Advanced Scientific Research Research Articles

Phenomenological Considerations of the World of the Obsessive Patient.

Despite significant scientific advances in research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the psychological and behavioral symptoms of this pathological condition remain hard to understand, until they seem paradoxical. The present work seeks to consider the significance and potential contribution of a phenomenological reading of OCD and how phenomenalism has influenced some cognitive models of this disorder. Transcendental phenomenology is a philosophical approach that attaches primary importance to intuitive experience and considers all phenomena intrinsically associated with the subject's inner world. Thus, the subject's intuition is considered the starting point for understanding their essential experience. This approach has had a profound influence on modern cognitive sciences. Among current cognitive models, post-rationalist cognitivism and cognitive neuropsychological psychotherapy seem most effective in capturing the world experiences of OCD patients. Both apply a phenomenological approach to identify these experiences, which are typically characterized by hyper-reflexivity, at the expense of 'natural evidence.' The models have found that OCD patients experience the world emotionally as a sterile set of rules, and this experience determines their suffering.

Action of the plant-based essential oil-derived compound Taxol for improvising drought tolerance in Eucalyptus by modulating the VIT1 channel protein: a cutting-edge computational approach.

Background: Drought poses a significant threat to the growth and survival of woody plants, especially Eucalyptus grandis, which is known for its slow and steady growth. Understanding the physiological and molecular responses of E. grandis to abiotic stress is essential for developing strategies to improve its drought resistance. This study focuses on the potential vulnerability of E. grandis during the initial months of root system proliferation and investigates the role of the essential oil-derived compound Taxol in enhancing its drought resistance. Methodology: A comprehensive analysis was performed on various aspects of E. grandis, including morphological features, photosynthetic rates, pigment concentrations, nitrogenous components, and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the study examined the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates, proline, and antioxidant enzymes as part of the tree's response to drought stress. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to determine the binding affinity of Taxol, an essential oil derived from Taxus brevifolia, with the VIT1 protein in E. grandis. Results: E. grandis displayed remarkable resilience to drought by accumulating vast reserves of soluble carbohydrates, proline, and antioxidant enzymes. The essential oil-derived compound Taxol exhibited a strong binding affinity with the VIT1 protein (-10.23kcal/mol), suggesting its potential role in enhancing the tree's drought resistance. Conclusion: This study reveals the pivotal role of Taxol in augmenting the resilience of E. grandis against drought stress and improving its therapeutic oil properties. Emphasizing the tree's inherent tolerance during its susceptible early stages is crucial in promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry practices. The findings underscore the importance of advanced scientific research in uncovering the concealed capabilities of robust trees like E. grandis as we continue our pursuit of a sustainable future.

Multidirectional pharmacological effects of saponins in light of clinical trials: a systematic review of literature

Introduction: Saponins are secondary metabolites widely distributed in higher plants with multidirectional pharmacological effects. We distinguish between steroidal and triterpenoidal saponins, which are composed of glycone and aglycone. The varied medicinal properties of saponins are influenced by the presence of different substituents in the polycyclic aglycone, e.g. hydroxyls, hydroxymethyls, carboxyls and acyl groups, as well as the difference in bonding, composition and number of sugar chains. It is noteworthy that foods rich in these compounds can reduce the risk of developing various diseases, and the isolation of these compounds from the plant matrix provides new opportunities to create potential and effective drugs.
 Purpose of the work: Conduct a literature review on the basis of available clinical studies on the pharmacological effects of saponins extracted from medicinal plants and their potential application in medicine.
 Materials and methods: The work was based on a literature review of available medical publications from clinical trials conducted for the multidirectional therapeutic effects of saponins. Reports available in publications and scientific studies posted in medical information databases such as Pubmed and Google Scholar were summarised.
 Results: Clinical studies confirm the pharmacological effect of saponins in the treatment of sports injuries and trauma, type II diabetes, abnormal glycemic state fasting glucose, ischemic heart disease, pancytopenia and aplastic anemia.
 Conclusions: With the advancement of scientific research on saponins, it is possible to use them to produce potential drugs and dietary supplements with pharmacological effects. However, before saponins can be used for medical treatment, further research on their efficacy and safety is needed.

