bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF BLENDING RATIO ON BIODIESEL PROPERTIES, EMISSIONS AND ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Authors: Mohd Ali Mohd Affandi , Amer Shah Liyana , Ghazali Nurul Hidayah
Published: October 2023

This work presents the effects of biodiesel blending on its properties, emissions, and performance. The rubber seed oil (RSO) and waste cooking oil (WCO)-based biodiesel were prepared using a transesterification method in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. Several formulations were derived from two types of biodiesels (RSO and WCO) and tested according to the ASTM D6751 specification for acid value, free fatty acid (FFA), kinematic viscosity, pour point, cloud point, density, and calorific value. For the WCO-based biodiesel, the best blend was WCO B5, with properties closely matching those of petrodiesel. Significantly, the formulations with higher WCO content (e.g., B10 and above) suffered from serious drops (above 8%) in calorific value. In contrast, the RSO diesel blend showed less than 5% drops in calorific value for formulations up to a 20% biodiesel blend (B20). In addition, an indiscernible difference was obtained between the WCO B5, RSO B5, and petrodiesel in terms of engine power, torque, and CO2 emissions, although the RSO B5 did produce less NOx (158 ppm) than both the WCO B5 (390 ppm) and the petrodiesel (220 ppm). The results showed that blending of WCO and RSO with petrodiesel up to 10%, i.e., B10, is practically applicable for diesel cars with power reduction less than 10%.
Crowd counting algorithm based on face detection and skin color recognition
Authors: YaNan Hao  , V.C. Tai  , Y.C. Tan
Published: October 2023

This paper introduces an innovative crowd counting algorithm using skin color information. Through stages of color space transformation, threshold segmentation, morphological processing, and region filtering, the algorithm successfully conducts crowd counting in images. The study encompasses analyses of images with diverse crowd densities, skin colors, backgrounds, and lighting intensities, revealing the algorithm's robustness to various factors. It remains unaffected by skin color and crowd size and exhibits minimal sensitivity to background and lighting intensity. Furthermore, the paper explores image feature analysis and uses MATLAB programming for simulation and initial crowd counting, considering images with different actual crowd sizes.  Despite minor issues such as the insufficient separation of faces from clothing and the influence of lighting intensity, the algorithm performs reliably in most scenarios, demonstrating high crowd counting accuracies. To bolster the accuracy and robustness of the algorithm, optimization of the separation step and control of the lighting effect on images is suggested.  The key focus of this study is the application of the Gaussian model in the YCbCr color space for face detection and examining its impact on the efficiency and accuracy of crowd counting algorithm. The research not only provides a novel approach for crowd counting in images but also offers insightful perspectives for future studies and potential improvements. Thus, the study proves to be a significant contribution to face detection and recognition technology, enhancing its application in fields like public safety, crowd management, and surveillance systems.
Detailed performance analysis of parabolic trough collectors including geometric effect
Authors: Kasem Mohamed Abdou Mahran
Published: October 2023

Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) have been known for years as one of the leading methods for extracting energy from the sun. In the present work, the performance of PTCs was investigated. However, its performance needs some improvement to be integrated in more and wide range of applications. This idea motivated the author to investigate the performance of parabolic trough collectors in detail. Thus, in the present work, the performance of parabolic trough collectors is investigated. The effect of eight geometric and inlet variables on the PTC performance was evaluated. Two performance factors , the temperature difference and thermal efficiency, were selected. The effect of inlet condition, including inlet mass flow rate and inlet flow temperature reflector geometry, including reflector length and width,receiver diameters, including inlet and outlet reciever diameters, and cover diameters, including the inlet and outlet cover diameters on these PFs was assessed. Eight thermal working fluids were considered. A non-linear mathematical model was developed for PTC and implemented into MATLAB code where an iterative technique was used to conduct the present analyses. Level curves were generated to study the PTC key performance parameters. The curves revealed that the maximum values of the PFs and maximum range of change in these PFs occurred when the inlet conditions were varied. Changes in the inlet temperature, and changes in the reflector geometry yielded the highest and second-highest values. The cover geometry had the minimum effect on the PFs. Moreover, the best maximum efficiency, best maximum temperature difference, and maximum range of efficiency change were obtained for water, air, and carbon dioxide, respectively. The effect of inlet temperature is more significant than the mass flow rate effect on the thermal efficiency, whereas this effect is reversed in case of the temperature difference, by which the mass flow rate exerts the least influence on the temperature difference.
Combined loading performance analysis of gasketed bolted flange joints with emphasis on bolt scattering
Authors: Kamran Khan  , Ahmed Israr
Published: October 2023

Gasketed bolted flange joints (GBFJ) are commonly used in various industries however, their failure could result in significant losses not only in terms of financial but human life as well. Most of the work present on the performance of the GBFJ involves simplified assumptions by neglecting the effect of bolt scatter. Also, there is a paucity of studies investigating the sealing performance of GBFJ under combined thermal transient and structural loading. In the present study, two different flange sizes of ANSI B16.5 pressure class 900 (4in. and 6in.) are evaluated, using a detailed three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). ASME bolt tightening scheme was applied for the preloading of the bolts. Higher bolts and gasket stresses were observed in the case of 6in. flange joint. Also, greater variation in bolt stresses (up to 18 % of the target value) was observed for the 6 in. model which may be due to higher number of bolts resulting in greater scattering phenomena. Both models were found to be safe under the structural loading. However, large relaxation in stresses was observed at high bulk temperature. The gasket stress in 4in. flange model was observed to be less than the minimum seating stress (69 MPa) at temperatures greater than 300 °C implying possible leakage. However, stresses in the 6in. model stayed within the safe limit throughout the thermal and structural loading due to higher bolt target stresses, resulting in its proper seating even at higher temperatures.
Production Cost Modeling and Simulation in the Glove Manufacturing Industry
Authors: N. Agus Salim  , M. Ab. Rashid
Published: October 2023

