bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant promotion and oxidative stress downregulation by β-caryophyllene oxide attenuate lung cancer A549 cell proliferation
Authors: Shabana Sameh M. , Gad Nahla S. , Othman Azza I. , Mohamed Aly Fahmy , El-Missiry Mohamed Amr
Published: January 2023

One of the most common cancers that result in death is lung cancer. There is new hope in the fight against lung cancer thanks to the chemopreventive properties of natural dietary substances like β-caryophyllene oxide (CPO), and research is currently being done to test this theory. CPO, a sesquiterpene isolated from medicinal plant essential oils, inhibits carcinogenesis and has been effective in treating many cancers. This study examined how CPO affected proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells. CPO was found to have an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 124.1 g/ml. The proliferative markers Ki67 and PCNA were significantly inhibited after cells were treated with CPO at a concentration of 50 g/ml compared to controls. CPO-treated cells expressed more P21, P53, and DNA strand breaks than controls. This was accompanied by a significant cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases. In treated A549 cells, this was also associated with a significant induction of apoptosis, as shown by the upregulation of the expression of caspases 3, 7, and 9, as well as Bax, and the downregulation of Bcl-2. Furthermore, the redox status of treated A549 cells revealed a marked rise in GSH and GPx activity levels and a decline in 4-HNE levels, indicating low oxidative stress following CPO treatment of A549 cells. In conclusion, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which are unrelated to oxidative stress, were the mechanisms by which CPO reduced cancer lung cell growth. This finding might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer.
Conversion from hemodialysis to hemodiafiltration affects innate immunity of individuals with chronic kidney disease
Authors: de Moura PhD. Flávio José Dutra , Nunes B.Sc David da Silva , de Sousa B.Sc. Beatriz Guterres Rodrigues , Ribeiro MD Jaqueline Santos , Nascimento MD Jonas Gonzaga do , Macedo B.Sc. Amanda , Souza MD Eloah Soares Povill , Oliveira MD Marcus Henrique , Souza MD Fernando Fontes de Souza , Faria MD Vanessa Simioni , Couto Ph.D Shirley Claudino Pereira , Borges Ph.D Tatiana Karla de Santos , Veiga Ph.D Joel Paulo Russomano , Kuckelhaus Ph.D Selma Aparecida Souza
Published: January 2023

Background: Once a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) phase 5 is confirmed, possible treatments include renal replacement therapies, such as haemodialysis (HD) and haemodiafiltration (HDF). HD removes low-molecular-weight molecules, while HDF purges small and large molecules, favouring the reduction of oxidative stress. This study evaluated the haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters of individuals with CKD treated with HD who later converted to HDF.
Methods: This is a descriptive and comparative study carried out with 25 individuals (66±10 years) treated with HD who later converted to HDF (convenience sample). Data were analysed in blood samples (cells and serum).
Results: The aetiologies of RCD were type II DM (48%) and SAH (32%). Before conversion to HDF, the time spent on HD was 4.7±4.9 years. There was a negative correlation between HD time and age. Cells and serum markers: HDF reduced serum levels of erythropoietin (EPO), glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, and ꞵ2-microglobulin and the EPO resistance index and increased levels of alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein. Immunological markers: HDF normalized the phagocytic index with 5 or 20 yeasts/cell and normalized the stimulated corpuscular index but increased TNF and IL-4 production compared to HD. Furthermore, HDF normalized the basal production of O2●- and its production in the absence of phagocytosis, but when compared to HD, HDF increased the production of O2●- in the presence or absence of yeast ingestion.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that HDF is efficient in treating patients with CKD. Considering that HDF is rarely used in Brazil, a study is suggested to promote greater visibility and acceptance of HDF in patients and the medical community, aiming at its future implementation in the public health system.
Clinical trial registration: Study approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Brasilia nº 16921313.5.0000.0030.
Unsupervised learning framework for region based damage assessment on xBD, a large satellite imagery
Authors: Mittal Prahlada Varada , Bafna Rishabh
Published: January 2023

Population based damage assessment is crucial for providing timely aid in case of natural hazards such as floods, tsunami, hurricanes, etc. One of the quickest methods to do this task is to employ remote sensing data and observe the damage. Most of the previous works have restricted themselves to damage detection and classification with respect to buildings. However, no framework exists that makes a conclusion about the overall damage done in an area affected by the hazard.
In this work, we present an unsupervised density-based clustering algorithm that automatically makes spatial groups of affected regions and assigns the label based on the degree of damage to the region. The algorithm automatically selects the optimum number of clusters based on the spatial distribution of the data and works well with any shape of the hazard-affected region. The demographic estimate for the affected region is then presented based on the area of the region and the census data. The navigation information is provided with aid of Google maps depicting the overall damage along with possibility of transportation. For evaluation of the framework, we employ xBD which is the largest annotated building damage classified data set till date. The results correctly identify the regions and perform extremely well on the silhouette score and the DB Index.
Analysis of Two-Phase Flow through a Rectangular Curved Duct
Authors: Rahman Md. Khalilur , Parvin Salma , Khan Md. Abdul Hakim
Published: January 2023

