bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Time Series Forecasting of Fire Spots in Brazil: A Comprehensive Approach
Authors: Pinheiro Ana Caroline , Rodrigues Paulo Canas
Published: June 2024

This study compares reconciliation techniques and base forecast methods to forecast a hierarchical time series of the number of fire spots in Brazil between 2011 and 2022. A three-level hierarchical time series was considered, comprising fire spots in Brazil, disaggregated by biome, and further disaggregated by the municipality. The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), the exponential smoothing (ETS), and the Prophet models were tested for baseline forecasts, and nine reconciliation approaches, including top-down, bottom-up, middle-out, and optimal combination methods, were considered to ensure coherence in the forecasts. Due to the need for transformation to ensure positive forecasts, two data transformations were considered: the logarithm of the number of fire spots plus one and the square root of the number of fire spots plus 0.5. To assess forecast accuracy, the data were split into training data for estimating model parameters and test data for evaluating forecast accuracy. The results show that the ARIMA model with the logarithmic transformation provides overall better forecast accuracy. The BU, MinT(s), and WLS(v) yielded the best results among the reconciliation techniques.
Improved Artificial Aggregates for Use in Green Roof Design
Authors: Stempkowska Agata , Gawenda Tomasz
Published: June 2024

The development of surfaces in cities, as a result of progressive urbanization, not only reduces the natural retention capacity of the environment but also causes changes in the water balance. In urbanized areas, the amount and intensity of rainwater discharged to receivers increase, and the time of water outflow from the catchment area shortens. Low retention does not provide effective responses to the local water deficit and does not limit the effects of excess water during flood periods. Furthermore, aging drainage systems do not always have the required hydraulic efficiency in absorbing runoff after intense and heavy rainfall or snowmelt. The aim of the work was to determine the possibility of obtaining flat aggregates with a grain size of 2–16 mm from clay-silt fractions from sedimentation tanks using selected mechanical processing methods (crushing and screening in a crusher-screener system with recycling). An important issue was the examination of the physical and mechanical properties of the produced aggregates after firing, where the work required a detailed material analysis using various research techniques, such as XRD, XRF, SEM and digital microscopy. The obtained results will allow for further research on developing the concept of technology for the production of lightweight aggregates used, for example, on building roofs. Particular attention was paid to the flat shape of the aggregate, which affects a number of its properties. To obtain a flat-shaped aggregate, the authors used a patented sieving method. The obtained materials had high cavernosity of 69% on average, water absorption of 40.7% and low bulk density of 0.82 g/cm3.
Cascade Failure-Based Identification and Resilience of Critical Nodes in Automotive Supply Chain Networks
Authors: Ou Chengyang , Pan Fubin , Lin Shuangjiao
Published: June 2024

In the case of cascade failure, due to the close connection of the automobile supply chain network, the chain reaction caused by it should not be ignored; therefore, to find out the important nodes in the automobile supply chain network, to reduce the damage of cascade failure on the supply chain network, and to improve the destruction resistance of the automobile supply chain network is a problem that we should focus on. This paper takes Tesla’s new energy automotive supply chain network as an example to study the impact of cascade failure on the destructive resistance of the automotive supply chain network. From the analysis of the identification results, it is found that the key nodes in the automobile supply chain network with strong influence on risk propagation are mostly charging pile enterprises, motor enterprises, and electronic control enterprises at the core, such as Hengdian Electromagnetics, Wanma Stocks, etc. Meanwhile, Changxin Science and Technology, as a central control panel manufacturer with a large number of indirect suppliers, is also in the top position. Through the proposed key node identification method, it has good practical application value for preventing risk transmission in the automotive supply chain.
Valorization of Hibiscus Flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Anthocyanins to Produce Sustainable Spray-Dried Ingredients
Authors: Vargas David A. , Vargas Nathaly , Osorio-Doblado Andrea M. , Ruano-Ortiz Juan A. , Medeiros Fábio G. M. de , Hoskin Roberta T. , Moncada Marvin
Published: June 2024

The recent increase in sustainability awareness has triggered the industry to establish novel, eco-friendly sources of plant-based ingredients. In the present study, hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) were investigated as a sustainable source of anthocyanins for use in spray-dried ingredients with antioxidant capacity. To this end, the extraction and spray-drying microencapsulation of hibiscus flower anthocyanins were optimized and the final products were evaluated for their oxidative stability index. Initially, preliminary experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of selected processing parameters on anthocyanin extraction. Next, the extraction was optimized through a 22 central composite design, considering ethanol concentration (44–56% v/v) and extraction time (1.6–6.4 h) as independent factors. The optimum extraction conditions (8 h, 41.6% v/v ethanol concentration) were used to produce anthocyanin-rich extracts, which were microencapsulated by spray drying using a 22 central composite design with the carrier addition rate (1–3% w/v) and inlet temperature (160–192 °C) as factors. Maximum values of solids recovery (60.8%) and anthocyanin retention (96.0%) were reached when 3.2% w/v of starch–alginate carrier blend and a 170.7 °C inlet temperature were used. Finally, when hibiscus microcapsules were added to soybean oil, higher oxidative stability was achieved compared to the control. Overall, we demonstrate an industrially friendly and scalable approach that takes advantage of abundant hibiscus flowers as a viable source of anthocyanins for multiple applications.
Trends in Corporate Environmental Compliance Research: A Bibliometric Analysis (2004–2024)
Authors: Chi Tiancheng , Yang Zheng
Published: June 2024

