bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Duration of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities: theory and practice problems
Authors: Popovych Olena , Tomash Leonid
Published: June 2023

Purpose. The objective of the study is to clarify the criminal law issues related to the determination of the terms of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities as a special type of punishment. To achieve this objective, an appropriate methodology was applied, in particular, philosophical, general scientific and special scientific methods were used. For example, the dialectical method was used to identify the essential features of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities; the historical and legal ones - when studying the problem of determining the optimal terms of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities in the national criminal law doctrine; the comparative legal method - to clarify the specifics of the relationship between deprivation of a right and restriction of a right; typological one - to reveal the peculiarities of criminal law differentiation of terms of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities; systemic and structural methods were used to study the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities in the system of criminal punishment; formal and dogmatic ones - when analyzing the provisions of current criminal legislation of Ukraine establishing deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities as a type of punishment. Results. Establishing the periods of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities in absolutely certain amounts contradicts the general principles of sentencing, eliminates the court's authority to impose an optimal punishment, and also negatively affects the mechanism of criminal law regulation. Scientific novelty. Deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities is an effective form of preventing and combating crime, as it provides for the harmonization of the relevant punitive properties with the personal characteristics of the perpetrator. Practical importance. In order to enhance the criminal legal impact of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities, the duration should be set in relatively defined amounts with the mandatory definition of both the maximum and minimum limits.
Istorical and legal conditions of the formation of the legal ideology
of Ukrainians in the 19th century
Authors: Dovhanych Vasyl
Published: June 2023

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to determine the influence of historical and legal factors on the development of the legal ideology of Ukrainians in the 19th century. The main emphasis is placed on the characteristics of the key directions of legal ideology that were developing, and the level of their practical implementation in the socio-legal conditions of the 19th – early 20th centuries is also determined. One of the tasks of the study was to establish the importance of the influence of historicisms on the process of formation and development of legal ideology, which is also important in today's conditions, because of the full-scale invasion of Russia. It is one of the key factors that determine the need to abandon Soviet ideological stereotypes, including legal ones. Methods. The methodological basis of the research was a complex of general scientific, special scientific and philosophical methods, as well as the principles of historicism Results. Five approaches are followed in the works of Ukrainian scientists. The first, philosophical-legal, is characterized by a complete juxtaposition of legal ideology and national ideology. The second direction is exclusively historical and legal. Within the limits of the third direction, it is proposed to consider legal ideology as an element of the legal policy of the state, in particular, the sphere of ensuring human rights. There is also a popular opinion that the ideas of legal ideology are value orientations that actively influence the lawful behavior of a person and the process of law-making. As a result, legal ideology can be considered an element of legal culture or even legal mentality. At the same time, within the latter, legal ideology is the most dynamic category, because it depends on public opinion, group and individual legal awareness. It was established that historical conditions have a decisive influence on the process of formation of legal ideology, as they not only impose on it the specifics of the era, social attitudes, the general level of cultural development, spirituality, but also turn a specific legal ideology into an element of culture that takes root in the legal consciousness of the population, becomes a component of his legal mentality. It was in the 19th century. three main types of legal ideology of Ukrainians were formed: liberal, Christian-conservative and socialist (social-democratic). Originality. The internal and external historicisms that in the 19th century are characterized. contributed to the development of three types of legal ideology - liberal, conservative and socialist. Practical significance. The results of the study can be used in further historical and legal research, preparation of special courses.
Objective» and «subjective» concepts of legal interpretation in German legal doctrine
Authors: Yermolenko D. , Udovyka L.
Published: June 2023

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to reveal the essence of «objective» and «subjective» concepts of legal interpretation, their theoretical basis and practical application, a comparative analysis of the differences between «objective» and «subjective» concepts of legal interpretation in German legal doctrine. Methodology. The methodology includes a complex comparative analysis and generalization of the available scientific and theoretical material and the formulation of relevant conclusions and recommendations. During the research, the following methods of scientific knowledge were used: analysis of primary sources, comparative analysis, logical analysis, critical analysis, synthesis and generalization. Results. In the process of research, it was established that «objective» and «subjective» concepts of legal interpretation are important elements of German legal doctrine. Both concepts have their advantages and disadvantages, and their application depends on the context and the specific situation. It is important to ensure a balance between general principles and individual rights and interests in order to achieve a more complete and accurate interpretation of legal norms. Originality. In the course of the research, modern trends in the interpretation of law in German legal doctrine were analyzed, new approaches and ideas emerging in this field were reflected, and new theoretical approaches to understanding the «objective» and «subjective» concepts of legal interpretation in German law were proposed. Practical significance. The results of the research can be used in law-making and law-enforcement activities, which can contribute to the development of legal practice and improvement of the legal decision-making process.
OUN in the national patriotic education of youth in 1944-53: legal experience and lessons
Authors: Svorak Stepan
Published: June 2023

