bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uptalk in L2 English: the phonetic identity and perception of final declarative rises in Serbian EFL
Authors: Paunović Tatjana
Published: March 2023

Uptalk has been increasingly documented in different L1 English varieties and communicative contexts, but is rarely recognized in formal L2 educational contexts, where it is still attributed to learners’ inadequate mastery of intonation. This study is a cross-sectional corpus-based exploration of the phonetic realization of uptalk in Serbian EFL students’ semi-spontaneous expository speech, and its perception as a sentence-finality signal. The corpus comprised all rising intonation units (IU) produced by 14 female and 9 male participants, classified by structural clues as syntactic continuation, listing, polar questions, or uptalk, to explore the relatedness of the phonetic properties to structural position and gender. Next, 100 EFL students rated selected phrases, illustrating continuation rises, uptalk, and final falls, as possibly sentence final, on a 5-point scale. The findings showed that uptalk was consistently produced as a phonetically distinct signal, characterized by a larger pitch excursion, a steeper rise slope, a higher rise peak, and a longer post-IU pause. Females produced wider pitch excursions and steeper slopes. Uptalk examples were ranked high as possible sentence-finality signals. The study suggests that EFL speakers’ uptalk should be recognized as a novel socio-pragmatic prosodic device, deliberately used even in more formal academic contexts.
Wear prediction of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene-carbon nanotube nanocomposites at elevated temperatures
Authors: Feratoglu Kamil , Istif Ilyas , Gumus Omer Yunus
Published: March 2023

In this study, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) nanocomposite filaments are produced. Filaments are examined through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and definitive scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Produced nanocomposite filaments are used in the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process to manufacture parts. Wear tests are conducted on 3D-printed parts using wear test apparatus with an attached heating module under different ambient temperatures. Hence, the influence of CNT reinforcement, along with different FDM process parameters and varying test conditions on the wear behavior of 3D-printed ABS-CNT parts, are examined. Worn surfaces of the specimens are examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nonlinear autoregressive exogenous (NARX) models are proposed for the prediction of the wear behavior of 3D-printed ABS-CNT nanocomposites. While wear rate is taken as output, ambient temperature and amount of nanofiller are accounted as input parameters along with the variation of coefficient of friction (COF) which is obtained from measured frictional force and three input-one output model structure is proposed for NARX. The use of multiple input-single output (MISO) model structure and examining the wear behavior of 3D-printed ABS-CNT samples under different wear test conditions with different FDM process parameters are the novelties in this work.
Analysis of material removal process when scratching unidirectional fibers reinforced polyester composites
Authors: Mzali Slah , Elwasli Fatma , Zemzemi Farhat , Mezlini Salah , Mkaddem Ali , Bouazizi Mohamed Lamjed
Published: March 2023

In this study, the micromechanical scratch behavior of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) using several wear conditions was highlighted. Single-indenter scratch tests (SSTs) were carried out on GFRP composite material perpendicular (SST⊥) and parallel (SST//) to fiber direction. Damage modes dominating the material removal process (MRP) and friction exhibit significant sensitivity to both attack angle and normal load. From findings, damage modes and apparent friction coefficient substantially accentuate when increasing the attack angle. The inspections of the damage state at different testing conditions using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveal the dominating modes governing the MRP through the different phases. The response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to develop a mathematical model based on the measured data. The RSM approach was found very promoting for predicting friction evolution versus attack angle and normal load. The proposed model reveals good ability not only in predicting apparent friction coefficient but also in detecting separately its ploughing and adhesive component. To emphasize the correlation between friction coefficient and MRP, the wear maps have been drawn up.
Physical Characteristics and Competition Demands of Elite Wheelchair Basketball
Authors: Snyder Leanne , Goods Paul S.R. , Peeling Peter , Binnie Martyn , Peiffer Jeremiah J. , Balloch Aaron , Scott Brendan R.
Published: March 2023

Wheelchair basketball (WCB) is one of the most popular sports for athletes with disabilities. Athletes with a wide range of disabilities compete in the sport, making WCB highly inclusive while presenting unique challenges for various aspects of performance support. This review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on physical characteristics and competition demands of elite WCB athletes to provide practitioners with the best physical preparation practices for improving performance. Many physical characteristics and capacities have been reported to improve performance and are useful for setting performance benchmarks. Assessment of these capacities in WCB athletes requires special considerations due to the impacts of individual disabilities and interactions between the athlete and the wheelchair. Profiling WCB athletes also requires understanding the competitive demands that cannot be extrapolated from nondisabled basketball. To track game movements, this review describes previous studies tracking game movements with various tracking devices, and recent studies have identified inertial sensors as an accurate and practical option. Athletes' internal responses to game demands vary based on disability, particularly spinal cord injuries, so special considerations for internal load monitoring include implementing individualized monitoring strategies.
Induction of fetal meiotic oocytes from embryonic stem cells in cynomolgus monkeys
Authors: Gyobu‐Motani Sayuri , Yabuta Yukihiro , Mizuta Ken , Katou Yoshitaka , Okamoto Ikuhiro , Kawasaki Masanori , Kitamura Ayaka , Tsukiyama Tomoyuki , Iwatani Chizuru , Tsuchiya Hideaki , Tsujimura Taro , Yamamoto Takuya , Nakamura Tomonori , Saitou Mitinori
Published: March 2023

