bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entropy stable non-oscillatory fluxes: An optimized wedding of entropy conservative flux with non-oscillatory flux
Authors: Kumar Dubey Ritesh
Published: August 2023

This work frames the problem of constructing non-oscillatory entropy stable fluxes as a least square optimization problem. A flux sign stability condition is defined for a pair of entropy conservative flux (F∗) and a non-oscillatory flux (Fs). This novel approach paves a way to construct non-oscillatory entropy stable flux (F̂) as a simple combination of (F∗andFs) which inherently optimize the numerical diffusion in the entropy stable flux (F̂) such that it reduces to the underlying non-oscillatory flux (Fs) in the flux sign stable region. This robust approach is (i) agnostic to the choice of flux pair (F∗, Fs), (ii) does not require the computation of costly dissipation operator and high order reconstruction of scaled entropy variable to construct the diffusion term. Various non-oscillatory entropy stable fluxes are constructed and exhaustive computational results for standard test problems are given which show that fully discrete schemes using these entropy stable fluxes do not exhibit nonphysical spurious oscillations in approximating the discontinuities compared to the non-oscillatory schemes using underlying fluxes (Fs) only. Moreover, these entropy stable schemes maintain the formal order of accuracy of the lower order flux in the pair.
«MEDITERRANEAN CARD» IN ITALY’S EUROPEAN POLICY
Authors:   MGIMO University, Maslova Elena , Shebalina Ekaterina ,   MGIMO University
Published: August 2023

It has always been important for Italian foreign policy to have a political weight both in the EU and in the Mediterranean. The country is trying to play on several boards, building different configurations, and does not limit itself solely to the ideas of the Rome – Paris – Berlin triangle. Realizing their vulnerability and the danger of being in a subordinate position among France and Germany, Italy is relying on the «Mediterranean card», building an informal union of the countries of Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal). With G. Meloni becoming primeminister, the Mediterranean continues to be in the rank of priority areas of Italy’s foreign policy. Playing the «Mediterranean card» is now easier because countries are creating the image of a common enemy for Europe. Despite attempts to consolidate informal cooperation between the countries of Southern Europe around the Mediterranean, it is not quite successful due to the economic weakness of the countries and the lack of proper political authority. However, there is tactical cooperation in the context of inter-Mediterranean energy cooperation, where Italy is achieving a coordinating role. After the British withdrawal from the EU, Rome is keen to take over the British seat, which could also strengthen the country’s role in the Mediterranean. The main competitor, jealous of Italy’s claim to leadership in both the EU and the Mediterranean, is France; the sub-regional competitor in the Mediterranean is Spain, which does not currently have enough resources to pursue its political ambitions.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL HYDROGEN STRATEGY OF GERMANY – MAIN RESULTS OF 2022. PART 2
Authors:   Institute of Europe, RAS, Belov Vladislav
Published: August 2023

In the first article, the tasks set within the framework of the National Hydrogen Strategy by the new government of Germany were analyzed. Their correlation with the updated goals of Brussels, enshrined in the REPowerEU program was analyzed. Important Projects of Common European Interest with the participation of German companies in the field of hydrogen production and transportation were considered. The second part examines the issues of interstate cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany. Particular attention is paid to the agreements reached by the new coalition government with the United Arab Emirates, India and Canada, African states, emphasizing the role of bilateral chambers in supporting ongoing projects. The issues of scientific cooperation with other countries, primarily with Australia, the Netherlands and Namibia, are considered. The author analyzes the best entrepreneurial hydrogen practices in Germany, among which he highlights the initiatives of the RWE energy company, and assesses the prospects for further implementation of Germany’s plans to create national and European hydrogen markets, including an increase in its imports.
The Hierarchy of Coupled Sleep Oscillations Reverses with Aging in Humans
Authors: Züst Marc Alain , Mikutta Christian , Omlin Ximena , DeStefani Tatjana , Wunderlin Marina , Zeller Céline Jacqueline , Fehér Kristoffer Daniel , Hertenstein Elisabeth , Schneider Carlotta L. , Teunissen Charlotte Elisabeth , Tarokh Leila , Klöppel Stefan , Feige Bernd , Riemann Dieter , Nissen Christoph
Published: August 2023

