bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regime Shifts in the Hexi Oases over the Past Three Decades: The Case of the Linze Oasis in the Middle Reaches of the Heihe River
Authors: Zhang Jinglin , Zhang Wei , Li Dongsheng , Chen Xueliang , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2022

Oases regime shifts in the context of integrated water resource management have a significant impact on ecosystem functions and services and affect regional sustainable development and human wellbeing. Taking the Linze Oasis in the middle reaches of the Heihe River as a case study, we evaluated the regime shifts of the oases over the past 30 years from the two perspectives of scale and structure, considering the structural diversity index (H), water savings (Cn), productivity (WP), and other indicators. Furthermore, the driving factors of the socio-hydrological processes and the corresponding effects of the regime stages were discussed. The results indicate that the oases expanded concurrently with the increase in the regional water consumption from 1.09 × 108 m3 to 1.93 × 108 m3. The production of low-water-consumption and high-yield crops was found to be the main cause for the oases structure’s adjustment. The regime shifts in the oases comprised three main stages from 1990 to 2020, based on the interaction of socio-ecological elements. Water management policies promoted the regime shift process, while economic factors determined the long-term shifts. The improvement in water-saving practices driven by economic benefits is an effective way to realize the sustainable development of the Hexi oases.
A Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Method for Landslide Scene Based on Transformer Architecture
Authors: Wang Zhaoqiu , Sun Tao , Hu Kun , Zhang Yueting , Yu Xiaqiong , Li Ying
Published: December 2022

Semantic segmentation technology based on deep learning has developed rapidly. It is widely used in remote sensing image recognition, but is rarely used in natural disaster scenes, especially in landslide disasters. After a landslide disaster occurs, it is necessary to quickly carry out rescue and ecological restoration work, using satellite data or aerial photography data to quickly analyze the landslide area. However, the precise location and area estimation of the landslide area is still a difficult problem. Therefore, we propose a deep learning semantic segmentation method based on Encoder-Decoder architecture for landslide recognition, called the Separable Channel Attention Network (SCANet). The SCANet consists of a Poolformer encoder and a Separable Channel Attention Feature Pyramid Network (SCA-FPN) decoder. Firstly, the Poolformer can extract global semantic information at different levels with the help of transformer architecture, and it greatly reduces computational complexity of the network by using pooling operations instead of a self-attention mechanism. Secondly, the SCA-FPN we designed can fuse multi-scale semantic information and complete pixel-level prediction of remote sensing images. Without bells and whistles, our proposed SCANet outperformed the mainstream semantic segmentation networks with fewer model parameters on our self-built landslide dataset. The mIoU scores of SCANet are 1.95% higher than ResNet50-Unet, especially.
Auditing and Sustainability Accounting: A Global Examination Using the Scopus Database
Authors: Thottoli Mohammed Muneerali , Islam Md. Aminul , Sobhani Farid Ahammad , Rahman Shafiqur , Hassan Md. Sharif
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Sustainability accounting measures performance toward sustainability that ensures accountability of the provision of conventional accounting information. A compliance audit is a thorough examination of a company’s compliance with regulatory requirements. Compliance audit reports assess the strength and diligence of regulatory compliance measures, security guidelines, risk management processes, and user control regulations during a compliance audit and sustainability accounting reports. Auditing plays an important role in ensuring that all financial information-related conventions are followed properly. Hence, the current research aims to explore the conceptual structure in the knowledge of auditing and sustainability accounting using a bibliometric analysis, intending to contribute to a better understanding of this field of study. Design/methodology/approach: This study used bibliometric analysis to examine the research on compliance audits between 2000 and 2021, using a sample of 330 research articles from Scopus databases, with only articles and review papers published on the business subject. This study also examines the applicability of Bradford’s laws and Lotka’s law. Findings: The bibliometric analysis reveals trends in the field of auditing and sustainability accounting research publications, indicating that compliance audit is a developing subject, and it still confronts challenges in mainstream accounting and auditing research. The high proportion of cited articles by a few authors, on the other hand, suggests that compliance audit is still a niche field of study. Between 2009 and 2021, the number of articles increases significantly, and the leading Scopus indexed journals, authors, and collaboration networks are identified. In light of the preceding literature’s views, some significant research gaps and further proposals for future studies are identified. Research limitations/implications: This research analysis is based on data taken only from the Scopus database; some flaws will be apparent in the findings. Originality/value: This research contributes to the area by examining the present advancements of the compliance audit and sustainability accounting, highlighting existing gaps in the literature, and, most importantly, proposing future research for the field.
Application of Sustainable Concrete in the Seismic Evaluation of an Innovative Type of Buckling Restrained Brace
Authors: Naghshineh Ali , Tehrani Fariborz M. , Fischer Oliver
Published: December 2022

