Present Stage Research Articles

Ocular Syphilis – Clinical Features and Outcome in HIV Positive and HIV Negative Patients from a Tertiary Eye Center from India – A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT Purpose To study and compare the clinical characteristics and outcome of ocular syphilis between HIV positive and HIV negative patients. Methods Retrospective hospital-based case series from a tertiary eye care hospital in India. Patients with uveitis and positive syphilis serology were included. Demographics, clinical features, investigations, imaging and treatment modalities were noted. Results Hundred and five (105) eyes of 66 patients were analyzed. Males were predominantly affected (n = 57/66, 86.4%). Secondary syphilis was the most common stage of presentation (n = 48/66, 72.7%). Two groups were identified: HIV positive (HIVP) patients (n = 39/66, 59%) and HIV negative (HIVN) patients (n = 27/66, 41%). 12/39 (30.8%) patients were newly diagnosed with HIV at the time of ocular presentation. Panuveitis was the most common presenting feature in both groups (n = 66/105 eyes, 62.8%). Diffuse necrotizing retinitis was more common in HIV patients (HIVP - 15 Vs HIVN - 5 eyes). Ocular co-infections were more common in HIV patients, ocular tuberculosis, the commonest in both groups. Intravenous penicillin and titrated dose of systemic steroids were the mainstay of treatment. Improvement in mean logMAR was noted from 1.415 to 0.828 with p-value < 0.001. At final follow-up, 71.8% patients showed visual improvement. Complete resolution of ocular inflammation was noted in 95.5% patients. Conclusion Ocular syphilis poses a diagnostic challenge considering the varied presentations and clinical course both in immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups. Clinical presentations are not always classical. High index of suspicion with supportive laboratory investigations and with characteristic OCT features helps diagnosis. All uveitis patients, especially with those suspected with infectious etiology, need to be tested for syphilis serology to prevent vision loss in this resurgent disease.

Language Policy of the PRC at the Present Stage (2021–2024): Main Directions and Features of Implementation

The purpose of the article is to identify the main directions of the language policy of the PRC at the present stage (2021–2024) based on the analysis of regulatory documents and the system of activities carried out in the field of language and writing, as well as the characteristic features of its implementation. As a result of the study, it was revealed that the main directions of the language policy of the PRC at the present stage are: 1) further popularization and dissemination of Putonghua; 2) further formation of the norms of the commonly used Putonghua language and the system of normative hieroglyphic writing and their consolidation in various standards; 3) improving the processes of inheritance and development of the Chinese language and culture; 4) development of a modern high-quality state system of language services provided to the population; 5) protecting China's linguistic and cultural diversity; 6) strengthening the spread of Chinese Putonghua abroad, strengthening the international status and influence of the Chinese language. The characteristic features of the implementation of the language policy of the PRC at the present stage were also identified, including the functioning of a new regulatory framework that determines the directions of language policy after 2020; intensive development of existing and implementation of new projects; expansion of the processes of normatization and standardization to all aspects and areas of language and writing; using a specialized exam/test as a tool for measuring language proficiency; complete transition of preschool education in national regions to the Putonghua language and transformation of the existing bilingual education system; the success of informatization and digitalization of the Chinese language and its hieroglyphic writing.

Characteristics of low-carbon economy development in China at the present stage

Characteristics of low-carbon economy development in China at the present stage

The Impact of Digital Economy on China's Employment Structure and Its Countermeasures

In the context of the prominent contradiction between digital economy and structural employment, it is of great practical significance to explore the impact of digital economy on employment structure. Through the analysis of the current situation of employment in China, this paper further clarifies the prominent problems faced by employment at the present stage, and draws the conclusion that digital economy is conducive to improving the overall quality of employment and optimizing the employment structure. Therefore, colleges and universities should speed up the pace of educational system reform and further strengthen the market-oriented training mode. The government should formulate digital economy policies in line with the current employment structure, give play to the role of digital economy in driving and optimizing the labor employment industry, improve the construction of digital infrastructure in various regions, and develop a series of social security systems. Enterprises should carry out vocational skills training for employees to meet the needs of enterprise development and market orientation.

