Scientific Research Research Articles

Analysis of Factors Influencing Experimental Teaching Satisfaction Based on ISM-MICMAC

The satisfaction with experimental teaching is of utmost importance for improving educational quality, promoting student development, and fostering the professional growth of teachers. Researching the factors influencing satisfaction with experimental teaching, as well as the hierarchical relationships and mechanisms of action among these factors, provides significant theoretical foundations and practical guidance for conducting scientific and targeted reforms in experimental teaching. Based on literature research and questionnaire surveys, fifteen factors affecting experimental teaching satisfaction were selected across five dimensions: teachers, curriculum, students, environment, and interaction. The Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) was used to reveal the hierarchical relationships among these factors, and the Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) method was employed to validate the model’s scientific validity and assess the driving forces and dependencies of each factor. The research results indicate that self-efficacy, academic emotions, perceived course value, teacher-student interaction, and peer interaction are direct factors influencing experimental teaching satisfaction and exhibit a high level of interdependence. Teacher’s teaching competence, laboratory management, course content, course resources, and laboratory environment are deeper influencing factors with strong driving forces, positively impacting both the direct factors and intermediary factors such as teaching models and course assessment. Based on the analysis results, improvement strategies, and recommendations are proposed to enhance the quality of experimental teaching and the effectiveness of talent development.

“The Horror of It Made Me Mad”: Hysterical Narration in Richard Marsh’s The Beetle (1897)

This article analyzes the hysterical narration styles of two major characters in Richard Marsh’s The Beetle (1897) to reveal the ways late-Victorian discourses attempted (and often failed) to distance particular social anxieties from their modern origins. Attending to previous literary criticism regarding socially Othered groups of this period—racialized foreigners, New Women, and the urban poor—as well as (pseudo)scientific studies from the 1870s–80s, this reading notes the ways that Victorian cultural biases surrounding race, gender, and class could be projected onto Gothicized, Orientalized figures in literary texts. Pairing a postcolonial examination of the novel’s spatial and temporal elements with a psychoanalytic reading of this text, I argue that the slowing pace in Robert Holt’s narrative and the compulsive repetition of Marjorie Lindon’s both reflect the novel’s disruption of space and time and structurally parallel the symptoms of a “hallucinatory hysterical attack,” as conceived by Josef Breuer and Sigmund Freud. Together, these hysterical narratives reveal the failure of particular cultural and scientific discourses to completely bury Victorian anxieties about modernity into different, explicitly Othered spaces and times by collapsing both space and time in the narration of psychic trauma.

The use of categories and methods of natural sciences in jurisprudence and political science

The use of categories and methods of natural sciences in jurisprudence and political science

Acetaminophen removal using porous activated carbon derived from corn cob: optimization and mass transfer modelling

AbstractBACKGROUNDAcetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, has been notably detected in aquatic environments, including wastewater, surface water and drinking water, causing significant concern within the scientific and environmental research communities. This study focuses on two main objectives: (i) optimizing corn cob‐based activated carbon (CCAC) through response surface methodology for the adsorption of acetaminophen and (ii) simulating the acetaminophen adsorption process using the polymath mass transfer (PMT) model.RESULTSThe optimized CCAC was prepared via physiochemical activation under microwave radiation (265 W power) for 6 min, with a KOH impregnation ratio of 0.50 g g−1. This process resulted in a high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 976.29 m2 g−1, accompanied by a corresponding pore volume of 0.39 cm3 g−1 and a pore diameter of 2.38 nm. The adsorption study, employing differential initial concentrations (ranging from 5 to 30 mg L−1) of acetaminophen, revealed a substantial adsorption capacity of 22.43 mg g−1 (74.77%) at 30 °C and 20.74 mg g−1 (69.13%) at pH 6. The PMT model indicated an adsorption capacity (Qm) of 21.14 mg g−1, with an error of 5.75%, demonstrating high precision compared to the experimental result. Additionally, the calculated R2 values equal to or above 0.90 indicated strong agreement between the PMT model and experimental data.CONCLUSIONThus, applying the PMT model proved to be economical and cost‐effective, providing accurate predictions on surface area during adsorption performance compared to the time‐consuming and costly process of conducting characterizations. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

COMPLEX USE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY MEANS IN THE REHABILITATION OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH POSTURE DISORDERS

