bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interferences in instrumental neutron activation analysis by threshold reactions and uranium fission for miniature neutron source reactor
Authors: Wasim M.
Published: February 2021

Miniature neutron source reactors (MNSR) are known for their stable neutron flux characteristics and are mostly employed for neutron activation analysis (NAA). Interfering reactions are sometimes observed in instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Failure to correct for these interferences produces significant systematic positive errors. This paper provides correction factors for the interferences caused by the threshold reactions and fission products of 235U. These factors were calculated by using the experimentally determined thermal, epithermal and fast neutron flux and epithermal neutron flux shape factor and the nuclear data from the literature using the Høgdahl convention. Correction factors were calculated for (n, p) and (n, α) reactions for the most commonly observed radionuclides in INAA. Similarly, correction factors for uranium fission were calculated for 9 elements (Ce, Ba, La, Mo, Nd, Pd, Ru, Sm and Zr). The correction factors were validated by analyzing different materials. A comparison of uranium fission factors with those published in the literature showed a good agreement except for 97Zr, 99Mo and 131Ba which is due to difference in the flux characteristics. In general, these factors can be used with confidence.
Gold-coated lanthanide phosphate nanoparticles for an 225Ac in vivo alpha generator
Authors: McLaughlin M. F. , Woodward J. , Boll R. A. , Rondinone A. J. , Mirzadeh S. , Robertson J. D.
Published: February 2021

Retaining radioactive daughter products at a clinically relevant target site remains one of the major challenges in development of in vivo α generators with radionuclides such as 225Ac and 223Ra. In this work, we examine the ability of layered nanoparticle constructs to retain 225Ac and the first decay daughter, 221Fr. Actinium-225 is cocrystalized in a lanthanide phosphate nanoparticle consisting of varying amounts of La and Gd. Additional lanthanide phosphate layers improve retention capability while an outer layer of gold facilitates the attachment of targeting moieties for in vivo use. Retention of 225Ac in the nanoparticles is near quantitative while the 221Fr retention varies from 60-89% as a function of time, the number of layers, and nanoparticle composition. Decay corrected radiochemical yield in the multi-shell syntheses are high (76%) and comparable to or better than existing delivery approaches.
Optimization of Nd(III) pre-concentration on a rotating disk mercury film electrode in aqueous solution
Authors: Schumacher P. D. , Miley S. M. , Schenk J. O. , Clark S. B.
Published: February 2021

Current work indicates that trivalent lanthanides will consistently sorb to a rotating disk mercury film electrode in bulk aqueous solution thus allowing the user to pre-concentrate trivalent lanthanides for further separation. However, the mechanism of sorption to the mercury film is largely unknown, making it difficult if not impossible to predict a priori the conditions under which pre-concentration is optimized. In the present study, we explore some of the electrochemical factors affecting this pre-concentration process to optimize the technique for use in a wide variety of aqueous media. Trivalent neodymium (Nd(III)) is used as a model for the trivalent f-element cations. The factors investigated include pH of solution, rotation rate of the electrode, concentration of mercury, potential application waveforms, order of deposition, and time dependency.
Amberlite XAD-2 impregnated Cyanex272: sorption desorption studies of thorium(IV)
Authors: Karve M. , Gholave J. V.
Published: February 2021

Amberlite XAD-2 impregnated with Cyanex272 was packed in a column and studied for separation and recovery of Th(IV). The effect of various parameters influencing sorption of Th(IV) viz. acid concentration, aqueous phase flow rates, nature and concentration of eluents and other ions were systematically studied. Under optimized conditions Th(IV) was quantitatively sorbed from 0.001 M HNO3 and recovered using 10 cm3 of 4.0 M HCl at 0.6 cm3 min−1 flow rate. Batch studies using impregnated resin were evaluated for using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The sorption capacity of the impregnated resin for Th(IV) was 8.48 mmol g−1. The limit of detection for Th(IV) was 0.67 μg dm−3 and a reusability for more than 65 cycles was observed. The method developed was applied for isolation of Th(IV) from monazite sand. It was reproducible with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 0.8%.
Rapid environmental analysis using molten salt fusion sample preparation
Authors: Armenta C. E. , Gonzáles E. R. , Herrera J. A. , Plionis Alexander A. , Peterson D. S.
Published: February 2021

For the analysis of the isotopic composition of environmental samples, including transuranic materials there are many methods that exist. This paper describes the development of a high throughput method, which involves dissolving a soil into an aqueous matrix, producing a homogenous mixture, and separating radionuclides to enable the identification of specific isotopes. A standard method was modified via changes in oxidation, chemical exchange, decomposition, or rearrangements to form constituents that are more soluble in acidic aqueous solutions. To accomplish this, a molten-salt fusion, dissolution in dilutes nitric or hydrochloric acids, with subsequent separation using ion exchange, direct deposition, and counting by alpha-spectrometry was used. This method is ideal for silicate samples, but can be modified to accommodate more complex soil samples.
Radioactive aerosol particles released from a pneumatic irradiation system in a nuclear research reactor
Authors: Oki Y. , Ozaki A. , Osada N. , Kaneto T. , Hata Y. , Yamasaki K. , Shibata S.
Published: February 2021