A well orchestrated coupling hierarchy of slow waves and spindles during slow-wave sleep supports memory consolidation. In old age, the duration of slow-wave sleep and the number of coupling events decrease. The coupling hierarchy deteriorates, predicting memory loss and brain atrophy. Here, we investigate the dynamics of this physiological change in slow wave–spindle coupling in a frontocentral electroencephalography position in a large sample (N= 340; 237 females, 103 males) spanning most of the human life span (age range, 15–83 years). We find that, instead of changing abruptly, spindles gradually shift from being driven by slow waves to driving slow waves with age, reversing the coupling hierarchy typically seen in younger brains. Reversal was stronger the lower the slow-wave frequency, and starts around midlife (age range, ∼40–48 years), with an established reversed hierarchy between 56 and 83 years of age. Notably, coupling strength remains unaffected by age. In older adults, deteriorating slow wave–spindle coupling, measured using the phase slope index (PSI) and the number of coupling events, is associated with blood plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein levels, a marker for astrocyte activation. Data-driven models suggest that decreased sleep time and higher age lead to fewer coupling events, paralleled by increased astrocyte activation. Counterintuitively, astrocyte activation is associated with a backshift of the coupling hierarchy (PSI) toward a “younger” status along with increased coupling occurrence and strength, potentially suggesting compensatory processes. As the changes in coupling hierarchy occur gradually starting at midlife, we suggest there exists a sizable window of opportunity for early interventions to counteract undesirable trajectories associated with neurodegeneration.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEvidence accumulates that sleep disturbances and cognitive decline are bidirectionally and causally linked, forming a vicious cycle. Improving sleep quality could break this cycle. One marker for sleep quality is a clear hierarchical structure of sleep oscillations. Previous studies showed that sleep oscillations decouple in old age. Here, we show that, rather, the hierarchical structure gradually shifts across the human life span and reverses in old age, while coupling strength remains unchanged. This shift is associated with markers for astrocyte activation in old age. The shifting hierarchy resembles brain maturation, plateau, and wear processes. This study furthers our comprehension of this important neurophysiological process and its dynamic evolution across the human life span.
The Branch Davidian Press Conference and Thirtieth Anniversary Memorial, 19 April 2023
Authors: Laycock Joseph P.
Published: August 2023

The year 2023 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Branch Davidian-federal agent conflict at Mount Carmel Center in Texas. In 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) raided the Branch Davidians’ residence in an attempt to serve warrants, but it resulted in a shootout. Afterward, the FBI oversaw a 51-day siege of the residence that culminated in a fire on April 19 in which 76 Branch Davidians of all ages died. Since then, numerous books and documentaries have come out about these events. Scholars now know much more about what happened, but the event has also become increasingly politicized. This Field Note recounts a press conference and memorial service that were held on 19 April 2023 at the Taylor Museum of Waco History in Waco, Texas, at which both scholars and survivors spoke.
Spontaneous remission of pendulum swinging thyroid disease in Down syndrome
Authors: Fox Katriona , Fitzsimons Aisling , Sharif Farhana , Lee Graham Robert , O’Grady Michael Joseph
Published: August 2023

Rare patients who have both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor-stimulating and -blocking antibodies can develop ‘pendulum swinging’ thyroid dysfunction. A 9-year-old girl with Down syndrome was treated with carbimazole for Graves’ disease. After 2 years of treatment, she became profoundly biochemically hypothyroid, and this persisted after carbimazole was discontinued. Low-dose L-thyroxine was commenced. This was subsequently also discontinued as biochemical hyperthyroidism developed. TSH receptor antibody bioassay identified both TSH receptor-stimulating and -blocking antibodies. Mild hyperthyroidism persisted and while consultations regarding definitive treatment were ongoing, medication was not recommenced. Thyroid function normalised spontaneously and she has remained euthyroid for the past 3 years. Previous reports have advised definitive treatment; however, our patient developed spontaneous remission which has been prolonged and definitive therapies have been avoided. It is not yet known how commonly this particular phenomenon occurs.

Learning points

Rare patients who have both TSH receptor-stimulating and -blocking antibodies can switch between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism or vice versa during treatment with antithyroid drugs or thyroxine.

Metamorphic thyroid autoimmunity is more common in Down syndrome.

Switching between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism and back again is less commonly reported.

Definitive treatment such as radioactive iodine or thyroidectomy are usually recommended.

Prolonged remission was achieved off all medication, without recourse to definitive treatments.
Las habilidades investigativas y su fortalecimiento con la plataforma digital Classroom
Authors: Balanta Rodríguez Oscar Javier , Vivero Ortíz Diana Carolina
Published: August 2023

La utilización de las nuevas tecnologías en la educación se ha convertido en un reto, las cuales son importantes en la enseñanza cuando se incorporan para mejorar el aprendizaje de las habilidades investigativas de los estudiantes. El siguiente artículo tiene como objetivo principal plantear como se pueden fortalecer las habilidades investigativas través de la observación, indagación, recolección de información y la argumentación. Los estudiantes del colegio Alfredo Bonilla Montaño del municipio de Jamundí del Valle del Cauca, del grado séptimo puedan fortalecer dichas habilidades ya que, se encontraron diferentes falencias en su desempeño académico, donde no muestran interés en las clases de Ciencias Naturales y pocos hábitos de estudio, entre otras. 

La falta del desarrollo de habilidades de investigación y el poco uso de tecnologías digitales trae consigo en su mayoría un bajo rendimiento académico, exposiciones, evaluaciones y sustentaciones sin argumentos, trabajos que no dan respuesta a los requerimientos planteados en la clase de Ciencias Naturales, lo cual se ve reflejado en las calificaciones finales de los estudiantes y en algunos casos se presenta la pérdida del año escolar (Albarrán, 2017).

