bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biosynthesis of Nano-Selenium and Its Impact on Germination of Wheat under Salt Stress for Sustainable Production
Authors: Ghazi Azza A. , El-Nahrawy Sahar , El-Ramady Hassan , Ling Wanting
Published: February 2022

Selenium and its derivatives have been found capable of excellent biological responses. However, the element in its bulk form has low bioavailability and increased toxicity, meaning the production of effective forms with sustainable methods has become urgent. Several microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria and yeast, as well as higher plants, are capable of biosynthesizing nanoparticles such as nano-selenium (nano-Se), which has wide applications in medicine, agriculture and industry. Thus, the biosynthesis of nano-Se using some bacterial species was the main target of this study. The production of nano-Se and the monitoring of its impact on the wheat germination of seeds under salt stress (i.e., 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) was also evaluated in the current study. The ameliorative role of nano-Se doses (i.e., 50, 75, and 100 mg L−1) in the germination of wheat seeds under salt stress was also investigated. Based on sodium selenite tolerance and reducing selenite to elemental Se-NPs, the most effective isolate (TAH) was selected for identification using the 16S rRNA gene sequence, which belonged to Bacillus cereus TAH. The final germination percent, mean germination time, vigor index and germination rate index were improved by 25, 25, 39.4 and 11%, respectively, under 15 mM sodium chloride concentration when 100 mg L−1 nano-selenium was used. On the other hand, the results obtained from a gnotobiotic sand system reveal that with treatment with 100 mg L−1 nano-selenium under high Ec values of 14 ds m−1, the vegetative growth parameters of shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight were improved by 22.8, 24.9, 19.2 and 20%, respectively, over untreated controls. The data obtained from this study reveal that the use of nano-selenium produced by Bacillus cereus offers improved wheat seed germination under a salt-affected environment.
Life Cycle Assessment of Boron Industry from Mining to Refined Products
Authors: Türkbay Tuğçe , Laratte Bertrand , Çolak Ayşenur , Çoruh Semra , Elevli Birol
Published: February 2022

Although there are a lot of studies in literature related to the life cycle assessment (LCA) of mining, there are only a few studies done on the boron mining industry. This paper presents an LCA of the boron mining industry including the extraction, beneficiation, and refinement processes. The main purpose is to identify and compare the environmental impacts associated with the production of 1 ton of refined products (boric acid, borax pentahydrate, borax decahydrate, and sodium perborate) starting from an open pit mine located in Turkey. The life cycle inventory (LCI) was obtained from the data collected from the related literature sources and the company’s reports. This cradle-to-gate analysis has been carried out using the commercial software called SimaPro employing the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) 2011 Midpoint+ Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) method. The results showed that the environmental impact of the refinement process is critical compared to the mining and beneficiations processes. Sulphuric acid, steam, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium perborate which are used in refined boron production cause most of the impact and emission into the environment. Among the refined boron products investigated, the impact of sodium perborate is quite high.
The Stance, Factors, and Composition of Competitiveness of SMEs in Poland
Authors: Kaczmarek Jarosław
Published: February 2022

The research aims to present a comparative and cause–effect assessment of the competitiveness of small and medium production enterprises. The author’s research comprises 13,943 enterprises in 2007–2019—the entire population of enterprises included in public statistics in Poland as macro-, meso- and micro-structures. The research study presents the extent, trends, and intensity of changes in competitiveness and its factors. The author analyses the characteristics of structures—the stability of positions and changes in the ranking of objects, and presents the classification and comparative analysis of structure profiles. In the methodological approach, the study makes use of a specially designed multivariate competitiveness measure (statistical procedure), its partial measures (productivity of labour cost and cost productivity in regard to export), and determinants. The research on object relocation is based on the ranking method. The research of the relocation of objects is based on the ranking method. The average rank position and its variability are determined. The assessment of the density of objects is based on the specially designed density measure. Analysis of profile similarities are based on the taxonomic similarity measure. As research results have proven: first, small and medium enterprises represent different levels of competitiveness, and the intensity of changes varies in the course of time; second, increased competitiveness in both groups of companies results from export activities rather than an increase in labour productivity; third, in the context of great similarities between small and medium enterprise profiles in terms of their normative competitiveness patterns, the results of the analysis of the existing differences are in favour of medium entities. The value of the research lies in the usage of a unique set of enterprises and the constructed multivariate model for assessing competitiveness, structure variability, and its profiling.
Energy Analysis of a Space-Energy Driven Laser-Ablation Debris Removal System
Authors: Yang Wulin , Fu Hongya , Shao Zhongxi , Zu Hongquan , Wu Qiang , Chen Chuan
Published: February 2022

