Experimental Stage Research Articles

Designing Gender-Neutral Playgrounds: The Impact of Natural Environments on Children's Behaviors

Poor quality habitat profiles of artificial coastal structures for biodiversity growth compared to natural shore have led researchers to utilize ecological engineering principles in creating habitat enhancement models mimicking the natural environment to help improve living conditions for marine organisms. Extensive global trials have been conducted with concrete formulations incorporating eco-friendly materials and recycled resources. However, eco-concrete production for marine environment use is still lacking in Malaysia. The technology involved in casting, moulding, and demoulding remains at the experimental stage, with unreported comparisons of different moulding materials used for casting geometrically complex habitat enhancement models. This study evaluated different casting, moulding, and demoulding techniques using locally produced eco-concrete. The main aim of this study is to determine the effect of different materials including plaster of Paris, drilling wood, expanded polystyrene, rubber foam, and vacuum forming on the mould production time, labour requirements and fabrication factors. Vacuum forming mould is highly preferred for its quick production time, less work, design uniformity, and ability to cast larger habitat enhancement models. However, the demoulding methods require improvements and further experimentation to ensure an easier demoulding process and reusability of the mould for long-term production.

Индивидуально – типологические особенности распознавания реальных и модельных сигналов электроэнцефалограммы

An experiment is conducted to identify individual typological features of the user’s recognition of real and model electroencephalogram signals within the framework of tasks related to designing ergatic system simulators. During the experiment, psychological testing of the study participants is carried out. The following diagnosis methods are used: the Eysenck personality questionnaire, diagnostics of the leading perceptual modality, the Spielberg state-trait anxiety inventory, the Corsi block-tapping test for assessing working memory. The key test is passing a test in the original software form developed by the authors to identify the ability to distinguish a real encephalogram from an image generated by the programme. The analysis of correlation dependencies shows that the trial subjects who gave the best results at the training stage improve their performance at the experiment stage without feedback. Trial subjects with a leading auditory perceptual system give worse results at the experiment stage without feedback than subjects with leading visual and kinaesthetic perceptual systems. Trial subjects with a higher level of anxiety give out lower indicators during the experiment at both stages.

Foreign Language Teaching in the Conditions of Import Substitution of Information Technologies

The study is aimed at analyzing a role of domestic software products in education productivity. They can be applied in the process of teaching foreign language. The paper considers import substitution of foreign teaching application. Software products are proposed that can be used in teaching English in order to be applied instead of teaching foreign means for foreign language training. The software product approbation results in the conditions of English learning are presented. The diagnostics of software products proposed in the course of foreign language education was conducted. The stages of experiments on the basis of computer class are analyzed. In conclusion, the main prospects for the educational process improvement in the context of sanctions are defined. The authors emphasized that domestic electronic means of teaching English were more effective than authentic ones. They correspond to the level of knowledge of students of Black Sea Higher Naval School named after P.S. Nakhimov and the presentation of materials is accessible and visual, since it includes audio and video fragments of a professional orientation.

HUQUQIY EKSPERIMENTNI O‘TKAZISH BOSQICHLARI: NAZARIY-HUQUQIY TAHLIL

This article analyzes the concept of legal experiment, its types and classification, as well as the stages of legal experiment on the basis of national and foreign experience. In particular, it is proposed to prepare and conduct a legal experiment in three stages, while the range of subjects responsible for conducting a legal experiment is covered within the framework of national legislation. It was noted that conducting a legal experiment has a positive effect on the relevant area of public policy and reform, but some problems have also been identified that impede the use of a legal experiment. In the definition of a legal experiment, the main characteristics important for evaluating its effectiveness and efficiency are highlighted. The importance of the legal experiment is substantiated since each of its stages is characterized by the fulfillment of certain tasks involving the implementation of specific actions and the consolidation of their results in procedural documents. The peculiarity of the legal experiment is that it is aimed at a specially developed goal, which consists in testing one or another legal hypothesis in an artificially created environment and determining the active role of the subject of the experiment in the development of social relations.

