bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expansive data, extensive model: Investigating discussion topics around LLM through unsupervised machine learning in academic papers and news
Authors: Jung Hae Sun , Lee Haein , Woo Young Seok , Baek Seo Yeon , Kim Jang Hyun
Published: May 2024

This study presents a comprehensive exploration of topic modeling methods tailored for large language model (LLM) using data obtained from Web of Science and LexisNexis from June 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023. The data collection process involved queries focusing on LLMs, including “Large language model,” “LLM,” and “ChatGPT.” Various topic modeling approaches were evaluated based on performance metrics, including diversity and coherence. latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF), combined topic models (CTM), and bidirectional encoder representations from Transformers topic (BERTopic) were employed for performance evaluation. Evaluation metrics were computed across platforms, with BERTopic demonstrating superior performance in diversity and coherence across both LexisNexis and Web of Science. The experiment result reveals that news articles maintain a balanced coverage across various topics and mainly focus on efforts to utilize LLM in specialized domains. Conversely, research papers are more concise and concentrated on the technology itself, emphasizing technical aspects. Through the insights gained in this study, it becomes possible to investigate the future path and the challenges that LLMs should tackle. Additionally, they could offer considerable value to enterprises that utilize LLMs to deliver services.
Temporal trends in peripartum hysterectomy among individuals with a previous cesarean delivery by race/ethnicity in the United States: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Rajasingham Maya , Hossein Pour Parnian , Scattolon Sarah , Muraca Giulia M.
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Rates of severe maternal morbidity have highlighted persistent and growing racial disparities in the United States (US). We aimed to contrast temporal trends in peripartum hysterectomy by race/ethnicity and quantify the contribution of changes in maternal and obstetric factors to temporal variations in hysterectomy rates.

Methods

We conducted a population-based, retrospective study of 5,739,569 US residents with a previous cesarean delivery, using National Vital Statistics System’s Natality Files (2011–2021). Individuals were stratified by self-identified race/ethnicity and classified into four periods based on year of delivery. Temporal changes in hysterectomy rates were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used sequential logistic regression models to quantify the contribution of maternal and obstetric factors to temporal variations in hysterectomy rates.

Results

Over the study period, the peripartum hysterectomy rate increased from 1.23 (2011–2013) to 1.44 (2019–2021) per 1,000 deliveries (OR 2019–2021 vs. 2011–2013 = 1.17, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.25). Hysterectomy rates varied by race/ethnicity with the highest rates among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI; 2.73 per 1,000 deliveries) and American Indian or Alaskan Native (AIAN; 2.67 per 1,000 deliveries) populations in 2019–2021. Unadjusted models showed a temporal increase in hysterectomy rates among AIAN (2011–2013 rate = 1.43 per 1,000 deliveries; OR 2019–2021 vs. 2011–2013 = 1.87, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.45) and White (2011–2013 rate = 1.13 per 1,000 deliveries; OR 2019–2021 vs. 2011–2013 = 1.21, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.33) populations. Adjustment ranged from having no effect among NHOPI individuals to explaining 14.0% of the observed 21.0% increase in hysterectomy rates among White individuals.

Conclusion

Nationally, racial disparities in peripartum hysterectomy are evident. Between 2011–2021, the rate of hysterectomy increased; however, this increase was confined to AIAN and White individuals.
Improved methodology for fixation and preparation of Aedes aegypti embryos
Authors: Reid William , Sterling-Lentsch Geyenna , Halfon Marc S.
Published: May 2024

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major disease vector and an increasingly popular emerging model research organism. We present here an improved protocol for the collection, fixation, and preparation of A. aegypti embryos for immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies. The processing of A. aegypti embryos for such studies is complicated by the inability to easily remove the vitelline membrane, which prevents the reagents needed for staining from reaching their targets, and which furthermore obscures visualization of the embryo since the membrane is highly sclerotized. Previously described protocols for removal of the vitelline membrane are very low throughput, limiting the capacity of work that can be accomplished in a reasonable timeframe. Our adapted protocol increases the throughput capacity of embryos by an individual user, with experienced users able to prepare an average of 100–150 embryos per hour. The protocol provides high-quality intact embryos that can be used for morphological, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization studies. The protocol has been successfully tested on embryos of ages ranging from 14h after egg laying (AEL) at 27°C through to 55h AEL. Critical to the success of the optimized protocol is the selection, fabrication, and description of the tools required. To this end, a video-demonstrated protocol has been placed at protocols.io to clarify the protocol and provide easy access and training to anyone interested in the preparation of A. aegypti embryos for biological studies.
Pensamento Computacional e Robótica na Atração de Talentos para a Computação: Um Relato de Experiência no Ensino Fundamental
Authors: Cardoso Ferreira Tiago , Santos de Santana Thalia , Honorato Braga Adriano
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACTThis article describes an experience report of the actions of a projectfor teaching concepts of Computational Thinking and robotics tostudents in the final years of elementary school through the executionof a technological initiation course. The focus of the coursewas to address concepts of Computational Thinking using roboticsas a tool. In all, seven schools were served in five different municipalities,with around 400 students assisted. Through this stimulus,it was found that a portion of the students showed an interest into continue in the area, choosing to complete secondary educationintegrated with a technical course in the area of Informatics.
Sensitive Detection and Enantioseparation of β-Blockers with Quinoline Based Active Chiral Reagents using HPLC: Separation Mechanism and DFT Modelling
Authors: Sharma N.K. , Kaur L. , Alwera S. , Talismanov V.S. , Tripathi A.K. , Mondal A.
Published: May 2024

