Characterization Research Articles

Modeling Morality-Based Argumentation for Believable Game Characters: A Design Postmortem

An ability to morally reason is crucial to the believability of many fictional characters, from Jane Austen’s heroines to the denizens of The Good Place. These works often foreground the complexity of moral questions and the circumstances un- der which different forms of behavior might be justified. Morality is also foregrounded in many games, from Black and White to Mass Effect 3. Yet, most in-game characters judge other characters (or the player) based on a single reputation scale or binary values of right and wrong. There has been little exploration in games of the relationship between char- acter values and beliefs and moral reasoning. In keeping with this year’s conference theme, “Oh the Humanity,” this design postmortem paper describes the design and development of Argument Box, a model of moral argumentation and reason- ing based on Lakoff’s metaphor theory of moral politics. We describe our design approach, iterations, and authoring con- cerns — covering what went right and wrong in our attempts to model morality-based argumentation for believable game characters.

Isolation and characterization of a DREB homolog gene from a local drought-tolerant maize cultivar

Isolation and characterization of a DREB homolog gene from a local drought-tolerant maize cultivar

Characterization of Botryosphaeria dothidea as new pathogen of kiwifruit in Iran

Characterization of Botryosphaeria dothidea as new pathogen of kiwifruit in Iran

The usage of different fertilizer type in same soil character ization improvements in Tikrit

This study included the effected of using different types of organic fertilizer in some soil chemical characterization productivity of okra plant. The experiment were designed  according (R.C.B.D),  with three replicates by using fertilizers remnants of cows and poultry, sludge were used. Three levels(10,20,40) ton/hectare were  used in comparison with different levels of mineral fertilizer (150+115+115), (230+230+300), (460+460+600) Kg/hectare .This treatment resulted in reduction of soil organic materials, which approached 2.53% as compared with organic fertilizers and increased, phosphorus and potassium levels. While the sludge treatment  increased organic material ,phosphorus and potassium  over 40 ton/hectare, as well as in an increase in the plant chlorophil contents. This increase was approximately 3.52mg/g. In overall comparison between the various fertilizers, the sludge produced equal effect with the different mineral fertilizers levels.  

DOCTRINAL PROBLEMS FORENSIC EXAMINATION IN THE INTEGRATIVE DOCTRINE OF EVIDENCE-BASED LAW

The article reveals the problems of forensic examination in the integrative doc- trine of evidentiary law, taking into account the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, procedural legislation, the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, and judicial precedents of the Supreme Court of Ukraine. In the context of the formation of its doctrinal principles and individual legal in- stitutions, we propose to consolidate here the provisions of the following content: “The evidence is the factual data obtained in accordance with the procedure pro- vided by law that meet the requirements of belonging to the case, admissibility and reliability”. “Factual data obtained during the conduct of expert studies, investigators or other procedural or regulated by separate laws of research actions can be used in legal evidence, provided that the source and method of their obtaining, the evi- dence obtained, are not “fruits of a poisonous tree” are clarified and can be verified. The peculiarities of the expert's conclusions and written conclusions of special- ists are disclosed, and a simplified procedure for assigning examinations and the formation of the results of expert research is proposed. It is concluded that it is necessary to adopt a universal legislative act – the “Code of Evidence”. It is proposed to include in its conceptual model the norms of the gen- eral and special parts. In the general part, at the integrative level, intersectoral char- acters should be set out, norms common for all forms of legal proceedings, which will determine the concepts and types of evidence and the criteria for their admissi- bility. In a special part, modern norms should be laid down – standards of evidentiary law governing the receipt, research, verification, evaluation, and use of evidence, the production of forensic examinations. It is proposed to differentiate art and humanitarian examination, the need to ex- pand the types of examinations and the formation of the subject and features of such independent examinations as forensic and humanitarian, legal, stock market exam- ination, environmental and land examination are being bypassed. Key words: examinations, expert conclusions, evidence, evidentiary law.

[Immunotyping of lymphocytes in the gastric mucosa of patients infected by H. pylori in two regions with contrast in the risk of developing gastric cancer].

