Integral Index Research Articles

Innovative management of the production risks of agricultural enterprises

The article examines the innovative infrastructure in the management of production risks of agricultural enterprises, which is related to the rules for evaluating alternative scenarios for reducing threats in the production system of agricultural production entities in order to obtain the desired result. A methodical approach to the assessment of factors-tools in the innovative management of production risks, which activate the process of economic development of agricultural enterprises in an institutional environment, is presented. It is proved that the institutional determinants that manage the production risks of agricultural enterprises form a system whose effectiveness depends on the implementation of the relevant directions of economic development of agricultural institutes focused on the introduction of innovations into the production cycle. The structural dialectic connection of the concept of innovative development of agricultural enterprises with the cyclical development of the production system is presented. A structural and logical diagram of a methodical approach to the implementation of the mechanism of innovative management of production risks of agricultural enterprises has been built. A mathematical toolkit for evaluating scenarios of innovative management of production risks of agricultural enterprises is defined. Stimulating and disincentive factors-tools in the innovative management of production risks and their impact on the economic development of agricultural enterprises are determined. In order to determine the optimal scenarios for neutralizing threats to the economic development of agricultural enterprises, models of acceleration (deceleration) of the action of stimulating and disincentive factors-tools in the innovative management of production risks were built. The integral index of the economic development of agricultural enterprises of the agro-climatic regions of Ukraine in the pre-war, war-conflict and post-war periods was calculated. It has been established that due to the accumulation of a significant amount of production, financial, material, technical and innovative potential, the level of economic development of agricultural enterprises of the agro-climatic zones of the Forest-Steppe and Polissia increases, which characterizes their ability to reproduce the production system of agriculture in Ukraine.

Assessment of recent lake sediment conditions in the conterminous U.S.

This study provides the largest sediment quality assessment of lakes in the conterminous United States (U.S.). A variety of lakes (n = 1005) were selected based on the randomized, probabilistic sampling design of the broader 2017 National Lakes Assessment study. Surficial sediment samples (0–5 cm) were collected at one representative site (generally the deepest point) for each lake (n = 969). The samples were analyzed for 16 metal(loid)s, 25 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 53 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 27 legacy pesticides and metabolites, total organic carbon, and grain size. Metal(loid)s and PAHs were widely distributed due to natural and potential anthropogenic sources, with regional variations observed for lakes in the nine ecoregions encompassing the U.S. Most sites did not have detectable PCB congeners or legacy pesticides. An integrative chemical index of mean probable effect concentration quotients, composed of seven metal(loid)s and ƩPAH13, was used to assess sediment quality for the estimated population of 224,916 lakes in the conterminous U.S. Nationally, 26.5% (CI of 20–33%) of lakes were in good condition (corresponding to predicted low incidences of toxicity to benthic organisms), 69.3% (CI of 63–76%) of lakes were in fair condition, and 1.8% (CI of 0.6–3%) of lakes were in poor condition (corresponding to predicted high incidences of sediment toxicity). Unweighted metal(loid) and ƩPAH13 concentrations were compared to lake, watershed, and land use data. Deeper lakes were significantly more contaminated (or naturally enriched) with As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, Zn, and ƩPAH13 than shallow lakes. Lakes at lower elevation were also associated with more contamination (or natural enrichment) of As, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Zn, and ƩPAH13 than higher elevation lakes. Greater contamination was associated with watersheds containing larger percentages of developed land. This study demonstrates an approach which can be used by others to assess sediment quality in their jurisdictions.

Features of hematological indices in cataract in the dynamics of surgical treatment

