bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Functionality of Alternative Sweeteners in Rolled “Sugar” Cookies
Authors: Heermann Melanie L. , Brown Janae , Getty Kelly J. K. , Yucel Umut
Published: April 2022

Sucrose contributes to the key physical and sensory characteristics of cookies. Due to the negative health effects associated with excess sucrose consumption, the replacement of sucrose in baking applications is of interest. In this study, nine variations of rolled cookies were prepared (n = 3) using a sucrose control (C), Splenda for baking (SB), Equal for baking (EB), Truvia (TR), Sweet’N Low (SNL), and 1:1 (wt%) mixtures of sweeteners and sucrose (S). The cookies were characterized by a width-to-thickness (W/T) ratio, moisture loss, color, hardness, and fracturability. The W/T ratios of TR (5.7) and TR + sucrose (6.6) were similar, the closest to C (7.7), and bigger than (p < 0.05) all other treatments. Color was not affected (p > 0.05) by the sugar type or concentration. C showed the greatest hardness (5268 N), and SNL had the greatest fracturability (8667 N). Overall, regarding physiochemical characteristics, TR + sucrose (1:1 replacement) and SB (100% replacement) were the closest to the control.
A Comparison of Performance, Emissions, and Lube Oil Deterioration for Gasoline–Ethanol Fuel
Authors: Ahmed Wajahat , Usman Muhammad , Haris Shah Muhammad , Abbas Muhammad Mujtaba , Saleem Muhammad Wajid , Kalam Muhammad Abul , Mahmoud Omar
Published: April 2022

Over the years, due to the surge in energy demand, the use of alternative fuels has emerged as an interesting area of research. In the current work, a comparative study was conducted by employing gasoline, 6% ethanol–gasoline (E6), and 12% ethanol–gasoline (E12) in a spark-ignition engine. Performance, emissions, and lube oil damage tests were conducted at a constant load by varying engine speed. E12 showed improved performance, i.e., 7.82% higher torque and 14.69% improved brake thermal efficiency (BTE) in comparison with neat gasoline. In addition, CO, CO2, HC, and NOx emissions were found to be minimal for E12. Furthermore, lubricating oil properties (kinematic viscosity, flash point, and total base number (TBN)) and wear debris (iron, aluminum, and copper) showed a visibly improved performance with gasoline compared to E6 and E12. The highest decline in kinematic viscosity of 27.87%, compared to fresh oil, was recorded for E12. Thus, the lube oil properties have to be modified according to the chemical properties of the alternative fuel.
Assessing the Market Risk on the Government Debt of Kazakhstan and Bulgaria in Conditions of Turbulence
Authors: Em Olga , Georgiev Georgi , Radukanov Sergey , Petrova Mariana
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this publication is to quantify and compare the market risk on the external government debt of Kazakhstan and Bulgaria in the conditions of COVID-19, the emerging energy crisis, and the coup attempt in the first country. In particular, the authors invest the market risk of sovereign bonds issued on global financial markets. Market risk is assessed both as a single issue and at a portfolio level using the Value-at-risk approach. Sixteen samples with historical observations of all issues of Kazakhstan’s and Bulgarian Sovereign Bonds issued on the international financial markets were formed. The duration method was used in the calculation of Delta normal bond VaR and CVaR. It was found that with the same credit rating, similar portfolio duration levels, similar GDP per capita, Debt (% of GDP), and Debt Per Capita, the market risk on their portfolio differed significantly. The comparison of risk levels between the two portfolios was made by six indicators–two indicators measuring linearly the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in market interest rates (Weighted average Macaulay duration and Weighted average modified duration) and four downside indicators (Undiversified VaR, Diversified VaR, Undiversified CVaR, amd Diversified CVaR). The return/risk performance of both portfolios was assessed by the Sharpe ratio in three variants (SR Undiversified VaR, SR Diversified VaR, and SR Diversified CVaR). When evaluating the bond portfolio VaR and CVaR, a practical version of the Duration method was proposed, which allows the use of an unlimited number of assets, taking into account the correlations between yield returns and historical price volatility.
Maize Canopy and Leaf Chlorophyll Content Assessment from Leaf Spectral Reflectance: Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis across Growth Stages and Vertical Distribution
Authors: Yang Hongye , Ming Bo , Nie Chenwei , Xue Beibei , Xin Jiangfeng , Lu Xingli , Xue Jun , Hou Peng , Xie Ruizhi , Wang Keru , Li Shaokun
Published: April 2022

