bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Biomarkers, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach in Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease—A Narrative Review
Authors: Florescu Alesandra , Gherghina Florin Liviu , Mușetescu Anca Emanuela , Pădureanu Vlad , Roșu Anca , Florescu Mirela Marinela , Criveanu Cristina , Florescu Lucian-Mihai , Bobircă Anca
Published: June 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a systemic inflammatory disease marked by polyarthritis which affects the joints symmetrically, leading to progressive damage of the bone structure and eventually joint deformity. Lung involvement is the most prevalent extra-articular feature of RA, affecting 10–60% of patients with this disease. In this review, we aim to discuss the patterns of RA interstitial lung disease (ILD), the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ILD in RA, and also the therapeutic challenges in this particular extra-articular manifestation. The pathophysiology of RA-ILD has been linked to biomarkers such as anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), MUC5B mutation, Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6), and other environmental factors such as smoking. Patients at the highest risk for RA-ILD and those most likely to advance will be identified using biomarkers. The hope is that finding biomarkers with good performance characteristics would help researchers better understand the pathophysiology of RA-ILD and, in turn, lead to the development of tailored therapeutics for this severe RA manifestation.
Analysis of Parkinson’s Disease Outpatient Counselling for Advance Directive Creation: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Survey of German General Practitioners and Neurologists
Authors: Jensen Ida , Bretschneider Almut , Stiel Stephanie , Wegner Florian , Höglinger Günter U. , Klietz Martin
Published: June 2022

A major proportion of people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) in Germany has written an advance directive (AD). Unfortunately, these ADs are unclear for PD-specific endpoints. We previously established consensus-based recommendations for disease-specific content of an AD in PwP. However, the implementation of those recommendations and the consulting of AD creation and modification in PwP remains to be evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the practical use of PD-specific recommendations for ADs in outpatient settings. A total of 87 physicians (45 general practitioners (GPs) and 42 neurologists, 10% response rate) answered a self-constructed semiquantitative questionnaire. The participants were asked to evaluate the suggested PD-specific recommendations for ADs and the supply of palliative care in the outpatient setting. Overall, the vast majority of treating physicians agreed on the usefulness of the newly constructed PD-specific recommendations. Consultations to discuss information about PD-specific ADs were scarce with short durations. Only 24% of participating physicians implemented the PD-specific recommendations in their daily practice. GPs and neurologists agreed on the benefit of disease-specific recommendations for ADs. In future, a more general integration of these recommendations in routine care might improve specific AD creation of PwP and advanced care planning.
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) from Brain Imaging to Behaviour and Perception
Authors: Castro Patricia , Bancroft Matthew J. , Arshad Qadeer , Kaski Diego
Published: June 2022

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common cause of chronic dizziness associated with significant morbidity, and perhaps constitutes the commonest cause of chronic dizziness across outpatient neurology settings. Patients present with altered perception of balance control, resulting in measurable changes in balance function, such as stiffening of postural muscles and increased body sway. Observed risk factors include pre-morbid anxiety and neuroticism and increased visual dependence. Following a balance-perturbing insult (such as vestibular dysfunction), patients with PPPD adopt adaptive strategies that become chronically maladaptive and impair longer-term postural behaviour. In this article, we explore the relationship between behavioural postural changes, perceptual abnormalities, and imaging correlates of such dysfunction. We argue that understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of PPPD necessitates an integrated methodological approach that is able to concurrently measure behaviour, perception, and cortical and subcortical brain function.
Introducing the Electronic Knowledge Framework into the Traditional Automotive Suppliers’ Industry: From Mechanical Engineering to Mechatronics
Authors: Gumiel Jose Ángel , Mabe Jon , Jiménez Jaime , Barruetabeña Jon
Published: June 2022

The automotive sector is undergoing radical changes. New trends such as electrification, autonomous driving, connectivity, and car-sharing—to name a few—are disturbing the carmakers, which must satisfy their clients while meeting the increasingly strict environmental regulations. This pressure also falls on automotive parts suppliers, which now are asked to manufacture high-added-value integral systems, while struggling to keep a very adjusted price. As traditional automotive components evolve into electronic systems, suppliers must gain digital mastery to remain competitive. This paper presents different ways of introducing e-skills in a company and illustrates this with some examples from the Basque automotive industry. The aim is to encourage corporations to take the step towards digitalization, providing different options for them to choose the one that best suits their current scenario. For this study we have analyzed the literature and the press releases of the component manufacturers and interviewed staff from some of them. This research seeks to provide solutions so that the automotive sector remains competitive, as it is a strategic sector for the economy and employment.
Deep Eutectic Solvents Enhance Stability of Ag/AgCl Solid State Miniaturised Reference Electrode
Authors: Alabdullah Sahar S. M. , Abass Amina M. , Salman Huda Ghalib
Published: June 2022

