Tool Kit Research Articles

Каменный инвентарь энеолитического комплекса поселения Пякупур 3 (северотаежная зона Западной Сибири)

The article studies stone tools defined out of a mixed cultural deposit of Pyakupur 3 settlement dated back to the Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age and situated in the North taiga zone of the Western Siberia. To date the stone industry of Eneolithic region is described only generally. Therefore, any new data would be overly relevant, and morphology and functional description of the tools would be in particular. The purpose of the study is to determine distinctive parameters of splitting products and stone industry tools of the Eneolithic complex of Pyakupur 3 settlement. Pursuant thereto objectives of the study were formulated: planigraphic and raw material analysis of stone items to form a set for the defined period; typological research of the selected items; functional analysis of the tools’ intended use. As the result of the comprehensive approach the study defined basic features and functional intended use of the stone tools used by the settlers during the Eneolithic. The trace evidence analysis uses previously determined universal sets of traces adapted for the studies materials. These sets are applied to each find assuming that they are potentially used tools. To verify trace evidence observations experiments were conducted. The experiments aimed at using quartz tools for wood scraping and skin treatment. The determined raw material complex motivates the nature of the industry in Pyakupur 3 during the Eneolithic. The study revealed several techniques for obtaining tools blanks based on properties of various rocks. Depending on the target of the technology, tool production relied on two techniques of stone processing. The first one is primary (prismatic and counter-impact) splitting and secondary processing (retouching and polishing). The determined Pyakupur complex is fragmental due to a limited set of item types with a distinct morphology, and these items do not form a sustainable series. There is a minor but distinctive and specific group formed with cutters on chips of flint and quartz, chisel-shaped tools which can be related to рiece esquillées. This can be interpreted as an authentic feature of the settlement’s stone industry. The tool kit is rather mediocre, however it demonstrates nearly all the elements of the management & production cycle of the settlement. It included hunting, prey butchering, stone processing, tanning, wood and bone crafts. Despite of a low representativeness of the Pyakupur tool set morphology, the stone tools are related to the slate 7 quartz industry common for the taiga zone of the Western Siberia.

Stone tools beyond traditional functions: the journey of lithics from profane to ceremonial

The production of flint tools evolved and diversified in response to the increasing and newly appearing demands of the early societies. The maintenance of this tradition coupled with the durability of stone tools resulted in the development of the lithic tool kit and the accumulation of large lithic assemblages mainly in settlements. The twentieth century witnessed the wide investigation of those assemblages through techno-typological approaches that aim at classifying and interpreting lithic assemblages and using them to reconstruct the chronological and cultural phases of given societies. The wide use of stone tools in daily-life activities i.e. hunting, gathering, farming, and food processing, enhanced the perception of lithics as functional objects that are mainly associated with secular activities. However, investigating the changing roles of stone tools over time remained partially overlooked. Apart from finely-made flint knives, the ritual functions of stone tools remain an unexplored research area. The current paper focuses on assessing the symbolic roles of the Predynastic lithics based on their use as grave goods. The results show that varied classes of tools were recruited for funerary purposes and that the evolving roles of lithics were influenced by a long process of human-nature and people-object interactions.

Sedimentation and Laser Light Scattering Methods for Quantifying Synthetic Tau Aggregation Propensity.

Tau aggregation assays detect and quantify the conversion of soluble tau monomers into species having filamentous or oligomeric structure. Assays for filamentous aggregates in cross-β-sheet conformation leverage optical, biochemical, or biophysical methods, each with their own advantages and throughput capacity. Here we provide protocols for two medium-throughput assays based on sedimentation and laser light scattering and compare their performance, their utility for characterizing tau aggregation dynamics, and their limitations relative to other approaches. Additionally, a protocol for transmission electron microscopy analysis is updated so as to be compatible with the truncated tau variants that have emerged as powerful tools for interrogating the structural basis of tau polymorphism. Together these methods contribute to a rich tool kit for interrogating tau aggregation kinetics and propensity over a wide range of experimental conditions.

