Wide Measurement Range Research Articles

The Role of The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System in the Carbon Regulation of the European Union

The relevance of the study is due to the need to study the features of low-carbon development of the world economy, to understand the mechanisms and tools of decarbonization, including the formation of a comprehensive policy providing for a wide range of measures to transition to a green economy with minimizing negative consequences. The subject of the study is the EU quota trading system as an economic instrument for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of the work is to analyze the stages of development of the European quota trading system, identify the existing advantages and disadvantages of this system. As a result of the conducted research, the existing problems of the European quota trading system are identified; measures to improve the functioning of this system are described; the boundary carbon correction mechanism (as part of the development of the system) is investigated, including its impact on exporters to the EU.

Signal conditioning system for real-time monitoring of unbalanced mass and angular position in helicopter propeller rotor balancing

This paper outlines the design of a signal conditioning system developed to enable real-time monitoring of unbalanced mass and rotor angular position on a horizontal balancing machine. The system incorporates piezoelectric sensors with high sensitivity and a wide measurement range, allowing them to detect small variations in acceleration with great accuracy. Therefore, the proposed signal conditioning system relies on a lock-in amplifier, which can measure small signals even in the presence of considerable noise. The system achieved an error rate of 1% or less in the mass balance of a rotor at different speeds. These results revealed a consistent linear relationship between the unbalanced mass and the rotor velocity, which simplifies the interpretation and analysis of the data, allowing any variation in the signal to be directly related to changes in the unbalanced mass or rotor velocity, without any complications due to nonlinear effects.

Non-Standard Demographic Policy Solutions Aimed at Increasing the Birth Rate

The problem of declining birth rate in Russia is posed and possible solutions are explored through the search for new policies. Objectives of the study: to analyze the demographic situation over the past few years; to conduct a statistical assessment of the growth reserve of births from remarriages; to consider measures to create opportunities for single people to find a couple, including remarriages. The analysis of changes in the number of marriages and divorces on the territory of Russia has revealed a significant proportion of people in unregistered marriages. The study of Rosstat data for the last decade revealed that the age category of 30–34 years and older is the most promising for remarriage. However, the high childcare burden on mothers and the underdeveloped paternity leave system in Russia act as deterrents to planning more children. To identify effective practices, foreign experiences in fertility stimulation were analyzed. The results of the study indicate a wide range of measures, from strict to milder, and the possibility of adapting some of them to develop recommendations aimed at increasing fertility in Russia. The findings of the study emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to solving this problem, since material incentives and harsh measures, as the practice of other countries has shown, are not effective. Now, material incentives for fertility prevail in Russia, but attention should also be paid to the creation of organizational opportunities for people who want to find a couple and build a family– this topic needs further development.

Multimodal Flexible Sensor for the Detection of Pressing-Bending-Twisting Mechanical Deformations.

Flexible sensors are increasingly significant in applications such as smart wearables and human-computer interactions. However, typical flexible sensors are spatially limited and can generally detect only one deformation mode. This study presents a novel multimodal flexible sensor that combines three sensing units: optoelectronics, ionic liquids, and conductive fabrics. It employs a sophisticated superposition and combination of the three sensing methods to achieve up to eight mechanical deformations, including pressing, bending, twisting, and combinations thereof, all within a very small sensor space. This sensor has excellent detection performance, high sensitivity (optoelectronics 4.312, ionic liquid 8.186, conductive fabric 2.438), a wide measurement range (pressing 0-75 kPa, bending 0-90°, and twisting 0-180°), and good consistency and repeatability. To address the signal coupling problem in multimode sensors, a deep learning method based on the Transformer is combined to provide precise decoupling of multimode signals and high-precision characterization of each mechanical deformation. Finally, the wrist joint experiments demonstrate the sensor's versatile uses in human-computer interaction.