Against the backdrop of the global energy crisis and climate change, corporate environmental compliance has emerged as a key aspect of environmental regulation and a focal point of academic interest. It plays a crucial role in alleviating regulatory pressure, enabling green innovations, enhancing performance, and fostering sustainable development. Despite extensive research in the field, comprehensive reviews and bibliometric analyses remain scarce. To address this gap, this study meticulously analyzed 851 papers indexed in the WoS’s SSCI and SCI from 2004 to 2024. Using visualization tools like VOSviewer and CiteSpace, it conducted a multidimensional bibliometric analysis and systematic review, identifying core authors such as Aseem, Ntim, and Zeng, high-productivity countries including China, the USA, and the UK, and key journals like the Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability. Keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis revealed central research themes of environmental information disclosure, innovation, and environmental management systems. Burst analysis highlighted emerging hot topics, notably ecological and green innovation, and the interplay between Total Factor Productivity and environmental regulations. Additionally, we identified several critical gaps in the field. For instance, research on corporate environmental governance mechanisms in the context of digital transformation remains insufficient. Furthermore, the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder collaborative governance frameworks requires ongoing investigation. Therefore, we encourage future researchers to focus on the following topics: digitization and environmental compliance, multi-stakeholder participation mechanisms, cost–benefit analysis of corporate environmental compliance, and the impact of political and regulatory environments on corporate environmental compliance.
Effectiveness of Bariatric Surgeries for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: AlRumaih Abdullah Sulaiman , Alzelfawi Lama Abdullah , Alotaibi Ghadah Khalid , Aldayel Osamah AbdulAziz , AlMutairi Abdulrahman Khazzam , Alnowaimi Rosana Tariq , Alshahrani Mubarak Mohammed , Alsharif Rifal Sami , Almadani Sarah Nabil
Published: June 2024

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and simultaneously the most common indication for liver transplants in Western countries This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on MDASLD histologically and biochemically. 14 studies met our criteria with a total population of 1942 who underwent LSG or RYGB 1–14. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for quality evaluation of the included studies. Results: Both surgeries were effective in decreasing laboratory biomarkers like ALP, GGT, AST, and ALT with non-significant superiority of LSG over RYGB which did not significantly improve the AST level after one year. LSG showed more decrease in ALT levels (MD = −17.56, 95% CI = (−23.04, −12.089), p 0.001) and LSG was associated with increased change in NAS score with slight superiority. Both LSG and RYBG improve NAD and NASH outcomes after one and 10 years of surgery. However, randomized clinical trials with large samples are needed to confirm these results.
Deep Learning for Skeleton-Based Human Activity Segmentation: An Autoencoder Approach
Authors: Hossen Md Amran , Naim Abdul Ghani , Abas Pg Emeroylariffion
Published: June 2024

Automatic segmentation is essential for enhancing human activity recognition, especially given the limitations of publicly available datasets that often lack diversity in daily activities. This study introduces a novel segmentation method that utilizes skeleton data for a more accurate and efficient analysis of human actions. By employing an autoencoder, this method extracts representative features and reconstructs the dataset, using the discrepancies between the original and reconstructed data to establish a segmentation threshold. This innovative approach allows for the automatic segmentation of activity datasets into distinct segments. Rigorous evaluations against ground truth across three publicly available datasets demonstrate the method’s effectiveness, achieving impressive average annotation error, precision, recall, and F1-score values of 3.6, 90%, 87%, and 88%, respectively. This illustrates the robustness of the proposed method in accurately identifying change points and segmenting continuous skeleton-based activities as compared to two other state-of-the-art techniques: one based on deep learning and another using the classical time-series segmentation algorithm. Additionally, the dynamic thresholding mechanism enhances the adaptability of the segmentation process to different activity dynamics improving overall segmentation accuracy. This performance highlights the potential of the proposed method to significantly advance the field of human activity recognition by improving the accuracy and efficiency of identifying and categorizing human movements.
Two-Level Clustering Algorithm for Cluster Head Selection in Randomly Deployed Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Subedi Sagun , Acharya Shree Krishna , Lee Jaehee , Lee Sangil
Published: June 2024

Clustering strategy in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) affects the lifetime, adaptability, and energy productivity of the wireless network system. The low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is a convention used to improve the lifetime of WSNs. In this paper, a novel energy-efficient clustering algorithm is proposed, with the aim of improving the energy efficiency of WSNs by reducing and balancing the energy consumptions. The clustering-based convention adjusts the energy utilization by allowing an equal opportunity for each node to turn them into a cluster head (CH). Two-level clustering (TLC) is introduced by adopting LEACH convention where CH selection process undergoes first and second level of clustering to overcome boundary problem in LEACH protocol. The TLC method structures nodes within the scope of the appointed CHs, in order to extend the lifetime of the system. The simulation results show that, in comparison with state-of-the-art methodologies, our proposed method significantly enhanced the system lifetime.
Application of Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging and Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Kidney Injury Associated with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Authors: Yu Wenhui , Yan Weijie , Yi Jing , Cheng Lu , Luo Peiyi , Sun Jiayu , Gou Shenju , Fu Ping
Published: June 2024

