bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tear Fluid as a Matrix for Biomonitoring Environmental and Chemical Exposures
Authors: Amini Parshawn , Okeme Joseph
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Exposures to hazardous chemicals have been linked to many detrimental health effects. It is critical to have effective biomonitoring methods to measure the levels of these chemicals in humans to better evaluate key environmental exposures that increase the risk of chronic disease and death. Traditional biomonitoring utilizing blood and urine is limited due to the specialized skills and invasiveness of collecting these fluid samples. The systematic review focuses on the tear fluid, which is largely under-researched, as promising alternative to these traditional fluids. The objective is to evaluate the practicability of using human tear fluid for biomonitoring environmental exposures, highlighting potential pitfalls and opportunities.
Recent finding: Tear fluid biomonitoring represents a promising method for assessing exposures. Tear fluid uniquely interfaces with the external environment at the air-tear interface, providing a surface for airborne chemicals to diffuse into the ocular environment and interact with biomolecules. Tear fluid also contains molecules from the internal environment that have travelled from the blood to tears by crossing the blood-tear barrier. Our review shows that tear fluid can be used to identify hazardous chemicals from the external and environment environments and to differentiate between different exposure groups.
Summary: The review provides a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge in tear-based biomonitoring and draws attention to the promise of using the method for noninvasively increasing access to exposure assessment. The method will become acceptable for routine use as more individual and inter lab studies focus on broadly identifying and quantify exposure markers in tears, understanding factors that influence reliability of the method and standardizing the tear fluid method.
Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy using Intraoperative Ultrasonography in Parathyroid Adenoma Patients with a History of Total Thyroidectomy
Authors: Nam Yunbin , Jung Hyun Taek , Lee Sang Mok , Kim Ji-Hoon
Published: December 2023

A 65-year-old patient who underwent total thyroidectomy 10 years ago was suspected of having a parathyroid adenoma, and minimally invasive parathyroidectomy was planned. Preoperative ultrasonography(USG) and 99mTc MIBI scan indicated a left lower parathyroid lesion. In the first operation, intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring (IOPTH) was not possible due to hospital circumstances. Although no adenomatous lesion was found in the expected surgical field, surgery was completed after removing lesions around the left lower parathyroid gland. However, post-surgery, parathyroid hormone did not decrease at all, so a second operation was performed with IOPTH preparation. In the second operation, intraoperative ultrasonography was performed, and a suspected adenoma lesion was removed from the left upper lesion. He has been under follow-up for 3 years without complications. Surgeon-peformed intraoperative USG and preoperative scintigraphy had advantages in determining the localization of parathyroid lesion even withiout IOPTH.
A Case of Lymphoepithelial Cyst Mimicking Cervical Plexus Schwannoma
Authors: Kim Jeong Hwan , Kang Byung Jae , Kim Min Suk , Kim Hong Jin , Lee Ye Hwan , Oh HwaEun , Oh Kyung Ho , Kwon Soon Young
Published: December 2023

Neck masses can have various origins and diverse presentations, making accurate diagnosis challenging. Schwannomas and lymphoepithelial cysts are commonly encountered neck tumors, and it is hard to get differential diagnosis. A 50-year-old woman presented with a progressively enlarging right neck mass discovered five years ago. Upon examination, a 3 cm firm, non-tender, and mobile tumor was found in the right neck level II region. Imaging studies suggested a tumor originating from the cervical sympathetic chain. The patient underwent a resection of the tumor under general anesthesia. Postoperative follow-up showed no complications or signs of recurrence. However, contrary to the initial suspicion of a schwannoma, the final pathological examination revealed a lymphoepithelial cyst. In this paper, we present a case of a cervical lymphoepithelial cyst misdiagnosed as a schwannoma, aiming to compare the clinical and histological characteristics of these two tumors and provide insights into appropriate diagnosis and management.
EXPERIENCE OF TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN URALS: FROM MACHINE AND TRACTOR STATIONS TO SCIENTIFIC AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Authors:   Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM, TSENCH YU.S.
Published: December 2023

