bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Release Potential of Microplastics from Face Masks into the Aquatic Environment
Authors: Celik Suna Ozden
Published: September 2023

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a huge number of face masks have been used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on a global scale. Unfortunately, several studies have reported the presence of used face masks in marine litter in different countries around the world. Face masks produced from synthetic polymers can increase the environmental burden and contradict sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the environmental behavior of face masks when exposed to natural environmental conditions following improper disposal. New and naturally aged surgical and FFP2 masks were exposed to deionized water (DI) and sea water conditions to understand the environmental behavior of face masks when exposed to different environmental conditions. Following natural aging and DI and sea water exposure, face masks were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compared with new masks. According to the results, the middle layers of both mask types were exposed to more severe degradation. Aging resulted in higher microplastic (MP) release than new masks in DI and seawater for both types of face masks. Compared to new ones, aging and seawater exposure caused 11 to 13 and 14 to 22 times higher MP release from surgical and FFP2 face masks, respectively. Following seawater exposure, aged FFP2 mask released higher amounts of MP (4.36–6.20 × 106) than aged surgical masks (4.03–5.45 × 106). According to the results, a significant portion of the released MPs were <10 µm for both types of masks. However, when aged FFP2 masks were exposed to seawater, a remarkable increase was found in the fraction of 10–50 µm and 50–100 µm, suggesting that aged FFP2 masks also became fragmented in seawater conditions. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed the transformation in the structure and chemical composition of the materials. A significant change was observed in chemical and physical structure of the masks after being exposed to weathering conditions in a relatively short period of time (one month).
The Mediation Effect of Media: Artvin, Reverse Migration, and Social Municipalism
Authors: Kocatepe Mehmet , Yorgancıoğlu Cemal , Sağsan Mustafa , Şeşen Harun
Published: September 2023

Throughout history, migration has had a significant impact on communities, affecting populations, countries, and abandoned or immigrated places in both positive and negative ways. In today’s world, it has become a social element with undeniably profound effects on society and individuals. This study aims to explore the impact of municipal services on migration and reverse migration in Artvin Province. Furthermore, this article aims to fill this gap by analysing the mediating role of the media and examining the relationship between social municipalism and reverse migration in Artvin. This article uses the model of deviant case analysis to explain the phenomenon of migration in the case of Artvin. A quantitative approach was adopted and conducted in the provinces (Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa, and Kocaeli) to which people from Artvin have migrated the most. A total of 700 responses were obtained. The results show that there is a positive relationship between social municipalism and migration and that the media has a mediating effect between social municipalism and migration. While traditional media influence people’s decision to migrate, social media play an important role in the reverse migration decision.
Measuring the Benefits and Barriers of the Implementation of BIM in Sustainable Practice in the Construction Industry of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alghuried Abdullah
Published: September 2023

The construction industry of Saudi Arabia has witnessed notable innovation in sustainable practices in the form of building information modeling (BIM). Previously, a few studies dealt with either the benefits and barriers of BIM or sustainability. However, there is a limitation in these studies in terms of finding out the benefits and barriers of BIM in sustainable construction projects, especially in the context of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the determinants that impact the adoption of BIM in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia. A thorough examination of the existing literature was conducted in order to identify the various factors that contribute to the benefits and barriers of BIM. The research employed a questionnaire survey of 152 building engineering professionals from Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire’s results emphasize the key factors that are essential for the implementation of sustainable BIM. Initially, barriers and benefits were prioritized according to the relative importance index (RII). In addition, the study utilized statistical methods to identify the top five barriers that were deemed most significant. The Cronbach alpha test confirmed the presence of a statistically significant level of consistency in the responses provided by stakeholders. Moreover, the Spearman correlation test demonstrated that there was no statistically significant variance among the groups in their responses. The results indicated that among the 28 benefit factors, “improving design efficiency (RII = 0.788)”, “encouraging the use of energy-efficient clean technology (RII = 0.786)”, and “promoting green building design, construction, and management” were the top three benefits from BIM implementation in sustainable construction projects. On the other hand, “recurring demand for increased resources, together with high costs (RII = 0.720)”, “absence of a well-defined method for exchanging operational management data (RII = 0.713)”, and “lack of skilled personnel (RII = 0.708)” were the top five barriers to the incorporation of BIMs in the sustainable construction industry of Saudi Arabia. This study can provide valuable guidance for policymakers in developing countries who seek to successfully complete sustainable construction projects by encouraging factors that drive BIM implementation and enhancing project performance through the utilization of the benefits of BIM.
Study on the Impact of Internet Usage, Aging on Farm Household Income
Authors: Wei Xinyan , Liu Ying , Liu Yang
Published: September 2023

