Complex Approach Research Articles

Expanding Short-Term Pedestrian Volume Counts to Average Annual Daily Counts at Intersections: Temporal Pattern Indices and a Comparison of Statistical Land Use and Simple Threshold Methods

Quantifying pedestrian exposure for intersections is important for developing pedestrian-centric strategies. Exposure is typically expressed as the annual-average daily pedestrian traffic (AADPT). AADPT can be directly calculated when continuous counts (CCs) are available. However, CCs are rarely available for all intersections, requiring estimation methods. This work explores the steps involved in expanding pedestrian short-term counts (STCs) to AADPT using factor groups. Day-of-week-of-month expansion factors were used to expand 8-h STCs. The first step consists of grouping sites with similar pedestrian activity patterns (factor groups). Five factor groups were identified, and three pedestrian temporal pattern indicators were proposed to characterize them. The thresholds of these indicators for grouping sites with CCs are available in this work. The second step involves the challenge of associating sites where only STCs are available (unknown traffic patterns) with a particular factor group. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was developed to link factor groups to land use, socioeconomic, and operational attributes. Explanatory variables that represent commercial and industrial areas and the number of schools and transit stops were found to be significant. Simpler methods were also introduced to identify factor groups strongly affected by schools. The last step assesses the expansion of STCs to AADPT using the proposed approaches. The results showed improved performance when compared with averaging expansion factors across all sites. It was also demonstrated that, in certain cases, simple approaches that rely exclusively on the identification of sites that are highly affected by schools present similar performance to more complex approaches, such as MLR.

Development and justification of a method for presenting radiation risks associated with medical exposure of patients

The practical implementation of radiation protection principles in the medical exposure of patients often tends to fall into one of two extremes: either excessive simplification of the methodology for assessing radiation health detriment, or its excessive complexity. An example of an excessively simplified approach is the assessment of radiation risk to patients using effective dose and radiation damage coefficients (nominal risk coefficients) as presented in Norms of the Radiation Safety NRB-99/2009. An example of an unjustifiably complex approach can be considered Tables 1-2 in MR 2.6.1.0215-20 "Assessment of radiation risk to patients during X-ray diagnostic radiological examinations," which indicate "lifetime risk values of death taking into account harm from reduced quality of life due to cancer of various organs and tissues and genetic effects from medical examinations" for a wide range of medical diagnostic X-ray radiological examinations in five-year age groups of patients. The main shortcomings of the simplified approach can be considered the lack of differences in risk assessment between individuals of different sexes and ages, although the fact of higher radiosensitivity in children compared to adults and in women compared to men can be considered universally recognized. The risk assessment approach proposed in MR 2.6.1.0215-20 addresses these shortcomings. However, in the view of the authors of this study, it offers an unnecessarily detailed picture considering uncertainties inherent in risk assessments at low doses, as well as uncertainties in the method of interpopulation transfer of radiation risk proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The aim of this study was to develop and justify a simpler and more straightforward method of presenting information on radiation risks associated with medical X-ray radiological examinations, free from the main drawbacks of the two aforementioned methods. To achieve this goal, radiation risks were calculated using two methods (using effective dose and using the risk model of the International Commission on Radiological Protection). A comparative analysis of the calculation results was conducted with estimates presented in Tables 1-2 of MR 2.6.1.0215-20. As a result of the analysis, an original applied method for presenting qualitative characteristics of radiation risks was developed for use in prescribing X-ray radiological examinations and informing patients about potential health risks. The practical outcome of the study is the formation of a table of radiation risks associated with conducting studies on patients from the Russian population, using the developed method of presenting information on radiation risks.

