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Found 6341 publications

Laboratory and Numerical Investigation of Pre-Tensioned Reinforced Concrete Railway Sleepers Combined with Plastic Fiber Reinforcement

Publication Name: Polymers

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 11

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This research investigates the application of plastic fiber reinforcement in pre-tensioned reinforced concrete railway sleepers, conducting an in-depth examination in both experimental and computational aspects. Utilizing 3-point bending tests and the GOM ARAMIS system for Digital Image Correlation, this study meticulously evaluates the structural responses and crack development in conventional and plastic fiber-reinforced sleepers under varying bending moments. Complementing these tests, the investigation employs ABAQUS’ advanced finite element modeling to enhance the analysis, ensuring precise calibration and validation of the numerical models. This dual approach comprehensively explains the mechanical behavior differences and stresses within the examined structures. The incorporation of plastic fibers not only demonstrates a significant improvement in mechanical strength and crack resistance but paves the way for advancements in railway sleeper technology. By shedding light on the enhanced durability and performance of reinforced concrete structures, this study makes a significant contribution to civil engineering materials science, highlighting the potential for innovative material applications in the construction industry.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/polym16111498

Comparison of Auditory and Visual Short-Term Memory Capabilities using a Serious Game Application

Publication Name: Infocommunications Journal

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 2

Page Range: 51-60

Description:

A comprehensive serious game application has been designed and implemented to examine the capacity and effective- ness of short-term auditory and visual memory, otherwise known as working memory in human subjects. Participants engaged in an adaptation of the well-known paired association game that entails turning over cards and recalling their placement within a 2D matrix structure of various resolutions. Each trial introduced either visual icons (vision-only condition) or auditory objects (audio-only condition). User performance was evaluated through a detailed statistical analysis focusing only on the highest 6x8 resolution condition in the application. Findings suggest that visual memory did not conclusively outperform auditory memory in the context of this game. However, within the scope of auditory stimuli, familiar iconic sounds, such as excerpts of speech and commonplace sounds, were recalled more effectively than unfamiliar, synthetic sounds like parametric waveforms. Furthermore, performance appeared to be influenced by demographic factors, with male and younger subjects yielding superior results.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.36244/ICJ.2024.2.7

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

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14061161

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

Dynamic simulation of particle deposition on the blade leading edge with film cooling in gas turbines

Publication Name: Thermal Science and Engineering Progress

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 51

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Particle deposition on the leading edge was investigated in gas turbines numerically. The research investigated the effects of the inclination angle and blowing ratio on the deposition thickness, and cooling effectiveness of the leading edge. Particles were released from the main inlet of the computational domain. The deposition on the leading edge was judged using the double deposition model. The results show that the deposition thickness is inversely proportional to the blowing ratio. The deposition thicknesses for 0°, 20°, 40°, and 60° inclination angles decrease by 7.82 %, 6.84 %, 7.44 %, and 5.34 %, with the increase in the blowing ratio from 0.5 to 2.0 at 30 s. The deposition thicknesses with four inclination angles decrease by 6.79 %, 7.24 %, 6.79 %, and 5.34 % by increasing the blowing ratio from 0.5 to 2.0 at 60 s. A region with a deposition thickness coefficient below 0.3 is located on the side of the leading edge. The area of the region increases with the increases of the inclination angle and blowing ratio. Compared with the deposition thickness of 0°, 20°, and 40° inclination angles, the deposition thickness of 60° inclination angle is the least with the blowing ratios of 0.5,1.0 and 1.5. The difference in deposition thickness at 60° and 20° inclination angles is 0.3 % with the blowing ratio 2.0. The inclination angle has little effect on the deposition thickness under the blowing ratio of 2.0. The cooling effectiveness decreases with the increases in the blowing ratio and inclination angle. The deposition thickness at a 60° inclination angle is lower than that at a 40° inclination angle. The best combination of inclination angle and the blowing ratio is 60° and 2.0 compared with others.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102608

Nexus between environmental degradation and climate change during the times of global conflict: Evidence from CS-ARDL model

Publication Name: Environmental and Sustainability Indicators

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 22

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

There has been a substantial amount of research done on air pollution, both in terms of its history and its state at the present time. On the other hand, the ever–changing influence of climatic variables such as sun hour, air pressure, and wind speed has gotten just a small portion of the attention. This divide becomes even more apparent when one considers the ongoing conflicts that are taking place between Russia and Ukraine as well as the current state of the environment's response to climate change. In order to bridge this research gap, the goal of this study is to explore the ways in which climatological factors impact air quality, especially levels of PM2.5 and ozone, in a range of cities situated in India, during 2020–2021. Studies conducted over brief and extended periods of time have made it abundantly evident that sun hour, wind speed, and humidity have an impact on ozone levels. The study also sheds light on prospective policies that may be implemented in the future, such as those relating to carbon emission and particulate pollution such as PM2.5, in order to successfully battle the negative impacts that these variables have on the environment.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100368

