bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Machine Learning in Predicting Formation Condition of Multi-Gas Hydrate
Authors: Yu Zimeng , Tian Hailong
Published: June 2022

Thermodynamic models are usually employed to predict formation condition of hydrates. However, these thermodynamic models usually require a large amount of calculations to approach phase equilibrium. Additionally, parameters included in the thermodynamic model need to be calibrated based on the experimental data, which leads to high uncertainties in the predicted results. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning as one of sub-discipline has been developed and been widely applied in various research area. In this work, machine learning was innovatively employed to predict the formation condition of natural gas hydrates to overcome the high computation cost and low accuracy. Three data-driven models, Random Forest (RF), Naive Bayes (NB), Support Vector Regression (SVR) were tentatively used to determine the formation condition of hydrate formed by pure and mixed gases. Experimental data reported in previous work were taken to train and test the machine learning models. As a representative thermodynamic model the Chen–Guo (C-G) model was used to analyze the computational efficiency and accuracy of machine learning models. The comparison of results predicted by C-G model and machine learning models with the experimental data indicated that the RF model performed better than the NB and SVR models on both computation speed and accuracy. According to the experimental data, the average AADP calculated by the C-G model is 7.62 times that calculated by the RF model. Meanwhile, the average time costed by the C-G model is 75.65 times that by the RF model. Compared with the other two machine learning models, the RF model is expected to be used in predicting the formation condition of natural gas hydrate under field conditions.
Do Two Different Approaches to the Season in Modeling Affect the Predicted Distribution of Fish? A Case Study for Decapterus maruadsi in the Offshore Waters of Southern Zhejiang, China
Authors: Ma Wen , Gao Chunxia , Qin Song , Ma Jin , Zhao Jing
Published: June 2022

The relationships between environmental factors and fish density are closely related, and species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used in exploring these relationships and predicting the spatial distribution of fishery resources. When exploring the prediction of the spatial distribution of species in different seasons, the method of choosing the appropriate approach to the season will help to improve the predictive performance of the model. Based on data collected from 2015 to 2020 during a survey off southern Zhejiang, the Tweedie-GAM was used to establish the relationship between the density of Decapterus maruadsi and environmental factors at different modeling approaches. The results showed that water temperature, salinity and depth were the main factors influencing D. maruadsi, and they operated through different mechanisms and even resulted in opposite trends of density in different seasons. Spatially, the two modeling approaches also differed in predicting the spatial distribution of D. maruadsi, with the seasonal model showing a higher density trend in inshore waters than in offshore waters in spring but showing the opposite trend in summer and autumn, which was more consistent with the actual spatial distribution of the resource. By analyzing the effects of two different approaches on the prediction of fishery resources, this study aims to provide research ideas and references for improving the predictive performance of SDMs.
Observations and Parametrization of the Turbulent Energy Dissipation Beneath Non-Breaking Waves
Authors: Bogucki Darek J. , Haus Brian K. , Barzegar Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Here, for non-breaking short surface waves, we have experimentally determined the value of the turbulent eddy viscosity νT or its ratio νT*≡νT/ν, where ν is the water kinematic viscosity. The non-breaking wave-generated turbulent eddy viscosity νT was found to depend on the ratio of the wave period, T, to the microscale Kolmogorov time scale, τη. Our observations were consistent with νT*=1.46·(T/τη)−2.6 when (T/τη)<0.9. That implied that the νT*∝ϵ−1.3, where ϵ is the background turbulent energy dissipation rate. The near-surface turbulent flow associated with non-breaking waves was characterized by a short inertial subrange. The background turbulence appears to modulate the amount of energy the non-breaking waves dissipate locally and, consequently, the wave’s decay rate. Our results imply that the background turbulent flow acts as a lubricant, permitting waves to propagate further when traveling over a more energetic turbulent background flow. Our results have implications for the modeling of oceanic wave propagation or the air–sea exchange processes.
Maximization of Sulforaphane Content in Broccoli Sprouts by Blanching
Authors: Mahn Andrea , Pérez Carmen Elena , Zambrano Víctor , Barrientos Herna
Published: June 2022

Broccoli sprouts are a recognized source of health-promoting compounds, such as glucosinolates, glucoraphanin, and sulforaphane (SFN). Maximization of SFN content can be achieved by technological processing. We investigated the effect of blanching conditions to determine the optimal treatment that maximizes sulforaphane content in broccoli sprouts. Broccoli seeds (cv. Traditional) grown under controlled conditions were harvested after 11 days from germination and subjected to different blanching conditions based on a central composite design with temperature and time as experimental factors. Results were analyzed by ANOVA followed by a Tukey test. The optimum conditions were identified through response surface methodology. Blanching increased sulforaphane content compared with untreated sprouts, agreeing with a decrease in total glucosinolates and glucoraphanin content. Temperature significantly affected SFN content. Higher temperatures and shorter immersion times favor glucoraphanin hydrolysis, thus increasing SFN content. The optimum conditions were blanching at 61 °C for 4.8 min, resulting in 54.3 ± 0.20 µmol SFN/g dry weight, representing a 3.3-fold increase with respect to untreated sprouts. This is the highest SFN content reported for sprouts subjected to any treatment so far. The process described in this work may contribute to developing functional foods and nutraceuticals that provide sulforaphane as an active principle.
Does Coffee Have Terroir and How Should It Be Assessed?
Authors: Williams Simon D. , Barkla Bronwyn J. , Rose Terry J. , Liu Lei
Published: June 2022

