bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Water Level Variation on Mechanical Properties of Porous Concrete
Authors: Lamichhane Rabin , Motra Gokarna Bahadur , Khadka Thaman Bahadur , Zhang Y. X. , Pathak Prabin , Pandit Shikhar
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates porous concrete and the influence of water level variations and porosity on the mechanical, physical, and hydraulic properties of porous concrete. The effect of different void percentages and various water levels on the properties of porous concrete was studied. Fabricated specimens with targeted porosities of 20% and 25% were subjected to a series of tests to evaluate their compressive strength, hydraulic conductivity (permeability), and porosity. The permeability of the specimens was assessed using a falling head permeameter to ensure effective water percolation. Porosity was quantified through a volumetric method, providing insights into void content. Both cubical and cylindrical specimens were used for all tests, along with compression tests under both air-dried and oven-dried conditions. The results showed that the maximum compressive strength occurred under oven-dried conditions for both cubical (7.05 MPa, 5.58 MPa) and cylindrical (8.36 MPa, 4.81 MPa) specimens, with 20% and 25% porosities, respectively. The compressive strength was found to be low in air-dried samples and increased with higher water levels, peaking at the 40% water level. Furthermore, the porosity exhibited a significant correlation with the reduction in density, affecting the mechanical properties. For the cylindrical and cubical samples, the dry density decreased by 16.03 kg/m3 and 20.85 kg/m3 and the permeability increased by 0.41 mm/s and 0.84 mm/s, respectively, for every 1% increase in porosity. The results showcased the effect of water level variation on porous concrete properties as well as its promising ability to infiltrate water. This promotes the development of sustainable pavement systems by minimizing surface runoff and aiding groundwater recharge.
A Topic Modeling Approach to Determine Supply Chain Management Priorities Enabled by Digital Twin Technology
Authors: Hirata Enna , Watanabe Daisuke , Chalmoukis Athanasios , Lambrou Maria
Published: April 2024

Background: This paper examines scientific papers in the field of digital twins to explore the different areas of application in supply chains. Methods: Using a machine learning-based topic modeling approach, this study aims to provide insights into the key areas of supply chain management that benefit from digital twin capabilities. Results: The research findings highlight key priorities in the areas of infrastructure, construction, business, technology, manufacturing, blockchain, and agriculture, providing a comprehensive perspective. Conclusions: Our research findings confirm several recommendations. First, the machine learning-based model identifies new areas that are not addressed in the human review results. Second, while the human review results put more emphasis on practicality, such as management activities, processes, and methods, the machine learning results pay more attention to macro perspectives, such as infrastructure, technology, and business. Third, the machine learning-based model is able to extract more granular information; for example, it identifies core technologies beyond digital twins, including AI/reinforcement learning, picking robots, cybersecurity, 5G networks, the physical internet, additive manufacturing, and cloud manufacturing.
Harnessing Social Media for Climate Action in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Egypt
Authors: Hamelin Nicolas , Halawa Passant
Published: April 2024

Like many developing nations, Egypt is facing a climate crisis due to its agricultural dependence and the Nile Delta’s vulnerability. Despite government plans for sustainable development, recent infrastructure projects have resulted in large-scale green space removal. Effective communication about environmental issues can spark pro-environmental behavior and citizen activism. This study explores social media’s potential to bridge this gap in Egypt. Utilizing Facebook AB testing with a limited budget, we reached a significant 2.3% of Egypt’s online population (nearly 2 million users). This study explored message framing, with findings showing that rational posts resonated best while fear appeals had minimal impact. Social media’s cost-effectiveness and message-framing consideration provide a strategic approach for NGOs to reach a large audience and encourage climate action in Egypt.
Agricultural Extension for Adopting Technological Practices in Developing Countries: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Dimensions
Authors: Becerra-Encinales Julián F. , Bernal-Hernandez Paloma , Beltrán-Giraldo Jorge A. , Cooman Alexandre P. , Reyes Luis H. , Cruz Juan C.
Published: April 2024

