bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A priori bounds for GIETs, affine shadows and rigidity of foliations in genus two
Authors: Ghazouani Selim , Ulcigrai Corinna
Published: October 2023

We prove a rigidity result for foliations on surfaces of genus two, which can be seen as a generalization to higher genus of Herman’s theorem on circle diffeomorphisms and, correspondingly, flows on the torus. We prove in particular that, if a smooth, orientable foliation with non-degenerate (Morse) singularities on a closed surface of genus two is minimal, then, under a full measure condition for the rotation number, it is differentiably conjugate to a linear foliation.

The corresponding result at the level of Poincaré sections is that, for a full measure set of (standard) interval exchange transformations (IETs for short) with $d=4$
d
=
4
or $d=5$
d
=
5
continuity intervals and irreducible combinatorics, any generalized interval exchange transformation (GIET for short) which is topologically conjugate to a standard IET from this set and satisfies an obstruction expressed in terms of boundary operator (which is automatically satisfied when the GIET arises as a Poincaré map of a smooth foliation) is $\mathcal{C}^{1}$

C
1

-conjugate to it. This in particular settles a conjecture by Marmi, Moussa and Yoccoz in genus two. Our results also show that this conjecture on the rigidity of GIETs can be reduced to the study of affine IETs, or more precisely of Birkhoff sums of piecewise constant observables over standard IETs, in genus $g \geq 3$
g
≥
3
.

Our approach is via renormalization, namely we exploit a suitable acceleration of the Rauzy-Veech induction (an acceleration which makes Oseledets generic effective) on the space of GIETs. For in ly renormalizable, irrational GIETs of any number of intervals $d\geq 2$
d
≥
2
we prove a dynamical dichotomy on the behaviour of the orbits under renormalization, by proving that either an orbit is recurrent to certain bounded sets in the space of GIETs, or it diverges and it is approximated (up to lower order terms) by the orbit of an affine IET (a case that we refer to as affine shadowing). This result can in particular be used, in conjunction with previous work by Marmi-Moussa and Yoccoz on the existence of wandering intervals for affine IETs, to prove, a priori bounds in genus two and is therefore at the base of the rigidity result.
Earthquake and structural engineering science for civil protection
Authors: Dolce Mauro
Published: October 2023

A close relationship between civil protection organizations and scientific community is widely recognized today at international and European level as being of paramount importance for the effectiveness of research products in their application for disaster risk management. In this perspective, European research projects on risks are more and more focused on application oriented outcomes, requiring the involvement of civil protection organizations, and creating a well-structured knowledge network within a European civil protection framework. For about forty years, the Italian civil protection has been relying upon the contribution of the scientific community to find the best solutions based on the most advanced and consolidated knowledge, for activities that concern the management of the entire disaster risk cycle. The interactions between civil protection and scientific community in Italy are mainly based on the so-called Competence Centers, i.e. the scientific operational partners of the Civil Protection Department (DPC), and on the Major Risks Commission, i.e. the technical-scientific advisory body of DPC. They both work with an interdisciplinary, multisectoral and, when necessary, multi-hazard risk approach. This paper aims to describe how Competence Centers presently operate, in a way that has evolved over the years. The focus will be on scientific activities and products related to the earthquake and structural engineering science, emphasizing the way of operating and collaborating of Competence Centers, consistently with the principles of the Italian Civil Protection Code.
Ultrasound assistance synthesis of optimized ion imprinted polymer for efficient and selective removal of cobalt ions from waste streams
Authors: Hamed Mahmoud Goneam , Borai Emad Hassan
Published: October 2023

Selective recognition of metal ions is a real challenge for a large range of applications especially in sorption purposes. The use of ultrasound in the synthesizing and modifying of sodium alginate-based material is investigated, for enhancing the dispersion, degassing, crosslinking processes and enhance the homogeneity of ion imprinted polymer properties. Cobalt imprinted polymer was prepared using an inexpensive and simple ultrasonic-mediated polymerization process that incorporated dual functional monomers, acrylic acid, and 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid to feature a multifunctional of carboxylic and sulfonic groups. SEM, TGA, DTA, and EDX were used to analyze the surface morphology. FT-IR study confirmed that the complexation of the Co-IIP was successfully takes place. The ability of the adsorption of ion imprinted was optimized at pH 5. The increase of the temperature from 27 to 52 °C caused the increase in the adsorption capacity. Batch tests have been performed to evaluate the selectivity mechanism, and found that the prepared polymer exhibit excellent selectivity for Cobalt, more than nickel, and strontium at 300°K (single component) were 71, 20, and 12 mg.g−1 respectively. Pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm gave the most satisfactory explanation for the adsorption process. The prepared polymer can be reused 5 times with a very low loss in adsorption capacity. The prepared ion imprinted polymer is efficiently utilized in controlling Co2+ sorption/desorption processes, enabling its successful recovery from complex sample matrices for various applications especially that required separation processes.
Aquaporins-mediated water availability in substrates for cannabis cultivation in relation to CBD yield
Authors: Ortiz-Delvasto Nidia , Garcia-Gomez Pablo , Carvajal Micaela , Bárzana Gloria
Published: October 2023

Aims

The objective of this study was to identify the most suitable substrate for Cannabis sativa L. cultivation based on its effects on water relations and Cannabidiol (CBD) production.

