bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unstructured Finite-Volume Model of Sediment Scouring Due to Wave Impact on Vertical Seawalls
Authors: Uh Zapata Miguel , Pham Van Bang Damien , Nguyen Kim Dan
Published: December 2021

The numerical modeling of sediment transport under wave impact is challenging because of the complex nature of the triple wave–structure–sediment interaction. This study presents three-dimensional numerical modeling of sediment scouring due to non-breaking wave impact on a vertical seawall. The Navier–Stokes–Exner equations are approximated to calculate the full evolution of flow fields and morphodynamic responses. The bed erosion model is based on the van Rijn formulation with a mass-conservative sand-slide algorithm. The numerical solution is obtained by using a projection method and a fully implicit second-order unstructured finite-volume method in a σ-coordinate computational domain. This coordinate system is employed to accurately represent the free-surface elevation and sediment/water interface evolution. Experimental results of the velocity field, surface wave motion, and scour hole formation hole are used to compare and demonstrate the proposed numerical method’s capabilities to model the seawall scour.
Environmental Pollution Indices and Multivariate Modeling Approaches for Assessing the Potentially Harmful Elements in Bottom Sediments of Qaroun Lake, Egypt
Authors: Saleh Ali H. , Gad Mohamed , Khalifa Moataz M. , Elsayed Salah , Moghanm Farahat S. , Ghoneim Adel M. , Danish Subhan , Datta Rahul , Moustapha Moustapha E. , Abou El-Safa Magda M.
Published: December 2021

This research intends to offer a scientific foundation for environmental monitoring and early warning which will aid in the environmental protection management of Qaroun Lake. Qaroun Lake is increasingly influenced by untreated wastewater discharge from many anthropogenic activities, making it vulnerable to pollution. For that, six environmental pollution indices, namely contamination factor (Cf), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), degree of contamination (Dc), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI), were utilized to assess the bottom sediment and to determine the different geo-environmental variables affecting the lake system. Cluster analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to explore the potential pollution sources of heavy metal. Moreover, the efficiency of partial least-square regression (PLSR) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were tested to assess the Dc, PLI, and RI depending on the selected elements. The sediment samples were carefully collected from 16 locations of Qaroun Lake in two investigated years in 2018 and 2019. Total concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hf, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn, and Zr were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectra (ICP-MS). According to the Cf, EF, and Igeo results, As, Cd, Ga, Hf, P, Sb, Se, and Zr demonstrated significant enrichment in sediment and were derived from anthropogenic sources. According to Dc results, all collected samples were categorized under a very high degree of contamination. Further, the results of RI showed that the lake is at very high ecological risk. Meanwhile, the PLI data indicated 59% of lake was polluted and 41% had PLI < 1. The PLSR and MLR models based on studied elements presented the highest efficiency as alternative approaches to assess the Dc, PLI, and RI of sediments. For examples, the validation (Val.) models presented the best performance of these indices, with R2val = 0.948–0.989 and with model accuracy ACCv = 0.984–0.999 for PLSR, and with R2val = 0.760–0.979 and with ACCv = 0.867–0.984 for MLR. Both models for Dc, PLI, and RI showed that there was no clear overfitting or underfitting between measuring, calibrating, and validating datasets. Finally, the combinations of Cf, EF, Igeo, PLI, Dc, RI, CA, PCA, PLSR, and MLR approaches represent valuable and applicable methods for assessing the risk of potentially harmful elemental contamination in the sediment of Qaroun Lake.
Effect of Dissipation on the Moonpool-Javelin Wave Energy Converter
Authors: Yu Dan , Wang Keyi , Jin Yeqing , Kong Fankai , Chen Hailong , Yang Can
Published: December 2021

In this work, the hydrodynamic performance of a novel wave energy converter (WEC) configuration which combines a moonpool platform and a javelin floating buoy, called the moonpool–javelin wave energy converter (MJWEC), was studied by semianalytical, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and experimental methods. The viscous term is added to the potential flow solver to obtain the hydrodynamic coefficients. The wave force, the added mass, the radiation damping, the wave capture, and the energy efficiency of the configuration were assessed, in the frequency and time domains, by a semianalytical method. The CFD method results and the semianalytical results were compared for the time domain by introducing nonlinear power take-off (PTO) damping; additionally, the viscous dissipation coefficients under potential flow could be confirmed. Finally, a 1:10 scale model was physically tested to validate the numerical model and further prove the feasibility of the proposed system.
Prediction of Crop Yield for New Mexico Based on Climate and Remote Sensing Data for the 1920–2019 Period
Authors: Yadav Kamini , Geli Hatim M. E.
Published: December 2021

