bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A spatial autocorrelation for modelling the spread of coronavirus infections
Authors: Naumov Ilya , Krasnykh Sergey , Otmakhova Yuliya
Published: May 2021

Spatial autocorrelation methods are used to study spatial disproportions in the socio-economic development of territories. The most common research methods are the analysis of Moran local indices, Moran global index, Getis-Ord hot spots. In this study, we used spatial autocorrelation methods to estimate COVID-19 distribution patterns. As a result of the study, we identified the formed growth poles, the epicenters of the spread of infection (St. Petersburg, Sverdlovsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions) and only emerging ones. The practical application of this methodological approach allowed us to predict further spatial directions of the spread of coronavirus infection (Vladimir, Kaluga, Smolensk, Tula, Tver, Yaroslavl, Ryazan and Leningrad regions).
Contradictions between corporate and state sectoral management in russian regions’ oil industry: digital solutions
Authors: Rodnyansky Dmitry , Bykau Aliaksei , Manasyan Sergey , Basharimov Yuri , Evsin Maxim
Published: May 2021

Currently, the key and budget-forming sector of the Russian economy is still the oil industry, which includes the production, processing, transportation and sale of oil and oil products. The share of the oil industry in the country’s GDP amounted to above 40%, and, taking into account the petrochemical and manufacturing industries, exceeds 50%. In this aspect, an important task is to study the institutional environment of the operation of enterprises and organizations of the oil industry, as well as the mechanisms and tools of state sectoral management, because not only the activities of individual companies, corporations and enterprises, but also the level of socio-economic development of the country as a whole. The main forms of state participation in the regulation of such industries remain direct ownership of shares, including a controlling stake or “golden share”, delegation of government representatives to corporate boards of directors, as well as the creation of various forms of organizations with state participation. At the same time, there are a number of contradictions between the state, economic entities of the oil industry and public and expert organizations, which are expressed in different interpretations of short-term and long-term goals, the presence of not always coordinated concepts and strategies for the development of individual industries and areas, inconsistency of a number of state programs, projects, etc. These contradictions lead to a decrease in the efficiency of the system of state regulation of strategic sectors of the economy, which is expressed in a significant lag in labor productivity.
Information space of the land reclamation industry in the digital economy of the agroindustrial complex of the Russian Federation
Authors: Ugryumova Alexandra , Zamakhovsky Mikhail , Grishaeva Olesya , Pautova Lyudmila
Published: May 2021

The article considers the current state and peculiarities of the information space of the land reclamation sector of the agroindustrial complex of the Russian Federation. The normative-legal bases of formation and development of the land reclamation industry digitalization are determined. Based on the study results, the authors have developed the structure and mechanism of transformation of the information space of land reclamation in the Russian Federation. In the process of scientific and practical analysis, the formation functions of the information space system of the land reclamation sector in the Russian Federation are classified, and the basic principles of functioning of the digital economy of the land reclamation sector of the agro-industrial complex in the Russian Federation are outlined. Based on the system analysis of modern information space of land reclamation sector, the most acute problems of the process of land reclamation digitalization in the Russian Federation are identified, and the directions of its improvement are proposed.
The formation of state capitalism models in the oil industry: Russia and the world
Authors: Rodnyansky Dmitry , Makarov Ivan , Mitrofanova Olga , Sukhina Yuliya , Kisova Anna
Published: May 2021

In modern conditions, issues related to the effectiveness of the regulation of the oil industry by the state are becoming increasingly important. In January 2018, the World Economic Forum was held in Davos, at which, in particular, the impact of the growth of protectionist trends in the global trade in hydrocarbons and the impact of climate change on the planet on the export of hydrocarbons was noted. As a result of the forum, the key ways of adjusting the policy of states in the relevant area were identified. At the same time, a significant number of states are already seeing the process of changing state regulation of the industry. Given the current crisis situation associated with the coronavirus pandemic, an increasing number of private enterprises are coming under state control, which gives rise to new discussions about the renaissance of the so-called state capitalism.. In this article, the authors examined country specific features, as well as various concepts of the formation and development of state capitalism in the oil industry.
Movement of the components of Russian financial capital
Authors: Smirnov Valery , Osipov Denis , Lyubovtseva Elena , Kuznetsova Elvira , Savinova Ludmila
Published: May 2021

