bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Importance of Classroom Discipline in Teaching
Authors: Shameem Khursheed
Published: January 2023

The basic purpose and objective of this study were to evaluate and compare the relation between class discipline and teaching. The existence of disturbance in the classroom was an extremely challenging behavior of the students all around the world has drawn attention of many researchers as to why such behavior is prevalent and growing continuously so that teachers may be able to effectively control such behavior and manage a disciplined and learning environment in the classroom by using modern methods of teaching. The understudy topic of the research had significant importance due to the rapidly increasing issues in classroom discipline. The purpose of the study was to improve the quality of teaching in the classrooms with controlled discipline and study various strategies that help teachers to control students’ discipline issues during the teaching. Scheerens & Blömeke in 2016 added that classroom discipline is just one of the edges of a diamond that adds to the quality of teaching in class. As per a study conducted by Wang, Hall & Rahimi in 2015, misbehavior in the classroom was the most widespread cause of teachers involving the school administration and management due to being so exhausted while managing their classrooms. The researcher applied mixed research methods to know the depth of purpose and aspect, which cause a lack in classroom discipline. The Researcher used a qualitative method of data collection of an open-ended questionnaire and for further clarification, un-structural interview was conducted for the teachers and students. Research Instrument (survey questionnaire) had been distributed among equal female and male respondents to avoid gender biasness. Selected respondents were 25 female teachers and 25 male teachers to know their natural opinions. And another survey questionnaire was given to 100 students which out of them were 50 females and 50 males. The collected data responses were entered into SPSS to assess the collected data results. The conclusion of this study is to provide an insight into educators’ experiences emphasizing the discipline in the classroom. The positive part of this research is the life experiences that can be either negative or positive effects of the classroom.
The Impact of Working Remotely on Employee Job Satisfaction: An SEM- PLS study of people working at universities
Authors: Khan Sherbaz , Rizwana Rasheed  , Mustafa Hyder
Published: January 2023

The rapidly evolving nature and expansion of the “COVID-19” pandemic have altered how business is conducted. Another obstacle arises in which it is noted that research regarding employee job satisfaction needs to be improved among individuals who were required to work from home due to the global crisis. The results of this study may provide information for organizations considering a permanent remote work model for their employees. It can investigate whether working remotely increases employees’ job satisfaction of people working at universities. The primary research method for this study is a literature review and conceptual modeling. Constraint identification and classification through a structured approach are the first steps toward a “zero-constraint” environment. To further expand the research, quantitative research was conducted on the subject and performed online and through face-to-face surveys. A questionnaire was designed to know people’s perceptions about the impact that COVID-19 created on the use of technology and ongoing remote work. Throughout the period, about 163 responses were obtained. Tested six hypotheses, and results support all the hypotheses following: (1) Monitoring affects remote work (2) Education system effect remote work (3) Job satisfaction effect remote work (4) Complexities of e-learning affect remote work. Our mediating hypothesis is remote work. Our support moderating is covid-19 lockdown. Examined the moderating effect of covid-19 lockdown on remote work on the uncertainty.
Taxonomic and ecological analysis of ruderal flora of the town of Kičevo (North Macedonia)
Authors: Jaleski Bojan
Published: January 2023

Ruderal flora and vegetation is one of the youngest and most dynamic floristic-vegetation complexes. The anthropogenic conditionality, pronounced dynamism, microfragmentation in its distribution and great morpho-anatomical variability of its cenobionts are its important characteristics. The floristic composition and development stage of the ruderal flora and vegetation are important data in observing the consequences of increasingly intensifying processes of urbanization. Floristic studies of the ruderal flora in the territory of the town Kičevo, have established the presence of 290 taxa of vascular plants, classfied into 207 genera, 58 families and 3 classes.The most represented taxa in the ruderal flora of Kičevo are from the most numerous families in the flora of North Macedonia: Asteraceae (41), Poaceae (26), and Fabaceae (25). A total of eighteen genera with three or more taxa were recorded, and the genera with the largest number of taxa are: Vicia (6), Trifolium (5), Geranium, Veronica, Euphorbia, Rumex, Linaria and Ranunculus (4). Majority of the species which belong to these genera are characteristic indicators of tertiary ruderal vegetation. Analysis of the representation of certain life forms has determined the hemicryptophyto-therophite character of the ruderal flora (H= 43.10%, T= 36.55%). The subdominant presence of therophytes is directly correlated with the instability of the ruderal habitats caused by the anthropogenic activities.The analysis of ecological indices for five main ecological factors (light, temperature, humidity, soil reaction and nutritiens) has shown dominance of plants preferring semi-open to open habitats, mesothermal and thermophylic habitats (regarding their termal regime), submesophyte to subxerophyte habitats (regarding their water regime), mostly neutral to low alkaline soil reaction and oligo-mesotrophic habitats, regarding their nutritien status. Comparing the ruderal flora of Kičevo with other similar sized cities in the region (Žabljak, Loznica, Smederevska Palanka and Kosovska Mitrovica), we found the highest index of similarity (0.81) between the cities of Kičevo and Kosovska Mitrovica.
Liquisolid systems as a novel approach in formulation and manufacturing of solid dosage forms: Challenges and perspectives
Authors: Aleksić Ivana , Glišić Teodora , Parojčić Jelena
Published: January 2023