A sensitive and effective method for the detection and enantioseparation of β-blockers was developed. Three quinoline-based active chiral reagents were prepared followed by an amide and ester formation reaction. The synthesized active chiral reagents were characterized with spectroscopic techniques such as NMR, FT-IR, UV, HRMS and elemental analyzer. The active reagents were used in the diastereomerization of the racemic β-blockers (propranolol, metoprolol and carvedilol). Synthesized diastereomeric pairs were then subjected to RP-HPLC for chromatographic separation. The eluting phase, which consists of a buffer solution with acetonitrile, was used for analysis. The separation analysis results were optimized in the presence of variables such as eluting phase ratio, concentration and pH. Additionally, the separation process, elution order and stable conformer of diastereomers were studied by developing minimized energy structures of prepared diastereomeric pairs using DFT.
Local Wisdom Batak Toba and Nias Related to Chemical Content
Authors: Simanjuntak Akezia
Published: May 2024

This article talks about the local wisdom of the Batak Toba and Nias with the subject of chemistry. This article uses a qualitative method. The data collection techniques used are interview techniques and documentation, where the resource persons in this research are Selamat Sihombing (Batak Toba) And Gatina Halawa (Nias). The relationship between Toba Nias Batak culture and Chemistry shows that there is a tight relationship between culture and Chemistry. So every culture has good chemical elements in its manufacture, mixing, and so on., the results studies obtained conclusions of chemistry are all around us and also in the local wisdom of the Batak Toba and Nias.
Snapchat at school - 'Now you see it...'
Authors: Charteris Jennifer , Gregory Sue , Masters Yvonne , Maple Myfanwy , Kennedy Amanda
Published: May 2024

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media applications among Australian young people. Its global impact has grown rapidly in recent years. Reported is a mixed methods case study located in New South Wales schools. An online survey was conducted with education practitioners to enquire into their experiences of Snapchat in their school settings. The researchers used survey responses and comments from follow up interviews to consider how networked affect is enacted through Snapchat. Networked affect can be seen as a visceral movement of emotion through the intra-action of social media and human bodies. Both corporeal affect and Snapchat have received increased attention by researchers over the last five years although little has been written to link the two. We highlight the importance of reading the affective social impact of Snapchat use among young people and the potential of looking beyond its abuses to the affordances of the application.
Privacy Amplification via Shuffling: Unified, Simplified, and Tightened
Authors: Wang Shaowei , Peng Yun , Li Jin , Wen Zikai , Li Zhipeng , Yu Shiyu , Wang Di , Yang Wei
Published: May 2024

The shuffle model of differential privacy provides promising privacy-utility balances in decentralized, privacy-preserving data analysis. However, the current analyses of privacy amplification via shuffling lack both tightness and generality. To address this issue, we propose the
variation-ratio reduction
as a comprehensive framework for privacy amplification in both single-message and multi-message shuffle protocols. It leverages two new parameterizations: the total variation bounds of local messages and the probability ratio bounds of blanket messages, to determine indistinguishability levels. Our theoretical results demonstrate that our framework provides tighter bounds, especially for local randomizers with extremal probability design, where our bounds are exactly tight. Additionally, variation-ratio reduction complements parallel composition in the shuffle model, yielding enhanced privacy accounting for popular sampling-based randomizers employed in statistical queries (e.g., range queries, marginal queries, and frequent itemset mining). Empirical findings demonstrate that our numerical amplification bounds surpass existing ones, conserving up to 30% of the budget for single-message protocols, 75% for multi-message ones, and a striking 75%-95% for parallel composition. Our bounds also result in a remarkably efficient
Õ
(
n
) algorithm that numerically amplifies privacy in less than 10 seconds for
n
= 10
8
users.
LakeBench: A Benchmark for Discovering Joinable and Unionable Tables in Data Lakes
Authors: Deng Yuhao , Chai Chengliang , Cao Lei , Yuan Qin , Chen Siyuan , Yu Yanrui , Sun Zhaoze , Wang Junyi , Li Jiajun , Cao Ziqi , Jin Kaisen , Zhang Chi , Jiang Yuqing , Zhang Yuanfang , Wang Yuping , Yuan Ye , Wang Guoren , Tang Nan
Published: May 2024

