bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced identification of membrane transport proteins: a hybrid approach combining ProtBERT-BFD and convolutional neural networks
Authors: Ghazikhani Hamed , Butler Gregory
Published: July 2023

Transmembrane transport proteins (transporters) play a crucial role in the fundamental cellular processes of all organisms by facilitating the transport of hydrophilic substrates across hydrophobic membranes. Despite the availability of numerous membrane protein sequences, their structures and functions remain largely elusive. Recently, natural language processing (NLP) techniques have shown promise in the analysis of protein sequences. Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) is an NLP technique adapted for proteins to learn contextual embeddings of individual amino acids within a protein sequence. Our previous strategy, TooT-BERT-T, differentiated transporters from non-transporters by employing a logistic regression classifier with fine-tuned representations from ProtBERT-BFD. In this study, we expand upon this approach by utilizing representations from ProtBERT, ProtBERT-BFD, and MembraneBERT in combination with classical classifiers. Additionally, we introduce TooT-BERT-CNN-T, a novel method that fine-tunes ProtBERT-BFD and discriminates transporters using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Our experimental results reveal that CNN surpasses traditional classifiers in discriminating transporters from non-transporters, achieving an MCC of 0.89 and an accuracy of 95.1 % on the independent test set. This represents an improvement of 0.03 and 1.11 percentage points compared to TooT-BERT-T, respectively.
Language and the mind: how language shapes our thinking
Authors: Zhou Xiaodi
Published: July 2023

This paper analyzes languages and their connections to thinking and culture using an autoethnographic lens. This autoethnography utilized personal examples and those from the author’s students’ compositions as evidence of the link between languages and cultures. Both named languages and dialects of those languages are contemplated for the basis of how their traits influence perceptions. A neuroscientific rationale is also made between human languages and human cultures. The link between culture and language, including dialects, is made, positioning the act of translanguaging as real time dialogue between cultures. Finally, classroom implications are presented with actual student writing and multimodal performances to showcase how students’ cultures are manifested via classroom engagements, particularly through translanguaging.
Catalytic oxidation degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – a review
Authors: Liu Wenju , Zhang Zheng , Yuan Kailong , Dang Dan , Jin Peng , Han Xiaofei , Ge Qun
Published: July 2023

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are considered one of the significant contributors to air pollution because they are toxic, difficult to remove, come from a wide range of sources, and can easily cause damage to the environment and human health. There is an urgent need for effective means to reduce their emissions. The current treatment technologies for VOCs include catalytic oxidation, adsorption, condensation, and recovery. Catalytic oxidation technology stands out among the others thanks to its high catalytic efficiency, low energy requirement, and lack of secondary pollution. The difficulty of this technology lies in the development of efficient catalysts. The research on loaded noble metal catalysts and non-noble metal oxide catalysts in this area over the past few years is briefly described in this work. Firstly, the catalytic destruction mechanism of organic volatile compounds is introduced. Secondly, the effects of structural modulation during catalytic oxidation, such as the adjustment of noble metal particle size and morphology, metal doping, and defect engineering, on the conformational relationships are discussed. Finally, the challenges faced by thermal catalytic oxidation for the degradation of VOCs are discussed, and the prospects for its development are presented.
Un análisis histórico de la evolución y continuidad de la relación entre China y América Latina
Authors: Jiang Meijie
Published: July 2023

Desde hace más de una década, China ha sido un actor clave en la relación comercial y política con América Latina. ¿Qué ha motivado la presencia China en América Latina? ¿Y cuáles son los cambios y las continuidades a lo largo del tiempo? Este trabajo ha abordado estas cuestiones desde una perspectiva histórica. Adoptando una metodología deductiva, el análisis señala que los Cinco Principios de Coexistencia Pacífica y la política de Una Sola China han mantenido su coherencia y relevancia en la relación exterior china con América Latina. Al mismo tiempo, se ha identificado cuatro cambios notables: 1) se ha pasado de la indiferencia ideológica inicial a un compromiso económico cada vez más fuerte; 2) se ha producido una transición del auge de las materias primas a un portafolio más diversificado con un mayor énfasis en la tecnología y la innovación; 3) China ha pasado de ser un N
orm-Taker a un N
orm-Maker en el escenario internacional; 4) se ha pasado de un enfoque predominantemente bilateral a uno más multilateral.
Change in gastric-lipase adsorption on lipid layer by stigmasterols
Authors: Shin Gounhanul , Hadinoto Kunn , Park Jin-Won
Published: July 2023

