bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving with Hybrid Feature Selection in Software Defect Prediction
Authors: Pratama Muhammad Yoga Adha , Herteno Rudy , Faisal Mohammad Reza , Nugroho Radityo Adi , Abadi Friska
Published: April 2024

Software defect prediction (SDP) is used to identify defects in software modules that can be a challenge in software development. This research focuses on the problems that occur in Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), such as the problem of noisy attributes, high-dimensional data, and premature convergence. So this research focuses on improving PSO performance by using feature selection methods with hybrid techniques to overcome these problems. The feature selection techniques used are Filter and Wrapper. The methods used are Chi-Square (CS), Correlation-Based Feature Selection (CFS), and Forward Selection (FS) because feature selection methods have been proven to overcome data dimensionality problems and eliminate noisy attributes. Feature selection is often used by some researchers to overcome these problems, because these methods have an important function in the process of reducing data dimensions and eliminating uncorrelated attributes that can cause noisy. Naive Bayes algorithm is used to support the process of determining the most optimal class. Performance evaluation will use AUC with an alpha value of 0.050. This hybrid feature selection technique brings significant improvement to PSO performance with a much lower AUC value of 0.00342. Comparison of the significance of AUC with other combinations shows the value of FS PSO of 0.02535, CFS FS PSO of 0.00180, and CS FS PSO of 0.01186. The method in this study contributes to improving PSO in the SDP domain by significantly increasing the AUC value. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of feature selection with hybrid techniques to improve PSO performance in SDP.
La destrucción de bienes culturales como crimen de guerra en el Estatuto de Roma de la Corte Penal Internacional: la necesidad de una interpretación expansiva
Authors: Ferrando-Hernández Joan-Marc
Published: April 2024

La destrucción de bienes culturales en conflicto armado puede ser perseguida a través de los artículos 8.2.b.ix y 8.2.e.iv del Estatuto de Roma de la Corte Penal Internacional. La aplicación de este crimen ha dado lugar a un conflicto de interpretaciones entre las Salas de la CPI desde que, en 2016, la sentencia del caso Al Mahdi abrió una línea de argumentación que permitiría aplicar este tipo penal a la destrucción de bienes culturales cometida fuera del curso efectivo de las hostilidades y cuando el bien agredido estuviera bajo el control de la parte agresora. A lo que se añade que los bienes destruidos no siempre poseen un valor excepcional universal. La sentencia del caso Al Hassan puede contribuir a resolver el debate. Así pues, los objetivos de este trabajo son, por un lado, analizar la configuración jurídica del crimen de guerra de destrucción de bienes culturales; y, por otro lado, discutir las posibilidades de una interpretación expansiva del crimen de guerra de los artículos 8.2.b.ix y 8.2.e.iv alineada con la sentencia del caso Al Mahdi.
The Impact of the Real Estate Tax Reforms on the Tax Burden in the Czech Republic
Authors:   VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic, Krajňák Michal ,   Moravian Colleague Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Published: April 2024

The article deals with the evaluation of the impact of real estate tax reforms on their tax burden in the Czech Republic in the years 1993–2024. Real estate tax is one of the direct taxes, and in comparison, with income taxes, its importance lies mainly in providing income for local budgets. The unit type of tax rate specifically determines real estate rates. Facts, that tax reform in the area or real estate tax are minimal, the tax burden is often decreasing. As the tax burden decreases, so does the tax revenue. However, when tax reform occurs, this reform is often characterized by a significant increase in the tax burden. This is also evidenced by the last implemented tax reform in 2024 when rates increased by approximately 80%. The previous tax reform occurred in 2010 and increased rates by 100%. Despite this increase, the real tax burden decreased compared to the first analysed year 1993 and the last year 2024. The results of the regression analysis show that inflation is the factor that negatively affects tax revenue. To minimalize a decrease in tax revenue from 2024, a provision containing an inflation coefficient is implemented in the legislation as part of the 2024 reform. Conversely, a reduction in the tax burden was not found for real estate intended for permanent housing in small municipalities with up to 600 inhabitants. On the contrary, there was an increase in the tax burden. Scientific methods such as analysis and comparison, as well as regression and correlation analysis are used to achieve the paper’s goals.
Reconstruction Concept of The Meaning of Permanent Establishment Physical Presence for Tax Purposes
Authors:   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Badung, Indonesia, Darmayasa I Nyoman , Partika I Dewa Made ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Badung, Indonesia
Published: April 2024

