bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kisspeptins Kiss1 and Kiss2 in fish modulate corticoliberin and gonadoliberin gene expression in brain structures of Danio rerio
Authors: Lizunov Aleksey V. , Blazhenko Alexandra , Komlev Aleksey S. , Petrova Polina E. , Khokhlov Platon P. , Bychkov Eugenii R. , Shabanov Petr D.
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND: The kisspeptin system in the brain is crucial for regulating reproductive functions in humans and animals. In contrast to mammals, the brains of Danio rerio express two types of kisspeptins — Kiss1 and Kiss2. The role of these kisspeptins in hormonal regulation in fish remains an important area of investigation.
AIM: To examine the effects of Kiss1 and Kiss2 on corticoliberin and gonadoliberin gene expression in the midbrain and diencephalon of Danio rerio.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kisspeptins Kiss1 and Kiss2 are oligopeptides consisting of 13 and 9 amino acid residues, respectively. Danio rerio fish were administered intracerebroventricular injections of 1 ng and 4 ng of each peptide at 1 μL volumes. At 1 and 4 hours post-administration, the fish brains were extracted, and the midbrain and diencephalon were isolated as a single complex. Gene expression levels of corticoliberin and gonadoliberin were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
RESULTS: Intracerebroventricular administration of Kiss1 and Kiss2 significantly modulated corticoliberin and gonadoliberin gene expression in the midbrain and diencephalon of Danio rerio. In the group injected with 4 ng of Kiss1, corticoliberin gene expression increased 17- and 65-fold after 4 hours compared to the control groups. In the group administered 1 ng of Kiss2, corticoliberin gene expression increased by 23- and 92-fold compared to the control groups after 1 hour. In the group administered 4 ng of Kiss1, gonadoliberin gene expression decreased threefold compared to the control group euthanized at 1 hour. In the group administered 1 ng of Kiss2, gonadoliberin gene expression decreased fourfold compared to the control group after 1 hour. In the group administered 1 ng of Kiss2, gonadoliberin gene expression decreased threefold compared to the control group after 4 hours.
CONCLUSION: The experimental results reveal that Kiss1 and Kiss2 kisspeptins in Danio rerio stimulate corticoliberin gene expression while suppressing gonadoliberin gene expression in the midbrain and diencephalon.
Insanity Defense Consequences
Authors:   , Kanani Haleh , DeMatteo David S.
Published: January 2025

The insanity defense is rarely used, even more rarely successful, and persistently poorly understood. A half century's worth of research indicates that potential jurors (i.e., members of the general public) harbor misconceptions about the insanity defense, including that defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) are essentially allowed to walk out of the courtroom freely, with no further consequences. Inaccurate beliefs like these threaten to influence juror decision making, as retributivist notions of justice (e.g., a person who does wrong must be punished) and safety concerns (e.g., fear that dangerous defendants will be allowed back into the community) may dissuade jurors from reaching an NGRI verdict, even if the facts of the case demand such a conclusion. For jurors to fulfill their roles as impartial triers of fact, it is critical that they operate with accurate information about the insanity defense. This study examined one potential means of achieving this goal: using jury instructions to inform jurors of the consequences of an NGRI verdict. It utilized a 3-group design to test whether receiving information on NGRI verdict consequences would: (1) decrease the likelihood of jurors reaching a guilty verdict, (2) result in a more accurate understanding of the insanity defense, and (3) result in a more favorable attitude towards the insanity defense. Mock jurors were recruited online, provided a fictional case vignette, and asked to reach a verdict. They also completed validated questionnaires to measure their knowledge of and attitude toward the insanity defense. Results for all hypotheses revealed no significant differences across groups. Possible explanations of these results and suggested future research directions are discussed.
Re-Humanizing Remains
Authors:   , O'Neill Marshall J , Yau Pamela
Published: January 2025

While the practice of removing human remains from view is becoming a standard for anthropological and natural history museums, the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a unique exception. This medical history museum primarily displays human remains, presenting a unique opportunity for ethical evolution. By studying how other Philadelphia museums use digital interactives, we can envision how the Mütter could implement these digital tools to further context and empathy surrounding human remains. This research is not only a study but also a call to action to inspire the archivists and decision makers at the Mütter and similar institutions to incorporate digital interactives into their permanent exhibits. The goal of providing an interactive experience is to promote a feeling of empathy within museum visitors to view the displays of human remains in a different way. Not just as objects in museums, but rather as individuals who were once living and breathing members of society with families and challenges that the visitor may also experience today. The end goal is to create a full experience of not only seeing the exhibits, but also enhancing the emotional experience that a museum provides. Content Warning: images of actual human remains
Viral-Host Interactions
Authors:   , Su Yih-Ping , Ehrlich Garth D , Earl Joshua P
Published: January 2025

