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Much statistical teaching and many research reports focus on the 'null hypothesis significance test'. Yet the correct meaning and interpretation of statistical significance tests is elusive. Misinterpretations are both common and persistent, leading many to question whether significance tests should be used at all. While most take aim at the arbitrary declaration of p < 0.05 as a threshold for determining 'significance', others extend the critique to suggest the 'p-value' should be dispensed with entirely. P-values and significance tests are still widely used as if they give a measure of the size and importance of relationships, even though this misunderstanding has been observed and discussed for many years. We argue that p-values and significance tests are intrinsically misleading. Point estimates of relationships and confidence intervals give direct information about the effect and the uncertainty of the estimate without recourse to interpreting how a particular p-value might have arisen or indeed referring to them at all. In this paper we briefly outline some of the problems with significance testing, offer a number of examples selected from a recent issue of the International Journal of Nursing Studies and discuss some proposed responses to these problems. We conclude by offering some guidance to authors reporting statistical tests in journals and present a position statement that has been adopted by the International Journal of Nursing Studies to guide its' authors in reporting the results of statistical analyses. While stopping short of calling for an outright ban on reporting p-values and significance tests we urge authors (and journals) to place more emphasis on measures of effect and estimates of precision/uncertainty and, following the position of the American Statistical Association, emphasise that authors (and readers) should avoid using 0.05 or any other cut off for a p-value as the basis for a decision about the meaningfulness/importance of an effect. If point estimates and confidence intervals are used, then the p-value may be redundant and can be omitted from reports. When authors talk about 'significance' they need to be explicit when referring to statistical significance and we recommend authors adopt the language of 'importance' when talking about effect sizes to avoid any confusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts, whether internal or external, have the ability to increase energy security risks. Given this background, this paper investigates the impact of conflicts on energy security risks in the panel data of 40 major energy-consuming economies from Asia, America, Europe, and Africa by employing the Cross-sectionally augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag model from 1996 to 2021. The results show that the risks to long-term energy security fall with the rise in internal and external conflicts globally and in Asian, American, European, and African economies. However, all regions see decreased long-term energy security risk due to rising financial development. At the same time, national income mitigates energy security risks globally and in American countries. Technological innovation reduces long-term energy security risks globally in Asian, American, and European economies. Conversely, only gross domestic product and technological innovation cause the energy security risks to fall globally and in American economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Food waste is a significant problem in America and driver of climate change. • Liability protection and tax incentive policies can encourage food recovery. • Stronger liability protection coincides with more food donations. • State tax incentives coincide with more food waste. In this paper, we examine the primary impact of two categories of food recovery policies on food donation and the secondary impact on food safety, food waste, and food insecurity in U.S. states. As one method of food recovery, food donation can reduce food waste while mitigating food insecurity, and it can be promoted in U.S. states through strong liability protection policies that provide legal protection to food donors and through tax incentivization policies that financially reward food donors via deductions and/or credits. To provide an initial evaluation of the effects of these policies, we coded each state's food recovery policies in 2012 and 2018 and compared strong policies versus weak policies. Using data from multiple sources, we found that states with stronger liability protection policies had more food donations, and states that provide tax incentivization had more food waste. Although our analyses were correlational, rather than causal, and were reliant upon limited data, our results demonstrate that the current food recovery policy landscape in U.S. states does relate to important food waste outcomes. We discuss the implications of these findings for crafting more effective policies that encourage food recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model to locate hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) for hydrogen fuel cells vehicles (HFCVs) or hydrogen internal combustion engines vehicles (HICEVs) is proposed in this paper. The model integrated the flow-capturing location allocation (FCLA) model and stochastic user-equilibrium (SUE) status of network flow. An equilibrium algorithm obviating cannibalization was also presented. We compared the effectiveness between node location and link location determined by FCLA between SUE status and non-equilibrium status of the transportation network taking the city of Anaheim in California in America as an example. The results showed that the capture ratios of node-serving and link-serving are different. For the non-equilibrium case, equilibrium case, and hybrid case, the capture ratios of node-serving are 77.72%, 69.51%, and 60.25%, respectively, while the capture ratios of link-serving are 54.37%, 46.34%, and 31.49%, respectively. This means Node-serving performs better than link-serving in terms of capturing flow, either in equilibrium status or non-equilibrium status. The node locations or link locations obtained by the FCLA method in SUE status should be used for locating HRSs because they are consistent with peoples' route choice behavior and thus can fully capture the expected flow in reality. Practically speaking, link locations are preferable to node locations in locating HRSs because the construction and operation of HRSs on nodes are relatively difficult to implement. • A model of FCLA in SUE status to locate hydrogen refueling stations. • Node-serving and link-serving determined by non-equilibrium flow. • Node-serving and link-serving determined by SUE flow. • Compare the effectiveness between node-serving and link-serving in both cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the scientific results of the call for papers in SEPS titled 'Decision-Making Models for Common Goods in Environmental, Health, and Logistics Contexts.' As guest editors in Socio-economic Planning Sciences (SEPS), we describe the domain of our academic initiative and present the collected papers. Interestingly, our collection includes papers employing various methodologies such as multi-criteria decision making, game theory, operations research, microeconomics, computational models and insurance mathematics. We received more than fifty submissions from Asia, Europe and America. However, only thirteen papers were accepted for publication in SEPS. This demonstrates the extensive investigation of the problem of common goods and the ongoing academic debate surrounding it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pierced antlers, traditionally known as bâtons de commandement, are commonly found in many Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites in Europe. Despite their original association to symbolic uses, their function is in constant debate, having as many hypotheses as contexts of finding. Predominance of symbolic use was replaced by the emphasis of antler mechanical properties chosen to perform this type of artefact. In America, pierced antlers are practically absent, however, a large number of antlers with short branches and a central perforation were found in the Low Paraná wetland. They were recovered from hunter-gatherer sites dated in the Late Holocene. In this paper, we analyse their chronological and spatial distribution, the material association and the morphometrical and physical properties of the assemblages to discuss the functional significance of these items in the local contexts. Antlers with and without perforation are considered. As a result, we note that the assemblage under analysis is morphologically different from the European's ones with symmetrical branches, despite the same material properties being maintained in the selection of deer antler as raw material. In our case, antlers without perforation are interpreted as discarded from the manufacturing processes that involve other types of tools besides there is a different proposal for a near area as the República Oriental del Uruguay. Pierced antlers show fractures and use-wear patterns like those described in the international literature. Even if no functional identification can be confirmed, high stress and domestic activity can be proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship of the Trump presidency to both American conservatism and neoliberalism, and then uses this discussion to focus on the questions of populism and authoritarianism. It does so through a focus on the populist idea that America has been betrayed, and examines the similarities and differences between neoliberals and paleoconservatives over how the republican ideal can be revived through the promise of Making America Great Again. The