bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Level design for Tower Defense game
Authors:   State University of Information and Communication Technologies, Kyiv, Ihnatova M. V.
Published: September 2024

The paper conducts an analysis of issues related to level creation in Tower Defense games. It examines the relevance and significance of the topic in the modern gaming industry. An analysis of recent scientific publications and research has highlighted key problems with existing level creation methods. Specifically, it identifies issues such as uniformity, significant time consumption in manual creation, inefficiency in handling large workloads, and errors in level generation. In order to address these problems and improve the level creation process, the paper proposes the use of procedural generation methods based on Perlin Noise. The analysis indicates that employing such methods can offer greater diversity and enhance gameplay quality in Tower Defense games. The research results demonstrate that the developed procedural level generation algorithm, in conjunction with pathfinding algorithms and the use of artificial intelligence to control adversaries, can enhance the quality of Tower Defense games. Employing these methods ensures variability, interest, and complexity in gameplay, impacting player satisfaction. The algorithm employs various parameters such as tower placement, enemy pathing, and resource distribution to ensure a balance between complexity and player satisfaction. Overall, research in the field of Tower Defense level creation underscores the importance of player collaboration and the use of innovative methods, such as genetic algorithms, to create an engaging and diverse gaming experience. Further research could focus on refining level generation algorithms and employing intelligent systems to automate this process, contributing to the improvement of quality and player satisfaction in Tower Defense games.
How Python brings efficiency to chatbots: enhancing user experience with magic filters in Aiogram
Authors:   State University of Information and Communication Technologies, Kyiv, Smetana M. Yu.
Published: September 2024

User experience is of immense importance, especially when it comes to chatbots. Continuous and intuitive interaction with a chatbot can significantly elevate customer satisfaction and loyalty. Conversely, a poor user experience can lead to disappointment and abandonment, ultimately harming the reputation and effectiveness of the chatbot. To ensure a positive user experience, chatbot developers need to focus on designing conversations that are natural, context-aware, and efficient. Chatbots have become a key element of customer service in the digital environment, and this article explores how the Python programming language, particularly through the aiogram library, allows the implementation of magic filters and how they can alter the functionality of any chatbot. The article discusses issues and limitations to consider, as well as the potential and possibilities of using magic filters in aiogram for future developments. Magic filters enhance user interaction, recognize entities, analyze moods, and determine the language of messages. The research aims to explore the possibilities of using Python and magic filters to enhance chatbots using aiogram. The goal is to create a guide on using magic filters and their effective implementation. It's essential to consider the complexity of implementing magic filters, the need for quality data, and understanding linguistic and cultural nuances. These aspects can pose challenges for developers. Recommendations include understanding the target audience, testing, and maintaining a balance between automation and human intervention. Developing chatbots using Python and aiogram with magic filters opens up broad possibilities for improving interaction and functionality. Understanding limitations and implementing best practices are key to success. The implementation of magic filters in chatbots brings numerous benefits for businesses and users. Personalized interaction, time and cost savings, improved scalability, and data-driven statistics collection are key advantages that can significantly enhance chatbot functionality and user satisfaction.
Research of protocols and technologies data transmissions in IoT networks
Authors:   National Aviation University, Kyiv, Bychkov V. V.
Published: September 2024

Important functions of the concept of the Internet of Things are the facilitation of everyday life, improvement of efficiency and quality of work, energy saving, etc. More and more often, data from "things" are transferred to the public communication network and cloud services. Any objects in the physical world that can be assigned IP addresses and are capable of transmitting data can act as "things" in such a network. Various technologies and protocols are used for data transmission, of which there are currently more than twenty. In the near future, a large number of devices will be connected to the Internet of Things. Most of these devices will run on batteries. At the same time, one of the main characteristics is the duration of equipment operation without human intervention. In order to solve this problem, new networks were created specifically for the Internet of Things. These networks are called LPWANs. At the same time, one of the key issues is the optimal selection of the method of information transfer between nodes in the Internet of Things concept. After conducting an analysis of open sources, it is possible to conclude about the prospects of using the following technologies for these purposes: NB-IoT, Weightless, LoRa, SigFox. The subject of research in the article is long-distance data transmission technologies and protocols used to send information from a sensor to a cloud service in the context of the Internet of Things. The purpose of the study is to review and compare the main technologies and protocols for long-distance data transmission in Internet of Things networks. A comparative analysis of the main characteristics of long-distance data transmission protocols and technologies of the LPWAN network was carried out: NB-IoT, Weightless, LoRa, SigFox. The results of the analysis are presented in the form of a table. Experimental results have shown that the effectiveness of the considered protocols and technologies depends on various conditions of the communication network. In this regard, currently the choice of protocols for devices depending on operating conditions helps to solve the problem of saving resources, both energy consumption and guaranteed delivery. This is especially relevant in connection with the spread of the Internet of Things technology and the increase in the total number of "things".
Engagement dynamics in information technology education: A comparative analysis of online vs. face-to-face instruction
Authors: Öncü Semiral , Çolakoğlu Merve , Colak Huseyin
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether taking a course online or face-to-face matters in terms of student engagement and achievement. Gender differences were also examined. The level of student engagement in an information technology course in a freshman sample from a school of education was surveyed and compared in two consecutive years where the course was taught online in the first year and face-to-face in the second year. There were a total of 129 students, 62 in the online mode and 67 in the face-to-face mode. Data were collected using a survey that included a student engagement scale, as well as midterm and final exams. Non-parametric analyses were used due to data with non-normal distributions for some of the dependent variables, with the Mann–Whitney U test being the main form of analysis for group comparisons. Regarding gender, female students who received face-to-face instruction lost interest in the course toward the final exams, as evidenced by significantly lower engagement scores for both active learning and paying attention. The results show that online versus face-to-face delivery of the computer science course can be more efficient in terms of student engagement, and a similar performance score as in the face-to-face mode can be achieved with less effort to be present at school. In addition, it is evident that female students need more support for greater engagement when the mode of delivery must be face-to-face.
A descriptive study of differential stuck pipe problem in Nahr Umr oil field: principles and treatments
Authors: Alhisnawy Karrar Talib , A. Alrazzaq Ayad A. Alhaleem , Emtair Waleed M.
Published: September 2024

