bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OTRN-DCN: An optimized transformer-based residual network with deep convolutional network for action recognition and multi-object tracking of adaptive segmentation using soccer sports video
Authors: Kausalya K. , Kanaga Suba Raja S.
Published: June 2023

In today’s era, video analysis is immensely involved in recognizing the sport-related movement that has become a significant part of human’s life. The intent of this approach is to know about the player’s activities with prior information of tracking objects. It also analyzes the player potential or capacity to lead the winning team. When the player frequently changes their location, object tracking and action recognition will become a quite challenging task. Over the game, various athletes or different objects are considered to assist the system to easily recognize the respective actions of the player. Most of the previous models have been implemented, yet, it faces such consequences to provide promising performance. To meet the pre-requisite, a new multi-athlete tracking model for action recognition in soccer sports is designed with deep learning approaches. Initially, the multi-object tracking video is offered as the input to pre-processing phase. Here, occlusion and background clutter removal and contrast enhancement techniques are utilized to perform pre-processing in the videos. Then, the pre-processed video is offered to the multi-object tracking phase, where the jersey number is observed during multi-object tracking to avoid the identity switch problem. Then, effective multi-object tracking is performed by adaptive YOLOv5. The parameters presented in the improved adaptive YOLOv5 are tuned by proposing a new algorithm as the Random-based Cheetah Red Deer Algorithm (RCRDA). Next, in the action recognition phase, the tracked object from the video is taken based on the Region of Interest (ROI) that is subjected to an action recognition model named Optimized Transformer-based Residual Network with Deep Convolutional Network (OTRN-DCN). At first, ROI is offered as the input to TRN for attaining the feature vectors. Then, the optimal weighted vector extraction is performed, where the weight is tuned by the developed RCRDA. Finally, the attained optimally weighted vectors are given to the DCN phase for attaining recognized action as output. Hence, the developed multi-object tracking and action recognition model will secure an improved recognition rate than the traditional framework.
NATIONAL CULTURE AND GENDER GAPS IN ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTRY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: OYONO JEAN CEDRIC , ONDOA HENRI ATANGANA
Published: June 2023

This study analyzes the effects of national cultural practices on gender gaps in entrepreneurial entry in developing countries. We conducted a multilevel analysis based on Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) data from 22 countries for 2013–2017. Our findings suggest that while women are less likely than men to create a new business, they are much less likely to enter opportunity-based entrepreneurship. Moreover, we find that cultural practices of gender egalitarianism have a positive moderating effect on gender gaps when it comes to entry into both total and opportunity-based entrepreneurship. By contrast, our results show that cultural practices of assertiveness and power distance increase gender gaps in entry into both total and opportunity-based entrepreneurship. Policy makers should implement policies that promote women’s access to the necessary resources and improve the visibility of successful female entrepreneurs to change the perception of entrepreneurship as a masculine activity.
UNDERVALUATION AND NEW BUSINESS FORMATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: MAZORODZE BRIAN TAVONGA
Published: June 2023

The widespread recognition of new business formation as a facilitator of economic development has generated interest in examining its relevant determinants. In this paper, a rudimentary framework is proposed and empirically tested in which undervaluation of the real exchange rate incentivizes the establishment of new businesses. The goal of the paper is to establish the effect of real exchange rate undervaluation on the formation of new businesses. Using a broad sample of 40 developing countries observed between 2010 and 2018, results from a fixed effects Poisson model finds the evidence supportive of our hypothesis. The results particularly confirm a positive and sizeable effect of real exchange rate undervaluation on the number of newly registered businesses. Additionally, we find this positive effect stronger in countries with reliable energy, human capital, access to finance and efficient transport systems. These findings suggest that exchange rate policies that maintain undervalued exchange rates have an important bearing on business start-ups in developing countries and more so when accompanied by policy efforts to improve human capital, access to finance, efficient transport systems and the supply of reliable energy.
Electronic and NLO Performances of Benzohydrazide Derivatives: DFT Investigation and (RDG, AIM) Analysis
Authors: Benhalima Nadia , Doumi Bendouma , Kourat Oumria , Cherif Fatima Yahia , Daho Nour El Houda , Chouaih Abdelkader , Sayede Adlane
Published: June 2023

DFT calculations of ground-state hydrazine and benzohydrazide derivatives were performed by using hybrid functional B3LYP and CAMB3LYP with 6–31G (d, p) as basis set. The electric dipole moment ([Formula: see text], polarizability ([Formula: see text] and molecular first hyperpolarizability ([Formula: see text] were characterized in these compounds. The HOMO–LUMO energy gaps and the global chemical reactivity descriptors were computed by B3LYP and CAMB3LYP using 6–31G (d,p), while the excitation energies have determined by time dependent DFT (TDDFT). Besides, the stability and charge delocalization were studied by natural bond orbital analysis. Topological analyses such as atom in molecule (AIM), natural bonding orbital (NBO) and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) have used to compute intermolecular interactions and in particular hydrogen bonds. The obtained first-order hyperpolarizabilities in the range of 1.5 × [Formula: see text] to 30.2 × [Formula: see text] esu revealed that the hydrazine and benzohydrazide derivatives have better NLO properties. The low-energy gap of 3.53 eV generates an intramolecular charge transfer, leading to the enhancement of the NLO activity in these compounds.
Curiosity Creates Diversity in Policy Search
Authors: Le Tolguenec Paul-Antoine , Rachelson Emmanuel , Besse Yann , Wilson Dennis G.
Published: June 2023

