bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Believe It Or Not: Covid 19 Environmental Effects Are More Negatives Than Positives
Authors: Oduniyi Oluwaseun Samuel , Riveros John M. , Hassan Sherif M. , Çıtak Ferhat
Published: February 2022

In addition to altering drastically people's daily lives, COVID-19 has slowed down economic activities, imposed restrictions, and enforced lockdown, altogether causing significant effects on the environment. Studying the direction, magnitude, and durability of these effects carries a serious lesson for the whole world. Preliminarily evidence suggests that COVID-19 has temporarily improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and noise pollution, yet, due to lock-down, the flourishing of delivery services has pulled up the single-use plastics, increased the usages of vehicles by a lower ratio of passengers/vehicle, and raised demand for energy. Using the approach of the Ambiental Kuznets curve, we investigate the impact of COVID-19 total cases on the monthly average of carbon monoxide emissions measured in micrograms per cubic across a sample of developed, heavy polluters, economies from 2014 to 2020. Driscoll-Kraay regressions confirm the COVID-19 long-run polluting impact by increasing monoxide emissions in countries of analysis.JEL Codes: I15, Q53
Abortitristoside A and Desrhamnosylverbanscoside: The Potential COX-2 Inhibitor From the Leaves of Nyctanthes Arbor-tristis as Anti-inflammatory Agents Based on the in-vitro Assay, Molecular Docking and ADMET Prediction
Authors: VISHWAKARMA RAHUL KUMAR , Negi Aaysha , Negi Devendra Singh
Published: February 2022

The plant Nyctanthes arbor-tristis belongs to the genus Betula (Betulaceae family) which is used is in the treatment of many diseases like diabetes, cancer, inflammation, intestinal problem and tuberculosis in many countries of Asia. In this analysis, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of various extracts of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis by the in-vitro method as the cyclooxygenase inhibitory potential. The reported phytochemical constituent of the plant was in-silico screened to find the cyclooxygenase inhibitory potential by molecular docking method. The molecular docking study of pre-isolated phytochemicals from the leaves of plants shows that compounds possess a great inhibition potential against COX-1 and COX-2 therefore, an in-vitro comparative study is required to conclude the selective and potential COX-2 inhibitor for the development of new anti-inflammatory drug without causing any gastrointestinal ulcer. Here we deliver a new strategy to design selective COX-2 inhibitor from the plant origin natural compound by using molecular docking technique and in-vitro screening of plant extract. In the other part of the paper abortitristoside A (1) and abortitristoside B (2) were isolated from the leaves part of the plant. The isolated compound possesses good activity against COX-2 and COX-1 with IC50 value (4.51-4.55 ug/ml against COX-2) which is also established by structure-activity relationship analysis.
Heat conduction effects in photovoltaic solar cells
Authors: Frenkel Ido , Niv Avi
Published: February 2022

The efficiency of a photovoltaic converter (solar cell) illuminated by a thermal source (sun) is commonly determined with Shockley and Queisser’s approach. The strength of this approach lies in its simplicity: All one needs to know is the solar cell’s bandgap, and the efficiency emerges from a detailed balance equation of the electron-hole pair generation and depletion rates at a given temperature. This article studies a single junction cell in outer space to show that a detailed balance approach is not always thermodynamically compatible. We then show that this inconstancy resolves once the cell’s sub-bandgap emission and absorption are included in its energy balance. Generalizing this result, we propose a unified formulation for a photovoltaic process that maintains its detailed balance constraints while not giving away thermodynamics’ first and second laws at all times and under any circumstances. Most importantly, our unified model allows heat conduction consideration to enter the photovoltaic analysis. Therefore, the proposed approach is critical for a single-junction cell and every photovoltaic process with an ample radiative power supply or limited conduction of heat such as concentrated space solar, thermo-photovoltaics thermoradiative, and thermophotonics power schemes.
Groundwater DNAPL contamination source-sink analysis research system based on the simulation-random statistical method for a practical case
Authors: Wang Han , Lu Wenxi
Published: February 2022

