bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptual Dimensions of Wood Materials
Authors: Filip Jiri , Lukavsky Jiri , Dechterenko Filip , Schmidt Filipp , Fleming Roland
Published: April 2023

Materials exhibit an extraordinary range of visual appearances. Characterising and quantifying appearance is important not only for basic research on perceptual mechanisms, but also for computer graphics and a wide range of industrial applications. While methods exist for capturing and representing the optical properties of materials and how they vary across surfaces (Haindl & Filip., 2013), the representations are typically very high-dimensional, and how these representations relate to subjective perceptual impressions of material appearance remains poorly understood. Here, we used a data-driven approach to characterising the perceived appearance characteristics of 30 samples of wood veneer using a ‘visual fingerprint’ that describes each sample as a multidimensional feature vector, with each dimension capturing a different aspect of the appearance. Fifty-six crowd-sourced participants viewed triplets of movies depicting different wood samples as the sample rotated. Their task was to report which of the two match samples was subjectively most similar to the test sample. In another online experiment 45 participants rated ten wood-related appearance characteristics for each of the samples. The results reveal a consistent embedding of the samples across both experiments and a set of 9 perceptual dimensions capturing aspects including the roughness, directionality and spatial scale of the surface patterns. We also showed that a weighted linear combination of eleven image statistics, inspired by the rating characteristics, predicts perceptual dimensions well.
Lexical Tone as a Cue in Statistical Word Learning from Bilingual Input
Authors: Li Ye , Benitez Viridiana L.
Published: April 2023

Learners can track word-referent co-occurrences across individually-ambiguous naming events to form correct word-referent mappings, termed statistical word learning (SWL). Prior research largely focuses on learning from a single language input, where a referent co-occurs with a single word (1:1 mapping). Here, we tested adults’ SWL from a simulated bilingual environment, where one referent co-occurred with two words (2:1 mapping) and the two words were either differentiated by a linguistic cue (Mandarin lexical tones, Cued condition) or not (Uncued condition). Results showed that in the Cued condition, Chinese-English bilinguals (N = 38) outperformed Spanish-English bilinguals (N = 56) and English monolinguals (N = 55), while Spanish-English bilinguals and English monolinguals performed similarly. The three groups did not differ in the Uncued condition. Self-reported learning confidence and strategies showed limited conscious awareness of learning. Results demonstrate that familiarity with a linguistic cue boosts overall statistical word learning from bilingual input.
Bias and sensitivity in face matching: the independence of match and mismatch trials
Authors: Hancock Peter
Published: April 2023

Presents a simple simulation of participants with varying ability and bias in face matching tasks, showing that principal components analysis may produce a separation of match and mismatch trial scores, as observed in real experiments. Having a bias, and being better at either match or mismatch trials are equivalent; why people show such biases or different strengths remains a research question.
From local to global estimations of confidence in perceptual decisions
Authors: Cavalan Quentin , de Gardelle Vincent , Vergnaud Jean-Christophe
Published: April 2023

Perceptual confidence has been an important topic recently. However, one key limitation in current approaches is that most studies have focused on confidence judgments made for single decisions. In three experiments, we investigate how these local confidence judgments relate and contribute to global confidence judgments, by which observers summarize their performance over a series of perceptual decisions. We report two main results. First, we find that participants exhibit more overconfidence in their local than in their global judgments of performance, an observation mirroring the aggregation effect in knowledge-based decisions. We further show that this effect is specific to confidence judgments and does not reflect a calculation bias. Second, we document a novel effect by which participants’ global confidence is larger for sets which are more heterogeneous in terms of difficulty, even when actual performance is controlled for. Surprisingly, we find that this effect of variability also occurs at the level of local confidence judgments, in a manner that fully explains the effect at the global level. Overall, our results indicate that global confidence is based on local confidence, although these two processes can be partially dissociated. We discuss possible theoretical accounts to relate and empirical investigations of how observers develop and use a global sense of perceptual confidence.
Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study
Authors: Sparacio Alessandro , IJzerman Hans , Ropovik Ivan , Filippo Giorgini , Spiessens Christoph , Uchino Bert N , Landvatter Joshua Daniel , Tacana Tracey , Diller Sandra Julia , Derrick Jaye L. , Segundo Joahana , Pierce Jace D , Ross Robert M , Francis Zoë Lynn , LaBoucane Amanda , Ma-Kellams Christine , Ford Máire , Schmidt Kathleen , Wong Celia Ching Yee , Higgins Wendy C , Stone Bryant M , Stanley Samantha , Ribeiro Gianni , Fuglestad Paul , Jaklin Valerie , Kübler Andrea , Ziebell Philipp , Jewell Crystal , Kovas Yulia , allahghadri mahnoosh , Fransham Charlotte , Baranski Michael Francis Stephen , Burgess Hannah , Benz Annika , DeSousa Maysa , Nylin Catherine , Brooks Janae , Goldsmith Caitlyn , Benson Jessica M , Griffin Siobhán M , Dunne Stephen , Davis William E. , Watermeyer Tamlyn , Meese William , Howell Jennifer Lee , Standiford Reyes Laurel , Strickland Megan , Dickerson Sally , Pescatore Samantha , Skakoon-Sparling Shayna , Wunder Zachary , Day Martin V. , Brenton Shawna , Linden Audrey Helen , Hawk Christopher Edward , O’Brien Léan V. , Urgyen Tenzin , McDonald Jennifer , van der Schans Kim Lien , Blocker Heidi Suzanne , Jiga-Boy Gabriela M.
Published: April 2023

