bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint design and simulation of GOX-GCH4 combustion and cooling in an experimental water-cooled subscale rocket engine
Authors: MEREU Alexandru , ISVORANU Dragos
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the authors’ most recent research regarding the feasibility of cooling a 1 kN scaled-down experimental rocket engine, running on gaseous oxygen and gaseous methane, for a ground test. The cooling segment of a rocket engine has always been a delicate problem, increasing the development time and costs of development. Since a series of problems can occur during the first ignition of a rocket engine prototype, removing as many potential issues from the initial test, such as using liquid methane for the cooling system, could result in a more stable experiment. Using water as the cooling agent can contribute to a more accelerated TRL increase of the engine’s subcomponents while reducing the risks taken for a whole assembly test. Thus, the combustion chamber, nozzle, and injector can be tested separately from the final cooling method, which can be added subsequently. In the present work, both a steady and transient CFD combustion simulation of a multicomponent compound, consisting of gaseous oxygen and gaseous methane was conducted in the combustion chamber of a small-scale rocket engine. The simulation is based on PDF-flamelet approach for the oxygen and methane combustion, along with real gas equations for the cooling agent.
Design of a robust controller for the VEGA TVC using the L1-Adaptive Control
Authors: NAJI Naji Anees Muqdad , STOICA Adrian
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study is to Design of a robust controller for the VEGA TVC using the L1-Adaptive Control. The performance of the system with an L1 adaptive controller has been compared with that of a classical controller. The L1 adaptive controller optimization is an efficient as well as an effective approach for the design of a robust controller. The L1 adaptive controller ensures the robustness of the system against uncertainties, noise, and disturbances[10]. In a launch vehicle parameters like mass, thrust, and aerodynamic properties are time-varying. Due to the time-varying nature of these parameters gain scheduling is necessary with the classical control design methods otherwise the closed-loop system might become unstable for some values of these parameters. This procedure is costly and has no robustness. In addition to this, there are external disturbances also which can make the control system unstable. This is the reason why robust control is necessary. There is a trade-off between achievable performance and robustness. So, we need to compromise between required performance and robustness as per the requirement.
Cartesian coordinates of an intrinsically defined curve
Authors: RADNEF Sorin Stefan
Published: December 2023

Summarizing some old research on the dynamics of a pointall body along its own trajectory, this paper established the differential relationships between the principal curvatures of a 3D curve, that is the normal curvature and the torsional curvature, and its Cartesian coordinates. The differential system thus derived is actually a dynamical system of a representative point of the curve moving along it. This dynamic system is analyzed to see the possibilities of finding analytical solutions in finite terms, using Frobenius' integrability theorem for the general case and usual integration methods for the particular case consisting of the constant ratio between the two curvatures.
Mechanical strength of the aircraft control chains in certain unusual cases
Authors: TECUCEANU Cristian , POPOVICI Dumitru , POPOVICI Mariana , KALMUTCHI Peter
Published: December 2023

The paper focuses on certain specific occurrences involving sports aircraft and their mechanical flight control chains. Usually the flight controls and their control chains are subject of thorough checking procedures, but frequently such details are not observed or are easily ignored during the maintenance and airframe checking processes. The authors aim to provide information enabling proper training of flight crews, technical, and design staff/ personnel, allowing the avoidance of severe occurrences/ events caused by failures of the mechanical control chains. The analysis focuses on lighter aircraft, such as sports aircraft, which have full mechanical control chains.
Comprehensive Analysis of Aircraft Dynamics Stability with SCSim: Integration and Assessment
Authors: BOGOS Stefan , CHIRA Alina-Ioana , UDREA Ioan Petru , SANDU Valerian Marian , DRAGHICI Theodor
Published: December 2023

This research presents a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic stability of aircraft using modules of the software named SCSim (Stability and Control Simulation Tool), which is dedicated to the analysis of aircraft stability and control. The stability of an aircraft can be examined in two directions: longitudinal and lateral. The ability to determine an aircraft's limits and handling qualities depends on its stability. This study report demonstrates a complete dynamic stability analysis using SCSim with aerodynamic input data from the commercial software Advanced Aircraft Analysis (AAA). SCSim is implemented within a common framework in MATLAB, adapted from a MATHCAD script, providing an easier way to enter user-defined input data, and introducing a set of new features. The study is divided into three main parts, each based on an analysis of stability. First, static stability is examined to understand how the system behaves when it is in equilibrium. Then, dynamic stability is assessed to understand how the system reacts to perturbations and disturbances. Finally, handling qualities systematically assess the dynamic modes of the aircraft's behavior and establish the levels of handling qualities. In this paper, a generic model of a propeller-driven aircraft is used for the study due to the availability of flight parameters, geometric, and aerodynamic data. The obtained results demonstrate the capabilities of the Stability and Control Simulation Tool (SCSim) in designing and analysing an aircraft's stability under various flight conditions and configurations, with validation using AAA.
Evaluation of wind tunnel wall interference using homogeneous and measured boundary conditions
Authors: BURGHIU Mihaela
Published: December 2023

