bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple spatial and temporal scales of deformation from geodetic monitoring point to active transcrustal magma system at Uturuncu volcano, Bolivia
Authors: Eiden Elizabeth , MacQueen Patricia , Henderson Scott , Pritchard Matthew
Published: February 2023

Uturuncu volcano in southern Bolivia last erupted around 250 ka but is exhibiting signs of recent activity, including over 50 yr of surface uplift, elevated seismic activity, and fumarolic activity. We studied the spatial and temporal scales of surface deformation from 1992 to 2021 to better understand subsurface activity. We tracked Uturuncu’s recent deformation using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data and the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) station UTUR, located near Uturuncu’s summit. We observed a spatially coherent signal of uplift from 2014 to 2021 from Sentinel-1 A/B satellites that indicates the Altiplano-Puna magma body, located 19–24 km below ground level, and previously noted as the source of the large region of deformation, is still active. The ground is now uplifting at a rate of ~3 mm/yr compared to prior rates of ~10 mm/yr. We corroborated this waning uplift with in situ data from station UTUR. We combined the Sentinel-1 data with TerraSAR-X interferograms to constrain an ~25 km2 region of subsidence located 11 km SSW of Uturuncu, with a source depth of 2.1 km below ground level to an active period of ~2.5 yr with ~5 mm/yr subsidence. We developed a conceptual model that relates these varying depths and time scales of activity in a transcrustal magmatic system. We associate the surface uplift with pressurization from ascending gases and brines from magmatic reservoirs in the midcrust. We infer the existence of brine lenses in the shallow hydrothermal system based on low subsurface resistivity correlated with surface subsidence.
Content analysis of Dutch newspaper coverage of three tobacco control policies, 2017–2019
Authors: Poole Nikita L , van Straaten Barbara , van den Brand Floor A , Gilmore Anna B , Willemsen Marc C , Nagelhout Gera E
Published: February 2023

Objectives

News media coverage can influence support for and implementation of tobacco control policies. This research aims to analyse and compare newspaper coverage of newly implemented policies: a substantial tobacco tax increase, point-of-sale display ban and plain packaging.

Design

We conducted a content analysis of articles covering the three policies from ten national Dutch newspapers. Articles published between November 2017 and November 2019 were coded for type and tone. The policy dystopia model was used to code arguments opposing the policies. Tobacco industry appearances in news articles were also analysed for frequency and type.

Results

A total of 134 news articles were analysed, of which the industry appeared in 28%. The majority of coverage was neutral in tone, although among articles that were coded as expressing a positive or negative tone, plain packaging and the point-of-sale ban were portrayed more negatively than positively. Negative coverage was predominantly accounted for by industry presence. Arguments opposing the policies focused on negative economic consequences, challenging the need for policy and adverse consequences for retailers for tax, plain packaging and the point-of-sale display ban, respectively. We identified six specific new arguments that fit within existing domains of the policy dystopia model.

Conclusions

The tobacco industry and its allies still appear in a substantial proportion of news articles in relation to tobacco policy. This study identifies contemporary industry arguments against tobacco control policies in Europe which, alongside the policy dystopia model, can be used to predict and counter the tobacco industry’s future attempts to oppose policies.
Barriers to family planning use in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: an application of the theory of planned behaviour using a longitudinal survey
Authors: Bapolisi Wyvine Ansima , Bisimwa Ghislain , Merten Sonja
Published: February 2023

Objective

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there is a low adherence of the population to the use of family planning (FP) due to various social barriers. This study aimed to understand the drives from social barriers to the use of FP in women in the Kivu, a region particularly affected by poverty and many years of conflicts. A theory of planned behaviour (TPB) using a generalised structural equation modelling has been applied to understand the complex sociocultural drivers to the intention and the ultimate decision to use FP.

Design

Longitudinal study.

Setting

A community-based approach was used to investigate FP use in the North and South-Kivu regions.

Participants

Overall, 1812 women 15 years and older were enrolled in the baseline study and 1055 were retrieved during the follow-up.

Primary and secondary outcomes

FP use and intention to use FP.

Results

The mean age was 36±12.9 years, with a minimum of 15 years old and a maximum of 94 years old. Among sexually active participants, more than 40% used a modern contraceptive method at the last sexual intercourse. Education was positively and significantly associated with intention to use FP (β=0.367; p=0.008). Being married was positively and marginally significantly associated with intention to use FP (β=0.524: p=0.050). Subjective normswere negatively and significantly associated with intention to use FP (β=−0.572; p=0.003) whileperceived controlwas positively associated with intention to use FP (β=0.578; p<0.0001). Education andperceived controlwere positively and significantly associated with the use of FP (respectively, β=0.422, p=0.017; and β=0.374; p=0.017), whileIntention to use FPwas positively and marginally significantly associated with the use of FP (β=0.583; p=0.052).

