bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triple-negative breast cancer, which lacks the expression of hormone receptors and HER2, has a worse prognosis. Massive parallel sequencing is capable of reliably breaking down the intra-tumor and inter-tumor heterogeneity
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Breast cancer is a diverse illness, which may be categorized into three primary clinical subtypes: hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplified, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks the expression of hormone receptors and HER2. These tumors have a worse prognosis. There have been notable advancements in systemic therapy alternatives, for example, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors, HER2-targeted medications, PIK3CA inhibitors, etc. Tumor resistance to these medicines remains unclear to us. Tumor evolution and dynamic molecular profiling while undergoing systemic treatment represent substantial barriers to treating and curing the illness. Today, massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is capable of reliably breaking down the intra-tumor and inter-tumor heterogeneity. It depicts the tumor as a whole using a mesotherapy process that doesn't involve surgery. The ctDNA present in the blood plasma shreds circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during apoptosis and necrosis, and plasma contains cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This offers an intriguing, noninvasive option for certain purposes: Identifying actionable abnormalities, finding minimum residual illness, or screening for early cancers in asymptomatic individuals. The article sets up the current state of affairs and illustrates the probable therapeutic uses of ctDNA in breast cancer. Using CT-DNA to identify and treat breast cancer Generally, the focused approach and the non-targeted methodology are employed to detect ctDNA. a more comprehensive approach, with several testing methodologies and complexity levels applied dependent on the type of testing equipment being utilized. This approach achieves specificity and sensitivity above the level required while retaining a MAF detection threshold as low as 0.01 percent. For the non-targeted technique, we screen all coding exons, or even the complete genomic DNA. Treatment regimens that take advantage of a tumor's genetic information while not needing prior knowledge may discover novel mutations. While this finding resolves the issue, it has a higher CtDNA detection threshold and a lower specificity.
Gene therapy targeting FVIII, FIX for haemophilia treatment
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Treatment for haemophilia is shifting away from standard factor replacement therapy and toward genetic repair or rebalancing, as well as overall haemostasis equilibrium. Some of these newer drugs may not have specific testing available to determine their haemostasis effects. The effects of gene therapy FVIII or FIX in vivo are under investigation, and it is expected to vary between people; nonetheless, ongoing monitoring of FVIII or FIX activity will be required. The rapid regulatory approval and adoption of emicizumab into routine clinical use surprised many haemostasis labs. Because of the challenges of monitoring patients on emicizumab, laboratories with expertise in designing alternative tests are most suited to do so.Future drugs with similar pharmacological properties to current treatments will not have a similar influence on laboratory tests. Before putting new pharmaceuticals into clinical use, pharmaceutical companies must do extensive laboratory research, and regulatory bodies must ensure that adequate laboratory studies have been completed and are available in the literature.
Shadow enhancers' objective seems to be to establish robust growth patterns independent of genetic or environmental stress
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Shadow enhancers' objective seems to be to establish robust growth patterns, independent of genetic or environmental stress. Multiple enhancers give more ability to encode intricate biological functions. Shadow enhancers are more conserved than other enhancers after being identified in the genome. Most shadow enhancer knockout research was undertaken in lab conditions that do not reflect natural scenarios. Many interactions across shadow enhancers (whether synergistic or repressive) are comparable to interactions inside a single enhancer between TF-binding sites. Because the length of DNA that can function as an enhancer is likely to be limited, multiple enhancers can be useful in regulating gene expression in complex ways.Despite its widespread presence in animal genomes, the evolutionary origins of shadow enhancies remain unknown.Most alterations in genome-wide association studies are projected to alter enhancer sequences. Patient-wide genome sequencing showed an increasing number of unusual non-coding mutations that change developmental genes and are linked to disease. It is possible that disease-causing non-Coding mutations preferentially impact genes without shadow enhancers or increase enhancer activity not dampened by the availability of enhancers. Alternatively, shadow enhancer changes may have some impact on target gene expression, which may be amplified by other mutations or the environment.
KEBUTUHAN ENERGI ZAT GIZI PADA TUBUH
Authors: Inayaht Nurul , Bagenda Faradibah
Published: June 2021

