bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can pre-operative ultrasound elastography predict aggressive features of solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma?
Authors: Liu Long , Jia Chao , Li Gang , Shi Qiusheng , Du Lianfang , Wu Rong
Published: May 2023

Objective:

To investigate whether pre-operative ultrasound elastography (USE) can be used to predict aggressive features of solitary papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs).

Methods:

Clinical and USE indices were retrospectively analyzed in 487 patients with surgically confirmed solitary PTCs. The patients were grouped per aggressive features on pathologic testing. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to explore independent risk factors of aggressive features.

Results:

Univariate analysis revealed standard deviation (SD) values of the tumor shear-wave velocity (SWV) were associated with capsular invasion (p < 0.05). Further, shear-wave elasticity and SWV ratios correlated with extrathyroidal extension (all p < 0.05). The tumor shear-wave elasticity and SWV SD values were associated with cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) (all p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis identified location and capsule contact as independent predictive risk factors for capsular invasion (all p < 0.05); size for extrathyroidal extension (all p < 0.05); and sex, age, margin, and suspected CLNM for CLNM (all p < 0.05). However, pre-operational USE indexes were not independent predictors of aggressive features (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Pre-operative USE indices were not independent risk factors of aggressive features of solitary PTCs. Thus, USE may have a limited value for predicting the aggressive features of PTC.

Advances in knowledge:

Pre-operative USE indices may have a limited value for predicting the aggressive features of PTC.
Halaf culture
Authors: Γεροχρήστου Αθηνά
Published: May 2023

Η Βόρεια Μεσοποταμία αποτελεί μία μοναδική γεωγραφική περιοχή, όπου η καλλιέργεια της γης είχε επιτευχθεί από νωρίς χάρη στο ευνοϊκό κλίμα και τη βλάστηση. Ο λεγόμενος Πολιτισμός Halaf άνθισε κατά την 6η χιλιετία π.Χ. στην περιοχή που συμπίπτει σχετικώς με την Εύφορη Ημισέληνο, δηλαδή στη βόρεια Μεσοποταμία, τη βόρια Συρία, και την νότια/νοτιοανατολική Ανατολία. Αυτή η περίοδος διακρίνεται από τις προηγούμενες χρονολογικές περιόδους για τα νέα και διαφορετικά πολιτισμικά και τεχνολογικά στοιχεία της, τα οποία κάνουν σταδιακά την εμφάνισή τους στους οικισμούς της Εγγύς Ανατολής. Μία από τις κεντρικές ερωτήσεις που έχει σκοπό να απαντήσει αυτή η διατριβή είναι: Υπήρχε κάποια συγκεκριμένη Halaf πολιτισμική ταυτότητα; Εφόσον η ταυτότητα δεν συνδέεται μόνον με τον πολιτισμό, αλλά και με την καταγωγή, το γένος, την ηλικία, τη γλώσσα, τη θρησκεία, την κοινωνική θέση, την εθνότητα, και ακόμη και με τα πολιτικά πιστεύω, πώς μπορούμε να ορίσουμε τον όρο ταυτότητα σε μία τόσο πρώιμη περίοδο; Υπάρχουν εθνοτικά, φυλετικά, κοινωνικά, πολιτισμικά, ή άλλα στοιχεία τα οποία να καθορίζουν την ταυτότητα μίας ομάδας ανθρώπων;Για την επίτευξη των στόχων η συγκεκριμένη διατριβή είναι δομημένη σε τρία μέρη. Στο πρώτο μέρος συζητούνται τα θεωρητικά μοντέλα ταυτότητας από ανθρωπολογικής σκοπιάς, και πιο συγκεκριμένα η εθνοτική, η φυλετική, η κοινωνική, και η πολιτισμική ταυτότητα, καθώς επίσης και η αίσθηση της ταυτότητας και κοινότητας κατά την αρχαιότητα. Το δεύτερο μέρος περιλαμβάνει την μικροανάλυση σε επίπεδο οικισμού (intra–site analysis), όπου διερευνώνται όλες οι εκφάνσεις του υλικού πολιτισμού επτά αρχαιολογικών θέσεων που χρησίμευσαν ως μελέτες περίπτωσης (case studies). Οι επτά αυτοί οικισμοί είναι οι εξής: Tell Arpachiyah, Yarim Tepe II, Tell Umm Qseir, Girikihaciyan, Fıstıklı Höyük, Kazane Höyük, και Kerküşti Höyük. Το τρίτο μέρος περιλαμβάνει μία λεπτομερή ενδοπολιτισμική ανάλυση (intra–cultural analysis) της αρχιτεκτονικής, των ταφικών εθίμων, της κεραμικής, των λίθινων εργαλείων, των μικροευρημάτων, και των πολιτισμικών επαφών. Η συγκεκριμένη ανάλυση τονίζει τις ομοιότητες και τις διαφορές στον υλικό πολιτισμό μεταξύ αρκετών οικισμών στη βόρεια Μεσοποταμία, με στόχο την διερεύνηση και κατανόηση της Halaf ταυτότητας κατά την 6η χιλιετία π.Χ.
Project Soothe: A pilot study evaluating the mood effects of soothing images collected using a citizen science approach
Authors: MacLennan Keren , Schwannauer Matthias , McLaughlin Angela L. , Allan Stephanie , Blackwell Simon E. , Ashworth Fiona , Chan Stella W. Y.
Published: May 2023

Background:    Mentally-generated soothing imagery is a therapeutic technique to support mental wellbeing, but some individuals may require support using externally presented stimuli. Project Soothe was launched to collect soothing images using a citizen science approach. This online pilot study evaluated the first 575 soothing images collected, examining: 1) if the images were perceived to be soothing; 2) if viewing the images had a positive impact on mood; and 3) if mood effects were influenced by individual differences in age, gender and depressive symptoms.

