Scientific Criteria Research Articles

Translational Algorithms for Technological Dietary Quality Assessment Integrating Nutrimetabolic Data with Machine Learning Methods.

We analyzed data from 138 subjects from the European Dietary Deal project through comprehensive examinations, lifestyle questionnaires, and fasting blood samples. Clustering was based on 72 h dietary recall, considering sex, age, and BMI. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) assigned nomenclature to clusters based on food consumption patterns and nutritional indices from food frequency questionnaires. Elastic net regression identified biomarkers linked to these patterns, helping construct algorithms. Clustering and EFA identified two dietary patterns linked to biochemical markers, distinguishing pro-Mediterranean (pro-MP) and pro-Western (pro-WP) patterns. Analysis revealed differences between pro-MP and pro-WP clusters, such as vegetables, pulses, cereals, drinks, meats, dairy, fish, and sweets. Markers related to lipid metabolism, liver function, blood coagulation, and metabolic factors were pivotal in discriminating clusters. Three computational algorithms were created to predict the probabilities of being classified into the pro-WP pattern. The first is the main algorithm, followed by a supervised algorithm, which is a simplified version of the main model that focuses on clinically feasible biochemical parameters and practical scientific criteria, demonstrating good predictive capabilities (ROC curve = 0.91, precision-recall curve = 0.80). Lastly, a reduced biochemical-based algorithm is presented, derived from the supervised algorithm. This study highlights the potential of biochemical markers in predicting nutritional patterns and the development of algorithms for classifying dietary clusters, advancing dietary intake assessment technologies.

Could a robot feel pain?

AbstractQuestions about robots feeling pain are important because the experience of pain implies sentience and the ability to suffer. Pain is not the same as nociception, a reflex response to an aversive stimulus. The experience of pain in others has to be inferred. Danaher’s (Sci Eng Ethics 26(4):2023–2049, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-019-00119-x) ‘ethical behaviourist’ account claims that if a robot behaves in the same way as an animal that is recognised to have moral status, then its moral status should also be assumed. Similarly, under a precautionary approach (Sebo in Harvard Rev Philos 25:51–70, 2018. https://doi.org/10.5840/harvardreview20185913), entities from foetuses to plants and robots are given the benefit of the doubt and assumed to be sentient. However, there is a growing consensus about the scientific criteria used to indicate pain and the ability to suffer in animals (Birch in Anim Sentience, 2017. https://doi.org/10.51291/2377-7478.1200; Sneddon et al. in Anim Behav 97:201–212, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.09.007). These include the presence of a central nervous system, changed behaviour in response to pain, and the effects of analgesic pain relief. Few of these criteria are met by robots, and there are risks to assuming that they are sentient and capable of suffering pain. Since robots lack nervous systems and living bodies there is little reason to believe that future robots capable of feeling pain could (or should) be developed.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals – pesticide regulatory issues from the EU perspective

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including substances used in plant protection products (PPPs), are a source of ongoing concern for the EU society. Under the EC Regulation 1107/2009, the endocrine-disrupting (ED) properties of active substances, safeners, and synergists used in PPPs shall be investigated. The scientific criteria established by the Regulation (EU) 2018/605 and the joint guidance of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)/European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provide the basis for this assessment. Data requirements for the approval of safeners and synergists have been recently published in Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1487, allowing a consistent assessment of these substances. The approach to assessing co-formulant hazards is currently a subject of EU-wide discussion. It outlines the necessity to take into account information or evaluation data from other than pesticides' EU regulatory frameworks, such as REACH or SCCS applications for cosmetic ingredients. This paper outlines: a) current EU approach applied for identification of endocrine disrupting properties of pesticides; b) issues related to European regulations that may have an indirect impact on the safe use of plant protection products and c) an analysis of the European Commission's activities aimed to limit exposure to EDCs associated with use of PPPs in the society.