Mindfulness witnessed a significant popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a pre-registered (OSF:https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT06308744) multi-site study (Nsites = 37, Nparticipants = 2,239, 70.4% women, Mage = 22.4, SDage = 10.1, all fluent English speakers) we experimentally tested whether four single, stand-alone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of .27 (d = -.56; 95% CI, -.43 to -.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, SD = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (i.e., Body Scan: M = 1.68, SD = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries.
Measuring Autism-Associated Traits in the General Population: Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Across Sex and Diagnosis Status of the Social Communication Questionnaire
Authors: Hegemann Laura , Askeland Ragna Bugge , Valand Stian Barbo , Øyen Anne-Siri , Schjølberg Synnve , Bal Vanessa , Bishop Somer , Stoltenberg Camilla , von Soest Tilmann , Hannigan Laurie John , Havdahl Alexandra
Published: April 2023

Autism screening questionnaires are sometimes used as a measure of “autism-associated traits” in samples drawn from the general population, even though such tools are primarily developed and designed for use in samples of children diagnosed with or being assessed for autism. Here, we explore the psychometric properties of the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) current version reported at age 8 in a large population-based sample. Using data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study (MoBa), we perform exploratory (N=21,775) and confirmatory (N=21,674) factor analyses on items and compare our results with previously suggested factor structure models of the SCQ. Further, we test for measurement invariance across sex and registry-ascertained autism diagnostic status (Ndiagnosed = 636). A 5-factor model provided best fit to the data in both children with and without autism diagnoses, though with some qualitative differences in what the factors represent across these groups. This model performed largely consistently across boys and girls in the general population. Taken together, the SCQ’s measurement properties must be carefully considered when it is used in population-based samples and measurement invariance testing of other autism screening tools used in similar contexts is warranted.
Examining the Alignment between Subjective Effort and Objective Force Production
Authors: Rewitz Katja , Schindler Sebastian , Wolff Wanja
Published: April 2023

Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) are frequently used to prescribe exercise intensity. A central assumption of using RPE scales is that the subjective perception of effort maps onto objective performance in a consistent way. However, the degree and shape of how RPE aligns with objective performance is not fully understood. Here, we investigate the degree and shape of alignment, as well as how time (i.e., how frequently an effort needs to be performed) and mental effort (i.e., if one has to invest mental effort and physical effort) correspond with the alignment. In a randomized within-subjects experiment, we used a grip-to-scale method that asked participants (N = 43) to repeatedly squeeze a handgrip dynamometer with four to-be-produced RPE target levels relative to their subjective maximum strength (representing 20%, 40%, 60%, or 80%). We found that the RPE-force alignment was not the same across RPE-levels. In addition, at constant RPE-levels, participants produced less force over time, and this effect varied as a function of the to-be-produced RPE-levels. Lastly, anticipating mental effort after the physical effort slightly altered the alignment as a function of the to-be-produced RPE-level and experimental duration. Taken together, our results indicate that the mapping of perceived effort on objective performance is intricate, and several factors affect the degree and shape of how RPE and performance align. These findings have implications for scientific and applied contexts where RPE is used to prescribe exercise intensity.
Social support and adaptive emotion regulation: links between social network measures, emotion regulation strategy use, and health
Authors: Lopez Richard B. , Courtney Andrea L , Liang David Yu-Zhong , Swinchoski Anya , Goodson Pauline , Denny Bryan
Published: April 2023