The present work mainly focuses on analyzing an unsteady laminar incompressible two-phase flow in a rectangular curved duct. The corresponding governing equations are represented by the Navier-Stokes equations and Level set equation with the boundary conditions. Fluid flow through curved rectangular ducts is influenced by the centrifugal action arising from duct curvature and has a unique behavior different from fluid flow through straight ducts. Centrifugal force-induced secondary flow vortices and produce spiraling fluid motion within curved ducts.This paper shows the vector plot of the field flow, velocity contours,axial flow velocity and fluid volume fractions visualization graphically. The effect of curvature, Dean number and aspect ratio is also displayed. A comparison of two-phase flow between different fluids is also shown. The results reveal that the unstable behavior of the flow reduces for the increasing values of curvature, Dean number, and high viscosity flow.
Enhancing the Data-Based Communication of Climate Change with Visual Art
Authors: Li Nan , Villanueva Isabel , Brossard Dominique , Jilk Thomas
Published: January 2023

Visual art has been used to revamp the portrayal of climate change with a hope to engage emotions while expanding nonexperts’ psychological capacity to perceive its relevance. However, empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of artistic representation of data as a tool for public communication is lacking. Using controlled experiments with two national samples of U.S. adults (total N = 671), this study found that artistic visualizations elicited stronger positive emotions than informationally equivalent data graphs but did not differ in their perceived credibility or effectiveness as visual aids for learning. When used to prompt individual reflection, artistic visualizations appeared to mitigate the political division in viewers’ perceived relevance of climate change that could otherwise be exacerbated by exposure to data graphs.
Factors associated with uptake of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine among school girls aged 9-14 years in Lira City northern Uganda: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Nakayita Renniter Mirembe , Benyumiza Deo , Nekesa Catherine , Misuk Ivan , Kyeswa Julius , Nalubuuka Aisha , Murungi Tom , Udho Samson , Edward Kumakech
Published: January 2023

Background

Cervical cancer is the principal burden of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections and a public health priority. Since 2008, HPV vaccination has been routinely recommended for pre-adolescents and adolescent girls in Uganda as the primary preventive measure for cervical cancer. However, in Uganda, most especially Lira district there is limited literature on HPV vaccination uptake and associated factors among girls aged 9-14years. This study assessed the uptake of HPV vaccine and associated factors among in-school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City northern Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 245 primary school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City, west northern Uganda. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample eligible participants and data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.0.

Results

HPV vaccination uptake was at 19.6% among the school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City west northern Uganda. The mean age of the girls was 12.11 (± 1.651) years. Individual factors that were found significantly associated with HPV vaccination included; age of 12–14 years [cOR 5.40, 95% CI (2.04–14.24), P = 0.001], Ever had about the vaccine [cOR: 2.05, 95% CI (0.26–3.50), P = 0.021], taught about cervical cancer at school [cOR: 11.54, 95% CI (4.91–33.89), P = 0.021]. Health system related factors that were found to be associated with HPV uptake; Availability of the vaccines at Health Facilities [cOR: 7.88, 95% CI (2.92–10.32), P = 0.002], Received health workers recommendation [cOR: 3.2, 95% CI (0.93–7.82), P = 0.000].

Conclusion

Findings indicate that HPV vaccine uptake was very low. The ministry of health should strategize more on increasing awareness on HPV vaccination to young girls and their care takers in Lira City especially through collaborating with different schools though not neglecting the out of school girls.
The effect of human menstrual blood-derived stem cells on ovarian folliculogenesis, angiogenesis and collagen volume in female rats affected by the polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Ali Sarhadi Roodbari , Somayeh Solhjoo , Maria Grazia Palmerini , Mahna Mansouri , Massood Ezzatabadipour
Published: January 2023

Background: Infertility is one of the common problems among couples, affecting millions of people worldwide. Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) is one of the main causes of infertility in women and is associated with abnormal folliculogenesis, angiogenesis and fibrosis. Common treatments may lead to numerous adverse effects on the patient's quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of human menstrual blood-derived stem cells on the ovarian histology of a PCOS model of Wistar rats.
Results: Based on the Papanicolaou test and H&E staining results, the number of primordial, primary, secondary, and antral follicles in the PCOS and PCOS-Sham groups increased significantly compared to the control, while they were significantly decreased in the PCOS+Stem cells group compared to the PCOS and PCOS-Sham groups. Further, the number of atretic follicles in both PCOS and PCOS-Sham groups significantly was increased in comparison with the control group, and was decreased in the PCOS+Stem cells group compared to the two mentioned groups. Moreover, graafian folioles reduction in PCOS and PCOS-Sham groups and increase in PCOS+Stem cells group was significant. Based on the Mason's trichrome data, the number of blood vessels in PCOS and PCOS-Sham groups was increased significantly compared to the control group and decreased in PCOS+Stem cells group related to PCOS and PCOS-Sham groups.
Conclusion: The administration of MenSCs improved folliculogenesis in rat polycystic ovaries. Also, MenSCs could ameliorate the PCOS symptoms by improving fibrosis as well as angiogenesis and weight gain.
Recalculating in big data
Authors: Curto José Dias
Published: January 2023

