bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bifunctional RhIII-complex catalyzed CO2 reduction and NADH regeneration for direct bioelectrochemical synthesis of C3 and C4
Authors: Wang Yajie , Li Hailong , Wu Yizhou , Wang Yuxuan , Zhang Kai , Zhu Jin , Ji Yuan , Gu Tao , Nie Weixuan , Sun Licheng
Published: September 2024

Bioelectrochemical synthesis is emerging as an eco-friendly method for CO2 fixation. These systems typically rely on electrochemically regenerated NAD(P)H to provide the necessary reducing equivalents for formate dehydrogenase (FDH) to convert CO2 into formate. However, the efficiency of these systems is currently unsatisfactory due to the unfavorable dynamics of the CO2-to-formate conversion by FDH. In this study, we developed a one-pot cooperative bioelectrochemical system featuring a rhodium-based catalyst [Cp*Rh(bpy)Cl]2+ (RhIII-complex or [RhIII-H2O]2+) working cooperatively with enzymatic cascades of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ACDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), formolase (FLS), and d-fructose-6-phosphate aldolase mutant FSAA129S to convert CO2 into several C2+ chemicals. The bifunctional RhIII-complex concurrently catalyzes the reduction of CO2 to formate at a rate of 15.8 mM/h and NADH regeneration at a rate of 0.24 mM/min. The formation of formate is 83.2 times faster than using one of the best aerobic FDH from Clostridium ljungdahlii (ClFDH), resulting in a 3.6 times enhanced methanol production rate of 0.43 mM/h in the bioelectroenzymatic system (RhIII-complex-ACS-ACDH-ADH) compared to that of 0.12 mM/h in tandem enzymatic system (ClFDH-ACS-ACDH-ADH). Bifunctional RhIII-complex also works cooperatively with tandem enzymatic cascades to produce dihydroxyacetone (C3) and L-erythrulose (C4) at the yield of 2.63 mM, and 1.93 mM, respectively. This study leveraged the synthetic capabilities of both electrochemical catalysis and enzymatic catalysis, offering an alternative for electroenzymatic CO2 reduction to yield value-added compounds with enhanced productivity.
Insight in the characteristics of humic substances with cotton straw derived organic materials amendments
Authors: Song Xiangyun , Fan Yihe , Li Jianwei , Zhang Yan , Liu Xinwei , Hussain Qaiser , Zhang Jinjing , Cui Dejie
Published: September 2024

Carbon sequestration by application of organic materials and biochar in soil is an important strategy to increase soil organic carbon (SOC), but the stability of SOC, particularly humic substances (HS) vary with the types of organic material. In this study, cotton straw and its derived compost and biochar were added with equivalent carbon content to soil and incubated for 180 days. The structural characteristics of humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and humin (Hu) were investigated using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that biochar treatment increased the aryl C of HA, FA, and Hu by 1.38%, 1.68%, and 10.46% compared to straw treatment and increased the aryl C of HA, FA, and Hu by 1.46%, 1.99% and 2.01% compared to compost treatment. The O-alkyl C of HA was 10.59% and 10.65% in high biochar/straw and biochar/compost ratios respectively, while it was 9.81% and 9.61% in low biochar/straw and biochar/compost ratios. In addition, the O-alkyl C of FA was 62.83% and 58.48% in high ratios of biochar/straw and biochar/compost, respectively, while it was 55.85% and 55.94% in low ratios of biochar/straw and biochar/compost. These results suggest that biochar is advantageous for aryl C formation of FA and Hu due to its high aryl C content, whereas straw or compost is advantageous for alkyl C formation of HA. The stability of aryl C and O-alkyl C of HA, FA, and Hu can be improved in soils by incorporating biochar in combination with straw or compost.
Optimization of Wind Turbine Location and Sizing for Loss Minimization and Voltage Profile Enhancement Using Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Rachdi Taha , Saoudi Yahia , Chrifi-Alaoui Larbi , Errachdi Ayachi
Published: September 2024

Numerous areas of power systems require finding solutions to nonlinear optimization issues, such as, the optimal location of wind turbines. In order to enhance the voltage profile and reduce line power losses. This research suggests two optimization techniques for figuring out the best wind turbine location in a distribution system. The suggested methodology based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) techniques to minimize the objective function. These algorithms are applied for IEEE 14 bus distribution system using MATLAB R2010a and the Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT). The results indicate that the obtained optimal values of the wind turbine location using particle swarm optimization technique are located at bus numbers 3, 6, 7, and 9, with a reduction in power losses of 85%. Additionally, the voltage profile across the system buses showed significant improvement, maintaining the voltage levels within permissible limits and closer to the nominal values. The genetic algorithm also provided effective results, demonstrating the robustness of both methods in addressing the optimization problem. Overall, this study highlights the potential of GA and PSO in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of power distribution systems by strategically integrating wind turbines. The comparative analysis between the two algorithms provides valuable insights into their performance, convergence characteristics, and computational efficiency, making them viable tools for modern power system optimization
Internal omental hernia: a rare case of small bowel obstruction
Authors: Bochra Rezgui , Anis Ben Dhaou , Morthada Boukhchim , Aymen Mabrouk , emna Ouertani , Moussa Mounir Ben
Published: September 2024