Space-energy driven laser-ablation debris removal is a feasible way to address the worsening space debris environment. Energy analysis is crucial for the design and run of a space-energy driven laser-ablation debris removal system. This study details the energy analysis of a space-energy driven laser-ablation debris removal system as affected by laser energy, frequency and range. The results show that the laser irradiation time and energy efficiency are decreased with increases in the laser energy and frequency, and the energy efficiency in the case of different planes is significantly lower than that in the case of coplanar. However, laser range has no effect on the perigee changing and energy efficiency. The results can effectively guide the removal scheme design and evaluation.
Using Hybrid Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies for Sustainability in Going-Concern Prediction
Authors: Chi Der-Jang , Shen Zong-De
Published: February 2022

The going-concern opinions of certified public accountants (CPAs) and auditors are very critical, and due to misjudgments, the failure to discover the possibility of bankruptcy can cause great losses to financial statement users and corporate stakeholders. Traditional statistical models have disadvantages in giving going-concern opinions and are likely to cause misjudgments, which can have significant adverse effects on the sustainable survival and development of enterprises and investors’ judgments. In order to embrace the era of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies have been used in recent studies to judge going concern doubts and reduce judgment errors. The Big Four accounting firms (Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and EY) are paying greater attention to auditing via big data and artificial intelligence (AI). Thus, this study integrates AI and machine learning technologies: in the first stage, important variables are selected by two decision tree algorithms, classification and regression trees (CART), and a chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID); in the second stage, classification models are respectively constructed by extreme gradient boosting (XGB), artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and C5.0 for comparison, and then, financial and non-financial variables are adopted to construct effective going-concern opinion decision models (which are more accurate in prediction). The subjects of this study are listed companies and OTC (over-the-counter) companies in Taiwan with and without going-concern doubts from 2000 to 2019. According to the empirical results, among the eight models constructed in this study, the prediction accuracy of the CHAID–C5.0 model is the highest (95.65%), followed by the CART–C5.0 model (92.77%).
When Corporate Social Advocacy Meets Controversial Celebrity: The Role of Consumer–Brand Congruence and Consumer-Celebrity Congruence
Authors: Alharbi Khalid , Kim Joon Kyoung , Noland Christopher , Carter Jackson
Published: February 2022

This study investigates the role of consumer–brand congruence and consumer–celebrity congruence in the formation of consumer attitudes toward brands and their impact on behavioral intentions within the context of corporate social advocacy (CSA) involving controversial celebrities. Using a U.S. sample drawn from a Qualtrics panel (N = 372), the results of mediation analyses indicate that attitude toward a brand positively mediates the effects of consumer–brand congruence on consumers’ behavioral intentions, including purchase intention, brand preference, and boycott recommendation. The consumer–celebrity congruence moderated the indirect effect of consumer–brand congruence on brand preference and boycott recommendations, but not purchase intention. The findings of this study contribute to the CSA literature and practices by highlighting the role of consumers’ congruence with a controversial celebrity in determining consumers’ behavioral responses to CSA. When brands practice CSA, consumer–brand congruence rather than consumer–celebrity congruence could play a more important role in shaping consumer behaviors.
Integrating FSE and AHP to Identify Valuable Customer Needs by Service Quality Analysis
Authors: Chang Tien-Hsiang , Hsu Kuei-Ying , Fu Hsin-Pin , Teng Ying-Hua , Li Yi-Jhen
Published: February 2022

In this study, we explore the needs of different valuable customer groups for service quality and how limited resources are allocated to enhance service quality. Accordingly, we propose a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool that uses fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) in combination with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to help companies enhance understanding of quantitative data (the weights of the factors that affect service quality) and qualitative information to identify valuable customers. Fifty-three experts and 304 consumers at convenience stores (CVS) comprise the data set. We employed the AHP to obtain index weights in the second step of FSE and conducted FSE to determine the importance of various valuable customer groups. The results demonstrate that different valuable customer groups have dissimilar perceptions and feelings about service quality. The findings indicate that customers between “20 to 29 years old” are the most valuable customer group and that most consumers do not care much about “problem solving”. The analysis is distinct from extant work in that it examines the effect of receiving service quality from a consumer viewpoint, as we conducted a comprehensive analysis from both customer and expert perspectives.
Exploring Public Support for Large-Scale Commercial Axis Deer Harvests in Maui, Hawaii
Authors: Rubino Elena C. , Williams Christopher K.
Published: February 2022

Commercial harvests have been effectively employed to manage wildlife populations across the world. Although commercial harvesting of the nonnative, invasive axis deer (Axis axis) in Maui, Hawaii, occurs at small scales and only on private lands, there is potential for large-scale implementation to be used as a population management tool. To investigate local stakeholder interest in a hypothetical, large-scale commercial harvest of axis deer, we used an online survey of individuals and businesses in Maui to analyze their attitudes towards axis deer populations and management, their experiences with axis deer, and potential to utilize axis deer venison and products, as relevant. We found evidence of public support for commercial harvesting to be employed as one of the many tools available to manage axis deer populations. Additionally, we documented support on both the supply-side and demand-side for axis deer-derived products that may be available if large-scale commercialized harvesting were implemented. We leverage these results to contribute to conversations about commercial wildlife harvesting in the United States by challenging assumptions that the practice is inconsistent with the public’s perceptions of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and suggesting policies and programs that would ease axis deer commercial harvest growing pains.
Exploring the Impact of Green Walls on Occupant Thermal State in Immersive Virtual Environment
Authors: Sedghikhanshir Alireza , Zhu Yimin , Chen Yan , Harmon Brendan
Published: February 2022

