bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STUDENTSâ€™ ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEIR PEERS WITH DISABILITIES: CASE OF GYUMRI SCHOOLS
Authors: Akopyan Tigranui
Published: March 2023

Objective: This study aims to understand children's attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in the city of Gyumri (Armenia). As the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular schools has been increasingly promoted worldwide in the last few decades, starting from 2016, full (universal) inclusive education entered into force in Armenia, and children with and without disabilities are included in the classrooms in all regular schools in the country. Based on the new changes related to inclusive education, the research on childrenâ€™s attitudes toward their peers with disabilities is valuable and essential.
Method: A narrative qualitative approach is used as a methodological basis of this study to uncover the attitudes of non-disabled students towards their peers with disabilities. Qualitative in-depth interviews with 60 students from inclusive schools in Gyumri have been conducted within one month. Analysis of the interviews was performed using the thematic analysis method.
Findings: The findings suggest four essential categories of responses: Looking forward, Belief in overall inclusion, Pessimistic view, and Unfavorable conditions. Each topic is formulated based on themes that describe the interview's global and detailed expression and formulation. In general, it was found that both personal and environmental variables relate to the attitudes of students without disabilities, such as experience with inclusive education, knowledge about disability and social participation, and social inclusion of students with disabilities.
First record of Orsillus depressus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae: Orsillinae) from the New World and Southern Hemisphere
Authors: D’HERVÉ Federico Eduardo , FERNÁNDEZ Celeste Giselle , DELLAPÉ Pablo M.
Published: March 2023

The lygaeoid Orsillus depressus Dallas feeds on seeds of several species, mainly cypress. Since the end of the last century, it has extended its range from its native area in the Mediterranean Basin towards northeastern Europe and it is considered an invasive species. In the present work, the presence of O. depressus is reported for the first time from the New World and Southern Hemisphere. Host plants and distribution from central-southern Argentina are given. In addition, morphological characters that allow their identification are provided.
Posterior fossa tumors in children: An update and new concepts
Authors: Mengide Juan Pablo , Berros María Florencia , Turza Mariana Estefanía , Liñares Juan Manuel
Published: March 2023

Background:

Posterior fossa tumors account for approximately half of the central nervous system tumors in children. Major technological advances, mainly in the fields of molecular biology and neuroimaging, have modified their classification, leading to a more detailed description of these entities. Into the classic taxonomy, used for many years, new concepts have been incorporated at times eliminating or modifying former ones.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the medical subject headings involving the five most common pediatric posterior fossa tumors: diffuse midline glioma, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and pilocytic astrocytoma. Only English published articles in the past 11 years that provided technological, neuroimaging, and molecular biology insight into posterior fossa tumors in children were considered.

Results:

Substantial changes have been introduced in the nomenclature of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Diffuse midline gliomas are named based on alterations in histone H3. Molecular rearrangements of medulloblastomas are more important in defining the prognosis than histological variants; therefore, these tumors are currently named based on their molecular subgroups. Posterior fossa ependymomas and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor classification have incorporated new groups based on different genetic profiles. Pilocytic astrocytoma has been placed in a new category that distinguishes circumscribed from diffuse entities.

Conclusion:

Advances in molecular biology and neuroimaging have substantially changed the way pediatric neoplasms are studied. The classical taxonomy has been modified leading to more accurate classifications that are based on the genetic alterations.
ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ ЗОН УСТОЙЧИВОЙ ЛОКАЛИЗАЦИИ ДЕФОРМАЦИИ В СВАРНЫХ СОЕДИНЕНИЯХ КОНСТРУКЦИОННЫХ СТАЛЕЙ, ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ НЕРАЗРУШАЮЩИХ ИСПЫТАНИЙ
Authors: Абабков Н.В. , Данилов В.И. , Смирнов А.Н.
Published: March 2023

В работе выявлены особенности формирования и развития полос Чернова-Людерса (ПЧЛ), а также зон устойчивой локализации деформации в образцах малоуглеродистой стали 20, в том числе и со структурно-фазовой неоднородностью в виде сварных швов, выполненных дуговой сваркой. В последнее время возрос интерес к исследованию формирования и распространения ПЧЛ как начальной стадии деформации. В самом деле, невозможно обойтись без исследований физической природы упругопластического перехода в металлах и сплавах, так как многие инженерные конструкции (особенно со сварными швами), используемые в технике, работают в области упругопластических деформаций и в них накапливаются значительные остаточные деформации. Анализировалась микроструктура и механические свойства материала при одноосном растяжении, были проведены механические испытания с регистрацией картин локализации деформации и металлографические исследования. Исследования проводились на двух партиях плоских образцов с головками из стали 20. Размеры рабочей части образцов 40×4×3 мм. Вторая партия была изготовлена из стали 20 (труба Ø159×18 со сварным швом). Изделие в эксплуатации не было (исходное состояние). Третья партия образцов вырезана из пароотводящей трубы теплоэнергетического оборудования также со сварным швом. Типоразмер трубы Ø159×18, срок наработки 198 тыс. часов (после эксплуатации). Механические испытания проводились на испытательной машине Walter+Bai AG LFM-125 при комнатной температуре. Скорость перемещения подвижного захвата составляла 0,4 мм/мин., что при использованной рабочей длине образцов соответствовало скорости деформирования 1,67×10-4 с-1 (квазистатические испытания). Установлено, что в металле сварных швов деформационные критерии разрушения ниже, чем в основном металле.
Evaluation of the international customs interaction effectiveness by the mirror comparison method of statistical data on foreign trade
Authors: Lisitsa A. A.
Published: March 2023