BACKGROUND: Cataract is one of the most common ophthalmologic diseases leading to blindness. AIM: To study the features of hematological indices in men over 40 years old with different types of cataract before and after surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination groups included 25 patients (25 eyes) with opacities localized in the cortical substance of the lens, 19 (19 eyes) with total opacities, 26 (26 eyes) with nuclear opacities, 30 (30 eyes) with subcapsular opacities; of these, 43 patients (43 eyes) had initial cataract, 39 (39 eyes) — immature, 18 (18 eyes) — mature cataract. The control group consisted of 30 people. All study participants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and assessment of hematological indices. The following integral hematological indices were calculated using generally accepted formulas: lymphocyte index (lymphocytes/neutrophils); leukocyte intoxication index; neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio index; neutrophil/monocyte ratio index; lymphocyte/monocyte ratio index; lymphocyte/eosinophil ratio index; leukocyte ratio and erythrocyte sedimentation rate index. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 10 package. The Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney nonparametric tests were used to assess differences in the groups. The critical level of statistical significance when testing scientific hypotheses was p 0.05. RESULTS: At all stages of cataract maturity, before and after surgery, unidirectional changes in the hematological indices were revealed: the lymphocyte and eosinophil ratio decreased (1.4–2.0; p=0.01), the neutrophils and monocytes (1.3–2.1; p=0.04), lymphocytes and monocytes (1.4–2.5; p=0.02) ratios, leukocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (2.9–6.8; p=0.01) increased. In immature cataract, the intoxication index according to the hematological indices increased by 2 times in the dynamics of surgical treatment. At the same time, multidirectional changes in the hematological indices were revealed in cortical and subcapsular opacities of the lens, unidirectional changes — in nuclear and total opacities. CONCLUSION: Patients with nuclear and total cataracts have the greatest number of disturbances in the ratio of cell populations according to hematological indices, therefore they constitute a risk group for the development of complications.

THE IMPACT OF MATERNAL SECOND SIGNAL SYSTEM ACTIVITY ON MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTIONS DURING THE VERBAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF WAR AND HEALTH CRISES

The transition from nonverbal to verbal communication in children is signifi cantly infl uenced by the maternal secondary signaling system. Current geopolitical and health crises, such as the war in Ukraine and post- COVID-19 syndrome, exacerbate maternal stress and may aff ect mother- child interactions and child development.Aim. The purpose of this study is to examine diff erences in the activity of the second signaling system between mothers who report diffi culties perceiving their children and those who do not, and to understand the impact of these diff erences on motherchild interactions during the child’s verbal developmental period.Materials and methods. The study involved 184 mothers, divided into two groups: 98 mothers who reported diffi culties in perceiving their children and 86 mothers who did not. The The Questionnaire for Assessing the Activity of the Second Signal System (Language and Cognitive Test: How Well Do You Understand and Communicate?) (Lunov, 2023) was used to evaluate the activity of the second signal system across eight subscales corresponding to diff erent cytoarchitectonic fi elds. Independent samples t-tests were conducted to compare the mean scores of each subscale and the overall integral index between the groups. Results. Signifi cant diff erences were found on all subscales and the integral index, indicating notable discrepancies in the activity of the second signaling system between the two groups. Mothers who reported diffi culties had consistently lower scores, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support their communication and interaction with their children. Discussion. The fi ndings highlight the critical role of the second signaling system in maternal perception and interaction. The combined eff ects of war-induced trauma and post- COVID-19 syndrome exacerbate these challenges and underscore the need for comprehensive support programs. Findings from studies underscore the importance of addressing transgenerational attachment factors and maternal mental health to improve mother- child relationships and promote healthy developmental outcomes.

IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIVITY AND REACTIVE RESPONSE OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD NEUTROPHILIC GRANULOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 DEPENDING ON THEIR BLOOD GROUP

