bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Features of yeast RNA polymerase I with special consideration of the lobe binding subunits
Authors: Schwank Katrin , Schmid Catharina , Fremter Tobias , Engel Christoph , Milkereit Philipp , Griesenbeck Joachim , Tschochner Herbert
Published: October 2023

Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are structural components of ribosomes and represent the most abundant cellular RNA fraction. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, they account for more than 60 % of the RNA content in a growing cell. The major amount of rRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). This enzyme transcribes exclusively the rRNA gene which is tandemly repeated in about 150 copies on chromosome XII. The high number of transcribed rRNA genes, the efficient recruitment of the transcription machinery and the dense packaging of elongating Pol I molecules on the gene ensure that enough rRNA is generated. Specific features of Pol I and of associated factors confer promoter selectivity and both elongation and termination competence. Many excellent reviews exist about the state of research about function and regulation of Pol I and how Pol I initiation complexes are assembled. In this report we focus on the Pol I specific lobe binding subunits which support efficient, error-free, and correctly terminated rRNA synthesis.
The Rhetoric of Caliphal Legitimacy. On the Use of

alqāb by the Umayyad Rulers in the East
Authors: Bitsch Sebastian
Published: October 2023

The Umayyad caliphs of Damascus have been remembered in Arabic historiography by their respective given name (ism). While epithets (alqāb) are widely documented from the ʿAbbāsid period onward for rulers, emirs, viziers, and courtiers, and have been treated in some detail in research, no comparable studies exist for the Umayyads. This paper discusses the style and validity of epithets ascribed to Umayyad caliphs drawing on a wide array of sources, including historiographical works and panegyric as well as material evidence. It is argued that an interpretation of alqāb in the sense of individual throne names, which only became the norm under the ʿAbbāsids, distorts our perspective of the process of augmenting the ruler’s name with honorific epithets, which can already be observed in the Umayyad period. This expansion of the ruler’s titulature, it is argued, mirrors a broader process of sacralizing caliphal power to legitimize the claim to authority in the face of competing factions within the nascent Islamic empire.
Replies to Critics
Authors: Estlund Dave
Published: October 2023

I reply to several pieces of commentary on my recent book.
Microfluidics on lensless, semiconductor optical image sensors: challenges and opportunities for democratization of biosensing at the micro-and nano-scale
Authors: Hu Xinyue , Abbasi Reza , Wachsmann-Hogiu Sebastian
Published: October 2023

Optical image sensors are 2D arrays of pixels that integrate semiconductor photodiodes and field effect transistors for efficient photon conversion and processing of generated electrons. With technological advancements and subsequent democratization of these sensors, opportunities for integration with microfluidics devices are currently explored. 2D pixel arrays of such optical image sensors can reach dimensions larger than one centimeter with a sub-micrometer pixel size, for high spatial resolution lensless imaging with large field of view, a feat that cannot be achieved with lens-based optical microscopy. Moreover, with advancements in fabrication processes, the field of microfluidics has evolved to develop microfluidic devices with an overall size below one centimeter and individual components of sub-micrometer size, such that they can now be implemented onto optical image sensors. The convergence of these fields is discussed in this article, where we review fundamental principles, opportunities, challenges, and outlook for integration, with focus on contact-mode imaging configuration. Most recent developments and applications of microfluidic lensless contact-based imaging to the field of biosensors, in particular those related to the potential for point of need applications, are also discussed.
Intracoronary Electrocardiography-guided Strategy for the Treatment of Coronary Bifurcation Lesions
Authors: Vassilev Dobrin , Mileva Niya , Panayotov Panayot , Kostov Krasimir , Yumerov Kenan , Petkov Nikolay , Collet Carlos , Rigatelli Gianluca , Gil Robert J. , Nguyen Thach
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Revascularization of bifurcation lesions remains an interventional challenge. Intracoronary electrocardiograms can predict the functional significance of side branch stenosis after bifurcation stenting.

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of an intracoronary ECG electrocardiography (icECG)-guided revascularization strategy, compared with the currently accepted standard of care, on the clinical outcomes of patients after coronary bifurcation stenting.

Methods: Patients with coronary bifurcation lesions who underwent percutaneous revascularization were enrolled in a prospective all-comers’ registry. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients who underwent icECG-guided revascularization versus the current standard of care (SOC), provisional stenting.

Results: A total of 768 patients were included in the analysis: 349 were treated with an icECG-guided strategy, and 419 received SOC. The overall all-cause death rate was 23.2%, and the cardiovascular death rate was 15.9%. Patients with icECG guidance had significantly lower all-cause mortality (20.3% vs. 25.5% for icECG vs. SOC, log-rank P = 0.006) and cardiovascular mortality (12.6% vs. 18.6% for icECG vs. SOC, log-rank P = 0.004). The decrease in mortality was most pronounced in patients with no increase or a moderate increase in troponin post-PCI, or with higher-than-normal baseline troponin concentrations.