Tubuh memerlukan energi sebagai sumber tenaga untuk segala aktivitas. Energi diperoleh dari makanan sehari-hari yang terdiri dari berbagai zat gizi terutama karbohidrat dan lemak. Energi yang dipergunakan untuk melakukan pekerjaan, dilepaskan dalam tubuh pada proses pembakaran zat-zat makanan. Dengan mengukur jumlah energi yang dikeluarkan itu dapat diketahui berapa banyak makanan yang diperlukan untuk menghasilkannya.Kebutuhan energi seseorang adalah konsumsi energi dari makanan yang diperlukan untuk menutupi pengeluaran energi seseorang.
Inherited immunohematological and metabolic diseases have the potential to improve significantly, or be cured, using haematopoietic stem cell transplantation gene therapy
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

inherited immunohematological and metabolic diseases have the potential to improve significantly, or be cured, using haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSPC) gene therapy Until autologous HSPC gene therapy makes it to the clinic, a lot of financial and logistical issues must be resolved. Conventional methods make use of centralized production facilities and a small number of specialist treatment facilities for sickness and gene therapy, but totally automated transduction may make this paradigm obsolete. The use of alkylating medications for conditioning is connected to both short-and long-term negative outcomes. The adoption of antibody-based conditioning regimens that target molecules expressed on host haematopoietic cells, such as CD117 or CD45, might allow for a decrease in alkylating agent dosage.Preclinical research has suggested that direct intravascular distribution of viral vectors would be a good alternative to ex vivo gene transfer, however with limited efficacy. A therapeutic impact and unwanted transgenic-related damage is occasionally sought. Locus-specific gene editing may be able to make use of naturally occurring gene control mechanisms. On the other hand, synthetic minigenes may not always reproduce gene expression in cells and may require complicated design. The improved efficiency in gene editing will almost probably lead to an increase in the number of therapeutic applications for gene-edited HSPCs. Although gene editing is theoretically safer than vector-based gene addition approaches, the clinical safety of HSPC gene therapy has yet to be proved. Double-strand breaks can create rearrangements such as deletions, inversions, and translocations, but Cas9 nucleases might suppress any residual issues. Base editing and prime editing can increase genome engineering safety and efficiency. In gene therapy, much further development is necessary before gene editing may be applied in a clinical-scale setting. Clinical translation of complex cellular therapies is aided by previous advances in vector-based gene therapy, which has opened the way for the area of genome editing. A gene editing evaluation needs alterations in tests and methodologies.Most HSPC gene therapies have been utilized to address specific genetic diseases. The longevity and safety of HSPC gene therapy may increase, thereby presenting the possibility of addressing new illness conditions. Consider the scenario of treatment that may last for a long time if HSPC-derived microglia was utilized. Biological systemic treatment delivery and/or elimination of blood disease reservoirs might potentially enhance chronic infectious diseases and cancer. The chimeric antigen receptors of T cells, for example, can cure several forms of haematological cancers. HSPC gene therapy will increase greatly in the future, addressing a larger spectrum of immune haematological and neurometabolic disorders.
Neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease is a neurodegenerative condition which can be a target for gene therapy
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

NIHID (neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease) is a neurodegenerative condition that is easy to detect but also easy to misdiagnose. Thanks to breakthroughs in MRI detection, the availability of skin biopsied pathology, and, most critically, the finding of the causative gene which can be targeted by gene therapy, the rate of NIID diagnosis before death has grown significantly in recent years. Symptoms linked with central nervous system disorders, autonomic and peripheral neuropathy, and myopathy may be experienced by patients with NIID. Regardless of how far clinical symptoms or gene identification have progressed in NOTCH2NLC gene-related repeat expansion disorders (NRED), it not only adds to our understanding of NIID, but it also adds to the number of challenges we must address. East Asia has seen a substantial number of patients with GGC repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC. Clinicians should work together to develop a database of NIID clinical and biological samples, as well as perform additional clinical diagnostic, therapeutic assessment, and pathogenic mechanism research.
Using AAV as a gene delivery vector in the neural system is effective in several animals, such as nonhuman primates
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Neuroscience research finds diverse uses for these intersectional approaches. Brainbow labeling uses a stochastic combination of four independent fluorescent reporters to mark each neuron, resulting in as many as 100 unique colors that may be recognized by confocal microscopy. Each neuron is labeled with a distinctive color, so you can track several axons that originate from the same cell. Because Cre recombination is employed by Brainbow to produce stochastic fluorescence proteins, Cre-dependent AAV vectors from Brainbow 3.1 may be utilized to perform intersectional labeling. When coinjected and activated by Cre, the AAV vectors each express two fluorescent proteins, each of which has a unique labeling of neurons.As interrelated circuits are traced, the ramifications stretch well beyond that. Functional circuit probing is enabled only via optogenetic ion channels and chemogenetic designer receptors that are activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). is a diphtheria toxin receptor that can selectively target neuronal networks. Neuronal circuits are dissected in animal behavior and disease causation by stimulating, inhibiting, or ablating them. Intersectional expression of illness-associated proteins may be utilized to mimic the effect and spread of pathology in certain cell populations, which is notably valuable in the research of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Using AAV to affect intersectional gene expression is safe and effective in several animals, such as nonhuman primates. This new kind of study is setting the path for the next generation of neuroscience work, and they are making yet another important stride toward better comprehending the mammal's nervous system.
KLASIFIKASI GIZI DAN STATUS GIZI
Authors: Husain Zulfa
Published: June 2021

