Global Scientific Community Research Articles

Development of a multi-metric index based on macroinvertebrates for wetland ecosystem health assessment in predominantly agricultural landscapes, Upper Blue Nile basin, northwestern Ethiopia

Developing multi-metric indices (MMIs) as a tool for inland water ecosystem assessment has attracted the attention of the global scientific community. The number of studies, which developed macroinvertebrate-based multi-metric indices for wetlands, however, was very limited. Thus, more work is needed to refine and implement it depending on the ecological contexts of wetlands. On top of this, we developed multi-metric indices based on macroinvertebrate assemblages that could be used for the ecological health assessment of wetlands that are impacted by agricultural activities in North-western Ethiopia. About 20 sampling sites were established in four wetlands along the disturbance gradient to take water and macroinvertebrates samples. The reference sites, which were least disturbed by human intervention, were established for the construction of multi-metric indices. Six core metrics were selected for the development of the final multi-metric indices from fifty-six potential metrics of macroinvertebrate assemblages after passing through sensitivity and statistical tests. The findings demonstrated all reference sites had good or high ecological conditions. On the contrary, the ecological statuses of nearly 70% of the impaired sites were found to be in bad to poor conditions. A significant distinction between reference and impaired sites suggested our index ability to identify the gradient variation in the ecological condition of wetlands. A strong negative relationship of the multi-metric indices model with most of the physicochemical variables and all human disturbance factors also suggested the appropriateness of the developed index in informing the ecological status of wetlands. Thus, we believe that our multi-metric indices could be a useful biomonitoring tool for the assessment and monitoring of wetland ecological conditions in predominantly agricultural landscapes in the Upper Blue Nile basin and beyond.

The Silent Mental Health and Well‐Being Crisis of Early Career Researchers in Aquatic Sciences

The Silent Mental Health and Well‐Being Crisis of Early Career Researchers in Aquatic Sciences

BORROWINGS IN THE ENGLISH VETERINARY MEDICINE TERMINOLOGY

The article deals with the problem of language borrowings in the English terminology of veterinary medicine. The aim of the рaper is to analyze borrowings in the terminological system of veterinary medicine of English, to determine the factors that influence the appearance of borrowed terms. The study aims to investigate the etymological and linguistic aspects of terms, tracing their origins and adaptation within the context of veterinary medicine. Borrowed units of the English veterinary medicine terminology consist of the following groups: 1) Greek-Latin borrowings; 2) Scandinavian borrowings; 3) French borrowings; 4) German borrowings. It was mentioned that the Greek and Latin languages are traditionally recognized as basic sources of lexicon replenishment. The article also describes borrowings from other languages. The research examines the influence of classical languages, particularly Latin and Greek, on the formation of veterinary medical terminology. Additionally, it explores the contemporary contributions of the English language, highlighting its role in the global scientific community and scrutinizing the adaptation of new terms in modern veterinary research. Technological advances, brands and marketing strategies also influence the use of borrowings in veterinary terminology. Borrowings in veterinary terminology help to create unity and understanding of international communication in this field. They promote the exchange of knowledge and experience between specialists from different countries and contribute to the further development of veterinary medicine. Employing a comprehensive analytical approach, the author unveils the historical development of veterinary medicine through its linguistic framework, identifying the impact of diverse cultural and scientific contexts. The findings of this study contribute to a nuanced understanding of the evolution of veterinary medical terminology and its significance within the global scientific community.