Conclusion

TPB helped understand sociocultural barriers to FP use and it can be useful to define adapted strategies in different contexts.
Weighting of risk factors for low birth weight: a linked routine data cohort study in Wales, UK
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Amrita , Jones Hope , Parker Michael , Marchant Emily , Evans Julie , Todd Charlotte , Rahman Muhammad A , Healy James , Win Tint Lwin , Rowe Ben , Moore Simon , Jones Angela , Brophy Sinead
Published: February 2023

Objective

Globally, 20 million children are born with a birth weight below 2500 g every year, which is considered as a low birthweight (LBW) baby. This study investigates the contribution of modifiable risk factors in a nationally representative Welsh e-cohort of children and their mothers to inform opportunities to reduce LBW prevalence.

Design

A longitudinal cohort study based on anonymously linked, routinely collected multiple administrative data sets.

Participants

The cohort, (N=693 377) comprising of children born between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2018 in Wales, was selected from the National Community Child Health Database.

Outcome measures

The risk factors associated with a binary LBW (outcome) variable were investigated with multivariable logistic regression (MLR) and decision tree (DT) models.

Results

The MLR model showed that non-singleton children had the highest risk of LBW (adjusted OR 21.74 (95% CI 21.09 to 22.40)), followed by pregnancy interval less than 1 year (2.92 (95% CI 2.70 to 3.15)), maternal physical and mental health conditions including diabetes (2.03 (1.81 to 2.28)), anaemia (1.26 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.36)), depression (1.58 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.75)), serious mental illness (1.46 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.05)), anxiety (1.22 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.38)) and use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy (1.92 (95% CI 1.20 to 3.07)). Additional maternal risk factors include smoking (1.80 (95% CI 1.76 to 1.84)), alcohol-related hospital admission (1.60 (95% CI 1.30 to 1.97)), substance misuse (1.35 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.41)) and evidence of domestic abuse (1.98 (95% CI 1.39 to 2.81)). Living in less deprived area has lower risk of LBW (0.70 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.72)). The most important risk factors from the DT models include maternal factors such as smoking, maternal weight, substance misuse record, maternal age along with deprivation—Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation score, pregnancy interval and birth order of the child.

Conclusion

Resources to reduce the prevalence of LBW should focus on improving maternal health, reducing preterm births, increasing awareness of what is a sufficient pregnancy interval, and to provide adequate support for mothers’ mental health and well-being.
Cohort Profile: Childhood morbidity and potential non-specific effects of the childhood vaccination programmes in the Nordic countries (NONSEnse): register-based cohort of children born 1990–2017/2018
Authors: Gehrt Lise , Laake Ida , Englund Hélène , Nieminen Heta , Feiring Berit , Lahdenkari Mika , Palmu Arto A , Trogstad Lill , Benn Christine Stabell , Sørup Signe
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The aim of the NONSEnse project is to investigate the non-specific effects of vaccines and immunisation programmes on the overall health of children by using information from the extensive nationwide registers on health and sociodemographic factors in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Participants

The cohort covers 9 072 420 children aged 0–17 years, born 1990–2017/2018 and living in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden. All countries use a unique identification number for its permanent residents, which makes it possible to link individual-level information from different registers.

Findings to date

Data collection and harmonisation according to a common data model was completed in March 2022. As a prerequisite for comparing the effects of childhood vaccinations on the overall health of children across the Nordic countries, we have identified indicators measuring similar levels of infectious disease morbidity across these settings. So far, studies pertaining to non-specific effects of vaccines are limited to investigations that could be undertaken using aggregated data sets that were available before the NONSEnse cohort with individual-level information was completely set up.

Future plans

We are currently performing several studies of the effects on non-targeted infectious disease morbidity across the countries following vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, human papillomavirus, rotavirus and influenza. Multiple studies are planned within the next years using different study designs to facilitate triangulation of results and enhance causal inference.

Registration

No clinical trials will be conducted within the NONSEnse project.
Murru Minya–informing the development of practical recommendations to support ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research: a protocol for a national mixed-methods study
Authors: McGuffog Romany , Chamberlain Catherine , Hughes Jaqui , Kong Kelvin , Wenitong Mark , Bryant Jamie , Brown Alex , Eades Sandra J , Griffiths Kalinda E , Collis Felicity , Hobden Breanne , O'Mara Peter , Ridgeway Tanika , Walter Maggie , Kennedy Michelle
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Conducting ethical and high-quality health research is crucial for informing public health policy and service delivery to reduce the high and inequitable burden of disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Ethical guidelines and principles specifically for health research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been developed for use since 1987. However, there has been limited examination of how these are being applied to the conduct of research.

