bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vocal fold restoration after scarring: biocompatibility and efficacy of an MSC-based bioequivalent
Authors: Svistushkin Mikhail , Shpichka Anastasia , Bikmulina Polina , Fayzullin Alexey , Zolotova Anna , Kosheleva Nastasia , Selezneva Liliya , Shavkuta Boris , Lobacheva Viktoria , Nikiforova Anna , Kochetkov Peter , Kotova Svetlana , Starostina Svetlana , Shekhter Anatoly , Svistunov Andrey , Svistushkin Valeriy , Timashev Peter
Published: October 2023

Background

There is growing interest to application of regenerative medicine approaches in otorhinolaryngological practice, especially in the framework of the therapy of vocal fold (VF) scar lesions. The used conservative and surgical methods, despite the achieved positive outcomes, are frequently unpredictable and do not result in the restoration of the VF’s lamina propria’s structure, which provides the mechanical properties necessary for vibration. In this connection, the aim of this study was to ascertain the safety and efficacy of a bioequivalent in the treatment of VF scars using a rabbit model of chronic damage.

Methods

The bioequivalent consisted of a hydrogel system based on a PEG-fibrin conjugate and human bone marrow-derived MSC. It was characterized and implanted heterotopically into rats and orthotopically into rabbits after VF scar excision.

Results

We showed that the fabricated bioequivalent consisted of viable cells retaining their metabolic and proliferative activity. While being implanted heterotopically, it had induced the low inflammatory reaction in 7 days and was well tolerated. The orthotopic implantation showed that the gel application was characterized by a lower hemorrhage intensity (p = 0.03945). The intensity of stridor and respiratory rate between the groups in total and between separate groups had no statistically significant difference (p = 0.96 and p = 1; p = 0.9593 and p = 0.97…1, respectively). In 3 days post-implantation, MSC were detected only in the tissues closely surrounding the VF defect. The bioequivalent injection caused that the scar collagen fibers were packed looser and more frequently mutually parallel that is inherent in the native tissue (p = 0.018). In all experimental groups, the fibrous tissue’s ingrowth in the adjacent exterior muscle tissue was observed; however, in Group 4 (PEG-Fibrin + MSC), it was much less pronounced than it was in Group 1 (normal saline) (p = 0.008). The difference between the thicknesses of the lamina propria in the control group and in Group 4 was not revealed to be statistically significant (p = 0.995). The Young’s modulus of the VF after the bioequivalent implantation (1.15 ± 0.25 kPa) did not statistically significantly differ from the intact VF modulus (1.17 ± 0.45 kPa); therefore, the tissue properties in this group more closely resembled the intact VF.

Conclusions

The developed bioequivalent showed to be biocompatible and highly efficient in the restoration of VF’s tissue.
Enhancing a Sphaerobacter thermophilus ω-transaminase for kinetic resolution of β- and γ-amino acids
Authors: Wegner Uwe , Matthes Falko , von Wirén Nicolaus , Lemke Ina , Bode Rüdiger , Vorbrodt H.-Matthias , Rauter Marion , Kunze Gotthard
Published: October 2023

Sphaerobacter thermophilus synthesizes an ω-transaminase (ω-TA) that allows the production of enantiomerically pure β-amino acids. To obtain ω-TA variants with a higher activity and more favorable properties for industrial use, we modified critical amino acid residues either in the catalytic center or in a previously proposed signature motif critical for aromatic β-amino acid ω-TAs. Seventeen different variants of this enzyme were generated and their activity was examined with four β-amino acids and one γ-amino acid, and compared with the wildtype’s activity. Among all variants, seven showed up to ninefold higher activity with at least one of the tested substrates. For most of these seven variants, the temperature optimum was even lower as in the wild type enzyme, with keeping a high temperature stability, making them more valuable for industrial purposes. Our results indicate that for the production of enantiomerically pure β-amino acids replacement of critical amino acid residues in the proposed signature motif of ω-TAs is a more effective strategy than modifying their catalytic center. Another finding was, that the proposed motif is not only suitable for aromatic amino acid ω-TAs, because some of the variants have a higher activity with β-alanine or β-leucine than with aromatic β-amino acids.

