bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spent Coffee Grounds, Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria, and Medicinal Plant Waste: The Biofertilizing Effect of High-Value Compost
Authors: Dimitrijević Snežana , Milić Marija , Buntić Aneta , Dimitrijević-Branković Suzana , Filipović Vladimir , Popović Vera , Salamon Ivan
Published: February 2024

Composting of mixed medicinal plant waste was performed with the addition of mixture of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB), including Streptomyces sp., Paenybacillus sp., Bacillus sp., and Hymenobacter sp., and portions of spent coffee grounds (SCG). To assess the maturity and quality parameters of the compost, chemical and biological parameters (C/N ratio, loss of organic matter, CO2 production, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and phytotoxicity) were evaluated during the three months of the composting process. The results revealed that the control sample (without the addition of SCG and PGPB) had evidently lower values of DHA during the entire monitoring period in comparison to other samples, indicating lower microbial activity in the compost mixture. Also, according to the released CO2, the composting process was accelerated in all samples where the SCG and PGPB were added, enabling a reduction in time needed for mixed plant waste to decompose. The germination index (GI) of the tested seeds indicated that the produced compost was acceptable and safe, with regard to all of the evaluated samples. However, at the end of the process the samples contained SCG and PGPB, which caused an increase of more than 50% of the GI in comparison to the control sample, expressing a high phyto-stimulant effect and improving the biofertilization impact.
Eco-Design in Manufacturing or Remanufacturing? The Sustainable Options in a Closed-Loop Supply Chain with Outsourcing
Authors: Yang Qin , Sun Lin
Published: February 2024

Here, the authors focused on determining the increase in consumers’ preferences for sustainable products, including that of OEMs, who are responsible for the drop in new product sales. We also assessed the effects of remanufacturing by outsourcing to third-party remanufacturers. However, the outsourcing of remanufacturing not only enables the producer to offer a remanufactured product at the same time as manufacturing new units; it also provides OEMs with the flexibility required to peruse eco-design in manufacturing and/or remanufacturing. For instance, Gree and Midea have heavily invested in eco-design to reduce energy costs in manufacturing, while Xerox has adopted a modular design approach to divert materials away from landfills and towards remanufacturing. Following observations of real-world applications, the authors developed two theoretical models in which remanufacturing can be outsourced to an independent remanufacturer, endowing the OEM with the flexibility required to enact eco-design in manufacturing or remanufacturing. This analysis reveals that OEMs tend to put more effort into eco-design in manufacturing than in remanufacturing. Furthermore, such efforts in the name of eco-design may be beneficial for both the OEM and the third-party remanufacturer. As such, this paper encourages governments to provide more incentives that will encourage OEMs to invest in eco-design in manufacturing and establish a possible “win–win” scenario in terms of both environmental and economic performances.
Fabrication of Bamboo-Based Activated Carbon for Low-Level CO2 Adsorption toward Sustainable Indoor Air
Authors: Heo Sujeong , Kim Wooram , Jo Youngmin , Adelodun Adedeji Adebukola
Published: February 2024

This study fabricated a low-cost activated carbon (AC) adsorbent from readily available bamboo trees to control indoor CO2 levels and reduce energy costs associated with sustaining clean indoor air. Bamboo is naturally high in potassium content and has narrow fibrous channels that could enhance selective CO2 adsorption. The prepared bamboo-based activated carbon (BAC) exhibits predominantly micropores with an average pore size of 0.17 nm and a specific surface area of 984 m2/g. Upon amination, amine functionalities, such as pyridine, pyrrole, and quaternary N, were formed on its surface, enhancing its CO2 adsorption capacity of 0.98 and 1.80 mmol/g for low-level (3000 ppm) and pure CO2 flows at the ambient condition, respectively. In addition, the 0.3% CO2/N2 selectivity (αs,g) of the prepared sorbents revealed a superior affinity of CO2 by BAC (8.60) over coconut shell-based adsorbents (1.16–1.38). Furthermore, amination enhanced BAC’s CO2αs,g to 13.4. These results exhibit this sustainable approach’s potential capabilities to ensure the control of indoor CO2 levels, thereby reducing the cost associated with mechanical ventilation systems. Further research should test the new sorbent’s adsorption properties (isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics) for real-life applicability.
Relationship between Cooling Methods and Energy Consumption for the Development of Low-Carbon Collective Housing in Indonesia
Authors: Miyamoto Keigo , Pratiwi Sri Novianthi , Nishiiri Shuntaro , Takaguchi Hiroto , Kubota Tetsu
Published: February 2024