Particle size distribution of activity was investigated with an impactor for airborne particles released from a pneumatic irradiation system of a research reactor. Airborne radioactivity released from the pneumatic tube of the reactor was identified as 24Na, 38Cl, and 56Mn and various fission products of which origin was uranium impurity in aluminum used in the part of the pneumatic tube. The AMAD (activity median aerodynamic diameter) of 24Na and 56Mn that were produced through (n,γ) reactions was ca. 1 μm, while that of fission products was ca. 0.4 μm. It was suggested that radioactive particles of ca. 1 μm were due to activation of aluminum dust in the pneumatic tube, and that the particles of ca. 0.4 μm were formed by attachment of recoiled fission products to radiation-induced airborne particles.
Determination of uranium concentrations and its activity ratios in coal and fly ash from Philippine coal-fired thermal power plants using ICP-MS and TIMS
Authors: Sahoo S. K. , Parami V. K. , Quirit L. L. , Yonehara H. , Ishikawa T. , Tokonami S.
Published: February 2021

The specific activity of 238U as a technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) in feed coal, bottom and fly ash samples from four major coal-fired thermal power plants in the Philippines have been measured using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy system equipped with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The uranium concentration has been determined from same samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). There was a good correlation between the measured uranium using both methods and has been estimated to be 0.98. Uranium from coal, bottom and fly ash samples were chemically separated and activity ratio (234U/238U) and 235U/238U ratio was measured using a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS). The highest concentration of uranium was found in fly ash and lowest was for feed coal. Uranium isotopic composition plays an important role in studying its biogeochemical behavior and is a good tracer on the sources of uranium in the environment.
Radon, gamma-ray exposure and natural radionuclides
Authors: Wanabongse P. , Thorarit W. , Yimchalam N. , Bovornkitti S.
Published: February 2021

Measurements were conducted to determine residential radon exposure levels in provinces with high lung cancer incidence in three different regions of Thailand. The measurements revealed that the average indoor radon levels were 20.0, 24.4, and 13.1 Bq m−3, and that the average gamma dose rates were 145, 164, and 54 nSv h−1 in Chiangmai, Songkhla and Khonkaen provinces, respectively. The spectroscopic analysis of soil samples collected from the three provinces showed that the highest contents of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were present in Songkhla, with values of 93.7, 71.9, and 786.9 Bq kg−1, respectively, and the lowest contents were present in Khonkaen, with values of 15.6, 19.0, and 46.8 Bq kg−1, respectively. The results of our analysis of the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides helped explain the lower levels of radon gas and gamma-ray exposure in Khonkaen.
Development of digital gamma-activation autoradiography for analysis of samples of large area
Authors: Kolotov V. P. , Grozdov D. S. , Dogadkin N. N. , Korobkov V. I.
Published: February 2021

Gamma-activation autoradiography is a prospective method for screening detection of inclusions of precious metals in geochemical samples. Its characteristics allow analysis of thin sections of large size (tens of cm
2
), that favourably distinguishes it among the other methods for local analysis. At the same time, the activating field of the accelerator bremsstrahlung, displays a sharp intensity decrease relative to the distance along the axis. A method for activation dose “equalization” during irradiation of the large size thin sections has been developed. The method is based on the usage of a hardware-software system. This includes a device for moving the sample during the irradiation, a program for computer modelling of the acquired activating dose for the chosen kinematics of the sample movement and a program for pixel-by pixel correction of the autoradiographic images. For detection of inclusions of precious metals, a method for analysis of the acquired dose dynamics during sample decay has been developed. The method is based on the software processing pixel by pixel a time-series of coaxial autoradiographic images and generation of the secondary meta-images allowing interpretation regarding the presence of interesting inclusions based on half-lives. The method is tested for analysis of copper-nickel polymetallic ores. The developed solutions considerably expand the possible applications of digital gamma-activation autoradiography.
Hybrid NAA for study of organic halogens in precipitation in Beijing, China
Authors: Xu Diandou , Ma Lingling , Chen Yang , Chai Zhifang , Xu Guofei , Li Shuzhen
Published: February 2021

The rainwater samples were collected from Beijing, China, from May 2006 to November 2007 and measured by a hybrid neutron activation analysis (NAA) method combining with gas chromatography (GC) for the concentrations and distribution of extractable persistent organic halogens (EPOX = EPOCl + EPOBr + EPOI), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs). The average concentrations of EPOCl, EPOBr and EPOI in all the samples were 102, 0.18, and 0.31 μg/L, respectively. The relative proportions of the known organochlorines (84 PCB congeners + 10 OCPs) to total EPOCl were 0.03–1.44%, which implied that most of EPOCl measured in rainwater were unidentified. Significant correlations between the logarithms of the concentrations of EPOCl and EPOBr (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001) or EPOI (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001) and between the concentrations of EPOBr and EPOI (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001) were observed, which suggested that EPOCl, EPOBr and EPOI in rainwater might mainly come from the similar sources. There were no clear seasonal trends for the concentrations of EPOX. PCBs in rainwater were dominated by tetra-CB and tri-CB. The homologue was consistent with the technical PCB products in China, which indicated that PCBs in the environment mainly came from the historical usage of technical PCB products.
Planetary gamma ray spectrometry: remote sensing of elemental abundances
Authors: Englert Peter A. J.
Published: February 2021

