bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resonant Fabrics
Authors: Heine Marvin
Published: June 2023

Soundscapes profoundly connect listeners to the places they inhabit and thereby reveal the vibrant and resonant fabrics that lie beneath the delineated spaces of visual representation. In Resonant Fabrics, Marvin Heine explores and celebrates the many-layered and ambiguously undulating sense- and soundscapes as they shape and are shaped by urban cultures and particular ways of listening. By examining historical documents, contemporary accounts, and original empirical material through a combination of actor-network-theory, ecology, and sound studies scholarship, he embraces, in a stylistically embodied and often poetic manner, the sonic urban world in all its fragile, ephemeral, yet deeply affective sonority.
Einsames Sterben und unentdeckte Tode in der Stadt
Authors: Loke Susanne
Published: June 2023

Einsames Sterben und ein sozial unbegleitetes Lebensende sind alltägliche, doch häufig verborgene soziale Probleme. In einer vielschichtigen sozialwissenschaftlichen Analyse verknüpft Susanne Loke Erkenntnisse der Einsamkeits-, Sterbe- und Ungleichheitsforschung im städtischen Raum zu innovativen Ergebnissen. Sie veranschaulicht die Ambivalenzen eines einsamen und unentdeckten Todes als Endpunkt einer abwärts gerichteten Spirale der Einsamkeit und sozialen Isolation bzw. Exklusion. Die Feldforschung in einem sterbenden Sozialraum gibt marginalisierten Menschen das Wort, die sonst nicht gehört werden, und lässt die Leser*innen teils beklommen zurück.
Crip-queere Körper
Authors: Kreuser Mirjam
Published: June 2023

Wie steht es um die crip-queere Sichtbarkeit auf der Theaterbühne? In der Beschäftigung mit Performances von behinderten und queeren Künstler*innen befragt Mirjam Kreuser die Theaterwissenschaft im Allgemeinen und die phänomenologische Aufführungsanalyse im Besonderen zu ihrer normativen Orientierung. Die Analyse der Performance-Reihe Criptonite (Konzept: Nina Mühlemann, Edwin Ramirez) beschäftigt sich nicht nur mit dem sogenannten cripping und queering als ästhetische, sondern auch als wissenschaftliche Praxis. Das Ergebnis ist ein Vorschlag hin zu einem Entwurf von Kompliz*innenschaft in künstlerischer und akademischer Praxis.
Forschungsnahes Lehren und Lernen im berufsorientierten Modulbereich?
Authors: Künkel Veronika Elisabeth
Published: June 2023

Veronika Elisabeth Künkel untersucht in diesem Beitrag verschiedene Formen des forschenden Lehrens und Lernens, um Lehrformate zu identifizieren, die sich für die Förderung sowohl akademischer als auch praxisorientierter Kompetenzen eignen. Anschließend wird anhand des Seminars ,Angemessenheit als Türöffner in interkultureller Kommunikation' aus dem MA-Studiengang Interkulturelle Germanistik der Universität Bayreuth gezeigt, wie sich Forschungs- und Berufsorientierung verbinden und in der akademischen Lehrpraxis umsetzen lassen. Der Artikel schließt mit einer Zusammenfassung und einem kurzen Ausblick auf weitere Ideen zur Verbesserung der forschungs- und praxisorientierten Lehre in der Interkulturellen Germanistik.
Theater und Translation
Authors: Boguna Julija
Published: June 2023

Julija Boguna widmet sich in diesem Beitrag der Frage nach Möglichkeiten forschenden Lernens in der Übersetzerausbildung. Am Beispiel von mehreren kulturwissenschaftlichen germanistischen Seminaren, die in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Theater im Pfalzbau (Ludwigshafen) durchgeführt wurden, werden forschungsintensive Lehrformen auf ihre employability und innovatives Potential hin reflektiert.
Font Size: إدارة الجودة الشاملة وتأثيرها على سلوك المستهلك دراسة تحليلية لاراء عينة من المتسوقين المولات في محافظة الحلبجة
Authors:   University of Halabja, Tawfiq Ako M.
Published: June 2023

يهدف البحث الحالي الى تسليط الضوء على الأنشطة التى تمارسها إدارة الجودة الشاملة ودورها في تحقيق رضا المستهلك في محافظة حلبجة. وفى ضوء هذا الهدف يحاول البحث التعرف على أنماط الأنشطة الاقتصادية التى تمارسها إدارة الجودة الشاملة وتأثيرها على سلوك المستهلك ، والمشكلات التى تواجه إدارة الجودة الشاملة لمحاولة الحصول على الرضا الكلي للمستهلكين وموقف المستهلكين. و بعد مراجعة ادبيات البحث تم كتابة المفاهيم النظرية وبناء النموذج والفرضيات اعتمادا على ابعاد ادارة الجودة الشاملة ورضا المستهلك، حيث تم تصميم استمارة استبيان لجمع البيانات وتم تطوير المقاييس باعتماد اسلوب العينة العشوائية، وتم توزيع استمارة استبانة على عينة البحث المتمثلة بمجموعة من المتسوقين لعينة من المولات في محافظة الحلبجة. واستخدمت عدة أساليب إحصائية منها المحكمين للتأكد من الصدق و الثبات، وتحليل الارتباط البسيط والانحدار الخطي البسيط عبر برنامج SPSS. وأظهرت النتائج وجود علاقة ارتباط واثر إيجابية بين المتغيرات. وبناءا على نتائج البحث تم تقديم عدد من التوصيات المتعلقة بضرورة توعية المولات بنشر ثقافة أهمية الجودة الشاملة للمنتجات التى تهدف الى المساعدة.
Modelos de criminalización de la pornografía no consentida (Reflexiones sobre los diversos enfoques político-criminales de los sistemas angloamericanos y de los países de la Europa continental a la luz del análisis del artículo 612-ter del Código Penal It
Authors: Marco Caletti Gian
Published: June 2023