The experimental results obtained in a wind tunnel must be subjected to a correction process which aims to eliminate the influence of the limited dimensions of the flow field around the model. This is necessary because the results must be independent of the characteristics of the laboratory where they were obtained, in order to ensure the quality of the parameters.The wall corrections are applied to the global quantities that characterize the undisturbed flow, such as the Mach number or the dynamic pressure, but they are also applied to the quantities related to the model, namely the global aerodynamic coefficients.Consequently the corrections will be applied to the global quantities of the undisturbed flow and therefore they will be transmitted to the aerodynamic quantities related to the model.
Single source CARS-based multimodal microscopy system for biological tissue imaging [Invited]
Authors: Sheng Mingyu , Zhao Yuan , Wu Zhenguo , Zhao Jianhua , Lui Harvey , Kalia Sunil , Zeng Haishan
Published: December 2023

A coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS)-based multimodality microscopy system was developed using a single Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser source for biological imaging. It provides three complementary and co-registered imaging modalities: CARS, MPM (multiphoton microscopy), and RCM (reflectance confocal microscopy). The imaging speed is about 1 frame-per-second (fps) with a digital resolution of 1024 × 1024 pixels. This microscopy system can provide clear 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images of ex-vivo biological tissue samples. Its spectral selection initiates vibrational excitation in lipid cells (approximately 2850 cm-1) using two filters on the pump and Stokes beam paths. The excitation can be tuned over a wide spectral range with adjustable spectral filters. The imaging capability of this CARS-based multimodal microscopy system was demonstrated using porcine fat, murine skin, and murine liver tissue samples.
Day and night continuous high-resolution shallow-water depth detection with single-photon underwater lidar
Authors: Shangguan Mingjia , Weng Zhenwu , Lin Zaifa , Lee Zhongping , Shangguan Mingyu , Yang Zhifeng , Sun Jiaxin , Wu Tengfei , Zhang Yu , Wen Cehnglu
Published: December 2023

Single-photon lidar has emerged as a strong technology for bathymetric measurements. However, its heightened sensitivity additionally makes it susceptible to solar radiation noise, particularly in the green light wavelength where solar radiation is strong, posing challenges for its daytime operation. To address this issue, a single-photon underwater lidar system is proposed and demonstrated. This scheme has these features. 1) Underwater applications not only mitigate the impact of the air-water interface on laser transmission but also significantly attenuate solar radiation reaching the lidar due to the absorption and scattering properties of water. 2) The telescope is designed with a small aperture and narrow field of view to significantly suppress solar radiation. 3) A combination of a narrowband laser and narrowband filter technique is effectively employed to minimize residual solar radiation, thus enabling continuous bathymetric observation capabilities during both day and night. 4) After acquiring the backscattered signal from the bottom, a water depth extraction algorithm utilizing bi-Gaussian fitting is proposed. To demonstrate the robustness of the lidar and the effectiveness of the algorithm, the underwater single-photon lidar system is deployed on a ship to conduct cruise surveys of two bays in the nearshore area, as well as a full-day stationary observation experiment. The lidar measurements are highly consistent with the synchronized sonar observations. The full-day stationary observation experiment showcased its capability to deliver continuous measurements throughout the day and night. These results demonstrate the potential of the system in various applications, including high-precision underwater terrain mapping, obstacle avoidance for underwater platforms, and underwater target imaging.
High-power 970 nm semiconductor disk laser
Authors: Zhang Zhicheng , Xiao Yao , Wang Jun , Miao Pei , Liu Heng , Cheng Yang , Gou Yudan , Wang Sha , Deng Guoliang , Zhou Shouhuan
Published: December 2023

Semiconductor disk lasers (SDLs) have emerged at the frontier of laser technologies. Here, the chip design, packaging process, resonator, pumping strategy, etc. are optimized for the performance improvement of a 970 nm SDL. After optimization, a power of 70.3 W is attained under continuous wave (CW) operation, and the corresponding thermal resistance is around 0.49 K/W. The laser is highly efficient with a maximum slope efficiency of 58.2% and the pump threshold is only around 1.83 kW/cm2. Furthermore, the emission performances under quasi-continuous wave (QCW) pumping are also explored. Setting the duty cycle to about 11%, the chips can output a peak power of 138 W without thermal rollover, and the single pulse energy can reach about 13.6 mJ. As far as we know, they are the best results in terms of power/energy in this wavelength SDL. These explorations may help to understand the thermal characteristics in high-power SDLs and may also be regarded as an extension and enrichment of the earlier works on this topic.
Dependence of the ellipse fitting noise on the differential phase between interferometers in atom gravity gradiometers
Authors: Zhang Xiaowei , Zhong Jiaqi , Lyu Wei , Xu Weihao , Zhu Lei , Wang Muyan , Chen Xi , Tang Biao , Wang Jin , Zhan Mingsheng
Published: December 2023