Methods

Biomass, physiological parameters, minerals, changes in the expression levels of plasma membrane intrinsic Proteins (PIP) and CBD concentration was measured in C. sativa (var. Tiborszallasi) plants cultivated on 5 substrates with different physical–chemical characteristics.

Results

The substrates available water (AW) was the main factor affecting growth and production. The efficiency of the water use was governed fundamentally by transpiration. Experimental substrates(S) 1 and 3 (S1 and S3) were those in which the plants grew optimally and allows plants to invest energy in secondary metabolites production acquiring high levels of CBD. The plants grown in S2 and S5, composed by coconut fiber and perlite, showed the lowest growth in agreement with low transpiration rates which reduce the water uptake. S5 substrate, with some available water (AW) still present, is forcing plants to invest energy in improving water and nutrient transport, as observed by the high levels of nutrients in planta and PIPs expression levels. S4 plants presented the highest inflorescence production and CBD content, which can be attributed to plant stress due to the low levels of AW and high pH and electrical conductivity (EC).

Conclusion

The absorption of water and minerals by plants has been affected by PIP-mediated water transport, playing key roles for the optimal utilization of the water present in the substrates, with specific isoforms involved in these responses.
Assesment of Hypoderma infestation in a wild population of Cervus elaphus from mountains Atlantic ecosystems in southwestern Europe (Spain)
Authors: González Sara , Panadero Rosario , Del Rio María Luisa , Díez María Natividad , del Rosario Hidalgo María , Martínez Angélica
Published: October 2023

Hypodermosis in Cervus elaphus was studied in the Riaño Regional Hunting Reserve, Province of León, north-western Spain. One hundred and ten red deer were examined for the presence of warble fly larvae. They were analyzed by PCR analysis of the COI region of mt-DNA and identified as Hypoderma actaeon. The prevalence of larvae was 42.7% with a mean intensity of 12.5 ± 18 (range 1–80) warbles/deer infested. The distribution of larvae in the infested animals showed an aggregated/overdispersed pattern (aggregation index = 25.84), where the larvae are not randomly or uniformly distributed, but strongly aggregated among their hosts. Larvae were found in all three states. First and second-instars were observed mainly in the autumn until the end of winter (November-March) and third-instars in late winter until mid-spring (March–May). The adult animals and the males had a higher prevalence than the young and the females, finding statistically significant differences only according to the sex of the animals. Seasonal variations were observed in the prevalence with the highest number of infested animals in winter and autumn, but not in terms of the mean intensity of parasites. Additionally, we assessed the presence of anti-Hypoderma antibodies in serum by means of indirect ELISA tests, using a crude larval extract (CLE) and a purified fraction the hypodermin C (HyC) obtained from first instars of Spanish isolates of Hypoderma lineatum (cattle). These findings confirm that H. actaeon is widely distributed in northern Spain, and provide new information about its chronobiology in mountainous Atlantic ecosystems from southwestern Europe.
Influence of Inoculum to Substrate Ratio and Substrates Mixing Ratio on Biogas Production from the Anaerobic Co-digestion of Phragmites australis and Food Waste
Authors: Al-Iraqi Ahmed R. , Gandhi Bhushan P. , Folkard Andrew M. , Barker Philip A. , Semple Kirk T.
Published: October 2023

This study focused on determining the effect of the inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) on biogas production efficiency from the anaerobic co-digestion of two substrates: synthetic food waste and common reeds (Phragmites australis) that were ground and pre-treated using sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 2% to increase access to their cellulose. It also studied the role of different mixing ratios of the two substrates in improving the stability of the digestion process and increasing biogas production. A series of batch tests were carried out under mesophilic conditions using three ratios of ISR: 1:4, 1:2, and 1:1, and five substrate mixing ratios (synthetic food waste: pre-treated P. australis): 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0, and 0:100. The results showed low biogas production at the ISR 1:4 (21.58±0.00–44.46±0.01 mL/g volatile solid (VS) added), and the reactors suffered from acidification at the different substrates mixing ratios, while the biogas production increased at an ISR of 1:2, where the reactors with the substrate mixing ratio of 25:75 presented the highest biogas production (82.17±0.62 mL/g VS added), and the digestion process was stable. However, the reactors with substrate mixing ratios of 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 suffered from acidification effects at this ISR. In contrast, at ISR of 1:1, the reactors did not expose to acidification inhibition at all the substrates mixing ratios, and the highest biogas production was found at synthetic food waste: pre-treated P. australis mixing ratios of 75:25 and 100:0 (76.15±1.85 and 82.47±1.85 mL/g VS added, respectively).
Latent Childhood Exposure to Mixtures of Metals and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in 4–5-Year-Old Children Living in Spain
Authors: Notario-Barandiaran L. , Díaz-Coto S. , Jimenez-Redondo N. , Guxens M. , Vrijheid M. , Andiarena A. , Irizar A. , Riaño-Galan I. , Fernández-Somoano A. , Llop S. , Lozano M. , Karagas M. R. , Meharg A. , Carey M. , Meharg C. , Ralphs K. , McCreanor C. , Vioque J. , Martinez-Camblor P. , Signes-Pastor A. J.
Published: October 2023