Liquisolid systems are a novel, promising platform for the production of solid dosage forms with a high liquid content, i.e. dispersion of the drug in a suitable, hydrophilic, non-volatile liquid vehicle or liquid drug. This technology requires conventional, but highly porous excipients (carrier and coating material in the appropriate ratio) able to absorb/adsorb liquid medication, resulting in both good flowability and acceptable compression properties. This approach has shown great potential to improve the dissolution rate and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, and has been recognized as a good alternative to common, more complex and expensive techniques. A variety of applications of this simple technique have been investigated recently, including the preparation of: modified release tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, solid dosage forms with liquid herbal extracts, etc. This emerging technology has numerous advantages, and the most important are: simplicity, cost-effectiveness, applicability in large scale production and environmental friendliness. However, it is accompanied by certain challenges as well, such as limited applicability in the case of highly dosed drugs. This article aims to give a comprehensive overview of recent progress regarding the potential applications of this technology, as well as to give an insight into the new liquisolid-based techniques intending to further support its commercial applicability.
Application of text-mining techniques for extraction and analysis of paracetamol and ibuprofen marketed products' qualitative composition
Authors: Đuriš Jelena , Pilović Jovana , Džunić Marina , Cvijić Sandra , Ibrić Svetlana
Published: January 2023

Text mining (TM) applications in the field of biomedicine are gaining great interest. TM tools can facilitate formulation development by analyzing textual information from patent databases, scientific articles, summary of products characteristics, etc. The aim of this study was to utilize TM tools to perform qualitative analysis of paracetamol (PAR) and ibuprofen (IBU) formulations, in terms of identifying and evaluating the presence of excipients specific to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and/or dosage form. A total of 152 products were analyzed. Web-scraping was used to retrieve the data, and Python-based open-source software Orange 3.31.1 was used for TM and statistical analysis (ANOVA) of the obtained results. The majority of marketed products for both APIs were tablets. The predominant excipients in all tablet formulations were povidone, starch, microcrystalline cellulose and hypromellose. Povidone, stearic acid, potassium sorbate, maize starch and pregelatinized starch occurred more frequently in PAR tablets. On the other hand, titanium dioxide, lactose, shellac, sucrose and ammonium hydroxide were specific to IBU tablets. PAR oral suspensions more frequently contained dispersible cellulose; liquid sorbitol; methyl and propyl parahydroxybenzoate, glycerol and acesulfame potassium. Specific excipients in other PAR dosage forms, such as effervescent tablets, hard capsules, oral powders, solutions and suspensions, as well as IBU gels and soft capsules, were also evaluated.
Mathematical approaches for powders and multiparticulate units processability characterization in pharmaceutical development
Authors: Vasiljević Ivana , Turković Erna , Aleksić Ivana , Parojčić Jelena
Published: January 2023

An understanding of material properties and processing effects on solid dosage forms performance is required within the Quality-by-design approach to pharmaceutical development. Several research groups have developed mathematical approaches aiming to facilitate the selection of formulation composition and the manufacturing technology. These approaches are based on material particulate, bulk and compression-related properties. This paper provides theoretical assumptions and a critical review of different mathematical approaches for processability characterization of powders and multiparticulate units. Mathematical approaches have mainly been developed for directly compressible materials, but sometimes other manufacturing technologies, such as roller compaction and wet granulation, are also considered. The obtained compact tensile strength has been implemented in the majority of approaches, as an important characteristic describing compact mechanical properties. Flowability should be also evaluated, since it affects sample processability. Additionally, particle size and shape, material density and compressibility, compactibility and tabletability profiles have been also distinguished as relevant properties for solid dosage form development. The application of mathematical approaches may contribute to the mechanistic understanding of critical material attributes and facilitate dosage form development and optimization. However, it is essential to select the appropriate one, based on the intended dosage form characteristics, in order to ensure that all relevant powder/multiparticulate units characteristics are implemented and critically evaluated.
The significance of R&D activities for managing intellectual capital of enterprises
Authors: Krstić Bojan , Janjić Ivana , Jovanović Milica , Milanović Sandra
Published: January 2023