Differential-pressure pipe sticking is one of the main problems that occurs during drilling operations, leading to an increase in the non-productive time (NPT). To address this problem, the industry uses a range of spotting fluids to enable the recovery of a differentially stuck pipe effectively. Thus, any delay in solving this problem can turn into a difficult rescue operation that can eventually lead to the abandonment of the well in extreme conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate spotting fluid that is suitable for the specific mud composition, as using an unsuitable spotting fluid may result in dangerous conditions. Additionally, other factors can further complicate the process of freeing a stuck pipe. Therefore, for prevention, remediation, and enhancing the recovery of stuck pipes, it is important to understand the root causes of the pipe sticking issue, the conditions that lead to it, and the operational mechanisms of various spotted fluids and their application areas.
   This paper studies the challenges of pipe sticking during drilling operations, particularly emphasizing differential pipe sticking, and the role of spotting fluids in releasing pipe sticking. It discusses the testing and evaluation methods used to choose appropriate spotting fluids while rejecting the inferior options, highlighting the benefits and disadvantages.
      This study, which was conducted at Well NR-A in the Nahr Umr field in southeastern Iraq, aims to address the problem of differential stuck pipes. By employing a stuck pipe list check table, the mechanism of this problem was diagnosed, resulting in a thorough analysis of the causes of differential stuck pipe and subsequent steps necessary to release the stuck pipe. Finally, recommendations are presented to improve testing and evaluation methods, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods.
Identifying the high potential zones for hydraulic fracture propagation / Eastern Baghdad field
Authors: Ihsan Amani , Al- Ameri Nagham Jasim
Published: September 2024

For a reservoir with high storage capacity and low ability to produce, the serious problem is the sharp reduction in the recorded well productivity within a short period. One solution to this problem is to create hydraulic fractures that increase formation permeability and keep its production at high rates for a sufficient time. The field under study is the East Baghdad oil field of three formations: Saadi, Tanuma, and Khasib. Knowing the geomechanical behavior of these reservoirs has a critical effect on the success of hydraulic fracturing operations. In this study, rock stress magnitude and direction, rock elasticity, rock strength to fracturing initiation, and all these parameters in addition to petrophysical properties will be used to identify whether the hydraulic fracturing operation could be successful or not. An integrated modeling of the studied reservoir is an essential step including 1-D geomechanical evaluation of many formations in order to choose the perfect layer to create hydraulic fracture. Then, a 3-D distribution of geomechanical properties and petrophysical properties was presented to make a perfect selection of these properties. The geomechanical evaluation of the reservoirs under study is supported by experimental evaluation of core samples including Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) image, and thin section (TS) image. The results show that a reduction in the calculated geomechanical properties in terms of Poisson ratio young modulus and compressive strength are favorable for candidate layer selection.  Among the studies of rock mechanical properties, it is also noticed that unconfined compressive strength is a crucial parameter for best layer selection. The suitable depths for fracturing jobs are given in detail in this study using brief data collected from four wells.
Production of a dead oil well by a progressive cavity pump and its optimization
Authors: Tsapla Fotsa Rolande , Ndemanou Buris Peggy , Kemnang Tsafack Alex Stephane , Fotie Foka Noel Freddy , Sontia Fouazong Darel
Published: September 2024