At the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a potential link between ABO blood type and susceptibility to the disease was reported. The evidence supporting this link is strengthening as the volume and quality of research expand. Recently, interest has shifted from merely examining susceptibility to exploring the severity of the disease and the immune response characteristics of patients in relation to their blood groups. Objective: to investigate the immunological reactivity and reactive response of peripheral blood neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with COVID-19 patients based on their blood group. Materials and methods. This prospective study included 198 patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia of mild, moderate, and severe degrees. The cohort comprised 50.51% (100) men and 49.49% (98) women, with an average age of 54.18 ± 7.25 years (range: 18 to 80 years). The distribution of blood groups according to the ABO system was as follows: 0 (I) - 37.37% (74 patients), A (II) - 37.37% (74 patients), B (III) - 18.18% (36 patients), and AB (IV) - 7.07% (14 patients). The immunological reactivity and reactive response of neutrophilic granulocytes were assessed through the analysis of 14 integral leukocyte indices, including the leukocyte shift index, the ratio of the absolute number of leukocytes to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the lymphocyte-granulocyte index, the lymphocyte index, the index of immunological resistance, and reactivity, among others. Results. In moderate and severe coronavirus infection, the indices of cellular and total immune reactivity and resistance are significantly lower compared to mild coronavirus infection: 1.35-3.08 times (p≤0.042-0.001) for resistance, 2.02-3.87 times (p<0.001) for reactivity, respectively, showing the highest activity among them in the owners of blood group 0 (I), with significantly lower values for A (Ⅱ), B (Ⅲ) and AB (Ⅳ) group variants by 3.94-19.10%. Whereas, with increasing severity of the disease, the reactive response of neutrophilic granulocytes, on the contrary, increases significantly compared to the mild degree: in moderate disease by 43.79-87.62% (p≤0.018-0.005), in severe disease by 1.62-2.11 times (p≤0.012-0.001), with the highest average value in AB (Ⅳ) blood group owners – by 46.69-68.44% (p≤0.017-0.005). Conclusions. The highest index of immunological reactivity is observed in individuals with blood group AB (IV) experiencing a mild clinical course of the disease. Conversely, the lowest index of immunological reactivity is found in patients with blood group A (II) who have a moderate clinical course. Additionally, the reactive response of neutrophilic granulocytes significantly increases in patients with a severe clinical course, with the highest average value recorded in those with blood group AB (IV).

A Neural Network-Based State-Constrained Control Strategy for Underactuated Aerial Transportation Systems Within Narrow Workspace

The aerial transportation system belongs to a symmetrical system and has recently garnered increasing attention from researchers due to its broad application range and convenient operation. The control difficulty of the aerial transportation system lies in the fact that the load is not directly actuated, posing a significant challenge for state-constrained control. Taking the motion of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) suspension transportation system within complex pipelines as an example, this paper employs the the swept volume signed distance field (SVSDF) method to search for state boundaries, which is an aspect not considered or elaborated in many state-constrained control approaches. Furthermore, adaptive state-constrained control based on the radial basis function (RBF) neural network is utilized for the case of experiencing unknown air resistance. The convergence of the proposed method for underactuated and actuated state variables is theoretically demonstrated based on the Lyapunov technique. Compared with existing methods, the error integral index demonstrates that the proposed method displays better convergence capability in the simulation section when considering state constraints under disturbance and air resistance.

Impact of country-specific business integrity and firm-specific ESG on earnings quality: evidence from EU civil law jurisdictions

Purpose This paper aims to examine whether variations in country-specific business integrity (BI) and firm-specific environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions can explain variations in earnings quality (EQ) in Northern and Southern EU civil law countries. Design/methodology/approach Regarding EQ, the analysis builds on the “small gain, small loss” (SGSL) model of Burgstahler and Dichev (1997) and Burgstahler and Chuk (2015). The authors explain SGSL with the BI. Southern Europe or “Club Med” is typically associated with a less rigorous institutional regime than Northern Europe. Findings Results evidenced higher EQ in the Northern EU compared with the Southern EU. Furthermore, EQ is explained successfully with the Business Integrity Index (BII) and ESG. The results suggest that BII and ESG represent different dimensions, and, therefore, both should be included in the models explaining EQ. Practical implications The results show that the Northern EU civil law countries have higher EQ compared with the Southern EU civil law countries. The difference is explained by the BII variable. For the Southern EU, legislators and other public policy decision-makers should build up and apply tools to limit and fight corruption in those jurisdictions. The impactful elimination of corruption would, in turn, establish a firmer basis to foster ethical behavior and financial market sophistication developments. Originality/value The study offers additional insights on the determinants of EQ in the EU civil law countries. The prior literature has argued that, categorically, in common law countries firms engage in higher-quality reporting than those in civil law countries. The results evidence that EQ varies within the EU civil law countries; that is, a country’s BI and firm-specific ESG contribute to the explanation for EQ. A more specific explanation for the reasons in the EQ “within” civil law jurisdictions could be related to legislators and other public policy decision-makers in charge of establishing regimes and public policies supporting high-quality accounting.