paper thus explores how both theories explain this notion of betrayal and how they both promise the reconstruction of a betrayed nation. In doing so however, the article explores the tensions within and between the two theories and suggests that in the area where there is significant difference, namely (neoliberal) globalisation and (paleoconservative) anti-globalisation, these tensions are played out in specific ways, and specifically between populist promise and corporate reality. Ii is this tension which goes to the heart of the nature of both Trump's authoritarianism and his populism, and the paper concludes that while the contemporary American populist moment is in some respect a backlash against neoliberal globalization, it is less a wholesale break from neoliberalism and more a shift to a renewed form of right wing neoliberal populism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examines unique cases: wild burros in America; rewilded donkeys in Europe; street donkeys in Brazil. • Binary framings (e.g. wild/domestic) are inadequate for free-roaming donkeys. • Specifies the 'entangled autonomy' of F-R donkeys using a relational approach. • Builds on scholarship in wild animal geographies and feral political ecologies. • Research on F-R donkeys would benefit from natural and social science collaboration. For thousands of years, the donkey (Equus asinus) has played an essential role in human society, underpinning the earliest forms of civilisation, facilitating critical trade networks, contributing to agricultural development, construction and mining. However, with the rise of motorised transport and agricultural machinery, the donkey was gradually turned loose in many places, and left free to roam. The emergence of freeroaming donkey populations has brought novel challenges for conservationists, land managers and animal welfarists alike. As non-native species that live and breed independently in large numbers, free-roaming donkeys appear as an ambiguous indeterminate group of wild-domestic creatures that sit uneasily with rapidly changing landscapes, societies and economies. This paper explores the status of free-roaming donkeys and the ongoing tension between the wild and the domestic, including the binary thinking underpins it and produces donkeys as non-native or 'out of place'. Using a relational approach and paying attention to the various ways in which freeroaming donkeys are entangled and embedded within cultural historical landscapes, this paper suggests how donkeys might be re-examined in terms of their 'entangled autonomy', building on recent interventions in 'wild' animal geographies and 'feral' political ecologies. In doing so, it reframes the debate around the status of freeroaming donkeys and posits an argument for how they might be considered to 'belong' or have legitimacy within these landscapes, suggesting that more attention needs to be given to the spaces and places that donkeys create or contribute to, as well as those they disrupt and challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With over 200 wind farm projects underway in 33 states in America, now more than ever, innovation and precision are necessary in wind farm design. The Wind Farm Layout Optimization Problem (WFLOP) calls for optimally positioning turbines within a wind farm so that a particular objective function is optimized in the presence of wake effect. To make the WFLOP tractable, many solution methods begin by modeling the wind farm as a n x n square grid where the centers of each of the n 2 cells serve as potential locations for wind turbines. After making this modeling assumption, there are 2 n 2 potential layouts to consider, and so heuristic algorithms are often employed in order to search the solution space and generate a near-optimal layout. In this paper, we propose a local, continuous refinement technique that seeks to improve the layouts generated by these heuristic algorithms. In particular, we consider the objective function Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and capture wake using the simple, yet effective, Jensen Model. Given the anemometer data for two potential wind farm sites, we begin by generating initial layouts using a specific heuristic algorithm (the Distributed Genetic Algorithm) and then refine these layouts using our proposed continuous, deterministic refinement scheme. We compare the performance of this deterministic refinement technique to another deterministic refinement technique in the space: a Heuristic Hill-climbing approach. Results suggest that our refinement technique outperforms the compared refinement technique by generating layouts that increase overall energy production, consequently reducing the LCOE. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to compare refinement techniques in wind farm layout optimization , and in doing so, we employ a simulation framework that examines the energy production of the generated wind farm layouts for 10 min intervals. • Refinement algorithm. • Derivative-free optimization. • Wind farm layout. • Simulation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has emerged as a suitable material for pavement rehabilitation, particularly in the context of bridge engineering. This material' attributes and performance-related characteristics have attracted attention due to the numerous advantages and potential for enhanced long-term durability of deteriorated pavements, either cementitious or asphaltic. Because of its relevance and increased use in recent years for pavement engineering applications, this paper presents a comprehensive review of recent case studies that investigate the application of UHPC in bridge pavement rehabilitation or reconstruction projects. The selected case studies include projects conducted in America, Asia, and Europe, and provide valuable insights into the design, construction, and performance of UHPC overlays. These showcase the effectiveness of UHPC in addressing common issues such as cracking, rutting, and structural deficiencies in bridge pavements. Furthermore, these highlight the superior flexural and compressive strength of UHPC, which contributes to improved load-carrying capacity and resistance to permanent deformation. Moreover, some environmental benefits derived from UHPC such as smaller carbon footprint are highlighted in the paper as well as cost-effectiveness considerations in light of the long-term performance and reduced maintenance obtained with UHPC overlays. Overall, the comprehensive literature review and case studies presented in this paper provide valuable data on material properties, project types, construction techniques, and post-rehabilitation evaluations. These findings can guide future research and assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the implementation of UHPC overlays for pavement rehabilitation. Finally, this paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge on UHPC overlays and emphasizes their significance in improving the longevity and sustainability of bridge pavements. • UHPC overlays enhance pavements: cracking, rutting, and structural issues addressed. • UHPC delivers strength and durability: improved load capacity and reduced deformation. • UHPC's environmental benefits: smaller carbon footprint, cost-effectiveness. • Efficient construction with UHPC: reduced time and costs using specialized machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between the level of digital maturity and business resilience in microenterprises in Ibero- America immediately after Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The results of 7265 surveys of microbusinesses in 18 countries were analyzed. It was found that businesses with a higher level of digital maturity presented a higher level of resilience understood as an improvement in their sales after facing a crisis such as the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, a culture of hopelessness has emerged among rural Americans, visible in epidemic levels of suicide, overdose, and other addiction-related illnesses. While the arrival of a novel coronavirus aggravated existing strains in rural economies, it also enabled positive transformations in some rural cities and towns. This research explores how businesses in rural America experienced and adapted to economic shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and, in the process, changed the economic and social landscape. Applying a qualitative research methodology, the present research offers Pennsylvania's Central Susquehanna Valley as a case study, using data from 60 semi-structured interviews. The analyses demonstrate rural businesses' resiliency and adaptive responses, bolstered by embedded rural capitals and the unique characteristics of rural businesses themselves. Furthermore, the pandemic forced drastic changes for businesses in the rural landscape. On the one hand, Covid-19's losses and miseries take much material, human, and social resources from the rural community. On the other hand, changing relationships between businessowners and workers, and among partners in the supply chain could be long-lasting, creating extra rural capitals and better working relationships at the factory and beyond. Finally, adoption of new technologies and automation; new business directions, such as e-commerce and higher value-added production; and increases in mergers and acquisitions across industries were prevalent during 2020–2021. In many ways, the Covid-19 impacts could make rural America more dynamic and competitive. This research offers conceptual and empirical pathways to supporting economic and social development in rural America. • This research explores how businesses in rural America experienced and adapted to economic shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and, in the process, changed the economic