Agricultural production systems in New Mexico (NM) are under increased pressure due to climate change, drought, increased temperature, and variable precipitation, which can affect crop yields, feeds, and livestock grazing. Developing more sustainable production systems requires long-term measurements and assessment of climate change impacts on yields, especially over such a vulnerable region. Providing accurate yield predictions plays a key role in addressing a critical sustainability gap. The goal of this study is the development of effective crop yield predictions to allow for a better-informed cropland management and future production potential, and to develop climate-smart adaptation strategies for increased food security. The objectives were to (1) identify the most important climate variables that significantly influence and can be used to effectively predict yield, (2) evaluate the advantage of using remotely sensed data alone and in combination with climate variables for yield prediction, and (3) determine the significance of using short compared to long historical data records for yield prediction. This study focused on yield prediction for corn, sorghum, alfalfa, and wheat using climate and remotely sensed data for the 1920–2019 period. The results indicated that the use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) alone is less accurate in predicting crop yields. The combination of climate and NDVI variables provided better predictions compared to the use of NDVI only to predict wheat, sorghum, and corn yields. However, the use of a climate only model performed better in predicting alfalfa yield. Yield predictions can be more accurate with the use of shorter data periods that are based on region-specific trends. The identification of the most important climate variables and accurate yield prediction pertaining to New Mexico’s agricultural systems can aid the state in developing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies to enhance the sustainability of these systems.
Telomeres and Cancer
Authors: Fan Hueng-Chuen , Chang Fung-Wei , Tsai Jeng-Dau , Lin Kao-Min , Chen Chuan-Mu , Lin Shinn-Zong , Liu Ching-Ann , Harn Horng-Jyh
Published: December 2021

Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are indispensable chromatin structures for genome protection and replication. Telomere length maintenance has been attributed to several functional modulators, including telomerase, the shelterin complex, and the CST complex, synergizing with DNA replication, repair, and the RNA metabolism pathway components. As dysfunctional telomere maintenance and telomerase activation are associated with several human diseases, including cancer, the molecular mechanisms behind telomere length regulation and protection need particular emphasis. Cancer cells exhibit telomerase activation, enabling replicative immortality. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activation is involved in cancer development through diverse activities other than mediating telomere elongation. This review describes the telomere functions, the role of functional modulators, the implications in cancer development, and the future therapeutic opportunities.
Adaptive Stretch-Forming Process: A Computer Vision and Statistical Analysis Approach
Authors: Grigoras Cosmin Constantin , Zichil Valentin , Chirita Bogdan , Ciubotariu Vlad Andrei
Published: December 2021

An industrial process is defined through its quality of parts and their production costs. Labour-intensive operations must be applied to produce high-quality components with inexpensive resources. Recent development in dedicated software allows the industrial sector to rely on more and more autonomous solutions to obtain an optimum ratio between part quality and cost. The stretch forming process is an operation that has a high degree of difficulty, due to the process parameters and the spring-back effect of materials. Our approach to solving several of the shortcomings of this process was to develop a self-adaptive algorithm with computer vision capabilities that adapts to the process in real-time. This experimental study highlights the results obtained using this method, as well as a comparison to a classical method for the stretch-forming process (SFP). The results have noted that the stretch-forming algorithm improves the process, while adapting its decisions with each step.
Single Imputation Methods and Confidence Intervals for the Gini Index
Authors: Álvarez-Verdejo Encarnación , Moya-Fernández Pablo J. , Muñoz-Rosas Juan F.
Published: December 2021

The problem of missing data is a common feature in any study, and a single imputation method is often applied to deal with this problem. The first contribution of this paper is to analyse the empirical performance of some traditional single imputation methods when they are applied to the estimation of the Gini index, a popular measure of inequality used in many studies. Various methods for constructing confidence intervals for the Gini index are also empirically evaluated. We consider several empirical measures to analyse the performance of estimators and confidence intervals, allowing us to quantify the magnitude of the non-response bias problem. We find extremely large biases under certain non-response mechanisms, and this problem gets noticeably worse as the proportion of missing data increases. For a large correlation coefficient between the target and auxiliary variables, the regression imputation method may notably mitigate this bias problem, yielding appropriate mean square errors. We also find that confidence intervals have poor coverage rates when the probability of data being missing is not uniform, and that the regression imputation method substantially improves the handling of this problem as the correlation coefficient increases.
COSMONET: An R Package for Survival Analysis Using Screening-Network Methods
Authors: Iuliano Antonella , Occhipinti Annalisa , Angelini Claudia , De Feis Italia , Liò Pietro
Published: December 2021

