bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expert-Based Modular Simulator for Municipal Waste Processing Technology Design
Authors: Bárkányi Ágnes , Egedy Attila , Sarkady Attila , Kurdi Róbert , Abonyi János
Published: December 2022

One of the significant problems in our society is the handling and processing of the vast amount of waste produced by households and industrial processes. Nowadays, packaging material regulations are constantly changing, which can significantly impact the quality of municipal waste, requiring the continuous development and redesign of waste processing plants. Since only a few uncertain measurements (composition, mass, etc.) are available for this task, analysing and redesigning waste processing technologies is challenging. This research aims to develop a modelling and simulation concept that can integrate all the available information and can also handle the uncertainty of the measurements. The proposed modular modelling framework can serve as a basis for designing and redesigning the technologies needed to process ever-changing municipal waste. The most important steps of the framework are as follows: identifying the typical equipment, these are the elements; building models of the elements; determining the characteristic parameters of the equipment; exploring the possible relationships between the elements. For example, the information needed to define the model parameters can be gathered from measurements, industrial experience, and expert knowledge. In many cases, the data obtained represent ranges. The stationary model framework applies efficiency factors and divides the solids into substreams based on expert knowledge. Furthermore, a modular simulator framework was developed to simulate the technological schemes with various connections. The specifications for all widely used waste industrial equipment (shredders, air separators, sieves, magnetic-, eddy current-, optical-, and ballistic separators) were used to construct the developed simulator. This simulator can open new opportunities for the design of waste sorting technological networks. The model was calibrated based on expertise gained from operating the studied technology. The changes in the material parameters can be considered, and the modular simulator can lead to flexible waste sorting technologies capable of adapting to governmental and environmental regulations changes. The main result of the work is that a methodology for designing a modular simulator, model development, and a validation method has been proposed, which provides the possibility to deal with uncertainty. All this is successfully presented through the analysis of an operating waste separation system.
What Do They Want from a Career? University Students’ Future Career Expectations and Resources in a Health Crisis Context
Authors: Pignault Anne , Vayre Emilie , Houssemand Claude
Published: December 2022

Young people and students, in particular, have often been presented as being particularly affected by the health crisis and its various psychological, social, and economic consequences. In this context, the present study sought to better understand the links between the anxiety generated by this crisis regarding one’s professional future, the resources available, and future career expectations. A total of 585 higher education students participated in the study during the third lockdown in France and completed a questionnaire that focused on anxiety and apprehension about the future, psychological and adaptative resources, and preferences for dimensions of new careers (kaleidoscopic, sustainable, protean, boundaryless, and opportunistic). The results show, on the one hand, significant links between anxiety, optimism, hope, career adaptability and preferences expressed for dimensions of new careers; on the other hand, dimensions that are more preferred than others. Finally, these results will be discussed in relation to the correlations already highlighted in the literature between individuals and career expectations, and to the more global reflection on the future of work. Possible avenues in the field of career counselling will be proposed.
Location Selection for Regional Logistics Center Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Huang Yingyi , Wang Xinyu , Chen Hongyan
Published: December 2022

The location of a logistics center is very important in a logistics system, as the success of the location determines the whole logistics system’s structure, shape, and mode, and not only affects the logistics center’s own operating costs, performance, and future development, but also affects the operation of the entire logistics system. Therefore, the selection of the location for a logistics center has great significance for improving the efficiency of regional logistics and optimizing the structure of a logistics system. This study constructed a multi-factor constrained P-median site-selection model to optimize the locations of logistics centers to improve the efficiency of logistics and optimize the structure of the logistics system in a region. The results show that the optimal distribution of logistics center sites and the coverage of freight capacity demand derived from the particle swarm algorithm are more balanced than those derived by the other algorithm. Following the comparison of the results for the utility of the optimized layout points solved by the particle swarm algorithm and the immune genetic algorithm, it is concluded that the optimal fitness value obtained by the particle swarm algorithm is lower than the other. It is proven that the particle swarm algorithm of the P-median site-selection model under this multi-factor constraint has some reference value for the selection of the sites of multi-logistics centers.
Changes in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) Yield, Quality, and Soil Microbiome after Replacing Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers
Authors: Sun Ming-Jie , Chao Ying , He Wei , Kang Xi-Rui , Yang Quan-Gang , Wang Hui , Pan Hong , Lou Yan-Hong , Zhuge Yu-Ping
Published: December 2022

