bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Helminth fauna of birds of prey (Strigiformes: Strigidae, Tytonidae) in the Non-Black Earth Region of the Russian Federation
Authors: Dorokhov V. V. , Davydova O. E.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the research is studying helminths of carnivorous birds of the order of owls (Strigiformes) found in the Non-Black Earth Region of the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. From 2015 to 2020, complete helminthological dissections were carried out by the Skryabin method for 72 birds of the order of owls after their spontaneous death: 8 specimens of the short-eared owl Asio flammeus, 6 specimens of the Ural owl Strix uralensis, 4 specimens of the little owl Athene noctua, 9 specimens of the barn owl Tyto alba, 19 specimens of the tawny owl S. aluco, and 26 specimens of the long-eared owl A. otus. The study material was provided by rehabilitation centers and veterinary clinics in Moscow City and the Moscow, Tula and Kaluga regions. The helminths were fixed according to generally accepted methods; the species was identified taking into account specific morphological characters.

Results and discussion. Total infection rate in owls was 89.9%. All studied birds were found to have mixed infections with two or more types of helminths. We identified 15 helminth species including 3 species of trematodes (Neodiplostomum attenuatum, Strigea falconis, S. strigis), 2 species of cestodes (Cladotaenia globifera, Paruterina candelabraria), 9 species of nematodes (Syngamus trachea, Cyrnea leptoptera, Microtetrameres inermis, Synhimantus laticeps, Porrocaecum depressum, P. spirale, Capillaria tenuissima, Baruscapillaria falconis, and Capillaria sp.) and 1 acanthocephalian species (Centrorhynchus aluconis). For the first time, new hosts were identified for the following helminth species: the barn owl, short-eared owl and little owl for the trematode N. attenuatum, the Ural owl and little owl for S. falconis, the long-eared owl for the nematode S. trachea, the short-eared owl and tawny owl for C. leptoptera, and the tawny owl for M. inermis.
Coexistence of Lateriporus teres (Cestoda: Dilepididae) and Polymorphus phippsi (Palaeacanthocephala: Polymorphidae) in the intestine of common eider
Authors: Kuklina М. М. , Kuklin V. V.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the research is studying the peculiarities of parasite infection of the cestodes Lateriporus teres Krabbe, 1869 (Cestoda: Dilepididae) and acanthocephalans Polymorphus phippsi Kostylew, 1922 (Palaeacanthocephala: Polymorphidae) during coexistence in the intestine of the common eider, particularly, the localization of these parasites, the activity of protein and carbohydrate metabolism enzymes on the tegument of the worms, the degree of parasite influence on the host digestion, as well as to assess total digestive activity in the gastrointestinal tract of birds infected with these helminths.

Materials and methods. Using methods of biochemical analysis, the activity of digestive enzymes (protease and glycosidase) and the intensity of a digestion with the participation of these enzymes along the intestine of the common eider were determined. The digestive activity of enzymes in the body of helminthes was measured, and the intensity of membrane digestion on the surface of their tegument was estimated.

Results and discussion. During coexistence, L. teres were observed mainly in the proximal parts of the intestine of the birds, P. phippsi in the distal parts. Membrane digestion, involving the action of proteases and glycosidases, occurred on the surface of the tegument of both cestodes and acanthocephalans. The protein metabolism intensity in both helminth species was nearly the same, but the glycosidase activity was higher on the tegument of L. teres. The glycosidase activity in the body of the acanthocephalans exceeded that in the cestodes strobile six times. In the intestine parts inhabited by L. teres, both protease and glycosidase activity decreased. In the intestine parts where P. phippsi parasitized, protease activity increased in the intestinal mucosa of the common eider. The total activity of protease and glycosidase along the entire length of the intestine in common eider infected with L. teres and P. phippsi was lower compared to the uninfected birds.
Study of the peculiarities of combined opisthorchosis and helicobacteriosis
Authors: Bibik O. I. , Pomytkina T. E. , Pivovar O. I.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the research is identifying patients with helicobacteriosis and opisthorchosis, and determining regular features of the course of combined diseases.

Materials and methods. The study involved 50 patients in the Gastroenterology Department with helicobacteriosis diagnosed. Helicobacter pylori was confirmed by the HP test during fibrogastroduodenoscopy. Opisthorchis felineus was detected in patients using the study of feces by the Kato technique and enrichment method. The patients were divided into 2 groups of 25 people each. The first group only consisted of patients with H. pylori. The second group consisted of patients in whom H. pуlori and O. felineus were identified. Initially, the levels of aminotransferases and bilirubin were assessed using a biochemical blood test on a MIURA 200 apparatus. The manifestation of such clinical symptoms as abdominal pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Further, the eradication of H. pylori during therapy was assessed based on the Maastricht V recommendations for 14 days, including the use of three drugs: omeprazole at a dose of 20 mg 2 times a day, clarithromycin – 500 mg 2 times a day, amoxicillin – 1000 mg 2 times a day, and the effectivity of treatment of patients of the second group with opisthorchosis with the use of praziquantel at a dose of 60 mg/kg of body weight during the day three times every 4 hours.