Технологии цифровой экономики в обучении переводу

Introduction. Due to the active introduction of digital technologies into human activity, there is a change in the way of work organisation, changes in the content of processes, including the profession of translator. Inclusion of the study of the peculiarities of the use of digital economy technologies in the educational process allows preparing future specialists for their professional activities. The aim of the work is to identify the main features of digital economy technologies, to determine the possibilities and directions of their use in the activity of a translator, as well as to identify the content of digital competences and ways of forming them in linguistics students in the educational process. Materials and methods. The methodology is determined by analytical approaches to identifying the features of digital economy technologies, the comparative method allowed us to form approaches to the content of digital competence in translation activity. The method of point-rating assessment allowed us to identify the level of formed designated knowledge, skills, abilities and competences. The survey method allowed to get feedback from the 4th year students of the direction “Linguistics” participating in the sample. As a theoretical basis we used scientific works devoted to the issues of digital competences of translators, as well as digital technologies in their professional activities. The results of the study and their discussion. The introduction of the issue of the use of technologies of the digital economy into the educational process of training future translators allows us to define the content of the discipline “Information Technologies in Translation”, the components of the translator's digital competence determine the directions of competence formation and the content of the current control. The policy of import substitution and sanctions has imposed requirements on the relevance of the applications and services used, which poses difficulties for the technical organization of the learning process and allows us to formulate new criteria for the selection of software. The results of the interim control showed an increase in the efficiency and quality indicators of the learning process in the discipline. Conclusion. A properly organized digital environment, modern information technologies selected on the basis of scientific criteria, an educational process aimed at motivating professional work and assessing the formation of both digital and translation competence allow to increase the efficiency of learning and its quality in the training of translation specialists.

Identification of a "Blue Zone" in the Netherlands: A Genetic, Personal, Sociocultural, and Environmental Profile.

"Blue Zones" (BZs) are regions with exceptionally high numbers of longevous inhabitants. Several factors have been suggested to promote longevity in BZs, but the evidence generally does not meet scientific quality criteria. We aimed to characterize a municipality as a "relative BZ," satisfying 3 criteria: compared to other municipalities, more exceptionally longevous inhabitants, a higher life expectancy, and a more stable population. The population-based Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam has been ongoing since 1992 in 11 municipalities across the Netherlands with 3- or 4-yearly measurement waves. Using all available waves, we included 39 genetic, personal, sociocultural, and environmental characteristics. One municipality satisfied the 3 BZ criteria. In comparison with participants in other municipalities in the same province and other provinces in the Netherlands, BZ-participants more often had a polygenic risk score linked to longevity, smoked less, consumed less alcohol and more fruit, biked more minutes, did more often paid work, practiced singing more often, attached higher importance to religion, and lived in a more walkable and livable environment. In contrast, BZ-participants had a slower walking speed, more depressive symptoms, felt less purpose in life, had a larger waist circumference, walked and did sports less often, consumed less vegetables, and exchanged less instrumental support. Other indicators of their physical and mental health and social connectedness did not substantially differ from non-BZ-participants. Rather than clues to healthy aging, our findings suggest factors conducive to longevity regardless of impaired health.

Methodological Considerations in Evaluating Breast Cancer Screening Studies.

In evidence-based medicine frameworks, the highest level of evidence is derived from quantitative synthesis of double-masked, high-quality, randomly assigned controlled trials. Meta-analyses of randomly assigned controlled trials have demonstrated that screening mammography reduces breast cancer deaths. In the United States, every major guideline-producing organization has recommended screening mammography in average-risk women; however, there are controversies about age and frequency. Carefully controlled observational research studies and statistical modeling studies can address evidence gaps and inform evidence-based, contemporary screening practices. As breast imaging radiologists develop and evaluate existing and new screening tests and technologies, they will need to understand the key methodological considerations and scientific criteria used by policy makers and health service researchers to support dissemination and implementation of evidence-based screening tests. The Wilson and Jungner principles and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force general analytic framework provide structured evaluations of the effectiveness of screening tests. Key considerations in both frameworks include public health significance, natural history of disease, cost-effectiveness, and characteristics of screening tests and treatments. Rigorous evaluation of screening tests using analytic frameworks can maximize the benefits of screening tests while reducing potential harms. The purpose of this article is to review key methodological considerations and analytic frameworks used to evaluate screening studies and develop evidence-based recommendations.