When searching for policies, reward-sparse environments often lack sufficient information about which behaviors to improve upon or avoid. In such environments, the policy search process is bound to blindly search for reward-yielding transitions and no early reward can bias this search in one direction or another. A way to overcome this is to use intrinsic motivation in order to explore new transitions until a reward is found. In this work, we use a recently proposed definition of intrinsic motivation, Curiosity, in an evolutionary policy search method. We propose Curiosity-ES,

1

an evolutionary strategy adapted to use Curiosity as a fitness metric. We compare Curiosity-ES with other evolutionary algorithms intended for exploration, as well as with Curiosity-based reinforcement learning, and find that Curiosity-ES can generate higher diversity without the need for an explicit diversity criterion and leads to more policies which find reward.
Optimization of Image Processing Algorithms for Character Recognition in Cultural Typewritten Documents
Authors: Dias Mariana , Lopes Carla Teixeira
Published: June 2023

Linked data is used in various fields as a new way of structuring and connecting data. Cultural heritage institutions have been using linked data to improve archival descriptions and facilitate the discovery of information. Most archival records have digital representations of physical artifacts in the form of scanned images that are non-machine-readable. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) recognizes text in images and translates it into machine-encoded text. This article evaluates the impact of image processing methods and parameter tuning in OCR applied to typewritten cultural heritage documents. The approach uses a multi-objective problem formulation to minimize Levenshtein edit distance and maximize the number of words correctly identified with a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) to tune the methods’ parameters. Evaluation results show that parameterization by digital representation typology benefits the performance of image pre-processing algorithms in OCR. Furthermore, our findings suggest that employing image pre-processing algorithms in OCR might be more suitable for typologies where the text recognition task without pre-processing does not produce good results. In particular, Adaptive Thresholding, Bilateral Filter, and Opening are the best-performing algorithms for the theater plays’ covers, letters, and overall dataset, respectively, and should be applied before OCR to improve its performance.
DFT Study of Cl− Ingress into Organic Self-Assembled Monolayers on Aluminum
Authors: Chiter Fatah , Costa Dominique , Poberžnik Matic , Milošev Ingrid , Marcus Philippe , Kokalj Anton
Published: June 2023

We address the mechanism by which organic layers on aluminum substrate hinder the penetration of Cl− toward the metal substrate. Localized corrosion by chlorides on Al and its alloys is a major problem, and organic molecules that form self-assembled monolayers on metal substrates may provide efficient corrosion protection. In one of our previous works, we established experimentally that long-chain n-alkyl carboxylic acids form protective layers against Cl− corrosion on Al substrates. In a different work, we identified, using implicit models of the organic layer and metal substrate, two essential effects by which organic layers hinder the penetration of Cl− ions toward the metal substrate. The first effect is due to the inferior solvation of ions in the organic layer compared to that in an aqueous solvent. The second effect is due to the electric field at the electrochemical interface, and the extent to which it affects the penetration of Cl− depends on the electrode potential and the thickness of the organic layer. Both effects are related to a low dielectric constant of the self-assembled monolayer. In the present study, we continue our investigation and explicitly model the organic monolayer and Al substrate using density-functional-theory calculations. To this end, we consider organic monolayers consisting of either dodecanoic- or hexanoic-acid molecules. Current calculations confirm the findings of the simplified implicit models, i.e. the energy barrier for the Cl− penetration increases with the thickness of the organic monolayer and with Cl− concentration in the monolayer. Furthermore, we propose a new mechanism by which Cl− penetrates the organic monolayer. Due to the considerably inferior solvation of Cl− in the organic layer compared to that in water, calculations suggest that it is energetically easier to locally “open” the organic monolayer by creating a hole large enough to accommodate water molecules and Cl−. The presence of water molecules ensures a stronger Cl− solvation and a better electrostatic screening between anions. While the energy barrier for the Cl− penetration via the local “opening” mechanism is suggested to be smaller than for the penetration of Cl− into dense homogeneous organic monolayer, it is still significant enough to pose a considerable kinetic barrier for the penetration of Cl− from the aqueous solution into the organic monolayer at room temperature.
Novel Copolymer-based Electrochemical Sensor for the Facile Determination of Biomarkers of Diabetes and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chandran Amoolya , Kumar K. Girish
Published: June 2023