Conclusion: An icECG-guided strategy for coronary bifurcation PCI led to lower patient mortality than the provisional stenting strategy.
Ultrastructural Characteristics and Synaptic Connectivity of Photoreceptors in the Simplex Retina of Little Skate (Leucoraja erinacea)
Authors: Magaña-Hernández Laura , Wagh Abhiniti S. , Fathi Jessamyn G. , Robles Julio E. , Rubio Beatriz , Yusuf Yaqoub , Rose Erin E. , Brown Daniel E. , Perry Priscilla E. , Hamada Elizabeth , Anastassov Ivan A.
Published: October 2023

The retinas of the vast majority of vertebrate species are termed “duplex,” that is, they contain both rod and cone photoreceptor neurons in different ratios. The retina of little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) is a rarity among vertebrates because it contains only a single photoreceptor cell type and is thus “simplex.” This unique retina provides us with an important comparative model and an exciting opportunity to study retinal circuitry within the context of a visual system with a single photoreceptor cell type. What is perhaps even more intriguing is the fact that theLeucorajaretina is able use that single photoreceptor cell type to function under both scotopic and photopic ranges of illumination. Although some ultrastructural characteristics of skate photoreceptors have been examined previously, leading to a general description of them as “rods” largely based on outer segment (OS) morphology and rhodopsin expression, a detailed study of the fine anatomy of the entire cell and its synaptic connectivity is still lacking. To address this gap in knowledge, we performed serial block-face electron microscopy imaging and examined the structure of skate photoreceptors and their postsynaptic partners. We find that skate photoreceptors exhibit unusual ultrastructural characteristics that are either common to rods or cones in other vertebrates (e.g., outer segment architecture, synaptic ribbon number, terminal extensions), or are somewhere in between those of a typical vertebrate rod or cone (e.g., number of invaginating contacts, clustering of multiple ribbons over a single synaptic invagination). We suggest that some of the ultrastructural characteristics we observe may play a role in the ability of the skate retina to function across scotopic and photopic ranges of illumination. Our findings have the potential to reveal as yet undescribed principles of vertebrate retinal design.
Functional Frogs
Authors: Flud Gabrielle , Angle Julie , Simon Monique N. , Moen Daniel S.
Published: October 2023

Evolution by natural selection and adaptation are core concepts in biology that students must see and correctly understand their meaning. However, using these concepts in evidence-based learning strategies in the classroom is a difficult task. Here, we present a 5E lesson plan to address the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectation HS-LS4-4, to “construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.” The Functional Frogs lesson provides multiple hands-on activities to engage students in the development of hypotheses, collection and analysis of empirical data on frog swimming, presentation of results, and construction of explanations supported by evidence for the results. The lesson’s central idea is for students to understand the trait values that provide an advantage in the aquatic environment, increasing a frog’s survival. The link between morphological changes and survival is used to explain how natural selection acts on populations, leading to adaptive evolution.
Signaling an Inclusive Environment
Authors: Sherman Natasha , Bailey Maia
Published: October 2023

Teaching biology, science, or for that matter any subject involves signals of how we view and value our students and community. It is easy to send signals that students interpret differently than we intend just by a lack of awareness. Depending on your district’s culture, creating community can have different challenges. Here, we will outline two areas where everyone can adjust their signals to create an environment that is inviting to students, colleagues, and our school community. Being aware of the intellectual and physical space we are creating can encourage students to be open to learning and help them to feel valued as a part of our learning community.
Blended Laboratory Environments for Increased Learning
Authors: Lahr Emily
Published: October 2023

Laboratory exercises are a vital part of science learning and allow students to develop practical skills, connect content to real-world applications, and serve as the foundation for further knowledge beyond the classroom. Blended laboratories are a method that incorporates technology and science content to create an experience for learners to still engage with information allowing students to immerse themselves in the content. Blended learning laboratory lessons can be designed in multiple ways such as data-driven, partner-driven, and image-driven. This article looks to provide practitioners with a foundation to design and implement blended learning laboratories through the example of the author’s classroom.
Interview
Authors: Eppley Charles
Published: October 2023

Resonance guest editor Charles Eppley speaks with the sound artists and audio producers JT Green and Ariana Martinez about their creative practices and personal experiences navigating the world of commercial audio from a queer, trans, and disabled perspective. In this conversation, Green and Martinez contextualize the motivations of their personal and professional work within an intersectional framework, and ruminate on the urgency of thinking, and publicly talking about, queer sound as a strategy for creative growth, community building, and self-discovery.
Cogiendo en luto
Authors: Voisine Alex
Published: October 2023

