bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case Study in Text Mining of Discussion Forum Posts: Classification with Bag of Words and Global Vectors
Authors: Cichosz Paweł
Published: January 2019

Despite the rapid growth of other types of social media, Internet discussion forums remain a highly popular communication channel and a useful source of text data for analyzing user interests and sentiments. Being suited to richer, deeper, and longer discussions than microblogging services, they particularly well reflect topics of long-term, persisting involvement and areas of specialized knowledge or experience. Discovering and characterizing such topics and areas by text mining algorithms is therefore an interesting and useful research direction. This work presents a case study in which selected classification algorithms are applied to posts from a Polish discussion forum devoted to psychoactive substances received from home-grown plants, such as hashish or marijuana. The utility of two different vector text representations is examined: the simple bag of words representation and the more refined embedded global vectors one. While the former is found to work well for the multinomial naive Bayes algorithm, the latter turns out more useful for other classification algorithms: logistic regression, SVMs, and random forests. The obtained results suggest that post-classification can be applied for measuring publication intensity of particular topics and, in the case of forums related to psychoactive substances, for monitoring the risk of drug-related crime.
Optimization on the Complementation Procedure Towards Efficient Implementation of the Index Generation Function
Authors: Borowik Grzegorz
Published: January 2019

In the era of big data, solutions are desired that would be capable of efficient data reduction. This paper presents a summary of research on an algorithm for complementation of a Boolean function which is fundamental for logic synthesis and data mining. Successively, the existing problems and their proposed solutions are examined, including the analysis of current implementations of the algorithm. Then, methods to speed up the computation process and efficient parallel implementation of the algorithm are shown; they include optimization of data representation, recursive decomposition, merging, and removal of redundant data. Besides the discussion of computational complexity, the paper compares the processing times of the proposed solution with those for the well-known analysis and data mining systems. Although the presented idea is focused on searching for all possible solutions, it can be restricted to finding just those of the smallest size. Both approaches are of great application potential, including proving mathematical theorems, logic synthesis, especially index generation functions, or data processing and mining such as feature selection, data discretization, rule generation, etc. The problem considered is NP-hard, and it is easy to point to examples that are not solvable within the expected amount of time. However, the solution allows the barrier of computations to be moved one step further. For example, the unique algorithm can calculate, as the only one at the moment, all minimal sets of features for few standard benchmarks. Unlike many existing methods, the algorithm additionally works with undetermined values. The result of this research is an easily extendable experimental software that is the fastest among the tested solutions and the data mining systems.
Enhanced Local Ionosphere Model for Multi-Constellations Single Frequency Precise Point Positioning Applications: Egyptian Case Study
Authors: El Manaily Emad , Abd Rabbou Mahmoud , El-Shazly Adel , Baraka Moustafa
Published: January 2019

The positioning accuracy of single frequency precise point positioning (SFPPP) attributes mainly to the ionosphere error, which strongly affects GNSS signals. When GNSS signals pass through the various ionosphere layers, they will be bent and their speed will be changed due to dispersive nature of ionosphere. To correct the ionosphere error, it is common to use Klobuchar ionosphere model or Global Ionosphere Maps (GIM). However, Klobuchar can deal with only about 50% of the Ionosphere effect and global Ionosphere maps are often inadequate to describe detailed features of local ionosphere because of limited precision and resolution. In this paper, an enhanced local ionosphere model was developed relying on modeling of measurements from a dense Egyptian permanent tracking GNSS network in order to achieve high precision ionosphere delay correction. The performance of the developed enhanced Egyptian ionosphere model (EIM) was verified through multi-constellations SFPPP accuracy for static and kinematic modes. For static mode, 24 hours multi-constellations datasets collected at three selected stations, Alexandria, Cairo, and Aswan, in Egypt on February 27, 2017, to investigate the performance of the developed local ionospheric model in comparison with the Klobuchar, GIM and ionosphere free models. After session time of half an hour, the results show that the performance of static SFPPP based on the developed Egyptian ionospheric map (EIM) achieved a comparable accuracy WRT using ionosphere free model. While using EIM, achieved an improvements of (38%, 28%, and 42%) and (32%, 10%, and 37%) for accuracy of latitude, longitude, and altitude in comparison with using Klobuchar and GIM models, respectively For kinematic mode, datasets of 2 hours of observations with 1 second sampling rate were logged during vehicular test; the test was carried out on the ring road of the city of Cairo, Egypt, on September 16, 2017. After half an hour of kinematic SFPPP data-processing, the performance of using Egyptian ionospheric map (EIM) for ionosphere delay correction, achieved an improvements of three dimension coordinates of (83%, 47%, and 62%) and (57%, 65%, and 21%) with respect to using Klobuchar model and GIM model, respectively.
Sustainability Education Using ICT-Supported Dialogue – Towards Transforming Adolescents’ Perceptions of Alcohol in the Punjab, India
Authors: Roy Amit , Ikonen Risto , Kumar Kuldeep , Keinonen Tuula
Published: January 2019