In the context of oil and gas extraction, a dead well refers to a well that has ceased to produce hydrocarbons. The major problems that account for this are: the reservoir has been depleted, the pressure has dropped too low to allow for extraction, or there are technical issues such as blockages or equipment failure. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the performance of a dead well called K88 (for confidential reasons) activated by the progressive cavity pump (PCP) in order to improve and maximize the oil flow rate produced. The completion, reservoir, production pressure, volume, and temperature (PVT) data are processed under Excel and Prosper software by using nodal analysis, sensitive analysis, economic analysis, and decline curve methods to obtain the results. The results showed that well K88 activated by the PCP has an oil flow rate of 1600.9 STB/day. The optimization makes it possible to obtain a net oil flow rate of 2005 STB/day associated with a head pressure of 45 psig. According to the economic calculation results, a gain in production is noticed during 10 years of production and a return on investment at the latest 39 days of production.
Preparation and characterization of smart hydrogels (magnetic field responsive)
Authors: Ghafil Nagham Ali , Abdul-Majeed Basma A. , Alsarayreh Alanood A.
Published: September 2024

Iron nanoparticles were prepared by using the co-precipitation process, and then used to fabricate magnetic field-responsive hydrogel films. The magnetic nanoparticles' structural, physical-chemical, morphological, and magnetic characteristics and the effect of hydrogel films' coating concentration were studied. The properties of the hydrogel film responsive to the magnetic field were investigated using Fourier analysis spectroscopy infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicated that all samples showed good inter-integration of the constituent materials and their functional groups. The hydrogel film samples which were polycrystalline, had broad diffraction peaks and showed constant particle size with nearly spherical particles with rounded edges. The SEM image of the magnetic nanoparticles with and without coating was established for the accumulation of numerous nanoparticles with a 17 nm mean diameter. In addition, the magnetic properties of the magnetic field-sensitive hydrogel films were evident and sufficient for drug delivery to the desired location.
ДИНАМІКА ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ТОРГОВЕЛЬНИХ МЕРЕЖ В УКРАЇНІ ПІД ЧАС ВІЙНИ
Authors: Тимейчук Юрій
Published: September 2024

Війна Росії в Україні завдала значної шкоди українській інфраструктурі, а особливо торговельним мережам, які є життєво важливими об’єктами. Незважаючи на допомогу уряду для стабілізації цін, повномасштабне вторгнення призвело до збитків українських ритейлерів у розмірі $402 млн, переважно у східних регіонах. Ритейлери адаптували стратегії, зокрема маркетингові кампанії і асортимент продуктів, до регіональних умов. Дані Української асоціації постачальників торговельних мереж показують, що понад 97% закладів відновили роботу протягом перших 14 місяців конфлікту, а провідні торговельні мережі майже відновили довоєнну кількість торгових точок протягом наступних трьох місяців. Стаття аналізує вплив війни на ритейлерів, регіональні стратегії відновлення та можливості міжнародної експансії.
An estimation of the tower crane safety risk factors in the Vietnamese construction industry
Authors: Long Ngo Thanh , Giang Nguyen Hoang
Published: September 2024

The construction industry is among the riskiest sectors worldwide due to its involvement in complex and hazardous activities, primarily because of the use of tower cranes. Tower cranes are considered the most hazardous construction machinery, contributing to a high rate of serious accidents, including fatalities and disabling injuries, not only in Vietnam but also globally. In this paper, we identify and evaluate 42 tower crane safety risk factors specific to the Vietnamese construction industry based on their probability of occurrence, severity of impact, and associated risk levels. The paper reveals that the most probable risk factor is “Unfavorable winds (including intensity, direction, etc.)” with a mean value of 3.641. The factor with the highest severity is “Wire rope is broken” with a mean value of 4.179. Furthermore, the study shows that twenty-five out of forty-two (59.52%) factors present a moderate risk level, with a Relative Significant Index Score (RSIS) ranging from 8.019 to 13.047. Among these, the factor “Bad maintenance management of the tower crane and auxiliary aids” poses the highest risk level, with an RSIS value of 13.047. This paper aims to enhance the understanding oftower crane safety among subcontractors, government safety regulators, main contractors, maintenance personnel, and workers in the Vietnamese construction industry. Additionally, the methodology presented in this paper can be adapted for assessing safety risk factors in other industries within Vietnam.
Flexural and fracture behavior of high-performance concrete using notch specimen
Authors: Lam Kha-Ky , Nguyen Duy-Liem , Le Tuan Manh , Tran Ngoc-Thanh
Published: September 2024

This study investigated the mechanical properties of high-performance concrete using notched specimens. Allflexural specimens had an identical geometry of 40×40×160 mm3 with a span length of 120 mm. Four notchto-depth ratios were as follows: 0 (N0 series), 0.125 (N1 series), 0.250 (N2 series), and 0.375 (N3 series), whichwere designed at the specimen bottom of midspan section. The investigation focused on the four parametersof high-performance concrete, including load carrying, deflection capacity, flexural strength, and the criticalstress intensity factor. The results showed that the load-carrying and deflection capacities decrease with anincrease in the notch-to-depth ratios. Furthermore, the flexural strength was ranked as follows: N0 series > N3series > N2 series > N1 series, whereas ranking of the regarding critical stress intensity factor was opposite:N1 series > N2 series > N3 series.
Numerical investigation on behaviour of mooring line system for container ship at berth
Authors: Tuan Vu Minh , Loi Thai Duy
Published: September 2024

