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The article emphasizes the crucial psychological factors involved in the integration of blended learning within contemporary education. Blended learning amalgamates conventional and online teaching approaches, emerging as a progressively pertinent trend in the current educational landscape. The article underscores the significance of grasping the motivational factors impacting students in blended learning. It underscores that effective motivation can enhance learning outcomes and promote greater student engagement in the learning process. Adopting a systems approach enables us to view learning as an interrelated system, fostering a more profound comprehension of how its components interact. The authors demonstrate that studying the psychological aspects of blended learning is an important component of modern educational reform. Understanding the motivation and psychological characteristics of students allows for more effective implementation and support of blended learning, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of education. Their research provides an opportunity to develop effective approaches to teaching and improving student performance in blended education, which, in turn, contributes to improving the quality of education and the development of modern society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers the influence of a heterogeneous (bimodal) grain structure on the ductility characteristics of commercial purity titanium in a wide range of low temperatures (4.2–395 K) as a strategy for optimizing mechanical properties within the framework of the "strength–plasticity" ratio. Using titanium as an example, the physical mechanism for increasing the low-temperature ductility of hcp nanocrystalline metals with a heterogeneous grain size distribution is explained by a combination of several processes: an increase in the activity of intragrain dislocation slip, dynamic grain growth under tensile stresses, and activation of nanotwinning in submicron-sized grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Subclass Ceriantharia encompasses marine anemone-like organisms with complete bilateral symmetry. In modern phylogenetic reconstructions, Ceriantharia is considered an ancient group that is sister to all other anthozoans. Only a handful of tube anemones have been reported from the Arctic, including widely distributed North Sea cerianthid Cerianthus lloydii Gosse, 1859, which has also been documented in temperate Atlantic and Pacific waters. The integrity of C. lloydii as a species has been questioned in the literature. To test this hypothesis, we performed a molecular study of C. lloydii from several geographically distant localities using 18S and COI genes. Our data combined with data from public databases show that C. lloydii forms a single genus-level group divided into three distinctive subclades: (1) Northern Europe, the Black and the Barents seas; (2) the Russian and Canadian Arctic and the Labrador Sea; and (3) published sequences of a species determined as Pachycerianthus borealis (Verrill, 1873) from Newfoundland. As all subclades of C. lloydii are only distantly related to the genus Cerianthus Delle Chiaje, 1841, we propose to resurrect the genus Synarachnactis Carlgren, 1924, and describe a new family to accommodate them. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the marine fauna evolution in the Arctic Basin and the Black Sea. Subclass Ceriantharia is a well-defined and probably ancient group of marine benthic organisms renowned for their bilateral symmetry, which is reflected in the arrangement of tentacles and mesenteries. Four species of Ceriantharia have been reported in the Arctic, including Cerianthus lloydii Gosse, 1859, also known from the Northern Atlantic and Northern Pacific. The integrity of this species was questioned in the literature, so we performed a molecular study of C. lloydii from several geographically distant locations using 18S and COI genes. The phylogenetic reconstructions show that specimens of C. lloydii form a single group with high support (>0.98), subdivided into distinctive clades: (1) specimens from Northern Europe, the Black and Barents seas, and (2) specimens from the White, Kara, Laptev, and Bering seas and also the Canadian Arctic and the Labrador Sea available via the BOLD database. There are several BOLD COI sequences of Pachycerianthus borealis (Verrill, 1873), which form a third clade of the C. lloydii group, sister to the European and Arctic clades. Based on low similarity (COI 86–87%) between C. lloydii and the type species of the genus Cerianthus Delle Chiaje, 1841—C. membranaceus (Gmelin, 1791), we propose a new status for the genus Synarachnactis Carlgren, 1924, and a new family Synarachnactidae to accommodate C. lloydii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a study of an electromagnetic response and dielectric properties of multicomponent composite materials based on epoxy, ferroelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes for operation in the 0.1–1.1 THz frequency range are presented. The influence of the MWCNT concentration in a ferroelectric composite on its complex permittivity is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly being used in industrial applications, security and military contexts, disaster response complexes, policing and justice practices, finance, and healthcare systems. However, disruptions to these systems can have negative impacts on health, mortality, human rights, and asset values. The protection of such systems from various types of destructive influences is thus a relevant area of research. The vast majority of previously published works are aimed at reducing vulnerability to certain types of disturbances or implementing certain resilience properties. At the same time, the authors either do not consider the concept of resilience as such, or their understanding varies greatly. The aim of this study is to present a systematic approach to analyzing the resilience of artificial intelligence systems, along with an analysis of relevant scientific publications. Our methodology involves the formation of a set of resilience factors, organizing and defining taxonomic and ontological relationships for resilience factors of artificial intelligence systems, and analyzing relevant resilience solutions and challenges. This study analyzes the sources of threats and methods to ensure each resilience properties for artificial intelligence systems. As a result, the potential to create a resilient artificial intelligence system by configuring the architecture and learning scenarios is confirmed. The results can serve as a roadmap for establishing technical requirements for forthcoming artificial intelligence systems, as well as a framework for assessing the resilience of already developed artificial intelligence systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the oxidation of methyl linoleate in micelles, initiated by the lipid‐soluble initiator 2,2′‐azobis (2,4‐dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). It was shown that the rate constant (ki) is initiated in micelles for AMVN significantly lower than the known rate constant of initiation in true solutions. This can be explained by the reduced probability of AMVN radicals leaving the cage and an increase in the rate of chain termination between initiator radicals under conditions of low oxygen content. This conclusion was confirmed by quantum chemical calculations. Surprisingly, when determining the AMVN initiation rate constant for the consumption