Apart from the significant physiological roles of hormones and purine metabolites in higher level living organisms, these biomolecules act as recognised biomarkers for early disease detection and its periodical monitoring. This article details the development of a voltammetric sensor based on a copolymer of [L-Cystein (LCys) and 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES)] modified glassy carbon electrode for the selective and sensitive determination of Epinephrine (EP), Uric acid (UA), Xanthine (XA) and Hypoxanthine (HX) individually as well as simultaneously. Different perspectives of electrocopolymer formation and involved reaction mechanisms have been investigated and substantiated via Cyclic voltammetry, ATR and Raman spectroscopy. This copolymer modification enables the formation of well-defined peaks for the analytes and under optimised conditions, the designed sensor possess wide linear range with limit of detection of 9.22 × 10−7 M, 5.147 × 10−7 M, 1.260 × 10−7 M and 2.406 × 10−7 M for EP, UA, XA and HX respectively. Scan rate studies were well employed to derive the mechanistic aspects behind the electrooxidation reactions. The credibility in measurements were validated via repeatability, reproducibility and stability studies. Also, the feasibility of the proposed sensor was examined in real samples and the obtained results were validated via traditional analytical techniques which demonstrates its practical utility in real time monitoring.
Adsorption of 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole Organic Inhibitor and its Effects on Copper Anodic Oxidation in Alkaline Environment
Authors: Garg Vishant , Zanna Sandrine , Seyeux Antoine , Wiame Frédéric , Maurice Vincent , Marcus Philippe
Published: June 2023

The adsorption of 2-MBT organic inhibitor on copper and its effects on anodic oxide growth in NaOH were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry techniques. It is shown that 2-MBT significantly impedes the growth of the Cu(I) oxide by forming a multilayered organic film on the surface. A major factor influencing the formation and properties of the organic barrier layer is the presence and structure of the interfacial native oxide on which it forms. The 2-MBT multilayer bonds to the metallic copper substrate mostly via its sulphur atoms along with a small fraction of the nitrogen atoms also bonding to the metallic substrate. Additionally, there is an interaction between the inhibitor molecules and copper released from the surface to form metal-organic complexes in the outer layers of the thicker films.
Exercise training induces thrombogenic benefits in recent but not late postmenopausal females
Authors: Nørregaard Line Boel , Wickham Kate Aiko , Ehlers Thomas , Rocha Marcos Paulo , Fischer Mads , Lundberg Slingsby Martina H. , Cheung Stephen S. , Evans Phillip Adrian , Bangsbo Jens , Hellsten Ylva
Published: June 2023

Eight weeks of high-intensity exercise training reduces platelet reactivity as well as blood clot density and strength in females ≤5 yr past menopause but not in females ≥10 yr past menopause. The divergent response in the late postmenopausal females may be explained by training-induced low-grade systemic inflammation. These findings suggest that regular physical activity initiated soon after menopause, compared with many years after menopause, may be more efficient for reducing the risk of blood clots.
Metformin protects against pulmonary hypertension-induced right ventricular dysfunction in an age- and sex-specific manner independent of cardiac AMPK
Authors: McNair Benjamin D. , Polson Sydney M. , Shorthill Samantha K. , Yusifov Aykhan , Walker Lori A. , Weiser-Evans Mary C. M. , Kovacs Elizabeth J. , Bruns Danielle R.
Published: June 2023

Right ventricular (RV) function predicts survival in age-related disease, yet mechanisms of RV failure are unclear. We show that aged mice undergo exacerbated RV remodeling compared with young. We tested the AMPK activator metformin to improve RV function and show that metformin attenuates RV remodeling only in adult male mice via a mechanism that does not require cardiac AMPK. Metformin is therapeutic for RV dysfunction in an age- and sex-specific manner independent of cardiac AMPK.
Two-Stream Boundary-Aware Neural Network for Concrete Crack Segmentation and Quantification
Authors: Liu Gaoyang , Ding Wei , Shu Jiangpeng , Strauss Alfred , Duan Yuanfeng
Published: June 2023

Cracks can be important performance indicators for determining damage processes in new and existing concrete structures. In recent years, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown great potential in automatic crack detection and segmentation. However, most of the current CNNs tend to lose high-resolution details and, therefore, lead to blurry object boundaries; this results in poor performance for crack images with complex backgrounds in engineering structures. This study proposes a two-stream boundary-aware crack segmentation (BACS) network that combines semantic image segmentation with semantically informed edge detection explicitly. Firstly, a high-resolution network (HRNet) is utilized in the segmentation branch for strong high-resolution representations through repeatedly conducting multi-scale fusions across parallel convolutions. Furthermore, an edge branch is utilized for preserving fine-grained details of elongated thin cracks, which adopts a modified dynamic feature fusion (DFF) network to produce more accurate and sharper edge predictions. The proposed method is evaluated using a dataset of 1,892 images for three different scenarios. The results show that the mean intersection-over-union (mIoU) scores reach 79.26%, 68.74%, and 70.31% for pure crack, complex background, and variable-width scenarios, respectively. In addition, crack width quantification is performed to validate the accuracy in terms of engineering practice. The BACS achieves high accuracy with an average absolute error of 0.0992 mm, which corresponds to approximately two pixels in the images. In conclusion, the study provides an effective solution for the crack segmentation task, especially for the variable-width scenario, providing an accurate data foundation for the digital twin of concrete structures.
Color Adsorption Performance of Bone Biocomponent for Textile Dyeing Effluent Treatment in Ethiopia
Authors: Kokeb Natinael , Tesfaye Tamrat , Sharew Shalemu , Gebino Gemeda , Asfaw Tinsaye
Published: June 2023

