bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex, Age, and Risk Group Variations among Individuals Infected with HIV, HTLV-1, and HTLV-2: Review of Data Records (1983–2017) from a Public Health Laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Caterino-de-Araujo Adele
Published: December 2023

The inaugural AIDS Program in Brazil was established in São Paulo in 1983, with the Instituto Adolfo Lutz appointed for laboratory assistance. Subsequently, research on HIV infections and HIV/HTLV (HIV/HTLV-1 and HIV/HTLV-2) co-infections was conducted. This narrative review focuses on studies from the Immunology Department (1983–2017) that significantly influenced AIDS diagnosis or provided epidemiological data such as prevalence rates, sex, age, and risk factors. Twelve studies, encompassing over 8000 individuals, are discussed. During 1983–1985, nearly all AIDS cases were attributed to homosexual/bisexual men aged 31 years old. Subsequently, heterosexual men and women emerged as risk groups owing to intravenous drug use (IDU) and/or unprotected sexual intercourse with AIDS patients or multiple partners per year. From 1985 onwards, vertical transmission led to child infections. HIV/HTLV co-infection rates decreased over time, initially associated with male IDU, and in the 2010s with female IDU, and individuals aged >40 years. Trends in HIV and HIV/HTLV co-infections among younger men and women (<30 years of age) were observed from 2015 to 2017. The changing characteristics and risk groups for HIV and HIV/HTLV co-infections over the years underscore the necessity for ongoing public policies to prevent retrovirus transmission, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
A Study on the Influence of Steel Structures in Concrete Subgrades on the Detection of Subgrade Distresses by Ground-Penetrating Radar
Authors: Bai Mingzhou , Liu Hongyu , Cui Zhuangzhuang , Wang Dayong , Han Juntao , Gao Chunrong , Li Shuanglai
Published: December 2023

The detection of subgrade distresses in ballastless track railways poses a formidable challenge due to the presence of steel interference caused by the unique characteristics of high-speed rail track slabs and the dense arrangement of the steel reinforcement mesh within them. Here, we aim to examine the influence of varying distribution patterns of steel reinforcement in ballastless tracks on the detection of subgrade distresses using ground-penetrating radar. Through a combination of on-site testing and forward modeling, this paper analyzes the interference of steel reinforcement on the detection of voids beneath the steel using electromagnetic waves. The research findings reveal that incident electromagnetic waves from the ground-penetrating radar experience attenuation near steel reinforcements, with only a fraction able to penetrate the surface layer and propagate into the subsurface through interstitial gaps between the reinforcing bars. Furthermore, this influence diminishes as the spacing between the reinforcing bars increases and the bar diameter decreases. When steel bars are distributed on the upper and lower layers, the detection results of the lower void are most significantly influenced by the interlocking of the steel bars in the two layers. These research results can offer theoretical and technical support for the detection of ailments in high-speed railway subgrades.
Understanding the Decision-Making Process for Hurricane Evacuation Orders: A Case Study of Florida County Emergency Managers
Authors: Iman Sara , Ge Yue , Klenow Daniel J. , Savitt Amanda , Murray-Tuite Pamela
Published: December 2023

This study aims to provide a more robust understanding of the elements involved in emergency managers’ decision-making processes when issuing hurricane evacuation orders. We used the principles of the theory of bounded rationality to formulate research questions for understanding decision-making during uncertain times (i.e., hurricane evacuation orders). We then conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with county emergency managers in Florida to understand how this decision-making process unfolds. Results showed that emergency managers consider two primary factors in their decision-making process, including fixed and random factors. Fixed factors refer to elements and information that are known to emergency managers and do not change drastically from one hurricane to another (e.g., homeless population, poor housing structure). Random factors, on the other hand, refer to elements involved in hurricane decision-making that cannot be precisely predicted (e.g., storm surge). Random and fixed factors then blend in with other elements (planning, collaboration, and information assessment) during the response phase of an emergency. The interplay among these elements can ultimately influence emergency managers’ hurricane evacuation decisions. Although the existing research has made significant strides in studying many aspects of emergency managers’ decision-making processes, there have been limited discussions about the various factors that emergency managers consider for issuing hurricane evacuation orders. Our study highlights the broader implications of information interpretation, situational uncertainty, and collaboration for emergency management organizations responsible for making decisions about hurricane evacuation orders. Using the theory of bounded rationality, this study dissects both fixed and random factors influencing evacuations. In doing so, it has the potential to assist emergency managers in developing more sustainable hurricane evacuation plans in the future.
Distribution, Sources, and Health Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Farmland Soil of Helan, China
Authors: Zhang Ruiyuan , Wang Youqi , Zhang Yuhan , Bai Yiru
Published: December 2023

