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Found 6342 publications
Compressibility of expansive soil mixed with sand and its correlation to index properties
Publication Name: Heliyon
Publication Date: 2024-08-15
Volume: 10
Issue: 15
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Prior research has primarily focused on Atterberg limits, void ratios, and/or water content, often disregarding the impact of coarse material percentage in the soil, which significantly affects compressibility behavior. This paper examines the effects of sand content, initial degree of saturation, and initial dry unit weight on the compressibility behavior of expansive soils. Ninty-six oedometer tests were performed in order to accurately predict the compressibility behavior of expansive soils. The previous studies have attempted to correlate compressibility with different index properties separately, but no single study has taken into consideration all properties influencing compressibility behavior, especially for expansive soils. The findings show that compressibility is greatly influenced by the sand content, initial degree of saturation, and initial dry unit weight. Increasing the initial dry unit weight specifically lowers the compression index and permeability while raising the recompression index for the same percentage of added sand. Moreover, since swelling reduces with increasing initial saturation, raising the saturation degree also lowers the permeability, recompression index, and compression index. The results indicate that a sand content of more than 30 % is recommended for achieving desired properties in expansive clayey soil. This is a result of sand taking the dominant role in the soil mixture, which lowers soil suction and improves soil properties by reducing swelling, permeability, and compressibility. Symbolic regression equations were created to predict the compression and recompression indices, outperforming previous models in accurately predicting the compressibility behavior of expansive soils, considering the percentage of sand. The validation of these equations demonstrates their predictive capabilities.
Open Access: Yes
Challenges in Mapping Soil Variability Using Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity under Heterogeneous Topographic Conditions
Publication Name: Agronomy
Publication Date: 2024-06-01
Volume: 14
Issue: 6
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Site-specific management requires the identification of treatment areas based on homogeneous characteristics. This study aimed to determine whether soil mapping based on apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa ) is suitable for mapping soil properties of fields with topographic heterogeneity. Research was conducted on two neighbouring fields in Fejér county, Hungary, with contrasting topographic heterogeneity. To characterise the spatial variability of soil attributes, ECa was measured and supplemented by obtaining soil samples and performing soil profile analysis. The relationship between ECa and soil physical and chemical properties was analysed using correlation, principal component, and regression analyses. The research revealed that the quality and strength of the relationship between ECa and soil remarkably differed in the two studied fields. In homogeneous topographic conditions, ECa was weakly correlated with elevation as determined by soil physical texture and nutrient content in a strong (R2 = 0.72) linear model. On the other hand, ECa was significantly determined by elevation in heterogeneous topographic conditions in a moderate (R2 = 0.47) linear model. Consequently, ECa -based soil mapping can only be used to characterise the soil, thus delineating management zones under homogeneous topographic conditions.