The available memory on a desktop or laptop computer can easily be exceeded by large datasets when performing analytics or training machine learning algorithms.
In this paper we propose simple methods to recalculate and update the value of descriptive statistics (averages, variance, coefficients of skewness and kurtosis) after rescaling, adding or excluding some data. The coefficient of determination from regression analysis is also recalculated after deleting each sample observation. The objective is to avoid including all the observations (especially in big datasets) when those statistics are recalculated. For this, only its previous value updated by the changed observations is needed, saving time in the respective calculation.
Nearly Time-Optimal Kernelization Algorithmsfor the Line-Cover Problem with Big Data
Authors: Chen Jianer , Huang Qin , Kanj Iyad , Xia Ge
Published: January 2023

Based on well-known complexity theory conjectures, any polynomial-time kernelization algorithm for the NP-hard Line-Cover problem produces a kernel of size Ω(k2), where k is the size of the sought line cover. Motivated by the current research in massive data processing, we study the existence of kernelization algorithms with limited space and time complexity for Line-Cover. We prove that every kernelization algorithm for Line-Cover takes time Ω(n log k + k2log k), and present a randomized kernelization algorithm for Line-Cover that produces a kernel of size bounded by k2, and runs in time O(n log k + k2(log k log log k)2) and space O(k2log2k). Our techniques are also useful for developing deterministic kernelization algorithms for Line-Cover with limited space and improved running time, and for developing streaming kernelization algorithms for Line-Cover with near-optimal update-time.
Exploring Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) of Digested Sewage Sludge (DSS) at Laboratory Pilot Scale using Experimental Design
Authors: Hegdahl Stian Hersvik , Ghoreishi Solmaz , Løhre Camilla , Barth Tanja
Published: January 2023

A common perspective within the prospect of a green future is utilising our waste materials. One waste material of which the world has abundant resources, and where we will keep having resources, is sewage sludge. This waste material is getting an increased focus, and is commonly utilised by anaerobic digestion processes for methane production. This leaves a bioresidue of digested sewage sludge (DSS). In this study, DSS is submitted to hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to produce bio-oil. The studied process includes upscaling as well as considering the effects of temperature, reaction medium of water or ethanol, degree of reactor filling and stirring rate. Promising results are found as high oil yields are obtained also after upscaling. The results reported here show that stirring reduces the need of high temperatures during HTL, providing energy savings that are promising for further upscaling. In addition, a total of 18 compounds are identified and semi-quantified, showing an abundance of fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives within the oil, encouraging further studies towards separation of said fatty acids for use as biodiesel.
A Study on the adoption of Threat Prevention and Proactive Threat Monitoring Technologies for Securing the Information Technology Assets in India
Authors: Prasad S. Guru , Badrinarayanan M. K. , Sharmila V. Ceronmani
Published: January 2023

World over, organisations are, facing threat of data breaches and system and network compromises. Growing threats to the Data, Network and Systems puts pressure on the organisations to deploy right set people, process, technologies and solutions to prevent such threats. Prevention of threats to Information technology assets is an important task in every organisation. This article aims to study if the Chief Information Security officers have taken adequate steps and measures to handle the threats. This article aims to study if they have deployed threat prevention measures and/or using proactive threat monitoring and management measures.
Time-varying thermoelastic coupling analysis of heat source of ball screw feed drive system
Authors: Wu Huayang , Li Jiejing , Liu Haixu , Zuo Dunwen
Published: January 2023

Friction heat generation of ball screw nut pair may lead to changes in the contact state between ball and raceway. Different contact states may result in a change in the intensity of the heat source of the nut pair, which in turn affects the contact state again until a certain balance is reached. At present, the time-varying research of the heat source of the screw nut pair is mainly carried out from the boundary conditions and the location of the heat source, without considering the influence of the internal structure change of ball screw nut pair. In order to fill this gap, a time-varying thermoelastic coupling analysis method for heat source of screw nut pair is proposed. In this paper, the contact model of ball and raceway is established by the elastic theory of plane strain, and the theoretical solution of the contact point displacement of ball raceway under thermal influence is derived by combining with the thermoelastic theory. Then, through the method of polygon equivalence of ball and raceway profile, the contact angle variation process of ball and raceway under the coupling effect of heat and structure was described geometrically, and the variation rule of heat source intensity was further obtained. In addition, the nut temperature variation rule was obtained through the temperature field experiment of the screw nut pair. The temperature variation curve of the nut pair under heat source induction in the actual working condition was fitted after the temperature drop data and the ambient temperature data were processed. By comparing the theoretical temperature variation curve under constant heat source induction, the heat source variation curve of the nut pair under the actual working condition was finally fitted. The correctness of the thermoelastic theory analysis is further verified. The method proposed in this paper analyzes the variation law of the heat source intensity from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, which has important reference significance for the study of the thermal characteristics of the ball screw system.
The Protective Role of Glutathione on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Human Cardiac Progenitor Cells
Authors: Lee Eun Ji , Jang Woong Bi , Choi Jaewoo , Lim Hye ji , Park Sangmi , Rethineswaran Vinoth Kumar , Ha Jong Seong , Yun Jisoo , Hong Young Joon , Kwon Sang-Mo
Published: January 2023