With the development of industry and agriculture, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the agricultural sector have gradually increased to different degrees, leading to an escalation in environmental pollution. In turn, this escalation has presented a significant possibility of endangering agricultural practices on farmland and has had a serious impact on regional sustainable development. Therefore, a total of 117 samples of soil were gathered to research the pollution level, distribution, sources, and health risk of PAHs in Helan farmland soils. A reference was used for the identification and quantification of PAH content using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet detector, and their spatial distribution was analyzed utilizing the Arc Geographic Information System (ArcGIS). The source of PAHs was analyzed by absolute principal component scores/multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR). The lifetime cancer risk increment model and Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis were used to assess the potential health hazards to humans associated with PAHs in soil. Within the current study area, PAHs were higher in the northwest. The results showed that the total content of PAHs in Helan farmland soil ranged from 17.82 to 1544.73 ng·g−1 with a mean of 408.18 ng·g−1, which indicated the middle degree of pollution in farmland soil. The verification results of the APCS-MLR model showed that the correlation coefficient between the measured values and the predicted values ranged from 0.661 to 0.984, which suggested that the APCS-MLR model demonstrated favorable suitability for conducting source analysis of PAHs in the soil within the study region. Based on the contribution of PAHs from each source, the main sources of PAHs in Helan farmland soil were the combustion source (biomass, diesel, and natural gas combustion) and the transportation source (gasoline for vehicles and traffic exhaust emissions). The health risks’ estimation showed that PAHs in farmland soil did not have potential health risks for adults but represented a carcinogenic risk for children via the main exposure pathway of ingestion with the mean intake of 1.28 × 10−5. Meanwhile, the carcinogenic risks (CRs) of dermal contact for the mean value of adults (9.32 × 10−7) was found to be higher than that for children (3.18 × 10−8). From the Monte Carlo simulation, the soil particle uptake rate was the most sensitive to the health risks of children and adults with risk probabilities of 26% and 52%, and the risk probabilities from body weight were −11% and −1%, whose negative value indicated that the increase in body weight could reduce the health risks to human. These findings could provide reference for the study of soil organic pollution in Helan farmland soil and contribute significantly to the preservation of the ecological environment, maintaining human health and safety, and promoting the sustainable development of regional farmland.
RETRACTED: A Study on Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Seawater Desalination Systems: Seawater Reverse Osmosis Integrated with Bipolar-Membrane-Enhanced Electro-Dialysis Process
Authors: Musharavati Farayi
Published: December 2023

A lot of research has been carried out to improve the sustainability of seawater desalination. Despite progress, relatively few studies have analyzed the sustainability of seawater desalination processes integrated on two fronts, i.e., (i) process integration and (ii) energy integration. In addition, life cycle assessment studies on multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination often neglect the impact of the disposed brine by assuming that dilution of the discharged brine impacts on ecological systems less. The present study contributes to these omissions by exploring the environmental sustainability of seawater desalination systems using life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). More specifically, the LCIA of Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) integrated with (i) an Electro-Dialysis (EDBMED) process and (ii) solar photovoltaics (PV) is investigated. Life cycle analysis was used to identify pertinent indicators of the LCIA and their implications in SWRO. The comparative analysis reveals that the advantage of SWRO as compared to other technologies such as MSF is energy efficiency, at estimated levels of 75.0%. The study concludes that despite the technological challenges associated with sustainable desalination and sustainable brine management, integrating renewable energy into seawater desalination can contribute to the sustainability improvements of seawater desalination systems. The findings of this paper provide an initial assessment of the ecological footprints of seawater desalination systems.
Open and Closed Black Soldier Fly Systems Tradeoff Analysis
Authors: Chineme Atinuke , Assefa Getachew
Published: December 2023

When it comes to waste management, it is essential to consider human and environmental safety, financial feasibility, and social benefits. So often, one of these factors takes priority over the others. However, integrated social, environmental, and economic benefits are more apparent with insect-based waste treatment technology like the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) system. BSF waste treatment is an innovative and adaptable technique that offers sustainable benefits to communities in developing countries because it can be designed to be as simple or complex as required. Depending on the local context, simple (open) systems based on naturally occurring flies or more complex (closed) systems based on captured fly colonies are viable. However, what are the environmental tradeoffs when choosing between these two systems? The surge in the use of both BSF systems makes this consideration imperative. Furthermore, until now, the environmental and social impacts of open BSF waste treatment systems have not been compared. The environmental tradeoffs in implementing an affordable, socially accepted, open BSF biowaste treatment system are explored in this study to address this gap. Co-production for delivering public services was used to develop an accepted BSF system through a case study by applying qualitative interaction research methodologies. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was then used to compare the environmental impacts of natural ovipositing BSF systems compared to captured BSF systems. Natural ovipositing BSF (open) systems, in comparison, have reduced climate change (33%) and water, land, and energy use (55%, 37% and 32%) while also motivating the development of socially accepted infrastructure measured through community engagement. This mixed-methods approach facilitates the development of contextually appropriate technology in low-income communities in developing and developed countries while also reducing environmental consequences.
Wilms Tumor: Updates about Pathogenesis and New Possible Clinical Treatments of the Most Frequent Pediatric Urogenital Cancer: A Narrative Review
Authors: Perrotta Giulio , Castellani Daniele
Published: December 2023

