bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of different techniques for prehospital cervical spine immobilization: Biomechanical measurements with a wireless motion capture system
Authors: Morag Sarah , Kieninger Martin , Eissnert Christoph , Auer Simon , Dendorfer Sebastian , Popp Daniel , Hoffmann Johannes , Kieninger Bärbel
Published: November 2023

Background

Various rescue techniques are used for the prehospital transport of trauma patients. This study compares different techniques in terms of immobilization of the cervical spine and the rescue time.

Methods

A wireless motion capture system (Xsens Technologies, Enschede, The Netherlands) was used to record motion in three-dimensional space and the rescue time in a standardized environment. Immobilization was performed by applying different techniques through different teams of trained paramedics and physicians. All tests were performed on the set course, starting with the test person lying on the floor and ending with the test person lying on an ambulance cot ready to be loaded into an ambulance. Six different settings for rescue techniques were examined: rescue sheet with/without rigid cervical collar (P1S1, P1S0), vacuum mattress and scoop stretcher with/without rigid cervical collar (P2S1, P2S0), and long spinal board with/without rigid cervical collar (P3S1, P3S0). Four time intervals were defined: the time interval in which the rigid cervical collar is applied (T0), the time interval in which the test person is positioned on rescue sheet, vacuum mattress and scoop stretcher, or long spinal board (T1), the time interval in which the test person is carried to the ambulance cot (T2), and the time interval in which the ambulance cot is rolled to the ambulance (T3). An ANOVA was performed to compare the different techniques.

Results

During the simulated extrication procedures, a rigid cervical collar provided biomechanical stability at all angles with hardly any loss of time (mean angle ranges during T1: axial rotation P1S0 vs P1S1 p<0.0001, P2S0 vs P2S1 p<0.0001, P3S0 vs P3S1 p<0.0001; lateral bending P1S0 vs P1S1 p = 0.0263, P2S0 vs P2S1 p<0.0001, P3S0 vs P3S1 p<0.0001; flexion/extension P1S0 vs P1S1 p = 0.0023, P2S0 vs P2S1 p<0.0001). Of the three techniques examined, the scoop stretcher and vacuum mattress were best for reducing lateral bending in the frontal plane (mean angle ranges during T1: P2S1 vs P3S1 p = 0.0333; P2S0 vs P3S0 p = 0.0123) as well as flexion and extension in the sagittal plane (mean angle ranges during T2: P1S1 vs P2S1 p<0.0001; P1S0 vs P2S0 p<0.0001). On the other hand, the rescue sheet was clearly superior in terms of time (total duration P1S0 vs P2S0 p<0.001, P1S1 vs P2S1 p<0.001, P1S0 vs P3S0 p<0.001, P1S1 vs P3S1 p<0.001) but was always associated with significantly larger angular ranges of the cervical spine during the procedure. Therefore, the choice of technique depends on various factors such as the rescue time, the available personnel, as well as the severity of the suspected instability.
Older migrants’ perceptions of places to meet: Insights for social work practice
Authors: Mac Innes Hanna , Dunér Anna , Gustafsson Susanne , Lindahl Lisbet
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to explore the experiences of older migrants’ (70+) access to and participation in different meeting places. Qualitative interviews were conducted with participants originating from Finland and four countries in the Western Balkans: Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The participants used everyday places in the neighborhood, which were not primarily meant to be meeting places, to create and uphold social contacts. These meeting places contributed to experiences of community and trust. Both everyday meeting places and organized meeting places were used to establish and develop relationships that could result in an exchange of both practical and emotional support. Perceptions of “not belonging”, limited proficiency in Swedish, and a strained financial situation created barriers to accessing some meeting places. The results of this study demonstrate the significance of meeting places that are not purposefully aimed at older people in general or older people from a specific country.
Long-term efficacy of mandibular advancement devices in the treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Min , Ma Yanyan , Han Fang , Gao Xuemei
Published: November 2023

This study aims to review the long-term subjective and objective efficacy of mandibular advancement devices (MAD) in the treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized self-controlled trials with a treatment duration of at least 1 year with MAD were included. The quality assessment and data extraction of the included studies were conducted in the meta-analysis. A total of 22 studies were included in this study, of which 20 (546 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. All the studies had some shortcomings, such as small sample sizes, unbalanced sex, and high dropout rates. The results suggested that long-term treatment of MAD can significantly reduce the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) by -3.99 (95%CI -5.93 to -2.04, p<0.0001, I2 = 84%), and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) -16.77 (95%CI -20.80 to -12.74) events/h (p<0.00001, I2 = 97%). The efficacy remained statistically different in the severity (AHI<30 or >30 events/h) and treatment duration (duration <5y or >5y) subgroups. Long-term use of MAD could also significantly decrease blood pressure and improve the score of functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire (FOSQ). Moderate evidence suggested that the subjective and objective effect of MAD on adult OSA has long-term stability. Limited evidence suggests long-term use of MAD might improve comorbidities and healthcare. In clinical practice, regular follow-up is recommended.
TLR2 mediates renal apoptosis in neonatal mice subjected experimentally to obstructive nephropathy
Authors: Wyczanska Maja , Rohling Jana , Keller Ursula , Benz Marcus R. , Kirschning Carsten , Lange-Sperandio Bärbel
Published: November 2023