Cardiotoxicity caused by doxorubicin (DOX) is an important issue to consider for both patients and doctors who require DOX. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity is closely associated with cardiomyocyte death and dysfunction. To prevent DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, many studies have been conducted on new therapeutic strategies, including the discovery of novel functional modulators such as antioxidant drugs to restore the loss of function of transplanted or residual cardiac cells in the heart. We investigated whether glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant drug, has a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by decreasing ROS and unraveling the underlying molecular mechanisms. GSH clearly increased the viability of damaged human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) treated with DOX. In addition, ROS generation and apoptosis induced by DOX treatment were significantly reduced. We also observed that GSH restored the capacity of hCPCs, as shown by the wound healing assay, transwell migration, and tube formation. We checked that GSH treatment restored the level of pERK, which increased in the DOX-treated group. The ERK inhibitor, U0126, increased the viability of damaged hCPCs. These data suggest that the restoration mechanism of GSH may be via the regulation of pERK signaling. We confirmed the effects of DOX and GSH using an in vivo model. As a result, GSH was confirmed to have a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through body weight, survival rate, histology, and mRNA level. Taken together, GSH prevents DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and regulates pERK signaling. GSH may be an effective therapeutic strategy for DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.
A repurposed drug combination (VaN) inhibits free light chain secretion and triggers the terminal unfolded protein response (UPR) in multiple myeloma (MM)
Authors: Jiang Yao , Down Jennifer M. , Maynard Suzanne , Jenkins Sian , Ferritti Lauren , Beke Flavio , Al-Hazmi Bader , Southam Andrew D. , Kvist Jouni , Mirbahai Leda , Besse Lenka , Bunce Chris M. , Drayson Mark T. , Lawson Michelle A. , Khanim Farhat
Published: January 2023

Background
Renal impairment (RI) caused by deposition of Multiple myeloma (MM) derived free light chains (FLC), is associated with worse MM patient outcomes. Reciprocally, early reduction of serum-FLC improves survival. Proteasome inhibitors (PIs), which target immunoglobulin production in MM, have improved MM survival times but PI-resistance is a major problem. Therefore, novel treatments that target MM cell survival and block FLC secretion are urgently required.
Methods
MM cell lines and primary cells were treated with VaN with and without PIs and responses assessed using cell viability, annexin V and caspase flow cytometry assays. Autophagy induction was assessed using LC3 westerns. Drug effects on FLC expression was measured using intracellular flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Secretion of FLC in vitro, and in an NSG mouse JJN3-xenograft model was assessed by ELISA. VaN-induced mitochondrial stress was measured using fluorescence probes for mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Total RNA sequencing identified modulation of the unfolded protein response by VaN which was validated by western blotting, immunoprecipitations, and immunofluorescence.
Results
VaN had potent, selective and multifactorial anti-MM activity, including targeting MM cell mitochondrial function and induction of oxidative stress. Importantly, VaN treatment resulted in a rapid and sustained inhibition of FLC secretion in MM cell lines, primary MM samples and in an NSG- xenograft model. VaN induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and activation of the terminal unfolded protein response (UPR) mediated through IRE1α/XBP1 and phosphorylation of PERK. Combining VaN with low doses of the PIs bortezomib (BTZ) or carfilzomib (CFZ) significantly enhanced induction of the UPR, producing higher levels of the terminal UPR protein CHOP and greater MM cell killing. Furthermore, VaN was able to successfully restore induction of CHOP protein expression, terminal UPR and cell killing in BTZ- and CFZ resistant AMO1 MM cells.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate potent anti-MM activity against both PI-sensitive and PI-resistant MM cells. Of particular clinical importance was the ability of VaN to also rapidly and sustainably inhibit FLC secretion. Given the good safety profiles of each drug, we propose VaN as a novel anti-MM therapy with potential in PI-refractory disease and for frailer MM patients.
Network pharmacology-based mechanism prediction and pharmacological validation of Bushenhuoxue formula attenuating postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice
Authors: Xia Chenjie , Zhu Haowei , Li Jin , Jin Hongting , Fu Danqing
Published: January 2023

