bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Urine Volume and Urine Conductivity Using Electrical Bioimpedance Based on the Neural Network Method
Authors: Ouypornkochagorn Taweechai , Chiangchin Phirakrit , Ngamdi Napatsawan , Limpisophon Tudsanee , Dowloy Anurak
Published: June 2024

Purpose: Urine volume and urine conductivity monitoring allow better care for urinary tract infection disease. Urine volume and conductivity involve electrical bioimpedance change at the lower abdomen. In previous studies, bioimpedance has been only used for estimating the volume, and the estimation error significantly increases when the conductivity changes.
Materials and Methods: In this work, the neuron network technique is proposed to determine both the volume and the conductivity based on the measured bioimpedance data on a sixteen-electrode configuration. Nine architectures of neuron networks were investigated by simulation. Eleven body models were created, consisting of muscle, fat, pelvis bone, rectum, and bladder. Seven bladder sizes, eleven conductivities, and eight levels of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNRs) were simulated.
Results: The result showed that the neural network method could efficiently estimate with an average of 1.04% volume error and 2.85% conductivity error. The performance remained stable with a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 60 dB, but it may reduce 2-8 times at lower SNRs. The moderate fat content provided high performance. The performance would be worsened if the bladder size was very small and the conductivity was low. The performance was increased when the volume was moderate, i.e. 302 ml, and the conductivity was higher than 1.76 S/m. The 3-layer architecture with 1024, 512, and 2 neurons yielded the highest performance. The 2-layer architecture with hidden neurons higher than 512 provided a comparative performance with only 0.9-1.5% lesser performance.
Conclusion: Neural network technique can be used to estimate urine volume and urine conductivity with excellent performance.
Iranian Normative Data for the Trail-Making Test Stratified by Age, Gender, and Education
Authors: Sisakhti Minoo , Batouli Seyed Amir Hossein , Delazar Elaheh , Farrahi Hassan
Published: June 2024

Purpose: Executive functions and attention are often impaired in neurological, medical, and psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to, in addition to collecting Iranian normative data, examine whether the demographic variables are associated with performance in one of the most widely used neuropsychological tools to measure cognitive status.
Materials and Methods: The present study as part of the Iranian Brain Imaging Database (IBID) was implemented on three hundred medically and cognitively healthy people aged 20 to 70. Each decade consisted of 60 participants and the gender proportion was equal in each decade. Five decades of age (20 to 70 years old) and scores obtained in the Trail Making Test (TMT; defined in terms of two scores of the completion time of its two parts A and B) were the independent and dependent variables, respectively.
Results: According to correlation coefficients, age and education had a significant negative and positive association with both parts A and B (p=0.01), respectively, with no significant association between gender and TMT scores (p>0.05). According to multivariate analysis of variance, the interaction of age, gender, and education did not lead to a significant difference in the TMT scores (p=0.309). Tukey's post hoc test showed that participants under 40 took significantly less time to complete TMT-A than those over 50, while in TMT-B, participants under 30 years completed in a shorter time than those over 30 years old (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that age and education have a significant association with the performance of the Iranian healthy population in the well-known measure of executive function and attention, and it is necessary to interpret TMT scores using normative data gathered in regional settings.
Pericardial Effusion in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients in ICU: Prevalence, Related Factors, and Outcomes
Authors: Heidari Sooreshjaani Maryam , Faghihi Langroudi Taraneh , Norouzi Hamed , Tahmasebzadeh Atefeh
Published: June 2024

Purpose: COVID-19 disease is associated with pericardial effusion through both direct invasions of myocardial tissue and activation of inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. However, its exact mechanism and related implications are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the pericardial effusion in hospitalized patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 and finally to determine underlying factors related to this cardiac event. Finally, the hospital outcome of patients with and without pericardial involvement was compared.
Materials and Methods: The hospital records of 1824 patients suffering from COVID-19 were reviewed with respect to pieces evidence of pericardial effusion. Baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk profiles, laboratory and echocardiography parameters as well as hospital outcomes were reviewed.
Results: Out of 1824 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in our medical center in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) sections, a total of 300 cases (16.4%) (P value <0.05) had evidence of pericardial effusion. Patients with pericardial effusion had much higher mean age, higher mean heart rate and also a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a history of ischemic heart disease compared to those without this complication. The changes in some echocardiography parameters, including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, E/A ratio, E/Ep ratio, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were more prominent in those with pericardial effusion. Those with pericardial effusion experienced longer hospitalization and ICU admission and the death rate was significantly higher in such patients.
Conclusion: The occurrence of pericardial effusion is predictable in about 16.4% of patients with COVID-19, which occurs mainly in older people and people with a history of cardiovascular risk profiles. Pericardial effusion in COVID-19 patients leads to poorer in-hospital outcome.
Comparison of Lung and Contralateral Scattered Breast Dose between Field-in-Field and Wedge Techniques in Patients with Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Zare Seraj Addin , Bahador Maryam , Yazdani Samira
Published: June 2024