Para el desarrollo de la investigación de este artículo se utilizó un enfoque mixto donde se incluye una orientación cualitativa y cuantitativa recopilando información a través de la implementación de un test de caracterización, un pre test como diagnóstico y un pos test y una rúbrica de satisfacción.   Se plantea el desarrollo de una unidad didáctica propuesta en cuatro sesiones con contenidos de aprendizaje referentes a la temática de locomoción en los seres vivos y su importancia en las Ciencias Naturales, las cuales, se planificaron tomando como referencia, competencias, objetivos, contenidos, actividades e instrumentos de evaluación. Estas actividades se desarrollaron con la utilización de la plataforma Classroom, la cual, es una herramienta útil y practica para docentes y estudiantes, con muchas opciones para el trabajo en aula que facilita el desarrollo del proceso educativo que potencia y mejora las habilidades de investigación de los estudiantes, esto enfocado en el modelo pedagógico constructivista que en conjunto con el uso de herramientas tecnológicas apuntan a construir un aprendizaje significativo. La implementación y la evaluación llevaron a la conclusión que las habilidades investigativas tuvieron una mejora y desempeño en un 80% donde al inicio es de un 30%. Lo que muestra que utilizar herramientas tecnológicas y un modelo pedagógico más una serie de actividades bien estructuradas potencian a la mejora de las habilidades para investigar en los estudiantes.
Corredor profundo Amazon AWS
Authors: Blanco Guillermo , Vargas Gilberto
Published: August 2023

El ser o aprender a ser un gran programador es cuestión de disciplina. Actualmente existen muchas oportunidades de ser grandes desarrolladores de software o aplicaciones. Amazon Web Service sabe de la importancia de tener esta habilidad que muy pocas personas poseen; por tal motivo, ha desarrollado una metodología de aprendizaje automático por medio del DeepRacer. El aprendizaje automático surgió para que todos los programadores, con cualquier nivel de habilidad, pudieran usar el simulador de carreras en 3D y, lo más importante, basado en la nube. Amazon Web Services es una plataforma en la nube donde se ofrecen más de 175 servicios integrales de centros de datos a nivel mundial y se utiliza para reducir costos, aumentar la agilidad e innovar más rápido en las empresas. Esto permite que niños, jóvenes y adultos tengan la posibilidad de aprender a desarrollar programación sin importar el tipo de herramienta que quieran utilizar
Modelo de enseñanza de inglés, una tarea pendiente en la educación penitenciaria colombiana
Authors: Puerto Zábala Paola Yesenia
Published: August 2023

Los establecimientos penitenciarios y carcelarios son espacios en los que se brindan oportunidades educativas para la alfabetización y resocialización de las personas privadas de la libertad. El modelo educativo vigente para el sistema penitenciario y carcelario colombiano desarrolla de manera insuficiente la enseñanza de inglés, razón por la que en este artículo se reflexiona acerca de ¿Qué elementos se deben considerar para la construcción de un modelo de enseñanza de inglés en el contexto penitenciario colombiano? Para ello se analiza la literatura existente sobre este campo de estudio y los enfoques de enseñanza de inglés que son coherentes con el aprendizaje práctico y significativo de la educación para adultos en contextos de prisión. Se proponen elementos teóricos, empíricos y experienciales que deben considerarse para asegurar que el modelo de enseñanza de inglés sea válido, confiable y contribuya al dominio del idioma y los objetivos resocializadores de la educación penitenciaria.
Ruscism: Beast from the Abyss
Authors:   Institute of History of Ukraine of NAS of Ukraine, Yakubova Larysa
Published: August 2023

Why putin’s russia turned into a totalitarian system? Were there other scenarios of the post-soviet transit of the russian federation? How and when the “upcountry people” appeared, what were they like, and why did they build a consensus with collective putin? Who and how laid the foundation for the transformation of russia into a totalitarian system? Who is the ideological father of ruscism? What is the essence of ruscism, actually, and how does it threaten not only Ukraine but the whole world as well? These and other questions are revealed in the book you are holding in your hands. A must-read book.
Experiences of respondent-driven sampling in online research among men who have sex with men in other countries (literature review)
Authors:   Eurasion Coalition on Health, Rights, Sexual and Gender Diversity 142, Pärnu maantee, Tallinn, 11317, Estonia, Kasianczuk M. H.
Published: August 2023