Designing and analysis of electrocardiogram simulator tool kit

In the realm of medical education, research, and device testing, Electrocardiogram (ECG) simulators are indispensable tools. They provide authentic representations of cardiac electrical activity, aiding healthcare professionals in practical training and facilitating the assessment of ECG device efficacy. This paper presents an efficient ECG simulator capable of replicating synthetic ECG waves, which are combinations of individual waves namely, the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave. The simulator can generate both normal and abnormal ECG waves and offers the flexibility to produce ECG waves at different frequencies.

In field use of water samples for genomic surveillance of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) infecting tilapia fish in Lake Volta, Ghana.

Viral outbreaks are a constant threat to aquaculture, limiting production for better global food security. A lack of diagnostic testing and monitoring in resource-limited areas hinders the capacity to respond rapidly to disease outbreaks and to prevent viral pathogens becoming endemic in fisheries productive waters. Recent developments in diagnostic testing for emerging viruses, however, offers a solution for rapid in situ monitoring of viral outbreaks. Genomic epidemiology has furthermore proven highly effective in detecting viral mutations involved in pathogenesis and assisting in resolving chains of transmission. Here, we demonstrate the application of an in-field epidemiological tool kit to track viral outbreaks in aquaculture on farms with reduced access to diagnostic labs, and with non-destructive sampling. Inspired by the "lab in a suitcase" approach used for genomic surveillance of human viral pathogens and wastewater monitoring of COVID19, we evaluated the feasibility of real-time genome sequencing surveillance of the fish pathogen, Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) in Lake Volta. Viral fractions from water samples collected from cages holding Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with suspected ongoing ISKNV infections were concentrated and used as a template for whole genome sequencing, using a previously developed tiled PCR method for ISKNV. Mutations in ISKNV in samples collected from the water surrounding the cages matched those collected from infected caged fish, illustrating that water samples can be used for detecting predominant ISKNV variants in an ongoing outbreak. This approach allows for the detection of ISKNV and tracking of the dynamics of variant frequencies, and may thus assist in guiding control measures for the rapid isolation and quarantine of infected farms and facilities.

АВТОМАТИЗИРОВАННАЯ СИСТЕМА ПОДГОТОВКИ ИНСТРУМЕНТАЛЬНЫХ КОМПЛЕКТОВ ДЛЯ ОБРАБАТЫВАЮЩЕГО ОБОРУДОВАНИЯ С ЧПУ

The article describes an automated system for the preparation of tool kits for CNC machining equipment, designed to improve the efficiency of solving a number of tasks related to the organization of information and material flows at an automated site of CNC machining equipment.

Stone tools beyond traditional functions: the journey of lithics from profane to ceremonial

The production of flint tools evolved and diversified in response to the increasing and newly appearing demands of the early societies. The maintenance of this tradition coupled with the durability of stone tools resulted in the development of the lithic tool kit and the accumulation of large lithic assemblages mainly in settlements. The twentieth century witnessed the wide investigation of those assemblages through techno-typological approaches that aim at classifying and interpreting lithic assemblages and using them to reconstruct the chronological and cultural phases of given societies. The wide use of stone tools in daily-life activities i.e. hunting, gathering, farming, and food processing, enhanced the perception of lithics as functional objects that are mainly associated with secular activities. However, investigating the changing roles of stone tools over time remained partially overlooked. Apart from finely-made flint knives, the ritual functions of stone tools remain an unexplored research area. The current paper focuses on assessing the symbolic roles of the Predynastic lithics based on their use as grave goods. The results show that varied classes of tools were recruited for funerary purposes and that the evolving roles of lithics were influenced by a long process of human-nature and people-object interactions.

Safety assessment of five candidate probiotic lactobacilli using comparative genome analysis.

