bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eco-engineering in the Application of Nature-based Coastal Defense
Authors:   Pusat Pencerapan Bumi, Institut Perubahan Iklim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia., Md Noor Noorashikin , Abdul Maulud Khairul Nizam ,   Pusat Pencerapan Bumi, Institut Perubahan Iklim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia., Mohd Azmi Ahmad Tarmizi ,   Pusat Pencerapan Bumi, Institut Perubahan Iklim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia., Harun Siti Norliyana ,   Pusat Sistem Perubahan Iklim Tropika, Institut Perubahan Iklim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: February 2024

Climate change increases the threat of erosion and flooding along coastlines around the world. Engineering technologies are response to protecting coastal communities and related infrastructure becoming increasingly unsustainable in economic and ecological contexts. This issue has led proposal to restore natural habitats, such as sand shoals, saltwater swamp areas, mangroves, seaweed, coral reefs, and shellfish, to provide coastal protection in lieu of or to complement artificial structures. Often coastal management is faced with eroded coastal problems which require decision on the most suitable mitigation option to implement. In this short review article, the application of eco-engineering in nature-based coastal defense is discussed. The obstacle in taking on the naturebased coastal defences is because of the rigorous assessment of their effectiveness compared to artificial protection structures. The assessment of the latest evidence for the effectiveness of nature-based beach protection versus artificial beach protection and future research needs are discussed in this review. Future projects should evaluate the habitat created or restored for coastal defence for its cost-effectiveness compared to artificial structures under the same environmental conditions. A cost-benefit analysis should consider all ecosystem services provided by nature-based or artificial structures in addition to coastal protection. Research among scientists, coastal managers, and engineers are needed to facilitate the experiments needed to test the value of this coastal protection scheme and to support its use as an alternative to artificial structures. This research is urgently needed because the rapidly changing climate requires new and innovative solutions to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities.
Modelling of Riverine Flooding Using HEC-RAS-A Case Study of Badri Khawar River in KPK, Pakistan
Authors:   Department of Civil Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Ehsan Saqib , Yasir Qazi Muhammad ,   Department of Civil Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Muhammad Awais Rana ,   Department of Civil Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Sattar Talha ,   Department of Civil Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Mustafa Ghulam ,   Department of Civil Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Fida Usama ,   Department of Civil Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Published: February 2024

Floods are one of the most occurring disasters in the world. Pakistan gets affected by flooding due to its diverse geography and has to lose several lives of people every year. The main objective of this study was to carry out modeling of riverine flooding using HEC-RAS program to estimate the safe channel capacity of the project reach and identify the vulnerable areas along the project reach for different flooding scenarios. A 9.21 Km long reach of Badri Khawar river, a right bank tributary of Indus River in KPK province has been taken as a case study. Based on the available data, one dimensional steady flow analysis in HEC-RAS has been carried out for different flooding scenarios. By analyzing the simulated results, the safe channel capacity of the study reach was found to be in the range of 125m3/s to 100m3/s from upstream to downstream. Based on the extent of flooding in different scenarios, vulnerable areas have been delineated on a flood map devised by the help of Google Earth. There is more inundation at the left overbank as compared to the right overbank. For the worst-case scenario, the maximum estimated flood extension on left bank side was about 425m while on the right bank side it was 204m. Based on the results of this research, it is suggested to enhance the existing flood protection measures along the project reach and improve the flood warning system and emergency evacuation mechanism in the vulnerable areas for long-term flood safety.
Green Retrofitting of Building using BIM-based Sustainability Optimization
Authors:   Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh 76020, Pakistan, Mughal Shizra , Khoso Ali Raza ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh 76020, Pakistan, Najeeb Haris ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh 76020, Pakistan, Noor Khan Muhammad Sufyan ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh 76020, Pakistan, Hussain Ali Tauha ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh 76020, Pakistan, Hussain Khahro Shabir ,   Department of Engineering Management, College of Engineering, Prince Sultan University, 11586, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Published: February 2024