Preservice Chemistry Teachers’ Preconception on the Topic of Sustainable Development Oriented Plant Pigments Separation

One of the important principles in the success of learning activities is that educators need to pay attention to students' preconceptions before designing learning designs, because this will provide direction in compiling learning materials and strategies to achieve learning goals. This study aims to identify the preconceptions of preservice chemistry teachers’ as a basis for developing a didactic design on the topic of plant pigments separation which is one of the materials discussed in analytical chemistry II lectures. This research uses descriptive methods with participants were 36 pre-service chemistry teachers at one of the state universities in Pekanbaru City. This descriptive study used a diagnostic test in the form of an essay which totaled 19 questions. Based on the results of preconception analysis, it was identified that most of the students experienced learning barriers mostly in the following sub-discussions: (1) types of green solvents; (2) benefits of eutectic solvents; (3) the relationship of eutectic solvent with principles of green chemistry; (4) the process of making eutectic solvents; (5) experimental stages of plant pigment extraction; (6) processes that occur during extraction; and (7) extraction techniques. So it can be concluded that students do not yet have sufficient basic knowledge because students are not yet able to answer questions in most contexts on the topic of separating plant pigments

Occurrence of mastitis before and after homeopathic treatment in dairy cattle, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bovine mastitis is an infectious disease that impacts milk production, leads to economic losses and public health problems. It can present in subclinical and clinical forms, with subclinical being the most common. Currently, there is concern about the health of dairy cattle and alternatives are being sought for the treatment of bacterial infections, as those available may have low efficacy, promote antimicrobial resistance and/or have toxic effects. From a One Health perspective, multiple sectors must work together to control the rise in antimicrobial resistance. Regarding animal production, this implies changes in some traditional agricultural practices (WHO, 2022; OIE, 2022). According to Rabello et al. (2020), resistance to antimicrobials for Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis has recently increased compared to studies published in previous periods, in Brazil. In this context, homeopathy can represent an important therapy. In our study, two dairy herds in the state of Rio de Janeiro were evaluated, regarding the presence of mastitis, in two subsequent periods: 1- Control Stage (CS): using antibiotic therapy, and 2- Experimental Stage (ES): homeopathic treatment (Nosode 30CH). The CS took place from February to April 2022 and the ES from May to July 2022. For the analysis of the treatments, the animals were evaluated with the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and the milk from the positive mammary quarters, that presented mastitis, were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for bacterial isolation and identification. During the CS, 7 CMT were performed, and the same number in the ES. The occurrence of subclinical mastitis in the CS in 1681 analyzed quarters was 36.4% (n= 608), while in the ES, in 1290 analyzed quarters, subclinical mastitis was 26.5% (n= 335). There was a reduction (p<0.0001) in the occurrence of subclinical mastitis after homeopathic treatment. In both stages Staphylococcus spp. was the most prevalent microorganism.

Perspective: Professional Learning Communities as a Strategy for Enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Online Higher Education

In recent years, higher education enrollment has become increasingly diverse, particularly in online programs. Accordingly, institutions are increasingly aware of the importance of retaining these students and supporting them through successful degree/program completion. While there has been substantial declaration of the need for promoting improvement in equity and inclusion, the strategies for effectively achieving this are still lacking or, at best, are in experimental stages. The result is a gap between the acknowledgement of the need for serving diverse students and the culture shift necessary to effectively foster an environment that advances equity and inclusion. While truly achieving equity and inclusion requires a multi-faceted approach, we assert that an under-utilized strategy is the use of faculty-led Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), which aim for incremental transformation of teaching practices through ongoing, inquiry-based learning. Forming and implementing PLCs for cross-discipline faculty of all backgrounds to convene and collaborate on the development of enhanced curriculum and teaching strategies that leverage diversity and prompt equity and inclusion in the classroom can accelerate the culture shift required to truly serve diverse learners.