Micro-organisms belonging to the Lactobacillus genus complex are often used for oral consumption and are generally considered safe but can exhibit pathogenicity in rare and specific cases. Therefore, screening and understanding genetic factors that may contribute to pathogenicity can yield valuable insights regarding probiotic safety. Limosilactobacillus mucosae LM1, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SK151, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BS25, Limosilactobacillus fermentum SK152 and Lactobacillus johnsonii PF01 are current probiotics of interest; however, their safety profiles have not been explored. The genome sequences of LM1, SK151, SK152 and PF01 were downloaded from the NCBI GenBank, while that of L. plantarum BS25 was newly sequenced. These genomes were then annotated using the Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology tool kit pipeline. Subsequently, a command line blast was performed against the Virulence Factor Database (VFDB) and the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) to identify potential virulence factors and antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. Furthermore, ResFinder was used to detect acquired AR genes. The query against the VFDB identified genes that have a role in bacterial survivability, platelet aggregation, surface adhesion, biofilm formation and immunoregulation; and no acquired AR genes were detected using CARD and ResFinder. The study shows that the query strains exhibit genes identical to those present in pathogenic bacteria with the genes matched primarily having roles related to survival and surface adherence. Our results contribute to the overall strategies that can be employed in pre-clinical safety assessments of potential probiotics. Gene mining using whole-genome data, coupled with experimental validation, can be implemented in future probiotic safety assessment strategies.

Play Tool Kit to Strengthen Prosocial Behaviour and Empathy among Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Children

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects individuals’ ability to regulate their attention, impulses, and activity levels. It is commonly diagnosed in childhood but can persist into adolescence and adulthood. Children with such type of disorder are having copious problems related to social skills. Understanding these core symptoms is crucial in recognising and addressing the challenges faced by children with ADHD. Hence, some interventions has to be introduced in the form of a play toolkit, which has a significant effect on ADHD children’s prosocial behaviour and empathy. This play toolkit includes two components: play therapy and doodle therapy. Using play-based activities to enhance social skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and cooperation skills in a supportive and engaging environment is essential. Utilising creative activities like drawing, colouring, and art-based projects to facilitate self-expression, communication, and emotional understanding can indirectly improve social interactions. By incorporating these interventions into a comprehensive treatment plan, nurses and healthcare professionals can help children with ADHD develop essential social skills, improve their relationships with peers and adults, and enhance their overall well-being.

Selected Wildlife Trematodes.

The trematodes are a species-rich group of parasites, with some estimates suggesting that there are more than 24,000 species. However, the complexities associated with their taxonomic status and nomenclature can hinder explorations of the biology of wildlife trematodes, including fundamental aspects such as host use, life cycle variation, pathology, and disease. In this chapter, we review work on selected trematodes of amphibians, birds, mammals, and their snail intermediate hosts, with the goal of providing a tool kit on how to study trematodes of wildlife. We provide a brief introduction to each group of wildlife trematodes, followed by some examples of the challenges each group of trematodes has relative to the goal of their identification and understanding of the biology and interactions these organisms have with their wildlife hosts.

PENGEMBANGAN TOOL KIT PENINGKATAN KAPASITAS KEUANGAN KELUARGA CERMAT (TOOL KIT PK3C) BAGI PEREMPUAN DARI KELUARGA MISKIN DI KECAMATAN COBLONG KOTA BANDUNG

Women from poor families have the potential to make poor financial decisions that exacerbate their poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the acceleration of digitalization and the demand for good financial literacy from poor families. Strengthening the role of women not only as targets but also agents of change in financial literacy can increase financial inclusion. This research objective is to develops a Tool Kit that can be used practically by women from poor families to conduct community-based learning independently. This Tool Kit design is called the Careful Family Financial Capacity building Tool Kit (PK3C Tool Kit). This study used a qualitative approach with the Participatory Action Research method. Data were collected using documentation studies, interviews, focused group discussions, and observations. The research participants were 15 women from poor families. Data analysis used the Miles and Huberman model. The findings of this study highlight the interaction of women from poor families in interacting with each other to learn financial literacy. Vicarious learning through the storytelling of financial experiences is considered to help women become financially literate. The learning scheme generated from the PK3C Tool Kit is a cycle consisting of a storytelling process, triggering discussion, reflection on experience, and discursive transformation related to new financial competencies.

