bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile and green approach towards biomass-derived hydrogel powders with hierarchical micro-nanostructures for ultrafast hemostasis
Authors: Cheng Huitong , Shi Wenbin , Feng Lan , Bao Jianxu , Chen Qin , Zhao Weifeng , Zhao Changsheng
Published: July 2021

We propose a facile and green method to construct biomass-derived hydrogel powders. The green-prepared hydrogel powders with synergistic hemostatic effects have potential significance for clinical applications.
MEA surface passivation of a AgNWs:SnO2 composite transparent electrode enables efficient flexible ITO-free polymer solar cells
Authors: Liu He , Li Youzhan , Wu Jiang , Fu Yingying , Tang Hao , Yi Xueting , Xie Zhiyuan
Published: July 2021

A new flexible transparent AgNWs:SnO2 electrode for polymer solar cells was prepared via blade-coating. Blade-coated MEA was used to passivate the defects on the surface of the AgNWs:SnO2 electrode and boost the photovoltaic performance of the device.
Bulk assembly of a 0D organic antimony chloride hybrid with highly efficient orange dual emission by self-trapped states
Authors: Peng Hui , Tian Ye , Wang Xinxin , Huang Tao , Xiao Yonghao , Dong Tiantian , Hu Jinming , Wang Jianping , Zou Bingsuo
Published: July 2021

Here, we report a new zero-dimensional organic antimony chloride hybrid of (TPA)2SbCl5 (TTA+ = tetrapropylammonium cation) single crystals, which exhibits highly efficient broadband orange emission with a high PLQY of 95.3%.
Membrane interaction and disulphide-bridge formation in the unconventional secretion of Tau
Authors: Hellén Marianna , Bhattacharjee Arnab , Uronen Riikka-Liisa , Huttunen Henri J.
Published: July 2021

Misfolded, pathological tau protein propagates from cell to cell causing neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. The molecular mechanisms of this process have remained elusive. Unconventional secretion of tau takes place via several different routes, including direct penetration through the plasma membrane. Here, we show that tau secretion requires membrane interaction via disulphide bridge formation. Mutating residues that reduce tau interaction with membranes or formation of disulphide bridges decrease both tau secretion from cells, and penetration through artificial lipid membranes. Our results demonstrate that tau is indeed able to penetrate protein-free membranes in a process independent of active cellular processes and that both membrane interaction and disulphide bridge formation are needed for this process. QUARK-based de novo modelling of the second and third microtubule-binding repeat domains (MTBDs), in which the two cysteine residues of 4R isoforms of tau are located, supports the concept that this region of tau could form transient amphipathic helices for membrane interaction.
Admissions Type and Cultural Competency in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Curricula: A National Survey Study
Authors: Guiberson Mark , Vigil Debra C.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This research describes the results of survey questions designed to establish how cultural competency is taught in graduate speech-language pathology programs with a view on how to increase cultural competency in practicing professionals.

Method

One hundred ten department chairs or designees of university programs with graduate speech-language pathology programs participated in this study. Participants were asked questions to better understand how programs included cultural competency content for teaching purposes in program curricula. Respondents were sorted into groups by admission practices
(traditional admissions, some holistic measures,
or
holistic review
). We provide a description of responses, including which cultural competency topics are included in curricula, and we compare programs' composite cultural competency by admission type.

Results

Programs that used some holistic measures or holistic review had had significantly more content that focused on cultural competency than the traditional group, and also used a wider range of pedagogical approaches used to teach this content. Programs that employed some holistic measures or holistic review also covered a wider range of topics, including learning the importance of listening nonjudgmentally to clients' disability/health beliefs and valuing curiosity, empathy, and respect for others. Less than 30% of the traditional admissions programs reported that students were taught about institutional biases or the value of eliminating disparities, and less than 40% reported that students are comfortable talking about culture openly or are able to discuss their own cultural backgrounds or biases. The authors discuss implications and recommendations for enhancing cultural competence in graduate speech-language pathology programs.
What's in a Photograph? The Perspectives of Composition Experts on Factors Impacting Visual Scene Display Complexity for Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Strategies for Improving Visual Communication
Authors: Pitt Kevin M. , McCarthy John W.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Visual scene displays (VSDs) can support augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) success for children and adults with complex communication needs. Static VSDs incorporate contextual photographs that include meaningful events, places, and people. Although the processing of VSDs has been studied, their power as a medium to effectively convey meaning may benefit from the perspective of individuals who regularly engage in visual storytelling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perspectives of individuals with expertise in photographic and/or artistic composition regarding factors contributing to VSD complexity and how to limit the time and effort required to apply principles of photographic composition.

Method

Semistructured interviews were completed with 13 participants with expertise in photographic and/or artistic composition.