Product costing is an essential aspect of business strategy as it allows companies to forecast a product's future revenues and expenses and make informed decisions about its development and production. One of the main challenges in the manufacturing sector is the difficulty in selecting the optimal production setup. This can be due to changes in the product or component during the manufacturing process, leading to difficulties in defining the best production quantity and forecasting production costs. Low productivity is another challenge faced by industrial organizations, which can affect their profitability. A case study was conducted in the glove manufacturing industry. The main objective of this research is to model the production cost for the selected case study. Cost modeling in the manufacturing industry involves creating a representation or simulation of a manufacturing process to estimate the costs associated with producing a product. Developing a cost model for the manufacturing industry involves collecting data from the industry and existing literature; developing a cost model with several function modules based on the data; validating the model by comparing its estimates to actual costs; and using the model for cost estimation, budgeting, and product pricing while keeping it updated and calibrated regularly to ensure its accuracy over time. Based on simulation analysis, productivity was improved by 4.0% compared to the original layout. In addition, the production cost per box was reduced by 4.2%. The results from this research can help companies to manage their resources and improve their profitability more effectively.
Application of Mahalanobis-Taguchi system in Rainfall Distribution
Authors: N.H. Aris  , M.Y. Abu  , M.A.M. Jamil  , S.N.A.M. Zaini  , N.S. Pinueh  , W.Z.A.W. Muhamad  , F. Ramlie  , N. Harudin  , E. Sari
Published: October 2023

The rainfall time series is often nonlinear and multi-time scale because of hydrology, meteorological, and human activity. Weather stations gather information on a diverse set of parameters on order to monitor and analyses patterns of rainfall. Nevertheless, not all parameters are created equal in terms of its significance or effectiveness in carrying out classification and optimization actions. The objective is to classify rainfall occurrences by the RT method and optimize the parameter selection process by the T method using Mahalanobis-Taguchi system (MTS). The data was collected using Vantage Pro2 weather station at UMPSA Gambang campus and it consists of 16 various parameters. As a results, RT method can classify the data samples in terms of MD for the months of June, October and December by utilizing the, while simultaneously the number of parameters is reduced to only those that substantially contribute to the classification. This brings the total number of parameters decrease from 16 to 8 when compared to the T method. So, this research methods offer a simplified and effective way for analyzing rainfall patterns and optimizing the data gathering processes at weather stations.
Storytelling y el aprendizaje invertido para el fortalecimiento de la salud mental en docentes dentro de la escuela en contextos de post pandemia por COVID 19
Authors: Vivero Ever , Palacio Vásquez Marta Lucia , Renteria Bustacara Andrea Delfina
Published: October 2023

Este articulo trata de una problemática actual que no fue prioridad al comienzo de la pandemia por COVID-19; problemática que dejó observar secuelas latentes en la psiquis de los docentes ya que se transitó de la presencialidad a una virtualidad abruptamente vulnerando la salud mental y provocando cambios de paradigma en áreas del ser humano como la social, espiritual, laboral, personal familiar. El objetivo es diseñar estrategias basadas en el Storytelling y aprendizaje invertido con el propósito de fortalecer la salud mental en los docentes, todo esto a raíz de la post pandemia covid-19.

 El modelo  es cualitativo ,el diseño investigación acción, el cual permitió por medio de la entrevista dirigida recolectar datos entre docentes de 3 instituciones de Colombia(Cali, Cartago y Medellín), se obtuvieron como resultados principales las dificultades por las cuales pasaron algunos docentes en sus labores con el cambio de la presencialidad a la virtualidad; se concluye que las didácticas activas como el Storytelling y el aprendizaje invertido ayudan en la prevalencia y mantenimiento de la salud mental derivada de la vivencia tenida por Covid 19.
Impacto de un Recurso Educativo Digital en el Aprendizaje de las Leyes de Newton
Authors: Patiño Garcia Sara Janeth
Published: October 2023

El aprendizaje de las leyes de la dinámica ha representado un reto académico para los estudiantes. En este sentido, el uso de los Recursos Educativos Digitales (RED) ha demostrado buenos resultados. Con base en lo anterior, este estudio presenta el proceso de desarrollo y posterior validación del impacto de un RED en aprendizaje, retención y motivación en la enseñanza de las leyes de Newton. Para verificar la eficiencia de este, se diseñó un estudio de caso que involucró 44 estudiantes de décimo de una institución educativa de Colombia. En el estudio se midieron los impactos en los tres parámetros mencionados. Los resultados indican que el recurso desarrollado tuvo un efecto medio en las ganancias de aprendizaje , un efecto alto en la retención del conocimiento. Y se evidencia un aumento en la motivación para aprender el tema
Determinación de los estilos de aprendizaje en estudiantes del programa de Ingeniería en Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo
Authors: García Molano Cesar Alejandro , Rueda Luz Dary
Published: October 2023

