bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corrosion Detection and Surface Repair with Coatings on Condensate Storage Tanks Internal Surfaces
Authors: Guliš Matija , Smirić Sanja , Pušnik Lenart
Published: July 2023

In the Nuclear power plant Krško, there are two single hull condensate storage tanks with floating diaphragm each containing up to 757 m3 of demineralized water. The main purpose of these two storage tanks is to provide a capacity of cooling water for cooling the reactor coolant system via steam generators with the use of auxiliary feedwater pumps. This is a very important function from the safety point of view and that is the reason that both storage tanks are listed as safety class 3 components. It is also possible to fill up the condensate system if other means are not available. Condensate storage tanks are subject to periodic testing and periodic inspections to determine the condition of the components. Both tanks are in operation since the start-up of the powerplant, are located outside, and are exposed to different degradation processes. There was a concern that the tanks are leaking because there were often small puddles of water near the tanks. There were no changes in the levels of tanks. The design of tanks is a single hull, so there is no indication if a small leak is present.In the outage 2018, both tanks were emptied and examined with NDE methods to find any corrosion damage of bottom plates and any untight spots on adjacent welds.The article is about the NDE methods that were used (Magnetic Flux Leakage, Ultrasonic and Vacuum Box inspection) to determine the condition of the floor plates and adjacent welds as well as the process of internal surface reparation with coatings. Process of coatings qualification for use in safety class components is also explained: dedication process for material up-grade from non-safety related to safety-related because CY tank linings are classified as safety-related according to RG 1.54, rev 2 and corresponding ASTM standards and NEK technical specification SP-A5001. All activities for surface repair with coatings shall comply with safety-related requirements. Also, extensive immersion tests with selected and specially defined parameters were performed in NEK chemical laboratory in order to select the most suitable coating system for surface repair of CY tank floor lining. Further details concerning immersion tests are presented below.
On Minimal Cut Sets Representation with Binary Decision Diagrams
Authors: Banov Reni , Šimić Zdenko
Published: July 2023

Since their introduction in form of a canonical representation of logical functions, the Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) gained a wide acceptance in numerous industrial applications. This paper summarizes the properties of BDD representation of Minimal Cut Sets (MCS) of Fault Tree (FT) models most typically encountered in nuclear energetics. Cut sets from MCS are defined as paths from the top BDD node to terminal nodes in the BDD, on which a quantitative and qualitative FT analysis (FTA) is performed. The core of the FTA on the BDDs is performed with help of two fundamental algorithms, one for conditional probability evaluation and another for the selection of cut sets. The accuracy of conditional probability evaluation represents an essential feature for an unbiased quantitative analysis, such as the top event probability or the determination of event importance measures. The cut set selection algorithm is shown in a generic version introducing logical predicates for its selection criteria. As it is known, the efficiency of depicted algorithms depends only on the number of BDD nodes used for the FT representation. In order to appraise the compactness of the BDD representation of FT models, their characteristics have herein been evaluated on several real-life models from the Nuclear Power Plant Krško. The extraordinariness of the compactness of the BDD representation reflects in its ability to implement advanced dynamic analysis (i.e. what-if) of FT models. The efficiency of such an approach is recognized by commercial vendors upgrading their FT Tools to new versions by implementing BDD based algorithms.
Cybersecurity of the Power Production and Distribution of Critical Infrastructure
Authors: Kristić Krešimir
Published: July 2023

The paper presents a structured, comprehensive, and universally applicable approach to the management of cyber security of the power production and distribution of critical electricity national infrastructure. A complete and comprehensive Program based on current legislation and established standards is the basis of cyber security management of critical power infrastructure. Mutually complementary activities of risk assessment and Business Impact Analysis BIA achieve a satisfactory level of industrial processes continuity of critical electric infrastructure. Vulnerabilities with associated risks against the continuity and integrity of the industrial processes of electricity production and distribution based on underlying national critical infrastructure, and newly created vulnerabilities as a result of the consequent deregulation and liberalization of the electricity market, such as the service flexibility of the electricity distribution system, aggregation and energy communities, e-mobility, balancing, auxiliary services, congestion management, and consumption management, have yet to be incorporated and appropriately treated within the framework defined by the Program and presented in this paper.
Application of fully automated centralized voltage regulation in transmission system operation management
Authors: Rubeša Renata , Rekić Marko , Bunčec Zoran , Stupić Tomislav
Published: July 2023

The influence of wind farms, inclusion of distributed energy and the energy market has a large impact on the voltage profile in a transmission system. The Croatian Transmission System Operator HOPS has implemented VVC (Volt Var Control) system which was one of the subprojects included in the EU co-founded Sincro.Grid smart grid project that was financed by the EU CEF fund. The main goal of the project is to raise voltage quality in the transmission network. VVC system is an optimal power flow-based application which calculates the optimal solution regarding the desired objective function, available control variables and a defined set of constraints. To achieve the calculated optimal power system state, control of field devices is included in the process of optimization by shifting tap changer positions or changing setpoint values of reactive power injection. Voltage and reactive power constraints are set accordingly to available regulating devices included in the optimization.

