Degree Of Openness Research Articles

Impact of optimized gas-liquid separator on temperature and frost distribution in electric vehicle heat pump AC

In the context of low temperatures, the outdoor evaporator surface in an electric vehicle's heat pump air conditioning system tends to accumulate frost unevenly. This uneven frosting occurs due to the varying heat exchange capacity of the refrigerant's two phases within the evaporator. Any reduction in the heat exchanger's capacity would lead to a negative impact on system performance. To address these challenges, this study introduces a gas–liquid separator placed in front of the outdoor evaporator. The aim was to enhance both the outdoor evaporator's performance and the overall system efficiency while investigating frost formation and heat distribution in the outdoor evaporator within a heat pump air conditioning system. The research outcomes demonstrate that the gas–liquid separator can effectively enhance evaporating pressure by regulating the opening degree of the gas-phase bypass valve. Optimal performance is achieved with the gas-phase branch bypass valve set between 20% and 30%, ensuring a stable operational condition and higher evaporating pressure. Moreover, the incorporation of a gas–liquid separator could lead to significant improvements in system performance, with increases of 6.9% in heat capacity and 7.4% in COP observed. Additionally, this enhancement extends to the outlet air temperature, showing improvements ranging from 3.6% to 11.2%.

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of non-equilibrium flash at start stage

Our experiments showed that a V shape pressure drop appeared at start stage of non-equilibrium flash. V shape pressure drop firstly denoted the generating of superheat degree, which should be the starting force driving the non-equilibrium flash. Then evaporated vapor made up the pressure drop. Finally, a dynamic equilibrium was reached between the flash rate and the outflow rate, and the pressure behaved decreasing gradually. However, few published references focus on this start stage of the non-equilibrium flash. In this paper, experiments of the flash were conducted to investigate the heat and mass characteristics during V shape start stage. Dimensionless flash conversion coefficient (FCC) was proposed to normalize the flash with different initial liquid mass at start stage. The effects of initial temperature and the valve opening degree on the heat and mass characteristics of flash during the V drop start stage were studied. The results showed that the pressure of the working fluid changed dramatically during the V drop start stage. The peak of instant liquid superheat was proportional to the opening degree of the valve, which controlled the outflow rate. The flash rate increased with increasing initial temperature and valve opening degree, which had an approximately linear relationship with the flash time. FCC increased with valve opening degree. It could be deduced that flash intensity or flash rate would be higher for an expander with larger outlet area or higher working temperature.

Boundedly open economy: A regional dimension

Subject. This article discusses the resilience of the Russian economy to international sanctions. Objectives. The article aims to develop an economic model that ensures Russia's technological sovereignty and the development of foreign economic relations. Methods. For the study, we used a statistical analysis. Results. The article proposes an author-developed methodology for assessing the degree of openness of the economy of a region (country). It finds that the rejection of self-isolation and reliance on high-tech technologies are the main characteristics of a boundedly open economy, which makes it possible to ensure Russia's presence in foreign markets and protect the interests of Russian producers. Relevance. The use of the developed methodology in the practice of strategic planning will improve the efficiency of the planning and forecasting work of the executive authorities in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The impact of capital Inflow's features on the effectiveness of capital controls - Evidence from multinational data

This paper explores how features of capital inflow affect the effectiveness of capital controls from three aspects: capital types, inflow intensity, and channels diversity. Empirical results by using multinational data show that capital controls are more effective in an economy with lower degree of capital account openness, when there are more short-term capital inflows and in an intense inflows period. This study is helpful to explain the inconsistency of conclusions about the effectiveness of capital controls in existing studies, and has certain policy implications to curb excessive capital flows for governments.

