bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metamaterial Inspired Varactor-Tuned Antenna with Frequency Reconfigurability and Pattern Diversity
Authors: Zhang Jiahao , Wang Buyun , Yan Sen , Li Wei , Vandenbosch Guy A. E.
Published: March 2024

A metamaterial-inspired varactor-tuned antenna with frequency reconfigurability and pattern diversity is designed. Two different versions of a reconfigurable structure are integrated into a single antenna to excite two different orthogonal patterns, which realizes pattern diversity for MIMO applications. The outer annular Composite Right-/Left-Handed Transmission Line (CRLH-TL) works at the 1 mode and provides a broadside pattern, and the inner circular radiator loaded with split ring resonators (SRR) operates at the 0 mode and radiates an omnidirectional pattern, which realizes pattern diversity. By using surface-mounted varactors, the operating frequencies for the two radiation patterns can be tuned over a wide frequency range, from 1.7 GHz to 2.2 GHz, covering the 1.71–2.17 GHz LTE band, and a low mutual coupling between the two radiators is achieved. The antenna has also been prototyped. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulation results, verifying the proposed concept. The dual-mode MIMO system equipped with the proposed antenna elements is discussed within the context of a 3-D channel model, and it shows a superior array compactness and spectral efficiency (SE) performance compared to scenarios with single-mode elements.
Surface Electromyography Data Analysis for Evaluation of Physical Exercise Habits between Athletes and Non-Athletes during Indoor Rowing
Authors: Grzejszczak Tomasz , Roksela Anna , Poświata Anna , Siemianowicz Anna , Kiełboń Agnieszka , Mikulski Michał
Published: March 2024

In this paper, surface electromyography (sEMG) is used to gather the activation neural signal from muscles during an indoor rowing exercise. The exercise was performed by professional athletes and amateur non-athletes. The data acquisition and processing are described to obtain a set of parameters: number of cycles, average cycle time, cycle time standard deviation, fatigue time, muscle activation time, and muscle energy. These parameters are used to draw conclusions on common non-athletes’ mistakes during exercise for better training advice and a way of statistically distinguishing an athlete from a non-athlete.
Comparing a Portable Motion Analysis System against the Gold Standard for Potential Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention and Screening
Authors: Karatzas Nicolaos , Abdelnour Patrik , Corban Jason Philip Aaron Hiro , Zhao Kevin Y. , Veilleux Louis-Nicolas , Bergeron Stephane G. , Fevens Thomas , Rivaz Hassan , Babouras Athanasios , Martineau Paul A.
Published: March 2024

Knee kinematics during a drop vertical jump, measured by the Kinect V2 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA), have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury. The accuracy and reliability of the Microsoft Kinect V2 has yet to be assessed specifically for tracking the coronal and sagittal knee angles of the drop vertical jump. Eleven participants performed three drop vertical jumps that were recorded using both the Kinect V2 and a gold standard motion analysis system (Vicon, Los Angeles, CA, USA). The initial coronal, peak coronal, and peak sagittal angles of the left and right knees were measured by both systems simultaneously. Analysis of the data obtained by the Kinect V2 was performed by our software. The differences in the mean knee angles measured by the Kinect V2 and the Vicon system were non-significant for all parameters except for the peak sagittal angle of the right leg with a difference of 7.74 degrees and a p-value of 0.008. There was excellent agreement between the Kinect V2 and the Vicon system, with intraclass correlation coefficients consistently over 0.75 for all knee angles measured. Visual analysis revealed a moderate frame-to-frame variability for coronal angles measured by the Kinect V2. The Kinect V2 can be used to capture knee coronal and sagittal angles with sufficient accuracy during a drop vertical jump, suggesting that a Kinect-based portable motion analysis system is suitable to screen individuals for the risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Enhancing Sun-Dried Kelp Detection: Introducing K-YOLO, a Lightweight Model with Improved Precision and Recall
Authors: Xiao Zhefei , Zhu Ye , Hong Yang , Ma Tiantian , Jiang Tao
Published: March 2024

Kelp, often referred to as a “sea vegetable”, holds substantial economic significance. Currently, the drying process for kelp in China primarily relies on outdoor sun-drying methods. Detecting kelp in the field presents challenges arising from issues such as overlapping and obstruction. To address these challenges, this study introduces a lightweight model, K-YOLOv5, specifically designed for the precise detection of sun-dried kelp. YOLOv5-n serves as the base model, with several enhancements implemented in this study: the addition of a detection head incorporating an upsampling layer and a convolution module to improve the recognition of small objects; the integration of an enhanced I-CBAM attention mechanism, focusing on key features to enhance the detection accuracy; the replacement of the CBS module in the neck network with GSConv to reduce the computational burden and accelerate the inference speed; and the optimization of the IoU algorithm to improve the identification of overlapping kelp. Utilizing drone-captured images of sun-dried kelp, a dataset comprising 2190 images is curated. Validation on this self-constructed dataset indicates that the improved K-YOLOv5 model significantly enhances the detection accuracy, achieving 88% precision and 78.4% recall. These values represent 6.8% and 8.6% improvements over the original model, respectively, meeting the requirements for the real-time recognition of sun-dried kelp.
FC-TFS-CGRU: A Temporal–Frequency–Spatial Electroencephalography Emotion Recognition Model Based on Functional Connectivity and a Convolutional Gated Recurrent Unit Hybrid Architecture
Authors: Wu Xia , Zhang Yumei , Li Jingjing , Yang Honghong , Wu Xiaojun
Published: March 2024