Evaluation of the Influence of Super-Low-Intensity Microwave Radiations on Mesenchimal Stem Cells

This paper is devoted to the analysis of advanced scientific research on the role of super-low-intensity microwave effects on biological objects in form of stem cells. The scientific work has been performed by a translational team of researchers, including doctors, engineers, radio physicists, and programmers. Synchropulsar AQUA was used as a source of super-low intensity <10 μW of electromagnetic microwave radiation in the 1 GHz band. During the study, it was found that the number of cells is reduced in the experimental groups compared with the control. In the control it was calculated 3.1 x106 cells/mL, in the low frequency biomodulation mode it was found 2.5×106 cells/mL; in the continuous generation mode it was revealed 2.1 x106 cells/mL. Assessment of the fluorescence intensity showed that the activity of mitochondria is higher in the experimental group under irradiation with mode modulation by biotropic parameters – 12.40 conventional units (cu). When using regime continuous generation, the activity of mitochondria was 9.33 cu. In the control group, mitochondrial activity was 10.74 cu.

Optimising targeted dietary intervention strategies based on regional disparities of the related burden of cardiovascular disease in China

Optimising targeted dietary intervention strategies based on regional disparities of the related burden of cardiovascular disease in China

Realisation of the reconfigurable pulsed high magnetic field facility and its scientific application at Wuhan National Pulsed High Magnetic Field Centre

AbstractTo generate arbitrary shape magnetic field waveforms for advanced scientific research, a reconfigurable pulsed high magnetic field facility (PHMFF) was developed at Wuhan National Pulsed High Magnetic Field Centre (WHMFC). First, the basic elements of PHMFF are introduced, and a ternary physical model composed of energy storage unit, magnet, transmission circuits and other auxiliary units is summarised to describe various magnetic field systems. Second, in order to realise the reconfiguration of magnetic field systems based on detailed elements, the control system with the ability of dynamic construction and control sequence reconfiguration is designed. On this basis, the PHMFF has been realised and various magnetic field systems are constructed to produce arbitrary shape magnetic field waveforms, such as half‐sine, ultra‐high, flat‐top and repetitive field pulses, which not only enhances the capability and efficiency of PHMFF, but also makes more scientific research possible in pulsed magnetic fields. So far, a peak magnetic field of 94.8 T, a flat‐top magnetic field of 64 T/10 ms and a repetitive magnetic field waveform of 20 T/60 Hz have been achieved, and some experiments and studies on the physical properties of materials have been carried out at WHMFC.

Study on properties of representative ordinary Portland cement: Heavy metal risk assessment, leaching release kinetics and hydration coupling mechanism

As an important basic material in the construction industry, the potential harm of heavy metal elements contained in Portland cement (PC) to the ecosystem and human health cannot be ignored. In this research, PC from five representative areas of China was chosen to systematically research its heavy metal risk assessment, leaching release kinetics and hydration coupling mechanism using the advanced scientific testing techniques and research methods, so as to provide reasonable suggestions for the efficient, safe and environmentally friendly utilization of PC. The research indicated that the chemicalconstituents of PC are CaO, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, etc. The primary mineral composition were calcite, quartz, magnesite and mullite. Through the detection and analysis of the contents of Cr, As, Cd and Pb in PC, in accordance with the analysis results of environmental evaluation model, there were no obvious environmental risks of the four heavy metals, but the contents of Cr and Cd in PC need to focus on. At the same time, Cr in PC needs to be key-point controlled as human health risk assessments indicated that they posed a carcinogenic risk to the human body through oral administration. However, as the cumulative effect of As and Pb, their toxicity cannot be ignored in human health evaluation. Therefore, As and Pb need to be re-incorporated into the category of characteristic noxious heavy metals. But the control level was marked as medium; Cr and Cd control level was high.The fitting results of release kinetics showed that most of the heavy metal leaching in PC can be well fitted by Elovich model and second-order kinetic model. This indicated that Elovich model, second-order kinetic model and parabolic model were more worthy of study in the leaching release kinetics of heavy metals. In the meantime, the study showed that the leaching of heavy metals in PC was controlled by a series of effects such as parabolic model. On the basis of the dynamic model of heavy metal content in five kinds of PC with curing duration, the optimum safe age of noxious heavy metals in PC after PC hydration was explored. Through XPS test results, it was discovered that the Cr, As, Cd and Pb in PC present in the formation of Cr3+, Cr6+, As3+, As5+, Cd2+ and Pb4+. These noxious heavy metal ions were harmful to the human body by means of the infiltration and migration of soil and groundwater. Lastly, the hydration coupling mechanism of heavy metals in PC were discussed, and the content of characteristic heavy metals in PC under various usage scenes were limited.

