bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of residual phenolic compounds on xylanase-assisted ClO2 bleaching of hardwood kraft pulp
Authors: Hsieh Paul , Liu Chia-Ru , Ko Chun-Han , Yang Bing-Yuan , Lin Po-Heng
Published: November 2021

In both pulping and bleaching processes, lignin in the pulp fiber is degraded into smaller molecules that need to be rinsed away. However, despite the installation of automatic washing equipment, the small phenolic compounds among other lignin degradation products can hardly be completely removed from the brownstock. Among the myriad of small phenolic compounds degrading from lignin, some are water-soluble and highly reactive with bleaching reagents. To understand the impact of residual phenolic compounds from black liquor on pulp bleaching, six monomeric phenolic model compounds were tested in this study. Catechol and vanillin showed inhibitory effects on xylanase activity, while catechol, vanillin, and guaiacol interfered with the delignification reaction in the chlorine dioxide (D) and alkaline extraction (E) stages of the bleaching sequence, thereby preserving the integrity of cellulose in the pulp. Because the efficiency of xylanase and bleaching reagents is hindered by the presence of these phenolic compounds, higher operational cost and more bleaching reagents are needed, which are incompatible with modern environmental policies in the world. Nonetheless, the presence of remaining soluble phenolic compounds in the brownstock can improve the bleaching selectivity important for the production of high-quality pulp with less-degraded cellulose chains.
Machinability of Scots pine during peripheral milling with helical cutters
Authors: Jin Dong , Wei Kejun
Published: November 2021

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a fast-growing wood that has been widely manufactured into various furnishing products. To improve the machinability of Scots pine, the cutting force and surface roughness during peripheral milling with helical cutters was assessed via an orthogonal experimental design. Experimental results revealed that the resultant cutting force is positively related to the depth of cut, but negatively correlated with inclination angle of cutting edge and cutting speed. However, surface roughness first declines and then increases with increasing inclination angle, and it also shows an increasing trend with the increasing depth of cut and decreasing cutting speed. Furthermore, the depth of cut significantly contributes to the resultant force and surface roughness, while both the cutting speed and inclination angle have insignificant impacts on the resultant force and surface roughness. Finally, the optimized milling parameters were determined as 62° inclination angle of cutting edge, 45 m/min cutting speed, and 0.2 mm depth of cut, and these parameters are proposed for the quality finishing of Scots pine machining.
Prediction of Road Traffic Noise by CRTN Model in a Sub-Urban Town of India
Authors: Kundu Soumya , Mondal Naba Kumar , Mishra Debojyoti
Published: November 2021

Present study was undertaken for assessment of spatial characteristics of road traffic noise at varying intervals viz early morning (8-9 am), late morning (11-12 pm), afternoon (2-3 pm) and evening (6-7 pm) time at ten important locations (near school building) of G. T. Road which is passing through the Burdwan town. Digital noise meter was used for recording the traffic noise and noise contour map was constructed by using Geographical Information System (GIS). The recorded data revealed that the highest and lowest average noise 67.1 dB (A) and 86.9 dB (A), respectively. The results revealed that the performance of the CRTN model in both afternoon and evening time for predicting noise level near school building with a coefficient of determination (R2) are 0.536 and 0.544 and a mean difference of - 1.19 dB (A) and - 0.48 dB (A) between the measured and predicted values respectively. Similarly, Pearson statistics also revealed the strong correlation between measured and predicted noise level at afternoon (r = 0.732, p < 0.016) and evening time (r = 0.744, p < 0.014).  However, the predicted traffic noise during early morning and late morning hour are less than 0.5. These low values are due to irregular traffic speed, traffic density and irregular building height are the appropriate reasons for low accuracy in predicting model. Finally, it may be suggested that CRTN model can be a decision tool for predicting equivalent noise level in the city like Burdwan.
A Glivenko-Cantelli Bootstrap Theorem for the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke Poverty Index
Authors: Harmath Pedro A. , Ramoni-Perazzi Josefa , Monsalve-Cobis Abelardo
Published: November 2021

Abstract.We assume the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index as an empirical process indexed by a particular Glivenko-Cantelli class or collection of functions and define this poverty index as a functional empirical process of the bootstrap type, to show that the outer almost sure convergence of the FGT empirical process is a necessary and sufficient condition for the outer almost sure convergence of the FGT bootstrap empirical process; that is: both processes are asymptotically equivalent respect to this type of convergence.
Distribution of the Mexican saucer bug Ambrysus signoreti Stål, 1862 (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Naucoridae, Ambrysinae)
Authors: Reynoso-Velasco Daniel
Published: November 2021

The geographic range of the saucer bug Ambrysus signoreti Stål, 1862 is reported and mapped for the first time. Results are based on records from approximately 1,700 specimens examined from seven collections. New distribution records are presented from the Mexican states of Coahuila, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. This species is exclusively distributed in the eastern part of Mexico, in the Sierra Madre Oriental, Tamaulipas, and Veracruzan biogeographic provinces.
Age-dependent disregulation of the immune response in humans
Authors: Artemenkov A. A.
Published: November 2021