The efficiency of the use of the machine and tractor fleet in agriculture depends on the degree of development of education, science and production in the country. It was these three structures that were rapidly developed in the early 30s of the XX century in the agrarian region, which was the Southern Urals. (Research purpose) The research purpose is analyzing the technical and technological support of agriculture in the Southern Urals, using the experience of operating machine and tractor stations. (Materials and methods) Analyzed the documents of the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, statistical yearbooks of the Chelyabinsk Regional Department of National Economic Accounting, chronicles of districts and cities of the Chelyabinsk region. (Results and discussion) We have identified at each historical stage of the development of agriculture in the Southern Urals the main tasks that faced the machine and tractor stations. It was shown that the reasons for the low efficiency of the tractor columns were the inconsistency of the work plans of the detachments with the plans of the collective farms; the variety of models of tractors of domestic and imported production used in the fields; the lack of qualified labor for the maintenance and operation of agricultural machinery. The tasks set by the agro-industrial complex for education, science and production were identified, which consisted in the development of new agrotechnical methods of tillage, the creation of a system of frequency of planned and major repairs, increasing the number and nomenclature of spare parts for agricultural machinery produced by factories, the introduction of a system of training and retraining of personnel for agricultural production, improving labor organization. (Conclusions) Machine and tractor stations not only played an important role in the technical and technological support of agriculture in the Southern Urals, but also were able to develop their potential to the level of scientific and technical productions that produce automated lines for the restoration of worn-out parts of agricultural machinery.
METHODOLOGY FOR CALCULATING POINTS FOR R&D IN THE LOCALIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors:   Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute «NAMI», SOLOV'YEV R.YU. , GRIBOV I.V. , KOLOMEYCHENKO A.V. , MAKSIMOV E.A. , BARANOV YU.N. ,   Orel State University named after I.S. Turgenev
Published: December 2023

The authors explained the mechanism for calculating points according to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719 dated July 17, 2015 «On confirmation of the production of industrial products on the Territory of the Russian Federation» for industrial activities in terms of research and development work (R&D) for specific products. (Research purpose) The research purpose is developing a calculation methodology in terms of points for the costs of enterprises in the field of R&D according to the requirements set in the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719, and a report form for manufacturers of industrial products. (Materials and methods) Studied the resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation, other documents related to the scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation. (Results and discussion) The methods of calculation in terms of accrual of points for the costs of enterprises in the field of R&D for three variants of the requirements that are given in the resolution, and the report form recommended to manufacturers of industrial products for submitting information to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were given. We have developed a calculation methodology and recommended to manufacturers of industrial products a report form regarding the accrual of points for the costs of enterprises in the field of R&D. The scoring mechanism takes into account the costs of the subject of activity in the field of industry, which are determined in accordance with the Accounting Regulations approved by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. (Conclusions) The mechanism for calculating points will increase the efficiency of localization of industrial production in the territory of the Russian Federation, differentiate the provision of state support to enterprises in the engineering industry on the basis of a point system for assessing the degree of localization of products.
OPTIMAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE LONGITUDINAL LINES OF THE LAMPS AT THE FLOOR POULTRY KEEPING
Authors:   Udmurt state agricultural university, GALLYAMOVA T.R.
Published: December 2023

A standard-width poultry house with outdoor poultry keeping is considered, for which longitudinal lines of LED lamps are used for lighting. The need to increase the productivity of poultry leads to the urgent problem of creating the most uniform energy-saving lighting of the working area of the facility. When solving the problem, the problem arises of estimating the optimal distance between the lines of lamps of the Lop. Its solution is possible using the optimality criterion. Difficulties in accounting for reflected light are the reason for searching for a criterion independent of the reflected component. (Research purpose) The research purpose is evaluating the optimal distance between the longitudinal lines of lamps for poultry houses of standard width based on a criterion independent of the reflected component of illumination. (Materials and methods) The shortcomings of the recommendations obtained on the basis of the utilization factor method were identified. It was proposed to take into account the width of the poultry house to overcome the shortcomings and evaluate the Lop by the point method. A model of diffuse light reflection was applied. The optimality criterion was substantiated and an algorithm for the computer evaluation of Lop was developed. We used the developed algorithm for poultry houses of standard width. (Results and discussion) Poultry houses with a width b, a multiple of 6 meters, were studied with a constant length of each poultry house a1 = 78 meters for the height of the suspension of lamps H1 = 3.0 meters, H2 = 3.5 meters and H3 = 4.0 meters. Presented the results of the assessment of the protected areas in the form of a table. It was revealed that the dependence of Lop(b) is quadratic. (Conclusions) It has been established that the assessment of Lop can be performed in a model of diffuse reflection of light based on a criterion independent of the reflected component of illumination. It was noted that with the arrangement of the lighting lines, according to the table, the risk of unauthorized demolition of eggs by poultry decreases, which contributes to improving the quality of the eggs obtained and increasing the productivity of poultry. It was stated that the results of the Lop assessment can be recommended to specialists of poultry farms to adjust the existing lighting system or before purchasing it to plan an energy-efficient arrangement of lamps.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE CULTIVATION OF FRUIT AND BERRY PRODUCTS ON PEBBLE IANDS
Authors:   Kabardino-Balkarian State Agrarian University named after V.M. Kokov, APAZHEV A.K. , SHEKIKHACHEV YU.A. , KHAZHMETOV L.M. , PAZOVA T.KH. , DZUGANOV V.B. , FIAPSHEV A.G.
Published: December 2023