Indonesian urban population increase has led to increased energy demands and housing inventory shortages. The Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) supplies collective housing for low-income communities (MBR). The development of low-carbon collective housing has been thought to suppress the abrupt increase in household-sector energy demand and lead to mitigated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In tropical climates, it is essential to reduce the dependence on air conditioners (AC) to suppress energy consumption. Therefore, to investigate the relationship between cooling methods and energy consumption, this study surveyed the energy consumption per household and classified the existing cooling patterns of ACs, fans, and window openings in collective housing with different income groups in Indonesia. The results confirmed that the use of AC increases household energy consumption. Meanwhile, the implementation of natural ventilation (NV) showed significantly lower energy consumption with a high thermal satisfaction of more than 80% during the day and 90% at night; thus, both energy consumption reduction and indoor thermal comfort improvement could be achieved through these methods. The findings of this study serve as a starting point for verifying the energy saving effects of air conditioning habits with the consideration of socio-demographic changes for the purpose of decarbonizing collective housing, including future predictions and energy simulations.
Navigating the Urgency: An Open Innovation Project of Protective Equipment Development from a Quadruple Helix Perspective
Authors: da Penha Alex de Lima Teodoro , Bonato Samuel Vinícius , Passos Joana Baleeiro , Fernandes Eduardo da Silva , Kulpa Cínthia , ten Caten Carla Schwengber
Published: February 2024

This study empirically explores the Quadruple Helix model’s potential in facilitating an urgent open innovation project. By examining the life cycle of the project, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in Brazil, it reveals complex interactions among government, academia, industry, and civil society stakeholders, while also shedding light on the various risks arising from their dynamic collaboration. Employing an approach that combines case study analysis, risk assessment, and theoretical framework development, we unravel the project’s evolution, highlighting pivotal elements such as trust, collaboration, communication, agile mindset, stakeholder partnerships, scale, and logistics. Additionally, the study underscores concerns related to finance, time, reputation, and health, which warrant consideration. Risk analysis uncovers internal and external risks and categorizes thirty-two risks, with one deemed unacceptable, thus revealing valuable insights into stakeholders’ partnerships, institutional image, public equipment, manufacturing, project management, human resources, intellectual property, regulation, and sanitation risks. Building on these findings, we develop a new framework illustrating the management of the urgent open innovation project through the fast-paced Quadruple Helix formation. By exploring stakeholder collaboration and risk management, this research provides insights into the adaptability and speed required to successfully execute an emergency project, as well as presenting practical strategies for risk management and mitigation, significantly contributing to the domains of the Quadruple Helix and project management research.
Evaluation of Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Lane-Changing at the Freeway Weaving Area from Trajectory Data
Authors: Ouyang Pengying , Yang Bo
Published: February 2024

Intensive lane-changing (LC) events are one of the great causes that make freeway weaving areas become bottlenecks. This study proposes an approach using vehicle trajectory data to investigate the spatiotemporal distributions of the number of LC events, void occupancies, and throughput variations at the freeway weaving area. Firstly, all LC events are extracted from the cleaned dataset and classified into four types according to the LC vehicles’ origin–destination lanes and LC directions. Secondly, the time and space void occupancies are calculated using the kinematic theory. Thirdly, the throughput variations are identified with the oblique N-curve method. Finally, the spatial and temporal distributions of the LC events, void occupancies, and throughput variations are plotted to analyze their characteristics and relationships. The spatial distributions of different types of LC events indicate that most LC events occur at the surrounding area of the on-ramp entrance. Spatial distributions of time void occupancies show that the time void in the original lanes is quite small while that in the target lanes is much larger. Furthermore, the time void occupancies amplify downstream when considering vehicles traveling on the road. By comparing the temporal distributions of LC events, void occupancies, and throughput variations, there is a lag effect between the large value occurrences of space void occupancy and throughput reduction and that of the LC events, which can conclude a causal relationship between LC events and the occurrences of the space void occupancies and throughput reductions.
An Aspect-Based Review Analysis Using ChatGPT for the Exploration of Hotel Service Failures
Authors: Jeong Nayoung , Lee Jihwan
Published: February 2024

In this study, we employed ChatGPT, an advanced large language model, to analyze hotel reviews, focusing on aspect-based feedback to understand service failures in the hospitality industry. The shift from traditional feedback analysis methods to natural language processing (NLP) was initially hindered by the complexity and ambiguity of hotel review texts. However, the emergence of ChatGPT marks a significant breakthrough, offering enhanced accuracy and context-aware analysis. This study presents a novel approach to analyzing aspect-based hotel complaint reviews using ChatGPT. Employing a dataset from TripAdvisor, we methodically identified ten hotel attributes, establishing aspect–summarization pairs for each. Customized prompts facilitated ChatGPT’s efficient review summarization, emphasizing explicit keyword extraction for detailed analysis. A qualitative evaluation of ChatGPT’s outputs demonstrates its effectiveness in succinctly capturing crucial information, particularly through the explicitation of key terms relevant to each attribute. This study further delves into topic distributions across various hotel market segments (budget, midrange, and luxury), using explicit keyword analysis for the topic modeling of each hotel attribute. This comprehensive approach using ChatGPT for aspect-based summarization demonstrates a significant advancement in the way hotel reviews can be analyzed, offering deeper insights into customer experiences and perceptions.
Evaluation and Analysis of the County-Level Sustainable Development Process in Guangxi, China in 2014–2020
Authors: Shao Lanqing , Jia Guoqiang , Qiu Yubao , Liu Jianming
Published: February 2024