The review article analyzes literature data on the issues of immune response dysregulation during aging. It has been shown that impairment of innate and adaptive immune response in elderly and senile people under the conditions of spreading the new coronavirus infection is an aggravating factor in the course of the disease and recovery. Neuro-immuno-endocrine changes occurring in the organs of immune system, immunocompetent cells, molecules and receptor formations involved into the arising immune response have been traced. The imbalance of the brain-intestine-microbiota axis is considered in sufficient details, where a significant role is attributed to the changes occurring in hypothalamic-adrenal system under participation of biogenic neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. It is shown that intestinal microbiota may be involved into the neurodegeneration events, due to toxic effects on the brain via the neuro-immuno-endocrine and metabolic pathways. The data are presented, which show that adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin are involved in the immune response dysregulation, thus making this process similar to the changes that occur during the general adaptation syndrome and stress response of the body. On the other hand, the review notes that chronic stress during aging not only alters the activity of macrophages, lymphocytes and dendritic cells, but also increases the level of proinflammatory cytokines in blood, thereby affecting permeability of the blood-brain barrier. The article emphasizes that with body aging, a neuroendocrine sensory pathway of immune response dysregulation is gradually formed. In this regard, it is noted that the afferent nerve endings and neurons of the vagus, adrenergic and peptidergic nerves are involved into dysfunction of immune system by affecting the processes occurring not only in thymus, but also in the brain. However, it is obvious that the pathodynamic “dysadapting circuit” formed in the higher compartments of nervous system is also involved in dysregulatory immune responses during aging. Hence, the work concludes that the signaling networks of the body's regulatory systems (nervous, immune and endocrine) are closely interconnected throughout the lifetime, but with aging and penetration of antigens into the body, this interaction is easily disrupted at different levels of organization of living matter, thus leading to dysregulation.
Current opportunities and prospectives of immunotropic therapy in chronic generalized periodontitis
Authors: Antonov I. I. , Mudrov V. P. , Nelyubin V. N. , Muraev A. A. , Ivanov S. Yu.
Published: November 2021

Impairment of immunological reactivity in inflammatory periodontal diseases is well proven. To perform immunomodulatory treatment in domestic dental practice, various medications are used, including natural, chemically modified, recombinant, genetically engineered and synthetic substances, which differ in their effects upon innate and adaptive immune systems. Complex preparations of natural cytokines as well as genetically engineered preparations of IL-1, IL-2, growth factors, IFNα, IFNβ, IFNγ are applied in clinical settings. Clinical implementation of interferon and interferon inducers in combined therapy of generalized periodontitis is shown to increase resistance to viral components of the oral microbiota. Growth factors (platelet growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, endothelial growth factor, etc.) are successfully used for tissue regeneration in periodontics and maxillofacial surgery. Experimental studies have shown that local administration of toll-like receptor-9 and CD40 ligand may reduce periodontal ligature inflammation and bone loss in mice by inducing B-cell proliferation and increasing IL-10 mRNA expression. Promising results in development of new biologically active drugs are obtained with nanotechnology approaches, i.e., production of composite materials of metal nanoparticles with polymers, growth factors, and local application of these products. General limitations of all these growth factors include extremely short periods of biological activity, and adjusted duration of local effective concentrations. Therefore, it is important to develop a drug delivery system using appropriate scaffolding elements thus allowing local effects of the drug for a certain period of time. In experimental models, alginate hydrogels performed well upon local delivery of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and stromal lymphopoietin of the thymus. A new immunomodulatory strategy for alveolar bone regeneration targets macrophages. A biologically functionalized injectable microsphere of heparin-modified gelatin nanofibers that mimic the architecture of the natural bone extracellular matrix, and provide an osteoconductive microenvironment for bone cells includes IL-4, which has heparin-binding domains. These medications represent a component of a comprehensive treatment schedule, and should be evaluated for immune status before and after therapy. Thus, recent advances in studies of innate and acquired immune responses in inflammatory diseases and, in particular, in periodontal disorders, allows us to develop new approaches and methods of treatment in order to improve efficiency of complex therapy in the inflammatory periodontal diseases.
Expression of CD80 and HLA-DR molecules on blood monocytes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Churina E. G. , Popova A. V. , Urazova O. I. , Patysheva M. R. , Chumakova S. P. , Kolobovnikova Yu. V. , Kazakova E. O.
Published: November 2021