Objective: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been applied to assess the microstructure of the kidney. However, it is not clear whether fMRI could be used in the field of kidney injury in patients with Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods: This study included 20 patients with AAV. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) scanning of the kidneys were performed in AAV patients and healthy controls. The mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) parameters of DKI, the R2* parameter of BOLD, and clinical data were further analyzed. Results: In AAV patients, the cortex exhibited lower MD but higher R2* values compared to the healthy controls. Medullary MK values were elevated in AAV patients. Renal medullary MK values showed a positive correlation with serum creatinine levels and negative correlations with hemoglobin levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate. To assess renal injury in AAV patients, AUC values for MK, MD, FA, and R2* in the cortex were 0.66, 0.67, 0.57, and 0.55, respectively, and those in the medulla were 0.81, 0.77, 0.61, and 0.53, respectively. Conclusions: Significant differences in DKI and BOLD MRI parameters were observed between AAV patients with kidney injuries and the healthy controls. The medullary MK value in DKI may be a noninvasive marker for assessing the severity of kidney injury in AAV patients.
Fat Fraction Extracted from Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance (WB-MR) in Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Intra- and Inter-Reader Agreement of Single-Slice and Volumetric Measurements
Authors: Agazzi Giorgio Maria , Di Meo Nunzia , Rondi Paolo , Saeli Chiara , Dalla Volta Alberto , Vezzoli Marika , Berruti Alfredo , Borghesi Andrea , Maroldi Roberto , Ravanelli Marco , Farina Davide
Published: June 2024

Background: This study evaluates the repeatability and reproducibility of fat-fraction percentage (FF%) in whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) of prostate cancer patients with bone metastatic hormone naive disease. Methods: Patients were selected from the database of a prospective phase-II trial. The treatment response was assessed using the METastasis Reporting and Data System for Prostate (MET-RADS-P). Two operators identified a Small Active Lesion (SAL, <10 mm) and a Large Active Lesion (LAL, ≥10 mm) per patient, performing manual segmentation of lesion volume and the largest cross-sectional area. Measurements were repeated by one operator after two weeks. Intra- and inter-reader agreements were assessed via Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) on first-order radiomics features. Results: Intra-reader ICC showed high repeatability for both SAL and LAL in a single slice (SS) and volumetric (VS) measurements with values ranging from 0.897 to 0.971. Inter-reader ICC ranged from 0.641 to 0.883, indicating moderate to good reproducibility. Spearman’s rho analysis confirmed a strong correlation between SS and VS measurements for SAL (0.817) and a moderate correlation for LAL (0.649). Both intra- and inter-rater agreement exceeded 0.75 for multiple first-order features across lesion sizes. Conclusion: This study suggests that FF% measurements are reproducible, particularly for larger lesions in both SS and VS assessments.
The Safety Assessment of Mutagenicity, Acute and Chronic Toxicity of the Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook.f. Water Leaf Extract
Authors: Taychaworaditsakul Weerakit , Sawong Suphunwadee , Intatham Supaporn , Chansakaow Sunee , Chewonarin Teera , Kunnaja Phraepakaporn , Jaijoy Kanjana , Wittayapraparat Absorn , Yusuk Pedcharada , Charoensup Wannaree , Sireeratawong Seewaboon
Published: June 2024

Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook.f. has traditionally been used as an anti-insecticidal agent and as a medication due to its hepatoprotective properties by highland communities in Thailand. This study examined the mutagenicity, as well as the acute and chronic toxicity, of the L. martabanica water leaf extract in Sprague-Dawley rats. The pharmacognostic evaluation of L. martabanica was performed in this study to ensure its authenticity and purity. Then, the sample was extracted using decoction with water to obtain the crude water extract. The assessment of acute toxicity involved a single oral administration of 5000 mg/kg, whereas the chronic toxicity assessment comprised daily oral doses of 250, 750, and 2250 mg/kg over 270 days. Various physiological and behavioral parameters, as well as body and organ weights, were systematically monitored. The endpoint assessments involved hematological and biochemical analyses plus gross and histopathological assessments of the internal organs. Our results exhibited no mutagenic activation by the L. martabanica water leaf extract in the Ames test, and no acute toxicity was observed. In the chronic toxicity tests, no abnormalities were found in rats receiving the L. martabanica water leaf extract across multiple measures, comprising behavioral, physiological, and hematological indices. Crucially, the histopathological assessment corroborated previous studies, reporting an absence of any tissue abnormalities. The results revealed that the L. martabanica water leaf extract had no adverse effects on rats over 270 days of oral administration. This demonstrates its safety and crucial scientific evidence for informing public policy and enabling its potential future commercial use in both highland and lowland communities.
Challenges of Screening and Investigations of Contacts of Patients with Tuberculosis in Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria
Authors: Agbaje Aderonke , Dakum Patrick , Daniel Olugbenga , Chukwuma Anyaike , Chijoke-Akaniro Obioma , Okpokoro Evaezi , Akingbesote Samuel , Anyomi Christian , Adekunle Adekola , Alege Abiola , Gbadamosi Moroof , Babalola Olutunde , Mensah Charles , Eneogu Rupert , Ihesie Austin , Adelekan Ademola
Published: June 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with high rates of transmission and low case detection rates. This paper presents the challenges of screening and investigation of contacts of patients with TB in Oyo and Osun State, Nigeria. This descriptive-qualitative study was conducted in eight Local Government Areas with high TB burdens. Twenty-four focus group discussions and 30 key informant interviews were conducted among TB patients, household TB contacts, and government TB staff, among others. Respondents ages ranged from 17–85 years with a mean of 42.08 ± 14.9 years, and (4.0%) had a postgraduate degree. This study identified that the majority of TB contacts who tested negative for TB were unwilling to be placed on TB preventive therapy because of the belief that only a sick person should take drugs. Also, hostility from the TB contacts to the contact tracers during the house-to-house screening of presumptive TB cases due to community stigma associated with TB was another existing gap reported in TB contact investigations. The findings emphasise the importance of tailored approaches in TB prevention and control, addressing challenges in testing and contact investigations; this necessitates investments in community engagement strategies to enhance the cooperation of TB contacts.
The cos 2ϕh Asymmetry in K± Mesons and the Λ-Hyperon-Produced SIDIS Process at Electron Ion Colliders
Authors: Song Jianxi , Li Yanli , Xue Shi-Chen , Li Hui , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: June 2024