This scoping review employed the PRISMA-ScR framework to dissect the complexities of technological extension in agriculture within developing nations, where varying socio-economic, cultural, and environmental facets deeply influence extension strategies. Our study aimed to identify and expand upon the existing knowledge of critical factors—both challenges and opportunities—that affect the efficacy of agricultural extension, with a focus on contextual variations. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive review of the relevant academic contributions from 2013 onwards. This included articles, reviews, conference proceedings, book chapters, and data papers. Our analysis focused on scrutinizing the interaction dynamics between extension personnel and farmers, the adaptation of technologies to local contexts, and the significance of cross-sector collaboration. Through bibliometric analysis, we provide a synthesis of 32 pertinent records. Our findings advocate for a paradigm shift from the traditional linear knowledge transfer to a more encompassing approach that values bidirectional communication, cultural awareness, and the active involvement of local farming communities. We argue for extension practices that are attuned to environmental dynamics, promote long-term economic sustainability, and are informed by theoretical perspectives that can refine the design of extension systems and models. Our review posits that the enhancement of sustainable agricultural technology adoption lies in a profound reform of extension systems. Such reform should focus on design and operational models that are more inclusive, adaptive, and acutely attuned to the complex realities of farmers in emerging economies. This integrative, systemic, and holistic approach proposes a framework to bolster agricultural sustainability and rural development.
Stencil-Printed Scalable Radial Thermoelectric Device Using Sustainable Manufacturing Methods
Authors: Jang Eunhwa , Ambade Rohan B. , Banerjee Priyanshu , Topoleski L. D. Timmie , Madan Deepa
Published: April 2024

In this study, we used n-chitosan-Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 and p-chitosan-Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 composite inks to print a circular thermoelectric generator (TEG) device using a low-energy-input curing method. Thermoelectric (TE) composite films were fabricated using varying sizes of thermoelectric particles and a small chitosan binder (0.05 wt. %). The particles and binder were hot pressed at an applied pressure of 200 MPa and cured at 200 °C for 30 min. We achieved ZT of 0.35 for the n-type and 0.7 for the p-type TE composite films measured at room temperature. A radial TEG was fabricated using the best-performing n-type and p-type composite inks and achieved a power output of 87 µW and a power density of 727 µW/cm2 at a temperature difference of 35 K; these are among the best-reported values for printed TEG devices. Using a low-energy-input fabrication method, we eliminated the need for high-temperature and long-duration curing processes to fabricate printing devices. Thus, we envisage that the low-energy-input curing process and cost-effective printable strategy presented in this work pave the way for sustainable manufacturing of large-scale energy harvesting TEG devices.
Design Thinking in Lighting Design to Meet User Needs
Authors: Kubiak Kamil
Published: April 2024

In the age of noticing the adverse effects of our activities on the climate, we pay more and more attention to designing sustainable solutions. Assumptions made during such sustainable designs often do not fulfil user needs. Therefore, we frequently encounter discrepancies, such as higher energy consumption and user modifications in the building systems compared to the design and use stages. To mitigate these problems in the lighting design context, the author describes the proposed lighting design method based on the Design Thinking methodology and concerns the commonly applied basic lighting design process. As an example design, an office room interior and lighting design are presented using the Design Thinking method described by the author. The utilised method allowed us to learn about problems that are only sometimes typical for offices and enter them into the design scope. The article contains a detailed analysis and comparison of normative requirements with users’ needs, collected from four room users and six guests. The discrepancies between the sustainable design and use stages presented in the article can be considered reduced, and users’ interference in the operation of devices will be eliminated due to meeting users’ needs and thus achieving sustainable goals.
Roles of Microbial Community and Keystone Taxa in Rice Productivity under Green Manuring in South China
Authors: Feng Yu , Liang Hai , Nie Jun , Li Yongmei , Cao Weidong
Published: April 2024

Green manure (GM)–rice–rice rotation is an important management practice for improving soil fertility and rice productivity. The microbiological mechanisms for the increase in grain yield in GM–rice–rice rotation remain unclear. The responses of soil biodiversity, bacterial and fungal communities, and their interactions in the GM–rice–rice rotation were investigated based on two long-term field experiments in Gaoqiao (GQ) and Nanxian (NX) in Hunan Province, south China. Results showed that rice yields were raised by 11.79% and 15.03% under GM in GQ and NX, respectively. GM promoted Shannon diversity and Pielou’s evenness and changed the community structures of bacteria and fungi. The co-occurrence network analysis found that the percentages of negative edges were higher in GM (40.79% and 44.32% in GQ and NX, respectively) than those in the corresponding winter fallow (34.86% and 29.13% in GQ and NX, respectively) in the combined bacterial–fungal networks, suggesting more stable microbial community under GM. Moreover, GM had higher percentages of bacterial–fungal and fungal–fungal edges than winter fallow, indicating that GM increased the interaction between bacteria and fungi and fungi play more essential roles in affecting soil processes under GM. The keystone taxa in GM were positively linked with C metabolism-related enzymes and soil multifunctionality, and were important in improving soil fertility and rice productivity. We concluded that the fungal community was more sensitive to GM application than the bacterial community and that keystone taxa had important influences on soil properties and rice productivity in the GM–double-rice cropping system, which can effectively support the sustainable development of the paddy field ecosystem in southern China.
Investigating the Nexus between Green Supply Chain Practices and Sustainable Waste Management in Advancing Circular Economy
Authors: Zahran Siraj
Published: April 2024