INTRODUCTION:
Internal hernia represents an exceptionally uncommon occurrence of small bowel obstruction, with an incidence rate ranging from 0.2% to 0.9%,and it is associated with a substantial mortality rate of approximately 45%.transomental hernias are exceptionally uncommon, accounting for just 1–4% of all internal hernias. We report a case of a transomental hernia with obstruction due to a strangulated small bowel.
CASE REPORT:
A 67-year-old man patient,presented with symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction characterized by vomiting,and abdominal pain. Abdominal examination revealed abdominal distension with epigastric tenderness. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast enhancement revealed an intestinal obstruction in the right lower quadrant, with the presence of the beak sign, indicatingthe location of the small bowel obstruction (SBO) transition zone. Emergency laparotomy surgery revealed an entrapped segment of the small intestine protruding through a defect in the greater omentum. The entrapped small intestine was successfully freed, and as the ileal segment remained viable, there was no need for bowel resection. The patient remained in the intensive care unit for 15 days,was discharged from the hospital on the 28th day after admission, and experiencedcomplete recovery thereafter.
CONCLUSION:
In cases of acute abdomen suspected to involve internal hernia, the primary task for the surgeon is the prompt identification of acute intestinal obstruction and an immediate recommendation for laparotomy. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of significant postoperative complications, as demonstrated by the current case.
An Anatomization Model for Multiple Sensitive Attributes based on the Domain of Sensitive Values and the Confidence of Data Re-Identification
Authors: Riyana Surapon
Published: September 2024

Purpose: An anatomization model is presented in this work. It is proposed to address privacy violation issues in datasets that have multiple sensitive attributes. Both major aims of the proposed model is to balance the data utility and data privacy in datasets when they are released to utilize in the outside scope of the data-collecting organizations.
Methods: To achieve the aims of the proposed model, the sensitive attributes of datasets are separated to be two groups. That is, the nominal and continuous sensitive attributes. With all nominal sensitive attributesi of datasets, the data utility and data privacy are balanced by $C$ as the maximum confidence of data re-identification and the summation of the diameter of the sensitive values that are available in the specified sensitive hierarchy for each nominal sensitive attribute. Another group of sensitive attributes, the continuous sensitive attributes, the data utility and data privacy of each sensitive attribute sx are balanced by Rsx as the minimum confidence range of data re-identification and the summation of the different ranges of all partitions that are available in the datasets. For privacy preservation, before datasets will be released, their tuples are partitioned by considering the values of each sensitive value with C and Rsx. With each nominal sensitive attribute, the summation of sensitive value diameters of all partitions is minimized. With each continuous sensitive attribute, the summation of the different ranges of all partitions must also be minimized. Moreover, every partition is separated into both tables, i.e., the quasi-identifier and sensitive tables, such that each partition of them is utilized by joining the set of its defined tuple identifiers.
Results: The proposed model is evaluated by using extensive experiments. The experimental results indicate that the proposed model is more effective and efficient than the compared models. Moreover, datasets are satisfied by the privacy preservation constraint of the proposed model, they can guarantee the confidence of data re-identification.
Understanding bird-tree interactions in an urban garden of a neotropical city: the role of species traits and site characteristics
Authors: Díaz-Álvarez Edison A. , Colorado-Hernández José L. , Rebolledo Isabel Vega
Published: September 2024

Cities represent novel environments in which birds must survive, but in many cases urban planners ignore the importance of urban vegetation, both for human well-being and for biodiversity. For these reasons, with an observational study of birds visiting an orange tree in a family garden, we recorded the species and the number of visits of each, to assess the main factors that determine the number of visits of birds. We recorded 29 species from 16 families visiting the orange tree during four months of observations. Parulidae and Icteridae were the most common families. 12 species were rare, 8 were occasional, 6 were frequent and 3 very frequent. Of the 29 species observed, 11 were observed perching and 18 were observed foraging. The most important trophic guild was the invertivores, represented by 14 species, followed by the omnivores with 10, the frugivores and granivores with two each. Body mass ranged from 3 to 183 gr. 18 species were resident and 11 were migratory. While there was no single parameter that explained the visiting pattern observed in the orange tree, weight, origin and use can be good indicators of the possible species that visit this tree. In addition, the characteristics of the site may also play a role. Although our study is small, it offers detailed insight into bird visiting patterns to a single tree within the urban landscape of a Neotropical city. Future studies should aim to increase the number of observation points throughout the city, especially in family gardens.
For Better or Worse: The Relation between Sexual Functioning and Sexual Behavior Frequency during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Social Distancing Measures in a Chilean Sample
Authors: Quintana Gonzalo R. , Santibáñez-Palma Francisco , Escudero-Pastén Javier
Published: September 2024

