and then, some models are presented to calculate profit efficiency in a stochastic environment, to increase the ability of profit models in real examples by considering the calculation errors of inputs and outputs. Finally, the proposed method is used in an empirical example to calculate the average profit efficiency of a set of postal areas in Iran.
Green sustainability in the hotel sector: The role of CSR, intrinsic green motivation, and personal environmental norms
Authors: Meng Zhihong , Bhatti Saad Mahmood , Naveed Rana Tahir , kanwal Sara , Adnan Mohammad
Published: June 2024

In the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), this study accentuates the role of the tourism and hospitality sector in promoting sustainability. The primary purpose is to unravel the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and energy-specific sustainable behavior of employees (ESBE), with particular emphasis on the mediating roles of green intrinsic motivation and personal environmental norms. Utilizing a three-wave data collection approach, we secured 325 valid responses from sector employees at various levels (manager-non managers) and applied Structural Equation Modeling through the SMART-PLS tool to assess the hypothesized relationships. The findings highlight a pronounced interconnection between CSR, ESBE, and the designated mediating variables. These results not only augment the academic literature by illustrating the psychological underpinnings bridging CSR to ESBE, but also equip the tourism and hospitality industry with actionable insights. Through informed CSR initiatives aligned with employee values, the sector can galvanize sustainable behaviors and create business models that resonate with the aspirations of the UN-SDGs, pointing the way to a more sustainable industry.
Exposure image correction of electrical equipment nameplate based on the LMPEC algorithm
Authors: Wu Hao , Liu Yanxi , Jin Zhongyang , Zhou Yuan
Published: June 2024

An optimization algorithm based on the LMPEC algorithm is proposed to rectify the nameplate image to address the problem that overexposure and underexposure of the nameplate image of electrical equipment will make subsequent nameplate recognition difficult. In the network structure, the PS-UNet++ network is based on the sub-pixel convolution upsampling module, and the UNet++ network is constructed as the feature extraction sub-network of the optimization algorithm to extract more detailed information from the model. Smooth L1 loss is substituted for L1 loss in the loss function to prevent model oscillation. In addition, to increase the robustness of the model, an improved method built on the multi-scale training method is applied. The experimental results indicate that, among all comparison algorithms, the optimized algorithm performs the best on the data set of electrical equipment nameplate exposure the experimenter generated. Compared to the original LMPEC algorithm, the SSIM, PSNR, and PI image evaluation indices are enhanced by 5.6%, 5.1%, and 7.96%, respectively.
Differences in gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and modulated reflection of light at 820 nm between two rhododendron cultivars under aluminum stress conditions
Authors: Zhang Jing , Xu Yanxia , Lu Kaixing , Gong Zhengyu , Weng Zhenming , Shu Pengzhou , Chen Yujia , Jin Songheng , Li Xueqin
Published: June 2024

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is an important factor restricting the normal growth of plants in acidic soil. Rhododendron (Ericaceae) can grow relatively well in acidic soil. To uncover the adaptive mechanisms of photosynthesis under Al stress, the influence of Al stress on the photosynthetic activities of Al-sensitive (Baijinpao) and Al-resistant (Kangnaixin) rhododendron cultivars was examined by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and the modulated reflection of light at 820 nm. Under Al stress conditions, the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of the rhododendron leaves decreased, whereas the intercellular CO2 concentration increased. The Al stress treatment damaged the oxygen-evolving complex of the rhododendron seedlings, while also inhibiting electron transport on the photosystem II (PSII) donor side. In addition, the exposure to Al stress restricted the oxidation of plastocyanin (PC) and the photosystem I (PSI) reaction center (P700) and led to the re-reduction of PC+ and P700+. The comparison with Kangnaixin revealed an increase in the PSII connectivity in Baijinpao. Additionally, the donor-side electron transport efficiency was more inhibited and the overall activity of PSII, PSI, and the intersystem electron transport chain decreased more extensively in Baijinpao than in Kangnaixin. On the basis of the study findings, we concluded that Al stress adversely affects photosynthesis in rhododendron seedlings by significantly decreasing the activity of PSII and PSI. Under Al stress, Kangnaixin showed stronger tolerance compared with Baijinpao.
Computational reassessment of RNA-seq data reveals key genes in active tuberculosis
Authors: Arya Rakesh , Shakya Hemlata , Chaurasia Reetika , Kumar Surendra , Vinetz Joseph M. , Kim Jong Joo
Published: June 2024

Background

Tuberculosis is a serious life-threatening disease among the top global health challenges and rapid and effective diagnostic biomarkers are vital for early diagnosis especially given the increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance.