Results

Four main themes were noted, including (a) factors increasing photographic image complexity and decreasing cohesion, (b) how complexity impacts the viewer, (c) composition strategies to decrease photographic image complexity and increase cohesion, and (d) strategies to support the quick application of composition strategies in a just-in-time setting. Findings both support and extend existing research regarding best practice for VSD design.

Conclusions

Findings provide an initial framework for understanding photographic image complexity and how it differs from drawn AAC symbols. Furthermore, findings outline a toolbox of composition principles that may help limit VSD complexity, along with providing recommendations for AAC development to support the quick application of compositional principles to limit burdens associated with capturing photographic images.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.15032700
Auditory Feedback Is Used for Adaptation and Compensation in Speech Timing
Authors: Karlin Robin , Naber Chris , Parrell Benjamin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Real-time altered feedback has demonstrated a key role for auditory feedback in both online feedback control and in updating feedforward control for future utterances. The aim of this study was to examine adaptation in response to temporal perturbation using real-time perturbation of ongoing speech.

Method

Twenty native English speakers with no reported history of speech or hearing disorders participated in this study. The study consisted of four word blocks, using the phrases “a capper,” “a gapper,” “a sapper,” and “a zapper” (due to issues with the implementation of perturbation, “gapper” was excluded from analysis). In each block, participants completed a baseline phase (30 trials of veridical feedback), a ramp phase (feedback perturbation increasing to maximum over 30 trials), a hold phase (60 trials with perturbation held at maximum), and a washout phase (30 trials, feedback abruptly returned to veridical feedback). Word-initial consonant targets (voice onset time for /k, g/ and fricative duration for /s, z/) were lengthened, and the following stressed vowel (/æ/) was shortened.

Results

Overall, speakers did not adapt the production of their consonants but did lengthen their vowel production in response to shortening. Vowel lengthening showed continued aftereffects during the early portion of the washout phase. Although speakers did not adapt absolute consonant durations, consonant duration was reduced as a proportion of the total syllable duration. This is consistent with previous research that suggests that speakers attend to proportional durations rather than absolute durations.

Conclusion

These results indicate that speakers actively monitor proportional durations and update the temporal dynamics of planning units extending beyond a single segment.
Evaluation of the use of lignite of Turkeys’ with biomass as Agricultural waste as fuel in terms of emissions
Authors: Kon Okan , Caner İsmail
Published: July 2021

Agricultural wastes as Biomass contains low carbon, high hydrogen, high oxygen and a lower amount of sulfur. Coals contain higher amounts of carbon, lower amounts of hydrogen, lower oxygen and higher amounts of sulfur. With the use of lignite and biomass mixture as fuel will provide less CO2 and SO2 emissions and a more economical mixture will be obtained. Considering these emissions, fluidized bed combustion systems are recommended in the literature for the combustion of lignite and biomass. In this study, rice husks, corn cobs, walnut shells, sunflower shells, olive cake and woodchips were used as agricultural waste. 10 different lignite extracted from Turkey were used as fuel. It has been assumed that the combustion process was carried out by taking the biomass rate of 10%, 30% and 50%. When burning of 1 kg of lignite and biomass mixture, the highest CO2 emission occurs from 10% woodchips - 90% Kütahya - Ömerler (washed) mixture as 2.938 kg and the highest SO2 emission obtained from 10% olive cake - 90% Kütahya Seyitömer-Ayvalı lignite mixture as 0.061 kg. The highest H2O emission was obtained by mixing 50% woodchips - 50% Manisa-Kısrakdere lignite as 0.563 kg.
Insulation Performance Analysis of Field Aged and New MV XLPE Cables Using Various Diagnostic Techniques
Authors: Al-Onazi Yousef , Wani Nissar , Al-Arainy Abdulrahman , Khan Yasin
Published: July 2021

Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables are widely used in the distribution and transmission networks of power systems. The insulation materials of these cables are stressed by the over voltages and are also exposed to various environmental conditions. This leads the power cables to degrade during their normal life span. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the power utilities to acquire the cable’s insulation condition frequently during their operation. In this paper, experimental studies were carried out on short sections of field aged as well as un-aged medium voltage (MV) XLPE cables to investigate the insulation condition using non-destructive diagnostic techniques such as Dissipation Factor (DF), Isothermal Relaxation Current (IRC), and Partial Discharge (PD) characteristics at 60Hz. From this set of experiments, different parameters will be used to analyze the dielectric response and the insulation condition. Finally, the results show how the VLF dissipation factor works efficiently to assess cable aging.
The transition towards an environmental sustainability for Cryptocurrency mining
Authors: Bitir-Istrate Ioan , Gheorghiu Cristian , Gheorghiu Miruna
Published: July 2021

