bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Turkish Version of the Athlete Food Choice Questionnaire
Authors: Sevim Yonca , Thurecht Rachael L. , Pelly Fiona E.
Published: August 2023

There are multiple influences on food choice for athletes. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a Turkish Athlete Food Choice Questionnaire (Turkish-AFCQ) and describe the main factors influencing food choices. A multi-step process of language and content validation, Explanatory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and test–retest reliability were used to examine factorial structure and construct validity (convergent and discriminant) and reliability (internal and external). The translated Turkish-AFCQ was administered to 446 athletes (59% male, median age = 21 years) from a variety of sports. The original nine-factor structure was validated, external reliability was acceptable, and all factors achieved acceptable discriminate validity. Convergent validity and internal reliability received tenable-ideal ratings for seven and eight factors, respectively. Interpretation and future application are discussed for low-performing factors ‘food and health awareness’ and ‘influence of others’. The factor most frequently (never 1—always 5) influencing choices was ‘performance’ (Md = 4.33) and the least was both the ‘influence of others’ and ‘food values and beliefs’ (Md = 2.67). The Turkish-AFCQ can be used to expand researchers’ and practitioners’ understanding of the relative influence multiple factors have on food choices, and this study provides a model for AFCQ linguistic translation and validation.
Property Improvements of Silica-Filled Styrene Butadiene Rubber/Butadiene Rubber Blend Incorporated with Fatty-Acid-Containing Palm Oil
Authors: Boonrasri Siwarote , Thipchai Parichat , Sae-Oui Pongdhorn , Thanakkasaranee Sarinthip , Jantanasakulwong Kittisak , Rachtanapun Pornchai
Published: August 2023

Using vegetable oils as a plasticizer or processing aid in green rubber products is becoming popular due to environmental concerns. However, differences in vegetable oil processing result in varying amounts of low-molecular-weight (low-MW) free fatty acids (FFAs) in their composition, which range from 2% to 30%. This research investigated how the properties of silica-filled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene rubber (BR) blends were affected by the presence of FFAs in palm oil (PO). The rubber compounds containing a 70/30 SBR/BR blend, 30 phr of silica, and 2 phr of bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT), and the vulcanizing agents were prepared and tested. The PO content was kept constant at 20 phr, while the number of FFAs, i.e., lauric acid (LA), palmitic acid (PA), and oleic acid (OA), in PO varied from 10–30%. The viscosity, dynamic mechanical properties, morphology, cure characteristics, and mechanical properties of the rubber blend were then measured. Regardless of the FFA types, increasing FFA content in PO decreased scorch time, cure time, minimum torque, and viscosity. As the FFA content increased, the torque difference and crosslink density also increased, which led to higher hardness, modulus, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance. The FFA types had a slight effect on the vulcanizate properties, even though LA showed slightly better mechanical properties than PA and OA. The results reveal that FFAs in PO not only improve processability but also function as a co-activator in silica-filled sulfur-vulcanized SBR/BR blend compounds.
Development of Test Programs for the Biorelevant Characterization of Esophageal-Applied Dosage Forms
Authors: Brokmann Friederike , Feindt Franziska , Weitschies Werner , Rosenbaum Christoph
Published: August 2023

In the local treatment of the esophageal mucosa, the retention time of the different dosage forms, such as tablets, films or liquids, is of high relevance for the effective treatment of diseases. Unfortunately, there are only few in vitro models describing the esophageal route of administration. To predict the behaviour of an esophageal-applied dosage form, it is necessary to simulate the site of application in a biorelevant way. The aim of this work was to develop two test setups for an esophageal peristalsis model which was described in a previous study. Different parameters such as flow rate, peristalsis, angle of inclination or mucous membrane were varied or introduced into the model. A stimulated and unstimulated modus were developed and tested with two different dosage forms. The time until the dosage form was cleared from the in vitro model was shorter with the stimulated than with the unstimulated modus. Also, esophageal-applied films had a prolonged transit time compared to a viscous syrup. The modification of the simulated esophageal surface made it possible to estimate the retention time of the dosage forms. It could be demonstrated that the residence time of a dosage form depends on different parameters affecting each other.
Flexible Wet-Spun PEDOT:PSS Microfibers Integrating Thermal-Sensing and Joule Heating Functions for Smart Textiles
Authors: Li Yan , Hu Hongwei , Salim Teddy , Cheng Guanggui , Lam Yeng Ming , Ding Jianning
Published: August 2023