Methods and analysis

Murru Minyawill be a large-scale national study to examine the implementation of ethical processes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. A mixed-methods design will be used in fourbaarra(steps). The first threebaarrawill collect knowledge, experiences and wisdom from three key groups: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, research academics, and Human Research Ethics Committees using online surveys, yarning, and semistructured interviews. This knowledge will inform the finalbaarraof developing a set of practical recommendations to support ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research into the future.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this research project has been granted by National, State and Territory Human Research Ethics Committees. This research has been developed in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation representatives, Aboriginal community members, the National Health Leadership Forum, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research team. The knowledge translation plan will be integrated and revised throughout the project as partnerships and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue. All findings will be shared with peak Aboriginal research bodies and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in ways that are meaningful to them.
Urinary incontinence in older men: protocol for a scoping review of risk factors
Authors: Olagundoye Olawunmi , Kung Janice Y , Gibson William , Wagg Adrian
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Urinary incontinence (UI) is common among older men. Epidemiological studies have established many risk factors for UI but these studies are not always specific to men aged 65 and above. The literature is yet to be systematically and comprehensively reviewed to identify UI risk factors specific to these men. Such evidence is required for the development of evidence-based interventions. This scoping review will synthesise evidence regarding UI risk factors in older men.

Methods and analysis

The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) method for scoping reviews will guide the conduct of this scoping review and its reporting alongside the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews checklist. JBI’s Population, Concept and Context framework is used to frame inclusion criteria, and JBI’s scoping review protocol template was used to format this protocol. Our comprehensive search will include Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library (via Wiley) and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. There will be no language restriction since approximately 10% of preliminary search results were in languages other than English. Study type or publication date will not be restricted. Besides databases, we will review Google Scholar results and bibliographies. Two independent reviewers will screen, select and extract eligible studies. A preliminary search was performed on 24 May 2022. The search strategy and data extraction template are in online supplemental appendix. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of data will be performed as a means of describing the risk factors for UI identified among older men by using frequencies and descriptive methods.

Ethics and dissemination

The review does not require ethics approval. Findings will be disseminated at conferences, in a peer-reviewed journal and used to inform the development of an evidence-based tool for self-management of UI in older men.
Analysis of FDA’s Vuse market authorisation: limitations and opportunities
Authors: Meshnick Andrew B , Faricy Lauren Elizabeth , Lushniak Boris D
Published: February 2023

This special communication provides a physicians’ critique of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s decision to authorise the Vuse Solo (Vuse) Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA). The PMTA authorisation represents the first time that FDA has authorised an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) for marketing in the USA. Using the FDA Decision Summary, the special communication identifies significant unanswered public health and scientific questions that prevent the authors from reaching FDA’s conclusion that Vuse meets the Appropriate for the Protection of the Public Health (APPH) standard. The authors recommend FDA suspend the market authorisation and use these questions to re-evaluate the PMTA, and to prospectively monitor whether Vuse meets APPH standard. The special communication advances the ENDS harm reduction conversation because it calls for national tobacco regulators to develop an epidemiological prediction of ENDS impact on the population and to expand the scope of their analysis to evaluate the impacts of ENDS on congenital birth defects, abuse liability and non-flavour drivers of youth usage. Through learning from the American experience regulating Vuse, national tobacco regulators around the globe will be better equipped to evaluate the impact of ENDS on the public health.
Cigarette butts in the environment: a growing global threat?
Authors: da Silva Nirhvana Felipe , de Araújo Maria Christina Barbosa , Silva-Cavalcanti Jacqueline Santos
Published: February 2023

Cigarette butts (CBs) are composed of cellulose acetate and are a significant source of anthropogenic waste. More than 4 trillion CBs are improperly discarded in natural and urban environments, resulting in the contamination of a variety of ecosystems. The goal of the present study was to obtain information regarding environmental contamination of CBs through a comprehensive systematic review. A literature review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method. “Cigarette butt” and “cigarette filter” were used as keywords in searches in Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink databases, where the abstracts were separated, organized, and analysed using IRaMuTeQ software. The review identified 116 articles published in 23 countries, with publication growth observed over the years. Through descending hierarchical classification, two groups and four classes were recognized, whereby different terminologies were specified by factorial correspondence and similarity analyses. The four classes were categorized as follows: (1) ecotoxicological studies, with information about the lethal and sublethal effects of CBs on different organisms; (2) public policies, with discussion pertaining to the problem and possible measures and actions aimed at reducing CB contamination; (3) contamination of public areas, with studies addressing the potential dispersion of this material in the environment; and (4) physicochemical aspects, with evidence of the potential for contamination caused by the components contained in the cigarette filters. However, despite an increasing number of publications over the years and a variety of studies regarding the environmental effects of CBs, there is still an absence of information within each class, requiring further research.
Characterization of the chloroplast genome of medicinal herb Polygonatum cyrtonema and identification of molecular markers by comparative analysis
Authors: Xie Zhen-Ni , Lao Jia , Liu Hao , Zhang Wan-Xiang , He Wei , Zhong Can , Xie Jing , Zhang Shui-Han , Jin Jian
Published: February 2023