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is one of the most economically valuable drought-resistant crops in arid and semi-arid regions as a nutrition health crop, which has garnered considerable research attention. We evaluated the effects of replacing chemical nitrogen fertilizers with organic fertilizers on two primary plant accessions of foxtail millet (Dungu and Jinfen no. 2). Nitrogen in a standard fertilizer was replaced with organic fertilizer at application levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%, with effects on crop yield, quality (appearance, taste, and nutritional value), and soil microbiome, assessed using field cultivation experiments. Our results indicate that partial replacement of conventional fertilizers with organic fertilizers improved both yield and quality. Specifically, the 75% replacement significantly improved the appearance (yellow pigment content and grain diameter) and taste (amylose content and soluble sugar content) of foxtail millet, while the 50% replacement significantly improved the taste (gel consistency) and nutritional qualities (crude protein content and seven amino acids’ content). The 50% replacement of organic fertilizer regulated amino acid content more significantly than starch content. Increased ratios of organic fertilizer significantly reduced the soil pH by 0.03–0.36 and increased the relative abundance of Chloroflexi as well as that of Basidiomycota and Cercozoa in the soil microbiome. Our findings provide a solid theoretical foundation for subsequent studies on fertilizer use for foxtail millet and contribute to developing functional nutritional foods in the foxtail millet industry.
Resource-Based Port Material Yard Detection with SPPA-Net
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyong , Xu Rui , Lu Kaixuan , Hao Zhihang , Chen Zhengchao , Cai Mingyong
Published: December 2022

Since the material yard is a crucial place for storing coal, ore, and other raw materials, accurate access to its location is of great significance to the construction of resource-based ports, environmental supervision, and investment and operating costs. Its extraction is difficult owing to its small size, variable shape, and dense distribution. In this paper, the SPPA-Net target detection network was proposed to extract the material yard. Firstly, a Dual-Channel-Spatial-Mix Block (DCSM-Block) was designed based on the Faster R-CNN framework to enhance the feature extraction ability of the location and spatial information of the material yard. Secondly, the Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) was introduced to improve the detection of material yards with different scales. Thirdly, a spatial pyramid pooling self-attention module (SPP-SA) was established to increase the global semantic information between material yards and curtail false detection and missed detection. Finally, the domestic GF-2 satellite data was adopted to conduct extraction experiments on the material yard of the port. The results demonstrated that the detection accuracy of the material yard reached 88.7% when the recall rate was 90.1%. Therefore, this study provided a new method for the supervision and environmental supervision of resource-based port material yards.
Understanding User Preferences in Location-Based Social Networks via a Novel Self-Attention Mechanism
Authors: Shi Lei , Luo Jia , Zhang Peiying , Han Hongqi , El Baz Didier , Cheng Gang , Liang Zeyu
Published: December 2022

The check-in behaviors of users are ubiquitous in location-based social networks in urban living. Understanding user preferences is critical to improving the recommendation services of social platforms. In addition, great quality of recommendation is also beneficial to sustainable urban living since the user can easily find the point of interest (POI) to visit, which avoids unnecessary consumption, such as a longer time taken for searching or driving. To capture user preferences from their check-in behaviors, advanced methods transform historical records into graph structure data and further leverage graph deep learning-based techniques to learn user preferences. Despite their effectiveness, existing graph deep learning-based methods are limited to the capture of the deep graph’s structural information due to inherent limitations, such as the over-smoothing problem in graph neural networks, further leading to suboptimal performance. To address the above issues, we propose a novel method built on Transformer architecture named spatiotemporal aware transformer (STAT) via a novel graphically aware attention mechanism. In addition, a new temporally aware sampling strategy is developed to reduce the computational cost and enable STAT to deal with large graphs. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets have demonstrated the superiority of the STAT compared to state-of-the-art POI recommendation methods.
Instructional Efficiency of STEM Approach in Biology Teaching in Primary School in Serbia
Authors: Županec Vera , Radulović Branka , Lazarević Tihomir
Published: December 2022

Initiatives by numerous American associations and various European projects constantly remind of the importance of linking science, technology, engineering and mathematics into a holistic approach to teaching and learning, known as the STEM approach. Comprehensive STEM education research mostly focuses on the effects of this approach on students’ performance and their attitudes towards the approach, whereas a significantly smaller number of studies have examined the instructional efficiency of the STEM approach in science teaching by assessing students’ performance, the mental effort invested in solving tasks and their involvement in STEM classes. With the intention to address the mentioned gap, the aim of this study is to determine the instructional efficiency of and students’ involvement in the STEM approach in biology teaching in primary school, compared to the non-STEM approach. The study employed quantitative research methodology and a true experimental design using pretest-posttest experimental and control groups. The results show that the STEM approach in biology teaching increases students’ performance and involvement and also contributes to the reduction of students’ mental effort. Based on the research results, we conclude that biology teachers should apply the STEM approach in presenting scientific concepts, as this contributes both to the quality of the acquired knowledge and its maintenance.
Maxwell Equations in Homogeneous Spaces with Solvable Groups of Motions
Authors: Obukhov V. V.
Published: December 2022

The classification of exact solutions of Maxwell vacuum equations for the case where the electromagnetic fields and metrics of homogeneous spaces are invariant with respect to the motion group G3(VII) was completed. All non-equivalent exact solutions of Maxwell vacuum equations for electromagnetic fields and spaces with such symmetry were obtained. The vectors of the canonical frame of a homogeneous space of type VII according to the Bianchi classification and the electromagnetic field potentials were found.
Durable, Low-Cost, and Efficient Heat Spreader Design from Scrap Aramid Fibers and Hexagonal Boron Nitride
Authors: Yoo Jung-Hun , Yi Sung Chul
Published: December 2022