Methodological approach to assessing the digital infrastructure of the northern regions of the Russian Federation

The northern territories of Russia need high-quality strategic digital changes in the structure of the regional economy. Digitalization and the introduction of digital technologies in the medium term will be able to transform economic relations in the old industrial and raw materials regions of the North, improve the quality of life of local communities. The growth of digital inequality among the regions under study leads to disproportions in their socio-economic development. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a methodology for assessing the level of development of the digital infrastructure of the Russian northern regions, including classification of an indicators system for each level of digital infrastructure, calculation of an integral index and typology of the territories under study. The objects of the study were 13 northern regions of the Russian Federation, the entire territory of which is classified as regions of the Extreme North and equivalent areas. The methodology made it possible to determine the level of technical, technological and personnel readiness of the northern regions for digitalization, to identify regions with the best solutions at each level of digital infrastructure development. The analysis of the results in dynamics helped to assess the effectiveness of regional policy for managing digitalization processes. As a result, the authors came to the conclusion that increasing the competitiveness of northern regions in the era of rapid digitalization is possible through investments in human capital and the creation of a network of scientific and technological clusters. The presented approach to assessing the development of individual levels and elements of digital infrastructure will allow for the diagnosis of priority needs of territories under study in the field of digitalization. The results of the study can form the basis for regional policy in the field of sustainable digital development of Russia.

Spatial patterns of hydroecological health in the semi-arid yellow river basin: Revelations from machine learning models

The ecosystem of semi-arid watersheds is influenced by a combination of natural climate factors, rainfall, and habitat destruction, resulting in complex mechanisms of spatial differentiation and evolution of water ecological health. Indicator selection in mainstream water ecological health assessment methods, such as the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), often relies on subjective reference point choices. This approach tends to overlook the comprehensive impacts and interactions among various environmental stressors. For watersheds significantly influenced by natural climatic factors, considerable uncertainties arise, leading to a lack of scientific justification for establishing water ecological health protection goals. In this study, the nonlinear capabilities of the random forest (RF) model were applied to reduce subjectivity in traditional water ecological health assessments and to more accurately reveal the emerging spatial differentiation patterns and underlying causes of water ecological health in the Wei River Basin (WRB), the largest typical semi-arid watershed of the Yellow River in China. Our findings indicate: (1) Traditional evaluation indices indicate that the overall water ecological health of the WRB is classified as sub-healthy (60 %). The core indicators include dominant species, total algal density, and the percentage of diatom density, with no significant spatial differentiation observed. (2) An improved water ecological health assessment method for semi-arid watersheds, based on the RF model, has been developed to replace traditional subjective judgment steps. This method establishes a complex multi-input–output response relationship (R2>0.85) between environmental stress indicators and the biological integrity index for the WRB. (3) The model results identify key driving factors affecting changes in water ecological health in semi-arid watersheds, with the sensitivity of the new model increasing nearly 11-fold compared to traditional IBI methods. (4) Following improvements, the water ecological health characteristics of the WRB exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity, with a higher dispersion coefficient (1.21), and demonstrate enhanced nonlinear response trends to climatic factors. The application of machine learning models indicates that traditional methods may underestimate the extent of ecological health degradation in watersheds and tend to oversimplify spatial heterogeneity characteristics.

Predictive Modeling Reveals Elevated Conductivity Relative to Background Levels in Freshwater Tributaries within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA.

Elevated conductivity (i.e., specific conductance or SC) causes osmotic stress in freshwater aquatic organisms and may increase the toxicity of some contaminants. Indices of benthic macroinvertebrate integrity have declined in urban areas across the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW), and more information is needed about whether these declines may be due to elevated conductivity. A predictive SC model for the CBW was developed using monitoring data from the National Water Quality Portal. Predictor variables representing SC sources were compiled for nontidal reaches across the CBW. Random forests modeling was conducted to predict SC at four time periods (1999-2001, 2004-2006, 2009-2011, and 2014-2016), which were then compared to a national data set of background SC to quantify departures from background SC. Carbonate geology, impervious cover, forest cover, and snow depth were the most important variables for predicting SC. Observations and modeled results showed snow depth amplified the effect of impervious cover on SC. Elevated SC was predicted in two-thirds of reaches in the CBW, and these elevated conditions persisted over time in many areas. These results can be used in stressor identification assessments to prioritize future monitoring and to determine where management activities could be implemented to reduce salinization.