A potential health crisis looms large in the Punjab, India where alcohol consumption has risen dramatically. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of alcohol. This empirical study presents a pedagogical intervention, Children as Agents of Social Change (CASC), which aimed to raise awareness about the effects of alcohol using an ICT-supported educational dialogue among adolescent students and alcohol-experts from multiple domains. Primary data consists of pre- and post-test questionnaires from the control and experimental groups (N=379) and an interview of the teacher-in-charge of one experimental school. Results indicate that the intervention significantly improved students’ scientific knowledge about alcohol; changed their attitudes towards media and celebrity promotion of alcohol; and enabled them to surmount the odds to spread information - acquired during the CASC intervention- to people outside the school, including adult drinkers. Learner-centric pedagogy combined with ICT clearly amplified transformative learning. CASC appears to be a promising approach in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It can be used for multiple sustainability issues.
Embracing the Culture of Resilience and Remembrance in Teaching Contested Historical Narratives
Authors: Franzenburg Geert , Iliško Dzintra , Verkest Hugo
Published: January 2019

The article focuses on a discourse of resilience and remembering and its interconnectedness in teaching contested historical narratives. History mainly consists of events, remembrance, narratives, rituals, discourses, and stereotypes which can facilitate or prevent resilience. Since such purposes are part of religious and values education, a multidimensional approach is needed, which combines historical, psychological, religious, sociological, educational and literary aspects in a kind of ‘grammar of remembrance’, in order to motivate and facilitate autonomous and supervised research with discussions and sharing of experiences in different projects. The aim of this conceptual study is to facilitate interdisciplinary research and educational projects concerning memory cultures and conflict management.
International Exchange of Ideas in Student-Interactive Videoconferences – Sustainable Communication for Developing Intercultural Understanding with Student Teachers
Authors: Sundh Stellan
Published: January 2019

International communication with different digital tools is now established both at universities and in other contexts worldwide. It is therefore relevant to describe how one of these tools is used in higher education. In the present study the focus is on seminars carried out in student-interactive video-conferences on didactic and pedagogical issues with student teachers. The participants were international and Swedish student teachers at the Department of Education at a Swedish university and at two different campuses. The results are based on analyses of the students’ written reports completed after the seminars and show that the interactive video-conference is useful to establish contacts between students in different places and to develop intercultural understanding of school-related matters. The video-conference is thus a way to work with internationalization in a sustainable way in teacher education, giving opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experiences both at personal and professional levels without mobility.
Traditional and Technological Methods for Raising Pre-school Children’s Awareness of Environmental Pollution for Sustainability
Authors: Kabadayi Abdulkadir , Altinsoy Fatma
Published: January 2019

In the preschool period children develop rapidly in cognitive, social-emotional, physical, psycho-motor, language, and aesthetic areas. In this period, besides basic habits and skills, it is important for children to gain environmental awareness. Research shows that children are mostly affected by environmental problems. Yet, living in a clean and healthy world is a basic necessity for children. For this reason, it is possible that children can show a healthy development in all developmental areas and create a healthy future by establishing ecological balance through gaining environmental awareness during the preschool period for sustainability. Science and nature activities in the preschool education program play an important role in creating an environmental awareness of the children in this period as they include activities to acquire environmental awareness and provide important contributions to helping children gain environmental awareness for sustainability. The present study was conducted using a total of 80 students attending pre-school institutions in Konya province. The environmental pollution awareness scale was used as pre - test and post - test prepared by the researchers. The data was analyzed via the SPSS 18 program. As the post test scores of preschool students revealed, there was a significant difference for the experimental group with regard to environmental pollution awareness.
Is the Partnership Governance Able to Promote Endogenous Rural Development? A Preliminary Assessment Under the Adaptive Co-Management Approach
Authors: Pappalardo Gioacchino , Sisto Roberta , Pecorino Biagio
Published: January 2019

Ever increasingly more, all the actors directly or indirectly involved in the planning processes express the need to know the effects deriving from the implementation of rural development policy. In this direction, evaluation can make an important contribution, fostering the development of a ‘good policy’ as underlined by EU regulations. Among the specific evaluation questions developed by the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, one of them relates to the improvement of governance. Considering the Adaptive Co-Management (ACM) approach’s capacity as a proxy of the quality of network governance, the study aims to propose the ACM theoretical framework as a suitable model with which to study the social interactions between actors in the smallest unit of the LEADER process (i.e., the local action group’s (LAG’s) partnership governance). The proposed methodology is subsequently tested on a specific case study through the evaluation of the partnership governance of two case studies in the South of Italy. The empirical evidence supports the idea that ACM approach may represent a new model to assess the quality of the implementation process of the LEADER Programme. In addition, the ACM approach can lead to a new organizational and self-evaluation model of LAGs which places an emphasis on the importance of the relational process among its members.
Land Withdrawal Vs. Regional Development: Does Withdrawal of Agricultural Land Lead to Increase in Entrepreneurial Activity and Generate Positive Spatial Spillovers? (Slovak Republic)
Authors: Melichová Katarína , Melišková Ina , Palšová Lucia
Published: January 2019