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a traditional Chinese herb medicine, and it is widely distributed in China. The intrageneric taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships within Polygonatum have long been controversial due to their morphological similarity and lacking special DNA barcodes. In this paper, the complete chloroplast genome is a relatively conserved quadripartite structure including a large single copy region of 84 711 bp, a small single copy region of 18 210 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats region of 26 142 bp. A total of 342 simple sequence repeats were identified, and most of them were found to be composed of A/T, including 126 mono-nucleotides and 179 di-nucleotides. Nucleotide diversity was analyzed and eight highly variable regions (psbl∼trnT-CGU, atpF∼atpH, trnT-GGU∼psbD, psaJ∼rps20, trnL-UAG∼ndhD, ndhG∼ndhl, ndhA, and rpl32∼ccsA) were identified as potential molecular markers. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole chloroplast genome showed that P. cyrtonema, within the family Asparagaceae, is closely related to Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonatum kingianum. The sequence matK, trnT-GGU & ccsA, and ndhG∼ndhA were identified as three DNA barcodes. The assembly and comparative analysis of P. cyrtonema complete chloroplast genome will provide essential molecular information about the evolution and molecular biology for further study.
Analysis of angular distribution asymmetries and the associated $$C\!P$$ asymmetries in three-body decays of bottom baryons
Authors: Zhang Zhen-Hua , Qi Jing-Juan
Published: February 2023

We introduce a set of observables representing angular distribution asymmetries, which can be viewed as a generalization of the forward-backward asymmetry of angular distributions, and can be used as an effective tool to search for $$C\!P$$

C

P

violation in three-body decays of bottom and charmed baryons. We propose to search for such $$C\!P$$

C

P

asymmetries (1) in decays with $$\Lambda ^0$$

Λ
0

, $$\Sigma ^\pm $$

Σ
±

, or $$\Lambda _c^+$$

Λ
c
+

involved, such as $$\Lambda _b\rightarrow \Lambda ^0 D$$

Λ
b

→

Λ
0

D

and $$\Lambda _b\rightarrow \Lambda ^0\rho (770)^0$$

Λ
b

→

Λ
0

ρ

(
770
)

0

; and (2) in three-body decays of bottom baryons with opposite parity intermediate resonances involved. Typical examples include $$\Xi _b^-\rightarrow p K^- K^-$$

Ξ
b
-

→
p

K
-

K
-

, $$\Lambda _b^0\rightarrow p K_S\pi ^-$$

Λ
b
0

→
p

K
S

π
-

and $$\Lambda _b^0\rightarrow p \pi ^0\pi ^-$$

Λ
b
0

→
p

π
0

π
-

, in which the last decay channel is used as a toy model to illustrate the basic idea.
Research on SnCIR multi-opinion competitive communication model
Authors: Sun Cheng’ai , Jing Caixia , Zhou Xiaodan , Li Kun , Li Tangjun
Published: February 2023

The traditional public opinion dissemination model studies the dissemination of single opinion public opinion, while manual processing limits the division of multiple opinions, reducing the efficiency of public opinion dissemination. Therefore, combined with the topic recognition model, the SnCIR multi-opinion public opinion competition propagation model is constructed. The comparative experiment on the ca-GrQc dataset shows that the SnCIR model has a lower propagation density than the SCIR, SEIR and SIR models before the public opinion spreads stably. At the inflection point, SnCIR is 0.02 smaller than the SCIR model propagation density, 0.04 smaller than SEIR, and 0.65 smaller than SIR. Through the guidance of mainstream and official media, the management of the Weibo platform, and the government’s supervision, this paper studies the impact on the dissemination of network public opinion. Combined with the analysis of the evolution characteristics of the network public opinion situation, some countermeasures and suggestions are given, which provide management ideas for the response and governance of network public opinion in emergencies.
Escape from a black hole with spherical warp drive
Authors: Eroshenko Yu. N.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a class of the warp drive (WD) type metrics is proposed in the form of spherical and plane waves or shells. In particular, these metrics can describe the passage of spherical WD through the horizon of a black hole (BH) from the inside out. In this metrics, nonsingular evolution of physical fields is possible, which is demonstrated by examples of scalar, vector and fermion fields. The passage of a warp-wave through the fields is accompanied by soliton-like configurations (kinks). The limiting case of Planck-scale WD can lead to the evaporation of singularities inside BHs with the escape of particles and information into outer space, and the EPR = WD conjecture can also be proposed.
Stationary solutions for fermions in the fields of Schwarzschild and Reissner–Nordström quantum black holes
Authors: Neznamov V. P. , Safronov I. I. , Shemarulin V. E.
Published: February 2023