Gastric-lipase (GL) binding to a lipid layer was investigated for the phase of the layer adjusted with the ratio of stigmasterol to the lipid using surface plasmon resonance. While the layer was formed on the hydrophobic surface, more stigmasterol led to lower surface density only in the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) layer. The addition of stigmasterol was believed to transform the phase (condensed liquid-phase) of DPPC layer closer to the phase (expanded liquid-phase) of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) layer. At a ratio greater than 15:85, the effect of the stigmasterol on the DPPC was saturated. The adsorption behavior of GL showed the similar trend with the lipid formation. The adsorption increased with the increase in the ratio of stigmasterol to lipid up to 15:85. On the DOPC layer of the expanded liquid-phase, the most adsorption seemed to occur and was indistinguishable from that in the DPPC layer of 15:85. The surface density of the adsorbed GL was interpreted into the fraction of the stigmasterol-dependent DPPC, 0.33, 0.67, and 1.00 for 10:90, 5:95, and 0:100 of DPPC. Furthermore, the equilibrium constant was between 1 × 1013 M−1 and 2 × 1013 M−1 and the kinetics of the adsorption showed an increase in the adsorption rate constant with the increase of the ratio up to 15:85.
The emergence of convergence
Authors: Sundstrom Shana M. , Angeler David G. , Ernakovich Jessica G. , García Jorge H. , Hamm Joseph A. , Huntington Orville , Allen Craig R.
Published: July 2023

Science is increasingly a collaborative pursuit. Although the modern scientific enterprise owes much to individuals working at the core of their field, humanity is increasingly confronted by highly complex problems that require the integration of a variety of disciplinary and methodological expertise. In 2016, the U.S. National Science Foundation launched an initiative prioritizing support for convergence research as a means of “solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs.” We discuss our understanding of the objectives of convergence research and describe in detail the conditions and processes likely to generate successful convergence research. We use our recent experience as participants in a convergence workshop series focused on resilience in the Arctic to highlight key points. The emergence of resilience science over the past 50 years is presented as a successful contemporary example of the emergence of convergence. We close by describing some of the challenges to the development of convergence research, such as timescales and discounting the future, appropriate metrics of success, allocation issues, and funding agency requirements.
The Effect of Innovation, Economic Freedom, Macroeconomic Variables on GDP
Authors: Elina Sefria , Setyadharma Andryan
Published: July 2023

The G-20 is a group of 19 countries with the largest economies in the world plus the European Union. Basically, the role of the G-20 in the economy is to maintain stable and high economic growth, realizing balanced growth between developed and developing countries. but based on data, the average GDP growth of the G-20 group in 2014 to 2019 was always below the world average even though the G-20 member countries had a systemic impact on the global economy. This study aims to analyze the effect of innovation, economic freedom, and macroeconomic variables on economic growth in the G-20. The data used in this research is secondary data. This study uses a fixed-effect model with panel data regression, consisting of 19 G-20 member countries for the 2009-2019 period. The results of this study indicate that innovation and economic freedom have no significant effect on economic growth in the 19 G-20 member countries. Inflation and population have a negative and significant effect on economic growth in the 19 member countries of the G-20. Meanwhile, FDI and trade have a positive and significant impact on economic growth in the 19 G-20 member countries.

G-20 adalah 19 negara dengan ekonomi besar di dunia ditambah dengan organisasi Uni Eropa yang berperan untuk menjaga pertumbuhan ekonomi yang stabil dan tinggi antara negara maju dan negara berkembang. Berdasarkan data, rata-rata pertumbuhan PDB kelompok G-20 pada tahun 2014 hingga 2019 selalu berada di bawah rata-rata dunia meskipun negara-negara anggota G-20 berdampak sistemik terhadap perekonomian global. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh inovasi, kebebasan ekonomi, dan variabel makroekonomi terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di G-20. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder. Penelitian ini menggunakan model fixed effect dengan regresi data panel, terdiri dari 19 negara anggota G-20 periode 2009-2019. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa inovasi dan kebebasan ekonomi tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di 19 negara anggota G-20. Inflasi dan jumlah penduduk berpengaruh negatif dan signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di 19 negara anggota G-20. Sedangkan FDI dan perdagangan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi di 19 negara anggota G-20.
Representaciones sociales sobre derechos humanos y cultura política en organizaciones sociales de base
Authors: Fernández Fonseca Edgar , Cardona Sánchez Fernando
Published: July 2023