Experimental analysis of wheel and bogie frame transfer functions for on-board measurements of rail roughness

Acceleration measurements on in-service rail vehicles give many valuable insights into track condition. These measurements are favourable in terms of measurement frequency, no need for additional track possession for measurements, operator safety, etc. The collected acceleration data however needs to be further processed to extract more detailed information on rail surface defects. To derive rail roughness from bogie frame acceleration, a complex signal processing approach is required, as well as determining the dynamic parameters of the track, vehicle, and operational conditions. In this paper, a method to evaluate the influence of resilient wheel and bogie frame on the acceleration data received from bogie frame-mounted accelerometers is described. The method is based on a standstill measurement of frequency response functions on wheel and bogie frame positions using an impact hammer and accelerometers. Following the preliminary results of bogie acceleration measurements, in-situ wheel receptance measurements were carried out on the same tramway vehicle in a standstill position, to determine the transfer function between the wheel-rail contact point and the position of the accelerometer mounted on the wheel frame. After the experimental study, a discussion of their potential application in the method for deriving rail roughness from vibration data is presented.

Theoretical Dimension of Modern Designers’ Conceptual Forms of Creativity

The aim of the article is to identify key characteristics of artistic and design practices interaction; to define directions of conceptual design development based on the results of analysing scientific and theoretical foundations of conceptualism as a special form of the artists’ creativity in the 20th century. Results. It is demonstrated that the focus of modern designers on conceptual forms of creativity is explained by the fact that they contribute to forming unique authors’ projects of aesthetic and value content, innovative searches in the context of cultural and civilisational shifts. A conceptual costume of the beginning of the 21st century is a kind of mediator between art practices of conceptual art and design practices in the sphere of project culture, synthesising social and psychological aspects of fashion, social and symbolic functions of clothing. A conceptual design narrativises philosophical, artistic and technological aspects of design, enriching design products with an expressive metaphoricity. It is revealed that in modern art history a clear definition of the term system of the conceptual direction in design has not been formed till now. The research of this complex phenomenon, synthesised by fashion and artistic clothing design, requires a complex interdisciplinary approach. The conceptual costume is studied as an art-design object from the standpoint of global and local tendencies in the society development, which declare certain worldview values in the form of a visual metaphor. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the theoretical understanding of the conceptual costume grounds on the interaction of design with culture and art as a special space of its direct functioning, which makes it possible to form project conceptualism as a special methodology. Conclusions. The authors’ concepts in the costume are extrapolated in different ways: as visual quotations or metaphors; as a transformation of the art object idea into the form of the costume. Actually, they need in-depth and detailed studying.

Несовершеннолетний работник как субъект трудовых отношений: риски дискриминации в отечественном и зарубежном праве

The article discusses some aspects of labor relations with minors. The current legal agenda shows that the state pays great attention to supporting youth employment and the employment of minors. At the same time, there is a danger of discrimination against minors by the employer due to low legal literacy and excessive credulity of this segment of employees. On the other hand, the problem also lies in the employer's doubt about the risks that must be taken when employing a young employee. When analyzing the foreign legislation of some states, complex approaches to determining a specific list of specialties or areas of employment are found to be imperfect.

A General Boolean Semantic Modelling Approach for Complex and Intelligent Industrial Systems in the Framework of DES

A General Boolean Semantic Modelling Approach for Complex and Intelligent Industrial Systems in the Framework of DES

Papillary Craniopharyngioma: an integrative and comprehensive review.

Papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP) is a rare type of tumor, comprising ∼20% of all craniopharyngioma (CP) cases. It is now recognized as a separate pathological entity from the adamantinomatous type. PCPs are benign tumors, classified as WHO grade 1, characterized by non-keratinizing squamous epithelium. They typically grow as solid and round papillomatous masses or as unilocular cysts with a cauliflower-like excrescence. PCPs primarily occur in adults (95%), with increased frequency in males (60%) and predominantly affect the hypothalamus. Over 80% of these tumors are located in the third ventricle, expanding either above an anatomically intact infundibulum (strictly third ventricle tumors) or within the infundibulo-tuberal region of the third ventricle floor. Clinical manifestations commonly include visual deficits and a wide range of psychiatric disturbances (45% of patients), such as memory deficits and odd behavior. MRI can identify up to 50% of PCPs by the presence of a basal duct-like recess. Surgical management is challenging, requiring complex approaches to the third ventricle and posing significant risk of hypothalamic injury. The endoscopic endonasal approach allows radical tumor resection and yields more favorable patient outcomes. Of intriguing pathogenesis, over 90% of PCPs harbor the somatic BRAFV600E mutation, which activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. A phase 2 clinical trial has demonstrated that PCPs respond well to BRAF/MEK inhibitors. This comprehensive review synthesizes information from a cohort of 560 well-described PCPs and 99 large CP series including PCP cases published from 1856-2023 and represents the most extensive collection of knowledge on PCPs to date.