Technological developments have fostered cross-border e-Commerce transactions. This study aims to reconstruct the concept of the meaning of physical presence in the criteria for identifying foreign individuals and foreign entities as permanent establishments. Reconstruction uses the terminology of physical presence, which is adjusted to the presence of a new post-pandemic order, namely maintaining distance in certain situations. The term maintaining distance is translated as the distance between foreign individuals, foreign entities, and service users. This study proposes a reconstruction of the concepts of physical presence, the subject of permanent establishments, and the objects of permanent establishments. The concept of Significant Economic Presence is relevant to the fulfilment of three criteria: revenue, digital, and user. The reconstruction of permanent establishments involves determining the digital and user aspects. Reconstruction of permanent establishments involves determining the digital aspect of income. This study proves the hypothesis that the addition of Significant Economic Presence criteria to the determination of permanent establishments in e-commerce transactions increases the fairness of taxation rights in the source country. Therefore, it is necessary to review the determination of permanent establishments, especially e-commerce transactions, which are not limited to a physical presence with a wider scope through revenue, digital, and user criteria. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the significance of economic presence by replacing the meaning of the physical presence of a permanent establishment. Thus, the potential for permanent establishment taxation is not limited to the potential value-added tax but can also be on the potential income tax.
Modern Tax Trends and Economic Growth in a Turbulent World: Insights from Developed and Developing Economies
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, Bogachov Sergey V. , Vishnevsky Valentine P. ,   Institute of Economic Research, Donetsk, Russian Federation, Gurnak Aleksandr V. ,   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, Nekliudova Viktoria D. ,   Independent Researcher, Sevastopol, Russian Federation
Published: April 2024

The article examines recent trends in tax level and structure changes within developed and developing economies in relation to economic growth. The study’s significance stems from increasing geo-economic turbulence and emerging risks in the global economy, necessitating fiscal regulation. The analysis spans the period from 2009, post the Great Recession, to the present day. We tested the hypothesis that discernible patterns could be identified through statistical analysis regarding the relationship between tax indicators (level and structure) and economic growth indicators. However, no such clear patterns were found. In essence, it cannot be definitively concluded that reduced tax levels and/or increased indirect tax shares do explicitly foster national economic growth. Tax impact on economic growth varies significantly across developed and developing economies, presenting a complex and nuanced picture. The nature and strength of this influence are largely shaped by the specific circumstances of each location and period. In order to identify their unique impact, counterfactual analysis is required. In the course of further research, it is important to consider, firstly, the increased fiscal activism of the post-pandemic period: in this case, the research outcomes may be different from those obtained for the period already examined. Secondly, considering the ongoing processes of geo-economic fragmentation, it is recommended to re-examine the influence of taxes on economic processes. This investigation should adhere to the evolving framework of new macro-regions worldwide, rather than the conventional dichotomy of developed and developing economies. Participants within these macro-regions, interconnected through supply and value chains, will need to work together to align their tax rules and policies for mutual benefits.
Property Tax in Indonesia: A Proposal for Increasing Land and Building Tax Revenue Using the System Dynamics Simulation Method
Authors:   Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, Samudra Azhari Aziz
Published: April 2024

The current hottest issue in Indonesia is the small amount of Land and Building Tax (LBT) revenue at the national and local levels. This research aims to find a valuable model for increasing LBT revenue for the government by formulating ideal clauses and determining what policies should be implemented. This research aims to reveal the practice of tax avoidance and evasion on LBT tax objects, which causes LBT income to stagnate yearly, and find a solution by mapping actual conditions and forecasting the next ten years using a system dynamics model. The research question is why LBT makes a small contribution to total state revenue, even though the object and what are the solutions to increase LBT income in the future. The research methodology uses quantitative methods supported by qualitative analysis using dynamical system modeling. This modeling makes it possible to predict increases in tax revenues by considering several variables that cause LBT revenues to stagnate. The findings of this study show that LBT revenues will proliferate compared to revenues in the initial year of the simulation if intervention is carried out by reducing tax avoidance and tax evasion, increasing tax compliance, and the value of the income growth ratio per tax object. This study found nine actors essential in increasing property taxes in Indonesia: civil officials, tax officials, tax authorities, notaries, large companies, state and regional-owned enterprises, sellers, and buyers of property. In conclusion, the government needs to improve the tax collection system and implement various strategies, including increasing the role of notaries to prevent tax evasion in housing.
O SILÊNCIO ENSURDECEDOR DA EDUCAÇÃO SEXUAL NA FORMAÇÃO CONTINUADA EM SERVIÇO DE PROFESSORAS DE EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL
Authors: Villa Thaís , Prado Vagner Matias do
Published: April 2024

Em âmbito nacional temos documentos norteadores e normativos dos currículos que trazem elementos pertencentes à educação sexual, ainda que alguns deles não o façam de forma explícita. Podemos perceber a controvérsia existente na formação inicial de professoras em relação ao currículo da Educação Infantil, pois, apesar da presença nos documentos, em geral, tais elementos não são considerados nas licenciaturas. Assim, apontamos para a potencialidade da formação continuada na mobilização dos conhecimentos sobre educação sexual. A pesquisa objetivou identificar e analisar, por meio de registros documentais, se a educação sexual fez parte da formação continuada em serviço das professoras de Educação Infantil do município de Uberaba/MG e de que maneira se apresentou nestas ações formativas, com recorte temporal de 2015 a 2019. Os resultados demonstraram que a educação sexual não foi tema das formações continuadas e que as temáticas do currículo que se vinculam a ela não foram objeto de estudo, que os registros documentais são feitos de forma genérica e, ainda, evidenciaram a necessidade de utilizar instrumentos avaliativos das ações formativas.
Bt-GAN: Generating Fair Synthetic Healthdata via Bias-transforming Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Ramachandranpillai Resmi , Sikder Md Fahim , Bergström David , Heintz Fredrik
Published: April 2024