The construction industry consumes around 55 percent of Pakistan’s annual energy and is the country’s most energy-intensive sector. It is, therefore, significant to devise a novel and effective model of green retrofitting of current buildings based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) which aims to reduce building energy consumption to effectively meet diversified climatic concerns and to promote sustainable structures. This research aims to reform the existing building by modifying the design parameters for an inefficient building envelope based on BIM simulation and data optimization results to optimize the overall energy consumption. BIM tools, such as Autodesk Revit and DesignBuilder have been used for the evaluation of the optimized energy-efficient design by comparing different design alternatives. After a detailed analysis, this research has concluded that the existing building is consuming a high amount of annual energy. With the help of BIM tools, which possess advanced algorithms for an effective optimization process, a list of ‘green’ solutions i.e., optimal designs has been generated, out of which the optimal and cost-effective design saved 46% of energy in total. In this study, the design variables selection has been fulfilled according to the local environmental sustainability.
CFD Investigation of Methane Combustion with Excess Air in Can-Type Gas Turbine Combustor
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Zahir Md Shamsuzzaman , Hasini Hasril ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Om Nur Irmawati ,   Institute for Sustainable Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Riyandwita Byan Wahyu ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Pertamina, Jalan Teuku Nyak Arief, Simprug Jakarta 12220, Indonesia, Mansyur Norfadilah ,   Institute for Sustainable Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA
Published: February 2024

This paper presents an investigation on the effect of excess air to combustion characteristics in a full-scale, gas turbine combustor, commonly used in power plant. The investigation was carried out using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and prior validation was made with the actual operation data of a power station, as well as the adiabatic flame temperature of methane. The mass fraction of CO2, O2 and NOx emissions for blended methane with different percentages of excess air explosions was also investigated. The stoichiometric excess air varies from 0% to 30% with air-fuel mixture of 2.7 kg/s. The geometric model of the combustor is extracted from actual gas turbine combustor using 3D scanner and converted into CAD model for simulation. The Navier-Stokes equations were solved using commercial CFD code, ANSYS Fluent, with RNG k-ε chosen to close the turbulence. For reacting species, the species transport model is assumed. Results showed that the addition of excess air during combustor has little effect on the velocity and temperature distribution, both at the combustor interior, as well as at the exit. For the emission of CO2 and O2, though there was no clear trend on the relations between the emission of these species and the excess air, the impact was quite significant. The production of NOx was also found to be independent on the excess air ratio, but instead, was a strong function of combustion and exhaust gas temperature.
Current 3R Practices on Construction Waste Minimization in Construction Site
Authors:   Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13500 Pematang Pauh, Pulau, Pinang, Malaysia, Hashim Mohamad Zain , Osman Idris ,   Department of Civil and Environment Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia, Hassan Siti Hafizan ,   Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13500 Pematang Pauh, Pulau, Pinang, Malaysia, Khusmah Musa Muriatul ,   Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13500 Pematang Pauh, Pulau, Pinang, Malaysia
Published: February 2024

The rise of the construction industry nowadays has a lot to do with the production of industrial waste. The needs of the construction industry whether for developing countries or developed countries is something that cannot be avoided. The main objectives were to find the main causes of construction waste generation, assess the level of awareness of 3R concepts and to evaluate the current approach used at the construction site in reducing construction waste. The study involves companies involved in the construction industry, namely architects, consultants and contractors. The research method used is a questionnaire to the construction industry. Results show that most respondents are aware of the benefits of 3R practices but most of them also do not practice the 3R due to lack of knowledge. The finding of this research is the construction waste can be reducing after practising the 3R.
Structural Design and Mechanism Analysis of Palm Oil Harvester
Authors:   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia, Yusuff M.A. , Wong K.S.M. ,   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia, Zakaria K.A. ,   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia, Sudin M.N. ,   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia, Daud N.M. ,   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Published: February 2024

Plantation of palm oil in Malaysia is one of the top contributor of the economy. In order to match the supply of palm oil fruit with demand, different harvesting methods are used such as the existing motorized cutter. Although it can reduce the harvesting time and the number of labors involved in harvesting process, the tight arrangement of oil palm fronds and long manually adjusted harvesting pole may cause the inconvenient to the labors. Therefore, this project studies the design of a circular cutter and automatically adjusted telescopic pole with rotational mechanism. The concept development of harvester is based on the scientific study on the limitations, customer requirement and engineering characteristics of existing harvesters. It is followed with the selection of best design of harvester that can solve the problems that faced by labors in existing harvester. The analysis of rotational speed, deflection and bending moment for different components in the palm oil harvester. The design of harvester is done with the aid of CAD software in form of part detail design, orthographic view and exploded view. With the rotational cutting mechanism, the harvester can easily reach and harvest the oil palm fresh fruit bunches from the bottom of the bunches.
New age constraints for metasedimentary rocks in southern Finland
Authors:   Geological Survey of Finland, Espoo, Salminen Paula , Kurhila Matti ,   Geological Survey of Finland, Espoo
Published: February 2024

