bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracting Wetland Type Information with a Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Guan XianMing , Wang Di , Wan Luhe , Zhang Jiyi
Published: May 2022

Wetlands have important ecological value. The application of wetland remote sensing is essential for the timely and accurate analysis of the current situation in wetlands and dynamic changes in wetland resources, but high-resolution remote sensing images display nonobvious boundaries between wetland types. However, high classification accuracy and time efficiency cannot be guaranteed simultaneously. Extraction of wetland type information based on high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images is a bottleneck that has hindered wetland development research and change detection. This paper proposes an automatic and efficient method for extracting wetland type information. First, the object-oriented multiscale segmentation method is used to realize the fine segmentation of high-resolution remote sensing images, and then the deep convolutional neural network model AlexNet is used to classify automatically the types of wetland images. The method is verified in a case study involving field-measured data, and the classification results are compared with those of traditional classification methods. The results show that the proposed method can more accurately and efficiently extract different wetland types in high-resolution remote sensing images than the traditional classification methods. The proposed method will be helpful in the extension and application of wetland remote sensing technology and will provide technical support for the protection, development, and utilization of wetland resources.
Experimental Study on Hydraulic Pulsation Features of Intelligent Variable Valve System for Auto Energy Saving
Authors: Xu Yuliang , Chen Jiadui , Liu Zhenghong
Published: May 2022

The electrohydraulic valve system can realize continuous variable valve timing and lift using the flexibility of liquid. However, the existing electrohydraulic valve systems usually rely on a high-speed solenoid valve to control the on and off states of the hydraulic circuit, which pushes up the system cost. This paper introduces a continuous hydraulic variable valve timing and lift system with adjustable volume (CVVTL). Unlike the other electrohydraulic valve systems, the CVVTL does not need a high-frequency servo valve to control each valve but adjusts the valve timing and lift by controlling the system volume. However, the maximum operating speed of hydraulic variable valve systems is limited by the inherent pressure fluctuation. To relax the limit, the authors further studied the pressure fluctuation features of the CVVTL system under various conditions and summarized the harms of the fluctuation. After identifying the causes of pressure fluctuation of the CVVTL system, the authors came up with systematic countermeasures to system pressure fluctuation.
Microorganism Determination of 10 Proprietary Chinese Medicines for Children by Plate Culture or Membrane Filtration
Authors: Cai Hong , Jia Danchun , Ke Yuan
Published: May 2022

Objective. This study attempted to verify the applicability of the microbial limit test (plate culture and membrane filtration) for 10 proprietary Chinese medicines for children. Methods. In this study, we collected 10 proprietary Chinese medicines for children as study objects and performed plate culture and membrane filtration to calculate the colony-forming unit (cfu) of microorganisms in these medicines and verify its applicability in objectionable microorganisms. Results. It was found that the recovery rate of microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger ranged from 70% to 150%. This verification was performed by plate culture or membrane filtration. Inspection for objectionable microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi B, and bile salt-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria) was applicable for most medicines. Conclusion. Microbial limit test is feasible for the determination of microorganisms in 10 proprietary Chinese medicines for children.
Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate the Mechanisms of Lenvatinib in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Peng , Han Bing , Zhang Yanxia , Wang Xiaojuan
Published: May 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and refractory malignant tumor, ranking the third cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Lenvatinib is currently employed to treat advanced, unresectable HCC as a first-line drug. The purpose of this study was to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of lenvatinib acting on HCC through the analysis of differential expressed genes based on network pharmacology. The target genes of lenvatinib were collected from PubChem, SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper, and BATMAN-TCM online public databases. In addition, related gene targets for HCC were obtained using NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (NCBI-GEO) database. Afterward, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established to visualize and understand the interaction relationships of overlapping gene targets from both lenvatinib and HCC. Furthermore, according to the data obtained, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that these intersectant genes were mainly enriched in response to xenobiotic stimulus, gland development, ion channel complex, membrane raft, and steroid binding. Besides, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the therapeutic effects of lenvatinib on HCC probably involved bile secretion, MAPK signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and Ras signaling pathway. Moreover, a total of six key differential genes, namely, ALB, CCND1, ESR1, AR, CCNA2, and AURKA, were identified as most significant targets associated with lenvatinib treating HCC and further verified by molecular docking, which demonstrated that lenvatinib had a strong binding efficiency with these six key gene-encoded proteins. Taken together, this study systematically provided new insights for researchers to determine the intervention mechanisms of lenvatinib in HCC therapy.
Antiviral Effect of Polyphenolic Substances in Geranium wilfordii Maxim against HSV-2 Infection Using in vitro and in silico Approaches
Authors: Zhang Hao , Li Zhen , Li Chaoqun , Chen Renfang , Liu Tao , Jiang Yiming
Published: May 2022