The constant growth of the world’s maritime industry has led to the need to increase the size of ships as wellas accelerate the trend of moving ports to open sea areas and outside estuaries. Increasing the size of ships,especially container ships, has the potential to cause unsafe ship anchoring in ports. Furthermore, the mooringof ships at the harbor also lacks international guidelines on the layout of the mooring system. Meanwhile, relocating seaports outside estuaries and open seas can create conditions for high winds, high tidal fluctuationsand strong currents to penetrate the port basin. This paper presents a study using the MIKE 21 MA numericalmodel to determine the most optimal mooring layout for a container ship as well as clarify the influence offactors (wind, current, water level and ship’s draft) on the tension force of the mooring lines. The most optimal mooring layout in the study scenarios was uncovered from the simulation results. In addition, wind wasidentified as the factor with the greatest influence on the tension force of the mooring system.
Improvement of properties of high volume fly ash based self-compacting mortar with dolomite and ground granulated blast furnace slag
Authors: Tran Vu-An , Nguyen Hoang-Anh , Anh Tuan Bui Le , Vo Duy-Hai
Published: September 2024

Usage of filler with inert or pozzolanic property has been crucially required for fabricating the practicalself-compacting mortar or self-compacting concrete. The current study investigates the influence of usingthe dolomite powder on the enhanced properties of the high volume Class F fly ash self-compacting mortarwith/without addition of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS/slag). Experimental results showed thatpartial replacement of low calcium Class F fly ash with the dolomite powder not only increased the workability of the fresh modified self-compacting mortars but also enhanced the ordinary Portland cement hydrationprocess at early. The adjustment of dolomite powder addition as partial replacement of fly ash resulted in themodified self-compacting mortars with the compressive strength increased after 7 days of curing. 30 masspercent of dolomite powder partially replacing fly ash was considered as the optimum value to induce the hardened modified self-compacting mortars with the compressive strengths increased at 4.2, 10.4, and 10.5% at3, 7, and 28 days, respectively. With the content of dolomite powder being fixed at 30 and 50 mass percent,partial replacement of fly ash with slag at 50 mass percent induced the modified self-compacting mortars withsignificant enhancement of the engineering properties.
Microextraction isolation and concentration of mycotoxins for their determination in food products
Authors: Pochivalov A. S. , Pavlova K. V. , Bulatov A. V.
Published: September 2024

Mycotoxins are among the most dangerous natural contaminants of food products. The review discusses the principles of microextraction methods (liquid-liquid and solid-phase microextraction) used for the isolation and concentration of mycotoxins from food products for their subsequent determination by various physico-chemical methods of analysis. The capabilities and limitations of the discussed methods, as well as examples of their practical application, are described.
Gas extraction generation of gas mixtures of polar organic compounds at trace concentration levels
Authors: Rodinkova O. V. , Grega M. E. , Spivakovsky V. A. , Znamenskaya E. A. , Zheludovskaya A. A.
Published: September 2024

The patterns of generating gas mixtures of polar organic compounds at the level of their MAC (several µg/m³) were studied using the method of continuous gas extraction from aqueous solutions with a known concentration in combination with dilution by a stream of diluent gas. The necessary distribution coefficients of phenol, isomeric cresols, nitrobenzene, and alkanols С4–С6 between the aqueous and gas phases (nitrogen) were determined. A two-stage generation scheme is proposed, based on saturating the sorbent (activated carbon) with a flow of extraction gas containing the target components at a specified concentration, followed by desorption by a flow of pure extraction gas.
Multifunctional polymeric stationary phases with enhanced hydrophilicity grafted with polyethyleneimine and polyglycidol
Authors: Gorbovskaya A. V. , Popkova E. K. , Uzhel A. S. , Shpigun O. A.
Published: September 2024

Two methods for increasing the degree of hydrophilization and screening of the sorbent matrix based on a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene grafted with polyethyleneimine quaternized with glycidol are proposed. The first method involves the polymerization of glycidol in the functional layer by varying the pH of the reaction medium, and the second method involves modifying the matrix by oxidizing the double bonds on its surface to obtain anchor epoxy groups. It was demonstrated that in the first method, the optimal approach is the twofold addition of glycidol before and after the addition of alkali, as in this case, the first addition of glycidol is consumed for the quaternization of polyamine, and the second for polymerization in ion-exchange centers. The new method of matrix modification, combined with the developed method of creating hydrophilic layers, significantly reduced the retention of oxyhalides, haloacetic acids, and polarizable anions in ion chromatography with suppressed background conductivity and amino acids in hydrophilic chromatography up to the point of changing the elution order. The obtained stationary phases are suitable for the simultaneous determination of standard inorganic anions, oxyhalides, and anions of haloacetic or alkylphosphonic acids in ion chromatography, as well as for the separation of amino acids, sugars, and vitamins in hydrophilic chromatography.
ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ BILSTM ДЛЯ ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЯ ОСКОРБИТЕЛЬНОГО ЯЗЫКА В ЯЗЫКАХ С НИЗКИМ УРОВНЕМ РЕСУРСОВ
Authors: Токтарова А. , Омаров Б. , Калдарова Б. , Турсынбаев А. , Абдрахманов Р.
Published: September 2024

