Additional Objective Research Articles

Needs assessment for interprofessional education module on prevention and early detection of oral cancer among dental interns: a cross- sectional survey

BackgroundThe challenges associated with ensuring widespread system changes to enable early diagnosis and prevention of oral cancer could benefit from interprofessional practice. A needs assessment study was conducted to inform the Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) course related to oral cancer. The primary objectives of this study were 1) to establish a tool assess the knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) related to prevention and early detection of oral cancer of health professional students, and 2) to assess the same KAP of pre-licensure dental students. Additional objectives were to consider the possibility that dental students would demonstrate good scores related to early detection and prevention of oral cancer thus indicating their readiness for interprofessional learning and collaborative practice.MethodsTwo questionnaires were utilized for this study which included 1) Readiness for interprofessional learning was assessed using the pre- validated tool of Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) 2) A questionnaire to assess the KAP related to early diagnosis and prevention of oral cancer which was developed, validated, and evaluated. Statistical analysis includes, descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, Ordered logistic regression and Probit analysis. p value was set at < 0.05.ResultsA total of 130 dental students (74.6% female) were included in the study. Mean scores related to KAP were 15.96 ± 1.394, 4.70 + 1.146, 7.02 ± 1.019 respectively. The mean score of RIPLS was 73.15 ± 15.961. The probability of overall samples to have good RIPLS scores was around 0.68 to 0.76 (Male 0.68—0.82 & Female 0.68 -0.74). The percentage of students having good knowledge score was 93.8%, good attitude score was around 54.6% and good practice score was around 90%.ConclusionKnowledge and practice related to prevention and early detection of oral cancer were scored highly. Attitude scores were lower in a relatively higher proportion of participants and needed to be addressed in the curriculum. RIPLS score indicates a positive attitude towards interprofessional learning.

Real-world patterns in remote longitudinal study participation: A study of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

Remote longitudinal studies are on the rise and promise to increase reach and reduce participation barriers in chronic disease research. However, maintaining long-term retention in these studies remains challenging. Early identification of participants with different patterns of long-term retention offers the opportunity for tailored survey adaptations. Using data from the online arm of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry (SMSR), we assessed sociodemographic, health-related, and daily-life related baseline variables against measures of long-term retention in the follow-up surveys through multivariable logistic regressions and unsupervised clustering analyses. We further explored follow-up survey completion measures against survey requirements to inform future survey designs. Our analysis included data from 1,757 participants who completed a median of 4 (IQR 2-8) follow-up surveys after baseline with a maximum of 13 possible surveys. Survey start year, age, citizenship, MS type, symptom burden and independent driving were significant predictors of long-term retention at baseline. Three clusters of participants emerged, with no differences in long-term retention outcomes revealed across the clusters. Exploratory assessments of follow-up surveys suggest possible trends in increased survey complexity with lower rates of survey completion. Our findings offer insights into characteristics associated with long-term retention in remote longitudinal studies, yet they also highlight the possible influence of various unexplored factors on retention outcomes. Future studies should incorporate additional objective measures that reflect participants' individual contexts to understand their ability to remain engaged long-term and inform survey adaptations accordingly.

Recovery patterns of low-frequency fatigue in elite youth soccer players after official match

This study aimed to analyze the associations between recovery of low-frequency fatigue, jump height and perceptual responses following official soccer matches. Forty-two male youth elite soccer players (age: 17.13±0.70 years; height: 179.17±5.94 cm; weight: 69.74±4.91 kg) participated in this study. Low-frequency fatigue, countermovement jump, perceived fatigue, muscle soreness and perceived recovery were assessed at -2h, +30 min, +24h and +48h relative to the match. Linear mixed models analysis showed that low-frequency fatigue was reduced at the match-end (ES=-0.679 [95% CI = -1.01; -0.34]; p&lt;.001) but returned to baseline after 24h (ES=0.149 [95% CI = -0.26; 0.56]; p=1.00). Perceptual responses were impaired for up to 48 hours following the match (ES=-0.868–1.174; p&lt;.001). Countermovement jump did not differ between any time point (ES=-0.204–0.216; p&gt;0.05). Additionally, the within-subject correlation analysis showed that low-frequency fatigue pre- to post-match changes presented moderate to large associations with perceived fatigue (rm[57]=-0.43; p&lt;.001), muscle soreness (rm[57]=-0.52; p&lt;.001) and perceived recovery (rm[57]=0.38; p=.003). The assessment of low-frequency fatigue could serve as an additional objective measurement for monitoring post-match fatigue, as findings suggest that young elite soccer players experience transient reductions following match-play, which are strongly correlated with subjective markers of recovery.