Human in vitro oogenesis provides a framework for clarifying the mechanism of human oogenesis. To create its benchmark, it is vital to promote in vitro oogenesis using a model physiologically close to humans. Here, we establish a foundation for in vitro oogenesis in cynomolgus (cy) monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): cy female embryonic stem cells harboring one active and one inactive X chromosome (Xa and Xi, respectively) differentiate robustly into primordial germ cell‐like cells, which in xenogeneic reconstituted ovaries develop efficiently into oogonia and, remarkably, further into meiotic oocytes at the zygotene stage. This differentiation entails comprehensive epigenetic reprogramming, including Xi reprogramming, yet Xa and Xi remain epigenetically asymmetric with, as partly observed in vivo, incomplete Xi reactivation. In humans and monkeys, the Xi epigenome in pluripotent stem cells functions as an Xi‐reprogramming determinant. We further show that developmental pathway over‐activations with suboptimal up‐regulation of relevant meiotic genes impede in vitro meiotic progression. Cy in vitro oogenesis exhibits critical homology with the human system, including with respect to bottlenecks, providing a salient model for advancing human in vitro oogenesis.
The transcriptional regulator Sin3A balances IL‐17A and Foxp3 expression in primary CD4 T cells
Authors: Perucho Laura , Icardi Laura , Di Simone Elisabetta , Basso Veronica , Agresti Alessandra , Vilas Zornoza Amaia , Lozano Teresa , Prosper Felipe , Lasarte Juan José , Mondino Anna
Published: March 2023

The Sin3 transcriptional regulator homolog A (Sin3A) is the core member of a multiprotein chromatin‐modifying complex. Its inactivation at the CD4/CD8 double‐negative stage halts further thymocyte development. Among various functions, Sin3A regulates STAT3 transcriptional activity, central to the differentiation of Th17 cells active in inflammatory disorders and opportunistic infections. To further investigate the consequences of conditional Sin3A inactivation in more mature precursors and post‐thymic T cell, we have generated CD4‐Cre and CD4‐CreERT2 Sin3AF/F mice. Sin3A inactivation in vivo hinders both thymocyte development and peripheral T‐cell survival. In vitro, in Th17 skewing conditions, Sin3A‐deficient cells proliferate and acquire memory markers and yet fail to properly upregulate Il17a, Il23r, and Il22. Instead, IL‐2+ and FOXP3+ are mostly enriched for, and their inhibition partially rescues IL‐17A+ T cells. Notably, Sin3A deletion also causes an enrichment of genes implicated in the mTORC1 signaling pathway, overt STAT3 activation, and aberrant cytoplasmic RORγt accumulation. Thus, together our data unveil a previously unappreciated role for Sin3A in shaping critical signaling events central to the acquisition of immunoregulatory T‐cell phenotypes.
Contribution of the immune response to stroke provides promising directions for future stroke immunotherapies
Authors: Manal ME Ahmed Manal ME Ahmed
Published: March 2023

In the entire world, stroke is a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Tissue plasminogen activator is the sole FDA-approved drug for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke at the moment. Despite the intensive search for new treatments, hundreds of drugs targeting various pathophysiological processes have failed clinical trials. The pathogenesis of risk factors, neurotoxicity, tissue remodelling, and healing are all stages of stroke that are impacted by the immune system. The brain and immune system communicate in both directions, and infection following a stroke is the main cause of patient mortality due to the immunosuppression it causes. While clinical sequelae like dementia may now potentially be described in terms of immunity, more recent research also suggests that the gut microbiota plays a role in the immunological response to stroke. Despite research indicating both harmful and positive actions, the precise roles of innate and adaptive components are still not well understood. If immunity and inflammation are neuroprotective or neurotoxic, time is a critical factor in determining this. In addition, it is evident that many suggested treatments are influenced by the local inflammatory environment. The most promising potential stroke immunotherapies are highlighted here as this review dissects the various elements of the immune response to stroke.
The increased cases of dengue fever in the early phase of covid-19 pandemic in Denpasar
Authors: LV Sridyantari , PD Adi , IM Subrata
Published: March 2023

At the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic in Denpasar, restrictions on community activities have been imposed in March 2020 and we find there has also been a spike in cases of dengue fever that showed an increase in January 2020 by 59 cases to 110 cases in February 2020 and 142 cases in the first week of March 2020. The purpose of the study was to find out the relationship between restrictions on community activities and dengue fever cases in Denpasar. This research uses qualitative method by interviews to 11 dengue fever program holders and 46 mosquito larva monitor officers in each village. Quantitative method by analysis of the secondary data of dengue fever case reports. Result shows if the people of Denpasar have good knowledge and behavior in managing mosquito larvae in their homes. The result of interviews due to the covid-19 pandemic, it can be known if the community is more often self-quarantined at home and cannot go out to public places to clean the environment that can be breeding habitats for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Therefore, during restrictions on community activities, we need to make a team to clean the environment like village water irrigation, tree holes etc.
Collective biomaterial interaction, Intuilish and quantum bioenergemal link
Authors: Alejandro Cuevas-Sosa Alejandro Cuevas-Sosa
Published: March 2023