Metasedimentary rocks from nine sampling sites in southern Finland and an intermediate dyke in one of these sites were sampled for analysis of U–Pb zircon age and geochemical composition. The zircons of the metasedimentary rock samples yield 207Pb/206Pb dates ranging from 3281 to 1810 Ma. The nearly concordant dates from apparent detrital zircon cores indicate a prominent source with age around 2.1–2.0 Ga. The maximum depositional ages estimated for six of the metasedimentary rock samples span from 1.96 to 1.89 Ga. The data from zircon rims and overgrowths and metamorphic zircons in the metasedimentary rock samples indicate regional metamorphic events in the study area at least at ca. 1.89 and 1.84 Ga, and possibly also at ca. 1.87 Ga. The minimum age of the deposition (≤1.89 Ga) was estimated based on the ages of the regional metamorphism and the intrusive rocks. Some zircon rims and overgrowths yield ≥1.91 Ga 207Pb/206Pb dates, which are considered to possibly represent metamorphic events in the source areas.
Central auditory processing disorders: causes, symptoms, and ways to overcome deficits in the learning environments
Authors: Fadeev K.A. , Orekhova E.V.
Published: February 2024

Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) are impairments in the ability to recognize sounds, localize their sources, and/or determine their identity and meaning due to functional impairments of the central auditory system. CAPD is observed in individuals with normal hearing levels and is not the result of high-level speech or cognitive impairment. This disorder is not well known to Russian specialists in the field of correctional psychology, while according to foreign sources it is observed in 2—7% of schoolchildren and is often combined with other developmental disorders (dyslexia, speech developmental disorders, ASD, ADHD). Here we provide a brief review of CAPD: its causes, symptoms, and approaches to diagnosis. In particular, we draw the readers' attention to the insufficient development of tools and practices for diagnosing and treating CAPD in Russia. Next, we review current approaches to the correction of CAPD, with special emphasis on assistive technologies that improve the signal-to-noise ratio (FM systems). Evidence in the literature indicates that in addition to the immediate effect (improved speech understanding), prolonged use of FM systems has a positive long-term effect based on mechanisms of neural plasticity.
Transition from school to employment for young people with disabilities in EU and US
Authors: Shcherbakova A.M. , Vinogradova E.S.
Published: February 2024

Decisions regarding career and education are among the most important ones young people make. Successful career guidance is an individual and a social benefit: it helps people make progress in school and work, but it also helps the efficient functioning of labor and educational markets, and contributes to a number of social policy objectives. This supports government investment in career guidance. Career guidance programs — in and out of school — have a formative impact on young people's understanding of themselves and the world of jobs and can improve outcomes in educational and social services, as well as in the economy. Therefore as young people continue the education and training longer and the labor market becomes more sophisticated, the need for career guidance increases. The article presents an overview of current approaches and methods in the career guidance for young people with disabilities in the European Union and the USA. Demographic characteristics and employment rate of the population with disabilities in the reviewed regions are given. The tools (“Individual Transition/Education Plan”) used to manage the transition from school to work are explored in details in the context of expectations and requirements from national legislation. The research describes the roles and tasks to be performed by all involved parties at various stages in the development of Individual Transition/Education Plans. Special attention is paid to the assessment of professional competences which are fundamental to start a successful career. Also areas for development in successful career guidance support are mentioned, including the need for schools to start the occupational education early and the essential role of exposure to the world of job.
Children's interaction with digital devices: an overview of research and recommendations
Authors: Smirnova S.Y. , Klopotova E.E.
Published: February 2024

The article presents an overview of current research and recommendations on the organization of children's interaction with digital devices. The problems associated with the role of parents as intermediaries between children and digital devices have led to a number of studies of parental strategies and, resulting from them, studies of the regulation of screen time, issues of digital education, the impact on children's behavior in the process of interacting with digital content. The main results of these studies are the basis for the recommendations of national organizations responsible for the health and development of children. The presented recommendations emphasize the limited potential of digital technologies for the development of young children (up to two years old) and the danger of redistributing children's free time in favor of interacting with gadgets compared to other activities, the importance of parents as intermediaries in the use of technology by children and the need to develop family rules for the use of digital devices. Based on the data obtained, it is concluded that due to the intensive development of digital technologies and the rapidly changing situation of children's access to them, today, first of all, there is a process of accumulation of empirical data and identification of the most effective forms and ways of organizing the interaction of children of early and preschool age with digital devices.
Emotional Burnout and Stress in Social Workers
Authors: Kamnev A.N. , Mikhailova T.A. , Shilinа I.B.
Published: February 2024