DFT based atomic modeling and temperature analysis on the RF and VTC curve of high-k dielectric layer-assisted NCFET

In this report, Density Functional Theory (DFT) based calculation using a Quantum Atomistic Tool Kit (ATK) simulator is done for the hafnia-based ferroelectric material. The band structure, projected density of states (PDOS), and Hartree potential (VH) are taken into account for hafnium oxide (HfO2) and silicon-doped hafnium oxide (Si-doped HfO2). Further, we analyze the temperature variation impact on analog parameters and voltage transfer characteristic (VTC) curve of inverter application of Modified Negative Capacitance Field-Effect-Transistor (NCFET) using the Visual Technology-Computer-Aided-Design (TCAD) simulator. The Modified NCFET structure enhances the DC parameters like leakage current (IOFF) and Subthreshold Swing (SS) compared to the conventional NCFET structure. With the temperature impact, the variation in the parameters of Modified NCFET is discussed at 250 K, 275 K, 300 K, 325 K, and 350 K like transconductance (gm), output conductance (gd), early voltage (VEA) shows the increment as we move from 250 K to 350 K. The short channel effects (SCEs) like Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL) and Subthreshold Swing (SS) decrease with the temperature fall at 32.98% and 34.74%, respectively. Further, the VTC curve, Noise Margin (NM), and propagation delay of Modified NCFET-based inverter are discussed with the impact of temperature. The propagation delay for the circuit decreased by 67.94% with the rise in the temperature. These factors show that the Modified NCFET-based inverter gives a fast switching performance at high temperatures.

Using synthetic control method to estimate the growth effects of economic liberalisation: Evidence from transition economies

AbstractWe examine the contribution of institutional reforms to economic growth. To this end, we distinguish between several classes of institutional reform in the approach to economic liberalisation. Based on a sample of 24 current and former transition economies for the period 1980–2016, we estimate the counterfactual scenarios related to each distinctive institutional approach to the economic liberalisation by making use of the synthetic control method. Our evidence uncovers notable contrasts in the long‐term effectiveness of designated policy approaches in recovering from the transitional recession. A variety of synthetic control estimates suggests that a sustained big bang approach (rapid reforms) appears to be the most effective approach, while an abortive and gradualist approach tends to produce a permanent breakdown of the growth trajectories relative to the estimated counterfactuals. The point estimates survive an extensive battery of placebo tests. By employing the same methodological tool kit, future research could examine the impact of transition reforms on other socio‐economic variables, such as the poverty rates, income inequalities, health and environmental outcomes.

The east of the Neanderthal universe: a comparative analysis of Sukhaya Mechetka and Altai Micoquian complexes

Late European Neanderthals, associated with the Micoquian techno-complex, spread over vast area from Western Europe to the Altai. There were no sites found in the territories to the east of the Volga region. The key site of the Eastern Micoquian, Sukhaya Mechetka, which was discovered in 1951 in the Volgograd region, was for a long time the eastern outpost of Neanderthals in Eurasia. In the last five years, the results of paleogenetic analysis have confirmed the archaeological hypothesis of the migration of late European Neanderthals, the producers of the Micoquian, from Central and Eastern Europe to Altai. Until then, the genesis of Altai industries was associated with a wide range of European and Near Eastern techno-complexes, and anthropological remains were interpreted more in a Near Eastern context. In this regard, the industry of the Sukhaya Mechetka site, located on the route of the supposed migration of the Micoquians, acquires additional relevance in the research of the variability of the easternmost complexes of this cultural tradition. The attributive and technological analysis of tool kit from Sukhaya Mechetka was carried out and, using mathematical statistics methods, their results were compared with the available data on the Altai sites: Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov Caves. The new data were supplemented by the published materials from the Sukhaya Mechetka site. As a result, high level of technical-typological similarity of the compared industries in the context of primary flaking, bifacial tool production, tool typology and morphology was revealed. The structure of the Sukhaya Mechetka tool kit is closest to the Chagirskaya Сave, which is characterized by a large number of simple side-scrapers. At the same time, the site lacks of high-quality raw materials used to make bifacial items and intensively worked unifacial tools. In the Okladnikov Cave complexes this deficit is less. In composition and morphology of unifacial and bifacial tools, Sukhaya Mechetka is closest to the assemblages of the Antonovka I site and Chagyrkaya Cave. They share similarity with Okladnikov Cave in terms of a significant number of leaf-shaped and crescent-shaped tools. Some new characteristics were additionally determined for the assemblage of Sukhaya Mechetka. It was established that the primary decortications of cores was carried out outside the site. We also reconstructed the stages of production, rejuvenating and reshaping of bifaces on the site.