Results and discussion. In the second group of patients with combined pathology, pain intensity was estimated at 4–5 scores in 20 people (80%), and at 2–3 scores in 25 people (100%) in the first group. The severity of nausea was also higher in 100% of patients in the second group. Values for AST and ALT in blood were higher in patients of the second group – by an average of 50–100% in 18 people (72%); increase in the level of bilirubin by 15% in 23 people (92%). Combined pathology (opisthorchosis and helicobacteriosis) is accompanied by more pronounced clinical symptoms (abdominal pain and nausea). In patients with opisthorchosis and H. pуlori, aminotransferases increased up to three reference values and bilirubin increased by 15% were noted. For helicobacteriosis and opisthorchosis, longer treatment was required. The presence of H. pylori at the same time with opisthorchosis did not affect the efficacy of antiparasitic therapy.
The efficacy of FOS and Fitoverm drugs against Ixodes ticks
Authors: Butakov E. I. , Shamanskaya L. D.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the research is studying the efficacy of FOS and Fitoverm drugs against ixodid ticks.

Materials and methods. The study objects were ixodid tick species Ixodes persulcatus (Schulze, 1930), Dermacentor reticulatus (Hermann, 1804) and D. marginatus (Schulzer, 1776) in the imago stage. Ticks were collected in the environment of the Altai plains and mountains from vegetation to the flag under the methodology. The efficacy of drug acaricidal activity was assessed according to the methodological guide. In the laboratory, the ticks were placed in a chamber at a temperature of 7 оC. The effect of drugs was assessed by observation every hour for 2-3 days. Live ticks (20 individuals) were contacted with the drug by immersion three times in the working solution in a permeable fabric container. Neostomosan was used as control. Further tests of FOS and Fitoverm were carried out in the field environment. Briz 25% e.c. was used as control. The plots on which the number of Ixodes had previously been recorded was treated using a sprayer on June 1-2 in the morning. The number of live ticks in the plots was counted 1-2 days after the treatment. The biochemical composition of grass stand on various treated grounds was studied according to standard methods. The results were processed statistically.

Results and discussion. The Siberian Scientific-Research Institute of Horticulture has developed a series of environmentally friendly drugs based on natural biologically active substances that have shown high efficacy against Ixodes. These are FOS and Fitoverm, which provided a 100% lethal effect against Ixodes in working concentrations of 3–4% and 0.1–0.3% under laboratory conditions. Treatment with Fitoverm 0.3%, FOS 3% and synthetic industrial drug Briz 25% of e.c. 0.75% of grass stand at the stage of grazing for cattle in pasture conditions statistically significantly reduces the number of ticks by 71–79%.
INHBA is differentially expressed in lymph node metastasis in human breast cancer.
Authors: Mamoor Shahan
Published: March 2021

Metastasis to the brain is a clinical problem in patients with breast cancer (1-3). Between the breast and the brain reside the secondary lymphoid organ, the lymph nodes. We mined published microarray data (4, 5) to compare primary and metastatic tumor transcriptomes for the discovery of genes associated with metastasis to the lymph nodes in humans with metastatic breast cancer. We found that inhibin beta A subunit, INHBA, was among the genes whose expression was most different in the lymph node metastases of patients with metastatic breast cancer as compared to primary tumors of the breast. Analysis of a separate microarray dataset revealed that INHBA was also differentially expressed in brain metastatic tissues. INHBA mRNA was present at decreased quantities in lymph node metastases as compared to primary tumors of the breast. Importantly, expression of INHBA in primary tumors of the breast was correlated with patient distant metastasis-free survival, in lymph node negative patients but not in lymph node positive patients. Modulation of INHBA expression may be relevant to the biology by which tumor cells metastasize from the breast to the lymph nodes and the brain in humans with metastatic breast cancer.
Efficacy and safety of Guduchighan Vati in asymptomatic and mild to moderate cases of COVID-19: A randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Shukla Umesh , Ujjaliya Nitin , Gupta Pankaj , Khare Vivek , Yadav Babita , Rai Amit Kumar , Amin Hetalben , Rana Rakesh , Tripathi Arunabh , Sharma Bhagwan S , Khanduri Shruti , Chandrasekhararao Bhogavalli , Srikanth N. , Dhiman Kartar Singh
Published: March 2021

Background: Currently, there is no approved treatment for the management of COVID-19 pandemic. Drug repurposing of existing medications could be a possible way to find out a novel therapeutic entity to combat the COVID-19.Objectives: To determine the clinical effectiveness and safety profile of an Ayurveda Intervention (Guduchighan Vati) in asymptomatic and mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.Methods: This was an open-label randomized controlled pilot study with a sample size of 30 participants (15 in each arm). The participants were asymptomatic or mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. Guduchighan Vati 500 mg twice daily for 10 days was administered in the intervention group as standalone therapy and Hydroxychloroquine in the control group.Outcome measures: Time to negative RT-PCR for COVID-19, proportion of participants turned RT-PCR negative for COVID-19 at 5th and 10th day, duration to achieve complete clinical recovery, improvement in laboratory parameters and incidence of Adverse Drug Reaction/Adverse Event. The data was compared within group using paired sample t-test/ Wilcoxon signed rank test and between group using independent sample t-test/Mann-Whitney test. The results of RT-PCR test was compared between group using chi-square test.Results: 93.3% participants turned RT-PCR negative for COVID-19 in the intervention group, as compared to 66.6% participants in control group till 10th day of the study period. However, the results are statistically insignificant (p = 0.068) which might be attributed to smaller sample size. All the symptomatic patients in the intervention group were clinically recovered at 5th day whereas 14 out of 15 recovered in the control group. No symptoms were observed at 10th day in both the groups. No adverse drug reaction/serious adverse event were observed during the study period.Conclusion: Guduchighan Vati is a safe and effective treatment for asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19 and it lowers the time to RT-PCR negative status without any adverse drug reaction/adverse event.
Surviving but not thriving: VOX and Spain in times of Covid-19
Authors: Zanotti Lisa , Turnbull-Dugarte Stuart James
Published: March 2021