Enterprises are developing, increasing their profits, value and competitiveness based on successful synergies of human, structural and relational intellectual capital. In addition, R&D (Research and Development) has been acknowledged as a crucial contributor to the competitive advantage in today's competitive market. By performing R&D activities, companies create, develop and use intellectual resources (the knowledge of employees and managers, the knowledge contained in technology and processes), which are valorized on the market and converted into a certain value. R&D is the primary source of knowledge stored within individuals in the enterprise. The most generally used indicators of R&D outputs are patents and innovations, and very important components of structural intellectual capital. Both of these indicators are used to evaluate a company's technological strength and capabilities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships and connections between investment in R&D, the components of the intellectual capital of enterprises and the efficiency of intangible assets as visible intellectual capital and the efficiency of the total intellectual capital. This paper aims to point out the importance of performing R&D activities for managing the intellectual capital of the enterprises. Correlation and regression analysis were used for that purpose. The results of the analysis show that R&D investments are positively correlated with visible and invisible intellectual capital, and the efficiency of intangible assets, while R&D investments have a positive influence on visible and invisible intellectual capital.
The effect of agricultural investments by governments on economic growth and financial markets: An application on developed and developing countries
Authors: Abdulkadir Kaya
Published: January 2023

In this study, Bound Test Analysis (ARDL) was applied for the 2001-2016 period in order to examine the effects of the Agricultural Orientation Indices (AOI) representing the agricultural investments of countries on the Stock Exchange Index (SE) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of developed and developing countries. The independent variables of the two ARDL models created are AOI and the dependent variables are SE and GDP. To estimate the relations between the variables, yearly panel date series belonging to the period of 2001 - 2016 are taken into account. According to the results of the analysis of border tests, Agriculture Orientation Index (AOI) and the Stock Exchange Index (SE) and Gross Domestic Products (GDP) variables are cointegrated in both developed and developing countries. AOI variable has no statistically significant effect on SE variable, GDP variable is negatively affected by the AOI variable in the long term both developed countries and developing countries. In developed countries, the AOI variable has a negative relationship with the SE variable. In addition, it was determined that the AOI variable has a negative effect on the GDP variable in the short term. AOI variable does not affect on both SE and GDP variables in the short term.
Analysis of multiple organ function damage in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Feng Shiyan , Wang Fengxin , Wu Weibo , Li Yinfeng , Chen Chuming , Li Jianming , Cao Mengli , Peng Ling , Zhang Peiyan , Wang Fuxiang
Published: January 2023

Background: This study aims to analyze the changes and significance of organ function indices in patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia for prediction of major organ damages and guiding treatment schemes. Methods: 63 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were selected as the severe group and 73 patients with mild syndromes were selected as the mild group. SAS9.4 software was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: Levels of ALT, AST, cTnI, Cr, PT, APTT and Ddimer of the severe group were significantly higher while PLT was lower than those of the mild group. The data of all quantitative variables were converted into categorical variables. Significantly higher levels of AST, ALB, D-dimer and higher proportion of bilateral lung involvement were observed from the severe group comparing to those in the mild group, while the difference in the other indices between the two groups was insignificant in statistical perspective. Conclusions: There are significant differences in the levels of multiple organ function indices between the severe group and the mild group of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia infection. Through examining the relevant indices, conditions of patients' multiple organ function damage could be predicted and used as guidance of treatment.
Geomechanical characteristics of smelting slag from the depot in Bor
Authors: Tašić Dušan , Đurđevac Vanja , Ignjatović Dragan
Published: January 2023

During the geotechnical research at the RTH flotation tailing dump in Bor, the environment representing the so - called "anthropogenic layers" of smelting slag was singled out in the engineering geological materials of the field. It is a petrified, semi-metallic material, which forms layers in the field or is spread in a loose state. This paper presents the results of geomechanical and chemical tests, as well as the SEM analysis of samples of this material.
Stope stability analysis in room-and-pillar mining method using cemented paste backfill
Authors: Đurđevac-Ignjatović Lidija , Lukić Ivan , Ignjatović Dragan , Đurđevac Vanja
Published: January 2023

Significant economic and environmental advantages can be expected using cemented paste, especially in mining as a backfill for room-and-pillar excavated method. But, it is necessary to investigate the behaviour of cemented paste backfill within mine stope. In this paper will be presented results of stress-strain analysis of stope stability in room-and-pillar excavation method, before and after backfilling with cemented paste on a model developed in a plane (2D) with corresponding boundary conditions. This model was developed in order to analyze stress-strain stability of the room-and-pillar system in excavating block with included loading and drilling corridors. Model was analyzed before and after backfilling. This excavation method will be applied in "Borska Reka" mine, Bor, Serbia.
Assessment of dust emission at the limestone open pit "Milojević Brdo"
Authors: Stanić Nikola , Gomilanović Miljan , Doderović Aleksandar , Aksić Nemanja
Published: January 2023

