bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning Vision and Nonlinear Control Approach for Autonomous Ship Landing of Vertical Flight Aircraft
Authors:   Texas A&M University, Lee Bochan , Benedict Moble , Saj Vishnu
Published: April 2023

The paper discusses a machine learning based vision and nonlinear control approach for autonomous ship landing of vertical flight aircraft without utilizing GPS signal. The central idea involves automating the Navy helicopter ship landing procedure where the pilot utilizes the ship as the visual reference for long-range tracking; however, refers to a standardized visual cue installed on most Navy ships called the "horizon bar" for the final approach and landing phases. This idea is implemented using a uniquely designed nonlinear controller integrated with machine vision. The vision system utilizes machine learning based object detection for long-range ship tracking, and classical computer vision for the estimation of aircraft relative position and orientation utilizing the horizon bar during the final approach and landing phases. The nonlinear controller operates based on the information estimated by the vision system and has demonstrated robust tracking performance even in the presence of uncertainties. The developed autonomous ship landing system was implemented on a quad-rotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with an onboard camera, and approach and landing were successfully demonstrated on a moving deck, which imitates realistic ship deck motions. Extensive simulations and flight tests were conducted to demonstrate vertical landing safety, tracking capability, and landing accuracy.
Deterministic Reconfiguration of Flight Control Systems for Multirotor UAV Package Delivery
Authors:   US Army DEVCOM AvMC, Gong Anthony ,   University of California Davis, Hess Ronald , Tischler Mark
Published: April 2023

Multirotor UAS are prime candidates for autonomous package delivery due to their VTOL capability and payload carrying capacity. The effect of payloads on flight control system performance is investigated for three different inner-loop flight control system architectures, namely, explicit model following, nonlinear dynamic inversion, and incremental nonlinear dynamic inversion. Outer-loop flight control systems are wrapped around the various inner-loop architectures for waypoint tracking control. The flight control systems are designed and optimized using CONDUIT R to meet a common, comprehensive set of stability and performance specifications. Deterministic reconfiguration was designed for each inner-loop control architecture to account for the change in vehicle dynamics when a payload is added or removed. Robustness analyses are conducted considering both deterministic payload variations and modeling uncertainty. A notional package delivery mission scenario is simulated using a full-flight envelope stitched model with measurement noise and turbulence models identified from flight test data. The mission scenario is simulated for three different cases to evaluate the baseline performance, the degraded performance when a payload is added, and the recovery of performance with deterministic reconfiguration of the flight control systems.
Vision-based Autonomous UAS Landing on a Stochastically Moving Platform
Authors:   University of Maryland, Shastry Abhishek , Chopra Inderjit , Datta Anubhav
Published: April 2023

This paper describes the development of avionics and control systems, followed by flight demonstration for vision-based landing of a multirotor UAS on a moving platform replicating a ship-deck. The UAS is a quadrotor designed and fabricated in-house with an integrated avionics package developed for autonomous vision-based navigation. A monocular camera is used for detection and pose estimation of a moving platform. The platform replicates ship-deck motion using six degrees of freedom capable of oscillatory motions upto 10 cm in linear and 30 degrees in angular amplitude with speeds upto 50 cm/s. Ship-deck motions of progressively increasing intensity were obtained from ONR and simulated using the moving platform to understand the problems involved in estimation and tracking of large stochastic motions. Results were verified with an independent Vicon system. The key conclusion is that it is possible to track a moving ship-deck with vision alone. Indeed vision based ship-deck position estimation was found to be near perfect with errors of 1-2 cm. Ship-deck tracking shows a phase lag error that increases with increasing frequency of ship-deck motion. It was found that this error can be decreased by estimating ship-deck's velocity and using it as a feedback in tracking controller.
Investigation of Language Impairment in Zulu
Authors: Suzman Susan M. , Tshabalala Busi
Published: April 2023

Research into the nature of language impairment in African languages is just beginning (Demuth and Suzman, 1997). This paper presents findings from two case studies of Zulu children diagnosed as language-impaired. Speech samples from Sipho, 2;7 and 3;7 and Nompumelelo 5;6 were analysed for phonology, morphology, syntax and pragmatics. From these case studies, a profile of language impairment begins to emerge for Zulu. It is characterized by use of simple sentences and nonstandard verbal complexes. It reflects differential access to morphology. Children use NC and agreement morphology productively but they do not have access of subtle syntactic markers encoding semantic complexity. Infrequent use of verb extensions, participials, subjunctives and relative clause markers in Zulu contributes to reliance on simple sentences and stereotyped connectives.
Discourse, Dialect and Aphasia in the Western Cape
Authors: Ogilvy Dale , Von Bentheim Ingrid , Venter Analou , Ulatowska Hanna , Penn Claire
Published: April 2023