Methods:         We recruited 1152 participants (13 – 79 years, M = 35.62, SD = 14.60; 77% female). Participants were randomly allocated to one of 23 sets, each containing 25 images (n = 50 per set) and asked to rate their emotional response (soothed, excited, and anxious) to each image. Participants also reported their mood states pre- and post-viewing the images (using the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Short Form).

Results:           Project Soothe images were rated to be significantly more soothing than anxiety- or excitement-inducing. Further, viewing 25 images was significantly associated with an increase in positive affect and decrease in negative affect. These effects were associated with age and depressive symptoms, with older individuals and those with lower depressive symptoms being associated with more positive changes in mood.

Conclusions: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that these soothing images can promote positive mood changes. Further work can now replicate these findings in larger-scale studies with comparison groups and extended outcome variables. The images and associated data have been made available in a data repository (OSF) as a free resource for researchers and practitioners. It is hoped that these images can be developed into useful therapeutic resources.
The genome sequence of the Brindled Flat-body, Agonopterix arenella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Holland Peter W.H. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: May 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Agonopterix arenella (the Brindled Flat-body; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Depressariidae). The genome sequence is 545.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.3 kilobases in length.
Metabolic bariatric surgery and combined multilevel surgery as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea patient with obesity
Authors: Bienia Grzegorz , Świętochowski Jakub , Żołnierek Maja , Siekierko Nikola , Lubczyńska Zuzanna , Lewandowski Mateusz , Kotusiewicz Wiktoria , Popravko Yevheniia , Kostrzewa Aleksander
Published: May 2023

Body mass index (BMI) and the degree of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are strongly correlated. Managing obesity is an important strategy for preventing and treating OSA. Bariatric surgery can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in metabolic function, which can have beneficial effects on OSA symptoms within obese population. There is a relative lack of data directly comparing the different types of bariatric surgery and multilevel upper airway surgery for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While there is some evidence to suggest that bariatric surgery can improve OSA symptoms in obese individuals, and multilevel upper airway surgery can improve OSA symptoms in some cases of anatomical obstruction, there is limited research directly comparing these treatment options. Therefore, this review provides an update on the relationship between OSA, MBS and MLS for demonstrating the significance of multidisciplinary surgery approach for obese patients with OSA.
The most common dermatological manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Hop Izabela , Kołodziejczyk Kacper , Branewska Justyna , Ostrowska Barbara , Olszanicka Anna , Niemiec Rafał , Galas Adam , Matysek Mikołaj , Maciąg Anna , Imioło Jan
Published: May 2023

Inflammatory bowel diseases are increasingly common problem in clinical practice. This condition is caused by both the growing morbidity and more accurate and widely available diagnostic methods, affecting the rising recognition. 

It is worth remembering, that clinical presentation of inflammatory bowel disease is not limited to gastrointestinal tract. 

Dermatological symptoms are an important part in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases, because they can occur as the first manifestation of the beginning of the disease process, as well as be a prognostic factor for the occurrence of exacerbations of the disease. This is an invaluable source of information on the patient's clinical condition, affecting the effectiveness of his treatment in the early stages of the disease, and allowing more efficient control of its course. 

This has an enormous impact on the prognosis and comfort of patients' lives. In the following article, available medical studies on extraintestinal skin manifestations, clinical presentation and treatment options have been reviewed.
Knee pain in children as a symptom of hip disease: a case study
Authors: Toś Katarzyna , Winiarz Aleksandra , Szlendak Paula , Wokurka Wojciech , Turek Michał , Wojtala Kacper , Grosman Sylwia , Węgrzyniak Agata , Drobek Dominik , Wąsala Katarzyna
Published: May 2023

Introduction 

Knee pain in the pediatric population is a very common health issue in family doctor practice and its cause is not always obvious and easy to determine. It is important to remember that knee pain can also occur as a projection of the obturator nerve conducting signals from the hip joint. During physical examination the hip joint should be also carefully examined. Diagnostic imaging such as radiographs are helpful in evaluating bone parts, whereas ultrasonography and MRI can reveal pathology in periarticular soft tissue. Laboratory tests can help to rule out a septic process and reveal other associated conditions. 

The aim 

The aim of this work was to analyze the patient’s case of transient synovitis of the hip manifested by knee pain and discuss other hip joint causes of knee pain in the pediatric population.

Case report

An individual case report of the five-year-old male patient suffered from non-traumatic knee pain and inability to walk with analysis of undertaken diagnostic and treatment management.

