bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the issue of classification of agricultural insurance taking into account modern trends in its development
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of Russian Federation, Logvinova Irina ,   Synergy University
Published: October 2024

The Russian legislation does not contain the term “agricultural insurance”, however, in modern publications of Russian scientists and practitioners of the insurance business, this term is used as a synonym for the term “farm insurance”. The article explores the question of the identity of these terms, and their content is correlated with the provisions of Russian legislation. This makes it possible to explore the options for classifying varieties of agricultural insurance offered in the publications of Russian authors, as well as to propose other options for classifications. According to the author of the article, the classification of varieties of agricultural insurance based on a systematic approach and a clearly formulated criterion is important for identifying the essential features of new varieties for our country and their positioning in accordance with the provisions of Russian insurance legislation. The classifications proposed in the article made it possible to formulate the definition of the so-called “index-based crop insurance” used abroad. A number of Russian scientists propose to introduce such insurance in our country, but there are open questions related to its compliance with the provisions of Russian insurance legislation, for example, in terms of determining the object of insurance or the type of insurance. The article developed three types of classification of varieties of agricultural insurance: on the basis of a criterion that is used as a confirmation of the fact of the occurrence of an insured event; based on the number of risks against which the insurance contract protects; on the basis of the object in which the insured wealth interests materialized. Positioning of index-based crop insurance in each of the developed classifications made it possible to develop a scientific definition of this type of insurance: index crop insurance is a special insurance mechanism (significantly different from the classical insurance mechanism), within which multi-risk business risk insurance is carried out, that is, the risk of a decrease in income associated with the yield of crops grown for sale, for reasons beyond the control of the agricultural producer.
Approaches to the Study of Identity in Contemporary Philosophy
Authors:   Moldova State University, Goncharova Xenia O.
Published: October 2024

The concept of ‘identity’ increasingly appears in the space of public discussions of modernity: it is referred to by social activists, it is studied by academics, and its violations worry legal scholars and human rights advocates. Indirectly, the very fact of such active reference suggests that contemporary society is experiencing an identity crisis. This fact is stated by representatives of many disciplines (sociology, cultural studies, psychology, etc.), however, it is still understudied. Philosophy is not an exception in this case. Modern philosophers speak about identity (political, cultural, social, civic, etc.), but rarely attempt a full-fledged philosophical analysis of this phenomenon. In this connection, it is not surprising that there is no classification of philosophical theories of identity or analysis of their methodological foundations in the academic literature. Thus, the paper aims to provide an overview of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of identity in contemporary philosophy. As a result of applying methods of contextual analysis, comparative analysis, and rational historical and philosophical reconstruction to contemporary philosophical material on identity we have managed to identify four main approaches: Freudomarxism (S.Žižek), Poststructuralism (J.Butler), Multiculturalism (C.Taylor), and Philosophical Hermeneutics (P.Ricoeur). Their substantive specificity stems from the peculiarities of their theoretical foundations and the theoretical and pragmatic aims of their representatives and, as a consequence, entails some drawbacks, which should be taken into account in the future development of identity theory in philosophy.
Rhetorical and Strategic Meaning of “Envy” (φθόνος) in Josephus. Examples of Korah and John of Gischala
Authors:   Uniwersytet Pomorski w Słupsku, Bejda Wojciech
Published: October 2024

The aim of this article is to analyse the theme of envy and its complexity in Josephus’ works in rhetorical and strategic sense rather than just as a literary topos. The paper focuses on two cases motivated by envy: Korah’s rebellion against Moses and the conflict between Josephus and John of Gischala. In these two cases, both the characteristics of envious persons and the richest descriptions of their sinister activities appear. The idea of Korah’s envy was not based on the Bible or the Second Temple literature or traditions but on Josephus’ own experiences from the period of his short-term command in Galilee (December 66 — July 67) when he was in conflict with envious John of Gischala. Thanks to this procedure, he was able to create the self-apologetic impression that his fate and that of Moses were intertwined because they had opponents with similar characteristics who were motivated by the same vice. Moreover, Josephus in both narratives follows the specific sequence according to which the envy leads to a “plot” (ἐπιβουλή), then to “false accusations” (διαβολή) and finally to a “sedition” (στάσις). He strategically used the theme of envy for his own apology to condemn his enemy, John of Gischala. The envy he felt disclosed the character of a person who was worse than Josephus in terms of personality traits. Josephus instead appears before the readers as a stoic sage who is free from weakness such as envy. At the same time the author draws attention to his own well-deserved success, thus the presence of envy becomes an indicator of his achievements. He conceals his own negative actions during his command in Galilee and tries to direct the audience’s attention to a specific arrangement of events that will lead to blaming his opponent.
Verb Forms with Aspectual Semantics in Latin and Ancient Greek in the Text of the New Testament (Gospel of Mark)
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Filimonov Evgeny G. , Fedotov Maksim L.
Published: October 2024