Increasing farmers’ incomes and empowering rural revitalization through the digital economy are important issues of widespread concern in our society today. From the perspective of aging, this paper uses the 2016, 2018, and 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data to examine the impact of Internet usage on farm household income in the realistic context of the severe aging situation in rural areas, to explore the specific mechanisms through which aging plays a role. A further comparative analysis of the heterogeneity of Internet usage and aging effects on different sources of farm household income is performed. The study finds that Internet use by farmers increases household income, but aging diminishes the boosting effect of Internet usage on household income. By reducing off-farm employment and increasing family care, aging reduces the Internet’s boosting effect on farm household income. Among household income sources, Internet usage significantly contributes to the growth of farm household wage income. Aging dampens the growth of all income sources except transfer income. Aging enhances the boosting effect of Internet usage on the transfer income of farm households; however, it weakens its boosting effect on the wage income of farm households. Therefore, there is an urgent need to promote the construction of rural digital infrastructure, improve farmers’ digital literacy, and improve rural pension infrastructure and services, to escort the digital transformation of agriculture and rural areas and the common prosperity of farmers.
Unveiling the Soaring Trend of Fashion Rental Services: A U.S. Consumer Perspective
Authors: Chi Ting , Gonzalez Victoria , Janke Justin , Phan Mya , Wojdyla Weronika
Published: September 2023

Fashion rental services have become increasingly popular due to their provision of sustainable and environmentally friendly ways of consuming fashion products. This research aimed to investigate the effects of various stimuli offered by these services, such as product variety, information quality, style conformity, and service quality, on consumer internal states (perceived performance risk, perceived financial risk, perceived social risk, perceived utilitarian value, and perceived hedonic value) and consequently their external responses (purchase intention and word of mouth). The SOR (stimulus—organism–response) model was applied, with consumer knowledge acting as a moderating variable between the stimuli and organism constructs. To examine and analyze the proposed hypotheses, an online survey was administered, resulting in 379 eligible survey responses. The findings reveal that stimuli offered by fashion rental services (product variety, information quality, style conformity, and service quality) show more significant impact on consumer perceived utilitarian value and hedonic value than perceived performance risk, financial risk, and social risk. Consequently, consumer perceived utilitarian value and hedonic value play a more influential role than perceived risks in forming the positive behavioral responses (use intention and word of mouth). No demographic variables were found to have any significant impact on the purchase intentions or word of mouth regarding fashion rental services. The proposed model shows a high explanatory power, collectively accounting for 60.1% of variance in U.S. consumers’ intention to use fashion rental services and 63.5% of variance in U.S. consumers’ WOM on fashion rental services.
Open Access to Data about Silk Heritage: A Case Study in Digital Information Sustainability
Authors: Sebastián Lozano Jorge , Alba Pagán Ester , Martínez Roig Eliseo , Gaitán Salvatella Mar , León Muñoz Arabella , Sevilla Peris Javier , Vernus Pierre , Puren Marie , Rei Luis , Mladenič Dunja
Published: September 2023

This article builds on work conducted and lessons learned within SILKNOW, a research project that aimed at enhancing the preservation and digital dissemination of silk heritage. Taking the project and this heritage typology as a case study in the digital transformation of cultural heritage institutions, it illustrates specific challenges that these institutions must face and demonstrates a few innovative answers to meet those challenges. The methodology combines approaches typical of the humanities and others usual in ICT, being inductive regarding materials and methods (consisting of a detailed review of existing online repositories and research projects devoted to textile heritage) and descriptive for the results and discussion (which explain at length the development of some tools and resources that responded to the needs detected in the previous analysis). The article reports on the state of the art and recent developments in the field of textile heritage, the tools implemented to allow the semantic access and text analysis of descriptive records associated with silk fabrics, and the spatiotemporal visualization of that information. Finally, it argues that institutional policies, namely the creation and free dissemination of open data related to cultural heritage are just as important as technical developments, showing why any future effort in these areas should take data sustainability, both in its technical and in institutional aspects, into account, since it is the most responsible and reasonable approach in terms of efficient resource allocation.
Enhancing Carbon Emission Efficiency through the Integration of “Two Industries”: A Measurement Based on an Evaluation Index System
Authors: Bin Hou , Liu Fei , Zheng Yanling , Yao Qiuru , Zhang Yun
Published: September 2023

The rapid development of China’s manufacturing industry has brought about environmental problems that have aroused people’s attention to improving carbon emission efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. In this paper, 13 prefecture-level cities in Hunan Province from 2010 to 2020 were selected as research samples, and the coupling coordination degree model and super-efficiency slacks-based measure (SBM) model were used to calculate the level of integration of “two industries” (manufacturing and producer services, short for “TI”) and the efficiency of carbon emissions. Then, hypotheses are established: The integration of TI can promote the improvement of carbon emission efficiency; The integration of TI promotes technological innovation; Technological innovation can promote carbon emission efficiency; Technological innovation is an intermediary in integrating TI affecting carbon emission efficiency. By using the fixed effect model and the mediation effect test method, we empirically analyze the influence of the integration of TI on carbon emission efficiency and the mediating role of technological innovation in this process. The conclusions are as follows: the integration of TI has a significant promoting effect on carbon emission efficiency; The integration of TI improves carbon emission efficiency by promoting technological innovation, and technological innovation bears part of the intermediary effect in the process of the impact of the integration of TI on carbon emission efficiency. The policy implications for improving carbon emission efficiency are proposed based on the research results.
Comparison of Biomarkers of Exposure in a Controlled Study of Smokers Switched from Conventional Cigarettes to Heated Tobacco Products
Authors: Li Xiaonan , Wang Xuan , Cui Peicai , Liu Guangchao , Zhang Hui , Gao Yihan , Kai Zhenpeng
Published: September 2023