This paper focuses on the effects of mild-moderate aphasia on discourse and dialect within a particular population, the so-called "Coloured" population residing in the Western Cape. This population, with its distinct dialectal variations of English and Afrikaans and its strong traditional roots in bilingualism, offers a unique and fruitful context in which to examine pathological language. In this study dialect was considered within discourse, which allowed for the robustness of dialect, ethnic and cultural forms to be revealed. A control group was selected with a view to differentiating aspects of discourse, which seemed linked to dialectal features and those which reflected the compensatory attempts of adults with aphasia in discourse. Various narrative tasks, each assessing different levels of language and cognitive complexity, were used to elicit discourse. The results of this study revealed that individuals with mild to moderate aphasia exhibited preserved dialectal features, albeit intermingled with aphasia associated difficulties. These findings suggest that well-developed sociolinguistic adaptation strategies of the Coloured speaker provides a useful foundation in the event of aphasia. Shifting and flexibility, which are the essence of the dialects studied, provide the individual with aphasia a range of mechanisms for compensating and communicating which may not be available to those from a more monolingual environment.
Evaluation of serum levels of vitamin D and CXCL10 in patients with generalized vitiligo and their relation to disease severity
Authors: Seddik Mohamed I. , Mekkawy Marwa M. , Shehata Rofaida R.
Published: April 2023

Background

Vitiligo is an acquired, common, autoimmune, pigmentary defect of the skin. Vitamin D (VitD) plays a physiological role in photo-induced melanogenesis in the skin. It was found that VitD levels decline in autoimmune illnesses. Recently, there has been growing interest in the role of vitamin D3 in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and its change after treatment. The chemokine CXCL10 was found to be raised in the serum of patients with vitiligo. Few studies have evaluated its relation to the severity of the disease.

Aims

To establish a link between both serum VitD and serum CXCL10 and vitiligo, besides evaluating their possible relation to disease severity.

Patients and methods

This study was conducted on 30 patients with generalized vitiligo and 30 healthy individuals without age and sex limitations. Serum VitD and CXCL10 levels were measured for both patients with vitiligo and controls and were re-evaluated after 12 weeks for patients with vitiligo. The Vitiligo Area Scoring Index was calculated for the patient group at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Results

Serum VitD was found to be significantly lower in patients with vitiligo than controls, whereas serum CXCL10 was significantly higher in patients than healthy controls. Changes in serum CXCL10 at the end of the study period positively correlated with changes in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index of patients with vitiligo.

Conclusion

There is a strong relationship between both serum VitD and CXCL10 and vitiligo. Serum CXCL10 levels change in relation to disease severity.
Do Egyptian children with beta-thalassemia major have specific cutaneous manifestations? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Embaby Mostafa M. , Farag Neveen M. , Badran Aya Y. , Abdel-Karim El Sayed K.
Published: April 2023

Background

A wide continuum of cutaneous manifestations might accompany blood diseases and hemoglobinopathies, especially β-thalassemia. In this situation, cutaneous manifestations occur due to both hemoglobin disorder and treatment complications. These manifestations are usually neglected and frequently underdiagnosed among those patients.

Aim

To study the cutaneous manifestations in Egyptian children with β-thalassemia to minimize its subsequent complications. Furthermore, we aimed to analyze their relations to duration of disease and frequency of blood transfusions and other disease parameters.

Patients and methods

This was a cross-sectional study that included 158 patients with β-thalassemia major. All patients were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations, namely, serum ferritin and hemoglobin level. All patients were subjected to meticulous dermatological examination by an experienced dermatologist to evaluate cutaneous manifestations. The data were analyzed using Student t test, Mann–Whitney U test, χ
2 test, and Fisher exact test.

Results

Xerosis was the commonest encountered cutaneous change (present in 61% of patients), followed by hyperhidrosis (30%), hyperpigmentation (28%), pruritus and pityriasis alba (25%), urticaria (22%), and idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, scars, ephelides, contact dermatitis, discoid eczema, nail disorders, melasma, tinea, alopecia areata, and warts in descending order. Statistically significant relations were present between the presence of some cutaneous manifestations and disease duration.

Conclusion

Cutaneous manifestations are common among Egyptian children with β-thalassemia major. Both xerosis and hyperhidrosis are the commonest cutaneous signs in those patients. Some of those cutaneous manifestations are correlated with disease duration and frequency of blood transfusions.
Efficacy of combination therapy with microneedling and topical latanoprost 0.005% in treatment of acrofacial vitiligo
Authors: El-Magid Wafaa M.A. , Mohamed Marwa , Abd-Elghany Noreen I. , Saleh Ramadan
Published: April 2023

Background

Acrofacial vitiligo (AFV) represents a therapeutic challenge for dermatologists.

Aim and objectives

To investigated the efficacy of microneedling (MN) and topical latanoprost (LT) 0.005% in the treatment of AFV.

Patients and methods

A total of 72 patients with AFV were divided into two groups. Group A (n=36) received topical LT 0.005% twice daily, preceded by MN sessions at 2-week intervals, for a total duration of 12 weeks. Group B (n=36) received topical LT 0.005% alone for 12 weeks. Participants were evaluated by vitiligo area and severity index (VASI) at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks, and at 12 weeks after stopping the treatment.

Results

In group A, 12-week VASI [0.45 (0.18, 0.64)] was significantly lower than the baseline VASI [0.5 (0.21, 0.67); P=0.003]. In group B, the 12-week VASI was the same as the baseline VASI [0.43 (0.25, 1)]. Repigmentation was achieved in 18/36 (50%) of patients in group A and 0/36 (0.0%) in group B. Repigmentation was rated as excellent in 2/36 (5.56%), very good in 2/36 (5.56%), good in 4/36 (11.12%), and fair in 10/36 (27.76%) of the cases.