The results of a comparative study of verb forms with aspectual semantics in Ancient Greek (Koine) (which has an overt category of aspect) and Latin (where aspect is rather a covert category), based on the Gospel of Mark, have shown that the expected correspondence of verb forms appears to be standard in the material as well: it is found in the majority of cases (97,6 % of the Ancient Greek Aorist translated by the Latin Perfect, and 89,4 % of the Ancient Greek Imperfect/Present translated by the Latin Imperfect). Therefore, there must be a considerable semantic overlap between the Ancient Greek Aorist and the Latin Perfect forms and between the Ancient Greek Imperfect/Present forms and the Latin Imperfect forms. For each pair, there must be a common semantic core, corresponding in the first case to the perfective, and in the second case to the imperfective viewpoints. In the minority of cases, we find deviations from this standard correspondence. Some of them can be explained by the trivial fact that the context allows freedom in the choice of the aspectual viewpoint. However, in several cases, the discrepancies are not accidental and can be explained by the existence of specific differences between the grammatical systems of two languages. These include iterative contexts and contexts with speech verbs.
Sources and Models of the Zoological Excursus in George of Pisidia’s Hexaemeron. Part 1: Aithyia, Ibis, Spider
Authors:   Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran), Zeltchenko Vsevolod V.
Published: October 2024

This article opens a series devoted to investigating the sources of the ample zoological excursus (vv. 916–1223) in the Hexaemeron by George of Pisidia, a 7th-century Byzantine poet. Since the two attempts to find a general formula for George of Pisidia’s treatment of his models have led to directly opposite results (according to Max Wellmann, the poet distanced himself from pagan zoologists; according to Luigi Tartaglia, on the contrary, he drew material from them, favouring Aelian), it seems that the question of the poem’s sources should be addressed by a step-by-step examination of passages, paying attention to such evidence as the coincidence of minor details or words. In v. 1116 the unusual metaphor “aithyia, bending its winged cloud” (in the sense of “spreading its wings”) makes one think of an (unconscious?) association with Arat. Phaen. 918–920, where “a stretching cloud” is mentioned in the catalogue of storm’s signs in immediate juxtaposition to the flapping of the wings of seabirds. In vv. 1117–1124 (the self-cleansing of the ibis) the reference to Galen is not a mere metonymy (= “the most skillful physician”), as interpreters have hitherto thought, but points to the poet’s source: in the Galenic corpus this story is attested three times, and the passage closest to George of Pisidia’s account is [Galen.] Introd. 1.2. In vv. 1154–1159 (the structure of the web) the confused sequence of the stages of the spider’s work (first concentric circles, then radial threads), that contradicts both reality and (which is more important) the ancient tradition going back to Book IX of Historia animalium, seems to betray the influence of John Philoponus (De opif. mundi, p. 257, 24 sqq. Reinhardt). In Philoponus’ text this sequence is justified by the fact that his rhetorical passage describes, strictly speaking, not the web itself, but a drawing of it made by a “diligent geometer”.
La critique du texte du Digeste à l’université de Bologne au XIIe et au début du XIIIe siècle. Le cas des commentaires sur D. 34.5.13.3
Authors:   St. Petersburg Institute of History, of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mazhuga Vladimir I.
Published: October 2024

Seven commentaries on D. 34.5.13.3 are examined, for the most part from the text found by the author in six codices written at the turn of the 13th century. The fugitive notice of Rogerius (d. around 1162) provoked attempts to correct the paragraph of the Digest and gave rise to a whole series of commentaries in the form of glosses, but also more developed commentaries, that of Ioannes Bassianus taking the form of a treatise. The Roman jurist has dealt in the paragraph with two variants of one and the same stipulation. Except for Bassianus, the medieval commentators could not understand the meaning of a fine distinction between these variants, and they were seduced by Rogerius’s idea that the elimination of the negative particle, employed in each of these variants, would have given an alternative character to two similar formulas of stipulation, by giving more movement and vigour to the thought of the Roman author. Rogerius wrote his entry in the first person. Next to this notice lies its paraphrase, written in the third person, probably by Placentin (d. between 1180 and 1192), Rogerius’ successor at the legal school of Provence. An interesting discussion focused on this paraphrase. The crux of the dispute was whether the negative particle should be eliminated in the first or second stipulation formula. In the heat of the discussion, the faithful followers of Bassianus, Hugolinus and Nicholas the Furious, largely ignored their master’s opinion.
Βλιμάζων versus κολάζων (Ep. Arist. 188)
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Druzhinina Ekaterina A.
Published: October 2024

