Special Chamber Research Articles

Effect of classical music vs. rock music on gene expression patterns in Oryza sativa

This study delves into the fascinating connection between music and plant behaviour, specifically focusing on how classical and rock music affect Oryza sativa. Using careful experiments, we investigate how these different musical styles influence gene expression and growth in these plants. In special music chambers, we exposed Oryza sativa to classical and rock music separately. This unique setup allowed us to explore how the plants react to different musical sounds and rhythms. Our analysis of gene expression in Oryza sativa exposed to both types of music yielded intriguing results. For instance, the gene rbcS, which is crucial for photosynthesis, responded differently. Classical music led to a small increase in its expression after 20 days, while rock music caused a distinct change that set it apart from both the control group and the classical music group. This suggests that the two types of music can affect how well Oryza sativa carries out photosynthesis. Looking deeper, we found that the XTH8 gene, linked to cell wall remodelling, responded more to classical music. This echoes findings from similar genes in other plants, hinting at a universal connection between sound vibrations and plant structure. On the other hand, rock music triggered a different pattern, emphasizing how the two genres can create unique effects in plants. Lastly, the AGPL gene, which is tied to starch production, reacted more to classical music on day 20. This could mean that classical music might help these plants store more energy. In contrast, rock music led to a different response, again highlighting the distinct impact of the genre.

Aspects of the creation and judicial activity of the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo and the Role of the Republic of Albania

Abstract Since the end of the Kosovo conflict in 1999, various international and national courts have investigated serious war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region. In 2015, the Kosovo Specialized Chambers (SCK) and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) were established to investigate specific allegations of war crimes, particularly those linked to members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during and after the conflict. Although the Court is legally part of Kosovo’s system, it faces strong opposition within the latter, due to its location outside the country and its exclusion of Kosovo nationals from its staff. The trials of key KLA figures, many of whom have held major political roles in the country, have sparked significant debate both in Kosovo and internationally. This manuscript will examine the legal foundation, structure, and scope of the SCK and SPO, and how they compare to other international courts. It will also review the indictments and ongoing trials of former KLA members. Additionally, the article will explore Albania’s diplomatic efforts, particularly its campaign to challenge allegations of organ trafficking mentioned in a 2011 Council of Europe report, which played a key role in the creation of the Court. By looking at the Court’s activities, the article will offer insights into its impact on Kosovo’s international standing.

Wearable Sensor Node for Safety Improvement in Workplaces: Technology Assessment in a Simulated Environment.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been universally recognized for its role in protecting workers from injuries and illnesses. Smart PPE integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enable continuous monitoring of workers and their surrounding environment, preventing undesirable events, facilitating rapid emergency response, and informing rescuers of potential hazards. This work presents a smart PPE system with a sensor node architecture designed to monitor workers and their surroundings. The sensor node is equipped with various sensors and communication capabilities, enabling the monitoring of specific gases (VOC, CO2, CO, O2), particulate matter (PM), temperature, humidity, positional information, audio signals, and body gestures. The system utilizes artificial intelligence algorithms to recognize patterns in worker activity that could lead to risky situations. Gas tests were conducted in a special chamber, positioning capabilities were tested indoors and outdoors, and the remaining sensors were tested in a simulated laboratory environment. This paper presents the sensor node architecture and the results of tests on target risky scenarios. The sensor node performed well in all situations, correctly signaling all cases that could lead to risky situations.

Unveiling the ‘author’ of international law — The ‘legal effect’ of ICJ’s advisory opinions

Abstract While it is universally accepted that the advisory opinions rendered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ or Court) are not binding as such, scholarly discourse continues to ponder upon whether these opinions can confer any definitive legal effects. The scope of the legal implications stemming from such opinions is considerably broad, encompassing statements of solely evidentiary significance, determinations demanding due consideration, through to authoritative ‘givens’ that are beyond contestation. Examples elucidating these diverse interpretations permeate both academic literature and international practice with the most recent example being the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Special Chamber’s Mauritius/Maldives Judgment, wherein the findings presented in the Chagos Advisory Opinion were treated as authoritative pronouncements of international law with opposable legal effects. This article posits a departure from the mainstream standpoint, contending that while the ICJ’s advisory determinations are non-binding, they are capable of being authoritatively definitive in declaring what international law is in a specific context. The article also suggests that the authority vested in a judicial pronouncement, determining the content of international law, may go beyond its bindingness contingent upon the stature of the authoring entity.

