bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Evaluation and Design of Propulsion System For Cubesat: N2o and C2h4 as Green Bipropellant
Authors: Prasad Sahoo Jagannath , Narayan Choudhary Deepayan , Praveen Manjappa
Published: December 2023

This work proposes a design of a new propulsion module for a 3U CubeSat that will be used for collision avoidance and for deorbiting the spacecraft. We propose a bi-propellant, a mixture of Ethylene and Nitrous oxide which has no toxicity. The bi-propellant system used does not need an additional pressurizing system and will ignite automatically when the mixture will enter the combustion chamber. Due to these features, our propulsion module uses only 1U space of the CubeSat saving 2U for other systems. In this study, a program such as CEA and RPA were used for chemical equilibrium calculation developed in NASA and German Universities. It contains a thermodynamic data library, the PAC99 program which does regression and estimation of thermodynamics, numerical analysis data and chemical equilibrium analyzed by various stimulations. This propulsion evaluation aims at the calculation of efficiency, feasibility and specific impulse obtained was larger than 300 seconds.
Control of Back-pressure During Wind Tunnel Testing of A Two Dimensional Ramjet Air-intake Model
Authors: Sharma Anju , Singh D.B. , Suryanarayana G.K.
Published: December 2023

For optimum utilization of available run-time in blowdown wind tunnels, the controls, instrumentation, data acquisition and various other related systems associated with measurements must be efficiently synchronized. Testing of the air-intake model is a typical example where large number of steady and unsteady pressure measurements need to be combined with control of back pressure at the exit plane of the intake. This paper presents the development of a PC-based control system for testing a ramjet air-intake model at supersonic Mach numbers in the 0.3m trisonic wind tunnel at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore. The back pressure of the two-dimensional ramjet air intake model was controlled using a rectangular butterfly valve driven by a stepper motor external to the test section. Commands to vary the valve position were programmed in a PC and the valve position acquired from a potentiometer. The motor control and pressure data acquisition were operated in a hand-shake mode to enable hands-off execution of tests and maximize the data throughput from each blowdown.
‘Swadeshi’ Bio-Jet Fuel Project - A Success Story of the IAF
Authors: Jain S. K. , Sachan A. S.
Published: December 2023

No Abstract
Large Eddy Simulation of Flow Through the T106D Low Pressure Turbine Cascade
Authors: M. Saji , Mathew Joseph
Published: December 2023

Large eddy simulations were performed of the flow through the T106D low pressure turbine cascade at exit Reynolds number Re2th = 60,000 using an explicit filtering method. Sixth-order compact differences for spatial derivatives and a 2nd-order Runge-Kutta method for time stepping were used. A 10th-order low pass filter was applied to transported fields. Simulations with uniform inflow and flow with inlet Freestream Turbulence (FST) of 1%. Results were compared with experiments. The isentropic Mach number over the blade shows good agreement with experiment, except over a small portion of the suction surface near the mid-chord. A shallow separation was captured in both cases. Natural transition occurs for uniform inflow and bypass transition with inlet FST, but surface pressure distribution changes little. Flow structures were visualized as iso-surfaces of the second invariant Q of the velocity gradient tensor. Wake pressure loss coefficient had been measured at the plane 40% chord from the blade trailing edge. In the LES, wake pressure loss for flow with FST of 1% is slightly higher than that with uniform inflow in the vicinity of the wake. Overall, the results obtained from the LES are in good agreement with the experiment.
CFD Study of the Effect of Special Aerodynamic Devices on Saras MK II
Authors: Shikhar Jaiswal A. , Sajjan Sharanappa V. , Puttam Jyothi Kumar , Madhu Babu K. , Arshad Shameem C. , Venkatesh T. N.
Published: December 2023

In order to study the effect of special devices like spoilers, stabilons etc. on the aircraft aerodynamic characteristics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been carried out for the flow past SARAS Mk II aircraft using an open source SU2 CFD solver with Spalart Allmaras (SA) turbulence model. The reduction in CL and increase in CD due to spoilers has been quantified which in turn reduces the landing distance of the aircraft. The effect of stabilons on the lateral stability of the aircraft has also been studied and the results are explained in terms of flow-field and aerodynamic coefficients. These studies have helped in making decisions on the configuration design.
ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЕ СИСТЕМЫ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ГУСЕНИЧНЫМ РОБОТОМ
С ПОМОЩЬЮ ПАКЕТА MATLAB
Authors: Kirakosyan Gagik , Avetisyan Kajik , Melkonyan Vachagan , Poghosyan Arevshat , Potikyan Marina
Published: December 2023