Chavela Vargas is widely known for her unique approach to some of México’s most celebrated musical genres. Though undoubtedly a queer icon within and outside of México, critical scholarship has only recently begun to focus on the way her queer migrant subjectivity and marimacho voice, persona, and performances reinvent Mexican sonic history and interpellate listeners queerly. Importantly, her aching vocals and tragic life story coexist with pulsating sexual energy. In this essay I argue that Chavela inaugurates a postmortem politics in which grief and the erotic are held together, instead of separated or silenced by taboo. Inspired by Chavela, I introduce the practice of cogiendo en luto (fucking in grief), which asks the difficult questions: What happens when Eros and Thanatos go to bed together? How can the erotic help to shape grief, and vice versa? By linking Eros to Thanatos, Chavela makes the grief she experienced throughout her life transformative, intimate, expansive, introspective, chaotic, and at certain privileged moments erotic, orgasmic, and sensual. The essay samples lyrics and performances of some of Chavela’s songs, film cameos, and an obituary written about her by Pedro Almodóvar. Together, these queer performative interventions re-signify the grief of migration, addiction, heartbreak, and death, while forging an affective and fleshy relationship with listeners and spectators. As a queer and grieving listener/spectator/fan of Chavela’s, I also weave my own grief into the essay, reflecting on what Chavela meant to my healing process and further underscoring her unique affective contributions to contemporary queer subjectivities and soundscapes.
Tetherin antagonism by SARS‐CoV‐2 ORF3a and spike protein enhances virus release
Authors: Stewart Hazel , Palmulli Roberta , Johansen Kristoffer H , McGovern Naomi , Shehata Ola M , Carnell George W , Jackson Hannah K , Lee Jin S , Brown Jonathan C , Burgoyne Thomas , Heeney Jonathan L , Okkenhaug Klaus , Firth Andrew E , Peden Andrew A , Edgar James R
Published: October 2023

The antiviral restriction factor, tetherin, blocks the release of several different families of enveloped viruses, including the Coronaviridae. Tetherin is an interferon‐induced protein that forms parallel homodimers between the host cell and viral particles, linking viruses to the surface of infected cells and inhibiting their release. We demonstrate that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection causes tetherin downregulation and that tetherin depletion from cells enhances SARS‐CoV‐2 viral titres. We investigate the potential viral proteins involved in abrogating tetherin function and find that SARS‐CoV‐2 ORF3a reduces tetherin localisation within biosynthetic organelles where Coronaviruses bud, and increases tetherin localisation to late endocytic organelles via reduced retrograde recycling. We also find that expression of Spike protein causes a reduction in cellular tetherin levels. Our results confirm that tetherin acts as a host restriction factor for SARS‐CoV‐2 and highlight the multiple distinct mechanisms by which SARS‐CoV‐2 subverts tetherin function.
Downregulation of stromal syntenin sustains AML development
Authors: Leblanc Raphael , Ghossoub Rania , Goubard Armelle , Castellano Rémy , Fares Joanna , Camoin Luc , Audebert Stephane , Balzano Marielle , Bou‐Tayeh Berna , Fauriat Cyril , Vey Norbert , Garciaz Sylvain , Borg Jean‐Paul , Collette Yves , Aurrand‐Lions Michel , David Guido , Zimmermann Pascale
Published: October 2023

The crosstalk between cancer and stromal cells plays a critical role in tumor progression. Syntenin is a small scaffold protein involved in the regulation of intercellular communication that is emerging as a target for cancer therapy. Here, we show that certain aggressive forms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) reduce the expression of syntenin in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). Stromal syntenin deficiency, in turn, generates a pro‐tumoral microenvironment. From serial transplantations in mice and co‐culture experiments, we conclude that syntenin‐deficient BMSC stimulate AML aggressiveness by promoting AML cell survival and protein synthesis. This pro‐tumoral activity is supported by increased expression of endoglin, a classical marker of BMSC, which in trans stimulates AML translational activity. In short, our study reveals a vicious signaling loop potentially at the heart of AML–stroma crosstalk and unsuspected tumor‐suppressive effects of syntenin that need to be considered during systemic targeting of syntenin in cancer therapy.
The transcription factor HIF2α partakes in the differentiation block of acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Magliulo Daniela , Simoni Matilde , Caserta Carolina , Fracassi Cristina , Belluschi Serena , Giannetti Kety , Pini Raffaella , Zapparoli Ettore , Beretta Stefano , Uggè Martina , Draghi Eleonora , Rossari Federico , Coltella Nadia , Tresoldi Cristina , Morelli Marco J , Di Micco Raffaella , Gentner Bernhard , Vago Luca , Bernardi Rosa
Published: October 2023

One of the defining features of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an arrest of myeloid differentiation whose molecular determinants are still poorly defined. Pharmacological removal of the differentiation block contributes to the cure of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in the absence of cytotoxic chemotherapy, but this approach has not yet been translated to non‐APL AMLs. Here, by investigating the function of hypoxia‐inducible transcription factors HIF1α and HIF2α, we found that both genes exert oncogenic functions in AML and that HIF2α is a novel regulator of the AML differentiation block. Mechanistically, we found that HIF2α promotes the expression of transcriptional repressors that have been implicated in suppressing AML myeloid differentiation programs. Importantly, we positioned HIF2α under direct transcriptional control by the prodifferentiation agent all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and demonstrated that HIF2α blockade cooperates with ATRA to trigger AML cell differentiation. In conclusion, we propose that HIF2α inhibition may open new therapeutic avenues for AML treatment by licensing blasts maturation and leukemia debulking.
Review of Computational Techniques for Modelling Eco-Safe Driving Behavior
Authors: Jain Neetika , Sangeeta Mittal
Published: October 2023