The Buckling Restrained Braced Frame (BRBF), consisting of a ductile steel core in concrete or a steel tube encased in concrete, is constructed to avoid brittle failure modes. The application of ductile materials with improved damping properties, such as tire-derived lightweight aggregate concrete, has not been investigated in BRBF systems, but it enhances the overall performance of the system and contributes to sustainability. Hence, this study aims to investigate the influence of such an application on the response modification, overstrength, and ductility factors, as well as the general earthquake performance, of 4-, 8-, and 14-story special reinforced concrete moment resisting frames equipped with BRBF. The current study compares 48 different BRBF models with TDA infill and conventional concrete infill by considering various bracing configurations, such as Chevron (Inverted V and V), Split X, and Single-Leg BRBF, and different span lengths of 6 m and 8 m. The evaluations include nonlinear response history analyses intended to provide insights into the performance of BRBF when exploiting the available experimental stress–strain characteristics of tire-derived lightweight aggregate concrete as an alternative material. Furthermore, the effectiveness of using tire-derived lightweight aggregate concrete as an alternative damping material in BRBF is examined by comparing BRBF with the new damping properties of concrete. Buildings equipped with BRB encased in TDA showed reduced base shear demand (by an average of 7%) when compared to concrete infill, and the prescribed value for the response modification factor for buildings of 50 m or less provides an acceptable estimation of the lower bond factors in approximately 95% of the cases. Furthermore, when a system requires more damping, the application of BRB encased in TDA is recommended.
A Conceptual Framework of Customer Value Proposition of CCU-Formic Acid Product
Authors: Migdadi Yazan K. A. , Khalifa Ahmed A. , Al-Swidi Abdullah , Amhamed Abdulkarem I. , El-Naas Muftah H.
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework of the customer value proposition of formic acid as an actual outcome of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) to support clean production and environmental sustainability worldwide. This study included different phases. The first phase was an extensive reading of the literature, followed by a content analysis of the selected literature. The aim of the content analysis was to identify key concepts and the general categories of these concepts. The final phase was a content analysis of the selected literature with the purpose of identifying the relationship between concepts. The outcome of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework of the customer value proposition of the CCU–formic acid product and consequently support global research efforts in sustainability. This framework contains two general dimensions: market knowledge and customer value. The first dimension includes five variables: the customers’ acceptance of CCU technology, the customers’ intention to purchase formic acid produced by CCU technology, the degree of customers’ knowledge about CCU technology, the customers’ readiness for environmental issues, and the market segments of formic acid product. The second dimension includes seven variables: ecological benefits, the ecological risk of CCU, varieties of formic acid use, the pricing policy of formic acid, the variety of formic acid packages, the order size, and the order frequency of formic acid. The relationship between variables was identified according to the literature and hypotheses were developed. This study has attempted to build a more comprehensive framework containing all proposed value dimensions and market knowledge as well as identifying the relationships between variables.
Research on Mortality Risk of Chinese Older Adults from the Perspective of Social Health
Authors: Xu Guoliang , Xu Longchao , Jia Li
Published: December 2022

In response to the increasing aging problem that China is facing, this study aimed to investigate the impact of social health on the mortality risk of the Chinese older adult population. In this paper, we used the data from “The Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS)-Longitudinal Data (2008–2018)” and applied the Cox proportional hazard model to investigate the effects of three dimensions of social health on the risk of death among older adults in China. The study found that: (1) The three dimensions of social health have a positive effect on the mortality risk of older adults. (2) Among those three dimensions, social activities had the most significant effect on older adults. The effect of social support and social network on the mortality risk of older adults are basically similar. Moreover, social activity, social support, and the social network had no significant effect on the young-old’s mortality risk. (3) In order to address the problem of data censoring, the Cox proportional hazard model can be used, whereas demographic characteristics, health status, and health behavior components are selective to society. This study enriches social health research in China and promotes the development of social health research from theory to practice. Moreover, it has obvious advantages in terms of economics and feasibility for achieving mortality risk reduction through improving the social health of older adults and building a healthy aging society.
Using the Sentinel-3B Satellite in Geospatial Analysis of Suspended Aerosols in the Kiev, Ukraine Region
Authors: Neckel Alcindo , Santosh M. , Bodah Brian William , Maculan Laércio Stolfo , Pinto Diana , Korcelski Cleiton , Toscan Paloma Carollo , Cambrussi Laura Pasa , Caino Isadora Cezar , Moro Leila Dal , Junior Dirceu Piccinato , Cardoso Grace Tibério , Almeida Silva Caliane Christie Oliveira de , Mores Giana de Vargas
Published: December 2022