Accurate estimation of the canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) plays a key role in quantitative remote sensing. Maize (Zea mays L.) is a high-stalk crop with a large leaf area and deep canopy. It has a non-uniform vertical distribution of the leaf chlorophyll content (LCC), which limits remote sensing of CCC. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the vertical heterogeneity of LCC and leaf reflectance spectra to improve the accuracy of CCC monitoring. In this study, CCC, LCC, and leaf spectral reflectance were measured during two consecutive field growing seasons under five nitrogen treatments. The vertical LCC profile showed an asymmetric ‘bell-shaped’ curve structure and was affected by nitrogen application. The leaf reflectance also varied greatly between spatio–temporal conditions, which could indicate the influence of vertical heterogeneity. In the early growth stage, the spectral differences between leaf positions were mainly concentrated in the red-edge (RE) and near-infrared (NIR) regions, whereas differences were concentrated in the visible region during the mid-late filling stage. LCC had a strong linear correlation with vegetation indices (VIs), such as the modified red-edge ratio (mRER, R2 = 0.87), but the VI–chlorophyll models showed significant inversion errors throughout the growth season, especially at the early vegetative growth stage and the late filling stage (rRMSE values ranged from 36% to 87.4%). The vertical distribution of LCC had a strong correlation with the total chlorophyll in canopy, and sensitive leaf positions were identified with a multiple stepwise regression (MSR) model. The LCC of leaf positions L6 in the vegetative stage (R2-adj = 0.9) and L11 + L14 in the reproductive stage (R2-adj = 0.93) could be used to evaluate the canopy chlorophyll status (L12 represents the ear leaf). With a strong relationship between leaf spectral reflectance and LCC, CCC can be estimated directly by leaf spectral reflectance (mRER, rRMSE = 8.97%). Therefore, the spatio–temporal variations of LCC and leaf spectral reflectance were analyzed, and a higher accuracy CCC estimation approach that can avoid the effects of the leaf area was proposed.
An Integration of Linear Model and ‘Random Forest’ Techniques for Prediction of Norway Spruce Vitality: A Case Study of the Hemiboreal Forest, Latvia
Authors: Bāders Endijs , Romāns Edžus , Desaine Iveta , Krišāns Oskars , Seipulis Andris , Donis Jānis , Jansons Āris
Published: April 2022

The increasing extreme weather and climate events have a significant impact on the resistance and resilience of Norway spruce trees. The responses and adaptation of individual trees to certain factors can be assessed through the tree breeding programmes. Tree breeding programmes combined with multispectral unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) platforms may assist in acquiring regular information of individual traits from large areas of progeny trials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the vegetation indices (VI) to detect the early stages of tree stress in Norway spruce stands under prolonged drought and summer heatwave. Eight plots within four stands throughout the vegetation season of 2021 were monitored by assessing spectral differences of tree health classes (Healthy, Crown damage, New crown damage, Dead trees, Stem damage, Root rot). From all tested VI, our models showed a moderate marginal R2 and total explanatory power—for Normalized Difference Red-edge Index (NDRE), marginal R2 was 0.26, and conditional R2 was 0.49 (p < 0.001); for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), marginal R2 was 0.34, and conditional R2 was 0.60 (p < 0.001); for Red Green Index (RGI), marginal R2 was 0.36, and conditional R2 was 0.55 (p < 0.001); while for Chlorophyll Index (CI), marginal R2 was 0.27, and conditional R2 was 0.49 (p < 0.001). The reliability of the identification of tree health classes for selected VI was weak to fair (overall classification accuracy ranged from 34.4% to 56.8%, kappa coefficients ranged from 0.09 to 0.34) if six classes were assessed, and moderate to substantial (overall classification accuracy ranged from 71.1% to 89.6% and kappa coefficient from 0.39 to 0.71) if two classes (Crown damage and Healthy trees) were tested.
A Fair Method for Distributing Collective Assets in the Stellar Blockchain Financial Network
Authors: Shamsi Kiarash , Shayegan Mohammad Javad , Uddin Mueen , Chen Chin-Ling
Published: April 2022

One of the most popular platforms in token-based banking is the flexible Stellar platform. The wide range of Stellar’s features allows companies to use it in modern cryptocurrency and token-based banking. This network charges a fee for each transaction. A percentage of the net amount is generated as the inflation rate of the network due to the increased number of tokens. These fees and inflationary amounts are aggregated into a general account and ultimately distributed among the network members on a collective-vote basis. In this mechanism, network users select an account as the destination to which they wish to transfer assets using their user interface, generally a wallet. This account could be the account of charities that need this help. The target distribution network is then determined based on the voting results of all members. One of the challenges in this network is the targeted and fair distribution of these funds between accounts. In this paper, the first step is a complete infrastructure of a Stellar financial network that will consist of three network-based segments of the core network, an off-chain server, and a wallet interface. In the second step, a context-aware recommendation system is implemented to solve the targeted management of payroll account selection. The results of this study concerning the importance of the targeted division of collective assets show a context-aware recommendation system as a solution to improve the process of Stellar users’ participation in the voting process.
Assessment of Emissions and Energy Consumption for Construction Machinery in Earthwork Activities by Incorporating Real-World Measurement and Discrete-Event Simulation
Authors: Hong Beichuan , Lü Lin
Published: April 2022