Driving is a complex task involving the perception of the driving event, planning response, and action. Safe driving ensures the vehicle’s and its passengers’ safety, whereas economical driving brings down fuel consumption. Eventually, eco-safe driving that ensures economical as well as safe driving is the best bet. This review paper provides a systematic comprehensive analysis across cross-cutting dimensions such as data collection mechanisms, features affecting eco-safe driving, computational models for driving behavior analysis, driver motivational approaches towards eco-safe driving, exploiting research gaps and opportunities for further research in this domain. Driving behavior along with environmental context, including weather information, road conditions, traffic flow and time of travel, represent the most effective factors for doing eco-safe driving analysis. 82% of reviewed papers recommended OBD as a reliable data collection source, along with supplementary information from body sensors and cameras. The K-Mean clustering is an effective driving profiling technique clubbed with dimensionality reduction techniques based on Random Forest regressor, PCA and autoencoders. Deep learning and ensemble learning-based safety approaches utilizing Recurrent Convolutional Networks (RCN), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Decision Tree (DT) have achieved impressive accuracies surpassing 99%, followed by Neural Networks (NN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) with accuracy ranging from 91% to 96%. Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) yielded superior Area Under Curve (AUC of 0.836) for fuel prediction, in comparison to Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Neural Networks (NN). Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) represents fine-grained accurate fuel-prediction methods with accuracy comparable to Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Prominent research gaps identified during this study are the lack of a comprehensive approach covering all aspects related to safety, fuel economy, the scope of improvement in real-time driving risk assessment at appropriate granularity level, missing effective and engaging driving feedback, dealing with uncertain and incomplete driving events, driver’s personal traits affecting driving safety and fuel-economy. The review will help in establishing the readiness of automation of driving analysis for reinforcement of eco-safe driving for various kinds of vehicles plug-in hybrid vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, and self-driving cars.
Effect of Alternated Multiaxial Stress State on Fatigue Strength and Relaxation of Residual Stress in Welded S355 Steel with Nonlinear and Combined Hardening
Authors: Khatib Hamza , Ali El Kebch
Published: October 2023

This work aims to analyse the effect of the alternated multiaxial stress state on the relaxation mechanisms of residual stresses and the integrity of welded S355 steel, presenting a nonlinear and combined hardening behaviour. The first part of this work proposes a model to predict the residual stresses introduced by the thermal effect of the welding process. The stresses resulting from the thermal cycle were integrated into a second model in which the material was subjected to a cyclic load to analyse the relaxation process. To ensure a good accuracy of the relaxation results, the kinematic and isotropic hardening were combined in a nonlinear model. In the last part of this paper, a multiaxial fatigue strength analysis was carried out, taking into account the effect of residual stresses and the relaxation process. The results show a considerable relaxation of the residual stresses if they are subjected to low load levels applied under specific conditions. The relaxed residual stresses can have a considerable effect on fatigue strength. Also, the importance of the consideration of the relaxation process on the accuracy of the fatigue strength results is illustrated.
Semi-active Suspension Control with PSO Tuned LQR Controller Based on MR Damper
Authors: Lei Tang  , Ningsu Luo Ren  , Funkhouser Shawn
Published: October 2023

As the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) approach is applied extensively in the system control of automobile suspension, the accuracy improvement of the weighting Q and R matrices is getting concern. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is being introduced to identify parameters and optimize matrix Q and R in order to fix the insufficiency of these experienced values because of the fast convergence and a more accurate solution. In this article, a quarter car model and a Bouc-Wen-based magnetorheological (MR) damper model are developed to combine the control of PSO identification and PSO-LQR controller in the semi-active suspension system. The MR damper was performed with an experimental test for running identification using experimental data as input into the Bouc-Wen model to obtain six unknown parameters, where the parameters were estimated with the PSO algorithm. Since the numerical model has been done with all parameters clear, the need for damping force from suspension is obtained by means of running the model using an input current. In the employment of PSO for damper model and vehicle control, the dual applications succeeded in verifying the feasibility of parameter identification in the MR damper and successfully tuned the LQR controller in the semi-active suspension, which decreases the vehicle body acceleration and displacement so that the improvement of ride comfort and drive stability achieved.
Development of Empirical Model for Electromagnetic Damping Coefficient Damper
Authors: Mohd Fazli Mohd Yusoff  , Ahmad Zaidi Ahmad Mujahid , Firdaus Ishak S.A.  , Awang M.K. , Md Din M.F. , Mukhtaruddin A. , Jefri Muhammad Haikal Aiman , Tan Kean Sheng , Mukhtaruddin Azharudin
Published: October 2023

