bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alcoholism – Epidemic of the Current Time after COVID-19 Pandemic (Letter to the Editor)
Authors: Popovicova M. , Sulcova J. , Barta R.
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Harmful consumption of alcohol has a serious impact on public health and is considered as one of the main risk factors for health damage and disease on a global level. Increased consumption of alcohol is dangerous at any age; however, a greater risk has been shown at younger age. For this reason, our research has been focused on the consumption of alcoholic beverages among adolescents. Objective: We investigated the attitudes of students in relation to alcohol consumption. Material and methodology: To obtain necessary information, we used existing available professional literature and a non-standardized questionnaire. For the defined research goal, we included in the research group older elementary school students and high school students. 272 respondents took overall part in the research. To test the hypotheses, we used Pearson's chi-square test of independence, Student's t-test and one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA test - non-parametric version). Results: The results showed significant differences in alcohol consumption between smokers and non-smokers of elementary school students and high school students. In the observed group, today's generation of young people and teenagers have almost equal experiences with alcohol, whereas boys have a slightly higher drinking frequency. We also confirmed the connection between the frequency of consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking. Regarding prevention, girls perceive a higher prevention than boys, but the subjective rate of alcoholism prevention importance is not age related. Conclusion: Of all the negative phenomena of modern human society, alcoholism is the most dangerous, due to its massive distribution. Therefore, prevention at primary level is to be taken seriously, which emphasizes a controlled consumption of alcohol. Considering the unfavorable statistical indicators of the increased alcohol consumption, especially in case of women, it is necessary to create long-term selective preventive programs.
Clinical and genetic aspects of menopausal hormone therapy - a modern paradigm. What changed COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Zhuravleva Irina S. , Khamoshina Marina B. , Orazov Mekan R. , Dmitrieva Elena M. , Azova Madina M.
Published: December 2022

In the modern paradigm of public health protection, much attention is paid to the health of women in peri- and postmenopause, and a personalized approach prevails. It is generally recognized that the pathogenetic therapy of menopausal disorders is hormone therapy. But the COVID-19 pandemic has made its own adjustments to the routine strategy of choosing menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The purpose of this review was to analyze studies on the dependence of the effectiveness of MHT on clinical and genetic aspects in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The review highlights the main risks of MHT for thromboembolic diseases and coagulation complications characteristic of COVID-19, discusses genetic predispositions that aggravate the course of the post-COVID period, as well as the effectiveness of estrogens in protecting the vascular endothelium and increasing the number of CD4+ T cells, providing an adequate immune response when infected with SARS-CoV-2. Numerous studies show that the complications characteristic of the severe course of COVID-19 are multifactorial in nature and cannot be unambiguously explained only by genetic predisposition. However, with the development of personalized medicine, special attention should be paid to the study of genetic aspects that can equally contribute to the occurrence of menopausal disorders in healthy women and aggravate the course of the post-pregnancy period. The data presented allow us to conclude that in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at the population level, MHT can bring significant benefits to women during menopause due to the beneficial effect of estrogens on vascular walls. Additional study of the relationship between the course of the postcovid period in MHT users and polymorphisms of candidate genes that determine the risks of thrombotic complications and metabolic consequences is required.
New aspects in the surgical correction of pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Vardanyan Vardan G. , Alekhin Alexandr I. , Mezhlumova Natalya A. , Pevgova Galina Yu. , Alekhin Anton A.
Published: December 2022

Relevance . The relevance of the problem of pelvic prolapse is due to the prevalence of the disease, the tendency to rejuvenation and progression. This, according to the survey, affects the quality of life of women, leads to disruption of sexual functioning, and reduces the ability to work. The methods of surgical treatment that exist in the arsenal of modern operative gynecology can contribute to the development of cicatricial adhesions, infectious complications and recurrence of prolapse, which creates the need for repeated interventions. The development and introduction into practice of new methods of treatment is a natural necessity. The most effective technique for the surgical treatment of genital prolapse is laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy using titanium silk implants. Materials and Methods. A prospective cohort study of 30 patients aged 37 to 74 years with clinical manifestations of grade II-IV prolapse, statistical data analysis and analysis of the results of a survey of patients in the postoperative period in dynamics over 3-6-12 months from 2019 to 2021 was carried out. The study used a three-stage method of surgical assistance (patent dated September 15, 2020 No. 2020130382/14 (054923) in the volume - laparoscopic promontofixation, MacCoul sacro-uterine ligament plasty, colporrhaphy, colpoperineorrhaphy, levatoroplasty. Results and Discussion. It has been established that pregnancy and childbirth are among the main factors provoking the development of pelvic floor muscle failure. The duration of postoperative follow-up in our study was 3-14 months. No complications were diagnosed during this period. In 12 patients (40.0 %) during the first month there were periodic pulling pains in the lower abdomen and perineum, in 2 (6.6 %) - urinary incontinence. Titanium silk has a lower affinity for surrounding tissues compared to polypropylene scaffold systems, which makes it possible to consider it as an alternative material to synthetic analogues and reduce the risk of mesh-associated complications. The resistance of the titanium endoprosthesis to antiseptics and microbial agents predisposes to its long-term use and the absence of the need for replacement. Conclusion. The data obtained make it possible to judge the high efficiency of the developed technique for the surgical treatment of pelvic prolapse of pelvic floor defects in patients with rectocele and cystocele, minimizing the recurrence of the disease and the risk of developing mesh-associated complications, which allows choosing a personalized management strategy for this cohort of patients.
Immunotherapy at the modern stage: types and tactics of application
Authors: Korzhenevsky Alexey A. , Korzhenevskaya Nina P.
Published: December 2022

