bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized Clinical Trial to Compare the Efficacy of Ivermectin Versus Placebo to Negativize Nasopharyngeal PCR in Patients with Early COVID-19 in Peru (SAINT-Peru): A Structured Summary of a Study Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Garcia Patricia Jannet , Hurtado Hansel Mundaca , Ugarte-Gil Cesar , León Patricia , Malaga German , Chaccour Carlos , Carcamo Cesar Paul
Published: March 2021

Objectives: The primary objective is to determine the effect of a daily dose of ivermectin administered in three consecutive days to non-severe COVID-19 patients with no more than 96 hours of symptoms, on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by PCR from nasopharyngeal swabs at day seven post-treatment initiation.The secondary objectives are:1. To assess the efficacy of ivermectin to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the nasopharyngeal swab on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 post-treatment initiation2. To assess the efficacy of ivermectin on the improvement of symptoms3. To assess the proportion of seroconversions at day 214. To assess the safety of ivermectin at the proposed dose5. To determine the magnitude of the immune response against SARS-CoV-26. To assess correlation of the presence of intestinal helminths on participants on baseline and day 14 with COVID-19 progression and treatment. Trial design: SAINT PERU is a triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel arms to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin in negativizing nasopharyngeal PCR in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Participants: The trial is conducted in two national hospitals in Lima-Peru. The study population is patients with a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in a nasopharyngeal specimen, symptomatic for 96 hours or less, with non-severe COVID-19 disease at baseline, regardless of the presence of risk factors for progression to severity. The study will not include pregnant women or minors (17 years old or younger).
Molecular Characteristics and Phylogenetic Analysis of Short Beak and Dwarfism Syndrome-Related Novel Goose Parvovirus
Authors: Li Yonglin , Jia Jingyu , Mi Qingling , Li Yufeng , Gao Yuehua , Zhu Guoqiang , Wang Jianye
Published: March 2021

Short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS) emerged in cherry valley duck flocks in China in 2015, and novel goose parvovirus (NGPV) was proved to be the etiological agent of SBDS. To date, whether SBDS-related NGPV isolates possess common molecular characteristics remains unknown. In this study, three new NGPV strains (namely, SDHT16, SDJN19, and SDLC19) were isolated from diseased ducks showing typical SBDS and successfully passaged in embryonated goose or cherry valley duck embryo. The whole genomes of three NGPV strains shared 98.9%–99.7% homologies between each other but showed slightly lower homologies (95.2%–96.1%) with the classical GPV strains. A total of 16 common amino acid point mutations were produced in the VP1 proteins of six NGPV strains (SDHT16, SDJN19, SDLC19, QH, JS1, and SDLC01) compared with the classical Chinese GPV strains, among which nine amino acid sites were identical to the European GPV strain B. The non-structural protein Rep1 of the six NGPV strains generated 12 common amino acid mutations compared with the classical GPV strains. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Chinese NGPV strains clustered with the European SBDS-related NGPV strains, forming a separate branch, distinct from the group formed by the classical GPV strains. Taken together, the present study unveils the common molecular characteristics of the NGPV isolates and directs the conclusion that the Chinese NGPV isolates probably originate from a common ancestor with the European SBDS-related NGPV.
Nonlinear methods to quantify Movement Variability in Human-Humanoid Interaction Activities
Authors: Xochicale Miguel , Baber Chris
Published: March 2021

Human movement variability arises from the process of mastering redundant (bio)mechanical degrees of freedom to successfully accomplish any given motor task where flexibility and stability of many possible joint combinations helps to adapt to environment conditions. While the analysis of movement of variability is becoming increasingly popular as a diagnostic tool or skill performance evaluation, there are remain challenges on applying the most appropriate methods. We therefore investigate nonlinear methods such as reconstructed state space (RSSs), uniform time-delay embedding, recurrence plots (RPs) and recurrence quantification analysis (RQAs) with real-world time-series data of wearable inertial sensors. That said, twenty healthy participants imitated vertical and horizontal arm movements in normal and faster velocity from an humanoid robot. We applied nonlinear methods to the collected data to found visual differences in the patterns of RSSs and RPs and statistical differences with RQAs. We conclude that Shannon Entropy with RQA is a robust method that helps to quantify activities, types of sensors, windows lengths and level of smoothness. Hence this work might enhance the development of better diagnostic tools for applications in rehabilitation and sport science for skill performance or new forms of human-humanoid interaction for quantification of movement adaptations and motor pathologies.
WITHDRAWN: Application of doped-titanate nanotubes in (1) the photodegradation of Tannic Acid, Methyl Orange and Malachite Green and (2) the inhibition of bacteria and fungus .
Authors: Bouayed Mounia-Aouicha , Ameur Nawal , Brahimi Fawzia Taieb , Nasr Samia , Bedrane Sumeya , Al-Shahri Badria M. , Ghouas Halima , Bachir Redouane
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this article is to study the photocatalytic properties of doped titanate nanotubes prepared by hydrothermal treatment using different metals: Ce, Fe, Zn and Zr at 2 wt% content. The textural and morphological properties of the nanopowders were determined by different analysis techniques such as: XRD, RD/UV–Vis, FTIR and TG-DTA. The results of the characterizations showed that nanotubes can be obtained with a hollow structure, and an important thermal stability of whatever element nature. However, the photocatalytic activity ends with the photodegradation under UV-Visible irradiation of the three industrial molecules: Malachite Green, Methyl Orange and Tannic Acid having different molecule charges. It was noted that the degradation rates of the order of 98% were obtained in fairly short times. The final results obtained revealed that the dopant nature and the solution pH play a major role in determining the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants using TiNTs. However the application of TiNTs and doped TiNTs show that these materials have an inhibitory power of fungi and bacteria quite important.
Audit of banks as public interest entities: Segmentation and conjuncture of the bank audit market in Ukraine
Authors: Sukhonos Victor , Serpeninova Yulia , Makarenko Serhiy , Levkulych Viktoriia , M. Kolisnyk Galina
Published: March 2021