Background. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infestation was the most widespread STD (sexually transmitted diseases) among humans and was the leading cause of infectious recurrent genital herpes. Existing therapies against HSV-2 did incompletely restrain the comeback of activated HSV-2 infestation. Geranium wilfordii Maxim had long been used as traditional Chinese medicine for treating the diseases owing to its anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. Herein, the study was designed to investigate the antiviral activity of G.wilfordii and its potential effect in regulating the host’s immune response. Methods. To identify the stage of infection at which the compounds inhibited HSV-2, we performed virucidal, therapeutic, and prophylactic assays. The antiviral efficacy was evaluated by the analysis of viral components HSV-2 gD and VP16. The antiviral activities of these compounds were also evaluated by phenotypic analysis, such as cell proliferation and apoptosis. Molecular docking studies on candidate compounds were done to indicate binding interactions between the compounds and adopted compound targets. Results. Quercetin, corilagin, and geraniin inhibited the replication of HSV-2, with geraniin showing greater TI. The obtained IC50 value of quercetin was 204.7 μM and TI (IC50/EC50) was 5.1, whereas the obtained IC50 value of corilagin was 118.0 μg/ml and TI was 4.05. Geraniin exhibited prominent antiviral activity with an IC50 of 212.4 μM and an EC50 of 18.37 μM, resulting in a therapeutic index (TI) of 11.56. Geraniin showed important in vitro virucidal activity through blocking viral attachment. Compared with the virus group, the apoptosis rates in quercetin-, corilagin-, and geraniin-treated groups were significantly decreased (

p
<
0.001

).The expressions at the transcription genes of virus own replication key factors (including HSV-2 gD and VP16) and cytokines (including TBK1) of infected cells treated with quercetin, corilagin, and geraniin were inhibited. The in silico approaches demonstrated a high number of potential strong intermolecular interactions as hydrogen bonds between geraniin, corilagin, and the activity site of HSV-2 gD. Molecular docking studies demonstrated the effects of corilagin by targeting TBK1. Conclusions. Together, these results highlighted the importance of G.wilfordii treatment in HSV-2 infection and underscored its therapeutic potential. However, additional in vitro and in vivo research was required to validate our findings.
Application Analysis of the Ecological Economics Model of Parallel Accumulation Sorting and Dynamic Internet of Things in the Construction of Ecological Smart City
Authors: Xu Sunquan , Hou Yi , Mao Li
Published: May 2022

In order to improve the effect of ecological smart city construction, this paper analyzes the application of the ecological economic model based on parallel accumulation sorting and dynamic Internet of Things in the construction of ecological smart city. Moreover, this paper studies the core technology algorithm of information retrieval, proposes a parallel accumulation sorting algorithm, and combines the dynamic Internet of Things and ecological economics to construct an ecological smart city construction model. In addition, on the basis of constructing an ecological smart city, this paper combines the parallel accumulation sorting algorithm and the dynamic Internet of Things technology to analyze the construction effect of the ecological smart city. The experimental research results show that the ecological economic model based on parallel accumulation sorting and dynamic Internet of Things has a good application effect in the construction of ecological smart city.
Research on Investment Decision of Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Technology from the Perspective of Government Subsidy
Authors: Shen Ziwei , Zhang Jing , Yu Minjiu , Tan Ruwen
Published: May 2022

To achieve more efficient recycling management of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) and to encourage investment in recycling enterprise technology in underdeveloped areas, this study develops a dynamic Nash supply chain model, with and without government subsidy, for a C&D waste recycling treatment system comprised of two recycling enterprises and one builder. We investigate the mechanism of government subsidy regulation on recycling enterprises’ technology decisions, the optimal proportion of technology upgrades of recycling enterprises, and the effects of other exogenous factors on the decision of government and recycling enterprises in an early stage of the recycling industry. The results show that with the subsidy, the recycling enterprises’ proportion of technology upgrade and profits is always improved. And recycling enterprise will actively increase investment to increase the proportion of technology upgrades. Furthermore, the government should prioritize assisting enterprises that are among the first to invest in recycling technology. Interestingly, the proportion of subsidy and technology upgrades is also affected by the unit environmental benefit and the degree of substitution of renewable products with different technological levels. When the degree of substitution is low, not only government subsidies are required to play a role but also builders’ awareness of the benefits of using high-tech renewable products, in order to drive enterprise technology investment from the demand side. The study provides detailed information on government and recycling enterprise C&D waste recycling strategies.
Image Processing and Recognition Algorithm Design in Intelligent Imaging Device System
Authors: Li Xiang , He Donggang
Published: May 2022