We examined expression pattern of CD80 and HLA-DR pro-inflammatory molecules on the monocytes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), depending on the clinical form of the disease and susceptibility of the pathogen to anti-tuberculosis drugs. The study involved forty-five patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB (25 men and 20 women aged 18 to 55 years, average age — 44.0±12.4 years). The control group included 15 healthy donors with similar socio-demographic characteristics as in TB patients. Venous blood was used as biomaterial for assays. Studies of the monocyte immunophenotype were carried out by flow cytometry of whole blood cells using Cytoflex flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter, USA) with specific monoclonal antibodies (eBioscience, USA). We determined the content of cells expressing surface markers of monocytes, i.e., CD14, CD45, CD80, and HLA-DR. The results of this study were evaluated using SPSS Statistics 17.0 standard software package and Microsoft Excel. In the course of the study, we have suggested a working hypothesis that the monocytes in TB patients, still being in circulation, can express activation markers during their migration to inflammation focus, especially CD80 and HLA-DR molecules. Analysis of the total CD14+ monocyte number showed its decrease in all forms and variants of clinical course of pulmonary tuberculosis compared with the control group. Assessment of pro-inflammatory markers expressed on CD14 positive monocytes, i.e., HLA-DR activation marker and CD80 co-stimulatory molecule, showed that the number of monocytes with HLA-DR expression in all TB patients was higher than in healthy donors. HLA- DR expression on CD14+ monocytes in the group of patients with infiltrative TB proved to be 15% higher than in patients with disseminated TB. The expression of CD80 on CD14+ monocytes in TB patients showed no differences between the groups and varied within the normal range. Hence, an imbalance within monocyte population in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, regardless of its clinical form and drug sensitivity of the pathogen is developed, due to decrease in total number of CD14+ cells, along with increased relative number of monocytes expressing HLA-DR activation marker (pro-inflammatory phenotype). Meanwhile, expression of the CD80 co-stimulatory molecule on monocytes was within normal values.
Formation of extracellular traps by circulating neutrophils and monocytes in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a study of new citrullinated autoantigen
Authors: Bedina S. A. , Mozgovaya E. E. , Trofimenko A. S. , Spitsyna S. S. , Mamus M. A.
Published: November 2021

Detection of subcellular structures containing typical citrullinated rheumatoid autoantigens in a single compartment presents a special interest, due to importance of anticitrulline autoantibodies for the autoimmune response in RA. Neutrophil and monocyte extracellular traps (NETs and ETs, respectively) may be considered such candidate structures. Our objective was to assess ability of blood neutrophils and monocytes from RA patients to generate NETs and ETs spontaneously and after in vitro induction.

32 patients with verified RA and 30 healthy volunteers as controls were included into the study. Circulating neutrophils and monocytes were isolated with one-step density gradient centrifugation using three layers of ficoll-amidotrizoate gradient. Composition of isolated cellular fractions, their viability, and non-specific activation were evaluated microscopically using Trypan Blue exclusion test, as well as Nitro-Blue Tetrazolium test. The NETs were induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, and ETs by bacterial LPS. Spontaneous and induced formation of extracellular traps was assessed using fluorescence microscopy. Neutrophil and monocyte fractions contained minute percentages of impurities and low extents of activated and dead cells. Spontaneous NET and ET formation in RA patients was significantly increased comparing to healthy controls. Neutrophils from ACPA-positive RA patients were found to have higher frequency of NET formation, compared to ACPA-negative RA patients. The monocytes did not demonstrate such differences between these subgroups. There were no substantial morphological differences in NETs and ETs patterns between the individuals from both groups. Induced extracellular trap production in RA was significantly higher compared to healthy controls. The level of myeloperoxidase-specific fluorescence in ETs was considerably lower than in NETs. NETs could probably be considered as a source of citrulline autoantigen participating in autoantibody production and stimulation of inflammatory autoimmune responses in RA, whereas ETs may play less important role in this process.
Impact of graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis on immune reconstitution in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Mikhaltsova E. D. , Popova N. N. , Drokov M. Yu. , Kapranov N. M. , Davydova Yu. O. , Vasilieva V. A. , Dubnyak D. S. , Maslikova U. V. , Galtseva I. V. , Kuzmina L. A. , Parovichnikova E. N. , Savchenko V. G.
Published: November 2021

The graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is among the most common complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The main tools for GVHD prevention remain calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporin A, tacrolimus), methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil. Upon implementation of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens, antithymocyte globulin was widely introduced. However, negative effects upon reconstitution of T-cell immunity have been noted, thus increasing risk of severe infectious complications and disease relapse. With extended practice of HSCT from alternative (partially matched or haploidentical) donors, cyclophosphamide was increasingly used. Our aim was to study reconstitution of immune cell subpopulations in the patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT), when using different GVHD prophylaxis regimens, including the schedules with post-transplant CP usage. The study concerned 44 cases classified into 2 groups. The first one included patients with standard immunosuppressive therapy, antithymocyte therapy, cyclosporine A, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil. The second group included the patients who received CP as immunosuppressive drug combined with other treatments (cyclosporine A, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil). At specified control terms, (D+14, +30, +60, +90) the blood leukocyte subpopulations were assayed by means of multicolor flow cytometry. Absolute counts of CD4+ cells in HSCT recipients treated with CP post-BMT proved to be sufficiently lower at D+14 and +30, than in those treated with classical immunosuppressive therapy. However, at later terms, (D+60, +90), these differences were not observed. Moreover, in CP-treated bone marrow recipients, absolute numbers of CD8+cells was significantly higher, compared to the patients who received conventional GVHD prophylaxis. Reconstitution of the studied lymphocyte populations in hematopoietic cell recipients did not depend on the GVHD prophylaxis regimen. Usage of CP combined with bone marrow as a source of stem cells, brings about sufficient decrease of some cell populations (CD4+; CD8+; NK cells) at early terms post-transplant. Administration of CP combined with hematopoietic stem cells as the source of hematopoietic graft seems to be more reasonable.
Proinflammatory status of oral fluid in COVID-19
Authors: Borodina I. A. , Gusyakova O. A. , Selezneva I. A. , Gilmiyarova F. N. , Ereshchenko A. A. , Baldina O. A. , Kolotyeva N. A. , Borisova O. V.
Published: November 2021