Sustainable development has become a scientific and decision-making consensus in countries and regions around the world. The current research on sustainable development mainly focuses on urban areas with a high level of economic development and intensive land use. Small-scale research, especially for underdeveloped areas, is required to reveal the spatial patterns and differences within administrative units. This study focuses on 1241 towns in Guangxi to assess the sustainable development process and variations at the township scale from 2014 to 2020 by using the entropy method, the coupled coordination degree method, and cluster analysis. The results show that the average sustainable development goal composite index (SDGCI) of towns in Guangxi is around 0.12, and their overall sustainable development level is low. The SDGCI of towns in the central region shows an increasing trend, while that in the northern and southern regions shows a decreasing trend. Then, the SDGs are divided into three systems, namely people, planet, and prosperity. The prosperity system contributes the most to the overall SDGCI, and the low values of the people and planet systems are the reason for the low level of sustainable development in Guangxi. The coupling degree of the SDGCI among the three systems is at a high level, and the level of coupling coordination degree is good, which indicates high consistency and close linkage of the towns in Guangxi when pursuing the SDGs. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis show that towns in Guangxi can be divided into three categories to adapt to different features based on SDGCI values. The assessment of SDG process in towns in Guangxi could guide local governments to refine their development policy, formulate and adjust development strategies in a targeted manner, and promote balanced and sustainable development under townships.
Electric Vehicle Adoption Barriers in Thailand
Authors: Tsai Jung-Fa , Wu Sheng-Che , Kathinthong Pajaree , Tran Thu-Hien , Lin Ming-Hua
Published: February 2024

Adopting electric vehicles (EVs) is a potential solution to reduce emissions and protect the environment. Although countries encourage people to use EVs to replace gasoline and diesel vehicles, the application of EVs still needs to overcome many barriers, especially in developing countries such as Thailand. This study aims to identify critical barriers that hinder the adoption of EVs not only among EV owners but also among non-EV owners. First, two rounds of the modified Delphi method were used to identify significant barriers through expert opinions. The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method was then applied to determine their relationship. Among financial, technical, infrastructure, and policy dimensions, industrial experts agree about 14 significant barriers to the adoption of EVs. The results show that the long charging duration, limited driving range, and lack of charging stations are the most critical barriers affecting Thai customers adopting EVs. This study’s findings will help manufacturers and policymakers understand customer requirements and develop appropriate strategies to improve the adoption of EVs.
Numerical Study on Effects of Flow Channel Length on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Integrated System Performances
Authors: Liu Yuhang , Liu Jinyi , Fu Lirong , Wang Qiao
Published: February 2024

The structural dimensions of the SOFC have an important influence on the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-integrated system performance. The paper focuses on analyzing the effect of the flow channel length on the integrated system. The system model includes a 3-D SOFC model, established using COMSOL 6.1, and a 1-D model of the SOFC-integrated system established, using Aspen Plus V11. This analysis was conducted within an operating voltage range from 0.4 V to 0.9 V and flow channel length range from 6 cm to 18 cm for the SOFC-integrated system model. Performance evaluation indicators for integrated systems are conducted, focusing on three aspects: net electrical power, net electrical efficiency, and thermoelectric efficiency. The purpose of the paper is to explore the optimal flow channel length of SOFC in the integrated system. The results indicate that there is inevitably an optimal length in the integrated system at which both the net electrical power and net electrical efficiency reach their maximum values. When considering the heat recycling in the system, the integrated system with a flow channel length of 16 cm achieves the highest thermoelectric efficiency of 65.68% at 0.7 V. Therefore, there is a flow channel length that allows the system to achieve the highest thermoelectric efficiency. This study provides optimization ideas for the production and manufacturing of SOFCs from the perspective of practical engineering applications.
Enhancing Urban Intersection Efficiency: Visible Light Communication and Learning-Based Control for Traffic Signal Optimization and Vehicle Management
Authors: Vieira Manuel Augusto , Galvão Gonçalo , Vieira Manuela , Louro Paula , Vestias Mário , Vieira Pedro
Published: February 2024