The sum of the effects of all negative factors on the human body is manifested, including in the form of an imbalance in the work of the immune system, which leads to a violation of the recognition and elimination of foreign substances of the most diverse origin. This is manifested in an increase in the frequency of development of inflammatory processes, the risk of their chronicity and the development of complications, the identification of opportunistic or conditionally pathogenic flora as a pathogen, including those with atypical biological properties and antibiotic resistance. The use of etiotropic chemotherapy alone in the treatment does not allow achieving sufficient control over many infectious diseases. The purpose of this review was to investigate additional, alternative approaches to influencing anti-infective immunity. An analysis of the strategy based on the use of modulation of the immune response in the treatment of patients was carried out and its advantages over traditional antimicrobial treatment were determined. The concept of «immunotherapy» is discussed, which implies a variety of effects on the immune system in order to stop the pathological process. The review highlights the main types of immunotherapy - local, general, combined and monoimmunotherapy, as well as active and passive, specific and nonspecific. The review provides convincing data on the need for immunomodulators to meet a number of requirements, analyzes various ways of classifying them and their areas of application. The necessity of using immunotropic drugs on the basis of a comprehensive examination is emphasized, taking into account the correspondence between the nature of clinical manifestations and the severity of changes in immunological parameters. The analyzed data allow us to conclude that immunomodulatory therapy can be used to restore the function of the immune system to the physiological norm after a severe inflammatory process at the stage of immunorehabilitation.
Biomarkers in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Haque Syed S.
Published: December 2022

Biomarkers are molecules that behave as of biological states. Ideally, they should have high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in reflecting the total disease burden. The review discusses the current status of biomarkers used in neurological disorders. Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group disorders characterized by progressive loss of structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. The review discusses the main biomarkers that have predictive value for describing clinical etiology, pathophysiology, and intervention strategies. Preciseness and reliability are one of important requirement for good biomarker. As a result of the analysis of literature data, it was revealed that beta-amyloid, total tau protein and its phosphorylated forms are the first biochemical biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases measured in cerebrospinal fluid, but these markers are dependent upon invasive lumbar puncture and therefore it’s a cumbersome process for patients. Among the various biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, special attention is paid to miRNAs. MicroRNAs, important biomarkers in many disease states, including neurodegenerative disorders, make them promising candidates that may lead to identify new therapeutic targets. Conclusions. Biomarkers of neurological disease are present optimal amount in the cerebrospinal fluid but they are also present in blood at low levels. The data obtained reveal the predictive value of molecular diagnostics of neurodegenerative disorders and the need for its wider use.
Aspects of myocardial heterogeneity in assessment its remodeling
Authors: Minina Elena N. , Stepura Evgeny E.
Published: December 2022

The influence of sports activity on the cardiovascular system is accompanied by physiological adaptation of the organism. Intense physical activity, far exceeding the body’s capabilities, can lead to structural changes or remodeling of the athlete’s myocardium. The review is devoted to the study of myocardial heterogeneity and is aimed at attracting attention of physicians, physiologists, biologists, researchers and developers of ECG computer analysis programs to prognostically significant indicators. Based on the mechanisms of electrical heterogeneity of the ventricular myocardium, the review considers the results of clinical studies by Russian and foreign specialists. The high predictive capabilities of indicators for the detection of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events and sudden cardiac death are discussed. It was found that the speed indicators of the electrical activity of the heart are the earliest marker of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders. Risk factors - arterial hypertension, smoking, hypercholesterolemia and overweight - are associated with a decrease in the rate of electrical activity of the heart and an increase in myocardial heterogeneity. The data presented allow us to conclude that myocardial electrical heterogeneity is a prognostically significant indicator for the detection of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events; it is widely discussed in foreign literature, but is not used by domestic specialists.
Tests for Early Detection of Paediatric Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: K Vidhyasagar , Venkatesan Srinath Melpakkam
Published: December 2022