Conceptual design of a modular EC heating system for EU-DEMO

The European DEMO (EU-DEMO) reactor studies within EUROfusion aim to develop a fusion power plant concept. The large tokamak device needs an auxiliary heating power which, at the present stage, is provided by the Electron Cyclotron (EC) heating system with up to 130 MW foreseen to reach different regions of plasma for heating, suppression of instabilities and the possibility to support ramp-up and ramp-down phases. The present conceptual design of the system is based on 2 MW coaxial-cavity gyrotron sources, a transmission line (TL) using both circular corrugated waveguides and quasi-optical evacuated multi-beam TLs, and mirror antennas located in the Equatorial Port. In order to create a modular system, the sources are grouped in ‘clusters’, whose powers are combined in the quasi-optical TL, up to the tokamak building, where they are split and routed as single waveguides. In the launcher, they are combined together again on the launching mirrors, to save space for the apertures in the Breeding Blanket. The present EC heating system has a certain flexibility to adapt to changing design guidelines. The development status of the system is presented.

Cross-border paperless trade at the present stage: development of favorable for Russia legal conditions and procedures

Cross-border paperless trade at the present stage: development of favorable for Russia legal conditions and procedures

Ways to Implement a United Triad Regional Monitoring of Forest Ecosystems at the Present Stage Global Warming

Ways to Implement a United Triad Regional Monitoring of Forest Ecosystems at the Present Stage Global Warming

The role of platform margin collapses and slope landslides in the initiation and evolution of submarine canyons

The Zhongsha Platform is the largest modern isolated carbonate platform of around 8600 km2 in the South China Sea, providing a unique case study for sedimentary processes in pure carbonate settings. High-resolution multibeam bathymetric data, two-dimensional seismic profiles, and surface sediment cores are utilizes to reveal the initiation and evolution of submarine canyons on the northeastern slope of the Zhongsha Platform. Three submarine canyons are revealed within the survey area that incise the slope at water depths between 600 and 4100 m. C1 presents a linear pattern, whereas C2 and C3 exhibit dendritic morphologies. A large-scale scalloped collapse has deeply excavated the platform margin and slope. Within this catastrophic failure, C2 originated in a northeastward orientation and subsequently converted to an eastward direction with a length of 54.8 km. It is distinguished by the erosion of numerous tributaries in the upper course, the transition of flow direction in the middle course, and the presence of retrogressive landslides in the lower course. Slope landslides extend eastward from middle-lower slope towards the oceanic basin at water depths ranging from 2300 to 4200 m. A series of scarps and immature canyons have developed with escarpments showing pronounced relief at the landslide heads. The triggering mechanisms of platform margin collapses and slope landslides are attributed to sediment aggradation, slope oversteepening, gravity flows, relative sea-level changes, surface monsoon currents, and deep cyclonic circulation. The canyon evolution is explained through four stages: Inception stage, sediment instability on platform margin and slope-toe; Expansion stage, the presence of platform margin collapses and slope landslides; Development stage, the initiation of submarine canyons eroded by gravity flows with downslope and retrogressive erosion; Present stage, the upper slope canyon incised into the landslide area and ultimately integrated with the lower slope canyon, creating an elongated modern canyon. This work contributes to enhance our understanding of the detailed morphology, transport processes, and triggering mechanisms of submarine canyons in the pure carbonate systems.