of nitroxyl radicals (>NO⋅), the ki depends on the concentration >NO⋅, this is due to the dependence of the probability of the nitroxyl radical and initiator radicals in micelles meeting on their concentration. Upon initiation of AMVN, no hydroperoxyl radical is expelled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise influence on characteristics of current, flowing through semiconductor superlattice of nanodevice with prospects of using in terahertz spectroscopy, is examined. It is demonstrated, that the limit voltage, at which the current oscillations start, slightly depends on noise intensity. Oscillation amplitude increases at some noise intensity values for case without magnetic field and in the presence of a tilted magnetic field. At the same time with increase of noise intensity at developed oscillations the basic frequency decreases, while higher harmonics amplitudes can significantly decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz (THz) radiation encompasses a wide spectral range within the electromagnetic spectrum that extends from microwaves to the far infrared (100 GHz–∼30 THz). Within its frequency boundaries exist a broad variety of scientific disciplines that have presented, and continue to present, technical challenges to researchers. During the past 50 years, for instance, the demands of the scientific community have substantially evolved and with a need for advanced instrumentation to support radio astronomy, Earth observation, weather forecasting, security imaging, telecommunications, non-destructive device testing and much more. Furthermore, applications have required an emergence of technology from the laboratory environment to production-scale supply and in-the-field deployments ranging from harsh ground-based locations to deep space. In addressing these requirements, the research and development community has advanced related technology and bridged the transition between electronics and photonics that high frequency operation demands. The multidisciplinary nature of THz work was our stimulus for creating the 2017 THz Science and Technology Roadmap (Dhillon et al 2017 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 50 043001). As one might envisage, though, there remains much to explore both scientifically and technically and the field has continued to develop and expand rapidly. It is timely, therefore, to revise our previous roadmap and in this 2023 version we both provide an update on key developments in established technical areas that have important scientific and public benefit, and highlight new and emerging areas that show particular promise. The developments that we describe thus span from fundamental scientific research, such as THz astronomy and the emergent area of THz quantum optics, to highly applied and commercially and societally impactful subjects that include 6G THz communications, medical imaging, and climate monitoring and prediction. Our Roadmap vision draws upon the expertise and perspective of multiple international specialists that together provide an overview of past developments and the likely challenges facing the field of THz science and technology in future decades. The document is written in a form that is accessible to policy makers who wish to gain an overview of the current state of the THz art, and for the non-specialist and curious who wish to understand available technology and challenges. A such, our experts deliver a 'snapshot' introduction to the current status of the field and provide suggestions for exciting future technical development directions. Ultimately, we intend the Roadmap to portray the advantages and benefits of the THz domain and to stimulate further exploration of the field in support of scientific research and commercial realisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiducial markers are utilized for image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) alignment during the delivery of liver stereotactic body radiosurgery (SBRT). There are limited data demonstrating the impact of matching fiducials on the accuracy of liver SBRT. This study quantifies the benefit of fiducial-based alignment and improvements in inter-observer reliability. Nineteen patients with 24 liver lesions were treated with SBRT. Target localization was performed using fiducial markers on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Each CBCT procedure was retrospectively realigned to match both the liver edge and fiducial markers. The shifts were recorded by seven independent observers. Inter-observer variability was analyzed by calculating the mean error and uncertainty for the set-up. The mean absolute Cartesian error observed from fiducial and liver edge-based alignment was 1.5 mm and 5.3 mm, respectively. The mean uncertainty from fiducial and liver edge-based alignment was 1.8 mm and 4.5 mm, respectively. An error of 5 mm or greater was observed 50% of the time when aligning to the liver surface versus 5% of the time when aligning to fiducial markers. Aligning to the liver edge significantly increased the error, resulting in increased shifts when compared to alignment to fiducials. Tumors of 3 cm or farther from the liver dome had higher mean errors when aligned without fiducials (4.8 cm vs. 4.4 cm, p = 0.003). Our data support the use of fiducial markers for safer and more accurate liver SBRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern trainable image recognition models are vulnerable to different types of perturbations; hence, the development of resilient intelligent algorithms for safety-critical applications remains a relevant concern to reduce the impact of perturbation on model performance. This paper proposes a model and training method for a resilient image classifier capable of efficiently functioning despite various faults, adversarial attacks, and concept drifts. The proposed model has a multi-section structure with a hierarchy of optimized class prototypes and hyperspherical class boundaries, which provides adaptive computation, perturbation absorption, and graceful degradation. The proposed training method entails the application of a complex loss function assembled from its constituent parts in a particular way depending on the result of perturbation detection and the presence of new labeled and unlabeled data. The training method implements principles of self-knowledge distillation, the compactness maximization of class distribution and the interclass gap, the compression of feature representations, and consistency regularization. Consistency regularization makes it possible to utilize both labeled and unlabeled data to obtain a robust model and implement continuous adaptation. Experiments are performed on the publicly available CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 datasets using model backbones based on modules ResBlocks from the ResNet50 architecture and Swin transformer blocks. It is experimentally proven that the proposed prototype-based classifier head is characterized by a higher level of robustness and adaptability in comparison with the dense layer-based classifier head. It is also shown that multi-section structure and self-knowledge distillation feature conserve resources when processing simple samples under normal conditions and increase computational costs to improve the reliability of decisions when exposed to perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thyroid cancer (TC) demonstrates steady growth in incidence worldwide and remains an urgent problem in oncology. The detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) with a selective dye and further histological examination in selecting the proper (personalized) surgical strategy and the volume of surgical intervention for clinically undetermined regional lymph nodes. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intraoperative detection of SLN with a 1% toluidine blue aqueous solution. Material and methods: The significant tasks are to identify the pattern of TC metastases to cervical lymph nodes, to establish the prevalence of "skip" metastases, to compare the frequency of complications after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection and lateral neck dissection with total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, and to determine the feasibility of the application of lateral neck dissections in patients with papillary and follicular TC without metastases to regional lymph nodes (according to physical examination and ultrasound). Results: According to our data the SLN identification rate was 97.6%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and frequency of false negative and false positive results was 89.2, 94.6, 88.03, 95.16, 10.8, and 5.4%, respectively. The most common metastasis was in the central neck compartment (83.7%). Skip metastases were determined in 4.9% of patients. Conclusions: The low prevalence of "skip" metastases and a significant risk of postoperative complications (wound exudation, lymphorrhagia, inflammation, hypoparathyroidism, paresis of the vocal cords) support the idea that lateral neck dissection is appropriate only in cases of confirmed metastases by physical examination and/or ultrasound at the preoperative stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the impact of the Russian invasion on Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine. The city was defended by volunteers during the invasion and was not occupied by Russian troops. However, the border area continues to be shelled daily. The infrastructure of Sumy State University and the Institute of Applied Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was damaged by bombing, but the scientific institutions remain intact and continue to operate. The article also mentions the financial and material difficulties faced by the Institute of Applied Physics. Despite the opportunity to move to safer institutions, the scientists choose to stay and continue their work in Ukraine. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Patients with lung cancer receive treatment according to National Cancer Comprehensive Network (NCCN) standards. However, disease recurrence is reported in about 30% of patients during the first five years. Our study aimed to establish independent predictors of lung cancer recurrence. Material and methods: 104 patients with definitive treatment for nonsmall-cell lung carcinoma receiving standard adjuvant chemotherapy in the period 2014-2018 in our cancer center were retrospectively reviewed. The prognostic significance of five routine immunohistochemical (IHC) markers was examined. Results: During the follow-up period disease recurrence occurred in 42 (40.4%) of the 104 enrolled patients. The median recurrence-free survival was 56.3 months, range 4-84.0 months (95% CI = 46.866-65.683). The recurrence-free survival rate was 58.8%. The frequencies of locoregional recurrence, lung recurrence, kidney, bone, lymph nodes of the neck, liver, and brain recurrence were 23.8%, 21.5%, 16.7%, 9.5%, 9.5%, 9.5% and 9.5%, respectively. Conclusions: Using the Cox regression model, category T, histological differentiation, and smoking status were identified as independent predictors of disease recurrence. The studied biological markers (PD-L1, Ki67, p53, epidermal growth factor receptor, and ALK) did not help the model predict disease recurrence. For statistical reliability, it is necessary to conduct a study on a larger cohort of patients and compare the mutual influence of several biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes early exposure to fairy tales as an important factor of mass psychology that can help understand and predict broad public tendencies and reactions, especially in times of uncertainty and change such as wars and political unrest. Early childhood's transition to self-awareness, and the resulting realization of one's shortcomings, lead to the original loss of significance, with the consequences of seeking a way to restore the feeling of being important and special. In the resulting quest to restore lost significance, fairy tales play a prominent role. Fairy tales' moral lessons are learned through modeling and operant conditioning, with characters' rewards becoming intrinsic rewards for the child who identifies with the characters. These early moral models pave the way for significance quests of later life, especially when one's choices are made under stress and uncertainty, which make the use of heuristics more likely than deliberation, enabling the early moral lessons from fairy tales to influence adult judgments and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article covers the main approaches to implementing tourism local lore in the course of education. The problem is relevant due to the demand for competent specialists who are capable to form contemporary children's competence in the course of education. Therefore, the theoretical-methodological analysis of the researchers of the problem identified, who became the rationale for the main results of the research to be determined, is provided in this paper. It is also ascertained that it is necessary to form a structured part of the professional competence of a rising geography teacher -- local lore competence. There is some dependence of the level of qualification of rising teachers on an accurately planned process of formation of not only knowledge, skills and capabilities, but also personal traits of students formed at a higher educational institution. The concepts of native land, local lore and tourism, their correlation, conduction forms, functions are studied in the researches of scholars and according to the results of this theoretical research. In addition, the local lore principle is set as competency-based learning. The method of analysis, scientific, descriptive and research methods are used for studying tourism local lore in the contemporary system of education. Analysing the role of tourism local lore proves the demand for searching and gaining knowledge about a native land, optimising the study of major subjects, forming an individual cognitive experience of students-geographers. Such conclusions are the results of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The convolutional neural network architectures for classifying 1D and 2D signals are analyzed. The authors have found that for a high-dimensional input signal, one can ensure an adequate classification accuracy only by using a large number of layers. It is impossible to achieve the required accuracy with limited computing resources. However, if the number of layers is limited, the accuracy decreases, starting from some critical dimensionality value. A method for modifying a convolutional neural network with relatively small number of layers to solve this problem has been proposed. Its effectiveness has been experimentally proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies what we see as opportunities to improve data collection, analysis, and interpretation of findings in American and British terrorism research. We suggest seven directions that we see as promising. These include: 1) interview methods and reporting, 2) source reporting in database