Planetary gamma ray spectrometry is a form of nuclear spectroscopy applied remotely to provide geochemical maps of planetary bodies. From early developments it has by now become a standard modality of planetary exploration. Basic and applied nuclear science has made significant contributions to the advancement of planetary gamma ray spectrometry, as outlined in this methodological and historical assessment.
Cosmogenic 45Sc in Gibeon iron meteorite by radioanalytical neutron activation analysis
Authors: Oura Y. , Honda M. , Ebihara M. , Bajo K. , Nagao K.
Published: February 2021

Cosmogenic nuclides in many fragments of Gibeon iron meteorite have been studied by Honda and co-workers. They observed that their concentrations varied by 5 orders and found that Gibeon gives two different exposure ages using pair of stable noble gas isotopes and radinuclide. To assess one possible cause for the difference, namely loss of partial noble gases due to atmospheric heating of the incoming meteoroid, concentrations of non-volatile and stable cosmogenic 45Sc of Gibeon were determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA). For RNAA, a radiochemical procedure using extraction chromatography was developed to separate Sc from an iron meteorite. Concentrations of 45Sc in 7 fragments ranged from 0.0064 to 0.11 ppb and correlated with cosmogenic 4He concentrations. This correlation suggests that noble gases in Gibeon were not lost during the fall to the earth.
Water diffusion in fluoropolymer-based fuel-cell electrolyte membranes investigated by radioactivated-tracer permeation technique
Authors: Sawada S. , Yamaki T. , Asano M. , Suzuki A. , Terai T. , Maekawa Y.
Published: February 2021

The self-diffusion coefficient of water, D, in proton exchange membranes (PEMs) based on crosslinked-polytetrafluoroethylene (cPTFE) films was measured by a radioactivated-tracer permeation technique using tritium labeled water (HTO). The D value was found to increase with the water volume fraction of the PEM, φ, probably because the water-filled regions were more effectively interconnected with each other at high φ, allowing water permeation to be faster through a PEM. Interestingly, the grafted PEMs showed the lower D compared to that of Nafion in spite of their high φ. This would be caused by tortuous structures of transport pathways and a strong coulombic interaction between water and the negatively-charged sulfonate (SO3
−) groups. Heavy-oxygen water (H2
18O) was also used in the similar permeation experiment to obtain the D. Since the HTO diffusion actually occurred not only by translational motion of water but also by intermolecular hydrogen-atom hopping, comparing the D of HTO with that of H2
18O was likely to give the information about the state of water in the PEMs.
Sustainable energy supply and business collaborations for sustainability, resilience and competitiveness in the Zambian copper industry after Covid-19
Authors: Imasiku K. , Ntagwirumugara E.
Published: February 2021

The mining industry in Zambia is energy-intensive, with hydro energy providing the required energy. But other sources of energy may need to be added, because hydro energy is subject to good rain patterns, threatened by the spectre of climate change, as already indicated by the current prolonged hours of load shedding by state-owned , Zambia Electricity Supply Company. This research looks at state-of-art mining technologies and collaborative business processes that leverage on the expected ramp in copper and cobalt (Cu-Co) global demand post-Covid-19, to help design resilient business systems by manufacturing, source goods and services within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to lower Cu-Co production costs, and maximise profits through shared resources and bilateral trade agreements. With evidence, projection and predictions by global leaders in the Cu-Co industry, this study evaluates the preparedness and resilience of the Zambian mining industry for sustainable energy supply, environmental sustainability, and suggests some possible business collaborations within the SADC region to share the following resources: metal refineries, transportation of goods and services, expertise and energy supplies within SADC, to enhance business sustainability. The study shows that the resilience of Cu-Co business in resource-rich nations like Zambia is complex and is heavily influenced by investment decisions, stakeholder interests, copper ore grades and extractive process types, reliable power supply, and socio-economic and political issues. The significance of this study is that it proposes some business collaborations within SADC that can increase energy reliability and supply, Cu-Co production, increase business resilience, improve global competitiveness and sustainability by exploring energy efficiency and generation-mix strategy. Highlights A sustainable energy analysis for Zambia. Establishing the role of mine multi-national enterprises concerning environmental sustainability. Proposing copper business resilience collaborations within SADC. Developing a mining business resilience and sustainability model for sustainable power supply, high production, profitability and global competitiveness.
A complex systems view of climate and development issues in South African coal power expansion
Authors: Tyler E. , Cohen B.
Published: February 2021