The significance of the electromagnetic damper in vibration systems has attracted considerable interest from researchers, making it a prominent area of research. Various papers have been consulted to explore the vibration concept associated with electromagnetic dampers and their practical applications. A vibration test rig with a simple electromagnetic damper has been designed and tested to investigate the effect of electromagnetic force. An experimental study on the response of the electromagnetic damper was conducted. A logarithmic decrement method was deployed to find the damping coefficient, c, of a one-degree freedom system (mass spring damper system). A test rig and electromagnetic damper element were introduced as a damper in the system. Design factors included the type of geometry, type of material and the current supply to the system. The testing was conducted using the in-house developed vibration test rig. The data obtained from the experiment has been analysed to determine the electromagnetic damping performance. A factorial analysis was performed to identify the significant factors influencing the damping coefficient of the system. Two empirical models obtained through regression analysis of Excel and Minitab. It was found that the influential effects for the response are the type of material (aluminum), slotted geometry and a bigger amount of current (3 A). The application of a cylindrical conductor and magnet as a damper reduced the vibration response of spring mass damper.
Mechanical Analysis and Constitutive Modeling of Nonlinear Behavior of Silver-based Conductive Ink
Authors: S. Zulfikar  , Saad Abdullah Aziz , Z. Ahmad  , Z. Bachok
Published: October 2023

Stretchable electronic devices are progressively deployed in many applications of mechanical, electrical, and bio-medical engineering. These circuits are made of stretchable and flexible substrate, as well as conductive ink, and various electronic components. The choice of components and layouts for the substrate and conductive ink can regulate the stretchability of stretchable circuits. On top of that, the substance utilized to create the conductive ink must have high electrical conductivity and strong adherence to the substrate in order to produce a high-quality stretchable printed circuit. Thus, this study focused on the development of stretchable conductive ink using silver powder as a conductive filler and PDMS-OH as a binder. The mechanical properties of the synthesized ink were investigated via simple uniaxial tensile testing method and nanoindentation technique, respectively. Accordingly, the modulus of elasticity, tensile stress and yield stress of the ink were obtained as 5.72 MPa, 1.195 MPa, and 0.86 MPa, congruently at 137% strain before undergoing failure. The experimental stress-strain data was then employed on the elastic-plastic constitutive model to investigate the elastomeric properties of the ink as it is an alternative method of lengthy and expensive procedures of validating different polymers. Moreover, the hardness and reduced modulus of the ink were evaluated by nanoindentation method using 5 mN maximum load with 0.5 mN/s loading/unloading rate and 2 secs holding time. Consequently, the hardness and reduced modulus values were obtained as 1.45 MPa and 34.53 MPa, respectively. These values were further validated by Oliver-Pharr method, and were in a good agreement.
Performance Analysis and Optimization of Regenerative Gas Turbine Power Plant using RSM
Authors: Bensouici Moumtez , Azizi Mohamed Walid , Bensouici Fatima Zohra
Published: October 2023

In the present study, a thermodynamic analysis of thermal performance is carried out in a regenerative GT power plant. The optimization procedure of design parameters is realized by the response surface methodology (RSM). The thermodynamic simulations were carried out using the EES code for numerous variables such as compression ratio (2≤rp≤12), inlet temperature (273≤T1≤313K), turbine inlet temperature (1200≤T3≤1600K), and regenerator effectiveness (45≤ε≤85%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to identify the process parameters that influence thermal efficiency (ηth) and specific fuel consumption (SFC). Then, a second-order regression model was developed to correlate the process parameters with ηth and SFC. Consequently, numerical and graphical optimizations were performed to achieve multi-objective optimization for the desired criteria. According to the desirability function approach, it can be seen that the optimum objective functions are ηth=50.61% and SFC=0.117 kg/kWh, corresponding to process parameters T1=273.26K, T3=1597.64K, rp=6.95 and ε=84.89%. Lastly, verification simulations were conducted to validate the importance of the generated statistical models.
Nonlinear Dynamics of a Multi-shaft Gear System in Parameter-state Space
Authors: Yang Yan
Published: October 2023

A nonlinear dynamic model of a 12-degree-of-freedom multi-shaft gear system is established, which includes nonlinear factors such as gear backlash, bearing clearance and time-varying mesh stiffness. The bifurcation diagrams and the maximum dynamic load coefficient diagrams that describe the dynamics of the gear transmission system are simulated by using the Runge-Kutta method, combined with three Poincaré mapping. The mutual transition of the adjacent period one motion through the grazing bifurcation and saddle-node bifurcation form a hysteresis zone where two types of impact motion coexist. The correlation between the dynamic response and the gear backlash under the parameter-state space is investigated, and it is verified that the extreme parameter conditions lead to abnormal vibration phenomena such as jumping, mesh-apart and chaotic motion. The results show that, near the critical value of ω = 0.7164 for grazing bifurcation, the meshing gear pair undergoes a jump in relative micro-displacement and dynamic load, increasing system impact vibration and a decrease in transmission efficiency, which is an undesirable parameter interval. In the initial stage of dynamic designing, the backlashes can be selected through the internal characteristics and transition mechanism of periodic motions
Facile Synthetical Method of Squalene from Vegetable Residue
Authors: Ibrahim Haruna , Ali Abubakar
Published: October 2023

