bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Miracles in the Lives of Novgorod Saints: Typology and Artistic Originality
Authors:   Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Tereshkina Daria B. ,   Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) (Branch in Veliky Novgorod)
Published: October 2023

The article offers an overview of miracles in the lives of Novgorod tradition, mainly of the late Middle Ages and early Modern times. Miracles, which are often the main dating feature of the life (vita) edition, are often considered as a kind of “auxiliary” part of a hagiographic work, sometimes breaking out of the general context by stylistic or compositional features. However, along with the development of hagiographic genre, the assessment of miracles by the scribes themselves also changes. Miracles not only become central episodes of hagiographic texts or cycles (as in the case of Nikola Kochanov or the Alfanov brothers, as well as the more ancient life of John of Novgorod); the mode of depicting miraculous events itself changes: it shifts from the figure of saint to those with whom miracles are performed. The number of miracles increases many times, the actual information about the miraculous events that took place is detailed (where they occurred, when (up to the month and day of specified year), with whom (exact names, occupation, social status, family ties, origin of the person with whom the miracle occurred), accurate information about where lives healed or saved. A kind of “replication” of the same type of miracles does not cause scribes questions, because the obvious fact is help of a certain saint in healing specific ailments, and the more such evidence, the stronger the glory of the saint. Texts about miracles either come as close as possible to business writing (as in the life of Theoktist of Novgorod or some miracles of Evfimy Vyazhishchsky), or, on the contrary, preserve and even develop an artistic and fictional (sometimes with elements of psychologism) style of hagiographic rhetorical narration (as in the miracles of Anthony the Roman or Nikola Kochanov), or make a complex combination of list enumeration miracles that have happened and praise for the saint, which loses its independent meaning (as in the Kosin version of lives of the Novgorod saints). The analysis of the types and artistic originality of miracles in the lives of Novgorod saints allows us to draw conclusions about the complex literary situation in the field of hagiographic tradition in the late Middle Ages and early Modern times: most likely, the trends common to democratizing writing in each case had their own characteristics associated with many factors (tradition of veneration of the saint, textual history of vita, tastes of the compilers specific editions, etc.). It is also impossible to exclude a change in a person’s worldview, shifting it in a sense to a pragmatic understanding of holiness — as a mission of direct assistance to the living — which could no longer be ignored by the literature addressed to a person.
A Troyan in The Tale of Igor’s Campaign and the Sonnets of Alexander Kondratiev
Authors:   Moscow Pedagogical State University, Fedotov Oleg I.
Published: October 2023

The article examines a comparative analysis of the hypothetical image of Troyan in The Tale of Igor’s Campaign and Alexander Kondratiev’s sonnet cycle Slavic Gods (1936). Being well versed in various interpretations of the mysterious image by Medievalists, the poet gave unconditional preference to the mythological direction. An inspirational example for him was the book of Pyotr Buturlin Sonnets (1895). During the period of 20 years of residence in the Volyn city of Dorogobuzh, Kondratiev studied local legends both in the folklore existence and in the presentation of Polish authors Jan Dlugosh (15 c.) and Alexander Brückner (his contemporary). An analysis of Kondratiev’s three sonnets Earth I, Earth II and Troyan showed that despite the absence of direct borrowings from The Tale of Igor’s Campaign, the author did not renounce the old Slavic gods, but tried to extract from pagan mythology inherent in it bright figurative plasticity, generously supplementing it with his own poetic fantasy.
Victor Sosnora’s Poem 1111: from Old Russian Tradition to Avant-garde
Authors:   Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kovaleva Tatiana I. , Loshchilov, Igor E. ,   Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2023

The article examines the poem 1111 (1959) by Victor Sosnora. The poem is an illustrative example in the rethinking of Old Russian tradition in the work of Modern Times. Based on the story of The Russian Primary Chronicle, the poet includes the events of the past in a modern historical context. He does this using allusions and anachronisms, associative echoes with other Old Russian works (The Sermon by Vladimir Monomakh, The Tale of Igor’s Campaign) and with authors of the 19th–20th centuries (L. Trefolev, V. Mayakovsky, V. Khlebnikov, N. Zabolotsky). Turning to the old source becomes an avant-garde gesture for the “initiates” (“futurists” of the first call) and, at the same time, a “pass” to the thaw press (military history has always been under the auspices of Soviet officialdom). The chronicle plot is told to the reader so sophisticatedly that different levels of text organization from its graphic design (“ladder”), and lexical approximations to compound, exquisitely inaccurate or defiantly accurate rhymes force the reader to recall the textbook works Hilea by futurists Mayakovsky and Khlebnikov.
Microbubbling by Multi-channel Ceramic Membranes: Experimental Analysis and Modeling of Gas Flux
Authors: Jiang Hong , Xu Ziqin , Zhu Hang , Liu Yucheng , Zhang Jiuxuan , Low Ze-Xian , Chen Rizhi
Published: October 2023