State management of the import substitution process in the Russian economy

At the present moment the Russian economy is being seriously influenced by foreign trade restrictions, international economic sanctions and measures of political pressure. Under these conditions the Government of Russia is using a wide range of measures to implement the import substitution policy aimed at compensating for the negative external impact. The article studies the economic essence of import substitution. The periodization of the import substitution policy in the Russian Federation has been done. Currently, the Russian economy is maintaining good dynamics in the reducing the import of foreign-made goods. For example, in 2019 the import share was 26% of the GDP, and in 2023 this indicator dropped to 19% or 32 trillion rubles. Consistent implementation of import substitution mechanisms into the structure of the national economy will ensure gradual reduction of the level of dependence of the domestic market on the foreign-made products. At present, companies operate in complicated economic conditions which are accompanied by special conditions for the performing foreign economic activity. With the consideration of these circumstances the authors have developed a model scheme of cooperation of the company management system and the import substitution policy. The proposed model allows detecting the interconnection between the government import substitution policy and the result of operation of the management system of modern companies. Company management systems vary depending on the area of their activity but when applying the existing tools of implementing the import substitution policy a company can achieve economic results of operation on the domestic market as well as in the foreign trade. Special significance in implementing the import substitution policy belongs to the management systems that deal with applying state support measures and tools. Effective functioning of company management systems with regard to the state’s import substitution policy helps to strengthen the country’s position in the world market and guarantees sustainable growth of the indicators of foreign economic activity.

Mindfulness interventions in older adults for mental health and well-being: A meta-analysis.

Mindfulness interventions are consistently associated with beneficial effects in younger adults. In this meta-analysis, we seek to quantify the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for the mental health and well-being of older adults. We include 46 studies that implemented a mindfulness intervention (MBSR = 20; MBCT = 9; ad hoc protocol = 17) with older adults (samples with an average age of 60 or older; healthy adults = 20; adults with underlying symptoms = 26), examining a wide range of outcome measures (e.g., stress, quality of life, sleep). Mindfulness interventions in older adults yielded an estimated Hedges' g of 0.25. Moderator analyses revealed three significant effects. Type of intervention mattered, with the effect size for MBSR not significantly different from zero (Hedges' g = 0.12) while the effect sizes for MBCT (Hedges' g = 0.33) and "other" interventions (Hedges' g = 0.36) were. Outcome measure mattered, with significant beneficial effect sizes for mental functioning (Hedges' g = 0.59), depression (Hedges' g = 0.35), sleep (Hedges' g = 0.39), anxiety (Hedges' g = 0.32), "other" (Hedges' g = 0.24), stress (Hedges' g = 0.22) and mindfulness (Hedges' g = 0.23). Finally, whether the outcome was targeted (e.g., measures of depression in a population suffering from major depressive disorder) mattered: variables that measured targeted outcomes yielded stronger effects (Hedges' g = 0.30). Mindfulness interventions with older adults are effective, but modestly so. The extant literature is limited by reliance on modified interventions that have not been evaluated for effectiveness.

Asset and Factor Risk Budgeting: a balanced approach

Portfolio optimization methods have evolved significantly since Markowitz introduced the mean-variance framework in 1952. While the theoretical appeal of this approach is undeniable, its practical implementation poses important challenges, primarily revolving around the intricate task of estimating expected returns. As a result, practitioners and scholars have explored alternative methods that prioritize risk management and diversification. One such approach is Risk Budgeting, where portfolio risk is allocated among assets according to predefined risk budgets. The effectiveness of Risk Budgeting in achieving true diversification can, however, be questioned, given that asset returns are often influenced by a small number of risk factors. From this perspective, one question arises: is it possible to allocate risk at the factor level using the Risk Budgeting approach? First, we introduce a comprehensive framework to address this question by introducing risk measures directly associated with risk factor exposures and demonstrating the desirable mathematical properties of these risk measures, making them suitable for optimization. Then, we propose a novel framework to find portfolios that effectively balance the risk contributions from both assets and factors. Leveraging standard stochastic algorithms, our framework enables the use of a wide range of risk measures to construct diversified portfolios.

DROPLET SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF HIGH-PRESSURE WATER MIST NOZZLES

Determining the particle size distribution of water mist is necessary for a wide range of industrial applications or experimental measurements. Particle size defines the ability of water mist to absorb heat, absorb or scatter heat radiation, inertize the environment, reduce environmental dust, regulate odor, etc. The paper presents the principle of measuring droplet size distribution using laser diffraction and the measurement procedure for four hollow cone water mist nozzles with orifice 400 µm, 500 µm, 600 µm and 1000 µm. The measurements were performed at distances of 25 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, 125 mm, 150 mm, 175 mm, 200 mm and 225 mm from the orifice of the individual nozzles in the middle of the water mist cone. Further measurements were made 25 mm, 50 mm and 75 mm from the nozzle orifices on the edge of the fog cones. All measurements were performed at a working pressure of 70 bar in a water mist system.