The authors present an overview of the latest foreign studies on the problem of emotional burnout and occupational stress in social workers, clarify concepts, analyze trends and conclusions. It is especially important to observe the researches of the 2020s, when society was faced with new challenges (the COVID-19 pandemic, social conflicts and disasters), increasing the workload and stress for social workers. The article analyzes different approaches to the study of stress and burnout, including those in social work and empirical studies in different countries that show that social workers get a higher level of stress and, as a result, emotional burnout, than comparable professional groups. The conclusion about the impact of emotional burnout of social workers on their mental and physical health is summarized. The sources contributing to the occurrence of stress and emotional burnout are determined, which come from the practice of social work itself, are associated with contradictions between values and work requirements, as well as with the organization of the working environment. The necessity of early prevention of professional burnout in the social sphere through support is substantiated.
Study of dependence of lubrication layer thickness in a plain thrust bearing of a sealed pump with a magnetic clutch on area of the working wheel equalizing holes
Authors: Pavlovsky Dmitry B. , Petrov Alexey I. , Protopopov Alexander A.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, using sealed pumps for transferring various liquids is widespread. Increasing the service life and operation reliability of sealed pumps with a magnetic clutch is a relevant technical task.
AIM: Search for relatively simple ways of increasing the service life and operation reliability of sealed pumps with a magnetic clutch, in particular, study of influence of area of the working wheel equalizing holes on lubrication layer thickness in a thrust bearing.
METHODS: In the mathematical model, the diagram of forces acting at a rotor of a centrifugal pump with hydrostatic bearings operating with the transferred liquid was analyzed and the equilibrium equation was obtained. The influence of such centrifugal pump geometric parameters as area of the working wheel equalizing holes on lubrication layer thickness in a thrust hydrostatic bearing was taken into account in the calculation.
RESULTS: In the paper’s conclusion, there is dependency graph of lubrication layer thickness in a thrust bearing on area of the working wheel equalizing holes. As it is shown in the graph, the axial force is quite sensible to area of an equalizing hole of a centrifugal pump working wheel.
CONCLUSION: The practical value of the study lies in the formulated influence of area of the working wheel equalizing holes on lubrication layer thickness in a thrust bearing of a centrifugal pump, given in the paper’s conclusion.
Load mode control of test rigs for rubber-metal vibration isolators
Authors: Godzhaev Zakhid A. , Shekhovtsov Viktor V. , Lyashenko Mikhail V. , Potapov Pavel V. , Klementiev Evgeniy V.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Confirmation of the effective performance of vibration isolators of the suspension system for cabins of wheeled and tracked vehicles is obtained on the basis of bench tests. The development of loading devices and load mode control systems for bench testing of vibration isolators based on operating modes is a relevant technical task.
AIM: Development of load mode control systems for bench testing of vibration isolators based on the analysis of their operational loads.
METHODS: Based on the analysis of the operational loads of vibration isolators of suspension systems for cabins of wheeled and tracked vehicles, technical solutions for loading devices of rigs and load mode control systems have been developed that make it possible to reproduce load modes with parameters statistically equivalent to operational load modes on the tested vibration isolators.
RESULTS: The technical solution of the rig for durability testing of rubber-metal vibration isolators with reproduction of operational loads in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions on the tested vibration isolator is proposed. A technical solution for the rig ensuring reproduction of load modes at durability testing of vibration isolators, in which the dynamic component of the load contains forced and natural vibrations of the protected object, is also proposed. Load mode control of the proposed rigs ensures more reliable test results due to the approximation of the load conditions of vibration isolators on the rigs to the operational ones.
CONCLUSION: The practical value of the study lies in the opportunity of using the proposed technical solutions of test rigs and load control systems for testing vibration isolators of the suspension system for cabins of wheeled and tracked vehicles with an increase in the degree of reliability of their results due to the approximation of load conditions to the operational ones.
Model-based development of software for network control of automotive vehicles’ equipment
Authors: Polyuschenkov Igor S.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Various devices and systems connected via onboard network with electronic control unit are the part of automotive vehicles’ equipment. Such devices and systems, which ensure the operability of a vehicle or are the elements of technological units, having microprocessor control, are based on various physical principles. Designers of such devices and systems may not have sufficient knowledge and experience to develop the software independently, which applies to the development of software for the network control.
AIM: The development of software for information subsystem of a technical device that interacts with an electronic control unit via onboard network as part of automotive vehicles’ equipment, as well as the demonstration of application of model-based programming tools in this development.
METHODS: A comprehensive description of technical solutions developed to achieve the listed aims using methods of system analysis and methods for developing and debugging of software is given. According to these methods, model-based programming tools are used as handlers for built-in interface modules of microcontroller and elements of software layout. Software elements for processing received messages, performing actions with the data received in them, as well as generation of response messages have been developed in the C language.
RESULTS: Software that processes messages received by a device subordinated to an electronic control unit via the CAN network, generates response messages addressed to this unit, and sends them has been developed. The method of access to the receiving buffer of the network interface and priority of software execution are taken into account.
CONCLUSION: It is shown that model-based programming in combination with programming tools based on structured text is an effective software development technology that is convenient for designers of technical devices and systems based on various physical principles and requiring microprocessor control. In particular, the abovementioned should be attributed to specialists in the field of electrical engineering who develop equipment for automotive vehicles.
Identification of maximal cyclic pressure with the non-motorized method based on specific refraction
Authors: Plotnikov Sergey A. , Gnevashev Pavel V. , Smolnikov Mikhail V. , Shishkin Gennady P.
Published: February 2024