Discovering tables from poorly maintained data lakes is a significant challenge in data management. Two key tasks are identifying joinable and unionable tables, crucial for data integration, analysis, and machine learning. However, there's a lack of a comprehensive benchmark for evaluating existing methods. To address this, we introduce LakeBench, a large-scale table discovery benchmark. It evaluates effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability of table join & union search methods. With over 16 million real tables, LakeBench is 1,600X larger than existing datasets and 100X larger in storage size. It includes synthesized and real queries with ground truth, totaling more than 10 thousand queries - 10X more than used in any existing evaluation. We spent over 7,500 human hours labeling these queries and constructing diverse query categories for thorough evaluation. Our benchmark thoroughly evaluates state-of-the-art table discovery methods, providing insights into their performance and highlighting research opportunities.
Chorus: Foundation Models for Unified Data Discovery and Exploration
Authors: Kayali Moe , Lykov Anton , Fountalis Ilias , Vasiloglou Nikolaos , Olteanu Dan , Suciu Dan
Published: May 2024

We apply foundation models to data discovery and exploration tasks. Foundation models are large language models (LLMS) that show promising performance on a range of diverse tasks unrelated to their training. We show that these models are highly applicable to the data discovery and data exploration domain. When carefully used, they have superior capability on three representative tasks: table-class detection, column-type annotation and join-column prediction. On all three tasks, we show that a foundation-model-based approach outperforms the task-specific models and so the state of the art. Further, our approach often surpasses human-expert task performance. We investigate the fundamental characteristics of this approach including generalizability to several foundation models and the impact of non-determinism on the outputs. All in all, this suggests a future direction in which disparate data management tasks can be unified under foundation models.
Political discourse and semiotics
Authors: Çanakpınar Betül , Kalelioğlu Murat , Günay Veli Doğan
Published: May 2024

In recent years, semiotics has put “life” at the center of the subject of study. There is the desire to be successful in the lifestyle and the desire to convey the right knowledge to the recipient or the correct use of practices in life. A semiotic theory developed by Jacques Fontanille recently showed that strategy can also be used in semiotic analysis. So, the way of life that Fontanille talks about is not just strategy. The process we call “lifestyle” has an order from small to large: There are basic signs, texts, objects, actants, practices, action phases, strategies, and finally lifestyle. In this study, we question the function of strategy, but generally of productive pursuit, in the analysis of political discourses. In our study, we reveal the approach of semiotics to political discourses that concern the whole world and discuss whether they are valid in every society. We emphasize political semiotics, which is used to understand the general structure of political discourses, and show the general functioning of political discourses with Greimas’ Actantial Model. We conclude that politicians can influence target audiences by using various methods and discourse strategies.
Scaled semiotic resources in informal learning on Chinese social networking sites
Authors: Meng Yanli
Published: May 2024

In the globalized internet age, informal learning is gaining prominence in China as mobile technology and social networking sites (SNSs) become widely accessible and virtually ubiquitously popular in Chinese society. An important informal learning platform is made up by the specialized public accounts on WeChat, the most popular SNSs in China. This study is based on three popular WeChat public accounts on parenting and education, especially on English learning, run by diasporic Chinese elites, with a special focus on the semiotic resources they have mobilized and brought across the national and real/virtual boundaries to attract novice parents in China. Drawing on Blommaert’s conception of scaled resources, this study uncovers the patterns of semiotic resources on the local, national, and global scales the public accounts holders have deployed to invoke indexical meanings to attract knowledge-seeking parents in China. The indexicality process reflects an ordered nature deeply embedded in the inequal power relations within the stratified world system and social structures. The value acquisition of local resources in globalized, webified mobility also embodies Barthes’ mythical signification.
Self-sensing behavior of hot asphalt mixture with steel fiber-based additive
Authors: Obaid Ahmed Wasfi , Al-Dahawi Ali , Kawther Khawla K. , Abduljabbar Ahmed Subhi
Published: May 2024

Scientists and engineers are consistently working to enhance the performance attributes of asphalt concrete mixtures. Pavement condition monitors, despite their high cost and long-term inaccuracies, are utilized for assessing pavement conditions and determining the level of deterioration. Consequently, they provide crucial data for the design, cost estimations, and development of pavement maintenance programmers. In recent times, there have been significant technological advancements and the introduction of new characteristics, such as the self-sensing feature. This study utilized this feature to build hot asphalt mixtures with several functionalities. The incorporation of conductive elements into asphalt mixtures enhances their electrical and mechanical characteristics. The objective of this study is to develop a hot asphalt mixture with electrical conductivity capable of detecting applied loads through conducting experimental tests such as the Marshall and compression tests. The asphalt grade used was between 40 and 50, and the aggregates were in proportions that met the Iraqi requirement. The asphalt mixture contained 2.5% steel fibers by volume, which were added to investigate their impact on the functional performance of the asphalt mixtures. An analysis was conducted on the samples’ behavior during the tests, revealing a discernible alteration in the electrical resistance measurement. This alteration demonstrated that the asphalt mixture detected the weights exerted upon it. The findings also indicated a rise in the Marshall stability metric. The advanced asphalt mixtures and their novel features allow for the monitoring of pavement conditions. Through the resolution of monitoring device issues, they additionally offer superior performance and extended lifespan.
Comparative models of support-vector machine, multilayer perceptron, and decision tree ‎predication approaches for landslide ‎susceptibility analysis
Authors: Teng Fei , Mao Yimin , Li Yican , Qian Subin , Nanehkaran Yaser A.
Published: May 2024