Most of the strategic directions for improving customs administration in the Russian Federation, due to their specifics, involve interaction with the customs authorities of foreign states. The article discusses approaches to assessing the effectiveness of interstate customs interaction as a sub-type of the Russian customs service activity. The urgency of the problem lies in the fact that the basis of interstate customs interaction is the principle of minimizing possible customs risks. At the same time, the existing system of indicators used to evaluate the activities of customs authorities does not reflect the effectiveness of interaction in terms of the administration of these risks. The purpose of the study is to consider a process approach to assessing the effectiveness of customs cooperation in the concept of supply chain management. This approach involves an analysis of the activities of not a separate national customs administration, but an assessment of the integration of the actions of states in the context of concluded agreements on cooperation in the field of customs. A cross-border supply chain, according to the author, can have varying degrees of efficiency depending on the type of behavior of national customs administrations within it. The task of the study is to analyze the indicators of Russian and Chinese customs statistics of mutual trade by comparing “mirror” data on export-import transactions, extrapolating the trend of discrepancies to the dynamics of the development of customs cooperation between Russia and China, identifying elements that affect the gaps in mirror data. The results obtained suggest that, given a fairly definite and stable list of reasons for the discrepancies in the data of “mirror” customs statistics, their composition and degree of impact are different in each period of time and are a reflection of the level of interaction between the customs administrations of Russia and China. To verify the proposed approach, the trend of deviations of regional “mirror” statistics of bilateral trade between China and Russia is analyzed in the context of the cooperation key projects development between the Russian Far East and China customs administrations.
Legislation effectiveness on the organization of police officers’ fire and physical training in the Russian Federation
Authors: Ivanov D. V. , Gimazova Yu. V.
Published: March 2023

The legislation effectiveness on the organization of police officers’ physical and fire training in the Russian Federation is formulated in the work as a solution to the problem of optimizing the police officer training for the lawful and effective use of physical force, special means and firearms in situations of operational and service activity. Based on a practiceoriented approach to the formation of police competence in the field of the use of physical force and firearms, the experience available to the author (statistics, cases) in the field under study is investigated. As a result of the current legislation analysis, proposals to improve the regulatory framework for the use of physical force and firearms by police officers have been formulated. To ensure the adequacy of the reforms on the regulatory and legal provision of physical and fire training of police officers, it is proposed to organize an All-Russian study of the facts of physical force, special equipment and firearms use by police officers, with classification according to the directions of the physical force and firearms use set out in the Federal Law dated February 7, 2011 No. 3-FZ “On Police”. The proposed study should be of an interdepartmental nature, and a project approach should be used in its organization. Expected result: identification and classification of problems, difficulties in the process of using physical force and weapons by police officers, determination of the causes of such “shortcomings”, as well as identification of territorial features that affect the effectiveness of the use of physical force and firearms by police officers. The results of this study should become the basis for improving the current system of physical and fire training of police officers.
Models of industrial symbiosis formation
Authors: Belykh A. L.
Published: March 2023

Industrial symbiosis is actively being developed and implemented in various countries as a tool to reduce the negative impact of business activity on the environment. There are more than 30 implemented examples of industrial symbiosis in the world: Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Japan, China, USA, Brazil, Russia, etc. Existing studies have determined that the practical implementation of the concept occurs, as a rule, in two ways: chaotically / spontaneously or in a planned mode. The purpose of this study is to identify the main models of the formation and development of industrial symbiosis based on the organizational form of its participants (commercial/non–commercial). The main objectives of the research work are the consolidation and analysis of examples of foreign and Russian practices of forming symbiotic chains, research of organizational forms of participants in existing industrial symbioses, comparative study of identified examples, visualization of chains of potential interactions in various conditions. As a result, five models of industrial symbiosis formation were identified and described. The study may be of interest to industry specialists and experts, facilitators, sustainable development managers and others while planning and forming industrial symbiotic chains in various regions of the Russian Federation.
Analysis of the food and medicines provision in the northern regions of the USA and Canada
Authors: Moiakunova A. S.
Published: March 2023