Graphical Abstract
Joint channel and impulse noise estimation based on compressed sensing and Kalman filter for OFDM system
Authors: Zhao Yiting , Li Youming , Shi Shoudong , Yu Jianding
Published: October 2023

Impulse noise (IN) widely exists in many communication systems, which seriously affects the performance of OFDM communication systems. A joint channel and IN estimation method based on all subcarriers is designed. This method uses a sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) algorithm incorporating forward–backward Kalman filter (FB-Kalman) to tackle the problem of joint channel and IN estimation and data detection for OFDM systems. Firstly, the channel impulse response and IN are regarded as unknown sparse vectors, and a SBL framework using all subcarriers is proposed to estimate the unknown vector. The SBL theory is used based on the prior distribution of variables, and then the forward–backward joint system is established, which applies the data detection simultaneously. We also propose the FB-Kalman implementation algorithm by using the expectation maximization updates. Explicit expressions of mean and covariance matrix of the posterior distribution are derived in the E-step. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm improves the normalized mean square error and bit error rate performance of OFDM system in the presence of IN communication environment.
Vulnerability to health and well-being of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar post-military coup and COVID-19
Authors: Khai Tual Sawn
Published: October 2023

Across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated particular challenges for internally displaced people (IDPs). Over 1.9 million people in Myanmar have been displaced due to the escalation of armed conflict after the military coup in 2021. The vulnerability faced by IDPs in Myanmar, coupled with the impact of the recent military coup and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has received little global attention. This study examined how military coup exacerbated the health and well-being of IDPs in Myanmar post the military coup. The study employed purposive sampling and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) referrals to find participants. Qualitative in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with a total of 17 IDPs. A thematic analysis of the findings indicates that IDPs experience anxiety and fear daily, adversely affecting their mental health due to the increased escalation of armed conflict and attacks on civilian places, including IDPs shelters. Some IDPs contract COVID-19 and suffer from malaria and dengue fever owing to their precarious living conditions. Moreover, the military’s restrictions on humanitarian aid distribution, including healthcare, medicine, and food, have severely impacted the health and well-being of IDPs in Myanmar, exacerbating food shortages and limiting healthcare access.
Effectiveness and feasibility of a motivational interviewing intake (MII) intervention for increasing client engagement in outpatient addiction treatment: an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design protocol
Authors: Hurlocker Margo C. , Moyers Theresa B. , Hatch Melissa , Curran Geoffrey , McCrady Barbara , Venner Kamilla L. , Witkiewitz Katie
Published: October 2023

Background

Client discontinuation from outpatient addiction treatment programs is common, and the initial intake is the service delivery point with the highest attrition rate. Replacing the comprehensive intake assessment with a person-centered Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention is a potential solution to address provider and client concerns about the disengaging, time-intensive nature of the typical initial intake. It remains unclear whether the use of an alternative to the standard intake at the initial visit can fit within typical organizational reporting requirements, whether it decreases attrition, and whether implementation of person-centered intake procedures within outpatient addiction treatment programs is feasible, acceptable, and can be sustained.

Purpose

To describe the methods and design of an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 1 trial of a Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) intervention using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Methods

The study will determine the effectiveness of two intake conditions: (1) standard comprehensive intake assessment (intake-as-usual [IAU]), and (2) MII consisting of a person-centered discussion between provider and client about the client’s desire and intent to enter treatment. Although both interventions are focused on understanding client presenting complaints and needs for treatment, the delivery differs as the IAU uses a semi-structured assessment guide, while MII applies the theory of MI to have a conversation about treatment engagement. Adults seeking outpatient addiction treatment services will be randomly assigned to the MII condition (n = 75) or the IAU condition (n = 75). Primary outcomes will be client engagement (i.e., treatment entry, attendance, and completion) obtained from the electronic medical record. Secondary outcomes (client motivation and therapeutic alliance) will be putative mechanisms of client engagement assessed immediately before and after the intake. The trial also will explore determinants of effective, sustainable implementation using assessments of organizational readiness and capacity to change, as well as interviews on MII implementation feasibility.

Conclusion

This trial of an MII intervention will investigate the feasibility of a motivational intervention as an initial contact with substance use treatment-seeking clients as well as indicators of intervention effectiveness within the systems where it is employed.

Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05489068
Nano-biomaterials and advanced fabrication techniques for engineering skeletal muscle tissue constructs in regenerative medicine
Authors: Han Seokgyu , Cruz Sebastián Herrera , Park Sungsu , Shin Su Ryon
Published: October 2023

Engineered three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs have emerged as a promising solution for regenerating damaged muscle tissue resulting from traumatic or surgical events. 3D architecture and function of the muscle tissue constructs can be customized by selecting types of biomaterials and cells that can be engineered with desired shapes and sizes through various nano- and micro-fabrication techniques. Despite significant progress in this field, further research is needed to improve, in terms of biomaterials properties and fabrication techniques, the resemblance of function and complex architecture of engineered constructs to native muscle tissues, potentially enhancing muscle tissue regeneration and restoring muscle function. In this review, we discuss the latest trends in using nano-biomaterials and advanced nano-/micro-fabrication techniques for creating 3D muscle tissue constructs and their regeneration ability. Current challenges and potential solutions are highlighted, and we discuss the implications and opportunities of a future perspective in the field, including the possibility for creating personalized and biomanufacturable platforms.
Dairy consumption in adults in China: a systematic review
Authors: Yang Shuhua , Bhargava Nupur , O’Connor Aileen , Gibney Eileen R. , Feeney Emma L.
Published: October 2023

