bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geology and geochemistry of Riphean-Vendian petroleum system (the Northern part of the Volga-Ural Basin)
Authors: Kozhanov Dmitrii D. , Bolshakova Maria A. , Khopta Ivan S. , Mordasova Alina V. , Stoupakova Antonina V. , Zaglyadin Yaroslav A. , Borisova Maria S. , Zavyalova Anna P. , Chupakhina Vitaliya V. , Sakhabov Timur R.
Published: May 2021

Riphean-Vendian Petroleum system of Volga-Ural Basin (Northern part, Kama-Belsky aulakogen) main elements are described. Reservoirs and properties of them (porosity and permeability), source rocks are characterized geochemically by results of pyrolysis, extraction, gas chromatography.
To understand the conditions of Volga-Ural Proterozoic petroleum system formation were analyzed lots of publications and collected huge dataset (regional geological data, seismic, well data, geochemical data and so on). Were made maps of Riphean-Vendian tectonics and location in North part of Volga-Ural Basin. The main characteristics important for petroleum system formation and oil and gas prospects estimation were indicated.
Geochemistry of organic matter in carbonate Devonian sediments of the South Tatar arch
Authors: Orlova Aleksandra Yu. , Khisamov Rais S. , Bazarevskaya Venera G. , Poludetkina Elena N. , Fadeeva Natalia P. , Shardanova Tatiana A.
Published: May 2021

The article deals with the lithology and geochemistry of organic matter of Upper Devonian-Lower Carboniferous deposits (Carbonate Devonian) of the eastern part of the South Tatar arch. Rocks of this age have a high generative potential due to increased concentrations of organic matter (OM) and its phytogenic and zoophytogenic composition. They refer to non-traditional sources of hydrocarbons. The generative potential depends on the facial environment and the transformation of OM. The highest potential have carbonate-siliceous and siliceous-carbonate rhythmites domannic horizon.
The Role of ICT on Cultural Heritage Tourism: a Case Study
Authors: Akihiro Abe
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study is to discuss the role of ICT in cultural heritage tourism through a case study of the Hiraizumi world heritage site in Japan that was registered in 2011. As it promotes tourism through the world heritage registration, Hiraizumi is operating on the major premise that it will safeguard its cultural heritage while also placing importance on developing systems for accepting a diverse range of tourists using the universal design perspective. When doing so there are limits to facility refurbishment and infrastructure development so the town focused its attention on support for information aspects, or in other words support using ICT. Going forward as individual travel becomes more mainstream the ways in which new value is created in Hiraizumi tourism are likely to include (1) transmission of the value of the cultural heritage in collaboration with researchers and (2) development of tourist areas in which excursions on foot are possible. We discuss the possibilities for utilization of ICT in these measures and the utility of the participatory design approach.
Tense Operators on BL-algebras and Their Applications
Authors: Paad Akbar
Published: May 2021

In this paper, the notions of tense operators and tense filters in \(BL\)-algebras are introduced and several characterizations of them are obtained. Also, the relation among tense \(BL\)-algebras, tense \(MV\)-algebras and tense Boolean algebras are investigated. Moreover, it is shown that the set of all tense filters of a \(BL\)-algebra is complete sublattice of \(F(L)\) of all filters of \(BL\)-algebra \(L\). Also, maximal tense filters and simple tense \(BL\)-algebras and the relation between them are studied. Finally, the notions of tense congruence relations in tense \(BL\)-algebras and strict tense \(BL\)-algebras are introduced and an one-to-one correspondence between tense filters and tense congruences relations induced by tense filters are provided.
A common gas market for Visegrad Group countries
Authors: Kumor Michał , Porada Stanisław
Published: May 2021

The construction of the North-South Gas Corridor, regional energy integration and international cooperation in the Visegrad Group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) can be determinants for the creation of a common gas market for four Eastern Europe countries (V4). The starting point for this work is concerned with the technical possibilities, chances, threats and necessary steps for the development of the existing infrastructure. The import capacities of countries neighbouring the V4 territory and the internal gas transmission potential inside the indicated group of countries have been presented in this paper. Special attention was paid to the international possibilities of using underground gas storage. The V4 countries, in particular, were examined due to their location between the Russian Federation and Western European gas consumers, and due to the need to ensure the security of supply, volumes and directions of import and export for each from. The bringing online of the gas connection between Norway and Poland, along with the construction of the Croatian LNG terminal, and the establishment of a common gas market for deliveries inside V4 may significantly contribute to determining a new physical direction of the gas flow in this part of Europe.
The consequences of the migration crisis on the Balkan route and human rights: The current situation and prospects in Serbia
Authors: Bogucewicz Magdalena
Published: May 2021