Integrating external stressors in supervised machine learning algorithm achieves high accuracy to predict multi-species biological integrity index of aquaculture wastewater

Monitoring and predicting the environmental impact of wastewater is essential for sustainable aquaculture. The environmental DNA metabarcoding-integrated supervised machine learning (SML) algorithm is an alternative method for ecological quality assessment and prediction. However, the ecological integrity of aquaculture wastewater and available effective input features for prediction remain unclear. Here, we used the multispecies biological integrity index (Ms-IBI) to provide a detailed categorization, identifying over half of the samples (53.85 %) as highly impacted, emphasizing the urgency to address ecological degradation; Ms-IBI emerged as a reliable label for SML models. By condensing 410 effective indicators and integrating 25 core operational taxonomic unit features with external stressors, an accuracy of 0.78 and R2 of 0.96 was achieved. Utilizing only external stressors yielded a comparably good performance with fewer input features, obtaining an accuracy of 0.74 and an R2 of 0.91. The integration of external stressors in this study highlights a practical predictive method that meets the ecological quality requirements of aquaculture wastewater, aiding the reversal of global ecological decline.

Prognostic impact of the concept of late gadolinium enhancement granularity in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background The prognostic stratification of non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) to predict the risk of death is mainly driven by the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Indeed, LVEF<35% is currently the only indication for primary prevention with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in these patients. Beyond LVEF, several cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have suggested the strong prgnostic impact of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and particularly its extent and location. Therefore, we assumed that a more granular approach combining detailed LGE findings including extent, location and pattern could improve risk stratification in this population. Purpose To assess the additional prognostic value of the concept of "Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) Granularity" that includes extent, location, and pattern in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients to predict all-cause death. Methods Between 2008-2021, all consecutive patients with DCM without ICD or history of sustained ventricular arrythmia referred for cardiac MRI were included in two French centres. In line with the current ESC and AHA guidelines, DCM was defined by the LV dilation and LVEF< 50% using cardiac MRI. All patients with history of coronary artery disease or clinical history of myocarditis were excluded. The primary outcome was all-cause death using the French National Registry of Death. Cox regressions were performed to determine the prognostic value of each LGE findings. The additional prognostic value of the LGE granularity was assessed by the C-statistic increment, the continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI), and the integrative discrimination index (IDI). Results Of 1,668 DCM patients (age 52±8 years, 54% males), 268 (16%) died after a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 9 (7-12) years. With a median LVEF value of 39% (30-46), 472 (28%) patients had non-ischemic LGE. Using survival curves, patients with LVEF>35% but the LGE septal location showed a higher risk of death compared to all patients with LVEF≤35% with or without LGE (except for the septal location, all p<0.001). In DCM patients with LGE (N=472), LGE extent (adjusted HR: 4.27, 95% CI: 2.22-8.22), septal location (HR: 5.74, 95% CI: 3.35-9.85) and multiple areas of LGE (HR: 4.38, 95% CI: 2.08-9.22; all p<0.001) were all independently associated with death after adjustment for prognosticators. The concept of "LGE granularity" combining all these LGE features showed the best improvement in model discrimination and reclassification over traditional prognosticators including LVEF (C-statistic improvement: 0.14; net reclassification improvement=64.3%; integrative discrimination index=29.0%; all p<0.05). Conclusion In a large cohort of DCM patients, the concept of "LGE granularity" combining LGE extent, location and the presence of multiple areas had an additional prognostic value above traditional prognosticators including LVEF to predict all-cause death.