ES Cells: A Revolutionary Approach for Medicine

ES cells are a population of undifferentiated cells characterized by the ability to extensively proliferate, usually arise from a single cell and differentiate into different types of cells and tissue (potent). In recent years, ES cell therapy has become a very promising and advanced scientific research topic. The development of treatment methods has evoked great expectations. This paper is a viewing on the discovery of ES cells and the potential therapies based on these cells. A wide variety of possibilities makes this cutting edge therapy a turning point in modern medicine, providing hope for untreatable diseases.

Cassiae Semen: A comprehensive review of botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control.

Cassiae Semen, belonging to the family Leguminosae, is derived from the dry mature seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. or Cassia tora L. and has long been used as a laxative, hepatoprotective, improve eyesight, and antidiabetic complications medicine or functional food in Asia. This review summarizes the integrated research progress of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control of Cassiae Semen. Additionally, the emerging challenges and possible developing directions are discussed as well. The information on Cassiae Semen was collected from published scientific materials, including ancient books of traditional Chinese Medicine; Ph.D. and M. Sc. dissertations; monographs on medicinal plants; pharmacopoeia of various countries and electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, Science Direct, J-STAGE, Springer link, Taylor, CNKI and Google Scholar, etc. RESULTS: First, the traditional uses and plant origins of Cassiae Semen are outlined. Secondly, approximately 137 compounds, including anthraquinones, naphthopyranones, naphthalenes, flavones, polysaccharides and other compounds, have been isolated and identified from Cassia obtusifolia L. and Cassia tora L. Third, the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of crude extract of Cassiae Semen and its main bioactive compounds are summarized. Moreover, the processing, toxicity, and quality control are introduced briefly. Cassiae Semen is a frequently used Chinese Materia Medica with pharmacological effects that mainly affect the digestive system, cardiovascular systems and nervous system. This review summarized its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology, it also exhibited recent scientific research advances and gaps, which provide a deeper insight into the understanding and application of Cassiae Semen. In future research on Cassiae Semen, more attention should be given to the pharmacological activities of naphthopyranones and polysaccharides and the mechanism of action for improving eye diseases. Meanwhile, it is essential to focus on strengthening the study on the pharmacokinetics research and the safety evaluation of related health products research.

InVO4 nanosheets decorated with ZnWO4 nanorods: A novel composite and its enhanced photocatalytic performance under solar light

InVO4 is the most attractive inorganic new-generation material for advanced scientific research, especially in the fields of energy and environmental science. In theory, this stable, non-toxic, energy-efficient metal vanadate semiconductor is expected to exhibit significant catalytic activity owing to its narrow bandgap energy. However, this has not been achieved in practice because of its inherent defects in terms of the separation and migration of charge carriers. In fact, the exploration of this material is still in its infancy, and more research is needed to improve its efficiency and speed up its commercialization. Band gap engineering using heterojunction formation offers better results than other methods, such as morphological variations and doping efforts. In this context, the present study offers a significant solution substantiated by experimental results. This includes the successful synthesis of a novel nanocomposite of InVO4 nanosheets decorated with ZnWO4 nanorods with a unique improved light absorption ability. Three composites with 26.48–33.85 nm crystal sizes and 11.74–19.98 m2/g surface area were prepared with tailor-made bandgap energies in the range of 2.52–2.97 eV. Furthermore, they produced high photoexcitation currents with low EIS resistance with respect to their constituents. The as-prepared InVO4-based novel catalyst almost completely (98.33%) decomposed tetracycline (TC) antibiotic in just 90 min, proving its high efficacy. The enhanced performance of the novel catalyst is 7.6 times that of InVO4 and 10 times that of ZnWO4. Moreover, the catalyst intake was significantly small (15 mg/100 mL TC solution).

From skin infection to invasive diseases: A descriptive review of Staphylococcus aureus, focusing on Panton-Valentine leucocidin and methicillin-resistant strains

Despite advances in scientific research, Staphylococccus aureus remains a pyogenic and toxigenic bacterium involved in different infections, it endowed with the capacity to infect several biotopes and cause a wide range of infections ranging from skin diseases to other serious pathologies such as pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, osteomyelitis and infectious endocarditis. Moreover, the emergence of resistant strains constitutes a serious public health problem. Thus, the development of new active compounds from natural sources such as medicinal plants is urgently needed. To this end, the aim of our review was to describe the state of art of infections caused by S. aureus, its pathogenesis, treatment and to provide a synthesis about studies reporting a bio guided isolation of most promising compounds selected for their anti-staphylococcal activity.