Urinary tract obstruction during renal development leads to inflammation, tubular apoptosis, and interstitial fibrosis. Toll like receptors (TLRs) expressed on leukocytes, myofibroblasts and renal cells play a central role in acute inflammation. TLR2 is activated by endogenous danger signals in the kidney; its contribution to renal injury in early life is still a controversial topic. We analyzed TLR2 for a potential role in the neonatal mouse model of congenital obstructive nephropathy. Inborn obstructive nephropathies are a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in children. Thus, newbornTlr2-/-and wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were subjected to complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) or sham-operation on the 2ndday of life. The neonatal kidneys were harvested and analyzed at days 7 and 14 of life. Relative expression levels of TLR2, caspase-8, Bcl-2, Bax, GSDMD, GSDME, HMGB1, TNF, galectin-3, α-SMA, MMP-2, and TGF-β proteins were quantified semi-quantitatively by immunoblot analyses. Tubular apoptosis, proliferation, macrophage- and T-cell infiltration, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis were analyzed immunohistochemically. NeonatalTlr2-/-mice kidneys exhibited less tubular and interstitial apoptosis as compared to those of WT C57BL/6 mice after UUO. UUO induced neonatally did trigger pyroptosis in kidneys, however to similar degrees inTlr2-/-and WT mice. Also, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, tubular proliferation, as well as macrophage and T-cell infiltration were unremarkable. We conclude that while TLR2 mediates apoptosis in the kidneys of neonatal mice subjected to UUO, leukocyte recruitment, interstitial fibrosis, and consequent neonatal obstructive nephropathy might lack a TLR2 involvement.
Fear of missing out and problematic smartphone use among Chinese college students: The roles of positive and negative metacognitions about smartphone use and optimism
Authors: Guan Jinliang , Ma Wangyan , Liu Chengzhen
Published: November 2023

Background

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has become a common phenomenon among college students. Fear of missing out (FoMO) is an important factor affecting PSU, but how FoMO affects PSU is not clear. Therefore, the mediating effect of positive and negative metacognitions about smartphone use (PMSU and NMSU) and the moderating effect of optimism are explored.

Methods

514 Chinese college students aged 17 to 25 from 6 Chinese universities were investigated with the Trait-State FoMO Scale, the Metacognitions about Smartphone Use Questionnaire, the Temperament Optimism Scale, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale for College Students. The data were analyzed with SPSS software.

Results

FoMO was positively associated with PSU, PMSU and NMSU mediated this association. Optimism moderated the relationship between FoMO and PSU, i.e., FoMO had a less prominent positive effect on PSU for college students with a high level of optimism.

Conclusions

There is a positive relationship which exists between FoMO and PSU among college students. In addition, PMSU and NMSU play mediating roles in FoMO and PSU, and optimism plays an moderating role in FoMO and PSU. These findings can help not only educators understand the predictors of PSU and develop interventions to effectively prevent PSU among college students but also college students reduce the level of PSU by improving their understanding of PMSU and NMSU and optimism level.
Perceptions of self-monitoring dietary intake according to a plate-based approach: A qualitative study
Authors: Kheirmandparizi Maryam , Gouin Jean-Philippe , Bouchaud Celeste C. , Kebbe Maryam , Bergeron Coralie , Madani Civi Rana , Rhodes Ryan E. , Farnesi Biagina-Carla , Bouguila Nizar , Conklin Annalijn I. , Lear Scott A. , Cohen Tamara R.
Published: November 2023

Dietary self-monitoring is a behaviour change technique used to help elicit and sustain dietary changes over time. Current dietary self-monitoring tools focus primarily on itemizing foods and counting calories, which can be complex, time-intensive, and dependent on health literacy. Further, there are no dietary self-monitoring tools that conform to the plate-based approach of the 2019 Canada Food Guide (CFG), wherein the recommended proportions of three food groups are visually represented on a plate without specifying daily servings or portion sizes. This paper explored the perceptions of end-users (i.e., general public) and Registered Dietitians of iCANPlateTM—a dietary self-monitoring mobile application resembling the CFG. Qualitative data were collected through virtual focus groups. Focus group questions were based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) theoretical framework to explore perceptions of using the CFG and currently available dietary self-monitoring tools. The prototype iCANPlateTM (version 0.1) was presented to gain feedback on perceived barriers and facilitators of its use. Focus group discussions were audio recorded and verbatim transcribed. Trained researchers used thematic analysis to code and analyze the transcripts independently. Seven focus groups were conducted with Registered Dietitians (n = 44) and nine focus groups with members from the general public (n = 52). During the focus groups, participants mainly discussed the capabilities and opportunities required to use the current iteration of iCANPlateTM. Participants liked the simplicity of the application and its capacity to foster self-awareness of dietary behaviours rather than weight control or calorie counting. However, concerns were raised regarding iCANPlateTM’s potential to improve adherence to dietary self-monitoring due to specific characteristics (i.e., insufficient classifications, difficulty in conceptualizing proportions, and lack of inclusivity). Overall, participants liked the simplicity of iCANPlateTM and its ability to promote self-awareness of dietary intakes, primarily through visual representation of foods on a plate as opposed to reliance on numerical values or serving sizes, were benefits of using the app. Findings from this study will be used to further develop the app with the goal of increasing adherence to plate-based dietary approaches.
Exact solution of three dimensional schrödinger equation with power function superposition potential
Authors: Fu Meihuan , Liu Yongwen , Shi Jianxin , Qian Pengbo
Published: November 2023

