bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective Effect of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid (TUDCA) on
In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Retinal Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Li Jiaxian , Huang Ziyang , Jin Yu , Liang Lina , Li Yamin , Xu Kai , Zhou Wei , Li Xiaoyu
Published: September 2023

Background:

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a naturally produced hydrophilic
bile acid that has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. Numerous recent in vitro and in vivo
studies have shown that TUDCA has neuroprotective action in various models of retinal disorders.

Objective:

To systematically review the scientific literature and provide a comprehensive summary on
the neuroprotective action and the mechanisms involved in the cytoprotective effects of TUDCA.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (The Preferred Reporting
Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Systematic literature search of
United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and
Cochrane Library was performed, which covered all original articles published up to July 2022. The
terms, “TUDCA” in combination with “retina”, “retinal protection”, “neuroprotection” were searched.
Possible biases were identified with the adopted SYRCLE’s tool.

Results:

Of the 423 initially gathered studies, 24 articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria for full-text
review. Six of them were in vitro experiments, 17 studies reported in vivo data and one study described
both in vitro and in vivo data. The results revealed the effect of TUDCA on different retinal diseases,
such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal degeneration (RD), retinal ganglion
cell (RGC) injury, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), choroidal neovascularization
(CNV), and retinal detachment (RDT). The quality scores of the in vivo studies were ranged from 5 to
7 points (total 10 points), according to SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool. Both in vitro and in vivo data suggested
that TUDCA could effectively delay degeneration and apoptosis of retinal neurons, preserve
retinal structure and function, and its mechanism of actions might be related with inhibiting apoptosis,
decreasing inflammation, attenuating oxidative stress, suppressing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress,
and reducing angiogenesis.

Conclusion:

This systematic review demonstrated that TUDCA has neuroprotective effect on in vivo
and in vitro models of retinal disorders, reinforcing the currently available evidence that TUDCA
could be a promising therapeutic agent in retinal diseases treatment. However, well designed clinical
trials are necessary to appraise the efficacy of TUDCA in clinical setting.
Managing Diabetic Complications with Alternative Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Srivastava Shobhit Prakash , Upadhyay Pawan , Das Shibu , Tiwari Neha , Mishra Sudhanshu , Tripathi Shivendra Mani
Published: September 2023

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease affecting millions worldwide. It is characterized by a lack of insulin production or impaired insulin function, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Conventional treatment methods for diabetes management typically include lifestyle changes and medications. However, alternative therapies have gained attention in recent years, including traditional medicine containing bioactive compounds, supplements like vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids, aromatherapy, and homeopathy. Diabetic complications are common in patients with uncontrolled diabetes and can lead to serious health problems, including diabetic retinopathy, impaired wound healing, kidney disease, nerve damage, and cardiovascular disease. Alternative remedies, such as traditional medicine containing bioactive compounds, supplements, and aromatherapy, have been studied for their potential benefits in managing these complications. Traditional medicines like bitter melon, cinnamon, and fenugreek have been shown to have anti-diabetic effects due to their bioactive compounds. Similarly, supplements like vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Aromatherapy, which involves the use of essential oils, has also been explored for its potential benefits in diabetes management. Homeopathy, which uses highly diluted substances to stimulate the body's natural healing abilities, has been used to treat diabetes-related symptoms like neuropathy and wounds. Personalized care is essential in natural diabetes management because each person's body and health needs are unique. A holistic approach that addresses the individual's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is essential. As research in this field continues to expand, a more comprehensive understanding of diabetes management will lead to improved outcomes for those living with this condition.
Efficacy and Safety of PARP Inhibitor Therapy in Advanced Ovarian
Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized
Controlled Trials
Authors: Chen Juying , Wu Xiaozhe , Wang Hongzhe , Lian Xiaoshan , Li Bing , Zhan Xiangbo
Published: September 2023

Aims:

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitor therapy in
advanced ovarian cancer and identify the optimal treatment for the survival of patients.

Background:

The diversity of PARP inhibitors makes clinicians confused about the optimal strategy and the most effective BRCAm mutation-based regimen for the survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of various PARP inhibitors alone
or in combination with other agents in advanced ovarian cancer.

Methods:

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for relevant
studies on PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancer. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed
using Stata 15.0 and R 4.0.4. The primary outcome was the overall PFS, and the secondary outcomes included OS, AE3, DISAE, and TFST.

Results:

Fifteen studies involving 5,788 participants were included. The Bayesian network metaanalysis results showed that olaparibANDAI was the most beneficial in prolonging overall PFS
and non-BRCAm PFS, followed by niraparibANDAI. However, for BRCAm patients, olaparibTR
might be the most effective, followed by niraparibANDAI. Olaparib was the most effective for
the OS of BRCAm patients. AI, olaparibANDAI, and veliparibTR were more likely to induce
grade 3 or higher adverse events. AI and olaparibANDAI were more likely to cause DISAE.

Conclusion:

PARP inhibitors are beneficial to the survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The olaparibTR is the most effective for BRCAm patients, whereas olaparibANDAI and niraparibANDAI are preferable for non-BRCAm patients.

Other:

More high-quality studies are desired to investigate the efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitors in patients with other genetic performances.
Pharmacokinetics Study and Simultaneous Quantification of Eight
Schisandra Lignans in Normal Rats by LC-MS/MS after Oral
Administration of Schisandra Lignan Extract
Authors: Yu Yan , Yu Yongduo , Wu Zhenqi , Zhang Shiyu
Published: September 2023

Background:

Schisandra chinensis has been widely used. It has many pharmacological activities. Lignans, including schizandrol A, schizandrin A, schisandrin B, schisanhenol, gomisin E, gomisin H, gomisin J, gomisin N, etc., are the major active ingredients of Schisandra chinensis.

Objective:

In the present study, the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of Schisandra lignans in normal rats.

Methods:

Nifedipine was used as an internal standard, and chromatographic separation was achieved on Agela Venusil C18 Plus (4.6*100mm, 3μm). Aqueous solution containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid was used as the mobile phase A, and methanol solution containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid was used as the mobile phase B for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with positive electrospray ionization was used to detect the analytes.

Results:

The calibration curves provided reliable responses at concentrations of 0.5-200 ng/ml for schizandrin A, schisandrin B, schisanhenol, gomisin E, gomisin H, gomisin N, concentrations of 10-200 ng/ml for schizandrol A, and concentrations of 5-200 ng/ml for gomisin J. The inter- and intra-day coefficients of variations (CVs) for the precision ranged from 6.70% (3.44%) to 11.66% (10.38%). The inter- and intra-day accuracies of eight lignans ranged from 95.70% (93.89%) to 104.59% (106.13%). No significant variation of any of the lignans occurred in the stability tests.

Conclusion:

The established method can be successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the Schisandra lignan extract in normal rats.
Evaluation of the Composite Skin Patch Loaded with Bioactive Functional
Factors Derived from Multicellular Spheres of EMSCs for Regeneration of
Full-thickness Skin Defects in Rats
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Shi Wentao , Wang Xun , Zou Yin , Xiang Wen , Lu Naiyan
Published: September 2023

Background:

Transplantation of stem cells/scaffold is an efficient approach for treating tissue
injury including full-thickness skin defects. However, the application of stem cells is limited by preservation
issues, ethical restriction, low viability, and immune rejection in vivo. The mesenchymal stem cell
conditioned medium is abundant in bioactive functional factors, making it a viable alternative to living
cells in regeneration medicine.

Methods:

Nasal mucosa-derived ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) of rats were identified and
grown in suspension sphere-forming 3D culture. The EMSCs-conditioned medium (EMSCs-CM) was
collected, lyophilized, and analyzed for its bioactive components. Next, fibrinogen and chitosan were
further mixed and cross-linked with the lyophilized powder to obtain functional skin patches. Their capacity
to gradually release bioactive substances and biocompatibility with epidermal cells were assessed
in vitro. Finally, a full-thickness skin defect model was established to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of
the skin patch.

Results:

The EMSCs-CM contains abundant bioactive proteins including VEGF, KGF, EGF, bFGF,
SHH, IL-10, and fibronectin. The bioactive functional composite skin patch containing EMSCs-CM lyophilized
powder showed the network-like microstructure could continuously release the bioactive proteins,
and possessed ideal biocompatibility with rat epidermal cells in vitro. Transplantation of the composite
skin patch could expedite the healing of the full-thickness skin defect by promoting endogenous
epidermal stem cell proliferation and skin appendage regeneration in rats.

Conclusion:

In summary, the bioactive functional composite skin patch containing EMSCs-CM lyophilized
powder can effectively accelerate skin repair, which has promising application prospects in the
treatment of skin defects.
Risk and Protective Factors for Intergenerational Transmission of Child Maltreatment in South Korea: A latent-class regression approach (Preprint)
Authors: Lee Hyejung , Jang Mina , Kim Sun Ah , Kim Sue , Choi Eun Kyoung , Park Chang Gi
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

Although adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment (ITCM) are closely related, a straightforward cyclical relationship has not yet been clarified.

OBJECTIVE

We identified risk and protective factors for the differences between the latent classes varying in the association between parental ACEs and child maltreatment.

METHODS

This study is a secondary data analysis of the Family with Children Life Experience survey in 2017. Participants with spouses and children (under the age of 18) were included in this study. Based on Belsky’s (1980) ecological model of child maltreatment, the risk and protective factors are classified into microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem.

RESULTS

Using latent class regression, three classes of ITCM were identified, namely: “No transmission” class (58.5%), “Weak transmission” class (23.3%), and “Strong transmission” class (18.2%). Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the risks and protective factors (the number of children, parenting stress, the age group of the youngest child, work status, residential area, and perceived parental acceptance of corporal punishment) resulting in a difference between the ITCM (“Weak transmission” class and “Strong transmission” class) and no-ITCM groups (“No transmission” class). By contrast, the other risk and protective factors (parental age and gender, depression, partner violence or control, and family relationships) were found to have more impact on the high-risk group (“Strong transmission” class).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence for early screening and prevention interventions for ITCM, emphasizing the importance of considering individual, familial, and community characteristics in prevention efforts.
La política de drogas en México
Authors: Rangel Romero Xochithl Guadalupe
Published: September 2023

Este artículo investiga la tendencia de utilizar la prisión como principal respuesta al consumo de drogas en México. A través de una revisión documental y análisis retrospectivo, se examina cómo las políticas de drogas han llevado a un uso excesivo del sistema penitenciario. A pesar de la existencia de alternativas no penales para abordar el consumo de drogas, la respuesta del sistema judicial mexicano ha sido predominantemente punitiva. El estudio contribuye a una mejor comprensión de la política de drogas en México, destacando la necesidad de replantear el enfoque penal que ha prevalecido históricamente en el país.
Analisis Kerentanan Wilayah Pesisir Terhadap Kenaikan Muka Air Laut Di Kabupaten Bantul
Authors: Agasi Purnama Jatti  , Djati Mardiatno
Published: September 2023

Wilayah pesisir di Kabupaten Bantul merupakan wilayah pesisir yang memiliki ancaman berupa kenaikan muka air laut sebagai akibat dari pemanasan global. Kenaikan muka air laut ini secara lebih lanjut dapat berdampak pada penurunan potensi sumberdaya di wilayah pesisir. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui tingkat kerentanan di wilayah pesisir Kabupaten Bantul sehingga diharapkan dapat memberikan gambaran ancaman kenaikan muka air laut di wilayah setempat untuk dapat menjadi pertimbangan dalam pengelolaan wilayah pesisir. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Indeks Kerentanan Pesisir (IKP) untuk menilai tingkat kerentanan di wilayah setempat. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini terdiri dari data morfologi pesisir, kemiringan lereng, dinamika garis pantai, tinggi gelombang, pasang surut, dan kenaikan muka air laut. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa tingkat kerentanan pesisir di Kabupaten Bantul bervariasi dengan nilai indeks berkisar antara 12,65 – 28,28. Wilayah pesisir dengan tingkat kerentanan tinggi berada pada wilayah dengan kemiringan landai dan tingkat abrasi yang tinggi. Tingkat kerentanan yang bervariasi memerlukan perhatian khusus dalam pengelolaan wilayah pesisir baik oleh pemerintah maupun masyarakat.
Beban Emisi Kendaraan Bermotor di Pelabuhan Ferry Amolengo Konawe Selatan, Sulawesi Tenggara
Authors: Wibowo Dwiprayogo , Risal B. Muh. , Sumarlin Sumarlin , Ilham Ilham , Irawandani Tia Dwi
Published: September 2023

The high number of vehicles crossing between islands through the ferry port has an impact on vehicle exhaust emissions during the queuing process for entering ships. This study aims to observe and analyze the prediction of motor vehicle emission loads at the Amolengo ferry port, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi with analytical prediction studies and simple statistical data on possible vehicle emission estimates resulting from loading and unloading activities. Collecting research data by calculating the volume of vehicles and calculating the emission load with a percentage in terms of the density of the number of vehicles at the Amolengo Ferry Port. Statistical approach by calculating the arithmetic mean and standard deviation over day variables to obtain cumulative vehicle passing data. Based on these results, we calculated the volume of vehicle traffic passing through the Amolengo Ferry Port, South Konawe, as many as 147 vehicles/hour, 1411 vehicles/day, 515088 vehicles/year. Types of motorized vehicles carry out more activities and bus vehicles carry out fewer activities. The estimated annual emission load which is calculated based on the emission factor is known that the largest CO emission load is generated by gasoline-fueled cars of 5.05 tons/year and motorcycles of 4.37 tons/year. Meanwhile, the largest N2O emission load is generated by trucks, which is 0.0013 tons/year. This research provides that the statistical approach to determining the emission load certainly needs to be reviewed from the density of the number of vehicles to obtain an estimate of CO gas emissions.
Asociación de parásitos intestinales con síndrome anémico en niños escolares: Una revisión sistemática de la literatura
Authors: Garzon-Castaño Sandra C. , Gil-Grajales Ángela M. , Echeverri-Herrera Daniela , Montoya-Giraldo Luz A. , Uribe-Palacio Germán D. , López-Muñoz Diego F. , Giraldo-Ospina Beatriz
Published: September 2023

Introducción: Las parasitosis intestinales y la anemia son un problema de salud pública mundial. Estos parásitos tienen tropismo hacia el intestino delgado, afectan la absorción de micronutrientes durante la eritropoyesis, produciendo la aparición de un síndrome anémico por un recuento bajo de glóbulos rojos y déficit de hemoglobina. Objetivo: Establecer la asociación de la infección por parásitos intestinales y síndrome anémico en niños en edad escolar. Materiales y métodos: Búsqueda sistemática de literatura publicada entre 2010-2021 sobre asociación entre infección por parásitos intestinales y síndrome anémico en escolares. Resultados: Se identificó 1151 publicaciones, al aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, se redujeron a 33, encontrándose 9 agentes asociados a anemia, siendo A. lumbricoides (27,27%), A. duodenalis y T. trichiura los helmintos más prevalentes, y G. duodenalis (6,06%) el protozoario más común. El 39,39% de los estudios incluyó ambos agentes. África (21), Asia (6), Sudamérica (5) y Centroamérica (1) tienen la mayoría de publicaciones. Se observa asociación significativa entre infección parasitaria y la anemia IC=95%. Conclusión: La evidencia demuestra alta prevalencia de anemias carenciales de tipo ferropénica y megaloblástica, con asociación significativa entre un mayor porcentaje de infecciones por helmintos y síndrome anémico, en comparación con infecciones por protozoos.
Time in Narrative: “Fabula — Syuzhet” and “Story — Discourse” vs Semiotic Triangle
Authors:   Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Maslov Evgeniy S.
Published: September 2023

The article explores the essence of the cognate oppositions “fabula — syuzhet” and “story — discourse” through the prism of the semiotic triangle concept. The “corners” of the semiotic triangle (thing, thought, symbol) are not aspects of one and the same phenomenon, but independent types of phenomena, and each of them has its own temporality. The author proves that the substance of the plot / discourse is a thought (sense), and not a text as a unity of sense and its acoustic-graphic expression. The time of the syuzhet / discourse (the time of thinking about the object) can not only differ from the time of the fabula / story, but fundamentally does not need it, since it has a different ontological basis; as a consequence, its counterpart exists in any kind of text, not just in narrative. If the text presents events to the reader in the mode of sensual “pseudo-living,” the time of the syuzhet / discourse tends to coincide with the time of the fabula / story. But the rational grasp, based on abstraction, allows thinking to use for its movement not only temporal, but also other “dimensions” of the described material.
The Reminiscences from Saadi’s Works in the Publicism and Epistolary of Ivan Bunin: The Source Studies Aspect of the Problem
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bakuntsev Anton V.
Published: September 2023

The article examines the problem of reminiscences from the works of the medieval Persian poet Saadi in the non-fiction texts of Ivan Bunin in the source studies aspect, using the principle of historicism and the method of comparative analysis. The objects of consideration were the letters and journalistic texts of the writer relating to 1910–1935, the subject was the images, sayings, maxims of Saadi reflected in them. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the sources of reminiscences from Saadi’s works, specifically their translated editions in Russian and the main European languages. The study found that, firstly, Bunin used as sources of Saadi’s texts not only the “classical” translations of books “Bustan” (1257) and “Gulistan” (1258), which appeared by the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries, but also related to one degree or another scientific, popular science and fiction literature by the poet’s creative work. Secondly, in Bunin’s epistolary and journalism, borrowings from Saadi’s works were subjected to quite significant creative processing.
Phenomena of Color and Sound in the Autumn Lyrics by Georg Trakl
Authors:   Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Sokolova Elizaveta V.
Published: September 2023

The autumn poems of the Austrian poet Georg Trakl (1887–1914), making up a significant part of his lyrical heritage, may be examined through the prism of color and acoustic imagery. The article shows that in his earlier lyric poems (1909–1912) color and sound serve primarily to distinguish between the two spaces, the first of which associates with the reality (natural life, autumn landscape), while the second corresponds to the places of “otherness” (sleep, death). The first space is characterized by a rich palette and sound diversity; the “other” space is depicted mostly in black and white, full of disturbing silence or sharp mechanical sounds. Later verses from 1913–1914 demonstrate less clear distinction of the two spaces, both flow into each other and even merge into one. Color and sound, as it were, “stitch” them through, connecting one with the other. Duality leaves the space and is now concentrated in the very image of autumn, which combines the generosity (abundance of fruits) of the life lived and dying, “black decay.” At the same time, color and sound markers of life and death remain the same, though their use changes slightly: color often acts now as a part of a complex image (“blue wings of the evening”), “dark” tends to become “black”; sounds subside, replaced by a meaningful silence.
Yearning for Verne. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas “Restored” Edition
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chekalov Kirill A.
Published: September 2023

In 2022, the university press Presses universitaires Blaise-Pascal (Clermont-Ferrand, France) published the first scholarly edition of one of the most prominent works by Jules Verne — Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. The publisher, ex-professor at the University of Hong Kong, and author of Jules Verne’s English-language biography (2006), as well as numerous works about the writer, William Butcher, describes this edition as the novel’s “restored revision” (texte restaure). This book is the result of many years of research into restoring Jules Verne’s works in their original form, untouched by extensive editorial revisions. It is commonly known that all works in The Extraordinary Voyages collection underwent various amendments and adjustments by the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel and later on, by Jules Verne’s son Louis-Jules. W. Butcher previously published English translations and the original versions of certain Jules Verne’s works, including Five Weeks in a Balloon, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Adventures of Captain Hatteras, Around the World in Eighty Days and others. The pocket size of these editions, however, would not allow to carry out the ambitious editorial project. This review focuses on the core strategies of the Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas’s edition, which W. Butcher refers to as dehetzelisation. The edition also includes a comprehensive scholarly apparatus (an introductory article, rationale, name index, biographical background, detailed chronology of novel writing, annotated bibliography, etc.).
From the History of English Dystopia of the End of the 20th Century: Conceptual and Substantial Dominants of the Novel The Children of Men by P.D. James
Authors:   National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, Pulatova Victoria I.
Published: September 2023

The paper suggests the analysis of the way dystopian genre invariant was realized in the novel The Children of Men by the English writer P.D. James. Particularly, the author of the article studies the novel’s conceptual and thematic elements regarding dystopian canon. Firstly, the article characterizes literary dystopia. Secondly, it defines the level of novel’s research in Russian and English literary studies. Thirdly, using the methods of genre typology and artistic analysis, the article investigates conceptual and thematic content of the novel, that is defined, according to the canon, by the concept of power, theme of an authoritarian state, problems of freedom restriction, progress of material values and regress of spiritual ones and by the complex of motifs (destruction of the past, standardization, prevention, etc.). The results show that the dystopia The Children of Men was written in the conceptual and substantial aspect within the bounds of the genre tradition. At the same time the motif of family ties’ destruction and decay of family is presented originally: the central image of the child gains sacred meaning. The author intensifies the motifs of prevention and profanation of sacred biblical thematic.
Reseña Histórica del Desarrollo de la Física en El Salvador
Authors: Alvarado Batres César Armando
Published: September 2023

: La presente investigación tiene como objetivo principal exhibir el proceso de desarrollo histórico de la física en El Salvador, sin dejar a un lado lo que sucedía en los demás países de la región en concordancia con la física. Además, se exponen las diferentes dificultades y logros durante la implementación de la enseñanza de la física formal y sistemática a nivel universitario. La transformación de la física y en general de las ciencias, deben estar completamente relacionadas a la protección de los registros históricos de su evolución. En El Salvador, la información de los avances que ha tenido la física son casi nulos, y de ahí la trascendencia de esta investigación. Los archivos a los que se ha tenido acceso para exponer esta reseña histórica han sido limitados y escasos, sin embargo, se tiene la colaboración de figuras vinculadas a las memorias de la Universidad de El Salvador por medio de testimonios, que han sido claves para completar este estudio. Finalmente, indicar que se menciona una proyección de la física en el país, basado en el desarrollo de los últimos años, donde se ha notado un ligero crecimiento de interés en aproximarse a las investigaciones globales, utilizando la innovación y creatividad de los investigadores jóvenes de la física y el ímpetu de los estudiantes de las ciencias para validar el lema de la Universidad de El Salvador “Hacia la Libertad por la Cultura” sin olvidar la coyuntura del país.
The impact of the pandemic on the labor market in the Western Balkans
Authors: Binaku Muhamet , Ismajli Sedat
Published: September 2023

This paper aims to research the impact of COVID-19 on the labor markets in the Western Balkans to close a gap in the literature (Bartlett & Oruc, 2021). This research focuses on available data and analysis with the overall goal of providing a comprehensive picture as well as identifying potential gaps in knowledge. Results of the analysis show that the pandemic has directly affected the labor market in almost all countries of the world. In the Western Balkans, more so than in other developed countries, the restriction of movement has caused a drastic drop in business activities (Bartlett, 2021). To that end, a considerable number of businesses closed down, and a large part of citizens suddenly became unemployed. The results of this analysis reveal that the number of workers in the informal economy has increased. In addition, wage-cutting practices reported during the pandemic are likely to continue even further. Based on these circumstances, the states of the Western Balkans were forced to take the necessary legislative measures, or other measures, to provide or organize in the appropriate scope to overcome the emergency crisis.
The Strange and Unusual: Anomalous Chordae Tendinae, Subaortic Pouch and Persistent Left Supreior Vena Cava
Authors: Dogan Mert , Sezer Can , Dinçer Berkay Ceyhun , Karakulak Ugur
Published: September 2023

Although papillary chord abnormalities are most commonly seen in
patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), there are rare case
reports in the literature showing abnormal attachment of chordates to
the basal septum, causing serious gradients in patients without HCM. In
this case, we present a 54-year-old male patient with no diagnosis of
HCM, who was diagnosed with strange and unusually abnormal chordae
tendons, subaortic sac, and persistent left superior vena cava.
Healthcare Recommender Systems Enhanced by Learnable Discrete Wavelet (LDW) Pooling in Deep Learning
Authors: Sharma Vedna , Samant Surender Singh
Published: September 2023

Recommender systems have become increasingly important in the
healthcare sector due to their vital role in predicting various
health-related information for both patients and doctors. The primary
goal of this system is to guarantee the timely availability of essential
information while upholding its quality, reliability, and
authentication. The primary emphasis in conventional CNN design lies in
the convolutional layers and the activation functions they employ. The
Learning Discrete Wavelet Pooling (LDW-Pooling) technique offers a
universal alternative to standard pooling operations, resulting in
enhanced accuracy and efficiency in feature extraction. This research
paper introduces an Intelligent Health Recommender System (HRS) that
utilizes the Discrete Wavelet Pooling (LDW-Pooling)-Convolutional Neural
Network (CNN) technique. The performance evaluation of this intelligent
recommendation system is conducted using a well-known Multi disease
dataset (Heart, Liver, and Kidney). Evaluation based on different
parameter values demonstrates that the proposed deep learning method
(LDW-Pooling) outperforms other approaches by producing fewer errors.
The proposed system achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 98.1%,
surpassing the performance of existing deep machine-learning methods.
This indicates that our system is highly suitable for multidisciplinary
disease prediction and recommendation.
A portable Raspberry Pi-based camera setup to record behaviours of frogs and other small animals under artificial or natural shelters in remote locations
Authors: Groffen Jordy , Hoskin Conrad
Published: September 2023

Here, we describe a Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is portable,
robust, and weatherproof, with a close-up focus (2.5 cm). We show that
this camera system can be used in remote locations with high rainfall
and humidity. The camera has an Infrared LED light to film in dark
places and can continuously record for 21 days. We also describe how to
make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the
great strengths of this shelter/camera setup is that the animals choose
to take up residence and can then be filmed for extended periods with no
disturbance. Furthermore, we give examples of how shelters and cameras
could be used to film a range of behaviours in many small cryptic
amphibian species, but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates
globally.
Stresses induced by magma chamber inflation altered by mechanical layering and layer dip
Authors: Clunes Matías , Browning John , Cortez Jorge , Cembrano José , Marquardt Carlos , Kavanagh Janine , Gudmundsson Agust
Published: September 2023

Understanding the stress distribution around shallow magma chambers is
vital for predicting eruption sites and magma propagation directions. To
achieve accurate predictions, comprehensive insight into the stress
field surrounding magma chambers and near the surface is essential.
Existing stress models for magma chamber inflation often assume a
homogenous elastic half-space or a heterogeneous crust with varying
mechanical properties in horizontal layers. However, as many volcanoes
have complex, non-horizontal, and heterogeneous layers, we enhance these
assumptions by considering mechanically diverse layers with varying
dips. We employed the Finite Element Method (FEM) to create numerical
models simulating two chamber shapes: a circular form and a sill-like
ellipse. The primary condition was a 10 MPa excess pressure within the
magma chamber, generating the stress field. Layers dips by 20-degree
increments, with differing elastic moduli, represented by stiffness
ratios (EU/EL) ranging from 0.01 to 100. Our findings validate prior
research on heterogeneous crustal modeling, showing that high stiffness
ratios disrupt stress within layers and induce local stress rotations at
mismatched interfaces. Layer inclination further influences stress
fields, shifting the location of maximum stress concentration over
varying distances. This study underscores the significance of accurately
understanding mechanical properties, layer dip in volcanoes, and magma
chamber geometry. Improving predictions of future eruption vents in
active volcanoes, particularly in the Andes with its deformed, folded,
and non-horizontal stratified crust, hinges on this knowledge. By
expanding stress models to incorporate complex geological structures, we
enhance our ability to forecast eruption sites and the paths of magma
propagation accurately.
Audit Partner Engagement in Charities and Client Financial Reporting Quality
Authors: De Franco Gus , Ji Yuan , Zhang Yinqi
Published: September 2023

This study uses large-sample archival data to examine the relation between audit partners’ charity engagement and their full-time job performance. Volunteering in a critical position at a charity may reflect innate personality traits that lead to better partner performance. However, charity engagement can decrease audit partners’ available working time and may, therefore, negatively impact their performance and clients’ financial reporting quality. Using accounting misstatements as our primary measure of financial reporting quality, we find a positive relation between volunteering and job performance: financial reporting quality is higher for the clients of audit partners who volunteer at a charity. The relation is more pronounced when the partner volunteers to serve as the charity’s board chair or donates to the charity. Although we study just one type of professional, our results speak to the broader question of the benefits and costs of volunteering.

Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.

JEL Classifications: M40; M42.
Institutions and Corporate Tax Evasion: A Review of the Literature and a Methodological Approach
Authors: Kanagaretnam Kiridaran , Lee Jimmy , Lim Chee Yeow , Lobo Gerald J.
Published: September 2023

We first review the recent research published in the Journal of International Accounting Research (JIAR) on the influence of international institutions on accounting practices. We follow this with a discussion of the literature by studying the influence of institutions on tax avoidance and tax evasion. We then propose a new methodological approach that draws on the theory of institutional hierarchy proposed by Williamson (2000) and examine the relative importance of three broad types of institutions (informal, formal, and media) in curtailing perceived tax evasion activities. We contribute to the international accounting literature by summarizing the recent research that addresses tax avoidance and tax evasion and by providing preliminary evidence on how employing an institutional hierarchy approach can address the interdependencies between commonly used institutional factors.

Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.

JEL Classifications: H26; G28; O16.
Crowdsourced Forecasts and the Market Reaction to Earnings Announcement News
Authors: Schafhäutle Sandra G. , Veenman David
Published: September 2023

This study examines whether crowdsourced forecasts of earnings and revenues help investors unravel bias in earnings announcement news, which is commonly derived from analyst forecasts. Our results suggest that investors, on average, understand and price the predictive signals reflected in crowdsourced forecasts about the bias in analyst-based earnings and revenue surprises. Using the staggered addition of firms to the Estimize platform, we find that crowdsourced coverage is associated with reductions in the mispricing of forecast bias and declines in earnings announcement premia. We further find some evidence that managers use income-increasing accruals to meet the crowdsourced forecast benchmark and that they respond to crowdsourced coverage through increased downward earnings and revenue guidance. Overall, we conclude that user-generated content on crowdsourced financial information platforms helps investors discount biases in traditional equity research and thereby better process the news in earnings announcements.

JEL Classifications: G14; G20; M41.
Common Ownership, Executive Compensation, and Product Market Competition
Authors: Bloomfield Matthew J. , Friedman Henry L. , Kim Hwa Young
Published: September 2023

The negative effects of common ownership on competition have received significant attention, but many proposed mechanisms for institutional investor influence seem implausible. We develop and test an analytical model of optimal compensation in an oligopoly with common ownership, focusing on revenue-based pay as a plausible channel through which institutional investors might influence competition. Our model implies a negative effect of common ownership on firms’ use of revenue-based pay. Using both associative analyses and an event study difference-in-differences design based on plausibly exogenous institutional mergers, we find no evidence of a negative relation between common ownership and the use of revenue-based pay, except in an economically small subsample of extremely concentrated owners. Results involving relative performance incentives are similar. Collectively, our results provide no support for the notion that cross-owning blockholders in general influence compensation contracts in order to soften executives’ incentives to compete aggressively.

Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.

JEL Classifications: D43; G30; L13; M12; M40; M52.
CNN Based Determination of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome using Automatic Follicle Detection Methods
Authors: Gülhan Perihan Gülşah , Özmen Güzin , Alptekin Hüsnü
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to determine the best method for follicle detection using ovarian ultrasound images and to classify the ultrasound images as pcos or normal ovaries using the proposed CNN architecture. Two different methods for follicle detection have been proposed to evaluate pcos. For this purpose, the Median, the Mean, the Wiener, and the Gaussian filters were tested using standard and adaptive thresholds. Second, Gaussian filtering, Discrete Wavelet Transform, and k-means clustering algorithms were tested. The Canny operator separates follicles from the background in the segmentation phase. In this study, a CNN architecture that classifies limited ultrasound ovary images was developed, and its success in the best follicle detection method was presented. The highest follicle detection accuracy of 97.63% was achieved with adaptive thresholding using a Wiener filter. Besides, the ultrasound images of the ovaries were classified as "normal" or "polycystic ovary syndrome" using CNN architecture with classification accuracy of 65.81% for unsegmented ovarian images and 77.81% for segmented images. In addition to the proposed method, classification was performed using SqueezeNet-based transfer learning, which was successful in limited datasets, and 74.18% classification accuracy was achieved for the unsegmented images and 75.54 % for segmented images . The results show that the combination of the Wiener filter with adaptive thresholding was quite successful in follicle detection and that the CNN can better classify ovaries using preprocessed ultrasound images.
Thinking and Re-thinking: A Qualitative Study of University Teachers’ Perspectives on the Development Process for a New Online Interprofessional Education Curriculum in a Swedish Higher Education Institution
Authors: Einarsson Sandra , Johansson Anna , Kautto Ethel , Lindberg Veronica , Ljusbäck Ann Margreth , Rydén Petra , Salander Ulander Monica , Fjellman-Wiklund Anncristine , Wiklund Maria
Published: September 2023

The objective was to reflect on the experience of working collaboratively across education programmes, departments, and faculties from the perspective of university teachers at a higher education institution. Nine teachers from five programmes working together to develop a new curriculum for interprofessional education (IPE) participated in a focus group discussion. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings suggest that teacher experiences can be understood in terms of teamwork processes valued from both professional and IPE experiential variations within the group. Since findings illustrate pedagogical collaboration across department and faculty boundaries, they can inspire teachers who are planning a similar process.
Lost for Words – Bilateral Vocal Cord Paresis following Renal Dialysis of a Thyroidectomy Patient
Authors: Gluch Laurence , Poels Deepali
Published: September 2023

A patient underwent a total thyroidectomy for a small papillary thyroid cancer.  Her vocal cord function was assessed as being normal post-operatively.  A week later she underwent her first veno-venous renal dialysis for deteriorating renal function during the post-operative period.  Within 48 hours she had developed bilateral vocal cord paresis, presumed to be on the basis of bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve oedema precipitated by massive fluid shifts in the fresh surgical bed.  Her voice recovered over the subsequent days as her fluid balance normalized.
Dens Invaginatus: Literature Review and Case Report
Authors: Kabbassi Wissal , Hammouti Jalila , Ramdi Hind
Published: September 2023

Dens invaginatus (DI) represents a structural defect in the tooth, resulting from invagination of enamel organ into the dental papilla. This rare anomaly, which often goes unnoticed during a clinical examination, is a risk factor for the development of carious lesions and consequently pulpopathies. The knowledge of this type of lesions allows to ensure early diagnosis and thus avoid any complications.
This article represents a case report of dens invaginatus along with a literature review regarding etiology, classification, clinical appearance, and diagnosis. It provides also guidelines for decision-making and treatment of invaginated teeth
Factors affecting the outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with tracheostomy in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Ximeraki Eftychia , Patelarou Athina , Samiotis Ilias , Markakis Charalambos , Zografakis Sfakianakis Michail
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Although most patients are easily released from mechanical ventilation, however almost 10% need prolonged mechanical ventilation and undergo a tracheostomy.
Aim: Aim of this study was to investigate the factors that may influence the weaning process in tracheostomy patients in the ICU.
Methodology: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Data were collected from the records of 85 adult patients who underwent tracheostomy during their hospitalization in the ICU of a General Regional Hospital, from 2016-2020. For the data collection, a demographic, clinical data recording form and the mechanical
ventilation evaluation scale (VIS) were used, recording the 1st, 5th and 10th day after the tracheostomy. The analysis of the study data was done using the SPSS program (IBMCorp. 2019, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, v.26.0, Armonk).
Results: The total percentage of patients who were successfully weaned was 40%. Patients with successful weaning had significantly lower: Charlson Comorbidity Index score (3.7 vs. 5.0) and higher score on the sum of positive cultures (0-3) (p=0.043). Patients with successful weaning were found to have significantly higher levels of VIS index the 5th (66.6 vs. 33.0) and 10th day (79.8 vs. 34.7). Also, they were positively correlated with the score in the sum of positive cultures (0-3) and with a lower score of VIS 5th (rho = -0.337, p = 0.002) and 10th day (rho = -0.2295, p = 0.012). Finally, through Cox regression, prognostic factors for weaning outcome, multiple diseases (comorbidity) and the duration of mechanical ventilation were assessed.
Conclusions: Factors affecting the outcome of weaning were identified. In addition, the value of the VIS prognostic model in the ICU of a General Regional Hospital was confirmed.
PRORAČUN I IZBOR OPREME POSTROJENJA ZA PREČIŠĆAVANJE OTPADNIH VODA OPŠTINE MALI IĐOŠ
Authors: Радановић Томислава
Published: September 2023

Предмет рада јесте прорачун и избор опреме постројења за пречишћавање отпадних вода у општини Мали Иђош, чији капацитет је планском документацијом дефинисан на 20.000 ЕС (еквивалент становника). Пречишћавање отпадних вода заснива се на комбинацији механичког и био­лошког поступка прераде воде, што захтева одабир одговарајуће опреме за све операције пречишћавања отпадних вода.
ANALIZA PERFORMANSI I DEMONSTRACIJA 4G I 5G C-V2X TEHNOLOGIJE UPO-TREBOM EKSPERIMENTALNE PLATFORME I PRIMENA U PAMETNIM VOZILIMA
Authors: Ostojić Milica
Published: September 2023

U ovom radu opisana je V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) tehnologija i primena ove tehnologije u autonomnoj vožnji. Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) je komu­nikacioni sistem koji podržava prenos informacija od vo­zila do pokretnih delova saobraćajnog sistema, koji mogu da utiču na vozilo. Osnovna svrha V2X tehnologije jeste poboljšanje bezbednosti na putevima, ušteda energije i efikasnost saobraćaja. Cilj ovog master rada jeste da se korišćenjem eksperimentalne platforme pokaže primena 4G i 5G mreža u V2X tehnologiji.
MAŠINSKO UČENJE – DETEKCIJA I PREPOZNAVANJE LICA
Authors: Salihagić Enisa
Published: September 2023

U radu je koncizno objašnjena oblast Mašinskog učenja, njeni algoritmi i primena. Takođe, detaljno su objašnjeni algoritmi za detekciju i prepoz­navanje lica kroz primere i slike. Mašinsko učenje je grana veštačke inteligencije koja omogućava računarima da uče i poboljšavaju se na osnovu iskustva, bez eksplicitnog pro­gramiranja. Jedna od primena Mašinskog učenja je u de­tekciji i prepoznavanju lica, što podrazumeva identifikaciju ljudskih lica na digitalnim slikama ili video snimcima.
PRIMENA DATA WAREHOUSE SISTEMA U SEKTORU PRODAJE KOMPANIJE ZA UVOZ, PROIZVODNJU I DISTRIBUCIJU PREHRAMBENIH ARTIKALA
Authors: Božić Ivana
Published: September 2023

U radu je predstavljena primena Data Warehouse (DW) sistema u sektoru prodaje kompanije za proizvodnju i trgovinu prehrambenim proizvodima. Prikazana je projektovana arhitehtura sistema skladišta podataka i šema baze podataka za podršku procesa odlučivanja u sektoru prodaje. Opisana je implementacija softverske podrške za izvršavanje ETL procesa koji obezbeđuju inicijalno punjenje DW baze podataka. Nad implementiranim DW sistemom generisani su izveštaji namenjeni za unaprđenje poslovanja i boljem donošenju odluka u strategijama prodaje.