A new class of solid-state miniaturised reference electrodes with a deep eutectic solvent as an alternate enhancement electrode system is described. A simple and accurate stable electrochemical sensor was prepared by developing a conventional reference electrode using an Ag/AgCl planar micro-reference electrode covered with a PVC polymer. A conductive deep eutectic solvent (DES), ethaline, was added in small quantities and mixed with an internal electrolyte to maintain the Cl− ion concentration in the constructed electrode. The fabricated microelectrode showed good stability, reproducibility, and long-term stability against varying concentrations of different ions. The potential response of the fabricated microelectrode was studied under varying concentrations of Cl− ions in the presence of 0.1 to 1.0% DES in a concentrated electrolyte system (20 mM Na2SO4). The stability of the fabricated microelectrode was addressed against Br− and Cl− ions using different inorganic salts, and the potential measurements were found to be insensitive toward all responsive ions. The stability response of the fabricated microelectrode against Cl− ions was optimised in the presence of 1.0% DES. The experimental data showed good agreement with the potential change of the fabricated electrode in the presence of the supporting DES electrolyte. The liquid junction-free PVC solid-state miniaturised reference electrode demonstrated a constant potentiometric measurement over a long period of time. The concentrated supporting DES electrolyte solution (20 mM) exhibited better stability values and was a more suitable fabricated microelectrode than other additive concentrations. The long-term stability of the developed microelectrode displayed a good lifetime and high stability of around 60 days.
Neurological Surveillance in Moderate-Late Preterm Infants—Results from a Dutch–Canadian Survey
Authors: Krüse-Ruijter Martine F. , Boswinkel Vivian , Consoli Anna , Nijholt Ingrid M. , Boomsma Martijn F. , de Vries Linda S. , van Wezel-Meijler Gerda , Leijser Lara M.
Published: June 2022

Preterm birth remains an important cause of abnormal neurodevelopment. While the majority of preterm infants are born moderate-late preterm (MLPT; 32–36 weeks), international and national recommendations on neurological surveillance in this population are lacking. We conducted an observational quantitative survey among Dutch and Canadian neonatal level I–III centres (June 2020–August 2021) to gain insight into local clinical practices on neurological surveillance in MLPT infants. All centres caring for MLPT infants designated one paediatrician/neonatologist to complete the survey. A total of 85 out of 174 (49%) qualifying neonatal centres completed the survey (60 level I–II and 25 level III centres). Admission of MLPT infants was based on infant-related criteria in 78/85 (92%) centres. Cranial ultrasonography to screen the infant’s brain for abnormalities was routinely performed in 16/85 (19%) centres, while only on indication in 39/85 (46%). In 57/85 (67%) centres, neurological examination was performed at least once during admission. Of 85 centres, 51 (60%) followed the infants’ development post-discharge, with follow-up duration ranging from 1–52 months of age. The survey showed a wide variety in neurological surveillance in MLPT infants among Dutch and Canadian neonatal centres. Given the risk for short-term morbidity and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities, future studies are required to investigate best practices for in-hospital care and follow-up of MLPT infants.
Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument into the Italian Language
Authors: Trisolino Giovanni , Stallone Stefano , Zarantonello Paola , Evangelista Andrea , Boarini Manila , Faranda Cordella Jacopo , Lerma Luca , Veronesi Luisa , Guerra Cosma Caterina , Sangiorgi Luca , Di Gennaro Giovanni Luigi , Toniolo Renato Maria
Published: June 2022

(1) Background: The Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) is an English-language questionnaire specifically designed to assess health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal disorders. This scoring system has been translated into several languages. Given the lack of an Italian version of the PODCI, this study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and assess the psychometric properties of the PODCI score in the Italian pediatric population. (2) Methods: The PODCI questionnaire was culturally adapted to Italian patients in accordance with the literature guidelines. The study included 59 participants from a single orthopedic institution who underwent orthopedic surgery for various skeletal conditions. The questionnaire was administered to participants at multiple time-points (T0, T1, T2). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between T0 and T1 assessment. Criterion validity was assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficients between PODCI and the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS). Responsiveness was evaluated by the difference between T0 and T2 using the effect size (ES) and the standardized response mean (SRM) calculation. (3) Results: Cronbach’s alpha was acceptable in both the self- and parent-reported versions with values of 0.78 (0.68–0.90) and 0.84 (0.60–0.92), respectively. The ICC fluctuated between 0.31 and 0.89 for self-reported and 0.49 to 0.87 for pediatrics. The Spearman’s r showed a moderate correlation between HSS Pedi-FABS and the “Sport & Physical Functioning” and “Global Functioning” domains. ES and SRM varied from small to moderate across all the domains. (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the Italian version of the PODCI, translated following the international standardized guidelines, is reliable, valid, and responsive in pediatric patients who underwent orthopedic surgery.
Does Self-Control Promote Prosocial Behavior? Evidence from a Longitudinal Tracking Study
Authors: Li Jingjing , Chen Yanhan , Lu Jiachen , Li Weidong , Zhen Shuangju , Zhang Dan
Published: June 2022