The implementation of climate change policy in South Africa inevitably requires decision-makers to navigate issues of development. This paper explores some of the implications of this requirement by examining the case of a proposed new independent coal-fired power producing plant, Khanyisa, in the province of Mpumalanga from the perspective of complexity studies, an emerging transdisciplinary field. Complexity thinking re-casts the Khanyisa project in a whole-system view, encouraging an active consideration of scale, perspectives, different knowledges, and cumulative impacts. In so doing, tensions both between and within dimensions of climate mitigation and development are quickly revealed, a complexity which is theorised in complexity studies as the raw material for systemic transformation. This whole-system conceptualisation also undermines incremental and relative arguments that Khanyisa mitigates greenhouse gas emissions. Further, the complex systemic property of non-linearity suggests that the Khanyisa decision is more significant than its power generation capacity indicates. Attention to the conceptual simplification inherent in ‘development’ highlights what is lost through such simplification, as well as what is gained, and by whom. Finally, complexity thinking foregrounds the multiple scales at which the systemic climate mitigation and development implications of Khanyisa play out. Currently there is very little policy-making capacity nationally, regionally or in eMalahleni to look at alternatives, or ‘spaces of possibility’ through the complexity lens for both development and climate mitigation. This case argues that new policy processes are needed, which go far beyond policy and regulatory processes steeped in path dependencies and incrementalism.
Highlights• The case reveals the complex entanglement of climate and development issues as raw material for systemic transformation. • A whole system and scalar conceptualisation, paying attention to non-linearities, and the exercise of power through simplifications suggest productive areas of focus for policymakers• New policy processes are needed, which go far beyond policy and regulatory processes steeped in path dependencies and incrementalism.
MULTI-OBJECTIVE PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION OF THE K-TYPE SHELL AND TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER (CASE STUDY)
Authors: NADİ M. , EHYAEİ M. A. , AHMADİ A. , TURGUT O. E.
Published: February 2021

This paper investigated optimization of two objectives function include the total amount of heat transfer between two mediums and the total cost of shell and tube heat exchanger. The study was carried out for k-type heat exchanger of the cryogenic unit of gas condensates by multiple objective particle swarm optimization. Six decision variables including pipe pitch ratio, pipe diameter, pipe number, pipe length, baffle cut ratio, and baffle distance ratio were taking into account to conduct this simulation-based research. The results of mathematical modeling confirmed the actual results (data collected from the evaporator unit of the Tehran refinery’s absorption chiller). The optimization results revealed that the two objective functions of heat transfer rate and the total cost were in contradiction with each other. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that with change in the pitch ratio from 1.25 to 2, the amount of heat transfer was reduced from 420 to 390 kW about 7.8%. Moreover, these variations caused reduction in cost function from 24,500 to 23,500 $, less than 1%. On the other hand, an increase in pipe length from 3 to 12 meters, the heat transfer rate raised from 365 to 415 kW by 13.7%, while the cost increased from 20,000$ to 24500$ about 22%.
NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF HEAT TRANSFER WATER-COOLED ROOF IN AN ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE
Authors: EL HAJ ASSAD Mamdouh , KHANAFER Khalil , HANİ Ehab Hussein Bani , YOUSEF Bashria
Published: February 2021

One of the major problems in electric arc furnace is the high temperature which results in thermal stresses and cracks within the material of the furnace surrounding walls. An effective cooling technique is needed to avoid such problems. For this purpose, a novel roof configuration of an electric arc furnace is used to provide efficient cooling to reduce the temperature in the roof material. The roof consists of two solid materials, namely, copper and alumina brick. The roof cooling is achieved by a water circulation within the roof. A numerical model using finite element method was implemented to solve the heat conduction equation with the complicated boundary conditions to find out the effects of using brick material with geometrical size variations for different values of thermal conductivity on the temperature distribution within the roof. The results showed that the decrease in brick material thermal conductivity resulted in a significant decrease in the top surface temperature of the furnace roof. The results showed that rectangular brick material is the best option in the roof to keep it at low temperature.
Influence of NiFe2O4 and Zn0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles on exhaust emissions of 4 stroke-6 cylinders turbocharged diesel engine
Authors: ÖZGÜR Ceyla
Published: February 2021

Diesel vehicles have a huge role in the transportation of goods and people however they cause air pollutions. For this reason, researchers try to find alternative fuel additives to decrease the exhaust emissions. This experimental work focus on the impacts of oxygen content nanoparticle additives on exhaust emissions of 4 Stroke-6 cylinders turbocharged diesel engine fuelled with diesel fuel. Nickel iron oxide and nickel zinc iron oxide nanoparticles with the dosage of 15, 20 and 25 ppm were used as additives in the experimental tests. According to the results, the optimum dosage level of nanoparticles was found. As finally, the results revealed that the exhaust emission values were decreased with the nanoparticle addition to diesel fuel.
A review on the modeling and validation of biomass pyrolysis with a focus on product yield and composition
Authors: Xia Changlei , Cai Liping , Zhang Haifeng , Zuo Lei , Shi Sheldon Q. , Lam Su Shiung
Published: February 2021

