bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Dynamic Characteristics of Clay Solution under the Influence of Vibration
Authors: Suleimanov T. , Khairabadi G.
Published: August 2024

It is known that with the help of a vibrating sieve for vibration separation (separation) of a clay solution, the following technological problems are solved: cleaning the clay solution from drilled rocks and separating it into fractions, i.e. sorting. Signs of separation of drilled rocks from clay solution using vibration are the size of the drilled rocks, the shape and density of the clay solution itself, etc. It has been shown that in order to improve the basic technological characteristics of the vibrating sieve, it is necessary to study the behavior of the clay solution in the vibrating sieve.
Tax Crimes in the Kyrgyz Republic, Their Legal Features
Authors: Kubatov I.
Published: August 2024

In the article, the author examined the legal features of tax crimes in the Kyrgyz Republic and gave a legal analysis of crimes in the field of taxation provided for in the criminal code of the Kyrgyz Republic. The main responsibilities of the main subjects of tax legal relations in the fulfillment of tax obligations are provided. During the study, the author defined the concept of a tax crime and noted its differences from other offenses of tax law. In addition, the article defines which criminal acts provided for by the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic relate to tax crimes.
Pharmaceutical Dependence and Organization of a Criminal Subculture
Authors: Akmatova A.
Published: August 2024

Pharmacy drug addiction can lead to the formation of criminal subcultures and groups where people suffering from drug addiction can gather. This creates an environment in which criminal activity can become widespread, with the illegal trade in medicines contributing to increased crime rates in society. Access to prescription drugs (especially opioids, antidepressants, and psychostimulants) through the Internet and illicit channels is contributing to the rise in addiction among various segments of the population, especially among adolescents and young adults. A tendency immediately appears to organize a criminal subculture: its own circle, its own colloquial clichés. Pharmacy addiction causes serious damage to the health of young people, but also contributes to the development of a criminal subculture involved in the illegal trade and distribution of drugs. The author examines the causes leading to the development of addiction and analyzes the consequences for health and social sphere. Particular attention is paid to the structure and functioning of criminal groups involved in the illegal trade in medicines. The impact of these groups on society, including increased crime and economic losses, is examined. The article also proposes measures to prevent and combat pharmacy addiction and the criminal subculture, including strengthening control over the circulation of prescription drugs, prevention programs and law enforcement measures.
Digitalization and Technology in the Fight Against Crimes, Related to Pharmacy Drug Addiction
Authors: Akmatova A.
Published: August 2024

In modern society, digitalization and technology play a key role in the fight against crimes related to drug addiction. This study examines various aspects of the use of digital technologies to combat prescription drug abuse and drug trafficking. The introduction of electronic prescriptions, centralized systems for monitoring drug sales and digital patient databases makes it possible to effectively monitor and control the process of prescribing and receiving drugs. The use of artificial intelligence and big data analytics helps identify patterns associated with drug addiction and early detection of abnormal activities. Online platforms for public information and education, as well as mobile applications for self-control and support, have a significant impact on preventing the development of addiction. As a result, digital technologies provide significant support in the fight against pharmacy addiction by increasing transparency, accountability and safety in the pharmaceutical field.
Legal Features of Protecting the Rights of Orphans in the Kyrgyz Republic
Authors: Niimatzhankyzy N. , Zhumabaeva A. , Muktarov K.
Published: August 2024

Until now, the child’s right to a family and trends in the legal protection of orphans have been considered only within the framework of family and civil legislation. Current laws concerning children, the need to enforce laws, issues related to children's rights are the focus of attention of legal theorists and show their relevance in our society. As for issues related to children, the problems of protecting children's rights, protecting the family, childhood, motherhood and paternity must be solved comprehensively by legislators, law enforcement agencies, politicians, and the scientific community. Because the family is a mirror of society, and the whole person consists of a family. Being a small state, each locality occupies an important place in society as an important institution. In the work on the scientific article, systemic-structural, sociological, comparative-legal, formal-logical research methods were used.
Procedure for Consideration of Criminal Cases Committed by Minors
Authors: Zhumabaeva A. , Niimatzhankyzy N. , Muktarov K.
Published: August 2024

The article focuses on the study of the procedure for committing crimes by minors. A number of circumstances are revealed that should be taken into account when committing crimes by juvenile offenders, as provided for by criminal procedural legislation. Formal-logical, systemic, structural, comparative methods were used. The provisions and conclusions contained in the article are aimed at ensuring the implementation of legislation on crimes committed by minors.
History of the Notaries
Authors: Тoktakunkyzy G.
Published: August 2024