Intraoperative Management of Iatrogenic Durotomy in Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

This review aims to systematically evaluate the incidence, management strategies, and clinical outcomes of iatrogenic durotomy (ID) in endoscopic spine surgery and to propose a management flowchart based on the tear size and associated complications. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, focusing on studies involving endoscopic spinal procedures and incidental durotomy. The selected studies were analyzed for management techniques and outcomes, particularly in relation to the size of the dural tear and the presence of nerve root herniation. Based on these findings, a flowchart for intraoperative management was developed. A total of 14 studies were included, encompassing 68,546 patients. Varying incidences of ID, with management strategies largely dependent on the size of the dural tear, were found. Small tears (less than 5 mm) were often left untreated or managed with absorbable hemostatic agents, while medium (5-10 mm) and large tears (greater than 10 mm) required more complex approaches like endoscopic patch repair or open surgery. The presence of nerve root herniation necessitated immediate action, often influencing the decision to convert to open repair. Effective management of ID in endoscopic spine surgery requires a nuanced approach tailored to the size of the tear and specific intraoperative challenges, such as nerve root herniation. The proposed flowchart offers a structured approach to these complexities, potentially enhancing clinical outcomes and reducing complication rates. Future research with more rigorous methodologies is necessary to refine these management strategies further and broaden the applications of endoscopic spine surgery.

Atypical tuberculous peritonitis presenting as a peritoneal pseudocyst in an immunocompetent adult: insights from a case and literature review

BackgroundTuberculous peritonitis often presents with nonspecific symptoms that can lead to diagnostic challenges, particularly when manifesting as peritoneal pseudocysts. This study highlights the clinical complexity and diagnostic approach of tuberculous peritonitis presented as a pseudocyst in an immunocompetent adult, an atypical scenario that is rarely documented.Case presentationWe report a detailed case of a 41-year-old man presenting with abdominal distension, pain, and significant weight loss over four months. Abdominal CT showed a peritoneal pseudocyst, initially misdiagnosed due to its resemblance to more common abdominal pathologies. The diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis was confirmed through histopathological analysis. Additionally, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify and analyse similar cases, focusing on clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and patient outcomes. Our patient exhibited classic symptoms of abdominal TB but was unique due to the absence of prior ventriculoperitoneal shunting, a common factor in similar cases. Our literature review found that such presentations typically result in diagnostic delays averaging five months, complicating patient management and outcomes. This review also underscores the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of peritoneal pseudocysts, particularly in TB-endemic regions.ConclusionThis case and review emphasize the need for high clinical suspicion and prompt investigation of tuberculosis in patients presenting with atypical abdominal symptoms and pseudocysts. Improved diagnostic strategies, including early use of imaging and pathological evaluations, are essential for timely diagnosis and management, thereby improving patient outcomes in suspected cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE'S IMPACT ON ESG REPORTING QUALITY