Aramid, chemically known as para phenylene terephthalamide or PPD-T, has been widely used in the reinforcement of telecommunication cables, rubber materials (transmission belts, pneumatic belts), ballistic clothing, and frictional materials primarily due to their high tensile resistance, high elastic modulus, and excellent thermal stability (−80–200 °C). These unique properties of aramid originate from its chemical structure, which consists of relatively rigid polymer chains linked by benzene rings and amide bonds (-CO-NH-). Here, in this work inspired by these properties, a heat spreader called Thermal Interface Material (TIM) is developed by synthesizing a resin from scrap aramid fibers. When hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as filler is introduced into the as-synthesized aramid resin to form a thin film of thermal sheet (50 μm), an in-plane thermal conductivity as high as 32.973 W/mK is achieved due to the firmly stacked and symmetric arrangement of the h-BN in the resin matrix. Moreover, the influence of h-BN platelet size is studied by fabricating thermal sheets with three different sizes of h-BN (6–7.5 μm, 15–21 μm, and 30–35 μm) in the aramid resin. The results of the study show that as platelet size increases, thermal conductivity increases significantly. Since the resin reported herein is developed out of scrap aramid fibers, the cost involved in the manufacture of the thermal sheet will be greatly lower. As the thermal sheet is designed with h-BN rather than graphene or carbonaceous materials, this high heat spreading sheet can be employed for 5G antenna modules where properties like a low dielectric constant and high electrical insulation are mandated.
Classification of Irreducible Z+-Modules of a Z+-Ring Using Matrix Equations
Authors: Chen Zhichao , Zhao Ruju
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to investigate and categorize all inequivalent and irreducible Z+-modules of a commutative unit Z+-ring A, equipped with set {1, x, y, xy} satisfying x2=1,y2=1 as a Z+-basis by using matrix equations, which was part of a call for a Special Issue about matrix inequalities and equations by Symmetry. If the rank of the Z+-module n≤2, we prove that there are finitely many inequivalent and irreducible Z+-modules, respectively, one and three. However, if n≥3, there is no irreducible Z+-module.
Demand-Side Economies of Scope in Big Tech Business Modelling and Strategy
Authors: Henten Anders , Windekilde Iwona
Published: December 2022

The purpose of the paper is to discuss the issue of economies of scope in platform research and to attract attention to the importance of scope economies for the strength and growth of Big Tech corporations. Hitherto, most attention has been on network effects and demand-side economies of scale, on the role of platforms in lowering transaction costs, and on the importance of big data. More specifically, the research question addressed in this paper is how economies of scope, driven by the demand side, contribute to the strength of successful Big Tech corporations. The answer is related to two aspects: one is concerned with bundling of services and products, and the other with the acquisition and processing of data on users and their activities using digital services and applications.
Residue Analysis and Assessment of the Risk of Dietary Exposure to Domoic Acid in Shellfish from the Coastal Areas of China
Authors: Zheng Guanchao , Wu Haiyan , Che Hanyu , Li Xiaokang , Zhang Zhihua , Peng Jixing , Guo Mengmeng , Tan Zhijun
Published: December 2022

Harmful algal blooms in Chinese waters have caused serious domoic acid (DA) contamination in shellfish. Although shellfish are at particular risk of dietary exposure to DA, there have been no systematic DA risk assessments in Chinese coastal waters. A total of 451 shellfish samples were collected from March to November 2020. The presence of DA and four of its isomers were detected using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The spatial-temporal distribution of DA occurrence and its potential health risks were examined. DA was detected in 198 shellfish samples (43.90%), with a maximum level of 942.86 μg/kg. DA was recorded in all 14 shellfish species tested and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) showed the highest average DA concentration (82.36 μg/kg). The DA concentrations in shellfish showed distinct spatial-temporal variations, with significantly higher levels of occurrence in autumn than in summer and spring (p < 0.01), and particularly high occurrence in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. The detection rates and maximum concentrations of the four DA isomers were low. While C. gigas from Guangdong Province in September showed the highest levels of DA contamination, the risk to human consumers was low. This study improves our understanding of the potential risk of shellfish exposure to DA-residues.
Molecular Epidemiology of the Norwegian SARS-CoV-2 Delta Lineage AY.63
Authors: Moen Line Victoria , Vollan Hilde Synnøve , Bråte Jon , Hungnes Olav , Bragstad Karoline
Published: December 2022

Extensive genomic surveillance has given great insights into the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and emerging variants. During the summer months of 2021, Norway was dominated by the Pango lineage AY.63 which is a sub-lineage of the highly transmissible Delta variant. Strikingly, AY.63 did not spread in other countries to any significant extent. AY.63 carried a key mutation, A222V, in the spike protein, as well as the deletion of three residues in nsp1. Although these mutations are close to functionally important areas, we did not find any evidence that they induced higher fitness compared to other Delta lineages. This variant was introduced to Norway at a time when there were low levels of SARS-CoV-2 and contact-reducing measures were relaxed, which probably explains why the lineage rose so quickly. Furthermore, we found that the lack of imports of AY.63 from other countries probably led to the eventual demise of the lineage in Norway.
The Association between Symptomatic Rotavirus Infection and Histo-Blood Group Antigens in Young Children with Diarrhea in Pretoria, South Africa
Authors: Rakau Kebareng , Gededzha Maemu , Peenze Ina , Huang Pengwei , Tan Ming , Steele Andrew Duncan , Seheri Luyanda Mapaseka
Published: December 2022