Open Access: Yes
Digital divide and digitalization in Europe: A bibliometric analysis
Publication Name: Equilibrium Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy
Publication Date: 2024-06-30
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Page Range: 463-520
Description:
Research background:Digitalization and the associated digital divide are crucial issues impacting socio-economic development globally. Extensive research has examined digitalization and the digital divide in EU countries, but there is a lack of understanding regarding comparisons with studies conducted in Western Balkan countries. This study investigates digitalization trends in research from the past five years in both regions, focusing on efforts and factors contributing to the digital gap. Purpose of the article: The study analyzes research on digitalization from 2018 to 2023 in the EU and Western Balkans. It explores factors causing the digital divide and efforts in digitalization, aiming to guide future research and policy for digital inclusion and sustainable development. Methods: The study employs a meticulous data selection process, choosing Scopus as the database for its extensive coverage of diverse journals. A total of 1119 articles from EU countries and 277 from Western Balkan countries are selected for bibliometric analysis, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Findings & value added: The research reveals a growing interest in digitalization-related issues, demonstrating the multidisciplinary nature of ongoing research. It points out the distribution of publications on digitalization in the EU and Western Balkans countries. The EU focuses on digital technologies, economic growth, and sustainability, while Western Balkan countries focus on COVID-19 impact and digitalization in education and business. The research compares digitalization efforts in the EU and Western Balkan countries presented in the literature, pointing to new dimensions of the digital divide studies. It discusses how socio-economic contexts affect digital transformation and stresses the need for tailored policy approaches for digital inclusivity. These insights are of great importance for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working towards global digital development and bridging the digital divide. The study lays the groundwork for future research and policy considerations, considering limitations like potential bias in databases and search criteria.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.24136/eq.2899
Public Law Liability of the Financial Market Supervisor
Publication Name: Journal of Risk and Financial Management
Publication Date: 2024-06-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 6
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This article deals with the liability of the supervisory authority of the financial market. It could be questioned whether the supervisory authority, as the public authority, is liable for the supervisory performance. If the answer is yes, then the question is what kind of liability could be found and if any special conditions (prerequisites) are needed. In general, there could be two lines of public liability found. One is systemic liability for the safe financial market—e.g., financial market stability. The other perspective is individual liability for damages caused by unlawful administrative procedure or maladministration, where unlimited strict liability is granted. This kind of liability might be widely questioned, especially when the central bank is the supervisory authority, like in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and other EU member states. This article aims to evaluate the liability of the supervisory authority in the Czech Republic and Hungary concerning the European level of such liability.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/jrfm17060232
Experiences of a CAEV (Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus) eradication programme in an alpine goat farm
Publication Name: Magyar Allatorvosok Lapja
Publication Date: 2024-05-01
Volume: 146
Issue: 5
Page Range: 259-271
Description:
Background: The CAEV (Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus) together with Maedi visna virus (MVV) are specific pathogen of small ruminants (small ruminant lenti-viruses (SRLV). The clinical signs can be arthritis or mastitis in adults and encephalitis in kids, however, most of the CAEV infections remain subclinical. The viral infection can be lifelong and the animals can become a virus carrier at any time. The most effective way to eradicate the virus is through the selection and culling of infected animals, based on serological results. Objectives: An eradication programme was carried out in a goat herd of 150 does in Tahitótfalu between 2020 and 2023. A routine serological survey revealed that the number of CAEV seropositive animals in the herd was very high, and as the number of animals with clinical symptoms started to increase, an eradication program became advisable. The objective was to lower the rate of seropositive animals, and to keep the herd free from the clinical signs. Materials and Methods: The primary method for screening the animals was the antibody ELISA method. It was sensitive and specific enough to find the seropo-sitive animals in the herd. As an additional method, real-time and conventional PCR methods was used to test blood samples. Results and Discussion: After the initial seropositive results, there were several other test methods in the herd to detect the seropositive animals. In 2020 the percentage of seropositive goats was between 33% and 100%, so an eradication programme was advised to decrease the number of infected animals and to reduce the clinical signs in the herd. As a consequence of the selection-based programme, the rate of seropositive animals was successfully decreased in the herd by the end of 2021 (1-20%). However, due to a prolonged period of immu-nosuppression, the disease started to spread again among the animals during 2022, and the complete eradication could not be achieved. Nevertheless, our experiences show that CAEV eradication programmes can be a useful tool to decrease the clinical consequences of the disease on dairy goat farms.
Open Access: Yes
A virtual screening framework based on the binding site selectivity for small molecule drug discovery
Publication Name: Computers and Chemical Engineering
Publication Date: 2024-05-01
Volume: 184
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Structure-based virtual screening of binding of candidate drug molecules is a topic of increasing interest in the discovery of small molecule drugs. As the same drug molecule may bind to different binding sites on a target protein, the binding site selectivity that is related to the binding tendency of candidate drug molecules to different binding sites after reaching the target protein need to be considered in sufficient details. In this work, a systematic and computer-aided virtual screening framework based on the binding site selectivity to screen candidate drug molecules in terms of their ability to bind on selected sites is presented. The framework integrates two machine learning (ML)-based models to predict the binding potential and binding selectivity to specific binding sites that are important for virtual screening of drug molecules. The details of the ML-based models together with the work-flow of the computer-aided virtual screening methods and the efficient and consistent integration of related drug design tools are presented. The applicability of this virtual screening framework is illustrated through a case study involving the screening for drug molecules as inhibitors to block the binding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the target protein. The case study results point to identification of new candidate inhibitors with better binding site selectivity than two known potential inhibitors, Nilotinib and SSAA09E2.