Does More Internal Democracy Lead to Greater Electoral Success? The Selection of Presidential Candidates by Governing Parties in Latin America

Objective/context: This article analyzes the efficiency level of candidate selection methods for presidential elections in Latin America by governing parties, according to the degree of openness and internal fractionalization. The guiding hypothesis is that methods with greater openness generate greater internal fractionalization and, consequently, offer worse electoral outcomes; whereas more exclusionary methods generate less fractionalization and better electoral outcomes. Methodology: Twenty-three candidate selection processes for the presidency by ruling parties, and an equal number of presidential elections in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay between 1990 and 2020, under conditions of electoral integrity, are comparatively reviewed, and the degrees of openness are analyzed based on the proposal of an internal cohesion index and its effects on electoral success. Conclusions: From the cases analyzed, it can be concluded that there is no relationship between the openness of the selection methods and the fractionalization of the parties and electoral success, in this case, of those in government; and that while there is the idea that more internal democracy increases the probability of winning elections, this actually depends on other variables. Originality: The article aims to contribute to the literature on presidential candidate selection processes, particularly of governing parties, since elections are also an evaluation of the government, and the continuity or change is at stake. The selection method has effects on the parties and can define their efficiency or lack thereof in maintaining power.

Hot-pressure acid leaching changes grain boundaries to deeply remove impurities in quartz sand

High-purity quartz sand is a crucial raw material for advanced industries such as photovoltaics. However, due to the limited availability of high-quality ore sources, there is currently no method to prepare high-purity quartz sand using alternative minerals, leading to a shortage of high-purity quartz sand resources. This study aims to explore the mechanism of efficiently purifying quartz sand through a comparative analysis of hot-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) and atmospheric-pressure acid leaching (APAL), providing a theoretical foundation for preparing high-purity quartz sand using alternative minerals. The results indicate that, during the HPAL process, the combined action of temperature and pressure transforms closed grain boundaries (CGBs) into open grain boundaries (OGBs), increasing the degree of openness of OGBs. The opening of CGBs provides additional channels for the leaching agent to penetrate the quartz, exposing it to more internal impurities. Under conditions of hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentration (3 M), liquid-to-solid ratio (5:1), stirring speed (450 rpm), and holding time (2 h), elemental contents of iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) after APAL (363 K, atmospheric pressure) were reduced to 63.9 μg/g, 58.7 μg/g, 21.3 μg/g, and 7.3 μg/g, respectively. However, after HPAL (473 K, 1.5 MPa), these values decreased significantly to 4.7 μg/g, 30.9 μg/g, 3.6 μg/g, and 4.9 μg/g. This paper elucidates the mechanism of HPAL efficiently removing impurities in quartz sand through grain boundaries (GBs), providing a new direction and theoretical basis for the preparation of high-purity quartz sand.

Exploration on Opening Model of Teaching laboratory under the Background of “Double First-class” Construction——Taking the Biochemistry Laboratory of Guizhou University as an Example

In the context of the construction of "double first-class" university, facing many problems existing in the biochemical laboratory of our university, it is necessary to increase the opening degree of laboratory in order to play an important role in cultivating innovative talents. According to the current teaching situation of biochemical laboratories, the author put forward the laboratory opening mode based on "basic-improvement" dual-level personnel training and discipline competition. At the same time, in order to ensure the smooth development of laboratory opening, the incentive mechanism of laboratory teachers has been proposed.

"You're the only thing he comes out [of his room] for": A qualitative study of engagement between Laughter Care Specialists and families of people with dementia in long-term care.

Family involvement in the lives of people who have dementia and live in long-term care is important, but family members may face challenges communicating and connecting with their loved one as dementia progresses. A type of therapeutic humor (Laughter Care) delivered by trained specialists aims to engage people with dementia who reside in long-term care through creative play and laughter. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Laughter Care Specialists (LCSs) regarding families' engagement with the program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LCSs (n = 8) and analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. Family members were reported to initially have varied degrees of openness toward Laughter Care, but often become more accepting after observing positive engagement with the person with dementia. Family members were perceived to benefit from the program through witnessing the person with dementia enjoy joyous and light interactions, learn new ways of communicating and connecting with the person with dementia, and engage in positive interactions at end of life. Laughter Care may provide family members with novel ways of communicating and connecting with people who have dementia at end of life as well as comfort into bereavement.