Urinary tract infection is the most common of all pediatric bacterial infections. This study aims to determine the efficacy of rapid diagnostic tests vs gram stain as against gold standard test (urine culture) and to find out the validity of each screening test for early detection of urinary tract infection in children. A cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged between 3- 15 years of suspected urinary tract infections from August 2020 to January 2021. Data collection was facilitated by using a predesigned checklist. The specimen was collected in a sterile, leak proof container by clean catch midstream technique and was subjected to urine microscopy, urine dipstick nitrite and leukocyte esterase, urine gram stain, and the gold standard test urine culture and sensitivity. Using the gold standard test, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the other screening tests were determined. The patient's mean age was 5.16 ± 2.7 years, and half were in the age group 3-5 years. The majority of the patients were male (54%). Fever (64%) was the major symptom, followed by pain in the abdomen (52%) and dysuria (40%). Escherichia coli was the most common organism isolated (54%), followed by Klebsiella (22%). Urine gram stain has sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 100% respectively. Urinary tract infection is a common infection in children. Urine gram stain is a very sensitive and specific test for diagnosing urinary tract infections compared to other screening tests.
Identifying Drug-Drug Interactions in Diabetic Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Pharmacist’s Interventions
Authors: Sabahi Armita , K. B Namitha
Published: December 2022

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can negatively affect patients ‘therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate DDIs among diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To achieve this aim, our objectives were to identify DDIs in diabetic patients with CKD admitted to the Medicine Department of the tertiary care hospital and to evaluate pharmacist’s interventions in managing DDIs among these patients. A prospective observational study was conducted over 6 months. The pharmacist performed a medication chart review, and DDIs were identified by using Lexicomp® drug interaction. The pharmacist informed prescribers regarding the occurrence of DDIs, and all pharmacist`s interventions were classified according to Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe. Overall 307 DDIs were identified among a total of 119 study patients with an average of 2.6 DDIs per patient. The most of identified DDIs (205, 66.7%) belonged to the interaction risk-rating category of C, which indicates that DDIs required close monitoring of patients’ therapy to avoid any potential adverse outcome. DDIs that needed to be managed by considering therapy modification (risk-rating category of D) and avoiding drug combination (risk-rating category of X) were accounted for 19.2% and 14.0% of all detected interactions, respectively. Interactions between Furosemide–Insulin (43, 14.0%), Amlodipine–Calcium carbonate/vitamin D3 (35, 11.4%) were found to be among most commonly identified DDIs. The pharmacist delivered different types of interventions to prescribers, which ranged from monitoring of therapy outcome to stopping DDIs. A great proportion of delivered pharmacist’s interventions (87%) were accepted by prescribers. Clinically significant DDIs occurred commonly in hospitalized diabetic patients with CKD. The pharmacist delivered important interventions in timely identifying DDIs.
El carbón vegetal en los mercados de Punchana, Iquitos, Belén y San Juan Bautista, en Loreto, Perú
Authors: Paredes Escobedo Yul Stephano , Cerrano Limas Joiner Alejandro , López Fonseca Jim Pool , Ushiñahua Pizuri Keyla Marjori , Rengifo Gutierrez Yamile Milagros
Published: December 2022

El carbón vegetal es muy utilizado en la capital de Loreto (Iquitos), es elaborado a partir de las partes leñosas de árboles y arbustos, incrementando la deforestación, lo cual afecta negativamente al ambiente, se usa principalmente en la elaboración de alimentos. Por lo cual los objetivos del estudio fueron: determinar la cantidad de sacos o costales de carbón que se venden al año en los principales mercados; determinar el precio de compra y venta; y conocer la disponibilidad de pago para la reforestación, durante el 2019 y 2021 en Punchana, Iquitos, Belén y San Juan Bautista (Loreto, Perú). Se aplicaron encuestas a los comercializadores mayoristas y a los clientes de restaurantes-pollerías. En el 2019 y 2021 se vendieron 20 212 y 21 755 sacos de carbón, respectivamente; el promedio del precio de compra y venta fue de S/. 23,80 y S/. 35,30; y el 46 % de los clientes están dispuestos a pagar S/. 1,00 para la reforestación. Se concluye que, la demanda de carbón en la capital de Loreto es de gran preocupación ya que contribuye a la deforestación de los bosques y que hay una disposición de los consumidores de pagar para reforestar.
Abundancia de la taricaya (Podocnemis unifilis) en la Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria, al norte de la Amazonía peruana
Authors: Pérez-Peña Pedro , Riveros-Montalván María , Tapia del Aguila Carlo , Pizarro García Jorge , Bardales Alvitez Claudio , Loja Alemán Eva María , Neyra Saavedra Enrique Alfredo , Beraún Baca Yuri
Published: December 2022

El programa de aprovechamiento con fines comerciales de huevos y crías de Podocnemis unifilis de la Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria necesita información de la población adulta y juvenil para evaluar su éxito. Nuestro objetivo fue estimar la abundancia de adultos y juveniles de P. unifilis mediante el método de conteo de asoleadoras en la cuenca del Pacaya y Samiria, Loreto, Perú. Se tuvo 15 transectos en la cuenca del Samiria y 13 en el Pacaya. Nuestros conteos permitieron estimar 13,4 ind./km (10,3-17,9 ind./km) en el Pacaya y 7,2 ind./km (3,4-12,2 ind./km) en el Samiria, esta diferencia fue significativa (Z(U)= 1,95; p=0,05). El análisis comparativo de abundancia de adultos entre cuenca baja y alta del Pacaya y Samiria mostró diferencias (Z(U)=2,13; p=0,03 y Z(U)=2,44; p= 0,01, respectivamente) y reveló que la cuenca baja del Pacaya y la cuenca alta del Samiria tuvieron mayor abundancia, 6,9 ind./km (2,0-8,0 ind./km) y 5,6 ind./km (4,3–8,6 ind./ km), respectivamente. A lo largo de 425,5 km de los ríos Samiria y Pacaya se estimó una población de 5163 individuos (1748 adultos y 3415 juveniles). El estado de conservación se considera de regular a bueno.
Mapping the structure of spatial point patterns on a regional scale
Authors: Ukrainsky P.A. , Buryak Z.A. , Terekhin E.A.
Published: December 2022