The problem of involvement in the economic turnover of pebble lands is considered, taking into account the fact that agricultural technology of agricultural crops on such lands has its own characteristics. A number of elements of crop cultivation and care technology differ from elements of agricultural technology on conventional soils. The main factor determining the need for the use of special technology in these conditions is the high skeletality of soils. The different thickness of the colmatation horizon, its absence in places, as well as the different degree of enrichment of pebble deposits with a fine-grained fraction along the profile create different conditions for plant growth and, above all, with regard to the provision of the latter with soil moisture and nutrient reserves. To bring environmental conditions in line with the needs of agricultural crops grown on soils with different content of fine-grained soil in them, the use of differentiated agricultural machinery and new technical solutions is required. (Research purpose) The research purpose is developing technological and technical solutions for the cultivation of fruit and berry products on pebble lands. (Materials and methods) Used the results of the functioning of technical means in conditions of intensive gardening. Conducted theoretical research using methods of physical and mathematical modeling, process optimization and mathematical statistics. (Results and discussion) A device has been developed, the use of which, according to the results of production tests, will allow: to involve pebble lands, inconveniences, waste areas, disturbed lands, land plots with complex geomorphological conditions in agricultural production. (Conclusions) It was shown that when implementing the proposed device in intensive gardening (up to 10 thousand columnar fruit trees per hectare), 50-160 tons per hectare of environmentally friendly products can be obtained from one hectare of an apple orchard, in berry growing, 40 to 60 strawberry bushes can be grown on one module and a harvest of 120-180 tons per hectare can be obtained, which is 1.8-2.7 times more than the yield obtained using traditional technology.
High-performance repetition cat code using fast noisy operations
Authors: Régent Francois-Marie Le , Berdou Camille , Leghtas Zaki , Guillaud Jérémie , Mirrahimi Mazyar
Published: December 2023

Bosonic cat qubits stabilized by two-photon driven dissipation benefit from exponential suppression of bit-flip errors and an extensive set of gates preserving this protection. These properties make them promising building blocks of a hardware-efficient and fault-tolerant quantum processor. In this paper, we propose a performance optimization of the repetition cat code architecture using fast but noisy CNOT gates for stabilizer measurements. This optimization leads to high thresholds for the physical figure of merit, given as the ratio between intrinsic single-photon loss rate of the bosonic mode and the engineered two-photon loss rate, as well as an improved scaling below threshold of the required overhead, to reach an expected level of logical error rate. Relying on the specific error models for cat qubit operations, this optimization exploits fast parity measurements, using accelerated low-fidelity CNOT gates, combined with fast ancilla parity-check qubits. The significant enhancement in the performance is explained by: 1- the highly asymmetric error model of cat qubit CNOT gates with a major component on control (ancilla) qubits, and 2- the robustness of the repetition cat code error correction performance in presence of the leakage induced by fast operations. In order to demonstrate these performances, we develop a method to sample the repetition code under circuit-level noise that also takes into account cat qubit state leakage.
A Psychological Study on the ‘Comic of the Naive’: Focusing on Lenz’s So zärtlich war Suleyken
Authors:   Institute of Foreign Literature, Jeong Hyunkyung
Published: December 2023

This article studies the psychological pleasure provided by the ‘comic of the naive (Das Naiv-Komische)’, focusing on Siegfried Lenz’s 『So zärtlich war Suleyken』. Through the theories of Freud and Lipps, I determine the place that ‘the naive’ occupies in laughter theory and its meaning. Lipps treats ‘the naive’ as a type of the comic and analyzes in depth the ‘comic contrast’ in which the naiv words and actions break down our psychological expectations. Freud also analyzes the ‘comic of the naive’ from the perspective of saving the energy needed to follow the reality principle. This characteristic of the ‘comic of the naive’ is similar to humor and wit. It is the contrast and play between meaninglessness and meaning, and the psychological liberation that arises from this. The naive words and actions of the People in Suleyken, who transcend concepts and common sense but are naive and full of self-affirmation and pride, give us the laughter of liberation.
Spinoza’s Ethical Practice in All the Light We Cannot See
Authors:   Institute of Foreign Literature, Sung Junghye
Published: December 2023