People may quickly employ imagig devices to acquire and use image data thanks to the rapid development of computer networks and communication technologies. However, imaging devices obtain massive data through real-time acquisition, and a large number of invalid images affect the imaging device system’s endurance on the one hand while also requiring a significant amount of time for analysis on the other hand, so there is a critical need to find a way to automate the mining of valuable information in the data. In this paper, we propose an intelligent imaging device system, which embeds a target intelligent recognition algorithm, improves the YOLOv3 model by using a method based on depth-separable convolutional blocks and inverse feature fusion structure, and finally achieves fast target detection while improving detection accuracy through the design of distance-based nonextreme suppression and loss function. By preprocessing the images and automatically identifying and saving images containing target animals, the range of the imaging device system equipment can be improved and the workload of researchers searching for target animals in images can be reduced. In this paper, we propose a method for intelligent preservation of contained target images by deploying lightweight target recognition algorithms on edge computing hardware with the intelligence of the intelligent imaging device system as the research goal. After simulation experiments, the use of this method can improve the endurance of the imaging device system and reduce the time of manual processing at a later stage.
Prenatal Negative Life Events and Childhood Allergies: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)
Authors: Kojima Reiji , Shinohara Ryoji , Kushima Megumi , Horiuchi Sayaka , Otawa Sanae , Yokomichi Hiroshi , Akiyama Yuka , Ooka Tadao , Miyake Kunio , Yamagata Zentaro ,   the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Published: May 2022

Background: It is inconclusive whether prenatal negative life events are a risk for the development of allergic diseases in children or whether social capital modifies the association. The objective of this study was to examine whether women’s experiences of such events during pregnancy were associated with the development of allergic diseases in their offspring at 3 years old and whether social capital moderated this association. Methods: We used data from 81,337 mother-child pairs who participated in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. This is a prospective birth cohort recruited between January 2011 and March 2014. We examined the associations between prenatal maternal negative life events (e.g., bereavement, financial, and marital problems) during pregnancy and allergic diseases (asthma, eczema, and food allergies) in children after adjustment for covariates using multivariate logistic regression. We also examined interactions between these life events and social capital, measured as two items, social cohesion and social support. Results: Prenatal negative life events were significantly associated with doctor-diagnosed asthma at 3 years old with a dose-response relationship (one life event vs. none: adjusted odds ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.20; two life events vs. none: adjusted odds ratio 1.24, 95% CI: 1.13–1.36; three or more life events vs. none: adjusted odds ratio 1.26, 95% CI: 1.10–1.46; p for trend <0.01). Similar results were observed for eczema and food allergies. There were no interactions between life events and social capital. Conclusion: Prenatal negative life events may be a risk factor for allergies in children. There was no modification of the effect of these events by social capital.
Disfunções músculo-esqueléticas em pacientes com hipotireoidismo subclínico
Authors: Reuters Vaneska Spinelli , Teixeira Patrícia de Fátima dos Santos , Castro Carmen Lucia Natividade de , Almeida Cloyra Pereira , Cardoso Helena Roisman , Porciúncula Igor Mamed , Nobre Thais Helena Serta , Reis Fabíola Alves Aarão , Buescu Alexandru , Vaisman Mario
Published: May 2022

O presente trabalho objetiva verificar a presença de alterações músculo-esqueléticas em pacientes com HS.  Avaliados 31 pacientes acompanhados no ambulatório de endocrinologia do HUCFF-UFRJ (27 mulheres e 2 homens com idade entre 18 e 75 anos) com pelo menos duas dosagens elevadas de TSH. Todos receberam uma pontuação (score) baseada na escala de Billewicz modificada por Zulewski. Foram aplicados testes musculares manuais (TMM) para as cinturas escapular e pelvica; medida a força muscular de quadríceps em dinamômetro de cadeira eletromecânico; e estimada a força dos músculos inspiratórios através do registro da pressão inspiratória máxima com manovacuômetro. Score < 3 (normal) foi observado em 11 pacientes (35,5%); entre 3 e 5 (disfunção subclínica) em 14 (45,1%) e superior a 5 (hipotireoidismo) em 6 (19,4%). Fadiga foi uma queixa freqüente (45%) e apresentou associação positiva com score maior que 2. O comprometimento da força muscular periférica (alteração no TMM) foi encontrado em 14% dos pacientes. Diminuição grave da força inspiratória (< 60% do previsto) estava presente em 28 participantes (51,6%). Nenhuma das demais alterações encontradas mostraram associação com o escore ou níveis de TSH. A redução da força muscular inspiratória e proximal pode contribuir para a referida fadiga. A ausência de associação estatística entre essas variáveis deverá ser melhor esclarecida com o aumento da amostra e com a inclusão de um grupo controle pareado além do desenvolvimento de um estudo prospectivo com utilização de levotiroxina e placebo.
Following Richard Burton: Religious Identity and Difference in Colonial Sindh
Authors: Shahani Uttara
Published: May 2022