Background: Wilms tumor (or nephroblastoma) is a malignant and solid neoplasm that derives from the primitive renal bud. It represents the most frequent primary tumor of the urogenital tract in childhood, and treatment consists of surgery and chemo-radiotherapy. However, concerning quality of life, the new therapeutic frontier is exploring other safer and potentially more effective options, such as minimally invasive surgery and biological drugs. Method: Literature (PubMed) from January 2013 to July 2023 was reviewed, checking for innovations in diagnosis and treatment. Results: A total of 130 articles was included in the review. Conclusions: In addition to the therapeutic strategies already identified, such as classic surgery and pharmacological therapies, recent studies focus attention on the new frontiers of minimally invasive surgery, such as diagnostics using biomarkers and immunotherapy, which could represent a new therapeutic option and is possibly less risky than in the past, contributing in fact to the current knowledge of the scientific panorama in terms of “tumor microenvironment” and systemic implications deriving from oncological disease.
Biodegradation Potential of C7-C10 Perfluorocarboxylic Acids and Data from the Genome of a New Strain of Pseudomonas mosselii 5(3)
Authors: Chetverikov Sergey , Hkudaygulov Gaisar , Sharipov Danil , Starikov Sergey , Chetverikova Darya
Published: December 2023

The use of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas—destructors of persistent pollutants for biotechnologies of environmental purification—is an interesting area of research. The aim of this work was to study the potential of Pseudomonas mosselii strain 5(3) isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil as a degrader of C7-C10 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and analyze its complete genome. The genome of the strain has been fully sequenced. It consists of a chromosome with a length of 5,676,241 b.p. and containing a total of 5134 genes, in particular, haloalkane dehalogenase gene (dhaA), haloacetate dehalogenase H-1 gene (dehH1), fluoride ion transporter gene (crcB) and alkanesulfonate monooxygenase gene (ssuE), responsible for the degradation of fluorinated compounds. The strain P. mosselii 5(3) for was cultivated for 7 days in a liquid medium with various C7-C10 PFCAs as the sole source of carbon and energy, and completely disposed of them. The results of LC-MS analysis showed that the transformation takes place due to perfluorohexanoic acid with the release of various levels of stoichiometry (depending on PFCA) of fluorine ion mineralization indicators determined by ion chromatography. Thus, Pseudomonas mosselii strain 5(3) demonstrates a genetically confirmed high potential for the decomposition of C7-C10 PFCA.
Reduced Isocyanate Release Using a Waterproof, Resin-Based Cast Alternative Relative to Fiberglass Casts
Authors: Stefanescu Kristen , Timlin Claire L. , Moy Ashley S. , Zapotoczny Grzegorz
Published: December 2023

The effects of occupational isocyanate exposure range from asthma and contact dermatitis to neurotoxicity and cancer. Respiratory sensitization due to orthopedic cast application has been well documented. This study aims to compare the safety of standard-of-care fiberglass casts and a novel waterproof cast alternative by measuring the amount of isocyanate released during off-gassing over time. A 3D-printed arm simulator with comparable casing material amounts was placed in a sealed chamber. An isocyanate-sensing color-changing (SafeAir) tag was used to measure the levels of toxic exposure. Triplicate trials were conducted across all time periods (15 min, 1 h, and 24 h) and conditions. The bare arm simulator and freshly opened tags served as negative controls. Normalized pixel intensity indexes and isocyanate release estimates in ppb were derived from ImageJ-analyzed SafeAir tag photos. Fiberglass casts exhibited greater isocyanate release than both the waterproof alternative (p = 0.0002) and no-cast controls (p = 0.0006), particularly at 24 h. The waterproof alternative and no-cast control did not statistically differ (p = 0.1603). Therefore, the waterproof alternative released less isocyanate than the fiberglass casts. Waterproof cast alternatives may be safer than fiberglass by limiting medical professionals’ exposure to toxic isocyanates and, thus, decreasing their risk of suffering occupational asthma.
The Developmental Toxicity and Endocrine-Disrupting Effects of Fenpropathrin on Gobiocypris rarus during the Early Life Stage
Authors: Wang Lei , Jiang Jinlin , Lu Jianwei , Long Tao , Guo Yang , Dong Shunan , Wu Huiyi
Published: December 2023