The use of images from the Sentinel-3B SYN satellite (surface reflectance and aerosol parameters over land) is currently one of the most advanced technologies utilized to identify atmospheric aerosol concentrations on a global scale. The general aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of aerosols in the atmosphere of the Kiev region in northern Ukraine during 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Due to this study’s timing, both prior to and during the current military incursion into Ukraine, this study also evaluates the consequences of the invasion of the Russian army on the territory of Ukraine, in relation to the quantitative levels of aerosols present in the atmosphere. Satellite image data were modelled in SNAP software (Sentinel Application Platform). Using the JASP software (version 0.14.1.0), clusters with variations of T550 (Aerosol Optical Thickness) were generated. The Sentinel-3B SYN satellite images were made available by the European Space Agency (ESA), with moderate spatial resolution (>300 m), calibrated and normalized to an average standard of 0.83 µg/mg, with a maximum error of 6.62% in the 30 sampled points. Satellite image data were modelled in SNAP software. Using the JASP software (version 0.14.1.0), clusters with variations of T550 (Aerosol Optical Thickness) were generated. The results show variations in the concentration of T550 in different periods, revealing that the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine directly influenced the dynamics of aerosol concentration, attributed to factors incompatible with environmental sustainability.
Fabrication of Earth-Abundant Electrocatalysts Based on Green-Chemistry Approaches to Achieve Efficient Alkaline Water Splitting—A Review
Authors: Jamesh Mohammed-Ibrahim , Akila Arumugam , Sudha Dhakshinamoorthy , Gnana Priya Karunanidhi , Sivaprakash Vetrivel , Revathi Arumugam
Published: December 2022

The fabrication of earth-abundant electrocatalysts by green-chemistry approaches for electrochemical water splitting could diminish or alleviate the use or generation of hazardous substances, which could be highly desirable to achieve efficient, green alkaline water electrolysis for clean energy production (H2). This review started by introducing the importance of the green-chemistry approaches. Later, this paper reviewed the fabrication of high-performance earth-abundant electrocatalysts using green-chemistry approaches for electrochemical water splitting (HER and OER). Moreover, this review discussed the green-chemistry approaches for the fabrication of earth-abundant electrocatalysts including phosphide/pyrophosphate-, carbon-, oxide-, OH/OOH/LDH-, alloy/B/nitride-, and sulfide/selenide (chalcogenide)-based earth-abundant electrocatalysts. Moreover, this review discussed various green-chemistry approaches, including those used to alleviate toxic PH3 gas emission during the fabrication of transition-metal phosphide-based electrocatalysts, to design energy-efficient synthesis routes (especially room-temperature synthesis), to utilize cheap or biodegradable substrates, and to utilize biomass waste or biomass or biodegradable materials as carbon sources for the fabrication of earth-abundant electrocatalysts. Thus, the construction of earth-abundant electrocatalysts by green-chemistry approaches for electrochemical water splitting could pave an efficient, green way for H2 production.
Heavy-Work Investment, Its Organizational Outcomes and Conditional Factors: A Contemporary Perspective over a Decade of Literature
Authors: Rabenu Edna , Shkoler Or
Published: December 2022

The construct of heavy-work investment (HWI) is bi-dimensional, revolving around the investment of both time and effort at work. The current paper expands the research thinking and joins the pioneering studies that explore HWI as a relatively new concept in the work-related literature (since 2012). The prime aim of this conceptual paper is to develop a model regarding the intricate relationships between the dimensions of HWI and their work outcomes (with emphasis on possible conditional factors). In particular: (1) we refine the definition of HWI by accounting for the different levels of time and effort investment and (2) we outline multiplex propositions with regard to possible (positive and negative) outcomes of HWI, considering different moderators that can potentially impact these associations. Finally, we offer practical implications for human resource management.
Experimental Validation of Systems Engineering Resilience Models for Islanded Microgrids
Authors: He Justin J. , Van Bossuyt Douglas L. , Pollman Anthony
Published: December 2022

Microgrids are used in many applications to power critical loads that have significant consequences if they lose power. Losing power to medical centers, water treatment plants, data centers, national defense installations, airports, and other critical infrastructure can cause loss of money and loss of life. Although such microgrids are generally reliable at providing stable power, their resilience to disruption can be poor. Common interruptions include natural disasters like earthquakes, and man-made causes such as cyber or physical attacks. Previous research into microgrid resilience evaluation efforts centered on theoretical modeling of total electrical microgrid loading, critical electrical load prioritization, assumed capacity of renewable energy sources and their associated energy storage systems, and assumed availability of emergency generators. This research assesses the validity of two microgrid resilience models developed for analyzing islanded microgrids by using experimental data from a scaled microgrid system. A national defense context is provided to motivate the work and align with the intended purpose two microgrid resilience models. The results of this research validate that the simulation models are valid to use in some situations, and highlight some areas for further model improvement.
A Review of Computer-Aided Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Sequential Mammograms
Authors: Loizidou Kosmia , Skouroumouni Galateia , Nikolaou Christos , Pitris Costas
Published: December 2022