The article is devoted to the analysis of foreign experience in ensuring the availability of medicines and food products for the population of the northern regions of the United States and Canada. The author considers in detail the work of support mechanisms in hard-to-reach places in Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada, where there is no transport communication all year round. The content of the U.S. government programs on drug coverage (Medicare and Medicaid), mechanisms of subsidizing food and essential commodities (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women/Infants and Children Program (WIC), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)) were analyzed. The delivery of food by the Alaska ByPass mail program, which delivers food and necessary goods to hard-to-reach settlements where there are no roads, was studied. The article also pays attention to the state policy on a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper and balanced nutrition, considers state programs and recommendations on nutrition for Americans (Dietary Guidelines for Americans) and Canadians (Canada’s Food Guide). The results of the work can be used in the development of programs and proposals for improving measures to support and provide Arctic regions of the Russian Federation with food products and medicines.
Discovering Chemically Novel, High-Temperature Superconductors
Authors: Seegmiller Colton C. , Baird Sterling G. , Sayeed Hasan M. , Sparks Taylor D.
Published: March 2023

One of the biggest unsolved problems in condensed matter physics is what mechanism causes high-temperature superconductivity and if there is a material that can exhibit superconductivity at both room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Among the many important properties of a superconductor, the critical temperature (Tc) or transition temperature is the point at which a material transitions into a superconductive state. In this implementation, machine learning is used to predict the critical temperatures of chemically unique compounds in an attempt to identify new chemically novel, high-temperature superconductors. The training data set (SuperCon) consists of known superconductors and their critical temperatures, and the testing data set (NOMAD) consists of around 700,000 novel chemical formulae. The chemical formulae in these data sets are first passed through a collection of rapid screening tools, SMACT, to check for chemical validity. Next, the DiSCoVeR algorithm is used to train on the SuperCon data to form a model, and then screens through batches of the formulae in the NOMAD data set. Having a combination of a chemical distance metric, density-aware dimensionality reduction, clustering, and a regression model, the DiSCoVeR algorithm serves as a tool to identify and assess these superconducting compositions [1]. This research and implementation resulted in the screening of chemically novel compositions exhibiting critical temperatures upwards of 150 K, which correlates to superconductors in the cuprate class. This implementation demonstrates a process of performing machine learning-assisted superconductor screening (while exploring chemically distinct spaces) which can be utilized in the materials discovery process.
THD analysis and stability enhancement of PID controller in SRF-based shunt active filter under different design criteria using GWO technique
Authors: Nidhi Sahu , Sandeep Sahu , Pushpa Sahu
Published: March 2023

Power electronic devices are essential to industrial processes, research, and development, it provides high efficiency, low cost, fast operation, and ideal dimensions. Power systems are significantly affected by harmonics, which are mainly generated by non-linear loads and power conversion technologies, including static converters, breakers, cycloconverters, battery charging systems, and heating components. Various filtering methods are available for harmonic suppression, among which the active power shunt filter is one of the most significant and effective. Harmonics are suppressed and system efficiency is improved using the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) approach. The design criteria are integrated into the cost function itself. Using various design criteria, the performance of a shunt active power filter is investigated. The design criteria used are Integral square error (ISE), Integral absolute error (IAE), Integral time absolute error (ITAE), and Integral time square error (ITSE) with ITAE having the best performance.
Power quality improvement using dynamic voltage restorer (DVR)
Authors: Anil Agrahari , Shruti Sagar Shukla , Shivam Shukla , Shaurya Singh
Published: March 2023

This paper presents power quality issues, and ways to resolve these problems. There are a number of custom power devices which are used to resolve these issues. The Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) is a special device that is used nowadays. To detect the voltage drop system, park transform is utilized and applied to the voltage regulator as a control system function, that detects the voltage amplitude at the sensitive load constantly in DVR (using a three-phase voltage source inverter with voltage loop control (PI)) (Martiningsih & Prakoso, 2018). This paper is about basic working of DVR with simulation results. MATLAB is used in this work, and confirmed the convincingness of the DVR.
Higher education in a “post” - pandemic era: lessons learned for faculty and administration
Authors: Gina Cicco
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 global pandemic greatly impacted education systems across all age groups and grade levels. Teachers, students, parents, administration, academic advisors, and other stakeholders experienced varying levels of distress, trauma, and a multitude of academic and personal challenges. This article focuses on the positive lessons learned in higher education as a result of this tumultuous and transitional period in history. As the world gradually progresses into a post-pandemic era, it is necessary to utilize lessons learned to improve the overall educational experience for learners and teachers of all ages. At the higher education level, many implications emerged for managing crises, improving online and remote instructional management systems and teacher training, expressing flexibility to accommodate learner needs, enhancing advisement procedures to include greater course delivery options, incorporating student and faculty wellness screenings, considering socio-cultural development, and introducing needed community resources. A robust post-pandemic educational institution models and offers opportunities for regular self-care, mentoring, professional development, and constructive supervision experiences. Student and faculty needs are often most easily identified by administrators and academic advisors, because their roles inherently result in developing a vast knowledge of university resources and communicating regularly with students and nearly all campus facilities. Every academic organization, and particularly administrators, is best served by reflecting on the lessons learned during the pandemic to evaluate current practices and implement necessary improvements that result in optimizing academic advisement, student achievement, and overall satisfaction with student services.
Comprehensive study on additive manufacturing process methods, cost comparision, challenges and industrial applications
Authors: Santosh Kumar , Meghul Kumar Kushawaha , Rakesh Kumar
Published: March 2023