Technical assistance, consumption tax nexus: taking a deeper dive

ABSTRACT The article extends earlier research that demonstrated that technical assistance positively improves tax revenues. We find that technical assistance significantly and positively increases Value Added Tax (VAT) revenues as a share of GDP using a sample of 103 countries. The VAT tax ratio on average increases by about 1% for a 10% increase in the volume of technical assistance. The degree of openness also contributed to the increase in the VAT tax ratio.

Research on vibration characteristics of cone valve based on steady state hydrodynamics

The steady-state fluid dynamic force of the cone valve core reduces the stability of the cone valve, thereby affecting its vibration characteristics. This study first derived the formula for calculating the steady-state fluid dynamic force of the valve core using the momentum theorem. Then, the study used the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to explore the variation of steady-state fluid dynamic force with the opening degree of the cone valve and the pressure difference at the inlet and outlet. The study also analyzed the steady-state fluid dynamic force of the improved structure cone valve. Combining the CFD calculation results with the established axial vibration and dynamic models of the valve core spring system, a system dynamics simulation model was developed. Innovatively, the study combined experimental and simulation methods to investigate the vibration characteristics of the cone valve and the impact of steady-state fluid dynamic force on these characteristics. The experimental results aligned well with the simulation results, showing that the influence of steady-state fluid dynamic force on vibration characteristics is similar to that of spring force. At a small opening degree, the compensation structure of steady-state fluid dynamic force can reduce axial vibration amplitude. Increasing the inlet pressure from 2.0 MPa to 2.5 MPa results in a decrease in axial amplitude and an increase in the numerical value of the vibration balance position. Increasing the outlet pressure from 0.5 MPa to 0.9 MPa initially decreases axial amplitude and axial waveform factor, followed by an increase. Increasing the spring preload from 9.4 mm to 13.4 mm leads to a decrease in the numerical value of the balance position, a reduction in amplitude, and a decrease in the waveform factor of the axial vibration of the valve core. The study reveals systematic effects of inlet pressure, outlet pressure, and spring preload on the vibration characteristics of the cone valve. The research results in this paper can provide theoretical support for the structural design of hydraulic valves, reduce the impact of fluid dynamics on vibration, and thereby improve the stability of hydraulic system operation.

Leading edge film cooling effectiveness of variable turbine guide vane with different opening degrees

Leading edge film cooling effectiveness of variable turbine guide vane with different opening degrees

Human Capital Development, Income Inequality and Public Sector Investment in Nigeria

Abstract Human capital development of any country is believed to be the bedrock for sustainable economic development which seems to be linked to the level of income inequality. But there seems not to be an implied acceptance of flow of the linkage as evident from the high level of income inequality and low level of human capital development. Suspected among the causes of this is the role of the public sector. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine if there exists a dynamic feedback impact between human capital development and income inequality given public sector investment in Nigeria. The study employed the ARDL and NLARDL estimation method using data on human capital development index, income inequality, government expenditure in health and educational sector, among other variables for the period 1991-2022. Human capital development and income inequality were found to have feedback impacts. Public sector investment was found to be crucial while the existence of Kuznet’s hypothesis was established. Hence, the study strongly advocates for policy measures of pro-poor growth, reduction of unemployment, population growth and the degree of trade openness for the effective reduction in the country’s inequality gap and the development of human capital.

Comparison of the effectiveness of treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis between monotherapy with splints and splints in combination with platelet-rich plasma