Multifunctional fiber materials play a key role in the field of smart textiles. Temperature sensing and active thermal management are two important functions of smart fabrics, but few studies have combined both functions in a single fiber material. In this work, we demonstrate a temperature-sensing and in situ heating functionalized conductive polymer microfiber by exploiting its high electrical conductivity and thermoelectric properties. The conductive polymer microfibers were prepared by wet-spinning the PEDOT:PSS aqueous dispersion with ionic liquid additives, which was used to enhance the electrical and mechanical properties of the final microfibers. The thermoelectric properties of these microfibers were further studied. Due to their excellent flexibility and mechanical properties, these fibers can be easily integrated into commercial fabrics for the manufacture of smart textiles through knitting. We further demonstrated a smart glove with integrated temperature-sensing and in situ heating functions, and further explored thermoelectric fiber-based temperature-sensing array fabric. These works combine the thermoelectric properties and heating function of conductive polymer fibers, providing new insights that enable further development of high-performance, multifunctional wearable smart textiles.
Tensile Properties of In Situ 3D Printed Glass Fiber-Reinforced PLA
Authors: Ismail Khairul Izwan , Pang Rayson , Ahmed Rehan , Yap Tze Chuen
Published: August 2023

A 3D printed composite via the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique has potential to enhance the mechanical properties of FFF 3D printed parts. The most commonly employed techniques for 3D composite printing (method 1) utilized premixed composite filaments, where the fibers were integrated into thermoplastic materials prior to printing. In the second method (method 2), short fibers and thermoplastic were mixed together within the extruder of a 3D printer to form a composite part. However, no research has been conducted on method 3, which involves embedding short fibers into the printed object during the actual printing process. A novel approach concerning 3D printing in situ fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) by embedding glass fibers between deposited layers during printing was proposed recently. An experimental investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the tensile behavior of the composites manufactured by the new manufacturing method. Neat polylactic acid (PLA) and three different glass fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (GFPLA) composites with 1.02%, 2.39%, and 4.98% glass fiber contents, respectively, were 3Dprinted. Tensile tests were conducted with five repetitions for each sample. The fracture surfaces of the samples were then observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the porosities of the 3D printed samples were measured with a image processing software (ImageJ 1.53t). The result shows that the tensile strengths of GFPLA were higher than the neat PLA. The tensile strength of the composites increased from GFPLA-1 (with a 1.02% glass fiber content) to GFPLA-2.4 (with a 2.39% glass fiber content), but drastically dropped at GFPLA-5 (with a 4.98% glass fiber content). However, the tensile strength of GFPLA-5 is still higher than the neat PLA. The fracture surfaces of tensile samples were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images showed the average line width of the deposited material increased as glass fiber content increased, while layer height was maintained. The intralayer bond of the deposited filaments improved via the new fiber embedding method. Hence, the porosity area is reduced as glass fiber content increased.
Material Extrusion of Wool Waste/Polycaprolactone with Improved Tensile Strength and Biodegradation
Authors: Haque Abu Naser Md Ahsanul , Naebe Maryam
Published: August 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) through material extrusion (MEX) is becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to its simple, sustainable and safe technique of material preparation, with minimal waste generation. This user-friendly technique is currently extensively used in diverse industries and household applications. Recently, there has been increasing attention on polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composites in MEX due to their improved biodegradability. These composites can be printed at a lower temperature, making them more energy efficient compared to commercial filaments such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). Although wool is the leading protein fibre in the world and can be more compatible with PCL due to its inherent hydrophobicity, the suitability of MEX using a wool/PCL combination has not been reported previously. In the current study, waste wool/PCL composite parts were printed using the MEX technique, and rheology, thermal and tensile properties, and morphology were analysed. The impact of wool loading (10% and 20%) was investigated in relation to different filling patterns (concentric, rectilinear and gyroid). Furthermore, the impact of fibre fineness on the final material produced through MEX was investigated for the first time using two types of wool fibres with diameters of 16 µm and 24 µm. The yield strength and modulus of PCL increased with the inclusion of 10% wool, although the elongation was reduced. The crystallinity of the composites was found to be reduced with wool inclusion, though the melting point of PCL remained mostly unchanged with 10% wool inclusion, indicating better compatibility. Good miscibility and uniform structure were observed with the inclusion of 10% wool, as evidenced by rheology and morphology analysis. The impact of fibre fineness was mostly minor, though wool/PCL composites showed improved thermal stability with finer diameter of wool fibres. The printed specimens exhibited an increasing rate of biodegradation in marine water, which was correlated to the amount of wool present. Overall, the results demonstrate the practical applicability of the wool/PCL composition in MEX for the preparation of varied objects, such as containers, toys and other household and industrial items. Using wool/PCL combinations as regular plastics would provide a significant environmental advantage over the non-degradable polymers that are currently used for these purposes.
Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning Framework Strategized by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Multi-Vessel Full Communication Connection
Authors: Cao Jiabao , Dou Jinfeng , Liu Jilong , Wei Xuanning , Guo Zhongwen
Published: August 2023