Membrane dispersion has extensive application prospects. The membrane
flux serves as a pivotal parameter for assessing production efficiency,
optimization, and scalability. Nevertheless, it remains a great
challenge in establishing a mathematical model that accurately describes
the relationship between the membrane flux and its associated factors.
Herein, the flux variation of multi-channel ceramic membranes during
bubble preparation was investigated by experimental analysis and
mathematical modeling. The membrane flux is significantly influenced by
factors such as the membrane pore size and membrane channel number.
Additionally, system pressure, gas-liquid flow ratio, liquid viscosity,
and surface tension exert substantial effects on membrane flux
fluctuations. A prediction model of the membrane flux is established
based on the empirical model for the first time, and the error of the
model is less than 10%. The model can be used to predict the optimal
membrane pore size and area across different operation conditions and
liquid properties.
Electromagnetic Vortex Wave Radar Multimodal Imaging Experiment
Authors: Li Caipin , Tan Xiaomin , li shengyuan , you dong , peng wenchan
Published: October 2023

Electromagnetic vortex waves have received widespread attention in many
fields due to their unique physical characteristics, the phase
distribution of spiral wavefronts and information modulation.The
information dimension provided by vortex electromagnetic waves brings
possibilities for future breakthroughs in radar detection and
imaging.This article reports the development of a multi-modal
electromagnetic vortex radar equipment and the first multi-modal vehicle
imaging experimental verification.The key to the experiment is to
simultaneously generate electromagnetic vortex wave signals of different
modes and perform fusion processing.It have shown that the energy of the
main lobe signal of the image target is enhanced by utilizing multimodal
vortex radar information fusion, which can improve the signal-to-noise
ratio of the target imaging.
Effect of longitudinal interfacial defects on fracture energy variation in DCB bonded specimens
Authors: ALI Mahfoudh TALEB , JEBRI Zaineb
Published: October 2023

The primary aim of this investigation is to develop an analytical
technique that can accurately estimate the fracture energy at the crack
front while accounting for the localized interface properties. To
achieve this goal, the study employs Double Cantilever Beam (DCB)
specimens made of Aluminium alloys that have been chemically treated, as
well as Titanium alloys that have been Laser texturized. Additionally,
longitudinal defects are introduced within the bond line, specifically
at the interface between the adhesive and adherents, with a parallel
orientation to the crack direction. Initially, the investigation
involved the characterization of bare surfaces, independent of their
adhesive strength. Subsequently, Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests were
conducted on specimens that had defects of various widths in the bonded
region. The results obtained from these experiments confirmed the
accuracy of the analytical estimations. It has been explained too that
adhesive stiffness has a major role while mixing local fracture energies
at crack front. Additionally, using a damage model, the deformation of
the crack front was numerically observed and verified by capturing crack
front shape while DCB testing. An interpretation was provided to explain
the findings.
AI Control for Trust-based Detection of Attackers in 5G Social Networks
Authors: Durresi Arjan , Kaur Davinder , Uslu Suleyman , Durresi Mimoza
Published: October 2023

This study presents a framework for detecting and mitigating fake and
potentially attacking user communities within 5G social networks. This
framework utilizes geo-location information, community trust within the
network, and AI community detection algorithms to identify users that
can cause harm. The framework incorporates an artificial control model
to select appropriate community detection algorithms and employs a
trust-based strategy to identify and filter out potential attackers. It
adapts its approach by utilizing user and attack requirement data
through the artificial conscience control model while considering the
dynamics of community trust within the network. What sets this framework
apart from other fake user detection mechanisms is its capacity to
consider attributes challenging for malicious users to mimic. These
attributes include the trust established within the community over time,
the geographical location, and the framework’s adaptability to different
attack scenarios. To validate its efficacy, we apply the framework to
synthetic social network data, demonstrating its ability to distinguish
potential malicious users from trustworthy ones.
Simultaneous quantification of 7 glycols in anti-freeze liquids by direct liquid injection gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry
Authors: DANILA George Madalin , CRETU Mihaiella , PUSCASU Cristian
Published: October 2023

RATIONALE: Glycol-based antifreeze liquids, commonly composed of
ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, have important uses in automotive
cooling, but they should be handled with care due to their toxicity,
ethylene glycol is highly toxic to humans and animals. A fast, accurate,
precise and robust method was developed for simultaneous quantification
of 7 most important glycols and their isomers. METHODS: Glycols were
analyzed from diluted sample solution of coolants using
gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry in single ion
monitoring mode. RESULTS: The method was developed and validated for 7
individual glycols (ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene
glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and
tripropylene glycol). Limits of detection (1-2 µg/mL) and limit of
quantification (10 µg/mL) obtained were appropriate. The present method
was applied for determination of glycols in 10 different anti-freeze
liquids commercially available on Romanian market, proving to be
reliable. CONCLUSIONS: A method that requires only a two-step dilution
of anti-freeze samples combined with direct liquid injection GC-MS was
validated for the simultaneous quantification of 7 glycols (and their
isomers) in 10 different types of anti-freeze liquids. The results
obtained in the validation procedure proved that the GC-MS method is
sensitive and precise for quantification of glycols.
Heuristic Approaches for Outlier Reduction and Disease Prediction in Chronic Kidney Disease through IoT
Authors: Murugan Kalpana , M Radha
Published: October 2023