En el 2019 el legislador italiano tipificó en el nuevo art. 612- ter CP el denominado “revenge porn”: la práctica de publicar imágenes sexualmente explícitas sin el consentimiento de las personas retratadas. Pese a que la formulación del nuevo delito parece obedecer a un proceso legislativo precipitado, la ley italiana presenta características de indudable interés desde una perspectiva comparada. En este delito el legislador italiano se ha orientado al modelo de criminalización propuesto por los países angloamericanos fundado en la reserva sexual, a diferencia de los ordenamientos jurídicos europeos que han adoptado un concepto general de intimidad, por ejemplo, España y Alemania. Además, el art. 612 CP.it aporta soluciones normativas originales: la responsabilidad de los “segundos distribuidores” de las imágenes y la exigencia de consentimiento en la difusión (que parece inspirarse en las teorías angloamericanas del “affirmative consent”). Este trabajo subraya también la importancia de abandonar el uso del neologismo inglés para adoptar la denominación “pornografía no consentida” y examina en detalle el delito italiano en constante diálogo con las soluciones adoptadas por los legisladores de otros ordenamientos jurídicos.
Word Association of The Covid-19 Terms: Case Study on Indonesian Generation Z
Authors: Prihatini Arti
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, society needs to understand the Covid-19 virus and improve appropriate attitudes and actions, especially Generation Z. The present study aimed to investigate adolescents' knowledge, responses, and attitudes. This research method was a descriptive case study. Data were collected using a free word association test and semi-structured interviews. Respondents amounted to 400 people with an age range of 17-24 years. Simple descriptive statistics with Ms. Excel analyzed the data; then, the data was coded with the Atlas.ti 9 application. The results showed that most Generation Z produced common words than idiosyncratic ones. Based on the lexico-syntactic pattern, nouns were responded by paradigmatic relation, while adjectives and verbs responded by syntagmatic. Based on the collocation, responded words were dominated by lexical collocations, while grammatical collocation responses were minimal. The association of the Covid-19 term represented knowledge of Generation-Z about the definition, symptoms, origin, impacts, efforts to deal with the virus, and the current condition of Covid-19. Generation Z tried to accept the pandemic by interpreting wisdom and hoping that conditions would be better soon. However, few generation-Z responded negatively, suspected a conspiracy, and thought the Covid-19 virus did not exist.
The Strategic Adoption of Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility with Network Externalities
Authors: Xing Mingqing , Lee Sang-Ho
Published: June 2023

This paper adopts a green managerial delegation model in a polluting network industry wherein consumers form fulfilled rational expectations of network externalities. We show that firms are consistently incentivized to undertake ECSR (environmental corporate social responsibility) under price competition, while positive network externalities can increase the strategic level of ECSR. We also show that product substitutability between network products can play an important role in determining a firm’s strategic level of ECSR and resulting profits. Finally, ECSR is conducive to increasing environmental quality and social welfare in a high-polluting network industry. Therefore, the strategic adoption of ECSR in a network industry is Pareto-improving as environmental damage becomes serious.
“Tis Early Practice only Makes the Master”: Nature and Nurture in Economic Thinking During School Time – A Research Note on Economics Education
Authors: Roetzel Peter Gordon , Roetzel Lina
Published: June 2023

In this article, we contribute to the longstanding debate among economists regarding the question of “nature or nurture” with respect to economics students’ attitudes toward various allocation mechanisms for a scarce resource. While previous research starts the debate by beginning with first-year economics students, we aim to evaluate pre-first-year individuals, i.e., school pupils. Drawing on the seminal works of Haucap, J., & Just, T. (2010). Not guilty? Another look at the nature and nurture of economics students.European Journal of Law and Economics,29(2), 239–254 and Frey, B. S., Pommerehne, W. W., & Gygi, B. (1993). Economics indoctrination or selection? Some empirical results.The Journal of Economic Education,24(3), 271–281, we investigate a sample of 697 pupils ranging from the 5th to the 13th grades to determine whether pupils are “born economists” (nature), develop economic thinking (nurture), or both. We find that young individuals start to think differently in early grades and that their thinking and attitudes are shaped differently throughout their school careers, thereby providing support for the effects of both nature and nurture. Our findings show that school time impacts fairness judgments, particularly regarding price mechanisms. Regarding learning or indoctrination, we find that economics-inclined pupils are positively affected by lessons in economics in school, while pupils who are economics-averse draw completely diametric conclusions from economics lessons, thereby exhibiting increased disapproval of price allocation over the course of these classes and increased approval of the first come, first served and governmental action mechanisms. Moreover, we find strong effects of gender and migration background in this context. This study is the first to elucidate the development of economic thinking in 5th–13th grade pupils. Our results are important for economists, educators, and researchers because they can serve as a starting point for subsequent investigations in this under-researched field.
Depletion zones of groundwater resources in the Southwest Desert of Iraq
Authors: Shlash Marwah Abdullah , Obead Imad Habeeb
Published: June 2023

