Abstract:The aim of the study was to estimate the diversity of contemporary meiobenthic\ncommunities of selected water reservoirs of the small island of Coraholmen (Central Spitsbergen),\nand to identify abiotic and biotic factors influencing their diversity. The landform of Coraholmen\nis unique: the eastern part is flat and covered with tundra, while the south-western part is\ndominated by postglacial moraine hills, between which small water bodies are located. Different\nnature of the bottom surface allows determining the abiotic factors influencing the composition\nand diversity of meiobenthos. Sediment and water samples were taken from 10 reservoirs, equally\nfrom tundra and moraine areas. The moraine reservoir\'s substrate was deposited by glacier and is\ncharacterized by accumulation of marine fossils, mainly calcareous benthic foraminifera, till with\ngravels and pebbles. Tundra reservoirs (often periodic/ astatic) are characterized by accumulation\nof sandy-muddy sediments with rich content of organic matter. The waters in these reservoirs were\ncharacterized by low salinity and alkaline pH. The concentration of TN ranged from 328 μg/l to\n1004 μg/l, the concentration of TP from 3.2 μg/l to 43.1 μg/l, and the ratio of TN/TPmol ranged\nfrom 52 to 300. The molar ratio of TN/TP obtained in tundra ponds was on average twice as high\nas in moraine ponds. The meiobenthic assemblages found were typical of the freshwater reservoirs\nof Spitsbergen. The examined epibenthic assemblages from all reservoirs were of low diversity.\nMeiobenthic assemblages were represented by 9 major taxa: Rotifera, Nematoda, Gastrotricha,\nOligochaeta, Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda, Diptera larvae and Arachnidae. Ostracoda and\nDiptera larvae were relatively numerous. The most numerous crustaceans were Ostracoda:\nCandona rectangulata Alm, 1914 Tonnacypris glacialis, G.O. Sars and Limnocytherina\nsanctipatricci. The topography, geology, and soil characteristics of the catchment area do not\ninfluence the aquatic ecosystem.
Abstract:This paper presents the development of the Digital Caspian information platform — a large-scale initiative that integrates the power of artificial intelligence (AI), geographic information systems (GIS), and digital twins. Its primary goal is to revolutionize approaches to subsurface resource management, enhance environmental safety, and optimize strategic planning for oil and gas exploration. By embedding AI at the core of the Digital Caspian, the project establishes a smart exploration system — a sophisticated combination of software and hardware tools capable of transforming the management of geological exploration processes, significantly improving their efficiency and precision. The approach relies on the principles of digital engineering, which involves the creation of virtual prototypes of real-world objects, such as hydrocarbon fields and exploration processes. Digital engineering enables rapid and effective solutions to key challenges in hydrocarbon exploration and field development. At the core of the platform is a suite of interactive geological and environmental digital maps that support high-precision forecasting and facilitate informed, science-based decision-making in critical areas such as subsurface resource use, environmental safety, and exploration planning for oil and gas.
Abstract:Melatonin is a hormone that has shown potential in alleviating side effects such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to non-neoplasmic tissues. It protects against chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage and mitigates cognitive impairments linked to cancer treatments. Melatonin enhances immune system activity, particularly in modulating immune cells like natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages. This contributes to its ability to control tumor growth and metastasis. Recent research has explored the role of melatonin in cancer therapy, revealing its potential as a multifaceted agent in oncology. Melatonin exhibits several properties that make it promising in the treatment and management of tumors. Anti-Tumor and Anti-Proliferative Effects: Melatonin directly inhibits cancer cell proliferation by modulating signaling pathways such as p53, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin. It can suppress angiogenesis and metastasis by interfering with pathways like epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) and reducing the invasive potential of cancer cells. Studies show melatonin enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this chapter it discusses correlation between melatonin treatment in tumor cells to treatments. It evaluates action has potential to decrease viral induced tumor incidence while protecting healthy cells from the side effects of these therapies.
Abstract:Purpose: This paper explores and interprets (a) Nike's brand positioning, (b) Nike's shoes Consumer perceptions, and (c) the variance between brand positioning and Consumer perception. This study was conducted as a case study of Nike basketball shoes in Oman. Methodology: This research is based on Convergent Mixed-Methods Design. Our current study used content analysis (a qualitative approach) to examine Nike's Brand Positioning. In addition, questionnaires for 51 basketball players (a quantitative approach) were used to determine basketball players' perceptions of the Nike brand. Results: The investigation of Nike shoe brand positioning and Consumer perception found that Nike shoe brand positioning almost matches basketball players' perceptions. Performance Excellence, Cultural Icons, Empowerment, Fashion and Style, A commitment to constant evolution, and being an inspiration, Nike put it as a positioning strategy and was accepted by basketball players in Oman. Social Responsibility is also an attribute that Nike Corporation thinks they have, but Players perceive it at a lesser level.
Abstract:Technique is a crucial factor in sports performance, particularly in inline speed skating. The main objective of this study is to analyze and compare behavioral patterns in two types of track curves: (i) curves with straight or direct inclination and (ii) curves with parabolic inclination. The study will focus on male skaters at the national and international levels, whose lap times in a flying start do not exceed 17 seconds. To conduct the research, an observation system will be developed, refined with expert input, and validated by experienced trainers. The methodology will include high-resolution video recordings and biomechanical analyses to assess the system's efficiency and practical applicability. Additionally, the developed system will be designed to be both accessible and adaptable, ensuring seamless integration into coaches' daily training routines. Three cameras will be used to capture video footage of the second curve in a 200-meter race. The expected results aim to identify technical differences and similarities between the two types of curves, providing precise and valuable data to optimize technical training. Through this study, we seek to rigorously and systematically establish the differences in skaters' performance across the different tracks curves.
