bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Measurement System with High Precision and Large Range for Structured Surface Metrology Based on Atomic Force Microscope
Authors: Wu Junjie , Cai Xiaoyu , Wei Jiasi , Wang Chen , Zhou Yong , Sun Kaixin
Published: March 2023

With the rapid and continuous development of nanomanufacturing technology, the demands for both large range and high precision metrology of structured surfaces are becoming increasingly urgent. This paper proposes a metrological measurement system based on a commercial atomic force microscope. By using the nano-positioning platform from SIOS, the measurement range of the system expands from 110 μm × 110 μm × 20 μm to 25 mm × 25 mm × 5 mm. A signal amplifier with low noise and a high common mode rejection ratio that decreases the noise level of the measurement system to 2 nm is designed. Integration of the metrological system, signal processing, and calibration of the whole system is introduced. Three experimental studies are carried out on an ultrahigh step, an atomic deposition grating, and a cutting tool. The experimental results demonstrate high measurement repeatability and reproducibility in both vertical and lateral directions. By repeating 10 times of measurement, the expended uncertainties of the step and the grating measurement are 36.24 nm and 0.60 nm, respectively. Additionally, measurement of a cutting tool tip is conducted to illustrate the performance of the system. The Ra and Rz values of the tool tip arc ripple are 29.8 nm and 189 nm, respectively.
Effect of Water Deficit on Germination, Growth and Biochemical Responses of Four Potentially Invasive Ornamental Grass Species
Authors: Mircea Diana M. , Estrelles Elena , Al Hassan Mohamad , Soriano Pilar , Sestras Radu E. , Boscaiu Monica , Sestras Adriana F. , Vicente Oscar
Published: March 2023

Ornamental plant species introduced into new environments can exhibit an invasive potential and adaptability to abiotic stress factors. In this study, the drought stress responses of four potentially invasive ornamental grass species (Cymbopogon citratus, Cortaderia selloana, Pennisetum alopecuroides and P. setaceum) were analysed. Several seed germination parameters were determined under increasing polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) concentrations. Additionally, plants in the vegetative stage were subjected to intermediate and severe water stress treatments for four weeks. All species registered high germination rates in control conditions (no stress treatment), even at high PEG concentrations, except C. citratus, which did not germinate at −1 MPa osmotic potential. Upon applying the water stress treatments, P. alopecuroides plants showed the highest tolerance, and C. citratus appeared the most susceptible to drought. Stress-induced changes in several biochemical markers (photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, antioxidant compounds, root and shoot Na+ and K+ contents), highlighted different responses depending on the species and the stress treatments. Basically, drought tolerance seems to depend to a large extent on the active transport of Na+ and K+ cations to the aerial part of the plants, contributing to osmotic adjustment in all four species and, in the case of the most tolerant P. alopecuroides, on the increasing root K+ concentration under water deficit conditions. The study shows the invasive potential of all species, except C. citratus, in dry areas such as the Mediterranean region, especially in the current climate change scenario. Particular attention should be given to P. alopecuroides, which is widely commercialised in Europe as ornamental.
Polianthes tuberosa-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles from Flower Extract and Assessment of Their Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential: An In Vitro Approach
Authors: Alghuthaymi Mousa , Patil Sunita , Rajkuberan Chandrasekaran , Krishnan Muthukumar , Krishnan Ushani , Abd-Elsalam Kamel
Published: March 2023

Plant-mediated metallic nanoparticles have beenreported for a diversified range of applications in biological sciences. In the present study, we propose the Polianthes tuberosa flower as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (PTAgNPs). The PTAgNPs were exclusively characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. In a biological assay, we investigated the antibacterial and anticancer activity of silver nanoparticles in the A431 cell line. The PTAgNPs demonstrated a dose-dependent activity in E. coli and S. aureus, suggesting the bactericidal nature of AgNPs. The PTAgNPs exhibited dose-dependent toxicity in the A431 cell line, with an IC50 of 54.56 µg/mL arresting cell growth at the S phase, as revealed by flow cytometry analysis. The COMET assay revealed 39.9% and 18.15 severities of DNA damage and tail length in the treated cell line, respectively. Fluorescence staining studies indicate that PTAgNPs cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) and trigger apoptosis. This research demonstrates that synthesized silver nanoparticles have a significant effect on inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells and other forms of skin cancer. The results show that these particles can cause apoptosis or cell death in malignant tumor cells. This suggests that they could be used to treat skin cancers without harming normal tissues.
Screening and Investigation on Inhibition of Sediment Formation in a Kuwait Light Crude Oil by Commercial Additives with Some Guidelines for Field Applications
Authors: Qubian A. , Abbas A. S. , Al-Khedhair N. , Peres J. F. , Stratiev D. , Shishkova I. , Nikolova R. , Toteva V. , Riazi M. R.
Published: March 2023