Modeling is regarded as a suitable tool to improve biomass pyrolysis in terms of efficiency, product yield, and controllability. However, it is crucial to develop advanced models to estimate products' yield and composition as functions of biomass type/characteristics and process conditions. Despite many developed models, most of them suffer from insufficient validation due to the complexity in determining the chemical compounds and their quantity. To this end, the present paper reviewed the modeling and verification of products derived from biomass pyrolysis. Besides, the possible solutions towards more accurate modeling of biomass pyrolysis were discussed. First of all, the paper commenced reviewing current models and validating methods of biomass pyrolysis. Afterward, the influences of biomass characteristics, particle size, and heat transfer on biomass pyrolysis, particle motion, reaction kinetics, product prediction, experimental validation, current gas sensors, and potential applications were reviewed and discussed comprehensively. There are some difficulties with using current pyrolysis gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for modeling and validation purposes due to its bulkiness, fragility, slow detection, and high cost. On account of this, the applications of Py-GC/MS in industries are limited, particularly for online product yield and composition measurements. In the final stage, a recommendation was provided to utilize high-temperature sensors with high potentials to precisely validate the models for product yield and composition (especially CO, CO2, and H2) during biomass pyrolysis.
Wybrane czynniki wpływające na mikrobiom układu pokarmowego przeżuwaczy i jego skład bazowy.
Authors: Cholewińska Paulina , Szeligowska Natalia , Smoliński Jakub , Bawej Maciej
Published: February 2021

Mikrobiom układu pokarmowego przeżuwaczy należy do jednych z bardziej skomplikowanych przykładów współdziałania mikroorganizmów i gospodarza. Mikrobiom układu pokarmowego przeżuwaczy niezbędny jest do  pozyskiwania energii z pożywienia roślinnego, co nie byłoby możliwe bez jego udziału. Na mikrobiom układu pokarmowego składają się bakterie, archeony, pierwotniaki oraz grzyby. Najbardziej liczną grupą są bakterie, gdzie główne gromady to Firmicutes i Bacteroidetes. Skład mikrobiomu pod względem ilościowym jak i jakościowym zależny jest od czynników tj. dieta, wiek, stan zdrowia, środowisko. Dodatkowo mogą na niego wpływać czynniki genetyczne czy biologiczne (np. płeć). Mikroorganizmy bytujące w układzie pokarmowym przeżuwaczy w znaczącym stopniu wpływają na ich stan zdrowia czy wskaźniki produkcyjne, co z kolei związane jest nie tylko z prawidłowym przyswajaniem substancji odżywczych z pokarmu, ale również z funkcją mikrobiomu jako swoistego układu immunologicznego.
Risk Assessment on Supply Chain of the Geographical Indication Granulated Coconut Sugar in Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Sari Elsa Yulian , Guritno Adi Djoko , Sukartiko Anggoro Cahyo
Published: February 2021

Granulated Coconut Sugar Kulon Progo Jogja, one of the certified geographical indication organic food products in Yogyakarta Special Region Indonesia, is produced and distributed through a supply chain, starting from farmers to exporters. Throughout its supply chain, there are risks to each tier affecting overall supply chain performance. Even though they have risks, not all tiers have the same vulnerability, depending on the ability of the risk owner to overcome them. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a vulnerability risk assessment of the certified coconut palm sugar in Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In-depth interviews with 54 risk owners throughout the product supply chain were then carried out using purposive and snowball samplings. The stages of risk assessment, starting from the identification, analysis, and evaluation of risks, were carried out using the ISO 31000:2009 framework. Risk categorization at the first assessment stage and mapping of expected loss and vulnerabilities at the second stage were carried out using the Rapid Agricultural Supply Chain Risk Assessment (RapAgRisk) instrument. The results showed that there were 35 risk events in the farmers, collectors, sub-Control Processing Units (sub-CPUs), Control Processing Units (CPUs), and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of sugar in Kulon Progo, which consisted of various risk categories, i.e., weather risk; natural disaster risk; biological and environmental risks; logistic and infrastructure risks; market risk; as well as management and operational risks. The risk events in the supply chain of the Granulated Coconut Sugar Kulon Progo have various degrees of vulnerability, starting from limited, low, moderate, highly, to extremely vulnerabilities. Risk events that are classified as limited vulnerability were considered acceptable, and the risk owner has been able to handle these risks well so that mitigation proposals were not given, while other risk events need to be mitigated to reduce their severities.
Clustered Approach for Clone Detection in Social Media
Authors: Liyanage C. R. , Premarathne S. C.
Published: February 2021

With the popularity of Online Social Networks (OSN), the number of different types of digital attacks has been increased causing lots of damages to their users. Identity Clone Attack (ICA) is one of the leading among them which illegally uses the information of a genuine user by duplicating it in another fake profile. These attacks severely affect a true and innocent identity since it can be misused by another malicious profile. Hence these clone profiles need to be identified and removed in order to increase the protection of users. This study introduces a model to detect clone profiles on Facebook by using a dataset that consists of profiles with attributes and network connections. Though the initial dataset was real, it was modified to make some artificial clones. The process of detection included three main stages, namely, filter by name, cluster using weighted categorical attributes and measure the strength of friend relationships among profiles, which follow one after another respectively. Finally, the list of possible clones with their percentages representing the amount of duplicability to a given victim profile was presented as the output of the model. Instead suggesting the exact clones, the representation of this duplicability percentages makes this approach more practical since there are many similar profiles but not clones. With the use of Agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm and Jaccard similarity measurement, a low average within cluster distance in cluster density performance and a precision of 88.75% has shown in the results. The present study highly focuses on the distribution of the dataset, where the calculation of weights for the attributes, similarity threshold and even the selection of the clustering algorithm is done based on it and this increases the adjustability of the proposed model to any other dataset. As the future improvements, this newly proposed approach can be extended to find clones of a victim on different platforms and more attributes can be considered for clustering.
Introduction: Politics as a communicative project
Authors: Paschalidis Gregory
Published: February 2021