Synthetic data generation offers a promising solution to enhance the usefulness of Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) by generating realistic de-identified data. However, the existing literature primarily focuses on the quality of synthetic health data, neglecting the crucial aspect of fairness in downstream predictions. Consequently, models trained on synthetic EHR have faced criticism for producing biased outcomes in target tasks. These biases can arise from either spurious correlations between features or the failure of models to accurately represent sub-groups. To address these concerns, we present Bias-transforming Generative Adversarial Networks (Bt-GAN), a GAN-based synthetic data generator specifically designed for the healthcare domain. In order to tackle spurious correlations (i), we propose an information-constrained Data Generation Process (DGP) that enables the generator to learn a fair deterministic transformation based on a well-defined notion of algorithmic fairness. To overcome the challenge of capturing exact sub-group representations (ii), we incentivize the generator to preserve sub-group densities through score-based weighted sampling. This approach compels the generator to learn from underrepresented regions of the data manifold. To evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we conduct extensive experiments using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III) database. Our results demonstrate that Bt-GAN achieves state-of-the-art accuracy while significantly improving fairness and minimizing bias amplification. Furthermore, we perform an in-depth explainability analysis to provide additional evidence supporting the validity of our study. In conclusion, our research introduces a novel and professional approach to addressing the limitations of synthetic data generation in the healthcare domain. By incorporating fairness considerations and leveraging advanced techniques such as GANs, we pave the way for more reliable and unbiased predictions in healthcare applications.
Improvement of Quality Performance in Mask Production by Feature Selection and Machine Learning Methods and An Application
Authors: Tebrizcik Semra , Ersöz Süleyman , Aktepe Adnan
Published: April 2024

With the development of technology, large databases become more accessible thanks to automation systems that automatically keep data and allow the use of large databases in many areas. Machine learning approaches, a sub-branch of artificial intelligence, are used in making decisions about the process by analyzing the data stored in databases and converting them into information. In this paper, the body production process of the surgical (medical) mask is analyzed. As it is known, surgical masks have become a part of our lives by becoming widespread all over the world with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the surgical mask body production process, using the real data of the production factors, first of all, filtering feature selection methods and analyzes were made and the feature selection method to be used was determined. With the specified feature selection method, the factors affecting the product quality are determined. Secondly, machine learning methods were used to determine the values and value ranges of factors (features) in the production of defect-free products. The performances of the machine learning models established in the second stage were increased by feature selection analysis. In the study, together with the parameter optimizations made to machine learning algorithms, it was seen that the best algorithm to estimate the defective product rate was the Ibk algorithm with 92.3% accuracy, 91.9% F measurement and 93% AUC value. Finally, in line with the decision rules revealed in the study, it was observed that the fabric types used for the upper/middle/lower layers that make up the body part in the mask body production process greatly affect the rates of defective or defect-free products. If the rod apparatus around the nose belongs to class k, it has been determined that many masks are defective. Improvement suggestions were presented according to the application results.
Bor karbür: fizikokimyasal özellikleri, sentezi ve savunma teknolojileri alanında uygulamaları
Authors: Bilgiç Gülbahar , Balıkçıoğlu Güzel Ayşegül , Şahin Mükerrem
Published: April 2024

Gelişmiş seramiklerin dahil edilmesi, askeri ve savunma teknolojilerinde yapılan ana değişikliklerden biriydi; bu sınıftaki malzemelerin yüksek sertliğini ve düşük ağırlığını metalik zırhların yerini alacak şekilde birleştirerek balistik zırhların yapımında yeni teknoloji geliştirildi. Araç ve vücut zırh sistemlerinde kullanılan malzemeler alümina, silisyum karbür ve bor karbürdür. Bu seramik malzemelerin her biri, balistik performans için önemli olan yüksek sertlik, düşük yoğunluk ve kırılma dayanıklılığı gibi özellikler sergiler. Bu çalışma, bor karbür bileşiğinin askeri ve savunma sektöründeki önemini ve uygulamalarda kullanımını özetler. Eşsiz fizikokimyasal özellikleriyle bilinen bu malzeme, ulusların askeri güçlerini ve savunma kabiliyetlerini güçlendirmede çok önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Son araştırma eğilimlerinin, yararlarının ve potansiyel uygulamalarının anlaşılması, bu alanlarda daha fazla gelişmeye rehberlik edebilir. Daha etkili bir koruma ihtiyacı, silahlı çatışmaların gelişmesi ve koruma sistemlerine bakış açısının kaçınılmaz değişmesiyle ortaya çıktı.
Building an archive for 'future pasts': Undergraduates document their local Covid-19 'moment' in World History
Authors: Waetjen T
Published: April 2024