The continued expansion of industrial growth has contributed significantly to the economic development of many countries. However, untreated discharge from the textile factory significant impacts freshwater and public health. The aim of this study is to explore the economical-local wastewater treatment for local textile industries. The experiment used the waste bones as a source of calcium-phosphate nanopowder (CNP) biocomponent, adsorbent for azo dye effluent treatment. An isolated biocomponent was analyzed using FTIR and UV-VIS, and its adsorption isotherm was also calculated. The FTIR analysis of CNP showed carbonates, amide, and high-intensity phosphate peaks of 1008 cm−1 and 1337 cm−1. The effect of contact time analyzed by UV-VIS absorption spectra revealed that 70% of color removal was achieved within 30 minutes and 60 minutes for disperse red 1 dye (DR1D) and DCT reactive blue 109 dyes (RB109D), respectively. In addition, the effects of the condition parameters on percentage color removal were analyzed using DOE response surface methodology. The maximum color removal performances are 98.65% and 96%, respectively, for DR1D and RB109D at neutral pH. The Langmuir isotherm was observed in the adsorption of RB109D effluent with an R2 value of 0.994 and the Freundlich isotherm in the adsorption of DR1D with an R2 value of 0.993. Finally, the gauge of the effectiveness of treatment was analyzed by COD, BOD, and TSS values before and after treatment. The maximum deduction percentages of COD, BOD, and TSS were 82, 87, and 70% from RB109D; 89, 90, and 89% from DR1D; and 82, 89, and 71% from the industry sample, respectively. Generally, the study showed that the current adsorbent was a good substitute for synthetic adsorbents.
Laparoscopic Repair of Bochdalek Hernia: A Rare Presentation of Abdominal Pain in the Elderly
Authors: Steen Christopher , Lee Jia Hui , Wong Enoch , Mackay Sean
Published: June 2023

Bochdalek hernias (BHs) are rare, and the presentation, diagnosis, and management of them can be complex. We present a 70-year-old man presenting with left flank pain who underwent a successful laparoscopic repair of BH with mesh placement.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule Subsidised Existing Utilisation of Dental Care over Addressing Unmet Needs
Authors: Stormon Nicole , Sowa Marcin
Published: June 2023

Priority Populations in oral health are defined as people from remote areas of Australia, low-income households, specialised medical needs, and Indigenous people. Children in these groups have irregular dental visiting patterns and a higher proportion have never accessed services. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a means-tested policy which provides financial support for eligible children to access dental services. This study aimed to explore how the introduction of CDBS affected dental visiting behaviours of Priority Populations. The outcomes of interest were the use of CDBS and its monetary benefit in the four-year period post-CDBS implementation based on a sample from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Binary logit and linear models with interaction terms were used to estimate the effect of priority status and previous reported dental visiting behaviours on the probability of use and the value of subsidy claimed from CDBS. Of the children with no previous access to dental services, 33.7% were CDBS users, compared to 29.9%, 41.1%, and 44.1% who reported historically accessing services once, twice, and thrice, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, there were no significant interactions between Priority Populations and previously reported visiting behaviours; however, the pattern of lower utilisation by those with no previously reported access was evident. The state of Western Australia had a significantly lower proportion of estimated utilisation compared to all other states and territories. Children from low-income families benefitted relatively more from CDBS compared to other income groups; however, only a small proportion of the program was used to subsidise new utilisation of dental care. Children with unfavourable past dental visiting behaviours are likely to have higher unmet need, face barriers to access, and the oral health benefit is likely to be the highest. Policymakers should consider how this and similar programs can better target populations with difficulty accessing services, which will also contribute to reducing inequalities in oral health outcomes.
Study on the Division of the Affected Zone under Construction Unloading and Its Construction Sequence of the Multiline Parallel River-Crossing Pipe Jacking
Authors: Ziguang Zhang , Ruijin Mao , Jiesheng Zhang , Xuefeng Wang , Mengqing Zhang
Published: June 2023

There are many advantages of reasonably determining the affected zone and its construction sequence for the multiline parallel pipe-jacking construction, such as convenient to reasonably arrange the pipeline section distribution mode, reducing the construction safety risk, and construction difficulty. Combined with the engineering construction practice of the multiline parallel pipe-jacking project for the north city drainage and flood control project through Chu River in Hefei, the strength reduction method has been utilized to study the surrounding stratum FOS for the pipe-jacking construction unloading under different overburden thickness Hs, different clear distance D, and different river water depth

H

w

in this paper. The formula of the minimum critical overburden thickness Hsmin and the minimum critical clear distance Dmin of the surrounding stratum self-stability during pipe-jacking construction unloading have been derived. The division method of the affected zone for the multiline parallel river-crossing pipe-jacking construction which behaves as the mutual influence nonself-stability zone, the mutual influence self-stability zone, and the no mutual influence self-stability zone has been proposed. For further discussion, the construction sequence of the multiline parallel river-crossing pipe jacking has been studied.
Replacement of Dietary Fishmeal with Clostridium autoethanogenum Protein on Lipidomics and Lipid Metabolism in Muscle of Pearl Gentian Grouper
Authors: Xu Jia , Huang Bocheng , Chi Shuyan , Zhang Shuang , Cao Junming , Tan Beiping , Xie Shiwei
Published: June 2023

Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) is an economical and alternative protein source. Here, three experimental diets were formulated with CAP replacing 0% (CAP-0), 30% (CAP-30), and 60% (CAP-60) of fishmeal to investigate the alterations of structure integrity, fatty acids profiles, and lipid metabolism in the muscle of pearl gentian grouper. With increasing levels of CAP substitution, the percentages of 16 : 0 or 18 : 0 were decreased in triglycerides (TG) and diacylglycerols (DG); 18 : 1 or 18 : 2 was increased at the sn−1 and sn−2 positions in phosphatidylethanolamines; 20 : 5n−3 was increased in TG and DG. The phosphatidylcholines (PC) (18 : 3/20 : 5), PC(22 : 6/17 : 1), and sphingomyelins (d19 : 0/24 : 4) were identified as potential lipid biomarkers between CAP treatments. The CAP-30 treatment enhanced lipolysis and lipogenesis, while the CAP-60 treatment inhibited lipogenesis. In conclusion, fishmeal replacement with CAP affected the lipid characteristics and lipid metabolism, whereas it did not affect the structural integrity and fatty acids profiles in the muscle of pearl gentian grouper.
A New Method for Calculating Anchor Mesh Parameters Based on the Energy Absorption Mechanism of Helmet
Authors: Niu Xiangdong , Hou Kepeng , Sun Huafen
Published: June 2023

Considering the pressure-bearing mechanism of the safety helmet and as an anchored net is subjected to the surrounding rock mass, researchers should regard the support force as a safety criterion. Thus, a method for calculating the anchored mesh support parameters (mesh width and reinforcement diameter) is proposed in this paper. The method can provide a theoretical basis for selecting the technical parameters of an anchored mesh in active support in underground engineering. Calculation results show that a strong power relationship exists between the mesh width a of the anchor net and the distance h3 from the anchor net to the top of the worker’s safety helmet, that is,

a
=
12.891

e

−
0.065

h

3

, and the correlation coefficient is

R

2

=
0.947

. Moreover, the mesh width of the anchored mesh decreases with an increase in the distance from the anchored mesh to the top of the worker’s safety helmet. The anchored mesh parameters designed and selected by this method ensure that the rocks falling from the anchored mesh pose no safety threat to the workers wearing helmets. The parameters also prevent an excessively large steel wire/steel bar diameter of the anchored mesh, which lowers support costs and makes the selected technical parameters of the anchored mesh economical and safe.
An Optimization Ranking Approach Based on Weighted Citation Networks and P-Rank Algorithm
Authors: Jiang Jian-feng , Xu Shen , You Lan-tao
Published: June 2023

Evaluating scientific articles has always been a challenging task, made even more difficult by the constantly evolving citation networks. Despite numerous attempts at solving this problem, most existing approaches fail to consider the link relationships within the citation network, which can often result in biased evaluation results. To overcome this limitation, we present an optimization ranking algorithm that leverages the P-Rank algorithm and weighted citation networks to provide a more accurate article ranking. The proposed approach employs two hyperbolic tangent functions to calculate the corresponding age of articles and the number of citations, while also updating the link relationships of each paper node in the citation network. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach using three evaluation indicators and conduct experiments on three public datasets. The obtained experimental results demonstrate that the optimization article ranking method can achieve competitive performance when compared to other unweighted ranking algorithms. In addition, we note that the optimal Spearman’s rank correlation and robustness can all be achieved by using a combination of the following parameters:α=10,β=5, andγ=2.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Parkinson’s Disease: A Case-Controlled Registry and Questionnaire Study on Clinical Markers and Patients’ Perceptions
Authors: Cedergren Weber Gustav , Timpka Jonathan , Bergquist Filip , Bäckström David , Dizdar Nil , Gunnarsson Karin , Nyholm Dag , Svenningsson Per , Odin Per
Published: June 2023

Introduction. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with motor and nonmotor symptoms. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Objectives. To explore how COVID-19 affects motor, nonmotor, and general health aspects of PD and to map how PD patients perceive their change in symptoms since falling ill with COVID-19. Method. The study was descriptive, case-controlled, and based on both registry and questionnaire data. At baseline, the controls were matched on age, sex, and disease severity. Information on the severity of the disease, nonmotor symptoms, motor symptoms, and general health was retrieved from the Swedish Registry for PD. Registry data from a COVID-19 group (

n
=
45

) and a control group (

n
=
73

), as well as questionnaires from a COVID-19 group (

n
=
24

) and a control group (

n
=
42

), were compared. Results. We did not find that SARS-CoV-2 infection affects any major aspect of nonmotor symptoms, motor symptoms, general health, and perception of change in PD patients’ post-COVID-19. Compared to controls, the COVID-19 group reported a more positive subjective experience of pain and quality of life and a perception of change post-COVID-19 regarding general motor function, sleep quality, and mood (all