Groundwater DNAPL contamination source-sink analysis (GDCSA) has seldom been included in previous research on groundwater DNAPL contamination. In this study, a complete GDCSA research system was first established to include groundwater DNAPL contamination source identification (GDCSI), groundwater DNAPL contamination source-sink response relationship (GDCSRR), and spatial and temporal distribution and quantity (sink) of contamination. The object of most previous GDCSI studies has been a simple hypothetical example in which the contamination source was always generalized as a point. For a complex contamination source that cannot be generalized as a point, identifying its shape depicts the source in actual practical terms and ensures the accuracy of GDCSI. In this case study of a practical dye chemical factory in Hebei Province, China, firstly shape of DNAPL contamination source was identified. Then, GDCSRR was determined based on GDCSI result. Finally, sink of contamination based on GDCSRR was determined. Compared with a single study of GDCSI, this complete GDCSA research system provides a reference for identifying the polluter and also provides a more precise basis for contamination remediation scheme design and contamination risk assessment in practical cases. In this paper, we applied parallel heuristic search iterative process (PHSIP) based on simulation-random statistics method to solve GDCSI. However, the repetitive invocation of numerical simulation model has high computational cost during PHSIP. An effective method is to construct surrogate to emulate the simulation model at low computational cost. However, there is a complex nonlinear mapping relationship between input and output for multiphase flow simulation model with large number of variables and high dimension. The accuracy of a surrogate using shallow learning methods needs to be improved. Therefore, we have introduced deep-belief neural network (DBNN) surrogate to emulate the simulation model. A combination of hypothetical and practical cases was adopted in this study. Test of the proposed approaches for the hypothetical case revealed that the DBNN surrogate approximated the multiphase flow simulation model more closely than shallow learning surrogates, and that the PHSIP obtained accurate identification results. These tested approaches and the GDCSA research system were finally applied to the practical case.
The clinical target volume delineation of para aortic lymph node region for adjuvant radiotherapy based on the regularity of lymph node metastasis in biliary tract cancer
Authors: Long Xin , Wu Han , Peng Jin , Yang Lei , Xu Hui , Dai Jing , Wang Wenbo , Xia Ling , Zhou Fuxiang
Published: February 2022

Background: To determine the high-risk lymphatic drainage area and the precise delineation of para aortic clinical target volume(CTV) for biliary tract cancer(BTC) according to the regularity of lymph node metastasis(LNM). Methods: The imaging records of patients with BTC from 2015 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The metastasis risk for different lymph node regions was assessed. The impact of different recurrence sites on survival was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier method. The diagnosed para aortic lymph nodes(PALNs) were manually mapped to standard axial CT images. Referring to the distance from the volume center of lymph nodes to the edge of aorta, the asymmetric CTV expansion from para aortic were defined. Results: A total of 251 LNMs were identified in study cohort. These lymph nodes mainly concentrated in group 16a2 (13%) and 16b1 (17%). In validation cohort, a total of 93 LNMs were diagnosed and the highest involvement region was 16b1(33%), followed by 16a2. The upper boundary of 16a2 and the lower boundary of 16b1 were defined as the superior border and the inferior border of para aortic CTV，respectively. 18 mm in the front, 12 mm on the left and 24 mm on the right for para aortic CTV were considered as the optimal expansion range. The CTV expansion included 96% (73/76) of PALNs in 16a2 and 16b1 in study cohort and 96% (47/49) of PALNs in validation cohort. Besides, the prognosis in patients with PALN recurrence was significantly better than that in patients with distant organ recurrence(Hazard Ratio(HR)=0.219; 95% confidence interval（CI）0.067-0.711; P=0.006) and was not significantly worse than that of patients without PALN (HR=3.271; 95%CI 0.704-15.185; P=0.111). Conclusions: The lymph metastasis risk of PALN 16a2 and 16b1 was the highest and Based on the distribution of PALNs, a new para aortic CTV was defined to construct a more accurate target volume.
Evaluating the perceptions of ESL students towards collaborative learning on improving their writing skills
Authors: Bonsu Emmanuel Mensah
Published: February 2022

Developing the writing skills of ESL students have been the focus of language education scholars for the past three decades. This relates to the importance writing has accrued among the other language skills. Collaborative learning has been debated as an approach to improve the writing skills of students. The study investigated (a) the perceptions of ESL students towards collaborative learning, and (ii) the perceived effect of collaborative learning on the writing skills of ESL students. Thirty participants from an English language course were randomly sampled. The quantitative analyses and discussion show that students have a positive perception towards collaborative learning which influences their interest to be actively and frequently engaged in it. Peer feedback was essential to improving the writing skills and developing general language skills through collaborative learning. The study reports an overall effect of collaborative learning improving the writing skills of learners. After providing the limitations of the study, implications and recommendations are stated for further research.
Preparation of novel N-CNT nanocomposite as an adsorbent for removal of As+3 toxic ions and DFT calculation
Authors: Meshkat Seyyed Salar , Hoseini Zeinab , Mehrabi Romina , Ghasemy Ebrahim , Esrafili Mehdi
Published: February 2022

This work aimed at developing novel adsorbents to remove arsenic ions in an aqueous solution. To this end, the use of polymeric materials and functionalized nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) was considered to adsorb arsenic ions from aqueous solutions. In this regard, the effects of experimental parameters including pH, contact time, initial concentration of metal, and the adsorption temperature were studied. According to experiments, the optimum solution pH for arsenic adsorption at 20 °C was 7. As the contact time increased, the adsorption rate increased and reached equilibrium after 10 minutes. The arsenic adsorption capacity of Polyether Sulfone/N-CNT nanocomposites increased with increasing temperature. The highest adsorption capacity was achieved at 49 °C. The equilibrium data obtained in the initial concentration range of Arsenic and the studied temperature was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption kinetics revealed that the arsenic adsorption followed the Pseudo-First order and Weber Morris equation. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS) indicated that the arsenic adsorption in the temperature range of 332-296 K was spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption properties of the modified N-doped carbon nanotubes towards arsenic ions were also studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
A Predictive Model for Student Performance in Classrooms Using Student Interactions With an eTextbook
Authors: AbdElrahman Ahmed , Soliman Taysir Hassan A , Taloba Ahmed I. , Farghally Mohammed F.
Published: February 2022

