Research Institute Research Articles

Weather conditions in southern Poland at the turn of the 20th century — Insights from archived observational records

This study examines weather conditions in Małopolska (Lesser Poland, southern Poland) from 1861 to 1919, utilizing historical meteorological materials stored in the Archives of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management — National Research Institute, Poland. The region developed an extensive meteorological network in the latter half of the nineteenth century, preserving daily and sub-daily measurements of air temperature and precipitation, along with notes on socio-economic events and environmental issues. Despite the loss of many early records, the study focuses on 14 measurement points, including the Kraków–Observatory, which has been in operation since 1792 and served as the reference station. Data were digitized through the HISTKLIM project. Analysis revealed that air temperatures in the late 1800s and early 1900s were lower than present-day values, with varied rainfall patterns. The study highlights the substantial value of these historical records, despite gaps and the absence of metadata. Comparing historical weather conditions to current climate normals (1991–2020), the findings contribute to understanding regional climate variability and underscore the importance of preserving archival meteorological data for future research.

Phospholipid Nanoemulsion-Based Ocular Lubricant for the Treatment of Dry Eye Subtypes: A Multicenter and Prospective Study.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition of the ocular surface (OS) characterized by loss of tear film homeostasis, ocular discomfort, and vision disturbances. Most available ocular lubricants target the aqueous deficiency of the tear, restoring only this layer, leaving the tear lipid stratum deficient, as occurs in most patients with evaporative DED. An innovative propylene glycol-hydroxypropyl guar enriched with a phospholipid nanoemulsion (PG-HPG-PH-N) is indicated to restore deficiencies in both the lipid and aqueous layers of the tear film, and its composition was designed to increase lubricant retention on the OS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and clinical assessment, the treatment of patients who had DED due to aqueous deficiency arising from mixed or evaporative DED subtypes with a PG-HPG-PH-N ocular lubricant at a reduced frequency of twice a day, in a prospective, multicenter, and single-arm study. Patients were screened from days - 7 to 0, and from day 1 (baseline and first day of treatment) to day 28 of treatment with this lubricant. After visit 1 (screening visit, days - 7 to 0), designed as pre-treatment OS assessment, patients returned to their research center on days 14 and 28 of treatment for a complete assessment, including anamnesis, the OSDI, corrected visual acuity, tear breakup time (TFBUT), OS staining evaluation, tolerability index, and environmental exposure questionnaire. Seventy patients were enrolled in this study (60 women, 10 men), with a mean age of 45 (range 27-64) years. TFBUT results showed an improvement in tear film stability as vital dyes sodium fluorescein and lysamine green showed a decrease in corneal staining after 14 and 28days of treatment. No significant adverse events were reported, demonstrating the good tolerability of the lubricant. The PG-HPG-PH-N nanoemulsion can be considered to be a safe and effective ocular lubricant for treating DED due to aqueous deficiency, both mixed and evaporative subtypes. Brazilian National Research Ethics Commission (ReBEC registration number 16055).

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of online recorded recovery narratives in improving quality of life for people with psychosis experience (NEON Trial): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