The problem of existence of fermion’s stationary states in the fields of quantum black holes [R. Casadio, Universe 7, 478 (2021), arXiv:2103.00183v4 [gr-qc]; R. Casadio, A. Giusti and J. Ovalle, Phys. Rev. D 105, 124026 (2022), arXiv:2203.03252v2 [gr-qc]] is considered. It is shown that in the domains, outside external event horizons, quantum black holes preserve qualitative characteristics typical for classical Schwarzschild and Reissner–Nordström black holes [V. P. Neznamov and I. I. Safronov, J. Exp. Theor. Phys. 127, 647 (2018); V. P. Neznamov, I. I. Safronov and V. E. Shemarulin, J. Exp. Theor. Phys. 127, 684 (2018)]. Quantitative differences are the dependence of the radii of the event horizons in quantum black holes on the maximum (cut-off) momentum of the gravitons [Formula: see text] and some distinctions in the effective potentials of the relativistic self-conjugate Schrödinger-type equation.
Enhanced heat and mass transfer characteristics of multiple slips on hydro-magnetic dissipative Casson fluid over a curved stretching surface
Authors: Duraihem Faisal Z. , Devi R. L. V. Renuka , Prakash P. , Sreelakshmi T. K. , Saleem S. , Durgaprasad P. , Raju C. S. K. , Raju S. Suresh Kumar
Published: February 2023

In most of practical situation multiple slips (velocity, temperature and concentration) has importance in manufacturing, medicinal, imaging processes and design of materials. In view of this, the present work considered the multiple slips on Magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) dissipative non-Newtonian fluid (Casson fluid) above a curved type of a stretching surface are studied. Multiple slips with Casson fluid have significance in controlling the blood flow distribution in human and animal bodies. The R–K fourth-order via shooting technique is used to convert the nonlinear governing equations. The impact of governing parameters is shown and explored graphically. The present investigation explores the multiple slip effects in governing equations under the influence of the magnetic field; the fluid’s temperature and velocity have reverse characteristics. In a few unique situations, the current findings have been in reasonable agreement with the current results. As opposed to when viscous dissipation is absent, the temperature distribution is higher when viscous dissipation is present. It helps us to decide depending on the industrial and manufacturing processes, whether dissipation has to be applied or not. The stretching parameter enhances the Skin friction coefficient and rate of heat transfer, while decreases the rate of mass transfer. Also, the fluid’s temperature decreases because an increase in Casson fluid parameter enhances the plastic dynamic viscosity, which creates resistance in the fluid motion.
Determination shape of the potential well of traps in TlGaTe2 crystals
Authors: Abdullayev A. P. , Rzayev R. M. , Naghiyev T. G. , Mammadova J. P. , Aliyev S. S. , Musazade I. V.
Published: February 2023

The single crystals of TlGaTe2 were grown by the Bridgman method. The current–voltage characteristics were performed for obtained crystals and it was determined that the Poole–Frenkel effect occurs in the nonlinear region of the current in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the crystallographic axis. The calculated values of the concentration of ionized centers [Formula: see text], the mean free path [Formula: see text], the values of the Frenkel coefficient [Formula: see text] and the shape of the potential well in TlGaTe2 crystals are determined.
A Semi-Supervised Learning Using Tri-Classifier Model with Voting for COVID-19 Cough Classification
Authors: Chen Yuh-Shyan , Cheng Kuang-Hung , Hsu Chih-Shun , Lin Tzu-Hung
Published: February 2023

Due to the increasing severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, timely screening and diagnosis of infections are essential. Since cough is a common symptom of COVID-19, an AI-assisted cough classification scheme is designed in this paper to diagnose COVID-19 infection. To reduce the labeling efforts by human experts, a semi-supervised learning with voting scheme using a triple-classifier model is proposed for the COVID-19 cough classification. This work aims to improve the accuracy of the classification. Initially, the data pre-processing scheme is executed by performing data cleaning, resampling, and data enhancement so as to improve the audio quality before training. The pre-training scheme is then performed by using a few numbers of COVID-19 cough data with labeling. Then we modify a well-known self-supervised learning model, SimCLR, to a semi-supervised learning-based SimCLR-like model, which uses three different loss functions to fine-tune three training models for cough classification. Finally, a voting scheme is performed based on the classification results of the three cough classifiers so as to enhance the accuracy of the cough classification for COVID-19. The experiment results illustrate that the proposed scheme can achieve 85% accuracy, which outperforms the existing semi-supervised learning-based classification schemes.
A Social Distance Monitoring Method Based on Improved YOLOv4 for Surveillance Videos
Authors: Cai Xingquan , Zhou Shun , Cheng Pengyan , Feng Dingwei , Sun Haiyan , Ji Jiaqi
Published: February 2023