In the biomaterial (BML; three-dimensional space-time) universe the human body and of all biospecies also includes the bioenergeme (BEG) or personal component of organized bioenergemal (BEL; related to the BEG) energy and a possible third virtual (temporal) component or biointerfaceme. When the body biocollapses (dies), the BEG detaches itself and naturally, via the biointerfacemal (BIFL; possible fourth dimension) universe, goes to the BEL universe (possible fifth dimension) where it remains indefinitely. Just as organisms intentionally or unintentionally interact with organisms of the same or other biospecies, in the same way the human BEG or of another biospecies can establish spontaneous BEL communication (BELC) through unnoticed bioimages and/or intuitions with another BEG from the BML or BEL universe or from this one to that one. Naturally, BELC usually occurs during dreams and we have achieved it through the bioimages that are usually presented when practicing relaxation. We have practiced this form of collective BEL interaction or biointeraction for 31 years and, in this article, I will address the specific issue of collective biointeraction (CB) that all biospecies carry out in every ecosystem of which we are a part in the BML universe −through the BIFL universe− or in the BEL universe in a way that we have explored, fostered and made known. Some of these CBs are so common that they form uniform guidelines or laws that deserve to be progressively raised and studied.
Hematological indicators and sperm quality of rams during the sexual rest period when fed a liposomal vitamin and mineral supplement
Authors:   Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv, 50 Pekarska str., Lviv, 79010, Ukraine, Sharan O. M. , Stefanyk V. Yu. ,   Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv, 50 Pekarska str., Lviv, 79010, Ukraine
Published: March 2023

The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of feeding a liposomal vitamin and mineral supplement during the period of sexual rest on hematological indicators and quality of ram sperm. The experiment was conducted at the PE “Kogut BM” in Horodotsky district, Lviv region, on 12 clinically healthy Texel rams, aged 2–4 years, during the period of sexual rest (March-May). Animals were divided into two groups — control and experimental, 6 animals per group. The control rams received the basic diet containing hay, corn silage, and compound feed. For 45 days, the sheep of the experimental group were individually added to the combined feed a feed additive containing vitamins A, D3, E, C and zinc gluconate in the form of a liposomal emulsion. At the beginning and at the end of feeding, we took blood samples, in which hematological indicators were determined. After the end of supplement feeding, ejaculates were collected twice a week in doublets for three weeks. Physiological indicators of ejaculate quality (volume, sperm concentration, percentage of live sperm, as well as sperm viability, morphological disorders and percentage of degenerative sperm) were determined using the CASA computerized system. It was established that feeding liposomal vitamin-mineral supplements to rams during the period of sexual rest improves hematological indicators: the content of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, platelets and hematocrit increase significantly (P<0.05–0.001) while the content of leukocytes decreases by 24.2% (P<0.05). Accordingly, the erythrocyte indices of the blood of experimental breeding rams were higher than those of control animals. Feeding rams with a liposomal vitamin and mineral supplement ensured an increase in ejaculate volume by 17.6% (P<0.05), sperm concentration (P<0.01), their viability, as well as a decrease in the number of immature (P<0.001) and degenerated (P<0.05) sperm. Higher quality indicators of ejaculates of rams under the influence of vitamins A, D3, E, C and zinc gluconate indicate the possibility of obtaining sperm from breeding rams during the period of sexual rest.
Gustaw Morcinek a Vojtěch Martínek
Authors: Martinek LIbor
Published: March 2023

The author of the expert article, who is a long-time researcher of literature on the Czech-Polish borderland, deals with the comparison of two writers from the wider Ostrava region – Gustaw Morcinek, who was born in Karviná and became a writer writing in Polish, and the Czech writer Vojtěch Martínek, a native of Brušperk near Frýdek-Místek. The comparison is based on biographical and substantive (fictional) or thematic aspects. In part, the author follows up on the impulses given by an older, typologically tuned comparative study of the studies of the Brno Polish rechearcher Krystyna Kardyni-Pelikánová, which was printed in the newspaper for the Polish national minority in the wider Ostrava region – Głos Ludu in 1975. We also note Polish sources that deal with the writer Gustav Morcinek in the context of regional Silesian literature, but also Polish national literature, such as Witold Nawrocký’s 1972 monograph about the writer, who was connected for a long time with his stay in the Silesian town of Skočov. Since the situation in the literary context of the Czech-Polish borders and in the area of wider Ostrava has changed relatively significantly since 1975, in addition to supplementing information and their sources, it was necessary to approach the current qualitative aspects of the reception of the works of both mentioned writers.
Indicadores de calidad para posturas microinjertadas de Theobroma cacao inoculadas con hongos micorrízicos arbusculares
Authors: Pérez-Díaz Alberto , Aranda-Azaharez Raúl , Rivera-Espinosa Ramón Antonio , Bustamante-González Carlos Alberto , Pérez-Suarez Yasmin
Published: March 2023

