bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulating lifetime distribution through variable excitation pulse length and power: a case study on colloidal PbS quantum dots
Authors: Greben Michael , Vorontsov Dmytro , Gulka Michal , Khoroshyy Petro , Valenta Jan
Published: October 2024

We investigated the laser power-dependent photoluminescence (PL) decay profiles of oleic-acid capped PbS quantum dots (QDs) in toluene, with a mean size of approximately 2.6 nm, under both long duration (LD) and short duration (SD) excitation pulse limits. The absorption cross-section (ACS) of PbS QDs was assessed and compared using two approaches: power-modulated PL kinetics and fitting of PL amplitude saturation curves. Traditionally, the moderate excitation power interval was overlooked in the former approach due to the power dependence of average ACS values within this range. This study elucidates the reasons behind this power dependence and confirms the validity of ACS values at these excitation powers. We demonstrate that experimental conditions, specifically excitation pulse duration and power, can alter the distribution of decay parameters, leading to the power dependence of various average values, including decay lifetime and ACS. To illustrate this concept, we present a simple model with two contributing components, highlighting the major ideas. The key finding of this study is that both the low-power SD excitation and the moderate-power LD excitation form almost identical distributions of lifetime constants in an ensemble. These distributions exhibit a log-normal shape profile, unlike the Gaussian distributions observed with LD excitation at low excitation powers.
Speckle decorrelation rate as a robust indicator for visualizing the therapeutic thermal field with OCT
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Yang Jianlong
Published: October 2024

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is evolving from a diagnostic imaging modality to one that also facilitates therapeutic procedures. However, visualizing the therapeutic thermal field during minimally invasive thermal treatments such as laser or radio frequency ablation is challenging. This difficulty arises because tissues show minimal optical property changes until they reach the coagulation threshold at approximately 50∘C. To address this, we introduce the speckle decorrelation rate as a new, to our knowledge, contrast mechanism for OCT, enhancing the visualization of the therapeutic thermal field. Through ex vivo tissue experiments on a laser ablation-OCT surveillance system, we demonstrate that the speckle decorrelation rate offers superior sensitivity to detect subtle temperature changes and is less sensitive to the selection of time intervals for decorrelation calculations compared to existing speckle decorrelation methods. Our approach, which is label-free and compatible with various OCT systems, has been validated across diverse biological tissues, showing potential to augment the precision and safety of thermal therapies. Additionally, we propose a GPU-accelerated pipeline to expedite processing time, making real-time thermal field visualization feasible.
High-fidelity metasurface holography illuminated by an ultra-uniform flat-top beam generated through active wavefront shaping
Authors: Sun Shuo , Li Xiaoxun , Zhang Jiahao , Chen Liang , Li Jin
Published: October 2024

We present the first, to our knowledge, metasurface holographic display method with exceptional fidelity and minimal edge noise, based on highly uniform flat-top light generated by a digital micromirror device (DMD). Based on the error-diffusion algorithm and iterative refinement process, the amplitude distribution of the initial Gaussian light was dynamically closed-loop modulated, and the standard difference of the intensity of the 3 mm diameter center flat-top beam was reduced to less than 3.4%. The holographic image generated by a flat-top beam illuminated metasurface using this method exhibited a reduction in the brightness coefficient of variation (CV) from 0.82 to 0.58 and a reduction in the contrast difference (CD) of an image pixel intensity from 240 to 160. This method can efficiently improve the quality and uniformity of flat-top light, developing a new perspective for high resolution and fidelity metasurface holographic display by modulating a light source.
Waveguide-integrated aluminum–MoTe2 Schottky photodetectors for the wavelength band extended to 2 µm
Authors: Xiang Hengtai , Guo Jingshu , Yu Laiwen , Li Yuanrong , Cao Hengzhen , Dai Daoxin
Published: October 2024

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) materials with excellent optoelectronic properties have attracted much attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronic devices, next-generation FETs, and photodetectors (PDs). While normal TMDC PDs have a bandgap-limited absorption edge of ∼1.3 µm, metal–TMDC Schottky PDs based on internal photoemission provide an operation band extension strategy. In this study, we demonstrate that a TMDC PD can even operate at the wavelength band as long as 2.0 µm by judiciously choosing TMDC and metal materials to construct a low barrier height Schottky PD. Specifically, a silicon waveguide-integrated Al–MoTe2 Schottky PD was measured with responsivities of 18 mA/W and 5.5 mA/W at 1.6 µm and 2 µm, respectively. Meanwhile, the dark current is as low as 2 µA. The linear response can be maintained when the input optical power is in the mW scale. A measured 3 dB bandwidth is much larger than 1.75 MHz. These findings offer a promising avenue for expanding the detection range of the TMDC-based PDs with overall good performance in responsivity, bandwidth, sensitivity, and linearity.
The amino acid composition of a protein influences its expression
Authors: Thompson Reece , Pickard Benjamin Simon
Published: October 2024

