bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Freedom of Navigation in the Suez Canal and the Channels: Law of the Sea
Authors: Spanier Benny 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe chapter examines the status of international canals and straits connecting Two Parts of the High Seas under the Law of the Sea. Strait is a natural phenomenon, while a canal is artificial. At the same time, having a similar role and designation—a passage between seas—one could assume that their legal status, as far as freedom of navigation is concerned, would be the same. Straits have been extensively and comprehensively dealt with over the years by littoral nations, and today there is a complete and innovative chapter on this subject in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. However, the Convention is silent on canals. In the first part of the chapter, the terms “strait” and “canal” will be defined with an emphasis on the Suez Canal with regard to the right to freedom of navigation. The second part will describe the development of the right to freedom of navigation in the Suez Canal and the straits. One can see that while with straits there has been, over the years, a process of development with regard to navigation rights in the Law of the Sea, this is not the case with regard to canals subject to specific conventions, and specifically, the Suez Canal. The third part of the chapter will be devoted to a discussion leading to some conclusions on the differences between the two passages, which will assess whether these differences have future significance in the particular context of the Suez Canal.
International Law and Freedom of Navigation Through the Suez Canal
Authors: Sabel Robbie 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe Chapter commences with a study of the text and the application of the 1888 Constantinople Convention by which the Ottoman Empire agreed to apply a special regime to the Suez Canal. The Chapter continues with an analysis of the Egyptian Government's nationalization of the Canal and its statements as to the continued application of the Constantinople Convention. The next issue examined is Egypt's denial of the use of the Canal to Israeli ships and to cargoes bound for Israel. The Chapter gives the Egyptian legal justifications for this embargo based on the rights of belligerency, the language of the 1888 Convention and the 1949 Egypt-Israel Armistice Agreement. The Chapter describes the counter-legal arguments based on the cessation of belligerency, principles of the Law of the Sea, and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. The Chapter concludes with a description of how the issue with Israel was solved in the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.
A physical analysis of summertime North American heatwaves
Authors: Yu Bin , Lin Hai , Mo Ruping , Li Guilong 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis study examines the dominant heatwave variability over North America (NA), extracted from an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of summertime monthly warm extreme index anomalies over 1959–2021. The principal mode features a dipole structure with a large area of anomaly over northwestern NA and an anomaly of opposite sign over the southern U.S. The corresponding principal component is associated with a large-scale atmospheric wave train extending from the North Pacific to North America (NP-NA) and a northeastward injection of moisture from the subtropical western Pacific towards western NA, which are key factors in supporting the NA heatwave variability. The NP-NA wave train can be systematically reinforced and supported by synoptic-scale eddies, and may also be forced by an anomalous convection over the tropical-subtropical western Pacific. Surface radiation heating directly contributes to surface temperature anomalies and is dominated by anomalous downwelling shortwave and longwave radiations. In association with a positive phase of the heatwave variability, the NP-NA wave train brings an anticyclonic anomaly over northern NA, leading to anomalous descent, reduced total cloud cover and below-normal precipitation and surface relative humidity over northern NA. Over northwestern NA, the anomalous subsidence causes air to warm through compression. Reduced cloud cover results in increased downward shortwave radiation that is a key contributor to surface radiation heating. In addition, increase in vertically integrated water vapour through the moisture injection from the North Pacific collocates with tropospheric warming. The atmosphere has more water vapor holding capability and acts as a greenhouse gas to absorb longwave radiation, leading to increased downward longwave radiation that is the second major contributor to surface radiation heating. Processes with circulation and surface radiation anomalies of opposite signs will likewise lead to the negative heatwave variability.
Longer duration of initial invasive mechanical ventilation is still a crucial risk factor for moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm infants: a multicentrer prospective study
Authors: Dou Cong , Yu Yong-Hui , Zhuo Qing-Cui , Qi Jian-Hong , Huang Lei , Ding Yan-Jie , Yang De-Juan , Li Li , Li Dan , Wang Xiao-Kang , Wang Yan , Qiao Xin , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Bing-Jin , Jiang Hai-Yan , Li Zhong-Liang , Reddy Simmy 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Objectives
We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and focus on discussing its relationship with the duration of initial invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in very preterm neonates less than 32 weeks of gestational age (GA).

Methods
We performed a prospective cohort study involving infants born at 23–31 weeks of GA who were admitted to 47 different neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitals in China from January 2018 to December 2021. Patient data were obtained from the Sina-northern Neonatal Network (SNN) Database.