This article presents the results of a research aimed at characterizing social representations on human rights and political culture in 12 grassroots social organizations in Ciudad Bolivar, Bogota, Colombia. The constitutive trajectories of social organizations converge with the mobilizations oriented to the vindication and demand of rights in the social history of Latin American peripheries, showing the linkage between these, collective action, and the construction of political subjectivity. Knowledge, values, and attitudes are established on them, which influence the network of representations that make possible the organization and understanding of the social world. A qualitative methodology is used with an interpretative approach typical of the social sciences, based on the processual analysis model and through the use of characterization sheets, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The results allow us to affirm that the figurative core of representation revolves around the triad: life, territory, and participation. The circulation of this triad increases the objects of social appropriation of human rights, by favoring social and cultural processes that broaden its comprehensive margin, through the establishment of cognitive, affective and value patterns oriented towards the political system, where instituting praxis that dislocate the established social order burst in.
Cambio climático y derechos humanos: Una revisión a los compromisos internacionales y avances derivados del Acuerdo de París en Centroamérica 2015-2022
Authors: Méndez Juan Carlos
Published: July 2023

The article provides a general look at the thematic priorities, language, and concrete actions in the area of human rights that Central American countries have incorporated into public policies on climate change since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. For this, the article identifies and systematizes advances in the seven Central American countries between 2015 and 2022, favoring policies and commitments on climate action that respond to this international agreement, among these, nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). It is observed that, in a period of six years, the countries of the area expanded the contents and scopes of their first NDCs, resulting in concrete ambitious actions, goals and commitments for the protection of the human rights of populations in particular conditions of vulnerability. The multiple actions and future commitments in relation to the links between gender and climate change stand out, which occupy a preponderant place within the strategies and transversal axes of the NDCs, plans and other policies on climate change.
Infancias afectadas por el terrorismo de Estado en Uruguay
Authors: Cassariego Francesca
Published: July 2023

Through this article I propose to reflect on the memories of the childhoods affected during State terrorism, focusing mainly on Uruguay and from my personal expe- rience. When I was 3 years old, I was kidnapped as part of a Condor Plan operation, my brother and I remained missing for a couple of weeks. The case gained public notoriety and we were handed over to our grandparents; upon returning, as if I had a lump in my throat, nodules appeared on my vocal cords. The body inscribes the memory that the mind forgets. This is not just my story, there are many of us who had childhoods defragmented by State terrorism. Why history hardly talks about us? Why have we not found –in Uruguay– a place in the stories of memory? Why does our voice seem like my voice? that does not sound. These are some of the many questions that the Jacarandá collective asks. Culture of memory we become, and that personally I investigate. There are multiple effects experienced by those of us who spend our childhood during State terrorism and very diverse our experiences, therefore, this article is not exhaustive. In it, some experiences are outlined attempting to look at the childhoods that were the object of multiple violence during the Latin American dictatorships of the 60-80s. In turn, the analysis is approached from the perspective of affections, since this allows us to place emotions in the foreground (Pérez and Capdepón, 2022).
Reflexiones desde las representaciones masculinas en hombres nicaragüenses que laboran en seguridad privada informal del Gran Área Metropolitana de Costa Rica, 2020
Authors: Mora Izaguirre Cynthia , Vargas Loáiciga Carlos , Hernández Murillo Jason , Rodríguez González José Isaac , Hernández Hernández Karla
Published: July 2023

This study aims to generate reflections on the "should be" of Nicaraguan immigrants from their masculine representation, the personal and collective consequences that these representations entail. Working conditions are analyzed from the hegemonic role dictated by socialized regulations, as the home provider, as well as the perceptions about their current life and the one they had before migrating. Therefore, an exploratory study was carried out in which interviews were carried out with 50 Nicaraguan immigrants who worked as informal private security agents in the GAM (Greater Metropolitan Area) during the year 2020.
Contenido esencial de los derechos fundamentales: fundamentación teórica y criterios de razonabilidad en el ordenamiento jurídico ecuatoriano
Authors: López Ruiz Iliana , Pérez Ayala Tatiana , Vega Vega Ana Lucia
Published: July 2023

The present study assesses the different theories that address the essential content of fundamental rights. It is analyzed from a constitutional perspective, essentially seen as a guarantee that operates before the legislator. The research carries out an analysis of comparative law examining jurisprudence from countries such as Spain, Peru, Colombia, to finally concatenate the development of these theories in Ecuador. The fundamental objective is focused on critically addressing the Ecuadorian jurisprudential development in terms of determining the essential content of rights, and proposes the application of new reasonableness criteria to establish its content and scope. To achieve this objective, the qualitative method of scientific research is implemented, essentially in relation to the collection of information on aspects related to theoretical approaches that revolve around the determination of the essential content of fundamental rights. Finally, with this study it is concluded that the main difficulty that arises in the Ecuadorian constitutional legal system is the fact that a hierarchy of rights is not instituted; that is to say, it is urgent for Ecuador to develop clear standards from the normative point of view to determine the essential content of rights; taking into account fundamental elements such as the legal nature, the protected asset, its purpose and its functional exercise, to this is added the proposal of the application of reasonableness criteria to optimize the assessment of the essential content of the rights, especially when these are in contradiction.
La práctica biocultural de la milpa maya y los derechos humanos en Yucatán
Authors: Batllori Sampedro Eduardo Adolfo
Published: July 2023