This paper reflects on reports documenting human rights violations on the Balkan route as one of the implications of European migration policies, and applies them to the Serbian context. The Republic of Serbia is considered as one of the main transit countries for the migrant traffic on the Balkan Peninsula and eventually has become an unlikely gatekeeper of European Union when many migrants got stranded on its territory as a result of gradual border securitization. Further politics of closed borders have caused a serious concern of non-governmental organizations and activists when violent practices of security forces and smugglers got revealed. Serbia, in its pursuit of EU accession, must prove its respect for fundamental human rights while not losing sight of its national interest.
Wpływ programu „Lepsze Regulacje 2015” na poziom ryzyka regulacyjnego
Authors: Malinowska Urszula
Published: May 2021

The article presents the guidelines of the reform the regulatory system in Poland, concerning both the creation of new law and simplifying already binding. Objectives and task of this reform are included in the program entitled: „Lepsze Regulacje 2015”. Its implementation should contribute to the improvement of the legislative process, so that the result of this process was consistent, stable and efficient law. Achieving this goal will reduce regulatory risk and thus create more favorable conditions for the development of enterprises. The focus element of the program is system of regulatory impact control, whose task is comparing the costs and benefits of various regulatory options, and on this basis choosing the most efficient variant of the law act. This system permits the identification of opportunities and menaces carried by the new regulation, which provides the basis for the analysis of regulatory risk.
Controlling w zarządzaniu przedsiębiorstwem
Authors: Zarzecki Dariusz
Published: May 2021

The paper presents an essence of controlling and focuses on its link with internal control, economic analysis and strategic management. Elements and instruments of controlling have been discussed and potential variants of organization of controlling in a firm have been examined.
EDUCAÇÃO CONTINUADA NO TERMINAL MARÍTIMO DE PONTA DA MADEIRA
Authors: Oliveira Pollyana Monteiro , Mendes Claudia Gonçalves , Cutrim Sérgio Sampaio , Robles Leo Tadeu
Published: May 2021

As organizações capacitam permanentemente seus recursos humanos para a evolução e uso prático dos novos conhecimentos e tecnologias gerenciais. O Projeto Excelência Operacional de educação continuada do Centro de Capacitação Técnica do Terminal Marítimo de Ponta da Madeira – TMPM da Vale, localizado em São Luís (MA) tem essa finalidade. O artigo analisa a metodologia, recursos e resultados pelo diagnóstico, treinamentos e ações de melhoria refletidas nos Indicadores Operacionais de Pilha Padrão de minérios, de Taxa Efetiva, MTTR (tempo médio para reparo) e de Perdas Operacionais do TMPM identificando resultados positivos para a organização e formação dos trabalhadores.
O regime jurídico da pessoa com deficiência: uma análise sobre os tratados, sobre a Constituição, sobre a legislação e a jurisprudência
Authors: Borges de Macedo Paulo Emílio Vauthier , Fontoura de Barcellos Daniela Silva
Published: May 2021

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar como ocorreu a internalização da Convenção Internacional sobre os Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência no direito brasileiro. Para tanto, o trabalho descreve as diversas correntes de incorporação de tratados de direitos humanos no Brasil, e desvela a sua hierarquia plural no direito brasileiro. A partir do método indutivo, desenham-se dois eixos de análise. No primeiro, destaca-se o estudo sobre a incorporação de tratados no ordenamento brasileiro. Já no segundo eixo, mostra-se o estado da arte, pois o foco é a efetividade do novo regime das capacidades para as pessoas com deficiência, demonstrando a subsequente adaptação das demais normas brasileiras.
Instance Segmentation of Microscopic Foraminifera
Authors: Johansen Thomas Haugland , Sørensen Steffen Aagaard , Møllersen Kajsa , Godtliebsen Fred
Published: May 2021

Foraminifera are single-celled marine organisms that construct shells that remain as fossils in the marine sediments. Classifying and counting these fossils are important in e.g. paleo-oceanographic and -climatological research. However, the identification and counting process has been performed manually since the 1800s and is laborious and time-consuming. In this work, we present a deep learning-based instance segmentation model for classifying, detecting, and segmenting microscopic foraminifera. Our model is based on the Mask R-CNN architecture, using model weight parameters that have learned on the COCO detection dataset. We use a fine-tuning approach to adapt the parameters on a novel object detection dataset of more than 7000 microscopic foraminifera and sediment grains. The model achieves a (COCO-style) average precision of 0.78±0.00 on the classification and detection task, and 0.80±0.00 on the segmentation task. When the model is evaluated without challenging sediment grain images, the average precision for both tasks increases to 0.84±0.00 and 0.86±0.00, respectively. Prediction results are analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively and discussed. Based on our findings we propose several directions for future work, and conclude that our proposed model is an important step towards automating the identification and counting of microscopic foraminifera.
Diverse Transformers (Trf) Protein Family in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus Act through Collaboration between Cellular and Humoral Immune Effector Arms
Authors: Yakovenko Iryna , Donnyo Asaf , Ioscovich Or , Rosental Benyamin , Oren Matan
Published: May 2021

