bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-objective Optimization of Construction Project Time-Cost-Carbon Emission Based on BIM Technology
Authors: Wang Minjing , Ding Yifan , Zheng Huan
Published: August 2023

In the construction process, a large number of resources are consumed in a short period, leading to high intensity and concentration of carbon emissions. From the perspective of China’s Double Carbon Policy, a multiobjective optimization problem integrating BIM technology and intelligent optimization algorithm is proposed in this paper. Firstly, using BIM modeling software to construct a 3D model generates bills of quantities as the basis to obtain the initial research data. Then a mathematical model of time-cost-carbon emissions is constructed with the idea of multi-objective optimization and a double-layer encoding NSGA-II algorithm is designed to solve the optimal set of solutions for the combination of activity execution modes under the premise of satisfying the priority relationship. Finally, a construction project is used as a case to verify the feasibility and rationality of the problem proposed in this paper, and demonstrate that the method can effectively guide the optimization management of the construction process, reduce construction carbon emissions, and promote sustainability of the construction industry.
Analysis of Influencing Factors of Consumers’ Online Purchase Intention of Fresh Agricultural Products Based on Online Review
Authors: Zuo Renshu , Gou Qingxin
Published: August 2023

Fresh agricultural products e-commerce has become an important way of agricultural products consumption, but China’s fresh agricultural products e-commerce is still in its infancy. It is urgent to find out the influencing factors of fresh agricultural products consumers’ online purchase intention for the development of fresh agricultural products e-commerce. This paper extracts the main factors affecting consumers’ online purchase intention of fresh agricultural products by text mining of 5958 online review data of Tmall Fresh Channel. On this basis, the multiple linear regression model is used to analyze the key factors affecting consumers’ intention to purchase fresh agricultural products online. The results show that the factors that consumers pay attention to mainly include product quality, service quality and perceived quality. In addition to appearance, price, product description reliability, distribution service quality and competitors, other factors have a significant impact on consumers’ online purchase intention and the impact is positive. This study expands the breadth and depth of the research on the influencing factors of fresh agricultural products consumers’ online purchase intention, and also provides targeted suggestions for enterprises to improve products and services, and promotes the healthy development of fresh agricultural products e-commerce.
Sales Volume Forecast of Typical Auto Parts Based on BiGRU: A Case Study
Authors: Lu Chunqiang , Shang Gang , Xu Liyun , Shao Huan , Zhang Beikun
Published: August 2023

Inventory management is an important part of the auto parts supplier business. Accurate prediction of sales volume for different auto parts is the basis for staff to formulate marketing strategies and procurement plans. Based on the limited historical sales data of the South China, North China and East China branches of an auto parts company, some prediction models are trained and tested to determine the best model for predicting future production sales. An orthogonal experimental method is used to implement hyperparameter estimation for the prediction models on this basis. In addition, a posteriori test is used to verify the validity and accuracy of the Bi-GRU model in predicting the sales volume of typical auto parts. The results show that, compared with other models, the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (Bi-GRU) model has the highest accuracy in testing and is used to predict the future sales of typical auto parts. The posterior test proved that the validity and accuracy of the Bi-GRU model is verified. The orthogonal experiment method can effectively realize the hyperparameter estimation for each model. According to the prediction results, the sales volume of blind drive caps in South China, North China and East China will reach 18235, 17030 and 14949 pieces, respectively, after 90 days. Meanwhile, the corresponding sales volume of bolts will reach 13141, 15062 and 10253 pieces, respectively.
Tax Cut Policy, Business Environment and Enterprises High-quality Development: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Yijing , Mou Wen , Wang Hong , Shen Lihang
Published: August 2023

Under the background of high-quality development, the support of fiscal policy is important for enterprises to achieve high-quality development. As a major initiative to promote the supply-side reform in China, can tax cut policy promote the high-quality development of enterprises? In order to explore this question, based on the data of China’s listed companies from 2015-2019, this paper finds that: (i) Tax cut policy can improve the total factor productivity of enterprises and empower their high-quality development. (ii) The impact is different for companies in different regions and firms with different nature of property rights. Tax cut policy can better promote the high-quality development for companies in central regions and state-owned enterprises in China. (iii) The optimization of business environment effectively strengthens the positive effect of tax cut policy on the enterprise high-quality development. The effect of tax cut policy on total factor productivity is more obvious for companies in better business environment.
Internet of Things Platform for Photovoltaic Maintenance Management: Combination of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System and Aerial Thermal Images
Authors: Segovia Ramirez Isaac , Pedro García Márquez Fausto
Published: August 2023