Although numerous researches have shown that self-control is a significant promoter of prosocial behavior, the mechanism behind this relationship is still unclear. According to the organism–environment interaction model and self-control model, this study researched whether life satisfaction played a mediating role between self-control and adolescents’ prosocial behavior and if friendship quality played a moderating role between self-control and prosocial behavior. This study used a longitudinal tracking research (T1&T2; and the interval between T1&T2 is 6 months). A total of 1182 Chinese middle school students participated the survey. They were between 12 and 15 years old (average age: 14.16 years old, SD = 1.29). Results indicated that life satisfaction played a mediating role between self-control and adolescents’ prosocial behavior. Furthermore, this direct relationship in the link between self-control and prosocial behavior was significant when adolescents had a good-quality friendship. These results highlight that life satisfaction plays an important role in the relationship between self-control and prosocial behavior. The present study further determined that a high-quality friendship was an important factor that amplified this direct effect.
Criteria of heart rate variability in the assessment of operative reconstructions of vegetative homeostasis in workers of harmful productions of the electrical industry
Authors:   Yaroslavl State Medical University, Yaroslavl, Russia, Kulibina Olga Valer'evna , Ivanova Inna Viktorovna ,   Yaroslavl State Medical University, Yaroslavl, Russia, Pleshchev Igor’ Evgen'evich ,   Yaroslavl State Medical University, Yaroslavl, Russia, Skobeleva Tatyana Nikolaevna ,   Yaroslavl State Medical University, Yaroslavl, Russia
Published: June 2022

The article presents the results of the assessment of the functional state of the organism in workers of harmful industries of the electrical industry of Rybinsk. The complex influence of harmful production factors on the system of regulation of cardiac activity in employees of the enterprise has been revealed. It is proved that the workers of group I (production using rubber compounds) The wave characteristics of heart rate variability (HRV) are reduced compared to the control (group III), which indicates a decrease in the current functional state. The wave characteristics of HRV in group II workers (production using plastics and polyethylene) have a decrease at the beginning of their work and an increase in spectral capacities with a work experience of 5–10 years compared to group III. The results obtained show that certain HRV values in group I are characteristic of the older age group and indicate a high degree of vulnerability to environmental factors.
LABOR CODE: 20 YEARS LATER
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Moscow, Russia, Safonov A.L.
Published: June 2022

The aim of the paper is to determine and assess the scope and nature of the main changes to the Labor Code in the period from 2000 to 2022, and the degree of their impact on socio-economic processes in Russia. As methods of scientific research, the author applies empirical and statistical analysis, deduction, content analysis of scientific publications, and the method of logical generalization to formulate conclusions and recommendations. The main stages of the transformation of the legal regulation of the system of remuneration of public sector employees and the impact of the Labor Code on the dynamics of the minimum wage are identified and characterized. Legal trends in the field of improving the employment contract and regulating flexible forms of employment are analyzed. Innovations in the field of regulation of the work of athletes and coaches, the use of the practice of agency and remote work are considered. The unresolved issues of protecting the labor rights of workers are touched upon. The author attempts to determine the degree of influence of the digitalization of the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic on the provisions of the Labor Code, as well as to assess the effectiveness of the legal regulation of labor in these conditions. As a result of the study, the main directions for improving the Russian labor legislation were identified, and the strengths and weaknesses of this process. The paper concludes that while maintaining the provisions in the Labor Code that have proven their effectiveness in the field of regulation of labor relations, the Labor Code is a living, regularly updated mechanism. The author suggests possible strategies for reforming labor legislation.
PRACTICE OF CONCLUDING INDUSTRY AGREEMENTS OF SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP: SUSTAINABLE TRENDS AND PROSPECTS FOR CHANGE
Authors:   All-Russian Research Institute of Labor, Moscow, Russia, Menshikova O.I.
Published: June 2022