Earthwork, an essential activity in most construction projects, consumes large quantities of fossil fuel and produces substantial air pollution with adverse environmental impacts. To achieve more sustainable construction processes, novel methodologies to evaluate and improve the performance of earthwork operations are required. This study quantifies the real-world emissions and fuel consumption of construction equipment within an earthwork project in China. Two wheel loaders and two dump trucks are examined through on-board measurements and in-lab engine tests. The duty cycles of construction equipment are categorized with respect to their power efficiency and working patterns. Moreover, the power-specific and time-based emission factors for these duty cycles are computed and compared with relevant legislative emission limits. Significant emission variations among different duty cycles were found, and the real-world emission measurements exceeded the results from the in-lab test required for emission certification. In addition, a discrete-event simulation (DES) framework was developed, validated, and integrated with the computed emission factors to analyze the environmental and energy impacts of the earthwork project. Furthermore, the equipment fleet schedule was optimized in the DES framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption by 8.1% and 6.6%, respectively.
Digital Twin-Driven Adaptive Scheduling for Flexible Job Shops
Authors: Liu Lilan , Guo Kai , Gao Zenggui , Li Jiaying , Sun Jiachen
Published: April 2022

The traditional shop floor scheduling problem mainly focuses on the static environment, which is unrealistic in actual production. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a digital twin-driven shop floor adaptive scheduling method. Firstly, a digital twin model of the actual production line is established to monitor the operation of the actual production line in real time and provide a real-time data source for subsequent scheduling; secondly, to address the problem that the solution quality and efficiency of the traditional genetic algorithm cannot meet the actual production demand, the key parameters in the genetic algorithm are dynamically adjusted using a reinforcement learning enhanced genetic algorithm to improve the solution efficiency and quality. Finally, the digital twin system captures dynamic events and issues warnings when dynamic events occur in the actual production process, and adaptively optimizes the initial scheduling scheme. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through the construction of the digital twin system, extensive dynamic scheduling experiments, and validation in a laboratory environment. It achieves real-time monitoring of the scheduling environment, accurately captures abnormal events in the production process, and combines with the scheduling algorithm to effectively solve a key problem in smart manufacturing.
Conceptual Framework of a Simulation-Based Manpower Planning Method for Construction Enterprises
Authors: Biruk Sławomir , Jaśkowski Piotr , Maciaszczyk Magdalena
Published: April 2022

The authors put forward a concept of a method to support workforce demand planning intended for construction contractors. The construction business suffers from shortages of skilled labor. The method facilitates analyzing the possibilities of project-to project resource sharing and uncertainties in the flow of new orders, both characteristics of construction. Construction contractors’ manpower planning is based on a production plan. A precise and deterministic plan is possible only for a short planning horizon covering a fixed set of acquired orders. New orders are won irregularly, and the type and quantity of work they involve is uncertain. For this reason, the authors argue for using a simulation model of the company’s production plan. Such a plan facilitates mapping the variability in the number of orders, their start dates and delivery times, as well as workloads. Simulating the flow of prospective orders helps assess the degree of utilization of the enterprise’s human resources and the influence of the size of employment on the timeliness of the execution of individual projects. This provides a basis for determining reasonable employment levels. The approach helps determine the demand for manpower and provides the data necessary in the process of staff development and recruitment. Moreover, it provides a tool for assessing the feasibility of using in-house resources to fulfill new orders and the need to hire subcontractors. The novelty presented in the article is the method of manpower planning in construction companies, making it possible to take into account risk conditions in acquiring new orders and the variability of construction process execution times due to factors disturbing the work flow. The concept of the method was the basis for the development of a simulation model of the construction company’s order execution under random conditions, allowing for the evaluation of the effects of maintaining different levels of employment of the workforce in terms of the degree of utilization of the production potential and timeliness of individual projects. Thus, the result of the research is a tool supporting the decision making of construction managers in human resources management practice.
Research on the Optimization of Cutting Path of Cantilever Roadheader in Large Section Excavation
Authors: Hu Chengjun , Zhang Yong , Yu Rui , Fang Xinqiu , Xu Ziyue , Wang Lixin , Zhao Baofu
Published: April 2022

Coal is an important resource for China and even for the whole world. With the improvement of mechanization, automation and intelligence of coal mining equipment in China, there has been an imbalance between the speed of mining and of excavating. Adopting efficient cutting paths is beneficial to improving roadway excavation efficiency and alleviating the imbalance between mining and excavation. In this paper, taking the 12307 belt roadway of Wangjialing Coal Mine as the research background, the geomechanical parameters and distribution characteristics of the surrounding rock were observed and studied, and the test results of in-situ stress, surrounding rock structure and surrounding rock strength were obtained. Based on the test results, a numerical model was established, and the stress and displacement distribution law of the surrounding rock of the roadway under different cutting paths were analyzed, and two optimal cutting paths were proposed based on the actual situation, and industrial tests were carried out. The test results show that using the “snake” cutting path from bottom to top, the roadway section forming effect is good, and a single cycle excavation takes 34 min, which verified the effectiveness of the cutting path design. On the basis of specific engineering geological conditions, excavation equipment and technology, combined with experimental testing, numerical simulation and other methods, the roadway excavation cutting path can be optimized, and the research results can provide a reference for the design of cutting paths for coal mine excavation roadways with the same geological conditions.
Challenges for Sustainability in Packaging of Fresh Vegetables in Organic Farming
Authors: Michaliszyn-Gabryś Beata , Krupanek Janusz , Kalisz Mariusz , Smith Jonathan
Published: April 2022