This piece explores the difficult expression βλιμάζων ἐπιεικέστερον found in the MSS of the Letter of Aristeas, in the section describing how Ptolemy II Philadelphus puts questions to the interpreters he has invited in Alexandria and receives advice to treat his subordinates with kindness and not to impose harsh punishments on them (Ep. Arist. 188). According to the most scholars, who have published the Letter of Aristeas, including P. Wendland, H. Thackeray, H. Andrews, R. Tramontano, and R. Shutt, the verb βλιμάζω in the answer of the Jewish sage means ‘to chastise’. However, this interpretation is not supported by the actual usage of the verb in ancient Greek. In fact, this word, which is often used in comedy, usually means ‘to grope’ and seems quite out of place coming from the sage. Günther Zuntz pointed out that the verb βλιμάζω is not appropriate and suggested correcting βλιμάζων to κολάζων, which is accepted by A. Pelletier (1962) and is supported in the recent studies on the Letter (Wright [2015] and Erto [2012]). The consideration of the correction and the analysis of the wordusage in ancient Greek literature, as well as the examination of the explanations provided by lexicographers, where the verb θλίβω and its derivatives are used as synonyms for βλιμάζω, lead us to the conclusion that Zuntz’s suggestion is not necessary und should be rejected. The reading βλιμάζων, confirmed by the manuscripts, may be retained by supposing that it implies pressure in a broader sense.
The Birsk Vendée: The Uprising in the Village of Novotroitskoe, Birsk District, Ufa Province, in the Summer of 1918
Authors:   Bashkir State Pedagogical University named after M. Akmulla, Ivanov A. O. , Aldashov A. N. ,   Bashkir State Pedagogical University named after M. Akmulla
Published: October 2024

The article is devoted to the description of the anti-Bolshevik uprising in the village of Novotroitskoe, Ufa Province, in June, 1918, which has so far been scarcely studied and many of its motives were not entirely clear. On the basis of recently declassified materials from the National Archives of the Republic of Bashkortostan, memoirs of those who participated in the suppression of that uprising, the works of Soviet researchers and local literature, we examine the causes, course and consequences of the peasant uprising. The events preceding the uprising under consideration are analyzed in detail, including the political situation in Birsk District and in the village of Novotroitskoe in 1917 and the first half of 1918. All these events are shown against the backdrop of the inner social and political conflict that flared in the country and the province. The main reason for that conflict was the Bolsheviks’ food policy in relation to the peasantry of the region. Those events took place simultaneously with the peasant uprising on the territory of the neighboring Zlatoust District of the Ufa Province. It should be particularly noted that the rural population of Novotroitskoe created their own body of power in opposition to the Soviet (Council) of Peasants’ Deputies. In addition the authors show the peculiarities of that particular uprising. The article also traces similarities and differences of the peasant uprisings in the Ufa Province in the given period and later uprisings until the early 1920s. The article will be of great interest not only to professional historical community but also to students, undergraduates, graduate students and all those who are interested in the history of the region under consideration during the revolution of 1917 and the Civil War.
“He Whimpered and Pestered So Hard…”: Conflict between the Customer and the Contractor during the Construction of the Kichkine Residence
Authors:   St. Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yefimov A. A.
Published: October 2024

The article highlights one of the little-studied problems of interaction between customers and contractors during construction of residences for members of the Romanovs family. Based on the analysis and synthesis of archival materials from the fund of the Department of Affairs of the Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich, the study turns to the consideration of the relationship between the officials of the Department, first of all, its head A. V. Korochentsov, with the contractor for the construction of the Crimean residence of His Highness Kichkine. The article notes that the first difficulties between the parties arose even at the stage of agreeing on design estimates and preparing the contract. At the same time, when preparing the project, the customer showed impatience, while when preparing the contract, on the contrary, the contractor tried to influence the Department. During the construction, there were also repeated misunderstandings and difficulties that arose, as can be judged, on the side of the contractor. They found their expression in criticism of the actions of persons sent by the Grand Duke to check the quality of work; in attempts to refuse to implement individual wishes of the customer without presenting clearly substantiated arguments and, most importantly, in non-compliance with the deadlines for completion of construction established by the contract. At the same time, the article notes that the Department of Affairs actually came into conflict with the contractor at the stage of final settlements, refusing to transfer the last payment due to imperfections and flaws made by the firm of the Tarasov brothers, which did not allow them to accept the work. The result of lengthy negotiations was a compromise, according to which the customer paid part of the amount, and the contractor refused further claims.
“…Someday the Motherland will Remember with Kindness”: The Fate of Siberian Emigrant Merchants in Northern Manchuria (1920–1930s)
Authors:   Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Komleva E. V.
Published: October 2024