Changes in public attitude toward epilepsy in Hungary since 1994. A multicriteria weighting analysis

Publication Name: Epilepsia Open

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 9

Issue: 3

Page Range: 1042-1050

Description:

Objective: To assess the adult Hungarian population's knowledge about and attitude toward epilepsy and compare the present findings with previous ones in 1994 and 2000. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of the Hungarian adult population from 28th February to 8th March 2023. A non-probability quota sampling with a random walk method was used. We applied the computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) method and used a multicriteria weighting procedure to correct for bias along the main sociodemographic variables. To detect changes over time, we used chi-squared tests, and to analyze the effect of sociodemographic characteristics, we applied multivariate logistic regression. Results: One thousand participants (53.1% women, mean age 48.1 ± 16.75 years) representing Hungary's population were interviewed yielding a response rate of 80.3%. 26.3% knew someone with epilepsy (55.9% in 1994 and 51.9% in 2000), and 30.8% saw an epileptic seizure (58% in 1994 and 55.3% in 2000). Compared to the young, fewer adults and elderly people knew someone with epilepsy or had seen a seizure. Like in 1994 and 2000, 16.6% reported objection to their children's interaction with people with epilepsy; however, in the present study, significantly fewer people opposed their children marrying or working together with epileptic people, indicating a change in attitude (p < 0.0001). Rural residents had less objection to their children's interaction with people with epilepsy (p < 0.05). People with secondary education objected significantly more often than those with primary education to their children's interaction (p = 0.037), marriage to people with epilepsy (p = 0.043), or their having equal employment (p = 0.008). Higher education people were as “permissive” as those with primary education. Significance: Certain parameters of familiarity and attitude markers of the Hungarian population toward epilepsy have improved. These tendencies are promising, but work is still needed; our results will hopefully evoke educational programs and campaigns against negative attitudes. Plain Language Summary: The knowledge of the Hungarian population about epilepsy and their attitude toward people with epilepsy has been improved since 1994. People from rural areas have shown more acceptance for people with epilepsy. Those people who completed secondary education were significantly more prone to stigmatization than those with primary education.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12935

Financial inclusion as a tool for sustainable macroeconomic growth: An integrative analysis

Publication Name: Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 95

Issue: 2

Page Range: 527-551

Description:

Despite extensive research on the relationship between financial inclusion and macroeconomic growth, little is known about the role of financial inclusion as a significant driver of macroeconomic growth in developing countries. Financial inclusion could boost sustainable macroeconomic growth, which has been a key policy goal for governments worldwide because it affects employment, population, inequality, and poverty. This study explores the influence of crucial financial inclusion indicators on developing countries' macroeconomic growth. The study shows that digital finance, financial technologies, financial outreach, financial literacy, demographics access to finance, microfinance and financial stability are the ways through which financial inclusion affects macroeconomic growth. We used the Scopus database to get information from 419 research articles and analyzed those to figure out how financial inclusion affected macroeconomic growth from 2006 to 2020. The study will help policymakers, governments, and marketers develop policies to involve everyone in the financial system, which results in macroeconomic growth.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1111/apce.12427

Investigating the Impact of Varying Sand Content on the Physical Characteristics of Expansive Clay Soils from Syria

Publication Name: Geotechnical and Geological Engineering

Publication Date: 2024-06-01

Volume: 42

Issue: 4

Page Range: 2675-2691

Description:

Expansive clayey soils often pose challenges for construction projects due to their low bearing capacity, swelling, and shrinkage properties. While previous research has explored additives to enhance these soils’ properties, the potential of sand remains underexplored. This study investigates the impact of varying sand percentages on expansive clayey soils’ consistency, compaction, and permeability. This study examines how adding different percentages of sand influences the physical properties of expansive clayey soils. Laboratory tests involved systematic testing of texture, compaction, and permeability. Findings reveal a notable improvement in the physical properties of the soil with the addition of sand. Results from the laboratory tests provided data for empirical equations that facilitate the prediction of soil properties based on the sand content. The enhancement in soil properties underscores the potential of sand as an additive for expansive clayey soils. The empirical equations presented here provide practical benefits to geotechnical engineers and practitioners engaged in construction projects involving these soils, offering them valuable insights into the benefits of sand additives to improve physical characteristics. The insights gained from this research hold promising prospects for improving construction practices and addressing the challenges associated with these soils.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s10706-023-02698-w