Neurodevelopmental disorders are increasing globally, and metal exposure may play a significant role as an environmental factor. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify metal mixture patterns and assess their impact on children’s neurodevelopment. Data from 962 children (aged 4–5 years) participating in the Spanish INMA cohort study were analysed. Urinary metal concentrations (cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and arsenic speciation) were used as exposure biomarkers. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed four latent exposure variables representing uncorrelated metal mixture patterns. Linear regression analyses examined the associations between these variables and children’s neuropsychological functions assessed through the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities. The first latent exposure variable (Cu, Se, Pb, Zn) and the second (inorganic arsenic, monomethylarsonic acid) showed negative associations with verbal executive function (ß =  − 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) =  − 3.17 to − 0.59) and gross motor function (ß =  − 1.41, 95% CI =  − 2.36 to − 0.46), respectively. Conversely, the third variable (Mo, Co) and the fourth (arsenobetaine) exhibited positive associations with visual and verbal span functions (ß = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.16 to 2.12) and fine motor function (ß = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.11 to 1.92), respectively. This study suggests that even relatively low levels of metal latent exposures, notably inorganic arsenic and a mixture of metals including Pb, adversely affect children’s neuropsychological development function scores, while exposure to arsenobetaine and a mixture of Co and Mo has a positive impact.
In the land of tin men? Warrior stelae, mobility, and interaction in western Iberia during the Late Prehistory
Authors: Rodríguez-Corral Javier , Rodríguez-Rellán Carlos
Published: October 2023

The warrior stelae, also called southwestern stelae or western stelae, emerge as one of the most characteristic manifestations of the Bronze Age in Iberia. Since the earliest findings more than a century ago, these monoliths have received great attention from scholars, becoming the subject of an intense debate, without a consensus having been reached on their meaning and sense. A slow but steady trickle of new findings, as well as the implementation of new approaches to their study, has only enriched these discussions in recent years. One of the most successful lines has been the spatial analysis focused on the relationship of these monuments with routes, transit areas, and resources of great value. It is within this line that this article explores the potential relationship that the stelae may have had with a critical mineral resource: the tin ores distributed in western Iberia, which is the highest concentration of this mineral in Europe. To do this, a detailed spatial analysis has been conducted in order to explore if the uneven density of these monuments across western Iberia may be linked with the presence of tin ores or, alternatively, with the control of the routes that allowed the circulation of this mineral by land.
Becoming an English language teacher over lines of desire: Stories of lived experiences
Authors: Nigar Nashid , Kostogriz Alex , Gurney Laura
Published: October 2023

Beyond the notion of decision-making of career choice just being rational, this article proposes the primacy of ‘affect’ in the decision to become teachers over time. The article explores the becoming of immigrant English language teachers as an identity formation process, focusing on the lived experiences of 16 English language teachers since early childhood, mostly prior to their migration to Australia. Findings of the hermeneutic phenomenological narrative analysis of the teachers’ reflective accounts revealed two lines of becoming and their intersections—the line of becoming an English language learner and the line of becoming an English language teacher through decision-making for career choice. The histories of their initial professional decision to ‘become’ English teachers demonstrate the interplay of socially produced desires and personal investment in professional learning and capabilities since early childhood. Through unravelling the assemblages within which their desires to become teachers were fomented and strengthened through embodied lived experiences over a long period of time, we argue that the concept of English teachers’ ‘desired becoming’ informed their initial and long-term decision about career choice. This notion provides a window into the teachers’ decision-making of career choice in terms of the formation of their professional identities as an interplay of the affective and the rational. Embracing and appreciating the combined role of the affective and the rational in teachers’ becoming is important to consider in future research in this area as well as for teacher recruitment and retention, hence potentially addressing critical teacher shortages.
From disenfranchisement to hope through youth-adult participatory action research
Authors: Howell Angelique
Published: October 2023