The precipitation of asphaltene and waxes occurs when crude oil characteristics change as a consequence of pressure, temperature variations, and/or chemical modifications, etc. The costs associated with the cleaning of deposition on the production equipment and the loss of profit opportunities can go beyond hundreds of millions of USD. Thus, there is a strong incentive to search for ways to mitigate deposit formation during the crude production process. A light crude bottom hole fluid sample from a deep well with an asphaltene deposition problem was analyzed in the laboratory. Basic data on density, viscosity, bubble point, GOR, and asphaltene onset pressure were measured at a PVT laboratory. Asphaltene characterization, as a prescreening for appropriate inhibitors, has been conducted using asphaltene phase diagrams (APD). The APD generated from two developed software programs in both Matlab and Excel codes were favorably compared with the phase behavior of other oil samples available in the literature and has shown to be an excellent match. Various test methods were used to demonstrate the asphaltene instability of the oil samples. Eleven chemical inhibitors from five global companies were screened for testing to inhibit the precipitation. The optimum concentration and the amount of reduction in precipitation were determined for all of these chemicals to identify the most suitable chemicals. Finally, some recommendations are given for the field application of chemicals.
Design and Experimental Analysis of an Adhesive Joint for a Hybrid Automotive Wheel
Authors: Wacker Jens-David , Kloska Tobias , Linne Hannah , Decker Julia , Janes Andre , Huxdorf Oliver , Bose Sven
Published: March 2023

When it comes to lightweight design of automotive wheels, hybrid designs consisting of a carbon composite wheel rim and a metallic, e.g., aluminum alloy, wheel disc offer significant potential. However, the conventionally used bolted joint between the two parts is complex and requires compromises in lightweight design due to the additional mechanical elements. Within this research, an adhesive joint for a hybrid wheel is developed in order to demonstrate its performance and lightweight potential. The main challenges are the reliable resistance against high structural loads during different load cases, as well as the residual stresses in the joint due to different thermal expansion rates of the composite and aluminum material. The developed joint combines an adhesive bond with a form-fitted geometry while still enabling an assembling process of the wheel disc in rotational direction. In addition, adaptations of the fiber layup in the rim area significantly reduce the thermal residual stresses in the joint by 47%. Subcomponent specimens, which represent the joint of an aluminum spoke with the composite rim, are manufactured and tested at different temperatures and load cases. The test results show sufficient strength of the adhesive joint as well as an improvement of the developed form-fitted joint compared to a basic adhesive bond. The adhesively joined wheel offers a lightweight potential of 6% compared to the bolted wheel.
Computing the Thermal Efficiency of Autoclaves during Steaming of Frozen Prisms for Veneer Production at Changing Operational Conditions
Authors: Deliiski Nencho , Niemz Peter , Angelski Dimitar , Vitchev Pavlin , Tumbarkova Natalia
Published: March 2023

A methodology for the computation of the thermal energy efficiency of modes for the heat treatment of frozen wooden prisms in an autoclave with saturated water vapor at changing operational conditions has been proposed. The methodology includes computer simulations with two own-coupled unsteady models: one to calculate the 2D temperature distribution in the cross-section of prismatic wood materials during their heat treatment, and the second to determine the heat balance of industrial autoclaves for such wood treatment. Simulations were carried out in order to determine the duration, energy consumption, and thermal efficiency of different modes, caused by changed operational conditions, for the autoclave steaming of frozen beech prisms with industrial parameters in the absence and presence of dispatcher intervention. The influence of nine combinations between the time of dispatcher intervention and the degree of reduction of the constant maximum temperature from the 130 °C of the basic mode on the thermal efficiency of the autoclave was investigated. The results show that all studied dispatching interventions cause an increase in both the duration and the thermal efficiency of the modes. This efficiency in the modes at changing operational conditions has values between 68.7% and 74.6%, while the efficiency in the basic steaming mode is equal to 68.0%.
Self-Sustaining Control Strategy for Proton-Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Devices Based on Gradient-Disturbance Observation Method
Authors: Gao Zihang , Tian Yizhi
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a self-sustaining control model for proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis devices, aiming to maintain the temperature of their internal operating environment and, thus, improve the electrolysis efficiency and hydrogen production rate. Based on the analysis of energy–substance balance and electrochemical reaction characteristics, an electrothermal-coupling dynamic model for PEM electrolysis devices was constructed. Considering the influence of the input energy–substance and the output hydrogen and oxygen of PEM electrolysis devices on the whole dynamic equilibrium process, the required electrical energy and water molar flow rate are dynamically adjusted so that the temperature of the cathode and the anode is maintained near 338.15 K. The analytical results show that the hydrogen production rate and electrolysis efficiency are increased by 0.275 mol/min and 3.9%, respectively, by linearly stacking 100 PEM electrolysis devices to form a hydrogen production system with constant cathode and anode operating temperatures around 338.15 K in the self-sustaining controlled mode.
A Multistage Framework for Autonomous Robotic Mapping with Targeted Metrics
Authors: Smith William , Qin Yongming , Singh Siddharth , Burke Hudson , Furukawa Tomonari , Dissanayake Gamini
Published: March 2023