Trauma and Healing 12th East-West Philosopher’s Conference May 24-31, 2024

1 CALL FOR PROPOSALS TRAUMA AND HEALING 12TH EAST-WEST PHILOSOPHER’S CONFERENCE MAY 24-31, 2024 The 12th East-West Philosopher’s Conference will explore the many dimensions of trauma and healing. While trauma can be physical, it can also be psychological, social, political, economic, and cultural—encompassing the immediate effects of global pandemics, the ongoing impacts of ethnic and gender bias, the intergenerational legacies of colonization and geopolitical strife, and the planetary ramifications of anthropogenic climate disruption. Ours is an era in which differences of histories, cultures, and identities are engaged as sources of insight, but also one of retrenchment—a period of relational appreciation, but also one of schism. The global scientific community’s response to the covid-19 pandemic was a stunning example of human potential for empathetic collaboration in the face of global personal and public health trauma. Yet, the economic trauma of the pandemic has resulted in crumbling international alliances, deepening trade wars, and an unfortunate collective reinvestment in zero-sum endgame framings of geopolitics against which there is no vaccination and through which the terms of healing have become delinked from the restoration of global wholeness. These traumas do not stop shaping our lives when the immediate danger comes to an end. Traumatic pain remains stored in the memories of peoples and individuals, it populates their imagination and shapes horizons of possibility. Thus, a philosophical exploration of trauma and healing is not only diagnostic of current problems, but also a form of genealogy. We invite participants to reflect upon the relational complexity of both trauma and healing, critically and historically engaging concrete occurrences of trauma while also drawing out theoretical insights regarding healing that strengthens and empowers and resists the forms of personal and social amnesia that make the repetition of trauma so tragically common. Of special interest are panels and papers that explore the trauma and healing at all scales from the interpersonal, to the relational traumas experienced by nations at war and cultures in conflict, thus addressing the interplay of the private and public spheres, of ethics and economics, of the human and the natural sciences, and among disciplines, classes, genders, and generations. Panel and paper proposals are encouraged that explore trauma and healing during the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, the trauma of refugees, displaced and colonized peoples, trauma and healing in personal relationships, climate change as a form of trauma to the planet and its people, trauma and healing related to issues of gender and sexuality, and how philosophers of all traditions, ancient and modern, cross-culturally deal with trauma and healing. We invite proposals for individual papers and panels. Please submit a 250-300 word abstract to the Conference organizers via: ewpc2024@gmail.com. 2 Submission Timeline: November 1, 2023 Notifications of acceptance for abstracts and panel proposals received by the November 1 will be sent out by December 15, 2023. We have established an early submission timeline to facilitate faculty applying to their own institutions for travel funding. Abstracts received after November 1, 2023 will be vetted as received, taking into consideration the late submission. The absolute deadline for abstract submissions is March 15, 2024. After this, we will not be able to accommodate additional proposals. Final Papers Due: April 15, 2024 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND LOGISTICS Hosted in keeping with the Hawaiian Islands’ spirit of aloha, breakfast and lunch will be provided for all registered presenters, as well as an opening reception and final dinner. The Conference does not provide lodging or travel support, but economical lodgings of various kinds are readily available in Honolulu. ABOUT THE EAST-WEST PHILOSOPHER’S CONFERENCE: The East-West Philosophers’ Conference series is the premier forum for convening philosophers from across the academy who are committed to cross-cultural inquiry. The Conference is the oldest continuous international gathering in Hawai‘i and has been a model of productive collaboration between the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and the East-West Center for decades. It typically attracts 300-325 participants from 30-40 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. For nearly eighty-five years, the East-West Philosophers’ Conference series has convened some of the world’s most...

Russian Sociology in Search of Responces for Theoretical Challenges

Any social science needs is a theory as its integral part. Since 2022, Russian sociology has existed in the context of new challenges and social threats related to Russia's intentions to change the global balance of power. New conditions stimulate a revision of approaches to solving key problems of society and making adjustments to the theoretical models of its development. This is in many ways a painful process requiring intellectual efforts and political decisions. Since we are talking about Russian sociology, it is necessary to rethink the existing Russian macrotheories. There is an active search for new ways of developing social science. The search for these paths is accompanied by a rethinking of the well-known "universal" ways of modernizing society, which will help Russian sociology to determine its place in the global scientific community, while preserving its own cultural heritage. The article analyzes which theories can be considered relevant in Russia today, focusing on nodernization schemes and civilization approach developed by Russian sociologists, in particular, by Nikolay I. Lapin.

IEDB and CEDAR: Two Sibling Databases to Serve the Global Scientific Community.

Various methodologies have been utilized to analyze epitope-specific responses in the context of non-self-antigens, such as those associated with infectious diseases and allergies, and in the context of self-antigens, such as those associated with transplantation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Further to this, epitope-specific data, and its associated immunological context, are crucial to training and developing predictive algorithms and pipelines for the development of specific vaccines and diagnostics. In this chapter, we describe the methodology utilized to derive two sibling resources, the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) and Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR), to specifically host this data, and make them freely available to the scientific community.

The Voice of the Body: Why AI Should Listen to It and an Archive.

The sound generated by body carries important information about our health status physically and psychologically. In the past decades, we have witnessed a plethora of successes achieved in the field of body sound analysis. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of this young field are still not well established. In particular, publicly accessible databases are rarely developed, which dramatically restrains a sustainable research. To this end, we are launching and continuously calling for participation from the global scientific community to contribute to the Voice of the Body (VoB) archive. We aim to build an open access platform to collect the well-established body sound databases in a well standardized way. Moreover, we hope to organize a series of challenges to promote the development of audio-driven methods for healthcare via the proposed VoB. We believe that VoB can help break the walls between different subjects toward an era of Medicine 4.0 enriched by audio intelligence.

