Experimental Investigation of Unconfined Compression Strength and Microstructure Characteristics of Slag and Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Stabilized Riverside Soft Soil

To solve the issues of insufficient early strength of cement stabilized soil and high resource cost, high reduction cost, and high environmental cost induced by the application of cement, the slag and fly ash-based geopolymer was adopted as the stabilizer to treat riverside soft soil. This study mainly investigated the effects of stabilizer content, slag-to-fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content on the strength of geopolymer stabilized soils with different curing ages. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray energy spectrum analysis (EDS) tests were carried out. The results show that the stabilizer content, slag–fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content have a decisive influence on the UCS of geopolymer-stabilized soil. The mix-proportions scheme of geopolymer stabilized riverside soft soil, with a geopolymer content of 15%, a slag–fly ash ratio of 80:20, and an alkaline activator content of 30%, is considered optimum. It is proven by SEM that the uniformly distributed gelatinous products formed in the geopolymer-stabilized soil bind the soil particles tightly. Moreover, the EDS analysis confirms that the gelatinous products are mainly composed of C-S-H gel and sodium-based aluminosilicate (N-A-S-H).

Look Who’s Talking: Host and Pathogen Drivers of Staphylococcus epidermidis Virulence in Neonatal Sepsis

Preterm infants are at increased risk for invasive neonatal bacterial infections. S. epidermidis, a ubiquitous skin commensal, is a major cause of late-onset neonatal sepsis, particularly in high-resource settings. The vulnerability of preterm infants to serious bacterial infections is commonly attributed to their distinct and developing immune system. While developmentally immature immune defences play a large role in facilitating bacterial invasion, this fails to explain why only a subset of infants develop infections with low-virulence organisms when exposed to similar risk factors in the neonatal ICU. Experimental research has explored potential virulence mechanisms contributing to the pathogenic shift of commensal S. epidermidis strains. Furthermore, comparative genomics studies have yielded insights into the emergence and spread of nosocomial S. epidermidis strains, and their genetic and functional characteristics implicated in invasive disease in neonates. These studies have highlighted the multifactorial nature of S. epidermidis traits relating to pathogenicity and commensalism. In this review, we discuss the known host and pathogen drivers of S. epidermidis virulence in neonatal sepsis and provide future perspectives to close the gap in our understanding of S. epidermidis as a cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Sustainable artificial intelligence: A corporate culture perspective

In recent years, various studies have highlighted the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) for our society. For example, AI solutions can help reduce pollution, waste, or carbon footprints. On the other hand, there are also risks associated with the use of AI, such as increasing inequality in society or high resource consumption for computing power. This paper explores the question how corporate culture influences the use of artificial intelligence in terms of sustainable development. This type of use includes a normative element and is referred to in the paper as sustainable artificial intelligence (SAI). Based on a bibliometric literature analysis, we identify features of a sustainability-oriented corporate culture. We offer six propositions examining the influence of specific manifestations on the handling of AI in the sense of SAI. Thus, if companies want to ensure that SAI is realized, corporate culture appears as an important indicator and influencing factor at the same time.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR: A DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK USING INTERPRETIVE STRUCTURAL MODELING(ISM)

The growing population and consumer income have led to more consumption activity globally. The increased consumption requires further extraction of resources and pressure on existing resources. The damage effects are reflected in global warming, environmental pollution, and decreased flora fauna. In addition, human activities are perennially damaging the environment. High resource extraction and consumption activity require a more prudent use of resources and product choices. This study attempts to identify and prioritize the potential drivers for sustainable consumption through the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach. ISM helps to obtain qualitative data instead of quantifiable factors resulting from modeling. Thirteen drivers of sustainable consumption were finalized after extensive literature review and expert’s consultation. Thirty respondents were sampled to collect data. The relationship between drivers was further established. Incentives, Labeling and Values Norms were the most important drivers of sustainable consumption. The study's findings would help policymakers to develop strategies to promote sustainable consumer practices among millennials. Adopting sustainable consumption would promote green consumption, improve the environment and save valuable resources.