КИБЕРПРЕСТУПНОСТЬ НА СОВРЕМЕННОМ ЭТАПЕ И РОЛЬ ВИКТИМОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ПРОФИЛАКТИКИ В ЕЕ ПРЕДУПРЕЖДЕНИИ

The article examines the state and trends of cybercrime at the present stage. It is emphasized that, given the growth and variability of cybercrime, victimological prevention is important in its prevention. Victimological prevention is defined as a set of social and legal measures to protect individuals who are more likely to become victims of unlawful attacks. In recent years, during the period of the growth of cybercrime, significant experience has been accumulated in conducting general victimological prevention aimed at informing the population of the country about new criminal threats in the infor-mation space, ways of committing cybercrimes. At the same time, significant importance should be attached not only to general, but also to individual victimological prevention, the potential of which is not fully realized

Directions for the development of information and methodological support for industrial complex enterprises based on the uniform digital platform of the RF «Gostech»

The article presents the directions for the development of information and methodological support (IMS) for the activities of industrial enterprises on the basis of the unified digital platform "RosTech", which are of particular importance in the organization of innovative activities at the present stage, carried out in conditions of geoplastic instability and the influence of economic sanctions against Russia from unfriendly states. The article reflects that the GosTech platform is intended for the implementation of processes of the full life cycle of industrial activities of industrial enterprises, according to the developed methodology, features of the organization of technological processes, the use of digital services and platform products that ensure the formation and operation of platform information systems, for the purpose of methodological support of production activities of enterprises. The article substantiates that the essence of IMO in the activities of industrial enterprises, based on the GosTech platform, is represented by the formation and use of innovative technologies, digital services, business models of production, taking into account artificial intelligence objects available at enterprises. Also, IMO, lies in the development of individual competencies of enterprise employees, the implementation of new opportunities for implementing innovative activities in the production processes of the enterprise, increasing operating efficiency and competitiveness. The article reflects that the GosTech platform creates conditions for designing the architecture of the production technologies used, developing the operation of the information systems used, by providing instrumental services for automated software development, monitoring its quality, monitoring operating parameters, and ensuring the information security of the information systems used. The work presents that the main goal of creating IMO on the GosTech platform is: reducing the production time of industrial products, increasing the efficiency of processes for the development of information systems used in the enterprise, moving to a new level of their compatibility, ergonomics, security and reliability. As a result of the use of IMO based on the GosTech digital platform, the innovative activity of enterprises and the degree of interaction with government agencies and institutional entities increases. The effectiveness of IMO management decisions in the innovative activities of industrial enterprises is determined by the effectiveness of managing the services and artificial intelligence objects used, which are the main tools for ensuring innovative activities. Thus, IMO management decisions in innovation activities contribute to the formation of new innovative products and technologies.

Geomorphological features and formation mechanism of the Taixinan canyon‐channel system in the north‐eastern South China Sea

During the formation and evolution of the South China Sea, a series of multiscale submarine geomorphologies have been produced in the continental margin. The obvious submarine canyons and channels are widely distributed in the continental shelf and slope of the South China Sea. In the Taixinan Basin, several submarine canyons and channels termed as the Taixinan canyon‐channel system (TCCS) are distributed between the active and passive continental margins. Based on acquired ship‐borne multi‐beam bathymetry data in this study and the global GEBCO 2023 bathymetric dataset, we identify and define nine submarine canyons and seven submarine channels in the Taixinan Basin. The TCCS consists of the Dongsha, Taiwan, Jiulong, West Penghu, Penghu, Kaoping, Shoushan, Kaohsiung and the Fangliao canyons and submarine channels. The detailed geomorphological features of different submarine canyons and channels within the TCCS are analysed and summarized using multi‐beam bathymetry data and seismic reflection profiles across canyons. Based on the slope variations of the continental margin and the effects of turbidity currents and bottom currents on canyon, we propose a three‐stage evolutionary model of the TCCS. In the initial formation stage of canyon, the initial erosional grooves were created by tectonic activity on the continental slope and it represents the foundation of submarine canyons. During the growth and development stage, the submarine canyons are further evolved and the canyons began to deepen and widen from the continental slope to the deep‐water areas. It shows the weak erosion and sediment infilling within the canyons in this stage. On the northern continental slope of the South China Sea, continuous transportation and erosion of sediments led to the initial formation of grooves and it becomes the embryonic stage of submarine channels. The present stage of the TCCS was formed when the initial grooves on the continental slope have further developed and rebuilt under the erosion by the turbidity current and the scouring by the bottom current. In the last stage, the intense erosion by the turbidity current is supported by sediment waves around the submarine canyons and the migration of canyons is suggested by the cyclic steps formed within some canyons.