Identifying relevant genomic features that can act as prognostic markers for building predictive survival models is one of the central themes in medical research, affecting the future of personalized medicine and omics technologies. However, the high dimension of genome-wide omic data, the strong correlation among the features, and the low sample size significantly increase the complexity of cancer survival analysis, demanding the development of specific statistical methods and software. Here, we present a novel R package, COSMONET (COx Survival Methods based On NETworks), that provides a complete workflow from the pre-processing of omics data to the selection of gene signatures and prediction of survival outcomes. In particular, COSMONET implements (i) three different screening approaches to reduce the initial dimension of the data from a high-dimensional space p to a moderate scale d, (ii) a network-penalized Cox regression algorithm to identify the gene signature, (iii) several approaches to determine an optimal cut-off on the prognostic index (PI) to separate high- and low-risk patients, and (iv) a prediction step for patients’ risk class based on the evaluation of PIs. Moreover, COSMONET provides functions for data pre-processing, visualization, survival prediction, and gene enrichment analysis. We illustrate COSMONET through a step-by-step R vignette using two cancer datasets.
Differential Expression of Mitosis and Cell Cycle Regulatory Genes during Recovery from an Acute Respiratory Virus Infection
Authors: Limkar Ajinkya R. , Lack Justin B. , Sek Albert C. , Percopo Caroline M. , Druey Kirk M. , Rosenberg Helene F.
Published: December 2021

Acute respiratory virus infections can have profound and long-term effects on lung function that persist even after the acute responses have fully resolved. In this study, we examined gene expression by RNA sequencing in the lung tissue of wild-type BALB/c mice that were recovering from a sublethal infection with the pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), a natural rodent pathogen of the same virus family and genus as the human respiratory syncytial virus. We compared these responses to gene expression in PVM-infected mice treated with Lactobacillus plantarum, an immunobiotic agent that limits inflammation and averts the negative clinical sequelae typically observed in response to acute infection with this pathogen. Our findings revealed prominent differential expression of inflammation-associated genes as well as numerous genes and gene families implicated in mitosis and cell-cycle regulation, including cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, cell division cycle genes, E2F transcription factors, kinesins, centromere proteins, and aurora kinases, among others. Of particular note was the differential expression of the cell division cycle gene Cdc20b, which was previously identified as critical for the ex vivo differentiation of multi-ciliated cells. Collectively, these findings provided us with substantial insight into post-viral repair processes and broadened our understanding of the mechanisms underlying Lactobacillus-mediated protection.
Molecular and Physiological Perspectives of Abscisic Acid Mediated Drought Adjustment Strategies
Authors: Abhilasha Abhilasha , Roy Choudhury Swarup
Published: December 2021

Drought is the most prevalent unfavorable condition that impairs plant growth and development by altering morphological, physiological, and biochemical functions, thereby impeding plant biomass production. To survive the adverse effects, water limiting condition triggers a sophisticated adjustment mechanism orchestrated mainly by hormones that directly protect plants via the stimulation of several signaling cascades. Predominantly, water deficit signals cause the increase in the level of endogenous ABA, which elicits signaling pathways involving transcription factors that enhance resistance mechanisms to combat drought-stimulated damage in plants. These responses mainly include stomatal closure, seed dormancy, cuticular wax deposition, leaf senescence, and alteration of the shoot and root growth. Unraveling how plants adjust to drought could provide valuable information, and a comprehensive understanding of the resistance mechanisms will help researchers design ways to improve crop performance under water limiting conditions. This review deals with the past and recent updates of ABA-mediated molecular mechanisms that plants can implement to cope with the challenges of drought stress.
Special Issue Editorial: Isolation and Analysis of Characteristic Compounds from Herbal and Plant Extracts
Authors: Kang Jong-Seong , Yadav Narendra Singh
Published: December 2021

Herbal and plant extracts exhibit various types of properties and activities that have been applied in the medicinal field to treat diseases and achieve better health [...]
Ensuring the Sustainability of Arctic Industrial Facilities under Conditions of Global Climate Change
Authors: Buslaev George , Tsvetkov Pavel , Lavrik Alexander , Kunshin Andrey , Loseva Elizaveta , Sidorov Dmitry
Published: December 2021

Global climate change poses a challenge to the mineral development industry in the Arctic regions. Civil and industrial buildings designed and constructed without consideration of warming factors are beginning to collapse due to changes in the permafrost structure. St. Petersburg Mining University is developing technical and technological solutions for the construction of remote Arctic facilities and a methodology for their design based on physical and mathematical predictive modeling. The article presents the results of modeling the thermal regimes of permafrost soils in conditions of thermal influence of piles and proposes measures that allow a timely response to the loss of bearing capacity of piles. Designing pile foundations following the methodology proposed in the article to reduce the risks from global climate change will ensure the stability of remote Arctic facilities located in the zone of permafrost spreading.
Sexual Fantasies across Gender and Sexual Orientation in Young Adults: A Multiple Correspondence Analysis
Authors: Nese Mattia , Riboli Greta , Brighetti Gianni , Visciano Raffaele , Giunti Daniel , Borlimi Rosita
Published: December 2021