Kyselina hyaluronová – význam a možnosti využití v otorinolaryngologii

kyselina hyaluronová – otorinolaryngologie – léčba Summary Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear, naturally occurring polysaccharide of high molecular weight. It is part of a number of bio logical processes, especially regulatory, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive or antiproliferative. It significantly binds water and participates in the maintenance of tissue viscoelasticity, in the supramolecular spatial arrangement of proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix and in the regulation of osmotic pressure, which significantly affects tissue homogeneity and its homeostatic integrity. Due to these properties, non-immunogenic HA can be used in many clinical applications. In otorhinolaryngology, the possibilities of its use are wide, especially in otology, laryngology, rhinology or in the treatment of inflammatory conditions and keloid scars. Some potential areas of use are still in the experimental stage (gene therapy). Key words hyaluronic acid – otorhinolaryngology – treatment

Main Factors Determining the Scale-Up Effectiveness of Mycoremediation for the Decontamination of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Soil.

Soil contamination constitutes a significant threat to the health of soil ecosystems in terms of complexity, toxicity, and recalcitrance. Among all contaminants, aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons (APH) are of particular concern due to their abundance and persistence in the environment and the need of remediation technologies to ensure their removal in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable way. Soil remediation technologies presently available on the market to tackle soil contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) include landfilling, physical treatments (e.g., thermal desorption), chemical treatments (e.g., oxidation), and conventional bioremediation. The first two solutions are costly and energy-intensive approaches. Conversely, bioremediation of on-site excavated soil arranged in biopiles is a more sustainable procedure. Biopiles are engineered heaps able to stimulate microbial activity and enhance biodegradation, thus ensuring the removal of organic pollutants. This soil remediation technology is currently the most environmentally friendly solution available on the market, as it is less energy-intensive and has no detrimental impact on biological soil functions. However, its major limitation is its low removal efficiency, especially for long-chain hydrocarbons (LCH), compared to thermal desorption. Nevertheless, the use of fungi for remediation of environmental contaminants retains the benefits of bioremediation treatments, including low economic, social, and environmental costs, while attaining removal efficiencies similar to thermal desorption. Mycoremediation is a widely studied technology at lab scale, but there are few experiences at pilot scale. Several factors may reduce the overall efficiency of on-site mycoremediation biopiles (mycopiles), and the efficiency detected in the bench scale. These factors include the bioavailability of hydrocarbons, the selection of fungal species and bulking agents and their application rate, the interaction between the inoculated fungi and the indigenous microbiota, soil properties and nutrients, and other environmental factors (e.g., humidity, oxygen, and temperature). The identification of these factors at an early stage of biotreatability experiments would allow the application of this on-site technology to be refined and fine-tuned. This review brings together all mycoremediation work applied to aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons (APH) and identifies the key factors in making mycoremediation effective. It also includes technological advances that reduce the effect of these factors, such as the structure of mycopiles, the application of surfactants, and the control of environmental factors.

Mahasneh Theory 2023 to Develop Students’ Vocational Attitudes and Inclinations

The current article aims to explain the philosophy of the Mahasneh 2023 theory to develop students’ vocational attitudes and inclinations. The researcher used the descriptive analytical method by analyzing books and websites to present this theory to those interested in the field of professional guidance and counseling. This theory consists of four stages: The first stage is the stage of immersion and play from the age of one year to less than six years; the second stage is the stage of preparation and awareness from the age of six years to nine years; the third stage is the realistic stage from the age of ten years to fifteen years; and the fourth stage is the experimental stage from the age of sixteen years and up to life.

The Role of MAPRE2 and Microtubules in Maintaining Normal Ventricular Conduction.