Introducción. Para el establecimiento adecuado de plantaciones de cacao, se deben garantizar tecnologías idóneas para la obtención de posturas (plantas jóvenes sembradas y desarrolladas en bolsas) de calidad en los viveros. Objetivo. Definir indicadores de calidad para posturas de cacao producida vía micro injertos, en función de las fuentes orgánicas y hongos micorrízicos arbusculares en un suelo Cambisol. Materiales y métodos. Entre 2018 y 2019, en el vivero de la Empresa Agroforestal y Coco de Baracoa, se evaluó la inoculación de las cepas Glomus cubense y Rhizoglomus irregulare en sustratos formados por humus de lombriz y cáscara de cacao compostada (3:1,5:1 v/v). Se utilizó un diseño completamente aleatorizado, con cincuenta posturas por tratamiento, de ellas se evaluaron veinticinco. A los cuatro meses se evaluó: altura, diámetro del tallo, masa seca aérea, radical y total, concentración de nutrientes foliares (N, P, K), área foliar, índice de esbeltez, índice de calidad Dickson (ICD) y porcentaje de colonización micorrízica. Se realizó un análisis de varianza de clasificación simple y se aplicó la prueba de comparación de Duncan (95 %). Resultados. La inoculación de G. cubense y R. irregulare, independiente de la fuente de abono orgánico, incrementaron significativamente la masa seca total (39 %), el área foliar (20 %) y el ICD (48 %), respecto los testigos. El ICD se relacionó significativamente (p<0,05) con la masa seca total y el área foliar (R2= 0,97). La inoculación con R. irregulare y G. cubense incrementaron las concentraciones foliares de N, P y K. Conclusiones. Las variables masa seca total, el área foliar, el índice de esbeltez y el ICD, mostraron un carácter integrador del crecimiento de la planta y pueden ser indicadores de calidad para los micro injertos de cacao, a partir de relaciones suelo : abonos orgánicos e inoculación con G. cubense y R. irregulare.
The development and functions of the inferential marker chog‘i in Uzbek
Authors: Üzüm Melike
Published: March 2023

In the evidential system of Uzbek, the speaker has different grammatical options in marking the source of information, such as -ibdi, ekan, emish, etc., although it is not compulsory to mark this category in the utterance. In addition to these established markers, new markers have developed into evidentials, and they encode specific sub-categories of evidentiality. In this study, after a brief overview of grammatical markers of evidentiality in Uzbek, the marker chog‘i is examined with a syntactic and semantic approach based on a corpus of selected texts. Its development into an inferential marker is evaluated with special attention to sources of evidentials.
The Phenomenon of the Development of Vocational Education in a Small Provincial Town of Russia in the late 19th – early 20th Centuries – Taking Cherepovets, Novgorod Province, as an Example
Authors: Svetlana Kasatkina , Illaria-Regina Lukhneva
Published: March 2023

The article examines the image of a small provincial Russian town in terms of the development of its vocational education institutions at the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries. The aim of the study is to form a concept of the relationship between the activities of professional educational institutions and the progressive development of urban areas of pre-revolutionary Russia. The study refers to the history of the Alexandrovsky Technical School and the Cherepovets Women's Vocational School to explain the criteria for the intensive development of Cherepovets in Novgorod region and to justify the high level of urban culture development. Methods used include systemic, geocultural, historical, and cultural ones. The important historical role of the activity of mayor I.A. Milyutin, who initiated the key reforms in Cherepovets, is emphasized. The novelty of the investigation is in using rare archival documents, formulating and proving the author's hypothesis, and taking a comprehensive look at the problem of socio-cultural development of a small provincial town in pre-revolutionary Russia, with Cherepovets as an example. The relevance of this historical research of a regional nature is undeniable today, as it allows for combining the facts of the past with the present, helps to realize the continuity of events in urban life and highlight key national processes along with local and regional ones for a better overview of further development prospects. In the difficult socio-economic realities of the late 19th – early 20th centuries, the development of an educational commercial vocational education for all castes and both sexes with the possibility of compensating for tuition fees by trustees is rare, demonstrating the success of the economy and culture of a particular provincial city. The authors analyze curricula on the basis of local history sources, consider various everyday aspects of the organization of vocational education in Cherepovets, and demonstrate the challenges they had to cope with. The educational institutions under study were successful before the historical turn of 1917. At the end of the study, the hypothesis of the relationship between the development of vocational education institutions and the urban environment is substantiated. The culture of professional labor of Cherepovets has become one of the strongest traditions of a small town in the Novgorod province which later transformed into the industrial center of the Vologda region.
Historical and Cultural Potential of Rural Settlements of Urban Type in Implementing the Geocultural Branding Strategy
Authors: Victor Chegodaev , Liliya Bazarieva
Published: March 2023