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide and a high percentage of HCC cases have been associated with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Although the integration of HBV proviral DNA is not required for the virus to complete its lifecycle, integrated HBV DNA (iDNA) has been found soon after infection; is frequently reported in HBV-related HCC cases; and is often located adjacent to or within known oncogenes. We and our collaborators previously reported that ground glass hepatocytes (GGH), a likely clonal expansion of HBV infected hepatocytes that display a unique morphology consistent with expression of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) that persist following successful antiviral treatment, harbor iDNA containing pre-S deletion mutations. These observations together suggest that iDNA could be responsible for the consistent expression and accumulation of HBsAg in GGH. Aside from the direct disruption iDNA introduces, we are interested in whether iDNA could alter the host 3D genomic architecture as other integrated viruses had demonstrated such an impact. Therefore, we hypothesize that cis interactions of the HBV DNA with the host chromosomes (i.e. HBV DNA integration) leads to trans (distant site) interactions that alter the 3D chromatin structure, which can contribute to drivers of liver carcinogenesis. To test our hypothesis, we utilized the high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) assay which has been commonly used to dissect 3D conformation of the targeted chromosomes. However, Hi-C was developed and designed for short-read sequencing platforms which makes distinguishing interactions associated specifically with HBV iDNA from other interactions challenging. Thus, we adapted and modified the standard Hi-C protocol, to make it compatible with the PacBio long-read sequencing platform while also making it specific to HBV iDNA. In brief, we accomplished this by replacing the restriction endonuclease used in conventional Hi-C with a more infrequent cutter, incorporated adaptor ligation and amplification, and adapted HBV-targeted hybridization capture for long DNA sequences. Utilizing all these modifications, we successfully adapted the Hi-C technology to long-read platforms providing novel action-at-a-distance information with regard HBV iDNA's noncovalent DNA interactions. These achievements provide for the generation of a more comprehensive view of the viral-host genomic interactions, not only in cell lines, but also for clinical specimens whereby it is now possible to shed light on multiple aspects of iDNA's role in liver carcinogenesis including activation of proto-oncogene as drivers of liver tumorigenesis by both cis and trans mechanisms.
Why or why not dual language education
Authors:   , González Meléndez Marienid , Kelly Kristy
Published: January 2025

Teaching mathematics is inherently complex, requiring a deep understanding of both the subject matter and the pedagogical strategies that foster effective learning. Effective mathematics teachers must possess a robust grasp of the mathematical content they are teaching--a proficiency often honed over years of educational and practical experience. However, research indicates that gaps in this essential content knowledge can significantly impede a teacher's ability to connect classroom learning with real-world applications, thus affecting student outcomes. This phenomenological study explored how teachers conceptualize their mathematical content knowledge and how they see it influencing their ability to translate curriculum into real-world applications, thereby enhancing the relevance of mathematics for their students. The study utilized two primary data collection methods: one-on-one semi-structured interviews and researcher journaling. The interviews provided detailed participant insights while journaling facilitated researcher reflexivity. Four questions guided the research: 1. How do secondary mathematics teachers describe how they developed their mathematical content knowledge? 2. How do secondary mathematics teachers describe how they explore real-world applications and their connections to mathematics? 3. How do secondary mathematics teachers describe how the connections they made between real-world applications and mathematics content knowledge have prepared them to make math curricula relevant to students through real-world application? 4. What factors do mathematics teachers identify as key to preparing them to apply their content knowledge to real-world applications in their teaching? The findings revealed that: 1. Quality and relevant continuous learning and professional development opportunities significantly impacted teachers' ability to connect curriculum to real-world applications. 2. Integrating real-world applications improves student engagement and understanding. 3. Teachers' confidence in their mathematical content knowledge influenced their ability to effectively apply it to real-world applications, which is tied to their educational background, professional experience, and ongoing learning opportunities. 4. Collaboration among teachers, supportive mentorships, and strong professional communities were crucial for effectively applying the curriculum in a real-world context. 5. Pedagogical skills alone are insufficient; teachers also need strong mathematical content knowledge to effectively translate mathematical content into engaging, real-world relevant lessons. This study underscores the importance of comprehensive content knowledge and ongoing professional development in enhancing the practical relevance of mathematics education. Keywords: mathematical content knowledge, professional development, real-world applications, self-efficacy
The global power of the future: renewal of strategic orientations of India
Authors: Nikitin A.I.
Published: January 2025