The global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 significantly impacted various aspects of human life, including sexual health and behavior. To date, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, have reported declines in sexual function and variations in sexual behavior during the pandemic, with women generally experiencing a more pronounced negative impact than men. Despite the fact different studies have shown their variations amid the pandemic, a study has yet to establish more detailed on how variations in sexual behavior frequencies correlate with sexual function dimensions. At the same time, there is no account of how the pandemic affected these measures in the Chilean population. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study evaluated how variations in partnered and solo sexual behavior frequencies during the pandemic and their relation with sexual function among 2,555 adult Chilean men, women, and gender non-binary individuals. Results showed decreases in partnered sexual behaviors, like intercourse and dating, were linked to lower sexual function scores, particularly in satisfaction and desire. For women, reduced frequency of most sexual behaviors (i.e., sexting, foreplay, sexual fantasies, masturbation, and sexual intercourse) significantly increased the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in desire, arousal, and satisfaction. For men, decreased foreplay and intercourse were associated with a higher likelihood of erectile dysfunction and reduced overall sexual satisfaction. In contrast, only men whose frequency of foreplay, sexual fantasies, pornography consumption, and sexual intercourse increased experienced a significantly better sexual function. The magnitude of these changes varied from small to moderate across findings. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on the sexual health consequences of the pandemic, particularly within the Chilean context, and underscoring its value and the preparation of future pandemics.
Decision making methods in Political Economy of health policy in crises: A systematic review for hospitals.
Authors: Farantos Georgios , Karaiskos Christos , Ntounias Christos , Tsialta Fotini , Ntounias Georgios
Published: September 2024

Introduction: we will attempt to fill an important gap that emerged from the preliminary literature review: Do Decision-making methods in hospitals reach homogeneous conclusions about their application? Methods: For this systematic review, we have searched PubMed, Heal-link, Register PROSPERO and OSF, and forward and backward citations for studies published between databases inceptions and July 30, 2024. The studies we included based on the inclusion criteria we formulated for the search would have no spatial restriction and were searched in English and French. The search was performed with tools according to the JBI Evidence Synthesis Method. We transformed the results and used KNIME software workflows to extract the results. We classified the studies according to their characteristics and extracted correlations between the variables considered. Main findings: the decision methods were classified into three categories according to KNIME's cluster analysis: financial crisis, covid-19, personal crisis. Efficiency measurement is prominent among the decision methods. The most used method is DEA. The results of the research were presented using visualization methods. Discussion: we discussed the heterogeneity among the studies considered found through clustering. We also discussed the extent to which the correlations confirmed the significance and certainty of the questions. Conclusions: the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the studies demonstrated confirmation of the initial hypothesis: decision making methods in hospitals in crisis do not exhibit homogeneity. The conclusions of the study are important for policy makers and have a strong social impact. We believe that the research will open space for further research in the future.
Role of Hyponatremia and Antihypertensives in Falls
Authors: Şirali Semahat Karahisar
Published: September 2024

Falls in older adults represent a significant public health concern. Specific drug categories represent a significant risk factor for falls, yet there is a paucity of awareness regarding this issue. The use of diuretics in the treatment of hypertension has been associated with an increased risk of complications related to electrolyte imbalance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of hyponatremia and antihypertensives in patients who have experienced a fall.
Methods: The study included a total of 322 patients who had been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of fall-related injuries. At the time of hospital admission, the following data were recorded: age, gender, presence of disease, medications, presence of fracture, and laboratory values. Two groups, with and without hyponatremia, were compared. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 73.28 years (±14.26), and 60.2 % were female. The use of antihypertensive drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) (p=.037), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) (p=.045), beta-blocker (p=.041) and ACE+HCT (p=.046) was significantly higher in the group with Na≤135mEq/L than in the group with Na≥136mEq/L. Logistic regression analysis showed that hyponatremia was 2.2 times and female gender was 1.9 times more effective in the occurrence of fracture, furosemide use was 2.2 times, and SSRI use was 1.8 times more effective in the development of hyponatremia.
Conclusion: Careful use of antihypertensives that cause hyponatremia in older adults will be effective in preventing falls and their complications.
Abnormal Anterior Pituitary Hormone Levels and Possible Neuroendocrine Relationships in Females With Hand Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study.
Authors: Azevedo Mario Newton Leitao , Vaisman Mario , Moss Ingrid Bandeira , Bianchi Breno Valdetaro , Bica Blance Elena Rios Gomes
Published: September 2024