We investigate the cos2ϕh azimuthal asymmetry contributed by the coupling of the Boer–Mulders function and the Collins function in K±- and Λ-hyperon-produced SIDIS process. The asymmetry is studied under the transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) factorization framework at the leading order by considering the TMD evolution effects that utilize the parametrization for non-perturbative Sudakov form factors. The DGLAP evolution effects of the collinear counterpart of the Collins function of the final-state hadrons are considered by introducing the approximated evolution kernels. We utilize the available parametrization for the proton Boer–Mulders function and the Collins function of K±. For the Collins function of the Λ hyperon, the result of the diquark spectator model is adopted due to the absence of parametrization. The numerical results of the cos2ϕh azimuthal asymmetry are obtained in the kinematic regions of EIC and EicC. It can be shown that the asymmetry is much smaller than the Sivers asymmetry, which means that the convolution of the Boer–Mulders function and the Collins function may not be the main contributor to the cos2ϕh asymmetry. We emphasize the importance of future measurement of the cos2ϕh asymmetry to unravel different contributors.
Investigation of the Seroprevalence of Brucella Antibodies and Characterization of Field Strains in Immunized Dairy Cows by B. abortus A19
Authors: Shi Yong , Cui Yimeng , Wudong Gaowa , Li Shengnan , Yuan Ye , Zhao Danyu , Yin Shurong , Diao Ziyang , Li Bin , Zhou Dong , Li Xuejun , Wang Zhanlin , Zhang Fengxia , Xie Min , Zhao Zehui , Wang Aihua , Jin Yaping
Published: June 2024

(1) Background: One method of eradicating brucellosis is to cull cattle that test positive for antibodies 12 months after being vaccinated with the 19-strain vaccine. Variations in immunization regimens and feeding practices may contribute to differences in the rate of persistent antibodies. We conducted this study to investigate the real positive rate of Brucella antibody in field strains of Brucella spp. after immunization over 12 months in dairy cows. This research aims to provide data to support the development of strategies for preventing, controlling, and eradicating brucellosis. (2) Method: We employed the baseline sampling method to collect samples from cows immunized with the A19 vaccine for over 12 months in Lingwu City from 2021 to 2023. Serological detection was conducted using the RBPT method. An established PCR method that could distinguish between 19 and non-19 strains of Brucella was utilized to investigate the field strains of Brucella on 10 dairy farms based on six samples mixed into one using the Mathematical Expectation strategy. (3) Results: We analyzed the rates of individual seropositivity and herd seropositive rates in dairy cattle in Lingwu City from 2021 to 2023 and revealed that antibodies induced by the Brucella abortus strain A19 vaccine persist in dairy herds for more than 12 months. We established a PCR method for identifying both Brucella A19 and non-A19 strains, resulting in the detection of 10 field strains of Brucella abortus from 1537 dairy cows. By employing a Mathematical Expectation strategy, we completed testing of 1537 samples after conducting only 306 tests, thereby reducing the workload by 80.1%. (4) Conclusions: There was a certain proportion of cows with a persistent antibody titer, but there was no evidence that all of these cattle were naturally infected with Brucella. The established PCR method for distinguishing between Brucella abortus strain 19 and non-19 strains can be specifically utilized for detecting natural Brucella infection in immunized cattle. We propose that relying solely on the detection of antibodies in cattle immunized with the A19 vaccine more than 12 months previously should not be solely relied upon as a diagnostic basis for brucellosis, and it is essential to complement this approach with PCR analysis to specifically identify field Brucella spp. Brucella abortus was the predominant strain identified in the field during this study. Detection based on the Mathematical Expectation strategy can significantly enhance detection efficiency.
Managing Agricultural Water Resources in the Southern Region: Perspectives of Crop Growers
Authors: Donovan Megan , Chanes Christina , Gholson Drew , Kadyampakeni Davie M. , Swisher Marilyn E. , Connor Tiffany
Published: June 2024

