International Scientific Working Research Articles

ВЕРИФІКАЦІЯ ПРИНЦИПУ ПАРЕТО ДЛЯ ДОХОДІВ ВІД НАУКОВОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ЗАКЛАДІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ УКРАЇНИ

The purpose of the article is to verify the Pareto principle in terms of revenues to the special fund of higher education institutions of Ukraine based on the results of scientific and scientific-technical work on international cooperation projects, scientific and scientific-technical work under economic agreements and scientific services. With the help of ABC-analysis of indicators of income from scientific activity, domestic higher education institutions are divided into three groups: A – higher education institutions with a large amount of income from scientific activities; B – higher education institutions with an average level of commercialization of scientific activity; C – higher education institutions with little or no income from research. It was obtained that group A included 29 (19,595 %) higher education institutions of Ukraine, which in 2016–2018 provided paid scientific services in the amount of UAH 739,747 million (79,39 % of the total). Group B was formed by 34 (22,973 %) domestic higher education institutions, whose scientific activity in the analyzed period brought income in the amount of UAH 147,954 million (15,88 % of the total). Group C included 85 (57,432 %) Ukrainian higher education institutions, which earned UAH 44,082 million (4,73 % of the total) as a result of their scientific work. It was found that the Pareto principle 20/80 was reflected in the activities of higher education institutions in Ukraine. Strategies for commercialization of research results for domestic higher education institutions from each group are proposed: group A – leader’s strategy; group B – the applicant’s strategy; group C – strategy of the beginner.

The Microbiome Meets Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges in Developing New Diagnostic Devices.

Monitoring of the human microbiome is an emerging area of diagnostics for personalized medicine. Here, the potential of different nanomaterials and nanobiosensing technologies is reviewed for the development of novel diagnostic devices for the detection and measurement of microbiome-related biomarkers. Moreover, the current and future landscape of microbiome-based diagnostics is defined by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of current nanotechnology-based approaches, especially in the context of developing point-of-care (PoC) devices that would meet the international guidelines known as REASSURED (Real-time connectivity; Ease of specimen collection; Affordability; Sensitivity; Specificity; User-friendliness; Rapid & robust operation; Equipment-free; and Deliverability). Finally, the strategies of the latest international scientific consortia working in this field are analyzed, the current microbiome diagnostics market are reported and the principal ethical, legal, and societal issues related to microbiome R&D and innovation are discussed.

Romanian National Guideline on Translating Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Applications related to Clostridioides difficile Infections into the Local Clinical Practice.

Fecal microbiota transplantation involves the infusion of intestinal microorganisms via the transfer of a stool from a healthy individual into a diseased individual, with the intent of restoring normal intestinal flora. Fecal transplant is proposed for the treatment of refractory Clostridioides difficile infection. At present, recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection is the only indication supported by solid scientific evidence. Regulations by healthcare authorities vary among different countries. Considering that Romania does not have an available national guideline to offer standardization, this paper aimed to create a national fecal microbiota transplantation guideline concerning indications, techniques and donor screening, developed by international and local scientific working groups.

Access Mobility to Local Railway Stations: Current Travel Practices And Forecast

Increasing the attractiveness of a railway transport system requires improving accessibility to train stations. In particular, it means promoting environmentally friendly access modes and implementing a management policy of parking offer.Understanding how people reach railway stations is a key challenge for authorities to identify the levers for action. International scientific work has analyzed access travels to stations according to individuals' characteristics, access distances, levels of transport services including parking offer, and station environment. However, these research studies are not representative of French behaviors, which are not well known.This paper aims to qualify the potential link between access modes to French railway stations, rail service level and spatial environment of stations. It presents an assessment of the modal shares of access travel to French stations according to their profile (transport and urban profiles). This evaluation provides a methodological approach for local authorities to support accessibility issues of local railway stations, without needing to carry out field surveys.