Nanorobotics: An Impressive Technological Trend

Nanorobotics is a new and exciting field of nanotechnology that operates at the atomic, molecular, and cellular levels. These tiny robots are made up of carbon and have a toolkit containing useful components such as a medicine cavity for holding medicine, a micro camera, a payload, a capacitor, and a swimming tail. Nanorobots have special sensors that can detect target molecules in the human body, making them useful for diagnosing and treating various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, kidney stones, and more. While nanorobots are still being researched, some early molecular models of these medically programmable machines have been tested. This review covers various aspects of nanorobots, including their introduction, history, ideal characteristics, approaches in nanorobotics, basis for development, tool kit recognition, and retrieval from the body, as well as their applications in diagnosis and treatment.

European Society of Coloproctology: Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of cryptoglandular anal fistula.

The primary aim of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) Guideline Development Group (GDG) was to produce high-quality, evidence-based guidelines for the management of cryptoglandular anal fistula with input from a multidisciplinary group and using transparent, reproducible methodology. Previously published methodology in guideline development by the ESCP has been replicated in this project. The guideline development process followed the requirements of the AGREE-S tool kit. Six phases can be identified in the methodology. Phase one sets the scope of the guideline, which addresses the diagnostic and therapeutic management of perianal abscess and cryptoglandular anal fistula in adult patients presenting to secondary care. The target population for this guideline are healthcare practitioners in secondary care and patients interested in understanding the clinical evidence available for various surgical interventions for anal fistula. Phase two involved formulation of the GDG. The GDG consisted of 21 coloproctologists, three research fellows, a radiologist and a methodologist. Stakeholders were chosen for their clinical and academic involvement in the management of anal fistula as well as being representative of the geographical variation among the ESCP membership. Five patients were recruited from patient groups to review the draft guideline. These patients attended two virtual meetings to discuss the evidence and suggest amendments. In phase three, patient/population, intervention, comparison and outcomes questions were formulated by the GDG. The GDG ratified 250 questions and chose 45 for inclusion in the guideline. In phase four, critical and important outcomes were confirmed for inclusion. Important outcomes were pain and wound healing. Critical outcomes were fistula healing, fistula recurrence and incontinence. These outcomes formed part of the inclusion criteria for the literature search. In phase five, a literature search was performed of MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, Embase (Ovid) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews by eight teams of the GDG. Data were extracted and submitted for review by the GDG in a draft guideline. The most recent systematic reviews were prioritized for inclusion. Studies published since the most recent systematic review were included in our analysis by conducting a new meta-analysis using Review manager. In phase six, recommendations were formulated, using grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluations, in three virtual meetings of the GDG. In seven sections covering the diagnostic and therapeutic management of perianal abscess and cryptoglandular anal fistula, there are 42 recommendations. This is an up-to-date international guideline on the management of cryptoglandular anal fistula using methodology prescribed by the AGREE enterprise.

A systematic review and quality analysis of cancer pain guidelines.

