Modern Methods Research Articles

Optimizing Chitin Extraction and Chitosan Production from House Cricket Flour

Chitin and its derivative, chitosan, have diverse applications in fields such as agriculture, medicine, and biosensors, amongst others. Extraction is primarily conducted from marine sources, such as crustaceans, which have been the focus of process optimization studies. However, there are other sources that are more readily available, such as insects, where insufficient research has been conducted. The house cricket (Acheta domesticus) is a promising source for chitin extraction because of its high chitin content, availability, and short lifespan. Modern chemical chitin extraction methods have not been standardized due to the use of different reagents, molar concentrations, temperatures, and reaction times across publications. Therefore, in this study, the composition of Acheta domesticus cricket flour was determined: 2.62% humidity, 4.3% ash content, 56.29% protein, 13.35% fat, 23.44% carbohydrates, and 15.71% crude fiber content. After a drying, defatting, demineralization, deproteinization, and bleaching process, chitin extraction was performed, and chitosan was obtained via a deacetylation reaction. The demineralization process was standardized at 30 °C for 3 h using HCl 2 M, resulting in 95.85 ± 0.012%. The deproteinization process was optimized at 80 °C for 45 min using NaOH 2.56 M, yielding 43.23 ± 1.25%. Finally, the identity and physicochemical characteristics of the compounds were confirmed and determined through characterization with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ МЕТОДЫ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ НА ЖЕЛЕЗНОДОРОЖНОМ ТРАНСПОРТЕ В ПРОЦЕССЕ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИИ СИСТЕМЫ

This article discusses modern methods of increasing the efficiency of the railway company “Uzbekistan railways” JSC. A comparative analysis of the traditional form of management and modern management in railway transport was carried out. Methods for increasing the performance of the railway company “Uzbekistan railways” JSC have been identified. In the context of studying methods for increasing the performance of “Uzbekistan railways” JSC, the key elements of successful management are considered. Goal setting is a fundamental aspect of effective management in modern railway companies. This system, which involves the establishment and pursuit of certain goals, becomes the basis for directing efforts, increasing employee motivation and achieving success in the transport services market. The leadership system as a method of management is a strategic approach to personnel management, based on the development of leadership qualities and stimulation of the creative potential of employees of “Uzbekistan railways” JSC. A system of business processes that integrates with leadership to achieve the strategic goals of the railway company is considered. The study determined that an effective system of working with suppliers is becoming a strategic factor for success in the modern transport services market. Leaders involved in supply management ensure not only reliable supply, but also create conditions for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with key partners. Modern companies are increasingly paying attention to sustainability and ethics in the supply chain. Supplier system leaders actively engage suppliers who share their values of social responsibility and sustainability.

Modern Approach to Fabry Disease Diagnosis and Management in Children

Fabry disease (FD), or Andersen-Fabry disease, is a rare hereditary lysosomal disease (sphingolipids storage disease) characterized by progressive multisystem involvement. The major symptoms among children are neuropathic pain / acroparesthesia, angiokeratomas, hypo- or anhidrosis, vortex keratopathy. Biochemical tests, molecular genetic testing, and family screening play crucial role in the diagnosis of the disease. Specific pathogenetic treatment of FD includes enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant medications of the lysosomal enzyme -galactosidase A. ERT initiation before the development of severe organs and systems’ damage contributes to its higher efficacy. This article covers various aspects of pathogenesis, clinical picture features in childhood, modern methods of diagnosis and management of FD according to literature data.

Early Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease by Convolution Neural Network-based Histogram Features Extracting and Canny Edge

Alzheimer's disease (AD) increasingly affects the elderly and is a major killer of those 65 and over. Different deep-learning methods are used for automatic diagnosis, yet they have some limitations. Deep Learning is one of the modern methods that were used to detect and classify a medical image because of the ability of deep Learning to extract the features of images automatically. However, there are still limitations to using deep learning to accurately classify medical images because extracting the fine edges of medical images is sometimes considered difficult, and some distortion in the images. Therefore, this research aims to develop A Computer-Aided Brain Diagnosis (CABD) system that can tell if a brain scan exhibits indications of Alzheimer's disease. The system employs MRI and feature extraction methods to categorize images. This paper adopts the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset includes functional MRI and Positron-Version Tomography scans for Alzheimer's patient identification, which were produced for people with Alzheimer's as well as typical individuals. The proposed technique uses MRI brain scans to discover and categorize traits utilizing the Histogram Features Extraction (HFE) technique to be combined with the Canny edge to representing the input image of the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) classification. This strategy keeps track of their instances of gradient orientation in an image. The experimental result provided an accuracy of 97.7% for classifying ADNI images.