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to determine the influence of historical and legal factors on the development of the legal ideology of Ukrainians in the 19th century. The main emphasis is placed on the characteristics of the key directions of legal ideology that were developing, and the level of their practical implementation in the socio-legal conditions of the 19th - early 20th centuries is also determined. One of the tasks of the study was to establish the importance of the influence of historicisms on the process of formation and development of legal ideology, which is also important in today's conditions, because of the full-scale invasion of Russia. It is one of the key factors that determine the need to abandon Soviet ideological stereotypes, including legal ones. Methods. The methodological basis of the research was a complex of general scientific, special scientific and philosophical methods, as well as the principles of historicism. Results. Five approaches are followed in the works of Ukrainian scientists. The first, philosophical-legal, is characterized by a complete juxtaposition of legal ideology and national ideology. The second direction is exclusively historical and legal. Within the limits of the third direction, it is proposed to consider legal ideology as an element of the legal policy of the state, in particular, the sphere of ensuring human rights. There is also a popular opinion that the ideas of legal ideology are value orientations that actively influence the lawful behavior of a person and the process of law-making. As a result, legal ideology can be considered an element of legal culture or even legal mentality. At the same time, within the latter, legal ideology is the most dynamic category, because it depends on public opinion, group and individual legal awareness. It was established that historical conditions have a decisive influence on the process of formation of legal ideology, as they not only impose on it the specifics of the era, social attitudes, the general level of cultural development, spirituality, but also turn a specific legal ideology into an element of culture that takes root in the legal consciousness of the population, becomes a component of his legal mentality. It was in the 19th century. three main types of legal ideology of Ukrainians were formed: liberal, Christian-conservative and socialist (social-democratic). Originality. The internal and external historicisms that in the 19th century are characterized. contributed to the development of three types of legal ideology – liberal, conservative and socialist. Practical significance. The results of the study can be used in further historical and legal studies, preparation of scientific projects, special courses, in the process of implementation of the state and regional policy of patriotic education of youth.
Bibliographic practice as an object of bibliographic studies
Authors: Likhovid T. F.
Published: June 2023

Review of the joint monograph “Essays on bibliographic activity of the Russian State Library: A monograph” / Russian State Library ; ed. by G. L. Levin. Moscow : Pashkov dom, 2022. 734 p.

The author reviews the joint monograph by the leading specialists of the Russian State Library (RSL). The article is publishedon the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the reference and information office as the division of the library of State Rumyantsev Museum in December 1918. The office rendered all types of bibliographic user services (e. g. address, subject, specifying bibliographic references). The reviewed monograph covers all the main fields of RSL’s bibliographic activity: development of reference library collection, reference and information services, building of all the main types of bibliographic directories, bibliographical information service in culture and arts, making of bibliographical indices of Russian emigration literature, research in theory of bibliography, etc. The choice of RSL bibliographic activity as the main object of study makes an appropriate contribution to the development of Russian theory of bibliography. The reviewer regards intensification of research activities of larger libraries (e. g. national) as an attribute of the modern theory of bibliography. The joint monograph is one of few large-scale research works covering the full range of the national library's bibliographic activities of the last century; therefore, it is of high value.
Project-based learning in improving scientific literacy: Systematic literature review
Authors: Hudha Muhammad Nur , Fajriyah Mujtahidatul Ilmi , Rosyidah Firda Ulya Nur , Ayu Hena Dian
Published: June 2023

Scientific literacy is a necessary competency for students in the 21st century. The low level of scientific literacy among students in Indonesia can be attributed to a number of factors, including the learning model used. Several studies indicate that project-based learning can enhance students' scientific literacy. The objective of this study is to present the findings of a literature review on project-based learning for increasing scientific literacy. The method employed was a systematic literature review. This study collected data from 2012 to 2022 based on a prism-shaped data extraction procedure diagram with specific criteria. According to the findings of this study, the project-based learning model can enhance scientific literacy in multiple fields of science, including physics, chemistry, biology, science, epidemiology, and environmental projects. Project-based learning is consistent with interdisciplinary learning because it naturally incorporates a variety of academic skills, such as reading, writing, and calculation, which can directly contribute to the development of conceptual understanding through the incorporation of other disciplines. Thus, the use of PjBL can improve students' scientific literacy.
Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine Under Martial Law: Challenges, Trends. Statistical Data
Authors: Khotynska-Nor Oksana , Bakaianova Nana , Kravchenko Maryna
Published: June 2023

