Comparison of Altmetrics with Conventional Bibliometrics in the Surgical Literature (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The impact of a research publication has traditionally been quantified by its citation count. Newer bibliometric indices such as Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) and article page views are emerging as supplementary measures to quantify the academic influence of research. OBJECTIVE The aim of the current study was to interrogate the relationship between novel and traditional bibliometric indices for research published in a leading surgical journal and evaluate the role of these newer indices in measuring the impact of surgical research. METHODS All articles published in JAMA Surgery between 1 January 2019 and 1 September 2021 were examined. The literature database PubMed was used to identify all articles published within the specified time period. The cumulative citation count, AAS, and article page views were retrieved from the journal website. Statistical analysis using the Pearson rank correlation coefficient (r) was performed on Minitab 19. RESULTS : A total of 1,071 articles were retrieved for further analysis. The correlation (95% CI) between ranks for all articles was 0.396 (0.344-0.445) for AAS and citation scores, 0.541 (0.497-0.582) for citations and article page views, and 0.413 (0.362-0.461) for AAS and article page views. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated a medium correlation between citations and AAS for articles published in a leading surgical journal. The inter-year correlation between 2019 and 2021 was similar, suggesting that AAS could be predictive of future citations. AAS may be useful in evaluating the wider societal impact of the surgical literature and could serve to promote greater public engagement in surgical research.

Multidimensional analysis and forecasting the relationship between indicators of industrial-technological development and the level of economic security

A theoretical-applied model has been built for analyzing industrial-technological development directly within the system of economic security. A system of indicators has been constructed that are mutually agreed in the context of the analysis of the state of economic security and components of industrial-technological development (investment, international, environmental, educational, scientific, industrial, innovative, technological). Based on the system of indicators, analysis of variance in the industrial-technological development and level of economic security was carried out. The levels of correlation of indicators (high, medium, low) have been determined, based on which the interrelations of industrial-technological development and economic security were systematized. A graphic-analytical and regression procedure was used to define the correlation dependence of industrial-technological development on economic security. The industrial-technological development has been forecasted in terms of the indicators with high correlation (the level of investment, openness of the economy, export of high-tech products, industrial products index) and medium correlation (the share of renewable energy consumption, the level of expenditures on education to GDP, the share of specialists performing scientific and technical work). The system of indicators of economic security assessment has been expanded in terms of its individual components (investment-innovative, foreign economic, energy, social, macroeconomic security), taking into consideration aspects in the industrial-technological development. Using the reported analytical and predictive results makes it possible to establish groups of factors that influence the industrial-technological development and economic security. In this way, it becomes possible to identify those tools and means whose application could ensure an increase in the level of industrial-technological development and economic security

Relationships between broiler final weights and histomorphometric parameters of certain segments of the intestine

The aim of this study was to determine relationships between final mass of broilers and the histomorphological properties of individual segments of the gastrointestinal tract. This is confirmed by the obtained results, which indicate a strong and significant correlation between compared parameters. A strong significant (p<0.05) correlation (r=0.866) was found between the broiler final weight and the duodenal villus length, and between the broiler final weight and the caecal villus length (r=0.918). Correlation between the broiler final weight and the duodenal villus width (r=0.841), as well the caecal villi width (r=0.918) was strongly significant (p<0.05). Between the crypt depths in caecum correlation was medium and significant (r=0.701, p<0.05). It was determined that between the broiler final weights and the ratio of villus length and crypt depth there is a significant medium correlation (r = 0.736, p<0.05). A strong (r = 0.924) significant (p <0.05) correlation was found between the broiler final weight and the ratio of villus length and caecal crypt depth. Between final mass of broilers and other histomorphological properties of individual segments of intestine there was no significant correlation.

Vitality structure of Colchicum bulbocodium subsp. versicolor (Colchicaceae, Liliopsida) populations in the Lower Volga region

The article presents the results of the vitality structure analysis of 23 natural cenopopulations of Colchicum bulbocodium subsp. versicolor in the Lower Volga region in the years 2014–2019. The viability of cenopopulations within the studied region varied greatly over the years of monitoring, from 0.45 to 1.51. Cenopopulations in the northeast of the Lower Volga region, compared to southwestern cenopopulations, exhibited lower vitality index, greater instability and a wider range of variability of the latter parameter. Also, most morphological characters poorly correlated with one another. A high correlation was revealed only between two characters, and a medium correlation only in six pairs of characters. The largest number of significant-correlation relationships was registered for the plant height and diameter, the length and width of the lower leaf, and the length of the marigold. Based on the IQ parameter and the Q criterion, the absolute majority of cenopopulations were prosperous in all the years of monitoring. The depressive state was found only in some cenopopulations and only in certain years of monitoring (mainly in 2018). Considering that, compared to other years of monitoring, in the spring of 2018, the average temperatures during the period of the subspecies’ active vegetation and flowering were extremely low, we suggested that it could have resulted in extreme growing conditions for the subspecies in the studied region and, consequently, a decrease in vitality of cenopopulations.

The Relationship Between Self-Silencing and Depression: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Over time, several studies have provided knowledge about the relationship between self-silencing and depression. However, even if there is a tendency to obtain positive correlations, results ranging from null to large effects are rather variable, and until now no meta-analysis exists of these results, to our knowledge. Under these circumstances, the purpose of the present study is to quantitatively integrate existing results refecting the relationship between self-silencing and depression and to explore potential moderators of this relationship, in regards to conceptual aspects and characteristics of the samples. Methods: Our meta-analysis incorporates 31 published and 11 unpublished studies (with a total of 10,108 participants and 131 effect sizes), written in English, which statistically quantify the link between self-silencing and depression. For the analysis of the overall effect, specific meta-analytical procedures were used for heterogeneity, publication bias, and potential moderators. Results: There is an overall significant positive and medium correlation between self-silencing and depression (r = 0.391, p < 0.001). The heterogeneity of the results is partially explained by components of self-silencing, measured in each study and certain features of the samples such as age, sexual orientation, and level of education. Discussion: For researchers on this topic, our results offer a more precise input for computing sample sizes and also generate expectations of results as a function of specific methodological features. For practitioners, our results suggest the importance of approaching components of self-silence in counseling and therapy (with increased attention towards the externalized self-perception and the divided self) as mechanisms in depression (especially for younger and highly educated clients, and for non-heterosexuals).