Aquifers offer a reliable supply of high-quality water, making groundwater significant in arid and semi-arid regions. Climate change is predicted to result in a decrease in rainfall and an increase in droughts. The prolonged drought severely devastated Iraq and is the main reason for the ongoing increase in groundwater consumption over the last decade. In this study, the stresses and depletion potentials of the Dammam confined aquifer, which extended along the Najaf and Muthanna governorates, are identified and analyzed. By using the Groundwater Modelling System (GMS v10.4) software, a numerical simulation of groundwater flow was used to study the Dammam aquifer system. The upper layer was modeled as unconfined, while the bottom layer was confined. The findings from the steady-state calibration indicate that the hydraulic conductivity (HK) within the study area varies between 1.47 to 20.0 m/day. Additionally, the recharging rate (RH) was estimated to be approximately 1.66 × 10−6 m/day. These parameters were utilized as the initial condition for conducting the transient analysis. Two operating scenarios were employed to perform unsteady simulations. The initial scenario involved the utilization of 89 production wells, while the second scenario included all 139 stand-by production wells, resulting in a total of 228 wells for the operational period from July 2021 to June 2022. The results of the first operation scenario showed that the drawdowns ranged from 0.4 to 5.8 m, whereas the second operation scenario showed that the drawdown increased from 1.0 to 22 m. The depletion rate in the groundwater static heads was measured by the percentage of relative difference. Hence, the depletion rate for the first scenario varied from 4.32 to 33.34%. On the other hand, the second scenario ranged from 7.45 to 33.34%.
Investigation of high-turbidity tap water problem in Najaf governorate/middle of Iraq
Authors: Abed Zahraa H. , Khudair Kifah M.
Published: June 2023

Turbidity is a fundamental measure for assessing the quality of water supplied by water treatment plants (WTPs) employing a conventional treatment process. If it is present in amounts exceeding the permitted limit, disinfectants are less effective in killing microorganisms and the water becomes unsafe to drink. This article is a part of a comprehensive study that aims to investigate the high-turbidity problem of tap water in two cities of Najaf governorate and offer suitable measures to solve this problem. The purpose of this study was to determine how WTPs impact the turbidity of tap water. The work covered two main WTPs located in Najaf governorate: Unified Najaf and The Old Kufa. It included the collection of water samples from three locations in each plant: the influent of flash mix unit (raw water samples), the effluent of clariflocculation unit (settled water samples), and the effluent of filtration unit (filtered water samples). The samples were analyzed for turbidity using a turbidity meter. The efficacy of each plant's treatment units was revealed by monitoring the turbidity of the water inside each facility. For the Unified Najaf WTP, out of 99 TRE readings, there were 3, 92, and 60 positive values for TREc, TREf, and TREp, respectively. The maximum values of TREc, TREf, and TREp were 22.3, 86.5, and 61.5%, respectively. The performance of Old Kufa WTP was worse than that of Unified Najaf WT. Out of 99 TRE values, the number of positive values was 6, 76, and 31 for TREc, TREf, and TREp, respectively. They also showed that only 26 out of 99 and 9 out of 99 effluent turbidity readings in Unified Najaf and Old Kufa WTPs, respectively, satisfy Iraqi standards for tap water turbidity. The bad performance of the WTPs was the main reason behind the high-turbidity tap water in Najaf governorate. This study identified the causes of that performance and proposed solutions.
Government Bond Spreads in the Euro Area
Authors: Carnot Nicolas , Pamies Stéphanie
Published: June 2023

In the euro area, the sovereign debts of all Member States aspire to be equally safe but investors persistently discriminate between country debts. Empirically, the evidence suggests a clear role of ‘fundamentals’ in explaining government bond spreads between euro area countries. In particular, the level of indebtedness is found to weigh strongly on spreads in a non-linear fashion. Fiscal factors may however be tempered, or conversely exacerbated, by other factors including the external position, potential growth, and institutional quality. Notwithstanding other pressing policy priorities such as the energy transition and climate change, policy reforms aimed at credibly ensuring sustainable national debts therefore remain central to the governance equilibrium of the euro area.
Moving bed biofilm reactor combined with an activated carbon filter for biological nitrate removal
Authors: Bouteraa Meriem , Panico Antonio , Rania Zamouche-Zerdazi  , Mossaab Bencheikh-Lehocine  , Derbal Kerroum , Crispino Gaetano , Gisonni Corrado , Ferraro Alberto , Pirozzi Francesco
Published: June 2023

A massive use of nitrogen based fertilizers in agriculture is worldwide one of the main causes for nitrate contamination of groundwater. Methods for removing nitrate from aquatic environment through physical and/or chemical processes often turn out to be not applicable because of unaffordable financial resource as well as essential infrastructure lack. On the other hand, biological processes seem to have potentiality to overcome these limitations since they are less expensive and easier to be performed. Accordingly, in the present work, a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) filled with Kaldnes K1 as carrier media was used to remove nitrate from a synthetic groundwater at bench scale. Acetate was used as organic source. Different operational conditions were tested: influent nitrate concentrations of 30, 40, 50 and 60 mg/L; hydraulic retention times of 24, 18, 12 and 8 h; and COD/NO3-N mass ratios of 3.00 and 2.98. Experimental results showed that NO3-N = 60 mg L−1, HRT = 8 h and COD/NO3-N ratio = 2.98 were the optimal operating conditions that allowed achieving a NO3-N removal by 99 % and a COD removal by almost 100 %. Moreover, almost no NO2−-N accumulation and null COD concentration were observed at the optimal operating conditions. An activated carbon filter was placed downstream to remove residual organic compounds prior to disinfection unit, thus avoiding the potential formation of harmful disinfection by-products (e.g. trihalomethanes (THMs)). The MBBR was able to show a rapid recovery whenever the operating conditions were defined as more severe, thus proving that the operating conditions can vary over a wider range. Furthermore, the results showed that the MBBR system can be used effectively as a biological process to remove nitrate from groundwater.
Hektik pur: zu den unflektierten nachgestellten Adjektiven im Deutschen und zu deren Wiedergabe im Italienischen
Authors: Masiero Federica
Published: June 2023