Green walls have been used in built environments as a natural element to bring various benefits, thus improving human health and well-being. However, in conventional virtual environments, the visual connection with a green wall is the only way that this natural element could benefit humans. Unfortunately, the impact of such visual connection on human thermal perception is still not well understood. Thus, we conducted an experimental study with 40 participants comparing the thermal state of two virtual sessions: biophilic (a room with a green wall) and non-biophilic (the same room without a green wall). Both sessions were conducted in a climate chamber under a slightly warm condition (28.89 °C and 50% relative humidity). Participants’ thermal state, skin temperature, and heart rate data were collected. According to the results, participants’ thermal comfort and hand skin temperature were significantly different between the two sessions, and their mean skin temperature was statistically increased over time. The study suggests that before the extent to which the impact of visual stimuli (e.g., green walls) on thermal perception is fully understood, researchers may need to control visual and thermal stimuli separately when using them in immersive virtual environments. Furthermore, the virtual exposure time should be an important consideration when designing experimental procedures.
COVID-19 Pandemic, Technological Progress and Food Security Based on a Dynamic CGE Model
Authors: Lin Xinyue , Qi Lingli , Pan Haoran , Sharp Basil
Published: February 2022

The global spread of COVID-19 has complicated the international equilibrium of grain production and trade. China now faces external shocks in the international grain market and deep-seated problems associated with the structure of domestic supply. We used a dynamic, computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to analyse the effects on China’s food security and macroeconomics under the COVID-19 scenario and four technological progress paths in the agricultural sector. We showed that the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting China’s food security in the short term, and critical quantitative variables such as grain production and grain consumption per capita have declined. Considering food security and macroeconomic development, labour-saving technological progress outperformed neutral technological progress, land-saving technological progress, and capital-saving technological progress in the short run. While land-saving technological progress contributes the most to the arable land area per capita of wheat and other grains in the long run.
Opportunities, Challenges, and Uncertainties in Urban Road Transport Automation
Authors: Shladover Steven E.
Published: February 2022

Automated driving has attracted intense attention in the media and among the general public, based on extremely optimistic predictions from some industry participants, but these have started to become more realistic in the last couple of years, after the “hype cycle” for automation peaked. This paper explains the opportunities for Automated Driving System (ADS) technology to improve the urban transport of people and goods, together with the challenges that will limit the scope and timing of the deployment of urban ADS. The discussion emphasizes the diversity of ADS applications and services, each of which has its own opportunities, challenges, and uncertainties, leading to diverse deployment scopes and schedules. The associated challenges are sufficiently daunting that ADS deployment will lag behind electrification and connectivity, leaving more time for cities to prepare for it.
Analysis of the Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Hungarian Employees
Authors: Karacsony Peter , Krupánszki Kornél , Antalík Imrich
Published: February 2022

The economic crisis in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic is affecting the lives, jobs and incomes of a lot of people. Certain sectors of the economy have come to a standstill or stalled for a time, causing many to lose their jobs and be forced to pursue other career options than originally planned. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a deep economic crisis that caused workers to feel insecure, which also had a negative impact on the lives and characteristics of individuals at work. In the course of our research, we conducted a survey of employees in small and medium-sized enterprises in Hungary in order to find out how the coronavirus crisis affected them. In Hungary, the sectors most affected by the epidemic (e.g., hospitality, tourism, automotive) had an intense impact, as the consequences of restrictions on mobility and social distance emerged in the very early stages of the crisis. The survey was conducted in July 2021 after the end of the second wave of the epidemic, with a total of 613 participants. Our results confirmed that the coronavirus crisis had a significant impact on the respondents’ feelings of job insecurity and financial situation. There is a significant connection between the downsizing of Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises and the feeling of job insecurity among employees. There was also a significant link between the organizational measures taken against the crisis and the financial situation of the employees. Thus, based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the coronavirus crisis has had a negative impact on the lives of individuals through the workplaces.
Semi-Automatic Method to Evaluate Ecological Value of Urban Settlements with the Biotope Area Factor Index: Sources and Logical Framework
Authors: Lotto Roberto De , Sessi Matilde , Venco Elisabetta M.
Published: February 2022