The development of the Internet of Things (IoT), which enables
communication between people, things, data, and virtual platforms in the
environment, is a result of the exponential rise of information
technology (IT). Recently, numerous decision support systems in the
medical industry have been offered via IoT and cloud-based e-health
services. Owing to the developments in IoT-enabled medical gadgets and
sensing devices. Chronic diseases are often considered as a major source
of concern and a threat to public health on a global scale. The kidneys
are one of the body’s most complicated organs and perform several tasks.
The elimination of waste materials by the kidneys during the formation
of urine helps to cleanse the blood. When the kidneys begin to lose
function, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs. The accurate diagnosis of
CKD is an important and crucial step in medical informatics. An earlier
diagnosis can save more human lives. But, it is complicated task due to
similar symptoms, inaccurate data and information, lack of knowledge,
etc. It is also seen that the presence of missing values and outliers
can also complicate the prediction task and, in turn, produce less
accurate results. The primary objective of this research work is to
develop an IoT framework for collecting the real time CKD dataset and
also to handle the two well-known issues of medical data, i.e. outlier
detection and CKD prediction. This work proposes the Chicken Swarm
Optimization (CSO) algorithm to enhance the raw data and diagnose CKD
diseases using k-NN.
METABOLIC FINGERPRINT IN CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA
Authors: Papadopoulou Maria T. , Panagopoulou Paraskevi , Paramera Efstathia , Pechlivanis Alexandros , Virgiliou Christina , Papakonstantinou Eugenia , Palabougiouki Maria , Ioannidou Maria , Vasileiou Eleni , Tragiannidis Athanasios , Papakonstantinou Evangelos , Theodoridis Georgios , Hatzipantelis Emmanuel , Evangeliou Athanasios
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents the
most prevalent childhood malignancy. Despite high cure rates, several
questions regarding predisposition, response to treatment, and prognosis
of the disease remain. The role of intermediary metabolism in the
individualized mechanistic pathways of the disease is unclear. We have
hypothesized that children with any (sub)type of ALL present a distinct
metabolomic fingerprint at diagnosis when compared: i) to a control
group; ii) to children with a different (sub)type of ALL; iii) to the
end of the induction treatment. Methods: This prospective
case-control study (NCT03035344) analyzed plasma and urinary metabolites
in 34 children with ALL before the beginning (D0) and at the end of the
induction treatment (D33). Their metabolic fingerprint was defined by
targeted analysis of 106 metabolites and compared to that of an equal
number of matched controls. Multivariate and univariate statistical
analysis was conducted by SIMCAP and scripts under R programming
language. Results: Metabolome analysis showed distinct changes
in patients with ALL compared to controls on both D0 and D33. The
metabolomic fingerprint within the group of patients differed
significantly between common B and pre-B ALL, and between D0 and D33,
reflecting the effect of treatment. We have further identified the main
components of this metabolic dysregulation that indicate shifts in fatty
acid synthesis, transfer and oxidation, in amino acid and
glycerophospholipids metabolism and in glutaminolysis/TCA cycle.
Conclusions: The notable type and disease time point specific
metabolic alterations observed in pediatric ALL may offer the potential
for the discovery of new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Neural Basis of Subjects’ Fluency in Episodic Future Thinking: a resting-state fMRI Study
Authors: Eivazi Fatemeh , Moradi Alireza , Hatami Javad , Fallahi Alireza , Nazem-Zadeh Mohammad-Reza
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To investigate the neural substrates underlying the fluency of
future thoughts in episodic future thinking by investigating the
functional connectivity of the brain. So far, the neural basis of the
specificity of future representations has been studied, while there is a
fair amount of evidence toward functions of fluency of future thoughts
on various disorders and behaviors. Method: The resting-state fMRI data
of fifteen right-handed adults (female=8, male=7) aged 25 to 40 years (M
=31.8.16, SD =5.6) was analyzed to
extract the graph theoretical measure of nodal degrees in the default
mode network (DMN) nodes. The correlational analysis was conducted
between the nodal degrees and the measure of fluency of the future
thoughts examined by the personal future task (PFT). Results: Findings
indicated a significant correlation between fluency of future thoughts
and nodal degree of middle temporal, inferior parietal, and posterior
cingulate gyri, as well as precuneus. Discussion and Conclusion: Brain
areas delineated in this study were consistent with brain activations
during the construction of future representations identified in previous
studies, but not akin to areas related to the elaboration phase of
future thinking. This could be due to the differences between the tasks
measuring the fluency, rather than the specificity of future thoughts.
Stable meshless discretization of two-dimensional Fisher-type equations by local multiquadric method over non-rectangular domains
Authors: Hussain Manzoor , Ghafoor Abdul
Published: October 2023