The terroir of coffee is defined as the unique sensory experience derived from a single origin roasted coffee that embodies its source. Environmental conditions such as temperature, altitude, shade cover, rainfall, and agronomy are considered the major parameters that define coffee terroir. However, many other parameters such as post-harvest processing, roasting, grinding, and brewing can combine to influence the perception of terroir. In this review, we discuss the contribution of these parameters and their influence on coffee terroir. Assessment of terroir requires defined sensory descriptors, as provided by the World Coffee Research Lexicon, and standardized roast level, grind size, and brew method. The choice of the post-harvest processing method is often environmentally dependent, suggesting that an inclusion into the coffee terroir definition is warranted. Coffee terroir is often not intentionally created but results from the contributions of the Coffea species and variety planted, environmental and agricultural parameters, and both the harvest and post-harvest method used. The unique combination of these parameters gives the consumer a unique cup of coffee, reminiscent of the place the coffee was produced.
The Evaluation of the Effects of Dietary Vitamin E or Selenium on Lipid Oxidation in Rabbit Hamburgers: Comparing TBARS and Hexanal SPME-GC Analyses
Authors: Trombetti Fabiana , Minardi Paola , Mordenti Attilio Luigi , Badiani Anna , Ventrella Vittoria , Albonetti Sabrina
Published: June 2022

The effects and specificity of dietary supplementation of EconomasETM (EcoE), mainly consisting of organic selenium (0.15 or 0.30 mg/kg feed; Se) or of vitamin E (100 or 200 mg/kg feed; VE), on lipid oxidation were evaluated in rabbit hamburgers during refrigerated storage. Oxidation data obtained by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) spectrophotometric analysis and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography (GC) to determine hexanal content were compared. The relationships between oxidation levels, colour and pH and the discriminability of EcoE- or VE-treatment compared with control were also examined. TBARS content decreased in both VE and EcoE groups, while hexanal showed lower values only in the VE100 dietary group. The colour parameters were compatible with acceptable product quality and seemed to parallel the TBARS values up to the second day storage. Both VE and EcoE improved oxidative stability without affecting the sensory properties, but the VE effect appeared to more specifically hamper lipid oxidation, as evidenced by the determination and quantification of hexanal, a specific product of fatty acid peroxidation.
Imaginary Historical Pattern of Family and a Model for Construction of Political and Social Organizations—Extended Family (Zadruga) in Bulgaria
Authors: Hristov Petko
Published: June 2022

The notion of “zadruga” (named by Vuk Karadjić in 1818) was introduced in the scientific research literature, as well as in the social and political discourse, of the then young Balkan countries in the 19th century to mark the multitude of historical forms under which the “complex family organization” was known among the South-Slavic people in the region. The young Bulgarian science adopted this term in ethnographic studies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bulgarian scientists, lawyers, and researchers of customary law norms attempted to implement some of the features of this family model in modern Bulgarian legislation. In the period between the two world wars, the nascent cooperative movement in the agrarian sector also used the model of the “partnership” to justify its organization. This paper analyzes similar attempts to use scientific descriptions of the zadruga in the construction of various social and economic associations in Bulgaria during the interwar period. It also analyses the attempts of the new communist leaders to use the traditions of the pre-modern society in terms of communal living in zadruga through the imposition of a cooperative system, and the nationalization of the arable land in the first years under the totalitarian system following the Second World War. Part of the Bulgarian scientific community and Bulgarian ethnography has been involved in these attempts since the early 1950s.
The KIDSCREEN-27 Quality of Life Measure for Romanian Children Aged 6: Reliability and Validity of the Romanian Version
Authors: Ardelean Viorel Petru , Andrei Vasile Liviu , Miuţa Caius Călin , Boros-Balint Iuliana , Deak Grațiela-Flavia , Molnar Andor , Berki Tamás , Győri Ferenc , Geantă Vlad Adrian , Dehelean Cristina Adriana , Borcan Florin
Published: June 2022