Background: Introduction of martial law on the territory of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, due to the full-scale invasion of the russian federation1, led to a shift in the emphasis in activity of all public authorities and institutions. They promptly adapted to the challenges brought by the war to ensure continuous functioning of the institutions of key importance for the state. Such include the institution of justice; the Prosecutor’s Office is an integral element of its implementation. During the war, Ukraine gained new experience in the matters of its organization and functional development. It is expected to be useful to anyone interested in the justice system, particularly the Prosecutor’s Office, and for the study of its responses to the extraordinary conditions of the war.
The publication is the result of a systematic analysis of the indicators of the Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine activity within the context of the events caused by the war’s development, which has been taking place for more than one year. This time span allows the authors to draw certain conclusions and highlight trends.
The performance indicators of four regional Prosecutor’s Offices, representing the north, south, east, and west of Ukraine, are taken as a basis. This approach is driven by different degrees of military aggression intensity in relation to the various regions, allowing tracing of the relevant correlation between the “territorial factor” and effectiveness of the Prosecutor’s Office’s operation.
The study is based on statistical indicators and reports of the Office of the Prosecutor General, data from Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv’s regional Prosecutor’s Offices, as well as materials from the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission on Public Prosecutors.
Methods: The authors used systematic, statistical, historical, and comparative methods, as well as the method of selective analysis and synthesis of information, ensuring the objectivity and complexity of the study. Actual statistical and empirical data are used for proper argumentation of the conclusions.
Results and Conclusions: It was concluded that the activity of the Prosecutor’s Office in Ukraine under martial law is largely determined by the territorial factor. At the same time, the full-scale war became a catalyst for polar phenomena among prosecutors: intensification of the civil position in opposition to the aggressor, professional, and behavioural destructions, which are assessed by a disciplinary body to finalize the prosecutor’s career.
Cryptocurrency in the declarations of government officials: a toolkit for money laundering (trends and experience of counteraction, by the example of Ukraine)
Authors: Hrytsai Serhii
Published: June 2023

Background: An investigation was conducted into the 2020 campaign to declare the incomes of civil servants in Ukraine. On June 23, 2022, the country became a candidate for full accession to the European Union, subject to increased efforts to combat corruption. During the study period, it was found that 652 Ukrainian officials declared 46,351 bitcoins, which as of 04/01/2021 was the equivalent of 2 billion 564 million US dollars or 2 billion 348 million euros. Against this background, the existing anti-corruption legislation and the state anti-corruption apparatus are characterised .
Methods: To achieve objective scientific results, the author used methods such as analysis and synthesis to understand and build a logical chain of ideas. The author used the statistical method to emphasise their positions with real data regarding the situation that developed in practice.
Results and Conclusions: The study revealed a potential threat of money laundering by civil servants through the declaration of cryptocurrencies before their legalisation, against the background of a complete absence or imperfection of current laws. It was established that this factor was the most acute form on the evening of the planned state legalisation of cryptocurrencies. This highlights the need for states to take preventive measures to eliminate such risks before legalising cryptocurrencies and preventing “silent amnesties” regarding illegal capital transferred to cryptocurrencies or to “whitewash” future illegal proceeds in advance through the declaration of non-existent cryptocurrency.
A note on Dujella's unicity conjecture
Authors:   Institute of Mathematics, Lingnan Normal College, Zhangjiang, Guangdong, 524048, China, Le Maohua , Srinivasan Anitha ,   Departamento de métodos cuantitativos, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE), C/ Alberto Aguilera, 23 - 28015, Madrid, Spain
Published: June 2023

Using properties of binary quadratic Diophantine equations, we prove that if \(r=p^{m} q^{n}\), where \(p, q\) are distinct odd primes and \(m, n\) are positive integers, then the equation \(x^{2}-\left(r^{2}+1\right) y^{2}=r^{2}\) has at most one positive integer solution \((x, y)\) with \(y \lt r-1\).
Relative energy inequality and weak-strong uniqueness for an isothermal non-Newtonian compressible fluid
Authors:   Department of Mathematical Analysis and Applications of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic, sik Richard Andrá ̌ , Mácha Václav ,   Institute of Mathematics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Žitná 25, 115 67 Praha 1, Czech Republic, Vodák Rostislav ,   Department of Mathematical Analysis and Applications of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Published: June 2023

Our paper deals with three-dimensional nonsteady Navier-Stokes equations for non-Newtonian compressible fluids. It contains a de­ri­va­tion of the relative energy inequality for the weak solutions to these equations. We show that the standard energy inequality implies the relative energy inequality. Consequently, the relative energy inequality allows us to achieve a weak-strong uniqueness result. In other words, we present that the weak solution of the Navier-Stokes system coincides with the strong solution emanated from the same initial conditions as long as the strong solution exists. For this purpose, a new assumption on the coercivity of the viscous stress tensor was introduced along with two natural examples satisfying it.
Big flip graphs and their automorphism groups
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA, Bar-Natan Assaf , Goel Advay ,   Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA, Halstead Brendan ,   nbsp;, Hamrick Paul ,   UNC Chapel Hill, Shenoy Sumedh ,   Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA, Verma Rishi ,   Stanford University
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study the relationship between the mapping class
group of an infinite-type surface and the simultaneous flip graph,
a variant of the flip graph for infinite-type surfaces defined by
Fossas and Parlier [6]. We show that the extended
mapping class group is isomorphic to a proper subgroup of the
automorphism group of the flip graph, unlike in the finite-type
case. This shows that Ivanov's metaconjecture, which states that
any “sufficiently rich" object associated to a finite-type surface
has the extended mapping class group as its automorphism group, does
not extend to simultaneous flip graphs of infinite-type surfaces.
Dijital Varlıkların Miras Yoluyla İntikali
Authors: GÜRBÜZ Eşref Can
Published: June 2023