In the present study, the developmental toxicity and endocrine-disrupting effects of fenpropathrin on Gobiocypris rarus during the early life stage were studied using a semi-static water exposure method. The results showed that the LOEC (lowest observed effect concentration) of fenpropathrin on the incubation of rare minnow embryos was above 2.5 μg·L−1. The LOEC and NOEC (no observed effect concentration) of fenpropathrin on the developmental malformations and death indicators were 2.0 and 1.5 μg·L−1, respectively. After exposure to 1.5 μg·L−1 of fenpropathrin for 31 days, the expressions of androgen receptor genes (AR) and sex hormone-synthesis-related genes (CYP17 and CYP19a) were significantly decreased and the expressions of thyroid hormone receptor genes (TRβ) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor genes (AhR1a and AhR2) were significantly increased in juvenile Gobiocypris rarus. The expression levels of the androgen receptor gene (AR), estrogen receptor gene (ER1), and the sex hormone-synthesis-related genes (HMGR, CYP17, and CYP19a) were significantly decreased, while the estrogen receptor gene (ER2a), thyroid hormone receptor gene (TRβ), and aromatic hydrocarbon receptor genes (AhR1a and AhR2) were upregulated in juvenile Gobiocypris rarus under exposure to 2.0 μg·L−1 of fenpropathrin. Relatively low concentrations of fenpropathrin can affect the expression of sex hormone receptor genes, genes related to sex hormone synthesis, thyroid hormone receptor genes, and aromatic hydrocarbon receptor genes, thus interfering with the reproductive system, thyroid system, and metabolic level in Gobiocypris rarus. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the endocrine-disrupting effect caused by the pyrethroid insecticides in the water environment. Furthermore, studies on the internal mechanism of the endocrine-disrupting effect of pyrethroid insecticides on fish is needed in the future.
Detection of Cleaved Stx2a in the Blood of STEC-Infected Patients
Authors: Varrone Elisa , Carnicelli Domenica , He Xiaohua , Grasse Marco , Stampfer Karin , Huber Silke , Kellnerová Sára , Tazzari Pier Luigi , Ricci Francesca , Paterini Paola , Ardissino Gianluigi , Morabito Stefano , Orth-Höller Dorothea , Würzner Reinhard , Brigotti Maurizio
Published: December 2023

Typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is mainly caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) releasing Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2). Two different structures of this AB5 toxin have been described: uncleaved, with intact B and A chains, and cleaved, with intact B and a nicked A chain consisting of two fragments, A1 and A2, connected by a disulfide bond. Despite having the same toxic effect on sensitive cells, the two forms differ in their binding properties for circulating cells, serum components and complement factors, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of HUS differently. The outcome of STEC infections and the development of HUS could be influenced by the relative amounts of uncleaved or cleaved Stx2 circulating in patients’ blood. Cleaved Stx2 was identified and quantified for the first time in four out of eight STEC-infected patients’ sera by a method based on the inhibition of cell-free translation. Cleaved Stx2 was present in the sera of patients with toxins bound to neutrophils and in two out of three patients developing HUS, suggesting its involvement in HUS pathogenesis, although in association with other bacterial or host factors.
Agonistic Bivalent Human scFvs-Fcγ Fusion Antibodies to OX40 Ectodomain Enhance T Cell Activities against Cancer
Authors: Mahasongkram Kodchakorn , Glab-ampai Kantaphon , Kaewchim Kanasap , Saenlom Thanatsaran , Chulanetra Monrat , Sookrung Nitat , Nathalang Oytip , Chaicumpa Wanpen
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Understanding how advanced cancers evade host innate and adaptive immune opponents has led to cancer immunotherapy. Among several immunotherapeutic strategies, the reversal of immunosuppression mediated by regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) using blockers of immune-checkpoint signaling in effector T cells is the most successful treatment measure. Furthermore, agonists of T cell costimulatory molecules (CD40, 4-1BB, OX40) play an additional anti-cancer role to that of checkpoint blocking in combined therapy and serve also as adjuvant/neoadjuvant/induction therapy to conventional cancer treatments, such as tumor resection and radio- and chemo- therapies. (2) Methods and Results: In this study, novel agonistic antibodies to the OX40/CD134 ectodomain (EcOX40), i.e., fully human bivalent single-chain variable fragments (HuscFvs) linked to IgG Fc (bivalent HuscFv-Fcγ fusion antibodies) were generated by using phage-display technology and genetic engineering. The HuscFvs in the fusion antibodies bound to the cysteine-rich domain-2 of the EcOX40, which is known to be involved in OX40-OX40L signaling for NF-κB activation in T cells. The fusion antibodies caused proliferation, and increased the survival and cytokine production of CD3-CD28-activated human T cells. They showed enhancement trends for other effector T cell activities like granzyme B production and lysis of ovarian cancer cells when added to the activated T cells. (3) Conclusions: The novel OX40 agonistic fusion antibodies should be further tested step-by-step toward their safe use as an adjunctive non-immunogenic cancer immunotherapeutic agent.
Attenuated Chimeric GI/GIII Vaccine Candidate against Japanese Encephalitis Virus
Authors: Lee Eunji , Kim Minjee , Kim Young Bong
Published: December 2023