When it comes to communicating a company's performance in terms of sustainability, ESG reporting, which is an acronym that stands for environmental, social, and governance reporting, is a key component. On the other hand, there are still issues with standards, data quality, and consistency requirements. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways in which digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to enhance environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting by resolving these issues. For the purpose of streamlining data collecting, improving quality, and simplifying communication, digital technology and artificial intelligence employ a broad variety of complex approaches. Some examples of these methods include blockchain technology, data analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing. Using regression analysis and data collected from A-share listed companies between the years 2012 and 2021, this study investigates the relationship between digital transformation and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of businesses. The study has an emphasis on the repercussions that are associated with artificial intelligence, digital technology, and ESG reporting (environmental, social, and governance). A number of different aspects, including corporate governance, risk assessment, shareholder value, and corporate responsibility, are all affected by these ramifications. For any business that aspires to grow, develop, become more efficient, and maintain a competitive advantage over its rivals, digital technology and artificial intelligence are indispensable tools. The reporting of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues contributes to the advancement of sustainable development and has a beneficial impact on the risk profile, reputation, performance, and total value of entities. As a result of a comprehensive study, methodological inquiry, and analysis, this research provides useful insights and ideas for enhancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting via the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence. It is discovered that the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence results in ESG reporting that is more comprehensive and has a better degree of confidence.

Accurate Modelling of AFM Force-Indentation Curves with Blunted Indenters at Small Indentation Depths.

When testing biological samples with atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation using pyramidal indenters, Sneddon's equation is commonly used for data processing, approximating the indenter as a perfect cone. While more accurate models treat the AFM tip as a blunted cone or pyramid, these are complex and lack a direct relationship between applied force and indentation depth, complicating data analysis. This paper proposes a new equation derived from simple mathematical processes and physics-based criteria. It is accurate for small indentation depths and serves as a viable alternative to complex classical approaches. The proposed equation has been validated for ℎ < 3R (where h is the indentation depth and R is the tip radius) and confirmed through simulations with blunted conical and pyramidal indenters, as well as experiments on prostate cancer cells. It is a reliable method for experiments where the tip radius cannot be ignored, such as in shallow indentations on thin samples to avoid substrate effects.

Dosimetric advantages of adaptive IMPT vs. Enhanced workload and treatment time – A need for automation

IntroductionIn head-and-neck IMPT, trigger-based offline plan adaptation (Offlinetrigger-based) is often used. Our goal was to compare this to four alternative adaptive strategies for dosimetry, workload and treatment time, considering also foreseen further technological advancements, including anticipated automation. Materials and methodsAlternative strategies included weekly offline re-planning (Offlineweekly), daily plan selection from a library (Librarystatic and Libraryprogsressive) and a fast, approximate daily online re-optimization approach (Onlinere-opt). Impact on CTV coverage and NTCPs was assessed by simulations based on repeat-CTs from 15 patients. Full daily re-planning was used as dosimetric benchmark. Increases in workload and treatment time were estimated. ResultsBoth for coverage and NTCPs, fast Onlinere-opt performed as well as full re-planning. Compared to current practice, Onlinere-opt showed enhanced probabilities for high coverage, and resulted in reductions in grade ≥ II NTCPs of 4.6 ± 1.7 %-point for xerostomia and 4.2 ± 2.3 %-point for dysphagia. Offlineweekly and library strategies did not show coverage enhancements and resulted in smaller NTCP improvements. Further automation can largely limit workload and treatment time increases. With anticipated further automation, adaptation-related workload of Offlineweekly, Librarystatic, Libraryprogressive, and Onlinere-opt was expected to increase by 3, 8, 21, and 66 h for 35 fraction treatment courses compared to Offlinetrigger-based. The corresponding adaptation-related prolonged treatment times were estimated to be 0, 4, 6, and 29 min/fraction. ConclusionOnline adaptive strategies could approach dosimetric quality of full re-planning at the cost of additional workload and prolonged treatment time compared to the current offline adaptive strategy. Automation needs to play a key role in making more complex adaptive approaches feasible.