ВACKGROUND: Russian scientists constantly deal with the issues of the engine performance evaluation with non-standard methods, as they are commonly called “express methods”. In many cases, if the initial components retain the relative constancy of their physicochemical properties, the determination of performance indicators can be carried out with simple classical methods of refractometry, magneto-optics, densimetry, interfacial tensiometry or their combination (aggregation).
AIM: Identification of the maximal cycle pressure of an operating diesel engine with the non-motorized method based on the values of specific refraction for each type of biofuel.
METHODS: The object of research was the D-245.5S2 turbocharged four-stroke engine with intercooler. Mixtures of DT with ethanol, rapeseed oil and surep oil were prepared for the study. The mass fraction of oils and ethanol in the mixture varied from 0% to 50%. Density d and refractive index were measured for each sample. The measurements were carried out at an ambient temperature of 20˚C. The refractive index of the samples was measured using the IRF – 454b refractometer. The density was determined using the PZh-2-25 pycnometer and the VIBRAAJH-620CE laboratory scales according to GOST 3900-85 “Oil and petroleum products. Methods for determining density”.
RESULTS: Data analysis showed that there is a strong correlation between the specific refraction sR and the maximal pressure in a cylinder Pz (MPa). Linear regression models for various alternative fuel mixtures have been developed to determine the maximal cycle pressure during diesel operation.
CONCLUSION: The application of the proposed dependencies makes it possible to identify the maximal cycle pressure of an operating a diesel engine with sufficient accuracy in a non-motorized way.
Diagnostics of inter-turn short circuits in phase stator windings of permanent magnet synchronous machines
Authors: Zhileykin Mikhail M. , Klimov Aleksandr V. , Ospanbekov Baurjan K. , Smirnov Stanislav S.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Currently, electric buses are becoming more widespread in the segment of urban passenger transportation due to the absence of harmful emissions and low noise levels. Permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM) are widely used as a traction motor.
One of the most promising methods of monitoring the technical condition of traction motors is diagnostics using monitoring tools installed on board of a vehicle. The advantages of such methods include the possibility of regular frequent condition checks (as opposed to much rarer diagnostics in stationary maintenance points) and a more rapid response to the development of identified malfunctions, which significantly reduces the cost of maintenance and repair of expensive equipment. The disadvantages include limitations associated with a shortage of layout space for the placement of diagnostic equipment, with the limited capabilities of on-board computer facilities for the transmission and storage of diagnostic information and with the complexity of computational procedures of built-in expert diagnostic systems.
Concerning the types of operational failures of PMSMs, which are the most common and the most severe in terms of the cost of restoring operability, these are inter-turn short circuits in the stator windings, increased eccentricity of the air gap between the stator and the rotor, bearing damage, as well as damage of the mechanical gearbox coupled with the electric motor.
AIM: Identification the diagnostic signs of inter-turn short circuits in the phase windings of a permanent magnet synchronous machine, helping to detect these malfunctions on board of route urban vehicles at an early stage.
METHODS: A mathematical model of a permanent magnet synchronous machine with short-circuited turns of the phase winding, which makes it possible to study the behavior of the motor with a various number of short-circuited turns, has been developed.
RESULTS: For the first time, the requirements for diagnostic features for the on-board diagnostic system of an urban electric bus, making it possible to detect inter-turn short circuits in the phase windings of traction electric motors at the early stages of the origin of a malfunction, are formulated.
The main parameters of the process of digital registration of phase currents have been obtained, helping to do measurements and to transmit signals through the onboard information network of the electric bus.
Using simulation modeling methods, it was found that the peak values of the linear spectrum of the total current vector are stable diagnostic signs that make it possible to detect inter-turn short circuits in the phase windings of traction motors at the early stages of the origin of the malfunction.
CONCLUSION: The practical value of the study lies in the opportunity of using the proposed methods for diagnosing the technical condition of traction electric drive units in urban passenger electric transport.
Development and research of the model of a wheel-legged robot
Authors: Dyakov Aleksey S. , Evseev Kirill B. , Fedorov Dmitry S.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: The development of robots capable of moving in both walking and wheeled modes and distinguishing with a simple design from the already developed robots is a relevant task for some recent years. In order for such a robot to have scientific and commercial success, it is necessary for it to be as structurally complex, smooth, reliable and inexpensive as its wheeled equivalent and, in addition, to be able to move stably and quickly over terrain that is impassable for wheeled robots. The robot dynamics is modeled with the Universal Mechanism and the MATLAB/Simulink software packages. The results of virtual tests of the robot in main motion modes (straight-line motion, turning, step climbing) are given in the paper. AIM: Increasing the mobility of a wheel-legged robot, equipped with the pseudo-walking propulsion system, using reasonable control laws. METHODS: In order to evaluate ride performance of the studied robot, methods of numerical simulation of its motion based on the multibody dynamics software packages are used. RESULTS: The maximal velocity of stable straight-line motion, the turning velocity and the height of the largest climbed step were obtained for the robot with given power of engines. CONCLUSION: The model of the new mobile robot equipped with the simple-designed propulsion system has been developed. This model demonstrated high cross-country abilities and other mobility indicators according to the results of virtual tests.
Features of the spatial orientation of the thoracodorsal nerve bundles
Authors: Gorbunov Nikolay S. , Kober Kristina V. , Kasparov Eduard V. , Rostovtsev Sergey I. , Lebedeva Darya N.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Studying the spatial arrangement of nerve bundles makes it possible to better understand the characteristics of the occurrence and mechanisms of injuries to peripheral nerves, to develop and perform new reconstructive operations.
AIM: To identify the features of the route, spatial orientation and relationships of the thoracodorsal nerve bundles along its entire length.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intrastem dissection of 121 thoracodorsal nerves was performed in the corpses of men and women aged 40–97 years. The obtained indicators of the length (mm) and angles of deviation (degrees) of the thoracodorsal nerve bundles at different levels of their entire path were checked for normality of distribution using the Shapiro–Wilk test. When describing the studied indicators, the median (Me) and quartile intervals (Q1, Q3) were determined, and the significance of intergroup differences was determined using the Mann–Whitney U test.
RESULTS: Along the entire path, the bundles of the thoracodorsal nerve change their spatial position 6 times and their relationship with each other 1 time. The closer the bundles are to the spinal cord and spine, the more changes (85.7%); the further to the periphery, the fewer (14.3%). The bundles of the thoracodorsal nerve are located twice in the horizontal plane, and in the proximal half of the C7 spinal nerve they are twisted relative to each other by 180° [170°; 190°], change places: the sensory ones move from the posterior position to the anterior one, and the motor one — from the anterior to the posterior one. The bundles of the thoracodorsal nerve deviate downward 4 times in the frontal plane at a total angle of 105° [95°; 115°], and in the sagittal plane they change their position 2 times and move from an oblique-anterior (15° [5°; 25°]) to an oblique-posterior (20° [10°; 30°]) position.
CONCLUSION: The route of passage of the thoracodorsal nerve bundles along the entire path from the spinal cord to the latissimus dorsi muscle consists of eight levels of different lengths, 6 times they change their spatial orientation and 1 time their relationship with each other.
Pathology of the pelvic bones and its correction in bladder exstrophy
Authors: Akramov Nail R. , Zakirov Aidar K. , Khaertdinov Elmir I. , Morozov Valery I.
Published: February 2024