An important factor in restoring the confidence of financial consumers in banks is to provide auditors with credible and detailed financial statements and their solvency. This study is a pilot step in clarifying the auditor’s role in ensuring the banks’ reliability as public interest entities in Ukraine. It is aimed at investigating the segmentation of the banking audit services market in Ukraine and its comprehensive characteristics. Structural and dynamic analysis were applied to investigate market, regional and branch concentration, as well as main trends in bank audit market development within the data and registers of the Audit Chamber of Ukraine (ACU) and 75 annual reports of Ukrainian banks. Key aspects of the bank audit market in Ukraine are highlighted: the potential of the bank audit market, the ability of auditors to provide audit services and current characteristics of market conjuncture. Bank audit market is highly segmented: this study differentiates strong segments of international audit networks, associations and alliances, including Big 4 companies and the segment of weak Ukrainian audit companies. Kyiv and Kyiv region are the dominant economic active regions in terms of the regional bank market concentration and the presence of international audit networks. The study results are the basis for improving the regulation of the banking audit services market by the National Bank of Ukraine and ACU.
O USO DE SOFTWARES LIVRES EM AULA PRÁTICA SOBRE FILTROS MOLECULARES DE BIODISPONIBILIDADE ORAL DE FÁRMACOS
Authors: Rodrigues Gabriela , Avelino Júnior , Siqueira Ariane , Ramos Luciana , Santos Gabriela
Published: March 2021

THE USE OF FREE SOFTWARES IN PRACTICAL CLASS ABOUT THE MOLECULAR FILTERS OF ORAL BIOAVAILABILITY OF DRUGS. The study of the physical chemical properties to predict the oral bioavailability of drugs is a widely tool used by researches on the Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry field. Even though it is a deeply studied subject, it is a complex task to teach to pharmacy students. Lipinski stablished that molecular weight, lipophilicity, hydrogen bond donors and acceptors are of great importance for oral bioavailability. In addition, Veber and Lovering added other properties, such as number of rotatable bonds, fraction of sp3 hybridized carbon and polar surface area that amplified the Lipinski Rule of 5. In this sense, the access to chemical databases and the comprehension of this information is an important task to undergraduate and graduate students. Thus, this work aims a new teaching methodology that values the critical interpretation of data and that favors the students comprehension beyond stablished rules.
Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Niat Konsumen Untuk Menerima Iklan Suara di Jakarta
Authors:   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Aryanto Atok R , Sapto H Bambang ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Savitri Laksmi ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Ronaldo Perry E. ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Affianto Rio ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia
Published: March 2021

Dilatar belakangi oleh penurunan revenue pada perusahaan telekomunikasi terkemuka di Indonesia, PT XL Axiata, karena berkembangnya disruptive business, kami mengusulkan untuk membantu meningkatkan pendapatan kembali. Salah satusolusi adalah dengan memperdengarkan iklan pada layanan bertelepon melalui ponsel secara gratis, yang diharapkan akan memberikan pendapatan tambahan. Namun sebelum gagasan itu diimplementasikan, terlebih dahulu dilakukan penelitian mengenai sejumlah faktor yang mempengaruhi sikap dan niat bertingkah-laku konsumen di Jakarta terhadap iklan suara melalui ponsel. Hasil dari penelitian itu menunjang 5 dari 8 hipotesa yang dikembangkan. Persepsi manfaat (PU) dari ponsel, kemauan untuk mencoba hal-hal baru (IN), dan sikap positif terhadap iklan secara umum (ATA) mempengaruhi secara signifikan dan positif sikap responden terhadap iklan suara pada “layanan telepon gratis” (ATM). Sementara sikap yang disebutkan terakhir ini (ATM) dapat membuat responden berencana untuk mendengarkan iklan suara tersebut. Sementara norma-norma sosial (SN) yang dipersepsikan responden menguatkan niatnya untuk mendengarkan iklan suara “layanan telepon gratis”
Skema Bisnis Sosial Air Minum Avasya Water Untuk Desa Oesusu, NTT
Authors:   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Sutanto Maria , Putri Adela ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Effendy Carissa ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Sumbada Maizkha ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Nathaniel Wynn ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia
Published: March 2021