In the article there is revealed movement of financial capital components as a substance – the unity of diversity and the diversity of unity. Analysis of USD / RUB, RGBI, RTSI, SBER, IMOEX dynamics revealed speculative behavior of financial capital owners (IMOEX, USD / RUB, SBER) in relation to internal (RGBI) and external (RTSI) market. Analysis of importance of growth rates of GDP and its components revealed the state priority of GDP deflator regulation (Central Bank – inflation targeting) in the context of state revenues growth and, as a structural consequence, reduction of importance of growth rates of GDP and expenditures of households consumption against the background of increase of importance of commodities and services import. At the same time the quite high values of importance of growth rates of export of Russian commodities and services are identical to ones of such countries as Australia, Estonia and Columbia. Analysis of capital growth rates revealed fixation of interrelations between the Central Bank and financial corporations in the context of regulation of money supply and currency outside financial corporations and internal claims. These relations strengthen due to focusing of monetary and credit policy at “clear requirements to central government” and at inflation targeting. Research of the Russian financial capital components movement demonstrated corporate strengthening of interrelations between the Central Bank and the financial corporations and also defined the options for regulation of speculative behavior of financial capital owners.
Building a digital economy (the case of BRICS)
Authors: Gusarova Svetlana , Gusarov Igor , Smeretchinskii Margarita
Published: May 2021

The main direction of our research on building a digital economy includes the introduction of blockchain and cryptocurrency in the BRICS countries; advantages, obstacles, and prospects of the digital economy; the impact of robotization on the economic development of countries. The digital transformation of the economy of the BRICS group can be facilitated by the use of blockchain technology. The study identified the main advantages, threats and directions for the creation and use of a new cryptocurrency (BRICScoin) and blockchain technology by the BRICS countries. The digital economy is on the agenda around the world today, it is a new paradigm for the development of countries’ cooperation, and can become a driver of their economic growth. On the basis of the analysis, the advantages, obstacles and recommendations for the development of digital transformation in the BRICS countries were identified. Research in the development of robotics has revealed the benefits and challenges of this process. The use of a mathematical model made it possible to conclude that the growth of an existing fleet of industrial robots in the country affects the growth of its economy. The further development of robotics in the country will help increase its economic potential, product quality and export of innovative high-tech products.
E-commerce as a tool for the development of small business
Authors: Demiroglu Niiara
Published: May 2021

E-commerce has gained particular importance for the development of small businesses in the past year due to the restrictions imposed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. The article provides a review of scientific literature in order to generalize the methodology for defining the concept of “electronic commerce”. The main trends in the field of e-commerce in small business are characterized. The data on the development of the e-commerce market are analyzed and the following is emphasized: in the number of purchases from mobile devices has increased; creation and widespread use of social media pages is a key factor in the development of e-commerce by entrepreneurs. The advantages and disadvantages of using electronic commerce by small businesses are systematized. Conclusions are made about the growth in the volume of transactions using Internet technologies, and about the increase in digitalization of small businesses.
Development of the innovative economy based on the transformation of the knowledge-intensive enterprises
Authors: Kurina Tatyana
Published: May 2021

In modern conditions of economic transformation, the task of innovative development of the economy of the Russian Federation is the use of advanced technologies in the development of high-tech industries. Russia’s entry into the top five world economies will be facilitated by its breakthrough into new areas of knowledge and technology, accelerating the processes of the country’s integration into the world economy. In the search for a solution to this problem, it is necessary to consider the latest trends in the development of the world economy, which are manifested in the context of globalization and the transformation of knowledge into a leading factor in economic growth. These trends include the formation and development of an innovative economy of a new type based on the transformation of the knowledge-intensive sector. As part of ensuring this ambitious goal, it is required to build a new innovative infrastructure that can integrate the interests of science, education, government and business, create high-tech industries and integrate into the knowledge-intensive sector, which, in turn, will ensure the accelerated innovative development of the economic system. A knowledge-based economy is a qualitatively new economic system in which production processes, organizational forms of enterprises and economic ties between them, the economic mechanism and property relations are largely transformed under the influence of technological factors. One of the strategic directions of Russia’s economic development is modern science, innovative education and a complex of high-tech industries. This study is based on the fact that in Russia there is a change in the nature of technological and innovative development, considering competitive advantages. In this regard, the most important task of the modern period of the formation of an innovative economy of a new type is the need to search for new drivers to realize the possibility of the country’s entry into the top five developed countries of the world by 2024. The relevance of this study is due to new approaches to innovative development in the context of the transformation of the knowledge-intensive sector, which is formed in partnership between the state and business.
The assessment of economic security for the “Yenisei Siberia” regions in digitalization
Authors: Nazarova Yulia , Tanenkova Ekaterina
Published: May 2021