The quantity of each protein in a cell only is only partially correlated with its gene transcription rate. Independent influences on protein synthesis levels include mRNA sequence motifs, amino acyl-tRNA synthesis levels, elongation factor action, and protein susceptibility to degradation. Here we report that the amino acid composition of a protein can also influence its expression level in two distinct ways. The nutritional classification of amino acids in animals reflects their potential for scarcity–essential amino acids (EAA) are reliant on dietary supply, non-essential amino acids (NEAA) from internal biosynthesis, and conditionally essential amino acids (CEAA) from both. Accessing public proteomic datasets, we demonstrate that a protein’s CEAA sequence composition is inversely correlated with expression–a correlation enhanced during rapid cellular proliferation–suggesting CEAA availability can limit translation. Similarly, proteins with the most extreme compositions of EAA are generally reduced in abundance. These latter proteins participate in biological systems such as taste and food-seeking behaviour, oxidative phosphorylation, and chemokine function, and so linking their expression to EAA availability may act as a homeostatic response to malnutrition. Protein composition can also influence general human phenotypes and disease susceptibility: stature proteins are enriched in CEAAs, and a curated dataset of over 700 cancer proteins is significantly under-represented in EAAs. We also show that individual amino acids can influence protein expression across all kingdoms of life and that this effect appears to be rooted in the unchanging structural and mRNA encoding features of each amino acid. Species-specific environmental survival pathways are shown to be enriched in proteins with individual amino acid compositions favouring higher expression. These two forms of amino acid-driven protein expression regulation promise new insights into systems biology, evolutionary studies, experimental research design, and public health intervention.
Avoiding siloed approaches: Integrating psychological insights into sustainable farming
Authors: Maltby John
Published: October 2024

This study enhances our understanding of the psychological factors influencing farmers’ adoption of sustainable farming practices, specifically those related to achieving NetZero emissions. It achieves this by integrating various psychological theories with practical farming methods within the context of Behavioral-Adoption and Purpose-Driven contexts. The research consisted of two studies. Study 1 employed Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to analyze responses from 438 UK farmers regarding their attitudes toward a series of Net Zero policy commitments, drawing on psychological theories including the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Prototype Willingness Model, Implementation Intentions, Self-Determination Theory, Eudaimonia, and the Integrated Model of Health Literacy. The findings revealed a new Integrated Motivation Model for Sustainable Farming that comprises seven factors: Agricultural Commitment and Stewardship, Sustainable Farming Readiness and Confidence, Sustainable Incentive Engagement and Acceptance, Climate Adaptation Competence and Confidence, Net Zero Accountability and Reporting Commitment, Community Influence and Commitment in Sustainable Farming, and Innovation and Technological Competence. Study 2 validated these factors through the development of a 21-item Integrated Motivation Model for Sustainable Farming scale and use of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to confirm the 7-factor structure using a subsample of 418 UK farmers from Study 1 and an additional 230 US farmers. Furthermore, Study 2 tested the concurrent validity of the new scale by demonstrating significant associations with reported sustainable farming behaviors. These findings underscore the complex interplay of motivational, cognitive, and social processes influencing sustainable farming practices. The integrated psychological model developed through this research provides parsimonious and valuable insights for policymakers to foster sustainable practices in farming effectively. The confirmation of this model across farming populations enhances its generalizability and potential to guide targeted interventions aimed at achieving behavioral change in pursuit of Net Zero targets in agriculture.
Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospital cost of care
Authors: Johnson Tricia J. , Longcoy Joshua , Suzuki Sumihiro , Isgor Zeynep , Lynch Elizabeth B.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Although studies have evaluated the hospital cost of care associated with treating patients with COVID-19, there are no studies that compare the hospital cost of care among racial and ethnic groups based on detailed cost accounting data. The aims of this study were to provide a detailed description of the hospital costs of COVID-19 based on individual resources during the hospital stay and standardized costs that do not rely on inflation adjustment and evaluate the extent to which hospital total cost of care for patients with COVID-19 differs by race and ethnicity.

Methods

This study used electronic medical record data from an urban academic medical center in Chicago, Illinois USA. Hospital cost of care was calculated using accounting data representing the cost of the resources used to the hospital (i.e., cost to the hospital, not payments). A multivariable generalized linear model with a log link function and inverse gaussian distribution family was used to calculate the average marginal effect (AME) for Black, White, and Hispanic patients. A second regression model further compared Hispanic patients by preferred language (English versus Spanish).

Results

In our sample of 1,853 patients, the average adjusted cost of care was significantly lower for Black compared to White patients (AME = -$5,606; 95% confidence interval (CI), -$10,711 to -$501), and Hispanic patients had higher cost of care compared to White patients (AME = $8,539, 95% CI, $3,963 to $13,115). In addition, Hispanic patients who preferred Spanish had significantly higher cost than Hispanic patients who preferred English (AME = $11,866; 95% CI $5,302 to $18,431).