While examining the potential synergies between green supply chain management (GSCM) and sustainable waste management (SWM), we aim to investigate the relationship between sustainable waste management and green supply chain practices to promote a circular economy as a strategy for achieving sustainability. To address a gap in our understanding, this study will examine how GSCM and SWM relate to one another and their effect on CE deployment’s long-term survival. The research utilized a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 50 respondents from manufacturing firms. The companies were selected using purposive sampling based on varying industry sizes and operations. The findings demonstrate considerable positive correlations among GSCM practices, SWM techniques, and CE adoption, making it evident that comprehensive sustainability methods are required. Stakeholder participation, circular business models, and better governmental frameworks to promote circularity are among the many recommendations. By providing empirical evidence for the connections between GSCM, SWM, and CE, this study contributes to the current body of knowledge. It emphasizes the value of all-encompassing sustainability strategies for reaping financial and environmental benefits.
Analyzing the Impacts of Land Use and Network Features on Passenger Flow Distribution at Urban Rail Stations from a Classification Perspective
Authors: Guo Yuliang , Zhu Zhenjun , Jiang Xiaohong , Chen Ting , Li Qing
Published: April 2024

This study employed big data analytics to investigate the impacts of land use and network features on passenger flow distribution at urban rail stations. The aim was to provide decision support for differentiated operational management strategies for various types of rail stations, thereby achieving refined operation and the sustainable development of urban rail systems. First, this study compared clustering results using different similarity measurement functions within the K-means algorithm framework, selecting the optimal similarity measurement function to construct clustering models. Second, factors influencing passenger flow distribution were selected from land use and network features, forming a feature set that when combined with clustering model results, served as input for the XGBoost model to analyze the relationship between various features and the station passenger flow distribution. The case study showed that (1) the clustering results using a dynamic time-warping distance as the similarity measurement function was optimal; (2) the results of the XGBoost model highlighted commercial services and closeness centrality as the most important factors that affected rail station passenger flow distribution; (3) urban rail stations in Nanjing could be categorized into four types: “strong traffic attraction stations”, “balanced traffic attraction stations”, “suburban strong traffic occurrence stations”, and “distant suburban strong traffic occurrence stations”. Differentiated operational and management strategies were developed for these station types. This paper offers a novel approach for enhancing the operational management of urban rail transit, which not only boosts operational efficiency but also aligns with the goals of sustainable development by promoting resource-efficient transportation solutions.
Index Insurance for Forage, Pasture, and Rangeland: A Review of Developed (USA and Canada) and Developing (Kenya and Ethiopia) Countries
Authors: Maina Simon , Miller Maryfrances , Torell Gregory L. , Hanan Niall , Anchang Julius , Kahiu Njoki
Published: April 2024

Index insurance for forage, pasture, and rangeland has gained ground in policy and academic circles. Stakeholders promote it as an innovative risk management tool for enhancing resilience to drought-induced perils and providing a way for consumption smoothing to livestock producers in drought vulnerable ecosystems. Index insurance, which avoids market failures such as moral hazard, adverse selection, and transactional cost, has been piloted and implemented all over the world. To support future development and research on index-based insurance in livestock systems, operational index insurance for forage, pasture, and rangeland systems in developed (USA and Canada) and developing (Kenya and Ethiopia) countries are reviewed and compared. This paper finds some similar characteristics (huge subsidy payments—ranging from 50 to 100 percent, significant government role, low adoption, insufficient payouts, data challenges, etc.), of this product between the two regions. A major difference between the PRF and NDVI is the number of choices available to users of rainfall index insurance who face close to 3000 choice options, while NDVI users have less than 5 choice options available for them. Based on these insights, we highlight opportunities where the two regions can benchmark and improve upon their respective index insurance schemes—index-based livestock insurance (IBLI) in developing and rainfall index insurance for forage in developed regions.
Sustainable Development of the Real Economy: Supply Chain Finance and Enterprise Financialization
Authors: Dong Jingjing , Zhang Qiancheng
Published: April 2024