The gated recurrent unit (GRU) network can effectively capture temporal information for 1D signals, such as electroencephalography and event-related brain potential, and it has been widely used in the field of EEG emotion recognition. However, multi-domain features, including the spatial, frequency, and temporal features of EEG signals, contribute to emotion recognition, while GRUs show some limitations in capturing frequency–spatial features. Thus, we proposed a hybrid architecture of convolutional neural networks and GRUs (CGRU) to effectively capture the complementary temporal features and spatial–frequency features hidden in signal channels. In addition, to investigate the interactions among different brain regions during emotional information processing, we considered the functional connectivity relationship of the brain by introducing a phase-locking value to calculate the phase difference between the EEG channels to gain spatial information based on functional connectivity. Then, in the classification module, we incorporated attention constraints to address the issue of the uneven recognition contribution of EEG signal features. Finally, we conducted experiments on the DEAP and DREAMER databases. The results demonstrated that our model outperforms the other models with remarkable recognition accuracy of 99.51%, 99.60%, and 99.59% (58.67%, 65.74%, and 67.05%) on DEAP and 98.63%, 98.7%, and 98.71% (75.65%, 75.89%, and 71.71%) on DREAMER in a subject-dependent experiment (subject-independent experiment) for arousal, valence, and dominance.
A 5G NR FR2 Beamforming System with Integrated Transceiver Module
Authors: Bhatta Ayush , Kamrojjaman Md , Sim Sanghoon , Kim Jeong-Geun
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a 5G new radio (NR) FR2 beamforming system with an integrated transceiver module. A real-time operating module providing enhanced flexibility and capability has been proposed. The integrated RF beamforming system with an integrated transceiver module can be operated in 8Tx-8Rx mode configuration simultaneously. A series-fed structure 8 × 7 microstrip antenna array for compact size and improved directivity is employed in the RF beamforming module. The RF beamforming module incorporates a custom 28 GHz, eight-channel fully differential beamforming IC (BFIC). An eight-channel BFIC in a phased-array beamforming system offers advantages in terms of increased antenna density and improved beam steering precision. The RF beamforming module is integrated with an RF transceiver module that enables the simultaneous up-conversion and down-conversion of the baseband signal. The RF transmitter module consists of a transmitter, a receiver, a signal generator, a power supply, and a control unit. The RF beamforming system can scan horizontally from −50° to +50° with a step of 10°. To achieve an optimized beam pattern, a calibration was conducted. The transmit and receive conversion gain of around 20 dB is achieved with the transceiver module. To verify the communication performance of the manufactured integrated RF beamforming system, a real-time wireless video transmission/reception test was performed at a frequency of 28 GHz, and the video file was transmitted smoothly in real time without interruption within a range of ±50°.
A-Mode Ultrasound Bladder Volume Estimation Algorithm Based on Wavelet Energy Ratio Adaptive Denoising
Authors: Jin Rencheng , Huang Qipeng , Jiang Jiaxu , Hu Peihao
Published: March 2024

Assessing bladder function is pivotal in urological health, with bladder volume a critical indicator. Traditional devices, hindered by high costs and cumbersome sizes, are being increasingly supplemented by portable alternatives; however, these alternatives often fall short in measurement accuracy. Addressing this gap, this study introduces a novel A-mode ultrasound-based bladder volume estimation algorithm optimized for portable devices, combining efficient, precise volume estimation with enhanced usability. Through the innovative application of a wavelet energy ratio adaptive denoising method, the algorithm significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, preserving critical signal details amidst device and environmental noise. Ultrasonic echoes were employed to acquire positional information on the anterior and posterior walls of the bladder at several points, with an ellipsoid fitted to these points using the least squares method for bladder volume estimation. Ultimately, a simulation experiment was conducted on an underwater porcine bladder. The experimental results indicate that the bladder volume estimation error of the algorithm is approximately 8.3%. This study offers a viable solution to enhance the accuracy and usability of portable devices for urological health monitoring, demonstrating significant potential for clinical application.
Developing and Validating an Intelligent Mouth-Opening Training Device: A New Solution for Restricted Mouth Opening
Authors: Wu Hao , Wang Zilin , Han Jing , Wu Tianchi , Zhai Guangtao , Zhang Chenping , Liu Jiannan
Published: March 2024

Restricted mouth opening (trismus) is one of the most common complications following head and neck cancer treatment. Early initiation of mouth-opening exercises is crucial for preventing or minimizing trismus. Current methods for these exercises predominantly involve finger exercises and traditional mouth-opening training devices. Our research group successfully designed an intelligent mouth-opening training device (IMOTD) that addresses the limitations of traditional home training methods, including the inability to quantify mouth-opening exercises, a lack of guided training resulting in temporomandibular joint injuries, and poor training continuity leading to poor training effect. For this device, an interactive remote guidance mode is introduced to address these concerns. The device was designed with a focus on the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. The accuracy of the training data was verified through piezoelectric sensor calibration. Through mechanical analysis, the stress points of the structure were identified, and finite element analysis of the connecting rod and the occlusal plate connection structure was conducted to ensure the safety of the device. The findings support the effectiveness of the intelligent device in rehabilitation through preclinical experiments when compared with conventional mouth-opening training methods. This intelligent device facilitates the quantification and visualization of mouth-opening training indicators, ensuring both the comfort and safety of the training process. Additionally, it enables remote supervision and guidance for patient training, thereby enhancing patient compliance and ultimately ensuring the effectiveness of mouth-opening exercises.
Polarization Property Associated with Surface Plasmon Resonance in a Palladium Thin-Film Coated Aluminum Grating in a Conical Mounting and Its Application to Hydrogen Gas Detection
Authors: Matsuda Toyonori , Tsunoda Isao , Koba Shinichiro , Oshiro Yu , Odagawa Hiroyuki
Published: March 2024