Background. Hand Osteoarthritis (HOA) presents genetic and hereditary characteristics and related to menopause with inflammatory symptoms.
Aim. To evaluate the anterior pituitary and sexual hormonal profiles of climacteric women with HOA and identify the probable link with hypothalamic commitment of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) and TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone).
Methodology. A retrospective, controlled trial on climacteric females patients with HOA compared to healthy women, and all submitted to hormonal evaluation by RIA for estradiol (E2), progesterone (PRG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), parathyroid stimulating hormone (PTH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
Results. The groups were homogeneously related to age, menopause onset, and expected climacteric levels of E2, PRG, FSH, ACTH, GH, and PTH; the HOA group, without black patients (p<0.000), presented more abnormal tests than the controls (<0.0000) in 86.4% (95%CI67,2-96.4) of the sample, and related to low levels of LH in 40.9%(95%CI22.1-61.9) and FSH in 9.09%(CI95%1.5-26.9), 45.4%(CI95%25.8-60.1) patients with increased levels of TSH (p<0.000) and 31.8%(CI95%15.1-53.0) with high PRL levels (p = 0.04). The analysis of hypothalamic dependence demonstrated that 50.0% (CI95% 29.7-70.2) of the sample presented low LH/FSH levels related to GnRH and 77.2%(CI95%56.5-01.1) with TSH/PRL levels associated with TRH.
Conclusion. The HOA patients exhibit more hormonal abnormalities than the control group, and trend to sub-clinical syndromes of hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, and hypogonadism hypogonadotropic only related to LH and ovarian hormones, and these findings demonstrated a probable neuroendocrine participation in HOA physiopathology.
Is anterior fusion still necessary in patients with neurologically intact thoracolumbar burst fractures? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Grin Andrey , Karanadze Vasiliy , Lvov Ivan , Kordonskiy Anton , Talypov Aleksandr
Published: September 2024

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of anterior, combined approaches, and short-segment pedicle screw fixation (PSF) without fusion in patients with neurologically intact thoracolumbar burst fractures (TLBF).
Methods: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Inclusion criteria comprised articles published between 2004 and 2023, full-text availability in English, burst fractures without spinal cord or nerve root injuries at admission, short-segment PSF without fusion, anterior or combined fusion methods, patients aged 18 or older, and a minimum 12-month follow-up.
Meta-analysis was carried out using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Using a single-arm meta-analysis method, pooled indicators of short- and long-term outcomes for each studied group were determined. The obtained data were then compared using simple comparison.
Results: The pooled mean Cobb angle at admission for the anterior, combined, and PSF groups was 14.2° (95% CI, 9.7–18.7), 13.2° (95% CI, 10.8–15.7), and 17.1° (95% CI, 15.1–19.1), respectively. Surgery achieved similar levels of kyphosis correction across all groups, but only the PSF group experienced significant correction loss after discharge (SMD = -0.582 [95% CI, -0.810, -0.354]), amounting to 3.7°. The anterior vertebral body compression rate at admission was 54.4% (95% CI, 45.7-63.0) in the combined group and 37.8% (95% CI, 33.7-41.9) in the PSF group.
Operative time, blood loss, and hospitalization duration were lowest in the percutaneous PSF group, with means of 96.5 minutes (95% CI, 82.4–110.6), 83.8 ml (95% CI, 71.7–95.9), and 6.6 days (95% CI, 4.7–8.5), respectively. The anterior approach showed a lower incidence of deep wound infections and implant-related complications. The pooled complication rates or the combined and PSF groups were 6.5% (95% CI, 2.7–14.5) and 5.6% (95% CI, 4.3–7.3), respectively.
The pooled Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were 17.6 (95% CI, 11.8–23.3) for the anterior group, 15.4 (95% CI, 11.5–19.3) for the combined group, and 13.4 (95% CI, 10.4–16.3) for the PSF group.
Conclusions: For patients with neurologically intact TLBF with a kyphotic angle of less than 19.10 and an anterior vertebral body compression rate of less than 41.9%, anterior fusion can be avoided in favor of short-segment PSF without fusion. When determining the surgical approach, the surgeon should weigh the moderate advantage of anterior fusion in maintaining postoperative correction of kyphotic deformity against its significantly greater surgical trauma. Anterior and combined fusion have not demonstrated advantages over the posterior approach in the ODI during long-term outcomes assessment.
Integrative Methodologies for Evaluating Bidirectional Impacts in University-Community Engagements
Authors: Rojas Fernando
Published: September 2024