Values as causes of emotions and acceptability in the digital risk context: an extension of the values scale with privacy

Values have been proposed to be important predictors of emotions about products, which in turn have been proposed to be associated with acceptability of these products. While support for this theory has been found in the environmental domain, it has not been studied in other domains, such as the domain of digital risks. The main objective of this study was to examine if three values (hedonism, personal security, and privacy) are predictors of emotions about a smart home device (a smart speaker), and if, in turn, those emotions influence the acceptability of the device (operationalized as adoption attitude). Additional objectives were to test whether the relation between risk-related values and emotions strengthens when people receive a value-tailored warning, and whether privacy as a value is a valuable addition to the 19 value scale by Schwartz and colleagues. With a scenario study (N = 623), we found, first, that privacy as a value could indeed be distinguished from the other values. Second, the values hedonism and privacy, but not personal security, predicted either or both positive and negative emotions towards a smart device, and in turn the acceptability of the smart device. Third, the effects of the values privacy and personal security on emotions were not strengthened by a value-tailored warning. Fourth, two additional values were identified that also explained emotions and in turn acceptability of the smart device, being power-resources and tradition. Fifth, privacy was found to be a valuable addition to the 19 value measurement, which explained emotions over and above the other 19 values. The study thus shows that values are also important predictors of emotions and in turn acceptability in the context of digital risks, with privacy as an important newly developed value that contributes to a more in-depth understanding of consumer decision making in this context.

BGF-YOLOv10: Small Object Detection Algorithm from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Perspective Based on Improved YOLOv10

With the rapid development of deep learning, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have acquired intelligent perception capabilities, demonstrating efficient data collection across various fields. In UAV perspective scenarios, captured images often contain small and unevenly distributed objects, and are typically high-resolution. This makes object detection in UAV imagery more challenging compared to conventional detection tasks. To address this issue, we propose a lightweight object detection algorithm, BGF-YOLOv10, specifically designed for small object detection, based on an improved version of YOLOv10n. First, we introduce a novel YOLOv10 architecture tailored for small objects, incorporating BoTNet, variants of C2f and C3 in the backbone, along with an additional small object detection head, to enhance detection performance for small objects. Second, we embed GhostConv into both the backbone and head, effectively reducing the number of parameters by nearly half. Finally, we insert a Patch Expanding Layer module in the neck to restore the feature spatial resolution. Experimental results on the VisDrone-DET2019 and UAVDT datasets demonstrate that our method significantly improves detection accuracy compared to YOLO series networks. Moreover, when compared to other state-of-the-art networks, our approach achieves a substantial reduction in the number of parameters.

Current State of Serious Games in Human Trafficking: Evaluation, Gaps, and Future Research Directions

Addressing human trafficking is crucial due to its severe impact on human rights, dignity, and well-being. Serious games refer to digital games that are designed to entertain while also accomplishing at least one additional objective, such as learning or health promotion. Serious games play a significant role in raising awareness, training professionals, fostering empathy, and advocating for policy improvements related to human trafficking. In this study, we systematically examine and assess the current landscape of serious games addressing human trafficking to unveil the existing state, pinpoint gaps, and propose future research avenues. Our investigation encompassed academic publications, gray literature, and commercial games related to human trafficking. Furthermore, we conducted a thorough review of evaluation criteria and heuristics for the comprehensive assessment of serious games. Subsequently, incorporating these evaluation metrics and heuristics, the games were subjected to evaluation by both players and experts. Following a combined qualitative and quantitative analysis, the results were deliberated upon, and their implications were expounded. Five serious games related to human trafficking were identified and evaluated using the SGES and EGameFlow scales, along with both game-specific and serious game heuristics. Player and expert evaluations ranked “(Un)TRAFFICKED” and “Missing” as the best-performing games, while “SAFE Travel” received the lowest ratings. Players generally rated the games higher than experts, particularly in usability, feedback, and goal clarity, although the games scored poorly in audiovisual quality and relevance. Experts highlighted deficiencies in motivation, challenge, and learning outcomes. The lack of personalization and the absence of social gaming elements point to the need for more targeted human trafficking games adapted to different demographics, cultures, and player types.