Resumen: INTRODUCCIÓN: Cada estudiante presenta un estilo de aprendizaje preferencial. De acuerdo con kolb [1] son 4 tipos de estilos de aprendizaje: Activo, Reflexivo, Teórico y Pragmático. El objetivo  principal fue determinar los estilos de aprendizaje en los estudiantes del programa de Ingeniería y Seguridad y Salud para el Trabajo de los tres ciclos de formación de la universidad Fundación universitaria San Mateo. METODOLOGÍA: El alcance del estudio es descriptivo, la muestra estuvo constituida por 464, estudiantes, el instrumento utilizado fue  el  cuestionario CHAEA (Cuestionario Honey-Alonso de Estilos de Aprendizaje) [2] el cual consta de 80 preguntas dicotómicas (si-no), se aplicó estadística descriptiva en el tratamiento de datos. DISCUSIÓN: Los estudiantes pueden usar en diferentes situaciones varios estilos sin embargo, para los estudiantes de ingeniería el estilo preferencial es reflexivo. CONCLUSIONES: El estilo con mayor prevalencia en los estudiantes es el reflexivo, los demás estilos presentan una preferencia baja
Los entornos virtuales de aprendizaje (EVA) de educación secundaria: retos y desafíos
Authors: Desueza Delgado Almitra , Mesén Meneses Paola , Alfaro Salas Hazel , Díaz Porras Jorge
Published: October 2023

El presente documento es un análisis de los entornos virtuales de aprendizaje en educación secundaria. El objetivo es exponer los retos, desafíos, alcances y limitaciones que se han encontrado en la construcción y ejecución de los cursos virtuales en educación secundaria en Costa Rica para comprender las interacciones pedagógicas llevadas a cabo en el CONED. Se encuentra dividido de la siguiente manera: se presentan los antecedentes, el marco teórico que sustentó la investigación, la experiencia con la construcción de los entornos, la experiencia de la persona tutora en educación secundaria, la experiencia de la persona estudiante, la discusión y las conclusiones.
Quantified Products: Case Studies, Features and their Design Implications
Authors: Sandkuhl Kurt
Published: October 2023

In many industrial sectors, the current digitalization trend resulted in new products and services that exploit the potential of built-in sensors, actuators, and control systems. The business models related to these products and services usually are data-driven and integrated into digital ecosystems. Quantified products (QP) are a new product category that exploits data of individual product instances and fleets of instances. A quantified product is a product whose instances collect data about themselves that can be measured or, by design, leave traces of data. The QP design has to consider what dependencies exist between the actual product, services related to the product, and the digital ecosystem of the services. By investigating three industrial case studies, the paper contributes to a better understanding of typical features of QP and the implications of these features for the design of products and services. For this purpose, we combine the analysis of features of QP potentially affecting design with an analysis of dependencies between features. The main contributions of the work are (1) three case studies describing QP design and development, (2) a set of recurring features of QPs derived from the cases, and (3) a feature model capturing design dependencies of these features.
Multimodal Representations of Lithuanian Brands: The Case of “Džiugas”, “Rūta” and “Pieno žvaigždės”
Authors: Juzelėnienė Saulė , Stvolaitė Aistė
Published: October 2023

Figurative representations of brand images have not been thoroughly studied in Lithuanian linguistics. The present research aims to investigate the multimodal metaphors and metonymies explored by the famous Lithuanian corporate brands Džiugas, Rūta and Pieno žvaigždės. The work examines how the multimodal metaphors and metonymies of the brands are cognitively structured from the perspective of illustrations, logos and layout. The interaction of verbal and visual elements in corporate discourse is particularly important when expressed using graphics, logos and layout for the corporate mission statements, descriptions of the brand history and other materials available on their websites. The analysis reveals that the most frequent source domains for brand imaging are PERSON/LIVING ORGANISM, SUCCESS, TRADITIONS and CAUSE FOR EFFECT, PART FOR WHOLE, PRODUCT FOR PRODUCER metonymies, among others. In the case of personification, the brand is defined as an individual who possesses the qualities highly valued in corporate discourse: growth, positivity, adaptability, dynamism and collaboration. These metaphors facilitate a better understanding of the brand and contribute to the formation of a persuasive brand image that resonates with consumers. The analysis of the multimodal manifestations of brand identity in the cases of Džiugas, Rūta and Pieno žvaigždės reveals the intricate interplay of metaphor and metonymy in constructing and conveying meaning across various modes of representation. Each brand’s illustrations, logo and layout incorporate visual elements, typography, and colour palettes that contribute to their unique identities and evoke specific associations.
Optimistic Christian Verticals and Destructive Secular Horizontals in Joachim Ringelnatz’s and Ödön von Horváth’s Experimental Fairy Tales
Authors: Duleba Maxim
Published: October 2023