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the dosimetric result of the Field-In-Field (FIF) plans compared with Tangential Wedged Beams (TWB) plans for whole breast radiotherapy of patients.
Materials and Methods: In this survey, we entered fifty patients with breast-conserving surgery and postoperative whole-breast radiotherapy. FIF and a TWB plan were made for each patient to compare dosimetric outcomes.
Results: The Homogeneity Index (HI) and Conformity Index (CI) were specified for the evaluation of Planning Target Volume (PTV). The mean dose of the ipsilateral lung and contra-lateral breast for the evaluation of organs at risk dose were used. The FIF plans had significantly lower HI (p < 0.01) and CI (p < 0.01) than those of the TWB plans. It means in the dosimetric comparisons of the PTV, the FIF plans were better than the TWB plans. The V10lung (31.152vs. 32.72%, p < 0.01), V20lung (25.6064vs. 26.6%, p < 0.01) V30lung (17.4% vs. 18.4%, p < 0.01) were lower with the FIF plans compared with those of the TWB plans, with statistical significance. The FIF plans had a lower mean dose for the lung than those of TWB plans (1225.48 vs. 1670.32 cGy) but no statistical significance (p=0.06). The mean dose in the contra-lateral of the breast in FIF plans was lower than in TWB plans (61.666 vs. 163.45 cGy), with statistical significance (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The FIF plans increased the dose homogeneity, and conformity of the target volume for the whole-breast irradiation compared with the TWB plans. Moreover, the doses of organs at risk (ipsilateral lung and contralateral breast) were reduced with FIF plans.
Deep Learning in Drug Design—Progress, Methods, and Challenges
Authors: Masoomkhah Seyyed Saeid , Rezaee Khosro , Ansari Mojtaba , Eslami Hossein
Published: June 2024

Purpose: Artificial Intelligence (AI), which mimics the human brain structure and operation, simulates intelligence. The aim of Machine Learning (ML), which is a branch of artificial intelligence, is to create models by analyzing data. Another type of artificial intelligence, Deep Learning (DL), depicts geometric changes using several layers of model representations. Since DL broke the computational analysis record, AI has advanced in many areas.
Materials and Methods: Contrary to the widespread use of conventional ML methodologies, there is still a need to promote the use and popularity of DL for pharmaceutical research and development. Drug discovery and design have been enhanced by ML and DL in major research projects. To fully realize its potential, drug design must overcome many challenges and issues. Various aspects of medication design must be considered to successfully address these concerns and challenges. This review article explains DL's significance both in technological breakthroughs and in effective medications.
Results: There are numerous barriers and substantial challenges associated with drug design associated with DL architectures and key application domains. The article discusses several elements of medication development that have been influenced by existing research. Two widely used and efficient Neural Network (NN) designs are discussed in this article: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs).
Conclusion: It is described how these tools can be utilized to design and discover small molecules for drug discovery. They are also given an overview of the history of DL approaches, as well as a discussion of some of their drawbacks.
Green Chemistry Approaches towards the Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs) as a Metal Nano-Therapy: Possible Mechanisms of Anticancer Action
Authors: Chetehouna Sara , Derouiche Samir , Reggami Yassine
Published: June 2024

Cancer is one of the most devastating disorders of the 21st century, creating a major concern among clinicians and researchers. Many different treatment strategies are being tried to fight the war against cancer have been tested. Various inorganic nanoparticles have been investigated to induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells and one of the successfully tried nanoparticles is Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs). Green synthesized SeNPs are a promising source of new antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, given the multiplicity of its mechanism. SeNPs displayed antiproliferative potential against colon, liver, cervical, breast, melanoma, and prostate cancer cells by several mechanisms, including triggering apoptotic signal transduction pathways or slow down the angiogenic signalling in cancer cells. Metal nano-therapies such as SeNPs are granted research consideration for cancer treatment. The biocompatibility achieved through green synthesis suggests its possible use not only in specific cancer conditions but also in other types of cancer without any risk of toxicity of these molecules.
The Impact of Tadbir as a Pre-Application Treatment of Medicinal Plants on Their Chemical Profiles and Biological Activities in Traditional Persian Pharmacy
Authors: Arboodniay Jahromi Mohammad Ali F , Safaee Jahromi Parnia , Zarshenas Mohammad Mehdi
Published: June 2024