Suitable maintenance management plants of solar photovoltaic plants are required for global energy demands. The volume and variety of data acquired by thermographic cameras carried by unmanned aerial vehicles and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems increase the complexity of fault detection and diagnosis. The maintenance industry is requiring novel fault detection techniques that can be implemented in Internet of Thing platforms to automate the analysis and increase the suitability and reliability of the results. This paper presents a novel platform built with PHP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript for the combined analysis of data from Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems and thermal images. The platform is designed. A real case study with thermal images and time series data from the same photovoltaic plant is presented to test the viability of the platform. The analysis of thermal images showed a 97% of accuracy for panel detection and 87% for hot spot detection. Shapelets algorithm is selected for time series analysis, providing an 84% of accuracy for the pattern selected by user. The platform has proven to be a flexible tool that can be applied for different solar plants through data upload by users.
Investigate the Impact of Employee Diversity on Resilience of External Crises: Evidence from A-share Listed Company
Authors: Feng Fan , Zeng Ziqiang , Ren Siyu
Published: August 2023

Resilience has emerged as a crucial measure of a company’s ability to withstand challenges in the current complex business environment. However, prior research indicates that employee diversity may not consistently lead to a positive impact on corporate resilience. This paper investigates the impact of diversity on resilience in the face of various external crises by examining the performance of Chinese listed companies during the 20-year period following their accession to the World Trade Organization. Employee diversity is operationalized in this study by changes in the number of employees in non-core departments, while resilience is represented by the fluctuation of the stock price minus the industry range fluctuation. Employing a fixed-effect model to analyze 20-year panel data, we find that an increase in employee diversity does not always lead to improved corporate resilience during external crises. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between employee diversity and resilience in the face of different external shocks and explore why diversity may fail to enhance resilience during such circumstances.
Audit Committee Chair’s Geographic Distance and Cost of Equity Capital
Authors: Shi Yu , Lin Rongyu , Hao Duoduo
Published: August 2023

Using a sample of A-share listed companies in China for the period of 2007-2018, this paper empirically tests the impact of the geographical distance of the audit committee chair (ACC) on the company’s cost of equity capital. The study found that there is a significant positive correlation between the geographical distance of ACC and the company’s cost of equity capital, and the regulatory strength will weaken the positive relationship between the two. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. The research conclusion of this paper not only enriches the research on the characteristics of audit committee chairs, expands the research extension of geographical economics in the field of financial accounting, but also provides certain theoretical support and test evidence for listed companies to select ACC and reduce the cost of equity capital. It is of great significance to improve the performance level of the audit committee and protect the interests of investors.
Study on the Matching of Construction Subcontractor Based on Cooperative Game
Authors: Chen Chuan , Liu Linlin , Zhang Xinli
Published: August 2023

China’s construction industry is the pillar industry of the national economy, but the market competition faced by construction enterprises is becoming increasingly fierce. The general contractor must carry out close business cooperation with other subcontractors and integrate the valuable resources of all parties to cope with the competition jointly. Based on this, this paper constructs the evolutionary game model between the general contractor and the subcontractor. The equilibrium point is calculated by copying the dynamic equation, and the influence of parameters on the evolution probability of both sides is explored. Finally, combined with the numerical simulation, some suggestions on the matching of construction subcontractor suppliers are put forward: improve the cognitive level of the supply chain and reduce the contract cost of the enterprise; adopt an efficient and transparent supervision mechanism to reduce the risk of cooperation; improve the information transmission network of the supply chain and reduce the cost of failure; clear project claims and reward and punishment measures to enhance the enthusiasm of enterprises.
Research on the Influencing Factors of Panic Buying Under Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Zuo Renshu , Yang Lifang
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020 not only had a significant impact on China at the macro level, but also triggered changes in public psychology and irrational behavior at the individual level, one of the typical features of which was the panic buying behavior exhibited by residents during the outbreak. Based on Perceived Risk theory, emotion infection theory and information processing theory, this paper investigates the influence of herd mentality on panic buying behavior and the mediating role of Perceived Risk and information overload, and validates the model by collecting data from 326 residents through a questionnaire. The results show that herding mentality, Perceived Risk, and information overload all have positive effects on panic buying; Perceived Risk and information overload partially mediate the effect between herding mentality and panic buying, and information overload carries more mediating effects. These results suggest that higher levels of herding, Perceived Risk, and information overload can intensify individuals’ panic buying and cause further irrational buying behavior. In response to the findings, this paper also proposes countermeasures to deal with panic buying from three aspects: individuals, media, and government.
The Influence of Environmental Protection Investment on Financial Risk of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share Listed Companies An Empirical Study Based on Heavily Polluted Industries
Authors: Yang Caoyuan , Zhao Changyi , Zhang Aimei
Published: August 2023