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a very severe disease characterized by high fatality rates and the development of permanent behavioral, psychiatric, and neurological sequelae among survivors. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a flavivirus, is responsible for JE. In Asia, Genotype I (GI) has emerged as the dominant strain, replacing Genotype III (GIII). However, no clinically approved drug is available to treat JEV infection, and currently available commercial vaccines derived from JEV GIII strains provide only partial protection against GI. Utilizing a reverse genetics system, this study attempted to produce a novel chimeric JEV strain with high efficacy against JEV GI. Accordingly, a GI/GIII intertypic recombinant strain, namely SA14-GI env, was generated by substituting the E region of the GIII SA14-14-2 strain with that of the GI strain, K05GS. The neurovirulence of the mutant virus was significantly reduced in mice. Analysis of the immunogenicity of the chimeric virus revealed that it induced neutralizing antibodies against JEV GI in mice, and the protective efficacy of SA14-GI env was higher than that of SA14-14-2. These findings suggest that SA14-GI env may be a safe and effective live-attenuated vaccine candidate against JEV GI.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Process Development of Chimeric Vaccines
Authors: Chauhan Shivani , Khasa Yogender Pal
Published: December 2023

Vaccines are integral to human life to protect them from life-threatening diseases. However, conventional vaccines often suffer limitations like inefficiency, safety concerns, unavailability for non-culturable microbes, and genetic variability among pathogens. Chimeric vaccines combine multiple antigen-encoding genes of similar or different microbial strains to protect against hyper-evolving drug-resistant pathogens. The outbreaks of dreadful diseases have led researchers to develop economical chimeric vaccines that can cater to a large population in a shorter time. The process development begins with computationally aided omics-based approaches to design chimeric vaccines. Furthermore, developing these vaccines requires optimizing upstream and downstream processes for mass production at an industrial scale. Owing to the complex structures and complicated bioprocessing of evolving pathogens, various high-throughput process technologies have come up with added advantages. Recent advancements in high-throughput tools, process analytical technology (PAT), quality-by-design (QbD), design of experiments (DoE), modeling and simulations, single-use technology, and integrated continuous bioprocessing have made scalable production more convenient and economical. The paradigm shift to innovative strategies requires significant attention to deal with major health threats at the global scale. This review outlines the challenges and emerging avenues in the bioprocess development of chimeric vaccines.
Geospatial Analyses of Recent Household Surveys to Assess Changes in the Distribution of Zero-Dose Children and Their Associated Factors before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria
Authors: Aheto Justice Moses K. , Olowe Iyanuloluwa Deborah , Chan Ho Man Theophilus , Ekeh Adachi , Dieng Boubacar , Fafunmi Biyi , Setayesh Hamidreza , Atuhaire Brian , Crawford Jessica , Tatem Andrew J. , Utazi Chigozie Edson
Published: December 2023

The persistence of geographic inequities in vaccination coverage often evidences the presence of zero-dose and missed communities and their vulnerabilities to vaccine-preventable diseases. These inequities were exacerbated in many places during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, due to severe disruptions to vaccination services. Understanding changes in zero-dose prevalence and its associated risk factors in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is, therefore, critical to designing effective strategies to reach vulnerable populations. Using data from nationally representative household surveys conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2018, and during the pandemic, in 2021, in Nigeria, we fitted Bayesian geostatistical models to map the distribution of three vaccination coverage indicators: receipt of the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1), the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1), and any of the four basic vaccines (bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG), oral polio vaccine (OPV0), DTP1, and MCV1), and the corresponding zero-dose estimates independently at a 1 × 1 km resolution and the district level during both time periods. We also explored changes in the factors associated with non-vaccination at the national and regional levels using multilevel logistic regression models. Our results revealed no increases in zero-dose prevalence due to the pandemic at the national level, although considerable increases were observed in a few districts. We found substantial subnational heterogeneities in vaccination coverage and zero-dose prevalence both before and during the pandemic, showing broadly similar patterns in both time periods. Areas with relatively higher zero-dose prevalence occurred mostly in the north and a few places in the south in both time periods. We also found consistent areas of low coverage and high zero-dose prevalence using all three zero-dose indicators, revealing the areas in greatest need. At the national level, risk factors related to socioeconomic/demographic status (e.g., maternal education), maternal access to and utilization of health services, and remoteness were strongly associated with the odds of being zero dose in both time periods, while those related to communication were mostly relevant before the pandemic. These associations were also supported at the regional level, but we additionally identified risk factors specific to zero-dose children in each region; for example, communication and cross-border migration in the northwest. Our findings can help guide tailored strategies to reduce zero-dose prevalence and boost coverage levels in Nigeria.
Study on Lateral Vibration of Tail Coach for High-Speed Train under Unsteady Aerodynamic Loads
Authors: Li Tian , Li Yifan , Wei Lai , Zhang Jiye
Published: December 2023