The KIDSCREEN-27 represents a standardized, worldwide instrument, employed to assess the health-related quality of life in children. The purpose of the present study is to validate the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire for 6-year-old preparatory school children and verify its reliability, as well as to perform a comparison regarding the quality of children’s lives living in two cities in Romania: Arad, a provincial city, versus the second most developed city in the country, Cluj-Napoca. A total of 256 children of 6 years of age, who come from families with both parents, with a medium to high socioeconomic status and a good health status, were included in the analysis, using the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire at three assessment time points with a re-test period of two weeks. Results indicated that the KIDSCREEN-27 turned out to be suitable for use in 6-year-old Romanian children. Analysis regarding the psychometric properties showed that the Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.554 to 0.661 at the end of the study. The Pearson correlation coefficients showed statistically significant differences between the items of each area investigated. In conclusion, there is a growing need to periodically monitor the health status of children to avoid possible problems which may occur.
Irregular Migrant Workers and Health: A Qualitative Study of Health Status and Access to Healthcare of the Filipino Domestic Workers in Mainland China
Authors: Chen Hui , Gao Quan , Yeoh Brenda S. A. , Liu Yungang
Published: June 2022

In public health research, the health issues of irregular and vulnerable migrant populations remain under-explored. In particular, while mainland China has become a new and popular job-seeking destination for Filipino domestic workers (FDWs), the health status of FDWs and their access to healthcare have been invisible to public and academic concerns. This paper fills this lacuna by conducting a qualitative study that investigates FDWs’ self-reported health status and their healthcare-seeking behaviors. The results show that: (1) respondents do not report significant abusive and exploitative experience because the scarcity of FDWs in China in relation to the high demand enables them a certain degree of agency in labour market; (2) while FDWs do report some health problems, they tend to resort to self-medication and food-healing; (3) the main factors influencing health-seeking behavior include the fear of deportation, language gaps, the lack of knowledge of the local healthcare system and dependence on co-ethnic networks which serves as a double-edged sword; (4) these factors also lead to hesitation in health-seeking choice between public and private hospitals, which sometimes result in delayed treatment. This paper contributes to revealing the health conditions of FDWs in mainland China and calls for more inclusive health policy to enroll foreign domestic workers into the local health system in China.
Dynamic Characteristic Analysis of Centrifugal Pump Impeller Based on Fluid-Solid Coupling
Authors: Li Yufang , Su Hongli , Wang Yanwei , Jiang Wei , Zhu Qipei
Published: June 2022

Purpose: Centrifugal pumps are prone to vibration problems during operation due to poor dynamic characteristics of its impellers that serve as the only running parts of such devices; the dynamic characteristics of the impeller during operation are the main reasons for the vibration of the centrifugal pump. Therefore, it is important to study the internal fluid flow and its influence on the dynamic characteristics of the pump impeller and to explore the causes of vibration during the transient start-up process. The understanding of such phenomena may lead to better design of such impellers. Methods: The geometry of the flow channel inside the centrifugal pump is established using Creo 4.0 software (American PTC company). The internal fluid flow computer simulation is carried out using Flomaster V9 software (UK Flowmaster company) to obtain the variation law of speed and flow during the start-up of the centrifugal pump, which is loaded into the simulation calculation of the centrifugal pump. The variation of speed and flow during the start-up process was further processed using the fluid-structure coupling method, and the structural vibration characteristics of the impeller under transient radial force are obtained by harmonic response analysis. Results: During the starting process of the centrifugal pump, the speed and flow first increased sharply and then decreased until reaching a stable process. During this period, the impeller vibration changed sharply; the overall vibration amplitude increased and fluctuated stably at the amplitude of 0.01 mm. In the unsteady numerical simulation of the centrifugal pump, the radial force on the impeller changes periodically. The time domain signal is transformed into a frequency domain signal, and the fundamental frequency of the impeller and the passing frequency of the blade are 101.67 Hz and 610 Hz, respectively. Conclusions: The radial force is the main cause of impeller vibration, and the transient radial force has the least dynamic impact on the impeller structure under the design condition and has a relatively large impact under the off-design condition. In order to ensure the stable operation of the centrifugal pump, it is necessary to avoid the centrifugal pump working under the non-standard flow condition, especially the small flow condition.
Short-Term Morphological Responses of Adjacent Intertidal Flats to the Construction of Tidal Gates in an Estuarine Tributary
Authors: Pan Dongzi , Li Ying , Pan Cunhong
Published: June 2022

Tidal gates cause adverse effects on the ecological environment through the downstream acceleration of sediment deposition. This deposition process and its quantitative analysis have become a hot topic in marine science. A large-scale physical model experiment of morphological responses to the construction of a tidal gate in an estuarine tributary was performed in this study. The sediment distribution characteristics, morphologic patterns, and further analysis of the adjacent intertidal flats were investigated, triggered by the construction of tidal gates at the mouth of the Nanxi River in Zhejiang, China. The results indicated that the flood and ebb tide velocities change dramatically after the construction of the tributary tidal gates. Large amounts of sediment from the mouth of the estuary could not be entirely carried away from the flood phase to the ebb phase, resulting in downstream deposition in the vicinity of the gates. The ebb tide caused erosion of the tidal flats’ surface in the silted intertidal zone that gradually developed into a tidal channel network. The tidal channel bifurcated in the middle–upper part of the intertidal flats through continuous headward erosion, thus promoting the landward expansions of channels. Applying a set of logistic growth models to the mean sinuosity, Hausdorff dimension, and junction number data indicated that the tidal channel development progressively tended toward a state of morphodynamic equilibrium.
Assessment of the Vulnerability of the Lucana Coastal Zones (South Italy) to Natural Hazards
Authors: Corbau Corinne , Greco Michele , Martino Giovanni , Olivo Elisabetta , Simeoni Umberto
Published: June 2022