The subject of the study is the modern vision of the prospects for the development and improvement of the multilevel system of social part- nership in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the special role in the system of the social partnership of sectoral agreements concluded at the federal, regional, and territorial levels, and their close institutional and organizational connection with collective agreements concluded at enterprises of the relevant sectors of the economy. The relevance of the study is due to the increasing importance of social partnership as the most flexible mechanism for regulating social and labor relations in conditions of economic turbulence. The scientific novelty consists in generalizing the practice of concluding sectoral agreements, which gives an idea not only about the state of collective-contractual regulation of social and labor relations in the sectoral context, but also allows identifying local features, as well as individual problems of the functioning of the social partnership system as a whole. The research methods are analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and a systematic approach. Results: the untapped potential of sectoral agreements is revealed, objective and subjective factors limiting the possibilities of effective development of social partnership are characterized, and their dynamics and the degree of influence on the completeness and content of concluded contracts and agreements are shown. The materials contained in the study can be used by federal and regional executive authorities, all-Russian, regional and branch associations of employers, and all-Russian, regional and branch trade unions in the negotiation process when concluding social partnership agreements and forming state and corporate social policy.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND FREELANCE: EMPLOYEES ADAPTING TO THE MODERN LABOR MARKET
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, Razumova T.O. , Kirsanova N.M. ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
Published: June 2022

The object of the research is the phenomenon of self-employment in Russia. The aim of the article is to identify the key factors influencing the choice of non-standard types of employment for employees to realize their professional skills and abilities, and also to form an image of the modern self-employed and freelancer on their basis. The authors apply the following methods of scientific research: analysis of scientific and other sources, surveys, statistical analysis of empirical data, and mathematical modeling. As a result of the study based on 453 observations using the analysis of means and medians, the authors attempt to characterize the modern freelancer, self-employed, employee, entrepreneur and employee who has an additional source of income in addition to employment. The study also identifies factors that influence the decision of an employee to give preference to one form of employment or another, the main differences between a self-employed person and a freelancer, an entrepreneur and an employee. One of the main conclusions of the study is that the form of employment chosen by an employee depends not only on the specifics of this type of employment but to a large extent on its individual characteristics. The research results may be used to design a targeted socio-economic policy to stimulate self-employment and determine the most effective measures to support certain particularly needy groups of the population.
The Intrusion Detection System by Deep Learning Methods: Issues and Challenges
Authors: Surakhi Ola , García Antonio , Jamoos Mohammed , Alkhanafseh Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are one of the major research application problems in the computer security domain. With the increasing number of advanced network attacks, the improvement of the traditional IDS techniques become a challenge. Efficient ways and methods of identifying, protecting, and analyzing data are needed. In this paper, a comprehensive survey on the application of Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) methods on the IDS to increase detection accuracy and reduce error rate is proposed. The recent research papers that have been published between 2018 and 2021 in the area of applying ML and DL in the IDS are analyzed and summarized. Four main analyzing aspects are presented as follows: (1) IDS concepts and taxonomy. (2) The strength and weaknesses of ML and DL methods. (3) IDS benchmark datasets. (4) Comprehensive review of the most recent articles that used ML and DL to improve IDS with highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each work. Based on the analysis of the literature review papers, a framework for the application of ML and DL in the IDS is proposed. Finally, the current limitations are discussed and future research directions are provided.
Analyzing the Effect of Driving Speed on the Performance of Roundabouts
Authors: Shatnawi Ahmad , Drine Abderraouf , Al-Zinati Mohammad , Althebyan Qutaibah
Published: June 2022

Roundabouts are introduced at intersections to improve traffic flow and enhance safety. Nevertheless, studies and field observations demonstrated that roundabouts, due to their special design, could significantly affect the efficiency of the overall traffic network, especially in the case of increased traffic volumes. For this reason, researchers and practitioners have conducted several studies to alleviate the negative impact of saturated traffic. In these studies, different characteristics of traffic flow and roundabout topologies are analyzed to show their impact on the overall performance. In this paper, we present two simulation studies to investigate the effect of driving speed on the performance of roundabouts with different geometrical characteristics. The results from the two case studies indicate that speed control and the distribution of traffic volumes on the arms of the roundabout are two important factors that affect the performance of roundabouts. Moreover, the results also show that the driving speed factor correlates with roundabouts' geometrical characteristics. Further, the individual driving behavior plays a major role in the performance of roundabouts
Assesing The Stability And Selection Performance Of Feature Selection Methods Under Different Data Complexity
Authors: Al Hosni Omaimah , Starkey Andrew
Published: June 2022