With the rise of online eTextbooks and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), a huge amount of data has been collected related to students’ learning. With the careful analysis of this data, educators can gain useful insights into the performance of their students and their behavior in learning a particular topic. This paper proposes a new model for predicting student performance based on an analysis of how students interact with an interactive online eTextbook. By being able to predict students’ performance early in the course, educators can easily identify students at risk and provide a suitable intervention. We considered two main issues the prediction of good/bad performance and the prediction of the final exam grade. To build the proposed model, we evaluated the most popular classification and regression algorithms on data from a data structures and algorithms course (CS2) offered in a large public research university. Random Forest Regression and Multiple Linear Regression have been applied in Regression. While Logistic Regression, decision tree, Random Forest Classifier, K Nearest Neighbors, and Support Vector Machine have been applied in classification. Based on the findings of the experiments, the algorithm with the best result overall in classification for this data was Random Forest Classifier with an accuracy equal to 91.7% while in the regression it was Random Forest Regression with an R² equal to 0.977.
Influence of tillage tools on agrophysical indicators of soil fertility and rice productivity
Authors: Bekzhanov Serik , Kultasov Bekzatkhan , Tokhetova Laura , Tautenov Ibadulla
Published: February 2022

Under the Kyzylorda region, the zonal technology of the tillage system for rice provides for up to 8–10 passes of various units in the same field. The technologies used are often based on the use of obsolete machines, which leads to many negative developments. According to the scheme of field experiments, a traditional plow PLN-5-35 (control) and a swing plow Lemken Juwel 7 have been studied during fall plowing. It was found that the use of the Lemken Juwel 7 swing plow contributed to base on, obtaining the ridges coefficient of 1.09 due to the same size and shape of the layers and their location at the same distance, while in the check this figure was 1.15. The use of the Lemken Juwel 7 swing plow and the Horsch Terrano 4 FX cultivator in the tillage system of meadow-boggy soils for rice in the conditions of the Kyzylorda region contributes to an increase in yield by an average of 0,71 t/ha.
Unravelling the interplay of ecological processes structuring the bacterial rare biosphere
Authors: Jia Xiu , Dini-Andreote Francisco , Salles Joana Falcão
Published: February 2022

Background: Although biological communities harbor many rare species, i.e., the rare biosphere, relatively little is known about how distinct ecological processes structure their existence. Here, we combined null modelling with spatiotemporal turnover in taxa rarity to model assembly processes of the rare biosphere. Results: We found that an overall influence of homogeneous selection (i.e., spatiotemporally constant variables) in driving the assembly of the rare biosphere whereas the common biosphere is governed by a broader array of processes, from which variable selection (i.e., spatiotemporally fluctuating variables) plays the primary role. By partitioning rarity types, we further found that homogeneous selection explained the prevalence of permanently rare taxa, suggesting their persistent low abundances to be restrained by physiological traits. Variable selection explained the dynamics of conditionally rare taxa, indicating their ability to switch between rarity and commonness by responding to spatiotemporal variation. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of ecological mechanisms that maintain microbial diversity from the rare biosphere perspective. It also provides a new perspective on how to predict dynamic changes in the rare biosphere through space and time.
Estimates of prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among blood donors in eight provinces of South Africa in November 2021
Authors: Cable Russel , Coleman Charl , Glatt Tanya , Grebe Eduard , Mhlanga Laurette , Nyano Cynthia , Pieterson Nadia , Swanevelder Ronel , Swarts Avril , Sykes Wendy , Berg Karin van den , Vermeulen Marion , Welte Alex
Published: February 2022

In line with previous instalments of analysis from this ongoing study to monitor ‘Covid Seroprevalence’ among blood donors in South Africa, we report on analysis of 3395 samples obtained from 8 to 12 November 2021 in all provinces of South Africa except the Western Cape. As in our previous analyses, we see no evidence of age and sex dependence of prevalence, but substantial variation by province, and by race within each province, from which we generated provincial total point estimates (EC-74%; FS-75%; GP-68%; ZN-73%; LP-66; MP-73%; NC-63%; NW-81% ) and a ‘South Africa minus Western Cape’ national prevalence estimate of 71% (95%CI 69-74%). We note that sample collection occurred just before the omicron variant driven wave in South Africa, but otherwise present these results without significant interpretation.
CAA-PPI: A Computational Feature Design to Predict Protein-Protein Interaction using different Encoding Strategies
Authors: Mewara Bhawna , Sahni Gunjan , Lalwani Soniya , Kumar Rajesh
Published: February 2022