Implementation of SAMPL Guidelines in 100 clinical medicine articles: enhancing statistical reporting and recommendations for biomedical journals

BackgroundContemporary observations indicate insufficient quality in the reporting of statistical data. Despite the publication of the SAMPL guidelines in 2015, they have not been widely adopted. The aim of this article is to highlight the incorporation of SAMPL Guidelines in the statistical reviews of articles related to clinical medicine, as well as the changes implemented by authors in revised manuscripts as a result of such guidance. An additional objective is to provide recommendations for biomedical journals regarding the necessity of integrating SAMPL Guidelines into their daily practices. MethodsThe study incorporated 100 selected statistical reviews of original clinical medicine articles from 8 biomedical journals, conducted between 2016 and 2023. Each of these reviews suggested specific SAMPL Guidelines to be implemented in the revised manuscript. It was evaluated which specific SAMPL Guidelines were most frequently enforced and what changes resulted from their implementation. ResultsSeventy-five percent of the manuscripts in question garnered acceptance following a solitary round of statistical evaluation. Among the most frequently recommended and subsequently implemented SAMPL Guidelines by the authors are a more thorough description of the purpose of the applied statistical tests (65%), indication of the practical significance of the obtained results, including calculation of relevant effect size measures (64%), analysis of assumptions necessary for the application of specific statistical tests (58%), and consideration of the impact of outlier values on the obtained results (34%). ConclusionTo improve the quality of statistical reporting in biomedical journals, greater emphasis should be placed on implementing SAMPL Guidelines.

Multifocal electroretinogram changes after panretinal photocoagulation in early proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) impacts macular function in eyes with early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Herein, we used the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) to objectively investigate this concept. In this prospective interventional case series, we enrolled patients with treatment-naive early PDR, absence of clinically significant macular edema, and requirement for PRP. All participants underwent detailed ocular examinations. We measured the best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), conducted optical coherence tomography imaging to measure central macular thickness (CMT), and performed mfERG at baseline and 3 months post-PRP. Amplitude and latency of the mfERG response were evaluated within the innermost four of the five concentric rings. We enrolled 29 eyes of 23 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 54.3 (8.8) years and male-to-female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean BCDVA was unchanged post-treatment (P > 0.05), and the BCDVA in 26 eyes (89.7%) was either improved or unchanged, whereas in three eyes (10.3%) it decreased. The mean CMT was unchanged post-PRP (P > 0.05). Concerning the mfERG, the mean P1 amplitudes decreased significantly in all four concentric rings from the foveola at 3 months post-PRP compared with baseline values (all P < 0.05); however, the latencies were unchanged (all P > 0.05). At baseline, BCDVA correlated significantly with both the amplitude (r = + 0.55; P < 0.05) and latency (r = - 0.38; P < 0.05) of the mfERG in the central ring, whereas a significant correlation was detected with only the amplitude at 3 months post-PRP (r = + 0.52; P < 0.05). Macular function was decreased 3 months post-PRP in patients with early PDR, as indicated by decreased amplitude of the mfERG, whereas the functional and anatomical parameters were stable. The mfERG served as an objective tool for measuring retinal function and predicting visual outcomes post-PRP in eyes with early PDR. A higher amplitude in the mfERG correlated substantially with a better visual outcome post-PRP. Further multi-center longitudinal studies with robust designs including different PDR severity levels may reveal additional objective after-effects of PRP.

