bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progress in dispersoids distribution precipitating during homogenising Zr-containing Al–Cu–Li and Al–Zn–Mg alloys
Authors: Xu Aijun , Han Jiaqiang , Wang Huimin , Zheng Wenyue , Niu Kangmin
Published: December 2020

Retaining elongated grain microstructure during thermo-mechanical processes would be attractive for obtaining high-strength aluminium alloys with good toughness. A small Zr addition promotes the formation of Al3Zr dispersoids to inhibit the recrystallisation. Since the dispersoids precipitate directly from castings, their inhomogeneous distribution reduces the effectiveness on the recrystallisation resistance. This paper systematically summarised the theoretical and experimental contributions to optimise the distribution of dispersoids in the Zr-containing aerospace Al alloys including Al–Cu–Li and Al–Zn–Mg alloys. It is concluded that improving the distribution of dispersoids across a grain can be effectively realised by refining the homogenisation conditions such as lowering ramp heating rate, two-step homogenisation, etc., and by controlling the concentrations of the dispersoid-forming elements such as Zr, Mn, Sc, etc.
High strain rate deformation mechanism of Mg–2.5Zn–4Y magnesium alloy containing LPSO phase
Authors: Wang Guoxin , Mao Pingli , Wang Zhi , Zhou Le , Wang Feng , Liu Zheng
Published: December 2020

Dynamic compression experiments were carried out on Mg–2.5Zn–4Y magnesium alloy containing long period stacking ordered phase (LPSO) to understand its deformation mechanism using ‘Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar’. High strain rates ranging from 700 to 2100 s−1 were applied along Extrusion Direction. The results demonstrate that maximum compression stress increases with increasing strain rate. In the mean the alloy shows a positive strain rate strengthening effect. The deformation mechanism of Mg–2.5Zn–4Y magnesium alloy with LPSO phase is mainly 〈c + a〉 pyramidal slip supplemented with deformation by extension twin in association with kinking of LPSO phase. The impact fracture surface of the investigated magnesium alloy suggested quasi-cleavage fracture.
Change in neutron skin thickness after cluster-decay
Authors: Seif W M , Abdulghany A R , Hussein Z N
Published: December 2020

We investigate the change of the neutron-skin thickness from parent to daughter nuclei involved in the cluster decay process. The neutron-skin thickness is obtained using self-consistent Hartree–Fock–Bogolyubov calculations based on Skyrme-SLy4 effective nucleon–nucleon interaction. The experimental data of the cluster decay modes observed to date indicate that the shell effect then the released energy play the predominate role of determining the spontaneous cluster decay modes. The effect of the change in the neutron-skin thickness from parent to daughter nuclei comes next to them. The cluster decay preferably proceeds to yield the least possible increase in the neutron-skin thickness of the daughter nucleus (δ
n). δ
n decreases when the isospin-asymmetry of the emitted cluster increases. The relative stability of the radioactive nucleus and its corresponding partial half-life increase for the cluster decays leading to a significant increase in the neutron-skin thickness.
Magnus-force induced skyrmion–antiskyrmion coupling in inhomogeneous racetrack
Authors: Silva R C , Silva R L , Pereira A R
Published: December 2020

In this paper we investigate a magnetic racetrack consisting of a junction of three materials with different properties. Indeed, this magnetic system is composed by two distinct regions (racetracks) connected by a thin interface: the first region (termed sector 1) has isotropic in-plane magnetic chirality and supports skyrmion (S) excitations while the second (sector 3) has anisotropic chirality and consequently supports antiskyrmions (A). The interface, which would be a third region (sector 2, connecting sectors 1 and 3) located in the central part of the racetrack, is an easy-axis Heisenberg ferromagnetic material. The topological structures S and A are put in motion by applying a spin-polarized current. Under certain conditions, we show that the skyrmion and the antiskyrmion created in their respective sectors are simultaneously impelled to the interface (due to the Magnus force) to apparently become a unique object (a skyrmion–antiskyrmion pair or SAP). After glued by sector 2, the skyrmion and the antiskyrmion move together (as a SAP) along the direction of the applied current. It is also shown that such an engineered racetrack can support a sequence of several SAP structures in motion, forming a current.
Improved photovoltage of printable perovskite solar cells via Nb5+ doped SnO2 compact layer
Authors: Wang Shiyu , Shen Wenjian , Liu Jiale , Ouyang Tao , Wu Yue , Li Wenhui , Chen Mingyue , Qi Pengcheng , Lu Yu , Tang Yiwen
Published: December 2020