At present, a search for promising ways to diagnose infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 is quite relevant. Oral fluid is not commonly used for assessment of COVID-19 risk. Its molecular profile reflects both local state of the oral cavity, and individual organs and systems, thus suggesting a reliable diagnostic platform. Systemic inflammatory response is known to play a crucial role in development of the coronavirus infection; the “cytokine storm” determines severity of the disease. The saliva-based diagnostics of clinical course in COVID-19 patients includes determination of IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein in oral fluid, in order to assess severity of the inflammatory process. The present study was carried out at the Department of Fundamental and Clinical Biochemistry with Laboratory Diagnostics, and Department of Pediatric Infections at the Samara State Medical University. The study involved 122 persons: 67 clinically healthy individuals comprised the control group, and the group of comparison included 55 inpatients with moderate or severe coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus as confirmed by PCR and/or ELISA testing. Development of the disease was accompanied by drastically increased contents of IL-6 and IL-8 in oral fluid of the patients relative to the indexes in healthy persons, i.e., several-fold for IL-6 (+ 650%) and even higher elevation of IL-8 levels (+ 26513%), as well as a 2-fold increase of C-reactive protein (+115%). When comparing the immune indexes of oral fluid in presence versus absence of respiratory insufficiency, a significant difference was found for salivary IL-6 (+173%) in the patients with grade 1-2 respiratory insufficiency as compared with patients free of respiratory disorders. Determination of these proinflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 is of important prognostic significance when assessing development of the disease and its severity. Direct detection of their content in the oral fluid makes this method relevant, and potentially demanded for the outpatient diagnostics, being highly important during pandemics of coronavirus infection and limited medical resources. Examination of oral fluid at the pre-hospital stage is a resource-saving technology, since it does not require additional medical staff to take biomaterial, is non-invasive to the patient, and suggesting a wide range of research items, it can resolve a number of diagnostic issues, e.c., presence of specific genetic material or antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, severity of the inflammatory process and the risk of respiratory failure in the patient.
Role of antimicrobial peptide DEFB126 mutation in pathogenesis of male idiopathic infertility
Authors: Khasanova E. M. , Gankovskaya L. V. , Burmakina V. V.
Published: November 2021

Male infertility is a multifactorial disease, and elucidation of etiopathogenetic mechanisms of its progression is a topical issue. High percentage of the “idiopathic infertility” diagnosis is largely cased by inability to establish etiology of decrease in reproductive spermatic function. Mutation of в-defensin DEFB126 gene is supposed to affect the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa at different levels: it may decrease their ability to migrate through the cervical mucus and reduce binding capacity to epithelial layer of upper female reproductive tract, and it may also increase susceptibility for infections of reproductive tract, due to impairment of local protective function of defensins. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine possible role of rs11468374 gene polymorphism of the DEFB126 gene in pathogenesis of male idiopathic infertility. Patients and methods: The group of patient with decreased fertility included 54 male subjects, ages 34 to 42, with a control group of 19 ejaculate donors without acute or chronic disease aged 28 to 36. The indicators of sperm motility in the Moscow population were compared with individual levels of DEFB126 gene expression, as well as with estimated distribution frequency of rs11468374 alleles and genotypes among the subjects.

As compared with the control group, the infertile patients exhibited a more than seven-fold reduction of DEFB126 gene expression. Analysis of distribution frequency for alleles and genotypes rs11468374 polymorphic marker of the DEFB126 gene revealed that the mutant allele is detected almost twice as often in males with infertility, as compared with control group. No cases with the DEFB126 del/del genotype were found among the control group, in contrary to 16.1% in the group of patients. The patients with DEFB126 del/del genotype exhibited 5.2-fold reduction of sperm motility. Thus, the data obtained may be used to extend our knowledge on the pathogenetic mechanisms of male idiopathic infertility and to improve techniques for its diagnostics, as well as to provide personalized approach to the treatment of male reproductive disorders. The association between carriage of del mutant allele and decreased level of sperm motility suggests a role of this polymorphism in pathogenesis of male infertility. A general decrease in the level of DEFB126 gene expression in the patients affected by infertility also presumes a contribution of defensin 126 to pathogenesis of the disorder.
Can Peer Discussion Reduce Students’ Mistakes in Conceptual Physics Questions?
Authors: Japashov Nursultan , Mansurova Aizhan , Balta Nuri
Published: November 2021