This paper introduces a novel approach, Visible Light Communication (VLC), to optimize urban intersections by integrating VLC localization services with learning-based traffic signal control. The system enhances communication between connected vehicles and infrastructure using headlights, streetlights, and traffic signals to transmit information. Through Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V) interactions, joint data transmission and collection occur via mobile optical receivers. The goal is to reduce waiting times for pedestrians and vehicles, enhancing overall traffic safety by employing flexible and adaptive measures accommodating diverse traffic movements. VLC cooperative mechanisms, transmission range, relative pose concepts, and queue/request/response interactions help balance traffic flow and improve road network performance. Evaluation in the SUMO urban mobility simulator demonstrates advantages, reducing waiting and travel times for both vehicles and pedestrians. The system employs a reinforcement learning scheme for effective traffic signal scheduling, utilizing VLC-ready vehicles to communicate positions, destinations, and routes. Agents at intersections calculate optimal strategies, communicating to optimize overall traffic flow. The proposed decentralized and scalable approach, especially suitable for multi-intersection scenarios, showcases the feasibility of applying reinforcement learning in real-world traffic scenarios.
Comprehensive Sensitivity Analysis Framework for Transfer Learning Performance Assessment for Time Series Forecasting: Basic Concepts and Selected Case Studies
Authors: Kambale Witesyavwirwa Vianney , Salem Mohamed , Benarbia Taha , Al Machot Fadi , Kyamakya Kyandoghere
Published: February 2024

Recently, transfer learning has gained popularity in the machine learning community. Transfer Learning (TL) has emerged as a promising paradigm that leverages knowledge learned from one or more related domains to improve prediction accuracy in a target domain with limited data. However, for time series forecasting (TSF) applications, transfer learning is relatively new. This paper addresses the need for empirical studies as identified in recent reviews advocating the need for practical guidelines for Transfer Learning approaches and method designs for time series forecasting. The main contribution of this paper is the suggestion of a comprehensive framework for Transfer Learning Sensitivity Analysis (SA) for time series forecasting. We achieve this by identifying various parameters seen from various angles of transfer learning applied to time series, aiming to uncover factors and insights that influence the performance of transfer learning in time series forecasting. Undoubtedly, symmetry appears to be a core aspect in the consideration of these factors and insights. A further contribution is the introduction of four TL performance metrics encompassed in our framework. These TL performance metrics provide insight into the extent of the transferability between the source and the target domains. Analyzing whether the benefits of transferred knowledge are equally or unequally accessible and applicable across different domains or tasks speaks to the requirement of symmetry or asymmetry in transfer learning. Moreover, these TL performance metrics inform on the possibility of the occurrence of negative transfers and also provide insight into the possible vulnerability of the network to catastrophic forgetting. Finally, we discuss a sensitivity analysis of an Ensemble TL technique use case (with Multilayer Perceptron models) as a proof of concept to validate the suggested framework. While the results from the experiments offer empirical insights into various parameters that impact the transfer learning gain, they also raise the question of network dimensioning requirements when designing, specifically, a neural network for transfer learning.
On the Network Index of MAS with Layered Lattice-like Structures of Multiple Vertex-Related Parameters
Authors: Huang Da , Yang Jibin , Yu Zhiyong , Hu Cheng
Published: February 2024

In this article, a robust index named first-order network coherence (FONC) for the multi-agent systems (MASs) with layered lattice-like structure is studied via the angle of the graph spectra theory. The union operation of graphs is utilized to construct two pairs of non-isomorphic layered lattice-like structures, and the expression of the index is acquired by the approach of Laplacian spectra, then the corresponding asymptotic results are obtained. It is found that when the cardinality of the node sets of coronary substructures with better connectedness tends to infinity, the FONC of the whole network will have the same asymptotic behavior with the central lattice-like structure in the considered classic graph frameworks. The indices of the networks were simulated to illustrate the the asymptotic results, as described in the last section.
Chemically Modified Electrodes Based on 4-((5-Isopropyl-3,8-dimethylazulen-1-yl)methylene)-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-one
Authors: Brotea Alina-Giorgiana , Matica Ovidiu-Teodor , Musina (Borsaru) Cornelia , Pandele Andreea Madalina , Trusca Roxana , Ungureanu Eleonora-Mihaela
Published: February 2024