Ellipse fitting is widely used in the extraction of the differential phase between atom interferometers amid substantial common phase noise. This study meticulously examines the dependency of extraction noise on the differential phase between atom interferometers during ellipse fitting. It reveals that the minimum extraction noise can manifest at distinct differential phases, contingent upon the dominance of different noise types. Moreover, the outcomes are influenced by whether the interferometers undergo simultaneous detection or not. Our theoretical simulations find empirical validation in a compact horizontal atom gravity gradiometer. The adjustment of the differential phase significantly enhances measurement sensitivity, culminating in a differential gravity resolution of 1.6 × 10−10 g @ 4800 s.
Precise determination of energy transfer upconversion coefficient for the erbium and ytterbium codoped laser crystals
Authors: Li Yuanji , Liu Kunlun , Feng Jinxia , Chen Yujin , Huang Yidong , Zhang Kuanshou
Published: December 2023

Energy transfer upconversion (ETU) coefficient plays a crucial role in investigating complex laser systems as it greatly influences both the laser output behavior and heat generation. For some quasi-three-energy-level lasers based on Er3+ doped, Ho3+ doped and codoped gain media, the available theoretical studies relied on some unreasonable approximations due to the lack of spectroscopic data, notably the ETU coefficient. We put forward what we believe is a novel approach to overcome the difficulties caused by wavelength jump occurred in aforementioned laser systems. Based on net gain cross-section analysis and rate equations modelling, the functional relationship between the ETU coefficient, the laser power and pump power at the jumping wavelength are established. ETU coefficients and their temperature dependences of Er,Yb:YAB crystals with different crystal doped concentrations are experimentally determined for the first time. The results reveal that the ETU process in Er,Yb:YAB laser system is 5∼35 times stronger than that in Er3+ and Yb3+ codoped phosphate glass. The determination of these spectroscopic data paves the way for precise modelling of laser system based on Er,Yb:YAB or similar gain media.
Mid-infrared auto-correction on-chip waveguide gas sensor based on 2f/1f wavelength modulation spectroscopy
Authors: Pi Mingquan , Zheng Chuantao , Zhao Huan , Ji Jialin , Peng Zihang , Min Yuting , Huang Yijun , Wang Xueying , Guan Gangyun , Song Fang , Liang Lei , Zhang Yu , Wang Yiding , Tittel Frank K.
Published: December 2023

Compared to the most commonly used on-chip direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS) gas detection technique, the second harmonic (2f) based on-chip wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) proposed by our group has the faculty to suppress noise and improve performance, but the accuracy of 2f WMS is easily affected by optical power variation. A mid-infrared auto-correction on-chip gas sensor based on 2f/1f WMS was proposed for decreasing the influence of the variation of optical power. The limit of detection of methane (CH4) obtained by a chalcogenide waveguide with a length of 10 mm is 0.031%. Compared with the 2f WMS, the maximum relative concentration error of the auto-correction on-chip gas sensor was decreased by ∼5.6 times. The measurement error is ≤2% in a temperature variation range of 30°C. This auto-correction sensor without a complicated manual calibration is helpful to the high accuracy measurement for on-chip integrated gas sensing.
Ultrathin metasurface on a 100 nm-thick dielectric membrane absorbs infrared rays
Authors: Asada Harumi , Suzuki Takehito
Published: December 2023

Flat optics based on metasurfaces produce unprecedented two-dimensional planar optical elements that cannot be developed with naturally occurring materials. However, it remains to be shown whether metasurfaces on ultrathin dielectric membranes can be adopted in a broad range of optical elements as flat optics. Here we demonstrate that a fabricated ultrathin metasurface composed of double-sided metal structures on a 100 nm-thick SiNx membrane absorbs infrared rays with a high absorptance of 97.1% at 50.1 THz. This ultrathin metasurface and its fabrication method would be a welcome contribution to a wide range of trailblazing applications, including ultrathin absorbers for imaging and light detection and ranging (LIDAR), directivity control of thermal radiation, and polarization control of vacuum ultraviolet light.
Super-hydrophilic nano-structured surface with antibacterial properties
Authors: Sohrabi Sahar , Pazokian Hedieh , Ghafary Bijan , Mollabashi Mahmood
Published: December 2023

Adhesion of bacteria to a surface followed by biofilm formation causes
many problems in human health care and, in some cases, can even cause
human death. Therefore, reducing bacterial attachment to surfaces and
antibacterial surface fabrication are two of the most important issues
in many applications, including healthcare, medical, food packaging,
etc. Polycarbonate (PC) is one of the most widely used polymers in
medicine. However, it does not have antibacterial properties. On the
other hand, laser treatment is used as a standard method for surface
modification of different materials. In this paper, excimer laser
irradiation at a fluence below the ablation threshold was used for
surface patterning and modification of the polycarbonate sample,
aiming to improve its antibacterial properties. The results show that
super-hydrophilic nanostructured polycarbonate surfaces have
antibacterial properties compared to non-treated PC, which has no
antibacterial properties.
Mechanistic Study of Reaction between 5-Sulfosalicylic Acid and Colloidal MnO2
Authors: Mujawar S.I. , Yalgudre R.S. , Gokavi G.S.
Published: December 2023