In an increasingly urbanized world, the scarcity of space is a growing problem along with land consumption and soil sealing. To achieve sustainable development and sustainable land use, society has to resolve conflicts between residential, industrial, transport, commercial and green areas while creating a balance between social, economic and ecological targets. However, coordination of sustainable land use is a challenge for policymakers. The paper examines whether the withdrawal of land from the agricultural land fund leads to development, measured both by the increase in domestic entrepreneurial activity, as well as by the increase in foreign direct investments. The results are based on the analysis of panel data on the amount of land withdrawal, newly established firms and inward flow of FDI covering 41 administrative districts of Slovak Republic over 9 years (6 years in case of the FDI, due to the availability of data). Additionally, the spatial Durbin panel model was used to examine, whether land withdrawal and its non-agricultural use generate positive spillover effects on surrounding regions in terms of increased entrepreneurial activity and flow of FDI.
Cultural Heritage and Wind Turbines – A Method to Reduce Conflicts in Landscape Planning and Management: Studies in the German Ore Mountains
Authors: Wieduwilt Patrick , Wirth Peter
Published: January 2019

Landscape policy, management and planning can be interpreted as involving a dualism of conservation and transformation goals. Serious conflicts can emerge when conservation and development goals are contradictory. This paper reflects on the goal conflict between the establishment of a world heritage destination with 39 individual elements and the development of wind power facilities in the German Ore Mountains. In order to meet these challenges, the authors created a GIS-based so-called “Multiple-Visual-Link Method”. By calculating viewsheds with a tailor-made GIS application and defining distance zones (short, middle, long), the user is able to estimate the visual relations between the two types of subjects in a bigger area with a favorable cost-benefit relation. The compact algorithmic approach leads to solid results which can be translated into planning recommendations. There is also potential for it to be applied to similar goal conflicts.
Improving energy efficiency and building a low-emission economy based on example of Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Authors: Komorowska Aleksandra , Mirowski Tomasz
Published: January 2019

Improving energy efficiency and building a low-emission economy are fundamental elements of sustainable development. The concept is based on a rational-energy economy and is aimed at limiting the negative consequence of the impact of energy on the environment. The main purpose of the paper is to assess the application of activities for both improving energy efficiency and building a low-emission economy, undertaken in Małopolska . Thermomodernization, installations of renewable energy sources, replacement of inefficient heating sources, and low-emission transport are among the cofinanced activities in the implemented programs. The first section of this paper discusses existing legal acts in the European Union, at the national and provincial levels, related to the analyzed issue. The second section contains description of the actions undertaken for improving energy efficiency and air quality, as well as for increasing the use of renewable energy sources, in Małopolska. The third section includes a qualitative assessment of the effects obtained and further directions for activities in this field.
Comparison of chosen aspects of Energy Security Index for the natural gas sector in Poland and Ukraine
Authors: Osieczko Kornelia , Polaszczyk Jan
Published: January 2019

The energy security is a subject often picked by government representatives of current times, who take actions influencing geopolitical relationship of Europe and globe. It is an important aspect because of its economical, ecological and environmental nature. Tensions between countries of Eastern Europe, legislative changes made by European Union and rapidly increasing demand in the energy sector lead players to securing their resources and its supplies, along with infrastructure. Energy Security Index (WBE) proposed by A. Sokołowski (2010) and Kościuszko Institute is an effective tool for measurement, impartial assessment and classification of analyzed economies, checking their flexibility and possibilities in the international energy arena. The index is built as multidimensional comparison analysis, which gives the prospect of creating rankings. This article presents the essence of energy security in the context of an economic potentiality in the gas sector, with the chosen elements counting into WBE and its applications. The vast aggregate is created by calculations, using worked data, to summarize assessment of energy security status of examined country. The authors tried to compare chosen elements of WBE of neighboring Polish and Ukrainian economies. As an addition, based on data availability, information is enriched by appropriate commentary. Graphics shows the essence and summary of gas transportation infrastructure in both countries and gives the idea of possibilities of cooperation between them.
Employee engagement and performance: a systematic literature review
Authors: Motyka Błażej
Published: January 2019

