bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A professional blog as a special structural hypertext unit in the space of Internet communications
Authors: Poddubnaya Nataliya Vladimirovna , Chudnova Ol'ga Alekseevna , Mikhienko Svetlana Aleksandrovna
Published: February 2024

The purpose of the study is to identify the hypertext features of a professional blog in the space of the Internet environment. The professional type of blog is a separate unit of the Internet environment and is characterized by a hypertext structure within the framework of Internet communication. The article analyzes the main structural and content characteristics of a professional blog from the point of view of the hypertext organization of the Internet environment. The study is based on the material of the English language. The theoretical significance is determined by the fact that the data obtained make it possible to deepen knowledge about such important aspects of modern linguistics as the linguistic nature of electronic hypertext, its structural and substantive aspects. In addition, the study of hypertext features of professional English-language blogs contributes to the development of the theory of speech genres in the context of Internet communication. The practical significance of the research is reflected in the fact that its results can be used in the process of teaching general language theory, the basics of computational linguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmalinguistics, as well as in the development of elective courses on Internet communication. Using the methods of continuous sampling and description, the study analyzed the text units of 3 professional blogs of large foreign companies conducted in English. As a result, it was revealed that the professional type of blog is a hypertext unit of the Internet environment, representing a frame model with periodically updated author's posts, hypertext links, and comments. Despite the large number of works devoted to the study of hypertext, its organization and genre affiliation, there is currently no single and generally recognized typology of hypertext in the context of the professional variety of blogs, its creation is one of the priorities of modern researchers due to the rapid development of blog technologies. The scientific novelty lies in the approach that was taken to study the structural and content features of hypertext in the context of other types of blogs. In this regard, the basic principles of this approach are analyzed, the defining features of a blog are identified, taking into account its professional variety. Special attention was paid to the structure of electronic hypertext: the functional differentiation of hypertext links and ways of organizing links between hypertexts were considered.
The features of functioning of the expression "another thing that"
Authors: Xu Lina , Sheremet'eva Elena Sergeevna
Published: February 2024

The object of the study is a textual staple "another thing that", which was formed on the basis of the noun "thing". The subject of the study is its structural, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic properties. The purpose of this article is to present the results of the analysis of the specified properties of the staple and, on this basis, to show the features of its functioning in modern Russian. One of the aspects of consideration is the analysis of contextual modifications of the staple and the establishment of its main variant. Syntactically, its ability to function both in the text and in a complex sentence is analyzed. The main attention is paid to determining the type of relationship that a staple establishes between fragments of text, and identifying the dependence of the type of relationship on the semantics of the components that make up the staple. Considerable attention is paid to the pragmatic properties of the staple, its ability to convey the evaluative opinion of the speaker is considered. The material for the analysis was text fragments obtained with the help of the National Corpus of the Russian Language (NKRR). The material was collected using a continuous sampling method, as well as using the "lexico-grammatical search" option in the main newspaper and oral corpus of the NKRR. Descriptive and quantitative research methods were used in the analysis of linguistic material. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time a detailed analysis of the features of the functioning of the structure is presented in modern literary texts and media texts. As a result of the study, it was found that in the vast majority of cases, a paperclip "another thing that" functions in the text as a "text paperclip". The main variant of the bond is a structure that includes the union "what". This text staple establishes a contradictory relationship between fragments of text, which is due to the semantics of the pronominal adjective "another" that is part of it. The pragmatic component of the staple is its ability to reflect the speaker's position in terms of evaluating situations opposed in the text and indicate a change of sign from plus to minus, and vice versa.
Gadget vs device: the experience of semantic analysis
Authors: Dedova Olga Viktorovna , Mao Yuyan
Published: February 2024

The subject of the study is the semantics of the lexemes gadget and device in the modern Russian language. The spheres of use of these words, semantic differences and similarities between them, and their stylistic specificity are discussed. As sources of linguistic information about the functioning of lexemes, the data of the Russian National Corpus, the results of an Internet search and a questionnaire were used. The article reveals the multiple meanings of the words gadget and device in the modern Russian language. The YandexGPT neural network was used to verify the selected word meanings. The results obtained do not coincide with the data presented in modern explanatory dictionaries. The word-formative productivity of borrowed bases is noted – non-formal derivatives of different parts of speech are consistently formed from them. A descriptive method was used in the article. Based on the innovative nature of denotative realities and the inconsistent lexicographic description of the corresponding lexemes in modern dictionaries, the article applied an onomasiological approach ("from thing to word"). The scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time a comparative semantic study of these lexemes was carried out using the above methods, their regular meanings and stylistic specificity were revealed. The analysis made it possible to draw conclusions: lexical neologisms naming innovative devices are inconsistently described by modern dictionaries, their study is an important task and requires modern research methods with the use of computer technologies; the words gadget and device are hyperonyms in relation to the lexical units of the field "Personal computing devices", they have both semantic differences and similarities and are actively adapted in modern Russian-speaking usage. The communicative relevance of these words is evidenced by the possibility of their indirect ironic use as a means of designating almost any object.
Exploring the relationship between thalassemia and bone health: A clinicopathological analysis
Authors: Das Arijit , Dutta Anupam , Taye Paramananda , Sharma Adity
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