Background: Bushenhuoxue (BSHX) formula, a ten-compound herbal decoction, is widely used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) in China. However, the mechanism is not clear yet.
Methods: The underlying biological processes and signaling pathways were predicted by network pharmacology. In vivo experimental study, 24 female C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into sham, ovariectomized (OVX), and BSHX formula groups. Mice in the latter two groups were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy, and mice in the BSHX formula group were extra treated by BSHX formula at an oral dosage of 0.2 mL/10 g for 8 weeks. The femur samples were harvested for tissue analyses including μCT assay, histology and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of VEGF signaling.
Results: A total of 218 active ingredients and 274 related targets were identified in BSHX formula. After matching with 292 targets of PMOP, 64 overlapping genes were obtained. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses on these 64 genes revealed that angiogenesis and VEGF signaling were considered as the potential therapeutic mechanism of BSHX formula against PMOP. Animal experiments showed that mice in the BSHX formula treated group presented increased bone mass, microstructural parameters, blood vessel numbers and an activation of VEGF signaling (VEGF, COX2, eNOS and CD31) compared to the OVX mice.
Conclusion: This study revealed that BSHX formula exerts anti-PMOP effects possibly through activating VEGF signaling-mediated angiogenesis.
Digging on the Mechanism of Some Diels-Alder Reactions. The Role of the Reaction Electronic Flux
Authors: Hernández-Mancera Jennifer Paola , Vivas-Reyes Ricardo , Gutiérrez-Oliva Soledad , Herrera Barbara , Toro-Labbé Alejandro
Published: January 2023

Within the framework of the reaction force analysis, the Marcus Potential Energy Function as well as the Activation Strain Model are characterized and used to rationalize the energetics of some representative Diels-Alder reactions involving three substituted furandione as dienophile, and a chiral anthracene, as diene. The analysis of reaction barriers indicates that the activation process of the reactions is dominated by the structural rearrangements of reactants which are mainly driven by the approach of diene to the dienophile. On the other hand, the electronic activity taking place along the reaction coordinate have been analyzed through the reaction electronic flux. It has been found that the electronic activity that emerge more intensively within the transition state region, is mainly due to electronic transfer effects, due to the breaking and forming π bonds. Although polarization is also present but to a lesser extent.
Analysis of dynamics of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Elbaz Islam M. , Sohaly M. A. , El-Metwally H.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a new stochastic mathematical model for the spread of COVID-19 is formulated. First, we show the well-posedness of the proposed new stochastic mathematical model, then we investigate the stochastic dynamics of the spread of this virus in the sense of the mean-square. Conditions of extinction and persistence are obtained. Some numerical simulations are performed to strengthen the theoretical results. The sensitivity of the model with respect to the parameters involved in the system is shown to investigate the most sensitive parameter toward the highest number of infected individuals. The results reveal the mechanisms that influence the transmission and control of the disease besides the prediction and this, in turn, will be very useful for understanding the pattern of COVID-19 and other epidemic models.
WITHDRAWN: Green Leadership and Environmental Policies Support
Authors: Jatana Ajay
Published: January 2023

This paper aimed to study the role of green leadership toward environmental policies support in university. Furthermore, this study investigated the influence of green leadership toward environmental policies support and discussed the mediation effect of Green Self efficacy, Green Mindfulness, organization identity and environmental responsibility. The number of Population sample in this research was taken from 1,456 lecturers and staff of Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia. Total sample in this research is 312 respondents. Structural Equation Models (SEM) was used in this research to develop the model of green leadership role toward environmental policies support of Lecturer and Staff in the University. This study found that green leadership had significant influences toward environmental policies support, environmental responsibility, green mindfulness and green self-efficacy but had insignificant influence toward organizational identity. Path analysis showed strong mediation effect of environmental responsibility and green mindfulness, but had a weak mediation from organizational identity and green self-efficacy. Finally, this study concluded that the role of green leadership in influencing environmental responsibility and green mindfulness was required to be enhanced in order to increase the support of environmental policies at the university. Further study needs to be carried out to determine the effect of green leadership on green performance and green behavior in organizations.
Beware of my face: The role of facial configuration in predator recognition
Authors: Antonová Kateřina , Fišer Ondřej , Veselý Petr , Syrová Michaela , Fuchs Roman
Published: January 2023