Relevance of the research topic. The problem of using physical therapy means in rehabilitation of school-age children with posture disorders becomes especially relevant in the context of the threat of serious spinal diseases, which can negatively affect the health and physical development of children in the future.Purpose and methods of the study. The aim of the work is to reveal the essence of complex use of physical therapy means in rehabilitation of school- age children with posture disorders. The research consisted of the analysis of scientists' works and description of the use of therapy for correction of school-age children's posture. Research methods and statistical analysis. We used both general scientific and special methods of research, namely: analysis, synthesis, structural-functional, description, generalization.Results. The article presents an analysis of the integrated use of physical therapy in the rehabilitation of school-age children with postural disorders. Various methods and techniques of physical therapy aimed at restoring optimal physical functioning and correcting postural defects are described. It is described that the main methods of physical therapy used in rehabilitation are therapeutic physical culture, correction of body position, therapeutic massage, hardening, hydrokinesitherapy and physiotherapy. Particular attention is paid to physical exercises that specialize in correcting specific types of posture disorders. Key findings. It has been shown that symmetrical and asymmetrical exercises, known as corrective exercises, are used to equalize the tone of the trunk muscles and strengthen relaxed muscles, helping to return the spine to its correct position. It has been proven that therapeutic massage, as an effective means of functional therapy, is used at all stages of medical and physical therapy to treat various diseases and injuries. The article analyzes the effectiveness of these methods and their role in achieving positive results in the rehabilitation of children with postural disorders.

Cost accounting for the production of dairy cattle products in the context of digitalization: Internal control and management issues

Subject. This article discusses the issues of digital transformation and the internal control services’ work optimization at agricultural enterprises. Objectives. The article aims to assess opportunities to minimize the agricultural production cost and develop business in the context of digitalization. Methods. For the study, we used the general scientific research methods. Results. For the agro-industrial complex enterprises, reducing the production cost and achieving high profitability of production are of a great importance. Automation of internal control procedures will help identify errors, determine the most promising areas for the development of the enterprise, and provide access to a significant amount of information. Relevance. The results of the study can be taken into account by the heads of agricultural enterprises when choosing automated programs to optimize the costs of internal control.

Improving the system of social protection of self-employed citizens

Subject. This article considers the self-employed as a subject of economic activity, and it discusses the participation of the self-employed population in the system of social and pension insurance. Objectives. This article aims to analyze the development of the pension and social insurance system of the self-employed people. Methods. For the study, we used the general scientific research methods. Results. The article presents an author-developed algorithm of actions of the self-employed in terms of relations with government agencies on registration, taxation and insurance, and it offers certain approaches to the development of the system of voluntary social insurance of the self-employed. Conclusions and Relevance. Based on the analysis of the current regulatory documents, the article concludes that it is necessary to determine the legal status of the self-employed, the list of obligations to pay taxes and fees, and the specification of their social guarantees and rights. The practical application of the results of the study can improve the mechanism of employment management, which is important for the development of Russia as a social State.

Three dimensions of artificial intelligence in the system design of high-tech products

Subject. The article investigates the role and place of artificial intelligence in the system design of high-tech products. Objectives. The focus is on determination of artificial intelligence implementation stages in the system design of high-tech products. Methods. We apply general scientific research methods. Results. The study established that artificial intelligence in the system design of high-tech products should be considered as a single software-algorithmic, system-technological, and conceptual-terminological complex. It identified methodological and ideological problems of introducing artificial intelligence into system design. We defined the structure of hybrid intelligence and substantiated the need for its use. We proposed to use the modern methodology of program-target planning to organize a phased, planned, and coordinated introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in the system design of high-tech products. Conclusions. The findings can be used in the development of State scientific and technological programs and plans to create high-tech products for various purposes in the interests of ensuring the sustainability of innovative and technological development and national security of the Russian Federation, given the current geopolitical and economic situation in the world.

Prevalence of substandard, falsified, unlicensed and unregistered medicine and its associated factors in Africa: a systematic review.