When designing a feedback control system, the key issue is to ensure its stability. The stability of a feedback system is directly related to the location of the roots of its characteristic equation. The rules that allow to determine whether the system is stable or not without calculating the roots of the characteristic equation are important. In this paper, a very useful method of stability analysis is considered, known as the Routh method. This method is most simply explained by the Table he proposed. The tracked robot control system is stable when all elements of the first column of the Routh Table are positive. If there is at least one negative element in the first column, then the system is unstable. The stable region for the microprocessor system of a tracked robot was also found using the Simulink model. Within the framework of this study, the movement of the robot in a circle (1st trajectory) and uniform rectilinear movement (2nd trajectory) were considered. The steady-state error is calculated for both the 1st trajectory and the 2nd one. It is shown that the steady-state error for the 1st trajectory is equal to zero, i.e. the tracked robot accurately tracks the given input signal. It is shown that the steady-state error for the 2nd trajectory does not exceed 24% of the value of the linear input signal. A microprocessor system has been developed to control the movement of a tracked robot, where the adjustable parameters are K and a. To obtain a numerical result in modeling the stability of a tracked robot, the MATLAB package was used.
STUDIES OF THE ROLE FOR DIHYDROPYRIMIDINASE RELATED PROTEIN 2 IN FORMATION OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL AND CLINICS
Authors: Amrakhova Sh.N. , Miryusifova Kh.M. , Shiraliyeva R.K. , Mekhtiev A.A.
Published: December 2023

Article concerns results of the studies of the epileptic seizures carried out on the model of male rabbits of Chinchilla species and on the epileptic patients. In the 1 st series of studies after administration of 300 units of natrium penisillinum into the amygdala of the rabbits and induction of epileptic seizures blood samples were taken from them and with application of solid-phase indirect ELISA-test the level of dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 (DRP2) in the platelets and the level of anti-DRP2 autoantibodies in the serum were evaluated. During seizures downregulation of both DRP2 in the platelets (p<0.05), and anti-DRP2 autoantibodies in the serum (p<0.01) was revealed. In the 2 nd series of studies after achieving stable level of seizure activity in the rabbits, through cannula, earlier implanted into the brain lateral ventricle, DRP2 in a volume of 10 µL and concentration 0.7 mg/mL, in buffered saline solution (pH 7.3) was administered and 5 min later suppression of seizures was noted. In the 3 rd series of studies blood samples were taken from the veins of the patients having diagnosis of genuine epilepsy and with application of indirect ELISA- test the level of DRP2 in the platelets was measured and drastic, 3-fold upregulation of DRP2 (p<0.001) was revealed. The results presented in the article demonstrate prominent stabilizing role for serotonergic system and its sub-cellular signal proteins in regulation of excitation processes of brain cells and realization of inhibitory effects on formation of epileptic activity.
Müzik Terapi ve Alzheimer
Authors: DİLEK Filiz , ÜNAL Aysun
Published: December 2023

Bu derleme, müzik terapisini tanımlamak ve Alzheimer hastalarında farmakoterapi ile birlikte müzik terapisinin önemini vurgulamak amacıyla yazılmıştır. Demanslı kişilerin müzikten hoşlandıkları ve sözlü iletişim artık mümkün olmadığında bile yanıt verme yeteneklerini korudukları bilinmektedir. Müzik, hasta ve bakıcısının başka türlü mevcut olmayacak bir bağı paylaşmasına yardımcı olabilir. Hastalığın tedavi sürecinde farmakolojik tedaviye ek olarak uygulanan müzik terapisinin hastaların bilişsel yeteneklerinin korunması ve davranışsal semptomların kontrolü üzerinde olumlu etkileri olduğu gösterilmiştir.
Corruption, Environmental Quality, Energy Consumption, and Economic Growth in Asean Countries
Authors: Waeibrorheem Waemustafa
Published: December 2023