This thesis seeks an ethical way to advance towards the love of eternal and infinite things that Spinoza pursued in All the Light We Cannot See, an American novel published by Anthony Doerr in 2014 and awarded the Pulitzer Prize in the following year. It is an attempt to examine Spinoza's Conatus as an individual's effort to maintain and sustain life, and that Conatus inevitably includes desire. However, Spinoza sees life pursuing this desire as something that can restrain life and give suffering, but the effort to achieve the third perception leads human beings find bliss, which is the final path to freedom. This paper examines the main character‘s choices and efforts to continue his life, and try to find out whether they have entered the path of freedom in the Spinozist sense. The first section briefly examines how Spinoza explained Conatus and the road to bliss. Werner's Conatus is examined in the second section, and how he perceives three different perceptions Spinoza distinguished in the third section. And in the last section, it will look at how Werner's perception of God's intellectual love is embodied.
Terminology of traditional food products in Altai and Kyrgyz languages: lexical-semantic analysis
Authors:   Kyrgyz Republic National Academy of Sciences, Konurbayeva Roza E.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the study is to compare the vocabulary related to traditional nutrition in the Altai and Kyrgyz languages. It is based on linguistic materials collected by the author among residents of the villages of the Altai Republic: Kaspa, Shyrgaity of the Shebalinsk District; Kyrlyk, Mondur-Sokkon, Kan-Oozy of the Ust-Kansk District; Yabogan, Yelo, Kulady, Bichiktu-Boom, and Kӱpchegen of the Onguday District. Their analysis revealed many lexical and semantic similarities in the Altai and Kyrgyz languages. This is especially noticeable in the names of meat dishes. The coincidences are explained by the identical economic and living conditions of the Altaians and Kyrgyz in the past and present. The formation of the vocabulary of the Altai and Kyrgyz languages took place in a distant era, when their speakers lived in the territory of Altai.
High-relief coinage in the Kazan-Tatar jewelry tradition: historical and technical analysis
Authors:   Marjani Institute of History of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Donina Larisa N.
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to identifying the origins and regional features of the technology of high-relief coinage in the Kazan-Tatar jewelry tradition. The main source was the electronic database of Tatar jewelry from museum collections, collected within the framework of the academic project “Jewelry of the Turkic peoples of Eurasia: general and special” (Russian Foundation for Basic Research 2013–2014, No. 13-06-97056). The research was based on a systematic technical and stylistic analysis of traditional jewelry and a detailed synchronous-diachronic examination of Bulgar-Golden Horde and Tatar products with three-dimensional images. Reconstruction of technological techniques related to this type of artistic metal processing made it possible to identify specific features of the formation of decor. The manual method of obtaining a unique relief using punches with a figured striker predominated. The decorations are characterized by the following: two or three-level bas-relief, the absence of a “locking” profile, the principle of “compositing” that underlies the conventionally interpreted floral and plant motifs, geometric orderliness, subject to the laws of the central-radial composition. The completed form of the decoration corresponds to the typical features of “notch chasing”, which is a marker of the Tatar craft tradition: smooth relief and “grain” background. An integrated approach allowed us to conclude that the origins of the existing artistic and figurative system can be traced in artifacts of the Bulgarian and Golden Horde silver of the 11th–14th centuries, made by embossing, stamping, and punching on a matrix. The formation of technological features was influenced by the traditions of high-relief coinage, which received regional development among Kazan silversmiths in the 17th–18th centuries. The specifics of Tatar relief coinage as a whole were formed in the context of Islamic art.
120th anniversary of Yamashurma rural school
Authors:   Marjani Institute of History of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Bagautdinova Khalida Z.
Published: December 2023

The article is dedicated to the 120-years-old history of the Yamashurma secondary school. The paper discusses the opening of the Russian-Tatar school in the village of Yamashurma, Kazan Uyezd, at the outset of the 20th century, the situation at the school during the war years, the educational system in the Soviet times, the stages of school curriculum, and overall the life and development of the educational institution. The study higlights the role of mullah F. Khamzin in the opening of the school, the work of G. Kulakhmetov, a graduate of the Kazan Tatar Teachers School, who taught here in 1903–1908, and also “teacher Gabdulla” who held the position of the school headmaster in 1911–1932. The study is based on the documents from the State Archive of the Republic of Tatarstan and the book by R.A. Shakirzyanov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, “Yamashurma School is a spring of enlightenment”.
Review of the collection of articles “Social and National in Soviet Culture: to the 65th anniversary of the Decade of Tatar Art and Literature in Moscow” (Kazan: Marjani Institute of History of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, 2022. 436 p.)
Authors:   Kazan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Kamaeva Elena V.
Published: December 2023

The article presents a review of the collection dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Decade of Tatar Art and Literature in Moscow. The collection includes articles by researchers presented at an international scientific conference. The authors revealed a wide range of academic problems related to the national culture evolution throughout the twentieth century and the processes of cultural genesis and sociogenesis of national cultures. A separate section of the collection is devoted to the issues of popularisation and preservation of national cultural traditions, their integration into the modern space. The studies devoted to the transformation of the management system in the field of culture are of particular interest are. The source base for a number of articles consisted of archival materials and documents of personal origin, represented by photographs and interviews.
Corrigendum: Species delimitation in Capparis (Capparaceae): Morphological and molecular
Authors: Editorial E
Published: December 2023