Englisch: The paper focuses on a peculiar German nominal construction which contains a certain type of uninflected postnominal adjectives that are used attributively. These adjectives have a semantically intensifying function as in for example Hektik pur and they constitute a small closed list (brutal, light, pur, total, satt). The central aim of this paper consists in presenting and evaluating different proposals for the translation of this particular German construction into Italian on the basis of an empirical analysis of concrete examples. Furthermore, the article analyses how the construction under study is treated in current German grammatical writing, discusses its syntax and offers some novel theses on its semantics.
On computation of neighbourhood degree sum-based topological indices for zinc-based metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Ravi Vignesh , Desikan Kalyani , Chidambaram Natarajan
Published: June 2023

The permeable materials known as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have a large porosity volume, excellent chemical stability, and a unique structure that results from the potent interactions between metal ions and organic ligands. Work on the synthesis, architectures, and properties of various MOFs reveals their utility in a variety of applications, including energy storage devices with suitable electrode materials, gas storage, heterogeneous catalysis, and chemical assessment. A topological index, which is a numerical invariant, predicts the physicochemical properties of chemical entities based on the underlying molecular graph or framework. In this article, we consider two different zinc-based MOFs, namely zinc oxide and zinc silicate MOFs. We compute 14 neighbourhood degree sum-based topological indices for these frameworks, and the numerical and graphical representations of all the aforementioned 14 indices are made.
Influence of Ti and Nb addition on the microstructure, mechanical, and machinability properties of 316L stainless steel fabricated by powder metallurgy
Authors: Erden Mehmet Akif , Uzun Fatma Gül , Akgün Mahir , Gökçe Hasan
Published: June 2023

In this study, titanium and niobium element powders in determined amounts (0.25 and 0.5 wt%) were added into the 316L stainless steel matrix by means of powder metallurgy (PM) technology, either singly or in pairs, and the desired composition was obtained as a powder mixture. The powders used in the study were cold pressed tensile sample molds prepared in ASTM 8 M standards, unidirectionally cold pressed under 700 MPa compression pressure and formed into blocks. After pressing, the raw strength samples were sintered in an atmosphere-controlled tube furnace at 1325 °C for 2 h in an argon atmosphere. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the produced PM steels were characterized by optical microscope, SEM, EDS, and tensile test. The results showed that the stainless-steel samples with 0.25(Ti–Nb) added composition to 316L stainless steel had the highest yield strength and tensile strengths. However, with the addition of 0.5Ti, 0.5Nb, and 0.5(Ti–Nb) to 316L stainless steel, a decrease was observed in the mechanical properties. Moreover, the MQL machining is better on the machining output such as surface roughness and cutting temperature than dry machining in terms of a sustainable machining process.
Hipponax am „neronischen Musenhof“. Zu Persius’ Satiren-Prolog
Authors: Spahlinger Lothar
Published: June 2023

The choliambic metre of the prologue poem of Persius’Satiresis key to understanding the poem’s message. On the one hand it creates a link to Hipponax as the canonical exponent of the iambic genre and to the tale of his inspiration transmitted by Giorgios Choiroboskos, and so attests the presence of the iambic poet in the cultured literary circles at Nero’s imperial court. On the other hand the poet alludes to Callimachus, his iambic poetry and his poetology, and so adopts his rejection of a poetry that has sunk to mere literary convention. This casts new light both on Persius’ own claim to be asemipaganusand on his mockery of the profit-orientedcorviandpicae.
Archäologie entlang der Gleise. Das Kaiserlich Deutsche Archäologische Institut und die Anatolische Eisenbahn
Authors: Georgiev Anna
Published: June 2023

Der Artikel setzt sich mit den Strategien auseinander, die das Kaiserlich Deutsche Archäologische Institut nutzte, um auch für die Archäologie einen Gewinn aus dem Bau der Anatolischen Eisenbahn Ende des 19ten Jahrhunderts zu ziehen. Ein Schwerpunkt wird dabei auf den Aufenthalt des Altphilologen Alfred Körte in Anatolien gelegt, der mit Unterstützung des Archäologischen Instituts und durch Förderung des Direktors der Anatolischen Eisenbahngesellschaft Otto von Kühlmann, dem Bahnbauprojekt in archäologischen Fragen zur Seite stehen sollte. Die aus dem Aufenthalt erwachsenden Kontroversen mit den osmanischen Behörden werden dargelegt und auf Sammlungsstücke verwiesen, die aus dieser Zusammenarbeit ins Deutsche Reich überführt wurden. Abschließend wird die Frage aufgeworfen, inwieweit die Verzahnung zwischen Archäologie und Bahnbau, wie sie sich bei der Anatolischen Eisenbahn zeigte, auch für den Bau der Bagdadbahn unter gänzlich neuen politischen Rahmenbedingungen dienliche Erfahrungen lieferte.
The role of volume effect on the transient behavior of a transonic compressor
Authors: Yuchen Dai , Manxiang Song , Donghai Jin , Xingmin Gui , Xiaoheng Liu
Published: June 2023