From a historical point of view, the emergence of a notary is closely related to the development of civil circulation and the need of its subjects to carry out transactions and facilitate their consolidation in legal form. The notarial institution originated in the ancient Roman state. The purpose of the scientific work is to comprehensively and comprehensively explore from the point of view of the historical formation and development of the notary institution. The methodological basis of the research is the method of system analysis, comparative legal, formal legal methods and other methods. The main provisions and conclusions of the scientific work can be used in teaching the disciplines of law and history of the state, notaries, and civil procedural law.
Psychological Characteristics of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a Cause of Their Stigmatization and Victimization in Society
Authors: Akhmetova Z.
Published: August 2024

The psychological characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are a significant barrier to their adaptation to society and the realization of their personal potential. There is a shortage of literature reviews on this topic, taking into account research over the past few years on. The basis for the literature review material was 51 foreign sources (of which 100% of the sources were in the last four years from 2020 to 2024, with 21 (41%) sources in 2024). Methods of comparative analysis and synthesis were used in writing the literature review. Modern literature indicates the presence of a complex of psychological characteristics in children with ADHD, which are based on disorders in the cognitive, emotional-volitional and behavioral spheres. In the cognitive sphere of children with ADHD, there are impairments in spatial abilities, decreased working memory, attention deficit and low speed of information processing, which are the cause of specific learning disabilities in more than half of children with ADHD. The most common emotional disturbances in children with ADHD are abnormal symptoms of anxiety, stress, low mood, motivation, and depression. Common behavioral symptoms of ADHD include impulsivity, irritability, suicidal behavior, and deliberate attempts at non-suicidal self-harm. All of these cognitive, emotional and behavioral characteristics of children with ADHD can act as predictors of external stigma, most often expressed by school bullying (victimization), as well as internal stigmatization (low self-esteem). Horse riding, music therapy, group psychodrama, training in magic tricks, etc. are cited as the main modern non-pharmacological means of correcting the symptoms of ADHD.
The Impact of Internet Technologies on the Young Generation
Authors: Myrzalieva T. , Omorbaeva A.
Published: August 2024

This article examines key aspects of the influence of Internet technologies on the development and well-being of children and adolescents. The authors pay special attention to the following issues: the immersion of the younger generation in the digital environment. Universal accessibility of the Internet, mobile devices, social networks for children and adolescents. Changing behavior patterns, communication and leisure activities of young people Transformation of modes of attention, memory, critical thinking is a potential negative impact on academic performance. The article emphasizes the high relevance of this topic in the context of general digitalization and provides interpretations by various scientists. The authors call for a comprehensive study of the impact of Internet technologies on the younger generation, as well as for the search for effective solutions aimed at minimizing the negative consequences and maximizing the potential opportunities of the digital environment.
Using Project Methods to Implement Communicative Tasks When Teaching the Russian Language to National Groups at Non-linguistic Universities
Authors: Orozova A.
Published: August 2024

This article discusses the use of the project method to achieve communicative goals in Russian language classes within national groups at non-linguistic universities. The project method is identified as an effective approach to teaching Russian, fostering the development of students’ communication skills and enhancing their motivation. The author explores the application of this method in Russian language lessons for national groups, where students exhibit varying levels of proficiency in Russian. The study analyzes the process of implementing projects, beginning with topic selection, group formation, information gathering, and culminating in the creation of project outcomes. Special emphasis is placed on the communicative interaction among students during project work, which aids in the advancement of their language and communication skills. The author recommends utilizing diverse project formats such as presentations, videos, or written reports to stimulate communication in Russian. Additionally, the significance of feedback and reflection in improving communication skills and boosting students' motivation to learn Russian is underscored.
Using Interactive Methods in Teaching the Kyrgyz Language to Students in Universities
Authors: Atabekova B. , Sydykbaeva M.
Published: August 2024

This article discusses the features and specifics of using interactive methods of teaching the Kyrgyz language in higher educational institutions. The feasibility of using interactive methods is considered to make classes more diverse, giving students the opportunity to express themselves, realize their communication skills and speech skills. The feasibility of using interactive methods aimed at activating the creative thinking of students in universities has been proven. The article discusses the use of current interactive methods of teaching the Kyrgyz language.
Features of the Formation of Communicative Competence in Russian Language Lessons
Authors: Kaldybaeva A. , Alybaeva T.
Published: August 2024