Coasts are highly dynamic and geo-morphologically complex systems that are exposed to several factors such as waves, extreme meteorological events and climate change. It is also well-recognized that coastal zones, characterized by an increasing population growth, are vulnerable to climate change. In addition, coastal erosion, resulting from natural environment changes and human activities, acts worldwide. Consequently, it is necessary to quantify coastal hazards vulnerability and develop tools to monitor coastal risks and support making targeted climate adaptation policies. In this paper, a framework to estimate coastal vulnerability to flooding and erosion has been developed for the Ionian Basilicata coast. It is based on two methods: the integrated vulnerability index (flooding and erosion) and the CeD physical vulnerability index (multi-risk assessment). Our results are in agreement with the recent shoreline evolution: the integrated coastal risk of the Ionian Basilicata coast is generally medium to high, while the “physical erosion vulnerability” is generally high to very high. In addition, the results highlight a spatial variability of the vulnerability, probably due to the morphology of the beach, which requires developing a strategic approach to coastal management and defining mitigation measures, considering relevant risk aspects as the vulnerability and exposure degree.
Identification of Risk Factors in Business Valuation
Authors: Razali Muhammad Najib , Jalil Rohaya Abdul , Achu Kamalahasan , Ali Hishamuddin Mohd
Published: June 2022

It is widely accepted that risk and uncertainty are integral parts of the property valuation process. Uncertainty in property valuation is derived from the characteristics of property itself. The issue pertaining to risk and uncertainty in property valuations is currently one of the key concerns in global valuation practice to date in addressing the decision of risk and uncertainty in valuation, especially for business purposes or in the current term known as business valuation. The judgment and experience still depend on the expertise of the individual valuers alone. The valuation methods used can cause problems if certain elements in business such as risk are highlighted, especially to determine market value. There is a need for valuers to express assumptions which take into account risk and uncertainties, and then pass on the results of the estimation process to the end user of the valuation report. This research employed Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) to identify the level of risk in business valuation for valuers to identify which risk areas will expose them to professional liabilities, which then leads to mitigation of risk to determine value in business valuations. AHP will also be able to identify the level of risk in each of the approaches in business valuation which could help valuers to determine the value and market value in the valuation process. This paper will propose some practical approaches of how to address the risk and uncertainty of the valuation process, especially for the purpose of business valuation.
Application of ANN in Induction-Motor Fault-Detection System Established with MRA and CFFS
Authors: Lee Chun-Yao , Wen Meng-Syun , Zhuo Guang-Lin , Le Truong-An
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes a fault-detection system for faulty induction motors (bearing faults, interturn shorts, and broken rotor bars) based on multiresolution analysis (MRA), correlation and fitness values-based feature selection (CFFS), and artificial neural network (ANN). First, this study compares two feature-extraction methods: the MRA and the Hilbert Huang transform (HHT) for induction-motor-current signature analysis. Furthermore, feature-selection methods are compared to reduce the number of features and maintain the best accuracy of the detection system to lower operating costs. Finally, the proposed detection system is tested with additive white Gaussian noise, and the signal-processing method and feature-selection method with good performance are selected to establish the best detection system. According to the results, features extracted from MRA can achieve better performance than HHT using CFFS and ANN. In the proposed detection system, CFFS significantly reduces the operation cost (95% of the number of features) and maintains 93% accuracy using ANN.
Predicting Change in Emotion through Ordinal Patterns and Simple Symbolic Expressions
Authors: Neuman Yair , Cohen Yochai
Published: June 2022

Human interlocutors may use emotions as an important signaling device for coordinating an interaction. In this context, predicting a significant change in a speaker’s emotion may be important for regulating the interaction. Given the nonlinear and noisy nature of human conversations and relatively short time series they produce, such a predictive model is an open challenge, both for modeling human behavior and in engineering artificial intelligence systems for predicting change. In this paper, we present simple and theoretically grounded models for predicting the direction of change in emotion during conversation. We tested our approach on textual data from several massive conversations corpora and two different cultures: Chinese (Mandarin) and American (English). The results converge in suggesting that change in emotion may be successfully predicted, even with regard to very short, nonlinear, and noisy interactions.
Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Feed Intake of Farm Animals
Authors: Wessels Anna Grete
Published: June 2022