The study suggested integral method of economic security estimation and assessment of the “Yenisei Siberia” regions considering standardization of indicators depends on their threshold values and expert assessment of the significance of groups of indicators. This method allows to estimate the level of regional security from the industrial, scientific, technological, and digital perspectives. The results of the study shows that economic security of the “Yenisei Siberia” regions has different levels depends on the region: Krasnoyarsk region has normal level during the entire period of the study; by the contrast, the negative trend from the “normal” to the “low” levels is presented in Khakassia and Tuva republics. To maintain and increase the levels of economic security in the regions it is required detailed development of each sphere of economic security.
Digital transformation and its challenges to the strategic management system
Authors: Maksimenko Irina , Vashko Tatiana , Zdrestova-Zakharenkova Svetlana
Published: May 2021

Digital technologies and their tools are fundamentally changing not only the technological order, but also the economic system. Recently, researchers and the business community attention has been focused on digital companies born in the era of the modern Internet and offering value propositions based on digital technologies and their cross-border properties. But how multifaceted and heterogeneous the nature of the technologies is, so complex and multidimensional is the process of their implementation, which transforms not only the company’s IT environment, but also the whole strategic management system. In the process of this transformation, companies face a range of challenges that can lead to devastating consequences. Understanding the sources and nature of these challenges allows to find ways to overcome them and transform them into competitive advantages. The structure of the article includes two blocks. The first block summarizes evolutionary ideas about transformation through its main constructs, parameters, and stages. The second block shows the study and systematization of the challenges that lead the waves of digital transformation in the context of their impact on the parameters of the strategic management system.
Management accounting in the context of digitalization
Authors: Platov Alexey , Kalemulloev Munir , Zikirova Shakhlo
Published: May 2021

This article examines aspects of digitalization as a way to optimize management accounting and control the movement of inventory of enterprises. Revealed the advantages that digitalization provides for management accounting at the enterprise. The stages of the process of digitalization of management accounting of an enterprise are described. Within the framework of the process approach, an algorithm for forming a digital model of an effective management accounting process is constructed. On the basis of the proposed algorithm, a digital model of the process of management accounting and control of the movement of inventories has been developed. The model assumes monitoring of management and supporting processes, and also contains a mechanism for continuous monitoring of compliance with the goals of the enterprise and the absence of bottlenecks. The increase in the efficiency of management accounting and control of the movement of stocks and management of the enterprise as a whole, provided by digitalization and the use of a process approach, is emphasized.
Cryptocurrency fraud schemes analysis
Authors: Astrakhantseva Irina , Astrakhantsev Roman , Los Alexey
Published: May 2021

The article focuses on the relevance of establishing legal norms for virtual currency, which is currently working in the gray zone. The article substantiates why cryptocurrency was referred to other property in the framework of civil law. The author suggests a definition of cryptocurrency to introduce it into legislation. Attributes of cryptocurrency theft are considered. The most attention is given to fraud, in particular different types of cryptocurrency phishing, and possible ways of criminal prosecution for cryptocurrency theft.
Digital rights as a consequence of the digital transformation of law
Authors: Borisova-Zharova Viktoria
Published: May 2021

The article focuses on digital law and its analysis, as well as discloses its properties, features of the origin and growth of digital financial assets. Herewith, the author draws attention to the following. He believes that the fundamental legislative component today is the introduction of digital rights, presented in the form of a new object of civil law. In the author’s work, attention is paid to various theoretical legal and civil law nuances of the innovation under consideration. Moreover, the author comes to the conclusion that digital rights are a different way of realizing current rights, which open up new boundaries for individuals and legal entities. However, they require more detailed legislative regulation.
Legal basis for the use of digital technologies for monitoring remote workers in the digital economy
Authors: Lada Alexey
Published: May 2021

The article discusses the legal basis for the use of digital technologies in labor relations. Digital technologies can be used both in the performance of work, for example, the work of remote workers, and in the control of employees. When monitoring employees, including remote workers, the use of digital technologies and public information and telecommunications networks by the employer comes first. Moreover, the use of digital technologies by the employer when monitoring remote workers is the only means of control. The author examines the legal regulation of the implementation of such means of control over employees as video surveillance, an automated system for monitoring and recording working hours, monitoring sites that an employee visited from his office computer during working hours, checking correspondence in corporate e-mail, listening to telephone conversations, using billing programs, and provides examples from court practice. The author identifies the defects of legal regulation in these areas and suggests ways to improve the legislation.
Analysis of acquired management competencies in education process
Authors: Sherstneva Alina
Published: May 2021