To identify geographical regularities in changing the structure of spatial point patterns, we proposed the use of cartographic visualization. Approaches to gathering initial data, mechanisms for calculating the characteristics of the spatial structure and ways of displaying them on the map are described. The process of mapping combines elements of geoinformatics, spatial statistics and cartography. The elements of the methodology were integrated using the R programming language and the spatstat package. A script was written in the R that enables automating the calculation of the spatial structure’s quantitative characteristics. Thirteen indicators were identified that can be used for cartographic visualization of the spatial point images structure features. The described approach was tested on the example of sparse woody vegetation areas found in the ravine-gully network of the Central Chernozem region.
The Making of Pieces of the Puzzle: Reflections on a Collaborative Ethnographic Filmmaking Process
Authors: Hughes Thomas Scott , Welch Brady , Schuurman Janine
Published: December 2022

This is a companion piece to the “Pieces of the Puzzle” film.
Media and the Issue of Hijab and Veil Across European Countries
Authors: Ab Halim Asyiqin , Mohd Razif Nor Fahimah , Paad Nur Shahidah
Published: December 2022

The issue of hijab has become a controversial and ongoing topic discussed mainly in European countries and has been perceived differently by the media. The discourse of hijab and its controversy, particularly in France, Netherland, Germany, as well as in the United Kingdom, has not been interpreted by the media according to the Islamic perspective, thereby implicitly creating tension between Muslims and the local society. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine the controversial issue of hijab that arose in the European countries by focusing on France, Netherland, Germany and the United Kingdom and how the issues have been reported and perceived by the media. This study employs a qualitative approach that applies library research focusing on data collection via secondary sources. Furthermore, the data are analysed according to thematic analysis in identifying and interpreting patterns and themes within the data obtained. The finding of this study shows the issue of hijab within European countries is regarding more on veil and purdah or niqab rather than headscarves as wearing of headscarves is commonly recognised by the European communities. As a conclusion, it is suggested for Muslims to be more visible in society and media in countering negative views and perceptions towards Muslim as well as in depicting constructive image of Islam.
The Role of Education in the Development of Jawi in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: A. Rahman Sri Kartika , Ampuan Hj Tengah Ampuan Hj Brahim , Makmun Rozaiman
Published: December 2022

This literary research aims to discuss the role of education in the history and development of the usage of the Jawi script in Brunei. This discussion is divided into six phases. The first phase is the use of Jawi in education after the arrival of Islam. The second phase is its use during the early development of education between 1914 and 1941. The third phase is during the Japanese occupation era from 1942 until 1945. The fourth phase is in the pre-independence era between 1943 and 1983. The fifth phase is in the Bilingual Education policy from 1984 until 2007, and the last phase is during the National Education System for the 21st Century Policy, from 2008 until today. The researcher discovered that the role and importance of Jawi in the field of education remain relevant, especially in preserving it as the heritage and identity of the Malay race.
Thomas W. Arnold (2012). The Spread of Islam in the World: A History of Peaceful Preaching. New Delhi: Goodword Books. 467 pages. [ISBN: 8187570229]
Authors: Idris Asmady
Published: December 2022

Arnold’s book offers a balanced analysis and an alternative perspective for those who seek to find the truth about Islam. It has 13 chapters (including introduction and conclusion) and each chapter covers almost all regions that had interacted with Islam. The story line of the book begins with how Islam first established in Mecca and Medina, and later it spreads to all Arabian Peninsula and other corners of the earth encompassing western Asia, Africa, Spain Andalusia, central Asia, China, India, and Malay Archipelago. In the time of writing in 1896, Prof Arnold estimated that there were about 200 million of the followers of Islam. The references used in this book range from Arabic, Dutch, English, French and other sources.The main strength of this book is it reveals with an avalanche data of how Islam peacefully spread to many places in the world. Professor Arnold has laid down the very fundamental vigour of Islam which is not entirely depending on the Muslim physical empires and dynasties but it solidly rests on its ‘spiritual conquests’, that is, da’wah conveying the message of Islam that went on uninterruptedly by the Muslim missionaries.
Sejarah dan Perkembangan Pentadbiran Islam Pada Era Pemerintahan Brooke di Sarawak
Authors: Bujang Saimi , Abdul Kadir Abdul Razak , Yusuf Noranizah , Hamrie Fatimah , Wan Yon Wan Ariffin
Published: December 2022