As Cryptocurrency becomes more and more popular so does its demand for mining rigs. At the end of 2020 there were approximately 5,392 different cryptocurrencies available with a total market capitalization of more than $201bn [1]. Cryptocurrencies are using decentralized, distributed systems in order to operate. The mining process involves solving cryptographic equations, which are ultimately used for ensuring encryption of the blockchain transactions, through the use of IT equipment - the most efficient way of doing it being by building mining farms which use Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The Crypto farmers are rewarded with a share of the transaction they facilitate. As the Cryptocurrency market grows exponentially every year, so does its hunger for energy. For example, the Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index is evaluated to reach 77.782 TWh/year in 2021 [2], which, for comparison, is approximately 1.5 times larger than the entire electricity consumption of Romania in 2020 [3]. In this paper, the transition of Cryptocurrency mining processes towards environmental sustainability will be analysed. A Crypto-farm’s Energy Performance Indicators (EPI) and Power Quality Indices (PQI) will be evaluated and, with the use of dedicated software solutions, the authors will propose an action plan to minimize the environmental impact of the energy boundary and to maximize the EPI, thus maximizing the profitability of this new type of business.
Graphene As A Hydrogen Storage Material
Authors: Pourmoghadam Nasrin , Ayas Nezihe
Published: July 2021

Although, hydrogen is a promising key solution for the effective delivery of electricity, the issue of finding materials for efficient storage has still remained a significant challenge. Due to the marvelous features of graphene and graphene-based structures, they can be one of the best candidates among all the materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the synthesis of graphene oxide by improved hummers method and graphene by liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) technique which is safe, easy, economical, and high in quality. In addition, the prepared samples were analyzed and characterized by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), TGA (Thermo Gravimetric Analysis) Setaram Labsys Evo), UV–VIS absorbance spectra, XRD (X-ray diffractometer).
Influence factors of PM2.5 reduction—based on economic data analysis
Authors: Shi Yaobo , Wang Yuquan , Huang Yun
Published: July 2021

Starting from China’s environmental issues to study the impact of environmental protection fiscal expenditures on PM2.5 concentration reduction. This article uses the panel data of 30 provinces (except Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Tibet) from 2007 to 2017, and uses PM2.5 concentration levels in China’s provinces as an explained variable. The results of the panel regression model shows that environmental protection fiscal expenditures have a significant positive effect on PM2.5 reduction environmental policy tools have a significant positive regulatory effect on environmental protection fiscal expenditures and PM2.5 reduction. Increasing environmental protection fiscal expenditures is conducive to promoting PM2.5 reduction.
Value of communication as an integral feature of a modern society and a condition for its sustainable development
Authors: Shakirova Elena , Reznikova Anna , Guskov Andrey
Published: July 2021

The relevance of our research is due to the processes taking place in a modern Russian society. Value orientation is the most important component of a human life, the basis for the life goals formation and, as a result, it acts as a motivation encouraging a person to behave according to his expectations. The values of a person of each epoch differ from each other as the external environment influences each of us including our spiritual world. Interpersonal communication and communication through various technological means is of great importance to a modern society. It is difficult for modern people to imagine themselves without a cellphone with dozens of apps installed and connected to the Internet. And this digital approach changes even the attitude towards a communication value, reconsiders it. The authors attempted to define a phenomenon of a communication value, classify the communication processes in a modern society, describe an impact of the communication processes within its value into an individual and explain a process of a revaluing under certain circumstances taking in account fundamental factors for the sustainable development of the world.
Management of sustainable development of the regions of Kazakhstan: problems and solutions
Authors: Magrupova Zulfiya , Koshebaeva Gaukhar , Abzalbek Gulnara
Published: July 2021

The study presents the results of the implementation of the State Program for the Development of the Regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2020. In the face of modern challenges, it becomes critically important to increase the self-sufficiency of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of regional development. In order to comply with and take into account national interests, it will be important to launch the adopted State Program for the Development of Regions by 2025. State regulation of territorial development is aimed at disclosing the industrial potential of individual regions and territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Taking into account the processes of regionalization taking place in the economy, the prerequisites for the formation of a regional structure of industrial production are considered in the work. The results of the implementation of the State Program for 2015-2019 were considered and problematic issues requiring changes in regional policy were formulated. Based on the analysis, the authors presented a new approach to regional development, which will ensure macroeconomic stability based on high-tech industries (technology parks), educational and research clusters (corporations, universities and laboratories). To increase the efficiency of management of the territorial development of the Republic, systemic measures are
Prospects and limitations of smart specialization development for Russian regions
Authors: Gretchenko Anatoly , Gretchenko Alexander
Published: July 2021