Infrastruktur air minum yang layak berkontribusi terhadap kualitas kehidupan manusia hingga 94%. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan dan menganalisis akses air minum, perilaku masyarakat dalam mengkonsumsi air minum dan masalah air minum yang dihadapi di Desa Oesusu. Penelitian menggunakan jenis kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data melalui wawancara dan observasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa implementasi solusi infrastruktur air minum di desa Oesusu saat ini belum merata dan proses pengolahan air minum oleh masyarakat belum dapat menghasilkan air minum yang layak. Sehingga dari masalah ini, Avasya water membentuk sustainable business ecosystem untuk memberikan one-stop solutions untuk masyarakat desa Oesusu.
Analisis Kebutuhan ODD dan Family Caregiver dalam Komunitas ALZI
Authors:   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Fardhyan A M.Anang , Natumnea Jeane P. M. ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Bachruddin Aryani ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Jauhari Yosua ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Putra Aulia W. ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia
Published: March 2021

Berdasarkan data dari World Alzheimer Report 2015 terdapat 47 juta orang hidup dengan demensia di seluruh dunia. Populasi ODD di Indonesia diperkirakan sebesar 2,3 juta di tahun 2030. Pertumbuhan populasi ODD di Indonesia berdampak pada pola perawatan terhadap ODD yang diterapkan. Perawatan terhadap ODD sangat dipengaruhi faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi perilaku konsumen dalam memenuhi kebutuhannya. Studi ini menjelaskan gambaran yang mendalam dari kebutuhan ODD maupun caregiver melalui teknik pengambilan data focus group discussion (FGD). Studi ini bertujuan untuk melihat apakah faktorfaktor yang mempengaruhi perilaku konsumen dalam memenuhi kebutuhannya dapat menjadi dasar untuk suatu bentuk layanan perawatan bagi ODD.
Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Tingkat Kolektibilitas Debitur di PT. Bank China Construction Bank Indonesia Tbk.
Authors:   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Himawan Anggun , Wijaya Gunawan Syahputra ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Mahmud Wahid ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia, Arifin Zainul ,   School of Business and Economics Universitas Prasetiya Mulya JL. RA. Kartini (TB Simatupang), Cilandak Barat Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12430 Indonesia
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini akan mencari hubungan antara faktor-faktor yang dimiliki seorang debitur dengan kemampuan pengembalian dana yang dipinjam (kolektibilitas) pada PT. Bank China Construction Bank Indonesia Tbk (CCBI) . Hal ini didasari pada penelitian sebelumnya bahwa ada pengaruh antara faktor demografi dan faktor lain misalnya jumlah kepemilikan kartu kredit terhadap tingkat kolektibitas. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder dari CCBI dan hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bagi debitur CCBI tidak semua faktor demografi berpengaruh pada tingkat kolektibilitas, termasuk jumlah kepemilikian kartu kredit tidak ikut menentukan tingkat kolektibilitas debitur. Namun faktor pengalaman bekerja/bisnis berpengaruh terhadap tingkat kolektibilitas.
Toxic cyanobacteria in water supply systems: data analysis to map global challenges and demonstrate the benefits of multi-barrier treatment approaches
Authors: Zamyadi Arash , Glover Caitlin M. , Yasir Attika , Stuetz Richard , Newcombe Gayle , Crosbie Nicholas D. , Lin Tsair-Fuh , Henderson Rita
Published: March 2021

The occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria in surface waters and their impact on drinking water treatment plants (WTPs) is a growing, global concern. The main objective of this paper was to assess the presence of cyanobacteria in surface water sources and associated cell removal efficiency in full-scale WTPs across the world. Previously unpublished data was collected from WTPs experiencing cyanobacterial blooms in either their managed surface waters or recreational waters. In total, data were collected from 31 surface water sources and 21 WTPs in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The most commonly detected species were identified in both the surface waters, including Microcystis, Anabaena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria, and Planktolyngbya, and water treatment plant intakes, including Microcystis, Cylindrospermopsis, Anabaena, Pseudanabaena, and Aphanizomenon. In the intakes, cyanotoxins and taste and odor (T&O) compounds frequently co-occurred (80%) as did multiple cyanotoxins (39%). Conventional treatment saw a wide range of removal depending on the density of cells, species, and metabolites. Although more than 28% of sampling events displayed negligible or even negative removals of metabolites or cells due to accumulation within the clarifier, filtration, or water recycling, the presence of multiple treatment barriers, particularly advanced treatments like granular activated carbon and nanofiltration, allowed for the cells and their metabolites of concern to be removed to below guideline values. During treatment, total microcystins were often removed without releasing their intracellular fraction, whereas cylindrospermopsin, geosmin, and 2-MIB were commonly detected as entirely extracellular at the plant's intake. The maximum tolerable cell (MTC) counts for cyanotoxin- or T&O-producing cells were calculated using guideline values, average removal efficiency, and the average cell quota derived from data. The 21 WTPs in this work were found to be able to tolerate approximately 74,000 cells/mL for microcystins, 8,000 cells/mL for cylindrospermopsin, and 1,200 cells/mL for geosmin and 2-MIB before exceeding guideline values. These levels provide guidance for water treatment plant operators to assess the potential risk associated with cells capable of producing cyanotoxins or T&O compounds.
Using geochemistry and environmental tracers to study shallow unconfined aquifer recharge and mineralization processes in the Yinchuan Plain, arid Northwest China
Authors: Gong YongFeng , Liu Xin , Ma Bin , Qi PengFei , Li Yan
Published: March 2021

Irrigation water extracted from the Yellow River plays a key role in water resource management in the Yinchuan Plain (YCP), arid Northwest China. Investigating the soluble matters (ion and gas) of groundwater provides information to explain the unconfined shallow aquifer recharge and groundwater mineralization processes after long-term flood irrigation activity. Environmental tracing with the elements, 2H, 18O, 3H, and CFCs, combining geochemistry using major ions and selected trace elements, was conducted for 43 water samples from September to October 2019 in the YCP. Evaporite and silicate weathering dominate the shallow unconfined groundwater geochemical compositions. Water–rock interactions control the mineralization characteristics regularly along the groundwater flow paths from the southwest toward the northeast. Stable isotopes suggest that Yellow River water and precipitation in winter and/or from Helan Mountainous area are the main recharge sources. The shallow unconfined aquifer mixed young (post-1940) and old (pre-1940) water with young water ratios from 53.1 to 73.5% inferred from the CFC concentrations and 3H activities. Water reinfiltrations extracted from the Yellow River and from the old groundwater are confirmed. Lateral flow recharge for the shallow unconfined aquifer is less indistinctive than that from the water re-infiltration in the plain areas.
Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to study the impact of climate change and other factors on rice production in South Korea
Authors: Nasrullah Muhammad , Rizwanullah Muhammad , Yu Xiuyuan , Jo Hyeonsoo , Sohail Muhammad Tayyab , Liang Lizhi
Published: March 2021

This study aims to explore the impact of climate change, technology, and agricultural policy on rice production in South Korea. In the presence of a long-run relationship among variables, the results show that an increase in CO2 emissions increases rice production by 0.15%. The mean temperature raises rice production by 1.16%. The rainfall has an adverse impact on rice production which shows improper irrigation systems and weather forecasting reports. Similarly, for technical factors, the area under rice and fertilizer used in the study has a direct effect on rice production. The study suggests that the Korean government needs to implement new policies and acquire advanced technology for weather forecasting. The concerned authorities need to inform rice growers about future weather and climate changes. We recommend that Korea needs to provide virgin arable undivided land to deserving rice growers based on ownership and/or lease for future food security. Finally, the study recommends that legislators should recommend policies for sustainable food security with the introduction of new agricultural technologies and subsidies, along with the provision of new varieties of seeds that can absorb the adverse shock of climate change and ensure a suitable amount of food.
Assessment of combined sewer overflows impacts under flooding in coastal cities
Authors: Abbasi Helieh , Zeynolabedin Amin , Nabi Bidhendi Gholamreza
Published: March 2021

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are among the most important infrastructures, especially in coastal cities with a risk of flooding. During intense floods, runoff volume may exceed the capacity of a WWTP causing plant failures. This paper investigates the impacts of flooding on combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in a WWTP in New York City. The impacts of CSOs after flooding are classified into four categories of health, economic, social, and environmental factors. Different factors are defined to evaluate the impacts of CSOs using multi-criteria decision-making of Preference Ranking Organization Method For Enrichment Evaluation and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution. Since volume and depth were found to be the most significant factors for the CSO impact assessment, the Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis model was run to compute flood depth and CSO volume under three treatment plant failure scenarios considering the Hurricane Sandy information. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen have the highest impacts on CSO. Uncertainty analysis was applied to investigate CSO impact variation. Results show that evaluating the impacts of CSOs in different aspects can help improve the efficiency of flood planning and management during storms.
Experimental study of the effect of horizontal screen diameter on hydraulic parameters of vertical drop
Authors: Daneshfaraz Rasoul , Ghaderi Amir , Di Francesco Silvia , Khajei Navid
Published: March 2021