To study the bone mineral density in patients with thalassemia. Thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by reduced synthesis of the globin chain, leading to decreased hemoglobin levels. Blood transfusion therapy is the primary treatment, but it can cause iron overload and other factors that increase the risk of low bone mineral density. Despite this, there is limited research on thalassemia patients in India, particularly in the North Eastern region, with a focus on bone mineral density.

Material and Methods:

We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in the Department of Medicine at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. We have collected data from 51 cases and 51 healthy controls and analyzed it (SPSS for Windows, version 21.0 Chicago, SPSS Inc.) and Microsoft Excel 2010. Bone mineral density was measured by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) (Lunar Prodigy Advance DEXA (GE Healthcare, Madison, WI, USA).

Results:

Our study also showed that thalassemia patients had a 3.775 times higher risk of low bone mineral density at the lumbar vertebra and a 4.0421 times higher risk at the femur neck than the normal healthy population. The mean BMD at the lumbar spine and femur neck were lower for cases than controls, with the difference at the femoral neck being statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Our study highlights that more than half of thalassemia patients have low bone mineral density, with the femoral neck and lumbar neck being more affected than normal age and sex-matched controls. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring bone health in thalassemia patients and implementing appropriate interventions to prevent or manage low bone mineral density.
Atypical presentation of chronic myeloid leukemia as extreme thrombocytosis
Authors: Manjula S. J. , Makal Kanya Kumari
Published: February 2024

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm which typically presents with leukocytosis but rarely presents with extreme thrombocytosis with no/mild increase in leukocytes. Here, we describe a unique case of 42-year-old female with peripheral blood smear features that were favoring essential thrombocythemia (ET). However, further studies such as bone marrow and cytogenetic study were suggestive of CML in chronic phase. In some cases, CML mimics ET and cytogenetic study is the confirmatory test. ET and CML have different therapeutics and prognosis, and it is always necessary to consider CML as a differential diagnosis in cases of isolated thrombocytosis/extreme thrombocytosis cases.
Cutaneous skeletal hypophosphatemia syndrome: the first clinical description of two cases with genetic verification in Russia
Authors: Куликова К.С. , Райкина Е.Н. , Толмачева Е.Р. , Померанцева Е.А.
Published: February 2024

Кожно-скелетный синдром с гипофосфатемией (КССГ), или синдром сального невуса, – это редкая форма гипофосфатемического рахита, обусловленная потерей фосфора из-за аномально повышенного уровня фактора роста фибробластов 23 в результате соматической мутации в одном из генов цепи RAS (HRAS, NRAS, KRAS). Клинические проявления КССГ, помимо рахита, включают врожденные эпидермальные, меланоцитарные или сальные невусы и очаговые поражения костей ипсилатеральнее невусов. Сложность генетической диагностики заболевания заключается в необходимости поиска мутаций в материале пораженных тканей (кость, эпидермис). Пациенты с данным заболеванием подвержены высокому риску инвалидизации из-за выраженной мышечной гипотонии, остеомаляции, переломов костей и сложности коррекции тяжелой гипофосфатемии. Впервые в отечественной практике приведены клинические наблюдения двух неродственных пациентов с КССГ и подтвержденным молекулярно-генетически диагнозом.

Cutaneous-skeletal hypophosphatemia syndrome (CSHS) or Epidermal nevus syndrome (ENS) associated with hypophosphatemic rickets is a rare variation of hypophosphatemic rickets caused by phosphate wasting due to elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) as a result of somatic gain‐of‐function variants in the HRAS, NRAS, or KRAS genes. Clinical symptoms of CSHS, besides rickets, are congenital epidermal, melanocytic and sebaceous nevus as well as focal bone lesions ipsilateral to nevus. What makes genetic diagnosis of this condition extremely problematic is the necessity of location of mutations in the affected tissues (bones, epidermis). Such patients have a high risk of becoming disabled due to severe hypotonia, osteomalacia, bone fractures and difficulties associated with treatment of severe hypophosphatemia. The first two clinical cases of two unrelated patients with such condition have been performed in Russia. Both patients have CSHS confirmed by genetic testing.
Heavy metals in soils of various functional zones of urbanized territories: assessment of the content and environmental risk
Authors:   Vladimir State University, Trifonova T. A. ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Kurochkin I. N. ,   Vladimir State University, Kurbatov Yu. N.
Published: February 2024

