bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A High Visceral-to-Skeletal Muscle Area Ratio on Cross-Sectional Imaging Is Associated With Failure of Standard Ustekinumab Doses: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Tan Zhi , Chin Andrew , Welman Christopher J. , Thin Lena
Published: June 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Anti-interleukin 12/23 agents have shown greater durability in response compared with anti-tumor necrosis factor α agents. Data on the association between body composition (BC) or body mass index (BMI) and ustekinumab's therapeutic response is limited. We aimed to evaluate the impact of BC on time to failing standard doses of ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHOD:

Patients with CD aged 16 years and older from 2 tertiary centers were studied retrospectively. Included patients had abdominal imaging within 6 months of ustekinumab induction and were followed until April 30, 2022. An experienced abdominal radiologist blinded to the clinical information measured the area of visceral fat area and skeletal muscle area at the mid L3 vertebral level, with values corrected for height2 to derive respective indices (visceral fat index [VFI], skeletal muscle index [SMI]) and the VFI:SMI ratio.

RESULTS:

Ninety-nine patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age at ustekinumab induction was 46.6 (±1.6) years. The median BMI (interquartile range) was 26.5 (22.6–30.8). Twenty-four patients (24.2%) did not respond or lost response to standard doses of ustekinumab over the follow-up duration. A younger age (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.94–0.99, P = 0.01) and a VFI:SMI ratio >1.6 (hazard ratio 4.65, 95% confidence interval 1.73–12.45, P = 0.002) were both associated with a shorter time to failing ustekinumab at standard doses on multivariate analysis. BMI, notably, had no association with the primary outcome.

DISCUSSION:

A high VFI:SMI ratio is associated with an increased risk of failing standard doses of ustekinumab. BC measurements derived from cross-sectional imaging at the start of ustekinumab therapy is a useful indicator for therapeutic durability.
“Know Where You Are Going and … Remember Where You Came From”
Authors: Bolzenius Sandra
Published: June 2024

This chapter situates the first years of the WAC, from 1942 to the end of World War II in 1945, in black women’s intellectual history, through an analysis that foregrounds related discussions, strategies, and actions. Given that the new platform arrived with a suddenness that afforded few movement leaders lead time to evaluate its pros and cons, this chapter draws on the voices of a wide spectrum of black women, from enlisted and commissioned Wacs to citizens both prominent and ordinary.
Real-Time Cross-View Image Matching and Camera Pose Determination for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Chen Long , Wu Bo , Duan Ran , Chen Zeyu
Published: June 2024

In global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-denied environments, vision-based methods are commonly used for the positioning and navigation of aerial robots. However, traditional methods often suffer from accumulative estimation errors over time, leading to trajectory drift and lack
real-time performance, particularly in large-scale scenarios. This article presents novel approaches, including feature-based cross-view image matching and the integration of visual odometry and photogrammetric space resection for camera pose determination in real-time. Experimental evaluation
with real UAV datasets demonstrated that the proposed method reliably matches features in cross-view images with large differences in spatial resolution, coverage, and perspective views, achieving a root-mean-square error of 4.7 m for absolute position error and 0.33° for rotation error,
and delivering real-time performance of 12 frames per second (FPS) when implemented in a lightweight edge device onboard UAV. This approach offters potential for diverse intelligent UAV applications in GNSS-denied environments based on real-time feedback control.
Monitoring an Ecosystem in Crisis: Measuring Seagrass Meadow Loss Using Deep Learning in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida
Authors: Insalaco Stephanie A. , Herrero Hannah V. , Limber Russ , Oliver Clancy , Wolfson William B.
Published: June 2024

The ecosystem of Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, has been rapidly deteriorating since the 2010s, with a notable decline in keystone seagrass species. Seagrass is vital for many species in the lagoon, but nutrient overloading, algal blooms, boating, manatee grazing, and other factors have
led to its loss. To understand this decline, a deep neural network analyzed Landsat imagery from 2000 to 2020. Results showed significant seagrass loss post-2013, coinciding with the 2011–2013 super algal bloom. Seagrass abundance varied annually, with the model performing best in years
with higher seagrass coverage. While the deep learning method successfully identified seagrass, it also revealed that recent seagrass coverage is almost non-existent. This monitoring approach could aid in ecosystem recovery if coupled with appropriate policies for Mosquito Lagoon's restoration.
GIS Tips & Tricks – Say Goodbye to ArcMap; We Were Just Getting to Know You, Old Friend!
Authors: Karlin Al
Published: June 2024