This paper proposes dovetailing the concept of youth-adult partnership with youth participatory action research to generate a methodology of youth-adult participatory action research. Within contemporary education, deficit-oriented discourses of hopelessness and demoralisation among ‘at risk’ young people and their teachers, particularly those in marginalised and/or high poverty communities, pervade the literature. However, scholarship suggests that negative emotions do not tend to stem from a sense of hopelessness but one of uncertainty, which is typically caused by a lack of accurate information and thus provides a starting point for investigations through integrating reason and emotion. Embedded in Fraser’s conceptualisation of justice as parity of participation, coupled with Freire’s notion of intergenerational dialogue and a critical-democratic conceptualisation of engagement, youth-adult participatory action research seeks to generate communities of praxis in which students, teachers and researchers form explicit tripartite partnerships as co-investigators and co-learners. As they jointly explore their shared concerns, the members of the community mobilise their collective power and agency to co-design context-specific solutions and in so doing, transform the negative emotion and disenfranchisement stemming from uncertainty into a critical hope for more optimistic futures than those alluded to by the ‘at risk’ and ‘disengaged’ policy tags.
A Comparative Analysis of Performance-Based Resilience Metrics via a Quantitative-Qualitative Combined Approach: Are We Measuring the Same Thing?
Authors: Tang Junqing , Han Song , Wang Jing , He Baojie , Peng Jinhan
Published: October 2023

Since the proposal of the pioneering “resilience triangle” paradigm, various time-series performance-based metrics have been devised for resilience quantification. The numerous choices diversify the toolbox for measuring this compound system concept; however, this multiplicity causes intractable questions for applications, including “Do these metrics measure the same resilience?” and “Which one to pick under what circumstance?” In this study, we attempted to address these two fundamental issues using a comprehensive comparative investigation. Through a quantitative-qualitative combined approach, 12 popular performance-based resilience metrics are compared using empirical data from China’s aviation system under the disturbance of COVID-19. Quantitative results indicate that only 12 of the 66 metric pairs are strongly positively correlated and with no significant differences in quantification outcomes; qualitative results indicate that the majority of the metrics are based on different definition interpretations, basic components, and expression forms, and thus essentially measure different resilience. The advantages and disadvantages of each metric are comparatively discussed, and a “how to choose” guideline for metric users is proposed. This study is an introspective investigation of resilience quantification studies, aiming to offer a new perspective to scrutinize those benchmarking metrics.
From Planning to Execution: Delving into the Crucial Role and Challenges of HEPPUs in Hospital Emergency Management
Authors: Alharazi Ashjan , Al Thobaity Abdulellah
Published: October 2023

In 2018, the Emergency, Disasters and Ambulatory Transportation General Department at the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia established hospital emergency planning and preparation units (HEPPUs) to improve hospitals’ ability to respond to disasters. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the functioning of HEPPUs within hospitals in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Qualitative research methodology and semistructured interviews with emergency managers were employed. Four key themes emerged from the data: establishment and evolution, roles and responsibilities, communication and coordination, and challenges and limitations. The findings emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, effective communication, and responses to challenges in enhancing healthcare resilience and disaster management. This study contributes insights and offers practical recommendations for improving the preparedness and performance of HEPPUs within Saudi Arabian hospitals.
Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate Releasing Supercritically Foamed Porous Poly-L-Lactide-Co-ε-Caprolactone Scaffold Enhances the Collagen Production of Human Vaginal Stromal Cells: A New Approach for Vaginal Tissue Engineering
Authors: Sartoneva Reetta , Paakinaho Kaarlo , Hannula Markus , Kuismanen Kirsi , Huhtala Heini , Hyttinen Jari , Miettinen Susanna
Published: October 2023

Background:

The reconstructive surgery of vaginal defects is highly demanding and susceptible to complications, especially in larger defects requiring nonvaginal tissue grafts. Thus, tissue engineering-based solutions could provide a potential approach to the reconstruction of vaginal defects.

Methods:

Here, we evaluated a novel porous ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (A2P)-releasing supercritical carbon dioxide foamed poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (scPLCLA2P) scaffold for vaginal reconstruction with vaginal epithelial (EC) and stromal (SC) cells. The viability, proliferation, and phenotype of ECs and SCs were evaluated in monocultures and in cocultures on d 1, d 7 and d 14. Furthermore, the collagen production of SCs on scPLCLA2P was compared to that on scPLCL without A2P on d 14.

Results:

Both ECs and SCs maintained their viability on the scPLCLA2P scaffold in mono- and coculture conditions, and the cells maintained their typical morphology during the 14-d culture period. Most importantly, the scPLCLA2P scaffolds supported the collagen production of SCs superior to plain scPLCL based on total collagen amount, collagen I and III gene expression results and collagen immunostaining results.

Conclusion:

This is the first study evaluating the effect of A2P on vaginal tissue engineering, and the results are highly encouraging, indicating that scPLCLA2P has potential as a scaffold for vaginal tissue engineering.