The proscription of the use of shark liver oil for the production of squalene by the International Ocean Conservation and Advocacy Organization (IOCAO) for the protection of sharks in 2005, leads to a great reduction in its quantity in circulation. The quantity in circulation is not enough to meet its growing demand. Therefore, the research for the synthesis of squalene was extended to the use of Gmelina arborea leaves. This was carried out by treating the dry leaves of Gmelina arborea with methanol and a barium chloride catalyst at 90 °C at varying reaction times in minutes. The products were analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS revealed the following results; 162.39, 171.98, 145.69, 92.43, 108.32 and 118.83 mg/g for the reaction times of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes, respectively. The maximum yield achieved was 171.98 mg/g at a reaction time of 20 minutes and the minimum yield was 92.43 mg/g at a time of 40 minutes. This method is fast, safe, cost-efficient and economically viable for squalene production. Hence, Gmelina arborea has the potential for squalene production to meet up with the global demand.
Effects of Varied Planar Dimensions of IPMC on Simulated Actuation using COMSOL
Authors: Rizal Danial Haziq , Mohd Isa Wan Hasbullah , Abdullah Muhammad Amirul , Ab Nasir Ahmad Fakhri , P.P. Abdul Majeed Anwar , Mohd Norasmiza
Published: October 2023

This study focuses on mechatronic systems and their use of bending smart materials, specifically the ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC), for compliant actuation. The advantages of IPMC actuators, such as low power consumption and high flexibility, are highlighted. The actuation mechanism of IPMCs involving ion migration, water transport, and mechanical stress imbalance is discussed. The influence of geometric parameters, specifically length and width, on IPMC performance is investigated through simulations. Results show a positive correlation between IPMC lengths exceeding 30 mm and displacement, with longer lengths leading to higher displacements. The relationship between width and maximum displacement is attributed to factors like increased active area, larger polymer volume, and potential effects on mechanical properties. Further electromechanical analysis is needed for a comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms.
Application of Mahalanobis-Taguchi System in Rainfall Trends at UMP Gambang Campus
Authors: Jamil M.A.M. , Abu M. Y. , Zaini S.N.A.M. , Aris N.H. , Pinueh N.S. , Muhamad W.Z.A.W. , Ramlie F. , Harudin N. , Sari E. , Ghani N.A.A.A. , Jaafar N.N.
Published: October 2023

Rainfall is a variable meteorological phenomenon that exhibits spatial variability across different locations. Weather stations collect a wide range of parameters to monitor and analyze rainfall patterns. However, not all parameters are equally significant or efficient in performing classification and optimization tasks. In this study, we propose the use of the Mahalanobis-Taguchi system (MTS) method to classify rainfall occurrences by RT-Method and optimize the parameter selection process by T-Method. The data were collected by weather station Vantage Pro2 in UMP Gambang. By applying RT- Method, we can classify the data sample in term of MD for November, May and April while reducing the number of parameters to only those that significantly contribute to the classification, which from 16 parameters to 8 parameters using T-Method. This approach provides a streamlined and efficient methodology for analyzing rainfall patterns and optimizing weather station data collection processes.
Una mirada a la labor docente en asignaturas E-Learning
Authors: Sandoval Valero Erika María , Ruiz Cañadulce Edith Marcela , Pardo Santamaría Diego Fernando , Castro Molano Ivonne Liliana
Published: October 2023

Este artículo presenta aspectos relevantes, estrategias y estadísticas relacionadas con el proceso de seguimiento para ser un buen tutor virtual en la orientación de una asignatura e_learning orientada en una institución de educación superior en Colombia.  El estudio fue realizado en los dos semestres académicos ofrecidos en el año 2022.

El primer apartado del artículo muestra un panorama sobre lo que significa el seguimiento en otras instituciones educativas y el diseño metodológico de este ejercicio investigativo, el segundo apartado describe el proceso de seguimiento realizado en una institución de educación superior (IES) mostrando ítems de evaluación, posteriormente se muestran las estadísticas que los evidencian para los dos semestres del año 2022 y por último se encuentran las conclusiones.
Rainbow without the Sun: Textual Refraction in Soviet-era Translations
Authors: Subačius Paulius V.
Published: October 2023

Light waves change direction—refract—as they pass through different environments. Similarly, Western literary works, even after leaking through the barrier of the Soviet Index Librorum Prohibitorum, never reached the USSR reader in their authentic form. The most evident components of the unfavourable environment were the proxy of the Moscow Raduga and Progress publishing houses, ideologically committed literary criticism, the hunt for honorariums, the lack of reference books, and the poverty of printing technology. All these adverse factors together caused the chronic syndrome of texts that seemed authentic but in fact were not. So far, individual agents and effects of textual refraction have been researched, and interesting case studies have been carried out. However, there is a lack of both a systematic classification of the different agents of influence and an assessment of their long-term effects. The methodological study of refraction-affected editions tests the possibility of integrating the concept of textual condition with the assertions of the postcolonial theory regarding secondary cultural colonisation. The paper attempts to raise the hypothesis that the efforts of professional translators and editors to perform their work with the utmost craftsmanship had sometimes paradoxically reinforced the refraction of the overall meaning of major literary works. That resulted from the contrast between a relatively reliable translation and the implications generated by the bibliographic code and metatexts, as well as from the canonisation of translations that had become iconic in the Soviet-era.
On the Trail of the First Interpreters in Early British Colonial Trinidad: An Exploration of Relevant Historical Aspects
Authors: Hoyte-West Antony
Published: October 2023