As I write this column (today is 1 March 2024) and as many readers are probably aware, Esri is formally retiring ArcGIS Desktop (i. e., ArcMap). Retirement for ArcMap means that, there will be no new releases, i.e.no ArcGIS Desktop 10.9, and the ArcGIS Desktop Product Life Cycle will
come to an end, that is, no additional software fixes or Esri support on 1 March 2026. As ArcGIS Desktop has been with us since it was released in June 2010, it has served the GIS community well, with a total of 17 releases and numerous patches and fixes for over 14 years! Quite a run. So,
with that, I think it fitting that I should say goodbye to ArcMap with these last ArcMap Desktop Tips, a "Say goodbye to ArcMap".
Chemical modification of kraft lignin using black liquor heat treatment
Authors: Demuner Iara Fontes , Borges Gomes Fernando José , Coura Marcela Ribeiro , Demuner Antonio Jacinto , Macedo Ladeira Carvalho Ana Márcia , Cubides-Román Diana Catalina , Ribas Batalha Larisse Aparecida , Castro Rosane Nora
Published: June 2024

Utilizing kraft technical lignin to produce value-added products is one of the obstacles associated with kraft mill work as an operational biorefinery. The objective of this work was to evaluate chemical modification in eucalypt kraft lignin after heat treatment of black liquor. To prove possible structural changes, advanced analytical tools were used, such as pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D NMR). Kraft lignins extracted from heat-treated liquors compared with the untreated liquors showed a high total lignin content, varying between 96.4 and 98.3 %, and a lower content of sugars and ash. Py-GC/MS, FTIR and 2D NMR analyses showed interesting modification on the lignin structure, such as a reduction in S-type and G-type lignin and an increase in H-type and Ca-type lignin with heat treatment of the black liquor. The heat treatment of the black liquor proved to be efficient in the chemical modification of the extracted kraft lignins. Demethylation and demethoxylation reactions occurred and they generated kraft lignin with free phenolic groups and that were rich in catechol groups.
RNA expression profiling of peritoneal metastasis from pancreatic cancer treated with Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC)
Authors: Detlefsen Sönke , Burton Mark , Ainsworth Alan P. , Fristrup Claus , Graversen Martin , Pfeiffer Per , Tarpgaard Line S. , Mortensen Michael B.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is an experimental treatment option in peritoneal metastasis from pancreatic cancer (PM-PC). Aims were to examine mRNA profile of fibrosis due to response after systemic chemotherapy and PIPAC (Regression) compared to treatment-naïve PM-PC and chronic cholecystitis–related peritoneal fibrosis (Controls).

Methods

Peritoneal biopsies (PBs) from PM-PC patients who had undergone systemic chemotherapy and PIPAC were evaluated with Peritoneal Regression Grading Score (PRGS). We extracted RNA from PBs with Regression (PRGS 1, n=11), treatment-naïve PM-PC (n=10), and Controls (n=10). Profiling of 800 mRNAs was performed (NanoString nCounter, PanCancer Immuno-Oncology 360 (IO-360) and 30 additional stroma-related mRNAs).

Results

Regression vs. PM-PC identified six up-regulated and 197 down-regulated mRNAs (FDR≤0.05), linked to TNF-α signaling via NF-kB, G2M checkpoint, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, estrogen response, and coagulation. Regression vs. Controls identified 43 significantly up-regulated mRNAs, linked to interferon-α response, and down-regulation of 99 mRNAs, linked to TNF-α signaling via NF-kB, inflammatory response, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, KRAS signaling, and hypoxia (FDR≤0.05).

Conclusions

In regressive fibrosis of PM-PC after systemic chemotherapy and PIPAC (Regression), downregulation of mRNAs related to key tumor biological pathways was identified. Regression also showed transcriptional differences from unspecific, benign fibrosis (Controls). Future studies should explore whether mRNA profiling of PBs with PM from PC or other primaries holds prognostic or predictive value.
ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION OF SOURCES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: What Impact On Quality Of Life ?
Authors: LIMI FLORENCE BLANCHE
Published: June 2024

The aims of this paper is to assess the effect of diversification of energy sources on quality of life in Sub-Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2015. Using the Shannon Wiener, Stirling (1999-2000) index and several estimation methods, our results show that diversification of energy sources has a positive influence on the quality of life. However, these countries should promote the diversification of energy sources through a specific structural change allowing a policy of decentralization of power generation, because improving access to energy increase in life expectancy of the population.
Keywords: Energy Diversification of sources, Quality of life, Shannon Wiener Index
The personality of a coach in martial arts: the current state
Authors:   Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Latyshev Mykola , Shtanagei Dmytro ,   National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport, Korotya Vladimir ,   National Aviation University, Sovgiria Tetiana ,   National Aviation University
Published: June 2024