The development of Mayan communities largely depends on the natural environment, and on the slash-and-burn agricultural model based on the milpa, which represents the ancient biocultural system that provides them with sustenance. This study aims to demonstrate that Mayan indigenous families are embedded within a legal framework that regulates access to natural resources, leaving the milpero peasant without options for economic, social and cultural reproduction. Under these premises, the legal environment that regulates access to natural resources of Mayan communities is analyzed, which encourages investment in the rural sector. However, the public policies and entities created for their application act in a sectorial, thematic and fragmented manner, combining inequity in ownership and in the use of resources for commercial exploitation, with a tendency towards concentration and centralization in the appropriation of the wealth generated. Despite the fact that environmental regulations admit the possibility that Mayan milpero peasants take advantage of the by-products of the agronomic biocultural system for self-consumption, in fact they are considered environmental offenders, thus violating the fundamental rights of individuals and indigenous communities. Two scenarios are proposed that allow the development of Mayan producers in Yucatan, as a fundamental part of human rights: 1. A scenario from the perspective of the individual producer, which takes place in an economic and environmental context of sustainability, and 2. A scenario from the perspective of the Mayan indigenous community, with an agroecological perspective of sustainability. The study reflects from the perspective of human ecology and its relationship with the practice of the ancient milpa system.
La competición por el poder entre el Islam político y los militares en Turquía: del conflicto a la estabilidad
Authors: Izquierdo Brichs Ferrán , Farrés Fernández Guillem
Published: July 2023

La integración de los islamistas en el sistema democrático turco se debe a la evolución del principal partido de esta corriente en su competición por el poder. En este artículo proponemos un análisis desde la “sociología del poder” de la forma en la que los islamistas turcos han podido mantenerse en el Gobierno renunciando al discurso radical de sus orígenes y evolucionando hacia un partido conservador de centro-derecha. Esto les ha permitido controlar el parlamento y, aunque con tensiones, mantenerse en el gobierno. No obstante, el ejército sigue controlando importantes parcelas de poder, y la competición entre los dos frentes por el control de los recursos aún está abierta. Los choques entre los sectores del Establishment kemalista y el AKP continúan, pero el juego ha evolucionado hacia una mayor estabilidad en el sistema político y una menor polarización en las elites dominantes.AbstractThe integration of the Islamists in the Turkish democratic system is a consequence of the evolution of the principal party of this branch in its competition for power. In this article we propose an analysis, based on the “sociology of power” theory, of the way Turkish Islamists have maintained themselves in power by renouncing to their previous radical discourse and have become a conservative party of the centre-right. This evolution has permitted them to control the Parliament and, despite tensions, to maintain themselves in government. However, the Army still has the control of important areas of power, and the competition between the two, Army and the Islamist government, for control of the resources, is still open. Clashes between the Kemalist establishment and the AKP are still common, but the game has evolved toward more stability in the political system and less polarization in the dominant elites.
Medico-socio-psychological aspect and stress factor related to the reception of Ukrainian refugees and hosts in Europe
Authors: Duray-Parmentier Carine , Nielens Noémie , Elin Duray Elin Duray , Janne Pascal , Gourdin Maximilien
Published: July 2023

More than six or seven million Ukrainians have been subjected to bombing and violence on their territory since February 2022, forcing them to leave their homes. This invasion has created Europe's biggest recent humanitarian crisis, claiming more victims’ day by day and causing widespread displacement in and out of the country. Europe has been on the warpath ever since, trying to avoid any escalation in the ongoing conflict and avoid the use of nuclear weapons. So what about the mental health of all these displaced people? What is the impact of such a large-scale situation on the movement of refugees in Europe? What psychological impact can it have on Ukrainian refugees (stress factor, mental illness)? What psychological impact can there be on the long-term hosts of the refugees? At present, we are not aware of any French or English articles already published on the medico-socio-psychological aspects linked to the problems of displacement of Ukrainian families and the reactions of the hosts over the long term. In this article, we will try to address the medico-socio-psychological issue of careers and the psychological impact of deported Ukrainian refugees.
Asthma Quality Measurement and Adverse Outcomes in Medicaid-Enrolled Children
Authors: Jefferson Akilah A. , Brown Clare C. , Eyimina Arina , Goudie Anthony , Rezaeiahari Mandana , Perry Tamara T. , Tilford J. Mick
Published: July 2023

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association between the asthma medication ratio (AMR) quality measure and adverse outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma in Arkansas, given concerns regarding the utility of the AMR in evaluating pediatric risk of asthma-related adverse events (AAEs).