In order to analyze heavy metal pollution of urbanized soils of the city of Vladimir, the selection and study of soil samples was carried out. Soil samples were analyzed for lead, zinc, copper, nickel, manganese, cobalt and chromium. The obtained indicators were compared with the maximum permissible concentrations and background values. The regularities between the proximity of the studied sites to industrial enterprises and the concentration of heavy metals in the soil are established. The coefficients of accumulation of heavy metals in soils have been calculated and metals that are priority pollutants with the highest accumulation coefficient have been identified. By calculating the total accumulation index of heavy metals, the territory of the city is differentiated by the degree of danger. The calculation of such indicators as: the general pollution index PLI, the indicator of potential environmental risk PERI, the Nemerow pollution index (NPI). It has been established that lead, arsenic and zinc are priority pollutants. The use of various calculated parameters of pollution allowed us to reveal a more detailed picture of the spatial distribution of heavy metals in the soils of urban landscapes under the influence of a strong anthropogenic load. Despite the differences in the calculation of the indices, a high correlation was found between the values of the total pollution index (Zc), the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) and the potential environmental risk index (PERI). The degree of soil contamination of various functional zones according to the indicator of potential environmental risk and the general pollution index PLI increases in the following series: zones of multi-storey buildings < zones of green spaces < zones of transport infrastructure < zones of low-rise buildings < industrial zones.
Manure runoff impact on soil phototrophic microorganisms
Authors:   Institute of Biology of the Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kondakova L. V. ,   Vyatka State University, Syrchina N. V. ,   Vyatka State University, Pilip L. V. ,   Vyatka State Agrotechnological University, Kondakova I. A. ,   Vyatka State University
Published: February 2024

Soil phototrophic microorganisms (algae, cyanobacteria) play a very important role in functioning of anthropogenic systems. They take an active part in soil self-purification by directly absorbing biogenic elements, as well as by stimulating the activity of mineralizing microorganisms at the expense of disengaged oxygen. The research was carried out at a plough field with sod-podzol soil situated near a large pig-breeding farm. Neutralization took place due to natural microbiological processes during the time of disgorging the liquid fraction in the lagoons. Long-term application of manure runoff from pig-breeding farms into plough soil had an impact on species diversity of phototrophic microorganisms, which was considered in the research. Groups of species tolerant to the impact formed in the soil in course of long-term application of liquid manure fraction. The influence of long-term runoff of manure from pig breeding farms on specious diversity of soil phototrophic microorganisms was assessed. In plough soils affected by liquid manure runoff a group of species tolerant to this impact has formed. Their basis is represented by green algae: Klebsormidium flaccidum, K. nitens, Chlorococcum infusionum, Chlorella vulgaris, as well as by the heterocyst-free cyanobacteria Phormidium autumnale and the diatom alga Hantzschia amphioxys. On the surface of plough soil these species make microscopically marked films, i. e. soil “blooming” takes place. General species diversity of microphototrophs in soil of the experimental site is lower than that of the control site. Jaccard coefficient of the experimental and control sites of the field is 47.8%. Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are not represented in the microphototrophic community; it indicates that the natural microcoenosis is damaged in the plough soils and nitrogen content is high.
Rational forest management in Russia: problems and prospects of improving the organizational and legal mechanism
Authors:   Vyatka State University, Domrachev D. G. , Kirillovyh А. А. ,   Vyatka State University, Pugach V. N. ,   Vyatka State University
Published: February 2024

The solution to the problem of preserving forests on the planet depends on the efforts of the entire world community. An important place in this issue is given to legal mechanisms that consolidate the mutual obligations of states, as well as the norms of domestic legislation to ensure the sustainable development of forests and forestry. The article analyzes the current state and practice of implementing the international legal regime, as well as the provisions of domestic forest legislation in terms of organizational and legal support for improving the efficiency of economic use of forests on the territory of the Russian Federation. The problems and prospects of the implementation of certain regulatory instruments that ensure the implementation by the Russian Federation of state policy in the field of forestry development are shown. In particular, the author substantiates the decisive role of the state in building mechanisms for rationalizing the use of forests, taking into account the use of a set of administrative and economic incentive measures for economic entities. It is necessary to move from a resource-oriented approach to an ecosystem one in the development of the forest economy, allowing to harmonize the interests of the state, society and business in the use of forest resources while maintaining acceptable rates of socio-economic development of the country.
Taming The Third Order Cumulant Approximation to Linear Optical Spectroscopy
Authors: Allan Luke , Zuehlsdorff Tim
Published: February 2024