Background

Research on dairy consumption in China is lacking, however, some evidence has demonstrated significant changes in recent years, with a reported increase in the overall consumption of dairy products. To fully understand these changes, a systematic review was conducted to examine reported dairy intakes and differences between dairy consumption in different population groups in China. Methods: Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for studies published from January 2000 to September 2022. The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was used to retrieve papers available in Chinese. Papers reporting dietary intakes of dairy consumption across age, sex, and geographical location sub-groups were considered for inclusion in this review. In addition, this review includes the consumption of different types of dairy foods and changes in dairy intake over time. Results: Forty-seven papers were included in the present study. Twelve papers examined dairy consumption across age groups, showing that middle-aged adults tend to consume less dairy than other age groups. Studies comparing across location-specific cohorts reported dairy intakes among urban populations were higher than rural, as well as being higher than the national average. Coastal, Northern and Eastern residents consumed more dairy products than those living in other regions of China, and people in larger cities had higher reported intakes than smaller cities. Milk was the primary dairy product reportedly consumed by Chinese population, followed by yogurt. Concerning sex, evidence showed that females generally reported a greater daily dairy intake than males. Conclusions: This review shows that, in China, several different population groups displayed significant differences in the amount and type of dairy consumed. When considering the incorporation of dairy products into healthy eating guidelines or positioning specific dairy products on the market, it is important to consider the differences and variations in consumption patterns within population groups.
Bank efficiency in Middle East and North African countries: Does political connection type matter?
Authors: Lassoued Naima , Khanchel Imen , Fakhfakh Imen
Published: October 2023

This study examines the effects of the political connections of chief executive officers (CEOs) or directors on technical, allocative, and cost bank efficiencies examining a panel of 144 banks operating in 12 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries observed over the 2008–2021 period. Using random effect tobit regressions, we find that the three types of political connections explored (aggregate, CEO, and board of directors) have negative effects on banks’ technical and cost efficiencies. In addition, CEO political connections exhibit superior explanatory power. These findings remain robust when we consider the sample in terms of monarchist and republican countries. Further evidence reveals that the effect of political connections is observed more strongly during the pandemic period (2020–2021) than during the 2008–2009 financial crisis period. Our results indicate that banks in MENA countries must strategically regulate bank political connections during crises and consistently thereafter. Our findings have implications for regulators investors and authorities in MENA countries.
Efficacy of high-frequency spinal cord stimulation for fibromyalgia syndrome in two cases: case reports
Authors: Horita Mikiko , Yasuhira Ayumi , Hirakawa Mikako , Watanabe Aisa , Higaki Nobuhiro , Nishihara Tasuku , Yorozuya Toshihiro
Published: October 2023

Background

Reports on the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the alleviation of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) pain are scarce. We report two cases of effective high-frequency SCS at 1000 Hz against upper- and lower-limb pain in patients with FMS.

Case presentation

Two women with widespread pain were diagnosed with FMS and the pain gradually worsened. A 1-week SCS trial was conducted in each patient. In both cases, the patients complained of unpleasant sensations during 10-Hz SCS. However, the pain was alleviated after 1000-Hz stimulation without irritation. Therefore, leads and a generator were implanted, after which they felt almost no pain. Moreover, the dose of the oral medication could be reduced and the patients returned to their daily lives.

Conclusion

SCS at 1000 Hz may effectively treat pain associated with FMS. Therefore, performing an SCS trial for patients with FMS with intractable pain might be worthwhile.
Standard experimental paradigm designs and data exclusion practices in cognitive psychology can inadvertently introduce systematic “shadow” biases in participant samples
Authors: Siritzky Emma M. , Cox Patrick H. , Nadler Sydni M. , Grady Justin N. , Kravitz Dwight J. , Mitroff Stephen R.
Published: October 2023

Standard cognitive psychology research practices can introduce inadvertent sampling biases that reduce the reliability and generalizability of the findings. Researchers commonly acknowledge and understand that any given study sample is not perfectly generalizable, especially when implementing typical experimental constraints (e.g., limiting recruitment to specific age ranges or to individuals with normal color vision). However, less obvious systematic sampling constraints, referred to here as “shadow” biases, can be unintentionally introduced and can easily go unnoticed. For example, many standard cognitive psychology study designs involve lengthy and tedious experiments with simple, repetitive stimuli. Such testing environments may 1) be aversive to some would-be participants (e.g., those high in certain neurodivergent symptoms) who may self-select not to enroll in such studies, or 2) contribute to participant attrition, both of which reduce the sample’s representativeness. Likewise, standard performance-based data exclusion efforts (e.g., minimum accuracy or response time) or attention checks can systematically remove data from participants from subsets of the population (e.g., those low in conscientiousness). This commentary focuses on the theoretical and practical issues behind these non-obvious and often unacknowledged “shadow” biases, offers a simple illustration with real data as a proof of concept of how applying attention checks can systematically skew latent/hidden variables in the included population, and then discusses the broader implications with suggestions for how to manage and reduce, or at a minimum acknowledge, the problem.
The effect of nutrition and physical activity on sleep quality among adults: a scoping review
Authors: Alruwaili Nawaf W. , Alqahtani Nasser , Alanazi Maryam H. , Alanazi Bushra S. , Aljrbua Meznah S. , Gatar Othman M.
Published: October 2023