We have investigated a polarization property of the (specularly) reflected light from an aluminum grating, coated with a palladium (Pd) thin-film on its surface. The polarization property, which is associated with surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and occurs in the Pd thin-film on the aluminum grating in a conical mounting, is observed as a rapid change in the normalized Stokes parameter s3, around the resonance angle, θsp, at which point, SPR occurs. The sensing technique used the rapid change in s3 to allow us to successfully detect a small change in the complex refractive index of the Pd thin-film layer upon exposure to hydrogen gas, with a concentration near the lower explosion level. Experimental results showed that the sensing technique provided a sensitive and stable response when the Pd thin-film layer was exposed to gas mixtures containing hydrogen at concentrations of 1 to 4% (by volume) in nitrogen.
Innovation 4.0 Policies in Italy: Strengths and Weaknesses of the Innovation Ecosystem of the “Transition 4.0” Plan from an International Perspective
Authors: Orazi Francesco , Sofritti Federico
Published: March 2024

Innovation 4.0 is a strategic lever of industrial policies. That is the reason why, over the last decade, many European countries have introduced national plans to implement it in their economic fabric. Within this context, this paper focuses on the effects of Industry 4.0 policies in Italy and Europe by presenting the results of a research study on the national and continental ecosystems of innovation. In particular, the study was conducted by involving the main key bodies introduced by the “Transition 4.0” plan in Italy: Competence Centers (CCs), Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs), and Punti Impresa Digitale (PID). The study adopted a qualitative–quantitative approach: an analysis of gray literature, semi-structured interviews, and a survey involving Italian and European DIHs were carried out. The results highlight an ambivalent scenario: on the one hand, the research suggests that the consolidation of the ecosystems of innovation is underway in Italy and relies on good organizational capacity; on the other hand, the international comparison indicates that the Italian system still suffers from a marked territorial and institutional fragmentation that needs to be addressed in the coming years.
Utilizing Fine Marine Sediment as a Partial Substitute for Sand in Self-Compacting Concrete Specially Designed for Application in Marine Environments
Authors: Hayek Mahmoud , Soleimani Tara , Salgues Marie , Souche Jean-Claude
Published: March 2024

The disposal of marine sediments poses a significant economic and environmental challenge on a global scale. To address this issue and promote resource optimization within a circular-economy paradigm, this research investigates the viability of incorporating untreated fine marine sediments as a partial replacement for sand in self-compacting concrete (SCC) designed especially for application in marine environments (an exposure class of XS2 and a resistance class of C30/37 according to standard NF EN 206). The concretes mis-design incorporating 30% by weight of sediment as a sand substitute was initially designed with the modified Dreux–Gorisse method. The findings indicate that it is feasible to design an SCC suitable for marine environments, incorporating 30% sediment replacement content and without significantly compromising concrete properties, durability, or the estimated lifespan of the formulated concretes. The integration of marine sediment as a sand substitute into the SCC mix design reduces the amount of binder and limestone filler without compromising the paste volume. This results in a significant saving of natural sand resources and a reduction in CO2 emissions for SCC made with marine sediment.
Variability in Crithmum maritimum L. Essential Oils’ Chemical Composition: PCA Analysis, Food Safety, and Sustainability
Authors: Porrello Antonella , Vaglica Alessandro , Savoca Dario , Bruno Maurizio , Sottile Francesco
Published: March 2024

In this study, four accessions of Crithmum maritimum L., not previously studied, collected in Isola delle Femmine (Italy) (S43), Croatia (S44), Montenegro (S45), and Israel (S46) were investigated. The volatile profile of essential oils was evaluated using GC–MS and 38 compounds were identified. All the analyzed samples show a composition characterized essentially by monoterpene hydrocarbons (94.0–97.6%), with limonene, γ-terpinene, β-phellandrene, α-pinene, and p-cymene as the principal compounds. In addition, a comprehensive review of the composition of C. maritimum essential oils that have been studied thus far was conducted. To evaluate the similarity between samples, principal component analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were utilized. To evaluate the possibility of addressing food value to natural species that can strengthen sustainable food policies, it appears necessary to consider the previous safety of the dietary intake of C. maritimum. A matrix plot analysis of the content of dillapiole, a toxic constituent, in the samples was performed. The results of the statistical analysis show the presence of six clusters indicating some differences between C. maritimum accessions from different locations. Regarding dillapiole content, the four accessions discussed in this paper showed dillapiole values of less than 2%, suggesting the healthiness of sea fennel from these locations, while the highest values were found in samples from France, Portugal, and Tunisia.
Research on the Measurement, Evaluation and Compensation of Traditional Village Residents’ Emotional Perception: A Case of 14 Traditional Villages in Guanzhong Region
Authors: Ma Wenshuo , Wei Fengqun , Yang Leijie , Ran Xinyi
Published: March 2024