Scholars and practitioners indicate that low level of employee engagement at work is currently one of the most alarming global economic problems. The potential consequence of this phenomenon is declining work performance. Therefore, it becomes important to understand the concept of work engagement, its meaning for employees, and implications for employers. The article is a systematic review of the body of literature, presenting the results of research on the association between employee engagement and various performance categories. The paper’s objective is to summarize prior studies based on their ordering and categorization, identify gaps in the current knowledge, and propose an agenda for future research. The article presents these findings in a synthetic manner, offering practical and academic implications arising therefrom. Results of the review indicate that, in the case of most peer-reviewed publications, a statistically significant relation between employee engagement and numerous categories and subcategories of performance was confirmed.
Selected methods of securing the refining sector against crude oil price fluctuations
Authors: Łamasz Bartosz , Iwaszczuk Natalia , Ivashchuk Oleksandr
Published: January 2019

The contemporary refining sector has to contend with many types of risks, among which price risk is considered to be the foremost. Moreover, refineries define it as a commodity risk and identify it with both opportunities and threats carried by changes in prices of crude oil and products of refining. In this paper, we present selected methods that may protect enterprises in the refinery sector from the consequences of rapid fluctuations in oil prices. The focus is mostly on the opportunities offered by commodity options. Skillful combination of the above-mentioned derivatives in optional strategies enables hedging of the purchase prices of raw materials within fixed price ranges. In order to examine the effectiveness of using these strategies, the parameters of the commodity options from the New York Mercantile Exchange are utilized. The analysis of the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices covers the period from June 2014 to March 2018. Three different strategies from the vertical spread group have been taken into consideration, namely, short butterfly spread, long strip, and long strap. European call and put options with different strike prices have been used in the construction of these strategies. The comparison of the results achieved in the research indicates that there is an answer to the question of strategies that ought to be used at various levels of oil price changes. Moreover, the empirical results reveal that during rapid fluctuations in crude oil price (<10% month on month [MOM]), the median of most variants (80%) for the three considered strategies was positive. Furthermore, 70% of variants gave positive results, with price changes between 5% and 10%, whereas for price fluctuations of >5%, the strategies turned out to be an ineffective protection. The best results with rapid fluctuations in oil prices were obtained in the long strip strategy. Additionally, increasing the exercise price of options used in this strategy improved the mean for the final results. The higher exercise prices of the options also resulted in greater sensitivity of the effectiveness of the long strip strategy on the level of changes in oil prices. For the strategy variant with the At The Money (ATM)+10% options, the Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the final result and the WTI oil prices in the analyzed period amounted to –0.91. For variants with the ATM+5% and ATM options, the value of this coefficient was –0.85 and –0.71, respectively. It is also worth noting that the consequence of increasing strike price in the long strip strategy was higher standard deviations for the final results. The empirical results might be useful information for oil refineries. It can help refineries to create a more successful price risk management policy, which may thus protect the companies from the negative consequences of unfavorable crude oil price movements.
Sustainability of fiscal policy in Poland in the period 2004–2017
Authors: Wysocki Maciej , Wójcik Cezary
Published: January 2019

The aim of this paper is to analyze fiscal sustainability in Poland after joining EU between 2004-2017. Unlike previous studies, which analyzed weak measures of fiscal sustainability, we analyze fiscal sustainability measures in the strong sense. Contrary to previous studies we estimate individual, not panel, fiscal reaction functions which allows us to provide possibly a more accurate picture of fiscal policy outcomes in Poland. Moreover, our empirical analysis takes a closer look at the series of structural breaks that occurred after the global crisis. Based on our analysis we may tentatively conclude that despite cyclical fiscal deterioration during the crisis fiscal policy in Poland has been sustainable in the strong sense up until 2017.
An Alternative Proof For the Minimum Fisher Information of Gaussian Distribution
Authors: Pak Abbas
Published: January 2019

Fisher information is of key importance in estimation theory. It is used as a tool for characterizing complex signals or systems, with applications, e.g. in biology, geophysics and signal processing. The problem of minimizing Fisher information in a set of distributions has been studied by many researchers. In this paper, based on some rather simple statistical reasoning, we provide an alternative proof for the fact that Gaussian distribution with finite variance minimizes the Fisher information over all distributions with the same variance.
Study of Incomplete Elliptic Integrals Pertaining to pΨq Function
Authors: Shanker Dubey Ravi , Sharma Anil , Jain Monika
Published: January 2019

Elliptic-type integral plays a major role in the study of different problems of physics and technology including fracture mechanics. Many papers have been written for various families of elliptic-type integrals. Due to their applications here, we are presenting an organized study of certain generalized family of incomplete elliptic integral. The obtained results are basic in nature have various generalizations. While using the fractional integral operator of Riemann-Liouville type, we found several obvious hyper geometric representations. Which are further used to originate many definite integrals relating to their modules and amplitude of elliptic type generalized incomplete integrals.
Some Cubic Rank Transmuted Distributions
Authors: Celik Nuri
Published: January 2019