To compare the immune response in gas tric mucosa of H. pylori infected patients in two regions comparing the risk of developing gastric can cer. 71 participants with symptoms of dyspepsia were included. The samples for biopsies were collected from different regions of the gastric mucosa; the identification of H. pylori was carried out by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the ureA gene. For the characteri zation of the histopathological alterations and the immunophenotyping of lymphocytes, anti-human mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for each antigen were used: T lymphocytes: CD3 and CD8; B lymphocytes: CD20; Natural Killer Cells: CD56; Macrophages: CD68. The prevalence of H. pylori was 83.1%, the predominant types of gastritis were chronic gastritis and multifocal atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia (63.4% and 22.5%, respectively). The cellular response was charac terized mainly by polymorphonuclear lymphocytes and positive anti-CD8 reactivity both in stroma and epithelium. Multifocal atrophic gastritis was more prevalent in the high-risk region for gastric cancer (GC) while non-atrophic gastritis and the expression of CD3 and CD8 antigens in the foveolar epithelium was higher in the low-risk region.

Identification and Charact Erization of Uniquely and Commonly LncRNAs  And mRNAs in Different Female Reproductive Tissues of Hu Sheep with High Prolificacy

Identification and Charact Erization of Uniquely and Commonly LncRNAs  And mRNAs in Different Female Reproductive Tissues of Hu Sheep with High Prolificacy

Получение и свойства мезопористых пленок MoS-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-

Molybdenum disulfide is a crystalline material which attracts considerable attention due to explicit two-dimensional cha- racter of its electronic properties. To obtain MoS2 films thermally evaporated molybdenum and gaseous H2S were used as precursors in this work. As a result of chemical reaction of these precursors films consisting of flake-like of nanometer thickness assembled from parallel atomic layers with predominantly perpendicular (with respect to substrate surface) orientation were deposited on the surface of Si substrate. In this work we investigate the dependence of film morphology on deposition time, substrate temperature and concentration of precursors in gaseous phase. Presence of mono- and bi-layered structures in the film was revealed using Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Dependence of photoluminescence properties on size of crystallites in produced films was also studied.

DYNAMICS OF DESIRE: GIFT GIVING AND RECIPROCITY IN ANCIENT GREEK HOMOEROTIC COURTSHIP COURTSHIP

The article addresses the problem of reciprocity in homoerotic relationships in classical Athens. According to the more traditional approach, the pecking ord er model ’’, these typically a symmetrical relationships almost inevitably involved humiliation of one of the partners, who literally or metaphorically assumed a passive and therefore u n manly role. Although more recent studies tend to underline the arti fici al cha racter of these schola rly reconstructions, they still fail to account for the nuances of ancient homoerotic courtship. I argue that some sources often used by scholars as reflec t ing negative attitudes towards homoeroticism may actually t estify to the existenc e of very clear rules of highly valued and praised behaviours of passive partners. T h ese rules formed an implicit grammar of social actions but were never explicitly codified.

Escape to Germany in Syrian Television Drama: From Cross-Cultural Gender Constructions to Transnational Tropes of Masculinity and Homeland

Looking at programs from the 1960s onward, this article shows the persistence and evolution of the gender imbalance in Syrian television characters' relationships with Germany. Before the 2011 uprising, screenwriters linked women charac ters to Germany as a way to challenge patriarchal standards of sexuality and gendered conceptions of national belonging. As the war has ensued, this trope has vanished. Meanwhile, long-standing narratives about men emigrating to Germany continue to represent abandonment of the homeland and have become intensified through nationalist nostalgia.

ALSTaR Cells - Novel Stem-cell-based Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Research Protocol

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in the loss of motor neurons leading to limb paralysis and eventual death. Stem cell transplantation can be used to replenish the atrophied motor neurons and slow the progression of the disease, while the use of biomaterials, genetic engineering, and nanoparticles can reduce the hostility of the microenvironment. Thus, we propose a novel combinatorial therapeutic approach termed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Therapeutic and Regenerative (ALSTaR) cell treatment. Methods: This unified strategy will employ miRNA-124 and chitosan polyplex biomaterial to subsequently enhance engraftment of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which will be engineered to overexpress an autophagy-regulatory gene, TFEB, and secrete an autophagy-inducing drug, trehalose. We will bioengineer an organoid model of the ventral column of the spinal cord which will be used for extensive in vitro characterization of ALSTaR cells through single-slice electrophysiology and immunocytochemistry, followed by in vivo work. Using the SOD1G93A mutant mouse model, weekly behavioural assessments of motor recovery will be conducted until the humane endpoint; thereafter extensive immunohistochemical and protein quantification analyses will be performed to determine treatment efficacy. Results: ALSTaR cell treatment should result in motor functional recovery and lifespan elongation through several cellular and molecular mechanisms, including decreased neuroinflammation, upregulation of autophagy, degradation of protein aggregates, enhancement of transplanted cell integration, and regeneration of axons. Discussion: In vitro characterization of ALSTaR cells in bioengineered spinal cord organoids will reveal stable electrophysiological recordings of motor neurons, higher levels of neuronal differentiation markers, and lower levels of inflammation markers in the ALSTaR group compared to the control group or the groups treated with just the biomaterial or just the NPCs, suggesting neuronal recovery. Behavioural assessments in the ALS mouse model will reveal increased motor coordination, neuromuscular strength, and motor activity in the ALSTaR group compared to other groups, suggesting motor functional recovery. In vivo characteriz ation of ALSTaR cells in the ALS mouse model will suggest enhanced stem cell integration and recovery of cellular and molecular processes. Conclusion: With currently no effective treatment for ALS, this novel combinatorial treatment strategy could improve the health-related quality of life of patients suffering from this debilitating disease.