Reaction-diffusion equations play important role in problems related to
population dynamics, developmental biology, and phase-transition. For
such equations, we propose a strong-form local (multiquadric) RBF method
that gives sparse well-conditioned differentiation matrices with reduced
computational cost and memory storage; thus, avoids solving dense
ill-conditioned system matrices, an inherited drawback of strong-form
global RBF methods if compared to the limitations of mesh-based methods.
After spatial discretization of the time-dependent PDE problem by sparse
differentiation matrices, the resultant system of ODEs can be stably
integrated in time via a high-order and high-quality ODE solver. The
proposed method is tested on two-dimensional Fisher-type equations for
its geometric flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency. Unlike the
mesh-based methods, the proposed local method works for arbitrary
scattered data points and is equally effective for problems over
non-rectangular domains. Some recommendations are also made for further
efficient implementation of the proposed local multiquadric method.
Clinical Manifestation and Multidisciplinary Treatment Approaches for Primary Tracheal Carcinoma in Bangladesh: a Clinical and Therapeutic Review of 13 Patients
Authors: Chowdhury Qamruzzaman , Rahman Md. , Begum Ferdous Ara , Islam Shariful , Khair Murtaza , Sarker Zakir Hossain , Haque A K M Akramul , Parvez Mashud , Hossain Ali
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Primary tracheal carcinoma is a rare and challenging
disease that presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic
difficulties. Delayed diagnosis due to misinterpretation of airway
obstruction symptoms often leads to poorer prognoses for patients. This
study aimed to explore the clinical manifestations and multidisciplinary
treatment approaches for primary tracheal carcinoma in Bangladesh, with
a focus on recent advancements in diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A
retrospective observational study was conducted at Bangladesh
Specialized Hospital Limited, involving patients aged over 30 who were
diagnosed with tracheal carcinoma and underwent multidisciplinary
treatment. Data were collected through patient interviews and medical
record reviews. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were
performed to examine demographic characteristics, histological
variations, tumor locations, clinical signs and symptoms, treatment
approaches, and outcomes. Results: Thirteen patients were included in
the study, with a mean age of 49.15±10.50 years. The most common
histological variations were invasive squamous cell carcinoma and
adenoid cystic carcinoma. The upper trachea was the most prevalent tumor
location. Dyspnea, cough, and hemoptysis were the most frequently
reported symptoms. Surgical interventions, such as definitive surgery
and apple coring surgery, were the primary treatment modalities.
Multidisciplinary approaches including Adjuvant / definitive
Radiotherapy resulted in a low rate of local recurrence, and patients
with successful treatment had better survival outcomes. Conclusion: This
study provides insights into the demographic and clinical
characteristics of primary tracheal carcinoma in Bangladesh and
highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary treatment approach.
Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to validate these
findings and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this rare
malignancy.
Neonatal hair metabolome of birthweight discordant twins is associated with neurobehavioral impairments at 2-3 years of age
Authors: Zhao Yangyu , Yang Jing , Liu Xiaoyu , Yang Yang , Saffery Richard , M Jeffrey Craig , Huang Nana , Zhang Youzhen , Yuan Jinfang , Zhao Xueqing , Zhou Wenjun , Su Ziyue , Wei Yuan , Han Ting-Li
Published: October 2023

Objective: To characterize the metabolic variation in neonatal
hair samples associated with intrauterine growth discordance in
dichorionic-diamniotic (DCDA) twins and to evaluate the effects of
specific metabolic alterations on later neurobehavioural outcomes in
infancy. Design: Cohort-based case-control study
Setting: Peking University Third Hospital Population:
DCDA twins with birth weight discordance(DCDA-D) and birthweight
concordance (DCDA-C) within a twin cohort recruited between September
2017 and December 2018 in Beijing, China. Methods: A specific
hair metabolic profile of 14 pairs of DCDA-D twins was revealed using
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry by comparing that of 28 pairs of
DCDA-C twins. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the relationship
between the neonatal hair metabolome and neurocognitive outcomes,
assessed using the Ages and the Infant’s Stages Questionnaires, third
edition (ASQ-3) at 2 or 3 years of age. Main outcome measure:
neonatal hair metabolome and long-term neurodevelopment.
Results: A total of seventeen hair metabolites were
significantly different within DCDA-D twin pairs compared to DCDA-C
twins. Particularly, reduced levels of cysteine, threonine, and leucine
were identified in both the larger and smaller DCDA-D twins compared
with DCDA-C twins. The deregulated metabolic pathways including
cysteine, methionine, aminoacyl-tRNA, nicotinate, and nicotinamide
metabolism biosynthesis pathways in DCDA-D groups were positively
correlated with infant neurocognitive development at 2 or 3 years of
age, especially in problem-solving domains. Conclusion:
Neonatal hair metabolic variations in utero of growth discordance in
DCDA twins may be associated with poor neurocognitive development.
Metabolome profiles of hair may be novel predictors of infant
neurodevelopment longitudinally.
A novel Dhillonvirus phage bearing a unique open reading frame of intergeneric origin
Authors: Vasileiadis Anastasios , Bozidis Petros , Konstantinidis Konstantinos , Kesesidis Nikolaos , Potamiti Louiza , Kolliopoulou Anna , Beloukas Apostolos , Panayiotidis Mihalis I. , Gartzonika Konstantina , Karakasiliotis Ioannis
Published: October 2023