Holistic evaluation of a machine learning-based timing calibration for PET detectors under varying data sparsity

Objective. Modern PET scanners offer precise TOF information, improving the SNR of the reconstructed images. Timing calibrations are performed to reduce the worsening effects of the system components and provide valuable TOF information. Traditional calibration procedures often provide static or linear corrections, with the drawback that higher-order skews or event-to-event corrections are not addressed. Novel research demonstrated significant improvements in the reachable timing resolutions when combining conventional calibration approaches with machine learning, with the disadvantage of extensive calibration times infeasible for a clinical application. In this work, we made the first steps towards an in-system application and analyzed the effects of varying data sparsity on a machine learning timing calibration, aiming to accelerate the calibration time. Furthermore, we demonstrated the versatility of our calibration concept by applying the procedure for the first time to analog readout technology. Approach. We modified experimentally acquired calibration data used for training regarding their statistical and spatial sparsity, mimicking reduced measurement time and variability of the training data. Trained models were tested on unseen test data, characterized by fine spatial sampling and rich statistics. In total, 80 decision tree models with the same hyperparameter settings, were trained and holistically evaluated regarding data scientific, physics-based, and PET-based quality criteria. Main results. The calibration procedure can be heavily reduced from several days to some minutes without sacrificing quality and still significantly improving the timing resolution from (304±5)ps to (216±1)ps compared to conventionally used analytical calibration methods.Significance. This work serves as the first step in making the developed machine learning-based calibration suitable for an in-system application to profit from the method’s capabilities on the system level. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the functionality of the methodology on detectors using analog readout technology. The proposed holistic evaluation criteria here serve as a guideline for future evaluations of machine learning-based calibration approaches.

Defining faces, defying borders: authority conflicts between medical specialties through cosmetic interventions

At first glance, medical specializations seem to be delineated according to well-defined scientific criteria; the apparently-functional division of labor generates a general hierarchy of specialized knowledge and practice. However, this unequal apportionment of professional power and authority also depends on capitalistic organization. While the medical rationale has always been market-related, starting in the 1980s—with the initiation of its neoliberal agenda—Turkey has enacted progressively aggressive policies, privatizing healthcare service and reconceptualizing it as a dynamic market, thereby forming a medical ethos entangled with neoliberal motifs. In this article, we analyzed how unregulated market conditions give rise to a chaotic scientific field, and how this apparent disorder serves to reproduce an underlying capitalistic logic. Of the multitude of human body parts, we choose the face, because it has become a hot zone in medicine as cosmetic demands from patients have skyrocketed, and because it is an area generating conflict between medical specialties seeking more authority and power. To this end, we interviewed thirty-three specialists from dermatology, otorhinolaryngology, and plastic surgery about their experiences on authority conflicts and their motivations for entering into an unregulated market. Our research highlights how actors in the medical field constitute a relational social context within which boundaries are fiercely negotiated through a market logic. Thereafter, we argue how the ambiguities of pathology, aesthetics, body, and norms that underlie cosmetic procedures are fluidized and become instruments of power, such that this ambiguity has become the very defining characteristic of the scientific field.

L*—An index for evaluating long range performance of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have various applications in both military and civilian fields. A wider operation area and more complex tasks require better overall range performance of AUVs. However, until recently, there have been few unified criteria for evaluating the range performance of AUVs. In the present work, a unified range index, i.e., L*, considering the cruising speed, the sailing distance, and the volume of an AUV, is proposed for the first time, which can overcome the shortcomings of previous criteria using merely one single parameter, and provide a uniform criterion for the overall range performance of various AUVs. After constructing the expression of the L* index, the relevant data of 49 AUVs from 12 countries worldwide have been collected, and the characteristics of the L* range index in different countries and different categories were compared and discussed. Furthermore, by analyzing the complex factors affecting the range index, methods to enhance the L* range index value, such as efficiency enhancement and drag reduction, have been introduced and discussed. Under this condition, the work proposes a unified and scientific criterion for evaluating the range performance of AUVs for the first time, provides valuable theoretical insight for the development of AUVs with higher performance, and then arouses more attention to the application of the cutting-edge superlubricity technology to the field of underwater vehicles, which might greatly help to accelerate the coming of the era of the superlubricitive engineering.