Largest by the size of population state of the planet India painfully perceives disbalance between its status in a world order and its own ambitions, Indian leadership coins slogans/goals before its government, business and society to obtain a status by the centenary of the independence of the not only “developed” rather than “developing” country, but more: the status of the leading world power with a global role. Searching the status of the world power in the same row with the Global North powers, India simultaneously somewhat contradictory pretends to a role of the leader of the Global South, activation girts role in G20, BRICS, SCO and other international alliances. Historical friendly ties of India with the USSR/Russia continue to have an impact onto the Indian strategy. India considers interaction with Moscow as a “specifically privileged strategic partnership”, continuously rejects from participation in the Western sanctions and anti-Russian statements, assists in overcoming of the sanction limitations. But in the sphere of security policy India reoriented itself towards partnership with the UYSA, values “anti-China” vector in QUAD and AUKJUS alignments. Strengthening of the pro-American policy collides India more and more with China, and endless repeating of the mantra on the “irreconcilability” of the Indian historic and strategic contradictions with China pushed India in direction of strategic alliance with the USA. Relations of India with Russia got somewhat contradictory character as a result of a clash between proponents of the preservation of strategic partnership, economic cooperation and friendship, from one side, and pro-Western Indian politicians and elites, from the other side, who perceive Russia through the prism of the Western accusations and sanctions, also considering Russia to be the ally of adversarial China. Regarding Ukrainian conflict India tries to claim and wage the policy of “neutrality”, zigzagging between the unwillingness to object to the West and unwillingness to lose special strategic relations with Moscow. In a process of globalization of its own horizon new dimensions of the Indian policy emerge: space policy, Arctic policy, ecological policy of building a unique “green” world power and other new orientations.
South African political elite's perception of Russia: social media data sentiment analysis
Authors: Chkoniya L.
Published: January 2025

Although bilateral relations between Russia and South Africa are often described as long-standing and constructive, sentiment towards Moscow amongst South Africa’s political elite varies from party to party. This is particularly evident in statements made on personal social media accounts by African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members on the topic. While there are many ways to analyze bilateral relations between countries, this article focuses on the less common method of social media sentiment analysis. Aggregated data on the topic of Russia from social media posts made by nine prominent South African political figures and one organization (the Department of International Relations and Cooperation) was analyzed, with a particular focus on the ratio of positive, neutral and negative statements, correlations between Russia-related events, the frequency of Russia mentions, as well as topics mentioned most often in the Russian context. The results showed a peak in mentions of Russia in the years before or of Russia-Africa Summits and BRICS events and a predominance of neutral statements towards Russia compared to negative or positive ones. The analyzed social media statements on Russia mainly stayed within the topics of the Russia-Africa Summits, BRICS and the Special Military Operation in Ukraine (for the ANC) and the Special Military Operation and “Troll Farm” issue amongst the opposition, particularly DA members. In addition, the number of mentions seemed to correlate with trade volume, demonstrated most clearly by China’s example. Most of the language on the topic was neutral, which fits into South Africa’s position of non-alignment, meanwhile the majority of posts on the topic were made by DIRCO and President Ramaphosa. The rest of the accounts made little or no mention of Russia and other countries, posting on domestic issues instead.
Russian journals on political science through the prism of bibliometric indicators
Authors: Avdonin V.S. , Meleshkina E.Yu.
Published: January 2025

The article analyzes changes in bibliometric tools for assessing the activities of scientific journals and their role in maintaining and developing scientific communication in modern Russia using the example of political science journals, taking into account the political and scientific information context, as well as the specifics of the scientific discipline. The authors assess the impact of the new Science Index RINTS configuration on the structure of the rating of publications on political topics, and also consider the significance of other bibliometric indicators and expert assessments that are not included in the index. This issue is studied in the problematic field of changes in the external context of Russian science from the point of view of the concept of adaptation of science as a system to the conditions of the external environment, taking into account its relative autonomy. The article shows that changes in the Science Index generally show a tendency to preserve the internal autonomy of science. These changes were based on the motives of ensuring in the structure of the index the assessment of the qualitative level of scientific publications and the focus on taking into account their professionalism. The authors trace the general trend according to which the leading positions in the rating are occupied by the most famous professional journals associated with the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the leading universities of the country. At the same time, the authors also draw attention to some controversial effects of the new version of the index, in particular, the underestimation of indicators indicating the “openness” of the journal to different authors and publications (the so-called “encapsulation” effects), as well as a number of other informative indicators available in the RSCI system. A conclusion is made about the strengths and weaknesses of the structural features of the index, as well as some specific features of the subject classification from the point of view of the tasks of adequately assessing the activities of scientific journals in political science and strengthening professional standards within the discipline.
The Opioid Epidemic in Virginia
Authors: Fox Sydney Elyse
Published: January 2025

This project entails a mixed method review of the implementation of opioid
policies in the 133 cities and counties of the Commonwealth of Virginia using
van Meter and van Horn’s (1975) Model Theoretical Framework as a guide. This
study focuses upon understanding how the characteristics of successful
implementation intersect with the components of opioid policy, controlling for
education, poverty, and health insurance coverage, and how that interaction may
lead to reduced overdose deaths. According to van Meter and van Horn, political
agreement is necessary to create a policy with an administrative mechanism to
implement. This administrative mechanism, along with resources, is then critical
to successful implementation of policy.