With practitioners becoming increasingly of interest to translation historians, this study explores the presence of translators and interpreters in the sociocultural milieu of early British-ruled Trinidad. As an erstwhile Spanish colony with a significant Francophone influence, early 1800s Trinidad was a multilingual entity. The selected case studies track the presence of translators and interpreters at two key contemporary events: the Capitulation of 1797, which established British rule over the island, and the famous 1806 London-based torture trial of the island’s first British governor, Sir Thomas Picton. Adopting a postcolonial lens, the information presented is based on the examination of relevant early nineteenth-century sources. Noting the understudied nature of this geographical area and historical era, the insights outlined in this exploratory study aim to provide a useful starting point for further discussions of the ideological context surrounding translators and interpreters in multilingual colonial Trinidad.
The study of anthropogenic radionuclide transport with suspended matter in the system Neman river – Baltic sea
Authors:   , Romanenko Vitaliy
Published: October 2023

Antropogeninių radionuklidų pernašos su pakibusiomis dalelėmis sistemoje Nemunas upė – Baltijos jūra tyrimas
Žydai Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės savivaldžiuose miestuose XIV – XVII a.: teisiniai ir socioekonominiai santykiai
Authors:   , Poška Aivaras
Published: October 2023

Jews in the self-governing towns of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th–17th centuries: legal and socioeconomic relations
ОЦІНКА СУЧАСНИХ ФАКТОРІВ РАДІАЦІЙНО-АСОЦІЙОВАНОГО КАНЦЕРОГЕНЕЗУ
Authors: Дьоміна Е.А. , Копиленко О.Л. , Чехун В.Ф.
Published: October 2023

Широке впровадження ядерних технологій у промисловість, медицину, науку тощо збільшує кількість фахівців, що піддаються додатковому радіаційному опроміненню. Крім того, проблема професійного раку є без перебільшення, найскладнішою в профпатології, що зумовлено багатофакторністю етіології цього захворювання. Радіаційні аварії на Чорнобильській АЕС і Фукусіма-1 (Японія, острів Хонсю) показали, що ядерні реактори не мають гарантій абсолютно безпечної експлуатації. Наразі зростає і загроза ядерного тероризму. На основі результатів літературних джерел і аналізу представленого в них великого фактичного матеріалу та результатів власних досліджень щодо різних видів і характеристик опромінення доцільно сформувати науково обґрунтовану основу для оптимізації радіаційного захисту різних категорії населення, насамперед, медичний персонал і пацієнтів. Професійне опромінення та його наслідки викликають велике занепокоєння в усьому світі щодо радіаційної безпеки медичного персоналу та пацієнтів. Наведені в роботі дані – це незначна ілюстрація до питання про стан радіаційної небезпеки для людини за різних форм опромінення і як наслідок, виникнення стохастичних ефектів, у тому числі радіогенного раку. Проведений аналіз літературних даних та власні радіаційно-епідеміологічні, експериментальні та радіобіологічні дослідження дозволяють зробити висновок, що найбільш коректним є вивчення впливу на людину всіх типів джерел радіації щодо їх сумарної, тобто кумулятивної дози опромінення. Необхідність розрахунку комплексної оцінки радіаційних ризиків, реконструкції сумарної дози іонізуючих випромінювань від усіх видів опромінення дозволить оптимізувати радіаційний захист населення країни та знизити канцерогенний ризик.
EFFECT OF ANTI-TSLPR MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY ON VIABILITY, PROAPOPTOTIC GENES EXPRESSION, AND PRODUCTION OF PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN MCF-7 AND A549 CELLS
Authors: Rakha Alyaa , Talaat Roba M. , El-maadawy Eman A. , Gurguis Adel A.
Published: October 2023

Background. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and its receptor (TSLPR) are expressed in various cancer cells. However, their role in cancer development is not well defined. Aim. To investigate the effects of anti-TSLPR antibody on the viability, proapoptotic genes expression, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells. Materials and Methods. MCF-7 and A549 cells were exposed to anti-TSLPR monoclonal antibody for 24, 48, and 72 h. The effect on cell viability was examined by MTT assay. The expression levels of TP53, BAX, and CASP3 genes were evaluated by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. The treatment of MCF-7 cells with anti- TSLPR antibody slightly stimulates cell proliferation after 48 h and 72 h following initial cytotoxicity in 24 h with a significant reduction in IL-6 and TNF-α production. A significant increase in the BAX expression in anti-TSLPR treated cells at a concentration of 2.5 μg/ml at 24-h point was evident. In anti-TSLPR-treated A549 cells, no decrease in cell count was observed, and slight dose-dependent stimulation of cell proliferation was evident in 48 h and 72 h of culture. A significant increase in TP53, BAX, and CASP3 expression upon treatment with 2.5 μg/ml of anti-TSLPR was evident in A549 cells. Conclusion. The effects of anti-TSLPR on cell viability, proapoptotic gene expression, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) vary in MCF-7 and A549 cells.
Multicriteria Parametric Optimization of Nonlinear Robust Control with Two Degrees of Freedom by a Discrete-Continuous Plant
Authors:   Anatolii Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering Problems of NAS of Ukraine, Kuznetsov Borys I. , Bovdui Ihor V. ,   Anatolii Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering Problems of NAS of Ukraine, Voloshko Olena V. ,   Anatolii Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering Problems of NAS of Ukraine, Nikitina Tetyana B. ,   Educational scientific professional pedagogical Institute Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogical Academy, Kobylianskyi Borys B. ,   Educational scientific professional pedagogical Institute Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogical Academy
Published: October 2023