Incremental prognostic value of late gadolinium enhancement granularity in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background The prognostic stratification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is based on the extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). To enhance risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD), the ESC has recently added LGE extent in the guidelines, at ≥15% of LV mass. However, SCD has become an uncommon event in this population, and mortality is now mostly related to other phenotypes, such as atrial fibrillation, stroke, and heart failure. While previous studies have showed the prognostic value of LGE to predict all-cause mortality, the prognostic impact of additional LGE features is not well established. Therefore, we aimed to assess the incremental prognostic value of the granularity of LGE including extent, location, and pattern in patients with HCM to predict all-cause death. Methods Between 2008 and 2021, all patients referred for HCM assessment using CMR, without history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or clinical history of myocarditis were prospectively recruited in two French centers. The outcome was all-cause death using the French National Registry of Death. The concept of "LGE granularity" was defined as a comprehensive model combining all the following LGE features with extent (by segment), location (septal or others), and pattern (midwall and/or subepicardial). Using nested Cox proportional hazard models, the additional predictive value of LGE features was assessed by the C-statistic increment, the continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI), the integrative discrimination index (IDI) and the global Chi-2. Results Among the 2,672 included patients (52±7 years, 56% males), 862 (32%) had LGE. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 9 (7–11) years, 447 (17%) patients died. Survival curves show an increased risk for LGE presence (log-rank p<0.001, Figure 1A). After adjustment for traditional prognosticators in the overall population (N=2,672), the presence of LGE was strongly associated with all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.96, 95% CI: 3.26-4.80, p<0.001). In the subgroup of patients with LGE (n=862), survival curves showed that all parameters defining the LGE granularity were associated with a higher risk of all-cause death (all p<0.001, Figure 1B). A nested Cox model adjusted on traditional prognosticators showed that the LGE extent, location and pattern were all independently associated with all-cause death (all p<0.001, Figure 2). The model of "LGE granularity" combining all independently significative LGE features showed the best improvement in model discrimination and reclassification above traditional prognosticators (C-statistic improvement: 0.90; NRI=41.9%; IDI=13.2%, Chi-2 global=450, all p<0.001; LR-test p<0.001, Figure 2). Conclusion In a large cohort of HCM patients, the "LGE granularity" model combining the extent, location, and pattern of LGE had an incremental prognostic value over and above traditional prognosticators to predict all-cause death.Prognostic value of LGE granularityIncremental prognostic value LGE granula

Prognostic value of additional midwall late gadolinium enhancement in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Although several studies have reported the additional presence of midwall late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), its prognostic value is not well established. Purpose To assess the prognostic value of the additional presence of midwall-LGE in a large cohort of patients with ICM and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods Between 2008 and 2022, all consecutive patients referred for myocardial viability assessment using CMR with an history of ICM (≥70% stenosis in ≥1 epicardial coronary vessel on angiography and/or history of myocardial infarction and/or coronary revascularization) and LVEF <50% were included. Midwall-LGE was defined by non-ischemic LGE corresponding to non-specific myocardial fibrosis. All patients with a history of acute myocarditis and/or sub-epicardial LGE were excluded. The primary outcome was all-cause death. Nested Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the prognostic value of additional midwall-LGE including its location (lateral and/or septal and other location) and extent (1 or ≥2 segments), above the presence of ischemic-LGE and traditional prognostic factors. The incremental prognostic value of midwall-LGE extent and location was assessed by the C-statistic increment, the continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI), the integrative discrimination index (IDI) and the global Chi-2. Results Among the 6,082 included patients (65±12 years, 73% males), 702 (11.5%) had an additional midwall-LGE. During a median follow-up of 9 (IQR, 7-12) years, 652 (11%) patients died. The presence of midwall-LGE alone was strongly associated with the risk of death compared to patients without midwall-LGE (p<0.001, Figure 1A). Among these patients with midwall-LGE (N=702), survival curves showed an increased risk for midwall-LGE in lateral and/or septal location (p<0.001), for larger extent (p<0.001) and the presence of ischemic-LGE (p<0.001, Figure 1B). In this population with midwall-LGE (N=702), after adjustment for risk factors and extent of ischemic-LGE, midwall-LGE with septal and/or lateral location (adjusted HR: 2.6; 95%CI: 1.8-3.6) and extent ≥2 segments (adjusted HR: 2.6; 95%CI: 1.8-3.7, both p<0.001) were independently associated with all-cause death. A comprehensive LGE model combining all the characteristics of midwall-LGE showed the best improvement in model discrimination and reclassification above traditional prognosticators (C-statistic improvement: 0.13; NRI=46%; IDI=19%, Chi-2 global=261, all p<0.05; LR-test p<0.001, Figure 2). Conclusion In a large cohort of ICM patients, the presence of an additional non-ischemic midwall-LGE is an independent prognosticator of all-cause death, particularly for larger extent or when present in the septal and/or lateral location.Prognostic value of midwall-LGEIncremental prognostic value

Development and preliminary evaluation of a novel preoperative index for quantitative analysis of photoreceptor loss in full-thickness macular holes.

