The Concept of Originality in Academic Research of Engineering

The definition of research appears to be a controversial subject in the academic community. It is almost becoming apparent that research remains a key element in master’s and doctoral degrees. Originality is, to varying degrees, the primary concern for the genuineness of research, but there is a difference of opinion on the concept of originality. In practice, a subjective analysis of originality is performed at the time of the assessment of the said degrees’ theses; therefore, the resulting evaluation is affected by the difference of opinion on the concept of originality. It has also emerged that the concept of originality in research is also marginally unique in various areas. This study is focused upon reaching a point of agreement for the definition of originality in the theses/dissertation of masters and doctorate degrees in engineering only. The outcome of the research should be something new and originally contribute to the body of knowledge. This study focused on to arrive at an accurate definition of originality in university degrees in the field of engineering. An online survey was designed and carried out on the basis of evidence and expert opinion. The survey was distributed amongst engineering peers. The results of the survey are systematically summed up in the study.

Matrimonial property disputes

Matrimonial property plays an important role in achieving family stability and in building the society. Therefore, due attention must be given to the reality of the matrimonial property, how it is managed and the rules governing it when disputes about it arise to protect the financial rights of both spouses from any damage that can threaten the stability and development of the society. This study has a number of objectives that can bring about balance regarding the issue of matrimonial property, including: Reaching an accurate definition of matrimonial property, Laying down the rules and guidelines of matrimonial property, Clarifying the legal characterization of matrimonial property.

Research of tools for monitoring changes in natural and anthropogenic-transformed ecosystems

Decarbonization issues are one of the main strategic directions of modern environmental development today. New technologies of agricultural use of soils are used to fix carbon in the soil in the form of humus, which ultimately helps to reduce the greenhouse effect and actively affects the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere. The use of open data of remote sensing of the Earth from space (further - RSE) together with the data of satellite monitoring of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can allow us to obtain new methods of carbonation analysis. In this paper, we consider the possibilities of such use of standard NDVI data together with a more accurate definition of specific boundaries of agricultural fields in order to increase the accuracy of research results. This article shows the results of processing data and images obtained using open crop monitoring data. The proposed technology is proposed by us as an additional tool for monitoring changes in the ecosystems of the regions.

Multifactorial seroprofiling dissects the contribution of pre-existing human coronaviruses responses to SARS-CoV-2 immunity

Determination of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in the context of pre-existing immunity to circulating human coronavirus (HCoV) is critical for understanding protective immunity. Here we perform a multifactorial analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV antibody responses in pre-pandemic (N = 825) and SARS-CoV-2-infected donors (N = 389) using a custom-designed multiplex ABCORA assay. ABCORA seroprofiling, when combined with computational modeling, enables accurate definition of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and prediction of neutralization activity, and reveals intriguing interrelations with HCoV immunity. Specifically, higher HCoV antibody levels in SARS-CoV-2-negative donors suggest that pre-existing HCoV immunity may provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 acquisition. In those infected, higher HCoV activity is associated with elevated SARS-CoV-2 responses, indicating cross-stimulation. Most importantly, HCoV immunity may impact disease severity, as patients with high HCoV reactivity are less likely to require hospitalization. Collectively, our results suggest that HCoV immunity may promote rapid development of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity, thereby underscoring the importance of exploring cross-protective responses for comprehensive coronavirus prevention.

Why does a subsidiary need a strategy?

A feature of the formation of Russian integrated structures is that they were formed by state structures - shareholders - without taking into account the opinion of those enterprises that entered them. However, the enterprises included in these structures would like to benefit from such integration. The basis for the effective operation of an enterprise in the long term is a sustainable competitive advantage, which it can obtain either through low costs or through product differentiation. Since the majority of subsidiaries do not have developed strategies, it becomes necessary to develop such strategies. Additional competitive advantages due to the implementation of focused strategies of the enterprise included in the integrated structures can be obtained only through the establishment of relationships between themselves, as well as enterprises and the parent company. The maximum competitive advantages will be gained by those enterprises as part of integrated structures that will be able to discover and profitably use relationships with other enterprises of this structure, but operating in related areas of activity. The role of the marketing service is also important in the formation of a focused strategy. The necessary market conditions for the implementation of focused strategies are the most accurate definition of consumer needs, the size and prospects of the market segment, a low number of competitors and sufficient resources to serve the segment. The main risks are determined by overflowing the market niche, reducing the differences between the needs of the segment and the entire market, changing prices in the segment towards the general market, penetration into the segment of competitors.