Medical nanorobots in the focus of law

Objective : to form doctrinal bases and mechanics of legal regulation of using medical nanorobots; to conceptualize the idea of nanorobotics law within the frameworks of its basic definitions, safety norms, risks, typology of devices, and legal parameters of technological terminology. Methods : the cognition tools are represented in the form of integration between general scientific and modern special legal methods (including the methods of comparative legal studies, legal modeling and juridical forecasting, NBICS-convergence), which, taken as a whole, allow distinguishing in the study object not only juridical proper, but also anthropological, biomedical, informational, and mechanistic research projections. Results : the author’s definition of the medical nanorobot concept was formulated; the legal content and quasi-legal aspects of the definition that are important for the theoretical and applied development of terminology were investigated; the signs of related concepts (biomedical robot, nanorobotic system, medical nanorobotic system) were identified and logical connections between them were established; the classification of the main types of risks associated with the practical use of medical nanorobots was carried out; the list of theoretical and legal contradictions that are potentially capable of negatively affecting the future development of regulatory practice was revealed; the Russian and foreign experience of legal regulation and doctrinal understanding of the problems of medical nanorobotics (by the examples of the USA, Japan, Europe, China) was considered. Scientific novelty : under the lack of interdisciplinary research, an attempt was made to comprehensively consider the concept of a medical nanorobot in a technological, legal and communicative way (“human robot” on a nanoscale) based on the advanced scientific research that defines the foundations of the future nanorobotic law. It is recommended to supplement the synergetic development of biomedical and related technologies, reflected in the models of robot law and robot ethics, with relatively independent concepts of nanorobot law and nanorobot ethics. Practical significance : based on the analysis of the legal regulation system in force in Russia and abroad, mechanisms for improving domestic legislation were identified, including taking into account the achievements of juridical crowdsourcing. Within the framework of socio-humanitarian issues, a contribution to the development of legal, sociological, and psychological science is formed. A scientific and methodological basis was prepared for further legal research and law-making activities in the field of medical nanorobotics.

A Preliminary Study of Medical Books on Health Care for the Elderly and Prolonging Life in the Early 20th Century

The present research of Chinese medical history lack detailed discussions on Chinese medicine philology of the elderly and the various sorting of related literature of physiology and diseases both at home and abroad. Based on previous literature, the article aims to introduce the publishing trend of medical books on health cultivation and prolonging life on since modern times, generally describe its significance, and initially analyze the contents related to health cultivation for the elderly. The article finds out that after the scientific concepts were imported into China in large quantities from the beginning of the 20th century, the past superstitions rose again. The sciences of nutrition, bacteriology, and physiology in such books had all verified that the road to immortality was possible. The concept of longevity at the time emphasized a concept that could be controlled by science. With the advancement of scientific research and health concepts, people believed that they could eventually achieve immortality. It was obvious that people were filled with optimism about science at that time, thus gradually subverting the definition of the elderly.

Low-temperature heat transfer mediums for cryogenic applications

BackgroundResearchers and industrialists have grown interested in cryogenic technologies over the years. Cryogenic heat transfer has enabled new applications due to material properties and behaviour at very low temperatures. This domain is still underdeveloped and unfamiliar in various applications. MethodsThis work discusses the recent progress on cryogenic mediums and their respective use in different heat transfer applications. After identifying what is commonly designated as a cryogenic medium, i.e., those with a boiling point below -150 °C, the different characteristics and features of such mediums are critically discussed. Significant findingsLiquid He and N2 were found to be the most used cryogenic mediums, mainly due to the very low temperature attained by liquid He, as the closest to the absolute zero, along with the low cost and high availability of liquid N2. The use of liquid-phase cryogenic in a single-phase state was found to be the most common application method. Two-phase applications of the cryogenic medium are mainly for use in a heat pipe, in which both latent and sensible heat is utilized. Cryogenic mediums are essential for critical and niche applications such as in aerospace, superconductivity, advanced machining and manufacturing methods, and more critically in many healthcare applications and advanced scientific research.

Stem Cells: DNA Microarray Approach

In recent years, stem cell therapy has become a very promising and advanced scientific research topic. The development of treatment methods has evoked great expectations, not only researchers but also society due to its potency in cell-based therapy. Stem cells are unspecialized cells of the human body. They are able to differentiate into any cell of an organism and have the ability of self-renewal. Broadly speaking, the application of stem cells can be divided into two, namely: autotransplantation (donor and recipient are same person) and allotransplantation (donors and recipients are people who different). However, other applications namely xenotransplantation (donor and the recipient is the species that different) now it also becomes center of attention. Since it is challenging to isolate stem cells, molecular methods specifically the use of a DNA microarray, are one way to find stem cells. Microarrays have been applied in stem cell research to identify major features or expression signatures that define stem cells and characterize their differentiation programs toward specific lineages. This paper is a review focused on a discussion of the of the microarray technology and types of stem cell transplant.