Based on basic traditional medicine practice, many plants undergo primary treatments to improve their pharmacological characteristics or to attenuate unwanted or unfavorable features of drugs before incorporating them into drug formulations. These treatments are called “Tadbir” in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). The purpose of these processes includes but is not limited to eliminating unnecessary compounds, excluding harmful properties such as toxicity and poignancy, and improving their overall natural properties and effectiveness. Here, the effect of vinegar and acetic acid treatment on three herbal specimens, including Carum carvi L. fruits (CC), Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague fruits (TA), and Nigella sativa L. seeds (NS) were investigated. The treated and non-treated samples were subjected to essential oil and methanol extraction. Further, to assess the alterations in the essential oil constituents caused by Tadbir, samples were analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and HPTLC fingerprinting techniques. Total phenol and flavonoid content and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of methanol extracts were evaluated. As a result of the treatments, TA extracts showed significant rise in phenol and flavonoid contents. Total phenol content increased from 98.50±1.01 in non-treated increased to 181.20±0.27 mg GAE/g Ext. in the vinegar-treated TA fruit extract and total flavonoid showed a rise from 8.97±1.12 to 12.89±0.41 mg QE/g Ext. This may be the reason behind its lower IC50 values in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Interestingly, Tadbir treatment of TA fruits with 4% acetic acid, lowered the IC50 value from 1019.42±75.65µg/mL in non-treated control to 274.2±17.22 µg/mL; while vinegar caused a lower degree of reduction in IC50 value (369.4±5.54 µg/mL) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. However, CC fruit extracts, showed a decrease in phenolic content; while demonstrating an increase in flavonoids. Interestingly, phenol and flavonoid contents were significantly enhanced in treated NS seed extracts. The results of all extracts were found significantly different (p<0,05) from each other and the non-treated control. The conclusive results of the present study may partly justify the pre-application of Tadbir treatments of medicinal plants in traditional pharmacy.
Yoga for Promoting Physical and Mental Health in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Puji Astuti Ristanti , Sukarmin Yustinus , Intan Arovah Novita
Published: June 2024

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global public health burden with significant physical and mental health challenges. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence on the effects of yoga interventions on improving the physical and mental health of patients with CKD. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The systematic search was conducted in January 2023 using Scopus and PubMed, resulting in 99 documents, of which 9 met the selection criteria. The studies explored the effects of different types of yoga interventions on various health aspects in hemodialysis and CKD patients. The durations ranged from 15 days to 6 months. The types of yoga used varied, including Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, and yoga therapy. Outcome measures included dialysis adequacy, fatigue, insomnia, lipid profile, oxidative stress, renal function, blood pressure, and quality of life. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of the yoga intervention and the positive effects of the intervention on health outcomes, such as improved dialysis adequacy, reduced fatigue and insomnia, better lipid profiles, decreased oxidative stress, enhanced renal function, lowered blood pressure, and improved quality of life. Yoga interventions show promise as a complementary approach for managing CKD. The positive effects observed on multiple health outcomes suggest the potential benefits of incorporating yoga into CKD care. However, further well-designed trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base. Healthcare providers should consider including yoga as part of a comprehensive approach to improve the well-being of CKD patients.
A Review of "Narcissus tazetta L." in Traditional Persian Medicine and Modern Medicine
Authors: Gholami Parivash , Mokaberinejad Roshanak , Hamzeloo-Moghadam Maryam , Heidarirad Ghazaleh , Sadeghi Sajjad , Khodadoost Mahmood
Published: June 2024

Narcissus tazetta L., commonly known as narcissus, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. It has a wide distribution worldwide. Various ancient sources, including traditional Persian medicine, Unani medicine, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine, have documented diverse and significant uses of this plant. Recent studies have also confirmed several pharmacological effects of narcissus. Our aim was to review the references about narcissus in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) and compare them with conventional sources. For this purpose, TPM data were extracted from Persian medicine sources; while modern data were obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and SID. TPM sources attribute various effects to narcissus, including treatment of swellings and masses, alleviating pain, and healing of internal and external ulcers. These properties align with the antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-aging effects reported in recent studies. The integration of ancient knowledge and modern scientific research holds promise in identifying new pharmaceutical and therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to comprehend the precise mechanisms of these effects and potential side effects.
Relationship between Male Sexual Dysfunction, Fertility Power and Heart Function: Avicenna’s Standpoint
Authors: Karimi Mehrdad , Khodaie Laleh , Soleymani Samaneh , Mirzaei Mohammad Reza , Kalejahi Parinaz
Published: June 2024

Honey has been used since ancient times to treat various diseases such as gynecological diseases. The current study aims to investigate clinical trials related to the therapeutic effects of honey on women’s diseases. Databases including Web of Sci- ence, Scopus, PubMed, Google scholar, and SID were investigated for clinical studies focusing on honey in gynecological diseases up to 31 June 2022. Eligibility was checked based on selection criteria. Twenty-five clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. Therapeutic properties of honey and its compounds as a systemic and/or local treatment on vulvovaginal candidiasis, cervicitis, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, labor pain, episiotomy and cesarean wounds, nipple fissure, breast cancer and intrauterine insemination (IUI), with the mechanisms of action of antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, analgesic, antioxidant and anticancer activities have been proven. It was also found that phenolic compounds includ- ing flavonoids and phenolic acids are the main ones responsible for most of these therapeutic effects of honey. This study supports the healing properties of honey in gynecological diseases at reproductive age. Also, in the current studies, honey proved safe with minor adverse effects. Of course, to achieve definitive conclusions about the effectiveness and safety of honey, it is necessary to conduct more clinical trials with a larger sample size, appropriate intervention duration, and optimal doses in future studies.
THE PRACTICE OF APPLICATION OF LAWS REGULATING ACTIVITIES OF A BANK AS A PARTY TO A BANK ACCOUNT AGREEMENT AND A PARTY TO SETTLEMENT RELATIONS
Authors:   Senior Research Scientist of the Legal Department of the Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Istomin Valery G.
Published: June 2024