Interference with the legal professional activities of journalists: public danger and immediate objects

It is indicated that freedom of speech and self­expression are key components of any modern democracy. International and national legislation provides everyone with the right to freedom of thought, speech, and the free expression of their views and beliefs. At the same time, the practical implementation of these fundamental freedoms remains a difficult task. In Ukraine, the professional activity of journalists is under the protection of the state, and the legislative norms regulating this protection are generally sufficient. However, despite this, cases of obstruction of the legal professional activity of media representatives do not stop, as evidenced by judicial practice The work reveals main provisions on the public danger of obstructing legitimate professional activity of journalists (Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), the direct main and additional objects of this tort. To clarify the content of these elements of the composition of a criminal offense, the concept of the object of a criminal offense as a legal relationship is taken as a basis. It has been established that the social danger of obstructing the legal activity of a journalist lies in the fact that this criminally illegal act has such a negative impact on society in general and the journalist in particular: 1) restricts freedom of speech, i.e. the right to freely express one’s thoughts; 2) hinders citizens’ access to information; 3) directly threatens democratic processes in the state; 4) leads to self-censorship; 5) negatively affects public consciousness, makes it more vulnerable and can lead to its manipulation; 6) threatens psychological and physical safety of journalists, their property, honor, dignity, etc., depending on the manifestation of interference with their legal activities. It is proposed to recognize state-protected legal relations in the sphere of the legitimate professional activity of journalists, which determine the order of such activity, as the main direct object of the criminal offense provided for in Art. 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It is argued that the criminal offense provided for in Art. 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, usually includes direct additional optional objects, which can be legal relations related to the provision of criminal law protection of life, health, honor, dignity, property of a journalist, public order, normal activity of an organization, the right of citizens to obtaining reliable and objective information, etc. At the same time, direct additional mandatory object takes place only in case of committing the specified tort by an official using his official position.

Concept of economic crimes in legal doctrine and legislation, their differentiation

Ukraine’s transition to a market economy, the development of entrepreneurship, the promotion of competition, and the expansion of foreign trade contributed to the creation of new opportunities for criminal activity in the economic sphere. At the same time, the low probability of detection and the high profits associated with economic crime make the economic sphere very attractive to criminals. In turn, the huge losses associated with economic crime undermine social protection systems and destabilize economic systems, thus clearly indicating a failure of self-regulation. The legislator, having in mind economic crimes, operates with the concept of “CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN THE SPHERE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY” (Chapter VII of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and is limited only to their list. According to the legislative approach, an economic crime can be defined only as a socially dangerous culpable act (action or inaction) committed by the subject of the criminal offense provided for by the Criminal Code of Ukraine and provided for by the provisions of Chapter VII of the Special Part of the Criminal Code. At the same time, on the basis of the generalized data of the legislative and doctrinal approach, it is proposed to define an economic crime as a socially dangerous culpable act (action or inaction) committed by the subject of a criminal offense, which consists in the implementation of illegal economic activity (economic processes, relations, operations) or violation of requirements for legal economic activity to satisfy the selfish interests of a person or a group of persons, encroaches on the sphere of economic relations and poses a threat to the economic security of the state, leads to an imbalance of the state’s economic system. At the same time, the so-called economic crimes (Chapter VII of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - criminal offenses in the sphere of economic activity) should be separated from crimes due to which law enforcement agencies can interfere in the sphere of economic relations. Economic crimes can be differentiated according to various criteria: according to the spheres of social relations that regulate one or another type of economic activity; according to the content of the committed crime; by immediate main and additional objects; by subject characteristics; by criminal law characteristics.

Computed tomography referral guidelines adherence in Europe: insights from a seven-country audit.