Analytical and experimental evaluation of two-layered unsaturated sand bearing capacity

Pavement design methods based on principles of unsaturated soil mechanics take into account high soil shear strength due to matric suction resulting in more economical design especially in long roads. In this study, the bearing capacity of two-layer unsaturated sand was investigated using both analytical and experimental methods. At first, using the limit equilibrium method an analytical formula was proposed to determine the bearing capacity of two-layer unsaturated sand in which linear suction profile was considered in soil layers. It should be considered that the constant matric suction distribution assumed by the previous researchers does not show the real profile of matric suction within the soil, sometimes resulting in miscalculated unsaturated bearing capacity. Also, the bearing capacity of two-layer unsaturated poorly graded sand was investigated experimentally in different suctions by a special unsaturated chamber apparatus (UCA) designed for this purpose. The results show more than double increase of unsaturated soil bearing capacity with Sr = 25% compared to saturated soil. The formation of failure wedges in all experiments was investigated by image processing. An acceptable agreement was obtained between the theoretical and experimental bearing capacity results.

Statistical analysis of rotary atomization by phase Doppler anemometry

Rotary atomization is used in a wide variety of fields, exploiting the external control option of the spray while no high-pressure fluid is needed. Most papers on rotary atomization deal with liquid jet breakup, while external spray characteristics are rarely evaluated; this is performed currently. The water spray was measured by a two-component phase Doppler anemometer. The optical setup requires a special measurement chamber to avoid spray deposition on the optical components. Therefore, the first goal was to find a proper filter that enables the removal of biased droplets by secondary flows. Since most droplets have a similar radial-to-tangential velocity ratio at each measurement point, i.e., scattering around a line, this was the first component of the best filter. The second component was the need for a positive radial velocity component. This filter efficiently removed droplets originating from alternative processes, increasing the R2 of the line fit. The physical soundness of this filter was checked by evaluating the effect of filtering on the angle of the velocity components of each droplet at a given measurement point. The proposed filter efficiently detected recirculation, a secondary effect of the measurement setup with less regular dataset shapes. Finally, the slope and intercept values of the fitted lines were evaluated and presented. The mean of the former followed the same trend irrespective of the rotational speed and the mass flow rate; it was principally dependent on the radial distance from the atomizer. The intercept showed a regular but less universal behavior.

The Influence of Moisture Absorption and Desorption by the ABS Filament on the Properties of Additively Manufactured Parts Using the Fused Deposition Modeling Method.

This paper presents the results of research on the influence of the moisture content in a filament made of ABS polymer on the properties of products manufactured using FDM (fused deposition modeling). Tests were carried out on a standard printer, using the parameters recommended by the manufacturer and the literature on the subject. A special climatic chamber was used to condition the material. A negative impact of ABS filament moisture on the strength and dimensional accuracy of printed products and on the structure of their surface is demonstrated. When the range of the filament moisture is between 0.17% and 0.75%, the strength decreases by 25% and the sample thickness increases by 10%. It is also shown that this effect does not depend on the history of the polymer reaching a given moisture level, i.e., by absorbing moisture in the absorption process or releasing moisture in the desorption process.

