bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FEDDBN-IDS: federated deep belief network-based wireless network intrusion detection system
Authors: Nivaashini M. , Suganya E. , Sountharrajan S. , Prabu M. , Bavirisetti Durga Prasad
Published: April 2024

Over the last 20 years, Wi-Fi technology has advanced to the point where most modern devices are small and rely on Wi-Fi to access the internet. Wi-Fi network security is severely questioned since there is no physical barrier separating a wireless network from a wired network, and the security procedures in place are defenseless against a wide range of threats. This study set out to assess federated learning, a new technique, as a possible remedy for privacy issues and the high expense of data collecting in network attack detection. To detect and identify cyber threats, especially in Wi-Fi networks, the research presents FEDDBN-IDS, a revolutionary intrusion detection system (IDS) that makes use of deep belief networks (DBNs) inside a federated deep learning (FDL) framework. Every device has a pre-trained DBN with stacking restricted Boltzmann machines (RBM) to learn low-dimensional characteristics from unlabelled local and private data. Later, these models are combined by a central server using federated learning (FL) to create a global model. The whole model is then enhanced by the central server with fully linked SoftMax layers to form a supervised neural network, which is then trained using publicly accessible labeled AWID datasets. Our federated technique produces a high degree of classification accuracy, ranging from 88% to 98%, according to the results of our studies.
Adapting transformer-based language models for heart disease detection and risk factors extraction
Authors: Houssein Essam H. , Mohamed Rehab E. , Hu Gang , Ali Abdelmgeid A.
Published: April 2024

Efficiently treating cardiac patients before the onset of a heart attack relies on the precise prediction of heart disease. Identifying and detecting the risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes mellitus, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking, familial CAD history, obesity, and medications is critical for developing effective preventative and management measures. Although Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have emerged as valuable resources for identifying these risk factors, their unstructured format poses challenges for cardiologists in retrieving relevant information. This research proposed employing transfer learning techniques to automatically extract heart disease risk factors from EHRs. Leveraging transfer learning, a deep learning technique has demonstrated a significant performance in various clinical natural language processing (NLP) applications, particularly in heart disease risk prediction. This study explored the application of transformer-based language models, specifically utilizing pre-trained architectures like BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), RoBERTa, BioClinicalBERT, XLNet, and BioBERT for heart disease detection and extraction of related risk factors from clinical notes, using the i2b2 dataset. These transformer models are pre-trained on an extensive corpus of medical literature and clinical records to gain a deep understanding of contextualized language representations. Adapted models are then fine-tuned using annotated datasets specific to heart disease, such as the i2b2 dataset, enabling them to learn patterns and relationships within the domain. These models have demonstrated superior performance in extracting semantic information from EHRs, automating high-performance heart disease risk factor identification, and performing downstream NLP tasks within the clinical domain. This study proposed fine-tuned five widely used transformer-based models, namely BERT, RoBERTa, BioClinicalBERT, XLNet, and BioBERT, using the 2014 i2b2 clinical NLP challenge dataset. The fine-tuned models surpass conventional approaches in predicting the presence of heart disease risk factors with impressive accuracy. The RoBERTa model has achieved the highest performance, with micro F1-scores of 94.27%, while the BERT, BioClinicalBERT, XLNet, and BioBERT models have provided competitive performances with micro F1-scores of 93.73%, 94.03%, 93.97%, and 93.99%, respectively. Finally, a simple ensemble of the five transformer-based models has been proposed, which outperformed the most existing methods in heart disease risk fan, achieving a micro F1-Score of 94.26%. This study demonstrated the efficacy of transfer learning using transformer-based models in enhancing risk prediction and facilitating early intervention for heart disease prevention.
When perceived similarity overrides demographic similarity: examining influences on STEM students’ developmental mentor networks
Authors: Pedersen Rachelle , Woodcock Anna , Schultz P. Wesley , Hernandez Paul R.
Published: April 2024

Background

While dyadic faculty–mentored relationship research currently saturates the mentoring literature, recent developments suggest the need for a broader consideration of a student's mentor network. Research taking a network approach may provide deeper insights into the formation and benefits of mentorship for undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Utilizing Developmental Mentor Network Theory and ego-centric social network analysis, this pre-registered study evaluates how the characteristics of mentees and mentors relate to both the content of support and structure of mentor networks in a large sample of White and Hispanic/Latino(a) STEM undergraduates across 12 universities.