The state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with SnO2 electron transporting material (ETL) layer displays the probability of conquering the low electron mobility and serious leakage current loss of the TiO2 ETL layer in photoelectronic devices. The rapid development of SnO2 ETL layer has brought perovskite efficiencies >20%. However, high density of defect states and voltage loss of high temperature SnO2 are still latent impediment for the long-term stability and hysteresis effect of photovoltaics. Herein, Nb5+ doped SnO2 with deeper energy level is utilized as a compact ETL for printable mesoscopic PSCs. It promotes carrier concentration increase caused by n-type doping, assists Fermi energy level and conduction band minimum to move the deeper energy level, and significantly reduces interface carrier recombination, thus increasing the photovoltage of the device. As a result, the use of Nb5+ doped SnO2 brings high photovoltage of 0.92 V, which is 40 mV higher than that of 0.88 V for device based on SnO2 compact layer. The resulting PSCs displays outstanding efficiency of 13.53%, which contains an ∼10% improvements compared to those without Nb5+ doping. Our study emphasizes the significance of element doping for compact layer and lays the groundwork for high efficiency PSCs.
MOF-derived ZnCo2O4@NiCo2S4@PPy core–shell nanosheets on Ni foam for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Zhu Jiahui , Wang Yan , Zhang Xubin , Cai Wangfeng
Published: December 2020

The ZnCo2O4@NiCo2S4@PPy core–shell nanosheets material is prepared by directly growing leaf-like ZnCo2O4 nanosheets derived from the metal-organic framework (MOF) on Ni foam (NiF) via chemical bath deposition and annealing methods and then combining with NiCo2S4 and PPy via electrodeposition methods. The special core–shell structure formed by MOF-derived ZnCo2O4, NiCo2S4 and PPy creates a bi-interface, which could significantly promote the contact between electrode and electrolyte, provide more active sites and accelerate electron/ion transfer. And the combination of these three materials also produces a strong synergistic effect, which could further improve the capacitive performance of the electrode. Therefore, the ZnCo2O4@NiCo2S4@PPy/NiF electrode exhibits the maximum areal capacitance (3.75 F cm−2) and specific capacitance (2507.0 F g−1) at 1 mA cm−2 and 0.5 A g−1, respectively. Moreover, its capacitance retention rate is still 83.2% after 5000 cycles. In addition, a coin-type hybrid supercapacitor is assembled and displays a high energy density of 44.15 Wh kg−1 and good cycling performance.
Towards the standardization of the absorbed dose report mode in high energy photon beams
Authors: Younes Tony , Chauvin Maxime , Delbaere Alexia , Labour Joey , Fonteny Victoria , Simon Luc , Fares Georges , Vieillevigne Laure
Published: December 2020

The benefits of using an algorithm that reports absorbed dose-to-medium have been jeopardized by the clinical experience and the experimental protocols that have mainly relied on absorbed dose-to-water. The aim of the present work was to investigate the physical aspects that govern the dosimetry in heterogeneous media using Monte Carlo method and to introduce a formalism for the experimental validation of absorbed dose-to-medium reporting algorithms. Particle fluence spectra computed within the sensitive volume of two simulated detectors (T31016 Pinpoint 3D ionization chamber and EBT3 radiochromic film) placed in different media (water, RW3, lung and bone) were compared to those in the undisturbed media for 6 MV photon beams. A heterogeneity correction factor that takes into account the difference between the detector perturbation in medium and under reference conditions as well as the stopping-power ratios was then derived for all media using cema calculations. Furthermore, the different conversion approaches and Eclipse treatment planning system algorithms were compared against the Monte Carlo absorbed dose reports. The detectors electron fluence perturbation in RW3 and lung media were close to that in water (≤1.5%). However, the perturbation was greater in bone (∼4%) and impacted the spectral shape. It was emphasized that detectors readings should be corrected by the heterogeneity correction factor that ranged from 0.932 in bone to 0.985 in lung. Significant discrepancies were observed between all the absorbed dose reports and conversions, especially in bone (exceeding 10%) and to a lesser extent in RW3. Given the ongoing advances in dose calculation algorithms, it is essential to standardize the absorbed dose report mode with absorbed dose-to-medium as a favoured choice. It was concluded that a retrospective conversion should be avoided and switching from absorbed dose-to-water to absorbed dose-to-medium reporting algorithm should be carried out by a direct comparison of both algorithms.
Proton FLASH: passive scattering or pencil beam scanning?
Authors: Zhang Guoliang , Wang Junliang , Wang Yuenan , Peng Hao
Published: December 2020

This study focused on a direct comparison of dose delivery efficiency between two proton FLASH delivery modes: passive scattering and pencil beam scanning (PBS). Monte-Carlo simulation of the beamline was performed using the Geant4 package. Two proton energies (63 and 230 MeV) were selected, targeting for shallow and deep-seated tumors, respectively. Two irradiation field sizes were selected: 13 × 13 mm2 and 50 × 50 mm2. For each delivery mode, two cases were investigated: shoot-through and Bragg peak, yielding a total of 4 delivery scenarios. For the passive scattering mode, the impact on dose rate by multiple components along the beamline were investigated, including ridge-filter, scatterer, range shifter and collimator. A quantitative comparison among four scenarios was made in terms of field size, dose, dose rate and treatment plan quality (dose volume histogram). For the 230 MeV case, the dose rate (for 1 nA current) is 0.05 Gy s−1 (passive with Bragg peak, field size: 50 × 50 mm2) and 2.6 Gy s−1 (PBS with shoot-through). Dose rate comparison is made between passive scattering and PBS as the delivery changes from spot-layer to shoot-through. In conclusion, the study successfully established a benchmark reference for dose rate performance for different scenarios, taking into account components along the beamline, field size and beam current. The results allow us to predict and compare the required beam current to yield a dose rate sufficiently high, above the threshold of the FLASH effect.
Concurrent validity of the portable gFlight system compared to a force plate to measure jump performance variables
Authors: Parmar Arran , Keenan Ashleigh , Barry Gill
Published: December 2020