Zat gizi adalah senyawa dari makanan yang digunakan tubuh untuk fungsi fisiologis normal. Definisi yang luas ini mencakup senyawa yang digunakan langsung untuk produksi energi yang membantu dalam metabolisme (koenzim), untuk membangun struktur tubuh atau untuk membantu dalam sel tertentu. Suatu zat gizi sangat penting untuk organisme dalam kelangsungan siklus hidup dan terlibat dalam fungsi organisme
Chronic obstructive pulmonary condition (COPD) is a prevalent, preventable, and curable illness with persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) research on chronic obstructive pulmonary condition (COPD) characterizes it as a prevalent, preventable, and curable illness with persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. airway blockage resulting in dyspnoea and air trapping when exercising airflow restriction can be attributed to smoking, ambient tobacco smoke exposure, and the patient's TB history COPD airflow restriction is largely caused by airway tightness, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. Repeated inhalation of hazardous particles induces chronic inflammatory immune cell infiltration, tissue repair, and airway remodeling, resulting in a 4-to 40-fold increase in airway resistance and bronchiolar constriction. 20% of small airways are bronchi, with the rest being either bronchioles or alveolar ductal gaps. Flow restriction includes alveolar wall disintegration and alveolar support. The modifications worsen the rapid FEV1 fall and contribute to the airway obstruction seen in COPD. COPD, small airway disease (SAD), has been extensively studied. Inflammation, fibrosis, and destruction of bronchioles are all indications of this illness. mixed pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). In fact, fibrosis appears to be involved in the obstruction of small airways.RAGE participates in several intracellular processes by binding to several ligands. RAGE ligand interactions trigger downstream signaling pathways that have been associated with COPD and other disorders. Thus, inhibitors of RAGE and its signaling pathways also have been found to play a function in other disorders, which suggests that they might be used to treat COPD. There are currently no established biomarkers to diagnose COPD. COPD patients are shown to have altered RAGE and some of its ligands. Despite a lack of agreement on how smoking affects sRAGE levels, greater study is needed to discover whether or not this biomarker is stable. It was discovered that among the North Han Chinese,-429T > C is associated with COPD. COPD vulnerability is furthermore associated with the genetics of RAGE. To get a better diagnosis, population-based studies are needed. Finally, RAGE, AGE-RAGE, and sRAGE all impact COPD, and RAGE may be employed as a biomarker for diagnosis and management of COPD patients if more study supports this hypothesis.
Sumber Zat Gizi Dan Penilaian Zat Gizi
Authors: Husain Zulfa
Published: June 2021