We seek to advance the understanding of how the populist radical right in Spain reacted to Covid-19 in 2020. In particular, our contribution seeks to answer three questions. First, we consider the discursive and rhetorical tools adopted by the party. Second, we analyse how VOX, as an opposition party, has sought to challenge the governing coalition and the mainstream right. Specifically, we analyse the incentives, rationale, process and consequences party’s no confidence measure brought against the governing coalition. Third, we assess to what extent the party’s electoral potential has been influenced by the pandemic by analysing the party’s performance in the polls as well as support for VOX’s leadership amongst the party’s own voter base.
How to Register Yourself for vaccination in India
Authors: Mukherjee Dattatreya , Group West Bengal Digital COVID  Vaccine Survey , Sahay Sasthya
Published: March 2021

Poster on how to register yourself in COWIN App to get COVID 19 Vaccine in India
Handedness in Twins: Meta-Analyses
Authors: Pfeifer Lena Sophie , Schmitz Judith , Papadatou-Pastou Marietta , Peterburs Jutta , Paracchini Silvia , Ocklenburg Sebastian
Published: March 2021

Background: In the general population, 10.6 % of people favor their left hand over the right for motor tasks. Previous research suggests higher prevalence of atypical (left-, mixed-, or non-right-) handedness in (i) twins compared to singletons, and in (ii) monozygotic compared to dizygotic twins. Moreover, (iii) studies have shown a higher rate of handedness concordance in monozygotic compared to dizygotic twins, in line with genetic factors playing a role for handedness.Methods: We identified 59 studies from previous literature and performed three sets of random effects meta-analyses on (i) twin-to-singleton Odds Ratios (21 studies, n = 189,422 individuals), (ii) monozygotic-to-dizygotic twin Odds Ratios (48 studies, n = 63,295 individuals), and (iii) concordance Odds Ratios (44 studies, n = 36,217 twin pairs). We also tested for potential effects of moderating variables such as sex, age, the method used to assess handedness and the twins’ zygosity.Results: We found (i) evidence for higher prevalence of left- (Odds Ratio = 1.40) and non-right- (Odds Ratio = 1.36), but not mixed-handedness (Odds Ratio = 1.08) among twins compared to singletons. We further showed a reduction of difference over time, which suggests that higher levels of left-handedness observed in twins are linked to a higher frequency of birth complications which might have dropped nowadays in their overall prevalence because of better healthcare. While there was (ii) no difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins regarding prevalence of left- (Odds Ratio = 0.98), mixed- (Odds Ratio = 0.96), or non-right-handedness (Odds Ratio = 1.01), we found that (iii) handedness concordance was elevated among monozygotic compared to dizygotic twin pairs (Odds Ratio = 1.11). Moderator analyses showed our results to be robust against potentially confounding variables.Conclusion: We provide the largest and most comprehensive meta-analysis on handedness in twins. Results suggest that the previously reported effect that twins are more likely to be left-handed than singletons is robust. Furthermore, we also provide robust evidence that monozygotic twins are more likely to be concordant for handedness than dizygotic twins. In line with recent genome-wide association studies, this finding supports a partially genetic determination of handedness.
Affect and State Mindfulness
Authors: Karl Johannes Alfons , Fischer Ronald
Published: March 2021

Objectives Does individuals’ personality influence how mindful they are?Methods In a pre-registered experiment, we investigated whether previously established relationships between Neuroticism, Behavioral Inhibition, and Mindfulness are due to differences in negative affect reactivity. We expected participants high on Neuroticism and Behavioral Inhibition to show greater negative affect reactivity which in turn would reduce their mindful emotion regulation and self-awareness. We examined the change in mindfulness and affect of 331 participants after exposure to a negative affect stimulus and a distractor task.Results We found that while negative affect predicted lower Non-Judging and Acting with Awareness, negative affect reactivity did not mediate the relationship between Neuroticism/BIS and the mindfulness facets. Importantly, we only found effects of negative affect on mindfulness facets capturing self-awareness and emotion regulation but not general attention. This indicates that negative affect might shift cognitive resources to threat detection reducing resources available for mindful emotion processing. Conclusions Our study holds important implications for future research on individual differences in mindfulness, indicating that individual differences in mindfulness might be grounded in emotional state experiences.Compliance with Ethical Standards The authors do not have any potential conflicts of interest and informed consent was collected from all participants in the study.
Varieties and Variations of Functional Differentiation
Authors: Holzer Boris
Published: March 2021