Methods

Two human whole blood microarray datasets, GSE42826 and GSE42830 were retrieved from publicly available gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Deregulated genes (DEGs) were identified using GEO2R online tool and Gene Ontology (GO), protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed using Metascape and STRING databases. Significant genes (n = 8) were identified using T-test/ANOVA and Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) score ≥10, which was validated in GSE34608 dataset. The diagnostic potential of three biomarkers was assessed using Area Under Curve (AUC) of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) plot. The transcriptional levels of these genes were also examined in a separate dataset GSE31348, to monitor the patterns of variation during tuberculosis treatment.

Results

A total of 62 common DEGs (57 upregulated, 7 downregulated genes) were identified in two discovery datasets. GO functions and pathway enrichment analysis shed light on the functional roles of these DEGs in immune response and type-II interferon signaling. The genes in Module-1 (n = 18) were linked to innate immune response, interferon-gamma signaling. The common genes (n = 8) were validated in GSE34608 dataset, that corroborates the results obtained from discovery sets. The gene expression levels demonstrated responsiveness to Mtb infection during anti-TB therapy in GSE31348 dataset. In GSE34608 dataset, the expression levels of three specific genes, GBP5, IFITM3, and EPSTI1, emerged as potential diagnostic makers. In combination, these genes scored remarkable diagnostic performance with 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity, resulting in an impressive Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.958. However, GBP5 alone showed the highest AUC of 0.986 with 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity.

Conclusions

The study presents valuable insights into the critical gene network perturbed during tuberculosis. These genes are determinants for assessing the effectiveness of an anti-TB response and distinguishing between active TB and healthy individuals. GBP5, IFITM3 and EPSTI1 emerged as candidate core genes in TB and holds potential as novel molecular targets for the development of interventions in the treatment of TB.
Change-point detection using diffusion maps for sleep apnea monitoring with contact-free sensors
Authors: Shirotori Momo , Sugitani Yasuo
Published: June 2024

Monitoring and improving the quality of sleep are crucial from a public health perspective. In this study, we propose a change-point detection method using diffusion maps for a more accurate detection of respiratory arrest points. Conventional change-point detection methods are limited when dealing with complex nonlinear data structures, and the proposed method overcomes these limitations. The proposed method embeds subsequence data in a low-dimensional space while considering the global and local structures of the data and uses the distance between the data as the score of the change point. Experiments using synthetic and real-world contact-free sensor data confirmed the superiority of the proposed method when dealing with noise, and it detected apnea events with greater accuracy than conventional methods. In addition to improving sleep monitoring, the proposed method can be applied in other fields, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. This study will contribute to the development of advanced monitoring systems that adapt to diverse conditions while protecting privacy.
Tourism, Information Communication and Technology, Renewable Energy Consumption, Economic Growth and CO2 Emissions in Indonesia
Authors: Yaseen Atif , Suseno Priyonggo , Shah Syed Ghulam Hussain
Published: June 2024

This study uses annual data from 1995 to 2020 to investigate the Impact of Tourism, Information Communication and Technology, Renewable Energy Consumption, and Economic Growth on CO2 Emissions in Indonesia. The relationship between the variables was investigated using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach, which considered both the long and short runs. The unit root tests were used to determine the data's stationarity and the F-statistics bound test validated cointegration between variables. This study found short-run and long-term correlations between CO2 emissions from Indonesia's tourism sector, information communication and technology, usage of renewable energy consumption, and economic growth. In the long run, Indonesia's CO2 emissions rise by 0.034% and 0.079%, and in the short run, by 0.040% and 0.092%, with a 1% increase in ICT and economic growth, respectively. Furthermore, decreases in CO2 emissions of 0.050% and 0.287 over the long run and 0.058% and 0.344% over the short run, respectively, may result from a 1% increase in tourism and renewable energy consumption. The study's findings show that although Indonesia's CO2 emissions are growing due to ICT and economic growth, they are falling due to tourism and the use of renewable energy. Further research could be possible with more economic data and modern econometric techniques. According to these findings, in addition to eco-friendly tourist laws, the ICT sector, and renewable energy sources, authorities in Indonesia should prioritize greater environmentally friendly economic growth to protect the country's natural environment.
Comparative Analysis of the Squeeze-Out Procedure in Ukraine and the EU
Authors: KOSTRUBA Anatoliy
Published: June 2024