Continental shelf delimitation beyond 200 nautical miles: Mauritius/Maldives and the forking paths in the jurisprudence

Abstract The jurisprudence concerning the continental shelf delimitation beyond 200 nautical miles (nm) over the past decade converged on distinguishing delineation from delimitation, which justifies the appropriateness of the judiciary to delimit the continental shelf beyond 200 nm in the absence of the recommendations issued by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). Mauritius/Maldives decided by a special chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea departs from the established jurisprudence. By applying a ‘significant uncertainty’ standard that puts the relationship between entitlement and delimitation in the centre, Mauritius/Maldives reasons against exercising jurisdiction over the delimitation beyond 200 nm without affirmative recommendations of the CLCS. Mauritius/Maldives reflects judicial restraint in contrast with a more proactive approach prevailing in previous jurisprudence.

Tailoring the electrode material and structure of rocking-chair capacitive deionization for high-performance desalination.

With the gradually increasing requirement for freshwater, capacitive deionization (CDI) as a burgeoning desalination technique has gained wide attention owing to its merits of easy operation, high desalination efficiency, and environmental friendliness. To enhance the desalination performance of CDI, different CDI architectures are designed, such as membrane CDI, hybrid CDI, and flow-electrode CDI. However, these CDI systems have their own drawbacks, such as the high cost of membranes, capacity limitation of carbon materials and slurry blockage, which severely limit their practical application. Notably, rocking-chair CDI (RCDI) composed of symmetric electrode materials delivers excellent desalination performance because of its special dual chamber structure, which can not only break through the capacity limitations of carbon materials, but also deliver a continuous desalination process. Although RCDI showcases high promise for efficient desalination, few works systematically summarize the advantages and applications of RCDI in the desalination field. This review offers a thorough analysis of RCDI, focusing on its electrode materials, structure designs and desalination applications. Furthermore, the desalination performances of RCDI and other CDI architectures are compared to demonstrate the advantages of RCDI and the prospect of RCDI is elucidated.

ОБЗОР СОВРЕМЕННЫХ ФОТОСЕПАРАТОРОВ

Currently there is a problem of cleaning grain from hard-to-separate impurities (Tatar buckwheat, etc.), which differ slightly in size from the main grain in density and in speed of soaring. Therefore, it is practically difficult to clean grain material from hard-to-separate impurities on existing grain cleaning machines. However, recently new grain cleaning machines have appeared that, using high technology - technical vision; separate various impurities by color and particle shape from the particles of the main grain. The particles of Tatar buckwheat differ from the main grain of wheat in color and shape, since they have the shape of a tetrahedron. The article analyses existing grain-cleaning machines with technical vision - photoseparators, made in different countries and their technical characteristics It describes general principle of photoseparator operation, based on the operation of special chambers with the set of necessary parameters for cleaning grain from various impurities, special devices for blowing impurities into a separate compartment. The analysis of various photo separators has shown that they have high cost. It is necessary to develop a photoseparator for cleaning grain from hard-to-separate impurities. ESSUTM has developed a separator for grain purification using technical vision.

Preliminary Design of a Climate Controlled Environmental Test and Measurement

Climate chambers play an important role in the design and testing process. Several different chambers have been built over the years, specialising in different areas. It means there is a wide choice on the market and as a consequence, parameters necessary for us limit when choosing the ideal test chamber. Our instruments might be subjected to several environmental effects which require a lot of time and effort to be tested. An example is the Mars rover. NASA's Perseverance Mars rover was equipped with 2 pieces of Li-ion battery packs and the old solar charging was replaced by RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) thus a generator feeds the electricity consumers of the rover. Temperature on the surface of Mars varies from -150 C° to 20 C°. In addition, there are huge storms at regular interval lasting for month sometimes. These storms cause great difficulties because, on the one hand, the main power source on older types was the solar panels, and storms can cover them with Martian dust, limiting or eliminating their power supply. On the other hand, large sandstorms can completely cover the rover, and once the sandstorm is over, the Mars rover has to free itself from its trap. In addition, there were many other factors that engineers had to consider in the design. It is a well-known fact that we are not able to consider all the possible environmental conditions in design, and it is also known that some measurements may be inaccurate, so the prototypes produced have to be tested on the ground. The ground tests must ensure that the operating conditions on Mars are maintained. Special test chambers have been developed for this purpose. [1] The aim of the authors is to design and build a prototype of a climate chamber of their own design. An important component of the chamber is a measurement data acquisition system, which allows the collection of measured data and their preliminary processing.