With the advancement of microbiome research, the requirement to consider the intestinal microbiome as the “last organ” of an animal emerged. Through the production of metabolites and/or the stimulation of the host’s hormone and neurotransmitter synthesis, the gut microbiota can potentially affect the host’s eating behavior both long and short-term. Based on current evidence, the major mediators appear to be short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), peptide hormones such as peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), as well as the amino acid tryptophan with the associated neurotransmitter serotonin, dopamine and γ-Aminobutyrate (GABA). The influence appears to extend into central neuronal networks and the expression of taste receptors. An interconnection of metabolic processes with mechanisms of taste sensation suggests that the gut microbiota may even influence the sensations of their host. This review provides a summary of the current status of microbiome research in farm animals with respect to general appetite regulation and microbiota-related observations made on the influence on feed intake. This is briefly contrasted with the existing findings from research with rodent models in order to identify future research needs. Increasing our understanding of appetite regulation could improve the management of feed intake, feed frustration and anorexia related to unhealthy conditions in farm animals.
Recent Progress in Iron-Based Microwave Absorbing Composites: A Review and Prospective
Authors: Zheng Wei , Ye Wenxian , Yang Pingan , Wang Dashuang , Xiong Yuting , Liu Zhiyong , Qi Jindong , Zhang Yuxin
Published: June 2022

With the rapid development of communication technology in civil and military fields, the problem of electromagnetic radiation pollution caused by the electromagnetic wave becomes particularly prominent and brings great harm. It is urgent to explore efficient electromagnetic wave absorption materials to solve the problem of electromagnetic radiation pollution. Therefore, various absorbing materials have developed rapidly. Among them, iron (Fe) magnetic absorbent particle material with superior magnetic properties, high Snoek’s cut-off frequency, saturation magnetization and Curie temperature, which shows excellent electromagnetic wave loss ability, are kinds of promising absorbing material. However, ferromagnetic particles have the disadvantages of poor impedance matching, easy oxidation, high density, and strong skin effect. In general, the two strategies of morphological structure design and multi-component material composite are utilized to improve the microwave absorption performance of Fe-based magnetic absorbent. Therefore, Fe-based microwave absorbing materials have been widely studied in microwave absorption. In this review, through the summary of the reports on Fe-based electromagnetic absorbing materials in recent years, the research progress of Fe-based absorbing materials is reviewed, and the preparation methods, absorbing properties and absorbing mechanisms of iron-based absorbing materials are discussed in detail from the aspects of different morphologies of Fe and Fe-based composite absorbers. Meanwhile, the future development direction of Fe-based absorbing materials is also prospected, providing a reference for the research and development of efficient electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with strong absorption performance, frequency bandwidth, light weight and thin thickness.
Synergistic Treatment of Congo Red Dye with Heat Treated Low Rank Coal and Micro-Nano Bubbles
Authors: Han Ning , Cui Rong , Peng Haisen , Gao Ruize , He Qiongqiong , Miao Zhenyong
Published: June 2022

In this study, the adsorption method and micro-nano bubble (MNB) technology were combined to improve the efficiency of organic pollutant removal from dye wastewater. The adsorption properties of Congo red (CR) on raw coal and semi-coke (SC) with and without MNBs were studied. The mesoporosity of the coal strongly increased after the heat treatment, which was conducive to the adsorption of macromolecular organics, such as CR, and the specific surface area increased greatly from 2.787 m2/g to 80.512 m2/g. MNBs could improve the adsorption of both raw coal and SC under different pH levels, temperatures and dosages. With the use of MNBs, the adsorption capacity of SC reached 169.49 mg/g, which was much larger than that of the raw coal at 15.75 mg/g. The MNBs effectively reduced the adsorption time from 240 to 20 min. In addition, the MNBs could ensure the adsorbent maintained a good adsorption effect across a wide pH range. The removal rate was above 90% in an acidic environment and above 70% in an alkaline environment. MBs can effectively improve the rate of adsorption of pollutants by adsorbents. SC was obtained from low-rank coal through a rapid one-step heating treatment and was used as a kind of cheap adsorbent. The method is thus simple and easy to implement in the industrial context and has the potential for industrial promotion.
Synthesis of Spin-Labeled Ibuprofen and Its Interaction with Lipid Membranes
Authors: Baranov Denis S. , Smorygina Anna S. , Dzuba Sergei A.
Published: June 2022

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug possessing analgesic and antipyretic activity. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy could be applied to study its interaction with biological membranes and proteins if its spin-labeled analogs were synthesized. Here, a simple sequence of ibuprofen transformations—nitration, esterification, reduction, Sandmeyer reaction, Sonogashira cross-coupling, oxidation and saponification—was developed to attain this goal. The synthesis resulted in spin-labeled ibuprofen (ibuprofen-SL) in which the spin label TEMPOL is attached to the benzene ring. EPR spectra confirmed interaction of ibuprofen-SL with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayers. Using 2H electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy, ibuprofen-SL was found to be embedded into the hydrophobic bilayer interior.
Adsorption of Welan Gum on Montmorillonite and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Liao Kaili , An Junnan , Fu Lipei , Zhang Houye , Wei Meng , Bai Jinmei , He Yanfeng
Published: June 2022