Finding an analytical solution to the Schrödinger equation with power function superposition potential is essential for the development of quantum theory. For example, the harmonic oscillator potential, Coulomb potential, and Klazer potential are all classed as power function superposition potentials. In this study, the general form of the power function superposition potential was used to decompose the second-order radial Schrödinger equation with this potential into the first-order Ricatti equation. Furthermore, two forms of the power function superposition potential are constructed with an exact analytical solution, and the exact bound-state energy level formula is obtained for these two potentials. Finally, the energy levels of some of the diatomic molecules were determined through calculation. And our results are actually consistent with those obtained by other methods.
Public perceptions of physician-pharmaceutical industry relationships and trust in physicians
Authors: Saito Sayaka , Mukohara Kei , Shimomura Kazuhiro , Murotani Kenta
Published: November 2023

Background

In Japan, as elsewhere, physicians meet with and receive gifts from pharmaceutical representatives (PRs). This study aimed to clarify the Japanese public perceptions of physicians’ relationships with PRs, examine the association between these perceptions and their trust in physicians, and compare the public’s and physicians’ awareness, acceptance, and perceptions of the influence of physician-PR relationships.

Methods

A cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous, internet-panel survey was conducted involving 1,000 participants from the general public. The survey implementation was contracted to Cross Marketing Inc.

Results

The mean age of the 1000 participants was 44.8 years (standard deviation 18.3). Forty-eight percent were female. Many of our participants were unaware of certain physician-PR relationships. The public was more acceptable with physicians’ receiving stationery and/or medical textbooks and attending promotional drug seminars at their workplaces compared with receiving meals at restaurants. Many thought that physicians’ involvement in promotional activities influenced their prescribing habits and estimated that the majority of physicians received office stationery and meals from PRs. They were divided as to whether they would like to know about their physicians’ relationships with the industry. Factors associated with higher trust in physicians included participants being 65 years or older, having a primary care physician, being in better health, the belief that physicians’ involvement in promotional activities is acceptable, and their high estimate that physicians are not receiving gifts from PRs. Compared to the physicians, the public had lower awareness of and was more accepting of physicians’ involvement in promotional activities. Meanwhile, the public believed that physician-PR relationships influenced physicians’ prescribing habits more than the physicians themselves.

Conclusion

Our survey provided insights into Japanese public perceptions of physician-pharmaceutical industry relationships and their impact on trust in physicians. Physicians should be aware of these perceptions and carefully consider how to foster appropriate relationships with the industry.
Greening the BRI countries through economic and political reforms
Authors: Chen Qian , Madni Ghulam Rasool
Published: November 2023

Preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development are essential objectives for a state aimed at improving the standard of living for present and future generations. The depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation are serious concerns for policymakers worldwide. However, to fulfill its role effectively, a state must have strong institutional capacity. Studies have shown that inadequate governance and weak institutional quality are associated with environmental degradation, lower economic growth, unfavorable development outcomes, and increased inequality. Economic and political reforms are necessary to overcome these issues, while the concept of institutional reforms to save the environment is novel and hardly discussed in the earlier literature, especially in the context of BRI countries. So, this study explores the impact of economic and political reforms on the environment by applying a difference-in-differences approach to the data of 45 BRI economies from 2000 to 2022. The empirical findings reveal a negative relationship between economic and political reforms on ecological footprints, emphasizing the need for institutional reform to preserve the environment in the BRI region. Institutional reforms have a significant contribution to environmental sustainability by fostering better governance, political stability, and an environment conducive to reforms-driven decision-making. These reforms can help address the environmental challenges associated with large-scale infrastructure and economic development projects like the BRI, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
Mendelian randomization reveals no correlations between herpesvirus infection and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Yan Haihao , Zhu Chenghua , Jin Xiao , Feng Ganzhu
Published: November 2023

Background

Previous studies have found that the persistence of herpesvirus significantly increases the risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but it is unclear whether this effect is causal. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to evaluate the causal relationship between three herpesvirus infections and IPF.

Methods

We used genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data from three independent datasets, including FinnGen cohort, Milieu Intérieur cohort, and 23andMe cohort, to screen for instrumental variables (IVs) of herpesvirus infection or herpesvirus-related immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. Outcome dataset came from the largest meta-analysis of IPF susceptibility currently available.

