bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation on Sports Scheduling Model
Authors: Wang Yanzhen
Published: May 2023

Sports competitions have gradually attracted people's attention. Various sports tournaments and round-robin are held throughout the world. During these competitions, programming tools play a vital role. Due to the popularity of sports areas, a large number of research about scheduling related to sports have done and many researchers have devoted themselves to this yield. However, there are still many problems to be solved, and many models still have room for improvement. This paper is based on one previous essay which study umpire scheduling, summarized and sorted out the content of this paper, and also proposed the advantages and disadvantages of this article, therefore exploring the direction of improvement of these scheduling models. The study found the mathematical model used is objective and logical, also simple to use but at the cost of neglecting the random and dynamic in reality. At the same time, the lack of analysis combined with first-hand data makes the model less convincing.
Research on the Corporate Bond Risk Factors
Authors: Wang Honglin
Published: May 2023

The global bond market is greater than the global equity market meanwhile it grows gradually in recent years. Issuing corporate bonds is an ideal channel for enterprises to raise funds in the course of COVID-19 and also provides resilience in the market. Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch are well-known global credit rating agencies and suggest investors purchasing investment-grade bonds for reasonable risks and returns. But local credit rating agencies have limited capacities to appraise local bonds. In the COVID-19 crisis, widen yield spreads represent likelihood of default which can be a measure of credit risk. Besides, government interventions (i.e., Quantitative Easing Program) can effectively eliminate credit risks and Confucian culture is a factor in assessing credit risks of corporate bonds. As for liquidity risk, Chinese bond market is less liquid than the US bond market and financial bonds are the most liquid in the Chinese market. The liquidity risk is caused by inaccurate information and market risk tolerance whereas market risk tolerance integrates credit and liquidity, the main measurement of liquidity risk is transaction cost which means that higher transaction cost can impede liquidity in the bond market. Finally, market risk comprises of COVID-19 pandemic, market design and biodiversity risk. The epidemic tightens the financial condition of developing countries and depreciates the currency of the bond market which raises term structure of interest rate up. A well-designed financial market system can help stabilize fluctuations during financial crisis. Besides, biodiversity risk is relevant to the operation apartment of companies.
Unraveling the Subprime Crisis
Authors: Li Zining
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates the importance of studying the financial crisis in 2008, especially under current situation of COVID-19 and Ukraine Conflict. The three primary factors that contributed to the financial crisis in 2008 were the Fed's monetary policy, the credit default swaps, the crisis of subprime mortgage crisis. The Fed’s monetary policy was loosen and then the subprime mortgages were induced, which in turn caused the credit default swaps lending to the collapse of the financial system worldwide. There were several severe consequences caused by the financial crisis, including the sharp fall in GDP of both developed and developing countries, breakdown of banks, especially the collapse of Lehman Brothers, decrease in unemployment and the rise of household risk. In order to recover from this crisis, several changes has been proposed, implemented and revised, including the Dobb-Frank Act and Basel III. Overall, the importance of studying and understanding the financial crisis has been addressed effectively in this article in order to better the existing financial system and learn from history.
Predicting Apple stock prices based on ARIMA
Authors: Su Yuanshen
Published: May 2023

The volatility of the global financial market under the influence of the epidemic is a hot issue of concern to the whole society. Most tech company stocks have been affected to varying degrees, including Apple. However, Apple's future stock price trend under the influence of the epidemic has not yet been studied. Whether Apple stock is still worth buying has become a concern for many. Therefore, this article collects data on Apple's stock price from the time it went public until 2022. After cleaning and analyzing the data, an ARIMA model is established to analyze and predict Apple's stock. This paper will explore the relationship between the global financial market downturn and Apple's stock price volatility under the impact of the epidemic based on model results and data. According to the model's prediction of Apple's stock price, Apple's stock price will continue to increase in the next six months after June 2022. This article obtains the forecast data, and then combines the analysis of the impact events that have significantly fluctuated the price of Apple's stock in the past. It was found that although Apple's stock price will be affected by the big environment, its strong and unique product power will help it maintain a long-term increase in stock prices. Apple stock still has a high purchase value.
Research on the Best Way to Allocate Spectrum Resources: Perspective from Auction
Authors: Chen Wanjun , Liu Hanwen , Liu Mingxin , Zhang Chenyang
Published: May 2023

The context of this paper's research is spectrum auctions, and talk in detail about the spectrum auction that took place in the UK in the spring of 2000, as well as other ways of allocating spectrum, comparing them, and classifying the advantages and disadvantages. The reason why this study spectrum auctions is that to compare other methods and choose the best way to allocate spectrum so that both firms and the government can benefit the most. The research method is a case study, by reading the literature and investigating the data, we will analyze the research problem from an objective point of view. Finally, by analyzing several advantages of spectrum auctions, this article find that auctions are indeed the most efficient way to allocate spectrum rather than beauty pageants. The significance of the research is that the allocation of the spectrum can make a large amount of money for the government and at the same time, firms will pay a large amount of money, so the goal of the research in this paper is to find a method that can satisfy both firms and government needs.
Financial and Operating Strategies Analysis: Kweichow Moutai Ltd
Authors: Chen Junxi
Published: May 2023