Our study aims to investigate the stability and the selection accuracy of feature selection performance under different data complexity. The motivation behind this investigation is that there are significant contributions in the research community from examining the effect of complex data characteristics such as overlapping classes or non-linearity of the decision boundaries on the classification algorithm's performance; however, relatively few studies have investigated the stability and the selection accuracy of feature selection methods with such data characteristics. Also, this study is interested in investigating the interactive effects of the classes overlapped with other data challenges such as small sample size, high dimensionality, and imbalance classes to provide meaningful insights into the root causes for feature selection methods misdiagnosing the relevant features among different real-world data challenges. This analysis will be extended to real-world data to guide the practitioners and researchers in choosing the correct feature selection methods that are more appropriate for a particular dataset. Our study outcomes indicate that using feature selection techniques with datasets of different characteristics may generate different subsets of features under variations to the training data showing that small sample size and overlapping classes have the highest impact on the stability and selection accuracy of feature selection performance, among other data challenges that have been investigated in this study. Also, in this study, we will provide a survey on the current state of research in the feature selection stability context to highlight the area that requires more attention for other researchers.
FEAR OF FALLING AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HUE COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Thuy Linh , Nguyen Phuong Mai
Published: June 2022

Background: Fear of falling (FoF) causes several detrimental effects on elderly’s physical and mental health, which diminishes the elderly to perform daily activities that they are capable of. Hence, having an insight knowledge into fear of falling and its related factors among senior citizens could carry better implications on fall preventions. Objectives: To indicate prevalence of fear of falling and to investigate the associated factors of fear of falling among the elderly in Hue city. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 427 community-dwelling older adults in Hue City. Using Fall Efficacy Scale – International (FES-I) and The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) to assess levels of fear of falling and independence of older adults perform daily living activities. Logistics regression analysis was used to investigate the association between fear of falling and related factors. Results: The prevalence of high fear of falling among community-dwelling elderly was 42.9%, among which walking on a slippery and an uneven surface were two main activities that older adults concerned. There were significantly associations between high fear of falling and female, physical activities, sedentary lifestyle, walking difficulty and environmental discomfort (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Fear of falling among community-dwelling elderly was relatively prevalent. Elderly heathcare programs should encourage seniors to lead a healthy lifestyle and ensure environment safety to reduce the burden of falls.
Key words: fear of falling, FES-I, community-dwelling elderly, Hue city
STUDY OF BLEEDING PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF CRUSADE AND NCDR CATHPCI SCORES AFTER PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION
Authors: Nguyen Hai Cuong , Nguyen Cuu Loi , Le Thi Bich Thuan
Published: June 2022

Background: After percutaneous coronary intervention, bleeding is a unlikely but frequent complication and it can increase the severity and mortality rate. This study is carried out to determine the bleeding predictive validity of CRUSADE and NCDR CathPCI scores in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients: 1.160 patients who were diagnosed with coronary diseases underwent PCI. Methods: A prospective observational study. Results: The bleeding rate was 3.4%. The AUC of the CRUSADE and NCDR CathPCI was 0.777 (95%CI: 0.705 – 0.849) and 0.759 (95% CI: 0.694 – 0.824). Conclusion: CRUSADE and NCDR CathPCI scores showed a good bleeding predictive validity with high sensitivity and specificity.

Key words: bleeding, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), CRUSADE, NCDR Cath PCI.
VALUE OF CANUKA IN RISK STRATIFICATION IN PATIENTS WITH NON-VARICEAL UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING
Authors: Dang Huy Hoang , Tran Van Huy
Published: June 2022