CORRIGENDUM by Snezana Mladenovic Drinic, Editor of the journal Genetika
request from Iraj Mehregan to remove name from the paper SPECIES
DELIMITATION IN CAPPARIS (CAPPARACEAE): MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR Sakine
NAJAFIAN1, Iraj MEHREGAN1, Alireza IRANBAKHSH1, Mostafa ASSADI2, Silvio
FICI3 1 Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad
University, Tehran, Iran 2 Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands,
National Botanical Garden of Iran, Tehran, Iran 3 Dipartmento di Science
Agrarie e Forestali, University di Palermo, Palermo, Italy Original
scientific paper https://doi.org/10.2298/GENSR2102609N published in the
journal Genetika, 2021, Vol 53, No.2, 609 - 627 The first author Sakine
NAJAFIAN of the article are responsible for writing, submitting, and other
unethical behaviors.

 Link to the corrected article 10.2298/GENSR2102609N
Deloitte Canada’s Cocreated ICT Simulation for Advanced Accounting
Authors: Taylor Samantha , Barnard Kara , McGregor Janine , Rafuse Angela
Published: December 2023

In business, shift happens fast. Consequently, the accounting profession, including students, must adapt early and often. Fortunately, students reported improved learning and satisfaction through interactive professional learning experiences (Riley, Eldridge, and Venkatesh 2021). This study introduces a cocreated simulation between our university and Deloitte Canada, a professional services firm. A partnership of academics, auditors, and consultants yielded this information communications technology (ICT) business combination simulation for an advanced financial accounting course. Our simulation aimed to empower learners to focus on communicating technical accounting solutions in a professional environment. We also provided a video simulation, solution, and assessment rubric.
Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modelling for Prediction Corrosion Induced Cracking Damaged in Reinforced Concrete Beam
Authors:   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Bin Rimmy Tommy Fong @ Ramzi , Krishta David Thevaneyan ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Ab. Rahman Zainal ,   Politeknik Nilai, Kompleks Pendidikan Nilai, Bandar Enstek, 71760 Labu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

The quality and condition of the reinforced concrete structure is critical, particularly in high-rise buildings where the danger of service life failure is extremely high. Usually, certain structures collapse as a result of cracks and spreading caused by corrosion. Due to this reason, there is a requirement for software program that can promptly measure and evaluate the strength, growth, and longevity of the structure. Researchers use Finite Element Modelling (FEM), a reliable approach to foresee the deterioration and fracturing of structures. The application of finite element modelling in determining the remaining strength of damaged components can provide crucial data, which is particularly relevant for engineers in real-world scenarios. Moreover, it has the ability to replicate the cracking caused by corrosion in reinforced concrete elements. A corrosion-induced cracking model is suggested to be included into a three-dimensional plane-stress finite element model. The cracking model provides an indication of the extent of corrosion-induced damage in the concrete, allowing for the study of strength and behavioural changes. The effect of corrosion-induced cracking in a thick wall cylinder model will be simulated by the finite element model in order to identify and analyse the cracks caused by corrosion in the concrete cover. A corrosion-induced cracking experiment will be conducted with two different cover thicknesses and reinforcement using the Midas FEA commercial software to create a three-dimensional model. There is a slight discrepancy between the numerical analysis modelling and the analytical approach in terms of the crack's initiation and propagation, mostly resulting from variations in modelling assumptions, methods, and parameters. This disagreement arises when comparing the numerical analysis model with the previously published work. Nevertheless, the numerical model may be used to simulate both crack propagation and the critical pressure needed to produce corrosion-induced concrete cover cracking.
Best Practice Approach to Stage-Discharge Rating Curve: Case Study of Selected Rivers in Selangor
Authors:   Fluvial Geomorphology, Research Interest Group, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia., Saadon Azlinda , Abdul Manaf Nur Anim ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Tholibon Duratul Ain ,   Civil Engineering Studies, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Pahang Branch, 26400 Bandar Pusat Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia., Ahmad Kamal Norashikin ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Yassin Ahmad Ihsan ,   Microwave Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, 40450, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