The high prevalence of relationships related to the opening and maintenance of accounts by banks of their clients, as well as the complex and multi-subject nature of these relationships entail the need to analyze the emerging practice of applying relevant legislation. As a result of the conducted research, such trends in modern judicial practice are noted as a broad understanding of the possible reasons for the refusal of a subject to conclude a bank account agreement, the active application of norms that allow the recipient’s bank to be held accountable to the payer, as well as assigning the bank the risk of fulfilling an obligation to an improper person.
ON THE LEGAL NATURE AND MATERIAL TERMS OF A BANK DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
Authors:   Professor of the Department of Entrepreneurial Law, Civil and Arbitration Procedure of the Perm State University, LL.D., Associate Professor, Formakidov Dmitry A.
Published: June 2024

The article analyzes the legal nature of the bank deposit agreement. The main civilistic approaches that have developed regarding bank deposits in the domestic legal doctrine are highlighted. The conclusion is made about the independent nature of the contract under consideration, despite its proximity to bank account, loan and storage agreements. Having analyzed the essential terms of this contract, the author comes to the conclusion that, as a rule, the only such condition is the subject of the contract. It is noted that there is no need to change the current legislation regulating the bank deposit agreement.
Annulment of Civil Status Acts
Authors:   Postgraduate Student of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, Loburev Sergey N.
Published: June 2024

The article discusses the issues of cancellation of act records in the absence of a dispute about the right. Due to the fact that the annulment of the act records is carried out solely on the basis of a court decision that has entered into legal force, and the corresponding procedural procedure providing for the consideration of cases on the annulment of the act record in the absence of a dispute about the right is not provided for in the current procedural legislation, the author proposes to include in the chapter 36 of subsection IV (Special Proceedings) of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation, the corresponding amendments and additions.
Some Aspects of the Establishment of the Legal Status of a Father in Russia
Authors:   Teaching Assistant, Postgraduate Student of the Department of Civil Law of the Saratov State Law Academy, Ochkina Anastasia A.
Published: June 2024

The relevance of the article is due to the presence of legal problems in the field of development and regulation of the legal status of the father. The purpose of the article is to identify and explore problems associated with the legal status of the father at different periods of the historical development of the domestic state. The author draws a conclusion about emerging trends in the field of reforming current legislation. The author used general scientific (dialectical, methods of analysis, synthesis) and specific scientific methods (formal legal). It is concluded that certain provisions of domestic legislation in the field of granting fathers a separate legal status need to be improved.
Inheritance by Posthumously Conceived Children: The Foreign Theory and Practice
Authors:   Head of the Department of Civil Law of the Kemerovo State University, PhD (Law), Opilat Natalya I. , Panichkin Vyacheslav B. ,   Associate Professor of the Department of Civil Law of the Kemerovo State University, PhD (Law)
Published: June 2024

The article depicts the problems of inheritance by children conceived with the help of new assisted reproductive technologies (ART) after the death of one or both parents. The approach to this problem in the law of different countries belonging to different legal families is analyzed, and their classification is carried out in relation to the very possibility of using IVF and other ART in the situation of the death of biological parents.
An Information Intermediary as a Business Entity
Authors:   Senior Lecturer of the Department of Civil Law and Procedure, Applicant for the Degree of PhD (Law) of the Pskov State University, Filimonova Anastasia G.
Published: June 2024

The article notes the legal understanding definition “information intermediary”, the signs of legal status. The questions of legal regulation in fixing the rights and obligations, the type of responsibility — are raised. Review and analysis of legislative norms, judicial precedents to identify the features of legal relations establishing the legal status of the definition of “information intermediary”.
Comic Contracts and Other Pictures as a Special Form of Expression of Will of Contracting Parties
Authors:   Professor of the Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL), Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation, LL.D., Maleina Marina N.
Published: June 2024

An element of the written form of the contract is the fixation of the agreed text in a certain language on a material carrier. It is proposed to enshrine in the law the permissibility of the use of comic contracts in certain civil and labor relations as an alternative to a simple written form. In such an agreement, in writing, there must be the name of the document — the agreement, the date of preparation, the names of the parties and their signatures, the subject of the agreement as the actions of the parties; in graphical form, the terms of the contract, the rights and obligations of the parties can be stated. It is permissible to create and use standard comic contracts. At the same time, the coexistence of a comic book contract with reference to a standard (fully written, literal) contract should be ruled out.
Legal Culture as an Academic Course
Authors:   Senior Lecturer of the Department of International and Public Law of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Pronina Marina A.
Published: June 2024