Dalam pengelompokannya, zat gizi dibagi berdasarkan fungsi dan jumlah yang dibutuhkan. Berdasarkan fungsinya zat gizi digolongkan kedalam “Triguna Makanan”. yaitu sebagai berikut:1)Sumber zat tenaga, yaitu padi-padian dan umbi-umbian serta tepung-tepungan, seperti beras, jagung, ubi-ubian, kentang, sagu, roti, dan makanan yang mengandung sumber zat tenaga menunjang aktivitas sehari-hari.2)Sumber zat pengatur, yaitu sayuran dan buah-buahan. Zat pengatur mengandung berbagai vitamin dan mineral yang berperan untuk melancarkan bekerjanya fungsi organ tubuh.3)Sumber zat pembangun, yaitu kacang-kacangan, makanan hewani, dan hasil olahannya. Makanan sumber zat pembangun yang berasal dari nabati adalah kacang-kacangan, tempe, dan tahu. Sedangkan makanan sumber zat pembangun yang berasal dari hewan adalah telur, ikan, ayam, daging, susu, serta hasil olahannya. Zat pembangun berperan sangat penting untuk pertumbuhan dan perkembangan kecerdasan seseorang.
The development of tissue replacement therapies and drug discovery was a critical milestone in advancing regenerative medicine
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Technological breakthroughs in producing normal and patient-derived iPSCs have greatly increased our understanding of human developmental dynamics and plasticity. The development of advanced instruments for tissue replacement therapies and drug discovery, as well as the use of in vitro organoid miniatures, was a critical milestone in advancing regenerative medicine. Meanwhile, advances in specialist genome editing technologies have dramatically improved the precision with which human genome genetic mutations may be made. While this achievement has had a profound impact on nearly every sector of biological research, the physiological significance of human stem cells and organoids, when employed as assessment instruments, might significantly aid existing and future improvements in genome editing technology. Synergies between these technologies will likely continue to accelerate the evolution of biomedical translational research.
Overcoming Supply Chain Disruptions During Pandemics by Utilizing Found Hardware for Open Source Gentle Ventilation
Authors: Oberloier Shane , Gallup Nicki , Pearce Joshua M.
Published: June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic created temporary shortages of medical equipment like ventilators throughout the world. Recent medical research also indicates a gentle ventilation may be more appropriate for many patients. This article details the design of an open source gentle ventilator (gentle-vent) framework that can be used in periods of scarcity when no other options are available. The system utilizes a wide range of commonly available components that are combined using basic electronics skills to achieve the desired end product. The firmware is programed in the Arduino IDE using any Arduino compatible microcontroller. The main function of the gentle-vent is to generate a calibrated pressure wave at the pump to provide support to the patient’s breathing. Each gentle-vent permutation was tested using a DIY manometer as it could be done in the field in low-resource settings. These measurements were also verified with an open source VentMon. All permutations were able to accurately hold a desired setpoint for at least 2 hours. The most rudimentary implementation using found mechanical components and perf-board costs less than $20. The results indicate that an open source approach can be used to make breathing support accessible in most contexts.
The gene expression profiling gives an in-depth insight of breast cancer heterogeneity, better than a single protein or gene expression. It is time to include it in the daily routine
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Cancer treatments used to be a one-size-fits-all strategy; nowadays, decisions are based on the specific molecular pathology of each patient's tumor. Personalized medicine is based on a deep understanding of disease mechanisms and the use of customized drugs to target those mechanisms, with the potential of greater treatment efficacy. The transcriptome revolution offered molecular insight into some carcinogenic pathways. This study has led to the conclusion that the four most common IHC biomarkers (HER2, ER, PR, and Ki67) can not accurately represent the complexity of breast cancer sickness. The GEP gives an in-depth insight of illness heterogeneity, better than a single protein or gene expression. Development of a framework and rigorous criteria have caused delays in the application of the GEP in clinical and regulatory contexts. There was also the issue of researchers and physicians becoming distracted by external pressures and being pulled in other directions.Clinicians use the classification approach for better judgements about breast cancer. Whether intrinsic subtyping has enough clinical value to merit including GEP as a supplemental test alongside IHC testing in international guidelines is still debated. Even though intrinsic subtyping has an influence on current clinical trial designs, it is relevant to biomarker research. It is time to include it in the daily routine of breast cancer sufferers. a continuing emphasis on refining this classification Nucleotide variations and their underlying molecular mechanisms, and the effect of the immune system on treatment outcome, will inform novel therapeutic regimes. Combining biological processes, as a result, would probably probably be included in the implementation of tailored therapeutic paradigms in breast cancer patients.
Book Review: “THE CRITICAL LOGIC OF CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHERS; FROM THE PRE-SOCRATES TO ARISTOTLE” (LOGIKA KRITIS FILSUF KLASIK; DARI ERA PRA-SOCRATES HINGGA ARISTOTELES)
Authors: Alviana Dian Ananda , Pandin Moses Glorino Rumambo
Published: June 2021

The book entitled "Logika Kritis Filsuf Klasik; Dari Era Pra-Socrates Hingga Aristoteles" (The Critical Logic of Classical Philosophers; from The Pre-Socrates to Aristotle) was written by the author to invite readers to become more familiar with the world of philosophy, especially the thoughts of philosophers who existed in Ancient Greece. That is because nowadays, philosophy is a scourge for many people. Moreover, there are still many stereotypes about philosophy, such as the notion that philosophy is not contextual to everyday life because it is attached to stereotypes that are considered problematic. Therefore, through this book, the author would like to invite readers to know the famous ancient Greek philosophers because they provide a strong foundation in philosophy. The author to readers who want and are interested in studying philosophy. The author uses light and easy to understand by ordinary people who want to study philosophy. It can be interpreted that this book is written as simply as possible by the author for readers who have just studied philosophy.
A decoy strategy to activate the immune system
Authors: Deshpande Manisha , Banerjee Tanushree
Published: June 2021