and social landscape. Applying a qualitative research methodology, the present research offers Pennsylvania's Central Susquehanna Valley as a case study, using data from 60 semi-structured interviews. The analyses demonstrate rural businesses' resiliency and adaptive responses, bolstered by embedded rural capitals and the unique characteristics of rural businesses themselves. • Within the business community, adaptive responses exemplified their resiliency thanks to embedded rural capitals and the unique characteristics of rural businesses. From a rural capital point of view, evidence suggests that rural business relied on existing rural capital to weather the crisis: by sharing information and resources with each other; relying on customer loyalty; and counting on worker flexibility when demand fluctuated. From a business characteristics perspective, rural firms tackled the crisis using all the tools and resources they had available, from adjusting and training their workforce, to modifying and adding new products, to reaching out to new customer using e-commerce, to relying on personal savings. The resolute and diverse reactions during Spring 2020 show that rural businesses are not only prepared but also as dynamic as their urban counterparts. • The pandemic not only brought tremendous loss and challenges to rural economies and communities, it also forced drastic changes upon businesses and the rural landscape. From a rural capital viewpoint, the death, prolonged sickness and deterioration of mental health among community members robs material, human, and social resources from the community. At the same time, businesses had time and space during shutdowns to upgrade skills and infrastructure, thus adding more human and material resources. Many businesses did not survive the economic downturn, and some had to reduce their size. At the same time, new businesses opened during the crisis, as owners took advantage of low rent and workforce surplus. • From a business characteristics standpoint, while the changes may be less visible, they may also be more impactful in the rural landscape. Most significantly, the changed relationships between businessowners and workers, and among partners in the supply chain will hopefully be long lasting, creating more rural capital and better working relationships at the factory and beyond. Other important changes include new adoption of technology and automation; new business directions, such as decisions to exploit e-commerce and higher value-added production; and increases in mergers and acquisitions across industries. These changes could make rural America more dynamic and competitive. However, they could also lead to further market concentration in regions that are less diverse, thus raising prices, reducing choices for consumers, and weakening worker bargaining power. • This paper combines theoretical insights from two separate strands of literature focusing on (1) rural capital and (2) business practices to derive a novel conceptual and analytical approach for studying rural businesses' resiliency during crises. Furthermore, it offers empirical evidence that supports theoretical insights into businesses-coping strategies, and factors that comprise rural resiliency in times of crisis. Through 60 semi-structured interviews, the case study resists simplistic depictions of rural America, frequently propagated by American liberals and urban elites, as sluggish, deeply conservative, ignorant, pro-Trump, and closed-minded. Instead, the interviews present a thoughtful and caring community that is constrained in significant ways, and making do with what is available. Material, mental, social, and economic barriers hinder rural businesses, preventing them from accessing a more equitable and sustainable future. Nevertheless, they have persevered thanks to rural capitals created by the land, people, community, and their unique characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularization of recycled concrete (RC) is an important way to achieve efficient resource utilization of construction solid waste (CSW), which can coordinate the sustainable economic development with environmental protection. In this paper, CiteSpace software is used to quantitatively analyze the literatures on RC field, identifying its research hotspots and recent developments. Based on the Web of Science database, we screened published literatures in the field of RC from 2004 to 2023, and obtained 2011 articles. CiteSpace software and knowledge graph technology are adopted to visually analyze the literature information, including the collaborators, keywords and citation status. The results show that, Xiao JZ from Tongji University, Poon CS from Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Tam VWY from University of Western Sydney publish a large number of articles and are frequently cited. It indicates that their researches are widely recognized in academic circles. There is a research team with a large size formed in the Chinese mainland, and the core members include Xiao JZ, Li WG, Chen ZP. At present, the research interest gradually shifts from recycled coarse aggregate to recycled fine aggregate, mainly focusing on microscale research of pore structure and interfacial transition zone. In addition, 8 co-citation clusters of selected references and the potential development trends are detailly analyzed. This study is helpful for researchers to fully understand the current hotspots and future research trends in the field of RC. [Display omitted] • The number of cumulative publications of recycled concrete (RC) shows an exponential growth. • China, Spain and America are in a leading position in the RC field in the past 20 years. • A large scientific research team with extensive cooperation is formed in Chinese Mainland. • Works performed by Xiao JZ, Kou SC, Poon CS, as well as Tam VWY, Fathifazl G widely recognized. • Research hotspots shifts from the macroscale property of RC to its microscale mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a comprehensive analysis method for levelized costs of energy (LCOE) in tidal current power generation farms (TCPGFs). The detailed investment and operation costs in the life cycles of TCPGF projects are all quantified and incorporated in the calculation of LCOE, including the emission reduction benefits brought by TCPGFs. An annual electricity production (AEP) evaluation technique is proposed, in which the impacts of wake effects, TCPGF reliability and tidal current velocity (TCV) characteristics in the planning sea area are considered. A detailed capital expenditures (CAPEX) model is developed to incorporate all related costs at different stages of TCPGF project. An evaluation model considering the variations of annual operation expenditures (OPEX) is presented. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified using the measured data, which are collected from MeyGen Phase 1A project in UK and two sites located in UK and America. It can be seen from Figs. 2–3 that the repair and maintenance costs change synchronously with failure rate. This change shows a trend of first decreasing, then smoothing, and finally rising. Repair and maintenance costs account for more than 50% of OPEX. Therefore, the change trend of OPEX is similar to that of repair and maintenance costs. • A comprehensive model of levelized cost of energy is proposed. • The variations of annual operational expenditures are considered. • Reliability of tidal current power generation farms is analyzed. • The emission reduction benefits are quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of an organizational structure is one of the most important decisions to make when executing a project. The form of the structure will define the authority, the relationships between the members of the project, where each member is located, the lines of coordination, control, etc. There exists a wide array of quantitative metrics that may be used to measure the complexity of a project organizational structure and that are borrowed from other fields. In this paper, we adopt a metric developed from Shannon's information entropy, the network entropy, which is a useful metric to measure the complexity of a project organizational structure linking the complexity of the structure to its functional role. The measure is applied to the project organizational structure of an international company dedicated to the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects in Europe, Asia, and America. Additionally, and for comparative purposes, alternative organizational structures are considered for the company. Our results show that adopting an organizational structure different from the structure that the company is currently using, the company would reduce its complexity and improve its structural agility and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racism and poverty are intertwined throughout American society as a result of historic and current systemic oppression based on class and race. As the processes of pediatric preventive care, or well-child care, have evolved to better acknowledge and address health disparities due to racism and poverty, the structures of care have remained mostly stagnant. To cultivate long-term health and wellness of Black and Brown children, we must adopt an explicitly antiracist structure for well-child care. The pediatric medical home model is touted as the gold standard for addressing a host of health, developmental, and social needs for children and their families. However, the medical home model has not resulted in more equitable care for Black and Brown families living in poverty; there are ample data to demonstrate that these families often do not receive care that aligns with the principles of the medical home. This inequity may be most salient in the context of well-child