Results
We identified 6538 very preterm infants, of whom 49.5% (3236/6538) received initial IMV support, and 12.6% (823/6538) were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe BPD symptoms. The median duration of initial IMV in the moderate-to-severe BPD group was 26 (17–41) days, while in the no or mild BPD group, it was 6 (3–10) days. The incidence rate of moderate-to-severe BPD and the median duration of initial IMV were quite different across different GAs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the onset of moderate-to-severe BPD was significantly associated with the duration of initial IMV [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–2.67], late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Conclusion
In this multicenter cohort study, the duration of initial IMV was still relatively long in very premature infants, and the longer duration of initial IMV accounts for the increased risk of moderate-to-severe BPD.
Mollusc shell detritus affects benthic subtidal community dynamics in the Northern Wadden Sea
Authors: Armonies Werner , Buschbaum Christian , Mielck Finn , Rick Johannes 
Published: January 2023

AbstractA shallow subtidal area in the northern Wadden Sea was monitored over 17 years (from 2003 to 2019) for sediment parameters and macrobenthic fauna. Due to the sheltered position of the study area, sediment composition remained rather stable with only minor annual and seasonal variations in sediment granulometry. An intermittend storm (‘Kyrill’) had no significant effect on sediment composition parameters; the construction of an artificial dune along the southern border of the study area had minor transient but no lasting effects on sediment composition. Faunal species richness and total abundance showed the typical seasonality with minimum abundance in late winter and a peak after recruitment in summer. Variations between years in autumn (post-recruitment) abundances were best explained by the number of days with a seawater temperature <1°C during the preceding winter. Temperature during other seasons, salinity, chlorophyll concentration and NAO showed no significant correlations with total abundance, nor did storm (‘Kyrill’) or construction of the artificial dune. Within-site faunal variability was best explained by water depth and velocity of the tidal currents while sediment granulometry was of minor importance. However, the amount of bivalve shell detritus mixed with the sandy sediment proved to be the strongest covariant of species numbers, total abundance, and species-specific abundances. At the sediment surface, shells provide the only anchorage for epibenthic species which in turn attract associated fauna. Shells inside the sediment hamper movement of infaunal predators and epibenthic predators are handicapped in rooting about for prey. Thus, shell material is a highly significant structural factor for the macrozoobenthos in these shallow waters. In a future with increasing ocean acidification, the availability of benthos as a food source for higher trophic levels will depend on the balance between pH-driven shell destruction and the compensatory power of shell-building species.
Biodegradable, UV absorber and thermal stable bioplastic films from waxy corn starch/polyvinyl alcohol blends
Authors: Yahia Ramadan , Owda Medhat E. , Abou-Zeid Ragab E. , Abdelhai F. , El-Gamil Hesham Y. , Abdo Abdullah M. , Ali Ali A. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractChemically modified waxy corn starch is a promising material for biodegradable bioplastic synthesis. This work is to study the film performance and microbial enzymatic biodegradation of the film made from chemically modified waxy corn starch according to the effect of pre-gelatinization and cardanol oil with various ratios as a mixed plasticizer with sorbitol. The preparation of biodegradable bioplastic films from waxy maize acetylated di-starch adipate (WADA) and waxy maize pregelatinized acetylated di-starch adipate (PWADA) blended with polyvinyl alcohol polymer using sorbitol and cardanol oil mixture as plasticizers were performed. Characterization of biodegradability by enzymes mixture of (alpha-amylase and glucoamylase) and soil burial test. The weight loss reached 96% and the degradation percentage reached 95.5% of PWADA and these results were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than WADA; as proved by high-performance liquid chromatography, increasing osmolality is evidence of the degradation as measured by the osmometer and the physical appearance of the film indicated complete degradation after 21 days. The film morphology, chemical structure, crystallinity, transparency, and thermal stability were studied using a scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transformed infrared, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectrophotometer, and thermal gravimetric analysis. As a result, under the electron microscope, PWADA films had a more homogenous surface. The films’ infra-red spectra showed similar patterns, indicating identical chemical structures. Waxy maize starch has an A-type crystalline structure and after the thermoplasticization, the X-ray diffractogram showed new peaks appeared at 2θ of 13.2°, 19.5°, and 20.8°, which attributed to a V-type crystal pattern. The addition of cardanol oil restricts the transmission of light in the UV region by 250 nm by 69 and 63.4%, respectively, indicating UV absorber films. Furthermore, adding oil to (PWADA) and (WADA) films increased onset deterioration from 272 to 318 °C and from 317 to 320 °C, indicating that their thermal stability is improved. The water uptake rate and water vapor permeability increase after the pre-gelatinization of WADA films without cardanol but slightly decrease after the addition of cardanol oil. Also, pre-gelatinization decreases the elongation by 33.3% while increasing the strength by 10.5% of the films. Hence, waxy-modified maize starch film has the potential to be a biodegradable, thermal stable, and UV absorber film in packaging material.
Regional difference in multi-psychotropic drug prescription in Japan and its associated factors: an ecological study using national health insurance claims data
Authors: Okui Tasuku , Nakashima Naoki 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
In Japan, regulations preventing the prescriptions of various types of psychotropic drugs have become stricter in recent years. However, the areas where multi-psychotropic drug prescriptions are common and the geographic factors that contribute to the regional difference, have not been studied. In this study, we used data from all claims in Japan to examine regional differences in the prescription for multi-psychotropic drugs using an ecological study.