This article contributes to the discourse on experimental interwar fairy tales as a subgenre that undermines the anachronistic fairy-tale conventions to a selective negation or recontextualization in accordance with a contemporaneous cultural crisis. The contribution consists of demonstrating how fairy tales provide popular interwar religious authors with a platform to parallel the critical mirroring of their secular contemporaneous society with an articulation of a Christian, humanist optimism. A spatially focused comparison of Ödön von Horváth’s cycle of fairy tales Sportmärchen (1924–1926, published posthumously in 1972), and Joachim Ringelnatz’s Nervosipopel: Elf Angelegenheiten (1924) distinguishes the vertical and horizontal textual spaces to demonstrate that both authors reflect their metaphysically uprooted society through a negation of the genre's characteristic orientation toward harmonic equilibriums on a horizontal spatial axis. However, by overlaying destructive horizontals with antinomic, transcendence-signifying Christian verticals, the tales also articulate a modality of nearness to God, even in the secular world. This symbolic and positive vertical motion correlates with preserving the genre's characteristic idealization of a child.
The Pragmatics of Paratextual Apparatus of Contemporary Latvian and American Travelogues
Authors: Ozola Diāna
Published: October 2023

The present research aims at investigating the pragmatic features of paratext and their functions in contemporary American and Latvian travelogues. The presence of numerous paratextual elements in travel writing often helps to differentiate the genre among other literary genres. This, together with the fact that Latvian travelogues are not frequently studied, adds novelty to the present research. In addition, paratextual apparatus plays an essential role in constructing the modality of a travel narrative; moreover, certain paratextual elements (photographs, illustrations, archival documents, etc.) serve as a witness for the veracity and authenticity of narration as well as create a communicative bond with a potential reader. Paratextual apparatus can be viewed from various perspectives due to the fact that its elements bear various functions from informative (preface, postscript, genre specification, etc.) to performative (dedication, epigraph, etc.). The research focuses on such paratextual elements as extended titles, genre specification, dedications, epigraphs, illustrative and archival materials used in several Latvian and American travelogues of 1962–2015. The research methodology was based on the analytical and cultural historical methods, which contributed to the deeper insight into the concept of paratextuality. The pragmatics of paratext in travel writing was investigated by means of synthesising the structural-semiotic method and the method of comparative analysis in the critical perception of travelogues under consideration.
Ethically Challenging Issues in Business Interpreting: Learning How to Face Cultural Quandaries Through Practice and Reflection
Authors: Torrella Gutiérrez Carmen , Vigier-Moreno Francisco Javier
Published: October 2023

In business interpreting training, there is the need to train prospective interpreters in professional ethics and conduct, since tenets assumed in other interpreting domains such as impartiality and wholeness may conflict with the interests and needs of the business hiring the interpreter’s services and therefore place the interpreter in an ethical dilemma. In this article, we show how examples of ethically challenging elements extracted from a real interpreter-mediated business meeting corpus (in particular, issues related to culture clashes) can be addressed in business interpreting training. Trainee interpreters are exposed to these situations, which are previously introduced in (semi-)structured roleplays that are then used in the training sessions, and the following subsequent feedback and discussion allow trainees and trainers to explore and expound different options that both transmit the correct message and, more importantly, adhere to professional principles and protocols.
Diachronic Research into Translation Norms: The Case of Literary Discourse
Authors: Butkuvienė Karolina , Petrulionė Lolita
Published: October 2023

The article addresses the issue of the translation of fiction in different periods of time under the influence of various linguistic, social and cultural norms, and it aims to establish differences in the use of translation strategies employed by the translator. The paper reviews the descriptive approach in Translation Studies which argues that translation is a communicative as well as social act where the translator alone is not responsible for his/her translational behaviour; other people and institutions also contribute to the formation of common notions of translational behaviour, and these are termed norms, conventions or rules. Moreover, the research emphasizes that norms are not a stable phenomenon and may vary across different periods of time and across different cultures or communities. The research is based on the contrastive analysis of two translations of Jack London’s Martin Eden with the aim to establish differences in the use of translation strategies under the influence of translation norms.
Translation Policy in the Constitutional Courts of Western Europe: Authenticity vs. Authority
Authors: Kamal-Girard Mathilde
Published: October 2023

This paper deals with the translation policy in the constitutional courts of Western Europe. These courts, which are set in unilingual systems, employ ‘disseminative translations’ as part of a mutual strategy of influence. More precisely, the aim of the article is to demonstrate a distortion between what a constitutional court intends to translate, what the court effectively translates, and how a counterpart court receives it in another legal system. The paper emphasizes the concept of translation authenticity in these courts and its consequences on normativity. Furthermore, it underlines that even with a lax conception of authenticity, these translations have a normative effect—albeit indirect.
Tolstoy’s Happy Children of Peace. The Wartime Translation of 'Sebastopol in December' (1855)
Authors: Regniers Gaëtan
Published: October 2023

A geopolitical clash between Russia and other European powers, the Crimean War (1854–1856) witnessed the first mediatized armed conflict in modern history. During the war, the young Lev Tolstoy wrote and published three Sevastopol Sketches, based on his wartime experiences in the besieged port of Sevastopol. Upon publication, the first of the stories was translated into French and published within a fortnight. Une journée à Sévastopol en décembre 1854 featured in Le Nord, a Brussels newspaper covertly operated by the Russian government. An in-depth analysis of the translation shows that the text was abridged and carefully groomed to serve Russia’s interests and Tolstoy’s patriotism made way for an appeal to the target audience, designated as ‘happy children of peace.’ Elaborating on the origins of the translation and its publishing context, I argue that this particular translation needs to be read both as an act of soft power and as an act of diplomacy. If the target text is considered as a historical document among other sources, empirical historical research can prove beneficial to the discipline and move forward the debate on Translation Studies’ approach to highly ideological contexts, in particular translations in periodicals.
Responsibility and Ethics in Simultaneous Interpretation of Films
Authors: Sibul Karin
Published: October 2023