The sustainability of agricultural commodities produced in the Southern U.S. under irrigation is increasingly at risk due to erratic rainfall patterns, inadequate water supplies and compromised water quality. This study assessed the needs of crop growers in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Southern Region. The purpose was to identify growers’ critical water resource management concerns to identify research priorities from the perspective of growers in this region. To obtain this information, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to growers throughout the Southern Region in 2020. The final sample included 111 crop (row and specialty) production growers from the Southern Region. Overall, respondents named the water available to irrigate as the greatest water resource management priority. Within all the water availability priorities asked, respondents’ first choice was declining water supply in the future. Declining water supply and the cost of irrigating presently were the next most frequently named water availability priorities. Growers named both increasing the efficiency of irrigation and development of farming practices to improve soil moisture retention as the primary and secondary focus of future irrigation research, respectively. These results will aid in strengthening existing and developing new initiatives for water research and Extension in this region.
Research Progress on the Removal of Contaminants from Wastewater by Constructed Wetland Substrate: A Review
Authors: Wang Liyan , Ma Leihui , Wang Junke , Zhao Xia , Jing Yushu , Liu Changqing , Xiao Yihua , Li Cang , Jiao Chen , Xu Mengchen
Published: June 2024

Constructed wetlands (CWs) primarily achieve efficient wastewater purification through synergistic interactions among substrates, plants, and microorganisms. Serving as the structural foundation of the entire wetland system, substrates not only provide a growth medium for plants, but also serve as adhesive carriers for microorganisms and habitats for animal activities. Research on substrates has attracted considerable attention; however, in practical engineering applications, the selection of substrates often depend on personal experience, which may lead to significant gaps in the effectiveness of wetland systems in treating different characteristic contaminants. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the influence of substrates on the removal of contaminants in sewage and identify substrate materials with good physical and chemical properties to optimize the design and operation of CWs-based sewage-treatment systems and improve their purification efficiency. In this review, bibliometric analysis was conducted to using the Web of Science database and VOSviewer_1.6.20 software to assess the progress of research on CWs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of substrate types and characteristics based on recent research advancements in the field. Additionally, it discusses removal methods and the influence of factors related to conventional contaminants (COD, nitrogen, and phosphorus), heavy metals (HMs), fluorinated compounds, pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and microplastics. A thorough evaluation was conducted on the economic costs of various substrates and their ability to remove major contaminants from water bodies, providing a reference for the further development of wetland technology.
Multi-Objective Ecological Long-Term Operation of Cascade Reservoirs Considering Hydrological Regime Alteration
Authors: Xu Changjiang , Zhu Di , Guo Wei , Ouyang Shuo , Li Liping , Bu Hui , Wang Lin , Zuo Jian , Chen Junhong
Published: June 2024

Constructing and operating cascade reservoirs significantly contribute to comprehensive basin water resource management, while altering natural hydrological regimes of rivers, which imposes negative impacts on riverine ecology. The main aim of this study is to synergistically optimize the objectives of increasing hydropower generation and alleviating hydrological regime alteration for cascade reservoirs. This study first proposed a dynamic time warping scenario backward reduction (DTW-SBR) framework to extract streamflow scenarios from the historical streamflow series regarded as benchmarks for calculating deviation degrees of hydrological regimes. Then a multi-objective long-term operation model considering the hydrological regime and hydroelectricity was formed for minimizing the deviation degrees of hydrological regimes at the downstream section (O1) and maximizing the hydropower generation of cascade reservoirs (O2). The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) combined with the long-term conventional operation (CO) rules of cascade reservoirs was adopted to produce the Pareto-front solutions to derive the recommended policies for guiding the long-term operation of cascade reservoirs. The six large reservoirs in the middle reaches of the Jinsha River, China with a 10-day runoff dataset spanning from 1953 to 2015 constitute a case study. The results showed that nine streamflow scenarios were extracted for calculating the O1 by the DTW-SBR framework, which could reflect the intra- and inter- annual variability of hydrological regimes at the Panzhihua hydrological station. The Pareto-front solutions obtained by the NSGA-II revealed competitive relationships between the O1 and O2. As compared to the long-term CO rules of cascade reservoirs, the O1 value could be reduced by up to 42,312 (corresponding rate of 10.51%) and the O2 value could be improved by up to 1752 × 108 kW·h (corresponding rate of 5.14%). Based on the inclination to be dominated by different objectives, three typical operation schemes, A, B and C, were chosen from the Pareto-front solutions; Scheme A could be considered as the recommended solution, which simultaneously reduced the O1 value by 23,965 with the rate of 5.95% and increased the O2 value by 1752 × 108 kW·h with the rate of 5.14%, as compared to the long-term CO rules. This study can provide references on boosting the synergies of hydropower production and hydrological regime restoration for the long-term ecological operation of cascade reservoirs.
Hydraulic Conductivity Estimation: Comparison of Empirical Formulas Based on New Laboratory Experiments
Authors: Goodarzi Mohammad Reza , Vazirian Majid , Niazkar Majid
Published: June 2024