Kertas ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan secara sepintas lalu tentang kewujudan dan perlaksanaan perundangan Islam sepanjang tempoh pemerintahan Brooke di Sarawak. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan historiografi iaitu penulisan sejarah, prinsip atau kaedah penulisan sejarah dan karya atau hasil penulisan yang berkaitan dengan perundangan Islam Sarawak sepanjang tempoh pemerintahan Brooke. Pendekatan kajian historiografi yang digunakan dalam kajian ini melalui empat langkah, iaitu; heuristik; kritikan sumber; interpretasi; dan historiografi. Masalah yang dijawab dalam kertas ini adalah berkaitan dengan kewujudan perundangan Islam sepanjang tempoh pemerintahan Brooke. Manuskrip, catatan Brooke dan catatan pegawai British dari Barat berkaitan dengan perundangan Islam di Sarawak sepanjang pemerintahan Brooke dikumpul, dikritik dan diinterpretasikan bagi menghasilkan pensejarahan baru tentang perkembangan perundangan Islam di negeri Sarawak. Kesemua maklumat yang diperolehi daripada bahan-bahan sejarah dilakukan semak silang (cross check) atau jejak audit (audit trail) bagi menguji kesahan maklumat tersebut. Pendekatan analisis induktif dan deduktif digunakan dalam analisis kandungan bahan-bahan sejarah bagi memberi makna kepada fakta-fakta sejarah yang dijumpai. Kajian ini berjaya menjelaskan tentang kewujudan dan perlaksanaan perundangan Islam dari mula era pemerintahan James Brooke sehingga Rajah Brooke terakhir di Sarawak. Bahan-bahan sejarah tersebut juga berjaya membuktikan bahawa kewujudan dan perlaksanaan perundangan Islam tersebut adalah hasil daripada warisan kerajaan-kerajaan yang terdapat di Sarawak sebelum perlantikan James Brooke sebagai Gabenor Sarawak pada tahun 1841.
“Human is a Counterpoint to the Divine Symphony of the Spheres.” About Anthroposophy and Nikolai Belotsvetov
Authors:   University of Gdansk, Obolenska Diana
Published: December 2022

The first part of the publication is an introductory text by Diana Obolenska. The basic anthroposophical concepts, biographical facts from the life of Nikolai Belotsvetov and the ideological background related to the published texts of the author («The Book of the Russian Grail», «In Defence of Anthroposophy» and «The Mystery of Good and Evil in the Spiritual Experience of Selfknowledge») are presented here briefly. The introduction undertakes the task of explaining Belotsvetov’s ideological structures and proposes one of the possible interpretation keys to the attached theoretical texts. The assumption of the entire publication was to introduce to a wider range of readers the anthroposophical works by Nikolai Belotsvetov, known so far only in a narrow circle of anthroposophists and researchers of anthroposophy. The source of most of the conceptual constructions that appeared in the texts is the anthroposophical methodology compiled by Belotsvetov, that helped this anthroposophist, poet, writer to reveal to the reader his picture of the perception of the surrounding world. The possibility of defining an individual form of understanding of higher and lower reality, going back to the main anthroposophical ideas, was precisely this element in the system created by Steiner that gave amazing results. The most striking example of this approach was the oeuvre of Russian symbolist Andrei Bely. This introductory article is also consistent with the epistolary materials published by O.F. Kuznetsova in the same edition, accumulated in the funds of the Manuscript Department (IWL RAS).
India in Old Russian Literature
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Demin Anatoly S.
Published: December 2022

The article examines India in Old Russian literature. The purpose of the article is to highlight subject-pictorial motifs in the whole Old Russian texts about India. There are not so many such works of literary significance, and even fewer detailed descriptions. The oldest fantastic motif about India as a dangerous country appeared in Rus’ in the 11th century in historical and geographical monuments: Chronicle by Georgy Amartol and in Christian Topography by Kozma Indikoplov — and was continued in translated in the first third of the 16th century Lucidaris. Conditional India appears in The Tale of Barlaam and Joasaph and The Tale of Eruslan. In the chronographic and Serbian Alexandria, Journey Beyond the Three Seas by Afanasy Nikitin, Cosmography in 76 chapters, a combination of fantastic and realistic descriptions in Indian plots is observed. Listed in the early 16th century The Tales of the Indian Kingdom appear military and defensive motives caused by harsh historical events in Rus’. In general, from the 11th to the 17th centuries in the literary works of Old Rus’ India, from a subject-pictorial point of view, seemed to be an extremely dangerous, unpleasant and uncomfortable country, despite its overwhelming stone, fruit and vegetable wealth. And so it should have been: after all, India was closest to the earthly paradise and, along with other inhuman objects near paradise, blocked the path to it.
Imagological Symbols in the Praise by Epiphanius the Wise
Authors:   А.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pervushin Mikhail V.
Published: December 2022