High-quality maps are pertinent to performing tasks requiring precision interaction with the environment. Current challenges with creating a high-precision map come from the need for both high pose accuracy and scan accuracy, and the goal of reliable autonomous performance of the task. In this paper, we propose a multistage framework to create a high-precision map of an environment which satisfies the targeted resolution and local accuracy by an autonomous mobile robot. The proposed framework consists of three steps. Each step is intended to aid in resolving the challenges faced by conventional approaches. In order to ensure the pose estimation is performed with high accuracy, a globally accurate coarse map of the environment is created using a conventional technique such as simultaneous localization and mapping or structure from motion with bundle adjustment. The high scan accuracy is ensured by planning a path for the robot to revisit the environment while maintaining a desired distance to all occupied regions. Since the map is to be created with targeted metrics, an online path replanning and pose refinement technique is proposed to autonomously achieve the metrics without compromising the pose and scan accuracy. The proposed framework was first validated on the ability to address the current challenges associated with accuracy through parametric studies of the proposed steps. The autonomous capability of the proposed framework was been demonstrated successfully in its use for a practical mission.
Empirical Analysis of Autonomous Vehicle’s LiDAR Detection Performance Degradation for Actual Road Driving in Rain and Fog
Authors: Kim Jiyoon , Park Bum-jin , Kim Jisoo
Published: March 2023

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is widely used in autonomous vehicles to obtain precise 3D information about surrounding road environments. However, under bad weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and fog, LiDAR-detection performance is reduced. This effect has hardly been verified in actual road environments. In this study, tests were conducted with different precipitation levels (10, 20, 30, and 40 mm/h) and fog visibilities (50, 100, and 150 m) on actual roads. Square test objects (60 × 60 cm2) made of retroreflective film, aluminum, steel, black sheet, and plastic, commonly used in Korean road traffic signs, were investigated. Number of point clouds (NPC) and intensity (reflection value of points) were selected as LiDAR performance indicators. These indicators decreased with deteriorating weather in order of light rain (10–20 mm/h), weak fog (<150 m), intense rain (30–40 mm/h), and thick fog (≤50 m). Retroreflective film preserved at least 74% of the NPC under clear conditions with intense rain (30–40 mm/h) and thick fog (<50 m). Aluminum and steel showed non-observation for distances of 20–30 m under these conditions. ANOVA and post hoc tests suggested that these performance reductions were statistically significant. Such empirical tests should clarify the LiDAR performance degradation.
Anomaly Detection Module for Network Traffic Monitoring in Public Institutions
Authors: Wawrowski Łukasz , Białas Andrzej , Kajzer Adrian , Kozłowski Artur , Kurianowicz Rafał , Sikora Marek , Szymańska-Kwiecień Agnieszka , Uchroński Mariusz , Białczak Miłosz , Olejnik Maciej , Michalak Marcin
Published: March 2023

It seems to be a truism to say that we should pay more and more attention to network traffic safety. Such a goal may be achieved with many different approaches. In this paper, we put our attention on the increase in network traffic safety based on the continuous monitoring of network traffic statistics and detecting possible anomalies in the network traffic description. The developed solution, called the anomaly detection module, is mostly dedicated to public institutions as the additional component of the network security services. Despite the use of well-known anomaly detection methods, the novelty of the module is based on providing an exhaustive strategy of selecting the best combination of models as well as tuning the models in a much faster offline mode. It is worth emphasizing that combined models were able to achieve 100% balanced accuracy level of specific attack detection.
Rapid Identification Method for CH4/CO/CH4-CO Gas Mixtures Based on Electronic Nose
Authors: Yin Jianxin , Zhao Yongli , Peng Zhi , Ba Fushuai , Peng Peng , Liu Xiaolong , Rong Qian , Guo Youmin , Zhang Yafei
Published: March 2023

The inherent cross-sensitivity of semiconductor gas sensors makes them extremely challenging to accurately detect mixed gases. In order to solve this problem, this paper designed an electronic nose (E-nose) with seven gas sensors and proposed a rapid method for identifying CH4, CO, and their mixtures. Most reported methods for E-nose were based on analyzing the entire response process and employing complex algorithms, such as neural network, which result in long time-consuming processes for gas detection and identification. To overcome these shortcomings, this paper firstly proposes a way to shorten the gas detection time by analyzing only the start stage of the E-nose response instead of the entire response process. Subsequently, two polynomial fitting methods for extracting gas features are designed according to the characteristics of the E-nose response curves. Finally, in order to shorten the time consumption of calculation and reduce the complexity of the identification model, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is introduced to reduce the dimensionality of the extracted feature datasets, and an XGBoost-based gas identification model is trained using the LDA optimized feature datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed method can shorten the gas detection time, obtain sufficient gas features, and achieve nearly 100% identification accuracy for CH4, CO, and their mixed gases.
A Novel Image Classification Method Based on Residual Network, Inception, and Proposed Activation Function
Authors: Yahya Ali Abdullah , Liu Kui , Hawbani Ammar , Wang Yibin , Hadi Ali Naser
Published: March 2023