A substantial body of history teaching scholarship links student archival engagements and primary source work to various desirable educational outcomes, among them an enhanced capacity for historical thinking and imagination. A related scholarly literature considers the interface between pedagogy and public memory-making. This article enters and links these points of discussion by reflecting on a collaborative classroom project of digital archivebuilding, using the online Dublin Core-complicit platform Omeka. At the University of Johannesburg, during the first six months of 2021, first-year students in an online world history classroom produced, submitted, and categorised a body of primary sources-both textual and visual. These submissions reflected their own, ongoing experiences of Covid-19 and of lockdown policies. They used photographs and wrote in their home languages to convey the disruptions, innovations, hardships, and resiliences felt as young people within diverse lifeworlds. Aligned to photovoice methodologies, the exercise promoted a reflection of historical consciousness in two ways: first, by situating the pandemic of the present within a broad global history; and, second, by considering 'future pasts' as a politics of memory, research, and representation. The article describes the production of the archival database, 'Joburg21', and considers the pedagogical challenges and rewards of building a digital 'archive for the future'.
Do Increases and Decreases in Non-renewable Energy Consumption Have the Same Effect on Growth in Türkiye?
Authors: Göksu Serkan
Published: April 2024

This study examines the relationship between fossil energy consumption (FEC) and economic growth by applying the non-linear ARDL method in the Türkiye sample. This relationship was addressed in 3 different models to eliminate the multicollinearity between the oil, natural gas, and coal variables that make up the FEC. According to the analysis results, all models have an asymmetric cointegration between the variables. In all models, the effect of decreases in energy consumption on economic growth is more dominant than increases in the long run. According to the causality results, the neutrality hypothesis is valid for coal consumption, the feedback hypothesis is valid for natural gas consumption, and the growth hypothesis is valid for oil consumption.
Impact of Corruption on Utility Prices: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis for the Electricity Markets
Authors: Doğan Mustafa Kadir , Altun Funda
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the influence of corruption on utility prices. We develop a game-theoretical model to explore the interactions between the government, an interest group formed by firms, and consumers in determining utility prices. The model suggests that an increase in corruption correlates with a rise in utility prices, a relationship confirmed through empirical analysis of electricity sectors in 21 OECD countries from 1995 to 2015. Additionally, we explore the effects of regulatory reforms on electricity prices, revealing mixed outcomes. The findings emphasise the importance of anti-corruption efforts in shaping fair utility prices.
Validity of Capital Structure Theories in the Shipping Industry: An Application on U.S. Equity Markets
Authors: Yıldız Berk
Published: April 2024

This paper analyses the financial factors that affect the capital structure decisions of 29 shipping companies in the U.S. equity markets. The study focuses on the impact of International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and new initiatives. The results show that leverage has a negative impact on profitability and size, in contrast to tangibility. It is also confirmed that the decisions of shipping companies regarding capital structure align with the pecking order theory of capital structure.
Ülke Risk Primi, Krediler ve Makro İktisadi Değişkenler Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi: Türkiye Örneği
Authors: Ekinci İlknur , Ekinci Aykut , Genç Murat Can
Published: April 2024

Bu çalışma, Türkiye ekonomisinde ülke risk primi, krediler ve makroekonomik değişkenler arasındaki kısa dönemli dinamik ilişkiyi Ocak 2011-Kasım 2021 dönemi için VARX modeli çerçevesinde incelemektedir. Çalışma literatürde banka kredi kanalı ile CDS primi arasındaki ilişkiyi Türkiye özelinde inceleyen az sayıdaki çalışmadan biridir. Ayrıca, reel kredi hacminin Türk Parası ve Yabancı Para ayrımında incelenmesinin ampirik sonuçları etkilediği sonucuna varılmıştır. Faiz değişkeni olarak, TCMB politika faizinin yanı sıra bankalar kaynak maliyetini de yansıtan 1 ve 12 aylık mevduat faizi değişkenleri kullanılarak vade riskindeki değişmenin etkisi de modele dahil edilmiştir. Çalışmadan elde edilen temel bulgular şöyledir: (i) Enflasyon, kur (TL’deki değer kaybı) ve faizdeki şoka karşı, ülke risk primi ilk ay için pozitif ve anlamlı tepki vermektedir. (ii) Ülke risk primindeki şok, enflasyon, kur ve faiz üzerinde iki ay boyunca pozitif ve anlamlı bir etkiye sahiptir. (iii) Ülke risk primindeki şok, bankacılık sektörü Türk lirası reel kredilerde ikinci ve üçüncü ayda anlamlı ve tüm dönem için negatif etkiye sahiptir.
Türkiye’de Serbest Liman Kentlerindeki Kamu Yatırımlarının ve Mali Teşviklerin Yerel Düzeydeki Ekonomik Büyüme Dinamikleri Üzerine Etkileri
Authors: Abukan Deniz , Akın Cem , Doğan Esra
Published: April 2024