Objective. Lower-limb strength and power is commonly assessed indirectly by measuring jump performance. A novel portable system (gFlight) that can be used in applied settings provides measures of jump performance. The aim of this study was to validate jump performance measures provided by the gFlight to those provided by a force plate. Approach. Thirty-six participants performed three countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) trials. Jump height (JH), contact time, and reactive strength index (RSI) were simultaneously recorded by a force plate and gFlight sensors to assess concurrent validity. Main results. The gFlight provided significantly higher measures of JH during the CMJ (mean: +8.79 ± 4.16 cm, 95% CI: +7.68 to 9.90 cm, P < 0.001) and DJ (mean: +4.68 ± 3.57 cm, 95% CI: +3.73 to 5.63 cm, P < 0.001) compared to the force plate. The gFlight sensors displayed significantly higher measures of RSI (mean: +0.48 ± 0.39 m·s−1, 95% CI: +0.37 to 0.58 m·s−1, P < 0.001) and lower measures of contact time (mean: −0.036 ± 0.028 s, 95% CI: −0.044 to −0.029 s, P < 0.001) during the DJ compared to the force plate. The bias displayed by the gFlight for JH, contact time and RSI measures are reduced using corrective equations. Significance. The gFlight sensors are a cost-effective, portable measurement system with high concurrent and ecological validity for the objective measurement of jump performance in applied settings. Corrective equations should be used to reduce measurement biases so comparisons can be made to force plate measurements of jump performance.
A novel algorithm for automatic diagnosis of sleep apnea from airflow and oximetry signals
Authors: Uddin M B , Chow C M , Ling S H , Su S W
Published: December 2020

Objective. Sleep apnea significantly decreases the quality of life. The apnea hypopnea index (AHI) is the main indicator for sleep apnea diagnosis. This study explored a novel automatic algorithm to diagnose sleep apnea from nasal airflow (AF) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) signals. Approach. Of the 988 polysomnography (PSG) records from the sleep heart health study (SHHS), 45 were randomly selected for the development of an algorithm and the remainder for validation (n = 943). The algorithm detects apnea events by a digitization process, following the determination of the peak excursion (peak-to-trough amplitude) from AF envelope. Hypopnea events were determined from the AF envelope and oxygen desaturation with correction to time lag in SpO2. Total sleep time (TST) was estimated from an optimized percentage of artefact-free total recording time. AHI was estimated from the number of detected events divided by the estimated TST. The estimated AHI was compared to the scored SHHS data for performance evaluation. Main results. The validation showed good agreement between the estimated and scored AHI (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.95 and mean ±95% limits of agreement of −1.6 ±12.5 events h−1). The diagnostic accuracies were found: 90.7%, 91%, and 96.7% for AHI cut-off ≥5, ≥15, and ≥30 respectively. Significance. The new algorithm is accurate over other existing methods for the automatic diagnosis of sleep apnea. It is applicable to any portable sleep screeners especially for the home diagnosis of sleep apnea.
Effects of the parallel acceleration on heavy impurity transport in turbulent tokamak plasmas
Authors: Vlad Madalina , Palade Dragos Iustin , Spineanu Florin
Published: December 2020

A process specific to the dynamics of the heavy impurities in turbulent tokamak plasmas is found and analyzed. We show that the parallel stochastic acceleration is strongly coupled to the perpendicular transport and generates a radial pinch velocity. The interaction is produced with the hidden drifts, a quasi-coherent component of the motion that consists of a pair of average radial velocities in opposite directions. The parallel acceleration breaks this symmetry and yields a radial average velocity that can be in the inward or outward direction. The pinch is generated in three-dimensional turbulence, in the presence of a poloidal average velocity. It is significant only for heavy, high Z ions. The transport of the tungsten ions is analyzed in the frame of the minimal test particle model that yields this pinch mechanism. We use a semi-analytical method and numerical simulations. The scaling laws of the pinch velocity and of the diffusion coefficient are found and analyzed in order to drive a clear physical image of these non-linear effects. We conclude that the pinch produced by the non-linear interaction of the parallel accelerated motion with the perpendicular transport is rather strong for the heavy impurities.
Light interaction with extended quantum systems in dispersive media
Authors: Scala Giovanni , Pepe Francesco V , Facchi Paolo , Pascazio Saverio , Słowik Karolina
Published: December 2020