Results

Results were nuanced but showed that perceived psychological similarity with their mentor(s) predicted both dyadic and network average levels of mentor support (i.e., psychosocial, career, role modeling) and relational satisfaction. Furthermore, results point to homophily and engagement in undergraduate research effects on mentor network structures.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of using a network approach to deepen our understanding of the factors (e.g., psychological similarity) that may influence the formation and maintenance of robust and diverse supportive mentoring networks.
Unsettling expectations of stay: probationary immigration policies in Canada and Norway
Authors: Schultz Jessica , Nakache Delphine
Published: April 2024

Despite their strong humanitarian reputations abroad, Norway and Canada have adopted domestic immigration policies that produce permanently precarious residents. These policies affect individuals—including refugees, permanent residents, and naturalized citizens—who have traditionally enjoyed secure legal statuses. Adopting the analytic lens of ‘probationary immigration’, this article explores the legal mechanisms behind three interrelated developments in both countries: 1) the fragmentation of protection regimes in terms of access, rights and duration; 2) stricter/less predictable requirements for permanent residence and citizenship; and 3) intensified practice regarding the revocation of citizenship.
Right main pulmonary artery distensibility on dynamic ventilation CT and its association with respiratory function
Authors: Oki Tatsuya , Nagatani Yukihiro , Ishida Shota , Hashimoto Masayuki , Oshio Yasuhiko , Hanaoka Jun , Uemura Ryo , Watanabe Yoshiyuki
Published: April 2024

Background

Heartbeat-based cross-sectional area (CSA) changes in the right main pulmonary artery (MPA), which reflects its distensibility associated with pulmonary hypertension, can be measured using dynamic ventilation computed tomography (DVCT) in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during respiratory dynamics. We investigated the relationship between MPA distensibility (MPAD) and respiratory function and how heartbeat-based CSA is related to spirometry, mean lung density (MLD), and patient characteristics.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed DVCT performed preoperatively in 37 patients (20 female and 17 males) with lung cancer aged 70.6 ± 7.9 years (mean ± standard deviation), 18 with COPD and 19 without. MPA-CSA was separated into respiratory and heartbeat waves by discrete Fourier transformation. For the cardiac pulse-derived waves, CSA change (CSAC) and CSA change ratio (CSACR) were calculated separately during inhalation and exhalation. Spearman rank correlation was computed.

Result

In the group without COPD as well as all cases, CSACR exhalation was inversely correlated with percent residual lung volume (%RV) and RV/total lung capacity (r = -0.68, p = 0.003 and r = -0.58, p = 0.014). In contrast, in the group with COPD, CSAC inhalation was correlated with MLDmax and MLD change rate (MLDmax/MLDmin) (r = 0.54, p = 0.020 and r = 0.64, p = 0.004) as well as CSAC exhalation and CSACR exhalation.

Conclusion

In patients with insufficient exhalation, right MPAD during exhalation was decreased. Also, in COPD patients with insufficient exhalation, right MPAD was reduced during inhalation as well as exhalation, which implied that exhalation impairment is a contributing factor to pulmonary hypertension complicated with COPD.

Relevance statement

Assessment of MPAD in different respiratory phases on DVCT has the potential to be utilized as a non-invasive assessment for pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia and elucidation of its pathogenesis.

Key points

• There are no previous studies analyzing all respiratory phases of right main pulmonary artery distensibility (MPAD).

• Patients with exhalation impairment decreased their right MPAD.

• Analysis of MPAD on dynamic ventilation computed tomography contributes to understanding the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia in patients with expiratory impairment.

Graphical Abstract
Winternitz stack protocols for embedded systems and IoT
Authors: Shafarenko Alex
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes and evaluates a new bipartite post-quantum digital signature protocol based on Winternitz chains and an  oracle. Mutually mistrustful Alice and Bob are able to agree and sign a series of documents in a way that makes it impossible (within the assumed security model) to repudiate their signatures. The number of signatures supported by a single public key is still limited, though by a large number. However, the security of the signature scheme is not diminished by repeated application, so when the capacity of a public key is exhausted the last transaction can be used to agree a new key. Some ramifications are discussed, security parameters evaluated and an application area delineated for the proposed concept.
Wildfires alter stream ecosystem functioning through effects on leaf litter
Authors: Pérez Javier , Brand Cecilia , Alonso Alberto , Sarasa Alaia , Rojo Diana , Correa-Araneda Francisco , Boyero Luz
Published: April 2024

Background

Wildfires have strong impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, whose frequency, severity, and intensity are increasing with climate change. Moreover, the expansion of exotic monoculture plantations, such as those of eucalypts, increases this risk. When wildfires do not cause the disappearance of riparian vegetation, they still imply the fall of leaf litter exposed to the fire (i.e., crown scorch), which consequences for ecosystems are unknown.

Experimental design

To explore how these leaf litter inputs may affect stream ecosystem functioning, we conducted a microcosm experiment where we quantified the decomposition of leaf litter from three tree species (alder, oak, and eucalypt) under two conditions (control litter simulating natural entries and litter subjected to 150 °C for 3 h mimicking exposure to fire). We also examined the interaction between this factor and a temperature rise (which is often associated to the loss of riparian vegetation caused by the wildfire) by manipulating water temperature (10, 12.5, and 15 °C). Finally, we explored the effects of these variables on the growth of a common detritivore, the caddisfly Sericostoma pyrenaicum.

Results

Control alder presented the highest decomposition rates, which were notably reduced due to fire exposure. On the contrary, eucalypt litter decomposition was even slower than that of oak and hardly showed any effect derived from fire exposure. The different leaf litter types determined detritivore growth, to a greater extent than variation related to warming, which generally had negligible effects.