The significance of the volume effect on the compressor performance during acceleration and deceleration has received limited attention, despite its demonstrated importance in compressor flow instabilities. To better understand this effect, the in-house simulation program CAM (a modular transient simulator) is used to investigate the volume effect on the compressor transient performance. The modeling procedure is derived from Greziter’s lumped parameter approach and the accuracy of the simulation model is verified by experimental data. This study presents a comprehensive comparison and explanation of variations in compressor transient behavior observed under different conditions, including different shaft speed change rates, compressor volume sizes, and operating speeds. The relative difference between the compressor inlet and outlet mass flow is identified as the key factor contributing to these discrepancies. In addition, a simplified analytical model is developed to provide a basic description of the compressor operating line during acceleration and deceleration, which also provides additional support for the validity of the numerical results. This study systematically establishes the dynamic dependencies between shaft speed change, pressure and mass flow change, offering critical information for ensuring the safety of compressors during transient operation.
Changes in Autonomic Nervous System Function in Patients >60 Years of Age with Coronary Heart Disease, and Normotension or Hypertension: An Observational Study
Authors: Li Jing-Xiu , Wang Jing , Ding Bei-Bei , Gao Min
Published: June 2023

Aim: The aim of this observational study was to perform in-depth analysis of autonomic nervous system function in patients older than 60 years of age with coronary artery disease, and normotension or hypertension.

Method: A total of 104 patients older than 60 years with coronary heart disease (CHD) were divided into a normotension group and hypertension (HT) group, and 24-hour Holter monitoring was performed to assess autonomic function.

Result: Among the 104 patients with CHD analyzed, 52 had normotension, and 52 had hypertension. The 24-hour Holter results based on time-domain methods indicated that the values of the time-domain parameters of heart rate variability were significantly lower in the CHD+HT group than the CHD group. Furthermore, during both the daytime and nighttime, the time-domain parameters were significantly lower in the CHD+HT group than the CHD group. No difference was observed in autonomic function during the daytime and nighttime in each group. Values of frequency-domain parameters of heart rate variability were also significantly lower in the CHD+HT group than the CHD group. More patients in the CHD+HT group than the CHD group received percutaneous coronary intervention (57.69% vs. 50% χ2=0.619, P=0.55). In 12 months of follow-up, we found no significant differences in rehospitalization for unstable angina and target lesion revascularization between patients with CHD with normotension versus hypertension.

Conclusion: The heart autonomic nervous system dysfunction in patients older than 60 years with CHD with hypertension was more severe than that in patients with CHD with normotension, and therefore, should receive greater clinical attention.
Sliding wear characteristics of FDM-processed polylactic-acid in bovine blood serum
Authors: Arifvianto Budi , Putra A. T. , Prayoga B. T. , Dharmastiti R. , Salim U. A. , Mahardika M. , . Suyitno
Published: June 2023

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) has so far been recognized for its reliability and simplicity for manufacturing of geometrically-complex polymeric materials with 3D printing technique. Recently, the studies concerning the properties of materials fabricated by using the FDM have been growing, including those related to their wear resistance which is considered of critical when a 3D-printed material must work sliding over the surface of another material during its application. Up to now, however, the influence of several FDM-printing parameters, including the raster orientations, on the wear resistance of the printed polymeric materials have not yet been fully understood. In this research, the influence of raster orientations on the wear resistance of FDM-processed polylactic-acid (PLA) materials in bovine blood serum were determined. A reciprocating pin-on-plate tribometer was used to evaluate wear resistance of a cylindrical PLA pin that slid over the surface of a commercially-pure titanium (Ti) plate. The results showed that the FDM-printed PLA pins with unidirectional raster orientations had higher wear factors (WF), i.e., ~1.5 ´ 10-4 mm N-1 m-1 than those with crossed raster orientations, i.e., ~0.8 ´ 10-4 mm N-1 m-1. Meanwhile, the WF values of Ti surface that slid against PLA pin with crossed raster orientations, i.e., ~0.09 ´ 10-4 mm N-1 m-1, were also significantly lower than those sliding with the pin having unidirectional raster orientation, i.e., 0.34 – 0.41 ´ 10-4 mm N-1 m-1. The result of analysis of the worn surface morphologies shows the indications of surface abrasion, fatigue and polymer film transfer as the possible wear mechanisms of both the FDM-processed PLA pin and its Ti countersurface material. On the basis of all the findings in this research, it can be concluded that the crossed raster orientation is preferable to be used as one of the parameters in printing of the wear resistant PLA rather than the unidirectional raster orientation.
Microglia: sculptors of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-like brain?
Authors: Sati Aisha , Desroziers Elodie , Campbell Rebecca E
Published: June 2023

In brief

Neuroendocrine dysfunction and transgenerational susceptibility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suggest that programmed changes within the brain contribute to adult development of the syndrome. This review discusses a potentially important role for microglia in mediating prenatal androgen-programmed changes in the female brain that contribute to PCOS-like features.