Distribution of GABARAP and β-III-tubulin Proteins in the Rats Neocortex in the Neonatal Period after Exposure to Perinatal Hypoxia

The content of the intracellular transport protein GABARAP associated with the GABAA-receptor and the isoform of the cytoskeletal protein β-III-tubulin in the layers of the somatosensory area of the neocortex in the neonatal period in Wistar rats after exposure to hypoxia was studied. The model of human preterm pregnancy was used in the work. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect GABARAP and β-III-tubulin. The exposure of hypoxia was carried out on the 2nd day after birth, in a special chamber with an oxygen content in the respiratory mixture of 7.8%. The study of the neocortex was carried out on days 5 and 10. It was shown that animals in control, by the end of the neonatal period (P10), the content of GABARAP (according to the staining density of the immune reaction product) significantly increased: in the upper layers II-III by 2, and in the deep layers IV-VI by 4 times compared with the earlier period development (P5). The content of β-III-tubulin in the layers of the cortex is distributed evenly. Animals that survived exposure to hypoxia in the neonatal period showed a significant increase in the content of GABARAP and β-III-tubulin in the upper layers of the neocortex. These changes occur against the background of a significant decrease in the content of the GABAA-receptor subtype (data obtained earlier). GABARAP and β-III-tubulin, as well as the GABAA-receptor, are part of a complex of elements mediating GABA transmission in the neocortex. Hypoxia causes a change in the content of these proteins in the cerebral cortex, which can lead to disruption of the inhibitory effects of GABA.

Histological and cytochemical analysis of the brain under conditions of hypobaric hypoxia-induced oxygen deficiency in albino rats

High altitude sickness is a life-threatening disease that occurs among acclimatized individuals working or living at a high altitude accompanied by hypobaric hypoxia exposure. The prolonged influence of hypobaric hypoxia on the brain may trigger neuronal damage and cell death due to an oxygen deficiency. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the histomorphological changes in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, and striatum of the rat’s brain following chronic hypobaric hypoxia. Fourteen albino rats were used for this investigation. The animals were exposed to chronic hypobaric hypoxia in the special decompression chamber at an altitude of 7000 m for 7 days. The histological analysis was conducted via toluidine staining and silver impregnation. DNA damage and cell apoptosis were assessed via Feulgen staining. The histochemical assessment revealed increased dark neurons in the hippocampus with cell swelling. Silver impregnation showed increased argyrophilic neurons in the cerebellar cortex, striatum, CA1 subfield of the hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. The cytochemical analysis determined the increased apoptotic cells with hyperchromatic condensation and pyknosis in the hippocampus subfields and cerebral cortex. In addition, it has been observed that hypoxia has resulted in small hemorrhages and perivascular edema within the cerebellar and cerebral cortex.The results indicate brain injury observed in the various parts of the brain towards hypobaric hypoxia, however, the hippocampus showed greater vulnerability against hypoxic exposure in comparison to the striatum, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. These changes support our insights regarding brain intolerance under conditions of hypoxia-induced oxygen deficiency and its histomorphological manifestations.

Influence of organic and inorganic fillers on the photoaging behavior of polyolefins

The use of fillers has become a common approach of improving the performance of polymer composites. In this study, the photooxidation activity and radiation absorption phenomena of silica, cellulose and carbon black, which differ in morphology (shape, particle size), structure, coloration and degree of dispersion, were investigated. Ethylene-norbornene copolymer was selected as the polymer matrix because it is an ideal transparent medium for studying aging processes. Samples were subjected to accelerated UV (340 nm) and solar (315–1400 nm) aging tests in special chambers for 300, 500, 700 and 900 h. The obtained results demonstrated that composite filled with carbon black exhibited the highest photostability and retained its functional properties; after 900 h of exposure to radiation, its aging factor value was still close to 1. It was observed that carbon black limits the penetration of radiation by absorbing it. Moreover, its role against photooxidation can be considered in terms of antioxidant activity, probably through the catalytic decomposition of peroxides and reaction with free radicals. Completely different aging behavior was noted for composites containing silica and cellulose, which lost their performance properties. This could be related to their weaker dispersion in the polymer matrix and greater susceptibility to the oxidation process, which was confirmed by FTIR analysis.