Conclusions

Our study shows the negative effects of wildfires on stream ecosystem functioning even when they only involve brief exposure of leaf litter to the fire. Effects are greater on the most palatable native species, which represents the highest quality input in streams of the study area. Our results highlight the importance of protecting riparian forests, especially those composed of native species, against wildfires.
The role of psychology in a multi-disciplinary psychiatric inpatient setting: perspectives from the multidisciplinary team
Authors: Dandan Nadia , Mansour Fatima , Diab Tala
Published: April 2024

Background

The availability of consistent psychological therapy within acute inpatient psychiatric units and the integration of psychologists into multi-disciplinary inpatient teams is a newly evolving development in mental healthcare. To the authors’ knowledge, there has been no examination of the inpatient multi-disciplinary team’s (MDT) perspective on how psychology can be best integrated into the team in Lebanon. This study aims to explore the perceptions of different medical personnel working within an MDT on the role of psychologists in an acute psychiatry inpatient unit in Lebanon. It is qualitative in nature, using a semi-structured interview design. The overarching aim of this study is to assess and identify the gaps in the MDT’s insight into the various responsibilities of psychologists which may result in more efficient collaborative teamwork and hence overall patient care.

Results

Four primary themes are identified from the findings of our study. The themes highlighted the value of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, the vital roles that psychologists play in direct clinical work and supporting other staff members, important factors related to patient-centered psychological care, limitations that exist in the inpatient unit, and suggestions for improvement.

Conclusion

This study served as a baseline for more research and development of psychological services in the psychiatric inpatient units of Lebanon, emphasizing the integral role of psychology in patient care.
nCoV-19 therapeutics using cucurbitacin I structural derivatives: an in silico approach
Authors: Shrestha Ram Lal Swagat , Marasini Bishnu Prasad , Subin Jhashanath Adhikari
Published: April 2024

Background

Cucurbitacins are present in some common vegetables as secondary metabolites and are used by the plants against harmful microbes. Exploration of this capability of natural product based substances against wide variety of microbes seems relevant due to the ease of availability of the resources and safety. In this regard, considering the current pandemic, the antiviral properties of these molecules with a subset of Cucurbitacin I structural derivatives have been screened. The inhibition potential of the phytochemicals was assessed by the stability of the protein–ligand complex formed with the nucleocapsid protein (PDB ID: 7CDZ) of SARS-CoV-2 by computational methods. The proposition of an alternate antiviral candidate that is cost-effective and efficient relative to existing formulations is the main objective of this work.

Results

Server-based molecular docking experiments revealed CBN19 (PubChem CID: 125125068) as a hit candidate among 101 test compounds, a reference molecule (K31), and 5 FDA-approved drugs in terms of binding affinities sorted out based on total energies. The molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) showed moderate stability of the protein-CBN19 complex as implied by various geometrical parameters RMSD, Rg, RMSF, SASA and hydrogen bond count. The ligand RMSD of 3.0 ± 0.5 Å, RMSF of Cα of protein with less than 5 Å, and smooth nature of SASA and Rg curves were calculated for the adduct. The binding free energy (− 47.19 ± 6.24 kcal/mol) extracted from the MDS trajectory using the MMGBSA method indicated spontaneity of the reaction between CBN19 and the protein. The multiple ADMET studies of the phytochemicals predicted some drug-like properties with minimal toxicity that mandate experimental verification.

Conclusions

Based on all the preliminary in silico results, Cucurbitacin, CBN19 could be proposed as a potential inhibitor of nucleocapsid protein theoretically capable of curing the disease. The proposed molecule is recommended for further in vitro and in vivo trials in the quest to develop effective and alternate therapeutics from plant-based resources against COVID-19.
The association of LPCAT1-rs9728 polymorphism with cord blood IL-10, MIF, and VEGF levels in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: a case–control study
Authors: Mohany Khalid M. , Sayed Ahmed Abdelrasoul , El-Asheer Osama Mahmoud , Raheem Yaser F. Abdel , Abbas Ahmed Mohamed , Fawzy Ahmed Mohamed , El-Baz Mona Abd El-Hamid Hassan
Published: April 2024

Background

Lysophospholipid acyltransferase (LPCAT) is crucial for surfactant biosynthesis. It is encoded by LPCAT genes. We investigated the LPCAT1-rs9728 genotypes in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) cases and their possible association with the cord arterial serum interleukin-10 (IL-10), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels.

Methods

The study included 160 neonates grouped into G1: 60 healthy neonates and G2: 100 NRDS cases. IL-10, MIF, and VEGF levels were measured by their corresponding kits. The Gene JETTM Whole Blood Genomic DNA Purification Mini Kit was used to extract the DNA from the newborn venous blood. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was carried out for LPCAT1-rs9728 genotyping.

Results

The IL-10 and MIF levels were significantly higher, while VEGF levels were significantly lower in G2 than in G1. The percentages of LPCAT1-rs9728 AA and LPCAT1-rs9728 AG genotypes were significantly higher in G2 than in G1. The IL-10 and MIF levels were significantly higher, while the VEGF levels, birth weight, and APGAR score at 1 and 5 min were significantly lower in neonates with LPCAT1-rs9728 AA genotype than in neonates with LPCAT1-rs9728 AG and LPCAT1-rs9728 GG genotypes and in neonates with LPCAT1-rs9728 AG genotype than in neonates with LPCAT1-rs9728 GG genotype.