The heated tobacco product (HTP) heats rather than burns tobacco to release an aerosol with significantly fewer toxicants than conventional cigarette smoke and has received global attention in recent years. To investigate whether changes in biomarkers of exposure could be detected after switching from conventional cigarettes (CCs) to HTPs, 224 subjects from four cities in China participated in this study. Nine biomarkers containing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the biomarkers for acrolein and crotonaldehyde were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The levels of the sum of nine biomarkers in CCs were 5.4 and 5.2 times higher than in an Original-HTP and Menthol-HTP, respectively. Among the nine biomarkers, 3HPMA and 3HMPMA accounted for the highest proportions. Switching from CCs to HTPs is good for both men and women because the changes in each biomarker in urine samples were the same in men and women. Among all the subjects, subjects aged 20–39 years had the greatest reduction in biomarker residues in urine. The findings of the present study provided useful information for the health risk research of HTPs in China.
Characterization of the Hemolytic Activity of Mastoparan Family Peptides from Wasp Venoms
Authors: Ye Xiangdong , Zhang Huajun , Luo Xudong , Huang Fengyin , Sun Fang , Zhou Liangbin , Qin Chenhu , Ding Li , Zhou Haimei , Liu Xin , Chen Zongyun
Published: September 2023

Biologically active peptides have attracted increasing attention in research on the development of new drugs. Mastoparans, a group of wasp venom linear cationic α-helical peptides, have a variety of biological effects, including mast cell degranulation, activation of protein G, and antimicrobial and anticancer activities. However, the potential hemolytic activity of cationic α-helical peptides greatly limits the clinical applications of mastoparans. Here, we systematically and comprehensively studied the hemolytic activity of mastoparans based on our wasp venom mastoparan family peptide library. The results showed that among 55 mastoparans, 18 had strong hemolytic activity (EC50 ≤ 100 μM), 14 had modest hemolytic activity (100 μM < EC50 ≤ 400 μM) and 23 had little hemolytic activity (EC50 > 400 μM), suggesting functional variation in the molecular diversity of mastoparan family peptides from wasp venom. Based on these data, structure–function relationships were further explored, and, hydrophobicity, but not net charge and amphiphilicity, was found to play a critical role in the hemolytic activity of mastoparans. Combining the reported antimicrobial activity with the present hemolytic activity data, we found that four mastoparan peptides, Parapolybia-MP, Mastoparan-like peptide 12b, Dominulin A and Dominulin B, have promise for applications because of their high antimicrobial activity (MIC ≤ 10 μM) and low hemolytic activity (EC50 ≥ 400 μM). Our research not only identified new leads for the antimicrobial application of mastoparans but also provided a large chemical space to support the molecular design and optimization of mastoparan family peptides with low hemolytic activity regardless of net charge or amphiphilicity.
Space–Time Structure of Particle Emission and Femtoscopy Scales in Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions
Authors: Sinyukov Yuri , Shapoval Volodymyr , Adzhymambetov Musfer
Published: September 2023