The policy of circular economy focuses on phasing out fossil-based packaging and replacing it with more sustainable alternatives. Companies face the challenge of choosing packaging for their products that are functional and affordable, and place relatively less pressure on the environment. This is especially important for organic farms that make voluntary commitments to undertake sustainable decisions regarding practices and methods of farming and types of packaging used. This publication attempts to analyze the determinants of the choices of sustainable packaging solutions made by organic farming companies with the example of Scilly Organic, an organic micro farm from the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom—a producer of organic vegetables. There are many options for fresh vegetable packaging, which include fossil-based packaging, bio-based packaging, and packaging manufactured from material that is a mixture of synthetic, natural, or modified polymers. Biodegradable packaging, including compostable ones, is currently of particular interest because, when separated and disposed of in the correct manner in the waste management phase, they have sustainability potential. Biodegradable plastics constitute over 55.5% of global bioplastics production. Packaging is the largest market segment for bioplastic, with 48% of the total bioplastics market in 2021. Although the use of biobased packaging brings some advantages, it also comes with certain limitations that are the subject of intensive research. In this publication, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool was used and a critical review of the literature was carried out. Based on the analysis, the key factors and aspects influencing the environmental performance of selected types of packaging were identified. The LCA was carried out for the three selected packaging types, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags, polylactic acid (PLA) bags, and polyester starch biopolymer (PCSB) bags. The research showed that the selection of more sustainable packaging is not straightforward. The analysis performed was the basis for providing recommendations for improving the sustainability of organic farms with regard to the selection of packaging for fresh vegetables. The critical processes in the life cycle that have to be considered are, in the first place, the production of polymer-based materials, and to a lesser extent, the production of the packaging bags and post-consumption waste utilization. In the case of PLA bags, 51% of the total impact is attributed to the production of polymer material. For starch polyester bags, this share is 58%, and for LDPE it constitutes 41% of the total score. At the same time, the choice of packaging should be made in the context of the specific properties of the packaging material, the requirements for disposal methods, and local waste management systems.
The CGEM-IT: An Upgrade for the BESIII Experiment
Authors: Balossino Ilaria , Cossio Fabio , Farinelli Riccardo , Lavezzi Lia
Published: April 2022

The BESIII experiment has been collecting data since 2009 at the e+e− collider BEPCII in Beijing, a charm-τ factory characterized by high statistics and high precision. The discovery of exotic charmonium-like states and the still open questions in low-energy QCD led to an extension of the experimental program, with several upgrades. This review focuses on the CGEM-IT, the innovative solution proposed to replace the current inner tracker, which is aging. It consists of three, co-axial, cylindrical triple-GEM detectors and will be the first cylindrical GEM operating inside a 1 T magnetic field with analogue readout. For this purpose, a dedicated mixed-signal ASIC for the readout of CGEM-IT signals and FPGA-based electronics for data processing have been developed. The simultaneous measurement of both ionization charge and time distribution enables three reconstruction algorithms, to cope with the asymmetry of the electron avalanche in the magnetic field and with non-orthogonal incident tracks. The CGEM-IT will not only restore the design efficiency but also improve the secondary vertex reconstruction and the radiation tolerance. The gas mixture and gain settings were chosen to optimize the position resolution to ∼130 µm in the transverse plane and better than 350 µm along the beam direction. This paper addresses the innovative aspects in terms of construction, readout, and software, employed to achieve the design goals as well as the experimental measurements performed during the development and commissioning of the CGEM-IT.
Suitability and Sensitivity of Golden Grey Mullet Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810) as a Reference Fish Species for Ecotoxicity Tests in the Black Sea
Authors: Niță Victor , Nenciu Magda , Coatu Valentina
Published: April 2022

In recent years, hydrocarbon exploration and production operations have intensified in the Black Sea. Alongside growth in exploration and production activities, the influence of chemical usage across multiple industrial sectors within the Black Sea environment has become increasingly interesting. The aim of this research was to define a protocol for determining the acute toxicity of chemicals using the golden grey mullet, Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810), a native pelagic fish species of the Black Sea. Juvenile golden grey mullets were exposed for 96 h, under semi-static conditions, to dilutions of the reference toxicant 3,5-Dichlorophenol. Results from three reference toxicity tests (LC50 = 1.25 mg/L, 1.739 mg/L, and 1.409 mg/L) indicated that C. auratus is of moderate sensitivity when compared to literature values from EPAs Ecotox database. The protocol described within is intended to ensure Black Sea native organisms are represented by standard hazard assessment practices.
Bayesian Methods for Inferring Missing Data in the BATSE Catalog of Short Gamma-Ray Bursts
Authors: Shahmoradi Amir , Osborne Joshua Alexander , Bagheri Fatemeh
Published: April 2022