University-community engagement represents a critical dimension of higher education institutions’ roles in society, focusing on fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between universities and local communities. This study reviews and synthesizes existing methodologies for evaluating the bidirectional impact of these engagements, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive framework that integrates both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The review identifies key approaches such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for measuring efficiency, Ex-Post Impact Assessment for quantifying economic, social, and psychological impacts, and Socially Modified Economic Valuation (SMEV) for assessing social value. Furthermore, qualitative methodologies, including Sequential Explanatory Design and Evaluation Capacity Building (ECB), are discussed for their role in capturing the nuanced, context-specific benefits of these engagements. The proposed integrative methodology combines these approaches to provide a holistic evaluation framework that not only measures tangible outcomes but also captures the intangible benefits that contribute to the long-term sustainability of university-community partnerships. The application of this methodology is illustrated through simulated data, demonstrating its utility in real-world contexts. This study underscores the importance of adopting a multifaceted evaluation strategy to accurately assess the impact of university-community engagements and inform future policy development. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on enhancing the societal role of universities by ensuring that engagement initiatives are both effective and sustainable.
Nonmoral beliefs are better predictors of moral judgments than moral values
Authors: Beal Bree Laran , Rottman Joshua
Published: September 2024

Moral psychologists typically explain moral cognition by invoking abstract moral values like fairness and loyalty. We argue that this approach is inadequate, particularly in accounting for moral disagreements between people who share similar values. Our new paradigm addresses this problem by instead modeling moral cognition as a function of relevant nonmoral beliefs. One hypothesis stemming from this “Is→Ought” model is that relevant beliefs will predict moral judgments on controversial issues better than abstract moral values like the “moral foundations”. We found strong support for this hypothesis: Across two studies of U.S. adults (N = 361), nonmoral beliefs outperformed values in predicting moral judgments on each of eight controversial topics. When controlling for political affiliation, relevant beliefs were the only robust predictors. These findings support the view that people’s moral divisions are determined not, as presently assumed, by their values, but instead by their different views on relevant details.
Fokus digitale Lehre: Ein multiperspektivisches Qualifizierungskonzept
Authors: Zoller Antje , Froitzheim Manuel , Hahm Oliver
Published: September 2024

Der Kern des Konzepts liegt in der Multiperspektivität, die sich zentral in der kombinierten Beratungsstruktur aus Hochschuldidaktik, technischer Infrastruktur und Werkzeuge, Medientechnik und -produktion, Informationskompetenz sowie E-Assessment ausprägt und dezentral um fakultäts- und fachspezifische Perspektiven erweitert wird. Dies ermöglicht eine Vielzahl an zielgruppenspezifischen Angeboten, die sich neben der inhaltlichen Vielfalt sowohl in differenzierten Einstiegsniveaus als auch in vielfältigen Formaten (Workshops, Sprechstunden, Ticketsystem, Infoveranstaltungen, Tutorial, Informationsportal etc.) und Sozialformen (Einzel- und Gruppenberatung, Vernetzung der Lehrenden) abbildet.
Erhöhung sozialer Eingebundenheit in digitalen Lernsettings – Reicht die Einführung einer digitalen Lernplattform aus?
Authors: Merz Nora , Rack Oliver , Schlatter Monika
Published: September 2024

Die digitale Transformation führt an Hochschulen zum vermehrten Einsatz digital unterstützter Lernsettings. Dadurch stellt sich die praxisrelevante Frage, wie sich die Einführung einer digitalen Lernplattform auf die soziale Eingebundenheit von Studierenden auswirkt. Durch Interviews (N=10) und eine Fragebogenerhebung (N=35) wurde untersucht, welchen Einfluss technische Features einer digitalen Lernplattform auf die soziale Eingebundenheit in einem Studiengang besitzen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass nicht die technischen Features allein, sondern die Rahmenbedingungen einer digitalen Lernplattform sowie Kontaktangebote von Bedeutung für die soziale Eingebundenheit von Studierenden sind. Ergebnisse und Handlungsempfehlungen werden diskutiert.
The Impact of Cognitive Absorption Dimensions on the Appropriation of ICTs among students of Public Universities in the Casablanca-Settat region, Morocco
Authors: MDARBI Said , SIMOUR Lhoussain , BOUFAROUJ Chaimae , BELKEBIR Zineb , STILI Khadija , ENNADI Mouad
Published: September 2024

Over the past two decades, the use of Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the classroom as part of the learning environment has grown considerably. The value of the ICT in education (ICTE) is now widely recognized and accepted. The promptness of development in the digital has put forth pressure on organizations, particularly higher education institutions, to integrate ICT in teaching activities as well as in the entire university environment. These pressures have involved all the actors in higher education, who are increasingly improving the quality of their services. Within the same vein, teachers and learners are currently taking courses in a hybrid mode, to be acquainted with the new learning strategies. Previous research has focused heavily on studying the educational performance of students with regard to the use of ICT independently of the contribution of cognition and appropriation of ICT in student performance. Accordingly, this research explores the impact of the dimensions of cognitive absorption (CA), inspired by the flow theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990), on the appropriation of ICT. We conducted a quantitative study among students of Moroccan public universities in the Casablanca-Settat region, and used the structural equation method (SEM), through the SMART PLS 4.0 software. The study used data collected from a sample of 184 students. In our study, the structural equation modeling revealed that CA has a significant and positive impact on ICT appropriation among public higher education students. The findings indicate that an exploration of CA in the Moroccan higher education environment is important to understand students’ learning needs for better educational performance.
RÉGIMEN RIMPE EMPRENDEDOR Y EL CUMPLIMIENTO DE DEBERES FORMALES
Authors: Lucio Pillasagua Adela del Jesús , Veloz Vera Gabriela Vanessa
Published: September 2024