The proposed article describes the global experience of adapting the RDS (respondent-driven sample) methodology, used as a de facto standard in large-scale quantitative studies of social groups, to the world of web communications. The experience accumulated in global practice allows us to state that WebRDS is faster and cheaper, provides a greater diversity of the research population and the possibility of recruiting simultaneously at several sites without extensive contacts in local communities, works in countries with very different income levels of the population, and can be combined with traditional RDS, and other survey methods (e.g., with telephone survey). At the same time, WebRDS has its own characteristics, among which we note the vulnerability to fraud, the sensitivity of the response rate to the size of the questionnaire, the presence of biases caused by access to the Internet or mobile connection and the habit of using online tools, not always full control of the research team over the use of the collected data with the help of third-party Internet data platforms, as well as higher requirements for the technical competence of both researchers and ethics committees, etc. In Ukraine, the prerequisites for successfully implementing WebRDS have been created. Considering the challenges that have arisen due to the occupation of part of the territories and the large-scale migration of the population, it seems appropriate to adapt the available foreign experience in implementing such a recruiting system to the practice of biobehavioral research of vulnerable groups in Ukraine.
Agroecological vector of strengthening the social orientation of agriculture
Authors:   Institute for Economics and Forecasting, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 26, Panasa Myrnoho Str., Kyiv, 01011, Ukraine, Rykovska O. V.
Published: August 2023

The article considers the agroecological model of FAO, consisting of ten elements contributing to achieving agriculture’s economic goals while ensuring social justice and preserving the environment. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of socio-economic indicators, the necessity of changing domestic agriculture’s development strategy to ensure sustainability and strengthen the rural economy’s social orientation has been substantiated. The author characterised the integrity and the complexity of agroecology in the context of achieving sustainable development goals. The paper proposes an agroecological transition to balance agricultural activity’s economic, social, and environmental results and determines the socioeconomic consequences of introducing an agroecological transition. Using the method of expert assessments, the prevalence of agroecological management in different groups of producers and the correspondence of their management methods to the components of agroecology of FAO are analysed. The necessity of forming an institutional environment as a system of norms, rules, motivational mechanisms and stimulating measures, requirements, and control, which will promote the spread of agroecological methods in the agricultural activities of enterprises, has been substantiated. The importance of informing producers about the advantages of agroecological management and introducing pilot (demonstration) projects is characterised; the need for training consultants and initiators on introducing agroecological management methods is outlined. Agroecological methods acquire new relevance in the development of agriculture in post-war Ukraine. The ability to avoid large-scale interruptions in food supply due to the local organisation of production, the change in consumer behaviour of the population towards the use of healthy and environmentally safe food products, the strengthening of local development potential and several other social effects are the advantages of the agroecological transition, which will preserve the multifunctionality of agriculture and strengthen its social orientation and environmental safety.
Comparing Pediatric Physical Trauma Outcomes by Special Health Care Needs Status
Authors: Lillvis Denise F. , Sheehan Karen M. , Yu Jihnhee , Noyes Katia , Harmon Carroll , Kuo Dennis Z.
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) have differing risk factors and injury characteristics compared with peers without special health care needs (SHCN). We examined the association between SHCN status and complications, mortality, and length of stay (LOS) after trauma hospitalization.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using 2018 data from the National Trauma Data Bank for patients aged 1 to 18 years (n = 108 062). We examined the following hospital outcomes: any complication reported, unplanned admission to the ICU, in-hospital mortality, and hospital and ICU LOS. Multivariate regression models estimated the effect of SHCN status on hospital outcomes after controlling for patient demographics, injury severity score, and Glasgow Coma Score. Subanalyses examined outcomes by age, SHCN, and injury severity score.

RESULTS

CYSHCN encounters had a greater adjusted relative risk (ARR) of any hospital complications (ARR = 2.980) and unplanned admission to the ICU (ARR = 1.996) than encounters that did not report a SHCN (P < .001). CYSHCN had longer hospital (incidence rate ratio = 1.119) and ICU LOS (incidence rate ratio = 1.319, both P < .001). There were no statistically significant in-hospital mortality differences between CYSHCN and those without. Lower severity trauma was associated with a greater ARR of hospital complications for CYSHCN encounters versus non-CYSHCN encounters.

CONCLUSIONS

CYSHCN, particularly those with lower-acuity injuries, are at greater risk for developing complications and requiring more care after trauma hospitalization. Future studies may examine mechanisms of hospital complications for traumatic injuries among CYSHCN to develop prevention and risk-minimization strategies.
Development of the Pediatric Hospitalization Admission Survey of Experience (PHASE) Measure
Authors: McDaniel Corrie E. , Lowry Sarah J. , Ziniel Sonja I. , Freyleue Seneca , Acquilano Stephanie C. , Leyenaar JoAnna K.
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Although significant research is devoted to transitions of care at discharge, few measures assess the quality of transitions into the hospital. Our objective was to develop a caregiver-reported quality measure to evaluate the pediatric hospital admission experience.

METHODS

Measure development included: (1) adapting items from existing instruments; (2) an expert-consensus process to prioritize survey items; (3) cognitive pretesting with caregivers (n = 16); and (4) pilot testing revised items (n = 27). Subsequently, the survey was administered to caregivers at 2 children’s hospitals and 1 general hospital from February 2020 through November 2021. Item reduction statistics and exploratory factor analysis were performed followed by confirmatory factor analysis. Domain scores were calculated using a top-box approach. Known-group validity and indices of model fit were evaluated.