Teknolojinin her geçen gün hızla gelişmesi, insanların düşüncelerini, isteklerini ve eğilimlerini etkileyerek günlük yaşamlarımızda köklü değişikliklere yol açmıştır. Teknolojide yaşanan devrim niteliğindeki gelişmeler kripto paralar, alan adları, sosyal medya hesapları, elektronik posta hesapları gibi birçok dijital varlığı ortaya çıkarmış ve insanların günlük yaşamlarının ayrılmaz bir parçası haline getirmiştir. Dijital varlıkların günlük yaşamda önemli bir yer edinmesi, sunduğu kolaylıkların yanı sıra birtakım sakıncaları ve tartışmaları beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu tartışmalar, özellikle kişisel verilerin dijital ortamda paylaşılması ve bu varlıkların mirasa konu edilip edilemeyeceği konularında yoğunlaşmıştır.
Dönüştürme Hakkı Çerçevesinde Alıcının Tazminat Talebi
Authors: STOPPELHAAR Ricarda
Published: June 2023

Satıcı, Borçlar Kanunu (BK) m.208/2 uyarınca ayıplı şeyin teslimi nedeniyle alıcının doğrudan doğruya uğradığı zararı tazmin etmek zorundadır. Bununla birlikte, “doğrudan doğruyalık” kavramının nasıl yorumlanacağı oldukça tartışmalıdır. Satıcının sebep sorumluluğunun kapsamı ile BK m.208/3’te düzenlenen kusur sorumluluğu meselelerinin inceleneceği bu makalede, satıcının kusur sorumluluğu kapsamındaki diğer zararın, alıcının tercihine bağlı olarak olumlu veya olumsuz zarar esaslarına göre hesaplanabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
BEDEN EĞİTİMİ VE SPOR ÖĞRETMENLERİNİN ÖZNEL İYİ OLUŞ VE DUYGUSAL ZEKÂ DÜZEYLERİ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: SEZGİN Yusuf , ÇAKMAK YILDIZHAN Yasemin
Published: June 2023

Bu araştırmada; beden eğitimi ve spor öğretmenlerinin öznel iyi oluş ve duygusal zekâ düzeyleri; bunların demografik değişkenlere (yaş, cinsiyet, medeni durum…) göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı ve duygusal zekânın öznel iyi oluşu yordama durumunun incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada ilişkisel tarama yöntemi kullanılmış ve 2019/2020 eğitim-öğretim yılında Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde bulunan beş ilde (Malatya, Erzincan, Erzurum, Iğdır ve Ağrı) Milli Eğitim Müdürlüğü’nde çalışan 348’i erkek ve 123’ü kadın olarak toplam 471 beden eğitimi ve spor öğretmeni ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği ve Pozitif-Negatif Duygu Ölçeği ile ‘Duygusal Zeka Ölçeği-Kısa Formu kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizi için betimsel istatistikler, bağımsız gruplar t-testi, korelasyon analizi ve regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Analizler sonucunda; katılımcıların öznel iyi oluş puanlarının orta ve duygusal zekâ düzeylerinin ise yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Medeni durum ve çocuk sahibi olma değişkenleri ile öznel iyi oluş düzeyi arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Cinsiyet, yaş, medeni durum ile çocuk sahibi olma değişkenleriyle duygusal zekâ alt boyutlarından öz kontrol ve iyi oluş arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca öznel iyi oluş düzeyleri ile duygusal zekâ alt boyutları arasında orta ve düşük seviyede pozitif bir ilişki olduğu, duygusal zekâ alt boyutlarından öz kontrol, duygusallık ve iyi oluşun öznel iyi oluşun anlamlı bir yordayıcısı olduğu ve toplam varyansın %55’ini açıkladığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak beden eğitimi ve spor öğretmenlerinin duygusal zeka düzeyleri artıkça öznel iyi oluş düzeyleri de artmaktadır.
TAKIM SPORU YAPAN ÖĞRENCİLERİN ALGISAL MOTOR BECERİLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: SÜREK Selin , BOZKURT Sinan
Published: June 2023