Supply chain finance, as an important financial instrument supporting the sustainable development of the real economy, has attracted significant attention. In this paper, research is conducted on 3181 non-financial listed enterprises in the A-share market in China from 2012 to 2021. Multiple regression analysis is adopted to examine the relationship between supply chain finance and enterprise financialization, as well as the impact of the former on the latter and the underlying mechanisms at play. The research findings indicate that the supply chain finance model, led by core enterprises, tends to exacerbate enterprise financialization in China. The significant resource dependence of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on core enterprises acts as a moderating variable for supply chain finance and enterprise financialization. This dependence amplifies the stimulus of supply chain finance on the “financialization” of enterprises, demonstrates a pronounced moderating effect within state-owned enterprises, and strengthens over time when the core enterprises possess information advantages. The findings articulated herein contribute to the scholarly discourse, offering insights into the improvement of supply chain finance and the advancement of the real economy’s sustainable development via financial services. A good supply chain finance model should align with the requirements for the development of China’s real economy. It should provide not only financial assistance to enterprises but also foster a virtuous cycle within the industrial chain and encourage industrial production over financial investment.
Image Enhancement Based on Dual-Branch Generative Adversarial Network Combining Spatial and Frequency Domain Information for Imbalanced Fault Diagnosis of Rolling Bearing
Authors: Huang Yuguang , Wen Bin , Liao Weiqing , Shan Yahui , Fu Wenlong , Wang Renming
Published: April 2024

To address the problems of existing 2D image-based imbalanced fault diagnosis methods for rolling bearings, which generate images with inadequate texture details and color degradation, this paper proposes a novel image enhancement model based on a dual-branch generative adversarial network (GAN) combining spatial and frequency domain information for an imbalanced fault diagnosis of rolling bearing. Firstly, the original vibration signals are converted into 2D time–frequency (TF) images by a continuous wavelet transform, and a dual-branch GAN model with a symmetric structure is constructed. One branch utilizes an auxiliary classification GAN (ACGAN) to process the spatial information of the TF images, while the other employs a GAN with a frequency generator and a frequency discriminator to handle the frequency information of the input images after a fast Fourier transform. Then, a shuffle attention (SA) module based on an attention mechanism is integrated into the proposed model to improve the network’s expression ability and reduce the computational burden. Simultaneously, mean square error (MSE) is integrated into the loss functions of both generators to enhance the consistency of frequency information for the generated images. Additionally, a Wasserstein distance and gradient penalty are also incorporated into the losses of the two discriminators to prevent gradient vanishing and mode collapse. Under the supervision of the frequency WGAN-GP branch, an ACWGAN-GP can generate high-quality fault samples to balance the dataset. Finally, the balanced dataset is utilized to train the auxiliary classifier to achieve fault diagnosis. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by two rolling bearing datasets. When the imbalanced ratios of the four datasets are 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, and 0.05, respectively, their average classification accuracy reaches 99.35% on the CWRU bearing dataset. Meanwhile, the average classification accuracy reaches 96.62% on the MFS bearing dataset.
YOLOv7-SN: Underwater Target Detection Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv7
Authors: Zhao Ming , Zhou Huibo , Li Xue
Published: April 2024

Exploring the ocean’s resources requires finding underwater objects, which is a challenging task due to blurry images and small, densely packed targets. To improve the accuracy of underwater target detection, we propose an enhanced version of the YOLOv7 network called YOLOv7-SN. Our goal is to optimize the effectiveness and accuracy of underwater target detection by introducing a series of innovations. We incorporate the channel attention module SE into the network’s key part to improve the extraction of relevant features for underwater targets. We also introduce the RFE module with dilated convolution behind the backbone network to capture multi-scale information. Additionally, we use the Wasserstein distance as a new metric to replace the traditional loss function and address the challenge of small target detection. Finally, we employ probe heads carrying implicit knowledge to further enhance the model’s accuracy. These methods aim to optimize the efficacy of underwater target detection and improve its ability to deal with the complexity and challenges of underwater environments. We conducted experiments on the URPC2020, and RUIE datasets. The results show that the mean accuracy (mAP) is improved by 5.9% and 3.9%, respectively, compared to the baseline model.
Mechanisms by Which SARS-CoV-2 Invades and Damages the Central Nervous System: Apart from the Immune Response and Inflammatory Storm, What Else Do We Know?
Authors: Sun Zihan , Shi Chunying , Jin Lixin
Published: April 2024

Initially reported as pneumonia of unknown origin, COVID-19 is increasingly being recognized for its impact on the nervous system, despite nervous system invasions being extremely rare. As a result, numerous studies have been conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of nervous system damage and propose appropriate coping strategies. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 invades and damages the central nervous system, with a specific focus on aspects apart from the immune response and inflammatory storm. The latest research findings on these mechanisms are presented, providing new insights for further in-depth research.
Relationship of the “Dequada” Phenomenon with Mercury Methylation in Pantanal, Brazil
Authors: Nunes Glaucia A. , Ramos Dayana D. , Forti Juliane C. , Ramos Diovany D. , Oliveira Lincoln C. S. , Junior David S. S. , Santo Gabriel E. , Santos Felipe A.
Published: April 2024