Çalışmada, 2006-2019 döneminde Türkiye’deki serbest bölgesi ve deniz limanı olan 11 kentte; yerel düzeyde ekonomik büyüme dinamikleri olarak kamu yatırımları ve mali teşvik uygulamaları incelenmektedir. Bu durum sadece ilişkisel bağlamda değil; yatırım harcamalarının, teşvik sistemindeki yatırımları destekleyici ve tamamlayıcı bağlamı da dikkate alınarak ortaya koyulmaktadır. 11 adet serbest liman kenti (Adana, Antalya, Bursa, İzmir, İstanbul, Kocaeli, Mersin, Rize, Samsun, Tekirdağ, Trabzon) için karşılaştırmalı ampirik bir analiz uygulanmaktadır. Liman kentlerinin tarihsel süreçte piyasa ilişkilerinin (işleyiş, işlem ve mekanizma olarak) merkezinde olmasından hareketle çalışmada serbest bölgesi ile deniz limanı olan kentler özellikle seçilmiştir. Böylece, çok kriterli karar verme yöntemlerinden olan COPRAS aracılığıyla uygulanan ampirik analizde, 11 adet serbest liman kenti özelinde, kamu yatırımları ve mali teşvikler ile yerel düzeydeki ekonomik büyüme arasındaki ilişkiye dair mevcut durum saptaması yapılmaktadır. Bulgular sonucunda Türkiye’deki serbest liman kentlerinin büyüme için yüksek potansiyellerinin olması beklenirken, bunun genel olarak yerel düzeyde geçerli olmadığı saptanmıştır.
Türkiye’nin Avrupa Yeşil Mutabakatına Uyumu Kapsamında Yeşil Ekonomi Performansı: Değerlendirme ve Perspektifler
Authors: Küçük Gülay , Yüce Dural Betül
Published: April 2024

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Avrupa Yeşil Mutabakatı çerçevesindeki yeşil ekonomi performansını belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmada, Türkiye’nin yeşil ekonomi performansını hesaplamak için Yeşil Ekonomi Ölçüm Çerçevesi-GEP kullanılarak bir GEP endeksi oluşturulmuştur. Çalışma, yeşil ekonominin çevresel, sosyal ve ekonomik boyutlarındaki ilerlemeyi inceleyerek Türkiye’nin sürdürülebilir bir ekonomiye geçiş için ne kadar hazır olduğunu belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmada kullanılan veri seti, 2011’den 2020’ye kadar olan 13 yeşil ekonomi göstergesini içermektedir. Bulgular, Türkiye’nin yeşil bir ekonomiye doğru ilerlediğini göstermektedir. Ancak, bu ilerleme Avrupa Yeşil Mutabakatının belirlediği kriterleri karşılama konusunda yetersiz kalmaktadır. Özellikle yüksek sera gazı emisyonları, Türkiye için ciddi riskler oluşturmaktadır.
Presence of microplastics: Impacts in a marine-coastal environment of the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Angie Lorena Moyano-Molano , Grace Andrea Montoya-Rojas , Linda Linney Rusinque-Quintero
Published: April 2024

Part of the contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is influenced by mass production, consumption habits, and improper disposal of plastics. Plastic degradation and fragmentation lead to the formation of Microplastics (MPs), small particles that easily infiltrate natural systems and pose ecological risks. These MPs are transported by atmospheric and water circulation dynamics, predominantly accumulating in soils and bodies of water, disrupting ecological processes in water, land, biosphere, and anthroposphere. This contamination adversely affects human productivity and disturbs fauna and flora in ecosystems. MPs can be consumed and bioaccumulated, potentially carrying pathogenic microorganisms and causing intoxication through constant contact. Understanding the environmental impacts of microplastic presence is crucial to identifying and addressing contamination sources. It serves as a foundation for adopting clean and sustainable production practices, minimizing negative impacts, and maximizing positive effects on ecosystems. Environmental education and scientific research play vital roles in raising awareness and fostering societies' involvement in managing emission sources that disturb sensitive ecosystems.
DENV2 NS2B-NS3 protease co-expression construct small scale expression and purification protocol v1
Authors: Wang Korvus , fairhead michael , Williams Eleanor
Published: April 2024

This protocol details the co-expression and purification of DENV2 NS2B-NS3 protease construct bearing a N-terminal His-GST tag at small scale (<6L).
Soluble Receptor Level of Advanced Glycation (sRAGE) Products in Serum in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:
Authors: Gök Serdar , Okyar Burak , Tuncel Defne Ay , İnanç Tolun Fatma , Alkan Baylan Filiz , Acıpayam Can , Doğaner Adem , Yıldırım Çetin Gözde
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by antibody formation against nuclear autoantigens. A receptor for Advanced Glycation (RAGE) is produced by many immune system cells, such as neutrophils, macrophages, and T cells, and interacts with many classes of ligands. In light of these results, the level of sRAGE, the soluble form of RAGE, may be associated with disease activity. In light of this information, we aimed to evaluate whether there is a relationship between plasma sRAGE levels and SLE.
Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients diagnosed with SLE (M/F: 1/17) and twenty-one patients without any disease diagnosis (M/F: 2/19) were included as the control group. In these patients, plasma sRAGE level was measured by ELIZA method using an ELIZA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit (BioVendor Research and Diagnostic Products). The data obtained were compared between the groups.
Results: The mean plasma sRAGE level was lower in patients with SLE than in healthy control patients but not statistically significant (p=0.966). Our study found a positive correlation between SLEDAI and sRAGE levels in patients with SLE (r=0.628, p=0.005). Although no significant correlation was found between patients with SLE, sRAGE levels were positively correlated between fourteen patients classified as active SLE and the control group.
Conclusions: In our study, we found that plasma sRAGE levels in patients with SLE were lower than in healthy controls, but plasma sRAGE levels in patients with active SLE were higher than plasma sRAGE levels in patients with inactive SLE. We hypothesized that reduced sRAGE levels in patients with SLE could be explained by the depletion of this soluble receptor. Our study differed from another similar study showing that blood sRAGE levels were higher in patients with SLE than in healthy controls. Blood sRAGE levels were significantly increased during active disease compared with patients with quiescent SLE.
Evaluation of Endometrial Histopathology of Patients Presenting with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Authors: Kağıtcı Mehmet , Yılmaz Bülent , Doğan Polat Sibel , Ayazoğlu İlknur Merve , Dereci Delibaş Deniz , Bedir Recep
Published: April 2024