Conclusion

Combined therapy with MN and topical LT 0.005% resulted in variable degrees of repigmentation in 50% of patients with AFV.
A Re-Examination of the Patterns of Foot and Ankle Deformities in Congenital Limb Deficiencies
Authors: Kothari Alpesh , Kelley Simon P. , Bouchard Maryse
Published: April 2023

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to evaluate foot deformities and anomalies present in congenital limb deficiencies (CLDs). We sought to define the relationship between the type of limb deficiency and foot posture, patterns of ray deficiencies, and association between tarsal coalition (TC) and ball-and-socket ankle.

Materials and Methods:

This is a single institution, retrospective radiograph, and medical record review of patients with CLD, comprising congenital femoral deficiency (CFD), tibial hemimelia (TH), and fibular hemimelia (FH) from January 2000 to January 2019. Data extracted included patient demographics, predicted leg length discrepancy, associated deformities and anomalies, and specifics of the foot deformity. Surgical procedures were recorded. Data were reported using descriptive statistics. Fisher's exact test analyses of contingency tables were used for the exploratory components of this study.

Results:

Eighty-one patients with 97 limb deficiencies were identified (16 – CFD, 18 – TH, and 63 – FH). Isolated CFD was not associated with foot and ankle deformity and TH was associated with an equinocavovarus foot in all limbs. In FH, an equinocavovarus deformity was present in 15/63 (24%) feet, most requiring foot surgery. Of 48 patients with FH and absent rays, two lacked lateral rays, whereas the remainder missed one or more intermediate rays. TC was unrelated to the presence of ball-and-socket ankle.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates heterogeneity in the spectrum of foot and ankle deformity in CLD, particularly in FH. Recognition of this phenotypic variation is critical for surgeons to formulate a comprehensive treatment plan and ensure optimal functional outcomes. Level of Evidence: IV.
Effect of Axial Dynamization in Circular External Fixation on Bone Segment Vertical and Lateral Displacements
Authors: Honcharuk Erin M. , Cherkashin Alexander M. , Pierce William A. , Jo Chanhee , Podeszwa David A. , Samchukov Mikhail L.
Published: April 2023

Context:

The field of deformity correction with external fixation has continued to advance since with the addition of half-pins, even though they can act to stiffen the construct and undermine healing. Dynamization increases axial motion at the fracture site and improves fracture and osteotomy healing in the experimental and clinical studies. No study compares the lateral and vertical displacements of bone segment in dynamized versus nondynamized frames.

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to compare the segmentary motion in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes using nondynamized and dynamized circular external fixation frames.

Subjects and Methods:

Seven frame models were tested including classic Ilizarov three-wire construct and two frame configurations representing the most common modern half-pin and wire combinations. These models were either nondynamized or dynamized with two types of dynamization modules. Each model underwent axial loading up to 50 kg for 11 cycles.

Statistical Analysis Used:

One-way analysis of variance testing followed by post hoc Tukey's test.

Results:

The addition of each half pin sequentially decreased axial motion while increased sagittal motion. Dynamization had a limited effect on the sagittal motion but significantly improved axial motion. The sagittal to axial motion ratio increased with half pins in nondynamized frames but decreased equal to or beyond the Ilizarov three-wire fixation frame with dynamization. At the limit of the dynamizers' motion, there was change in the rate of displacement, suggesting that subsequent motion was strictly from the wires and half-pins. Overall, there was minimal coronal motion.

Conclusions:

While half pins decrease axial micromotion and increase detrimental sagittal motion, dynamization restores.
Correlation between Use of the Contraception and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Indonesia in 2017 (2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey analysis data)
Authors: Putri Febrianti Prasmono , Katmawanti Septa , Fanani Erianto
Published: April 2023

Background:

Breast milk is the first need for a newborn baby. Infants aged 0–6 months who are breastfed without any other food define exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding can be influenced by several factors, one of which is contraception. Inappropriate use of contraception can affect exclusive breastfeeding.

Aims:

This study aimed to determine the correlation between contraceptive use and exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia in 2017.

Materials and Methods:

The research design in this study was descriptive-analytic with a cross-sectional approach. This study examines the population of women of childbearing age who are married and have their last child aged 0–6 months with a total sample of 1891 people, with a sampling technique using total sampling. The data were taken from the results of the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey. The data analysis of this study used the Chi-square statistical test.

Result:

The results of data analysis showed that 53% of women of childbearing age used contraception, and 47% of women of childbearing age did not use contraception. Meanwhile, 46% of women of childbearing age gave exclusive breastfeeding, and 54% of women of childbearing age did not give exclusive breastfeeding. The Chi-square test results showed a P = 0.000 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Based on the study results, it can be concluded that there is a correlation between contraceptive use and exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia in 2017.
Blistering Distal Dactylitis Resembling a Finger Dipped in Milk Cream
Authors: Dharmshaktu Ishwar Singh , Agarwal Naveen , Dharmshaktu Ganesh Singh
Published: April 2023