We derive a light–matter interaction Hamiltonian to describe a quantum system embedded in a dispersive environment and coupled with the electromagnetic field. We include in this theory the spatial extension of the system, taken into account through its wavefunction. This enables us to overcome the divergence problem of the Green tensor propagator that arises from a point-like approximation of the quantum system. Thus the formalism can be applied to generalize the expressions for the spontaneous emission rate and the Lamb shift for a quantum system defined by a spatially extended dipole. In particular, these quantities can be modified by the asymmetry of the spatial structure of the atomic system as demonstrated in two test-bed examples.
Machine Learning for Searching the Dark Energy Survey for Trans-Neptunian Objects
Authors: Henghes B. , Lahav O. , Gerdes D. W. , Lin H. W. , Morgan R. , Abbott T. M. C. , Aguena M. , Allam S. , Annis J. , Avila S. , Bertin E. , Brooks D. , Burke D. L. , Rosell A. Carnero , Kind M. Carrasco , Carretero J. , Conselice C. , Costanzi M. , da Costa L. N. , De Vicente J. , Desai S. , Diehl H. T. , Doel P. , Everett S. , Ferrero I. , Frieman J. , García-Bellido J. , Gaztanaga E. , Gruen D. , Gruendl R. A. , Gschwend J. , Gutierrez G. , Hartley W. G. , Hinton S. R. , Honscheid K. , Hoyle B. , James D. J. , Kuehn K. , Kuropatkin N. , Marshall J. L. , Melchior P. , Menanteau F. , Miquel R. , Ogando R. L. C. , Palmese A. , Paz-Chinchón F. , Plazas A. A. , Romer A. K. , Sánchez C. , Sanchez E. , Scarpine V. , Schubnell M. , Serrano S. , Smith M. , Soares-Santos M. , Suchyta E. , Tarle G. , To C. , Wilkinson R. D.
Published: December 2020

In this paper we investigate how implementing machine learning could improve the efficiency of the search for Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) within Dark Energy Survey (DES) data when used alongside orbit fitting. The discovery of multiple TNOs that appear to show a similarity in their orbital parameters has led to the suggestion that one or more undetected planets, an as yet undiscovered “Planet 9”, may be present in the outer solar system. DES is well placed to detect such a planet and has already been used to discover many other TNOs. Here, we perform tests on eight different supervised machine learning algorithms, using a data set consisting of simulated TNOs buried within real DES noise data. We found that the best performing classifier was the Random Forest which, when optimized, performed well at detecting the rare objects. We achieve an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, (AUC) = 0.996 ± 0.001. After optimizing the decision threshold of the Random Forest, we achieve a recall of 0.96 while maintaining a precision of 0.80. Finally, by using the optimized classifier to pre-select objects, we are able to run the orbit-fitting stage of our detection pipeline five times faster.
Global theory of beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode excited by trapped energetic electrons
Authors: Ma Ruirui , Qiu Zhiyong , Li Yueyan , Chen Wei
Published: December 2020

Theoretical and numerical studies of the two-dimensional (2D) global stability and mode structures of high-n beta-induced Alfvén eigenmodes excited by magnetically trapped energetic electrons in tokamaks are carried out by employing the WKB-ballooning mode representation along with the generalized fishbone-like dispersion relation. Depending on parameter regimes, it is found that (i) the mode growth rate has a maximum with increasing energetic electron density at the ground radial eigenstate; (ii) the ground and excited radial eigenstates can be unstable simultaneously, and the most unstable mode is related not only to the pressure gradient of energetic electrons, but also to the width of the mode itself; (iii) the corresponding 2D mode structures are twisted due to the anti-Hermitian contribution from wave-energetic electron interaction and show opposite deformation directions compared with that in the presence of energetic ions; and (iv) the mode structures, especially, the mode width and its radial asymmetry, can be affected by radial eigen-mode number, energetic electron density, and magnetic shear. Finally, the radial symmetry breaking of the localized e-BAE mode structure with respect to parallel wave-number has a potential impact on toroidal momentum transport.
Follow the power—pathways to steady-state tokamak reactors
Authors: Petty C.C.
Published: December 2020

Diagramming pathways of dimensionless power is a potent method for extrapolating between operating points on present-day tokamaks and future burning plasma devices. The heat transport power, current drive power, H-mode threshold power and other ‘plasma physics’ powers can be expressed in dimensionally correct (or normalized) form as Pa
3/4, where P is the power and a is the plasma minor radius, with the relative gyroradius (ρ
*) dependence ranging from gyro-Bohm-like for transport (

P

a

3
/
4

∝

ρ

*

−
3
/
2

), Bohm-like for current drive (

P

a

3
/
4

∝

ρ

*

−
5
/
2

) and worse than Bohm-like for H-mode threshold (

P

a

3
/
4

∝

ρ

*

−
3

). The D–T fusion power cannot be normalized in the same fashion since it is governed by nuclear physics, but at fixed B
T it scales like

P

a

3
/
4

∝

ρ

*

−
9
/
2

. Other ‘mixed physics’ powers can be incorporated into the dimensionless power framework by holding B
T fixed in the same manner. Diagramming these dimensionless powers vs ρ
* shows how the pathway to a steady-state reactor can be optimized relative to various operational boundaries. Using a steady-state hybrid discharge with β