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) carry out an extensive variety of biological procedures, containing cell-to-cell interactions, metabolic and developmental control. PPI is becoming one of the most important aims of system biology. PPI act as a fundamental part in predicting the protein function of the target protein and drug ability of molecules. Abundant work has been done to nurture methods to predict PPIs computationally as this supplements laboratory trials and offers cost-effective way of predicting the most likely set of interactions at the entire proteome scale. This article presents an innovative feature representation method (CAA-PPI) to extract features from protein sequence using two different encoding strategies and then an ensemble learning method, the Random Forest method is used as a classifier for PPIs prediction. CAA-PPI considers the role of trigram and bond of given amino acid with its nearby ones. The proposed PPI model achieves more than 98 % prediction accuracies with one encoding scheme and more than 95 % prediction accuracies with another encoding scheme respectively for the two diverse PPI datasets i.e. H. Pylori and Yeast. Further investigations are made to compare the CAA-PPI approach with existing sequence-based methods and reveals the proficiency of the proposed method with both encoding strategies. To further assess the practical prediction competence, a blind test has implemented on five other species’ datasets independent of the training set, and obtained result ascertains the productivity of CAA-PPI with both encoding schemes.
Only Header: A Reliable Encrypted Traffic Classification Framework without Privacy Risk
Authors: Cui Susu , Liu Jian , Dong Cong , Lu Zhigang , DU Dan
Published: February 2022

Encrypted traffic classification plays a critical role in network management, providing appropriate Quality-of-Service and Network Intrusion Detection. Conventional port-based and deep packet inspection (DPI) approaches cannot classify encrypted traffic effectively. Methods based on machine learning can classify encrypted traffic by extracting statistical features of the flow. However, they require manual extraction of features. Recent studies show that the approaches based on deep learning are compelling for the task. They can automatically learn raw traffic features without manual feature extraction. However, these studies still take the payload of encrypted traffic as the model input, which may cause privacy risks. Besides, a massive encrypted payload causes great storage pressure on traffic classification. In this paper, we propose a reliable encrypted traffic classification framework by only using the flow header called Only Header, which avoids privacy risks and achieves lightweight storage. Firstly, we introduce a twice segmentation mechanism to dilute the interference traffic and increase the weight of effective traffic. Then we use capsule neural networks (CapsNet) to learn spatial and byte features of the flow header. The Only Header's effectiveness is compared with other methods using two public datasets, including ISCX VPN-nonVPN and ISCX Tor-nonTor datasets.
Load Balancing Technique Based on Network Segmentation and Adaptive Sleep Scheduling for 5G-IoT Networks
Authors: Rashad Rashad , Sudhir Sudhir
Published: February 2022

In Fifth Generation (5G) network, small cells have been incorporated to meet the growing demands for mobile traffic and ubiquitous service. It also enables Internet of Things (IoT) applications that will be positioned all over with mobile broadband technology. As modern IoT applications have active and varied necessities, several systems arrange mixed sorts of network sources consequently. Prevailing studies recommend methods for sustaining the distribution of network segments to diverse applications proficiently.Balancing the loads amongst the cells turns out to be one of the significant problems in cellular network. In this paper, a load balancing technique based on network segmentation and adaptive sleep scheduling for 5G-IoT networks is proposed. In this technique, for each network segment,sub-segments are formed and grouped to process IoT application shaving different Quality of Service (QoS)requirements. The improved DBSCAN algorithm is used for sub-segmentation and grouping. based on a combined rank of QoS factors. In the next phase, each small cell base station (SBS) executes adaptive dynamic sleep scheduling based on its load level. In the load balancing policy of SBS, when the average load of any SBS increases beyond the load of the Macrocell, the overloaded traffic can be moved to the Macrocell. Simulation results are validated against the analytical results and hence prove that the proposed LBNSASS technique achieves higher success probability and power efficiency with reduced energy consumption and packet drops of SBSs when compared to existing technique.
The vibration analysis of a nanobeam due to a ramp-type heating under Moore-Gibson-Thompson theory of thermoelasticity
Authors: Al-Lehaibi Eman A. N.
Published: February 2022

Micro/nanobeams find extensive appreciation due to their employment as resonators. The current study investigates a thermoelastic homogeneous isotropic nanobeam exposed to ramp-type heating as a thermal loading. The governing equations of the nanobeam have been deduced in the context of the Moore-Gibson-Thompson thermoelasticity theory. The Laplace transform technique has been applied, while its inversions have been calculated by using Tzou numerical technique with approximation. When a rectangular thermoelastic nanobeam composed of silicon nitride is easily supported, the numerical findings have been confirmed and presented in the figures. It is worth noting that the ramp-time heat parameter has a substantial impact on all of the functions investigated. The parameter that distinguishes the Moore-Gibson-Thompson model from the standard thermoelastic model has a minor influence on temperature increment but has a considerable effect on lateral deflection, strain, and stress distributions.
Age-related changes in cerebral index and thalamic size in mesocephalians
Authors: Balandin Anatolii A. , Zheleznov Lev M. , Balandina Irina A.
Published: February 2022