Conclusion

There is an association between the LPCAT1-rs9728 AA genotype and its A allele and the NRDS development and severity. Further research may provide a better understanding of this association to help future management.
Pan-Canadian Survey of Radiation Oncology Professional Involvement in Global Oncology Initiatives in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Beckett Matthew , Al Balushi Mustafa , Chan Jessica , Iakovenko Viktor , Roumeliotis Michael , Hanna Tim , Huang Fleur , Barkati Maroie , Rodin Danielle , Bourque Jean-Marc
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Canadian radiation oncology professionals have a strong history of involvement in global oncology initiatives worldwide. This pan-Canadian survey-based study was conducted to determine the current level of engagement of Canadian radiation oncologists (ROs) and medical physicists (MPs) in global oncology initiatives and broaden the development of these activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. The survey was designed to characterize current levels of engagement of Canadian ROs and MPs in global oncology initiatives. The survey was open from March 2019 to April 2020. It was disseminated to all Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists members with two subsequent email reminders.

RESULTS

Survey responses were received from 40 (93%) of the 43 Canadian cancer treatment centers that offer radiotherapy. At least one RO responded at 34 centers (79%) and one MP from 34 centers (79%) with some overlap. A response was received from a total of 93 participants, 47 ROs and 46 MPs. Of all survey participants, 58% reported some experience with global oncology. Nineteen percent of the participants surveyed were currently directly involved in short- or long-term projects, more than half of which have opportunity for additional staff involvement. The projects spanned 26 countries in South America, Africa, and Asia. Quality improvement and capacity building accounted for 27% and 20% of initiatives, respectively. The most common area of engagement was in direct treatment care, accounting for 56% of the projects.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the landscape of involvement of Canadian ROs and MPs in global oncology initiatives. The study also highlights areas of opportunity for broadening international participation and collaboration as it relates to global oncology for Canadian radiation oncology professionals.
From “Natural Institution” to Poetic Genre: Literary Testimony and the Issues of Witnessing in Verse
Authors: Dušanić Dunja
Published: April 2024

This article examines the relationship between poetry and testimony in order to outline a viable framework for interpreting testimonial poetry (or “poetry of witness,” in Carolyn Forché’s terms) as a literary genre in its own right. Neglected in favor of other, mimetically oriented modes of witnessing, especially those in narrative fiction and documentary prose, testimonial poetry has not been extensively studied, and when it has, the studies were often based on inadequate notions of testimony that fail to recognize witnessing as a broader social and linguistic practice. Relying on the sociological approach to eyewitness testimony developed by Renaud Dulong (notably in Le témoin oculaire [1998]), this article proposes a new understanding of poetic testimony, based neither on an overly broad notion of witnessing as living through an event or era, nor on a narrow understanding of witnessing as providing a faithful documentary account of a personal experience. Much like its prose counterpart, poetic testimony enacts a quasi-contractual relationship between authors and readers, whereby the former are committed to telling the truth about a directly experienced event of public importance and the latter, in return, are committed to considering seriously their words, approaching them in good faith. This relationship is driven by an underlying ethical imperative whereby the author acts as a moral witness in Avishai Margalit's sense of the term, and the readers assume the role of a moral community sympathetic to their plight. By referencing examples from American, Hungarian, Russian, French, Polish, and South Slavic twentieth-century poetry, the article shows how a “testimonial” reading of a poem, often very strongly favored on intuitive grounds, modifies generic expectations based on traditional poetic genres and explores its interpretative and ethical implications.
Reading and Listening to Lost Children Archive: Audiobooks as Oral History
Authors: Turner Alison
Published: April 2024

Valeria Luiselli's Lost Children Archive (2019) explores how to find “lost children” who are forced to migrate and interrogates relationships among works of literature, archives, and archiving. Taking place contemporaneously with its publication, the novel follows Ma, Pa, and their two children who are stepsiblings on a road trip from New York City to the US Southwest. Along the way, characters take photographs, and, more unusually, record their own voices and the sounds of the environments they pass through. This article extends explorations of how sound works in the novel to how sound works as the novel by comparing the written text with the audiobook version. After situating the novel among discussions of how literature can contribute to archive making, employing Anne Gilliland and Michelle Caswell's notion of “impossible archival imaginaries” and Erica Johnson's notion of the “neo-archive,” the article shows that readers and audiobook listeners ultimately experience a different narrative. This comparison exposes a third layer of information that prompts questions about what can — and can't — be learned from written and oral records on their own. The article concludes proposing that this third layer of information suggests new possibilities for how literature can contribute to understandings of how archives can include the experiences of marginalized communities with more nuance and complexity.
Zen Closets
Authors: Pizza Joseph
Published: April 2024