Radiologists assess the results of mammography, the key screening tool for the detection of breast cancer, to determine the presence of malignancy. They, routinely, compare recent and prior mammographic views to identify changes between the screenings. In case a new lesion appears in a mammogram, or a region is changing rapidly, it is more likely to be suspicious, compared to a lesion that remains unchanged and it is usually benign. However, visual evaluation of mammograms is challenging even for expert radiologists. For this reason, various Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) algorithms are being developed to assist in the diagnosis of abnormal breast findings using mammograms. Most of the current CAD systems do so using only the most recent mammogram. This paper provides a review of the development of methods to emulate the radiological approach and perform automatic segmentation and/or classification of breast abnormalities using sequential mammogram pairs. It begins with demonstrating the importance of utilizing prior views in mammography, through the review of studies where the performance of expert and less-trained radiologists was compared. Following, image registration techniques and their application to mammography are presented. Subsequently, studies that implemented temporal analysis or subtraction of temporally sequential mammograms are summarized. Finally, a description of the open access mammography datasets is provided. This comprehensive review can serve as a thorough introduction to the use of prior information in breast cancer CAD systems but also provides indicative directions to guide future applications.
Microplastics in Widely Used Polypropylene-Made Food Containers
Authors: Hu Jun , Xu Xin , Song Ying , Liu Wenqi , Zhu Jianqiang , Jin Hangbiao , Meng Zhu
Published: December 2022

As a potential threat to human health, ingestion of microplastics (MPs) has become of concern. Limited studies have carefully characterized the occurrence of MPs in polypropylene-made takeout food containers (TOFCs), which have been widely used in China. In this study, TOFC samples (n = 210) were collected from seven Chinese cities (Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xining, Chengdu, Qingdao, and Dalian) and analyzed for MPs. All the TOFC samples contained MPs, with an abundance of 3–43 items/TOFC. The TOFCs from Chengdu (25 items/TOFC) contained the highest mean abundance of MPs, which is significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that from Shanghai (8.7 items/TOFC). Fiber accounted for 66–87% of the total for the shape of the MPs in the TOFCs from the different Chinese cities. Most of the MPs in the TOFCs from the different cities had a size of 201–500 μm and accounted for a mean 34–42% of the total MPs in the TOFCs. The major color type of the MPs in the TOFCs was transparent, accounting for a mean 39 (Qingdao)–73% (Hangzhou) of the total MPs. Polymer compositions of the MPs in the TOFCs were consistently dominated by polypropylene, which represented a mean 56–73% of the total MPs. The estimated daily intake of MPs for the general Chinese population through using TOFCs was in the range of 0.042–0.14 items/kg bw/day. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study investigating the occurrence of MPs in TOFCs from China, which contributes to a better understanding of the sources of human oral exposure to MPs.
Analysis of a Dengue Virus Outbreak in Rosso, Senegal 2021
Authors: Dieng Idrissa , Barry Mamadou Aliou , Talla Cheikh , Sow Bocar , Faye Oumar , Diagne Moussa Moise , Sene Ousseynou , Ndiaye Oumar , Diop Boly , Diagne Cheikh Tidiane , Fall Gamou , Sall Amadou Alpha , Loucoubar Cheikh , Faye Ousmane
Published: December 2022

Senegal is hyperendemic for dengue. Since 2017, outbreaks have been noticed annually in many regions around the country, marked by the co-circulation of DENV1-3. On 8 October 2021, a Dengue virus outbreak in the Rosso health post (sentinel site of the syndromic surveillance network) located in the north of the country was notified to the WHO Collaborating Center for arboviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses at Institut Pasteur de Dakar. A multidisciplinary team was then sent for epidemiological and virologic investigations. This study describes the results from investigations during an outbreak in Senegal using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for the combined detection of dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) and IgM/IgG. For confirmation, samples were also tested by real-time RT-PCR and IgM ELISA at the reference lab in Dakar. qRT-PCR positive samples were subjected to whole genome sequencing using nanopore technology. Virologic analysis scored 102 positives cases (RT-PCR, NS1 antigen detection and/or IgM) out of 173 enrolled patients; interestingly, virus serotyping showed that the outbreak was caused by the DENV-1, a serotype different from DENV-2 involved during the outbreak in Rosso three years earlier, indicating a serotype replacement. Nearly all field-tested NS1 positives samples were confirmed by qRT-PCR with a concordance of 92.3%. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of strains suggested a re-introduction in Rosso of a DENV-1 strain different to the one responsible for the outbreak in the Louga area five years before. Findings call for improved dengue virus surveillance in Senegal, with a wide deployment of DENV antigenic tests, which allow easy on-site diagnosis of suspected cases and early detection of outbreaks. This work highlights the need for continuous monitoring of circulating serotypes which is crucial for a better understanding of viral epidemiology around the country.
Death Receptor DR5 as a Proviral Factor for Viral Entry and Replication of Coronavirus PEDV
Authors: Zhang Xiu-Zhong , Tian Wen-Jun , Wang Jing , You Jing-Ling , Wang Xiao-Jia
Published: December 2022

