Intermediate Fusion Approach for Pneumonia Classification on Imbalanced Multimodal Data

In medical practice, the primary diagnosis of diseases should be carried out quickly and, if possible, automatically. The processing of multimodal data in medicine has become a ubiquitous technique in the classification, prediction and detection of diseases. Pneumonia is one of the most common lung diseases. In our study, we used chest X-ray images as the first modality and the results of laboratory studies on a patient as the second modality to detect pneumonia. The architecture of the multimodal deep learning model was based on intermediate fusion. The model was trained on balanced and imbalanced data when the presence of pneumonia was determined in 50% and 9% of the total number of cases, respectively. For a more objective evaluation of the results, we compared our model performance with several other open-source models on our data. The experiments demonstrate the high performance of the proposed model for pneumonia detection based on two modalities even in cases of imbalanced classes (up to 96.6%) compared to single-modality models’ results (up to 93.5%). We made several integral estimates of the performance of the proposed model to cover and investigate all aspects of multimodal data and architecture features. There were accuracy, ROC AUC, PR AUC, F1 score, and the Matthews correlation coefficient metrics. Using various metrics, we proved the possibility and meaningfulness of the usage of the proposed model, aiming to properly classify the disease. Experiments showed that the performance of the model trained on imbalanced data was even slightly higher than other models considered.In medical practice, the primary diagnosis of diseases should be carried out quickly and, if possible, automatically. The processing of multimodal data in medicine has become a ubiquitous technique in the classification, prediction and detection of diseases. Pneumonia is one of the most common lung diseases. In our study, we used chest X-ray images as the first modality and the results of laboratory studies on a patient as the second modality to detect pneumonia. The architecture of the multimodal deep learning model was based on intermediate fusion. The model was trained on balanced and imbalanced data when the presence of pneumonia was determined in 50% and 9% of the total number of cases, respectively. For a more objective evaluation of the results, we compared our model performance with several other open-source models on our data. The experiments demonstrate the high performance of the proposed model for pneumonia detection based on two modalities even in cases of imbalanced classes (up to 96.6%) compared to single-modality models’ results (up to 93.5%). We made several integral estimates of the performance of the proposed model to cover and investigate all aspects of multimodal data and architecture features. There were accuracy, ROC AUC, PR AUC, F1 score, and the Matthews correlation coefficient metrics. Using various metrics, we proved the possibility and meaningfulness of the usage of the proposed model, aiming to properly classify the disease. Experiments showed that the performance of the model trained on imbalanced data was even slightly higher than other models considered

Why didn’t Russia become a constitutional monarchy in the XIX century?

The article deals with the main problems associated with the possibility of implementing a constitutional alternative in Russia in the XIX century. The authors consider the prerequisites for the development of constitutional projects during this period, including their regularity or randomness, and relationship with previous stages of development of the Russian statehood. They pay particular attention to the subjective factor, i.e. personal views and worldview of the Russian emperors as the main condition for the implementation of the constitutional alternative to the development of the country. The reigns of Alexander I and Alexander II, who were either the initiators of the development of constitutional projects (Alexander I) or did not prevent it (Alexander II), are the focus of attention. The comparative analysis of the main constitutional projects of the XIX century is carried out in this article: of the Letter of Commendation to the Russian people in 1801, the project of M.M. Speransky in 1809, the Charter Diploma of the Russian Empire in 1818-1820, the project of P.A. Valuev in 1863, the grand prince Konstantin Nikolaevich in 1866 and 1880, the P.A. Shuvalov in 1874 and of the M.T. Loris-Melikov in 1880-1881.The projects of the time period of Alexander II are much more moderate than of the epoch of Alexander I and they can be recognized as constitutional ones with a great stretch. It was a step backwards in the development of Russian constitutionalism. This is explained by a subjective factor: much more moderate political views of Alexander II and his greater commitment to the autocratic tradition inherited from his father. In conclusion, there are the reasons for the lack of implementation of the constitutional alternative in Russia in the XIX century in this article, they are the following: peculiarities of the social structure of the Russian society, narrowness of the social base of the constitutional reforms, lack of understanding and disinterestedness of the majority of the population in their implementation and necessity, indecision of the emperors

Conceptual approach to the development of financial technologies in the context of digitalization of economic processes

The successful introduction of the digital economy into the information space of the Russian Federation involves the solution of several problems associated with the transition to a new paradigm of economic development based on the digitization of social and economic processes. At the same time, the existing regulatory mechanisms and legislation do not create optimal conditions for the development of the market of new financial instruments and technologies in Russia today. There are socio-economic risks, the key ones including an increase in the outflow of capital and innovative projects to other countries, a lack of confidence on the part of potential investors in new financial instruments, a decrease in the stability of traditional financial institutions. On this basis, the following tasks have been set in this article. To consider the terminology in the field of digital economy from the theoretical aspect; to identify trends and justify the need for digitalization of economic processes based on the use of new financial technologies; to reveal the informative characteristics of financial technologies promising for Russia. This article ends with a conclusion that the development of the digital economy in Russia is due to the need to ensure the information and economic security of the state, realize the potential of the new economy to improve the standard of living and national well-being through the introduction of innovative communication and financial technologies. The impact of the “digital economy” on socio-economic processes is multifaceted. It is sustainable and permeates all spheres of life, being an integral part of modern society.peer-reviewe