Objectives: Recently, histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) have been identified as receptors or attachment factors of several viral pathogens. Among rotaviruses, HBGAs interact with the outer viral protein, VP4, which has been identified as a potential susceptibility factor, although the findings are inconsistent throughout populations due to HBGA polymorphisms. We investigated the association between HBGA phenotypes and rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in northern Pretoria, South Africa. Methods: Paired diarrheal stool and saliva samples were collected from children aged ≤ 59 months (n = 342) with acute moderate to severe diarrhea, attending two health care facilities. Rotaviruses in the stool samples were detected by commercial EIA and the rotavirus strains were characterized by RT-PCR targeting the outer capsid VP7 (G-type) and VP4 (P-type) antigens for genotyping. Saliva-based ELISAs were performed to determine A, B, H, and Lewis antigens for blood group typing. Results: Blood type O was the most common blood group (62.5%) in this population, followed by groups A (26.0%), B (9.3%), and AB (2.2%). The H1-based secretors were common (82.7%) compared to the non-secretors (17.3%), and the Lewis antigen positive phenotypes (Le(a+b+)) were predominant (54.5%). Blood type A children were more likely to be infected by rotavirus (38.8%) than any other blood types. P[4] rotaviruses (21/49; 42.9%) infected only secretor individuals, whereas P[6] rotaviruses (3/49; 6.1%) only infected Le(a−b−), although the numbers were very low. On the contrary, P[8] rotaviruses infected children with a wide range of blood group phenotypes, including Le(a−b−) and non-secretors. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that Lewis antigens, or the lack thereof, may serve as susceptibility factors to rotaviral infection by specific VP4 genotypes as observed elsewhere. Potentially, the P[8] strains remain the predominant human VP4 genotype due to their ability to bind to a variety of HBGA phenotypes.
Severity of COVID-19 among Hospitalized Patients: Omicron Remains a Severe Threat for Immunocompromised Hosts
Authors: Nevejan Louis , Ombelet Sien , Laenen Lies , Keyaerts Els , Demuyser Thomas , Seyler Lucie , Soetens Oriane , Van Nedervelde Els , Naesens Reinout , Geysels Dieter , Verstrepen Walter , Cattoir Lien , Martens Steven , Michel Charlotte , Mathieu Elise , Reynders Marijke , Evenepoel Anton , Hellemans Jorn , Vanhee Merijn , Magerman Koen , Maes Justine , Matheeussen Veerle , Boogaerts Hélène , Lagrou Katrien , Cuypers Lize , André Emmanuel
Published: December 2022

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the general population in the context of a relatively high immunity gained through the early waves of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), and vaccination campaigns. Despite this context, a significant number of patients were hospitalized, and identifying the risk factors associated with severe disease in the Omicron era is critical for targeting further preventive, and curative interventions. We retrospectively analyzed the individual medical records of 1501 SARS-CoV-2 positive hospitalized patients between 13 December 2021, and 13 February 2022, in Belgium, of which 187 (12.5%) were infected with Delta, and 1036 (69.0%) with Omicron. Unvaccinated adults showed an increased risk of moderate/severe/critical/fatal COVID-19 (crude OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.09–2.16) compared to vaccinated patients, whether infected with Omicron or Delta. In adults infected with Omicron and moderate/severe/critical/fatal COVID-19 (n = 323), immunocompromised patients showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality related to COVID-19 (adjusted OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.39–4.22), compared to non-immunocompromised patients. The upcoming impact of the pandemic will be defined by evolving viral variants, and the immune system status of the population. The observations support that, in the context of an intrinsically less virulent variant, vaccination and underlying patient immunity remain the main drivers of severe disease.
Temporal Trends of Acute Hepatitis A in Brazil and Its Regions
Authors: Grandi Giuliano , Lopez Luis Fernandez , Burattini Marcelo Nascimento
Published: December 2022