The basis of emission assessment at the Open Pit "Milojević Brdo" is to define the dust distribution depending on the wind influence and dust emitters. This paper presents the data for equipment engaged at the open pit. Through an analytical approach, the total emission of dust emitted by the mining equipment and aeolian erosion in the area of the open pit was determined. The results of this analysis represent a prediction of the state of dust impact on the environment during the exploitation process at the open pit.
National community, myth or reality: Collaboration of ordinary Germans with the Nazi regime
Authors: Vuković Slobodan
Published: January 2023

The national community (Volksgemeinschaft) is one of the central concepts of Nazi ideology and propaganda. At the beginning of the Great War, it served to strengthen national unity regardless of religion or social status in the upcoming struggle for living space (Lebensraum). The Völkisch movement and Nazism emphasize the racial worldview, anti-Semitism and anti-Slavism in the national community. It constitutes the unity of the "race", the Volk and the new German "religion". It was raised as a concept of separation into national comrades and foreigners outside the community. Jews, Slavs, political opponents and the mentally or physically handicapped were excluded from the national community. Mass crimes were committed against them and finally the research shows that Nazism had the broad support of the German Volk.
The role of culture in the restoration and dissemination of the national spirit
Authors: Avramović Zoran
Published: January 2023

The paper determines the basic and related concepts of culture. It points to the narrower and broader understanding of culture. The outstanding concepts are as follows: cultural patter, media culture, electronic culture, Serbian culture and foreign cultures, and Serbian cultural space. The second part is dedicated to major actors in culture, creators/authors, their works, the audience, institutions and organizations, cultural groups, state institutions with divided competences. The third part speaks of the restoration and dissemination of the national spirit (values) through two foundation pillars of culture - tradition (cultural heritage) and creative work. The fourth part casts light on the conflict nature of culture. The concluding part presents the attitude about the democratic struggle for cultural values.
The clarity of referendums: An instrument for managing the (dis)continuity and perception of change
Authors: Miloš Matija
Published: January 2023

Seen as a precondition for a referendum, clarity requires a clear referendum question and a clear majority for or against an outcome. In this article I argue clarity is not only an enabler of individual referendums but one way to politicize their context. In separating what is clear from what is obscure, clarity imposes the twin requirements of homogeneity and predictability. These, in turn, presuppose an interpretation of acceptable political (dis)continuities beyond the referendum as well as of perception of change. This reading of clarity shows how the referendum does not only manage change to which it is explicitly addressed, but that the purported voice of "the people" may at the same time be an instrument of clarity that imagines and normatively orders the referendum's surroundings.
Rule of law, trust, and competition: Will Sped-Pro become a game-changer for the protection of EU fundamental values?
Authors: Grabowska-Moroz Barbara
Published: January 2023

The CJEU's jurisprudence based on the LM case has been criticized on the grounds that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to prove threats to due process in an individual case. The central question posed is the permissibility of limiting the principle of mutual trust between Member States because of a potential breach of fundamental rights in one of them. In the recent Sped-Pro case, the General Court decided to apply the above question to a new field of EU Law - competition law - without changing much of the essence of the question. In trying to protect mutual trust between Member States, the General Court has not created effective tools to protect the rule of law in the Member States. This also puts the principle of mutual trust at risk.
Identification of gene candidates associated with Irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Milovac Irina , Vidović Vanja , Ramić Jasmin , Lojo-Kadrić Naida , Hadžić Maida , Mavija Zoran , Vidović Stojko , Pojskić Lejla
Published: January 2023

Background/Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) belongs to the gastrointestinal disorders characterised by abdominal discomfort and pain, altered constipation, diarrhoea and stomach distension. The aim was to assess relationship between the selected genetic polymorphisms with IBS, their combined genotype effect as well as to assess a difference in the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of selected loci between case and control group. Methods: This was a prospective study which included 29 participants, 20 individuals diagnosed with IBS based on Rome III criteria and 9 healthy individuals. The study analysed the selected genetic polymorphisms as possible risk factors for IBS according to the model of the case-control study. Genotyping was performed for FKBP5, DRD2 and DAT polymorphisms qualified as risk factors for IBS in previous researches. Results: The results revealed a significant association between DAT polymorphism with IBS, both, at the allelic level (p = 0.006) and genotype level (p = 0.031). Individuals with 434 allelic variant in the genotype have six time higher probability for developing IBS, in comparison to the individuals without this allelic variant. The statistical association between other analysed polymorphism and IBS was not reached. The analysis of combined effects of selected polymorphisms revealed no association with IBS, except FKBP5 and DAT which result was at the level of statistical significance (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Further analysis which would include DAT polymorphism with larger sample size, as well as other genes involved in dopamine neurotransmitter system would be of great interest to define closer conclusion of IBS aetiology.
3D-QSAR-based pharmacophore determination and design of novel DPP-4 inhibitors
Authors: Rogić Sanja , Gagić Žarko
Published: January 2023