Traditional village residents’ emotional perception is a mapping of the man–land relationship in rural areas, which leads to the attitudes and behaviors of the residents. Against the background of previous studies focusing on technical rationality but neglecting the exploration of “human” emotional factors, it is crucial to carry out research on the traditional village residents’ emotional perception to promote people-centered rural development of high quality. The paper selected 123 residents from 14 traditional villages in Guanzhong region and constructs an evaluation index system which includes three dimensions based on the logical framework of “spiritual attachment-functional dependence-developmental cognition”. Next, the questionnaire method was used to collect data and the empirical analysis was conducted using the obstacle degree model and the network analysis model. The research shows that: (1) the overall level of the traditional village residents’ emotional perception is in the middle-upper class and there are significant differences, and there is a non-equilibrium in different evaluation dimensions. (2) The main obstacle to the improvement of the level of traditional village residents’ emotional perception is perception of development, followed by the sense of belonging, and the sense of happiness has a greater supportive role. (3) “Sustainable development of the village” (D-07) is the central node of the network analysis model of traditional village residents’ emotional perception. Meanwhile, the nodes “willingness to live” (G-02) and “basic rights are guaranteed” (X-10) are the central nodes of the sub-networks of sense of belonging and sense of happiness. (4) The residents’ education level and the frequency of community participation have a significant positive effect on their emotional perception level. Finally, the paper explores the dynamic compensation mechanism of traditional village residents’ emotional perception. Our results provide policy guidance for achieving sustainable development of traditional villages.
Wind Load and Wind-Induced Vibration of Photovoltaic Supports: A Review
Authors: Nan Bo , Chi Yuanpeng , Jiang Yingchun , Bai Yikui
Published: March 2024

(1) Background: As environmental issues gain more attention, switching from conventional energy has become a recurring theme. This has led to the widespread development of photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems. PV supports, which support PV power generation systems, are extremely vulnerable to wind loads. For sustainable development, corresponding wind load research should be carried out on PV supports. (2) Methods: First, the effects of several variables, including the body-type coefficient, wind direction angle, and panel inclination angle, on the wind loads of PV supports are discussed. Secondly, the wind-induced vibration of PV supports is studied. Finally, the calculation method of the wind load on PV supports is summarized. (3) Conclusions: According to the particularity of the PV support structure, the impact of different factors on the PV support’s wind load should be comprehensively considered, and a more accurate method should be adopted to evaluate and calculate the wind load to lessen the damage that a PV support’s wind-induced vibration causes, improve the force safety of PV supports, and thereby enhance the power generation efficiency of PV systems.
Mathematical Modeling of Robotic Locomotion Systems
Authors: Prada Erik , Miková Ľubica , Virgala Ivan , Kelemen Michal , Sinčák Peter Ján , Mykhailyshyn Roman
Published: March 2024

This article deals with the presentation of an alternative approach that uses methods of geometric mechanics, which allow one to see into the geometrical structure of the equations and can be useful not only for modeling but also during the design of symmetrical locomotion systems and their control and motion planning. These methods are based on extracting the symmetries of Lie groups from the locomotion system in order to simplify the resulting equations. In the second section, the special two-dimensional Euclidean group SE2 and its splitting into right and left actions are derived. The physical interpretation of the local group and spatial velocities is investigated, and by virtue of the fact that both of these velocities represent the same velocity from a physical point of view, the dependence between them can be found by means of the adjoint action. The third section is devoted to the modeling and analysis of the planar locomotion of the symmetrical serpentine robot; the positions and local group velocities of its links are derived, the vector fields for the local connections are given, and the trajectories of the individual variables in the lateral movement of the kinematic snake are shown. At the end of the article, the overall benefits of the scientific study are summarized, as is the comparison of the results from the simulation phase, while the most significant novelty compared to alternative publications in the field can be considered the realization of this study with a description of the relevant methodology at a detailed level; that is, the locomotion results confirm the suitability of the use of geometric mechanics for these symmetrical locomotion systems with nonholonomic constraints.
Comprehensive Analysis of Bufadienolide and Protein Profiles of Gland Secretions from Medicinal Bufo Species
Authors: Fang Yunge , Chen Liangmian , Wang Pengfei , Liu Yating , Wang Yuxiu , Wang Zhimin , Ma Yue , Gao Huimin
Published: March 2024