On the basis of practical experience, the author considers the existing system of learning future specialists in the management-related area for higher education level. The same acquired knowledge can be included in different competencies, but at the same time it changes significantly. Therefore, competence transforms the existing knowledge to adapt them to a given subject and to make it inseparably linked with professional actions. Combination of skills, knowledge and attitude and their interconnection form the internal structure of competence. The article considers a particular analysis of the new tasks facing the manager to model the competence that the manager lacks and to offer a special training program. The article is focused on professional competence development. The competence of a modern Russian manager presupposes the development and implementation a complex of modern professional knowledge and practical skills, their application, and the acquisition of effective social management skills and human studies technologies.
Development of artistic abilities of preschool and primary school age children in the digital educational environment of additional education
Authors: Emanova Svetlana , Ryleeva Anastasia , Khomutnikova Elena , Komarova Natalia , Usynina Natalia
Published: May 2021

With the help of the technology of operational diagnostics of artistic abilities, the potential inclinations of artistic and creative activity in children of preschool and primary school age were identified and the range of identified interests in additional education programs was realized. Two groups of respondents of different ages were examined: 6-7 years old in the amount of 45 persons, 9-11 years old in the amount of 85 persons. In the course of the study, it was concluded that the technology of operative diagnostics of artistic abilities is effective at any of these ages. There is a correlation between the motivational and operational readiness of the individual and the success of artistic and creative activity. We have selected the most effective forms of virtual education for the successful development of children’s artistic abilities.
Digital technology in the humanities and public life in the context of justice
Authors: Ismailov Nurmagomed , Barkova Eleonora , Buzskaya Olga
Published: May 2021

The article explores some methodological issues and the role of digital technologies in the humanities, education system, and public life. The relevance of the research topic is confirmed by the rapid development of digital resources and technologies in public life, including humanities and education. The positive role of digital technologies for the development of humanities and education is emphasized; they are characterized by interdisciplinarity and open up new possibilities for research. It is argued that the process of digitalization is a reflection of the new historical realities of social life, including science and education, a reflection of the new needs of society in the research environment. And materialistic understanding of the phenomena of social life as the most important method of research, comprehension, and evaluation of social processes is used as the main method of research. It is argued that digital technologies in the humanities and education have serious negative consequences. This manifests itself in a potential decrease in intellectual activity, analytical abilities, and physical development of a person. Digital technologies are capable of taking a person into another reality, disrupting the process of traditional socialization, live communication. Such processes have a negative impact on his personal development, which contradicts the criterion of justice and social progress, which are expressed in the comprehensive development of the individual. It is argued that even the most advanced digital technology cannot replace the moral and psychological moments of live teacher-student communication.
Marshal louis Nicolas devout in the historiography of the battle of Borodino
Authors: Rubini Francesco
Published: May 2021

This article is dedicated to the study and analysis of the historiography about the participation of Marshal Davout during the Battle of Borodino of 1812. The article analyzes a number of sources of both personal and non-personal nature and the effect of the event on art. In the work are offered by the author professional translations of several extracts of historiography which have never been translated from Russian, and which are therefore still mostly unknown to the international scientific community. In addition, the article provides some statistical data on the opinion of contemporaries on the results of the Patriotic War of 1812.
CT and pathological features in renal parenchymal malakoplakia: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Yang Yuanfen
Published: May 2021

Renal malakoplakia is a rare form of chronic inflammatory granulomatous disease in the kidney. It occurs in adult patients with immunocompromised status or debilitating disease. In the present study, we reported a case of a 50-year-old woman with no underlying disease. This report describes the CT and pathological features of renal malakoplakia in a 50-year-old woman. Plain CT scan showed a large soft tissue mass at the middle and upper pole of the left kidney. Enhanced CT scan showed delayed enhancement in the solid part of the mass. Our results might provide some useful information for the diagnosis of renal parenchymal malakoplakia.
Prädiktive Diagnostik der Alzheimer-Demenz
Authors: Rostamzadeh Ayda , Jessen Frank
Published: May 2021

Mit modernen Früherkennungsuntersuchungen lässt sich die Alzheimer-Krankheit (Alzheimer’s Disease, AD) lange vor Symptombeginn der Alzheimer-Demenz nachweisen. Patienten fragen immer häufiger nach entsprechenden diagnostischen Verfahren. Der Einsatz von Biomarkern für die Früherkennung der AD ist somit zunehmend klinisch bedeutsam. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die derzeitigen prädiktiven Verfahren der Alzheimer-Demenz.
Die Effekte eines Trainings der tiefen Rumpfmuskulatur auf neuromuskuläre und biomechanische Risikofaktoren bei Verletzungen des vorderen Kreuzbandes
Authors: Möller Dirk
Published: May 2021

Jeong J, Choi DH, Shin CS. Core Strength Training Can Alter Neuromuscular and Biomechanical Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. Am J Sports Med 2021; 49: 183–192. doi:10.1177/0363546520972990
Starkes Becken – Effektive Übungen für zu Hause
Authors: Tacke Linda , Stüwe Marion
Published: May 2021

100 Übungen auf kompakten Karten zusammengefasst finden sich in der Neuauflage von „Rückbildungsgymnastik – Die Übungskarten“. Zwölf beliebte Übungen daraus haben wir für Sie zusammengestellt.
Concerns about Data Integrity of 22 Randomized Controlled Trials in Women's Health
Authors: Liu Yizhen , Thornton Jim G. , Li Wentao , van Wely Madelon , Mol Ben W.
Published: May 2021

Objective During a review on postpartum hemorrhage, we identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of one author conducted at the same time and place for the same condition, with large differences in baseline characteristics. We assessed the data integrity of the RCTs of this author.