Graphical Abstract
GNSS-retrieved precipitable water vapour in the Atlantic coast of France and Spain with GPT3 model
Authors: Perdiguer-Lopez Raquel , Berne Valero José Luis , Garrido-Villen Natalia
Published: October 2023

Water vapour is a critical atmospheric parameter to understand the Earth's climate system and it is characterized by a complex variability in time and space. GNSS observations have become an important source of information of the water vapour, thanks to its high temporal and spatial resolution. However, the lack of meteorological sites collocated with the GNSS site could hamper water vapour retrieval. The empirical blind models can fill this gap. This study analyses the temporal and spatial distribution of the water vapour using nine GNSS sites located on the Atlantic coast of Spain and France, with the empirical blind model GPT3 as the source of meteorological information. The observations were processed with Bernese 5.2 software on a double difference approach and validated with Zenith Total Delay EUREF REPRO2 values. Consequently, four-years series of water vapour was determined and validated using two matched radiosonde sites. The characterization of the water vapour on the area shows clear seasonal characteristics that the technique captures, using an empirical blind model for the whole process. Maximum values are observed in summer season and minimum in winter. The PWV tends to decrease with increasing latitude in the area of the study. The short-term variations can be reproduced by the high temporal resolution of the GNSS-retrieved water vapour and show a different behaviour over the area, but a similar pattern with a peak in the afternoon and minimum at night was found. Also, less variability is observed in winter season and higher in summertime.
The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version
Authors: Sciarrillo Arianna , Bevione Francesco , Lepora Marta , Toppino Federica , Lacidogna Maria Carla , Delsedime Nadia , Panero Matteo , Martini Matteo , Abbate Daga Giovanni , Preti Antonio
Published: October 2023

Background

People with anorexia nervosa (AN) show a peculiar impairment of insight regarding their condition, often manifesting a denial of extreme emaciation and sometimes hiding or underreporting socially undesirable abnormal eating patterns. Sometimes the intensity of the beliefs held by patients with AN reach a delusional intensity.

Objectives

In this study, the Italian version of the Nepean Belief Scale was applied to a sample of patients diagnosed with AN to investigate the intensity of their beliefs and convictions and its clinical correlates.

Methods

The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) was translated and adapted to Italian and applied to a sample of patients diagnosed with AN based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5).

Results

The Italian version of the 5-item NBS showed excellent reliability. Convergent validity was proved by negative association with levels of insight measured with the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight in Eating Disorders. Beliefs of delusional intensity were reported by 10% of participants. Those with a greater intensity of beliefs, either overvalued or delusional ideas, were more likely to report poorer general cognitive performances on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. No association was observed between NBS score and age, body mass index, symptoms of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, or levels of depression. Fear of weight gain and control seeking were the most often reported themes at the NBS.

Conclusions

The Italian version of the NBS is a reasonably reliable, valid, and usable tool for the multidimensional assessment of insight in AN.

Level of evidence Level III, Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.
Reversibly selective encryption for medical images based on coupled chaotic maps and steganography
Authors: Zhang Lina , Song Xianhua , El-Latif Ahmed A. Abd , Zhao Yanfeng , Abd-El-Atty Bassem
Published: October 2023

The security and confidentiality of medical images are of utmost importance due to frequent issues such as leakage, theft, and tampering during transmission and storage, which seriously impact patient privacy. Traditional encryption techniques applied to entire images have proven to be ineffective in guaranteeing timely encryption and preserving the privacy of organ regions separated from the background. In response, this study proposes a specialized and efficient local image encryption algorithm for the medical field. The proposed encryption algorithm focuses on the regions of interest (ROI) within massive medical images. Initially, the Laplacian of Gaussian operator and the outer boundary tracking algorithm are employed to extract the binary image and achieve ROI edge extraction. Subsequently, the image is divided into ROI and ROB (regions outside ROI). The ROI is transformed into a row vector and rearranged using the Lorenz hyperchaotic system. The rearranged sequence is XOR with the random sequence generated by the Henon chaotic map. Next, the encrypted sequence is arranged according to the location of the ROI region and recombined with the unencrypted ROB to obtain the complete encrypted image. Finally, the least significant bit algorithm controlled by the key is used to embed binary image into the encrypted image to ensure lossless decryption of the medical images. Experimental verification demonstrates that the proposed selective encryption algorithm for massive medical images offers relatively ideal security and higher encryption efficiency. This algorithm addresses the privacy concerns and challenges faced in the medical field and contributes to the secure transmission and storage of massive medical images.
Unsupervised learning of optical flow in a multi-frame dynamic environment using temporal dynamic modeling
Authors: Sun Zitang , Luo Zhengbo , Nishida Shin’ya
Published: October 2023