Brugada syndrome is associated with loss-of-function SCN5A variants, yet these account for only ≈20% of cases. A recent genome-wide association study identified a novel locus within MAPRE2, which encodes EB2 (microtubule end-binding protein 2), implicating microtubule involvement in Brugada syndrome. A mapre2 knockout zebrafish model was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein 9) and validated by Western blot. Larval hearts at 5 days post-fertilization were isolated for voltage mapping and immunocytochemistry. Adult fish hearts were used for ECG, patch clamping, and immunocytochemistry. Morpholinos were injected into embryos at 1-cell stage for knockdown experiments. A transgenic zebrafish line with cdh2 tandem fluorescent timer was used to study adherens junctions. Microtubule plus-end tracking and patch clamping were performed in human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) with MAPRE2 knockdown and knockout, respectively. Voltage mapping of mapre2 knockout hearts showed a decrease in ventricular maximum upstroke velocity of the action potential and conduction velocity, suggesting loss of cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel function. ECG showed QRS prolongation in adult knockout fish, and patch clamping showed decreased sodium current density in knockout ventricular myocytes and arrhythmias in knockout iPSC-CMs. Confocal imaging showed disorganized adherens junctions and mislocalization of mature Ncad (N-cadherin) with mapre2 loss of function, associated with a decrease of detyrosinated tubulin. MAPRE2 knockdown in iPSC-CMs led to an increase in microtubule growth velocity and distance, indicating changes in microtubule dynamics. Finally, knockdown of ttl encoding tubulin tyrosine ligase in mapre2 knockout larvae rescued tubulin detyrosination and ventricular maximum upstroke velocity of the action potential. Genetic ablation of mapre2 led to a decrease in voltage-gated sodium channel function, a hallmark of Brugada syndrome, associated with disruption of adherens junctions, decrease of detyrosinated tubulin as a marker of microtubule stability, and changes in microtubule dynamics. Restoration of the detyrosinated tubulin fraction with ttl knockdown led to rescue of voltage-gated sodium channel-related functional parameters in mapre2 knockout hearts. Taken together, our study implicates microtubule dynamics in the modulation of ventricular conduction.

Selection of Aptamers for Use as Molecular Probes in AFM Detection of Proteins.

Currently, there is great interest in the development of highly sensitive bioanalytical systems for diagnosing diseases at an early stage, when pathological biomarkers are present in biological fluids at low concentrations and there are no clinical manifestations. A promising direction is the use of molecular detectors-highly sensitive devices that detect signals from single biomacromolecules. A typical detector in this class is the atomic force microscope (AFM). The high sensitivity of an AFM-based bioanalysis system is determined by the size of the sensing element of an atomic force microscope-the cantilever-the radius of the curvature of which is comparable to that of a biomolecule. Biospecific molecular probe-target interactions are used to ensure detection system specificity. Antibodies, aptamers, synthetic antibodies, and peptides can be used as molecular probes. This study has demonstrated the possibility of using aptamers as molecular probes for AFM-based detection of the ovarian cancer biomarker CA125. Antigen detection in a nanomolar solution was carried out using AFM chips with immobilized aptamers, commercially available or synthesized based on sequences from open sources. Both aptamer types can be used for antigen detection, but the availability of sequence information enables additional modeling of the aptamer structure with allowance for modifications necessary for immobilization of the aptamer on an AFM chip surface. Information on the structure and oligomeric composition of aptamers in the solution was acquired by combining small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular modeling. Modeling enabled pre-selection, before the experimental stage, of aptamers for use as surface-immobilized molecular probes.

PRISE EN CAHRGE D’UN CANCER CANALAIRE INVASIF DU SEIN CHEZ UN HOMME DE 61 ANS A L’HOPITAL GYNECO-OBSTETRIQUE ET PEDIATRIQUE DE YAOUNDE : DIFFICULTES THERAPEUTIQUES

Introduction: Breast cancer, the leading malignant pathology in women, is still relatively rare in men. It accounts for less than 1% of malignant diseases in Men. Management strategies of breast cancer in males are copied from that of breast cancer in females. These therapies in men are in the experimentation stage despite the peculiarities observed. Hence, we are reporting the diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of a case of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Case presentation: we report the case of a 61-year-old male who consulted for a lump in the right breast discovered 3 years ago. Physical examination revealed an indurated nodular plaque (4x4x3cm) of the right breast located in the upper outer quadrant, not very tender not adherent to the superficial fascia. The overlying skin was macroscopically normal. Axillary palpation revealed homolateral axillary lymph nodes. The tumor was classified T2N1Mx. A breast ultrasound done revealed a lump of the right breast classified ACR4. Fine needle aspiration of the nodule as well as micro biopsy evoked an invasive grade 2 carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was done with cyclophosphamide. A right total Madden Mastectomy with homolateral lymphadenectomy was done. Progress postoperative was marked by local recurrence. Treatment with hormone therapy was initiated and radiotherapy delayed after secondary excision. We intended to show that tumor size, lymph node involvement and absence of hormone receptors are elements of poor prognosis just as a delay in radiotherapy is a risk for local recurrence. Conclusion: Male breast cancer is a rare pathology. Its management is copied exactly from that of the woman. Poor prognostic factors are: the size of the tumor, the presence of lymph nodes and the absence of hormone receptors. Keywords: breast cancer, male, prognosis, mastectomy, challenges