The article examines the possibilities of the smart specialization strategy for the regions of the Russian Federation as a tool for the complementary development of territories based on knowledge and innovation. The analysis of the application of the smart specialization strategy is carried out on the basis of the author’s indicators that have the following functional and target value: the goal setting of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the methodological tools for managing the development of the subject of the Russian Federation, the potential for the implementation of the smart specialization strategy. As an object of research, the documents of strategic planning of the subjects of the Russian Federation until 2020-2030 are considered. It is concluded that the current nature of the socio-economic and innovation policy reflected in the documents of the strategic planning of the regions of the Russian Federation does not fully correspond to the principles of the smart specialization strategy, but there is a certain methodological continuity of approaches, which gives grounds to draw conclusions about the possibility of using this methodology.
Regional Features of the Financial Literacy the Population of the Sverdlovsk Region
Authors: Razumovskaia Elena , Razumovskiy Denis , Ovsyannikova Elena
Published: July 2021

The presented research is devoted to analysis of the principles and optimality criteria for the structure of household financial resources, formed on the basis of surveys of a sample of 5,842 respondents from the Sverdlovsk region based on the author’s methodology for assessing the level of financial literacy and the structure of citizens expenses. The initial hypothesis about the influence of the level of financial literacy of the population on the structure of household spending has been verified. Examples of author questionnaires are presented, developed taking into account the methodological support of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the NAFR Analytical Centre. The conclusion is substantiated that more financially literate people are inclined to plan income and expenses and are able to evaluate the structure of their expenses from the position of optimality. The study is supplemented by an analysis of an array of statistical information on indicators of the financial situation of the population of the cities of the Sverdlovsk region. The purpose of the study is to verify the relationship between the level of financial literacy of the population of the Sverdlovsk region and the structure of household spending based on a subjective assessment of optimality by respondents. General methodology of this study is a sociological survey, which adapted by the authors from the methods of the Central Bank of Russian Federation and OECD countries for the conditions of the Sverdlovsk region. The scientific message is interfaced with the model of J. Nash. Main results of this research is: 1) the hypothesis about the influence of the level of financial literacy of the population on the optimality of the structure of household spending is substantiated; 2) author principles and optimality criteria for the structure of household financial resources based on cost structure have been developed.
Features of the Formation of the Potential of the Labor Force in the Reclamation of the Agro-industrial Complex of Russia
Authors: Ugryumova Aleksandra , Pautova Lyudmila , Grishayeva Olesya
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the study is to define the concept of “labor force potential” for land reclamation and to investigate its structural and functional elements using the example of the human resources potential of the Federal State Budgetary Institution. In the course of the study, the theoretical and methodological foundations of the potential of the labor force were determined, the industry characteristics and the main trends of its formation, development as the main resource for the development of the reclamation industry were identified. Experiment Methods. In the course of the research, the following methods were used: theoretical analysis, mathematical and statistical processing of primary data, systemic, logical and correlation analysis, processing and generalization of research results. In this work, a scientific-practical and system-logical analysis of the structure of personnel of 62 FSBI “Management “Meliovodkhoz”, subordinate to the Department of Land Reclamation, of all federal districts has been performed. In particular, the results of scientific and practical analysis of scientific approaches to understanding the potential of the labor force, its structural and functional elements are presented in detail; studying the structure of the staff of the Federal State Budgetary Institution in terms of structural and functional, age, educational and professional growth.
Formation of Performance Indicators of System-forming Regional Enterprises under Uncertainty
Authors: Ivanus Alexander , Nevezhin Victor , Piskun Elena , Khokhlov Vladimir
Published: July 2021

A modern enterprise must be ready for any changes that may arise under the influence of both internal and external influences, including uncertain ones. It must be able to get out of this unfavorable situation as quickly as possible. The proposed study is to confirm the hypothesis of the relationship between the level of uncertainty and the performance of an enterprise based on the use of the preventive preparedness regime. The work solves the following tasks: assessment of the level of uncertainty of the external environment, selected as an indicator of entropy; a methodology for choosing the financial and economic indicators of an enterprise for the formation of a preventive readiness mode is proposed; the existence of a relationship between the level of uncertainty and indicators of the preventive readiness regime has been empirically confirmed. The authors propose a variant of the enterprise’s transition to a state of so-called “maximum readiness”, in which it will feel “comfortable”. The concept of enterprise management in a situation of external uncertainty is presented. In accordance with this approach, the results of the analysis of financial, economic and social indicators of economically significant automobile enterprises located in various regions of Russia, included in the list of backbone and influencing the development of the region, have been investigated. The selected indicators were considered from the point of view of the possibility of applying to them the state of the maximum readiness mode in conditions of uncertainty, which provides an adaptive state of the enterprise and, accordingly, will allow maintaining and even increasing its position in the market in the presence of uncertainties. The proposed concept can be recommended to all firms and enterprises with an innovative focus since they are more susceptible to the adverse effects of uncertainties.
Development of mechanical engineering for extractive industries as a factor of economic development of macroregion siberia
Authors: Repinskiy Oleg , Gubanischeva Maria , Ivanov Mikhail
Published: July 2021