For visual estimation of optical flow, which is crucial for various vision analyses, unsupervised learning by view synthesis has emerged as a promising alternative to supervised methods because the ground-truth flow is not readily available in many cases. However, unsupervised learning is likely to be unstable when pixel tracking is lost via occlusion and motion blur, or pixel correspondence is impaired by variations in image content and spatial structure over time. Recognizing that dynamic occlusions and object variations usually exhibit a smooth temporal transition in natural settings, we shifted our focus to model unsupervised learning optical flow from multi-frame sequences of such dynamic scenes. Specifically, we simulated various dynamic scenarios and occlusion phenomena based on Markov property, allowing the model to extract motion laws and thus gain performance in dynamic and occluded areas, which diverges from existing methods without considering temporal dynamics. In addition, we introduced a temporal dynamic model based on a well-designed spatial-temporal dual recurrent block, resulting in a lightweight model structure with fast inference speed. Assuming the temporal smoothness of optical flow, we used the prior motions of adjacent frames to supervise the occluded regions more reliably. Experiments on several optical flow benchmarks demonstrated the effectiveness of our method, as the performance is comparable to several state-of-the-art methods with advantages in memory and computational overhead.
Principles of Photocatalysts and Their Different Applications: A Review
Authors: Hassaan Mohamed A. , El-Nemr Mohamed A. , Elkatory Marwa R. , Ragab Safaa , Niculescu Violeta-Carolina , El Nemr Ahmed
Published: October 2023

Human existence and societal growth are both dependent on the availability of clean and fresh water. Photocatalysis is a type of artificial photosynthesis that uses environmentally friendly, long-lasting materials to address energy and environmental issues. There is currently a considerable demand for low-cost, high-performance wastewater treatment equipment. By changing the structure, size, and characteristics of nanomaterials, the use of nanotechnology in the field of water filtration has evolved dramatically. Semiconductor-assisted photocatalysis has recently advanced to become among the most promising techniques in the fields of sustainable energy generation and ecological cleanup. It is environmentally beneficial, cost-effective, and strictly linked to the zero waste discharge principle used in industrial effluent treatment. Owing to the reduction or removal of created unwanted byproducts, the green synthesis of photoactive nanomaterial is more beneficial than chemical synthesis approaches. Furthermore, unlike chemical synthesis methods, the green synthesis method does not require the use of expensive, dangerous, or poisonous ingredients, making it a less costly, easy, and environmental method for photocatalyst synthesis. This work focuses on distinct greener synthesis techniques utilized for the production of new photocatalysts, including metals, metal doped-metal oxides, metal oxides, and plasmonic nanostructures, including the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to the design and selection of an innovative photocatalyst in the context of energy and environmental challenges. A brief overview of the industrial and environmental applications of photocatalysts is also presented. Finally, an overview and recommendations for future research are given to create photocatalytic systems with greatly improved stability and efficiency.
“Here Be Dragons”: Historical and Contemporary Archaeology and Heritage in the Aegean Sea
Authors: Lekakis Stelios
Published: October 2023

Postmedieval, modern, and contemporary remains are ubiquitous, yet their study and curatorship are uncommon in the Aegean geographic context. In this article I discuss the materiality of these uncared-for ruins, drawing from rural and urban remains in the Aegean, contrasted with other littoral sites in the Mediterranean. I focus on their social and cultural impact and their role in contemporary communities, along with the state provisions organized to protect and manage them in Greece and Turkey. I propose a present and socially engaged archaeological praxis and emphasize the need for historical/contemporary archaeology to be more politically involved, raising awareness and broadening the representation of marginalized communities.
The development of roadside green swales in the Chinese Sponge City Program: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Lu Lingwen , Chan Faith Ka Shun , Johnson Matthew , Zhu Fangfang , Xu Yaoyang
Published: October 2023