Richard Burton, soldier, ethnographer, translator, philologist, and colonial intelligence-gatherer spent the early years of his career in Sindh and was the first and primary colonial ethnographer of Sindh. Burton was clearly attracted to the ecumenical complexity of Sindhi religious practice but was hostile in his descriptions of Sindh’s Hindus whom he viewed as a corrupt and scheming “race,” subjecting the Muslims of the province to their tyranny. The article examines how Burton’s racialised ethnographies of Sindh cast Sindh as distinct from “India” and Hindus as outsider immigrants to the province. Paradoxically, Burton’s narratives also created Sindh as the space par excellence of the negation of religious categories. However, this categorisation of Sindh also highlighted it as a space distinct from India. In conclusion, the article shows how the idea of Sindh’s separate identity maintained a strong afterlife in colonial Sindh, rearticulated in certain key contexts.
A new replacement name for the Turkish Vincetoxicum anatolicum S.Güven, S.Makbul & Coskunç. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae)
Authors: MAKBUL SERDAR , GÜVEN SEHER
Published: May 2022

N/A
Begonia kimlongii (B. sect. Petermannia, Begoniaceae), a new species from Dak Lak, Central Highlands, Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN VAN CANH , HOANG THANH SON , LIN CHE-WEI , NGUYEN VAN KHUONG
Published: May 2022

Begonia kimlongii is described as a new species endemic to Vietnam, from the montane forests of Dak Lak Province. It is mostly similar with Begonia cucphuongensis but can be distinguished by the oblanceolate to obovate leaves, terminal inflorescence with dimorphic bracts and 5-tepaled pistillate flowers. Using IUCN criteria, B. kimlongii is proposed to be Data Deficient (DD).
Partial redescriptions of three holothurians with “hook papillae” (Apodida: Chiridotidae): Taeniogyrus japonicus (Marenzeller, 1882), T. dendyi (Mortensen, 1925), Scoliorhapis theelii (Heding, 1928)
Authors: YAMANA YUSUKE , SOLIS-MARIN FRANCISCO A , YAMAMOTO MASAKI , OTA YUZO , KOHTSUKA HISANORI , OMORI AKIHITO , IWASAKI KAZUMA , SETIAMARGA DAVIN H. E.
Published: May 2022

New specimens of Taeniogyrus japonicus (Marenzeller) were collected from Iwami coast and Sado island of the Sea of Japan. According to detailed observations of external and internal organs, we transferred T. japonicus, T. dendyi (Mortensen), and Scoliorhapis theelii (Heding) to the newly revived genus Scoliodota, with a large retractor organ and hook papillae as major diagnostic characters. We also concluded that Scoliorhapis dianthus Solis-marin et al. is a synonym of T. japonicus. Our molecular phylogeny and genetic distance analysis showed that specimens from Iwami and specimens from Sado of T. japonicus form a monophyletic clade, indicating that they are most likely the same species despite their morphological variation. The phylogenetic analysis also indicated that T. japonicus forms a sister group relationship with Taeniogyrus verruculosus Yamana & Tanaka and Scoliorhapis sesokoensis Yamana & Tanaka, suggesting that Taeniogyrus is not monophyletic. Taken together, these results brought new insights to sea cucumber diversity in Japanese waters.
Spotlighting Research During COVID-19: Introduction of an International Online Multi-Round Research Competition for Trainees
Authors: Thomas Hannah S. , Siki Mary A. , Lansing Shan S. , Zogg Cheryl K. , Patrick Bridget , Towe Christopher W. , Stein Sharon L.
Published: May 2022

Problem

The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of many academic events. While some transitioned to virtual formats, others disappeared, offering fewer opportunities for trainees to share research. Facing this challenge, the Association of Women Surgeons developed a novel approach. Designed to promote greater global inclusion, increase audience engagement and opportunities for networking and feedback from practicing surgeons, they restructured their annual trainee research symposium as a virtual, multi-round competition.

Approach

Submission to the research competition was open to trainees at any level. The competition comprised four rounds: (1) visual abstracts (all welcomed), (2) three-minute “Quickshot” presentation (32 advance), (3) eight-minute oral presentations (16 advance), and (4) final question-and-answer style defense (final 4 compete). Progression through the first three rounds was determined by public voting. Winners were determined by live voting during the final session.

Outcomes

A total of 73 visual abstracts were accepted for presentation. Fifty-six percent (n = 41) of first authors were medical students, 36% residents (n = 26), and 7% fellows (n = 6). Five were from international first authors (7%). Abstracts represented research topics including basic science (n = 6, 8%)), clinical outcomes (n = 38, 52%), and education (n = 29, 40%). Social media impressions exceeded a total of 30,000 views.

