bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why do people choose courts to resolve disputes? A fuzzy-set analysis of Chinese citizens’ judicial reliance
Authors: Wang Xiang , Guo Changwei , Lyu Yuwen , Zhu Shouchao
Published: January 2023

We use the concept of judicial reliance to describe the willingness and extent to which citizens seek the help of the court in a dispute. There are obvious local differences in the degree of judicial reliance in different provinces, with some citizens more willing to resort to the courts to settle disputes, whereas others are indifferent to the courts. Based on the judicial survey data of 31 provinces in China, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to explore the possible reasons for differences in citizens’ judicial reliance in China. We find that citizens’ judicial reliance is deeply influenced and restricted by five judicial conditions: transparency, corruption, independence, procedure, and professionalism. These causal conditions influence and interact with each other, thus forming six configurations that produce high judicial reliance. Among these six configurations, judicial professionalism is always the core condition. In recent years, China has indeed attached great importance to the construction of judicial professionalism, which not only optimizes the quality of the internal personnel of the court but also strengthens the public’s recognition of the court.
Towards achieving the sustainable development goal 9: Analyzing the role of green innovation culture on market performance of Chinese SMEs
Authors: Wei Changjing , Cai Xuesen , Song Xiaowei
Published: January 2023

Green innovation culture is essential to the Chinese 14th five-year plan aligned with sustainable development goal 9. This study examines the relationship between green innovation culture and market performance of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We evaluated hypothesis by taking a sample of 564 SMEs employees in China through an online survey. The structural equation modelling (SEM) method is used to analyze data. The findings showed that green innovation culture positively influence product and marketing innovation. Similarly, marketing innovation positively affects product innovation and market performance. In addition, product innovation has a substantial effect on market performance. The outcomes of this study imply that SMEs in emerging economies should concentrate on green innovation culture to improve their market performance. In addition, the identification of study limitations and suggestions for further research are also addressed for all stakeholders involved with SMEs.
How does authentic leadership promote taking charge: The mediating effect of team social capital and the moderating effect of absorptive capacity
Authors: Chen Guoqing , Wang Jianjian , Dong Zhiyuan , Zhang Xiongtao
Published: January 2023

Authentic leaders are consistent with the expectations of Chinese traditional cultural values for leaders. The purpose of this study is to take team internal social capital (TISC) as the mediating variable and individual absorptive capacity as the moderating variable to explore the relationship between authentic leadership and taking charge. We collected 337 questionnaires from China and used linear regression to explore the influencing mechanisms and boundary conditions. The study results showed that the trickle-down of authentic leadership and the trickle-round of TISC can directly promote employees’ taking charge. Further, individual absorptive capacity positively moderated the relationship between TISC and taking charge. Our study provides a new perspective of leadership support for employees to implement taking charge in the context of high-power distance in China. From the perspective of authentic leadership, it is verified that leadership support is a necessary condition to motivate employees to implement proactive behavior. Moreover, compared with the research on the influence of leadership on proactive behavior, team-related and organization-related factors have not received enough attention. According to the social learning theory, we constructed an integrated framework for the first time in which leadership, team, and individual jointly affect taking charge.
Examining long-term repetition priming effects in spoken word recognition using computer mouse tracking
Authors: Tuft Samantha E. , Incera Sara , MᶜLennan Conor T.
Published: January 2023

Language researchers in a variety of disciplines have used priming as a tool to investigate theoretical questions. In spoken word recognition, long-term repetition priming effects have been obtained across a number of behavioral tasks (e.g., lexical decision, shadowing). Repeated – primed – words are responded to more efficiently than new – unprimed – words. However, to our knowledge, long-term repetition priming effects have not been examined using computer mouse tracking, which would provide data regarding the time course of long-term repetition priming effects. Consequently, we compared participants’ lexical decision responses using a computer mouse to primed and unprimed words. We predicted that participants would respond more efficiently to primed words compared to unprimed words. Indeed, across all of the dependent variables investigated (accuracy, reaction time, mouse trajectories) and across environments (in person, online), participants responded more efficiently to primed words than to unprimed words. We also performed additional exploratory analyses examining long-term repetition priming effects for nonwords. Across environments (in person, online), participants had more errors to primed nonwords than to unprimed nonwords, but there were no differences in reaction times and mouse trajectories. The current data demonstrating long-term repetition priming effects in mouse tracking are expected to motivate future investigations examining the time course of various long-term repetition priming effects for both words and nonwords.
Effects of language background on executive function: Transfer across task and modality
Authors: Kim Yeonwoo , Ye Zixuan , Leventhal Zachary , Wang Wei-Ju , Thiessen Erik D.
Published: January 2023