Novel chemically modified electrodes (CMEs) based on azulene were prepared by electrooxidation of guaiazulene derivative 4-((5-isopropyl-3,8-dimethylazulen-1-yl)methylene)-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-one (G). G is based on guaiazulene non-alternating aromatic hydrocarbon exhibiting a less symmetrical structure compared to naphthalene skeletal derivative. Therefore, it can be used as a building block for the preparation of novel materials. To evaluate the chemical structure and surface images, the CMEs based on G (G-CMEs) were characterized by ferrocene redox probe, X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). They were also tested for the analysis of synthetic samples of heavy metal (HM) ions. The influence of preparation conditions (electric charge and potential) on the properties of these CMEs was examined. This paper highlights the importance of electropolymerization conditions on electrodeposited film surfaces, especially on their analytical properties vs. Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) investigated ions. This study is relevant for further design and development of advanced materials based on azulenyl-phenyloxazolone for the HM analysis in water. A linear dependence of the peak currents for Pb(II) ion on the concentration in test aqueous solutions was obtained between 10−7 M and 5·10−5 M. The detection limits of 5·10−6 M; 10−7 M; 5·10−6 M; and 10−5 M were estimated for Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II), respectively, for G-CMEs.
The Risk of Reinfection or Primary Hepatitis E Virus Infection at a Liver Transplant Center in Brazil: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Zicker Michelle , Pinho João R. R. , Welter Eliane A. R. , Guardia Bianca D. , da Silva Paulo G. T. M. , da Silveira Leonardo B. , Camargo Luís F. A.
Published: February 2024

The hepatitis E virus is a major etiological agent of chronic hepatitis in immunosuppressed individuals. Seroprevalence in the liver transplantation setting varies according to the seroprevalence of the general population in different countries. This was a prospective cohort study of liver transplant recipients in southeastern Brazil. Recipients were systematically followed for one year, with the objective of determining the prevalence, incidence, and natural history of HEV infection in this population. We included 107 liver transplant recipients and 83 deceased donors. Positivity for anti-HEV IgG was detected in 10.2% of the recipients and in 9.7% of the donors. None of the patients tested positive for HEV RNA at baseline or during follow-up. There were no episodes of reactivation or seroconversion, even in cases of serological donor-recipient mismatch or in recipients with acute hepatitis. Acute and chronic HEV infections seem to be rare events in the region studied. That could be attributable to social, economic, and environmental factors. Our data indicate that, among liver transplant recipients, hepatitis E should be investigated only when there are elevated levels of transaminases with no defined cause, as part of the differential diagnosis of seronegative hepatitis after transplantation.
Association between the Mode of Delivery and Vertical Transmission of Human Papillomavirus
Authors: Nantel Émilie , Mayrand Marie-Hélène , Audibert François , Niyibizi Joseph , Brassard Paul , Laporte Louise , Lacaille Julie , Zahreddine Monica , Fraser William , Francoeur Diane , Bédard Marie-Josée , Girard Isabelle , Lacroix Jacques , Carceller Ana Maria , Coutlée François , Trottier Helen
Published: February 2024

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can be vertically transmitted. Our objective was to measure the association between the mode of delivery and the detection of HPV in infants. We used data collected from pregnant women during the HERITAGE study. Self-collected vaginal samples from the first and third trimester were obtained for HPV testing. Specimens from oral, pharyngeal, conjunctival and anogenital mucosa were collected from infants 36–48 h after delivery and at 3 months of age. All samples were tested for HPV DNA by the Linear Array assay. Adjusted odd ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using multivariate logistic regressions. From the 282 women revealed to be HPV-positive in both the first and third trimesters, 25 infants were born HPV-positive. The overall probability of transmission was 8.9% (25/282); 3.7% (3/81) in participants with a caesarean section and 10.9% (22/201) for those who delivered vaginally. Vaginal delivery increased the risk of HPV in infants compared to caesarean (aOR: 3.63, 95%CI: 1.03–12.82). Infants born after a caesarean with ruptured membranes were not at increased risk of HPV compared to infants born after an elective caesarean section with intact membranes (aOR: 1.31, 95%CI: 0.10–17.76). Our results support the hypothesis that transmission occurs mostly during the passage in the vaginal canal.
Safety and Tolerability of COVID-19 Vaccine in Mast Cell Disorders Real-Life Data from a Single Centre in Italy
Authors: Nicola Stefania , Mazzola Marina , Lo Sardo Luca , Montabone Erika , Badiu Iuliana , Corradi Federica , Azzolina Maria Carmen Rita , Dall’Acqua Maurizio Gaspare , Rolla Giovanni , Ridolfi Irene , Quinternetto Anna , Brussino Luisa
Published: February 2024

Background In the past three years, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the healthcare systems and people’s safety worldwide. Mass vaccinations dramatically improved the health and economic damage caused by SARS-CoV-2. However, the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients at high risk of allergic reactions still has many unmet needs that should be clarified. Material and methods A retrospective, single-centre study was performed by collecting demographic and clinical data of patients with Mast Cell Disorders (MCDs) to evaluate the safety and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccinations. Moreover, any changes in the natural history of the underlying disease following the vaccine have been evaluated. Results This study included 66 patients affected with MCDs. Out of them, 52 (78.8%) received a COVID-19 vaccination and 41 (78.8%) completed the vaccination course. Premedication came first in 86.6% of our patients. A total of seven (4.5%) patients complained about an immediate reaction and two (1.3%) had a late reaction. Worsening of MCD history was observed in a single patient. Conclusions Despite the overall high risk of allergic reactions, our study did not reveal any increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 allergic reactions in MCD patients, thus supporting the recommendation in favour of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, due to the potentially increased rate of anaphylactic reactions, MCD patients should receive vaccine premedication and should be treated in a hospital setting after an allergological specialistic evaluation.
Stability Assessment of Tunnels Excavated in Loess with the Presence of Groundwater—A Case Study
Authors: Deng Qihua , Zhang Junru , Lu Feng , Fan Ziyan , Wang Yi , Lin Zhi
Published: February 2024