This article explores John Cage's “62 Mesostics re Merce Cunningham,” a love poem dedicated to the poet's longtime partner. Though scholars of Cage's writing and music tend to ignore the queer context in which his work was created, this study attempts to reconcile the poet's art with his life. As a homosexual couple in the postwar period, Cage and Cunningham observed a closeted silence throughout their lives together, preferring to refer to one another as collaborators rather than romantic partners or lovers. While such strategies were not uncommon, the couple's use of Zen philosophy to imbue their silent relationship with an almost religious purpose distinguishes them from many others. Indeed, the poem embodies this situation well. Offering, at one moment, a glimpse into the couple's private life, at the next, the piece consistently subverts this gesture through various avant-garde techniques. In fact, in its unusual use of typography and its experimental performance history, Cage's mesostic reimagines the space and terms of traditional love poetry — much like his relationship with Cunningham reworked traditional gender roles. By bringing these aspects of Cage's life and work to light, this article aims to provide scholars with a fuller understanding of postwar queer poetics.
All In
Authors: Young Liam Cole
Published: April 2024

This article situates the recent explosion of online and app-based sports betting within longer histories of datafication and financialization in sports business and culture. The author tracks four histories in which media technologies and financial logics dissolved previously stable sporting events, athletes, and results into aggregations of data and derivatives that could be leveraged and wagered on. Photography established feelings of confidence and objectivity in horse-race results during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Screen and computational technologies since the 1970s have enabled Las Vegas casino sportsbooks to overwhelm bettors with data abundance. Television and web-based play moved poker at the turn of the millennium away from surprise, chance, and reading people toward probability, risk, and reading data. Around the same time, fantasy sports and management-based video games mirrored financial markets in transforming athletes and leagues into derivatives, that is, disaggregated units that could be reassembled in new digital permutations. Each story helps position contemporary online sports betting within a longer historical arc in which gambling and speculation moved to the center of global economy and culture.
The Condemnation of Hate and the Violence of the Status Quo
Authors: Althoff Sebastian
Published: April 2024

This article interrogates the tension between the way that the condemnation of hate performatively establishes and reinforces discursive and affective boundaries for public debates and the embrace of hate by anti-racist, abolitionist, feminist, and queer activists, that is, their claim that hatred is a valid response to the existential violence inflicted by borders or the police. The cases of activists embracing hate indicate that the boundaries set by the condemnation of hate are too limited to appropriately account for the violence of the status quo. The condemnation of hate, rather, appears to veil this violence, that is, as a way to curb the means to critique and overcome the status quo. The article offers a critical engagement with studies on hate that pathologize the hateful subject, juxtaposing these studies with cases of activists affirming their hatred for politicians, straight people, or San Francisco tech workers. It thereby broadens understandings of hate by proposing that hate as a response to harm can be part of anti-racist, abolitionist, feminist, and queer struggles and provide valuable epistemic effects grounded in theory rather than conspiracies. The article consequently challenges the condemnation of hate by contesting that hate is necessarily illegitimate.
Λειτουργικές νανοδομές με βάση το οξείδιο του ψευδαργύρου και του ασβεστίου για αγροχημικές εφαρμογές
Authors: Τρύφων Παναγιώτα
Published: April 2024