Results

In the FinnGen cohort, genetically predicted Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (OR = 1.105, 95%CI: 0.897–1.149, p = 0.815), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (OR = 1.073, 95%CI: 0.926–1.244, p = 0.302) and herpes simplex (HSV) infection (OR = 0.906, 95%CI: 0.753–1.097, p = 0.298) were not associated with the risk of IPF. In the Milieu Intérieur cohort, we found no correlations between herpesvirus-related IgG EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1) (OR = 0.968, 95%CI: 0.782–1.198, p = 0.764), EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) (OR = 1.061, 95CI%: 0.811–1.387, p = 0.665), CMV (OR = 1.108, 95CI%: 0.944–1.314, p = 0.240), HSV-1 (OR = 1.154, 95%CI: 0.684–1.945, p = 0.592) and HSV-2 (OR = 0.915, 95%CI: 0.793–1.056, p = 0.225) and IPF risk. Moreover, in the 23andMe cohort, no evidence of associations between mononucleosis (OR = 1.042, 95%CI: 0.709–1.532, p = 0.832) and cold scores (OR = 0.906, 95%CI: 0.603–1.362, p = 0.635) and IPF were found. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of our results.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence that EBV, CMV, and HSV herpesviruses, and herpesviruses-related IgG levels, are not causally linked to IPF. Further MR analysis will be necessary when stronger instrument variables and GWAS with larger sample sizes become available.
Tweeting from fear: Gender violence against feminists on Twitter during COVID-191
Authors: Morena-Balaguer Diana , García-Romeral Gloria , Binimelis-Adell Mar
Published: November 2023

The research addresses how gender violence against feminists on Twitter during COVID-19 is produced. Mainly focused in the Catalan cultural context, 462,281 attacks on Twitter were analysed, using virtual ethnography and content analysis. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with key agents. This enabled to (1) analyse the profiles of feminists subjected to attacks and those who attack them, (2) identify the characteristics of this violence: how it appears, to which subjects it refers and what the trigger is, (3) identify which axes of inequality intersect in the attacks. The results determine that there are specific typologies of aggressors, that there is a correlation between the political–social agenda and the attacks, essentially on female politicians and journalists and that they tend to happen collectively as personal aggressions that get worse if they intersect with racial issues, for example.
Knittedness: On the expressivity of knitting as metaphoric process
Authors: Kilpi Linnea
Published: November 2023

Knitted fabric is a part of everyday life for many, whether it be worn, made or metaphorically referenced. It can also be, when critically considered, an expressive practice with philosophical merit. The ostensibly simple looping of yarns into a continuous surface suggests conceptual depth through poetic comparisons to processes of living and storytelling, among others. The practice-led research project ‘Stranded colourwork: Meaning-making through experimental knitting practices’ worked to define the intrinsic qualities of knitting that make it meaningful, and to uncover its expressive potential as an experimental artistic practice. Through the creation of a series of figurative machine-knit artworks, the confluence of knitting and narrative created an opportunity to study the implications of stitched life. This article elucidates the theoretical framework behind the project and focuses on knittedness, a concept proposed through the research. Knittedness refers to the specific aesthetic and technical qualities inherent to the process, and how these qualities can become symbolically significant both in art making and in finding meaning and connection in life. The idea of pixelness is also proposed as an integral part of knitting and other pixelated processes, where the process and aesthetic quality is informed by a repetitive technical structure. These concepts can be expanded to advocate for a notion of craftedness, suggesting the value of determining the idiosyncratic expressivity of individual creative practices, and how a maker might use this knowledge to create technique-focused work and find new appreciation for the process.
Beyond Steiner's "Antigones": Myth Rewriting as Visitation of the Immemorial
Authors: Herzog Christophe
Published: November 2023

This article focuses on the interrelations between myth, mythical character and rewriting. Faced with myth as an epistemological challenge, hermeneutics often is torn between two reductionist temptations: either to ontologize its object or to dissolve it into a kind of original nothingness. We will here first and mainly focus on George Steiner's Antigonesconsidered as a milestone in literary mythography because of its anti-reductionist approach characterized by attention to plurality and emphasis on the complexity inherent in myth. Secondly, and in a much more tentative manner, it will endeavor to propose a new conception of myth, supposedly able to satisfy the so far identified primordial demands it faces us with. We end up proposing a conception of rewriting as visitation and of myth as a face (visage) in Lévinas' sense, thereby ourselves revisiting notions like memory and transcendence. As memory of the immemorial, myth rewriting thus reveals itself paradoxically as a future-oriented, meaning making and hope inspiring task.
“Além”, o Poema Russo de Mário de Sá-Carneiro
Authors: Madeira Pedro , Nunes Ariadne
Published: November 2023

Este artigo examina tanto o processo de criação de “Além” e “Bailado”, de Mário de Sá-Carneiro, incluídos em Céu em Fogo como um apêndice a “Asas”, como o desenvolvimento paralelo da narrativa ficcional da sua génese. Ambos estão amplamente documentados na correspondência entre Mário de Sá-Carneiro e Fernando Pessoa, em que aquele expõe uma poética própria, que tem como conceito central a ideia de transvio.  Assumindo o carácter ostensivamente fragmentário desses textos, cujo sentido seria apenas sugerido e não coerentemente afirmado, Sá-Carneiro apresenta-os como uma tentativa de tematizar a distância entre a ideia abstracta do texto e a sua realização material. É esta poética o objecto de reflexão na primeira parte deste artigo.