Особенности микроклонального размножения некоторых представителей рода Ribes spp.: обзор

Abstract. Purpose. The systematization of information on the micro clonal reproduction of representatives of the Ribes spp. genus, including the rooting of micro shoots and their adaptation in ex vitro conditions. Methods. A comparative analysis was used to review foreign and domestic literature on the cultivation of berry crops using the method of microclonal propagation. Results. It is possible to increase the reproduction coefficient of healthy pure-cultivar Ribes spp. planting material in conditions of micro clone reproduction, taking into account genotypic features. Obtaining viable explants when introduced into in vitro culture is achieved, first of all, by choosing a high-quality source material, the phase of plant development during the isolation of explants and the selection of nutrient media. In addition, the positive introduction is influenced by the effectiveness and toxicity of the sterilizing agent, the fight against phenolic oxidation of explants and the medium, the range of growth regulators during the periods of the introduction, micropropagation and rhizogenesis. The greatest production losses occur at the stage of acclimatization of micro-shoots in non-sterile conditions, which is associated with the weak work of enzymes for carbon fixation in the required volumes and the unformed water regime due to the difference in the microclimate in the test tube and open ground conditions. Various technologies of adaptation of the representatives of this genus to external conditions are presented, ranging from the selection of a substrate in greenhouses to the development of special climate chambers with optimal conditions. Despite the contradictory results, the idea of the success of the use of certain preparations for Ribes spp. is expanding, the quality of the planting material is improving, however, the methodology for obtaining pure-variety planting material taking into account the varietal characteristics, has not been fully developed, and the issues of adaptation at the ex vitro stage have not been fully resolved. Scientific novelty: The review of the reports is presented taking into account new domestic and foreign scientific developments of the stages of microclonal reproduction of berry crops, depending on the species and genotypes, as well as the issue of acclimatization in ex vitro conditions is discussed.

GEM Parçacık Dedektörlerinde Lignoselülozik Malzeme Kullanım Potansiyeli

This study investigates the potential use of lignocellulosic material for Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) foils in high-energy physics experiments. A 50 µm thick lignocellulosic film was created using a scattering method, and both surfaces were coated with a 2 µm thick copper electrode layer. Electrical characterization studies were conducted to assess the suitability of lignocellulosic material in GEM detectors. To ensure consistent atmospheric conditions during measurements, a special chamber was designed to monitor temperature and humidity values over time using an SHT3x sensor module and Rense Temperature/Humidity Meter. Electrical measurements were performed using a Keithley 4200 semiconductor characterization system, and I-V curves showing the current-voltage relationship under different atmospheric conditions were plotted. The results demonstrate the potential for developing sustainable and efficient detectors for various high-energy physics experiments using GEM detectors with lignocellulosic foils. This study comprehensively presents the advantages and disadvantages of using lignocellulosic material in GEM foils and contributes to the development of more environmentally friendly alternatives for GEM detector manufacturing.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: An Emerging Therapy for Post–COVID-19 Condition

What Is the Issue?
 
 Post–COVID-19 condition presents an important challenge to health care decision-makers in Canada and across the world due to the high volume of potential patients, diverse presentations of symptoms, few clinical guidelines and treatments, and unknown pathophysiology.
 
 What Is the Technology?
 
 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an established treatment for certain wound injuries, vascular conditions, and in specific medical emergencies. It is now being tested for post–COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID. The therapy delivers a high concentration of oxygen inside specialized pressure chambers. HBOT has been proposed as a treatment to help resolve prominent symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition, such as fatigue and brain fog. The therapy may induce physiological changes that aid in recovering from the long-term effects and tissue damage due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection.
 