The lack of automatic coordination of reactive power resources motivated this work for implementing an advanced VVC for real time control of reactive power in partially automatic and fully automatic (closed loop) mode using the optimal power flow (OPF) algorithm. Due to its complexity, the closed loop approach of reactive power regulation is rarely used in the TSO community and the HOPS is one of the first TSOs that implemented regulation in such manner. Except fully automatic mode of operation, VVC can be used in semi-auto or manual mode. For a successful implementation several safety algorithms are implement to avoid many unwanted situations in the power system such as voltage breakdown, overloading of regulating equipment and similar
Monitoring Transformer Condition with MLP Machine Learning Model
Authors: Žanić Dino , Župan Alan
Published: July 2023

Failures of large power transformers in transmission system are always followed by significant costs, which is especially problematic because they present an unplanned expenditure. Aside from derailing financial plans, these events can lead to lower system reliability. This paper describes the development and potential application of transformer model based on multilayer perceptron class of artificial neural networks. Model is built in Python programming language and data collected over the span of one year for a single transformer. Three input features (oil temperature, winding current and outside temperature) are used in the input layer, with the goal of predicting the winding temperature in the transformer. Predicted temperature of the windings can then be compared with the actual winding temperature, which can serve as an indicator of transformers internal condition. Two types of transformer condition degradation are simulated to show the model in action, and certain indicators are explored.
A Comparative Analysis of Electric Mobility Operations in the Island States: A Case Study of Malta and Cyprus
Authors: Bugeja Andy , Azzopardi Brian , Loizou Eleftherios
Published: July 2023

The Malta and Cyprus partnership strengthened through the H2020 NEEMO (Networking for Excellence in Electric Mobility Operations) TWINNING project activities, which also led to the development of longer-term collaboration strategies for the future of electric mobility operations. Through information sharing between the two island nations in the Mediterranean, the major goal was to improve sustainable transportation. The capacity-building activities helped to characterise the state of the two islands’ electric transportation industries. Workshops, seminars, educational initiatives, and exchange visits are all part of the methods used to increase capacity and promote collaboration. The research highlights the significance of sustainable energy sources and infrastructure development for the smooth transition to electric mobility and transportation. Energy systems, land transportation, and the optimisation of the entire energy system are all discussed, compared and analysed. The findings highlight the legal framework, the EIRIE platform, and the differences between Malta and Cyprus in the e-mobility sector. The integration of renewable energy in both nations and the charging infrastructure, tariffs, and rates are also examined.
Characterization of Fast Neutron Transmission Through an Iron Shield
Authors: Matijević Mario , Trontl Krešimir , Pevec Dubravko
Published: July 2023

In this paper we give an analysis of the neutron transmission through an iron sphere using Monte Carlo and transport theory methods based on ENDF/B-VII.1 general purpose library. The motivation for this investigation comes from a well-known deficiency in the iron inelastic data from the older library evaluation (ENDF/B-V), giving a concern for a fast neutron flux underestimation within the reactor pressure vessels. In order to benchmark the next-generation ENDF/B-VI iron data, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the former Czechoslovakian National Research Institute have jointly preformed several experiments in 1990s, addressing neutron leakage spectra obtained for a 252Cf fission source in a centre of an iron sphere. It was shown that the ENDF/B-VI iron cross section, containing several improvements over previous evaluations, will not entirely resolve the neutron spectrum discrepancies observed at high neutron energies. Since safety analyses of reactor pressure vessel embrittlement are often based on neutron transport calculations using specific multigroup cross section libraries, simulation of this benchmark was performed using a hybrid shielding methodology of ADVANTG3.0.3 and MCNP6.1.1b codes. Comparison of calculated and referenced dosimeter activation rates are presented for several "standard" nuclear reactions, often used in reactor pressure vessel dosimetry. For that purpose, the new IRDFF-II special library from the IAEA Nuclear Data Services was used as a reference source of dosimetry cross sections. The MCNP6.1.1b code was used for calculation of reaction rates, which were also compared with previous IRDFF-1.05 special library and general purpose ENDF/B-VII.1 library.
Atenuadores de Escorrentía para la Quebrada Cañitas, Parroquia Charapotó, Manabí, Utilizando Herramientas SIG.
Authors: Castro Solórzano Fidel
Published: July 2023