studies, prioritizing available court records, 3) more comparison groups, including non-offender activists for the same cause and non-political offenders, 4) comparison of cases with and without confidential informants, 5) extremist ideas and extremist violence studied as separate problems, 6) more attention to grievances, avoiding controversies over defining ideology and narrative, and 7) more attention to emotions of terrorists, their supporters, and their victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependences of the yield strength, the strain rate sensitivity of the deforming stress and the activation volume of the process of plastic deformation of nanocrystalline titanium VT1-0 under quasi-static tension in the temperature range 4.2–395 K are found. The nanoscale grain size was obtained using the method of cryomechanical grain fragmentation. A detailed thermal activation analysis of the experimental results was carried out and it was shown that the process of plastic deformation under conditions of ambient and low temperatures is determined by the overcoming of local impurity barriers by dislocations, and grain boundaries are a source of internal stresses. Empirical estimates are obtained for the parameters of the dislocation-impurity interaction. The unambiguous relationship between internal stresses and grain size established for monomodal nanocrystalline titanium made it possible to separate the effects of impurity and grain boundary hardening. The result obtained is an indirect basis for the conclusion about the impossibility of accumulation of dislocations in nanograins during plastic deformation. The decrease in the activation volume for a nanoscale grain at a constant impurity concentration is considered because of the manifestation of the dependence of the diameter of the dislocation loop generated by a grain boundary source on the grain size (confinement effect). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic diammonium cations are a promising component of both layered (2D) and conventional (3D) hybrid halide perovskites in terms of increasing the stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We investigated the crystallization ability of phase-pure 2D perovskites based on 1,4-butanediammonium iodide (BDAI2) with the layer thicknesses n = 1, 2, 3 and, for the first time, revealed the presence of a persistent barrier to obtain BDA-based layered compounds with n > 1. Secondly, we introduced BDAI2 salt into 3D lead–iodide perovskites with different cation compositions and discovered a threshold-like nonmonotonic dependence of the perovskite microstructure, optoelectronic properties, and device performance on the amount of diammonium additive. The value of the threshold amount of BDAI2 was found to be ≤1%, below which bulk passivation plays the positive effect on charge carrier lifetimes, fraction of radiative recombination, and PSCs power conversion efficiencies (PCE). In contrast, the presence of any amount of diammonium salt leads to the sufficient enhancement of the photothermal stability of perovskite materials and devices, compared to the reference samples. The performance of all the passivated devices remained within the range of 50 to 80% of the initial PCE after 400 h of continuous 1 sun irradiation with a stabilized temperature of 65 °C, while the performance of the control devices deteriorated after 170 h of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) provides critical remote access to mental health care to at-risk populations. However, to our knowledge, no investigation has been conducted to understand complex pathways through which barriers to care (i.e. structural, attitudinal and technological) correlate with patient interest in ICBT. The objective of this study is to develop and test a pathway analysis framework using structural equation modeling to understand direct and mediating associations of barriers to care with interest in ICBT. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among adult (>18 years) urban and rural residents (n = 200) in Saskatchewan, Canada. An online survey assessed interest in ICBT, barriers to ICBT, demographics, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Utilizing structural equation modeling, a path analysis framework was developed. Path analysis results showed how associations between complex barriers and demographic variables correlate with interest in ICBT. For instance, the negative association of perceived financial concerns and life chaos on interest in ICBT was mediated by perceived access to care. The findings identify specific barriers that could be addressed through targeted population health interventions to improve uptake of ICBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chern–Simons (CS) gauge field theory was widely used to explain and to deeper understand the fractional quantum Hall effects. In this work, we apply the Chern–Simons gauge field theory to a two-dimensional (2D) electron-hole (e-h) system in a strong perpendicular magnetic field under the influence of the quantum point vortices creating by the Chern–Simons (CS) gauge field. The composite electron–hole particles with equal integer positive numbers ϕ of the attached quantum point vortices are described by the dressed field operators that obey to either the Fermi or Bose statistics depending on the even or odd numbers ϕ. It is shown that the phase operators, as well as the vector and scalar potentials of the CS gauge field, depend on the difference between the electron and the hole density operators. They vanish in the mean field approximation, when the average values of the electron and of the hole densities coincide. Nevertheless, even in this case, quantum fluctuations of the CS gauge field lead to new properties of the 2D e–h system. It is found that the numbers of vortices attached to each electron and hole are the same. This result is not obvious, and a different distribution of vortices in the environment of electron–hole pairs could be expected. A simple analytical formula is obtained for the shift of the magnetoexciton energy level at the point k = 0 due to the influence of the CS gauge field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NOS1AP gene encodes a cytosolic protein that binds to the signaling cascade component neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). It is associated with many different disorders, such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, cardiovascular disorders, and breast cancer. The NOS1AP (also known as CAPON) protein mediates signaling within a complex which includes the NMDA receptor, PSD-95, and nNOS. This adapter protein is involved in neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthesis regulation via its association with nNOS (NOS1). Our bioinformatics analysis revealed NOS1AP as an aggregation-prone protein, interacting with α-synuclein. Further investigation showed that NOS1AP forms detergent-resistant non-amyloid aggregates when overproduced. Overexpression of NOS1AP was found in rat models for nervous system injury as well as in schizophrenia patients. Thus, we can assume for the first time that the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders include misfolding and aggregation of NOS1AP. We show that NOS1AP interacts with α-synuclein, allowing us to suggest that this protein may be implicated in the development of synucleinopathies and that its aggregation may explain the relationship between Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of singlet oxygen with bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) in the