Monoamine alterations in Alzheimer's disease and their implications in comorbid neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by relentless cognitive decline and the emergence of profoundly disruptive neuropsychiatric symptoms. As the disease progresses, it unveils a formidable array of neuropsychiatric manifestations, including debilitating depression, anxiety, agitation, and distressing episodes of psychosis. The intricate web of the monoaminergic system, governed by serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, significantly influences our mood, cognition, and behavior. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation and degeneration of this system occur early in AD, leading to notable alterations in these critical neurotransmitters' levels, metabolism, and receptor function. However, how the degeneration of monoaminergic neurons and subsequent compensatory changes contribute to the presentation of neuropsychiatric symptoms observed in Alzheimer's disease remains elusive. This review synthesizes current findings on monoamine alterations in AD and explores how these changes contribute to the neuropsychiatric symptomatology of the disease. By elucidating the biological underpinnings of AD-related psychiatric symptoms, we aim to underscore the complexity and inform innovative approaches for treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD.

VQGNet: An Unsupervised Defect Detection Approach for Complex Textured Steel Surfaces

Defect detection on steel surfaces with complex textures is a critical and challenging task in the industry. The limited number of defect samples and the complexity of the annotation process pose significant challenges. Moreover, performing defect segmentation based on accurate identification further increases the task’s difficulty. To address this issue, we propose VQGNet, an unsupervised algorithm that can precisely recognize and segment defects simultaneously. A feature fusion method based on aggregated attention and a classification-aided module is proposed to segment defects by integrating different features in the original images and the anomaly maps, which direct the attention to the anomalous information instead of the irregular complex texture. The anomaly maps are generated more confidently using strategies for multi-scale feature fusion and neighbor feature aggregation. Moreover, an anomaly generation method suitable for grayscale images is introduced to facilitate the model’s learning on the anomalous samples. The refined anomaly maps and fused features are both input into the classification-aided module for the final classification and segmentation. VQGNet achieves state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance on the industrial steel dataset, with an I-AUROC of 99.6%, I-F1 of 98.8%, P-AUROC of 97.0%, and P-F1 of 80.3%. Additionally, ViT-Query demonstrates robust generalization capabilities in generating anomaly maps based on the Kolektor Surface-Defect Dataset 2.

How does Kailo work to improve adolescent mental health? A developmental realist evaluation protocol

Background Kailo is a community-centred research and design initiative that aims to improve adolescent mental health by addressing its wider social determinants. Unlike conventional interventions that often neglect systemic factors, Kailo employs a complex systems approach to identify and address the social causes of poor adolescent mental health in two pilot sites. This protocol outlines a developmental realist-informed evaluation that will develop, test, and refine the programme theory underpinning the Kailo framework. This evaluation will generate recommendations for the enhancement of Kailo before it is implemented in additional sites. Methods A developmental realist-informed evaluation will be conducted to investigate how and why Kailo works, for whom, and under what circumstances. This mixed-methods evaluation will engage key members of the Kailo consortium, local stakeholders, and young people who have interacted with Kailo. The initial phase incorporates a rapid realist synthesis, interviews with key informants, observations, and document analyses to formulate the initial programme theory. The second phase will employ semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and analyses of routinely collected data to test the initial programme theory. The final phase will use focus group discussions to refine and consolidate the initial programme theory. Given the developmental nature of this evaluation, this programme theory will refine the implementation of the intervention in the pilot sites and generate recommendations to improve future versions of the Kailo framework. Discussion This study will explore the mechanisms by which the implementation of Kailo improves adolescent mental health by facilitating place-based systems change in the two pilot locations. This theory-based evaluation will illuminate the primary contextual conditions and mechanisms which produce intended (and unintended) outcomes to inform the future development of the Kailo framework. Moreover, the methodological approach used may contribute to broader understanding of how to implement and evaluate complex interventions designed to improve public health.