The relation between linguistic experience and cognitive function has been of great interest, but recent investigations of this question have produced widely disparate results, ranging from proposals for a “bilingual advantage,” to a “bilingual disadvantage,” to claims of no difference at all as a function of language. There are many possible sources for this lack of consensus, including the heterogeneity of bilingual populations, and the choice of different tasks and implementations across labs. We propose that another reason for this inconsistency is the task demands of transferring from linguistic experience to laboratory tasks can differ greatly as the task is modified. In this study, we show that task modality (visual, audio, and orthographic) can yield different patterns of performance between monolingual and multilingual participants. The very same task can show similarities or differences in performance, as a function of modality. In turn, this may be explained by the distance of transfer – how close (or far) the laboratory task is to the day to day lived experience of language usage. We suggest that embodiment may provide a useful framework for thinking about task transfer by helping to define the processes of linguistic production and comprehension in ways that are easily connected to task manipulations.
The world is coming to an end! COVID-19, depression, and anxiety among adolescents in Malawi
Authors: Mmanga Chilungamo , Ndasauka Yamikani , Kainja Jimmy , Kondowe Fiskani , Mchenga Martina , Maliwichi Limbika , Nyamali Simunye
Published: January 2023

Introduction

This paper assessed the effects of Covid-19 on adolescent mental health in Malawi. There is minimal research on adolescent mental health in Africa, Malawi in particular. The study shows a link between the pandemic and mental health. Some factors that may have contributed to this link include; Covid-19 preventive measures, media exposure and the increase in unemployment.

Methods

The study used a mixed methods approach, quantitative and qualitative methods. It was conducted in Malawi's four districts (Blantyre, Mangochi, Lilongwe and Karonga).

Results

Overall 22%, 21%, and 23% of the respondents had depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, respectively. The Chi-square test showed that significantly more adolescents with secondary education (28%) had anxiety than those with primary education (14%). Further, regression analysis revealed that adolescents with anxiety were 18 [95%CI: 9.34, 35.8] times more likely to have depression compared to those who did not have anxiety. The study found no significant differences in the proportions of adolescents with the three outcomes when comparing different groups within the explanatory variable. The ratio of female and male adolescents with depression and anxiety was the same.

Discussion

The adolescents expressed that Covid-19 affected their social, academic, and financial status. These effects had a significant bearing on their mental health in that they led to depression, anxiety, fear of the unknown, and stress. During the Covid-19 pandemic, adolescents' mental health diminished and posed a considerable risk to productivity of adolescents. As a result, adolescents may not fully realize their potential, form and maintain good relationships, contribute to their community and become resilient. These effects have devastating consequences for this young generation without proper coping strategies.
Escape from self: Stress increase consumers' preference for experiences over material possessions
Authors: Zhao Yurou , Jin Xiaotong , Zhao Taiyang , Li Jianan
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Considering the theory of self-escape, this research systematically investigates the effect of stress on consumers' preference for experiences vs. material possessions.

Methods

We conducted one survey and two experiments to demonstrate the effect of stress on individuals' relative preference for experiential vs. material consumption and its psychological mechanism.

Results

The findings of the three studies revealed that stress increases consumers' preference for experiences over material possessions. Additionally, self-escape motivation plays a mediating role between stress and preference for experiential consumption (vs. material consumption). Stress as a self-threat triggers individuals' motivation to escape from negative self-concept, and experiences can help individuals temporarily escape from negative self-recognition and provide more leisure value than material possessions. Therefore, individuals increase their consumption preference for experiences. Furthermore, we observed that the type of experiences plays a moderating role between stress and preference for experiential consumption (vs. material consumption). Specifically, compared with low cognitive resource demanding experiences, the effect of stress on experiential consumption disappears when experiences have a high demand for cognitive resources.

Discussion

These findings extend the research on stress, experiential consumption and material consumption and provide significant advice for public mental health.
Analysis of Italian requests for compensation in cases of responsibility for healthcare-related infections: A retrospective study
Authors: Marrone Maricla , Caricato Pierluigi , Mele Federica , Leonardelli Mirko , Duma Stefano , Gorini Ettore , Stellacci Alessandra , Bavaro Davide Fiore , Diella Lucia , Saracino Annalisa , Dell'Erba Alessandro , Tafuri Silvio
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The aim of this study was to examine the type of compensation claims for alleged medical malpractice in the field of healthcare-related infections in Italy.

Methods

It was analyzed which was the most frequent clinical context, the characteristics of the disputes established, which were the alleged damages most often complained of, which were the possibly censurable behaviors of the health professionals, and which were the reasons for acceptance or rejection of the request for compensation.

Results

In 90.2%, the issue questioned regarded surgical site infections. The most common pathogens involved were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (34.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.4%). The lack or non-adherence to protocols of prophylaxis and/or prevention of healthcare-related infections was the most reported cause of acceptance of the request of compensation.