Social distance monitoring is of great significance for public health in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. However, existing monitoring methods cannot effectively detect social distance in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and robustness. In this paper, we proposed a social distance monitoring method based on an improved YOLOv4 algorithm. Specifically, our method constructs and pre-processes a dataset. Afterwards, our method screens the valid samples and improves the K-means clustering algorithm based on the IoU distance. Then, our method detects the target pedestrians using a trained improved YOLOv4 algorithm and gets the pedestrian target detection frame location information. Finally, our method defines the observation depth parameters, generates the 3D feature space, and clusters the offending aggregation groups based on the L2 parametric distance to finally realize the pedestrian social distance monitoring of 2D video. Experiments show that the proposed social distance monitoring method based on improved YOLOv4 can accurately detect pedestrian target locations in video images, where the pre-processing operation and improved K-means algorithm can improve the pedestrian target detection accuracy. Our method can cluster the offending groups without going through calibration mapping transformation to realize the pedestrian social distance monitoring of 2D videos.
Dynamics of a Leslie–Gower Model with Weak Allee Effect on Prey and Fear Effect on Predator
Authors: Liu Tingting , Chen Lijuan , Chen Fengde , Li Zhong
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a Leslie–Gower model with weak Allee effect on prey and fear effect on predator is proposed. Compared with the case without fear effect on predator, the new model undergoes richer dynamic behaviors such as saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation. Also, different from the strong Allee effect on prey, the system with weak Allee effect has bistable attractors which are a largely stable limit cycle and a stable positive equilibrium, two stable equilibria, or a stable limit cycle and a stable trivial equilibrium. When the Allee effect coefficient is intermediate, fear effect on the predator can protect the prey and the predator from being extinguished. The results in this paper can be seen as a complement to those in the literatures about the Leslie–Gower model with Allee effect and fear effect.
Turing–Hopf Bifurcation Analysis of the Sel’kov–Schnakenberg System
Authors: Liu Yuying , Wei Xin
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the Sel’kov–Schnakenberg system. The stability of the positive constant steady state is studied by the linear stability theory. Hopf bifurcation and Turing–Hopf bifurcation are generated by varying two parameters in the model. The normal form near the Turing–Hopf singularity is calculated to explore the complex dynamics of the system. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to verify the theoretical results. Our results show that the Sel’kov–Schnakenberg system exhibits complex dynamics near the Turing–Hopf singularity, including the existence of inhomogeneous steady states, homogeneous periodic solutions and inhomogeneous periodic solutions.
AVERAGE FERMAT DISTANCE OF A PSEUDO-FRACTAL HIERARCHICAL SCALE-FREE NETWORK
Authors: PENG LULU , ZENG CHENG , CHEN DIRONG , XUE YUMEI , ZHAO ZIXUAN
Published: February 2023

Fermat point of a triangle is the point with the minimal total distance from the three vertices in a triangle. In this paper, we discuss the average Fermat distance for a class of hierarchical networks. First, the unweighted hierarchical scale-free network is established in an iterative way. Applying the recursive method, we deduce the analytical expression of average Fermat distance and average geodesic distance. Then we reveal the linear relation of the leading terms for average Fermat distance and average geodesic distance. Finally, we obtain the small-world property of the hierarchical scale-free network, which indicates that average Fermat distance can be a valuable index of small-word property.
Study on the EPSD of Wind-Induced Responses of the Sutong Bridge Using Harmonic Wavelets
Authors: Xu Zidong , Wang Hao , Zhao Kaiyong
Published: February 2023

Many long-span bridges are located at typhoon prone regions. With the continuous increase of the bridge span, the typhoon-induced buffeting becomes more and more prominent. In this study, based on the structural health monitoring system installed in the Sutong Bridge, the recorded buffeting responses of the main girder during typhoons Damrey and Haikui were analyzed. The run test method demonstrated that the recorded acceleration responses can be regarded as zero-mean non-stationary random processes. Hence, to capture the energy distribution of the recorded data in the time-frequency domain, the evolutionary power spectral density (EPSD) estimation was conducted using efficient generalized harmonic wavelet (GHW) and filtered harmonic wavelet (FHW), respectively. Compared with the GHW, narrower wavelet bandwidth is required by the FHW to yield a compromise between the time and frequency resolution. For the FHW-based method, the power spectral density amplitudes of the averaging EPSDs are slightly larger for certain major frequency components than those obtained by the Pwelch method. Results show that the non-stationary features of the buffeting of long-span bridges during Typhoon events should be considered. This study can also provide references for non-stationary buffeting analysis of other long-span bridges during extreme wind events.
Dynamic Interaction Analysis and Running Safety Assessment of the Wind–Train–Bridge System Considering the Moving Train’s Aerodynamic Coupling with Crosswind
Authors: Yao Zhiyong , Zhang Nan , Zhu Miaochang , Li Xiaoda
Published: February 2023