The article is devoted to the study of the rich historical and cultural heritage of large rural settlements of the Perm Territory, which had the status of urban-type settlements in the Soviet era. These settlements include Bolshaya Sosnova starting its history in the 16th century. In the 20th century, its population took an active part in mobilization campaigns to fight for literacy, create collective farms and state farms, take up residential construction jobs, and increase labor productivity in the agricultural sector. Bolshaya Sosnova had a developed agricultural sector, which made it possible to provide a decent standard of living in the countryside for local residents. A demographic shift occurred in the second half of the 20th century, due to which the settlement transformed into an agrarian-industrial settlement. However, in recent times, Bolshaya Sosnova and its local communities have faced serious challenges of the postperestroika period. Currently, the settlement is in a difficult socio-economic condition. The issues of preserving the historical heritage, creative practices of socio-cultural activities, the development of tourism and the hospitality industry are coming to the fore. The relevance of the topic is due to its scientific and social significance. The hypothesis is that the problems of territories can be solved by non-traditional applied methods and means, which should be based on a solid scientific background. The article reveals the main postulates of the concept of geocultural branding of cities and territories formulated by D.N. Zamyatin, which seems logical to be applied in practice. The aim of the study is to develop a geocultural branding strategy for Bolshaya Sosnova based on the unique historical and cultural potential of this area, aimed at its sustainable development. The use of the geocultural approach made it possible to identify and describe the historical and cultural resources that formed the conceptual core of the Svetlaya Sosnova geobrand. To achieve the aim, methods of historical science were used such as historical-comparative, historical-genetic, content analysis of historical documents, and phenomenological ones. The study draws on the published documents of state authorities and local self-government, historical and local history essays, materials of local periodicals, and the results of express surveys of the settlement residents.
The Potentiality of the Onset of the Post-City Stage in the Process of Transformation of the Geocultural Space of Perm (Anthropological Aspect)
Authors: Alexey Lesevitsky
Published: March 2023

The article investigates the potential of transformation of the Perm geocultural space into a post-urban construct of a non-classical type. The following research methods and principles have been used: the «synthetic deconstruction» method, the method of polyphonic dialogue of consciousnesses, the synergetism principle, the concept of «plurality of truth», criticism of global ideological narratives actualizing local anthropogenic archetypes of historical thinking. The study examines the historically determined correlation of pre-modern, modern, and postmodern geocultural patterns of the urban environment, focuses on the problem of «fragmentary eclecticism» of Perm. Within the framework of the concept of local history, the author analyzes the problem of the «polyphonic dialogue of geocultural consciousnesses» (M. M. Bakhtin), which helps to prevent the ideological «battle of the Gods» in a single space of urban locations. The article assesses the potential of turning the city into a «virtual post-urban construct», analyzes the possibilities of «revitalizing» the suburban and rural areas harmoniously integrated into virtual «network processes» (J. Baudrillard). The researcher analyzes the potential of the formation of a pattern of «mobile architecture» in the city of Perm with the widest possibilities of the most diverse variations of the construction of his «spatial imagination». In addition, this paper discusses methodological aspects of the emergence of biopolitics (M. Foucault) and the crisis of the managerial principle of the modern era «to supervise and punish». Alternative «soft» forms of control are considered within the network processes of «virtual Perm».
Intrathecal nonspecific immunoglobulin synthesis in syphilitic infection
Authors: Ponomareva Marina V. , Levchik Nadezhda K. , Zilberberg Natalya V/
Published: March 2023

Intrathecal Ig synthesis is one of the characteristic laboratory features of neurosyphilis (caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum able to affect the central nervous system (CNS), but a persisting pathogen-driven immune response is problem of scar effect. This long-term Ig production within the CNS compartment even after timely and proper treatment remains unexplored. We hypothesized that a long-term current chronic inflammation in the CNS caused by syphilitic infection can be a trigger of nonspecific humoral immune response and the scar effect may result from non-specific B cell activation within the CNS in the absence of antigens. The MRZ reaction is a laboratory tool for detection of intrathecal nonspecific humoral immune reaction, which is poorly investigated in syphilis patient. The MRZ reaction (MRZR) is used as a marker of intrathecal nonspecific humoral immune response and is composed of the three antibody indices (AI) against neurotropic viruses: measles, rubella and varicella zoster virus. A positive MRZR, defined as an elevated AIs ( 1.5) against at least one or more viral agents, confirms diagnosis of a chronic or autoimmune disease involving CNS recently declared as a highly specific marker of multiple sclerosis. Insufficient data on neuroinfections motivated us to examine a hypothesis that a long-term chronic inflammation within the CNS compartment caused by syphilitic infection may be a trigger of intrathecal nonspecific humoral immune response. We assessed prevalence of positive MRZR in 147 patients with later-stage syphilis seropositive for MRZ viruses. Study group included 43 patients with first-time diagnosed neurosyphilis, 16 patients with a follow-up visit after neurosyphilis treatment, 88 patients with excluded neurosyphilis. There were no significant differences between categories of patients examined, and presence of positive MRZR was not associated with any demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics. To sum up, our study (n = 147) showed that 27 patients (18%, 95% CI: 1225% ) were positive for intrathecal Ig production against one, two or three of the M, R, Z viruses, and bi- and tri-specific MRZR was present in 7 of 147 patients (5%, 95% CI: 210%). The data obtained evidence that frequency of the MRZR for syphilitic infection matches that of found in general population and a long-term current syphilitic infection affecting CNS seems to not be a trigger of a nonspecific intrathecal immune response. Among our patients, we also selected 43 patients with previously treated syphilitic infection without any neurological symptoms and excluded neurosyphilis diagnosis, so these patients can be considered as an apparently healthy group.
STABILITY ANALYSIS OF BIOCONVECTIVE HEAT TRANSFER IN A SUSPENSION OF GYROTACTIC MICROORGANISMS UNDER VERTICAL VIBRATION
Authors: Kushwaha Atul Kumar , Sharma Y. D. , Sharma A.
Published: March 2023