Ensuring appropriate computed tomography (CT) utilization optimizes patient care while minimizing radiation exposure. Decision support tools show promise for standardizing appropriateness. In the current study, we aimed to assess CT appropriateness rates using the European Society of Radiology (ESR) iGuide criteria across seven European countries. Additional objectives were to identify factors associated with appropriateness variability and examine recommended alternative exams. As part of the European Commission-funded EU-JUST-CT project, 6734 anonymized CT referrals were audited across 125 centers in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, and Slovenia. In each country, two blinded radiologists independently scored each exam's appropriateness using the ESR iGuide and noted any recommended alternatives based on presented indications. Arbitration was used in case auditors disagreed. Associations between appropriateness rate and institution type, patient's age and sex, inpatient/outpatient patient status, anatomical area, and referring physician's specialty were statistically examined within each country. The average appropriateness rate was 75%, ranging from 58% in Greece to 86% in Denmark. Higher rates were associated with public hospitals, inpatient settings, and referrals from specialists. Variability in appropriateness existed by country and anatomical area, patient age, and gender. Common alternative exam recommendations included magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray, and ultrasound. This multi-country evaluation found that even when using a standardized imaging guideline, significant variations in CT appropriateness persist, ranging from 58% to 86% across the participating countries. The study provided valuable insights into real-world utilization patterns and identified opportunities to optimize practices and reduce clinical and demographic disparities in CT use. Question Largest multinational study (7 EU countries, 6734 CT referrals) assessed real-world CT appropriateness using ESR iGuide, enabling cross-system comparisons. Findings Significant variability in appropriateness rates across institution type, patient status, age, gender, exam area, and physician specialty, highlighted the opportunities to optimize practices based on local factors. Clinical relevance International collaboration on imaging guidelines and decision support can maximize CT benefits while optimizing radiation exposure; ongoing research is crucial for refining evidence-based guidelines globally.

Bidirectional associations between sleep and cannabis and alcohol (co-)use in daily life.

Poor sleep is common in the context of cannabis use, but experimental and daily-life studies provide mixed evidence for whether cannabis use helps or disturbs same-night sleep. Despite a high prevalence of co-use of alcohol and cannabis, most studies of cannabis use and sleep do not consider alcohol use. We sought to add to this literature by examining associations between cannabis and sleep in the context of alcohol co-use and to examine these associations bidirectionally using ecological momentary assessment. Participants were 88 adults reporting cannabis use at least 3×/week and simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use at least 2×/week. For 14 days, participants completed morning surveys assessing hours slept and perceived sleep quality from the night before. In morning surveys, random surveys, and substance-specific surveys, participants also reported on alcohol and cannabis craving, use, and amounts. Primary results from multilevel models demonstrated that cannabis use was not independently associated with sleep (duration or quality). However, cannabis use attenuated alcohol's negative effects on sleep quality. Results question the utility of cannabis use to improve sleep but highlight the attenuated negative effects of alcohol as a potential reinforcer of alcohol-cannabis co-use. Future work should continue to consider polysubstance use and integrate additional self-report and objective measures of sleep health to further clarify how cannabis use affects sleep.

A Multi‐Objective Evolutionary Algorithm Based on Bilayered Decomposition for Constrained Multi‐Objective Optimization

This paper proposes a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm based on bilayered decomposition (MOEA/BLD) for solving constrained multi‐objective optimization problems. MOEA/D is an effective method for solving unconstrained multi‐objective optimization problems. It decomposes the objective space using weight vectors and simultaneously searches for solutions for the subproblems. However, real‐world applications impose many constraints, and these constraints must be handled appropriately when searching for good feasible solutions. The proposed MOEA/BLD treats such constraints as an additional objective function. Furthermore, in addition to the conventional weight vector, an augmented weight vector is introduced that decomposes the objective space and constraint violation space hierarchically. In the first stage, the objective space is decomposed by conventional weight vectors. In the next stage, the bi‐objective space consisting of the scalarizing function and constraint violation is decomposed by augmented weight vectors. The augmented weights are adjusted so that they decrease linearly in the search process as the search gradually moves from infeasible regions to feasible regions. The proposed algorithm is compared to several state‐of‐the‐art constrained MOEA/Ds using multi‐ and many‐objective problems. The results show that the proposed method outperforms existing methods, in terms of search performance, under various conditions. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Measuring exploration: evaluation of modelling to generate alternatives methods in capacity expansion models