Combining empirical indicators and expert knowledge for surveillance of data-limited sea trout stocks

Abstract Inland and diadromous fish stocks can support important ecological, social and cultural functions. However, many of these stocks are data-limited and do not have formal state assessments or management reference points. Empirical surveillance indicators of relative abundance and population size-structure may provide an accessible first-step for monitoring such stocks. These indicators could be informed and interpreted via expert knowledge of specific systems and stock histories. The current study focused on an international scientific working group that met in 2017–2019. The group collated long-term monitoring data for sea trout Salmo trutta from six salmonid ‘index rivers’ in France, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Sweden. Indicators were selected, and time series of abundance- and length-based metrics for each river were presented on a new visual indicator plot. Expert knowledge from each system was elicited through one-to-one interviews to provide a corresponding stock narrative, in which indicator trends reflected known historical pressure-state events. The accessible presentation of simple empirical indicators supports elicitation of local expert knowledge, and provides an accessible framework for surveillance and reference-direction assessment of data-limited sea trout stocks. This approach could be applied to inland or diadromous stocks where available data are restricted to estimates of relative abundance and size-structure.

The Tianjin Eco-City model in the academic literature on urban sustainability

Recent intensive eco-city development in China has been accompanied by rising enthusiasm for environmental sustainability indicators. Whilst there are calls for the indicators to be standardised, and criticism of the difficulties in applying them, little effort has been made to understand their scientific rationale. This article employs a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to investigate the use of environmental indicators from the Tianjin Eco-City Key Performance Indicators by the international scientific community working on urban sustainability. The findings draw a clear picture of the place of Tianjin Eco-City's indicators in the international scientific literature. China's ecological problems are found to attract interest not only from domestic researchers but also researchers outside the country. The indicators are used not only for urban planning and management but also for a wide range of urban-related and non-urban-related purposes. The scientific rationale of the eleven indicators is specifically addressed, revealing a number of underlying questions about the Tianjin Eco-City indicators.

Dmitry A. Zhdanov ― the Founder of the Functional Anatomy of the Lymphatic System (to the 110th Birth Anniversary)

D.A. Zhdanov is the eminent member of Russian anatomy school, member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, great lymphologist, talented master and wise mentor whose 110th jubilee is held this year. Having introduced completely new way of teaching and learning anatomy, Zhdanov expanded knowledge of functions and structure of lymphatic system, presented new information unknown before and determined direction of further studies for his disciples. Being the founder of functional anatomy of the lymphatic system, D.A. Zhdanov brought up a lot of scientists of morphology who developed the aspects he had noticed. The article reveals main directions of Zhdanov’s occupation and activity (studying the lymphatic system, mentorship and tutorship); major findings and methods which he used in his researche works; his interesting and many-sided personality. The article also describes works of D.A. Zhdanov in other scientific areas such as history of medicine and art, analyzes his international scientific work and role in formation of the Russian anatomy school, presents some biographical data, description of researches and recollections of colleagues.

Role of bioengineering structures made of willow cuttings in marly sediment trapping: assessment of three real-size experiments in the Southern French Alps

Improving knowledge on the ability of bioengineering structures made of willow cuttings to enhance efficient and sustainable sediment trapping in marly gullies in the Southern French Alps under a mountainous Mediterranean climate, to decrease sediment yield at their outlets, is a key issue today for the international scientific community working in geosciences and ecology. This study therefore aims to assess three real-size experiments (A, B and C) carried out between 2003 and 2013 in this environment. A total of 157 bioengineering structures using purple and white willow (Salix purpurea and Salix incana) cuttings–which have been shown to resprout and survive more than 2 years after their installation, corresponding to brush layers with brush mats on wooden sills (BLM), 1.2 m wide and 2 m long, installed on the floors of 33 experimental marly gullies, were monitored. The results showed that sediment trapping occurred upstream of the vegetation barriers from the 1st year onwards. Considering the depth of sediment trapped per experiment, the mean annual values reached 11.2 cm yr-1 after 3 years in experiment A, 7.7 cm yr-1 after 2–4 years in experiment C and 5.1 cm yr-1 after 5 years in experiment B. Occasionally, BLMs showed that they could trap up to 16 and 15 cm.yr-1 in experiments A and C, respectively. Considering the volumes of sediment trapped per experiment, the mean annual values reached 0.25, 0.14 and 0.08 m3 yr-1 in experiments C, A and B, respectively. Maximum values for one structure reached 1.94 m3 per year in experiment C. The significance of the volumes of trapped sediment and the sustainability of sediment trapping are discussed, and rules for bioengineering strategies are proposed.