The illegal activity of gold mining in the Brazilian Pantanal is contaminating the aquatic ecosystem with mercury. This contamination has been potentiated by mercury methylation due to a typical natural phenomenon of the Pantanal ecosystem known as “dequada”. The present study estimated in the laboratory the temporal production of methylmercury at two timepoints: the beginning of a flood, when the “dequada” phenomenon occurs, and the dry season without such phenomenon. After collecting water and sediment, experiments were performed with microcosms to reproduce conditions close to nature. To monitor the concentration of methylmercury, 1.0 mg L−1 of Hg2+ was added to water and sediment experiments in the Castelo and Saracura bays, both during the “dequada” and without it; monitoring lasted for 25 days. The methylmercury concentration was analyzed using atomic fluorescence spectrometry, total organic carbon using TOC 5000A, and physical and chemical parameters such as pH, redox potential, and dissolved oxygen with a multi-parameter probe. The results led to the conclusion that the “dequada” phenomenon significantly affected mercury methylation, because the environmental changes caused by this phenomenon such as the increased concentration of organic matter, decreased dissolved oxygen, and decreased pH, potentiated mercury methylation. During the “dequada” in the Castelo bay, the methylation rate was 3.5 times higher (6297.56 ng L−1) than in the experiment without the “dequada” (1827.44 ng L−1). Therefore, the gold mining activity in Pantanal can cause great damage to the ecosystem because this environment favors mercury methylation, making its most toxic form active in the aquatic ecosystem of Pantanal.
Impact of Meadow Degradations on the Probabilistic Distribution Patterns of Physical and Mechanical Indices of Rooted Soil in the Upper Regions of the Yellow River, China
Authors: Fu Jiang-Tao , Hu Xia-Song , Li Xi-Lai , Zhao Ji-Mei , Xing Guang-Yan , Liu Chang-Yi
Published: April 2024

The shear strength (particularly soil cohesion) of rooted soil is an important parameter that reflects the true erodibility of meadows, particularly in meadows experiencing different degrees of degradation, ranging from undegraded (UD) through to lightly degraded (LD) and from moderately degraded (MD) to heavily degraded (HD). The cohesion of rooted soil is controlled not only by the soil moisture content and its natural density, but also by roots (including not only their density, spatial distribution, and diameters, but also their tensile strength). This study aimed to improve the current understanding of the erosion resistance of rooted soil and elucidate the impact of meadow degradation on the physical–mechanical indices of rooted soil. Based on this discussion, a one-way analysis of variance was performed at significance levels of 0.05 and 0.01 to test the impact of degradation on the physical–mechanical indices of rooted soil across degradation. Furthermore, the probabilistic distributions of the physical–mechanical indices were described using normal, gamma, Weibull, and generalized extreme values (GEV). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test was used to identify the optimal distribution based on p-values and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to quantify the correlation between the cohesion of rooted soil and other indices. The one-way ANOVA indicated that the soil’s natural density and soil moisture content decreased firstly, followed by an increase, the root amount and cohesion decreased, the root content experienced an initial increasing and then decreasing trend, and the internal friction angle exhibited a stepwise increasing trend. The four distributions sufficiently described the actual distribution of data on the physical–mechanical indices of rooted soil, except for the internal friction angle in UD and MD soils and the soil moisture content in MD soil. Additionally, the KS tests showed that the optimal distribution depended on both the physical–mechanical indices themselves and the degree of degradation. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation between cohesion and the other physical–mechanical indices varied considerably depending on the degree of degradation.
Windows into the Recent Past: Simple Biotic Indices to Assess Hydrological Stability in Small, Isolated Ponds
Authors: Koperski Paweł
Published: April 2024

This article presents the four biotic indices used to assess the hydrological stability of small, fishless, lowland ponds in northern Poland’s post-glacial landscape. The assessment was based on the analyses of the relative abundance of selected macroinvertebrate taxa caught using standard and non-lethal methods. The indices were derived from a multi-year analysis of data on invertebrate composition, abiotic water parameters, and publicly available satellite data. This allowed for the reconstruction of hydrological stability, including fluctuations in water level and surface area, as well as the frequency of drying, in small water bodies in the 5–10 years before sampling. The numerical relationships between the parameters describing hydrological stability and the relative abundance of several invertebrate taxa were described. A multiple regression analysis showed that hydrological stability was generally more strongly related to faunal composition than the other abiotic parameters. The indices used in this study can be a useful tool, particularly in citizen science. It is important that their numerical bases can be easily modified depending on the local conditions.
The Enhanced Adsorption Capacity of Ziziphus jujuba Stones Modified with Ortho-Phosphoric Acid for Organic Dye Removal: A Gaussian Process Regression Approach
Authors: Guediri Abderraouf , Bouguettoucha Abdallah , Tahraoui Hichem , Chebli Derradji , Zhang Jie , Amrane Abdeltif , Khezami Lotfi , Assadi Amin Aymen
Published: April 2024