RESULTS

The initial survey included 25 items completed by 910 caregivers. Following item reduction and the exploratory factor analysis, 14 items were mapped to 4 domains: (1) Patient and Family Engagement, (2) Information Sharing, (3) Effectiveness of Care Delivery, and (4) Timeliness of Care. The confirmatory factor analysis and validity testing supported the factor structure. Domain scores ranged from 49% (95% confidence interval, 46–53) for Timelines of Care to 81% (95% confidence interval, 65–84) for Patient and Family Engagement, with significant differences between general and children’s hospitals in Information Sharing and Effectiveness of Care Delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

A 4-domain caregiver-reported hospital admission experience measure demonstrated acceptable validity and psychometric properties across children’s and general hospitals. This measure can be used to evaluate the quality of transitions into the hospital and to focus quality improvement efforts.
Trophic activity of amphibians as a factor influencing the state of ecosystems of the Dnipro River valley
Authors: Hubanova N. L.
Published: August 2023

The problems of disruption and transformation of natural ecosystems have reached a significant level and directly affect the state of human life: there is the existence of harmful insects, their resistance to chemical compounds, etc. Therefore, the functional significance of zoocenosis is manifested in various aspects: digging, excretory, trophic and other types of animal activity. The importance of the trophic activity of amphibians lies in their consumption of a significant number of harmful insect species. It is animals that act as consumers of various kinds in the conditions of natural ecosystems, take an active part in the movement of energy along trophic chains. The trophic activity of animals is also important in regulating the number of groups of invertebrates of different systematic groups, it is one of the factors that contributes to the maintenance of the system in a state of homeostasis and the speed of its recovery. Attention is also paid to regulating the number of invertebrates, as well as poisonous species among them, species that cause human diseases or are their carriers. Amphibians do not have a specific food specialization and are consumers of any available food. The food spectrum also expands as individuals grow and due to the consumption of larger prey. The main component of amphibian nutrition is insects, they make up about 75% of the diet. Phytophages on average make up 60–85% of the total weight of food in the food of amphibians. The coefficient of usefulness and the share of biomass of various pests in different types of amphibian floodplains range from 52 to 84. As a rule, the ratio of different food objects of amphibians corresponds to their ratio in individual parts of ecosystems. Thanks to the trophic activity of amphibians, the number of pests is regulated, which is important in floodplains of rivers, and the number of energy consumers of a higher level, such as birds and mammals, depends on the trophic activity of amphibians. This fact proves that amphibians are a necessary component of the food chains of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The trophic activity of amphibians affects the stability and plasticity of ecosystems, species diversity of both zoocenosis and phytocenosis in terrestrial and aquatic systems, as well as on the boundaries between them.
Features of Soviet Industrial Development in 1957–1964 (On the Example of the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics)
Authors: Asabin Igor Yu.
Published: August 2023

Introduction and Methods. The relevance of the work is due to the demand for the experience of the economic council reform, including its regional aspect, at the present stage of Russian modernization. The basis of the methodology of the work is the modernization historical paradigm, aimed at the study of various kinds of progressive transformations of society, noted in the process of its development. The main methods used are comparative-historical, historical-cultural, problem-chronological.

Results and Discussion. The economic councils of the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash economic administrative regions already in the first years of their existence showed very worthy economic results. The decentralization of the economic sphere, the removal of bureaucratic “obstacles” stimulated the rapid development of new high-tech industries in all three republics: electrical, machine-building, metalworking, instrument-making, etc. However, having given the industrial development of the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics a maximum exhausted itself quickly. Founded in the early 1960s the crisis phenomena were expressed in the growth of isolation of the economic regions headed by economic councils as economic cells striving for self-sufficiency (autarky), which gave rise to a number of problems, in particular in matters of supplies between different economic regions, in drawing up plans and their implementation. The regional material of the studied republics eloquently testifies to the typical (universal) nature of such negative manifestations.

Conclusion. For the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics, the main result of the economic reform was, in fact, their synchronous transformation from agrarian-industrial to industrial-agrarian regions. The rather rapid pace of this process (1957–1964) can be explained by the decentralization of the economy that occurred as a result of the economic reform, which brought management closer to production and unloaded the industrial management system from excessive bureaucracy. However, the effect of decentralization turned out to be extremely short-lived, since the shortcomings of the territorial administration system soon showed themselves, leading to the rapid exhaustion of its capabilities.
Advanced tissue engineering for in vitro drug safety testing
Authors: Owens Róisín M.
Published: August 2023

The FDA modernization act 2.0, signed into law by President Biden in December 2022 encourages the use of alternatives to animal testing for drug discovery. Cell-based assays are one important alternative, however they are currently not fit for purpose. The use of 3D, tissue engineered models represents a key development opportunity, to enable development of models of human tissues and organs. However, much remains to be done in terms of understanding the materials, both bioderived and synthetic that can be incorporated into the models, to provide structural support and also functional readouts. This perspective provides an overview on the history of drug safety testing, with a brief history on the origins of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It then goes on to discuss the current status of drug testing, outlining some of the limitations of animal models. In vitro, cell-based models are discussed as an alternative for some parts of the drug discovery process, with a brief foray into the beginnings of tissue culture and a comparison of 2D vs 3D cell culture. Finally, this perspective lays out the argument for implementing tissue engineering methods into in vitro models for drug discovery and safety testing.