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a member of Coronaviridae, causes high mortality in newborn piglets, and has caused significant economic losses in the pig industry. PEDV infection can induce apoptosis, both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent, but the details of apoptosis remain clarified. This study investigated the effect of death receptor DR5 on PEDV infection and its relationship with PEDV-induced apoptosis. We found that DR5 knockdown reduced viral mRNA and protein levels of PEDV, and the viral titer decreased from 104.5 TCID50 to 103.4 TCID50 at 12 hpi. Overexpression of DR5 significantly increased the viral titer. Further studies showed that DR5 facilitates viral replication by regulating caspase-8-dependent apoptosis, and the knockdown of DR5 significantly reduced PEDV-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, we detected a biphasic upregulation expression of DR5 in both Vero cells and piglets in response to PEDV infection. We found that DR5 also facilitates viral entry of PEDV, especially, incubation with DR5 antibody can reduce the PEDV binding to Vero cells. Our study improves the understanding of the mechanism by which PEDV induces apoptosis and provides new insights into the biological function of DR5 in PEDV infection.
Use of Antiandrogens as Therapeutic Agents in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Giotis Efstathios S. , Cil Emine , Brooke Greg N.
Published: December 2022

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), is estimated to have caused over 6.5 million deaths worldwide. The emergence of fast-evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern alongside increased transmissibility and/or virulence, as well as immune and vaccine escape capabilities, highlight the urgent need for more effective antivirals to combat the disease in the long run along with regularly updated vaccine boosters. One of the early risk factors identified during the COVID-19 pandemic was that men are more likely to become infected by the virus, more likely to develop severe disease and exhibit a higher likelihood of hospitalisation and mortality rates compared to women. An association exists between SARS-CoV-2 infectiveness and disease severity with sex steroid hormones and, in particular, androgens. Several studies underlined the importance of the androgen-mediated regulation of the host protease TMPRSS2 and the cell entry protein ACE2, as well as the key role of these factors in the entry of the virus into target cells. In this context, modulating androgen signalling is a promising strategy to block viral infection, and antiandrogens could be used as a preventative measure at the pre- or early hospitalisation stage of COVID-19 disease. Different antiandrogens, including commercial drugs used to treat metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer and other conditions, have been tested as antivirals with varying success. In this review, we summarise the most recent updates concerning the use of antiandrogens as prophylactic and therapeutic options for COVID-19.
Exploiting the Macrophage Production of IL-12 in Improvement of Vaccine Development against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infections
Authors: Fereig Ragab M. , Omar Mosaab A. , Alsayeqh Abdullah F.
Published: December 2022

Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are major protozoan diseases of global distribution. Toxoplasma gondii is the cause of toxoplasmosis, which affects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, while Neospora caninum induces neosporosis in many animal species, especially cattle. The current defective situation with control measures is hindering all efforts to overcome the health hazards and economic losses of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis. Adequate understanding of host-parasite interactions and host strategies to combat such infections can be exploited in establishing potent control measures, including vaccine development. Macrophages are the first defense line of innate immunity, which is responsible for the successful elimination of T.gondii or N. caninum. This action is exerted via the immunoregulatory interleukin-12 (IL-12), which orchestrates the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) from various immune cells. Cellular immune response and IFN-γ production is the hallmark for successful vaccine candidates against both T. gondii and N. caninum. However, the discovery of potential vaccine candidates is a highly laborious, time-consuming and expensive procedure. In this review, we will try to exploit previous knowledge and our research experience to establish an efficient immunological approach for exploring potential vaccine candidates against T. gondii and N. caninum. Our previous studies on vaccine development against both T. gondii and N. caninum revealed a strong association between the successful and potential vaccine antigens and their ability to promote the macrophage secretion of IL-12 using a murine model. This phenomenon was emphasized using different recombinant antigens, parasites, and experimental approaches. Upon these data and research trials, IL-12 production from murine macrophages can be used as an initial predictor for judgment of vaccine efficacy before further evaluation in time-consuming and laborious in vivo experiments. However, more studies and research are required to conceptualize this immunological approach.
Morphology of Lymphoid Tissue in the Lungs of Guinea Pigs Infected with Mycobacterium bovis against the Background of Vaccine Immunity and the Action of Betulin and Its Derivatives
Authors: Koshkin Ivan N. , Vlasenko Vasily S. , Pleshakova Valentina I. , Alkhimova Larisa E. , Elyshev Andrey V. , Kulakov Ivan V.
Published: December 2022