In this article I raise two questions concerning ethics: Was it ethical to interpret in the way that was done in academic film clubs in Soviet Estonia, where Western films that were banned from public screenings in cinemas were simultaneously interpreted in the 1970s and 1980s, and is it ethical to respond to those interpreters’ best efforts in the way the audience responded to my presentation fifty years later? The non-professional interpreting practice in question violates contemporary codes of ethics (accuracy, impartiality, etc.) and goes against current interpreting techniques (condensation, omission, etc.). The interpreters applied creative cross-cultural communication, but was this ethical? This practice ensured accessibility to renowned works of cinematography as without interpretation the screening of those films in the original version might have not taken place. The outcome was shaped by the implicit expectations of the viewers. In 2022, the response to my presentation on this type of film interpreting at a conference was hilarious.
Optical engineering in terahertz imaging and 2D materials inspection
Authors:   , Ivaškevičiūtė-Povilauskienė Rusnė
Published: October 2023

Optinė inžinerija teraherciniame vaizdinime ir dvimačių medžiagų tyrimuose
Gimnazijos įtraukiosios kultūros kūrimas neformaliąja muzikine veikla
Authors:   , Kardašienė Aušra
Published: October 2023

Creation of Inclusive Culture in Gymnasiums through Non-formal Music Education
Identification and characterization of novel CRISPR-Cas nucleases
Authors:   , Urbaitis Tomas
Published: October 2023

Naujų CRISPR-Cas nukleazių identifikavimas ir charakterizavimas
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BRCA1 GENE SEQUENCING AND ITS PROMOTER METHYLATION TESTING IN THE SEARCH STRATEGY FOR THERAPEUTIC TARGETS IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT
Authors: Fishchuk L. , Lobanova O. , Rossokha Z. , Cheshuk V. , Vereshchako R. , Vagyn Yu. , Kashuba V. , Vershyhora V. , Popova O. , Levkovich N. , Zemlianska O. , Ievseienkova O. , Podolska S. , Gorovenko N.
Published: October 2023

Background. Currently, there is a great interest in the genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 due to the fact that for patients with breast cancer (BC) with pathogenic variants of these genes, the use of the PARP inhibitors could be also provided in addition to implemented treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular genetic structure of the BRCA1 gene in BC patients without progenitor germline mutations taking into account the methylation state of the promoter region. Materials and Methods. The study involved 210 patients with newly diagnosed BC. The most common germline pathogenic variants of the BRCA1 (185delAG, 5382insC, 4153delA, T300G) and BRCA2 (6174delT) genes were identified in the peripheral blood. A subgroup of 14 patients without progenitor pathological variants of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and with a family history of cancer was randomly selected. For them, BRCA1 gene sequencing by Sanger and hypermethylation of the BRCA1 gene promoter region were analyzed. Results. The following frequencies of BRCA1 mutations were determined in the general group: 5382insC – 8.6%, 4153delA – 0.5%, T300G – 0.5%. The analysis of the BRCA1 gene by Sanger sequencing revealed 11 BRCA1 gene variants in 10 out of 14 BC patients. All of them, according to the currently available data, were defined as “benign” and not clinically relevant. The frequency of the detection of hypermethylation of the BRCA1 gene promoter region in the randomly selected group of patients was 14.3%. Conclusions. In BC patients, not only common mutations but also the methylation status of the BRCA1 gene promoter region in the peripheral blood should be determined. The whole-genome sequencing of the BRCA1 gene may be the last step in determining the genetic characteristics of BC patients carried out to optimize the treatment and improve survival thanks to the higher prevalence of the progenitor mutations and hypermethylation of the BRCA1 gene promoter.
ABERRANT METHYLATION OF CANCER-RELATED GENES IN VIETNAMESE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: ASSOCIATIONS WITH CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES
Authors: Dieu Vuong Linh , Ngoc Nguyen Quang
Published: October 2023

Background. Epigenetic alteration is one of the most common molecular changes identified in the progression of breast cancer (BC). Aim. To study the frequency and relation between methylation of BRCA1, MLH1, MGMT, GSTP1, APC, RASSF1A, p16, WIF, and EGFR and the clinicopathological features in Vietnamese BC patients. Materials and Methods. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) and SPSS 20.0 software were utilized in order to identify methylated frequency as well as evaluate its relationship with the patient’s clinical features. Results. In 162 BC cases, the methylation rates of the selected genes were 53.7%, 22.8%, 38.9%, 34.6%, 29.0%, 46.3%, 20.4%, 18.5%, and 28.4% respectively. In 32 cases of benign breast diseases (BBD) – 12.5%, 15.6%, 6.3%, 3.1%, 12.5%, 21.9%, 3.1%, 15.6% and 3.1%. BC samples displayed higher BRCA1, MGMT, GSTP1, APC, RASSF1A, WIF1, and p16 methylation levels than BBD samples (p < 0.001). Hypermethylation of BRCA1, GSTP1, and RASSF1A was predominant in the invasive ductal carcinoma, while hypermethylation of BRCA1, GSTP1, RASSF1A, WIF-1, and p16 was found to significantly correlate with lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). Hypermethylation of BRCA1, MGMT, and GSTP1 was more common in stage III (p < 0.05) than in stages I/II, whereas MLH1 methylation was predominant in stage I and APC methylation was less common in stage III (p = 0.03). In addition, methylation of RASSF1A and EGFR was more frequent in younger patients (p < 0.01) than in elder patients. Conclusion. These data suggest that a gene panel (BRCA1/MGMT/GSTP1) can be used to support the diagnosis and screening of Vietnamese patients’ BC with a sensitivity of 70%, and a specificity of 85%.
RED RICE BRAN EXTRACT SUPPRESSES COLON CANCER CELLS VIA APOPTOSIS INDUCTION/CELL CYCLE ARREST AND EXERTS ANTIMUTAGENIC ACTIVITY
Authors: Praphasawat Ratsada , Palipoch Sarawoot , Suwannalert Prasit , Payuhakrit Witchuda , Kunsorn Paween , Laovitthayanggoon Sarunya , Thakaew Sinittra , Munkong Narongsuk , Klajing Warangkhana
Published: October 2023