Blistering distal dactylitis is an uncommon condition resulting from superficial skin infection, leading to bullous eruption in the distal phalanx. In rare instances, the extent of the lesion beyond classical presentation is reported. The most commonly described causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus and the condition has a good prognosis if diagnosed and managed early. We report a rare presentation of blistering distal dactylitis in the form of an extensive involvement of the affected finger with purulent bullous formation. The drainage of the pus and appropriate antibiotics led to the good outcome. The knowledge of the characteristic clinical picture of blistering distal dactylitis and its varied presentations shall help it diagnose early in routine clinics.
The Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Park Seong Yong , Kim Hong Kwan , Jeon Yeong Jeong , Lee Junghee , Cho Jong Ho , Choi Yong Soo , Shim Young Mog , Zo Jae Il
Published: April 2023

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CCRTx) followed by surgery in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data from 382 patients who received neoadjuvant CCRTx and esophagectomy for ESCC between 2003 and 2018.Results This study included 357 (93.4%) men, and the years median patient age was 63 (range, 40 to 84 years). Overall, 69 patients (18.1%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas 313 patients (81.9%) did not. The median follow-up period was 28.07 months (interquartile range, 15.50 to 62.59). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were 47.1% and 42.6%, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve OS in all patients, but subgroup analysis revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy improved the 5-year OS in patients with ypT+N+ (24.8% vs. 29.9%, p=0.048), whereas the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy was not observed in patients with ypT0N0, ypT+N0, or ypT0N+. Multivariable analysis revealed that ypStage and adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.601; p=0.046) were associated with OS in patients with ypT+N+. Freedom from distant metastasis was marginally different according to the adjuvant chemotherapy (48.3% vs. 41.3%, p=0.141).Conclusion Adjuvant chemotherapy after neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery reduces the distant metastasis in ypT+N+ ESCC patients, thereby improving the OS. The consideration could be given to administration of adjuvant chemotherapy to ypT+N+ ESCC patients with tolerable conditions.
Impacto y desarrollo de la TV por cable: caso Salta-Argentina Segunda parte
Authors: Iovino Gustavo Alejandro
Published: April 2023

La República Argentina es el país latinoamericano donde más se ha desarrollado la distribución de señales de televisión a través de sistemas de abonados, la revista 'Visión', en su edición de la segunda quincena de agosto de 1996, publica un artículo denominado "Sociedad de la información", reproduce datos emitidos por el Informe Sobre el Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones, I.T.U., de 1995, entre otros, de la inserción del cable en los hogares. El autor analiza la situación.
Dengue and COVID-19 Co-Circulation in the Peruvian Amazon: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Pons Maria J. , Mayanga-Herrera Ana , Ulloa Gabriela M. , Ymaña Barbara , Medina Sabrina , Alava Freddy , Álvarez-Antonio Carlos , Meza-Sánchez Graciela , Calampa Carlos , Casanova Wilma , Carey Cristiam , Rodríguez-Ferrucci Hugo , Morrison Amy C. , Quispe Antonio M.
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the main Amazon cities dramatically, with Iquitos City reporting the highest seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the first COVID-19 wave worldwide. This phenomenon raised many questions about the possibility of a co-circulation of dengue and COVID-19 and its consequences. We carried out a population-based cohort study in Iquitos, Peru. We obtained a venous blood sample from a subset of 326 adults from the Iquitos COVID-19 cohort (August 13–18, 2020) to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-dengue virus (DENV) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We tested each serum sample for anti-DENV IgG (serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4) and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies anti-spike IgG and IgM by ELISA. We estimated an anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 78.0% (95% CI, 73.0–82.0) and an anti-DENV seroprevalence of 88.0% (95% CI, 84.0–91.6), signifying a high seroprevalence of both diseases during the first wave of COVID-19 transmission in the city. The San Juan District had a lower anti-DENV antibody seroprevalence than the Belen District (prevalence ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–0.98). However, we did not observe these differences in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence. Iquitos City presented one of the highest seroprevalence rates of anti-DENV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies worldwide, but with no correlation between their antibody levels.
Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Allopurinol Plus Itraconazole in Iran
Authors: Mashayekhi Goyonlo Vahid , Derakhshan Zahra , Darchini-Maragheh Emadodin
Published: April 2023

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a serious tropical disease and a neglected health challenge in Iran. Although limited data are available regarding anthroponotic CL, cases resistant to meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) are increasingly being reported. Via an open-label noncontrolled case series, allopurinol (10 mg/kg/day) plus itraconazole (3–4 mg/kg/day) were orally administered for 1 month to 27 patients (56 lesions) with anthroponotic CL, most of whom were resistant to Glucantime. A mean lesion size of 3.5 ± 1.9 cm at baseline was reduced to 0.6 ± 1.0 after 1 month of treatment. Excellent treatment response was observed in 85.7% of lesions after 1 month. Recurrence only occurred in one patient in the 3-month follow-up session. This study presents preliminary evidence that oral allopurinol plus itraconazole could be an effective treatment in patients with anthroponotic CL.
Y-STR data of the Yfiler Plus panel in population of north-eastern Poland
Authors: Gołaszewska Agnieszka , Skawrońska Małgorzata , Niemcunowicz-Janica Anna , Pepiński Witold
Published: April 2023

e use of new high-resolution and forensic identification capabilities for population studies offered by new multiplex methods (such as Yfiler Plus) is crucial in forensic genetics cases. The development of haplotype frequency databases is essential to take full advantage of the new Y chromosome determination capabilities. Purpose: Development of the haplotype database of the Yfiler Plus kit for a population-based sample of 534 males from northeastern Poland and calculation of suitability parameters for forensic genetics studies. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a population sample of 534 unrelated males from the area of northeastern Poland using the Yfiler Plus panel of 27 markers located on the Y chromosome. Results: Four haplotypes appeared twice. The Discrimination Capacity (DC) of the entire set was 0.9925. The highest Gene Diversity (GD) value was calculated for DYS518 (0.86) belonging to the fast-mutation markers, while the lowest GD was calculated for DYS392 (0.42). Conclusions: The results indicate the need for further research and observation of changes, both in different regions of Poland and across Europe.
The overview of forensic genetic genealogy
Authors: Rogalla-Ładniak Urszula
Published: April 2023

Forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) benefits largely from popularity of genealogical research within (mostly) American society and the advent of new sequencing techniques that allow typing of challenging forensic samples. It is considered a true breakthrough for both active and especially cold cases where all other resources and methods have failed during investigation. Despite media coverage generally highlighting its powers, the method itself is considered very laborious and the investigation may easily got suspended at every stage due to many factors including no hits in the database or breaks in traceable lineages within the family tree. This review summarizes the scope of FGG use, mentions most concerns and misconceptions associated with the technique and points to the plausible solutions already suggested. It also brings together current guidelines and regulations intended to be followed by law enforcement authorities wishing to utilize genetic genealogy research.
Od stereotypu do antykolonializmu. Islandia we francuskich relacjach podróżniczych od XVII do połowy XIX wieku
Authors: Jakubczyk Radosław
Published: April 2023

ABSTRAKT Francuzi byli jedną z pierwszych europejskich nacji ‒ obok Brytyjczyków, Niemców i Holendrów ‒ które zaciekawiły się Islandią. Początkowo zainteresowanie to objawiało się wyłącznie podróżami na tę wyspę, w późniejszym okresie (w drugiej połowie XIX wi ku) znalazło ono również odbicie w literaturze francuskiej (w powieściach Verne’a i Lotiego), a także wpłynęło na ukazanie się na rynku wydawniczym we Francji pierwszych tłumaczeń sag islandzkich. Niniejszy artykuł koncentruje się na francuskich wyprawach na Islandię, przedsięwziętych w toku niemal dwustu lat. W centrum uwagi znajduje się wizerunek Islandii w oczach Francuzów, refleksji tej towarzyszy zaś próba ukazania ewolucji obrazu wyspy we francuskim piśmiennictwie podróżniczym od XVII do połowy XIX wieku. Omawiając poszczególne relacje z podróży, autor wskazuje na trzy główne strategie opisowe: intertekstualność, naukowy obiektywizm, subiektywizację.
School during the pandemic. Challenges and uncertainties
Authors: Obada Doinița
Published: April 2023

The paper aims to highlight the problems faced by teachers, students, parents and government bodies of the Republic of Moldova in the school year 2020–2021 in the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as their management in the general context of the health crisis in this country. The paper highlights good practices, but also the errors that led to an increase in COVID cases and the establishment of restrictions. The documentation on the Republic of Moldova was made on the basis of official reports and information retrieved from the media, as well as from own experiences of the authors in their dual capacity as parents and teachers.

Szkoła w czasie pandemii. Wyzwania i niepewności

Celem artykułu jest zwrócenie uwagi na problemy, z jakimi borykają się nauczyciele, uczniowie, rodzice i rządy Republiki Mołdawii w roku szkolnym 2020– 2021 w warunkach pandemii koronawirusa, a także radzenie sobie z nimi w ogólnym kontekście zdrowia kryzys w tym kraju. W artykule podkreślono dobre praktyki, ale także błędy, które doprowadziły do wzrostu liczby zachorowań i ustanowienia ograniczeń. Dokumentacja dotycząca Republiki Mołdawii została sporządzona na podstawie oficjalnych doniesień i informacji zaczerpniętych z mediów, a także własnych doświadczeń autorów pełniących funkcję rodziców i nauczycieli.
Предоставление права на использование средства индивидуализации как элемент договоров фактического посредничества
Authors: Хасанов Р.А.
Published: April 2023

ПРЕДОСТАВЛЕНИЕ ПРАВА ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ СРЕДСТВА ИНДИВИДУАЛИЗАЦИИ ЯВЛЯЕТСЯ РАСПРОСТРАНЕННЫМ ЭЛЕМЕНТОМ ДОГОВОРОВ, ОФОРМЛЯЮЩИХ ФАКТИЧЕСКОЕ (ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ) ПОСРЕДНИЧЕСТВО, — ДИСТРИБЬЮТОРСКОГО И ДИЛЕРСКОГО ДОГОВОРОВ, ДОГОВОРОВ ДОВЕРИТЕЛЬНОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ И КОММЕРЧЕСКОЙ КОНЦЕССИИ. ВОЗНИКАЮТ ВОПРОСЫ О ЗАКОНОМЕРНОСТИ ВКЛЮЧЕНИЯ ТАКОГО ЭЛЕМЕНТА В СООТВЕТСТВУЮЩИЕ ДОГОВОРЫ, ЕГО ЗНАЧЕНИИ И ФУНКЦИЯХ. В ИССЛЕДОВАНИИ ПРОВЕДЕН АНАЛИЗ СОДЕРЖАНИЯ ДОГОВОРОВ ФАКТИЧЕСКОГО ПОСРЕДНИЧЕСТВА, СРЕДСТВ ИНДИВИДУАЛИЗАЦИИ, ПРАВО ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ КОТОРЫХ МОЖЕТ БЫТЬ ПРЕДОСТАВЛЕНО ПО ТАКИМ ДОГОВОРАМ, И СФОРМУЛИРОВАНЫ ВЫВОДЫ.
Обеспечение баланса интересов при продаже предприятия по законодательству о несостоятельности: опыт Франции
Authors: Бельский М.Д.
Published: April 2023