Objective: to identify the pattern of age-related changes in the cerebral index and to determine the dynamics of trans-verse and longitudinal thalamic dimensions in mesocephalians according to magnetic resonance imaging. Material and methods. The data of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain of 78 people (37 men and 41 women) were analyzed. Depending on the age, all the subjects were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 43 people (21 men and 22 women) of the first period of adulthood (29.19±0.73 years), group II - 35 people (16 men and 19 women) of senile age (78.97 ± 0.61 years). The cranial width index and cranial length index were calculated from the outermost protruding points on the axial section in 3D reconstruction mode. Morphometric examination of the thalamus included determining its linear dimensions in the axial plane: transverse (distances from the most distant medial and lateral points) and longitudinal (distances from the most distant anterior and posterior points). Results. Analysis of head index values revealed their statistically significant prevalence in men compared to women in the first period of adulthood (p<0.01). In old age, there were no sex differences, but there was a tendency for the values of the head index to prevail in men compared to women (p>0.05). Transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the thalamus in both hemispheres were found to be predominant in both males and females in the first period of adulthood in comparison with old age (p<0,01). When comparing the thalamic dimensions of the right and left hemispheres, both in the first period of adulthood and in senile age, no statistically significant differences in parameters were found, but there was a tendency for their predominance in the left thalamus (p>0.05). Conclusion. The results obtained in this study add to the information available in the scientific literature on age-related changes in the cerebral index as well as on the morphometric characteristics of the thalamus in both sexes during the first period of adulthood and in old age, making it possible to implement a personified approach in medical practice as well as to use these data in further clinical and basic research.
Regenerative activity of regulatory peptides in experimental bone fracture
Authors: Smakhtin Mikhail Yu. , Bobyntsev Igor’ I. , Dudka Viktor T. , Cherdakov Viktor Yu. , Vorvul Anton O. , Chulanova Anna A. , Smakhtina Angelina M.
Published: February 2022

The aim of the study was to provide a comparative assessment of reparative osteogenesis activity and neutrophil func-tion when thymogen, dalargin, Gly-His-Lys (GHK) peptides and their paired combinations were injected into the experi-mental fracture area. Materials and methods. Peptides were administered to Wistar rats in the area of fracture for ten days from the day of injury. Equimolar single doses of the drugs were used: dalargin - 1.2 µg/kg, while thymogen and GHK were injected in a dose of 0.5 µg/kg weight. Reparative activity of osteogenesis was assessed histologically and radiologically. Phagocytic and oxygen-dependent activity of the blood neutrophils was determined. Results. All peptides and their paired combinations increased the activity of reparative osteogenesis. Even more pro-nounced bone repair activity was observed after the injection of GHK peptide in combination with dalargin or thymogen with maximum intensity in animals treated with combined administration of GHK and dalargin. The fracture of the femur bone in experimental rats was also accompanied by a decrease in phagocytic and oxygen-dependent activity of neutrophils. The peptides increased the indices of neutrophils activity more markedly when using paired combinations of peptides and with the manifestation of a corrective effect in animals receiving combined administrations of GHK and dalargin. Conclusion. Synergistic action of Gly-His-Lys peptides, thymogen and dalargin significantly enhances reparative and stimulating neutrophil function in tubular bone fractures and can be used to activate reparative osteogenesis and neutrophil bactericidal activity.
Countering terrorism and extremism by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Authors:   The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Bastrykin Alexandr I.
Published: February 2022

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of one of the most complex problems of our time — terrorism. Terrorism in modern Russia and in the world poses a real threat to the security of society and the state. The work presents the activity of the National Antiterrorism Committee in coordinating and organizing interagency interaction aimed at combating terrorism, with the involvement of civil society institutions. Particular attention is given to the legal framework for countering terrorism, which includes constant monitoring and analysis of terrorist activity, Russian legislation in this field, and the preparation and adoption of relevant legal acts aimed at increasing the effectiveness of countering terrorism. The article analyzes the work of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation on the use of criminal law measures to combat terrorist crimes using specific examples and statistics. The issues of blocking the financing channels of terrorist organizations in the course of joint activities by the Investigative Committee of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the FSB of Russia and Rosfinmonitoring are also addressed. It is emphasized that effective cooperation between all interested departments makes it possible to achieve positive results in countering terrorism and extremism. The author proposes to minimize the consequences of terrorist crimes on the Internet related to the recruitment of new members of terrorist organizations, including among the youth. The conclusion is made that it is necessary to increase the role of the informational component for crime prevention. The mass media should be used more actively for timely and reliable posting of information related to actions by law enforcement to counter terrorist activities and educate citizens. This would make it possible to form a negative attitude towards radicalism in all its manifestations and reject any attempt to justify terror.
Artificial intelligence and legal expertise in public administration
Authors:   Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation, Talapina Elvira V.
Published: February 2022