N
= 3.2 from DIII-D as the starting point, a multi-parameter optimization finds an attractive pathway to steady-state operation on ITER using 76 MW of current drive power (fusion gain of Q
fus = 8), along with a pathway to Q
fus = 20 in a JET-sized steady-state reactor with B
T = 10 T.
Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) as a method for destroying bacterial biofilms
Authors: Khaertdinova L F , Zazymkina D A , Shakhov P V , Nastulyavichus A A , Kudryashov S I , Tolordava E R , Rudenko A A , Ionin A A
Published: December 2020

The method of laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) was applied for inactivation of pathogenic bacterial biofilms by metallic nanoparticles. The transparent substrate coated with the thin absorbing metal layer is irradiated form the back side with a laser that causes the nanoparticles transfer due to light-matter interaction. Variable laser beam parameters and the spacing between donor and the glass substrate affect parameters of transferred nanoparticles as well as their quantity.
Optical properties of a silicon ultrastable cavity with crystalline mirrors
Authors: Kudeyarov K S , Zhadnov N O , Vishnyakova G A , Kryuchkov D S , Khabarova K Yu , Kolachevsky N N
Published: December 2020

We investigated optical properties of a silicon cavity with GaAs/AlGaAs crystalline mirrors that are used to reduce thermal noise level. Cavity finesse was found to be 3.47×105 at the temperature of 127 K. Birefrigence of mirror coatings leads to emergence of separate TEM00 modes for two orthogonal polarizations of light. Results of the research indicate that such cavity at cryogenic temperature is suitable for laser frequency stabilization.
Optical characteristics of NUV-VIS-NIR transparent Zr-Si-B-N hard films for protection of optical and laser devices
Authors: Kiryukhantsev-Korneev Ph V , Kozlova N S , Levashov E A
Published: December 2020

Optically transparent Zr–Si-B-N films on quartz plates were manufactured by direct current magnetron sputtering of multiphase ZrB2-50%ZrSi2 ceramic cathode. Structural investigations have been carried out using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and glow-discharge optical-emission spectroscopy. The dependences of optical properties including transmittance, reflectivity, and refractive index, vs. wavelength were determined by spectrophotometry. Films exhibited amorphous structure, average mechanical properties (hardness of 11 GPa, elastic modulus of 135 GPa, elastic recovery of 53%) and demonstrated transmittance up to 90 % and reflectivity ∼15%.
High power diode pumped solid-state femtosecond laser systems
Authors: Nikitin S P , Chabushkin A N , Babaev S A , Kolosvetov A A
Published: December 2020

We demonstrate high power direct diode-pumped femtosecond laser based on a commercially available configuration and pumped by multi-diode laser modules delivering high brightness and average power. The multi-diode modules employ beam-combining scheme preserving linear polarization and focusing properties of individual laser diodes. Stable passive Kerr lens modelocked (KLM) laser operation was demonstrated, producing 30 fs pulses at ∼300 mW average output power. A simple approach to numerical modelling of KLM laser operation in cases when longitudinal pump beam exhibits strong astigmatism is also discussed.
High-temperature annealing effect on photoluminescence of ZnO nanoparticles produced by laser ablation in hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Ivanova A K , Kudryashov S I , Minh P H , Ionin A A , Mel’nik N N , Rudenko A A
Published: December 2020

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were for the first time produced by laser ablation of a solid zinc target in 35% liquid hydrogen peroxide. As-produced nanoparticle-based films on Si substrates were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersion x-ray micro-spectroscopy (EDX) as amorphous, containing highly defective mixed oxide/hydroxide structures and crystallization-water molecules. Specific structural defects, damping the photoluminescence band of the nanoparticles peaked near 550 nm for the 488 nm pump laser wavelength, were annealed in air at temperatures 200-400 °C over 1-2 hours, with the accompanying strong photoluminescence yield and the appearance of the absorption cut-off near 350 nm. However, the following annealing at higher temperatures up to 1200 °C for time periods variable in the range of 1-3 hours, resulted in the damping of the photoluminescence. According to x-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization of the nanoparticle-based films on fluorite substrates, high-temperature annealing at 800 C for 1 hour induce crystallization of the common hexagonal ZnO phase (wurzite structure) via loss of peroxide bridges, crystallization water molecules and other structural defects. Meanwhile, annealing at 1200 °C yields in another distinct crystalline phase of ZnO, which appears to be a sphalerite.
The Coordinated Development of “Transport-Industry” in Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration from the Perspective of flow space
Authors: Xin Li , Yongsheng Qian , Junwei Zeng , Xiaoping Guang
Published: December 2020