In this article, we introduce some examples of cubic rank transmuted distributions proposed by Granzatto et al. (2017). The statistical aspects of the introduced distributions such as probability density functions, hazard rate functions and reliability functions are studied. The maximum likelihood estimation method is used in order to estimate the parameters of interest. Finally, real data examples are applied for the illustration of these distributions.
Association of serum paraoxonase 1 activities, polymorphisms and oxidative stress in breast cancer patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Eraldemir Fatma Ceyla , Üren Nihal , Kum Tuğba , Erbay Burcu , Şahin Deniz , Ergül Emel , Acar Esra , Özsoy Doğa , Çekmen Mustafa , Kır Hale , Utkan Zafer
Published: January 2019

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphism, PON1/arylesterase (ARE) activity and oxidative stress index (OSI) in breast cancer (BC) patients with type 2 diabetes (DM).

Methods

Our study group consisted of 30 healthy women (HV group) and 66 female BC patients. The BC patients were divided into two groups: those with (n=37) and without DM (n=29) (BDM and NBDM group). Genotyping of PON1 Q192R and L55M polymorphisms were done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Serum PON1/ARE enzyme activities, total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were analysed by spectrophotometric method. The ratio of TOS to TAS was accepted as the oxidative stress index (OSI).

Results

PON1 Q192R genotype frequency distribution was significantly different in the BDM group compared to the NBDM group (p=0.021). When alleles distribution was examined, R and L alleles were significantly lower, Q and M alleles were significantly higher in the BDM group than in the NBDM group (p<0.001). TOS and OSI were statistically higher in BC patients than HV group (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that PON1 gene Q and M alleles may be the risk factors predisposing formation of BC due to increased oxidant damage seen in DM. However, these statements require further confirmation with screening PON1 polymorphism in a greater number of patients with DM, and also wide range follow-up studies are necessary for the same purpose.
Acute Oral Toxicity of Vetom 21.77 Based on Duddingtonia Flagrans in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Rafikova Elmira R.
Published: January 2019

A 14-d study was undertaken to test the acute toxicity of a new preparation Vetom 21.77 based on the predacious fungus Duddingtonia flagrans. A total of 40 healthy 5-day-old broiler chickens (Hubbard F15, 100 ± 5 g), that had previously gone through a required 5-days adaptation to the environment, were orally dosed with the drug for 5 consecutive days at different doses, after which their health status was assessed daily up to the end of the experiment. According to the results, no substantial changes in the physiological state of the chickens were detected during the experiment. Internal organs weighing revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups, though weight coefficient values of internal organs of treated chickens slightly exceeded those of the control group. Some haematological parameters were significantly higher in the treatment group, without going beyond reference ranges. All chickens used in the experiment survived the study. The preparation has not produced any toxic effect even at a higher dose (4000 µL/kg bw/day). It is concluded that Vetom 21.77 pertains to preparations of IV toxicity class.
Comparison of photoacoustic, diffuse reflectance, attenuated total reflectance and transmission infrared spectroscopy for the study of biochars
Authors: Pasieczna-Patkowska Sylwia , Madej Jarosław
Published: January 2019

Four infrared spectroscopic techniques - photoacoustic (PAS), diffuse reflectance (DRS), attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and transmission (TS) - were evaluated for the qualitative analysis of the biochar obtained from willow feedstock during pyrolysis. Increase in pyrolysis temperature resulted in more aromatic and carbonaceous structure of biochars. These changes could easily be detected from Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectral differences. The comparison of the spectra obtained by the four FT-IR techniques allowed to conclude that there are differences in the spectra acquired using different IR technique caused by different signal acquisition. PAS and ATR were the best techniques used in order to obtain spectra with smooth and sharp peaks, in contrast to TS, where bands were less-separated. DRS turned out to be the weakest of all techniques, due to poor spectral quality and poor separation of the bands.
Flocculation efficiency of hybrid polymers with trivalent metal cations
Authors: Schmidt Beata
Published: January 2019

Acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers (AAm/AA) have been synthesized by microemulsion polymerization in absence and presence of trivalent cations Al+3 and Fe+3. Starch materials were obtained by introducing cations Al+3 and Fe+3, in the form of aqueous solutions of sulphates(VI) (modif. starch/Me+3), into the oxidized starch (modif. starch). The flocculation performance of obtained polyacrylamide copolymers and the one based on the natural polymer was compared with the performance of the commercial AAm/AA flocculant (CF). All materials were characterized by capillary viscometry, FTIR and DSC methods. An aqueous suspension of talc was used for the flocculation studies. The flocculation effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of reduction of suspension extinction and the sludge volume. It was found that synthesized AAm/AA/Me+3 copolymers and modif. starch/Me+3 materials exhibit better flocculation properties for a model talc suspension than a commercially available floculant.
Oxidation of cyclic ketones to dicarboxylic acids
Authors: Lisicki Dawid , Orlińska Beata
Published: January 2019