Sea urchins are long-living invertebrates with a complex immune system which includes extended families of immune receptors. A central immune gene family in the sea urchins encodes for the Transformer (Trf) proteins. The Trf family was so far studied mainly in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. In this study, we explored this protein family in the Mediterranean Sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The PlTrf genes and predicted proteins were found to be highly diverse and showed a typical Trf size range and structure. We found that P. lividus coelomocytes and hemolymph contain different PlTrf protein repertoires with a shared subset which specifically bind E. coli bacteria. Using FACS, we identified five different P. lividus coelomocyte sub-populations with cell surface Trf protein expression. The relative abundance of the Trf-positive cells sharply increased following immune challenge with E. coli bacteria, but not following challenge with LPS or sea urchin pathogen V. penaeicida. Finally, we demonstrated that the phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria by P. lividus phagocytes is mediated through the hemolymph and is inhibited by blocking Trf activity with anti-Trf antibodies. Together, our results suggest collaboration between cellular and humoral Trf-mediated effector arms in the P. lividus specific immune response to pathogens.
Main Applications and Recent Research Progresses of Additive Manufacturing in Dentistry
Authors: Huang Gan , He Fei , Wan Li , Pan Shu-Ting
Published: May 2021

(1) In recent ten years, with the fast development of digital and engineering manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing has already been more and more widely used in the field of dentistry, from the first personalized surgical guides to the latest personalized restoration crowns and root implants. (2) Especially, the bioprinting of teeth and tissue is of great potential to realize organ regeneration and finally improve the life quality. (3) In this review paper, we firstly presented the workflow of additive manufacturing technology. Then we summarized main applications and recent research progresses of additive manufacturing in dentistry. (4) Lastly, we sketched out some challenges and future directions of additive manufacturing technology in dentistry.
Phenomenology Study on The Formulation of A Vision to Achieve The Future of The University
Authors: Uus Mohammad Darul Fadli  , Akbar Maruf , Hamidah
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the process of making a vision in a private tertiary institution (PTS) in Karawang when it was founded and the prospects for achieving the vision in the next 5 to 10 years. The existence of a vision for a tertiary institution in Indonesia is a necessity, so the existence of a vision is one of the most important assessment items in tertiary accreditation. The National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (Ban-PT) established the vision as the first serial number instrument of all tertiary accreditation assessment instruments. The research method uses phenomenology which will reveal the experience of the leaders and founders of the University. The number of informants was 17 people, consisting of 8 university leaders who made the vision, and the remaining 9 people acted as validators to validate the research data, consisting of 8 program leaders and 1 external party of the university. Data were collected using interview techniques, document studies, field observations and FGDs. Data were analyzed using content analysis, frequency analysis, and SWOT matrix analysis. The results of the study indicate that at the time of its founding, the university was in a strong condition and had many opportunities while the prospect of achieving the vision in the next 5 to 10 years seemed that university performance had to be higher because it would face the challenges of higher external factors, both from national universities and from universities international high
Private university lecturer's professional commitment in Jakarta
Authors: Permatasari Marisa , Purwana Dedi , Akbar Maruf
Published: May 2021

This study aims to analyze the effect of transformational leadership, academic culture, self – engagement on lecturer’s professional commitment of private university in Jakarta. A quantitative approach were used in the study. Data were analyzed from 212 lecturers of B-Accreditation private universities in Jakarta using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings delivers two things; First, there were positive and significant effect of transformational leadership on lecturer’s professional commitment; self – engagement on lecturer’s professional commitment; transformational leadership on academic culture; academic culture on self – engagement. Second, there were no significant effect of academic culture on lecturer’s professional commitment; transformational leadership on self – engagement.
How Employee Competency and Self Efficacy Affect Employee Work Engagement in Human Resource Development Agency (BPSDM) Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia
Authors: Winadi Prasetyoning Tyas Ari Anggarani , Tippe Syarifuddin , Sutanto Slamet
Published: May 2021

Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia is a supporting agency in the Ministry of Law and Human Rights which is in charge of developing human resources in the field of law and human rights. As a supporting unit for the main task of BPSDM, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Republic of Indonesia improves the quality of law and human rights apparatus to be professional and have a high level of engagement to provide excellent service. This study aims to analyse the effect of employee competence on employee work engagement mediated by self efficacy in Human Resoruces Development Agency (BPSDM) Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia. The study involved 221 employee respondents at BPSDM Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia for group III. Analysis of the data was using the LISREL Structural Equation Modelling of self-efficacy and employee engagement. The results showed that employee competency and self efficacy respectively have positive and significant direct effects on employee work engagement. Employee competency has a positive and significant direct effect on self efficacy, and employee competency has a positive and significant indirect effect on employee work engagement mediated by self efficacy. Implications of the results of this study, BPSDM Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia needs to develop employee competency attributes that can improve self-efficacy. This needs to be done given that self-efficacy will affect the degree of engagement of BPSDM employees to the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Efficacy of powerball versus mulligan mobilization with movement on pain and function in patients with lateral epicondylitis: a randomised control trial
Authors: Uttamchandani Shivani , Phansopkar Pratik
Published: May 2021