Next Steps

This virtual, multi-round research competition served as a blueprint for a novel approach to research dissemination. The format enabled expanded US national and international engagement with trainees in all stages of their career. Future research symposia should consider the impact of popularity bias, timing, and voting strategies during the event planning period to optimize success.
Moral CSR
Authors: Mitnick Barry M. , Windsor Duane , Wood Donna J.
Published: May 2022

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is about the moral purpose of business and its proper relationship to society. We map the logical structure of CSR—its canonical core—and identify the view of CSR that is most consistent with CSR as driven by moral purpose as Moral CSR ( CSRM). The numerous perspectives of CSR, which we term CSR memes, are complements to CSRM. A meme is an idea or usage diffusing within communities. Moral norms and what we term normatively injunctive warrants are implicit in many CSR memes but have received a relative lack of explicit and systematic attention. A norm is an accepted standard for behavior. A warrant is an authoritative or authorizing instruction for behavior. All CSR memes contain three elements—a corporate actor, a relation, and nonmoral normative warrants, which we term constructive warrants. We argue that any CSR meme should include a fourth element—moral normative (injunctive) warrants linking explicitly to moral reasoning. Through sorting key CSR memes by their epistemological and compositional characteristics, we reveal the paucity of explicit attention to injunctive warrants. We resort memes according to social gains or losses, which are the outcomes of societal demand for and business supply of CSR. This analysis yields two proposed improvements for CSR reasoning. The first is a clearer picture of variable use of the term CSR in extant research. The second is how scholars can incorporate more explicitly moral elements of CSR in future work.
Brief Focused Interprofessional Encounters in a Developmental-Behavioral Rotation Facilitate Pediatric Resident Experiences, Foster Interprofessional Relationships, and Improve Confidence in Mental Health and High-Risk Developmental Conditions
Authors: Spinelli Stephanie C. , Ben Khallouq Bertha A. , Chen J. Gene
Published: May 2022

Experiences with mental health (MH) and high-risk developmental conditions (HRDC) are challenging to obtain during pediatric residency. This study describes Brief Focused Interprofessional Encounters (BFIE) during a developmental-behavioral pediatric (DBP) rotation. Postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pediatric residents recorded diagnoses of children they interacted with at each BFIE site and completed a self-assessment at the start and end of their rotation. Of 48 residents, 67% (32/48) completed daily encounter records and 81% (39/48) completed self-assessment surveys. Residents’ self-reports showed significantly higher levels of confidence in 12 learning areas, with the highest gains in bereavement, autistic spectrum disorders, juvenile justice, and teen pregnancy ( Ps < .001). By establishing BFIE customized to the local community, a DBP curriculum can effectively provide measurable, innovative curriculum content that addresses less commonly accessed areas of MH and HRDC; foster interprofessional relationships; and improve resident confidence.
Screening for Postpartum Depression During Infant Well Child Visits: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Lamere Kathryn , Golova Natalia
Published: May 2022

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that pediatricians screen mothers for postpartum depression (PPD) at the infant’s 1, 2, 4, and 6-month well child (WC) visits. Despite these recommendations, less than 50% of mothers are screened nationally. We evaluated the impact of a statewide quality improvement initiative that implemented routine screening for PPD utilizing the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) at AAP recommended WC visits. A total of 224 patients were included. Screening rates increased significantly at all four WC visits ( P < .01). A higher prevalence of positive EPDS screens was detected in mothers with a history of a mental health condition ( P = .009) and in mothers who reported recent food or housing insecurity ( P = .02). EPDS screening was successfully implemented through a statewide initiative in a busy hospital-based pediatric clinic. Pediatricians play an important role in identifying mothers with PPD and referring them to adequate treatment.
Caregivers’ and Young Children’s Emotional Health Needs After Pediatric Traumatic Injury
Authors: Ridings Leigh E. , Davidson Tatiana M. , Walker Jesse , Winkelmann Jennifer , Anton Margaret T. , Espeleta Hannah C. , Nemeth Lynne S. , Streck Christian J. , Ruggiero Kenneth J.
Published: May 2022

Pediatric traumatic injury (PTI) is associated with emotional health difficulties, but most US trauma centers do not adequately address emotional recovery needs. This study aimed to assess families’ emotional health needs following PTI and determine how technology could be used to inform early interventions. Individual semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with caregivers of children admitted to a Level I trauma center in the Southeastern United States to understand families’ experiences in-hospital and post-discharge. Participants included 20 caregivers of PTI patients under age 12 ( M = 6.4 years; 70% male, 45% motor vehicle collision). Thematic analysis was used to analyze data from interviews that were conducted until saturation. Caregivers reported varying emotional needs in hospital and difficulties adjusting after discharge. Families responded enthusiastically to the potential of a technology-enhanced resource for families affected by PTI. A cost-effective, scalable intervention is needed to promote recovery and has potential for widespread pediatric hospital uptake.
Imperial Rule and Long-Run Development: Evidence on the Role of Human Capital in Ottoman Europe
Authors: Popescu Bogdan G. , Popa Mircea
Published: May 2022