Toad Venom (TV) is the dried product of toxic secretions from Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor (BgC) or B. melanostictus Schneider (BmS). Given the increasing medical demand and the severe depletion of wild toads, a number of counterfeit TVs appeared on the market, posing challenges to its quality control. In order to develop an efficient, feasible, and comprehensive approach to evaluate TV quality, a thorough analysis and comparison of chemical compounds among legal species BgC and BmS, as well as the main confusion species B. andrewsi Schmidt (BaS) and B. raddei Strauch (BrS), were conducted by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and Nano LC-MS/MS analyses. We identified 126 compounds, including free or conjugated bufadienolides, indole alkaloids and amino acids, among the four Bufo species. The content of main bufadienolides, such as gamabufotalin, bufotalin, bufalin, cinobufagin, and resibufogenin, and the total protein contents varied widely among 28 batches of TV due to their origin species. The sum of the five bufadienolides within the BgC, BmS, BaS, and BrS samples were 8.15–15.93%, 2.45–4.14%, 11.15–13.50%, and 13.21–14.68%, respectively. The total protein content of BgC (6.9–24.4%) and BaS (19.1–20.6%) samples were higher than that of BmS (4.8–20.4%) and BrS (10.1–13.7%) samples. Additionally, a total of 1357 proteins were identified. There were differences between the protein compositions among the samples of the four Bufo species. The results indicated that BgC TV is of the highest quality; BaS and BrS TV could serve as alternative resources, whereas BmS TV performed poorly overall. This research provides evidence for developing approaches to evaluate TV quality and selecting the proper Bufo species as the origin source of TV listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia.
A Balancing Act: The Viral–Host Battle over RNA Binding Proteins
Authors: Bermudez Yahaira , Hatfield David , Muller Mandy
Published: March 2024

A defining feature of a productive viral infection is the co-opting of host cell resources for viral replication. Despite the host repertoire of molecular functions and biological counter measures, viruses still subvert host defenses to take control of cellular factors such as RNA binding proteins (RBPs). RBPs are involved in virtually all steps of mRNA life, forming ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs) in a highly ordered and regulated process to control RNA fate and stability in the cell. As such, the hallmark of the viral takeover of a cell is the reshaping of RNA fate to modulate host gene expression and evade immune responses by altering RBP interactions. Here, we provide an extensive review of work in this area, particularly on the duality of the formation of RNP complexes that can be either pro- or antiviral. Overall, in this review, we highlight the various ways viruses co-opt RBPs to regulate RNA stability and modulate the outcome of infection by gathering novel insights gained from research studies in this field.
Water Market Development in the Yellow River Basin: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Chen Yan , Yan Yuhan , Zhu Tingju
Published: March 2024

Water market development in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) unfolds new opportunities for alleviating water scarcity and improving water productivity. However, the further development of an effective water market in the basin faces challenges such as unclear water rights, regulatory deficiencies, market deficiencies, and insufficient compensation to third-parties, among others. Studying water market development in Western countries provides useful insights for addressing similar challenges, thus providing useful case studies despite the different cultural, economic, institutional, and political settings. This paper investigates water markets in the Murray–Darling Basin in Australia, the western United States, and Chile to synthesize cases of water market development that could potentially contribute to overcoming the challenges encountered in the YRB. After analyzing these cases, recommendations are made for enhancing the YRB’s water market development from the perspectives of water rights systems, as well as the roles of the government and market, legal system, and third-party effects.
Monetization of Ecosystem Services from Nature-Based Solutions for Agricultural Diffuse Pollution Control: Simplified Value Transfer Method at European Scale
Authors: Zanini Sara Floriana , de Carli Alessandro , Rizzo Anacleto , Conte Giulio , Masi Fabio
Published: March 2024

When nature-based solutions (NBS) are developed with a primary scope, they also provide simultaneous additional economic, social, and environmental benefits, i.e., Ecosystem Services. A monetary assessment that accounts for these additional benefits is provided by this work, with a focus on Europe. Specifically, this is intended to evaluate nine identified benefits of those wetlands and buffer strips designed to primarily address agricultural diffuse pollution, which must surely be listed among the negative externalities of economic activities that NBS can help resolve. The aim of developing a simplified value transfer methodology for a rapid evaluation of NBS benefits with the adjusted unit Value Transfer method is to create an accessible solution when time, funding, or other constraints prevent the use of highly technical primary monetization approaches. The developed exercise allows us to gather insights from several primary valuation studies and to appropriately transfer the monetary valuation outcomes to new policy sites. In order to reduce the distance from the expected and required concrete achievements of the economic valuations, the study has been integrated with an case study located in the Venice lagoon catchment in Northwestern Italy. The results obtained are to be considered sound, with existing evidence showing that the most valuable benefits of the considered NBS are both water quality and recreation and tourism, to which is added, in the case of wetlands, water supply.
Robust Adaptive Control of the Offshore Produced Water Treatment Process: An Improved Multivariable MRAC-Based Approach
Authors: Kashani Mahsa , Jespersen Stefan , Yang Zhenyu
Published: March 2024

The application of deoiling hydrocyclone systems as the downstream of three-phase gravity separator (TPGS) systems is one of the most commonly deployed produced water treatment processes in offshore oil and gas production. Due to the compact system’s complexity and tailor-made features, it is always challenging to develop some optimally coordinated control solution for the coupled hydrocyclone and TPGS systems. It is obvious that coordinated control can better fulfill legislative discharge regulation by robustly maintaining high separation efficiencies. This paper presents a new control solution for a set of integrated hydrocyclone and TPGS systems by applying an improved multi-variable model reference adaptive control (MV-MRAC) approach with the aim of achieving both asymptotic output tracking and unknown disturbance rejection. A robust MV-MRAC controller design is proposed based on a control parameterization derived from a factorization of a high-frequency gain matrix Kp=LDS as a product of three matrices, where L represents unity lower triangular, D=sign(D) represents diagonal, and S represents positive definite, and a teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm for optimizing the adaption rates. The developed solution is analyzed and compared with a commonly deployed PI control solution on a model that is derived from a lab-scale produced water treatment process. This simulation study demonstrates the promising potential of the proposed control solution compared with the currently deployed PI control solution.
CREATION OF A DECENTRALIZED APPLICATION FOR SALES OF IMAGES USING IPFS
Authors: Igor Ponomarev
Published: March 2024