As the speed of high-speed trains increases, the vehicle’s lateral stability steadily deteriorates. There have been observations of abnormal vibrations in the tail car, particularly on certain sections of the railway line. This study built a high-speed train aerodynamic simulation model for a three-car consist, and a multibody dynamics simulation model for an eight-car consist based on numerical simulations of train aerodynamics and multibody dynamics. It investigated both steady and unsteady aerodynamic loads, flow field characteristics, and the dynamic performance of vehicles under varied aerodynamic loads at 400 km/h. The results indicate that the aerodynamic loads generated during high-speed train operation exhibit highly unsteady characteristics. Steady aerodynamic loads have a relatively minor impact on the vehicle’s dynamic performance, whereas unsteady loads exert a more significant influence. Under unsteady aerodynamic forces, the tail car experiences severe lateral vibrations. The lateral stability index, displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the tail car under unsteady conditions were measured at 2.26, 7.54 mm, and 0.53 m/s2, respectively. These values represent increases of over 17.71%, 148.84%, and 111.24%, respectively, compared to the steady loads. Large oscillation amplitudes result in more significant lateral displacements and accelerations of the vehicle. This phenomenon is a crucial factor contributing to the “tail swing” effect observed in high-speed trains. This study emphasizes the importance of considering unsteady aerodynamic effects in assessing the lateral stability of high-speed trains and highlights the significance of mitigating the adverse impacts of such dynamic responses, particularly in the tail car.
A Combined Model for Water Quality Prediction Based on VMD-TCN-ARIMA Optimized by WSWOA
Authors: Zuo Hongyu , Gou Xiantai , Wang Xin , Zhang Mengyin
Published: December 2023

With environmental degradation and water scarcity becoming increasingly serious, it is urgent to carry out effective management of water resources. The key task of water environment monitoring is to conduct statistics and analysis of changes in water quality characteristics. Aiming to address the problem of the strong fluctuation and strong temporal correlation of water quality characteristics prediction, a new framework for water quality prediction based on variational mode decomposition–temporal convolutional networks–autoregressive integrated moving average (VMD-TCN-ARIMA) optimized by weighted swarm the whale search algorithm (WSWOA) algorithm is proposed. First, the WSWOA was proposed by introducing the two-weighted-factor perturbation strategy and the particle swarm search method based on the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), which effectively improves the convergence speed and global search capabilities. Second, to adaptively decompose the original water quality sequences, the VMD algorithm optimized by WSWOA was utilized, which can extract features and reduce noise in the original sequence. Furthermore, the TCN-ARIMA combined model is proposed for time series analysis. The combined model is introduced to assign different algorithms to the decomposed components to reduce prediction error and modeling effort. In comparison to VMD-TCN model, the experimental results have shown that on the data of water quality characteristic dissolved oxygen (DO), the proposed model’s root mean square error (RMSE) and computational time is reduced by 41.05% and 26.06%, further improving the accuracy and efficiency of prediction.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Sodium Metasilicate on Two Hydra Species, Hydra viridissima Pallas, 1766 and Hydra oligactis Pallas, 1766
Authors: Kovačević Goran , Gračan Romana , Gottstein Sanja
Published: December 2023

Sodium metasilicate (SM) is a synthetic hazardous water-soluble salt used in industry as an active ingredient in household cleaning products. The impact of SM on the aquatic environment has been discussed worldwide, but its toxicity has not been well documented and researched. Studies have only been performed on a handful of aquatic organisms: algae, plants, blackworms, water fleas, dipteran larvae, and two fish species. Hydra is a simple freshwater cnidarian with diploblastic organisation, where all the cells are in permanent contact with the surrounding aqueous media, and represents a sensitive model organism for environmental toxicity assessments. This research aimed to determine and compare the effect of SM on the morphology, excitability, and behaviour of green and brown hydra and endosymbiotic microalgae as a microbiome of green hydra. The hydras were treated with four sublethal SM concentrations (0.050, 0.365, 0.380, and 0.390 g/L) for 72 h. Standard preparations were made for the cyto-histological analysis of green hydra, and damaged cellular layers and mesoglea and a changed distribution of microalgae were recorded. The SM caused muted responses to mechanical stimuli and damage to the tentacles in both hydra species. The changes were more pronounced in brown hydra, while green hydra showed better adaptability to unfavourable environmental conditions.
DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVE ABILITIES OF LAW STUDENTS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF LINGUISTIC COURSES AS A FACTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Authors:   Central Russian Institute of Management-Branch of RANEPA, AKATOVA N.G. , BESSONOVA JU.A. ,   Central Russian Institute of Management-Branch of RANEPA, BULGAKOVA I.M. ,   Central Russian Institute of Management-Branch of RANEPA
Published: December 2023