Conclusion

Total cost of care takes into account both the intensity of the treatment as well as the duration of the hospital stay. Thus, policy makers and health systems can use cost of care as a proxy for severity, especially when looking at the disparities among different race and ethnicity groups.
Effect of neutering timing in relation to puberty on health in the female dog–a scoping review
Authors: Moxon Rachel , England Gary C. W. , Payne Richard , Corr Sandra A. , Freeman Sarah L.
Published: October 2024

Background

Effects of neutering on bitch health have been reported, and are suggested to relate to bitch age at the time of neutering for some diseases. However, variation between published studies in terms of study populations and methodologies makes comparison and consolidation of the evidence difficult.

Objective

A scoping review was designed to systematically search the available literature to identify and chart the evidence on the effect of neutering timing in relation to puberty on five health outcomes: atopy, developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD), neoplasia, obesity and urogenital disease.

Design

A protocol was registered, and literature searches were conducted in CAB Abstracts, Medline and Web of Science. Studies were reviewed against inclusion criteria. Data on study and population characteristics and health outcomes were charted for the final included studies.

Results

A total of 1,145 publications were reviewed across all five searches; 33 were retained for inclusion and charting. Only six of the 33 studies categorised the timing of surgical neutering as prepubertal or post-pubertal; one investigating mammary neoplasia and the other five, urogenital disease, commonly urinary incontinence. No studies were identified that examined the impacts of neutering bitches before or after puberty on atopy, DOD or obesity. One study considered bitches that were pre or post-pubertal at the time of the first treatment with deslorelin acetate for oestrus suppression and 26 examined the effects on health related to age, rather than pubertal status, at neutering.

Conclusion

This scoping review suggests that robust evidence to support veterinarians, those working with dogs and dog owners when discussing the timing of neutering relative to puberty does not yet exist. The impact of neutering before or after puberty on atopy, DOD, neoplasia, obesity and urogenital disease in female domesticated dogs remains unclear.
Banana fruit (Musa sp.) DNA-magnetite nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility assays on normal and cancerous cells
Authors: Arregui-Almeida David , Coronel Martín , Analuisa Karina , Bastidas-Caldes Carlos , Guerrero Santiago , Torres Marbel , Aluisa Andrea , Debut Alexis , Brämer-Escamilla Werner , Pilaquinga Fernanda
Published: October 2024

Magnet-mediated gene therapy has gained considerable interest from researchers as a novel alternative for treating genetic disorders, particularly through the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs)—such as magnetite NPs (Fe3O4NPs)—as non-viral genetic vectors. Despite their commercial availability for specific genetic transfection, such as in microglia cell lines, many potential uses remain unexplored. Still, ethical concerns surrounding the use of human DNA often impede genetic research. Hence, this study examined DNA-coated Fe3O4NPs (DNA-Fe₃O₄NPs) as potential transfection vectors for human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and A549 (lung cancer) cell lines, using banana (Musa sp.) as a low-cost, and bioethically unproblematic DNA source. Following coprecipitation synthesis, DNA-Fe₃O₄NP characterization revealed a ζ-potential of 40.65 ± 4.10 mV, indicating good colloidal stability in aqueous media, as well as a superparamagnetic regime, evidenced by the absence of hysteresis in their magnetization curves. Successful DNA coating on the NPs was confirmed through infrared spectra and surface analysis results, while magnetite content was verified via characteristic X-ray diffraction peaks. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) determined the average size of the DNA-Fe3O4NPs to be 14.69 ± 5.22 nm. TEM micrographs also showed no morphological changes in the DNA-Fe3O4NPs over a 30-day period. Confocal microscopy of HFF and A549 lung cancer cell lines incubated with fluoresceinamine-labeled DNA-Fe3O4NPs demonstrated their internalization into both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Neither uncoated Fe3O4NPs nor DNA-Fe3O4NPs showed cytotoxicity to A549 lung cancer cells at 1–50 μg/mL and 25–100 μg/mL, respectively, after 24 h. HFFs also maintained viability at 1–10 μg/mL for both NP types. In conclusion, DNA-Fe3O4NPs were successfully internalized into cells and exhibited no cytotoxicity in both healthy and cancerous cells across a range of concentrations. These NPs, capable of binding to various types of DNA and RNA, hold promise for applications in gene therapy.
The limited horizon: Corporate artificial intelligence and the new monopoly on how communications and cultural work is done
Authors: Hutcheon Andrew
Published: October 2024