Differences in the content of sexual fantasies across gender have been widely documented, while less attention was given to the role of sexual orientation. Previous studies focused on differences in the prevalence of broad themes consisting of sets of contents. The current study aimed to increase the knowledge about sexual fantasies in heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual men and women. A descriptive approach that allows visualizing the patterns of fantasies reported by different groups using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) is presented. A sample of 3136 of young adults, 1754 women (Mage = 22.50, SD = 1.72, range 18–25) and 1382 men (Mage = 22.50, SD = 1.70, range 18–25), completed an online questionnaire assessing the presence of 29 different sexual fantasies. The prevalence of each fantasy among each group is shown. Also, relationships between fantasies and the distribution of groups along the two principal dimensions highlighted by MCA are represented. Heterosexuals women reported fewer fantasies and showed opposite patterns of response compared to heterosexual men. There was a substantial overlapping in the fantasies reported by gay and bisexual men, while responses of lesbian and bisexual women were more differentiated. These results indicate that the content of sexual fantasies varies according to both gender and sexual orientation.
Seeding System Configuration Effects on Sunflower Seedling Emergence and Yield under No-Tillage
Authors: Nardón Gustavo F. , Botta Guido F. , Aikins Kojo A. , Rivero David , Bienvenido Fernando , Antille Diogenes L.
Published: December 2021

No-tillage farming can improve crop productivity and the reliability of cropping compared with conventional tillage. The effects of three different seeding system configurations on surface residue handling, sunflower emergence and stand establishment, yield, and gross income were investigated over three cropping seasons. The seeding system configurations comprised of (1) turbo coulter blade, (2) notched disc row cleaner before turbo coulter blade, and (3) no residue handling unit installed in front of a double-disc opener. For all three seeding system configurations, crop residue cover on sown rows (after seeding) was greater than the minimum recommended value of 30% for no-tillage. Residue cover was best with the notched disc row cleaner in front of the turbo coulter blade compared to the other two seeding systems. Furthermore, the notched disc row cleaner in front of the turbo coulter blade produced the highest plant emergence counts and the most uniform stand establishment. Sunflower yield and gross income were highest with the notched disc row cleaner in front of the turbo coulter blade (3.16 Mg·ha−1 and 902 USD·ha−1) compared to when only the turbo coulter blade (2.38 Mg·ha−1 and 680 USD·ha−1) or no residue handling unit (1.69 Mg·ha−1 and 482 USD·ha−1) was used.
Stylometry and Numerals Usage: Benford’s Law and Beyond
Authors: Zenkov Andrei V.
Published: December 2021

We suggest two approaches to the statistical analysis of texts, both based on the study of numerals occurrence in literary texts. The first approach is related to Benford’s Law and the analysis of the frequency distribution of various leading digits of numerals contained in the text. In coherent literary texts, the share of the leading digit 1 is even larger than prescribed by Benford’s Law and can reach 50 percent. The frequencies of occurrence of the digit 1, as well as, to a lesser extent, the digits 2 and 3, are usually a characteristic the author’s style feature, manifested in all (sufficiently long) literary texts of any author. This approach is convenient for testing whether a group of texts has common authorship: the latter is dubious if the frequency distributions are sufficiently different. The second approach is the extension of the first one and requires the study of the frequency distribution of numerals themselves (not their leading digits). The approach yields non-trivial information about the author, stylistic and genre peculiarities of the texts and is suited for the advanced stylometric analysis. The proposed approaches are illustrated by examples of computer analysis of the literary texts in English and Russian.
A Framework for Ranking the Environmental Risk of Abandoned Mines in the State of Minas Gerais/Brazil
Authors: Fernandes Patrícia Rocha Maciel , Lima Hernani Mota de
Published: December 2021

Abandoned mines are a major mining liability for the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The impacts and risks of abandoned mines are specific to the location and type of ore, but they cover social, economic, and cultural aspects. A central element of an abandoned mine management policy is the definition of a methodology to identify and rank characteristics of abandoned mines that pose a risk to the environment and society. This article presents a methodology for the ranking of environmental risks for abandoned mines in the state of Minas Gerais based on different evaluation factors of their external effects on the environment, safety, the population and surrounding areas, heritage and the landscape. The environmental risk of the abandoned mine area was generated to establish the “Abandoned Mine Area Environmental Risk Hierarchy”. To achieve this a multi-criteria analysis (using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)) was adopted with each preponderant factor being compared and measured. The results show that the use this framework can support in the decision-making process of an environmental agency for developing the intervention aimed at situations of greater gravity, which, ultimately, may require the use of public resources to reduce risks.
Alterations in Regional Brain Regional Volume Associated with Dioxin Exposure in Men Living in the Most Dioxin-Contaminated Area in Vietnam: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Analysis Using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM)
Authors: Vu Hoa Thi , Pham Thao Ngoc , Yokawa Takashi , Nishijo Muneko , The Tai Pham , Do Quyet , Nishino Yoshikazu , Nishijo Hisao
Published: December 2021