Escherichia Coli ( E. coli) is one of the most prevalent
bacteria in the gut and plays an important role in the formation of the
intestinal microbiome. In this study, Escherichia phage Ioannina, a
novel member of Caudoviricetes, with high lytic activity against
E. coli ATCC 25922, was isolated from hospital wastewater.
Escherichia phage Ioannina was highly resistant to a broad range of
temperatures and alkaline pH, but was sensitive to acidic pH. Whole
genome sequencing of the phage, revealed that Escherichia phage Ioannina
is a novel phage within the Dhillonvirus genus. Its genome is a
45,270 bp double-stranded DNA molecule that encodes 64 putative open
reading frames (ORFs). The phylogenetic analysis of open reading frames,
which diversified Escherichia phage Ioannina from other dhillonviruses,
indicated that ORF31 (a putative tail fiber protein) presented higher
similarity to representatives of other phage families. ORF31 was
significantly more related to similar ORFs belonging to the
Kuravirus and Tunavirus ( Drexlerviridae) genera,
indicating a possible recombination event.
Understanding EEG signals for subject-wise Definition of Armoni Activities
Authors: Kumar Teerath , Raj Kislay , Singh Aditya , Roy Arunabha M.
Published: October 2023

In a growing world of technology, psychological disorders became a
challenge to be solved. The methods used for cognitive stimulation are
very conventional and based on one-way communication, which only rely on
the material or method used for training of an individual. It doesn’t
use any kind of feedback from the individual to analyze the progress of
the training process. We have proposed a closed-loop methodology to
improve the cognitive state of a person with ID (Intellectual
disability). We have used a platform named ‘Armoni’, for providing
training to the intellectually disabled individuals. The learning is
performed in a closed-loop by using feedback in the form of change in
affective state. For feedback to the Armoni, an EEG
(Electroencephalograph) headband is used. All the changes in EEG are
observed and classified against the change in the mean and standard
deviation value of all frequency bands of signal. This comparison is
being helpful in defining every activity with respect to change in brain
signals. In this paper, we have discussed the process of treatment of
EEG signal and its definition against the different activities of
Armoni. We have tested it on 6 different systems with different age
groups and cognitive levels.
Demonstrating the impact of incivility in an obstetric emergency: An interventional simulation study.
Authors: Pierce Hannah , Bone Jonathan , Carlisle Elinor , Darcy Maria , Grant Lynn , Verma Ganga , Kermack Alexandra
Published: October 2023

Objective: To understand the effect of an uncivil environment on the
performance of an obstetric team with a focus on non-technical skills,
and to ascertain whether simulation training can be used to demonstrate
the impact of incivility. Design: An interventional, simulation study.
Setting: Wessex Deanery School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G), UK.
Population or Sample: O&G trainees. Methods: Ethical approval was
received from the University of Southampton Research Ethics Committee
(81008). Following informed consent, twenty three trainees observed two
simulated scenarios of the management of a postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)
and completed a Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) questionnaire
for each simulation. In the first scenario the anaesthetist was civil
and in the second uncivil. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis, p
values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Main Outcome Measures: TEAM observation questionnaire domains of
leadership, teamwork and team management. Results: There was a
significant reduction in the overall team performance in an uncivil
environment compared to a civil one (p=0.006). The biggest differences
in scores were observed in team morale (4.00/4.00 in the civil versus
2.22/4.00 in the uncivil simulation, p<0.001) and effective
communication (4.00/4.00 in the civil versus 2.22/4.00 in the uncivil
simulation, p<0.001). Conclusions: Incivility affects the
ability of the multi-disciplinary team to effectively manage an
obstetric emergency and simulation is an effective tool to demonstrate
the impact of poor workplace behaviours.
Starting in your mental pole position: Hypnosis helps elite Downhill Mountainbike athletes to reach their optimal racing mindset
Authors: Hoffmann Nina , Strahler Jana , Schmidt Barbara
Published: October 2023

Downhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport requiring high mental
strength to perform on the best level in a competition with only one run
to win the race. The substantial challenge here is to control automatic
processes like competitive anxiety and stress. Hypnosis can address
these automatic processes. In our study, we developed and evaluated a
hypnosis audio-intervention to activate the optimal racing mindset. In
our study, 19 elite Downhill Mountainbike athletes registered at two
consecutive races of the IXS Downhill Cup. After the first race,
athletes listened to the hypnosis audio-intervention. In this
intervention, we instructed the athletes how to activate their optimal
mental state before the second race. At both races, we measured
competitive anxiety, stress, self-confidence, state resilience, and flow
with validated questionnaires and assessed resting heart rate
variability as a physiological measure of resilience. Race-related
somatic anxiety and subjective stress decreased significantly while
self-confidence increased significantly from first to second race after
athletes listened to the hypnosis. Heart rate variability was
significantly increased at the second race indicating elevated vagal
activity. When comparing race results of our participants to other elite
athletes competing in the races but not listening to the hypnosis, we
found that our study participants generally performed better in both
races. The study shows that our hypnosis intervention was effective in
reducing competitive anxiety and stress while increasing perceived
resilience and self-confidence: After a self-administered hypnosis
session, athletes were able to improve automatic processes responsible
for putting them in their mental pole position.
Measurement of Contact Patch Pressure Behaviors in High-Speed Dynamic Conditions
Authors: Furlan M. , Strang M. , Gladstone M. , Olsson H.
Published: October 2023

Many of the challenging problems in tire dynamics are related to what happens inside the contact patch. Important tire performance attributes such as grip/friction, wear, and noise are all directly related to the contact patch. Calspan and its technology partner Tekscan have developed a novel sensor system that measures the contact patch pressure of the tire as it is rolling at high speed on a flat-belt tire test machine. The measurement results provide detailed insights into the dynamic contact patch pressure (DCPP) in a wide range of realistic and relevant operating conditions on a flat roadway surface. The contact patch behaviors of three tires of similar size and type, but from different manufacturers, were compared. The results highlight how differences in tire design decisions influence the contact patch behavior and in turn the overall tire performance. Additional applications of the DCPP data are presented and discussed.
Optimization of micropore fabrication on the surface of ultrathick polyimide film based on picosecond UV laser
Authors: Liu Haixing , Xu Jie , He Haojian , Wu Chao , Liu Jing , He Xiuquan , Wang Xizhao
Published: October 2023

Micropores fabricated on organic polymer films have a wide range of applications in fields such as microfiltration, new energy, and biomedical separation. The use of laser processing technology can complete the processing of micropores on the surface of ultrathin films with high precision, but there is still some difficulty in the processing of ultrathick films. In this paper, a picosecond ultraviolet (UV) laser was used to explore the high-precision manufacturing process of micropores on the surface of ultrathick polyimide (PI) films. The effects of laser power, laser frequency, and scanning speed on the cone angle and spatter deposition area of micropores’ fabrication on ultrathick PI were studied based on orthogonal experiments. The mechanism of processing micropores on ultrathick PI was analyzed by studying the deposition area and morphology of the spatter generated during the laser ablation process. It was found that high-quality micropores can be fabricated at low laser frequency and high power.
Prediction of single track clad quality in laser metal deposition using dissimilar materials: Comparison of machine learning-based approaches
Authors: Paulus Pascal , Ruppert Yannick , Vielhaber Michael , Griebsch Juergen
Published: October 2023

Powder-based laser metal deposition (LMD) offers a promising additive manufacturing process, given the large number of available materials for cladding or generative applications. In laser cladding of dissimilar materials, it is necessary to control the mixing of substrate and additive in the interaction zone to ensure safe metallurgical bonding while avoiding critical chemical compositions that lead to undesired phase precipitation. However, the generation of empirical data for LMD process development is very challenging and time-consuming. In this context, different machine learning models are examined to identify whether they can converge with a small amount of empirical data. In this work, the prediction accuracy of back propagation neural network (BPNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was compared using mean squared error (MSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). A hyperparameter optimization was performed for each model. The materials used are 316L as the substrate and VDM Alloy 780 as the additive. The dataset used consists of 40 empirically determined values. The input parameters are laser power, feed rate, and powder mass flow rate. The quality characteristics of height, width, dilution, Fe-amount, and seam contour are defined as outputs. As a result, the predictions were compared with retained validation data and described as MSE and MAPE to determine the prediction accuracy for the models. BPNN achieved a prediction accuracy of 0.0072 MSE and 4.37% MAPE and XGBoost of 0.0084 MSE and 6.34% MAPE. The most accurate prediction was achieved by LSTM with 0.0053 MSE and 3.75% MAPE.
Influence of the laser-induced plume on welding behavior in keyhole welding for stainless steel using a 16 kW disk laser
Authors: Kurita Yoshiaki , Sato Yuji , Fujio Shumpei , Mizutani Masami , Tsukamoto Masahiro
Published: October 2023