A stage-discharge rating curve represents the relationship between the water level at a given point in a stream and a corresponding volumetric rate of flow. It is widely used for the analysis of flow regimes, designing hydraulic structures, flood forecasting, flow-sediment interaction and prediction, and river channel analysis. The reliability and stability of the stage-discharge rating curve are based on numerous numbers of discharges and stage data from the lowest to the highest bank full stage observed over a long period of time. Stage-discharge rating curves contribute to reliable discharge prediction for future flood forecasting. This study focuses on the best-practice approach to stage-discharge rating curve development for selected rivers in Selangor. The stagedischarge rating curve derived was evaluated in terms of the statistical parameter, which denotes the degree of determination or r-squared value. The polynomial function yields better accuracy at 68.6% than the exponential function at 60.3%. Model validation was performed using the discrepancy ratio and confirmed that the stagedischarge rating curve developed using both mathematical functions give good predictions with more than 80% accuracy for the specified flow range and stage levels.
Flood Simulation Using HEC-HMS 4.8 for Ungauged Catchment During Extreme Events in Lui River, Hulu Langat
Authors:   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Firnando Puteri Natasya , Ramli Suzana ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

Flooding is a sort of natural disaster that can occur anywhere in the world. It is also happening more often now because of global warming and climate change. The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has designated certain sites along the Lui River in Hulu Langat as flood-prone. Therefore, this study presents a hydrological simulation of the Lui River utilising the flood management software on the Hydrologic Modelling System, HECHMS 4.8, which has been widely used in several studies of water management. The program replicates a river basin system's rainfall-runoff response to a precipitation input by modelling the whole river basin as an integrated system of hydrologic and hydraulic components, displaying the trends in the river's flow for 50 ARI and 100 ARI. The hydrograph of the Lui River may be determined by examining the rainfall-runoff relationship and comparing it to the peak discharge of observed data and the hydrograph for an unmeasured watershed from Hydrological Procedure No. 11. The hydrograph result must undergo model calibration to establish parameters that are validated for the model final value of peak discharge and the shape of the hydrograph. The finding shows that the optimal design hydrograph for the design stage is the model's hydrograph with the greatest peak as in HEC-HMS. Hence, the design storm with the largest output will serve as a guideline for any design matter, be valuable for future river flow research, and function as a future precaution.
Effect of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System on Indoor Air Quality in a Medical Facility
Authors:   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Baharudin Fauzi , Mohd Adlan Nur Fatt-Hiyyah ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Kassim Jalina ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Hamzah Nurhidayah ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Ghazali Suriati ,   Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 263300 Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the stationary air within an inhabited or occupied structure. Previously, there were fewer studies on indoor air quality in medical facilities in Malaysia especially in Terengganu. Most indoor air quality issues are caused by insufficient Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, which regulate three parameters. The purpose of this study is to assess the indoor air quality of a medical facility and determine if it complies with the Industry Code of Practice 2010 (ICOP 2010) and ASHRAE 170-2017. In this investigation, a total of 3 locations namely Administration Office, Surgical Outpatient Department (SOPD) waiting area and Ophthalmology Consultation Room in Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) were evaluated. Walkthrough inspections were done at the locations before data collection to determine the IAQ. Two IAQ meters, notably VelociCalc and Testo, were used to collect data to assess the temperature, relative humidity, and air flow of the selected locations. Samples were taken every 2 hours for each location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The data then were analysed. All three locations' temperatures were lower than ICOP 2010's acceptable limit (23-26°C), but still within ASHRAE 170-207's 21-24°C range, except for the SOPD waiting room. All three locations met ICOP 2010 and ASHRAE 170-207 relative humidity standards. Meanwhile, only the SOPD waiting room had an appropriate air flow of 0.16-0.17m/s per ICOP 2010. The study also revealed that there was a correlation between the number of occupancies and the performance of HVAC system with the indoor air quality level.
Performance of Plant-Based Coagulants in Removing Turbidity and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in Industrial Wastewater: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors:   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Shukri Aimi Shazreen , Baharudin Fauzi ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Kassim Jalina ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Mohd Kamil Nor Amani Filzah ,   Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia, Hamzah Nurhidayah ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: December 2023

Industrial effluent contains high concentrations of pollutants, such as heavy metals, which can cause risks to human health and the ecosystem. Chemical coagulants such as aluminum and iron salts are typically used as a coagulant in the wastewater treatment plant. The effectiveness of chemical coagulants is good in the clarification of wastewater, but excessive use is not sustainable and toxic. This study focuses on the removal of turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of various industrial effluents, including dairy wastewater, textile wastewater, paper, and paper mill industry, by comparing the removal between plant-based and chemical coagulants. The study aims to quantify the ability of plant-based coagulants to remove turbidity and COD in industrial effluents. A systematic review was used to conduct this study by using a systematic search strategy (PRISMA) in the relevant databases, which are Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Only experimental studies that test both plant-based and chemical coagulants were chosen to proceed with metaanalysis to validate the efficiency of the plant-based coagulant to remove turbidity and COD in different industrial effluents by using Cochrane RevMan 5.4 software. Twenty-five articles were evaluated, and high heterogeneity was found among those studies. The mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) showed a significantly increasing percentage of turbidity and COD removal by plant-based coagulant by -1.64 % (-3.49, 0.21) and -5.39% (-8.85, -1.93) respectively for all wastewaters. The result supports the application of plant-based coagulant to sustain wastewater treatment due to its eco-friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable, and capability to sustain the pH of water after treatment.
Ritual as Intermedial Interjection in Ritwik Ghatak’sThe Cloud-Capped Star
Authors: Chattopadhyay Sanskriti , Ganguly Deb Kamal
Published: December 2023