The knowledge of the redshifts of Short-duration Gamma-Ray Bursts (SGRBs) is essential for constraining their cosmic rates and thereby the rates of related astrophysical phenomena, particularly Gravitational Wave Radiation (GWR) events. Many of the events detected by gamma-ray observatories (e.g., BATSE, Fermi, and Swift) lack experimentally measured redshifts. To remedy this, we present and discuss a generic data-driven probabilistic modeling framework to infer the unknown redshifts of SGRBs in the BATSE catalog. We further explain how the proposed probabilistic modeling technique can be applied to newer catalogs of SGRBs and other astronomical surveys to infer the missing data in the catalogs.
The Enduring Legacy of Randall Cohrs: A Meeting of the Minds in the Rocky Mountains
Authors: Grose Charles , Rovnak Joel , Mahalingam Ravi
Published: April 2022

Randall Cohrs established the Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Society (CALS) in 2011 [...]
Generated Randomly and Selected Functionally? The Nature of Enterovirus Recombination
Authors: Alnaji Fadi G. , Bentley Kirsten , Pearson Ashley , Woodman Andrew , Moore Jonathan , Fox Helen , Macadam Andrew J. , Evans David J.
Published: April 2022

Genetic recombination in RNA viruses is an important evolutionary mechanism. It contributes to population diversity, host/tissue adaptation, and compromises vaccine efficacy. Both the molecular mechanism and initial products of recombination are relatively poorly understood. We used an established poliovirus-based in vitro recombination assay to investigate the roles of sequence identity and RNA structure, implicated or inferred from an analysis of circulating recombinant viruses, in the process. In addition, we used next-generation sequencing to investigate the early products of recombination after cellular coinfection with different poliovirus serotypes. In independent studies, we find no evidence for a role for RNA identity or structure in determining recombination junctions location. Instead, genome function and fitness are of greater importance in determining the identity of recombinant progeny. These studies provide further insights into this important evolutionary mechanism and emphasize the critical nature of the selection process on a mixed virus population.
Absence of Anti-RBD Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Infected or Naive Individuals Prior to Vaccination with CoronaVac Leads to Short Protection of Only Four Months Duration
Authors: Oliveira Camille F. de , Neto Walter F. F. , Silva Carla P. da , Ribeiro Ana Claudia S. , Martins Lívia C. , Sousa Alana W. de , Freitas Maria N. O. , Chiang Jannifer O. , Silva Franko A. , Santos Eder B. dos , Medeiros Daniele B. A. , Pinheiro Gleiciane S. , Brandão Gleiciane F. , Carvalho Valéria L. , Azevedo Raimunda S. S. , Vasconcelos Pedro F. C. , Costa Igor B. , Costa Iran B. , Santos Mirleide C. dos , Soares Luana S. , Bedran Rayssa L. S. , Ferreira James L. , Amarilla Alberto A. , Modhiran Naphak , McMillan Christopher L. D. , Freney Morgan E. , Muller David A. , Watterson Daniel , Casseb Lívia M. N. , Henriques Daniele F.
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest public health threat facing the world today. Multiple vaccines have been approved; however, the emergence of viral variants such as the recent Omicron raises the possibility of booster doses to achieve adequate protection. In Brazil, the CoronaVac (Sinovac, Beijing, China) vaccine was used; however, it is important to assess the immune response to this vaccine over time. This study aimed to monitor the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in those immunized with CoronaVac and SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. Samples were collected between August 2020 and August 2021. Within the vaccinated cohort, some individuals had a history of infection by SARS-CoV-2 prior to immunization, while others did not. We analyzed RBD-specific and neutralizing-antibodies. Anti-RBD antibodies were detected in both cohorts, with a peak between 45–90 days post infection or vaccination, followed by a steady decline over time. In those with a previous history of COVID-19, a higher, longer, more persistent response was observed. This trend was mirrored in the neutralization assays, where infection, followed by immunization, resulted in higher, longer lasting responses which were conditioned on the presence of levels of RBD antibodies right before the vaccination. This supports the necessity of booster doses of CoronaVac in due course to prevent serious disease.
Sources, Pollution Characteristics, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Steroids in Beihai Bay, Guangxi
Authors: Ren Chaoxing , Tan Xiao , Huang Cuimei , Zhao Hui , Lan Wenlu
Published: April 2022

Steroids are environmental endocrine disruptors that are discharged from vertebrates and are also byproducts of aquaculture. They have strong endocrine disrupting effects and are extremely harmful to the environment. The pollution of steroids in Beihai Bay was assessed through analyzing sources from rivers entering the bay. Six different types of steroids were detected in seagoing rivers, seagoing discharge outlets, and marine aquaculture farms, ranging from 0.12 (methyltestosterone) to 2.88 ng/L (estrone), from 0.11 (cortisol) to 5.41 ng/L (6a-methylprednisone (Dragon)), and from 0.13 (estradiol) to 2.51 ng/L (nandrolone), respectively. Moreover, 5 steroids were detected in 13 of the 19 seawater monitoring stations, accounting for 68.4% of the samples, and their concentrations ranged from 0.18 (methyltestosterone) to 4.04 ng/L (estrone). Furthermore, 7 steroids were detected in 15 of the 19 sediment monitoring stations, accounting for 78.9% of the samples, with concentrations ranging from 26 (estrone) to 776 ng/kg(androsterone). Thus, the main source of marine steroids were the discharging rivers and pollution sources entering the sea. An ecological risk assessment indicated that estrone and methyltestosterone were at high risk in this region; 17β estradiol (E2β) was medium risk, and other steroids were of low or no risk. This study provides a scientific basis for ecological risk assessment and control.
Catastrophic Floods in Large River Basins: Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction under Dynamic Complex Natural Processes–Forecasting and Presentation of Flood Consequences
Authors: Trifonova Tatiana , Arakelian Mileta , Bukharov Dmitriy , Abrakhin Sergei , Abrakhina Svetlana , Arakelian Sergei
Published: April 2022