Under the perspective of “flow space”, the text of this paper constructs an interactive spatial connection network within 30 county towns units of the Lanzhou-Xining urban agglomeration. Further, with the help of social network and ArcGIS (which is the spatial analysis method), the quantitative analysis is used to analyze the structural characteristics of multi-dimensional spatial network of the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration and their mutual relations. Moreover, the synergetic degree model is used to measure the synergetic development level of the “traffic-industry” compound system in urban agglomeration at present. The results indicate that the Lanzhou-Xining urban agglomeration forms a double-core structure that Lanzhou and Xining as the center, and the space of county towns presents the correlated characteristic of “dumbbell-like” expansion. Furthermore, the central power of county towns which are restricted by the traffic condition and industrial structure indicates some outstanding differences. Further, it shows that the center develops to the periphery in a low-level but balanced way. In addition, the random disequilibrium of order degree of traffic and industry in urban agglomeration restricts the synergetic development of county towns, and the compound system of urban agglomeration is in the low-medium stage of synergetic development. The results of this study can provide some references for improving the traffic infrastructure construction and industrial functional structure of Lan-Xi urban agglomeration. This study also can shed some lights on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Knowledge map of Yellow River Basin’s water resources based on literature analysis
Authors: Liu Y Y , Jiang R G , Xie J C , Wang S M , Li W
Published: December 2020

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is an important economic zone in China. The issue of water ecology has attached widely attention by scholars and society. This paper systematically reviewed the status, hotspots and development tendency on water resources research in the YRB based on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database from 1992 to 2019. The SATI4.0 was used to analyze the annual publication, journal sources and keywords. High-frequency keywords were extracted, and software including NetDraw, SPSS and CiteSpace were used to analyze the co-occurring keywords, clustering and research frontier. Results showed that: (1) The number of published papers had increased before 2005 and decreased after it. The quantity of paper has increased sharply since 2018, indicating that the research has a new direction. (2) The source of journals mainly concentrated on basic subjects and hydraulic engineering. (3) The cluster analysis shows that hydrologic features, water management and protection and the water rights system are hotspots. (4) The result of research frontier indicates that sensitivity, ecological protection and high-quality development of water resources have ample research perspectives. It is general trend to combine the scientific methods with traditional methods. The results are conducive to systematically understand research advances and trends of water resources under changing environment, thereby promoting the construction of ecological civilization in the YRB.
Circular economy approach for wastewater treatment farming in Bangpakong River basin
Authors: Surinkul N , Threedeach S , Chiemchaisri W , Chiemchaisri C
Published: December 2020

Bangpakong River is one of river basins that faced the pollution problem in Thailand. This river is located in the downstream of central pain of Thailand and flows into the sea at the gulf of Thailand. Water quality problems in the last decade of this river basin are appeared from the low water quality index with evidences such as dead of fish, black color of water, low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentrations, high organics and nutrients concentrations, high contaminated of coliform bacteria. All wastewater is controlled by the environmental law. Only wastewater from agriculture part is not yet properly managed. The objective of this study was to quantify the mass and material flows in agricultural farms such as pig, fish and prawn farms. Circular economy concept as reuse of wastewater in agricultural farms was approached in scenario. Surveys, questionnaires and water samplings were taken for farms. Information and mass flows within the farms were analyzed. This study found that the main source of pollution from these farms mostly resulted from the effluent of wastewater in term of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Nitrogen (TN) loads, were discharged into the environment. The hot spot areas were canals which flow to the river. Mass flows in pig farm revealed that BOD and TN loads to the environment were 90, and 120 tons/year. In which, calculated thresholds were 30 and 60 tons/year for BOD and TN. Similar results also found from aquaculture farms which contributes BOD and TN loads of 187 and 77 tons/year for fish farms and 156 and 84 tons for prawn farms. In this study, calculated reuse as circular economy approach about 50% of farm wastewater to agricultural field could provide the key role of BOD and TN reduction to the environment, and meeting the threshold level.
Physical and social infrastructures: understanding holistic water poverty eradication in Indonesia
Authors: Ari I R D , Hariyani S , Waloejo B S
Published: December 2020

Poverty issues becomes more complex from time to time, as it comes to the whole world’s attention as it is stated in the first pillar of the SDGs. This research is trying to search an appropriate tool on how to be able to propose a more precise strategy on dealing with poverty with basis assumption that it must put it together for both physical and social developments. Applying case study of Tumpang District in Malang Regency, Indonesia as one of the poor districts, the result is conducted. The first research aim is to measure poverty level through the five components of the Water Poverty Index (WPI). General result indicates that the study area in the unit of analysis of village, there is no significant poverty level, though the district is categorized as the poverty. The second measurement is in order to build a better understanding of social capital in the community level through measurement of the indexes – rate of participation and density using Social Network Analysis (SNA). General result indicates that residents tend to involve into informal institution than the formal one. However, at the final stage of Spatial Regression Analysis that put it the WPI value as the dependent variable, and the two value of indexes of the SNA as the independent variables along with physical distance to the public facility, the result indicates that participation in the formal institution might give a significant influence to the success of lessening poverty level. Hence, this research proposes two main strategy in order to eradicate poverty though the development of both physical and social infrastructures, and to bring people closer distance to the formal institutions.
Monitoring low-level mercury contamination by zebrafish school behavioral responses
Authors: Huang Y , Zhang J S , Mi F J , Zhang G H , Sun J
Published: December 2020