One can consider the development of Siberia and the Far East also called macroregion Siberia as Russia’s comeback to its historic movement towards the East which will give Russia sustained economic growth based on the country’s entry into the global division of labor and its active position in the markets of the Asia Pacific Region. It is the region that has become the center of global economic and technological development in the 21st century. Gaps in the country’s economy should be overcome both between separate sectors of the economy and between regions. The development of Siberia and the Far East has huge potential for the development of Russia as a whole, and it will largely determine its geoeconomic prospects in the 21st century. Such development means the introduction of new approaches to the raw materials sector, the creation of transport and energy infrastructure, as well as the development of deep processing industries, the creation of a dynamic innovation sector, improving the living standards of the population and, in general, the formation of new environment for living and people’s self-actualization. Otherwise, Siberia and the Far East are doomed to be subsidized territories with low returns for the country and its inhabitants. According to the author, the development of mechanical engineering focused on the extractive industry can be one of the main factors ensuring the successful development of the economy of the macroregion Siberia and Russia.
Improving the Storage of Some Food Categories to Reduce the Irretrievable Losses of a Retailer: Methodology Analysis
Authors: Trapeznikova Elena
Published: July 2021

Retailers conventionally store perishable foods in refrigerated display cases to keep them at specific temperatures; air conditioning dries the air in the room, which in turn causes these foods to lose moisture. Water as a dispersing medium and a solvent affects the consistency, structure, and appearance of foods in storage. However, excessive moistness will also jeopardize the quality of foods by providing fungi and bacteria with good conditions for growth. Conventional food storage technology does not involve humidity control; as a result, food appearance and quality degrades, and the intensive food drying results in excessive shrink-related costs to the retailer. To minimize the negative impact of such overdrying of perishable foods on the retailer’s economy, storage facilities must provide optimal temperature and humidity. In this research, the author monitor and compare the write-offs labeled as ‘defective’ and the irretrievable shrink-related losses to identify and analyze the effectiveness of humidity control-enabled refrigeration units when used to store some foods categories in refrigerated display cases.
Optimizing the tourism destination potential with the integration of sustainability and innovation principles
Authors: Belozerova Oxana , Mirzoian Siuzanna , Wagenseil Urs
Published: July 2021

In the article the science approaches to the essence and set of elements for a successful tourism destination development are considered. These helped to develop a new destination potential model by integrating two management principles: a) sustainability and b) innovations. These additional principles should reach higher destination potentials and guarantee a better destination performance. The interrelation of the elements of a tourism destination potential with the mechanism of its management is reflected. A central aspect and a prerequisite are the creation and integration of a special management body for the destination – the Destination Management Organisation (DMO). During the study qualitative inputs from experts about the model were obtained. These contributed to confirm the model and to adapt it for the usage by a DMO. The overall goal is to reach a higher destination potential, to enhance its competitiveness and to counteract the negative factors of the external and internal environment, especially in the Post-Covid19 phase. During this the tourism industry has suffered on an unprecedented scale and hardly any destination in the world has been able to match the success figures of the recent past (until 2019).
Renewable energy company stock dynamics forecast in the period of sustainable development based on Fractal-FOA-LSTM
Authors: Ma Guofeng , Wang Yingjie , Yang Junhong
Published: July 2021

In stock trend forecasting system, feature selection and model building are two major factors that affect prediction performance. In order to improve the accuracy of prediction and the stability of the model, a stock trend prediction model of Fractal-FOA-LSTM is proposed. Firstly, the features are selected by using the FOA (fruit fly algorithm) combined with the fractal dimension to reduce the redundancy of the features, and the selected indexes are used as the system input. And proposing a double input LSTM(long-short term memory) network prediction model and optimizing its parameters, it can select the best parameters for different data automatically. This paper test on 4 sets of UCI database and Shanghai Composite Index and proved the feature selection method is effective, through the empirical analysis of the Shanghai Composite Index and S&P500, and compared the results with SVM and PNN, verified the feasibility and superiority of the stock trend forecasting system base on fractal-FOA-LSTM.
Environmental sustainability: quality assessment criteria
Authors: Sulimin Vladimir , Shvedov Vladislav , Lvova Maya
Published: July 2021

Providing conditions for sustainable development is a fundamental task of human civilization. An important aspect of the current activities of modern society, which do not harm future generations, is the preservation of the structure and functions of the ecological system under the influence of various external and internal factors on it. an important aspect of ensuring the sustainable functioning and development of objects of animate and inanimate nature as key factors of favorable habitat and human activity is an effective assessment of the state of the ecosystem. The article discusses modern methods of environmental monitoring, criteria for qualitative data analysis aimed at improving environmental management technologies.
The cost load regulation and management of electrical energy by directions of impact on the components of total price
Authors: Pleshkov Alexey , Kopylov Aleksey , Ulyankin Petr
Published: July 2021