Sleep quality and its effects have become a public concern over the last few years. While the prevalence of sleep disorders was increasing, several studies have linked diet and physical activity as a cause of it. Indeed, many people complain about their sleeping problems without considering their lifestyle as a cause. This leads the efforts to focus on these principal factors and find their specific effect. The study aims to map out the research on the effect of nutrition and physical activity on sleep quality. The literature search was conducted in electronic libraries and databases related to nutrition and medical literature – Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect– using relevant selected keywords. Article inclusion and selection were made by excluding duplicates, analyzing titles and abstracts, and reviewing the articles’ full text. This review included 61 articles. This literature study reinforces the importance of researching sleep and the lifestyle contributors to poor sleep, such as physical activity and nutrition.
Dual erector spinae plane block for complex traumas of upper and lower limb: an opioid reduction strategy—a case series
Authors: Diwan Sandeep , Nair Abhijit , Adhye Bharati , Bhong Ganesh , Sancheti Parag
Published: October 2023

Background

Patients with polytrauma (fractures of the humerus and the femur) require concurrent operative fixation. Pain originating from multiple operative sites leads to increasing doses of opioid-based analgesia, which has detrimental effects in the form of longer hospital stays, higher costs, and increased mortality.

Case presentation

In twelve patients with humerus and femur fractures, a cervical erector spinae plane block (ESPB) at the level of T1 and a lumbar ESPB at the level of L2 were administered with a catheter and continuous infusion technique for postoperative analgesia. None of these patients required opioids in the postoperative period. The catheters were removed after 48 h.

Conclusions

A dual ESPB can be used successfully in patients with multiple injuries by appropriately selecting the level of intervention, and opioid-sparing analgesia can be effectively delivered to these patients.
Pleural invasion in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Reddy Akhila , Islam Ebtesam , Batson Benjamin , Taylor Madison
Published: October 2023

Pleural invasion is a recognized adverse prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer. Here, we document a case of non-small cell lung cancer in a 66-year-old male presenting with direct invasion of the tumor through lung pleura into the mediastinum. Pleural invasion can proceed past the elastic layer of the visceral pleura, classified as PL1. Less commonly, invasion to the surface of the visceral pleura or parietal pleura can occur and is classified as PL2 and PL3 respectively. PL2 invasion is associated with increased mortality; patients have lower overall survival compared to those without visceral pleural invasion (HR=2.447, 95% CI 0.336,0.579) and those with only PL1 invasion (HR=1.287, 95% CI 1.114, 1.487). Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with pleural invasion includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
Revealing the therapeutic potential of dupilumab: a case report on managing post-COVID-19 chronic pruritus in a geriatric patient
Authors: Meltan Shakira , Matthew Ethan , Tarbox Michelle
Published: October 2023

This case report describes a 73-year-old Caucasian male who contracted COVID-19 and struggled with chronic, severe pruritus after that. The patient's pruritus resisted numerous conventional and unconventional therapy modalities, highlighting the difficulty of treating post-COVID-19 dermatological symptoms. Pruritus in the patient was significantly alleviated due to therapy with Dupixent, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 signaling. Treatment of the condition improved significantly with the use of Dupixent. The report describes the story of the patient's journey, from the first-time symptoms showed up after COVID-19 infection, through several treatments that was not effective, to when the patient's symptoms disappeared after starting Dupixent. The patient's recent SARS-CoV-2 infection may be connected to the immune-mediated process shown by the patient's histopathological results. Even though these results are based on a single instance, they highlight COVID-19's ability to cause chronic pruritus and recommend Dupixent as a possible treatment approach. More study is required to confirm these findings and investigate possible immunological connections between COVID-19 and chronic pruritus.
Presentation and management of pneumomediastinum in patients with COVID-19 infection
Authors: Karim Sulaiman , Nugent Kenneth
Published: October 2023

Pneumomediastinum, characterized by the presence of air in the mediastinum, can be primary (spontaneous) or secondary. Although relatively rare and usually benign with an incidence of 1 in 7,000 to 12,000 hospital admissions, some cases can develop hemodynamic instability due to mechanical pressure, reducing venous return and may require emergency surgery. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of tension pneumomediastinum were infrequent, and there was no consensus on the best surgical approach to manage this condition.  This review considers the diverse presentations, underlying causes, and diagnostic and operative approaches in patients with COVID-19 infection and pneumomediastinum. A systematic search of databases, including PubMed and Scopus, was conducted.  Articles were reviewed to identify the risk factors for pneumomediastinum, the hemodynamic consequences, and approaches to management in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases. In patients with COVID-19 infection, pneumomediastinum represents a risk factor for poor outcomes, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation.  In patients with tension pneumomediastinum, surgical release of mediastinal air is essential and can use suprasternal incisions, lateral sternal incisions, or sternotomy, all with drains.  These patients are also at increased risk for tension pneumothorax and may require surgical chest tubes.
 