Communicative competence plays an important role in the formation of communication skills in Russian. According to the authors of the article, in Russian language lessons, special attention should be paid to developing the ability to correctly use language tools for effective communication. Classes should be structured in such a way as to stimulate students to active speech activity, develop listening skills and the ability to adequately respond to the statements of their interlocutor. It is also important to promote the formation of intercultural communication skills and increase the linguistic literacy of students. The authors emphasize that in their work, teachers should use a variety of methods and forms of work aimed at developing the communicative competence of students, including role-playing games, discussions, work in pairs and groups, as well as the use of authentic texts and audio materials.
Formation of Students’ Communicative Competence in Russian Language Classes
Authors: Khasanov N.
Published: August 2024

The article discusses the issue of developing the communicative competence of students in Russian language classes. The author cites the results of a study conducted at a university, during which the main problems and difficulties that students face when learning the Russian language were identified. Methods and approaches to the formation of communicative competence are also presented, which allow you to effectively develop communication skills in your native language. In conclusion, the authors draw conclusions about the need to constantly improve teaching methods and develop the communicative competence of students for the successful development of the Russian language.
Author’s Creativity in Professional Activities
Authors: Zelenova Yu. , Krasnova M.
Published: August 2024

The article analyzes such a phenomenon of human activity as creativity. Examining a brief historical background of the origin of creative activity, it is noted that it accompanies humanity from the moment of its appearance to the present day for the aestheticization of the external appearance and surrounding life. Many famous scientists, philosophers and psychologists define creativity, on the one hand, as a process of creative development of material and spiritual values, and on the other, as an extraordinary approach to solving standard work functions. In the course of a rapid analysis of various types of professions, it was revealed that creativity is associated with a variety of human activities, with which, as it often seems, it is not directly related: sports, cooking, medicine, etc. In this regard, as the main problematic of the article, a large What is important is the disclosure of the concepts of author’s creativity in professional activities. Author’s creativity implies an individual approach and difference from other authors in the search for storylines and the use of tools, materials, and techniques in various variations. The artistic works of the authors of the article, M. Krasnova and Yu. Zelenova, are presented as examples of author’s creativity in professional activities., as well as the best works of MABiU students (Moscow). The main goal of the work was to study and rank the concepts of author’s creativity among an audience of creative youth (students of creative profiles of college and university) using the method of sociological survey. This showed that through creativity, first of all, young authors search for ways of self-expression, and the state of internal balance and the presence of an internal desire for discovery are necessary conditions for productive creative activity among young people.
Cooperative-Collective Farm Construction in Kyrgyzstan in 1920-1930 of the XX Century
Authors: Osmonov S. , Bekmurzaeva G. , Kurbanova A. , Asilbekuulu B.
Published: August 2024

In accordance with the decision of the party and government, the All-Union Conference of Collective Farms (February 1925) adopted a resolution on the creation of the All-Union Council of Agricultural Collectives (Collective Farms). This all-Union body specially dealt with issues of collective farm development, and collective farming departments began to emerge under agricultural cooperative unions. On the territory of Kyrgyzstan, cooperative and collective farm construction especially intensified, as we have already noted, after the formation of the Kyrgyz Autonomous Region. The activities of agricultural cooperation here were expressed in long-term and short-term lending to members, supplying peasant farms with agricultural implements, organizing sowing of industrial crops, grains, beekeeping and sericulture, marketing of peasant farm products, participation in grain, cotton and raw material harvests. trades, processing of agricultural products.
The Stylistic Nature of the Theory of Foregrounding in the Literary Text
Authors: Zakirova M.
Published: August 2024

The theory of foregrounding plays an integral part in the way a reader perceives and decodes linguistic expression, whereas construal process allows for dynamic categorization and portrayal of a situation with the help of a big diversity of linguistic means. By means of classification of construing phenomena, scholars identified key dimensions such as attention, judgment, perspective and constitution, elucidating intricate mechanisms of comprehension and expression of language. The article touches on two types of saliencies in cognitive linguistics such as cognitive and ontological salience. It also underscores Langacker’s notion of “entrenchment” and investigates the concepts of communicative salience, gearing towards profiling and trajectory / landmark alignment to set forth how attention is directed in linguistic expressions. The article examines the theory of foregrounding in cognitive linguistics and its correlation with construal operation. It sheds light on how language shapers perception and categorization of situation, participants and their features through a wide range of construal phenomenon. The article dives into various classifications and subcategories of construal phenomenon, highlighting the way attention, judgment, perspective and constitution play a part in language input and output. The article sets forth complex interplay of language, cognitive operations and salience, in particular within the framework of cognitive linguistics. The article investigates how language means and structures contribute to the foregrounding of prominent conceptual elements and decoding scenes and situations. The scientific work explores a wide range of notions of salience in literary analysis, primarily focusing on Leech and Short’s concepts of literary relevance, psychological prominence and statistical deviance. The article delves into the way these notions cooperate with one another and contribute to subjective recognition of style in literary texts. Moreover, it explores the role of figure and ground in the theory of foregrounding emphasizing how original and striking linguistic means, or “figures” stand out from conventional linguistic elements, aka. “ground” contributing to actualization and creative presentation of the world in literature. Overall, the scientific article emphasizes dynamic process of stylistic analysis and the function of literature in presenting the world in a novel and creative manner.
The Basic Principles and Criteria for the Selection of Terms for the Compilation of the Latin-Kyrgyz Educational Dictionary for Students of a Medical University
Authors: Dyushekeeva A.
Published: August 2024