Bu çalışma takım sporlarından hentbol ve voleybol sporu yapan kız ve erkek öğrencilerin algısal motor becerilerinin incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmaya İstanbul’da ikamet eden, voleybol (n=21) ve hentbol (n=25) sporu yapan toplam 46 kız ve erkek öğrenci gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Çalışmada Önceleme/Sezinleme Zamanı Cihazı (Bassin Anticipation Timer, Lafayette Instrument Company Model 50575), Çivileme Testi Ölçüm Cihazı (Purdue Pegboard Test Lafayette Model 32020), Yıldız Testi Ölçüm Cihazı (Two Arm Coordination Test Lafayette Model 35532) testleri kullanılmıştır. Sonuçların analizinde; katılımcı test değerlerinin normal dağılım gösterip göstermediğini belirlemek için Shapiro Wilk testi kullanılmıştır. Bu testin sonucunda veriler normal dağılım göstermediğinden non-parametrik testlerin kullanımı uygun görülmüştür. Gruplar arası farklılığı belirlemek için Mann Whitney-U testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda; hentbol spor dalındaki öğrencilerin yıldız testi değerleri arasında cinsiyete göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Buna karşılık voleybol spor dalındaki öğrencilerin yıldız testi değerleri cinsiyete göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark göstermiştir. (p>0.05). Hentbol spor dalındaki öğrencilerin önceleme testi değerlerinde ise cinsiyete göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır. Ancak voleybol sporu yapan öğrencilerin önceleme testi ortalama değerlerinde erkek sporcular lehine istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmuştur. Algısal motor beceriler özellikle erken çocukluk döneminden itibaren geliştirilmesi gereken becerilerdir. Araştırmamızda ortaya çıkan sonuçlar göz önünde bulundurulduğunda yapılan spor dalı ve cinsiyete göre bu beceriler arasında farklılıklar görülebilmektedir. Bu becerilerin etkin şekilde geliştirilmesi, çocukların spor dalı seçimi ve sportif hayatlarında antrenmanlardan maksimum verim alabilmeleri açısından önem taşımaktadır. Bu bağlamda antrenörler ve beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinin çocuklarda algısal motor becerilerin gelişimine uygun araç ve yöntemlerle uygulamalar yapmaları ve beceri gelişimlerinin düzenli olarak takip edilmesi önerilebilir.
Photovoltaic/thermal systems for carbon dioxide mitigation applications: a review
Authors: Kazem Hussein A. , Al-Waeli Ali H. A. , Chaichan Miqdam T. , Alnaser Waheeb E.
Published: June 2023

The urgent need to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and address climate change has led to increasing interest in renewable energy technologies. There are other promising energy generation systems, including photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems. This paper provides a comprehensive review of PV/T systems for CO2 mitigation applications. PV/T systems are reviewed according to their principles, their design configurations, and their performance characteristics. Various types of PV/T systems, including flat-plate, concentrating, hybrid, and novel designs, are discussed, along with their advantages and limitations. In addition to examining PV/T systems as part of the integration of building systems with renewable energy sources and energy storage technologies. Furthermore, the environmental and economic aspects of PV/T systems, as well as their potential for CO2 mitigation in various applications such as residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors, are critically analyzed. Finally, future research directions and challenges in the field of PV/T systems for CO2 mitigation are outlined. The purpose of this review is to provide researchers, policymakers, and practitioners with information on how PV/T systems can be applied to reduce CO2 emissions and promote sustainable building design.
Emerging concepts involving inhibitory and activating RNA functionalization towards the understanding of microcephaly phenotypes and brain diseases in humans
Authors: Tokunaga Mayuri , Imamura Takuya
Published: June 2023

Microcephaly is characterized as a small head circumference, and is often accompanied by developmental disorders. Several candidate risk genes for this disease have been described, and mutations in non-coding regions are occasionally found in patients with microcephaly. Various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), SINEUPs, telomerase RNA component (TERC), and promoter-associated lncRNAs (pancRNAs) are now being characterized. These ncRNAs regulate gene expression, enzyme activity, telomere length, and chromatin structure through RNA binding proteins (RBPs)-RNA interaction. Elucidating the potential roles of ncRNA-protein coordination in microcephaly pathogenesis might contribute to its prevention or recovery. Here, we introduce several syndromes whose clinical features include microcephaly. In particular, we focus on syndromes for which ncRNAs or genes that interact with ncRNAs may play roles. We discuss the possibility that the huge ncRNA field will provide possible new therapeutic approaches for microcephaly and also reveal clues about the factors enabling the evolutionary acquisition of the human-specific “large brain.”
Structure, function, and evolution of metallo-β-lactamases from the B3 subgroup—emerging targets to combat antibiotic resistance
Authors: Krco Stefan , Davis Samuel J. , Joshi Pallav , Wilson Liam A. , Monteiro Pedroso Marcelo , Douw Andrew , Schofield Christopher J. , Hugenholtz Philip , Schenk Gerhard , Morris Marc T.
Published: June 2023