To identify novel quantitative parameters for evaluating photoreceptor loss in full-thickness macular holes (FTMH), exploring their potential clinical impact on postoperative functional and anatomical recovery. This pilot study enrolled 38 eyes from 38 patients diagnosed with FTMH. Preoperatively, eyes underwent analysis and were subsequently followed for six months post-surgery. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was recorded, and cross-sectional images of FTMH were obtained using B-scan optical coherence tomography (OCT) and en-face OCT. Quantitative assessment of ellipsoid zone (EZ) and external limiting membrane (ELM) integrity changes was conducted and correlated with postoperative anatomical and functional recovery. The photoreceptor Integrity Index (PIIN), calculated as the ratio of photoreceptor area to lumen hole area measured at customized segmentation, was correlated with the minimum and base diameters of the hole, positive change in BCVA, preoperative EZ defect (EZd), preoperative ELM defect (ELMd), and changes in EZ and ELM over the six-month follow-up period (∆-EZ and ∆-ELM). The main outcome measures focused on evaluating the effectiveness of PIIN in predicting postoperative anatomical and functional changes. A higher PIIN correlated with a greater BCVA change over six months (p < 0.001). Univariate regression analysis using the PIIN as a predictor for positive change in BCVA (|∆-BCVA| [logMAR]) over time yielded significant results (p < 0.001). Additionally, the PIIN significantly correlated with EZd at baseline, ELM at baseline, and ELMd change over the six-month follow-up period. The PIIN shows promise as a tool for evaluating photoreceptor loss in macular holes and estimating postoperative functional and anatomical recovery. What is known Previous studies have extensively used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to investigate various biomarkers for assessing patients with full-thickness macular hole (FTMH), without considering detailed MH ultrastructural features Existing indexes used to predict surgical outcomes for FTMH primarily depend on geometrical parameters and do not integrate detailed ultrastructural characteristics, such as cellular components. What is new A novel concept introduces the quantitative measurement of residual photoreceptors located at the edge of FTMH. The Photoreceptor Integrity Index (PIIN) integrates different ultrastructural components of macular holes, aiming to become a valuable clinical tool to predict both anatomical and functional recovery outcomes following surgical intervention for FTMH.

Determining the Level of Emotional Intelligence of Future Cynologists

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the essence of emotional intelligence (EI) as an important component for future cynologists’ fruitful work in the sphere of rehabilitation of people who have been affected by the war consiquences. The authors studied the scientific literature on EI and its role in “Human-Human” and “Human-Animal” interactions in the working sphere. The authors determined the existing EI level of students who have Cynology as their major, outlined the theoretic and empiric outcomes, and stated recommendations for improving future cynologists’ professional training. Methodology. The empirical survey had a sample of 36 respondents. They were second-year students aged 18-21, 20 were male, and 16 were female. It was conducted by means of Google Forms on the basis of “Methodology of emotional intelligence diagnosis” by N. Hall (adapted) with subsequent processing and analysis of the results. Results. The study of the literature revealed that EI is of crucial importance for future cynologists’ professional fulfillment as it is responsible for the emotional regulation of their behavior, self-motivation, empathy, etc. However, empirically, it was found out that the EI of the respondents had not been sufficiently developed, as 68% of the respondents had a low level of EI integrative index, 22% of the students had the medium level of EI integrative index. Solely 10% of the respondents were recorded to have a high-level EI integrative index. Conclusions. The outcomes of the study revealed that most respondents do not have sufficient EI development, but they have the potential to enhance it. The authors insist on the organization of special educational courses and training to develop the ability of future cynologists to understand their own emotions and the emotions of other people, emotional behavior management, self-motivation, etc.

Issues of assessing the standard of living of the population in the regions of Russia

The article provides an overview of existing methods for assessing the level and quality of life of the population of the regions. A system of indicators has been formed to assess the standard of living, covering the level of poverty, inflation, unemployment, real incomes and food costs in the structure of consumer spending. The methodology was tested on the example of the regions of the Volga Federal District, the study period: 20202022. Regions were grouped according to the value of the integral index of living standards, regions with very high, high, medium, low and very low values of the integral indicator were identified. It is concluded that the standard of living is decreasing against the background of regional differentiation and the need to form a system of measures by public authorities aimed at improving the level and quality of life of the population. The practical significance of the results obtained is that they can be useful for making informed decisions in the field of regional policy and economics.