Abstract As decarbonisation agendas mature, macro-energy systems modelling studies have increasingly focused on enhanced decision support methods that move beyond least-cost modelling to improve consideration of additional objectives and tradeoffs. One candidate is modelling to generate alternatives (MGA), which systematically explores new objectives without explicit stakeholder elicitation. This paper provides comparative testing of four existing MGA methodologies and proposes a new Combination vector selection approach. We examine each existing method’s runtime, parallelizability, new solution discovery efficiency, and spatial exploration in lower dimensional (N ⩽ 100) spaces, as well as spatial exploration for all methods in a three-zone, 8760 h capacity expansion model case. To measure convex hull volume expansion, this paper formalizes a computationally tractable high-dimensional volume estimation algorithm. We find random vector provides the broadest exploration of the near-optimal feasible region and variable Min/Max provides the most extreme results, while the two tie on computational speed. The new Combination method provides an advantageous mix of the two. Additional analysis is provided on MGA variable selection, in which we demonstrate MGA problems formulated over generation variables fail to retain cost-optimal dispatch and are thus not reflective of real operations of equivalent hypothetical capacity choices. As such, we recommend future studies utilize a parallelized combined vector approach over the set of capacity variables for best results in computational speed and spatial exploration while retaining optimal dispatch.

Exploring the effects of time pressure and distracting elements in an augmented reality game for emergency preparedness

The development of emergency preparedness and response skills is crucial for ensuring individual safety and well-being during natural disasters. Realistic and engaging games can effectively promote these skills. This paper explores the impact of introducing additional game objects as distractors and time pressure on user experience and willingness to prepare for emergencies in an Augmented Reality (AR) game. Additional, distracting game elements and time pressure are included in the game scenario to simulate the cognitive demands and stress experienced in real emergency situations. To investigate the impact of distracting game elements and time pressure, a within-subjects study was conducted with 52 participants who played two different versions of an AR game designed to help locate recommended items for an emergency grab bag. In the first version, participants focused solely on finding the recommended items, while in the second version, distractors and a timer were introduced to emphasize the urgency of packing the bag. The results showed no significant difference in user experience between the two versions. However, the version with time pressure and distractors demonstrated a significant improvement in attitudes and perceived behavioral control regarding immediate actions in response to evacuation warnings. Qualitative feedback from participants supported these effects. These findings suggest new directions for further research and highlight the potential of AR games to enhance emergency response strategies.

Bridge Detection in Autonomous Shipping: A YOLOv8 Approach with Autodistill and GroundedSAM

Abstract Inland waterway transportation remains a crucial and cost-effective mode of global transport despite challenges such as skilled personnel shortages, increasing competition, and ecological impacts. Autonomous technology enhances vessel navigation, scheduling, safety, and efficiency, making it a viable solution for smart ship and port operations. Reliable object detection is essential for autonomous ships to navigate safely and avoid collisions with static structures like bridges, piers, bollards, and locks. This paper presents an innovative approach for training a network using the Autodistill pipeline for bridge detection and segmentation. We generate a labeled bridge dataset using GroundedSAM, which integrates Grounding DINO and the Segment Anything Model (SAM) to detect and segment regions based on text input. The system focuses on identifying ‘bridge’ and ‘water’ classes, producing high-quality labeled data. Manual filtering improves label quality, enhancing the training of the YOLOv8 model, known for its superior object detection capabilities. Our approach demonstrates high performance in accurately detecting bridges, confirmed through evaluations with and without manual filtering. To validate our solution’s feasibility in real-world applications, we deployed the model on a NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin for performance evaluation. Future work will extend this approach to additional static and mobile objects relevant to smart ship and port operations, such as ship locks and various ship types.

THE CONCEPT OF THE SYSTEM OF LEGAL PROTECTION OF OBJECTS WILDLIFE AS A RESULT OF INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY

The problems of the legal regime of the results of creative activity related to wildlife and humans have acquired special scientific significance and practical value in many countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan. Therefore, research on the development of concepts for the adaptation of the intellectual property law system as a sub-branch of civil law, the definition of the legal regime of new wildlife objects resulting from intellectual activity, and their integration into the already existing legal system, have a strategic level of state tasks aimed at achieving a balance of public and private interests, especially in the field of biomedical technologies and genomic experiments that create very significant risks not only for the living humanity, but also for future generations. Taking into account the above, this article presents the results of a scientific analysis conducted in order to develop a theoretical concept for building a system of legal protection of wildlife objects as the results of intellectual activity and to make proposals for improving legislation in the field of intellectual property law. Based on the results of the study, it is proposed to modernize the system of law in the field of intellectual property in terms of objects of wildlife, including new objects in addition to existing breeding achievements, namely: strains of microorganisms, genetically modified organisms, biomedical cell products, genomes, and other results of intellectual activity created using human and animal biomaterials, including birds, fish and other representatives of fauna, and provide them with an independent legal regime. The revision of the last object "other results ..." allows you to leave the list of wildlife objects open in order, if necessary, to introduce another innovative object into the intellectual property system, providing it with an appropriate legal regime, without additional changes to the law.