β-Lactams are the most widely employed antibiotics in clinical settings due to their broad efficacy and low toxicity. However, since their first use in the 1940s, resistance to β-lactams has proliferated to the point where multi-drug resistant organisms are now one of the greatest threats to global human health. Many bacteria use β-lactamases to inactivate this class of antibiotics via hydrolysis. Although nucleophilic serine-β-lactamases have long been clinically important, most broad-spectrum β-lactamases employ one or two metal ions (likely Zn2+) in catalysis. To date, potent and clinically useful inhibitors of these metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) have not been available, exacerbating their negative impact on healthcare. MBLs are categorised into three subgroups: B1, B2, and B3 MBLs, depending on their sequence similarities, active site structures, interactions with metal ions, and substrate preferences. The majority of MBLs associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance belong to the B1 subgroup. Most characterized B3 MBLs have been discovered in environmental bacteria, but they are increasingly identified in clinical samples. B3-type MBLs display greater diversity in their active sites than other MBLs. Furthermore, at least one of the known B3-type MBLs is inhibited by the serine-β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, an observation that may promote the design of derivatives active against a broader range of MBLs. In this Mini Review, recent advances in structure-function relationships of B3-type MBLs will be discussed, with a view to inspiring inhibitor development to combat the growing spread of β-lactam resistance.
Optimized bisubstrate inhibitors for the actin N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80
Authors: Myklebust Line M. , Baumann Markus , Støve Svein I. , Foyn Håvard , Arnesen Thomas , Haug Bengt Erik
Published: June 2023

Acetylation of protein N-termini is one of the most common protein modifications in the eukaryotic cell and is catalyzed by the N-terminal acetyltransferase family of enzymes. The N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80 is expressed in the animal kingdom and was recently found to specifically N-terminally acetylate actin, which is the main component of the microfilament system. This unique animal cell actin processing is essential for the maintenance of cell integrity and motility. Actin is the only known substrate of NAA80, thus potent inhibitors of NAA80 could prove as important tool compounds to study the crucial roles of actin and how NAA80 regulates this by N-terminal acetylation. Herein we describe a systematic study toward optimizing the peptide part of a bisubstrate-based NAA80 inhibitor comprising of coenzyme A conjugated onto the N-terminus of a tetrapeptide amide via an acetyl linker. By testing various combinations of Asp and Glu which are found at the N-termini of β- and γ-actin, respectively, CoA-Ac-EDDI-NH2 was identified as the best inhibitor with an IC50 value of 120 nM.
High resolution monitoring of valvular interstitial cell driven pathomechanisms in procalcific environment using label-free impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Böttner Julia , Werner Sarah , Feistner Lukas , Fischer-Schaepmann Tina , Neussl Katherina , Borger Michael A. , Thiele Holger , Büttner Petra , Schlotter Florian
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Fibro-calcific aortic valve disease has high prevalence and is associated with significant mortality. Fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and calcific mineral deposition change the valvular microarchitecture and deteriorate valvular function. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in profibrotic or procalcifying environment are frequently used in vitro models. However, remodeling processes take several days to weeks to develop, even in vitro. Continuous monitoring by real-time impedance spectroscopy (EIS) may reveal new insights into this process.

Methods

VIC-driven ECM remodeling stimulated by procalcifying (PM) or profibrotic medium (FM) was monitored by label-free EIS. Collagen secretion, matrix mineralization, viability, mitochondrial damage, myofibroblastic gene expression and cytoskeletal alterations were analyzed.

Results and Discussion

EIS profiles of VICs in control medium (CM) and FM were comparable. PM reproducibly induced a specific, biphasic EIS profile. Phase 1 showed an initial impedance drop, which moderately correlated with decreasing collagen secretion (r = 0.67, p = 0.22), accompanied by mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization and cell death. Phase 2 EIS signal increase was positively correlated with augmented ECM mineralization (r = 0.97, p = 0.008). VICs in PM decreased myofibroblastic gene expression (p < 0.001) and stress fiber assembly compared to CM. EIS revealed sex-specific differences. Male VICs showed higher proliferation and in PM EIS decrease in phase 1 was significantly pronounced compared to female VICs (male minimum: 7.4 ± 4.2%, female minimum: 26.5 ± 4.4%, p < 0.01). VICs in PM reproduced disease characteristics in vitro remarkably fast with significant impact of donor sex. PM suppressed myofibroblastogenesis and favored ECM mineralization. In summary, EIS represents an efficient, easy-to-use, high-content screening tool enabling patient-specific, subgroup- and temporal resolution.
A bidirectional link between metabolic syndrome and elevation in alanine aminotransferase in elderly female: a longitudinal community study
Authors: Wu Na , Feng Mofan , Zhao Hanhua , Tang Nan , Xiong Yalan , Shi Xinyu , Li Dong , Song Hualing , You Shengfu , Wang Jianying , Zhang Lei , Ji Guang , Liu Baocheng
Published: June 2023