Vertical vibration is an important technique to reduce or increase the bioconvective heat transfer. It has great applications in biotechnology, biomedicine, enhancing oil recovery, mixing in microvolumes, analysis of whole body vibration (WBV), and industry. The present study aims to investigate the influence of vertical vibration on the initiation of thermo-bioconvection in a suspension of randomly swimming gyrotactic microorganisms in a shallow thermally stratified horizontal fluid layer. The time-averaged method, linear stability analysis, and single-term Galerkin technique with different boundary layers are employed on the set of field equations. A secular equation is obtained in terms of vibrational and bioconvectional parameters for rigid-rigid and rigid-free boundary conditions. The analysis reported that vertical vibration destabilizes the suspension due to randomly swimming of gyrotactic microorganisms, i.e., enhancing the rate of bioconvective heat transfer. The authors also found that pertinent controlling parameters influence the size of the cell of vibrational thermo-bioconvection. It is observed that the diffusion and average volume of randomly swimming microorganisms affect the bioconvective heat transfer of the vibrational system inversely.
Enhancing of teeth remineralization by electric field aid (in vitro study)
Authors: Khalil Alaa Mahmoud , El-Khatib Ahmed Mohamed , Hamouda Rasha , ElShabrawy Sonia Morsy , Kandil Sherif Hussein
Published: March 2023

One of the major challenges in teeth remineralization is the slow rate of mineralization. In this study, an electric-field-aided mineralization system was developed for rapidly regenerating teeth-like structures rapidly. The efficacy of application of an electric field combined with nano-chitosan gel, casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate gel and their mixture was investigated as a remineralizing accelerator for artificially demineralized teeth. Teeth samples were demineralized by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and subsequently subjected to treatment with each gel alone and in combination with an electric field (20 mA, 5 min). The structural analyses of the teeth samples were performed by using a scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction patterns, and their hardness was obtained through Vickers microhardness tests. The results revealed that the addition of chitosan to casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate enhanced the remineralization of the tooth structure compared with using each one individually. Furthermore, the application of an electric field enhanced teeth hardness and showed the highest rate of remineralization. In conclusion, the proposed technique could be safely used to reduce the time consumed in remineralization and it may be used efficiently to increase tooth quality. It is suggested to study other biophysical parameters of using electric fields for in vivo applications.
Discrete-element method modelling of structural clay
Authors: Xu Jiawei , Ye Junneng , Sun Jin , Bian Xuecheng
Published: March 2023

Clay structures are mainly formed by cementation between particles, and play an important role in the weakening and failure of foundations when disturbed. Existing constitutive models reflect the failure characteristics of clay from the phenomenological aspect, while the mechanism of clay damage from a microscopic perspective remains unclear. Herein, the discrete-element method is used together with the bond and cohesive contact model (to capture the cohesion and structure of soft clay, respectively) to reproduce the cementation of clay; numerical models of the confined compression test, vane shear test and triaxial test are established, aiming to reveal the influence of a clay's structure on its deformation and failure process. Results show that the deformation and stress–strain development agree well with experimental findings at the macroscopic level. Moreover, the relationship between structural failure and macroscopic mechanical behaviour can be established, which is helpful for revealing the failure mechanism of structural clay. Considering the development of a failure surface at the micro scale, optimised suggestions are proposed for conventional shear stress calculation in the vane shear test. The method used has potential to simulate the mechanical behaviour of structural clay and carries significant implications for improvement of constitutive models and engineering design.
Automated, technified and traditional aquaponic systems
Authors: Vaca Vargas Sergio Alejandro , García Navarrete Óscar Leonardo , Colorado Gómez Mario Andrés
Published: March 2023