Objective: Abnormal uterine bleeding is an important symptom frequently encountered in the gynecology outpatient clinic. In our study, it was aimed to determine the endometrial pathologies that cause abnormal uterine bleeding.
Material and methods: The pathology results of patients who applied to our clinic with the complaint of abnormal uterine bleeding and underwent endometrial sampling were retrospectively analyzed. Findings were classified and compared according to whether the patients were in the postmenopausal or premenopausal period.
Results: A total of 878 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 47.59±7.91/year. The most common symptom was menometrorrhagia 58.1%. The most common pathological finding was endometrial polyp in both premenopausal and postmenopausal patients (29.69% and 24.31%). The incidence of premalignant and malignant lesions was 2.7% in premenopausal patients and 8.25% in postmenopausal patients.
Conclusion: Abnormal uterine bleeding may be associated with malignancies in both postmenopausal and premenopausal patients. Performing endometrial sampling in patients presenting with this symptom is of great importance in providing early diagnosis and treatment of malignant and premalignant lesions.
Gestasyonel Diyabeti Olan ve Olmayan Gebelerin Sosyal Jetlag ve Beslenme Durumunun İncelenmesi
Authors: Çatar Deniz , Bayram Sinem
Published: April 2024

Amaç: Bu bilimsel çalışma, gestasyonel diyabetli (GDM) ve GDM’li olmayan besin tüketim sıklıklarının sosyal jetlag (SJL) üzerindeki etkisinin değerlendirilmesi adına beslenme durumunun ve gebeliğe ait antropometrik özelliklerini belirlemek amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç̧ ve Yöntemler: Bu çalışma Başkent Üniversitesi Ankara Hastanesi Kadın Doğum Polikliniği’nde izlenen gönüllü 28 GDM’li olmayan (kontrol) ve 28 GDM’li (vaka) gebe kadın olmak üzere toplam 56 gebe üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Klinikte, jinekologlar tarafından takibi yapılan gebelerin genel özellikleri, besin tüketimleri, beslenme durumları, SJL durumları ve oral glukoz tolerans testi (OGTT) sonuçları değerlendirilmiştir. p değeri <0,05 istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Ortaokul ve altı olan grupta; GDM olanların olmayanlara göre yüksek olduğu görülmüştür (p=0,001). Üniversite ve üstü olan grupta; GDM olanların olmayanlara göre düşük olduğu görülmüştür (p=0,001). SJL durumu ile pregestasyonel beden kütle indeksi (BKİ) arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişki bulunmazken GDM varlığı ile pregestasyonel BKİ arasında istatistiksel açıdan önemli bir fark saptanmıştır (p>0,05; p=0,001). GDM’lilerin diyetle günlük ortalama fruktoz, sükroz ve omega-3 yağ asidi alımının, non-GDM’lilere göre düşük olması istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur (sırasıyla p=0,007; 0,001; 0,008). GDM ve non-GDM’liler grup içinde değerlendirildiğinde SJL <1 grubunun diyetle günlük ortalama omega-3 yağ asidi alımının, SJL1 olanlara göre yüksektir.
Sonuç̧: Bu çalışmada, GDM oluşumunda diyet içeriği (enerji ve makro besin ögeleri), gebelik sürecinde kazanılan ağırlık ve pregestasyonel BKİ’nin önemli etkisi olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. GDM’nin önlenmesinde ve tedavisinde prenatal dönemde ve gebelik sürecinde obezitenin kontrol edilmesi ile sağlıklı beslenmenin ve diyet tedavisinin önemli rolü bulunmaktadır.
Aportaciones de la intertextualidad a la competencia literaria: los cuentos tradicionales en la educación básica primaria colombiana
Authors:   Universidad de Granada, Perea Insuasty Pilar , Núñez Delgado M.ª Pilar ,   Universidad de Granada
Published: April 2024