Discussion

According to our data, a stronger effort should be made in terms of risk management perspective in order to ensure the develop and application of protocols for prevention of Gram-positive healthcare-related infections and strengthen infection control and antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Decimation keystone algorithm for forward-looking monopulse imaging on platforms with uniformly accelerated motion
Authors: Li Ze-Sen , Li Yue-Li
Published: January 2023

Forward-looking imaging for maneuvering platforms has garnered significant interest in many military and civilian fields. As the maneuvering trajectory in the scanning period can be simplified as the constant acceleration maneuver, monopulse imaging is applied to enhance the azimuthal resolution of the forward-looking image. However, the maneuver causes severe range migration and Doppler shift; this often results in range location error due to the space-varying Doppler shifts and the failure of angle estimation. We propose a decimation keystone algorithm based on the chirp-Z transform (CZT). First, the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is decimated with an integer; thus, the azimuthal sampling sequence is decimated into many sub-sequences. Then, the linear range walk correction (LRWC) is performed on each sub-sequence using the keystone transform, significantly reducing the influence of the change of Doppler-ambiguity-number on range location. Further, the sub-sequences are regrouped as one sequence, and the range curvature due to the acceleration is compensated in the frequency domain. Finally, the varying Doppler centroid in each coherent processing interval (CPI) is analyzed and compensated for the sum-difference angular measurements. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for forward-looking imaging under constant acceleration maneuvers and the feasibility of range location error correction.
Sufficiency in social practices: An underestimated potential for the transformation to a circular economy
Authors: Suski Pauline , Palzkill Alexandra , Speck Melanie
Published: January 2023

To date, the circular economy has fallen short of its promise to reduce our resource demand and transform our production and consumption system. One key problem is the lack of understanding that highly promising strategies such as refuse, rethink, and reduce can be properly addressed using research on sufficiency. This article argues that a shift in focus is required in research and policy development from consumers who buy and handle circularly designed products to consumption patterns that follow the logic of sufficiency and explain how sufficiency-oriented concepts can be incorporated into existing social practices. The authors show that sufficiency is not necessarily as radical and unattractive as is often claimed, making it a suitable yet underrated strategy for sustainability and the transition to an effective circular economy. The case of urban gardening shows that small interventions can have far-reaching effects and transform consumption patterns as the logic of availability is contested by newly developed concepts of “enoughness” and opposition to “über-availability.” The authors propose utilizing comprehensive state-of-the-art theories of consumption and human action when developing strategies and policies to make the circular economy sustainable while being more critical of utilitarian approaches. Using social practice theories that have proven to be beneficial allows human actions to be comprehensively analyzed by recognizing their embeddedness in social and material frameworks; addressing the meaning, competences, and materials of routinized human behavior; and examining indirect effects.
Digital common(s): the role of digital gamification in participatory design for the planning of high-density housing estates
Authors: Ng Provides , Li Yuechun , Zhu Shutong , Xu Bingge , van Ameijde Jeroen
Published: January 2023

“Digital Commons” explores the intersection between participatory design, digital gamification, and community engagement, contextualised in the planning of high-density housing estates in Hong Kong. The research project investigates how digital gamified participatory design can be applied in decision-making processes for the planning of public facilities in high-density housing estates. Focusing on community engagement methods, the project has engaged with residents of a case study housing estate, Jat Min Chuen in the Shatin Wai area of Hong Kong, to facilitate collective planning discussions about the past, present, and future of community facilities. Using a digital community game approach, it has collected opinions and needs from public housing residents, promoted collaborative design thinking processes, and provided a platform for participants to increase their understanding of the complexity of planning problems through 3D visualisation tools. The experiences documented in this study demonstrate how 3D interactivity, real-time engagement, and bottom-up perspectives may enhance the potential of using immersive digital twins during collective decision-making. The gaming outcomes show a high similarity across all teams in close relationship to users’ daily life routines, demonstrating a new powerful role for urban designers as a coordinator of interactive and collaborative planning processes.
Resolution of the equatorial spread F problem: Revisited
Authors: Huba J. D.
Published: January 2023

An overview of recent advances made in understanding the phenomenon of equatorial spread F (ESF) is presented and a discussion of unresolved issues that need to be addressed. The focus is on research that has occurred in the last decade. The topics include satellite observations, theory, and modeling. The suggested areas that require further exploration are a unified theory of turbulence extending from 100 s m to 10 s cm, the impact of geomagnetic storms on the development of equatorial spread F, the need for accurate thermospheric wind measurements and models, and identifying the underlying physics of ESF in the post-midnight sector during solar minimum.
Posterior ankle arthroscopic treatment of a talar chondroblastoma with allograft and a platelet-rich plasma-fibrin glue: A case report and literature review
Authors: Chen Cheng , Li ZhenDong , Xue JianFeng , Shi ZhongMin
Published: January 2023

Talar chondroblastoma, which is a benign tumor of immature cartilage cells, is an uncommon but easily missed diagnosis of foot pain. Arthroscopic treatment for this condition is a safe, powerful, and promising technique with definitive advantages of visualization and minimal invasion. Here, we report a case of a talar chondroblastoma treated by posterior ankle arthroscopic curettage, allograft bone graft, and platelet-rich plasma-fibrin glue (PRP-FG) application.