Results

The patient was correctly diagnosed with transient synovitis of the hip joint and successfully treated due to a thorough physical examination and right diagnostic tests carried out by the emergency physician.

Conclusions

In every case of non-traumatic knee pain, hip pathology should be always ruled out. Carefully performed physical examination, basic laboratory tests and imagining allow practitioners to make the right diagnosis.
¿Cuál es el perfil de nuestros estudiantes universitarios? Características del comportamiento emprendedor en el sur de Chile
Authors: Yévenes-Jara Juan Carlos , Mansilla-Obando Katherine , Guiñez-Cabrera Nataly
Published: May 2023

Las características del comportamiento emprendedor (CCE) forman parte de la personalidad de los seres humanos, las que pueden surgir por las necesidades de logro, de poder y de afiliación. El objetivo de este informe consistió en estudiar las CCE de estudiantes universitarios acorde a sus intereses, siendo esto esencial para el diseño de programas de estudios que a través de la educación emprendedora (EE) fortalezcan el desarrollo de nuevas ideas y empresas. Por medio de una metodología cuantitativa, mediante un análisis descriptivo y análisis de varianza (Anova) a diferentes cohortes, se estudian las variables de las cce de 358 estudiantes universitarios de la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales (FACE) (ingeniería comercial, ingeniería civil informática, contador público y auditor) de dos campus universitarios en el sur de Chile. Los hallazgos indicaron que las cce difieren ampliamente con base en las cohortes estudiadas, existiendo diferencias en género y disciplina, no así en la ubicación geográfica. Esta evidencia podría apoyar al diseño de planes de EE en la educación superior, dada la caracterización de los perfiles de ingreso de los estudiantes universitarios de primer año de la FACE a las distintas disciplinas educacionales de la universidad en cuestión.
Malnutrición asociada a factores sociodemográficos en adultos mayores de Medellín-Colombia
Authors: Giraldo-Giraldo Nubia Amparo , Estrada-Restrepo Alejandro , Deossa-Restrepo Gloria Cecilia
Published: May 2023

Introducción: los adultos mayores (AM) presentan riesgo de malnutrición debido a cambios fisiológicos, alimentarios, piscológicos y sociales derivados del envejecimiento. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la frecuencia de malnutrición en AM de Medellín-Colombia y explorar su asociación con factores sociodemográficos. Materiales y métodos: estudio transversal con 1187 adultos ≥60 años, derivado del proyecto “Propuesta técnica para el desarrollo del perfil de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional 2015”, realizado en hogares de zona urbana y rural. Se tomaron variables sociodemográficas y antropométricas; además se aplicó el Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Los datos se recolectaron por personal capacitado, mediante encuesta estandarizada. Para establecer la asociación entre malnutrición y variables sociodemográficas, se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística binaria y multinomial. Resultados: 65,2% fueron mujeres, edad promedio 70,0±8,0 años; 61,5% de estrato socioeconómico bajo, 65,9% con nivel educativo primaria o inferior. Según el índice de masa corporal (IMC), 57,6% presentó malnutrición, 20,8% delgadez y 36,8% exceso de peso. Según el MNA, 41,4% tenían riesgo de desnutrición y 5,4% desnutrición. Ambas condiciones se presentaron con mayor frecuencia en mujeres (OR=2,0; IC95%:1,5;2,6), edades ≥75 años (OR=1,7; IC95%:1,2;2,4), estrato socioeconómico bajo (OR=3,2; IC95%:1,5;6,8), del área rural (OR=1,7; IC95%:1,1;2,5), con estudios de primaria (OR=2,1; IC95%:1,1;4,4) o sin educación (OR=3,4; IC95%:1,5;7,5). Conclusión: la malnutrición en AM de Medellín es elevada, constituyendo un problema de salud pública, más frecuente en mujeres, edades avanzadas, zonas rurales, estratos socioeconómicos bajos y menores niveles educativos; condiciones que deben tenerse en cuenta para la implementación de políticas públicas.
Pricing Climate Change Exposure
Authors: Sautner Zacharias , van Lent Laurence , Vilkov Grigory , Zhang Ruishen
Published: May 2023

We estimate the risk premium for firm-level climate change exposure among S&P 500 stocks and its time-series evolution between 2005 to 2020. Exposure reflects the attention paid by market participants in earnings calls to a firm’s climate-related risks and opportunities. When extracted from realized returns, the unconditional risk premium is insignificant but exhibits a period with a positive risk premium before the financial crisis and a steady increase thereafter. Forward-looking expected return proxies deliver an unconditionally positive risk premium with maximum values of 0.5%–1% p.a., depending on the proxy, between 2011 and 2014. The risk premium has been lower since 2015, especially when the expected return proxy explicitly accounts for the higher opportunities and lower crash risks that characterize high-exposure stocks. This finding arises as the priced part of the risk premium primarily originates from uncertainty about climate-related upside opportunities. In the time series, the risk premium is negatively associated with green innovation; Big Three holdings; and environmental, social, and governance fund flows and positively associated with climate change adaptation programs.

This paper was accepted by Colin Mayer, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change.