The spatter is one of the defect factors for laser welding. For high-quality laser welding, the elucidation of the spatter reduction mechanism is required. In our previous study, it was elucidated that the molten pool and keyhole fluctuation contribute to spatter generation from the observation of the keyhole and molten pool under different ambient pressure conditions. However, the main cause of the instability of the molten pool and keyhole has not been clarified. It is considered that the interaction between the laser and plume might cause these instabilities. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the plume generated by laser irradiation. The dynamics of the plume during laser welding and the attenuation of the laser were observed under different ambient pressures. According to these observations, the effect of the plume on instability in laser welding was elucidated. The SS304 was fixed in the vacuum chamber, and the disk laser with an output power of 6 kW swept on the sample to form the weld bead. At the same time, the plume behavior was observed by the Schlieren method, and the attenuation of the laser was measured using a probe laser. As a result, the metal vapor jet, which is a periodical plume ejection, was observed. The attenuation of the probe laser increased with increasing atmospheric pressure. These results suggest that the frequent generation of the metal vapor jet under atmospheric pressure caused instability in the heat input of the laser, which caused instability in the keyhole and molten pool.
Heavy Metal Phytoremediation Potentials of Laportea Aestuans and Sclerocarpus Africana, In Makurdi, Nigeria
Authors: Jacob Aondongusha Jato
Published: October 2023

Industrialization is on the increase and so is global warming, the adverse effect of man’s quest for a stress free life. The pollutants associated with industrialization are numerous including heavy metals (HM). Worrisome is the alarming increase and non-biodegradability of HM in the environment. Other methods of decontamination are relatively cost intensive, tasking and require technical knowledge. The need to reclaim the environment calls for a green approach. Laportea aestuans and Sclerocarpus africana prove promising as phytoremediators. This study employed Laportea aestuans and Sclerocarpus africana as test decontaminants of HM at a mechanic workshop (site 1) comparative to a physically non-contaminated site (site 2-control). Findings show high level of HM in site 1 and that the plants especially Sclerocarpus Africana is good for remediation of HM contaminated sites in Benue state. The test plants accumulated more HM in leaves and roots suggesting they use Phytoextraction, phytostabilization and phytovolatilization as mechanisms of remediation. Using the >1< classification scale of phytoaccumlators, both Laportea aestuans and Sclerocarpus africana are considered Hyperaccumulators. The plants and HM generally presented an order of concentration and bioaccumulation as: Sclerocarpus africana > Laportea aestuans and Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Cd > Cr > Ni was the highest concentrating metals. Though promising, further studies involving isotopic labeling to determine mechanism of remediation is necessary
Current Measures of Healthspan in Aging
Authors: Jo Aan Goon
Published: October 2023

Progressive physiological decline in function occurs as age advances, which increases vulnerability to diseases and subsequently leads to disabilities in aging process. Modulation of genes and pathways has been reported to promote longevity in various animal model and its findings has been used in efforts to help maximize lifespan of human. Lifespan defines the number of survival days of an organism before death while healthspan is the period where an organism can function optimally and live free from diseases until the end of life. However, it remains unclear whether its benefit in prolonging lifespan also helps to improve healthspan since extended lifespan could also indicate a longer frailty period. The purpose of this review is to discuss healthspan assays used in various aging models. Healthspan analysis were found to be different depending on the advancement of biological functions. Domains of health commonly measured were accumulation of metabolites, physiological function and capacities. These measures generally declined with age. Interventions and treatments that promoted lifespan in different aging models improved the health measures although comparative analysis between treatment and control groups were limited to the normal lifespan of animals. Further determination of health measures focused on the extended period of life as a result of interventions and treatments in aging models would provide a better picture of their mechanistic action and validate the reported findings.
Comments and Protocols for the Construction and Calibration of Ag AgCl Reference Electrodes
Authors: A J Torriero Angel
Published: October 2023

Despite the vital importance of reference electrodes, RE, it is common for PhD students in electrochemistry and other users of electrochemical instruments to lack a thorough understanding of their creation and calibration. This work presents the protocol to construct Ag/AgCl RE with different NaCl concentrations. The experimental RE potentials are measured using two techniques and compared to those obtained using the Nernst equation. The RE potential similarities or differences observed when different NaCl concentrations are present are also discussed. Furthermore, using an electrolytic cell to deposit AgCl onto the silver wire part of the RE and determining the mass of AgCl formed using Faraday’s law of electrolysis are presented. These reference electrodes are easily constructed, and the materials needed are readily available and non-toxic. Furthermore, the reference electrodes exhibit good potential stability as a function of time.
Revisiting Pyronin Y, A Classical Photostable Xanthene Dye useful for Cost Effective Multimodal Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: L Pablo Schierloh
Published: October 2023