Abstract:Researchers working in polar regions face unique challenges not only in terms of environmental extremes and logistics, but also with respect to communications and commitments at their home institutions. With the increasing availability of highspeed internet at remote polar locations, some of these constraints are now diminishing. Polar scientists now have opportunities to communicate in realtime, including directly into universities, schools and public spaces. This paper explores the practicalities and implications of online teaching at institutions in the UK, USA, Germany and France, delivered from the remote Hamlet of Pond Inlet in the Canadian High Arctic by three of the authors. In this qualitative experiential study, the experience of an expedition to the region in early spring 2023 showed that, despite some remaining technical challenges, live teaching from remote locations in the Arctic to secondary, further and higher education institutions can engage with students. The technology to allow this is now a realistic but still limited option, providing students with an unprecedented learning experience. Such communications might help to inspire a new generation to understand and value polar regions.
Abstract:Background: Preterm birth, a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, presents numerous challenges including reduced growth rates and heightened stress levels. Massage therapy has emerged as a potential non-invasive intervention to address these issues in preterm infants. This study aims to evaluate the effects of massage therapy on the growth parameters and stress levels of preterm infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)setting. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving preterm infants in an NICU. Participants were randomly assigned to either a massage therapy group or a control group receiving standard care. The massage therapy group received moderate pressure massage for 15 minutes, three times daily, over a period of 10 days. Growth parameters(weight, length, and head circumference) and stress levels (assessed through behavioural and physiological indicators) were measured at baseline, and on the 1st, 5th, and 10thdaysofthe intervention. Results: The massage therapy group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in weight gain, length, and head circumference compared to the control group. Additionally, the massage group showed a significant reduction in stress behaviours and physiological stress indicators over the intervention period. Conclusion: Massage therapy appears to be an effective intervention for enhancing growth and reducing stress in preterm infants in the NICU. These findings suggest that massage therapy could be a valuable addition to the care of preterm infants, potentially leading to better developmental outcomes.
Abstract:This study advances critical insights into the governance dynamics of UNESCO World Heritage sites, interrogating how state-driven tourism policies prioritize mass visitation economies while systematically marginalizing community agency in heritage management. Focusing on Mexico’s Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacán—a monumental archaeological complex inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987—and its adjacent Pueblos Mágicos (Teotihuacán and San Martín de las Pirámides), the research unravels the paradoxical coexistence of global heritage prestige and localized sociocultural disenfranchisement. As a nexus of Mesoamerican civilization and contemporary neoliberal tourism, Teotihuacán offers a seminal case for analyzing the tensions between preservation mandates, economic exploitation, and participatory governance in Latin America. Employing an exploratory mixed-methods approach, the study synthesizes qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with policymakers, heritage administrators, and local stakeholders, alongside critical discourse analysis of tourism legislation and UNESCO operational guidelines. This methodology reveals how institutionalized "topdown" frameworks—epitomized by Mexico’s Programa Pueblos Magicos (PPM)— instrumentalize cultural heritage as a marketable commodity, privileging infrastructural investments in mass tourism hubs (e.g., visitor centres, souvenir corridors) over inclusive community development. While UNESCO’s designation reinforces the site’s scientific and symbolic capital, the PPM’s neoliberal ethos transforms intangible heritage into consumable experiences.
Abstract:While the Laptev Sea sedimentary basin belonging to the shelfal area of the Arctic Ocean is promising in terms of hydrocarbon discoveries, its geologic complexity hinders petroleum geologic studies and estimation of its hydrocarbon potential. Existing contradictory views about the tectonic framework and evolution of the Laptev Sea cause considerable uncertainties concerning its prospects. The current situation resulting by the fact that our basic understanding of the geology of the Laptev Sea margin was mostly established before 2000 and was based on a limited amount of seismic data, often of compromised quality. Still, recent years have seen the accumulation of a considerable amount of G&G data capable of improving our understanding of the Laptev offshore geology, although it has not been generalized and comprehensively reviewed to date. A unified dataset comprising both historical and newly acquired G&G data created in the course of this project enabled to revise the tectonic framework of the Laptev Sea. The comprehensive review of the information provided a consistent model for the tectonic evolution of the studied territory and clarified some controversial questions.
Abstract:A review of both historical and recent geological and geophysical data has provided a comprehensive examination of the sedimentary cover architecture in the Laptev Sea, as well as the tectonic conditions for its evolution. The well-established hypothesis regarding the rift-driven origin of sedimentary basins in the Laptev shelf has been challenged based on extensive geophysical data obtain ed in recent years and the results of fission track and radiometric dating of rock samples from the surrounding onshore area. Structural mapping of the entire Laptev shelf has allowed for the delineation of the main sequences, revealing the development of sedimentary basins, including shifts in depocentres and temporal changes in sedimentation rates. The current understanding of Arctic Ocean tectonic development, which is grounded in plate tectonic theory, has facilitated geodynamic restoration in the study area. This endeavour has yielded a consistent background model suitable for subsequent basin analysis, geological risk assessment, and estimation of hydrocarbon potential.