A unique approach has been developed for explaining and forecasting the processes of flood and/or mudflow (debris) formation and their spread along riverbeds in mountainous areas, caused by flash increases in the water masses involved (considerably increasing in their expected level because of precipitation intensity) due to groundwater contributions. Three-dimensional crack-nets within the confines of unified rivershed basins in mountain massifs are a natural transportation system (as determined by some dynamic external stress factors) for groundwater, owing to hydrostatic/hydrodynamic pressure distribution, varied due to different reasons (e.g., earthquakes). This process reveals a wave nature characterized by signs of obvious self-organization, and can be described via the soliton model in nonlinear hydrodynamics on the surface propagation after a local exit of groundwater as the trigger type. This approach (and related concepts) might result in a more reliable forecasting and early warning system in case of natural water hazards/disasters, taking into account a groundwater-dominant role in some cases.
Mechanism and Kinetic Analysis of the Degradation of Atrazine by O3/H2O2
Authors: Lu Yixin , Tang Chenghan , Liu Yujie , Chen Jiao
Published: April 2022

In phosphate buffer, the degradation of ATZ by ozone/(O3/H2O2) under various circumstance was explored and the degradation mechanism and dynamics were probed. The findings revealed that when maintaining the reaction temperature at 25 °C, the H2O2 concentration and the O3 concentration were 20 mol/L and 20 mol/L, respectively. Moreover, the degradation rate of 5 mol/L ATZ under the influence of O3/H2O2 was 92.59% in phosphate buffer at pH7. The mechanism analysis showed that HO• and O3 underwent co-oxidized degradation and that the HO• and O3 oxidation degradation ratios were close to 1:1 under acidic conditions. Furthermore, HO• oxidative degradation dominated the ATZ degradation process. The kinetics analysis showed that the ATZ kinetics of O3/H2O2 degradation were more compatible with quasi-second-order reaction kinetics under different temperatures, pH values, and H2O2 concentrations.
A Comparative Study of Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment Methods
Authors: Khlif Tagreed , Al-Aboodi Ali , Ibrahim Husham
Published: April 2022

Recently, methods have emerged to assess the vulnerability of groundwater to pollution, which has been adopted by many countries that depend on groundwater as an important and supportive resource for surface water to protect groundwater and monitor and control its pollution. Assessment methods adopt vulnerability maps and compare them with the real-life pollution map of the region. The study was conducted in Al-Teeb area, which is located in the northeast of Missan province, south of Iraq. This area is about 2450 km2. This study applied four models DRASTIC, GOD, SINTACS and Modified DRASTIC of vulnerability maps are analyzed using GIS technique and compared with the reality map which represent the nitrate concentration map as a basic comparison map; in order to choose the closest one with respect to the realistic acting. The results showed that 80.29 % of study area is classified under low vulnerability in DRASTIC method and moderate vulnerability in GOD, SINTACS and MD-DRASTIC which are covered 54.12 %, 83.18 % and 72.35 % of study area respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to compare the four methods with the nitrate concentration map, where the correlation value for DRASTIC, GOD, SINTACS and MD-DRASTIC was 73.05, 49.79, 83.23 and 87.94 %, respectively. So, the MD-DRASTIC is represented the best technique for evaluating vulnerability map in the study area which can be recommended.
Is TikTok a public sphere for democracy in China? A Political Economy Approach
Authors: Lin Hui
Published: April 2022