En esta investigación se desarrolló un plan de manejo sostenible de la quebrada “Cañitas”, utilizando obras de bioingeniería y un enfoque sostenible de síntesis y análisis para evaluar las medidas de susceptibilidad de inundación.  Así, se identificaron los lugares óptimos donde colocar estas obras, y se interceptaron datos geográficos sobre pendiente, movimiento de masa, pluviosidad, zonas protegidas, litología, cobertura vegetal y permeabilidad del suelo, empleando aplicaciones de Sistemas Información Geográfica, así como una simulación hidrológica mediante el software Hydrologic Engineering Center - Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), para analizar el comportamiento entre la precipitación y la escorrentía, determinando la morfometría de la quebrada y estimando los caudales máximos con periodos de retorno de 25, 50, 100 y 500 años. Los resultados indican que esta quebrada está compuesta por tres sub quebradas, una unión y un río principal, con una duración de tormenta de 202 minutos; además, se consideró la implementación de obras de bioingeniería como terrazas, forestación, reforestación con especies nativas y control de cárcavas en lugares con baja permeabilidad y alto potencial hídrico, identificando que la medida que mejor reduce los caudales pico en los hidrogramas son la forestación, disminuyendo los caudales según los periodos de retorno en un 19,2% para 25 años, un 17,4% para 50 años, un 14,9% para 100 años y un 11,6% para 500 años.
Ekstraksi, Fraksinasi, Dan Uji Antioksidan Daun Pakis Sawit (Davallia denticulata)
Authors: Fitra Perdana
Published: July 2023

Pada penelitian ini telah dilakukan ekstraksi, fraksinasi, dan uji antioksidan daun pakis sawit (Davallia denticulata). Metode ekstraksi daun pakis sawit dilakukan secara maserasi menggunakan pelarut etanol dan fraksinasi dilakukan sebanyak tiga fraksi yaitu fraksi etanol, etil asetat dan n-heksan. Kemudian dilakukan uji fitokimia dari ekstrak dan fraksi daun pakis sawit yang didapat. Ekstrak etanol menunjukkan adanya senyawa flavonoid, saponin, tanin, triterpenoid dan steroid, pada fraksi n-heksan menunjukkan adanya senyawa flavonoid dan fenolik, fraksi etil asetat menunjukkan adanya senyawa flavonoid, tanin dan fenolik, dan pada fraksi etanol menunjukkan adanya senyawa flavonoid, saponin, tanin, triterpenoid dan steroid. Pengujian aktivitas antioksidan ekstrak etanol menunjukkan nilai IC50 1,406 μg/mL, fraksi n-heksan menunjukkan nilai IC50 2,91 μg/mL, fraksi etil asetat menunjukkan nilai IC50 103 μg/mL, fraksi etanol menunjukkan nilai IC50 18,99 μg/mL, dan vitamin C sebagai pembanding menunjukkan nilai IC50 2,22 μg/mL. Berdasarkan perbandingan dengan vitamin C dapat diketahui bahwa terdapat aktivitas antioksidan yang sangat kuat pada ekstrak etanol dan aktivitas sedang pada fraksi etil asetat.
Innovation of Areca catechu Compounds Combined with Fluoxetine as Antidepressant by In Silico Method
Authors: Novianty Riryn
Published: July 2023

Depression is a mental illness that has become a common problem worldwide with more than 300 million cases. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of natural compound modification with synthetic compounds as new antidepressant drug candidates. The method used in the research is In Silico approach using ChemSketch software, BIOVIA Discovery Studio Visualizer (DSV), and Autodock Vina. The bond-free energy result from a combination of arecoline, homoarecoline and guvacoline with fluoxetine on 2Z5Y protein were -7.1 kcal/mol; -7.1 kcal/mol and -7.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Meanwhile, in 2NW8 protein, the bond free energy observed were -6.3 kcal/mol; -6.3 kcal/mol, and -8.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Based on bond-free energy data, the additive interaction of arecoline-fluoxetine and fluoxetine-homoarecoline on MAO-A protein (2Z5Y) was barely different from fluoxetine itself. Meanwhile, the additive interaction of guvacoline-fluoxetine was better with serotonin precursor protein (2NW8) rather than MAO-A protein (2Z5Y).
Biodegradasi Hidrokarbon Crude Oil di Kawasan PT. Bumi Siak Pusako-Pertamina Hulu menggunakan Konsorsium Bakteri Indigen
Authors: Novianty Riryn
Published: July 2023

Riau Province is one of the largest producing areas of crude oil. Drilling and refining petroleum often produce waste crude oil in large quantities. One method that can be used to degrade waste is biodegradation using a consortium of microorganisms. This study examined the effectiveness of a consortium of indigenous bacteria in degrading hydrocarbon compounds. Growth tests and the ability of isolates to degrade hydrocarbons were carried out by inoculating isolates in liquid Bushnell Haas media containing crude oil of about 5% and incubating for 16 days. The potency of the indigen bacterial consortium during the degradation process is influenced by several parameters, including pH, OD (Optical Density), dan CO2 observed on days 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days of incubation. KB4 is the superior consortium in degrading hydrocarbon crude oil. Based on the analysis using GC-MS instruments, the bacteria consortium can degrade two hydrocarbon compounds in crude oil.
Relationship Between Paraoxonase-1 Genotype and Activity, and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Malignancies in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Tofacitinib
Authors: Charles-Schoeman Christina , Hyde Craig , Guan Shunjie , Parikh Neil , Wang Jennifer , Shahbazian Ani , Stockert Lori , Andrews John
Published: July 2023