care, as our preventive care services in pediatrics have the potential to impact population health. To appropriately address the vast array of preventive care needs of families living at the intersection of racism and poverty, a structural redesign of preventive care in the pediatric medical home is needed. In this paper, we propose a re-imagined framework for the structure of well-child care, with a focus on care for children in families living at the intersection of racism and poverty. This framework includes a team-based approach to care in which families build trusting primary care relationships with providers, as well as nonclinical members of a care team who have shared lived experiences with the community being served, and relies on primary care connections with community organizations that support the preventive health, social health, and emotional health needs of families of young children. Without a structural redesign of preventive care in the pediatric medical home, stand-alone revisions or expansions to processes of care cannot appropriately address the effects of racism and poverty on child preventive health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we conduct a mobility reduction rate comparison between the first and second COVID-19 waves in several localities from America and Europe using Google community mobility reports (CMR) data. Through multi-dimensional visualization, we are able to compare the reduction in mobility from the different lockdown periods for each locality selected, simultaneously considering multiple place categories provided in CMR. In addition, our analysis comprises a 56-day lockdown period for each locality and COVID-19 wave, which we analyze both as 56-day periods and as 14-day consecutive windows. We use locality-wise calibrated CMR data, which we process through seasonal-trend decomposition by LOESS (STL) to isolate trend from seasonal and noise effects. We scale trend data to draw Pareto-compliant conclusions using radar charts. For each temporal granularity considered, data for a given place category is aggregated using the area under the curve (AUC) approach. In general, reduction rates observed during the first wave were much higher than during the second. Alarmingly, December holiday season mobility in some of the localities reached pre-pandemic levels for some of the place categories reported. Manaus was the only locality where second wave mobility was nearly as reduced as during the first wave, likely due to the P1 variant outbreak and oxygen supply crisis. [Display omitted] • We compare social distancing adherence in different localities during two COVID-19 waves. • Reduction rates reveal contrasting social distancing dynamics over time. • In general, mobility reduction was much higher during the first wave. • Holiday season mobility reached pre-pandemic levels for some locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio astronomy and Space Infrastructures in the Azores have a great scientific and industrial interest because they benefit from a unique geographical location in the middle of the North Atlantic allowing a vast improvement in the sky coverage. This fact obviously has a very high added value for: i) the establishment of space tracking and communications networks for the emergent global small satellite fleets ii) it is invaluable to connect the radio astronomy infrastructure networks in Africa, Europe and America continents using Very Large Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques, iii) it allows excellent potential for monitoring space debris and Near Earth Objects (NEOs). There is in S. Miguel island a 32-metre SATCOM antenna that could be integrated in advanced VLBI networks and be capable of additional Deep Space Network ground support. This paper explores the space science opportunities offered by the upgrade of the S. Miguel 32-metre SATCOM antenna into a world-class infrastructure for radio astronomy and space exploration: it would enable a Deep Space Network mode and would constitute a key space facility for data production, promoting local digital infrastructure investments and the testing of cutting-edge information technologies. Its Atlantic location also enables improvements in angular resolution, provides many baselines in East–West and North–South directions connecting the emergent VLBI stations in America to Europe and Africa VLBI arrays therefore contributing for greater array imaging capabilities especially for sources or well studied fields close to or below the celestial equator, where ESO facilities, ALMA, SKA and its precursors do or will operate and observe in the coming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the nexus between greenhouse gas, financial development, energy consumption, trade and urbanization in 34 upper middle income countries from Asia, Europe, Africa and America (South and North) by using panel data from 2001 to 2014. Vector error correction model explored different results for different regions such as the causality of greenhouse gas for Europe and America; financial development for Asia; trade openness for Asia, Europe and America; and urbanization for Africa and America. The causality of greenhouse gas emission was bi-directional with urbanization in America and trade in Europe. The bi-directional causality of trade was observed with financial development in Asia and urbanization in Africa. The generalized method of moment and fully modified ordinary least square explored a direct association of per capita greenhouse gas emission with financial development in Europe; energy consumption in all panels, and renewable energy in Africa and America. But, the relationship of per capita emission was reciprocal with financial development in Asia, Africa and America; renewable energy in Europe; trade in Europe, Africa and America; and urbanization in Asia, Europe and America. The relationship of variables changes from region to region and country to country. A country-based reciprocal effect on per capita greenhouse gas was observed for financial development, renewable energy, trade openness and urbanization for different countries. This paper provides an insight to policy makers to re-structure the financial system, energy usage pattern, trade and urbanization in accordance with the cleaning of environment at country and regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western North America is a region defined by extreme gradients in geomorphology and climate, which support a diverse array of ecological communities and natural resources. The region also has extreme gradients in mercury (Hg) contamination due to a broad distribution of inorganic Hg sources. These diverse Hg sources and a varied landscape create a unique and complex mosaic of ecological risk from Hg impairment associated with differential methylmercury (MeHg) production and bioaccumulation. Understanding the landscape-scale variation in the magnitude and relative importance of processes associated with Hg transport, methylation, and MeHg bioaccumulation requires a multidisciplinary synthesis that transcends small-scale variability. The Western North America Mercury Synthesis compiled, analyzed, and interpreted spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of Hg and MeHg in air, soil, vegetation, sediments, fish, and wildlife across western North America. This collaboration evaluated the potential risk from Hg to fish, and wildlife health, human exposure, and examined resource management activities that influenced the risk of Hg contamination. This paper integrates the key information presented across the individual papers that comprise the synthesis. The compiled information indicates that Hg contamination is widespread, but heterogeneous, across western North America. The storage and transport of inorganic Hg across landscape gradients are largely regulated by climate and land-cover factors such as plant productivity and precipitation. Importantly, there was a striking lack of concordance between pools and sources of inorganic Hg, and MeHg in aquatic food webs. Additionally, water management had a widespread influence on MeHg bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems, whereas mining impacts where relatively localized. These results highlight the decoupling of inorganic Hg sources with MeHg production and bioaccumulation. Together the findings indicate that developing efforts to control MeHg production in the West may be particularly beneficial for reducing food web exposure instead of efforts to simply control inorganic Hg sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses urban-rural migration data from the American rural migration "rebound" to contextualize inequality through a World Systems lens. By weighting migration flows according to origin cities' level of global economic connectivity, the 50 most highly connected "satellite" counties are identified and compared to the 50 fastest growing counties and the 50 most urbanizing counties. Two findings emerge: First, noteworthy variation exists across satellite destinations. Moving beyond the literatures on exurbanization and rural gentrification, globally connected movers catalyzed diverse patterns of economic development. Second, despite the heterogeneity of counties identified, preliminary evidence of within county inequality is apparent, suggesting that inequality is associated with global city out-migration and is, thus, worthy of future research. • Wide variation exists across satellite destinations. • Globally connected urban-rural movers catalyzed diverse patterns of economic development. • Even across heterogeneous Rural Satellite counties, evidence of within county inequality is apparent. • These findings offer insights for making sense of how inequality impacts rural America amidst the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Crataegus (hawthorn), a member of the Rosaceae family, encompasses several species with broad geographical distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Hawthorn is recognized as an edible medicinal plant with applications related to strengthening the digestive system, promoting blood circulation, and resolving blood stasis. This study critically summarized the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties to provide a theoretical basis for further studies on hawthorn and its applications in medicine and food. The available information on hawthorn was gathered from scientific databases (including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, online ethnobotanical databases, and ethnobotanical monographs, and considered data from 1952 to 2023). Information about traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety concerns of the collected data is comprehensively summarized in this paper. The literature review revealed that hawthorn includes more than 1000 species primarily distributed in the northern temperate zone. Traditional uses of hawthorn have lasted for millennia in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Within the past decade, 337 chemical compounds, including flavonoids, lignans, fatty acids and organic acids, monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, terpenoids and steroids, have been identified from hawthorn. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed numerous bioactivities, such as cardiovascular system influence, antitumor activity, hepatoprotective activity, antimicrobial properties, immunomodulatory functions, and anti-inflammatory activities. Additionally, evaluations have indicated that hawthorn lacks toxicity. Based on its traditional uses, chemical composition, and pharmacological studies, hawthorn has significant potential as a medicinal and edible plant with a diverse range of pharmacological activities. Traditional uses of the hawthorn include the treatment of indigestion, dysmenorrhea, and osteoporosis. However, modern pharmacological research primarily focuses on its cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system effects, antitumor effects, and liver protection properties. Currently, there is a lack of correlative research involving its traditional uses and pharmacological activities. Moreover, phytochemical and pharmacological research has yet to focus on many types of hawthorn with traditional applications. Therefore, it is imperative to research the genus Crataegus extensively. [Display omitted] • Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety concerns of hawthorn. • The medicinal uses and edible value of hawthorn. • The application and medicinal value of hawthorn in ethnopharmacology. • The challenges and opportunities of hawthorn were envisioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to find out about and discuss the peopling of the Americas, there is evidence that comes from a range of scientific disciplines. In archaeology, stone tool vestiges are one of the main pieces of evidence used for assessing the knowledge and understanding of this topic. One of the most iconic lithic remains from the South American Paleoindian record is the so-called Fishtail, or just "Fell" projectile point, a distinctive artifact that stands out due to its wide distribution from southern Mexico to southernmost South America. Different hypotheses have been proposed regarding its origin, mainly related to Paleoindian points from North America. In order to discuss this issue, special attention has been paid among the existing varieties to a group distributed throughout eastern North America, mainly in states with a shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico. This group stands out, because with their narrow or broader blades, their lower portions typically have deeply indented concave edges, forming flaring rounded or pointed ears with fluted and unfluted bases which are reminiscent of the Fishtail. By comparing them from a morphological and technological viewpoint, and because of the observed similarities between North and South American fishtailed points, the hypothesis in this paper proposes that South American Fell points are related to similar ones from eastern North America. A model of the possible route/s followed by the waves of colonizers who peopled northern South America and the lands beyond the equator in the southern hemisphere is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper interrogates the discursive production of the "birth tourist" and associated opposition to jus soli birthright citizenship in the United States. I trace the intersecting axes of heteropatriarchy and racism that underpin history of opposition to jus soli citizenship, and position contemporary media and political attention to "birth tourism" as an extension of those axes. Through a critical discourse analysis of popular media coverage and public commentators, I position the "birth tourism" category within a broader national discourse of white supremacy, before linking this discursive production to national-level regulatory efforts. Interrogating the "birth tourist" categorization as a discursive tool of white, patriarchal ethnonationalism, I advance the study of political geographies of fertility and argue that contradictions embedded within the "birth tourism" discourse ultimately work to fuel fears of white supremacy's collapse. Keywords : birth tourism, birthright citizenship, white supremacy, intersectionality, feminist geopolitics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive energy-related carbon emission intensity will lead to deterioration of environmental quality and hinder green economic growth. This paper proposes a novel self-adaptive fractional order grey generalized Verhulst model (SAFGGVM) to predict energy-related carbon emission intensity in China, America, India, Russia, and Japan with nonlinear and complex characteristics effectively. Firstly, self-adaptive fractional order and dynamic background value coefficient are introduced to capture the nonlinear evolutionary trends. Subsequently, the optimal nonlinear parameters are determined using Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm through comprehensive comparison. Furthermore, the flexibility of SAFGGVM is verified by presenting its relevance to existing models. Finally, the validity, applicability, and robustness of SAFGGVM are confirmed by comparing with two machine learning models and four grey prediction models. The empirical results exhibit that the overall precision of SAFGGVM model significantly prevails over the others in five cases, with MAPE values less than 6% in both the simulation and prediction intervals. The out-of-sample forecast results indicate that the energy-related carbon emission intensity of five countries will fall into 5.7024, 1.6030, 7.3668, 8.1633, 2.0399 tons/10,000 USD by 2025, and the decreasing rate of developing countries tends to catch up with, or even exceed, developed countries. Projection results can serve as a reference point for countries to achieve green and sustainable development. • A novel self-adaptive grey generalized Verhulst model is proposed. • Energy-related carbon emission intensity (ECEI) of five countries is predicted. • Optimal nonlinear parameters are determined by Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm. • The novel model is superior to other competing models in accuracy and roubutness. • Decline rate of ECEI in developing countries will catch up with developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dissolved C fluxes from 843 points on worldwide rivers are analysed. • Mean of DIC fluxes are 92% of the total (7.7 GT C yr−1), while 8% is for DOC fluxes. • Asia exports the highest dissolved C (5.8 GT C yr−1), Africa exports the lowest (0.1 GT C yr−1). • Dissolved C fluxes are higher in tropics due to high interflow contribution to river flow. • Dissolved C fluxes are low in temperate and cold climates due to high groundwater contribution to river flow. Despite dissolved carbon (C) exports from continents being crucial in the connection between terrestrial, atmospheric and oceanic C pools, the relative contribution and process controls on dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic (DIC) fluxes within river basins are not fully understood. This paper presents an analysis of data from 843 sites worldwide from 45 Web of Science SCI-Expanded (ex ISI) indexed papers that report both the DOC and DIC contents and fluxes in conjunction with chemical elements, such as Si, Na and 13C abundance, to investigate the likely origin, pathways and fate of the dissolved C. The reviewed papers also report on selected environmental factors (e.g., MAP and MAT: mean annual precipitation and temperature respectively; Climate, LU: land use, A: basin surface area). Regarding dissolved C fluxes rivers transported on average, 8.4 GT C yr−1 of dissolved C with 7.7 GT C yr−1 (92%) being DIC and remaining (8%) DOC. Asia has the highest within-river dissolved C transport (5.8 GT C yr−1) followed by Europe (2.0 GT C yr−1), America (0.4 GT C yr−1), and Africa (0.1 GT C yr−1). The dissolved C fluxes tend to increase with river water fluxes and contribution of interflow as seen in the tropical climate, which results in the export of relatively fresh DOC with low aromaticity. In contrast, the lower river water fluxes in sub-tropical and temperate climates corresponds to high concentration of comparatively more decomposed DOC, which pointed to a high proportion of groundwater contribution to the water fluxes. The results also imply that surface area and morphology of the river basins, as well as land use, has insignificant impact on dissolved C dynamics. Such quantitative results, including on the important role of climate on the dynamics of