Ukrainian science in the context of its anticolonial struggle

The current Special Issue entitled “Highlights of Ukrainian Molecular Biosciences” is dedicated to presenting recent contributions in the areas of biochemistry and biophysics, molecular biology and genetics, molecular and cellular physiology, and physical chemistry of biological macromolecules made by researchers either currently working in Ukraine or those who have obtained their training in Ukrainian institutions. Obviously, such a collection can present only a small sample of relevant studies, making the editorial task a particular challenge, as inevitably many deserving research groups were missed. In addition, we are greatly sorrowed that some of the invitees were unable to contribute due to the continued bombardments and military attacks perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine since 2014, and especially in 2022. This Introduction is also intended to provide a broader context for understanding of Ukraine's decolonization struggle, both in science and on the battlefield, and outlines suggestions for the global scientific community.

Responses of Grass Species to Elevated CO2 – A Review of Three Decades of Research and Future Direction

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide accelerates growth and modifies physiological responses in plants. Over the last 40 years, the global scientific community had taken up initiatives to make out the role of plants in capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. This review consolidates the research of the past three decades on the responses of grass species to elevated levels of CO2. An enhancement in intercellular CO2 concentration, water use efficiency, photosynthesis, total non-structural carbohydrates, and total biomass was noticed in grass species under controlled growth systems supplied with varying levels of CO2. Each of these responses reflects the potency of grasses to survive and store ample carbon in CO2-enriched environments. Reduction in stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and total nitrogen concentration was in effect positive responses, in connection with the acclimatization of plants at CO2-enriched environments. This review ascertains that in experimental microclimatic environments with varying CO2 regimes or varying treatment duration, grasses show positive growth responses. Thus it illustrates the efficient atmospheric carbon sequestration of grasses irrespective of their photosynthetic pathway (whether C3/C4).

Analysis of Global Search and Research Interests on Dentists Using Infoveillance and Bibliometric Approaches

About half of the world’s population requires the services of a dentist. However, the in-depth understanding of the concerns and priorities of the global public and scientific communities concerning dentists is essential for the planning and development of sustainable strategies, interventions, and policies that will cater for the current global oral health needs. Therefore, this study investigated the global search and research interests on dentists using a hybrid research design—a combination of infoveillance and bibliometric research designs. The data analysed in this study were obtained from Google Trends and SCOPUS. The findings show that, over the years, there has been a significant growth in the volume of information search and research outputs on dentists with huge inequalities existing between the Global South and North. It is also notable that the COVID-19 pandemic played a significantly influential role in the global information search and dissemination trends on dentists. The knowledge and funding for dentist-related research flow significantly from the countries of the Global North. The review of the network visualisation of keyword co-occurrence revealed a misplaced priority in the global research interest areas on dentists and oral health. The obtained findings could help to shape the future of dental healthcare and policy.

ESPNN: A novel electronic stopping power neural-network code built on the IAEA stopping power database. I. Atomic targets

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stopping power database is a highly valued public resource compiling most of the experimental measurements published over nearly a century. The database—accessible to the global scientific community—is continuously updated and has been extensively employed in theoretical and experimental research for more than 30 years. This work aims to employ machine learning algorithms on the 2021 IAEA database to predict accurate electronic stopping power cross sections for any ion and target combination in a wide range of incident energies. Unsupervised machine learning methods are applied to clean the database in an automated manner. These techniques purge the data by removing suspicious outliers and old isolated values. A large portion of the remaining data is used to train a deep neural network, while the rest is set aside, constituting the test set. The present work considers collisional systems only with atomic targets. The first version of the ESPNN (electronic stopping power neural-network code), openly available to users, is shown to yield predicted values in excellent agreement with the experimental results of the test set.

ORGANIZATION OF GENOMIC SURVEILLANCE FOR SARS-CoV-2 WITHIN THE MOSCOW CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

An important goal of COVID-19 surveillance is to detect outbreaks using modern molecular epidemiology techniques based on methods to decode the full genome of the virus, since rapidly evolving RNA viruses, which include SARS-CoV-2, are constantly accumulating changes in their genomes. In addition to using these changes to identify the different virus lines spreading in the population, the availability of sequence information is very important. It will allow the identification of altered variants that may be more transmissible, cause more severe forms of disease, or be undetectable by existing diagnostic test systems. The global scientific community is particularly interested in changes in the spike protein (S-protein, Spike) because they are responsible for binding and penetration into the host cell, lead to false-negative results in diagnostic tests, and affect transmission rates, health outcomes, therapeutic interventions, and vaccine efficacy.Genomic surveillance uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications and makes data on the full genome of the virus available. These methods offer new means to detect variants that differ phenotypically or antigenically. This approach promotes earlier prediction as well as effective strategies to mitigate and contain outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 and other new viruses long before they spread worldwide.Today, molecular typing of strains is playing an increasingly important role in this process, as it makes it possible to identify samples that share a common molecular «fingerprint».