Liberalisation of alcohol policy in Lithuania and the role of public health coalitions: change in policy beliefs and strategy

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of the public health advocacy coalition (PHC) in the context of policy change. Using the “advocacy coalition framework” theory, this study examines how new ideas and the transformation of the policy subsystem influenced the adaptation of strategy, framing and messaging used by PHC actors. Design/methodology/approach A detailed policy case study was conducted based on a range of primary documents and individual semi-structured interviews (n = 34) with key decision-makers, civil servants, NGO leaders, public health experts and AI representatives. Findings In 2020, the Lithuanian PHC coalition became involved in policy-making with a slightly re-framed strategy, which was based on public health priorities and scientific research evidence. The priorities and relevant activities were aimed at maintaining a wide range of regulative measures. The PHC advocates focused on and prioritised arguments pertaining to the social and economic harms of alcohol. This framework created some ground for policy-influencing action and was important for debates with AI actors. The PHC put a great deal of pressure on Members of Parliament to continue the implementation of evidence-based policies. Originality/value Over two decades, Lithuanian alcohol policy has shifted in waves, from liberalisation to stricter control interventions. The previous wave of strict alcohol policy was effective from the perspective of the measures implemented, and it also reduced alcohol-related harm. In 2020, two liberal and conservative parties focused on a laissez-faire approach to the elimination of some unfavourable restrictions for the alcohol industry (AI).

A hundred years of Pacific halibut management in the context of global events and trends in fisheries management

The Convention for the Preservation of the Halibut Fisheries of the Northern Pacific Ocean, signed between Canada and the United States of America on 2 March 1923 and ratified on 21 October 1924, established the International Fisheries Commission, renamed in 1953 to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). It was the first international agreement for joint management of a marine fishery resource and a major milestone for development of modern standards for marine conservation. The IPHC’s centennial year is an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable history of the Commission, but also reflect on challenges that shaped its mission. Born from alarms about overfishing during World War I, the Commission gradually gained authority to implement a wide range of conservation measures through established public confidence in its basis for decisions. This paper explores the evolution of management measures applied to Pacific halibut commercial fishing shaped not only by the changing stock conditions and growing demand for seafood, but also global events and trends in fisheries management. It examines the impact of rapid commercialization of fisheries driven by population growth and technological improvements, establishment of exclusive economic zones and altered access to fishing grounds, and adoption of Agenda 21, which highlighted the importance of balancing environmental, economic, and social aspects in fisheries management. It concludes by discussing the lessons learned over the past century and their implications for future fisheries management, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation, adaptive strategies, and science-based policies in sustaining transboundary fish stocks like the Pacific halibut.

Gas–liquid two-phase flow measurement by using electrical tomography sensors and Venturi

Gas–liquid two-phase flow is characterized by complexity, non-homogeneity and difficulty in modeling. Therefore, traditional measurement methods often struggle to simultaneously meet the requirements of high precision and a wide measurement range. In this context, this study aims to explore an innovative multi-sensor fusion technique to achieve accurate measurement of gas–liquid two-phase flow under full operating conditions. In this study, a combination of three sensors, Venturi, ERT (Electrical Resistance Tomography) and ECT (Electrical Capacitance Tomography), is used to propose a new method based on the fusion of LVF (Liquid-phase Volume Fraction) calculations with flow results. Firstly, the high sensitivity characteristics of ECT and ERT sensors are utilized to obtain spatial distribution information of the flow, which is then used to calculate the LVF. Subsequently, the calculated LVF is combined with the total flow rate measured by the Venturi. Through an established mathematical model, the individual flow rates of the gas and liquid phases are inversely calculated. The results show that the method exhibits high measurement accuracy in different LVF ranges with the relative error controlled within 10%, especially in wet and non-wet gas conditions, which fills the gap of the traditional methods in this field. In addition, the method not only improves the measurement accuracy, but also broadens the measurement range, which meets the diversified needs of complex two-phase flow measurement in the oil and gas industry.