Social support, as perceived and experienced within one’s social network, has been associated with greater wellbeing and favorable health outcomes. The transition to college marks a critical time in which social support not only strengthens interpersonal bonds, but also may help an individual discover and utilize various coping strategies to lower risks associated with negative emotions, which may result in better health and wellbeing. In the present study, we collected data in a large sample of undergraduate students (N=376) and conducted preregistered analyses to examine links between students’ perceived social support in residential college communities, patterns of emotion regulation strategy use, and multiple indicators of health and wellbeing. Overall, we found partial support for our hypotheses, with some associations between social support and patterns of emotion regulation strategy use, as well as associations between strategy use and health indicators. All results held when adjusting for participants’ age and gender. Taken together, the present findings revealed reliable links between social network indicators, emotion regulation strategy use, and health. Future research can extend these findings by observing how these relationships unfold over time, to better understand how people manage their emotions by drawing on their personal networks.
Overcoming harmonic hurdles: genuine beta-band rhythms vs. contributions of alpha-band waveform shape
Authors: Schaworonkow Natalie
Published: April 2023

The diversity of beta-band activity in the human cortex as recorded with non-invasive electrophysiology is discussed in this article. It is argued that in analysis of higher frequency rhythms the relationship to lower frequency rhythms needs to be clarified. This is necessary, because there are numerous non-sinusoidal rhythms present in the human brain, which will result in harmonic beta-band peaks, which will have different temporal and response dynamics than genuine beta-rhythms. Only in that way we can arrive at strong, methodologically valid interpretations of potential functional roles and generative mechanisms of neural oscillations.
Validity and reliability of online questionnaire on awareness, knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy (AKAS) on healthy eating for nutrition education and promotion
Authors:   Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines, Gonzales Milflor S. , Glorioso Idelia G. ,   Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines, Navarro Celina Ann J. ,   Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines, Jolejole Theresa Krista B. ,   Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines
Published: April 2023

Introduction: This study entailed the process of developing an online questionnaire to determine awareness, knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy (AKAS) on healthy eating for nutrition education. Currently, there is no local validated questionnaire that can be used to assess AKAS on healthy eating among Filipino adults. Methods: The study developed the questionnaire based on theoretical frameworks and literature review. The draft questionnaire underwent three stages of development: (1) online modified Delphi technique composing of seven subject matter experts (SME) for content validity; (2) online cognitive debriefing with 32 participants (14 nutrition experts and 18 general public) for construct validity; and (3) online pre-testing with 35 participants (non-nutritionists) using test-retest method. Results: For first stage, the questionnaire contained 16 questions for awareness, 17 questions for knowledge, 17 questions for attitude, and 15 questions for self-efficacy. For second stage, significantly different scores (p-value<0.00) between nutritionist experts and general public were observed, showing good construct validity. For third stage, Spearman’s correlation of test-retest method was 0.640. The questionnaire yielded Cronbach’s alpha of 0.467 to 0.923 (round 1) and 0.435 to 0.923 (round 2). A second analysis was done to improve the internal consistency of the questionnaire. By combining two question categories (awareness and knowledge), the Cronbach’s alpha increased to 0.659 (round 2), and by deleting three questions in attitude category, the Cronbach’s alpha improved to 0.626 (round 2). Conclusion: The process used ensured the questionnaire’s validity and reliability. Hence, this online questionnaire may be adopted by parties interested in developing and assessing nutrition education
Brain Drain among the Gurung Community: A Diaspora Case Study
Authors: Gurung Dirgha Man
Published: April 2023

From the ancient time, Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi–religious, and multi-cultural country. This Himalayan country offers the world communities rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and legendary images with historical significance. It has always already been proven that the brave Nepali people sacrificed their lives for national unity, territorial integrity and the world peace. Despite its size, Nepal is rich with geographical, social, religious, and cultural diversities let alone ethnic variety with the perfect harmony. People observe various festivals and jatras (carnivals) during different seasons. The people from various castes and ethnic communities with various feasts and festivals, rites and rituals, and myths and ethnicity have made immense contribution to the nation building. Gurung is one of the rich indigenous ethnic communities in Nepal which in recent decades has suffered severe problem of brain drain because of an increasing trend of globalization as well as their recruitment in foreign armies. Descending from hills of Nepal, Gurungs as mercenary soldiers in foreign armies, including the British, Singapore and Indian have made immense contribution to the formation of Nepali Diaspora in Asia and beyond. Such an increasing trend of formation and expansion of the diaspora has adversely resulted in the brain drain from Nepal, a severe challenge to Nepal’s plan of progress and prosperity
Abjection of Body: Quest for Identity, Freedom and Maturity in Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War
Authors: Thapa Hukum
Published: April 2023