In the Internet of Vessels (IoV), it is difficult for any unmanned surface vessel (USV) to work as a coordinator to establish full communication connections (FCCs) among USVs due to the lack of communication connections and the complex natural environment of the sea surface. The existing solutions do not include the employment of some infrastructure to establish USVs’ intragroup FCC while relaying data. To address this issue, considering the high-dimension continuous action space and state space of USVs, we propose a multi-agent deep reinforcement learning framework strategized by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs can evaluate and navigate the multi-USV cooperation and position adjustment to establish a FCC. When ensuring FCCs, we aim to improve the IoV’s performance by maximizing the USV’s communication range and movement fairness while minimizing their energy consumption, which cannot be explicitly expressed in a closed-form equation. We transform this problem into a partially observable Markov game and design a separate actor–critic structure, in which USVs act as actors and UAVs act as critics to evaluate the actions of USVs and make decisions on their movement. An information transition in UAVs facilitates effective information collection and interaction among USVs. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of our framework in terms of communication coverage, movement fairness, and average energy consumption, and that it can increase communication efficiency by at least 10% compared to DDPG, with the highest exceeding 120% compared to other baselines.
Low-Carbon Transformation Strategy for Blockchain-Based Power Supply Chain
Authors: Pan Hua , Zhu Huimin , Teng Minmin
Published: August 2023

Carbon abatement in the power sector is essential to achieving the “double carbon” goal, and blockchain technology, one of the most promising emerging technologies, will assist the power sector in efficiently achieving this goal. In terms of the effectiveness of carbon abatement, comparative studies on coordination mechanisms are absent in the existing literature. On this basis, aiming at the cooperative abatement strategy between power generation generators and sellers under the carbon tax policy, this paper has developed four decision models: the Stackelberg game led by power generation enterprises, the simultaneous Nash bargaining decision by both parties, the vertical integration decision by supply chain enterprises, and the cooperative carbon emission reduction game by supply chain enterprises, to analyze the changes in electricity price, sustainability level, power sales, and profits of supply chain members. The results of the numerical analysis show that user preference for blockchain technology and an increase in the proportion of low-carbon electricity information uploaded to the blockchain can significantly improve the sustainability level of the electricity supply chain. The level of investment in green technologies by electricity producers under cooperative abatement decision-making increases compared to the electricity producer-dominated Stackelberg game model. The sustainability level of the electricity supply chain is higher under the Nash simultaneous decision than under the abatement cost-sharing decision, but the decision-maker’s profit is lower. The values of overall profit and sustainability level of the electricity supply chain are both highest under the vertically integrated decision.
Allocation and Evolution of Government Attention in China’s Electric Power Industry: An Analysis Based on Policy Text
Authors: Cheng Quan , Yang Jing
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to identify a viable solution for the development of China’s electric power industry in line with “dual carbon” objectives. Accordingly, we collected and analyzed 2230 policy documents spanning 25 years to track the Chinese government’s focus on the electric power sector over time using latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling. Our results reveal that the government’s area of emphasis differs across different stages of development. By analyzing the evolution of policy implementation, we identified the actions taken by government agencies at the policy level to promote the electric power industry. We then distilled the key themes of government attention and challenges facing the green transition of electricity in the context of “dual carbon”. Based on this analysis, we propose practical recommendations for restructuring power energy, enhancing power security, and improving power market efficiency. These findings hold important implications for China to achieve an environmentally sustainable electric power transformation.
Influence of Remote Work on the Work Stress of Workers in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dávila Morán Roberto Carlos
Published: August 2023

The objective of this study was to explore the research carried out and the existing scientific information on remote work and its influence on the work stress of workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific objectives were as follows: to determine the factors of remote work that influence the work stress of workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the findings obtained in the study (which was achieved by referring to the influence of remote work and the labor stress of the workers in the same context). The research was of a documentary type with a bibliographic design, and was conducted as a systematic review. The articles indexed in the Scopus database were reviewed through the use of the following descriptors and search limits: remote work, work stress, pandemic, as well as those studies published between 1 January 2020 and 27 February 2023. Through this process, 280 publications were obtained. The following inclusion criteria were applied: original articles that addressed the subject in English and/or Spanish, and which were open access. This left a sample of 17 publications, and these are presented via a PRISMA diagram. The main factors of remote work that influenced work stress were the organizational climate, job satisfaction, family–work conflict, social isolation, the use of digital platforms, work autonomy, and changes in the workplace.
Dynamic Evaluation of Project Governance in Collaborative Innovation Projects: A Case of Industry Technology Research Institute
Authors: Liu Zhixue , Ding Ronggui
Published: August 2023

Collaborative innovation projects (CIPs) are a typical type of inter-organizational collaboration project to deliver innovative results, in which diverse and dynamic collaborative relationships exist among stakeholders. The project’s success depends on appropriate governance mechanisms to coordinate the relationship between stakeholders. Contractual governance and relational governance both play an important role in successful project delivery. Existing research on the static evaluation method of project governance has obvious contradictions with the dynamic characteristics of stakeholder collaboration relationships during the innovation process. In response, this study proposes a dynamic evaluation method of CIP governance that uses stakeholder networks as the evaluation object, thus filling in gaps in the literature on CIP governance and contributing to the development of governance theory. A project of the Industry Technology Research Institute (ITRI) was chosen as a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure. The results show that contractual governance and relational governance both have a strong impact on stakeholder collaboration in the whole stage of CIPs. The governance effect is determined by the changeable contractual and relational governance structure, not just the stakeholder’s power of the general understanding. The findings have implications for the governance of CIPs and mainstream project governance research.
PV Sizing and Investment Support Tool for Household Installations: A Case Study for Croatia
Authors: Budin Luka , Holjevac Ninoslav , Zidar Matija , Delimar Marko
Published: August 2023