The current study is carried out to explore the link between Corruption, Environment quality. Energy consumption and economic growth in selected Asean countries. In addition to that, the present study aims to highlight the direct impacts of corruption upon environmental degradation, energy consumption, and economic progress. For this purpose, the analytical framework has been particularly used. Theoretically, environmental quality is expected to be directly influenced by corruption using taxation and regulations, while corruption affects economic growth which in turn affects the quality of environment. Therefore, economic growth is negatively influenced by the levels of corruptions. The higher the levels of corruption the lower will be the GDP level of an economy. This lower GDP level then influences the environmental quality, and thus confirms the EKC hypothesis. This paper has employed cointegration model for analyzing the association between environmental quality, energy consumption, corruption, and economic growth for the data involving 5 ASEAN countries i.e. Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, and Indonesia for the years 1960-2021. The literature review has shown no empirical study that have employed cointegration model for examining the effects of corruption on energy consumption, environmental quality, and economic growth. The findings of the study are in line with the proposed hypothesis. The study which is among the pioneering studies will be helpful for policymakers and researchers
KEMIRIPAN DAN KEUNGGULAN KREDIT MODAL KERJA (KMK) BANK PEMBANGUNAN DAERAH BALI DENGAN BEBERAPA BANK PESAING
Authors: Purba Astakoni I Made
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study were 1) to determine the similarity (similarity)between product Working Capital Loan (KMK) BPD Bali with competing products.2) to determine the debtorâ€™s perception of the product Working Capital Loans (WCL)BPD Bali and the products of its competitors. 3) to determine the superiority ofWorking Capital Loans (WCL) BPD Bali compared with competing products. The dataanalysis technique used is a multivariate analysis, the analysis of multidimensionalscaling (MDS) and Correspondence Analysis (CA). Based on the analysis of MDS in particular two-dimensional perceptual map, customer perception of similarity between the bank shows that the KMK BPD Bali has similarities with KMK BRI, whileKMK BNI has some similarities with Bank Mandiri. From the analysis of respondentsâ€™perceptions CA KMK BPD Bali showed the same position with the KMK BRI with anaverage score of 82.92 percent,. KMK BNI 46 with an average score of 84.42 percent,KMK bank Mandiri of 84.33 percent while the WCL Danamon lowest perceived witha score of 81.83 percent. KMK BRI BPD Bali and excels in ease of loan collateralattributes, and attribute lending. While KMK BNI and Bank Mandiri has advantagesin the cost of provision and administration attributes, office location / room acomfortable, personal approach and standard system attributes. While KMK BankDanamon has the advantage on account activity and attributes atributl advertising.
STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN WISATA BAHARI DI PANTAI LOVINA KECAMATAN BULELENG KABUPATEN BULELENG
Authors: Ribeka Martha Purwahita A.A.A
Published: December 2023

Marine tourism at Lovina Beach improves the tourism developmentin North Bali, with opening the jobfields, efforts to improve the welfare of society.A unique marine tourism with its dolphin should be well manage and expand thequality product of marine tourism. Improve the quality of human resource, developbetter management in the future. This study aims to analyze supported with IFASEFASmatriks and SWOT analyze. The collecting data supported by observation,interview and questionnaires. Strategy to develop product of marine tourism, themarket penetration strategy, maintain and improve the potential of tourism strategy,expand cooperation and awareness strategy are strategies to develop marine tourism at Lovina Beach.
Collaborative Model Of Equality And Skills Program In An Effort To Empower Citizens To Learn Package B
Authors: Sutangsa  , Ahmed Abdussalam Ali
Published: December 2023

The PKBM Bina Mandiri Cipageran package B equality education program has a superior program, namely the skills program. This business is a form of empowerment process for young people who are the forerunners of the nation's successors, especially in the demographic bonus era which requires young people to have competence as capital in the world of business and the world of work. The research we discuss is more about how to manage skills programs combined with package B equality education programs. The research method we use is qualitative using observation, interview and documentation study data collection techniques. From the research results, we found that the integration of equality and skills programs lies in the management of program components.
Productive Waqf and Poverty Alleviation: Government Contribution in Realizing Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Pratama Tommy , Sembada Yoga Satria , Syahmirwan
Published: December 2023

Poverty is a serious challenge faced by many countries throughout the world, including Indonesia. This phenomenon is a big responsibility for the government so it is necessary to find comprehensive solutions to achieve sustainable development goals. One method of approach that is currently being intensively discussed is through the productive waqf pattern. Productive waqf applies the concept of productivity to waqf assets so that it is hoped that it will be able to make a significant contribution to poverty alleviation. This research identifies the strategies applied by the government in promoting productive waqf, namely through policy regulations, outreach to the community and efficient management. The results of this research show that the government's contribution to realizing sustainable development goals through productive waqf is very important. Productive waqf can optimize current waqf assets and increase public awareness of waqf with new innovations, namely cash waqf and share waqf. Effective supervision and transparency in the use of waqf funds are challenges that must be overcome.
Analysis of the Implementation of the Auction Policy for the Execution of Tax Confiscated Goods at the Bekasi City State Property and Auction Services Office
Authors: Alamsyah Sultan Zainurrofiq
Published: December 2023

The Tax Execution Auction is an auction conducted by the DGT to carry out the execution of confiscated property of a Taxpayer, the property auctioned and the proceeds become a supporting sector for state financial revenues. This study aimed to identify and analyze the implementation of the Tax Execution Auction policy. This study used the Van Meter and Van Horn theory to explore the results of the study. This study applied a descriptive qualitative method, where researchers collect data through interviews, documentation, and observation. The research location was at the service office of state property and auction Bekasi. The results of this research stated that the implementation of the Tax Execution Auction policy can be said to have not been carried out properly because there are still many obstacles. The obstacles that hinder the implementation of the policy, i.e., the absence of documents or incomplete documents from confiscated auction items and resistance from asset owners and lack of information for the public.
Eksistentiel og åndelig omsorg i post-sekulære kontekster
Authors: Nissen Ricko , Falkø Erik , Kvist Stripp Tobias , Hvidt Niels Christian
Published: December 2023