Thanks to its exceptional branding recognition, Kweichow Moutai Ltd. manages to retain its upside potential in boosting the enterprise value over the years. As the pioneer in displaying the strength of domination over the consumer beverage market in one of the largest economic entities in the world, the evaluation of the cooperation in its financial and operating strategies provides significant visions to investors. Hence, this paper is designed to analyze the fundamental layers of the enterprise in terms of its overall operational healthiness by going through its financial statements and conducting the SWOT analysis, in addition to providing a quantitative analysis in estimating the enterprise’s stock value by using multiple valuations. After a series of analysis, this paper acknowledges the state of the enterprise as the industry giant known for its superb profitability growth, but also finds operational healthiness issues that are hard to oversee.
Bank Run Model: The Application of Game Theory
Authors: Lu Sirui
Published: May 2023

The term "bank run" describes the mass withdrawal of funds from a bank by its customers. With cash on hand, the bank might be able to handle the situation. As more consumers pull their money out of the company's bank accounts, the likelihood of the business collapsing increases. Based on this, this paper studies the bank run in game theory. It was found that: within the framework of game theory, this situation might be represented as a "coordination game," the latter being a kind of game with two distinct and stable equilibrium states: If enough people keep their money in the bank, the bank won't be able to default on its responsibilities, thus keeping your money there makes sense. On the other hand, if many customers withdraw their deposits, the bank will collapse, and at that time, it is logical for all of the customers to seek to withdraw their money. To clarify the phenomenon of bank runs, this study will use the Diamond-Dybvig model. This theory holds that a bank's primary function is facilitating long-term loans for investment purposes and short-term deposits. A bank run occurs when too many individuals take their money from a financial institution before the long-term debts are returned.
Financial Analysis and Market Analysis of Coca-Cola
Authors: Song Xinru , Wang Bojun , Yang Ziheng , Zuo Hengyuan
Published: May 2023

Coca-Cola company's main themes have been intertwined with social issues such as environmental protection and people's preference for low-sugar products. The company tends to analyze some social phenomena and reflect the research results in new products as much as possible. Because of this, consumers have become more trustful of the Coca-Cola brand. Coupled with Coca-Cola's advertising efforts, Coca-Cola has become a best-selling product in more than 200 countries worldwide. In order to analyze the prospect of Coca-Cola and the potential risks and problems of the company, the article analyzes Coca-Cola's strategy on funding and cash holding and accounting performance based on the company's financial statement. Also, the market valuation, net cash flow, profitability analysis, and SWOT analysis will be done. After a series of analyses, the article's authors found that although Coca-Cola's cash flow has received recessionary effects in recent years, the cash position is still positive from a macro perspective. Meanwhile, the investors need not worry about the company's financial health since the non-current ratio, liquidity, and such indicators point to the company's considerable capacity. Based on the SWOT analysis, the strong brand image helps the company consolidate customer loyalty and enhances market stability. In addition, the authors found that if the company could put more effort into increasing the diversity of its products, more research and innovation would help the appeal of the company's products.
Application of Nash Equilibrium: Taking the Game Between Enterprises as an Example
Authors: Xie Yiting
Published: May 2023

The game theory of microeconomics is one of the important analysis and decision-making tools for managing enterprises. Von Neumann discusses the zero-sum game of two people, while Nash discusses a broader range of games. This paper aims to explore the important concept of Nash Equilibrium in game theory. With the wide application of Nash Equilibrium in different fields such as economics, politics, psychology and machine learning, it is becoming increasingly important to understand and apply Nash Equilibrium. The author first introduces the concept and mathematical definition of Nash Equilibrium, and then takes the "Prisoner's Dilemma" game as an example to elaborate its application methods and significance in detail. Subsequently, the author discusses the limitations of Nash Equilibrium, including the inability to guarantee the maximum profit, and proposes corresponding solutions. Finally, the author explores the applications of Nash Equilibrium in different fields, as well as the prospects in machine learning and artificial intelligence fields.
A Study on the Factors Influencing the Willingness to Allocate Internet Money Market Fund Products Based on PLS-SEM Method
Authors: Zeng Lingling , Liu Ke , Li Zhonghao
Published: May 2023

This paper combines behavioral finance, TRA Theory of Rational Behavior and TAM Technology Acceptance Theory to construct a research model of willingness to allocate money market funds in the context of the Internet, and proposes hypotheses about perceived usefulness, perceived risk, sustained trust, subjective norms, individual-level and platform-level characteristics. A questionnaire survey was conducted with customers using fund products, and finally 906 valid samples were collated and collected to test the hypotheses by PLS-SEM method and Bayesian network, while the moderating effects of external factors such as education level and income were analyzed exploratively. Overconfidence and behavioral inertia are found to significantly enhance the perceived usefulness, persistent trust, and subjective norms of investors in Internet money market fund products, and attenuate individuals' perceived risk of the products, which in turn increases product allocation intentions.
A Paradigm Shift: 5 Cents To 1 Calorie
Authors: Chopra Gaurika , Nijgal Dhamini R
Published: May 2023