In deeper layers, ResNet heavily depends on skip connections and Relu. Although skip connections have demonstrated their usefulness in networks, a major issue arises when the dimensions between layers are not consistent. In such cases, it is necessary to use techniques such as zero-padding or projection to match the dimensions between layers. These adjustments increase the complexity of the network architecture, resulting in an increase in parameter number and a rise in computational costs. Another problem is the vanishing gradient caused by utilizing Relu. In our model, after making appropriate adjustments to the inception blocks, we replace the deeper layers of ResNet with modified inception blocks and Relu with our non-monotonic activation function (NMAF). To reduce parameter number, we use symmetric factorization and 1×1 convolutions. Utilizing these two techniques contributed to reducing the parameter number by around 6 M parameters, which has helped reduce the run time by 30 s/epoch. Unlike Relu, NMAF addresses the deactivation problem of the non-positive number by activating the negative values and outputting small negative numbers instead of zero in Relu, which helped in enhancing the convergence speed and increasing the accuracy by 5%, 15%, and 5% for the non-noisy datasets, and 5%, 6%, 21% for non-noisy datasets.
A Token Classification-Based Attention Model for Extracting Multiple Emotion–Cause Pairs in Conversations
Authors: Yoo Soyeop , Jeong Okran
Published: March 2023

People exchange emotions through conversations with others and provide different answers depending on the reasons for their emotions. During a conversation, it is important to find not only such emotions but also their cause. Emotion–cause pair extraction (ECPE) is a task used to determine emotions and their causes in a single pair within a text, and various studies have been conducted to accomplish ECPE tasks. However, existing studies have limitations in that some models conduct the task in two or more steps, whereas others extract only one emotion–cause pair for a given text. We propose a novel methodology for extracting multiple emotion–cause pairs simultaneously from a given conversation with a single model. Our proposed model is a token-classification-based emotion–cause pair extraction model, which applies the BIO (beginning–inside–outside) tagging scheme to efficiently extract multiple emotion–cause pairs in conversations. The proposed model showed the best performance on the RECCON benchmark dataset in comparative experiments with existing studies and was experimentally verified to efficiently extract multiple emotion–cause pairs in conversations.
An Online Distance Tracker for Verification of Robotic Systems’ Safety
Authors: Guclu Esra , Örnek Özlem , Ozkan Metin , Yazici Ahmet , Demirci Zekeriyya
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an efficient method for minimum distance calculation between a robot and its environment and the implementation framework as a tool for the verification of robotic systems’ safety. Collision is the most fundamental safety problem in robotic systems. Therefore, robotic system software must be verified to ensure that there are no risks of collision during development and implementation. The online distance tracker (ODT) is intended to provide minimum distances between the robots and their environments for verification of system software to inspect whether it causes a collision risk. The proposed method employs the representations of the robot and its environment with cylinders and an occupancy map. Furthermore, the bounding box approach improves the performance of the minimum distance calculation regarding computational cost. Finally, the method is applied to a realistically simulated twin of the ROKOS, which is an automated robotic inspection cell for quality control of automotive body-in-white and is actively used in the bus manufacturing industry. The simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Study of Force-Frequency Characteristics in AT-Cut Strip Quartz Crystal Resonators with Different Rotation Angles
Authors: Yang Gang , Huang Xianhe , Tan Ke , Chen Qiao , Pan Wei
Published: March 2023

This paper investigated the force-frequency characteristics of AT-cut strip quartz crystal resonator (QCR) employing finite element analysis methods and experiments. We used the finite element analysis software COMSOL Multiphysics to calculate the stress distribution and particle displacement of the QCR. Moreover, we analyzed the impact of these opposing forces on the frequency shift and strains of the QCR. Meanwhile, the resonant frequency shifts, conductance, and quality factor (Q value) of three AT-cut strip QCRs with rotation angles of 30°, 40°, and 50° under different force-applying positions were tested experimentally. The results showed that the frequency shifts of the QCRs were proportional to the magnitude of the force. The highest force sensitivity was QCR with a rotation angle of 30°, followed by 40°, and 50° was the lowest. And the distance of the force-applying position from the X-axis also affected the frequency shift, conductance, and Q value of the QCR. The results of this paper are instructive for understanding the force-frequency characteristics of strip QCRs with different rotation angles.
An Intelligent Diabetic Patient Tracking System Based on Machine Learning for E-Health Applications
Authors: Menon Sindhu P. , Shukla Prashant Kumar , Sethi Priyanka , Alasiry Areej , Marzougui Mehrez , Alouane M. Turki-Hadj , Khan Arfat Ahmad
Published: March 2023

Background: Continuous surveillance helps people with diabetes live better lives. A wide range of technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), modern communications, and artificial intelligence (AI), can assist in lowering the expense of health services. Due to numerous communication systems, it is now possible to provide customized and distant healthcare. Main problem: Healthcare data grows daily, making storage and processing challenging. We provide intelligent healthcare structures for smart e-health apps to solve the aforesaid problem. The 5G network must offer advanced healthcare services to meet important requirements like large bandwidth and excellent energy efficacy. Methodology: This research suggested an intelligent system for diabetic patient tracking based on machine learning (ML). The architectural components comprised smartphones, sensors, and smart devices, to gather body dimensions. Then, the preprocessed data is normalized using the normalization procedure. To extract features, we use linear discriminant analysis (LDA). To establish a diagnosis, the intelligent system conducted data classification utilizing the suggested advanced-spatial-vector-based Random Forest (ASV-RF) in conjunction with particle swarm optimization (PSO). Results: Compared to other techniques, the simulation’s outcomes demonstrate that the suggested approach offers greater accuracy.
Single-Step Surface Hydrophilization on Ultrafiltration Membrane with Enhanced Antifouling Property for Pome Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Abdullah Norfadhilatuladha , Yusof Norhaniza , Dahim Mohammed , Hamid Muhammad , Jye Lau , Jaafar Juhana , Aziz Farhana , Wan Salleh Wan , Ismail Ahmad , Misdan Nurasyikin
Published: March 2023