The experience of the cinema of Ritwik Ghatak (1925–1976), one of the most unusual filmmakers from South Asia, raises a significant issue, of how ritual can be considered a potent medium to have an intermedial effect within the complex mediality of cinema. The authors examine his film,The Cloud-Capped Star(Meghe Dhaka Tara, 1960), and show that in order to reach the “screaming point” of his “epic melodrama,” Ghatak borrowed form a forgotten ritual a fragment of a ritualistic song to become the experiential core for the experience of the film. The recurrent refrain of the song, at times the abstracted melody from the song creates a space of uncanny in-betweenness, contrasting positions of anthropological distance to a forgotten ritual with an imaginative yet guilt-ridden, painful projection of the secular self, being a part of that ritual itself.
Extracellular activity of proteases from Yarrowia lipolytica IPS21 as a function of the carbon and nitrogen source
Authors: Wieczorek Dorota , Miśkiewicz Katarzyna , Gendaszewska Dorota , Pipiak Paulina , Lasoń-Rydel Magdalena , Sieczyńska Katarzyna , Ławińska Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

The yeast strain Yarrowia lipolytica IPS 21 was tested for its ability to produce the protease enzyme on analytically pure carbon sources as well as on waste carbon sources. It was confirmed that the yeast Y. lipolytica IPS21 can have a higher proteolytic activity in the presence of waste carbon sources in chrome-tanned leather shavings (CTLS) than on yeast extract alone. This is confirmed by the high concentration of amino acids in samples with CTLS, suggesting increased degradation of CTLS by Y. lipolytica or secretion of proteases into the medium. It was also confirmed that metals accumulate mainly in the biomass and not in the supernatant. The biomass was also found to contain high levels of Ca, K and P, which are essential for plant growth. These results show that Y. lipolytica strain IPS21 can be used for the production of extracellular alkaline proteases and for the degradation of protein waste.
Experimental Investigation of High-Force-To-Volume Extrusion Damper Subjected to Cyclic and Time History Loading
Authors: Dithurson T. , Daniel C. , Vivekananda Sharma S. , Hemalatha G. , Nair Shalini R. , Arun Solomon A.
Published: December 2023

The ability of energy dissipation from earthquake force in a controlled and iterative manner will play a vital role in maintaining structural reliability for various forces. High force-to-volume (HF2V) extrusion damper is a promising technology with simple designs, high damping force and achieving design requirements. This paper develops HF2V extrusion damper with multiple toothing configuration for seismic application. The experimental verification has been undertaken on lead extrusion dampers with various frequency range of 0.5 to 2 Hz. The maximum load-carrying capacity is 10.48 kN with strokes up to 5mm are observed with hysteresis loop with some recentering capability has a stiffness value up to 2*106 N/m, and force levels up to 2-10 kN. The maximum load carrying capacity for time history loading for Northridge earthquake is 11.57 kN. The overall findings suggest that silicone sealant may be employed to build and characterize extrusion dampers with maximum energy dissipation and high force/volume interactions. The suggested device may be a potentially effective way to provide additional energy dissipation to structures in seismic zones, according to the mechanical characteristics to the frequency. Additionally, the system can withstand for earthquake time histories, and ensuring maintenance-free operation even in the midst of frequent ground vibration.
Numerical Study on the Seismic Performance of Hybrid Shear Walls with Centered Openings
Authors: Todea V. , Dan D. , Floruț S.C. , Stoian V. , Popescu V.Ș.
Published: December 2023