The modern stage of the world's development is caused by a large flow of information and rapid changes in language. Today, in the current circumstances of international communication, it is necessary to know about the empirical sphere of the translated primary source, to have the skills to search for highly specialized terms. The term is an inseparable part of the scientific sphere, a means of transforming professional information and performs the function of semantic support in understanding the professional concept. The educational dictionary plays an important role in the educational environment, providing students and teachers with the necessary vocabulary and explanations of terms in various subjects. This is one of the key means of teaching a foreign language. It helps students build vocabulary, master grammatical structures, and improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Therefore, when compiling an educational dictionary, it is necessary to adhere to certain principles. Its main task is to provide students with clear and accurate vocabulary that helps them understand the educational material and communicate effectively in a professional language. Compiling a Latin-Kyrgyz educational dictionary for medical university students is an important task that requires strict adherence to certain principles and rules. First of all, it is important to keep in mind that this dictionary is designed to facilitate the process of teaching medical terminology to students, and therefore should be as accurate, complete and accessible as possible. Effective compilation of an educational dictionary requires careful planning, collaboration between language specialists and teachers, as well as taking into account current trends in education and the use of technology.
‘This Guy is Queer’: Words of Power in The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep
Authors: Masten Keli
Published: August 2024

The presence of queer populations in hard-boiled detective fiction has often drawn criticism for insensitive portrayals. There is little doubt that authors like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler were deliberately provocative in the language they chose, serving as a reflection and critique of their contemporary cultures. This is particularly true in Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1929) and Chandler’s The Big Sleep (1939). The detectives in each novel recognise that their world is fundamentally flawed and homophobic, and they approach their investigations ready to confront this societal prejudice and manipulate it to their professional advantage if necessary. Although the detective may sometimes speak in a way that appears biased, he is merely an actor playing a carefully scripted part.

Hard-boiled detectives like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe understand that their world is filled with all kinds of people, many of whom are judged unsuitable for polite society, but they accept their existence all the same. This article shows that the hard-boiled detective’s insight into American society extends from simply acknowledging that queer people exist to assimilating them into his investigations. Indeed, it argues that his awareness of how toxic masculine traits, including homophobic language, can be leveraged to gain an advantage over his adversaries marks a struggle taking place within and between American masculinities, and anticipates social changes on the horizon.
Electroneuromyographic examination of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in patients with descending perineum syndrome
Authors: Fomenko O. Yu. , Morozov S. V. , Kashnikov V. N. , Mudrov A. A. , Belousova S. V. , Nekrasov M. A. , Achkasov S. I.
Published: August 2024

Aim: to assess the functional state of the pelvic floor muscles and their innervation in patients with descending perineum syndrome, manifested simultaneously by obstructive defecation and chronic neurogenic pelvic pain.

Materials and methods: in 2022–2023, 51 patients (40 (78.4 %) women, 11 (21.6 %) men; age 50.9 ± 14.5 years) with pelvic organ prolapse, manifested by obstructive defecation and chronic neurogenic pelvic pain were examined at the Ryzhikh National Medical Research Centre for Coloproctology. All patients underwent high-resolution anorectal manometry and stimulation electroneuromyography according to a comprehensive neurophysiological protocol using a St. Mark’s electrode.