Detection and enzymatic characterization of human saliva amylase.

As a rule, an experiment carried out at school or in undergraduate study courses is rather simple and not very informative. However, when the experiments are to be performed using modern methods, they are often abstract and difficult to understand. Here, we describe a quick and simple experiment, namely the enzymatic characterization of ptyalin (human salivary amylase) using a starch degradation assay. With the experimental setup presented here, enzyme parameters, such as pH optimum, temperature optimum, chloride dependence, and sensitivity to certain chemicals can be easily determined. This experiment can serve as a good model for enzyme characterization in general, as modern methods usually follow the same principle: determination of the activity of the enzyme under different conditions. As different alleles occur in humans, a random selection of test subjects will be quite different with regard to ptyalin activities. Therefore, when the students measure their own ptyalin activity, significant differences will emerge, and this will give them an idea of the genetic diversity in human populations. The evaluation has shown that the pupils have gained a solid understanding of the topic through this experiment.

Efficiency of modern methods of examination of benign breast diseases in women

Aim. To determine the diagnostic effectiveness of modern methods of examination in patients with benign breast neoplasms.Material and methods. The results of the examination of 290 patients with benign breast neoplasms hospitalized in the gynecological department of the “Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology of the Republic of Tajikistan” from 2015 to 2022, were analyzed.Results and Discussion. The article evaluates modern methods of examination of the pathology of the mammary glands in women. Ultrasound examination, elastography, as well as elastography in combination with color Doppler mapping – are non-invasive, effective and safe methods, applicable across all age groups. Mammography, widely recommended by many authors for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant neoplasms, has, however, age restrictions and should be used in combination with ultrasound. The study of the tumor marker CA-15-3 has an important laboratory and diagnostic value for clarifying pathology.Conclusion. Thus, the study shows the need to use a differentiated diagnostic algorithm and an integrated approach in the management of patients with benign diseases of the mammary glands against the background of inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs and benign ovarian neoplasms.

Visible Light‐Induced Enantioselective Radical Reactions Catalyzed by Redox‐Active Chiral Lewis Acids

AbstractThis Concept outlines cutting‐edge progress in catalytic and enantioselective radical reactions facilitated by redox‐active chiral Lewis acids upon visible light excitation. These catalytic systems exploit the high reactivity of radical species to enable efficient stereocontrolled radical recombination. We delve into the design, underlying mechanisms, and practical applications of these catalysts, aiming for precise stereocontrolled bond formation. The synergistic blend of chirality and reactivity has brought a new level of precision to enantioselective radical additions, reshaping the approach to asymmetric synthesis. This Concept focuses on the recent progress and effective application of redox‐active chiral Lewis acids, including Rh, Ir, Ga and Ni, in catalyzing enantioselective radical reactions, which offers a comprehensive perspective on modern methods and projecting future directions in enantioselective radical chemistry.

Saving the Last West African Giraffe Population: A Review of Its Conservation Status and Management.

The West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) was historically spread across much of the Sudano-Sahelian zone but is now restricted to Niger. Several factors resulted in their dramatic decline during the late 20th century. In 1996, only 49 individuals remained, concentrated in the 'Giraffe Zone'. Conservation activities implemented by the Government of Niger, supported by local communities and NGOs, facilitated their population numbers to increase. This review summarizes past and present conservation activities and evaluates their impact to advise and prioritize future conservation actions for the West African giraffe. The long-term conservation of the West African giraffe is highly dependent on the local communities who live alongside them, as well as supplementary support from local and international partners. Recent conservation initiatives range from community-based monitoring to the fitting of GPS satellite tags to better understand their habitat use, spatial movements to expansion areas, and environmental education to the establishment of the first satellite population of West African giraffe in Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve, the latter serving as a flagship for the future restoration of large mammal populations in West Africa. The integration of modern technologies and methods will hopefully provide better-quality data, improved spatial analyses, and greater understanding of giraffe ecology to inform the long-term management of West African giraffe.

Modern and traditional cooking methods affect the antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds content of Trachystemon Orientalis (L.) G. Don.

Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don is a medicinal plant with beneficial effects on human health. Its antioxidant and phenolic compound content is higher than most natural plants. This is the first study on the cooking of this consumed plant. This study investigated how different cooking methods and times affect the antioxidant activity and phenolic compound content of Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don. The Folin-Ciocalteu method (FCR), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), copper-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC). Phenolic compounds were also determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Microwave cooking, stir-frying and sous vide increased TPC and antioxidant activity (p<0.05). Steaming decreased TPC and antioxidant activity (p<0.05). It was determined that the best cooking method and time was stir-frying for 15 minutes (TPC, CUPRAC and FRAP values 45.18±3.91 mg GAE/g DW, 15559.39±106.90 mmol Troloks/g DW and 555.10±24.05 μmol Fe (II)/g DW, respectively). Raw Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don was detected with caffeic acid (31.53±0.25 mg/100 g DW). New phenolic compounds (protocatechuic acid and p-coumaric acid) were formed by boiling, stir-frying, microwaving, and sous vide methods. In conclusion, regarding antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don; the best cooking methods are microwave, stir-frying, and sous vide (p<0.05). The most wrong cooking method is steaming (p<0.05).

Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities.

Back pain is common in ridden horses. Back diseases in horses include Impinging Dorsal Spinous Processes, Ventral Spondylosis, Osteoarthritis of Articular Process, Intervertebral Discs Disease, Vertebral Fractures, Conformational Abnormalities, Desmopathy of the Supraspinous Ligament, Desmopathy of the Intraspinous Ligament, and Longissimus Muscle Strain. Back pain may also develop as a result of lameness (particularly hindlimb lameness). A poorly fitting saddle and an unbalanced rider are also considered important factors influencing the development of back pain in horses. The conventional diagnosis of equine back pain includes a clinical examination and diagnostic imaging examination using ultrasound, radiography, and thermography. Advanced diagnostic modalities of equine back pain involve the objectification of standard procedures through the use of algometers, a lameness locator, biometric mats, and the geometric morphometrics method. In addition to modern diagnostic methods, such as computed tomography and scintigraphy, advances in the diagnosis of equine back pain include the use of electromyography and functional electrical stimulation. The aim of this review article is to familiarize clinicians with the usefulness and capabilities of conventional diagnostic protocols and advanced diagnostic modalities. Although orthopedic examination and traditional diagnostic methods will remain the foundation of the diagnosis of back diseases, modern methods meet the growing expectations towards high-performance horses and allow for deeper diagnostics and objective monitoring of rehabilitation and training progress.

Measurements of AmBe and PuC spectra using EJ309 and stilbene scintillators

Two organic scintillators (EJ309 and stilbene) with their different detection chains and elaborate software were used to measure neutron spectra of AmBe and PuC sources. Method of shadow cone ensures minimization of scattered neutron influence. To separate neutrons and γ, a modern method of pulse shape discrimination was employed using fast digitizers. Calibration was performed by γ sources and three different methods for the identification of the Compton edge. Spectrometric systems also used different light output functions and unfolding methods. The same spectra were calculated using the MCNP6 code and the JENDL-5 library. The measured and calculated results were mutually compared, and also with the published results available in the literature. Generally, the results agree on the main peaks of neutron spectra but differ in their abundance. The lower limit for the ability to distinguish between neutrons and γ in spectrometry with organic scintillators was found at about 1.5 MeV.

Patriotic Agenda in the Information Flows of Russian Universities: Key Areas of Efficiency Improvement

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the patriotic agenda in the information flows of the largest Russian universities. The relevance of the study is determined by the set of global socio-political challenges facing the state at the current stage of development. Based on modern methods and tools of social media analytics, the authors determine the basic characteristics of thematic information flows in social media and make a comprehensive assessment of their effectiveness in interacting with target groups of students. Based on the results of the study the authors differentiate contexts and discourses regarding the level of engagement and personal involvement of young people in patriotic activities, as well as achievement practical results in such work. The main directions for improving the information work of higher educational institutions as subjects of formation and promotion of patriotic information flows in the new media should be focused on systemic activities that simultaneously consider the current external contexts and the needs of student youth.

Contraindicated use of modern contraceptives among mothers from a Pelotas Birth Cohort.