dissolved C in river basins, are helpful in improving predictions on the impact of climate change on the global C cycle. New and innovative multidisciplinary research on the subject is called for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent men's cancer in America and Western countries. No effective therapies are currently available for PCa aggressiveness, including castration-resistant progression (CRPC). This study aims at evaluation of the prospective efficacy and the molecular mechanism of scandenolone (SCA), a natural isoflavone, in PCa progression. SCA suppressed cell viability and progression and induced apoptosis in PCa cells. SCA inhibited the expression of lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis related key genes. Through inhibition of these metabolic genes, SCA decreased the levels of fatty acids, lipid droplets and cholesterols in PCa cells. Moreover, SCA enhanced the expression of antioxidant factors, including Nrf2, HO-1, catalase and SOD-1, and reduced the ROS levels in PCa cells. Substantially, SCA displayed the potential efficacy on CRPC tumors. This paper offers a new insight into the underlying molecular basis of SCA in PCa cells. By coordinated impairment of the metabolic and signaling vulnerabilities, including lipogenesis, cholesterogenesis, ROS and the AR/PSA axis, SCA could be applied as a novel and promising remedy to cure malignant PCa. SCA inhibited cell growth, migration and invasion, and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through blockade of the metabolic and signaling vulnerabilities, including lipogenesis (inhibition of SREBP-1 and FASN), cholesterogenesis (inhibition of SREBP-2 and HMGCR), ROS (activation of Nrf2, HO-1, catalase and SOD) and the AR/PSA axis in PCa cells. [Display omitted] • Three key transcriptional factors mediating the metabolic and signaling vulnerabilities (lipogenesis, cholesterogenesis and ROS) were identified leading to prostate cancer (PCa) progression. • Scandenolone (SCA), a natural isoflavone product, exhibited a potential nti-cancer activity on suppression of cell viability and progression, and activation of programmed cell death in PCa cells in vitro and in vivo. • SCA co-impaired lipogenesis, cholesterogenesis and ROS in PCa. • SCA could be applied as a novel and promising drug to cure malignant PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

St. Louis, Missouri, is a case study in America's long legacy of racism and a prominent example of a "shrinking city." This paper expands the notions of "core" and "periphery" using the highly segregated city and its suburbs to include not just economic exploitation but also racial exploitation. Using historical and contemporary census data and spatial data delineating the boundaries of Home Owner Loan Corporation grades (i.e., "redlining" maps), this paper examines the relationship between historical racism, contemporary segregation, and economic consequences. I find that St. Louis's peripheral areas expanded over the twentieth century, first in the city and then in the county, creating dual zones of exploitation where poverty, segregation, and income inequality remain persistently higher. These findings identify the historical roots of contemporary segregation, and suggest that addressing the long term consequences of both racial and economic exploitation in peripheral spaces remains critical for improving African American families' life chances. • Provides an empirical analysis of redlining's contemporary effects in St. Louis, MO. • Redlining has a moderate bivariable relationship with segregation in St. Louis. • Finds contemporary socioeconomic factors to be more salient for understanding segregation and home values than redlining. • These findings inform an extension of the core-periphery model by pairing it with a racial capitalism perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale gas, a new kind of energy, receives widespread attention worldwide, especially after America's unprecedented success. It has become a hot issue to discuss shale gas pricing in the area of energy markets. This study aims to identify a comprehensive explanation of shale gas pricing based on a systematic review of influential publications among mainstream database papers published between 2000 and 2019. Analyzing these records shows that (i) gas pricing mechanisms are different from region to region. The free flow spot market in America is dominated by hub pricing. Europe is in the process of converting oil indexation to market pricing, while Asia strictly implements oil indexation. (ii) Historically a coupling relationship is discovered between oil and gas, and oil is the leader. However, this correlation has been broken since the development of shale gas. (iii) Factors such as supply/demand, storage, finance, and production influence shale gas pricing. Brief conclusions show that supply and demand factors have less impact on shale gas pricing in the country where oil indexation is dominant, while they have a more significant impact on shale gas pricing in the country where hub pricing is dominant. Except for this, factors like production of shale gas, storage and finance contribute more and more to shale gas pricing since gas has been separated from the oil. In the future, a comprehensive study of what elements affect shale gas pricing can be investigated to better shape the shale gas pricing system. • Reviewed the papers relating to shale gas pricing in database from 2000 to 2019. • Reviewed and presented the gas pricing mechanisms from region to region. • Reviewed and presented the relationship between oil and gas. • Reviewed and presented the factors influencing shale gas pricing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Surrogacy is growing worldwide. Although recently some countries have sought to ban it, between 2010 and 2014 the number of babies born to gestational surrogates having in vitro fertilization treatment in California doubled, and in Canada it grew by 35%. This work seeks to fill identified knowledge gaps about the similarities and differences in the practices and outcomes of gestational surrogacy, which in California operates on a commercial basis, whereas in Canada it is illegal to pay a surrogate. The paper focusses on the period from 2010 to 2014, for which comparable American and Canadian national assisted reproduction technology information exist. Study Design A retrospective data analysis was performed using information on gestational surrogate multiple births obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System (NASS) and Canada's Assisted Reproduction Registry-Better Outcomes Registry and Network (CARTR-BORN). Multiple birth rates and transfers of multiple embryos were compared using relative risk analysis. Adherence to voluntary American Society for Reproductive Medicine–Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society embryo transfer guidelines was modelled. Findings Among gestational surrogates, when donor ova embryos obtained from women aged less than 35 years were used, embryo transfer guideline adherence was 42% in California and 48% in Canada. Conclusions Regardless of where on the commercial/noncommercial boundary North American surrogates reside, they are more likely to receive more donor ova embryos per in vitro fertilization transfer than other in vitro fertilization patients. An altruistic desire to assist childless couples and individuals create families along with clinic practices seem to play major roles in treatment decisions privileging the transfer two or more embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Western nations are increasingly divided by socioeconomic fault lines, how do we learn about the lives of others? Scholarship documents correlates of inequality beliefs but lacks a theoretical framework for studying belief formation. This paper develops an "institutional inference" model describing how adolescents learn about inequality in racially and socioeconomically homogeneous or heterogeneous institutional contexts. The latter expose them to structural sources of inequality that they cannot see in the former. Testing theoretical expectations on ten panels of US college students (n = 141,597), I find that: (1) beliefs about meritocracy and racial inequality change substantially in college, (2) the direction of change is shaped by experiences with same-race or different-race roommates, (3) the impact of which is strongest on campuses that otherwise provide limited exposure to heterogeneity. The inferential process that links institutions to beliefs may help explain why Americans have not rallied against inequality: when growing inequality produces socioeconomically homogeneous settings, people cannot experience its full extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We evaluated the toxicity of binary mixtures of permethrin and a natural monoterpene in Triatoma infestans. • The monoterpenes eugenol and menthol synergized the speed of action of permethrin. • Menthyl acetate did not modify the speed of action of permethrin. • Identification of new synergists could help to reduce the use of conventional insecticides. The blood-sucking bug , Triatoma infestans, is one of the main vectors of Chagas disease in America. It is usually controlled with pyrethroids, but the emergence of resistance to these insecticides creates the need to look for alternative products. Eugenol, menthol and menthyl acetate are botanical monoterpenes, which produce lethal and sublethal effects on insects. The purpose of this work was to determine what type of toxicological interactions occur when binary mixtures, formed by the pyrethroid permethrin and sublehtal doses of eugenol, menthol or menthyl acetate, are applied to T. infestans. First instar nymphs were exposed to filter papers impregnated with the insecticides. The number of knocked down insects was registered at different times and Knock Down Time 50% (KT 50) values were calculated. The following KT 50 values with their corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals were obtained: permethrin, 47.29 (39.92 - 56.32) min; permethrin + eugenol, 34.08 (29.60 - 39.01) min; permethrin + menthol, 27.54 (23.28 - 32.55) min; permethrin + menthyl acetate, 43.62 (39.99 - 47.59) min. Eugenol and menthol increased the speed of action of permethrin (synergism), but menthyl acetate had no effect on it (additivity). These results provide the basis to further explore interactions between conventional insecticides and plant monoterpenes as potential tools for controlling T. infestans. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses spatial hedonic price models to examine how the implicit value of the natural amenity provided by Seoul's greenbelt (GB) is reflected in apartment rents in the Seoul metropolitan area, Korea. We test spatial autocorrelation with six different spatial weight matrices (SWM) in three different spatial models: the spatial lag model, spatial error model, and general spatial model. The spatial error model with 1 km distance cutoff SWM performs the best. Findings indicate that apartment rents decrease by 3.83–3.95% with a one-unit decrease in the distance to the nearest GB. The marginal implicit value of decreasing the distance to the nearest GB by 1 km, evaluated at the average apartment rent, yields about a $34 drop in monthly rent, ceteris paribus. This finding appears to be related to the centripetal residential location pattern in Seoul, in which people prefer to live in the central city rather than in the suburbs, contrary to the pattern common in North American cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is hindered by low demand for environmentally-benign industrial development strategies, and a limited supply of professionals to enact such strategies. The “Pathways to Cleaner Production in the Americas” project was a multinational effort aimed at facilitating the transition to sustainability in the region by addressing both of these concerns. The project incorporated multidisciplinary education in business, engineering, and the environment that enhanced sustainability awareness, technical competence and innovative skills of industry professionals, while exposing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to cleaner production (CP) opportunities. In an alliance of nine universities in eight countries, project partners trained 648 university students to assess CP opportunities, while directly benefiting 136 MSMEs. The project developed a unique industry-academic partnership model for experiential learning. Faculty members collaborated with CP industry experts in their respective countries to prepare their students to conduct energy, process and material audits, and develop recommendations for improving financial and environmental performance. The project's CP experts supervised student interns and provided follow-up assistance to the MSMEs to implement the prioritized recommendations. The universities also hosted workshops for industry participants to learn best practices developed through the project and strategies to implement those in their enterprises. In this paper, we share the most valuable lessons from this model, which can be more widely adopted to facilitate industry-academic engagement in the transition to sustainability in LAC and other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) emission and deposition can occur to and from soils, and are an important component of the global atmospheric Hg budget. This paper focuses on synthesizing existing surface-air Hg flux data collected throughout the Western North American region and is part of a series of geographically focused Hg synthesis projects. A database of existing Hg flux data collected using the dynamic flux chamber (DFC) approach from almost a thousand locations was created for the Western North America region. Statistical analysis was performed on the data to identify the important variables controlling Hg fluxes and to allow spatiotemporal scaling. The results indicated that most of the variability in soil-air Hg fluxes could be explained by variations in soil-Hg concentrations, solar radiation, and soil moisture. This analysis also identified that variations in DFC methodological approaches were detectable among the field studies, with the chamber material and sampling flushing flow rate influencing the magnitude of calculated emissions. The spatiotemporal scaling of soil-air Hg fluxes identified that the largest emissions occurred from irrigated agricultural landscapes in California. Vegetation was shown to have a large impact on surface-air Hg fluxes due to both a reduction in solar radiation reaching the soil as well as from direct uptake of Hg in foliage. Despite high soil Hg emissions from some forested and other heavily vegetated regions, the net ecosystem flux (soil flux + vegetation uptake) was low. Conversely, sparsely vegetated regions showed larger net ecosystem emissions, which were similar in magnitude to atmospheric Hg deposition (except for the Mediterranean California region where soil emissions were higher). The net ecosystem flux results highlight the important role of landscape characteristics in effecting the balance between Hg sequestration and (re-)emission to the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

America's electricity system is in a state of regulatory disarray, and has been for two decades, since the move to restructure the industry that began in the 1990s, which initially faltered with the California crisis of 2000–2001, eventually resulted in a patchwork of state regulatory models, some of which adopted some form of modified restructuring, and others which explicitly resisted it. Many in the industry have attempted to put a positive spin on this patchwork of starkly different regulatory models, arguing that they represent different "laboratories" for exploring the benefits and limitations of each variant. This paper argues that the opposite is the case, and that the reluctance of the industry to make a frank assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of restructuring, and in particular to address the question of why the "flawed" regulatory model that it was intended to replace continues to survive and even thrive in much of the country, has produced a sort of stagnation, in which there is much talk of evolution in regulation and new business models, but little or no tangible progress. The fact that new trends and developments in the industry, such as declining electricity growth and the rise of distributed energy resources, will present serious challenges to all existing regulatory and business models in the electricity industry, makes it imperative that a fresh and unbiased look be taken at regulatory policy. But more than this, to avoid the stagnation that regulatory "agnosticism" has produced over the past two decades, the industry should set as its goal the search for a single state regulatory model that will be flexible enough to accommodate regional differences in generation sources and distributed generation penetration, and adaptable enough to effectively manage the changes which are arising from changing electricity usage patterns and new technological developments. The paper concludes with some suggestions on how to effectively conduct such a program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First documentation of the Pagoda Positive Carbon Excursion (PPCE) on Upper Yangtze Platform. • Astronomical tuning of 3 sections yielded similar PPCE durations of 4.0 ± 0.3 Myr. • PPCE is coeval with regional transgression-highstand and oscillating climate. The continuous and well exposed sections of the Upper Ordovician on the Upper Yangtze Platform were surveyed and sampled for δ13C and δ18O isotope and conodont fossils. The geochem-stratigraphic work in the Pagoda Formation has resulted in the recognition of a positive δ13C excursion, the Pagoda Positive δ13C Excursion (PPCE). The PPCE is a distinctive positive excursion occurring in the Middle-Late Katian, consists of three minor excursions ranging from 1.5 ‰ to 3 ‰, which has been identified in all the study sections on the Upper Yangtze Platform. The PPCE interval ranges through the conodont Hamarodus brevirameus and Protopandeordus inscrulptus conodont zones in ascending order, which indicates that the PPCE develops in the Middle-Late Katian of the Late Ordovician, while the Guttenberg δ13C Excursion (GICE) in the Baltoscandia and America extended from the Late Sandbian to the Early Katian. Spectral analysis of high-resolution magnetic susceptibility (MS) logs for the four study sections shows consistent wavelengths of ca. 2.0, 0.5, 0.18 and 0.15 m. The outcrop depth-series were tuned using 405-kyr long-eccentricity cycles and the astronomical tuning yields the duration of 3.7 to 4.4 myr for the PPCE event in different sections. This is the first documentation of the PPCE event on the Upper Yangtze Platform according to the geochemo-bio-cyclostratigraphy evidences, being identified within all portions of this platform in South China. It revised the previous description of the positive δ13C excursion of the Pagoda Formation on the Upper Yangtze Platform. The trigger of the PPCE was also briefly discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the pattern of the variability of the Global Positioning System vertical total electron content (GPS VTEC) and the modeled vertical total electron content (IRI 2012 TEC) over American mid-latitude regions during the rising phase of solar cycle 24 (2009–2011). This has been conducted employing ground-based dual frequency GPS receiver installed at Mississippi County Airport (geographic