An approach comprising a novel fusion protein and inactivated virus, as a more efficacious vaccine against invading viruses is presented, using SARS-CoV-2 as a most prominent example. The fusion protein consists of the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) conjugated to the N-terminal helix (NTH) of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. For vaccination, this fusion protein is to be administered together with the whole killed virus. The NTH would bind to the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the Spike protein of the killed virus. Due to HBsAg acting as a decoy, immune responses would be mounted. Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) pre-existing in people already vaccinated with the recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine, fresh production of NAbs, and NAbs produced by memory B cells would bind to the HBsAg. This would lead to ‘presentation’ of the killed virus to elements of the immune system at close range. Also, there would be enhanced opsonization and effective antigen presentation. This two-component vaccine could be a platform strategy, wherein HBsAg could be linked to the part of the cellular receptor that any new intractable virus binds to, and is administered together with whole inactivated virus. Now, the same fusion protein, administered by itself to persons with infection, would have therapeutic action, yet by harnessing elements of the immune system. NAbs would bind to the fusion protein as above, the NTH of which would bind to the RBDs of the infecting virus, which, in effect would be neutralized.
Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Fenfluramine and gene therapy are promising
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy related to SCN1A. Resistant epilepsy despite polypharmacy will soon have new therapeutic options.In 2019, the treatment range was broadened to include cannabidiol after 2 phase III trials showed dramatically decreased seizure frequency. However, the results are slightly less convincing than for stiripentol or fenfluramine, and thus far no disease-specific impact appears (yet). Fenfluramine, formerly used to treat obesity, was authorized in 2020 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizures in Dravet's syndrome. Fenfluramine was extremely successful in 2 randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III trials (one without stiripentol, one with stiripentol). It was generally well-tolerated-with a small drop in appetite being the most prevalent negative effect. No cardiovascular side-effects have been detected. While the anticonvulsant mechanism is not well known, it seems largely serotonergic. Preclinical research showed indications of disease-specific and potential disease-modifying impact on Dravet syndrome. The latter would support fenfluramine usage beyond its anticonvulsant properties, and needs additional research. Studies with additional serotonergic compounds (clemizole and lorcaserine) began. Unfortunately, existing medications do not target Dravet's syndrome's underlying genetic etiology and hence have no substantial influence on patient cognition or other comorbidities. Therapies focusing on amplifying Nav 1.1 channels based on TANGO technology (anti-sense oligonucleotides; "targeted increase in nuclear gene output") will begin shortly (phase I and II studies). This technology seems promising and marks the beginning of an interesting therapeutic phase for Dravet syndrome patients.
Gene therapy may benefit inherited ichthyoses with concurrent fungal infections and severe ich thyroidoses
Authors: Dowaidar Moataz
Published: June 2021

Despite the fact that inherited ichthyoses with simultaneous fungal infections have been documented for more than 50 years, the connection between the two remains unknown. Because ichthyosis makes it harder to identify a concurrent fungal infection, it's important to pay close attention to prevent missing or delaying a diagnosis. The underlying ichthyosis makes treating fungal infections more difficult, and severe and recurrent infections need further attention. Those with severe ichthyoses may benefit from gene therapy in order to avoid fungal infection. More clinical and laboratory research is needed, however, to fully comprehend the mechanisms of action and provide a foundation of knowledge from which innovative therapy alternatives might be created.
Sumber Zat Gizi dan Penilaian Status Gizi
Authors: Okarniatif Andi Assyifa Mappedeceng
Published: June 2021

zat gizi adalah zat kimia yang dapat digunakan oleh organisme untuk mempertahankan kegiatan metabolisme tubuhnya. Kegiatan metabolisme pada manusia dan hewan lainnya termasuk penyediaan energi, pertumbuhan, pembaruan jaringan, dan reproduksi. Beberapa bahan kimia yang berperan sebagai zat gizi adalah karbohidrat, protein, asam lemak, vitamin dan mineral. Bahan kimia seperti serat makanan dan metabolit sekunder tanaman merupakan bagian dari makanan tetapi tidak diklasifikasikan sebagai zat gizi.
Quantifying ADHD symptoms in open-ended everyday life contexts with a new virtual reality task
Authors: Seesjärvi Erik , Puhakka Jasmin , Aronen Eeva T. , Lipsanen Jari , Mannerkoski Minna , Hering Alexandra , Zuber Sascha , Kliegel Matthias , Laine Matti , Salmitaival Juha
Published: June 2021

Objective: In the assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) there is a need for methods that would reflect ADHD symptoms in naturalistic yet controlled situations objectively. Method: We developed a novel virtual reality task, EPELI (Executive Performance in Everyday LIving), and used it to quantify goal-directed behavior in ADHD children (n = 38) and typically developing controls (n = 38) in everyday home situations. Results: The ADHD group exhibited higher percentage of irrelevant actions out of all actions, reflecting lower attentional-executive efficacy, and more controller movements and more total game actions, both indicative of hyperactivity-impulsivity. Five main EPELI measures combined exhibited excellent discriminatory ability, with area under curve being 88 %. The efficacy measure of EPELI was strongly correlated with parent evaluations of everyday executive problems (r = .57) and ADHD symptoms (r = .55). Conclusion: Virtual reality assessment can successfully quantify ADHD symptoms in a rich naturalistic context.
Spectral parameterization for studying neurodevelopment: How and why
Authors: Ostlund Brendan Dale , Donoghue Thomas , Anaya Berenice , Gunther Kelley , Karalunas Sarah , Voytek Bradley , Perez-Edgar Koraly
Published: June 2021