The article considers modern challenges to highereducation. The phenomenon of creativity is defined; the role of thecreative abilities of the individual as a factor in the success of a professionalis noted. The problems of creative perception and transformation of reality by lawyers are considered. The importance of linguistic courses for the formation of the creative abilities of law students is noted. Examples of the development of creative abilities offuture lawyers in the course of linguistic disciplines of the Central Russian Institute of Management, a branch of the RANEPA, are given.
POSSIBILITIES FOR DEVELOPING GENERAL PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES IN STUDENTS IN RELATION TO FINANCIAL LITERACY (BASED ON THE TRAINING PROGRAMME 44.03.05 PEDAGOGICALEDUCATION)
Authors:   Orel State University, ALEXANDROVA A.P.
Published: December 2023

Creating the foundations for forming financially literate behaviour of the population is the key to improving the level and quality of life of citizens. An important step in solving this problem in the system of higher education is the improvement of educational programmes. The paper analyzes the possibilities of introducing and implementing work programmes of subjects and practices in order to develop general professional competencies in students in relation to financial literacy.
PRINCIPLES OF ADAPTIVE-AND-INTEGRATIVE APPROACH IN HIGHER FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION SYSTEM
Authors:   Pskov State University, BAEVA I.V.
Published: December 2023

The article firstly presents the methodological position of determining the principles of an innovative adaptive-integrative approach in higher foreign language education. The principles under consideration reflect the methodological aspects of the organization of the educational process of mastering the English language on the basis of an adaptive-integrative approach. Defining the principles of this approach is one of the main tasks, the solution of which will provide the conceptual provisions of the approach, its goals, teaching methods, content, as well as conditions for implementation. The problems of the implementation theoretical and practical aspects of adaptive-and-integrative approach principles in the conditions of educational environment digitalization are described. The text presents special technologies of direct correction, mutual correction, self-controlled correction, as well as an verbal digital portfolio of a student, which provide a wide opportunity to manage the process of developing foreign language communicative competence at the university.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF INTERDISCIPLINARITY IN THE STUDY OF AN INDUSTRIAL ROBOT
Authors:   Orel State University, GRYADUNOVA E.N. , YAKUNINA M.A ,   Orel State University, SEREBRENNIKOV A.D. ,   Orel State University
Published: December 2023

This article presents the results of studying the involvement of students in the learning process using the information and communication environment. The assessment of the degree of digital agency of students is given. The features of the use of an immersive educational environment for obtaining practical skills in general technical disciplines are analyzed.
DUAL EDUCATION AS A WAY TO OPTIMIZE THE SYSTEM OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Authors:   Russian Federation Security Guard Service Federal Academy, LAVRIKOVA N.I. , KOTELNIKOV V.A. ,   Russian Federation Security Guard Service Federal Academy, NIKITINA E.A. ,   Russian Federation Security Guard Service Federal Academy, LAVRIKOV V.I. ,   Russian Federation Security Guard Service Federal Academy
Published: December 2023

Since the period of transformation of the education system, we can talk about underestimation in the state policy of vocational education, which is naturally one of the most important processes in the development of society as a whole. This is mainly due to the market economy and, as a result, the lack of adaptation of the vocational education system to changes and the expectations of a modern employer. It is expected that a modern graduate of a higher educational institution will almost immediately be able to meet not only the current, but also the constantly changing needs of his employer, and the educational offer will be adapted to the needs of the labor market. The hope of justifying these can be the system of dual vocational education. The article is devoted to the consideration of the essence and possibilities of gradual replacement of traditional vocational education with a dual education strategy.
CULTURAL EVENTS AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF THE MULTICULTURAL EDUCATIONAL SPACE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors:   Orel State University, LEGOSTAEVA O.V.
Published: December 2023

This article provides definitions of the terms “multicultural education”, “multicultural educational environment”. The article also covers various cultural events aimed at promoting and developing a multicultural educational environment. In the study, we came to the conclusion, that cultural events held in various regions of our countrycontribute to the interpenetration of cultures, establish ethno-cultural dialogue and help preserve, develop and popularize the national languages and culture of small ethnic groups on the territory of our multinational state and beyond.
FORMATION OF COMPETITIVENESS OF FUTURE TEACHERS BY MEANS OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES
Authors:   Orel State University, NIKOLAEV V.A. , SELIVERSTOV S.N. ,   Moscow Financial and Industrial University "Synergy", GRINEVA E.A. ,   Orel State University, ALEKSAKHINA S.A. ,   Moscow Financial and Industrial University "Synergy"
Published: December 2023