Methods
The National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan Open data in 2019 were used. The outcome was the number of prescriptions for four or more different types of anxiolytics and hypnotics as well as for three or more of the same kind of psychotropic drugs (any one of anxiolytics, hypnotics, antipsychotics, antidepressants) for outpatients in each area. Among the 335 secondary medical areas in Japan, the data on 331 areas were used in the analysis. The standardized claim ratio (SCR), an indicator of the number of this multi-psychotropic drug prescription, correcting for regional differences in distribution of population by age and sex, was calculated for each of the secondary medical areas. The spatial cluster detection technique was used to locate a cluster of high-SCR areas. Furthermore, factors associated with regional differences in the SCRs were examined by a spatial statistics model.

Results
North Japanese regions tend to have high SCRs, and 13 areas in Hokkaido were identified as the most likely cluster (cluster with the highest likelihood ratio) for multi-psychotropic drug prescription. Furthermore, a spatial regression analysis revealed that the proportion of people with lower educational levels, the total number of prescriptions per capita, and the number of physicians working in psychiatric departments per capita were statistically positively associated with the SCR for the prescription of multiple psychotropic drugs.

Conclusions
It was suggested that socioeconomic and medical characteristics of areas are related to the regional variation in the multi-psychotropic drug prescriptions, however, further research using individual-level data is required to confirm these results.
Reasons for Reinforcing the Regulation of Chemicals in Europe
Authors: Millstone Erik , Clausing Peter 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe European Commission’s 2020 draft Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability set the ambitious goal of achieving a “Toxic-Free Environment”. Those ambitions were harshly criticised by a team based in Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (or BfR); they claimed that toxicological risks from chemicals had already been minimised and were optimally regulated. This paper outlines evidence to support the Commission’s implication that the European Union’s chemicals regulatory regime is suboptimal. It also criticises the BfR team’s contentions by reference to empirical findings (eg concerning tumours, congenital anomalies and the toxicity of mixtures) and by disentangling their conceptual confusions.
Imperial Schemes: Empire and the Rise of the British Business-State, 1914–1939
Authors: Kumekawa Ian 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDuring and after World War I, British businessmen made major inroads in political, administrative, and policymaking circles. In so doing, they forged a nexus of power, the business-state, that aligned the interests of big business with the state’s imperial aspirations. Well before the widespread acceptance of the concept of the national economy, there was a common understanding in London that what was good for British business, especially industry, was good for the economic health of the country and empire. The result was that after World War I, the state aggressively helped British commercial interests.
Double coset Markov chains
Authors: Diaconis Persi , Ram Arun , Simper Mackenzie 
Published: January 2023