Several lines of evidence support a role for the brain in both the development and maintenance of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of anovulatory infertility worldwide. Persistently elevated luteinizing hormone secretion and impaired gonadal steroid hormone feedback in PCOS patients suggest impairments within the neuronal networks that regulate the reproductive axis. Evidence from preclinical models has linked androgen excess during prenatal life with altered structure and function of the developing female brain that might underpin syndrome development in adulthood. Studies investigating the mechanisms by which excess androgens program changes in the female brain have highlighted an important role for microglia. This review discusses how these non-neuronal cells shape the developing female brain in response to excess androgens and focuses on how microglia may be involved in the development of the neuroendocrine dysfunctions associated with PCOS.
Molecular functions of Mrhl lncRNA in mouse spermatogenesis
Authors: Kayyar Bhavana , Kataruka Shubhangini , Suresh Akhade Vijay , Rao M R S
Published: June 2023

In brief

Mrhl lncRNA regulates the Wnt signaling pathway in mouse spermatogonial cells, resulting in the commitment of B-type spermatogonia to meiotic entry through Mrhl lncRNA-mediated regulation of Sox8. Mrhl lncRNA regulates chromatin dynamics of the Sox8 promoter/enhancer interaction through chromatin looping.

Proliferation and meiotic division of spermatogonial stem cells are highly regulated biological processes that occur during spermatogenesis. In addition to protein-coding genes, the mammalian genome encodes thousands of lncRNAs which are spatio-temporally expressed and play key role(s) in cellular differentiation and development. Mrhl lncRNA is one such mono-exonic polyadenylated non-coding RNA encoded within the 15th intron of the mouse Phkb gene. Mrhl lncRNA is expressed in mouse testis amongst other tissues. The RNA is nuclear localized and predominantly bound to chromatin in GC-1 spg cells (derived from B-type spermatogonia). It regulates multiple genes belonging to different biological processes including Wnt signaling. Wnt activation of GC-1 spg cells downregulates Mrhl lncRNA expression, in turn activating the expression of meiotic marker genes and downregulating stem cell markers. We have mapped the genomic loci bound by Mrhl lncRNA and identified 37 genes to be regulated by its physical association. Sox8 gene, one among these, is regulated through its interaction at its promoter through RNA:DNA:DNA triplex structure and chromatin looping mediated by the architectural proteins CTCF and YY1. Here, we summarize our major findings on this novel lncRNA starting from its discovery to biological function(s), particularly during meiotic commitment/initiation in mouse spermatogenesis.
The effects of the force loading direction on bending strength and modulus of elasticity in laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
Authors: Kılıç Murat
Published: June 2023

This study was aimed at determining the effects of the force loading direction on bending strength (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) in laminated wooden materials obtained in different compositions from cut veneers of Oriental beech and Lombardy poplar with thicknesses of 4 mm and 5 mm. A total of 180 experimental specimens were prepared for determining the MOR and MOE values in parallel and perpendicular directions to the glue line. The study involved a total of 6 air-dried density layer organizations of solid Oriental beech and Lombardy popular in 4 different laminate compositions and in the same dimensions, aimed at control. Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) and Polyurethane (PU) were used as the adhesive type in laminations with PVAc5-PU5-PVAc4-PU4. The specimens were subjected to bending strength and modulus of elasticity experiments in parallel and perpendicular directions to the glue line in accordance with the TS EN 310 standards. As a result of the statistical analysis of the data obtained at the end of the experiments, it was determined that in the laminated materials, the force loading direction in parallel or perpendicular to the glue line affected the MOR and MOE results. The best result in the laminated materials was found to be approximately 10% higher for MOR and MOE in a parallel direction to the PU4 glue line compared to the perpendicular direction.
Isolation and characterization of soluble polysaccharides from Calamagrostis angustifolia Kom
Authors: Cao Xue-Fei , Yuan Tongqi , Sun Shaoni , Sun Run-Cang
Published: June 2023

Sequential treatments of dewaxed Calamagrostis angustifolia Kom with water (60 ºC and 90 ºC), 70% ethanol, and 70% ethanol containing 0.2%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, and 8.0% NaOH at a solid to liquid ratio of 1:25 (g/mL) at 80 ºC for 3 h yielded 36.2% soluble polysaccharides of the dry dewaxed material. The eight polysaccharide fractions obtained were comparatively studied by sugar analysis, GPC, FT-IR, 1H and 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR (HSQC) spectroscopy. The results showed that the water-soluble polysaccharides might contain noticeable amounts of β-D-glucan, as well as some and galactoarabinoxylan. 70% ethanol-soluble polysaccharide was mainly arabinogalactan. The five alkali-soluble hemicelluloses were mainly galactoarabinoxylans. The Ara/Xyl and Ara/Gal values of H5-H8 fractions decreased with the increment of NaOH concentration from 1.0% to 8.0%. Meanwhile, the molecular weights had a declining trend from ~60,000 to ~40,000 g/mol. The smaller sized and more branched polysaccharides ed in the early stages under milder conditions, and the larger molecular sized and more linear hemicelluloses tended to be isolated under more highly alkaline conditions.
Biomass to energy in the southern United States: Supply chain and delivered cost
Authors: Gonzalez Ronalds , Phillips Richard , Saloni Daniel , Jameel Hasan , Abt Robert , Pirraglia Adrian , Wright Jeff
Published: June 2023