Here, the chemical modification of Ziziphus jujuba stones (ZJS) treated with ortho-phosphoric acid (ZJS-H3PO4) is investigated to enhance its adsorption properties for organic dyes. The physicochemical properties of ZJS-H3PO4 reveal increased porosity (87.29%), slightly higher bulk density (0.034 g mL−1), and enhanced acidity (31.42 m eq g g−1) compared to untreated ZJS. XRF analysis confirms the successful incorporation of orthophosphoric acid during treatment due to a significant increase in phosphorus content. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue on ZJS-H3PO4 is found to be 179.83 mg g−1, demonstrating its efficacy as a potential adsorbent for organic dyes. These findings suggest that modifying ZJS with orthophosphoric acid could be a promising strategy to enhance its adsorption performance in various environmental applications. Furthermore, Gaussian process regression (GPR) is employed to model MB adsorption by ZJS-H3PO4. Optimization of the GPR model involves evaluating different kernel functions and meticulously adjusting parameters to maximize its ability to capture complex relationships in the data. The obtained GPR model demonstrates remarkable performance with high correlation coefficients (R) and low root mean square errors (RMSEs) across all study phases. Model validation is performed through residual analysis, confirming its effectiveness and accuracy in predicting MB adsorption. Finally, a user-friendly interface is developed to facilitate the usage of the GPR model in future applications, representing a significant advancement in environmental process modeling and ecosystem management.
Determination of Heavy Metal Sources in an Agricultural Catchment (Poland) Using the Fingerprinting Method
Authors: Bojanowski Damian
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the heavy metal contamination of soils and suspended sediments in the Nurzec River catchment (Eastern Poland), focusing in particular on the effects of catchment land use. The fingerprinting technique has been combined with the classic, Igeo, and EF index-supported contamination analysis to identify heavy metals sources. A wide range of elements (31 chemical elements including heavy metals) allowed the author to analyse the pathways and to identify the pressures of heavy metal contamination. The developed statistical models of heavy metal source distribution displayed results at a statistically significant level. The results have revealed the significant impact of land use connected with urban areas (URBAN) and pastures (PAST), which together constitute less than 20% of the river catchment area. These results are relevant to the local authorities and stakeholders, as they highlight the significant impact of low-density urban areas that are not locally considered as the major sources of heavy metal pollution. These results will contribute to sustainable decisions in the field of contaminated catchment area remediation.
Overbank Flow, Sediment Transport, and Channel Morphology in the Lower Yellow River: A Review
Authors: Han Shasha , Zhao Lianjun , Chang Ao , Liu Baichuan , Wang Jingwen , Li Jie
Published: April 2024

As a prerequisite and foundation for studying the evolution mechanism of river channels, an in-depth understanding of the cross-sectional morphology adjustment is required. As a starting point, it is crucial to systematically summarize and generalize the research findings on channel morphological adjustment obtained to date, particularly in the context of the significant changes in the water and sediment conditions of large rivers that have occurred worldwide. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research findings on the three following aspects of the Lower Yellow River: the transverse distribution of overbank flow velocity, the transverse distribution of suspended sediment concentration, and the morphological adjustment of the river cross-section. There are various equations available to predict the lateral depth–average flow velocity distribution. These equations are classified into the two following categories: empirical and theoretical formulas. Theoretical formulas are obtained through consideration of the cross-sectional morphology, accounting for inertial force terms caused by secondary flow, and momentum transfer between the main channel and its floodplain. Similarly, empirical equations and theoretical formulas for sediment concentration transverse distribution are also summarized, given the different influencing factors and assumptions. We also discuss the morphological adjustment of river cross-sections based on the analysis of measured data, mathematical model calculation, and the physical model test. In particular, we propose the idea of revealing channel cross-section morphology evolution mechanisms from the theoretical level of water and sediment movement and distribution. This review aims to enhance understanding of overbank flow, sediment transport, and channel morphology in the Lower Yellow River and may also serve to some extent as a reference for the evolution and management of channels in other rivers.
Problems of goods identification during customs examination
Authors:   Department of Commodity Science and Customs Expert Examination, Russian Customs Academy, Krishtafovich D.V.
Published: April 2024