There are many studies regarding treatment methods for bladder exstrophy, but it is impossible to single out the only correct one. When treating bladder exstrophy, all defects can be eliminated separately, but the effect of such interventions will be incomplete. When analyzing the anatomy of patients with this pathology, pronounced splitting and divergence of the pelvic muscles is noted due to dysplasia and the wide position of the iliac and pubic bones. Due to the inferiority of the pelvic bones, the functions of all its organs are disrupted. Modern methods of radiation research have made it possible to better understand the main causes of such changes: outwardly rotated iliac bones, retroversion of the acetabulum and femur, shortened branches of the pubic bones, a backward curved acetabulum and flabby sacroiliac joint, increased distance between the triradial cartilages. Such changes are difficult to eliminate with soft tissue plastic surgery, so specialists who use osteotomy of the pelvic bones in the treatment of this pathology have more positive results. Since 1958, in the treatment of children with exstrophy of the bladder, osteotomy has been used in various versions, which makes it possible to restore the pelvic ring, improve the results of soft tissue plastic surgery and urinary continence. The authors noted a high rate of continence success in patients who underwent primary bladder closure without complications such as wound infection, dehiscence, or any degree of bladder prolapse. Thus, correction of the skeletal system serves as a basic element in the correction of bladder exstrophy.
85 years of the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine of Kazan State ­Medical University: from history to modern times
Authors: Khasanova Gulshat R.
Published: February 2024