Results: manometric patterns of functional defecation disorders were detected in 40 (78.4 %) patients, in the rest they were confirmed by defecography data and a negative evacuation test according to the Rome criteria IV. With stimulation electroneuromyography, neuropathy was detected in 68.6 % of cases by increasing the latency of the M-response of the pudendal nerve on the right or left. Complex neurophysiological diagnostics made it possible to additionally identify neuropathy in another 25.5 % of patients: according to changes in the mixed reciprocating reflex response (mixed feedback-reflex response) (efferent pathway) — in 17.7 % of cases; according to changes in the bulbocavernous reflex (efferent and afferent pathways) — in 7.8 % of cases. That is, neuropathy was determined in 94.1 % of patients in total.

Conclusions:

Functional diagnostic methods are an effective tool for studying the state of the pelvic floor muscle structures and their innervation and make it possible to identify pathogenetic links of disorders, the clinical manifestations of which are anal incontinence, neurogenic pelvic pain and proctogenic constipation in the form of obstructive defecation.

Stimulation electroneuromyography makes it possible to detect disturbed innervation of the pelvic floor muscles and anal sphincter in the standard study of the M-response in 68.6 % of cases with perineal prolapse syndrome with a combination of proctogenic disorders and neurogenic pelvic pain. The use of a comprehensive neurophysiological protocol makes it possible to detect innervation disorders in 94.1 % of cases.
Medical thermal imaging as a method for studying the effects of orthodontic treatment (using the example of the HBTC-RFA method)
Authors: Volovik M. G. , Otmakhova E. A. , Dolgov I. M.
Published: August 2024

The work describes an original technique and presents for the first time thermal imaging phenomena that occur during hardware correction of disorders of the stomatognathic system.
Updated national guidelines for spirometry. Part 3. Conducting and evaluating the results of bronchodilatation test. Features of spirometry in children
Authors: Kameneva M. Yu. , Kiryukhina L. D. , Struchkov P. V.
Published: August 2024

In the third part of the article, the bronchodilation tests methodology was considered: indications, contraindications, test procedure, interpretation. The methods of the bronchodilatory response assessing were considered, the differences between modern Russian recommendations and ERS/ATS interpretive strategies the bronchodilatory response assessing were shown. The specifics of the test procedure and evaluation of bronchodilation tests in children were described separately
Adaptive sliding-mode delay compensation for real-time hybrid simulations with multiple actuators
Authors: Shangguan Yuekun , Wang Zhen , Guo Yu , Chen Yucai , Zeng Yunhai , Zhou Huimeng
Published: August 2024

Real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is a widely applied test method in structural engineering, which is developed from pseudo-dynamic test. Much of the past work has been centered on one-dimensional RTHS using a single hydraulic actuator. When the complexity of the problem demands to increase the number of degrees of freedom to be enforced on the boundary conditions, more than one hydraulic actuator must be used. Multiple-actuator or multi-axial RTHS (maRTHS) requires that more than one hydraulic actuator exerts the required motion on experimental substructures demanding the implementation of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) control strategies. A new maRTHS benchmark control problem has been developed, focusing on a frame subjected to seismic load at the base, substantially transforming and intensifying the complexity of the problem. The time delay generated by the dynamic characteristics of the loading system and the transmission process as well as the high coupling between the hydraulic actuators and the nonlinear kinematics escalates the complexity of the actuator control tracking. A sliding mode adaptive delay compensation method suitable for maRTHS is proposed, which utilizes a MIMO sliding mode method to reduce the coupling effects of actuators and the adaptive compensation method to compensate the residual delay. The effectiveness of the method is verified by numerical simulating different working conditions in the Benchmark Problem Platform.
Chlamydia in pigs: intriguing bacteria associated with sub-clinical carriage and clinical disease, and with zoonotic potential
Authors: Häcker Georg
Published: August 2024

Chlamydiae are bacteria that are intriguing and important at the same time. The genus Chlamydia encompasses many species of obligate intracellular organisms: they can multiply only inside the cells of their host organism. Many, perhaps most animals have their own specifically adapted chlamydial species. In humans, the clinically most relevant species is Chlamydia trachomatis, which has particular importance as an agent of sexually transmitted disease. Pigs are the natural host of Chlamydia suis but may also carry Chlamydia abortus and Chlamydia pecorum. C. abortus and possibly C. suis have anthropozoonotic potential, which makes them interesting to human medicine, but all three species bring a substantial burden of disease to pigs. The recent availability of genomic sequence comparisons suggests adaptation of chlamydial species to their respective hosts. In cell biological terms, many aspects of all the species seem similar but non-identical: the bacteria mostly replicate within epithelial cells; they are taken up by the host cell in an endosome that they customize to generate a cytosolic vacuole; they have to evade cellular defences and have to organize nutrient transport to the vacuole; finally, they have to organize their release to be able to infect the next cell or the next host. What appears to be very difficult and challenging to achieve, is in fact a greatly successful style of parasitism. I will here attempt to cover some of the aspects of the infection biology of Chlamydia, from cell biology to immune defence, epidemiology and possibilities of prevention. I will discuss the pig as a host species and the species known to infect pigs but will in particular draw on the more detailed knowledge that we have on species that infect especially humans.
Fast formation and maturation enhancement of human liver organoids using a liver-organoid-on-a-chip
Authors: Byeon Jae Hee , Jung Da Jung , Han Hyo-Jeong , Son Woo-Chan , Jeong Gi Seok
Published: August 2024