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is an emerging technology, used to fabricate components in layer by layer fashions. It has several key merits such as part customization, ability to produce complicated shapes etc. that are not possible by traditional machining methods (Lathes, Shapers, Planner, Slotter, Milling etc.). The timeline of the scientific and technological developments survey reported that owing to the attractive properties and growing demand it will be used to fabricate full body origin in 2032. This paper aims to provide an overview of additive manufacturing methods, materials, merits and demerits, cost comparision, future scope, challenges and distinct industrial applications, so that this study helps upcoming researchers working in the field of additive manufacturing.
Business continuity plan: A comprehensive outlook
Authors: Henry O. Nwaete
Published: March 2023

Business disruptions cannot be predicted within government, private, and commercial entities. It would be prudent on the part of organizations and every applicable community in which information systems are crucial for sustainability to make adequate provisions for the eventual threat or disruption to businesses. The mitigation and containment of business disruptions, which could result from natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, etc., or man-made constraints, which might include system breaches, compromises, and unplanned downtime, should have to be strategically planned and implemented in a structured methodology. During disasters, organizations should not only focus on getting the assets and infrastructure back (called "Disaster Recovery"), but organizations will also do better if it makes SMART (specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) plans for "Business Continuity" (BC).
Cognitive problems of philosophical anthropology: Consciousness and Representation
Authors: Yakovlev Vitaly Yurievich , Tarkovsky Vladimir Nikolaevich , Perova Nina Vadimovna
Published: March 2023

The aim of the study is to identify the main cognitive problems of philosophical anthropology in the context of opposition or interaction between the experimental sciences and the humanities. The paper traces the process of formation of the concept of “consciousness” as an alternative to the concept of “soul”; presents introspection as a traditional method of self-consciousness analysis and development; characterises the concept of “representation” in philosophical anthropology and formulates the main idea of introducing cognitive science into education. The scientific novelty of the study lies in determining the role of consciousness in the system of civilised education in the formation of the social, political, aesthetic, natural science and other spheres of modern reality. As a result of the study, the authors have formulated the ideas that within the framework of cultural neurosciences development, cognitive sciences make it possible to include a philosophical, primarily anthropological, understanding of consciousness and self-consciousness in a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis. At the same time, it is noted that within the framework of cognitive approaches, the influence of social factors on consciousness, including the ideological influence of specific societies, is not sufficiently taken into account.
The Restricted DINA Model: A Comprehensive Cognitive Diagnostic Model for Classroom-Level Assessments
Authors: Nájera Pablo , Abad Francisco J. , Chiu Chia-Yi , Sorrel Miguel A.
Published: March 2023

The nonparametric classification (NPC) method has been proven to be a suitable procedure for cognitive diagnostic assessments at a classroom level. However, its nonparametric nature impedes the obtention of a model likelihood, hindering the exploration of crucial psychometric aspects, such as model fit or reliability. Reporting the reliability and validity of scores is imperative in any applied context. The present study proposes the restricted deterministic input, noisy “and” gate (R-DINA) model, a parametric cognitive diagnosis model based on the NPC method that provides the same attribute profile classifications as the nonparametric method while allowing to derive a model likelihood and, subsequently, to compute fit and reliability indices. The suitability of the new proposal is examined by means of an exhaustive simulation study and a real data illustration. The results show that the R-DINA model properly recovers the posterior probabilities of attribute mastery, thus becoming a suitable alternative for comprehensive small-scale diagnostic assessments.
Optimizing Diagnostic Classification Models Application Considering Real-Life Constraints
Authors: Su Kun , Henson Robert A.
Published: March 2023

This article provides a process to carefully evaluate the suitability of a content domain for which diagnostic classification models (DCMs) could be applicable and then optimized steps for constructing a test blueprint for applying DCMs and a real-life example illustrating this process. The content domains were carefully evaluated using a set of defined criteria, which are purposely defined to improve the success rate of DCM implementation. Given the domain, the Q-matrix is determined by a simulation-based approach using correct classification rates as criteria. Finally, a physics test on the final Q-matrix was developed, administered, and analyzed by the author and the subject-matter experts (SMEs).
Yeşil Altyapı Kapsamında Atıl Alanlar için Sürdürülebilir Tasarım Yaklaşımı: İzmir Halkapınar Örneği
Authors: KOCABIYIK SAVASTA Elif , SARI İklim , MENGİ Onur , IRKDAS DOGU Derya , YİĞİT Nergiz , GÖKNUR Aylin , KILINÇARSLAN Rabia Özgül , DENİZ Deniz , VELİBEYOĞLU Hasibe
Published: March 2023