In the past few years, there has been a noticeable surge in semiotic engagement with politics. One is tempted to associate it with Laurent Binet’s international best-seller The seventh function of language (2017) that offers a satirical yet critically reflexive view of the 1970s linguistic turn and its luminaries. The novel’s detective-cum-conspiracy story revolves around the different political sides’ bloody scramble to procure a presumably secret semiotic formula for making political language irresistibly persuasive. It would be more accurate, though, to suggest that, just as Umberto Eco’s Name of the Rose (1980) – the most successful hitherto merging of semiotic theory and fiction– was an oblique contribution to the linguistic turn’s emphasis on the power of language, Binet’s novel offers an equally poignant commentary on the ‘magic words’ of modern-day populism.
From Malthus to far-right terrorists: an explorative study on the uses and abuses of the ‘overpopulation’ discourse
Authors: Modena Matteo
Published: February 2021

In the 19th century, Thomas Malthus introduced the concept of human overpopulation into the scientific demographic debate, establishing the myth of population growth causing famine and starvation. The concept has recently resurfaced in international discussions on climate change and world leaders’ speeches. Still, it will likely come into the spotlight in the coming years of the climate crisis, mass displacement, and migration. Our research examines literary and visual texts from the early to the most recent debates, declarations, and uses. Our focus is primarily on the current academic and eco-fascist uses of the concept.
To laugh or not to laugh? That is the question.
Authors: Tsakona Villy
Published: February 2021

We usually think of comedy and tragedy as opposites, but perhaps we should consider them as two sides of the same coin. As Morreall (1999: 21) suggests,“[t]he most basic belief [which the comic and the tragic visions of life] share is that life is full of incongruities, discrepancies between the way things ought to be and the way they are. The difference between the two visions of life is more in their attitudes than in any beliefs about matters of fact.” They involve different and usually opposite ways of evaluating the same human condition. In other words, comedy and tragedy are built on incongruities assessed and framed to generate positive and negative emotions, respectively. Furthermore, comic/humorous and tragic/serious elements may co-occur in the same text, even if the text is primarily intended as funny. In such cases, texts become a blend of humorous utterances/parts and serious or even tragic ones – the latter constitute what Attardo (2001: 89) calls serious relief in humorous texts.
Políticas públicas e aprimoramento da técnica normativa: análises estatísticas de séries temporais dos resultados do programa de incentivo fiscal “Produzir” no Estado de Goiás
Authors: Silva Sérvio Túlio Teixeira , Neves Cleuler Barbosa das
Published: February 2021

O Programa de Desenvolvimento Industrial do Estado de Goiás (Produzir) é o atual programa de incentivos fiscais do Estado de Goiás, em funcionamento desde 2000 e que tem como objetivo principal contribuir para a expansão do setor industrial de Goiás, com ênfase na geração de emprego e renda e na redução das desigualdades sociais e regionais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi promover uma análise dos resultados da atual política de incentivo fiscal do Estado de Goiás, o Programa Produzir, vigente deste o ano 2000, de modo a relacionar as evidências encontradas com o processo de metamorfose normativa sofrida pelo programa ao longo dos anos. O resultado comprova a importância de análises robustas e replicáveis para o desenho normativo de um programa de governo, bem como a necessidade de incorporação, no processo normativo, de uma sistemática de avaliação contínua dos resultados de uma política pública.
IMPLEMENTASI PEMBELAJARAN KEWIRAUSAHAAN SMK BIDANG KEAHLIAN TEKNIK KONSTRUKSI DAN PROPERTI DI YOGYAKARTA
Authors: Prihadi Wisnu Rachmad , Malik Abdul , Suparman Suparman
Published: February 2021

Entrepreneurship subjects has several times changed names and learning method. Entrepreneurship subjects which are currently based curriculum 2013 revision 2017. Purpose of this study is to look at the goals and objectives of the achievement in entrepreneurship subjects in curriculum 2013 revision 2017, determine the suitability of basic competence of entrepreneurship taught by teacher. This type of research is a descriptive study to look at the implementation of entrepreneurial learning. The research subjects were teachers who taught creative products and entrepreneurship in vocational schools. The results obtained a description of the learning output in the form of the level of achievement of the goals that have been planned by the Ministry of Education and Culture, stating that teachers are optimistic about achieving entrepreneurial education goals, teachers' knowledge of student business start-ups has difficulties in making business company start-ups, while in terms of business activities / business startups created and managed by student groups need assistance in its implementation. The teacher's knowledge of the average sales of products/ services shows all programs are able to selling their products with varying nominal values and are sufficient to be able to make selling-worthy creative products/ services accordance with the competence of their expertise. The goal of achieving the goals obtained by KD from the Ministry of Education and Culture has supported.
Aufwachsen in mediatisierten Lebenswelten
Authors: Spanhel Dieter
Published: February 2021