On the basis of diverse sources, the personal composition of Siberian merchants who found themselves in forced emigration in different parts of the world after the events of 1917 and the Civil War that followed them has been revealed and for the first time presented as fully as possible. Information about their life in the 1920s and 1930s has been analyzed. Special attention has been paid to outstanding representatives of the Siberian business world: I. V. Kulaev, M. A. Novomeisky, S. V. Vostrotin, as well as the most numerous community of Siberian merchants-emigrants formed on the territory of Northern Manchuria — primarily in Harbin. The spheres of their professional activity are considered, in particular, attempts to realize themselves in trade, industry, shipping. Information about commercial and industrial establishments owned by former Siberian merchants has been summarized. The article describes poor financial situation of many of them in the 1930s, difficulties that the younger generation of emigrants, whose parents were once related to the merchant environment of Siberia, had to face. Among the factors that negatively affected the lives of Siberian merchants who found themselves in a foreign land there were partial or complete loss of capital, an influx of refugees, uncertainty of legal status, difficult political situation, the economic crisis that broke out in the late 1920s — early 1930s. The conclusion has been made that in the current conditions, the most successful emigrants were old-timers and those who had previously been abroad — they knew foreign realities well, worked with local markets, owned money accounts and estate outside Russia, had acquaintances and specific plans for the development of their entrepreneurship.
Irrigation of the Volga Region: A Difficult Path to Victory over Drought and Crops Failures (On the Example of the Construction of the Kutuluk Irrigation System in 1935–1941)
Authors:   Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education, Makeeva E. D.
Published: October 2024

The article presents the results of a study of the history of construction and operation of the Kutuluk irrigation system, which was part of the irrigation project of the Volga region, developed in the early 1930s. It was the most complex and large-scale construction of the period of industrialization in the Middle Volga region, which lasted almost seven years (1935–1941). Tens of thousands of people from different regions of the country took part in it. Thanks to the hard work and heroic efforts of the builders, the facility was built and successfully operated in the future for fifty years. In the most difficult and responsible period (1938–1939), construction work on the Kutuluk River was headed by A. E. Bochkin, a well-known hydraulic engineer who later supervised the construction of the Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power plants. The introduction of the practice of irrigation of arid lands allowed not only to overcome the problem of regular droughts and crop failures, but also to raise the agriculture of the Kuibyshev region to a new level. The conducted research is based on published and unpublished sources, most of which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. First of all, these are archival documents from the funds of organizations that supervised the construction of the Kutuluk irrigation system, periodical press materials, resolutions of the Soviet government, as well as clerical documents of regional and local authorities. The purpose and content of the study correspond to the subject area of socio-economic and environmental history of Russia. Its results will preserve the historical memory of the people who built the water management facility, which for a long time was of great importance for the economy of the region and the life of the local population.
St. Petersburg — Petrograd — Leningrad Universities during 1905–1930s in Visual Sources
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Abdulina B. M.
Published: October 2024

The article is focal research dedicated to reconstruction of the image of St. Petersburg — Petrograd — Leningrad universities in documentary photography. The study is based on photographic documents stored in Central State Archive of Photo, Phonographic and Cinema Documents of St. Petersburg, which is dated 1905 — the late 1930s. Author gives notes the specific of archival collection and gives and groups documents by topics, showing that the most popular plots were about students and faculty members as well as the participation of universities in political events. Results of the research allow complementing the socio-cultural portrait of professors and students and to trace how changed the image of higher education in public discourse during the period under review. Visual sources contain incomplete statements. Documentary photography reflects milestones of transformation Imperial universities into the Soviet one, its role in public and political life. The pre-revolutionary university was one of the Russian Empire political centers. Students often initiated strikes with political demands. Lots of professors were members of the Cadet party. Photographing was conducted to order, so at that time portrait and group photographs depicting members of academic community prevailed. After revolution in February 1917, firstly Provisional Government, then Bolsheviks positioned universities as public educational institutes that was reflected in documentary photographs. In photos of Soviet time there was a trend towards democratization of students’ and university members’ image, that was also due to opening new type of universities for trained personnel in the shortest possible time. It was primarily done for agitation and implementation of initiatives of Soviet government. Higher education was tasked with bringing up a new generation of socialist intelligentsia, so universities were presented as institutions loyal to Bolsheviks, like institutions rebuilt their work in accordance to the communist ideology for sake of building future of the country.
The Female Face of the Air City: The Memory of the Everyday Life of the Inhabitants of Zhukovsky During the Thaw
Authors:   N. N. Mikloukho-Maclay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushkareva N. L. , Zhidchenko A. V. ,   N. N. Mikloukho-Maclay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2024