The reaction between 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5-SSA) and colloidal MnO2 has been studied kinetically in acidic medium. During the reaction the concentration of 5-SSA was kept highly excess than the concentration of colloidal MnO2 to maintain the pseudo-first-order condition. The reaction was studied by following decrease in absorbance of colloidal MnO2 at 390 nm and the first order rate constants were determined from linear log (Abs.) against time plots. The linearity of the first-order plots did not involve any autocatalytic part. The oxidation of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5-SSA) by colloidal MnO2 involves intervention of free radicals and Mn(III). The product of reaction in colloidal MnO2 was p-hydroxy benzene sulfonate ion as confirmed by LCMS-MS analysis. The oxidation by colloidal MnO2 consists of acid dependent and independent mechanisms. The results of added Mn(II), Na4P2O7 and acrylonitrile indicate involvement of Mn(III) and free radical during oxidation by colloidal MnO2. The probable mechanisms for acid dependent and independent paths were predicted and the rate expressions were also obtained. The activation parameters also support the proposed mechanisms.
Highly Effective Photocatalytic Performance in Visible Light of Sodium hexametaphosphate Capped Ni-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Mageswari K. , Bavani T. , Madhavan J. , Prabukanthan P.
Published: December 2023

This study describes the microwave assisted synthesis of without and with sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) (1 mol%) capped 3 mol% Ni- doped ZnO nanoparticles. Various sophisticated analytical techniques were used to characterize the Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The results showed that including SHMP capped 3 mol% Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles has a significant influence on the photoctalyst and structural characteristics of the ZnO nanoparticles. Under visible light illumination, SHMP capped 3 mol% Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated better photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye. As a result, SHMP capped 3 mol% Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized are suitable materials for the environmental applications.
LC-MS/MS Bioanalytical Approach for the Quantitative Analysis of Dabigatran in Biological Fluids
Authors: Marella Vijaya Lakshmi , Bonthu Mohan Gandhi , Achanti Suneetha , Kasula Harshini , Nekkalapudi Sarala
Published: December 2023

A novel bioanalytical methodology has been developed to establish a rapid and sensitive procedure for the detection of dabigatran in biological fluid, specifically human plasma. In this study, dabigatran 13C6 was utilized as an internal standard (IS). The solid phase extraction method was employed to extract dabigatran and internal standard (IS) from a plasma sample. The separated components are determined by utilizing a eluting mixture composed of 2 mM ammonium formate:methanol:acetonitrile (20:40:40 v/v/v). The procedure utilized a GL Sciences Ace C18 stationary phase with dimensions of 150 mm × 4.6 mm; 5 µm. The identification of dabigatran and IS was carried out using the MRM mode, which was chosen to minimize interference from the surrounding matrix. The measured m/z of the protonated precursor ion of dabigatran was 472.20, while the corresponding product ion has a m/z value of 289.10. The precursor ion with a m/z of 478.20 and the product ion with a m/z of 295.20 were generated by the internal standard (IS). Linearity was observed within the range of 1.016-304.025 ng/mL; r2 of 0.9956 and a sample size (n) of 5. The stability of the drug in plasma was evaluated through a series of tests. These tests included a 17 h period on a laboratory bench, 24 h in an injector, six cycles of freeze-thaw and a storage period of 7 days and 22 h at -20 ± 5 ºC. The results of these stability studies indicated that the drug remained stable in plasma. The method was subjected to validation and was determined to be qualified. The proposed analytical approach demonstrates potential for the routine analysis and pharmacokinetic study of dabigatran in biological fluids.
Role of Oxides of Iron on the Combustion of Composite Solid Propellants: A Review
Authors: Olety Sai Siddhartha , Suggula S.V. Satyanarayana , Pattaswamy Kanakaraju
Published: December 2023

The effects of iron oxides (α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, Fe3O4 in the different size ranges from micron to nano) on the combustion of composite solid propellants, also known as hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene/aluminium/ammonium perchlorate (HTPB/Al/AP) systems, are thoroughly reviewed in this work. The effect of the oxides of iron in (i) condensed phase; (ii) sub-surface and surface; (iii) premix flame (gas phase); and (iv) final flame (gas phase) in deflagration zone are also critically reviewed. The effect of catalyst on the lower pressure limit (LPL), upper pressure limit (UPL) and ignition delay is also studied as a part of the combustion phases. It is understood that unlike during the combustion of pure ammonium perchlorate, the role of iron oxides starts its influence on binder system degradation, binder-ammonium perchlorate reactions at surface and HClO4 decomposition in gas phase. The role of aluminium is to contribute for larger energies in both primary and diffusion flame zone, the heat generated accelerates the surface reactions further. Another interesting topic is nano-oxides of iron, since nanosize contribute for definite increase in burn rate, but the disadvantage of agglomerations both at mixing level and combustion level needs to be addressed. Several strategies are suggested, with the most significant ones being co-precipitation with ammonium perchlorate and the utilization of dispersion agents.
Natural Surfactant Mediated Synthesis of 4-Aryl Substituted 3,4-Dihydropyrimidinones
Authors: Pore Santosh B.
Published: December 2023