Level of evidence

Case Report. Level IV.
Robot-assisted percutaneous screw fixation in the treatment of navicular fracture
Authors: Wang Cheng , Fu Shaoling , Li Xueqian , Wang Jiazheng , Wu Chenglin , Zhang Jieyuan , Song Guoxun , Gu Wenqi , Shi Zhongmin
Published: January 2023

Background

Long recovery time, large scar, postoperative swelling and pain are possible side effects of open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for tarsal navicular fractures. Early exercise instruction is made possible by the use of an intraoperative robot-assisted percutaneous invasive closed reduction internal fixation. The goal of the trial was to determine whether percutaneous screw internal fixation with robot assistance might be used to treat navicular fractures.

Methods

27 patients with navicular fractures had surgical treatment between June 2019 and December 2021. Of those, 20 instances were treated with ORIF, while 7 cases had robot-assisted percutaneous screw internal fixation. At the final follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score were compared to determine outcomes and function.

Results

Follow-up was obtained in all 27 patients after surgery, with a mean follow-up time of 21.81 months, ranging from 15 to 29 months . In the 7 instances of robot-assisted group, percutaneous guide wire insertion and screw placement only needed one attempt and the depth and position of the implant were both satisfactory. In the ORIF group, there were two patients who sustained cutaneous nerve injuries. The AOFAS score and the VAS score of the group receiving robot-assisted navigation percutaneous screw fixation were 92.25 ± 2.22 and 0.75 ± 0.25 respectively at the last follow-up, while 82.25 ± 7.15 and 0.50 ± 0.29 were the respective values for the ORIF group.

Conclusion

Intraoperative robot-assisted percutaneous closed reduction internal fixation for tarsal navicular fractures can accomplish exact localization of fracture site, reduce soft tissue damage and operative time. According to current view, this method offers fewer complications, a faster recovery after surgery, and more patient satisfaction.
A new approach: Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with priority access to small bowel mesentery
Authors: Pi Feng , Peng Xudong , Xie Chaozheng , Tang Gang , Qiu Yuhao , Chen Zhenzhou , Wei Zhengqiang
Published: January 2023

Background

For laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, the intermediate approach is commonly employed. However, this approach possesses several disadvantages. In this study, we compare priority access to the small bowel mesentery and the intermediate approach.

Methods

The clinical data of 196 patients admitted to the First Hospital of Chongqing Medical University for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected and divided into the small bowel mesenteric priority access and traditional intermediate access groups. The operative time, intraoperative bleeding, number of lymph node dissection, postoperative anal venting time, toleration of solid and liquid intake, and postoperative hospital stay and complications were compared between the two different approaches.

Results

In total, 81 cases of small bowel mesenteric priority access and 115 cases of intermediate approach for right hemi-colonic radical resection were compared. The operative time was 191.98 ± 46.05 and 209.48 ± 46.08 min in the small bowel mesenteric priority access and intermediate access groups, respectively; the difference was statistically significant. There were no significant differences in the intraoperative bleeding and lymph node clearance. However, the scatter plot analysis showed that severe intraoperative bleeding was relatively less frequent in the small mesenteric priority access group, compared with that in the intermediate approach group. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in the first exhaust and defecation times, hospital stay after operation, toleration of solid and liquid intake, and postoperative complication between the two groups.

Conclusion

In laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, the small bowel mesenteric priority approach can significantly shorten the operation time compared with the intermediate approach. It can reduce intraoperative bleeding and the operation is simple and safe to perform, making it suitable for less experienced surgeons. Therefore, the small bowel mesenteric priority approach has the potential to be a suitable alternative and deserves further clinical promotion and application.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of Stanford type B aortic intramural hematoma: A single centre experience
Authors: Zhang Zhigong , Lin Feng , He Zhipeng , Wang Haoran , Zhu Xingyang , Cheng Tingting
Published: January 2023

Objective

To compare the clinical characteristics of Stanford type B aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) and Stanford type B aortic dissection (AD), and to identify the differences between thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and medical management (MM) in the Stanford type B IMH patients.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients treated between January 2015 and December 2016. The clinical characteristics and CT images of patients with type B IMH and type B AD were compared, and the clinical characteristics and CT images of patients in the type B IMH group who were treated with TEVAR and MM were compared.