Background: Hepatitis A is responsible for 126,000,000 cases of acute viral hepatitis distributed heterogeneously worldwide, with a high disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate, especially in low-income countries. Data related to Hepatitis A provides information to improve control measures and identify the population at risk. This study aims to analyze temporal trends of Hepatitis A in Brazil and its regions from 2007 to 2018, based on official notification data. Methods: Data related to Hepatitis A reported cases from 2007 to 2018 were fitted to a joinpoint model by Brazilian regions, age groups, and gender, allowing the calculation of average annual percentage change (AAPC) and annual percentage change (APC) to estimate trends of Hepatitis A in Brazil. Findings: From 2007 to 2018, 65,284 Hepatitis A cases notified in Brazil were available for analysis. The Northeast Region reported 18,732 (28.69%) cases, followed by the North Region reporting 18,430 (28.23%), the Southeast Region reporting 14,073 (21.55%), the South Region reporting 7909 (12.11%), and the Central-West Region reporting 6140 (9.4%), respectively. Temporal trend analysis showed that Hepatitis A incidence decreased from 2007 to 2016 in all Brazilian regions for individuals less than 20 years old, but increased in the South and Southeast males between 10 and 39 years after 2016. Conclusions: Hepatitis A endemicity is heterogeneous among Brazilian regions. In addition, an unexpected outbreak of HAV among Southeast and South adult males in 2016 resembles the outbreak in Europe, revealing a vulnerable population that should be prioritized by vaccination programs and control measures.
Rate of Hospitalizations and Mortality of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Compared to Influenza in Older People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Maggi Stefania , Veronese Nicola , Burgio Marianna , Cammarata Giorgia , Ciuppa Maria Elena , Ciriminna Stefano , Di Gennaro Francesco , Smith Lee , Trott Mike , Dominguez Ligia J. , Giammanco Giovanni M. , De Grazia Simona , Costantino Claudio , Vitale Francesco , Barbagallo Mario
Published: December 2022

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is commonly regarded as an infection typical of children, but increasing literature is showing its importance in older people. Since the data regarding the impact of RSV are still limited for older people, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare the rate of hospitalization and mortality between RSV and influenza in this population. A systematic literature search until 15 June 2022 was done across several databases and including studies reporting incidence rate and cumulative incidence of hospitalization and mortality in RSV and influenza affecting older people. Among 2295 records initially screened, 16 studies including 762,084 older participants were included. Compared to older patients having influenza, patients with RSV did not show any significant different risk in hospitalization (either cumulative or incidence rate). Similar results were evident for mortality. The quality of the studies was in general good. In conclusion, our systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the rate of hospitalization and mortality was similar between RSV and influenza in older adults, suggesting the importance of vaccination for RSV in older people for preventing negative outcomes, such as mortality and hospitalization.
Simulation Study on the Effect of Non-Point Source Pollution on Water Quality in the Upper Reaches of the Lijiang River
Authors: Li Zitao , Dai Junfeng , Li Zhangnan , Liu Yan , Xu Jingxuan , Zhang Zhenyu , Xu Baoli
Published: December 2022

Maintaining good water quality in the Lijiang River is a scientific and practical requirement for protecting and restoring the environmental and ecological value of the river. Understanding the influence of non-point source pollution on the water quality of the Lijiang River is important for water quality maintenance. In this study, the pollutant flux in the upper reaches of the Lijiang River was calculated based on water quality monitoring, non-point source pollution, and point source pollution statistics. The Z–Q relation curve method, hydrologic analogy method, and contour map method were used to estimate the flow of the Lijiang River. We then constructed a water quantity–water quality balance model of the upper reaches of the Lijiang River based on an equilibrium equation of water quantity and a modified one-dimensional steady-state model of the river. Water quality changes in the upper reaches were simulated for a wet, normal, and dry season. The simulation errors were all within −30% to 30%, which was in line with the pollution simulation requirements of the Standard for hydrological information and hydrological forecasting (GB/T 22482-2008). The simulated reliability of each water quality indicator is at a high level, based on the calculated Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient. The overall model simulation results were good. The simulation results show that the impact of non-point source pollution on the water quality of the upper reaches of the Lijiang River was greater than that of point source pollution. The effect of different types of non-point source pollution on the water quality of the Lijiang River was as follows: rural domestic pollution > urban household pollution without centralized treatment > pollution from agricultural cultivation. This study provides technical support for the long-term hydrology and water quality monitoring of the Lijiang River and provides a basis for the reduction in non-point source pollution and the continuous improvement of the water quality in the Lijiang River Basin.
Contrast Analysis of Flow-Discharge Measurement Methods in a Wide–Shallow River during Ice Periods
Authors: Lu Jinzhi , Guo Xinlei , Pan Jiajia , Fu Hui , Wu Yihong , Mao Zeyu
Published: December 2022

The discharge of natural rivers is one of the important hydrological factors that are considered when responding to ice-flood disasters during ice periods. Traditionally, holes need to be dug along the cross-section on the ice cover to gauge velocity distributions along the flow depth at each hole, and to calculate the cross-sectional flow discharge by integrating velocity profiles over the entire area. This method is time consuming, costly, and inefficient. The discharge measurement can be improved using the sectional flow-depth distribution and stream-tube methods. However, the selection of both the depth-averaged–velocity-estimation method and the typical survey-point position in the cross-section affects the estimation accuracy. This study first compared the estimation methods of the depth-averaged velocity, such as the one-, two-, three-, and six-point methods, and their estimation accuracy. Furthermore, the variations in relative-unit discharge distributions in common channels with cross-sectional topographies were analyzed, and the effects of the cross-section characteristic coefficient and typical survey-point position on the flow-discharge estimation accuracy were compared. The results show that the average errors of the depth-averaged velocity estimated by the one-point method at 0.5H, new three-point method, and six-point method were 1.96%, 1.22%, and 0.45%, respectively. The new three-point method is recommended if measurement workload and accuracy are key considerations. The cross-section characteristic coefficient is considered to be 0.5 and 0.25 for the natural river and artificial channel, respectively, and the maximum-flow-depth position in the mainstream area of the cross-section is selected as the typical survey-point position. Thus, the flow-discharge estimation accuracy can be improved. In conclusion, this study provides an improved stream-tube method for the measurement of flow discharge and velocity distribution in ice periods, which can be used as a reference during practical applications.
Soil Microbiome Study Based on DNA Extraction: A Review
Authors: Wydro Urszula
Published: December 2022