Green and sustainable development has been paid more and more attention by the state, and the control of environmental pollution has become the core problem to be solved in the national green sustainable development, so enterprises need to invest in environmental protection to improve the environment. In this paper, 106 listed companies in heavily polluted industries from 2015 to 2019 are selected, and the impact of environmental protection investment on financial risk is analyzed by using multiple regression model. It is found that the environmental protection investment of enterprises has a positive impact on the financial risk. Compared with the non-state-owned enterprises, the environmental protection investment of state-owned enterprises has a greater impact on financial risk. This paper reveals the effect of environmental protection investment in enterprises, and provides the basis for the government to actively guide enterprises. In this regard, this paper puts forward the following suggestions: enterprises can actively adjust the investment structure of environmental protection; the government can actively play to the role of independent directors.
An Empirical Study on the Synergistic Development of Higher Education Scale and Economic Growth in China
Authors: Ji Mingbo , Luo Jia , Wang Xiao
Published: August 2023

Examining the equalization of higher education and how it affects the economic growth of each region in China is crucial from both a theoretical and practical standpoint as it pertains to public services since higher education has a significant impact on a nation’s or region’s competitiveness. In this context, this research uses data from 1997 to 2020 to examine the economic impact of higher education on each province using the education composite index. On the other hand, the generalized least squares method was used to analyze the effects of GDP per capita, high school graduation rates, and educational policies on economic development from 1988-2018. The empirical findings indicate that higher education throughout the sample period contributed 15.73% to economic growth and 0.18% to the general level of education. Additionally, there is a strong association between the number of recent high school graduates, GDP per capita, and national policy and enrollment size.
Can Female Venture Capitalists Improve the Investment Success Rate of Venture Capital Firms? Evidence from China
Authors: Jia Ximeng , Shao Yan , Liu Yilin
Published: August 2023

Gender inequalities are widespread in the labor market, especially in the venture capital (VC) industry. Women are expected to balance work and family, and are left with limited energy to be competent in a high-intensity work environment, such as venture capital firms. However, the multiple roles women play help improve their multitasking ability, which makes female venture capitalists (VCs) more patient and they tend to have a stronger resolve when faced with difficult tasks. This study investigates the role of gender diversity and female VCs in the venture capital industry. Using a sample of 503 Chinese venture capital firms, we find that female venture capitalists can significantly increase the rate of successful investments owing to their investment experience in the industry. This effect is more significant for independent venture capital firms. Female VCs affect investment success rates by changing the preferences of venture capital firms. In areas with a better institutional environment, they have a slightly greater impact on investment performance. The results suggest that women have a positive impact on the course of venture capital investment, and that they make a distinct contribution to investment behavior and success rate.
The Impact of Corporate Digitalization on Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions Performance in Chinese Listed Companies
Authors: Leng Shenqin , He Yue , Kang Zuoyi
Published: August 2023

Under the influence of the “going out” strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative, China has been accelerating its process of globalization. Based on a sample of 123 cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) cases launched by Chinese listed companies from 2012 to 2019, this paper empirically studied the impact of corporate digitalization on cross-border M&A performance. The regression results showed that corporate digitalization promoted both short-term and long-term cross-border M&A performance, especially when the acquiring company was a high-tech company. In non-stateowned enterprises (non-SOEs), corporate digitalization promoted short-term cross-border M&A performance more significantly, while in SOEs the positive impact was more significant on long-term cross-border M&A performance. Furthermore, internal control quality strengthened the role of corporate digitalization on short-term performance of the acquiring company after cross-border M&A, while it negatively moderated the correlation between corporate digitalization and long-term performance of the acquiring company after cross-border M&A. This study provided some implications for firms on how to promote their cross-border M&A performance and references for the government’s innovation encouragement policy and the “going out” strategy.
Impact of Sharing Auditors with Related Party on the Time-liness of Financial Report
Authors: Wang Liangcheng , Li Siying , Zhou Yanzhi
Published: August 2023

With the development of sharing economy, shared auditors have become the penetration and embodiment of the shared economic model in the audit market. This paper takes the A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2009 to 2016 as a sample, and empirically examines the impact of shared auditors of related party on the timeliness of financial report. The study finds that the impact of related party sharing auditors on the timeliness of financial report is not significant in the full sample. The role of shared auditors of related parties is affected by audit firms size and the nature of companies. The shared auditors from Big-4 audit firms and shared auditors of private enterprises have a significant positive effect on the timeliness of financial report. The conclusion provides empirical evidence for the effect of shared auditors of related party and policy enlightenment for improving audit quality and corporate governance.
Competitiveness of Moldova’s Agri-food Trade: Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Duca Gheorghe , Stratan Alexandru , Gutium Tatiana
Published: August 2023

One of the conditions for increasing the competitiveness of the national economy of Moldova is the promotion of the export of competitive goods. Considering that the Republic of Moldova is mainly relying on its agri-food sector, and it was granted the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union, the object of research is the Competitiveness of Moldova’s Agrifood Trade. The principal purpose of this study is to determine the directions for modernizing the structure of the agri-food complex to increase its competitiveness in the context of deepening the integration processes in the European space. The authors assessed the trends and prospects for the trade of food products and agricultural raw materials between Moldova and European Union countries. In this aim statistical and econometric methods were applied. The results of the study showed that a promising direction in the development of economic relations between Moldova and the European Union was the formation of clusters with a high potential for competitiveness. For a better integration into the European food products market with minimal loss, there is a strong need in establishing direct economic links and implementation of joint investment projects.
Study on failure of single-bolt double-lap composite joints based on test and numerical emulation
Authors: HUANG Yan , REN Feixiang , CHEN Puhui
Published: August 2023