Hydraulic conductivity (K) is one of the most important characteristics of soils in terms of groundwater movement and the formation of aquifers. Generally, it indicates the ease of infiltration and penetration of water in the soil. It depends on various factors, including fluid viscosity, pore size, grain size, porosity ratio, mineral grain roughness, and soil saturation level. Each of the empirical formulas used to calculate K includes one or more of the influencing parameters. In this study, pumping tests from an aquifer were performed by using a hydrology apparatus. Laboratory experiments were conducted on six types of soil with different grain sizes, ranging from fine sand to coarse sand, to obtain K. The experimental-based K values were compared with that of empirical formulas. The results demonstrate that Breyer and Hazen (modified) formulas adequately fit the laboratory values. The novelty of the present study is the comparison of the experimental formulas in completely similar conditions of the same sample, such as porosity, viscosity, and grain size, using the pumping test in a laboratory method, and the results show that the Hazen and the Breyer formulas provide the best results. The findings of this work will help in better development of groundwater resources and aquifer studies.
Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Oyster Aquaculture
Authors: Kang Dong-Hee , Hunter James G. , Chirnside Anastasia
Published: June 2024

Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) of the chemical and biological effects must be understood to avoid potential adverse impacts to the bay’s aquatic ecosystem. RCA application as a base material for oyster reefs did not adversely affect oyster spat growth and survival, or the surrounding environment. Evaluated RCA leaching for petroleum byproducts showed that RCA as a base material for oyster reefs did not leach any hydrocarbon chemicals, and no water extractable SVOC were detected. The research found potential RCA application to the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a bottom conditioning material for oyster aquaculture. Overall, the findings support the use of RCA for oyster aquaculture.
Design of an Electric Vehicle Charging System Consisting of PV and Fuel Cell for Historical and Tourist Regions
Authors: Dagteke Suleyman Emre , Unal Sencer
Published: June 2024

One of the most important problems in the widespread use of electric vehicles is the lack of charging infrastructure. Especially in tourist areas where historical buildings are located, the installation of a power grid for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations or generating electrical energy by installing renewable energy production systems such as large-sized PV (photovoltaic) and wind turbines poses a problem because it causes the deterioration of the historical texture. Considering the need for renewable energy sources in the transportation sector, our aim in this study is to model an electric vehicle charging station using PVPS (photovoltaic power system) and FC (fuel cell) power systems by using irradiation and temperature data from historical regions. This designed charging station model performs electric vehicle charging, meeting the energy demand of a house and hydrogen production by feeding the electrolyzer with the surplus energy from producing electrical energy with the PVPS during the daytime. At night, when there is no solar radiation, electric vehicle charging and residential energy demand are met with an FC power system. One of the most important advantages of this system is the use of hydrogen storage instead of a battery system for energy storage and the conversion of hydrogen into electrical energy with an FC. Unlike other studies, in our study, fossil energy sources such as diesel generators are not included for the stable operation of the system. The system in this study may need hydrogen refueling in unfavorable climatic conditions and the energy storage capacity is limited by the hydrogen fuel tank capacity.
An Effective Strategy for Achieving Economic Reliability by Optimal Coordination of Hybrid Thermal–Wind–EV System in a Deregulated System
Authors: Chowdary Vankina Ravindranadh , Gope Sadhan , Dawn Subhojit , Mansur Ahmed Al , Ustun Taha Selim
Published: June 2024

This paper describes an effective operating strategy for electric vehicles (EVs) in a hybrid facility that leverages renewable energy sources. The method is to enhance the profit of the wind–thermal–EV hybrid plant while maintaining the grid frequency (fPG) and energy level of the EV battery storage system. In a renewable-associated power network, renewable energy producers must submit power supply proposals to the system operator at least one day before operations begin. The market managers then combine the power plans for the next several days based on bids from both power providers and distributors. However, due to the unpredictable nature of renewable resources, the electrical system cannot exactly adhere to the predefined power supply criteria. When true and estimated renewable power generation diverges, the electrical system may experience an excess or shortage of electricity. If there is a disparity between true and estimated wind power (TWP, EWP), the EV plant operates to minimize this variation. This lowers the costs associated with the discrepancy between actual and projected wind speeds (TWS, EWS). The proposed method effectively reduces the uncertainty associated with wind generation while being economically feasible, which is especially important in a deregulated power market. This study proposes four separate energy levels for an EV battery storage system (EEV,max, EEV,opt, EEV,low, and EEV,min) to increase system profit and revenue, which is unique to this work. The optimum operating of these EV battery energy levels is determined by the present electric grid frequency and the condition of TWP and EWP. The proposed approach is tested on a modified IEEE 30 bus system and compared to an existing strategy to demonstrate its effectiveness and superiority. The entire work was completed using the optimization technique called sequential quadratic programming (SQP).
On the Classification of Traditional Georgian Vocal Music by Computer-Assisted Score Analysis
Authors: Scherbaum Frank , Arom Simha , Caron Darras Florent , Lolashvili Ana , Kane Frank
Published: June 2024