Funding: Funding is provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant 403041268 – TRR 266] (L. van Lent and R. Zhang), the Institute for New Economic Thinking (L. van Lent), the 111 Project [Grant B18033] (R. Zhang), the Shanghai Pujiang Program (R. Zhang), and the Ministry of Education Project of Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Science (R. Zhang).

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4686 .
AMÉRICA LATINA E INTERCULTURALIDADE NO LIVRO DIDÁTICO DE ESPANHOL
Authors: Pereira Adriana Teixeira
Published: May 2023

Este artigo, recorte de minha tese de doutorado, analisa a imagem cultural da América Latina nas coleções didáticas aprovadas pelo Programa Nacional de Livro Didático/2018, desde uma perspectiva intercultural. A pesquisa documental conta com um corpus de nove volumes das coleções Cercanía joven (COIMBRA; CHAVES, 2016), Confluencia (PINHEIRO-CORREA et al., 2016) e Sentidos en lengua española (FREITAS; COSTA, 2016). A análise centrou-se nos diferentes aspectos da construção identitária do latino-americano e nas orientações da perspectiva intercultural de ensino de línguas e orienta-se teoricamente nos estudos da interculturalidade de Candau (2008, 2010), Fleuri (2003, 2012), Mendes (2007, 2011) e Walsh (2005; 2009); nos conceitos de América Latina de Farret; Pinto (2011), Mignolo (2005) e Pizarro (2006) e nas investigações sobre o livro didático de Barros et al. (2018) e Daher et al. (2013). Os resultados revelam um avanço considerável em todas as coleções dos aspectos analisados. Sobre a presença da AL, foi possível verificar a possibilidade de tratar de diferentes conhecimentos que permitem o aluno ampliar seus horizontes e refletir sobre as diversidades que compõem este espaço, e, no que diz respeito à perspectiva intercultural, verificou-se que os textos e as suas atividades tinham um grande potencial para a promoção de uma atitude crítica e intercultural do aluno.
Lexicografia pedagógica e discursos: o conceito de família nos dicionários escolares infantis
Authors: Rodrigues Liska Geraldo Jose , Da Silva Jeander Cristian , Oliveira Reis Raquel
Published: May 2023

Considerando a importância do dicionário como valor de referência quando há dúvidas em relação ao sentido ou à escrita de uma palavra, seja em qualquer lugar, para qualquer segmento social ou profissional e independente de faixa etária, preocupamo-nos com tratamento dado ao conceito de ‘família’ nas obras lexicográficas para o público infantil. Tomamos neste artigo, como base, a Lexicografia Pedagógica (ZGUSTA, 1971; SECO, 1987; PONTES, 2000; LANDAU, 2001; KRIEGER, 2007; GARCIA, 2006 e ZAVAGLIA; NADIN, 2019) e a Lexicologia Discursiva (ORLANDI, 2000). Analisamos oito dicionários infantis, de 1989 a 2011, incluindo alguns listados no PNLD Dicionários (BRASIL, 2012). Percebemos que a análise discursiva das definições dos nomes de família, apresentadas pelas obras lexicográficas utilizadas como fonte para esta pesquisa, revela uma visão de mundo que acaba reforçando um modelo de família tradicional, formado pelo núcleo familiar (pai, mãe e filhos biológicos) ou por pessoas que compartilham algum grau de parentesco e que vivem sob o mesmo teto. Dessa forma, os dicionários acabam excluindo outros modelos de família, tais como as homoparentais, monoparentais, adotivas, heteronormativas sem filhos etc.
O LIVRO DIDÁTICO DE PORTUGUÊS PARA O ENSINO MÉDIO E AS ABORDAGENS PRÁTICAS E METODOLÓGICAS RELACIONADAS ÀS TIC
Authors: Oliveira Lucas Pinto de
Published: May 2023

Este trabalho, fruto de um recorte de dissertação realizada na Universidad de la Integración de Las Américas (UNIDA), visa analisar como o Livro Didático de Língua Portuguesa para o Ensino Médio, aprovado no PNLD 2018/2020, aborda práticas e metodologias relacionadas às Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TIC), evidenciando quais atividades a obra didática emprega em suas metodologias de ensino-aprendizagem, embasado em pesquisas bibliográficas, em seus aspectos impressos e telematizados, e documental, tendo como instrumentos de análise o Edital de Convocação para o Processo de Inscrição e Avaliação de Obras Didáticas do Programa Nacional do Livro Didático - PNLD 2018 (Brasil, 2015) e o Livro Didático Manual do Professor Português Contemporâneo: diálogo, reflexão e uso (CEREJA; VIANA; CODENHOTO, 2016), em seus volumes 1, 2 e 3, do Ensino Médio, aprovado pelo PNLD 2018/2020. A partir disso, observou-se que o Livro Didático propõe a utilização das TIC em suas práticas didáticas-metodológicas, fazendo com que o aluno aplique os conceitos que aprendeu em sala de aula em seu cotidiano educacional e social.Palavras-chave: Livro Didático. Metodologia. TIC. PNLD.
A CIRCULAÇÃO DE AXÉ ATRAVÉS DO MOVIMENTO DA COMIDA: UMA ETNOGRAFIA EM UM TERREIRO DE CANDOMBLÉ DA BAHIA
Authors: Santos Rafael Camaratta
Published: May 2023