Dual-mode AT-cut quartz resonant pressure sensor for wide pressure and temperature measurement ranges

In this paper, a dual-harmonic-mode excited resonant pressure sensor with an AT-cut all-quartz sensing element was developed to synergistically achieve a wide measurement range for both temperature and pressure, along with a fast transient response. In this device, the excited third overtone mode indicated the applied pressure, while the beat frequency generated by the overtone and fundamental modes was used for self-temperature compensation. At the same time, the sandwiched all-quartz sensitive structure design effectively addressed the limitations associated with narrow pressure and temperature ranges. Especially, the dual-mode self-temperature sensing mechanism has been validated in the subzero temperature range for the first time. Quartz crystal processing techniques were employed to manufacture the sensor, and key performance metrics were characterized. The experimental results demonstrated that the sensor achieved an accuracy of ± 0.015 % full scale (FS) under a pressure range of 0–120 MPa and a temperature range of −40 to 150 °C. The pressure sensitivity of the overtone frequency was quantified as 365 Hz/MPa, and the beat frequency provided a temperature accuracy of 0.4 °C. Additionally, the developed sensor exhibited fast transient response under dynamic pressure and temperature conditions attributed to its self-temperature compensation capability. Thus, this study provides a practical solution for high-pressure measurements across a wide temperature range, combined with excellent transient performance.

Simultaneous Vibration and Temperature Real-Time Monitoring Using Single Fiber Bragg Grating and Free Space Optics

Simultaneous monitoring of temperature and vibration of electromechanical systems, public buildings, and volcanic terrain is an important indicator of preventing accidents. This work showcases the simultaneous temperature and vibration measurement using a single-fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. The concurrent interrogation of vibration and temperature by the FBG sensing system can be integrated with free space optics (FSO), which saves on the costs associated with fiber optic cables and overcomes terrain barriers. Furthermore, the real-time measured vibration frequencies and different temperature levels can be recognized by a deep neural network (DNN) sequential model. In addition to the FSO support, the sensing system can be arranged in multiple sensing locations to form a wide range of measurements, offering a highly cost-effective solution.

Unravelling age-related gait decline in cerebral palsy: insights into physiological changes and functional implications through an observational study—a French study protocol in a laboratory setting

IntroductionCerebral palsy (CP) presents a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a spectrum of motor impairments stemming from early brain injury. Whereas CP is traditionally viewed as a non-progressive condition, emerging evidence...

The Impact of Human Activities on Corals

Coral reef ecosystems are one of the most vital and dynamic ecosystems on earth, teeming with a diverse array of marine life and playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of the oceans. By delving into the multifaceted impacts of human activities on coral reef ecosystems, this paper examines the devastating consequences of various anthropogenic factors, such as the booming tourism industry, the pervasive microplastic pollution problem, and oil spills and other forms of marine pollution. The protection and restoration of coral reef ecosystems through a wide range of measures provides a safer and healthier habitat for coral reefs, thereby ensuring that coral reefs can continue to play an important role in the marine ecosystem. Only by adopting such a comprehensive and proactive approach can humankind ensure the sustainable use of coral reefs. Furthermore, this article proposes a series of protective measures and strategic improvement plans designed to rehabilitate and restore coral reef ecosystems to their former glory, ensuring their survival for future generations to marvel at and benefit from.

Gas-liquid flow rates measurement based on dual differential pressures of a power-driven swirler

In recent years, swirlers have gained increasing attention in gas–liquid flow rates measurement. A power-driven swirler device is designed suitable for low gas–liquid flow rates conditions. Variation characteristics of swirler differential pressure (ΔPs) and radial differential pressure (ΔPr) are investigated under three swirler rotational speeds (0, 300, and 600 rpm). An average reduction of 9 % and 15 % can be seen in fluctuations of ΔPs and ΔPr signals, respectively. Wider measurement range can be achieved by increasing the rotational speed, the minimum liquid superficial velocity decreases from 1.53 m/s to 1.02 m/s and the maximum gas volume fraction increases from 41.8 % to 51.9 %. Then, a new gas–liquid flow rate measurement model is established considering the gas–liquid slip and interfacial interaction. As the rotational speed increases from 0 to 600 rpm, the relative errors of liquid and gas mass flow rates decrease from ± 3.4 % to ± 2.7 % and ± 24 % to ± 10 %, respectively.