This study aims to investigate whether TikTok can be regarded as a new public sphere for democracy in the Chinese media context. Previous studies focused on the investigation of Weibo (a Chinese counterpart of Twitter) as a public sphere. However, Jia and Han (2020) argue that Weibo is not an online space for public discussion anymore but a platform for marketing and advertising. With the commercialization of social media, plenty of researchers paid attention to TikTok’s commodification and its commercial implications, while research on the role of TikTok as a public sphere is still limited. By adopting theoretical frameworks from “public sphere” and “political economy”, this study questions: 1) why users participate in public issues on TikTok? 2) how do citizens use TikTok to participate online? 3) does TikTok contribute to the creation of a public sphere? The empirical method, 20 semi-structured interviews around China, is utilized to understand citizens’ views and participation behavior. This study argues that the reason why users participate in public issues on TikTok is entertainment. Users are attracted by the platform which offers creative and humorous videos to disseminate public information. Getting interested in its entertainment feature, users utilize TikTok to view pubic-related videos. According to respondents of the interview, 18 out of 20 users indicate they seldom use the “search button” or “create button” on TikTok, rather, they merely browse videos there. In this sense, TikTok is not a public sphere because of lacking critical interactions. In contrast to Habermas’s claim that social media is a “pseudo-public sphere” (Habermas, 1989), this study describes TikTok as a “limited public sphere” which do, to some extent, generate public discussions and debates about socio-political issues directly or indirectly. Nevertheless, the social impact of this sphere is restricted, that is, online public engagement is confined to liking, sharing, and short commenting lacking in critical discussions, and is ineffective in transferring online political engagement to offline participation (Kim and Ellison, 2021). Thus, TikTok facilitates citizens’ political engagement superficially and it is harder for that engagement to have any subversive impact on democracy.
How Non-profit Art Spaces in Hanoi, Vietnam, used Facebook to Communicate, Exhibit and Promote Art and Culture During the Closure of Physical Spaces
Authors: Duester Emma
Published: April 2022

The Covid-19 Pandemic has changed the nature and importance of arts communication, exhibition and promotion via social media. However, moving fully online has highlighted global inequalities in digital inclusion and access, with inherent biases towards content from the West and larger cultural institutions with sufficient technical, human and financial resources in order to survive through the Covid-19 Pandemic. This paper investigates how non-profit art spaces in Hanoi, Vietnam, developed their use of Facebook for effective communication, exhibition and promotion of Vietnamese art and culture during the first closure of physical premises. With the shift of all work online due to Covid-19 Pandemic social distancing measures, Facebook provided non-profit art spaces with a viable digital solution at a time of increased pressure to connect with the audience. Facebook provided a way to overcome challenges faced by non-profit art spaces with lack of financial, human and technical resources, by providing a free and widely accessible social media platform. The current study draws upon a digital ethnography of Facebook posts over 2 months and 50 semi-structured interviews with cultural professionals in Hanoi. The findings highlight changes in the use of Facebook, the digital strategies that were created for working fully online, and how art spaces maintained connection with the audience during the closure of physical premises between March and April 2020. This study identifies changes in social media usage patterns in three main ways: 1) the introduction of using Facebook for digital exhibition and holding live events, 2) changes in type of promotional content, and 3) changes in communication style with the introduction of an effective rhetoric of care. Together, the findings highlight changes in the nature and importance of arts communication, exhibition and promotion via social media in the cultural sector due the Covid-19 Pandemic. Developments over this time could help provide a sustainable solution to overcome challenges faced in the cultural sector in Vietnam and overcome global inequalities in access and inclusion online.
Social Media Analysis and Strategic Recommendations for a Non-Profit Organization in Germany
Authors: Giersemehl Franziska , Michelis Daniel , Stumpp Stefan
Published: April 2022

Nowadays it is impossible to imagine life without social media - Facebook, Instagram and Co. have become important platforms for public discourse, political communication and opinion-forming.

Not only for companies, but also for nonprofit organizations (NPO), networking via social media creates potential. On the one hand, they offer a cost-effective dialog opportunity to address many interested parties and new target groups. On the other hand, the interaction of high-quality content and strategically planned social media posts not only gains reach, but also members and donations for the organization. At the same time, social media opens up space for hate speech, discrimination and racism, which is why a strategy to steadfastly counter negative reactions online is becoming increasingly important for nonprofit organizations as well.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the regional nonprofit organization in the welfare sector – German Red Cross district association in Leipzig and the surrounding region – is targeting social media communications to achieve its established goals of recruitment and fundraising.

Unlike previous studies that focus on single social media platforms, this study examines the use of multiple social media platforms. This study included a qualitative analysis. We used qualitative content analysis (Mayring, 2015) to gain in-depth findings into the social media work of the NPO and its competitors.

In the first step, competitors of the NPO were selected for the analysis based on their activities on the social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. For the selection of the competitors, own selection measures were chosen in order to make a suitable sample selection. Content categorization was used to interpret information within the social media profiles. The focus was on the textual and visual design of the social media accounts and individual posts of the competitors. For this purpose, the period of data collection included the months of June and September 2020. In summary, posts from 17 social media profiles were considered in the analysis, and we analyzed 21 Facebook posts, 12 Instagram posts, 15 tweets, and 20 YouTube videos.