In 2023, it was 85 years since the founding of the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine at Kazan State Medical University. The article describes the main stages of the history of the department, from its foundation to the present day. The first head of the department in 1938 was V.I. Popov. In addition to successful work in training specialists, the history of the department was marked by extensive scientific activity and work carried out in the direction of the infectious diseases prevention, including as part of eliminating outbreaks. Employees of the department have carried out scientific research devoted to improving the diagnosis of infectious diseases, improving epidemiological surveillance in order to further reduce the incidence and eliminate current infections, including diphtheria, typhus and typhoid fever, tuberculosis, smallpox, viral hepatitis, infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, etc. A significant part of the scientific work carried out by the staff of the department concerned the study of post-infectious and post-vaccination immunity, as well as the study of the influence of environmental risk factors on the immunological reactivity of the body. The change in the paradigm of modern epidemiology and the epidemic situation has necessitated modification of the educational process with the inclusion in the program and expansion of teaching in such areas as clinical epidemiology, hospital epidemiology, and military epidemiology. In 2016, the department was renamed the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine.
Shear-Wave Velocity Model for the Dead Sea Transform from Multimode Inversion of Surface Waves Excited by the February 2023 Southeast Türkiye Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Lellouch Ariel , Inbal Asaf , Ziv Alon
Published: February 2024

The dispersive nature of surface waves can be used for shear-wave velocity inversion at different scales. We show that four large earthquakes from the 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence generate visible surface waves recorded by a dense strong-motion network deployed along the Dead Sea Transform (DST) in Israel. Thanks to favorable geometrical conditions and source radiation patterns, we observe both Rayleigh and Love waves that travel predominantly parallel to the network. We can reliably compute the dispersion of three Love-wave modes and two Rayleigh-wave modes. Using these dispersion curves, we invert for a 1D S-wave velocity model of the entire DST, outperforming an existing model. Statistical and kernel sensitivity analysis show high certainty down to a depth of 30 km thanks to the multimode joint inversion in the frequency band of 0.03–0.3 Hz. Using a multiwindow approach, we invert for an along-strike laterally varying velocity model of the DST. Although it is limited to the fundamental Love-wave mode, using the 1D model as a constraint allows us to recover a shallow (10 km) velocity structure in agreement with previous studies of the area. Despite the simplicity of our used approach, it can be used as a basis for more advanced studies.
Moral Distress and Moral Resilience of Health Professionals in a Greek Public Hospital during the Second Wave of Pandemic
Authors: Grammatis Vaios , KOUROUTZIS IOANNIS , Apostolidi Nikoletta , VAKO Ilda , Apostolidi Theodora , ROKA VASILIKI , SARAFIS PAVLOS , Malliarou Maria
Published: February 2024

Moral distress is the situation in which nurses know the moral principles that should guide their actions but are not allowed by the constraints of the health system. Moral sensitivity is the ability of nurses to perceive the moral dimensions of certain situations or actions. Safe care is a range of services provided to patients by nurses and consequently nurses with the aim of monitoring, promoting, maintaining or restoring the health of patients. Moral distress negatively affects safe health care, and moral sensitivity is the solution to moral distress. This study investigates the relationship between both moral distress and moral sensitivity of nurses with safe nursing care. A total of 163 nurses from a General Greek Hospital participated in the research. The protocol included the Moral Resilience (RMRS), Moral Distress (MMD-HP) and Moral Sensitivity Control (Byrd's NEST) scales. For the RMRS scale, higher scores are recorded for the moral efficacy dimension. Moderate scores are recorded for the MMD-HP scale, so nurses are characterized by moderate moral sensitivity. None of the nurses had left or considered leaving the clinic due to moral distress, up to the time of the present study. Health professionals based on Byrd's NEST scale are characterized by moderate moral sensitivity. The greater the integrity of the relationships, the greater the reactions to moral adversity. The greater the moral distress, or the better the perceptions of the security offered by management, the greater nurses’ personal integrity. As relational integrity or distress decreased, moral efficacy increased. The higher the moral distress of the nurses, the greater the integrity of the relationships. Nurses who had children also felt more secure about working conditions than those who did not. The greater the dynamics of the clinic, the less reactions to moral adversity. Finally, greater moral deadlock was associated with both greater personal integrity and greater relational integrity, and less moral efficacy. Increased moral sensitivity prevents the occurrence of moral distress and has a positive effect on the provision of safe health care.
Migrant Trauma and the Role of Healthcare Professionals and Systems in Enhancing Wellbeing
Authors: Greenbaum Jordan
Published: February 2024