The important role of facial elements (hooked beak and conspicuous eye colour) in the recognition of avian predators has been repeatedly demonstrated. However, no attention has yet been paid to the importance of their canonical configuration i.e., the relative position of the eyes and beak. In our study, we tested the ability of untrained wild tits to recognise a dangerous predator (a sparrowhawk) with inverted eye and beak positions (invert dummy) and with one eye above and one below the beak (inline dummy) in aviary experiments. A dummy of a sparrowhawk with its head devoid of eyes and beak (empty dummy) served as a baseline alongside dummies of an unmodified sparrowhawk and a pigeon (as a harmless control). The experiment was carried out in two variants, with the complete dummy of the sparrowhawk visible and with the body of the dummy hidden in the bushes, from which only the head was visible. The tits showed no more fear towards the eyeless and beakless dummy than they did towards the pigeon. Towards the dummy with the modified configuration, the tits showed no less fear than towards the unmodified sparrowhawk, but in the case of the variant with an eye above and below the beak, their behaviour was different and can be interpreted as increased fear but also as surprise. Thus, the tits perceive a disturbance in the configuration of the predator faces, but do not show unambiguous signs of holistic processing i.e., impaired recognition of the inverted face.
Women choose romantic partners resembling their father in body odour
Authors: Havlíček Jan , Jelínková Lucie , Štěrbová Zuzana , Hanus Robert , Kreisinger Jakub , Kyjakova Pavlina , Schmiedová Lucie , Bušovská Radka , Fialová Jitka Třebická , Schwambergová Dagmar , Roberts Craig
Published: January 2023

Women tend to choose partners who resemble their father in certain characteristics. In non-human mammals, similar parental imprinting-like effects are often odour-mediated1,2, which requires not only learning of parental odour but also similarity between parents and prospective mates in the microbial communities responsible for production of the critical volatile compounds. Here, in light of growing recognition of human capacity for social olfaction3,4, we tested the possibility that women’s preferences are shaped by paternal phenotype. Axillary body odour samples from women’s fathers and romantic male partners were evaluated for similarity at the perceptual level as well as in both their microbiome diversity (using 16S rDNA sequencing) and chemical composition (using GC×GC-TOFMS). We found that partners’ body odour was perceived as more similar to paternal odour than would be expected by chance. In parallel, similarities in both microbiota composition and chemical profiles were significantly higher in partner-father dyads than in randomly generated dyads. While women’s relationship quality with the father did not predict father-partner similarity in microbial or chemical profiles, it was positively associated with perceived odour similarity. Our results thus reveal a suite of mechanisms by which parental odour cues can serve as a template in human mate choice.
A Study on the Directness Requirement in Constitutional Complaint
Authors:   European Constitutional Law Association, Yun Soo Jeong
Published: January 2023

The directness requirements required in relation to constitutional complaints which are legal norms, are conceptually separate from the exhaustion of other remedies that require prior relief procedures, but in Korea, regulatory control is divided into courts and the Constitutional Court.
The conventional Constitutional Court's decision has recognized exceptions to the directness requirement based on whether or not the executive action is discretionary, since the directness of the base law is exceptionally recognized if the execution action is a binding action. However, the Constitutional Court has recently been confused about the criteria and scope of exceptions to directness requirements, such as acknowledging the directness of the grounded law based on expectability, if a specific enforcement act is scheduled, that is, even if it is uniquely stipulated.
The directness requirement in the petition is not a prestigious requirement in the Constitution and Constitutional Court Act, but it is a legal requirement to effectively realization the basic rights of the people by separating functional power between the court and the Constitutional Court. Therefore, the Constitutional Court should consider the ideology of guaranteeing the basic rights of the people in setting the requirements for recognition of directness, but should present more predictable and clear standards that can harmonize the efficiency of the constitutional trial with the people's right to trial.
Les caractéristiques de la procédure législative en France
Authors:   European Constitutional Law Association, JEON Hakseon
Published: January 2023

L’initiative des lois appartient au Premier ministre ainsi qu’aux députés et aux sénateurs. Les initiatives du Premier ministre sont appelées ‘projets de loi’, celles des parlementaires sont dénommées ‘propositions de loi’. Les propositions peuvent être déposées par un ou plusieurs députés ou par un ou plusieurs sénateurs, à la condition que leur adoption n’ait pas pour conséquence une diminution des ressources publiques ou la création ou l’aggravation d’une charge publique. Les projets de loi de finances et les projets de loi de financement de la sécurité sociale doivent être déposés d’abord à l’Assemblée nationale ; à l’inverse, les lois ayant pour principal objet l’organisation des collectivités territoriales sont soumises en premier lieu au Sénat.
Le Conseil constitutionnel est notamment chargé de contrôler la conformité des lois votées par le Parlement à la Constitution. Ce contrôle a lieu d’office pour les lois dites organiques, à savoir les lois expressément visées comme telles par la Constitution et qui ont pour objet d’appliquer des dispositions constitutionnelles. Pour les autres lois, dites ordinaires, ce contrôle n’est effectué qu’à la demande de certaines autorités : le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le Président du Sénat, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale et, soixante députés ou soixante sénateurs.
La Constitution française prévoit le référendum pour l'adoption d'un projet de loi. Le Président de la République, sur proposition du Gouvernement pendant la durée des sessions ou sur proposition conjointe des deux assemblées, publiées au Journal officiel, peut soumettre au référendum tout projet de loi portant sur l'organisation des pouvoirs publics, sur des réformes relatives à la politique économique, sociale ou environnementale de la nation et aux services publics qui y concourent, ou tendant à autoriser la ratification d'un traité qui, sans être contraire à la Constitution, aurait des incidences sur le fonctionnement des institutions.
Le référendum d’initiative partagée (RIP) est une forme particulière du processus législatif français, associant le corps électoral à une proposition de loi (c’est-à-dire un texte législatif déposé par un membre du Parlement), via un recueil de soutiens. Des seuils d’un cinquième des membres du Parlement dans un premier temps, puis d’un dixième des électeurs sont nécessaires, afin d’initier un examen parlementaire, ou à défaut un référendum.
German Approach to the Energy Crisis Resulting from Russia’s War on Ukraine Through “Treuhandverwaltung”
Authors:   European Constitutional Law Association, Lee Jae-Hoon
Published: January 2023