Background: Spatial and functional hepatic zonation, established by the heterogeneous tissue along the portal–central axis of the liver, is important for ensuring optimal liver function. Researchers have attempted to develop reliable hepatic models to mimic the liver microenvironment and analyze liver function using hepatocytes cultured in the developed systems. However, mimicking the liver microenvironment in vitro remains a great challenge owing to the lack of perfusable vascular networks in the model systems and the limitation in maintaining hepatocyte function over time.

Methods: In this study, we established a microphysiological system that operated under continuous flush medium flow, thereby allowing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to liver organoids and the removal of waste and release of cytokines therefrom, similar to the function of blood vessels.

Results: The application of microphysiological system to organoid culture was advantageous for reducing the differentiation time and enhancing the functional maturity of human liver organoid.

Conclusion: Hence, our microphysiological culture system might open the possibility of the miniaturized liver model system into a single device to enable more rational in vitro assays of liver response.
Spatial attention guided cGAN for improved salient object detection
Authors: Dhara Gayathri , Kumar Ravi Kant
Published: August 2024

Recent research shows that Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGANs) are effective for Salient Object Detection (SOD), a challenging computer vision task that mimics the way human vision focuses on important parts of an image. However, implementing cGANs for this task has presented several complexities, including instability during training with skip connections, weak generators, and difficulty in capturing context information for challenging images. These challenges are particularly evident when dealing with input images containing small salient objects against complex backgrounds, underscoring the need for careful design and tuning of cGANs to ensure accurate segmentation and detection of salient objects. To address these issues, we propose an innovative method for SOD using a cGAN framework. Our method utilizes encoder-decoder framework as the generator component for cGAN, enhancing the feature extraction process and facilitating accurate segmentation of the salient objects. We incorporate Wasserstein-1 distance within the cGAN training process to improve the accuracy of finding the salient objects and stabilize the training process. Additionally, our enhanced model efficiently captures intricate saliency cues by leveraging the spatial attention gate with global average pooling and regularization. The introduction of global average pooling layers in the encoder and decoder paths enhances the network's global perception and fine-grained detail capture, while the channel attention mechanism, facilitated by dense layers, dynamically modulates feature maps to amplify saliency cues. The generated saliency maps are evaluated by the discriminator for authenticity and gives feedback to enhance the generator's ability to generate high-resolution saliency maps. By iteratively training the discriminator and generator networks, the model achieves improved results in finding the salient object. We trained and validated our model using large-scale benchmark datasets commonly used for salient object detection, namely DUTS, ECSSD, and DUT-OMRON. Our approach was evaluated using standard performance metrics on these datasets. Precision, recall, MAE and Fβ score metrics are used to evaluate performance. Our method achieved the lowest MAE values: 0.0292 on the ECSSD dataset, 0.033 on the DUTS-TE dataset, and 0.0439 on the challenging and complex DUT-OMRON dataset, compared to other state-of-the-art methods. Our proposed method demonstrates significant improvements in salient object detection, highlighting its potential benefits for real-life applications.
Data science's cultural construction: qualitative ideas for quantitative work
Authors: Brandt Philipp
Published: August 2024

Introduction

“Data scientists” quickly became ubiquitous, often infamously so, but they have struggled with the ambiguity of their novel role. This article studies data science's collective definition on Twitter.

Methods

The analysis responds to the challenges of studying an emergent case with unclear boundaries and substance through a cultural perspective and complementary datasets ranging from 1,025 to 752,815 tweets. It brings together relations between accounts that tweeted about data science, the hashtags they used, indicating purposes, and the topics they discussed.

Results

The first results reproduce familiar commercial and technical motives. Additional results reveal concerns with new practical and ethical standards as a distinctive motive for constructing data science.