Na segunda, deter-nos-emos na moldura ficcional criada em “Asas” para salvar e tornar legíveis “Além” e “Bailado”, depois das críticas de Pessoa, que os considerara ininteligíveis. Serão ambos apresentados, finalmente, como traduções de textos atribuídos ao poeta ficcional Petrus Ivanovich Zagoriansky, autor de um Poema perfeito que se teria desmaterializado no momento da sua conclusão. Estas traduções seriam tudo o que restava da sua obra. Os deslocamentos autorais (e linguísticos) implicados por esta moldura traduzirão em termos narrativos a mencionada ideia do transvio.
Literature, mobility, and the archive
Authors: Lopes Alexandra
Published: November 2023

In 2019 Mexican-born Valeria Luiselli penned Lost Children Archive, which inaugurates her writing in English, and tells the interwoven stories of a blended family, as they take a road trip across America, and of the hardships of children travelling on foot to the US border.

The narrative is a poetic representation of lives in transit, and mobility informs it semantically and structurally: it is organized in four parts, each divided up in small sections, and includes manifold documents. In the narrative, the notion and the experience of the archive are of great importance, emerging out of multiple displacements. This being-in-transit conjures up a literal – it discusses the movement of people –, and figurative – it embraces multiple entanglements, renouncing completeness – translatedness.

While Lost Children Archive is a tour the force, and adds a layer of complexity her writing, Luiselli’s oeuvre, in Spanish and English, has always been characterized by an interpenetration of languages, texts, places, people – a close-knit interweaving of trajectories and memories. This results in an understanding of literature as assemblage, a ground in which to tentatively document existence. As such, it lends itself to an examination of the ways translation shapes the literary in a post-colonial, global(ized) world.
“Nós matamos o Cão Tinhoso” e Monólogos com a História: entre a literatura e o cinema
Authors: Flaiban Zanete Renata , Almeida Viviane , Macedo Lurdes
Published: November 2023

O presente artigo busca analisar como o projeto de nação que se ambicionou para Moçambique aparece questionado em certas reescritas e memórias (por vezes conflitantes), remetendo-nos ao passado colonial e revolucionário. No decorrer da investigação, notamos que vários são os impulsos que movem as reescritas. As obras artísticas, de autores moçambicanos, que compõem o corpus deste estudo, refletem múltiplas motivações, por vezes sobrepostas, como a atualização, a homenagem, a contemporização, ou ainda a contraposição.

O conto fundacional “Nós matámos o Cão-Tinhoso” (2008[1964]), de Luís Bernardo Honwana, é retomado por Hélder Faife no conto breve “O Cão Tinhoso” (2013). Monólogos com a História (2019), do cineasta Sol de Carvalho, foi realizado sob a inspiração do conto “Um diálogo à beira duma sepultura” (2011), de Aldino Muianga. Desenvolvemos análises destes objetos de estudo em duplas e, depois, de modo transversal, a partir de conceitos que os atravessam. As figuras dos espectros e das ruínas, em diálogo com o mundo dos vivos, são recorrentes nas obras literárias e no filme que integram este artigo e constituem, para nós, imagens metafóricas que subsidiam a discussão aqui proposta.

Realizamos uma entrevista com o diretor cinematográfico Sol de Carvalho que nos permitiu confirmar a hipótese de que a(s) memória(s), a literatura e o cinema têm dialogado, na busca por possíveis interpretações e (re)leituras do passado, da História, no presente.
Solos argilosos compactados, muito sobreconsolidados e o comportamento estrutural de barragens de aterro
Authors: Maranha das Neves Emanuel
Published: November 2023

Descreve-se o estado limite (rotura) de solos argilosos compactados (remoldados), fortemente sobreconsolidados e confinados por uma baixa pressão efetiva. O estado limite nestes solos e nas condições referidas, caracteriza-se pela fratura por tração, logo muito diferente do dos solos sobreconsolidados (rotura segundo planos de deslizamento) e dos solos normal ou ligeiramente sobreconsolidados (rotura de acordo com os modelos elastoplásticos com endurecimento). Mostra-se como o primeiro enchimento da albufeira de barragens de aterro é gerador de sobreconsolidações significativas. Evidenciam-se as razões das roturas por ocorrência de fendas de tração e analisa-se toda a consequente perturbação no corpo da barragem, com reflexos na segurança estrutural. São discutidos dois importantes acidentes em barragens resultantes da ocorrência de estados limite caracterizados pela ocorrência de rotura por fratura. Finalmente são feitas algumas incursões nos domínios do dimensionamento plástico de estruturas geotécnicas, nomeadamente barragens de aterro.
Development of lab-scale gasification systems for different possible applications
Authors: Sebe Emese , Nagy Gábor , Kállay András Arnold
Published: November 2023