Objective

This posthoc analysis investigated the relationship between paraoxonase-1 (PON1) genotype and activity, and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and malignancies in clinical studies of tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Data were pooled from 9 phase II/III studies and the associated long-term extension studies (all completed by October 2017). PON1 activities in plasma were measured using paraoxon (paraoxonase activity), dihydrocoumarin (lactonase activity), and phenylacetate (arylesterase activity) as substrates. PON1 Q192R genotype effect on baseline PON1 activity was assessed using linear regression for each study, with fixed-effects metaanalysis across studies. MACE and malignancy risk by time-varying enzyme activity was determined using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

The analysis included 1969 patients with RA. Compared with the QQ genotype, the RR genotype had a significant positive association with baseline paraoxonase activity and a significant negative association with baseline lactonase and arylesterase activity (allP< 0.001). Time-varying models demonstrated a significant association of increased paraoxonase activity over time with lower risk of MACE (P< 0.001) and malignancies (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC];P≤ 0.05), even after controlling for risk factors identified in univariate analysis and RA disease activity. A similar trend was observed for lactonase and arylesterase for MACE.

Conclusion

Higher paraoxonase activity over time was associated with significantly reduced risk of future MACE and malignancies (excluding NMSC), but not NMSC, in patients with RA receiving tofacitinib. Further investigation of PON1 as a novel functional lipid biomarker of MACE/malignancy risk in patients with RA is warranted. (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01059864,NCT00550446,NCT00687193,NCT00960440,NCT00814307,NCT00856544,NCT00853385,NCT00847613,NCT01039688,NCT00413699,NCT00661661)
Synchronization of heterogeneous harmonic oscillators for generalized uniformly jointly connected networks
Authors: Chen Xiaofeng
Published: July 2023

The synchronization problem for heterogeneous harmonic oscillators is investigated. In practice, the communication network among oscillators might suffer from equipment failures or malicious attacks. The connection may switch extremely frequently without dwell time, and can thus be described by generalized uniformly jointly connected networks. We show that the presented typical control law is strongly robust against various unreliable communications. Combined with the virtual output approach and generalized Krasovskii-LaSalle theorem, the stability is proved with the help of its cascaded structure. Numerical examples are presented to show the correctness of the control law.
ODTC: An online darknet traffic classification model based on multimodal self-attention chaotic mapping features
Authors: Zhai Jiangtao , Sun Haoxiang , Xu Chengcheng , Sun Wenqian
Published: July 2023

Darknet traffic classification is significantly important to network management and security. To achieve fast and accurate classification performance, this paper proposes an online classification model based on multimodal self-attention chaotic mapping features. On the one hand, the payload content of the packet is input into the network integrating CNN and BiGRU to extract local space-time features. On the other hand, the flow level abstract features processed by the MLP are introduced. To make up for the lack of the indistinct feature learning, a feature amplification module that uses logistic chaotic mapping to amplify fuzzy features is introduced. In addition, a multi-head attention mechanism is used to excavate the hidden relationships between different features. Besides, to better support new traffic classes, a class incremental learning model is developed with the weighted loss function to achieve continuous learning with reduced network parameters. The experimental results on the public CICDarketSec2020 dataset show that the accuracy of the proposed model is improved in multiple categories; however, the time and memory consumption is reduced by about 50$ % $. Compared with the existing state-of-the-art traffic classification models, the proposed model has better classification performance.
Construction cost prediction system based on Random Forest optimized by the Bird Swarm Algorithm
Authors: Zheng Zhishan , Zhou Lin , Wu Han , Zhou Lihong
Published: July 2023

Predicting construction costs often involves disadvantages, such as low prediction accuracy, poor promotion value and unfavorable efficiency, owing to the complex composition of construction projects, a large number of personnel, long working periods and high levels of uncertainty. To address these concerns, a prediction index system and a prediction model were developed. First, the factors influencing construction cost were first identified, a prediction index system including 14 secondary indexes was constructed and the methods of obtaining data were presented elaborately. A prediction model based on the Random Forest (RF) algorithm was then constructed. Bird Swarm Algorithm (BSA) was used to optimize RF parameters and thereby avoid the effect of the random selection of RF parameters on prediction accuracy. Finally, the engineering data of a construction company in Xinyu, China were selected as a case study. The case study showed that the maximum relative error of the proposed model was only 1.24%, which met the requirements of engineering practice. For the selected cases, the minimum prediction index system that met the requirement of prediction accuracy included 11 secondary indexes. Compared with classical metaheuristic optimization algorithms (Particle Swarm Optimization, Genetic Algorithms, Tabu Search, Simulated Annealing, Ant Colony Optimization, Differential Evolution and Artificial Fish School), BSA could more quickly determine the optimal combination of calculation parameters, on average. Compared with the classical and latest forecasting methods (Back Propagation Neural Network, Support Vector Machines, Stacked Auto-Encoders and Extreme Learning Machine), the proposed model exhibited higher forecasting accuracy and efficiency. The prediction model proposed in this study could better support the prediction of construction cost, and the prediction results provided a basis for optimizing the cost management of construction projects.
Marie Huber, l’éternité des peines et le péché originel
Authors: Krumenacker Yves , Hours Bernard
Published: July 2023