Innovation is suggestive of ground breaking ideas that take over the markets. In actuality, 70% of the innovation is incremental in nature[1]. With the rapid shift in trade prospects, firms shouldn’t underestimate the potentiality of incremental innovation. To illustrate, according to Bain and Co, a whooping [whopping] $5 Trillion of global GDP has been contributed by modifications in existing consumer products[2]. Software development life cycles (SDLC) are catalysts in providing standardised frameworks that define business operations. It causes structured project planning along with a decrement in the project expenditures and encounter with risks. The study draws attention towards the SDLC models and their employment in The Coca Cola Company. The brand extends a miscellany of developments under the banner of carbonated drinks. Such differentiated products cater to the market heterogeneity that gratifies customer personalisations. A planned approach helps the corporate navigate through unfamiliar sphere of undertakings; from determining novel ingredients to fabricating new chains of the brand. Key Words: Incremental innovation, SDLC
Post-Earthquake Trauma Levels of University Students Evaluation: Example of 6 February Kahramanmaras Earthquake
Authors: Kocoglu Erol , Demir Fatima Betul , Oteles Uiku Ulukaya , Ozeren Ender
Published: May 2023

The earthquake, which affected the south and southeast of Turkey (approximately 10 provinces) on February 6, 2023, brought many devastating consequences. Earthquakes, which occur in all geographies of the world in variable time periods depending on the characteristics of the geological structure, cause many extraordinary situations and consequences for humanity. This situation and results require people defined as disaster victims to struggle with psychological problems arising from the effects of the event. Based on this, this study aims to determine the post-earthquake trauma levels of university students who experienced and were affected by two earthquakes that took place nine hours apart on February 6, 2023, where the districts of Pazarcık (Earthquake intensity 7.7) and Elbistan (Earthquake intensity 7.6) in Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey were the epicenters. intended to be evaluated. In the study, which was carried out with the quantitative research method and the survey model, criterion sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods, was used to determine the research group. Data were collected with the "personal information form" created by the researchers and the "post-earthquake trauma level determination scale" developed by Tanhan & Kayri (2013). Unlike many studies on the extent of the earthquake that took place, it can be said that as a result of this study, which aims to examine the psychological and mental state of earthquake victims, many remarkable results such as the fact that the trauma levels of female earthquake victims are higher than that of men.
Forest conservation through protection of old growth: the case of Nova Scotia
Authors: Duinker Peter N. , Bush Peter G. , Brazner John C. , MacPhail Mark C. , Stewart Bruce J. , Woudstra Emily K.
Published: May 2023

Old-growth forests are both rare and special ecosystems across most of the world. Policies to protect and possibly enhance and increase them are plentiful and diverse across nations and sub-national jurisdictions. Nova Scotia has had a policy on conservation of old-growth forests on public lands in the province since 1999. The second such policy dated 2012 was recently replaced by a revised policy in 2022. After presenting knowledge based on selected scientific literature about old-growth forests in Nova Scotia, the paper describes the improvements made in the 2022 policy. These include: (a) a more-nuanced set of operational definitions; (b) a commitment to protect all old-growth forest on public lands, whether currently identified or not; (c) robust replacement provisions in the rare event that the provincial government chooses to allow provincially significant infrastructure to be built on public land supporting old-growth forest; and (d) a renewed commitment to work with private landowners on their aspirations to conserve old-growth forest. The new policy, adopted in August 2022, also contains a commitment to a public review and possible renewal by August 2027.
Study on the mycorrhizal structure of common plants and rhizosphere AMF diversity of different plant communities in Central Province, Mongolia
Authors: Tsetsegmaa Munkhzul , Chao Lumeng , Bao Yuying
Published: May 2023

With the dual destruction cased by man-made activities and natural causes, the biodiversity and ecosystem function of the prairie are reducing rapidly, which are manifest in such phenomenon as grassland desertification, sharp reduction in wetland, soil quality degradation, erosion of soil by wind, rain and watersheds. This condition restricts the development level of Mongolia's financial status and production forces, and so the protection and utilization of biodiversity resources are extremely important and harbor no delay. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has a broad distribution and species diversity, it also has very important functions of maintaining material circulation in ecosystems, improving ecosystem productivity, and ensuring ecological restoration. We selected different plant communities and the common plants in the Tuv aimag (Central province) of Mongolia to study the correlation between species diversity, genetic diversity and AM fungi distribution with physical and chemical properties of soil.
The Third Culture Space: Liminal Cultural Identity of Indian Women Migrants In UAE
Authors: Raji VP Harshini , Maheswari P Dr Uma
Published: May 2023