In the wake of the green energy transition, the European Union is using solar energy as its focal point. Different supporting development schemes aim to bring energy closer to the hands of the citizens. In various European countries, the integration of solar energy in households has made significant steps forward, but in Croatia, the process has been lagging, with just humble results of installed rooftop solar capacity being integrated in recent years. The uptake of this process is happening, and it is important to facilitate the process to make it more efficient. In this regard, there are two main aspects covered in this paper. The first deals with the problem by disseminating the statistics and findings of the online tool accessible to the public, which aims to widely promote the integration of solar using the provision of precise and on-the-spot information for all interested citizens. The second aspect deals with the simulation segment, aiming to provide deeper insights into the solar integration process and its legal and administrative framework based on the insights gathered from the PV sizing optimization tool expanded with additional multi-scenario simulation analysis.
Green Campus as a Part of Environmental Management of St. Petersburg State University
Authors: Abakumov Evgeny , Beresten Stanislav
Published: August 2023

The article is devoted to the study of summit and diversity of the environmental impact of St. Petersburg State University as a subject of environmental management and the characteristics of the formation of a “green” image in the digital environment. The goals of this study were to study the current condition of the application of the green campus concept at St. Petersburg State University and other Russian and foreign universities; to prepare proposals for further developmental concepts at St. Petersburg State University; to identify the theoretical aspects and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the “green” image of the University; to elaborate on practical recommendations for improving the “green” image of St. Petersburg State University. It was revealed that St. Petersburg State University is developing some elements of the green campus concept on its territory and could compete with other Russian and foreign universities in the level of implementation of environmental initiatives. At the same time, during the analysis of its strengths and weaknesses it was found that the “green” image of St. Petersburg State University is not highly developed. The results of the work indicate the most effective methods of forming a “green” image of the university and create a system of indicators based on the questionnaire of the rating “University of Indonesia (UI) Green Metric World University Ranking”.
The Impact of Executive Green Incentives and Top Management Team Characteristics on Corporate Value in China: The Mediating Role of Environment, Social and Government Performance
Authors: Wu Yujuan , Tham Jacquline
Published: August 2023

The pursuit of economic growth remains a consistent focal point in the development of nations. However, this heightened emphasis on economic expansion has precipitated a global environmental crisis (e.g., climate change, air pollution, etc.). Numerous countries have announced targets and commitments aimed at mitigating carbon emissions. Enterprises are the mainstay of economic development. In the context of low-carbon development, the current challenge faced by enterprises lies in transforming their business philosophy and value orientation to achieve a harmonious integration of economic growth and carbon emission reduction. Consequently, within the framework of sustainable development, the stability and developmental trajectory of enterprise value have emerged as prominent research subjects in recent years. As the concept of sustainable development gradually permeates society, there has been widespread attention from various sectors toward evaluating corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. This study focuses on listed companies in China’s manufacturing industry as the research subject. Drawing upon the principal–agent theory, stakeholder theory, upper echelon theory and tournament incentive theory, we aim to validate the feasibility of selecting a top management team that aligns with the characteristics of sustainable development during enterprise transition. By constructing a structural equation model and conducting hypothesis testing under the premise of limited rationality among top management, we explore how green incentives provided to top management impact both enterprise transition toward sustainability and enhancement of corporate value. Additionally, we investigate how demographic characteristics of top management contribute to amplifying the role of green incentives on corporate value. The results show that executive green incentives and top management team characteristics positively impact the corporate environment, social and government (ESG) performance and that implementing environment, social and government aspects can improve corporate value. Upon further analysis, it is found that there is a moderate degree of coupling between top management team characteristics and executive green incentives in promoting better ESG performance and enhancing corporate value. This study provides empirical evidence of the favorable economic outcomes associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, which offers valuable insights for companies to consider when selecting and incentivizing executives, as well as for government departments aiming to enhance environmental, social and governance (ESG) incentive policies.
Symmetry Function in Trans-Tibial Amputees Gait Supplied with the New Concept of Affordable Dynamic Foot Prosthesis—Case Study
Authors: Murawa Michal , Otworowski Jakub , But Sebastian , Kabacinski Jaroslaw , Kubaszewski Lukasz , Gramala Adam
Published: August 2023