"Background & aims: Guidelines recommend using prognostic scales for risk stratification in patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, scoring system accuracy is suboptimal, and score calculation can be complex. A scoring system is needed to identify patients at risk of adverse outcomes and patients at low risk of harm. CANUKA is a new risk stratification score, developed in 2018. Until now, have not study validated the score yet. The aims of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the CANUKA score system for risk stratification in patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: Between 6/2019 and 6/2020 we prospectively recruited 106 patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We performed area under the receiver operating characteristic analyses to test the ability of CANUKA to identify patients who died or had rebleeding, surgical/radiologic intervention to control bleeding, need for therapeutic endoscopy, and transfusion-a poor outcome was defined as 1 or more of these outcomes. Patients at low
risk of a poor outcome (safe for management as an outpatient) were identified based on lack of transfusion, rebleeding, therapeutic endoscopy, interventional radiology/surgery, or death. Results: A threshold CANUKA score of 6 or more was best at predicting combined poor outcome, the AUROC was 0.855% with a sensitivity of 86% specificity of 73.2% positive predictive value of 74.1%, and negative predictive value of 85.4%. The AUROC of the CANUKA for predicting need for therapeutic endoscopy, rebleeding, RBC transfusion, and surgical/radiologic intervention to control bleeding, or mortality ware 0.743, 0.902, 0.84%, 0.82 respectively. Identifying low-risk patients, a threshold CANUKA score of ≤ 2, the CANUKA has sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 7.14%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 49.0%%. Comparison of the CANUKA with the Glasgow–Blatchford Score, the CANUKA score had a statistically significantly higher AUROC for predicting the combined poor outcome (AUROC=0.855 vs AUROC= 0.831; p=0.003). CANUKA had higher
sensitivity than the GBS in identifying Low-Risk Patients (100% vs 98%), but the specificity was lower (7.14% vs 19.64%). Conclusions: The efficacy of the CANUKA score system for risk stratification in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding was higher than Glasgow–Blatchford Score."

Key words: non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, Canuka
An examination of perched Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus singing on one leg
Authors: Nyström K G Kenneth
Published: June 2022

Territory-holding male Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus stood on one leg when they were singing at song posts for extended periods of time. The other leg was tucked in the breast plumage and not visible. The length of time spent on a twig was positively correlated to the use of unipedal stance. Observed birds spent longer pose time perched on one leg than on two legs. The right leg and the left leg were used at similar frequencies. The reason for this behaviour might be to save energy, by reducing heat loss through the skin of the tucked leg.
Conservation measures for the Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia at the largest colony in Sweden
Authors: Lötberg Ulrik , Isaksson Natalie , Söderlund Lennart , Åkesson Susanne
Published: June 2022

We present conservation actions during 2007–2020 as part of the national Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia species action plan at Stenarna in the Björn archipelago, Uppland, the largest colony in Sweden. We applied a combination of monitoring, research, and management measures conducted within an adaptive approach framework, using both established and novel techniques. The implementation of conservation measures led to increased breeding success, from 0 fledglings per pair in 2007 to 1.3 in 2020. A surveillance video camera installed in 2009 aided in monitoring efforts and also revealed predation by Herring Gull Larus argentatus and White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, leading to species-specific control strategies. Management of the island and surrounding archipelago, including hunting of invasive American mink Mustela vison, vegetation removal, and habitat restoration after a severe storm, have also been instrumental to the success of the project. Implementation of projects such as this have the potential to improve conditions for continued viability of endangered species in a changing world and are likely to be useful to other conservation practitioners.
Two novel use-cases for non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Authors: Pfeiffer Alexander , Denk Natalie , Wernbacher Thomas , Bezzina Stephen , Vella Vince , Dingli Alexiei
Published: June 2022

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTa) can either represent an original digital artwork, or act as a digital reference to the actual work. In both as digital references to the actual work. In both cases the record in the distributed ledger, mostly a blockchain-based database, intends to serve as a proof of ownership or transfer of rights. NFTs might also add a further purpose, which in blockchain terms is referred to as “a utility", such as access to special websites, chats or clubs in emerging metaverse platforms. This use-case paper presents a first introduction of two early stage demonstrators, set outside the common use of art images or images of historical events as NFTs. The first case shows how educational credentials can be created, in which different teachers contribute to assessment achievements. We elaborate how these partial achievements are verified separately within the actual credentials. In the second case study, we build on previous research in regard to NFTs in the music industry and show the combination of physical vinyl record special editions, in our case vinyls signed by the band, and the ownership certificate as NFT. For both demonstrators we used, in different settings, the crypto art platform NFTmagic and the blockchain-token wallet Sigbro. We developed and tested the results within the setting of a roleplay as a group and show how blockchain technologies and especially NFTs can be made useful in new ways, inspired by the ongoing process of discovering risks and opportunities in ‘crypto art’, thus initiating discussion on the topic and effectively bridging the cybersecurity and (digital) art communities.
Researching Graduated Cyber Security Students – Reflecting Employment and Job Responsibilities through NICE framework
Authors: Saharinen Karo , Viinikanoja Jarmo , Huotari Jouni
Published: June 2022

Most research and development on Cyber Security education is currently focusing on what should be taught, how much, and where within the degree programmes. Different Cyber Security frameworks are currently evolving to include Cyber Security education parallel to older paradigms of Computing Education, existing alongside with such as “Information Technology” and “Software Engineering”. Different Cyber Security specialisations or even whole degree programmes have started within universities before the frameworks have been defined into standardised degree structures. This is mainly the result of a dire industry need of well-educated cyber security personnel, a phenomenon affecting the industry globally.