Indians began emigrating to Gulf countries in the 1970s – the era of the discovery of oil. When people move from one geographical or political border to another, they carry the culture and traditions of their homeland. In the host land, migrants develop nostalgia for their homeland and reminisce of it through culture, traditions and material objects associated with the homeland. This research applies the theory of transnational cultural hybridity to understand the adaptation of migrants’ moving cultural identities; in this case, the women Indian diaspora in the UAE. Women are considered to be cultural torchbearers in the migrant population; the paper assesses how they inhabit the dichotomous and liminal third space of culture. It is understood they ascertain the ‘third space’ and are seen to be ‘longing’ for the homeland by bringing back fragments of India in the form of spices, religious symbols and attire and temporary migration triggers intense longingness.
Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Review: A Study
Authors: Sandesh Kale Dr. Anjali
Published: May 2023

Content analysis is non obtrusive research method which helps in getting meaningful insight from the communication. For the present study Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and review was subjected to content analysis. The primary aim of the study was to identify authorship pattern, country wise distribution, length of articles and designations of the contributing authors. It was found that total 221 articles were published in the journal in the year 2021 and 2022. Country wise distribution of the articles revealed that contributions have been made from different parts of the world. India and Philippines acquired 1st and 2nd position by contributing maximum number of articles. It was identified that single authors have contributed more articles. Maximum articles contributed were in the page range of 11 to 20. Teaching staff, research scholars and students have contributed maximum number of articles in the journal.
When does ‘Consent’ in Marriage End and the Sexual Act Transgress into Rape: Comment Upon Justice Hari Shankar’s Upholding the Constitutionality of the Marital Rape Exception
Authors: Gupta Harshita
Published: May 2023

The marital rape exception under Section 375 has been a topic of debate and discussion ever since its codification in the Indian Penal Code. The recent judgment by a division bench of the Delhi High Court gave a split verdict on whether or not to declare such an exception unconstitutional in light of transformative and progressive development of fundamental rights jurisprudence in the country. This case comment traces the origin of the marital rape exception then goes on to explore Justice C. Hari Shankar’s opinion on upholding the validity of this outrageous exception, while contrasting it with Justice Rajiv Shakdher’s opinion for striking down a legal provision which was in blatant violation of a woman’s fundamental right to dignity protected under the Indian Constitution. The comment delves into judicial precedents, scholarly work by authors, researchers and practicing advocates to substantiate the criticism of one opinion and appreciates the judicial wisdom and insight in the other opinion on the issue of how presumption of consent in marital sexual relations a violation of right to dignity of victim wives. The fact that the law on the present issue is not settled and it merits a decision by a larger bench is not forgotten.
HASIL BELAJAR MENULIS TEKS BERITA DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN MEDIA AUDIO VISUAL
Authors: Kahfi Ashabul , Tahir M. Hijaz , Kasau M. Nurzin R. , Agussalim H.
Published: May 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui  pengaruh terhadap kemampuan menulis teks berita dengan menggunakan media audio visual siswa kelas VIII SMP negeri 3 Pangsid Kabupaten Sidenreng Rappang. Populasi penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 3 Pangsid Tahun pembelajaran 2018/2019 yang berjumlah 118 siswa, sementara sampel penelitian yang diambil secara acak (random sampling)adalah 30 siswa, 15 siswa untuk kelas eksperimen dan 15 siswa untuk kelas kontrol. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimen, yakni membandingkan dua kelompok, yaitu kelompok yang di berikan pembelajaran menulis teks berita dengan menggunakan media audio visual atau kelas eksperimen dan kelompok yang di berikan pembelajaran menulis teks berita tanpa menggunakan media audio visual atau kelas kontrol. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan perbedaan nilai rata-rata kelompok eksperimen dan nilai rata-rata kelompok kontrol, yakni Mx = 82,867, lebih besar dari My =76,800. Hal itu berarti ada pengaruh terhadap kemampuan menulis teks berita dengan menggunakan media audio visual  kelas VIII SMP Negeri 3 Pangsid.
Adequacy of WHO weight-band dosing and fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of TB in children
Authors: Kwara A. , Yang H. , Martyn-Dickens C. , Enimil A. , Amissah A. K. , Ojewale O. , Dompreh A. , Bosomtwe D. , Sly-Moore E. , Opoku T. , Appiah A. F. , Obeng R. , Asiedu P. , Maranchick N. , Alshaer M. H. , Peloquin C. A. , Antwi S.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND: We examined whether the updated WHO weight-band dosing recommendations and fixed-dose combination tablets for the treatment of TB in children achieves recommended calculated dosages and adequate drug plasma exposure.DESIGN/METHODS: Children on first-line
TB treatment per WHO guidelines were enrolled. Blood sampling at pre-dose, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h post-dose after at least 4 weeks of treatment was performed. Drugs concentrations were measured using validated liquid chromatography tandem with mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic parameters
calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Plasma drug exposure below the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval of the mean for children was considered low and above the upper limit was high.RESULTS: Of 71 participants, 34 (47.9%) had HIV coinfection. The median calculated
dose for isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EMB) was 10.0 (range 4.3–13.3), 15.0 (range 8.6–20.0), 30.0 (range 21.0–40.0), and 20.4 (range 14.3–26.7) mg/kg, respectively. Overall, most patients had under-exposure for RIF and PZA and
over-exposure for INH and EMB. Drug dose and weight-for-age Z-score were associated with area under the curve from time 0–24 h for all drugs.CONCLUSIONS: Despite adherence to WHO dosing guidelines, low PZA and RIF plasma exposures were frequent in our study population.
Higher than currently recommended dosages of RIF and PZA may be needed in children.
Mediastinal lymph node enlargement predicts progressive pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Zhai L-Y. , Gong H-H. , Yu W-C.
Published: May 2023