Welan gum is one of the most promising polymers used in polymer flooding for enhancing oil recovery, due to its excellent temperature resistance and salt-tolerance performance. However, welan gum, as a polymer with higher molecular weight, can be adsorbed and detained in the pore throat of the reservoir, which is characterized by a smaller size. Montmorillonite, a kind of clay mineral with high content in reservoir rocks, has strong adsorption capacity. Therefore, the adsorption behavior of welan gum on montmorillonite, as well as its influencing factors, are studied in this paper. The results show that the adsorption capacity is 2.07 mg/g. The adsorption capacity decreased with the increase in temperature. Both acidic and alkaline conditions reduced the adsorption capacity. The existence of inorganic salt affected the adsorption capacity. In addition, the higher the cation value, the lower the adsorption capacity. The characterization tests showed that the adsorption of welan gum on montmorillonite was characterized by physical adsorption and surface adsorption, indicating that there were no changes in the internal structure of montmorillonite. This study provides feasible methods to reduce the amount of welan gum adsorbed on montmorillonite, which is of great significance for reducing the permeability damage caused by welan gum adsorption and promoting the application of welan gum in polymer flooding for enhancing oil recovery.
Noise Filtering Method of Digital Holographic Microscopy for Obtaining an Accurate Three-Dimensional Profile of Object Using a Windowed Sideband Array (WiSA)
Authors: Kim Hyun-Woo , Cho Myungjin , Lee Min-Chul
Published: June 2022

In the image processing method of digital holographic microscopy (DHM), we can obtain a phase information of an object by windowing a sideband in Fourier domain and taking inverse Fourier transform. In this method, it is necessary to window a wide sideband to obtain detailed information on the object. However, since the information of the DC spectrum is widely distributed over the entire range from the center of Fourier domain, the window sideband includes not only phase information but also DC information. For this reason, research on acquiring only the phase information of an object without noise in digital holography is a challenging issue for many researchers. Therefore, in this paper, we propose the use of a windowed sideband array (WiSA) as an image processing method to obtain an accurate three-dimensional (3D) profile of an object without noise in DHM. The proposed method does not affect the neighbor pixels of the filtered pixel but removes noise while maintaining the detail of the object. Thus, a more accurate 3D profile can be obtained compared with the conventional filter. In this paper, we create an ideal comparison target i.e., microspheres for comparison, and verify the effect of the filter through additional experiments using red blood cells.
External Load of Flamenco Zap-3 Footwork Test: Use of PlayerLoad Concept with Triaxial Accelerometry
Authors: Zhang Ningyi , Gómez-Lozano Sebastián , Armstrong Ross , Liu Hui , Vargas-Macías Alfonso
Published: June 2022

The intense footwork required in flamenco dance may result in pain and injury. This study aimed to quantify the external load of the flamenco Zapateado-3 (Zap-3) footwork via triaxial accelerometry in the form of PlayerLoad (PL), comparing the difference in external loads at the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5), the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) and the dominant ankle (DA), and to explore whether the speed, position, axis and proficiency level of the flamenco dancer affected the external load. Twelve flamenco dancers, divided into professional and amateur groups, completed a 15-s Zap-3 footwork routine at different speeds. Triaxial accelerometry sensors were positioned at the DA, L5 and C7 and were utilized to calculate the total PlayerLoad (PLTOTAL), uniaxial PlayerLoad (PLUNI) and uniaxial contributions (PL%). For both PLTOTAL and PLUNI, this study identified significant effects of speed and position (p < 0.001), as well as the interaction between speed and position (p ≤ 0.001), and at the DA, values were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those at C7 and L5. Significant single axis and group effects (p < 0.001) and effects of the interactions between the position and a single axis and the group and speed (p ≤ 0.001) were also identified for PLUNI. Medial-lateral PL% represented a larger contribution compared with anterior-posterior PL% and vertical PL% (p < 0.001). A significant interaction effect of position and PL% (p < 0.001) also existed. In conclusion, the Zap-3 footwork produced a significant external load at different positions, and it was affected by speed, axis and the proficiency level of the flamenco dancer. Although the ankle bears the most external load when dancing the flamenco, some external load caused by significant vibrations is also borne by the lumbar and cervical vertebrae.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Surface Ozone and Its Relationship with Meteorological Factors over the Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan Region, China, from 2016 to 2019
Authors: Bai Linyan , Feng Jianzhong , Li Ziwei , Han Chunming , Yan Fuli , Ding Yixing
Published: June 2022