The analysis of the spatiotemporal picture of particle radiation in relativistic heavy-ion collisions in terms of correlation femtoscopy scales, emission, and source functions allows one to probe the character of the evolution of the system created in the collision. Realistic models, such as the integrated hydrokinetic model (iHKM), used in the present work, are able to simulate the entire evolution process of strongly interacting matter produced in high-energy nuclear collisions. The mentioned model describes all the stages of the system’s evolution, including thermalisation and hydrodynamisation, which can help researchers figure out the specific details of the process and better understand the formation mechanisms of certain observables. In the current paper, we investigated the behaviour of the pion and kaon interferometry radii and their connection with emission functions in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider within iHKM. We focused on the study of the emission time scales at different energies for both particle species (pions and kaons) aiming to gain deeper insight into relation of these scales and the peculiarities of the mentioned system’s collective expansion and decay with the experimentally observed femtoscopy radii. One of our main interests was the problem of the total system’s lifetime estimation based on the femtoscopy analysis.
CovidShiny: An Integrated Web Tool for SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Profiling and Molecular Diagnosis Assay Evaluation In Silico
Authors: Ma Shaoqian , Xiao Gezhi , Deng Xusheng , Tong Mengsha , Huang Jialiang , Li Qingge , Zhang Yongyou
Published: September 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still ongoing, with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continuing to evolve and accumulate mutations. While various bioinformatics tools have been developed for SARS-CoV-2, a well-curated mutation-tracking database integrated with in silico evaluation for molecular diagnostic assays is currently unavailable. To address this, we introduce CovidShiny, a web tool that integrates mutation profiling, in silico evaluation, and data download capabilities for genomic sequence-based SARS-CoV-2 assays and data download. It offers a feasible framework for surveilling the mutation of SARS-CoV-2 and evaluating the coverage of the molecular diagnostic assay for SARS-CoV-2. With CovidShiny, we examined the dynamic mutation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated the coverage of commonly used assays on a large scale. Based on our in silico analysis, we stress the importance of using multiple target molecular diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 to avoid potential false-negative results caused by viral mutations. Overall, CovidShiny is a valuable tool for SARS-CoV-2 mutation surveillance and in silico assay design and evaluation.
Successful SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Program in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients—A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis
Authors: Nikoloudis Alexander , Neumann Ines Julia , Buxhofer-Ausch Veronika , Machherndl-Spandl Sigrid , Binder Michaela , Kaynak Emine , Milanov Robert , Nocker Stefanie , Stiefel Olga , Strassl Irene , Wipplinger Dagmar , Moyses Margarete , Kerschner Heidrun , Apfalter Petra , Girschikofsky Michael , Petzer Andreas , Weltermann Ansgar , Clausen Johannes
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective but show varied efficacy in immunocompromised patients, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. (2) Methods: A retrospective study on 167 HSCT recipients assessed humoral response to two mRNA vaccine doses, using the manufacturer cut-off of ≥7.1 BAU/mL, and examined factors affecting non-response. (3) Results: Twenty-two percent of HSCT recipients failed humoral response. Non-responders received the first vaccine a median of 10.2 (2.5–88.9) months post-HSCT versus 35.3 (3.0–215.0) months for responders (p < 0.001). Higher CD19 (B cell) counts favored vaccination response (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.3 per 100 B-cells/microliters, p < 0.001), while ongoing mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) immunosuppression hindered it (aOR 0.04, p < 0.001). By multivariable analysis, the time from transplant to first vaccine did not remain a significant risk factor. A total of 92% of non-responders received a third mRNA dose, achieving additional 77% seroconversion. Non-converters mostly received a fourth dose, with an additional 50% success. Overall, a cumulative seroconversion rate of 93% was achieved after up to four doses. (4) Conclusion: mRNA vaccines are promising for HSCT recipients as early as 3 months post-HSCT. A majority seroconverted after four doses. MMF usage and low B cell counts are risk factors for non-response.
Source Discrimination of Mine Water by Applying the Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP) Method—A Case Study in the Pingdingshan Coalfield
Authors: Wang Man , Zhang Jianguo , Wang Xinyi , Zhang Bo , Yang Zhenwei
Published: September 2023

In a complex multiaquifer mine, discriminant approaches that have previously been presented cannot successfully locate water sources. With multiple processing layers, computing models may learn representations of data at various levels of abstraction. Modern technology in many domains has significantly enhanced these models. The problem of distinguishing the source of mine water in mines and tunnels has been addressed by studying the hydrochemical components of the Pingdingshan coalfield and applying the multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP) method to discriminate the source of the mine water. There were five types of mine water in the Pingdingshan coalfield. Each type of water was encoded with the numbers 0 to 4. The one-hot code method was used to encode the numbers, which is the output set. On the basis of hydrochemical data processing, the MLP model was developed using a characteristic ion contrast on aquifers with distinctive chemical properties. The research results show that two hidden layers (with 10 neurons in each hidden layer) for the model were fit for completing the prediction process with a better performance. This approach enabled us to discriminate water sources for the Pingdingshan coalfield and could be tried for other coalfields with similar hydrogeological conditions.
Provenance and Pollution Status of River Sediments in the Danube Watershed in Serbia
Authors: Kašanin-Grubin Milica , Gajić Violeta , Veselinović Gorica , Stojadinović Sanja , Antić Nevena , Štrbac Snežana
Published: September 2023

Heavy metals as environmental pollutants can have natural or anthropogenic origin. To determine the river sediment pollution status, it is crucial to have appropriate reference samples, free of anthropogenic impact, and natural reference samples should be used wherever and whenever possible. The collection of reference samples should be performed in the vicinity of the research area in a place that belongs to the same geological environment and is undisturbed by human activity. The main purpose of this study was to compare concentrations of heavy metals from different rivers with background values to show that the usage of natural background values is the best option when assessing pollution status, but also to underline that the natural background values have to correspond to the analyzed sediments. In this study, 5 river sediments from Sava, 17 from Great War Island (GWI), 11 from Danube, 24 from Tisa, 47 from Tamiš, and 11 from Timok were evaluated relative to reference samples from the Sava and Tisa Rivers. The results indicate that geological origin has a strong influence on the content of heavy metals in river sediments, primarily regarding concentrations of Ni and Co. Furthermore, Tamiš, Tisa, Sava, and Danube sediments are under strong anthropogenic influence.
Drought Forecasting Using Integrated Variational Mode Decomposition and Extreme Gradient Boosting
Authors: Ekmekcioğlu Ömer
Published: September 2023