This paper describes a feasibility study for the computational classification of traditional three-voiced Georgian vocal music, based on characteristic chord sequences extracted from digital scores. We demonstrate that for this purpose the differences between Western 5-line staff notation and a more appropriate heptatonic system for traditional Georgian music can be adjusted for by a simple transformation. A corpus of about 500 digital scores, consisting of labeled ‘song classes’, i.e. subsets of folk songs from different regions and of liturgical songs in different styles, served as a testbed for the development of a classification procedure based on a higher-order Markov model that - in addition to the classification - yields chord progression sequences for each ‘song class’. Their capacity for interpretation was tested by one hundred cross-validation runs, in which randomly selected subsets of ¾ of the size of each song class were used to train classifiers, which were then applied to the remaining ¼ subsets. The sizes of the intersections of the successfully classified songs in all cross-validations are interpreted as direct measures of the degree of representativeness of the songs for their respective ‘song classes’. Based on a second validation experiment, in which we split up the datasets into equally sized subsets of ½ and ¼ of the original subsets, respectively, we estimate that the smallest subset size for an interpretation of the observed chord progression patterns as properties of a ‘song class’ is of the order of 50 songs. Currently, in our corpus, this requirement is only met by the subsets from Svaneti and Shemokmedi.
A EDUCAÇÃO SOB A PERSPECTIVA DE GÊNERO
Authors: Moraes da Costa Marli Marlene , Goulart Soares Etyane
Published: June 2024

O presente artigo tem como objetivo geral analisar a história das universidades no Brasil e o desenvolvimento dos estudos de gêneros. Dessa forma, dividiu-se o artigo em três momentos, nos quais o primeiro busca: verificar a educação superior no Brasil: a história e o surgimento das Universidades; o segundo: avaliar a contribuição das universidades comunitárias e públicas e o crescimento da educação e instituições de ensino superior; por fim, o terceiro momento busca: debater a necessidade uma educação emancipatória e com perspectiva de gênero. O problema de pesquisa quais os propósitos desenvolvidos nas universidades comunitárias e públicas para uma educação com perspectiva de gênero? A hipótese apresentada é a que a educação com perspectiva de gênero é o caminho a trilhar quando necessitamos de uma sociedade mais justa em todas as esferas e contextos sociais. A pesquisa aqui exposta é qualitativa, empregando-se o método hipotético-dedutivo, mediante técnica de pesquisa bibliográfica e exploratória.
O MERCADO DE CARBONO NO CONTEXTO DO ACORDO DE PARIS
Authors: Oliveira Tarsis Barreto , Stakoviak Júnior Paulo Beli Moura
Published: June 2024

O planeta carece de medidas urgentes e eficazes em relação ao problema da mudança climática. Muitos países e setores têm se mobilizado mundo afora para cumprir com metas previamente estabelecidas em tratados e acordos internacionais. Mais recentemente, o Acordo de Paris trouxe mecanismos mais objetivos e abrangentes em relação ao seu antecessor sobre a mesma matéria, o Protocolo de Quioto. Um desses mecanismos de mitigação do problema climático é a redução das emissões de carbono, tanto por parte de organizações quanto por parte de países. A partir da perspectiva regulatória do Tratado de Paris é que o presente estudo é realizado, com vias a analisar o potencial de viabilidade e a regulação do setor no Brasil. Como metodologia, utilizou-se a pesquisa bibliográfica, com auxílio a livros, revistas e sites relacionados à matéria.
JUSTIÇA REPRODUTIVA
Authors: Turibio Maria Eduarda Costa , Camilo Christiane de Holanda
Published: June 2024

A Justiça Reprodutiva correlaciona direitos reprodutivos e sexuais muito além da esfera biológica ou de políticas de contracepção e planejamento familiar. Considera-se acesso à educação, assistência médica integral, bem como outros fatores que se conectam com o bem-estar e saúde das mulheres. Neste enfoque, o presente artigo busca evidenciar como a falta da informação em saúde gera o cerceamento de direitos fundamentais da mulher paciente nos sistemas de saúde em relação aos métodos contraceptivos e, como a injustiça reprodutiva se materializa. Para tanto, utiliza-se da revisão de obras, legislação ordinária e infraconstitucional para fundamentar este estudo. Conclui-se que o acesso a métodos seguros somente se torna viável com informação, dando as usuárias o poder de decidir e exercer plenamente seus direitos reprodutivos e sexuais.
Immediate sphincter repair following fistulotomy for anal fistula: does it impact the healing rate and septic complications?
Authors: A. Abbas Maher , T. Tsay Anna , Abbass Mohammad
Published: June 2024