In recent years, ozone pollution has been increasing in some parts of the world. In this study, we used the Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan (BJ-TJ-TS) urban agglomeration region as a case study and used satellite remotely sensed inversion data and hourly ground monitoring observations of surface ozone concentrations, meteorological data, and other factors from 2016 to 2019 to explore the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of surface ozone concentration and its pollution levels. We also investigated their coupling relationships with meteorological factors, including temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind velocity, and sunshine duration, in order to support the development of effective control measures for regional ozone pollution. The results revealed that the surface ozone concentration throughout the BJ-TJ-TS region from 2016 to 2019 exhibited an overall pattern of high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast, as well as an obvious difference between built-up and non-built-up areas (especially in Beijing). Meanwhile, a notable increasing trend of ozone levels was discovered in the BJ and TJ areas from 2016 to 2019, whereas this upward trend was not evident in the TS area. In all three areas, the highest monthly average ozone values occurred in the summer month of June, while the lowest monthly average levels occurred in the winter month of December. Their diurnal variation values reached a maximum value at approximately 3:00–4:00 p.m. and a minimum value at approximately 7:00 a.m. It is clear that high temperature, long sunshine duration, low atmospheric pressure, and weak wind velocity conditions, as well as certain relative humidity levels, readily led to high-concentration ozone pollution. Meanwhile, the daily average values of the five meteorological factors on days with Grade I and Grade II ozone pollution displayed different characteristics.
A Reliable Merging Link Scheme Using Weighted Markov Chain Model in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Emmanuel Siman , Isnin Ismail Fauzi Bin , Mohamad Mohd. Murtadha Bin
Published: June 2022

The vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) is a potential technology for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that aims to improve safety by allowing vehicles to communicate quickly and reliably. The rates of merging collision and hidden terminal problems, as well as the problems of picking the best match cluster head (CH) in a merged cluster, may emerge when two or more clusters are merged in the design of a clustering and cluster management scheme. In this paper, we propose an enhanced cluster-based multi-access channel protocol (ECMA) for high-throughput and effective access channel transmissions while minimizing access delay and preventing collisions during cluster merging. We devised an aperiodic and acceptable merge cluster head selection (MCHS) algorithm for selecting the optimal merge cluster head (MCH) in centralized clusters where all nodes are one-hop nodes during the merging window. We also applied a weighted Markov chain mathematical model to improve accuracy while lowering ECMA channel data access transmission delay during the cluster merger window. We presented extensive simulation data to demonstrate the superiority of the suggested approach over existing state-of-the-arts. The implementation of a MCHS algorithm and a weight chain Markov model reveal that ECMA is distinct and more efficient by 64.20–69.49% in terms of average network throughput, end-to-end delay, and access transmission probability.
Effects of 5-Week of FIFA 11+ Warm-Up Program on Explosive Strength, Speed, and Perception of Physical Exertion in Elite Female Futsal Athletes
Authors: Patti Antonino , Giustino Valerio , Cataldi Stefania , Stoppa Vito , Ferrando Federica , Marvulli Riccardo , Farì Giacomo , Neşe Şahin Fatma , Bianco Antonino , Muscella Antonella , Greco Gianpiero , Fischetti Francesco
Published: June 2022

Futsal is a sport that originates from soccer and is increasingly practiced all over the world. Since training and warm-up protocols should be sport-specific in order to reduce injuries and maximize performance, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of 5 weeks of the FIFA 11+ warm-up program on explosive strength, speed, and perception of physical exertion in elite female futsal athletes. Twenty-nine elite female futsal athletes participating in the Italian national championships were divided into two groups: the experimental group (EG) underwent 5 weeks of the FIFA 11+ warm-up program, and the control group (CG) underwent 5 weeks of a dynamic warm-up. We evaluated any effect on explosive strength (by Squat Jump test), speed (by Agility T-test), and perception of physical exertion (by Borg CR-10 scale). All measurements were carried out by a technician of the Italian Football Federation before (T0), at the middle (T1), and at the end (T2) of the protocol. The EG showed significant improvements on performances between T0 vs. T1 and T0 vs. T2 both in the Squat Jump test (p = 0.0057 and p = 0.0030, respectively) and in the Agility T-test (p = 0.0075 and p = 0.0122). No significant differences were found in the Squat Jump test performances in the CG, while significant improvements were detected in the Agility T-test performances (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.0053, T0 vs. T1 and T0 vs. T2, respectively). As for the Borg CR-10 scale, we found a significant difference between T0 and T2 in the EG (p = 0.017) and no differences in the CG. This study showed that 5 weeks of the FIFA 11+ warm-up program improves the jumping performance of female futsal athletes without adversely affecting speed. These findings can be useful for coaches and athletic trainers in order to consider FIFA 11+ warm-up program also in female futsal athletes.
Special Issue “New Advances in Breast Imaging”
Authors: Tari Daniele Ugo
Published: June 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women of all ages, with more than 2 million diagnoses every year and a high economic and psychological impact on both the health care system and the population [...]
Digital marketing in the hospitality industry
Authors:   Department of Service and Hotel Business, Mikhail Tugan-Baranovsky Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade, Krylova L. V. , Kulbida A. A. ,   Department of Service and Hotel Business, Mikhail Tugan-Baranovsky Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade
Published: June 2022

The article indicates the importance and prospects of digital marketing as an effective tool for the hospitality industry. The novelty consists in arguing the need to rethink the existing economic models of hotel enterprises, as well as in identifying the possibilities of digital marketing as an effective tool for their development
L’annexion de la Crimée devant les juges
Authors: Erpelding Michel
Published: June 2022