In order to study the mechanical properties of ZT7G/LT-03A carbon fiber reinforced composite bolted joints, the single-bolt double-lap joints tests were carried out with 3 kinds of ply and 3 kinds of width, and the effects of the different ply ratios, width to diameter ratios on the failure load and failure mode were analyzed. Then, the failure process of the specimens was simulated by using the progressive damage and failure analysis method. The failure mode and failure load of the model are consistent with that of the specimen, which verified the accuracy of the model. On this basis, the stress and damage status of each ply during initial load shedding were studied, and the influence of the ply ratios and width to diameter ratios on the performance of laminates was further studied. The results show that when the width to diameter ratio of laminates increases, the failure mode changes from tensile failure to bearing failure, and to change the ply ratios does not affect the failure mode in a certain range.
Research on schedulability analysis algorithm of airborne multi partition system
Authors: ZHANG Min , WU Junsheng , CUI Xining , SUN Jingchang
Published: August 2023

Partition operating system conforming to ARINC653 is widely used in airborne to support application software integration. Under the two-level scheduling model for partition operating system, the demanding real-time requirements of airborne software are usually difficult to obtain effective deterministic guarantee, so it is very important to analyze the schedulability of the system. Judging whether the scheduling table can meet the real-time requirements of the process in the partition through the schedulability analysis algorithm is an effective means to ensure that all processes in the system complete the computing task within the specified time. Based on the method of operations research and the introduction of virtual process, a schedulability analysis algorithm for multi partition system is designed, and the numerical verification is carried out. The verification results show that the algorithm can accurately judge whether the scheduling table matches the process time attribute, give the qualitative analysis conclusion of whether the system can be scheduled, help the system integrator to verify the rationality of the scheduling table before the actual operation of the system, and reduce the risk of test and flight test.
A novel noise assessment method based on human core competency
Authors: ZHANG Xiaoyan , CHENG Jiaao , XUE Hongjun
Published: August 2023

The tough noise environment in helicopter cockpit can passively influence pilots in mental and physical way, weaken their core competency, and as a result, maybe causing pilot error and even accidents. The current research can evaluate the physical characteristics of noise and its impact on emotion such as noise annoyance, but it ignores the impact of cockpit noise on human competence. Therefore, this paper establishes a noise evaluation and prediction model based on core competence with task performance, cognitive load and eye movement data. Experiment is designed and implemented in three noise levels and three task difficulties to verify the model. The results indicate that: 1) core competency and task accuracy decline in higher noise levels significantly. 2) the noise assessment method based on core competency can accurately predict the influence of noise on human performance. This novel method can quantitatively reflect the impact of noise changes on human performance in emergency condition. It can expand the connotation of noise evaluation, provide the evaluation and control of cockpit noise with theoretical explanations, and provide the optimization design of helicopter cockpit with practical data.
Study on bias residual control of high mixture ratio bi-propellant
Authors: LIU Bing , LOU Luliang , LI Dong , HUANG Hui , GAO Honggang
Published: August 2023

Lift capacity is the key performance of the launch vehicle, and high chemical energy bi-propellants are commonly used for the modern large liquid rockets. The residual unburned propellant has a strong effect on the lift capacity and the lift efficiency, especially for the orbital stages. In this paper, the bias residual control of high mixture ratio propellant is studied, three models, including equal-probability depletion model (EPDM), equal-mass residual model(EMRM) and optimum residual model(ORM) are analyzed. Comparing with the traditional equal-probability depletion, the bias residual control of bi-propellants, especially for LOX and LH2, is benefit to the lift capacity. The effect between EMRM and ORM on the residual unburned propellant is negligible, and the EMRM is preferred in engineering.
Changing cropping pattern of oilseed crops and its diversification: The case of Thar Desert, Rajasthan (1985–1986 to 2015–2016)
Authors: Kaur Shivjeet , Singh Jasvir
Published: August 2023

India has been one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world. Correspondingly, the oilseed sector occupies an important position in the agricultural economy of the country. Oilseeds, especially edible oilseeds, have been an integral part of the cropping system in India till the beginning of monoculture triggered by the implementation of a new agriculture strategy since 1960s. This paper evaluates the cropping pattern of oilseed diversity in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan at district level. This paper also highlights the development programmes launched by state and central governments to promote oilseeds production in dry region of the state. Many statistical techniques are used, for instance, Herfindahl Index, Entropy Index, and Composite Entropy Index, to examine the diversification and specialization in oilseeds.
Editorial
Authors: Koos Bernd
Published: August 2023