The development of modern technologies has made it much easier to regain the ability to walk after losing a lower limb. The variety of prosthetic feet available on the market allows for optimal choice and appropriate adjustment of the foot prosthesis to the trans-tibial amputee patient’s needs. Unfortunately, the best solutions are often not available to everyone due to their high prices. This study compares the gait patterns of patients using the new concept of an affordable dynamic foot with those of other commonly available but much more expensive foot prostheses. The kinematic and spatio-temporal parameters of gait obtained using the motion capture system were analyzed. For a clear picture of changes in bilateral deficits during gait for the pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle joints, the symmetry function was used. The results indicate that the new and cheaper concept of foot prostheses offers a very similar level of gait quality to that provided by more expensive and popular solutions. The authors suggest that the use of symmetry function thresholds of 10% does not work for amputees.
High Prevalence, Genetic Diversity, and Recombination of Porcine Sapelovirus in Pig Farms in Fujian, Southern China
Authors: Chen Qiu-Yong , Sun Zhi-Hua , Che Yong-Liang , Chen Ru-Jing , Wu Xue-Min , Wu Ren-Jie , Wang Long-Bai , Zhou Lun-Jiang
Published: August 2023

Porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is a ubiquitous virus in farmed pigs that is associated with SMEDI syndrome, polioencephalomyelitis, and diarrhea. However, there are few reports on the prevalence and molecular characterization of PSV in Fujian Province, Southern China. In this study, the prevalence of PSV and a poetical combinative strain PSV2020 were characterized using real-time PCR, sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. As a result, an overall sample prevalence of 30.8% was detected in 260 fecal samples, and a farm prevalence of 76.7% was observed in 30 Fujian pig farms, from 2020 to 2022. Noteably, a high rate of PSV was found in sucking pigs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the full-length genome of PSV2020 was 7550 bp, and the genetic evolution of its ORF region was closest to the G1 subgroup, which was isolated from Asia and America; the similarity of nucleotides and amino acids to other PSVs was 59.5~88.7% and 51.7~97.0%, respectively. However, VP1 genetic evolution analysis showed a distinct phylogenetic topology from the ORF region; PSV2020 VP1 was closer to the DIAPD5469-10 strain isolated from Italy than strains isolated from Asia and America, which comprise the G1 subgroup based on the ORF region. Amino acid discrepancy analysis illustrated that the PSV2020 VP1 gene inserted twelve additional nucleotides, corresponding to four additional amino acids (STAE) at positions 898–902 AAs. Moreover, a potential recombination signal was observed in the 2A coding region, near the 3′ end of VP1, owing to recombination analysis. Additionally, 3D genetic evolutionary analysis showed that all reference strains demonstrated, to some degree, regional conservation. These results suggested that PSV was highly prevalent in Fujian pig farms, and PSV2020, a PSV-1 genotype strain, showed gene diversity and recombination in evolutionary progress. This study also laid a scientific foundation for the investigation of PSV epidemiology, molecular genetic characteristics, and vaccine development.
Omicron Coronavirus: pH-Dependent Electrostatic Potential and Energy of Association of Spike Protein to ACE2 Receptor
Authors: Hristova Svetlana H. , Zhivkov Alexandar M.
Published: August 2023

The association of the S-protein of the SARS-CoV-2 beta coronavirus to ACE2 receptors of the human epithelial cells determines its contagiousness and pathogenicity. We computed the pH-dependent electric potential on the surface of the interacting globular proteins and pH-dependent Gibbs free energy at the association of the wild-type strain and the omicron variant. The calculated isoelectric points of the ACE2 receptor (pI 5.4) and the S-protein in trimeric form (pI 7.3, wild type), (pI 7.8, omicron variant), experimentally verified by isoelectric focusing, show that at pH 6–7, the S1–ACE2 association is conditioned by electrostatic attraction of the oppositely charged receptor and viral protein. The comparison of the local electrostatic potentials of the omicron variant and the wild-type strain shows that the point mutations alter the electrostatic potential in a relatively small area on the surface of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S1 subunit. The appearance of seven charge-changing point mutations in RBD (equivalent to three additional positive charges) leads to a stronger S1–ACE2 association at pH 5.5 (typical for the respiratory tract) and a weaker one at pH 7.4 (characteristic of the blood plasma); this reveals the reason for the higher contagiousness but lower pathogenicity of the omicron variant in comparison to the wild-type strain.
Comment on Rogers et al. The Combined Effects of Cannabis, Methamphetamine, and HIV on Neurocognition. Viruses 2023, 15, 674
Authors: Augello Patrick Anthony , Wu Jingwei
Published: August 2023

We read with great interest the article by Rogers et al. (2023), The Combined Effects of Cannabis, Methamphetamine, and HIV on Neurocognition, published in Viruses [...]
The Seepage Evolution Characteristics in Undisturbed Loess under Dynamic Preferential Flow: New Insights from X-ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Li Xin , Li Yang , Li Qiang , Zhang Xiaozhou , Shi Xuechen , Lu Yudong , Zhang Shaoxiong , Zhang Liting
Published: August 2023