In accordance with the practice of a majority of States, the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian Federation can be qualified as a case of annexation. As a serious breach of international law, it raises a certain number of questions with regard to the respective rights and obligations of all relevant actors. With no conventional resolution of the dispute between Russia and Ukraine in sight, judicial remedies – both before national and international courts and tribunals – are destined to play a key role in this context. As a matter of fact, annexation of Crimea has already resulted in judicial decisions regarding the restitution of cultural property, investment protection, and the restrictive measures adopted by the EU following Crimea’s annexation. Other questions raised by this situation are currently being discussed before the ICJ, the ECtHR, the ICC, the WTO, and a UNCLOS Annex VII Arbitral Tribunal.
CIJ, Certaines activités menées par le Nicaragua dans la région frontalière (Costa Rica c. Nicaragua) – Arrêt du 2 février 2018 (Indemnisation)
Authors: Hajjami Nabil
Published: June 2022

L’arrêt relatif à l’indemnisation, rendu le 2 février 2018, fait suite à l’arrêt de 2015 rendu sur le fond entre le Costa Rica et le Nicaragua dans l’affaire de certaines activités menées par le Nicaragua dans la région frontalière. À la demande du Costa Rica, la Cour a été conduite à se prononcer sur l’indemnisation des dommages causés à l’environnement du fait des activités illicites du Nicaragua. Cet arrêt était particulièrement attendu en ce qu’il se situe au point de jonction entre le droit international de l’environnement et le droit de la responsabilité internationale de l’État. Pour la première fois, la Cour reconnaît le principe de l’indemnisation de dommages environnementaux, en tant que tels. Elle ouvre ainsi d’intéressantes perspectives pour la consolidation d’un véritable régime de responsabilité internationale en matière environnementale.
De la ‘crise’ migratoire européenne au pacte mondial sur les migrations : exemple d’un mouvement sans droit ?
Authors: Carlier Jean-Yves , Crépeau François
Published: June 2022

Far from being the consequence of exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances, the European migration ‘ crisis’ was the result of a refusal to acknowledge contemporary realities and of a lack of solidarity between member States of the European Union. In the short term, courts are generally holding the line by protecting the rights of migrants. The European Court of Justice remains quite strong in its defence of migrants’ rights regarding their treatment inside the territory of the Union. However, it is mostly absent regarding their treatment outside the territory of the Union, even when such treatment is prompted by the external dimension of European migration policies. Over the long term, however, States will need to collectively acknowledge the permanence through time of migration phenomena and develop selection and integration policies accordingly. At multilateral level, the Global Compact on Migration could serve as a road map to develop diversified mechanisms for governing migration while respecting the human rights of migrants. This will necessitate that such soft law evolves towards recognising the international obligations of States towards migrants, that courts protect the rights of all in all circumstances and that migrants themselves be empowered to fight for their rights.
La négociation et la conclusion de l’accord économique et commercial global avec le Canada (CETA) et des autres accords récents de libre échange de l’Union européenne
Authors: Castellarin Emanuel
Published: June 2022

Le foisonnement récent de l’activité conventionnelle de l’Union européenne en matière de libre-échange économique soulève de nombreuses difficultés intéressant le droit international général. L’actualité liée à l’Accord économique et commercial global avec le Canada (dit CETA) est particulièrement développée, mais des questions analogues peuvent se poser pour les projets d’accords avec Singapour, le Japon et le Vietnam, ainsi que pour les nombreuses autres négociations en cours. La procédure de conclusion des accords est complexe : dans le cas du CETA, les négociations se prolongent bien au-delà de la signature de l’accord, au moins jusqu’à l’éventuelle entrée en vigueur définitive. Beaucoup de difficultés sont dues à la mixité de cet accord. Les précisions apportées par l’Avis 2/ 15 de la Cour de Justice de l’Union européenne permettent d’envisager la conclusion séparée d’un accord commercial et d’un accord de protection des investissements. Même si cette solution n’est pas une panacée, elle est expérimentée dans les projets d’accord avec Singapour. Le CETA a aussi démontré la vitalité de l’encadrement constitutionnel de la procédure de conclusion des accords de libre-échange. Si l’articulation entre niveaux de contrôle n’est pas simple, une tendance se dégage clairement en faveur du renforcement du contrôle démocratique et juridictionnel.
Content analysis of nursing students’ perception of flight nurses
Authors:   Korean Society of Nursing Research, Ko Ga Yeon , Park Sun Jung , Bae So Hyun
Published: June 2022

Purpose : To help nursing students understand flight nursing by checking the level of awareness of nursing students about flight nurses, and to provide data that is the basis for future nursing education program development. Method : This study is a descriptive research study, and data were collected from April 4 to April 10, 2022 from 214 students from the first to fourth grades of nursing department in Seoul and Gangwon. Results : As a result of analyzing the meaning of nursing students by applying the content analysis method, a total of 5 areas, 20 categories, and 99 meaningful statements were derived. Conclusion : The results of this study will be helpful in understanding the degree of awareness of flight nurses perceived by nursing students, and will serve as basic data for developing and expanding nursing students’ training programs for flight nurses and enhancing the effectiveness of education.