To describe the prevalence of contraindicated use of combined hormonal contraceptives, progesterone-only contraceptives, and intrauterine devices in mothers participating in the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort according to the WHO medical eligibility criteria. The biological mothers of children belonging to the 2015 Pelotas birth cohort who attended the 48-month follow-up were studied. The 48-month follow-up data were collected from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Contraindicated use of modern contraceptives was considered to occur when these women presented at least one of the contraindications for the use of modern contraceptives and were using these methods. The prevalence of contraindicated use was calculated according to each independent variable and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The analyzed sample consisted of 3,053 women who used any modern contraceptive method. The prevalence of contraindicated use of modern contraceptives totaled 25.9% (95%CI: 24.4-27.5). Combined hormonal contraceptives showed the highest prevalence of contraindicated use (52.1%; 95%CI: 49.3-54.8). The prevalence of contraindicated use of modern contraceptives methods was greater in women with family income between one and three minimum wages, a 25-30 kg/m2 body mass index, indication by a gynecologist for the used method, and purchasing the contraceptive method at a pharmacy. The higher the women's education, the lower the prevalence of inappropriate use of modern contraceptives. In total, one in four women used modern contraceptives despite showing at least one contraindication. Policies regarding women's reproductive health should be strengthened.

Radiation injuries of organs and tissues: mechanisms of occurrence, methods of prevention and treatment: A review

In modern medicine, radiation therapy (RT) is one of the main therapies for cancer. According to the World Health Organization, about 70% of patients diagnosed with cancer require RT at some stage of treatment. Development and improvement of methods for early diagnosis of cancers, multimodal therapy for cancer patients, including surgical intervention, new drug treatment regimens, modern methods of conformal 3D-RT and proton therapy significantly improved the treatment outcomes of patients and increased their life expectancy. Modern RT is a high-tech chain of sequential use of complex technical devices and mathematical calculations to destroy the tumor without adversely affecting the surrounding normal tissues. Some patients develop radiation injuries to normal organs and tissues that reduce their quality of life. Prevention and treatment of such injuries are urgent problems of modern oncology. The article addresses the pathogenesis and mechanism of the development of systemic and local radiation responses, as well as methods of treatment and prevention of some of them. Three electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE, and Russian radiotherapists' publications, were used for systematic review in the information retrieval process.

Demand-side and supply-side factors for accelerating varietal turnover in smallholder soybean farms

The rapid growth of soybean cultivation in the world augurs well for achieving SDG2 of promoting sustainable agriculture, ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition. India started promoting soybean cultivation in the 1970s to combat dietary protein deficiencies and augment smallholders' incomes. However, soybean yield remains low and plateaued at one ton per hectare for the past three decades. This paper leverages a large primary dataset and explores the speed of soybean varietal change by applying survival functions and analyzing determinants of varietal turnover time employing a dynamic framework and harnessing duration analysis. The results show that adopting leading soybean varieties has reached saturation and that policy intervention can have an immediate impact. The weighted average age of soybean varieties in farmers' fields is relatively high at 15.6 years, implying a slower varietal change rate. The lack of improved varieties with desirable traits, poor information flow, and growers’ preference for traits beyond yield-hamper faster varietal substitution. Further, analysis indicates regional variations in driving the speed of varietal replacement. The findings have significant implications for spurring soybean yields through investments in varietal development, leveraging modern molecular methods for long juvenility and photo-insensitivity, disseminating information, and institutional changes enabling the private sector participation in crop breeding.

Conceptual approaches of the organization of physical training of officers of the Federal Defence Forces of Germany

The article focuses on conceptual approaches of the organization of physical training of officers of the Federal Defence Forces of Germany. Modern strategies and methods used to ensure a high level of physical readiness of the officer corps are considered. The importance of the integration of physical activity into the process of professional training is highlighted, and the principles affecting the successful implementation of these concepts are also analyzed. The article may be useful for military specialists, trainers, and researchers that are interested in improving the effectiveness of officer physical training in Federal Defence Forces of Germany and the conditions for integrating this phenomenon into the process of training specialists in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.&#x0D; As part of the research, special attention is paid to innovative approaches that contribute to the optimization of training, ensuring not only physical endurance, but also the development of leadership qualities and strategic thinking of officers. Military- pedagogical methods of using technologies and psychological aspects that take into account the peculiarities of military service are considered. The challenges and opportunities associated with the introduction of modern approaches to physical training in military environment are highlighted. The results of the study can be used as a basis for further improvements of the system of physical training of officers of the Federal Defence Forces of Germany and for comparison with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The construction of smart city community environment under the application of animation immersion technology integrated into southern Fujian Folk Culture

ABSTRACT With the rapid development of global information technology, data resources play an increasingly prominent role in society. Countries have issued ‘smart city’ strategic plans one after another, taking the sustainable construction of smart cities as an important means to enhance national competitiveness and seize the commanding heights of the new round of the information technology revolution. This paper selects southern Fujian for experiments to develop modern communication methods in some areas of China that have not undergone smart city upgrades. First, the animation immersion method under smart city technology is taken as the starting point. The folk culture of southern Fujian is integrated to analyze the importance of developing the smart city community under big data. Second, a combined system dynamics model and structural equation modeling are established. It is applied to intelligent, sustainable urban construction to explore the possibility of new development paths. The cities that apply the model proposed here for intelligent, sustainable construction have increased their output value in all aspects within five years. The maximum annual growth rate has reached 17.11%. Planners and designers base the smart city community environment on animation immersion technology. From the perspective of animation immersion planning, integrating the animation immersion technology of southern Fujian folk culture into the sustainable construction and development of the smart city community environment will help enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of the region.