Study Design We undertook a focused analysis of the data integrity of all RCTs published by Dr. Ahmed M. Maged. We examined the studies for clinical logic and made pairwise comparisons of baseline characteristics and outcomes between trials. We used mathematical methods to assess whether the distribution of baseline characteristics was compatible with chance.

Results Between March 2015 and December 2019, Dr. Maged published 22 RCTs (n = 3,722). The median number of participants randomized per center per month was 32 (range = 1–89). Fifteen studies were either not or retrospectively registered, with one study registered 1 year after publication. One study was submitted for publication prior to the completion of the described study period. There were many unusual findings in the studies, including biologically implausible occurrences such as the absence of an association between gestational age and birthweight in seven studies and very different body mass index between three trials, which ran at the same time in the same hospital on the same topic as well as unlikely occurrences such as limited participant drop outs. One paper contained considerable text duplication and identical data to that in a paper published by a different author group from a different hospital, with both papers submitted at the same time. Mathematical analysis of the baseline characteristics of all 22 trials indicated that at least some of the reported baseline characteristics were unlikely to be the result of proper randomization.

Conclusion Our analyses of the 22 RCTs of Dr. Maged suggest potential data integrity issues in at least some of them. We suggest that journals investigate according to the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines. The procedures demonstrated in this paper may help to assess data integrity in future attempts to verify the authenticity of published RCTs.

Key Points
Effect of vimentin on cell migration in collagen-coated microchannels: A mimetic physiological confined environment
Authors: Zhou Zhiru , Cui Feiyun , Wen Qi , Susan Zhou H.
Published: May 2021

Cancer cell migration through tissue pores and tracks into the bloodstream is a critical biological step for cancer metastasis. Although in vivo studies have shown that expression of vimentin can induce invasive cell lines, its role in cell cytoskeleton reorganization and cell motility under in vitro physical confinement remains unknown. Here, a microfluidic device with cell culture chamber and collagen-coated microchannels was developed as an in vitro model for physiological confinement environments. Using this microchannel assay, we demonstrated that the knockdown of vimentin decreases 3T3 fibroblast cell directional migration speed in confined microchannels. Additionally, as cells form dynamic membranes that define the leading edge of motile cells, different leading edge morphologies of 3T3 fibroblast and 3T3 vimentin knockdown cells were observed. The leading edge morphology change under confinement can be explained by the effect of vimentin on cytoskeletal organization and focal adhesion. The microfluidic device integrated with a time-lapse microscope provided a new approach to study the effect of vimentin on cell adhesion, migration, and invasiveness.
Mapping smouldering fire potential in boreal peatlands and assessing interactions with the wildland–human interface in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Wilkinson S. L. , Furukawa A. K. , Wotton B. M. , Waddington J. M.
Published: May 2021

Treed peatlands exhibit both crown and smouldering fire potential; however, neither are included in Canadian wildfire management models and, as such, they are not formally represented in management decision-making. The lack of smouldering fire risk assessment is a critical research gap as these fires can represent heavy resource draws and are predominant sources of smoke, air pollutants and atmospheric carbon. Here, for the first time, we combine existing knowledge of the controls on smouldering peat fire with expert opinion-based weightings through a multi-criteria decision analysis, to map the smouldering fire potential (i.e. hazard) of treed peatlands in the Boreal Plains, Alberta, Canada. We find that smouldering potential varies considerably between treed peatlands and that areas of sparser peatland coverage may contain high smouldering-potential peatlands. Further, we find that treed peatlands are a common feature in the wildland–human interface and that proportionally, the area of high smouldering potential is greater closer to roads compared with farther away. Our approach enables a quantitative measure of smouldering fire potential and evidences the need to incorporate peatland–wildfire interactions into wildfire management operations. We suggest that similar frameworks could be used in other peatland dominated regions as part of smouldering fire risk assessments.
Gender roles produce divergent economic expectations
Authors: D’Acunto Francesco , Malmendier Ulrike , Weber Michael
Published: May 2021