Η χρήση των συμβατικών αγροχημικών προϊόντων αποτελεί ένα σημαντικό παγκόσμιο ζήτημα, καθώς επιφέρει συνέπειες στην επισιτιστική ασφάλεια του πληθυσμού αλλά και στην ισορροπία και ποιότητα του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος. Η πρόοδος των νανοϋλικών παρέχει προοπτικές ανάπτυξής τους στον αγροτικό τομέα προκειμένου να ξεπεραστούν τα προβλήματα. Το αντικείμενο της παρούσας διατριβής αφορά τη σύνθεση και το χαρακτηρισμό επικαλυμμένων πρωτογενών νανοσωματιδίων με βάση το ασβέστιο, τον ψευδάργυρο και το χαλκό και την ανάπτυξη αυτών σε προηγμένες δευτερογενείς αρχιτεκτονικές, καθώς και την αξιολόγηση τους μέσω βιοδοκιμών ως νανοαγροχημικά. Συγκεκριμένα, σολβοθερμικά ή/και με τη μέσω υποβοηθούμενης από μικροκυματική ακτινοβολία μέθοδο παρασκευάστηκαν και χαρακτηρίστηκαν επτά διαφορετικά (πρωτογενή) ZnO NPs από την άποψη μεγεθών (15 ̶ 27 nm), οργανικής επικάλυψης (ολεϋλαμίνη, οκταδεκυλαμίνη, πολυαιθυλενογλυκόλη 8000) και σχήματος (ακανόνιστα, ράβδοι, λουλούδια) ως αποτέλεσμα διαφορετικών συνθετικών προσεγγίσεων και του τρόπου ανάπτυξης των νανοσωματιδίων. Επιπροσθέτως, απομονώθηκαν επικαλυμμένα με ολεϋλαμίνη νανοσωματίδια Ca(OH)2 και επικαλυμμένα με γλυκόλες νανοσωματίδια Cu, CuZn και Cu-doped ZnO. Με βάση τα πρωτογενή νανοσωματίδια παρασκευάστηκαν δευτερογενείς αρχιτεκτονικές νανοδομές (i) νανοκάψουλες με βάση Ca(OH)2 ή ZnO NPs σε συνδυασμό με τη γερανιόλη, μία φυσική ουσία με μυκητοκτόνο δράση που περιέχεται σε αιθέρια έλαια και (ii) ετερονανοσύνθετες δομές Ca(OH)2@ZnO. Ο φυσικοχημικός χαρακτηρισμός των πρωτογενών νανοσωματιδίων, των νανοκαψουλών και ετερονανοσύνθετων δομών ως προς τη σύσταση, τη δομή, τη μορφολογία και τις επιφανειακές τους ιδιότητες έγινε με περίθλαση ακτίνων Χ, ηλεκτρονικές μικροσκοπίες ΤΕΜ και SEM/EDS, φασματοσκοπίες FT-IR, UV-Vis, θερμοβαρυμετρική ανάλυση, δυναμική σκέδαση φωτός και φωτοηλεκτρονίων Ακτίνων-Χ. Η μελέτη αποδέσμευσης της γερανιόλης προσδιορίστηκε με τα μαθηματικά κινητικά μοντέλα μηδενικής τάξης, πρώτης τάξης, Higuchi και Korsmeyer-Peppas. Οι βιοδοκιμές περιλάμβαναν την in vitro και in planta σε μαρούλια αξιολόγηση των πρωτογενών για τον έλεγχο των φυτοπαθογόνων μυκήτων B. cinerea και S. sclerotiorum και του νηματώδη M. javanica. Νανοκάψουλες με βάση Ca(OH)2 ή ZnO NPs συνδυαστικά με τη γερανιόλη, αξιολογήθηκαν ως προς την αντιμυκητιακή τους δράση έναντι του B. cinerea τόσο in vitro όσο και σε φυτά αγγουριού. Τέλος, επικαλυμμένα ZnO NPs διαφορετικού σχήματος (ακανόνιστα και ραβδοειδή) και ποσοστού επικάλυψης ολεϋλαμίνης μελετήθηκαν ως προς την επίδρασή τους στη φωτοχημεία του φωτοσυστήματος ΙΙ φυτών τομάτας.
Experıences of loss and theır management by ınformal caregıvers ın the communıty. Perceıved Qualıty of Lıfe of people wıth chronıc dıseases
Authors: Tsaga Helen , Argyriadi Agathi , Argyriadis Alexandros
Published: April 2024

Background: Informal caregivers play a vital role in caring for patients with chronic illnesses, but this care can significantly affect their mental health and well-being, particularly after the loss of the patient. Due to the significance of the issue and limited research in the field, it is important to identify factors associated with the mental health of informal caregivers.
Method and Material: This study aimed to investigate the experiences of loss and their management by informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases. Specifically, it evaluated the relationship between experiences of loss and (1) mental health and (2) socio-demographic characteristics of informal caregivers.
A quantitative survey was conducted on a sample of 98 informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases, using the Core Bereavement scales BEQ-24 and DASS-21.
Results: The data analysis revealed that 25.5% of informal caregivers were prepared to experience loss, while only 12.2% sought psychological support to manage their experiences. Informal caregivers often experienced loss with sadness, loneliness, and nostalgia while recalling memories with the deceased patient. Fewer caregivers experienced guilt, self-blame, and anger or sought to fulfill their emotional and existential needs. The study also found that experiences of loss were associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases.
Conclusions: The study underscores the impact of caring for patients with chronic illnesses on mental health and wellbeing of informal caregivers, particularly after the loss of the patient. The results highlight the need for interventions to support informal caregivers.
Assessing the potential relevance of CEACAM6 as a blood transcriptional biomarker
Authors: Rinchai Darawan , Chaussabel Damien
Published: April 2024

Background Changes in blood transcript abundance levels have been associated with pathogenesis in a wide range of diseases. While next generation sequencing technology can measure transcript abundance on a genome-wide scale, downstream clinical applications often require small sets of genes to be selected for inclusion in targeted panels. Here we set out to gather information from the literature and transcriptome datasets that would help researchers determine whether to include the gene CEACAM6 in such panels. Methods We employed a workflow to systematically retrieve, structure, and aggregate information derived from both the literature and public transcriptome datasets. It consisted of profiling the CEACAM6 literature to identify major diseases associated with this candidate gene and establish its relevance as a biomarker. Accessing blood transcriptome datasets identified additional instances where CEACAM6 transcript levels differ in cases vs controls. Finally, the information retrieved throughout this process was captured in a structured format and aggregated in interactive circle packing plots. Results Although it is not routinely used clinically, the relevance of CEACAM6 as a biomarker has already been well established in the cancer field, where it has invariably been found to be associated with poor prognosis. Focusing on the blood transcriptome literature, we found studies reporting elevated levels of CEACAM6 abundance across a wide range of pathologies, especially diseases where inflammation plays a dominant role, such as asthma, psoriasis, or Parkinson’s disease. The screening of public blood transcriptome datasets completed this picture, showing higher abundance levels in patients with infectious diseases caused by viral and bacterial pathogens. Conclusions Targeted assays measuring CEACAM6 transcript abundance in blood may be of potential utility for the management of patients with diseases presenting with systemic inflammation and for the management of patients with cancer, where the assay could potentially be run both on blood and tumor tissues.
Hybrid recommender system model for digital library from multiple online publishers
Authors: Jomsri Pijitra , Prangchumpol Dulyawit , Poonsilp Kittiya , Panityakul Thammarat
Published: April 2024