METHODS

We used the Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database to identify Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma using a nonrestrictive case definition and additionally using the standard Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) persistent asthma definition. We assessed the AMR using the traditional dichotomous HEDIS AMR categorization and across 4 expanded AMR categories. Regression models assessed associations between AMR and AAE including hospitalization and emergency department utilization, with models conducted overall and by race and ethnicity.

RESULTS

Of the 22 788 children in the analysis, 9.0% had an AAE (6.7% asthma-related emergency department visits; 3.0% asthma-related hospitalizations). We found poor correlation between AMR and AAE, with higher rates of AAE (10.5%) among children with AMR ≥0.5 compared with AMR <0.5 (8.5%; P < .001), and similar patterns stratified by racial and ethnic subgroups. Expanded AMR categorization revealed notable differences in associations between AMR and AAEs, compared with traditional dichotomous categorization, with worse performance in Black children.

CONCLUSIONS

The AMR performed poorly in identifying risk of adverse outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma. These findings underscore concerns of the utility of the AMR in population health management and reliance on restrictive HEDIS definitions. New population health frameworks incorporating broader considerations that accurately identify at-risk children are needed to improve equity in asthma management and outcomes.
Miejsce banków w rozwoju gospodarczym ziem polskich w latach 1870–1913
Authors:   Wydział Nauk Ekonomicznych, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Leszczyńska Cecylia
Published: July 2023

The development of the Polish economy in the nineteenth century was influenced by a number of interacting factors: physical capital, human and social capital, the quality of institutions, the policies of the partitioning states, their macroeconomic situation, and the banking system. This study analyses the role of banking institutions in supporting the development of the economy of the Polish lands in the years 1870–1913. Their primary role was to concentrate savings and redirect them to economic entities. Some banks were involved in financing investments and supporting the establishment of new enterprises. The article identifies the directions of the relationship between economic processes and the development of banks: were changes in the economy primary to the development of banking, or did banks initiate processes of change in the real economy? The conclusions of the analysis are that the banking system only began to play a clearer role in supporting the development of the economy from the 1890s onwards. Prior to that, the reach of the financial sector was relatively shallow, the scarcity of capital being one of the barriers to the development of the economy. From the 1890s onwards, banks began to become involved in the process of industrialisation by becoming involved in supporting the establishment of businesses, while some banks began to evolve towards the universal bank model. Credit cooperatives played an important role in the development of the local economy (farms and the small business sector).
Eksplozja przedsiębiorczości w Polsce po 1988 roku. Przyczyny i skutki (do 1 maja 2004)
Authors:   Katedra Ekonomii, Wydział Prawa i Ekonomii, Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego w Bydgoszczy, Kamosiński Sławomir
Published: July 2023

This article explains the impact of the explosion of Polish entrepreneurship (the so-called founding privatization) on the modernization of social structure and free market institutions in Poland. It has been shown that the process of revival of entrepreneurship after 1988 took place with the use of experiences included in the concept of heritage of the past. Changes in the ownership structure of economic organizations observed after 1988 are discussed in statistical terms. This change was of great importance for the modernization of the company size structure in Poland. The fast-paced process of rebuilding the social group of entrepreneurs played a major role in building family businesses. They are the stabilizer of the economy. For the efficiency of the modernization process in Poland after 1988, it was important to achieve institutional balance. The practice of everyday life showed that it was a difficult task to achieve a satisfactory state. As a result, the slowing down of the process of qualitative change in Poland after 1988 was largely influenced by informal institutions, including tradition and customs established in the past.
Role of metabolic surgery in remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with obesity
Authors: Mozgunova V. S. , Semikova G. V. , Volkova A. R. , Ostroukhova E. N. , Lukichev B. G.
Published: July 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity are two socially significant diseases, the prevalence of which has now assumed pandemic proportions. Obesity, as a rule, precedes the development of type 2 diabetes, being the most powerful risk factor for the development of this disease. In patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes with a BMI >35 kg/m2, bariatric surgery is recommended if glycemic control cannot be achieved after several attempts at non-surgical treatment of obesity. There is no doubt the effectiveness of bariatric surgery not only in the treatment of obesity, but also in achieving remission of type 2 diabetes. It seems relevant to study the predictors of achieving remission of type 2 diabetes, as well as factors that can worsen the prognosis. The purpose of the review: to study the effectiveness of metabolic surgery in achieving remission of type 2 DM, as well as predictors of remission of type 2 DM in obese patients after bariatric surgery.
New Voices for a New World: a Review of Learner-Centered Methods of Learning English
Authors: Chatterjee Santadip
Published: July 2023