КОНВЕРГЕНЦІЯ МАРКЕТИНГУ ТА ФІНАНСОВО-ЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ В УМОВАХ ЦИФРОВОЇ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ

The article examines the relationship between marketing and financial and economic security in the context of the development of information technologies, as their convergence is an integral part of modern business. Digital transformations significantly change the landscape of marketing and financial and economic security, in order to work successfully in new conditions, enterprises must invest in digital technologies, protect customer data and systems from cyber attacks and fraudulent actions, constantly adapt to new technologies and market conditions. In today's conditions, economy, rationality and maximum efficiency based on the use of modern information and multimedia technologies are a guarantee not only of quality management, but also of the company's overall competitiveness in the markets. Marketing plays a key role in ensuring the financial and economic security of the enterprise, i.e. constant monitoring of the market, analysis of competitors and study of customer needs allow timely detection of potential threats and development of effective strategies to neutralize them. Thanks to a deep understanding of customer needs and market dynamics, marketing contributes to the development of effective strategies that allow the enterprise to adapt to changes and maintain its competitiveness, optimize its costs, improve product quality and strengthen its position in the market. In the conditions of growing global competition, companies must understand the development trends of international markets, cultural characteristics and take into account legislative norms in their activities. In this case, marketing helps to adapt business to new conditions, and economic security provides protection from external threats. The rapid development of digital technologies is changing the rules of the game in the market, while marketing allows effective use of digital channels to interact with customers, and economic security provides protection against cyber threats and other risks related to digital technologies. Consumers increasingly expect a personalized approach and high quality products and services, so marketing helps to understand the needs of customers and develop appropriate offers, and financial and economic security ensures that these offers will be fulfilled with quality and time. New players are constantly entering the market, which complicates competition, so there is a need to stand out among competitors, determine the company's competitive advantages, build a positive image and effectively manage crisis situations. In this case, economic security protects against unfair competition, ensures business stability in conditions of uncertainty, helps protect company data from cyber attacks and fraudulent actions, and prevents financial losses. Therefore, ensuring financial and economic security during marketing operations is a complex task that requires a complex approach. The convergence of marketing and financial and economic security allows you to minimize risks, ensure sustainable business development and effective promotion of goods and services, and protect the reputation of the company and its assets. The interaction of marketing and economic security helps prevent crisis situations related to security breaches that can negatively affect the company's image, as well as avoid ineffective spending on marketing campaigns related to unsafe or unethical practices

Міжнародно–правова практика мобілізації та способу комплектування Збройних Сил

The article examines the peculiarities of the legal regulation of the mobilization process in the United States of America, Great Britain, Finland, and the Baltic countries, the practice of which has its own specifics associated with national traditions, the conditions of military and reserve service, the geographical location of the country, and other characteristic features. It is noted that the full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine forces most European countries to take urgent measures aimed at changing the methods of mobilization for war, as well as shifting the economy to the production of military equipment and the implementation of organizational and legal forms and methods of conscription and replenishment of mobilization resources as in their own countries and in NATO. It has been proven that when a decision is made on the mobilization deployment of the armed forces in the USA, the draft of men is carried out in 6 stages, which include organizational and legal actions aimed at the adoption by Congress of relevant amendments to the mobilization legislation, the procedure for the draft of specific persons based on the drawing of a lottery, the implementation of attestation persons and enlistment of conscripts for active service. The right to serve in the United States, on the basis of secondary education, has all citizens of the United States and citizens of other states who permanently reside in the state. Staffing of the army of Great Britain is mainly carried out on a professional basis. However, the government of the kingdom, in order to reduce the level of crime, youth unemployment and the Russian threat to the West, is inclined to return mandatory military service to the country in 2025. Candidates for joining the army mobilization reserve are recruited by theMilitary Information and Career Bureau. It is outlined that the armed forces of Scandinavia and the Baltic States, in contrast to the armies of the United States and Great Britain, continue to expand the conscription process due to the increased threat from Russia. Thus, the order of recruitment of the armed forces of Finland is carried out on the basis of the Law “On Conscription for Military Service”, in Latvia the mobilization process is regulated by the Law "OnMilitary Service", Lithuania conducts military conscription in accordance with the Law “On Military Conscription”, and in Estonia the legal basis of the defense of the country is regulated by the Law “OnMilitary Service”. It has been proven that military servicemen, conscripts and reservists are mainly criminal, administrative, disciplinary and materially responsible for violating mobilization legislation in NATO countries. It is noted that the domestic mobilization legislation requires targeted legal support, adaptive military management and a complex and systemic approach to the organization of the mobilization process.