Graphical abstract

Drug safety testing is a long and expensive process. Advanced, tissue engineered (human) models such as organ-on-chip and spheroids or organoids, are higher throughput methods that can be used to complement, or sometimes replace, animal models currently used. Made with biorender.com
Rediscovering Identity: Autobiographical Memory and Media Discourses of Russian-Germans in Germany and Russia
Authors: Linchenko Andrei A. , Gartwig Bella V.
Published: August 2023

This paper compares the processes of rediscovering identity in autobiographical memory and media discourses of Russian-Germans living in Germany and in Russia. According to R. Brubaker, the Russian-Germans are viewed as a transnational group with a specific “hybrid identity”, whose identification varies depending on the cultural project, which they are involved in. In Germany and Russia, the boundaries of this identification are the politics of memory of the host society and the dominant narratives regarding this group as repatriates (Germany) and as a diaspora with its own culture (Russia). Our analysis, which was based on the methodology of the critical discourse analysis by S. Jäger, revealed that such a dominant narrative in Germany is the “narrative of return”. In Russia, however, there are two discursive threads: the image of Russian-Germans as a repressed group and the narrative about the outstanding role of Russian-Germans in the history of Russia. The curves of autobiographical and family narratives of the three generations of Russian-Germans in Russia and Germany were analyzed and compared according to the biographical method of F. Schütze. People aged 30–50 were the most open to the influence of collective “standardized” narratives both in Germany and in Russia. Despite the fact of living in Russia, those respondents who were preparing to repatriate to Germany actively reproduced the “return narrative” and used international mnemonic frameworks to structure their autobiographical and family story. Our study showed that the influence of the discursive media environment on the autobiographical and family memory of Russian-Germans living in Germany and Russia depends on the respondent’s individual life experience (the curve of their biography), age, and some peculiarities of their family history.
Quasi-Development as an Illusion of Personal Growth
Authors: Kostromina Svetlana N. , Makarova Maria V.
Published: August 2023

This article explores the concept of quasi-development from theoretical, methodological, and empirical perspectives. The study consists of two parts, examining the components and functional manifestations of quasi-development. A theoretical definition of the phenomenon of quasi-development is proposed. In Study 1, the perceptions of quasi-development in two groups of respondents were analyzed by using content analysis: one group consisted of 30 individuals without psychological education and the other of 10 individuals with a psychological background. The study revealed several features of quasi-development, including an attitude towards development where change occurs for the sake of change, an illusion of infinity of options and intensity of development induced by external influence, a desire to obtain a ready-made “recipe” instead of taking responsibility, a lack of correlation between life experience and emotional history, and a lack of a meaning regulator. In Study 2, key components of quasi-development and its connection with magical thinking were assessed by using data from 33 respondents without psychological education, but with experience of seeking psychological help and striving for self-development. The study also explored the correlations of quasi-development markers with the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale proposed by J. Tobacyk. The peculiarities of the social context of modern individuals and the ways of constructing identity were also considered. Finally, the article raises questions about the need for further research on the phenomenon of quasi-development.
Reframing Bodies: New Coordinates of the Body Image
Authors: Antonova Natalya L. , Abramova Sofya B. , Polyakova Viktoria V.
Published: August 2023

The article analyzes the results of a sociological survey of urban residents’ perceptions of the beauty standards and their most desired body models. The survey was conducted in three cities of a large industrial Russian region (n = 1,077). The body as a bio-social construct is now undergoing significant transformations in public consciousness. As our survey shows, however, beauty standards in Russia are fairly stereotypical: the ideal female body is expected to be sexual, well-groomed, and slender (we refer to this body type as an aesthetic body model or body as an object) and the male body to be physically strong, resilient, and fit (the functional body model or body as a process). Describing their desired body model, male and female respondents of different age groups often choose the functional body model, that is, they prioritize what the body can do over what it looks like. The survey shows mixed results regarding the effects of the pandemic on people’s attitudes to their bodies and body care practices. Only a third of the respondents directly associate their individual bodily experience of disease with the change in their body care practices. Two-thirds of the respondents reported that during the lockdown they started taking better care of their bodies, paying more attention to personal hygiene, physical exercise, and sleep.
Improved Peel-and-Bound: Methods for Generating Dual Bounds with Multivalued Decision Diagrams
Authors: Rudich Isaac , Cappart Quentin , Rousseau Louis-Martin
Published: August 2023