English is becoming the lingua franca in an increasingly globalized world. Professionals with a sound knowledge of the language coupled with the ability to communicate in English are on high demand. English is increasingly being rewarded as the global language; it is also known as the
window to the world. To make the grade in terms of the basic skills of English language, effective and technical learning is extremely important. To be above board, effective learning of English language depends on the methods of language learning and teaching. There are numerous methods that
are the pathways to learn English proficiently. Learner-centered methods are always preferred by the different levels of learners of English language. Trainers or the pedagogues should use learner- centered methods based on the levels of the learners' competence in the training sessions. This
paper focuses on the different learner-centered methods of learning English along with their principles, prospects, goals, and procedures that help the learners to succeed in terms of becoming competent in effective listening, speaking, reading and writing.
KAPP-Sen TMC: Pancreas Donor Acceptance Criteria v1
Authors: Aguayo-Mazzucato Cristina
Published: July 2023

Pancreas Donor Acceptance Criteria
Performance Analysis of EfficientNet Based Segmentation Models for Automatic Detection of Malaria Disease
Authors: UÇAR Murat , UÇAR Emine
Published: July 2023

Malaria is a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is common in the tropics. The traditional methods commonly used to diagnose malaria, one of the world's deadliest diseases, are microscopic diagnostic methods in which blood samples taken from suspected individuals are manually examined, or rapid diagnostic tests that are sensitive to human errors. These processes are inexpensive, but experienced and qualified clinicians are needed. Due to this shortcoming, modern diagnostic tools are crucial in the struggle against the disease. In this study, an approach based on deep learning methods was used, which offers beneficial solutions in the diagnosis of disease from medical images. In the proposed approach, U-Net, Pyramid Scene Parsing Network, LinkNet, and Feature Pyramid Network segmentation methods were modified with 8 different pre-trained variants of the EfficientNet deep learning model to obtain improved models. In the malaria segmentation performed with these models, the highest Dice score of 91.50% was achieved in the use of the U-Net model with EfficientNetB6. This model offers a faster and more robust solution to detecting parasites compared to traditional methods.
Study of the dynamics of the interest rate swap using machine learning methods
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko national University of Kyiv, Zubchenko V. P. , Aleksandrova P. V. ,   Taras Shevchenko national University of Kyiv
Published: July 2023

For the European ﬁnancial system, the interest rate swap is a well-known mechanism to reduce the potential eﬀects of these risks, but it is new to the Ukrainian interbank market. In the second half of 2020, the National Bank of Ukraine and commercial banks held their ﬁrst interest rate swap auctions. According to this provision, one party oﬀers the other a ﬂoating interest rate while the other oﬀers a ﬁxed interest rate based on a conditional amount. Based on the Ukrainian overnight interbank rate index, the latter is computed (UONIA). Future cash ﬂows are discounted at rates determined by the zero coupon yield curve created for hryvnia government bonds. The parties agree on how to calculate the diﬀerence in interest payments within the predetermined period of time. The analysis of the fair value of this ﬁnancial instrument at future points in time is the main concern of mathematical modeling of interest rate swap transactions. Predicting future changes in fair value is particularly crucial when the zero coupon yield curve’s coeﬃcients vary and when there are speciﬁc trends in the index of overnight interbank rates. The sensitivity of the speciﬁed factors to the interest rate swap’s dynamics was investigated in the study, and a forecast of the instrument’s future dynamics based on the change in important macroeconomic indicators was developed.
Corepresentations of Munn matrix algebras
Authors:   Institute of Mathematics of NAS of Ukraine, Bondarenko V. M.
Published: July 2023

Let A be an algebra over a field K, m and n natural numbers and P = (pji) a fixed n x m matrix over A. The K-vector space of all m x n matrices over the algebra A can be made into an algebra with respect to the following operation (o): B o C = BPC. This algebra is called the Munn matrix algebra over A with sandwich matrix P. The algebras of such type arose as generalizations of semigroup algebras of Rees matrix semigroups which in turn are closely related to simple semigroups. This article describes the generators and defining relations of Mann matrix algebras with a regular sandwich matrix.
Method of identification of atomic elements of information space with the help of a unified information space
Authors:   State University of Telecommunications, Kyiv, Ukraine, Zamrii Iryna , Vyshnivskyi Viktor ,   State University of Telecommunications, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: July 2023

The article considers a method that allows to identify the input atomic element of the information space by combining information spaces into a unified information space (this is an information model of a complex subject area, which includes information objects, relationships between them, space environment and processes). This method allows you to refine the missing features for the input element to enable it to be added to a unified information space.
To the question of trinomial functionals
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sharapov M. M.
Published: July 2023