Doğayı hızla tüketen kentleşme pratikleri yerini sürdürülebilir, ekoloji temelli politikalara ve yeşil altyapı stratejilerine bırakmaktadır. Kent ekosistemi içerisinde düzensiz, kimliksiz, sahipsiz olarak tariflenen atıl alanların çevresel, sosyal, ekonomik gelişimi ve böylelikle kentsel ekosistemin dengelenmesi bu çalışmanın konusunu oluşturur. 2019 yılından beri belediye-üniversite işbirliği ile atıl alanlar üzerine “Sürdürülebilir Eko-sistem Ağı (Sustainable Ecosystem Network - SEN)” başlıklı kapsamlı bir araştırma yürütülmektedir. SEN altında atıl alanlar özelinde bir tasarım yaklaşımı geliştirmek, model/kılavuz oluşturmak, ağ sistemi kurmak hedeflenmiştir. Bu çalışmada SEN altında belirlenen tasarım yaklaşımı (uygulayarak araştırma, katılımcı/işbirlikçi tasarım, biyota-sarım), ‘ulaşım ağı ve çevresinde görülen atıl alanlar’ sınıfına giren İzmir Halkapınar bölgesi üzerinden ele alınarak geliştirilmiş, SEN araştırmasına ve Halkapınar’ın kent ekosistemine katılımına dair sonuçlar ortaya konmuştur. Atıl alanlar için ‘hedef belirleme kontrol listesi’ oluşturulmuş, ‘atıl alan çalışma kılavuzu’ oluşturma yönünde deneyim kazanılmış, atıl alanların ‘düzensiz, kimliksiz, sahipsiz’ karakterine istinaden işbirliğinin önemi ve dinamikliğin zorluğu gözlemlenmiş, Halkapınar özelinde elde edilen kapsamlı veri üzerine tasarım önerileri getirilmiş ve uygulanmıştır.
The Popcorn Illusion: why creativity does not come out of nothing
Authors: Santana Luiz Henrique
Published: March 2023

This preprint presents a theory on how discriminative learning can affect the emergence of creativity. A popcorn popping is almost magical. And yet, the science of popcorn is safe and clear about the steps until the pop: the components, processes, and results of making popcorn. Nature has its own way to produce surprise in the form of “pops” (i.e., emergence, qualitative shifts). Emergent features spread throughout the life of taxa and individuals. A pop can be sudden and chaotic. And so is creativity. There is no incompatibility between creativity and naturalistic endeavors in science. Creativity is no god given gift blown inside humans. When creativity is defined by originality and spontaneity, it describes a feature with no past or present. I briefly summarize how one can see non-random innovation, no free occurring spontaneity, and non-heuristic effectiveness as features of behaviors that are not necessarily considered creative. Those three features reveal how traditional views of creativity undermine its real determiners and how it can be objectively defined and observed.
Recommendations for RUU Kesehatan Indonesian Bill of Health
Authors: Onie Sandersan
Published: March 2023

In 2023, the Indonesian government invited feedback for an upcoming health bill. This is our invited response from a consortium in Indonesia.
Financial Liberalization and Financial Development in Nepal
Authors: Bhetuwal Khem Raj
Published: March 2023

An efficient financial system can effectively mobilize and allocate resources leading to robust economic growth. Financial liberalization improves the functioning of financial system by increasing the availability of funds and allowing risk diversification and increased investment. The indices of financial liberalization and financial development, generated by the principal component analysis, depict a gradual process of financial liberalization and a continuous financial sector development. The paper finds the presence of bi-directional causal relationship between the liberalization of financial sector and level of financial development in Nepal.
An Empirical Analysis of Money Demand Function in Nepal
Authors: Budha Birendra Bahadur
Published: March 2023

This paper analyzes the money demand function for Nepal during the period of the FY 1997/98 to FY 2009/10 using annual data. The empirical results imply that the cointegration tests clearly show the existence of the long-run relationship between real money balances and its determinants, output and interest rate. The vector error correction model has proved the short-run relationship between the real money balances and its determinants. Furthermore, Dynamic OLS estimation of the money demand function indicate that the sign of coefficients of the output and interest rate were found to be consistent with the assumption of the money demand theories.
No Male Comparators: The Doubling Up of Discrimination on Pay Equity
Authors: Lawlor Andrea
Published: March 2023