High organic materials in palm oil mill effluent (POME) can result in serious water pollution. To date, biological treatment has been used to reduce the environmental risks of these effluents prior of their discharge into water streams. However, the effluents’ dark brownish colour remains as a significant issue that must be addressed, as it affects the overall quality of water. Although membrane technology has been frequently used to address these difficulties, membrane fouling has become a serious limitation in POME treatment. On the other hand, zwitterions with balanced charge groups have received growing interest in the fabrication of antifouling membranes due to their hydrated nature. The development of a simple and efficient covalent bonding technique to improve the stability of zwitterions on membrane surfaces remains a challenge. By grafting and co-depositing polyethylenimine (PEI)-based zwitterion (Z-PEI) with super hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA) on the surface of a commercial polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membrane at ambient temperature, a new zwitterionic surface with a neutral surface charge was created (PDA/Z-PEI). This study aims to investigate the effect of different loading ratios of PDA/Z-PEI (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) and evaluate their performance on treating brownish coloured anaerobically treated POME (AT-POME). SEM and FTIR analysis showed the successful incorporation of the PDA/Z-PEI membrane while the zwitterionic feature is indicated by zeta potential analysis. Water flux analysis demonstrated that a lower water flux was achieved for M-ZPEI membranes as compared to the PSf and PSf-MDPA membranes, attributed by the tight skin layer of PDA-ZPEI. In the development of a tight hydration layer on the membrane surface by zwitterions, zwitterionic membranes demonstrated excellent antifouling capabilities, particularly PDA/Z-PEI with a loading ratio of (1:2) with a flux recovery ratio of around 84% and colour rejection of 81.75%. Overall, this research contributes to the development of a unique coating with improved stability and antifouling properties by altering the membrane surface in a simple and reliable manner.
A Finite Difference Method Using High-Order Schemes to Simulate an Equilibrium-Dispersive Model of Non-Linear Chromatography
Authors: Cao Ha-Thanh , Nguyen Tuan-Anh
Published: March 2023

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a dynamic separation process with a lot of parameters having different roles. The equilibrium-dispersive model is relevant for simulating HPLC because it is relatively simple and suitable for high-efficiency processes. The partial differential equation was simulated in many different methods such as semi-analytical methods, finite element methods, and finite difference methods. Many studies using finite difference methods have used the first-order and second-order schemes, but higher-order schemes have not been reported yet. This work is about solving the equation of the equilibrium-dispersive model, using a finite difference method with high-order schemes. The fourth-order central difference scheme was used for estimating diffusion and the fifth-order upwind schemes were used for simulating advection. The model was evaluated by assessing the area recovery of the peak, testing the non-retained substance behavior, and comparing the calculation results with the experimental data. The solutions of the equation will indicate the effects of the operation parameters on the system suitability ones and can be used to predict the behavior of an HPLC system and calculate the system suitability parameters of a novel method set.
Schooling, Identity, and Nationhood: Karen Mother-Tongue-Based Education in the Thai–Burmese Border Region
Authors: Gyi Saw Soe , Waters Tony
Published: March 2023

Modern Karen education began in the early 1800s when introduced by British and American missionaries at roughly the time the British colonial powers arrived from India. After independence from Great Britain in 1948, Burma faced revolt from ethnic groups including the Karen, in large part, over issues of language and cultural self-rule. This led to the forcible closing of Karen-language schools by the military junta beginning in the 1960s and the re-establishment of Karen schooling by the Karen National Union (KNU) in independent self-rule territories, often near the Thai border. In this context, beginning in the 1980s, Karen-medium language spread into the highlands of Burma and into Thai refugee camps where Karen had been living for nearly four decades. Karen medium education is an important element establishing what Benedict Anderson called the “imagined community”. With mass Karen literacy, a national consciousness emerged, particularly in areas where schools were sustained. This separate consciousness is at the heart of the Karen of Kawthoolei. The Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD) was established in 1947 by the KNU. Karen schools provide mother-tongue-based education. Much of the development of the Karen medium curricula was undertaken by the KECD, and it is significantly different from that of the Burmese government’s curriculum, particularly in terms of language medium, literature, and history. Karen schooling reflects the Karen political consciousness, which will be at the heart of any peace agreements negotiated in the still-ongoing Burmese Civil War.
Young People’s Perception of the Danger of Risky Online Activities: Behaviours, Emotions and Attitudes Associated with Their Digital Vulnerability
Authors: Carcelén-García Sonia , Díaz-Bustamante Ventisca Mónica , Galmes-Cerezo María
Published: March 2023