This paper analyzes abjection of body in Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War. The young adult protagonist of The Chocolate War, Jerry Renault encounters social and psychological abjections. In addition this paper discusses how social and psychological abjections work in The Chocolate War. By and large this paper argues that abjection of body supports to quest identity and freedom. It also discusses how the young adult protagonist employs his body to obtain identity and freedom. Therefore, this paper contends that abjection is necessary condition each individual passes through before reaching into maturity, the condition in which they realize the need for conforming to the society. For the analytical purpose, it draws the insights of abjection from Julia Kristeva and Karen Coats. This paper provides an opportunity to know the young adult body and the conditions of abjection. Moreover this paper facilitates to know the ways of triumphing over abjection and results the young adult obtains after overpowering abjection.
Compounded Oppressions and Intersections of Identities in Nottage's Sweat
Authors: Paudyal Janak
Published: April 2023

Intersectionality has become the primary analytic tool in feminist and anti-racist scholarship to understand identity and oppression. This article critically interrogates the assumptions of intersectionality while underpinning white man's supremacy and privilege in order to focus on the oppressed position of immigrant, African-American, and menial workers. In Lynn Nottage's Sweat the white people enjoy the privileged position by belittling the underdogs. The social components like class, gender, race, and their discursive techniques work together to form and consolidate such an oppressed position. While looking from the perspective of feminism, this article encapsulates the equation mediated by multiple identity locations intersecting each other. The result of such an intersection of class, race and gender produces compound oppression which is the stigma of American democracy.
Rhetoric of Equating Nature and Native in Henry Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines
Authors: Acharya Rajendra
Published: April 2023

The article has selected Henry Rider Haggard's adventure fiction, King Solomon's Mines, for its eco-feminist critical scrutiny. In so doing, it usurps the working definition of the term "ecofeminism" as a tool of inquiry. Then it demonstrates how the rhetoric of empire constructs and mirrors the African continent in general and people and animals in particular. The article primarily exposes the sinister colonial rhetoric of equating nature - land and animals - with women, thus site for exploration and exploitation opens up. The rhetoric becomes an instrument in defining and understanding them for achieving its political ends which leads to unbridled exploitation of both. The analysis further understands the discursive technique of equating nature and natives to establish the European legitimacy for exploitation of native people and nature.
Impact of Financial Ratios, Operational Efficiency, and Non-Performing Loans on the Profitability of Nepalese Commercial Banks
Authors: Sah Ashish Kumar , Saud Santosh
Published: April 2023

The study examines the impact of financial ratios, operational efficiency, and non-performing loan on the profitability of Nepalese commercial banks. Return on assets and Return on equity is selected as the dependent variables. The selected independent variables are leverage, liquidity ratio, net interest margin, capital adequacy ratio, non-performing loan, and operating efficiency. The study is based on secondary data of 20 commercial banks with 120 observations from 2015/16 to 2020/21. The data were collected from bank supervision reports published by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) and annual reports of the selected commercial banks.. The correlation coefficients and regression models are estimated to test the significance and importance of financial ratios, operational efficiency, and non-performing loan on the profitability of Nepalese commercial banks.

The study showed that leverage and operating efficiency has a negative impact on return on assets. It indicates that increased leverage and operating efficiency leads to a decrease in return on assets. Similarly, liquidity ratio, net interest margin, capital adequacy ratio and the non-performing loan has a positive impact on return on assets. It indicates that the higher the liquidity ratio, net interest margin, capital adequacy ratio and non-performing loan, the higher would be the return on assets. Likewise, leverage, liquidity ratio and net interest margin has a positive impact on return on equity. It indicates that an increase in leverage, liquidity ratio, and net interest margin leads to an increase in return on equity. Furthermore, capital adequacy ratio, non-performing loan, and operating efficiency has a negative impact on return on equity. It indicates that an increase in capital adequacy ratio, non-performing loan and operating efficiency leads to decreasing in return on equity.
Determinants of Inflation in Nepal
Authors: Kunwar Bhojendra , Jnawali Govind
Published: April 2023

In the context of Nepal, this study investigates the long- and short-term factors that affect inflation with monthly time series data of fiscal year 2016/17 to 2021/22 (72 observations) employing the ARDL bounds test and error correction technique of econometric analysis. In order to identify the order of integration, the stationary of all variables were investigated by running PP test. Variables are found to be stationary at the level I (0) and first I(1) difference. In this study, Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the dependent variable, and Interest Rate (IR), Broad Money Supply (M2), Government Expenditure (GE), and Consumer Price Index of India (CPII) are the independent variables. The study shows that government expenditure is the most significant determinant of inflation in the long run, followed by interest rates. This study has also shown that inflation is negatively related to broad money supply and government expenditure with high significant. In contrast, the interest rate and CPI of India are positively significant with inflation in the short run. These results suggest that controlling government expenditure and interest rate are key to the success of the disinflation effort in Nepal and could be used as an intermediate target variable in the fiscal policy and monetary policy by the government of Nepal and the Nepal Rastra Bank Respectively.
Effects of Corporate Governance on Bank Risk Taking
Authors: Magar Dristi Thapa , Pun Dhan Bahadur
Published: April 2023