Indicadores de qualidade em enfermagem com ênfase no centro cirúrgico: revisão integrativa da literatura

Objetivo: Analisar as produções nacional e internacional dos indicadores de qualidade em Enfermagem no Centro Cirúrgico. Método: Revisão integrativada literatura de 2009 a 2016 de artigos indexados nas bases de dados: Literatura Latino‑Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, Scientific Electronic LibraryOnline e US National Library of Medicine. A amostra final foi composta por 17 artigos. Resultados: Houve predominância das publicações nacionais, em 2013, realizadaspor enfermeiros mestres, com abordagem quantitativa. Os temas dessas foram: importância, confiabilidade e benefícios dos indicadores de qualidade para ogerenciamento da assistência de Enfermagem; principais dificuldades quanto ao uso dos indicadores; sistema informatizado para coleta de dados dos indicadores evisão dos enfermeiros a respeito do uso dessa ferramenta de qualidade. Conclusão: Foram observados os benefícios e as principais dificuldades referentes à utilizaçãodos indicadores de qualidade para o Centro Cirúrgico. No entanto, a avaliação de desempenho do Centro Cirúrgico por meio de indicadores ainda é pouco utilizada.

Российский турпродукт: потребительские ожидания иностранных туристов

This article presents the results of the analysis of preferences and motivations of tourists from the main existing and prospective tourist arrivals in Russia, which was conducted by the method of content analysis based on publications of the UNWTO, the World Bank, Eurostat, the European Union, the Federal State Statistics Service, the national tourism administrations, international tourism conferences, scientific and practical work. In the process of the study identified were two groups of research texts: a group of texts about the preferences and motivations of tourists from Europe and America, and a group of texts about the preferences and motivations of tourists from Asia. Results are also presented by geographical areas "Europe and America" and "Asian countries." The study was conducted with the aim of optimizing the preparation of proposals for the formation of the federal policy of promoting Russian tourist product. As a component of the result the author suggest a common approach to marketing efforts to promote Russian tourist product in the European markets and the markets of Asia and the Pacific Region. The approach is to identify priority types of tourism for potential consumers of Russian tourist product, to construct the ratings of distribution policy priorities in the allocation of key expectations from the stay in Russia for the purpose of tourism, to plan route networks and features of the transport component, as well as the to urgently reduce visa formalities for priority markets.

Tick-borne encephalitis: new paradigms in a changing vaccination environment

The International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW TBE) held its 13th Annual Meeting in February 2011 to discuss epidemiological developments, news in TBE research, initiatives of the European Union, vaccination-immune response, clinical cases and TBE consequences, awareness of TBE prevention and the role of the ISW TBE to break vaccination fatigue. TBE may be considered a complex system, characterized by an intricate interplay between tick biology and socioeconomic conditions. The same may be said about vaccination behaviour. Thus, although the facts are simple--vaccination is the best prevention--the socioeconomic conditions keep changing, and with them the ability or willingness of people to get vaccinated. The ISW TBE is part of this complex system, and because the world keeps changing--so should the strategies.

Which role for theory in international law? Report on the Workshop “Kelsen — Schmitt — Arendt: Constitutionalism in (International) Law”, Leipzig, June 11/12, 2009

AbstractLaw is a discipline which allows us to combine a high level of doctrinal craftsmanship with an equally high level of theoretical reflection and (re-)construction of legal-political developments. For the academic scholar, law is practice, theory and doctrine, each requiring a distinct set of goals, a distinct set of methods and a distinct level of abstraction. For some time, the international legal discipline has been described as lacking in theoretical development. This consideration may have motivated the conveners of a Kelsen-Schmitt-Arendt conference series when they decided that it was time for a re-engagement with the theories of Kelsen, Schmitt, and Arendt. The first workshop on constitutionalism will be the object of this commentary.Kelsen, Schmitt and Arendt have experienced unexpected and innovative reception in recent years: Schmitt has contributed to questions such as the problematic role of human rights, the institutionalization of politics as conflict, as well as new applications of the state of exception. Kelsen's international writings as well as his democratic theory have borne a fruitful re-reading, and Arendt, who has been widely read, and written about in the social sciences for several years, has finally reached the law faculties.The primary interest of this comment lies in the question of how international legal scientific work can make use of legal and political theory. A whole range of politico-legal developments in the European and international arenas are currently creating new forms of institutions, obligations, and types of engagement between legal orders. The velocity and the diversity of these developments are challenging traditional frameworks, paradigms, and analytical tools of the discipline. This task of conceptualization asks for and lends itself to theorization. Which approaches to theory are available for legal scholars, and what kind of insights do they offer? The conference offered the chance to witness different examples of how theory can be accessed. What role is there for theory in international law and what is its potential?