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mediastinal lymph node enlargement (MLNE) predicts progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).METHODS: A total of 800 patients hospitalised for interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) were included in our study. The clinical presentations, radiographic
features and laboratory findings of the patients were reviewed.RESULTS: MLNE was present in 313 (39.1%) ILD patients and were associated with higher total fibrosis score and risk of death than ILD patients without MLNE. The risk factors for PPF were age (OR 1.044, 95% CI 1.020–1.069;
P < 0.001), the total extent of fibrosis (OR 1.396, 95% CI 1.116–1.746; P = 0.003) and MLNE (OR 2.130, 95% CI 1.362–3.332; P = 0.001) compared to non-PPF. Multivariable analysis showed that age, the lactate dehydrogenase level, MLNE, the total fibrosis score
and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure were risk/prognostic factors for ILD patients. The model was robust in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the only risk/prognostic factor common to other ILD subgroups was the total fibrosis score.CONCLUSIONS: MLNE is associated
with higher total fibrosis score and worse prognosis in ILD patients and could predict the occurrence of PPF. The only risk/prognostic factor applicable to all subgroups of ILDs is the total pulmonary fibrosis score.
Efficacy and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary TB
Authors: Tang J. , Tang Z. , Feng C. , Tang Q.
Published: May 2023

OBJECTIVE: Compared with thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has the advantage of post-operative recovery for patients undergoing surgery. However, studies comparing the efficacy of VATS with conventional traditional thoracotomy for treating patients with
pulmonary TB (PTB) are inconsistent.METHODS: Five electronic databases were used to search studies on VATS and conventional thoracotomy for PTB up to 15 March 2022. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for comparison.RESULTS: A total
of 14 were included. Compared with traditional thoracotomy, patients with drug-resistant TB treated using VATS had shorter operative time, less intra-operative bleeding, faster post-operative recovery and fewer post-operative complications (operation time: SMD –0.87, 95% CI –1.29
to –0.45; blood loss: SMD –1.31, 95% CI –1.71 to –0.92; duration of hospital stay: SMD –1.68, 95% CI –2.46 to –0.90; catheterisation time: SMD –1.56, 95% CI –2.39 to –0.73; post-operative complication: OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.60).CONCLUSION:
Compared with conventional thoracotomy, VATS for patients with multidrug-resistant PTB undergoing lobectomy and wedge resection has the advantages of minor bleeding, shorter operative time, shorter hospital stay and post-operative pleural cavity drainage duration, and fewer post-operative
complications, which can accelerate the post-operative recovery of patients.
ENGINEERING MODEL FOR ANALYIS OF MASONRY STRUCTURES
Authors: Simonović Goran , Hrasnica Mustafa , Medić Senad
Published: May 2023

This paper presents the methodology for seismic analysis of masonry structures that can be employed in commercial software packages such as SAP2000. The concept of elementary block which combines non-linear spring and linear shell elements is used for discretization of masonry walls. The proposed modelling technique with localized nonlinearity can successfully simulate in-plane wall failure modes induced by compressive or tensile axial force and transverse force. It can also be used to investigate out-of-plane collapse which makes it a good candidate for 3D static and dynamic analysis of buildings. The modelling approach is tested on two examples where pushover analysis was performed: a single slender cantilever masonry wall and a family house. The response was verified against the results delivered by 3MURI and MINEA, and reasonable agreement was obtained. It is demonstrated that the transverse walls have significant contribution to the load bearing capacity of buildings.
SEISMIC RETROFITTING OF SULTAN MURAT MOSQUE’ CLOCK TOWER IN SKOPJE USING INNOVATIVE MATERIALS
Authors: Jekic Goran , Shendova Veronika , Zlateski Aleksandar
Published: May 2023