Keywords: Pneumomediastinum, COVID-19, hemodynamics, surgical management, clinical challenges
Piper betle extract and its application in bovine teat dipping solution inhibit and eliminate biofilms in bovine mastitis-inducing staphylococci
Authors: Sungkatavat Paparwee , Khongkhai Haemarat , Kanchana Wilasinee , Saengsawarng Phirabhat , Sangkanu Suthinee , Nissapatorn Veeranoot , Pereira Maria de Lourdes , Ontong Julalak Chorachoo , Mitsuwan Watcharapong
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim: Staphylococci, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, are significant bacteria that induce bovine mastitis, primarily because they can form biofilms in bovine teat canals. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Piper betle extract and a bovine teat dipping solution containing P. betle extract (BSP) against these mastitis-causing staphylococci.

Materials and Methods: BSP was prepared using P. betle extract as the bioactive compound. The antibacterial activity of the plant extract and BSP against the pathogens was investigated using a broth microdilution method. The activity of the extract and BSP against the pathogen biofilms was also determined. A stability test was performed to observe the pH, color, turbidity, homogeneity, precipitation, and separation of BSP stored at 4°C and 25°C for up to 4 weeks.

Results: The extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. haemolyticus, with similar values for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranging from 0.03 mg/mL to 0.125 mg/mL. The MIC and MBC values of the extract against S. chromogenes were 0.5-1 mg/mL and 0.5-2 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, BSP exhibited MIC and MBC values of 12.5–50 v/v against all tested staphylococci isolates. When used at 1/2 and 1/4 × MIC, the extract and BSP significantly inhibited the formation of staphylococcal biofilms (p < 0.05) in the tested strains. The results indicated that treatment with 1/2 × MIC of the extract and BSP resulted in biofilm inhibition ranging from 30%–66% and 19%–39%, respectively. Furthermore, the extract at 16 × MIC eliminated 54%-86% of established mature isolate biofilms, whereas BSP removed 41%-61% of mature biofilm viability. Storage of BSP at 4°C did not change the factors associated with stability from the 1st to 4th week.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that BSP may exhibit potential medicinal benefits in inhibiting the growth and biofilm formation of mastitis-inducing staphylococci in bovines.

Keywords: antibacterial activity, biofilms, bovine teat dipping solution, Piper betle extract, staphylococci.
Examination of the relationship between volunteering motivation for sports activities and attitudes towards sports of students in an elite university
Authors: Beşikçi Tolga , Dinler Kıvanç , Atalmış Erkan Hasan
Published: October 2023

Aim: The focus of this study was to analyze the motivation for volunteering, attitudes towards sports, and the relationship between these two factors among university students participating in a 3X3 basketball tournament.
Method: This study was designed with a correlational survey model by adopting a quantitative approach. The sample of the study consisted of students from a university ranked in the top 5 in Turkey. "Sports event voluntary motivation scale" and "University students' attitudes towards sports scale" were used as measurement tools. Statistical analysis methods such as independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann Whitney-U test, Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson Correlation analysis were applied.
Findings: According to the results of the study, the general dimension and psychosocial dimension of university students' sport attitudes differ in favor of female students in terms of "gender" variable. A significant, positive and moderate relationship was determined between students' motivation for voluntary participation and their attitudes towards sports.
Conclusion: These results show that there is a significant relationship between university students' motivation to participate in sport activities and their attitudes towards sport and only gender can play a determinant role on sport attitude.
(Extended English summary is at the end of this document)
Özet
 