The second order cumulant method offers a promising pathway to predicting optical properties in condensed phase systems. It allows for the computation of linear absorption spectra from excitation energy fluctuations sampled along molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories, fully accounting for vibronic effects, direct solute-solvent interactions, and environmental polarization effects. However, the second order cumulant approximation only guarantees accurate lineshapes for energy gap fluctuations obeying Gaussian statistics. A third order correction has been derived recently [J. Chem. Phys. {151}, 074111 (2019)], but often yields unphysical spectra or divergent lineshapes for moderately non-Gaussian fluctuations, due to the neglect of higher order terms in the cumulant expansion. In this work, we develop a corrected cumulant approach, where the collective effect of neglected higher order contributions is approximately accounted for through a dampening factor applied to the third order cumulant term. We show that this dampening factor can be expressed as a function of the skewness and kurtosis of the energy gap fluctuations and can be parameterized from a large set of randomly sampled model Hamiltonians for which exact spectral lineshapes are known. The approach is shown to systematically remove unphysical contributions in the form of negative absorbances from cumulant spectra in both model Hamiltonians and condensed phase systems sampled from MD, and dramatically improves over the second order cumulant method in describing systems exhibiting Duschinsky mode mixing effects. We successfully apply the approach to the coumarin-153 dye in toluene, obtaining an
Prediction of the Potential Energy Surface for polyatomic molecule with the Three-dimensional Special Euclidean Equivariant Transformer Network
Authors: Da Longchao , Yang Lehao , Han Shanyu , Wei Hua , An Feng
Published: February 2024

The process of fitting potential energy surfaces using machine learning methods typically involves manually constructing feature vectors and transforming molecular graphs into the inputs of networks for the polyatomic molecule structure. In this study, we introduce a novel approach using a three-dimensional special Euclidean equivariant transformer network that can directly learn the potential energy of polyatomic molecules and represent the structure of the molecule in a universal and interpretable way. Our method accurately predicts the potential energy of polyatomic molecules, as determined by coupled cluster theory, for various molecular graphs. Moreover, our framework is interpretable about the molecular physics, as one can extract molecular equivariant positional information regarding the global invariant energy surface. To demonstrate the utility of our approach, we present a detailed description of the training process used to fit the potential energy surfaces of polyatomic molecule CH5, as well as the properties of its resulting potential energy surfaces.
A structural underpinning of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior behind temperature-switchable liquids
Authors: Billinge Ian , Barbosa Gabriel , Tao Songsheng , Terban Maxwell , Turner C. Heath , Billinge Simon , Yip Ngai Yin
Published: February 2024

In this study we use state of the art x-ray scattering and molecular dynamics structural probes to carry out a careful analysis of amine-water mixtures that show the unusual lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. The goal is to provide direct experimental evidence for the entropy-lowering molecular cluster formation originally hypothesized as necessary to LCST behavior. Combined differential wide-angle x-ray scattering and pair distribution analysis, and small angle x-ray scattering measurements were combined with molecular modeling and liquid-liquid equilibrium measurements, revealing direct supporting experimental evidence for the hypothesis. However, the response of the amine phase to accommodating water is even more subtle and interesting than the simple hypothesis suggests, with the formation of robust, nanoscale reverse micelles. The techniques developed in this paper can be expected to yield important insights in the use of temperature-switchable liquids in solvent extraction and other separations. It can also help to explain the stabilization of organelles in living cells that do not have physical membranes but do require compositional gradients to operate.
Boiling of catechol secondary organic aerosol when heated to mild temperatures (36-52 °C) due to acetone and carbon dioxide formation and high viscosity
Authors: Kiland Kristian J. , Hopstock Katherine S. , Akande Ayomide A. , Johnson Kristen N. , Li Yixin , Mahrt Fabian , Nikkho Sepehr , Finlayson-Pitts Barbara J. , Borduas-Dedekind Nadine , Nizkorodov Sergey A. , Bertram Allan K.
Published: February 2024

Thermal desorption measurements, including thermal desorption mass spectrometry, are often used to determine the volatility and chemical composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Accurately interpreting such measurements requires understanding the response of SOA to heat. Using optical microscopy, we monitored catechol + O₃ SOA during heating at mild temperatures (36-52 °C). Catechol + O₃ SOA is a type of SOA formed in wildfire plumes. Surprisingly, the SOA particles appeared to boil when heated to these temperatures. We identified acetone and CO₂ as dominant species emitted from the SOA during heating, implying decomposition of the SOA components. Using mass spectrometry techniques, we observed catechol dimers to be the major product in unheated SOA and observed the degradation of these dimers after heating. Viscosity calculations suggested the mixing time of acetone and CO₂ within the particles was 11 h and 1 h at temperatures of 36 and 52 °C, respectively. The observed boiling can be explained by the production and slow mixing of acetone and CO₂ within the SOA particles when subjected to mild temperatures. Our results underscore the importance of considering decomposition, high viscosities, and slow mixing times when interpreting thermal desorption measurements of SOA, even when heating to mild temperatures.
Physico-chemical principles of AC electrosynthesis
Authors: Poh Yong Rui , Yuen-Zhou Joel
Published: February 2024

