bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric Orthogonal Metasurfaces Governed by Toroidal Dipole Bound States in the Continuum
Authors: Ji Jun , Lv Xiaolong , Li Chuanfei , Yang Xiaoyuan , Guo Yunsheng
Published: October 2023

An all-dielectric metasurface composed of orthogonal-slit silicon disks is proposed in this study. By modifying the unit structure of the metasurface with the bound states in the continuum (BICs), a sharp Fano resonance can be generated. The resonance properties of the metasurface are investigated by analyzing the effects of the structural parameters on the resonance using the eigenmode analysis method. The Q factor and the resonance wavelength can be adjusted by varying the slit width, the disk thickness, and the disk radius. The electromagnetic characteristics and mechanism of the toroidal dipole BICs (TD-BICs) are explored in depth through an analysis of the multipole expansion of the scattered power, along with the electromagnetic field and the current distribution at resonance. This research provides a novel approach for the excitation of strong TD-BIC resonance and proposes potential applications in optical switches, high-sensitivity optical sensors, and related areas.
Approaches to Control Crazing Deformation of PHA-Based Biopolymeric Blends
Authors: Hosseinnezhad Ramin , Elumalai Dhanumalayan , Vozniak Iurii
Published: October 2023

The mechanical behavior of polymer materials is heavily influenced by a phenomenon known as crazing. Crazing is a precursor to damage and leads to the formation of cracks as it grows in both thickness and tip size. The current research employs an in situ SEM method to investigate the initiation and progression of crazing in all-biopolymeric blends based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). To this end, two chemically different grades of PHA, namely poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV), were melt-blended with polybutyrate adipate terephthalate (PBAT). The obtained morphologies of blends, the droplet/fibrillar matrix, were highly influenced by the plasticity of the matrices as well as the content of the minor phase. Increasing the concentration of PBAT from 15 to 30 wt.% resulted in the brittle to ductile transition. It changed the mechanism of plastic deformation from single craze-cracking to homogeneous and heterogeneous intensified crazing for PHB and PHBHV matrices, respectively. Homogeneous tensile crazes formed perpendicularly to the draw direction at the initial stages of deformation, transformed into shear crazes characterized by oblique edge propagation for the PHBHV/PBAT blend. Such angled crazes suggested that the displacement might be caused by shear localized deformation. The crazes’ strength and the time to failure increased with the minor phase fibers. These fibers, aligned with the tensile direction and spanning the width of the crazes, were in the order of a few micrometers in diameter depending on the concentration. The network of fibrillar PBAT provided additional integrity for larger plastic deformation values. This study elucidates the mechanism of crazing in PHA blends and provides strategies for controlling it.
True Triaxial Test and Research into Bolting Support Compensation Stresses for Coal Roadways at Different Depths
Authors: Yang Jianwei , Lin Jian , Jiang Pengfei
Published: October 2023

During the excavation and support construction process used in coal mine roadways, the stress path is the unloading of in situ stress and the compensation of support stress. The 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm coal mass samples were obtained in situ underground and prepared, the true triaxial loading–unloading–confining pressure restoring test method was used, and the mechanical response and deformation failure evolution characteristics of the coal seam during the excavation and support process of the shallow, medium depth, and deep coal roadways in the coal mine were simulated and studied. Based on the distribution law of the bolt and cable support stress field, the support compensation stress required for the stability of the surrounding rock after the excavation of the coal roadway with different burial depths was determined, and the corresponding roadways’ surrounding rock control technologies were proposed. This study’s results indicate that the compensation stress required for support in shallow coal roadways (with a burial depth of about 200 m) was much less than 0.1 MPa. A single rock bolt support can keep the surrounding rock of the roadway stable; the compensation stress required for support in the medium buried coal roadway (with a depth of about 600 m) is around 0.1 MPa, and the combined support of rock bolts and cables can meet the support requirements. Deep coal roadways under high stress (with a depth of about 1000 m) require support to provide compensation stress. Even if the compensation stress reaches 0.2 MPa, the surrounding rock of the roadway will experience varying degrees of creep. In this study, it was necessary to increase the support density and surface area of rock bolts and cables, the pre-tension forces of rock bolts and cables were improved, and in synergy with grouting modification, destressing and other technologies could control the large deformation of the surrounding rock of the roadway in 1000 m deep coal mines. This study’s results provide a theoretical basis for the selection of control technologies for use in coal roadways at different depths.
Photodynamic Inactivation of Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens and Their Biofilms
Authors: Mušković Martina , Gobin Ivana , Malatesti Nela
Published: October 2023

Opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) form a group of microorganisms that normally live in water supply systems and have adapted especially well to the conditions in premise plumbing systems, and as such pose a threat to human health. Since the beginning of the 21st century, this threat has been escalating, and it is becoming increasingly evident that current water disinfection methods fall short in effectively controlling these pathogens. In researching new approaches to this emergency, phototherapy looks promising, especially one that combines photosensitizers, light, and oxygen, which is known as photodynamic inactivation (PDI). This review describes the main characteristics of the recognized (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, and Mycobacterium avium) and most important emerging OPPPs, and it offers a brief overview of current disinfection methods and their limitations in the fight against OPPPs. The principle and outcomes of PDI with endogenous and, in particular, exogenous photosensitizers are then explained and described through representative examples of PDI on recognized and emerging OPPPs and their biofilms. Finally, the prospects and future directions of PDI research in water disinfection and control of OPPPs are discussed.
Forty Contributors: A Response
Authors: Sterba James P.
Published: October 2023

In July of 2021, I finished guest-editing a Special Issue for Religions on the topic of my book Is a Good God Logically Possible [...]
A Method for Convergent Deformation Analysis of a Shield Tunnel Incorporating B-Spline Fitting and ICP Alignment
Authors: Wang Zihan , Xu Xiangyang , He Xuhui , Wei Xiaojun , Yang Hao
Published: October 2023

The application of three-dimensional laser scanning technology in the field of tunnel deformation monitoring has changed the traditional measurement method. It provides an automated and intelligent solution for monitoring the geometric deformation of tunnel sections due to its high efficiency and independence from environmental influences. In this paper, based on B-spline fitting and iterative nearest point (ICP) alignment, the calculation of the difference between the radial distance and the design radius of a tunnel is transformed into a curve transformation that iterates over the nearest-neighbor points and calculates the difference in the distance between the corresponding points. The innovation of this paper is that the high-precision tunnel deformation monitoring method integrating B-spline fitting and ICP alignment can automatically compensate for the missing point clouds, is not affected by the point clouds of the tunnel inner and outer liner appendages, is more sensitive in the local deformation feedback and can be applied to a variety of tunnel shapes. The results indicate that our method maximally improves the accuracy of the horizontal convergence calculation by 28.6 mm and the accuracy of the vault settlement by 27.8 mm in comparison with the least squares circle fitting algorithm.
Mapping Fractional Vegetation Cover Using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle Imagery to Guide Conservation of a Rare Riparian Shrub Ecosystem in Southern California
Authors: Rose Miranda Brooke , Mills Mystyn , Franklin Janet , Larios Loralee
Published: October 2023

The use of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) for vegetation monitoring is widespread in agriculture and forestry but far less so in ecological restoration where it has tremendous unrealized potential. We tested the ability of multispectral data and a derived vegetation index to classify shrub, herbaceous vegetation, and bare soil cover in a rare alluvial floodplain vegetation community in semiarid Southern California, where shrub cover is manipulated in restoration efforts aimed to provide open habitats required by several threatened and endangered species. Three classifiers and three levels of spatial aggregation were compared for their ability to provide accurate shrub cover estimates at a scale commensurate with the needs of conservation managers. We used object-based image analysis (OBIA) and compared maximum likelihood (ML), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) classifiers applied to high-spatial resolution (0.14 m) data from a four-band Parrot Sequoia+ multispectral sensor. The SVM and RF classifiers yielded similarly high classification accuracy evaluated using the training data (overall accuracy of 96.4% and 97.6%, respectively), much higher than ML (88%). Aggregating shrub cover data to 25 and 50 m resolutions yielded more accurate and well-calibrated cover estimates (mean absolute error 12% and 11%, respectively, for RF) than 10 m aggregation (MAE 19% for RF). Shrub cover estimated using RF and SVM was able to meet the restoration monitoring needs to distinguish the three phases of shrub habitat characterized by their cover (10–30%, 30–75%, >75%) that differ in habitat quality and restoration prescriptions.
Thermal Image Super-Resolution Based on Lightweight Dynamic Attention Network for Infrared Sensors
Authors: Zhang Haikun , Hu Yueli , Yan Ming
Published: October 2023