This paper intends to examine the effects of corporate governance on bank risk-taking. The data from 14 commercial banks are collected by applying stratified random sampling technique for the period of 2010 to 2021. Board size, audit committee meeting, institutional ownership, CEO tenure, board meeting, and CEO age are taken as proxies for corporate governance variables, and the non-performing loan ratio is taken as a proxy for bank risk-taking. The result of unbalanced panel regression shows a significant positive effect of board size and CEO age on bank risk-taking, whereas the effect of audit committee meetings, institutional ownership, CEO tenure, and board meetings on bank risk-taking is insignificant. Therefore, it can be concluded that Nepalese commercial banks can improve their performance by keeping the board size as small as possible and hiring younger CEOs so as to avoid undesirable risk-taking.
A Statistical Analysis of Factors Affecting Employee Job Satisfaction in Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Grade A level Restaurants in Butwal, Nepal
Authors: Rajbanshi Prabin Kumar , Karki Prasanna Jung , Timilsina Riya , Malla Sushmita , Chapagain Sharada
Published: April 2023

The objective of the study is to analyze the factors affecting employee job satisfaction in restaurants in Butwal, Nepal. The independent variables under study are: working conditions, remuneration, employees’ relationship with supervisors, and co-worker relations, while the dependent variable is employees’ job satisfaction. The structured questionnaire survey was conducted by taking a sample of 92 respondents from the grade ‘A’ level restaurant of Butwal area. The descriptive research design using correlation and regression was used to analyze the data. Primary data was collected from sampled staff of Restaurant industry of Butwal. The summarized data is presented using percentages and presented using tables and pie charts. Research ethics were observed before, during and after carrying out the research. Study results indicate that two factors remuneration plan and relationship with co-workers had a significant relationship with dependent variable. The findings also indicate that factors attributes to working conditions and relationship with supervisors were the most statistically significant independently with employee’ job satisfaction.
Classic Music Therapy Reduces The Stress Of Final-Level Nursing Students
Authors: Riyadi Muskhab Eko , Laily Suha , Kusumasari Viantika
Published: April 2023

Stress that occurs in students is usually called academic stress. Stress is often experienced by students because of the many demands in the academic field. A national study of 200,000 students at more than 400 tertiary institutions, states that the incidence of academic stress and depression in students is greater than ever before. Student academic stress can be treated with music therapy, it is stated that music therapy can be used as a medium to reduce academic stress levels in students. This study aims to determine the effect of classical music therapy on the stress level of final year nursing students. This is a pre experimental study, with a one-group pre test post test design, in which the researcher measures the stress level of students first, after which they are given classical music therapy treatment, which is then measured by the respondent's stress level after the treatment using the Perceived measuring instrument. Stress Scale (PSS). The population in this study were all final year nursing students at STIKes Surya Global Yogyakarta, namely a total of 152 students. The sample size in this study was 31 respondents. The sampling technique uses a simple random sampling technique. While the statistical test used the Wilcoxon test. The results showed that the stress level of students before treatment was severe stress, then after being given treatment the stress level was included in the moderate stress category. The p value is 0.000, which means that classical music therapy has a significant effect on reducing the stress level of final year nursing students.
Role of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund on Agriculture Development in Karnataka
Authors: Sathisha  , Katti Medhavini S
Published: April 2023