Background The demand for online education promotion platforms has increased. In addition, the digital library system is one of the many systems that support teaching and learning. However, most digital library systems store books in the form of libraries that were developed or purchased exclusively by the library, without connecting data with different agencies in the same system. Methods A hybrid recommender system model for digital libraries, developed from multiple online publishers, has created a prototype digital library system that connects various important knowledge sources from multiple digital libraries and online publishers to create an index and recommend e-books. The developed system utilizes an API-based linking process to connect various important sources of knowledge from multiple data sources such as e-books on education from educational institutions, e-books from government agencies, and e-books from religious organizations are stored separately. Then, a hybrid recommender system suitable for users was developed using Collaborative Filtering (CF) model together with Content-Based Filtering. This research purposed the hybrid recommender system model, which took into account the factors of book category, reading habits of users, and sources of information. The evaluation of the experiments involved soliciting feedback from system users and comparing the results with conventional recommendation methods. Results A comparison of NDCG scores was conducted for Hybrid Score 50:50, Hybrid Score 20:80, Hybrid Score 80:20, CF-score and CB-score. The experimental result was found that the Hybrid Score 80:20 method had the highest average NDCG score. Conclusions Using a hybrid recommender system model that combines 80% Collaborative Filtering and 20% Content-Based Filtering can improve the recommender method, leading to better referral efficiency and greater overall efficiency compared to traditional approaches.
A reference genome, mitochondrial genome and associated transcriptomes for the critically endangered swift parrot (Lathamus discolor)
Authors: Silver Luke W. , Stojanovic Dejan , Farquharson Katherine A. , Alexander Lauren , Peel Emma , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J.
Published: April 2024

Abstract* The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor) is a Critically Endangered migratory parrot that breeds in Tasmania and winters on the Australian mainland. Here we provide a reference genome assembly for the swift parrot. We sequence PacBio HiFi reads to create a high-quality reference assembly and identify a complete mitochondrial sequence. We also generate a reference transcriptome from five organs to inform genome annotation. The genome was 1.24 Gb in length and consisted of 847 contigs with a contig N50 of 18.97 Gb and L50 of 20 contigs. This study provides an annotated reference assembly and transcriptomic resources for the swift parrot to assist in future conservation genomic research.
Participation in physical activity by adolescents with physical disability: Protocol for a national participation snapshot and Delphi consensus study (“Youth Experience Matters”)
Authors: Brady Karen , Kiernan Damien , McConkey Elaine , O'Gorman Eva , Kerr Claire , McDonough Suzanne , Ryan Jennifer , Malone Ailish
Published: April 2024

Young people with physical disability experience challenges to being physically active. To attain the health benefits of physical activity (PA) and sustain engagement, it is essential that participation is meaningful and enjoyable. This study aims to describe current participation in PA by adolescents with physical disability in Ireland, and to establish consensus on their priorities for enhancing physical activity participation. A parallel convergent mixed methods study will be undertaken, comprising a national cross-sectional quantitative assessment of PA participation (“Participation Snapshot”) and Delphi consensus study (“Delphi”). Adolescents (n=100) aged 13–17 years with a physical disability will be invited to take part. The Participation Snapshot primary outcome is the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). Contextual factors including underlying medical diagnosis, demographics, mobility (Functional Mobility Scale), hand function (Manual Ability Classification System) and health related quality of life (Child Health Utility 9D) will also be collected. The Delphi will comprise two to four survey rounds, until consensus is reached. Round 1 consists of a bespoke survey, designed and piloted with a public and patient involvement (PPI) panel, with open-ended questions and Likert scales inviting contributions from adolescents on their prior experience and ideas to enhance participation. Responses will be analysed using inductive thematic analysis to construct items and themes, which will then be deductively mapped to the “F-words” and the family of Participation-Related Constructs frameworks. These items will be presented back to participants in subsequent rounds for selection and ranking, until consensus is achieved on the “top 10 priorities” for enhancing PA participation. The project team and PPI panel will then co-design dissemination material and identify targets for dissemination to relevant stakeholder or policy groups. The findings will provide a basis for developing interventions aiming to enhance future PA participation for adolescents with physical disability.
ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PRACTICE OF USING VISUALIZATION TOOLS AND METHODS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
Authors: Svistunov V. , Mozgovoy A. , Lobachyev V. , Golyshkova I.
Published: April 2024