The horizontal screen is one of the energy dissipater structures used on the brink of vertical drop. These structures increase the energy dissipation and the turbulence in the flow by causing air entrainment. In the present study, the effect of the diameter of the screen with constant porosity at three different diameters on the hydraulic parameters of the vertical drop was investigated. The experiments were performed in the relative critical depth range of 0.13 to 0.39. The results showed that by increasing the relative diameter of the horizontal screen, the relative wetting length and turbulence length increased, the residual energy remained constant and the pool depth decreased. Compared to the stilling basin, the horizontal screen significantly reduces turbulence length and residual energy. The results also showed that the application of horizontal screens at the brink of the drop, with and without a downstream rough bed, could be a suitable alternative for a stilling basin.
Hydraulic investigation of finite crested stepped spillways
Authors: Parsaie Abbas , Haghiabi AmirHamzeh
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the hydraulic properties of the finite-crested stepped spillway (FCSS) including discharge coefficient (Cd) and the ratio of energy dissipation (EDR) were experimentally investigated. Results indicated that the Cd of the FCSS changes between 0.9 and 1.2, while the ratio of the upstream head to the length of the crest (hup/Lc) changes between 0.25 and 1.8. The hup/Lc is the main parameter affecting the Cd. The value hup/Lc equal to 0.6 is a good criterion for designing the crest of the FCSS. At this point, the Cd of FCSS is about 1.0. The performance of FCSS regarding the EDR changes between 95 and 40 percent. By increasing the discharge of flow and skimming flow formation, the performance of the FCSS related to energy dissipation is dramatically decreased.
FACTOR ANALYSIS OF THE CENTRAL BLACK EARTH MACROREGION AREAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Titova Irina N.
Published: March 2021

Effective implementation of regional policy is impossible without assessing the current environment of the region’s functioning, which is formed under the influence of internal factors. Among the many factors that determine the socio-economic development of the region, we have identified: human potential, innovation potential, investment potential, digitalization of the economy, production potential, quality of life and infrastructure development. Each of the selected factors can be characterized by using a system of statistical indicators. In regional forecasts, internal factors act as control parameters, changing them it is possible to find an opportunity to change the course and direction of socio-economic processes in the region. This explains the necessity and relevance of the study.
The purpose of this article is to form a set of indicators to assess the factor load on the socio-economic development of the region and determine its vector.
The method of factor analysis on an indicative basis was used for achieving this goal. The importance of factorial analysis lies, first of all, in the fact that its results will make it possible to assess the share of influence of each factor on the “level of socio-economic development of the region” and to develop appropriate tools for managing growth factors.
Taking into account the formed system of indicators, an analysis of the Central Black Earth macroregion areas economic development was carried out. The greatest factor load on the socio-economic development of the region is exerted by the innovation potential, production potential and human potential of the region.
As a result of the study, a matrix of the regions distribution by the level of socio-economic development was built, reflecting the position of the region in dynamics. During the study period, the Voronezh region occupies a leading position, and the Tambov region is an outsider region. In addition, for each region, growth factors and restrictions on the development of the region were identified, which must be taken into account when building regional forecasts.
LEGITIMATION PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC GOVERNMENT IN MODERN RUSSIA
Authors: AVDEEV Dmitry A.
Published: March 2021

The problem of the effectiveness and efficiency of public authority is the subject of research in various sciences, including the legal one. In particular, from the standpoint of the domestic science of constitutional law, it is of interest to study the foundations of the organization and functioning of public authorities and management at various levels in a given period of time to develop recommendations aimed at improving the activities of government bodies.
The 2020 constitutional and legal reform introduced significant adjustments to the organization and activities of not only the highest bodies of state power. Strengthened the interaction of public authorities and local self-government, which together form a single system of public authority and carry out interaction in order to most effectively solve problems in the interests of the population.
Despite the ambiguity of the category “public power”, one of its properties is the activities legitimacy of the bodies that exercise it. In this regard, at present, there are a number of problematic aspects related to the procedure for the formation (formation) of higher bodies of state power and local self-government and the degree of participation of citizens in it (for example, citizens do not participate in the direct formation of the Federation Council, heads of municipalities are not elected by the population).
Until now, the science of constitutional law continues to discuss the legal content of the concept of “people”, which is one of the key issues in the process of legitimizing public authority. In the article, the author proposes to find out the difference between the legal understanding of the people as a “source of power” and as a “bearer of sovereignty.” Considering public power, the author reveals such an inalienable property of it as legitimacy. Analyzing the problems of public administration in the Russian Federation, the author proposes a number of measures aimed at improving the legislation.
SENSES AND “SENSUAL DATA”
Authors: Półtawski Andrzej
Published: March 2021