Trains tend to be faster and lighter to meet the increasing public travel needs and interact with crosswind to produce a strong aerodynamic interaction, leaving a safety hazard for the operation. This paper presents a study into the dynamic response and running safety of the train–bridge system accounting for this aerodynamic interaction. The threedimensional flow features of a moving train in crosswinds are first investigated by a computational fluid dynamics method, and then an aerodynamic model for simulating unsteady crosswind force is developed. Furthermore, the dynamic responses of the train and bridge are calculated by using a wind–train–bridge dynamic interaction equation, and finally, the characteristic wind curve and surface are defined to evaluate the train’s running safety. The results show that the lateral response of the train–bridge system significantly increases as the crosswind increases, and the head car can experience a high derailment risk and determine the running safety of the train due to the aerodynamic coupling effect of a moving train and crosswind. Variations in the wind direction need to be factored into the safety assessment for low train speeds, and the train is at greater danger when the crosswind appears perpendicular to the car body.
Images of ideals under derivations and ℰ-derivations of univariate polynomial algebras over a field of characteristic zero
Authors: Zhao Wenhua
Published: February 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be a field of characteristic zero and [Formula: see text] a free variable. A [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-derivation of [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text]-linear map of the form [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text]-algebra endomorphism [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] denotes the identity map of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we study the image of an ideal of [Formula: see text] under some [Formula: see text]-derivations and [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-derivations of [Formula: see text]. We show that the LFED conjecture proposed in [W. Zhao, Some open problems on locally finite or locally nilpotent derivations and [Formula: see text]-derivations, Commun. Contem. Math. 20(4) (2018) 1750056] holds for all [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-derivations and all locally finite [Formula: see text]-derivations of [Formula: see text]. We also show that the LNED conjecture proposed in [W. Zhao, Some open problems on locally finite or locally nilpotent derivations and [Formula: see text]-derivations, Commun. Contem. Math. 20(4) (2018) 1750056] holds for all locally nilpotent [Formula: see text]-derivations of [Formula: see text], and also for all locally nilpotent [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-derivations of [Formula: see text]and the ideals [Formula: see text] such that either [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text] has at least one repeated root in the algebraic closure of [Formula: see text]. As a bi-product, the homogeneous Mathieu subspaces (Mathieu–Zhao spaces) of the univariate polynomial algebra over an arbitrary field have also been classified.
Bitcoin Forecasting Performance Measurement: A Comparative Study of Econometric, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence-Based Models
Authors: Agrawal Anshul , Mani Mukta , Varshney Sakshi
Published: February 2023

Bitcoin is a type of Cryptocurrency that relies on Blockchain technology and its growing popularity is leading to its acceptance as an alternative investment. However, the future value of Bitcoin is difficult to predict due to its significant volatility and speculative behavior. Considering this, the key objective of this research is to assess Bitcoins’ explosive behavior during 2013–2022 including the most volatile COVID-19 pandemic and Russia–Ukraine war period and to forecast its price by comparing the predictive abilities offive different econometric, machine learning and artificial Intelligence methods namely, ARIMA, Decision Tree, Random Forest, SVM, and Artificial Intelligence Long Short-Term Memory Network (AI-LSTM). The precision of such methodologies has been assessed using root mean square error (RMSE) and mean average per cent error (MAPE) values. The findings confirmed that the AI-LSTM model performs better than other forecast models in predicting Bitcoins’ opening price on the following working day. Therefore, Bitcoin traders, policymakers, and financial institutions can use the model effectively to better forecast the next day’s opening price.
Spin Injection in Trilayer Structures by Application of the Electric and Magnetic Fields
Authors: Shahri Naseri M.
Published: February 2023

The spin injection efficiency in the Ferromagnetic/Nonmagnetic Semiconductor/Ferromagnetic (FM/NMS/FM) structures was studied under external magnetic and electric fields. It is found that spin injection efficiency can be strongly influenced by magnetic and electric fields. With the increase of these fields, the down-stream spin diffusion length increases and makes the spin injection efficiency increase. Furthermore, the effects of many-body correlations and exchange reduces the value of the diffusion constant that leads to enhance spin injection efficiency.
Improved RRT* Algorithm-Based Path Planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in a 3D Metropolitan Environment
Authors: Fusic S. Julius , Sitharthan R.
Published: February 2023

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s) are widely used in smart logistic application. The optimal route prediction, however, is a fundamental prerequisite for UAV in commercial applications. This paper introduces an Improved Rapid random tree (IRRT*) algorithm with triangular inequality rewiring technique for finding collision free path for UAVs in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. The 3D building environments for navigation were developed using MATLAB/Simulink 2021, a virtual occupancy grid model. By considering UAV variable elements such as roll angle, air speed, flight path angle, and boundary threshold parameters, the suggested work aims to provide a comparative analysis of sampling algorithm-based optimal path. The proposed route planning control strategy is to identify the violation free path to locate the destination in 3D environment at variable altitude and air speed. Compared to the standard RRT and RRT* algorithms, the proposed IRRT* algorithm can shorten the planning time, reduce the cost distance and improve the algorithm’s applicability in the formation path planning problem. Simulation experiments with two environments and their different situations are carried out to determine the efficiency and performance of the proposed IRRT* algorithm. Statistical investigation supported the effectiveness of the IRRT* approach, which has low computational cost and a smooth travel trajectory that significantly resolves the unmanned aerial vehicle path planning issues in logistic applications.
Effects of Big Data Analytics on Sustainable Manufacturing: A Comparative Study Analysis
Authors: ER Ching Horng , MOSAWI Thikrait Al
Published: February 2023