Uno de los aspectos centrales —tanto de las bases teóricas como de las prácticas de aula— de la educación literaria es la atención a los mecanismos que contribuyen a la construcción de significados de lo leído. Los estudios sobre las aportaciones de trabajar con distintas versiones de cuentos populares apuntan a que el diálogo entre textos contribuye al desarrollo de la competencia literaria en la infancia. Nuestra investigación, con diseño cualitativo de corte etnográfico, se realizó en un grupo-clase de 35 escolares colombianos de 6-7 años. Su objetivo es indagar sobre los efectos del juego palimpséstico genettiano en la competencia literaria, que abarca la habilidad del pensamiento crítico de niños de 6-7 años, a partir de la lectura en voz alta de hipertextos y el diálogo en clase sobre dos cuentos tradicionales, Caperucita roja (versión hipotextual de Charles Perrault) y Rapunzel (de los hermanos Grimm). Los resultados más destacados muestran que los hipertextos generan conexiones que permean la dimensión cognitiva y emocional; que el abordaje dialógico de los cuentos también establece conexiones con la realidad sociocultural del lector infantil, y que la lectura desde la perspectiva intertextual contribuye a la estructuración de patrones de pensamiento que luego se aplican a la interpretación de otras obras. Las conclusiones reafirman el valor de la intertextualidad para desarrollar la competencia literaria, pues enseña a asumir puntos de vista, a exponerlos y a debatirlos a partir de lo aprehendido con los entramados textuales.
The Spectre of Nuclear Weapons Use in Ukraine: The Nuances of Nuclear War Risk
Authors: Çağlar Barış
Published: April 2024

The essence of Russian security policy is composed of the combined use of conventional and unconventional threats in both war and peacetime. Russia aims to dominate the process of escalation especially by frequently threatening nuclear war in Ukraine. It attempts to maintain the strategic initiative superiority, forcing its enemies to act under its control. Put differently, through the means of manipulating the fear of nuclear war in Ukraine, it tries to avert other states from directly intervening in the battlefield and to prevent military aid delivered to its enemies from becoming strategic. Methodologically, this article examines Russia’s effort to gain dominance in escalating tensions through nuclear risk as a case study. The nuclear risk hinges on the uncertainty of nuclear deterrence. The nuances of this often-ignored uncertainty are explained in this article. Since such a uncertainty poses credible risk of nuclear war, absolute victory is not possible. No party will get everything it wants; therefore, the only solution is diplomatic compromise through negotiation. The importance and implications of this article lie in the fact that the problems and warnings examined here are likely not only in Ukraine but also in a possible future crisis over Taiwan or future conflicts involving nuclear powers.
Social Media as an Agent of Influence: Twitter Bots in Russia - Ukraine War
Authors: Taban Muhammed Hayati , Gür İsmail
Published: April 2024

The world has been witnessing a war in Ukraine since Russia started its attacks on 24 February 2022. At this point, Russia has not only deployed its troops but also put its Twitter bots to work. The war has both covered conventional spaces and unconventional spaces like social media. In this regard, our study aims to understand to what extent bots were used by Russia during the first eight days of the war. To this end, we collect data between the 24th of February and the 4th of March. On data collection, we carry out a bot prediction for collected tweets. Findings suggest that Twitter reacted to bots quite quickly and that Russia could not manage to exploit the Russian Twitter sphere as much as it did before. Therefore, Russia chose to block Twitter.
Reflective Aspect of Perception and Self-Perception of Subjects in Conflict Interaction
Authors: Anikina V.G. , Lagutin A.V.
Published: April 2024

As part of the experimental study, the change in the images of subjects (the image of oneself and the image of another) included in the conflict interaction was assessed; the relationship between the images of communicants and the level of their reflexivity was revealed. A wide range of methods were used in the work: “Diagnosis of the level of development of reflexivity (A.V. Karpov); scaling Petrovsky - Uvarina, "Who am I?" (M. Kuhn, T. McPartland (modified by T.V. Rumyantseva)). The study was conducted on the “Experiment for studying negotiations” setup (idea by V.A. Lefevre, modification by B.I. Khasan). After the experimental interaction, the participants of the study had significant changes in the assessment of personality traits in terms of "Communicative Self" (T= 2.246 at p≤0.025) were revealed. In subjects with a "low" level of reflexivity, a significant correlation was found between self-identification by a set of characteristics related to the "Active Self" and the perception of characteristics the other (opponent) (r = 0.523 at p≤0.05) In subjects with a "high" level of reflexivity, a significant inverse correlation was determined between the self-identification of the subjects according to the characteristics included in the indicator-component "Communicative Self" (r = - 0.668 at p ≤0.05). The data obtained indicate the existence of a connection between the level of formation of reflexivity, the construction of the image of oneself and the opponent in conflict interaction.
Socio-Demographic Determinants of the Better-than-Average Effect in the Context of Pro-Environmental Behavior
Authors: Valko D.V.
Published: April 2024