“A distortive glass of our distorted glebe”: mistranslation in Nabokov’s Ada

This article examines the theme of mistranslation in Nabokov ’s Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle in the context of the novel’s multilingual style. Focusing on a selection of deliberate mistranslations carried out by the cen-tral protagonists, Van and Ada Veen, the article demonstrates that such playful mistranslation serves a function that is much more significant than mere parody. Though, on the surface, the mistranslations parody those forms of ‘paraphrastic’ or ‘free’ translation that Nabokov and his cha racters consistently critique throughout Ada, each instance of deliberately ‘bad’ translation also contains extremely inventive forms of interlingual mutation and play which have aesthetically-productive defamiliarising effects. The article relates those instances of explicit mistranslation to the overall style of the novel, arguing that problems of interlingual transfer and communication are intrinsic to the multilingual aesthetic of the novel as a whole.

Synthesis and Characterization of Benzoxazinone Derivatives

The present work reports synthesis and characterization of different benzoxazinone derivatives. 2-methyl-7-nitro-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one was prepared by refluxing 4- nitroanthranilic acid with acid anhydride. Derivatives of 2-methyl-7-nitro-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one were synthesized by condensation of it with different anilines. Elemental analysis and NMR spectral studies were used to confirm the formation of compounds.

Effects of NiMoO4 impregnation on the catalytic activity of Cu3 (PO4)2 in the conversion of isopropanol

Hereby, we are describing the synthesis and characterization concerning acid -basic properties of catalysts containing varied amounts of NiMo (2-14 wt % of NiMoO 4 ) worn on copper orthophosphate whose its preparation was executed employing a co-precipitation method, to which we introduced the Nickel-Molydenum by impregnation with a porous volume at several stages, succeeded by calcination under air at a different temperature. The employed techniques for solids’ characterization were XRD to identify different phases, Nitrogen adsorption at-196°C. and catalytic conversion of isopropanol at different temperatures’ reaction ranging from 180 to 400 °C. The outcome revealed that the solids NiMo/CuP mainly consisted of copper phosphate Cu 3 (PO 4 ) 2 together with NiMoO 4 as minor phase. The NiMoO 4 crystallinity’s degree increases by increasing Nickel-Molydenum. It was discovered that the specific area (S BET ) of the studied system will slightly increase by the increase in NiMoO 4 content. The catalytic activity in isopropanol conversion which proceeds via dehydration yielding propene increases as a function of extent of loading.

Palm oil and cinnamon (anti-microbial agent) on the physicochemical, mechanical, and biodegradation properties of micrometer-sized cornstarch-based bioplastic

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the addition of palm oil and cinnamon on the physicochemical, mechanical, and biodegradation properties of cornstarch-based bioplastic. Experiments were done by adding cornstarch into water, glycerol, acetic acid, and cinnamon. Then, the mixed suspension was heated at 100⁰C, added with palm oil (0.19; 0.30; 0.60; 0.90; 1.30; 1.90 %(v/v)), molded, and dried at room temperature without exposure to sunlight. To support the analysis, several characterizations (i.e. FTIR, digital microscope, puncture test, compressive test, and biodegradability test) were conducted. Based on puncture and compressive test, the bioplastic with an addition of 1.90 %(v/v) palm oil showed good mechanical properties. In general, the addition of palm oil increased the biodegradation rate. The palm oil contains double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids that can be distributed to the bioplastic matrix. Higher lipid content caused less moisture in the bioplastic so that the bioplastic was more brittle, inelastic, and degradable. However, the antimicrobial amount in the cinnamon reduced the biodegradability of bioplastic. This research provided new information on bioplastics as environmentally friendly plastic and alternative to conventional plastic.