One of the main goals of modern philosophy was to achieve an in-depth insight into the foundations of empirical knowledge. The problem was expected to be resolved by the analysis of experience. However, the road to a plausible account of experience was at the very beginning obstructed by turning the analysis into a search for clear and distinctive elements of experience and by sticking to purely intellectual intuition as means of this analysis. Moreover, clear and distinctive elements of experience were thought of as the basis of cognitive certainty. Both psychology and philosophy, at least until the nineteen-thirties, were deeply influenced by this essentially rationalistic conception of sensor experience. It is gestalt psychology and phenomenology that should be merited for overcoming that ill-conceived model. Only by taking into account the immediate sensor relation between the human subject and the environment, it is possible to show the kind of unity which is the prerequisite of human intellect.
CONSERVATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE COMPONENTS IN SCIENCE
Authors: Lubański Mieczysław
Published: March 2021

The development of science, proceeding at a higher and higher speed, leads to the creation of new concepts, theories, and ideas. They constitute a progressive component of science. However, scientific development does not mean that everything that was accepted earlier has to be given up. New elements may be acquired and exist together with the old ones. Such old elements constitute a conservative component of science. That is why modern science shows itself as a wholeness constituted by the above-mentioned components.
FROM SPONTANEOUS GENERATION TO COSMIC ABIOGENESIS. AN ATTEMPT AT SYSTEMATIZATION OF BIOGENESIS THEORIES
Authors: Świeżyński Adam
Published: March 2021

The question of the origin of life interested people for centuries. All existing views on this subject can be classified into different areas of our knowledge of the world: natural sciences, philosophy, and theology. Some theories (perhaps the majority) contain more or less explicit elements from all of these areas. Thus, it is helpful to take a closer look at them and to classify all the typical groups of theories about the origins of life. We can in this way stress their mutual connections and clarify their own nature. Nowadays, driving forces of pre-biological chemical evolution and the explanation of the transition from “non-life into life” present a great variety of solutions. The differences between the theories, however, as well as the current controversies in the scientific community (e.g., what was “in the beginning”?; where did prebiotic evolution take place? etc.), will be shown to be of secondary importance in comparison with several much more profound philosophical assumptions underlying the origin-of-life-studies. The attempt to organize and classify different types of theories on the genesis of life allows to take into account different kinds of perspectives (theistic, philosophical and scientific), and to compare them to each other. The most general division between theories is based on a distinction between metaphysical conceptions and scientific ones. Some theories answer the question of the emergence of life in general, whereas others tackle the question of the origin of life on Earth only. Interestingly, two traditional ideas concerning the problem of the origin of life (i.e., spontaneous generation and panspermia) are still at play in contemporary scientific research, albeit in a modified form. In the perspective of contemporary scientific research on the origin of life it seems interesting that two main ideas concerning the problem of the origin of life, spontaneous generation and panspermia, are still present as presuppositions of certain theories but have been modified. Moreover, it is evident that the theistic view of the origin of life (creation) does not have to fall into conflict with contemporary scientific theories. Rather, they are complementary. This article is an extension, explanation and refinement of the proposed scheme of the main types of theories on the origin of life. An attempt to classify various biogenesis theories is also proposed. One of the most important questions that will be addressed concerns the philosophical presumptions of biogenetics still informing current research as well as scientific explanations of the origin of life.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ONTIC DUTY
Authors: Moń Ryszard
Published: March 2021

What are the relationships between value and duty? Which ontic status has a duty and why? This article aims at clarifying these concepts. It is indicated that in Kant’s writings, we come across texts that enable a slightly different interpretation of his philosophy. And so: the ma%er of good will is the goals themselves; good will must act according to the maxim that the members of the kingdom of goals follow. And this is a moral good since the highest principle of morality is the desire for autonomy of will. Thus, the form of universal legislation is a community of autonomous beings in which the humanity of each of them is realized. In such a community, the a priori content – the content of an ethical reality – is created. It can be said that relationships between people are various forms of ontic status of a duty.
Recent Advances in Chalcone-Based Anticancer Heterocycles: A Structural and Molecular Target Perspective
Authors: Kumar Vishal , Dhawan Sanjeev , Girase Pankaj Sanjay , Awolade Paul , Shinde Suraj Raosaheb , Karpoormath Rajshekhar , Singh Parvesh
Published: March 2021