The high water content of the surrounding rock in loess tunnels will lead to the deterioration of rock strength, causing deformation and damage to the initial support structure and thereby affecting safety during construction and operation. This article first analyzes the strength characteristics of loess under different water contents through indoor physical and mechanical tests. Secondly, based on numerical simulation results, the ecological environment, and design requirements, the water content threshold is determined. Finally, a reinforcement scheme combining surface precipitation measures and curtain grouting measures is proposed, and the reinforcement effect is analyzed based on on-site monitoring data. The results show that as the water content of loess increases, the cohesion, internal friction angle, and elastic modulus of the surrounding rock all decrease, leading to an increase in the sensitivity of the surrounding rock to excavation disturbances and a deterioration in strength. During the construction process, it shows an increase in the vault settlement and sidewalls’ convergence. During the process of increasing the distance between the monitoring section and the palm face, the settlement and convergence of the tunnel show a rapid growth stage, slow growth stage, and stable stage. The water content threshold is determined to be 22%. The reinforcement scheme of combining surface precipitation measures with curtain grouting measures not only meets the requirements of the ecological environment but also makes the settlement and convergence values lower than the yellow warning deformation values required by the design.
From District to City Scale: The Potential of Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
Authors: Schulze Joachim , Gehrmann Simon , Somvanshi Avikal , Rudolph-Cleff Annette
Published: February 2024

The summer of 2022 was one of the hottest and driest summers that Germany experienced in the 21st century. Water levels in rivers sank dramatically with many dams and reservoirs running dry; as a result, fields could not be irrigated sufficiently, and even power generation and supply were affected. The impact of abnormally high temperatures for extended periods (heatwaves) is not restricted to nature and the economy but is also a considerable public health burden. Experts worldwide agree that these extreme weather events are being driven by climate change and will increase in intensity and frequency in the future. The adverse impact of these extreme weather events multiplies among dense urban environments, e.g., through heat islands. This calls for cities to take action to heat-proof and water-secure their urban developments. Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is one such approach to mitigate the aforementioned challenges by leveraging the urban water ecosystem with special attention to the subject of water reclamation, retention, treatment and distribution. This paper introduces and builds upon a prototype of WSUD that centers around an artificial lake as an integrated water resource management system (IWRMS) fed by treated grey water and storm water obtained from two housing blocks flanking the water reservoir. Based on the specifications of this prototype, indicators of site suitability are derived and applied to identify potential locations for replicable projects in the city of Darmstadt. The results confirm the impact WSUD can have: a total of 22 sites with 2527 apartments are found suitable for prototype implementation in Darmstadt. Savings in town water consumption from these 22 sites would add up to 147 million liters. Further benefits include the provision of 24 million liters of irrigation water, storm water retention, adiabatic cooling during heatwave, increased biodiversity and the improvement in livability of the sites and the city.
Delineation of Potential Groundwater Zones and Assessment of Their Vulnerability to Pollution from Cemeteries Using GIS and AHP Approaches Based on the DRASTIC Index and Specific DRASTIC
Authors: Gonçalves Vanessa , Albuquerque Antonio , Almeida Pedro Gabriel , Ferreira Gomes Luís , Cavaleiro Victor
Published: February 2024

The risk of aquifer contamination is determined by the interaction between the pollutant load and the vulnerability of an aquifer. Owing to the decomposition of bodies and degradation of artefacts, cemeteries may have a negative impact on groundwater quality and suitability for use due to the leaching of organic compounds (e.g., biodegradable organics, pharmaceuticals, and formaldehyde), inorganic compounds (e.g., nitrate and heavy metals), pathogenic bacteria, and viruses. Factors such as burial and soil type, rainfall amount, and groundwater depth may increase aquifer vulnerability to pollutants generated in cemeteries. The potential for groundwater contamination was investigated in two cemeteries of the Soure region in Portugal (Samuel–UC9 and Vinha da Rainha–UC10), using the classic DRASTIC model, followed by some adjustments, depending on the particularities of the locations, resulting in a Final Classification considered as Specific DRASTIC. By combining Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) were identified, and aquifer vulnerability was assessed, which included the elaboration of thematic maps using GIS operation tools. The maps allowed for the identification of areas with different susceptibilities to contamination: from “Low” to “Very high” for the DRASTIC index and from “Very Low” to “Very high” for the Specific DRASTIC index. Although the difference between the UC9 and UC10 cemeteries is negligible, UC10 is more vulnerable because of its proximity to the community and critically important mineral water resources (such as Bicanho Medical Spa). The Specific model seems better-suited for describing vulnerability to cemeteries. Although there is limited groundwater quality data for the area, the development of vulnerability maps can identify areas that can be sensitive spots for groundwater contamination and establish procedures for pollution prevention.
Climate Change Impacts on Water Temperatures in Urban Lakes: Implications for the Growth of Blue Green Algae in Fairy Lake
Authors: Bhatti Munir , Singh Amanjot , McBean Edward , Vijayakumar Sadharsh , Fitzgerald Alex , Siwierski Jan , Murison Lorna
Published: February 2024