The Ukrainian-Russian War caused an energy crisis in Germany. Germany imports large amounts of natural gas from Russia. Germany's dependence on Russia for natural gas supply has been a long-standing situation. For Germany, this situation was not a big problem before the Ukrainian-Russian War. However, after the Ukrainian-Russian War, the Western Bloc imposed economic sanctions against Russia. And in response, Russia also started sanctions against the Western Bloc. Russia used natural gas as a weapon to pressure Germany, but this was not limited to simply reducing or banning exports. Russia intended to liquidate Gazprom Germania GmbH, a German company belonging to the Gazprom Group. If this company went liquidated, Germany's natural gas supply and demand would be seriously disrupted, so Germany implemented trust management as an administrative measure to prevent liquidation of this company. The purpose of this paper is to review Germany's response to the energy crisis caused by the Ukraine-Russia war by examining specific cases and individual legal systems of Germany's trust management system.
Palatal consonants in the Mennonite dialect Plautdietch in the light of the development typology of the Ingvaeonic consonantism
Authors:   Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Naiditch Larissa
Published: January 2023

The paper deals with the system of palatal consonants: /t’/, /d’/, /n’/ in Low German, Prussian dialects of the Mennonites. This dialect was used in the “language islands” of the Ukraine and of several other regions of the Russian state and is today common in the Mennonite communities all around the world: Canada, USA, South America, Germany, Siberia and the Altai region. The research is based on the recent records of these dialects as well as on the data from the dialectal archive of Viktor Schirmunski (Žirmunskij) in St Petersburg. The rendering of the palatal consonants in the questionnaires in this archive by the dialect speakers in 1920s is examined. The palatalization of consonants in Plautdietch is considered from the background of the palatalizations and assibilations in the Ingvaeonic branch of West Germanic languages. It is emphasized that the palatalization is one of the characteristic phenomena of the Ingvaeonic languages, which can manifest itself in different periods of their history. Thus the development of the palatal consonants can be considered in the framework of genetically related languages’ typology. It is known that the palatalization of [k] and [g] occurred in Old English before and after front vowels. In Frisian, palatalization was followed by assibilation. In Dutch, palatalization is observed in the diminutive suffix. Palatalization in a number of Low German dialects occurred as well and was followed by zetacism. Thus the palatalizaion reflects internal trends in the development of the dialects of some West Germanic languages, namely those of the Ingvaeonic group. It is probably an intermediate stage preceding assibilation and affrication of consonants. In some cases it remains in the modern language in its initial state, as is the case in the Mennonite dialect of the Plautdietch.
Ibsen, Blok and Russian revolution (on connections between the poem The Twelve and the double-drama Emperor and Galilean)
Authors:   Russian State Institute of Performing Arts, Yuriev Andrey
Published: January 2023

The article deals with relations between Alexandr Blok’s poem The Twelve (1918) and Henrik Ibsen’s “world-historical drama” Emperor and Galilean (1873). Proceeding from the Christian paradoxical discourse after the Norwegian playwright, the poet radicalizes it so much that the bounds of traditional Christian worldview are broken down. In the poem, one can notice a rather complex indirect connection with the paradoxical discourse of both Dostoevsky (whose Christian identity is difficult to question) and Ibsen, especially beloved by Blok, in whose system of views it is important to notice the Lutheran dominant, implicitly referring to some Gnostic views that have quite logically been actualized in European culture of the last two centuries. The similarity between works so different, at first glance, as The Twelve and Ibsen’s double- drama, deserves attention: in both cases, Christ appears ghostly, not in the flesh, in Blok — invisible to all the characters, in Ibsen — as visible only to very few. In both cases, he brings retribution — a theme equally important both in Ibsen’s work and in Blok’s poem. Both the Norwegian playwright and the Russian symbolist poet interpret world history from the standpoint of religious and metaphysical paradoxicalism. Ibsen’s hero who renounced Christ begins the most brutal, bloody persecution of the Christian Church in order to destroy Christianity (Blok’s Red Guards shooting at both “Holy Russia” and the invisible Christ for them create a kind of parallel for him in this case), but achieves the goal opposite to his intentions — he cleanses Christianity and thereby saves it. The same can be said about Ibsen’s Julian that was said by Blok about the Red Guard — this is “water” to the mill of the Christian church. We do not know whether Blok think of Emperor and Galilean when working at his poem, but the parallels are obvious and remarkable.
Prince Eugene of Sweden. A painter’s brief biography
Authors:   Bonch-Bruevich Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications, Gekht Anton
Published: January 2023