Electrolysis integrates renewable energy into chemical manufacturing and is key towards sustainable chemistry. Controlling the waveform beyond direct current addresses the long-standing obstacle of chemoselectivity, yet it also expands the parameter set to optimise, creating a demand for theoretical predictions. Here, we report the first analytical theory for predicting chemoselectivity in alternating current electrosynthesis. The mechanism is a selective reversal of the unwanted redox reaction during periods of opposite polarity. Notably, we find regimes within which a square waveform can not only bias but also reverse the chemoselectivity compared to direct current approaches, favouring overoxidation/overreduction. Sinusoidal waves exhibit the opposite effect. These trends are consistent with existing experimental works. Therefore, we find alternating current to be a promising avenue for achieving the ultimate control over reaction pathways.
AUTHORSHIP ANALYSIS IN ELECTRONIC TEXTS USING SIMILARITY COMPARISON METHOD
Authors: Puspitasari Devi Ambarwati , Fakhrurroja Hanif , Sutrisno Adi
Published: February 2024

The most recent changes to the criteria in legal process for scientific evidence have emphasized scientific methods of authorship analysis. This study examined the authorship of electronic texts using a quantitative method based on forensic stylistics and computer technologies. This study uses 300 digital texts produced by 100 authors, including 100 questioned texts (Q-text) and 200 known texts (K-text). Personal texts of WhatsApp messages are used in this study as electronic texts. Authorship analysis was conducted by tracing the n-gram and testing all the text sets using the Similarity Comparison Method (SCM). Based on the results of the word 1-gram test, the SCM accuracy was found to be quite high, ranging from 85% to 96%. The findings of employing the tiny set are promising, with the various stylistic traits offering dependable accuracy ranging from 92% to 98.5%. The character-level n-gram tracing indicates a key feature of authorship attribution.
Drivers of Russian Industrial Growth in the Face of New Reality
Authors: Obolenskaya L. V. , Abdikeev N. M. , Abrosimova O. M.
Published: February 2024

The opportunities for Russia’s economic growth substantiate the relevance of the research in the current conditions. The authors analyze the scientific literature and summarize the approaches to the “locomotives” or “drivers” of growth. In line with the reviewed studies, the authors use the sectoral approach. This considers the important investments presented in different approaches. The purpose of the paper is to identify the sectors of the Russian manufacturing industry that could, with certain government support, act as locomotives of economic growth in the medium and long term. The authors considered the locomotive industries in relation to two interrelated tasks of the investment model of growth. The study uses methods and tools of economic, logical, cause-and-effect analysis, content analysis, as well as forecasting and statistical assessments. The work has identified two groups of engine industries, using forecast-statistical estimates reflecting the impact of external sanctions on the Russian economy. The practical significance of the study is to define the growth driver industries for the further design of measures for the strategic development of these industries.
Study of Smart Cities Based on Human Capital (Case of Russian Research-Driven Towns as Proto-Smart Cities)
Authors: Kamolova S. G. , Kim K. S. , Aleksandrov N. D.
Published: February 2024

Existent philosophical literature has been largely focusing on the ethical aspects and controversies of developing and using smart technologies such as AI and big data, whereas human capital and infrastructural environment as pre-existing factors have been covered by AI Ethics in a lesser extent. Most of the current research focuses on technical infrastructural aspects in the implementation of complex «smart projects», while insufficient attention is paid to the role of social capital. In order to widen the focus and to include human capital and infrastructural developments coming along with the increasing role of AI, the paper takes a novel look at philosophical underpinnings of smart cities and discusses the concept of the Russian Naukograd (literally from Russian – City of Science, or Researchers’ city, meaning a city which is developing as a community of scientists and academics) as a historical approach for smart city concept implementation. The authors apply theoretical methods of cognition (analysis, synthesis) as well as the case study approach to the Russian (Soviet) experience in forming research-driven cities in order to highlight the value of high scientific, industrial and educational capital («smart nation») as a fundamental factor for the stable long-term development of modern cities. The findings suggest that some concepts of the Russian Naukograd for example the focus on research and education are valuable and that investment in social capital (i. e., people) should stand on the same footing as investment in technology developing a smart city. In this approach the prefix «smart» may stand for «smart citizens/nations» as a pivotal framework at the initial stages of smart cities development.
Factors Influencing Engagement in Project-Based Learning Among College EFL Speakers
Authors: Zhong Jianer , Ismail Lilliati , Ahmad Norhakimah Khaiessa
Published: February 2024