The Narrative Experiences Online (NEON) Intervention provides self-managed web-based access to mental health recovery narratives (n=659). We evaluated effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in improving quality of life for adults resident in England with mental health problems and recent psychosis experience. Prospectively registered pragmatic parallel-group randomised trial controlling for usual care, recruiting from statutory mental health services and through community engagement activities, with a 52-week primary endpoint (ISRCTN11152837). All trial procedures and the NEON Intervention were delivered by an integrated web-application. Randomisation was through an independently generated list (no stratification). Allocation was masked for statistical staff and the Chief Investigator but not participants. Intervention arm participants received immediate NEON Intervention access. Control arm participants received access after completing primary endpoint questionnaires. The primary outcome was quality of life through the Manchester Short Assessment (MANSA). Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) were collected through web-based safety report forms and identified from health service usage data. The primary analysis was by a prospectively described Intention To Treat principle excluding participants who had registered multiple times, with multiple imputation for missing data. Between 9 March 2020 and 1 March 2021, 739 participants were randomised (intervention:370; control: 369), providing more than 90% power to detect a baseline-adjusted difference of 0.25 in the MANSA score. Mean age was 34.8 years (standard deviation (SD) 12.0), 561 (75.9%) were white British, 443 (59.9%) were female, 609 (82.4%) had accessed specialist care mental health services, and 698 (94.5%) had accessed primary care mental health services. Mean baseline MANSA score was 3.7 for control and intervention arms (SD 0.9 and 1.0). 565 (76.5%) participants provided primary endpoint MANSA data with a mean score of 4.1 (SD 1.0) for both arms. We found no significant difference in Quality of Life between the two arms at the primary endpoint (baseline-adjusted difference 0.07, 95% CI-0.07 to 0.21, p=0.35). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (£110,501 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY)) exceeded the prospectively defined cost-effectiveness threshold (£30,000 per QALY). 158(42.8%) control arm and 194 (52.4%) intervention arm participants accessed narratives outside of the NEON Intervention. There were no related serious adverse events (SAEs). 116 unrelated SAEs were reported by control arm participants, and 107 by intervention arm participants. Our findings do not indicate NEON Intervention access for all people with psychosis experience. Future research should consider a) evaluation with current mental health services users; b) optimisation to enable users to find hope-promoting narratives. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Effects of depression and stress on oral self-care among perinatal women in Appalachia: A longitudinal study.

Oral health during the perinatal period and beyond affects the health and well-being of women and their offspring. Oral self-care behaviours can maintain or improve oral health; depression or stress during the perinatal period may compromise these behaviours. The aim of the study was to investigate the independent and combined effects of depression and stress on oral self-care behaviours of perinatal women in Appalachia, given the high burden of oral disease in this region. A total of 1172 women in the first or second trimester of pregnancy were enrolled in the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia, cohort 2 (COHRA2) in West Virginia or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale-10, and self-report items about oral self-care behaviours (i.e. toothbrushing and flossing) during pregnancy and five times in the 2+ years following birth. A Generalized Estimating Equation approach was used to analyse the longitudinal data. Maternal depression and stress were independently negatively related to toothbrushing and flossing frequency. These findings for toothbrushing were more pronounced in those with high levels of depression and high levels of stress, so there were both independent and combined effects. Frequency of toothbrushing and flossing stayed constant over time, so time was not associated with outcomes. About three-fourths of the sample reported toothbrushing levels that are consistent with established guidelines (i.e. two times daily), but almost half of the participants had very low levels of flossing (i.e. once or less a week). Interventions targeting stress and depression throughout the perinatal period might be helpful in improving oral self-care behaviours and oral health among women in Appalachia, in addition to the benefit of decreasing emotional distress.

The effects of mosaicism on biological and clinical markers of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at high risk of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD); yet, some 20 percent do not develop any signs of dementia until after 65 years or in their lifetime. Mosaicism could contribute to this phenotypic variation, where some disomic cells could lead to lower levels of gene products from chromosome21. We examined longitudinal neuropsychological and biomarker data from two large studies of DS: the Alzheimer Biomarker Consortium-Down syndrome study (ABC-DS) (n=357); and a legacy study (n=468). We assessed mosaicism using karyotyping or GWAS data. Participants had data on plasma AD biomarkers (Aβ40, Aβ42, tau, and NfL) and longitudinal cognitive measures. A subset had cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (Aβ40, Aβ42, tau, ptau181, and NfL) and amyloid and tau PET data. For both cohorts, the prevalence of mosaicism was <10% (ABC-DS: 7.3%; Legacy: 9.6%), and those with mosaicism had lower plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 concentrations. For the older legacy cohort, when compared to those with full trisomy, those with mosaicism had significantly smaller decline in total and annualized neurocognitive scores, and lower incidence and prevalence of dementia. Mosaicism in DS was associated with lower concentrations of plasma Aβ peptides, possibly leading to lower AD risk. However, its clinical impact was less clear in the younger ABC-DC cohort, and a follow-up study is warranted. National Institutes of Health (R01AG014673, P01HD035897, R56AG061837), NIA (U01AG051412, U19AG068054), NICHD, ADRC programs, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers Program, and NCATS (UL1TR001873).