Present work describes the synthesis of 4-aryl substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) using aqueous extract of pericarp of Sapindus trifoliatus fruit as a green catalyst. The reaction is a one-pot reaction, similar to classical Biginelli reaction employing an aromatic aldehyde, urea and active methylene compound (ethyl acetoacetate) as substrates. Desired DHPMs were yielded within 2 h at room temperature. The key advantage of the present strategy was its low dependence on organic solvents as green synthesis.
Bloomery process as the basis of ancient metallurgy
Authors:   Instityte of Archaeology RAS, V. Zavyalov , N. Terekhova ,   Instityte of Archaeology RAS
Published: December 2023

At present, the principles of direct reduction of iron, which dominated in metallurgy for more than three millennia, are well known. However, it is far from always possible to successfully carry out experimental modeling of the bloomery process. We have carried out 35 experiments. A fully preserved bloomery furnace, excavated at the settlement Kolesovka-4, was chosen, as a prototype of the pyrotechnic structure. As a result of the experiments, it was found that during the roasting of the ore, not only the burnout of organic impurities occurred, but also the concentration of silica and alumina decreased, and thus the content of iron oxide increased. The crushing of ore is essential. It can be stated with all certainty that theoretical knowledge is not enough to implement a successful process of obtaining iron by the bloomery method.
Analysis The Influence of Country of Origin and Brand Image on Purchase Intentions through Customer Uncertainty (Study Case on OPPO Smartphone)
Authors: Berliando Javier , Wardhani Amie Kusuma
Published: December 2023

Changes in trade activities have occurred as a result of changing times, and technical improvements have benefited corporations or business players in extending or growing markets that are no longer restricted to a single nation but may penetrate other countries. The emergence of foreign products, such as mobile phones, widen the choices of mobile phones in the Indonesian market. The majority of mobile phone brands purchased by Indonesian consumers are from China, despite the fact that the majority of the world regards China as having product stereotypes or product images that are of poor quality, cheap, and frequently counterfeited, resulting in a discontinuity with the product image they have. This study examines and analyses the effect of country of origin and brand image on purchase intentions through customer uncertainty on OPPO smartphone. The study sample included customer over 18 years old who has purchased and used OPPO smartphone. The sample in this study was 200 respondents. The method used in this study is a structural equation model (SEM) with the help of AMOS software for hypotheses test. The results of this study show country of origin and brand image has a negative effect on customer uncertainty, country of origin and brand image has a positive effect on purchase intention, whereas customer uncertainty has a negative effect on purchase intention. This study significantly extends managerial implications for OPPO to focus heavily to solve customer uncertainty by advertising product performance and giving detailed information about the product (such as label) to lower customer uncertainty and encourage customer to have intention to purchase OPPO smartphone. secondly, to solve customer uncertainty OPPO need to eliminate China’s (OPPO country of origin) stereotype as a country with a poor product.
The Mercurial Effects of Abstract Reflection: Troubling Hegemonic Cultures of Knowledge in Ted Chiang’s Short Math Fiction and Richard Powers’s Maximalist Arboreal Novel
Authors: Butter Stella
Published: December 2023

Narrative fiction that combines mathematical or scientific discourses with a pronounced interest in the topic of reasoning, particularly the mercurial effects of abstraction, unfolds an especially multi-faceted engagement with hegemonic cultures of knowledge. The contrastive analysis of two contemporary works of American fiction illustrates the role that the affordances of aesthetic form thereby play: Ted Chiang’s “Division by Zero”, a short story concerned with mathematical and empathic cultures of knowledge, and Richard Powers’s maximalist novel The Overstory, a climate change novel that challenges plant disparity awareness in Western culture. Powers’s novel can be seen as a critical response to the anthropocentric cultures of knowledge encapsulated in Chiang’s short story.
Laughing at Vampire Novels: Gothic Horror, Teen Girl Agency, and the Old and New Northanger Abbey
Authors: Manizza Roszak Suzanne
Published: December 2023

Although casual readers of Northanger Abbey often still interpret the novel as a straightforward parody of the Gothic, a range of critics have pinpointed the realistically Gothic horrors that do reside in Austen’s narrative. This essay applies a similar lens to crime novelist Val McDermid’s understudied and underappreciated retelling of Northanger Abbey, arguing that the new version of Austen’s text employs the form of Gothic writing in which the most horrifying types of violence are gendered everyday injuries: experiences of gaslighting and denials of physical and verbal agency. Responding to reviewer criticism that has painted the new Northanger Abbey as pointlessly derivative, I also argue that McDermid innovates on Austen’s original narrative by refiguring the novel’s conclusion, giving her version of Catherine Morland an assertive voice with which to resist Gothic psychological violence. In this reimagined ending, the figure of General Tilney becomes defined by his anti-queer bigotry, highlighting the gothicism of pathological heteronormativity and the importance of intersectional approaches to feminist resistance. Grasping how McDermid’s Gothic approach both echoes and innovates on the rich complexities of Austen’s novel is key to recuperating this contemporary text.
Jean Rhys’s Cocktails and the Blurring of Literary Meridians
Authors: Mundeja Ruchi
Published: December 2023