The structure of the Clock Tower in Skopje is massive, constructed of stone masonry with a height of about 29 meters and brick masonry in the upper octagonal part. It was damaged during the Skopje Earthquake in 1963. A rehabilitation of the structure was carried out in 1964, but without a seismic strengthening. Recently, field investigations were carried out and a three-dimensional analysis of the structure in its actual state for gravitational and seismic forces was performed. It has been concluded that it is necessary to perform protective interventions to ensure longer-term protection, stability and further existence in the form of repair of existing structural damage, structural consolidation, repair of damaged timber elements and strengthening. To improve the behaviour and resistance to dynamic impacts, a technical solution for consolidation and retrofitting has been proposed. The basic concept consists of existing structural damage rehabilitation, structural consolidation with systemic injection, rehabilitation of load-bearing wooden beams and braces and strengthening the whole structure. Due to the specificity of the structure of the Clock Tower in terms of its shape, used material, structural system and the type of structural elements, as well as its importance as a cultural and historical heritage, which requires respect of certain conservation principles and rules, the options for rehabilitation and strengthening are strictly limited. It excludes inserting new structural elements that would provide sufficient ductility during maximum expected earthquakes. The rehabilitation and strengthening were carried out with innovative composite materials that were experimentally verified, but never applied before. The analysis results show that the retrofitted structure can withstand the maximum expected seismic loads according to the actual technical regulations.
SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF MASONRY POINTED VAULTS – CASE STUDY OF ST. ANTHONY CHURCH IN BARBAN, ISTRIA
Authors: Šćulac Paulo , Grandić Davor , Šaina Toni
Published: May 2023

More than 140 churches with medieval wall paintings have been preserved in Istria, which are an essential part of Istrian cultural identity, and classify Istria as the region with the greatest density of this type of cultural heritage. In the last 25 years considerable effort has been put into the preservation and conservation of the wall paintings, but also in the restoration of the churches from the structural point of view. The most significant adverse effects on the frescoes are capillary humidity and cracks that occur as a result of the ground settlement. In this paper we will focus on small single-nave churches with pointed barrel vaults, which are characteristic for the Gothic period. As a case study, the seismic capacity of the church of St. Anthony in Barban will be studied. The interior of the church was entirely painted in the early 15th century. The church has a simple architecture: a rectangular ground plan, roof covered with slate tiles and a bell gable present at the front façade. The walls are built of regular stone blocks in lime mortar. We present results of the numerical analysis of the pointed vault due to seismic actions. The admissible failure mechanisms related to formation of plastic hinges are examined.
ON THE INFLUENCE OF ROAD AND RAIL TRAFFIC ON SEISMIC VULNERABILITY OF HISTORIC MASONRY BUILDINGS
Authors: Haladin Ivo , Burnać Krešimir , Vranešić Katarina
Published: May 2023

In the event of the earthquake that struck the city of Zagreb on the 22nd of March 2020. many of the buildings in the old city centre suffered from various types of damage. Most of the masonry buildings in the old city of Zagreb are over 100 years old, and so is the tramway infrastructure running alongside the buildings. The long operational period of tramway traffic can be an important factor when we talk about the influence of traffic-induced vibrations on the seismic vulnerability of the buildings. Long-term exposure to high levels of traffic-induced vibrations can lead to mortar deterioration and detachment of masonry units. To analyse the influence of vibrations induced by tramway traffic, historic data on tram operations and earthquake damage have been investigated. Segmentation of rail tracks was made taking into consideration the distance between the track and surrounding buildings as well as the assessment of damage on the buildings after a recent 2020 earthquake. Furthermore, to inspect the influence of various types of traffic on the surrounding buildings, eight different locations in Zagreb’s urban core have been chosen for statistical analysis (six streets in the north-south direction and two intersections).
THE INFLUENCE OF SECTION SIDES RATIO OF RECTANGULAR COLUMN ON SEISMIC RESPONSE OF RC BUILDING
Authors: Gjorgjiev Igor , Zhurovski Aleksandar , Petreski Borjan
Published: May 2023

The response of structures exposed to earthquakes is mainly defined by the stiffness, capacity and ductility of the structural elements which is governed by their dimensions and the material properties. The buildings’ seismic performance is essential for their earthquake resilience especially beyond safety point defined by the building code. The main philosophy of modern codes is to increase the earthquake resiliency of the buildings. Unfortunately, Macedonia is one of the last European countries where designing the structures according to outdated codes is allowed. The older national seismic codes have not been modified in view of the implementation of the most recent knowledge. In this sense, there are no strict limits to prevent the design of rectangular columns with an unsuitable ratio of the section sides. Mainly, due to the need for greater open space and flat interior walls, the columns are designed as rectangular where the lower section side is oriented along a larger span. This results in decrease of the global structural capacity in that direction affecting its response under earthquake excitation. In order to investigate the influence of the ratio of section sides of a rectangular column on seismic performance of building structures, an existing RC frame structure was chosen for analysis. The results of the performed seismic assessment of the selected structure by nonlinear static analysis, emphasize the importance of choosing square shaped columns or rectangular columns with appropriate arrangement in plan even for low-rise buildings. Based on the analysis’ results, we conclude that designers need to pay more attention when choosing columns’ cross section dimensions and orientation to achieve an acceptable building resilience against earthquakes.
GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL TESTS FOLLOWING THE 2020 EARTHQUAKE-INDUCED LIQUEFACTION PHENOMENA
Authors: Amoroso Sara , Rollins Kyle M. , Di Giulio Giuseppe , Wacha Lara , Urumović Kosta , Faieta Diana , Filjak Radovan , Fontana Daniela , Lugli Stefano , Manuel Maria , Milana Giuliano , Minarelli Luca , Budić Marko , Belić Nikola , Kurečić Tomislav , Sorić Luka , Stefani Marco , Tarabusi Gabriele , Vassallo Maurizio
Published: May 2023