The article examines the imagological symbols in the Praise by Epiphanius the Wise. The perception of St. Sergius of Radonezh figure today fits the idea of him that developed at the beginning of the 20th century, despite seventy years of atheistic propaganda or thanks to it. St. Sergius of Radonezh was then a symbol of Holy Russia, a “folk idea,” according to the great Russian historian V.O. Klyuchevsky. That’s how they look at him now. However, the appearance of a symbol, its crystallization in the people’s consciousness requires a certain time and, most importantly, certain texts. The first work in the cycle of texts about St. Sergius of Radonezh is Praise to him, written by his disciple and follower, St. Epiphanius the Wise. Today, Praise to St. Sergius is forgotten. It is practically not studied. The article reveals the dynamic image of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which was written by Epiphanius in Praise. At the same time, Praise is considered as such a work that could exclude the main character from the historical narrative, create a myth about him. And this, in turn, led to the formation of a symbol on its basis, as well as the tradition of its perception, stretching over different eras and, most importantly, connecting them.
A Tale of the Origin of Vinesmoking in the Literary Space of the Seventeenth Century Collection
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kaplun Marianna V.
Published: December 2022

A Fable of the Origin of Vinesmoking from the collection of manuscripts by N.P. Rumyantsev (RSL, F. 256, no. 363) belongs to the works cycle on hops (drunkenness) that can be dated to the second half of the 17th century. A.H. Vostokov defined the genre of the work as a fable, while N.I. Kostomarov referred the text to the legendary corpus. Text from Rumyantsev collection is an apocryphal text (tale) associated with the legend On Noah’s Ark. Fable reflects the parable of demon, who, seeing the spread of Christian teachings, decided to teach one person to drink amusements, thereby wishing to “intoxicate” the whole world with his “accusation” as a counterbalance to the Christian trend. In the artistic structure of the collection, Fable is placed in the middle of the collection and opens a cycle of works on the subject of drunkenness, which includes the Tale of the Highly Smart Hops, Word on Lazy and Sleepy and Drunk, Word of the Great St. John Chrysostom on Drunkenness. The five-part structure of Fable is typical for works about the origin of drunkenness that existed in Russia in the 17th–18th centuries. The genre specificity of text is closely related to the peculiarities of parable, legendary form, but without a moralizing (explanatory) component at the end, which may indicate that before us another edition of a legend based on a popular plot. An analysis of text poetics containing expressive and pictorial elements, designed to enhance the impression of what has been read, makes possible to reveal hidden messages to the old Russian reader. The work, which begins the cycle of legends about hops, is organically integrated into literary space of the collection, imparting compositional integrity to collection of the 17th century.
Image of Feats of Repentance in the Ladder and in the Hagiographic Icon of John Climacus
Authors:   Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Khokhlova Irina L.
Published: December 2022

The article examines image of feats of repentance in the Ladder and in the hagiographic icon of John Climacus. The ascetic composition of the Byzantine Saint John Scholasticus The Ladder of Heaven has a rich history of embodiment in old Russian painting. The original type of iconography, born of the Ladder, are the scenes of monastic exploits in the monastery-dungeon, described in the Word 5 On Repentance. A developed cycle of images of repentance scenes of monastic recluses surrounds mullion of the recognized masterpiece of the last third of the 16th century — the icon Vision of St. John of the Ladder with 24 Stamps of Life and Exploits from the collection of the Rybinsk Museum-Reserve. The purpose of study is to trace in this rare monument nature and features of translation of the fifth chapter of the Ladder from literary to pictorial language. The tasks of studying an icon are to determine its closest iconographic and stylistic analogies and protographs in frescoes, icons, miniatures. This will clarify the dating and attribution of the icon. Using a method of comparative analysis of text and image, a method of iconographic and stylistic comparisons, an iconological method, author finds parallels between hagiography and iconography. A consistent comparison of the icon’s brands with similar scenes of monks’ repentance in the fresco of the western gallery of the Annunciation Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin (1508–1564) and in the miniatures of the manuscript Ladder of the 1520s–1530s from the RSL (Russian State Library) proves the obvious close acquaintance of the icon’s author with these monuments of metropolitan origin. The uniqueness of iconography and elitism of icon’s writing lead to the conclusion that it was written by a Moscow isographer by royal order, probably as an image of the patron saint of prince Ivan, the son of Ivan the Terrible.
Chronicle by Choice on the Simon Azaryin’s List: a Brief Chronicle in the Literary and Publicist Life of the Middle 17th Century
Authors:   Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bogdanov Andrey P.
Published: December 2022

The article and publication of the text introduces a typical short chronicler — a literary form that became very popular in Russia in the 17th century. The model is the Chronicle by Choice of a lengthy edition in the cell handwritten code of the famous scribe and publicist, cellarer of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Simon Azaryin. Like many others, this list was continued by original articles on contemporary scribes events, in this case the 1650s–1660s. A thorough codicological study of the entire manuscript and of the Chronicler itself, comparing it with another cell handwritten code of Simon, which was written at the same time, allows very precise dating of the stages of work on the manuscript and to establish, that the chronicle was copied from the protographer, and then continued by the staff of the cellarer. The author shows what passions raged on the pages of the private cell code, and introduces this type of codes. The study helps to understand what thoughts, ideas and concepts were behind the laconic chronicle articles, which were never written “without anger and passion.” The choice of facts, their arrangement and the vivid emotional content of a number of articles made the short chronicler the same publicistic work as the famous author’s works of Azaryin. But the appearance of the objectivity of the chronicle form made such monuments especially convincing. The reader of the text can check this conclusion for himself.
The Validation Of Covid-19 information In The Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database for Public Health System by vaccination status
Authors: Astasio Oliver , Castillo-Cano Belén , Delgado Beatriz Sánchez , Gini Rosa , Riefolo Fabio , Merino Elisa Martin
Published: December 2022