Women seeking pay equity in women-dominated professions often encounter structural barriers to equity in the form of the “no male comparator” (NMC) analysis built into pay equity legislation. NMC is a symptom of larger societal inequities in the workforce, but it also serves as a catalyst to further entrench discrimination, which has the effect of reducing the societal value accorded to women-predominant professions. In this article, I engage in a thematic analysis of two NMC cases that highlight how current legislative and judicial approaches to equity seeking hinder equitable outcomes through procedural means. Such techniques include the development of an ill-defined legislative approach to NMC analysis, resulting in the “de-responsibilizing” of the state; opaque methodological approaches to assessing NMC cases, resulting in the justification of enactment delays by government; and the provision of scant attention to the historical and sociological conditions of women in gendered professions, resulting in a hollow commitment to equality.
Effect of organic mulches and kaolin clay foliar spray on growth, yield attributes and yield of dry land maize (Zea mays)
Authors: VANI BHUMI REDDY DIVYA , RAMESH N. , MANIMARAN S. , THANGAVEL P.
Published: March 2023

The study area is warm, semi-arid and is highly variable with droughts and irregular occurrences of above average rainfall resulting in water scarcity thus leading to ground water stress and less soil organic matter which is a major constraint for agriculture. To mitigate this, a field experiment was carried out during kharif June 2020 at farmers’ field of Chinna Dudyala village, Muddanur, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh to evaluate the effect of organic mulches and kaolin clay foliar spray in dry land maize. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design consisting of nine treatments and three replications, viz. T1–Paddy straw mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 40 DAS, T2–Paddy straw mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 20 and 40 DAS, T3–Groundnut haulm mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 40 DAS, T4–Groundnut haulm mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 20 and 40 DAS, T5–Coir-pith mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 40 DAS, T6–Coir-pith mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 20 and 40 DAS, T7–Sugarcane trash mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 40 DAS, T8–Sugar cane trash mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 20 and 40 DAS and T9–Farmer’s practice (No mulch). Among the different treatments, the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield were favourably influenced with the application of Coir-pith mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 20 and 40 DAS. These results proved that application of Coir-pith mulch+Kaolin clay foliar spray @ 3.0% on 20 and 40 DAS enhanced the soil physical condition and provided sustainable crop growth and productivity of maize.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Probiotics Targeting Gut Dysbiosis in Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Wasser Cory I. , Mercieca Emily-Clare , Kong Geraldine , Hannan Anthony J. , Allford Brianna , McKeown Sonja J. , Stout Julie C. , Glikmann-Johnston Yifat
Published: March 2023

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms are clinical features of Huntington’s disease (HD), which adversely affect people’s quality of life. We recently reported the first evidence of gut dysbiosis in HD gene expansion carriers (HDGECs). Here, we report on a randomized controlled clinical trial of a 6-week probiotic intervention in HDGECs. Objective: The primary objective was to determine whether probiotics improved gut microbiome composition in terms of richness, evenness, structure, and diversity of functional pathways and enzymes. Exploratory objectives were to determine whether probiotic supplementation improved cognition, mood, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods: Forty-one HDGECs, including 19 early manifest and 22 premanifest HDGECs were compared with 36 matched-healthy controls (HCs). Participants were randomly assigned probiotics or placebo and provided fecal samples at baseline and 6-week follow-up, which were sequenced using 16S-V3-V4 rRNA to characterize the gut microbiome. Participants completed a battery of cognitive tests and self-report questionnaires measuring mood and gastrointestinal symptoms. Results: HDGECs had altered gut microbiome diversity when compared to HCs, indicating gut dysbiosis. Probiotic intervention did not ameliorate gut dysbiosis or have any effect on cognition, mood, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Gut microbiome differences between HDGECs and HCs were unchanged across time points, suggesting consistency of gut microbiome differences within groups. Conclusion: Despite the lack of probiotic effects in this trial, the potential utility of the gut as a therapeutic target in HD should continue to be explored given the clinical symptomology, gut dysbiosis, and positive results from probiotics and other gut interventions in similar neurodegenerative diseases.
Efficacy and Safety of Viltolarsen in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Results From the Phase 2, Open-Label, 4-Year Extension Study
Authors: Clemens Paula R. ,   the CINRG DNHS Investigators, Rao Vamshi K. , Connolly Anne M. , Harper Amy D. , Mah Jean K. , McDonald Craig M. , Smith Edward C. , Zaidman Craig M. , Nakagawa Tomoyuki , Hoffman Eric P.
Published: March 2023