The lateral resisting system comprised of hybrid shear walls is often met nowadays for high rise buildings, to reduce the lateral displacements of the building during a seismic event and to limit the damages of non-structural elements. In fact, “hybrid shear walls” term will replace the old terminology used for composite steel concrete shear walls. This structural system develops a very stable seismic behavior under cyclic lateral loads, but the seismic performance of the system could be significantly changed by the openings required for architectural or functional reasons. This paper presents in detail the seismic behavior of a composite steel-concrete shear wall designed with centered openings and partially embedded steel profiles in the edges. The composite wall was subjected to vertical and horizontal loads and tested to full failure using a cyclic loading testing procedure that simulated the action of an earthquake, aiming to record the seismic performance of the wall in terms of bearing capacity, deformation capacity, failure mode and stiffness degradation. The low-dissipative behavior recorded experimentally of the tested specimen was afterward validated and assessed in detail by performing numerical analyses using ATENA 3D Engineering software. The numerical results were extended to investigate furthermore other structural solutions to increase the bearing capacity and the seismic performance of the wall. It was found that a significant increase in deformation capacity could be obtained if the wall coupling beams are reinforced by diagonal steel bars or additional steel plates.
Children’s exposure to aggression and stereotypes presented in fairy tales
Authors: Romaniuc Mihaela , Vechiu Adina-Petronela
Published: December 2023

Several authors draw attention to implicit or explicit messages about the real world, aspects that we probably think less about when choosing a story to read to young children. Examples of behavioural antimodels can be easily captured by a competent pedagogue or parent in narrative writings such as fairy tales or stories belonging to well-known writers from the international and Romanian literature. The present study envisages a qualitative investigative approach, based on semi-structured interviews, aiming to explore parents’ perceptions regarding the effect of preschoolers’ exposure to stereotypes and verbal and behavioural aggression found in many of the traditional fairy tales and most circulated stories. The results of the study were compiled by investigating the responses of the 12 participants (N=12) based on three dimensions of analysis. Thus, a first dimension focused on the vision of the effects of aggression present in literary texts on children and the way to manage passages marked by violence. The second dimension sought to identify the opinion of the parents interviewed in relation to the possible consequences of the repeated exposure of children to clichés and stereotypes. The last unit of analysis aimed to picture the participants’ beliefs regarding the need to harmonize the subjects of fairy tales and stories heard by preschoolers to the current lifestyle of today’s society. The end of the paper includes a series of discussions with reference to the educational implications, limitations of the study and future research directions.
Forecast of the Maximum Methane Concentration in the Longwall Outlet and in the Ventilation Roadway. Case Study
Authors: Palka Dorota , Blistan Peter , Badura Henryk
Published: December 2023

The mining process of the coal seam wall is accompanied by the release of methane into the mine atmosphere. This process is highly variable and depends on the methane content in the seam and the methane saturation of the rocks surrounding the seam. This is the specificity of the Polish hard coal mining industry. In the article, prognostic formulas for the maximum methane concentration at the outlet of the longwall ventilation gallery were developed. In the presented article, these formulas were used to predict methane concentration at the longwall outlet and in the ventilation gallery at a distance of up to 10 m in front of the longwall. In order to assess the accuracy of the forecasts, their results were compared with the forecast at the exit of the ventilation roadway. The obtained results are so accurate that it is worth repeating this type of check also using measurements in other longwalls. It will allow to reduce the risk of methane explosion during operation.
Research on the Evaluation of the Efficiency of Production Processes Through the Implementation of Key Performance Indicators
Authors: Sujová Erika , Vysloužilová Daniela , Koleda Peter , Gajdzik Bożena
Published: December 2023

The paper deals with the implementation of key performance indicators (KPI) for the evaluation of the efficiency of production processes. A key performance indicator is a measurable indicator that expresses how effectively the company achieves key goals in both production and non-production areas. As part of the research, various process key performance indicators characterizing product quality were identified. The indicator of the number of faulty products in relation to the volume of production (EXTppm) was chosen for the research. The monthly development of EXTppm in the course of 2022 and the long-term development in the years 2012-2022 were evaluated. The research was also devoted to the analysis of the reasons for not achieving the KPI target values, and measures were proposed to eliminate poor quality, respectively reduction of the number of complained products.
Application of Methods of Decentralized Systems in Management in Lean Manufacturing
Authors: Krenický Tibor , Dyadyura Kostiantyn , Dmitrishin Dmitriy , Grybniak Sergii , Prokopovich Igor
Published: December 2023

The emergence and subsequent popularization of lean manufacturing have become one of the most significant for improving the efficiency and productivity of operations. The use of lean manufacturing tools and methods leads to the elimination of waste in the organization. Traditional information systems that allow organizations to share information about resources while managing process performance and traceability have a number of disadvantages such as security, interoperability, and transparency. Currently, distributed ledger technology (block-chain) is widely used for this purpose. This article presents a study of decentralized management of the implementation of a distributed ledger infrastructure, which is selected based on the characteristics of the production system. This study proposes a framework that analyzes lean production methods using simulation and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to accommodate the underlying multi-objective decision-making problem. The current study examines the impact of the simultaneous application of RCA technology, lean manufacturing methods, and distributed ledger technology on the total time, costs, and time of production processes.