Forskning på tværs af sundhedsområder har vist, at eksistentiel og åndelig omsorg kan være til stor gavn for patienter. Det kan imidlertid være en udfordring at indarbejde denne omsorg i daglig praksis, ikke mindst i post-sekulære, multikulturelle og pluralistiske kontekster, som eksempelvis den danske. Formålet med dette integrative review var at lokalisere, evaluere og diskutere spørgeskemaer, som fokuserer på eksistentielle og ESR behov. Elleve spørgeskemaer blev inkluderet, evalueret og diskuteret, med fokus på religiøst/spirituelt/eksistentielt ordvalg og formuleringer, lokale kulturelle og pluralistiske kontekster, og i forhold til anvendelighed i et sekulært sundhedsvæsen. Artiklen fokuserer på faktorer, der bør adresseres ved implementeringen af spørgeskemaer om eksistentielle og ESR behov i forskellige kulturelle og sproglige kontekster. Derved bidrager den til den internationale udvikling, udveksling og implementering af viden og erfaringer om bedste praksis indenfor eksistentiel og åndelig omsorg i post-sekulære kontekster.
The role of the Confucius Institutes in the dissemination of the Chinese language in the Russian Federation
Authors: Wang Tuo
Published: December 2023

This article is devoted to the study of the role of Confucius Institutes in the dissemination of the Chinese language in the Russian Federation. The relevance of the research topic is due to several factors: the rapid growth of the influence of the People’s Republic of China on the international arena, the growth of bilateral cooperation between the PRC and the Russian Federation under conditions of transformation of the international relations situation, phenomenon of «power transition». The object of this study is «soft power» of the PRC. The study focuses on the role of the Confucius Institutes in promoting the Chinese language in the Russian Federation. The author considers in detail the role of Confucius Institutes in the context of the implementation of the «soft power» of China, the activities of Confucius Institutes in the Russian Federation. The author pays special attention to the study of the policy of «soft power» of the PRC in the context of «power transition». This study is based on neo-liberalism. The main conclusions of the study are the characterization of «soft power» of China as a historically deep phenomenon, the evaluation of the Chinese language as one of the key elements of «soft power» of the People’s Republic of China at the present stage, analysis of the competitiveness of the «soft power» of the People’s Republic of China with the same form of political power of the USA, identification of differences in the activities of the Confucius Institutes in the countries of the collective West and the Russian Federation. The scientific novelty of the conducted study lies in the analysis of the activity of the Confucius Institutes in the dissemination of the Chinese language in the Russian Federation in the context of the process of «power transition».
Ultralow switching threshold optical bistable devices based on epsilon-near-zero Ga2O3-SiC-Ag multilayer structures
Authors: Hu Sheng-Run , Ji Xue-Qiang , Wang Jin-Jin , Yan Jie-Yun , Zhang Tian-Yue , Li Pei-Gang ,   State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China,   Laboratory of Information Functional Materials and Devices, School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China,   Laboratory of Power Devices and Power Integrated Circuits, School of Integrated Circuits,Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Published: December 2023

Optical bistability has attracted much attention due to its enormous potential applications in all-optical operation and signal processing. However, the weak nonlinear responses typically require huge pump power to reach the threshold of the optical bistability, thus hindering the real applications. In this study, we propose an efficient optical bistable metamaterial, which is composed of multilayer Ga2O3-SiC-Ag metal-dielectric nanostructures. We not only use the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) with SiC-Ag thin layers to enhance the substantial field, but also incorporate the SiC material to increase its significant optical nonlinear coefficient. In the structural design, the introduction of Ga2O3 layer facilitates the light field concentration, contributing to the further reduction in threshold power for optical bistability, and also conducing to the improvement of the physical and chemical stability of the device. The influences of the thickness and length of the ENZ layer on the optical bistability are systematically investigated by using the finite element method. The results demonstrate that optical bistability becomes more pronounced with the increase of the thickness and length of ENZ layer, exhibiting a bistability switching threshold as low as ~10–6 W/cm2 in the telecommunication band. Comparing with the previously reported optical bistability based on ENZ mechanism, the threshold shows a significant reduction by 9 orders of magnitude, demonstrating great application potential in the fields of semiconductor devices and photonic integrated circuits.
Electronic properties and modulation effects on edge-modified GeS2 nanoribbons
Authors: Li Jing-Hui , Cao Sheng-Guo , Han Jia-Ning , Li Zhan-Hai , Zhang Zhen-Hua ,   Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronic Materials Genome Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Published: December 2023