The legal comprehension of artificial intelligence (AI) is at an initial stage, despite its history and practical applications. The purpose of the study is to assess the capacity of using AI for legal expertise in public administration. General legal expertise improves the quality of a normative legal act, anti-corruption expertise serves to reduce the propensity for corruption. The implementation of AI must be regulated, and a transparent certification system should be created. In public administration among the reference points for regulating AI, it is noted that the personal data-processing mode should take into consideration the specific features of each application of AI; the mode should be differentiated. The transparency of using AI should be indisputable. A particular complex issue for regulation is AI learning. Different types of expertise correspond to different lists of stakeholders and data-in-use. The application of AI for anti-corruption expertise will be most effective in relation to draft regulatory legal acts. AI is able to contribute to the legal certainty of an act, and AI anti-corruption expertise learning will reduce the number of participants in the process. To implement this, it is important to consider the following circumstances. Firstly, the ability to process big data affords the opportunity to “teach” AI in predicting corruption violations, which is important for anti-corruption expertise based on a modeled assumption. Secondly, special attention is required for AI learning in terms of expert subtleties in assessing legal certainty. Thirdly, the anti-corruption evaluation algorithm must be combined with existing classifiers of legal acts, glossaries. Anti-corruption expertise using AI makes it possible to minimize subjectivity, unify approaches in interpreting corruption factors, increase the overall quality of normative legal acts and meet legal and technical requirements under the condition of strict regulation of AI learning and usage.
Legal status of the president of the court as a judge and organizer of judicial activities: Structure and models
Authors:   The North-Western branch of the Russian State University of Justice, Zholobov Yaroslav B. , Kornev Viktor N. ,   Russian State University of Justice
Published: February 2022

The article considers the structure of the legal status of the president of a general jurisdiction court in the Russian Federation. The authors show that the term “legal status” is much more appropriate for court presidents than “legal position” and “legal state”. A structure of the legal status of the president of a general jurisdiction court consisting of five elements is proposed: the procedure for appointment; guarantees of judicial activity determining the peculiarities of the court president’s legal status compared to other holders of state power; competence of the court president; procedure for activity termination; responsibility. The article shows that though the legal status of the president is derived from the legal status of a judge, it has significant differences since a judge is assumed to have experience in professional activities, unique personal qualities, organizational and communicative skills, and therefore it is necessary to consider the professional and titular legal status of the court president. The key challenges associated with the development of the legal status of the president of a general jurisdiction court in Russia are identified, such as the lack of a clear hierarchy of sources where international legal standards are present in regard to both a mandatory and advisory nature, various legal acts, decisions of judicial bodies, documents from the judicial community; many issues determining the legal status of presidents of general jurisdiction courts are duplicated in a number of sources; the powers of court presidents can be determined in documents that, at first glance, regulate completely different types of public relations (enforcement proceedings, combating corruption, preventing child neglect and juvenile offences, etc.). The work proposes ways to improve the regulatory framework governing the legal status of the president of a general jurisdiction court in Russia.
Problems of legal regulation of operative-investigative support for the security of the Russian Federation
Authors:   Far Eastern Law Institute of the Russian Interior, Semenchuk Vasilii V.
Published: February 2022

The article discusses the problematic issues of implementing operative-investigative activity related to obtaining information on threats to the security of the Russian Federation. According to the author, the main problem is a contradiction in the provisions between the Federal Law “On the operative-investigative activity” with the sectoral legislation regulating the state bodies engaged in operative-investigative activity. First of all, the terminology of the sectoral legislation does not comply with the Federal Law “On operational-investigative activity”. Secondly, sectoral legislation does not provide the same degree of protection for all types of security of the Russian Federation. For example, sectoral legislation does not permit operative-investigative activity in order to identify threats to environmental safety. Thirdly, officials of state bodies do not always clearly understand which law to execute. We can conclude that only the bodies of the Federal Security Service and the Federal Guard Service are directly vested with the rights to carry out operative-investigative activity in order to identify threats to the security of the Russian Federation. However, officials involved in operative-investigative activity often do not take into account their operational-search jurisdiction and go beyond their established authority. In order to eliminate this problem, the author proposes to bring the provisions of sectoral legislation in line with the Federal Law “On operative-investigative activity”. Another problem that impedes the effective operative-investigative support for the security of the Russian Federation, in the author’s opinion, is the insufficiency of specification of security threats as grounds for conducting operative-investigative measures. The author proposes to address in the legislation the most significant threats to the security of the Russian Federation, which can be regarded as independent grounds for implementing operative-investigative measures.
Title creditors’ claims to be paid after the claims listed in the Claims register in insolvency proceedings
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Yulova Ekaterina S.
Published: February 2022