Functional differentiation is associated with two salient features of globalization: First, societal subsystems such as the economy, science, religion and politics have become increasingly global in terms of the interconnectedness of their operations across the world. Second, they exhibit global structural similarities, for instance regarding functionally specific role relationships and corresponding formal organizations. However, functional differentiation entails not only more interconnectedness and homogenization but also considerable structural and institutional diversity. In this paper, I distinguish and examine two forms of diversity that emerge as consequences of functional differentiation: Varieties of institutional structures that concern different ways of addressing functionally specific problems, on the one hand, and on the other, the variation of forms of structural coupling among subsystems within a particular local or regional context.
Shivalinga : Symbolism, Typology and a Glance on Licchavi Shivalingas
Authors: Khanal Parajuli Sandhya
Published: March 2021

The images that look like a male and a female organ have been discovered around the world and are marked as sacred since the establishment of civilization. What does this image symbolize? Why do Hindus worship it and why is it personified as lord Shiva? The concentration to answer these queries through descriptive analysis of the linga is tried in this article. Lingas are found in various civilizations, including Indus valley, but the perception varies. Its tangible and intangible form and several varieties are its typology. This article is mainly based on symbolism of linga for various societies and for earlier Aryans. Linga, though varies in form, is a phallic symbolism of creation which was not accepted by the Aryans at first due to its nudity and straightforwardness. But after the realization of its core theme that the linga is the composition of prakriti and purush, it made them eager to establish through its reformed reality rather than his anthropomorphic form in honor of their supreme god, the creator and a destroyer, no other than lord Shiva who self-emerged as jyotirlinga. Almost all the typologies including maximum varieties of manmade lingas are found around Kathmandu valley but the choice of Licchavis for the establishement of linga with its specific typology and theme are discussed.
Determinan Laporan Keuangan Pemerintah Daerah dengan Penerapan Standar Akuntansi Pemerintahan Sebagai Variabel Intervening
Authors: Yulyanto Sutrio , Kiswanto Kiswanto
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh kompetensi sumber daya manusia dan efektivitas system pengendalian intern terhadap kualitas laporan keuangan pemerintah daerah dengan penerapan standar akuntansi pemerintahan sebagai variabel intervening. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah Aparatur Sipil Negara bagian keuangan di Organisasi Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Brebes. Pemilihan sampel menggunakan teknik sampel jenuh (sensus). Sumber data adalah data primer yang diperoleh dengan kuesioner. Teknik analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis Structural Equation Model (SEM) dengan menggunakan software SmartPLS 3.0. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa kompetensi sumber daya manusia dan efektivitas sistem pengendalian internal berpengaruh positif terhadap kualitas laporan keuangan pemeritah daerah dengan penerapan standar akuntansi pemerintahan sebagai variabel intervening. Simpulan dari penelitian ini yaitu kompetensi sumber daya manusia dan efektivitas sistem pengendalian internal mempunyai hubungan positif terhadap kualitas laporan keuangan pemerintah daerah.
Orientasi Pasar dalam Inovasi Produk dan Kinerja Bisnis Perbankan
Authors: Harianto Raden A , Sari Pratiwi Nila
Published: March 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh Orientasi Pasar dan Inovasi Produk terhadap Kinerja Bisnis Perbankan, di Jakarta. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan metode survei kausal dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Populasi target dalam penelitian ini adalah sebanyak 50 Bank (N = 50) di DKI Jakarta. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah teknik simple random sampling dan jumlah sampel dari penelitian ini adalah n = 99 responden. Pengumpulan data primer menggunakan metode kuesioner. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis Jalur (path analysis) lewat Software Lisrel 8.54. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa (1) Terdapat pengaruh langsung positif signifikan orientasi pasar terhadap inovasi produk dengan koefisien jalur sebesar p = 0,46 pada α = 0,05; (2) Tidak cukup bukti terdapat pengaruh langsung signifikan orientasi pasar terhadap Kinerja bisnis perbankan dengan koefisien jalur sebesar p = 0,09. (3) Terdapat pengaruh langsung positif signifikan  Inovasi Produk terhadap kinerja bisnis perbankan dengan koefisien jalur sebesar p = 0,44 pada α = 0,05 dan (4) Terdapat pengaruh tidak langsung positif signifikan orientasi pasar  terhadap kinerja bisnis perbankan  melalui inovasi produk dengan koefisien jalur sebesar  p = 0,28 pada α = 0,05.
PENGARUH LINGKUNGAN PENGENDALIAN DAN PENILAIAN RISIKO TERHADAP PENCEGAHAN KECURANGAN (FRAUD) PADA PSTNT BATAN BANDUNG
Authors: Satria Muhammad Rizal
Published: March 2021

Maraknya fenomena permasalahan hukum terutama berkaitan dengan korupsi, kolusi, dan nepotisme (KKN) dengan segala praktik kecurangan lainnya. Salah satu ladang terjadinya kecurangan adalah pada proses pengadaan barang dan jasa merupakan bagian yang paling sering terlibat dalam beberapa kasus. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji secara empiris pengaruh lingkungan pengendalian dan penilaian risiko terhadap pencegahan kecurangan (fraud) pada PSTNT BATAN. Analisis ini menggunakan variabel independen yaitu lingkungan pengendalian dan penilaian risiko. Variabel dependennya adalah pencegahan kecurangan (fraud). Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan sumber data primer berupa kuesioner yang dibagikan kepada karyawan di PSTNT BATAN sebagai sampel dalam penelitian ini, adapun teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah nonprobability sampling yaitu purposive sampling. Alat analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini meliputi uji validitas, uji reliabilitas, uji normalitas, analisis korelasi Spearman Rank, analisis regresi linear berganda, analisis koefisien determinasi, uji t, dan uji F. Hasil penelitian diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa Lingkungan Pengendalian dan Penilaian Risiko berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap Pencegahan Kecurangan (Fraud) baik secara parsial maupun secara simultan.
Financial Technology and Financial Inclusion on MSME:Mixed-Method Research Approach
Authors: Wati Lela Nurlaela , Isprihayadi Heri , Nisa Khoirun , Lutfi Mohamad , Suprapta Imam
Published: March 2021