Low power computation of transoceanic wave propagation for tsunami hazard mitigation

This paper proposes the use of specialized hardware accelerator based on the Field Programmable Gates Array (FPGA) microchip to compute tsunami wave propagation to assess and manage risks of marine natural disasters, namely, tsunami waves caused by underwater earthquakes. After a sufficiently strong seismic event, many countries and research centres launch extensive computations to estimate the tsunami wave parameters in certain parts of the coast to determine if a declaration of a tsunami alarm is warranted. This requires high computating powers which leads to higher energy costs. The paper demonstrates how an FPGA–based special Calculator (architecture of which has been earlier proposed by the authors), installed on a Personal Computer (PC) could be used to calculate the propagation of a tsunami wave over the entire Pacific Ocean, from the subduction zone offshore Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands to the coast of Chile. Such calculations offer reliable results within a few minutes and make it possible to obtain the distribution of expected tsunami wave heights along the coast. If the obtained results indicate a danger to the population or possible distruction of infrastructure, it becomes paramount to carry out more detailed calculations to accurately estimate the wave parameters at specific locations along the coast where negative consequences are expected. This requires cluster and/or supercomputer systems, which consume significant energy and hence are expensive. In case the modelling results indicate small values of maximum wave heights at populated coastal areas, population of the near–shore regions can be immediately informed about low amplitude tsunami wave; more detailed studies are not needed. This hence leads to noticeable savings in energy consumption. The paper presents a calculation of the propagation of a tsunami wave across the Pacific Ocean on a personal computer using a FPGA–based hardware acceleration of a computer code execution.

Particle induced x-ray emission (pixe) assisted technique in the evaluation of potential ecological risks of heavy metals in surface sediments of Oba-Ile River, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Osun-State, Nigeria

The seasonal evaluation of trace elements in the surface sediments collected from Oba-Ile River, using Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) Spectroscopy had been carried out. This was done so as to provide information about the pollution status of the river during the rainy and dry seasons. The samples were subjected to trace metal profiling using a 2.5 Mev proton available at the Ion Beam Analysis (IBA)/accelerator laboratory, Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The facility is centered on a NEC 5SDH 1.7 MV Pelletron accelerator, equipped to provide proton and helium ions. A multi-elemental estuarine sediments referenced material (SRM 1646a purchased from NIST) was used for the determination of H-value which was subsequently used for analyzing the samples and assured the accuracy of the experimental procedure. The order of abundance of the 16 elements identified was Si &gt; Fe &gt;Al &gt;K &gt; Ca &gt;Ti &gt; Na &gt; Mg &gt; Zr &gt; Mn &gt; Sr &gt; V &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Pb &gt; Cu. The contamination factor indicated that the metals presented a low contamination factor (LCf) to moderate contamination factor (MCf) except for Fe and Zr which presented a considerable contamination (CCf) and a very high contamination factor (VHCf) respectively. Other contamination indices indicated that Fe had either a moderate enrichment (ME) factor or a significant enrichment (SE) factor, thereby suggesting that Oba-Ile River sediment was particularly enriched in Fe

The HADRIAN novel human–machine interface prototype for automated driving: safety and impact assessment

AbstractThe current paper was performed within the HADRIAN project and focuses on exploring the effects of innovative Human–Machine Interface (HMI) prototypes on safety, driving performance, and driver perceptions. Employing driving simulator experiments and questionnaires, this study investigates whether HADRIAN innovative HMI enhances safety and receives positive evaluations from drivers. Specifically, the research centers on a driving simulator experiment that evaluates novel HMI prototypes designed to improve automated driving at SAE Levels 2 or 3. To facilitate HMI assessment, a tailored safety and impact assessment methodology was developed using unique Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). To benchmark and generate a total score for the HADRIAN HMI, data envelopment analysis was deployed based on the aforementioned KPIs. The findings shed light on the influence of HADRIAN HMI innovations on safety and perceived impact when compared to a baseline “state-of-the-art” HMI. Subsequently, a comprehensive discussion unfolds, highlighting the key KPIs that contributed significantly to the safety and perceived impact scores. This method and its outcomes can serve as a valuable resource for other HMI stakeholders, enabling them to employ similar human-centered assessment methodologies to assess the safety and perceived impact of potential HMI configurations.