The current study seeks to conduct time series forecasting of droughts by means of the state-of-the-art XGBoost algorithm. To explore the drought variability in one of the semi-arid regions of Turkey, i.e., Denizli, the self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI) values were used and projections were made for different horizons, including short-term (1-month: t + 1), mid-term (3-months: t + 3 and 6-months: t + 6), and long-term (12-months: t + 12) periods. The original sc-PDSI time series was subjected to the partial autocorrelation function to identify the input configurations and, accordingly, one- (t − 1) and two-month (t − 2) lags were used to perform the forecast of the targeted outcomes. This research further incorporated the recently introduced variational mode decomposition (VMD) for signal processing into the predictive model to enhance the accuracy. The proposed model was not only benchmarked with the standalone XGBoost but also with the model generated by its hybridization with the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). The overall results revealed that the VMD-XGBoost model outperformed its counterparts in all lead-time forecasts with NSE values of 0.9778, 0.9405, 0.8476, and 0.6681 for t + 1, t + 3, t + 6, and t + 12, respectively. Transparency of the proposed hybrid model was further ensured by the Mann–Whitney U test, highlighting the results as statistically significant.
Optimization of Cascade Reservoir Operation for Power Generation, Based on an Improved Lightning Search Algorithm
Authors: Tao Yitao , Mo Li , Yang Yuqi , Liu Zixuan , Liu Yixuan , Liu Tong
Published: September 2023

Cascade reservoir operation can ensure the optimal use of water and hydro-energy resources and improve the overall efficiency of hydropower stations. A large number of studies have used meta-heuristic algorithms to optimize reservoir operation, but there are still problems such as the inability to find a global optimal solution and slow convergence speed. Lightning search algorithm (LSA) is a new meta-heuristic algorithm, which has the advantages such as high convergence speed and few parameters to be adjusted. However, there is no study on the application of LSA in reservoir operation. In this paper, LSA is used to solve the problem of reservoir operation optimization to verify its feasibility. We also propose an improved LSA algorithm, the frog-leaping–particle swarm optimization–LSA (FPLSA), which was improved by using multiple strategies, and we address the shortcomings of LSA such as low solution accuracy and the tendency to fall into local optima. After preliminary verification of ten test functions, the effect is significantly enhanced. Using the lower Jinsha River–Three Gorges cascade reservoirs as an example, the calculation is carried out and compared with other algorithms. The results show that the FPLSA performed better than the other algorithms in all of the indices measured which means it has stronger optimization ability. Under the premise of satisfying the constraints of cascade reservoirs, an approximate optimal solution could be found to provide an effective output strategy for cascade reservoir scheduling.
Extração assistida por banho ultrassônico de óleo de sementes de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) utilizando etanol como solvente
Authors: Kugler Lucas Vinícius , Penteado Maria Eliana , Bençal Geslia Thaise , Leite Priscilla dos Santos Gaschi , Watanabe Erica Roberta Lovo da Rocha
Published: September 2023

A extração sólido-líquido é um dos processos mais eficientes na obtenção de óleos, principalmente em relação ao rendimento se comparada à prensagem a frio. Solventes verdes, como o etanol, apresentam-se como uma alternativa aos solventes orgânicos derivados do petróleo, já que sua origem é vegetal, oferecendo menores riscos ao meio ambiente e também à saúde humana, além de reduzir o custo do processo. Contudo, o etanol possui uma baixa afinidade química com a fração lipídica dos óleos, reduzindo o rendimento e aumentando o tempo de extração. Para avaliar o processo, foram realizadas extrações do óleo da semente de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) em banho ultrassônico utilizando-se do planejamento experimental do tipo estrela, com as variáveis independentes de tempo e proporção solvente/amostra em massa e como variável dependente o teor de óleo obtido. O intervalo de tempo foi de 30 min a 90 min e a proporção solvente/amostra entre 3:1 e 5:1. Ao final deste trabalho, foi possível concluir que as variáveis analisadas impactam no rendimento da extração de forma linear e não possuem interdependência. Assim, construiu-se um modelo empírico para processo no intervalo de 95% de confiança com as variáveis codificadas.
Investigation of Defects Occurring in the Casting Shop Process of Ceramic Sanitaryware on the Final Product
Authors: DERİN COŞKUN Nihal , ÇAŞIN Eray , IŞIK Cumhur Eren
Published: September 2023