O artigo tem como objetivo contribuir com os debates de antropologia da alimentação e nos estudos antropológicos das religiões de matriz africana no Brasil, destacando a importância da comida e da comensalidade nessa religião. Dialoga, portanto, com os estudos do candomblé, em que a comida ocupa a questão central, não somente durante as festas, mas também em uma série de rituais privados do cotidiano da comunidade religiosa. A comida deve ser vista aqui como uma chave para pensar as relações entre humanos e orixás no universo do candomblé, pois é através do preparo dos alimentos que os humanos demonstram cuidado, dedicação e afeto para com as divindades. Igualmente, a comida é a substância que mantém o mundo funcionando, tanto dos orixás, quanto dos humanos. Essa discussão se baseia em etnografia realizada no terreiro Ilê Axé Opô Afonjá, situado em Salvador, Bahia.
Problems of management risks of informative providing of realization of innovations
Authors:   State University of Intellectual Technologies and Communication, Ozarko K. , Chelombytko V. ,   State University of Intellectual Technologies and Communication
Published: May 2023

The work investigated the problems of risk management of information support for implementing innovations. Under current, highly dynamic operating conditions, any processes (including business processes) are inseparable from risk. It is inherent in all branches of market activity. Risks cannot be ignored. It is advisable to use anticipatory (preventive) measures to prevent them, reduce their level, or compensate depending on the types of risks, circumstances of their occurrence, level, etc. Ensuring the sustainable development of domestic enterprises under the current conditions of instability and crisis in Ukraine is significantly complicated by significant risk factors. An important condition for effective information provision in implementing innovative projects is the ability to turn uncertainty into risk and its subsequent management. Information support for implementing innovations (implementation of innovative projects) is characterized by a high level of risk. The paper analyzes the risk structure of the stakeholders of the innovative project. The proposed process of step-by-step risk management of the information support of the enterprise's innovative activities. The proposed risk management system of information support for implementing innovations by enterprises consists of applying key (main) functions. A functional approach to the risk management process of information support for implementing innovations will involve the planning and organization of this activity, as well as further control and, in the event of deviation from the plan, regulation (adjustment). For the effective implementation of innovative projects, domestic enterprises need to investigate and manage the risks of information provision of this activity at each stage. Improvement, development of information provision of innovative projects, and formation of the risk management system of this activity will help save time for all participants, increase efficiency and accuracy, and reduce uncertainty.
The essence and functions of cryptocurrencies
Authors:   Baku Business University, Panahov F.
Published: May 2023

With the development of electronic systems, ideas have repeatedly arisen to create an electronic analogue of cash for remote payment. Cryptocurrency technology was originally aimed at the absence of a trusted node - one whose actions are guaranteed to be true and who can confirm the correctness of other people's operations. For the first time, this problem was solved in the Bitcoin system due to the artificial complication of making changes to the transaction history register.
Economic and Resource Potential of the «Lublin Triangle» and Prospects of Activity in the Transport and Logistics Sector
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Chebotarov V. , Ruban М. ,   Joint-Stock Company "Ukrzaliznytsia", Chebotarov Ie. ,   The University of Lodz
Published: May 2023

The set of security, institutional, economic, scientific-technical, and natural-technological challenges that have arisen before Ukraine as a result of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war necessitates, in particular, the need to substantiate breakthrough measures regarding the country's subject participation in the system of the international division of labor in the conditions of post-war development. One of these particularly effective measures can be the stimulation of the transformation of the «Lublin triangle» alliance, founded by Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine, into a multilateral international integration organization (with the possible subsequent addition to the alliance of certain countries of the Central and Eastern European subregion; primarily Slovakia, Latvia and Estonia). The article provides a generalized analysis of the economic and resource potential of the «Lublin triangle» in the context of the correlation of its main macroeconomic indicators with the corresponding indicators of the European Union. The priority areas of cooperation of the founding countries of the «Lublin Triangle» are determined according to the sector. The proposal to create a transport-logistics cluster on the basis of the alliance in the composition of the specified six countries as the most effective and promising form of cooperation is justified. The essential features of such a cluster are its «embeddedness» in the pan-European network of transport corridors and transport-logistics hubs, which should cover the «junction-intersections» of passenger and cargo flows on the territory of all participating countries (initial proposals for the geographical location of hubs on the territory of six countries are given). The identification of derived institutional, organizational-economic, and technical-technological parameters of such a transport-logistics cluster is supplemented by a proposal regarding the expediency of working out the measures for its creation to be carried out in the context of the development and implementation of the «Marshall Plan for Ukraine».
A FUZZY ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS FOR EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS IN RESEARCH CENTERS
Authors: Nahavandi Bijan , Homayounfar Mahdi , Daneshvar Amir
Published: May 2023