This study examines the effects of Ottoman imperial rule on long-run development in Europe. Using a novel geographical dataset that tracks territorial changes at the sub-national level over 600 years, we identify a negative effect of Ottoman rule on modern economic performance. Contemporary survey data provides strong support for a causal mechanism involving reduced human capital accumulation. This insight is confirmed by a regression discontinuity analysis using historical data from Romania. We uncover large causal effects of Ottoman rule on literacy rates from the 19th century, which persisted throughout the 20th century. We argue that the late adoption of the printing press in the empire was an important determinant of low human capital accumulation and illustrate this using data on the spread of the printing press.
How Mechanization Shapes Coups
Authors: Choulis Ioannis , Mehrl Marius , Escribà-Folch Abel , Böhmelt Tobias
Published: May 2022

Civil-military relations are characterized by a fundamental dilemma. To lower coup risk, leaders frequently empower the military, which satisfies the armed forces with the status quo and enables them to fight against threats challenging the civilian leadership. Simultaneously, a too powerful military itself constitutes a potential threat that is capable of overthrowing the government. Our research adds to this debate by examining the impact of mechanization, that is, the degree to which militaries rely on armored vehicles relative to manpower, on coup risk. We discuss several (opposing) mechanisms before developing the theoretical expectation that higher levels of mechanization should lower the likelihood of a coup due to the increased costs of coup execution. Empirical evidence strongly supports this claim and, thus, contributes to our understanding of the emergence of coups as an essential breakdown of civil-military relations, while adding to the debate surrounding the many trade-offs leaders face when coup-proofing their regimes.
Methodological reflections on the use of photovoice in school health research
Authors: Nyika Lawrence
Published: May 2022

This article reports on the application of photovoice in the context of health promoting schools to advance conversation on reflexivity and positioning of the photovoice researcher. The purpose of the article is to provide practical insights and recommendations for the use of photovoice to help prepare beginning researchers for the complexities of working with this technique. I discuss my thoughts, feelings and observations when using photovoice to examine African immigrant students’ experiences of health promoting schools in Nova Scotia, Canada. Through photovoice, participants contributed actively to the production of knowledge associated with their schooling. However, it proved necessary to make changes and adaptations to the method as the research progressed.
Brokered Careers: The Role of Search Firms in Managerial Career Mobility
Authors: Bidwell Matthew , Choi Kira , Fernandez-Mateo Isabel
Published: May 2022

The authors explore how career paths are shaped by the involvement of search firms in hiring. Drawing on theories of market intermediation, they argue that search firms constrain horizontal moves across functions and industries by favoring workers from within the same function and industry as the role being filled. Using survey data on 1,342 job moves undertaken by 816 MBA alumni, the authors find that individuals who move jobs through a search firm experience lower horizontal mobility than those who move through other means. Findings also suggest that these results are not driven by firms’ decisions to use a search firm to fill the job. Supplementary analyses show no evidence that the job matches that are formed using search firms result in a better fit between workers and employers. Overall, the findings point to the significant institutional role search firms play in managerial careers.
Trajectory tracking of differential drive mobile robots using fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative controller design tuned by an enhanced fruit fly optimization
Authors: Abed Azher M. , Rashid Zryan Najat , Abedi Firas , Zeebaree Subhi R. M. , Sahib Mouayad A. , Mohamad Jawad Anwar Ja'afar , Redha Ibraheem Ghusn Abdul , Maher Rami A. , Abdulkareem Ahmed Ibraheem , Ibraheem Ibraheem Kasim , Azar Ahmad Taher , Al-khaykan Ameer
Published: May 2022

This work proposes a new kind of trajectory tracking controller for the differential drive mobile robot (DDMR), namely, the nonlinear neural network fractional-order proportional integral derivative (NNFOPID) controller. The suggested controller’s coefficients comprise integral, proportional, and derivative gains as well as derivative and integral powers. The adjustment of these coefficients turns the design of the proposed NNFOPID control further problematic than the conventional proportional-integral-derivative control. To handle this issue, an Enhanced Fruit Fly Swarm Optimization algorithm has been developed and proposed in this work to tune the NNFOPID’s parameters. The enhancement achieved on the standard fruit fly optimization technique lies in the increased uncertainty in the values of the initialized coefficients to convey a broader search space. subsequently, the search range is varied throughout the updating stage by beginning with a big radius and declines gradually during the course of the searching stage. The proposed NNFOPID controller has been validated its ability to track specific three types of continuous trajectories (circle, line, and lemniscate) while minimizing the mean square error and the control energy. Demonstrations have been run under MATLAB environment and revealed the practicality of the designed NNFOPID motion controller, where its performance has been compared with that of a nonlinear Neural Network Proportional Integral Derivative controller on the tracking of one of the aforementioned trajectories of the DDMR.
Future Responses to Managing Muslim Ethnic Minorities in China: Lessons Learned from Global Approaches to Improving Inter-Ethnic Relations
Authors: Hasmath Reza
Published: May 2022