Substandard, falsified, unlicensed, and unregistered medicines pose significant risks to public health in developed and developing countries. This systematic review provides an overview of the prevalence of substandard, falsified, unlicensed, and unregistered medicine and its associated factors in Africa. Articles published from April 2014 to March 2024 were searched in Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase. The search strategy focused on open-access articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and studies exclusively conducted in African countries. The quality of the studies was assessed according to the Medicine Quality Assessment Reporting Guidelines (MEDQUARG). This systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Of the 27 studies, 26 had good methodological quality after a quality assessment. Of the 7508 medicine samples, 1639 failed at least one quality test and were confirmed to be substandard/falsified medicines. The overall estimated prevalence of substandard/falsified medicines in Africa was 22.6% (1718/7592). The average prevalence of unregistered medicines was 34.6% (108/312). Antibiotics, antimalarial, and antihypertensive medicines accounted for 44.6% (712/1596), 15.6% (530/3530), 16.3% (249/1530), and 16.3% (249/1530), respectively. Approximately 60.7% (91/150) were antihelmintic and antiprotozoal medicines. Poor market regulatory permission, Free trade zones, poor registration, high demand, and poor importation standards contribute to the prevalence of these problems. Substandard, falsified, and unregistered medicines are highly prevalent in Africa, and attention has not been paid to the problem. Antibiotics, antimalarial, anthelmintic, and antiprotozoal are the most commonly reported substandard, falsified, and unregistered medicines. A consistent supply of high-quality products, enhancement of registration, market regulatory permission, and importation standards are essential to counter the problems in Africa. Preventing these problems is the primary duty of every responsible nation to save lives.

Evaluation of Urban Complex Utilization Based on AHP and MCDM Analysis: A Case Study of China

In the context of intensive urban development, urban complexes have emerged as crucial public spaces that address the needs of urban populations. However, current research on urban complexes is predominantly qualitative and lacks a rigorous scientific and quantitative analysis. Therefore, this study employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to construct a standardized system encompassing five dimensions: spatial function, spatial perception, architectural style, surrounding environment, and energy-saving technology. The objective is to determine the weights of the indices that influence people’s use of urban complexes under the goal of “humanization”. Additionally, the study quantitatively analyzes key indices using spatial syntax and other analytical methods. Subsequently, we employ multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) analysis to examine three real-world cases in China, aiming to validate further the importance of the AHP + MCDM approach, which incorporates the TOPSIS method based on grey correlation. This methodology considers both the subjective factors of crowd evaluations of urban complex usage and the interrelationships among indicators, ensuring that the statistical calculations of the indicators remain objective and scientifically robust. The results indicate that (1) the degree of facility improvement has the greatest impact on the crowd’s use of urban complexes; (2) there is a discrepancy between the results of the TOPSIS method and the MCDM evaluation model, with the MCDM evaluation method aligning more closely with real-world scenarios; and (3) the Shanghai MOSCHINO received the highest evaluation score, while the Nanjing Central Emporium received the lowest. Finally, we discuss the experimental results and propose targeted strategies for optimizing the design of urban complexes to achieve the goal of “humanization”.

A Clinical Construct: Research, Experimentation, and Education at the Johns Hopkins Hospital

Background: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, the first U.S. institution to integrate medical education with practice, has served as a critical case study in understanding the evolution of American medical institutions in response to advancements in medical science, education, and technology. However, the role of architecture and design in informing those institutional practices has not been sufficiently explored. Aim: This study examines the intricate interplay between architecture and medicine in the late nineteenth century through a historical analysis of the design, construction, and early operation of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, focusing on how this interdisciplinary relationship shaped both the hospital’s physical environment and institutional practices. Methods: This paper utilizes historical analysis to investigate the design, construction, and operations of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. By examining primary archival materials, it details how architectural strategies addressed scientific, technological, and educational advancements. Results: The investigation reveals that the hospital’s architecture not only facilitated medical research, experimentation, and education but also embodied a novel blend of scientific inquiry and architectural design. Conclusions: The Johns Hopkins Hospital exemplifies the transformative potential of integrating architectural design with medical science. This case study underscores the enduring significance of interdisciplinary collaboration, offering insights into contemporary practices and the future of hospital design and medical education and practice in academic communities.

"I Heard of PrEP-I Didn't Think I Needed it." Understanding the Formation of HIV Risk Perception Among People Who Inject Drugs.

Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP) to prevent HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) remains extremely low in the United States. West Virginia's rising HIV incidence and highest drug overdose rate in the nation makes it an important locus for opioid use and HIV risk interaction. In this pilot study we pioneered the use of Cultural Theory among PWID to understand HIV-related risk perception arising from four contrasting modes of social organization. Carried out during an HIV outbreak, we explored PrEP uptake qualitatively as a window onto risk perception. Of the 26 interviewees, 18 were HIV- and despite the medication's free availability from the health center where recruitment took place, none had taken PrEP, half considering they were not at risk. Intimate couples who showed characteristics of 'enclaves' considered the boundary around themselves protective against HIV, creating a safe space or 'invisible risk group'. Higher HIV risk was perceived among those who were housed compared to those living homeless. Beliefs about the causation of the local HIV outbreak and the validity of scientific research corresponded with characteristics of the contrasting modes of social organization and the approach is promising for informing public health interventions among PWID.

Implementing Lean Manufacturing Method to Achieve an Effective Maintenance System in the Mining Company

This article deals with the maintenance process in the selected mining company. It investigates the maintenance process over digitalization and optimization as a pillar of Industry 4.0. The main goal of the research in this article was to design an effective maintenance system for the material and spare parts. The object of the research was the mining company in Slovakia that focuses on the maintenance process of mining machines in the frame of a wide spectrum of mining activities. Economic quantitative methods were used in solving the research, observation for spare parts, a graphical method for spare parts layout, and software application. The relevance of this scientific research was related to the innovation of the maintenance process with large barriers. We suggested a document, a record of spare parts, a flow chart for supply, a model of a maintenance system, and a model of controlling. The conclusions of this mining company can be recommendations for other mining companies around the world.

Body Parts from Bioprinting

3D bioprinting not only represents the future of regenerative medicine, it can also facilitate more precise and more ethical scientific research.

Landscape of scientific research on the problems of decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality of national economies

Landscape of scientific research on the problems of decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality of national economies

Eosin Y Post-Decorated Metal-Organic Framework as a Selectivity Regulator for the Alcohols Oxidation.

The selective oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes is a basic and significant procedure, with great potential for scientific research and industrial applications. However, as an important factor in the C(sp3)-H activation process, high selectivity is generally difficult to achieve due to the fact that the more easily activated properties of aldehydes are compared to alcohols. Herein, by the ingenious decoration of eosin Y into a Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF-808), EY@MOF-808 was prepared as a selectivity regulator for the aerobic oxidation of the benzyl alcohols into corresponding aldehydes, possessing applicability for the benzylic alcohols with various substituents. By anchoring eosin Y on Zr6O4(OH)4 clusters of MOF-808 and maintaining open metal nodes with selective binding effects, the benzyl alcohol substrates were selectively coordinated to the unsaturated metal clusters adjacent to eosin Y, which ensured that the excited eosin Y rapidly activated substrates to generate carbon radicals by the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process. The rapid electron transfer (ET) simultaneously produced reactive oxygen species (O2•-) and then a combination of both to further promote the generation of benzaldehydes. The weak interaction of benzaldehydes with the skeleton allowed it to dissociate rapidly, thus preventing overoxidation. Under the catalysis of EY@MOF-808, the selectivity of various benzaldehydes was more than 99%. In contrast, eosin Y gave only benzoic acid products under the same conditions, which demonstrated the superiority of regulatory selectivity of EY@MOF-808. Taking advantage of the heterogeneity of the MOF, EY@MOF-808 was recycled four times without a decrease in its selectivity and avoided the quenching effect of eosin Y. The organic functional units postdecorated MOF-based photocatalyst strategy exhibits a promising new perspective approach to sustainably regulating the selectivity of inert oxidation.

Content Validity Analysis of the PISA-Science Literacy Test for SMP Unismuh Makassar Students on the Topic of Optical Instruments

This research aims to analyse the content validity of the PISA-science literacy test on the topic of optical instruments. The design of this test aims to measure the scientific literacy abilities of eighth grade students at SMP Unismuh Makassar. The design of this test was developed based on core competencies and basic competencies and adapted to scientific literacy indicators, especially in science learning material on the topic of Optical Instruments which includes aspects of explaining scientific phenomena, evaluating and designing scientific research, as well as aspects of interpreting scientific data and evidence which are then formulated into 5 questions in the form of essay questions. The method used in this research is the descriptive analysis method as content validity analysis based on Lawshe’s formula calculations which have become known as the CVR and I-CVI coefficients. Content validity data was obtained from validation results from five experts with different expertise backgrounds in the field of science education. The expert validation results were then analysed to determine the level of content validity of the PISA-science literacy test which was developed using the Lawshe’s formula. The research results showed that the CVR coefficient value obtained was 0.99 with a total of five expert judgments, so it was declared accepted. Further analysis was obtained by obtaining an I-CVI coefficient value of 0.99 with the appropriate category. Based on the CVR and I-CVI coefficient values, it can be concluded that the content validity of the PISA-science literacy test developed is in the appropriate category and supports the entire content of the test as a whole.