Purpose: to determine the most relevant areas of research on the coach's personality based on the analysis of literary sources. Material and methods. The work used the method of analysis of scientific and methodical literature. Literature was searched using the Google Scholar search engine (scholar.google.com) in two languages: English and Ukrainian. At the first stage, all relevant works were found that satisfied the search request for words and their combinations: «coach», «martial arts». Results: in general, the analysis indicates the importance of the professional and personal qualities of the coach in the formation of effective interaction with athletes, which contributes to the development of their motivation and readiness for high achievements. The structure of the trainer's personality, which contains ideological and moral, professional and psychological substructures, determines his pedagogical orientation and effectiveness in the educational process. The role of the coach in patriotic education, especially in the context of modern socio-political realities of Ukraine, emphasizes the relevance of such an approach in sports education. These aspects support the idea of the importance of a deep understanding of various aspects of coaching and the need to integrate professional and personal qualities to achieve high results in the sports field. The analysis of foreign studies emphasizes that considerable attention is paid to personal traits of coaches, and professional qualities occupy a secondary place. The results of such studies indicate the importance of psychological confidence, leadership skills and motivational abilities of the coach, which influence the perception and self-evaluation of athletes regarding coaching behavior. It was found that the effectiveness of the training process and the self-efficacy of the athletes depend significantly on the perception of the coaching activity, where autocratic behavior can negatively affect the overall effectiveness. These studies indicate the need for a deeper understanding of the relationships between the personal qualities of the coach and their influence on the effectiveness of training and the motivation of athletes, emphasizing the importance of psychological support and pedagogical competence in sports practice. Conclusions. In general, the analysis of modern research points to various relevant topics regarding the role of the coach in martial arts.
Analysis of the performances of qualified Greco-Roman wrestlers at the 2023 Ukrainian Championships
Authors:   National Universitiy of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport, Haojin Yang , Korobeinikova Lesia ,   National Universitiy of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport
Published: June 2024

Purpose: to analyze the performances of the wrestlers at the 2023 championship of Ukraine in Greco-Roman wrestling among juniors (U20). Material and methods. The fights of the 2023 Championship of Ukraine among juniors (U20) in Greco-Roman wrestling were analyzed. All quarter-final, semi-final and final fights in all weight categories were selected for analysis. The analysis was implemented due to the processing of competition protocols. Consider the following indicators of competitive activity: the number of scored points per fight/per minute; duration of the fight. Mean values, standard deviation and Student's value criterion were calculated using the methods of mathematical statistics. Results: for all wrestlers – 4,3±1,9 points, for wrestlers who won – 7,2±2,7 points, and for wrestlers who lost – 1,4±0,8 points. According to the data, the average number of points per minute is: for all wrestlers – 1,2±0,7 points, for wrestlers who won – 1,9±1,0 points, and for wrestlers who lost – 0,4±0,1 points. in addition, almost two-thirds of the fights (65,6 %) ended prematurely, which indicates the high competitiveness and determination of the fighters to achieve victory. The analysis showed that in almost half of all matches (46,7 %) one of the wrestlers did not score a single point, which confirms the dominance of some wrestlers over others and highlights the importance of technical and tactical training. For quarter-final and semi-final matches, the average number of points for all wrestlers is 4,3±2,0 points; for wrestlers who won – 7,4±2,7 points; and for wrestlers who lost – 1,2 ±0,8 points. In the final matches, these indicators change: for all wrestlers – 4,4±2, points; for winners – 7,0±2,4 points; and for those who lost – 1,8±1,1 points. The average duration of the fights in general was 3 minutes 45 seconds, the last finalists competed for an average of 4 minutes 15 seconds, which is 30 seconds more than the other athletes. Conclusions. Patterns were revealed in the indicators of points scored by wrestlers per fight and per minute, depending on the result of the victory and the stage of the competition. The significant difference between the indicators of the winners and the losers is a clear indicator that the ability to effectively use the technical-tactical arsenal in the conditions of competitive wrestling is critical to achieving success in sports wrestling.
Application of mental fitness tools in the prevention of stress-associated conditions of female students of higher education establishments
Authors: Andrieieva Olena , Byshevets Nataliia , Kashuba Vitalii , Pasichniak Liubomyr , Lazakovych Yuliia
Published: June 2024

Purpose: to check the effectiveness of the use of mental fitness tools for the prevention of stress-related conditions of female students of higher education establishments.

Material & methods: 56 female students, average age 19.5 ± 1.5 years, participated in the study. The main group (MG) included 34 participants who, for 6 months, practiced mental fitness twice a week for 80 minutes. 22 female students who formed the control group (CG) practiced the physical education program of a higher education institution twice a week for 80 minutes during the same period. The following research methods were used: analysis, synthesis, generalization, pedagogical experiment, survey, modelling, statistical analysis using correlation analysis, comparative analysis, effect assessment method, non-linear assessment methods, model quality assessment methods.