Assessing the development of a human-centered economy in Russia: A methodological approach

Aim. To build and sub stantiate the author’s methodology for assessing the development of human-centered economy. In view of the insufficiency of theoretical and empirical research in the field of formation and development of economy for human beings, the demand for this scientific research is actualized in order to better meet human needs.Objectives. To develop a methodology for assessing the development of human-centered economy; to test it on the example of the Russian Federation (RF), including Russian regions.Methodology. The methodological basis of the study was formed by the provisions of the theory of human-centered economy. The methods used include normalization, linear scaling, and “series of information criteria” methods. Visualization of the obtained results was carried out on the basis of spatial modeling software package GeoDA. The information base was the data of the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, Rospatent for 2018-2022.Results. The methodology for calculating the integral index of human-centered economy development has been developed. It was calculated by integrating 87 specific indices and eight subindices. The process of research revealed that this economic system is at the initial stages of development with isogressive-regressive trajectory, has insignificantly developed constituent components in the form of creative and cognitive spheres.Conclusions. The proposed methodology provides a basis for further scientific research in similar studies, as well as for the formation of targeted measures to support the challenging spheres of human activity and human-centered economy as a whole.

Nonlinear integral backstepping control based on particle swarm optimization for a grid-connected variable wind energy conversion system during voltage dips

Double-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines connected to the grid are particularly subject to grid problems such as voltage dips. Because of this, it might be challenging to maintain system stability and prevent system disconnections when using a Proportional-Integral (PI) Controller to operate this system. This paper applies the Integral Backstepping Control for the wind power plant system connected to the power grid. The Integral Backstepping is a nonlinear and recursive method that employs the Lyapunov theory to ensure the system's stability. The best selection of gain values for the Lyapunov function guarantees improved system control. These gains are frequently adjusted using the trial-and-error strategy, which is time-consuming and inefficient. This technique becomes more complex when many parameters need to be determined. It also limits the system's performance and restricts this nonlinear approach's advantages. The objective is to apply the particle swarm optimization for computing several constant values of the nonlinear approach by minimizing an integral absolute error criterion index. The weighted sum of errors is employed to solve the multiple objective problems. The proposed controller tracks the maximum power point, maintains the voltage of the DC-Link constant, and controls active and reactive power. The robustness of this method is verified in critical conditions, including system parameter variation and asymmetrical and symmetrical grid faults. The simulation findings highlight the effectiveness and robustness of the combination of Integral Backstepping with Particle Swarm Optimization in terms of reducing response time from 10.6 (ms) to 2 (ms), canceling static error, and improving overshoot compared to the vector control based on PI regulator. Besides, the DC-Link voltage ripples during the asymmetrical grid faults are reduced to ±1 (V) using the suggested controller. The latter can be implemented thanks to advancements in Central Processor Unit technology.

Relationship Between Land Use Transformation and Ecosystem Service Value in the Process of Urban–Rural Integration: An Empirical Study of 17 Prefecture-Level Cities in Henan Province, China

Urban–rural integration, which aims to balance economic growth with sustainable land use, is becoming an increasingly critical strategy for regional development. This study provides crucial insights into the relationship between land use changes and ecosystem service values (ESVs) in rapidly urbanizing areas by analyzing the urban–rural integration process in Henan Province, a typical agricultural province in China. This research investigated the relationship between land use transformation and ESVs in Henan Province, China, from 1990 to 2020. Utilizing land use data and employing the equivalent factor method and elasticity model, we analyzed shifts in land use and their impacts on ecosystem services across 17 prefecture-level cities. Results indicated a gradual improvement in the urban–rural integration development index of Henan Province, particularly after 2000, but with notable disparities among cities. Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, consistently demonstrated high urban–rural integration development index (URII) values, influencing the integration efforts of neighboring cities. Conversely, peripheral cities exhibited lower integration indices. Notable shifts in land use patterns characterized by diverse transfer dynamics distinctively influenced ESVs across regions. Urban sprawl initially exerted substantial impacts on ecosystem services and stabilized over time. Suburbanization impacts peaked in the early and middle stages, while agricultural intensification initially affected ecosystem services, but their effects diminished with increased efficiency. Ecological restoration efforts consistently enhanced ESVs. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interactions between land use transitions and ecosystem services in the context of urban–rural integration.