Amaç: Bu araştırmanın odak noktası, 3X3 basketbol turnuvasına katılan üniversite öğrencilerinin gönüllülük motivasyonları, spora yönelik tutumları ve bu iki faktör arasındaki ilişkiyi analiz etmektir.
Yöntem: Bu araştırma, nicel bir yaklaşımı benimseyerek ilişkisel tarama modeli ile tasarlanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini Türkiye’de ilk 5’te yer alan bir üniversitedeki öğrenciler oluşturmaktadır. Ölçüm aracı olarak “spor etkinlikleri gönüllü motivasyon ölçeği” ve “üniversite öğrencilerinin spora yönelik tutumları ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada bağımsız örneklem t-testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA), Mann Whitney-U testi, Kruskal Wallis testi ve Pearson Korelasyon analizi gibi istatistiksel analiz yöntemleri uygulanmıştır.
Bulgular: Araştırma sonuçlarına göre, üniversite öğrencilerinin spor tutumları genel boyutu ve psikososyal boyutu, "cinsiyet" değişkeni açısından kadın öğrencilerin lehine farklılık göstermektedir. Öğrencilerin gönüllü katılım motivasyonu ile spora yönelik tutumları arasında anlamlı, pozitif ve orta düzeyde bir ilişki belirlenmiştir.
Sonuç: Bu sonuçlar, üniversite öğrencilerinin spor etkinliklerine katılım motivasyonu ile spora olan tutumları arasında analamlı bir ilişki olduğu ve sadece cinsiyetin spor tutumu üzerinde belirleyici bir rol oynayabileceğini göstermektedir.
Real-time scheduling for dynamic workshops with random new job insertions by using deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Sun Z.Y. , Han W.M. , Gao L.L.
Published: October 2023

Dynamic real-time workshop scheduling on job arrival is critical for effective production. This study proposed a dynamic shop scheduling method integrating deep reinforcement learning and convolutional neural network (CNN). In this method, the spatial pyramid pooling layer was added to the CNN to achieve effective dynamic scheduling. A five-channel, two-dimensional matrix that expressed the state characteristics of the production system was used to capture the state of the real-time production of the workshop. Adaptive scheduling was achieved by using a reward function that corresponds to the minimum total tardiness, and the common production dispatching rules were used as the action space. The experimental results revealed that the proposed algorithm achieved superior optimization capabilities with lower time cost than that of the genetic algorithm and could adaptively select appropriate dispatching rules based on the state features of the production system.
Genetic algorithm-based approach for makespan minimization in a flow shop with queue time limits and skip-ping jobs
Authors: Han J.H. , J.Y. Lee
Published: October 2023

This study investigates a flow shop scheduling problem with queue time limits and skipping jobs, which are common scheduling requirements for semiconductor and printed circuit board manufacturing systems. These manufacturing systems involve the most complex processes, which are strictly controlled and constrained to manufacture high-quality products and satisfy dynamic customer orders. Further, queue times between consecutive stages are limited. Given that the queue times are limited, jobs must begin the next step within the maximum queue time after the jobs in the previous step are completed. In the considered flow shop, several jobs can skip the first step, referred to as skipping jobs. Skipping jobs exist because of multiple types of products processed in the same flow shop. For the considered flow shop, this paper proposes a mathematical programming formulation and a genetic algorithm to minimize the makespan. The GA demonstrated its strengths through comprehensive computational experiments, demonstrating its effectiveness and efficiency. As the problem size increased, the GA's performance improved noticeably, while maintaining acceptable computation times for real-world fab facilities. We also validated its performance in various scenarios involving queue time limits and skipping jobs, to further emphasize its capabilities.
Familiarization with ambulatory sleep and blood pressure monitoring is necessary for representative data collection
Authors: Kleiber Kasey , Smith Caroline J. , Beck Steven D. , Hege Adam , Corgan Makenzie , West Crystal A. , Hunnicutt Lainey , Collier Scott R.
Published: October 2023

Ambulatory sleep and blood pressure monitoring are gaining popularity as these can be completed in an individual's home. Little is known regarding the reliability of data and the time it takes to acclimate to the equipment. This study aimed to determine how many nights of wearing the monitoring equipment were required to restore sleep architecture and blood pressure data to baseline. It was hypothesized familiarization would be demonstrated by night 3. Ten male and 10 female subjects completed three nights of sleep and blood pressure recordings. At visit 1, the subjects were familiarized with the equipment and instructed to wear the Sleep Profiler{trade mark, serif} and SunTech Medical Oscar2 ambulatory blood pressure cuff simultaneously for three consecutive nights, then subjects returned the equipment. The percent of time spent in rapid eye‐movement (REM) sleep was statistically different on night 3 when compared to night 1. Wake‐after‐sleep onset and sleep latency were not statistically different between nights 1, 2, and 3. Systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure were all significantly lower on night 3 compared to night 1. Cortical and autonomic arousals were statistically different on night 3. Ambulatory sleep and blood pressure monitoring need at least 3 nights for familiarization. The percent of time spent in REM sleep was statistically different on night 3 when compared to night 1. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure were all significantly lower on night 3 compared to night 1. Cortical and autonomic arousals were statistically different on nights 3 and 2, respectively compared to night 1. Based on these findings, ambulatory sleep and blood pressure monitoring takes three nights before the data are reliable and the person is familiarized with the mode of measurement. Therefore, it is recommended to use at least three nights of data collection when using the Sleep Profiler and Oscar2 ambulatory blood pressure cuff in order for results to be valid and reliable.
An Advisor to a Family Business. Main Challenges from the Perspective of Socio-Emotional Wealth (SEW)
Authors: Koładkiewicz Izabela , Wojtyra-Perlejewska Marta
Published: October 2023