The Eurasian economic union customs’ administration mechanism in the digital era

Purpose: The aim of the article is to identify the prospects for the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) customs regulation mechanism in digital transformation following the global trend. Design/Methodology/Approach: For the purpose of determining priorities for the EEU customs mechanism digitization, it is necessary to define the regulatory framework on which the digitalization process is based, to analyze the customs’ regulation sphere digitization direction in the member states of the EEU and to formulate the priorities for improving the EEU customs’ regulation mechanism on the information and communication technologies. Findings: EEU customs’ regulation mechanism digitization key areas have been identified, based on the provisions of the EEU’s Digital Agenda and the Declaration on further development of integration processes within the Union. Practical implications: The results can be implemented in the Eurasian Economic Commission management practice, the EEU member states customs’ authorities in order to improve the customs regulation mechanism. Originality/Value: The main contribution of this study is to identify the differences in the customs regulation sphere digitization processes in the EEU member states and to identify the areas for implementing a unified strategy.peer-reviewe

The optimality of the option of abolishing serfdom in Russia, implemented in 1861

The article discusses the controversial issues related to the abolition of serfdom in Russia in 1861: its causes, features of preparation and implementation. The authors focus on the question of whether the implemented version of the abolition of serfdom in Russia was optimal. For this purpose, a comparative analysis of the abolition of serfdom in Russia is carried out with similar reforms in European countries, which could serve as a reference point, primarily in Austria and Prussia. It is concluded that the peasant reform in Russia in 1861 (in the final version) was carried out primarily in the interests of the state and not of individual social groups (landowners and peasants). It is the state that has benefited most from the implementation of this particular version of the reform, both financially and politically. Among the losers there were both peasants (to a greater extent) and landowners (to a lesser extent). The main thing was that the reform provoked the problem of the lack of land of the majority of peasants, which in the future became one of the main reasons for the social explosion and revolutions at the beginning of the XX century

Improvement of financial literacy as a crucial factor of economic development

Issues on the public financial literacy are highly relevant in the context of expanding opportunities of financial services used, increasing the complexity and the appearance of new financial tools. Ensuring personal financial security is becoming an important factor of economic development and public welfare improvement. Nevertheless, a low level of financial literacy negatively impacts personal welfare and a financial potential of households, deteriorates the resource base of financial institutions, hampers the financial market development, retards investment processes in economics and leads to the aggravation of the socio-economic situation of the country. In this regard, the following tasks have been set in this study. To consider a conceptual characteristic of the notion “financial literacy” and its components – fiscal and taxation literacy; study the contemporary international and Russian practice of financial literacy improvement as a factor for the economic development of a country. The article substantiates the following: the constructive use of the best practices should create real opportunities for raising the level of financial literacy of the population in the Russian Federation, increase confidence in the financial system, reduce the financial risks of consumers of financial services and improve the population’s welfare.peer-reviewe

Glutamate Concentration in the Serum of Patients with Schizophrenia

Glutamate is the major neurotransmitter with multiple functions in the central nervous system. Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is involved in the pathophysiological processes in schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of glutamate in the serum of patients with paranoid schizophrenia compared with healthy individuals, and depending on the duration of the schizophrenic process and leading clinical symptoms. We investigated the level of glutamate in the serum of 158 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 94 healthy persons. Higher concentrations of glutamate in schizophrenic patients compared with healthy persons have been found. The maximum concentrations of glutamate were detected in patients with disease duration of more than ten years. Glutamate level in the serum does not depend on the prevailing negative or positive clinical symptoms. The increased concentration of glutamate can hypothetically contribute to dopaminergic and glutamatergic imbalance, leading to the development of psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction

Double-stranded RNAs are promising adjuvants for enhancing immunogenicity of vaccines

Background. The most effective way to prevent infectious diseases is vaccination. Adjuvants contribute to the optimization of the immune response of vaccines. Double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNAs) from natural sources are promising, but insufficiently studied adjuvants. The aim of the work was to study the adjuvant activity of dsRNA obtained from the killer strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using two models of induction of a specific immune response. Materials and methods. In the experiments, the substance of the drug Ridostin containing dsRNA, 21.72% (produced by Institute of Medical Biotechnology of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector), was used. A specific immune response was modeled using ovalbumin (OVA) or the substance of the EpiVacCorona vaccine (EVC). The experiments were carried out in 200 female BALB/c mice. Mice of the experimental groups were injected twice with antigen and adjuvant together with a 28-day interval, mice of the comparison group with antigen only. On the 10th day after the second immunization, blood samples were collected to determine the level of specific antibodies using enzyme immunoassay. The results were evaluated by calculation of the average geometric titers of specific antibodies against OVA or EVC. Results. OVA or EVC administered twice induced the specific antibodies in mice in dose-dependent titers. The combined administration of antigen and dsRNA increased the strength of the immune response. The highest stimulating effect of dsRNA was observed in the dose of 100 g/mouse administered into mice immunized with OVA (1 g/mouse) or in the dose of 50 g/mouse in mice immunized with EVC substance (0.25 of a human dose per mouse). Conclusion. The data obtained indicate that the substance of dsRNA exerts adjuvant properties, which gives reason to consider dsRNA as a promising adjuvant for peptide vaccines