FSME – Bewusstsein und Schutz: Einfluss von Epidemiologie, verändertem Lebensstil und Umweltfaktoren

The International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW-TBE) held its 12th Annual Meeting in January 2010. The international awareness among the issue of TBE is on the rise, as the European Center for Disease Control considers TBE of high relevance and has launched a series of activities aimed at improving awareness of this tick-transmissible infection and also the World Health Organization has taken up the cause of TBE. The epidemiology of TBE in Europe is characterized by two distinct trends, i.e., a consistent expansion of risk areas on the one hand and major fluctuations in case numbers on the other. TBE risk areas have spread both northward and to higher altitudes - a development thought to be attributable to climate changes having created more favorable living conditions for ticks. Social, political, ecological, economic, and demographic factors also have a role in this development. Preliminary data from 12 European countries show that TBE case numbers in 2009 amounted to 95.8% of those reported in 2006 when Russia is included and to 88% of 2006 data when Russia is excluded. Overall, the level of knowledge of TBE in endemic countries is quite high, but actual vaccination coverage has not kept pace.

Tick-borne encephalitis in the age of general mobility

The 11th meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-borne Encephalitis (ISW-TBE) was conducted under the title of, "From childhood to golden age: increased mobility - increased risk of contracting TBE?" Participants from 26 countries, including the United States of America and China, presented reports on the latest developments and trends in local TBE cases, vaccination coverage and risk factors. In particular, the situation of children and the elderly (the "golden agers") was discussed. As the current evidence suggests, the location and extension of endemic areas for TBE have changed over the last few years, along with global warming and the shift of infected ticks to higher altitudes. The increased mobility of the human population adds to the heightened exposure; outdoor activities and international travel are on the rise also, and especially, amongst the 50+ generation, who are already per se at higher risk of disease manifestation, complications and case fatality. Most Europeans travel within Europe, often without sufficient awareness of endemic areas. Only high immunization rates can ensure low disease rates in the long run. To achieve this goal, public education is the sole effective approach for raising the level of awareness. Overall, the risk of any given person to contract TBE should not be regarded as a fixed entity, but rather it must be estimated individually, on the basis of knowledge of the TBE virus endemic areas and risk factors.

Tick-borne encephalitis and golden agers: position paper of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-borne encephalitis (ISW-TBE)

One of the primary goals of the 11th Annual Meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-borne encephalitis (ISW-TBE) held in 2009 was to develop the first update of the Position Paper on TBE in Golden Agers, summarizing the most essential aspects of the disease in this age group. TBE morbidity has continued to increase in recent years, which is thought to be due to an interplay of social, political, ecological, economic and demographic factors combined with climate changes. Today's golden agers i.e. individuals aged 50 years or above, are healthier and more mobile, lead more active lifestyles and spend more time travelling and performing outdoor leisure activities. This places them at an increased risk of infection. At the same time, increasing age is associated with a quantitative and qualitative decline in innate and adaptive immunity, which is why elderly individuals are more susceptible to infection and severe disease than younger people. Also, their response to vaccination tends to be slower, antibody titres generally reach lower levels and titres tend to decrease earlier than in younger individuals. Evidence is accumulating that this is also the case with TBE vaccination, emphasizing the importance of administering the first TBE booster vaccination no later than 3 years after the completion of primary immunization or at an even shorter interval. Encouragingly, recent data have shown that the field effectiveness of TBE vaccination exceeds 97%, with no significant differences between age groups.

From childhood to golden age: increased mobility – increased risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis?