Low-level pollution accidents are keeping increasing and difficult to monitor in real time. In our current study, zebrafish are used as a common freshwater model to monitor low-level concentrations of 0.05 mg·L−1 mercuric chloride (HgCl2). Avoidance (swimming increased and closely gathered) was the first response, but those abnormal behaviour just lasted 15~20 min and then recovered to the original level with much more fluctuation. In order to quantitative evaluate the first stress responses of fish exposed to lower concentration of toxicant, entropy is proposed for detecting the first responses. The use of entropy contributed to the reliability and precision for detecting toxicant at lower concentration pollution.
Requalification of Social Housing: Ingote plateau (Coimbra)
Authors: Virtudes Ana , Nascimento Ana , García Irene Mendoza , Fonseca António
Published: December 2020

Social housing neighbourhoods are issues for several approaches and studies in all domains, the architectural scope and the urban scale. There are several examples of academic research focused on this topic. However, there is still much ink to spill regarding the scientific interest of peripheries, such as in the case of Ingote plateau, a suburb at the Portuguese city of Coimbra. This suburb is the result of three housing developments from different periods of time, according to the national policy to provide social houses: the Ingote (1970s), the António Sérgio (1980s), and the Rosa (1990s) suburbs. These residential areas are associated with the problems related to the suburban social housing, such as scarcity of social and economic means or shortage of urban conditions. Social housing suburbs are complex entities and their rapid growth has contributed to change the spatial identity of cities, leaving room for new questions about the concept of neighbourhood and its role at the urban scale. As this article aims to show, the geographical location of Ingote plateau makes it a target of territorial and social exclusions. Therefore, an urban design solution was proposed in order to rethink this area, developing strategies for its integration in the urban fabric. As the main conclusion, the project maintains the number of dwellings, improving the quality of public spaces, facilities, greenery and leisure to serve not only the local community but also the city as a whole. The main goal was to reinforce the identity, promoting the safety of locals, making them proud of their suburb.
Building energy simulation. Case studies with water flow glazing
Authors: Ama Fernando Del , Davis Hunter , Lauret Benito , Moreno Belen , Hernandez Juan A.
Published: December 2020

Buildings represent complex systems with high levels of inter-dependence on many external sources. Building envelope expertise is a part of the building process, from pre-design through post-occupancy. Large glazed surfaces increase the building’s luminosity. However, the glass is a poor thermal insulator, and allows a great part of the solar radiation passing through it. The use of a glazed façade has the disadvantage of introducing an excess of energy in the building by means of solar radiation during the summer months. New glass technologies solve the energy problems raised by the use of glass in buildings: double and triple glazing, surface treatments, solar control glazing, low-emissivity glazing, etc. One of these is the water flow glazing. Due to the spectral properties of water, it captures most of the infrared solar radiation, allowing the visible component to pass through. This provides the water flow glazing with the same luminosity than conventional glazing, only lessening the heat transfer towards the interior space. Furthermore, the water circulation allows us to use, store or dissipate the captured energy as deemed appropriate. The first goal of this paper is to study the integration of the water flow glazing to evaluate its behavior in different weather conditions. Active and passive strategies will be tested in real case studies to achieve the goal of a Zero Energy Building.
The Experience of Designing Building Materials
Authors: Garkina Irina , Danilov Alexander
Published: December 2020

The evolution of views on the development of composite materials is analyzed from the point of view of paradigm shift based on basic models of a continuous self-developing environment towards paradigms based on models of a structured self-developing environment based on ideas and methods of a systematic approach and synergetics. A system approach can reduce or even eliminate the uncertainty inherent in the problem being solved; to reconstruct it in models that meet the objectives of the study; identify objects, properties and relationships of the investigated system, taking into account the mutual influence of the external environment. It is shown that the structural organization of the material determines the structural design of the product or structure and largely determines the functional properties of the entire system. Composite materials are considered as large complex systems formed on a modular principle: integrative properties are approximately determined on the basis of autonomous studies of separate subsystems. Separate subsystems are supposed to have a certain degree of autonomy; the introduction of custom reference models with the simultaneous decentralization of modules by inputs is possible. It is shown that the conditions for transferring the results of autonomous studies to the system as a whole are determined by the completeness of understanding the processes of formation of the structure and properties of the system. When developing composites, the PATTERN method and the SATURN technology are used to determine the criteria for assessing the relative importance, mutual utility, state and timing of research and development, maintaining a reasonable balance between the internal logic of science and its practical significance. Partial criteria and formalization of the generalized quality criterion of building material are analyzed. As an illustration, the definition of flocculation conditions in a disperse system is given on the basis of its representation as a system of particles moving under the action of gravitational and pair interaction forces, interaction with boundaries and a dispersion medium. It is shown that the uniformity of the steady-state configuration and the sedimentation stability of the polydisperse system are mainly determined by the volumetric degree of filling. Given the complexity of the composite as an object of study (multidimensionality, multiconnectedness, incompleteness of diagnostic information), diagnostic interpretation of the analyzed factors, the probabilistic nature of diagnostic information the necessity of using methods of both specific and abstract logical cognition is shown (each new logical stage continues the previous one and serves as the initial prerequisite for the previous one).
Historical Centers of Small Cities in Slovakia – Problems and Potentials of Creating Livable Public Spaces
Authors: Kristianova Katarina , Jaszczak Agnieszka
Published: December 2020