GeS2 monolayers have been successfully prepared in this work. To further expand their applications and discover new physical properties, we construct armchair-type GeS2 nanoribbons (AGeS2NR) and use different concentrations of H and O atoms for the edge modificationand their structural stabilities, electronic properties, carrier mobilities, and physical field modulation effects are studied in depth. The results show that the edge-modified nanoribbon has a higher energy and thermal stability. The bare edge nanoribbon is a nonmagnetic semiconductor, while the edge modification can change the bandgap of AGeS2NR and make it a wide or narrowed bandgap semiconductor, or a metal, which is closely related to the elimination or partial elimination of the edge states or the creation of hybridization bands. Thus edge modification extends the application range of nanoribbons in the fields of electronic devices and optical devices. In addition, the carrier mobility is found to be very sensitive to the edge modification: the carriers’ (electrons’ and holes’) mobilities of nanoribbons can be adjusted to a difference of up to one order of magnitude, and the difference in carrier mobility polarization can be tuned to one order of magnitude. Strain effect studies reveal that the semiconducting nanoribbons are robust in keeping the electronic phase unchanged over a wide strain range, which is useful for maintaining the stability of the electron transport in the related device. Most of the semiconducting nanoribbons have the stability to keep the semiconducting properties unchanged under high external electric field, but the bandgap can be reduced significantly with the increase of the electric field. In short, this study provides a theoretical analysis and reference for understanding the property of GeS2 nanoribbons and developing related devices.
mitoBKCa is functionally expressed in murine and human breast cancer cells and promotes metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Bischof Helmut , Maier Selina , Koprowski Piotr , Kulawiak Bogusz , Burgstaller Sandra , Jasińska Joanna , Serafimov Kristian , Gross Dominic , Schroth Werner , Matt Lucas , Juarez Lopez David Arturo , Bonzheim Irina , Büttner Florian A. , Fend Falko , Schwab Matthias , Birkenfeld Andreas L. , Malli Roland , Lämmerhofer Michael , Bednarczyk Piotr , Szewczyk Adam , Lukowski Robert
Published: December 2023

Alterations in the function of K
+
channels such as the voltage- and Ca
2+
activated K
+
channel of large conductance (BK
Ca
) reportedly promote breast cancer (BC) development and progression. Underlying molecular mechanisms remain, however, elusive. Here, we provide electrophysiological evidence for a BK
Ca
splice variant localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane of murine and human BC cells (mitoBK
Ca
). Through a combination of genetic knockdown and knockout along with cell permeable BK
Ca
channel blocker, we show that mitoBK
Ca
modulates overall cellular and mitochondrial energy production and mediates the metabolic rewiring referred to as the “Warburg effect”, thereby promoting BC cell proliferation in the presence and absence of oxygen. Additionally, we detect mitoBK
Ca
and BK
Ca
transcripts in low or high abundance, respectively, in clinical BC specimens. Together, our results emphasize, that targeting mitoBK
Ca
, combined with established anti-cancer approaches, could represent a novel treatment strategy for selected BC patients.
Modified graph-based algorithm to analyze security threats in IoT
Authors: Arat Ferhat , Akleylek Sedat
Published: December 2023

In recent years, the growing and widespread usage of Internet of Things (IoT) systems has led to the emergence of customized structures dependent on these systems. Industrial IoT (IIoT) is a subset of IoT in terms of applications and usage areas. IIoT presents many participants in various domains, such as healthcare, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing. Besides the daily life benefits, IIoT technology provides major contributions via the Industrial Control System (ICS) and intelligent systems. The convergence of IoT and IIoT systems brings some integration and interoperability problems. In IIoT systems, devices interact with each other using information technologies (IT) and network space. However, these common usages and interoperability led to some security risks. To avoid security risks and vulnerabilities, different systems and protocols have been designed and published. Various public databases and programs identify and provide some of the security threats to make it easier for system administrators' missions. However, effective and long-term security detection mechanisms are needed. In the literature, there are numerous approaches to detecting security threats in IoT-based systems. This article presents two major contributions: First, a graph-based threat detection approach for IoT-based network systems is proposed. Threat path detection is one of the most critical steps in the security of IoT-based systems. To represent vulnerabilities, a directed acyclic graph (DAG) structure is constructed using threat weights. General threats are identified using Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE). The proposed threat pathfinding algorithm uses the depth first search (DFS) idea and discovers threat paths from the root to all leaf nodes. Therefore, all possible threat paths are detected in the threat graph. Second, threat path-reducing algorithms are proposed considering the total threat weight, hop length, and hot spot thresholds. In terms of available threat pathfinding and hot spot detecting procedures, the proposed reducing algorithms provide better running times. Therefore, all possible threat paths are founded and reduced by the constructed IoT-based DAG structure. Finally, simulation results are compared, and remarkable complexity performances are obtained.
Trapping liquids may bias the results of beetle diversity assessment
Authors: Nakládal Oto , Havránková Eliška , Zumr Václav
Published: December 2023