Este estudio analiza el régimen RIMPE emprendedor y el cumplimiento de los deberes formales en la empresa Pinturas El Socio, ubicada en el Cantón El Carmen. La problemática principal radica en la falta de conocimiento y recursos para gestionar adecuadamente las obligaciones tributarias, lo que puede llevar a incumplimientos y sanciones. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio fue determinar cómo incide el régimen RIMPE emprendedor en el cumplimiento de los deberes formales de Pinturas El Socio. La metodología empleada incluyó investigación de campo, no experimental y correlacional, utilizando un enfoque mixto con métodos descriptivo, analítico, deductivo, histórico, estadístico y bibliográfico. Los resultados de las entrevistas revelaron que tanto el gerente general como la contadora tienen un conocimiento básico del régimen, pero el cumplimiento de obligaciones presenta desafíos, especialmente en la gestión de declaraciones y pagos.
SOSTENIBILIDAD FINANCIERA EN EL MANEJO DE RECURSOS DEL CUERPO DE BOMBEROS
Authors: Delgado Gutiérrez Zoila Marianita , Álvarez Morán Odalis Yonabel
Published: September 2024

El estudio consideró la problemática de la insuficiencia de fondos, herramientas y procesos bien definidos en la gestión financiera, lo que impide la optimización efectiva de recursos. En este sentido, el objetivo fue determinar cómo la gestión financiera incide en la optimización de recursos del Cuerpo de Bomberos Pedro Carbo para proponer mejoras. La metodología empleada combinó enfoques cualitativos y cuantitativos, utilizando encuestas estructuradas y entrevistas con el contador y tesorero. Los resultados indican que el 60% de los funcionarios considera que nunca se realizan auditorías internas o externas, y el 47% señala que el apoyo financiero del gobierno local es “casi nunca”. Además, el 33% de los funcionarios percibe la gestión financiera como “regular”. Las conclusiones destacan la necesidad de implementar auditorías regulares, mejorar la capacitación del personal en prácticas financieras y asegurar un apoyo financiero constante del gobierno local para optimizar los recursos y garantizar una gestión sostenible y eficaz.
EFICIENCIA EN LA PLANIFICACIÓN PRESUPUESTARIA DEL GOBIERNO AUTÓNOMO DESCENTRALIZADO PARROQUIAL MEMBRILLAL
Authors: Burgos Aguayo Ximena Maribel , Quiñónez Cercado Mónica del Pilar
Published: September 2024

Este estudio, realizado en el GAD Parroquial Membrillal, se centró en analizar la eficiencia en la planificación presupuestaria, destacando su importancia en la asignación efectiva de recursos y la ejecución de proyectos comunitarios. La problemática radica en la carencia de recursos asignados, lo que impacta la capacidad del GAD para cumplir con sus objetivos y atender las necesidades de la parroquia. El objetivo fue evaluar el nivel de eficiencia presupuestaria y su contribución al desarrollo local. Se empleó una metodología mixta, utilizando métodos deductivo, inductivo y analítico, con la entrevista dirigida al director de la dirección de planificación y presupuesto. Los resultados revelaron que, en 2023, el GAD ejecutó el 85,31% del presupuesto asignado para administración general y el 56,61% en gastos de inversión, mientras que, en 2021, las cifras fueron de 70,50% y 60,17% respectivamente. Las conclusiones indican que, aunque la planificación presupuestaria ha sido relativamente efectiva, la falta de compromiso en la comisión de planificación y la ausencia de un enfoque en la mejora continua limitan su potencial.
PLANIFICACIÓN FINANCIERA Y SU IMPACTO EN LA EFICIENCIA DEL USO DE LOS RECURSOS DEL GAD PARROQUIAL LA AMÉRICA
Authors: Quiñónez Cercado Mónica del Pilar , Quimis Alvarado Alexandra Jamileth
Published: September 2024