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen,

das Fach der Kieferorthopädie kennzeichnet sich im Spektrum durch eine breite
und tiefgreifende Interdisziplinarität, bei der häufig synoptische
Aspekte im Hinblick auf die Zahnmedizin wie auch die Medizin von entscheidender
Bedeutung sind. Dabei gilt auch für die Kieferorthopädie, dass in
zunehmendem Maße die digitalen Techniken zu einer Steigerung der Effizienz,
aber vor allem auch zu einer Verbesserung der kieferorthopädischen
Behandlung im Sinne der Steigerung der medizinischen Qualität, insbesondere
auch durch die Vermeidung von unerwünschten Nebenwirkungen, führen
können.
Kieferorthopädie und Prothetik – ein
interdisziplinäres Behandlungskonzept
Authors: Finke Hannah , Klink Andrea
Published: August 2023

Die Behandlung von Patienten mit Hypo- oder Oligodontien erfordert ein
interdisziplinär abgestimmtes Behandlungskonzept aus
Kieferorthopädie, Prothetik und gelegentlich auch Oral- bzw. Mund-,
Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie. Für den effizienten Ablauf und das
bestmögliche Behandlungsergebnis sind initiale, sowie
regelmäßige Absprachen zwischen den beteiligten Disziplinen
essenziell. Bei der Bewertung und Findung der patientenindividuellen
Optimaltherapie spielen sowohl die Anzahl und Verteilung der fehlenden
Zähne, aber auch das Alter und Gebissstadium, Wachstumsmuster und die
Erhaltungsfähigkeit noch vorhandener Milchzähne eine wichtige
Rolle.

Nach Erstellung des Therapiekonzeptes und Aufklärung der Patienten
erfolgt in der Regel zunächst die kieferorthopädische Behandlung
zur Verteilung der natürlichen Zähne und deren Einstellung in
eine funktionelle Okklusion. Anhand von Zwischendiagnostiken werden die initial
gesetzten Ziele reevaluiert und die weiteren Schritte mit allen Behandlern und
dem Patienten gemeinsam entschieden. Im Anschluss an die aktive
kieferorthopädische Therapie und das Einsetzen temporärer
Retentionsgeräte erfolgt die prothetische oder
implantologisch-prothetische Versorgung. Zur langfristigen Stabilisierung des
erreichten Behandlungsergebnisses ist neben der Auswahl geeigneter
Retentionsgeräte auch die regelmäßige Kontrolle der
Zahnstellung und der prothetischen Versorgungen essenziell.
Miniimplantate zur Verankerung bei mesio-distalen Zahnbewegungen im
Unterkiefer
Authors: Ziebura Thomas , Flieger Stefanie
Published: August 2023

Wenn es darum geht, Lücken im oberen Zahnbogen zu schließen oder
durch das Distalisieren der Seitenzähne Platz zu schaffen, steht eine
breite Palette von Apparaturen zur Auswahl, die, an palatinalen Miniimplantaten
verankert, das jeweilige Behandlungsziel erreichbar machen 2
3
4.Allerdings treten Engstände im
unteren Zahnbogen nicht seltener auf als in oberen [5]. Gleiches gilt
für den Verlust der ersten Molaren [6] und für Aplasien
[7].Dieser Artikels stellt deshalb einige Lösungsvorschläge
für Behandlungsaufgaben vor, bei denen eine Mesialisierung oder
Distalisierung im Unterkiefer erforderlich ist.
Das dentale Trauma aus interdisziplinärem
Blickwinkel
Authors: Klein Daniel
Published: August 2023

Kieferorthopäden/innen werden im Alltag
regelmäßig mit den unmittelbaren und/oder
sekundären Folgen eines dentalen Traumas konfrontiert. Kenntnisse
über Verletzungsarten und deren klassische Folgen sind hilfreich zur
Einschätzung der Prognose betroffener Zähne und bei der
kieferorthopädischen Behandlungsplanung. Eine sorgfältige
Anamneseerhebung in Bezug auf Unfälle mit Zahnbeteiligung in Kombination
mit entsprechender klinischer und röntgenologischer Diagnostik minimiert
das Risiko von unvorhergesehenen pathologischen Ereignissen für
Patienten/innen und Behandler/innen.
Impact of ERCP simulator training on early ERCP learning curves of novice trainees: a cohort study
Authors: van der Wiel Sophia Elisabeth , Rauws Erik , Van Gool Stijn , Wang Dong , Hu Bing , Kylanpaa Leena , Webster George J.M. , James Martin , Koch Arjun Dave , Bruno Marco
Published: August 2023

Background and study aim Simulator-based training has been extensively studied in training gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy and shown to significantly improve learning curves of novices. Data on simulator-based training in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are scarce. We aimed to determine the impact of 2-day intensive hands-on simulator training on the course of the learning curve of novice trainees.

Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study using a validated mechanical ERCP simulator (Boškoski-Costamagna ERCP Trainer). Six trainees were allocated to the simulation course program (SG). Each of these trainees were paired with an endoscopy trainee starting regular ERCP training at the same center who had no exposure to a simulation course program (control group; CG). The course included lectures, live ERCP demonstrations, and hands-on ERCP training to educate trainees in basic techniques related to cannulation, stent placement, stone extraction and stricture management. After the course, both the SG and CG started formal ERCP training in their respective centers. The Rotterdam Assessment Form for ERCP was used to register each performed ERCP. Simple moving average was applied to create learning curves based on successful common bile duct (CBD) cannulation. Outcomes were plotted against a historical cohort (HC).

Results Thirteen trainees were included, six trainees in the SG and seven trainees in the CG, with a total of 717 ERCPs. Mean successful ERCP cannulation rate was higher for the simulator group at baseline compared to both CG and HC, 64% versus 43% and 42%, respectively. Differences became less explicit after 40 ERCPs, but persisted until a median of 75 ERCPs.

Conclusions We demonstrate that 2-day hands-on simulator-based ERCP training course has a positive effect on the learning curves of ERCP trainees and should be considered an integral part of the training curricula for ERCP to develop skills prior to patient-based training.
Impact of income inequality on climate change in Asia: the role of human capital
Authors: Oanh Tran Thi Kim , Ha Nguyen Thi Hong
Published: August 2023

Applying different regression estimators on balanced panel data, this article examines the impact of human capital and income inequality on climate change in Asian countries during the period 2007–2020. Results by the GMM estimator confirm that increases in income inequality and investments in human capital exacerbate environmental degradation in Asian countries. However, among the three variables that represent human capital, only HC3 (Gross enrollment ratio for tertiary school) plays a role in reducing the impact of income inequality on emissions of carbon dioxide. In addition, the study also provides evidence on the impact of other factors on CO2 emissions such as renewable energy, economic growth, population, output in the agricultural and services sectors, trade openness, government expenditure and total investment in the economy. Besides, some important policy implications have been suggested to aim at securing sustained economic growth in Asia.
Advances in solar telescopes
Authors: Gilbert Holly
Published: August 2023

Even as our understanding of the Sun has grown, many fundamental questions remain—some of which have big implications for life on Earth.
Toward a One Health Surveillance System in Cuba: Co-Productive Stakeholder Engagement
Authors: Valle Damarys de las Nieves Montano , García Oshin Ley , Hernandez Beatriz Delgado , Abreu Marian Irian Percedo , Pérez Dianelys Quiñones , Silva Laura Cunha , Carmo Luís Pedro , Berezowski John , Zamora Pastor Alfonso , Dürr Salome
Published: August 2023

We advocate for a holistic approach to building resilience against health hazards in Cuba by improving cross-sectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration. As a step in this direction, we conducted participatory workshops to design two One Health Surveillance Systems (OHSS): (i) for Influenza viruses with zoonotic/pandemic potential and (ii) for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). We engaged multiple stakeholders and used a Constellation Analysis (CA) tool to identify and visualize the elements of the ongoing veterinary and public health surveillance systems that are currently in place for AMR and Influenza. The stakeholders also delivered innovative insights regarding their views on the future OHSS. The participatory workshops consisted of four stages: (1) description of the case studies and their impact in Cuba; (2) validation of pre-designed CAs; (3) focus group discussions about the future OHSS; and (4) listing and discussing essential action points to develop and implement an OHSS. The workshops encompassed several group discussions and plenary sessions. The discussions were guided by a set of questions and supported by the CA tool. In both studies, we found that the transdisciplinary approach of the CA was suitable for encouraging group and plenary discussions. Stakeholder engagement is essential for the co-production of viable solutions to address complex health problems. Overall, this case illustrates how transdisciplinary research enables rapid co-production of knowledge among stakeholders that can inform both policy and practice.

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Low-lying electronic states of osmium monoxide OsO
Authors: Yan 严 Wen 汶 , Zou 邹 Wenli 文利
Published: August 2023

The ground state of osmium monoxide (OsO) has long been controversial. In this paper, the low-lying Λ–S and Ω electronic states of OsO have been comprehensively studied by the high-precision multi-reference calculations. The ground state of OsO is unexpectedly the closed-shell 1Σ+ state with a double bond instead of the previously reported 3Φ or 5Σ+ state; after including the spin–orbit coupling effects, the ground state becomes 3Π2. With the help of the theoretical spectroscopic constants and transition dipole moments, the emission spectra in the region of 405 nm–875 nm are assigned. Our results will facilitate the future studies of absorption and emission spectra of OsO.
An interrupted time series analysis of the cardiovascular health benefits of a coal coking operation closure
Authors: Yu Wuyue , Thurston George D
Published: August 2023