북유럽 초·중 통합운영학교(Comprehensive School)의 특성 연구

Purpose: Due to the decline in school-age populations and urbanization, the discussion on integrated elementary and middle schools has begun in earnest. To effectively operate integrated schools, it is necessary to refer to the experiences of countries that have long implemented similar systems. Thus, this study aimed to explore the comprehensive school system in Northern Europe, where primary and lower-secondary schools are integrated, and analyze its characteristics to draw implications for the operation of integrated elementary and middle schools in the South Korean context. Methods: To achieve the research objectives, this study examined and analyzed the background and current status of the comprehensive school systems in Northern European countries—Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Estonia—that operate under a single structure integrating the primary and lower-secondary school education periods. The study also explored the teacher training systems, school evaluations, and student assessments in these countries. Results: The four countries aimed to achieve both social welfare for all citizens and educational effectiveness. The comprehensive school systems in each country share a common feature of striving to realize the values of social democracy. To link the two school levels, each country has developed its own teacher training and evaluation systems. Conclusion: These findings suggest that, in order to effectively operate integrated elementary and middle schools in the Korean context, it is essential to develop methods that link and integrate the two school levels while considering the specific characteristics of each level, promote collaboration among teachers, and clearly establish educational objectives in addition to administrative and economic goals.

The Impact of Digital Innovation on Economic Growth in Nigeria

In view of this research, we have examined the important impacts of digital innovation on the Nigerian economy, with a focus on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the country. In especially in the rural areas, the National Policy on Information and Communication Technology has been crucial in restoring the health of technological platforms like power and broadband networks. One of the main initiatives is the promotion of legislative changes, with additional objectives aimed at helping companies and enterprises and improving assistance for new comers. Business sectors, including agriculture, production, healthcare, and finance, have felt the effects of digital transformations, which have led to Furthermore, the article analyses the role of social connectivity, the digital divide, and the development of communities. Benefiting from a young and technologically literate population in Nigeria, the growth of the technology sector has led to significant employment opportunities. The growth of the technology sector has resulted in significant employment opportunities. However, there are still challenges that remain unsolved, and this article proposes comprehensive solutions to address these concerns, including educational programmes, public awareness campaigns, and financial vestments. We utilized relevant published data (2004–2014) from diverse, reliable databases. This review has examines the potential of digitization to propel economic growth in Nigeria. Findings suggest that it’s crucial for the government, private sector, and non-profit organisations to foster a mutually beneficial partnership to ensure the equitable distribution of these benefits throughout the country. Ensure that the benefits of digitization are distributed equally throughout the country. Keywords: Digital Innovation, Economic Growth, ICT Integration, Entrepreneurship, Startup Ecosystem, Social Connectivity, Nigeria.

Pediatric Dentistry Program Directors as stakeholders in the process of Board certification.

Board certification is an important credential for pediatric dentists to achieve for purposes of career advancement, hospital privileges, and reputation. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the engagement of residency Program Directors (PDs) with the Board certification process in terms of criteria for clinical readiness, curriculum development, and value. An additional objective was to identify challenges and ways in which PDs may need support as they prepare residents for Board certification. Eighty-seven PDs were invited to participate in this study, out of which 32 agreed to participate (36% response rate). The study included a digital non-validated survey and verbal interviews. Digital and verbal survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. PDs had recurrent themes in their descriptions of clinical readiness, including information gathering, application of knowledge, and professional awareness. Half of the participants used the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) exam domains as a guideline in their curriculum development. Of the verbal interview participants (N=32), 30(94%) felt that Board certification was very important to their residents and program. Many barriers to successful completion of the Board exam were discussed, and a diverse array of suggestions were made for mechanisms to better support PDs as they prepare residents for Board certification. Board certification is valued by PDs and influences their criteria for clinical readiness. Increased engagement with the ABPD will facilitate better support for PDs and will enhance the consistency of training standards in residency programs.