Results: the positive experience of implementing mental fitness programs into the practice of physical activity of higher education students is summarized. It was established that 71.4% of female students complain of mood swings, 60.7% – of anxiety, and 39.3% – of depressive states. After the study, 71.4% of female students indicated that their mood improved, 67.9% reported an improvement in physical condition, and 57.1% focused on reducing stress levels. It has been proven that there are statistically significant (p<0.05) correlations between the manifestations and indicators of stress-related conditions of students, the largest of which was recorded between the signs of PTSD and the indicators that determine stress-related conditions. Depending on the mental fitness classes, after the study there was a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in PTSD symptoms, improvement in mood and well-being compared to CG students. After the study, the prevent post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) risk score for CG students was higher by 1.64 standard deviations compared to MG students. A statistically significant (p<005) logistic binary model was developed, improved and scientifically substantiated, which, based on data on well-being, allows predicting whether a student is engaged in mental fitness. It has been proven that despite its lower predictive ability compared to other developed models, it has such advantages as statistically significant coefficients (p < 0.05), the ability to predict whether a student is engaged in mental fitness with 88.2% accuracy using only data on well-being, retention high prognostic ability with a significant simplification of the model. This shows that the developed model is the best choice for practical application.

Conclusions: it is advisable to introduce mental fitness tools into the practice of health-recreational motor activity of female students in order to improve mood, work capacity and well-being, and, as a result, PTSD.
Correlating anthropometric parameters with lower limb muscle strength: on the example of female volleyball players
Authors: Palani Bharathi , Louis Raj Yeddanapalli Chinniah , Sanjaykumar Swamynathan
Published: June 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between anthropometric parameters, strength of the muscles of the lower limbs, and jump height among women volleyball players, with a focus on anthropometric parameters.

Material and methods: Thirty-two university-level women volleyball players aged 18 to 25 years participated in the study. Height, weight, arm span, body mass index (BMI), and lower limb muscle strength were measured using standard anthropometric techniques and specialized equipment. Regression modeling and Pearson correlation analysis were employed to examine the associations between anthropometric parameters and lower limb muscle strength.

Results: The regression analysis revealed significant associations between weight and BMI with lower limb muscle strength, indicating a positive relationship with weight and a negative relationship with BMI. However, height and arm span did not show significant correlations with lower limb muscle strength. Pearson correlation analysis confirmed strong positive correlations between height, weight, arm span, and lower limb muscle strength.

Conclusions: This study challenges the conventional emphasis on height alone in assessing athletic performance in women's volleyball. It highlights the significant roles played by weight and BMI in predicting lower limb muscle strength and jump height, suggesting that players with greater body mass tend to achieve greater vertical displacement during jumps. These findings underscore the importance of considering a holistic array of anthropometric parameters, lower limb muscle strength, in talent identification and training program design in women's volleyball
Design and development of novel compounds aimed at optimizing the function of microtubules and tubulin in the immune system and the brain
Authors: Ruggiero Marco
Published: June 2024

This study describes the design and development of novel compounds aimed at optimizing the function of microtubules and tubulin in the immune system and the brain as they relate to the Orch OR theory of consciousness. These compounds are defined by the following molecular formulas: C65H100CoN15O22P(C6H12O5); C65H100CoN15O22P(C5H10NO4); (C65H100CoN15O22P)(C6H12N2O)n; (C65H100CoN15O22P)(C6H12O5)(C6H12N2O)n; (C6H12N2O)n(C6H12O5)m; Zn(C6H12O5)2; These molecules, formulated under the form of drugs, health functional foods, or food supplements, have the potential to positively affect a number of areas ranging from prevention and therapy of neurological diseases to supporting the immune system.
Cerebral Palsy: A Current Perspective
Authors: Panda Sanjeet , Singh Ajay , Kato Hugo , Kokhanov Artemiy
Published: June 2024

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in children. Insults to the brain at different times lead to diverse injuries. As a result, CP is an extremely heterogeneous clinical diagnosis, presenting differently in each individual and at various ages. With improving survival rates of preterm newborns, increasing active resuscitation of extremely preterm newborns, and widespread availability of extensive genetic testing soon after birth, it is imperative to focus on earlier diagnosis and long-term outcomes of CP. CP is primarily classified into 4 categories based on type of motor impairment, functional ability, distribution, and etiology. As the understanding of CP has evolved significantly in the last 2 decades, the methods of early detection of CP have consequently advanced. Appropriate diagnosis is essential for proper education and counseling of affected families, and introduction of therapeutic interventions as early as possible. In this review, we focus on early brain development and provide an overview of the etiology, classification, diagnosis, early therapeutic options, and prognosis of CP.
A Staged Digital Protocol for the Terminal Dentition for Immediate Loading Using a Provi-guide
Authors: Alzoubi Fawaz M.
Published: June 2024