A Transmural Path Model Improves The Definition of The Orthotropic Tissue Structure in Heart Simulations

In the past decades, the structure of the heart, human as well as other species, has been explored in a detailed way e.g. via histological studies or diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Nevertheless, the assignment of the characteristic orthotropic structure of the material in a patient-specific finite element model remains a challenging task. Various types of rule-based models, which define the local fibre and sheet orientation depending on the transmural depth, have been developed. However, the correct assessment of the transmural depth is not trivial. Its accuracy has a substantial influence on the overall mechanical and electrical properties of the model. The main purpose of this study is the developement of a finite-element-based approach to accurately determine the transmural depth. We propose a finite-element-based discontinuous Galerkin approach to determine the transmural path, thickness and depth. Based on the accurate transmural depth, we assign the local material orientation of the orthotropic tissue structure in a usual fashion. We show that this approach leads to a more accurate definition of the transmural depth. Furthermore, for the left ventricle, we propose rules for the transmural fibre and sheet orientation by fitting them to literature based data. The proposed functions show a distinct improvement compared to existing rules.

POLITICAL BOUNDARIES AND TERRITORIAL IDENTITY IN EARLY MODERN CENTRAL EUROPE: THE WESTERN FRONTIER OF TRANSYLVANIA DURING THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY

The last decades have witnessed an increased interest in the research of territorial delimitations in late medieval and early modern Europe. A significant part of the academic debate has been focused on identifying and defining the process of transition from medieval frontiers, perceived as vague areas of contact, to modern linear borders. The aim of this article is to analyse the organization of the western confines of the Transylvanian Principality during the decades in which this state was formed, from the Ottoman conquest of Buda (1541) until the ratification of the Speyer Peace Treaty (1571). Throughout this period, the territorial delimitation of Transylvania from the Ottoman Empire and Habsburg Hungary was an ongoing process, marked by both military confrontations and diplomatic negotiations. Through a critical reassessment of the most relevant Romanian and Hungarian literature on this complex subject and the analysis of new data from official and narrative contemporary sources, I have tried to identify which were the most important political and military events that shaped the western borderlands of Transylvania. A fundamental objective of my research is to provide an accurate definition for the western region of the Transylvanian Principality, contributing thus to the general debate on the nature of frontiers/borders in sixteenth century Europe.

Validation of Eye Temperature Assessed Using Infrared Thermography as an Indicator of Welfare in Horses

This study aimed to validate eye temperature (ET) assessed using infrared thermography (IRT) as an indicator of welfare in horses. Moreover, this study aimed to determine the most accurate position for ET measured using IRT and to validate this approach as a gold-standard measurement method. As the quantitative data obtained by IRT have strongly influenced the ET results depending on the specific location of the measurement area, an accurate definition of the regions of interest (ROI) was established. A total of 176 horses (Thoroughbred, Warmblood, and Halla horses) were used at the racing course of the Korea Racing Authority and public horse-riding clubs in South Korea. The present study also compared temperatures among three ROIs of the eye—lacrimal sac, medial canthus, and lateral canthus—at rest. Correlations between ET, rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) were assessed. There were no significant correlations between HR, RR or RT; however, among the three ROIs, the temperature of the medial canthus was positively correlated with RT (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the size of ROI was negatively correlated with accuracy of temperature measurement. These results indicate that the most suitable area for ET measurement using IRT in horses is the medial canthus, and it is recommended to use the average temperature of the smallest ROIs (2 × 2 pixels) for temperature analysis. Therefore, this study offers a validated protocol in which ET measured using IRT in the horses is useful as an indicator of welfare.

Frontal sinus and nasoethmoidal injuries

The frontal sinus and the adjacent naso-orbitoethmoid complex of bones in the midline are vulnerable to direct trauma and significant injuries can involve the adjacent skull base, the nasofrontal duct, and the medial orbit. The anatomy of this critical area is complex. Assessment of the injury includes ocular and neurological examination for associated injuries, and high-resolution computed tomography scanning is required for accurate definition of the injury. In this chapter, the principles of management and the complications of these fractures and their management are described.