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE), most commonly referred to as Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (LET) or Tennis Elbow is one of the commonest repetitive stress syndromes seen in elbow joint. Tendinopathy, an injury to forearm extensor muscles. These muscles arise from the distal end of humerus from lateral epicondylar region. In many cases, involvement of extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle’s insertion is seen. This study focuses on the treatment of a person with LE which occurs in repeated upper extremity movements. There is no such research relevant to PowerBall device exercises on Lateral epicondylitis patients' pain and function. “PowerBall device” exercise is considered to be an effective resistance training, putting extrinsic and intrinsic pressure on wrist, elbow and shoulder muscles and has been shown to improve strength, function, ROM, tennis elbow pain and quality of life. Whereas MMWM has been proven to reduce the pain in patients with LE. Methods/Design: The participants (n=50) with lateral epicondylitis will be included in a single-blinded, randomised control trial. Participants will be categorised into either a control group or an intervention group after performing baseline assessments and randomization. The participants in the control group will be given Mulligan Mobilisation with Movement, and those in the intervention group will be given “PowerBall device” exercise and conventional physiotherapy. Basic exercises and ultrasound will be given to both groups with the given protocol. We will evaluate pain, function, grip strength and Range of motion, pre and post intervention period. Discussion: Efficacy of the intervention is evaluated by analysing the pain and function in patients with lateral epicondylitis using PRTEE scale, and grip strength using Hand-held Dynamometer. The results from the study will significantly provide affirmation on the application of “PowerBall device” exercise and Mulligan Mobilisation with Movement on the patients with lateral epicondylitis.The clinical trial registry-India(CTRI) registration number for this trial is CTRI/2021/05/033363.
Efficacy of Buteyko breathing technique on Anxiety, Depression and Self-efficacy in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: JAIN MOLI , VARDHAN VISHNU , YADAV VAISHNAVI
Published: May 2021

Background: In India, with increasing trends of Coronary Artery bypass graft surgery, there has been little consideration in importance of psychological evaluation in those undergoing surgery. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Buteyko breathing technique as a psychological intervention along with Phase 1 Cardiac Rehabilitation on Anxiety, Depression and Self-efficacy in CABG patients.Method: In this study, 44 CABG Patients will be enrol. Conventional group will receive 2 weeks Phase I Cardiac Rehabilitation and Experimental group will receive Buteyko Breathing exercises along with 2 weeks Phase I Cardiac Rehabilitation. The evaluations for Anxiety, Depression and Self-efficacy will be performed. Discussion:Collaborating secondary prevention for Psychological consequences in the management strategy after revascularization will help in decrease in-hospital stay, speedy return to work and can further ameliorate symptoms. This will open a window of opportunity for integrating early rehabilitation for psychosocial consequences to provide holistic management for CABG patients.The clinical trial registry-India(CTRI) registration number for this trial is CTRI/2021/05/033632.
Efficacy of bilateral lower limb training over unilateral to re-educate balance and walking in post stroke survivors: a protocol for randomized clinical trial
Authors: Harjpal Pallavi , Qureshi Mohd Irshad , Kovela Rakesh Krishna
Published: May 2021

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of global morbidity and a major contributor to disability. According to the National Stroke Association, as many as 9 out of 10 stroke survivors have some degree of paralysis immediately after the stroke. Aim is to evaluate the level to which the bilateral lower limb training compared to unilateral alone, reinforces the lower limb functional recovery in the subjects with sub-acute stroke.Methods: The participants (n=40) with subacute stroke will be included in assessor blinded, randomized clinical trial. Participants will be categorized into 2 groups after performing baseline assessments and equal randomization. The participants in Group A will receive only training to the affected side, and those in the Group B will receive bilateral training. We will be evaluating the improvement in lower limb function by balance and walking along with gait parameters.Discussion: Findings of the study will provide further insight into the effectiveness of bilateral training over unilateral in post stroke survivors. If this study is proved to be effective it will improve the balance and gait impairments in post stroke patients.The clinical trial registry-India(CTRI) registration number for this trial is CTRI/2021/05/033621.
Understanding the benefits and burdens associated with a Malaria Human Infection Study in Kenya: Experiences of study volunteers and other stakeholders
Authors: Chi Primus Che , Owino Esther Awuor , Jao Irene , Olewe Fredrick , Ogutu Bernhards , Bejon Philip , Kapulu Melissa , Kamuya Dorcas , Marsh Vicki
Published: May 2021