Today there is a tendency to increase the prevalence of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis (TMJ) osteoarthritis, which is a chronic degenerative joint disease. According to international statistics, 28–38% of people in the age group of 9–90 years have signs of TMJ osteoarthritis. The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of treatment of TMJ osteoarthritis between monotherapy with splints and splinys in combination with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). The experiment involved 8 patients, divided into 2 level groups. The control group (4 patients) received treatment with splints, the experimental group – splits with PRP therapy. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed by measuring the radiological density of the cortical plate of the mandibular head according to the Hounsfield scale, the degree of mouth opening, filling out a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a questionnaire at the end of treatment. According to the results of the study, the experimental group received more effective treatment, which is confirmed by the VAS, the degree of mouth opening and changes in the radiological density of the cortical plate of the articular head. At the end of the treatment, patients completed a questionnaire about the improvement of their condition, where 0 points meant no effect from the treatment, and 10 points meant a subjective feeling of complete recovery. The arithmetic mean of the improvement scores in the control group was 6.75, and in the experimental group – 9.00 points. Based on the results of the experiment, we can state that the effectiveness of treatment of TMJ osteoarthritis with splints in combination with PRP therapy is greater than that of monotherapy with occlusal splints. Therefore, if the patient has no contraindications to treatment with platelet-rich plasma, we can recommend the use of splits in combination with PRP therapy for the treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. Keywords: degenerative diseases, radiological density, articular head.

Analyzing Monetaray and Credit Policy of the Russian Federation in Conditions of Sancion Restrictions

The article deals with problems connected with monetary and credit policy of the Russian Federation in new economic and geo-political conditions, such as mass sanction pressure on home economy, serious fluctuations of raw material prices, drastic changes in economic logistic chains and growing needs in budget expenditure. The author showed the role of monetary and credit sphere in the system of providing national economic security in the country, investigated tools of monetary and credit policy in conditions of sanctions and analyzed and assessed key trends that are realized by the Bank of Russia and aimed at overcoming economic after-effects of sanctions. The article fixed characteristics of the monetary and credit system which can be considered safe. Steps of the Bank of Russia aimed at overcoming economic after-effects and minimization of threats for the monetary and credit system were studied. It was shown that innovation development of the banking system is still a promising trend that includes the project of using the digital profile aiming at higher accessibility of finance resources and minimization of negative consequences of sanction restrictions. And finally, the author came to the conclusion that high degree of openness of such policy can increase confidence on the part of economic relation entities to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation as a key monetary and credit institution.

Numerical Study of Cavitation Characteristics through Butterfly Valve under Different Regulation Conditions

Butterfly valves are widely used in the pipeline transportation industry due to their safety and reliability, as well as their low manufacturing and operation costs. Cavitation is a common phenomenon in the butterfly valve that can lead to serious damage to a valve’s components. Therefore, it is important to investigate the generation and evolution of cavitation in butterfly valves. In this study, LES and the Zwart model were used as the turbulence and cavitation models, respectively, to simulate cavitation through a butterfly valve. The influence of the valve opening degree and inlet flow velocity on dynamic cavitation through the butterfly valve were studied. Furthermore, the cavitated flow field was examined, along with the performance coefficients of the butterfly valve. With the increase in the incoming flow velocity, the high-speed jet zone over a large-range and low-pressure zone appeared inside the downstream of butterfly valve, which affected its stability and the cavitation generation through the valve. Furthermore, the flow coefficient decreased with the increase in vapor volume. In addition, the results indicated that cavitation was more easily induced for smaller valve opening degrees, and the interaction between cavitation and solid walls was stronger. Due to the existence of cavitation, the flow characteristics of butterfly valves are seriously affected.

Playing by the many rules: taught masters and their assessment regulations

In recent years the taught masters course has become an even more important component of the curriculum portfolio for universities in the UK and elsewhere. In the spring of 2021, the Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG) surveyed a small number of English and Welsh universities to compare assessment regulations for taught masters courses. The survey revealed substantial differences in the use and application of rules between institutions. The issue of divergence and convergence of the principles on which assessment rules are based was discussed further at a SACWG seminar that took place the following year. At this event, participants took part in a thought experiment that required them to set aside any prior application of assessment regulations and to attempt to agree on the rules for taught masters courses. These group discussions provided a high degree of openness and positivity. We discuss the results of the survey, the seminar and the experiment. We consider, also, the benefits of generating an open dialogue that aims to increase consistency of practice and understanding of the educational value of key assessment rules in higher education.