Infrared sensors capture infrared rays radiated by objects to form thermal images. They have a steady ability to penetrate smoke and fog, and are widely used in security monitoring, military, etc. However, civilian infrared detectors with lower resolution cannot compare with megapixel RGB camera sensors. In this paper, we propose a dynamic attention mechanism-based thermal image super-resolution network for infrared sensors. Specifically, the dynamic attention modules adaptively reweight the outputs of the attention and non-attention branches according to features at different depths of the network. The attention branch, which consists of channel- and pixel-wise attention blocks, is responsible for extracting the most informative features, while the non-attention branch is adopted as a supplement to extract the remaining ignored features. The dynamic weights block operates with 1D convolution instead of the full multi-layer perceptron on the global average pooled features, reducing parameters and enhancing information interaction between channels, and the same structure is adopted in the channel attention block. Qualitative and quantitative results on three testing datasets demonstrate that the proposed network can superior restore high-frequency details while improving the resolution of thermal images. And the lightweight structure of the proposed network with lower computing cost can be practically deployed on edge devices, effectively improving the imaging perception quality of infrared sensors.
Analysis and Design of a Diplexing Power Divider for Ku-Band Satellite Applications
Authors: Karami Farzad , Boutayeb Halim , Amn-e-Elahi Ali , Talbi Larbi , Ghayekhloo Alireza
Published: October 2023

In dual-band RF front-end systems, to transmit different frequency signals in different paths, each path requires the power to be divided along two transmission channels. In such systems, a circuit is created in which the input ports of power dividers with different frequency bands are connected to the output ports of a diplexing circuit in a cascade form. These circuits often contain different band filters in their schemes and have a complicated design. In this paper, an innovative technique for designing a diplexing power divider for Ku-band applications is presented. The proposed structure is designed on multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs) and the utilization of a transition based on an extended SMA connector. The extended SMA connector provides two separate paths for the transmission of the RF signals. Hence, the proposed structure eliminates the need for intricate and bulky bandpass filters, allowing seamless integration with other planar devices and components within Ku-band satellite subsystems. In fact, the proposed architecture channelizes the divided output electromagnetic signals into two separate frequency spectrums. With the presented technique, two frequency ranges are envisaged, covering Ku-band applications at 13–15.8 GHz and 16.6–18.2 GHz. With the proposed structure, an insertion loss as low as 1.5 dB was achieved. A prototype of the proposed power-divider diplexing device was fabricated and measured. It exhibits a good performance in terms of return loss, isolation, and insertion losses.
Multiattention Mechanism 3D Object Detection Algorithm Based on RGB and LiDAR Fusion for Intelligent Driving
Authors: Zhang Xiucai , He Lei , Chen Junyi , Wang Baoyun , Wang Yuhai , Zhou Yuanle
Published: October 2023

This paper proposes a multimodal fusion 3D target detection algorithm based on the attention mechanism to improve the performance of 3D target detection. The algorithm utilizes point cloud data and information from the camera. For image feature extraction, the ResNet50 + FPN architecture extracts features at four levels. Point cloud feature extraction employs the voxel method and FCN to extract point and voxel features. The fusion of image and point cloud features is achieved through regional point fusion and voxel fusion methods. After information fusion, the Coordinate and SimAM attention mechanisms extract fusion features at a deep level. The algorithm’s performance is evaluated using the DAIR-V2X dataset. The results show that compared to the Part-A2 algorithm; the proposed algorithm improves the mAP value by 7.9% in the BEV view and 7.8% in the 3D view at IOU = 0.5 (cars) and IOU = 0.25 (pedestrians and cyclists). At IOU = 0.7 (cars) and IOU = 0.5 (pedestrians and cyclists), the mAP value of the SECOND algorithm is improved by 5.4% in the BEV view and 4.3% in the 3D view, compared to other comparison algorithms.
A Reliability Analysis of a MEMS Flow Sensor with an Accelerated Degradation Test
Authors: Kang Qiaoqiao , Lin Yuzhe , Tao Jifang
Published: October 2023

With the wide application of flow sensors, their reliability under extreme conditions has become a concern in recent years. The reliability of a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) flow sensor under temperature (Ts) is researched in this paper. This flow sensor consists of two parts, a sensor chip and a signal-processing system (SPS). Firstly, the step-stress accelerated degradation test (SSADT) is implemented. The sensor chip and the flow sensor system are tested. The results show that the biggest drift is 3.15% for sensor chips under 150 °C testing conditions, while 32.91% is recorded for the flowmeters. So, the attenuation of the SPS is significant to the degeneration of this flowmeter. The minimum drift of the SPS accounts for 82.01% of this flowmeter. Secondly, using the Coffin–Manson model, the relationship between the cycle index and Ts is established. The lifetime with a different Ts is estimated using the Arrhenius model. In addition, Weibull distribution (WD) is applied to evaluate the lifetime distribution. Finally, the reliability function of the WD is demonstrated, and the survival rate within one year is 87.69% under 85 °C conditions. With the application of accelerated degradation testing (ADT), the acquired results are innovative and original. This research illustrates the reliability research, which provides a relational database for the application of this flow sensor.
Detection of Drowsiness among Drivers Using Novel Deep Convolutional Neural Network Model
Authors: Majeed Fiaz , Shafique Umair , Safran Mejdl , Alfarhood Sultan , Ashraf Imran
Published: October 2023