Earthquakes and related coseismic effects at the surface, such as liquefaction and lateral spreading, can impact humans due to the resulting economic or social disruptions (e.g. slope and foundation failures, flotation of buried structures, etc.). In this respect, the 2020 Petrinja Mw6.4 earthquake (Croatia) provided many examples of liquefaction and lateral spreading, as identified by the post-earthquake field reconnaissance campaigns. The observed liquefaction cases occurred in the alluvial plains of the Kupa, Sava and Glina Rivers or along faults, with ejecta composed of sands and/or gravels of different grain size and mineralogy. The lateral spreading phenomena were observed along river embankments and roads. In this context interest in studying these different features arose, and an international research team from Italy, the United States and Croatia recently performed an intensive geological, geotechnical and geophysical campaign to assess the liquefaction susceptibility at selected sites located throughout the epicentral area (from Glina to Petrinja to Sisak). Innovative in-situ test equipment, such as the dynamic cone penetration test (DPT) for liquefied gravels and the Medusa flat dilatometer test (Medusa DMT) for liquefied sands, were employed in combination with standard in-situ tests,such as the standard penetration test (SPT), the piezocone test (CPTU), and shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements. These techniques were employed to verify their advantages relative to the existing iquefaction triggering charts and to characterize the soil properties of the buried liquefied layers and the non-liquefied crust. This paper presents preliminary results and comparisons at some of the investigated liquefaction sites.
EARTHQUAKE PERFORMANCE OF A CULTURAL HERITAGE BUILDING: THE JESUIT COLLEGE IN DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Authors: Uzair Aanis , Abrahamczyk Lars , Gómez Dagoberto , Elias Kinda , Vrban Ante , Penava Davorin , Markušić Snježana
Published: May 2023

Cultural heritage buildings generally refer to the ancient structures having high cultural and historical significance. These buildings are constructed using obsolete practices and require special considerations with respect to the lateral resistance, especially in moderate and high seismic regions. This study focuses on the earthquake performance assessment of the Episcopal Seminary Building and Classical Gymnasium (Jesuit College) located in the Old City of Dubrovnik, Croatia (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The construction dates back to 1662 and was developed in different stages until 1765. During this period, Jesuit College suffered damages from two major earthquakes i.e., M7.6 Dubrovnik in 1667 and M6.9 Montenegro in 1979. The material composition, structural drawings, and fundamental frequencies of the building were previously obtained in the framework of the research project “Seismic Risk Assessment of Cultural Heritage in Croatia – SeisRICHerCRO”. The material is predominantly composed of irregular stone blocks laid in lime mortar. The structural details such as floor vaults, arches, flexible diaphragms, and spatially irregular openings are numerically modelled using the finite element method. The analytical model is calibrated by performing eigenvalue analysis to compute the material parameters i.e., elastic modulus and density (supported by extensive literature review) that allows the modal frequencies to match with the values obtained from the ambient vibration testing. The seismic performance is then evaluated using the linear analysis procedure in accordance with the current guidelines of the Eurocode 8 and the corresponding Croatian National Annex. For the design earthquake, critical damage zones are identified and recommendations for retrofitting measures are proposed.
COMPARISON OF DUCTILITY CLASS REQUIREMENTS FOR SEISMIC DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE WALLS IN A TALL BUILDING
Authors: Čičak Luka , Vlašić Anđelko , Skokandić Dominik
Published: May 2023

The seismic design of reinforced concrete walls is greatly influenced by the selected ductility class. The ductility class directly determines the reduction of seismic loading by reducing the response spectrum using an appropriate behaviour factor. A higher ductility class can only be achieved by following more stringent design rules related to the type, amount, and detailing of reinforcement. In this paper, an overview of the differences in the design criteria required to achieve a medium (DCM) and high (DCH) ductility class is presented. The difference in behaviour factor between these two ductility classes is 50%. Three buildings of different heights (40 m, 50 m, and 60 m) in which reinforced concrete walls are arranged around a central core are analysed. The dimensions of the core and the thickness of the walls were chosen primarily to achieve the required stiffness of the building and to meet the conditions for total and inter-story displacements. Seismic loads for ductility classes DCM and DCH were calculated for all buildings, and a seismic response spectrum analysis was performed. Finally, a seismic design of selected walls was performed for each ductility class according to EN 1998-1-1. The results show a difference in the required amount of reinforcement, and its placement, depending on the reinforcement type (B500B or B500C). The main difference in design was found to be the resistance to sliding shear failure, which requires additional angled reinforcement for DCH ductility class. Examples of reinforcement detailing are shown graphically for each ductility class. A conclusion is drawn regarding the advantages of choosing the highest ductility class, taking into account the cost of reinforcement.
EVALUATION OF THE LOCAL SITE EFFECTS OF THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE OLD CITY OF DUBROVNIK (CROATIA)
Authors: Stanko Davor , Korbar Tvrtko , Uglešić Jakov Stanislav , Lončar Iva , Gazdek Mario , Markušić Snježana
Published: May 2023