Digital leisure has become the main reason young people make use of the Internet and social media. Previous research shows the danger of certain activities in the online environment. Of particular concern are those of a recreational nature, which are more socially accepted by young people; among them one can find: online gambling and betting, online shopping and eGames, and the consumption of content on social media. This study aims to identify the behavioural and psychographic variables which impact the probability that young people will perceive the danger of these risky activities. We have carried out a descriptive and causal investigation with non-experimental cross-cutting analysis through a computer-assisted phone survey on a sample of 1500 young people aged between 18 and 35. The results show that all the activities are perceived as dangerous by the majority of those questioned, but a large percentage of young people do not perceive any risk in online gambling, betting and eGames. We have determined several psychographic and behavioural variables to help predict the perception of risk among young people to help define formal and informal policies for reducing their vulnerability in the event of the inappropriate use of the studied activities.
Modeling Sustained Transmission of Wolbachia among Anopheles Mosquitoes: Implications for Malaria Control in Haiti
Authors: Florez Daniela , Young Alyssa J. , Bernabé Kerlly J. , Hyman James M. , Qu Zhuolin
Published: March 2023

Wolbachia infection in Anopheles albimanus mosquitoes can render mosquitoes less capable of spreading malaria. We developed and analyzed a mechanistic compartmental ordinary differential equation model to evaluate the effectiveness of Wolbachia-based vector control strategies among wild Anopheles mosquitoes in Haiti. The model tracks the mosquito life stages, including egg, larva, and adult (male and female). It also accounts for critical biological effects, such as the maternal transmission of Wolbachia through infected females and cytoplasmic incompatibility, which effectively sterilizes uninfected females when they mate with infected males. We derive and interpret dimensionless numbers, including the basic reproductive number and next-generation numbers. The proposed system presents a backward bifurcation, which indicates a threshold infection that needs to be exceeded to establish a stable Wolbachia infection. The sensitivity analysis ranks the relative importance of the epidemiological parameters at baseline. We simulate different intervention scenarios, including prerelease mitigation using larviciding and thermal fogging before the release, multiple releases of infected populations, and different release times of the year. Our simulations show that the most efficient approach to establishing Wolbachia is to release all the infected mosquitoes immediately after the prerelease mitigation process. Moreover, the model predicts that it is more efficient to release during the dry season than the wet season.
Development and Evaluation of Recombinant B-Cell Multi-Epitopes of PDHA1 and GAPDH as Subunit Vaccines against Streptococcus iniae Infection in Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
Authors: Sheng Xiuzhen , Zhang Honghua , Liu Min , Tang Xiaoqian , Xing Jing , Chi Heng , Zhan Wenbin
Published: March 2023

Streptococcus iniae is a severe Gram-positive pathogen that can infect a wide range of freshwater and marine fish species. In continuation of our earlier studies on the development of S. iniae vaccine candidates, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha (PDHA1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were highly efficacious in protecting flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) against S. iniae. In the present study, to investigate the potential of multi-epitope vaccination strategy to prevent flounder against S. iniae infection, the liner B-cell epitopes of PDHA1 and GAPDH proteins were predicted using a bioinformatics approach and were identified by immunoassay, and recombinant B-cell multi-epitopes of PDHA1 and GAPDH (rMEPIP and rMEPIG) containing immunodominant epitope-concentrated domains were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and were used as a subunit vaccine to immunize healthy flounder, while recombinant PDHA1 (rPDHA1), GAPDH (rGAPDH) and formalin-inactivated S. iniae (FKC) served as controls. Then, the immunoprotection efficacy of rMEPIP and rMEPIG was evaluated by determining the percentages of CD4-1+, CD4-2+, CD8β+ T lymphocytes and surface-IgM-positive (sIgM+) lymphocytes in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs), spleen leucocytes (SPLs) and head kidney leucocytes (HKLs), as well as total IgM, specific IgM, and relative percentage survival (RPS) post immunization, respectively. It was found that fish immunized with rPDHA1, rGAPDH, rMEPIP, rMEPIG and FKC showed significant increases in sIgM+, CD4-1+, CD4-2+, and CD8β+ lymphocytes and production of total IgM and specific IgM against S. iniae or recombinant proteins rPDHA1 and rGAPDH, which indicated the activation of humoral and cellular immune responses after vaccination. Moreover, RPS rate of the multi-epitope vaccine rMEPIP and rMEPIG groups reached 74.07% and 77.78%, higher than that of rPDHA1 and rGAPDH (62.96% and 66.67%) and KFC (48.15%). These results demonstrated that B-cell multi-epitope protein vaccination, rMEPIP and rMEPIG, could give a better protective effect against S. iniae infection, which provided a promising strategy to design the efficient vaccine in teleost fish.
Advances in Understanding Spontaneously Occurring Melanoma in Animals
Authors: Blacklock Kelly L. , van der Weyden Louise
Published: March 2023

Melanoma is a tumour that arises from the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) found in the skin (cutaneous melanoma and digital melanoma), mucosal surfaces (oral melanoma), and the eye (ocular melanoma) [...]
Vilniaus plytininkai XVIII–XIX a. sandūroje
Authors: Sarcevičius Saulius
Published: March 2023

THE BRICKMAKERS OF VILNIUS AT THE TURN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

The article deals with some aspects of brickmaking in Vilnius. The research period is defined by the archival information on specific brickmakers-raw material miners, whose
lists were compiled in 1795 and 1805. Forty-three craftsmen worked during this period. Using additional archival and printed sources, short biographies of these craftsmen were compiled. Based on the collected data, the localisation of brickmaking-raw material mining workshops is defined, wealth differentiation of those practising this trade is reviewed, the data on the continuity of the brickmaking trade and the turnover of brickmakers are discussed, and the economic and social relations of other craftsmen, especially potters, with brickmakers are examined.