Public spaces in the historic cores of cities need to adapt to changing requirements for their use, reflecting the current needs of their users. High-quality public spaces provide a safe, accessible, suitable and pleasant environment for various types of activities and meet the needs of residents - users. Based on their good functioning, cities are generally evaluated by their inhabitants as more or less attractive for life. Within the project “LIVA - The concept of livability in the context of small towns” we have examined public spaces in the historic city cores of selected small cities in Slovakia, to identify the problems and potentials of forming environmentally and people-friendly public spaces. The research shows, that today’s architectural-urban forms of public spaces in the historical centers of small towns in Slovakia are burdened with many problems, the most serious of which are usually their unsatisfactory functional content, unsatisfactory organization of transit transport, the poor state of public greenery, or unsatisfactory conditions of the physical environment – pavements or equipment with urban furnishings. The public spaces reflect the overall problems of small towns, remoteness, lack of investments, departure of young people and aging of the population, resulting in a lack of basic infrastructure and underdeveloped amenities for providing public services. In many cases, the historical centers of small towns do not provide sufficient attractiveness for businesses and cultural and social facilities in the parterre of buildings, nor variability of functional use of the public space. On the other hand, public spaces in the centers of small cities show the potential to offer a better quality of the environment. The central zones, the amenities, and public services, green infrastructure or recreation and sports areas in small cities are usually accessible within walking distances, which supports pedestrian movement and reduces the use of cars. The historical cores of small towns in many cases successfully preserved their cultural heritage values, their historical identity, and their character.
Location Patterns of Small Sacral Architecture in Rural Landscapes – Case Studies from Eastern Slovakia
Authors: Kristianova Katarina , Jaszczak Agnieszka , Illes Juraj
Published: December 2020

Specific locations of small objects of sacral architecture in the landscape represent both tangible and intangible values, which are the result of long-lasting ties between man – society and the landscape. The objects of small sacral architecture, small chapels, statues of saints, crucifixes, small belfries or other typological forms of small sacral objects, are located at specific places, important sites linked to the life of local inhabitants, on places with good visibility and accessibility, for example along roads, at crossroads, at borders of settlements, field boundaries, or elevated locations, determining compositional linkages in space. We have examined the location patterns of objects of small sacral architecture in rural landscapes of Eastern Slovakia, in selected cadastral areas of village settlements in the district Vranov nad Topľou, in the Prešov region. The results of the research show that most of the locations in the open landscape outside of the built-up area of settlements are the road-side locations along currently used roads or along the field roads and abandoned former roads which in the past connected the villages. Only a few are found on sites near springs of mineral water, or on elevated top-hill position. Within the built-up areas of settlements, the most of objects of small sacral architecture are located in the private fenced spaces of front gardens; only a few are located in public space. Many objects of small sacral architecture are abandoned, vanish from the rural landscape, deteriorate and fall into decay. The reinvention of their values and their valorization will help to preserve the character and traditional local identity of rural cultural landscapes.
New “Revolution” - Green Solutions in Urban Design
Authors: Jaszczak Agnieszka , Kristianova Katarina , Pochodyła Ewelina , Vaznonienė Gintarė
Published: December 2020

The urban environment is constantly changing, which results in the depreciation of its natural elements. Progressing urbanization means that a person ceases to perceive larger cities as an attractive place to live or relax, while the city becomes first and foremost a place of work or an economic center. The thing that may change the attitude of the inhabitants to the attractiveness of the environment is green infrastructure. Greenery in the city space plays biological, recreational and aesthetic functions. What is more, it is a habitat for animal life, increases biodiversity, improves air quality and reduces the effects of climate change. Certainly, the preservation of open spaces and greenery is justified, because of the numerous advantages. That is why innovative solutions are applied for the identification, assessment, and planning as well as management of greenery in cities. A relatively new concept, used by the authors during the research, which relates the design and management of green areas to the needs of a better life of inhabitants, is “green livability”. Thus, ecological solutions appear in space based on balancing the expected economic effects in relation to the growing social and environmental needs. The revolution in planning is also increasingly associated with climate change and the migration of the population to a previously unknown scale. This paper presents selected design trends in Poland, Slovakia, and Lithuania, covering green solutions in small scale – including roof gardens, vertical vegetation, rain gardens, community and pocket gardens in cities. In the countries analyzed, there is increasing recognition of the need to change the way of thinking about planning, which results solely from economic or aesthetic needs, towards ecological planning with the participation of society.