A multicriteria parametric optimization of nonlinear robust control with two degrees of freedom by a discrete-continuous plant has been developed to increase accuracy and reduce sensitivity to uncertain plant parameters. Such plants are mounted on a moving base, on which sensors for angles, angular velocities and angular accelerations are installed. To increase the accuracy of control, systems with two degrees of freedom, which include control with feedback and a closed-loop, and with direct connections and open-loop control of the setting and disturbing effects, are used. The multicriteria optimization of nonlinear robust control with two degrees of freedom by a discrete-continuous plant is reduced to the solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs equations. The robust control target vector is calculated as a solution of a zero-sum antagonistic vector game. The vector payoffs of this game are direct indexes performance vector presented in the system in different modes of its operation. The calculation of the vector payoffs of this game is related to the simulation of the synthesized nonlinear system for different operating modes of the system, input signals and values of the plant parameters. The solutions of this vector game are calculated on the basis of the system of Pareto-optimal solutions, taking into account the binary relations of preferences, on the basis of the stochastic metaheuristic of Archimedes optimization algorithm by several swarms. Thanks to the synthesis of nonlinear robust control with two degrees of freedom by a discrete-continuous object, it is shown that the use of synthesized controllers made it possible to increase the accuracy of control of an electromechanical system with distributed parameters of the mechanical part to reduce the time of transient processes by 1.5–2 times, reduce dispersion of errors by 1.3 times and reduce the sensitivity of the system to changes in the plant parameters in comparison with typical controllers used in existing systems. Further improvement of control accuracy is restrained by energy limitations of executive mechanisms and information limitations of measuring devices.
Plasma Coatings Based on Self-Fluxing NiCrBSi Alloy with Improved Wear Resistance Properties
Authors:   National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, Sytnykov Pavlo A.
Published: October 2023

The structure and properties of plasma coatings sprayed with a composite material based on a self-fluxing NiCrBSi alloy (PG-10N-01 alloy) modified with a composite material obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis were studied. Titanium powders, carbon black, aluminum, iron oxide, PT-NA-01 thermosetting powder and PGOSA-0 refractory clay were used as the initial components of modified with a composite material. Mixing and mechanical activation of the initial powders was carried out in a BM-1 ball mill for 15 minutes at 130 rpm in a ratio of 1 to 40 of the mass of the charge to the mass of the falling bodies (steel balls with a diameter of 6 mm). Initiation of the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis was carried out using a special device by introducing a heated nichrome spiral. The process of coatings spraying was performed on the MPN-004 microplasma spraying unit at a current of 45 A, a voltage of 30 V with a distance of 100 mm on samples made of 65G steel with a thickness of 3 mm. Argon was used as a plasma-forming and shielding gas. In order to substantiate the feasibility of the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, a part of the samples was sprayed with a self-fluxing alloy PG-10N-01 with the addition of a mechanical mixture of starting powders. It was established that as a result of plasma spraying of the PG-10N-01 alloy and the composite material of the modified with a composite material + PG-10N-01 composition, coatings with a dense and multiphase structure are formed. The microstructure of the PG-10N-01 alloy coating consists of a solid solution based on nickel (γ-Ni) with inclusions of nickel borides Ni3B and chromium carbides Cr3C2. When adding modified with a composite material in a nickel-based solid solution, in addition to the phases indicated above, borides of titanium TiB2, carbides of titanium TiC and silicon SiC were detected. Their presence leads to an increase in the microhardness of such coatings and their greater wear resistance under conditions of abrasive wear in comparison with the spraying coating of the PG-10H-01 alloy.
Creation, Implementation and Facilitation of an Educational Room of Mysteries in the 1st Class
Authors: Parvanova Yordanka
Published: October 2023

In the following article I present my experience in approbation of a new practice in primary school – an educational escape room. The project aims to provoke learning in students by providing them with the opportunity to leave their comfort zone and use knowledge from our curricular classes that can be transferred into skills. The students need a more flexible curriculum. The educational escape room is a great tool with which the students can work on multiple activities in a set time in order for them to achieve a specific goal. I present a working best practice with my students in 1st 'B' grade at Saint Ivan Rilski Primary school, Haskovo.