As the number of people living in cities continues to increase and as their needs continue rapidly to evolve, planners and scholars have been encouraged to define what constitutes high levels of quality of life in urban settlements. The relationship of an area’s inhabitants with natural and green resources increases urban environmental value, which is one of the most relevant aspects in the determination of the quality of life in built-up contexts. Moreover, it is fundamental to find quantitative parameters that can monitor the development of planning processes, working together with natural systems. The authors present a comparative method that can be used to analyze and evaluate the ecological value of urban settlements, using a semi-automatic process that is based on calculating the biotope area factor (BAF) using different open-access databases (a cartographic dataset, aerial imagery, and Sentinel-2 images). Two different Italian case studies that are set in the Milan metropolitan area are presented. In this paper, the authors describe the two settlements using the city-planning parameters of physical structure and morphology; they show the ecological differences and similarities throughout the various remote sensing sources and data. Finally, the authors indicate how the research can be developed, highlighting the weaknesses, the potentiality, the replicability process, and the urban planning implications of the methodology.
Intelligent Data Analysis for Infection Spread Prediction
Authors: Borovkov Alexey I. , Bolsunovskaya Marina V. , Gintciak Aleksei M.
Published: February 2022

Intelligent data analysis based on artificial intelligence and Big Data tools is widely used by the scientific community to overcome global challenges. One of these challenges is the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, which began in early 2020. Data science not only provides an opportunity to assess the impact caused by a pandemic, but also to predict the infection spread. In addition, the model expansion by economic, social, and infrastructural factors makes it possible to predict changes in all spheres of human activity in competitive epidemiological conditions. This article is devoted to the use of anonymized and personal data in predicting the coronavirus infection spread. The basic “Susceptible–Exposed–Infected–Recovered” model was extended by including a set of demographic, administrative, and social factors. The developed model is more predictive and applicable in assessing future pandemic impact. After a series of simulation experiment results, we concluded that personal data use in high-level modeling of the infection spread is excessive.
Spatial Analysis of the Empirical Behavior of Municipal Institutional Capacity for the Formulation of Sustainable Growth Management Strategies with a Regional Focus: State of Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Lagunes-Gómez Isabel , Hernández-Orduña María , Murrieta-Galindo Rene , Hernández-Pitalua Daniel , Mayorga-Cruz Darwin
Published: February 2022

As a governmental function, development for progress and welfare is a highly complex process that involves updating various attributes (such as a paradigm, critical or alternative, depending on of the way in which they are articulated regarding social aspects, environmental, and economic growth, as well as the institutional capacity of public and private actors). Regarding this, we are interested in the municipal institutional capacity (MIC) as a skill to carry out the functions and appropriate tasks that municipalities must fulfill in an effective, efficient, and sustainable way, and it varies considerably, depending on each local context. In order to analyze the relevance of the current official regionalization as a state government strategy for the centralized construction of MIC, an exploratory approach to its spatial behavior in the State of Veracruz, Mexico, was carried out. Given the nature of the study, a purely mixed approach, sequential exploratory design, subnational analysis methodology, and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) were employed. The variable to be analyzed is the 2016 Municipal Functional Capacities Index (Índice de Capacidades Funcionales Municipales (ICFM)), with the Geostatistics Framework cartographic base of the 2020 Population and Housing Census. The analysis units are 212 municipalities in the 2014–2017 government period. As a result, it was confirmed that the current regionalization was irrelevant, owing to the absence of global spatial autocorrelation, and it was concluded that targeted interventions are necessary according to regional modeling techniques, based on scientific evidence.
Which Consumer Perceptions Should Be Used in Food Waste Reduction Campaigns: Food Security, Food Safety or Environmental Concerns?
Authors: Hao Na , Zhang Yi , Wang Huashu , Wang H. Holly
Published: February 2022

Consumer food waste linked to restaurants and canteens has been a long-standing serious problem in China, which hungers for an effective solution. Although government and media have launched campaigns against food waste, limited information on consumer perceptions is provided in helping to guide campaign programs. The influence of perception associated with low food waste is lacking, along with targeting campaigns based on these perceptions. This research aims to fill this gap. The purpose of this paper is to identify consumption perceptions about food waste in the Chinese urban restaurant sector, so that they can be used in social marketing to promote food waste reduction behaviors. Employing Probit models using survey data collected, we found that food security and environmental perceptions are associated with low food waste. Campaigns directed toward reducing food waste should target raising awareness of food security alert and environmental concerns that are more generally appealing to altruistic spirits.
Social Commerce in the Wine Sector: An Exploratory Research Study of the Italian Market
Authors: Mastroberardino Piero , Calabrese Giuseppe , Cortese Flora , Petracca Miriam
Published: February 2022