KEYWORDS: Vilnius, brickmaker, brickworks, potter, short biography.
Dėl 1918 m. kovo 23 d. Lietuvos valstybingumo pripažinimo iš kaizerinės Vokietijos pusės
Authors: Gimžauskas Edmundas
Published: March 2023

ON THE RECOGNITION OF THE STATEHOOD OF LITHUANIA BY KAISER GERMANY ON 23 MARCH 1918

The article focuses on an outstanding episode from the period when the Act of Independence of Lithuania of 16 February 1918 was proclaimed: just over a month later, Germany recognised the statehood of Lithuania. Although this event was undoubtedly significant for the establishment and consolidation of an independent state, due to various circumstances it has not been adequately discussed and evaluated in Lithuanian historiography until now. For a long time, such research was hindered by a limited base of available sources. The increased availability of German archival material and the appearance of new fundamental studies on the period of the First World War in Lithuania by foreign authors provided an opportunity for corresponding Lithuanian research.

KEYWORDS: Kaiser Germany, Council of Lithuania, Oberost, recognition of independence,
notification document, delegation, trip, Berlin.
The platform (“El Hoyo”) phenomenological machine
Authors:   Department of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Vladimir Branch of the RANEPA under the President of the Russian Federation, Tymoshchuk E.A.
Published: March 2023

This article explores the phenomenological potential of contemporary cinema through the example of the Spanish philosophical film “El hoyo” (“The Pit”, “The Hole”, “The Platform”). The metaphor of total control unfolds as a radical ontopoеsis that modernizes Husserlianism with themes of creativity, impulse and process.
Andrey Tarkovsky's Retrotopias and retro utopian thinking
Authors:   Independent Researcher, Belyaev V.A.
Published: March 2023

In this article, the author offers his approach to the study of the phenomenon of retrotopic thinking (the orientation of utopian thinking in the past). The article is conditionally divided into two parts. In the first part, Andrei Tarkovsky's films are analyzed as a set of concrete examples of retrotopic thinking. At the same time, the author makes ideal-typical drawings, setting a number of parametric characteristics on the basis of which it is possible to separate some variants of retrotopic thinking from others. In the second part, the author extends the analysis of retrotopic thinking to the entire human history, showing its fullness with retrotopias. At the same time, the author analyzes all variants of utopian thinking: both retrotopias and protopias (the orientation of utopian thinking towards the future). The history of mankind, and especially the history of globalizing modernity, is viewed as a complex deployment of protopic and retrotopic projects.
Short simple forms in an applied analytical product
Authors:   Department of the state and municipal administration of the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (Moscow, Russia) (IPACS, RANEPA), Ponkin I.V.
Published: March 2023

The article deals with important questions of methodology in applied analytics. The author considers the imperative of brevity and simplicity of syllable, style, and form in an applied analytical product. The article touches upon the concepts of cognitive intelligibility (comprehensibility), cognitive fluency, and cognitive ergonomics of the text of an applied analytical product. The author shows some ways to simplify the text.
The thing as a memory Retranslator and event culture: semiotic journey of the artifact
Authors:   Department for Supporting the Activities of the Secretariat of the Chairman of the Samara Provincial Duma, Ippolitova A.G.
Published: March 2023

Review of the book by Vladimir I. Ionesov. “Memories in a Thing: “The Spirit of Armenia” in the Images and Stories of a Forgotten Artifact”. — Samara Society for Cultural Studies. — Samara: Samarama, Prime, 2021. — 322 с. — ISBN 978-5-6046812-3-7. The review analyzes a monograph with a unique culture-creative approach, which implements the practice of cultural transmission of information through the semiotic journey of an artifact. The main content as love for the Motherland is revealed through the history of the family and its relics. It becomes the key to a comprehensive study of the fate and mentality of Armenia in the conditions of the physical loss of the Motherland at the beginning of the 20th century and its preservation through intergenerational spiritual and cultural experience.
Cultural experiences with narratives
Authors:   filmmaker, independent researcher (Armenia), Virapyan Ed.G.
Published: March 2023

Under the hand of heavenly vigilant forces. Deceiver. Nabokov. Keywords: narration, genre, creative method, author, cultural history.
Deep litter cows housing technology
Authors: ГРИДНЕВ П.И. , ГРИДНЕВА Т.Т.
Published: March 2023

Рассмотрены результаты отечественных и зарубежных исследований различных технологий формирования слоя глубокой подстилки в производственных помещениях для содержания коров. Установлено, что известные способы не обеспечивают требуемой равномерности распределения подстилочного материала в зоне отдыха коров, допускаются повышенная загазованность и запыленность производственного помещения, эмиссия парниковых газов, не исключаются вероятность травмирования животных, экономически и экологически необоснованная продолжительность формирования слоя глубокой подстилки. С целью устранения выявленных недостатков применяемых технологий и повышения эффективности производства продукции молочного животноводства предлагается формировать слой глубокой подстилки многократной послойной укладкой подстилочного материла непосредственно из зоны отдыха животных с одновременным внесением препаратов для фиксации соединений азота. Операции необходимо выполнять с использованием электрифицированного агрегата с дистанционным программным управлением, перемещающегося по монорельсу. Предложены зависимости для расчета потребности в подстилочном материале и площади отдыха для животных, продолжительности формирования слоя глубокой подстилки.
Meat productivity of young hereford breeds when fed carbohydrate complex
Authors: ТАГИРОВ Х.Х. , НИКОЛАЕВА Н.Ю. , АНДРИЯНОВА Э.М. , ГАЙСИНА Г.А.
Published: March 2023