The women’s history of the settlement near Moscow, which became the city of Zhukovsky, is reconstructed by the authors on the basis of oral stories and publications of memoirs and other ego-documents. The purpose of the analysis is to decipher the peculiarities of perception and interpretation by the community of town residents of the realities of everyday life as a space of adaptive behavior. Reflections on the sequences of published memoirs and unstructured biographies of Zhukovsky’s old-timers collected by the authors revealed special constellations of collective and individual memory, typical of science cities (in particular, an air city). On the one hand, the high proportion of corporate culture, the presence of special supplies that made life easier, the liberal atmosphere of cultural life, designed the basis of social optimism, born half a century or more ago and passed on to children and even a generation later to grandchildren. On the other hand, the city of aviators was part of the Soviet social and economic model, and “ordinary” women (not the wives of designers or prominent scientists) had to experience considerable difficulties, sometimes not reflected in memory (this is a long life in the barracks, and gender inequality in labor relations and salaries, and the general severity of women’s life, characteristic of Soviet conditions, etc.), which left their mark and somewhat corrected the discourse of “sovnostalgia” typical of residents of Soviet science cities. Memory of everyday life of Zhukovsky women in the 1950s–60s. becomes a confirmation of the fusion and flow of the individual with the collective.
Capturing the attenuating influence of the Three Gorges Dam on downstream sediment loads using artificial neural networks
Authors: Zhang Lei , Song Xiaolong , Wang Dayu , Huang Hai , Guan Jianzhao
Published: October 2024

River sediment dynamics have been significantly altered by dam constructions, with the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on the Yangtze River being a prominent example. This study aims to quantitatively assess the attenuating impact of TGD operations on downstream sediment discharge using artificial neural network (ANN) models. Seven ANN models were developed for stations along the middle and lower Yangtze River, trained on measured water and sediment data. The models effectively captured the relationships between upstream inputs and downstream outputs. Results revealed that variations in sediment discharge at each station were predominantly influenced by changes in sediment input from its immediate upstream section, rather than by changes in water discharge. This suggests that the TGD's impact on downstream sediment transport was primarily due to its sediment trapping efficiency, rather than alterations in the hydrological regime. The influence diminished gradually farther downstream, attributed to tributary contributions and sediment transport dynamics. ANNs, adept at handling input uncertainties, underscore the importance of boundary conditions; the integration of data-driven and physics-based models illuminates sediment dynamics in regulated rivers. This approach provides insight into dam management implications and sediment transport processes.
Sanitation ladder in rural and urban India: can subsidy from the Swachh Bharat Mission ensure transition to safely managed toilets?
Authors: Bose Debasree , Dutta Arijita
Published: October 2024

The Swachh Bharat Mission, globally the biggest public programme to support sanitation, has focused on subsidised construction of household toilets in rural areas, while aiming for solid waste disposal and behavioural changes in urban areas. In spite of that, India witnesses a huge gap from the SDGs related to usage of safely managed sanitation associated with more environment- responsive technology and hygiene management. The hierarchical sanitation ladder identifies fivecategories of toilets, namely, safely managed, basic, limited, unimproved, and open defecation. This study attempts to contribute to the existing literature by locating the empirical estimation of the sanitation ladder in India across both rural and urban settings, using nationally representative unit-level National Sample Survey data. Results find that only 38% of urban and 6% of rural households in India use safely managed toilets. Also, using logistic regression, the study posits that receiving subsidy for toilet construction can significantly improve usage of safely managed toilets along the ladder only among the poorest urbanclass and the factor is generally more potent in rural areas. The findings identify that there is hardly any benefit in subsidizing the middle-income class and hence highlight a need to redesign the subsidy-driven sanitation policy.
Energy Metabolism Behavior and Response to Microenvironmental Factors of the Experimental Cancer Cell Models Differ from that of Actual Human Tumors
Authors: Moreno-Sanchez Rafael , Vargas-Navarro Jorge Luis , Padilla-Flores Joaquin Alberto , Robledo-Cadena Diana Xochiquetzal , Granados-Rivas Juan Carlos , Taba Rutt , Terasmaa Anton , Auditano Giuseppe Leonardo , Kaambre Tuuli , Rodriguez-Enriquez Sara
Published: October 2024