Millions of children and adults are forcibly displaced from their homes each year, with a significant proportion seeking refuge in the European Union. Before, during and after their migration journey they may experience multiple trauma events that may lead to significant stress and complicate their adjustment to the host country. Physical, emotional and behavioral responses to adversity (the traumatic stress response) vary and are influenced by numerous factors, notably by cultural beliefs and norms. Culturally responsive healthcare professionals who serve migrant patients are in a unique position to recognize signs and symptoms of traumatic stress, and provide basic, practical interventions. Given the large number of migrant individuals at risk for significant behavioral health issues and the relatively limited number of mental health professionals available to treat them, resources are best allocated if the primary healthcare provider is equipped to offer formal or informal “screening” for traumatic stress (e.g., use a culturally adapted and validated clinical tool or ‘screen’ with open- ended questions about the migration experience, current patient wellbeing, and daily stressors). They may then offer a basic intervention for the majority of patients with mild-moderate symptoms of stress, while referring those with severe symptoms to trained mental health specialists. This article reviews the types of trauma often experienced by migrant families and the nature of the traumatic stress response. It explores how culture may impact manifestations of traumatic stress and influence discussions of trauma between patients/caregivers and healthcare professionals. Moreover, it outlines the roles of the primary healthcare professional and their organization in recognizing and responding to the needs of these vulnerable patients. Screening options, basic psychoeducation strategies and the importance of community resources are discussed. The need for clinical protocols and a trauma-informed healthcare facility, as well as staff education regarding migration-related health and behavioral health needs, cultural responsivity, and trauma-informed care is emphasized, and resources are provided.
Design of a Decentralized PID Controller Using the Relative Gain Array Technique for a Coupled Flotation Process
Authors:   Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa, Tshemese-Mvandaba N.
Published: February 2024

This study focuses on the design of the decentralized Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller for a coupled flotation system. It emphasizes the difficulties encountered when dealing with interconnected Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems that cannot be effectively regulated using traditional linear feedback controllers. The significance of this article lies in its examination of how the Relative Gain Array (RGA) can be utilized to mitigate the impact of process connections. With the use of a thoughtful selection of single-loop pairings, the decentralized controller is created following the RGA technique. The decentralized controller that has been developed serves the purpose of reducing the influence caused by process interfaces. A set-point tracking technique, based on Internal Model Controllers (IMCs) is adopted in the design. The system time response and overshoot were also analyzed. The paper proposed a decentralized control mechanism and provided a comprehensive process for applying it to both the system under investigation and different MIMO industrial processes. The performance of the suggested closed-loop system was simulated and confirmed using Matlab/Simulink.
Applying AI to Power Line Inspection: Recent Developments
Authors:   University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Dep. of Eng. Management & Technology, Chattanooga, TN, USA, Erdemir Gokhan
Published: February 2024

As the backbone of modern civilization, electricity fuels countless homes, businesses, and industries worldwide. However, this indispensable resource's safety, reliability, and efficiency hinge upon the regular maintenance and inspection of electric power lines. With the rise of AI technologies, there has been mounting interest in their application to power line inspection, with the overarching goal of augmenting the accuracy and efficiency of this process. This exhaustive review article surveys the latest research in the field of AI for power line inspection, with a specific emphasis on automated image recognition, predictive maintenance, robotic inspection, data analytics, and automated reporting. Through a meticulous literature analysis, we expose AI technologies' potential advantages and drawbacks in power line inspection and highlight the key challenges and opportunities for future research. Our sweeping review emphasizes the unprecedented potential of AI technologies in fundamentally transforming power line inspection with an array of inventive and pioneering approaches to enhancing the safety and reliability of this vital infrastructure.