Current policies to manage ethnic minority unrest in Xinjiang are not working, and do not address the core root causes behind ethnic tensions. Drawing upon lessons learned from global approaches to improving inter-ethnic relations, and factoring in China’s institutional behaviour and norms, this essay looks at policy responses that could be entertained by the state to improve the conditions of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. It suggests that in the short-term (under a year) the state could be more responsible in using the big data it collects for targeted surveillance, in tandem with a community engagement approach. In the medium-term (one to three years), the state could employ practices to reduce ethnic prejudice by encouraging increased meaningful intergroup contact, and promoting a positive media portrayal of ethnic minorities. In the long-term (three years plus), improving the relative socioeconomic ethnic inequalities is paramount.
Communal parenting, marriage and children in Papua, Indonesia: Insights for social work
Authors: Fitriani Siti Rohmanatin , Zufferey Carole , Ibrahim Nada
Published: May 2022

This article provides new social work knowledge about the parenting practices of Papuan parents, which includes their perceptions of marriage and having children. This qualitative ethnographic study included participant observation and individual semi-structured interviews with 49 Papuan parents (34 mothers and 15 fathers), who were interviewed across five different Papuan regencies: Supiori, Jayapura, Jayawijaya, Boven Digul and Mimika. A key finding was that communal parenting and having multiple children were perceived to be a community responsibility, which burdened Papuan women who were continuously occupied in childbearing and rearing.
Enhancement of the mechanical and acoustical properties of flexible polyurethane foam/waste seashell composites for industrial applications
Authors: Maamoun AA , El-Wakil AA , El-Basheer Tarek M
Published: May 2022

The importance of this work is the use of waste seashells WSS (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt.%) as a bio-filler to enhance the mechanical and acoustical characteristics of flexible polyurethane foam (FPU). Petroleum-based polyol was partially replaced by 25% castor oil resulting in high renewable content. The WSS was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The chemical structure and morphological features for castor oil-based flexible polyurethane waste seashells (CO-FPU-WSS) composites were detected using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. Besides, the mechanical, non-acoustical and acoustical properties were investigated. The results indicated that bio-based FPU composites possessed better compressive strength than neat FPU foam. In addition, FPU composites enhance the sound absorption below 500 Hz. A 6 cm air gap behind the sample shifted the absorption toward 400 Hz (0.85) for CO-FPU-WSS 25% composite with a broader band. Thus, the FPU foam composite is considered a promising candidate for sound absorption applications such as for the automotive and building industries.
This generation’s Wild Swans? Counter-stereotyping self-creation in Xiaolu Guo’s Once Upon a Time in the East: A Story of Growing Up
Authors: JIN Yifan
Published: May 2022

This article reads Xiaolu Guo’s Once Upon a Time in the East: A Story of Growing Up (2017) as a counter-stereotyping memoir set against Jung Chang’s Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (1991) through the authors’ divergent narrative stances in self-creation. Although both memoirs belong to the literary genre of autobiography and narrate lives in the past, Guo, by comparing herself to the heroic Monkey King, exhibits a distinct perspective that characterizes her immigrant experience as a nomad’s feminist journey into art. Guo’s self-creation as a nomadic artist deterritorializes the affiliation of diasporic Chinese writing with misery literature, labelled “ethnic”, and reveals the complexity of contemporary Chinese culture. Thus, this counter-stereotyping memoir represents how an Anglophone Chinese writer of the post-Chang generation tends to negotiate her ethnic status and demonstrates the multiplicity of being Chinese.
Study of mechanical properties and wear resistance of nanostructured Al 1100/TiO2 nanocomposite processed by accumulative roll bonding
Authors: Najjar Ismail R. , Elmahdy Marwa
Published: May 2022

Aluminum (Al) composites have been extensively developed for automotive applications due to their high specific strength. Therefore, in this study, an Al-titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposite was processed using the accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process. The mechanical characteristics of monolithic and nanocomposites specimens made with 0, 1, 2, and 3 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles as reinforcement were studied at several ARB passes. According to the microstructure of the composites, rolling after five passes achieves a homogenous distribution of reinforcement particles, ultrafine and elongated grains of the matrix. After five ARB passes, the TiO2 particles were uniformly dispersed. Finally, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed that the Al-TiO2 nanocomposite had an appropriate dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles. Vickers microhardness improves as the number of accumulative roll bonding passes increases. Furthermore, after five passes, Vickers microhardness testing revealed that the sample with 3%TiO2 has the greatest hardness value of 112 HV, which is significantly greater than the 44 HV hardness value of the ARB-processed aluminum. The mechanical properties of the specimens, yield and ultimate strengths, improved with the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles. Due to good bonding among the components, mechanical parameters such as microhardness and tensile strength were more than three times better than the Al matrix.
Mariquitas, ‘Marvellous Race Created by God’: The Judicial Prosecution of Homosexuality in Francoist Andalusia, 1955–70
Authors: Galeano Javier Fernández
Published: May 2022