Выявление ненормативной лексики является важнейшей задачей, позволяющей создавать эффективные системы модерации контента в современной цифровой эпохе. Но когда нет аннотированного материала, это становится особенно сложным на языках с ограниченными ресурсами. Данное исследование в первую очередь занимается поиском ругательств на казахском языке, который считается малоресурсным языком. Чтобы решить эту проблему, мы создали новую тактику, основанную на сетях долговременной двунаправленной памяти (BiLSTM), которые продемонстрировали удивительную эффективность в задачах обработки естественного языка. Благодаря двунаправленному компоненту архитектуры BiLSTM мы можем фиксировать как долгосрочные зависимости, так и контекстные отношения во входном тексте. Это позволяет лучше распознавать ненормативную лексику. Чтобы уменьшить нехватку аннотированных данных в условиях с ограниченными ресурсами, мы также применяем стратегии трансферного обучения.
            Мы показываем эффективность предложенного нами метода с помощью обширных экспериментов с набором данных казахского оскорбительного языка, что дает самые современные результаты в распознавании оскорбительной речи на казахском языке с низким уровнем ресурсов. Кроме того, мы исследуем эффективность нашей стратегии, используя различные настройки моделей и подходы к обучению. Результаты этого исследования дают ценную информацию о методах обнаружения ненормативной лексики на языках с ограниченными ресурсами и открывают путь к разработке более эффективных систем модерации контента, адаптированных к конкретным языковым контекстам.
КРАТКОСРОЧНЫЙ ПРОГНОЗ ВЫРАБОТКИ ЭЛЕКТРОЭНЕРГИИ ФОТОЭЛЕКТРИЧЕСКИМИ ЭЛЕКТРОСТАНЦИЯМИ ПУТЕМ СРАВНЕНИЯ МОДЕЛЕЙ LSTM И MLP
Authors: Таганова Г. , Тусупов Д.А. , Назырова А. , Абдилдаева А.А. , Ермек Т.Ж.
Published: September 2024

В современном мире эффективное управление электрическими сетями невозможно без достижения энергетического баланса между производством и потреблением электроэнергии. Стабильность работы электросетей напрямую зависит от способности операторов сети точно прогнозировать производство энергии, особенно когда речь идет о фотоэлектрических установках. Эти источники энергии, активно интегрируемые в электрические сети, подвержены влиянию множества факторов, в том числе и изменчивых погодных условий, что делает задачу прогнозирования особенно сложной. В рамках данного исследования была предпринята попытка повысить точность прогнозирования выходной мощности фотоэлектрической системы мощностью 20 кВт, собрав и анализировав данные о погодных условиях и производстве энергии за типичный год, охватывающий все четыре сезона. Особое внимание было уделено оценке двух методов машинного обучения: долгосрочной памяти (LSTM) и многослойного персептрона (MLP), которые были выбраны из-за их потенциала в обработке и анализе временных рядов данных. Результаты исследования демонстрируют высокую эффективность обоих методов в прогнозировании выходной мощности фотоэлектрических систем, что открывает новые возможности для улучшения управления электрическими сетями. Использование LSTM и MLP позволяет не только точно прогнозировать производство энергии, но и способствует оптимизации загрузки сети, минимизации потерь и повышению общей эффективности электроэнергетической системы. Важно отметить, что успех применения этих моделей зависит от качества и объема собранных данных, а также от тщательности подготовки данных к анализу. Исследование подчеркивает значимость интеграции передовых технологий машинного обучения в сферу управления энергетическими системами, предлагая практические рекомендации для энергетических компаний и операторов электросетей.
100 years of autoclaved aerated concrete
Authors: Cox Jos
Published: September 2024

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete [AAC], a revolution in thermal insulation and energy-efficient construction, was invented by Dr Axel Eriksson in Sweden in 1923. He developed a process for curing a special mixture of lime, metal powder, and a substance containing silica. The resulting steam-cured concrete had good thermal insulation, relatively high strength, high fire resistance, and could be produced economically. Carl August Carlén, who ran a family business, was granted a license to produce AAC in 1928. After a successful introduction in Sweden, AAC production became international in 1937. The use of license systems allowed third companies to invest in AAC, leading to rapid international expansion. Germany and Poland became leading centres of expertise and allowed AAC to expand on a global scale. As we approach the era of regulatory measures to meet Europe’s climate change targets AAC plays a significant role. This article presents the history and development of autoclaved aerated concrete over the last 100 years. The most important issues concerning the standardization of the production and use of autoclaved aerated concrete are also discussed.
Safety of reinforced AAC structures
Authors: Drobiec Łukasz , Drobiec Radosław , Mazur Wojciech
Published: September 2024