We are at a point in literary studies where the meridian has begun to insistently make its presence felt. But at the same time, we are approaching the field through a miscegenated lens. This essay is about mixtures and the blurring of chronologies these effect in the realm of literary studies. Both modernism and new modernist studies draw on the stimulus provided by intermixtures. One glance at our recent compendium of terms: creolity, métissage, planetarity, is a marked indicator of the direction in which modernist studies is currently headed, as much beholden to intermixtures as modernism was. I am going to approach these questions by taking as my pivot Jean Rhys’s short story – and the title itself is deviously indicative of an intervention into all the theorizations referred to – “Mixing Cocktails”. The question I intend to ask via foregrounding the liquid principle that Rhys’s story deploys is whether in the quest to meridiniaze, if one could call it that, literary studies today, especially modernist literary studies, we are in fact letting the headiness of discovery blur meridians, even as we aim to bring them into focus. Dwelling on the admixtures, montages, blurring frames and colorisms in Rhys’s fiction, I will argue that the intermixed futures that were being shaped by the global crossings of the empire are encountered in all the bleakness of an incomplete, forever deferred birthing in the writer’s fiction. Drawing on the trope of the cocktail as both suggestive of a voluptuous dispersion and yet a shaping of all the elements into a finished product in the final analysis, this essay will dwell on how intermixtures are not always a palatable draught in Rhys.
Assessing standing balance with MOTI: a validation study
Authors: Pálsson Þorvaldur Skúli , Gaardbo Malik , Mikkelsen Christian , Hirata Rogerio Pessoto
Published: December 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a new device called MOTI for measuring balance by comparing its performance that with of the gold-standard force platform.

Methods

The study involved collecting data from both devices in dual- and single-leg standing positions with eyes open and closed and using statistical measures to compare their performance.

Results

The results showed that MOTI can accurately measure balance during dual-leg standing tasks but has poor to moderate performance during single-leg standing tasks. However, it could detect small changes in postural sway caused by a reduced base of support and/or visual feedback. The study also found that the test-retest reliability was poor to moderate for both devices.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that MOTI has potential as a reliable tool for measuring balance during certain tasks, but further research is needed to improve its performance during single-leg standing. This study provides valuable insights into the validity and reliability of MOTI for measuring balance and highlights the need for further investigation.
Synthesis of a silica matrix with ZnO nanoparticles for the fabrication of a recyclable photodegradation system to eliminate methylene blue dye
Authors: Naik Harshala Sandip , Sah Parvindar Manejar , Dhangade Manali , Lakkakula Jaya , Raut Rajesh Warluji , Roy Arpita , Alghamdi Saad , Qusty Naeem , Alhindi Zain , Kabrah Ahmed , Rani Anju
Published: December 2023

In this study, a silica matrix was utilized as a substrate for zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to enhance their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The recovery of the prepared material was also investigated. To compare the performance of the prepared material with ZnO NPs and bare silica, various analyses were conducted. ZnO NPs were synthesized via a coprecipitation method and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results revealed highly crystalline ZnO NPs with an average crystallite size of less than 100 nm. The presence of ZnO on the silica matrix was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX analysis. The prepared ZnO NPs showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB dye, and reasonable material recovery was also observed. The silica-coated ZnO NPs degraded MB dye by 97% in just 40 min and retained their photocatalytic activity for up to 20 cycles. In comparison, bare silica exhibited effective photodegradation but lost its photodegradation capacity after five cycles. ZnO NPs without silica coating took 5 h to degrade MB dye. The significant accomplishment in this study is the development of novel materials with high recoverability, simple preparation, and efficient photocatalytic activity. In the future, ZnO NPs supported on a silica matrix can be utilized for various applications.
Money for nothing and kicks for free? – Aspects of the long-term relationship between sport and gambling in Britain
Authors: Porter Dilwyn , Clapson Mark
Published: December 2023

The intention here is to trace the development of the sport-gambling nexus in Britain from the early-nineteenth to the late-twentieth century. An overview of this kind facilitates an understanding of a relationship that has often been characterized as symbiotic. Over the long run, as Britain has transitioned from a pre-industrial to an industrial and then to a post-industrial society, the relationship between sport and gambling has remained intact. In particular, it survived a long period between the mid-nineteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries when the ideological hegemony of amateurism in British sport predisposed governing bodies to view gambling with suspicion and even, at times, hostility. The article draws extensively on recent published research into the history of sport in Britain and outlines key developments in the relationship between particular sports and gambling, notably cricket, football, horseracing, greyhound racing and pedestrianism. Recent changes related to the advent of online gambling are identified and briefly discussed, with particular reference to cricket.
Strong fuzzy GE-filters and fuzzy GE-ideals of bordered GE-algebras
Authors: Alemayehu Teferi Getachew , Eshetie Workaferahu Solomon , Bandaru Ravikumar , Jun Young Bae
Published: December 2023