The article is devoted to the consideration of one of the categories of creditors’ claims. In most cases, these claims are not listed in the Сlaims register. These are allowed claims that are paid after claims listed in the Claims register. In the Russian scientific literature and in judicial practice, these claims are called “claims after those listed in the Register”, “post-listed claims”. The article analyzes the concept and types of such creditors’ claims, the procedure for their accounting and payment in legislation, court practice, scientific research and the draft Federal Law “On Amendments to the Federal Law ‘On Insolvency (Bankruptcy)’”. The author analyzes the legal problems associated with the lack of both legal consolidation of these legal categories and a unified approach to their content. The development of the composition of the claims “after those listed in the Register” in the domestic legislation and judicial practice is considered. Related terms developed by legal science are compared by the author. The criteria and grounds for lowering the priority, as well as exceptions from the list of claims “after those listed in the Register”, adopted in law enforcement practice are highlighted. The legal regime and the ratio of types of creditors’ claims are investigated. Special attention is paid to the issue of determining, in theory and in practice, the moment of settlements on the claims: within the insolvency proceedings or after its conclusion. It is concluded that the unresolved legal problems noted in the article entail a violation of the rights and legitimate interests of creditors, contradictions in law enforcement practice. The author makes proposals to change the current legislation in terms of defining the concept, types, accounting procedure and procedural aspects for payment of creditors’ claims to be paid after the claims listed in the Claims register.
Experimental investigation of oxygen transfer efficiency in hydraulic jumps, plunging jets, and plunging breaking waves
Authors: Hoque Ashabul , Paul Anip Kumar
Published: February 2022

The scope of the paper is to analyse the different similarities of air entrainment among the hydraulic jumps, plunging jets, and plunging breaking waves and to discuss current practices. The measured data are reexamined and scrutinised to investigate the gas exchange phenomena through an air-water interface. In particular, oxygen transfer efficiency and penetration depth by air bubbles are discussed. The calculated results highlight that the oxygen transfer efficiency is decreased with the increase of energy dissipation rate both in plunging jets and breaking waves. In contrast, it is shifted almost parallel in the case of hydraulic jumps. In addition, the aeration lengths in the hydraulic jumps and penetration depths both in plunging jets and plunging breaking waves were dependent on the jet impact velocity.
Phage Displayed Peptide Libraries
Authors: Cesareni Gianni , Castagnoli Luisa , Cestra Gianluca
Published: February 2022

Peptide libraries may be constructed by grafting, in vitro, random DNA sequences into a carrier gene and then introducing the degenerate hybrid coding sequence into an expression organism. This review will focus on phage display, which was the first expression organism for peptide library expression to be described and which still maintains predominance in this area because of its simplicity, minimal cost, ease of manipulation, power and robustness. Using phage as the host, a repertoire of random peptides can be expressed that may be searched by a variety of screening or selection procedures. By physically associating each element of the peptide library with its coding sequence, selection for a property of a specific peptide results in the enrichment of the corresponding gene thus facilitating its cloning and amplification. This review focuses on the construction and screening of peptide libraries displayed on filamentous phage capsid and only briefly discusses the display of proteins and protein domains.
A Novel Cleavage Protocol For Use With Rf-Encoded Split Pool Synthesis Technology: Product Cleavage and Collection in Standard 96 Well Format
Authors: D'Andrea Stanley  V. , Andres C.  J. , Swann R. T. , Grant-Young K. , Deshpande Milind  S.
Published: February 2022

A novel protocol which employs commercially available, standard tools and hardware has been developed. This protocol allows for cleavage and collection of IRORI Microkan products in 96 well plate format. Typically, 640 compounds can be cleaved in a 4 hour time period using approximately 3 square feet of space. This protocol has been used successfully for the liberation of thousands of individual compounds, in single compound per well format from the solid phase. Additionally, this protocol is the first example of making IRORI Microkan technology directly compatible with standard 96 position deep well blocks.
Elogio da demora: Bill Viola e a estética da desaceleração
Authors: De Sales Cristiano
Published: February 2022

Este ensaio apresenta partes de um estudo que tem sido feito acerca das possibilidades de se vivenciar, por meio da arte, instantes de fissura no tempo acelerado da vida contemporânea. O artista norte americano Bill Viola tem se dedicado à videoarte desde a década de 1970 e um dos temas que aparece poetizado em suas instalações, sobretudo a partir do século XXI, é a desaceleração do tempo. O repertório teórico com o qual olhamos para esse fenômeno vem da crítica cultural e filosofia contemporâneas, tais como Rebecca Solnit (2016), Jonathan Crary (2016), Jacques Rancière (2012), entre outros. Trata-se de um estudo especulativo ensaístico.
Reflexões sobre literatura em meios digitais: entrevista com Samira Almeida
Authors: Galvão Eliane , Kirchof Edgar
Published: February 2022