Decentralized applications are more secure and reliable than centralized applications because they do not have a single point of failure or control. However, storing big data on the Ethereum blockchain is very expensive and, therefore, it is necessary to use special solutions for this. The development of a decentralized application for selling images using IPFS decentralized storage is considered.
ADAPTATION OF THE WORLD FRAMEWORK FOR FRAME-BY-FRAME REAL-TIME SPEECH ANALYSIS
Authors: Koshel Eugene
Published: March 2024

WORLD is a vocoder-based speech synthesis system developed by M. Morise et al. and implemented in C++. It was demonstrated to have improved performance and accuracy when compared to other algorithms. However, it turned out to not perform well in certain scenarios, particularly, when applying the framework to very short waveforms on a frame-by-frame basis. This paper reviews the issues of the C++ implementation of WORLD and pro-poses modified versions of its constituting algorithms that attempt to mitigate those issues. The resulting framework is tested on both synthetic signals and on real recorded speech.
The Effect of Perceived Social Support on Work-Life Balance and Work Engagement: A Case of Banking Sector
Authors: YILDIRIM Didar , DARICAN Şule
Published: March 2024

In the globalizing world, organizations are focused on enhancing the quality of service or products to gain a competitive advantage, and they believe this can be achieved through high-performing employees. Therefore, the importance of dedicated employees who are committed to their work is increasing day by day. Individuals who are focused on their jobs will exhibit positive behaviors for their organizations, effectively contributing to achieving organizational goals. These individuals will not only fulfill their tasks according to standards but often surpass expectations by delivering performance beyond the norm. An employee's commitment to work is also linked to the ability to maintain a balanced private life. In order to achieve work-life balance, it is necessary to be able to manage work and private life simultaneously by setting priorities well. The social support received from the social environment is effective in achieving work-life balance and being engaged in work. Social support for employees typically includes various benefits, social services, educational opportunities, health facilities, and adjustments in working conditions.

In this context, the purpose of this study conducted with participants who are bank employees is to determine the effect of perceived social support on work-life balance and work engagement. The sample of the study consists of 492 bank employees who work at different levels of a public capital bank serving Istanbul and who voluntarily participated in the study.

According to the results of the study, both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on obtained data and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted for the validity of the scales have shown favorable fit indices. In accordance with the measurement model, a structural aquation model (SEM) aimed at determining relationships was applied, and the results were evaluated. Correction analysis was also used in the study to identify relationships between main dimensions and sub-dimensions. According to the results obtained in the study, it is revealed that perceived social support has a significant negative effect on work-life balance and perceived social support has a significant positive effect on work engagement. The study concluded that as perceived social support increases in the banking sector, work-family and family-work conflicts will decrease, and work engagement will increase.
Матеріали Круглого столу «Філософія війни та миру: від античності до сьогодення»
Authors: Liakh Vitalii
Published: March 2024

Під час проведення Круглого столу була розгорнута широка дискусія щодо можливостей досягнення миру в Україні, хоча питання ставилося і більш глобально: чи реально відвернути війну, тобто зняти її з порядку денного для людства взагалі. Були проаналізовані концепції західноєвропейських філософів, які підтримували Кантівську тезу щодо можливості «вічного миру». Заторкувалась тема розвитку технологічної цивілізації, яка начебто сприяє поширенню агресії і агресивної поведінки. Обговорювалось питання: чи можлива трансформація агресії, чи є способи каналізувати її в більш прийнятні форми, або через самовдосконалення людини. Пропонувалось звернутися до практик співіснування, притаманні первісним спільнотам. Наголошувалося на нагальності завдання, яке полягає в тому, щоб знайти належні відповіді на виклики, які ставить перед людством війна в Україні. Або в більш ширшому плані: що має здійснити людство, щоб припинити ті війни, які вже розпочалися, або зробити  для тих, хто їх розпочинає, дуже дороговартісною авантюрою.
Pengaruh ekstrak labu kuning (Cucurbita moschata Duch) dalam pakan terhadap kecerahan warna dan kelangsungan hidup ikan badut (Amphiprion percula) di akuarium
Authors: Meni Karolina Vivenci , Rebhung Felix , Liufeto Franchy Ch
Published: March 2024

Ikan badut dalam akuarium dapat mengalami penurunan kualitas warna jika pakan yang diberikan tidak mendukung. Penelitian ini dilakukan di UPT Tambak Oesapa untuk mengetahui pengaruh penambahan ekstrak labu kuning (Cucurbita moschata Duch) dalam pakan terhadap kecerahan warna dan kelangsungan hidup ikan badut (Amphiprion percula). Penelitian ini menggunakan metode rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan 3 kali ulangan. Perlakuan yang diuji adalah perlakuan kontrol (tanpa ekstrak labu kuning), PA (pakan komersial + 200 ml ekstral labu kuning), PB (pakan komersial + 300 ml ekstrak labu kuning), dan PC (pakan komersial + 500  ml ekstrak labu kuning). Parameter yang diamati dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitas warna, kelangsungan hidup dan berat mutlak ikan badut. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa penambahan 500 ml ekstrak labu kuning dalam pakan menghasilkan kualitas warna terbaik dengan nilai rata - rata 7,6%, kelangsungan hidup 93% dan berat mutlak 2,2 gram. ANOVA menunjukan bahwa perlakuan tidak berpengaruh nyata pada warna dan kelangsungan hidup, tetapi nyata pada berat mutak.