Results

A total of 176 patients were included in this study, including 62 patients of type B IMH and 114 patients of type B AD. Five patients died in the IMH group and three in the AD group. The proximal hematoma or entry tear in both groups was mainly located in the descending aorta, and the proportion of the iliac artery involved in the AD group was significantly higher than that in the IMH group (31.6% vs. 8.1% P < 0.05). There were 50 MM patients and 12 TEVAR patients in the IMH group. No death occurred in the TEVAR group, while five patients in the MM group died. Seven patients in the MM group had disease progression vs. 12 in the TEVAR group (P < 0.05). The patients in the TEVAR group had more intima lesions than those in the MM group (83.3% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.05). TEVAR group involved more iliac artery hematoma than MM group (33.3% vs. 2.0%, P < 0.05). The maximum thickness of hematoma in TEVAR group was 14.9 ± 3.4 mm, which was significantly larger than that of MM group (10.2 ± 2.8 mm) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In the diagnosis of IMH, patients' symptoms and high-risk signs of CTA should be paid attention to. TEVAR therapy should be actively considered on the basis of effective medical management when there are intima lesions (ULP/PAU), increased aortic diameter and hematoma thickness, extensive hematoma involvement, and pleural effusion.
Diffuse benign inflammatory gastric polyps: A rare case in a young female: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Zhang ZongYao , Guo ZhengChang , Zhang JiaJia , Yu Xin
Published: January 2023

Background

Gastric polyps are one of the most common clinical diseases arising from the mucosal surface of the stomach. The benign nature of the gastric polyp and its absence of symptoms have been widely accepted. Diffuse benign inflammatory polyps spanning the entire gastric mucosa are relatively rare in young people.

Case presentation

Our objective was to report a 20-year-old woman who presented with epigastric pain and vomiting; upper gastrointestinal barium contrast roentgenography demonstrated a huge defect in the filling of the stomach. Upper endoscopy also showed the presence of dense inflammatory polyps in the stomach that were the cause of the severe pylorus obstruction. The diffuse benign gastric polyps were diagnosed as inflammatory gastric polyps on the basis of findings on the histopathological examination. She was delivered as a result of the operating procedure of total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y anastomosis of the esophagus and jejunum. Postoperative nutritional support therapy was also implemented. Postoperative pathological examination revealed inflammatory papillary and villous polyps distributed over the stomach, and eosinophilic infiltration was found in the local area of the polyp. Polyps move like tufts of coral. During the 16-month follow-up, patients with symptoms of malnutrition and anemia recovered.

Conclusion

Nutritional support and a total gastrectomy were used to improve this patient's symptoms of malnutrition and anemia. Surgical intervention with appropriate nutritional support should be actively performed in these patients while strengthening the differential diagnosis of hereditary disease.
Polymorphisms in SHISA3 and RFC3 genes and their association with feed conversion ratio in Hu sheep
Authors: Lin Changchun , Wang Weimin , Zhang Deyin , Huang Kai , Li Xiaolong , Zhang Yukun , Zhao Yuan , Wang Jianghui , Zhou Bubo , Cheng Jiangbo , Xu Dan , Li Wenxin , Zhao Liming , Ma Zongwu , Yang Xiaobin , Huang Yongliang , Cui Panpan , Liu Jia , Zeng Xiwen , Zhai Rui , Sun Landi , Weng Xiuxiu , Wu Weiwei , Zhang Xiaoxue , Zheng Wenxin
Published: January 2023

In animal husbandry, feed efficiency is a crucial economic trait. In this study, the general linear model was used to perform association analysis for various genotypes and feed conversion ratio (FCR)-related traits. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of SHISA3 and RFC3 mRNA levels in 10 tissues from 6 sheep. The results showed that SNPs in the NC_040257.1:c.625 T > C and NC_040261.1:g.9905 T > C were analyzed whether they were associated to feed efficiency parameters in Hu sheep (body weight, feed intake, average daily growth, and feed conversion ratio). NC_040257.1:c.625 T > C was shown to be significantly associated with body weight at 80, 100, and 120 days as well as feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), whereas NC_040261.1:g.9905 T > C was found to be significantly associated with average daily weight gain from 80-140 days (ADG80-140) and FCR (P < 0.05). In Hu sheep, the CC genotypes of SHISA3 and RFC3 were the most common genotypes related to feed efficiency traits. Furthermore, the feed conversion ratio of the combined genotypes TTSHISA3-CCRFC3, TTSHISA3-CTRFC3, TTSHISA3-TTRFC3, CTSHISA3-CCRFC3 and CTSHISA3-CTRFC3 was significantly better than the FCR of CCSHISA3-TTRFC3. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of SHISA3 were lower in the lung than in spleen, kidney, muscle and lymph (P < 0.05), and RFC3 was the lung had a highly significant higher expression level than the heart, liver, spleen, and muscle (P < 0.01). In conclusion, SHISA3 and RFC3 polymorphisms can be used as genetic markers for improving feed conversion efficiency in Hu sheep.
From Easter Eggs to Anti-Police Sentiment: Maintaining a Balance in Policing during the Three Pandemic Lockdowns in England and Wales
Authors: Fleming Jenny , Brown Jennifer
Published: January 2023