Alors qu’elle cherche à défendre la religion chrétienne, la théologienne protestante Marie Huber (1695-1753) ne parle presque pas du péché originel. Elle l’admet, mais considère que c’est une idée incompréhensible. Son principe d’un Dieu bon qui ne peut que vouloir le bonheur de ses créatures rend difficilement pensable le péché originel, en un temps où la notion de châtiment éternel est vigoureusement contestée. Elle propose un christianisme non-augustinien, où une place nouvelle est reconnue à l’homme, mais où le péché originel est effacé.
Corruption et quête de bonheur : l’anthropologie au cœur des divisions protestantes du xixe siècle
Authors: Scholl Sarah
Published: July 2023

Au xixe siècle, le péché originel est un des éléments centraux des débats entre protestants évangéliques, orthodoxes et libéraux. Il prend une place centrale dans la prédication des pasteurs du Réveil, qui secoue l’ensemble du monde réformé. Chez les rationalistes et les libéraux, il est par contre oublié ou contourné. Pourquoi cette différence ? Que se joue-t-il autour de cette thématique, entre bouleversements anthropologiques, ecclésiologiques et conception concurrente de la « chrétienté ». Cet article analyse du matériel issu des différentes tendances et cultures réformées, en particulier des manuels de catéchisme, des liturgies et des sources institutionnelles.
La crise du péché originel à l’heure du concile
Authors: Sorrel Christian
Published: July 2023

Le questionnaire adressé en 1966 aux conférences épiscopales par le pro-préfet de la Congrégation pour la doctrine de la foi Ottaviani sur les « opinions étranges et audacieuses » intègre la question du péché originel. Celle-ci pose problème depuis longtemps déjà à de nombreux théologiens que le pape Paul VI invite à défendre la doctrine traditionnelle lors d’un symposium romain en juillet de la même année. Le dossier de préparation de la réponse de la conférence épiscopale française confirme le malaise. Mais la réponse officielle reste en retrait pour ne pas compromettre les fruits du concile Vatican II. Les conférences de l’Allemagne, de l’Italie, de l’Espagne, de la Suisse et du Canada accordent peu de place à la question. Il n’en est pas de même pour celles de la Belgique et des Pays-Bas qui prennent leurs distances avec la thèse romaine. Cela n’empêche pas le pape de réaffirmer le dogme du péché originel dans son Credo de juin 1968.
Effect of spine frame on the changes in respiratory dynamics in prone patients under general anaesthesia- a prospective, observational study
Authors: Kandasamy Preeti , Pujari Vinayak S. , Channaiah Sandya Rani D.
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims:

The prone position is one of the common surgical positions used in clinical practice. Manoeuvring patients from supine to a prone position can impact respiratory dynamics and result in haemodynamic variations.

Methods:

This study included 64 patients and was conducted after obtaining approval from the ethics committee and registration of the trial. The primary objective was to evaluate the changes in peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), plateau pressure (Pplat) and mean airway pressure (MAP) in patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia in the prone position with (Group S) and without (Group P) spine frame. The secondary objective was to evaluate and compare the variations in heart rate and blood pressure.

Results:

On turning the patient prone, there was statistically significant increase in median PIP (Group S 4 cmH2O vs. Group P 0.5 cmH2O, P < 0.001), Pplat (Group S 3.5 cmH2O vs. Group P 1 cmH2O, P = 0.004) and dynamic compliance (Group S −5.513 vs. Group P −2.78, P < 0.004).

Conclusions:

Our study found that prone positioning with a spine frame led to a significantly greater increase in airway pressures and a decrease in dynamic compliance when compared to patients positioned prone without the spine frame.
Ultrasound-guided anterior suprascapular nerve block versus interscalene brachial plexus block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A randomised controlled study
Authors: Gupta Kapil , Gupta Malvika , Sabharwal Nikki , Subramanium Balavenkat , Belani Kumar G. , Chan Vincent
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims:

The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) affects the phrenic nerve, resulting in hemi-diaphragmatic paresis (HDP) and, possibly, respiratory distress. Suprascapular nerve block via an anterior approach (SSB-A) is performed more distally at the level of the trunk of the brachial plexus and, thus, may spare the phrenic nerve. This study compares the analgesic efficacy and decline of hemi-diaphragmatic excursion (HDE) following ultrasound (US)-guided SSB-A versus ISB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Methods:

This study was conducted on 60 adult participants undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anaesthesia. Both US-guided SSB-A (n = 30) and ISB (n = 30) were performed with a combination of 10 ml bupivacaine (0.5%) and 4 mg dexamethasone. The primary objective was to compare the duration of analgesia (time to first rescue analgesia), and secondary objectives were to compare 24-h postoperative numerical rating scale (NRS) scores, 24-h morphine consumption and post block change in HDE, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) between the two groups. For analysing intergroup differences of NRS, HDE and PFT; Pearson’s Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test, unpaired t test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used. For intragroup differences, paired t test was used. A P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

The duration of analgesia (mean ± Standard Deviation) was similar in two groups (SSB-A = 1,345 ± 182 min, ISB = 1,375 ± 156 min; P = 0.8). The reduction in HDE was significantly greater in the ISB group (44%) than in the SSB-A group (10%). Pulmonary function was better preserved in the SSB-A group.