Findings include a positive association between political agreement and the
existence of a plan. However, simply having a plan in place did not
significantly associate with lowered all cause opioid deaths without attendant
resources. When counties have a plan with resources in place, there is a 7 death
per 100,000 decrease in the overdose death rate for that county. This finding
suggests the importance of resources in counties with plans in place. When
policymakers are developing opioid plans, it is important that they include
specific, earmarked resources to use for mitigation plans in their communities.
Plans without resources are unfunded mandates, and as this study shows, they are
less robust than plans with resources in terms of actually reducing the overdose
rates.

Taken together, these findings and this study contribute to the theoretical
framework in important ways. First, the application of the van Meter and van
Horn model framework contributes to implementation theory building by applying
these components of implementation characteristics to a new field of study.
Additionally, this study contributes to opioid policy theory building by
engaging in implementation theory testing within the opioid policy realm. While
these models suffered from a time constraint in that the dataset was incomplete
at the time of the study since opioid deaths were still trending upward, the
models could easily be tested further in the future. This will continue to help
build on the evidence base of opioid policy implementation at the local
level.
Word Choice, Deep Core Beliefs, and Unlikely Alliances
Authors: Fox Dalten Warren
Published: January 2025

This dissertation expands the use and capabilities of the Narrative Policy
Framework (NPF) by utilizing the framework across three projects that address
prevailing knowledge gaps. Since 2010, the NPF literature has produced
significant evidence for the importance of understanding the roles of narrative
language in public policymaking. Moreover, the NPF’s creators have consistently
called upon other policy narrative scholars to challenge, refine, and expand the
framework. To contribute to this endeavor, this collection of studies examines
language components previously unconsidered by the NPF, leverages the framework
in untested belief areas, and examines atypical policy subsystem dynamics using
the framework. The first essay considers the roles of language elements like
word choice and labeling in the capabilities of policy narratives to influence
attitudes when describing policies tied to deep core beliefs. The second essay
uses policy narratives and narrators to place two deep core beliefs concerning
identity (political partisanship and socio-economic positionality) against one
another to explore their relevance to individuals when opining about policies
related to socio-economic positionality. The third essay pairs the NPF with
qualitative methods to investigate how members of once-competing advocacy
coalitions developed and used narratives as they established a cross-coalition
coordination and reshaped themselves as an unlikely alliance. The results of
this dissertation provide evidence for the efficacy of policy narratives in deep
core belief contexts, the influence of labeling and word choice on narrative
persuasion, and how once-oppositional policy actors can collaborate and achieve
policy narrative learning as a new advocacy coalition. Ultimately, this work can
assist NPF scholars and other social scientists to further advance the framework
by informing subsequent research designs for NPF testing at the deep core level
of beliefs and exploring the understudied concept of policy narrative
learning.
Before and Beyond the Comintern
Authors: Kiser Kent
Published: January 2025

This project explores the concept of the Popular Front in the United States as a
cross-class coalition, mass-party movement that attempted to attract the urban
working and middle classes as well as small farmers. In contrast to the academic
perception that the Popular Front’s birth and growth in the United States from
1935 to 1938 was an abrupt turn in Communist policy ordered from above, this
thesis argues that the beginning and changes to the Popular Front had
substantial American roots. Tracing the Popular Front concept of a mass
Farmer-Labor Party back into the nineteenth century, this thesis challenges a
dominant narrative that American Communists lacked a home-grown tradition for
the Popular Front. In contrast with New-Left academic approaches, which place
less emphasis on Stalin-era leadership, this work examines this crucial aspect
and claims that this leadership exerted its political influence in the United
States by supporting the ideas of certain sections of the American Communist
Party which happened to complement Soviet and Comintern priorities. Using
existing political energy, an energy that did not solely come from Moscow, the
Comintern in 1935 adopted a policy regarding the Popular Front in the United
States that reaffirmed already held positions of American Communists. The
Popular Front in the United States, its birth and its direction, was by no means
a foreign invention. With foreign and native motivations, the road to the
Popular Front, and its adoption and changes, appears less sudden and less
dramatic and instead full of local motivations which complemented foreign
policies.
“Bona Fide and Sincerely-Held”
Authors: Miller Grant
Published: January 2025