Roadside green swales have emerged as popular stormwater management infrastructure in urban areas, serving to mitigate stormwater pollution and reduce urban surface water discharge. However, there is a limited understanding of the various types, structures, and functions of swales, as well as the potential challenges they may face in the future. In recent years, China has witnessed a surge in the adoption of roadside green swales, especially as part of the prestigious Sponge City Program (SCP). These green swales play a crucial role in controlling stormwater pollution and conserving urban water resources by effectively removing runoff pollutants, including suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This review critically examines recent research findings, identifies key knowledge gaps, and presents future recommendations for designing green swales for effective stormwater management, with a particular emphasis on ongoing major Chinese infrastructure projects. Despite the growing global interest in bioswales and their significance in urban development, China’s current classification of such features lacks a clear definition or specific consideration of bioswales. Furthermore, policymakers have often underestimated the adverse environmental effects of road networks, as reflected in existing laws and planning documents. This review argues that the construction and maintenance of roadside green swales should be primarily based on three critical factors: Wellthought- out road planning, suitable construction conditions, and sustainable long-term funding. The integration of quantitative environmental standards into road planning is essential to effectively address the challenge of pollution from rainfall runoff. To combat pollution associated with roads, a comprehensive assessment of potential pollution loadings should be carried out, guiding the appropriate design and construction of green swales, with a particular focus on addressing the phenomenon of first flush. One of the major challenges faced in sustaining funds for ongoing maintenance after swale construction. To address this issue, the implementation of a green finance platform is proposed. Such a platform would help ensure the availability of funds for continuous maintenance, thus maximizing the long-term effectiveness of green swales in stormwater management. Ultimately, the findings of this review aim to assist municipal governments in enhancing and implementing future urban road designs and SCP developments, incorporating effective green swale strategies.
Urban infrastructure design principles for connected and autonomous vehicles: a case study of Oxford, UK
Authors: Liu Huazhen , Yang Miao , Guan ChengHe , Chen Yi Samuel , Keith Michael , You Meizi , Menendez Monica
Published: October 2023

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are reshaping urban systems, demanding substantial computational support. While existing research emphasizes the significance of establishing physical and virtual infrastructure to facilitate CAV integration, a comprehensive framework for designing CAV-related infrastructure principles remains largely absent. This paper introduces a holistic framework that addresses gaps in current literature by presenting principles for the design of CAV-related infrastructure. We identify diverse urban infrastructure types crucial for CAVs, each characterized by intricate considerations. Deriving from existing literature, we introduce five principles to guide investments in physical infrastructure, complemented by four principles specific to virtual infrastructure. These principles are expected to evolve with CAV development and associated technology advancements. Furthermore, we exemplify the application of these principles through a case study in Oxford, UK. In doing so, we assess urban conditions, identify representative streets, and craft CAV-related urban infrastructure tailored to distinct street characteristics. This framework stands as a valuable reference for cities worldwide as they prepare for the increasing adoption of CAVs.
Sustainable railways for Morocco: a comprehensive energy and environmental assessment
Authors: El Alaoui Hamza , Bazzi Ahmed , El Hafdaoui Hamza , Khallaayoun Ahmed , Lghoul Rachid
Published: October 2023

This study provides a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of different train types in Morocco, including passenger-only, goods-only, and mixed-use services. Through a comparative evaluation based on climate change, respiratory effects, and acidification/eutrophication, we find that passenger-only trains exhibit the highest environmental impact across all categories due to their high energy consumption and emissions. Conversely, goods-only and mixed-use trains display markedly lower environmental impacts, emphasizing the role of service type and operational efficiency in mitigating environmental harm. Our findings underscore the need for strategic optimization in train services, particularly passenger-only operations, and open the door for comprehensive economic and environmental assessments of alternative train technologies and fuel mixtures in the context of Morocco’s decarbonization plans.
A method for imaging water transport in soil–snow systems with neutron radiography
Authors: Lombardo Michael , Lehmann Peter , Kaestner Anders , Fees Amelie , Van Herwijnen Alec , Schweizer Jürg
Published: October 2023

Liquid water at the ground–snow interface is thought to play a crucial role in the release of glide-snow avalanches, which can be massive and threaten infrastructure in alpine regions. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain the formation of this interfacial water. However, these mechanisms remain poorly understood, in part because suitable measurement techniques are lacking. Here, we demonstrate the use of neutron radiography for imaging water transport in soil–snow systems. Columns of sand, gravel and snow were used to simulate the capillary forces of the soil–vegetation–snow layering found in nature. The columns were connected to a water reservoir to maintain a constant-pressure boundary condition and placed in a climatic chamber within the neutron beam. We show that neutron radiography is capable of measuring changes in the optical density distribution (related to liquid water content) within all three layers of the model system. Results suggest that a porous interface between the sand and snow may induce the formation of a water layer in the basal snowpack. Improved understanding of the water transport in soil–snow systems should lead to better prediction of glide-snow avalanche release and could also benefit other fields such as snow hydrology.
Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a level-IV neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
Authors: Galuszka Julia Elzbieta , Thomsen Kim , Knudsen Jenny Dahl , Stenkjaer Rikke Louise , Nielsen Rikke , Nielsen Karen Leth , Petersen Andreas , Holzknecht Barbara Juliane , Bartels Mette Damkjaer , Breindahl Morten , Aunsholt Lise
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To identify risk factors associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in neonatal patients during an MRSA outbreak to minimize future outbreaks.

Design:

Retrospective case-control study.

Setting:

Level-IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.

Patients:

Neonates with either MRSA or methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)

Methods:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-positive neonates were matched with those colonized or infected with MSSA in a 1:1 ratio. The control group was selected from clinical samples, whereas MRSA-positive neonates were identified from clinical samples or from screening. A total of 140 characteristics were investigated to identify risk factors associated with MRSA acquisition. The characteristics were categorized into three categories: patient, unit, and microbiological characteristics.