AbstractLetGbe a finite group. Let$H, K$be subgroups ofGand$H \backslash G / K$the double coset space. IfQis a probability onGwhich is constant on conjugacy classes ($Q(s^{-1} t s) = Q(t)$), then the random walk driven byQonGprojects to a Markov chain on$H \backslash G /K$. This allows analysis of the lumped chain using the representation theory ofG. Examples include coagulation-fragmentation processes and natural Markov chains on contingency tables. Our main example projects the random transvections walk on$GL_n(q)$onto a Markov chain on$S_n$via the Bruhat decomposition. The chain on$S_n$has a Mallows stationary distribution and interesting mixing time behavior. The projection illuminates the combinatorics of Gaussian elimination. Along the way, we give a representation of the sum of transvections in the Hecke algebra of double cosets, which describes the Markov chain as a mixture of Metropolis chains. Some extensions and examples of double coset Markov chains withGa compact group are discussed.
Recurrent multi-cameral cardiac myxomas in a child with Carney complex
Authors: Burgos Oscar Ballivián , Albrecht Ericka Perez , Robles Jesus Pozo , Mondaca Raquel Barron , Soto Rodrigo , Karl Tom R. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCardiac myxoma is a relatively rare tumour, usually solitary, that occurs primarily in the left atrium of adults, but comprises only 30% of cardiac tumours in children. We recently treated a 12-year-old girl with multiple recurrent myxomas in three cardiac chambers(following surgical resection 3 years earlier). Genomic analysis showed the PKAR1A mutation typical for Carney complex
Sedimentary Accumulation of Black Carbon on the East Coast of The United States
Authors: Wulandari Ita , Katz Samuel , Kelly Roger Patrick , Robinson Rebecca S. , Lohmann Rainer 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe occurrence, trends and sources of soot black carbon (BC) in coastal sediments are poorly understood, particularly during the Anthropocene. Two sediment cores, covering the last ∼100 years from the US East Coast, off North Carolina and in the Florida Straits, were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), BC fluxes and BC sources. BC fluxes were 0.1 g cm−2 year−1 at both sites and accounted for 8%–22% of total OC. Carbon stable isotope values indicated OC to be of marine origin, while the BC was mostly terrestrially derived, C3‐plant material. Radiocarbon values revealed BC originating mostly from fossil fuels or pre‐aged carbon (fraction modern of 14%–31%) at North Carolina, while in the Florida Strait the BC was mostly derived from biomass burning (fraction modern of 70%–74%), in‐line with continental (NC) or marine (FS) air mass origins. Ratios of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons broadly supported different BC sources at the two sites.
Deep Learning Parameterization of the Tropical Cyclone Boundary Layer
Authors: Wang Le‐Yi , Tan Zhe‐Min 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe research on tropical cyclone (TC) relieson numerical models and simulations, with the currently widely used boundary layer parameterization posing a significant challenge on accurately predicting turbulent mixing. However, machine learning has opened up new possibilities for boundary layer sub‐grid process parameterization. In this study, a deep‐learning parameterization scheme for the TC boundary layer (DeepBL) on predicting turbulent flux is proposed. DeepBL comprises a one‐dimensional convolutional structure that relies on a small number of learnable parameters that accomplishes an error reduction compared to the standard fully connected neural networks. Furthermore, a nonlinear transformation scheme is introduced to alleviate the training data's skewness and improve the DeepBL performance by affording a smaller prediction error. Specifically, the output data of a large‐eddy simulation of an idealized TC are used to train, validate, and test DeepBL, affording significantly better performance than the YSU scheme in the Weather Research and Forecast model. Interpretability analysis on DeepBL demonstrates that the deep‐learning parameterization scheme is physically reasonable.
Experimental demonstration of separating the wave‒particle duality of a single photon with the quantum Cheshire cat
Authors: Li Jia-Kun , Sun Kai , Wang Yan , Hao Ze-Yan , Liu Zheng-Hao , Zhou Jie , Fan Xing-Yan , Chen Jing-Ling , Xu Jin-Shi , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAs a fundamental characteristic of physical entities, wave‒particle duality describes whether a microscopic entity exhibits wave or particle attributes depending on the specific experimental setup. This assumption is premised on the notion that physical properties are inseparable from the objective carrier. However, after the concept of the quantum Cheshire cats was proposed, which makes the separation of physical attributes from the entity possible, the premise no longer holds. Furthermore, an experimental demonstration of the separation of the wave and particle attributes inspired by this scenario remains scarce. In this work, we experimentally separated the wave and particle attributes of a single photon by exploiting the quantum Cheshire cat concept for the first time. By applying a weak disturbance to the evolution of the system, we achieve an effect similar to the quantum Cheshire cat and demonstrated the separation of the wave and particle attributes via the extraction of weak values. Our work provides a new perspective for the in-depth understanding of wave‒particle duality and promotes the application of weak measurements in fundamentals of quantum mechanics.
The intestinal permeability marker FITC-dextran 4kDa should be dosed according to lean body mass in obese mice
Authors: Voetmann Louise M. , Rolin Bidda , Kirk Rikke K. , Pyke Charles , Hansen Axel K. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Aims
To investigate the influence of the dose in the FITC-Dextran 4kDa (FD-4) permeability test in an obese mouse model, we tested the bodyweight dose regimen and a lean body mass-based dose regimen in high fat diet (HFD) mice and low fat diet (LFD) mice. We hypothesized that the FD-4 permeation result would be dose-dependent.

Methods
The two dose regimens were compared in HFD and LFD mice. Furthermore, we conducted a dose-response study to test the effect of a low or high dose of FD-4 in weight-stratified lean mice. Gene analysis of tight junctions was also carried out.

Results
The FD-4 intestinal permeability test was dose-dependent as we found a significant increase in plasma levels of FD-4 in obese mice with the bodyweight dose regimen. However, this difference was not detectable with the lean body mass dose regimen, even with variability-adjusted group sizes. However, the qPCR analysis revealed a decrease in tight junction gene expression in obese mice. Furthermore, we found a dose-dependent significant increase in FD-4 measured in plasma samples in lean mice. No significant difference in intestinal weight was observed between lean and obese mice.

Conclusion
Evaluation of the intestinal permeability by FD-4 with the typical bodyweight dose regimen in obese mice will be confounded by the significant difference in dose given when compared to a lean control group. If the test dose is based on lean body mass, no significant difference in intestinal permeability is observed, even with large group sizes. Furthermore, we showed a dose-dependent difference in plasma FD-4 levels in lean mice. Therefore, we conclude that the dose should be based on lean body mass for the FD-4 permeability test if mice with considerable obesity differences are to be compared or to use another test with fixed doses.