Color indicators as parameters for predicting the content of organic carbon in soils

The study of chemical, physical and biological properties of soil is important for theoretical and practical soil science. The study of soil properties, in particular the determination of organic carbon content, requires a lot of time and money. Effective measurement of soil organic carbon is necessary to manage the functioning of ecosystems. Organic carbon has an important effect on soil properties and also plays a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change, as carbon dioxide (CO2) can be removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil, thereby reducing the warming effect. Soil color is one of the key soil characteristics that can be quickly analyzed and is closely related to a number of other physical and chemical soil parameters. According to the researches of domestic and foreign scientists, soils are the main storage place for soil carbon, which plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. With technological progress and the development of imaging systems, image-based soil characterization methods have attracted considerable attention from the global soil science community. Unlike soil spectroscopy, imaging devices such as digital cameras or phone cameras are readily available. Traditionally, soil color is quantified using Munsell’s color system, which requires subjective visual comparison, but recently foreign scientists have begun to use RGB, CMYK, HSB color schemes, the definition of which is available in almost all computer graphics editors. With the increase in the use of smartphones and the gradual improvement of the quality of photo images, the use of smartphone photos to predict organic carbon content shows great potential for development. Unlike face recognition and other recognition methods that mainly rely on object profiles, color is one of the most important factors in determining the accuracy of organic carbon prediction. Different hardware configurations and hardware software settings may cause differences in photo colors.

Corporate Social Responsibility: dependence of commercial success on social initiatives

Object: This study aims to identify the relationship between the economic results of a company and its participation in solving social problems. Modern business conditions require companies to use fundamentally new methods of drawing the attention of consumers and counterparties to their activities. One of the ways to positively influence the reputation of companies is to provide them with additional benefits. Among other things, these benefits include advantages offered by social initiatives. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming a necessary condition for compliance of a business with international standards. The global scientific community has given rise to long discussions about the impact of CSR on the financial results of companies’ activities. This particular issue has determined the relevance of the present research topic. Methods: By applying economic and mathematical methods, the paper outlines the dependence between enterprises’ economic outcomes and investment in social projects. Findings: The article analyzes data on ten large enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan participating in the implementation of social initiatives. Conclusions: By means of regression analysis, the paper has found a strong correlation between CSR expenditures, gross margin, profit, and turnover. Therefore, to strengthen market positions, it is advisable for companies to pay increased attention to solving internal and external social problems. This will contribute to strengthening the image of the enterprise, enhance its competitiveness and, as a result, financial performance. The results of the study can be used by enterprise managers to substantiate CSR development strategies.

Diversity of phytoseiid mite (Acari: Mesostigmata) fauna from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India

The highly biodiverse group of mesostigmatid mites belonging to the family of Phytoseiidae are globally recognized as potential predators of small soft-bodied arthropods and destructive mite pests owing to their high searching capacity, good adaptability to a wide range of climatic regimes from arctic to tropics, short life cycle (1 week approx.), high multiplication capability (40–60 offspring per female) with high feeding potential. Phytoseiid mites that are commercially exploited as efficient biocontrol agents are regarded as farmers’ friends as they play a pivotal role in managing the pest population below the economic injury level to ensure a safe and sustainable pattern of food production system keeping aside hazardous chemicals. At present, the global scientific communities are deeply involved with this group of mites and due to their higher attention, the number of nominal phytoseiid species has increased from 34 in 1950 to more than 2500 in 2021.

Diagnostics of macrophage activation syndrome, depending on IL-6 initial level in patients with a novel coronavirus infection