Naqadeh Region (NR) is one of the most sensitive regions regarding geo-hazards ‎occurrence in Northwest of Iran. The landslides triggering parameters that ‎identified for the studied region are classified as elevation, aspect, slope angle, ‎lithology, drainage density, distance to river, weathering, land-cover, ‎precipitation, vegetation, distance to faults, distance to roads, and distance to ‎the cities. These triggering factors are selected based on conducting field ‎survey, remote-sensing investigation, and historical development background ‎assessment. Regarding the investigations, 12 large-scale, 15 medium-scale, and 30 small-scale historical landslides ‎(57 in total) were recorded in the NR. The historical landslides were used to provide ‎sensitive area with high probability of ground movements. The objectives of this study are multifaceted, aiming to address critical gaps in understanding and predicting landslide susceptibility in the NR. First, the study seeks to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of ‎support-vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and decision tree ‎‎(DT) algorithms in predicting landslide susceptibility. So, as methodology, the ‎presented study used comparative models for landslide susceptibility based on ‎SVM, MLP, and DT approaches. The predictive models were compared based on model ‎accuracy as the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic ‎curve. According to the estimated results, MLP is the highest rank of overall ‎accuracy to provide susceptibility maps for landslides in NR. From a perspective of ‎the risk ability, the west and south-west sides of the county were identified within ‎the hazard area.
Steady state analysis for heat and mass transfer of grain dried in a packed moving bed dryer
Authors: Jon Chol Jin , Rim Un-Ryong , Choe Song Gun
Published: May 2024

This paper is concerned with a numerical approach for grain drying process in a packed moving grain dryer, where the grain drying process is regarded as steady process based on a newly proposed steady state equation for moisture content of grain. The present method is compared with antecedent results suggested by Zare (Zare D. Computer simulation of rough rice drying in a batch dryer. Energy Convers Manag 2006;47:3241–54) conducted experiments for moisture content and temperature of grain dried in a fixed bed dryer, and shows good agreement. The present model is then extended to the case of the cylindrical dryer with a packed falling bed. The effects of operating parameters of the dryer (i.e. temperature and flow rate of inlet hot air and moving velocity of packed bed) on moisture content of grain are considered. The present approach can be applied to predict the positional distribution of physical quantities such as temperatures of air and grains as well as the relative humidity of air and the moisture content of grains in an arbitrarily-shaped packed moving grain dryer.
A numerical investigation of the magnetized water-based hybrid nanofluid flow over an extending sheet with a convective condition: Active and passive controls of nanoparticles
Authors: Yasmin Humaira , AL-Essa Laila A. , Bossly Rawan , Alrabaiah Hussam , Lone Showkat Ahmad , Saeed Anwar
Published: May 2024

This study presents a numerical investigation of a viscous and incompressible three-dimensional flow of hybrid nanofluid composed of Ag and Al2O3 nanoparticles over a convectively heated bi-directional extending sheet with a porous medium. The main equations are converted into dimensionless form by using appropriate variables. The effects of magnetic field, porosity, Brownian motion, thermophoresis, and chemical reaction are investigated. Furthermore, the mass flux and zero-mass flux constraints are used to study heat and mass transfer rates. The obtained data show that the growing magnetic factor has reduced the velocity profiles while increasing the thermal profile. The increased porosity factor has decreased the velocity profiles. The increased thermal Biot number has increased the concentration and thermal profiles. When compared to passive control of nanoparticles, the hybrid nanofluid flow profiles are strongly influenced by the embedded factor in the active control of nanoparticles.
Justin of Rome: Introduction
Authors: Corke-Webster James , Kolbeck Ben
Published: May 2024

This introduction to the special edition presents a literature review of scholarship on Justin, demonstrating via his traditional monikers (“Justin Martyr,” “Justin of Neapolis,” “Justin the Philosopher,” and “Justin the Apologist”) the need for a fresh treatment, here dubbed “Justin of Rome”—which properly embeds Justin in his imperial setting, encompassing both the literary and historical landscape of the 2d century AD. It teases out connections between the papers that follow and offers a synthesis of the contribution of the special edition, read as a whole, to our understanding not just of this one thinker but of early Christian literature and history more broadly.
To Know Thyself Through the Other: The Literary Convergences of Lucian and Justin
Authors: Bozia Eleni
Published: May 2024