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria that play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems and are susceptible to changes in temperature. Hence, as global temperatures rise due to climate change, some Cyanobacterial species will thrive in warmer temperatures, which will result in increased blooms during the growing season. The MIKE-3 model is calibrated to existing (2022) conditions and is used to assess the impact of the RCP 4.5 scenario for the year 2050 in Fairy Lake (a shallow urban lake in Ontario). The simulations projected indicate that in 2050, in the central parts of Fairy Lake’s central basin, water temperatures will be above 20 °C for 2281 h compared to 2060 h in 2022. This situation indicates there will be a 10.7% increase in the duration of Cyanobacteria blooms in the central area of Fairy Lake. Similarly, in the northern area of Fairy Lake, the MIKE-3 model results indicate that surface temperature durations above 20 °C will increase from 1628 h to 2275 h for the year 2050, resulting in an additional 647 h of increased temperatures at the surface under RCP 4.5 scenario conditions. This situation indicates there will be a 39.7% increase in the duration of Cyanobacteria blooms in the northern portion of Fairy Lake. These modeling conditions indicate there will be significantly more habitat amenable to Cyanobacteria growth when surface water temperatures are above 20 °C, indicating substantial increases in the available growth time of Cyanobacteria due to climate change, all of which translate to major concerns caused by climate change.
Assessment of the risk of urinary tract infections as infections associated with the provision of medical care in patients admitted to inpatient treatment using a computer program
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Altai State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Barnaul, Russia, Sursyakova K. I. , Safyanova T. V. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Altai State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Barnaul, Russia, Dronov S. V. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Altai State University», Barnaul, Russia, Kozlov D. Yu. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Altai State University», Barnaul, Russia
Published: February 2024

In order to assess the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) associated with the provision of medical care in patients receiving inpatient treatment, we have proposed and developed a computer program that is designed for both individual and cohort assessment of the likelihood of developing UTIs associated with the provision of medical care. The use of the program allows a doctor of any specialty to assess the level of probability of developing this group of infectious diseases when hospitalizing patients in hospitals of various profiles.
The position of women in society and the family through the prism of stereotypical ideas about religion and real biblical provisions
Authors:   Department of Social Work, Ufa University of Science and Technology, Ufa University of Science and Technology, Bolshakova N. L. , Kozlitina D. D. ,   Department of Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology Ufa University of Science and Technology
Published: February 2024

In modern society, a certain opinion has developed about the place of women in the family and society intended by Christianity, but stereotypical opinions very often do not coincide with what is written in the Bible, which is the main source of the rules and worldview of this religion.
Design and Implementation of Smart Petrol Station
Authors:   University of Thi-Qar, M. Baqir Zahraa , R. Abdali Mayasah ,   Al-Mustaqbal University, Abdul-Jaleel Al-Asady Heba ,   University of Kufa,   the Islamic University
Published: February 2024

The problem that still exists nowadays with the petrol station is the method of operation because the petrol station is currently operated manually. As it is a time-consuming process that increases manpower, other problems are related to accuracy, gasoline smuggling, fluctuations in global oil prices, sales, database management, environmental pollution and others. Traditional methods of monitoring fuel in petrol station by humans on site are unable to meet the expectations for efficiency, accuracy and cost. Therefore, this paper designs an intelligent system of three filling stations, where the three stations are simultaneously displayed on a single web application, and this IoT-based system is implemented to address all the problems. Therefore, this paper presents the design and implementation of three petrol stations in which we are going to measure the level of fuel and show it to central server. internet of things (IoT) based petrol station monitoring system is a good approach to improve monitoring efficiency and to improve management efficiency in stations remotely. simulation results presented in LabVIEW software showed the ability of the system to monitor levels of petrol, detect fire, evaporation and etc.
The Impact of Façade Design on Visual Pollution Case study: Peshawa-Qazi Street (100 m) in Erbil
Authors:   Salahaddin University-Erbil, Khalid Qaseem Aamer , Khayat Mahmood ,   University of Kurdistan Hewlêr
Published: February 2024