This study examined the relationship between the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and agriculture development in Karnataka from 1995 to 2021. While presenting the budget speech for 1995–1996, the honorable union finance minister introduced the RIDF program. The RBI monitors the funding for the RIDF program through NABARD, which has a corpus of Rs. 2,000 crores from commercial and regional banks, among other sources. The program funds the social sector, small to medium irrigation, rural connectivity, and agricultural and related activities. The study evaluated the performance of the RIDF in the state critically. It also observed that several projects remained incomplete even after taking loans from the RIDF. It suggested necessary steps to ensure proper fund utilization and decrease rural poverty and intra-regional disparity in Karnataka.
Morphological changes in the kidney tissue of rats with experimental diabetes mellitus and during correction with metformin and modulators of hydrogen sulfide metabolism
Authors: Strutynska O. B. , Melnyk A. V.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. Metformin is widely used for pharmacocorrection of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanisms of the protective effect of metformin on the kidneys remain unclear, in particular, the contribution of the hydrogen sulfide system to metformin’s nephroprotective effect is unknown. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the role of metformin and its combination with modulators of hydrogen sulfide metabolism in the correction of histological changes in the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The studies were performed on 30 white non-linear male rats, which were divided into five groups: 1 group - control; group 2 – animals with experimental diabetes, which was initiated by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg of weight) in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5); Group 3 - animals with experimental diabetes, which were treated with metformin (500 mg/kg/day, intragastrically) from the 3rd to the 28th day; Group 4 - animals with diabetes mellitus, which, along with metformin, were administered NaHS (56 μmol/kg/day, intragastrically); Group 5 - animals with diabetes mellitus, which, along with metformin, were administered propargylglycine (442 μmol/kg/day, intragastrically). Histological examinations were performed according to generally accepted methods using an Olympus BX-41 light microscope (Olympus Europe GmbH, Japan). It was found that animals with experimental diabetes develop nephrosclerosis and glomerular hypertrophy, damage to the endothelium of kidney vessels, interstitial inflammation, and edema, and dystrophic and necrobiotic changes in the glomeruli. The administration of metformin to diabetic animals reduced the severity of nephrosclerosis, glomerular hypertrophy, destruction of vascular endotheliocytes, inflammation, and damage to the glomerular apparatus. The use of the hydrogen sulfide donor NaHS increased the nephroprotective activity of metformin, while the introduction of the hydrogen sulfide synthesis inhibitor- propargylglycine, significantly reduced the protective effect of metformin on the kidneys. The obtained results of the histological examination justify the feasibility of implementation of a hydrogen sulfide donor in order to potentiate the renoprotective effect of metformin.
Uterine natural killer cells during the implantation window period in women veterans experienced by injury with unrealished reproductive function
Authors: Serbenyuk A. V.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. Against the background of stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women, changes in the hormonal background improve – the levels of stress hormones and the morphofunctional endometrium, which in their change negatively affect the reproductive health of women in Ukraine. The purpose of this study was to increase the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of pathology and implantation capacity of the endometrium in women of reproductive age who took part in hostilities and suffered a concussion. Uterine natural killer cells were studied during the implantation window in 487 women of reproductive age who participated in combat operations and suffered concussions, who underwent hysteroscopy with endometrial sampling for histological examination and scanning electron microscopy on the 21st day of menstruation cycle (MC). Of these women, 246 patients – the comparison group – of reproductive age with a history of trauma without post-concussive syndrome and 211 in the main group, women of reproductive age who have consequences of concussion in the form of post-concussive syndrome. 30 conditionally healthy civilian women of reproductive age served as controls. The average age of the examined was 37.08±4.23 years. The period of stay in the combat zone is 60.26±42.21 months, the time since receiving a traumatic brain injury (concussion) is 18.8±9.2 months. Instrumental examination of women included hysteroscopy. The spectrum of MNC cells (CD16+ and CD56+) in the stroma of the endometrium on the 21st day of MC was determined. Microscopy of the preparations and all morphometric studies were performed on an Olympus AX70 Provis microscope (Olympus, Japan) using the image analysis program Analysis 3.2 Pro (Soft Imaging, Germany) according to the recommendations of the software manufacturer. The obtained results were processed using the Statistica 6.0 and Biostat software packages and methods of analytical statistics. It is established that in women military servicemen, participants in combat operations who suffered a concussion, the content of CD56+ and CD16+ cells in the stroma of the endometrium in women with post-concussion syndrome is greater than that in patients without post-concussion syndrome: in the endometrium, which corresponds to the proliferation phase, it is 1.45 (p<0.0001) and 1.64 times (p<0.0001), in the endometrium, which corresponds to the early secretion phase, 1.93 (p<0.0001) and 2.22 (p<0,0001), in the endometrium, which corresponds to the middle phase of secretion, – in 1.61 (p<0.0001) and in 3.42 (p<0.0001), in chronic endometritis – in 1.92 (p<0 .0001) and 1.94 (p<0.0001), with SAHE – in 1.79 (p<0.0001) and 1.51 (p<0.0001), with endometrial polyps – in 1, 60 (p<0.0001) and at 1.56 (p<0.0001). This study proves the need to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of endometrial pathology in women of reproductive age who participated in hostilities and suffered concussions.
Biophysical parameters of oral fluid, periodontal tissues and buccal epithelial cells in adolescent athletes in the process of complex dental treatment
Authors: Zheleznyak A. D. , Denga E. M.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. The aim of the work was to evaluate the impact of the developed complex for the dental treatment of adolescent athletes on the biophysical parameters of their oral fluid, periodontal tissues and buccal epithelial cells. The study involved 42 boys aged 12-14, professionally involved in sports, with major dental diseases. The studies included spectrocolorimetric assessment of functional hyperemia of periodontal tissues, spectrocolorimetric assessment of the degree of inflammation in periodontal tissues using the Schiller-Pysarev test solution, assessment of oral fluid pH stability as one of the indicators of the level of non-specific resistance in the body and in the oral cavity in particular, and assessment of the charge state of cells buccal epithelium, the percentage of mobile nuclei and plasmalemma cells in the electric field and the ratio of the amplitudes of their movement. The computer application STATISTICA 6.1 was used for statistical analysis of the results and assessment of their reliability and errors. A statistically significant difference between alternative quantitative traits with a distribution corresponding to the normal law was evaluated using the Student's t-test (the difference was considered statistically significant at p<0.01). The use of the proposed therapeutic complex, which included “Albumin Egg Plus”, “Chlorophyll Spray”, “Active Sulfur”, “Active Fluoride” and toothpastes “Biodentis” and “Meridol”, in adolescent athletes of the main group helped to eliminate capillary spasms and increase blood flow in them under the action of masticatory load, which was already a normal physiological response, disrupted in the initial state. At the same time, the staining of the gums in Schiller-Pisarev solution decreased in children-athletes, which indicates a decrease in the degree of inflammation. Complex prophylaxis allowed to reduce the interval of fluctuations in the oral fluid pH value in individual samples for 1 year more than 4.67 times, which indicates a certain normalization of functional adaptive-compensatory reactions responsible for its stability. Under the influence of the developed therapy, the charge state of the buccal epithelial cells was also normalized. The obtained results testify to the positive influence of the developed complex on the biophysical parameters of oral fluid, periodontal tissues and buccal epithelial cells in adolescent athletes.