The article considers the properties of functionals from the trinomial distribution that appear in the tasks of statistical correction of the results of IDK-tests and knowledge quality estimation. For one of these functionals, variants of its definition at the "zero" point are proposed, and it is shown how one method of definition can be useful in calculating the mathematical expectation of such a functional, and another method of definition is useful in calculating the realizations of the functional within the task of knowledge quality estimation. The proposed indicator of the quality of knowledge assesses the student's confidence in the correctness of the answers during testing, and thus differs significantly from all existing assessment methods, which assess either the amount of knowledge, or rather relate to the assessment of abilities or skills, but not the quality of acquired knowledge. It is shown how the method of assessing the quality of knowledge is related to the policy of academic integrity in the educational environment. Assessment methods can both encourage the student to guess the correct answers and prevent them from violating the basics of academic integrity.
Multi-stage approach with DTW and clustering for forecasting of average deposit rate in Ukraine
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, Krukovets D.
Published: July 2023

The paper is dedicated to the development of the multi-stage forecasting method that is based on Dynamic Time Warping, Clustering and AutoARIMA techniques, which is compared with several traditional benchmarks on the unique dataset. The goal is to forecast an average deposit rate in Ukraine using data that has been scrapped from banks' websites about their individual deposit rates on the daily basis. From this rich dataset the paper focuses only on 12-month deposits, UAH, for each bank. Most of the issues that are traditional for web-scraping approach are irrelevant in our case due to the dataset features. These rates are aggregated into groups by similarity in dynamics, forecasted separately with an AutoARIMA routine and finally aggregated into the entire forecast using weights that have been obtained with an OLS estimation. The paper presents the result and comparison with several benchmarks, starting from simple Random Walk, a few specifications of ARIMA and simple Random Forest. The multi-stage approach outperforms benchmarks by an RMSE and graphical analysis over the latter period of the data.
Relations between the European Union and the United States under the conditions of Russian aggression against Ukraine (2022 – beginning OF 2023.)
Authors:   Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Martynov Andrei
Published: July 2023

The article is devoted to highlighting the problem of consolidating the position of the European Union and the United States in the context of the scaling of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The research is focused on the analysis of the peculiarities of the process of evolution of relations between the European Union and the United States regarding the development trends of the European and world security systems. The attempts of the Russian Federation and China to destroy the Euro-Atlantic unity of democratic states in order to create the prerequisites for the emergence of a «multipolar» system of international relations are shown. The methodological basis of the article rests on the principles of systematic research of the modern history of international relations. Historical-genetic, comparative, descriptive methods are used. The theoretical foundations of the article are the conceptual approaches of the theory of democratic peace (idealistic intentions to create a world safe for democracy) in discourse with the theory of neorealism in international relations. The scientific novelty of the study consists in monitoring the development trends of relations between the European Union and the United States under the crisis conditions of the formation of a «multipolar» system of international relations. Conclusions. Russian revanchism, aimed at revising the parameters of the world order after the Cold War, focused on the split between the EU and the USA. This was a prerequisite for achieving the desired result for the Kremlin. The closest the Russian Federation came to solving this problem was during the presidency of D. Trump. The pandemic gave the Kremlin reason to hope that Ukraine would not receive direct large-scale Western aid in the event of the escalation of aggression. This challenge has become essential for Euro-Atlantic liberal democracies. Faced with this trend, the Russian Federation chose the tactics of a war of attrition. This factor increased the value of Euro-Atlantic solidarity as a factor in the victory of democracy over authoritarianism.
Development, Adaptation, and Persistent, Stimulus-Independent Neural Activity in a Sensorimotor Circuit in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors:   , McFarland Brennan Walter , von Reyn Catherine R.
Published: July 2023

Central to all animals is the ability to interpret relevant external stimuli and react appropriately. For animals to be able to recognize and react appropriately to stimuli, neurons must first develop and wire with appropriate partners to build functioning neural circuits. The visual system has served as a model system to investigate neuronal development and target specificity, but rarely has the relationship between connectivity and downstream neuronal output been investigated in the same system. A major barrier to studying neural circuit development and investigating how neurons integrate inputs from many pre-synaptic partners is the lack of systems amenable to genetic and physical accessibility over development necessary for impactful, direct experimentation. Here, we take advantage of the genetically tractable animal Drosophila melanogaster and explore the development of a functionally well-characterized sensorimotor circuit, the convergence of visual projection neurons (VPNs) onto the dendrites of a large descending neuron called the giant fiber (GF). We find two partner VPNs, encoding different visual features that target the same GF dendrite, occupy distinct territories on the GF dendrite, in part, through sequential axon arrival during development. We find that during the initial partner matching stage, pre- and post-synaptic proteins are already present and opposed to one another. Physical occupancy is important to maintain territories, as we find the ablation of one VPN results in expanded dendritic territory occupied by the surviving partner VPN, and that this compensation enables the GF to remain responsive to ethologically relevant visual stimuli. Lastly, we develop a novel ex-vivo electrophysiology preparation and perform the first electrophysiology recording from a pupal CNS neuron. Using this preparation, we record persistent, stimulus independent neural activity in the GF in pupal stages, suggesting neural activity may be important for appropriate GF development. Our data highlight temporal mechanisms for visual feature convergence and promote the GF circuit, and the Drosophila optic glomeruli where VPN to GF connectivity resides, as an ideal developmental model for investigating complex wiring programs and plasticity in visual feature convergence.
The Experiences of African American Mothers with the Cesarean Procedure
Authors:   , Simmonds Angelique , Phillips Joy C.
Published: July 2023