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection does not seem to affect PD symptoms in any major respect, the subjective experience of several aspects of life in PD patients might be slightly improved post-COVID-19 compared to a control group. The findings warrant further investigations due to the small sample size and possible survivorship bias.
Productivity Formula of Horizontal Well in Low-Permeability Gas Reservoir considering Multiple Factors
Authors: Feng Yan , Li Mingqiu , Deng Qingyuan , Yu Peng , Li Xiuqing , Yang Xi
Published: June 2023

For horizontal well in low-permeability gas reservoir, the effects of threshold pressure gradient, stress sensitivity, and gas slippage have significant impacts on the well productivity. At present, there are few productivity formulas for horizontal gas well considering all these factors. In this paper, based on the flow analysis of horizontal well in low-permeability gas reservoir, the whole flow field was divided into two parts, namely, far wellbore region and near wellbore region, among which the far wellbore region is composed of plane linear flow region and plane radial flow region and the near wellbore region is composed of vertical plane radial flow region and spherical plane central flow region. Then, a new productivity formula is established based on the steady-state seepage theory and the equivalent seepage resistance method, with the consideration of threshold pressure gradient, stress sensitivity, and gas slippage effect. The accuracy of the formula in this paper is verified through comparing with other classical models, and the influence of various factors on the well productivity is analyzed. The analysis results show that stress sensitivity has the most significant effect on horizontal gas well production, followed by threshold pressure gradient, and the gas slippage has the least effect. With the consideration of all influencing factors, the higher the formation pressure and reservoir thickness, the higher the productivity, and the increase of productivity increases with the increase of flow pressure difference. The increasing trend of gas productivity index per meter with the increase of reservoir permeability is first fast and then slow. When the reservoir permeability is greater than 1.2 mD, the increment of gas productivity index per meter (MGPI) decreases. When the length of horizontal well is greater than 1400 m, the increment of gas productivity index per meter decreases with the increase of gas reservoir thickness. Therefore, it is recommended to control the horizontal well length within 1400 m in low-permeability gas reservoir. In addition, the absolute open flow charts corresponding to reservoir thickness and horizontal well length under different reservoir permeability conditions were also given, which can provide theoretical guidance for the selection of horizontal well length during the development of low-permeability gas reservoirs.
Strategic Vigilance: Mao's “Anti-Peaceful Evolution” Strategy and China's Policy toward the United States, 1959–1976
Authors: Zhang Yang
Published: June 2023

In late 1959, Mao Zedong publicly articulated his Anti-Peaceful Evolution strategy in response to U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles's promotion of the “peaceful evolution toward democracy” in a series of recent speeches. Mao's new strategy, which was heavily influenced by the internal and external pressures he faced, became the ideological foundation of his ultra-radical, uncompromising policy toward the United States. This article analyzes the influence of his anti-revisionist ideology and permanent revolution theory, as well as the distorting effects of incoming information. Mao was intent on countering Dulles and undercutting U.S. foreign policy more broadly.
Keertanam and Bhajanam: The Faith (Literacy) Practices of the Telugu Community in Plural Mauritius
Authors: Venkanah Srutee , Auleear Owodally Ambarin Mooznah
Published: June 2023

The Telugu community, an ethno-religious minority community in Mauritius, uses and teaches Keertanam and Bhajanam (devotional songs in Telugu, an imagined ancestral language) as part of its faith practices. The present exploratory study, focusing on Keertanam and Bhajanam classes in one village temple, investigates the connection between faith practices, faith literacy practices, ancestral languages, and identities in that setting. Data were collected through participant observation, informal conversations with members of the community, and artifacts. The data indicate that the members of the observed Telugu community are endeavoring to revivify and reinvigorate an (imagined) ancestral language (in its oral and written forms) by using a faith practice that has been passed down generations and by drawing on the scriptal resources at their disposal. We argue that members of the observed Telugu community use these strategies to maintain, articulate, and publicly display their ethno-religio-linguistic identity and distinctiveness within the larger Hindu community in Mauritius.
Do Different Majority Languages Lead to Different Intonational Grammars? A Case Study of Yes/No-Questions in Heritage Russian
Authors: Zuban Yulia , Rathcke Tamara , Zerbian Sabine
Published: June 2023

Based on production data of yes/no-questions (YNQ), our research shows that the intonational grammar of YNQ s of heritage speakers of Russian in the United States and in Germany differs from the one of monolingual speakers in various aspects, namely considering the number of additional pitch accents on subjects and objects, the preference for H* on subjects, and, in the case of heritage speakers in the United States, an increased use of upstepped accents on the verb, a lower rate of H%, and a different alignment of rising pitch accents in intransitive questions. The differences can be categorized as differences of phonetic implementation and frequency of use. They cannot easily be attributed to transfer from the majority languages. Rather, the increased use of upsteps on the verb can be characterized as a compensation strategy to make the pitch accent on the verb the most prominent, even if an earlier accent has been realized on the subject.
Corporate Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements for Climate Change and Human Rights
Authors: Studdert Jacinta , Govender Valencia , Spies Johann , Jarque Branguli Marta , Nievas Sofia , Roca Silva Maria Fernanda , Zhu Wen , Diebschlag Pryderi , Sassine Remi , Cilliers Wim , Swart Kate , Szuniewicz-Wenzel Milena , Hill-Smith Sarah , Wolters Saskia , Wang Catherine
Published: June 2023