Several different techniques and methods are used to capture and study beetles (Coleoptera). One option is the use of window traps with various trapping liquids. However, these liquids used in comparative studies may have a biasing effect on the results. The effectiveness of the frequently used liquid baits, involving beer, wine, vinegar, and water as the reference liquid, was compared in this study. Twenty-four traps were assigned to two habitat categories (sunny and shady) and four kinds of bait: beer, wine, vinegar, and water. During the study from June to July 2021, a total of 29,944 invertebrates were captured; of these, 3,931 individuals belonged to Coleoptera. A total of 3,825 beetles were identified, belonging to 120 species and 36 families. The most abundant family was Nitidulidae, with 3,297 adults (86% of the total). The number of arthropods differed only in the trapping liquid, and the captures were similar between beer and wine and between vinegar and water. The trapping liquid had a more significant effect on beetle abundance and species richness. In contrast, exposure had a significant effect only on the number of beetle species and a higher ratio of beetles was found in the shade. Beer and wine were very attractive and collected similar beetle communities. However, the diversity (Shannon’s index) was low due to the high abundance of several species. Traps with vinegar and water collected a similar composition and species richness. After removing sap beetles (Nitidulidae) from all traps, a significant difference was still recorded between trapping liquids in the number of individuals and species, and their communities were much more similar. Thus, at high abundances of sap beetles, it is possible to exclude them from analyses and obtain more accurate data when assessing environmental variables. The results showed that the type of trapping liquids used can have substantial effects on abundance and species composition captured beetles in traps especially for beer and wine. The beer and wine in traps can significantly influence the subsequent biodiversity assessment. We recommend the use of trapping liquids without the baiting effect to correctly assess the effect of environmental variables on beetle richness and abundance.
Türkçeyi Yabancı/İkinci Dil Olarak Öğrenenlerin Konuşma Becerisi Öz Yeterliklerinin Belirlenmesi
Authors: BAŞAR Umut , ÇANGAL Önder
Published: December 2023

ÖZ

Türkçe öğrenmeye olan talep her geçen gün artmakta; Türkiye’de üniversitelerin Türkçe Öğretimi Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezleri, Türkiye dışında üniversitelerin Türkoloji bölümleri ve Yunus Emre Enstitüleri bu talebin karşılanması için çalışmalar gerçekleştirmektedir. Türkçe öğretiminde, öğrenicilerin okuma, dinleme, konuşma ve yazma becerilerinin geliştirilmesi temel amaçtır. Ancak Türkiye’de ve Türkiye dışında Türkçe öğrenenlerin imkânları aynı değildir. Bu nedenle farklı değişkenlerin öğrenicilerin dil becerilerinin gelişimine ve öz yeterliklerine ne şekilde etki ettiğini tespit etmek öğretim sürecinin yapılandırılması açısından önem arz etmektedir. Bu doğrultuda çalışmanın amacı, Türkçeyi yabancı/ikinci dil olarak öğrenenlerin konuşma becerisi öz yeterliklerini belirlemektir. Çalışmada, öğrenicilerin konuşma becerisi öz yeterliklerinin cinsiyet, yaş, Türkçeyi Türkiye’de veya yurt dışında öğrenme durumları, Türkçe öğrendikleri kurumlar ve dil düzeylerine göre değişiklik gösterip göstermediği irdelenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre öğrenicilerin konuşma becerisi öz yeterlikleri arasında cinsiyete ve yaşa göre anlamlı farklılık yoktur. Yurt dışında Türkçe öğrenenlerin konuşma becerisi öz yeterlik puan ortalamalarının Türkiye’dekilere göre daha yüksek, Gaziantep’te Türkçe öğrenenlerin konuşma becerisi öz yeterlik puan ortalamalarının Kazakistan ve Cezayir’dekilere göre daha düşük ve Türkçe dil düzeyi C1 olan öğrenicilerin konuşma becerisi öz yeterlik puan ortalamalarının B1 ve B2 düzeyindekilere göre daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür.
Taking Interdisciplinary Science Learning to Nature
Authors: GÜLER Bekir , EYÜPOĞLU İsmail , TAŞ Fatih , BÜYÜKŞAHİN Yasemin
Published: December 2023