Pre-obesity, as a significant risk factor for the progression of metabolic syndrome (MS), has become a prevalent public health threat globally. In this three-year longitudinal study of pre-obese women at baseline, the goal was to clarify the female-specific bidirectional relationship between the risk of MS and blood alanine aminotransferase. In this manuscript, the MS score was determined using the following equation: MS score = 2*waist/height + fasting glucose/5.6 + TG/1.7 + SBP/130—HDL/1.02 for men and 1.28 for women, which is highly related to the risk of MS. With 2,338 participants, a hierarchical nonlinear model with random effects was utilized to analyze the temporal trends of serum characteristics from 2017 to 2019. A bivariate cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was employed to estimate the structural relations of frequently measured variables at three different time points to determine the directionality of the relationship between the risk of MS and serum characteristics. MassARRAY Analyzer 4 platforms were used to evaluate and genotype candidate SNPs. In this study, the MS score only rose with age in females; it was positively correlated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in females; the CLPM revealed that the MS score in 2017 predicted ALT in 2018 (β = 0.066, p < 0.001); and ALT in 2018 predicted an MS score in 2019 (β = 0.037, p < 0.050); both relationships were seen in females. Additionally, the MS score in elderly females with NAFLD was related to the rs295 in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene (p = 0.042). Our work showed that there may be female-specific causal correlations between elevated ALT and risk of MS and that the polymorphism rs295 in LPL may serve as a marker for the prognosis of MS. The genetic roles of rs295 in the LPL gene in the onset of MS and the development of ALT in the elderly Chinese Han population are thus provided by this, offering one potential mechanism.
Opioid-related harms and care impacts of conventional and AI-based prescription management strategies: insights from leveraging agent-based modeling and machine learning
Authors: Shojaati Narjes , Osgood Nathaniel D.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Like its counterpart to the south, Canada ranks among the top five countries with the highest rates of opioid prescriptions. With many suffering from opioid use disorder first having encountered opioids via prescription routes, practitioners and health systems have an enduring need to identify and effectively respond to the problematic use of opioid prescription. There are strong challenges to successfully addressing this need: importantly, the patterns of prescription fulfillment that signal opioid abuse can be subtle and difficult to recognize, and overzealous enforcement can deprive those with legitimate pain management needs the appropriate care. Moreover, injudicious responses risk shifting those suffering from early-stage abuse of prescribed opioids to illicitly sourced street alternatives, whose varying dosage, availability, and the risk of adulteration can pose grave health risks.

Methods

This study employs a dynamic modeling and simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of prescription regimes employing machine learning monitoring programs to identify the patients who are at risk of opioid abuse while being treated with prescribed opioids. To this end, an agent-based model was developed and implemented to examine the effect of reduced prescribing and prescription drug monitoring programs on overdose and escalation to street opioids among patients, and on the legitimacy of fulfillments of opioid prescriptions over a 5-year time horizon. A study released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information was used to estimate the parameter values and assist in the validation of the existing agent-based model.

Results and discussion

The model estimates that lowering the prescription doses exerted the most favorable impact on the outcomes of interest over 5 years with a minimum burden on patients with a legitimate need for pharmaceutical opioids. The accurate conclusion about the impact of public health interventions requires a comprehensive set of outcomes to test their multi-dimensional effects, as utilized in this research. Finally, combining machine learning and agent-based modeling can provide significant advantages, particularly when using the latter to gain insights into the long-term effects and dynamic circumstances of the former.
Development and initial validation of a mathematics-specific spatial vocabulary scale
Authors: Ünal Zehra E. , Ridgley Lisa M. , Li Yaoran , Graves Cassandra , Khatib Lora , Robertson Taryn , Myers Perla , Geary David C.
Published: June 2023

This study describes the development and initial validation of a mathematics-specific spatial vocabulary measure for upper elementary school students. Reviews of spatial vocabulary items, mathematics textbooks, and Mathematics Common Core State Standards identified 720 mathematical terms, 148 of which had spatial content (e.g., edge). In total, 29 of these items were appropriate for elementary students, and a pilot study (59 fourth graders) indicated that nine of them were too difficult (< 50% correct) or too easy (> 95% correct). The remaining 20 items were retained as a spatial vocabulary measure and administered to 181 (75 girls, mean age = 119.73 months, SD =4.01) fourth graders, along with measures of geometry, arithmetic, spatial abilities, verbal memory span, and mathematics attitudes and anxiety. A Rasch model indicated that all 20 items assessed an underlying spatial vocabulary latent construct. The convergent and discriminant validity of the vocabulary measure was supported by stronger correlations with theoretically related (i.e., geometry) than with more distantly related (i.e., arithmetic) mathematics content and stronger relations with spatial abilities than with verbal memory span or mathematics attitudes and anxiety. Simultaneous regression analyses and structural equation models, including all measures, confirmed this pattern, whereby spatial vocabulary was predicted by geometry knowledge and spatial abilities but not by verbal memory span, mathematics attitudes and anxiety. Thus, the measure developed in this study helps in assessing upper elementary students' mathematics-specific spatial vocabulary.
Multi-annual grassland mowing dynamics in Germany: spatio-temporal patterns and the influence of climate, topographic and socio-political conditions
Authors: Reinermann Sophie , Asam Sarah , Gessner Ursula , Ullmann Tobias , Kuenzer Claudia
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Grasslands cover one third of the agricultural area in Germany and are mainly used for fodder production. However, grasslands fulfill many other ecosystem functions, like carbon storage, water filtration and the provision of habitats. In Germany, grasslands are mown and/or grazed multiple times during the year. The type and timing of management activities and the use intensity vary strongly, however co-determine grassland functions. Large-scale spatial information on grassland activities and use intensity in Germany is limited and not openly provided. In addition, the cause for patterns of varying mowing intensity are usually not known on a spatial scale as data on the incentives of farmers behind grassland management decisions is not available.