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis is a serious problem for animal and human health worldwide. A promising concept for the design of anti-tuberculosis drugs is the conjugation of an immunogenic fraction isolated from bacterial vaccines with a stimulating component. Taking this principle as a basis, conjugates based on BCG antigens with betulin and its derivatives (betulonic and betulinic acids) were designed. The aim of this research was to study the morphological changes in the lymphoid tissue associated with the bronchial mucosa lungs (BALT) in guinea pigs sensitized with experimental conjugates using a model of experimental tuberculosis. The results showed a significant decrease in the BALT response, expressed by a decrease in the diameter of lymphatic follicles and a decrease in their activity when exposed to conjugates based on BCG antigens with betulin and, especially, with betulonic acid, with a visually greater number of plasma cells observed in the lung tissues of guinea pigs of these groups. The absence of tuberculous foci and low BALT activity in the lungs of animals treated with betulin and betulonic acid are probably associated with the activation of humoral immunity under the action of these conjugates.
Vaccination against Bacterial Mastitis in Sheep
Authors: Vasileiou Natalia G. C. , Lianou Daphne T. , Michael Charalambia K. , Fthenakis George C. , Mavrogianni Vasia S.
Published: December 2022

The objective of this review is to discuss the application of vaccination for the prevention of bacterial mastitis in ewes, performed within the frame of health management schemes in sheep flocks. Mastitis is a multi-faceted infection, caused most often by staphylococci; hence, special emphasis is given to staphylococcal mastitis, also given that most relevant studies refer to vaccinations against that infection. Studies regarding various vaccines have been performed; most studies refer to vaccination by using a vaccine making use of cell-free surface polysaccharides in various vehicles, bacterial unbound cells or bacterial cells embedded in their biofilm matrix. Vaccination against mastitis should be better performed during the final stage of pregnancy to allow protection of ewes from lambing and should be considered as one of many control measures for the prevention of the disease. The expected benefits of mastitis vaccination in sheep flocks include the following: (a) reduced incidence risk of clinical and subclinical mastitis, (b) reduced somatic cell counts, optimum chemical composition, absence of staphylococci in milk, (c) increased milk production, (d) reduced dissemination of mastitis-causing pathogens and (e) reduction of antibiotic use in flocks.
Optimization of Water Network Topology and Pipe Sizing to Aid Water Utilities in Deciding on a Design Philosophy: A Real Case Study in Belgium
Authors: Vertommen Ina , Mitrović Djordje , van Laarhoven Karel , Piens Pieter , Torbeyns Maarten
Published: December 2022

Numerical optimization is gradually finding its way into drinking water practice. For successful introduction of optimization into the sector, it is important that researchers and utility experts work together on the problem formulation with the water utility experts. Water utilities heed the solutions provided by optimization techniques only when the underlying approach and performance criteria match their specific goals. In this contribution, we demonstrate the application of numerical optimization on a real-life problem. The Belgian utility De Watergroep is looking to not only reinforce its distribution networks but to also structurally modify the network’s topology to enhance the quality of water delivered in the future. To help the utility explore the possibilities of these far-reaching changes in the most flexible way possible, an optimization problem was formulated to optimize topology and pipe sizing simultaneously for the distribution network of a Belgian city. The objective of the problem is to minimize the volume of the looped network and thereby work towards a situation where most of the customers are fed by branched extremities of the network. This objective is constrained by pressure and fire flow requirements and thresholds on the number of customers on the branched sections. The requirements for continuity of supply under failure scenarios are guaranteed by these constraints, as verified in the final solution. The results of the optimization process show that it is possible to design a network which is 18.5% cheaper than the currently existing network. Moreover, it turns out the—previously completely meshed—topology can be restructured so that 67% of the network length is turned into branched clusters, with a meshed superstructure of 33% of the length remaining.
A Monthly Hydropower Scheduling Model of Cascaded Reservoirs with the Zoutendijk Method
Authors: Zhou Binbin , Feng Suzhen , Xu Zifan , Jiang Yan , Wang Youxiang , Chen Kai , Wang Jinwen
Published: December 2022

A monthly hydropower scheduling determines the monthly flows, storage, and power generation of each reservoir/hydropower plant over a planning horizon to maximize the total revenue or minimize the total operational cost. The problem is typically a complex and nonlinear optimization that involves equality and inequality constraints including the water balance, hydraulic coupling between cascaded hydropower plants, bounds on the reservoir storage, etc. This work applied the Zoutendijk algorithm for the first time to a medium/long-term hydropower scheduling of cascaded reservoirs, where the generating discharge capacity is handled with an iterative procedure, while the other head-related nonlinear constraints are represented with exponential functions fitting to discrete points. The procedure starts at an initial feasible solution, from which it finds a feasible improving direction, along which a better feasible solution is sought with a one-dimensional search. The results demonstrate that the Zoutendijk algorithm, when applied to six cascaded hydropower reservoirs on the Lancang River, worked very well in maximizing the hydropower production while ensuring the highest firm power output to be secured.
Watershed-Scale Shallow Groundwater Anthropogenic Nitrate Source, Loading, and Contamination Assessment in a Typical Wheat Production Region: Case Study in Yiluo River Watershed, Middle of China
Authors: Wang Xihua , Jia Shunqing , Liu Zejun , Mao Boyang
Published: December 2022