Selecting HyperNav deployment sites for calibrating and validating PACE ocean color observations

A novel ocean profiling float system for calibrating and validating satellite-based ocean color observations has been developed and tested. The float-based radiometric sampling system, herein referred to as HyperNav, is complementary to traditional moored in-situ observing systems and provides additional capability due to the relatively small platform size and high radiometric accuracy that allows for opportunistic deployments at locations during seasons and conditions that are best for ocean color observations. The purpose of this study is to optimize the deployment locations of an array of HyperNav systems to support the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission by performing System Vicarious Calibration (SVC) observations. Specifically, we present the development of logistical and scientific criteria for selecting suitable sites for developing an SVC network of profiling-float-based radiometric systems capable of calibrating and validating ocean color observations. As part of the analyses described in this paper, we have synthetically deployed HyperNav at potential US-based and international sites, including: north of Crete island; south-east of Bermuda island; south of Puerto Rico island; southwest of Port Hueneme, CA; west of Monterey, CA; west of Kona, HI; and south-west of Tahiti island. The synthetic analyses identified Kona, Puerto Rico, Crete, and Tahiti as promising SVC sites. All sites considered are suitable for generating a significant number of validation match-ups. Optimally deploying HyperNav systems at these sites during the PACE post-launch SVC campaign is expected to cost-effectively provide a large number of SVC match-ups to fulfill the PACE calibration requirements.

Tamanhos de parcelas e amostras para variáveis biométricas em mudas de alface

ABSTRACT: In order to ensure reliable inferences in scientific experiments, sampling criteria should be determined and defined during the experimental design phase. Determining plot and sample sizes without scientific criteria could result in resource and labor inefficiencies with no gain in experimental precision. In this work we estimate plot and sample sizes for biometric variable analyses in lettuce seedlings. The seedlings were sown in four expanded polystyrene foam transplant trays with 128 and 200 cells. Foliar area, stem diameter, shoot height, root length, root volume, root area, fresh and dry shoot and root masses. The methods described by Paranaiba (PARANAIBA et al., 2009) and Cochran (COCHRAN, 1977) were used for plot size and sample size estimations, respectively. Sample size varied according to the variables analysed and transplant tray cell number. Root variables required the highest number of samples. For a 10% margin of error, 12 seedlings were necessary for evaluations in a 128 cell tray, while 11 seedlings were required for analysis in 200 cell trays.

Urinary Microbiome Research Has Not Established a Conclusive Influence: Revisiting Koch’s Postulates

In order to establish a causal relationship between urinary microbiota and a urological disease or condition, a series of rigorous scientific criteria must be met. Demonstration of an association between microbiota and a condition does not necessarily imply causality, importance, or clinical relevance.

Информация бухгалтерской (финансовой) отчетности как социальный феномен

The article is devoted to rethinking the social significance of accounting science and practice. Based on the results of research by modern sociologists, a comparative analysis was carried out and corresponding analogies were built between such concepts as “social information” and “accounting”. Guided by scientific criteria, the philosophical nature of accounting knowledge is convincingly proven. Based on the analysis of the functions of social information, certain accounting functions, as well as stages of the accounting process, are synthesized into it.