Samira Almeida Pinto é especialista em Educomunicação, pela Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo (2015), com pesquisa sobre tecnologia eletrônica e inovação em leitura, e literatura infantojuvenil e sua integração na educação formal e não formal de crianças. Possui graduação em Comunicação Social – Jornalismo –, pela Universidade Metodista de São Paulo (2002) e pesquisou a relação entre tecnologia e jornalismo com o título "As novas tecnologias e a ética no fotojornalismo” com bolsa de iniciação científica da FAPESP, sendo orientada por Ronaldo Entler. Tem experiência há mais de dez anos como editora de revistas de arte e arquitetura (Revista Bamboo e Revista Dcasa), e como repórter dos mesmos temas (Casa Claudia, Casa Vogue, Kaza, Arquitetura & Construção, Robb Report e Folha de S. Paulo), além de colaborar com os portais iG e UOL, escrevendo reportagens e colunas sobre moda, luxo, decoração, turismo, arte, cultura e empreendedorismo. Foi editora de livros de arquitetura (Ed. Casa Mix) e autora de um livro infantojuvenil convencional (Paulus Editora).
Patrimonio cultural inmaterial a través de la planificación participativa en Saraguro. Caso Inti Raymi comunidad las lagunas, Ecuador.
Authors: León Rodrigo , Angamarca Valdivieso Julissa Elizabeth
Published: February 2022

La investigación tuvo como objetivo contribuir al desarrollo turístico a través de la intervención en la fiesta del Inti Raymi del cantón Saraguro, provincia de Loja, con enfoque en el patrimonio cultural inmaterial y la participación activa de sus población; donde se caracterizó el territorio, diagnosticó la fiesta, identificó actores involucrados, problemas, necesidades, potencialidades, FODA, servicios y atractivos turísticos disponibles en la comunidad; a través de revisión bibliográfica, levantamiento de información en encuestas, fichas, talleres participativos y visitas de campo. Los resultados se basan en la participación activa de los actores locales y observación directa en la planificación y ejecución del Inti Raymi. Los resultados tienen el enfoque: 1) Analizar las características histórico-culturales del Inti Raymi, 2) Evaluar el potencial turístico del Inti Raymi. Referente al análisis de las características de la festividad se basó en entrevistas e investigación de antecedentes y actualidad de la festividad. En la evaluación del potencial turístico se utilizó la ficha de usos sociales, rituales y actos festivos (INPC), así como el MARPP como método de análisis rápido y planificación participativa; y para determinar el análisis de la demanda se realizó una encuesta de tres secciones: datos generales, perfil y percepciones.
Estrategias para el desarrollo de la gestión de la innovación como habilidad directiva en la Facultad de Turismo de la Universidad de la Habana.
Authors: Hernández Flores Yoan , Quintana Soto Melissa , González Peraza Brenda de la Caridad
Published: February 2022

Las habilidades directivas y los procedimientos para su desarrollo y evaluación, en años recientes, se han hecho más notables en la Educación Superior. La práctica de las mismas resulta necesaria en cualquier nivel jerárquico; por ello, se exige un proceso de estudio y proyección para alcanzar los estándares planeados en la Universidad de La Habana. La presente investigación se orienta en el estudio del nivel de importancia y desempeño de la habilidad de gestión de la innovación en los directivos de la Facultad de Turismo de la Universidad de La Habana para, en consecuencia, proponer un diseño estratégico que garantice su mejora continua. Con dicho propósito, se emplearon métodos empíricos y teóricos, que permitieron realizar un análisis integral de dichas habilidades. Los resultados arrojados por la investigación reflejaron la falta de identificación de las capacidades que se tienen y, de las que, se requieren para el buen desarrollo de la gestión de la innovación; lo anterior, generó la propuesta de estrategias y planes de acción para su implementación.
corrupción y su impacto en el crecimiento de la pandemia sars-cov-2 en Sudamérica
Authors: Izaguirre Olmedo Jorge Andrés , Bazurto Campuzano Evelyn Devenny
Published: February 2022

La declaratoria de emergencia sanitaria por parte de los gobiernos como respuesta a la pandemia del SARS-COV-2, permite la utilización de recursos que mitiguen los efectos sobre la población. El proceso para la asignación de dichos recursos genera incentivos de corrupción que se han observado en diferentes países. En este artículo se analiza la corrupción y su efecto sobre el crecimiento de la pandemia. La metodología utilizada es cuantitativa y se basa en la estimación de un modelo de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios que utiliza como variable dependiente el factor de crecimiento de la pandemia y como variables independientes al índice de percepción de la corrupción, el PIB Per Cápita y una dummy para países de Sudamérica. Los resultados muestran que en los países en los que se percibe un mayor índice de corrupción, la pandemia presenta tasas de crecimiento más altas que en los países con menor percepción de corrupción. El estudio concluye en la necesidad de estudiar métodos para disminuir posibilidades de corrupción ante escenarios de emergencia sanitaria.