The three lockdown periods across 2020–2021 due to COVID-19 had significant consequences for police. Pandemic lockdown experiences were explored based on online interviews with 25 officers of varied ranks and from across five regions in England and Wales. The analysis demonstrates the existence of two counter-prevailing dynamics in the working world of police in England and Wales across the three lockdown periods. Changing government directives, deteriorating relationships between the police and the public and senior officers’ sensitivity to the needs of the workforce, were foci of concern and discussion. On reflection, officers acknowledged that relationships between senior management and police improved over the three lockdowns. However, officers found it difficult to balance the demands of the profession and the claims of the state while seeking to retain policing by consent with an increasingly fractious public unsettled by restrictions to their freedom of movement and government activity.
Modelling of Parachute Airborne Clusters Flight Dynamics and Parachute Interactions
Authors: Li Yanjun , Qu Congyuan , Li Jun , Yu Li
Published: January 2023

With the need for more condensed airborne clusters in a shortened time, there are increased risks of parachute collision and other interactions in the air. In this paper, the flight dynamics model of the parachute system is proposed for the whole deplaning airborne process, including parachute deployment, inflation, and the steady descent stages. The trajectories and velocities of the typical parachute airborne system are simulated, and the results are validated against the experimental measurement. To understand the potential interactions between parachutes, the flight dynamics of parachute airborne clusters, are then studied based on this model. The main parameters include the airborne altitudes, deplaning velocities, and airborne mass. The results show that the flight characteristics of parachutes are determined by the competence of the inertia effect and aerodynamic drags. The flight interactions of parachute clusters are most likely to occur at the moment of deployment, where the distance between parachutes is at a minimum. This critical distance increases with deplaning velocities and is insensitive to airborne altitudes. Adjusting the airborne order or using adaptive time periods by airborne mass can also avoid the potential interactions. The results of this paper can provide support for airborne strategies and help increase the safety and efficiency of airborne systems.
Rapid Blade Shape Optimization for Contra-Rotating Propellers for eVTOL Aircraft Considering the Aerodynamic Interference
Authors: Qiao Nanxuan , Ma Tielin , Fu Jingcheng , Zhang Ligang , Wang Xiangsheng , Xue Pu
Published: January 2023

The rising interest in the evolvability of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) promises substantial potential in the field of urban air mobility (UAM). Challenges in energy storage density and geometry restriction both emphasize the propeller efficiency for endurance and takeoff weight, whereas the contra-rotating propellers (CRP) advantage is balancing high thrust and efficiency over a single propeller. The aim of this paper is twofold: (i) to present a novel rapid CRP blade shape optimization framework and (ii) to study the impact of the dual propellers revolution speed allocations on the overall CRP power efficiency. The core of the framework is the blade element momentum theory (BEMT)-based blade shape optimization considering the wake effect of the upper propeller by the rotational CFD (computational fluid dynamics) actuator-disc simulation method. The results show that for the same thrust, the optimized CRP at the equal revolution speed is superior to the original (upper-lower-identical) one by 5.9% in thrust-to-power ratio. The overall efficiency can be additionally lifted by 5.3% when the dual propellers share similar torques. By excluding the integral propeller CFD simulation and empirical parameters estimation, the framework enables the swift obtaining of an optimized CRP scheme while maintaining robustness as well.
An EMD-LSTM Deep Learning Method for Aircraft Hydraulic System Fault Diagnosis under Different Environmental Noises
Authors: Shen Kenan , Zhao Dongbiao
Published: January 2023

Aircraft hydraulic fault diagnosis is an important technique in aircraft systems, as the hydraulic system is one of the key components of an aircraft. In aircraft hydraulic system fault diagnosis, complex environmental noises will lead to inaccurate results. To address the above problem, hydraulic system fault detection methods should be capable of noise resistance. Previous research has mainly focused on noise-free conditions and many effective approaches have been proposed; however, in real-world aircraft flying conditions, the aircraft hydraulic system often has strong and complex noises. The methods proposed may not have good fault detection results in such a noisy environment. According to the situation, this work focuses on aircraft hydraulic system fault classification under the influence of a hydraulic working environment with Gaussian white noise. In order to eliminate the noise interference and adapt to the actual noisy environment, a new aircraft hydraulic fault diagnostic method based on empirical mode deposition (EMD) and long short-term memory (LSTM) is presented. First, the hydraulic system is constructed by AMESIM. One normal state and five fault states are considered in this paper. Eight-channel signals of different states are collected for network training and testing. Second, the EMD method is used to obtain the different intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) of the signals. Third, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to obtain the main component of the IMFs. Fourth, three different LSTM methods are chosen to compare and the best structure that is chosen is the gate recurrent unit (GRU). After that, the network parameters are optimized. The results under different noise environments are given. Then, a comparison between the EMD-GRU with several different machine learning methods is considered, and the result shows that the method in this paper has a better anti-noise effect. Therefore, the proposed method is demonstrated to have a strong ability of fault diagnosis and classification under the working noises based on the simulation results.
Acoustic Experimental Technology for Aircraft Nacelle Liner
Authors: Yan Qun , Xue Dongwen , Mu Qinqin , Yang Jiafeng , Gao Xiang , Huang Wenchao
Published: January 2023