This study aims to examine the role of financial technology in increasing financial inclusion in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. This research uses mixed-method research with sequential mixed methods especially sequential explanatory strategy. In the first phase, 116 questionnaires were given to respondents as many as 116 MSMEs then conducted interviews with respondents and related parties in depth. Empirical evidence shows that the role of Financial Technology has a positive and significant effect on Financial Inclusion. These results indicate that fintech can increase financial inclusion. Based on interviews, fintech products that are often used by MSMEs are third-party payment systems and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) type of payment systems. Examples of platforms that are often used by MSMEs are Go food, Gopay, Grab food, OVO, JakOne, M-Banking, and SMS Banking. For the Crowdfunding fintech type, it has not been implemented by many MSMEs. The large number of MSME entrepreneurs who have used fintech products in their businesses shows that MSME entrepreneurs have used financial services in the form of savings accounts so that it has an impact on increasing financial inclusion. Suggestions from the results of this study are the Government needs to conduct regular training on the use of financial technology to MSME actors, there are strong synergy and cooperation in developing a fintech system to improve the digital economic system at MSMEs. Regulations need to be updated with the development of innovations.
Developing front office service as benchmarking at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel
Authors:   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Kartini Luh Putu Ayunita , Triyuni Ni Nyoman ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Nadra Nyoman Mastiani ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this research is to know the implementation of service attributes and the benchmark of Front Office Department at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel to develop the services quality in front office department. The method of the data collection applied for this research are participant observation, interview, questionnaire, guests comment and documentation. This research used 30 respondents of front office staffs and the data was analyzed qualitative descriptively. The result of the study identified that, the implementation of service attributes in all sections in front office department is very good and all sections have score more than 4,0. The benchmark is Guest Service Agent with average score 4.95 or 20.89%. The lowest section is Telephone Operator with average score 4.43 or 18.69% because during working not care with SOP, not implement the service attribute so well, and the staffs have less knowledge on IT. The front office department should do the improvement and development on the service quality and the attitude of the staff. As the benchmark, the Gust Service Agent has done many ways to improve the service quality. The best way to improve the service quality, the hotel can use the benchmark as the standard to find the best strategy and technic how to improve and develop the service quality of the front office department at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel. The Guest Service Agent as the benchmark in front office department should be maintain their service as standard of the other sections to develop the service quality in the front office department at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel.
A Novel Ensemble Model - The Random Granular Reflections
Authors: Artiemjew Piotr , Ropiak Krzysztof
Published: March 2021

One of the most popular families of techniques to boost classification are Ensemble methods. Random Forests, Bagging and Boosting are the most popular and widely used ones. This article presents a novel Ensemble Model, named Random Granular Reflections. The algorithm used in this new approach creates an ensemble of homogeneous granular decision systems. The first step of the learning process is to take the training system and cover it with random homogeneous granules (groups of objects from the same decision class that are as little indiscernible from each other as possible). Next, granular reflection is created, which is finally used in the classification process. Results obtained by our initial experiments show that this approach is promising and comparable with other tested methods. The main advantage of our new method is that it is not necessary to search for optimal parameters while looking for granular reflections in the subsequent iterations of our ensemble model.
Associations of Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropathologic Changes with Clinical Presentations of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Tong Qiang , Chen Liam
Published: March 2021

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are the two most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases associated with age. Pathological studies have shown that these two diseases share a certain degree of neuropathological overlap. AD neuropathologic change contributes to cognitive impairment in PD. However, the impact of AD pathology on other clinical phenotypes in PD remains largely unknown. Objective: Herein we aimed to assess the impact of co-occurring AD neuropathologic change on the clinical phenotypes of PD. Methods: We examined 46 autopsy brains of PD patients and available clinical information to retrospectively assess the effects of comorbid AD pathology on dementia, hallucinations, and dyskinesia commonly seen in advanced PD. Results: AD neuropathology significantly increased the risk of hallucinations and dementia, but not dyskinesia in PD patients. Surprisingly, diffuse Lewy body pathology, but not AD pathology, was associated with the occurrence of dementia and hallucinations. Most importantly, we reported that the severity of neuronal loss in the locus coeruleus (LC), but not the severity of neuronal loss in the substantia nigra (SN), was associated with the occurrence of dyskinesia in advanced PD patients, while neither Lewy body scores in SN nor LC had significant effects. Conclusion: We show for the first time that neuronal loss in LC contributes to dyskinesia. Understanding the relationships between the two distinct pathologies and their relevant clinical phenotypes will be crucial in the development of effective disease-modifying therapies for PD.
Software test data generation technology based on polymorphic particle swarm evolutionary algorithm
Authors: Zhang Wenning , Zhou Qinglei
Published: March 2021