This article tells about the main stages of the biography of the famous Scandinavian painter Prince Eugene, a representative of the Bernadotte dynasty, who left a noticeable mark on the history of Swedish culture. Having no prospects of ever taking the royal throne, Eugene, after receiving the traditional upbringing and education for the heir to the throne, devoted himself to the study of painting. Having experienced the serious influence of the French Impressionist masters of the last third of the 19th century during his studies in Paris, he worked fruitfully in various genres for a long time, leaving an extensive creative legacy: his brush owns not only numerous canvases presented both in leading museums in Sweden and world-class collections (the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum), but also monuments of monumental painting — in particular, frescoes in the Stockholm City Hall and the Royal Drama Theater. The activity of Prince Eugene as a representative of the Swedish royal court during the period on the eve of the dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian union is a significant research interest. Prince Eugene made certain efforts to preserve the unity of Sweden and Norway by popularizing such ideas in the Norwegian creative environment, where he had wide acquaintances and a certain popularity and was even proposed by such famous figures of Norwegian culture as K. Hamsun and B. Bjornson as a possible candidate for the role of king of Norway. The prince-artist is also noteworthy as a public figure who held anti-Nazi positions during the period before and during World War II: he not only condemned the policies of the Third Reich, but also criticized Swedish public figures who expressed sympathy for the actions of the Nazi regime in Germany. Nowadays, the extensive creative heritage of Prince Eugene is on display in the collection of the art museum located in his estate Waldemarsudde in Stockholm, where he lived and worked for most of his life and where he was buried after his death.
Twitter discourse of diplomatic missions to the UN on the conflict in Donbas (2015–2021)
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Bolgov Radomir
Published: January 2023

The article reflects the results of a study of public political discourse about the conflict in the Donbass, formed by Twitter institutional actors (permanent missions to the UN) and political figures (representatives, their deputies, etc.) of countries — permanent members of the UN Security Council. Chronological scope of the study: from January 2015 (escalation of the armed conflict in the Donbass, starting with the shelling of the stop near Volnovakha and the aggravation of the fighting for the Donetsk airport) to the present (2021). By analyzing the messages in Twitter, some trends in the development of discourse have been revealed. We prove the hypothesis about the existence of two divergent variants of discourse, which in different ways characterize the participants in the conflict in the South-East of Ukraine. To confirm the hypothesis, we use a technique for analyzing political discourse, which includes two levels of analysis: the identification of key conceptual metaphors in both discourse options (positively or negatively characterizing the parties of the conflict) and the identification of the semantic opposition “we — they” realized within the metaphors. We identify the metaphorical images of the conflict parties as a whole and the concepts used, and then the conceptual metaphors they create. We conclude that in both variants of discourse, most conceptual metaphors are based on negative concepts that designate the opposite side of the conflict, and that the discussion is characterized by increased emotional tension.
Russian-Norwegian relations and the transformation of bilateral cooperation at the end of the 20th century (on the example of the Arkhangelsk region)
Authors:   Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov, Zaretskaya Oksana
Published: January 2023

The article deals with the restoration and changes of historical Russian-Norwegian relations in the European North during the transformation of the international order and the end of the bipolar world in the 1990s. The author defines the nature and specific features inherent in the Barents cooperation, reveals the historical stages of relations between Russia and Norway, as well as the prospects for further interaction between the above-mentioned countries. The relevance of the topic is justified by the need for a comprehensive study of the history of the formation and development of Russian-Norwegian cooperation in a period of changes in the international arena and the search for new areas of bilateral cooperation, taking into account the fact that a systematic study of the experience of Norway and Russia, which occupy a leading position in the Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region (CBEAR) is of great importance for assessing the current state and prospects for further development of relations in the region as a whole. In addition, the world politics of the late 20th — early 21st century was characterized by a trend of strengthening regional institutions and interregional cooperation. The focus of the BEAR was to provide comfortable conditions for a person living in the North. Accordingly, by maintaining a regular and mutually respectful dialogue, the participants in the Barents Cooperation consistently implemented various projects and developed a kind of “immunity to fluctuations in the international situation”, capable of isolating it from fluctuations in the geopolitical situation during the period under study. As an example of fruitful Russian- Norwegian cooperation, the paper analyzes cooperation between the northern provinces of Norway and the Arkhangelsk region in the fields of education, science and healthcare, as the most fruitful areas, with special attention to the development of cooperation within the BEAR.