Corporate messaging around generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the communications and culture domain focuses upon the reduced labour and democratization of creativity that supposedly comes with the adoption of these systems. From this emerges a dominant narrative that glorifies the productivity benefits of AI adoption, such as how copywriters can facilitate the creation of more copy by querying ChatGPT and proofing its output rather than writing everything from scratch. This article focuses on an underreported element of this narrative, which is how AI companies are changing the underlying structures of these types of creative tasks and remoulding them in the image of modern bureaucracy. This argument follows the work of David Graeber on meaningless labour, where increasingly the system of the world is founded upon the propagation of busy work. Similarly, I draw upon the work of Ivan Illich on ‘radical monopoly’, where he proposes that the most dangerous monopoly is not the economic one that companies such as OpenAI overtly seek but instead identifies the monopoly over how things are done as the more significant hazard. Together, these conceptual frames plot out a unique institutional critique of AI as it is currently sold. This article demonstrates how this is already affecting practice in communications professions and culture industries while also theorizing upon possible ways forward using Graeber and Illich’s counterstrategies to modern institutional monopoly.
Microvillous Inclusion Disease: An Exceedingly Rare Condition With a New Treatment
Authors: Fiedler Alexandra , Brittan Kevin , Manatsathit Wuttiporn
Published: October 2024

Syndromes characterized by congenital diarrhea, hearing loss, and intrahepatic cholestasis are uncommon and often misdiagnosed as progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). Recent genetic studies have widened the array of genes linked with cholestatic disorders. Among these, UNC45A has recently been implicated in microvillous inclusion disease (MVID), although only a few cases exist. This case highlights a 20-year-old woman initially diagnosed clinically with PFIC type 1 during childhood. After ileal bypass at age 4 years, she had a resolution of intractable pruritus and cholestasis. Despite remaining symptom-free for over a decade, she returned in adulthood with recurrent cholestatic pruritus. Odevixibat was initiated for presumed PFIC while awaiting additional testing with symptomatic improvement and laboratory normalization. Whole genome sequencing identified novel compound heterozygous mutations in UNC45A and small bowel biopsies confirmed villous atrophy. Odevixibat, currently approved for cholestatic pruritus in PFIC and Alagille syndrome, demonstrates efficacy in managing cholestatic pruritus in MVID.
EAR LOBULOPLASTY: INDICATIONS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUES — LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Mourão Martins Eristo , Soares Caio
Published: October 2024

﻿Introduction: Lobuloplasty alone or associated with otoplasty is among the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures on the face. Despite being a small appendage of approximately 2.0 cm with no function in the physiology of the external ear, it plays an important aesthetic role in the harmony of the face, motivating children, adults, men and women to seek surgeons qualified to work in the area to correct defects and improves aesthetics. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematize the main changes in the earlobe and the respective surgical technique most indicated in the...
O vztahu Patočkovy filosofie k filosofii Jaspersově
Authors: Frei Jan
Published: October 2024

In the first part, the author sketches the problem of human existence as it appears in the texts of both philosophers. The second part enumerates all Patočka’s texts mentioning Jaspers as well as all of the works by Jaspers that we know Patočka reflected on. The third part traces in more detail Jaspers’ book Philosophical Faith, in which Patočka, in his own words, found “great stimuli”, and shows several links between Patočka’s own philosophy and the book (especially four themes: the relation between philosophy and science; between philosophy and revealed religion; between philosophy and “non-philosophy”; between philosophy and history). The fourth part traces the idea of the origin of the free human act, which was explored by both Patočka and Jaspers. Finally, the article shows that despite similar or even identical lines of thought on certain topics – including a topic as fundamental as human freedom –, the authors offer two fundamentally different visions of reality that could be labelled as “ontology vs. metaphysics” or “the totality of the world vs. extra-worldly transcendence”.
Stvoření a Setkání. Vybrané luriánské motivy v myšlení Emmanuela Lévinase
Authors: Luksch Jakub
Published: October 2024

The paper presents some common motifs of two thinkers who, despite a historical gap of several hundred years, had common roots in the tradition of Judaism. The notion of the Encounter, as analysed by Emmanuel Levinas, and the cosmogonic process of Creation in Isaac Luria’s system of thought have a common motif in the phenomenon of the socalled “contraction” (Hebrew: tzimtzum). Despite the fact that for the first thinker it is the domain of ethics and for the second the domain of ontology, the act of a certain “self-limitation” or “withdrawal” plays in both cases a foundational role.
Aleš Zapletal, Obrazy filozofie a tělesná mysl
Authors: Formanová Josefína
Published: October 2024

Book review: Aleš Zapletal, Obrazy filozofie a tělesná mysl, Praha (Akademie výtvarných umění), 2022, 247 p.
U.S. students learning Czech in study abroad: motivational dynamics
Authors: Převrátilová Silvie
Published: October 2024