Visual pollution refers to the negative impact of various environmental elements on the visual experience of individuals and the quality of the surroundings. This includes unsightly buildings and other man-made structures that disrupt natural beauty. The design of building facades plays a significant role in determining visual pollution. This study aimed to assess the impact of facade design on visual pollution by testing which facade design considerations most contribute to visual pollution in Peshawa-Qazi Street (100 m) in Erbil City. An online survey was conducted with 283 participants in six architectural departments within engineering colleges and other online engineering platforms in Erbil, Duhok, and Suleimani. Respondents included architectural students from the 3rd to 5th stage, academic staff, and professional architects. They rated the impact of individual facade elements, contextual integration, and other factors on visual pollution. A one-sample T-test was used to compare mean scores to a test value of (2.5). Results showed that all three categories of façade design considerations significantly increase visual pollution compared to the test value (p < 0.05). Considerations regarding the overall context of a facade had the most significant impact (mean of 1.93 higher than the test value), followed by other factors (mean of 1.79 higher) and individual elements (mean of 0.71 higher). To decrease visual pollution, it is recommended to the policymakers and municipalities to develop regulations, façade design guidelines and for architects to follow the principles of architectural form and composition regarding the integration of building facades with their surroundings, façade practical considerations, and refined composition of façade elements.
DIGITAL MARKETING AS A FORM OF IMPLEMENTATION OF MARKETING ACTIVITY IN THE CONDITIONS OF DIGITALIZATION
Authors:   Chernivtsi Institute of Trade and Economics of SUTE, Losheniuk Iryna , Losheniuk Oksana ,   Chernivtsi Institute of Trade and Economics of SUTE
Published: February 2024

The digitalization of the economy has led to the transformation of marketing, prompting companies to review the methods of promoting their goods, services or brand to the market and to widely use digital communication channels. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine accelerated the transition of a significant number of companies online. The presence and active promotion of the company in the digital environment allows it not only to attract new customers, but also to increase their loyalty, analyze data on the results of promotion and adjust the marketing strategy in order to increase its effectiveness.The purpose of the article is to study modern aspects of the development of digital marketing. Historical aspects of emergence and development of the digital marketing are considered. Based on the analysis of interpretation of the concept of "digital marketing" by various scientists, the authors’ definition of this concept was formulated as an effective tool and methodical support of marketing activity in the conditions of use of modern information technologies, which contributes to the rapid promotion of goods and services on the market, the expansion of sales channels, as well as making relevant management decisions. The advantages of the digital marketing were revealed. The main types, methods and tools of the digital marketing have been considered. Trends in the development of the digital marketing have been identified: the use of artificial intelligence, which allows collecting data on consumer preferences and developing targeted advertising for each target segment; personalization and an individual approach to the consumer, that is, the analysis of audience preferences makes it possible to develop an effective product promotion system, etc. The prospects for the development of digital marketing in the world are considered. The practical significance of the work is in the possibility of applying some of its provisions in the creation of marketing strategies for domestic enterprises. Prospects for further research consist in the study of the influence of digital marketing on the development of Ukrainian companies in the conditions of war.
FEATURES OF INFORMATION PROVIDING OF FINANCIAL CONTROL AT TRADE ENTERPRISES
Authors:   Chernivtsi Institute of Trade and Economics of SUTE, Gut Liubov
Published: February 2024

With the transformation and development of market relations in Ukraine, the conditions of economic activity of trade enterprises have been changing. Further digitization and networking necessitate the improvement of the trade enterprise management system (a component of which is financial controlling), and, accordingly, the development of an information support system for such management. Today, competition for consumers is intensifying, and business activity is facing crisis phenomena. Without an effective system of financial controlling and its high-quality information support, which provides information and service-analytical support to management, it is almost impossible to ensure the desired level of activity efficiency. The purpose of the article is to characterize the features of creating a system of information support for financial controlling of trade enterprises. In the process of carrying out the research, general scientific methods were used: the method of system analysis - to clarify the main categories of the research; the abstract-logical method - for theoretical generalization and conclusions about main features of the information support system of financial controlling; the graphic method - for a visual presentation of practical recommendations for improving the information support system of financial controlling. The article substantiates the key features of management and the goals of financial controlling at trade enterprises and the need to improve the system of its information support in modern business conditions. Taking into account specific issues of the trade enterprises’ activity, the peculiarities of their functioning, the main proposals for improving the process of information support of financial controlling are given, and a system of controlling indicators is proposed as a component of the ERP system. Prospects for further research in this direction are the determination of approaches to fixing costs for individual centers of responsibility and drawing up a budget for each of them in order to improve the general system of financial controlling of trade enterprises.