Терапевтически индуцированная нейроэндокринная дифференцировка рака предстательной железы.

Introduction. The use of selective highly effective antiandrogen drugs in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) gradually leads to cellular transformation. Objective. To study current concepts of the prevalence of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in patients with CRPC, as well as the treatment of this aggressive variant of PCa. Materials and methods. The results of a search in the scientific databases PubMed, in the scientific electronic library eLibrary.ru were analyzed for the following queries - keywords: treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer, treatment-emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer, androgen receptor resistance PCa therapy, neuroendocrine prostate cancer treatment. More than 100 scientific papers published in the last 10 years were found, of which 38 were selected for this review based on the objective of the review. Results. In a number of publications, the linear plasticity of prostate adenocarcinoma (PG) in NE tumor was designated as therapy-induced prostate carcinoma (t-NEPCs). The number of observations of NED PCa is growing, including due to the widespread use of powerful aromatase inhibitors. According to a number of studies, NED PCa is observed in 10-20% of patients with metastatic CRPCa, detected after androgen deprivation therapy and therapy with newgeneration antiandrogens, and the condition is characterized by a highly aggressive course and is accompanied by low survival rates. Conclusion. The high prevalence of NED in patients with CRPC, as well as the lack of effective treatment methods, indicate the need to concentrate efforts on studying this clinically relevant, but insufficiently studied condition. The search for new treatment options for NED PCa based on a patho- genetic complex approach is promising and in demand.

High immersion/escapism motivation makes gaming disorder risk less dependent of playtime among highly engaged male gamers.

In the realm of gaming-related concerns, the relationship between gaming time (GT) and gaming disorder (GD) remains an intriguing and complex subject. Although increased GT is not a reliable predictor of GD risk, the circumstances under which this relationship strengthens or weakens remain relatively unknown. This study explores the roles of immersion/escapism motive (IEM) and GT in the context of GD among highly engaged gamers (N = 294), each dedicating a minimum of 20 hours weekly to gaming. The findings confirm that IEM significantly moderates the relationship between GT and GD in the male sample. Specifically, low and moderate levels of IEM result in a stronger relationship between GT and GD. In the case of women, the effect was not significant. These findings suggest the importance of comprehensive assessments of gaming motivations when addressing gaming-related issues, particularly in GD research. Moreover, they emphasize the value of adopting a complex approach to comprehending the development of problematic gaming behaviors.

"Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi

Background The COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi exacerbated, existing public health challenges including access to HIV treatment and care services. “Life Mapping,” a component of the Citizen Science community-led project in Malawi, documented the lived experiences and perspectives of people living with HIV in the context of COVID-19. Methods Citizen Science Life Maps is a three-year qualitative, longitudinal project utilizing collaborative and participatory research methods through digital storytelling to document peoples’ daily lives. Twenty participants living with HIV were recruited between 2022 and 2023 in two central regional districts of Malawi and two urban areas. The participants were given mobile smart phones to document the impact of COVID-19 on HIV prevention and treatment services, HIV treatment literacy, mental health and the COVID -19 vaccine. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Access to HIV prevention and treatment slowly recovered yet introducing multi-month anti- retroviral dispensing raised concerns. In the absence of mental health care services, participants were resourceful in seeking alternative ways to deal with mental health. However, state sponsored violence in relation to COVID-19 public health measures impacted negatively not only on mental well-being but also on HIV treatment adherence. Whilst most recognized the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for people living with HIV, myths, misinformation, and conspiracy theories around the vaccine persisted especially religious themed misinformation. Conclusions The relationship between misinformation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is complex and medical and scientific approaches may not be sufficient to prevent misinformation. Fear and misinformation are likely attributed to global uncertainty during the pandemic and the speed at which vaccines were developed with minimal opportunity to prepare global communities.