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by DMD gene mutations, resulting in absence of functional dystrophin protein. Viltolarsen, an exon 53 skipping therapy, significantly increased dystrophin levels in patients with DMD. Presented here are completed study results of > 4 years of functional outcomes in viltolarsen-treated patients compared to a historical control group (Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Duchenne Natural History Study [CINRG DNHS]). Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of viltolarsen for an additional 192 weeks in boys with DMD. Methods: This phase 2, open-label, 192-week long-term extension (LTE) study (NCT03167255) evaluated the efficacy and safety of viltolarsen in participants aged 4 to < 10 years at baseline with DMD amenable to exon 53 skipping. All 16 participants from the initial 24-week study enrolled into this LTE. Timed function tests were compared to the CINRG DNHS group. All participants received glucocorticoid treatment. The primary efficacy outcome was time to stand from supine (TTSTAND). Secondary efficacy outcomes included additional timed function tests. Safety was continuously assessed. Results: For the primary efficacy outcome (TTSTAND), viltolarsen-treated patients showed stabilization of motor function over the first two years and significant slowing of disease progression over the following two years compared with the CINRG DNHS control group which declined. Viltolarsen was well tolerated, with most reported treatment-emergent adverse events being mild or moderate. No participants discontinued drug during the study. Conclusions: Based on the results of this 4-year LTE, viltolarsen can be an important treatment strategy for DMD patients amenable to exon 53 skipping.
Social responsibility, disciplinary moral identity, and not-so-value-free biomedical research(ers)
Authors: Politi Vincenzo
Published: March 2023

For the expanded concept of social responsibility promoted by several science policies, scientists ought to steer their research towards socially desirable ends and to consider not only the quantifiable harmful consequences of their work, but also the transformative impacts that innovation may have on society. Some science policy frameworks seek to implement a sense of social responsibility in science and technology through a series of interventions at the ‘midstream stages’ of research that aim at encouraging the cultivation of critical and moral reflection among researchers. Such interventions include interdisciplinary collaborations between STEM and Medical, on the one hand, and scholars from the Humanities and the Social Sciences, on the other; as well as the requirement of engaging with the public and other stakeholders, in order to acknowledge and integrate the stances of different societal actors. The philosophical backbone of these science policies is the rejection of the so-called Value-Free Ideal, which states that non-epistemic values must play no role in the internal stages of research and in the justification of scientific claims. While there are fields in which researchers may regard themselves as detached from social or ethical concerns, in fields that are highly value-laden and whose main objectives are already socially beneficial, such as in biomedical research, these policies may lead to problematic consequences. In particular, the proposed interventions may reinforce biomedical researchers’ disciplinary moral identity and self-perception of moral excellence. Such a reinforcement could hinder interdisciplinarity and public engagement, that is the very measures designed to make research socially responsible. Further investigation into the disciplinary moral identity of scientists in general, and biomedical researchers in particular, must be encouraged for the improvement of responsible research in biomedicine.
Clinical psychology and the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods survey among members of the European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT)
Authors: Asbrand Julia , Gerdes Samantha , Breedvelt Josefien , Guidi Jenny , Hirsch Colette , Maercker Andreas , Douilliez Céline , Andersson Gerhard , Debbané Martin , Cieslak Roman , Rief Winfried , Bockting Claudi
Published: March 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people globally both physically and psychologically. The increased demands for mental health interventions provided by clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and mental health care professionals, as well as the rapid change in work setting (e.g., from face-to-face to video therapy) has proven challenging. The current study investigates European clinical psychologists and psychotherapists’ views on the changes and impact on mental health care that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It further aims to explore individual and organizational processes that assist clinical psychologists’ and psychotherapists’ in their new working conditions, and understand their needs and priorities.

Method

Members of the European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT) were invited (N = 698) to participate in a survey with closed and open questions covering their experiences during the first wave of the pandemic from June to September 2020. Participants (n = 92) from 19 European countries, mostly employed in universities or hospitals, completed the online survey.

Results

Results of qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that clinical psychologists and psychotherapists throughout the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic managed to continue to provide treatments for patients who were experiencing emotional distress. The challenges (e.g., maintaining a working relationship through video treatment) and opportunities (e.g., more flexible working hours) of working through this time were identified.

Conclusions

Recommendations for mental health policies and professional organizations are identified, such as clear guidelines regarding data security and workshops on conducting video therapy.
Earnings Management amid the COVID-19 Financial Crisis: The Experience of Poland
Authors: Lizińska Joanna , Czapiewski Leszek
Published: March 2023