Open Access: Yes
Brake Disc Deformation Detection Using Intuitive Feature Extraction and Machine Learning
Publication Name: Machines
Publication Date: 2024-04-01
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
In this work we propose proof-of-concept methods to detect malfunctions of the braking system in passenger vehicles. In particular, we investigate the problem of detecting deformations of the brake disc based on data recorded by acceleration sensors mounted on the suspension of the vehicle. Our core hypothesis is that these signals contain vibrations caused by brake disc deformation. Since faults of this kind are typically monitored by the driver of the vehicle, the development of automatic fault-detection systems becomes more important with the rise of autonomous driving. In addition, the new brake boosters separate the brake pedal from the hydraulic system which results in less significant effects on the brake pedal force. Our paper offers two important contributions. Firstly, we provide a detailed description of our novel measurement scheme, the type and placement of the used sensors, signal acquisition and data characteristics. Then, in the second part of our paper we detail mathematically justified signal representations and different algorithms to distinguish between deformed and normal brake discs. For the proper understanding of the phenomenon, different brake discs were used with measured runout values. Since, in addition to brake disc deformation, the vibrations recorded by our accelerometers are nonlinearly dependent on a number of factors (such as the velocity, suspension, tire pressure, etc.), data-driven models are considered. Through experiments, we show that the proposed methods can be used to recognize faults in the braking system caused by brake disc deformation.
Open Access: Yes
Impact of Projects with Future Potential on the Global Competitiveness Index of Countries
Publication Name: Emerging Science Journal
Publication Date: 2024-04-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Page Range: 557-573
Description:
The concept of project success has evolved from the perspective of conforming to the project triangle to that of benefiting the environment, and then from the perspective of the following generation. Scientists increasingly assert that successful projects require a set of criteria that include such item(s) as future potential. The meaning of project success varies depending on where it is executed. The purpose of this study is to identify whether projects with future potential have a certain effect on indicators of the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) and what other success criteria are inherent in such projects. By using the method of descriptive analysis of data collected from 107 experts and analyzing 19 influential projects, the study revealed that projects oriented towards the future have a significant impact on the indicators of the GCI in the RK. This finding confirms the necessity of considering the long-term sustainability and social significance of projects when assessing their successes. Additionally, a specific combination of success criteria that contributes most to this impact was identified. This research provides a brand-new understanding of project success criteria in the context of their impact on the GCI and emphasizes the importance of considering future potential in project planning and evaluation.
Open Access: Yes
The Obligations of the States in Respect of Climate Change Before the International Court of Justice
Publication Name: Journal of Environmental Law
Publication Date: 2024-03-01
Volume: 36
Issue: 1
Page Range: 117-124
Description:
This analysis discusses the advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in April 2023 on the obligations of states in respect of climate change. Although the ICJ’s decision cannot be expected before the autumn of 2024, important procedural anomalies have arisen, which require due regard to ensure that the ICJ can provide its advisory opinion in possession of sufficient information. In particular, firstly, not all Small Island Developing States have been notified by the ICJ and invited to submit written statements and, secondly, the amicus curiae provided by NGOs will be not accessible to the public. This analysis argues that all Small Island Developing States should have the opportunity to take part in the proceedings and the amicus curiae submitted by NGOs to the ICJ should receive proper publicity.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1093/jel/eqad033