The paper engages in a comparative analysis of two prominent figures from the 2d century CE—Lucian of Samosata and Justin the Martyr. Lucian, the epideictic orator and social commentator, reintroduces the Olympians while rethinking paganism and engaging with Justin and the Apologists. Conversely, Justin, embodying the Christian pepaideumenos, places the new religion at the literary forefront and questions the stereotype of Christian simplicity. The paper argues that, in the context of reformative, paideutic Imperial culture, Lucian and Justin challenge the literary and religious status quo and engage the readers in a reconsideration of Christianity through the lens of the Second Sophistic and vice versa.
Development and assessment of novel pyrazole–thiadiazol hybrid derivatives as VEGFR-2 inhibitors: design, synthesis, anticancer activity evaluation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Halimi Gresa , Osmaniye Derya , Özkay Yusuf , Kaplancıklı Zafer Asım
Published: May 2024

Cancer remains a significant health challenge globally, requiring the development of targeted chemotherapeutics capable of specifically inhibiting cancer cell growth. Angiogenesis is one of the key features of tumor growth and metastasis and is, therefore, an important target for the treatment of many tumors. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway has proven to be a promising lead in anticancer therapy due to the central role it plays in tumor angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is a key mediator in the signaling pathway regulating angiogenesis. Targeting VEGFR-2 may disrupt angiogenesis, leading to a reduction in tumor blood supply and tumor progression. The design, synthesis, and assessment of novel VEGFR-2 inhibitor derivatives are the focus of this study, with particular emphasis on incorporating the pyrazole–thiadiazol pharmacophore into the molecular structure. Taking advantage of the pharmacophoric properties of pyrazole and 1,3,4-thiadiazol, compounds with different substituents in the main structure were designed and synthesized. The compounds were also evaluated for antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines. Compound 4e demonstrated the highest activity among all compounds, with an IC50 of 9.673 ± 0.399 μM against HT-29 cells and 23.081 ± 0.400 μM against NIH3T3 cells. To further support the inhibitory activity of compound 4e, an in silico study was performed. Compound 4e demonstrated strong binding to the active site of VEGFR-2 in molecular docking studies, forming hydrogen bonds with key amino acid residues. The stability of the compound in the enzyme’s active site was demonstrated through molecular dynamics simulations.
Marx, Automation and the Future of Work
Authors: Kosar Arif
Published: May 2024

The ever-increasing use of automation technologies in the manufacturing process has again raised concerns about the future of work. A considerable number of left-wing thinkers argue that, with the wave of automation, we see a dissolution of the foundations of a work-based capitalist society, and that a new society has emerged spontaneously. Marx’s studies have been referenced, more or less, in most of these analyses. Efforts to base this thesis that we are moving into a post-work society on Marx are highly speculative. In Marx’s analysis, automation and proletarianisation are two facets in the process of accumulation of capital that function together. A small number of workers and technology-intensive manufacturing in some sectors make labour-intensive production necessary in other sectors and countries. Today’s available data and trends also indicate that Marx’s analysis of automation in the context of accumulation of capital is still applicable.
Democratización de la información. Un análisis de las motivaciones que impulsan a las personas académicas a publicar
Authors: Alfaro Martínez Raquel
Published: May 2024

Motivations are the framework that drives people’s actions, and according to several research studies, they are the basis for the success of many of the tasks that influence the moment of acting and choosing what one wishes to achieve. This paper investigates the motivations of active academics at the National University (Costa Rica) to publish their research findings financed with public funds. Based on, a mixed methodological approach, and a descriptive and exploratory research, and uses questionnaires, interviews, and content analysis as data collection techniques. At the end of the research, it was concluded that the motivations of academics are both positive and negative, it was determined that there are academically attractive criteria for these researchers, but at the same time, there are criteria that may be linked to inherently discouraging conceptions. Investigating motivations from the perspective of librarianship makes it possible to identify how these trends can influence the democratization of information. In addition to understanding how researchers are motivated by enjoyment and intellectual curiosity depending on the journal in which they publish, this helps to distinguish between intrinsic motivations, fundamental to the commitment and quality of the work, and extrinsic motivations, such as rewards or external recognition.
Maintaining the stability of placental RNA in normal conditions
Authors: Aliniya Nora , Pouresmaeili Farkhondeh , Seifi Alan Mahnaz , Ghafourifard Soudeh
Published: May 2024

For research on gene expression and its changes, maintenance of solid tissues like placenta is very important. Single–stranded RNA fragility under different environmental effects has prompted researchers to develop new RNA storage protocols to reduce entered damage to the tissue until extraction time. The applications of liquid nitrogen and RNA latter have been commonly used by investigators. We were looking for the simplest way to keep placental samples in appropriate condition with great RNA stability and function. Our experiments showed that storage of placental specimens in conventional freezing condition at –15 to –20 for short time and transfer at – 80 for longer time is as respondent as when applying liquid nitrogen or RNA later reagent.
Diagnosis of syphilitic genital ulcer- the quest for a reliable laboratory method
Authors: Muralidhar Sumathi , Kumar Joginder , Anil Kumar Deepa , Khan Nilofar , Bala Manju , V Ramesh
Published: May 2024