In this work, we tried to check whether students can overcome their mistakes in conceptual physics questions by peer discussion. For this purpose, we administered Force Concept Inventory to high school students and university students. Our study showed that high school students and university students could not overcome their mistakes in the conceptual physics questions by peer discussion. We separately found out that males are better than females at conceptual physics questions.
İzmir İli Konak İlçesi’nde Sıfır Atık Uygulaması
Authors: ARAS Seval , ÖLMEZ Berkay
Published: November 2021

Sıfır atık yaklaşımı, faaliyetler sonucu meydana gelen atık türlerinin bu oluşum sırasında önlenmesini sağlamak, eğer ki önlenemiyorsa atık oluşumunun azaltılması ve geri kazanımını hedefleyen bir atık yönetim sistemidir. Bu bağlamda sıfır atık yaklaşımını ele aldığımızda sürdürülebilir bir dünya ve yaşam sağlamak amacı ile atığın ve üretilecek malzemelerin yapısındaki tehlikeli maddelerin indirgenmesi, kaynakların verimli doğru şekilde kullanılıp korunmasını ve sistematik bir atık yönetim planlaması yapılması gerektiğini ifade etmektedir. Bu tezde öncelikle dünya ve Türkiye şartlarında sıfır atık uygulamalarının ne düzeyde olduğunu inceledik. Aynı zamanda çalışmaların ne şekilde sürdürülüp hangi boyutlara geldiği merak konusu iken ülkemiz şartlarında İzmir İli Konak İlçesi’nde gerçekleştirdiğimiz çalışmaların başlangıç, ilerleme ve sonuç kademelerini bu tezde paylaşacağım. Sıfır atık entegrasyonunda yaratıcı fikirler, geri dönüşümü destekleyici teşvikler, sıfır atık projesinin temelini oluşturan faktörlerin ne şekilde yönetilmesi gerektiğine dair çalışmalar mevcuttur.

Çalışmalar başladığında evsel nitelikteki çöp atıkları üzerinde yapılan katı atık karakterizasyonu çalışması ile atık içeriği ve miktarı belirlenmiştir. Burada gelir düzeyine göre üç farklı bölgede toplanan(düşük, orta, yüksek gelirli) atıkta, toplamda 1480 kg. atık toplanmıştır. Atık içeriğine bakıldığında 178 kg. plastik ambalaj atığı, 222 kg. kağıt ambalaj atığı, 74 kg. cam ambalaj atığı, 44 kg. metal ambalaj atığı, 74 kg. kompozit ambalaj atığı, 30 kg diğer atık, 858 kg. evsel atık tespit edilmiştir. Sıfır Atık kapsamında yedi aylık çalışma süresinde %40 oranında ambalaj atığı evsel çöpten ayrıştırılmıştır. Aylık ortalama olarak 38.000 kg. ambalaj atığı toplanarak düzenli depolamaya giden atık miktarında azalım sağlanmıştır.
Problems of Implementing the Criminal Procedure Policy in Crime Prevention
Authors: Antonov Igor , Alekseev Igor
Published: November 2021

The authors use a communicative approach to the theory of law in their analysis of criminal procedure policy and its role in crime prevention. This approach allowed them to determine the content of criminal procedure work that lies outside the scope of criminal law. This content is its ability to regulate social conflicts of criminal law character. Within this framework, the criminal procedure is viewed as a platform for resolving social conflicts, the sides use it to resolve a conflict between them in socially acceptable ways in the process of communication. The involvement of the aggrieved party in the process of communication in connection with the crime intensifies the correctional impact of the criminal process and its significance for crime prevention. The authors suggest using simplified measures of criminal procedure law for reforming this process and basing it on the procedure of terminating a criminal case with the imposition of a court fine as a measure of criminal law influence. They suggest using the same approach when terminating a criminal case due to the reconciliation of the sides, with one exception: during the reconciliation of the sides, only grounds provided for in Art. 76 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation should be proven. If they are established, the investigator is obliged to petition to the court and the court, having established their validity, should decide to terminate the criminal case.
Scientific Heritage of Professor G.S. Gaverov in the Science of Criminal Law
Authors: Gribunov Oleg , Smirnova Irina
Published: November 2021

On July 12, 2021 the community of legal scholars celebrated the 90th anniversary of Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Law, Professor Grigory Stepanovich Gaverov. This article presents an overview of the scientific career of a famous criminal law scholar, the author of a substantial number of research publications on a wide range of different aspects of criminal law, its effectiveness, and problems of crime and punishment, who made an invaluable contribution to the criminal law theory and practical work of the law enforcement bodies. The authors describe key milestones of the career path of Professor G.S. Gaverov, present an overview of his major achievements in the spheres of research and teaching, as well as educational methodology. They prove that the scientific school of criminal law was formed and outline the scope of major scientific interests of G.S. Gaverov which widened as Grigory Stepanovich acted as mentor for postgraduate researchers who later successfully defended their Ph.D. in Law theses. Special attention is paid to the legacy of G.S. Gaverov in the area of educational methodology, which kept up with the major developments of criminal law. The scholar’s talents in the sphere of publicistic writing are highlighted. Special place is given to an overview of a research conference «Scientific heritage of Irkutsk scholars of criminal law» organized in Baikal State University on June 11–12, 2021 in honor of the 90th anniversaries of two outstanding Irkutsk scholars — Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Law, Professor G.S. Gaverov and Doctor of Law, Professor V.Ya. Rybalskaya.
On the Reasons for Criminal Law Protection of Genetic Dignity
Authors: Kozachenko Ivan , Melyukhanova Eugenia
Published: November 2021