In recent years, several failures of reinforced aerated concrete [AAC] roof panels have occurred in public buildings in the UK. In September 2023, 104 schools were closed due to this. This has sparked a pan-European discussion on the safety of reinforced AAC masonry structures. This article concerns the safety of Polish reinforced aerated concrete and foam concrete structures. The work describes the reinforced structures used in Poland in the past and present. It describes the results of tests on reinforced AAC lintels conducted at the Silesian University of Technology. Based on the test results, an analysis of the safety of reinforced structures was performed.
Checking Robustness of Neural Network Models for the Classification of Malware
Authors: Alsinet Teresa , Argelich Josep , Bejar Ramon , Morgado Antonio , Planes Jordi
Published: September 2024

In the recent years, there has been a strong concern over the robustness of machine learning systems, specially when working in critical systems. One of such critical domains is cybersecurity, and a particular example is malware detection. This works aims to provide a formal technique to check the robustness of neural networks applied to the detection of malware. The technique is based on the automatic translation of the neural network to an equivalent set of equations that can be subsequently rigorously analyzed with respect to certain conditions for its input and output. That is, given a particular input for the neural network, check if there exist slight variations of such an input that can modify the output of the neural network. As a case study, we present preliminary results of a robustness analysis for a neural network that detects Windows PE malware. The results of the robustness analysis can be used to certify the robustness of the classifier or for improving such a classifier by fixing the flaws detected.
DemetrIA: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics for the Voice Cloning of Grandfather Demetrio
Authors: Vaquerizo-Serrano Jesús , Arnela Marc
Published: September 2024

Voice cloning using artificial intelligence (AI) is possible nowadays. However, it poses many challenges from the ethical point of view. This article examines the potential and ethics of AI for cloning the voice of a deceased family member. In particular, we cloned the voice of grandfather Demetrio, who left his family 50 years ago when he was only 47, leaving many messages to be transmitted. Demetrio’s voice was found in an old cassette tape provided by family members. First, his voice was digitalized and denoised using AI techniques. Next, a model of the grandfather’s voice was created using replicate, a fine-tune open-source model based on AI. One of his grandsons gave his voice to transmit a message to Demetrio’s daughters, which was modulated with the AI model containing the main features of Demetrio’s voice. The grandfather model was thus merged with the grandson’s voice, using contextualized text to recreate the grandfather’s way of communicating. The article addresses the ethical and social implications of this technology, highlighting its therapeutic potential in addressing complex emotions such as bereavement. The importance of an ethical approach in the development and application of AI in this context is emphasized.
Cross-Domain Linkage for the Music Industry: An Industrial and Synthetic Benchmark
Authors: Zhang Donghao , Molina Emilio , Galata Aglaia , Calvo Gonçal , Guilhot Denis , Sánchez-Fibla Martí
Published: September 2024

Record linkage across diverse domains is a challenging task with industrial applications ranging from medical records to social media identity linkage. In this study, we present a complex case in the music industry: linking incomplete metadata across domains, from Sound Recordings (SRs) to their corresponding Musical Works (WKs). We present a definition of the problem and highlight its key aspects: comparing record fields beyond conventional string similarity; matching lists of names that only partially align; applying attribute rules, as some attribute values may reflect the quality of information; and applying contextual rules, since the match between an SR and a WK should be evaluated within the context consisting of related WKs. We present a synthetic benchmark that replicates the complexities of the real-world industry problems. While not the focus of the paper, we also report preliminary results of a Transformer-based model that leverages pre-trained embeddings of entity attribute values along with information from the aforementioned key aspects.
Assessment of the sheet steel surface roughness to justify the target values of its parameters
Authors: Rumyantsev M. I. , Zavalishchin A. N. , Kornilov V. L.
Published: September 2024

Sheet steel roughness estimation is considered as determination of influence of surface roughness on quality characteristics and production process efficiency. A comprehensive quantitative assessment of the impact of the steel base surface roughness on the quality and quantity of the highest grade of Electrolytic Tinplate was performed. An increase in the Arithmetical mean deviation of the assessed profile (Ra), oriented perpendicular to the rolling direction, increases the tin consumption, worsens the corrosion resistance and stampability of the Electrolytic Tinplate. However, at the same timethe quantity of the highest grade products is increases. Quantitative assessment of the combined effect of the steel base surface roughness, the velocity of strip and the tinning current indicates that the effect of the roughnessis more significant for the stampability and corrosion resistance of the Electrolytic Tinplate. The mass of the coating is been defined largely bythe tinning current strength. The minimum deviation the actual mass of the coating from the nominal, satisfactory corrosion resistance of the Electrolytic Tinplate and a consistently quantity of the highest grade products are observed if the steel base surface roughness issatisfies the restrictions: 0.35 ≤ Ra ≤ 0.63 μm for a class III coating and 0.35 ≤ Ra ≤ 0.55 μm for a class II coatingper GOST 13345–85, nominal mass of which is corresponds to E8,4 and E5,6 coatings per GOST R 52204–2004.
Prevalence of Non-specific Lower Back Pain among Nurses Working in Medical Wards and Emergency Units
Authors: Zafar Sania , Afzal Maryam , Sumaira  , Naeem Zainab , Hanif Nida , Hassan Rameeza
Published: September 2024