An aircraft nacelle acoustic liner is a key mean of aircraft noise reduction. The success of its design depends strongly on the development of experimental technology, which is generally divided into two stages: impedance eduction and the modal verification of acoustic performance. The comparative study summarizes the impedance eduction technology based on the in-situ method and the straight forward method, and the acoustic modal measurement and control technology, as well as their applications in the design of the acoustic liner of an engine intake and exhaust ducts. The results show that the in-situ method has higher accuracy at low frequencies, and the accuracies of both methods are decreased in the high frequency range. Both methods show an acceptable accuracy and good applicability in the mid-frequency range. A modal generator was designed and used to emit separate and pure acoustic modes in sequence, and a comparative test was carried out on the two types of acoustic liner. Compared with the seamed acoustic liner, the seamless acoustic liner significantly improved its noise reduction effect at the multi-acoustic modes and target frequencies, which further increases the overall reduction up to 5.2 dB. Through research, reliable and validated technologies of acoustic performance tests for a nacelle acoustic liner were established.
Simulation Analysis and Experiments for Blade-Soil-Straw Interaction under Deep Ploughing Based on the Discrete Element Method
Authors: Zhang Jin , Xia Min , Chen Wei , Yuan Dong , Wu Chongyou , Zhu Jiping
Published: January 2023

The desirable sowing period for winter wheat is very short in the rice-wheat rotation areas. There are also lots of straw left in harvested land. Deep rotary tillage can cover rice straw under the surface to increase soil organic matter. Clarifying the effect of the rotary tillage blade on the soil and straw, as well as analyzing the movement patterns and forces on the straw and soil, are essential to investigate the deep rotary tillage process in order to solve the problems of energy consumption and poor straw burial effect of deep tillage and deep burial machinery. In this study, we built the interaction model of rotary blade-soil-straw through the discrete element method to conduct simulation and identified the factors that affect the power consumption and operation quality of the rotary blade. The simulation process reflects the law of rotary blade-soil-straw interaction, and the accuracy of the simulation model has been verified by field trials. The simulation test results show that the optimized structural parameters of the rotary tillage blade were 210 mm, 45 mm, 37° and 115° (R, H, α and β) designed based on this theoretical model can cultivate to a depth of 200 mm. The operating parameters were 8π rad/s for rotational speed and 0. 56 m/s for forward speed, respectively; the simulated and field comparison tests were conducted under the optimal combination of parameters, and the power, soil breaking rate, and straw burial rate were 1.73 kW, 71.34%, and 18.89%, respectively; the numerical error rates of simulated and field test values were 6.36%, 5.42%, and 8.89%, respectively. The accuracy of the secondary model was verified. The simulation model had good accuracy at all factor levels. The model constructed in this study can provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for the interaction mechanism between rotary tillage and soil straw, the optimization of machine geometry, and the selection of operating parameters.
Energy-Saving Control Algorithm of Venlo Greenhouse Skylight and Wet Curtain Fan Based on Reinforcement Learning with Soft Action Mask
Authors: Chen Lihan , Xu Lihong , Wei Ruihua
Published: January 2023

Due to the complex coupling of greenhouse environments, a number of challenges have been encountered in the research of automatic control in Venlo greenhouses. Most algorithms are only concerned with accuracy, yet energy-saving control is of great importance for improving economic benefits. Reinforcement learning, as an unsupervised machine learning method with a framework similar to that of feedback control, is a powerful tool for autonomous decision making in complex environments. However, the loss of benefits and increased time cost in the exploration process make it difficult to apply it to practical scenarios. This work proposes an energy-saving control algorithm for Venlo greenhouse skylights and wet curtain fan based on Reinforcement Learning with Soft Action Mask (SAM), which establishes a trainable SAM network with artificial rules to achieve sub-optimal policy initiation, safe exploration, and efficient optimization. Experiments in a simulated Venlo greenhouse model show that the approach, which is a feasible solution encoding human knowledge to improve the reinforcement learning process, can start with a safe, sub-optimal level and effectively and efficiently achieve reductions in the energy consumption, providing a suitable environment for crops and preventing frequent operation of the facility during the control process.
Endophytic Fungi Associated with Mango Show In Vitro Antagonism against Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Yang Er-Fu , Karunarathna Samantha C. , Tibpromma Saowaluck , Stephenson Steven L. , Promputtha Itthayakorn , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Al-Rejaie Salim , Chomnunti Putarak
Published: January 2023