The development of Web 2.0 technologies and social media, along with the emergence of wikis, blogs, online communities, and social networks, has rapidly transformed e-commerce. This phenomenon is commonly known as social commerce, an evolution of e-commerce characterized by a strong customer orientation. The aim of this paper is to understand the support of social commerce for e-commerce. We conducted an exploratory analysis of the Italian wine market via in-depth interviews with experts in the wine business: three wine producers and three companies running an online wine business. The interviews were recorded with the consent of the interviewees and transcribed, and their content was analyzed through content analysis. In particular, an analysis grid was created, following a closed procedure, with an ex-ante definition of the categories of analysis. Our results reveal that the COVID-19 outbreak has given a significant boost to digital transformation and online purchases in the wine sector. While some operators in the sector have merely undergone this change, others have been riding the wave, trying to benefit from it.
Urban Sound Auralization and Visualization Framework—Case Study at IHTApark
Authors: Llorca-Bofí Josep , Dreier Christian , Heck Jonas , Vorländer Michael
Published: February 2022

In the context of acoustic urban planning, the use of noise mappings is a worldwide well-established practice. Therefore, the noise levels in an urban environment are calculated based on models of the sound sources, models of the physical sound propagation effects and the position of the receivers in the area of interest. However, the noise mapping method is limited to sound levels in frequency bands due to missing temporal and spectral information of the sound signals. This, in turn, leads to missing information about the qualitative sound properties, as they can be evaluated in psychoacoustic parameters. Beyond the scope of the classical noise mapping, auralization and physically-based simulation of sound fields can be applied to urban scenarios in the context of urban soundscape analysis. By supporting the auralization technology with a visual counterpart of the urban space, a plausible virtual representation of a real environment can be achieved. The presented framework combines the possibilities of the open-source auralization tool Virtual Acoustics with 3D visualization. In order to enable studies with natural human response or for public communication of urban design projects, those virtual scenes can be either reproduced with immersive technologies—such head-mounted displays (HMD)—or using online video platforms and traditional playback devices. The paper presents an overview of what physical principles can already be simulated, which technological considerations need to be taken into account, and how to set up such environment for auralization and visualization of urban scenes. We present the framework by the case study of IHTApark.
Byproducts from the Vegetable Oil Industry: The Challenges of Safety and Sustainability
Authors: Smeu Irina , Dobre Alina Alexandra , Cucu Elena Mirela , Mustățea Gabriel , Belc Nastasia , Ungureanu Elena Loredana
Published: February 2022

Food loss and food waste are a global challenge as about one third of all food produced around the globe is lost or wasted at some point in the food supply chain, from the farm to the fork. Vegetable oils generate a considerable amount of waste and byproducts, and such byproducts represent valuable opportunities for the food industry. Given the obvious benefits of using byproducts, special attention should be paid to the safety issues, especially when it comes to reintroducing them into the food chain. In this study, the quality and safety of several vegetable oil industry byproducts were evaluated in order to further consider them as potential ingredients in functional foods. Microbiological tests, mycotoxin assessments, and a heavy metal analysis were performed. The microbiological analysis showed reduced contamination with spoilage microorganisms, and a lack of contamination with pathogenic bacteria. All of the samples noted levels of deoxynivalenol, and, with a few exceptions, the heavy metal levels were below the maximum allowed limits. This study also notes the lack of regulation for this category of products. This not only puts the possibility of capitalizing on many food byproducts at risk, but also their widespread use as ingredients for the production of new functional products and their safe consumption.
Reliability Analysis with Wiener-Transmuted Truncated Normal Degradation Model for Linear and Non-Negative Degradation Data
Authors: Muhammad Isyaku , Wang Xingang , Li Changyou , Yan Mingming , Mukhtar Mustapha , Muhammad Mustapha
Published: February 2022

The degradation rates of many engineering systems are always positive in practical applications. In some cases, the degradation process is approximately linear, such as train wheel wear degradation and an increase in the operating current of laser devices. In this paper we introduce a degradation modeling and reliability estimation method based on the Wiener process with a transmuted-truncated normal distribution (TTND). The TTND is employed to characterize unit-to-unit variability due to its flexibility in capturing symmetry and the asymmetrical behavior of the drift variable of the Wiener process. A Wiener process with TTND is applied to model the degradation processes of the deteriorating systems in two cases. In the first case, we assume that the degradation process is unaffected by measurement uncertainties, whereas in the second case, the measurement uncertainties are considered. The exact and explicit expressions of PDFs and the reliability functions are derived based on the concept of first hitting time. The Gibbs sampling technique and the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm are employed to obtain the Bayesian estimates of the model’s parameters. The efficiency and the feasibility of the presented approach are demonstrated through numerical examples, with Monte Carlo simulation and a practical application with laser degradation data. Furthermore, deviance information criteria (DIC) are used to compare the proposed model and some existing models. The result indicated that the proposed approach provided better reliability estimation results.
Attaching Onto or Inserting Into an Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond: Exploring and Controlling a Chirality-Dependent Dilemma for Alcohols
Authors: Lange Manuel , Sennert Elisabeth , Suhm Martin A.
Published: February 2022