In recent years, efforts to form a sustainable community rather than a consumption society deprived of nature have accelerated. To raise this awareness in individuals and; more importantly, to make it sustainable, education plays a significant role. Informal and nonformal learning are vital resources for individuals to recognize the importance of nature and to establish a healthy and balanced relationship with science and nature. One of the settings to experience such learning is science and nature camps. In light of this, the main purpose of this study was to investigate how an interdisciplinary science camp consisting of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) activities would affect secondary school students’ perceptions of science and nature in rural areas. The prepared activities, it was also intended to present an application sample for process-oriented integration of science and nature practices. Within the scope of the study, 14 activities were prepared by the authors. Each activity was performed in natural areas. The study was based on a one-group pre-test post-test experimental design. The sample of the study consists of 140 students, between 5th and 8th grades, living in different villages in Bartın, Turkey. Analysis of data revealed that students' perceptions of the concepts of science and nature changed after the camp, and they gained awareness about the place of science and themselves as individuals in nature.
Metabolic Derangements with Anticonvulsants in Children with Generalised Tonic-clonic Epilepsy: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Sharma Jyoti , Verma Savita , Deswal Himani , Kaushik Jayashankar
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent noncommunicable neurologic conditions, accounting for significant disability and mortality. The effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) on total cholesterol, triglycerides, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein levels have been demonstrated in many studies, mainly conducted with adults. However, there have been very few studies in children. Derangement of lipid profile and other metabolic abnormalities could lead to the development of metabolic syndrome in children. The adverse metabolic effects of anti-epileptics are underestimated, as only a few studies have been done in this area, which is a legitimate concern. Aim: To assess the impact of AEDs on metabolic parameters in children with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, crosssectional study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics and Pharmacology at Pt. BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India. The study included 100 children with epilepsy from May 2022 to October 2022. A predefined case record form, including demographic and clinical characteristics, was filled for each participant. The parameters recorded were age, gender, outpatient number, type of epilepsy, history of duration of epilepsy, current AED history, and seizure frequency over the preceding six months, as per the case record form. Guidelines from the International Diabetes Federation were used for diagnosing metabolic syndrome in children. The data was entered into Microsoft excel and presented using descriptive statistics. The chi-square test was used to differentiate between categorical variables. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 10.2±2.97 years. There were more males (62%) than females (38%). A 48% of the patients received monotherapy, while 52% received polytherapy. A total of 24% of the patients had derangement in lipid profile (increased triglycerides and decreased HDL), with 14% of patients on monotherapy and 10% on polytherapy. The difference in metabolic derangements between monotherapy and polytherapy was not statistically significant (p=0.25). Out of 100 participants, 3% fulfilled the criteria for metabolic syndrome, with a predominance in males. Conclusion: Metabolic derangements are known with 1st generation AEDs, but 2nd generation AEDs can also lead to significant metabolic abnormalities.
Clinicoepidemiological Profile of Patients with Chronic Urticaria and its Association with D-dimer Levels at a Tertiary Care Centre: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chintada DilipChandra , Vudayana KiranKanth , Chaduvula Jahnavi , Gullipalli Pallavi , Mohammed Khatija Begum
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Chronic urticaria is a commonly encountered, long-standing skin condition that typically lasts for more than six weeks and has various underlying aetiologies, including chronic infections, infestations, immunological and non immunological causes, and physical factors. In some cases, it may be idiopathic. Recent studies have shown that the activation of the coagulation cascade is involved in the development of chronic urticaria. This involvement is reflected in plasma D-dimer levels, which are explored in the current study. Aim: To assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of urticaria and their association with D-dimer levels in a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Department of Dermatology, Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India, from August 2022 to July 2023. The study included 100 chronic urticaria patients attending the dermatology Outpatient Department (OPD) to investigate various clinical types and their epidemiological factors. D-dimer levels were estimated using the latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry assay method. The mean and range were calculated, and statistical analysis of various clinic-epidemiological characteristics was performed using Pearson’s Chi-square test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 100 patients with chronic urticaria, 40 (40%) were males and 60 (60%) were females. The mean age of presentation was 30 years, and the mean duration was 20.5 months. Elevated plasma D-dimer levels were noted in 40 (40%) of the study population. Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) constituted 92 (92%) of the cases, followed by Chronic Inducible Urticaria (CIU) with 4 (4%) cases and 4 (4%) cases with CSU+CIU. Angioedema was noted in 20 (20%) of the cases in the present study. Thyroid disorder was seen in 12 (12%) of the study population. The majority of patients (44%) had mild urticaria. The mean Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) score before treatment was 21.08. A statistically significant association was found between elevated plasma D-dimer levels and age range, duration of chronic urticaria, disease severity, angioedema, and response to antihistamines. The response to antihistamines was graded based on the UAS7 score calculated before and after treatment. Conclusion: The present study provides additional evidence to the existing literature by establishing an association between D-dimer levels and factors such as severity and angioedema. It also provides important insights into the relationship between age range, duration of chronic urticaria, and elevated plasma D-dimer levels by establishing statistical significance between these factors.
Clinicians’ Perspectives on Glucose Tolerance Test Practices at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Ponnusamy Deepika , Ganesan Jeyachandran
Published: December 2023