Human rights, climate and nature-related corporate due diligence and reporting requirements differ around the world. In this article, we examine the legal and regulatory landscape that businesses are faced with in the following eight jurisdictions: (i) Australia; (ii) Chile; (iii) Mainland China; (iv) Hong Kong; (v) Colombia; (vi) France; (vii) South Africa; and (viii) the United Kingdom. We also provide a snapshot of key climate and sustainability-related legal developments in these jurisdictions, including important climate litigation and new legislation. Our findings indicate that reporting standards and regulatory requirements are evolving in each jurisdiction, and they show that a further increase in climate-related litigation is anticipated across these jurisdictions.
Nature-Based Solution to Man-Made Problems: Fostering the Uptake of Phytoremediation and Low-iluc Biofuels in the EU
Authors: Fermeglia Matteo , Perišić Marko
Published: June 2023

Soil contamination represents a major global environmental threat. Only in the European Union, around 340.000 contaminated sites are inventoried. At the same time, the need to foster the uptake of sustainable biofuels to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector is one of the pillars of the EU’s climate action to achieve the overarching goals set under the European Climate Law and the Renewable Energy Directive. Against this backdrop, nature-based solutions for soil remediation are increasingly being advocated as sustainable options to enhance soil biodiversity while addressing soil contamination in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and, in the EU, the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Among several nature-based soil remediation techniques, phytoremediation consists of the use of plants and their associated microbes to stabilise, degrade, volatilise and extract soil pollutants. Furthermore, the non-food biomass generated as a result of phytoremediation could provide a meaningful low Indirect Land Use Change (iluc) feedstock for the production of advanced biofuels to reduce climate change.

This paper addresses the policy and legal background surrounding the uptake of phytoremediation and recovery of output materials focusing on existing roadblocks currently hampering the full-scale adoption of such a complex yet inherently circular value chain. The paper concludes that meaningful steps must yet be taken to properly embed nature-based soil remediation techniques, such as phytoremediation, in the current legal framework and to ensure social ownership of the same to maximise its environmental benefits.
An Arabic-Greek Codex of Ptolemy’s Handy Tables from the Eighth Century
Authors: Giuffrida Giuliano , Németh András , Proverbio Delio Vania
Published: June 2023

A Greek copy of Ptolemy’s Handy Tables and an Arabic translation of Theon’s Short Commentary on them survive as undertexts in the palimpsest manuscript Vat. sir. 623. pt. 2. The parchment leaves containing these texts were recycled into a new codex at the Monastery of St. Catherine on Sinai in the late ninth century, but they belonged to the same original manuscript and are considered the only surviving witnesses to the project of translating Greek thought into Arabic at the so-called “House of Wisdom” in Baghdad during the second half of the eighth century. In order to show the importance of this startling discovery made in the Vatican Library, the article not only includes an historical, codicological, and paleographical examination of the erased texts and repurposed folios, but also presents an astronomical explanation of the theories and calculations they contain. The article highlights the list of Greek-Arabic winds and its link to Ptolemy’s Horizon Diagram, as well as stresses the continued applicability of Ptolemy and Theon’s presentations. It further argues for a reconsideration of the meaning of an ancient theory of the “inclinations” that the Sun and the Moon (or the Moon and the Earth’s shadow) create during eclipses, the phenomenon which is called prosneusis.
A revision of the gudgeon genus Hypseleotris (Gobiiformes: Gobioidei: Eleotridae) of northwest Australia, describing three new species and synonymizing the genus Kimberleyeleotris
Authors: SHELLEY JAMES J. , DELAVAL AURÉLIEN , FEUVRE MATTHEW C. LE
Published: June 2023

Species within the northwest Australian clade of Hypseleotris (six species) and the genus Kimberleyeleotris (two species) are reviewed following the recording of new populations in the region and a molecular study of the group that identified three undescribed candidate species. Based on the analysis of extensive morphological and nuclear and mitochondrial molecular datasets, Kimberleyeleotris is here formally synonymised with Hypseleotris. Furthermore, three species from the Kimberley region, Western Australia, are described to science: Hypseleotris maranda sp. nov., Hypseleotris wunduwala sp. nov., and Hypseleotris garawudjirri sp. nov. The presence of, or number of scales across the head and body, the pattern of sensory papillae on the head, fin ray counts, dorsal and anal fin colouration (particularly in breeding males), and body depth, can be used to distinguish the members of the northwest Australia lineage. Furthermore, the newly described species were genetically separated from all northwest Australian congeners by K2P distances ranging from 7.8–11.3% based on the CO1 gene, and 7.7–16.3 % based on the entire mitochondrial genome. Two of the new species, H. maranda sp. nov. and H. wunduwala sp. nov., have extremely narrow ranges being found in single sub-catchments of the Roe and King Edward Rivers respectively. On the other hand, H. garawudjirri sp. nov. is moderately widespread, being found across the Charnley, Calder, and Sale rivers. While the conservation risk to H. maranda sp. nov. and H. wunduwala sp. nov. is inherently high due to their small range, there are currently no obvious local threatening processes to either of these species given their remote locations that are little impacted by human activities.
Outcomes of Protocol-Driven Venous Thromboembolic Chemo-Prophylaxis in Trauma Patients: A Trauma Quality Improvement Project Analysis
Authors: Kyros Peter N. , Sheppard Forest R. , Sawhney Jaswin S. , Cullinane Daniel C. , Falank Carolyne R. , Smith Kathryn E. , Ontengco Julianne B. , Turner Elizabeth N. , Chung Bruce , Shurtleff Eric , Morse Bryan C.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is the standard for venous thromboembolic (VTE) chemo-prophylaxis in trauma patients; however, inconsistencies in the use of LMWH exist. The objective of this study was to assess VTE outcomes in response to a chemo-prophylaxis protocol guided by patient physiology (eg, creatinine clearance) and comorbidities.