Over the last several decades, cesarean section (C-section) rates have continued to climb at an alarming pace. In the United States alone, a third of all births are C-sections. This is especially troublesome because of the well-documented short- and long-term risks associated with the procedure. Many factors contribute to the rising cesarean numbers. A deep investigation reveals that the rates are even higher for women of lower socioeconomic standing and even more disconcerting, research suggests the disparity could be linked to nonclinical determinants. This qualitative study employed hermeneutic phenomenology for its theoretical framework to specifically examine African American mothers' experiences before and after the cesarean surgery in order to compare their expected medical care with their actual medical experience. Study participants were identified and interviewed, and thematic analysis was used to provide essential information from the patient's point of view that could contribute to improving the way obstetric care is provided for expectant mothers, particularly those in underprivileged or underserved communities. The emerging themes gleaned from the research study reinforce the need, on a micro level, for improved communication between patients and healthcare providers and, on a macro level, for the widespread adoption of socially sensitized healthcare protocols. The goal is to establish a more uniform level of care irrespective of race or economic status.
Sibling Participation in Occupational Therapy for Children with Physical Disabilities
Authors:   , Zagacki Laura M. , Chiarello Lisa A
Published: July 2023

Aims: This case series describes the implementation of participation-based occupational therapy for children with physical disabilities and their siblings. Methods: Case 1 was a 3-year-old girl with spina bifida and her brother, and case 2 was an 8-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and his sister. Families collaborated in developing a goal for social participation in play. The Sibling Participation in Occupational Therapy (SPOT), an adaptation of the Collaborative Process for Action Plans to Achieve Children's Participation Goals, guided an assessment of factors related to the goal and development of an action plan. The interventions, encouragement, and collaboration were used most often. Interventions for performance skills differed across cases and related to children's ages, interests, and functional abilities. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) assessed individualized goals, and participants completed an experience questionnaire. Results: Parent COPM ratings demonstrated a meaningful increase in performance and satisfaction, and the therapist and parent ratings of the GAS met or exceeded expected achievement. Parents and sibling dyads reported positive experiences on the questionnaire. Conclusion: The outcomes support SPOT with families who have a child with a physical disability to apply a participation-based approach inclusive of siblings that is consistent with family-centered practice and addressing occupations.
Allelopathic effects of the invasive plant Wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata L.) aqueous extract on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Perera K.R.S. , Ratnayake R.M.C.S. , Epa U.P.K.
Published: July 2023

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski is an alien invasive weed with aggressive growth habits, environmental stress tolerance, and the ability to synthesize allelochemicals. However, in many parts of the world, this plant is still recommended for use in composting, phytoremediation, and as an ornamental ground cover in gardens. The present study investigated the allelopathic effect of S. trilobata on the seed germination, growth and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris L. To analyze the allelopathic effects of S. trilobata on P. vulgaris seed germination, hundred seeds of P. vulgaris were exposed to different concentrations of the aqueous extracts of fresh and dry S. trilobata (2.5×102, 5.0×102 and 7.5×102 g/L) in Petri dishes for five days. The impact of S. trilobata aqueous extract on the growth and yield of P. vulgaris was also studied with seedlings planted in a compost soil mixture. Results of the study suggested negative impacts of S. trilobata extracts on P. vulgaris seed germination, growth and yield. P. vulgaris seed germination was significantly lower in the treatments than in the control (p<0.05). Further, P. vulgaris plants treated with fresh plant extracts at 5.0×102 and 7.5×102 g/L concentrations had significantly lower shoot height, growth rate, leaf area, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, root length, pod length and yield (p<0.05) than controls. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that S. trilobata aqueous extracts have a dose-dependent allelopathic effect on P. vulgaris seed germination, growth, and yield and among the dry and fresh plant extracts, fresh plant aqueous extracts have a more significant allelopathic impact. As S. trilobata contains water-soluble allelochemical, it should not be used in biofertilizer production, phytoremediation, or as live mulch.