Prereactive complexes in noncovalent organocatalysis are sensitive to the relative chirality of the binding partners and to hydrogen bond isomerism. Both effects are present when a transiently chiral alcohol docks on a chiral α-hydroxy ester, turning such 1:1 complexes into elementary, non-reactive model systems for chirality induction in the gas phase. With the help of linear infrared and Raman spectroscopy in supersonic jet expansions, conformational preferences are investigated for benzyl alcohol in combination with methyl lactate, also exploring p-chlorination of the alcohol and the achiral homolog methyl glycolate to identify potential London dispersion and chirality effects on the energy sequence. Three of the four combinations prefer barrierless complexation via the hydroxy group of the ester (association). In contrast, the lightest complex predominantly shows insertion into the intramolecular hydrogen bond, such as the analogous lactate and glycolate complexes of methanol. The experimental findings are rationalized with computations, and a uniform helicality induction in the alcohol by the lactate is predicted, independent of insertion into or association with the internal lactate hydrogen bond. p-chlorination of benzyl alcohol has a stabilizing effect on association because the insertion motif prevents a close contact between the chlorine and the hydroxy ester. After simple anharmonicity and substitution corrections, the B3LYP-D3 approach offers a fairly systematic description of the known spectroscopic data on alcohol complexes with α-hydroxy esters.
The Novel Finding of Dynamic Change in eGFR Up to One Year after End of Treatment in HCV-Infected Patients Receiving Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir
Authors: Wu Cheng-Kun , Chen Li-Wei , Chang Te-Sheng , Tung Shui-Yi , Lin Chun-Yen , Hung Chao-Hung , Lu Sheng-Nan , Lin Chih-Lang , Chen Chien-Hung , Hsu Chao-Wei , Hu Tsung-Hui , Sheen I-Shyan
Published: February 2022

Background: The results of long-term renal evolution in HCV-infected patients using sofosbuvir and velpatasvir (SOF/VEL), with or without ribavirin (RBV), are lacking. Aims: We evaluated the renal safety for HCV-infected patients receiving SOF/VEL. Methods: Between 1 June 2019 and 6 July 2020, we included 594 HCV-infected patients receiving SOF/VEL +/− RBV for 12 weeks in Taiwan. Viral eradication rate (defined by sustained virological response at week 12 post-treatment; SVR12) and changes to renal function were considered. Results: SVR12 was achieved in 99.3% (590/594) upon per-protocol analysis. Patients saw improved hepatobiliary function and fibrosis after the start of SOF/VEL therapy. For renal function, those with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 (mL/min/1.73 m2) experienced transient on-treatment reduction in renal function that improved upon ending treatment, but recurrent eGFR degradation during one-year follow-up. The use of RBV (OR = 5.200, 95% CI: 1.983–13.634, p = 0.001) was a significant risk factor at SVR24, while diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.765, 95% CI: 1.104–6.922, p = 0.030) and the use of RBV (OR = 3.143, 95% CI: 1.047–9.435, p = 0.041) were identified as significant risk factors of worsening renal function at SVR48. SOF/VEL did not worsen renal function among those with stage 4–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were not receiving dialysis. Conclusions: A trend of decline in eGFR at 1 year after SOF/VEL treatment was observed among diabetic patients with baseline eGFR ≥ 60 (mL/min/1.73 m2) and concomitant use of RBV. The close monitoring of renal function is warranted. Further study should be conducted in order to weigh the risks and benefit of RBV.
Improved Method of Defining Rainfall Intensity and Duration Thresholds for Shallow Landslides Based on TRIGRS
Authors: Zhang Sen , Jiang Qigang , Wu Dongzhe , Xu Xitong , Tan Yang , Shi Pengfei
Published: February 2022

The Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-Based Regional Slope-Stability (TRIGRS) model has been widely used to define rainfall thresholds for triggering shallow landslides. In this study, the rainfall intensity(I)-duration(D) thresholds for multiple slope units of an area in Pu’an County, Guizhou Province, China were defined based on TRIGRS. Given that TRIGRS is used to simulate the slope stability under the conditions of a given increasing sequence of I-D data, if the slope reaches instability at I = a, D = b, it will also become unstable in the case of I = a, D > b or I > a, D = b. To explore the effect of these I-D data with the same I or D values on the definition of I-D thresholds and the best method to exclude these data, two screening methods were used to exclude the I-D data that caused instability in the TRIGTS simulation. First, I-D data with the same I values when D values are greater than a certain limit value were excluded. Second, several D values were selected to exclude I-D data with the same I values for a slope unit. Then, an I value was selected to exclude I-D data with the same D values. After screening, two different I-D thresholds were defined. The comparison with the thresholds defined without screening shows that the I-D data with the same I or D values will reduce the accuracy of thresholds. Moreover, the second screening method can entirely exclude these data.
The Effect of Precipitation on the Microbiological Quality of Bathing Water in Areas under Anthropogenic Impact
Authors: Ordulj Marin , Jozić Slaven , Baranović Mateja , Krželj Maja
Published: February 2022