There has been a surge in the popularity of project-based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach in foreign language education. However, despite the increasing body of research on students’ engagement in PBL, the focus on exploring engagement in PBL from a multi-dimensional perspective remains limited. Based on Reeve’s student engagement framework, an explanatory mixed methods design was employed to evaluate college English as a Foreign Language (EFL) speakers’ engagement (behavioural, emotional, cognitive and agentic) and elucidate the factors influencing engagement in PBL. For this study, 151 students from a polytechnic in China were recruited as participants, and a questionnaire was employed to examine the four dimensions of engagement in PBL among them. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 students to understand their perspectives on how PBL has impacted their engagement levels. An analysis of the questionnaire data by descriptive statistics revealed that behavioural engagement ranked highest, followed by emotional, cognitive and agentic engagement. The interview data, analysed by thematic analysis, identified the factors influencing the four engagement dimensions of PBL, which were then categorised as positive (e.g., interest, group dynamics, topics and task types, etc.) and negative (e.g., weak English proficiency, introverted personality, fear of failure, etc.) factors. The findings provided insights into the four types of engagement and the factors influencing these dimensions. This study has educational implications for foreign language teachers as it will help them to find ways to engage college EFL students in PBL speaking activities and optimise the PBL environment.
Assessing Learning Outcomes Through Digital Game-Playing: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Flemban Fadwa Yasin
Published: February 2024

This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on empirical digital games (DG) studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was followed as a standard systematic literature review methodology. Twenty-five research papers were included in this review to determine the attributes of DGs that differently influenced learners’ cognition, attitude and behaviour. It shows also how researchers of the included studies measured participants’ progress whether during or after playing educational games. Based on the categories established and the analysis, the findings suggest that some features of games have affected diverse learning outcomes. There are also different ways of assessing the players’ learning progress while playing a game which can be summarised in three methods: by using the feedback system in the game, analysing players’ log file data, or applying external pre-tests and post-tests. This systematic review offers a helpful guideline for designing an effective educational game by considering games’ attributes with different learning subjects and outcomes. Furthermore, it extends the guidance by providing a general list of how educators have assessed students’ progress after playing an educational game. Thus, combining game attributes to attain specific learning outcomes and assessment methods to measure players’ progress is a specific purpose of this paper. Recommendations for future research and for practice are provided as well as the paper’s limitations.
Changing Climate and Sustainability of Built Environment
Authors: Hájek Petr
Published: February 2024

Humanity faces increasing depletion of energy and material resources and an increasing number of natural disasters. Buildings, infrastructure and entire built environment should be better prepared for changing climatic conditions – as they should be sustainable and resilient. The energy consumed during operation of built environment is one of the most significant sources of CO2 emissions. Considering these development trends, it is necessary to modify existing principles and methods of building and infrastructure design and adequate techniques of construction to enhance them to guarantee comfortable and safe operation for the whole population in the future. The buildings and infrastructure for sustainable future should be better prepared for the new conditions; they should be sustainable and more resilient.
Towards Attaining Sustainable Development Goals in Design and Construction of Highway Bridges – A Critical Review
Authors: Sinha Naresh K.
Published: February 2024

Bridges are integral part of highways. India became independent in 1947. However, development works in highway sector has been undertaken continuously since pre-independence days. The paper describes details of some of the policies and guidelines, progressively implemented for development of highways including bridges, which support activities towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015, These are with regard to rationalisation of procedure of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, environment protection framework, bridge construction / reconstruction program adoption of new technologies and innovations in design and construction , use of non - conventional energy, impact of climate change on hydrology, and road safety. Besides, the Government has been receiving enhanced availability of international support and co-operation continuously, leading to faster pace of development.
Long-Term Sustenance Issue of Cables for Cable-Supported Bridges
Authors: Ghoshal Amitabha , Roy Partha
Published: February 2024

Cable-supported bridges are marvels of modern engineering. The construction and use of these have been on the rise for the last fifty years. Cables, with higher strength than the structural sections and innate flexibility, offer an economic solution for medium and long-span bridges. The reduced weight of the structure helps in contributing to the demands of sustainability. From a structural standpoint, cable-stayed bridges are complex and have many critical areas that need attention from the design stage itself. The complexity in the maintenance of these bridges is getting evident with reports of deterioration of several bridges after use of fewer than twenty years, a rather grim situation; after large investments made for such elegant structures.