The issues of optimizing regional pricing are especially acute for the Kaliningrad Region due to its exclave features. At the same time, the cost of energy resources has become one of the main issues in making managerial decisions. Recently, the so-called Technoparks have become one of the new forms of organizing the production process in a certain branch of industry, or a process that is at the junction of several branches. There are a variety of descriptions of the indisputable advantages of this work format for a specific technological process, however, the possibilities in the field of reducing the costs of consumed energy resources that arise with such a local siting of production are not discussed that often. According to the authors of the article, based on the structure of the tariff, it is possible to classify methods of reducing the cost price by the impact on the components of the final cost of energy supply services. It should be noted that the classification sign of saving methods will be precisely the component of the tariff, while the methods themselves can be aimed both at reducing the price expression of each component of the tariff and at the volume of services for this component. The authors have also identified regional features of the pricing processes in the energy industry.
The main problems of using biomass as a fuel
Authors: Solovyev Dmitry , Shilova Liubov , Zheleznov Maksim
Published: July 2021

The article discusses the main problems of the using of biomass as a fuel, including the fuel use of biomass as an innovative way to generate clean energy. It is shown that according to the development of technology for the production of renewable energy sources, energy costs will decrease, and the operating time of the devices and, accordingly, their productivity will increase. Ultimately, this will allow to get a positive result, i.e. reduce harmful emissions from energy production. The methodology basis on the open statistics data and analysis of the energy balance of new energy production technologies are considered. The motivation for the using renewable energy sources in industrialized and developing countries is investigated. A review of new technologies for the using biomass as a fuel is made, which allows for efficient processing of biomass, including gasification, co-production of heat and electricity, fuel use of combustible gases generated at landfills, and production of fuel for transport in the form of methanol and biodiesel.
Environmental and health assessment of soil pollution impact on public health
Authors: Nikiforova Valentina , Lapina Svetlana , Vardanian Margarit
Published: July 2021

The paper considers environmental and health assessment of the soil cover quality in Bratsk, the Irkutsk Region. The purpose of the research: environmental and health assessment of soil pollution impact on the public health when exposed to chemicals formed during aluminium production. The method of analyzing the total fluoride content (in mg/kg of soil) on the horizons of 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm is used; a volume of the oral, inhaled, and cutaneous intake of this substance from the soil is assessed. Based on the risk assessment of multi-mediated exposure to chemicals, a quantitative characteristic of the total intake of fluoride compounds is given. It’s been found that of all the sampling points in Bratsk, the most contaminated with fluoride compounds is the village of Chekanovsky (the maximum content is 1,722 mg/kg); the soils of the village of Padun are less polluted (the maximum content is 48 mg/kg). The total average daily intake of fluoride compounds for the adult is determined, the values of them don’t exceed the human’s need for fluoride when calculated per kg/body weight. The most sensitive group to environmental pollution, including soil, by fluoride compounds, is children.
Methods for measuring transport noise in the city street and road network
Authors: Abdikhalilov oglu Fitrat , Khotamov Asadulla
Published: July 2021

This study analyzes the speed of traffic on city streets and the level of noise from vehicles. In terms of objects: To determine the amount of traffic and the level of noise on Nurafshan and Nukus streets in Tashkent, the intensity of traffic during peak hours was studied. Based on the results of in-kind experiments, the following conclusions were drawn: Despite the increasing density of the road network in Tashkent, the level of congestion on these streets is very high (more than 2400 cars / hour on each side). More than 95% of moving vehicles are cars. The level of noise from vehicles along the construction line on these streets is 18-20 DBa above the sanitary norm in the morning rush hour. This study analyzes the speed of traffic on city streets and the level of noise from vehicles. At the same time, the problem of density of the street network in Tashkent, the results of its comparison with the density in some cities of developed countries.
Soil successions of Carbic Podzols (Arenic) under Scots Pine plantations in Kursk region
Authors: Nevedrov Nikolay , Fomina Maria , Smitskaya Galina
Published: July 2021

Anthropogenic activities lead to significant transformations of natural landscapes. In this article, an attempt was made to describe the soil succession in the context of 100-year dynamics of Scots Pine forest stand in Kursk region. The morphological, physical, chemical and physical and chemical characteristics of sandy podzols in the chronological order of pine forests functioning 0 - 70 - 100 years were under analysis. It was revealed that monodominant forest stand of Scots Pine leads to the transformation of soils at the type level. It is noted that forest stand of Scots Pine on Umbric Podzols contribute to the development of the podzolic process at an average rate of formation of the podzolic horizon - 0.11 - 0.17 sm / year. During the time period of the soil succession (100 years), the thickness of the soil profile has increased and the humus reserves in the profile have increased by 47.1%, as well as a total decrease in the content of mineral nutrients is noted. The content of mobile forms of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Mn and Co) in the genetic horizons of Carbic Podzols (Arenic) in the time interval of the succession 70 - 100 years decreases by 21.4 - 71.4%.
The environment as an object of criminal law protection: problems of definition and legislative regulation
Authors: Yakovleva Olga
Published: July 2021