Developing, fine-tuning, and implementing policy in a pluralistic society
includes several potential pitfalls as policy actors engage and represent
divergent interests. While much work has been done to explore the possible
benefits to the policy process that could come from understanding the intrinsic
motivations of individual policy actors, this study is an effort to account for
the impact of the core beliefs of institutions as a whole when they engage in
the policy process. Drawing from the concepts of the Advocacy Coalition
Framework (ACF) regarding deep core beliefs, this study applies Moral
Foundations Theory to process and analyze the language contained in several
hundred Title IX exemption requests filed by religiously-affiliated higher
education institutions with the Department of Education since 1972; the aim of
the inquiry is to determine whether deep core moral convictions can be
identified and assessed to better aid in understanding how institutions operate
in the policy arena. In addition to offering enrichment of the deep core belief
concepts in ACF, evidence from this study suggests that morally-based language
used by institutions is indicative of preexisting deep core beliefs and
subsequent policy behavior, thus offering an important research and
contextualizing tool for those policy actors who engage institutions in their
advocacy or scholarship.
Nesting in Urban Areas Affects American Kestrel Home Range Size and Adult
Female Health
Authors: Taylor Jessica Michele
Published: January 2025

Urbanization is happening at an unprecedented rate, and wildlife must adapt or
face population declines. American Kestrels inhabit urban areas, however,
whether human-dominated landscapes impact kestrel space-use, survival and
reproductive success is largely unknown. We monitored American Kestrel nest
boxes along a gradient of urbanization, measured using impervious surface area
(ISA), and deployed GPS tags on breeding adults to examine the relationship
between urbanization, home range size, and adult and nestling health. Male
kestrel home ranges were 9.14 times larger than female home ranges, and home
range size decreased as ISA increased for both sexes (β = -1.96, SE = 0.52).
Adult females lost weight at twice the rate over the breeding season than adult
males, and, although there was no relationship between weight loss and home
range size, females lost more weight as ISA increased (β = 0.16, SE = 0.11). The
effect of female home range size on overall nestling weight and the variation of
weight within nests depended on ISA (overall: β = -0.36, SE = 0.24, variation: β
= 33.60, SE = 12.90). Nestling weight was highest and within-brood weight
variation was lowest with large home ranges in less urban areas, but this
relationship was reversed in areas with more urbanization, where smaller home
ranges led to higher nestling weight and lower variation than larger home
ranges. Male home range size did not predict overall nestling weight but showed
a similar, dependent effect on within-nest weight variation as the female home
range size (β = 14.10, SE = 5.08). Results suggest that smaller home range sizes
in urban areas may be adaptive for kestrels. However, the effects of
urbanization on adult female weight loss shows that while kestrels can
successfully breed in urban areas, it could come at a cost to female health and
potentially survival. Kestrels may not be as well-adapted to urbanization as
previously reported.
Dystopia of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Akhromeeva Tatiana
Published: January 2025

The dynamics of slow variables in the development of humanity is considered. This dynamics can be fundamentally influenced by the development and total implementation of artificial AI systems. This process can play the role of a "black swan", using the terminology of Nassim Taleb, in the development of world civilization. The introduction of AI can be compared to the spread of printing in the Middle Ages. But if the latter occurred in the traditional phase of human history, the former is being implemented in the post-industrial phase and can have completely different consequences.
Risk management of natural disasters, man-made accidents and social instability involves the analysis of the entire set of possible situations, including the most unfavorable ones. One of them is considered in this paper based on system analysis, mathematical modeling and self-organization theory. It is shown that the development of several existing trends can lead to a crisis of the technosphere, the inability of future generations to maintain the achieved level of technology and culture. The use of AI can be a "gift from Lucifer" for humanity. The devil gives what is desired, but at the same time changes reality so that this gift is devalued, and other entities that he provided make people's lives much worse than before this deal.
The work proposes changes in cultural, educational, scientific strategy that can reverse dangerous trends and change the scenario of AI development and use.
Modeling the Tax potential of Regions based on an Agent-based approach and the Experience of China's Fiscal policy
Authors: Beloglazov Demid
Published: January 2025