The goal of gasification is the conversion of solid fuels or carbonaceous wastes to gas that can be further used energetically or for chemically utilisation. Due to cost-effectiveness and gaining experience, the industrial application of new systems and raw materials or mixtures must be preceded by laboratory-scale experiments. The manuscript presents the laboratory scale gasification systems we designed and used, as well as the difficulties experienced during the implementation (e.g. water introduction, sealing, etc.). In addition to these, the results of one-, two- and three-stage experiments are presented as examples, where different materials such as a mixture of wood and canteen waste, brown coal and refuse derived fuel (RDF) were used for testing the system.
Ethical aspects of inventory management in an agricultural enterprise
Authors: Zsótér Brigitta , Deák Dalma , Búrány Árpád , Hampel György
Published: November 2023

Inventory management has a different meaning in agriculture than in a commercial chain, but it is just as important. In most cases, the purpose of the inventory is to satisfy demand. Demand and supply do not always meet at a predetermined place and time but are shaped by external circumstances. It is the same in agriculture. Our research aims to present and compare simple inventory management methods through a practical agricultural example and to examine the ethical aspects. To manage inventory, we have to make an appropriate decision in the following two questions: when to order and how much to order. There are three basic inventory mechanisms: cycle inventory, damping inventory, and two-warehouse inventory. There are three levels within business ethics: macro-, meso-, and micro-level. In the case of the examined agricultural limited company, the meso- and micro-levels are affected by ethical problems. When handling inventory improperly, can the employee be held liable, or is the company responsible? The agricultural sector began to develop, which is mainly the result of developments in the use of information technology. Even so, many farms still use outdated methods, which should be changed to operate more economically
Changes of physical and chemical parameters of organic and conventional carrots during storage
Authors: Csambalik László , Hollinetz Sámuel Andor , Divéky-Ertsey Anna
Published: November 2023

In industrialised countries, around 670 million tonnes of food are lost every year, much of it still fit for human consumption. Due to the special nutrient management of organic farming, root vegetables have a higher dry matter content and a lower nitrate content, which also affects their shelf-life. The effect of storage under domestic conditions was investigated in our experiments on organic and conventional carrot lots. It was found that packaged organic carrots in a 4°C environment showed the longest shelf life, lowest nitrate content and weight loss during household storage. The results of the experiment may contribute to lower food waste through changes in consumer habits.
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF FORCED OSCILLATIONS OF A VIBRATION PROTECTION SYSTEM WITH A PIECEWISE LINEAR STATIC FORCE CHARACTERISTIC UNDER HARMONIC KINEMATIC EXCITATION OF BASE DISPLACEMENTS
Authors: Korytov M. S. , Shcherbakov V. S. , Kashapova I. E.
Published: November 2023

The need to protect operators of mobile machines from vibrations determines the relevance of the development of mathematical models for studying the dynamic processes of forced vibrations of the vibration-protected mass of the seat with the operator. Analytical solutions have the advantage of being the most accurate. For the design scheme of a vibration protection system with one degree of freedom in the form of a linear oscillator with kinematic excitation, an analytical solution to the problem of forced harmonic oscillations was obtained for the given values of the parameters: the initial absolute displacements and speed of the vibration-protected mass, the initial phase of the given harmonic oscillations of the seat base. At the same time, the expression of the static power characteristic of the vibration protection system was a straight line with a vertical displacement, which made it possible to break the transient process into separate time intervals, within which the local coordinate, showing the deformation of the vibration protection mechanism, is within a separate rectilinear segment of the piecewise linear static characteristic. The results of the comparative analysis showed a significant discrepancy between the piecewise analytical solution and the solution obtained by the numerical integration method.
THE INFLUENCE OF PROCESSING IN GRANULAR MEDIUM THE TIMING VALVES OF UMZ-4216 ENGINE TO CHANGE THEIR STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: Lebedev V. A. , Babanin A. Ya. , Chukharkin A. V. , Kikosh T. A.
Published: November 2023

Valves of the valve mechanism of an internal combustion engine are the most critical parts that largely determine the power parameters of the engine and its resource. High demands are placed on both mechanical (strength, hardness, etc.) and service properties (corrosion resistance, heat resistance, etc.) of valves. The article shows the results of hardening critical surfaces of valves in granular medium. The research is aimed at solving the urgent problem of increasing the strength characteristics of the timing valve while reducing the total material costs for its production.
OPTICAL-ELECTRONIC SYSTEM OF HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION WHEN OBSERVING REMOTE OBJECTS
Authors: Makhov V. E. , Shirobokov V. V. , Emelyanov A. V. , Mihailov A. A. , Potapov A. I.
Published: November 2023