When the export values of ceramic sanitaryware in Türkiye are analyzed, it is seen that the data for the year 2022 of ~660 million dollars continues to increase. In the sector, which reaches an annual average increase of 100 million dollars, the amount of production as well as the design demands change and shape the market. The most important difficulty factors in design are due to the fact that the products in the sector have large sizes, complex shapes and the most human-made production stages. When these factors are compared with other ceramic sectors, it is revealed that although industrialization has increased in the production of ceramic sanitaryware, the lack of production amount and the excess of faults are among the biggest problems. Glaze faults are the leading faults observed in the final product, and since this problem is not recyclable, it harms the ceramic sanitaryware industry in terms of cost. In this study, the glaze faults reflected in the final glazed products originating from the casting shop stage, which attracts attention in this field due to its large size and whiteness and there is not much data for the vitreous ware industry in the literature, have been studied. In the study, which was carried out with the aim of detecting and eliminating some faults in industrial production and creating data for the literature, faults arising from mechanical evenings used in classical and pressure casting benches and material residues used in retouching processes were determined. These faults were produced on the basis of the laboratory and the characterization of the glazed faulty products was made. It is concluded that production losses can be reduced by eliminating these problems, consequently increasing quality and productivity.
Daylight Analysis in Terms of Building Direction and One-Way Roof
Authors: CENGIZ Mehmet Sait
Published: September 2023

The location of the buildings in the residential area is very important in protecting or benefiting from sunlight. The dynamic structure of the sun, which constantly changes according to time and seasons, directly affects the building's architecture and urban formation. Ignoring the sun's use of the structures during the construction of the buildings can cause significant disturbances to the residents. Daylight strategies, which are also influenced by climate, depend on the availability of natural light, determined by the latitude of the building site and the instantaneous conditions around the building. High latitudes have different summer and winter conditions, with lower daylight levels in winter. At these latitudes, designers often aim to maximize daylight penetration in buildings. In the tropics, where daylight levels are high throughout the year, the design emphasis is often on preventing overheating by limiting the amount of sunlight entering the building. Daylight availability depends not only on latitude, but also on the orientation of a building, and each facade and material of the building requires a different design importance. Therefore, daylight and architectural design strategies are two inseparable phenomena. In this respect, examining traditional architecture and successful natural lighting designs in the past is very useful for understanding climate-balanced building design. For this purpose, determining the roof slope according to the sun angle in architectural structures by calculating according to the location provides efficiency in many issues from energy efficiency to human health.
Biodiversity of Actinobacteria Isolated from Marmara and Avşa Islands in Türkiye
Authors: TOPKARA Ahmet Rıdvan , IŞIK Kamil
Published: September 2023

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the microbial diversity of Actinobacteria, living in soils in the “Marmara” and “Avşa” Islands and to identify species at genus level based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. These islands are located in the southwest of the Sea of Marmara and in the literature review, no Actinobacteria biodiversity studies related to Marmara and Avşa Islands were found. Such unexplored ecological habitats are potentially rich source for discovery sources of novel species and bioactive molecule. Actinobacteria play an important role in many natural phenomena such as nitrogen fixation, roles of these prokaryotic microorganisms. In this article, we focused on the presence and the diversity of Actinobacteria on the Islands by examining multiple sampling sites and using different selective isolation media. A total of 400 culturable Actinobacteria were isolated using ten different isolation media by dilution-plating method. Among the 400 isolates, 112 isolates were selected according to their morphology in different culture media. The isolates were characterized on the basis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The results showed a high level of actinobacterial diversity with 16 different genera. These genera obtained as a result of phylogenetic analyzes are Streptomyces, Nonomuraea, Nocardia, Actinomadura, Micromonospora, Kribbella, Mycolicibacterium, Microbispora, Saccharopolyspora, Jiangella, Rhodococcus, Actinopolymorpha, Geodermatophilus, Dactylosporangium, Pseudonocardia and Nocardioides. Many isolates are identified as new species by our current research. Findings from this study showed that the soil of Marmara and Avşa Islands can be a good source of isolation for Actinobacteria.
Weapons Proliferation, International Security and the Future of the Global System
Authors: Osuwa Abdullahi Abdullazeez , Akinrinde Olawale
Published: September 2023

Today, the world faces countless difficulties, but none of them is more threatening than the unfiltered and unguarded spread of illicit weapons across the international system. While among threats to international security one can mention poverty, terror, xenophobia, food insecurity, war, and climate change, a far more lethal challenge, which has the destructive capacity to erase the history of all the peoples from the surface of the planet, is currently unfolding. With tens of thousands of people being killed or wounded daily, it has become imperative to interrogate the politics behind the endless abuse, misuse, and illicit proliferation of lethal weapons in the global system and its implications for global security given the scant academic at-tention it has received in recent time. Relying on archival and other non-quantitative data, this study examines the implications of the continued illicit proliferation of weapons for international peace and security. The re-sults reveal that the failures of state actors to address the problem of illicit weapons proliferation have grave implications not only for global peace and security but also for the future. State actors must assume a critical role in minimizing the illicit proliferation of weapons if the future of the global system is to be secure.
Aspekty bezpieczeństwa i higieny pracy w przedsiębiorstwie zajmującym się produkcją i dystrybucją przewodów poliamidowych
Authors: Klimkowski Grzegorz , Noga Henryk , Garbarz-Glos Barbara Beata
Published: September 2023