Preferential flow is widely developed in varieties of voids (such as macropores and fissures) in loess areas, affecting slope hydrology and stability and even leading to geological disasters. However, the model of seepage evolution with dynamic preferential flow is not clear, which obstructs the disclosure of the mechanism of landslides induced by the preferential flow. This study aimed to capture the seepage and occurrence status of water in loess voids, explain the variability characteristics of the loess pore structure, and reveal the seepage evolution model of dynamic preferential flow. Preferential infiltration experiments were conducted by combining X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) nondestructive detection with contrast techniques under dynamic seepage conditions. Three-dimensional (3D) visualized reconstruction, digital image correlation (DIC), image processing, and quantitative analyses were performed in AVIZO 2019.1, including two-dimensional (2D) and 3D characteristics of preferential flow distribution and macropore changing, dynamic variation of the porosity, pore number, volume, dip angle, and connectivity. Results showed that (1) preferential flow exists under saturated and unsaturated conditions in loess with strong uniformity and anisotropy; (2) preferential flow not only migrates into existing connected macropores, but also connects the original isolated pores into channels and forms larger percolation groups of contrast medium under the gradually increased high pressure; (3) the seepage develops with the evolution model of ‘preferential flow–piston flow–preferential piston mixture flow–piston flow’ in the dynamic process. The new insights into the characteristics of the seepage evolution in undisturbed loess under dynamic preferential flow will enrich the understanding of loess seepage and provided an important reference for future research on the slope instability of the loess induced by preferential flow.
Analysis of the Coupling Relationship between Water Quality and Economic Development in Hongjiannao Basin, China
Authors: Liu Xiaoping , Cheng Shengdong , Miao Ziyao , Li Zhanbin , Li Peng , Liu Tong , Zhi Hegang , Zhang Shen , Wang Yifan , Zheng Xing
Published: August 2023

Hongjiannao is the largest inland lake in China’s deserts. In recent years, the water quality and area of the Hongjiannao Lake have continued to decline, which is closely associated with the economic development in the Hongjiannao basin. To explore the coupling relationship between the water quality and economic development in the Hongjiannao basin, the water quality and economic development index of the basin has been analyzed in terms of the monthly water quality and socio-economic development from 2013 to 2020. The coupling relationship and interaction mechanism between water quality and regional economic development has been studied by coupling coordination degree model. The results show that the water pollution increased and then decreased with the seasons, while the water quality was the worst in the summer. The coordinated degree between the water quality and economic development in Hongjiannao shows an upward trend from 2013 to 2020, which has transformed from the process of lagging economic development to the process of primary coordination, finally to the process of lagging water environment. The coupling relationship between water quality and economic development changed from a state of nearly un-coordination to primary coordination from 2013 to 2016, with economic development lagging behind. The coupling relationship between the two systems changed from barely coordinated to the primary coordinated from 2017 to 2018, with the rapid development of economy and slight decline in water quality. After 2018, those two systems gradually stepped into a virtuous cycle during 2019–2020, but the phenomenon of lagging water quality still existed. Therefore, in order to maintain the stable economic development of resource-based cities, it is necessary to keep improving the current situation of water environment and water shortage in Hongjiannao, which will promote the coordinated and sustainable development of water environment and economy.
Creating the Capacity for Organizational Change: Personnel Participation and Receptivity to Change
Authors: Smith Keith , Torppa Cynthia
Published: August 2023

In a climate of continuous change, Extension organizations must find ways to navigate immediate challenges while developing capacity to thrive as future challenges and opportunities arise. To find ways, personnel's participation in planning was encouraged to increase openness to change as OSU Extension created and implemented its new Strategic Plan. Findings indicate that personnel from all levels of the organization who participated in the planning process were more receptive and less pessimistic about the plan and more motivated to make the plan a success. These findings suggest participation may help personnel cope with current changes as well as build capacity for future changes.
Drawing Upon the Wisdom of Merlyn: Using the Logic Chain to Guide Vision-Based Community Planning
Authors: Moss Myra , Zielinski Cindy
Published: August 2023

A multidisciplinary Ohio State University Extension team and three counties of Appalachian Ohio Family and Children First Council conducted a 10-month planning project working backwards from a shared vision through a logic chain. The logic chain was used to guide the steps in the planning process to build consensus among council members. The article outlines the process and presents a model of strategic planning applicable to any Extension strategic planning process.
The Important Role Non-Parental Adults Have with Youth Learning Leadership
Authors: McNeill Brian
Published: August 2023

Adults have a significant influence on the lives of young people. Qualities to look for in finding successful mentors are identified. The role that non-parental adults play in establishing leadership opportunities is explored. Recommendations are made for creating positive relationships with youth.
Volunteer Middle Managers: Human Resources that Extend Programmatic Outreach
Authors: Cassill Heather , Culp Ken , Hettmansperger Jay , Stillwell Marla
Published: August 2023