A growing body of literature points to the importance of the explicit parameterization of neural power spectra for the appropriate physiological interpretation of periodic and aperiodic electroencephalogram (EEG) activity. In this paper, we discuss why parameterization is an imperative step for developmental cognitive neuroscientists interested in cognition and behavior across the lifespan, as well as how this can be readily accomplished with an automated spectral parameterization (“specparam”) algorithm (Donoghue et al., 2020a). We provide annotated code for power spectral parameterization, via specparam, in Jupyter Notebook and R Studio. We then apply this algorithm to EEG data in childhood (N = 60; Mage = 10.80, SD = 1.00) to illustrate its utility for developmental cognitive neuroscientists. Ultimately, explicit parameterization of neural power spectra may help us refine our understanding of how dynamic neural communication contributes to normative and aberrant cognition across the lifespan. Data and annotated analysis code for this manuscript are available on GitHub (https://github.com/fooof-tools/DevDemo) as a supplement to the open-access specparam toolbox (https://fooof-tools.github.io/).
Automated detections reveal the social information in the changing infant view
Authors: Long Bria , Sanchez Alessandro , Kraus Allison M. , Agrawal Ketan , Frank Michael C.
Published: June 2021

How do postural developments affect infants’ access to social information? We recorded egocentric and third-person video while infants and their caregivers (N=36, 8–16-month-olds, N=19 females) participated in naturalistic play sessions. We then validated the use of a neural network pose detection model to detect faces and hands in the infant view. We used this automated method to analyze our data and a prior egocentric video dataset (N=17, 12-month-olds). Infants’ average posture and orientation with respect to their caregiver changed dramatically across this age range; both posture and orientation modulated access to social information. Together, these results confirm that infant’s ability to move and act on the world plays a significant role in shaping the social information in their view.
A decision network account of reasoning about other people's choices
Authors: Jern Alan , Kemp Charles
Published: June 2021

The ability to predict and reason about other people's choices is fundamental to social interaction. We propose that people reason about other people's choices using mental models that are similar to decision networks. Decision networks are extensions of Bayesian networks that incorporate the idea that choices are made in order to achieve goals. In our first experiment, we explore how people predict the choices of others. Our remaining three experiments explore how people infer the goals and knowledge of others by observing the choices that they make. We show that decision networks account for our data better than alternative computational accounts that do not incorporate the notion of goal-directed choice or that do not rely on probabilistic inference.
Cognitive Effort for Self, Strangers, and Charities
Authors: Depow Gregory John , Lin Hause , Inzlicht Michael
Published: June 2021

Effort is aversive and often avoided, even when earning benefits for oneself. Yet, people sometimes work hard for others. How do people decide who is worth their effort? Prior work shows people avoid physical effort for strangers relative to themselves, but invest more physical effort for charity. Here, we find that people avoid cognitive effort for others relative to themselves, even when the cause is a personally meaningful charity. In two studies, participants repeatedly decided whether to invest cognitive effort to gain financial rewards for themselves and others. In Study 1, participants (N = 51; 150 choices) were less willing to invest cognitive effort for a charity than themselves. In Study 2, participants (N = 47; 225 choices) were more willing to work cognitively for a charity than an intragroup stranger, but again preferred cognitive exertion that benefited themselves. Computational modeling suggests that, unlike prior physical effort findings, cognitive effort discounted the subjective value of rewards linearly. Exploratory machine learning analyses suggest that people who represented others more similarly to themselves were more willing to invest effort on their behalf, opening up new avenues for future research.
Estimating the direct Covid-19 disability-adjusted life years impact on the Malta population for the first full year
Authors: Cuschieri Sarah , Calleja Neville , Devleesschauwer Brecht , Wyper Grant Mark Andrew
Published: June 2021

BackgroundDisability-adjusted life years (DALYs) combine the impact of morbidity and mortality, allowing for comprehensive comparisons of the population health impact of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. The aim of this paper was to estimate the DALYs due to Covid-19 in Malta (March 2020-21) and investigate its impact in relation to other causes of disease and injury, at a population level. MethodsMortality and weekly hospital admission reported data were used to calculate the DALYs, based on the European Burden of Disease Network consensus Covid-19 model. Covid-19 infection durations of 14 days was considered. Sensitivity analyses for different morbidity scenarios, including post-acute consequences were presented. Estimates were for March 2020-21.ResultsAn estimated 70,421 people were infected (with and without symptoms) by Covid-19 in Malta (March 2020-21), out of which 1,636 required hospitalisation and 331 deaths, contributing to 5,478 DALYs. These DALYs positioned Covid-19 as the fourth leading cause of disease and injury in Malta. Mortality contributed to 95% of DALYs, while post-acute consequences contributed to 60% of morbidity. ConclusionCovid-19 over a period of one year has impacted substantially the population health in Malta. Post-acute consequences are the leading morbidity factors that require urgent targeted action to ensure timely multidisciplinary care. It is recommended that DALY estimations in 2021 and beyond are calculated to assess the impact of vaccine roll-out and emergence of new variants on population health.
“End the Dominance of the Uyghur Ethnic Group”: An Analysis of Beijing’s Population Optimization Strategy in Southern Xinjiang
Authors: Zenz Adrian
Published: June 2021