 

Kata Kunci : Ekstrak labu kuning, ikan badut, kelangsungan hidup, kualitas warna.
Pengaruh Kepadatan Terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Kelangsungan Hidup Abalon (Haliotis Sp) yang Dipeliara di Keramba Apung
Authors: Nahak Fabianus , Linggi Yulianus , Sunadji Sunadji
Published: March 2024

Kerang abalon merupakan salah satu komoditas laut yang memiliki nilai ekonomis tinggi, Peneltian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kepadatan terhadap pertumbuhan dan kelangsungan hidup abalon (Halitus sp) yang dipelihara di keramba apung. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) meliputi 4 perlakuan dan 3 kali ulangan. Pada setiap perlakuan P1 padat tebar 25 ekor abalon/wadah, P2 padat tebar 50 ekor abalon/wadah, P3 padat tebar 75 ekor abalon/wadah, P4 padat tebar 100 ekor abalon/wadah. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa tingkat pertumbuhan kerang abalon menunjukan perlakuan A sebesar 0,2 ± 0,06 gr. Sedangkan untuk perlakuan B, C dan D memiliki nilai yang sama yaitu sebesar 0,1 0,06 gr. Tingkat kepadatan masing-masing perlakuan berbeda, akan tetapi dengan waktu pemeliharaan yang sama. Nilai rata-rata pertumbuhan berat mutlak kerang abalon pada perlakuan B (padat tebar 50 ekor), C (padat tebar 75 ekor) dan (padat tebar 100 ekor) padat tebar relatif sama, tetapi cenderung lebih tinggi pada perlakuan A (padat tebar 25 ekor). Hasil analisis statistik dengan ANOVA menunjukan bahwa F hitung < F tabel yang artinya perbedaan perlakuan padat tebar pada penelitian tidak memberikan pengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan berat mutlak kerang abalon. Parameter kualitas air yang diukur meliputi suhu 26-29ºC,PH 7,6-8,6 dan salinitas 25-30 ppt.

Kata kunci : Abalon, Kepadatan, Keramba apung
Pengaruh Penggunaan Kotoran Sapi, Kotoran Ayam, Jerami Padi dan Pupuk Urea Terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Kelulushidupan Ikan Bandeng (Chanos chanos) di Tambak
Authors: Baba Solfyana Lisbela , Linggi Yulianus , Liufeto Franchy Ch
Published: March 2024

Penelitian  ini bertujuan  untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan kotoran sapi, kotoran ayam, jerami padi, dan pupuk urea terhadap pertumbuhan dan kelulushidupan ikan bandeng (Chanos chanos) di Tambak. Pengumpulan data dilakukan selama 3 bulan di Desa Bipolo, Kecamatan Sulamu. Pemupukan dilakukan dengan Perbandingan dalam satu tambak kotoran sapi 100 kg (10 karung), kotoran ayam 500 kg (50 karung),  jerami padi 50 ikat, pupuk urea 2 karung, hewan uji yang digunakan  dalam penelitian ini ikan bandeng sebanyak 2500 ekor. Hasil penelitian menunjukan pertumbuhan dari pemupukan sangat bagus atau spesifik tinggi oleh karena pengaruh pemupukan yang menghasilkan ketersedian fitoplankton didasar tambak dan kelulushidupan 100%.

Kata kunci: Kotoran Sapi, Kotoran Ayam, Jerami Padi, Pupuk Urea,Ikan Bandeng, Fitoplankton
Perbedaan Umur Panen Terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Kandungan Karaginan Rumput Laut Kappaphycus alvarezii Yang Terkena Ice Ice
Authors: Berepalay Mega Ida , Ratoe Oedjoe Marcelien Dj , Jasmanindar Yudiana
Published: March 2024

Rumput laut tidak memiliki akar, batang, dan daun yang sejati akan tetapi keseluruhan rumput laut disebut talus. Salah satu produk yang dihasilkan dari rumput laut K. alvarezii adalah karaginan. Karaginan merupakan senyawa polisakarida dan dimanfaatkan dalam bidang industri, pangan dan farmasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji studi pertumbuhan dan kandungan karaginan dari rumput laut K. alvarezii pada yang terkena penyakit ice-ice. Penelitian ini telah dilaksanakan selama 45 hari mulai dari bulan juli sampai bulan September 2021 di perairan Pasir Panjang, Kota Kupang. Rumput laut dibudidayakan menggunakan metode long line. Pengujian Kandungan Karaginan dilakukan di Laboratorium Fakultas Kelautan dan Perikanan, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan empat perlakuan dengan setiap umur panen berbeda yaitu umur panen 15 hari, 25 hari, 35 hari, dan  45 hari. Hasil penelitian kandungan karaginan tertinggi pada umur panen 45 hari 33,3%. Hasil ANOVA menunjukkan perlakuan umur panen berbeda memberikan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kandungan karaginan rumput laut K. alvarezii.