Exploring the Perspectives of Older Adults on a Digital Brain Health Platform Using Natural Language Processing: Cohort Study

Background Although digital technology represents a growing field aiming to revolutionize early Alzheimer disease risk prediction and monitoring, the perspectives of older adults on an integrated digital brain health platform have not been investigated. Objective This study aims to understand the perspectives of older adults on a digital brain health platform by conducting semistructured interviews and analyzing their transcriptions by natural language processing. Methods The study included 28 participants from the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, all of whom engaged with a digital brain health platform over an initial assessment period of 14 days. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data on participants’ experiences with the digital brain health platform. The transcripts generated from these interviews were analyzed using natural language processing techniques. The frequency of positive and negative terms was evaluated through word count analysis. A sentiment analysis was used to measure the emotional tone and subjective perceptions of the participants toward the digital platform. Results Word count analysis revealed a generally positive sentiment toward the digital platform, with “like,” “well,” and “good” being the most frequently mentioned positive terms. However, terms such as “problem” and “hard” indicated certain challenges faced by participants. Sentiment analysis showed a slightly positive attitude with a median polarity score of 0.13 (IQR 0.08-0.15), ranging from –1 (completely negative) to 1 (completely positive), and a median subjectivity score of 0.51 (IQR 0.47-0.53), ranging from 0 (completely objective) to 1 (completely subjective). These results suggested an overall positive attitude among the study cohort. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of understanding older adults’ attitudes toward digital health platforms amid the comprehensive evolution of the digitalization era. Future research should focus on refining digital solutions to meet the specific needs of older adults, fostering a more personalized approach to brain health.

Determination of the cover coefficient for soil surfaces of the runoff of residential areas

Due to the constant increase in tariffs in the field of public utilities, the problem of the need for accurate calculation of the volume of surface runoff is becoming more acute, which must take into account not only the landscape features of the area, but also the water-absorbing properties of the soil and coatings. The purpose of this work is to determine the coefficient of coverage zi for the most characteristic types of natural and artificial surfaces. The scientific novelty lies in the refinement of the existing methodology set out in the “Recommendations of the State Scientific Research Center of the Russian Federation FSUE Scientific Research Institute VODGEO”, in particular, the establishment of a mathematical dependence of the value of the coefficient of cover zi on the fractional composition of the soil to determine the coefficient of surface runoff Ψ, on which commercial calculations for the drainage of rain and meltwater into the storm sewer system are based.

Architecture of new generation research institutions under reconstruction conditions

In the article, the authors focus on key methods and approaches that ensure optimal organization of space for scientific and research work. This contributes to achieving versatility, flexibility and the ability to transform the internal environment. Modern compositional techniques for the architectural transformation of objects of the type under consideration and methods of their application at various levels of architectural formation and development have been studied. The main criteria for the architectural and spatial formation of new generation research institutions have been identified, thanks to which an architectural ensemble is formed, the concept of spatial organization, the creation of a unified compositional structure, the organization of recognizable architecture. The basic principles and features that form the nature of sustainability, visual perception, and create a spatial structure of perception have been identified.

Information Boards as Forest Conservation Campaign in Bahorok Research Center, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL) in Bahorok Research Station in Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat District, is a very important location for this work. The hilly terrain of the area provides a beautiful landscape and varied flora and fauna with the main attraction being the corpse flower (Amorphophallus sp). With a preserved natural environment and unique ecological features, this research station allows other parties to participate in protecting the area in various conservation campaign, one of which is the installation/establishment of conservation information boards. Conservation information boards can raise public awareness about the importance of protecting forests and their natural environment. Information on ecosystems, flora, fauna, management, and the importance of conservation can be conveyed through these information boards. Information boards are widely used as an educational tool for local communities and visitors to the forest at the research station. They can learn about forest ecology, the negative impacts of deforestation, and sustainable ways of utilizing forest resources. They can learn about forest ecology, the negative impacts of deforestation, and sustainable ways of utilizing forest resources. Information boards can also be used to invite community participation in conservation efforts, which is expected to improve the quality of knowledge and understanding of conservation areas for communities, researchers, and tourists. Therefore, the installation/establishment of conservation information boards needs to be carried out at Bahorok Research Station, Batu Katak as one of the campaign and solutions to maintain the natural conditions in the forest and river.