Measuring knowledge management (KM) effectiveness is a very important issue in organizations today. This study aims to develop a method to evaluate the effectiveness of KM under uncertainty in research centers (RCs) in Iran. To develop an evaluation, the relevant literature was reviewed to identify KM effectiveness criteria. Next, the judgments of the experts, specialists, scholars, and professionals in IT and KM systems and senior managers of Iran’s RCs were determined using a pairwise comparison questionnaire. Because linguistic terms are an integral part of human judgments that will influence the results of the research, a fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) called the Extent Analysis (EA) method was used for data analysis and weight determination. Accordingly, 34 subcriteria extracted from the literature that are important in the evaluation of KM effectiveness were categorized into six main criteria as follows: human resources, leadership and center structure, knowledge creation and acquisition, knowledge storage and security, knowledge sharing, and knowledge utilization and updating. The findings indicate that human resources is the most important criterion based on both the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods. The other five criteria in descending order of importance are knowledge sharing, leadership and center structure, knowledge utilization and updating, knowledge creation and acquisition and knowledge storage and security. Finally, to test the validity and reliability of the proposed framework, we evaluated the effectiveness of KM system in nine of Iran’s RCs.
Feasibility of using fish visceral trash in a polyculture system for enhancing the growth performances of giant gourami (Osphronemus gouramy) and redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)
Authors: Putra AS Agus , Junita Afrah , Jamil Muhammad
Published: May 2023

Giant gourami and redclaw crayfish are among popular freshwater organisms with significant potential for aquaculture due to their ease of cultivation, resistance to diseases, and high economic value. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using fish visceral trash (FVT) in artificial diets to enhance the growth performances of giant gourami (Osphronemus gouramy) and redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) in a polyculture system. Giant gourami juveniles (3.62±0.86 cm and 3.74±1.15 g) and redclaw crayfish (3.05±0.35 cm and 6.41±0.29 g) were divided into four groups and cultured in 100 L aquarium. Each group was fed twice daily with diets containing 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% FVT/kg diet. Furthermore, growth performances were assessed in all samples at 14 days intervals over a period of eight weeks. The results showed that diets prepared with 30% FVT significantly affected the growth rate of giant gourami juveniles, while those comprising 20% enhanced the growth of redclaw crayfish. Total length, body weight, specific growth rate, and weight gain significantly increased in samples fed with the experimental compounded diets. Based on the observations, it is suggested that using FVT compounded diets tends to improve growth performances in a polyculture system.Keywords:Giant gouramiGrowth performanceRedclaw crayfishPolycultureTrash fish
Analysis of changes in mangrove land cover on the north coast of Aceh Besar
Authors: Kamisnuddin Kamisnuddin , Rusdi Muhammad , Irham Muhammad , Abdullah Faisal
Published: May 2023

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to generate digital data that provides information on the characteristics of an area and describes changes in land cover that can be used in a more effective and efficient sustainable manner. This study aims to analyze the mangrove land cover of the north coast of Aceh Besar over the last three decades, namely 2000, 2010, and 2020 in the Baitussalam sub-district, Mesjid Raya sub-district and Seulimeum sub-district. The research was conducted from June 2022 to September 2022 at the GIS Laboratory, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries, Syiah Kuala University. The research was conducted using a Geographic Information System (GIS) that utilizes high-resolution satellite imagery from Google Earth Pro. Mangrove land was digitized visually on screen, then data processing was carried out, and spatially analyzed. The results of the analysis of changes in mangrove land cover in the research area show that the Baitussalam and Mesjid Raya sub-districts had a decreasing trend of mangove land between 2000 and 2010 and subsequently there was an increase in mangrove land cover from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile, Seulimeum sub-district experienced a decreasing trend of land cover in 2000 until 2020. The decline in the trend of mangroves in various places is caused by the growth of the population using mangrove land as residential area. While the increase in mangove land cover was due to the success of reforestation and pond land conversion. The results conclude that the mangrove land cover on the north coast of Aceh Besar is relatively stable with an increasing trend of growth.Keywords:Land coverMangroveHigh resolution googleHistorical imageryGoogle earth proDigitize
SCPNet-based correction of distorted multi-spots for three-dimensional surface measurement of metal cylindrical shaft parts
Authors: Huang Xinyang , Chen Meiyun , Wu Heng , Kong Deqing , Takamasu Kiyoshi
Published: May 2023

Metal cylindrical shaft parts are critical components in industrial manufacturing that require high standards for roundness error and surface roughness. When using the self-developed multi-beam angle sensor (MBAS) to detect metal cylindrical shaft parts, the distorted multi-spots degrade the measurement accuracy due to the nonlinear distortion caused by the metal material’s reflective properties and surface roughness. In this study, we propose a spot coordinate prediction network (SCPNet), which is a deep-learning neural network designed to predict spot coordinates, in combination with Hough circle detection for localization. The singular value decomposition (SVD) model is employed to eliminate the tilt error to achieve high-precision, three-dimensional (3D) surface reconstruction of metal cylindrical shaft parts. The experimental results demonstrate that SCPNet can effectively correct distorted multi-spots, with an average error of the spot center of 0.0612 pixels for ten points. The proposed method was employed to measure metal cylindrical shaft parts with radii of 10 mm, 20 mm, 35 mm, and 50 mm, with resulting standard deviation (STD) values of 0.0022 µm, 0.0026 µm, 0.0028 µm, and 0.0036 µm, respectively.
Design of an off-axis axiparabola with inclined wavefront correction to obtain a straight focal line
Authors: Fan Quanping , Wang Shaoyi , Chen Yong , Fan Wei , Liu Dongxiao , Yang Zuhua , Wu Yuchi , Zhou Weimin , Cao Leifeng , Wei Lai
Published: May 2023