In recent years, many different methods that allow for the analysis of the biodiversity and structure of the community of microorganisms inhabiting the soil environment have emerged. Many of these approaches are based on molecular methods including the study of genetic biodiversity based on DNA and RNA analysis. They are superior to conventional methods because they do not rely on time-consuming laboratory in vitro cultures and biochemical analyses. Moreover, methods based on the analysis of genetic material are characterized by high sensitivity and repeatability. The abovementioned issues are the subject of many reviews. The novelty of this article is the summarization of the main aspects of soil biological research including genetic techniques, bioinformatics and statistical tools. This approach could be an introduction for scientists starting their work in the field of genetic soil analysis. Additionally, examples of the application of molecular methods in soil research are presented.
Ultrasonic Vibration Technology to Improve the Thermal Performance of CPU Water-Cooling Systems: Experimental Investigation
Authors: Amiri Delouei Amin , Sajjadi Hasan , Ahmadi Goodarz
Published: December 2022

The rapid growth of the electronics industry and the increase in processor power levels requires new techniques to improve the heat transfer rate in their cooling systems. In this study, ultrasonic vibration technology was introduced as an active method to enhance the thermal performance of water-cooling systems. The effects of ultrasonic vibrations at power levels of 30, 60, and 120 watts for different cooling airflow rates were investigated experimentally. The results were validated with available empirical correlations to ensure the accuracy of the measurement systems. The findings indicated that the ultrasonic vibrations enhanced the heat transfer in the liquid-cooling heat exchangers. In addition, the thermal performance of the ultrasonic vibrations was improved by reducing the airflow rate and increasing the ultrasonic power. In addition to the feature of heat transfer improvement, ultrasonic waves are widely used for the cleaning of different types of heat exchangers. Regarding the anti-fouling and anti-accumulation effects of the ultrasonic vibrations, the introduced technology could provide a practical way for developing high-performance nanofluids-based computer cooling systems.
Results of ichthyological studies at the Cherepetsky reservoir in 2021
Authors:   Branch for the freshwater fisheries of “VNIRO” (VNIIPRKH), Russia, Moscow Region, Rybnoye, Nikitenko A.I. , Goryachev D.V. ,   Branch for the freshwater fisheries of “VNIRO” (VNIIPRKH), Russia, Moscow Region, Rybnoye, Klets N.N. ,   Branch for the freshwater fisheries of “VNIRO” (VNIIPRKH), Russia, Moscow Region, Rybnoye, Zingis I.V. ,   Branch for the freshwater fisheries of “VNIRO” (VNIIPRKH), Russia, Moscow Region, Rybnoye, Nazarov A.S. ,   Branch for the freshwater fisheries of “VNIRO” (VNIIPRKH), Russia, Moscow Region, Rybnoye, Karovaev A.N. ,   Branch for the freshwater fisheries of “VNIRO” (VNIIPRKH), Russia, Moscow Region, Rybnoye
Published: December 2022

Based on the materials of scientific monitoring at the Cherepetsky reservoir in the Tula region, the composition of the fish population at the present stage is given. The places of mass spawning and wintering of the main fish species were also identified. Wintering pits are located in the dam part of the reservoir, as well as downstream along the watershed dam. The places of mass spawning are located in the upper (river) part of the reservoir, as well as in the area of the village of Tsentralny. The materials were the results of hydro acoustic and grid surveys at the Cherepetsky reservoir in 2021. Ichthyological studies have not been carried out on this reservoir since 2013. According to the results of research surveys in 2021, with the use of the order of the set nets, a small variety of ichthyofauna was recorded — eight species of fish. According to the research results, a reduction in the species composition of fish was recorded. Natural fish productivity decreased from 140 kg/ha to 90 kg/ha. Reduction of natural fish productivity and absence of thermophilic fish species in catches (white carp, white and black cupids) most likely it is connected with the modernization of the Cherepetskaya GRES. Due to the lack of industrial fishing at the Cherepetsky reservoir, the exploitation of aquatic biological resources can be called irrational.To improve and develop the water body, it is recommended to carry out reclamation measures, the introduction of herbivorous (white and black Amur) and predatory fish (pike) and their protection.
Variability of physiological and biochemical parameters of the blood of beluga females (Huso huso) in the conditions of artificial reproduction
Authors:   Volga-Caspian branch of VNIRO (CaspNIRKH), Russia, Astrakhan, Kozlova N.V. , Makarova E.G. ,   Volga-Caspian branch of VNIRO (CaspNIRKH), Russia, Astrakhan, Nikitin F.I. ,   Volga-Caspian branch of VNIRO (CaspNIRKH), Russia, Astrakhan
Published: December 2022