Clinical assessment of the condition of women of reproductive age with adenomyosis after experiencing COVID-19
Authors: Bulgar A. V.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. The relevance of the gynecological disease adenomyosis (N80.0) is beyond doubt, as this pathology is a serious problem today both in medicine and in society. The aim is to study the clinical condition of women of reproductive age with adenomyosis after suffering COVID-19. 150 women of reproductive age were examined after suffering COVID-19 disease, 120 of them with adenomyosis. The results obtained were processed using the methods of mathematical statistics and using the MS Excel XP, Statistica 6.0 software package using Student's parametric test. At the same time, differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. A clinical assessment of the condition of women of reproductive age with adenomyosis after suffering COVID-19 confirmed a significantly more severe course of adenomyosis in the early post-COVID period. After undergoing COVID-19, the frequency of complaints of general malaise, headaches, lethargy, pain in the joints, muscles, and pelvis in women aggravated by adenomyosis significantly increased. The more severe the degree of the disease (I-II, III-IV), the worse was the general condition of the examined patients. The frequency of complaints about general malaise, exacerbation of extragenital diseases (cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary system, anemia, etc.), gynecological pathology, including disorders of menstrual function, volume of menstrual blood loss, pelvic pain syndrome, presence of processes of inflammatory (infectious) etiology increased significantly. Determining the clinical assessment of the condition of women of reproductive age with adenomyosis after suffering COVID-19 is of fundamental practical importance for determining the tactics of managing this cohort of patients with the aim of timely qualified prevention of possible complications. Prospects for further research are aimed at developing and implementing an algorithm for managing women of reproductive age with adenomyosis after suffering COVID-19.
Efficiency of electrical welding of soft tissues during thyroid gland operations
Authors: Khimich S. D. , Bagrii A. V. , Hryshchyshyn A. Yu.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. The purpose of the study was to study the results of using electro welding of tissues during operations on the thyroid gland in benign (nodular and multinodular goiter) and malignant (differentiated carcinoma) pathological conditions. Electric welding was ensured due to the formation of coagulum between the branches of the clamp during the action of short-duration pulses of radio frequency (440 kHz) current with a maximum power of 300 W when using a device manufactured in Ukraine by LLC “Swarmed” with the patented technology “Biowelding TM”. The results of surgical treatment of 183 patients who underwent hemi thyroidectomy (8.7%), thyroidectomy (61.2%), and thyroidectomy with dissection of the 6th collector of the neck (30%) for nodular goiter, multinodular goiter, and differentiated thyroid carcinoma, respectively, were analyzed. The use of electric welding made it possible to reduce skin incisions on the neck during surgical access (the average length of the incision was 3.77±0.02 cm). Unilateral temporary paresis of the larynx was recorded in 2 (1.1%) patients, temporary hypoparathyroidism in 3 (1.6%) patients. Bleeding, neck hematomas and wound seroma did not occur in the postoperative period. Electric welding provides reliable hemostasis, which allows you to avoid the use of other means for ligation of vessels (threads, metal clips). The average length of stay of patients in the hospital was 1.1±0.01 days.
Determination of factors influencing the length of stay in a gynecological hospital among patients with uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts
Authors: Klymenyuk O. V. , Ocheredko O. M. , Rudenko A. A. , Klymenyuk V. P. , Palamar I. V.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. A combined (retrospective + prospective) study was conducted, involving 150 patients from gynecological departments of three different hospitals in the city who were hospitalized due to the need for surgical treatment of uterine fibroids and/or ovarian cysts. The purpose of this part of the study was to conduct a descriptive analysis of the data collected during the study and to determine the correlations between the factors that affect the length of stay of patients in gynecological departments. Statistical, epidemiological, and sociological methods of analysis were used in the study. The data obtained during the study made it possible to determine the factors affecting the length of stay in the hospital of patients with uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts, which included: the patient's diagnosis (r = 0.13166842); the presence of complications of the main diagnosis (r = 0.240506326); the presence of complications due to the surgical intervention (r = 0.266602573); the presence of concomitant pathology in female patients (r = 0.021249784); type of surgical intervention (r = 0.266390698); volume of surgical intervention (r = 0.1424499). The given results can be useful for more optimal use of the bed fund of inpatient gynecological departments.
Comparative Characteristics of Psychophysiological Peculiarities of Operators of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Air Traffic Control Personnel
Authors: Kalnysh V. V. , Trynka I. S. , Pashkovskyi S. M. , Siminiuk Y. V. , Koval N. V. , Ponimatchenko S. L.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. The article is devoted to the study and comparison of professionally important psychophysiological peculiarities of operators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and air traffic control (ATC) personnel who are serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to establish the kinship and differences in the psychophysiological characteristics of operators of UAS and ATC personnel in order to develop recommendations for conducting professional orientation and professional selection of such specialists. To achieve the goal, 142 operators of UAS and 71 specialists who perform duties in the process of ATC under the age of 40 during the period of inpatient flight medical examination on the basis of the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Central Region were selected. The examination was carried out with the help of blank methods and software and hardware complex for psychophysiological research «PFI-2». It is shown that operators of UAS are more prone to risk compared to ATC personnel. The difference in speed characteristics of operators of UAS and ATC personnel indicates higher requirements for decision-making by operators of UAS and greater exhaustion of to the indicators of the critical frequency of light flickers and the number of omission errors in the implementation of the evaluation of a complex visual-motor reaction, which proves that they are busier during the performance of official duties. The number of correct marks when performing the attention task is higher among ATC personnel, and the number of missed rings among operators of UAS is slightly higher compared to the order studied group. Such an effect may be related to the difference in the form of their professional activity during the performance of assigned tasks. The established difference in the level of psychological and psychophysiological parameters of operators OF UAS and ATC personnel can be used to develop criteria for monitoring professionally important qualities and professional selection of specialists in the specified professions.
Character traits of students purchasing a specialty in the conditions of learning in an institution of higher medical education: formation trends, features of adaptive changes, hygienic assessment
Authors: Panchuk O. Yu. , Belov O. O. , Hrynzovskyi A. M. , Ocheredko O. M. , Bratkova O. Yu.
Published: April 2023