Introduction: The overuse of laboratory investigations is prevalent in hospital settings, with a major contributing factor being ignorance of test characteristics. The utilisation of laboratory tests depends on clinicians' perspectives. Aim: Present study aimed to assess clinicians' perspectives on Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) practices in a tertiary care hospital in Coimbatore and identify any process deviations. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry at PSG IMSR, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, involving 27 clinicians. Structured interviews were conducted in March 2019, covering indications for GTT, preferred glucose loads, fasting duration, blood sample collection time intervals, cut-off levels for glucose values at different time intervals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours), and reference criteria used for interpretation {World Health Organisation (WHO), American Diabetes Association (ADA), The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG)} . Test Request Forms (TRFs) for GTT over a one-month period were also analysed. Quantitative data was expressed as mean±SD, and qualitative data was expressed as frequency and percentage. Results: The structured interviews were conducted with 27 clinicians, predominantly from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. GTT usage was rare in other departments. A total of 217 TRFs were received for the one-month duration, with 94.9% indicating a glucose load of 75 grams (g). Conclusion: GTT is influenced by various factors throughout the testing process, that can have an impact on results and patient care. This study revealed differences between end- users' requirements and the laboratory's procedures. By revising the TRF and sample collection manual according to clinicians' needs, better optimisation between the laboratory and end-users of the test can be achieved.
Relationship of Age and Gender with Total Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in Adults- A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Tangri Nitin , Bhaskar Neeru , Mishra Prabhaker , Tangri Priyanka
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a crucial role in various allergic diseases. These antibodies are produced in response to allergenic environmental stimuli, and their blood levels strongly correlate with allergy manifestations. Elevated IgE levels have been considered a powerful predictor of future asthma development. While several studies have explored the association between total serum IgE levels and demographic and environmental factors, no such study has been conducted in this region of India. Aim: To estimate total serum IgE levels and examine their association with age and gender in the adult population of Haryana, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adesh Medical College and Hospital, Shahabad (M), Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. The records of patients, who visited the department between September 2015 and December 2020 were screened. Data on serum total IgE levels, age, and gender were collected from 360 patients (21-80 years, both sexes) with available information. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 software. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 36.80±18.30 years. Out of total 360 patients included, 198 (55%) were males and 162 (45%) were females. Male gender (odds ratio=1.68) was a significant (p<0.05) independent risk factor, while age ≤30 years (odds ratio=1.68) and age 31-50 years (odds ratio=1.15) were insignificant (p>0.05) risk factors for abnormal serum total IgE levels. Conclusion: Significant gender variation was observed in total serum IgE levels, while age showed insignificant variation. Physicians should consider these factors when examining the relationship between serum total IgE levels, allergy markers, and airways disease.
A Case of Tubular Carcinoid of the Appendix: A Rare Entity
Authors: Agrawal Akanksha , Tahlan Karishma , Diwaker Preeti , Gogoi Priyanka
Published: December 2023

Carcinoid tumours of the appendix are low-grade neoplasms with neuroendocrine differentiation. They are typically found incidentally during appendectomies. Tubular carcinoid is an extremely rare, distinct, and benign form of appendiceal carcinoid. Here, we present the case of a 32-year-old male who presented with an abdominal mass and pain radiating to the right iliac fossa. Appendectomy was performed, and the gross examination revealed a congested and exudate-covered appendix. Microscopic analysis showed small tubules infiltrating the appendix wall, along with evidence of acute appendicitis. Differential diagnoses considered included carcinoid tumour with glandular differentiation and metastatic adenocarcinoma. Additional sections were examined, and a final diagnosis of tubular carcinoid was made after conducting a panel of immunohistochemical markers and Alcian blue stain. Since most tubular carcinoids are not identifiable on gross, microscopic assessment and serial sectioning play a crucial role in diagnosing this condition.
COX-2 Expression as a Prognostic Inflammatory Marker in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Sundararajan Kanimozhi , Gurusamy Veeraraghavan , Venkatesh Sudha , Saraswathi M
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer worldwide. HNSCC is an aggressive neoplasm involving multistep carcinogenesis. As it is associated with an increased risk of recurrence, morbidity and mortality, many studies are being undertaken to understand its pathophysiology at the molecular level, identify newer prognostic factors and develop novel therapeutic agents. Aim: To assess the clinicopathological features of all cases of HNSCC, including age, sex, site and risk factors and to demonstrate the expression of the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) marker in various grades of the tumour in a subset of cases. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on HNSCC at the Institute of Pathology, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India for a period of one year from July 2014 to June 2015. A total of 50 cases (representing different grades) were randomly selected, 25 each from the oral cavity/oropharynx and upper respiratory tract. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed using the COX-2 marker and the results were tabulated in an MS Excel sheet to assess the incidence among different age groups, genders, various risk factors, and sites. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0 software, using the Chi-square test to assess the significant expression of COX-2 in varying grades of the tumour. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study results (total cases=50) showed an increased incidence of HNSCC among males (n=39; 78%) compared to females (n=11; 22%). Additionally, HNSCC most commonly affected patients in the 5th to 6th decade (n=24; 48%) of life. The occurrence was most commonly noted in the tongue (n=8; 16%) and hypopharynx (n=13; 26%) among all Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) cases of the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract, respectively. Out of the 50 cases included to analyse COX-2 expression, 41 cases (82%) of HNSCC showed COX-2 expression, and its association with different grades was evident by a significant p-value of 0.027. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant expression of COX-2 in all grades of HNSCC, supporting the role of inflammation in multistep carcinogenesis. Furthermore, molecular targeted therapy against COX-2 could be implemented as an adjunctive therapy with chemoradiation to hinder the progression and aggressive behaviour of the tumour.