Coupled Coordination and Drivers of Green Technology Innovation and Carbon Emission Efficiency

The coupled and coordinated development of green technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt is crucial for its realization of green and low-carbon transformation. Based on the panel data of the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2011 to 2021, the comprehensive evaluation levels of green technological innovation and carbon emission efficiency were measured, and the coupling degree of coordination model and panel Tobit model were constructed to empirically analyze the coupling degree of coordination and driving factors of the two. The results show that, overall, the comprehensive evaluation value of green technology innovation level in the Yangtze River Economic Zone shows an upward trend; the value of carbon emission efficiency first rises and then falls. From the perspective of spatial distribution, both of them present the characteristic of “high in the east and low in the west”. The coupling coordination degree shows a growing trend and initially realizes the basic coordination. The coupling degree of coordination shows a significant negative correlation between the energy structure and the coupling degree of both of them, while urbanization level, environmental regulation, industrial structure, level of economic development, degree of openness, and labor level all show a significant positive correlation.

Experimental Study on the Slip–Stick Vibration of Plane Gate

The slip–stick vibration intensity of a plane gate is usually large, which often brings serious safety risks to itself and the auxiliary structure. The slip–stick vibration of a plane gate is investigated using an experimental model test. The test conditions mainly focus on the gate-closing and gate-opening processes in transient flow. Based on the results, comparison diagrams of the slip–stick vibration response versus the external fluid excitation are constructed. The intensity and period of the slip–stick vibration both gradually increase with the opening degree of the plane gate decreasing. The frequency of slip–stick vibration is consistent with the natural frequency of the equivalent system, indicating that the slip–stick vibration is a nonlinear self-excited vibration. The slip–stick vibration and fluid excitation acting on the plane gate have a significant difference in response intensity and dominant frequency. In addition, a difference in gate support material can have a significant effect on the slip–stick vibration intensity. Therefore, the friction factor between gate support and track, rather than the fluid excitation, is the direct cause of slip–stick vibration, which can further prove that the slip–stick vibration is a friction-induced vibration caused by the gate’s active motion, enriching the theory of the gate’s vibration.

Globalization and ICT capital endowment: How do they impact on an inclusive Green Growth Index?

This study investigates the contribution that digital transformation and globalization have made to inclusive, green economic growth. We construct an inclusive green growth index leveraging 28 variables accounting for economic, environmental and social performances. By exploiting a dataset of 95 countries and spanning from 2010 and 2020, we regress the inclusive green growth index on variables capturing investments in digital technologies and the degree of trade and capital openness. Findings show that while globalization does not have strong and significant relevance for inclusive green economic growth, investments in digital technologies are beneficial. However, this evidence does not hold for high income countries.

Compaction elastoplastic damage constitutive model of rock under hydro-mechanical coupling: A heuristic modeling method based on internal state variables theory

Based on the internal state variables (ISV) theory, this paper employs a heuristic modeling approach to investigate the compaction elastoplastic damage constitutive model of rocks under hydro-mechanical coupling. The heuristic modeling method demonstrated herein can seamlessly integrate with existing constitutive theories, facilitating a broader spectrum of research on hydro-mechanical coupling constitutive models. Furthermore, a numerical solution was conducted in the principal axes via stress spectrum decomposition, which can well reflect the distinct characteristics of compaction deformation and the influence of water pressure on rock stress distribution. Utilizing the classic Drucker-Prager (D-P) criterion, the modeling method and numerical algorithm were implemented to derive a hydro-mechanical coupling compaction elastic–plastic damage constitutive model. This contribution expands the application domain of the classic D-P criterion within the context of hydro-mechanical coupling environments. The rationality of the model was confirmed through compression test data under various water pressures and confining pressures. Water pressure increases nonlinear compaction deformation by changing the opening degree of microcracks under low confining pressure, which has not been paid enough attention in existing research. This study thoroughly considers the influence of water pressure on compaction deformation. The developed process of “heuristic modeling method-numerical method-model application” is helpful for enriching the constitutive theory of rock under hydro-mechanical coupling.