membranes, LH2 light-harvesting complexes and pigment extracts from Allochromatium (Alc.) vinosum strain MSU (previously Alc. minutissimum) was studied. The ability of carotenoids illuminated with light within their absorption region to generate singlet oxygen, which oxidizes BChl, was confirmed; BChl itself was not active in this process and acted a target for singlet oxygen. A sharp decrease in the amount of oxidized BChl in the LH2 complex under illumination in the carotenoid region was noted only at the carotenoid/complex ratio of about 0.1, i.e., when there is less than 1 carotenoid molecule per 10 LH2 complexes. It is assumed that carotenoids from the early stages of biosynthesis (neurosporene, ζ-carotene) are more active in the generation of singlet oxygen under illumination than more mature carotenoids. BChl photooxidation in LH2 complexes occurred only in the presence of oxygen. A decrease in oxygen concentration by 7 or more times resulted in a slowdown of the process or its complete stop. In model systems (pigment extract of the LH2 complex retaining the BChl/carotenoids ratio), BChl under illumination becomes both the main generator of singlet oxygen and a target for the action of the latter. Under these conditions, carotenoids do not protect BChl from oxidation. The ability of BChl850 in the LH2 complex to be oxidized by singlet oxygen suggests that it can be used as a natural sensor for this agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the incidence of pelvic vein thrombosis (PVT) and outcomes of anticoagulant therapy for PVT in patients with pelvic venous disorders (PeVDs).This prospective cohort study included 588 female patients with PeVDs underwent clinical examination followed by duplex ultrasound of the pelvic veins in 2021-2023. Patients with PVT were administered with anticoagulant therapy in an outpatient setting using low molecular weight heparins at a therapeutic dose.PVT was detected in 7.6% of patients with PeVDs and was symptomatic in 28.8% of them. The majority of asymptomatic patients had thrombosis in only one of the parametrial veins (90.6%). Anticoagulant therapy resulted in the PVT symptoms relief in all patients within 10 days and recanalization of the pelvic veins in 1-3 months.In our study, PVT was diagnosed in 7.6% of patients with PeVDs. Anticoagulant therapy is effective and safe in resolving PVT symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activism is legal and non-violent political action, whereas Radicalism is illegal and sometimes violent action. Moskalenko and McCauley introduced the Activism Intentions Scale (AIS) and the Radicalism Intentions Scale (RIS) as related but distinguishable dimensions: the scales were significantly correlated but showed different correlates. The same pattern has been seen consistently in subsequent research using the scales. In this paper, two studies (280 Catalan university students, 163 Croatian adults) use bifactor analysis to measure Activism Intentions uncorrelated with Radicalism Intentions, and Radicalism Intentions uncorrelated with Activism Intentions. Scores on the purified scales show more differentiated patterns of correlates than scores on the usual item-average scales, that is, bifactor scores show improved discriminant validity. These results support the idea that activism and radicalism are different theoretical constructs. The distinction is important because it implies that fighting radicalization does not require fighting activism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent precise measurements of primary and secondary cosmic-ray (CR) species in the teravolt rigidity domain have unveiled a bump in their spectra, located between 0.5 and 50 TV. We argue that a local shock may generate such a bump by increasing the rigidity of the preexisting CRs below 50 TV by a mere factor of ∼1.5. Reaccelerated particles below ∼0.5 TV are convected with the interstellar medium flow and do not reach the Sun, thus creating the bump. This single universal process is responsible for the observed spectra of all CR species in the rigidity range below 100 TV. We propose that one viable shock candidate is the Epsilon Eridani star at 3.2 pc from the Sun, which is well aligned with the direction of the local magnetic field. Other shocks, such as old supernova shells, may produce a similar effect. We provide a simple formula, Equation (9), that reproduces the spectra of all CR species with only two nonadjustable shock parameters, uniquely derived from the proton data. We show how our formalism predicts helium and carbon spectra and the B/C ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne parasitic diseases of public health importance that is prevalent in the West Bank but not in the Gaza Strip. The disease caused by parasitic protozoans from the genus Leishmania and it is transmitted by infected phlebotomine sand flies. The aim of our study is to investigate the eco-epidemiological parameters and spatiotemporal projections of CL in Palestine over a 30-years period from 1990 through 2020 and to explore future projections until 2060. Methodology/Principal findings: This long-term descriptive epidemiological study includes investigation of demographic characteristics of reported patients by the Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMoH). Moreover, we explored spatiotemporal distribution of CL including future projection based on climate change scenarios. The number of CL patients reported during this period was 5855 cases, and the average annual incidence rate (AAIR) was 18.5 cases/105 population. The male to female ratio was 1.25:1. Patients-age ranged from 2 months to 89 years (mean = 22.5, std 18.67, and the median was 18 years). More than 65% of the cases came from three governates in the West Bank; Jenin 29% (1617 cases), Jericho 25% (1403), and Tubas 12% (658) with no cases reported in the Gaza Strip. Seasonal occurrence of CL starts to increase in December and peaked during March and April of the following year. Current distribution of CL indicate that Jericho, Tubas, Jenin and Nablus have the most suitable climatic settings for the sandfly vectors. Future projections until 2060 suggest an increasing incidence from northwest of Jenin down to the southwest of Ramallah, disappearance of the foci in Jericho and Tubas throughout the Jordan Vally, and possible emergence of new foci in Gaza Strip. Conclusions/Significance: The future projection of CL in Palestine until 2060 show a tendency of increasing incidence in the north western parts of the West Bank, disappearance from Jericho and Tubas throughout the Jordan Vally, and emergence of new CL endemic foci in the Gaza Strip. These results should be considered to implement effective control and surveillance systems to counteract spatial expansion of CL vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro‐optic sampling has emerged as a new quantum technique enabling measurements of electric field fluctuations on subcycle time scales. In a second‐order nonlinear material, the fluctuations of a terahertz field are imprinted onto the polarization properties of an ultrashort probe pulse in the near infrared. The statistics of this time‐domain signal are calculated, incorporating the quantum nature of the involved electric fields right from the beginning. A microscopic quantum theory of the electro‐optic process is developed adopting an ensemble of noninteracting three‐level systems as a model for the nonlinear material. It is found that the response of the nonlinear medium can be separated into a conventional part, which is exploited also in