The Iranian-Israeli conflict is one of the main threats to international security

The article analyzes a brief history of the relationship between two regional powers — Iran and Israel, the roots and causes of their confrontation, and the features of waging the so-called “hybrid war” between them at the present stage. The author pays attention to describing the situation of the relatively small Jewish community of Iran, the activation of all Tehran's proxy forces in the Middle East (Palestinian Hamas, Yemen's Ansar Allah, Lebanese Hezbollah, etc. anti-Israel groups in the region). Particular attention is paid to the fi rst ever direct military confrontation between Iran and Israel, which resulted in an exchange of missile and drone attacks in April 2024. Restraint in the actions of Israel's allies represented by Washington and other Western countries during the Iran-Israeli confl ict and the mutual disinterest of Tehran and Tel Aviv in inciting large-scale hostilities are noted. The author believes that the level of confrontation between Iran and Israel could be signifi cantly reduced if the IDF military operation in the Gaza Strip were stopped and peace negotiations on a Middle East settlement were resumed. The article provides a comparative analysis of the military potentials of Iran and Israel and examines possible scenarios for further developments in the region. The author believes that Tehran has become the greatest beneficiary of the latest aggravation of the situation in the Middle East. The process of recognition of the State of Israel, which had been outlined in previous years, was practically thwarted; Iran strengthened its authority as a fi ghter for a just solution to the Palestinian problem in the Arab and Muslim world, and noticeably weakened Israel’s position in the region and in the international arena. In conclusion, the author concludes that the Iran-Israeli confl ict represents one of the main threats to regional and international security. This is explained by a number of factors, the most important of which is the presence of nuclear missile weapons in Israel and a triad of means of delivering them to targets, as well as the fact that Iran is armed with ballistic and cruise missiles, long-range drones and can also create nuclear weapon. The Iran-Israeli confl ict presents an equation with many unknowns. The threshold of tension between these countries could be reduced by the cessation of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, the resumption of peace negotiations on resolving the Palestinian problem in various formats, and a return to the nuclear deal with Iran (JCPOA) by Washington.

К ВОПРОСУ О СООТНОШЕНИИ ПОНЯТИЙ «ЛИШЕНИЕ ГРАЖДАНСТВА», «ПРЕКРАЩЕНИЕ ГРАЖДАНСТВА» И «ОТМЕНА РЕШЕНИЙ О ПРИЕМЕ В ГРАЖДАНСТВО»

In this article, the author has undertaken a study of the content of the concepts of deprivation of citizenship, termination of citizenship and cancellation of decisions on admission to citizenship. The purpose of the article is to compare the scope and content of these terms, to draw conclusions about the possibility of using them in legislation and in practice. The main method used in this work is the general scientific method of comparison, which consisted in comparing the editions of legal norms in the legislation on citizenship in different periods at the present stage of develop-ment of the Russian state. In addition, such general scientific methods of scientific cognition as de-duction, analysis and synthesis, private scientific methods: historical and axiological, special: formal legal and the method of legal hermeneutics were used. The author concludes that it is impossible to identify the concepts under study, the need to give a clear definition of the cancellation of decisions on admission to citizenship, the preference in some cases for using this term instead of the concept of termination of citizenship, the need to take into account the positions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on the possibility of canceling decisions on admission to citizenship only when providing such false information that influenced the decision this decision, on the need to con-sider all issues of cancellation of decisions on admission to citizenship and termination of citizenship exclusively in court and the inadmissibility of the actual deprivation of citizenship of persons who have become Russian citizens by way of recognition.

ВИКТИМОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ПРОФИЛАКТИКА ПРЕСТУПЛЕНИЙ, СОВЕРШЕННЫХ С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ (ЦИФРОВЫХ) ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ

The article presents the general characteristics of victimological prevention of crimes committed using in-formation (digital) technologies. The authors emphasize that the study of criminal law and criminological features of digital crime is justified and necessary at the present stage of development of society and the state. The relevance of the research is due to the fact that the modern world is more focused on the transi-tion to the digital space. And since modern crime actively uses information (digital) technologies for its criminal purposes, a law enforcement officer engaged in combating digital crimes needs theoretically grounded research on this topic. The purpose of this work is to reveal the victimological features of the prevention of certain types of digital crimes, as well as the study of criminologically significant characteristics of modern digital crime and the development on this basis of key measures aimed at preventing crimes committed in the infor-mation space. In this study, the authors focus on the basics of victimological prevention of digital crime. The article discusses what basic measures should be taken by citizens to protect themselves from becoming a victim of a digital (cyber) crime. The prevalence of the use of modern digital technologies is beyond doubt, and a person using ITT can easily become a victim of cybercrime or simply suffer due to the lack of basic rules of digital security. In this regard, the basics of victimological prevention are an important component of the prevention of digital crime. This study is intended for researchers interested in the issues of criminal law counteraction to crimes committed using information (digital) technologies.

FEATURES OF ACCOUNTING (FINANCIAL) REPORTING AT THE PRESENT STAGE: ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

FEATURES OF ACCOUNTING (FINANCIAL) REPORTING AT THE PRESENT STAGE: ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Analisis Kesantunan Berbahasa dalam Acara Talkshow “Talkpod”

This research aims to describe; (1) forms of compliance with the principles of language politeness on the "Talkpod" talkshow, (2) forms of violation of the principles of language politeness on the "Talkpod" talkshow. This research takes data in the form of speech from hosts and guest stars which contain forms of compliance and violations of language politeness in the "Talkpod" program. This research data collection technique uses listening, note-taking and documentation techniques. The data analysis technique for this research uses techniques expressed by Sugiyono (2018) in the form of data reduction, data presentation and verification stages. The results of this research found forms of compliance and violations of language politeness in the "Talkpod" talkshow. There were 21 data on language politeness compliance in the talkshow, consisting of 5 data on compliance with the maxim of wisdom, 1 data on compliance with the maxim of generosity, 6 data on compliance with the maxim of praise, 3 data on compliance with the maxim of humility, 3 data on compliance with the maxim of agreement, and 3 data on compliance with the maxim of sympathy. There were 17 data on violations of language politeness, consisting of 1 data on violations of the maxim of wisdom, 1 data on violations of the maxim of generosity, 5 data on violations of the maxim of praise, 3 data on violations of the maxim of humility, 4 data on violations of the maxim of agreement, and 3 data on violations of the maxim of sympathy.

Shanghai cooperation organization economic and transport cooperation at the present stage

The article analyzes the development of foreign trade in the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for the period 2000–2022 in the commodity segment. The predominant and dominant role of China both in the international market and in trade with the SCO states is shown. It is concluded that, along with the growth of mutual trade in the SCO space, the imbalance of trade flows in the future may contribute to the development of negative phenomena, especially in the case of a transition in this trade to settlements in national currencies. The article shows that the SCO countries, especially China and Russia, have intensified and strengthened their presence in the innovation sphere and the global digital segment. The interaction of the SCO countries in innovative and digital directions, according to the author, makes it possible in the future to increase the SCO’s digital leadership in the global economic space and implement digital solutions in other SCO countries, which are less actively developing and using digital tools today. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been developing various areas of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between partners for more than 20 years. One of these areas is the transport sector. The importance of this area is growing both in national economies, for example, in China, and in cooperation. The article describes new modern directions of cooperation between the SCO countries in the transport sector. This strengthens the integration processes in the interstate association in the field of economics, transport and improvisation.