Analysis of the biochemical differences in the energy metabolism among bi-dimensional
(2D) and tri-dimensional (3D) cultured cancer cell models and actual human tumors was undertaken.
In 2D cancer cells, the oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) fluxes range is 2.5-19 nmol
O2/min/mg cellular protein. Hypoxia drastically decreased OxPhos flux by 2-3 times in 2D models,
similar to what occurs in mature multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), a representative 3D cancer
cell model. However, mitochondrial protein contents and enzyme activities were significantly different
between both models. Moreover, glycolytic fluxes were also significantly different between
2D and MCTS. The glycolytic flux range in 2D models is 1-34 nmol lactate/min/mg cellular protein,
whereas in MCTS the range of glycolysis fluxes is 60-80 nmol lactate/min/mg cellular. In addition,
sensitivity to anticancer canonical and metabolic drugs was greater in MCTS than in 2D. Actual
solid human tumor samples show lower (1.6-4.5 times) OxPhos fluxes compared to normoxic 2D
cancer cell cultures. These observations indicate that tridimensional organization provides a unique
microenvironment affecting tumor physiology, which has not been so far faithfully reproduced by
the 2D environment. Thus, the analysis of the resemblances and differences among cancer cell models
undertaken in the present study raises caution on the interpretation of results derived from 2D
cultured cancer cells when they are extended to clinical settings. It also raises awareness about detecting
which biological and environmental factors are missing in 2D and 3D cancer cell models to
be able to reproduce the actual human tumor behavior.
Guiding Therapeutics: Lipid Labyrinths and Nanostructures for Enhanced Drug Delivery
Authors: Kushwaha Swatantra K.S. , Khare Shruti , Mishra Amit
Published: October 2024

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) offer a breakthrough platform for drug therapy,
surpassing traditional limitations and delivering exceptional performance. Among various nanoparticulate
systems, lipid nanoparticles stand out as one of the most promising options for medication
delivery. NLCs stand out due to their solid matrix at ambient temperatures, setting them apart from
conventional lipid-based carriers such as nanoemulsions and solid lipid nanoparticles. This paper
thoroughly explores the makeup, classification, components, and various methods of preparing
NLCs, based on extensive research findings. It emphasizes their numerous advantages, such as improved
stability, minimal toxicity, extended storage capability, increased drug-loading capacity, and
compatibility with biological systems. The review provides insights into the advantages and limitations
of each method. Exploring the intricacies of drug loading and release, the review also addresses
strategies to bolster NLCs’ stability. Moreover, it provides a detailed summary of both laboratory-
based and animal studies demonstrating the efficacy of NLCs carrying cytotoxic drugs, particularly
emphasizing their promise in targeted drug delivery to the brain. As the next-generation lipid
nanocarriers, NLCs are composed of physiological and biocompatible lipids, rendering them novel
pharmaceutical formulations. These colloidal drug delivery systems boast a solid lipid matrix with
nanosized structures, offering superior drug loading capacity, physical stability, and bioavailability
compared to conventional lipid nanoparticles. Several techniques, including high-pressure homogenization,
microemulsion, solvent evaporation, and melt emulsification, add to the flexibility of
nanostructured lipid carriers. Additionally, their exterior can be altered using coatings such as polyethylene
glycol, chitosan, or antibodies to improve targeting ability and stealth characteristics. By
elucidating the promising role of NLCs across diverse drug delivery systems, this review stimulates
interest in their potential applications. It underscores the significance of understanding the structure,
content, multiple formulation procedures, and characterization of NLCs, which are pivotal aspects
for establishing stable drug delivery systems.
The impact of Brain-Based Learning on critical and creative thinking in English Language Teaching
Authors: Winantaka Binar
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the impact of Brain-Based Learning (BBL) strategies on fostering critical and creative thinking skills in English language teaching. In the context of 21st-century education, where the demands for innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving are paramount, BBL emerges as a pedagogical approach that aligns teaching methods with cognitive science principles. Through a qualitative exploration of teacher perspectives and a quantitative analysis of classroom outcomes, this study highlights how BBL encourages the development of both hemispheres of the brain, promoting not only logical reasoning but also imaginative problem-solving. The findings underscore the potential of BBL to transform traditional English language teaching (ELT) practices by fostering a more holistic, engaging, and dynamic learning environment. Practical recommendations for integrating BBL into English classrooms are also provided..
Efficient batch size detection of apple fruit in a plantation environment
Authors:   Information Technology Department, Politeknik Negeri Jember, Jember, Indonesia, Pebrianto Wahyu , Basori Ahmad Hoirul ,   Faculty of Computing and Information Technology in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia, Riskiawan Hendra Yufit ,   Information Technology Department, Politeknik Negeri Jember, Jember, Indonesia, Mansur Andi Besse Firdausiah ,   Faculty of Computing and Information Technology in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia, Rizaldi Taufiq ,   Information Technology Department, Politeknik Negeri Jember, Jember, Indonesia, Alghanmi Nouf Atiahallah ,   Faculty of Computing and Information Technology in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia, Subahi Alanoud ,   Faculty of Computing and Information Technology in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia, Putranto Hermawan Arief ,   Information Technology Department, Politeknik Negeri Jember, Jember, Indonesia, Alkhudhayr Hanadi ,   Faculty of Computing and Information Technology in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia, Mashat Arwa ,   Faculty of Computing and Information Technology in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia, Yogiswara Yogiswara ,   Information Technology Department, Politeknik Negeri Jember, Jember, Indonesia
Published: October 2024