Fabrication and Characterization Techniques of In Vitro 3D Tissue Models.

The culturing of cells in the laboratory under controlled conditions has always been crucial for the advancement of scientific research. Cell-based assays have played an important role in providing simple, fast, accurate, and cost-effective methods in drug discovery, disease modeling, and tissue engineering while mitigating reliance on cost-intensive and ethically challenging animal studies. The techniques involved in culturing cells are critical as results are based on cellular response to drugs, cellular cues, external stimuli, and human physiology. In order to establish in vitro cultures, cells are either isolated from normal or diseased tissue and allowed to grow in two or three dimensions. Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture methods involve the proliferation of cells on flat rigid surfaces resulting in a monolayer culture, while in three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, the additional dimension provides a more accurate representation of the tissue milieu. In this review, we discuss the various methods involved in the development of 3D cell culture systems emphasizing the differences between 2D and 3D systems and methods involved in the recapitulation of the organ-specific 3D microenvironment. In addition, we discuss the latest developments in 3D tissue model fabrication techniques, microfluidics-based organ-on-a-chip, and imaging as a characterization technique for 3D tissue models.

Replication crisis and placebo studies: rebooting the bioethical debate

A growing body of cross-cultural survey research shows high percentages of clinicians report using placebos in clinical settings. One motivation for clinicians using placebos is to help patients by capitalising...

Validity of biopsychosocial model of intervention in contemporary medical practice: Walking a few extra miles

Validity of biopsychosocial model of intervention in contemporary medical practice: Walking a few extra miles

GUIDELINES ON UKRAINIAN HIGHER EDUCATION MODERNISATION THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOUTH KOREA

Within the article, the author delves into an examination of higher education within the context of South Korea. This examination is grounded in an assessment of its legislative, organizational, and substantial dimensions of operation. The author proceeds to delineate the pivotal elements that have underpinned South Korea’s accomplishments in the realm of higher education, encompassing governmental strategies, educational investment, advances in scientific research, and the interplay of societal and cultural facets within the national framework. Through a comprehensive scrutiny of the South Korean model, the author accentuates pertinent issues that hold relevance for Ukrainian higher education during the backdrop of wartime conditions and the ensuing phase of post-war reconstruction. Furthermore, the article elucidates the potentialities inherent in assimilating the constructive lessons drawn from South Korea’s educational achievements and translating them into practical applications within the Ukrainian context. This endeavour takes into careful consideration the distinctive national attributes and the exigencies that society will encounter during the post-war epoch. The matter of adapting specific methodologies for the administration of higher education, notably pertaining to the collaboration between institutions of higher learning, the governmental apparatus, and industry stakeholders, is also unveiled. These approaches hold promise for Ukraine’s higher education modernisation, fostering a substantial enhancement of its research capabilities. By way of a comparative lens, the author brings to light the potential of harnessing South Korea’s higher education experience as a catalyst for the nation’s resurgence post-conflict and proffers corresponding recommendations.

Photovoltaic Models Parameters Estimation Based on Weighted Mean of Vectors

Renewable energy sources are gaining popularity, particularly photovoltaic energy as a clean energy source. This is evident in the advancement of scientific research aimed at improving solar cell performance. Due to the non-linear nature of the photovoltaic cell, modeling solar cells and extracting their parameters is one of the most important challenges in this discipline. As a result, the use of optimization algorithms to solve this problem is expanding and evolving at a rapid rate. In this paper, a weIghted meaN oF vectOrs algorithm (INFO) that calculates the weighted mean for a set of vectors in the search space has been applied to estimate the parameters of solar cells in an efficient and precise way. In each generation, the INFO utilizes three operations to update the vectors’ locations: updating rules, vector merging, and local search. The INFO is applied to estimate the parameters of static models such as single and double diodes, as well as dynamic models such as integral and fractional models. The outcomes of all applications are examined and compared to several recent algorithms. As well as the results are evaluated through statistical analysis. The results analyzed supported the proposed algorithm’s efficiency, accuracy, and durability when compared to recent optimization algorithms.