Annotation. The aim of the work was to carry out a comprehensive hygienic assessment and determine the peculiarities of the formation of the character traits of students who acquire a specialty in the conditions of study at a higher medical education institution. Scientific research involved the identification of the leading character traits of modern students who were at different stages of education (initial (1st year), intermediate (3rd year) and final (5th year) stages) and was carried out using Shmishek and Mini-mult personality questionnaires, personal 16 PF questionnaire Cattell too. The analysis of the obtained results involved the application of descriptive statistics procedures using the package of statistical analysis programs “Statistica 6.1” (license number ВXXR901E245722FA). In the course of the research, it was established that in the structure of the leading signs of accented character traits throughout the entire period of study, both among young girls and young boys, indicators prevailed, which should be divided into several blocks. According to the degree of expression, the indicators of character accentuations according to exalted, hyperthymic and cyclothymic types should be assigned to the first block, to the second block – indicators of character accentuations according to exciting, emotional, pedantic and demonstrative types, to the third block – indicators of character accentuations according to stuck, anxious and dysthymic types, and therefore the data worst in terms of content should not be considered the most pronounced. At the same time, the existence of a number of unfavourable trends, which are registered on the part of the leading properties of the character traits affect the level of functional capabilities of the students’ organism, is determined. The obtained data should be used in the future for the development of methods of comprehensive assessment of the state of adaptation resources of students and scientific substantiation of health-preserving technologies.