Intense rainfall can affect bathing water quality, especially in areas with poorly developed sewage systems or combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of precipitation on coastal bathing water quality in the area of Split and Kaštela (Adriatic Sea), the urban areas where CSOs were applied. The study was conducted during two bathing seasons, 2020 and 2021. The sampling of coastal waters and measurement of physical/chemical parameters was performed every two weeks and after a precipitation event of more than 2 mm. The impact of precipitation on the quality of coastal bathing waters was not noted in the Split area nor in Kaštela, probably due to the low amount of precipitation. The quality of bathing waters in the Kaštela area was significantly worse than in the Split area, which is due to the condition of the sewage system in these areas and not the precipitation effect. It was also revealed that bathing water quality depends on the timing of sampling and the indicator against which it is assessed. Escherichia coli (E. coli) proved to be a better indicator for early morning sampling, while intestinal enterococci were better for late morning sampling.
Solution of Shallow-Water Equations by a Layer-Integrated Hydrostatic Least-Squares Finite-Element Method
Authors: Liang Shin-Jye , Doong Dong-Jiing , Chao Wei-Ting
Published: February 2022

A multi-layer hydrostatic shallow-water model was developed in the present study. The layer-integrated hydrostatic nonlinear shallow-water was solved with θ time integration and the least-squares finite element method. Since the least-squares formulation was employed, the resulting system of equations was symmetric and positive–definite; therefore, it could be solved efficiently by the preconditioned conjugate gradient method. The model was first applied to simulate the von Karman vortex shedding. A well-organized von Karman vortex street was reproduced. The model was then applied to simulate the Kuroshio current-induced Green Island vortex street. A swirling recirculation was formed and followed by several pairs of alternating counter-rotating vortices. The size of the recirculation, as well as the temporal and spatial scale of the vortex shedding, were found to be consistent with ADCP-CDT measurements, X-band radar measurements, and analysis of the satellite images. It was also revealed that Green Island vortices were affected by the upstream Orchid Island vortices.
Harmony and difference. Problems of Translation of the Monograph by Nie Zhenzhao “An Introduction to Ethical Literary Criticism” from Chinese into Russian
Authors:   Zhejiang University in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Zhou Lu
Published: February 2022

The monograph by Professor Nie Zhenzhao “An Introduction to Ethical Literary Criticism” was included in the program of academic translation from Chinese to Russian in 2016. This article discusses a number of issues related to the nature of translation work on this text. First, the translators adhered to the idea of harmony and difference, striving not only to ensure a successful exchange between the two cultures, but also to emphasize its heterogeneity. Secondly, they relied on the traditional Chinese Confucian philosophy, the doctrine of the Golden Mean, and strove to be impartial. Thirdly, they used some of the developments achieved in the course of discussions with their Russian colleagues. English version of this article under title ''Problems of Translation of the Monograph by Nie Zhenzhao “An Introduction to Ethical Literary Criticism” from Chinese into Russian'' is available at URL: https://panor.ru/articles/problems-of-translation-of-the-monograph-by-nie-zhenzhao-an-introduction-to-ethical-literary-criticism-from-chinese-into-russian/78331.html
On the concept and content of the textbook for master's training «Public administration in the field of culture»
Authors:   Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (IPACS, RANEPA), Ponkin I.V.
Published: February 2022

The article is devoted to the concept and, in general, the concept of the textbook for master's training «Public administration in the field of culture». The article substantiates the relevance of creating such a textbook and provides a possible layout of the topics of such a textbook (in the author's vision).
ENGLISH TEACHERS’ STRATEGIES IN TEACHING VOCABULARY DURING COVID - 19
Authors: Ginting Lenissa , Situmorang Sintia Anastasia
Published: February 2022

Abstract

 

This study describes the strategies used by English teachers in teaching vocabulary during the Covid-19 pandemic. The type of research used is qualitative research, where the data collection process uses observation, interview, recording and triangulation methods. The results of research conducted on two English teachers at SMA Dharma Pancasila showed that the teachers at the school taught using various strategies and varied learning methods such as telling stories in the form of narrative, question and answer, and stimulating students to learn using attractive pictures. Besides that, teachers must also continue to motivate and arouse students' enthusiasm to study more actively during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is also hoped that teachers and parents can work together to create more effective learning conditions.