Detecting drowsiness among drivers is critical for ensuring road safety and preventing accidents caused by drowsy or fatigued driving. Research on yawn detection among drivers has great significance in improving traffic safety. Although various studies have taken place where deep learning-based approaches are being proposed, there is still room for improvement to develop better and more accurate drowsiness detection systems using behavioral features such as mouth and eye movement. This study proposes a deep neural network architecture for drowsiness detection employing a convolutional neural network (CNN) for driver drowsiness detection. Experiments involve using the DLIB library to locate key facial points to calculate the mouth aspect ratio (MAR). To compensate for the small dataset, data augmentation is performed for the ‘yawning’ and ‘no_yawning’ classes. Models are trained and tested involving the original and augmented dataset to analyze the impact on model performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed CNN model achieves an average accuracy of 96.69%. Performance comparison with existing state-of-the-art approaches shows better performance of the proposed model.
Home-Based Intelligent Exercise System for Seniors’ Healthcare: The Example of Golf Croquet
Authors: Zhou Yu-Li , Chen Chia-Li , Chang Shih-Jui , Wu Bo-Sheng
Published: October 2023

In 2020, the world experienced the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, and seniors and chronic disease patients generally reduced their exercise and social activities to avoid increasing the risk of infection, which could lead to increased loneliness and even many diseases. Combining golf croquet games with a mobile application (App) and AIoT companion robots, this research constructs a home-based intelligent exercise system, uses the technology acceptance model (TAM), deduces users’ intention to use this system based on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and adds the needs of love and belonging, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, and self-actualization in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory (HNT) to conduct an analysis of system needs. This study collected empirical data, totaling 320 participants including seniors and their caregivers, from elderly care centers in northern Taiwan using a cross-sectional survey and purposive sampling. Based on regression and variance analysis, the results show that participants have a high level of acceptance of this system, believing that it is easy to learn and operate and can increase interaction with others, improve self-confirmation, satisfy the thirst for knowledge, increase the feeling of happiness, and fulfill self-actualization needs. In the future, by collecting and recording the process of seniors using the App, so as to find out their health problems as soon as possible, expand their daily life through this exercise, and achieve the goal of happy living and better healthcare.
Methodology for Prioritizing Value-Added Options for Agricultural Products: Insights from Coconut-Producing Communities in Cauca, Colombia
Authors: Delgado Eraso Dayse Alexandra , Grass Ramírez José Fernando , Muñoz Ricardo Camacho
Published: October 2023

Most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean rely on agricultural products without value-added processes, resulting in limited profit margins and reduced economic and social development. This research was conducted as part of the “Strengthening of the Coconut Production Chain in the Cauca Pacific Coast—Copacífico” project. The primary aim of this endeavor was to develop and validate a methodology for the systematic prioritization of solutions aimed at enhancing the value proposition of coconut fiber (tow) within the communities situated along the Pacific coast of Cauca, Colombia. The methodology is based on a set of interconnected concepts: the innovation funnel, human-centered design, and social innovation, complemented by lean startup, scrum, design sprint, and the inventive problem-solving theory TRIZ. These concepts are integrated with the blue ocean strategy, value proposition, and CANVAS. The validation process focused on prioritizing value-added alternatives for coconut fiber by-products (such as coir), resulting in desirable, feasible, and viable solutions achieved through a robust and participatory methodology. Consequently, this methodology is deemed suitable for innovation processes in rural regions, requiring the collaboration of universities, companies, and governmental entities to formulate solutions aligned with the challenges and specific contexts of their territories, while focusing on sustainable development.
Study on the Influence of the Energy Intensity of Residential District Layout on Neighborhood Buildings
Authors: Yan Junle , Zhang Hui , Li Yunjiang , Huang Xiaoxi , Jin Shiyu , Jia Xueying , Ke Zikang , Yu Haibo
Published: October 2023

Numerous prior studies have substantiated the influence of residential layout on building energy consumption; however, their principal emphasis has predominantly been on urban and neighborhood contexts. Nevertheless, research conducted at the cluster scale has the potential to augment the well-being of neighboring communities and render the objective of a reduction in energy consumption more pertinent to residents’ daily lives. Furthermore, there is a shortage of more robust metrics capable of quantifying the degree of mutual shading among individual buildings within residential neighborhoods. This shading factor constitutes a pivotal element impacting the energy consumption of individual structures. This study utilizes the VirVil-HTB2 tool to calculate solar radiation intensity for individual buildings, serving as a shading metric. Correlation and linear regression analyses are employed to quantify the causal relationship, allowing us to investigate the impact of residential complex layouts on the energy efficiency of individual buildings. The findings of this study indicate that solar radiation serves as a precise metric for gauging shading intensity among buildings, and building energy consumption exhibits a distinct block-like distribution pattern within the residential complex. Furthermore, through an analysis of the level of inter-building shading and a judicious optimization of the layout, it is feasible to achieve a reduction of up to 4.03% in heating energy consumption and a maximum reduction of 4.39% in cooling energy consumption.
Research on the Strategy of Promoting the Coordinated Development of Grand Canal Water Transport and Other Transport Modes, Taking Jiangsu as an Example
Authors: Fang Ling , Cheng Xin , Yao Guanxin
Published: October 2023