Background. Red rice bran extract (RRBE) contains many biologically active substances exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Aim. To evaluate the anticancer potential of RRBE in human colon cancer cells and its mutagenic/antimutagenic effects on nonmalignant cells. Materials and Methods. The cytotoxic effect of RRBE was determined by trypan blue exclusion in HCT116, HT29 cell lines and a non-cancerous HEK293 cell line, and its antiproliferative effect using MTS and colony formation assay. The apoptosis induction was evaluated using ELISA, and the apoptotic rate and cell cycle progression were assessed by flow cytometry. The mutagenic/ antimutagenic potential of RRBE was analyzed by micronucleus assay in the V79 cell line. Results. RRBE caused a dose-dependent reduction of cell viability in colon cancer cells and showed a limited cytotoxicity against HEK293 cells. The treatment with RRBE suppressed proliferation of HCT116 and HT29 cells and induced apoptosis as evidenced by the increased DNA fragmentation and the apoptotic cell counts. Furthermore, RRBE treatment significantly increased the number of cells at the G2/M phase triggering the arrest of the cell cycle in colon cancer cells. Interestingly, RRBE did not increase the micronucleus frequency in V79 cells but reduced the micronucleus formation caused by mitomycin C. Conclusion. RRBE effectively suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis, and caused a cell cycle arrest in human colon cancer cells while being non-mutagenic and exerting antimutagenic effects in vitro.
EFFECT OF LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE INHIBITION BY OXAMATE ON LEWIS LUNG CARCINOMA CELLS WITH DIFFERENT METASTATIC POTENTIAL
Authors: Kolesnik D.L. , Prokhorova I.V. , Pyaskovskaya O.N. , Solyanik G.I.
Published: October 2023

Background. Today, the ability for metabolic reprogramming is considered one of the distinguishing features of metastatically active tumor cells, a classic example of which is aerobic glycolysis. Despite a large number of studies in this direction, the question of the relationship between the intensity of aerobic glycolysis and the metastatic potential of tumor cells remains almost completely open. The work aimed to investigate the effect of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) inhibitor on the viability and several characteristics of Lewis lung carcinoma cells with different metastatic potential. Materials and Methods. High-metastatic (LLC) and low-metastatic (LLC/R9) variants of Lewis lung carcinoma cells were used. After 24 h of tumor cells incubation with or without 40 mM sodium oxamate, cell viability, the concentration of glucose and lactate in the incubation medium, distribution of cells by the cell cycle phases, and intracellular ROS production were estimated. Results. It was revealed that regardless of the metastatic potential, LLC cells are heterogeneous in terms of both the involvement of aerobic glycolysis in their growth and survival processes and the sensitivity to the cytotoxic/cytostatic action of an LDH inhibitor. 35% of cells of either LLC variant form an oxamate-resistant subpopulation while 65% are oxamate-sensitive. The rate of glucose consumption of LLC/R9 cells in the absence of oxamate is almost twice higher compared to LLC and, as a result, the sensitivity of these cells to the cytotoxic/cytostatic effect of oxamate also is significantly higher (the IC50 for LLC/R9 cells is by 35.8% lower than that for LLC cells, p < 0.05). Approximately one-third of the cells of both LLC and LLC/R9 variants can survive and proliferate when aerobic glycolysis is completely inhibited by oxamate. This indicates metabolic reprogramming (either pre-existing or dynamically arising in response to inhibition of glycolysis) of this subpopulation of cells, within which not only the survival of cells but also their proliferative activity is most likely based on glutamine metabolism. Conclusions. Such metabolic heterogeneity of metastatically active cells indicates that inhibition of glycolysis as monotherapy is insufficient for effective antimetastatic therapy. Presumably, more effective would be to involve various inhibitors of metabolic processes that ensure the metabolic plasticity of metastatic cells.
PREVENTION OF PATHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION IN LIVER RESECTION BY SEVOFLURANE PRECONDITIONING
Authors: Lisnyy I.I. , Zakalska K.A. , Burlaka A.A. , Lysykh S.A. , Efimenko O.V.
Published: October 2023