Significance

Women and men expect systematically different levels of future inflation. This gender expectations gap can be detrimental for women’s economic choices and long-term wealth, because it might reduce the effectiveness of economic policies, induce stress, and affect women’s well being. Using data for a representative US population, we document that traditional gender roles, rather than innate characteristics, shape the gender expectations gap. By doing most of the grocery shopping for their households, women observe different price signals than men. Because grocery prices are volatile and positive price changes are especially memorable, women end up expecting systematically higher inflation than men. The gender expectations gap disappears if grocery chores are distributed equally within households.
Old vaccines for new infections: Exploiting innate immunity to control COVID-19 and prevent future pandemics
Authors: Chumakov Konstantin , Avidan Michael S. , Benn Christine S. , Bertozzi Stefano M. , Blatt Lawrence , Chang Angela Y. , Jamison Dean T. , Khader Shabaana A. , Kottilil Shyam , Netea Mihai G. , Sparrow Annie , Gallo Robert C.
Published: May 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unparalleled pursuit of vaccines to induce specific adaptive immunity, based on virus-neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses. Although several vaccines have been developed just a year after SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019, global deployment will take months or even years. Meanwhile, the virus continues to take a severe toll on human life and exact substantial economic costs. Innate immunity is fundamental to mammalian host defense capacity to combat infections. Innate immune responses, triggered by a family of pattern recognition receptors, induce interferons and other cytokines and activate both myeloid and lymphoid immune cells to provide protection against a wide range of pathogens. Epidemiological and biological evidence suggests that the live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) targeting tuberculosis, measles, and polio induce protective innate immunity by a newly described form of immunological memory termed “trained immunity.” An LAV designed to induce adaptive immunity targeting a particular pathogen may also induce innate immunity that mitigates other infectious diseases, including COVID-19, as well as future pandemic threats. Deployment of existing LAVs early in pandemics could complement the development of specific vaccines, bridging the protection gap until specific vaccines arrive. The broad protection induced by LAVs would not be compromised by potential antigenic drift (immune escape) that can render viruses resistant to specific vaccines. LAVs might offer an essential tool to “bend the pandemic curve,” averting the exhaustion of public health resources and preventing needless deaths and may also have therapeutic benefits if used for postexposure prophylaxis of disease.
No Time for Time from No-Time
Authors: Chua Eugene Y. S. , Callender Craig
Published: May 2021

Programs in quantum gravity often claim that time emerges from fundamentally timeless physics. In the semiclassical time program, time arises only after approximations are taken. Here we ask what justifies taking these approximations and show that time seems to sneak in when answering this question. This raises the worry that the approach is either unjustified or circular in deriving time from no-time.
Edmond Goblot’s (1858–1935) Selected Effects Theory of Function: A Reappraisal
Authors: Garson Justin
Published: May 2021

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the French philosopher of science Edmond Goblot wrote three prescient papers on function and teleology. He advanced the remarkable thesis that functions are, as a matter of conceptual analysis, selected effects. He also argued that “selection” must be understood broadly to include both evolutionary natural selection and intelligent design. Here, I do three things. First, I give an overview of Goblot’s thought. Second, I identify his core thesis about function. Third, I argue that, despite its ingenuity, Goblot’s expansive construal of function cannot be right. Still, Goblot deserves long-overdue credit for his work.
Can Machines Learn How Clouds Work? The Epistemic Implications of Machine Learning Methods in Climate Science
Authors: Kawamleh Suzanne
Published: May 2021

Scientists and decision makers rely on climate models for predictions concerning future climate change. Traditionally, physical processes that are key to predicting extreme events are either directly represented (resolved) or indirectly represented (parameterized). Scientists are now replacing physically based parameterizations with neural networks that do not represent physical processes directly or indirectly. I analyze the epistemic implications of this method and argue that it undermines the reliability of model predictions. I attribute the widespread failure in neural network generalizability to the lack of process representation. The representation of climate processes adds significant and irreducible value to the reliability of climate model predictions.
The Diversity-Ability Trade-Off in Scientific Problem Solving
Authors: Reijula Samuli , Kuorikoski Jaakko
Published: May 2021

According to the diversity-beats-ability theorem, groups of diverse problem solvers can outperform groups of high-ability problem solvers. We argue that the model introduced by Lu Hong and Scott Page is inadequate for exploring the trade-off between diversity and ability. This is because the model employs an impoverished implementation of the problem-solving task. We present a new version of the model that captures the role of ‘ability’ in a meaningful way, and we use it to explore the trade-offs between diversity and ability in scientific problem solving.
Dutch Books and Logical Form
Authors: Pust Joel
Published: May 2021