Cancer pain guidelines remain confined due to implementation barriers, preventing them from attaining a global perspective. The guidelines must be robust in development and inculcate high-quality content to achieve practical utility. Quality indicators related to safe opioid practice empower effective guideline implementation. The protocol was registered prospectively in PROSPERO (CRD42021244823). Guidelines published over the last decade providing insights into cancer pain management and incorporating safe opioid practice were evaluated. The review's primary outcome was to evaluate the quality of cancer pain guidelines. Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument was used to assess a guideline's quality. The ADAPTE collaboration-guideline adaptation resource tool kit (ADAPTE) provided insights into its adaptation based on specific questions within the guideline. Fourteen cancer pain guidelines met the eligibility criteria and were included for quality evaluation. Eight guidelines were evaluated with combined AGREE II and ADAPTE process, attaining >66.7% in the rigour of development domain score, summated scaled domain score, and specific ADAPTE tools to evaluate the quality of each guideline. The intra-class correlation coefficient was utilised for resolving inter-rater agreement. 'Safe opioid practice' within a guideline was assessed for quality content implementation. Combined AGREE II and ADAPTE identified four cancer pain guidelines, namely Ministry of Health Malaysia, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, NCEC-National Clinical Guideline, and World Health Organization, which were of the highest quality and incorporated safe opioid practice effectively.

A note on analyzing the stability of oscillator Ising machines

AbstractThe rich non‐linear dynamics of the coupled oscillators (under second harmonic injection) can be leveraged to solve computationally hard problems in combinatorial optimization such as finding the ground state of the Ising Hamiltonian. While prior work on the stability of the so‐called Oscillator Ising Machines (OIMs) has used the linearization method, in this letter, the authors present a complementary method to analyze stability using the second‐order derivative test of the energy/cost function. The authors establish the equivalence between the two methods, thus augmenting the tool kit for the design and implementation of OIMs.

In situ adsorption of itaconic acid from fermentations of Ustilago cynodontis improves bioprocess efficiency

BackgroundReducing the costs of biorefinery processes is a crucial step in replacing petrochemical products by sustainable, biotechnological alternatives. Substrate costs and downstream processing present large potential for improvement of cost efficiency. The implementation of in situ adsorption as an energy-efficient product recovery method can reduce costs in both areas. While selective product separation is possible at ambient conditions, yield-limiting effects, as for example product inhibition, can be reduced in an integrated process.ResultsAn in situ adsorption process was integrated into the production of itaconic acid with Ustilago cynodontis IAmax, as an example of a promising biorefinery process. A suitable feed strategy was developed to enable efficient production and selective recovery of itaconic acid by maintaining optimal glucose concentrations. Online monitoring via Raman spectroscopy was implemented to enable a first process control and understand the interactions of metabolites with the adsorbent. In the final, integrated bioprocess, yield, titre, and space–time yield of the fermentation process were increased to values of 0.41 gIA/gGlucose, 126.5 gIA/L and 0.52 gIA/L/h. This corresponds to an increase of up to 30% in comparison to the first extended batch experiment without in situ product removal. Itaconic acid was recovered with a purity of at least 95% and high concentrations above 300 g/L in the eluate.ConclusionIntegration of product separation via adsorption into the bioprocess was successfully conducted and improved the efficiency of itaconic acid production. Raman spectroscopy was proven to be a reliable tool for online monitoring of various metabolites and facilitated design and validation of the complex separation and feed process. The general process concept can be transferred to the production of various similar bioproducts, expanding the tool kit for design of innovative biorefinery processes.

Sox9 is associated with two distinct patterning events during snake lung morphogenesis

The evolutionary forces that allowed species adaptation to different terrestrial environments and led to great diversity in body shape and size required acquisition of innovative strategies of pattern formation during organogenesis. An extreme example is the formation of highly elongated viscera in snakes. What developmental patterning strategies allowed to overcome the space constraints of the snake's body to meet physiological demands? Here we show that the corn snake uses a Sox2-Sox9 developmental tool kit common to other species to generate and shape the lung in two phases. Initially Sox9 was found at low levels at the tip of the primary lung bud during outgrowth and elongation of the bronchial bud, without driving branching programs characteristic of mammalian lungs. Later, Sox9 induction is recapitulated in the formation of an extensive network of radial septae emerging along the elongated bronchial bud that generates the respiratory region. We propose that altogether these represent key patterning events for formation of both the respiratory faveolar and non-respiratory posterior compartments of the snake's lung.