Results:

Out of 1,102 neonates screened for MRSA, between December 2019 and January 2022, 33 were MRSA positive. They were all colonized with an MRSA outbreak clone (spa type t127) and were included in this study. Four patients (12%) had severe infection. Admission due to respiratory diseases, need for intubation, need for peripheral venous catheters, admission to shared rooms with shared toilets and bath facilities in the aisles, and need for readmission were all correlated with later MRSA colonization (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

We identified clinically relevant diseases, procedures, and facilities that predispose patients to potentially life-threatening MRSA infections. A specific MRSA reservoir remains unidentified; however, these findings have contributed to crucial changes in our NICU to reduce the number of MRSA infections and future outbreaks.
Legal pluralism for whose sake? Ottoman law, Greek jurists, and religious privileges
Authors: Fujinami Nobuyoshi
Published: October 2023

At the turn of the twentieth century, Greek jurists insisted that the Ottoman Empire was legally pluralistic. While one jurist acknowledged the Sultan's ‘political purpose' in respecting the Greeks' privileges, another denied Muslims any agency free from Sharia. The alleged incommensurability between the Christian and Islamic law was their common agenda. Greek historians, on the other hand, saw the privileges as the Turks’ sign of goodwill, and emphasized the civilizational gap between the Catholic West and Ottoman East. Being a normative expression rather than a neutral description, legal pluralism functioned as a method of neglecting the Muslim quest for legal unity.
Commodification of intangibles in post-IP capitalism: rethinking the counter-hegemonic discourse
Authors: Borghi Maurizio
Published: October 2023

Intellectual property (IP) is the legal mechanism that transforms intangible instances into tradeable commodities. While creating the conditions for extraction of value and capital accumulation across all domains of economic and social life, IP law defines at the same time the boundaries of commodification by determining the scope of the public domain. Within this traditional framework, opponents of neo-liberal market expansionism have championed the role of IP doctrines and principles such as fair use, exceptions and limitations. However, new informational capitalism relies primarily on non-IP forms of appropriation and de facto control. To a large extent, commodification of intangibles and capital accumulation is no longer distressed by – and even benefits from – traditional public-domain-enhancing IP doctrines. This challenges traditional IP narratives and calls for a new foundation for a truly counter-hegemonic discourse in IP law.
Effect of Stokes number and particle-to-fluid density ratio on turbulence modification in channel flows
Authors: Gualtieri P. , Battista F. , Salvadore F. , Casciola C.M.
Published: October 2023

Two-way momentum-coupled direct numerical simulations of a particle-laden turbulent channel flow are addressed to investigate the effect of the particle Stokes number and of the particle-to-fluid density ratio on the turbulence modification. The exact regularised point-particle method is used to model the interphase momentum exchange in presence of solid boundaries, allowing the exploration of an extensive region of the parameter space. Results show that the particles increase the friction drag in the parameter space region considered, namely the Stokes number

$St_+ \in [2,80]$

, and the particle-to-fluid density ratio

$\rho _p/\rho _f \in [90,5760]$

at a fixed mass loading

$\phi =0.4$

. It is noteworthy that the highest drag occurs for small Stokes number particles. A measurable drag increase occurs for all particle-to-fluid density ratios, the effect being reduced significantly only at the highest value of

$\rho _p/\rho _f$

. The modified stress budget and turbulent kinetic energy equation provide the rationale behind the observed behaviour. The particles’ extra stress causes an additional momentum flux towards the wall that modifies the structure of the buffer and of the viscous sublayer where the streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations are increased. Indeed, in the viscous sublayer, additional turbulent kinetic energy is produced by the particles’ back-reaction, resulting in a strong augmentation of the spatial energy flux towards the wall where the energy is ultimately dissipated. This behaviour explains the increase of friction drag in particle-laden wall-bounded flows.
Salient Indigenous Acts of Resistance in Canada, 2010–2020: Current Trends
Authors: Do Minh
Published: October 2023

Indigenous peoples continue to challenge Canadian colonial policies through nonroutine acts of resistance. Sustained scholarly attention on the frequency and characteristics of Indigenous resistance has dropped precipitously, with the time span of this scholarship typically ending by the early 2000s. Research on more recent acts of resistance is directed to small-n case studies. This research note examines Indigenous resistance in Canada between 2010 and 2020 as reported by news articles from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to identify key characteristics of salient Indigenous resistance: What issue areas were the subject of resistance movements? Which Indigenous communities or groups contributed to acts of resistance? What strategies were employed? The research note's findings suggest that salient acts of resistance rarely result in immediate policy change from the state; instead, resistance has transformative potential to develop Indigenous governance that departs from settler-colonial state processes.