Dutch Book Arguments (DBAs) have been invoked to support various alleged requirements of rationality. Some alleged requirements, such as probabilistic coherence and conditionalization, are plausible. Others, such as credal transparency and reflection, may be less so. Anna Mahtani has argued for a new understanding of DBAs that, she claims, allows us to keep the DBAs for the plausible requirements while rejecting those for the implausible ones. I argue that Mahtani’s new account fails, as (a) it does not support highly plausible requirements of rational coherence and (b) it does not succeed in undermining the DBAs for credal transparency or reflection.
The Ecological Dimension of Natural Selection
Authors: Aaby Bendik Hellem
Published: May 2021

In this article I argue that we should pay extra attention to the ecological dimension of natural selection. By this I mean that we should view natural selection primarily as acting on the outcomes of the interactions organisms have with their environment, which influences their relative reproductive output. A consequence of this view is that natural selection is not (directly) sensitive to what system of inheritance ensures reoccurrences of organism-environment interactions over generations. I end by showing the consequences of this view when looking at how processes like niche construction and the Baldwin effect relate to natural selection.
Toward Mechanism 2.1: A Dynamic Causal Approach
Authors: Fang Wei
Published: May 2021

I propose a dynamic causal approach to characterizing the notion of a mechanism. Levy and Bechtel, among others, have pointed out several critical limitations of the new mechanical philosophy and pointed in a new direction to extend this philosophy. Nevertheless, they have not fully fleshed out what that extended philosophy would look like. Given a closer look at neuroscientific practice, I propose that a mechanism is a dynamic causal system that involves various components interacting, typically nonlinearly, with one another to produce a phenomenon of interest.
Creativity in the Social Epistemology of Science
Authors: Schneider Mike D.
Published: May 2021

Adrian Currie has introduced a novel account of creativity within the social epistemology of science. The account is intended to capture how conservatism can be detrimental to the health of inquiry within certain scientific communities, given the aims of research there. I argue that recent remarks by Carlo Rovelli put pressure on the applicability of the account. Altogether, it seems we do not yet well understand the relationship between creativity, conservatism, and the health of inquiry in science.
Two-color coherent control in photoemission from gold needle tips
Authors: Dienstbier Philip , Paschen Timo , Hommelhoff Peter
Published: May 2021

We demonstrate coherent control of photoemission from a gold needle tip using a two-color laser field. The relative phase between a fundamental field and its second harmonic imprints a strong modulation on the emitted photocurrent with up to 96.5% visibility. The visibility as a function of the second harmonic intensity can be described by three interfering quantum pathways. Increasing the bias voltage applied to the tip reduces the maximum achievable visibility and modifies the weights of the involved pathways. Simulations based on the time-dependent Schrödinger equation reproduce the characteristic cooperative signal and its dependence on the second harmonic intensity, which further confirms the involvement of three emission pathways.
Iterative reconstruction for low-dose cerebral perfusion computed tomography using prior image induced diffusion tensor
Authors: Niu Shanzhou , Liu Hong , Zhang Mengzhen , Wang Min , Wang Jing , Ma Jianhua
Published: May 2021

Cerebral perfusion computed tomography (CPCT) can depict the functional status of cerebral circulation at the tissue level; hence, it has been increasingly used to diagnose patients with cerebrovascular disease. However, there is a significant concern that CPCT scanning protocol could expose patients to excessive radiation doses. Although reducing the x-ray tube current when acquiring CPCT projection data is an effective method for reducing radiation dose, this technique usually results in degraded image quality. To enhance the image quality of low-dose CPCT, we present a prior image induced diffusion tensor (PIDT) for statistical iterative reconstruction, based on the penalized weighted least-squares (PWLS) criterion, which we referred to as PWLS-PIDT, for simplicity. Specifically, PIDT utilizes the geometric features of pre-contrast scanned high-quality CT image as a structure prior for PWLS reconstruction; therefore, the low-dose CPCT images are enhanced while preserving important features in the target image. An effective alternating minimization algorithm is developed to solve the associated objective function in the PWLS-PIDT reconstruction. We conduct qualitative and quantitative studies to evaluate the PWLS-PIDT reconstruction with a digital brain perfusion phantom and patient data. With this method, the noise in the reconstructed CPCT images is more substantially reduced than that of other competing methods, without sacrificing structural details significantly. Furthermore, the CPCT sequential images reconstructed via the PWLS-PIDT method can derive more accurate hemodynamic parameter maps than those of other competing methods.
Suppression of the radiation squeezing in interacting quantum Hall edge channels
Authors: Rebora G , Ferraro D , Sassetti M
Published: May 2021