The introduction of the squeeze-out procedure into Ukrainian law took place several years ago. It was due to the implementation of Directive 2004/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 21, 2004 on takeover bids as part of the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. However, the resonance of this institution in Ukrainian legislation has not only continued to grow but is also gaining momentum. The purpose of squeeze-out is to balance the interests of majority and minority shareholders. However, there are ongoing discussions in the legal profession regarding the possibility of a possible violation of the subjective rights of minority shareholders in the event of forced deprivation of their ownership of shares, the setting of the share price, and the compliance of the procedure for the compulsory sale of minority shareholders' shares with the principle of inviolability of property rights. The institute of compulsory redemption of minority shareholders' securities at the request of a person (group of persons) holding a dominant controlling stake is new to the theory and practice of domestic corporate law. In the legislation of other countries and legal doctrine, the institute of public offer is a mechanism that guarantees shareholders' rights in the process of redistribution of corporate control and takeovers and ensures a balance of private and public interests in a joint-stock company. It is characteristic of a public company's exit from the public securities market. Given the relative novelty of the relevant procedure in Ukraine, as well as its controversy, it is advisable to study it in more detail. In particular, the author believes that it is advisable to consider the squeeze-out procedure in Ukraine in comparison with the EU for a deeper study. The purpose of the article is to analyze the history of the emergence and development of the squeeze-out institute in selected countries of the world, the mechanism of its implementation in national legislation, law enforcement practice, and to identify proposals for improving legal regulation and implementation. The leading scientific method used by the author in this study is the comparative method. The main objective of the article is to compare squeeze-outs in the EU and Ukraine. The author used the comparative method to obtain the results disclosed in the article and its conclusions. It was the application of the comparative method that made it possible to identify common and distinctive features in Ukrainian and European legislation, as well as to identify differences in the implementation of forced buyouts in EU member states.
Modelling the Impact of the Digital Economy on the Development of the Logistics Industry. Study Case of Henan Province
Authors: OROZONOVA Azyk , ZHANG Shanshan , ZHUMADILOV Esengeldi , SUN Xiaomei , LIU Xueqing
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the study is to model and analyse the impact of the digital economy on the development of the logistics industry in Henan province. To achieve this goal, the following methods were used: historical analysis to determine the stages of digitalisation of logistics, statistical analysis to assess the dynamics of gross domestic product (GDP) by economic sectors, system analysis and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to investigate the impact of individual elements of the digital economy on the logistics sector, and regression analysis to model the relationships between digitalisation and economic indicators of the logistics industry in Henan province. The main results of the study were: identification and analysis of key stages in the development of the logistics industry in China; determination of structural changes in the GDP of Henan province and their correlation with trends in the digital economy; development of a regression model demonstrating the dependence of economic growth in the tertiary sector of the economy, including the logistics industry, on the advancement of digital technologies. The study confirmed the hypothesis of a significant impact of the digital economy on the logistics sector of Henan province, which is reflected in quantitative estimates and confirmed by statistical tests.
Accounting for Non-Financial Assets in the Public Finance Management System in Ukraine during the Conflict
Authors: TSIATKOVSKA Olena , PRYMACHENKO Olena , LEZHNENKO Liudmyla , FESHCHENKO Yevheniya , MYKHALSKA Olena
Published: June 2024

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that accounting and effective management of non-financial assets in times of conflict is strategically important for ensuring sustainability, economic recovery, and resource security of the state. The purpose of the study is to analyse the features of accounting for non-financial assets in the management of public finances in the war and post-war period. Among the methods used were the analytical, statistical, functional, system analysis, deduction, synthesis, and comparison. This study is devoted to the investigation of methods for assessing and reclassifying non-financial assets of state institutions in the context of military conflict, in particular, considering the aggression of Russia and the temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine. The main criteria related to restricted access to non-financial assets were identified, and an algorithm for reclassification in case of loss or restricted access to them was proposed. Considering the criteria, a recommendation system has been developed for recognising and reclassifying non-financial assets in military conditions. The study emphasises the need to regulate this issue in the legal field, in particular, by making changes to the relevant regulatory documents that would consider the specifics of managing and evaluating non-financial assets during the war period. These changes include reclassification procedures and rules for recording such assets in financial statements, considering their real value and restricted access status. The practical significance of this study is to develop specific recommendations and procedures for reclassification of non-financial assets of state institutions in the context of military conflict, which will improve the efficiency of management and reflection of their value in conditions of limited access.