Objectives: Dark field microscopy (DFM), once performed widely as a reliable method of diagnosing Syphilis, is rapidly losing ground to newer serological tests and molecular methods, including PCR. This study aimed at tracing the performance of Dark Field Microscopy over the years and evaluating its usefulness in the present scenario. Also, doubts have been raised about the accuracy of the routinely used Syphilis non-specific screening tests such as VDRL and RPR, especially in populations with a high prevalence of HIV and malaria. The perils of untreated syphilis include dire consequences of latent or tertiary stages as well as transmission of infection from mother to foetus, with resultant congenital syphilis. An analysis of available diagnostic tests for syphilis was carried out to evaluate the performance of each method and assess its usefulness in providing an accurate diagnosis. Methods: This study was part of an operational research project which involved analysis of data of one year, during which dark field microscopy was performed for genital ulcer disease, along with other serological tests like VDRL, TPHA and FTA-Abs, for the diagnosis of Syphilis. Results: Of the 100 cases of genital ulcer diseases recruited in the study, over a period of one year, 7 were clinically diagnosed as Syphilis alone, while 4 were diagnosed as mixed infections of Syphilis along with Chancroid or Herpetic ulcer. The rest were clinically diagnosed cases of Herpes genitalis alone (78) or mixed infections of chancroid and herpes genitalis. From the study it was evident that DFM had poor sensitivity (33.3%), with clinical diagnosis having 85% sensitivity. All other diagnostic methods, including VDRL, TPHA, FTA-Abs and ELISA-Tp, had 100% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: With the advent of HIV infection, GUDs with two or more causative organisms are common, making aetiological diagnosis difficult without sophisticated laboratory tests. Serological tests for syphilis are simple to perform, but are only useful when the infection is not very recent. Treponema pallidum PCR, while more informative early in infection, is not available widely in developing countries, due to cost constraints. From the present study, it can be concluded that both non-specific and specific tests for diagnosis of Syphilis are reliable and can continue to be used for diagnosis, especially in resource poor settings where other diagnostic tests may be unavailable. Clinical diagnosis needs to be backed by laboratory methods to improve the accuracy, and institute appropriate treatment. Dark field microscopy, although not very sensitive, should continue to be used, as it is highly specific and offers an immediate diagnosis, which will be of immense value to the clinician and patient for early and appropriate treatment.
DISTRIBUTION OF MICROELEMENTS IN THE SOILS OF THE HIGH-ALTITUDE MOUNTAINS OF VELYKA BLYZNYTSIA (SVYDOVETSKY MASSIF OF THE CARPATHIAN BIOSPHERE RESERVE)
Authors: Kryuchenko N.O. , Zhovinsky E.Ya. , Paparуga P.S. , Popenko T.A.
Published: May 2024

The results of studies of the gross content of trace elements (Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, V, Cr, Ba, F) and pH values in brown earth soils of different altitude zones (from the subalpine to the low mountain zone) of the southern and northern slopes of the Velyka Blyznytsia mountain of the Svydovetsky massif are presented. (soil-forming rocks are flysch) of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (KBR). Analyzes were carried out using the method of mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) and atomic emission analysis. Based on the results of statistical processing of the trace element composition of soils, background content was established, pH values, correlations and concentration coefficients were determined. It was found that the pH value of soils increases from the subalpine to the low mountain zone (from 3.1 to 4.5). It was determined that the content of trace elements is higher (by 1.2-2 times) in the soils of the southern slope (the northern slope is steeper than the southern one and the air temperature is 2-3 °C lower). It was established that in the subalpine belt of the southern slope, the impoverishment of mountain-meadow soil undermossy vegetation occurs in microelements — Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, V, Ba, which is explained by the increase in acidity and mobility of metals, the exception being Cr, which is in insoluble state and accumulates in soils. It was determined that Zn, Co, Mn, V and partly Cu accumulate in peat soils under the Siberian juniper on the northern slope of the mid-mountain belt, which is explained by the formation of complex compounds with organicmatter. A general trend of Cu and F accumulation in soils under coniferous plants (Siberian juniper, fir-spruce forests) was revealed. The annual entry into the soil of element-enriched precipitation of pinnate plants creates the effect of the so-called "secondary pollution" of the upper soil horizons. It was found that F is inert to organicmatter. The correlation dependence of F-Cu (presence of pine trees) in the soils of the southern slope and F-Ba-Pb (clay component) in the soils of the northern slope was established.
Розробки Інституту сорбції та проблем ендоекології НАН України для оборони країни
Authors: Малєтін Юрій Андрійович
Published: May 2024

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Cross-platform promotion of content within the hybrid project "New Voice" as an example of successful media production
Authors: Kyrylova Oksana , Khotiun Liudmyla , Savchenko Nikol
Published: May 2024