Construction of a Multimedia-Based University Ideological and Political Big Data Cloud Service Teaching Resource Sharing Model

In this paper, the intelligent education cloud service platform is first constructed in view of the high cost consumption in the process of resource sharing scheduling in colleges and universities. Secondly, the hierarchical education resource sharing grid model is proposed. Specifically, according to the characteristics of the educational resource grid, the key factors affecting the performance of copy creation strategy are analysed, and a dynamic copy creation strategy is proposed. A multiresource equity distribution mechanism based on the concept of resource sharing equity is further proposed. The mechanism establishes a planning model according to the limited task resource demand and the amount of resources shared by the user at different times so that the global cumulative share vector of superior resources meets the dictionary order optimally. The simulation experiment shows that the grid sharing model proposed in this paper has better performance on the educational cloud service platform. The proposed resource allocation mechanism has achieved good results in ensuring the fair distribution of resources and ensuring high resource utilization when resource sharing users put forward multiple groups of time-changing resource demands.

Decreasing Number of Urodynamics in Urological and Gynaecological Clinics Reflects Decreased Importance for Surgical Indications: German Population-Based Data from 2013 to 2019

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The routine use of urodynamic studies (UDS) has been questioned. Additionally, the material and personnel costs are poorly remunerated. We aimed to analyse the UDS utilization in Germany. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We analysed UDS performed by hospitals based on quality reports from 2013 to 2019. A representative sample of 4 million insured persons was used to estimate outpatient UDS utilization from 2013 to 2018. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was an overall decrease of 14% in UDS in Germany from 2013 to 2018 (60,980 to 52,319; <i>p</i> = 0.003). In the outpatient sector, there was a slight non-continuous drop of 11% from 34,551 to 30,652 from 2013 to 2018 (<i>p</i> = 0.06). UDS utilization in hospitals decreased by 26% from 26,429 in 2013 to 19,453 in 2019 (<i>p</i> = 0.004). University hospitals showed a smaller decrease (3,007 to 2,685; <i>p</i> = 0.02). In urology, the number of UDS (11,758 to 6,409; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and the number of performing departments (328 to 263 clinics; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) decreased. Gynaecological departments also showed a decrease in UDS (1,861 to 866; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and performing departments (159 to 68; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). However, in paediatrics, there was an increase in UDS (1,564 to 2,192; <i>p</i> = 0.02). By age, the number of children remained constant (1,371 to 1,252; <i>p</i> = 0.2), but there was a strong decrease seen in 60- to 79-year-olds (9,792 to 5,564; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> UDS appear to be less important in the indication for surgery. Despite high resource expenditure and low remuneration, the decrease in urodynamics in the outpatient sector is less pronounced, indicating a trend to perform UDS in an outpatient setting.

Social Networks in Modern Russia: Scale, Structure and Functioning Mechanisms

In the article, based on the data of the Institute of Sociology of the FCTAS RAS in 2021, it is shown that most representatives of mass segments of the population have access to resource exchange in social networks and only 16% of them are completely excluded from it. It is also demonstrated that the resource potential of the networks of representatives of these layers is in most cases limited to simple monetary types of help. At the same time, the structure of the networks is asymmetric – there are fewer donors in them than recipients. It is shown that among the participants of social networks there are “pure recipients” who receive aid, but do not provide it, and donors are heterogeneous in their resource potential, and three quarters of them have it at a very low level. It is also recorded that the basis of resource exchange in Russian networks is approximately 7% of the population, which can be described as high-resource donors. They not only help others, but also receive help from networks, moreover, they are the main beneficiaries of membership in networks. As a result of this structure and principles of functioning, social networks tend to deepen social inequalities rather than smooth them out. The mechanisms of formation and functioning of social networks are related to the opportunities for close communication of their participants and their lifestyle in general. The pandemic had a positive impact on mutual help in Russian society, which was expressed in increasing access to resource exchange in networks, converting it into real help and expanding the prevalence of previously atypical forms of social network development for post-Soviet Russia.

DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-MELTING GLASSCERAMIC BONDS FOR HIGH RESOURCE DIAMOND-ABRASIVE TOOLS

Research is aimed at creating high-resource diamond-abrasive tools with a large-pore structure of the working layer, the use of which reduces the occurrence of grinding defects when processing materials sensitive to overheating. The formation of an open structure of the working layer ensures effective chip removal, which excludes a decrease in the сutting ability of the tool due to contamination with grinding sludge and creates favorable conditions for intensifying the processing of materials when using high-speed cutting modes. As part of the research, low-melting glass-ceramic binders for diamond-abrasive tools have been developed, which make it possible to increase the tool service life due to the prevention of diamond grains premature destruction and the creation of a large-pore open structure of the working layer. Using a set of calculated data about the main characteristics of glass compositions by factor planning means, the dependences «composition - properties» were determined and the area of optimal compositions of glass-ceramic bonds was established, which ensure sintering of a diamond-containing composite at a temperature of 550–650 °C. The efficiency of the use of alumino-silicate microspheres of technogenic origin as a structure-forming filler providing the formation of a large-pore structure is shown. The features of the chemical and phase composition of the technogenic spheres recovered from the fly ash of the Krivoy Rog TPP have been determined. It has been established that when the diamond-bearing layer of the tool is sintered in the shell of the ash spheres, crystalline new formations with high hardness (hercynite, mullite, maghemite, spinel) are formed. Using ash spheres and developed low-melting binders, which include up to 30 mass. % of glass waste, the laboratory samples of diamond-containing composites with open porosity of 45-50% were made. Studies of their microstructure and morphological features made it possible to determine the pore size (130-200 μm) and establish that during grinding, partial destruction of ash spheres occurs with the formation of additional cutting elements, which increases the tool cutting ability. The research results indicate the advisability of using the proposed approach for selection of the diamond-ceramic composite components and the modes of heat treatment of the diamond-bearing layer when creating a tool. This approach will significantly expand the possibilities of manufacturing large-pore diamond-abrasive tools with a high service life at minimal material costs and will improve the processing of parts made of difficult-to-machine materials.

To Augment or Not to Augment? A Comparative Study on Text Augmentation Techniques for Low-Resource NLP

Data-hungry deep neural networks have established themselves as the defacto standard for many NLP tasks including the traditional sequence tagging ones. Despite their state-of-the-art performance on high-resource languages, they still fall behind of their statistical counter-parts in low-resource scenarios. One methodology to counter attack this problem is text augmentation, i.e., generating new synthetic training data points from existing data. Although NLP has recently witnessed a load of textual augmentation techniques, the field still lacks a systematic performance analysis on a diverse set of languages and sequence tagging tasks. To fill this gap, we investigate three categories of text augmentation methodologies which perform changes on the syntax (e.g., cropping sub-sentences), token (e.g., random word insertion) and character (e.g., character swapping) levels.We systematically compare the methods on part-of-speech tagging, dependency parsing and semantic role labeling for a diverse set of language families using various models including the architectures that rely on pretrained multilingual contextualized language models such as mBERT. Augmentation most significantly improves dependency parsing, followed by part-of-speech tagging and semantic role labeling. We find the experimented techniques to be effective on morphologically rich languages in general rather than analytic languages such as Vietnamese. Our results suggest that the augmentation techniques can further improve over strong baselines based on mBERT, especially for dependency parsing. We identify the character-level methods as the most consistent performers, while synonym replacement and syntactic augmenters provide inconsistent improvements. Finally, we discuss that the results most heavily depend on the task, language pair (e.g., syntactic-level techniques mostly benefit higher-level tasks and morphologically richer languages), and the model type (e.g., token-level augmentation provide significant improvements for BPE, while character-level ones give generally higher scores for char and mBERT based models).

International procurement policies influencing renewable energy siting – implications for South Africa

The South African Renewable Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme selects bid winners based on bid tariff (70% weighting) and various economic development criteria (30% weighting). Locating renewable energy (RE) projects in areas with better resources increases their cost competitiveness. As a result, most successful bids for wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to date have been concentrated in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces, respectively. Studies have shown that a wider geographic distribution of wind and solar PV projects mitigates the impacts of the variability of wind and solar PV resources, eases grid congestion and generally improves the power system’s operation. This paper conducts a literature review to investigate the procurement methods used in different regions of the world to influence the placement of RE plants, the results of which then inform proposals on adjustments to the current REI4P. The study finds that, after congestion incidents due to concentration of RE plants, some regions implement location-based tariff, where high-resource areas receive the lowest tariff and vice versa. Other regions prioritise on building transmission infrastructure in high-resource areas, while others limit the size of RE installations in one area. Given the current generation and transmission constraints in South Africa, it is important to encourage geographical dispersion of RE plants and avoid RE curtailment, since this can escalate the cost of RE integration significantly.