Background Human infection studies that involve deliberately infecting healthy volunteers with a pathogen raise important ethical issues, including the need to ensure that benefits and burdens are understood and appropriately accounted for. Building on earlier work, we embedded social science research within an ongoing malaria human infection study in coastal Kenya to understand the study benefits and burdens experienced by study stakeholders in this low-resource setting and assess the wider implications for future research planning and policy. Methods Data were collected using qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews (44), focus group discussions (10) and non-participation observation. Study participants were purposively selected (key informant or maximal diversity sampling), including volunteers in the human infection study, study staff, community representatives and local administrative authorities. Data were collected during and up to 18 months following study residency, from sites in Coastal and Western Kenya. Voice recordings of interviews and discussions were transcribed, translated and analysed using Framework Analysis, combining data- and theory-driven perspectives. Findings Physical, psychological, economic and social forms of benefits and burdens were experienced across study stages. Important benefits for volunteers included the study compensation, access to health checks, good residential living conditions, new learning opportunities, developing friendships and satisfaction at contributing towards a new malaria vaccine. Burdens primarily affected study volunteers, including experiences of discomfort and ill-health; fear and anxiety around aspects of the trial process, particularly deliberate infection and the implications of prolonged residency; anxieties about early residency exit and interpersonal conflict. These issues had important implications for volunteers’ families, study staff and the research institution’s reputation more widely. Conclusion Developing ethically and scientifically strong HIS relies on grounded accounts of volunteers, study staff and the wider community, understood in the socioeconomic, political and cultural context where studies are implemented. Recognition of the diverse, and sometimes perverse, nature of potential benefits and burdens in a given context, and who this might implicate, is critical to this process. Prior and on-going stakeholder engagement is core to developing these insights, which can be importantly expanded and underlined through embedded forms of social science research.
Representation of Rossby wave propagation and its effect on the teleconnection between the Indian summer monsoon and extratropical rainfall in the Met Office Unified Model
Authors: Tang Xinxin , Li Jianping , Zhang Huqiang , Zhao Sen
Published: May 2021

Compared with Global Atmosphere 6 (GA6) of the UK Met Office Unified Model (UM), the dry bias over the Indian monsoon region in Global Atmosphere 7 (GA7) is significantly reduced. However, the physical processes controlling how this reduced dry bias in India influences rainfall teleconnections in the extratropics remain unclear. Thus, in this study, we use Rossby wave tracing in a horizontally nonuniform background flow to investigate how the improved simulation of monsoon rainfall in GA7 compared with GA6 affects extratropical rainfall teleconnections. We find that wave rays emanating from the upper troposphere in the Indian monsoon region first propagate westward, then divide into the Northern Hemisphere (NH) subtropical westerlies over Asia and the Southern Hemisphere (SH) subtropical westerlies. The wave ray trajectories in GA7 in years of strong Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) are closer to observations than those in GA6. We also find that the upper tropospheric meridional winds over the South Asian monsoon region and western Tibetan Plateau are much better simulated in GA7 than in GA6 owning to the improvement of ISMR and South Asian High (SAH), which leads to a more realistic simulation of the wave rays in GA7. The better simulated circulation teleconnections in GA7 then modulate the vertical motion and moisture transport, and hence affect extratropical rainfall anomalies in the NH and SH. This paper provides new insights for the assessment of tropical–extratropical teleconnections in models.
An Ensemble Hybrid forecasting Model for Annual Runoff Based on Sample Entropy, Secondary Decomposition, and Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network
Authors: Wang Wenchuan , Du Yu-jin , Chau Kwok-wing , Xu Dong-mei , Liu Chang-jun , Ma Qiang
Published: May 2021

Accurate and consistent annual runoff prediction in regions is a hot topic in the management, optimization, and monitoring of water resources. A novel prediction model (ESMD-SE-WPD-LSTM) is presented in this study. Firstly, the extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition (ESMD) is used to produce several intrinsic mode functions (IMF) and a residual (Res) by decomposing the original runoff series. Secondly, the sample entropy (SE) method is employed to measure the complexity of each IMF. Thirdly, we adopt wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) to further decompose the IMF with the maximum SE into several appropriate components and detailed components. Then the LSTM model, a deep learning algorithm based recurrent approach, is employed to predict all components obtained in the previous step. Finally, the forecasting results of all components are aggregated to generate the final prediction. The proposed model, which is applied to five annual series from different areas in China, is evaluated based on four quantitative indexes (R, NSEC, MAPE and RMSE). The results indicate that the ESMD-SE-WPD-LSTM outperforms other benchmark models in terms of four quantitative indexes. Hence the proposed model can provide higher accuracy and consistency for annual runoff prediction, making it an efficient instrument for scientific management and planning of water resources.
Experimental demonstration of NO reduction and ammonia slip for diesel engine SCR system
Authors: Yue Guangzhao , Qiu Tao , Lei Yan
Published: May 2021