В НАСТОЯЩЕЙ СТАТЬЕ ПРОВЕДЕН АНАЛИЗ ПОЛОЖЕНИЙ РОССИЙСКОГО И ФРАНЦУЗСКОГО ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛЬСТВА О НЕСОСТОЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ, РЕГУЛИРУЮЩИХ СОСТАВ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ. ВЫДЕЛЕНЫ ФУНКЦИИ ПРОДАЖИ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ ПО ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛЬСТВУ О НЕСОСТОЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ. АВТОРОМ ПРЕДЛОЖЕНЫ МЕРЫ, НАПРАВЛЕННЫЕ НА ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ ПРАВОВОГО РЕЖИМА ПРОДАЖИ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ С ЦЕЛЬЮ СОХРАНЕНИЯ ИМУЩЕСТВЕННОГО КОМПЛЕКСА.
Screening of Metal-Ion Intercalated Yttrium Carbide and Nitride MXenes for Energy Storage Applications via Density Functional Theory
Authors: Omugbe Ekwevugbe , Osafile O. E. , Nenuwe N.O. , Enaibe E. A.
Published: April 2023

Rechargeable batteries and energy storage devices play a major role in many facets of human endeavour due to their efficiency and portability. In this work, we investigated the suitability of single-layer intercalated Yttrium-based MXenes Y2CT2 (T= Li, Mg, Al) and Y2NLi2 as potential energy storage materials using the first principle calculation within the framework of the density functional theory approach. Upon intercalation, the lattice constants of the MXenes expand due to the size of the intercalating species and the electrostatic repulsion. We obtained the theoretical gravimetric capacities, open circuit voltages and adsorption energies. The obtained open circuit voltages for Y2CT2 (T= Li, Mg) and Y2NLi2 falls within the voltage window of 0 − 1.0V which has been found to eliminate dendrites formation caused by alkaline metals during the discharge-charge cycle. The adsorption energies indicate the stability of the intercalating ion on the MXenes surfaces except for Al cation. The results are consistent with other studies on similar MXene families in the existing literature. The work may aid the understanding of the electrochemical properties of 2D materials and we recommend Y2CLi2, Y2NLi2 , and Y2CMg2 for future investigation as potential materials for rechargeable batteries.
Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear and Non-Isothermal Liquid Chromatography for Studying Thermal Variations in Columns Packed with Core-Shell Particles
Authors: Ahmad Abdulaziz G. , Okechi Nnamdi F. , Uche David U. , Salaudeen Abdulwasiu O.
Published: April 2023

A high-resolution flux-limiting semi-discrete finite volume scheme (HR-FVS) is applied in this study to numerically approximate the nonlinear and non-isothermal flow of one-dimensional lumped kinetic model (1D-LKM), for a fixed-bed column loaded with core-shell particles. The developed model comprise a system of convection-dominated partial differential for mass and energy balances in the mobile phases coupled with differential equation and algebraic equation in the stationary phase. The solution of the model equations is obtained by utilizing a HR-FVS, the scheme has second-order accuracy even on the grid coarse and its explicit nature has the potential to resolve the arisen sharp discontinuities in the solution profiles. A second-order total variation diminishing (TVD) Runge-Kutta technique is used to solve the system of ODEs in time. Several forms of a single-solute mixture are produced to investigate the influences of the fractions of core radius on thermal waves and concentration fronts. Moreover, a particular criterion is introduced for analyzing the performance of the underlying process and to identify the optimal parameter values of the fraction of core radius.
Fake Currency Detection Using Image Processing and Random Forest Algorithm
Authors: Shelke Priya , Dedgaonkar Suruchi , Bhimanpallewar Ratnmala , Mirajkar Riddhi , Naik Kanchan
Published: April 2023

It became relatively easy to make counterfeit currency as technology advanced, such as colour printing. Counterfeit notes are produced so precisely that it's impossible to tell the difference between a genuine and a fake. We can define counterfeit currency notes as copies of actual currency notes produced without the approval of the state or central authority and used to conduct criminal activities. A parallel economy is run with the help of this fake currency note. This parallel economy causes a country's economy to deteriorate, lowering the value of its currency in the global market. As a result, it became critical to build a comprehensive technique to detect counterfeit notes to decrease the flow of counterfeit notes into the market. The fake currency detection system for Indian cash using image processing and machine learning is discussed in this research study. In order to identify real currency notes based on the distinctive features seen on the Indian currency note of 100 rupees, this research uses image processing and the random forest approach. While omitting the texture and colour of the note, banknote identification is accomplished by comparing received banknotes to a database of previously learned images. On the sample size of 400 notes, we found accuracy of 84.25%, recall of 66.25%, and precision of 78.63%. The recommended solution outperforms convolutional neural networks in terms of accuracy and training speed while using a simpler methodology. To prevent inflation and economic loss, this approach can also be used to different types of currency notes.
MOĆ I FUNKCIJE METAFORA U PANDEMIJSKOM DISKURSU
Authors: Silaški Nadežda
Published: April 2023