Schematic solutions of an optoelectronic system for obtaining high spatial resolution when observing remote objects are studied, which allow obtaining high resolution of objects in the volume of the observed space, providing high accuracy in determining the coordinates and geometric features of objects in three-dimensional space. A hybrid system is considered for simultaneous registration of the entire set of rays from observed objects in a full solid angle by a high-resolution optical system together with a system for registering sets of different sets of ray directions from objects in the same observed space, which makes it possible to form a set of narrow layers of the observed space in range. To further improve the accuracy of obtaining coordinate and non-coordinate information of the observed objects, the images of narrow layers of space are expanded to the resolution of the first optical registration system by weighted substitution of the detail filters of the discrete wavelet transform. Integration in different digital information ranges is achieved by decomposing the image of the first digital source and each of the set of images of the second digital source into low-frequency and high-frequency components, separate processing of image components based on the principle of weighted summation for each pixel, and the formation of the resulting image. Computational experiments have been carried out showing the effectiveness of the proposed circuit solutions in determining the parameters of objects of interest.
ON SOME FEATURES OF THE SIGNAL SPECTRA IN THE ULTRASONIC STUDY OF THE METAL STRUCTURE WITH INCREASED ATTENUATION OF LONGITUDINAL WAVES
Authors: Danilov V. N. , Ushakov V M. , Evtushenko S. G.
Published: November 2023

By the method of computer modeling, some features of the change in the frequency spectra of the bottom signals of direct high-frequency probes during ultrasonic investigation of the metal structure with different average grain sizes and the dispersion of their sizes have been established. It is shown that for probe models with frequencies f0 = 10; 15 MHz (with a frequency spectrum width at 0.25 from a maximum of 0.5f0), with an increase in the values of the average grain size and the dispersion of their sizes, an increase in the width of the signal spectra occurs due to the peculiarities of changing the shape of the spectra in the low frequency region. For a broadband converter model with a frequency f0 = 15 MHz (with a spectrum bandwidth ≈ f0), under similar conditions, the spectrum width decreases due to the predominant attenuation of its high-frequency components, while for all converter models used in calculations, there is a decrease in the frequency of the spectrum maximum. The calculation results for the broadband converter are confirmed by experiment. It is proposed to use the shift of the maximum of the spectrum and the change in the bandwidth of the pulse spectrum in the ultrasonic study of the metal structure.
CONDUCTIVITY OF ENERGY OF NATURAL OSCILLATIONS OF T-JOINT OF TWO BEAMS DURING NON-DESTRUCTIVE FAST TESTING OF STRUCTURES
Authors: Kugushev V. I.
Published: November 2023

The Article studies conditions for the onset of resonance oscillations of a T-joint of two beams. Natural oscillations were excited in beams, and the problem was to synchronize their dynamic parameters in the joint. To solve the problem, a model of natural oscillations free energy carrier, presented in a geometric form, was used. A brief description of this model is given. As a result, a diagram was made linking relative lateral strain, arising from bending oscillations, to geometrics of the T-joint. It was demonstrated that the diagram determines the level of conductivity of natural oscillations energy through a joint, and that the magnitude of this level determines efficiency of non-destructive fast testing of a structure with the use of excitation of natural oscillations. To this end, as an example, the Article offers results of experimental studies of special dismountable structures having a defective element in them.
CONDITION MONITORING OF SELF-POWERED NEUTRON DETECTORS IN THE INCORE NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM UNDER TRANSIENTS
Authors: Pankin A. M. , Kalyutik A. A. , Kostarev V. S.
Published: November 2023

The paper describes a new method for condition monitoring of self-powered neutron detectors (SPND) used to monitor neutron flux in the reactor core. The method measures currents in the SPND measuring circuit under static and dynamic conditions. A new diagnostic indicator of SPND condition is introduced allowing for significant enlargement of the detector operating range and change in the method that is used to monitor the value of SPND emitter burnout. The introduction of the additional diagnostic indicator, namely the measuring circuit capacitance, can be used for assessing the neutron flux in the reactor core under transient conditions.
CAPACITIVE SENSOR FOR SURFACE ICING CONTROL
Authors: Uhov A. A. , Kostrin D. K. , Gerasimov V. A. , Selivanov L. M. , Simon V. A.
Published: November 2023

Icing of the surfaces of objects leads to a decrease in their technical characteristics and can lead to emergency situations and equipment failure. For effective control of deicing systems, it is required to monitor the condition of the surface with the help of specialized sensors. One of the most promising ways to detect icing is the capacitive method based on a significant difference in the dielectric permittivity of water in liquid and solid aggregate states. Considering that the capacitance of the sensor depends on both the measurement frequency and the configuration and size of the electrodes, the analysis of the characteristics of capacitors of different geometries under different conditions was carried out and the optimal shape of the sensor and the frequency of measurements were determined. The operation of the electronic circuit of the developed icing control sensor is based on comparing the reference voltage with the voltage depending on the capacitance value of the measuring capacitor. The capacitace–voltage converter is built on the basis of a high-pass filter and a single-half-period rectifier. To improve the accuracy of determining the presence of ice on the surface, a scheme is proposed in which the capacitance of the measuring capacitor is monitored at two frequencies. The considered capacitive sensors for monitoring surface icing have a fairly simple design, but at the same time effectively fulfill their task.
ANALYSIS OF SHIELDING MATERIALS TO OPTIMIZE THE CHOICE OF A PROTECTIVE DEVICE
Authors: Titov E. V. , Kataeva A. S.
Published: November 2023