The current study aimed to find out the prevalence of nonspecific lower back pain among the nurses of medical wards and emergency units. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted in various public and private hospitals in Okara, Pakistan. A sample size of  150 female nurses was considered for the study. Moreover, convenient sampling technique and questionnaires were used along with the Oswestry Disability Index to evaluate the lower back pain and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to gauge its severity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 software.Among 150 female nurses, 44.7% were between 20-30 years old, 36.0% were aged 31-40, and 19.3% were aged 41-50. Out of these 150 female nurses, 61 worked in the medical ward and 89 were working in the emergency department. Statistical analysis with a p-value < 0.05 indicated a significant difference in the occurrence of lower back pain between these two groups. The medical ward had a lower prevalence of 42.3% as compared to the emergency department that had 63.1%, respectively. Conclusively, it was observed that a significant work-related health concern is the incidence of non-specific lower backaches among nurses working in hospital wards and emergency rooms. As compared to nurses in medical wards, emergency room nurses appeared to experience more intensified lower back discomfort due to prolonged working hours.
Determination of Physical Fitness Index (PFI) among Female College Students
Authors: Tariq Saffa , Solangi Zohaib Anwar , Hamza Ameer , Zamin Abbas Syed  , Iftikhar Ayesha , Sabir Usama Bin , Hanan Abdul
Published: September 2024

Physical fitness/cardiovascular fitness is considered as the best reflection of whole-body health. It can be maintained by improving the physical fitness/cardiovascular fitness levels of individuals. The current study attempted to analyze the physical fitness index (PFI) of female college students by using the Harvard step test. A cross-sectional research was conducted from June 2021 to January 2022. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was employed to choose a sample of 340 students based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected from Government Degree College for Women, Government Post-Graduate College for Women, and Apex College Sialkot, Pakistan.  The data was entered and analyzed through SPSS. PFI scores showed students who had excellent and good scores, for instance 13 (3.8%) and 39 (11.5%), respectively. High average and low average scores were 172 (50.6%) and 62 (18.2%), respectively. Students who had poor scores were 54 (15.9%). The mean PFI was 66.91± 11.23, respectively. The association of PFI with BMI showed spearman correlation value as 0.136 with p-value < 0.05. The findings showed that most of the female college students had average to low PFI.
Effect of Clozapine and Olanzapine on the Expression of Selected Genes and Epigenetic Regulators of Insulin Resistance Pathway in Human Preadipocytes – a Preliminary Study
Authors: Górski Karol Maksymilian , Karbownik Michał Seweryn , Szemraj Janusz , Wróblewski Adam , Pietras Tadeusz
Published: September 2024

Clozapine and olanzapine, popular second-generation antipsychotics used for various psychiatric disorders, cause significant side effects such as metabolic syndrome, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to assess clozapine and olanzapine effects on the expression of mRNA insulin pathway genes (IRS-1, PTEN, PIK3CG and PIK3R1), microRNAs (miR-152-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-15b-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-126-3p) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs: XIST, H19, SNHG16, PVT1), in human visceral preadipocytes (HPAd). Expression was examined by real - time PCR. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The findings revealed that in HAPd, both clozapine and olanzapine (at doses of 5 µM and 25 µM) decreased IRS-1 gene expression after 24 hours. After 48 hours, IRS-1 expression was reduced by clozapine at both concentrations and olanzapine at 5 µM. In addition, olanzapine (at 25 µM) decreased the expression of PIK3CG, miR-152-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-15b-5p and miR-16-5p after 24 hours, while increasing the expression of miR-126-3p at 5 µM. Clozapine at 25 µM decreased miR-16-5p expression and increased SNHG16 lncRNA expression at 5 µM after 24 hours. After 48 hours, olanzapine (at 25 µM) increased PIK3R1 expression and decreased PIK3CG expression at 5 µM. Both drugs at 5 µM increased the expression of miR-152-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-15b-5p and miR-16-5p after 48 hours, with clozapine further increasing the expression of miR-126-3p at this concentration. The results suggest that clozapine and olanzapine may affect the expression of key genes and epigenetic molecules in the insulin pathway, which is one potential cause leading to insulin resistance in adipose tissue.
Systematically Challenging Three Prevailing Notions About Entropy and Life
Authors: Chen Jiming , Chen Ji-Wang , Zivieri Roberto
Published: September 2024