Artykuł przedstawia procedury bezpieczeństwa i higieny pracy obowiązujące w przedsiębiorstwie zajmującym się produkcją przewodów poliamidowych, prowadzącego działalność biznesową w sposób zapewniający wysoki poziom bezpieczeństwa pracy. W artykule skupiono się na regulacjach i aktach prawnych określających podstawowe obowiązki zarówno pracodawcy, jak i pracownika w zakresie BHP, umożliwiających likwidację lub ograniczenie oddziaływania czynników niebezpiecznych, szkodliwych i uciążliwych dla pracownika. Poddano analizie stanowiska pracy szczególnie narażone na występowanie zdarzeń w związku z pracą, wywołanych przyczyną zewnętrzną. Przedstawiono zapobiegawcze metody minimalizowania zagrożeń na stanowisku pracy, wskazano na szczególną rolę i zaangażowanie pracodawcy w zwiększanie świadomości związanej z zagrożeniami, wypadkami, urazami i chorobami zawodowymi oraz współudział pracowników w tym procesie.
Charakterystyka bezpieczeństwa religijnego w Republice Słowackiej
Authors: Mrozek Jacek
Published: September 2023

Bezpieczeństwo religijne polega na zapewnieniu wolności wyznania, praktyk religijnych oraz ochrony przed wszelkimi formami dyskryminacji, przemocy czy prześladowań związanych z przekonaniami religijnymi. Pojęcie bezpieczeństwa religijnego obejmuje również ochronę miejsc kultu, budynków religijnych oraz innych zasobów związanych z praktykami religijnymi. Bezpieczeństwo religijne wywiera wpływ na ogólne bezpieczeństwo publiczne, ponieważ akty przemocy i dyskryminacji wobec wspólnot religijnych (ale też akty przemocy dokonywane przez grupy wyznaniowe) mogą mieć negatywne skutki społeczne i polityczne.Bezpieczeństwo religijne w Republice Słowackiej jest regulowane przez odpowiednie przepisy prawne i konstytucyjne gwarancje. System bezpieczeństwa religijnego na Słowacji ma swoje mocne strony, takie jak ochrona wolności religijnej, ale również ograniczenia, które mogą być krzywdzące dla niektórych grup wyznaniowych.
Peran Moderasi Sumber Daya Kerja pada Hubungan Antara Stres Digital dengan Burnout
Authors: Puspita Debora Dwi , Zamralita
Published: September 2023

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the work system changed to work from home. The existence of a new system has an impact on the way the work system. One of the impacts of work from home is excessive use of technology of work. Excessive use of technology has an impact on employees such as digital stress and over work. Digital stress experienced by employees can cause fatigue both physically and psychologically. Emotional exhaustion experienced by employees can cause burnout. There are three variables in this study, namely digital stress, burnout, and job resources. This study aims to see the effect of digital stress burnout on the moderation of job resources. This research uses quantitative methods, there are 102 participants in this research. This research uses convenience sampling. The measuring tools of this research are the digital stress scale, burnout assessment tools, and the job demands–resources questionnaire. The result of this study is that the level of digital stress (M=2,89) and burnout (M=2,10) are classified as low, and the level of job resources (M=4,03) is high. It was found that there is a significant correlation between digital stress with burnout, job resource with digital stress and burnout with job resources. Digital stress has correlation with burnout (r=0,509), digital stress has correlation with job resources (r=-0,265) and job resources has correlation with burnout (r=-0,388). In this study, job resources can't moderate digital stress to burnout.
El equilibrio de amenaza neorrealista
Authors: Mendoza Matías
Published: September 2023

El propósito de este trabajo es analizar la razón por la cual la República Popular de China inició un reacercamiento y reestableció relaciones con los Estados Unidos hacia principios de la década de los ’70, en el marco de una ruptura previa con la URSS. Para ello, haremos uso del concepto analítico de Equilibrio de amenaza.
Macroeconomics and its study (podcast)
Authors: Sánchez-Rivas García Javier , Pablo-Romero Gil-Delgado María del Pópulo , Sánchez del Cubo Francisco
Published: September 2023

Explicación del campo de estudio de la Macroeconomía en inglés adaptado las disfunciones visuales del alumnado.

Dentro de las tecnologías multimedia, el uso de audios (como material de enseñanza) ha atraído la atención de los docentes debido a sus beneficios para el aprendizaje, tanto en términos de atención como de motivación de los estudiantes (Almobarraz, 2018; Brecht, 2012; Orús et al., 2016; entre otros). Entre los beneficios del aprendizaje, la literatura existente resalta los siguientes: 1) permite un proceso de aprendizaje más flexible temporal y espacial; 2) representa un ahorro en costes y tiempo tanto para los estudiantes como para las instituciones educativas; 3) mejora la autonomía del estudiante en el proceso de aprendizaje; y 4) promueve el aprendizaje colaborativo y bajo demanda.