Chinese academics and politicians in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have argued that the region’s “terrorism” problem can only be solved by “optimizing” southern Xinjiang’s ethnic population structure. High Uyghur population concentrations are deemed a national security threat. “Optimizing” such concentrations is achieved by embedding substantial Han populations. Scenarios that do not overburden the region’s population carrying capacity entail drastic reductions in ethnic minority natural population growth. The intent to “optimize” the population serves as a basis to assess the intent to destroy an ethnic minority population in part, as outlined in the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention. The “destruction in part” is assessed as the difference between projected natural population growth without substantial government interference, and reduced growth scenarios in line with population “optimization” requirements. Based on population projections conducted by Chinese researchers, this difference could range between 2.6 and 4.5 million persons by the year 2040.
No evidence of association between HRV and training load in a pool of professional athletes before, during, and after the first COVID-19 lockdown.
Authors: Javaloyes Alejandro , Marinazzo Daniele , Sanabria Daniel , Moya-Ramón Manuel , Lillo-Bevia José Ramón , March Manuel Mateo
Published: June 2021

Objectives: The COVID-19 crisis also affected elite sport severely, as elite athletes either stopped or drastically reduced their training regimen due to the lack of competitions and the mandatory lockdown. The aim of this study was to test whether heart rate variability was a reliable index of training load, which was dramatically altered due to the mandatory lockdown that occurred as a consequence of the COVID-19. Equipment and methods: Training (volume and intensity) and heart rate variability of sixteen professional male (n=8; body mass index = 22.2±2.0) and female cyclists (n=8; body mass index = 20.3±1.1) before (4 weeks), during (7 weeks), and after (4 weeks) the mandatory lockdown in Spain were monitored. Results: Individual analyses showed that the mandatory lockdown caused reliable reductions in training volume in 13 subjects (-96 to -7 % reductions in minutes), that were followed by an increase after the lockdown in all subjects (5 to 270%). In contrast, changes in training load were not homogenous across individuals. Moreover, such changes were not matched by comparable variations in heart rate variability. A mixed model of the heart rate variability as a function of training volume and intensity revealed no significant modulation by these two variables, and subject specific effects on the slope. In this study, we did not find evidence of association between heart rate variability and training load and/or intensity as many previous reports have suggested, even if training conditions changed dramatically overnight.
GREATER EURASIA IN THE NEW POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REALITY
Authors: Kutyrev Georgii
Published: June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has subjected international relations to a severe stress test - at the level of both individual states and multilateral associations. Among the obvious challenges are the economic crisis, the crisis of global governance, the growth of protectionist and isolationist sentiments, the growing military confrontation along the US-China axis. The article focuses on two important areas of integration of the Greater Eurasia project - in the field of defense and security and in the economic sphere in the context of the pandemic. The first part of the article examines the challenges associated with the defense and security sector of Greater Eurasia, using the example of military cooperation between China and Russia. It is concluded that by 2016, an «average» level of military interaction had been achieved in Russian-Chinese relations, which opens up opportunities for further integration. However, given that relations between the two great powers are built on the basis of respect for national interests and sovereign equality, further military integration of Russia and China is being questioned. It is noted that in the face of growing contradictions between the PRC and the United States, the pandemic contributed to a more self-confident and assertive behavior of Beijing in the foreign arena. The second part of the article examines the economic and geographical dimension of the integration of Greater Eurasia on the example of relations between the Russian Federation and the PRC in the trade and economic sphere. It is indicated that the absence of an agreement on an additional reduction in oil production between Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC+ countries and the corresponding collapse of oil prices have a significant impact on the development of economic integration in Greater Eurasia. Scenarios for the further economic development of this regional international community after the pandemic are proposed.
NON-MILITARY SECURITY POLICY IN GREATER EURASIA: DO THE LEADING POWERS CONCUR?
Authors: Bratersky Maxim
Published: June 2021

The concept of Greater Eurasia is substantially a network concept inviting the multiplication of the number and quality of nods in Eurasian space. Presently it does not imply integration but proposes the growth of trade, investment, and cultural ties. The main impediment to the expansion of interlinks between the countries of the continent are differences in the approaches to security matters including soft security. This article focuses on security, and it will concentrate on the compatibility of soft security stances by most important Eurasian actors: China, Russia, and the European Union. Since military-political security is a particular and separate field, and because of the evolution of security concepts in recent years, the article will focus on non-military security, specifically on economic, technological, ecological, and societal security.
HEGEMONIC NATIONALIST MATRICES OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE OF THE BALKANS
Authors: Biserko Sonya
Published: June 2021