Combinatorial testing is a statute-based software testing method that aims to select a small number of valid test cases from a large combinatorial space of software under test to generate a set of test cases with high coverage and strong error debunking ability. However, combinatorial test case generation is an NP-hard problem that requires solving the combinatorial problem in polynomial time, so a meta-heuristic search algorithm is needed to solve the problem. Compared with other meta-heuristic search algorithms, the particle swarm algorithm is more competitive in terms of coverage table generation scale and execution time. In this paper, we systematically review and summarize the existing research results on generating combinatorial test case sets using particle swarm algorithm, and propose a combinatorial test case generation method that can handle arbitrary coverage strengths by combining the improved one-test-at-a-time strategy and the adaptive particle swarm algorithm for the variable strength combinatorial test problem and the parameter selection problem of the particle swarm algorithm. To address the parameter configuration problem of the particle swarm algorithm, the four parameters of inertia weight, learning factor, population size and iteration number are reasonably set, which makes the particle swarm algorithm more suitable for the generation of coverage tables. For the inertia weights.
Plasma Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein Reflects Risk and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Chen Szu-Ju , Chi Yu-Chiao , Ho Chang-Han , Yang Wei-Shiung , Lin Chin-Hsien
Published: March 2021

Background: Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) presents bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharides, to cellular surface pattern receptors for immune responses in the gut-brain axis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: We investigated whether plasma LBP levels were associated with PD severity and progression. Methods: This study included 397 participants (248 PD patients and 149 controls). We measured participants’ plasma levels of LBP and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, andIL-17A. PD patients underwent motor and cognition evaluations at baseline and at a mean follow-up interval of 4.7±2.3 years. We assessed the progression of motor and cognition symptoms based on changes in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III motor score and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, respectively. Results: Plasma LBP levels were lower in PD patients than controls (9.08±2.91 vs. 10.10±3.00μg/ml, p < 0.01). A multiple logistic regression model with adjustment for age, sex, and plasma cytokine levels revealed that reduced plasma LBP levels were associated with increased PD risk (odds ratio 0.816, [95% CI 0.717–0.929], p = 0.002). Among PD patients, LBP levels were correlated with MDS-UPDRS part III motor score after adjustment for confounders (coefficient = 0.636, p = 0.017), but not with MMSE score. Adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that higher plasma LBP levels associated with faster motor progression (adjusted hazard ratio 1.084 [95% CI 1.011–1.163], p = 0.024) during follow-up. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that plasma LBP levels reflect risk, motor symptom severity and progression in patients with PD.
Updating and Organizing Our Knowledge of Risk and Protective Factors for Lone-Actor Terrorism1
Authors: Corner Emily , Bouhana Noémie , Gill Paul
Published: March 2021

This chapter updates builds upon previous descriptive analyses of lone-actor terrorists, their behaviours, ideological backgrounds and degrees of ‘loneness’. It offers greater conceptual clarity, updated data and a more expansive set of variables from previous analyses. Individual vulnerability indicators examined here include potential indicators of cognitive susceptibility to moral change, and self-selection and social selection into radicalizing settings, notably membership of a social network containing one or more radicalized individual. We also examine exposure settings, attack-preparation behaviours and explore sub-set analyses of the data. The analyses informed by a Risk Analysis Framework which offers a multilevel, integrated meta-model of these events and allows for the synthesis of disparate findings. The analyses provide key insights into the behaviour of lone-actors, which could inform intelligence gathering and investigative practice, as such analyses already do in other crime prevention domains.
RooT37 – CUTA’s TRA Tool in Response to a Changing Threat Landscape
Authors: Boelaert Astrid , Thys Ben , Van Hoey Matthias
Published: March 2021

In this chapter the authors discuss the establishment of the Belgian ‘Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis’ (CUTA), its remits and fields of competence and how its scope was widened in the last few years because of changes in the threat landscape of problematic radicalization, extremism and terrorism and the changing tactics of the Belgian government to tackle them. In the second part of this chapter the authors elaborate on ‘RooT37’, a risk assessment tool that was tailor-made by CUTA to address its newly assigned tasks in the framework of the revised Belgian Action Plan on Radicalism. The tool takes several risk indicators into account to aid CUTA’s experts in making structured professional judgments about threats and risks posed by monitored individuals, and semi-automatically produces a threat level. Furthermore, it provides CUTA’s support agencies with clues for further investigation based on discovered information gaps through the assessment. Finally, it also points out opportunities for coordinated intervention by partner services to reduce the risk posed by monitored individuals. Certain characteristics of the methodology of the tool are described in more detail, as well as its advantages and some challenges for the future.
Wie radikal ist der Green New Deal?
Authors: Smith Tone
Published: March 2021