Decision diagrams are an increasingly important tool in cutting-edge solvers for discrete optimization. However, the field of decision diagrams is relatively new, and is still incorporating the library of techniques that conventional solvers have had decades to build. We drew inspiration from the warm-start technique used in conventional solvers to address one of the major challenges faced by decision diagram based methods. Decision diagrams become more useful the wider they are allowed to be, but also become more costly to generate, especially with large numbers of variables. In the original version of this paper, we presented a method of peeling off a sub-graph of previously constructed diagrams and using it as the initial diagram for subsequent iterations that we call peel-and-bound. We tested the method on the sequence ordering problem, and our results indicate that our peel-and-bound scheme generates stronger bounds than a branch-and-bound scheme using the same propagators, and at significantly less computational cost. In this extended version of the paper, we also propose new methods for using relaxed decision diagrams to improve the solutions found using restricted decision diagrams, discuss the heuristic decisions involved with the parallelization of peel-and-bound, and discuss how peel-and-bound can be hyper-optimized for sequencing problems. Furthermore, we test the new methods on the sequence ordering problem and the traveling salesman problem with time-windows (TSPTW), and include an updated and generalized implementation of the algorithm capable of handling any discrete optimization problem. The new results show that peel-and-bound outperforms ddo (a decision diagram based branch-and-bound solver) on the TSPTW. We also close 15 open benchmark instances of the TSPTW.
Recruiting Natural Killer T Cells to Improve Vaccination: Lessons from Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Authors: Burn Olivia K. , Dasyam Nathaniel , Hermans Ian F.
Published: August 2023

The capacity of type I natural killer T (NKT) cells to provide stimulatory signals to antigen-presenting cells has prompted preclinical research into the use of agonists as immune adjuvants, with much of this work focussed on stimulating T cell responses to cancer. In attempting to evaluate this approach in the clinic, our recent dendritic-cell based study failed to show an advantage to adding an agonist to the vaccine. Here we present potential limitations of the study, and suggest why other simpler strategies may be more effective. These include strategies to target antigen-presenting cells in the host, either through promoting efficient transfer from injected cell lines, facilitating uptake of antigen and agonist as injected conjugates, or encapsulating the components into injected nanovectors. While the vaccine landscape has changed with the rapid uptake of mRNA vaccines, we suggest that there is still a role for recruiting NKT cells in altering T cell differentiation programmes, notably the induction of resident memory T cells.
DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION OF ECM PARAMETERS ON SCRAPPED ALLOY WHEEL METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES
Authors: Kaliappan S. , Pravin P. , Saravanan K. G. , Thanigaivelan Rajasekaran
Published: August 2023

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is a nontraditional technique for application of metal matrix composites in aerospace, military, and other engineering uses. ECM factors such as voltage, electrolyte concentration, duty cycle, and electrolyte temperature are varied to evaluate the machining rate. radial overcut, and delamination factor on scrapped alloy wheel MMC. The entropy-based weight assessment method coupled with gray relational analysis is used to perform multi objective optimization. As per the entropy method the weight assigned to MR, ROC and DF is 0.3105, 0.3432 and 0.3463, respectively. The gray relational grade predicts that 8 V, 20 g/lit, 50% and 40°C is the optimal setting for higher machining rate and lower radial overcut and delamination factor.
What amounts to "dispositions without value" in the context of section 26 of the Insolvency Act 24 of 1936?
Authors: Marumoagae Motseotsile Clement
Published: August 2023

Section 26 of the Insolvency Act 24 of 1936 aims to prevent natural and juristic persons from giving away their assets without receiving any value in return, in circumstances where immediately after releasing such assets they become insolvent. This paper demonstrates that it has not been easy for courts to adequately determine how value should be established for this provision not to apply. Several tests that have been established by courts are discussed with a view to demonstrate the difficulty faced by trustees and liquidators when seeking to set aside transactions in which they believe insolvent persons did not derive value. It will also be shown that the Supreme Court of Appeal crafted a new test that is way too simplistic, which may lead to prejudicial transactions that should otherwise be subjected to judicial scrutiny in terms of section 26(1) of the Insolvency Act being protected from the reach of this provision. This paper argues that there is an urgent need for legislative guidelines on what constitutes value in relation to the pre-liquidation/sequestration transactions to prevent the application of section 26(1) of the Insolvency Act.
Reflecting on the corporate opportunity rule in company law through a jurisprudential review of Modise v Tladi Holdings (Pty) Ltd 2020 4 All SA 670 (SCA)
Authors: Mudzamiri Justice
Published: August 2023