Universal Design in Sustainable Tourism Certification Schemes.

Universal design has played a modest role in Norwegian tourism policy, despite its potential for contributing to a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable tourism industry. The increased interest in sustainability labeling schemes among tourism actors represents an opportunity to work towards universal design of tourism, provided these schemes encompass universal design criteria. Standards for universal design are important in creating recognizable solutions, not least for visitors who often consume services across different sectors in unfamiliar environments. Against this background, we investigated whether sustainable tourism labeling schemes include suggestions made in standards for universal design. Based on previous research on universal design in the transport sector, a coding structure was constructed and used to analyze a sample of 13 tourism-related standards for universal design and five sustainability labeling schemes used by Norwegian tourism actors. Findings show that labeling schemes for sustainable tourism to a very limited extent incorporate measures described in standards for universal design. Moreover, both labeling schemes and standards are primarily aimed at the physical environment rather than the organizational or social environments, and both dedicate little attention to employees. Nevertheless, standards for universal design comprise a much wider range of measures and user-groups. Integrating them into popular sustainability labeling schemes seems pertinent to raise awareness and foster practices that contribute to improve universal design of tourism.

Wafer-level metal thin film thickness scanning based on multiple probe wavelengths nanosecond transient thermoreflectance

The present metal film thickness (dMetal) measurement methods (e.g., profiler and electron microscope) are not able to simultaneously achieve non-invasion, wide measurement range, high-resolution, and wafer-level scanning. In this work, a dMetal measurement method based on multiple probe wavelengths transient thermoreflectance (MW-TTR) is developed. Through a systematic sensitivity discussion, the guidance for reliable dMetal measurement is illustrated theoretically. The realization of measuring different types of metals (Au, Al, Ni, Ti) is achieved with different wavelengths of probe lights. After the rigorous comparison with profiler and picosecond acoustic measurement, the accuracy of measuring nanosized film is verified (∼1% difference). The fitting uncertainties of dMetal are < 5 % for Au and Al metals. The high-throughput wafer-level scanning measurement, with a spatial resolution of ∼ 50 μm, is also realized by integrating automatic displacement control and deep learning fast predicting model into MW-TTR. Spatial mapping of dMetal is consistent with profiler measurement (∼5% deviation in 2000 μm length).

Intrusion event recognition method for distributed fibre optic sensing systems based on Siamese networks

ABSTRACT Due to its high sensitivity and wide measurement range, the distributed optical fibre sensing system has been widely used in long-distance infrastructure monitoring, where it detects vibration signals caused by external events and provides effective early warnings. Given the complexity and diversity of external intrusion events, traditional closed-set classification methods cannot effectively exclude unknown signals. Open-set recognition methods, on the other hand, involve complex model designs, requiring boundary Algorithms and often the inclusion of information related to unknown classes. In this paper, we combine a Siamese network with a residual network to recognise events in the distributed optical fibre sensing system. Through experiments, by comparing the similarity with data in the database, we not only ensure very high accuracy in closed-set classification but also effectively exclude unknown class signals. Experimental results show that our method successfully rejects unknown class data with a 92% success rate, while maintaining closed-set classification accuracy at an average of 99%. Our approach demonstrates excellent performance.

ACESSIBILIDADE À PESSOA COM DEFICIÊNCIA NOS CARTÓRIOS EXTRAJUDICIAIS

The aim of this article is to discuss the problem of the accessibility for the disabled in extrajudicial notary and registry offices. To fulfill this aim, the article firstly talks about the range of the concept of accessibility, its social relevance, the laws that rules this subject, and the challenges and difficulties faced by people with disabilities. On the other hand, this essay demonstrates that the extrajudicial notary and registry offices have a lot of responsibility towards the Brazilian society, not only because their attributions are public but also due to the relevance of their services – specially in the current moment in which there is a tendency of dejudicialization in Brazil. Therefore, considering the inevitable conclusion that the extrajudicial notary and registry offices must be accessible to people with all kinds of disabilities, the paper will examine the wide range of measures and cautions that these offices should take to achieve this purpose, based on some projects that already exist.