To clarify the influence of dioxin exposure on brain morphometry, the present study investigated associations between dioxin exposure at high levels and brain structural irregularities in 32 Vietnamese men. Two exposure markers were used: blood dioxin levels, as a marker of exposure in adulthood, and perinatal dioxin exposure, estimated by maternal residency in a dioxin-contaminated area during pregnancy. All subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. We analyzed correlations between regional gray matter volumes and blood dioxin levels, and compared regional volumes between men with and without perinatal dioxin exposure using the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) tool from Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 (SPM12). Blood 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was associated with low volume of the medial temporal pole and fusiform gyrus. Toxic equivalency (TEQ)-PCDDs were correlated with low medial temporal pole volume. However, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD was associated with high middle frontal gyrus and cerebellum volume. In men with perinatal dioxin exposure, the left inferior frontal gyrus pars orbitalis volume was significantly lower than in those without perinatal exposure. These results suggest that dioxin exposure during the perinatal period and in adulthood may alter regional brain volume, which might lead to cognitive deficits and unusual social emotional behavior in Vietnamese men living in dioxin-contaminated areas.
Asymptotic Solutions of a Generalized Starobinski Model: Kinetic Dominance, Slow Roll and Separatrices
Authors: Medina Elena , Alonso Luis Martínez
Published: December 2021

We consider a generalized Starobinski inflationary model. We present a method for computing solutions as generalized asymptotic expansions, both in the kinetic dominance stage (psi series solutions) and in the slow roll stage (asymptotic expansions of the separatrix solutions). These asymptotic expansions are derived in the framework of the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism where the Hubble parameter is written as a function of the inflaton field. They are applied to determine the values of the inflaton field when the inflation period starts and ends as well as to estimate the corresponding amount of inflation. As a consequence, they can be used to select the appropriate initial conditions for determining a solution with a previously fixed amount of inflation.
Oral Cholera Vaccine Efficacy and Effectiveness
Authors: Song Katerina Rok , Lim Jacqueline Kyungah , Park Se Eun , Saluja Tarun , Cho Sung-Il , Wartel Tram Anh , Lynch Julia
Published: December 2021

Although measuring vaccine efficacy through the conventional phase III study design, randomized, double-blinded controlled trial serves as the “gold standard”, effectiveness studies, conducted in the context of a public health program, seek to broaden the understanding of the impact of a vaccine in a real world setting including both individual and population level impacts. Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Since the 1980s, either killed or live oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) have been developed and efficacy and effectiveness studies have been conducted on OCV. Although the results of OCV effectiveness studies sometimes showed outliers, the tendency seen is for effectiveness of the vaccine used in public health settings to be somewhat higher than estimated in randomized controlled trials due to the influence of indirect herd protection. Efficacy and Effectiveness studies both generate important information about the vaccine performance characteristics and its impact when used in real world populations at risk for the disease.
Connection between Anthropogenic Water Diversion and Hydrodynamic Condition in Plain River Network
Authors: Wang Hua , Shen Zilin , Zeng Yichuan , Yan Huaiyu , Li Yiping , Yuan Weihao
Published: December 2021

The increase in the rate of water renewal driven by hydrodynamics contributes to improving the water quality of the plain river network. Taking the lakeside river network in Wuxi as an example, through numerical simulation, polynomial fitting, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis, the hydrodynamic responses of urban lake-connected river networks to water diversion and hydrodynamic grouping were researched. Based on numerical model and influence weight analysis, we explored the improvement of hydrodynamic conditions of plain river network with strong human intervention and high algal water diversion. The results showed that: (1) The relationship between water diversion impact on river network flow velocity and water diversion flux was not as simple a linear relationship. It could be reflected by polynomial. The water transfer interval in dry season with high hydrodynamic efficiency (HE) was lower than 10 m3/s and higher than 30 m3/s, and the HE increased significantly when the water transfer flow was higher than 20 m3/s in the wet season. (2) According to the main hydrodynamic driving factors, the channels in the river network could be divided into three types: water conservancy projects, river and lake water level difference, and river channel characteristic. The correlations of rivers’ flow velocity in each group were very high. (3) The influence weights of water conservancy projects, river and lake water level difference, and river channel characteristic on the whole river network dynamics were 65, 21, and 12.4%, respectively, and the other factors contributed 1.6% of the weight.
Simulation of Daily Snow Depth Data in China Based on the NEX-GDDP
Authors: Chen Hongju , Yang Jianping , Ding Yongjian , He Qingshan , Ji Qin
Published: December 2021

In this study, a backpropagation artificial neural network snow simulation model (BPANNSIM) is built using data collected from the National Climate Reference Station to obtain simulation data of China’s future daily snow depth in terms of representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The input layer of the BPANNSIM comprises the current day’s maximum temperature, minimum temperature, snow depth, and precipitation data, and the target layer comprises snow depth data of the following day. The model is trained and validated based on data from the National Climate Reference Station over a baseline period of 1986–2005. Validation results show that the temporal correlations of the observed and the model iterative simulated values are 0.94 for monthly cumulative snow cover duration and 0.88 for monthly cumulative snow depth. Subsequently, future daily snow depth data (2016–2065) are retrieved from the NEX-GDPP dataset (Washington, DC/USA: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)Earth Exchange/Global Daily Downscaled Projections data), revealing that the simulation data error is highly correlated with that of the input data; thus, a validation method for gridded meteorological data is proposed to verify the accuracy of gridded meteorological data within snowfall periods and the reasonability of hydrothermal coupling for gridded meteorological data.
Scour at Bridge Piers Protected by the Riprap Sloping Structure: A Review
Authors: Harasti Antonija , Gilja Gordon , Potočki Kristina , Lacko Martina
Published: December 2021