The article examines China's experience in applying fiscal contracts to stimulate the economic growth of its provinces and analyzes their potential to stimulate regional development in Russia. Using agent-based modeling implemented in the NetLogo digital environment, various fiscal schemes are considered, their impact on tax revenues and budget obligations of regions. Despite the fact that the model itself is imitative in nature, the agent-based approach used in it allows us to assess the impact of these schemes on tax revenues and budget obligations of regions. Based on the results of emulation experiments, optimal schemes are identified to maximize regional budget revenues, while maintaining a certain share of central budget revenues in consolidated budget revenues. The work highlights the importance of balancing the interests of central and regional governments and offers recommendations for the development of fiscal strategies in Russia aimed at stimulating economic growth and sustainable development.
Issues of Application of Machine Learning Methods in Forecasting the Formation of Prospective Sectors of the New Generation Economy
Authors: Aliyev Alovsat
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to the application of machine learning methods in predicting the formation of prospective sectors of the new generation economy. In the conditions of modern digital transformations, it has been shown that the replacement of the traditional existing economy with new generation economic models is one of the world's priority development directions. The relevance of the application of Machine learning (ML) methods, one of the artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, in improving the processes of formation and development of the traditional sectors of the economy, and in forecasting its new generation perspective sectors is substantiated. An analysis of scientific research works related to the problem was carried out. Digital transformation and technologies, sustainability and sustainability, greening technologies and circularity, joint use, smart decision-making and management, platforms and ecosystems, innovative entrepreneurship, research and economic development, inclusion, and social development, Industry 5.0 platform technologies of the formation of the new generation technological economy. the main basic principles such as transition etc. have been worked out and the problems of its formation have been analyzed. The features and perspectives of the application of machine learning methods in forecasting the prospective sectors of the new generation economy have been explained. Classification features of machine learning methods are explained and its models are shown. The structural scheme of the stages of economic development forecasting has been developed and information about its methods has been provided. A comparative analysis of machine learning methods applied in forecasting was carried out. The structural scheme of the application stages of the machine learning method in the forecasting process has been developed. Relevant recommendations on the application of Industry 4.0 platform technologies were given for forecasting the formation of prospective sectors of the new generation economy based on real data.
Metamorphosis of Society: The Potential Impact of Cyborgian Technologies on Social Relations
Authors: Gurov Oleg
Published: January 2025

The article is a study of potential scenarios of the influence of cyborgian technologies on social relations and social structure of the future society. The authors forecast several scenarios of social development under the conditions of cyborgization development, i.e. mass introduction of technological modifications of human corporeality and cognitive system. For this purpose, they analyze possible variants of creating new social hierarchies in the conditions of technological human enhancement. The paper pays special attention to the problem of society fragmentation and possible conflicts as a result of uneven distribution of technologies. Paying attention to “futuroshock” - possible social reaction to radical technological transformations, the authors propose the development of ethical principles and the development of technological empathy to achieve and maintain consensus in the society of the future as strategic directions aimed at adapting society to new conditions.
The Forecast of the Satisfaction Level and Labor Potential Dynamics in the Russian Federation Regions Based on an Agent-based Approach
Authors: Kuznetsova Olga
Published: January 2025

The purpose of the research is to predict the satisfaction level and labor potential dynamics of the Russian Federation regions’ population. These indicators are also necessary for monitoring the state of sovereignty and national security of the country, especially in the context of sanctions and sanctions confrontation. The research is based on an agent-based approach. This method is appropriate for simulating a complex system (the Russian Federation region) by simulating the behavior of its components (humans). This means, the satisfaction level and labor potential of each person changes depending on his behavior and environment, and that leads to the entire region changes. The agent-based model developed within this research is implemented in the Microsoft Visual Studio with the C# programming language. The first section of the article provides an actual research overview about agent-based models using in the context of forecasting socio-economic processes. The second section provides a brief description of the method of the research and a description of the developing agent-based model. The third section describes the results of the model by an example of one of the Russian Federation region (Kaluga Region).
Modelling and Forecasting a Just Energy Transition in Africa
Authors: Bahtizina Nafisa
Published: January 2025

Currently, energy poverty in Africa, which has significant fossil fuel resources, remains at the highest level among the regions of the world. Complete elimination of energy poverty and industrialization in Africa is possible only with a balanced combination of fossil and non-fossil fuels with priority given to local energy sources. The authors of the article developed a model of the economy and energy of Africa, using which a forecast of consumption of various types of energy sources was formed, which would ensure a significant reduction in the level of energy poverty on the continent and the development of the economies of African countries. According to the authors' forecast, a fair energy transition in Africa assumes that by 2050 almost 57% of the consumed primary energy should be provided by oil, gas and coal, mined mainly on the continent. The authors conclude that by implementing a fair energy transition, Africa, on the one hand, will be able to maximize its resource potential, and on the other hand, open up new opportunities for international cooperation, including with Russian companies that have key technologies and competencies in the energy sector.
ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES FOR WATER AND SALTS SEPARATION FROM CRUDE OIL IN THE DESALINATION SECTION OF A COLOMBIAN REFINERY
Authors: Parra Avendaño Juliana , Arturo-Calvache Jaime Eduardo , Camacho-Galindo Stefanny , de Sá Guerreiro Juliana , Fernandes Lucas Elizabete , Guerrero-Martin Laura Estefanía , Prieto-Moreno Leyder Alejandro
Published: January 2025