This report describes a step-by-step staged digital protocol for the terminal dentition patient using a Provi-guide. This protocol will improve implant placement accuracy, shorten treatment time, and assure an implant-supported fixed complete denture immediately loaded after extraction of the remaining terminal dentition and complete edentulism. The novelty of the Provi-guide technique described is that it serves 2 objectives: (1) a nonlimiting surgical guide, and (2) a fixed interim prosthesis. Implants placed in the described digital stagged protocol can serve both the interim and the final prosthesis.
Crafting a Pogo Stick in Minecraft with Heuristic Search (Extended Abstract)
Authors: Benyamin Yarin , Mordoch Argaman , Shperberg Shahaf , Piotrowski Wiktor , Stern Roni
Published: June 2024

Minecraft is a widely popular video game renowned for its intricate environment. The game's open-ended design allows the creation of unique tasks and challenges for the agents, providing a broad spectrum for researchers to experiment with different AI techniques and applications. Indeed, various Minecraft tasks have been posed as an AI challenge. Most AI research on Minecraft focused on either applying Reinforcement Learning (RL) to solve the problem, learning an action model for planning, or modeling the problem for a domain-independent planner. In this work, we focus on the combinatorial search aspect of solving the Craft Wooden Pogo task within the Polycraft World AI Lab (PAL) Minecraft environment. PAL is an interface to Minecraft that provides an API for AI agents to interact with Minecraft's environment and send commands to the main character. PAL supports symbolic observations of the current state, making it ideal for planning algorithms, which require a symbolic model of the environment for problem-solving. Other Minecraft research frameworks such as MineRL, provide a visual, pixel-based representation of the game.
A Quality Diversity Approach to Automatically Generate Multi-Agent Path Finding Benchmark Maps (Extended Abstract)
Authors: Qian Cheng , Zhang Yulun , Li Jiaoyang
Published: June 2024

Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) is a complex problem aiming at searching for paths where teams of agents navigate to their goal locations without collisions. Recent advancements in MAPF have highlighted the necessity for robust benchmarks to evaluate their performance. Previously, the benchmarks used to evaluate MAPF algorithms are predominantly fixed, human-designed maps, which cannot evaluate the behavior of the algorithms comprehensively, leading to potential failures in diverse map scenarios. Meanwhile, quality diversity (QD) algorithm is used to generate maps of high solution quality for MAPF. We employ this technique to automatically generate diverse benchmark maps and explore the detailed behavior of MAPF algorithms in the generated maps. As a preliminary result, we concentrate on EECBS, a popular sub-optimal MAPF algorithm, and observe several findings regarding the runtime and solution quality of EECBS, and difficulty of the generated maps.
Mixed Integer Programming for Time-Optimal Multi-Robot Coverage Path Planning with Efficient Heuristics (Extended Abstract)
Authors: Tang Jingtao , Ma Hang
Published: June 2024

We investigate time-optimal Multi-Robot Coverage Path Planning (MCPP) for both unweighted and weighted terrains, which aims to minimize the coverage time, defined as the maximum travel time of all robots. Specifically, we focus on a reduction from MCPP to Min-Max Rooted Tree Cover (MMRTC). For the first time, we propose a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model to optimally solve MMRTC, resulting in an MCPP solution with a coverage time that is provably at most four times the optimal. Moreover, we propose two suboptimal yet effective heuristics that reduce the number of variables in the MIP model, thus improving its efficiency for large-scale MCPP instances. We show that both heuristics result in reduced-size MIP models that remain complete (i.e., guaranteed to find a solution if one exists) for all MMRTC instances. We validate the effectiveness of our MIP-based MCPP planner through experiments that compare it with two state-of-the-art MCPP planners on various instances, demonstrating a reduction in the coverage time by an average of 27.65% and 23.24% over them, respectively.
From Space-Time to Space-Order: Directly Planning a Temporal Planning Graph by Redefining CBS (Extended Abstract)
Authors: Wu Yu , Veerapaneni Rishi , Li Jiaoyang , Likhachev Maxim
Published: June 2024