Niniejsze badanie dotyczy oceny konsekwencji zawirowań na rynku wywołanych pandemią COVID-19 dla informacyjności sprawozdawczości finansowej. Jakość zysków została oszacowana za pomocą modeli przekrojowych, umożliwiających ocenę dyskrecjonalnych korekt memoriałowych, dyskrecjonalnych operacyjnych przepływów pieniężnych, dyskrecjonalnych kosztów uznaniowych i dyskrecjonalnych kosztów produkcji. Na podstawie danych dotyczących niefinansowych spółek publicznych w Polsce wykazano ewolucję zarządzania zyskiem typu memoriałowego oraz poprzez rzeczywiste transakcje w czasie kryzysu finansowego, co istotnie poszerza dotychczasowy stan wiedzy w tej dziedzinie. W szczególności w czasie kryzysu istotny był spadek korekt memoriałowych. Można to interpretować jako osłabienie skłonności do zawyżania zysków poprzez ingerencję w proces raportowania finansowego. Spółki wydawały się również bardziej skłonne do przyjęcia strategii big bath, aby zwiększyć swoje możliwości zawyżania dochodów w przyszłości. Ponadto badania potwierdziły, że na znaczeniu zyskało zarządzanie zyskami poprzez oddziaływanie na transakcje. Sugeruje to, że w czasie kryzysu COVID-19 firmy kształtowały swoje strategie, opierając się w większym stopniu na prawdopodobieństwie wykrycia niż na kosztach takich działań. Badanie stanowi głos w dyskusji nad jakością zysków jako kluczowego elementu raportowania i nad jej znaczeniem w finansach przedsiębiorstw, które to elementy dla interesariuszy firmy są nie do przecenienia.
Improving a technique to calculate strength of cylindrical rock samples in terms of uniaxial compression
Authors: Vasyliev Leonid , Malich Mykola , Vasyliev Dmytro , Katan Volodymyr , Rizo Zahar
Published: March 2023

Purpose is to improve analytical technique to calculate strength of cylindrical rock samples taking into consideration standard horizontal stresses. Methods. Mathematical modeling of cylindrical rock sample breakage under the truncated-wedge destruction was performed taking into consideration the standard horizontal stresses using four experimental characteristics (i.e. k being shear strength; fс and μ being contact and internal friction coefficients; and Е being elasticity modulus) as well as comparing the design strength with experimental data obtained in the process of uniaxial compression. Findings. The technique makes it possible to identify both maximum strength and residual strength of cylindrical rock samples using four indicators of properties which can be simply defined by experiment. Comparison of the analytical strength limits and experimental data, obtained in terms of uniaxial compression, supports the idea of high efficiency of the proposed technique. Originality. For the first time, analytical modeling of cylindrical rock sample breakage has been performed in terms of the truncated-wedge destruction taking into consideration the standard horizontal stresses as well as contact and internal friction parameters. Practical implications. The technique advantage is to apply promptly the calculation results in the context of industrial enterprises since their environment helps apply simple procedures to define indices of physiсomechanical characteristics of rocks for determination of stability of underground structures and reduction of energy consumption while disintegrating in open pits and mining and processing complexes.
The Oumjrane-Boukerzia Mining District (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco): Constraints of its geological and tectono-magmatic setting
Authors: Kharis Abdel-Ali , Ilmen Said , Aissa Mohamed , Baidder Lahssen , Moussaid Azizi , Mezougane Hafid , Baidada Bouchra , Ouad Nouamane El , Atif Youssef , Houane Hicham , Maacha Lhou
Published: March 2023

Purpose. The purpose of the present research is to provide a new lithological, structural and magmatic features of the Oumjrane-Boukerzia Mining District. The results obtained are used to guide exploration works for identifying the new Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn depositions and Ba-bearing mineralization within the whole Oumjrane-Boukerzia domain. Methods. This research is based on detailed mapping, structural surveys and geochemical studies performed on the magmatic rocks in the studied area. Findings. Structural and microstructural analyses of the studied area have revealed three complex polyphase tectonic events related to the Variscan orogeny: (i) an extensive phase during the Devonian period; (ii) a NW-SE compressional phase of Namuro-Westphalian age; (iii) a NE-SW compressional phase of Stephanian-Autunian age, and (iv) an extensive late phase probably related to the opening of the Central Atlantic ocean during the Late Trias-Jurassic periods. The sedimentary rocks of the district are locally intruded by small undated gabbroic intrusions. Geochemically, these gabbroic bodies are described as olivine-rich gabbros with a continental tholeiitic affinity and suggested to be related to the Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP) during the Pangea break-up. Originality. The present study describes the host-rocks and structural events responsible for Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb deposition and Ba-bearing mineralization in the Oumjrane-Boukerzia Mining District (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco). Practical implications. The geological studies, especially lithostratigraphic, tectonic and magmatism are essential in the mineral exploration. They help exploration geologists identify and define metallotects to discover new minerals.
Considerations about Genomic and Proteomic of (SARS-CoV)-2 and Concern Variants
Authors: Syame Soheir M. , Hakim Ashraf S.
Published: March 2023

A novel coronavirus that related to previous SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviruses, has been emerged in the end of 2019 in China and rapidly human to human transmitted causing what is termed pandemic COVID-19 illness. The causative agent was termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, and suggested to be of bat corona virus’s origin. Later on, other virus variants were emerged and become as great concern. The investigated genomic and proteomic structures of the novel virus were rather mentioned in this article.