Application of big data analytics (BDA) is seen in various disciplines within an organization to predict trends, explore opportunities and monitor performance. Among all the industries, BDA presents immense value in sustainable manufacturing (SM) given that it is an industry that consumes a high amount of energy, emits high amounts of waste and carbon emissions and requires a large amount of manpower. This paper aims at illustrating the effects of BDA in supporting SM by studying the Indian manufacturing firms which have unfavorable labor laws compared to other developing countries. With an extensive literature review, this paper discusses the relationship between BDA and sustainability, the capabilities of BDA, the concept of SM, the BDA framework for SM, the relationship between Industry 4.0 and SM and the challenges of implementing BDA. Using qualitative meta-analysis research methodology, the paper examines the nine common critical success factors that enable SM through BDA implementation by comparing 15 primary studies. Finally, the paper concludes the research findings and outlines future research directions. The study provides theoretical and practical contributions to BDA implementation in achieving effective SM practices in emerging economies.
Study of densification mechanism of Si3N4 added with MgO by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Xie Siyao , Zhang Mei , Wang Minbo , Li Ruidi , Yuan Tiechui
Published: February 2023

Spark plasma sintering, as a novel powder solidification technology, is applied in this study to sinter Si3N4/MgO powder. The highest relative density [Formula: see text] of 97.14% and Vickers hardness of 1650[Formula: see text]HV are obtained at a soaking temperature of 1750∘C. A steady-state creep mode is utilized to study the densification mechanism of the Si3N4/MgO powder by computing its densification rate [Formula: see text] and further effective stress exponent [Formula: see text] in the soaking period. The results show that [Formula: see text] at soaking temperatures ranging between 1600∘C and 1650∘C, which indicates that its densification mechanism is grain boundary sliding. By contrast, [Formula: see text] at the aforementioned constant soaking temperature ranges indicates that its densification mechanism transformed into dislocation climb-dominated creep. With the soaking temperature further increasing to 1700–1750∘C, the densification mechanism is revealed to be grain boundary diffusion at [Formula: see text]. In addition, the activation densification [Formula: see text] of the Si3N4/MgO powder is calculated to be 206[Formula: see text]kJ/mol at soaking temperatures ranging between 1600∘C and 1650∘C under the determined [Formula: see text].
North Barents Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element
Authors: Lundschien B. A. , Mattingsdal R. , Johansen S. K. , Knutsen S.-M.
Published: February 2023

The North Barents Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element could represent a prosperous petroleum province in the Arctic, with several large basins, platforms and highs identified. The sedimentary succession ranges from the Late Paleozoic and continues throughout most of the Mesozoic. Terrestrial sediments of the Billefjorden Group (Famennian–Visean) are likely to be present, and are overlain by evaporites and carbonates of the Gipsdalen Group (Serpukhovian–Late Artinskian). Most of the Triassic is dominated by deposits from a huge prograding deltaic system building out from the south, SE and east, becoming successively younger towards NW. The system was primarily sourced from the Urals but also partly from mainland Norway and, most probably, from Taimyr. The progradation started in the Late Permian and reached Svalbard in the Early Carnian. The entire delta system was flooded during the regional Early Norian transgression, resulting in the deposition of marine shales of the Flatsalen Formation (Svalbard) and the time-equivalent Akkar Member of the Fruholmen Formation (Barents Sea). The Cretaceous and the Paleogene are, respectively, comprehensively and completely eroded. During the Pliocene–Pleistocene, the entire Barents shelf was a site of repeated glaciations, resulting in extensive erosion. Hydrocarbon source rocks occur at several stratigraphic levels from the Carboniferous to the Jurassic, of which the most important is assumed to be the Lower–Middle Triassic Steinkobbe/Botneheia Formation. The Upper Jurassic Hekkingen Formation, where present, is likely to be immature across the whole area. Potential reservoir rocks are Permian carbonates and siliciclastic rocks of Carboniferous and Mesozoic age.
Analytical expressions of hydraulic conductivity intervals for steady flow to a single pumping well in an unconfined aquifer
Authors: Dong Guiming , Li Jianing , Chen Wenjie , Tian Juan , Wang Yanhui
Published: February 2023

Results of pumping tests are normally uncertain due to insufficient exploration capability and complex hydrogeological conditions, which poses the question of how to calculate the range of hydraulic conductivity values if the factors affecting hydraulic conductivity fluctuate within this range. In this paper, the parameters affecting hydraulic conductivity were regarded as the range, or ‘interval’. From this perspective, three analytical expressions that can quickly calculate the hydraulic conductivity interval specifically for an unconfined aquifer with a single well were derived using the Dupuit–Forchheimer formula from three universal expressions. The relative errors for the three expressions were analysed by comparing them with the equal interval continuous sampling method (EICSM). The results indicated that on the premise that the absolute value of the relative error of the hydraulic conductivity extremum was controlled within 10%, the maximums and minimums should be calculated using Expression 2 (convex model formula) and Expression 3 (Taylor expansion formula), respectively. These expressions were considered as better choices because the allowable change rate could reach 20 and 10%. At the end of the research, an actual pumping test was introduced to verify the above deduction.