Azospirillum brasilense AND COMPOUND OF PHYTOHORMONES AS BIOSTIMULANTS IN JALO PRECOCE BEANS

Beans are one of the most important crops in Brazil but still have a low yield. The use of technologies such as the application of biostimulants can provide greater yield for the crop. Thus, the work aimed to evaluate the effect of using Azospirillum brasilense and phytohormones on Jalo Precoce beans. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks with nine treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of a control, Stimulate (compound of phytohormones), and A. brasilense applied isolated or associated to the seeds or in a furrow. The plant height, stem diameter, shoot dry matter, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, the weight of grains per pod, and 100-grain weight were favored by A. brasilense and compound of phytohormones. The highest yield of Jalo Precoce beans (2218 kg ha-1) was obtained using the A. brasilense + phytohormone compound applied in the sowing furrow. The grain yield of Jalo Precoce beans showed a high positive correlation with the number of pods per plant and medium correlation with stem diameter and shoot dry matter.

Variability of morphological parameters of seeds in coriander populations

Relevance and methods. In some Umbelliferae crops, the ratio of the parameters of the seed (the relative length of the embryo) has a significant effect on the ability of seeds to germinate. We studied 10 coriander samples, which showed significant differences in the degree of severity of the main morphological parameters, including the length of the seed, endosperm and embryo.Results. The indicators of the hybrid 5/19 and the variety Stimul significantly exceeded the average value of the population in the length of the seed at 1%, and the sample of the local population from Azerbaijan had the lowest indicator at the 5% level of significance. The endosperm length of the hybrid 5/19, the variety Stimul and the sample of the local population of Egypt exceeded the level of the indicator on average in the experiment. According to the length of the embryo, the Nectar variety, hybrid 5/19 and samples from Egypt and Azerbaijan were at the level of the average value for the experiment. The largest embryo (1.063±0.04) was distinguished by the Commander variety. Four samples significantly exceeded, and the hybrid 11/19 were lower than the average value. Depending on the variety, the coefficient of variation of indicators varied for the length of the embryo (13.9-19.1%), the length of the endosperm (16.4-20.4%) and the length of the seed (15.7-22.1%). The maximum value (0.377) of the IZ/E index, which characterizes the ratio of the size of the embryo and endosperm, was observed in the Commander variety. A close correlation was found between the length of the seed and the length of the endosperm, the correlation coefficient varied from r=0.640 in the Stimul variety to r=0.981 in a sample of the local population of Egypt. A weak or medium correlation was observed between the length of the embryo on the one hand and the length of the endosperm (0.026-0.393) and the seed (0.090 – -0.132) on the other. For the IE/S index, which characterizes the ratio of endosperm size to seed size, the limits (0.893-0.988) of variability were significantly lower. The maximum index (0.988) was found in a sample from Egypt.

The Relationship between English Language Skills and Learning Needs of Secondary School Students

Students learn English with certain motives. Many students seek to improve their careers, others seek to gain confidence, and others plan to live abroad. Thus, the problematic question arises: how do English language skills and learning needs of secondary school students relate to each other? The research aim is to designate the relationship between English language skills and learning needs of secondary school students. The methods of descriptive statistics were used. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was applied. Mostly the medium correlation and a weak correlation were dominated between English language skills and learning needs. The analysis disclosed that students give more priority to receptive skills ‒ reading and listening than to communicative - speaking and writing skills.

Usefulness of the PET/CT to predict the progression and mortality risk in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease

Objective: to assess the capacity of the PET/CT to predict pulmonary function deterioration and increased mortality risk in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and to establish a possible SUVmax cutoff which identifies these patients. Material and methods: retrospective study between January 2007-December 2020. Inclusion criteria: patients > 18 years of age, diagnosed with IIP by PET/CT and pulmonary function test, with less than 6 months’ difference between the two tests. A study was made of the outcome variables associated with the PET/CT, the pulmonary function test measured at 2 stages (initially at the time of the PET/CT and at the end of follow-up), the mortality risk (using the GAP index) and the relationship between them all. Other variables of interest observed were age, sex, department requesting the PET/CT, indication, and the presence of lung cancer (LC). The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program. Results: 39 patients were analysed: 34 males (87%), with an age of 75 ± 8 years (mean ± DS). The mean ± SD of the SUVmax was 2.57 ± 1.17, with a statistically insignificant difference (p = 0.670) between patients with and without lung cancer. LC was confirmed in 21 cases (54%). There is a small inverse correlation between the SUVmax and the initial and final predicted FVC% (r= -0.154, r= -0.252), together with a medium correlation for the initial and final predicted DLCO% (r= -0.523, r= -0.514). The mean ± SD of the GAP index was 3.77 ± 1.08. There is a medium correlation between the SUVmax and the mortality risk of stages I and II (r = 0.468). By means of ROC curve analysis, an SUVmax of 2.2 was established to predict the fall of the FVC below 80%, of 1.9 to predict the fall of the DLCO below 60%, and of 2.15 to predict the progression from GAP stage I to II in mortality risk. Conclusions: There is an inverse correlation between the SUVmax and the pulmonary function, together with a direct relationship between the SUVmax and the mortality risk.