The relevance of the article lies in the need to improve the legal culture in each individual area of training for undergraduate students. It is assumed that the study of legal culture helps to increase the level of legal consciousness of the future specialist, enriches his vocabulary with special terminology, makes his language as a student and graduate more understandable for a professional lawyer in any field, and gives him confidence and education as an individual. Knowledge in the academic discipline «Legal culture» is acquired by students for life and will help him even in everyday situations: when contacting banking organizations, interaction with state and municipal bodies and institutions. The development of the legal culture of an individual contributes to the strengthening of the entire society, leads to an understanding of the essence of the situation from the inside and teaches non-standard constructive reactions to behavior within the legal field.
The Institution of Punishment as Viewed by the Russian People (Based on an Analysis of Proverbs and Sayings as a Common Law Source)
Authors:   Deputy Head of the Editorial and Publishing Department of the Ufa Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Baydavletova Lilia R.
Published: June 2024

The article, based on the analysis of proverbs and sayings as sources of customary law, reveals the ideas of the Russian people about the system of punishment that existed in Russia in the XI–XVII centuries. Proverbs and sayings allow us to identify the most common types of punishments reflected in the consciousness of the people, as well as some norms of criminal law concerning punishments in the aggregate of crimes, surrender, pardon, recidivism of crimes, concealment of crimes concerning the proportionality of punishment to the crime committed, the purposes of punishment, and others, as well as to identify the reasons why a person the person who committed the crime, according to the ideas of the Russian people, is not subject to punishment.
Legal Monitoring as a Means of Improvement of Rule-Making Products (on the Example of Electoral Law)
Authors:   Deputy Head of the Chief Directorate for the Rostov Region of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, PhD (Law), Artamonov Aleksey N.
Published: June 2024

The article uses the practice of territorial bodies of the Ministry of Justice of Russia and results of monitoring of laws in exercising and enforcement of civil electoral rights to bring forward some proposals for improvement of the applicable state regulatory framework and its application practice.
(Dy)fuzje
Authors: Kmiecik Michalina , Wójtowicz Aleksander , Śniecikowska Beata , Staroń Justyna , Niewiadomski Andrzej , Śliwa Anna , Bocheński Tomasz , Stangret Paweł , Rejniak-Majewska Agnieszka , Pachocki Dariusz , Załuski Tomasz , Muzyczuk Daniel
Published: June 2024

Publikacja jest efektem projektu realizowanego w Muzeum Sztuki w Łodzi w kooperacji z Zakładem Literatury XX i XXI wieku UŁ. Badania, prowadzone w duchu case studies, koncentrowały się na zjawiskach świadczących o przywiązaniu artystów do rozmaitych wariantów awangardowo pojętej zasady integracji sztuk. Akcentowały one także zbieżność dążeń twórców w Polsce po 1945 roku w różnych kontekstach społeczno-politycznych, instytucjonalnych czy nawet towarzyskich.
Książka dotyczy sojuszy i analogii w obrębie sztuk wizualnych i literatury – zarówno ponad ich zwyczajowo respektowanymi formułami, jak i w umownie przestrzeganych i honorowanych granicach. Autorzy zgromadzonych tekstów starają się uchwycić wzajemne artystyczne stymulowanie w rozprzestrzenianiu konkretnych idei, a zarazem interesuje ich zmiana usytuowań i optyk w postrzeganiu pozornie dobrze znanych zagadnień; innymi słowy – wszystko to, co kryje się w semantycznym potencjale tytułowych „(dy)fuzji”.
„Tom ma wyraźny rys nowatorski – i to zarówno w płaszczyźnie rewelatorskiej (tam, gdzie mowa jest o zjawiskach słabo zbadanych), jak i w obszarze repetycji (tam, gdzie poruszane są zagadnienia nie najgorzej opracowane). […] Wyłania się też w nim pewien dział by tak rzec, poznawczy. Po jednej jego stronie sytuują się przyczynki do twórczości bardzo znanych i znanych artystów (Białoszewski, Brzozowski, Buczkowski, Czycz, Haupt, Kantor, Peiper, Strzemiński, Themerson), z drugiej natomiast strony otrzymujemy kompetentne teksty, poświęcone artystom i zjawiskom znanym mniej lub niemal wcale (Bruszewski, Dłużniewski, Kryszkowski, Partum czy też sztuka artzinów). Siłą rzeczy, te pierwsze przyczynki wymagają podjęcia swoistego agonu z badaczami-poprzednikami, te drugie zaś stanowią nowość intelektualną niejako same przez się. Takie zestawienie wydaje się bardzo ożywcze dla wymowy całej publikacji”.
Z recenzji dr. hab. Piotra Łuszczykiewicza, prof. UAM
Metrology for 3D Quantitative Phase Imaging Instrumentation
Authors: Kujawinska Malgorzata
Published: June 2024