Keywords: Teacher Strategies, Covid-19, Vocabulary, Online learning
EFEKTIFITAS PEMAHAMAN KONSEP IBADAH AGAMA ISLAM DENGAN MENYELENGGARAKAN KEGIATAN PESANTREN KILAT DI KELAS IV SDN 101821 PANCURBATU PADA SEMESTER 2 T.P.2018/2019
Authors: Tarigan Syahriani
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTThe problem of this research is:1.How are the end-of-year holiday activities, especially the expresscurricular activities of a short-term boarding school at SDN 101821 Pancurbatu in Semester 2T.P.2018/2019? 2. How is the correlation between extra-curricular a short-term Islamic boardingschool with student learning achievement, especially in the field of Islamic studies at SDN 101821Pancurbatu in Semester 2 T.P.2018/2019? 3. How is the relationship between the extra-curricularactivities of a short-term Islamic boarding school in the end-of-year holiday and the improvement oflearning achievements of grade IV students, especially in the field of Islamic studies at SDN101821 Pancurbatu in Semester 2 T.P.2018/2019? Objectives of Action Research:1.Explaining theholiday activities of the end of the school year ;2.Explaining the improvement of learningachievement, especially in the field of Islamic studies in grade 4 students at SDN 101821Pancurbatu in Semester 2 T.P.2018/2019.20 3. Obtaining data on the relationship between the endof-year holiday activities and the learning achievements of grade 4 students at SDN 101821Pancurbatu in Semester 2 T.P.2018/2019.This study used three rounds of action research. Eachround consists of four stages: design, activities and observations, reflections, and revisions. Dataobtained in the form of formative test results, observation sheets of teaching and learning activities.From the results of analysts obtained that the conclusions that can be drawn from this PTK are:1.Activities of grade 4 students of SDN 101821 Pancurbatu tend to increase with learning usingsimulation of a short-term Islamic boarding school activities 2.Cooperative skills of grade 4students of SDN 101821 Pancurbatu during the learning process using simulation of flash a shortterm boarding school activities can appear and most showed a significant increase in Islamiclearning achievements .3.Islamic learning achievements in grade 4 students at SDN 101821Pancurbatu experienced a significant increase after learning through learning using simulations of ashort-term boarding school activities It is recommended that the learning field of Islamic studies istimed to be replaced with innovative, learning techniques such as using simulated a short-termIslamic boarding school activities.Keywords: Islamic religious worship, a short-term Islamic boarding school
MEMBINA GURU DALAM MENYUSUN BUTIR SOAL UJIAN AKHIR MELALUI PENYELENGGARAAN WORKSHOP OLEH PENGAWAS SEKOLAH DI UPT SMP NEGERI 41 MEDAN
Authors: SEMBIRING ELIM DATMALEM
Published: February 2022

Penelitian ini berfokus kepada bagaimana upaya untuk meningkatkan Kemampuan guru di UPT SMP Negeri 41 Medan Pada Semester 2 T.P.2019/2020  dalam menyusun tes hasil belajar akhir? Tujuan yang ingin dicapai adalah agar guru – guru  di UPT SMP Negeri 41 Medan mampu menyusun tes hasil belajar akhir. Sementara, manfaat penelitian ini adalah  supaya guru – guru di UPT SMP Negeri 41 Medan memiliki tes hasil belajar akhir semester. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Penelitian Tindakan Sekolah (PTS). Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan dua siklus terdiri dari perencanaan, pelaksanaan, observasi , dan refleksi. Guru yang dianggap memiliki kemampuan di dalam menyusun tes apabila hasilnya memenuhi kriteria tes yang layak seperti kesesuaian bunyi butir dengan tujuan pembelajaran, kesesuaian bunyi butir tes dengan  aspek perilaku yang diukur ( C1 – C6 ), penggunaan Bahasa Indonesia  yang baik dan benar dan sesuai dengan EYD  Tes dikatakan layak apabila minimal 65 % kriteria bisa terpenuhi. Ini terbukti pada tabel siklus II dari 6 guru yang diteliti dalam penyusunan tes ini 100 % guru sudah tuntas dalam menyusun tes profesional. Ini menunjukkan adanya peningkatan mutu dalam penuyusunan tes oleh guru di UPT SMP Negeri 41 Medan  pada semester 2 Tahun Pelajaran 2019/2020. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini bahwa penerapan workshop dalam menyusun tes hasil belajar akhir semester 2 sangat efektif.
ANALYSIS OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN WRITING NARRATIVE TEXT B
Authors: Nababan Rinda , Tarigan Yosiardi , Br Ginting Elma Gibra , Tarigan Natalia Widya Pasca
Published: February 2022

Abstract

The researchers conducted this research to find out some of the mistakes made by students in writing, especially in writing narrative text. The researchers involved several grade VIII students of SMP SWASTA VALENTINE DELI SERDANG in academic year 2020/2021. The researchers conducted a qualitative descriptive study with 15 students participating in the study by giving them a questionnaire test. This study found 4 types of grammatical errors in students' writing, namely spelling, verb tense, article, and capitalization with the following number of errors. 1: Spelling with 29 errors = 18.70%, Verb tense with 69 errors = 44.51%, Articles with 31 errors = 20% and Capitalization with 26 errors = 16.77% . The total accumulated grammar mistakes made by the students were 155.

 

Keywords: analysis, grammatical errors, narrative text.