Extension professionals must be able to give volunteers programmatic ownership and the resources and education they need to complete their tasks. However, resources are limited, especially in economic downtimes, making it even more necessary to look at creative ways to bridge the gap between what programs and services can and should be delivered. A middle manager program was developed as a tool to more effectively involve volunteer leaders and assist Extension professionals. Eight position descriptions and corresponding planning aids were developed, in addition to an agent strategy to aid Extension professionals in implementing the middle manager program.
Practical Tips for Pesticide Education
Authors: Kleinschmidt Andy , Raysor Craig
Published: August 2023

Extension can provide factual information to assist clients in understanding products that are and are not considered pesticides. This article describes how to interpret whether or not a product is a pesticide based on intent of the manufacturer and product claims. Finally, a handout is presented for Extension personnel to use when introducing the concept of pesticide education. Extension personnel can provide leadership to the issue of pesticide education, as well as decouple the terms "toxicity" and "pesticide."
PENGUATAN FUNGSI PARTAI POLITIK SEBAGAI PENCEGAHAN POLARISASI PARTAI POLITIK PADA MASA PEMILU 2024
Authors: Susilawati Yani
Published: August 2023

Tahun 2024 akan diadalam pemilihan serentak berdasarkan keputusan KPU RI Nomor 21 Tahun 2022. Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU) menyatakan sejumlah 17 partai lolos dan menjadi peserta Pemilu 2024 pada Desember. Menjelang pelaksanaan pemilu pada Februari 2024 keberadaan partai politik sebagai wadah menampung aspirasi akan semakin penting, dimana fungsi-fungsi partai politik apabila berjalan pastinya dinamika masyarakatnya akan demokratis.  Partai Politik harus bisa mengendalikan diri untuk tidak menggunakan cara-cara politik identitas, sehingga membawa polarisasi yang bisa memecah bangsa karena sejatinya pemilu menjadi momen persatuan bangsa
ANALISIS PENGGUNAAN METODE DISKUSI PADA PEMBELAJARAN STUDI INTEGRATIF MATERI PAI UNTUK PENGUATAN SIKAP MODERASI BERAGAMA MAHASISWA PAI A PASCA SARJANA IAIN MADURA
Authors: Quraisy Sherly , Fadholi Ali Nizar , Mukhid Abdul
Published: August 2023

Istilah moderasi beragama berarti merujuk pada sikap mengurangi kekerasan, atau menghindari keekstriman dalam berpikir dan pengaplikasian ibadah beragama. Sudah pasti moderasi beragama ini mempunyai berhubungan dengan pembelajaran pendidikan agama Islam, di mana pembelajaran PAI adalah suatu proses pembelajaran atau interaksi dan komunikasi antara pendidik dan peserta didik (kegiatan belajar mengajar), dengan tujuan meningkatkan intelektualitas siswa dalam segi keagamaan yang sejatinya berisi tentang persatuan dan kasih sayang antar manusia, baik sesama muslim seagama maupun beda agama. Hal ini merupakan upaya mengurangi kekerasan dan menanamkan nilai-nilai moderat dalam beragama, harus ada metode pembelajaran yang baik dan tepat untuk memberikan pemahaman secara keseluruhan aspek kepada siswa terkait moderasi beragama. Di antara metode pembelajaran, tulisan ini memuat tentang metode  diskusi, yakni metode yang tepat untuk digunakan dalam mata kuliah Studi Integratif Materi PAI, karena nantinya mahasiswa dituntut untuk berdiskusi dan menganalisa guna mengumpulkan gagasan, menciptkan perspektif sendiri dengan cara menyimpulkan atau menyusun beberapa pilihan dalam penyelesaian suatu masalah atau topik. Kemudian, melalui pemahaman yang diperoleh, nantinya mahasiswa diharapkan mampu menanamkan nilai-nilai moderasi yang ada sehingga tercipta keharmonisan hubungan sosial baik dengan agama yang sama meski dengan sudut pandang yang berbeda-beda antara Mahasiswa.
Features of testing for the manufacturability
of the product in the assembly
Authors: Kutenkova E.Yu. , Larina T.V.
Published: August 2023

Considered are the main tasks that are solved during testing for the manufacturability of the assembled product, as
well as quantitative and qualitative indicators of manufacturability used in assembly production.
Supply channels in planetary rotary hydraulic
and pneumatic machines with central wheel wave numbers different by unit
Authors: Fadyushin D.V. , Volkov G.Yu.
Published: August 2023