Background. The intermittent Pringle maneuver remains the major technique for controlling hemorrhage during liver surgery. Nevertheless, this procedure involves a risk of triggering a cascade of pathological changes resulting in the ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) effect. The pharmacological prevention of this I/R injury represents a promising approach. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of pharmacological preconditioning with sevoflurane and propofol-based intravenous anesthesia on the postoperative function of the liver as the primary end-point. Materials and Methods. A prospective cohort study includes the analysis of the data of 73 patients who underwent liver surgery. In the study group (n = 41), preconditioning with sevoflurane inhalation was provided 30 minutes prior to liver resection. In the control group (n = 32), sevoflurane preconditioning was not provided. The primary endpoints were blood lactate concentration shortly after the surgery and one day later; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities on postoperative Days 1, 3, and 5 as markers of hepatocyte damage. Results. On postoperative Day 1, in patients of the study group, lactate decreased to preoperative levels, while in the control group, lactate content increased as compared to both preoperative levels and the levels immediately after liver resection. A significant difference in AST activity levels between the groups was registered on Day 5, although this difference was not clinically relevant. The decrease in the prothrombin index in the study group on Day 3 was superior to that in the control group. The multiple regression analysis demonstrated a moderate positive association between the number of resected liver segments and the markers of the functional state of the liver in the study group while in the control group, such association was not significant. Conclusion. The protective effect of sevoflurane on the postoperative function of the liver is manifested by the lower level of blood lactate and the stable level of transaminase activity.
SYNCHRONOUS DIAGNOSIS OF TESTICULAR AND THYROID CANCER IN A YOUNG MALE
Authors: Tsoukalas N. , Kiakou M. , Tolia M. , Galanopoulos M. , Tsapakidis K. , Arvanitou E. , Charalambakis N. , Tountziaris V. , Nikolaou M. , Christofyllakis Ch.
Published: October 2023

Testicular cancer is the most common neoplasm in young males. The early diagnosis and the appropriate treatment make it a curable malignancy in over 90% of the patients, but 6% of the patients with testicular cancer develop a second, mostly treatment-related, malignancy in another primary site many years after the first diagnosis. The simultaneous appearance of a testicular tumor with another primary neoplasm is rarely described in the literature. Here is presented an interesting case of a coexisting non-seminomatous germ cell testicular tumor with a papillary thyroid carcinoma, which was detected early during post-treatment restaging of the testicular tumor. The synchronous presence of these two neoplasms might indicate a probable common pathogenetic background. As treatment-related oncogenesis is highly improbable in this case and the common environmental factors are not known yet, the interest is focused on genetic predisposition. Recent discoveries in molecular genetics show that the two neoplasms share common genetic alterations in the RAS and BRAF genes, which affect the significant signaling pathways. Interestingly, BRAF-V600E was positive in both primary malignancies in our individual.
Andragogy in Action – the Bulgarian Experience
Authors: Gyurova Vyara , Bozhilova Vanya
Published: October 2023

This research article draws attention to the Bulgarian experience in the development of andragogy as a fundamental adult education theory. The aim of the authors is to present the development of andragogy in Bulgaria as a science and its study as a university discipline. In the individual parts of the article, through an analysis of scientific publications, curricula and syllabi, answers to the following research questions are sought: What are the parameters of adult education in Bulgaria in the context of the opportunities for formal and non-formal education? How has andragogy developed as a science and a university discipline? To what extent do research interest and educational content follow the needs of the practice (in Bulgaria)? What andragogical training is needed by specialists, incl. teachers, organizing educational activities or teaching adult learners?
The effectiveness of an mHealth intervention on diabetes risk factors and body composition
Authors: Simkó Georgina , Uvacsek Martina
Published: October 2023

Early identification and lifestyle intervention is beneficial for people with risk for diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in healthy overweight or obese women using the FINDRISC score and a twelve-week long mobile app-based lifestyle intervention.

Fifty-four subjects were involved and forty-eight were analysed, n = 28 in the intervention group (online group: OG) and n = 20 in the control group (CG). Body composition was assessed using the InBody 720 device and diabetes risk was evaluated with the Finnish Diabetes Risk Questionnaire. The calorie intake and macronutrients were evaluated by a 3-day diary. Group differences and pre- and post-results were analysed using student t-tests by TIBCO Statistica 13.40.14.

Significantly decreased body mass index (28.0 ± 2.5 kg m−2 vs 25.8 ± 4.3 kg m−2, P = 0.00), body fat percentage (37.5 ± 6.3% vs 34.1 ± 5.9%, P = 0.03), waist circumference (100.8 ± 7.2 cm vs 94.7 ± 8.2 cm, P = 0.00) and visceral fat (124.0 ± 29.2 cm³ vs 109.0 ± 24.6 cm³, P = 0.04) were found in the OG. By the end of the programme, both groups showed significant decrease in food consumption, daily calorie intake (OG: 2,348.6 ± 348.0 vs 1,483.1 ± 114.4, CG: 2,372.4 ± 464.2 vs 1,654.1 ± 201.3 kcal day−1, P = 0.00), fibre (OG: 19.5 ± 3.7 vs 26.1 ± 3.4, CG: 17.8 ± 3.9 vs 22.0 ± 4.8 g day−1, P = 0.00) and cholesterol consumption (OG: 365.2 ± 58.9 vs 266.2 ± 65.8, CG: 377.4 ± 72.1 vs 269.2 ± 42.7 mg day−1, P = 0.00). OG had a more significant reduction in body mass index (P = 0.03) and body fat percentage (P = 0.04) values at the end of the programme compared to the control group.