The axiparabola is a novel reflective element proposed in recent years, which can generate a long focal line with high peak intensity, and has important applications in laser plasma accelerators. The off-axis design of an axiparabola has the advantage of separating the focus from incident rays. However, an off-axis axiparabola designed by the current method always produces a curved focal line. In this paper, we propose a new method to design its surface by combining geometric optics design and diffraction optics correction, which can effectively convert a curved focal line into a straight foal line. We reveal that the geometric optics design inevitably introduces an inclined wavefront, which leads to the bending of the focal line. To compensate for the tilt wavefront, we use an annealing algorithm to further correct the surface through diffraction integral operation. We also carry out numerical simulation verification based on scalar diffraction theory, which proves that the surface of this off-axis mirror designed by this method can always obtain a straight focal line. This new method has wide applicability in an axiparabola with any off-axis angle.
Photonic Hopfield neural network for the Ising problem
Authors: Fan ZeYang , Lin JunMin , Dai Jian , Zhang Tian , Xu Kun
Published: May 2023

The Ising problem, a vital combinatorial optimization problem in various fields, is hard to solve by traditional Von Neumann computing architecture on a large scale. Thus, lots of application-specific physical architectures are reported, including quantum-based, electronics-based, and optical-based platforms. A Hopfield neural network combined with a simulated annealing algorithm is considered one of the effective approaches but is still limited by large resource consumption. Here, we propose to accelerate the Hopfield network on a photonic integrated circuit composed of the arrays of Mach–Zehnder interferometer. Our proposed Photonic Hopfield Neural Network (PHNN), utilizing the massively parallel operations and integrated circuit with ultrafast iteration rate, converges to a stable ground state solution with high probability. The average success probabilities for the MaxCut problem with a problem size of 100 and the Spin-glass problem with a problem size of 60 can both reach more than 80%. Moreover, our proposed architecture is inherently robust to the noise induced by the imperfect characteristics of components on chip.
Learning to predict future locations with internally generated theta sequences
Authors: Parra-Barrero Eloy , Cheng Sen
Published: May 2023

Representing past, present and future locations is key for spatial navigation. Indeed, within each cycle of the theta oscillation, the population of hippocampal place cells appears to represent trajectories starting behind the current position of the animal and sweeping ahead of it. In particular, we reported recently that the position represented by CA1 place cells at a given theta phase corresponds to the location where animals were or will be located at a fixed time interval into the past or future assuming the animal ran at its typical, not the current, speed through that part of the environment. This coding scheme leads to longer theta trajectories, larger place fields and shallower phase precession in areas where animals typically run faster. Here we present a mechanistic computational model that accounts for these experimental observations. The model consists of a continuous attractor network with short-term synaptic facilitation and depression that internally generates theta sequences that advance at a fixed pace. Spatial locations are then mapped onto the active units via modified Hebbian plasticity. As a result, neighboring units become associated with spatial locations further apart where animals run faster, reproducing our earlier experimental results. The model also accounts for the higher density of place fields generally observed where animals slow down, such as around rewards. Furthermore, our modeling results reveal that an artifact of the decoding analysis might be partly responsible for the observation that theta trajectories start behind the animal’s current position. Overall, our results shed light on how the hippocampal code might arise from the interplay between behavior, sensory input and predefined network dynamics.
Understanding the impact of mobility on COVID-19 spread: A hybrid gravity-metapopulation model of COVID-19
Authors: Iyaniwura Sarafa A. , Ringa Notice , Adu Prince A. , Mak Sunny , Janjua Naveed Z. , Irvine Michael A. , Otterstatter Michael
Published: May 2023

The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 started in Wuhan, China, towards the end of 2019 and spread worldwide. The rapid spread of the disease can be attributed to many factors including its high infectiousness and the high rate of human mobility around the world. Although travel/movement restrictions and other non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed at controlling the disease spread were put in place during the early stages of the pandemic, these interventions did not stop COVID-19 spread. To better understand the impact of human mobility on the spread of COVID-19 between regions, we propose a hybrid gravity-metapopulation model of COVID-19. Our modeling framework has the flexibility of determining mobility between regions based on the distances between the regions or using data from mobile devices. In addition, our model explicitly incorporates time-dependent human mobility into the disease transmission rate, and has the potential to incorporate other factors that affect disease transmission such as facemasks, physical distancing, contact rates, etc. An important feature of this modeling framework is its ability to independently assess the contribution of each factor to disease transmission. Using a Bayesian hierarchical modeling framework, we calibrate our model to the weekly reported cases of COVID-19 in thirteen local health areas in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Canada, from July 2020 to January 2021. We consider two main scenarios in our model calibration: using a fixed distance matrix and time-dependent weekly mobility matrices. We found that the distance matrix provides a better fit to the data, whilst the mobility matrices have the ability to explain the variance in transmission between regions. This result shows that the mobility data provides more information in terms of disease transmission than the distances between the regions.
High risk injection drug use and uptake of HIV prevention and treatment services among people who inject drugs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Zanoni Brian C. , Milford Cecilia , Sithole Kedibone , Mosery Nzwakie , Wilson Michael , Bosman Shannon , Smit Jennifer
Published: May 2023