Supply chain and delivered cost models for seven feedstocks (loblolly pine, Eucalyptus, natural hardwood, switchgrass, Miscanthus, sweet sorghum, and corn stover) were built, simulating a supply of 453,597 dry tons per year to a biorefinery. Delivered cost of forest-based feedstocks ranged from $69 to $71 per dry ton. On the other hand, delivered cost of agricultural biomass ranged from $77.60 to $102.50 per dry ton. The total production area required for fast growing feedstocks was estimated as between 22,500 to 27,000 hectares, while the total production area for feedstocks with lower biomass productivity ranged from 101,200 to 202,300 hectares (corn stover and natural hardwood, respectively). Lower delivered cost per ton of carbohydrate and million BTU were found for loblolly pine, Eucalyptus, and natural hardwood. In addition, agricultural biomass had higher delivered costs for carbohydrate and energy value.
Fractional pulping of toner and pigment-based inkjet ink printed papers – Ink and dirt behavior
Authors: Kemppainen Kalle , Körkkö Mika , Niinimäki Jouko
Published: June 2023

Large visible dirt specks and microscopic ink particles are released from the surface of recycled paper when pulping toner and pigment-based inkjet ink printed papers. The applicability of pulp fractionation during laboratory scale pulping was investigated without chemicals to prevent the redeposition of small ink particles to fibers, and furthermore to break down the large toner fragments. Reference pulping was performed without fractionation stages, and the two pulping procedures were compared in terms of bound ink and dirt speck content. The results show that while the microscopic ink particles redeposit to the fibers at the very beginning of conventional pulping, the redeposition can be minimized by removing the detached ink particles from the vicinity of the fibers as soon as they have been detached. Thus, it is recommended to remove the ink from the pulp before a substantial defiberization level is achieved. In addition, the dirt specks broke down more efficiently in fractional pulping than in reference pulping at the same pulping consistency.
Evaluation on the effect of wood flour and coupling agent content on the hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of polypropylene composites
Authors: Kord Behzad
Published: June 2023

The effect of wood flour and coupling agent content on the hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of polypropylene composites was investigated in this study. To meet this objective, the wood flour was compounded with polypropylene and coupling agent in an internal mixer; then the samples were fabricated by injection molding. The concentration was varied from 40 to 60% for wood flour and from 0 to 4% for coupling agent. A swelling model developed by Shi and Gardner (2006) was used to study the thickness swelling process of polypropylene/wood flour composites, from which the parameter KSR can be used to quantify the swelling rate. The results indicated that the swelling model provided a good prediction of the hygroscopic thickness swelling process of polypropylene-wood flour composites immersed in water. The minimum thickness swelling values were observed in composites made of 40% wood flour and 4% of PP-g-MA. Thickness swelling of the composite increased with immersion time, reaching a certain value at saturation point, after which the composites water content remained constant. Also, a good linear relationship was fit between KSR and coupling agent contents. When the coupling agent content increased, KSR linearly decreased. The maximum tensile modulus was achieved with 60% wood flour and 4% of PP-g-MA. The SEM revealed a positive effect of coupling agent on interfacial bonding between sawdust flour and polymer matrix.
Applicability of strand subsitution in the core of OSB
Authors: Mirski Radosław , Dziurka Dorota
Published: June 2023

Strand substitution was evaluated for the core of OSB with chips produced by grinding of recycled particleboards and wood waste. All the boards manufactured under laboratory conditions having a share of small chips in the core had high mechanical parameters, thus meeting the requirements of the standard for OSB/3. No significant effect was found of the applied modification of the core on bending strength or modulus of elasticity (MOE) determined for the longer axis. In turn, such properties as modulus of rupture (MOR) and MOE, determined for the shorter axis, as well as internal bond (IB) were rapidly reduced. In the case of boards containing 100% recycled chips in the core, a reduction was found in values of MOR, MOE, and IB by 45%, 30%, and 45%, respectively. In turn, the application of small chips, which previously had not been resinated, makes it possible to manufacture boards with internal bond lower by only 30%, even at the 100% substitution. Application of recycled chips produced by grinding of the P2 type particleboard did not make it possible to manufacture boards meeting the requirements of the standard after the boiling test, irrespective of the amount of small chips added to the core. Boards containing in their core small chips, which previously had not been resinated, had much better properties in this respect, since only in case of 100% substitution the manufactured boards exhibited internal bond after the boiling test lower than the requirements of the standard EN 300.
The effect of alcohols, lignin and phenolic compounds on the enzyme activity of Clostridium cellulovorans XynA
Authors: Morrison David , van Dyk J. Susan , Pletschke Brett Ivan
Published: June 2023

In the production of biofuel from lignocellulose biomass, particularly in the case of consolidated bioprocessing where the saccharification and fermentation steps take place within the same bioreactor, many compounds may be present that could affect the enzymes within such a bioreactor. This study examined the effect of ethanol, butanol, propanol, lignin, r-coumaric acid, and gallic acid on the activity of XynA from C. cellulovorans. XynA from C. cellulovorans was purified, and the effects of various compounds on enzyme activity were assayed using the dinitrosalicylic acid method. In this study, it was found that XynA was very tolerant to ethanol and only lost 25% of activity even at high concentrations of ethanol. In the presence of lignin, XynA was inhibited at very low levels and retained ~85% of its activity. The highest degree of inhibition of XynA was experienced in the presence of r-coumaric acid (38%) and gallic acid (47%). The results indicate that the most problematic compounds within the bioreactor are likely to be soluble lignin degradation products resulting from pretreatment steps. Therefore, the removal of these compounds prior to saccharification should result in increased productivity within a bioreactor. This study indicates that XynA may be a suitable hemicellulase for use in bioethanol production, as it has very high tolerance for ethanol inhibition.
Effect of fire retardants on surface roughness and wettability of wood plastic composite panels
Authors: Ayrilmis Nadir
Published: June 2023