Methods: We applied an algorithm based on a thresholding approach utilizing Sentinel-2 time series to detect grassland mowing events to investigate mowing dynamics in Germany in 2018–2021. The detected mowing events were validated with an independent dataset based on the examination of public webcam images. We analyzed spatial and temporal patterns of the mowing dynamics and relationships to climatic, topographic, soil or socio-political conditions.

Results: We found that most intensively used grasslands can be found in southern/south-eastern Germany, followed by areas in northern Germany. This pattern stays the same among the investigated years, but we found variations on smaller scales. The mowing event detection shows higher accuracies in 2019 and 2020 (F1 = 0.64 and 0.63) compared to 2018 and 2021 (F1 = 0.52 and 0.50). We found a significant but weak (R2 of 0–0.13) relationship for a spatial correlation of mowing frequency and climate as well as topographic variables for the grassland areas in Germany. Further results indicate a clear value range of topographic and climatic conditions, characteristic for intensive grassland use. Extensive grassland use takes place everywhere in Germany and on the entire spectrum of topographic and climatic conditions in Germany. Natura 2000 grasslands are used less intensive but this pattern is not consistent among all sites.

Discussion: Our findings on mowing dynamics and relationships to abiotic and socio-political conditions in Germany reveal important aspects of grassland management, including incentives of farmers.
Study on micro-mechanism of the affordable housing community in urban renewal the case of Zunyi city, Guizhou province
Authors: He Qingyan , Yang Jianzhu , Gong Lei
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Affordable housing in China refers to housing with social security for low and middle income people under the unified planning and coordination of the government. In the process of urbanization, the construction of affordable housing and commercial housing should be developed in parallel, but under the role of the real estate market economy, the development of the two is unbalanced, resulting in a disparity in quantity, a large gap in quality, unreasonable management, and even residential segregation. The construction and development of China's affordable housing community is a huge and complex systemic project. This study focuses on a series of problems in the relationship between supply and demand of affordable housing based only on the development context of urban renewal at this stage.

Methods: Based on existing literature and official data, combined with field visits and research, this study uses Vensim PLE software to build a system model for converting various types of stock into affordable housing, and to investigate the effect of various policies on solving the problem of supply and demand of affordable housing.

Results: The research results show that 1) the policies stimulate the increase of urban population and help promote the supply cycle of affordable housing; 2) under the stimulation of the supply policy of converting stock housing into affordable housing, social investment will improve by 33%–64% and the gap of affordable housing will decrease by 29%–58%; 3) under the stimulation of the policy of optimizing the management of affordable housing, the coverage rate of affordable population will improve by 3%–5% and the middle and low income households’ per capita housing floor area will increase by 9%–18% l; 4) under the comprehensive influence of the combined policies, the urban population will grow healthily, the per capita income and per capita housing floor area of low- and middle- income people will be improved, the stock of housing will be reduced, the number of affordable housing will increase, the affordable housing gap will be reduced, and the affordable housing community will be developed sustainably and healthily.

Meaning: The research results and recommendations will provide references for the government and competent authorities to enact or update the policies on affordable housing.
Case report: Novel frameshift mutation in LAMA2 gene causing congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A
Authors: Diaz-Lombana Natalia , Diaz-Ordoñez Lorena , Gutierrez-Medina Juan David , Pachajoa Harry
Published: June 2023

Congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (CMD1A) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene. CMD1A is characterized by peripheral hypotonia and muscle weakness from the first months of life, cerebral white matter abnormalities, and elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. We describe an 8-year-old girl from Colombia with clinical features compatible with CMD1A, severe scoliosis corrected with surgery, and feeding difficulty corrected with a gastrostomy. Whole-exome sequencing identified two heterozygous variants: a reported nonsense variant (LAMA2 NM_000426.3:c.4198C>T) and a novel likely pathogenic variant (LAMA2 NM_000426.3:c.9227_9243dup). This is the first genetically confirmed case of CMD1A in Colombia and the first report of the c.9227_9243dup variant causing CMD1A.