Bridge piers on large rivers are often protected from scouring using launchable stone, such as a riprap sloping structure. While such scour countermeasures are effective for pier protection, they significantly alter flow conditions in the bridge opening by overtopping flow and flow contraction, deflecting the formation of the scour hole downstream and exposing the downstream riverbed to additional scour. This paper provides a comprehensive and relevant review of bridge scour estimation methods for piers with a riprap sloping structure installed as a scour countermeasure. Research on empirical methods for bridge scour estimation is reviewed and analyzed with formulae used for comparable structures—complex pier formulae and formulae for river training structures. A summary of relevant formulae applicable to piers with installed scour countermeasures is provided, as well as a discussion on the possible future research directions that could contribute to the field.
Integrating Electric Vehicles into Power System Operation Production Cost Models
Authors: Alvarez Guerrero Jose David , Bhattarai Bikash , Shrestha Rajendra , Acker Thomas L. , Castro Rafael
Published: December 2021

The electrification of the transportation sector will increase the demand for electric power, potentially impacting the peak load and power system operations. A change such as this will be multifaceted. A power system production cost model (PCM) is a useful tool with which to analyze one of these facets, the operation of the power system. A PCM is a computer simulation that mimics power system operation, i.e., unit commitment, economic dispatch, reserves, etc. To understand how electric vehicles (EVs) will affect power system operation, it is necessary to create models that describe how EVs interact with power system operations that are suitable for use in a PCM. In this work, EV charging data from the EV Project, reported by the Idaho National Laboratory, were used to create scalable, statistical models of EV charging load profiles suitable for incorporation into a PCM. Models of EV loads were created for uncoordinated and coordinated charging. Uncoordinated charging load represents the load resulting from EV owners that charge at times of their choosing. To create an uncoordinated charging load profile, the parameters of importance are the number of vehicles, charger type, battery capacity, availability for charging, and battery beginning and ending states of charge. Coordinated charging is where EVs are charged via an “aggregator” that interacts with a power system operator to schedule EV charging at times that either minimize system operating costs, decrease EV charging costs, or both, while meeting the daily EV charging requirements subject to the EV owners’ charging constraints. Beta distributions were found to be the most appropriate distribution for statistically modeling the initial and final state of charge (SoC) of vehicles in an EV fleet. A Monte Carlo technique was implemented by sampling the charging parameters of importance to create an uncoordinated charging load time series. Coordinated charging was modeled as a controllable load within the PCM to represent the influence of the EV fleet on the system’s electricity price. The charging models were integrated as EV loads in a simple 5-bus system to demonstrate their usefulness. Polaris Systems Optimization’s PCM power system optimizer (PSO) was employed to show the effect of the EVs on one day of operation in the 5-bus power system, yielding interesting and valid results and showing the effectiveness of the charging models.
Techno-Economic Analysis and Feasibility Studies of Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Authors: Danial Muhammad , Azis Fatin Amanina , Abas Pg Emeroylariffion
Published: December 2021

Recent United Nations high-level dialogue on energy, which had emphasized on energy usage and environmental protection, has renewed commitments by different countries on the adoption of electric vehicle (EVs). This paper aims to analyze the economic feasibility of establishing electrical charging stations, which is an important factor for the wide adoption of EVs, using life cycle cost analysis. Although local data have been used, the method can be easily adopted to analyze economic feasibility at different markets. The findings have revealed that an electrical charging station is only feasible when the acquisition cost is kept to a minimum to return 1.47 times the initial investment in terms of life cycle cost. An acquisition cost of BND 29,725 on the electrical charging station represents the threshold below which an electrical charging station is more attractive. In order to promote these charging stations, the government needs to provide multiple incentives, including a subsidy to reduce the acquisition cost, relaxing control on the electric selling price, taxing the establishment of conventional filling stations, and minimally reducing the profit margin on the selling price of fossil fuel. It has been shown that a 40% initial subsidy on the purchase of electrical charging stations, coupled with a slight subsidy of BND 0.018/kWh on electricity, would make electrical charging stations economically competitive. To reach its target of 60% electrification of the transportation sector, Brunei would need to implement a structure program to establish between 646 and 3300 electrical charging stations by the year 2035, to cater for its expected number of EVs.
Efeitos da ETCC na função cognitiva de idosos com HIV: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Gregório Nicole de Almeida , Oliveira Renan Gama de , Kakuta Elaine , Passos Higor Ranniery Panato , Loreti Eduardo Henrique
Published: December 2021