The overestimating effect of one's tendency and contribution to pro-environmental practices, and underestimating the pro-environmental behavior of others has been noted recently in cross-country studies. The present work is devoted to a detailed post-hoc analysis of the available empirical data on this effect on the Russian sample (N = 109, Mage = 28.3, SDage = 10.4, 39% men) and identification of the role of socio-demographic variables (gender, age, income, employment, size of city) as its predictors. The analysis showed that the nature of the contribution of the variables under consideration to the respondents' self-estimation and estimation of others with respect to pro-environmental behavior is non-consistent, which is in line with recent studies. On average for all models and statistically significant determinants, the standardized coefficient ???? does not exceed ∓0.25, which formally corresponds to a small effect size. However, given the empirical distribution of effect size typical of social psychology, it is more likely to be medium effects. The prediction power of linear models based on individual socio-demographic characteristics also turns out to be low, the coefficient of determination varies from 0.02 to 0.11. Therefore, it is acceptable to speak about the considered variables as predictors except in relation to resource saving and eco-mobility. The conclusion is made that along with socio-demographic determinants it is necessary to include other predictors in the design of experiments and investigate them more deeply.
Mathematical Model of the Pilot Associated Activities and Its Application for Objective Professional Training and Condition Assessment
Authors: Kuravsky L.S. , Kozyrev A.D. , Greshnikov I.I.
Published: April 2024

A new approach to analysis and diagnostics of the pilots’ activities is presented, which makes it possible to compare both different options of the aircraft cockpit information and control field and the professional training of flight personnel from the viewpoint of application effectiveness. A mathematical model of the associated activities in use represents the pilot work via the matrix of transition probabilities, where transitions occur between the operations he performs. The approach under consideration is based on the convolution of the applied Markovian processes, which are created using the pilot activity protocols, into the quantum representations, making it possible to reveal the structure of these processes by the quantum spectral analysis. Application of the quantum filtering makes it possible to obtain quantitative diagnostic assessments of the pilot activity. Analysis of the experimental results for pilots of various training levels is given to demonstrate the possibility for assessing their professional skills as well as the prospects for using the proposed methods.
The Legal Status of Artificial Intelligence Systems and Models of Differentiation of Legal Liability for Damage Caused by them
Authors: Bakhteev D. V.
Published: April 2024

The objective of this paper is to define the models of responsibility for intelligent systems in situations when harm is caused (in the form of any wrongdoings, including crimes). For this purpose, the paper examines the current state of artificial intelligence technologies from the standpoint of moral, volitional and intellectual autonomy for modeling approaches to their legal personality. Such autonomy can be expressed only through the software element of a technological system, that is, even in the case of robots (cyberphysical systems), their legal assessment requires an analysis of how operations are carried out in order to evaluate incoming information rather than the physical characteristics of such a system. The author analyzes approaches according to which intelligent systems can be compared with legal entities, individuals, animals, and meta-directional structures in terms of the volume and nature of their legal capacity. The conclusion is made about the need for an independent legal assessment of artificial intelligence systems beyond their comparison with the existing legal categories. The need to train a system using a limited dataset, that is, without additional training in a real environment, adversarial attacks and internal errors of intelligent systems are considered as examples of technical limitations of technology that do not allow to raise the question of its subjectivity at the moment. The author highlights that in order to determine responsibility for the harm caused by an intelligent system, it is necessary to establish a circle of persons between whom it is distrubuted: an intelligent system itself, its developer and the operator (user). Thus, the author defines 10 models of responsibility distribution between them.
Human Information Rights in Digital Space: To the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Authors: Trofimets I. A.
Published: April 2024

An important milestone in the development of the institute of human rights is the adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which for the first time in history comprehensively enshrined the basic human rights and freedoms, taking into account the natural, political and social needs and interests of the person (individual). The adoption of this very document declared the man, his fundamental rights and freedoms to be the main value. The international community sought to cover all possible spheres of public relations (public and private) that are necessary for a person to function normally, consolidating basic rights and freedoms. It is impossible to deny the importance of this international legal act for the «human family» and each individual. At the same time, we may state that this document was adopted three quarters of a century ago and it does not fully reflect reality, does not take into account the dynamics of the development of public relations, in particular, does not define human rights in the emerging information society, in particular the digital space. After all, even the approach to individualization and identification of the person himself is changing, digital profiles of citizens appear, digital passports and other identification documents are issued, moreover, «cybermen» appear   — individuals with subcutaneously implanted microchips (capsules) with NFC technologies (Near Field Communication), containing information, in particular, about personal and banking data.
Model Legislation of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association: Harmonization instead of Unification
Authors: Klementyev A. P.
Published: April 2024

Since 1996 the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has been extremely successful in preparing and promoting model acts that have been implemented in more than 80 jurisdictions, including the Russian Federation. This circumstance is unique because ISDA, unlike intergovernmental organizations in the field of harmonization and unification of private law, does not have the status of an international organization, being a non-profit corporation. Nevertheless, its model laws, being in demand by legislators from different countries, put ISDA’s activities in the field of harmonization of private law on a par with such international organizations as Unidroit and UNCITRAL. The paper provides a brief description of the basics of the activities of this association. Special attention is given to the preparation of standard framework agreements and terms of contracts. The evolution of its model legislation is traced in detail, including the model laws of 1996, 2002, 2006 and 2018. It is noted that up to 2018, there was a tendency to expand privileges for derivative transactions, including in terms of their types and degree of protection. However, after the collapse of the leading investment bank Lehman Brothers and the subsequent global financial crisis, regulatory approaches to derivatives privileges changed, which was reflected in the latest ISDA model Act.