Conclusion:

Compared to ISB, SSB-A has a similar analgesic efficacy for arthroscopic shoulder surgeries, but it is superior in preserving diaphragmatic function and pulmonary function.
Incidence of postoperative pulmonary congestion as diagnosed by lung ultrasound in surgeries performed under general anaesthesia: A prospective, observational study
Authors: Basumatary Kartik , Dey Samarjit , Neema Praveen K. , Mujahid Omer M. , Arora Prateek , Kalbande Jitendra
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims:

Administering liberal fluid raises concerns about pulmonary congestion postoperatively. Bedside ultrasonography is a valuable tool for the early detection of pulmonary congestion. In this study, we have used it to ascertain the impact of the duration of surgery and intraoperative fluid volume on the causation of pulmonary congestion. Our objective was to determine the incidence of pulmonary congestion as diagnosed by lung ultrasound in patients undergoing general anaesthesia with varied fluid administration.

Methods:

Seventy participants of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, aged between 18 and 60 years, undergoing elective extrathoracic surgeries of over 3 h under general anaesthesia were included. Preoperative lung ultrasound was carried out in all patients, and a postoperative lung ultrasound was carried out at 1 h after extubation. The appearance of three or more “B”-lines was considered positive for lung congestion.

Results:

Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in the duration of surgery and the appearance of B-lines in the postoperative period. Participants who developed B lines received, on average, 150% more fluid (1148.16 ± 291.79 ml) than those who did not (591.29 ± 398.42 ml) (P = 0.0240). Net fluid balance was also significantly different in patients who developed B lines (P = 0.0014). None of the patients developed symptoms of lung congestion postoperatively.

Conclusion:

Long duration of surgery under general anaesthesia (>3 h) with the administration of large volumes of intraoperative fluid and a large net fluid balance are associated with lung congestion as diagnosed by lung ultrasound.
Efficacy of analgesia using ilioinguinal–iliohypogastric (IIIH) nerve block, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and diclofenac after caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia: A non-randomised clinical trial
Authors: Singh Ranju , Yadav Kavita , Singh Pooja
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims:

Our aim was to assess the efficacy of analgesia using ilioinguinal–iliohypogastric (IIIH) nerve block, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and diclofenac after caesarean delivery (CD) under spinal anaesthesia (SA).]

Methods:

A total of 457 healthy parturients undergoing CD under SA were included in this prospective, observational study. Groups differed in the postoperative analgesic strategies received by the parturient at the end of surgery: group D (n = 148) received intramuscular diclofenac sodium, group I (n = 153) received bilateral IIIH block with bupivacaine plus clonidine and group T (n = 156) received bilateral TAP block with bupivacaine plus clonidine. Total duration of postoperative analgesia, numerical pain rating scale (NRS) scores, patient satisfaction score, rescue analgesics in the first 48 h postoperatively and adverse effects were observed. A value of P < 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results:

Total duration of analgesia was longest (18.2 ± 1.3 h) in group T and shortest in group D (6.3 ± 0.8 h) compared to group I (13.1 ± 1.2 h) (P < 0.001). Total analgesic requirement in postoperative 48 h was lowest in group T (152.1 ± 34.9 mg), highest in group D (355.0 ± 25.6 mg) and intermediate in group I (221.0 ± 30.0 mg) (P < 0.001). Mean NRS scores were lower in group T compared to those in groups D and I. The patients in group T were extremely satisfied, in group I were satisfied and in group D were dissatisfied (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Bilateral TAP block with bupivacaine and clonidine after CD under SA increases the duration of postoperative analgesia.
The analgesic effects of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block in thyroid surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wilson Laura , Malhotra Rajiv , Mayhew David , Banerjee Arnab
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims:

Thyroid surgery is moderately painful, and many techniques to reduce postoperative pain have been studied. Regional techniques are a part of multimodal analgesia employed for various surgical cases. Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is a commonly used regional anaesthesia technique for analgesia for thyroid surgery. A previous meta-analysis by this group had left questions about some facets of the technique, to which further trials have contributed.

Methods:

The systematic review and meta-analysis was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42022315499. It is an update to a previously published paper in 2018. An updated systematic search, critical appraisal, and analysis of clinical trials were performed. Trials investigating preoperative or postoperative BSCPB compared to control in patients undergoing thyroid surgery were included in the search. The primary outcome was postoperative opioid consumption. The secondary outcomes were the duration of analgesia (time to request of analgesia), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores at 0, 4, 12, and 24 h, postoperatively, rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative rescue analgesic consumption, and intraoperative morphine use.