Three-dimensional quantitative phase imaging (3D QPI) delivers volumetric information about the refractive index (RI) distribution within microobjects and offers new solutions to outstanding challenges in cell biology and pathology [1-3]. Such imaging and measurement capabilities are of great interest to study the biophysical properties of biological microstructures such as single cells, cell aggregates, tissues or even small organisms, especially as they are complemented by high spatial resolution and label free sample preparation.
Monitoring agricultural water use: challenges and solutions for sustainable water management
Authors:   University of Manchester, UK, Foster T. , Pérez-Blanco C. D. ,   Universidad de Salamanca, Spain, Schmidt G. ,   Fresh Thoughts Consulting, Austria
Published: June 2024

As the largest sectoral user of water globally, agriculture is both impacted by and a major driver of water scarcity. Monitoring of agricultural water use is essential to identify and design effective strategies for balancing water demands with those of other sectors and the environment amidst future changes. Yet most countries face large gaps in their ability to identify where, when, how much and for what purposes water is withdrawn or abstracted by farmers. This chapter provides a critical review of the current evidence about the technical, financial, social and political barriers to effective monitoring of agricultural water use, focusing on the twin challenges of abstraction permitting and water use quantification. We identify enablers and barriers for new technologies – specifically satellite remote sensing – to plug gaps in in situ monitoring infrastructure, and the need to think beyond improved data collection to how such data are then used in design and enforcement of agricultural water resources management and planning policies.
Modernizing major and medium irrigation schemes in India: formulating a programme of change
Authors:   Water Resources and Irrigation Management, UK, Burton Martin , Shivakumar M. G. ,   Asian Development Bank; India, Sen Rahul ,   Water Resources Policy and Institutions, India, Palanisami Kuppannan ,   International Water Management Institute, India, Gore Lance ,   Asian Development Bank, The Philippines
Published: June 2024

This chapter outlines the establishment of a national multi-year, multidisciplinary programme to modernize major and medium irrigation (and drainage schemes in India) under the Support for Irrigation Modernization Program. The programme is supported by the Asian Development Bank and implemented by concerned State Water Resources Departments in association with Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti on behalf of the Government of India. The chapter considers the need for modernization including the drivers and enablers for change, the changing dynamics of irrigated agriculture in India, the options for modernization, and the cost implications. The chapter discusses the key components of a modernization programme including the need for policy and legislation, institutional reform, water resources identification, planning and management, irrigation system modernization, incorporating infrastructure, management, operation and maintenance, agricultural reform, and modernization and upgrading of knowledge and information.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT UV EXPOSURE ENERGY ON POLYIMIDE-BASED NONVOLATILE RESISTIVE PHOTOMEMORY DEVICE
Authors:   Department of Electronic Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan, Wu Xin-Rong , Jiang Pei-Ying ,   Department of Electronic Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan, Li Syuan-Yi ,   Department of Electronic Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan, Yang Wen-Luh ,   Department of Electronic Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan
Published: June 2024

Recently, many researchers pay attractive attention to organic memory technology. Polyimide film was used as the resistive switching layer of nonvolatile photomemory in this study. In order to improve the performance of the device, different wavelengths of Ultraviolet (UV) light were used to operate the device, and its impact on the polyimide film was discussed. In this paper, three different UV light bands, UVA, UVB, and UVC, are used to switch devices between low resistance state (LRS) and high resistance state (HRS). It can be seen from the results that all three kinds of energies of UV light can transform the polyimide film from HRS to LRS successfully. According to the data, after 1s of UVB irradiation, the LRS current of polyimide-based photomemory device is the largest, and the data retention ability is also the best, the second is to irradiate UVA, and the last is to irradiate UVC. The results of the optical properties and electrical properties are coincidental. Therefore, different UV energies can affect this photomemory device.
Heat integration retrofit for a sustainable energy-efficient design: a case study of Aramco’s refinery
Authors: Hazazi Abdulrahman , Farooq Zeeshan
Published: June 2024

One of the main factors to consider when building an industrial plant is the life cycle cost, which opposes several energy efficiency considerations. Throughout running the plant and with the advancement of technologies, several economically attractive modifications start to appear. In addition, the environmental impact of fossil-fuel burning has prompted the efforts to minimize carbon emissions through energy efficiency enhancement. This paper illustrates, through a case study, the concept of the near-optimum synergy for utility-process systems integration of a full conversion oil refinery plant. The objective of this study is to identify all technically and economically viable operation and design options/actions/modifications that reduce the facility’s overall energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. The study included several energy efficiency enhancement approaches to reach the optimum utility-process systems integration of existing refineries at minimum capital cost. The analysis started by identifying the major equipment, the heat exchanger network (HEN), and the overall site plot plan. The case study covers optimizing the energy demand and supply side to reach profitable and greener utility-process systems synergy. The enhancement options include load management, waste heat recovery, HEN optimization, and optimum energy supply.
Dynamics of morbidity indicators of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the city of Moscow.
Authors:   Federal State Healthcare Institution «Medical and Sanitary Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow», Mendel S. A. , Kuzmina T. S. ,   Federal State Healthcare Institution «Medical and Sanitary Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow», Kalinina E. A. ,   Orenburg State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: June 2024