The article is devoted to the study of the problems of definition and legislative regulation of the environment as an object of criminal law protection. The correct legislative regulation and the definition of the object and subject of the crime in the criminal law standard contribute to the correct labeling process. In the legal literature, there is no consensus on the definition of the object of environmental crimes. Some believe that the object of this group of crimes is the order of use of natural resources or social relations related to their economic exploitation; others believe that the relations of state ownership, which are expressed in natural resources; finally, the object of this group of crimes is directly the natural resources themselves or the entire environment. Taking into account the legislative regulation of norms united by generic and species groups and the scientific and theoretical definition of the direct object of the crime, we believe that the object of environmental crimes is public relations for the protection of the environment, the preservation of favorable natural conditions for nature, living beings and ensuring a sufficient level of environmental safety. In this context, a favorable environment should be considered as an environment whose quality ensures the safety of the natural environment functioning and other objects. The subject of crime in the science of criminal law makes it possible to solve many important issues from a practical point of view since it is characterized by relative criminal-legal independence: to distinguish between general and special elements of crimes; the subject of the crime allows you to reveal the nature and extent of the damage that was caused by the crime, as well as to identify the relationship between the criminal act and the consequences that occurred.
Analysis of energy generation by air-water heat pumps for individual building heating systems
Authors: Kuzmin Sergey
Published: July 2021

The work provides a method of determining the number of energy components of the heating system of residential individual buildings with air-to-water heat pumps in the conditions of changing potential of heat-containing environment for different climatic areas. On the basis of the analytical and empirical dependencies obtained, reflecting the connection between the energy indicators of the heating-heat pump system, the heating system and heat pumps were analyzed during the heating period. Graphic dependences on energy consumption and thermal energy production on climatic characteristics - temperature and duration of its standing for the characteristic points of the country’s climatic zones - “moderate-cold,” “moderate” and “warm with mild winter” are given. Conclusions have been drawn about the possibility and prospects of using heat pumps as heat generators in heating systems.
Enhancing building information modelling (BIM) training in Nigerian polytechnics: towards sustainable development in Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Marcel-Okafor Udochukwu , Okafor Marcellinus
Published: July 2021

Architectural technology practice in Nigeria is influenced on the one hand by the drive to adopt technologically advanced techniques aimed at providing solutions to the existing challenges within the built environment, and on the other hand by constantly emerging socio-economic variables associated with high population growth, urban migration and resultant housing demands. From the outset of the drawing proposal to the entire lifespan of buildings, innovative developments in building information modelling (BIM) have enabled architectural technologists attain sustainable feats in the building industry. This study examined the curriculum for BIM training in polytechnics domiciled in Southeast Nigeria and the impact on sustainable development practice within the region. Sixtythree (63) architectural firms and three (3) polytechnics were randomly selected for this study. The survey research design was adopted in this study: two sets of structured questionnaires were administered to architectural technology graduates and their employers. 130 copies of questionnaire were administered to graduates of the institutions. The study revealed that 96% of the graduates had acquired some level of BIM proficiency; 56% acquired it from school, while 40% indicated it was acquired in practice after graduation. The result of correlation analysis showed that correlation between practice performance of technologists and proficiency in BIM is significant (p<0.01). The results of regression coefficients showed that proficiency in BIM had significant correlation with practice performance of the graduates. The study showed that course contents for courses in computer application did not extensively provide opportunities for graduates to acquire relevant skills. A robust review of the curriculum is needed to produce technically efficient technologists that can tackle the demands of the built environment for sustainable development to thrive.
Production processes and statistical analysis of ceramic liner-hole parameters for sustainability and improved thermal efficiency of clean biomass stoves
Authors: Donkor Kenneth , Obeng George Yaw , Opoku Richard , Agyei-Agyemang Anthony
Published: July 2021