Our research concentrates on Finnish alumni students who have already graduated from a bachelor’s degree programme in Information Technology with a specialisation in Cyber Security in Finland. Within our gathered research data, we analysed what is the industry sector where their current job resides, and what are the cyber security responsibilities in their current work. The questionnaire also contained an after-reflection section where the graduated students could choose what they would study were they about to start and plan their studies again.

The results verify that Cyber Security is still the most favoured specialisation within the former Cyber Security alumni students. Slight variation is evident from the data, which in the authors’ perspective, verifies the multifaceted nature of Cyber Security. When analysing alumni students’ job responsibilities, the main category of work resides in the “Protect and Defend” category of the NICE Framework, which in the terms of the conference, relates to Critical Infrastructure Protection being the main subject of employment for fresh graduates.

These results give insight to other education organisations on how to develop their curricula to further emphasise the employment of students or to offer modules which are of interest for newly employed Cyber Security professionals. In addition, it gives an insight of industry demand for freshly graduated students within the target group.
Combining System Integrity Verification with Identity and Access Management
Authors: Kylänpää Markku , Salonen Jarno
Published: June 2022

Digital transformation and the utilization of Industrial IoT (IIoT) introduces numerous interconnected devices to factories increasing among others the challenge of managing their software versions and giving attackers new possibilities to exploit various software vulnerabilities.

Factory networks were earlier isolated from the Internet. However, this separation is no longer valid and there can be connections that allow intruders to penetrate into information systems of factories. Another issue is that although factories typically are physically isolated, it is not necessarily safe to assume that physical security is in good shape as the novel supply networks comprise subcontracted activities and temporary work force. Another threat can also arise from unauthorized monitoring of devices and the unauthorized replacement of existing ones.

Based on the previous, it is crucial that IIoT security should be built into factories of the future (FoF) right from the design phase and even low-end devices need to be supported. Trusted computing concept called remote attestation should be used. Remote attestation allows remote parties to verify the integrity of each system component. System components should include trusted hardware components that can be used to measure executable software. The term measurement means calculating the cryptographic hash of the binary component before passing control to it. Trusted hardware components should also have a mechanism to protect the integrity of the measurement list and cryptographic keys that can be used to sign integrity assertions. The verifier part should have a storage of reference integrity metrics identifying the expected values of these measurements.

Deploying trusted computing and remote attestation concepts to industrial automation is not straightforward. Even if it is possible to use remote attestation with suitable hardware components, it is not clear how remote attestation should be integrated with various operational technology (OT) industrial automation protocols. Approaches to use remote attestation with existing industrial automation protocols (e.g., OPC UA) is discussed. Advanced identity and access management (e.g., OAuth2, OpenID Connect) can be used to combine integrity measurements with device identity information so that the remote attestation process is triggered by authentication during the first transaction. The focus is on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications with immutable device identities and integrity evidence transfer.
Responsible Digital Security Behaviour: Definition and Assessment Model
Authors: Maathuis Clara , Chockalingam Sabarathinam
Published: June 2022

Digital landscape transforms remarkably and grows exponentially tackling important societal challenges and needs. In the modern age, futuristic digital concepts are ideated and developed. These digital developments create a diverse pallet of opportunities for organizations and their members like decision makers and financial personnel. Simultaneously, they also introduce different factors that influence users’ behaviour related to digital security. However, no method exists to determine whether users’ behaviour could be considered responsible or not, and in case this behaviour is irresponsible, how it could be managed effectively to avoid negative consequences. Thus far, no attempt was made to investigate this to the best of our knowledge. Then this research aims to: (i) introduce ‘responsible digital security behaviour’ notion, (ii) identify different factors influencing this behaviour, (iii) design a Bayesian Network model that classifies responsible/irresponsible digital security behaviour considering these factors, and (iv) draw recommendations for improving users’ responsible digital security behaviour. To address these, extensive literature review is conducted through technical, ethical, and social lenses in a Design Science Research approach for defining, building, and exemplifying the model. The results contribute to increasing digital security awareness and empowering in a responsible way users’ behaviours and decision-processes involved in developing and adopting new standards, methodologies, and tools in the modern digital era.
The Cyber Era`s Character of War
Authors: Turunen Maija
Published: June 2022

The nature of war is often considered unchanged, although in the cyber era the concept of war, weapon, and fighter have become blurred. Instead, the character of war is constantly changing and is always unique. The character of war is not similar at different battle domains or levels of warfare, which complicates the course of war. A serious deviation from a strategic-level perception of war character in relation to an operational or tactical level perception character of war can result in defeat.