Die Idee eines Green New Deal (GND) ist nicht neu, aber in den letzten Jahren wurde eine Reihe von – mehr oder weniger radikalen – Vorschlägen entwickelt, insbesondere von linken Gruppen. Der Beitrag analysiert vier GND-Vorschläge und fragt, ob sie radikal genug sind, um eine Grundlage für die notwendige sozial-ökologische Transformation zu legen. Obwohl die Vorschläge viele progressive und radikale Elemente aufweisen, kommt der Beitrag zu dem Schluss, dass sie nicht weit genug gehen. Das Hauptproblem ist, dass ein New Deal seinem Wesen nach ein wirtschaftliches Wachstumsprojekt ist und damit den Mythos fördert, dass ein grünes Wachstum möglich ist.
PENINGKATAN KEMAMPUAN BERSAING DI DUNIA KERJA DENGAN PELATIHAN SOFTWARE ZAHIR ACCOUNTING
Authors: Setianingsih Setianingsih , Napisah Napisah , Anisa Anisa , Finatariani Endah , Darsita Ita
Published: March 2021

Institution Awareness to the citizens in order to increase the quality of education is a part of Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi. To apply the program, it needs a plan. Community service program. The general purpose of this community service program is to increase the competency of citizens of RW 003 Babakan Village, Kelapa Dua, Setu, South Tangerang using Zahir Accounting Software training. The activity of this community service program entitled Computerized Accounting. The trainers and the source speakers are from the lecturers of Accounting Major of Pamulang University (Universitas Pamulang). The result conducted on November, 1,2,3 2019 was increasing their ability to use computer and computerized accounting with Zahir Accounting Software. The trainees was enthusiastic with the material they had from the lecturers of Accounting Major of Pamulang University (Universitas Pamulang). The trainees directly used the software.Zahir Accounting Software becomes an attention for the entrepreneurs who need accounting software to support financial noting in their business easily, fast and accurately, so by practicing Zahir Accounting Software will increase the citizens' competence to look for a job Keywords: Software Zahir Accounting ; Computerized Accounting
Diagnostic Value of CT Angiography (CTA) in Carotid Cavernous Fistula (CCF) Patients Using the Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) as The Gold Standard: Observation in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya from January 2016 to July 2020
Authors: Amalia Laila , Hartono Yudi Sarastika  , Bambang Soeprijanto
Published: March 2021

Introduction: CT angiography (CTA) is the initial modality for diagnosing theCarotid Cavernous Fistula (CCF), identifying the type of CCF, measuring thediameter of the fistula and the diameter of the internal carotid artery (ICA) pre andpost fistula, and then confirmed by Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) as thegold standard. CTA is expected to provide more information to improve theaccuracy of CCF diagnosis to benefit therapy and prevent complications. Thisstudy aimed to determine the diagnostic value of CTA in CCF patients in Dr.Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya, using the DSA as a gold standard. Methods:An observational retrospective study of CCF patients met the inclusion andexclusion criteria and underwent CTA and DSA examinations at the RadiologyInstallation of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, from January 2016 toJuly 2020. Results: In the comparison of types of CCF CTA to DSA, the directgroup was 53.8% and 57.7%, respectively, while the indirect group was 46.1% and42.3% with a very strong correlation (κ = 0.922; p = 0.000), sensitivity was 93.3%,specificity was 100 %, PPV of 100%, NPV of 91.7% and accuracy of 96.15%. Directtype evaluation on the DSA showed a large picture of the fistula diameter; the ICApre fistula's size was enlarged; therefore, the ICA post fistula diameter wasreduced or absent. There was a strong correlation of fistula diametermeasurement results between CTA and DSA (r = 0.695, p = 0.006).Conclusion: CTA has a similarity rate of 92.2% with DSA in identifying the typeof CCF. The accuracy value of CTA is close to DSA in fistula diametermeasurements.
Emilia Pardo Bazán. A hora dos contos: unidade didáctica
Authors:   Casa-Museo Emilia Pardo Bazán, Angulo Miró Patricia
Published: March 2021

Sinalarium é un proxecto financiado pola Deputación da Coruña no que traballa a Casa-Museo Emilia Pardo Bazán para desenvolver actividades e recursos que potencien a dignificación da vida e da obra da escritora coruñesa. Cando falamos da obra literaria de Emilia Pardo Bazán non podemos esquecer a enorme variedade de contos que escribiu ao longo da súa vida: máis de 600 con temáticas tan diferentes como o amor, a terra, as lendas, os costumes, os crimes, as manías e obsesións, o medo, a violencia, a infancia, os animais... Coñecemos a través dos contos da escritora o mundo no que viviu, as viaxes, as lecturas, os faladoiros, as normas de comportamento... Os contos constitúen un dos mais eficaces instrumentos para iniciar as nenas e nenos na lectura. A programación que aquí presentamos ten como obxectivo descubrir, coñecer, interpretar e reinterpretar contos de Emilia Pardo Bazán, acercando as súas historias aos escolares de educación primaria, como un primeiro contacto coa literatura da escritora. Pretendemos que os contos recollidos nesta unidade didáctica penetren na conciencia dos mais novos para que poidan atopar a mensaxe que neles se transmite.
Career development and learning as demotivators in large companies of Primorje-Gorski kotar county, Croatia
Authors: Rupčić Nataša , Jakopič Ganić Marijana
Published: March 2021