Приведены данные по мясной продуктивности бычков герефордской породы при введении в рацион углеводного комплекса согласно рекомендациям изготовителя ОАО «Капитал-Прок». Были сформированы 4 группы животных: контрольной группе молодняка (I) скармливали основной рацион, опытные группы (II, III и IV) получали кормовую добавку «Фелуцен К2–4» (1) в количестве 50, 100 и 150 г на 1 голову в сутки (в возрасте от 6 мес до года), а «Фелуцен К2–6» (2) — 100, 150 и 200 г на 1 голову (в возрасте от года до полутора лет) соответственно. Установлено, что включение в рацион бычков исследуемой кормовой добавки способствует повышению потребления питательных веществ и их перевариванию. Живая масса молодняка из опытных групп по сравнению с контролем увеличилась за весь период научно-хозяйственного опыта на 14,6—29,0 кг (2,82—5,59%), высотные и широтные промеры — на 0,4—3,9 см (0,54—2,41%; Р≤0,01—0,05), масса туши — на 4,8—15,5 кг (1,68—5,44%; Р<0,001), убойный выход — на 0,7—1,3%, индекс мясности — на 1,08—5,41%, концентрация сухих веществ — на 0,32—1,16%, содержание белка в мякотной части туш — на 0,45—0,90% (Р≤0,01), жира в средней пробе мяса — на 0,42—2,04% (Р≤0,05). Лучшие показатели выявлены у бычков III и IV групп при скармливании средних дозировок углеводного комплекса 1 — 100 г, 2 — 150 г на 1 голову в сутки.
Жест у пластиці рук як прийом художньої виразності в контексті образотворчого мистецтва: типологічний аспект
Authors: Сільченко Тетяна
Published: March 2023

В статті зроблено спробу виокремити характерні ознаки і основні типи жестових рухів через їх символічне і метафоричне значення в історичному аспекті, виділити і описати особливості виразності пластики руки в контексті образотворчого мистецтва. Досліджується шлях виникнення жесту в пластиці рук як засобу невербальної комунікації та елементу знакової системи до використання його як прийому художньої виразності в контексті образотворчого мистецтва.
Особливості сценічної мови під час постановки композиції ВСЮДИ ОДИН… СВІЧКА НА ВІТРІ (сценічна композиція та постановка М. Резніковича)
Authors: Гринчак Ганна
Published: March 2023

У статті розглядаються особливості сценічної мови під час створення вистави ВСЮДИ ОДИН… СВІЧКА НА ВІТРІ. Вистава була створена на основі листів Т. Шевченка, за його поетичними та прозовими творами. На сцені також звучать цитати зі щоденника поета, написані ним в період перебування на засланні. Режисер намагався зберегти унікальність автентичного українського говору того часу, що покладає додаткове навантаження на актора і вимагає від нього високої мовної техніки. Особливої підготовки вимагають також побудова артикуляції, дихання на сцені та під час виконання вокальних зонгів.
Режисерські версії циркового дійства в екранній площині
Authors: Погребняк Галина
Published: March 2023

Розширено наукові уявлення про місце і роль екранної й циркової режисури в системі гуманітарного знання на сучасному етапі розвитку суспільства. Визначено режисуру як універсальний багатовекторний різновид художньо-естетичної, творчо-виробничої, морально-етичної, виховної діяльності; виявлено оригінальні принципи побудови екранних творів, базованих на циркових постановках і навспак; уточнено взаємовплив та взаємозбагачення циркового й аудіовізуального мистецтв у розвитку режисерської майстерності; обґрунтовано, що творчість кінорежисерів розвиває й розширює знання про циркове мистецтво, дає поштовх для розвитку творчості циркових постановників та виконавців в екранній площині; визначено специфіку творчості режисера в процесі екранної адаптації циркових вистав в екранних постановках, що вперше постало предметом спеціального дослідження.
Кінотеатральна пластичність шедеврів китайського мистецтва («Червоний жіночий загін» Се Цзіня та «Підніміть червоний ліхтар» Чжана Імоу)
Authors: Цзе Чанг
Published: March 2023

Стаття присвячена проблемі взаємовпливу мистецтва театру та кіно. Головним предметом дослідження є кінотеатральна пластичність шедеврів китайського мистецтва. Було використано системно-історичний, пошуково-аналітичний, структурно-типологічний, семіотичний, компаративний методи дослідження для послідовного розгляду процесу взаємодії кіно та театру в КНР; для збору інформації про взаємовплив театру та кіно; для характеристики специфіки драматургії та характеру персонажів; для виявлення символіки театральних і кінообразів; для порівняння кінострічок та їх сценічних адаптацій тощо.