The objective of the article is to identify from the perspective of socio-emotional wealth the key challenges that formal advisors cooperating with family businesses face and the factors determining their effective cooperation. The paper has a theoretical character. Using the assumptions of socio-emotional wealth construct the propositions indicating the future research directions were formulated. The main challenge of formal advisors working with family businesses is to understand and accept that socio-emotional wealth is an important point of reference in the process of making strategic decisions. Therefore, one of the most important factors for their effective cooperation is the advisor’s awareness of the importance of SEW for the owners’ family, sources of socio-emotional wealth and the current phase in the life cycle of the family business.
Multidimensional numerical simulation of thermodynamic and oscillating gas flow processes of a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler
Authors: Panda Debashis , Satapathy Ashok Kumar , Sarangi Sunil Kr. , Behera Upendra
Published: October 2023

The Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers are considered to be prominent candidates for the cooling of high-temperature superconducting magnets, liquefaction of permanent gases, helium recondensation in magnetic resonance imaging machines, cooling of superconducting quantum interference device, etc. In this paper, multi-dimensional numerical simulation is performed to visualize the oscillating heat and fluid flow processes that happen in a mechanically driven GM cryocooler. Influence of the ideal gas equation and real gas equation of states on the cooling behaviour is explained. The minimum achievable refrigeration temperature of a uniform mesh regenerator is compared with a multi-mesh regenerator. It is noticed that a multi-mesh regenerator produces a lower refrigeration temperature as compared to a uniform mesh regenerator. In addition to this, a one-dimensional simulation is conducted and results are compared with multi-dimensional numerical simulation. The no-load temperature value calculated by the one-dimensional model and multi-dimensional model with ideal gas is lower than that of real gas equations. Additionally, the refrigerating capacity calculated by the one-dimensional model and multi-dimensional model with the ideal gas equation is higher than those of the real gas equation of state.
Seeing like a region
Authors: Schragger Richard C.
Published: October 2023

Observers of metropolitan dysfunction have long advocated for a regional tier of government that could (among other things) equalize spending across local jurisdictions, pursue cooperative economic development policies, provide for fair share housing, rationalize land use, and coordinate transportation planning. For many good government reformers, right-scaling our fragmented metropolitan areas appears to be an obvious solution to interjurisdictional spillovers and competitive races-to-the-bottom.

This article counsels caution. “Region hope”—the idea that the substantive problems of metropolitan governance can be solved regionally by redrawing territorial boundaries to encompass ever-larger areas—is perennial. But territorial manipulation in aid of state centralization has significant drawbacks. The regional impulse exhibits some key features of failed social engineering efforts; seen through the lens of the state, these efforts privilege technocratic over democratic governance, bureaucratic over local knowledge, and mobile over immobile capital. That does not mean that regionalism should be resisted in all cases, but only that the costs of territorial manipulation should be weighed against its asserted benefits.
The democratic problems with Washington as the capital
Authors: Fontana David
Published: October 2023

Democracy demands a capital city that represents a country and is not removed from it. If the government is to be of the people and for the people, then the capital must be able to relate to the people—and the people to the capital. In the United States, democracy struggles not just because of what happens outside of and comes to Washington, but because of what happens inside Washington. The federal government, in other words, faces democratic problems because of the type of place that Washington is. There are many factors to consider in deciding where a country should be governed from, but the ability of the capital to understand the country it governs is certainly one of the most important of these factors. The goal of this symposium article is to consider the contemporary democratic crisis in these geographical terms. Washington was initially a rural area meant to govern a rural country. It has gradually turned into a dynamic metropolitan area meant to govern a country featuring many—and many different—dynamic metropolitan areas. During its entire history, though, Washington has remained dominated by a single company: the federal government. A company town will struggle to attract and to cultivate the large range of people featured in the United States. Given that a company town struggles to satisfy the democratic demands of a capital, the question then becomes whether other types of places would better satisfy these democratic demands.
Shadow regionalism in immigration enforcement during COVID-19
Authors: Marouf Fatma
Published: October 2023

Stark variations exist in U.S. immigration enforcement. These variations have persisted even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when special measures that should have constrained variations were in place. This Article argues that variations in discretionary enforcement decisions based on resistance to national policies, bias, illegal tactics, or arbitrariness are unjust and should be curtailed. The Article first distinguishes between transparent sources of variation in immigration law and variations that stem from non-transparent, discretionary determinations. Within the category of discretionary determinations, the Article argues that there are just and unjust variations. It contends that unjust variations raise serious constitutional concerns, weaken preemption doctrine, and require us to reconceptualize the immigration federalism debate to account for cooperative and uncooperative behavior within the federal government itself. Finally, the Article offers solutions to help limit unjust variations.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR AUTOMATED ASSESSMENT OF THE ARTILLERY BARRELS WEAR BASED ON SVM CLASSIFIER
Authors: Dobrynin Yevhenii V. , Boltenkov Viktor O. , Maksymov Maksym V.
Published: October 2023