Discussion

The article provides a sensibility for local meaning in usually abstract datasets and a heuristic for navigating increasingly abundant datasets toward surprising insights. For data scientists, it offers a guide for positioning themselves vis-à-vis others to navigate their professional future.
Daily smartphone use predicts parent depressive symptoms, but parents' perceptions of responsiveness to their child moderate this effect
Authors: McDaniel Brandon T. , Uva Sabrina , Pater Jessica , Cornet Victor , Drouin Michelle , Radesky Jenny
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Smartphone use during caregiving has become increasingly common, especially around infants and very young children, and this use around young children has been linked with lower quality and quantity of parent-child interaction, with potential implications for child behavior, and parent-child attachment. To understand drivers and consequences of parent phone use, we were interested in the daily associations between parent phone use and depressed mood, as well as the potential for parent perceptions of their responsiveness toward their infant to alter the association between parent phone use and mood.

Methods

In the present study, we explored associations between day-to-day changes in parent smartphone use (objectively-measured via passive sensing) around their infant, depressed mood, and parent perceptions of their responsiveness to their infants among a sample of 264 parents across 8 days. We utilized multilevel modeling to examine these within-person daily associations.

Results

Objectively-measured parent smartphone use during time around their infant was significantly associated with depressed mood on a daily basis. Interestingly, this was not true on days when parents perceived themselves to be more responsive to their infant.

Discussion

These results suggest that parent judgements and perceptions of their parenting behavior may impact the potential link between parent phone use and parent mood. This is the first study utilizing intensive daily data to examine how parent perceptions may alter the felt effects of phone use on their parenting. Future work examining potential impacts of smartphone use on parenting should consider the effects of both actual use and perceptions about that use.
Enhancing EFL/ESL instruction through gamification: a comprehensive review of empirical evidence
Authors: Chan Sumie , Lo Noble
Published: August 2024

Introduction

In the landscape of English language education, the integration of gamification has marked a transformative trend. This systematic review, utilizing a rapid evidence assessment methodology, critically examines thirty empirical studies from the Web of Science, spanning the years 2010 to 2022. It aims to synthesize the current body of research on the incorporation of gamification into EFL/ESL pedagogy.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was followed when conducting this study to provide a comparative study on the methodology and results of systematic reviews on the use of various digital gaming platforms in China, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Korea, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Spain, Turkey, and Ecuador. The synthesis of studies under review identifies a spectrum of gamification components incorporated within the educational frameworks.

Results

Our analysis reveals an ascending trajectory in the prevalence of gamification within this academic sphere and corroborates its efficacy as a catalyst for language acquisition. The synthesis of studies under review identifies a spectrum of gamification components incorporated within the educational frameworks.

Discussion

The collected evidence underscores gamification’s role in enhancing English proficiency, influencing learners’ attitudes and emotional engagement positively, and fostering an immersive language learning milieu. Furthermore, this review delineates strategic insights and identifies key gamification components instrumental in orchestrating gamified educational experiences. The implications of the findings extend to pedagogical practices, providing a guide for educators in the design and implementation of gamified language learning environments.
Effect of IVIG therapy on pregnant women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ling Qiao , Xu Jinfeng , Tian Yuan , Chen Daijuan , Mo Chunheng , Peng Bing
Published: August 2024

Objective

To assess the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy on unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

Methods

We retrieved all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effect of IVIG therapy on URSA in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials before April 30, 2023, according to the PRISMA statement. The therapeutic effect of IVIG was measured by live birth rates. Quality assessment was conducted independently by two reviewers, based on the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale. For the meta-analysis, we used odds ratios (random effects model and fixed effects model). The between-study heterogeneity was assessed by the Q test. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots.

Results

A total of 12 studies with 751 participants were included in this meta-analysis. There was no statistical significance [OR = 1.07, 95%CI (0.65, 1.75), P=0.80] between the IVIG group and the non-IVIG group, including low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) plus low-dose aspirin (LDA), intralipid, multivitamins, albumin, and normal saline. A subgroup analysis was conducted according to the different treatment regimens of the non-IVIG group. Compared to the placebo group, including multivitamins, albumin, and saline, the live birth rate of the IVIG group is superior, but there was no statistical significance [OR =1.43, 95%CI (0.99, 2.07), P=0.05]. Another subgroup analysis was performed according to URSA with positive for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Results showed the live birth rate of IVIG on URSA with positive for aPLs is inferior to that of LMWH plus LDA [OR = 0.25, 95%CI (0.11, 0.55), P=0.0007].