This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of selective catalytic reduction(SCR) in a V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst by studying the key parameter, and obtain the control method of NH3 injection under sample test bench. Four parameters are defined and adopted to represent the NO-NH3 reaction characteristics. The effect of NH3/NO ratio(NSR), catalyst temperature and NH3 injection period on NO conversion efficiency and NH3 slip was investigated. The correlation between NH3 slip and ammonia saturation storage level was studied. The experimental results show that the ammonia saturation storage level has great effects on NO reduction and NH3 slip. The NO conversion efficiency and NH3 slip strongly depends on the ammonia saturation storage level. Under such condition, the NO conversion efficiency is best when the ammonia saturation storage level is 68.2%~73%, until the value reach to 75% before the NH3 slip. Pulse injection can improve the NO conversion efficiency and NH3 slip. The period of pulse injection has few influence on the mean value of NO at the outlet, however, it affects the peak value of NO and NH3 slip. Using varied period pulse injection can further improve NO conversion efficiency and restrain NH3 slip. The outlet NO is able to be reduced by adopting suitable NH3 pulse injection interval.
Efficient Prediction of Bridge Conditions using Modified Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Kumar Amit , Singla Sandeep , Kumar Ajay , Bansal Aarti , Kaur Avneet
Published: May 2021

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has proved itself as a proficient substitute for classical techniques of modeling. AI is a branch of computer science with the help of which machines and software with intelligence similar to humans can be developed. Many problems related to structural as well as civil engineering are exaggerated with uncertainties that are difficult to be solved using traditional techniques. AI proves advantageous in solving these complex problems. Presently, a comprehensive model based on the Convolutional Neural Network technique of Artificial Intelligence is developed. This model is advantageous in accurately predicting the structure of a bridge without the need for actual testing. The firefly algorithm is used as a technique for accurate feature selection. The database is taken from national bridge inventory (NBI) using internet sources. Different performance measures like accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 score are considered for accurate prediction of the bridge structure and also provide advantages in actual monitoring and controlling of bridges. The proposed CNN model is used to measure these parameters and to provide a comparison with the standard CNN model. The proposed model provides a considerable amount of accuracy (97.49 %) as compared to accuracy value (85 %) using the standard CNN model.
Matrix condition mitigates the effects of habitat fragmentation on species extinction risk
Authors: Ramírez-Delgado Juan , Marco Moreno Di , Watson James , Johnson Chris , Rondinini Carlo , Llano Xavier Corredor , Arias Miguel , Venter Oscar
Published: May 2021

Habitat loss is the leading cause of global biodiversity decline, but the influence of human pressure within the matrix surrounding habitat fragments remains poorly understood. Here we measure the relationship between fragmentation, matrix condition (measured as the extent of high human footprint levels), and the change in extinction risk of 4,327 terrestrial mammals. We find that the matrix condition and the fragmentation of habitat are strongly associated with changes in species extinction risk. Importantly, we discover that fragmentation is a stronger predictor of risk than species life-history traits, habitat loss, and habitat amount. Moreover, the importance of fragmentation increases with an increasing deterioration of the matrix condition, highlighting the critical influence matrix quality plays on the effects of fragmentation. These findings suggest that restoration measures in habitat matrices may be an important conservation action for mitigating the effects of fragmentation relative to extinction risk of terrestrial mammals.
Singular Integral Equations in Scattering of Planar Dielectric Waveguide Eigenwaves by the System of Graphene Strips at THz
Authors: Kaliberda Mstislav E. , Lytvynenko Leonid M. , Pogarsky Sergey A.
Published: May 2021

We consider the scattering of the H-polarized eigenwaves of a planar dielectric waveguide by a coplanar system of graphene strips in the THz range. The strips are placed along the centerline of the waveguide. Our treatment is based on the singular integral equations with the Nystrom-type discretization algorithm. Dependences of the scattering characteristics, near and far fields are studied. Frequency scanning radiation pattern are presented. Maximum of the radiated power is observed near the plasmon resonances. The resonant frequency and main lobe level can be controlled by variation of the chemical potential. Applied optimization procedure allows to obtain the radiation pattern with the side-lobe level less than -20 dB. The presented results can be used in designing of graphene leaky-wave antennas.
Fatigue Design Curves for Laser-Metal-Deposited Type 420 Stainless Steel and Effect of an Interval during Deposition Process
Authors: Uematsu Yoshihiko , Sasaki Ryosuke , Kakiuchi Toshifumi , Yamamoto Seiei , Zensho Akihiro , Sano Ri-ichiro
Published: May 2021