The article is devoted to the study of problematic aspects in the goods identifi cation during the appointment and conduct of customs examination. Problems occurring when formulating questions to an expert and taking samples or specimens of goods for customs purposes are identifi ed. The need to develop regulatory legal documents for customs offi cials that control the procedure for taking samples or specimens of goods which does not contradict the fundamental principles of sampling control is shown. The issues of harmonization of terminology for various groups and types of goods used in regulations of the customs service and in other regulatory legal documents are touched upon.
Commodity examination of bottled kissel
Authors:   State University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Kolomna, Volkova D.S. , Tikhomirova N.A. ,   State University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Kolomna
Published: April 2024

The article presents the results of a commodity examination of samples of bottled kissel sold through the retail chain in Lukhovitsy, Moscow Region. The quality indicators of bottled kissel were studied for compliance with GOST requirements, and no defects or falsifications were found.
Assessing the quality of turkey meat pelmeni sold in Moscow retail chains
Authors:   FSBEI HE Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology named after K.I. Scriabin, Moscow, Russia, Pangacheva Yu.S. , Esepenok K.V. ,   FSBEI HE Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology named after K.I. Scriabin, Moscow, Russia
Published: April 2024

The quality of turkey meat pelmeni of different brands was assessed. The theses present the results of assessing the packaging and labeling of the pelmeni, as well as the results of evaluating their organoleptic characteristics.
Range and assortment policy of Moscow retail chain stores in the “Low-Alcohol Drinks” category
Authors:   Department of International Commerce and Logistics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Nikolaeva M.A. , Ermakova V.L. ,   Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Tonoyan E.A. ,   Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Published: April 2024

The article presents the results of the study of the trade assortment of the product category “Low- Alcohol Drinks” in the stores of three retail chains in Moscow. It has been determined that the range of low-alcohol drinks in the examined stores of the Auchan, Lenta, and Perekrestok retail chains is characterized as extensive. It has been established that the basic depth of the assortment is 79 local trademarks. No signifi cant diff erences between the assortment indicators in the various surveyed stores have been found. The rationality coeffi cient in all stores is high and approximately the same. The structure of the product range is dominated by local trademarks of low-alcohol carbonated drinks and fruit-based beverages. The branded assortment of low-alcohol drinks is represented by 34 trademarks, mainly domestically produced (31 TMs), with only 3 imported TMs, including 2 brands from Belarus and 1 TM of apple cider from the UK. It has been established that the main directions of the assortment policy of all examined stores are the deepening and updating of the assortment of the product category “Low-Alcohol Drinks”.
Geoportals as an Information Tool for Government Support of Agricultural Producers
Authors:   Land Management Department, State University of Land Use Planning, Moscow, Sorokina O. A. , Rasskazova A. A. ,   Real Estate Cadastre and land use Department, State University of Land Use Planning, Moscow, Slysheva D. P. ,   Land Management Department, State University of Land Use Planning, Moscow
Published: April 2024

In this scientific article, the authors consider the role and importance of geoportals as sources of information for the development of the agro-industrial complex in the region. The object of the study is Novgorod region, which has an industrial and agricultural specialization and significant natural resource potential for the development of the agricultural sector. The authors have identified external and internal factors that have a negative impact on the development of agriculture in the region. The solution to the mentioned above problems is, according to the authors, visualization of the results of complex works on the establishment of boundaries of agricultural lands on a regional geoportal with subsequent use of it as a justifying tool for making managerial decisions to support agricultural producers. The conducted research has shown that the Novgorod region has the opportunities to restore abandoned agricultural lands, and the use of geoportal information by regional authorities can allow effective interaction with the federal budget for comprehensive support of agricultural producers in a simplified manner.
Business analytics (BI analitic, BI system), combined with a vector layer of agricultural lands as an effective assistant for selecting lands to be restored
Authors:   CenterProgramSystem LLC, Chumakov Y. S.
Published: April 2024

The article shows an approach to analyzing a complex set of spatial data prepared for the introduction of abandoned land plots into economic circulation. The analytical capabilities of professional GIS systems used for these purposes are considered in this work as well.
On the issue of developing a Concept for the development of mentoring in the fi eld of international relations, foreign policy and diplomacy
Authors:   FSBEI HE ", Danelyan A. A. ,   Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of the Russian Federation",   , Moscow, Vinokurov V. I. ,   FSBEI HE “Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of the Russian Federation”, Moscow
Published: April 2024

Taking into account the relevance and availability of a large number of specialties and professions in our country, this article aims to outline the contours of the future concept of mentoring in the fi eld of vocational guidance and education in the areas of training 03/41/05 — International relations (bachelor's degree) and 04/41/05 — International relations (Master's degree). This article is also intended to encourage the corporate community to actively discuss the issue of mentoring.
The Path of Their Own towards Multipolarity
Authors:   FSBEI HE ", Velichkin S. V. ,   Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation",   , Moscow
Published: April 2024