Aquaponics are defined as hydroponic crops merged with recirculating aquaculture systems and bacteria, achieving a synergic relationship that takes fish wastewater and uses it in order to grow plants, then the last one in association with nitrifying bacteria are used as a natural filter that removes dissolved nitrogen, ammonia, among others, controlling the fish waste accumulation. Nowadays there are different research areas in aquaponics, from ones focused on the applied techniques in aquaculture and hydroponic sub-systems; through applied sciences such as modeling from both physical and chemical systems; arriving to the types of aquaponics, qualified from technification grades; concluding with fish and plant crop species and their interaction. In this paper a systematic review is carried out in order to observe the research current state in automated, technified and traditional aquaculture systems, thus having a sight of the investigative orientation in this field. This review is based on scientific papers from four databases, taken in March of 2020, obtaining 1356 results, evaluated and filtered for further analysis. From the review it was found that there is an exponential quantity growth in papers per year, moreover, it is noted that the paper fields of greatest concentration are aquaculture, agriculture, environment, water analysis, horticulture and electronics, the most worked species are lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in hydroponic NFT and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in single recirculating aquaponic systems (SRAPS). With the obtained data it was built a diagram that consolidates current research branches in aquaponics.
KARBON EMİSYONLARININ BELİRLEYİCİLERİ: SEÇİLMİŞ AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ ÜLKELERİ İÇİN MEKÂNSAL BULGULAR
Authors: BERKE Burcu , HUYUGÜZEL KIŞLA Gül Şerife
Published: March 2023

Dünyada giderek artan iklim değişikliğinin temel nedenlerinden biri “karbon emisyonlarının yükselmesi”dir. Literatürde karbon emisyonlarının geleneksel belirleyicilerinin yaygın olarak araştırılmasına karşın, finansal gelişme, yenilenebilir enerji ve gelir eşitsizliğinin bu emisyonlarda yaratabileceği olası etkiler daha az tartışılmaktadır. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın temel amacı 1991-2018 döneminde seçilmiş Avrupa Birliği ülkeleri için karbon emisyonlarının belirleyicilerini mekânsal panel veri yöntemini kullanarak araştırmaktır. Çalışmada diğer kontrol değişkenlerinin (kentleşme ve büyüme) etkileri kontrol edildikten sonra gelir eşitsizliği ve finansal gelişme arttıkça karbon emisyonları artarken, yenilenebilir enerji tüketimi arttıkça bu emisyonların azaldığı veya çevresel kalitenin iyileştiği sonucuna varılmaktadır. Ayrıca, büyüme oranı arttıkça karbon emisyonlarının belli bir eşik değere kadar artıp daha sonra azalacağı fikrine dayanan “çevresel Kuznets eğrisi” hipotezinin de geçerli olduğu görülmektedir. Bu sonuçlar, seçilmiş Avrupa Birliği ülkeleri için karbon emisyonlarının yanı sıra iklim değişikliklerinin azaltılabilmesinin yenilenebilir enerjiyi destekleyecek politikalara bağlı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Dolayısıyla, karbon yoğun kömürden düşük karbonlu gaza veya fosil yakıttan nükleer enerji veya yenilenebilir enerji doğru kaymalar, toplam küresel emisyonlarının düzeyini azaltabilir.
SHS of cast materials in the Mo-Al-C system
Authors: Gorshkov V. A. , Miloserdov P. A. , Kovalev D. Yu. , Boyarchenko O. D.
Published: March 2023

Materials based on molybdenum-aluminium-carbon compounds have a considerable potential for use under intense wear conditions at elevated temperatures. This paper presents the experimental results of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of compounds within the Mo-Al-C system. By combining two processes: SHS of the elements and SHS-metallurgy, cast materials containing the Mo3Al2C, Mo2C, Mo3Al, and Mo3Al8 phases were obtained. The experiments used mixtures with compositions calculated according to the ratio (1 - α)(3MoO3-8Al-C)/α(3Mo-2Al-C), where a varied in the range from 0 to 1. The synthesis was carried out in a laboratory reactor of 3 L volume at an initial argon pressure of 5 MPa. The mass of the initial mixtures in all experiments was 20 g. The process of combustion was initiated by a 0.5 mm diameter molybdenum wire spiral by applying 28 V voltage to it. The resulting end products were studied by X-ray diffraction and local microstructural analysis. A significant influence of the ratio of the initial reagents on the synthesis parameters, phase composition, and microstructure of the target products was established. Introduction into the high-exothermic mixture 3MoO3-8Al-C inert “cold” mixture 3Mo-2Al-C leads to an increase in the content of carbide phases in the ingots. The possibility of obtaining cast materials based on the triple phase Mo3Al2C, the maximum content of which is 87 wt. % at the content of the “cold” mixture in the charge α = 0.4 is shown. The presence of secondary phases of molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) and molybdenum aluminides (Mo3Al8 , Mo3Al) in the final products is due to a change in the composition of the initial mixture caused by the ejection of components during combustion and insufficient existence time of the melt formed in the combustion wave.
Convergent validity of the Occupational Therapy Adult Perceptual Screening Test (OT-APST) with two other cognitive-perceptual tools in a South African context
Authors: Razemba Fadzai , Jacobs Lizelle , Franzsen Denise
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Occupational therapists working in the field of neuro-rehabilitation need to use screening tools which demonstrate validity and reliability to correctly identify patients with cognitive-perceptual impairments. The Occupational Therapy Adult Perceptual Screening Test (OT-APST) is a screening tool which was developed to identify patients with visual perceptual problems and apraxia following a stroke or other forms of acquired brain injury. Other instruments commonly used in South Africa are the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) and the Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery (RPAB). These tools evaluate similar constructs such as visual agnosia, body scheme, unilateral neglect and constructional skills but are too lengthy to use as screening tools. The aim of the study was to determine the convergent validity of the OT-APST with two other cognitive-perceptual tools, namely the Dynamic Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (DLOTCA) and the RPAB when administered to patients with a primary diagnosis of stroke. METHOD: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 32 participants with a primary diagnosis of stroke. Participants completed the three tools and subscales were compared with the DLOTCA cognitive areas and the RPAB items. RESULTS: Five subscales of the OT-APST had significant correlations with similar DLOTCA and/or the RPAB subscales. Only the Apraxia subscale did not correlate with the referencing tools. CONCLUSION: This study provides further evidence of the convergent validity of the OT-APST when compared to the DLOTCA and RPAB. Although the OT-APST was standardised on an Australian population, it proved to be another option of a visual perceptual screening tool to identifying visual perceptual problems in patients with stroke in South Africa. Key words: Cognitive-perceptual, stroke, convergent validity, Occupational Therapy Adult Perceptual Screening Test (OT-APST), Dynamic Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (DLOTCA), Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery (RPAB)
Effects of Smoking on Outcomes of Thyroid Eye Disease Treated with Teprotumumab: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: O'Dell Jordan , Mussatto Caroline , Chu Rachel , Al-Sabbagh Mohammed , Timoney Peter , Sokol Jason
Published: March 2023