Purpose: Fistulotomy is considered the most effective treatment for anal fistula; however, it carries a risk of incontinence. Sphincteroplasty in the setting of fistulotomy is not standard practice due to concerns regarding healing and potential infectious complications. We aimed to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent fistulotomy with primary sphincteroplasty to those who did not undergo repair.Methods: This was a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent fistulotomy for cryptoglandular anal fistula. All operations were performed by one colorectal surgeon. Sphincteroplasty was performed for patients perceived to be at higher risk for continence disturbance. The main outcome measures were the healing rate and postoperative septic complications.Results: In total, 152 patients were analyzed. Group A (fistulotomy with sphincteroplasty) consisted of 45 patients and group B (fistulotomy alone) included 107 patients. Both groups were similar in age (P=0.16) and sex (P=0.20). Group A had higher proportions of multiple fistulas (26.7% vs. 6.5%, P<0.01) and complex fistulas (mid to high transsphincteric, 37.8% vs. 10.3%; P<0.01) than group B. The median follow-up time was 8 weeks. The overall healing rate was similar in both groups (93.3% vs. 90.6%, P=0.76). No significant difference between the 2 groups was noted in septic complications (6.7% vs. 3.7%, P=0.42).Conclusion: Fistulotomy with primary sphincter repair demonstrated a comparable healing rate to fistulotomy alone, without an increased risk of postoperative septic complications. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore the functional outcomes of patients who undergo sphincteroplasty.
ERP Sistemleri’nin İşletme Performansına Etkisinin Örgütsel ve ERP Faktörleri Açısından İncelenmesi; Erzurum İli Uygulaması
Authors: Güzel Dilşad , Günler Duygu
Published: June 2024

Dünyada ve ülkemizde KOBİ’ler ekonomik kalkınma için oldukça önemli bir yere sahiptirler. Ekonomik ve sosyal sisteme oldukça büyük katkı sağlayan KOBİ’ler Türkiye ekonomisinin de vazgeçilmez birer parçasıdır. Artan KOBİ sayısı iş ortamının daha rekabetçi bir hâle gelmesine ve işletmelerin rekabet ortamına adaptasyonunu zorunlu hâle getirmiştir. ERP sistemini iyi bir şekilde uygulayabilmeleri için ticari işletmelerin bu sistemi tanımaları çok önemlidir. ERP sistemleri 2000’li yıllarda kullanılmaya başlansa da bugün ki hâlini geçirdiği evrimler sonucunda almıştır ve bu çalışmada, Erzurum’da imalat sektöründe faaliyet gösteren işletmelerin, ERP sistemleri kullanımının işletme performansı üzerindeki etkisi ve örgütsel faktörler ile ERP faktörleri açısından ele alınması incelemektedir. Alanyazında ERP sistemleri kullanımı ve iş performansına olan pozitif etkileri bağlamında birçok defa ele alınmış olan örgütsel ve ERP faktörleri bağımsız değişkenleri olarak incelenmiştir. Buradan yola çıkarak örgütsel ve ERP faktörlerinin ERP sistemleri kullanımı ve buradan iş performansına olan etkisinin araştırılması çalışmanın araştırma konusu olmuştur. Bu amaçla oluşturulan 98 anket Erzurum ilinde yer alan ve faaliyet gösteren KOBİ’lere yüz yüze olarak uygulanmıştır. Anketlerden elde edilen bulgular, SPSS paket programı yardımı ile katılımcıların demografik özellikleri, ortalama ve standart sapma değerleri, güvenilirlik analizi, Cronbach’s alpa değeri ve regresyon analizleri yapılmış ve bulgular yorumlanmıştır. Yapılan analizler sonucunda, örgütsel ve ERP faktörlerinin, ERP sistemleri kullanımına pozitif yönlü etkisi olduğu ve aracılık eden ERP sistemleri kullanımının da iş performansına etkisinin pozitif yönlü olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Elmas Yıldırım’ın Şiirlerinde Türkiye
Authors: Cəbiyeva Hülya
Published: June 2024

Elmas Yıldırım (D. 1907, Bakü – Ö. 1952, Malatya) XX. yüzyıl Azerbaycan edebiyatında önemli yere sahip olan ediplerden biridir. Şair millî düşünce tarzından, yürüdüğü yoldan, fikrî mücadelesinden vazgeçmediği için 1920’li yıllarda diktatör Sovyet rejiminin istibdadına maruz kalmıştır. Bolşevik hükümeti uyguladığı manevi baskılarla yetinmeyerek şairi Azerbaycan’dan sürmüştür. Birkaç yıl devam eden sürgün hayatının ardından 1934 yılında kardeş Türkiye’ye sığınabilmiştir. Ömrünün sonuna kadar burada muhacir hayatı yaşayan Elmas Yıldırım, edebî faaliyetlerini devam ettirmiş, edebiyatımızı değerli eserlerle zenginleştirmiştir. Şiirlerinin esas konusu Azerbaycan, yurt hasreti, millî istiklal mücadelesi olsa da şairin edebî faaliyetlerinde Türkiye konusu da önemli yere sahiptir. Bu makalede, Elmas Yıldırım’ın adı geçen şiirleri şairin Türkiye’de yaşadığı dönemin (1934-1952) sosyal ve siyasi durumu göz önüne alınarak incelenmiş, büyük bir kısmı üzerinde ilk kez araştırma yapılmıştır. Cumhuriyetin gelişiminden doğan sevinç ve gururu yansıtan Uzaktakı Soydaşlara Çağırış, kardeş ülkenin ve Azerbaycan’ın tarihinde hâlâ büyük hüsranla anılan Boraltan faciasını anlatan Dönek Kardeş, 1938-1950’li yıllar hâkimiyetinin eleştirildiği Yaygaracı Yalman’a, Yediler…İçtiler..., şairin İki Nokta imzasıyla basılan eleştirel içerikli şiirleri vs. bu türde olan edebî örneklerdendir.