The article examines the features of public attitudes, national consciousness and foreign policy of Serbia in the context of its relationship with the countries of the Western Balkans. On the basis of modern Serbian scientific literature and opinion piece, the author analyzes the current crisis state of Serbian society, which was the result of the policy of S. Milošević and the heirs of the ideas of Serbian nationalism. The main attention is paid to Serbia’s relations with the newly formed states after the collapse of the SFRY - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia - from the point of view of the problem of joining of these countries the EU and NATO. The author analyzes the political and psychological atmosphere in Serbian society, the moods and plans of the authorities of modern Serbia, as well as the views of the right-wing nationalist politicians and scientists in relation to neighboring states. The study acquaints the reader with Serbia’s foreign policy plans and their results in the context of the formation of a new national identity based on the «Saint Sava myth», Serbian Orthodoxy and Serbian ethnic nationalism. An important place in the formation of Serbian identity is occupied by the revision of the concept of the history of Yugoslavia, which leads to the deformation of historical consciousness and the dominance of ethno-national identity over all other types of identity, and above all, over civic identity. The author believes that the new identity now being formed in Serbia leads to the rejection of modern reforms based on the rule of law, human rights, pluralism and tolerance. The author concludes that for stabilization in the Balkans it is necessary to find a point of integration common to all peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of their nationality. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a key link in the process of stabilizing the region. But all the other states of the Western Balkans are facing the same task. The researcher examines the role of Russia in the domestic life and foreign policy of Serbia and, in general, in the Western Balkans region, which has not yet resolved the problems of the transition period.
THE PROBLEM OF THE EU INTEGRATION OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES AND THE EU ENLARGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE VALUE MODEL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: Knyazeva Svetlana
Published: June 2021

The article examines a wide range of the problems associated with the boundless enlargement of the European Union which makes it possible to place the Balkans in the context of general European development. To become a member of the EU is the important goal of the post-socialist countries of the Balkans/South-Eastern Europe. Bulgaria, Romania, and the post-Yugoslavian states of Slovenia and Croatia became full members of the EU. Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania are still at different stages of integration into the European community. This accession is the logical completion of the processes of social, political, economic and legal transformation of the Balkan countries, in which they themselves and the European Union as a whole and its individual member states are interested for reasons of geopolitics and geoeconomics. However, the accession to Europe (or the return to Europe) of the Balkan states with their authoritarian and socialist past includes not only the reform of the economic, political and legal systems, but also a change in value orientations. While in the states of the so-called «founding fathers» of the EU a Western European corporate civic identity is being formed, in the countries of the former Eastern Europe and the Balkan region, ethnic identity remains remains largely in the mainstream of public consciousness. The author examines axiological, ideological and psychological aspects of the accession of post-socialist countries to the EU, and also analyzes specific foreign policy problems associated with this process and the role of regional international organizations in the «europeanization» of the Balkans and in the settlement of ethnic and interstate conflicts in the region that still remain acute. Negative tendencies, first of all - the strengthening of populist sentiments and the coming to power of politicians reflecting these sentiments, pose challenges and threats not only to the European Union, but also to Russia.
СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ТРЕБОВАНИЯ К ВОЕННО-ПАТРИОТИЧЕСКОМУ ВОСПИТАНИЮ МОЛОДЕЖИ В УЗБЕКИСТАНЕ
Authors: Rozimova E.
Published: June 2021

В статье рассматриваются значение, задачи, направления, формы и методы военно-патриотического воспитания молодежи. Обосновывается подход к пониманию и реализации военно-патриотического воспитания молодежи как комплексной образовательной технологии. Статья предоставлена автором для публикации в бюллетене «Россия и мусульманский мир»
ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ ИСЛАМСКОГО ВИРТУАЛЬНОГО ТУРИЗМА
Authors: Mezhevnikova O.P.
Published: June 2021

В статье раскрываются особенности становления религиозного (исламского) виртуального туризма. Важность разработки системы туристского религиозного виртуального пространства обусловлена необходимостью соответствовать инновационным процессам, затрагивающим современные технологии виртуальной реальности, особенно актуальным в период пандемии. Автором была предпринята попытка проследить влияние технологий виртуальной реальности на создание виртуальных религиозных (исламских) туров и экскурсий. Проведенный сравнительный анализ позволил проследить преимущества и недостатки традиционного и виртуального религиозного туризма. Статья предоставлена автором для публикации в бюллетене «Россия и мусульманский мир»
THE PROBLEM OF ETHNIC KURDS IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN REGION: THE HISTORY OF ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION
Authors: karimov Farhod
Published: June 2021

This article examines the problem of the Kurds in ensuring regional stability and security in the Middle East, the history of this problem in comparison with the history of the countries of the region in the 14-19 centuries. The analysis of the facts presented in the historical literature about the Kurds is carried out. The attitude of the Middle East countries to these issues, the factor of external power in this matter, the relationship of the problem with other confessional problems in the region are also being studied.
IS IT POSSIBLE THE AGING?
Authors: Bobrova Lyubov , Glukhov Sergei
Published: June 2021

The review, based on modern scientific sources, briefly discusses the problems and aspects of immortality and the nature of aging.