Este estudio sobre la planificación financiera y su impacto en la eficiencia del uso de los recursos en el Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Parroquial La América del cantón de Jipijapa, la problemática identificada se centra en la insatisfacción con la planificación financiera y la falta de efectividad en los procesos de ejecución. En este sentido, el objetivo del estudio es determinar cómo la planificación financiera incide en la eficiencia del uso de los recursos. Para lograrlo, se aplicó una metodología que incluyó encuestas a los miembros de la Junta Parroquial y entrevistas con el presidente. Los resultados mostraron que solo el 11% considera muy efectiva la planificación financiera, mientras que el 66% tiene una percepción negativa. Además, el 33% de los encuestados percibe ajustes financieros muy frecuentes y el 44% rara vez o nunca. La comunicación sobre el estado de la ejecución financiera fue vista como inadecuada por el 66% de los participantes. Los principales obstáculos identificados fueron los retrasos en la transferencia de fondos y la falta de capacidad técnica (33% cada uno).
The validity of the early use of combined mucoactive drugs in respiratory infections in children
Authors: Starostina L. S. , Karzhavina L. I.
Published: September 2024

According to the Weekly National Bulletin on Influenza and SARS and other epidemiological studies, the incidence of SARS and influenza still holds a leading position among all infectious diseases. And, in addition to fever, the most common complaint and reason for seeking medical help in outpatient practice is cough, both as a symptom of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and as a symptom of complications. Among the complications of ARI, bronchopulmonary diseases such as acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, etc. are most common. Cough appears from the first days of the disease, pronounced, unproductive at the beginning of the disease, sometimes it can be accompanied by parasternal pain as a result of strong coughing shocks. Bronchial obstruction syndrome may be observed. That is why effective pathophysiological treatment of patients with ARI is the most important task of modern pharmacotherapy. According to research data, combined drugs have the most pronounced mucoactive effect in cough syndrome with ARI. The article considers the mechanism of action of the combined oral drug, which contains such active ingredients as bromhexine hydrochloride, salbutamol sulfate, guaifenesin, the time of onset of action of these substances, transformations, as well as the need for cough therapy in the earliest possible time from the onset of the disease.
Clinical case of manifestation of toxic keratitis with vitamin A intoxication
Authors: Narbut M. N. , Surnina Z. V. , Mozharovskaya M. V.
Published: September 2024

Vitamins are a group of organic compounds that are required to support life and perform biological functions of a living organism. They participate in humoral regulation, perform enzymatic and catalytic functions, their deficiency can result in the development of serious life-threatening diseases. However, taking too much of some vitamins can also be dangerous for a human. In particular, hypervitaminosis A can lead to the development of toxic keratitis. Hypervitaminosis A can arise after consumption of large doses of retinoids, which are efficiently absorbed and slowly excreted; hypervitaminosis can result from both one-time use of large amounts of vitamin A and long-term use of relatively moderate doses. Chronic overdose of this vitamin may cause skin itching, dermatitis, skin pigmentation disorders, dry oral and conjunctiva mucous membranes, hair loss, increased brittleness of nails, nosebleeds, destruction of bone and cartilage tissue, toxic hepatitis, and coma in severe cases. Doctors often use vitamin A to treat some dermatoses (acne), while the cumulative doses of drugs can be significantly higher than the allowed ones. This article presents a rare clinical case of manifestation of toxic keratitis in a patient receiving vitamin A at doses exceeding therapeutic ones. The patient managed to restore the integrity of the cornea and get rid of keratitis while receiving long-term local instillations of drops, including taurine.
Personality profile of laying hens as a selection criterion trait
Authors: JANICKA KAMILA , ROZEMPOLSKA-RUCIŃSKA IWONA , ZIĘBA GRZEGORZ
Published: September 2024

The aim of the study was to assess whether the personality profile of laying hens can be a selection criterion. The analyses involved two breeds: Rhode Island White (RIW) and Rhode Island Red (RIR), reared in individual cages. The behavioural profile of three generations of birds comprising 1333 RIW hens and 3180 RIR hens was determined with the use of the novel object test (NOT). The following behaviours were recorded: escape, avoidance-approach, immobility, and approach. Based on its reactions, the birds were assigned to: proactive or reactive profile groups. The genetic parameters of the behavioural profile and the phenotypic and genetic dependency between the behavioural profile and the performance traits were estimated. It was found that estimates of the heritability coefficient for the behavioural profile can be a good predictor of effective selection and modification of birds’ behaviour at the additive level. Proactive birds (intense behavioural response and being able to make decisions) seem to represent the desirable personality type in farm conditions. The genetic correlations between the personality profile and the performance traits also seem to confirm that the proactive birds should be the preferable type.
How to study ICT-security policy: Opportunities and challenges for critical discourse-analysis
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Stadnik Ilona
Published: September 2024