Background/Aim: Therapy of diabetes mellitus type 2 includes drugs that act as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) enzyme. Several DPP-4 inhibitors are marketed today and although they have favourable safety profile and tolerability, they show moderate activity in controlling glycaemia. The 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) methodology was employed in order to find pharmacophore responsible for good DPP-4 inhibitory activity and designed new compounds with enhanced activity. Methods: For 3D-QSAR model development, 48 compounds structurally related to sitagliptin were collected from ChEMBL database. Structures of all compounds were optimised in order to find the best 3D conformations prior to QSAR modelling. To establish correlation between structure and biological activity Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression method integrated in Pentacle software was used. Results: Parameters of internal and external validation (R2 = 0.80, Q2 = 0.64 and R2 pred = 0.610) confirmed reliability of developed QSAR model. Analysis of obtained structural descriptors enabled identification of key structural characteristics that influenced DPP-4 inhibitory activity. Based on that information, new compounds were designed, of which 35 compounds had a better predicted activity, compared to sitagliptin. Conclusion: This QSAR model can be used for DPP-4 inhibitory activity prediction of structurally related compounds and resulting pharmacophore contains information useful for optimisation and design of new DPP-4 inhibitors. Finally, authors propose designed compounds for further synthesis, in vitro and in vivo testing, as new potential DPP-4 inhibitors.
Assessment of factors influencing the patient's perception of teledentistry services
Authors: Oktaviani Risanti , Dewanto Iwan
Published: January 2023

Background/Aim: The trend of using teledentistry increased significantly during the pandemic. Many studies have analysed patients' perceptions of teledentistry, but no studies have examined the factors that influence these perceptions. Aim of this study was to determine the factors that influenced the patient's perception of teledentistry. Methods: This type of research was a descriptive analysis with a cross sectional design. A total of 170 respondents filled out a questionnaire containing sociodemographic data and statements with a Likert scale related to the five perceptual domains of teledentistry. The data were analysed for correlation test with SPSS and model test with SEM-PLS. Results: There were only two factors, namely age and level of education that appear as factors that affect the patient's perception with a correlation significance value of 0.001 for age and 0.005 for education. The value of the correlation coefficient was positive, which means that the higher the age and level of education, there was a greater tendency for perceived value to be more strongly agreed. These results were reinforced by the results of the coefficient values on the SEM-PLS model test which were positive and significant, namely 0.311. The results of the goodness of fit analysis in this study were in the moderate category with a value of 0.265. However, the imbalance in the number of respondents in each sociodemographic group makes the results of this study less representative. Conclusion: There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the perception of teledentistry. This means that the higher a person's education level, the better his perception of teledentistry. Age had a significant positive correlation and influence with the patient's perception of teledentistry.
Effect of hydrogen sulphide containing mineral water on experimental osteoporosis in rats
Authors: Popović Tamara , Amidžić Ljiljana , Čeko Mile , Marković Siniša , Škrbić Ranko
Published: January 2023

Background/Aim: Sulphur mineral water is widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Hydrogen sulphide is an important regulator of bone metabolism and its application in the treatment of osteoporosis is intensively researched. The aim of this study was to analyse biochemical and histological effects of H2S containing mineral water of "Mlječanica" spring on ovariectomy-induced experimental osteoporosis in rats. Methods: In this experiment a 14-week-old Wistar female rats were used. The animals undergone bilateral ovariectomy (OVX groups) as an experimental model for oestrogen-deficient osteoporosis. After six weeks, animals were divided into control and the experimental group. Rats from the experimental group treated with H2S (SW group) containing mineral water ad libitum during five weeks. Biochemical parameters for monitoring sulphur water effects were concentration in serum of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus. Histological analyses of the left tibia coloured with haematoxylin-eosin were carried out. Results: Regarding the biochemical parameters, a statistically significant increase was observed in the OVX group for osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase calcium and phosphorus compared to the sham-operated (CNT) group (p < 0.01). In SW + OVX, alkaline phosphatase was statistically significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and serum osteocalcin and phosphorus increased (p < 0.01). Calcium values were increased without significance. In the OVX + SW group, histological analyses showed numerous osteoblasts along the trabecular endosteum and the growth of young chondrocytes in the central bone zone and their migration to the peripheral parts. Conclusion: Drinking the H2S containing "Mlječanica" mineral water has led to decreased alkaline phosphatase, increased osteocalcin and phosphorus concentration in serum and stimulated the bone reparation in osteoporotic rats.
The effects of subchronic intake of magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich mineral water on body weight and cardiovascular variables in rats with streptozotocin: Induced diabetes
Authors: Đuric Dragan , Milošević Filip , Todorović Dušan , Živković Vladimir , Srejović Ivan , Jakovljević Vladimir , Stojiljković Miloš , Škrbić Ranko , Dragičević-Cvjetković Dragana , Vučković Sonja
Published: January 2023