Actualmente se está realizando un testeo con el alumnado con disfunciones visuales de la Asignatura de Economía II del Grado de Turismo que culminará con una comparativa de las notas en el curso anterior a la puesta a disposición del mismo del material preparado. Se espera que las calificaciones sean superiores con el uso de esta locución.
Investment, the goods market and the is curve (podcast)
Authors: Sánchez-Rivas García Javier , Pablo-Romero Gil-Delgado María del Pópulo , Sánchez del Cubo Francisco
Published: September 2023

Explicación macroeconómica del modelo de inversión, el mercado de bienes y la Curva IS en inglés adaptado las disfunciones visuales del alumnado.

Dentro de las tecnologías multimedia, el uso de audios (como material de enseñanza) ha atraído la atención de los docentes debido a sus beneficios para el aprendizaje, tanto en términos de atención como de motivación de los estudiantes (Almobarraz, 2018; Brecht, 2012; Orús et al., 2016; entre otros). Entre los beneficios del aprendizaje, la literatura existente resalta los siguientes: 1) permite un proceso de aprendizaje más flexible temporal y espacial; 2) representa un ahorro en costes y tiempo tanto para los estudiantes como para las instituciones educativas; 3) mejora la autonomía del estudiante en el proceso de aprendizaje; y 4) promueve el aprendizaje colaborativo y bajo demanda.

Actualmente se está realizando un testeo con el alumnado con disfunciones visuales de la Asignatura de Economía II del Grado de Turismo que culminará con una comparativa de las notas en el curso anterior a la puesta a disposición del mismo del material preparado. Se espera que las calificaciones sean superiores con el uso de esta locución.
Estudio bromatológico del maíz argentino
Authors:   , Schvartz Gabriel
Published: September 2023

- Origen de la planta - Descripción de la misma - Elección de las muestras e identificación - Determinación de la composición química del maíz argentino - Estudio de las proteínas - Estudio de los hidratos de carbono - Cenizas - Comparación de resultados: maíces argentinos y extranjeros
Filling gaps in legislation to determine the amount of a judicial fine
Authors: Anoschenkova Svetlana
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Introduction. Judicial fine is one of the latest innovations included by the legislator in Section VI of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation «Other Measures of Criminal Legal Nature». During the five years of its operation, the institution of the judicial fine, as part of the institution of exemption from criminal liability under Article 762 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, has demonstrated its viability; legal practice has shown the ever-increasing demand for this institution. One of the practical challenges is determining the amount of the judicial fine. Part of the reasons of this challenge include 1) the absence of a minimum threshold for the judicial fine in the criminal law; and 2) the unresolved issues of exemption from criminal liability with the imposition of a judicial fine on individuals who have committed a crime when they were minors. In this article, proposals are formulated for the legislator aimed at addressing this issue.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the normsof criminal, criminal procedure and penal legislation,as well as judicial practice review, with the goal of formulating proposals for determining the minimum threshold of judicial fines and calculation methods for judicial fines, including those for individuals exempt from criminal liability for crimes committed in their minor age.

Methods. In this work, both general scientific and specific scientific research methods have been utilised. Through the comparative legal method of research, the ways of calculating the amount of penalties in foreign and domestic criminal legislation were studied. The survey method made it possible to identify the opinions of scientists and practitioners regarding the issues of determining the amount of a judicial fines and methods of its calculation.

The results of the research and the rationale for novelty. The results obtained from the research have enabled the author to formulate proposals for amending the norms of the criminal law (Article 1045 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), which determine the amount and procedure for calculating judicial fines as a measure of criminal law nature. These proposals draw attention of practitioners to the provisions of the current criminal legislation, which requires taking into consideration a range of factors when imposing this criminal law measure.
Anthropological risks of digital support absolutisation of the educational process: concept and classification
Authors: Yarmak Kirill
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Introduction. The relevance of the research is determined by the world tendency of widespread introduction of digital means and technologies in all spheres of human activity. The use of digital support of the educational process is aimed at increasing the level of accessibility of the education, but the absolutisation of digital support can lead to negative consequences.

The authors assume that the development of a general classification system of anthropological risks of digital support absolutisation will help to exclude or minimise their consequences when organising the educational process.

The aim of the research is to build a classification structure of the discussed pedagogical categories. In achieving this goal, the authors formulated such tasks as reviewing the terminological apparatus in the field of digital support of education, identifying criteria sufficient for attributing risks to a certain type, and dividing anthropological risks into certain classes according to their characteristics or features.

Methods. General theoretical methods were used in the present research: analysis, synthesis, comparison, induction, deduction, abstraction, generalisation, concretisation, modelling.

Results. According to the results of the research, a number of key definitions within the specified issue were formulated. The general classification system of anthropological risks of digital support absolutisation of the educational process is developed. The conclusion is made concerning the need for further research in this area of study, as well as the development of the required competences of all subjects of the educational process to avoid absolutisation of digital support.