Based on the results, a strategic approach for the social media work of the non-profit organization could be developed in the form of recommendations for action. In addition, more donation campaigns are to be included in social media. Emotional storytelling leads to more interactions, which can generate a higher willingness to donate.
Flagging Controversies: The effect of flagging mechanisms on Zhihu platform
Authors: Li Chen
Published: April 2022

This empirical study explores the formation and configuration of public opinions on Zhihu, a major knowledge-sharing social media platform in contemporary China. Though recent studies examined the impact of flags on citizen journalism, how users make meaning of flagged content and how flags affect public opinions largely lack contextualized explanation and investigation. Thus, this research takes the flagging mechanisms of Zhihu as a vantage point to analyze how public opinions are configurated in a flagged controversy. This study focuses on a posted question on Zhihu: “How to understand Greta Thunberg’s advice for Chinese to stop using chopsticks for the environment’s sake?” This study probes the interplay between users, platforms, and public discourses in the ad hoc controversy. The finding suggested the frontpage and backstage of the flagging activity structure an unequal relationship among Zhihu users. Significantly, the flagging mechanisms broaden the circulation of controversy rather than intervening in spreading rumors. Besides, this study found a frame of newsworthiness employed by Zhihu users. In addition to the framing, there is a pattern of prioritizing information sources in public discussions.
High Performance Leather based on in Situ Formation of Reduced Graphene Oxide in Chrome Tanning
Authors: Yang Xinle , Li Yanchun , Yang Mao , Dang Xugang , Cao Shan
Published: April 2022

A novel method of high performance leather prepared via in situ reduction of graphene oxide after tanning was proposed in this research. First, nano-graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by an improved Hummers method. Then, the prepared GO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Finally, GO was added during the chrome tanning process, and GO was reduced by ascorbic acid after the chrome tanning was completed. Moreover, the shrinkage temperature, tensile strength, tear strength and thermal conductivity of the finished leather were investigated. The results showed that the absorption of chrome tanning agent was significantly improved by the addition of GO. The tensile strength, tear strength, and the thermal conductivity of the resulted leather obviously surpassed the leather tanned by chrome tanning agent. Specifically, the tensile strength and tear strength of the leather reached 21.25 MPa and 163.95 N·mm-1 , respectively, when the amount of reducing agent was ten times the amount of GO. A combination of the tanning of leather and the in situ reduction of GO is expected to become a new processing method for preparation of high performance.
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Geografis Pariwisata Pasaman Barat Berbasis Android Menggunakan Metode Haversine
Authors: Edy Suranta G.S Sugeng Purwantoro
Published: April 2022

Wisata merupakan kegiatan yang banyak dilakukan oleh masyarakat saat ini yang bertujuan untuk mencari suasana baru diluar aktifitas rutin harian. Daerah tujuan wisata di sumatera cukup banyak dan beragam sekali salah satunya lokasi wisata yang berada di kabupaten Pasaman Barat. Namun banyak objek wisata yang tidak diketahui oleh para wisatawan yang berkunjung, disebabkan karena kurangnya informasi objek wisata yang tersedia. Sistem Informasi Geografis (SIG) dapat menyediakan informasi lokasi suatu tempat, yang dapat digunakan untuk menampilkan lokasi objek wisata yang dibutuhkan oleh para wisatawan.  Perancangan sistem ini memberikan perhitungan estimasi jarak dan rekomendasi lokasi jarak terdekat menggunakan metode Haversine yang berfungsi untuk menghitung jarak antara dua titik. Sistem dirancang pada platform android, database MySQL dan bahasa pemograman PHP. Pengujian menggunakan pengujian White Box, Black Box, dan pengujian perbandingan dengan Google Maps Distance. Pada pengujian White Box pada kode program Haversine Formula dan kode program tampilan wisata didapatkan hasil nilai Cyclomatic Complexity 1 dan 2, disimpulkan kode program memliki level resiko yang sederhana dan tanpa banyak resiko sehingga mudah dilakukan maintenance dan diuji alur programnya. Pengujian Black Box disimpulkan bahwa fungsionalitas sistem berjalan dengan baik, pada analisa pengujian perbandingan didapatkan nilai akurasi 100% dan disimpulkan hasil perhitungan sama dengan Google Maps Distance
Implementasi business intelligence dashboard untuk visualisasi data pasien posbindu ptm binaan uptd puskesmas kecamatan
Authors: Nurmalasari Dini , Nurzikriah Nurzikriah
Published: April 2022

Posbindu PTM (integrated non-communicable disease fostered post) is a form of community participation in early detection, monitoring and early follow-up of PTM risk factors independently and continuously. The target of this program is aimed at all healthy and at-risk communities aged 15 years and over. This PTM Posbindu activity is held once a month. For Rokan IV Koto sub-district there are 10 Posbindu PTMs. After conducting the survey, the management of Puskesmas Rokan IV Koto has managed patient data using excel as a source of annual performance reporting. However, management Puskesmas Rokan IV Koto had difficulty getting information from patient data in accordance with the management's wishes. What the management of Puskesmas Rokan IV Koto wants is to know the distribution pattern of PTM, patients and patients at risk of PTM. The design of this system uses tools including: Framework CodeIgniter, PHP as a programming language and MySQL as a DBMS. This system is tested using black box testing and user acceptance test (UAT). Based on the user acceptance test (UAT) that has been carried out, it shows that 88% of the system that has been built has been accepted by the user and black box testing shows that the function has been running 100%. The benefit of this business intelligence system is that it is able to assist the head of the puskesmas in making decisions.

Keywords: Puskesmas Rokan IV Koto, Patient Data, Business Intelligence, MySQL, PHP