The authors attempt to show the reasons that prove the necessity of criminal law protection of genetic dignity. We have witnessed truly «breakthrough» genetic achievements in the recent years, and the negative impact on the processes and results of generic research has intensified. As a result, there arises an inevitable conflict between the goals, methods and means of this research and the so-called human genetic dignity. The authors stress that dignity is traditionally viewed as having the objective and the subjective component. The former reflects an assessment of the person by other people, while the latter is the person’s own assessment of his/her personality. A long-term silence of Russian lawmakers, who are in no hurry to criminalize actions connected with unlawful humiliation of genetic dignity, is hardly justifiable. Other manifestations of criminal activities in the sphere of genetics are also quite real.
An absence of criminal law counteraction to manipulations in the sphere of genetic dignity leads to a gap in the legal regulation of prospective trends in the cutting-edge research. As it is well-known, of all the things that human beings are endowed at birth or acquire in the process of development, the most important one, in terms of moral values, is dignity. It is human dignity that obviously and indisputably makes humans different from any other living and conscious beings inhabiting our planet. Due to this, the principle of protecting human dignity is universally recognized at the international level.
Genetic dignity, as one of the components of human dignity, is also an inalienable benefit, a special asset. It has no money equivalent and should be protected by criminal law, just like human dignity in general. The influence of social factors on the criminalization of actions connected with infringements on genetic dignity is obvious in the conditions of rapid advancement of genetic research not only in Russia, but also in other countries. Until the results of genetic research are given due criminal law protection, this gap will be filled by extralegal means of regulation.
Termination of Dollateralized Obligations as an Illegal Action in Case of Bankruptcy: Problems of Criminal Law Assessment
Authors: Basova Tatyana , Subachev Aleksey
Published: November 2021

There is a general rule according to which if the claims of some creditors on the debtor’s property are knowingly satisfied to the detriment of other creditors, it constitutes an illegal action in case of bankruptcy provided that such an action inflicted major damage. In its turn, the size of the inflicted damage coincides with the size of satisfied claims minus the share that would have been due to the creditors who satisfied their claims this way if the insolvency estate has been distributed according to the insolvency law. At the same time, the corresponding crime may be committed not only through the due performance of an obligation, but also through the termination of bail bonds on other grounds. When the authors analyze illegal actions in cases of bankruptcy committed through the provision of release property, they conclude that if the market value of the release property exceeds the size of terminated obligations by the sum equaling major damage, the actions should be classified as multiple offences under Parts 1, 2, Art. 195 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. As for the order of determining the size of damage when satisfying claims secured by the debtor’s property, the authors pay attention to the privileged status of the pledge holder: a part of proceeds from the sale of pledged property must be used to satisfy their claims on the principal plus interest. Thus, for the corresponding part of the value of the object of pledge, no damage is inflicted on other creditors in connection with satisfying the claims of the pledgee. In some circumstances, the claims of the pledge holder are satisfied by a part of the proceeds from the sale of the object of pledge designated for the satisfaction of other claims, which cannot be overlooked when determining the size of the inflicted damage. The exceptions are the cases when, as a result of satisfying the claims of the pledgee, their claims on compensating damages and (or) paying financial sanctions were also satisfied. The satisfaction of the abovementioned claims in the size equaling major damage constitutes a crime under Part 2, Art. 195 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. At the same time, if the difference between the size of pledge requirements terminated by the provision of release property, and the value of the transferred assets equals major damage, the actions must be classified as multiple offences under Parts 1, 2, Art. 195 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Újabb régikönyv katalógusok Erdélyből
Authors: Monok István
Published: November 2021

A nemzeti kulturális örökség számbavétele napjainkban, úgy tűnik, egyre fontosabb. Nem csupán a szakembereknek, illetve a kincsképzést erőltető gyűjtőknek, hanem az egyes kulturális közösségek politikai vezetőinek is. Ha vitatott a patrimónium, akkor a gondos gazdát kell mutatni, ha meg nem, akkor a kulturális büszkeség a felhajtó erő. A versengés örvendetes, ha nem kíséri a teljesen értelmetlen felvetés, miszerint egyik, vagy másik népcsoport öröksége gazdagabb. Versengjünk a feltárás minőségében, a megjelenő katalógusok, a megrendezett kiállítások számában, és abban, hogy minél nagyobb közönséget érjünk el, tudjunk megszólítani, emlékeztetni: van mire támaszkodni, van miből értékadó iránymutatást nyerni. Az erdélyi magyar és román közösségek úgy tűnik – legalábbis a szakemberek körében maradva – ez utóbbi utat járják. Sok eredményt felmutatva. A Romániában kiadott katalógusokról több közleményben számot adtam (Magyar Könyvszemle, 1999, 121–123; 2009, 409–410; 2011, 248–252; 2016, 94–100), most csak az ezekben nem említetteket hozom példának, három új katalógus kapcsán.
ИСКУССТВЕННЫЙ ИНТЕЛЛЕКТ КАК ЦИФРОВОЙ ФЛИБУСТЬЕР
Authors: Дейнеко Алексей Геннадьевич
Published: November 2021