Metaphor has been a powerful cognitive and strategic communication instrument of dominant participants in the pandemic discourse, which has already been attested by multiple studies conducted so far (e.g. Musolff et al., 2022; Nerlich, 2020; Olza et al., 2021; Semino, 2021; Silaški & Đurović, 2022a, 2022b; Wicke & Bolognesi, 2020). This paper deals with metaphors in the pandemic discourse in Serbia, which I define here as a public discourse of political elites and health experts used during 2020 and 2021 including both the primary pandemic discourse (public addresses of politicians and those of medical experts during the regular sessions of the national Crisis response team) as well as the secondary pandemic discourse (that of the media reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic). The paper is couched in the theoretical framework of Critical Metaphor Analysis (Charteris-Black, 2004, 2019, 2021; Musolff, 2006, 2016, 2019; Musolff et al., 2022), especially its strand that promotes a discourse approach to metaphors (Cameron & Deignan, 2006; Semino, 2008, 2020, 2021). The qualitative analysis of the data collected from various media outlets in Serbian (e.g. Danas, N1, RTS, Blic, Politika, Direktno, Mondo, NovaS, etc.) during 2020 and 2021 has shown that a number of different metaphors, those of war, sport, natural force / natural disaster, as well as a multitude of unconventional, creative and idiosyncratic metaphors, perform several strategic and intertwined functions in the pandemic discourse. These range from serving as an instrument of affective manipulation by communicating a sense of danger, uncertainty and threat coming from the virus, to legitimising the wanted course of action and concealing the responsibility of government officials and health experts, to being one of the useful tools for popularizing medical scientific discourse and making it understandable by the general public for the purpose of combatting a dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric and boosting Covid-19 vaccine acceptance. Such multifunctionality of metaphors once again attests to their being a potent and persuasive tool of creating the desired realities in line with the needs and agendas of political elites.
МОЋ ЛЕКСИКЕ МЕДИЈСКОГ ДИСКУРСА У КРЕИРАЊУ И УЧВРШЋИВАЊУ СТАВОВА ПРЕМА МАЊИНСКИМ ГРУПАМА (НА ПРИМЕРУ ВЕРБАЛНЕ ДИСКРИМИНАЦИЈЕ ЛГБТ ОСОБА)
Authors: Јовановић Јована
Published: April 2023

The paper analyzes derogatory names for LGBT persons from the lexical-semantic and linguacultural aspects, with a special focus on pejoratives referring to male persons of the homosexual orientation in the Serbian language. Then, through the analysis of the public discourse about this minority group – both through the study of newspaper texts and official announcements of social actors in the media, as well as by looking at the lexical features of communication among social network users on this topic – the different levels of verbal discrimination that the LGBT persons in Serbia are exposed to are shown. The goal is to demonstrate the power of the media in creating and strengthening ideological and discriminatory attitudes in society, using the example of the expressive lexicon that is represented in public discourse and refers to members of this minority group.
MOĆ REČI I FILM: SORENTINOVA „BOŽJA RUKA”
Authors: Koprivica Lelićanin Marija
Published: April 2023

The word is a rather neglected semiotic resource in film interpretation. The production principle of “Show, don’t tell!” (McKee, 1997) induces us to give precedence to visual resources (Markovic, 2017) in movie analyses as well. However, verbal interaction can sometimes be the key to understanding. This is exactly the case with Sorrentino’s film “The Hand of God” (2021) and with the phrase “Don’t disunite, Fabio!” which quickly found its place beyond the “filmic reality”. Therefore, the main objective of this analysis is to interpret the most important meanings of this cinematic dialogue. The contrasting relationship between student and teacher, between the protagonist Fabietto and director Capuano, is initially presented with the semiotic square of Greimas (Greimas in Volli, 2008). Then, the turn-taking organisation, the structure of the interaction and its most important linguistic characteristics are examined. It has been observed that this dialogue has almost all the elements of an oral story (Labov & Waletzky, 1967; Labov, 1972), but that the asymmetrical distribution of power has been realized only by some linguistic means of underlining power while others are entirely absent. These observations shed light on the nature of film dialogue, highlight the similarities and differences between screenplay, film dialogue and everyday conversation, and confirm that the full meaning of a film is revealed only in a multimodal reading of the intersemiotic relationship of all cinematographic modalities, among which the word has its indispensable place.
МОЋ И ЈЕЗИК У ЈАПАНУ: ОД МИТА ДО SOFT POWER-А
Authors: Кличковић Далибор
Published: April 2023