With the realization of the Grand Canal’s full water supply and the strong pursuit of green and low-carbon transportation in contemporary society, the value of Grand Canal water transport has been increasingly recognized, highlighting the importance of its coordinated development with other transportation modes. This paper analyzes and combs through the characteristics, development status, and existing problems of Grand Canal water transport and other transport modes in depth, taking Jiangsu as an example. A collaboration model of Grand Canal water transport and other transport modes was built, and their collaboration degree was calculated. It is believed that the coordinated development of Grand Canal water transport and other transport modes can be greatly promoted via four aspects: optimizing the construction and governance of Grand Canal water transport, building an integrated management platform of transport modes, improving the integrated transport network structure, and promoting the deep integration of integrated shipping and tourism.
Diversity and Current Classification of dsRNA Bacteriophages
Authors: Mäntynen Sari , Salomaa Meri M. , Poranen Minna M.
Published: October 2023

Half a century has passed since the discovery of Pseudomonas phage phi6, the first enveloped dsRNA bacteriophage to be isolated. It remained the sole known dsRNA phage for a quarter of a century and the only recognised member of the Cystoviridae family until the year 2018. After the initial discovery of phi6, additional dsRNA phages have been isolated from globally distant locations and identified in metatranscriptomic datasets, suggesting that this virus type is more ubiquitous in nature than previously acknowledged. Most identified dsRNA phages infect Pseudomonas strains and utilise either pilus or lipopolysaccharide components of the host as the primary receptor. In addition to the receptor-mediated strictly lytic lifestyle, an alternative persistent infection strategy has been described for some dsRNA phages. To date, complete genome sequences of fourteen dsRNA phage isolates are available. Despite the high sequence diversity, similar sets of genes can typically be found in the genomes of dsRNA phages, suggesting shared evolutionary trajectories. This review provides a brief overview of the recognised members of the Cystoviridae virus family and related dsRNA phage isolates, outlines the current classification of dsRNA phages, and discusses their relationships with eukaryotic RNA viruses.
Current Trends of HIV Infection in the Russian Federation
Authors: Ogarkova Daria , Antonova Anastasiia , Kuznetsova Anna , Adgamov Ruslan , Pochtovyi Andrei , Kleimenov Denis , Tsyganova Elena , Gushchin Vladimir , Gintsburg Aleksandr , Mazus Aleksei
Published: October 2023

Russia remains one of the areas most affected by HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The aim of this study was to analyze HIV infection indicators and study trends in Russia using data from the Federal Statistic Form No. 61 “Information about HIV infection”. HIV incidence, prevalence, HIV testing and mortality rates (from 2011 to 2022), and treatment success rates (from 2016 to 2022) were analyzed. These indicators were compared across different federal districts (FDs) of Russia. The findings revealed a significant downward trend in HIV incidence, while a significant upward trend was observed for HIV prevalence. The mortality rate has stabilized since 2018. The coverage of HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy increased over time. The number of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) with a suppressed viral load in Russia as a whole varied between 72% and 77% during the years under observation. The Siberian and Ural federal districts recorded the highest HIV incidence, while the North Caucasian FD reported the lowest. An increase in HIV testing coverage was observed across all FDs. This comprehensive evaluation of HIV infection indicators within the regional context contributes to the timely implementation of measures aimed at preventing the spread of HIV.
Monitoring and Investigating the Change Patterns of Major Growth Parameters of Almond (Badam) Trees under Different Irrigation Conditions
Authors: Yang Huimin , San Yunlong , Chen Yifei , Ma Yan , Wang Xuenong , Shoukat Muhammad Rizwan , Zheng Yudong , Hui Xin
Published: October 2023