The majority of multi-agent path finding (MAPF) methods compute collision-free space-time paths which require agents to be at a specific location at a specific discretized timestep. However, executing these space-time paths directly on robotic systems is infeasible due to real-time execution differences (e.g. delays) which can lead to collisions. To combat this, current methods translate the space-time paths into a temporal plan graph (TPG) that only requires that agents observe the order in which they navigate through locations where their paths cross. However, planning space-time paths and then post-processing them into a TPG does not reduce the required agent-to-agent coordination, which is fixed once the space-time paths are computed. To that end, we propose a novel algorithm Space-Order CBS that can directly plan a TPG and explicitly minimize coordination. Our main theoretical insight is our novel perspective on viewing a TPG as a set of space-visitation order paths where agents visit locations in relative orders (e.g. 1st vs 2nd) as opposed to specific timesteps. We redefine unique conflicts and constraints for adapting CBS for space-order planning. We experimentally validate how Space-Order CBS can return TPGs which significantly reduce coordination, thus subsequently reducing the amount of agent-agent communication and leading to more robustness to delays during execution.
Multi-Robot Coordination and Layout Design for Automated Warehousing (Extended Abstract)
Authors: Zhang Yulun , Fontaine Matthew C. , Bhatt Varun , Nikolaidis Stefanos , Li Jiaoyang
Published: June 2024

With the rapid progress in Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF), researchers have studied how MAPF algorithms can be deployed to coordinate hundreds of robots in large automated warehouses. While most works try to improve the throughput of such warehouses by developing better MAPF algorithms, we focus on improving the throughput by optimizing the warehouse layout. We show that, even with state-of-the-art MAPF algorithms, commonly used human-designed layouts can lead to congestion for warehouses with large numbers of robots and thus have limited scalability. We extend existing automatic scenario generation methods to optimize warehouse layouts. Results show that our optimized warehouse layouts (1) reduce traffic congestion and thus improve throughput, (2) improve the scalability of the automated warehouses by doubling the number of robots in some cases, and (3) are capable of generating layouts with user-specified diversity measures. We include the source code at: https://github.com/lunjohnzhang/warehouse_env_gen_public
MAD4HatTeR v2
Authors: Aranda-Diaz Andres , not provided eric.neubauervickers
Published: June 2024

This protocol has been adapted from Paragon Genomics CleanPlex® NGS Panel Information about the primer pools can be found here
COI-Gene Metabarcoding Library Prep: Dual-PCR Method v1
Authors: Carvalho rute.carvalho , Kellogg Colleen , Lemay Matt
Published: June 2024

This protocol is used for eDNA metabarcoding of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) "Leray fragment", using Pair-End Illumina MiseqSequencing. As part of the Hakai Institute Ocean Observing Program, biomolecular samples have been collected weekly, from 0 m to near bottom (260 m), to genetically characterize plankton communities in the Northern Salish Sea since 2015. This protocol is developed to give a species-level resolution of marine invertebrates.
Urine Lipoarabinomannan as a Biomarker for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections v1
Authors: Manzer Jordan , Aboellail Ibrahim , Nick Jerry , Chatterjee Delphi , G Amin Anita
Published: June 2024

Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is a unique cell wall component containing a fatty acid region with a large mannan core attached to poly-arabinan chains, sometimes followed by mannose capping in Actinomyces species. The hydrophobic region made of tuberculostearic acid (TBSA) and two palmitic acid chains linked to a phosphoinositol, anchors LAM to the mycobacterial cell wall. As a major constituent of all mycobacteria, includingMycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb),LAM has been shown to be a useful diagnostic biomarker in the identification of MTB infection in HIV positive (HIV+) patients. The size of LAM makes it difficult to analyze on GC-MS when using complex matrices such as urine, therefore chemical processing and derivatization is required. Two methods have been developed to quantify urine-LAM amounts, one by measuring D-arabinose and the other TBSA. Both components are unique and not metabolized through basic pathways in mammalian cells and can therefore serve as LAM surrogates. Using either chemical assay, urine-LAM can be detected in low quantities with sensitive GC-MS, providing a diagnostic tool for clinical assessment of infection. These methods are robust and have been applied to a significant number of TB and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) urine samples. These protocols provide additional sensitivity beyond what is required for assays of MTB in HIV+ patients, allowing for identification of both M.tb and NTM infections in immunocompetent hosts.
GENDER STEREOTYPES OF THE UKRAINIAN FEMALE ELITE IN A PORTRAIT INTERVIEW
Authors:   National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, TKACHUK Adelina , BUTS Zhanna ,   National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”
Published: June 2024