Introdução. Nos últimos anos, houve um aumento da prevalência do HIV entre os idosos. A infecção pelo HIV em idosos tem sido acompanhada de comorbidades, como alterações na função cognitiva. Objetivo. Analisar e descrever a resposta terapêutica da ETCC na função cognitiva de idosos com HIV. Método. Os artigos foram pesquisados nas bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), PubMed, Web of Science e Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Ensaios clínicos randomizados publicados entre 2000 e 2020 e com pontuação maior ou igual a 5 na escala PEDro foram incluídos. A revisão foi registrada no PROSPERO (CRD42021260976). Resultados. A busca resultou em 147 artigos, dos quais 4 foram incluídos. Três estudos usaram ETCC anódica no córtex frontal direito inferior e 1 no córtex pré-frontal dorsolateral esquerdo. Melhoria na função cognitiva foi observada após o uso de tDCS. Conclusões. O uso de ETCC em idosos com HIV mostrou ter um resultado promissor na melhoria da função cognitiva.
Characterization and assessment of water quality in mountainous sub-basins on the Manhuaçu River, MG
Authors: BARBOSA RODOLFO Alves , Bramorski Julieta , Tonello Kelly Cristina , Lorenzon Alexandre Simões , Corrêa João Batista Lúcio , Da Silveira Lucas Jesus , Spletozer Aline Gonçalves , Dias Herly Carlos Teixeira
Published: December 2021

The objective of this chapter is to carry out an analysis of the water quality of six different sites in the Manhuaçu River basin and to propose measures for the saved sites. Changes in land cover occur and can cause degradation of the landscape. Hydrographic data selected by IBGE and IEDE level curves on a scale of 1: 50,000 were used and performed on MDEHC using Arc GIS software. Six different locations were collected in the field in the Manhuaçu River basin in February 2019. The records provided by SAAE Manhuaçu were also used. How the analyzes were evaluated and using a Water Quality Index (IQA) for the saved locations. As sub-basins Córrego Bom Jesus, Rio Manhuaçu and Rio São Luis lowered low values of dissolved oxygen with values of 0.0; 2.3 and 2.5 mg l-1, respectively. Córrego Bom Jesus had the lowest IQA value, followed by Rio Manhuaçu and Rio São Luis with values of 36.69; 44.92 and 47.84 values considered ruins. High levels of pesticides were not detected in surface waters. The product of coffee plantations close to water courses and a potential contamination by pesticides are of concern, and it is necessary to increase a protected area in the riparian zone.
Laser Scanning Devices and Their Use in Future Lunar Missions.
Authors: Kulikov I.N.
Published: December 2021

The paper gives approaches to the use of existing LIDAR (Light Identification, Detection and Ranging) scanning systems to survey the Moon and other plan-ets. The study conducted is based on available domestic and foreign experience in using aerial (ALS), mobile (MLS), and ground (GLS) laser scanners. Issues of using space scanning systems for spatial and technical monitoring are also considered. The formulated problems of the creation and operation of space-purposed scanning systems allow determining the priority lines of applied scientific studies in this subject area.
ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФОРМУВАННЯ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ У КИТАЇ
Authors: Лань Дзін
Published: December 2021

Актуальність дослідження зумовлена недостатнім вивченням питання особливостей формування організаційної культури в Китайській Народній Республіці як країні, яка на сьогодні має одні із вищих показників розвитку економіки та виробництва. Метою статті стало виявлення особливостей формування організаційної культури в Китайській Народній Республіці (КНР). Установлено, що, починаючи з 1978 року, КНР активно впроваджувала реформи, спрямовані на відкритість та розвиток економіки країни. Важливе місце серед цих реформ було призначено саме освіті, науці та культурі. Поняття «організаційна культура» набуло популярності на початок 1980-х рр., проте і досі не існує його єдиного загальноприйнятого визначення. Під сутністю поняття «організаційна культура» у КНР розуміють поведінку як норму відносин на виробництві, котра базується на неприхованих правилах спілкування, які підпорядковані меті компанії, і виступає важливим чинником економічного розвитку виробництва. Серед функцій організаційної культури фахівці визначають: планувальну, згуртування колективу; мотиваційну; контролюючу; функцію впливу; інтегративні функції; функцію гармонії; управлінську. Серед особливостей формування організаційної культури у КНР визначено: позитивне ставлення до культури та мистецтва, котрі спрямовані на розвиток сфери духу, емоцій, чуйності та унікальності особистості; розумне управління компаніями у КНР, яке передбачає прояв таких якостей, як: чуйність, творчість, професійна етика та емоційність; регулювання взаємовідносин в управлінні перш за все моральними нормами, які іноді стають вище за закон; домінування політичної культури в суспільному та культурному житті; формування організаційної культури в процесі постійного реформування; розвиток особистості та суспільства через інновації; вивчення моделей управління зарубіжних країн та їх упровадження з урахуванням національних особливостей; ґрунтування організаційної культури на відповідних компетентностях, наполегливій праці; розробка системи мотивів і стимулів з урахуванням національних традицій країни.
Evaluation of the Relation of Smoking, Gallstones, and Renal Stones With Sialolithiasis in Patients Referred to Oral Medicine and ENT Department of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Pakdel Farzaneh , Attaran Rana , Movafagh Sevda , Aghazadeh Zahra
Published: December 2021