Having in mind an abundance of discourses on the power exerted in Japan by its language, in this paper, we consider some traits of the modern ethnolinguistic ideology in Japan as it developed in three phases propelled by the necessity of reaching a modern self-understanding but also redefining the nation’s relation to its oversea Other. In the first stage, the kokugaku as the nativist school of thought launches the discourse of the linguistic superiority of Japan, based on the assumption of the unity between the language and the Japanese spirit. Moreover, the spoken Japanese language was envisaged as being essentially at one with reality itself, fully expressive of the people’s most inner being and in accord with the soul of the things. Some concepts from that period, particularly kotodama and mono no aware, would be repeated during the period of the modernization too, when the language ideology seemed to comprise two layers: the kokugaku romanticism and the need for Japanese be modernized and thus made more appropriate as a means of creating a modern and strong country. After serving the ideological purpose of creating both the modern individuality and the devoted imperial subject, the Japanese language in the third stage had to take on a new role, that of a weapon in the battle for Japan’s influence in the contemporary world. Globally known as the soft power, Japan strongly relied on a kind of cultural diplomacy to get as much as possible foreign understanding and affection. The language itself continued to be considered a matrix in which the exclusivity of Japanese culture has been encoded and executed, although the notions of the mythological origin of this power were relinquished. Japan is a country of high culture and its language can attest to that. Instead of the strong ontology, the Japanese has to be acculturated globally in order to secure new sources of the power of the Japanese state.
IDENTIFYING FEMINISM: THE NARRATIVES OF POWER AND RESISTANCE
Authors: Mitić Petra
Published: April 2023

Even though the feminist agenda has always been related to the concept of empowerment and resistance, the feminist struggles, both in theory and practice, have often just replicated forms of exclusion and domination in their own ranks and narratives. This failure to bring about substantial changes in the underlying systems of power has made it necessary to reconsider the achievements made so far, while the ability to identify the structural matrices of oppression in the existing narratives is seen as crucial to performing a radical break with dominant culture of systemic violence. Today, it is the culture in a consumerist world in which women have been declared free, and are persistently lauded for having won most of their feminist ‘battles’, but it is more often than not, and usually under the surface of its politically correct speech and democratic ways, even more toxic and oppressive than ever. Redefining the idea of transformative power – of both words and deeds – and a choice to resist is therefore related to remembering the warning words of bell hooks, the recently deceased feminist icon of resistance. In the context in which mainstream feminism has been largely appropriated to serve the ends of neoliberal agenda, her warning states that it has become urgent to re-appropriate the term, change the narrative by identifying and proclaiming feminism to be not just about gender roles but about liberation for all people – female and male – from domination and oppression in all its different manifestations, old and new. The paper will then proceed to illustrate different aspects of power, and different ways of speaking out to demonstrate resistance to its destructive ways by calling upon the resisting voices of three contemporary literary figures: that of Antigone (Sophocles), of Adolfina Freud (Goce Smilevski), and of Michael K. (J.M. Coetzee).
REČ, TIŠINA, SLOM: JEZIK KAO SREDSTVO USPOSTAVLJANJA MOĆI U KOMEDIJAMA PRETNJE I POLITIČKIM DRAMAMA HAROLDA PINTERA
Authors: Skuban Sofija
Published: April 2023

Struggle for power lies at the centre of most of Harold Pinter’s plays: while in his early comedies of menace it usually happens between seemingly equal characters, in his late and openly political plays it takes the form of the oppression of powerless individuals by the structures of power. Nevertheless, by analyzing two comedies of menace – The Birthday Party and The Dumb Waiter – as well as two political plays – One for the Road and Mountain Language – this paper shows that language plays the key role in struggle for power, representing the most common and most efficient means of obtaining the dominant position, regardless of the level on which the struggle takes place. Not only do Pinter’s characters use verbal violence to torture their victims, but their use of refined language also serves as an indication of their superiority. What is more, by using linguistic strategies, such as repetition and word games, the torturers baffle their victims into submission, while the use of absurd language serves to further intimidate and perplex the oppressed individuals. Finally, Pinter’s famous pauses and silences, though being the ’negation’ of language, represent the ultimate form of linguistic torture. The language of Pinter’s characters, thus, despite its occasional semantic emptiness and lack of communicative function, always fully fulfils its role – the role of helping the characters assume and retain the position of power.
ВИДОВИ МОЋИ У ДЕЛИМА ЕНЕСА ХАЛИЛОВИЋА
Authors: Јањић Ана
Published: April 2023

This paper analyzes the aspects of power in the prose texts of Enes Halilović by focusing on the novels „People without Graves“, „If You Gaze Long into an Abyss“, and the collection of stories „Strange Book“. At the same time, the paper analyzes the possibility of their classification and the results of the selection. Based on Michel Foucault’s theory of the distribution of power and the establishment of body control – by employing physical torture and the surveillance of the mind through the concept of the Panopticon – the forms of power are interpreted based on social (sociopolitical and historical), gender, and other characteristics. Psychological mechanisms governing individuals and groups and the dominance of central structures over the (multiple) marginalized open the text to (at least) two aspects: its inclination towards historiographic metafiction and the redefinition of the fictional world in his works through a narrative identity. The power of the story to (re)constitute identity positions can be observed in multiple ways – through the identity of the hero, the storyteller, the community, etc. The discourse of silence, the eloquent silence of the oppressed, stands out as a particular expression of the potency of his texts. Ultimately, one part of Halilović’s opus shows that the power of literature is an ontological question that penetrates archaic representations and figures, the archetypal and the collective, which will be discussed in the last segment of this paper.