In this study, it was found that mHealth intervention is a useful and effective method in the Hungarian female population. Further studies are needed to investigate modifications of this intervention to achieve more health-related effects.
Powstanie i działalność Domu Ubogich „na Hucie” w Tarnowie jako kościelnej instytucji społeczno-opiekuńczej w latach 1934–1990
Authors: Glugla Paweł
Published: October 2023

Artykuł omawia historię reprezentatywnej inwestycji misjonarskiej w Tarnowie — Domu Ubogich „na Hucie”, powstałego w latach 30. XX wieku w kontekście współczesnych uwarunkowań gospodarczych, społecznych i politycznych. Budową tego obiektu aktywnie interesowali się znani politycy — wicepremier Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski i były premier Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Pomysłodawcą Domu Ubogich był ówczesny proboszcz parafii misjonarskiej w Tarnowie ks. Bronisław Szymański CM, a projektantem inż. Tadeusz Stapf. Dom ten przeszedł wiele przekształceń organizacyjnych, nazewniczych i architektonicznych od momentu powstania w 1934 roku do dnia dzisiejszego. Jednak funkcje i etos jego działalności pozostały niezmienione, zgodnie z duchem Wincentyńskim realizowanym przez misjonarzy i siostry miłosierdzia, polegającym między innymi na świadczeniu dzieł miłosierdzia ubogim, chorym, samotnym, sierotom i niepełnosprawnym.
Znaczenie darów hierarchicznych i charyzmatycznych w świetle wybranych ruchów kościelnych
Authors: Warchoł Paweł
Published: October 2023

Dary hierarchiczne i charyzmatyczne, które odczytujemy w Nowym Testamencie, są konieczne, aby nowe stowarzyszenia eklezjalne odnawiały się i rozwijały Kościół. Fundamentem tego rozwoju jest współpraca między hierarchią kościelną a charyzmatykami obszernie opracowana w liście Iuvenescit Ecclesia. Nie jest ona możliwa bez pomocy Ducha Świętego, który uzdrawia i buduje ludzkie więzi. Taką współpracę między pasterzami a charyzmatykami zauważamy w historii Kościoła, w tworzeniu zakonów i ruchów kościelnych. Sobór Watykański II przyniósł na nowo powiew Ducha Świętego w postaci narodzin zrzeszeń wiernych, ruchów kościelnych i nowych wspólnot, ukazując moc charyzmatów i świeżość Bożego działania w Kościele. Jednym z nich jest Katolicka Odnowa w Duchu Świętym, która otwierając się na dary Ducha Świętego, niosła i niesie dar odnowy ludzkich serc i doświadczenie obecności Boga. Znajduje ona wciąż zapotrzebowanie wśród świeckich, dlatego jej moc winna przedostać się do krwioobiegu Kościoła, by mógł on dalej ewangelizować i zmieniać ludzkie serca. Doświadczenie założycieli ruchów kościelnych i jego uczestników stanowi czytelne świadectwo dla głodnych Boga ludzi.
Metafizyczny sens osoby i jej relacja do podmiotu. Rekonstrukcja ujęcia Mieczysława A. Krąpca i Karola Wojtyły
Authors: Zięba Włodzimierz
Published: October 2023

Źródła kategorii osoby sięgają religii i teologii chrześcijańskiej i zasadniczo stąd wypływa jej sens antropologiczny i współczesna kulturowa ranga. Koncepcja osoby w chrześcijaństwie służyła rozwiązaniu problemu wcielenia oraz dogmatu Trójcy Świętej. Pojęcie osoby współcześnie występuje w rozlicznych sensach. W artykule analizuję jej metafizyczny, substancjalny wymiar w oparciu o rozstrzygnięcia Krąpca i Wojtyły. Twierdzę, że w obydwu przypadkach kategoria osoby jest bliskoznaczna kategorii podmiotu. Atrybuty osoby, według Krąpca, to bytowa autonomia i podmiotowa zupełność bytowa, z czego wypływa nieudzielalność. Osoba w tym ujęciu to najwyższy stopień samoistności bytowej, szczytowa forma bytu. Podmiot zaś jest konsekwencją metafizycznego założenia, że wszelki akt jest bytowo niesamodzielny. U Wojtyły punktem wyjścia będzie czyn ludzki, który presuponuje istnienie osób. Poprzez czyn człowiek objawia się jako osoba wraz z jej strukturą samo-posiadania oraz samo-panowania. Czyn ujawnia sprawczość pewnego konkretnego człowieka, jego podmiotowość, czyli samoświadomą przyczynę, tj. samostanowienie i autodeterminację.
Kasandra Witkowska, Formacja w Rycerstwie Niepokalanej w świetle „Pism” i „Konferencji” św. Maksymiliana Marii Kolbego oraz dokumentów i materiałów formacyjnych stowarzyszenia, Pelplin 2020, ss. 375
Authors: Jaworski Piotr
Published: October 2023

Recenzowana publikacja stanowi owoc sumiennie przeprowadzonych badań i dociekań dotyczących historii i pewnego obszaru działalności Rycerstwa Niepokalanej. Stanowi także konkretną inspirację dla podejmowanych dzisiaj i w przyszłości działań duszpasterskich i wychowawczych.