Background: The exact mechanism of the formation of salivary gland stones is unknown. Elucidating pathophysiology of the formation of salivary stones might prevent both their formation and the need for implementing invasive surgical procedures. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects exerted by some etiological factors on the formation of salivary gland stones. Methods: In this case–control study, the records of 80 patients with sialolithiasis were studied as a census from April 2011 to June 2019. These patients were referred to the Oral Medicine and the ENT departments of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The control group consisted of the same number of the patients with no sialolithiasis. Two groups were compared in terms of stone size, smoking, gallstones, and renal stones. Chi-squared, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were adopted to examine the quantitative variables. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: Overall, 96.2% of sialoliths were found in the submandibular gland, of which 78.8% were single. Moreover, 32.5% of the patients with a history of sialolithiasis were smokers, whereas this frequency was 23.8% in the control group. In the case and control groups, 2.5% and 5% of the patients had a history of renal stones, respectively. Only one patient who had undergone a surgical procedure to remove salivary gland stones had a history of gallstones, while none of the patients in the control group had a history of gallstones. Conclusions: The results showed that the formation of salivary gland stones was not associated with smoking, history of renal stones, and gallstones. Furthermore, it was found that the numbers and sizes of salivary stones were not affected by smoking.
Displacement and Arrest of Root Formation in a Permanent Maxillary Central Incisor Subsequent to Trauma to the Primary Predecessor: A Case Report
Authors: Kamali Sabeti Arghavan , Vahedi Parisa , Entezari Moghaddam Niloofar
Published: December 2021

The present report aimed to explore the case of an 8-year-old patient with chief complaint of the lack of eruption of the maxillary right permanent central incisor, referring to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The corresponding tooth on the contralateral side had fully erupted. The patient’s history revealed that the predecessor deciduous tooth had sustained a trauma, resulting in the partial intrusion of the tooth into the alveolar bone, that is, the relative intrusion of the deciduous central incisor. CBCT examinations were ordered for further evaluation, which showed the upward displacement of the permanent tooth bud in the alveolar bone as a result of the trauma, adhering to the floor of the nasal cavity. Therefore, root formation was halted, making the tooth embedded.
RUSSIAN DRAMA DURING THE CRIMEAN WAR OF 1853–1856
Authors: Patrikeeva Mariya V.
Published: December 2021

The Crimean War of 1853–1856 became a real challenge for Russian society and was reflected in the culture and art of

that time, including drama. Already during the war, plays dedicated to this historical event were being created and staged in

theatres. This article analyses four plays – “For the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland” by Pyotr Grigor’yev, “The Veteran and

the Recruit” by Aleksey Pisemsky, “The Feat of the Mother” by Orest Miller, “The Russians in 1854” by Adelaida Tal’tseva.

The general ideological message of those dramatic works included patriotism, glorification of the greatness of the Fatherland

and the strength of the Russian people, the Orthodox faith, in connection with which the plays created the image of a

Russian soldier for whom participation in the war is a matter of honour and faith. The study establishes the correspondence

of dramatic works of the period of the Crimean War of 1853–1856 to the requirements of the time, their close connection

with the historical context of the era, as well as an orientation towards ease of perception by the audience. The author of

the article defines the general features of patriotic plays of the Crimean War period at the plot and ideological level.
Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “Late Love”: from its conception to the implementation
Authors: Ovchinina Irina A. , Vinogradov Andrei A.
Published: December 2021

The article examines the contents’ peculiarity of the play “Late Love” in accord with its author’s artistic intentions. For the first time hand-written materials (rough copies and the play’s draft) have been taken into account and brought into academic use; the chirographs make it possible to bring to light the main points of the play and its vital problems. Special attention is paid to still greater importance the author was lending to the love story while working at the play; it helps to reveal the meaning of the play’s title. It is noted that for the first time Alexander Ostrovsky had shown a highly moral heroine who committed crime for the sake of the man she loved. In this connection, a few opinions of some critics are cited who gave negative estimation to the play. Analysing the play’s artistic merits the authors of the article take notice of the fact that the action is concentrated in time and space. The Shablovs’ house where lawyers, a tradesman, a landlady, and a clerk make their appearance, reflects to a certain extent the social strata of the post-reformed Russia and the tendencies typical of that world. The study of the initial draft made it clear that Alexander Ostrovsky thought over at first the play’s “scenario”, the number of personages, determined their characters and their role in the action’s development. The dramatic action and the happy end draw the spectators to the conclusion that a human’s salvation from its moral ruin is love, personal ability to repent and to realise its responsibility for the people close to it and for the world as a whole.