Deep Learning-Based Postoperative Glioblastoma Segmentation and Extent of Resection Evaluation: Development, External Validation, and Model Comparison

Abstract Background The pursuit of automated methods to assess the extent of resection (EOR) in glioblastomas is challenging, requiring precise measurement of residual tumor volume. Many algorithms focus on preoperative scans, making them unsuitable for postoperative studies. Our objective was to develop a deep learning-based model for postoperative segmentation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also compared our model's performance with other available algorithms. Methods To develop the segmentation model, a training cohort from three research institutions and three public databases was used. Multiparametric MRI scans with ground truth labels for contrast enhancing tumor, edema, and surgical cavity, served as training data. The models were trained using MONAI and nnU-Net frameworks. Comparisons were made with currently available segmentation models using an external cohort from a research institution and a public database. Additionally, the model's ability to classify EOR was evaluated using the RANO-Resect classification system. To further validate our best-trained model, an additional independent cohort was used. Results The study included 586 scans: 395 for model training, 52 for model comparison, and 139 scans for independent validation. The nnU-Net framework produced the best model with median Dice scores of 0.81 for contrast enhancing tumor, 0.77 for edema, and 0.81 for surgical cavity. Our best-trained model classified patients into maximal and submaximal resection categories with 96% accuracy in the model comparison dataset and 84% in the independent validation cohort. Conclusion Our nnU-Net-based model outperformed other algorithms in both segmentation and EOR classification tasks, providing a freely accessible tool with promising clinical applicability.

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma of the Azygos Vein

Background. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a malignant vascular tumor of mesenchymal origin. In the mediastinum, EHE originates from the large venous vessels of the superior vena cava.The purpose of the study was to describe a rare clinical case of EHE of the unpaired vein and analyze literature data to improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Case presentation. We present a rare case of EHE of the unpaired vein in a 23-year-old male patient who admitted to the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute with a posterior mediastinal tumor detected in August 2022. It was known from the medical history that the patient had undergone diagnostic right-sided thoracotomy and tumor biopsy at the place of residence. Morphologically, the tumor was an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. The histological re-assessment of biopsy specimens at the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute confrmed the diagnosis of EHE. Computed tomography of the chest organs revealed a mass in the posterior mediastinum (in the projection of the lumen of the unpaired vein), measuring 16×14×41 mm, with relatively clear even contours, close to the posterior wall of the trachea at the bifurcation level, the posterior wall of the right main bronchus, the left semicircle of the esophagus (without signs of invasion). Based on the data on the presence of a vascular tumor in the posterior mediastinum on the right, a multidisciplinary medical consilium recommended surgical treatment: right thoracotomy, removal of a posterior mediastinal tumor with resection of the azygos vein, marginal resection of the superior vena cava, and thrombectomy from its lumen. The duration of surgery was 180 minutes, blood loss was 200 ml. Morphological examination confrmed EHE of the unpaired vein. No complications were observed in the postoperative period. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 8th day after surgery in a satisfactory condition.Conclusion. EHE of the unpaired vein is an extremely rare vascular tumor. The clinical feature of EHE of the unpaired vein is the absence of any pathognomonic signs, which complicates differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors. Surgery is currently the optimal treatment approach.