Im Folgenden wird die These vertreten, dass unter den Bedingungen mediatisierter Lebenswelten ein gedeihliches Aufwachsen mit Medien weder allein durch Massnahmen des Kinder- und Jugendmedienschutzes, noch allein durch eine umfassende Medienkompetenzförderung gesichert werden kann. Um die Notwendigkeit für ein abgestimmtes Zusammenwirken zwischen den Institutionen des Medienschutzes und der Medienpädagogik zu begründen, muss das Medienhandeln der Heranwachsenden in den mediatisierten Kontexten ihrer Alltagswelt in Familie, Kita, Schule und Freizeit aus einer systemtheoretischen Perspektive analysiert werden. Aus dieser Sicht ist ihr Medienhandeln sinnorientiert und als Ergebnis innerpersonaler Regulationsprozesse zu verstehen. Es findet in Form medialer Kommunikationsprozesse statt, in denen die psychischen Systeme der Heranwachsenden und die für sie relevanten sozialen Systeme wechselseitig aufeinander einwirken. Dabei bilden sich Kommunikationsmuster aus, in denen die Heranwachsenden ihre eigenen Bedürfnisse, Interessen und Ziele zu verfolgen suchen, aber auch den Erwartungen, Normen und Regeln der sozialen Systeme gerecht werden müssen. Durch eine Analyse der Muster und Regeln dieser kommunikativen Austauschprozesse werden die Faktoren aufgedeckt, die auf das selbstregulierte Medienhandeln der Heranwachsenden einwirken. Dabei wird sichtbar, welche notwendigen, aber gleichwohl begrenzten Einflussmöglichkeiten sowohl Medienschutz als auch medienpädagogische Massnahmen in diesem Faktorengeflecht haben. Auf dieser Basis lassen sich Notwendigkeit und Möglichkeiten ihres konzertierten Zusammenwirkens für bessere Bedingungen des Aufwachsens aufweisen. Als Grundlage für ein Modell medienpädagogischen Handelns, das Schutzfunktion und pädagogische Unterstützung verbindet, wird das Konzept einer kontextuellen Steuerung des Medienhandelns der Heranwachsenden entwickelt. Es beruht auf der Gestaltung der Sinn stiftenden Kontexte für ihr Medienhandeln in Familie, Kita, Schule und Freizeit. Nur in einem Austarieren von Grenzsetzungen, Autonomiegewährung und medienpädagogischer Begleitung eröffnen sich den Kindern und Jugendlichen in diesen Kontexten Spielräume, in denen sie lernen, persönliche und soziale Sinnorientierungen aufeinander abzustimmen und so ihr Medienhandeln eigenverantwortlich zu steuern. Für die praktische Umsetzung werden Prinzipien, Ansatzpunkte und konkrete Beispiele für die schwierige Aufgabe einer kontextuellen Steuerung des Medienhandelns aufgezeigt. Diese steht nicht im Widerspruch zur Selbstregulation psychischer und sozialer Systeme, bietet aber immerhin eine reelle Chance, den Entwicklungsprozess der Kinder und Jugendlichen unter den Bedingungen sich rasch wandelnder mediatisierter Lebenswelten an den Sinnkriterien intellektueller und moralischer Autonomie und der Befähigung zu verantwortlicher sozialer Teilhabe auszurichten.
Ethnicity, Migration, And Entrepreneurship In Indonesia
Authors: Cahyono Erwin , Syafitri Wildan , Susilo Agus
Published: February 2021

Extant studies demonstrate the vital roles of ethnicity group and culture influencing individual intention and decision to become an entrepreneur. Meanwhile, in the entrepreneurial decision, each ethnic group has different preferences regarding where to run it, at the origin or overseas. This study examines the roles of group ethnicity and culture in affecting the likelihood of an individual’s choosing entrepreneurship as their occupation using the combined data of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) and the Population Census Report. Our findings substantiate that group ethnicity and culture significantly influence the likelihood of entrepreneurial decisions. Furthermore, using Javanese as a reference, we found the Balinese, Batak, Chinese, South Sumatran, and Minangkabau tend towards entrepreneurship. The difference is that the Balinese, Batak, Chinese, and South Sumatran tend to run their business around where they live, while the Minangkabau are overseas.
THE ROLE OF VILLAGE FUNDS IN VILLAGE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE (A Case Study in Jombang Regency)
Authors: Susanto Arys , Khusaini Moh , Badriyah Nurul
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to analyze the factors that affect village original income as a component of village financial independence and evaluate the role of village funds for community empowerment in strengthening the influence of VoE on village original income in Jombang Regency. This study used the Moderated Regression analytical method with the Robust Least Square method to test the cross-sectional data provided by Siskeudes of Jombang Regency of 2019. The analysis results showed that village asset utilization affects village original income positively and significantly. Furthermore, it also confirmed the moderating role of the village fund for community empowerment in strengthening the influence of Village-owned Enterprise (VoE) on village original income. These findings indicated that the allocation of village funds to targeted community cmpowerment activities has encouraged the role of VoE in increasing village original income.
TESTING FOR INDONESIAN AND VIET NAM PRICE TRANSMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES TUNA MARKETS
Authors: Wiranthi Puspi
Published: February 2021