Developing success evaluation criteria of building projects for Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Success evaluation using stakeholder-responsive criteria is crucial. Evaluation is vital for achieving project goals as it improves ongoing projects and plans for the future. Effective evaluation requires appropriate criteria and subcriteria. However, choosing narrow, biased, and unrealistic evaluation criteria can lead to subjective results. Moreover, the construction sector often uses inconsistent criteria, causing ineffective project evaluation. This study aims to identify stakeholders' responsive success criteria to improve the management of project success evaluation, addressing the lack of uniformity in industry professionals and researchers' opinions. The draft evaluation criteria and subcriteria were developed after reviewing the literature. The first phase of data was collected from various expert stakeholders through a questionnaire, focus group discussions, and interviews. The second phase of data was collected from 102 respondents, including clients, consultants, contractors, and end users, through a questionnaire and interviews. The data was analyzed using Excel, SPSS, and AMOS software. The success criteria and subcriteria rank were determined using the RII method. A successful evaluation of structural equation models was developed, which passed composite reliability, convergent validity, and discriminate validity tests. The study identifies stakeholder-responsive evaluation seven criteria and twenty-nine subcriteria, ranking them based on industry use. The IRR ranking results show quality, cost, time, stakeholder satisfaction, health and safety, learning and development, and environmental impact as the most frequently used criteria. However, environmental impact and learning and development are less frequently used. The study also creates scientific criteria and subcriteria relations in the SEM model, demonstrating that project success depends on each criterion and subcriterion's success. The model diagram illustrates the hypothesized relationships among variables and establishes the empirical relationship between evaluation criteria and subcriteria. The study introduces stakeholder-responsive criteria for successful project evaluation in the construction industry, addressing the gap in success evaluation. These criteria are effective and holistic, promoting continuous improvement, project success, and future planning. The findings encourage collaboration and contribute to project management knowledge among stakeholders, professionals, academics, and policymakers.

Examining the Linguistic Tapestry of Globalization: Structural Borrowings

Purpose: Redefining economies, cultures, language dynamics, and societies worldwide, globalization has become one of the hallmarks of the contemporary era. The impact of this phenomenon in language is examined in this article, with a particular emphasis on structural borrowings from English into Albanian. Theoretical Framework: Scientific criteria have been chosen to determine whether the linguistic data are internal constructions of the language or structural borrowings from English, and to examine the extent to which a global language like that has influenced the structure of 'small' languages like Albanian. Methodology: Thirty-three new constructions were chosen from Albanian textual media, which were then split into groups examined in detail according to their semantic and syntactic features. Findings: Fifty-five percent of native speakers accept semantic-syntactic borrowings from English, which exhibit synonymy and compete with existing normative constructions. Borrowings enhancing the semantics of Albanian are welcome, while those affecting syntactic structure and leading to ambiguity, meaninglessness, and ungrammaticality are not. Research Practical and Social Implication: The knowledge of how syntactic-semantic systems can be modified and impacted by interaction with other language systems is increased by this work. Simultaneously, it advances our understanding of the social dimensions of language use, including language planning and identity maintenance in the area of globalization. Originality/Value: The connections between ‘small’ languages like Albanian and world culture have not received adequate consideration. This study advances our understanding of how globalization impacts communication between speakers of diverse languages and cultural backgrounds by shedding light on the process of structural borrowings.

Selection of questionnaires for clinical studies in orthopedics and trauma surgery

AbstractIn orthopedics the importance of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has increased enormously, not only clinically and academically but also with respect to health policy. Many such measurement instruments are available for several areas and joints, so that a uniform application of suitable PROMs is recommended for comparisons under scientific and clinical aspects. A PROM must fulfil certain scientific criteria (e.g., reliability, validity, and responsiveness), should be validated for the pathology of interest, and a validated translated version should be available for the respective language. Furthermore, data should be available to interpret results not only with respect to the statistical significance but also regarding their clinical relevance, e.g., the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).