Background/Aim: Optimal intake of magnesium minerals is essential in maintaining the coordinated physiological functions of cells, tissues and organs. The importance of this element is reflected in the fact that it is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body, participating as a cofactor in more than three hundred enzymatic reactions. Its presence is necessary for the proper functioning of a number of vital functions, such as glycaemic control, the work of the heart and the vascular system and it can potentially play a role in the regulation of body weight. Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subchronic intake of magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water on changes in body weight, organ weight and cardiovascular variables in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Methods: Wistar rats (n = 28) were divided into 4 groups: two control groups, on tap water (TW-C, n = 7) and magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water (MW-C, n = 7); and two experimental groups with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, on tap water (TW-DM, n = 7) and magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water (MW-DM, n = 7). The values of body weight, organ weight and cardiovascular parameters were compared after 6 weeks between control groups of rats on subchronic treatment with tap water (TW-C) and magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water (MW-C) and between groups with streptozotocin-induced diabetes on tap water (TW-DM) and with magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water (MW-DM). Results: By comparing the values of cardiovascular parameters between groups, significant (p < 0.05) positive effects of magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water were registered on the values of systolic and pulse blood pressure in diabetic rats fed with magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water (MW-DM) compared to those fed with tap water (TW-DM). In contrast, no significant effect of magnesium hydrocarbonate on changes in body weight and organ weight was observed. Conclusion: Based on the results, the beneficial effects of magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich water in the regulation of blood pressure can be clearly observed. Potential effects on other cardiovascular variables and body weight and organ weight should be further investigated.
No es oro todo lo que reluce: precariedad y sobrecualificación en el mercado de trabajo de los doctores
Authors: Pablo Hernando Susana
Published: January 2023

Los doctores son considerados actores claves en la actual economía del conocimiento debido a que disponen de conocimientos altamente especializados y de competencias estratégicas que facilitan los procesos de transferencia de conocimiento entre las organizaciones de los sistemas de innovación. Sin embargo, algunos estudios alertan de las dificultades que experimentan los doctores de algunas áreas para acceder a puestos de trabajo permanentes acordes a su nivel de cualificación y a sus expectativas salariales. 

El objetivo de este trabajo es describir el mercado de trabajo de los doctores en España, para determinar el alcance de los problemas de precariedad laboral y de sobrecualificación en cada área de conocimiento. Este trabajo analiza los datos de la Encuesta de Inserción Laboral de los Titulados Universitarios 2019 del Instituto Nacional de Estadística. 

Los resultados muestran que el título de doctor no ofrece protección contra el problema de inestabilidad del mercado laboral español, especialmente en el área de ciencias. Este título tampoco constituye necesariamente un pasaporte de acceso a empleos cualificados.
La acumulación por desposesión presente en las estrategias extractivistas y de conservación hegemónicas en la Amazonía brasileña desde un estructuralismo marxista y ecofeminista
Authors: De la Villa Hervás Ismael , Giménez González Rebeca
Published: January 2023

La Amazonía brasileña ha estado históricamente afectada, en especial durante el siglo xx, por actividades para la acumulación de capital en el Norte global mediante la desposesión de territorios, la deforestación, la explotación de recursos naturales, la minería y otras prácticas extractivistas. Sin embargo, con la emergencia de agendas y actores encargados de la promoción del «desarrollo sostenible», se han puesto en marcha numerosos planes y programas (CDM, REDD+, etc.) que han transformado las estrategias de acumulación, compatibilizándolas con la conservación, a través del «capitalismo verde». Este artículo busca desentrañar las implicaciones de esta transformación en la explotación del territorio amazónico brasileño, y su inserción en la ecología-mundo, a nivel político, socioeconómico y de género desde un enfoque estructuralista, marxista y ecofeminista.
On the issue of classification of inspection and search equipment
Authors: Baumtrog Viktor Etmontovich
Published: January 2023