sampling of coherent amplitudes, and quantum contributions, which are independent of the state of the terahertz input. Interactions between the three‐level systems which are mediated by terahertz vacuum fluctuations are causing this quantum response. Conditions under which the classical response serves as a good approximation of the electro‐optic process are also determined and how the statistics of the sampled terahertz field can be reconstructed from the electro‐optic signal is demonstrated. In a complementary regime, electro‐optic sampling can serve as a spectroscopic tool to study the pure quantum susceptibilities of matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superconducting fluxonium circuit is an RF-superconducting quantum interference device-type flux qubit that uses a large inductance built from an array of Josephson junctions or a high kinetic inductance material. This inductance suppresses charge sensitivity exponentially and flux sensitivity quadratically. In contrast to the transmon qubit, the anharmonicity of fluxonium can be large and positive, allowing for better separation between the low energy qubit manifold of the circuit and higher-lying excited states. Here, we propose a tunable coupling scheme for implementing two-qubit gates on fixed-frequency fluxonium qubits, biased at half flux quantum. In this system, both qubits and couplers are coupled capacitively and implemented as fluxonium circuits with an additional harmonic mode. We investigate the performance of the scheme by simulating a universal two-qubit fSim gate. In the proposed approach, we rely on a planar on-chip architecture for the whole device. Our design is compatible with existing hardware for transmon-based devices with the additional advantage of lower qubit frequency facilitating high-precision gating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of the two-dimensional (2D) magnetoexcitons was enlarged in two aspects. One of them takes into account the electron-hole (e–h) exchange Coulomb interaction, which appears when the conduction and the valence electrons belong partially to both bands. The exchange Coulomb interaction gives rise to the Dirac cone dispersion law in the range of small in-plane wave vectors k|| obeying to the condition |k|||l0 < 1, where l0 is the magnetic length. Such dispersion law may change essentially the properties of the high density magnetoexcitons opening the possibility of their Bose-Einstein condensation at different from zero temperatures [1]. Another aspect concerns the high density magnetoexcitons with fractional filling factors in conditions of fractional quantum Hall effects. The Chern-Simons gauge field was introduced into the Hamiltonian of the 2D coplanar e–h system by the unitary transformation. It gives rise to the additional gauge vector potential, the influence of which leads to the anisotropic corrections to the magnetoexciton magnetic mass [2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to try to determine the nature of the interrelationships between two supertasks - an actor and a role - in the process of an actor's creativity, based on an analysis of the essence of the problem of reincarnation in the art of an actor from the Stanislavsky school. The research methodology is based on analytical, general logical and comparatively typological methods, which make it possible to comprehend in an unconventional way the concept of the dialectical unity of two super-tasks in the process of an actor's creativity in the context of the problems of reincarnation. The subject of this research is the basic concepts of the world-famous "system" of KS Stanislavsky. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the theory of acting has never resorted to analyzing the dialectics of the relationship between two supertasks - the actor and the role - in the context of the problem of reincarnation. Its interpretation by the Stanislavsky school confirms the idea of dialectical interaction of two super-tasks in a single creative process. Conclusions. In an artistically completed acting performance, we always deal with the presence of both the supertask of the actor himself, performing a certain role, and the supertask of the role (the actor). Despite their multidirectional nature, they nevertheless constitute a dialectically inseparable whole, transforming the process of reincarnation into a highly artistic act of creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multistability in the intermittent generalized synchronization regime in unidirectionally coupled chaotic systems has been found. To study such a phenomenon, the method for revealing the existence of multistable states in interacting systems being the modification of an auxiliary system approach has been proposed. The efficiency of the method has been testified using the examples of unidirectionally coupled logistic maps and Rössler systems being in the intermittent generalized synchronization regime. The quantitative characteristic of multistability has been introduced into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nurses in the radiation oncology (RO) clinic have a critical role in the management of patients receiving radiation therapy. However, limited data exist regarding the exposure of nurses to RO during training and the current educational needs of practicing RO nurses. This study assesses nurses' prior RO education, participation in national training efforts, and perceived educational needs.Methods and Materials: A web-based survey using a 5-point Likert-type scale was distributed to RO nurses at 3 academic medical centers. Questions focused on prior education experiences, clinical areas of strength/weakness, and perceived value of future educational interventions. Likert-type scores are reported as median (interquartile range), and a Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted to assess for significant differences in responses.Results: The survey response rate was 39 of 54 (72%). Respondents were 90% female and trained at 30 nursing schools in 17 states. Only 5% of nurses reported a curriculum in nursing school with RO content, and nearly all (97%) received their RO education on the job. Forty-one percent of nurses completed the Oncology Nursing Society radiation therapy certificate course, and only 5% completed the American Society for Radiation Oncology nursing module. Nurses felt most confident in the overall management of patients with breast (4 [3-4]), prostate (4 [3-5]), and central nervous system (4 [3-4]) cancers and least confident for lymphoma (3 [2-4]), gynecologic (3 [2-4]), and head and neck cancers (3 [2-4]; P < .01). Nurses rated didactic lectures from physicians (5 [3-5]), shadowing RO residents (4 [3-5]), and working with simulation therapists (4 [3-5]) as valuable components to include in a training curriculum (P = .08).Conclusions: Nursing school exposure to RO is limited, and only a minority of RO nurses complete RO-specific training or certification available from national organizations. This study identifies several areas of perceived clinical nursing strengths and weaknesses that can be used to inform the design of future RO nursing educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among rioters storming the Capitol Hill building in Washington, DC, on January, 6, 2021, two men carried zip ties, presumably for restraining lawmakers. The Zip-Tie Guys, as the media dubbed the duo, shared little except their path to radicalization through Risk and Status Seeking. This paper analyzes radicalization of the Zip-Tie guys in the context of the larger