This article systematically challenges three notions prevailing in diverse disciplines: 1) Entropy is a measure of disorder; 2) life relies on negative entropy; 3) and many systems tend to become increasingly disordered due to the second law of thermodynamics, using the original, fundamental, and uncontroversial (OFU) nature of entropy: entropy, whose unit is joule/kelvin, is a physical concept analogous to energy and is heat energy mathematically divided by the relevant thermodynamic temperature. The challenge is supported by numerous compelling facts in physics, chemistry, and biology. The challenge, if widely accepted, could facilitate the eradication of the entrenched misleading effects of these misconceptions in diverse disciplines and facilitate relevant research and education on complexity, entropy, disorder, order, evolution, life, and thermodynamics.
Mastering Artifact Correction in Neuroimaging Analysis: A Retrospective Approach
Authors: Oliveira Alícia , Cepa Beatriz , Brito Cláudia , Sousa António
Published: September 2024

The correction of artifacts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is increasingly relevant as voluntary and involuntary artifacts can hinder data acquisition. Reverting from corrupted to artifact-free images is a complex task. Deep Learning (DL) models have been employed to preserve data characteristics and to identify and correct those artifacts. We propose MOANA, a novel DL-based solution to correct artifacts in multi-contrast brain MRI scans. MOANA offers two models: the simulation and the correction models. The simulation model introduces perturbations similar to those occurring in an exam while preserving the original image as ground truth; this is required as publicly available datasets rarely have motion-corrupted images. It allows the addition of three types of artifacts with different degrees of severity. The DL-based correction model adds a fourth contrast to state-of-the-art solutions while improving the overall performance of the models. MOANA achieved the highest results in the FLAIR contrast, with a Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) of 0.9803 and a Normalized Mutual Information (NMI) of 0.8030. With this, the MOANA model can correct large volumes of images in less time and adapt to different levels of artifact severity, allowing for better diagnosis.
We Don’t Have a Health Problem, We Have a Village Problem
Authors: Russell Cormac
Published: September 2024

Post-industrial societies often lack the social embeddedness that citizens require to fully participate in the civic, environmental, and economic life of their communities. Such an erosion of the social fabric represents a health hazard. Growing awareness, among clinicians and their health allies, of this social malaise and its correlation with poor health outcomes has led to an increased focus on population health and community approaches. It has also given rise to new health programmes aimed at redirecting the emphasis towards socialisation, such as social prescribing, which centres around the referral of patients to community-based activities. The community-building approach advocated here views health as tied to socio-political, economic, and environmental conditions, and while not discounting the value of individual agency, it asserts the need for a collective approach to health creation and the pursuit of social and economic justice for all. Hence, the main argument here is that we do not have a health problem _per se_, but rather a village problem.
Decoding The Impact: How Corporate Structure And Size Influence Earning Response Coefficient
Authors: Rahmani Hani Fitria , Mimin Ratna Sari
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this research is to determine how much influence the capital structure and company size have on the earning response coefficient both size of the company on the earning response coefficient either partially or simultaneously on the Computer and Device Services Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period of 2020-2022.The research methods used in this research are descriptive methods and associative methods. In this research, the unit of analysis is the Financial Statement Document at the Computer and Device Services Company Financial Report Documents on Computer and Device Services Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2020-2022. The samples in this study were 36 annual financial reports annual. The analysis method uses panel data regression analysis. Based on the results showed that partially there is a significant positive effect of capital structure on earning response coefficient, and partially there is a significant positive effect of capital structure on earnings re capital structure on earning response coefficient, and partially there is a significant positive effect on earning response coefficient. significant effect of company size on earning response coefficient, and simultaneously there is an effect of capital structure and company size on earning response coefficient.
The Effect Of Gender Diversity And Free Cash Flow On Dividend Policy With Firm Size As A Moderating Variable
Authors: Dita Mariska Candra Darusman  , Widiasmara Anny
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gender diversity and free cash flow on dividend policy with firm size as a moderating variable. The population in this study are mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2020-2023. This study used purposive sampling technique, so 138 data were obtained from 87 mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The results showed that gender diversity has no effect on dividend policy, free cash flow has a significant positive effect on dividend policy. Firm size cannot moderate the effect of gender diversity and free cash flow on dividend policy. The implications of the results of this study are expected to provide information for consideration by stakeholders such as the board of directors and as information for investors in making investment decisions.
Prediction of Tsunamis in Indonesia Using an Optimized Neural Network with SMOTE
Authors: Siregar Aisyah Anjani Putri , Sudianto Fauzan Bayu Hera , Nooraeni Rani
Published: September 2024

Tsunamis have the potential to have a large impact on the environment, therefore early detection and preparation for tsunami need to be carried out to reduce the impact of casualties and losses incurred. This research aims to predict tsunami events due to large earthquakes in Indonesia as a form of early detection. The optimized neural network method is used in research to classify tsunami events in Indonesia in 2000-2023 for large earthquakes with strength more than 5 magnitudes. The research results show that the neural network structure formed consists of an input layer, a hidden layer, and an output layer. The results of the evaluation of the neural network model with SMOTE obtained an accuracy value of 99.43%, precision of 96.31%, and an F1 score of 97.86%, which means the resulting model is good. Therefore, an optimized neural networks can be applied as a warning system in various regions to detect potential tsunami events in the future.