In the context of the media industry constant changes and the impact of digital technology on content consumption, cross-platform promotion of the last is becoming a key aspect of media production strategy. The purpose of this article is to study the general aspects of news production in contemporary conditions, taking into account the peculiarities of the media hybrid environment. This environment has a significant impact on all stages of news production. Therefore, there is a need to study the specificity of this process in order to identify potentially successful models of commercialization of media activities. The object of the study is modern news production process in the media hybrid environment, which was used by the Ukrainian resource 'New Voice' in 2023. The subject of the study is the mechanisms and dynamic changes in the news production process due to the specifics of the media hybrid environment. The analysis of the cross-media activities of the New Voice project was carried out in areas: analysis of the website content, the effectiveness of the promotional codes portal, the online platform Radio NV, podcasting service, NV magazine, as well as social media presence and alertness. Media activities under the project were studied taking into account the principles outlined in the editorial code. The article reveals the peculiarities and effectiveness of cross-platform content promotion in the hybrid media project "New Voice". The key methods and strategies that help the project succeed in media production are identified. According to the data collected and systematized as a result of the study, it is concluded that the media activities of the New Voice project are an example of successful news production in a media hybrid environment. The technologies and strategies used by New Voice can serve as a scenario/ selection of practical recommendations for launching a new media project or optimizing the mechanisms of an existing one.
Leigh Eric Schmidt, The Church of Saint Thomas Paine: A Religious History of American Secularism
Authors: Hoo Misha
Published: May 2024

Leigh Eric Schmidt, The Church of Saint Thomas Paine: A Religious History of American Secularism. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2021, pp. xvi + 248, ISBN: 9780691217253 (hbk). US$28.00.
St Ephrem’s Hymns on Paradise
Authors: Avery Kenneth
Published: May 2024

This article looks at St Ephrem’s Hymns on Paradise, in particular the great poet’s conception of the whole spirit-body and the experience of transcendent unity in this world and the next. Until recently, Ephrem’s writings have been used mainly as doctrinal texts while his poetic symbolism has been only tacitly acknowledged. The beauty and richness of his verse hymns dealing with the garden of Eden and the life of the blessed are here read with an eye to his mystical vision of sanctified experience in the present life.
Brydie Kosmina, Feminist Afterlives of the Witch: Popular Culture, Memory, Activism
Authors: Eastwood Michelle
Published: May 2024

Brydie Kosmina, Feminist Afterlives of the Witch: Popular Culture, Memory, Activism. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023, pp. 262, US$89.00, ISBN 978-3-031-25291-4 (hbk).
Sufism through the Eyes of a Modern Perm Muslim: from Tradition to Mythological Construc
Authors: Svetlana Riazanova , Denis Semyonov , Vadim Biserov
Published: May 2024

The article is devoted to one of the aspects of the ummah functioning in the Kama region as a region of traditional Muslim residence. The object of the study was a new local Sufi community that emerged on the site of the disappeared mystical tradition of Ishanism in the Urals and the Volga region. The new community of believers consists of representatives of both local Islam and internal and external Muslim migrants, including the so-called "non-ethnic" believers. The spiritual leadership of the community is provided by teachers who come from abroad; there is no regular religious education. Under these conditions, a specific idea of Sufism is formed in the minds of new Sufis. being transmitted from the outside, and it has become the subject of research. The goal of the work was to establish the most significant features of this image, which required addressing two problems - identifying the key characteristics of Sufism on the part of believers and determining the sociocultural factors as the base of such ideas. The empirical material was collected using the technique of participant observation during spiritual meetings (sohbet) and through a series of semi-structured interviews with a selection of respondents using the “snowball” principle. Only those statements were analyzed in which the interlocutor independently characterized Sufism, without options proposed by the interviewer. Three groups of plots were identified, which acted as key ones in the description of the Sufi tradition. The first is an attempt to legitimize Sufism as an indigenous tradition of the region, an integral part of the religious life of Muslims and a harmonious component of public life during the Soviet period of history. Within the framework of the second group of subjects, a search is made for the features of Sufism that allow it to be a relevant religious practice that contributes to existential and social success. The third selection of statements interprets Sufism as a magical activity that helps to gain not only supernatural abilities but also advantages in social life. The reason for the formation of an image of Sufism with such characteristics, according to the authors, is the state of the region’s ummah in the post-Soviet period and the peculiarities of the personal biographies of believers.
Research on Religiosity in the 1920s.
Authors: Roman Poplavsky
Published: May 2024