The Effectiveness of Teacher’s Classroom Assessment Practices on Predicting Pupils Learning of English Concept in Public Primary Schools

This paper aimed at assessing the effectiveness of teachers’ classroom assessment practices on predicting pupils’ learning English concept. The main objectives were to assess teacher’s classroom assessment practices in teaching English concept and predicting the pupils’ English performance using the classroom assessment. The study used mixed design approach and data were collected through questionnaires and classroom observations. The study found that the common assessment methods used by English teachers are traditional methods of assessment which based on paper and pencil while modern assessment methods such as portfolio, peer and self-assessment, oral presentation were less used in public primary schools. However, the study found that purpose of assessment was highly perceived by English teachers to be usefulness in classroom assessment practices, while source of test items perceived to be less usefulness. It was also revealed that there was strong positive relationship between excise, test and examination in predicting pupils’ English performance.

Nanocomposite coatings for wear protection at high temperatures

The investigation results of friction and wear of the developed detonation composite coatings FeAl2-Ti-Si-B under high-temperature friction conditions are presented. The choice of FeAl2-Ti-Si-B composition and its optimal content for spraying wear-resistant coatings loaded with friction under high-temperature conditions are justified. It is noted that the alloying elements at definite concentrations and technological parameters of spraying have a positive influence on the structure, properties, and quality assurance of multicomponent coatings. It is shown that the introduction of silicon and boron contributes the formation of hard-alloy high-temperature compounds with increased wear resistance. The maximum microhardness corresponds to the Cr-Si coatings with ~ 28 % titan content. In addition, the mechanical properties of the obtained material are improved by additional alloying of ~ 22 % silicon and bor. In turn, the coatings plating at a working gas flow rate in a ratio for acetylene ~ (20/25) l/min and oxygen ~ (22/27) l/min provides the chemical composition and spraying process parameters permanence as well as constant properties of coatings. The obtained results show that for the coatings of FeAl2-Ti-Si-B system at loading 5.0 MPa, sliding speed 1.5 m/s, and temperature up to 650 °C the stable performance of structural adaptability, which ensures the friction and wear parameters minimization, is demonstrated. The metallographic analysis and strip chart recording of specimens indicate that the friction surfaces are characterized by the absence of visible defects; the separate cold-welded regions are located in thin-film surface layers. The composition, structure, and tribological durability of coatings produced from the elements of the country's resource base were studied; their high adhesion, physical and mechanical characteristics and wear resistance under high-temperature conditions were defined. The thin-film surface structure patterns and properties were investigated with the help of modern physical and chemical methods of analysis. It was determined that the combination of mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of the investigated coatings provides vide opportunities for their usage as effective materials under high-temperature wear conditions. According to the test results, the application of the investigated composite coatings for friction unit efficiency improvement provides their operational reliability in accordance with requirements and opportunities that appear with the development of a new competitive material for wear-resistant coatings obtained with the help of the detonation method. Keywords: detonation coating: wear resistance, surface layer, structural adaptability, temperature.

Modern imaging techniques in the diagnosis of axial spondylitis: similarities and differences between axial psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

Involvement of axial skeletal in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is often associated with inflammatory changes in peripheral joints and is asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, and changes in the spine and sacroiliac joints are often found only on X-ray. The article, which is based on numerous studies, compares the characteristics of axial skeletal lesions in patients with the axial form of psoriatic arthritis (axPsA) and in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and discusses the possibilities of their diagnosis using radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including modern methods such as diffusion-weighted imaging, contrast-enhanced dynamic scanning and whole-body MRI.The main difficulty in diagnosing axPsA is that there is no universally accepted terminology or standardized diagnostic criteria, making it difficult to clearly distinguish axPsA from other forms of axial spondyloarthritis. Determining the first symptoms of axPsA not only helps to make a timely diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment, but also to monitor the activity of the disease and the dynamics of structural changes, which allows appropriate adjustment of the therapy needed to improve the quality of life of patients.