Fully-reversed axial loading fatigue tests were conducted using type 420J1 martensitic stainless steel. The specimens were additively manufactured by a laser metal deposition (LMD) process. The results were compared with conventionally-manufactured (CMed) type 420J2 stainless steel. According to the axial loading fatigue test results, the fatigue strengths of the laser-metal-deposited (LMDed) specimens were nearly comparable to those of the CMed specimens. Fractographic analyses revealed that process-induced defects were hardly seen at the fatigue crack initiation sites of the LMDed specimens. It indicates that defect-free deposition was possible by the LMD process. On the other hand, when the LMD specimens experienced intervals during deposition processes, local softening occurred due to the tempering of the building plate. Fatigue tests revealed that the interval during LMD process had detrimental effect on the fatigue strengths due to the local softening. The upper and lower bounds of S-N curves were proposed as fatigue design curves for the samples with and without the interval during LMD process.
Life Cycle Assessment of Irish District Heating Systems: A Comparison of Waste Heat Pump, Biomass-Based and Conventional Gas Boiler
Authors: Mahon Conall , Mediboyina Maneesh Kumar , Gartland Donna , Murphy Fionnuala
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of heat supply scenarios for the replacement of fossil-based energy systems through a case study focusing on an existing gas-fired boiler supplying heat for buildings located in Tallaght, Ireland. The three replacement systems considered are a waste heat fed heat pump district heating system (WHP-DH), a biomass CHP plant district heating system (BCHP-DH), and an individual gas boiler system (GB). The study found that both DH systems have lower environmental impact than the GB, with the BCHP-DH being superior to WHP-DH. However, using 2030 electricity data showed almost similar overall impacts for both the DH systems. Human toxicity potential (HTP) was highest among all impact categories studied and was due to the large additional infrastructure requirement for all three systems. Whereas the other impacts; Global warming (GWP), Fossil fuel depletion (FFD) and Eutrophication (EP), were due to involving usage of natural gas and electricity in use phase. The BCHP-DH showed reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% and FFD by 73% compared to the GB system. Using 2030 electricity data, the WHP-DH decreased GHG emissions by 42% and FFD by 47%. Further, replacing biomethane with the natural gas in the DH systems decreased GWP by at least 11.4%. The present study concludes that the environmental benefit of a DH system is largely dependent on the carbon intensity of the electricity it uses, thus recommending the DH systems for large scale retrofitting schemes in Ireland to reach Europe’s 2030 GHG reduction targets.
Developing a theory-based behavior change intervention to improve the prescription of surgical prophylaxis
Authors: Lohiniva Anna-Leena , Heweidy Iman , Abdu Samiha , Omar Abouelata , Ackley Caroline , Samir Shady , Talaat Maha
Published: May 2021

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly pervasive due to multiple, complex prescribing and consuming behaviours. Accordingly, behaviour change is an important component of response to AMR. Little is known about the best approaches to change antibiotic use practices and behaviours. Aim: This project aims to develop a context-specific behaviour change strategy focusing on promoting appropriate prescription practices following the World Health Organization recommendations for surgical prophylaxis. in an orthopaedic surgery unit in Egypt. Methods: The project included a formative qualitative research study was based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and an intervention that was developed to following the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) in a knowledge co-production workshop that ensured that the theory based intervention was a culturally acceptable, practical and implementable intervention. Results: The prescription of surgical prophylaxis was influenced by five TDF domains including, knowledge, belief in consequences (mistrust towards infection prevention and control measures), environmental factors (lack of prescription guidelines) , professional role and reinforcement (a lack of appropriate follow up actions influenced prescription of surgical prophylaxis). The appropriate set of behaviour change functions of BCW and related activities to improve the current practices included education, enablement, persuasion, environmental restructuring and restriction. Conclusions: The study showed that a theory based and context specific intervention can be created by using the TDF and BCW together with knowledge-co creation to improve the prescription of surgical prophylaxis in and Egyptian orthopaedic unit. The intervention need to piloted and scaled up.
Analysis and Research on Blasting Network Delay of Deep-Buried Diversion Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone Based on EP-CEEMDAN-INHT
Authors: Wu Jing , Wu Li , Sun Miao , Lu Ya-ni , Han Yan-hua
Published: May 2021

The Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) of blasting seismic wave monitoring signal with noise can get IMFs with serious mode confusion and divergent end points. The Hilbert transform is constrained by the Bedrosian theorem, when it dealing with such IMFs will get negative instantaneous frequency, which leads to serious error in the identification of non-electric millisecond detonator initiation delay. EP-CEEMDAN-INHT is proposed and applied to the delay analysis of blasting network of deep buried diversion tunnel crossing fault zone. Comparing EP-CEEMDAN-INHT with EMD-HHT, it is found that EP-CEEMDAN-INHT can clearly display the time-frequency information contained in the measured blasting vibration signal, and EMD mode confusion and endpoint effect are well suppressed. The actual millisecond time interval obtained by EP-CEEMDAN-INHT can judge whether the detonator is in normal service. At the same time, the blasting millisecond interval with the best damping effect is 54.51ms to 59.75ms, which can realize the optimization of blasting network and has important practical significance for blasting safety control.
Study on the Dynamic Responses of Tunnel Linings with Small Net Distance Under Bias Pressures Caused by Blasting
Authors: Zhang Yabin , Fei Yang , Linyan Huang
Published: May 2021