Results:

A total of 31 studies and 2,273 patients were included in this analysis. BSCPB significantly reduced post-thyroidectomy opioid consumption (P < 0.001). Additionally, the duration of analgesia was prolonged following BSCPB. VAS scores for 24 h (postoperatively), intraoperative morphine use, and rescue analgesia (postoperatively) remained significantly lower in patients who received BSCPB. There was also a statistically significant reduction in PONV (P = 0.02).

Conclusion:

BSCPB offers superior postoperative analgesia with a reduction in opioid use, reduction in PONV, and improvement in VAS scores.
Non-commutative disintegrations: Existence and uniqueness in finite dimensions
Authors: Parzygnat Arthur , Russo Benjamin
Published: July 2023

Motivated by advances in categorical probability, we introduce non-commutative almost everywhere (a.e.) equivalence and disintegrations in the setting of

C^*

-algebras. We show that

C^*

-algebras (resp.

W^*

-algebras) and a.e. equivalence classes of 2-positive (resp. positive) unital maps form a category. We prove that non-commutative disintegrations are a.e. unique whenever they exist. We provide an explicit characterization for when disintegrations exist in the setting of finite-dimensional

C^*

-algebras, and we give formulas for the associated disintegrations.
Dynamic Seal Test Fixture
Authors:   AMS CE Elastomers Committee
Published: July 2023

This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) provides dimensions for a standardized test fixture that can be used to evaluate the dynamic performance requirements defined in some elastomer material standards of O-rings in rod glands per AS4716.
The Use of Smartphones to Communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Authors: Naidoo Gedala Mulliah
Published: July 2023

There have been many changes in the organisational structure, leadership style, and divisional groups of the Christian Church that form their own identity and brand. For each group, sect and denomination, the methods used differ widely. Musical instruments were also introduced into church worship over time. While many of these organisations have maintained the foundational message of Christ, many have begun to adopt newer technology to communicate both internally and externally about their ministry. Smartphones are ubiquitous, and they are an advancement in new media technology, particularly with the introduction of the Internet. The internet and WEB 2.0 applications made it possible for smartphones to emerge. As internet speeds increased, the experience of accessing information became more seamless. Making
the gospel message visual and sharing it over social media through the use of smartphones allows the gospel message to reach a wider audience in a shorter period of time. When God spoke to Moses, he communicated with him visually. Through his prophets like Hosea 12:10, Numbers 12:6 and Isaiah 1:1 he also used visions, dreams, and the spoken word. The Bible also mentions an increase in knowledge, and new media innovations are part of that process. As a result, this paper investigated the use of smartphones to share messages during church services and whether such usage is a digital distraction. This paper employed a qualitative secondary data analysis as well as focus groups with pastors and congregational members. This paper was conceptualised using the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) which is essentially an audience-centered approach to understanding mass communication. According to the findings, appropriate smartphone use can be a very effective communication device;
however, not everyone uses them correctly. It is clear that new media is constantly evolving, and it would be advantageous for the local church to intentionally use smartphones to engage in ministry and share the gospel message. As a further study, it would be interesting to conduct comparative research on the use of smartphones and social media among other religious groups.
Holistic Christian Leadership: The Combination of Orthodoxy, Orthopraxis and Orthopathy
Authors: Afaradi Asep
Published: July 2023

Leadership is a dynamic topic and does not stop at just one model and research study. This factor causes another research continue to develop from time to time from different perspectives. This research examines the holistic approach of three elements, namely orthodoxy, orthopraxis and orthopathy. Although, there have been many studies that have examined the topic of orthodoxy or orthopathy, there have not been many studies that have paid attention to the combination of the three, so as to create a relationship that can strengthen the weaknesses of each of these leadership principles. Through this article shows that by placing importance on a firm grasp of doctrine, a dedication to manifesting one's faith, and a profound sense of compassion and empathy, Christian leaders can establish an environment characterized by trust and reverence within their congregations. Therefore, this paper suggests that Christian leaders should adopt these concepts as part of their leadership style, thereby cultivating a more comprehensive and successful approach to guiding and serving others as desired by God.
Islamic Communication in Voicing Religious Moderation as an Effort to Prevent Conflicts of Differences in Beliefs
Authors: Indainanto Yofiendi Indah , Dalimunthe Maulana Andinata , Sazali Hasan , Rubino  , Kholil Syukur
Published: July 2023

The existence of Islamic Sharia in Aceh Indonesia is often discussed in relation to inter-religious harmony. Although the implementation of Islamic Sharia in Aceh has tolerance non-Muslim adherents are not required to follow a series of qanun rules. However, conflicts in the name of religion have occurred in social life such as the issue of building houses of worship. The purpose of this research is to explain how Islamic communication can play an important role in promoting religious moderation and preventing conflicts of different beliefs. In addition, it explains how Islamic communication reduces the potential for conflict between religious communities in Aceh to maintain diversity as part of the identity of social life. This research uses desk research methodology with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through a literature review of books, journals, internet media, and various publications related to the research topic. Data were carefully analyzed through reading and analysis, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The results of the study show that the main challenge in instilling an attitude of religious moderation with Islamic requirements encourages the importance of Islamic communication to create interaction, thus giving rise to dialogue and an attitude of tolerance as a prevention of religious conflict. In addition, the role of the Religious Harmony Forum in Aceh is very influential in the emergence of harmony with the principle of equality of mutual respect and understanding. Furthermore, Religious leaders, assist in encouraging resolution, improving relationships, and conflict prevention by routinely conducting literacy to strengthen tolerance.
Estimation of Reservoir Porosity Using Seismic Post-Stack Inversion in Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan
Authors: Jalal Sadiq , Rehman Hamza , Alam Shams-ul- , Wahid Abdul
Published: July 2023