While study-abroad students generally prefer destinations where the local language relates to their personal, academic, or professional pursuits, the Czech Republic ranks as the 25th most popular destination for U.S. study abroad, signalling an interest in exploring beyond traditional language choices. This study addresses the gap in the literature on learning a less commonly taught language in the study abroad setting, which is unrelated to the student’s major fields of study (Czech). Over thirteen weeks, data were gathered through a qualitative methodology involving initial questionnaires, learner diaries, and semi-structured interviews with a sample of five students. Drawing on the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS), the research underscores the impact of the L2 learning experience and the construct of the ideal L2 self on motivation. Findings revealed a general increase in motivation for learning Czech throughout the semester, accompanied by a decline in the ideal Czech self by the end and an indicative enhancement in the ideal multilingual self-concept. This study additionally emphasizes the vital role of mandatory language courses in augmenting motivation, particularly when aligned with learners’ objectives. These insights broaden the understanding of motivational dynamics in acquiring languages other than English (LOTEs), highlighting the necessity for continued exploration of the multilingual motivational self-system within study-abroad contexts.
K-stability of Casagrande–Druel varieties
Authors: Cheltsov Ivan , Duarte Guerreiro Tiago , Fujita Kento , Krylov Igor , Martinez-Garcia Jesus
Published: October 2024

We introduce a new subclass of Fano varieties (Casagrande–Druel varieties) that are 𝑛-dimensional varieties constructed from Fano double covers of dimension

n
−
1

n-1

.
We conjecture that a Casagrande–Druel variety is K-polystable if the double cover and its base space are K-polystable.
We prove this for smoothable Casagrande–Druel threefolds, and for Casagrande–Druel varieties constructed from double covers of

P

n
−
1

\mathbb{P}^{n-1}

ramified over smooth hypersurfaces of degree

2
⁢
d

2d

with

n
>
d
>

n
2

>
1

n>d>\frac{n}{2}>1

.
As an application, we describe the connected components of the K-moduli space parametrizing smoothable K-polystable Fano threefolds in the families № 3.9 and № 4.2 in the Mori–Mukai classification.
Between Magic and Amusement: A Collingwoodian Perspective on Political Art
Authors: Guerreiro Vítor
Published: October 2024

In this article I enquire into the notion of ‘political art’, by drawing on ideas from R. G. Collingwood’s often neglected Principles of Art. I show that his characterisation of ‘expression’ reveals what I call the ‘Narrow Aretaic Structure’ (NAS), distinguishable from a ‘Wide Aretaic Structure’ (WAS). Whatever satisfies NAS satisfies WAS, but not vice-versa. Though we have reasons to call ‘art’ anything satisfying WAS, Collingwoodian ‘art proper’ must also satisfy NAS. I then suggest that the distinction between WAS and NAS is more interesting than the distinction between art and non-art and even as a criterion for ‘aesthetic’ (though this is not my main issue). The main issue is articulating a view of when the ‘politicalness’ of ‘political art’ is relevant in light of its being art, or, in Collingwoodian terms, ‘expression’ (under the NAS model). Collingwood allows us to give an alternative answer to these questions; one that does not appeal to ‘messages’ in art and their hypothesised effects on the audience. In other words, an answer that avoids the consequentialist ‘template’, which is restricted to the WAS model. As case studies, I use some of Aleksander Deineka’s ‘Socialist-Realist’ mosaics, as well as other examples of political artworks, and the recording of a work song.
Maternal factors for neural tube defects in offspring: An umbrella review
Authors: Arabzadeh Hoda , Jenabi Ensiyeh , Masoumi Seyedeh Zahra
Published: October 2024

Objective

We conducted an umbrella review focusing on maternal risk factors during pregnancy associated with neural tube defects (NTDs).

Methods

Our search was in databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. We specifically targeted meta-analyses examining maternal factors during pregnancy in relation to NTDs. The comparison involved assessing metrics such as odds ratio (OR) or related risk ratios reported in the included studies, as well as parameters like heterogeneity (I²), 95% prediction interval, small-study effects, excess significance biases, and sensitivity analysis.

Results

Three risk factors for fetal NTDs, namely hyperthermia with an OR of 1.92, obesity with an OR of 1.68, and passive smoking with an OR of 1.90, were classified as highly suggestive evidence (Class II). Influenza, with an OR of 3.33, was considered a risk factor with suggestive evidence (Class III). Multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy, with an OR of 0.76, and low maternal vitamin B12, with an OR of 2.41, were categorized as weak evidence (Class IV).

Conclusion

We identified four risk factors including hyperthermia, influenza, obesity, and passive smoking as suggestive or highly suggestive evidence for NTDs. Low maternal vitamin B12 was identified as a risk factor for NTDs, supported by weak evidence.
BENELUX COUNTRIES’ SECURITY STRATEGIES: BETWEEN EUROPEANISM AND ATLANTICISM
Authors:   MGIMO University, Posazhennikova Anastasia ,   IMEMO
Published: October 2024