The results of a study and analysis of the physiological and biochemical parameters of the blood of beluga females (Huso huso) during the spawning period were presented in the article. The data were obtained in the laboratory of molecular genetics and physiology of the Volga-Caspian branch of the VNIRO (CaspNIRKH) in the period 2020–2022 during the monitoring of artificial reproduction. We studied females of the V stage of gonads maturity of natural (domesticated stocks) and artificial parameters of blood in beluga females during the spawning period was calculated using descriptive statistics based on parametric and nonparametric criteria. A comparative analysis of females of domesticated stocks and broodstocks revealed an unreliable (p > 0.05) trend of excess of the studied physiological and biochemical parameters in the blood of individuals of artificial generation, with the exception of beta-lipoproteins. The established ranges of blood components characterized the heterogeneity of the functional state of spawners at the spawning stage. There was a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between cholesterol and total lipids (r = +0.56), cholesterol and beta-lipoproteins (r = +0.74), beta-lipoproteins and total lipids (r = +0.44),hemoglobin and total serum protein (r = +0.58). The recorded dynamics testified to a unidirectional regularity in the consumption of fish biochemical components for the formation of reproductive products. The results obtained are necessary to assess the “quality” of beluga spawners in order to optimize the technologies for obtaining physiologically high-grade juveniles under conditions of artificial reproduction.
Nutrition enrichie et nutraceutiques dans l’arthrose canine : une revue systématique et une méta-analyse en 2022
Authors: Barbeau-Grégoire Maude , Cournoyer Antoine , Otis Colombe , Moreau Maxim , Lussier Bertrand , Troncy Eric
Published: December 2022

Le but de cette revue systématique et métanalyse était d’examiner les évidences d’efficacité clinique analgésique des diètes enrichies et nutraceutiques testés chez des chiens arthrosiques. À partir de quatre bases de données bibliographiques électroniques, 1096 publications ont été retracées, en plus de 20 publications provenant de sources internes. Cinquante-quatre articles ont été inclus, comprenant 69 essais et permettant d’établir 9 catégories de traitement. L’évaluation d’efficacité, modulée par le niveau de qualité des essais, établit une évidence analgésique, avec effet clinique, pour les diètes enrichies et les suppléments à base d’oméga-3, ainsi que ceux à base de cannabidiol (à moindre degré). Nos analyses démontrent aussi une faible efficacité du collagène, et un non-effet marqué des nutraceutiques à base de chondroïtine – glucosamine qui nous pousse à recommander que ces derniers produits ne soient plus conseillés pour la gestion des douleurs en arthrose canine.
Bêta-lactamases BLSE de type CTX-M
Authors: Philippon Alain , Arlet Guillaume , Iorga Bogdan I.
Published: December 2022

Dans les années 1980, la prescription des premières céphalosporines de troisième génération (C3G) en médecine humaine a provoqué la sélection de mutants ou variants de pénicillinases de type TEM ou SHV dénommées : «Bêta-Lactamases à Spectre Elargi/ Etendu » ou BLSE. Dans les années 1990 ont émergé de nouvelles enzymes ou CéfoTaXimases-München (CTX-M), transférables, inactivant les C3G, certaines étant devenues pandémiques. Elles sont maintenant retrouvées dans les trois écosystèmes (homme, animal, environnement) et leur grande diffusivité est liée à l’insertion du gène blaCTX-M (plasmide, transposon, intégron, séquence d’insertion) et à son association à d’autres gènes : des gènes de résistance par exemple aux fluoroquinolones et/ ou aminoglycosides, mais aussi des gènes de virulence. Ces phénomènes ont conduit à la notion de clone majoritaire, en particulier chez l’homme, comme Escherichia coli ST131 du groupe phylogénétique B2 et du sérotype O25b ou H4 producteur du variant CTX-M-15. Ces gènes, d’une grande diversité, retrouvés chez de nombreux animaux (volailles, bovins, ovins…, voire les coquillages et les mouches) sont issus d’entérobactéries du genre Kluyvera

dont la taxonomie et l’habitat restent à être mieux précisés.
Editorial
Authors: Harvey Laura , Naden Kristina
Published: December 2022

Welcome to the inaugural volume and first issue of Perspectives in Animal Health and Welfare. This journal was established to provide an opportunity for the publication of outputs by, and for, veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians and allied veterinary professionals. The scope of the journal is broad, with a multi-disciplinary approach – we are interested in publishing papers in the areas of animal disease, parasitology, nutrition, behaviour, anaesthesia and analgesia, breeding and reproduction, One Health, and social sciences related to the veterinary industry. In this first issue, Hannah Sadler, Laura Harvey and Lauren Prior present their research into bullying in the veterinary industry, showing that bullying is a significant concern within the sector in Aotearoa. Meanwhile, Kristie Cameron, Lewis Bizo and Nicola Starkey investigate the impact of long-term free-feeding on the bodyweight of animals in use for operant experiments.
Identifying the prevalence and implications of bullying in the Aotearoa New Zealand veterinary nursing industry
Authors: Sadler Hannah , Harvey Laura C. , Prior Lauren
Published: December 2022