We conducted a mixed-methods study to understand current drug use practices and access to healthcare services for people who use injection drugs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We used respondent-driven sampling to recruit 45 people who used injection drugs within the past 6 months from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We found high rates of practices that increase HIV/viral hepatitis risk including the use of shared needles (43%) and direct blood injections (bluetoothing) (18%). Despite 35% living with HIV, only 40% accessed antiretroviral therapy within the past year, and one accessed PrEP. None of the participants ever tested for Hepatitis C.
Relative likeability and relative popularity as sources of influence in children’s friendships
Authors: Laursen Brett , Leggett-James Mary Page , Valdes Olivia M.
Published: May 2023

The present study contrasts two forms of peer status as sources of friend influence: Relative likeability and relative popularity. Participants included 310 children (142 boys, 168 girls), ages 9 to 12, in stable reciprocated friendships. Peer nominations were collected at two time points, 8 to 14 weeks apart. After removing overlapping variance through residualization, partners in each friend dyad were categorized into roles on the basis of relative (to the partner) popularity and relative (to the partner) likeability. Dyadic analyses compared more- and less-liked friends and more- and less-popular friends in terms of their influence over physical aggression, relational aggression, prosocial behavior, and academic achievement. Higher initial relational aggression, prosocial behavior, and academic achievement among more-liked partners predicted greater increases in the same among less-liked partners, but not the reverse. Unexpectedly, physical aggression among less-liked partners predicted increases in physical aggression among more-liked partners. More popular friends did not influence less popular friends on any of these variables, although (also unexpectedly) less-popular friends influenced the academic achievement of more-popular friends. Taken together, the findings suggest that during the pre- and early adolescent years, relative influence within a friendship tends to be apportioned on the basis of likeability, not popularity.
Post hoc experimental designs improve genetic trial analyses: A case study of cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) genetic evaluation in the western Gulf region, USA
Authors: Ding Chen , Weng Yuhui , Byram Tom D. , Bartlett Benjamin D. , Raley Earl M.
Published: May 2023

Oaks (Quercusspp.) are widespread hardwood trees in the Northern Hemisphere and of high ecological, economic, and social values. Optimal experimental design of genetic trials is essential for accurate estimates of genetic parameters and improving the genetic merit of breeding stock. Here, we evaluate the use ofpost hocrow-column factors combined with spatial adjustment to improve genetic analyses of parents and individual trees in field progeny tests of plantation hardwoods, using cherrybark oak (Quercus pagodaRaf.) as an example. For tree height,post hocincomplete blocking reduced ~14% more of the within-block environmental variance compared to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) model. Incomplete blocking also improved the heritability estimates for height by 7% to 14% compared to the original RCBD model. No clinal trend for growth breeding values was identified due to provenances. Our approach warrants the initial selection for height as early as age ~10 based on its moderate narrow-sense heritability of 0.2; however, diameter and volume need longer evaluation times. Thepost hocincomplete blocking is more efficient and promising to improve the genetic analysis ofQ.pagodato minimize the environmental heterogeneity influences. Adjusting competition and spatial effects, including the distance principal components and autoregressive residual structure notably improves the model fit based on the observed reductions in AICs and BICs. Employing our approach is promising for hardwood genetic improvement in the southern USA.
Perceptions of institutional performance and compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions: How performance perceptions and policy compliance affect public health in a decentralized health system
Authors: Paschoalotto Marco Antonio Catussi , Costa Eduardo Polena Pacheco Araújo , Almeida Sara Valente de , Cima Joana , Costa Joana Gomes da , Santos João Vasco , Passador Claudia Souza , Passador João Luiz , Barros Pedro Pita
Published: May 2023

Trust in institutions is a key driver to shape population attitudes and behavior, such as compliance of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI). During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was fundamental and its compliance was supported by governmental and non-governmental institutions. Nevertheless, the situation of political polarization in some countries with decentralized health systems increased the difficulty of such interventions. This study analyzes the association between non-pharmaceutical interventions’ compliance and individual perception regarding institutions’ performance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A web survey was conducted in Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021. Bivariate analysis and ordered logit regressions were performed to assess the association between NPIs compliance and perceived institutions’ performance. Results suggest a negative association between NPIs’ compliance and Federal Government and Ministry of health perceived performance, which may reflect the political positioning of the respondents. Moreover, we find a positive association between NPI compliance and the perceived performance of the remaining institutions (state government, federal supreme court, national congress, WHO, media and SUS). Our contribution goes beyond the study of a relationship between non-pharmaceutical interventions’ compliance and institutions’ performance, by pointing out the importance of subnational and local governmental spheres in a decentralized health system, as well as highlighting the importance of social communication based on health organizations’ information and scientific institutions.