In the article, transformation of the foreign policy and security strategies of the Benelux countries – Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – is analyzed against the exacerbating conflict in Ukraine. Using the comparative historical method, we outline the evolution of strategic trends of Europeanism – seeking deeper integration within the European institutional framework – and Atlanticism – pursuing a general strategic orientation towards the United States – in the three countries. As smaller-sized countries, they initially combined Europeanism and «moderate» Atlanticism, which left them some space for foreign policy maneuver. Since the 1990s, the Dutch foreign policy more closely follows the Atlanticist paradigm, while those of Belgium and Luxembourg are characterized more by Europeanism. The analysis of the EU strategic autonomy debate as a case study has shown that Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg seek the greatest possible economic benefits from the autonomy initiatives. Besides, the balance between the strategic trends remains; Belgium and Luxembourg positively view deeper EU defense cooperation, while the Netherlands mostly sees security guarantees in Euro-Atlantic cooperation. The current state in European security has thus not fundamentally changed the Benelux countries’ approaches to balancing Europeanism and Atlanticism that have been characteristic for them since the 1990s. Besides, for Belgium, support for deeper integration has become a key identity feature, while the Netherlands relies on special relations with the United States and ad hoc coalitions in the EU; Luxembourg’s foreign policy can be described to follow a free rider strategy.
PROSPECTS OF GERMANY’S NEW NORTH SEA SPACEPORT
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Belov Vladislav
Published: October 2024

In recent decades, Germany has been actively developing its space industry, aiming to become a global and European leader in space technologies and launches. In 2010, the National Program and Strategy for the development of Germany as a space standort were adopted. This strategy was updated in 2023, with one of the priorities being the creation of a dedicated spaceport for launching low-orbit rocket carriers in the North Sea. This project represents a unique opportunity not only to strengthen Germany’s position on the international stage but also to stimulate the development of the national space sector, including its commercialization, known as New Space. The article analyzes the history of the spaceport project, its content, participants, and prospects for implementation.
GERMANY: STRATEGIES FOR LABOUR FORCE REPLACEMENT AMID DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
Authors:   IMEMO, Kondratyev Mark
Published: October 2024

The article examines the current situation in the German labour market and measures aimed at overcoming the existing challenges. It explains the reasons for the emerging crisis in the labour market related to the demographic situation in the country. The shortage of qualified labour force is shown as the main challenge, with regional disproportions in the shortage of personnel being highlighted. It is noted that the main way to ease the labour shortage is to attract foreign specialists due to the low costs of such a strategy. The main mechanisms aimed at both integrating foreigners into the labour market and attracting them to the country are described. The prospects for integrating foreigners already living in the country are assessed and the problems complicating this process are analysed. The difficulties in implementing social policy in the area of pensions and the current government's approaches to addressing the relevant demographic challenges are highlighted. The assessment of the German expert community as well as other economic actors with regard to the government's pension reforms is presented. Special attention is paid to the issue of retaining pensioners in the labour market in order to solve the shortage of personnel in the country.
The influence of the Big Five, WOM communication and satisfaction on consumer loyalty in the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Djukic Suzana , Stankovic Jelena
Published: October 2024

The concept of consumer loyalty plays an important role in business existence in the current competitive business environment. Consumer loyalty is researched in different ways by considering the characteristics of the consumer’s personality, mutual communication between consumers, and their satisfaction with the company, products/services and numerous other determinants. Consumer personality is a potential marketing strategy for increasing loyalty towards a company, product and/or service, because many customers choose products that match their personality. The manner of communicating and conveying the experience of the product also depends on the consumer’s personality traits, and this further affects a consumer’s loyalty. Also, consumer satisfaction is another concept of qualitative and quantitative assessment of consumers after purchase, and it is a predictor of consumer loyalty and a free source of promotion for the company. The authors’ goal is to examine the relationship between the concept of consumer personality, word of mouth (WOM) communication, consumer satisfaction, and loyalty on the mobile phone market in the Republic of Serbia, and then to make relevant conclusions about the mutual influence of the given factors in relation to the conducted empirical analysis. The data was obtained with the help of an online survey questionnaire, while the results were processed in statistical software packages for social sciences SPSS and AMOS. The research results show that all the researched variables included in the paper (Big Five, WOM communication, satisfaction) significantly influence consumer loyalty on the aforementioned market in the Republic of Serbia. The research explicitly builds on and contributes to previous literature on brand management, as it analyzes important predictors of consumer loyalty within a specific research area. Future studies could strengthen the existing literature by analyzing consumer loyalty towards a specific brand.
ALLEVIATIVE EFFECTS OF CHITOSAN AND NANOSILVER ON Solanum pimpinellifolium UNDER HEAVY METAL STRESS IN VITRO
Authors: Krupa-Małkiewicz Marcelina , Ochmian Ireneusz
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to investigate the potential mitigation of copper stress in tomato plants (Solanum pimpinellifolium L0566) through the addition of chitosan (CH) or nanosilver (nAg) to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium under in vitro conditions. Various growth parameters; the proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), total polyphenol and mineral contents; and CIE L*a*b* colour parameters were evaluated. After the multiplication stage, the explants were transferred to MS medium (control); MS + 20 ppm chitosan with a molecular weight of 3.33 kDa (CH3.33); MS + 6 mg l–1 nAg; MS + 100 μM l–1 copper sulfate (CuSO4); MS+20 ppm CH3.33+100 μM l–1 CuSO4; or MS + 6 mg l–1 nAg + 100 μM l–1 CuSO4. The results indicated that while CuSO4 or CuSO4-nAg solutions inhibited growth traits, CH3.33 stimulated growth, particularly shoot production, and plants treated with CH3.33 exhibited better developed roots and a higher fresh mass. Additionally, CH3.33 alleviated the negative effects of CuSO4 on the proline, MDA and total polyphenol contents in tomato plants. Moreover, tomato explants exhibited greener leaves, while those treated with nAg and CuSO4 showed decreased colour values. CH3.33 or nAg positively influenced the mineral content of tomato leaves under heavy metal stress. This study underscores the complex interactions between growth medium components on tomato plant growth, physiology and the mineral content, highlighting the potential of chitosan in mitigating heavy metal stress in tomato plants.
STUDIES ON CHITOSAN GELS WITH POLYVINYL ALCOHOL TO PROTECT THE OESOPHAGEAL MUCOSA
Authors: Małolepsza-Jarmołowska Katarzyna , Bazan Hanna
Published: October 2024