В статье рассмотрен вопрос об авторско-правовой субъектности искусственного интеллекта, а также об изменениях в парадигме цифрового пиратства, произошедших в связи с развитием Интернета и цифровых технологий. Исследуются новые способы распространения объектов авторских прав в киберпространстве с использованием искусственного интеллекта. В заключении ставится вопрос о степени разумности искусственного интеллекта и влиянии этого фактора на правовое регулирование отношений, связанных с его функционированием.
Human Thymus single cell dissociation protocol - Teichmann Lab v1
Authors: Park Jongeun , Kedlian Veronika , Suo Chenqu , Bolt Liam , Steemers Alexander , Yayon Nadav , Teichmann Sarah
Published: November 2021

This Protocol is intended for human Thymus single cell dissociation. It includes tissue preservation and handling, Enzymatic dissociation, FACS an MACS enrichments. Developed In the Teichmann lab at the Sanger institute, Wellcome Gemone Campus, UK VK, CS and JP contributed equally
¿Es la bioética una ciencia?
Authors: Ortiz Millán Gustavo
Published: November 2021

Este artículo se cuestiona si la bioética normativa puede ser una ciencia. El artículo se propone abordar las condiciones de posibilidad para que la bioética sea considerada una ciencia, sin responder directamente la pregunta. El artículo se centra en dos condiciones que típicamente asociamos a nuestro concepto común de ciencia: verdad y conocimiento, por un lado, y naturalización, por el otro. La bioética tendría que ser capaz de darnos verdades morales y, por lo tanto, conocimiento moral para que pudiéramos hablar de ella como una ciencia. Por otro lado, el carácter normativo de la bioética motiva la pregunta de si es posible naturalizarla y hacerla compatible con una perspectiva científica. El artículo argumenta que para que la bioética normativa pudiera considerarse una ciencia, debería tomarse una postura cognoscitivista y naturalista en ética.
¿Es posible una ontología procesual de las entidades bioquímicas? Consideraciones a partir del caso de los receptores celulares y la señalización celular
Authors: Alassia Fiorela
Published: November 2021

Las macromoléculas biológicas, consideradas como los ítems del dominio bioquímico, son típicamente concebidas bajo la categoría ontológica de individuos sustanciales. En este trabajo argumentaré que el marco filosófico de la ontología procesual, según el cual el mundo viviente no está poblado de individuos sino de una jerarquía dinámica de procesos, resulta más adecuado para dar cuenta de la estructura y funcionamiento de las macromoléculas. En particular, analizaré su aplicación al fenómeno de la señalización celular y a uno de sus conceptos claves, los receptores celulares. Los conocimientos actuales en bioquímica permiten concebir los receptores como entidades procesuales y dinámicas, estabilizadas relacionalmente y no separadas del fenómeno bioquímico del que forman parte.
Fondos de empleados
Authors: Barahona Sánchez Magda Katherine , Patiño Jacinto Ruth Alejandra
Published: November 2021

El presente artículo tiene por objetivo analizar el papel de la información no financiera en los fondos de empleados (entidad sin ánimo de lucro en Colombia) a partir de las necesidades de sus asociados, quienes asumen el rol principal por ser los dueños de los recursos, los gestores y los usuarios de los servicios. Se utilizó el estudio de caso múltiple de cinco fondos de empleados con análisis de contenido a informes de gestión y entrevistas semi -estructuradas realizadas a los asociados. Los resultados principales muestran que, aunque es evidente que viene tomando importancia la información no financiera para los fondos de empleados, aun no es homogénea entre los entes, ya que los lineamientos existentes no son obligatorios; se propone para investigaciones posteriores determinar propuestas concretas de informes y contenido mínimo de información no financiera para los fondos, que esté acorde con las necesidades de los usuarios.
Distributed Optimal Control for Distribution Systems with Microgrids
Authors: Ospina-Quiroga Melissa , Mojica-Nava Eduardo
Published: November 2021

The growing consumption of electricity as well as the progressive development of new technologies implies that the power system is increasingly automated with the purpose of having a more efficient and economical operation. This development drives the system to a Smart Grid, a large-scale cyber-physical network covering different energy generation technologies, storage and communications enabling real-time information exchange and control. In this work, we present an optimal distributed control based on the consensus+innovation technique, where each agent of the network obtains information from its neighbours. Simulations on a microgrid system based on an IEEE 14-Bus reference system demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. Convergence is observed in the microgrid system under different scenarios in the physical and communications network.
Hybrid Algorithm for the detection of Pixel-based digital image forgery using Markov and SIFT descriptors
Authors: Cortés Osorio Jimmy alexander , Chaves Osorio José Andrés , López Robayo Cristian David
Published: November 2021