The goal of this article is to present a proposal to optimize the performance of desalinated and dehydrated crude oil in a Colombian refinery, improving the separation of the present phases and ensuring that the salt and water levels in the outgoing crude remain constant and within specifications. First, a diagnosis of the current state of the process is carried out. Then, to evaluate the impact of relevant variables on desalination efficiency, a mathematical model was developed that allows for the reproduction, with a reasonable level of precision, of the actual process values. Based on this model, the optimal operating conditions were determined. It is concluded that the main limitation of the current desalination process lies in the inadequate characterization of the crude load, the low efficiency of the chemical treatment for breaking emulsions, and the high content of salts and hydrocarbons in the wash water. Therefore, it is recommended to redesign the characterization procedures, chemical treatment injection, and wash water handling to improve emulsion breaking and promote coalescence in desalination plants.
The Dogmatic Aspect of Postmodernity in a Theological Perspective
Authors: Ferdek Bogdan
Published: January 2025

Ponowoczesność z jednej strony zwalcza chrześcijańskie dogmaty, a z drugiej strony na ich miejsce proponuje dogmaty własne. U podstaw niniejszego artykułu stoi następujący problem: czy dogmat w przedchrześcijańskim znaczeniu funkcjonuje w ponowoczesności i jak go można ocenić w świetle katolickiej dogmatyki? Droga prowadząca do rozwiązania problemu składa się z trzech etapów. Pierwszy etap ukaże podstawowe dogmaty ponowoczesności, którymi są: postęp, równość, wolność od tragizmu ludzkiej egzystencji. Kolejny etap będzie poświęcony próbom narzucania społeczeństwom postmodernistycznych dogmatów poprzez mechanizmy poprawności politycznej. Ponowoczesne dogmaty mają bowiem nie tylko wymiar doktrynalny, lecz również zobowiązujący. Ostatni etap przyniesie natomiast teologiczną krytykę postmodernistycznych dogmatów. Ponowoczesne dogmaty są zadłużone dogmatami chrześcijańskimi. Transcendentną treść tych ostatnich chcą ugruntować w immanentnej rzeczywistości. Stwórczego Boga sprowadzają do twórczego człowieka jako promotora postępu i emancypacji, równość – do negacji wszelkich różnic, wolność od tragizmu egzystencji do transhumanistycznej "śmierci śmierci".
THE EFFECT OF USING AI APPLICATIONS TO DEVELOP EFL LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILLS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors: Alrasheedi Saleh
Published: January 2025

The current study sought to determine how well university students' EFL listening comprehension skills may be developed by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. One hundred students participated in the study, split into two groups: the control group (N = 50), which received traditional education, and the experimental group (N = 50), which received instruction using artificial intelligence systems. The study's instruments included an EFL listening comprehension skills checklist to determine which listening skills are most important for first-year college students to acquire. a pre-post listening skills test to measure students' listening abilities before and after using the chatbot and Duoling AI applications and a correction rubric . A statistical analysis was conducted to confirm the study's hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that the experimental group students' EFL listening skills were enhanced as a result of using the Artificial Intelligence (chatbot and Duoling).
EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS AND GOALS FOR ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE BLACK AND IN CARE: INSIGHTS FROM YOUTH, CAREGIVERS, AND CHILD WELFARE STAFF IN ONTARIO, CANADA
Authors: Sato Christa , Kikulwe Daniel
Published: January 2025

It is well established in the literature that Black children and youth-in-care are disproportionately overrepresented in Ontario’s child welfare system. Additionally, Black youth experience structural challenges with the education system. However, there is a lack of Canadian literature that explores the educational experiences of Black children while receiving child welfare services. This study examined the reports of youth, child welfare staff, and caregivers on the educational experiences of Black youth-in-care. In-depth interviews exploring the educational needs and goals of Black youth-in-care were conducted with 13 participants (3 child welfare staff, 6 caregivers, and 4 youth). Findings highlight that Black youth-in-care experience labelling, hypervisibility and invisibility, and harassment and bullying, all of which had an impact on how they navigated the school system, and contributed to internalized stereotypes and feelings of isolation and unbelonging. The findings also identify strategies for innovation and promoting the educational success of Black youth-in-care.
Liberalisation commerciale et mobilisation des recettes fiscales dans les pays de la CEDEAO
Authors: Ndoye Mamadou Laye
Published: January 2025