The subject of the study is the classification of inspection and search equipment. The object of research in the work is the tactical and technical characteristics of various samples of inspection and search equipment, the features of its design, the principles of operation of the devices. The paper discusses such classifiers as the type of the detected object, the design features of the product, the specifics of the impact on the surrounding space, the physical principle of operation. The author pays special attention to the search, formulation and discussion of classification features that allow us to fully characterize not only the purpose and design of a specific inspection or search technical means, but also the principle of operation, in order to form a single conceptual apparatus in the subject area.    The main results of the study are a comprehensive consideration of the classification of inspection and search equipment, the formulation of the names of groups of inspection and search equipment, based on its principle of operation. Within the framework of individual groups, an additional division of equipment into subgroups is proposed, which allows even more accurately characterizing its capabilities. The novelty of the research also lies in the discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of classifying signs of inspection and search equipment, in the proposal of a classification scheme based on the physical principles of the devices. For a more complete understanding of the developed classification, the author provides examples of search and inspection devices of different types according to the developed criteria.
Reflection on the Problems of Labor Motivation in the Letters of the Oil Industry Workers of the Ural-Volga Region in 1956 (Content Analysis of the Territorial-Branch Newspapers "Neftyanik of Tataria" and "Neftyanik of Bashkiria")
Authors: Aletkina Ekaterina Yur'evna
Published: January 2023

This article describes the experience of content analysis of letters from oil industry workers in 1956. New little–studied sources are being put into circulation - the territorial-branch newspapers "Neftyanik of Tataria" and "Neftyanik of Bashkiria". The purpose of the study is to research the system of motivation of workers of oil-producing enterprises of the Ural-Volga region through the prism of their letters to the editorial offices of territorial-branch newspapers. The object of the study are the letters of employees published in newspaper issues for 1956. The comparison of letters published in newspapers was carried out in two aspects: by type of newspaper publisher and territorial affiliation. The article describes the experience of content analysis of letters from employees of associations and enterprises of the oil industry. The text of the article describes the analysis of letter materials carried out using the MAXQDA computer program, which implements the basic content analysis method. The use of the program made it possible to obtain data on the characteristic problems of concern to oil workers, the links between the identified categories. The UCINET program was used to visualize the data. The obtained results expand the understanding of the sources used in research on labor motivation, as well as directly supplement the data on motivation and stimulation of labor in the post-war USSR. The content analysis of the revealed semantic categories of letters showed the special importance of the category "production management" for solving both industrial and social issues.
Multimodal brain age estimates relate to Alzheimer disease biomarkers and cognition in early stages: a cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Millar Peter R , Gordon Brian A , Luckett Patrick H , Benzinger Tammie LS , Cruchaga Carlos , Fagan Anne M , Hassenstab Jason J , Perrin Richard J , Schindler Suzanne E , Allegri Ricardo F , Day Gregory S , Farlow Martin R , Mori Hiroshi , Nübling Georg ,   The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network, Bateman Randall J , Morris John C , Ances Beau M
Published: January 2023

Background:

Estimates of ‘brain-predicted age’ quantify apparent brain age compared to normative trajectories of neuroimaging features. The brain age gap (BAG) between predicted and chronological age is elevated in symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD) but has not been well explored in presymptomatic AD. Prior studies have typically modeled BAG with structural MRI, but more recently other modalities, including functional connectivity (FC) and multimodal MRI, have been explored.

Methods:

We trained three models to predict age from FC, structural (S), or multimodal MRI (S+FC) in 390 amyloid-negative cognitively normal (CN/A−) participants (18–89 years old). In independent samples of 144 CN/A−, 154 CN/A+, and 154 cognitively impaired (CI; CDR > 0) participants, we tested relationships between BAG and AD biomarkers of amyloid and tau, as well as a global cognitive composite.

Results:

All models predicted age in the control training set, with the multimodal model outperforming the unimodal models. All three BAG estimates were significantly elevated in CI compared to controls. FC-BAG was significantly reduced in CN/A+ participants compared to CN/A−. In CI participants only, elevated S-BAG and S+FC BAG were associated with more advanced AD pathology and lower cognitive performance.

Conclusions:

Both FC-BAG and S-BAG are elevated in CI participants. However, FC and structural MRI also capture complementary signals. Specifically, FC-BAG may capture a unique biphasic response to presymptomatic AD pathology, while S-BAG may capture pathological progression and cognitive decline in the symptomatic stage. A multimodal age-prediction model improves sensitivity to healthy age differences.