Young children have an incompletely developed digestive tract and they are susceptible to numerous disorders due to the return of acid and alkaline content to the oesophagus. The aim of the study was to analyse the ability of hydrogels containing chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol to prevent irritation of the oesophageal mucosa in children. The addition of chitosan to the tested gels increased their pH, which could be useful to neutralise gastric reflux, and dynamic viscosity. The texture tests revealed that chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol significantly increased the work of adhesion work.
RESPONSE OF THE ‘POLESIE’ RASPBERRY CULTIVAR TO FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CHITOSAN WITH DIFFERENT MOLECULAR WEIGHTS
Authors: Ochmian Ireneusz , Krupa-Małkiewicz Marcelina
Published: October 2024

This study explored the effects of chitosan, a biodegradable and non-toxic natural polymer derived from chitin, on the yield and quality of raspberries. Various molecular weights (3.3–950 kDa) were assessed to determine the impact on raspberry plants and fruit development. These applications were made during key growth phases – the start of the vegetation period, during flowering and at the fruit-bearing stage – using a foliar method to ensure full coverage of both leaves and fruit without runoff. The results indicated that chitosan application influenced various parameters of fruit quality, including firmness, colour and antioxidant levels. Notably, chitosan with a molecular weight of 21 and 50 kDa significantly enhanced fruit yield and size compared with the control. Conversely, chitosan with a higher molecular weight (500 and 950 kDa) did not improve yield and appeared to induce stress in plants, although they did contribute to increased fruit firmness and potentially extended the shelf life due to their film-forming capabilities. The findings suggest that while chitosan can improve the yield and quality of raspberries, the effectiveness is highly dependent on its molecular weight. These results support the potential of chitosan as an alternative to traditional chemical treatments, promising a reduction in chemical inputs while sustaining or enhancing agricultural productivity and fruit quality.
EFFECT OF CHITOSAN WITH DIFFERENT MOLECULAR WEIGHT ON THE GROWTH AND BULB YIELD OF ORIENTAL LILY ‘MONA LISA’
Authors: Zawadzińska Agnieszka , Salachna Piotr
Published: October 2024

The potential of biodegradable and environmentally friendly substances that exhibit biostimulatory effects on plant growth and yield is now being exploited in horticultural production. This study evaluated the effect of chitosan on the growth, flowering, and yield of bulb of oriental lily ‘Mona Lisa’. Three types of chitosan differing in molecular weight (MW) were used: commercial chitosan (CCh, MW = 50,000–190,000 g/mol) and two forms of depolymerised chitosan (DCh 48, with a MW of ~48,000 g/mol, and DCh 154, with a MW of ~154,500 g/mol). The plants were watered twice with an aqueous solution of chitosan at a concentration of 2 g/l, with 100 ml of solution per pot. The control was plants watered with distilled water. Chitosan had a biostimulatory effect on the growth of lily plants. CCh increased the relative chlorophyll content of leaves (+11.3%), the fresh bulb weight (+11.0%), the bulb diameter (+12.3%) and the number of bulblets (+44.9%) compared with the control plants. DCh 154 significantly increased the fresh aboveground weight of plants (+31.3%), the fresh weight of leaves (+29.0%) and their number (+16.8%), the fresh weight of bulb (+12.3%) and their diameter (+11.0%), and the fresh weight of bulblet (+21.9%). DCh 48 increased the bulb diameter (+12.1%) and the number of bulblets (+45.4%), but decreased the length (-8.6%) and width of tepals (-6.8%) of the lily flowers. Finally, DCh 154 was the most effective in lily production. Using depolymerised chitosan as a biostimulant may contribute to developing new methods to produce high-quality lily plants.
Anomaly detection in crowded scenes: technologies, challenges and opportunities
Authors: Dobryshev Ruslan Y.
Published: October 2024