For the 11th time, the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW-TBE) held its annual meeting in January 2009 to review the latest issues in the field of TBE. The cause of preventing TBE has recently also been taken up by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as the TBE virus is endemic in regions of 27 European countries. Between 1974 and 2003, morbidity increased by 400%. From 2004 to 2006, another considerable increase was seen in some countries, notably the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Between 1990 and 2007, 157,584 cases of TBE were documented in 19 countries providing reliable data, resulting in a mean of 8755 cases per year (Europe excluding Russia 50,486 cases, with a mean of 2805 cases annually). In view of the variability of the pattern of epidemiological change throughout Europe, a single cause for the increase in TBE, such as temperature increase, appears unlikely. Human behaviour, driven by a wide variety of factors, seems to be crucially important.

Combating Tick-Borne encephalitis: vaccination rates on the rise

The 10th annual meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW-TBE) was entitled "Combating TBE: Vaccination rates on the rise". The incidence of TBE has increased in several European countries endemic for this potentially debilitating central nervous system infection. Among the countries most affected are Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, and the Baltic States. In many regions, the three basic requirements for optimal living conditions for ticks, i.e., humidity above 85%. temperatures above 6–7°C, and the presence of large numbers of hosts, have been changing in favor of the tick population. Austria has the highest TBE vaccination rate (88%) in Europe. Although recent years have seen increases in the vaccination rates in some countries, coverage is still too low to offer adequate protection. Presently, no clear recommendations for travelers exist. The ISW-TBE has initiated programs geared towards increasing appreciation of TBE in countries where the disease is largely unknown and towards incorporating travel-related considerations when drawing up vaccination recommendations.

Tick-borne encephalitis: from epidemiology to vaccination recommendations in 2007 New issues – best practices

The 9th annual meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW TBE) was entitled "Tick-borne encephalitis: from epidemiology to vaccination recommendations in 2007, new issues--best practices". Over the past three decades, TBE has become a growing public health challenge in Europe and other parts of the world. Between 1974 and 2003, the number of reported clinical TBE cases increased by an appalling 400 %, the only exception having been Austria. This increase is the result of a complex interplay of social, economic, political, ecological and climatic factors, the relative weight of which is not easily quantifiable. Important projects and issues for the future work of the ISW TBE have been identified, such as implementing a standardized TBE case definition, raising awareness of TBE among travellers, availability of rapid immunization schemes, increasing vaccination rates in endemic countries, and publishing information on TBE cases.

Tick-borne Encephalitis – a European Health Challenge Conference report of the 8th meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-borne Encephalitis (ISW TBE)

The annual 2006 meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-borne Encephalitis (ISW TBE) raised the topic "Tick-borne Encephalitis--a European Health Challenge". TBE incidence has more or less increased in all European countries with a TBE risk in the last years (excepting Austria). Additionally, TBE has become an international public health problem because of increasing mobility of people travelling to risk areas. TBE vaccination should be recommended when people travel to endemic regions and come into contact with nature, regardless of the duration of the stay. As no clear recommendations for travellers exist, it will be one of the major future challenges of the ISW TBE to increase problem awareness outside endemic regions and create general recommendations, which are valid for at least all European countries.

Report of the Meningitis Program of the International Scientific Working Group on TBE: Serological screening of patients with viral CNS-infection of unknown etiology in search of undiagnosed TBE cases

The endemicity of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe is changing. Potential undetected or emerging TBEV foci and the risk of underdiagnosis due to a low awareness among the medical community form the background of this retrospective multicenter follow-up study. We investigated the possibility of undiagnosed TBE cases among patients with presumed viral central nervous system (CNS)-infection of unknown etiology. Eight centers in four European countries provided sera and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 233 individuals. The samples were screened with a commercial TBEV ELISA test system (IgM and IgG). Positive or borderline samples were re-evaluated at the Institute of Virology in Vienna by an in-house ELISA test and a neutralization test (NT). Two previously undiagnosed Swedish TBE patients were verified. Three additional individuals from Swedish centers were IgG ELISA and NT positive. No NT positive individuals were found from France, Belgium or The Netherlands. Nineteen individuals were found IgG TBE ELISA positive, but negative in NT, indicating unspecific reactivity. At least four of those patients were vaccinated against yellow fever. The probable reason for the reactivity seen in these individuals is the well-known cross-reactivity existing among flaviviruses.