In the conditions of market relations, representatives of different professions, including teachers, compete. The competition covers different aspects of pedagogical activity: tutoring, teaching in online schools, courses using remote teaching. The difficulty of promoting educational services is that the teacher has to do it on his own. For the formation of competitiveness, a teacher needs deep academic, professional and practical training, expanding the range ofprofessional skills. In the conditions of a university, it is important to train future teachers to be able to present and promote their services on the market independently. The formation of a teacher’s competitiveness includes the development of cognitive, motivational, moral and aesthetic, activity and practical spheres of personality. The main principle of the work on educating a competitive personality of a teacher is to create an atmosphere of competitiveness, ranking the achievements of students. To develop the competitiveness of the teacher, the use of information and computer technologies is effective. These include: creating multimedia presentations, creating communities in social networks where experienced marketers teach students how to promote their own educational services. Students create their own blogs to promote educational services. The result of this work is an increasing number of students working in their specialty.
THE BYZANTINE DICTIONARY "SUIDA" AS A HISTORICAL SOURCE FOR THE LATE ANTIQUE ATHENIAN SCHOOL
Authors:   Belgorod State National Research University, DENISOVA I.V.
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to the study of the Byzantine dictionary-lexicon «Courts» as a source on the history of the Late Antique Athenian school. The paper considers the structure and formation of the dictionary «Court». The origin of the «Courts» and biographical entries of the dictionary from the treatise «Onomatology» of the intellectual and writer of the first half of the 6th century is presented. Hesychius of Miletus. The content of «Courts» and «Onomatologists» associated with the Athenian school is considered.
BANDITRY IN THE CENTRAL CHERNOZEM REGION IN THE 1920 S
Authors:   Voronezh Institute of the Ministry of the Interior of Russia, ZVERKOV E.A.
Published: December 2023

Due to significant socio-economic and political difficulties, the Central Chernozem region faced the problem of mass banditry in rural areas during the Civil War. Despite the end of war actions, the State, despite all the efforts of law enforcement agencies, only partially managed to fulfill the task of liquidating gangs. This article devoted the causes of the wave-like dynamics of banditry in the Central Chernozem region and the characteristic features of this type of criminal activity during the 1920 s.
THE IMAGE OF "OWN" AND "OTHER" IN THE FRENCH CARICATURE OF THE EARLY XX CENTURY (ON THE EXAMPLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS OF A SATIRICAL MAGAZINE "L’ASSIETTE AU BEURRE")
Authors:   Orel State University, ALEINIKOV S.S.
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to the study of tools for constructing images of «one’s own» and «the other» through caricature of thefirst decade of the 20th century. The study is based on the analysis of satirical plots of the comic magazine L’ assiette au Beurre. The author considers the distinctive features of an illustrative publication, analyzes the main forms of displaying the key elements of comic plots, identifies the basic artistic techniques and methods for conveying the semantic component of visual material to the viewer. On the basis of the studied materials, an attempt is made to determine the influence of the domestic political process and the international situation on the transformation of caricature images of the era.
PROBLEMS OF RELATIONS BETWEEN NOBLES AND PEASANTS IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PROVINCIAL COURT IN RUSSIA IN THE 1840S (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE VLADIMIR PROVINCIAL COURT)
Authors:   Orel State University, SORIN B.S. , CHUVARDIN G.S. ,   Orel State University
Published: December 2023

Based on the materials of archival data, the work of the Vladimir provincial Court in 1840-1841 is considered on the accusation of the peasant A. Zakharov in the murder of the landowner Princess P.P. Vyazemskaya. A thorough investigation conducted by the local authorities, supported by the confession of the accused, left no doubt about the guilty verdict. The testimony of the accused and witnesses who told how the princess starved the household people, how she beat and unreasonably cruelly punished the serfs could not soften the sentence. The author substantiates the court’s desire for objectification with the historical context of the preparation for the abolition of serfdom.
THE PROBLEM OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN PEDAGOGICAL THEORY
Authors: BABENKO S.
Published: December 2023

The article deals with the problem of personnel management in pedagogical theory. Three groups of scientific and pedagogical researches have been identified: the first – scientific works of famous economists and managers; the second is the work of educators based on the development of personnel management by economists and managers, attempts to transfer Western approaches to the local soil; the third is the works of educators based directly on the study of school management problems. It is revealed that the first group considers management problems throughout the development of human history, explains the origin of management terms, examines and compares management models that exist today. It is emphasized that the adaptive management of the school team, the psychology of motivation and the needs of people in the organization, the formation of positive group motivation, the scenarios of training sessions with teachers are the main issues considered by the authors of the second group. It is noted that the management of education in market conditions, training and retraining of personnel, creation of opportunities for mastering new educational technologies, motivation of pedagogical activities, innovative climate in the educational institution – these issues are the content of the works of the authors of the third group.

The article emphasizes that until recently the very concept of «personnel management in education» or «personnel management» was absent in management practice (in some dictionaries there is no definition of the term «management»), therefore works on management as such and educational management came to us from the works of foreign scientists. Personnel management as an independent scientific direction was formed within the humanistic management paradigm and the concept of human resources management. The need for the emergence of personnel management is due to the fact that in the context of personnel management, an employee is considered as the owner of human, intellectual and social capital, possessing professional and qualification characteristics that ensure his personal efficiency and competitiveness.