Veterinary nursing, alongside other healthcare vocations, has been widely acknowledged as a high-stress occupation. Workplace stress, burnout and compassion fatigue have been described in veterinary nurses, but the prevalence of a bullying culture has not yet been formally identified in Aotearoa New Zealand. Research surrounding bullying in the human healthcare sector and amongst veterinarians exists, yet despite anecdotal evidence suggesting bullying is prevalent, Aotearoa New Zealand veterinary nurses are under-represented in the literature. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and possible implications of bullying within the Aotearoa New Zealand veterinary nursing industry. An anonymous, self-selecting survey was adapted, with permission from the authors, from an existing questionnaire previously distributed in the United Kingdom. It was disseminated online through social media and to New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) members. A total of 396 respondents met the criteria for the survey: 70.2% (n = 278) of respondents identified that they had been bullied by at least one other staff member in their clinic; 29.86% (n = 83) of those reported being bullied by a veterinarian; and 80.92% (n = 320) of respondents reported they had observed a colleague subjected to bullying within their current clinic. The high incidence of bullying identified in this study warrants further investigation, particularly as this survey was the first of its kind to be distributed in this country. Further research to understand the scope, nature and effect of bullying on Aotearoa New Zealand veterinary nurses is recommended.
THE EFFECT OF NET PROFIT, ACCOUNT PAYABLE, CASH TURNOVER AND INVENTORY TURNOVER ON OPERATIONAL CASH FLOW IN PT. MULIA
Authors: Sari Henny Permata , Harahap Sunarji , Elidawati Elidawati , Goh Thomas Sumarsan
Published: December 2022

The company's financial statements are the final result of accounting activities (accounting cycle) that reflect the financial condition and results of the company's financial operations. are outside (external) the company. Therefore, financial statements can be used as a tool to communicate with the parties with the company's financial data (The dan Sugiono, 2015). Users of financial information include: investors, employees, creditors, suppliers, governments and the general public. The company's published financial statements are an important source of information for investors and creditors to be able to analyze the work of management in making profits and cash flows in the future (Simangunsong, et al, 2018). Users of financial statements such as investors and creditors are more interested in what will happen in the future. The company's performance parameters of concern are the components of cash flow and profit. The cash flow statement is one type of financial statement that has the entity's ability to generate cash flows in the future, the cash flow statement can be used as a tool to predict the company's future cash flows.

Analysis of research data used in this study is multiple linear regression analysis model. Primary data were collected and obtained through observational interviews, documentation studies and literature studies, while secondary data were obtained from literature related to the research topic. The financial statements used as the object of research.

The results showed that Net Profit had no effect on the Operating Cash Flow of PT. Mulia, Accounts Payable has a significant effect on the Operational Cash Flow of PT. Mulia, Cash Turnover has a significant effect on the Operational Cash Flow of PT. Mulia, Inventory Turnover has no effect on the Operational Cash Flow of PT. Mulia Mulia Abadi and Net Profit, Accounts Payable, Cash Turnover and Inventory Turnover have a significant effect on the Operational Cash Flow of PT. Mulia.
THE EFFECT OF HYGIENE FACTORS AND MOTIVATING FACTORS ON ASN JOB SATISFACTION AT THE TULUNG SELAPAN DISTRICT OFFICE
Authors: Lawinsi Windi , Asmanita Asmanita
Published: December 2022

The research purpose is to test and analyze the influences of hygiene factors and motivating factors on ASN job satisfaction in the district office at Tulung Selapan. The type of data used in this study is primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through observations, interviews, and surveys using an armature. Whereas secondary data is in the form of documents, references relating to research needs, and compatibility. The object of this study is ASN in the district office of Tulung Selapan, Ogan Ilir. In this study, it was made to sample as many as 22 ASN. Data collection is carried out by survey method using sequential media in the form of a questionnaire. This research uses a descriptive research method with a quantitative approach. The analyzer uses a statistical test, the t-test, and F-test. Research results obtained are Hygiene and Motivating Factors to have a significant influence on Job Satisfaction in the district office Tulung Selapan.
THE EFFECT OF TAX PLANNING AND POLITICAL COSTS ON PROFIT MANAGEMENT WITH PROFITABILITY AS MODERATING VARIABLES
Authors: Salama Sri Nofita , Randa Fransiskus , Ng Suwandy
Published: December 2022

This study aims to investigate whether the tax planning and political cost hasan influence on earning management, and whether profitability moderates theinfluence of tax planning and political cost on earning management. The populationon this study is all the companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange on 2017-2019 period. The number of sample are 56 companies each year determined usingthe purposive sampling method. Collecting data used documentation of financialstatement from Indonesia Stock Exchange. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.The result of this study shows that tax planning has a significant and positiveimpact on earning management, in contrast, the political cost has no impact onearning management. Profitability moderates the relation of tax planning andearning management but doesn’t moderates the impact of political cost andearning management.