The fog of war has intensified, although the situational awareness of conventional battlefields has clarified due to advances in technology. Technology is a key factor in shaping the war character of the cyber era, depending on the point of view, in 4th or 5th generation warfare. The nature of the next generation warfare and the formation of the character of war may be determined by the Artificial Intelligence or other Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, which itself develops and uses technology or some other technology, not yet known to us.

This paper seeks to find factors that influence the formation of the cyber era`s war character and its transformation in Western and Russian military thinking. The aim is to describe the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of advanced technology in the military purpose. This review is based on the NATO`s and the Russia`s strategy papers. Theoreticallly, this paper draws on the theory of the character of war, which is applied to the question under study through the theory of strategic culture. An integrative literature analysis has been used as the research method.

The key findings of the paper are that Russia and the West share the view that a war-like battle is already under way in the cyberspace. That requires an faster and better capacity to utilize advanced technologies as part of or in support of weapons systems. Russia and the West are struggling with the moral, legal, and technical problems associated with the use of advanced technology, but are aware of its necessity in the cyber warfare.
Obstacles on the Path to the Internet of Things: The Digital Divide
Authors: Gray John
Published: June 2022

The Internet of Things holds has the potential to provide an array of technological benefits and online resources to individual users and society in general. However, the Digital Divide, the gap between information computing technology (ICT) and those who can effectively take advantage of it, presents challenges to the global implementation of the Internet of Things. Factors contributing to the Digital Divide include lack of broadband access, cost of ICT, user socioeconomic challenges, user security concerns, and political or governmental restrictions.
Expectations And Mindsets Related To GDPR
Authors: Hirvonen Pauliina
Published: June 2022

The aim of this qualitative case study is to examine the initial expectations and assumptions related to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union from the perspectives of selected Finnish organizations: what were the initial expectations of GDPR, how were they adapted/refined over time, and what was the impact on organizational planning and resourcing. There are no precise earlier studies on the subject. The research question was:  What were the organizations’ initial expectations of GDPR - and how have they affected the efforts made?  GDPR can be described as an input that forms images, preconceptions and views among other things, through various active and passive communication flows. As the empirical results indicate GDPR has been a legal issue, mainly due to the inadequate and unspecific active, official, communication flows. As a result, organizations have experienced difficulties to scale the necessary GDPR efforts. The results of this research can benefit both privacy and information security managers and personnel responsible for aligning policies and practices, and to evaluate organization-specific actions on GDPR compliance. The results can support regulators and authorities in the future GDPR and other policy work and provide ideas for service providers.
Exploring care robots' cybersecurity threats from care robotics specialists’ point of view
Authors: Rajamäki Jyri , Järvinen Marina
Published: June 2022

Care robots can perform tasks related to physical or mental care; assisting in daily tasks or rehabilitation, independently or semi-automatically. Care robots are exploitable in home-care, nursing homes, or other care facilities. Care robots have the potential to solve several challenges related to aging people. However, care robots suffer have similar cybersecurity problems as other information and communication technology (ICT) devices. In addition, the cybersecurity threats of care robots have been studied less than those of industrial robots. This study’s purpose is to map cybersecurity threats related to care robots from the perspective of care robotics specialists. The study consists of thematic interviews of six purposive-selected specialists in care robotics. A semi-structured thematic interview guide based on the literature view of previous studies, facilitates the conversations at the interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, analyzed by deductive content analysis, and the remaining material was analyzed by inductive content analysis. According to the interviewed specialists, care robots’ cybersecurity threats are associated with the same risks and threats as the use of other ICT devices or robots. Most potential threats are considered to be remote access of care robots, spying, and eavesdropping. Network connectivity is seen as the main interface to the realization of cybersecurity threats in care robotics. New features such as artificial intelligence and machine learning are considered to create more opportunities for new threats. Experts also highlight the underlying human factors behind cybercrime. According to the results, more studies exploring the motives for cybercrime against care robots and the potential benefits derived from it are needed to determine the likelihood of the realization of threats to care robots are needed. Cybersecurity is a race against cybercrime and finding a balance between significant and acceptable risks. In the future, a service ecosystem should be developed which guarantees the safety of care robots throughout their life-cycle: during the design and development phase, deployment and user guidance, maintenance, and reuse of the robot. Additionally, it is important to take into account how new robust operating models can withstand failures and how critical services can be secured in the event of a cybersecurity threat.