The article discusses gender stereotypes perpetuated in the language of the Ukrainian female elite during portrait interviews. It describes the general situation of present-day mass media influence on society including its specificity in gender diversity. Special attention focuses on defining and analyzing gender stereotypes in present-day Ukrainian society, particularly describing the features of stereotypical perception and self-identification of women in society. In the context of current political events in the Ukrainian society influence of feminism on Ukrainian media discourse is characterized. Gender stereotypes vividly depict and allow recognizing images of women leaders, homemakers, and driving forces behind social and political events in the communicative environment. The study provides differentiation between understandings of gender and sex, media discourse, and portrait interviews as a form of communication aimed at highlighting opinions, personal feelings, and issues of certain individuals in the Ukrainian society that influence public opinion. The article relies on the classification of stereotypes based on gender types pertaining to a certain sex, social roles and status, as well as professional affiliation. Showcasing an interview with the well-known Ukrainian actress, volunteer, and public figure Natalia Denysenko, conducted within the framework of the social project New Reality, stereotypes of femininity are identified and described. In the portrayal of the strong actress, stereotypes such as women being weak expressed through the use of metaphorical expressions, women being shy represented through the juxtaposition of openness and shyness, women being the guardians of the family articulated through lexicon of preservation and interaction of gender roles, dominance of the masculine gender presented through morphological incongruities in masculine grammatical forms, are actualized.
CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN UKRAINE
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Fyliuk Halyna , Kolosha Vasylyna ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Prytula Ihor ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: June 2024

The article examines the impact of external and internal factors on the macroeconomic situation and business environment in Ukraine. It discusses the peculiarities of the business environment's reaction to unstable conditions, including the presence of financial reserves in companies, cost optimization, and management strategies. The influence of war on the demand and supply of services, changes in the economic structure, and new requirements for businesses are analyzed in detail. The size and basic characteristics of economic sectors are studied, and factors affecting business efficiency in Ukraine are identified. The article focuses on determining the interrelations between the development of the business environment and economic processes in Ukraine. It reviews the specificities of Ukraine's macroeconomic situation during wartime and the impact of external and internal factors on economic development. Moreover, key macroeconomic indicators are analyzed based on statistical data, and a detailed study is conducted on how full-scale war affects Ukraine's economy. The reaction of the business environment to unstable conditions, including the availability of financial reserves in companies, cost optimization, and management strategies, is also analyzed. Special attention is paid to the impact of war on demand and supply. The segments of the economy most affected by the war are examined, as well as changes in the economic structure. The size and basic characteristics of the economy are analyzed, and trends in development and factors influencing its efficiency are identified. Various methods are used in the study, including analysis of statistical data, expert surveys, and comparative analysis with macroeconomic indicators. In particular, the research is oriented towards determining the interrelations between the influence of external factors and economic processes in Ukraine. Based on the obtained data, regularities of economic development in Ukraine are formed, and a forecast for the economy's development in 2024 is constructed. The conclusions of the study may be useful for professionals interested in Ukraine's macroeconomic processes, as well as for businesses and government structures involved in strategic planning.
ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE IN UKRAINE AND THE EU: APPLICATION POSSIBILITIES FOR CEMENT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES
Authors:   The National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Kaspruk O.V.
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the article is to assess environmental performance in Ukraine and the countries of the European Union using the method of taxonomic analysis. To assess environmental performance and compare its value in Ukraine with EU countries, the author selected six main environmental indicators. Their statistical characteristics according to the data of 2022 allow us to assert a significant differentiation of countries according to individual environmental indicators. Taking into account the significant impact of the specified indicators on environmental performance, the level of environmental performance in EU countries and Ukraine in 2022 was estimated based on the taxonomic analysis method. The integrated indicator calculated from the taxonomic analysis shows low environmental performance in 2022 in the selected countries, as the maximum value is only 0.540 (Malta). The value of the integral indicator for Ukraine is 0.091 and, together with Belgium and Bulgaria, it is at the very bottom of the formed rating. Therefore, environmental performance in Ukraine is significantly lower compared to the vast majority of EU countries, which creates the need for the spread of socially responsible environmental direction by enterprises, the introduction of "green" innovations and constant communication with stakeholders. The proposed methodical approach can have practical application in assessing the environmental performance of cement production enterprises, because all the largest cement producers in Ukraine adhere to the principles of socially responsible activity to achieve the goals of sustainable development. At PJSC "Ivano-Frankivskcement", the environmental component of CSR is realized through the use of own raw materials, waste minimization thanks to the internal exchange of resources between different productions. The priority of PJSC "Kryviy Rig Cement" is the fulfillment of all environmental protection requirements, the constant search and implementation of projects that lead to a reduction of the impact on the environment. For CEMARK, caring for the environment is one of the key principles on which the company's activities are based. PJSC "Dickerhoff Cement Ukraine" applies a systematic approach to solving the tasks of sustainable development by implementing corporate policy and improving key indicators of sustainable development.
REFORMING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SYSTEM OF UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Lozova G.M. , Bagriy I.P. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: June 2024