We study the quantum fluctuations of the two quadratures of the emitted electromagnetic radiation generated by a quantum Hall device in a quantum point contact geometry. In particular, we focus our attention on the role played by the unavoidable electron–electron interactions between the two edge channels at filling factor two. We investigate quantum features of the emitted microwave radiation, such as squeezing, by studying the current fluctuations at finite frequency, accessible through a two-filters set-up placed just after the quantum point contact. We compare two different drives, respectively a cosine and a train of Lorentzian pulses, used for the injection of the excitations into the system. In both cases quantum features are reduced due to the interactions, however the Lorentzian drive is still characterized by a robust squeezing effect which can have important application on quantum information.
Exact calculations of network coherence in weighted ring-trees networks and recursive trees
Authors: Jing Ting , Yang Lei , Sun Weigang
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we study noisy consensus dynamics in two families of weighted ring-trees networks and recursive trees with a controlled initial state. Based on the topological structures, we obtain exact expressions for the first- and second-order network coherence as a function of the involved parameters and provide the scalings of network coherence regarding network size. We then show that the weights dominate the consensus behaviors and the scalings. Finally, we make a comparison of the network coherence between the ring-trees networks and the recursive trees with the same number of nodes and show that the consensus of ring-trees networks is better than the trees since the initial state in the ring-trees networks is a ring.
A minimal power-spectrum-based moment expansion for CMB B-mode searches
Authors: Azzoni S. , Abitbol M.H. , Alonso D. , Gough A. , Katayama N. , Matsumura T.
Published: May 2021

The characterization and modeling of polarized foregrounds has become a critical issue in the quest for primordial B-modes. A typical method to proceed is to factorize and parametrize the spectral properties of foregrounds and their scale dependence (i.e. assuming that foreground spectra are well described everywhere by their sky average). Since in reality foreground properties vary across the Galaxy, this assumption leads to inaccuracies in the model that manifest themselves as biases in the final cosmological parameters (in this case the tensor-to-scalar ratio r). This is particularly relevant for surveys over large fractions of the sky, such as the Simons Observatory (SO), where the spectra should be modeled over a distribution of parameter values. Here we propose a method based on the existing “moment expansion” approach to address this issue in a power-spectrum-based analysis that is directly applicable in ground-based multi-frequency data. Additionally, the method uses only a small set of parameters with simple physical interpretation, minimizing the impact of foreground uncertainties on the final B-mode constraints. We validate the method using SO-like simulated observations, recovering an unbiased estimate of the tensor-to-scalar ratio r with standard deviation σ(r) ≃ 0.003, compatible with official forecasts. When applying the method to the public BICEP2/Keck data, we find an upper bound r < 0.06 (95% C.L.), compatible with the result found by BICEP2/Keck when parametrizing spectral index variations through a scale-independent frequency decorrelation parameter. We also discuss the formal similarities between the power spectrum-based moment expansion and methods used in the analysis of CMB lensing.
Customization of open-source solutions on the example of the LMS Moodle distance learning platform
Authors: Ukhov P A , Borshchenko D A , Kabanov D D , Bergen M E , Ryapukhin A V
Published: May 2021

Open-source software has been a vast topic of thought and discussion since its inception. Many companies and developers did not understand for what purpose open-source software was developed, and some even opposed the existence of such solutions. Others, on the contrary, supported and still support the creation and distribution of this kind of programs, despite their unprofitableness. One of these programs is Moodle. It is a free web application that provides the ability to create websites for online learning, created in the early 2000s. Anyone can easily create or modify their own learning platform for free and without problems with copyright and licenses. The platform supports a huge number of languages, is constantly updated, and is also easy and convenient to customize. The user can add and customize his plugins and addons. The system has found wide application in connection with the emergence of COVID-19, since most schools and universities have switched to distance learning. Moodle functionality allows you to collect more than 50 users in one session without losing productivity. The platform has a built-in mechanism for authorizing users, including a login and password, which will not allow intruders to carry out unauthorized access to personal data of users. Teachers can leave the necessary files and recordings of classes on the platform for learners to access them. This article discusses the goals and issues of creating open-source software, its customization and application for solving problems of various kinds of activities, including the organization of multi-user educational platforms using the Moodle platform.
Application of discrete mathematics, tetralogic and architecture of superscalar systems in measurement metrology of automated control systems
Authors: Fakhertdinova D I , Munister V D , Zolkin A L , Knishov A V , Yu Speranskiy M
Published: May 2021

The article is dedicated to the consideration of the role and significance of the quaternary logic in automated control systems. The methodology of reduction and application of the principle of ergodicity in measurement metrology in automated process control systems is presented. The optimization role of the tools used in solving of hybrid technological and telemetry problems is emphasized.