The present paper reviews the situation and the challenges for the engineering community in ensuring safe sustainable cable-supported structures for the future and also actions needed to avoid sudden failure of structures, already built without giving adequate thought to inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation aspects.
Innovative bridge structures recently built in Poland
Authors: Biliszczuk Jan , Lorenc Wojciech , Kożuch Maciej , Teichgraeber Marco
Published: February 2024

Intensive modernization of the transport network is underway in Poland. New highways and expressways are built, and railway lines are modernized. Therefore, many new bridge structures have been built in recent years, and even more, are being built. The new facilities include design innovations such as large extradosed bridges and new generation composite (hybrid) bridges, using new type connectors. Steel elements are used as rigid reinforcement of concrete beams, hybrid mesh-type arch spans composed of steel arch girders made of heavy cold-bent profiles, a prestressed concrete deck, or some effective stress-ribbon footbridges made of concrete slabs.
Case study using Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis for Assessment of Slutchers Lane bridge
Authors: Francis Jithu G. , Parayil Sreejith , Satapathy Abani Kumar
Published: February 2024

200 years of British railway infrastructure is now owned, managed, and developed by Network Rail. Safe and effective management of the rail network needs to have up-to-date information regarding the capacities of these ageing assets. Slutchers Lane bridge (Warrington, UK) is a structure designed to carry rail loads over a public road. According to the 2010 NBSI assessment and the archive drawings, bridge widening took place circa 1907.

The previous assessment of this bridge was carried out using simple statics with an idealised line beam approach, the results obtained were inadequate to serve the current load requirements of Network Rail. To get a more accurate theoretical capacity, a more refined analysis was required, incorporating recent site inspection data representing the current condition of the bridge. Performing a nonlinear finite element analysis was found to be suitable for this requirement.

For the study, the entire structure was modelled in LUSAS software using shell elements and analysed for various potential failure mechanisms. The finite element model was able to capture all the deteriorations identified during the recent site investigation. A mesh sensitivity study was carried out for the selection of an appropriate mesh size. In the analysis, material nonlinearity is considered along with geometric nonlinearity. The initial geometric imperfection is assigned based on the critical buckling mode identified in the linear Eigenvalue buckling analysis with appropriate scale factor. To determine the results at both ultimate limit state and service limit state, the following outputs were captured, Von Mises stresses, the extent of material yielding, and the propensity for buckling. Recommendations were made based on standard guidance and engineering judgement.

From the nonlinear finite element study, it was established that the structure in its current condition is adequate for the current Network rail requirement, which is an improvement on the results of the previous assessment.
Experimental and analytical investigations on the shear capacity of prestressed concrete bridges
Authors: Dommes Christian , Hegger Josef
Published: February 2024

A recalculation according to Eurocode 2 (EC2) of bridges, which have been built in Europe before the introduction of EC2, shows a deficit of the existing shear reinforcement. However, prestressed concrete bridges have additional load-bearing reserves. Even refined analytical approaches do not sufficiently cap- ture the simultaneous effect of the concrete and reinforcement contribution on the shear capacity. Hence, it is important to verify the shear capacity of existing concrete bridges with a new improved design ap- proach. In this work, sixteen large-scaled shear tests (16,5 m continuous post-tensioned girders with uni- formly distributed loads) have been conducted. To examine the interaction of the concrete contribution and the strut-and-tie model, the specimens were built with low shear reinforcement and varying cross- sectional shapes. Finally, it will be shown that the service time of existing structures can be extended significantly by using the new analytical design approach.
The Evolution of the Indian Standard IS 1893 Focusing on Base Shear Values of Seismic Forces for a Forty-Three-Storey Reinforced Concrete High-Rise Building Using the Response Spectrum Method
Authors: Buddee Samard
Published: February 2024

Comparative studies of the old Indian standard IS 1893:2002 and the existing IS 1893:2016 have been presented for high-rise buildings in India; however, they have not been presented for high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka. This case study compares the old and existing IS standards, as well as Australian standard AS 1170:2007, and EURO code EU 8:2004, in terms of lateral effect focusing on the base shear values of seismic forces on a 43-storey high-rise building with three basement levels located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This project was analyzed and designed in 2006; however, only bored pile load testing and tangent pile walls were completed before the project was suspended. This comparative study of the building uses the response spectrum method, which was performed by ETABS 18,1,1. The purpose of this paper is to identify the major changes in the evolution of IS 1893, and how the revisions have made IS 1893:2016 a more reliable earthquake code than IS 1893:2002.
Influence of train composition on crack propagation at structural components of welded railway bridges
Authors: Siebert Dorina , Radlbeck Christina , Mensinger Martin
Published: February 2024