Nitrate pollution in groundwater has become a global concern for agriculture and regional ecology. However, tracing the spatiotemporal groundwater nitrate pollution sources, calculating the total nitrogen loading, and assessing contamination at the watershed scale have not been well documented. In this study, 20 groundwater samplings from 2020 to 2021 (in dry and wet seasons) on the Yiluo River watershed in middle China were collected. Tracing groundwater nitrate pollution sources, calculating total nitrogen loading, and assessing contamination using dual isotopes (18ONO3 and 15NNO3), conservation of mass, and the nitrate pollution index (NPI), respectively. The results indicated that there were three nitrate sources in groundwater: (1) manure and sewage waste input (MSWI), (2) sediment nitrogen input (SNI), and (3) agriculture chemical fertilizer input (ACFI) in the Yiluo River watershed. ACFI and SNI were the main groundwater nitrogen pollution sources. The average nitrogen loading percentages of ACFI, SNI, and MSWI in the whole watershed were 94.7%, 4.34%, and 0.96%, respectively. The total nitrogen loading in the Yiluo River watershed was 7,256,835.99 kg/year, 4,084,870.09 kg/year in downstream areas, 2,121,938.93 kg/year in midstream areas, and 1,050,026.95 kg/year in upstream areas. Sixty percent of groundwater in the Yiluo River watershed has been polluted by nitrate. Nitrate pollution in midstream areas is more severe. Nitrite pollution was more serious in the wet season than in the dry season. The results of this study can provide useful information for watershed-scale groundwater nitrogen pollution control and treatment.
Real-Time Groundwater Dynamics Verification in the Embankment’s Substrate during the Transition of a Flood Wave
Authors: Bujakowski Filip , Falkowski Tomasz , Podlasek Anna , Ostrowski Piotr
Published: December 2022

The scope of the presented research included real-time verification of groundwater dynamics in the zone of the filled erosion channel (crevasses) and in the non-transformed zone of the floodplain area during the transition of a flood wave in the river channel. The technical goal was to provide data for the calibration and verification of mathematical model of groundwater flow. For this purpose, automatic recorders of groundwater level and electrical conductivity were installed in the zones selected earlier with the use of DEM. The measurements were carried out in 3 series during the passage of the flood wave. The obtained results indicate that in the zone of the untransformed terrace, the ascension of the water level between embankments causes the immediate propagation of pressure in the aquifer, while the filtration process itself is considerably limited, whereas the filled crevasse troughs constitute paths of privileged filtration, in particular in the proximal part of the floodplain. The appearance of water with elevated conductivity in the area of the crevasse proves the cyclicality of changes in flow directions, depending on the water level between embankments. The proposed methodology can be a valuable tool in the process of the geotechnical assessment of the construction substrate in the area of flood terraces in the lowland river. The zones with increased water conductivity parameters located near the river channel are also a reasonable place for the construction of coastal water intakes of the Riverbank filtration (RBF) type.
Frequency Characteristic Analysis of Acoustic Emission Signals of Pipeline Leakage
Authors: Cheng Weiping , Shen Yongxin
Published: December 2022

The leakage detection of a water distribution system (WDS) needs the support of a large number of field data. This paper collected over 6800 leak detection signals from cast iron pipelines used in a WDS. We found that 3280 signals indicated leakage, and the remaining indicated no leakage. The characteristics of the signals were extracted and analyzed from three perspectives: the central frequency of the power spectrum, the spectral roll-off rate, and the spectral flatness. Significant statistical distributions were found. The central frequencies of the leakage signals followed the normal distribution, and their spectral roll-off rates demonstrated the Burr distribution; the Birnbaum–Saunders distribution could describe the spectral flatness of the signals. Based on these characteristics, the recognition rate of the ML model for leak detection was improved. The Random Forest model was used to classify the leakage detection signals. The recall rate was 100%, and the false positive rate was 8.27%.
High-Frequency Common-Mode Voltage Reduced Space Vector Modulation for Grid-Connected Current-Source Inverter
Authors: Gao Hang , Mahmud Tahmin
Published: December 2022