In engineering, ceramic liners are used as heat retention, insulation, and wear-resistant components for industrial and domestic applications. However, due to lack of production standards, particularly under small industrial operations, there is variation in liner-hole diameter and inter-hole spacing of liners used in clean biomass stoves. This study assessed the production processes and analysed ceramic liner-hole diameters and inter-hole spacings for standardisation. Standardising liner-hole parameters is a major process towards sustainability and improved efficiency. Methods employed were − material composition, particle size distribution analysis, study of production processes, and 51 liner-hole diameters and 66 inter-holes spacing were randomly sampled and analysed. The results indicated material composition of clay (70%), sand (23%), and sawdust (7%) of various particle sizes. A flow chart diagram of 7 production processes was created for standardisation. At 95% C.I, liner-hole diameter of Ø20.8 ± 2(0.66) mm and inter-hole spacing of 27.5 ± 2(1.06) mm were determined. Mean liner-hole diameter of Ø21.03 mm resulted in a relatively high thermal efficiency, ηT =37%. For practical applications, liner-hole diameter of Ø21 mm and inter-hole spacing of 30 mm are recommended. Standardising the production processes and the liner-hole parameters will contribute to sustainable production and thermal efficiency improvement.
Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) in Previously Vitrectomized Eyes: Complications and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Aljundi Wissam , Abdin Alaadin , Suffo Shady , Seitz Berthold , Daas Loay
Published: July 2021

Purpose To evaluate the results and complications of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in previously vitrectomized eyes.

Design Retrospective study of 35 eyes that had undergone DMEK, due to Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), at our department with a follow-up after 6 months postoperatively. We compared the intraoperative procedure, complications, and results of DMEK between 14 previously vitrectomized pseudophakic eyes (group 1) and a control group of 21 pseudophakic non-vitrectomized eyes (group 2).

Results The unfolding time (in minutes) was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (10.5 ± 6.4 vs. 3.2 ± 1.5, p < 0.01). A single re-bubbling was needed in 8 patients in group 1 (57.1%) and in 3 patients in group 2 (14.2%) (p < 0.01). Repeated re-bubbling (≥ 1 time) was performed in only 5 patients of group 1 (35.7%). There was significant postoperative improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, in LogMAR) in both groups (p = 0.04 in group 1 and p < 0.01 in group 2). The central corneal thickness (CCT, in µm) did not differ significantly between the two groups preoperatively (p = 0.4) or postoperatively (p = 0.1). However, the CCT decreased significantly postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01 in both groups). The postoperative endothelial cell density (ECD in cell/mm²) was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0.03).

Conclusion DMEK in previously vitrectomized eyes presents a surgical challenge, which requires special, and sometimes unpredictable, intraoperative maneuvers, but good functional and morphological results can be achieved. The use of the endothelial Descemet membrane lamellae (EDML) of older donors might be recommended to facilitate the intraoperative unfolding process.
Selbsteinschätzung der funktionellen Leistungsfähigkeit (SELF): Messeigenschaften in der beruflich orientierten medizinischen Rehabilitation
Authors: Bühne David , Alles Torsten , Hetzel Christian , Froboese Ingo , Trippolini Maurizio
Published: July 2021

Ziel Ermittlung der konkurrenten, diskriminanten und prognostischen Validität der Selbsteinschätzung der funktionellen Leistungsfähigkeit (SELF) bei orthopädischen Patienten der beruflich orientierten medizinischen Rehabilitation.

Material und Methoden In einer prospektiven Kohortenstudie wurden Patienten aus vier Einrichtungen mit beruflich orientierter medizinischer Rehabilitation rekrutiert. Als Außenkriterien für die Überprüfung der konkurrenten Validität dienten der Work Ability Score (WAS) und die Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)-basierte Einschätzung der zulässigen Arbeitsschwere nach REFA. Für die diskriminante Validität wurde das Ultra-Kurz-Screening (UKS) verwendet. Die a priori definierten Hypothesen wurden anhand von bivariaten und partiellen Korrelationsmaßen überprüft. Die prognostische Validität wurde mittels logistischer Regressionsmodelle berechnet. Zielgröße war die Rückkehr in Arbeit (RTW) drei Monate nach Reha-Ende.

Ergebnisse Die Daten von 227 rekrutierten Probanden wurden analysiert. Hinsichtlich der konkurrenten Validität bestätigten sich die a priori definierten Hypothesen (0,4≤r≤0,6) zum WAS (r=0,41) und der zulässigen Arbeitsschwere (r=0,50). Der Zusammenhang mit dem UKS lag erst nach Kontrolle der derzeitigen Schmerzen (r=−0,24) im erwarteten Bereich (−0,1≤r≤−0,3). Zur Überprüfung der prognostischen Validität wurden die von 127 Probanden verfügbaren Nachbefragungsdaten ausgewertet. Ein Anstieg des SELF um einen Punkt war nach Kontrolle der Arbeitsschwere der Tätigkeit mit einer 1,07-fach (p<0,001) höheren RTW-Chance assoziiert.

Schlussfolgerung Die konkurrente und diskriminante Validität des SELF wurde bei orthopädischen Patienten der beruflich orientierten medizinischen Rehabilitation bestätigt. Das Instrument erwies sich darüber hinaus als prognostisch valide. Die Anpassungsgüte des ausschließlich auf dem SELF basierenden Modells war jedoch gering.