An information technology for the automated assessment of the has been developed wear level has been developed. Information technology is based on the analysis of acoustic fields accompanying a shot. The acoustic field of the shot consists of a ballistic wave accompanying a projectile flying out at a supersonic speed, and a muzzle wave generated when propellant gases are ejected from the barrel. The parameters of the ballistic and muzzle waves depend significantly on the level of barrel wear. This makes it possible to construct an automatic classifier of the barrel wear level based on the analysis of informative features of acoustic signals recorded by microphones near the weapon's firing position. The information technology is based on a binary SVM classifier. A set of records of acoustic fields of shots was synthesized on the basis of real signals recorded when firing a 155 mm howitzer. From the set of records, a training and test set of information features were formed for training the classifier and assessing its quality. Methods of preliminary data normalization of training and test samples are investigated. A technique for optimizing the classifier hyperparameters with instance cross-validation has been developed. The technique is a two-stage method for finding the optimal values of hyperparameters. In the first stage, the search is performed on an exponential decimal grid. At the second stage, the optimal values of hyperparameters are refined on a linear grid. A method for the binary classification of artillery barrels according to the wear level has been formulated. Checking the classifier on a consistent test sample showed that it provides the correct classification of barrel wear with a probability of 0.94. An information technology has been developed for classifying artillery barrels by wear level based on the analysis of acoustic fields of shots. Information technology consists of three stages: data preparation, construction, training an optimization of the binary SVM classifier and the operation of the binary SVM classifier. A field experiment was carried out, which confirmed the correctness of the basic scientific and technical solutions. An automated system has been developed for classifying wellbores by wear level.
Accounting and Analytical Aspect of Performing Factoring Operations
Authors:   Ostroh Academy National University, Mamontova Nataliya , Tataryn Maria ,   Ostroh Academy National University
Published: October 2023

Every year, factoring operations gain popularity not only abroad, but also in the domestic market of non-banking financial services. However, our enterprises do not use this service very often, due to mistrust, lack of distribution and ignorance. In addition, there is the issue of an imperfect explanation of the implementation of some aspects of factoring operations. That is why the article reveals the issue of factoring in Ukraine, its development and dynamics, reflected in the legislation. A study of some aspects of accounting was carried out and the recommendations of scientists regarding the display of various types of factoring operations were reflected. Also, an important point is the control of receivables before and during the use of factoring operations.
Integrated Processes in the Maritime Trade Market System
Authors:   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Balan Oleksandr , Lypynska Olena ,   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Stakhov Serafim ,   Odesa National Maritime University
Published: October 2023

The article deals with the integration processes that take place in the maritime trade market system. The aim of the article is to focus attention on choosing the methods for assessing the real state of the sea transport subsystem. The maritime trade market actually functions outside of national legal aspects. At the same time, it is the national capital assets that reflect the technical and economic level of vessels of a certain nationality that form entrepreneurial and macroeconomic efficiency. Thus, it has been established that in the system of any market relations for each industry, oriented to the stability of demand, it should be considered natural to differentiate the enterprises development in order to maintain a position according to the factors of innovative technologies.
Problem Loan Debt of Agricultural Business Entities in the Loan Portfolio of Ukrainian Banks: Analysis and Evaluation of Change in Key Components
Authors:   National Scientific Center ", Andros Svitlana ,   Institute of Agrarian Economy",   National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Gerasymchuk Vasyl ,   National Technical University of Ukraine "Ihor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute"
Published: October 2023

The purpose of the article is to analyze and evaluate the portfolio of problem loan debt of business entities in the field of agriculture and hunting. The issues of the state and dynamics of problem debt of business entities in the field of agriculture and hunting and its components in the loan portfolio of domestic banks are considered. The trends in the problem debt of business entities in the field of agriculture and hunting for the period 2009-2023 have been studied. The share of non-performing loans in the banking system of Ukraine is shown. Analyzed the volume and share of non-performing loans to agriculture and hunting by the size of the enterprise. The share of loans granted to agriculture and hunting in national and foreign currencies is estimated by the size of the enterprise. The share of non-performing loans to agriculture and hunting in national and foreign currency in the portfolio of non-performing loans by the size of the enterprise is presented. It is proved that bad debts of credit institutions are considered as an indicator of the general state of the economy. Methodological approaches to building an effective system for settling problematic debts of business entities in the field of agriculture and hunting in the bank have been developed.