The article investigates the current state and effectiveness of reforms within Ukraine's intellectual property (IP) system in the context of European integration. By analyzing scientific literature and legal regulations, it aims to substantiate recommendations and proposals for further development of the IP system. The primary focus lies on analyzing the IP system and its transformation during Ukraine's European integration process. The article delves into the essence, nature, and key approaches to defining the IP system. Following the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, the authors explore the motivations behind the necessary reforms for the Ukrainian IP system. These reforms ultimately aim to integrate Ukraine into the EU single market. The article outlines the goals and objectives of these reforms, along with an analysis of the regulatory framework that defines the directions for IP system reform. It then examines the main strategic reform areas in the IP field, including: reforming the state IP management system; reorganizing the system for collective management of copyright and related rights; ensuring transparency in the operations of the newly established National Intellectual Property Office (UIPO/IP Office); enhancing and harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with EU law during European integration. The article analyzes the positive changes that have emerged within the IP system during the reform process. It also identifies the main barriers and challenges hindering the development of the IP system in contemporary times. Furthermore, the research analyzes the dynamics of Ukraine's position in international rankings based on changes in the Intellectual Property Rights Index and its sub-indices. The authors conclude that the IP system reform remains unfinished. This incompleteness negatively impacts the country's economic development during wartime and hinders European integration efforts. The article explores effective tools and measures that could accelerate positive changes in Ukraine's IP system.
IMPACT OF TOLERANCE ON THE COUNTRY`S ATTRACTIVENESS FOR INTELLECTUAL IMMIGRANTS
Authors:   National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Rivne, Ukraine, Oliinyk O.O.
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the article is to study the influence of tolerance towards immigrants on the country's attractiveness for four categories of intellectual migrants (university students, highly educated workers, entrepreneurs, startup founders) using the example of countries that are members of the OECD. To assess the influence of tolerance in host societies on the attractiveness of the country for intellectual migrants, the OECD Talent Attractiveness Indicators and indicators of the level of tolerance towards immigrants in various aspects of its manifestation were used. It was determined that the OECD countries have different levels of attractiveness for foreign citizens to study, find employment, start their own business and startups. To study the influence of tolerance on the country's attractiveness for intellectual migrants, the method of correlation analysis was used. The calculated values of the Pearson correlation coefficients allow us to assert that tolerance towards immigrants is a significant driver of immigration to OECD countries for all four groups of intellectual immigrants: the correlation coefficient values range from 0.537 for highly educated workers to 0.672 for startup founders. Equal treatment and lack of discrimination affect the country's attractiveness for foreign university students and entrepreneurs. Ensuring freedom of religion and belief in the country is an important factor in the formation of its attractiveness for intellectual migrants - the value of correlation coefficients is more than 0.5 (excluding the category "startup founders"). Ensuring the right to freely express one's political views, to gather together in public places, to join public groups and associations, to organize politically in any way is an attractive factor for foreign university students, highly educated workers and entrepreneurs - the calculated values of Pearson's correlation coefficients exceed 0.6. The identified relationships will become the basis for substantiating priority measures to ensure a tolerant living environment for migrants. The development and implementation of such measures is particularly relevant for Ukraine, because the spread of cases of intolerance, violence and murders of Ukrainians abroad requires the rapid implementation of effective measures aimed at increasing the level of tolerance and preventing discrimination of people from Ukraine.
MODERN ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LOGISTICS ACTIVITIES OF ENTERPRISES BASED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OPPORTUNITIES
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Kharchenko Tetiana , Andreieva Oleksandra ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: June 2024

The modern period of development of economic relations in the conditions of digitalization of the economy requires the search for non-standard solutions to problems arising in the process of production and sale of products. The instability of the economic situation, the need to adapt to the conditions of production in the conditions of military operations on the territory of Ukraine, the desire to preserve the competitiveness of business causes the need to develop and implement effective mechanisms for responding to external and internal changes. One of the tools that will ensure business innovation, respond to external challenges and minimize costs is the implementation of artificial intelligence capabilities in the enterprise's logistics activities. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the benefits of using the capabilities of artificial intelligence in the environmentalization of the enterprise's logistics activities. The article analyzes the effects of the enterprise's logistics activities on the surrounding natural environment, identifies the most environmentally threatening areas in the general logistics chain. The structure of emissions into the surrounding natural environment from stationary and mobile sources is analyzed and the main directions of attracting the possibilities of artificial intelligence in the production activity of the enterprise are proposed. The authors emphasize that artificial intelligence, with its unparalleled capabilities in data analytics, machine learning and predictive modeling, is becoming the catalyst that moves business into a future where profitability coexists with environmental responsibility. At the same time, the spheres of economic activity of the enterprise in which these changes can be introduced are determined. It has been established that with the help of artificial intelligence capabilities, manufacturers will be able to ensure: greening of the product transportation process, reduction of energy consumption, reduction of enterprise waste, forecasting of consumer demand. The integration of artificial intelligence capabilities and environmental sustainability will provide a revolution in the supply chain that not only meets the requirements of today, but also lays the foundation for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.