The paper discusses advancements in intelligent video surveillance systems, particularly focused on anomaly detection in crowded environments. These systems aim to enhance public safety by automatically detecting unusual behavior and potential threats in real-time. Traditional video surveillance, relying heavily on human monitoring, faces limitations like reduced concentration and slow response times. In contrast, intelligent surveillance uses machine learning and AI algorithms to process vast amounts of video data, identifying patterns that deviate from normal behavior. Crowd anomaly detection is essential in densely populated areas like transportation hubs, stadiums, and public squares. The diversity of anomalies, ranging from minor disruptions to serious threats such as theft or terrorist attacks, presents a challenge for these systems. Anomalies can be difficult to detect due to their unpredictable nature, and what constitutes an anomaly varies depending on the context. The paper highlights the need for robust systems that can adapt to various environmental conditions and distinguish between normal variations and genuine threats. While supervised machine learning models show promise, they often require large amounts of labeled data, which is difficult to obtain in real-world settings. Unsupervised models and deep learning techniques, such as Convolution Neural Networks, have been effective in analyzing crowd behavior and detecting anomalies. However, these methods still face challenges, including scalability, high false positive rates, and the need for real-time processing in large-scale environments. The paper concludes by addressing the limitations of current crowd anomaly detection methods, such as their computational costs, ethical concerns, and inability to detect novel anomalies. It suggests directions for future research, including the integration of advanced learning techniques to improve system performance and scalability
Modeling of the temperature field in the soil massive for different operating modes of the ground source heat pump
Authors: Denysova Alla E. , Antoshchuk Svitlana G. , Ivanov Pavlo O. , Arsirii Olena О. , Troynina Anastasiya S.
Published: October 2024

The paper considers modeling the influence of the operating modes of the ground source heat pump for heating and air conditioning systems using geothermal source of energy from borehole on the temperature of the soil formation around the borehole with the account of climate conditions of Ukraine. The proposed methodology of modelling of the ground source heat pump with the account of reversible direction of heat flow for heating and cooling work modes contributes to the field of energy system models. The ultimate goals are to obtain criterion dependencies for calculating the operating parameters of a geothermal borehole and to develop a methodology for designing geothermal boreholes taking into account their long-term operation in a cyclic mode. The idea behind the method allows high spatial and temporal resolution as well as the inclusion of the technical details of the power system and formation the temperature of the soil massive around the borehole for the climate conditions of the Ukraine and South-East Regions of Europe. The novelty of this method is the usage of a parametric approach is chosen to analyze different reversible operating modes of the ground source heat pump for heating and cooling. This provides insights on the systematic effects of ground source heat pump operation with regeneration with limitation on reaching negative temperatures at the bottom of the borehole, which can lead to ice formation, an increase in the volume of soil massive during freezing and destruction of pipelines. The article describes the change in the temperature of the soil mass under the operating conditions of a heat pump in two modes - stationary and with alternating "heat supply - cooling (air conditioning)" for long-term operation. Based on the obtained results it was revealed that when a geothermal borehole operates with an alternating direction of heat flow (with regeneration), the long-term consequences of operation associated with the deviation of the soil massive temperature from the background value are reduced. The additional novelty aspect of modelling was obtained for the operating parameters of a geothermal source of energy with the account of longterm reversible operating mode of the heat pump. The energy balance model is well suited for the analysis of temperature in the bottom part of the geothermal boreholes was revealed for heating and air conditioning systems due to the non-stationary thermal loads determined by climatic conditions of the Ukraine and South-East Regions of Europe. The obtained results may serve as a new approach to optimization technical and economic indicators of geothermal boreholes during operation of the ground source heat pump operating with the account of reversible direction of heat flow for heating and cooling work modes to have continuous improvement of energy efficiency
Analysis of methods and algorithms for image filtering and quality enhancement
Authors: Speranskyy Viktor O. , Balaban Daniil S.
Published: October 2024

This paper addresses the prevalent issue of image noise and presents methods for its mitigation. The paper describes, analyses and tests a variety of image filtering techniques, with specific reference to their use in different contexts. The filtering methods can be classified into two principal categories: linear filters, which include the Gaussian and mean filters, and non-linear filters, which comprise the median filter, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the Non-Local Means (NLM) filter, and the anisotropic diffusion filter. The efficacy of each filter is mathematically described and evaluated on RGB images using the Python programming language. The study delineates the evaluation metrics and their respective advantages and disadvantages. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) are employed as criteria for the analysis of algorithm efficiency. Furthermore, the mean execution time for each algorithm is also monitored. The experimental data suggests that linear filters are relatively fast but produce inferior results and are best employed as preparatory measures. Non-linear filters have been demonstrated to be more robust and applicable to a variety of noise types, although it has been established that they require parameter fine-tuning. The study demonstrates that anisotropic diffusion is suitable for both manual image processing and real-time applications, offering an optimal balance between processing speed and denoised image quality. NLM is optimal for high-quality single image processing due to its superior results, despite a slower processing speed. FFT is noted for its efficiency in eliminating periodic noise. Further research will be conducted on advancing filtering techniques for different real-world scenarios and autonomous systems.