Methods

ACS TQIP Benchmark Reports at a level 1 trauma center using a patient physiology and comorbidity directed VTE chemo-prophylaxis protocol were analyzed for Spring 2019 to Fall 2021. Patient demographics, VTE rates and pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis type were collected for “All Patients” and “Elderly” (TQIP: age ≥ 55 years) cohorts.

Results

Data was analyzed for 1919183 “All Hospitals” (AH) and 5843 patients single institution (SI) using the physiologic and comorbidity guided VTE chemo-prophylaxis protocol. Elderly subgroup had 701965 (AH) and 2939 (SI) patients. Use of non-LMWH chemo-prophylaxis was significantly higher at SI: All patients = 62.6% SI vs 22.1% ( P < .01); Elderly = 68.8% SI vs 28.1% AH ( P < .01). VTE, DVT, and PE rates for All Patients and Elderly subgroup were significantly reduced at SI, except Elderly PE which was statistically equivalent.

Conclusions

Protocol-driven VTE chemo-prophylaxis was associated with significantly lower LMWH use accompanied by significant reductions in All VTE, DVT, PE, and Elderly VTE and DVT with no difference in Elderly PE rates. These results may imply that adherence to a physiologic and comorbidity directed chemo-prophylaxis protocol, rather than LMWH, reduces VTE events in trauma patients. Further investigation to elucidate best practice is warranted.
Effect of Sarcopenia on Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden, Lesion Complexity, and Major Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A 1-year Follow-up Study
Authors: Erkan Merve , Zengin İsmet , Bekircavuşoğlu Süleyman , Topal Dursun , Bulut Turhan , Erkan Hakan
Published: June 2023

Sarcopenia is accepted as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis. However, its effects on clinical coronary atherosclerotic burden and lesion complexity and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in elderly patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated these possible effects. Coronary artery disease (CAD) burden and complexity were assessed using the Gensini and TAXus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score, respectively. MACE involving nonfatal myocardial infarction, rehospitalization, ischemic stroke, and total mortality were evaluated after 1 year of the index NSTEMI event. The study included 240 elderly patients; of these, 60 (25%) patients had sarcopenia. The SYNTAX score and Gensini score were similar in both groups (16.8 ± 8.7 vs 17.3 ± 9.2, P = .63 and 67.7 ± 43.9 vs 73.9 ± 45.5, P = .31, respectively). The total MACE rate was significantly higher in patients with sarcopenia than in those without sarcopenia (31.7 vs 14.4%, P = .003). In the multivariate model, age [odds ratio (OR) 1.112, 95% CI: 1.006–1.228, P = .04)], ejection fraction (OR: .923, 95% CI: .897–.951, P < .001), and sarcopenia (OR: 2.262, 95% CI: 1.039–4.924, P = .04) were independently associated with MACE. Sarcopenia was independently associated with MACE but not with CAD burden or complexity in elderly patients with NSTEMI.
Cultural competency and mental health training for medical students: Learning from refugees and asylum seekers
Authors: Silver Charlotte , Williams Sara , Forty Liz
Published: June 2023

Objective:

Studies suggest that healthcare professionals often feel unprepared to deal with mental health issues in refugees and asylum seekers. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers in relation to mental health and healthcare, to inform cultural competency training for undergraduate medical students.

Method:

Focus groups were conducted with 16 refugees and asylum seekers and staff from relevant charity organisations in Wales. We explored participants’ experiences in relation to mental health and healthcare, and training for healthcare professionals. The data were thematically analysed using an inductive approach.

Results:

Three overarching themes were identified: (1) recognition of the specific mental health needs of refugees and asylum seekers, (2) barriers preventing effective mental healthcare delivery for refugees and asylum seekers and (3) authentic learning experiences for medical students.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first study to actively involve refugees and asylum seekers, along with individuals who work closely with this population, in considering the development of cultural competency training for healthcare students and professionals in relation to mental health. If we are to reduce the risks of exclusion from healthcare for refugees and asylum seekers, training in this area is essential. Findings from this study have informed the development of a guide for healthcare educators with a focus on refugee and asylum seeker mental health.