Knowledge of the response of growth parameters of almond (Badam) trees to different water supply conditions is important for Badam production. To identify growth parameters that are sensitive to water deficit in almond trees, field experiments were conducted during a median water year to monitor the major growth characteristics of almond trees under different irrigation conditions in Shache County, Xinjiang, China. A field (in-situ) monitoring system was also constructed using various sensors for the continuous and non-destructive monitoring of the growth parameters, such as soil water in the root zone, canopy temperature depression, trunk diameter, and fruit diameter of almond trees. The results confirmed the reliability of the monitoring system. Both canopy temperature depression and the diameter shrinkage of the trunk and fruit were significantly negatively correlated (r values ranging from −0.996 to −0.823) with the irrigation water quantity. This correlation was observed from the young fruit stage to the maturation stage of almond trees, under irrigation conditions representing 50–100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). These parameters were sensitive (|r| ≥ 0.778) to the water deficit status of almond trees from 14:00 to 18:00 in sunny weather. These results can provide both technical and theoretical support for real-time non-destructive assessment of the water deficit status of almond trees.
Numerical Study of Fluid–Solid Interaction in Elastic Sluice Based on SPH Method
Authors: Zhang Jianwei , Wang Bingpeng , Jiang Qi , Hou Ge , Li Zhirui , Liu Hongze
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the fluid–solid interaction problem involving structural movement and deformation is considered, and an SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) interaction method is proposed to establish a numerical fluid–solid model and to correct the particle velocities in the momentum conservation equations. It is found that, when the smoothing coefficient is equal to 0.93, the similarity of the free surface curves reaches up to 91.9%, and calculations are more accurate. Under the same working conditions, the classical model of elastic sluice discharge is established based on the SPH method and the finite element method, and the validity and accuracy of the model based on the SPH method are verified by analyzing the flow pattern of the sluice discharge, the opening of the elastic gate, and the change trend in the free liquid surface curve. On this basis, a number of characteristic points on the sluice gate are selected based on the SPH model to investigate the change rule of pressure at the fluid–solid interface, and the results are as follows: (1) based on the numerical model established by the SPH method, the flow pattern of the water, the opening of the elastic gate, and the change in the free liquid level curve are all in better agreement with the experimental results in the literature than those of the finite element method, and the computational results are also better; (2) the pressure of the solid on the fluid at each characteristic point is equal to the pressure of the fluid on the solid, which satisfies the principle of action–reaction and laterally verifies the nature of the dynamic boundary between the fluid and the solid, further verifying the validity of the program; and (3) in the process of sluice discharge, the elastic sluice presents a large force at both ends and a small force in the middle, meaning that the related research in this paper can act as a reference for flow–solid interaction problems related to sluice discharge.
Development of new methodological approaches to the design of special machinery and equipment, taking into account risks in the field of occupational safety and the influence of the human factor (on the example of investment projects for the development of forests)
Authors:   Research and Design Institute for Gas Processing (JSC «NIPIGAZ»), Kurochkin P. A. , Grigorev I. V. ,   Arctic State Agrotechnological University, Department of Technology and Equipment of the Forest Complex, Grigoreva O. I. ,   St. Petersburg State Forestry Engineering University named after S. M. Kirov, Department of Forestry
Published: October 2023

The article discusses the development of a melodic approach to the design of equipment for use in logging processes (for example, in the implementation of investment projects for the development of forests). The authors have developed and presented an approach to the design of modern equipment and special equipment, which includes all stages: from the organization of research to development, design, construction and production. The proposed approach is based on the results of an assessment of occupational risks for the conditions in which the equipment and equipment will be used, and the influence of the human factor is proposed to be taken into account through a structured process of interaction, receiving feedback on the operation of equipment, which allows obtaining additional data on the parameters of equipment (nodes, working bodies, aggregates, etc.) and, on on this basis, allowing to reduce to the minimum the probability of injury, and also taking into account the peculiarities of the influence of human behavior (human factor) on the process and result of work.
Mathematical model of the stress-strain state of the protective device of the cabin of a wheeled skidder
Authors:   Petrozavodsk State University, Department of Transport and Technological Machines and Equipment, Skobcov I. G. , Kunickaya O. A. ,   Arctic State Agrotechnological University, Forestry Technology and Equipment Department
Published: October 2023

A technique for assessing the stress-strain state of ROPS under lateral loading is presented, which allows at the design and fine-tuning stage to evaluate the energy-absorbing properties of ROPS with minimal time, which, in turn, allows us to judge the quality of the protective device being developed and the degree of ensuring safe working conditions for the operator during the operation of the machine being created in the future. The methodology for assessing the stress-strain state of the ROPS cab of a wheeled skidding tractor under lateral loading, taking into account the influence of technological defects, allows us to estimate the maximum length of the defect and the load.
Ecological efficiency of semi-tracked forest vehicles
Authors:   AO «Giprostroymost-Saint Petersburg», Dmitriev A. S. , Dolzhikov I. S. ,   St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Grigorieva O. I. ,   St. Petersburg State Forestry Engineering University named after S. M. Kirov, Kunitskaya O. A. ,   Arctic State Agrotechnological University
Published: October 2023