Fabrication and Characterization of High-Voltage NiO/β-Ga2O3 Heterojunction Power Diodes

This work presents the fabrication and characterization of a high-performance vertical Nickel oxide (NiO)/Beta gallium oxide ( β-Ga <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> ) heterojunction p-n diode. The heterojunction was fabricated by sputtering a p-NiO thin film onto an epitaxial n <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-</sup> - β-Ga <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> drift layer. The sputtered NiO, revealed to be polycrystalline, showed an improved crystallinity after annealed in an oxygen ambient, while a seamless contact with the underneath single crystalline β-Ga <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> was observed. A high hole concentration of 1- 3×10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">19</sup> cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-3</sup> and an improved Ohmic contact were also obtained by the annealing process, as confirmed by the Hall and TLM measurements, respectively. A high breakdown voltage ( V <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">B</sub> ) of 1.4 kV and a low specific ON-resistance ( R <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">on,sp</sub> ) of 2.7 mΩ·cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> were simultaneously achieved for the fabricated diodes, yielding a superior Baliga's figure-of-merit (BFoM) of 0.73 GW/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> . From the temperature-dependent current-voltage ( I- V) measurements, two carrier transport mechanisms, namely interface recombination and multistep tunneling, have been identified in the forward conduction of the NiO/ β-Ga <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> heterojunction. The fast recovery property of the device, which was revealed by a double-pulse test, further confirmed the purposed carrier transport mechanisms.

KARAKTERISTIK FISIKOKIMIA MINYAK BIJI KELOR (Moringa oleivera L.)

In this study, moringa seeds extracted for oil were extracted from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Moringa seed oil is obtained by extraction using n-hexane solvents. The extraction method used is the Soxhletasi method at a temperature of 68 o C, and is further separated between the solvent and its oil using rotavapor. Moringa seed oil obtained further characterized its physical and chemical properties. Characterization of the physical and chemical properties of moringa seed oil includes density, viscosity, saponification number, iodine number, acidic number, and peroxide number. The results showed that moringa seeds contained 28.6% oil. For testing of physical parameters of moringa seed oil obtained density of 0.912 g/ml, and viscosity of 1,054 cps. For testing chemical parameters obtained saponification number 18.65, acid number 132.42, iodine number 66.46, and peroxide number 6.8 meg/kg Key Words : moringa seed oil, extraction, characteri zation , fatty acids, peroxides

Synthesis and characterization of some molybdenum-containing glass-ceramics

Synthesis and characterization of some molybdenum-containing glass-ceramics

Conductive chitosan-graft-polyaniline copolymer: synthesis and characterization

Conductive chitosan-graft-polyaniline copolymer: synthesis and characterization

2021 TSOC Expert Consensus on the Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Clinical Management of Cardiac Manifestations of Fabry Disease.

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked, rare inherited lysosomal storage disease caused by α-galactosidase A gene variants resulting in deficient or undetectable α-galactosidase A enzyme activity. Progressive accumulation of pathogenic globotriaosylceramide and its deacylated form globotriaosylsphingosine in multiple cell types and organs is proposed as main pathophysiology of FD, with elicited pro-inflammatory cascade as alternative key pathological process. The clinical manifestations may present with either early onset and multisystemic involvement (cutaneous, neurological, nephrological and the cardiovascular system) with a progressive disease nature in classic phenotype, or present with a later-onset course with predominant cardiac involvement (non-classical or cardiac variant; e.g. IVS4+919G>A in Taiwan) from missense variants. In either form, cardiac involvement is featured by progressive cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, various arrhythmias, and heart failure known as Fabry cardiomyopathy with potential risk of sudden cardiac death. Several plasma biomarkers and advances in imaging modalities along with novel parameters, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR: native T1/T2 mapping) for myocardial tissue characterization or echocardiographic deformations, have shown promising performance in differentiating from other etiologies of cardiomyopathy and are presumed to be helpful in assessing the extent of cardiac involvement of FD and in guiding or monitoring subsequent treatment. Early recognition from extra-cardiac red flag signs either in classic form or red flags from cardiac manifestations in cardiac variants, and awareness from multispecialty team work remains the cornerstone for timely managements and beneficial responses from therapeutic interventions (e.g. oral chaperone therapy or enzyme replacement therapy) prior to irreversible organ damage. We aim to summarize contemporary knowledge based on literature review and the gap or future perspectives in clinical practice of FD-related cardiomyopathy in an attempt to form a current expert consensus in Taiwan.