Academician of medicine Z.V. Ermolyeva and the Department of Microbiology of the Central Institute for Advanced Medical Training: the main directions of scientific research in the early 1970s

The very difficult geopolitical situation of recent years has once again confirmed the need for our state to focus on its internal and self-sufficient development in its development. The story of the coronavirus pandemic that swept the whole world has shown a fairly high level of domestic virology, and microbiology in general. But, undoubtedly, we are still far from the Soviet level of science development today. In this regard, it seems advisable to pay attention to the generalization of the Soviet experience in the development of biomedical sciences. We have made an attempt to analyze the development of Soviet microbiology through an analysis of the scientific and organizational activities of the domestic scientist, Academician of Medicine Zinaida Vissarionovna Ermolyeva, carried out by her at the Department of Microbiology of the Central Institute of Advanced Medical Training in the first half of the 1970s. The source base of the publication was unpublished documents of the federal archives (the Russian State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation and the Russian State Archive of Economics), most of which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The article examines the scientific activity of Z.V. Ermolyeva herself, as well as those research areas that were developed by teachers and research staff of the department headed by her.

Comprehensive Survey of Abstractive Text Summarization Techniques

Text summarization using pre-trained encoders has become a crucial technique for efficiently managing large volumes of text data. The rise of automatic summarization systems addresses the need to process ever-increasing data while meeting user-specific requirements. Recent scientific research highlights significant advancements in abstractive summarization, with a particular focus on neural network-based methods. A detailed review of various neural network models for abstractive summarization identifies five key components essential to their design: encoder-decoder architecture, mechanisms, training strategies and optimization algorithms, dataset selection, and evaluation metrics. Each of these elements is pivotal in enhancing the summarization process. This study aims to provide a thorough understanding of the latest developments in neural network-based abstractive summarization models, offering insights into the evolving field and underscoring the associated challenges. Qualitative analysis using a concept matrix reveals common design trends in contemporary neural abstractive summarization systems. Notably, BERT-based encoder-decoder models have emerged as leading innovations, representing the most recent progress in the field. Based on the insights from this review, the study recommends integrating pre-trained language models with neural network techniques to achieve optimal performance in abstractive summarization tasks. As the volume of online information continues to surge, the field of automatic text summarization has garnered significant attention within the Natural Language Processing (NLP) community. Spanning over five decades, researchers have approached this problem from diverse angles, exploring various domains and employing a multitude of paradigms. This survey aims to delve into some of the most pertinent methodologies, focusing on both single-document and multiple-document summarization techniques, with a particular emphasis on empirical methods and extractive approaches. Additionally, the survey explores promising strategies that target specific intricacies of the summarization task. Notably, considerable attention is dedicated to the automatic evaluation of summarization systems, recognizing its pivotal role in guiding future research endeavors.

Experimental and numerical characterization of screw elements used in twin-screw extrusion

Hot melt extrusion by a co-rotating twin screw extruder is an important process in the pharmaceutical industry. Especially for quality by design aspects, a comprehensive process understanding is indispensable. The performance of conveying elements was determined as critical process parameter, and therefore an experimental and numerical framework was developed to analyze and compare variations. A test rig capable of measuring volume flow, pressure and torque with high accuracy and precision was designed and built. The 3D simulation was performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A stationary model with impulse transmission and an apparent motion of the screws was applied. The experimental data were fitted to the model of Pawlowski, and parameters for the pressure (A1, A2) and power characteristics (B1, B2) were determined. Good agreement between experimental data and the model was observed. The simulation was significantly faster compared to common methods, and the results were consistent with the literature. Systematic investigations of a native and worn screw were performed with CFD resulting in a transport capacity increase and a pressure build up decrease for all tested screw elements. An experimental and simulation setup was generated to assess the performance of co-rotating twin screw elements. The experiments provided high-quality data, and the simulations exhibited high flexibility with low computational effort.