The application of fracture mechanics allows a detailed assessment of structural details of existing railway bridges. By using crack propagation calculations, the residual service life and respective safe inspection intervals can be determined. For this purpose, cyclic loading due to train passings is needed as an input parameter. Furthermore, an initial crack length and material parameters need to be assumed. In this paper, the focus lies on the loadings generated by each passing train. The influence of single trains as well as the composition of trains and their order on crack propagation is investigated. Train models in the Eurocode [1] are considered and the effects are analysed in the frame of linear elastic fracture mechanics. Combined with the span length, the influence of service trains is varying and an impact of train composition is present. Sequence effects are if at all only slightly visible and therefore may be neglected within the considered calculations.
Modular Steel Panel Bridges for Optimal Emergency Response to Distressed Bridges on National Highways in India
Authors: Shankar S. Ravi
Published: February 2024

Bailey Bridges which were very successfully used in World War II may be considered the first generation of Modular Steel Panel Bridge (MSPB} and have been the only solution for emergency response to distressed bridges in India. These have today become unsafe with increase in axle loads and act as chokepoints on double-lane roads leading to huge economic losses.

A look at the improvement in this technology shows the world has graduated to 3rd Generation MSPBs. The first such bridge was launched in India in 2016 under challenging conditions, which is well documented. An overview of this gives a good insight into the capabilities of this bridge.

There is an impressive range of possibilities of using such bridges both as permanent bridges and as temporary detours in emergencies. The way forward to speedy 'Disaster Mitigation' and timely response to critical bridges in distress, is to create ready stocks of such bridges closer to where they are likely to be required. It is an important step which needs planning and preparation. One must move towards making these bridges in India with a conscious strategy of closing the existing capability gap quickly and incentivising manufacture of better modular bridges in the country. This can be speeded-up by overcoming resistance to change. Understanding these blocks in introducing new technology is an important lesson learnt from this first-hand experience in introducing 3rd Generation Modular Bridges for the first time in the country, and exploring further use.
Experimental Analysis on The Sustainable Effects of Magnetic Water in Self Compacting Concrete With Partial Replacement of Constituent Materials
Authors: Kaspa Mallikarjun , Reddy V. L. D. Prasad
Published: February 2024

In this experimental analysis, conventional Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) of M30 grade was compared to SCC mix prepared with Magnetic Water of 0.8 Tesla in its fresh and hardened states. The Magnetic Water improved workability of concrete by 9.95% and compressive & tensile strength by 12.61% & 12.91%. It also reduced the dosage of viscosity modifying reagent by 13.04% for the same water-cement ratio, improving the efficiency of concrete and there by reducing the cost of concrete. The efficiency of Magnetic Water is further improved with the use of sustainable replacement materials. Copper slag improved compressive & tensile strength by 19.4% & 19.63% at 30% replacement of sand; while Glass powder improved strength by 14.16% & 14.47% at 20% replacement. Copper slag was more effective than glass powder in terms of strength and economy. Fly ash as a cement replacement improved compressive & tensile strength by 17.02% & 17.31% at 30% replacement.

It is evident that improved technique with Magnetic Water coupled with sustainable materials resulted in a more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective concrete production with better workability and strength, resulting in less energy, material waste and lower carbon emissions, giving better long-term performance and fewer repairs.
Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Shahzad Summer , Pirttikoski Kasperi , Wolf Sebastien
Published: February 2024

Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) has gained significant popularity in the construction industry due to its enhanced mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional reinforced concrete. The use of SFRC has increased in recent years in various applications, such as industrial floors, tunnel lining segments, precast elements, and special load bearing structures such as foundation rafts on ground or on piles. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of SFRC in today’s Finnish construction industry, highlighting its benefits but also the challenges. This paper also deals with the sustainability of material, with the efforts that are being made to introduce green steel fibres made with recycled material and their production from green source of energy, which in the end will have less embodied carbon footprint.
Sustainability and Innovation in Design of Major Bridge Substructures
Authors: Lehning Thomas , Pedersen Flemming , Ravn Uffe Graaskov , Kundu Kahini
Published: February 2024

Major bridge substructures like anchor blocks for suspension bridges and large offshore foundations for bridge towers and piers are generally exposed to very significant loads. Therefore, to achieve sustainable and resilient solutions for design of such structures, careful optimization of material consumption and adaption to the actual boundary conditions are needed. Also, accidental loads like earthquake and ship impact can be important design drivers.

This calls for adaptation and innovation to find sustainable, resilient, and durable substructure solutions which can also be constructed fast and efficiently. This is illustrated by examples from COWi's history of substructure designs comprising a variety of solutions ranging from caissons to pile foundations and open dredged foundations.