The notion of strong fuzzy generalized exchange (GE)-filters and fuzzy GE-ideals of bordered GE-algebras is studied, and their related properties are investigated. We proved that the intersection of strong fuzzy GE-filters (fuzzy GE-ideals) is a strong fuzzy GE-filter (fuzzy GE-ideal). We studied the conditions for a fuzzy subset of a bordered GE-algebra to be a strong fuzzy GE-filter and the characterization of a strong fuzzy GE-filter. We studied that under some conditions, any fuzzy subset of a bordered GE-algebra can be a fuzzy GE-ideal. A given fuzzy GE-ideal and an element in a bordered fuzzy GE-algebra is established.
The world's oldest-known promontory fort: Amnya and the acceleration of hunter-gatherer diversity in Siberia 8000 years ago
Authors: Piezonka Henny , Chairkina Natalya , Dubovtseva Ekaterina , Kosinskaya Lyubov , Meadows John , Schreiber Tanja
Published: December 2023

Archaeological narratives have traditionally associated the rise of social and political ‘complexity’ with the emergence of agricultural societies. However, this framework neglects the innovations of the hunter-gatherer populations occupying the Siberian taiga 8000 years ago, including the construction of some of the oldest-known fortified sites in the world. Here, the authors present results from the fortified site of Amnya in western Siberia, reporting new radiocarbon dates as the basis for a re-evaluation of the chronology and settlement organisation. Assessed within the context of the changing social and environmental landscape of the taiga, Amnya and similar fortified sites can be understood as one facet of a broader adaptive strategy.
Effect of Tin and Niobium on Corrosion and Hydrogen Pickup of Quaternary Zirconium Alloys in Ultra-Long-Term Autoclave Exposures
Authors: Blat-Yrieix Martine , Limbäck Magnus , Anghel Clara , Ambard Antoine , Karlsen Torill Marie , Tverberg Terje , Szőke Réka , Garde Anand M. , Ton-That Marc
Published: December 2023

Corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys can be life-limiting factors for fuel rods in light water reactors (LWRs). Extensive work has been performed and is still in progress to improve the specification of cladding materials to enhance the performance as well as to further increase the understanding of the involved mechanisms and to model the corrosion and hydrogen pickup kinetics. In this scope, knowledge regarding the behaviors of quaternary alloys (Zr-Sn-Fe-Cr) with different chemical composition is relevant. Two of the experimental alloys studied here also include niobium. These R&D quaternary alloys, including Alloy A, Alloy B, and Alloy C, were corrosion-tested for a long duration in an autoclave at EDF's R&D laboratories. Tests were performed in a water-chemistry representative for the primary water in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) at 320°C, 340°C, and 360°C. The weight gains were measured periodically, and some specimens were removed for hydrogen pickup measurements. The effect of tin and niobium on corrosion is discussed with respect to other metallurgical parameters. Cyclic features of the corrosion kinetics are studied, and comparisons between transition kinetics and oxide stratification are discussed. The effects of tin and niobium contents on hydrogen pickup are also studied. For all materials, oxide thickness and hydrogen content are linearly correlated irrespective of the duration of the experiment. Finally, the results from the ultra-long-term autoclave tests are assessed using experience gained previously from irradiation of the same materials in commercial PWRs as well as in the Halden test reactor.
Predictors of Effects in Brief Psychiatric Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Grandjean Loris , Kolly Stéphane , Kramer Ueli
Published: December 2023

If evidence points to the equal efficacy of all bona fide treatments for borderline personality disorder (BPD) in general, it may not necessarily be true for a specific individual, nor do such general conclusions help in the triage of clients in clinical services. We investigated potential therapy outcome predictors for participants with a BPD diagnosis (N = 99). They were assessed on scales including the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-64, and the Borderline Symptom List. Our analyses revealed that individuals with low levels of symptom distress at intake had the smallest change in total OQ-45 score over the course of brief treatment, while the individuals with high levels of symptom distress had a mean large change in total score (-23). We observed that individuals with high symptom loads AND low levels of interpersonal problems at intake seemed to have the best progress.
Population-Based Clinical Studies Using Routinely Collected Data in Hong Kong, China: A Systematic Review of Trends and Established Local Practices
Authors: Wu Derek , Nam Ronald , Leung Keith Sai Kit , Waraich Hamza , Purnomo Athaya , Chou Oscar Hou In , Perone Francesco , Pawar Shubhadarshini , Faraz Fatima , Liu Haipeng , Zhou Jiandong , Liu Tong , Chan Jeffrey Shi Kai , Tse Gary
Published: December 2023

Background: Routinely collected health data are increasingly used in clinical research. No study has systematically reviewed the temporal trends in the number of publications and analyzed different aspects of local research practices and their variations in Hong Kong, China, with a specific focus on research ethics governance and approval.

Methods: PubMed was systematically searched from its inception to March 28, 2023, for studies using routinely collected healthcare data from Hong Kong.