The article examines the method of critical discourse-analysis (CDA) on the example of the relations between the United States and Russia in the field of ICT security, as well as in the context of negotiations at the UN level in the same area, where both countries have a significant influence on the processes. CDA can be used to study ICT security policy in order to understand how different actors use language to discuss problems: what terms and concepts are used, as well as how they can influence public perception of the problem. CDA can also be used to study the dynamics of interaction between different actors: what interests they pursue and what compromises they are willing to make to achieve common goals. The method is connected with the theoretical framework of A. Holzscheiter, which identifies the levels of analysis (micro-agents and macro-structures), as well as the types of power/influence realization in discourse (deliberative and productive). As a demonstration of the method, the author has made a brief analysis of the discourses of ICT threats to the United States and Russia based on strategic documents of the states. It is inscribed in the structures of bilateral relations and international negotiations, presented in the form of events on a timeline. Depending on the level of analysis or the starting point of the study — agents or structures — we get completely different explanations of the causal relationships of possible explanations for policy change through discourse (productive or deliberative). The study of ICT security is further complicated by the fact that we must keep both the bilateral and international levels of interaction in focus, since these processes are closely interrelated. In conclusion, the article describes important limitations of the method, including the weak explanatory potential of the reasons for the change in ICT security policy.
From coalition agreements to concepts and strategies: The evolution of Denmark’s foreign policy papers
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Plyusnin Nikita
Published: September 2024

The changing political landscape in Northern Europe is attracting increasing attention of researchers to the specific features of the region’s foreign policies. A special place is occupied by the analysis of the Danish case, since there is a sound tradition of considering Denmark as not fitting the image of a coherent Nordic state, due in no small part to the phenomenon of Danish activism. However, insufficient attention has been paid to Danish policy papers, which formulate and contextualise Denmark’s foreign and defense policy. This article offers a detailed analysis of the coalition agreements of Danish governments and foreign and defense policy strategies over the past 30 years (1993–2023) to identify the distinguishing features of the evolution of these documents. Special conceptual pairs that define the core philosophy of a particular course are applied: internationalism/determinism, activism/adaptation, continuity/change, interests/values. As a result of the study, conclusions are drawn about the coexistence of two tendencies in these documents: leaning towards an analytical and philosophical understanding of international relations and laying out specific action plans and lists of priorities and tasks. Additionally, most coalition agreements turn out to be activist and internationalist, while the strategies are more likely to be adaptive and deterministic. Simultaneously, the pairs change/continuity and interests/values are conceptualised differently in each of the papers. Finally, the idea of a “new” place for Denmark in a “new” world remains central, and the quest for this place has remained the main objective of foreign policy over the past three decades.
“Asian dialogue” in the context of the global geopolitical turbulence: Review of a new scientific and educational programme of SPbSU and the Gorchakov Fund
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Likhachev Kirill
Published: September 2024

The review article describes the results of the new scientific and educational program held at St. Petersburg State University in June 2023, as part of a joint project of SPbSU and the Gorchakov Fund. The 1st “Asian Dialogue” was devoted to the problems of South Asian countries, their socio-political, trade and economic issues, as well as relations with the global powers. The organizers combined experts’ discussions with educational activities for the participants of the Summer School, who received an excellent opportunity to communicate directly with a group of well-known experts from Russia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The educational part included debates, a foresight session, situational analysis and a master class. The invited experts took part in most of these activities, so the participants of the summer school got an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in front of a prominent jury. The scientific part included several expert sessions dedicated to the complex issues of relations between South Asian states in the context of current geopolitical turbulence. The key problems of the South Asian region and the specifics of South Asian countries’ relations with Russia were discussed in detail, including the nature of bilateral political, trade and economic relations in the context of anti-Russian sanctions, as well as regional security features. Each expert discussion was accompanied by a long question and answer session from the participants of the summer school, who appreciated this opportunity. In general, both participants and experts expressed their hope for the development of such a scientific and educational format in future.
Multi-agent system simulation and centralized optimal model for groundwater management considering evaluating the economic and environmental effects of varied policy instruments implemented
Authors: Kamali Asghar , Niksokhan Mohammad Hossein , Ardestani Mojtaba
Published: September 2024

Modeling interconnectedness of people (social) and nature (ecological) can offer valuable understanding about the dynamics in the midst of social and environmental processes. Within this paper, a novel framework based on Multi-Agent System Simulation (MASS) is introduced that use python-based codes coupling NETLOGO agent-based model platform with a calibrated MODFLOW groundwater model that uses SWAT watershed model by considering the uncertainty associated with farmers' productivity. Then the various policy instruments implemented in the MASS (free-access and consistent tax and quota on groundwater utilization) are compared with the Centralized Optimal Model (COM). In the COM streamflow constraints are imposed by a central planner with impeccable foresight that use MATLAB-based codes coupling the MATLAB with a calibrated groundwater model of MODFLOW that uses SWAT watershed model. This comparison that is one of the most important goals of this paper is based on their environmental and economic impacts. The environmental and economic impacts are measured using two main indicators: the violation of streamflow (VSF) and the average annual benefit (AAB). The results indicate that simulation with agents that are more realist, heterogeneous, shortsighted, and self-interested agents (MASS) perform poorly under consistently applied policies in comparison with COM.