Adaptive Agronomic Strategies for Enhancing Cereal Yield Resilience Under Changing Climate in Poland

Climate-driven changes have raised concerns about their long-term impacts on the yield resilience of cereal crops. This issue is critical in Poland as it affects major cereal crops like winter triticale, spring wheat, winter wheat, spring barley, and winter barley. This study investigates how soil nutrient profiles, fertilization practices, and crop management conditions influence the yield resilience of key cereal crops over a thirteen-year period (2009–2022) in the context of changing climate expressed as varying Climatic Water Balance. Data from 47 locations provided by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing were analyzed to assess the combined effects of agronomic practices and climate-related water availability on crop performance. Yield outcomes under moderate and enhanced management practices were contrasted using Classification and Regression Trees to evaluate the relationships between yield variations and agronomic factors, including soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilization, and levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil. The study found a downward trend in Climatic Water Balance, highlighting the increasing influence of climate change on regional water resources. Crop yields responded positively to increased agricultural inputs, especially nitrogen. Optimal soil pH and medium phosphorus levels were identified as crucial for maximizing yield. The findings underscore the importance of tailored nutrient management and adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability on cereal production. The results provide insights for field crop research and practical approaches to sustain cereal production in changing climatic conditions.

Measuring Research Capacity: Development of the PACER Tool.

Evaluating research activity in research departments and education programs is conventionally accomplished through measurement of research funding or bibliometrics. This limited perspective of research activity restricts a more comprehensive evaluation of a program's actual research capacity, ultimately hindering efforts to enhance and expand it. The objective of this study was to conduct a scoping review of the existing literature pertaining to the measurement of research productivity in research institutions. Using these findings, the study aimed to create a standardized research measurement tool, the Productivity And Capacity Evaluation in Research (PACER) Tool. The evidence review identified 726 relevant articles in a literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ERIC, CINAHL, and Google Scholar with the keywords "research capacity" and "research productivity." Thirty-nine English-language studies applicable to research measurement were assessed in full and 20 were included in the data extraction. Capacity/productivity metrics were identified, and the relevance of each metric was data-charted according to 3 criteria: the metric was objective, organizational in scale, and applicable to varied research domains. This produced 42 research capacity/productivity metrics that fell into 7 relevant categories: bibliometrics, impact, ongoing research, collaboration activities, funding, personnel, and education/academics. With the expertise of a Delphi panel of researchers, research leaders, and organizational leadership, 31 of these 42 metrics were included in the final PACER Tool. This multifaceted tool enables research departments to benchmark research capacity and research productivity against other programs, monitor capacity development over time, and provide valuable strategic insights for decisions such as resource allocation.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF UKRAINE'S ICT SECTOR: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of the paper is to examine the international competitiveness of Ukraine's ICT sector through a comparative analysis with 30 countries, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and provide actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders and investors to improve Ukraine's position in the global ICT market. Methodology. The research employs the composite index methodology to assess the international competitiveness of Ukraine's information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The original ITSIC comprises 35 indicators; however, this has been expanded to 58 in order to provide a comprehensive view of the competitive advantages and position of the ICT sector in the global ICT market. Results. The article presents the findings of a comparative study of the ICT sector of Ukraine with global and regional leaders in the global ICT market. In order to identify the factors influencing the formation of competitive advantages, the following groups of factors were taken into account: the state of ICT infrastructure, the availability of qualified and competent IT professionals, the state and favourability of the political and business environment, the innovative potential of the ICT sector and its involvement in international trade and cooperation. The calculations have yielded the ratings for each group of indicators and the composite index as a whole, which identify the leaders in both global and regional dimensions. Specific consideration is given to the positioning of Ukraine's ICT sector within the context of the surveyed countries, with a focus on the identification of its competitive advantages and disadvantages within the global ICT market. Consequently, it has been determined that the international competitiveness of the domestic ICT sector between 2018 and 2022 was most significantly influenced by the extent of its involvement in international trade and collaboration, the availability and proficiency of the talent pool, and the quality of the ICT infrastructure. In conclusion, this study has identified the factors and trends that have the potential to impede Ukraine's ascension as a global leader in the ICT sector. Practical implications. The findings of the study may prove beneficial to a number of parties, including public authorities, ICT companies, investors and venture capitalists, educational and research institutions, international organisations and development agencies, IT entrepreneurs and the general public. The value and originality of the study can be found in its comprehensive, data-driven, and context-specific analysis, which provides actionable insights and strategic recommendations to enhance the international competitiveness of Ukraine's ICT sector.