 What Is the Potential Impact?
 
 Results from early studies indicate that HBOT could improve a range of post–COVID-19 symptoms and its use is generally safe with few adverse effects. These results are based on 2 randomized control trials and small nonrandomized studies and case reports. However, published results have been based on studies with limited sample sizes and limited long-term follow-up.
 HBOT could offer a therapy option that could support millions of people around the world with post–COVID-19 condition if the ongoing and subsequent studies show efficacy.
 
 What Else Do We Need to Know?
 
 As of now, there are uncertainties about how to effectively deliver and dose the therapy and the potential safety implications for people with post–COVID-19 condition. Implementation considerations, such as the number and location of hyperbaric oxygen chambers, will be important if HBOT is appropriate for a large number of people. As the evidence base develops, the potential role of HBOT in therapy for people with post–COVID-19 condition will become clearer and will provide an indication of what kind of health system planning may be needed to provide HBOT for those who can benefit.

Study of the influence of the angle of inclination on the thermal resistance of glass light structures of agricultural buildings

The paper presents the results of studies of the influence of the angle of inclination on the thermal resistance of glass light structures of agricultural buildings. For experimental studies, a special refrigerating chamber was used, in which one of the walls is made in the form of a double-glazed window. The camera tilted towards the light structure. With the help of heat meters installed on the surface of the glass, the value of the heat flux was measured. Both single-chamber and double-glazed windows were tested. Based on the experimental data obtained, a calculated dependence is proposed for determining heat losses through external inclined light fences, including double-glazed windows.

Composite material consisting of microporous beta-TCP ceramic and alginate-dialdehyde-gelatin for controlled dual release of clindamycin and bone morphogenetic protein 2

The aim of this study was to produce a composite of microporous β-TCP filled with alginate-gelatin crosslinked hydrogel, clindamycin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) to prolong the drug-release behaviour for up to 28 days. The most promising alginate-di-aldehyde(ADA)-gelatin gel for drug release from microcapsules was used to fill microporous β-TCP ceramics under directional flow in a special loading chamber. Dual release of clindamycin and BMP-2 was measured on days 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 14, 21 and 28 by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After release, the microbial efficacy of the clindamycin was checked and the biocompatibility of the composite was tested in cell culture. Clindamycin and the model substance FITC-protein A were released from microcapsules over 28 days. The clindamycin burst release was 43 ± 1%. For the loaded ceramics, a clindamycin release above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) until day 9 and a burst release of 90.56 ± 2.96% were detected. BMP-2 was released from the loaded ceramics in low concentrations over 28 days. The release of active substances from β-TCP and hydrogel have already been extensively studied. Directional flow loading is a special procedure in which the ceramic could act as a stabilizer in the bone and, as a biodegradable system, enables a single-stage surgical procedure. Whether ADA-gelatin gel is suitable for this procedure as a more biodegradable alternative to pure alginate or whether a dual release is possible in this composite has not yet been investigated.Graphical

Study on Sound Absorption of Road Acoustic Screens Under Simulated Weathering

The present paper is comparing the results of research studies carried out for three road acoustic screens of different design and different number of damping layers. For the tests, we selected timber or steel screens with a traditional multilayer structure and also one innovative type of simplified design. With respect to particular panels, their sound absorption properties were investigated in the reverberation chamber after they had been subjected to simulated weathering. In the process, two screens were subjected to the aging tests of 50–500 cycles in a special climatic chamber, and the innovative screens were subjected to 1000 cycles. The procedure was repeated every 50 or 100 cycles in order to obtain the changes of acoustic characteristics. The changes taking place in the absorbing material were also investigated with the use of scanning electron microscopy method (SEM). Basing on the obtained results and on the statistical analysis, the capability to maintain acoustic properties by the panels during their service life in natural conditions was estimated. For that purpose, linear statistical models were worked out, which were then applied to estimate the value of the single number sound absorption coefficient after successive aging cycles as well as the predicted time periods of acoustic class changes.