In this paper, aspects of the human resource
management: motivation, career management and management of learning have been
analyzed on the sample of the largest companies in Primorje-Gorski kotar (PGK)
county. In this research, career management has been explored through the prism
of employee motivation, while a special emphasis was given to learning, which
could enable long term employability and career development of employees in
their current or organizations of their future employment. The questionnaire
was designed on the basis of the presented literature review and sent to a
total of 20 largest companies in PGK county based on the report by the Croatian
economic chamber, County chamber Rijeka. Even though the sample was small,
which is its main limitation, this research pointed to several deficiencies in
human resource management. Despite different expectations, the results have
shown that large companies in this county dedicate only average attention to
all three examined human resource management aspects. The most striking finding
is the fact that managers of the surveyed companies do not frequently resort to
non-material rewards that are easily available and show appreciation to
employees. This fact contributes to below average satisfaction of employees
with motivation programs, as expressed by managers. It is promising that the
surveyed companies invest above average efforts in the introduction of new
learning programs due to significant changes in business conditions. Weak and
negative correlation among the surveyed constructs and business results points
to possible deepening of current problems and gloomy forecasts regarding
further development of this county. These results could further exacerbate the
already devastating emigration and brain drain problem in Croatia.
Digitalne vještine kao perspektiva razvoja gospodarstva i važan čimbenik digitalne transformacije
Authors: Babić Ana
Published: March 2021

Gledajući kroz povijest, svaki val pokazuje svoju jedinstvenu uzročnost
između inovacije, difuzije, institucionalne promjene, promjene produktivnosti,
promjene u broju tvrtki i zaposlenika i relativne cijene čimbenika (Lundquist,
Olander i Svensson Henning, 2008). Povećanje broja tehnoloških inovacija
zahtijeva od današnjih djelatnika da neprestano ažuriraju svoje vještine kako
bi bili spremni odgovoriti na nove uloge u sektorima u kojima rade, na koje
utječu ili će utjecati nove tehnologije. U radu će biti prikazane inicijative koje
su poduzele pojedine vlade i tvrtke počevši od obrazovanja, posebno visokog
obrazovanja, prilagođujući nastavne programe, sudjelujući u izradi novih
kurikula te, u konačnici, u stvaranju nove radne snage koja je spremna
odgovoriti zahtjevima rada na tržištu digitalne ekonomije. Učinkovite vještine u
korištenju tehnologijom, u kombinaciji sa znanjem i kompetencijama za
inovacije, mogu povećati usklađenost digitalnih vještina s potrebama digitalne
ekonomije. Većina industrija i sektora prepoznaje da će, budući da se sve više
digitaliziraju, postojati sve veća potražnja za djelatnicima koji posjeduju
različite stupnjeve digitalnih vještina. Rad donosi pregled definicija
digitalnih vještina s detaljnim uvidom u područja koja obuhvaćaju te su
navedene razlike među pojmovima koji se vežu za digitalnu pismenost, kao što su
informacijsko-komunikacijska tehnološka pismenost, te informacijska, medijska i internetska
pismenost. Iznimno je važno navrijeme ’uskočiti’ u val
digitalnih promjena. Koliko su pojedine velesile poput SAD-a, Kine i Australije, u tome
uspjele te kakva je situacija u Europi i
u Hrvatskoj kada je u pitanju prilagodba vremenu digitalne transformacije, osnovna je svrha ovog rada.
Odgovor na navedena pitanja prikazan je u obliku
formulacija, definicija, statističkih podataka, strategija ulaganja te analizom
mnogobrojnih relevantnih izvora. U istraživanju su primijenjene induktivna i
deduktivna metoda, kao i metoda analize i sinteze.
KURUMSAL YÖNETİM İLKELERİNE UYUM DÜZEYİ: BIST BANKALAR ENDEKSİ ÜZERİNE BİR İNCELEME
Authors: ÖZÇELİKOĞLU Hatice , KİBRİTCİ ARTAR Okşan
Published: March 2021

20’nci yüzyılın son çeyreğinde önem kazanan kurumsal yönetim olgusuna yönelik SPK tarafından kurumsal yönetim ilkeleri belirlenmiş ve hisseleri borsada işlem gören kuruluşların bu ilkelere uyum göstermesi yasal bir zorunluluk haline getirilmiştir. Çalışma, finansal sektörde önemli bir yere sahip olan bankaların kurumsal yönetim ilkelerine uyum düzeyinin tespiti amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çerçevede bankalar tarafından kamuya açıklanan kurumsal yönetim ilkeleri uyum raporları incelenmiş, ayrıca kurumsal yönetim derecelendirme notları değerlendirmede dikkate alınmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, araştırma kapsamındaki bankaların kurumsal yönetim ilkelerine üst düzeyde uyum sağlamasına karşın 6 bankanın kurumsal yönetim ilkelerine uyum düzeyinin bağımsız derecelendirme kuruluşlarınca değerlendirilmediği görülmüştür. Ayrıca bankaların tabi olduğu bankacılık mevzuatı hükümleri ile kurumsal yönetim ilkeleri arasındaki birtakım uyuşmazlıklar nedeniyle uyum sağlanamayan ilkelerin büyük ölçüde benzeşmesi dikkat çekici bulunmuştur. Bu nedenle mevzuat hükümleri arasındaki uyuşmazlıkların giderilmesi veya bankaların öncelikli olarak bankacılık mevzuatına tabi oldukları dikkate alınarak, mevzuatlar arası uyuşmazlıklar nedeniyle uyum sağlanamayan ilkelerden muaf tutulmaları önerilmektedir.