This study aims to analyze Indonesia and Viet Nam price transmission as the main exporters of frozen yellowfin tuna to the United States (US) assuming that the market structure is oligopoly. Using monthly time series data of Indonesia, Viet Nam and US frozen yellowfin tuna prices with harmonized system code 03034200 from January 2006 to December 2018 and analyzed through an Asymmetric Error Correction Model (AECM), this study finds that both prices of Indonesia and Viet Nam are integrated to the US prices. Additionally, there are two-way causality relationships between both exporting countries as well as Viet Nam and the US. The short-term price transmission of Viet Nam has an asymmetrical effect on Indonesian prices while on the long-term, the price transmission among three countries occurs symmetrically which indicates that a competitive international market exists. Indonesia’s policy in increasing its market share in the US is not independent, but it is influenced by the price of Viet Nam as its main competitor. The findings of this study are relevant to fill the gap in the literature by providing a supporting evidence regarding price transmission between two main exporters to the US frozen yellowfin tuna market.
Checking the adequacy of the method for generating a random process of disturbance of oscillations of rail carriages according to the impulse response of the forming filter
Authors: Savos’kin A. N. , Lavlinskaya N. S.
Published: February 2021

Usually, to study the vibrations of rail carriages, the equivalent geometric unevenness of the track obtained as a result of processing the records of the track measuring car is taken as a disturbance. Such a record contains a certain set of irregularity wavelengths, for example, 50, 25 and 12.5 m. However, when it is used to simulate disturbances at different operation speeds, these wavelengths will correspond to frequencies depending on the given speed of motion, which is not permissible, since a stable frequency range from 0.2 to 10 Hz is required to excite the vibrations of all the bodies included in the carriage. To eliminate this drawback, in the previously performed works it was proposed to generate a random process of geometric irregularities for a given operation speed by changing the set of wavelengths included in the irregularities. In this paper, based on the study of random oscillations of a simplified model of a rail carriage, as a system with one degree of freedom, the adequacy of the method for generating a random disturbance process is verified in two ways. In the first method, it was found that the characteristics of random oscillations of such a model, obtained in the time domain on the basis of numerical integration of the equation of motion when specifying the generated disturbance, have satisfactory convergence with similar characteristics found by the frequency method using Shannon's formula. In the second verification method, the cross-correlation function and the mutual spectral density between the disturbance and the bouncing oscillations were determined from the generated disturbance realization and obtained by numerical integration of the vibration process realization. Then, using the method of identifying the dynamic system, experimental amplitude and phase frequency characteristics were found, which showed satisfactory convergence with the corresponding calculated characteristics obtained by numerically solving the equation of oscillations of the model under study. On the basis of the results obtained, it was concluded that the considered method of generating a random process of disturbance is sufficiently adequate and that it can be applied to solve problems of the dynamics of rail carriages.
On the issue of increasing operational energy efficiency of eight-axle passenger DC electric locomotives
Authors: Nikonchuk I. N.
Published: February 2021

Mass of a passenger train and, accordingly, number of cars in its composition is selected based on the amount of passenger traffic on the section, determined by the seasonal demand for transportation in each direction. In one direction of the section serviced by an electric locomotive, the mass of a passenger train may differ several times from the opposite direction, which depends on the destination station of the train and the period of its circulation. At present, in addition to 6-axle electric locomotives of the ChS2T and EP2K series, more powerful 8-axle electric locomotives of the ChS7 series operate in the same schedule for traction of passenger trains on railway sections electrified with direct current with a voltage of 3 kV catenary. All three series of the considered electric locomotives are designed for a maximum operating speed of up to 160 km/h. In this regard, there is a situation with the underutilization of the maximum speed and excess power of the ChS7 electric ocomotives, especially when operating with passenger trains of medium and low weight and a limited speed of 120 km/h. The comparative data on the specific power consumption of the EP2K 6-axle electric locomotives and the ChS7 8-axle electric locomotives operating in the same schedule, presented in the article, indicate the need to find additional reserves for saving the specific power consumption when servicing passenger trains of medium and low weight with ChS7 electric locomotives. The electric locomotive power system includes traction and auxiliary electric machines. The article discusses ways to turn off part of traction motors, which can be carried out with a standard electric locomotive circuit. However, when one section of the electric locomotive is turned off, the power of the four traction motors remaining in operation is not always sufficient to drive a passenger train according to the schedule. Therefore, a variant of improving the power circuit of an electric locomotive in the process of carrying out its overhaul is proposed. This option represents the modernization of the power circuit of the ChS7 electric locomotive when operating on a series-parallel connection with a pair of traction motors disconnected. As a result, the power circuit of the 8-axle electric locomotive operates similarly to the circuit of 6-axle DC electric locomotives with a collector traction drive. The expected savings in specific power consumption can reach 15% in comparison with the operation of an 8-axle electric locomotive ChS7 in normal mode. Switching off one section of the electric locomotive and further running the train on four traction electric motors will reduce the specific power consumption by up to 25%.