Most of the logging enterprises of the Russian Federation are small, and perform low-volume logging. Such enterprises often use wheeled agricultural tractors, which in difficult operating conditions can be retrofitted into a half-track. The article analyzes the environmental efficiency of wheeled tractors on a half-track.
DIGITAL ASSETS AS PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS: ESSENCE AND PRACTICE OF IMPLEMENTING
Authors: Verhun V. , Pryiatelchuk O. ,   Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv,   Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Published: October 2023

Various digital assets have become an integral part of global, and especially individual national economic systems. The creation and introduction into circulation of national digital currencies, the development of blockchain technologies is an element of the innovative strategy of digitization of the financial system. The main goal of the article is to study practical cases of the use of digital assets (bitcoin in El Salvador, eNaira in Nigeria, eCNY in China). Such practical cases allow us to identify the positive and negative effects of the implementation of this strategy. And predict risks, such as the legalization of cryptocurrencies for mutual settlements of external debt obligations, the lack of coverage of these assets, the creation of a "soap bubble" effect, which may lead to another global financial crisis. The study showed that there are several potential advantages - with the help of cryptocurrency and blockchain mining, various projects in the business, social and state spheres can be implemented, the sales market should potentially increase, the level of corruption should decrease due to the transparency of operations, and the cost of resources should be rationalized. However, negative effects and additional risks are also present, although it is much more difficult to assess them due to the too short period of practical implementation of these assets in the form of means of payment and the limited geography of such cases. Key words: virtual assets, digital commerce, global space, digital financial services, blockchain.
Approaches to providing coordination of the regional development policy regarding the restoration of the territories damaged during the course of the war
Authors: Vasylіeva Oleksandra , Markushin Oleksandr
Published: October 2023

The article substantiates approaches to ensuring the coordination of regional development policy regarding the restoration of war-damaged territories. It is emphasized that the key to solving regional problems is ensuring the coordination of regional development policy, which aims to reduce disparities in the development of settlements and regions, this situation creates a challenge in the application of an approach to regional development focused on local needs for recovery. It was noted that today the priorities for ensuring the coordination of regional development policy are the support of specific reconstruction projects in territorial communities and the updating of the State Strategy for Regional Development, which should be based on five key priorities: strategic planning and project management; investments and interaction with donors; anti-corruption activity; digitization and management based on open data; urban planning.

It was noted that the differentiated geographical impact of the war further exacerbated the differences of the regions in terms of their development opportunities and the necessary state support. For the policy of regional development, which aims to reduce disparities in the development of settlements and regions, this situation creates a challenge in the application of an approach to regional development focused on local needs. Today, the simple differentiation of regions into two groups based on the relative indicator of gross domestic product per capita, which is used by the State Fund for Regional Development, is no longer enough, but a much more detailed approach to the RDP that takes into account local needs and is based on the definition and support of development initiatives implemented at the local and regional levels must be developed.

It is noted that although some tools and approaches to the policy of regional development are already included in the legislation, the system of vertical coordination, i.e. multi-level management with wide use of public participation in decision-making regarding the further development of administrative-territorial units, still remains quite relevant and needs adaptation to ensure greater flexibility and initiative from below.
Conceptual framework of social responsibility in the system of public administration
Authors: Kvasova Valentyna
Published: October 2023

The article carries out a comprehensive study, clarification and systematization of the conceptual foundations of social responsibility in the system of public administration. The evolution of the concept of "social responsibility" from the corporate sector to public administration is studied. The importance of incorporating social responsibility into public administration and its role in achieving sustainable development is highlighted. The author's definition of the concept of "social responsibility in the public administration system" is proposed. The theoretical foundations of social responsibility in public administration are considered. Such theoretical approaches to social responsibility as ethical, economic, legal and others are presented. An integrated approach to social responsibility in public administration is considered. The relationship between social responsibility and sustainable development in the context of public administration is determined. It is explained that an integrated approach to social responsibility allows to harmonize the social, environmental and economic aspects of public administration. The advantages and challenges associated with the application of an integrated approach to social responsibility in public administration are presented. The role of stakeholders in the formation of social responsibility of public administration is considered. The classification of stakeholders in public administration is provided and their role in the formation of social responsibility and influence on the decision-making process is shown. The mechanisms for ensuring social responsibility in the public administration system are investigated. The tools for assessing and measuring social responsibility in public administration are presented, which help to assess the impact of the activities of public authorities on social aspects. The role of standards, regulations and recommendations in ensuring social responsibility, which act as regulators and determine the norms of behavior of public administration, is considered. The considered aspects of the development of the concept of "social responsibility", theoretical foundations, an integrated approach, the role of stakeholders and mechanisms for ensuring social responsibility allow us to understand the meaning and role of social responsibility in public administration.
The investment component of the development of the agrarian sector of the economy of Ukraine in the conditions of european integration: problems and prospects
Authors: Zhovnirchyk Yaroslav , Monchak Oleksii
Published: October 2023