Introduction. Smoking has been demonstrated to worsen the disease process and conventional treatment outcomes of thyroid eye disease. However, the effects of smoking on outcomes of thyroid eye disease treated with the novel therapeutic teprotumumab are currently unknown. Our study compares response to teprotumumab treatment between smokers and non-smokers with thyroid eye disease.  
Methods. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with thyroid eye disease who had started or completed therapy with teprotumumab at the time of our data collection. Main outcome measures included reduction in clinical activity score, diplopia, and proptosis.
Results. We found that all smokers had type 2 thyroid eye disease prior to treatment and demonstrated less improvement in diplopia, proptosis, and overall clinical activity score compared to non-smokers with thyroid eye disease. There was no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers in baseline variables (sex, TSH, T4, T3, number of infusions completed). Data analysis revealed statistically significant difference in proptosis reduction between non-smokers and smokers.
Conclusions. Smoking is a modifiable risk factor which portends a worse response to treatment of thyroid eye disease with teprotumumab.
ГЕНДЕРНАЯ СПЕЦИФИКА ОПЛАТЫ ТРУДА И ИНВЕСТИРОВАНИЯ В РАЗВИТИЕ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНЫХ КАЧЕСТВ РАБОТНИКОВ АРАБСКИХ ОТЕЛЕЙ
Authors: Сармад База
Published: March 2023

Цель исследования — поиск вариантов рационального распределения инвестиций в рост профессиональных качеств работников арабских отелей с учетом гендерного фактора и действующей системы оплаты их труда.

Методологическую базу исследования составляют методы сравнительного и динамического научного анализа и оценки влияния инвестиций на повышение качества человеческого капитала в отелях Египта.

Результаты исследования. Геополитические и геоэкономические изменения в мировой системе с одной стороны, и масштабное внедрение цифровых технологий и вызванное этим изменение характера трудовых отношений с другой стороны создали принципиально новую, сложную среду и условия деятельности хозяйствующих субъектов, включая туристический и гостиничный секторы. Важность качественной рабочей силы во всех сферах, в том числе в сфере туризма, особенно важна в период кризиса. Пандемия коронавируса и текущий глобальный кризис оказали огромное негативное влияние на туристическую отрасль и ее трудовые ресурсы. В данном контексте большая роль принадлежит инвестициям в человеческий капитал, которые являются важным инструментом повышения профессиональных качеств работников туристических компаний, что положительно влияет на их заработную плату. В арабских отелях на эффективность направляемых на эти цели инвестиций сильно влияет гендерная специфика трудовых ресурсов, что не столь распространено в других странах. Данная статья направлена на поиск вариантов рационального использования инвестиций в трудовые ресурсы с целью развития профессиональных качеств работников арабских отелей с учетом гендерного фактора, что положительно скажется на качестве системы оплаты их руда. С помощью методов сравнительного и динамического анализа на примере египетских отелей представлены результаты инвестирования в повышение качества человеческого капитала сотрудников с учетом их пола и опыта работы. Полученные рекомендации стандартизированы, что делает возможным их использование в других отелях арабского мира.

Перспективы исследования заключаются в разработке и апробации сценарного подхода к повышению качества человеческого капитала работников туристических и гостиничных компаний.