Latent ODEs-based data compression method for power system

In order to effectively compress the power system data and reduce the space occupied by data storage and transmission, this paper proposes a data compression method based on Latent Segmented ODE (LatSegODE) for the large-scale steady-state data generated during the working process of the power system. By training the ODE model using a large amount of steady-state data, a latent ODE model is generated to characterize the steady-state data of the power system, thereby significantly reducing the storage space occupied by the data. During the experimental stage, compression testing is carried out on the static data of the power system of a power grid company. According to the quantitative evaluation results of the two indices of normalized mean square error and data compression ratio, the proposed method has obvious compression advantages, and the compressed signals have a high degree of fitting to the actual sampled signal waveforms.

Investigation of the Working Features of Concrete Structures Manufactured Using Technologies of Additive Building Manufacturing

The most common approach to the application of additive manufacturing technology today, which provides for printing the contour of buildings and structures with the creation of non-removable concrete formwork for the construction of load-bearing and enclosing structures. The features of the operation of a non-removable formwork under the action of lateral pressure of a concrete mixture are investigated. The results of the experimental research stage implemented on the basis of the SMITH Research Institute of the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering are presented, in which the strength characteristics of samples selected from single-layer concrete structures made using additive manufacturing technology, as well as the bearing capacity of fragments of non-removable formwork of rectangular and closed cylindrical shape under the influence of simulated pressure of a concrete mixture were studied. In the course of the work, the influence of parameters such as the width and height of the printed layer, as well as the presence of cold seams between individual layers of the printed structure on the strength and bearing capacity of the forming elements of the permanent formwork was studied. The work execution is aimed at accelerating the introduction of advanced technologies in construction in terms of creating scientific and technical groundwork for the development of additive construction production and the development of the domestic regulatory and technical base in the field of construction 3D printing.

Study Of High Performance Concrete Using Local Materials (Fly Ash Of Pltu Labuhan Angin, Mount Sinabung Volcanic Ash And Silica Sand) On The Mechanical Properties Of Concrete

Currently in Indonesia a lot of construction work and concrete is one that is widely used. In the development of concrete construction technology, especially in Indonesia, it is necessary to have concrete capable of carrying high loads using available materials. The development of high quality concrete has 3 levels, namely High Strength Concrete (HSC), High Performance Concrete (HPC) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC). Against the background of future needs, in this study experiments were carried out in a concrete laboratory to obtain high performance concrete mixes with local materials. At the experimental stage, testing of tools and materials, concrete mix, casting, slump test, manufacture of specimens, maintenance, checking of unit weight, compressive strength test, split tensile strength and modulus of elasticity was carried out. In that study there were 11 variations. Furthermore, the test results were analyzed by the data to draw conclusions. The results showed that the average compressive strength of concrete at 3 days of age was relatively high, namely 53.8 MPa which could be used for fast precision work. In variation 11 mixture (PCC Cement, Silica Fume, Sand Mesh 35-60, Silica Mesh 325, Water, Viscocrete Superplasticizer 8670 MN, Fly Ash 7% and Polypropylene Fiber 0.2%) tested for 28 days, the compressive strength reached 87.5 MPa, so it can be said as HPC concrete. In this study it was concluded that the use of local materials, Sinabung Volcanic Ash waste and fly ash can improve the quality of concrete and can also reduce environmental pollution.

THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT COLLABORATION TYPES AND LEADERSHIP STYLES UPON GROUP PRODUCTIVITY

The paper studies how different collaboration types affect group productivity.
 The study provides an experimental investigation of the effects the combinations of collaboration types (by L. Umansky, i.e. individual, consequent and interactive) and leadership styles (by K. Lewin, i.e. autocratic and democratic) upon the group productivity.
 The experiment described simulates groupwork under different collaboration types and leadership styles. The six experimental stages allowed to register several objective and subjective productivity indicators. The analysis revealed the regularities between different combinations of the collaboration types and the leadership styles on one hand, and the productivity indicators on the other.

Numerical simulation method for quantitative assessment of fully-grouted sleeve connection damage state and performance under thermal coupling

Post-earthquake secondary fire is the major hazard prefabricated concrete (PC) structures face and is currently a hot research topic. Fully-grouted sleeve connection (FGSC) is the main connection method for PC structures, whose failure can result in serious consequences. However, the research on FGSC with tensile damage at elevated temperatures is limited and only at the experimental stage. To enrich the related studies, we proposed a 2D model that considers material damage in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results. 15 finite element models are established with two key parameters, tensile displacement, and temperature, to further investigate the mechanical performance of FGSC under force-thermal coupling. The temperature and damage distribution of FGSC are presented, in addition to the critical temperatures that cause the force state to change. The study results show that the damage pattern of FGSC mainly depends on the tensile phase, and the temperature-induced force can create non-negligible damage to the material. Based on this, the trends of axial and radial forces of FGSC have been summarized as well as their new prediction equations whose coefficients of determination are 99.36 % and 99.83 % in the elevated temperature stage. The numerical simulation method and conclusions obtained are the essential basis for the subsequent study of the response of PC structures under post-earthquake secondary fires.

Thermo-mechanical stability analysis of thermosyphons for pipeline soil and their optimal layout in permafrost regions

In permafrost regions, warm-oil buried pipelines release vast amounts of heat energy to surrounding soils and lead to rapid permafrost degradation. Settlement disasters induced by permafrost degradation significantly increase the probability of pipeline failure. The two-phase closed thermosyphon (TPCT) can cool soil, inhibiting permafrost degradation, but its deployment is still at the experimental stages along the China–Russia Crude Oil Pipeline (CRCOP). Therefore, it is important to determine an optimal layout for TPCTs that can achieve both effective cooling and cost control. In this study, a strategy for a nonlinear thermo-mechanical coupled model is proposed through Python–Abaqus secondary development. Based on it, the thermal and mechanical effects of TPCTs under different spacings, as well as their optimal layout, are numerically investigated. Closer TPCT spacing leads to a lower degradation rate of frozen soil and a lower peak TPCT heat flux. In addition, the peak pipeline von Mises stress in the transition zone increases for greater TPCT axial distances over time. When the TPCT axial distance is ≤8 m, the minimum pipeline principal strains remain below the critical compression strain over 50 years. Finally, a backpropagation neural network is constructed to predict the maximum pipeline compressive strain, and most prediction results fall within the 95% confidence interval.

Mild Chemical Treatment of Unsorted Urban Food Wastes.

Municipal biowastes are conventionally treated by assessed anaerobic and aerobic fermentation to produce biogas, anaerobic digestate, and compost. Low-temperature hydrolysis and the oxidation of the digestate and compost, which are still at the experimental stage, are known to yield water-soluble value-added chemical specialities for use in different sectors of the chemical industry and in agriculture. The present paper reports the application of the two chemical reactions to the biowastes before fermentation. The products obtained in this manner are compared with those obtained from the chemical reactions applied to the fermented biowastes. Based on the experimental results, the paper discusses the expected environmental and economic benefits of the above chemical processes and products in comparison with the products obtained by other known biotechnologies for the valorisation of biomass as a feedstock for the biobased chemical industry. The results point out that a sustainable biowaste-based refinery that produces biofuel and biobased chemicals may be developed by integrating chemical and fermentation technologies.