Psychometric Features of the Emotional Climate Scale for Couples in Divorce Applicants

Background: In Iranian courts, counseling centers, and research institutes, the Family Emotional Atmosphere Questionnaire (FEAQ) by Navardgahfard in 1994 is widely used to assess the status of marital relationships. However, the FEAQ's contents are outdated, containing irrelevant questions, and lacking valid psychometric properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to revise and validate the psychometric properties of the Emotional Climate Scale for Couples (ECSC). Methods: This study was descriptive-correlational in nature and had practical implications. It was conducted from January 17th to July 30th, 2023. All divorce applicants referred by the courts to family counseling centers were included in the study population. Initially, the FEAQ was extracted from the website and modified to consist of 21 questions related to emotional climate between couples. Results: Subsequently, the face validity of ECSC was confirmed by experts, and exploratory factor analysis (N=307) demonstrated two subscales of lack of feelings and cooperation, and forced with limitations, explaining 63.26% of the variance in the 21 ECSC items. Confirmatory factor analysis (N=205) also indicated an acceptable fit for the ECSC model and showed good construct validity. The test-retest reliability (N=35, with a three-week interval) was 0.83 for the total scale, 0.82 and 0.81 for the two subscales, respectively, while Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the two factors were 0.93 to 0.94 and 0.96 for the total scale. Conclusion: Therefore, ECSC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the emotional climate between couples and has wide applicability.

Overview of Food Adulteration: Its Definition, Causes, Impacts, and Detection

A tampered food, Food is any substance made up of carbohydrates, water, fats, and proteins that is consumed by humans and other animals to survive. It holds great significance for us. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for food products to be tampered with, and dangerous situations can arise from poorly managed supply chains that handle perishable goods. Economic Customers who purchase and serve food are impacted in numerous ways; they might not receive the nutrients they are supposed to, contaminated food may be harmful to their health, and they might also suffer financial losses. So, every responsible individual, organization, and government should complete their role to protect the act of food adulteration and to reveal the recognized acts. Furthermore, there are numerous gaps in the literature that need to be filled by academics and researchers working in various research institutes. These gaps include the assessment of the situation, the identification of foods that are vulnerable to adulteration in the national context, the development and validation of detection methods, and much more. adulteration has long plagued the food business, negatively impacting both food quality and public health. The process of altering food by adding undesirable or dangerous components lowers its safety and quality, a practice known as food adulteration. Inadequate handling of this issue has led to the production of contaminated and dangerous food products, which has raised concerns throughout history. Food adulteration can harm our health and often does so without our knowledge. By addressing these issues, we may proactively work to create a better society. Food adulteration can involve adding, taking away, or replacing expensive food ingredients with less expensive (cheaper) ones in order to get unfair financial advantage. The manufacturer may profit financially from this act of food fraud, but the eventual consumers of the goods suffer losses. A variety of approaches, such as physical, chemical, biological, and other methods, are used to detect food adulteration. However, detecting adulterants can be hard when the adulterants closely mirror the food’s physiochemical properties. The right of consumers to safe and high-quality food is undermined by adulteration, hence it is imperative that people, groups, and governments take action to stop these practices.

‘Col Fumetto Posso Fare Di Tutto’. Life Narratives and the Italian Graphic Novel

ABSTRACT While comics studies are now a fully recognised field within academic debate in the humanities, it wasn’t until around ten years ago, when the medium really began to flourish, that they began to be accepted as an object of study in universities and research centres, including the field of Italian studies. This collective volume brings together an international group of scholars who were invited to reflect on one of the most fruitful genres in the Italian graphic novel: life narratives. This vitality is not surprising: at a time of socio-political crisis and instability, such as the one Italy is currently experiencing, the possibility to narrate and/or represent real-life experience, whether openly or metaphorically, stands out as a powerful tool for intellectuals and artists to analyse socially relevant questions of the day and, possibly, take a stance on these issues. Cutting across genres, editorial formats, targets, and markets, graphic novels closely mirror the historical complexity of their times, problematising issues and negotiating pressing questions of our social reality.