For the current Indian leadership, multipolarity is a naturally established world order in which the global agenda should be determined by the voices of many actors who are now "middle powers" like India. Both "unipolarity" and "new bipolarity" are unacceptable, including in Asia with the ascendance of China. It is perceived as a rival and a threat due to India's painful defeat in the 1962 war, the growing Chinese presence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, and the confrontation on the Himalayan border. India is opting for a large-scale expansion of cooperation with the United States, which uses it to "contain" the PRC, but she is doing that without assuming additional obligations and without getting involved in the confrontation of these powers. Simultaneous membership in the SCO, BRICS and the RIC, and relations of a "particularly privileged strategic partnership" with Russia hedge the risks of Washington's assertiveness and keep Beijing from taking drastic steps in competition with New Delhi. India's active "multi-accession" is de-signed not to antagonize anyone unnecessarily, ensuring that through the promotion of national interests it occupies the position of a great power in the status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Her efforts to consolidate her role as the main voice of the "Global South" strengthen the basis for cooperation between the diplomacies of Russia and India in establishing a multipolar world order.
Prospects for interaction between Asia-Pacifi c countries and the Russian Federation in the context of transformation of the world order
Authors:   Diplomatic academy of the Russian ministry of foreign affairs, Moscow, Dashnyam A.
Published: April 2024

The article discusses issues of relations between the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Important and complex issues of relationships between key players are raised, both in the region and beyond. Particular attention is paid to the issue of economic development of the region, since the center of capitalist interaction is gradually moving there. At the same time, current problems associated with the new vector of cooperation between Russia and the countries of the region since the beginning of the Northern Military District are considered. Reorientation of economic directions, active interaction with such regional players as Northern Korea, China and other countries that did not put as much sanctions pressure on Russia as US satellites. Due to opportunistic changes in Western policies, new opportunities have opened up for the whole world, within the framework of weakening the hegemon and building new alliances and centers of power. At the same time, this does not make the world more predictable, but on the contrary, it has become less calm and manageable. That is why it is important to consider the role of Russia and the country’s prospects in the most dynamically developing region of the planet.
Washington's use of the Iraqi sanctions scheme against Russia
Authors:   FSBEI HE ", Titorenko V. E. ,   Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation"
Published: April 2024

The article analyzes the similarity of the scheme of using the instrument of political and economic sanctions by the United States against Iraq and Russia. Sanctions are seen as one of the main instruments of influence of the United States and the collective West on those countries that do not want to submit to the political dictates of Washington and its NATO allies. The question of how exactly they act is being studied. Their ultimate goal. The extent of the impact of sanctions on the economies of both countries. Sanctions as an attempt to weaken the military and economic potential. Differences and similarities in the possibilities of countering sanctions from Iraq and Russia. The elimination and control of WMD as a strategic task of the United States. Ways to get out of the sanctions regime.
Financial and Economic Situation and Development Features of Aviation Industry Entities
Authors:   Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Rykova I. N. , Gubanov R. S. ,   Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Alaev A. A. ,   Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, Moscow
Published: April 2024

The relevance of the problem is determined by the fact that under the conditions of sanction pressure on the economy of the Russian Federation and periodic restrictions on the movement of air vehicles in international airspace, gaps arise in the continuity of functioning of aviation industry entities, creating barriers to obtaining and maximizing profi ts. The purpose of the study is to analyze the fi nancial and economic situation of aviation industry entities and determine the conditions for their further development. Materials and research methods — the systematic approach and situational analysis used in writing the article were based on processing the resources of information retrieval systems: GARANT, Consultant Plus. Also, the use of abstraction, grouping and series of dynamics of revenue, cost and profi t of the largest airlines in Russia made it possible to identify the priorities and causes of the fi nancial decline of the leaders of the national aviation market. As a result of the analysis of indicators of transport work and the aircraft fleet of the Russian air transport system, the reasons and possibilities for ensuring the availability of air transportation through the implementation of government support measures, including subsidizing the transportation of citizens and the development of regional transportation, were established. The article provides facts based on the results of the analysis of the Comprehensive Program of the current state and development of the aviation industry of the Russian Federation until 2030, among which important attention is paid to the need to achieve a gradual reduction in the number of foreign-made aircraft fl eet. The article reflects that the priority factors influencing the determination of consumer choice in the aviation market are: effective on-board technologies; network route offers and various loyalty programs for regular customers of passenger services. The authors of the article identified the reasons for the decline of PJSC Aeroflot, which was experiencing fi nancial difficulties and the risk of losses. The directions for further development of the largest airlines in Russia have been determined, taking into account «targeted» subsidizing measures and improving measures of state support for subjects of the Russian airline business.