With the widespread implementation of air pollution mitigation strategies for health and climate policy, there is an emerging interest in accountability studies to validate whether a reduction of air pollution exposure, in fact, produces the human health benefits estimated from past air pollution epidemiology. The closure of a coal coking plant provides an ideal ‘natural’ experiment opportunity to rigorously evaluate the health benefits of air pollution emissions reductions. In this study, we applied an interrupted time series model to test the hypothesis that the substantial reduction in air pollution induced by the closure of the Shenango, Inc. coke plant in Pittsburgh, PA during January, 2016 was followed by immediate and/or longer-term cumulative local cardiovascular health benefits. We observed a 90% decrease in nearby SO2 levels, as well as significant reductions in coal-related fine particulate matter constituents (sulfate and arsenic), after the closure. Statistically significant cardiovascular health benefits were documented in the local population, including a 42% immediate drop (95% CI: 33%, 51%) in cardiovascular emergency department (ED) visits from the pre-closure mean. A longer-term downward trend was also observed for overall emergency visits at −0.14 (95% CI: −0.17, −0.11) visits per week rate of decrease after the closure, vs. a rise of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.20) visits per week before. Similarly, inpatient cardiovascular hospitalizations per year showed a decrease after closure (−27.97 [95% CI: −46.90, −9.04], as compared with a 5.09 [95% CI: −13.84, 24.02] average increase in cases/year over the prior three years). Our study provides clear evidence that this intervention lowering fossil fuel-associated air pollution benefited public health in both the short and longer term, while also providing validation of the past use of observational air pollution epidemiology effect estimates in policy analyses.
Transient conduction disturbances acutely after pulsed-field cavotricuspid isthmus ablation: a case report
Authors: Andrikopoulos George , Tampakis Konstantinos , Sykiotis Alexandros , Pastromas Sokratis
Published: August 2023

Background

Cavotricuspid isthmus pulsed-field ablation has been recently described to be safely performed despite initial reports on coronary arterial spasm while conduction disturbances as a complication of cavotricuspid isthmus ablation are rare and have been reported exclusively for radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Case summary

A 64-year-old female patient with mechanical prosthetic valves underwent atrial fibrillation ablation using the pentaspline pulsed-field ablation catheter. At the end of the uneventful pulmonary vein isolation, an atrial tachycardia depended to the cavotricuspid isthmus occurred. A single pulsed-field application at the cavotricuspid isthmus resulted in right bundle branch block combined with posterior fascicular hemiblock and PR prolongation that resolved spontaneously within 12 h.

Discussion

This is the first report of transient conduction disturbances as a complication of cavotricuspid isthmus pulsed-field ablation. Although the underlying mechanism, either single or miscellaneous, was not verified, this case highlights that caution should be taken when the pentaspline pulsed-field ablation catheter is used for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation.
A case report of repeat clipping for recurrent severe mitral regurgitation from both sides of the clip: those who run after two hares may catch both
Authors: Iwaya Takuma , Amaki Makoto , Kanzaki Hideaki , Izumi Chisato
Published: August 2023

Background

Recurrent mitral regurgitation (MR) can occur even after successful transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER). While some reports show the utility of repeat clipping for recurrent MR, the results are unsatisfactory. We describe a patient who underwent repeat clipping for MR that recurred from both sides of the original clip.

Case summary

An 89-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with congestive heart failure. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiograms (TTE/TEE) revealed severe MR due to A2 (middle segment of the anterior leaflet) prolapse. Because of his high operative risk, we performed TEER. An NTW clip was placed between A2 and P2 (middle scallop of the posterior leaflet), markedly reducing MR to mild. Six months after TEER, he complained of dyspnoea, and severe MR was evident from both sides of the clip. Although the risk of iatrogenic mitral stenosis was considered, we assessed that there might be a chance to succeed in repeat clipping if the additional two clips were placed only in the P2 beside the original clip following a careful review of TEE images. We challenged repeat clipping. After we placed NT clips on each side of the original NTW clip, MR was reduced to mild without creating iatrogenic mitral stenosis, and his symptoms subsequently improved.

Discussion

Anatomical features such as no valve thickening at the leaflet’s grasping site and the presence of posterior leaflet indentation may increase the likelihood of a successful repeat clipping outcome. Repeat clipping should be considered after careful anatomical assessment, even in patients with challenging anatomy.
13. An End to Enlargement: The EU, its Neighbourhood, and European Order
Authors: Smith Karen E.
Published: August 2023