Results: A total of 454 studies were included. Between 2000 and 2009, 32 studies were identified. The number of publications increased from 5 to 120 between 2010 and 2022. Of the investigator-led studies using the Hospital Authority (HA)’s cross-cluster data (n = 393), 327 (83.2%) reported receiving ethics approval from a single cluster/university-based REC, whereas 50 studies (12.7%) did not report approval from a REC. For use of the HA Data Collaboration Lab, approval by a single hospital-based or University-based REC is accepted. Repeated submission of identical ethics applications to different RECs is estimated to cost HK$4.2 million yearly.

Conclusions: Most studies reported gaining approval from a single cluster REC before retrieval of cross-cluster HA data. Substantial cost savings would result if repeated review of identical ethics applications were not required.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Mediates Heavy Alcohol Drinking in Mice
Authors: Lepeak Lauren , Miracle Sophia , Ferragud Antonio , Seiglie Mariel P. , Shafique Samih , Ozturk Zeynep , Minnig Margaret A. , Medeiros Gianna , Cottone Pietro , Sabino Valentina
Published: December 2023

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex psychiatric disease characterized by periods of heavy drinking and periods of withdrawal. Chronic exposure to ethanol causes profound neuroadaptations in the extended amygdala, which cause allostatic changes promoting excessive drinking. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region involved in both excessive drinking and anxiety-like behavior, shows particularly high levels of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a key mediator of the stress response. Recently, a role for PACAP in withdrawal-induced alcohol drinking and anxiety-like behavior in alcohol-dependent rats has been proposed; whether the PACAP system of the BNST is also recruited in other models of alcohol addiction and whether it is of local or nonlocal origin is currently unknown. Here, we show that PACAP immunoreactivity is increased selectively in the BNST of C57BL/6J mice exposed to a chronic, intermittent access to ethanol. While pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) type 1 receptor-expressing cells were unchanged by chronic alcohol, the levels of a peptide closely related to PACAP, the calcitonin gene-related neuropeptide, were found to also be increased in the BNST. Finally, using a retrograde chemogenetic approach in PACAP-ires-Cre mice, we found that the inhibition of PACAP neuronal afferents to the BNST reduced heavy ethanol drinking. Our data suggest that the PACAP system of the BNST is recruited by chronic, voluntary alcohol drinking in mice and that nonlocally originating PACAP projections to the BNST regulate heavy alcohol intake, indicating that this system may represent a promising target for novel AUD therapies.
VAKUM KURUTMA YÖNTEMİ İLE PROPOLİS TOZU ÜRETİMİ VE TOZUN BAZI ÖZELLİKLERİ
Authors: MUTLU Ceren
Published: December 2023

Araştırmada %70 etanol ile ekstrakte edilmiş propolisin Arap zamkı ilavesiyle ve vakumda kurutulmasıyla üretilen propolis tozunun bazı özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Propolis tozunun toplam fenolik madde ve flavonoid içerikleri sırasıyla 5.65 g gallik asit eşdeğeri/100 g ve 1.08 g kuersetin eşdeğeri/100 g olarak belirlenmiş ve bu sonuçların ham propolis örneğine ait sonuçlardan daha düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca üretilen tozun TEAC ve CUPRAC analiz sonuçları sırasıyla 541.54 ve 462.47 µmol Troloks eşdeğeri/g olarak bulunmuştur. Hausner oranı ve Carr indeksi değerleri sırasıyla 1.33 ve %24.65 olarak belirlenmiş olup, toz örneğin akışkanlığının orta düzeyde olduğu değerlendirilmiştir. Propolis tozunun nem adsorpsiyonunun Tip 2 özellik gösterdiği, tek tabaka su içeriğinin ≤5.44 g/100 g olduğu ve BET, Halsey ve Kuhn modellerinin 25°C sıcaklıkta nem adsorpsiyonunu daha iyi temsil ettiği belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak üretilen propolis tozunun biyoaktif bileşenler içerdiği ve 5.44 g/100 g değerinden daha düşük nem içeriğinde güvenli olarak muhafaza edilebileceği değerIendirilmiştir.
MODELS AND METHODS FOR GAIT-BASED PERSON IDENTIFICATION WHILE WEARING DIFFERENT OUTFIT
Authors:   Odesa Polytechnic National University, Purish Sergiy V. , Schöler Thorsten ,   Augsburg Technical University of Applied Sciences
Published: December 2023

Abstract. This study presents a potential methodology for the identification of individuals based on their gait patterns, even when they are wearing different attire. The approach described in this study utilizes modified local patterns that have been specifically designed to be robust to rotation. These patterns enable the extraction of more discerning characteristics, particularly in scenarios where individuals may be wearing diverse clothing. The procedure was outlined in a comprehensive manner, including explanations for each step of the process. The experiments provided confirmation of the notable efficiency of gait-based person identification in scenarios where individuals wear varying attire. Keywords: Surveillance systems, Human identification, Silhouette extraction, Gait Energy Image, classification, Local Binary Pattern, Gait recognition.