Directors' fiduciary duties form part of foundational principles in corporate law. This concept has its foundations in the law of agency. Prior to the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (the Companies Act), fiduciary duties were governed under common law, however, the advent of the Companies Act resulted in the partial codification of fiduciary duties. One of the central fiduciary duties is the duty of directors to avoid conflict of interest. This duty restricts the directors of a company from having their personal interests impede those of the company. There are separate rules that flow from the directors' duty to avoid conflict of interests, including the corporate opportunity rule. The corporate opportunity rule dictates that directors must not use their position to unfairly benefit from the contracts and/or information that rightfully belongs to the company they are managing. The objectives of the corporate opportunity rule were clarified in Modise v Tladi Holdings (Pty) Ltd (the Modise case). In partially confirming the judgment of the court a quo the Supreme Court of Appeal held that the ambit of breaching the corporate opportunity rule includes the illegal use of the property and confidential information of the company by a director for personal gain. This article agrees with the reasoning of both the High Court (court a quo or trial court) and the Supreme Court of Appeal in the Modise case on the issue of prescription although the article raises concerns about the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal on a similar issue. Further, the article concurs with the reasoning of both the court a quo and the Supreme Court of Appeal in concluding that the applicants breached their fiduciary duty when they appropriated a corporate opportunity that belonged to the company. One of the major lessons that could be learnt from the Modise case is that directors, especially those who serve on multiple boards, should exercise extreme caution with potential conflicts of interest.
An analysis of the possibility to implement a CSI tax levy in South Africa: Lessons from Mauritius
Authors: Preston Margaretha J , Peeroo Swaleha
Published: August 2023

"The voluntary approach to corporate social responsibility has failed in many cases."1 The Mauritius corporate social responsibility (CSR) landscape changed profoundly in 2009 with the addition of sections 50K and 50L to the Income Tax Act 16 of 1995 (Mauritius), making contributions to a CSR fund mandatory. Before 2009, the Mauritius government repeatedly called on the private sector for assistance to overcome unemployment, poverty, and other challenges in their country. Due to an unsatisfactory response to their request and factors such as poverty, and high unemployment levels, the government made the drastic decision to implement mandatory CSR legislation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to the enactment of mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) legislation in Mauritius and the possibility to implement similar legislation in South Africa. An analysis of the Mauritius tax legislation and relevant government publications scrutinised, by way of a literature review, revealed that what is referred to as mandatory CSR, is in fact mandatory corporate social investment (CSI). The study further indicated that the same socioeconomic factors as those present in Mauritius prior to 2009 and worse apply to South Africa. An analysis of South African CSI practices and contributions indicated that an additional R3.111 billion could have been raised if a 2 per cent CSI levy was applied to after-tax profits of certain categories of companies, as in Mauritius. This represents 1.2 per cent of the South African Department of Social Development's 2022/2023 budget. It is recommended that similar legislation should be considered for South Africa. It will ensure that all profitable companies in South Africa contribute to CSI and that more funds will be available to address some of the socio-economic needs. The study addressed the gap in empirical research done in Mauritius after 2018 and 2020 and is also the first comparative study conducted on this topic regarding South African law.
Sapsız meşenin (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) koruya tahvil sahalarında yapılan silvikültürel müdahalelerin optimal kuruluşa göre değerlendirilmesi: Yıldız Dağları örneği
Authors: KAYA İbrahim , ÖZDEMİR Mehmet , ŞAHİN Abbas , YILDIRIM Nebahat
Published: August 2023

Türkiye’nin Trakya Bölümü’ndeki yüzyıllardır baltalık olarak işletilen sapsız meşe meşcereleri (orman), 2005 yılında hazırlanan Baltalık Ormanlarının Koruya Dönüştürülmesi Eylem Planı (2006-2015) ile koruya tahvil (dönüştürme) işletme sınıfına aktarıldı. Bu meşcereler şu an belirlenen silvikültürel prensiplere göre aralama müdahalelerine tabi tutulmaktadır. Aralama müdahaleleri, koruya gönüştürme süreci içerisindeki en önemli aşamalardan biri olan doğal gençleştirme üzerinde çok önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmada, en az bir aralama müdahalesi görmüş koruya dönüştürme sürecinde olan saf ve aynı yaşlı sapsız meşe meşcerelerinin aktüel (güncel) durumlarının belirlenmesi ve bu aktüel durumların optimal (en uygun) meşcere kuruluşlarıyla karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma alanı olan Yıldız Dağlarının güneydoğusunda bulunan meşcerelerden bilinçli örnekleme yöntemiyle örnek alanlar seçilmiştir. Bu örnek alanların (1) meşcere göğüs yüzeyi, (2) hektardaki ağaç sayısı ve (3) meşcere orta çapı parametreleri (ölçüt) belirlenmiş ve bu parametreler sapsız meşenin hasılat tablosundan yararlanılarak aynı yaş, bonitet ve sıklık derecesine sahip optimal kuruluş verileriyle karşılaştırılmıştır. Bazı alanlardaki aktüel kuruluş parametrelerinin optimal kuruluş parametrelerinden daha yüksek olduğu görülürken, bazı alanlarda ise tam tersi bir durum söz konusudur. Aktüel kuruluşu optimal kuruluştan düşük olan sahalarda bakım, olması gerekenden daha şiddetli olmuştur. Aktüel kuruluş parametrelerinin daha yüksek, özellikle hektardaki ağaç sayısının fazla olduğu alanlarda ise bir aralama müdahalesinin gerekli olduğu görülmektedir.