There is growing interest in using deep learning for object recognition in robots to enhance the efficiency of apple farming. While deep learning-based object detection has shown promising results in various visual tasks, more research is needed to accurately recognize apples in orchard environments. During the training phase, it is important to determine the optimal values of hyperparameters. This research aims to develop a deep learning model, YOLOv7, to reliably identify apples in orchards, using four different batch size values for training. The MinneApple dataset, trained with these batch sizes, serves as our reference model. To assess the model’s ability to work in different situations, we evaluate it using test data with varying input scales. Our results show that the optimal batch size for detecting apples in orchards is 16, achieving a mean average precision (mAP) of 50%. Furthermore, our findings suggest that increasing the batch size does not improve the efficiency of apple detection in orchard environments.
Analyzing Real Estate Agency Practices: A comparative study and path ahead
Authors: Baharum Zarita Ahmad , Ting Kien Hwa  , Mohd Salleh Sharuzaman , Yam Sharon
Published: October 2024

The summary briefly overviews the changes and problems in real estate agency practices in Malaysia from 1981 onwards. It emphasizes ethical issues, technological developments, and regulatory focus areas. The abstract also explains a comparative research study about how real estate is done in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and Hong Kong to find similarities and areas needing improvement. The study discovers likenesses in controlling frameworks but indicates improvements relating to qualification standards, education levels for practitioners, and, their tactics of enforcement, and monitoring through comparing analysis.
Task-Specific Transformer-Based Language Models in Health Care: Scoping Review
Authors: Cho Ha Na , Jun Tae Joon , Kim Young-Hak , Kang Heejun , Ahn Imjin , Gwon Hansle , Kim Yunha , Seo Jiahn , Choi Heejung , Kim Minkyoung , Han Jiye , Kee Gaeun , Park Seohyun , Ko Soyoung
Published: October 2024

Background

Transformer-based language models have shown great potential to revolutionize health care by advancing clinical decision support, patient interaction, and disease prediction. However, despite their rapid development, the implementation of transformer-based language models in health care settings remains limited. This is partly due to the lack of a comprehensive review, which hinders a systematic understanding of their applications and limitations. Without clear guidelines and consolidated information, both researchers and physicians face difficulties in using these models effectively, resulting in inefficient research efforts and slow integration into clinical workflows.

Objective

This scoping review addresses this gap by examining studies on medical transformer-based language models and categorizing them into 6 tasks: dialogue generation, question answering, summarization, text classification, sentiment analysis, and named entity recognition.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review following the Cochrane scoping review protocol. A comprehensive literature search was performed across databases, including Google Scholar and PubMed, covering publications from January 2017 to September 2024. Studies involving transformer-derived models in medical tasks were included. Data were categorized into 6 key tasks.

Results

Our key findings revealed both advancements and critical challenges in applying transformer-based models to health care tasks. For example, models like MedPIR involving dialogue generation show promise but face privacy and ethical concerns, while question-answering models like BioBERT improve accuracy but struggle with the complexity of medical terminology. The BioBERTSum summarization model aids clinicians by condensing medical texts but needs better handling of long sequences.

Conclusions

This review attempted to provide a consolidated understanding of the role of transformer-based language models in health care and to guide future research directions. By addressing current challenges and exploring the potential for real-world applications, we envision significant improvements in health care informatics. Addressing the identified challenges and implementing proposed solutions can enable transformer-based language models to significantly improve health care delivery and patient outcomes. Our review provides valuable insights for future research and practical applications, setting the stage for transformative advancements in medical informatics.
Virtual Reality–Based Exposure With 360° Environments for Social Anxiety Disorder: Usability and Feasibility Study
Authors: Ernst Mathias , Bouchard Stéphane , Andersen Tonny , Orskov Per Trads , Tarp Kristine , Lichtenstein Mia Beck
Published: October 2024

Background

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations that can affect work, school, and other daily activities. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is effective, few seek treatment, and many who do start often drop out. This may be due to the component of exposure inherent to cognitive behavioral therapy, where the patient confronts feared stimuli outside the therapist’s office, which they otherwise try to avoid. As an alternative, research has explored the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)–based exposure therapy with promising results. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility of VR tools using mixed methodologies before assessing their efficacy.

Objective

This study aims to assess the usability, feasibility, and presence of four 360° virtual environments and whether these were able to evoke anxiety in patients with SAD.

Methods

A total of 10 adult participants with SAD and 10 healthy controls were recruited for 1 experimental session (age range 21-32 y; 12/20, 60% male participants). Questionnaire and interview data were collected and analyzed. A mixed methods triangulation design was applied to analyze and compare the data.