Surface roughness and wettability of flat-pressed wood plastic composites (WPCs) incorporated with various fire retardants (FRs) (5, 10, or 15% by weight (wt)) at 50 wt-% content of the wood flour (WF) were investigated. The most common FRs, zinc borate (ZB), magnesium hydroxide (MH), and ammonium polyphosphate (APP), were used in the experiments. The WPC panels were made from dry-blended wood flour (WF), fire retardant (FR) powder, and polypropylene (PP) powder with maleic anhydride-grafted PP (2 wt-%) formulations using a conventional flat-pressing process under laboratory conditions. The contact angle measurements were obtained by using a goniometer connected with a digital camera and computer system. Three roughness measurements, average roughness (Ra), mean peak-to-valley height (Rz), and maximum roughness (Ry), were taken from the WPC panel surface using a fine stylus tracing technique. It was found that the surface smoothness of the WPC panels decreased with increasing content of the FR powder while the wettability increased. The control WPC panel without the FR had the smoothest surface, followed by the WPC panels containing the MH, ZB, and APP, respectively.
Reliability analysis of timber structure design of poplar lumber with nondestructive testing methods
Authors: Cheng Fangchao , Hu Yingcheng
Published: June 2023

The safety of timber structure design based on the predicted Modulus of Rupture (MOR) of poplar lumber with nondestructive methods is presented in this paper. Dynamic(MOE) of poplar lumber was measured with three different nondestructive methods, and static MOE and MOR were obtained by a static bending test. The regression relationship between various MOE and MOR was evaluated to predict MOR with various MOE. Then timber construction design was conducted on poplar lumber based on measured and predicted MOR. Furthermore, reliability of timber structure design was analyzed with advanced first-order second-moment method. Results indicated that mean values of predicted MOR were slightly greater than those of measured MOR, but Coefficient of Variation (COV) of them were less than those of measured MOR. The reliability index of timber structure design based on predicted MOR, varying from 2.404 to 2.574, was less than that on measured MOR as 2.831.
Feasibility of removing furfurals from sugar solutions using activated biochars made from agricultural residues
Authors: Klasson K. Thomas , Uchimiya Minori , Lima Isabel M. , Boihem, Jr. Larry L.
Published: June 2023

Lignocellulosic feedstocks are often prepared for ethanol fermentation by treatment with a dilute mineral acid catalyst that hydrolyzes the hemicellulose and possibly cellulose into soluble carbohydrates. The acid-catalyzed reaction scheme is sequential, whereby the released monosaccharides are further degraded to furans and other chemicals that are inhibitory to the subsequent fermentation step. This work tests the use of agricultural residues (e.g., plant waste) as starting materials for making activated biochars to adsorb these degradation products. Results show that both furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are adsorbed by phosphoric acid-activated and steam-activated biochars prepared from residues collected from cotton and linen production. Best results were obtained with steam-activated biochars. The activated biochars adsorbed about 14% (by weight) of the furfurals at an equilibrium concentration of 0.5 g/L, and by adding 2.5% of char to a sugar solution, with either furfural or HMF (at 1 g/L), 99% of the furans were removed.
Mechanical properties and water absorption of kenaf powder filled recycled high density polyethylene/natural rubber biocomposites using MAPE as a compatibilizer
Authors: Viet Cao Xuan , Ismail Hanafi , Rashid Azura A. , Takeichi Tsutomu , Vo-Huu Thao
Published: June 2023

The performance of kenaf powder (KP) filled recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) /natural rubber (NR) blends with and without a compatibilizer, were investigated. The composites with different filler loading (0 to 40 phr) were prepared with a Haake internal mixer. Increasing the KP loading in rHDPE/NR/KP biocomposites reduced the tensile strength and the elongation at break but increased the stabilization torque and the tensile modulus. The addition of MAPE as a compatibilizer increased the tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of the composites. This might be attributed to the enhanced adhesion between the filler and polymer matrix, as evidenced from the morphology, using scanning electron microscopy. The incorporation of compatibilizer also reduced the water absorption of the composites.
Imidazolium ionic liquids as dissolving solvents for chemical-grade cellulose in the determination of fatty acids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Kilulya Kessy F. , Msagati Titus A. M. , Mamba Bhekie B. , Ngila J. Catherine , Bush Tamara
Published: June 2023

A quick, simple, and environmentally friendly sample preparation method for fatty acids analysis from chemical-grade cellulose was developed employing imidazolium based ionic liquids as solvents. A variety of imidazolium based ionic liquids were screened for their ability to dissolve chemical cellulose at different temperatures. Dissolution of chemical cellulose was observed to be dependent on the ionic liquids’ anions as well as temperature. The effect of ionic liquids on chemical cellulose was examined using FT-IR and TGA techniques, which showed no difference between the original and the regenerated cellulose except for the percentage mass residues in TGA profile which was high for regenerated cellulose, 15% compared to 8% of the original at 600 °C. Fatty acids extracted from cellulose were found to be predominant in the samples from different bleaching stages, with high levels in the oxygen delignification and low levels were observed in hypochlorite bleached samples. The number and levels of the identified fatty acids were observed to decrease with the bleaching sequence. The recoveries obtained using this method ranged from 90 – 107%.