Purpose To validate Covid-19 information records in The
Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database for Public Health System
(BIFAP), commonly used for pharmacoepidemiological research in Spain.
Methods The recorded Covid-19 cases in primary care (PC) or
positive test registries (gold-standard) were identified among
vaccinated patients against SARS-CoV-2 infection of any age. They were
matched with unvaccinated controls by birth year, vaccination date,
region, and sex, between December 2020-October 2021. The sensitivity
(SE), specificity (SP), positive (PPV), negative (NPV) predictive
values, and date accurateness were estimated for PC by vaccination
status and age brands. Results Among 21,702 patients with
positive tests and 20,866 with recorded Covid-19 diagnoses, the SE, SP,
PPV, and NPV were, respectively, 79.98%, 99.95%, 80.24% and 99.94%
among vaccinated, and 78.67%, 99.96%, 84.51% and 99.94% among
controls. For those aged ≥70 years old, SE (71.15-72.85%) was lower
while PPV (84.68-88.04%) was higher compared to <70 years old
participants. 94.12% of the total true positive cases (N=17,191) were
recorded within ±5 days from the date of the test result.
Conclusions PC Covid-19 diagnosis recorded in BIFAP showed high
validation parameters. SE was similar and PPV was slightly lower among
vaccinated than unvaccinated controls. Correction of vaccines
effectiveness estimates by such misclassification is recommended. Data
shows the influence of age. Among the elderly, Covid-19 diagnosis was
less recorded but when recorded is more accurate than among younger
patients. These findings permit the design of informed algorithms for
performing Covid-19-related research.
INFLUÊNCIA DOS CICLOS ECONÔMICOS NA COMPARABILIDADE E CONSISTÊNCIA DA INFORMAÇÃO CONTÁBIL: EVIDÊNCIAS EM EMPRESAS ABERTAS DO MERCADO BRASILEIRO
Authors: Sousa Allison Manoel de , Meurer Rodrigo Malta , Feltes Taise , Ribeiro Alex Mussoi
Published: December 2022

O estudo objetiva analisar a influência dos ciclos econômicos na comparabilidade e consistência da informação contábil das empresas abertas do mercado brasileiro. Foram analisadas 61 empresas em períodos anuais de 2013 a 2019. A comparabilidade foi calculada a partir do método de similaridade da função contábil de DeFranco, Kothari e Verdi (2011) e, para mensurar a consistência, recorreu-se à medida adaptada de DeFranco et al. (2011) e desenvolvida por Ribeiro (2014). Os ciclos econômicos foram mensurados por meio da métrica de Bry e Boschan (1971) e sofisticado por Harding e Pagan (2002). Os dados foram analisados por meio de regressões de dados em painel, os quais revelaram que as demonstrações contábeis se tornam mais comparáveis em ciclos econômicos de contração. Há, contudo, redução da comparabilidade nos demais ciclos econômicos, isto é, recessão, recuperação e expansão. As informações contábeis são mais consistentes em ciclos econômicos de contração. Vale ressaltar que os demais ciclos econômicos são marcados pela diminuição do nível de consistência. Como implicações práticas, esses achados podem auxiliar os investidores e credores, uma vez que o ambiente macroeconômico pode ser utilizado como parâmetro para compreender o comportamento da comparabilidade e consistência. Assim, os investidores poderão entender quais são os níveis destes aspectos da informação contábil conforme cada ciclo econômico para proceder ao processo decisório entre diferentes alternativas de investimento.
ATUAÇÃO DO LEGISLATIVO NA APROVAÇÃO DO PROJETO DE LEI ORÇAMENTÁRIA EM MUNICÍPIOS
Authors: Pereira da Silva Elessandra , Rocha de Azevedo Ricardo
Published: December 2022

O artigo analisa a atuação dos vereadores na etapa de discussão e aprovação do orçamento público municipal. Adotando como suporte teórico a Teoria Institucional Sociológica e a formação de coalizões de governo, a pesquisa tem como objetivo identificar e analisar quais aspectos os vereadores consideram ao discutir e aprovar o orçamento público municipal. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de uma survey eletrônica enviada aos vereadores brasileiros eleitos em 2016. A análise dos dados observou três dimensões: (i) a fonte de conhecimento das demandas dos eleitores e transparência do processo orçamentário; (ii) a influência do parecer da Comissão de Orçamento e Finanças sobre o voto dos vereadores; e (iii) atuação do vereador no processo orçamentário. As evidências indicam que os vereadores buscam legitimação frente ao prefeito e ao eleitorado, o que abre espaço para baixo escrutínio na discussão e avaliação do projeto de lei orçamentária. Como implicações, o estudo discute os problemas decorrentes da renúncia do vereador à função legislativa como o endividamento, o orçamento fictício e a limitada representação social no processo orçamentário.
Optimizing data locality by executor allocation in spark computing environment
Authors: Fu Zhongming , He Mengsi , Tang Zhuo , Zhang Yang
Published: December 2022