Between the period of the end of the Cold War and now, the European Union (EU) has enlarged four times. In 2016, on the eve of the Brexit referendum in the UK, it had a total membership of 28 countries, almost half of which (11 member states) are in Central and South-Eastern Europe. By enlarging, the EU wanted to consolidate the democratic and economic reforms in post-communist countries, and spread security and prosperity eastwards. Its enlargement policy involved an obvious carrot-and-stick policy, to encourage reforms, mainly through the application of membership conditionality. However, 30 or so years on from the end of the Cold War, the potential of EU enlargement to reshape European order is clearly currently in jeopardy: the fragile consensus favouring the enlargement project has become more brittle, and rather than generating a secure and prosperous European order, the EU has found itself surrounded by an ‘arc of crisis’, with wars and atrocities in its ‘backyard’. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is proving to be the most serious threat to European order since the end of the Cold War. The EU will have to adjust to a much more insecure and threatening environment. The EU’s influence in its neighbourhood is tempered not just by Russia, but also by China and Turkey.
14. Property, extraction, and accumulation
Authors: Ryan Caitlin
Published: August 2023

This chapter explores the political violence steeped in the relations between property, extraction, and accumulation by considering the questions: ‘Security for what purpose?’ and ‘Security at whose expense?’ Security is often related to property as a claim to the ‘right’ of states, companies, and individuals to have security of property. The purpose of security is thus assumed to ensure a right to maintain property, and in particular, to extract or accumulate value from it. In this sense, security is often mobilized to protect existing property rights and/or the security of some form of property itself. Through examples of plantations and mines, the chapter demonstrates how property shows how security is mobilized, and how capital has historically depended on the protection of ‘property rights’ not only through appeals to a ‘rule of law’ but also through violence.
Endemicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing IMP-18 and/or VIM-2 MBLs from the high-risk clone ST111 in Central America
Authors: Deshpande Lalitagauri M , Vega Silvio , Tinoco Juan Carlos , Castanheira Mariana
Published: August 2023

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of serious nosocomial infections. Despite the overall genetic diversity of this species, highly conserved clonal complexes (CCs) have been observed among MDR isolates. Many of these CCs are associated with MBL-producing isolates.

Objectives

To evaluate five P. aeruginosa isolates from Central America that carried IMP-18- and/or VIM-2-encoding genes from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (2017–2018).

Methods

Susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution (CLSI). WGS was performed using MiSeq (Illumina) and MinION (Oxford Nanopore). Assembled contigs from short and long reads were combined for in silico screening of resistance genes, MLST, core genome (cg)MLST and SNP analysis.

Results

The P. aeruginosa isolates were collected in Panama and Mexico from patients with urinary tract infections or pneumonia. Isolates were categorized as XDR (CLSI/EUCAST). All isolates belonged to ST111 but carried different combinations of resistance-encoding genes. Transposon-associated MBL genes, blaIMP-18 and/or blaVIM-2, were chromosomally located. blaIMP-18 was detected in an In1666 integron whereas blaVIM-2 was embedded in an In59-like integron. Isolates were closely related based on cgMLST (average allele distance 2–34) and SNP analysis (5–423 different SNPs).

Conclusions

MBL-producing ST111 P. aeruginosa have become endemic in Panama and may have spread to Mexico via clonal dissemination. Recombination events are apparent in the evolution of this CC. Surveillance is warranted to track the expansion and movement of this clone.
Stability-Indicating Densitometric Analysis of Evogliptin Tartrate in Bulk and Tablet Dosage Form
Authors: Srivastava Shruti , Dhaneshwar Suneela , Kawathekar Neha
Published: August 2023

Background

Evogliptin tartrate is a novel dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-4) inhibitor very recently introduced into the market as an oral hypoglycemic drug.

Objective

The literature review has revealed no reports of stability-indicating analytical methods so far for evogliptin tartrate. Thus, the goal of this study was to develop and validate a stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for evogliptin tartrate in bulk and tablet dosage form.

Method

For the study, precoated plates of silica gel 60F254 were used as stationary phase and acetonitrile–water–formic acid (30:8:2, v/v/v) was used as a developing system. The densitometric scanning was performed at 270 nm, and the method was validated as per International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines for accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ). Evogliptin was subjected to forced degradation studies and was exposed to various stress conditions such as acid/base hydrolysis, oxidation, thermal stress, and UV light.

Results

The developed method furnished compact spots of evogliptin (Rf 0.62 ± 0.05) and was linear in the concentration range of 1–5 µg/spot. The lowest detection and quantitation values were found to be 0.331 and 1.003 µg/spot, respectively, and % recovery was found to be 101.09. The low RSD values (below 2%) for intra-day (% RSD 1.86) and inter-day (% RSD 1.43) precision studies demonstrated the preciseness of the developed method.

Conclusions

All the validation parameters were found to be within the acceptable range prescribed by ICH guidelines, indicating that the developed method was accurate, precise, selective, and reproducible. A total of five degradation products were resolved under various stress conditions.

Highlights

The proposed method has a promising application commercially for identification, routine quantitative determination, and monitoring of stability of the evogliptin tartrate in bulk and tablet dosage forms to guarantee its safety, efficacy, and quality. Moreover, the developed method will also help in formulation development and in determining the appropriate storage conditions.