This paper reports the results of studies concerning an alternative method of obtaining dicarboxylic acids, which consist of the oxidation of cyclic ketones with oxygen or air. The raw materials used were cyclopentanone, cycloheptanone, cyclooctanone, cyclododecanone, 1-tetralon, 2-methylhexanone, 3-methylcyclohexanone and 4-methylcyclohexanone. Oxidation reactions were conducted at 70-100°C, under pressure of 0.1 or 0.4 MPa, for 6 h, utilizing the salts of transition metals as catalyst and acetic acid as solvent. For example, when cyclopentanone was oxidized in the presence of Mn(II) salt, a conversion above 98% and selectivity to glutaric acid up to 68% were obtained. Among synthesized dicarboxylic acids, 1,12-dodecanoic acid was obtained with the highest selectivity of 76%.
Controlled-release urea encapsulated by ethyl cellulose/butyl acrylate/vinyl acetate hybrid latex
Authors: Li Yue , Zhen Da , Liao Shuijiao , Zhu Duanwei , Yang Xun
Published: January 2019

Fertilizer encapsulation through polymer membranes can reduce fertilizer losses and minimize environmental pollution. In this paper, an emulsion of ethyl cellulose (EC)/vinyl acetate (VAc)/butyl acrylate (BA) was successfully prepared by pre-emulsified semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerization. EC/BA/VAc films showed biodegradability. The influence of the EC content on the properties of EC/BA/VAc films was also investigated by DSC, a water absorbency analysis, etc. Controlled-release urea encapsulated by EC/BA/VAc latex was prepared in a film coating machine and conformed to the standards for slow-release fertilizers of the Committee of European Normalization. The release of urea from controlled-release urea encapsulated by EC/BA/VAc latex containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% EC was 75.1%, 65.8%, 70.1% and 84.1%, respectively, after 42 days, and controlled-release urea encapsulated by EC/BA/VAc latex (5% EC) had the best controlled-release ability. Therefore, controlled-release urea encapsulated by EC/BA/VAc latex has many potential applications in agricultural industry.
Permeability of P and K-nutrient through polystyrene membrane from aqueous solutions of urea + KH2PO4
Authors: Deng Xiaonan , Liu Kun , Han Xiaozhao , Hu Xianguo , Zheng Shufeng
Published: January 2019

With the polymer-coated fertilizer as background, the permeability of P- and K-nutrient through a representative polymer membrane-polystyrene membrane were investigated by measuring their permeability in the solutions of KH2PO4-water and urea-KH2PO4-water at nominal temperature of 298 K using the Ussing chamber method. To analyze and interpret the variation of permeability with solute concentration, the solubility of permeate in polymer membrane were determined experimentally and the permeate diffusion coefficient were assessed by the measurements of density and apparent molar volume of the aqueous fertilizer solutions. An interesting “increase-decrease” trend for the permeability of both phosphorous (P)-nutrient, and potassium (K)-nutrient fertilizer with permeate concentration was observed, in which the increases in permeability at low concentrations of permeate could be attributed to the increase in solubility of KH2PO4 in polymer while the decreases in permeability at high concentrations was due to the decrease in diffusion coefficient of permeate in polymer membrane. Finally, the release kinetics of these nutrients from a PS-coated urea-KH2PO4 compound fertilizer granule was predicted using the Shaviv’s model along with the permeability data of P- and K-nutrient generated.
Additions to the species of Dasyhelea KIEFFER, 1911 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from West Bengal, India
Authors: Brahma Shubhranil , Hazra Niladri
Published: January 2019

Adult males of three new species, Dasyhelea (Prokempia) barbistyla, Dasyhelea (Pseudoculicoides) pseudohama and D. (Sebessia) scalpra are described from India. The Palaearctic species Dasyhelea (Dasyhelea) pallidiventrisis recorded for the first time from India. Dasyhelea (Ps.) deemingi BOORMAN & HARTEN, 2002 is revised, Dasyhelea (Ps.) acuta BRAHMA, SAHA & HAZRA, 2016 is deemed a junior synonym of Dasyhelea similinigrina NAVAI, 1994, and a key to the Indian species of the subgenera Dasyhelea, Prokempia, Pseudoculicoides and Sebessia is provided.
Technical Application of Petroleum Logging Instruments in Marine Logging
Authors: Gu Caiyun , Zhao Peng , Wang Li , Guo Hongxia
Published: January 2019