Current trends in the socio-economic development of the GCC: statistical analysis

The relevance of the research topic is explained by the fact that at the moment, the participation of the GCC in international economic relations, the world economy, international trade, regional integration and global globalization plays a significant role. Since the integration process is complex, multilevel and unambiguously slow, it is possible to give an objective assessment of the situation of integration on the world stage exclusively in dynamics, therefore, in order to maintain the fundamental nature of the study of this issue, periodic studies remain always relevant. The GCC unites a group of Arab countries with highly specialized developing economies, some of which are in leading positions in the production and marketing of oil and petroleum products around the world. In addition, the official statements of the heads of state on the development and diversification of integrated economies indicate that the study and identification of the features of the Middle East integration grouping will contribute to strengthening ties with the GCC of both third countries and its member countries. The aim is to identify trends and features of the GCC economic integration at the present stage through theoretical, statistical data, macroeconomic indicators, SWOT and PEST analysis. Methodological basis of the study: reference literature, international statistical data from official sources (UNCTAD, WTO, TradeMap, World Bank and others), comparison of the indicators found and obtained. The analysis confirms the relevance and importance of further study of socio-economic processes in the GCC countries, which contributes to a deeper understanding of them as a basis for further research.

Selecting a priority criterion when forming optimal management of a production enterprise using digitalization tools

Relevance. At the present stage, economic and mathematical methods cannot be fully implemented without the use of digitalization tools. The center of many modern theoretical studies, both by foreign and Russian authors, is a simulation model that allows the most complete reflection of both the theoretical message under consideration and its nuances, to which a software package or modeling tools can be fully adapted. The activities of various production and technology companies may be influenced by external factors, which must be resolved not only strategically, but also operationally. Methodological problems lie in the choice of a priority criterion for the formation of optimal management of a manufacturing enterprise using digitalization tools.The purpose is to select a priority criterion for the formation of optimal management of a manufacturing enterprise using digitalization tools.Objectives. objective prerequisites for the construction of simulation models based on an optimization approach are given; the initial formulation of the convex programming problem is justified, an analysis of the priority of weight coefficients is given; the accuracy of calculation and the type of utility function is justified when the analysis of the prevailing normalized prices is assumed. In such initial conditions, the solution of the convex programming problem can be reduced to finding the optimum in the production planning problem.Methodology. The study was carried out using methods of logical and comparative analysis of existing simulation models of operational management of the company, as well as methods of mathematical modeling.Results. The paper proposes an algorithm for the phased implementation of the optimization task, taking into account three relevant responses of the system to the use of resource-saving technologies, determined by the use of a specific type of technological production.Conclusions. The priority of choosing a criterion in the formation of optimal management of a manufacturing enterprise using digitalization tools creates favorable conditions for the system's response to technology changes, depending on three possible states of production technology: ultra-efficient technology, extremely backward technology, medium or normal technology.

IMPLEMENTASI MODEL PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS PROYEK DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEMANDIRIAN BELAJAR SISWA

Innovation in learning methods is essential to ensure that education runs well. Using suitable media, techniques, tools, and materials can make the learning process more attractive, practical, and fun for students. This study aims to determine how implementing the project-based learning model can increase students' learning independence in Islamic Religious Education subjects and identify the obstacles educators face in the process. The descriptive qualitative research method was chosen to provide a comprehensive picture. The subjects in this study are students and teachers of PAI grade VIII SMP Negeri 4 Bandar Lampung. Data was collected using interview, observation, and document study techniques. The data is then analyzed descriptively through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions drawn. The study results show that applying the project-based learning model to the material on the introduction and understanding of believing in the prophet and messenger shows excellent potential in increasing students' learning independence. The project carried out in this learning is in the form of making works or other activities related to believing in the prophet and the messenger. With this approach, students not only develop skills in finding and processing information from various sources but can also apply religious values in daily life in a more meaningful way. The obstacles encountered in implementing the learning model are intensive time management and limited resources.