Results

Participants with SAD experienced increased anxiety when exposed to VR, and environments were considered relevant and useful as an exposure tool. Participants with SAD reported significantly higher average anxiety levels (P=.01) and peak anxiety levels (P=.01) compared with controls during exposure; however, significant differences in anxiety when accounting for baseline anxiety levels were only found in 2 of 4 environments (P=.01, P=.01, P=.07, and P=.06). While presence scores were acceptable in both groups, participants with SAD scored significantly lower than controls. Qualitative analyses highlight this finding within the SAD group, where some participants experienced presence reduction due to being observed while in VR and in situations with reduced interaction in VR.

Conclusions

VR exposure with 360° videos seems to be useful as a first step of exposure therapy for patients with SAD. Future exploration in the clinical application of VR-based exposure for SAD, as well as means of increasing presence within the virtual environments, may be useful.
Virtual Reality–Based Exposure With 360° Environments for Social Anxiety Disorder: Usability and Feasibility Study (Preprint)
Authors: Ernst Mathias , Bouchard Stéphane , Andersen Tonny , Orskov Per Trads , Tarp Kristine , Lichtenstein Mia Beck
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations that can affect work, school, and other daily activities. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is effective, few seek treatment, and many who do start often drop out. This may be due to the component of exposure inherent to cognitive behavioral therapy, where the patient confronts feared stimuli outside the therapist’s office, which they otherwise try to avoid. As an alternative, research has explored the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)–based exposure therapy with promising results. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility of VR tools using mixed methodologies before assessing their efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the usability, feasibility, and presence of four 360° virtual environments and whether these were able to evoke anxiety in patients with SAD.

METHODS

A total of 10 adult participants with SAD and 10 healthy controls were recruited for 1 experimental session (age range 21-32 y; 12/20, 60% male participants). Questionnaire and interview data were collected and analyzed. A mixed methods triangulation design was applied to analyze and compare the data.

RESULTS

Participants with SAD experienced increased anxiety when exposed to VR, and environments were considered relevant and useful as an exposure tool. Participants with SAD reported significantly higher average anxiety levels (P=.01) and peak anxiety levels (P=.01) compared with controls during exposure; however, significant differences in anxiety when accounting for baseline anxiety levels were only found in 2 of 4 environments (P=.01, P=.01, P=.07, and P=.06). While presence scores were acceptable in both groups, participants with SAD scored significantly lower than controls. Qualitative analyses highlight this finding within the SAD group, where some participants experienced presence reduction due to being observed while in VR and in situations with reduced interaction in VR.

CONCLUSIONS

VR exposure with 360° videos seems to be useful as a first step of exposure therapy for patients with SAD. Future exploration in the clinical application of VR-based exposure for SAD, as well as means of increasing presence within the virtual environments, may be useful.
Tracking the Spread of Pollen on Social Media Using Pollen-Related Messages From Twitter: Retrospective Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Pérez-Pérez Martín , Fernandez Gonzalez María , Rodriguez-Rajo Francisco Javier , Fdez-Riverola Florentino
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Allergy disorders caused by biological particles, such as the proteins in some airborne pollen grains, are currently considered one of the most common chronic diseases, and European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology forecasts indicate that within 15 years 50% of Europeans will have some kind of allergy as a consequence of urbanization, industrialization, pollution, and climate change.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to monitor and analyze the dissemination of information about pollen symptoms from December 2006 to January 2022. By conducting a comprehensive evaluation of public comments and trends on Twitter, the research sought to provide valuable insights into the impact of pollen on sensitive individuals, ultimately enhancing our understanding of how pollen-related information spreads and its implications for public health awareness.

METHODS

Using a blend of large language models, dimensionality reduction, unsupervised clustering, and term frequency–inverse document frequency, alongside visual representations such as word clouds and semantic interaction graphs, our study analyzed Twitter data to uncover insights on respiratory allergies. This concise methodology enabled the extraction of significant themes and patterns, offering a deep dive into public knowledge and discussions surrounding respiratory allergies on Twitter.

RESULTS

The months between March and August had the highest volume of messages. The percentage of patient tweets appeared to increase notably during the later years, and there was also a potential increase in the prevalence of symptoms, mainly in the morning hours, indicating a potential rise in pollen allergies and related discussions on social media. While pollen allergy is a global issue, specific sociocultural, political, and economic contexts mean that patients experience symptomatology at a localized level, needing appropriate localized responses.

CONCLUSIONS

The interpretation of tweet information represents a valuable tool to take preventive measures to mitigate the impact of pollen allergy on sensitive patients to achieve equity in living conditions and enhance access to health information and services.