Chalcones are an interesting class of compounds endowed with a plethora of
biological activities beneficial to human health. These chemotypes have continued to attract
increased research attention over the years; hence, numerous natural and synthetic
chalcones have found with interesting anticancer activities through the inhibition of various
molecular targets including ABCG2, BCRP, P-glycoprotein, 5α-reductase, Androgen
Receptor (AR), Histone Deacetylases (HDAC), Sirtuin 1, proteasome, Vascular Endothelial
Growth Factor (VEGF), Cathepsin-K, tubulin, CDC25B phosphatase, Topoisomerase,
EBV, NF-κB, mTOR, BRAF, and Wnt/β-catenin. Moreover, the study of intrinsic mechanisms
of action, particularly relating to specific cellular pathways and modes of engagement
with molecular targets, may help medicinal chemists to develop more effective, selective,
and cost-effective chalcone-based anticancer drugs. This review, therefore, sheds
light on the effect of structural variations on the anticancer potency of chalcone hybrids
reported in 2018-2019 alongside their mechanism of action, molecular targets, and potential
impacts on effective cancer chemotherapy.
The Rhodamine B-encrypted Vipericidin Peptide, RhoB-Ctn[1-9], Displays
In vitro Antimicrobial Activity Against Opportunistic Bacteria and Yeasts
Authors: Lima Hilania Valeria Doudou , dos Santos Thales Márcio Cabral , de Sousa Silva Mirelly Mirna Alves , da Silva Albuquerque João Victor , Melo Luciana Magalhães , de Figueirêdo Freitas Vicente José , Rádis-Baptista Gandhi
Published: March 2021

Background:

Crotalicidin (Ctn), a snake venom cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide,
is a 34-residue-long linear lysine-rich vipericidin obtained from the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus
durissus terrificus. Ctn contains tandem repeats of nine amino acid residues (1KRFKKFFKK9
and 16KRLKKIFKK24; consensus: 1KRhKKhFKK9, h = hydrophobic amino acid) as an integral part
of its structure.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the encrypted vipericidin
nonapeptide KRFKKFFKK, designated as Ctn[1-9], and its structural analogue, rhodamine-
B‒conjugated Ctn[1-9], designated as RhoB-Ctn[1-9].

Method:

The susceptibility of representative pathogenic bacteria and yeasts to antimicrobial agents
was determined using the broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Cytotoxicity
was estimated using a hemolytic assay. The accumulation of RhoB-Ctn[1-9] in microbial
cells was observed by fluorescence microscopy. The antimicrobial synergism of RhoB-Ctn[1-9] with
antimicrobials was evaluated using a checkerboard analysis.

Results:

RhoB-conjugated Ctn[1-9] displayed selective antimicrobial activity against infectious
gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and pathogenic species of
Candida with low hemolytic effects on human erythrocytes which were not observed with unconjugated
Ctn[1-9]. RhoB-Ctn[1-9] could permeate cell membranes and accumulate intracellularly in
microbial cells. RhoB-Ctn[1-9] exhibits synergistic effects when used with antibiotics or antifungal
agents and reduced the MICs of the peptide and antimicrobials.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate the potential of crotalicidin-related short peptides as structural
motifs for the diversification of biological functionalities. Further, they set the stage to investigate the
molecular mechanisms by which chemically modified vipericidin repeats modulate cell fate.
Herbal Medicines to Fight Against COVID-19: New Battle with an Old
Weapon
Authors: Harwansh Ranjit K. , Bahadur Shiv
Published: March 2021

The world population has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The disease has
become life-threatening in a very short time, harming citizens and the economic systems globally. The
novel virus SARS-CoV-2 has been known as the causative agent of COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 is a
single-stranded RNA virus having ~30 kb genomic components, which are 70% identical to SARS-CoV.
The main process of the pathophysiology of COVID-19 has been associated with the interaction of a
novel coronavirus with host cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE 2), by fusion. Therapeutic
agents having serine protease inhibitors and ACE-2 blockers may be explored for the treatment by
inhibiting the viral target such as Mpro, RdRp, PLpro, and helicase. Herbal medicine has a wide array of
chemical entities with potential health benefits, including antiviral activity, which may be explored as an
alternative treatment for COVID-19. The herbal bioactives like catechins, andrographolide, hesperidin,
biorobin, scutellarein, silvestrol, shikonin, tryptanthrin, vitexin quercetin, myricetin, caffeic acid, psoralidin,
luteolin, etc. have shown potential inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2. Recent research reports
indicate that the various plant secondary metabolites have shown potential antiviral activities. The present
review article highlights the recent information on the mechanism of actions and applications of
herbal medicine in the treatment of COVID-19.
Anti-Obesity Medications in Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Insight
Authors: Shekhawat Rajveer , Mandal Chandi C.
Published: March 2021