To solve the problem of offshore oilfield development, based on the newly introduced pulsed neutron oxygen activation logging instrument, the application research of test design and interpretation method was carried out and applied to actual production. The structure, technical indicators and logging principles of pulsed neutron oxygen activation logging tools were introduced. The test design under different well conditions was studied, including general positive and negative injection, oil sleeve injection, single oil pipe configuration and multitubing configuration. A large amount of field test data was collected and analysed technically. A set of effective interpretation models was proposed. The corresponding interpretation software was developed. A set of test design methods and operating specifications for different well conditions were developed. Based on the conventional interpretation method, the peak selection, the double-tuber peak identification and the carbon dioxide flooding interpretation method were added. The results show that the test design and interpretation methods were applied well through a large number of field tests and production applications. Therefore, pulsed neutron oxygen activated injection profile logging technology is successfully applied in offshore oil fields.
Application of Evaluation Algorithm for Port Logistics Park Based on Pca-Svm Model
Authors: Hu Bianjiang
Published: January 2019

To predict the logistics needs of the port, an evaluation algorithm for the port logistics park based on the PCASVM model was proposed. First, a quantitative indicator set for port logistics demand analysis was established. Then, based on the grey correlation analysis method, the specific indicator set of port logistics demand analysis was selected. The advantages of both principal component analysis and support vector machine algorithms were combined. The PCA-SVM model was constructed as a predictive model of the port logistics demand scale. The empirical analysis was conducted. Finally, from the perspective of the structure, demand, flow pattern and scale of port logistics demand, the future logistics demand of Shenzhen port was analysed. Through sensitivity analysis, the main influencing factors were found out, and the future development proposals of Shenzhen port were put forward. The results showed that the port throughput of Shenzhen City in 2016 was 21,328,200 tons. Compared with the previous year, it decreased by about 1.74 %. In summary, the PCA-SVM model accurately predicts the logistics needs of the port.
Study of the Force and Deformation Characteristics of Subsea Mudmat-Pile Hybrid Foundations
Authors: Kong Desen , Deng Meixu , Liu Yi , Tan Xiaoyan
Published: January 2019

To study the force and deformation characteristics of subsea mudmat-pile hybrid foundations under different combined loads, a project at a water depth of 200 m in the South China Sea was studied. A numerical model of a subsea mudmatpile hybrid foundation is developed using the numerical simulation software FLAC3D. The settlement of the seabed soil, the bending moments of the mudmat, and the displacements and bending moments along the pile shaft under different load combinations, including vertical load and horizontal load, vertical load and bending moment, and horizontal load and bending moment load, are analyzed. The results indicate that settlement of the seabed soil is reduced by the presence of piles. The settlement of the mudmat is reduced by the presence of piles. Different degrees of inclination occur along the pile shaft. The angle of inclination of pile No. 1 is greater than that of pile No. 2. The dip directions of piles No. 1 and No. 2 are identical under the vertical load and bending moment and are opposite to those under the other combined loads. The piles that are located at the junctions between the mudmat and the tops of the piles are easily destroyed.
Exploration and Mining Learning Robot of Autonomous Marine Resources Based on Adaptive Neural Network Controller
Authors: Pan Lisheng
Published: January 2019

To study the autonomous learning model of the learning robot for marine resource exploration, an adaptive neural network controller was applied. The motion characteristics of autonomous learning robots were identified. The mathematical model of the multilayer forward neural network and its improved learning algorithm were studied. The improved Elman regression neural network and the composite input dynamic regression neural network were further discussed. At the same time, the diagonal neural network was analysed from the structure and learning algorithms. The results showed that for the complex environment of the ocean, the structure of the composite input dynamic regression network was simple, and the convergence was fast. In summary, the identification method of underwater robot system based on neural network is effective.
Development of “4E” Levelriver-Sea-Going Ship
Authors: Pei Zhiyong , Yuan Qingning , Wu Weiguo
Published: January 2019

In order to effectively promote the construction of the Yangtze River economic belt, it has become China’s national strategy to vigorously develop the river-sea-going transportation. In the present paper, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and model test are combined together to develop flat-type river-sea-going ship which is characterized with larger loading capacity, lower fuel consumption, better performance on energy-saving and environmental-friendly, excellent economy and higher transportation efficiency. Key technologies on hydrodynamic performance, structural safety, energy-saving technology and green ship technology are investigated to develop the river-sea-going ship. The developed “4E” level ship has great significance to the implementation of national strategic deployment.
Effect of Reinforcement Ratio and Vertical Load Level on Lateral Capacity of Bridge Pile Foundations
Authors: Qinglai Fan , Yufeng Gao
Published: January 2019