Introduction. The novel coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 remains the main problem, which is being studied by all the efforts of the global scientific community. Large clinical recourse has been accumulated that allows to conduct more effective treatment of patients, but there are still unresolved issues on the pathogenesis for development and course of the disease.
 Materials and methods. The study included 163 patients admitted to the infectious diseases hospital diagnosed with Novel coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2. Upon admission, all patient serum samples were quantified for IL-6 level that allowed to stratify patients into three groups: A 55 patients with IL-6 below 5.0 pg/ml. The mean age in the group was 57.314.9 years, body mass index (BMI) was 28.25.6 kg/m2; C 52 patients whose serum IL-6 level was in the range of 549 pg/ml. The average age in the group was 60.811.8 years, BMI 29.65.5 kg/m2; C 56 patients in whom the level of IL-6 in the blood serum ranged within 50300 pg/ml. The average age in the group was 62.515.6 years, BMI 28.85.6 kg/m2. Patients at admission were analysed for serum level of IL-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also determined on day 3 and 7.
 Results. The minimum production of IL-6 within the range of 0.15 pg/ml, corresponds to the minimum changes in IL-8, CRP, and ferritin as well as LDH that was within the range of physiological values. Moderate cytokinemia, IL-6 is within the range of 549 pg/ml was associated with elevated ferritin and LDH not tending to decline by the end of treatment. Significant cytokinemia, the level of IL-6 within the range of 50300 pg/ml was associated with hyperferritinemia and increased LDH. The course of COVID-19 in such patients is characterized by increased ferritin by day 3 of treatment, consistently high level of LDH, without a significant trend towards a decline in the studied markers by the end of treatment.
 Conclusion. The risk of developing macrophage activation syndrome is not observed of the serum IL-6 level was below 5 pg/ml, whereas ferritin and LDH were within the range of physiological values, with no/degree I ARF. Moderate macrophage activation syndrome is characterized by increased serum IL-6 level within the range 549 pg/ml, a moderate increase in LDH and ferritin, as well as signs of ARF III degree. Severe signs are diagnosed in case of serum IL-6 level exceeded 50 pg/ml, along with significant increase in LDH and ferritin, as well as signs of IIIII degree ARF.

Features of the hemostasis system in COVID-19

The objective difficulties of managing patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection have attracted the attention of the global medical and scientific community. Despite the optimal treatment, in some cases a cascade of reactions is triggered. It leads to a deterioration in the clinical condition of patients, up to a fatal outcome. The article presents current research data on the pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory features of COVID-19 associated coagulopathy.

Impact of microplastics on riverine greenhouse gas emissions: a view point.

In recent decades, microplastics (MPs < 5mm) are ubiquitous and considered a serious emerging environmental problem. However, due to the limited recovery and long-lasting durability MPs, debris is frequently accumulating in riverine ecosystems, thereby impacting microbial activity and its communities. The presence of MPs may alter the microbial richness, variety, and population, thereby impacting the transformation of biogeochemical cycles. The occurrence, fate, and transport of MPs in marine and terrestrial ecosystems and their impact on biogeochemical or nutrient cycling are reported in the scientific fraternity. Yet, the global scientific community is conspicuously devoid of research on impact of MPs on riverine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The presented view point provides a novel idea about the fate of MPs in the riverine system and its impact on GHG emissions potential. Literature reveals that DO and nutrients (organic carbon, NH4+, NO3-) concentrations play an important role in potential of GHG emission in riverine ecosystems. The proposed mechanism and research gaps provided will be highly helpful to the hydrologist, environmentalist, biotechnologist, and policymakers to think about the strategic mitigation measure to resolve the future climatic risk.

Addressing Linguistic disadvantage in writing articles for International English Medium Journals

The study at hand aims to investigate Algerian researchers’ perceptions of the importance of writing research articles for publication in international English medium journals, along with the incentives and disincentive influencing this process, and the challenges they encounter. To reach these aims, a survey is conducted with twenty six Algerian researchers from three different fields of study using an online questionnaire created in Google Forms. The vast majority of the participants rate writing research in English as of great importance and they opt for different incentives influencing their decision to publish in international English medium journals, but they perceive themselves to be disadvantaged by their non-native status as the degree of their perceived difficulty of writing scientific articles in English is very high. This study highlights the correlation between the mastery of English as a principal prerequisite in the respondents’ fields of study and the use of English as an indispensable key to communicate their research results to the global scientific community. It then ends up with some strategies to be taken by higher education institutes to address this issue from different standpoints.

Recent Progress on Vaccines Produced in Transgenic Plants.

The development of vaccines from plants has been going on for over two decades now. Vaccine production in plants requires time and a lot of effort. Despite global efforts in plant-made vaccine development, there are still challenges that hinder the realization of the final objective of manufacturing approved and safe products. Despite delays in the commercialization of plant-made vaccines, there are some human vaccines that are in clinical trials. The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its resultant disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have reminded the global scientific community of the importance of vaccines. Plant-made vaccines could not be more important in tackling such unexpected pandemics as COVID-19. In this review, we explore current progress in the development of vaccines manufactured in transgenic plants for different human diseases over the past 5 years. However, we first explore the different host species and plant expression systems during recombinant protein production, including their shortcomings and benefits. Lastly, we address the optimization of existing plant-dependent vaccine production protocols that are aimed at improving the recovery and purification of these recombinant proteins.