Funding:

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P01-AG026276, P01- AG03991, P30-AG066444, 5-R01-AG052550, 5-R01-AG057680, 1-R01-AG067505, 1S10RR022984-01A1, and U19-AG032438), the BrightFocus Foundation (A2022014F), and the Alzheimer’s Association (SG-20-690363-DIAN).
The role of subjective significance, valence and arousal in the explicit processing of emotion-laden words
Authors: Imbir Kamil K. , Duda-Goławska Joanna , Wielgopolan Adrianna , Sobieszek Adam , Pastwa Maciej , Zygierewicz Jaroslaw
Published: January 2023

Emotional categorisation (deciding whether a word is emotional or not) is a task that employs the explicit analysis of the emotional meaning of words. Therefore, it allows for assessing the role of emotional factors, i.e., valence, arousal, and subjective significance, in emotional word processing. The aim of the current experiment was to investigate the role of subjective significance, a reflective form of activation that is similar to arousal (the automatic form), in the processing of emotional meaning. We applied the orthogonal manipulation of three emotional factors. Thus, we were able to precisely differentiate the effects of each factor and search for interactions between them. We expected valence to shape the late positive complex LPC component, while subjective significance and arousal were expected to shape the P300 and N400 components. We observed the effects of subjective significance throughout the whole span of processing, while the arousal effect was present only in the LPC component. We also observed that amplitudes for N400 and LPC discriminated negative from positive valence. The results showed that all factors included in the analysis should be taken into account while explaining the processing of emotion-laden words; especially interesting is the subjective significance, which was shown to shape processing individually, as well as to come into interaction with valence and arousal.
Depletion of PSMD14 suppresses bladder cancer proliferation by regulating GPX4
Authors: Jia Changxin , Zhang Xin , Qu Tingting , Wu Xiuyun , Li Yu , Zhao Yang , Sun Lijiang , Wang Qing
Published: January 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of deubiquitinase (DUB) 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 14 (PSMD14) in patients with bladder cancer.

Methods

From 2016 to 2018, 181 patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were recruited. The expression of PSMD14 in bladder cancer tissues was tested by immunochemistry. The association between PSMD14 expression and clinical and pathological data and outcomes of bladder cancer patients was determined. Overexpression and knockdown cells were constructed to evaluate the effects of PSMD14 on proliferation of bladder cancer cells.

Results

Our results showed that PSMD14 was significantly overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (76.24% vs 23.76%, P = 0.02). The expression of PSMD14 was significantly higher in patients with larger tumor diameters (85.14% vs 70.09%, P = 0.019) and patients with a family history of cancer (92.16% vs 70.00%, P = 0.002). Patients with high expression of PSMD14 had poor disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 2.89, 95% CI [1.247–6.711], P = 0.013). Gain and loss of function experiments demonstrated that PSMD14 deficiency inhibited bladder cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, depletion of PSMD14 suppressed bladder cancer cell growth via down-regulation of GPX4, and the promotion of PSMD14-induced cell growth was observably reversed by the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3.

Conclusion

We determined that PSMD14 is highly expressed in bladder cancer tissues, and that PSMD14 expression correlated with poor disease-free survival. Depletion of PSMD14 could inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells through the downregulation of GPX4. Therefore, PSMD14 may be an effective target for the treatment of bladder cancer.
A Comparative Study between Covid-19 Positive versus Suspected Patients: A Single-Center Study in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Monir , Ansari M. A. Jalil , Mollah Mujibul Haque , Msaum Md. , Islam Serajul
Published: January 2023

Background: The novel coronavirus disease or Covid-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China, which quickly involved majority of the countries across the world. Because of its high rate of mortality-morbidity and the similarities in signs and symptoms of pneumonia, it is very important to acquire proper knowledge to differ Covid-19 suspected and positive cases.

Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and clinical findings between Covid-19 positive and suspected patients.

Methods: This comparative observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the period from November 2020 to March 2022. In total 126 suspected Covid-19 patients were included as the study subjects for this study. After confirming 16 Covid-19 positive cases from total 126 participants by RT-PCR tests, the demographic and clinical features of those positive cases were compared with previously found findings (When total participants were defined as suspected) of total participants. A predesigned questioner was used in data collection. All data were collected, processed and analyzed by using MS Office and SPSS version 23 programs as per need.

Results: In this study, in comparing the demographic findings like age, gender as well as body-weights of Covid-19 suspected and positive group patients, we did not find any significant correlation. But in comparing the electrolytes: Na+, K+ and Cl- between the groups, we found extremely significant correlation between Covid-19 suspected and positive groups where the P values were found as <0.0001, 0.002 and 0.0002 respectively. In this study, as more frequent comorbidities, HTN and DM were observed in both the groups (>10%).

Conclusion: It is very difficult to confirm Covid-19 cases from suspected cases by demographic and/or clinical investigation without RT-PCR tests. Electrolyte assessment may play an important role in detecting Covid-19 cases.