Endophytic fungi live in inter-cellular spaces of healthy plant tissues without causing any apparent symptoms of diseases for the host plant. Some fungal endophytes help their plant hosts to survive under biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we collected healthy mango leaves at the Honghe mango plantations (Yunnan Province) in the winter. A total of 34 different fungal endophytic strains were isolated, and their phylogenetic placements were estimated based on the ITS gene. Members of genus Chaetomium were the dominant fungal endophytes (26%). Common bacterial plant pathogens (Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae) and fungal plant pathogens (Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum) were selected to test the antagonism of the fungal endophytes isolated from mango leaves through co-cultivation in vitro assay. Three strains of Chaetomium sp. viz. KUNCC22-0749, UNCC22-10750, and KUNCC22-10752 showed great inhibition against two bacterial pathogens viz. Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae, and Alternaria sp. KUNCC22-10760, Chaetomium sp. KUNCC22-10749, Daldinia sp. KUNCC22-10744, and Rosellinia sp. KUNCC22-10751 also showed great to moderate antagonistic effects against two fungal pathogens viz. Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum.
Migration Monitoring and Route Analysis of the Oriental Armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) in Northeast China
Authors: Cang Xinzhu , Zhao Shengyuan , Yang Xueqing , Yuan Haibin , Liu Jian , Liu Dazhong , Yang Xianming , Wu Kongming
Published: January 2023

The oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) is a worldwide migratory pest that threatens food security in China. Previous studies have clarified the general migration regularity of M. separata in East Asia, but knowledge of migration routes over northeast China, especially in autumn as well as the impact by climate change in recent years, is still limited. From 2017 to 2020, we monitored the migration of M. separata in northeast China by searchlight traps and simulated moth trajectories by the HYSPLIT model. The M. separata moths had three main migration periods in northeast China, and there were obvious seasonal differences at different latitudes. The spring and summer migrants (late May to early-mid June and late July to early August) came from the southern Shandong Province and migrated to the north via Hebei/Shandong-Liaoning-Jilin-Heilongjiang. Moreover, more than half of the autumn trapped insects from late August to mid-late September migrated in the provinces where the sites are located, southward via Heilongjiang-Jilin-Liaoning. These results clarified the migration route of M. separata in northeast China and their relationship with the insect source in north China, thereby providing a theoretical basis for regional monitoring, early warning, and management of the pest.
Testing the Validity of CV for Single-Plant Yield in the Absence of Competition as a Homeostasis Index
Authors: Tokatlidis Ioannis S. , Vrochidis Iordanis , Sistanis Iosif , Pankou Chrysanthi I. , Sinapidou Evaggelia , Papathanasiou Fokion , Vlachostergios Dimitrios N.
Published: January 2023

The coefficient of variation (CV) of yield may functionally be related to the mean. The expected exponential CV decline with increasing mean, i.e., the Taylor’s power law (TPL), is not always valid. Removal of this scale dependency allows for a scale-independent assessment of stability. The objective of this study was to interpret the validity of the homeostasis index (HI), i.e., the inverse CV value, suggested in breeding under nil competition as a selection criterion for progeny lines that oppose the acquired interplant variation. Data concerning the single-plant yield of various crops under a nil-competition regime were studies against the theoretical background of the above hypothesis. Simple correlations between logarithms of variances and respective means were used to assess the reliability of CV as a stability statistic in breeding trials under nil competition. A total of 8 of the 24 case analyses revealed a systematic variance dependence on the mean. The impact was more prevalent in experiments with extensive spatial heterogeneity and high CV scores. Conversion of variance to remove systematic dependence did not validate the CV~mean negative relationship. Because of variance dependence, caution is needed when interpreting the HI as a stability index. Misuse of the HI may entail the risk of bias, upgrading or downgrading a progeny line in its ability to withstand acquired dissimilarity between plants. Testing the validity of the variance seems necessary, and the calculation of HI on a converted variance may enhance the accuracy of identifying the most promising progeny lines.
Population Genetic Structure of Anisakis simplex Infecting the European Hake from North East Atlantic Fishing Grounds
Authors: Ramilo Andrea , Rodríguez Helena , Pascual Santiago , González Ángel F. , Abollo Elvira
Published: January 2023

The European hake, one of the most commercially valuable species in ICES fishing areas, is considered an important neglected source of zoonotic risk by nematode parasites belonging to the genus Anisakis. Merluccius merluccius is, by far, the most important host of Anisakis spp. at the European fishing grounds, in terms of demographic infection values, and carries the highest parasite burden. These high parasite population densities within an individual fish host offer a chance to explore new sources of variations for the genetic structure of Anisakis spp. populations. A total of 873 Anisakis spp. third-stage larvae, originally sampled from viscera and muscular sections of hake collected at ten fishing grounds, were primarily identified using ITS rDNA region as molecular marker. After that, we used mtDNA cox2 gene to reveal the high haplotype diversity and the lack of genetic structure for A. simplex. Dominant haplotypes were shared among the different fishing areas and fish sections analyzed. Results indicate a clear connection of A. simplex from European hake along the Northern North Sea to the Portuguese coast, constituting a single genetic population but revealing a certain level of genetic sub-structuring on the Northwest coast of Scotland. This study also provides useful information to advance the understanding of parasite speciation to different fish host tissues or microenvironments.