Seismic post-stack inversion is one of the best techniques for effective reservoir characterization. This study intends to articulate the application of Model-Based Inversion (MBI) and Probabilistic Neural Networks (PNN) for the identification of reservoir properties i.e. porosity estimation. MBI technique is applied to observe the low impedance zone at the porous reservoir formation. PNN is a geostatistical technique that transforms the impedance volume into porosity volume. Inverted porosity is estimated to observe the spatial distribution of porosity in the Lower Goru sand reservoir beyond the well data control. The result of inverted porosity is compared with that of well-computed porosity. The estimated inverted porosity ranges from 13-13.5% which shows a correlation of 99.63% with the computed porosity of the Rehmat-02 well. The observed low impedance and high porosity cube at the targeted horizon suggest that it could be a probable potential sand channel. Furthermore, the results of seismic post-stack inversion and geostatistical analysis indicate a very good agreement with each other. Hence, the seismic post-stack inversion technique can effectively be applied to estimate the reservoir properties for further prospective zones identification, volumetric estimation and future exploration.
Climate and Weather Condition of Balochistan Province, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Saifullah , Shahab Surriya , Fani Muhammad Ishaque , Wahid Abdul , Hasan Mahmood-Ul- , Khan Aslam
Published: July 2023

The study discusses the climate of Balochistan with a special focus on the variation of weather condition taking into account the mean monthly precipitation, temperature, humidity, atmospheric circulation, air pressure, evapotranspiration and solar energy covering the time duration of 1931-2020 (normal data). The physical barriers that bring variations in the climate of Balochistan contain geographical location, ocean, geomorphology, land use, natural vegetation, and continental extent. Based on precipitation, the province has been divided into two main regions that are arid and semi-arid, while the temperature zones are hot, warm, mild and cool. The southern and eastern part of the province receives heavy rain in the summers (monsoon), whereas it is from the western depressions during the winter season. Balochistan experiences four rainy seasons in winter (cold), pre-monsoon season (warm), monsoon season (hot), and post-monsoon season (mild). Owing to tropical (coastal) and sub-tropical continental characteristics, the area familiarizes two foremost seasons namely winter and summer. The summers of the area long for 5 months in hilly areas while 7 months in continental plains and coastal regions; whereas, winters cover five months in the plains and seven months in the mountains. Based on the appropriation and fluctuation in climate constituents, Balochistan has been classified into two main, 6 meso, and 9 microclimate and weather zones. According to Global Climate Risk Index, 2021, Pakistan has been ranked at 8th in the list of top ten global climate high-risk countries, which are exposed to the ongoing climate change and requires attention to resolve the issue.
The Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Environmental Quality: An Empirical Analysis for South Asian Economies
Authors: Andlib Zubaria , Khan Adnan
Published: July 2023

Present study is an attempt to provide an in-depth understanding of the relationship between ICT, financial development, governance effectiveness, and COE nexus in selected South Asian countries. The data were acquired from WDI and applied FMOLS, DOLS, FEOLS methods of estimation for the period 1995-2019. It is observed that ICT has negative while financial development has a positive impact on COE in the case of four South Asian economies. Concerning the impact of governance on COE, it is observed that governance effectiveness is negatively associated with COE. It is evident from the empirical analysis that COE can be mitigated with effective governance policies.
Neural Network and Regression Methods for Estimation of the Average Daily Temperature of Hyderabad for the Years 2018-2020
Authors: Tahir Adeel , Akhter Mamnoon , Uddin Zaheer , Sarim Muhammad
Published: July 2023

A qualitative study on temperature distribution has been executed in Hyderabad by several researchers. This study, however, is the first attempt to study temperature distribution quantitatively. Two different methods, i.e., Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Regression Analysis (RA), have been used to determine the average daily temperature distribution for Hyderabad, a city in Pakistan. Both the methods are used to predict the average daily temperature of the years; 2018, 2019, and 2020. In Neural Network (NN) analysis, the network was trained and validated for three years with temperature recorded from 2015-2017. With the help of training and validation parameters of the hidden layer, the average d aily temperature was predicted for 2018-2020. Based on input parameters (dew point, relative humidity, and wind speed), a multiple regression model was developed, and average daily temperature for the years 2018-2020 was predicted again. For validation of the model statistical errors, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MABE), Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE), and coefficient of determination are calculated. The statistical errors show that multiple regression models and neural network models provide a good prediction of temperature distribution. However, the results of the neural network are better than the regression model.