In search of cost-effective alternatives for developing high-throughput imaging methods for NETosis, several classical histology dyes were revisited. It was found that the second component of the marketed premix Methyl Green-Pyronin Y (Gurr’s Certistain) has several properties compatible with this aim. Therefore, a simple purification method was developed, and the obtained Pyronin Y fraction, dried and redissolved in a biocompatible medium, was found to be photostable, selectively internalized by non-viable cells, and had spectroscopic features that make it compatible with many common fluorophores for multicolor imaging. Under certain conditions, Pyronin Y has a maximum absorption at 548nm, so it can be excited by 514nm and 561nm Laser lines, with an emission peak at 571nm. Experiments with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) enzymatically induced to NETosis confirmed the usefulness of Pyronin Y in detecting early NETotic nuclei. By super-resolution microscopy, the compound enhances the visualization of nuclear subdomains, enabling the reduction of assay duration by detecting morphological alterations indicative of initial NETosis steps. Also, in chemically fixed resting PMN, azurophilic granules were stained by Pyronin Y, suggesting a previously unappreciated nucleic acid-independent staining mechanism. In addition, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) followed by time domain phasor analysis demonstrates the utility of the dye in differentiating between NETs released into the extracellular space and the genetic material still remaining inside the cell.
Nonpharmacological Agents versus Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Mishra Sanjay
Published: October 2023

Away from total cholesterol, oxidative stress and inflammation as well as antiplatelet effects are additional approaches for reducing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Professional Satisfaction of Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit Environment
Authors: Tzenalis Anastasios , Giouldouri Maria , Kipourgos George , Elesnitsalis George
Published: October 2023

Background: Job satisfaction of nurses is an issue that has focused intense attention in recent years, mainly due to the widespread reduction, worldwide, in the number of nursing personnel. Purpose to investigate the influence of the work environment of the intensive care unit on nurses and to identify the factors that play a decisive role in job satisfaction.
Materials and Methods: Our study involved 100 intensive care unit nurses who completed a questionnaire focusing on nurses’ job satisfaction. Tests used are T-test, Mann-Whitney U (test of two independent samples), Anova, KruskalWallis to test distributions. The non-parametric tests analyzed with two independent variables T-test, Anova, Pearson, one-sample t-Test respectively.
Results: Employees belonging to the age group of 40–49 are less satisfied with their work than employees from 30–39 years. Also, nurses with the most years of experience have statistically lower job satisfaction in terms of extrinsic job characteristics than groups with less work experience. Finally, nurses with more children are less satisfied with their work than those with fewer.
Conclusion: Definitions of job satisfaction include a global affective approach with an approach to determine the overall level of job satisfaction while taking into account different individual and organizational factors that influence nurses’ job satisfaction.
Contributions to Practice: The findings of this study can contribute to the improvement of working conditions and factors affecting the job satisfaction of intensive care unit nurses.
Local Application of Melatonin on Dental Implant Osseointegration: Analysis of Removal Torque. Experimental Study on Rabbits
Authors: Marquinez Garcia Pablo Rodolfo , Ibañez Juan Carlos , Grenón Miriam Silvina
Published: October 2023

Melatonin may interfere with the function of osteoclasts and inhibit bone resorption mainly due to its antioxidant properties and ability to detoxify free radicals. This inhibition can be enhanced by the reaction of indolamine in osseoclastogenesis and may have benefits in implantology.
Aims: To evaluate the mechanical and biological behavior of osseointegration using melatonin.
To compare the stability coefficient of implants at the time of placement (initial or mechanical ISQ) and after 60 days (final or biological ISQ).
To measure the disinsertion torque in both groups of rabbits, with and without melatonin application.
Materials and Methods: A total of 16 implants of the same brand and size were placed, with 9 of them receiving 3mg of melatonin powder prior to installation and 7 control implants without melatonin. Resonance frequency analysis (Osstell®) was used to measure initial and biological anchorage, as well as removal torque.
Results: The mean removal torque for melatonin-treated implants was 99.8 Ncm, and for control implants, the mean was 87.2 Ncm. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. However, there were significant differences in biological ISQ values.
Conclusions: The use of melatonin improved the response to osseointegration, particularly in the measurement of final or biological ISQ values.
Tooth Supported Mandibular Single Overdenture: A Case Report
Authors: Kaur Mandeep , Bansal Saurav , Kaur Kuljit
Published: October 2023

Background: Loss of teeth can be a reason for psychological trauma in most of the patients. Other than psychological loss there is also mechanical loss of bone with loss of teeth as alveolar bone is lost. Preservation of a couple of teeth can help in providing better retention and stability to dentures by minimizing bone loss and the use of mechanical aids on retained teeth for additional retention. The use of coping with attachment enhances the retention in the otherwise resorbed residual ridge. The single mandibular denture needs more stability also because of more amount of force from maxillary natural teeth. Thus, the denture can be strengthened by the use of additional mesh in the denture to compensate for the loss of acrylic in place where copings are placed.
Case Report: This is a case of 58 year old female with a partially edentulous mandible. The fixed prosthesis was lost recently. The transition to a complete denture with minimal mandibular ridge was difficult. So, the preservation of the roots of the remaining teeth was planned for mandibular overdenture.
Treatment Plan: Copings with attachments on bilateral canines were planned. The remaining teeth were given metal housings. The denture was reinforced with metal mesh to bear the maxillary forces from natural teeth.
Conclusion: a single mandibular overdenture with copings and attachments increases the retention and stability of the prosthesis and also gives psychological comfort to the patient for the preservation of natural teeth.