problem: radicalization in the U.S. military and among veterans. Other mechanisms contributing to radicalization in military training are Group Isolation and Threat, Group Polarization, and Slippery Slope. After retiring, many veterans are also experiencing the radicalizing effects of Unfreezing. Tracking and countering radicalization in active military and in military veterans might be prudent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the field of image inpainting has developed rapidly, learning based approaches show impressive results in the task of filling missing parts in an image. But most deep methods are strongly tied to the resolution of the images on which they were trained. A slight resolution increase leads to serious artifacts and unsatisfactory filling quality. These methods are therefore unsuitable for interactive image processing. In this article, we propose a method that solves the problem of inpainting arbitrary-size images. We also describe a way to better restore texture fragments in the filled area. For this, we propose to use information from neighboring pixels by shifting the original image in four directions. Moreover, this approach can work with existing inpainting models, making them almost resolution independent without the need for retraining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently observed bump in the cosmic-ray (CR) spectrum from 0.3 to 30 TV is likely caused by a stellar bow shock that reaccelerates preexisting CRs, which further propagate to the Sun along the magnetic field lines. Along their way, these particles generate an Iroshnikov–Kraichnan (I-K) turbulence that controls their propagation and sustains the bump. Ad hoc fitting of the bump shape requires six adjustable parameters. Our model requires none, merely depending on three physical unknowns that we constrain using the fit. These are the shock Mach number, M, its size, l⊥, and the distance to it, ζobs. Altogether, they define the bump rigidity R0. With M ≈ 1.5–1.6 and R0 ≈ 4.4 TV, the model fits the data with ≈0.08% accuracy. The fit critically requires the I-K spectrum predicted by the model and rules out the alternatives. These attributes of the fit make an accidental agreement highly unlikely. In turn, the R0 and M derived from the fit impose the distance−size relation on the shock: ζobs(pc) ∼. For sufficiently large bow shocks, l⊥ = 10−3−10−2 pc, we find the distance of ζobs = 3–10 pc. Three promising stars in this range are the Scholz's Star at 6.8 pc, Epsilon Indi at 3.6 pc, and Epsilon Eridani at 3.2 pc. Based on their current positions and velocities, we propose that Epsilon Indi and Epsilon Eridani can produce the observed spectral bump. Moreover, Epsilon Eridani's position is only ∼6.°7 off of the magnetic field direction in the solar neighborhood, which also changes the CR arrival direction distribution. Given the proximity of these stars, the bump appearance may change in a relatively short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is re-emerging in Armenia since 1999 with 167 cases recorded until 2019. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine for the first time the genetic diversity and population structure of the causative agent of VL in Armenia; (ii) to compare these genotypes with those from most endemic regions worldwide; (iii) to monitor the diversity of vectors in Armenia; (iv) to predict the distribution of the vectors and VL in time and space by ecological niche modeling. Methodology/Principal findings: Human samples from different parts of Armenia previously identified by ITS-1-RFLP as L. infantum were studied by Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT). These data were combined with previously typed L. infantum strains from the main global endemic regions for population structure analysis. Within the 23 Armenian L. infantum strains 22 different genotypes were identified. The combined analysis revealed that all strains belong to the worldwide predominating MON1-population, however most closely related to a subpopulation from Southeastern Europe, Maghreb, Middle East and Central Asia. The three observed Armenian clusters grouped within this subpopulation with strains from Greece/Turkey, and from Central Asia, respectively. Ecological niche modeling based on VL cases and collected proven vectors (P. balcanicus, P. kandelakii) identified Yerevan and districts Lori, Tavush, Syunik, Armavir, Ararat bordering Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan as most suitable for the vectors and with the highest risk for VL transmission. Due to climate change the suitable habitat for VL transmission will expand in future all over Armenia. Conclusions: Genetic diversity and population structure of the causative agent of VL in Armenia were addressed for the first time. Further genotyping studies should be performed with samples from infected humans, animals and sand flies from all active foci including the neighboring countries to understand transmission cycles, re-emergence, spread, and epidemiology of VL in Armenia and the entire Transcaucasus enabling epidemiological monitoring. Author summary: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Armenia visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is re-emerging since 1999 after a long break of 30 years, with 167 cases recorded until 2019. Molecular diagnosis of VL was implemented only in 2016, and the causative agent was identified as L. infantum. In the present study we expanded the investigation of the causative agent to a characterization at strain level and the identification of its phylogenetic position among the L. infantum genotypes circulating worldwide. This is the first study addressing genetic diversity and population structure of L. infantum in Armenia and in Transcaucasia. Armenia is an extremely interesting region due to its bio-geographic specificities e.g. the high number of different climates in this small mountainous country and the observed high diversity of sand fly species, part of which occurring in very high altitudes. Ecological niche modeling based on registered VL cases and sand fly vectors collected in active VL foci revealed that the risk of further spread of VL is very high due to climate change. Studies of this region should be expanded to enable targeted control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor molecular profiling in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is used to identify driver mutations, which lead to premature carcinogenesis in more than 80% of adenocarcinoma cases, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Identification of specific somatic aberrations allows to personalize treatment. Personalization of treatment resulted in improvement of NSCLC outcomes. The aim of our study was to consider scientific data on modern concepts of treatment of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer with previously detected oncogenic mutations, especially EGFR mutation. In our study we analyzed scientific papers and data of international scientific literature on the problem of lung cancer treatment. Methods used: scientific research, analytical and generalizing. Different drugs are used in treatment of lung cancer. Choice of treatment scheme depends on type and presence of mutations. Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and detected mutation in the EGFR can be treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Nowadays three first generation drugs are recommended by FDA: afatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib. They showed good clinical benefit. Most patients with metastatic NSCLC typically show disease progression after approximately 9 to 13 months of erlotinib, gefitinib, or afatinib therapy. The first and only commercially available third-generation EGFR TKI is оsimertinib - an oral drug, which selectively inhibits both EGFR-TKI and EGFR T790M resistance mutations. Nowadays scientists are in active investigation of mechanisms of acquired resistance to TKIs, but little is known yet. Clinical success can be observed in patients who were treated with TKIs. EGFR T790M is a mutation that leads to acquired resistance to EGFR TKI therapy. Its incidence is approximately 60% after disease progression on TKI drugs (erlotinib, gefitinib, or aphatinib). Third-generation EGFR TKIs demonstrate high efficacy, but acquired resistance development cannot be avoided. Mechanisms of acquired resistance to these agents are still investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine possible association of eight polymorphisms of seven MMP genes with essential hypertension (EH) in a Caucasian population of Central Russia. Eight SNPs of the MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP7, MMP8, MMP9, and MMP12 genes and their gene–gene (epistatic) interactions were analyzed for association with EH in a cohort of 939 patients and 466 controls using logistic regression and assuming additive, recessive, and dominant genetic models. The functional significance of the polymorphisms associated with EH and 114 variants linked to them (r2 ≥ 0.8) was analyzed in silico. Allele G of rs11568818 MMP7 was associated with EH according to all three genetic models (OR = 0.58–0.70, pperm = 0.01–0.03). The above eight SNPs were associated with the disorder within 12 most significant epistatic models (OR = 1.49–1.93, pperm < 0.02). Loci rs1320632 MMP8 and rs11568818 MMP7 contributed to the largest number of the models (12 and 10, respectively). The EH-associated loci and 114 SNPs linked to them had non-synonymous, regulatory, and eQTL significance for 15 genes, which contributed to the pathways related to metalloendopeptidase activity, collagen degradation, and extracellular matrix disassembly. In summary, eight studied SNPs of MMPs genes were associated with EH in the Caucasian population of Central Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodent self-grooming is an important complex behavior, and its deficits are translationally relevant to a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we analyzed a comprehensive dataset of 227 genes whose mutations are known to evoke aberrant self-grooming in mice. Using these genes, we constructed the network of their established protein-protein interactions (PPI), yielding several distinct molecular clusters related to postsynaptic density, the Wnt signaling, transcription factors, neuronal cell cycle, NOS neurotransmission, microtubule regulation, neuronal differentiation/trafficking, neurodevelopment and mitochondrial function. Utilizing further bioinformatics analyses, we also identified novel central ('hub') proteins within these clusters, whose genes may also be implicated in aberrant self-grooming and other repetitive behaviors in general. Untangling complex molecular pathways of this important behavior using in silico approaches contributes to our understanding of related neurological disorders, and may suggest novel potential targets for their pharmacological or gene therapy. • Self-grooming is an important, complex and patterned behavior in rodents. • Mouse self-grooming is relevant to multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. • Various mutant mice display aberrant self-grooming phenotypes. • Bioinformatics analyses of these genes reveal molecular pathways involved in grooming. • This approach may help identify potential novel targets for therapy of aberrant behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bose–Einstein condensation of the two-dimensional magnetoexciton gas with Dirac cone dispersion law is possible at different from zero critical temperature. The partition function, the thermodynamic function such as the free and full energies, entropy and heat capacity were calculated in both gaseous and degenerate phases. The second order phase transition takes place. The jump of the heat capacity at critical temperature does not exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the collective electron dynamics in a recently proposed graphene-based terahertz emitter under the influence of the radiative damping effect, which is included self-consistently in a molecular dynamics approach. We show that under appropriate conditions synchronization of the dynamics of single electrons takes place, leading to a rise of the oscillating component of the charge current. The synchronization time depends dramatically on the applied dc electric field and electron scattering rate and is roughly inversely proportional to the radiative damping rate that is determined by the carrier concentration and the geometrical parameters of the device. The emission spectra in the synchronized state, determined by the oscillating current component, are analyzed. The effective generation of higher harmonics for large values of the radiative damping strength is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exchange coupling in magnetic heterostructures can be modified via introduction of additional magnetic spacer layers at the interfaces. The magnetic characteristics and the spacer layer thickness determine the functional properties of the whole system. We show that the hysteresis loop area of trilayer spring magnets with two different soft magnetic layers (s1, s2) and one hard magnetic layer (h) with the sequence s1/s2/h can be increased as compared to both bilayer structures s1/h and s2/h with the same total thickness of the soft layers and for definite thickness ratios of the soft layers and their sequences. For ferrimagnetic spin valves, the perpendicular exchange bias effect can be tuned via the thickness of nonmagnetic spacer layers at the interface, which determine the exchange coupling between ferrimagnets. A simple quasi one-dimensional phenomenological model is able to describe the magnetic hysteresis of even complex layered structures and to predict optimal geometrical and magnetic parameters of such heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New fault kinematics data within the Archinsk field located in the Nurol depression (south part of the West Siberian Basin) are obtained by structural analysis of the 3D seismic reflection data. Two stages of fault formation in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic period are distinguished. The first stage is characterized by a normal stress regime with a NE-trending minimum principal stress and corresponds to Triassic rifting. The second stage is characterized by Cenozoic reactivation of the pre-existing faults and the formation of new, predominantly strike-slip faults, with submeridionally and sublatitudinally trending minimum and maximum principal stresses, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for separating laminar and turbulent phases in coupled systems occurring near the boundary of generalized chaotic synchronization is proposed that is based on calculations of local Lyapunov exponents. The suitability of the proposed method has been verified in relation to systems with unidirectional coupling, which admit the analysis of intermittency with the aid of an auxiliary system approach. Results obtained by the two methods are compared to show good mutual agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]