The most seismically active region in Adriatic part of Croatia is the SE coastal region that have numerous cultural heritage sites. Therefore, it is important to estimate seismic risk for cultural heritage sites and to develop procedures for seismic risk assessment. These are the goals of the research project Seismic Risk Assessment of Cultural Heritage Buildings in Croatia (SeisRICHerCRO) funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Local site effects, a known problem in earthquake engineering, play significant role in earthquake damage distribution. The old town of Dubrovnik is particularly vulnerable in terms of local site effects because the old city is built on three geomorphological and geological entities: southern bedrock ridge, central filled and flattened part (former sea embayment), and northern bedrock ridge. Apart from the last devastating historical earthquake in Dubrovnik area in 1667 of M~7), instrumentally recorded strong earthquake on 15 April 1979 M6.8 with mainshock at the epicentral distance of 105 km from Dubrovnik caused strong damage effects in the wider Dubrovnik area (intensity of VII °MSK) with incalculable damage to cultural and historical objects the old town Dubrovnik The main aim of this study is mapping of local site effects variations in the old city of Dubrovnik using old investigation data as a starting point from 1980’s, after 1979 Reconstruction of Dubrovnik. Data quality and spatial uncertainty brough by older equipment used in 1980’s compared to using novel and sophisticated geophysical research methods followed by new geological investigations will significantly improve planning and reconstruction of Dubrovnik following new microzonation maps. Definition of the seismicity and variations of the local site conditions are one of the inevitable phases of the complex process of repair and strengthening of existing structures in the old town Dubrovnik together with design seismic parameters and the seismic risk level of building inventory as a basis to define the necessary preventive measures against expected strong earthquakes in the future.
REPAIR AND STRENGTHENING OF OLD FIRST CATEGORY BUILDING IN SKOPJE, N. MACEDONIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH IZIIS METHODOLOGY
Authors: Bogdanovic Aleksandra , Sheshov Vlatko , Bozhinovski Zivko , Edip Kemal , Bojadjieva Julijana , Delova Elena , Zurovski Aleksandar , Shoklarovski Antonio
Published: May 2023

The potentially high vulnerability and poor performance of the existing buildings, after past seismic events, including exploitation period has raised awareness of the need to improve their seismic performance. Repair and strengthening gives new life to existing or ageing structures that might otherwise be demolished and replaced. This paper will address the issues related to repair and strengthening techniques for the first category building in Skopje, N Macedonia dated from 1924. Structural and nonstructural damages were observed due to the inappropriate foundation and maintenance of the building, which have increased during exploitation period and seismic actions. In order to define the stability of the building, non-destructive tests were applied for definition the material characteristics, further used in numerical analysis. Based on the performance assessment, retrofit schemes were proposed to address the main structural deficiencies and to meet national code requirements in N. Macedonia. The results of the overall investigations and analyzes for the capacity of the building are presented in this paper. Also summarized are the necessary structural interventions to ensure the necessary stability and reliability of the building for gravitational and seismic actions in accordance with the existing legislation in the Republic of North Macedonia. Since it is a first category, the dynamic response of the structure to real seismic actions, expected at site, is also considered according to the valid legislature which defines the assessment of seismic force considering local soil conditions. The outcomes from this project indicate the efficiency of the retrofit options utilized in reducing both the economic losses and collapse vulnerability of the building.
EFFECT OF PRIOR CYCLIC LOADING ON TRIAXIAL MONOTONIC EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Kitanovski Toni , Sheshov Vlatko , Bojadjieva Julijana , Edip Kemal , Ivanovski Dejan
Published: May 2023

Drained triaxial monotonic test is one of the most frequently used experiments in geotechnical engineering, mostly because its results are starting points for many research topics. This paper presents triaxial drained monotonic experiments on natural sand borrowed from the terraces of river Vardar, that passes through Skopje. This Skopje sand is highly uniform sand with only 2% fines, and a uniformity coefficient Cu = 2 with mean grain size of d50 = 0.17mm. It can be found at multiple places along the riverbank of Vardar River at different depths. Since this is an urban area, such sandy layers can be exposed to different sources of dynamic loads (traffic from roads, railways, factories, etc.) Knowing the fact that cyclic preloading has effects on the soil strength characteristics, these effects were investigated in the case of prior cyclic loading on consolidated drained triaxial compression monotonic test. The specimens were prepared using wet-tamping method at high range of different initial relative densities, then confined at three levels of initial effective stress p0 = 50, 100 and 200kPa before shearing. The effect of the number of cycles and their amplitudes are also investigated not only on the curves of deviatoric stress q and volumetric strain ev versus axial strain e1 but additionally on the dependency curves that display the influence of the initial density IDO and initial effective pressure p0 on the peak friction angle fp, Young’s modulus E50, axial strain at peak ep and dilatancy angle y. The results indicate interesting outcomes concerning the physical behaviour of the investigated sand.