Voluntary federal transfers and resource application: a systematic literature review

Voluntary federal transfers and resource application: a systematic literature review

Assessing the impact of unplanned settlements on urban renewal projects with GEE

Spatial plans and strategies ensure that urbanization takes place according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria. Urbanization that takes place without taking into account these legal and technical bases lead to the emergence of informal, risky and dysfunctional settlements. Over time, these settlements become increasingly vulnerable due to their failure to meet social and technical requirements, making their sustainability increasingly challenging, and inevitably becoming subjects of urban renewal activities. Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform's archive of satellite images provides temporal monitoring of urbanization on Earth for about 50 years and analysis of changes in the cloud environment. This study investigates whether the GEE platform can use to detect the impact of the areas where settlement activities are carried out without a development plan in the current urban transformation projects in Istanbul. Land use/cover maps classified with the Random Forest algorithm correlate urbanization activities in urban renewal areas with the entry into force date of the spatial plans that guide the settlement. The classification results evaluated in conjunction with statistical tests and spatial plan decisions demonstrate that unplanned urbanization is a serious obstacle to the sustainability of settlements. Additionally, the study results show the performance of the GEE platform in detecting the effects of factors in the urbanization period. The GEE platform can serve as a facilitative tool for deriving lessons from urbanization experiences to inform policymaking.

Analyzing the Thermal Characteristics of Three Lining Materials for Plantar Orthotics.

The choice of materials for covering plantar orthoses or wearable insoles is often based on their hardness, breathability, and moisture absorption capacity, although more due to professional preference than clear scientific criteria. An analysis of the thermal response to the use of these materials would provide information about their behavior; hence, the objective of this study was to assess the temperature of three lining materials with different characteristics. The temperature of three materials for covering plantar orthoses was analyzed in a sample of 36 subjects (15 men and 21 women, aged 24.6 ± 8.2 years, mass 67.1 ± 13.6 kg, and height 1.7 ± 0.09 m). Temperature was measured before and after 3 h of use in clinical activities, using a polyethylene foam copolymer (PE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and PE-EVA copolymer foam insole with the use of a FLIR E60BX thermal camera. In the PE copolymer (material 1), temperature increases between 1.07 and 1.85 °C were found after activity, with these differences being statistically significant in all regions of interest (p < 0.001), except for the first toe (0.36 °C, p = 0.170). In the EVA foam (material 2) and the expansive foam of the PE-EVA copolymer (material 3), the temperatures were also significantly higher in all analyzed areas (p < 0.001), ranging between 1.49 and 2.73 °C for EVA and 0.58 and 2.16 °C for PE-EVA. The PE copolymer experienced lower overall overheating, and the area of the fifth metatarsal head underwent the greatest temperature increase, regardless of the material analyzed. PE foam lining materials, with lower density or an open-cell structure, would be preferred for controlling temperature rise in the lining/footbed interface and providing better thermal comfort for users. The area of the first toe was found to be the least overheated, while the fifth metatarsal head increased the most in temperature. This should be considered in the design of new wearables to avoid excessive temperatures due to the lining materials.

Burnout: Historical Background, Concepts, Methodological Problems, Prevention And Different Perspectives On A Striking Phenomenon

Burnout, historically the successor to neurasthenia, is considered an exhaustion phenomenon caused by prolonged work-related stress. The very concept of "being burned out" implies an image that is immediately understandable and concise to any layperson. Academic psychiatry and psychology pose conceptual challenges to this popular model, which was first published in 1974 by the German-American psychotherapist Herbert Freudenberger. To date, more than 140 definitions of burnout have been proposed. All of the main features of burnout, especially the experience of exhaustion, are non-specific. Various burnout development models have been proposed, which were assumed to represent a quasi-natural process. None could be confirmed empirically. An expert consensus on the diagnostic criteria and conceptual classification, whether as an independent disorder or as a risk condition, could not be achieved. Nevertheless, burnout is classified as a work-related disorder in the ICD-11. Current findings indicate that the experience of burnout among members of the baby boomer generation often reflects their high performance expectations of themselves, while the identical subjective feeling in Generation Z is often associated with missing or unsustainable professional goals. The research on the burnout phenomenon, which largely ignores the fact that burnout - in the absence of reliable diagnostic criteria - must be considered a subjective model, meets social expectations but does not meet scientific criteria. A parallel recording of ICD/DSM diagnoses and subjective disorder models is recommended in everyday therapeutic practice in order to meet the needs of both sides.