Conclusions

IVIG didn’t increase the live birth rate of URSA compared to placebo. Conversely, compared with the IVIG, the LMWH plus LDA treatment schedule can increase the live birth rate of URSA with positive for aPLs.
Sex difference in the association between creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio and metabolic syndrome among Chinese adults
Authors: Chen Jo-Hsuan , Chen Jau-Yuan , Chen Yi-Chuan , Li Wen-Cheng
Published: August 2024

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, affects 20-25% of the global population. The creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (CCR) is an indicator of skeletal muscle mass. While CCR may play a role in MetS development, sex differences in these associations are not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how CCR levels are associated with MetS in a Chinese adult population, focusing on possible sex disparities.

Method

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 9,376 adults from Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital between 2014 to 2016. We examined the relationship between CCR and MetS, adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results

The prevalence of MetS was 24.7% in males and 18.0% in females. Interestingly, we observed significant sex differences in the association between CCR quartiles and MetS. Females in the lowest CCR quartile had a significantly higher risk of MetS (odds ratio=1.84). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed acceptable diagnostic power of CCR for MetS in females (area under the curve=0.65) but not in males.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that CCR is an independent risk factor for MetS in females, highlighting the importance of sex-specific assessments when evaluating MetS risk.
Pre-receptor regulation of 11-oxyandrogens differs between normal and cancerous endometrium and across endometrial cancer grades and molecular subtypes
Authors: Gjorgoska Marija , Šturm Lea , Lanišnik Rižner Tea
Published: August 2024

Background

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a prevalent gynecological malignancy globally, with a rising incidence trend. While classic androgens have been implicated with EC risk, the role of their 11-oxygenated metabolites is poorly understood. Here, we studied 11-oxyandrogen formation from steroid precursors in EC for the first time.

Methods

We performed in vitro studies on a panel of four EC cell lines of varying differentiation degree and molecular subtype and a control cell line of normal endometrium to assess 11-oxyandrogen formation from steroid precursors. We also characterized the transcriptomic effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 11-keto-DHT on Ishikawa and RL95-2. Key molecular players in 11-oxyandrogen metabolism and action were explored in endometrial tumors using public transcriptomic datasets.

Results

We discovered that within endometrial tumors, the formation of 11-oxyandrogens does not occur from classic androgen precursors. However, we observed distinct regulatory mechanisms at a pre-receptor level in normal endometrium compared to cancerous tissue, and between low- and high-grade tumors. Specifically, in vitro models of low-grade EC formed higher levels of bioactive 11-keto-testosterone from 11-oxyandrogen precursors compared to models of noncancerous endometrium and high-grade, TP53-mutated EC. Moreover, the potent androgen, DHT and its 11-keto homologue induced mild transcriptomic effects on androgen receptor (AR)-expressing EC model, Ishikawa. Finally, using public transcriptomic datasets, we found HSD11B2 and SRD5A2, coding for key enzymes in steroid metabolism, to be associated with better disease-specific survival, whereas higher intra-tumoral AR expression correlated with lower recurrence in TP53-wt tumors.

Conclusions

The intra-tumoral metabolism of 11-oxyandrogen precursors is characteristic for low-grade EC of non-TP53-alt molecular subtypes. Our findings support further exploration of circulating 11-oxyandrogens as prognostic biomarkers in EC.
Two-layer optimal scheduling of distribution network-multi-microgrids based on master–slave game
Authors: Chen Zhitong , Jia Rong , Wang Songkai , Nan Haipeng , Zhao Liangliang , Zhang Xingang , Hu Shaoyi , Xu Qin
Published: August 2024

With the increase in the number of microgrids in the same distribution area usually belong to different subjects of interest, forming a multi-subject game pattern. Considering the interests of distribution networks and microgrids, a distribution network-multi-microgrid master–slave game model is established by selecting distribution networks as game masters and microgrids as game slaves. A master–slave game equilibrium algorithm based on a Kriging metamodel is proposed. The method replaces the microgrid energy internal management model with a proposed Kriging metamodel. In the iterative optimization process, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to generate new sampling points and modify the model in a targeted way so as to quickly and accurately obtain the transaction price and output plan of each microgrid. The algorithm does not need all the parameters of the microgrid, which both achieves the purpose of protecting the privacy of the microgrid and avoids a large number of calls to the lower optimization model, effectively reducing the amount of computation and improving the efficiency of the solution. The results show that the overall operating costs of the three microgrids used in the case study are reduced by 1.4%, 4.6%, and 1.6%, respectively, which effectively balances the interests of multiple parties in the microgrid system; the revenue of the distribution network is increased by 50.6%.