Data locality is an important concept in big data processing. Most of the existing research optimized data locality from the aspect of task scheduling. However, as the execution container of tasks, the executors started on which nodes can directly affect the locality level achieved by the tasks. This paper tries to improve the data locality by executor allocation for reduce stage in Spark computing environment. Firstly, we calculate the network distance matrix of executors and formulate an optimal executor allocation problem to minimize the total communication distance. Then, when the network distance between executors satisfies the triangular inequality, an approximate algorithm is proposed; and when the network distance between executors does not satisfy the triangular inequality, a greedy algorithm is proposed. Finally, we evaluate the performance of our algorithms in a practical Spark cluster by using several representative micro-benchmarks (Sort and Join) and macro-benchmarks (PageRank and LDA). Experimental results show that the proposed algorithms can decrease the execution time of tasks for lower data communication.
Enhanced volatile organic compound sensing properties of BiFeO3 by carbon fibres addition
Authors: Oughanem M’hand , Douani Rachida , Lamrani Nouara , Guhel Yannick , Chaouchi Ahcène , Boudart Bertrand
Published: December 2022

In the present work, pure BiFeO3 (BFO) particles were synthesized by sol-gel
method and mixed with carbon fibre to form composites (x%CFs-BFO, where x
corresponds to 0, 4, 8 and 10 wt.%) by hydrothermal treatment at 150?C. The
resulting composite powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman
spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm and scanning electron
microscopy (SEM-EDX). The synthesized powders were used for gas sensors
preparation by manual deposition of their mixture with polyvinyl alcohol on
alumina tubes ending with two silver electrodes. The impedance of the
sensitive layers was determined by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature
range 100-250?C at different gaseous concentrations. The detection
properties of the fabricated sensors for various volatile organic compounds
were investigated. The sensors showed better sensitivity to acetone compared
to other gases. The addition of carbon fibres improved the sensitivity to
acetone vapour from 64 to 135% at 100 ppm and reduced the optimum operating
temperature of the sensors by 20?C and the response and recovery times from
(26 s/15 s) to (18 s/10 s). This study revealed that x%CFs-BiFeO3 composites
are promising candidates for gas sensors.
Phase equilibria in the La2O3-Y2O3-Gd2O3 system at 1500°C
Authors: Chudinovych Olga , Bykov Oleksandr , Samelyuk Anatoly
Published: December 2022

The phase equilibria in the ternary La2O3-Y2O3-Gd2O3 system at 1500?C were
studied by X-ray diffraction, petrography and electron microscopy in the
overall concentration range. The samples of different compositions have been
prepared from nitrate acid solutions by evaporation, drying and calcination
at 1100 and 1500?C. The solid solutions based on various polymorphous forms
of constituent phases and ordered phase of LaYO3 were revealed in the
system. The isothermal section of the phase diagram for the La2O3-Y2O3-Gd2O3
system has been developed. It was established that in the ternary
La2O3-Y2O3-Gd2O3 system fields of solid solutions exist based on hexagonal
(A) La2O3 phase, monoclinic (B) modifications of La2O3 and Gd2O3, cubic (C)
modification of Y2O3, as well as perovskite-type structure of LaYO3 (R) with
rhombic distortions. The systematic study that covered the whole
compositional range excluded the formation of new phases. The refined
lattice parameters of the unit cell and the boundaries of the homogeneity
fields for solid solutions were determined.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of b4c-tib2 composites reactive sintered from B4C + TiO2 precursors
Authors: Svec Pavol , Caplovic L’ubomír
Published: December 2022

Ceramic composites consisting of a boron carbide (B4C) matrix and titanium
diboride (TiB2) secondary phase were obtained by reactive sintering from
boron carbide powder with 40 and 50wt.% of titanium dioxide (TiO2) additive.
The same sintering temperature of 1850?C and pressure of 35MPa, but
different sintering times from 15 to 60min, were applied during reactive hot
pressing of the composites in vacuum. The effects of TiO2 content and
sintering time on phase compositions, microstructures and mechanical
properties of the composites were studied. The TiO2 additive enhanced
densification of the B4C-TiB2 ceramic composites. Both Vickers hardness and
the fracture toughness of the composites increased with prolongation of
sintering time. The highest hardness of 29.8GPa was achieved for the
composite with 29.6 vol.% of TiB2 obtained by sintering of the precursor
with 40wt.% of TiO2 additive for 60min. The fracture toughness reached a
maximum value of 7.5MPa?m1/2 for the composite containing 40.2 vol.% of
TiB2, which was fabricated by reactive sintering of the precursor with
50wt.% of TiO2 additive for 60min.