To ensure electromagnetic compatibility, an approach is proposed based on the formation of calculated data while taking into account the required shielding efficiency and economic feasibility obtained from the results of a limited number of measurements during instrumental control of the electromagnetic environment and computer modeling of the electromagnetic field under the conditions of separate and combined influence of several sources of the electromagnetic field. The results of the analysis of known materials and types of constructions of shielding installations used to reduce the intensity of various components of the electromagnetic field in a wide frequency range under conditions of separate and combined influence are presented. The criteria for choosing the protective characteristics of shielding devices are considered. An assessment of the economic feasibility of choosing standard conductive and additional materials for the formation of protective screens is given. The necessity of optimizing the choice of protective devices by changing the degree of priority of the main properties and operational characteristics of shielding materials is substantiated.
PHOTONICS-2023
Authors: Matveev V. I.
Published: November 2023

The article provides a summary of the international exhibition PHOTONICS-2023 and examples of modern product developments in this area. The main practical results of the introduction of new equipment and technologies by wellknown companies – direct participants of the exhibition are described. The main areas of use of photonic technology: industry, agriculture, medicine, scientific research.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL POROSITY IN CARBON FIBER STRUCTURES BY LASER OPTOACOUSTIC METHOD
Authors: Sokolovskaya Yu. G. , Podymova N. B.
Published: November 2023

Currently, an urgent problem is the development of non-destructive diagnostic techniques for quantifying the level of local porosity of composite structures. The paper presents a method for estimating the porosity of a material from the experimentally measured phase velocity of longitudinal acoustic waves propagating in it. Laser excitation of ultrasound was used to create probing pulses. Porosity was calculated using experimentally measured phase velocities of longitudinal acoustic waves propagating in the composite. The proposed method allows one-way access to the object during measurements, which makes it possible to study structures of variable thickness and complex shape. The possibility of obtaining distributions of local porosity values in the studied section of the structure is demonstrated by the example of three carbon fiber stringer panels. The study showed that locality of the porosity value and its change from point to point plays an important role in such constructions, and the maximum local porosity of this area of the panel may differ from the average volumetric porosity by more than two times. The possibility of obtaining a “map” of the distribution of the local porosity of the panel section in the plane of laying the carbon fabric is also demonstrated. This method is quite operational, which allows it to be used within the framework of real production in order to improve the conditions and methods of production.
INFORMATION-MEASURING SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF APPLES BY SIZE IN THEIR SORTING
Authors: Divin A. G. , Balabanov P. V. , Zhirkova A. A. , Mishchenko S. V. , Egorov A. S. , Shishkina G. V.
Published: November 2023

The article provides information about the information-measuring system of the layout of the complex for sorting apples, which allows you to determine the maximum diameter of an apple when it moves along a roller conveyor. The control algorithm is based on the use of automated thresholding using the method of moments, as well as the Advanced Morphology operation. Studies have shown that the maximum diameter measurement error does not exceed 2 mm, and the influence of radial distortion is reduced to 0.17 % as a result of calibration.
MODELS FOR ASSESSING THE PRESENCE OF DEFECTS IN BEARING SUPPORTS OF AIRCRAFT GAS TURBINE ENGINES
Authors: Popov A. V. , Krylov A. A. , Vostrikov M. E.
Published: November 2023

Increasing the level of reliability of aviation equipment is quite relevant, but at the same time a difficult task. Aircraft engines (AD) are removed from operation every year if they have not exhausted their established resources and service life. As a rule, the reasons for early termination of operation are defects and malfunctions of individual engine components, their mechanical damage, as well as human errors that lead to a malfunction of the engines. From the performed analysis of the causes of failures and damages of the engines of operational-tactical aviation aircraft, it can be concluded that in the vast majority of cases, the failures manifested themselves in increased vibration, which indicated the destruction of the bearing supports of the compressor and turbine rotors, the failure of which may lead to shutdown and damage to the gas turbine engine. Such consequences adversely affect flight safety and can lead to both the loss of the aircraft and the death of the crew. The specifics of the placement of the bearing supports of the GTE rotors greatly complicates their diagnostics in the framework of non-destructive testing. New models are proposed for assessing the presence of defects in the bearing supports of the rotors of aircraft gas turbine engines, based on the analysis of vibroacoustic signals in the frequency and time domains. A software and hardware complex has been created that allows diagnosing the technical condition of the bearing supports of the rotors of aircraft gas turbine engines.
CONTROL OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUID DISPERSIONS OF COLLOIDAL GOLD NANORODS USING NANOPARTICLE TRACKING ANALYSIS
Authors: Shalaev P. V. , Monakhova P. A. , Gorev Ia. N.
Published: November 2023

At present, metal and polymer nanoparticles are widely used in industry and scientific research. Important characteristics of liquid dispersions of nanoparticles are the size and concentration of particles. There are optical methods that make it possible to rapidly measure the parameters of nanoparticles in a liquid media, but they usually allow only spherical particles to be analyzed. To solve the problem of controlling the characteristics of non-spherical particles, samples of colloidal gold nanorods were studied by nanoparticle tracking analysis. The results showed the possibility of estimating the concentration of particles in the sample, as well as drawing conclusions about the monodispersity of the samples and the presence of large aggregates in them.