This is the second article dedicated to the history of the religiosity study in the first half of the XX century. It attempts to fill a gap in the currently available literature on the subject. The author analyzes the conceptualization of religion and religiosity and empirical research conducted in the 1920s, comparing them with the study of religiosity in the first half of the XIX – early XX century. As a result, he identifies ongoing trends and changes that occurred in this field. Similar to the initial stage of the history of Religious Studies, the concept of “religiosity” was understood in contrast to the term “religion” in the studied period. In particular, the latter was conceptualized as something objective, while religiosity was interpreted as a subjective characteristic. Such understanding was shaped by ethnographic research that demonstrated the diversity of religious experience across the globe and by the phenomenological approach to the study of religion. During the period under review, empirical research on religiosity continued within the framework of Statistics, Sociology, and Psychology. However, compared to the previous years, the 1920s stand out for the intense study of children's religiosity, a reinterpretation of the questionnaire method, and an active discussion on the principles of how a person's religious life can be studied. For instance, American sociologists began to call for an unbiased approach to the analysis of religiosity by the end of the 1920s. The rapid development of the study of religiosity and the increasing interest of researchers in this topic are evidenced by reviews of earlier works published in the 1920s. On the one hand, they carried on a tradition of sociological and psychological analysis of religiosity, established at the beginning of the XX century. On the other hand, a lack of published materials made the researchers of the given period initiate discussions on the methods and principles of the scientific analysis of religiosity. The American psychological tradition remained the most influential in that field. Research on education, child psychology, and the religious life of rural communities stands out from the bulk of publications at that time.
Politik Identitas Dalam Pemilu dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Demokrasi di Indonesia
Authors: Aidah Nur Lailatul , Rochmadian Sindy , Maliha Usna
Published: May 2024

Penelitian ini membahas mengenai munculnya politik identitas pada penyelenggaraan pemilu di Indonesia, dimana kemunculan politik identitas ini disebabkan adanya perbedaan agama, suku, adat dan lainnya yang dimana salah satu kelompok-kelompok tertentu merasa di intimidasi dan di diskriminasi oleh para pihak-pihak yang lain, sehingga menimbulkan banyak masalah bagi masyarakat Indonesia yaitu salah satunya rengangnya persaudaraan antar negara dikarenakan adanya perbedaan dari satu sama yang lain, sehingga membuat demokrasi di negara Indonesia ini tidak bekerja dengan baik atau bahkan tidak berguna sama sekali. Indonesia merupakan negara yang banyak memiliki suku, pulau, atau bahkan adat sehingga membuat Indonesia berbeda dari negara-negara yang lain yang bisa menjadi kebanggaan masyarakat, akan tetapi menjadi salah satu penyebab terbesar terjadinya resiko terpecah belahnya masyarakat Indonesia dikarenakan timbulnya politik identitas ini, sehingga ketika terjadi pemilu masyarakat yang memiliki kesempatan untuk memilih lebih banyak melakukan golput karena merasa  bakal calon yang dipilih  tidak memiliki kesamaan identitas entah mulai dari suku, adat, atau bahkan agama. Saat ini politik identitas semakin menjadi karena tidak adanya tindakan yang dapat menyadarkan masyarakat mengenai politik identitas ini, sehingga banyak masyarakat yang menganggap sepele kejadian tersebut atau bahkan mereka tidak sadar sama sekali mengenai politik identitas.
Inference and robotic path planning over high dimensional categorical observations
Authors:   ,   Massachusetts Institute of Technology, San Soucie John E. ,   Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: May 2024

Advances in marine autonomy, deep-learning, and in-situ marine sensing technology have enabled oceanographers to collect vast amounts of spatiotemporally-distributed, sparse, highdimensional categorical data. Statistical models, particularly in streaming and computationally constrained settings, have lagged behind data collection. Recent developments in topic modeling for robotics have highlighted the potential to efficiently extract meaningful relationships from categorical data, and adjust robotic path-planning based on real-time inference. This dissertation seeks to fill the gap in streaming statistical models for sparse, high-dimensional categorical data, in the context of open-ocean phytoplankton community ecology. We begin by exploring the use of existing topic modeling approaches for plankton community characterization. Topic models are compared to standard ecological techniques for dimensionality reduction. The increased fidelity and expressiveness of the topic modeling approach allows for greater resolution of plankton co-occurrence relationships. By analyzing these relationships and ocean physics in and around a retentive eddy, the source of phytoplankton variability is traced to storm-driven advection on the ocean surface. We conclude that topic models offer unique insights into the causal mechanisms underlying plankton community variability. Next, we turn our focus to the development of a streaming belief model for categorical path planning. Such a model must be capable of predicting in regions without data, and it must be able to process streaming data in a computationally efficient manner. We introduce the Gaussian Dirichlet Random Field model, a novel topic model with spatially continuous latent log-probabilities. In addition to producing a more accurate model than the state-ofthe-art in locations with data, the Gaussian Dirichlet Random Field model can interpolate and extrapolate. The model is initially presented with a batch hybrid Markov Chain-Monte Carlo inference procedure. We develop a streaming fully-variational inference approach for inference, called Streaming Gaussian Dirichlet Random Fields, which satisfies both the prediction and efficiency requirements for path planning belief models. In-silico experiments demonstrate the ability of this model to accurately map latent co-occurrence patterns. Comparisons to a standard Gaussian process on both path-planning tasks and observation mapping tasks show how the ability of Streaming Gaussian Dirichlet Random Fields to leverage additional categorical observations enables superior performance.