The mutual influence of the parallel excavation of the tunnel can not be ignored. The control of the distance between the faces of the two tunnels is also a difficult point in the construction process. Taking the Nanshan Tunnel of Tieben Expressway in Liaoning Province as the background, the blasting simulation research was carried out under the conditions of different distances between the tunnel faces. Firstly, based on the field test data, the blasting conditions under different tunnel faces were simulated by numerical simulation. The research shows that: (1) The velocity effect of the preceding hole on the subsequent hole is embodied as: the smaller the distance between the face of the tunnel, the more obvious the velocity effect of the subsequent hole; the velocity effect of the subsequent hole on the preceding hole is mainly reflected in the change of the velocity propagation process; (2) The influence of the leading hole on the displacement of the trailing hole is mainly reflected in the following: the greater the distance between the tunnel faces, the later the peak appears, and the smaller the displacement peak; the influence of the trailing hole on the displacement of the leading hole is mainly reflected in the following: the greater the distance between the tunnel faces, the smaller the peak displacement.
Genetic Algorithm-based Task Allocation in Multiple Modes of Human-Robot Collaboration Systems with Two Cobots
Authors: Liau Yee Yeng , RYU Kwangyeol
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we introduce a human-robot collaboration (HRC) mold assembly cell to cope with small-volume mold production and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on a human worker during manual mold assembly operation. Besides, the wide variety of types and weights of the mold components motivated us to design an HRC system that consists of two robots. Therefore, we propose two collaboration modes for HRC systems using two robots and develop a task-allocation model to demonstrate the application of these collaboration modes in the mold assembly. The task-allocation model assigns a task based on the task characteristics and capability of agents in the collaboration cell. First, we decompose the assembly operation into functional actions to analyze the characteristics of tasks. Then, we obtain the agent assignment preference based on task characteristics and capability of agents using the analytic network process. Finally, we apply the genetic algorithm in the final task allocation to minimize assembly time, use of a less capable agent, and ergonomic risk. This paper contributes to expanding the HRC system with two robots in the mold assembly to allow the execution of a greater diversity of tasks and improve the assembly time and MSD risk level for the human worker.
Reliability Analysis of Rock Supports in Underground Mine Drifts: A Case Study
Authors: Adoko Amoussou Coffi , Yakubov Khamit , Kaunda Rennie
Published: May 2021

Support failures in mine drifts represent potential hazards threatening underground mine safety and productivity. The aim of this study is to determine the reliability index associated with the rock supporting elements used in Ridder-Sokolny mine, an underground mine located in East Kazakhstan. Numerical simulations of the drift support and the first order reliability method (FORM) were employed to carry out the analysis. Several support cases were considered including; shotcrete, bolting, concrete, and combined bolting and concrete as well as unsupported drift case. For each support case, the factors of safety (FS), the reliability index (β) and the probability of failure (PF) were determined in accordance with the corresponding rock mass quality and excavation geometry. The results indicated the average FSs varied little for the different support cases (except for shotcrete); while β and PF vary more significantly between 0.62–3.25 and 0.05–27 (×103 %) factor depending on the rock conditions and support installed. The probability of failure of the rock support increases with a decrease in the rock mass quality. Similar trends were observed with an increase of the width/height ratio of the excavations for the same rock domain. These results illustrated that a single FS value obtained from a deterministic method may not always provide a sufficient indication of safety. This is in agreement with the field observations (many of the supports failed). Hence, on the basis of the reliability index of the supports, the requirement in terms of coefficient of variability of the rock mass quality to meet the target performance level was proposed. It is concluded that the results of this study could help improving the drift support design in Ridder-Sokolny mine.
Sex disparate gut microbiome and metabolome perturbations precede disease progression in a mouse model of Rett syndrome
Authors: Neier Kari , Grant Tianna , Palmer Rebecca , Chappell Demario , Hakam Sophia , Yasui Kendra , Rolston Matt , Settles Matthew , Hunter Samuel , Durbin-Johnson Blythe , LaSalle Janine , Yasui Dag
Published: May 2021

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe regressive neurodevelopmental disorder in girls, characterized by multisystem complications including gut dysbiosis and altered metabolism. While RTT is known to be caused by mutations in the X-linked gene MECP2, the intermediate molecular pathways of progressive disease phenotypes are unknown. Mecp2 knockout rodents used to model RTT pathophysiology in most prior studies have been male. Thus, we utilized a patient-relevant mouse model of RTT to longitudinally profile the gut microbiome and metabolome across disease progression in both sexes. Fecal metabolite alterations in Mecp2e1 mutant females occurred prior to onset of neuromotor phenotypes and correlated with lipid deficiencies in brain, results not observed in males. Females also displayed altered gut microbial communities, including those belonging to Clostridia, that were more consistent with RTT patients than males. These findings suggest new potential therapeutic targets for RTT and demonstrate the importance of further study in female animal models.