This article argues that the mariquita's subjectivity became a prevalent trope when individuals were prosecuted under charges of homosexuality in Franco's Spain. The mariquita was a liminal homosexual male who was expected to be family-oriented, devout, and involved in flamenco culture and Catholic festivals. I focus on judicial records to underscore the mariquita trope as a popular strategy for questioning the implementation of a stringent legal regime while demanding the social conformity of sexual minorities. The interventions of this article in the literature on nonconforming sexualities are twofold: (1) It contributes to the international scholarship by tracing the centrality of Catholicism and southern Spanish folk culture on mariquita subjectivity and social attitudes towards sexual minorities. This complicates the premise that liberalism has historically been the primary ideological frame informing sexual minorities’ resistance to repressive policies. In Spain, under a dictatorial regime, sexual minorities’ adaptative strategies and identities incorporated aspects of traditional rural femininity alongside modern forms of queer self-expression, such as drag shows in urban cabarets. (2) It contributes to the Spanish historiography, by revising the existing metrocentric research on homosexuality under Francoism and emphasizing the discrepancy between medico-legal discourses and recurring expressions of conditional toleration by rural communities.
Assessment technologies of rail systems’ structural adequacy — A review from mechanical engineering perspectives
Authors: Hua Xia , Zatar Wael , Gadedesi Alisha , Liao Zhicheng
Published: May 2022

The structural adequacy challenges of railroad track structures have received considerable attention globally. Track defects and failures due to weak strength and buckling effect account for one-third of all railroad accidents. The current paper provides a comprehensive study of the recent work on the structural adequacy/bearing capacity of rail systems from mechanical engineering perspectives; existing techniques for track stiffness/modulus evaluations, including standstill and continuous methods. Further, this paper demonstrates the current techniques for track stiffness/modulus evaluation. Prevailing track modulus techniques, while accurate but time-taking, effortful, requires a track closure and provides only single-point information. Also, this review provides a suggestion on the non-destructive and non-invasive technologies for example Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and evaluation of the substructures of tracks as they have great potential for image subsurface features.
Research on early runway incursion warning based on Petri net
Authors: Tang Xinmin , Ji Xiaoqi
Published: May 2022

In this study, an early runway incursion warning method was developed based on a Petri net model in order to achieve zero missing and false runway incursion warnings. The runway incursion warning scenario is analyzed based on the output states of the aircraft/vehicles in the airport surface. The runway operation model based on a Petri net model was established by considering Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as an example. In addition to the runway warning rules, the standard runway operation constraints are imposed on the Petri net model to provide early warnings in nine runway incursion scenarios. The zero missing and false early runway incursion warning method based on a Petri net model was tested based on scenario simulations and realized warning display on surveillance map.
Metro station evacuation safety assessment considering emergency response
Authors: Li Haiquan , Wang Yan , Jiang Juncheng , Zhou Ru
Published: May 2022

The emergency response process will not start immediately in the initial stage of a subway accident, and information will not fully spread temporarily. Crowds in different regions receive different comprehensiveness of accident information. They will start evacuating at different times and at different desired speed states. Depending on this phenomenon, pedestrians were classified in simulation modeling. In addition, the different states of emergency gates, escalators, and automatic gate machines before and after the emergency response instruction were set up in the simulation. The impact of different emergency response times on evacuations was studied. The emergency response in advance did not make a significant promotion to evacuation efficiency, but delayed emergency response reduced it greatly. This work proposed an evacuation risk index (ERI) and maximum safe evacuation capacity in metro stations. The worst accident evacuation scenario can be obtained by calculating the ERI, and a metro station was evaluated as a case study. The comparison of the evaluation results of ERI and other methods shows that the conclusion is consistent, but ERI considers the accident location factor.
Racial disparities in the pattern of intergenerational neighbourhood mobility
Authors: Kim Sage J , Shin Jaeyong , Tilahun Nebiyou
Published: May 2022

Neighbourhood context is known to shape one’s life chances, but much of neighbourhood disadvantage is passed down from parents to children. The gap in social and economic achievements between Black and White families in the United States may partially be explained by differences in the intergenerational transmission of neighbourhood context. Using census tract socio-economic data, we created a national ranking of US census tracts. We then examined intergenerational neighbourhood mobility using 2828 parent–child pairs from a longitudinal household survey. We found that White children, compared with Black children, were more likely to inherit higher neighbourhood ranks from their parents. Income and education had smaller negative effects on neighbourhood rank for White children than Black children, all other things equal. Black children whose parents were in the bottom 25th percentile neighbourhood rank tended to move up in neighbourhood rank. But by much smaller magnitudes than their White counterparts. Our findings indicate that different patterns of intergenerational neighbourhood mobility between White and Black families may be an important factor for persisting racial disparities in the neighbourhood context.