Morbidity of the population includes: actual morbidity (primary morbidity); prevalence (frequency of all diseases among the population); diseases detected during medical examinations. The main sources of information on morbidity are: data on appeals to medical organizations; data on the results of planned medical examinations; cause-of-death analysis data. Having studied the primary incidence of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the city of Moscow, from 2018 to 2022, it was found that 1 rank place was retained for respiratory diseases. Other diseases moved to rank 2, including COVID‑19, which previously occupied rank 16. Diseases of the digestive organs moved to rank 3 from rank 6. The overall incidence of employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the city of Moscow in dynamics from 2018 to 2022 was characterized by the fact that respiratory diseases retained 1st place, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue – 3rd place. Other diseases moved to 2nd place, including COVID‑19, which previously occupied 17th rank. The state of health of employees of the internal affairs bodies and the extension of their professional longevity are one of the key links in organizing the work of the entire health protection system carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Risk and Ambiguity in Monetary and Medical Decision-Making
Authors: Xu Chelsea Y. , Dan Ohad , Jia Ruonan , Wertheimer Emily , Chawla Megha , Fuhrmann-Alpert Galit , Fried Terri , Levy Ifat
Published: June 2024

How do decision-makers choose between alternatives offering outcomes that are not easily quantifiable? Previous literature on decisions under uncertainty focused on alternatives with quantifiable outcomes, for example monetary lotteries. In such scenarios, decision-makers make decisions based on success chance, outcome magnitude, and individual preferences for uncertainty. It is not clear, however, how individuals construct subjective values when outcomes are not directly quantifiable. To explore how decision-makers choose when facing non-quantifiable outcomes, we focus here on medical decisions with qualitative outcomes. Specifically, we ask whether decision-makers exhibit the same attitudes towards two types of uncertainty - risk and ambiguity - across domains with quantitative and qualitative outcomes. To answer this question, we designed an online decision-making task where participants made binary choices between alternatives offering either guaranteed lower outcomes or potentially higher outcomes that are associated with some risk and ambiguity. The outcomes of choices were either different magnitudes of monetary gains or levels of improvement in a medical condition. We recruited 429 online participants and repeated the survey in two waves, which allowed us to compare the between-domain attitude consistency with within-domain consistency, over time. We found that risk and ambiguity attitudes were moderately correlated across domains. Over time, risk attitudes had slightly higher correlations compared to across domains, while in ambiguity over-time correlations were slightly weaker. These findings are consistent with the conceptualization of risk attitude as more trait-like, and ambiguity attitudes as more state-like. We discuss the implications and applicability of our novel modeling approach to broader contexts with non-quantifiable outcomes.
Enhancing the Tracking Performance of Wind Turbine Blade Pitch Angle Control via Model-Free Adaptive Control Algorithm Utilizing Input-Output Differential
Authors: Zhou Ziang , Wang Shuangxin , Jiang Jiading , Li Hongrui , Zhao Juchao , Yu Dingli , li yaguang
Published: June 2024

In the context of wind energy systems, maintaining optimal power output in wind turbines when wind speeds exceed rated values necessitates precise regulation of blade pitch through the pitch control system. However, challenges in accurately modeling nonlinear control systems and enhancing control responsiveness arise due to factors such as actuator constraints, unmodeled dynamics, and random wind speed fluctuations. This paper proposes an improved model-free control, termed Input-Output Model-Free Adaptive Control (IO-MFAC). It enhances the system's adaptability to stochastic wind and improves tracking capabilities by adaptively adjusting the input difference based on the output difference through the new cost function. Moreover, to demonstrate the stability of IO-MFAC, its monotonic convergence is theoretically confirmed. Simulations conducted on the FAST simulator and hardware-in-the-loop experiments demonstrate that IO-MFAC outperforms basic MFAC under constant wind and turbulent conditions, exhibiting superior dynamic tracking performance, control effectiveness, and practical utility.
Cancer Cachexia-related Monocytic MDSCs Impair T-cell Negative Selection and Predict Immune-related Adverse Events
Authors: Li Xing , Wei Li , Huang Run-Kai , Ren Jian-Hua , Huang Ze-Xuan , Zhang Yuan , Pang Xiu-Qing , Lv Xiao-tong , Wu Xiangyuan , Xing Yan-Fang
Published: June 2024