Objectif : L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’effet de la libéralisation commerciale sur les recettes fiscales des pays de la Communauté Économique Des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO).
Conception/méthodologie/approche : L’analyse économétrique s’est faite sur des données de panel estimée par la méthode à effets fixes et couvre la période 1990–2016.
Résultats : Les résultats révèlent que l’effet de la libéralisation des échanges commerciaux sur les recettes fiscales est sensible à l’indicateur de mesure utilisé. La libéralisation commerciale, lorsqu’elle est mesurée par les taux tarifaires moyens, influence positivement et significativement les recettes fiscales totales et les recettes fiscales domestiques tandisqu’une relation négative et statistiquement significative est trouvée entre baisse des tarifs et recettes fiscales issues des transactions internationales. Par ailleurs, lorsque la libéralisation commerciale est captée par le degré d’ouverture commerciale, l’effet est positif et significatif pour toutes les catégories de recettes fiscales.
Originalité/valeur : Les gouvernements des différents pays de la zone ont intérêt à encourager la baisse des tarifs douaniers et l’ouverture au commerce international afin de renforcer la mobilisation des recettes fiscales. Toutefois, cette libéralisation commerciale doit s’accompagner d’une politique macroéconomique appropriée permettant de garantir un environnement économique stable et d’une bonne gouvernance pour assurer la crédibilité de la politique mise en oeuvre.
Introgressing sd-1 gene into Basmati 370 rice
Authors:   University of Embu, Gatere FW , Njiruh PN , Kanya JI , Arunga EE
Published: January 2025

Rice (Oryza sativa) is depended upon by over half of the world's population as a primary staple food. Basmati 370 rice (BS 370) is popularly grown in many parts of the world for its good aroma and long, slender grains with excellent cooking and eating quality. However, its tallness nature and weak stem structure render it susceptible to lodging, particularly when subjected to high doses of nitrogenous fertilizer which leads to grain loss. Lodging reduces the efficiency of mechanized harvesting which is commonly used for large scale rice production, and further aggravates pre-harvest losses. A transformation of BS 370 to a short stature plant was needed to address this challenge. This research initiated a breeding program to develop a semi-dwarf rice line of Basmati 370 origin while being keen to retain the aromatic qualities. To realize this, Basmati 370 being the female parent, was crossed with a semi-dwarf variety IR64, the male parent using the emasculation and dusting method. This was followed by using unique anthocyanin pigmentation for hybrid identification to distinguish successful crosses from non-successful cross breeds. Molecular marker-assisted selection was performed to confirm whether the distinctive aroma associated with Basmati rice was present. The F1s were advanced to F2s. The F2 segregation was analyzed for performance against the parental lines. The findings demonstrate the successful development of a semi-dwarf BS 370 rice line with reduced height, shortened culm length, fairly shorter leaf lengths and, anthocyanin pigmentation on the leaves, stems and tips of seeds which are a good indicator of a semi-dwarf line that will ultimately address the lodging issue once stabilized in advanced filial generations. This breakthrough offers promising prospects for reduced grain loss, and improved efficiency in mechanized harvesting. This will ultimately benefit Kenyan Basmati rice farmers and the rice industry as a whole.

Key words: Aroma, Basmati, lodging, Oryza sativa, Semi-dwarfing gene, rice, breeding
Modulations of circadian blood pressure rhythm in the COVID-19 risk model in individuals with arterial hypertension under Arctic watch conditions
Authors: Shurkevich N. P. , Vetoshkin A. S. , Kareva M. A.
Published: January 2025

Objective. To study the characteristics of the daily rhythm and chronostructure of blood pressure (BP) in relation to viral infection and to determine the factors influencing the risk of COVID-19 in men (M) with arterial hypertension (HTN) during rotational shift work in the Arctic. Design and methods. In the Yamburg settlement, 166 M with HTN were randomly selected from the database of physical examinations of the medical unit of gazprom dobycha Yamburg LLC. They underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiography in the “pre-C OVID” period (2019 — March 2020), after which M were divided into groups with COVID-19 (n = 94) and those without (n = 72), comparable in age and northern experience. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by polymerase chain reaction method. ABPM was performed using a standard method with determination of BP chronotypes according to the classification of Cugini P. Results. According to ABPM data in the “pre-C OVID” period, men with HTN who subsequently recovered from COVID-19 had higher average daily diastolic BP, night heart rate readings, night systolic BP, night diastolic BP and night systolic BP time index; the BP chronotype was characterized by a lower frequency of 24-hour rhythms and aperiodic HTN with high-frequency rhythms in the spectrum was significantly more  frequent; a significant increase in left ventricular myocardial mass and left ventricular myocardial mass index was found. According to the logistic regression data, the presence of an aperiodic chronotype of HTN in M increased the risk of COVID-19 by 3 times (95 % confidence interval (CI): 1,410– 6,035, p = 0,004); an increase in left ventricular myocardial mass index by 1 g/m2 — by 1,02 times (95 % CI: 1,001–1,033, p = 0,039). The specificity of the model was 81 %, sensitivity 77,2 %. The area under the curve was 0,888 (0,837–0,939, p < 0,0001). Conclusions. In conditions of desynchronizing factors of the Arctic watch in M with HTN, the replacement of the daily BP rhythm by predominant high-frequency periods is associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection.