bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical picture of ankylosing spondylitis in HLA-B27 positive and negative patients
Authors: Erdes Sh. F. , Sakharova K. V.
Published: October 2023

The link between the HLA-B27 gene and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been known for almost 50 years. During this time, it has been discovered that some of the clinical manifestations of the disease are uniformly associated with the disease in almost all populations, while the other part depends on the ethnicity of the patients. Unique associations characteristic only of certain ethnic groups are also periodically described.

   Objective: to analyze the clinical features of the inpatient population with AS in relation to their HLA-B27 status.

   Material and methods. Cross sectional study of 200 consecutive AS patients admitted to the rheumatology department of the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology. All patients underwent standard clinical examination recommended for assessment of AS activity and functional status. The levels of transaminases, uric acid, urea, creatinine, interleukin (IL) 6 and IL17 in blood serum were also examined.

   Results and discussion. HLA-B27 was detected in 166 (83 %) of 200 patients with AS (in 89.8 % of men and in 73.2 % of women; p = 0.003). Among HLA-B27 positive patients with AS, 63.9 % were men, and among HLA-B27 negative patients, 35.3 % were men (p = 0.002). The mean age of AS onset was 5 years higher in HLA-B27-negative patients, and the disease was about 2 times less likely to occur in childhood in them. Syndesmophytes were detected in 25 % of HLA-B27 positive patients and in 15 % of patients who did not have this antigen (p > 0.05). Syndesmophytes were found in 31.1 % of HLA-B27 positive and 25 % of HLA-B27 negative men. 15 % of women with HLA-B27 and 9 % of women without this antigen had syndesmophytes (p = 0.022). Inflammatory bowel disease was more common in HLA-B27-negative patients, whereas uveitis and psoriasis were less common. Activity rates and incidence of arthritis and enthesitis were similar in HLA-B27 positive and negative patients. Serum concentration of IL17 was six times higher in HLA-B27 negative patients than in HLA-B27 positive patients (p = 0.012).

   Conclusion. In the Russia’s AS patient population there are associations with HLA-B27, characteristic for most ethnic groups (e. g., earlier onset of the disease) and associations not found in all ethnic groups (e. g., a more severe course, a higher incidence of arthritis and enthesitis). In addition, the concentration of IL17 in the blood serum of HLA-B27 negative patients was six times higher than that of HLA-B27 positive patients. This may indicate non-canonical mechanisms of pathogenesis of AS that develop in the absence of the HLA-B27 gene, which requires further research.
A Critical Care Echocardiography—Driven Approach to Undifferentiated Shock
Authors: Salinas Pedro , Sohn Jacqueline , Díaz-Gómez José L.
Published: October 2023

The clinical approach to undifferentiated shock in critically ill patients should be revised to use modern, point-of-care tools that are readily available. With the increasing availability of 2-dimensional ultrasonography and advanced Doppler capabilities, a quick, simplified, and integrated stepwise approach to shock using critical care echocardiography is proposed. Evidence supports the feasibility and usefulness of critical care echo-cardiography in enhancing diagnostic accuracy for shock, but there is a lack of systematic application of the technology in patients with undifferentiated shock. The proposed approach begins with the use of noninvasive ultrasonography with pulsed-wave Doppler capability to determine the flow state by measuring the velocity time integral of the left ventricular outflow tract. This narrative review explores the use left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral, velocity time integral variation, limited visceral organ Doppler, and lung ultrasonography as a systematic approach for patients with undifferentiated shock.
Wprowadzenie
Authors: Churski Paweł
Published: October 2023

Przedstawiamy Państwu kolejny, 65., numer czasopisma „Rozwój Regionalny i Polityka Regionalna” przygotowywanego przez Wydział Geografii Społeczno-Ekonomicznej i Gospodarki Przestrzennej Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu. Stanowi on zbiór ośmiu artykułów opracowanych przez Koleżanki i Kolegów w związku z Jubileuszem 70. urodzin prof. dr hab. Jan Hauke oraz uzyskaniem statusu profesora-seniora Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu. Niniejszy tom jest formą podziękowania i uhonorowania Pana Profesora przez grono jego najbliższych współpracowników i przyjaciół. Sylwetkę Jubilata przybliża biogram przygotowany przez Barbarę Konecką-Szydłowską, który otwiera zeszyt czasopisma.
German Chinese Economic Relations: Necessary Reassessment
Authors: Hüther Michael
Published: October 2023

Since the globalization of China has not been accompanied by an opening of its political system and society, political conditions for the economic development must be viewed in a global context. In addition to the economic slowdown, China faces a demographic challenge that has been ignored for a long time, and social upheavals have also been overlooked in the West in the euphoria over the market potential in the People’s Republic. The economic dependencies between the German and Chinese economies are two-sided. German companies should assess the risks of their China engagement, while corporates strategies are no substitute for a courageous foreign trade policy.
Worship (dīn), Monotheism (islām), and the Qurʾān’s Cultic Decalogue
Authors: Goudarzi Mohsen
Published: October 2023

The first part of this study presents evidence from the Qurʾān and early Arabic writings to argue thatdīnin the Qurʾān often means “worship” instead of “religion” and thatislāmmeans exclusive worship of the One God rather than “submission” to Him. Specifically, I show that the noundīnand the verbdānafrequently convey the ideas of “service” and “servitude” in early Arabic texts, a usage that underlies the qurʾānic meaning ofdīnas “service” or “worship” offered to God. Moreover, in line with strong indications from the Qur’an, several early works of exegesis and lexicography understandislāmas exclusive devotion to and monotheistic worship of God instead of submission to His will. In the second part, the study reinterprets the three verses that use the termsdīnandislām(Q 3:19, 3:85, and 5:3). It focuses on Q 5:3, which prohibits ten animal food items, announces the completion of the Believers’dīn, and identifies thisdīnasislām. As I argue, the new food restrictions of this verse are not simply dietary but also cultic, as their goal is to distinguish the Believers’ way of worship from that of themushrikūn(“pagans”). In particular, the “cultic decalogue” of Q 5:3 bans the meat of animals that die violently (during hunting or otherwise), in order to ensure that the Believers eat meat only from animals that are slaughtered properly. Such slaughter involves the explicit and exclusive invocation of Allāh’s name, an act that showcases and safeguards the Believers’ adherence to monotheistic worship, namely,islām.
A comprehensive survey of free-space optical communication – modulation schemes, advantages, challenges and mitigations
Authors: Bibi Sannia , Baig Muhammad Iram , Qamar Farhan , Shahzadi Romana
Published: October 2023

The demand for large bandwidth and high data rates in communication systems has become the main cause of the upgrade of traditional networks into free space optical (FSO) technology. FSO technology has gained significant popularity due to its easy deployment, high data rates, abundant bandwidth, enhanced security, and license-free spectrum utilization. However, the performance of FSO communication systems can be affected by certain limiting factors, such as changes in weather conditions during data transmission. To overcome these challenges and improve FSO performance, various modulation techniques are employed. This article presents a concise overview of the FSO communication system, highlighting different modulation techniques used to enhance its performance, as well as discussing its advantages, applications, and existing challenges. Some advanced modulation formats which are recently introduced in the field of FSO communication such as QPSK, DP-QPSK, QAM, and OFDM are also made part of this paper.
“To boldly go where no man has gone before”: how iconic is the Star Trek split infinitive?
Authors: Ronan Patricia , Schneider Gerold
Published: October 2023

“To boldly go where no man has gone before”, popularized by the science fiction series Star Trek, has provided an iconic example for the use of split infinitives. From its introduction, the series may have paved the way for the broader use of split infinitives in contemporary, informal English in spite of prescriptive grammars shunning the structure. The current qualitative and quantitative study is based on the general diachronic Corpus of Historical American English (COHA) and a specific telecinematic corpus (TV Corpus). It aims to trace genre influence in the use of split infinitives in sci-fi and television discourses. It asks whether the use of split infinitives in informal genres can be correlated with its prominent use in the Star Trek series. The current study finds that both raw and relative frequencies increase in the wake of Star Trek, as well as the probability of choice. Yet the clearest influence from Star Trek stems from the spread of the iconic to boldly go phrase.
Nambu Jona-Lasinio model of relativistic superconductivity
Authors: Bruce Stanley A.
Published: October 2023

We propose a Nambu Jona-Lasinio (NJL) effective model of relativistic superconductivity. In this framework, we discuss possible electromagnetic (EM) behaviors of (specifically) type-II superconductivity in line with the nonrelativistic Ginzburg–Landau (GL) theory. We comment on possible solitonic solutions of this model. Our investigation could be of relevance to describe type-II proton superconductivity in neutron-star crusts.
Eco-conscious nanofluids: exploring heat transfer performance with graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles
Authors: Gokul Vijayakumar , Swapna Mohanachandran Nair Sindhu , Sankararaman Sankaranarayana Iyer
Published: October 2023

The work explores the heat transfer capabilities of semiconducting graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanofluids. Also, it presents a sustainable and eco-friendly method for synthesizing g-C3N4 nanoparticles using commercially available rice flour as a natural carbon precursor through hydrothermal treatment. The synthesized sample subjected to various characterizations, including analysis of their structure, morphology, thermal properties, and optical properties. The optical bandgap (2.66 eV) is deduced through Tauc plot analysis and reveals the semiconducting nature of the sample. The formation of g-C3N4 is confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrates the nanoparticles’ excellent thermal stability up to 550 °C, indicating potential applications in heat transfer fluids. The investigation of concentration-dependent thermal diffusivity variation using the sensitive mode mismatched dual beam thermal lens technique highlights the potential of g-C3N4 semiconductor nanofluid as an organic and metal-free additive in industry-demanding coolant applications.
Supporting young children’s learning from science objects: the importance of play on gallery
Authors: Haywood Naomi , Davies Karen , Souter Lauren
Published: October 2023

Experiences during the early years shape our lives as adults, including our appreciation and understanding of science. Even though early years audiences make up a significant number of visitors in many museums, they are an under-researched age group, particularly in science museums. This paper addresses this gap by considering young children’s learning at the Science Museum in London. Two approaches to support learning from unfamiliar objects were tested with 4–7 year-olds in family groups. The first approach involved families creating a display that featured a small replica of the original object. The second approach involved displaying familiar objects or modern versions with conversation prompts next to the original objects. The testing included observations and semi-structured interviews with a total of 16 family groups. Findings show that families use play to create familiarity and context around objects. Guided play provides opportunities for families to tap into their existing understanding and interests, and in this way allows families to learn from objects. These findings highlight the importance of providing for and encouraging play on gallery to support young children’s learning from objects. Young children can successfully be supported to learn from unfamiliar objects in object-rich galleries in a science museum.
Employers and the gender wage gap
Authors:   Bayes Business School at City, University of London, Forth John , Theodoropoulos Nikolaos ,   University of Cyprus
Published: October 2023

In most developed countries, women have closed the gap in educational attainment and labor market experience, yet gender wage gaps persist. This has led to an increased focus on the role of employers and employment practices. In particular, research has focused on the types of workplace where men and women work, their promotion prospects and the extent to which they are rewarded differently for similar work. Understanding the relative importance of these features, and the mechanisms that generate them, is necessary to design effective policy responses.
The effect of radioactive iodine treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer on male gonadal function: a meta-analysis
Authors: Cai Yanling , Yang Yan , Pang Xiao , Li Suping
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The aim was to investigate the effect of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) on male gonadal function.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, Scopus, and Wanfang databases were searched up to June 10, 2022, to identify published studies related to RAI and male gonadal function. ReviewManager version 5.4.1 software was used to calculate mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs.

Results

Initially, 1958 articles were retrieved from the databases, and 6 articles were included in the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increased when the follow-up duration was ≥12 months after RAI, but the difference was not statistically significant (MD = −2.64, 95% CI = (−5.61, 0.33), P = 0.08). But the results of the subgroup analysis showed that when the follow-up time was ≤6 months, FSH levels were significantly higher after RAI (MD = −7.65, 95% CI = (−13.95, −1.34), P = 0.02). The level of inhibin B was significantly lower at ≥12 months and ≤6 months after RAI (MD = 66.38, 95% CI = (8.39, 124.37), P = 0.02) and (MD = 116.27, 95% CI = (43.56, 188.98), P = 0.002). Additionally, luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone have similar results – that is, LH and testosterone levels were higher after RAI, but the difference was not statistically significant (MD = –0.87, 95% CI = (−2.04, 0.30), P = 0.15) and (MD = −1.69, 95% CI (−7.29, 3.90), P = 0.55).

Conclusions

Male gonadal function may be temporarily impaired within 6 months after RAI but may return to normal levels afterward.
Consequences of a cesarean section on the neonatal gut microbiome and future outcomes: a qualitative analysis of the literature
Authors: Buffington Paige , Sebghati Alexia M , Stewart Kasey B , Lawson Samantha , Karaduta Oleg
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the impact of cesarean section delivery on the neonatal intestinal microflora compared to vaginal deliveries.

Design

A mini-review.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was implemented, primarily using PubMed, to identify relevant studies published in English within the past 10 years. Selected studies were appraised by three independent reviewers using JBI critical appraisal and data extraction forms. Four articles were included in the analysis, encompassing systematic reviews and a retrospective cohort study. Primary and secondary outcome data were combined across these studies.

Results

Selected studies revealed consistent trends in bacterial colonization differences between cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Vaginally delivered infants exhibited higher populations of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides. Cesarean-delivered infants, on the other hand, showed greater colonization of Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Corynebacterium. Statistically significant differences were observed in two studies. All articles explored the potential health implications of these microbiome differences, with associations found between cesarean deliveries and various health outcomes.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates that cesarean section delivery influences the composition of the neonatal gut microbiota. The presence of certain bacterial species more prevalent in vaginally delivered infants, such as Bifidobacterium, is associated with improved infant health, while species found in cesarean-delivered infants, such as Clostridium, increase the risk of certain infections. Recognizing the increased health risks for cesarean-born infants enables clinicians to implement early screening, treatment, or prevention strategies, potentially reducing future morbidity and mortality.
Algunas consideraciones sobre la situación de las lenguas originarias del Perú
Authors: Falcón Ccenta Pedro Manuel
Published: October 2023

Las lenguas son instrumentos de comunicación y de construcción social de la realidad; en esa medida, también son vehículos de construcción y de transmisión cultural. Por ello, una de las preocupaciones que ha cobrado consistencia en los últimos veinte o treinta años es la extinción de las lenguas.
Este proceso está relacionado en el marco del contacto de lenguas, la preferencia de una lengua sobre la otra (bilingüismo); de la misma manera está relacionada con la identidad del grupo en comunidades multilingües y por cierto en contextos sociopolíticos, sociolingüísticos, educativos, etc. En esta perspectiva destacamos la situación sociolingüística de las lenguas demográficamente más importantes de la Amazonía peruana.
Quechuismos en el español de Moyobamba–San Martín
Authors: Alvarado Campos Lizbeth
Published: October 2023

Cada vez que queremos hablar sobre el castellano se nos hace difícil encontrar un punto de equilibrio y comienzo, en este artículo pretendemos explicar que el castellano amazónico está lleno de quechuismos que lo enriquecen y lo hacen “peculiar”. Históricamente hemos creído que solo los hablantes que migran a Lima y tiene como Ll al quechua poseen este tipo de vocabulario, pero no hemos percibido de igual manera el sustrato que se produce en algunos lugares del país. En este caso, en la selva del Perú, específicamente en Moyobamba-San Martín. Lo que se produce en esta obra es una recopilación de los quechuismos más resaltantes que se encontraron en el trabajo de campo en la citada ciudad. Posteriormente se hizo un análisis morfológico y semántico del mismo.
El autoreconocimiento de la identidad asháninka vs ashéninka
Authors: Jacinto Santos Pablo Edwin
Published: October 2023

El presente trabajo es un estudio sobre el auto-reconocimiento de la identidad local de la palabra “ashaninka”, en su sentido multifuncional. En él se analiza y se compara morfológicamente la entrada léxica asháninka vs ashéninka como dos grupos en busca de poder que funciona como dos variantes similares con una mega-diversidad de motivos ideales y reales. Aunque los trabajos de conceptualización difieren sobre estas dos palabras, con el tiempo se ha ido incrementando y perfeccionando, debemos señalar que no existen investigaciones sobre la unidad semántica de cada uno de las dos palabras. En este sentido tenemos la convicción de que un estudio como éste, contribuirá con una descripción convincente de dicha entrada léxica cuando se confrontan mundo real y mundo significado en el seno de ésta lengua. Además, será de real importancia para quienes investigan las diferentes realizaciones del fenómeno lingüístico en la lengua asháninka.
El estudio léxico-semántico de la comida marina peruana
Authors: Uzuriaga Jessica
Published: October 2023

El presente trabajo es una investigación descriptivo-explicativa de los léxicos de la comida marina peruana. Este artículo tiene dos objetivos: el primero es seleccionar y registrar los rasgos semánticos que conforman la significación inmanente y manifestada de los léxicos de la comida marina peruana; el segundo es jerarquizar los léxicos según las relaciones de inclusión semántica basados en los campos lexicales. Para ello, se utiliza la metodología descriptiva estructuralista donde se selecciona y registra un corpus de 30 nombres de comidas marinas peruanas, que se extraen de recetarios y diccionarios gastronómicos peruanos para luego agruparlos y describirlos en pares mínimos que nos permitan seleccionar los rasgos sémicos similares y diferenciadores; así como también se jerarquizan los campos léxicos encontrados para dar cuenta de las relaciones semánticas de inclusión. Se concluye que hay ciertos rasgos sémicos que nos permiten trasladar lexemas de un lenguaje común a un lenguaje especializado y conocer el proceso de la transitividad que existe en las relaciones semánticas de inclusión en el léxico de la comida marina peruana.
Análisis de las frecuencias léxicas verbales de redacciones universitarias de estudiantes asesorados de la Clínica de Escritura de la Facultad de Psicología de la UASLP, México
Authors: Pérez Marco , Rojas Guadalupe
Published: October 2023

Este estudio de corte cuantitativo descriptivo contrastivo se centra en el análisis de la frecuencia de aparición de los vocablos verbales en sesenta y ocho producciones escritas por estudiantes universitarios de la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México, quienes asistieron a sesiones de asesoría en escritura académica antes del periodo de pandemia por COVID-19. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante la aplicación del programa de acceso libre AntConc. Con este programa se obtuvieron la posición de la palabra (Rank), la frecuencia de repetición (Freq) y las palabras en sí (types y tokens). De los 350 verbos que aparecen, se tomaron los diez más frecuentes (38 % en total) y se contrastaron con el corpus de CREA de la RAE y los corpus de habla adulta, infantil y de textos periodísticos de Moreno y Guirao (2008). Los resultados muestran que no existe variación significativa entre los corpus contrastados. Los estudiantes utilizan con frecuencia verbos atributivos y auxiliares en sus producciones escritas. Los resultados presentados en este trabajo resaltan la necesidad de incluir el uso de verbos de corte más complejos en los currículos de escritura a nivel universitario.
A Rare Sigmoid-Colon Schwannoma in a Premenopausal Woman: A Case Report
Authors: Selntigia Aikaterini , Neri Benedetto , Russo Consuelo , Martire Francesco Giuseppe , Soreca Giorgia , Biasutto Dario , Di Matteo Francesco Maria , Exacoustos Caterina
Published: October 2023

Background. Schwannomas of the gastrointestinal tract are a rare type of spindle cell tumor of peripheral nerve. Commonly, schwannomas are discovered incidentally, as they are usually asymptomatic.Case. 46-year-old female patient, suffering from secondary amenorrhea and nonspecific intermittent pelvic pain associated with constipation. During gynecological visit an ultrasonographic systematic transvaginal examination was performed. At the sigmoid-rectal level an intraluminal solid mass was described and an urgent colonoscopy was prescribed. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed with en-bloc resection. On immunohistochemical analysis, S100 was strongly positive in tumor cells. Finally, a benign schwannoma of the sigmoid colon was diagnosed.Conclusion. Our case highlights the importance of an adequate transvaginal pelvic examination with the evaluation of all pelvic organs. It could be challenging to make diagnosis in an early stage on asymptomatic patients.
Post-COVID-19 Syndrome and Related Dysautonomia: Reduced Quality of Life, Increased Anxiety and Manifestation of Depressive Symptoms: Evidence from Greece
Authors: Galanis Petros , Katsiroumpa Aglaia , Vraka Irene , Kosiara Katerina , Siskou Olga , Konstantakopoulou Olympia , Katsoulas Theodoros , Gallos Parisis , Kaitelidou Daphne
Published: October 2023

Background: Post-COVID-19 syndrome affects a significant number of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals, even in asymptomatic cases causing several neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms and signs.Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional study with a convenience sample was conducted in Greece from November 2022 to January 2023. We measured the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with post-COVID-19 dysautonomia in terms of the quality of life with the EQ-5D-3L, and anxiety and depressive symptoms by employing Patient Health Questionnaire-4.Results: The study population included 122 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. One out of four patients (27.8%) manifested post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, while the mean duration of COVID-19 symptoms was 11.6 months. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were worse after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p<0.001 in both cases). A statistically significant reduction in quality of life was observed among patients after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p<0.001 for both EQ-5D-3L index value and EQ-5D-3L VAS). Post-COVID-19 dysautonomia increased depression symptoms after developing the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p=0.02). We found a negative relationship between the duration of COVID-19 symptoms and the quality of life (p<0.001). Moreover, our results showed that depressive symptoms were more common among females after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p=0.01). Also, the quality of life was lower among females than males (p=0.004 for EQ-5D-3L index value, and p=0.007 for EQ-5D-3L VAS).Conclusions: Our results suggest that post-COVID-19 syndrome causes a tremendous impact on the patients’ quality of life and mental health. In addition, we found that the groups most psychologically affected were patients with post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, females, and patients with a longer duration of symptoms. Policy makers should assign priority rights to vulnerable groups in future psychiatric planning. Policy measures should focus on the mental health of post-COVID-19 patients who seem to be particularly vulnerable.
Tuberculosis and Sudden Death in Lithuania
Authors: Zarembaitė Gintarė , Žiūkaitė Gabrielė , Chmieliauskas Sigitas , Vasiljevaitė Diana , Laima Sigitas , Stasiūnienė Jurgita
Published: October 2023

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. 10.6 million people fell ill in 2021 and 1.6 million died from the disease. Lithuania has the third-highest tuberculosis incidence rate per 100,000 and the second-highest mortality rate per 100,000 in EU/EEA countries. During 2015–2021 years, there were 799 deaths of pulmonary tuberculosis in Lithuania. However, the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis is often unknown before death and is only revealed during autopsy. The aim of the study is to review current literature on this topic and present statistical analysis on evaluated socioeconomical, epidemiological indicators, as well as autopsy findings that may suggest pulmonary tuberculosis infection.Materials and methods: This research was designed as a retrospective study focusing on full forensic pathology autopsies between 2015 and 2021. Of these, 100 cases were randomly selected where the cause of death was tuberculosis diagnosed during post-mortem examination and compared to a control group consisting of 415 cases of sudden death.Results: The study revealed that out of 100 pulmonary tuberculosis cases, 90% were male with the mean age of 53.48 ± 11.12 years old. In the case of sudden death where tuberculosis was found, a significant portion of the sample (91%) was not followed up at any medical institution. Regarding socioeconomic factors, a moderate negative correlation between Lithuania’s gross domestic product and tuberculosis distribution was observed, as well as a weak negative correlation between alcohol consumption (l per capita) in the general population and tuberculosis distribution. The lung weight of the pulmonary tuberculosis group was statistically significantly higher than that of the control group.Conclusions: Tuberculosis remains a major problem in Lithuania and the combination of socioeconomic indicators determines the prevalence of tuberculosis in the country. In cases of sudden death, autopsy helps to identify tuberculosis cases that have not been clinically detected and ensures tuberculosis monitoring. Therefore, the person who performs autopsy remains at high risk of contracting tuberculosis. Furthermore, extreme caution is advised if higher lung weight or hardenings are seen during autopsy because of the possibility of tuberculosis.
Utility of High-Resolution Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Posterior Segment Ocular Lesions Using Sensitivity and Specificity
Authors: Boruah Deb K. , Vishwakarma Daisy , Gogoi Pallavi , Lal Navneet R , Deuri Arup
Published: October 2023

Background: High-resolution Ultrasound (USG) provides good anatomical details of the ocular posterior segment and depicts the various pathological conditions affecting the ocular posterior segment, which helps ophthalmologists for choosing the best treatment options. This study aims to evaluate the utility of High-resolution Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Posterior Segment Ocular lesions by using Sensitivity and Specificity.Materials and Methods: A hospital-based retrospective study enrolled 81 patients in a tertiary care hospital. Clinical and ophthalmological examinations were performed followed by USG of the orbits. B-mode USG was done with a 7.5–13 MHz linear probe. The final diagnosis was made by correlating the USG findings with clinical and ophthalmological examinations.Statistical analysis: Sensitivity, specificity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value, and the accuracy of B-scan USG were compared with the ophthalmological findings by using the Chi-square test.Results: Of 81 patients (n=48 males and n=33 females) with a mean age of 38.98 ± 16.48 [SD] years, posterior segment ocular lesions in association with cataracts were found in 27 (33.3%) patients, whereas 14 (51.9%) patients had posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), 10 (37%) patients had retinal detachment (RD), and 1 (3.7%) patient had choroidal detachment (CD). Posterior segment ocular pathologies were found in 17 (21%) patients with blunt ocular injuries, whereas 8 (47.1%) patients had PVD, 4 (23.5%) patients had RD and 4 (23.5%) patients had CD. The ocular USG had a sensitivity of 87.32%, specificity of 80%, and accuracy of 86.42% with a statistically significant difference between the USG findings and the Ophthalmology diagnosis of the posterior segment ocular abnormalities of a p-value of 0.0005.Conclusion: High-resolution ultrasound is one of the best and an easily available imaging modality for the evaluation of posterior segment ocular pathologies, especially in the presence of opaque ocular media.
Homoiōsis Theōi: Plato’s Ultimate Educational Aim
Authors: Itao Alexis Deodato S.
Published: October 2023

Many academics and researchers who publish scholarly articles on Plato’s philosophy of education claim that the ultimate educational goal for Plato is simply the acquisition of virtues. While such a claim may not be entirely incorrect, it is nevertheless substantially wanting; for although the acquisition of virtue is no doubt paramount, for Plato it primarily serves as a means to another end. In this paper, I aim to show that, for Plato, the final summit of all educational enterprise is not really to become virtuous but rather to attain the state of becoming like God, and that is, homoiōsis theōi.
Dotriacontal Number System in Computer and Error Detection
Authors: Islam Md. Jahurul , Sarker M. Mesbahuddin , Taher Taslim
Published: October 2023

n this this paper for the first time, we have formulated the dotriacontal number system using existing number systems like binary, and hexadecimal numbers. The dotriacontal number is one with a base of 32, containing 32 single-character digits or symbols. Each symbol contains five binary digits. This number system can be used in computers for reducing memory consumption and for memory specification. Generally, the computer memory addresses are displayed in five hexadecimal integers. If the computer memory addresses can be showed in four dotriacontal integers rather of five hexadecimal integers, the memory consumption will be reduced. It also can be used to increase the number of MAC addresses, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. MAC (Media Access Control) address can be constructed as six deckles or 12 integers of the dotriacontal numbers instead of six octet hexadecimal digits. The IPv4 address can be defined in 8 integers of dotriacontal number that is 240 that is 1099511627776 address, and also the IPv6 address can be designed in 32 digits of the dotriacontal number that is 2160 or 1.46150164E48 addresses. The dotriacontal number system can be effective to detect error message using the checksum method. Typically, the checksum method is used by a binary or hexadecimal number system but the checksum method can be easily applied in the dotriacontal number system to detect error messages. The proposed work of this paper will be implemented if the dotriacontal code is executed and the memory specification is defined as a 10 bits deckle system instead of 8 bits byte.
Pomoc polskich miast na prawach powiatu udzielana ukraińskim partnerom współpracy międzynarodowej w okresie rosyjskiej agresji. Przykład województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego
Authors:   Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego w Bydgoszczy, Kuczkowski Przemysław
Published: October 2023

The aim of the research is to verify the admissibility of granting financial and material aid to territorial units from Ukraine by Polish cities with poviat rights. Consideration was also given to the state and scale of cooperation between cities with county rights (i.e. Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Włocławek) from the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship and their partners from Ukraine during the period of Russian aggression. The paper uses the method of content analysis, in addition, own research was carried out involving local governments from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and the results are presented. The results of the research in this paper proved that there is a legal possibility on the basis of the Act on local self-government (at the same time bearing in mind the provisions of the Act on public finances) to provide financial support from one’s own budget in the form of financial aid and in-kind support in the form of aid in kind to “local and regional communities” in Ukraine, including during the period of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In addition, the article found that all surveyed Polish local governments implemented international cooperation focused on humanitarian aid to Ukrainian partners. The article is original in nature and was devoted entirely to the issue of international cooperation during the period of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The electoral situation as a chronotope
Authors:   V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Hnatenko Pavlo
Published: October 2023

This article explores the phenomenon of elections as a political chronotope, a spatio-temporal realm where the mechanisms of democracy unfold. Its aim is to elucidate the unique socio-political nature of elections. The author establishes that the spatial and temporal characteristics define the format and regulations governing electoral interactions. The term «chronotope» is understood as an interdisciplinary concept that captures the essential connections between temporal and spatial features within a specific order of phenomena. Although extensive research has focused on the social, technical, and psychological aspects of expressing one›s will, the ontology of elections, which encompasses the comprehension of the «unity of time and place of action» and the involvement of political actors in the electoral scenario, has been largely overlooked. Additionally, this study concentrates on the concept of the electoral situation, which delineates the synchronous and diachronic connections wherein citizens’ political choices are positioned, realized, and interpreted. The notion of the electoral situation can be correlated with the term «political landscape», which is only partially related to actual geography but predominantly pertains to the comprehensive conditions of an electoral competition (the coordinate system) and the participants involved in this process. The article’s author illustrates how the electoral situation constructs synchronous and diachronic connections at various levels of political interaction. Notably, these connections are facilitated by political mythologems, which serve as unifying and integrative factors within the electoral chronotope. By examining these mythologems, the author highlights their role in shaping the narrative and symbolism surrounding elections, ultimately influencing the dynamics and outcomes of the electoral process. Overall, this article delves into the intricate relationship between elections and the spatio-temporal framework in which they occur. By emphasizing the significance of the electoral situation and its connection to the broader political landscape, the author sheds light on the multifaceted nature of electoral processes, enriching our understanding of democracy’s fundamental mechanisms.
A Stochastic Detection Models Comparison in Turbulent Flow Events
Authors: Calandra Maria Valeria , Di Leo Julio Marañón
Published: October 2023

The need to establish the downwind fluid dynamic field of aerodynamic bodies subjected to a given velocity field is well known, to verify their aerodynamic characteristics. In this context, different techniques allow us to establish the characteristics of the field. It is almost always
necessary to carry out quantitative determinations to describe the field correctly, particularly when the field is made up of turbulent wakes. In this sense, in the experimental field, it is common to use hot-wire anemometry techniques, which have great capabilities to quantify high-frequency
events. Previous work has analyzed the determination of changes in hot-wire anemometry signals for the detection of events in turbulent flows with different models, based on stochastic algorithms (CPM ‐ Change Point Model).The present work aims to compare the results obtained previously
with the application of different CPM models developed. Previously applied and evaluated measurements are used, the implementation of the models is carried out and the results are compared. All the algorithms used can detect changes in data that do not have a known distribution, i.e. non-parametric
distributions, which are typical for turbulent flow field signals. Measurements of the fluctuating components of the wind tunnel velocity at a specific point are considering. The signals used correspond to periodic detachments downstream of a flow control device (Gurney mini-flap) at the trailing
edge of an airfoil. The results show which are the best models to use for the experimental detection of such turbulent events in the flow field.
Inverse Source Identification on Parabolic Equation with Cauchy Conditions as a Generalized Problem of Moments
Authors: Pintarelli María B.
Published: October 2023

We consider the problem of finding a pair of functions r(x,t) and w(x,t) that satisfy the equation wt(x,t) = wxx(x,t)under Cauchy boundary conditions. We will see that an approximate solution can be found using the techniques
of generalized inverse problem of moments and find dimensions for the error of the estimated solution.
An Assessment the Financial Performance of Muangkhay Water Supply System in Luang Prabang Capital, Luang Prabang Province
Authors: Xaiveeheuang Toui , Thammathevo Khampasith , kittavong Sisouvanh , Siharath Phoummixay , Mallik Biswadip Basu , Phanthasena Oupala , Sinakhone Phouthasanh
Published: October 2023

Water supply is essential and an indispensable factor in the daily life of all populations. To improve the quality of life of citizens and lead to sustainable economic and social development; the party and the government has highlighted as crucial to the development of the water sector.
the Some projects have been completed implement, but some of them were not matched to technical standard. Concessionaire seeks to cancel or sell the concession contract to others because they had invested, and the return is less than ought. Therefore, to guarantee the Water Supply System's
implementation under the Public Private Partnership Project. This assessment aims to study and evaluate the financial performance of MuangKhay Water Supply System, Luang Prabang City, Luang Prabang Province that invest and operate by the private sector, and Build-operate-transfer for 30 years.
To do this we collect data with the private operator which cost of investment, personnel, an average of chemicals, operation fees, electricity, etc., to calculate the Payback Period, Net Present Value, Internal rate of Return, and Cost Benefit Ratio. The assessment of The estimated total income
for the 30-year project is 1.877.122 USD, the estimated total expenses are 667.153 USD, the investment cost is $404.425 USD, and the net cash flow is 1.209.969 USD, investors will realize a profit in 14 years, 7 months, and 18 days, therefore, the net present value is 790.488 USD, the
rate of return within the project is 6,98%, the net cash flow from operations is 1.209.669 USD, and the return on capital ratio is 1,9. As a result, investment in the water supply at the MuangKhay village cluster in Luang Prabang City, Luang Prabang Province yielded a satisfactory return.
DEPOSITION OF PURE BORON COATINGS BY MAGNETRON SPUTTERING AND INVESTIGATION OF THEIR PROPERTIES
Authors: Bugaev A. S. , Frolova V. P. , Gushenets V. I. , Nikolaev Alexey G. , Oks Efim M. , Vizir A. V.
Published: October 2023

Pure boron coatings have been deposited on stainless-steel substrates using a planar magnetron with a thermally insulated target of pure crystalline boron in a direct current discharge of up to 50 mA in an argon atmosphere. The magnetron was designed to be used as a component in an electron-ion-plasma test bench for in situ monitoring of boron deposition growth using synchrotron radiation from the VEPP-3 electron storage ring at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Using this magnetron, we have fabricated boron films with thickness up to 1.5 μm and studied their surface morphology, mechanical properties, and coating composition.
PORE-SCALE STUDIES OF THE EFFECTIVE GAS DIFFUSIVITY IN MICROSCALE POROUS MEDIA BY THE DIRECT SIMULATION MONTE CARLO (DSMC) METHOD
Authors: Zhu Chuan-Yong , Yang Wen-Xin , Huang Bing-Huan , Gong Liang
Published: October 2023

The diffusion of gases in microscale porous media plays a pivotal role in multiple engineering applications. Accurate
prediction of gas diffusivity in these media is crucial for optimizing such processes. In this research, we utilized the direct Monte Carlo simulation (DSMC) to analyze gas diffusion in microscale porous media, reconstructed using the quartet structure generation set (QSGS) method. We examined the influence of gas pressure, porosity, tortuosity, and porous microstructure on the effective gas diffusivity in microscale porous media. The findings indicate that the dimensionless effective gas diffusivity is inversely related to gas pressure, given a consistent microstructure. The tortuosity, which depends on the microstructure, significantly influences the gas diffusivity. Specifically, as the tortuosity increases, the effective gas diffusivity decreases at the same porosity. In addition, the anisotropy has a substantial effect on the gas diffusivity in a certain direction; however, it has almost no influence on the effective gas diffusivity. Finally, concluding from extensive numerical data, we introduce a predictive model for effective gas diffusivity in microscale porous media. This model considers the effects of Knudsen (Kn) and tortuosity and is able to predict the gas diffusivity in isotropic and anisotropic porous accurately with porosity ranging from 65% to 95% and Kn ranging from 0.1 to 10.
Uzaktan Eğitim Sürecinde Sanat Eğitimi: Uygulamalı Derslerin Yürütülmesi Hakkında Öğretim Elemanı Görüşlerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: EKER Cihangir , ATICI Meral
Published: October 2023

Bu araştırmanın amacı, 2019 yılının sonundan itibaren bütün dünyayı etkisi altına alan COVID-19 pandemisiyle birlikte, henüz yeni olan bu hastalığın yayılmasının ve yaşanacak olası can kayıplarının önüne geçmek amacıyla üniversitelerin tercih etmeye başladığı uzaktan eğitim sisteminin, Güzel Sanatlar Eğitimi Bölümü’nde verilen uygulamalı dersler üzerindeki olumlu ve olumsuz etkilerini saptamaktır. Nitel bir araştırma olan bu çalışmada veriler, üniversitelerin Güzel Sanatlar Eğitimi Bölümlerinde uygulamalı derslerden sorumlu olan dokuz adet öğretim üyesiyle sanal ortamda yapılan görüşmelerden elde edilmiştir. Dijital ortamda yüz yüze yapılan görüşmeler sırasında yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır. Araştırmaya katılan katılımcılar genel olarak uzaktan eğitim platformlarının uygulamalı dersler bağlamında getirmiş olduğu güvensiz ortamdan ve uygulama çalışmalarını takip etmenin zorluğundan bahsetmiş; ayrıca erişilebilirlik ve zaman konusunda getirdiği esnekliği de dile getirmişlerdir. Katılımcı görüşleri ve konuyla ilgili yapılmış benzer çalışmalar, uzaktan eğitimin uygulamalı dersler bağlamında hem avantajlı hem de dezavantajlı durumlar ortaya çıkardığını göstermektedir. Dezavantajlı durumların çözümlenmesiyle uygulamalı dersler için uzaktan eğitimin destekleyici nitelikte olabileceği görüldüğü gibi, tek başına uzaktan eğitimin bu dersler bağlamında yetersiz olacağı düşünülmektedir. Araştırmayla birlikte, güzel sanatlar eğitimi bölümlerinde uzaktan eğitim yoluyla verilen uygulamalı dersler için daha uygun bir uzaktan eğitim altyapısı oluşturulmasına mevcut uzaktan eğitim altyapılarının uygulamalı derslerin işlenişine yönelik geliştirilmesi ve ödev/proje sunumlarına yönelik dijital olanaklarının zenginleştirilmesine yönelik çözüm önerileri sunarak katkı sunması hedeflenmektedir
Is the behaviour a feature that implies evolutionary consequences in the speciation?
Authors: Alejandro Correa Rueda
Published: October 2023

In birds, similar behaviour decreases in dramatic form the distances among sister lineages. The current classification of the Chilean representatives of the passerine family Rhinocryptidae includes eight species. Moreover, differences between the two lineages of Chilean species of Scytalopus genera, and two subspecies of Scelorchilus. Scelorchilus albicollis albicollis vs. S. a. atacamae; S. rubecula rubecula vs. S.r. mochae, two species of Pteroptochos: P. castaneus and P. tarnii, and two subspecies: P.megapodius megapodius and P.m. atacamae are very scarce. We propose a new methodology based on ecological and behavioural patterns in order to understand the concept of speciation in this group of birds. Our results show how when integrating behaviour and ecological terms as biological traits next to morphological characters of the plumage, allows us to conclude that there is a decrease in the distances among sister lineages in the cluster tree.