 

Kata kunci : K. alvarezii, Pertumbuhan, Karaginan, Ice- ice
Pengaruh Kombinasi Air Kelapa Muda Dan Gliserol pada Presevasi Sperma Ikan Mas (Cyprinus carpio)
Authors: Lodo Sisca Melantri , Tjendanawangi Agnette , Linggi Yulianus
Published: March 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari penambahan pengencer air kelapa muda dan gliserol terhadap viabilitas sperma ikan mas (Cyprinus carpio) dan perlakuan yang terbaik pada penyimpanan sperma ikan mas. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Fakultas Kelautan dan Perikanan Universitas Nusa Cendana, selama kurang lebih 1 bulan (Oktober) 2021. Metode penelitian disusun dalam rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan 5 perlakuan yaitu perlakuan 1: 0,25 ml sperma + 100% air kelapa muda, perlakuan 2 : 0,25 ml sperma + 75% air kelapa muda + 25% gliserol, perlakuan 3: 0,25 ml sperma + 50% air kelapa muda + 50% gliserol. perlakuan 4: 0,25 ml sperma + 25% air kelapa muda + 75% gliserol dan perlakuan 5 : 0,25 ml sperma + 100% gliserol. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan penambahan air kelapa muda dan gliserol berpengaruh  terhadap motilitas spermatozoa ikan mas (Cyprinus carpio) dan spermatozoa masih bertahan hidup selama 4 hari, namun semakin lama disimpan maka motilitas akan semakin menurun dan penyimpanan sperma dengan perbandingan dosis 75% air kelapa muda + 25% gliserol (perlakuan B) memberikan hasil terbaik.

 

Kata Kunci: Air Kelapa Muda, Gliserol, Motilitas, Viabilitas, Sperma Ikan Mas
Persepsi masyarakat tentang perubahan sosial-ekonomi penyebaran limbah PLTU Bolok terhadap kegiatan budidaya rumput laut di Perairan Kecamatan Kupang Barat
Authors: Conceicao Julio Danilson Da , Sunadji Sunadji , Ratoe Oedjoe Marcelien Dj
Published: March 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui persepsi sosial-ekonomi sebelum dan sesudah penyebaran limbah PLTU Bolok terhadap kegiatan budidaya rumput laut, dilaksanakan selama 1 bulan di perairan Kuanheum dan Oenaek, Kecamatan Kupang Barat. Pengambilan data dilakukan secara acak dari 30 responden dikedua Desa. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa penyebaran limbah PLTU Bolok berpengaruh terhadap kehidupan sosial-ekonomi pembudidaya rumput laut. Hal ini dilihat dari hasil uji Paired sampel T-test menunjukan nilai signifikansi sebesar 0,000 < dari nilai signifikansi 2 tailed sebesar 0,05 yang artinya H0 ditolak dan H1 diterima. Dimana setelah limbah kehidupan sosial seperti interaksi kerjasama menurun hingga 63,3%, persaingan meningkat menjadi 40%. Konflik meningkat sebesar 33,45% juga jumlah pembudidaya menurun hingga 96,7%, mingrasi penduduk meningkat menjadi 30% dan petani yang beralih kerja menurun yaitu hingga 53,4% serta anak yang putus sekolah menurun hingga 10%. Sedangkan sesudah limbah kehidupan ekonomi seperti penggunaan modal pribadi menurun 50%, dana pinjaman meningkat hingga 50%, penggunaan tali menurun hingga 100%, produksi rumput laut menurun sebesar 90%, dan pendapatan menurun yaitu 100%, omset pengeluran menurun 83,4 % dan pekerjaan tambahan petani menurun 53,3%
Pengaruh penambahan fermentasi ampas kelapa dan dedak halus (padi) dalam pakan terhadap pertumbuhan ikan bandeng (Chanos chanos)
Authors: Da Costa Renaldo , Rebhung Felix , Sunadji Sunadji
Published: March 2024

Penelitian yang dilakukan pada periode April hingga Juni 2022 di Instalasi Tambak Ikan Oesapa, Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur memiliki tujuan untuk menilai dampak dari penambahan ampas kelapa dan dedak halus yang telah difermentasi dalam pakan ikan bandeng (Chanos chanos). Tujuan lainnya adalah untuk menentukan jumlah yang paling efektif dari kedua bahan tersebut dalam pakan ikan bandeng. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan dilakukan secara triplet. Keempat perlakuan yang diujikan adalah sebagai berikut: Perlakuan A, B, C dan D berturut turut yaitu pemberian pakan komersil dengan penambahan campuran ampas kelapa dan dedak halus sebanyak 0,20,30 dan 40%. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan D, yaitu pemberian pakan komersil dengan  tambahan campuran ampas kelapa dan dedak halus sebanyak 40%, memberikan hasil terbaik untuk pertumbuhan ikan bandeng (C. chanos). Pertumbuhan berat mutlak mencapai 19,29 g, tingkat kelangsungan hidup mencapai 100%, menunjukkan bahwa ikan bandeng dalam perlakuan D memiliki tingkat kelangsungan hidup yang optimal. Dengan demikian, dapat disimpulkan bahwa penambahan ampas kelapa dan dedak halus sebanyak 40% dalam makanan ikan adalah dosis yang paling efektif untuk meningkatkan kelangsungan hidup dan pertumbuhan ikan bandeng (C. chanos) dalam penelitian ini.