The interplay between cancer and obesity is multifactorial and complex with the increased
risk of cancer development in obese individuals posing a significant threat. Obesity leads
to the upregulation or hyperactivation of several oncogenic pathways in cancer cells, which drives
them towards a deleterious phenotype. The cross-talk between cancer and obesity is considered a
large contributing factor in the development of chemotherapeutic drug resistance and the resistance
to radiotherapy. The link between obesity and the development of cancer is so strong that a medication
that demonstrates effectiveness against both conditions would serve as an essential step. In this
context, anti-obesity medications provide a worthy list of candidates based on their chemo-preventive
potential and chemotherapeutic properties. The current study focuses on exploring the potential
of anti-obesity medicines as dual anticancer drugs. These medications target several key signaling
pathways (e.g., AMPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, NF-κB, JNK/ERK), which prove to be crucial
for both cancer growth and metastases. Some of these drugs also play an important role in attenuating
the signaling and cellular events which incite cancer-obesity cross-talk and demonstrate
efficient counteraction of neoplastic transformation. Thus, this review highlights a comprehensive
view of the potential use of anti-obesity medicines to treat both cancer and obesity for patients exhibiting
both comorbities.
Screening and Development of Transglutaminase-2 Inhibitors and their
Derivative as Anti-lung Cancer Agent by in silico and in vitro Approaches
Authors: Parvatikar Prachi P. , Patil Sumangala , Hoskeri Joy , Swargam Sandeep , Kulkarni Raghvendra V. , Das Kusal K
Published: March 2021

Aim:

This study aimed at screening and development of TG2 inhibitors as anti lung cancer
agent.

Background:

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is multifunctional and ubiquitously expressed protein
from the transglutaminase family. It takes part in various cellular processes and plays an important
role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune, neurodegerative diseases, and also cancer.

Objective :

The proposed study focused on screening potent inhibitors of TG2 by in-silico method
and synthesize their derivative as well as analyse its activity by utilizing an in-vitro approach.

Material and Methods:

Molecular docking studies have been carried out on the different classes
of TG2 inhibitors against the target protein. Nearly thirty TG2 inhibitors were selected from literature
and docking was performed against transglutaminase 2. The computational ADME property
screening was also carried out to check their pharmacokinetic properties. The compounds which exhibited
positive ADME properties with good interaction while possessing the least binding energy
were further validated for their anti-lung cancer inhibition property against A549 cell lines using cytotoxicity
studies.

Results:

The results of the present study indicate that the docked complex formed by cystamine
showed better binding affinity towards target protein, so this derivative of cystamine was formed
using 2,5 dihydrobenzoic acid. Invitro results revealed that both molecules proved to be good cytotoxic
agents against A549 lung cancer (875.10, 553.22 μg/ml), respectively. Further, their activity
needs to be validated on TG2 expressing lung cancer.

Conclusion :

Cystamine and its derivative can act as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer
but its activity should be further validated on TG2 expressing lung cancer.
The LncRNA MIR155HG is Upregulated by SP1 in Melanoma Cells and Drives
Melanoma Progression via Modulating the MiR-485-3p/PSIP1 Axis
Authors: Zhang Dingwei , Huo Jia , Wang Yuan , Zhang Yanfei , Wang Wei , Yang Peiwen , Zhao Wenwei , Zhang Miaomiao , Cui Lu
Published: March 2021

Background:

MIR155HG is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that has been shown to be
dysregulated in a range of tumor types, but the functions of this lncRNA in melanoma remain to be explored.

Objectives:

We explored the functions of lncRNA MIR155HG in melanoma progression.

Methods:

The expression of miR155HG was analyzed in clinical melanoma. Bioinformatics analysis was
performed to assess the potential tumor-related functions of miR155HG. The interaction of miR155HG and SP1
and the inhibition of PSIP1 by miR-485-3p were analyzed by ChIP, luciferase reporter experiments, and the
biological effects in melanoma were explored by colony formation assays, EdU cell proliferation assays,
Transwell analysis, and intracranial melanoma mouse model.

Results:

Herein, we found that MIR155HG was markedly upregulated in melanoma cell lines and tissues. We
further determined that the SP1 transcription factor was responsible for driving MIR155HG upregulation in
melanoma. Elevated MIR155HG levels were linked to decreased overall survival (OS) in melanoma patients, and
we further determined that MIR155HG expression was an independent predictor of melanoma patient prognosis.
When MIR155HG was knocked down in melanoma cells, this impaired their proliferative, migratory, and
invasive activity. By using predictive bioinformatics analyses, we identified miR-485-3p as a microRNA
(miRNA) capable of binding to both MIR155HG and the 3’ UTR of PSIP1.

Conclusion:

Together, these results suggest that MIR155HG is capable of promoting melanoma cell proliferation
via the miR-485-3p/PSIP1 axis. These novel findings provide new insights into the development of melanoma,
potentially highlighting future avenues for therapeutic intervention.