Suitable space vector modulation (SVM) with reduced high-frequency common-mode voltages (HF-CMVs) for grid-connected current-source inverters (CSIs) have not been well investigated yet. In this study, the potential of active zero-state SVM (AZS-SVM) to suppress high frequency common-mode voltages (HF-CMVs) is revealed and theoretically analyzed, which is different from existing approaches of modifying topology. A special five-segment sequence with an optimally selected third active space vector for AZS-SVM is proposed and applied for CSIs. Simulation and experiments were completed on a (2.5 kW/208 V/6.94 A) grid-connected three-phase CSI. The results indicate that the proposed AZS-SVM mitigates HF-CMVs around unity and double control frequency by a factor of at least four times in contrast to that by conventional SVM, which validates the effectiveness of the proposed AZS-SVM to mitigate HF-CMVs generated by a grid-connected CSI.
A.A. Zinoviev: philosopher, publicist, prophet of the Russian land
Authors:   Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Humanitarian University of Trade Unions, Zapesotsky A. S.
Published: December 2022

The article is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Zinoviev, a worldclass humanist: logician, famous writer, prominent researcher-sociologist, political scientist, artist. The author shares his memories of personal meetings with this outstanding personality, who became the personification of the greatness and drama of the Soviet era. A.А. Zinoviev sharply criticized the policy of “denigrating” the history of the Soviet period, he opposed the thoughtless borrowing of Western models of law, economics, culture, which is detrimental to Russia, predicted with pain the inevitability of future trials that would fall to the lot of our Motherland. The highest relevance of the works of A.A. Zinoviev in the context of the current situation is noted, when questions about the place of Russia in the global world, about the supreme duty and the meaning of existence of the Russian people are raised with unprecedented acuteness. Today, not only the ideas of Alexander Zinoviev are gaining relevance, but also the height of his moral example: by his scientific destiny, the humanist has shown that true knowledge should be “involved in being”, and only in this case does the scientist become commensurate with the challenges of the time.
Textological Narratory and its logistics: the case of textopolis
Authors:   editorial board of the journal “Questions of Cultural Studies”, Liusyi A.P.
Published: December 2022

The perspectives of supernarrative are viewed through the prism of supertext. In the context of the Crimean text declared by the author earlier, which later developed into his concept of literature as a sum and system of local texts, the work of the modern prose writer Grigory Pankratov is placed. This is how the text vividly quotes itself energetically, the narration justifies itself, the reader turns into a textualis.
INTERNATIONALIZATION OF EDUCATION: SCIENTIFIC AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF TUTORING
Authors: Boiko A.
Published: December 2022

Tutoring is grounded as a Progressive and practically concrete foreign technology which has the purpose of individualizing the education, giving it a personal orientation and strengthening the educational aspect in teacher training. The main scientific and methodological provisions of the concept of tutoring that have been discovered are based on creativity principles, electivity, subjectivity of interaction between two equal subjects. It is shown how the tutor moves the accent from the Lack of knowledge to the student's educational achievement, ensuring unity in the Auditory and non-auditing work of study and education, combination of evaluation and self-assessment for professional achievements of future teachers. The basic directions of further development of tutoring are determined, as a way of interna- tionalizing the educational branch, its practical direction in the formation of a United European and world educational environment. For this has been developed a manual, in which at the choice of the tutor and the student are represented 500 tasks and questions and more than 300 tests.
PERIODIZATION OF THE ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF FITNESS TRAINERS AS A SYSTEM
Authors: Bondarenko V. , Kornosenko O.
Published: December 2022

In the article with the help of methods of historical-retrospective, system analysis, study of the complex of historical (normative acts, scientific works on history, materials of scientificpractical conferences, etc.) and scientific and methodical (dissertations, monographs, textbooks, encyclopedic dictionaries, etc.) sources, generalization of pedagogical and coaching experience, the periodization of the formation of the system of professional education of fitness trainers was developed; the present state of programmer and normative provision of professional training fitness trainers is determined, and functions of their professional activity are distinguished out. There are three periods of formation of professional education of fitness trainers: unsystematic, systemic pre-professional, systemic-professional.First period – unsystematic – is an origin of health fitness directions: mental (yoga and its varieties (3 rd century B.C., ancient India), pilates (1920 s, USA), stretching (1950 s, Sweden); power (beginning of XX c., England); aerobic (beginning of XX c., France, Russia) and empiric experience spontaneous transmission to next generations with the methods of inheritance and chaotic distribution of motive activity, through the authorial health-improving training programs and methodologies.The second period – system pre-professional – is a combination of motive experience best standards, methods and facilities of physical development improvement and men’s health strengthening, that contain motive activity, active rest organization, physical preparedness perfection (1960-80ss., USA), in integral athletic health-improving system – health-improving fitness.Third period – system-professional – is a completion of separate fitness programs realization methodologies development and introduction of system approach to fitness trainers’ professional education; differentiation of fitness trainers’ preparation: in specialized commercial institutions based on principle of certification (first half of 1980 s, USA; second half of 1980 s, Great Britain and Germany; 1990 s, Russia, Ukraine and others) and in higher educational institutions (the end of 1990 s, European countries and USA; 2005, Ukraine).