The article examines the problems of investment support in the agricultural sector of Ukraine's economy in modern conditions and identifies promising directions for improving the investment climate. It has been established that in the process of creating a market economy in Ukraine and European integration processes, there is a need for complex searches for ways of development and determination of the role and place of the state in these economic transformations. The experience of developed democratic countries shows that there is no single solution to this problem, and the degree of state intervention in the economy of different countries varies. The directions of the transformation of the agrarian-industrial complex in Ukraine since independence have been determined. It has been proven that before the start of the full-scale war, the agricultural sector in Ukraine was one of the most profitable branches of the Ukrainian economy. It contributed to a significant contribution to the GDP and preservation of land resources in a satisfactory condition. A number of problems in the agrarian sector of Ukraine's economy, which inhibit its development, are highlighted: insufficient transparency in matters of land ownership; non-compliance with quality and safety standards established by international organizations; limited investment level; insufficient adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the requirements of the European Union; the problem of reforming the market and its structure; dependence on state funding; lack of innovative activity; problems in the field of logistics and supplies. The assessment of direct losses in the field of agro-industrial complex and agricultural infrastructure, which were the result of constant attacks by the Russian armed forces, is presented. Among the components of these losses, the largest ones that have become the most financially significant should be indicated: agricultural machinery, finished agricultural products, and grain storages. It is these losses that can be recognized as significant and such that they do not allow us to talk about the rapid improvement of the situation in the agricultural sector of Ukraine and the attraction of investments. The main vectors of increasing the investment attractiveness of the agrarian sector of the Ukrainian economy are given and a list of measures that must be taken to solve the main problems of the agrarian sector of Ukraine during and after the war, as well as improving the investment component of the development of the agrarian sector of the economy and continuing the European integration processes, is presented.
Features of the influence of local leadership on public dministration: european experience for Ukraine
Authors: Tytarenko Oleksandr
Published: October 2023

A critical question on the minds of many researchers is whether local leadership can influence democratic governance. All societies are characterized by a division of labor, which in turn presupposes a certain form of leadership and an asymmetrical division of power. Moreover, modern democratic societies are built on a foundation of complex and specialized institutions and structures, interconnected by vast formalized hierarchies that must be effectively managed. Therefore, a kind of inevitable paradox arises: societies based on the principle of equality between citizens. At the same time, they assume the existence of elite groups that have greater powers to manage social processes and the state compared to ordinary citizens.

The article examines the features of the influence of local leadership on public administration in different strategies, in particular, in the implementation of a pan-European policy. In addition, in adapting the European experience in Ukraine, we will use the following analogies: EU - Ukraine, national European leadership - local Ukrainian leadership. This can be done with a certain degree of assumption, since in both the first and second cases we are talking about the influence of leadership of a smaller territorial level on the politics of a larger territorial level.

Of course, each national leadership has its own characteristics according to various indicators, ranging from gender ratio to management style, but analyzing the process of influence of national leadership on EU policy. Therefore, the author of the article, summarizing, focuses on the fact that the main instrument of influence of local leadership on public administration is lobbying, and almost exclusively in a formalized form. The European leadership discussed in the article is highly dynamic; its composition is often formed from temporary representatives of national leadership, which contributes in the future to the return of local leaders to public administration at the national level to defend the interests of their own state along with pan-European interests. It is advisable to use such experience both in conditions of martial law in Ukraine and in the context of integration processes into the European Union.
Impact and Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Injuries due to Accident at Work in Brazil, 2015-2020
Authors: Oliveira Bianca G D , Braga Iago O , Borduchi Leonardo C , Siqueira Pedro A M O , Peccinelli Renan C
Published: October 2023

Goal: Recognize the relevance of hospitalizations for musculoskeletal injuries due to accidents at work in Brazil.
Methods: It is a retrospective epidemiological study, qualitative/quantitative with secondary data analysis and cross-sectional typology in the public databases of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, delivered by the Federal Government. Descriptors in health sciences: musculoskeletal injuries; accident at work; injuries due to accidents at work; workers; absenteeism.
Results: In Brazil, during 2015 to 2020, there is evidence of a high number of accidents at work resulting in 65.9% of musculoskeletal injuries. The most affected age was between 30-39 years, the male gender corresponded to 63.3% of the cases, upper limb injuries were the most prevalent, and 36.1 billion were spent in aids.