Today, image forgery is common due to the massification of low-cost/high-resolution digital cameras, along with the accessibility of computer programs for image processing. All media is affected by this issue, which makes the public doubt the news. Though image modification is a typical process in entertainment, when images are taken as evidence in a legal process, modification cannot be considered trivial. Digital forensics has the challenge of ensuring the accuracy and integrity of digital images to overcome this issue. This investigation introduces an algorithm to detect the main types of pixel-based alterations such as copy-move forgery, resampling, and splicing in digital images. For the evaluation of the algorithm, CVLAB, CASIA V1, Columbia, and Columbia Uncompressed datasets were used. Of 7100 images evaluated, 3666 were unaltered, 791 had resampling, 2213 had splicing, and 430 had copy-move forgeries. The algorithm detected all proposed forgery pixel methods with an accuracy of 91%. The main novelties of the proposal are the reduced number of features needed for identification and its robustness for the file format and image size.
Mediated by Code: Unpacking Algorithmic Curation of Urban Experiences
Authors: Smets Annelien , Ballon Pieter , Walravens Nils
Published: November 2021

Amid the widespread diffusion of digital communication technologies, our cities are at a critical juncture as these technologies are entering all aspects of urban life. Data-driven technologies help citizens to navigate the city, find friends, or discover new places. While these technology-mediated activities come in scope of scholarly research, we lack an understanding of the underlying curation mechanisms that select and present the particular information citizens are exposed to. Nevertheless, such an understanding is crucial to deal with the risk of the socio-cultural polarization assumedly reinforced by this kind of algorithmic curation. Drawing upon the vast amount of work on algorithmic curation in online platforms, we construct an analytical lens that is applied to the urban environment to establish an understanding of algorithmic curation of urban experiences. In this way, this article demonstrates that cities could be considered as a new materiality of curational platforms. Our framework outlines the various urban information flows, curation logics, and stakeholders involved. This work contributes to the current state of the art by bridging the gap between online and offline algorithmic curation and by providing a novel conceptual framework to study this timely topic.
Algorithmic or Human Source? Examining Relative Hostile Media Effect With a Transformer-Based Framework
Authors: Jia Chenyan , Liu Ruibo
Published: November 2021

The relative hostile media effect suggests that partisans tend to perceive the bias of slanted news differently depending on whether the news is slanted in favor of or against their sides. To explore the effect of an algorithmic vs. human source on hostile media perceptions, this study conducts a 3 (author attribution: human, algorithm, or human-assisted algorithm) x 3 (news attitude: pro-issue, neutral, or anti-issue) mixed factorial design online experiment (N = 511). This study uses a transformer-based adversarial network to auto-generate comparable news headlines. The framework was trained with a dataset of 364,986 news stories from 22 mainstream media outlets. The results show that the relative hostile media effect occurs when people read news headlines attributed to all types of authors. News attributed to a sole human source is perceived as more credible than news attributed to two algorithm-related sources. For anti-Trump news headlines, there exists an interaction effect between author attribution and issue partisanship while controlling for people’s prior belief in machine heuristics. The difference of hostile media perceptions between the two partisan groups was relatively larger in anti-Trump news headlines compared with pro-Trump news headlines.
The case of comorbidity of sinus node dysfunction and new coronavirus infection with Sjogren’s disease and Thompson’s myotonia
Authors: Mohika Estepa Maria O. , Muzhikina Nadezhda V.
Published: November 2021

Coronavirus infection, according to modern data, poses a threat not only to the respiratory system, in more than 15% of patients it can lead to cardiovascular complications, including in young and middle-aged people. COVID-19 is probably the trigger of a detailed clinical picture of chronic diseases occurring in a latent form. The article considers the case of sinus node dysfunction and polyneuropathy in a young patient after coronavirus infection against the background of concomitant diseases such as Sjogrens disease and Thompsons myotonia. To observe the dynamics of the three diseases, the timely organization of a multidisciplinary approach is important. It is necessary to consider all three diseases in the paradigm of the main and concomitant in order to timely and adequate therapy. Further study of the clinical features, therapeutic approaches and complications in patients with COVID-19 is required.
Geriatric medicine: achievements and prospects
Authors: Frolova Elena V.
Published: November 2021

The article is a lecture on the history of development and the current state of geriatric medicine. The purpose of the lecture is to consider the stages of the formation of geriatrics as a scientific and clinical discipline and to substantiate its significance. The lecture defines concepts such as holistic approach, complex geriatric assessment, geriatric syndrome. The role of the founders of international and domestic geriatrics, such as M. Warren, B. Isaac, D. Sheldon, I.I. Mechnikov, V.N. Anisimov, E.S. Pushkova, is described. Various directions of geriatric medicine are considered and the necessity of their study is justified. The results of scientific research in geriatrics are analyzed. The basic principles of the ortho-geriatric approach, which becomes crucial for the successful treatment of elderly patients with fractures, as well as the features of geriatric rehabilitation, geriatric cardiology, are described. In conclusion, the author offers several models for the development of geriatric medicine.