The bearing response of pile foundations for cross-sea bridge subjected to lateral loading is investigated through threedimensional finite element numerical analyses. In the analyses, non-linear behavior of concrete is simulated using smeared cracking model, and the strain-stress relationship of rebar is modeled through perfectly elasto-plastic model obeying Mises yield criterion. The finite element model is validated against published lateral static loading test in situ. The effect of reinforcement ratio of reinforced concrete and vertical load level is explored on the displacement of pile head and lateral capacity of pile. The results show that for the pile with low reinforcement ratio, the allowable lateral capacity is controlled by concrete cracking, however the allowable lateral capacity is controlled by the displacement of pile head with high reinforcement ratio. The vertical load applied on the pile head may reduce its displacement but increase simultaneously the maximum moment in the pile body. Therefore, the optimum vertical load level is 0.4~0.6 times of the vertical ultimate load of a single pile.
Model Tests on Characteristic of Suction Caissons in Saturated Fine Sand Under Intermittent Loading
Authors: Shi Ping
Published: January 2019

Suction caissons are often used for the caissons of both offshore oil platforms and offshore wind power projects because of their advantages of simple construction, economical cost, and reusability. In this study, model tests were conducted in sand in order to investigate the effects of the caisson installation method on the penetration depth and the critical suction. Results of the test program showed that the method of changing the frequency of suction during different stages of the process can increase the penetration depth of the caisson. Combining with the deformation of the soil body inside and outside the caisson, the existing method for calculating the critical suction is modified, and the critical suction calculation equation of the discontinuous penetration test is proposed. Based on the test results, the calculation equation of the soil heave height can be more accurate predicted. The analysis results verify that the calculation method and the actual results are in good agreement.
Hydrodynamic Load and Parametric Design of Grouted Clamp Used on Offshore Jacket
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wang Zhuo , Wang Tao
Published: January 2019

The reliability and safety of offshore platform are an important research aspect in marine engineering. The jacket platform is mainly used for oil development and submarine drilling, and the long-term work in the marine environment will be subjected to different loads, which will lead to the damage of the structure part of the offshore platform. It affects the structural strength of the platform. For the repair of jacket damage, grouted reinforcement technology is adopted, which has the advantages of simple underwater installation and low cost. The reinforcement technology of the grout hoop has been applied to the engineering projects abroad, but the stress and serialization design of the hoop in the marine environment need further study. This paper will combine the ocean current and wave force to carry out the research of underwater work and prevent loosening, and put forward the parametric design method for the specific size of the hoop. Two types of experimental models are designed: short bolt form clamp and long bolt form clamp. The mechanical experiment of the long bolt clamp is carried out, and the relationship between the slipping force and the bolt preload is analyzed, so as to verify the theoretical analysis.
Parenthetical Clauses in the Qurʼān
Authors: Dror Yehudit
Published: January 2019

In the few traditional Arabic grammatical sources that address the term parentheticals it is usually defined as the insertion of a clause between two other clauses, or between two syntactic components, for taʼkīd “emphasis.” In this article I examine Qurʼānic parenthetical clauses in the theoretical framework of relevance theory. It transpires that the parenthetical clause is placed where it achieves optimal relevance and therfore the conveyed utterance does not require the addresses to waste any efforts trying to procees the information and correctly interpret it. Optimal relevance also means having a contextual effect. The Qur’ānic parenthetical clauses have one of the following contextual effects: They serve to affirm God’s omnipotence, indicating that only God produces suras, created heaven and earth. He is the forgiver and all depends on His will; to explain what it meant by a specific statement or to explain the reason behind a certain action; to qualify, to highlight a specific characterization, for example, one of the parenthetical clauses modify the Qur’ān as the truth from God; to provide background information, which could explain further developments in the narrative.
Back to Orthoepia – Spelling in Pronunciation Instruction: “Words Commonly Mispronounced” by Learners of Six L1s
Authors: Nowacka Marta A.
Published: January 2019

This is a continuation of Nowacka’s (2016) study on the importance of local and global errors and spelling in pronunciation instruction. Unlike in the previous research that focused on the performance of Polish learners only, respondents of six different nationalities are included, in search of some cross-national universals or absence of them. This study seeks to answer the following questions: whether there is a need to focus on spelling in a pronunciation course with learners representing six different L1s and if this is the case which graphophonemic / phonotactic rules of English should be explicitly taught to all of these learners and which ones might be L1 specific only. The intention is also to empirically confirm the existence of local errors in the performance of around 240 speakers and 50 more listeners, constituting 291 listeners of six nationalities (Kazakh, Malaysian, Polish, Turkish, Tajik and Ukrainian) and to confirm the usefulness of memorizing Sobkowiak’s (1996) ‘Words Commonly Mispronounced’ even for learners of different L1s.