The physical criteria limiting the size of the channels, including the conditions excluding the fl ow of the medium between
adjacent cameras "under the satellite", are considered. The comparison of the variants of the channels execution is carried
out: in the end wall of the epicycle; in the end wall of the sun gear; in the cylindrical toothed surface of the sun gear. The
design criteria that characterize the relative sizes of the channels have been refi ned. For any planetary rotary machines
with the number of waves N of the epicycle, which exceeds the number of waves M of the sun gear by two (N – M = 2), the
channels should be located at the ends of the epicycle, but with N – M = 1, the relative cross-sections of the channels in the
cylindrical toothed surface of the sun gear are much larger than in the end wall of the epicycle, therefore, for a planetary
rotary machines with a low pressure of the medium, for example, vacuum pumps, it is advisable to make the channels in
the cylindrical toothed surface of the sun gear.
Control impacts for setting to the set state a wide class of
self-oscillations
Authors: Erlich B.M.
Published: August 2023

In the most important oscillation control system, the solution of the problem of determining the necessary control actions
for transferring vibrations from one state to another is considered for a wide class of oscillations: harmonic, damped,
and forced oscillations obeying the Euler equation. The structure and parameters of control actions are determined based
on the methods of optimal control theory.
Design of rotary and birotor nonmixers
Authors: Vasin S.A. , Evseev A.V.
Published: August 2023

The questions of design, synthesis and calculation of the main design and technological parameters of nonmixers
of rotary and birotor design, intended for the preparation of heterogeneous bulk mixtures are considered.
A NEW APPROACH TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES PREPARATION IN WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATED INFERTILITY USING PROBIOTICS
Authors: Bakun Oksana V. , Andriiets Oksana A. , Hresko Maryna D. , Voloshynovych Nataliia S. , Koval Halyna D. , Dudka Yevheniia A.
Published: August 2023

Aim: To examine the expression Nlrp3-inflammasome in the blood of women with endometriosis-associated infertility using assisted reproductive technologies with included probiotic and estimate a new approach with included probiotic for preparation to assisted reproductive technologies.
Materials and methods: For the purpose of the research we examined 30 infertile women. Control group consisted of 10 women with tubal infertility due to an inflammatory process in the anamnesis, in whom, as a result of a complex clinical and laboratory examination, no other diseases were detected and in terms of their health they could be equated with practically healthy women (age from 21 to 42 years, the average age was 29.75 years) and who did not take probiotic. The main group consists from 20 women with external genital endometriosis were included in assisted reproductive technologies. Patients from main group took probiotic produced by Unic Biotech Ltd, India. 1 tablet twice a day with 10×109 Lactobacillus during 1 month in complex preparation (treatment) before assisted reproductive technologies. The indices of Nlrp3 – Inflammasome determined before and after preparation. The study was performer in Bukovinian State Medical University and Centre of Reproductive Medicine. To analyze the expression of the NLPP3-inflammasome gene and determine the relative normalized expression of NLPP3 mRNA, we used the polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription in real time (RT-PCR). The object for molecular genetic studies by the RT-PCR method was the fraction of mononuclear cells isolated from the whole blood of patients with endometriosis. The value of p (authenticity difference) was determined by Student's table-Fischer. Differences between contrasting averages were considered significant at p <0.05.
Results: Analized the results of our research stated that in main group expression of Nlrp-3 inflammasome was 24,43, which is significantly higher than after preparation (0,70 accordingly). In control group expression of Nlrp3-inflammasome was 0,54. Expression of Nlrp-3 inflammasome increased in patients before preparation more than 34 times compare with patients after preparation accordingly.
Conclusions: consequently, after using probiotic, the increased level of Nlrp3-inflammasome sharply decreases, indicating the effectiveness and the possibility of use in the programme for assisted reproductive technologies preparation.
Central Tax Evolution In Indonesia And Islamic Economic Perspective Central Tax
Authors: Choirunnisak Choirunnisak
Published: August 2023

This study examines how the evolution or development of Central Tax in Indonesia and how the Central Tax is from an Islamic economic perspective. Descriptive analysis and qualitative data collection were used in this library-based study. This study finds that the current central tax in Indonesia is a development of the tax system that existed since the kingdom era. In the era of the tax empire called "UPETI". Currently, the central tax is managed by the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) which is under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia and is tasked with developing and enforcing policies that promote technical standardization in the taxation system. Taxes from an Islamic economic perspective are known as jizyah, kharaj and 'ushr.
The significance of image fusion in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging
Authors: Kong Xiangxing , Zhu Hua , Yang Zhi
Published: August 2023

Nuclear medicine molecular imaging (NMMI) typically employs radioactive isotopes to label cells or molecules and then utilizes imaging devices such as positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography to generate images. However, the images produced by these devices often suffer from problems such as signal noise, low resolution, and poor soft-organ contrast. To address these limitations, image fusion technology merges images from different imaging modalities, combining multiple types of medical image information obtained through various imaging techniques. This process generates a more comprehensive and accurate image, significantly improving image quality, reducing noise, and ultimately enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment effectiveness. Image fusion technology has found widespread applications in NMMI, achieving significant results in various fields. This review provides an overview of the development of image fusion technology, introduces traditional image fusion techniques, explores deep learning-based image fusion methods, and finally discusses the challenges and future directions of image fusion technology in NMMI.