The article presents the results of the analysis of the features and difficulties of the use in the educational process by teachers of educational organizations and university teachers of means and methods of visualization of educational material. Based on a survey of experts, students of general education institutions and universities, an assessment of their attitude to the use of various visual and audiovisual teaching tools in the classroom is given. Based on the results of the analysis, the authors formulated recommendations for improving the practice of using visualization tools and methods in the educational process of general education organizations and universities. They can have a positive effect by increasing the degree of assimilation of knowledge, developing analytical and critical thinking of students, increasing their involvement, motivation and adaptation to study at colleges and universities. All this contributes to improving the quality and effectiveness of education, the development of Russia’s intellectual potential.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING: A MODERN VIEw OF THE PROBLEMS OF MASTERING NEw SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Authors: Gurova YEkatyerina
Published: April 2024

Currently, in the digital economy, the problem of revising the qualitative component of the organization’s personnel has become acute. In modern conditions, the nature of work is changing, people and the requirements for personnel and organizations are changing. The rapid development of digital technologies, the rapid obsolescence of some and the introduction of others, increases the demand for employees with highly specialized skills, information skills, management and communication skills. The increased demand for such specialists requires organizations to search for new, more effective ways of personnel management that meet new conditions, including the search for training methods — as one of the most important functions of personnel management in modern organizations. Personnel costs are already considered as an investment in human capital, and the issue of effective planning of budget items for personnel becomes especially important. There is a need to develop effective methods for assessing the effectiveness of short-term and long-term investments in the human capital of an organization in general and in training in particular.
LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND MODERN PROFILE OF KEY COMPETENCIES OF A MANAGER
Authors: Zaharov D. , Kashtanova YEkatyerina
Published: April 2024

This article examines trends in reorientation in the management system from the position of managing the company’s development strategy to shorter-term, operational management, the characteristic feature of which is survival in the market and stabilization of the company’s existing position. The scale of geopolitical influence and economic changes, the situation with the demographic crisis, social infrastructure, constant technological innovations, and the latest forms of interaction between organizations and employees force a significant change in the composition of the competencies that the top management of organizations and their management teams should have. The profile of modern key competencies of the top management of the organization can be characterized as anti-crisis with the use of tactics in which the dominant position is occupied by orientation to the final result. To form a profile of competencies and find their necessary balance in the future, with a perspective for the coming years, the following clusters are considered: tasks, strategy, personality, leadership. The article describes in detail the constituent characteristics of each cluster.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-LEVEL COMPREHENSIVE MODEL FOR REGULATING THE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES wITH CHILDREN wITH DISABILITIES
Authors: Laas N.
Published: April 2024

Children’s disability is currently a very important and pressing problem at all levels, including the local level of organizations, which involves the development of a new and correction of the existing regulatory framework for regulating a comprehensive system of support and social protection for persons raising disabled children. Currently, the state pays a lot of attention to people with disabilities. A large number of programs have been developed in various areas of rehabilitation, the main goal of which is the fullest possible integration of disabled people into society. The state has special control over the education and employment of people with disabilities. However, today little effort, both on the part of the state and on the part of employers, is being made to support employees with disabled children in order to preserve their labor potential.
Abgehängt im Aufschwung
Authors: Schmalz Stefan , Hinz Sarah , Singe Ingo , Hasenohr Anne
Published: April 2024

Es erscheint paradox: Die Arbeitslosigkeit in Deutschland erreichte vor der Corona-Krise ein historisches Tief, die Wirtschaft feierte Exportrekorde. Dennoch hat der Boom viele Menschen nicht erreicht. Gerade in strukturschwachen Regionen und Städten ist dieser Widerspruch ausgeprägt. Diese Orte gelten als abgehängt, aufgrund des Bevölkerungsrückgangs zeichnet sich keine Verbesserung der Situation ab. Im Leben vieler Menschen macht sich Unzufriedenheit breit. Angesichts niedriger Entlohnung und mangelnder Mitsprachemöglichkeiten am Arbeitsplatz radikalisieren sich Ungerechtigkeitsempfindungen. Die empirische Studie nimmt diese Dynamiken am Beispiel Ostthüringens, einer strukturschwachen und schrumpfenden Region, in den Blick. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de
Verständnisse von Sozialwissenschaft und Wissenstransfer im Themenfeld gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt – Ein Diskussionsgespräch
Authors: Kamuf Viktoria , Quent Matthias
Published: April 2024

Viele Sozialwissenschaftler:innen befassen sich in unterschiedlichen disziplinären und institutionellen Settings mit Konzepten des gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalts – als involvierte Forscher:innen oder auch als kritische Beobachter:innen der wissenschaftlichen und öffentlichen Debatte. Im Beitrag diskutieren Naika Foroutan, Stephan Lessenich und Kai Unzicker – die unterschiedliche Ausprägungen einer öffentlichen, kritischen beziehungsweise policy-orientierten Sozialforschung vertreten – mit den Herausgeber:innen Viktoria Kamuf und Matthias Quent über inner-wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit, gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt als Konzept und Gegenstand sozialwissenschaftlicher Forschung sowie die Bedeutung des Wissenstransfers in diesem Forschungsfeld.