Background
Cancer cachexia is prevalent in multiple cancers and is associated with chemotherapy toxicity. However, data on the relationship between immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and cachexia are limited.
Methods
A murine model of orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cachexia was constructed to determine the effect of T-cell infiltration in multiple tumor-free organs on irAEs occurrence. Single-cell sequencing of thymic stromal cells was conducted. Patients with advanced cancers receiving anti-PD-1/L1 antibody treatment were followed up to investigate the relationship between cachexia and irAEs.
Results
Inflammatory cells infiltrated multiple tumor-free organs in cachexic HCC but not in non-cachexic mice. Immunofluorescence revealed that these infiltrating cells included CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Morphological assessment and hematoxylin-eosin staining confirmed thymus atrophy in cachexic HCC mice. Single-cell sequencing of thymic stromal cells showed fewer medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) II and III in the thymus of cachexic mice than in those of non-cachexic mice. Aire downregulation was accompanied by decreased expression of tissue-restricted antigens in mTECs. T cells from cachexic HCC mice induced inflammation and T cell infiltration in multiple organs of tumor-free mice in an organ-specific manner. After administration of anti-mouse PD-1 antibody, the incidence of inflammation in multiple organs was much higher in cachexic HCC mice as well as tumor free mice transferred with T cells from cachexic HCC mice. Thymic monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) enriched in cachexic HCC mice, evidenced by flow cytometer and immunofluorescence analyses. M-MDSCs infiltrated the thymus in cachexic mice with cancer. Cachexia-related M-MDSCs induced mTEC from tumor-free mice apoptosis through nitric oxide production in vitro. M-MDSCs transfer induced infiltration of inflammatory cells in multiple organs and thymus involution of tumor free mice without decreasing their weights. Sixty-four patients with advanced cancer receiving anti-PD-1/L1 antibody treatment were included in this study. Patients with irAEs displayed higher levels of circulating M-MDSCs than those without irAEs. Moreover, patients with cachexia (BMI < 20 kg/m2 or weight loss ≥ 5% over the past 6 months) had higher M-MDSC levels. Patients with high M-MDSC levels and low BMI or weight loss ≥ 5% experienced more irAEs (HR 2.333, 95% CI 1.231–4.423).
Conclusions
M-MDSCs induced mTEC apoptosis through nitric oxide production in cachexic mice with cancer, impairing T-cell negative selection and leading to autoimmune T-cell infiltration in tumor-free organs. Cancer cachexia-related M-MDSCs are potential predictive biomarkers of irAEs in patients with advanced cancer.
Enhance Road Transport Sustainability Assessment to Address Climate Change Through MCDM-Based Entropy Objective Weighting
Authors: MOHAMED ALAA ALDEN AL , Silva Deoclécio Junior Cardoso da
Published: June 2024

Climate change, toxic greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution are environmental challenges that our society needs to overcome. Transportation in general is one of the most significant sources of environmental pollution and it responsible of 27% of Air pollution in the environment, but Road transportation is one of the most adaptable forms of transportation and can link both domestically and internationally. In addition, it provides for a greener future with the passage of time, thanks to modern and advanced green industrial applications. However, the Road transportation system and its level of development vary from a country to another due to several criteria. This paper presents the Entropy-MCDM methods model to evaluate the Road transportation system in the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Five MCDM techniques were applied to classify the sustainability performance of road transportation in OECD countries, and to compare them based on 12 sub-criteria. The results revealed that Japan is the top-ranked country among OECD countries, thanks to the policies and measures it adopts, from the initiation of advanced technological projects specifically for sustainable transportation systems, to offering all facilities and exemptions to encourage people to use sustainable transportation means. Germany and France follow Japan in the rankings. Finally, by comparing the classification results with other decision-making methods, it was found that help decision-makers evaluate and select the most appropriate solutions that fulfill several criteria simultaneously while considering their conflicting nature.
Stability of metal ion complexes with the synthetic phytosiderophore proline-2′-deoxymugineic acid
Authors: Evers Anna , Kohn Jackson , Baars Oliver , Harrington James M. , Namba Kosuke , Duckworth Owen W.
Published: June 2024

Adequate micronutrient concentrations in crops are essential for human health and agricultural productivity. However, 30% of cultivated soils worldwide are deficient in iron. Because of low micronutrient bioavailability, graminaceous plants have evolved to exude small molecules, called phytosiderophores, into their environment, which strongly complex and promote uptake of trace elements. The introduction of a synthetic phytosiderophore, proline-2’-deoxymugeneic acid (PDMA), has been shown to promote Fe uptake in rice plants; however, its binding capabilities with other metals, which may impact the ability promote the uptake of Fe and other trace nutrient metals commonly found in soils, remain unknown. We conducted spectrophotometric titrations to determine the stability constants (logβ) of PDMA complexes with Mn(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II). We determined that PDMA complex stability constants correlated with: (1) the hydrolysis constants of metal ions (logβOH) in complexes; (2) the ionic potential of complexed metals; and (3) the corresponding complex stability constants of other mugineic acid type phytosiderophores, as well as the trishydroxamate microbial siderophore DFOB. These correlations demonstrate the potential, and limitations, on our ability to predict the stability of phytosiderophore complexes with metal ions with different properties and with potentially different coordination structures.