lat. 36.85°N and long. 270.64°E). In this work, the monthly and seasonal variations in the measured VTEC have been analyzed and compared with the VTEC inferred from IRI-2012 model. It has been shown that the monthly and seasonal mean VTEC values get decreased mostly between 05:00 and 10:00 UT and reach their minimal nearly at around 10:00 UT for both the experimental and the model. The VTEC values then get increased and reach the peak values at around 20:00 UT and decrease again. Moreover, it is depicted that the model better estimates both the monthly and seasonal mean hourly VTEC values mostly between 15:00 and 20:00 UT. The modeled monthly and seasonal VTEC values are smaller than the corresponding measured values as the solar activity decreases when all options for the topside electron density are used. However, as the Sun goes from a very low to a high solar activity, the overestimation performance of the VTEC values derived from the model increases. The overall results show that it is generally better to use the model with IRI-2000 option for the topside electron density in estimating the monthly and seasonal VTEC variations, especially when the activity of the Sun decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the spread of the American technocracy movement in China during the 1930s and traces the appeal of a technocratic society among Chinese intellectuals. From 1931 to 1935, Chinese newspapers and magazines translated and published the writing of American technocrats, which inspired Chinese thinkers to explore technocratic ideals. This paper argues that the Nanjing Government (which operated from 1927 to 1949) upheld the Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt administrations as examples of expert politics in action. By studying American technocracy, China remolded American style “expert politics” into expert politics with Chinese characteristics. Although this article contends that American technocracy was the external motivating factor for the movement in China, it also establishes the uniqueness of Chinese technocracy as the merging of Chinese tradition and Western thought, and illustrates key differences between the practices of expert politics in each nation. Such divergences include the emphasis of Chinese technocrats on increasing national power and the movement's failure to change the fundamental power regime in China. The histories of both United States and China show, contra Veblen and other theorists, that technocratic governments, though powerful forces, were not able to bring about any lasting change in political structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic is an incredibly versatile and useful material, however with only a fraction of this material being collected for recycling, it thus creates a serious environmental issue. Much of the research on plastics that contributes to a circular economy emphasises end of life, whereas solutions may be present earlier in the supply chain. There is a need for an evidence-based framework that describes circular economy interventions that can occur throughout the plastics supply chain. This research is, to the best of the authors knowledge, the most comprehensive review of plastics focussed circular economy literature covering the previous 21 years and 391 articles. Using a semi-systematic approach, a coding framework was designed to assign articles to one of sixteen circular economy stages across the supply chain. Papers were also coded according to their polymer resin types, first author country and plastic use categories. The resulting coded database was interrogated for publication trends across these categories. Our results show that publications in this field are growing rapidly, with much of the published literature coming from Europe and America. We also noted that most of the articles appeared general in nature, not specifying a particular resin type or plastic use category. This may limit the translation of research into practical, implementable solutions. The data obtained was used to validate a comprehensive framework that describes and quantifies the full breadth of circular economy interventions for the plastics supply chain. This research takes the sixteen circular economy stages our research identified and divides them into six key areas: resources (n = 67, 17%), production (n = 31,8%), use (n = 37, 9%), recycling (n = 100, 26%), waste (n = 49.13%), and system analysis (n = 107, 27%). This shows that by far, there is a focus in the literature on system-based approaches and recycling interventions, constituting 53% of all articles examined. In contrast, early-stage interventions involving production and use appear as relative gaps, collectively making up only 17% of the articles examined. The most important contribution of this research is to develop and validate a conceptual framework for plastics in the circular economy. This framework can be applied to addressing and conceptualising a circular economy for plastics in research, industry and policy settings, thus serving to catalyse this transition. [Display omitted] • An evidence-based framework is presented for plastics in the circular economy. • This describes 16 circular economy stages across the plastic supply chain. • Trends across time, country, stage, resin type and use category were evaluated. • A full state of research is presented (21 years), and knowledge gaps identified. • The framework is a practical tool for the transition to a plastics circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Human trafficking is as complex human rights and public health issue. The issue of human trafficking for sexual exploitation at large global sporting events has proven to be elusive given the clandestine nature of the industry. This piece examines the issue from a public health perspective. Study Design: This is a literature review of the 'most comprehensive' studies published on the topic. Methods: A PubMed search was done using MeSH terms 'human traffickings' and 'sex trafficking' and 'human rights abuses'. Subheadings included 'statistics and numerical data', 'legislation and jurispudence', 'prevention and control', and 'therapy'. Only papers published in English were reviewed. Results: The search showed that very few well-designed empirical studies have been conducted on the topic and only one pertinent systematic review was identified. Findings show a high prevalence of physical violence among those trafficked compared to nontrafficked women. Sexually transmitted infections and HIV AIDS are prevalent and preventive care is virtually non-existent. Conclusion: Quantifying human trafficking for sexual exploitation at large global sporting events has proven to be elusive given the clandestine nature of the industry. This is not to say that human trafficking for sex as well as forced sexual exploitation does not occur. It almost certainly exists, but to what extent is the big question. It is a hidden problem on a global scale in plain view with tremendous public health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a compartmental mathematical model has been utilized to gain a better insight about the future dynamics of COVID-19. The total human population is divided into eight various compartments including susceptible, exposed, pre-asymptomatic, asymptomatic, symptomatic, quarantined, hospitalized and recovered or removed individuals. The problem was modeled in terms of highly nonlinear coupled system of classical order ordinary differential equations (ODEs) which was further generalized with the Atangana-Balaeanu (ABC) fractional derivative in Caputo sense with nonlocal kernel. Furthermore, some theoretical analyses have been done such as boundedness, positivity, existence and uniqueness of the considered. Disease-free and endemic equilibrium points were also assessed. The basic reproduction was calculated through next generation technique. Due to high risk of infection, in the present study, we have considered the reported cases from three continents namely Americas, Europe, and south-east Asia. The reported cases were considered between 1st May 2021 and 31st July 2021 and on the basis of this data, the spread of infection is predicted for the next 200 days. The graphical solution of the considered nonlinear fractional model was obtained via numerical scheme by implementing the MATLAB software. Based on the fitted values of parameters, the basic reproduction number ℜ 0 for the case of America, Asia and Europe were calculated as ℜ 0 ≈ 2.92819 , ℜ 0 ≈ 2.87970 and ℜ 0 ≈ 2.23507 respectively. It is also observed that the spread of infection in America is comparatively high followed by Asia and Europe. Moreover, the effect of fractional parameter is shown on the dynamics of spread of infection among different classes. Additionally, the effect of quarantined and treatment of infected individuals is also shown graphically. From the present analysis it is observed that awareness of being quarantine and proper treatment can reduce the infection rate dramatically and a minimal variation in quarantine and treatment rates of infected individuals can lead us to decrease the rate of infection. [Display omitted] • The model is generalized by implementing the Atangana-Baleanu fractional differential operator of Mittag-Leffler type kernel. • Numerical scheme is implemented through MATLAB software for the graphical solution. • Cases reported Asia, America and Europe are considered in this investigation between 1st May 2021 and 30th July 2021. • Based on previous data, the spread of infection is predicted for the next 200 days which is shown through different graphs. • In addition, the impact of quarantine and treatment on infected people is dramatically depicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to simulate and predict global permafrost distribution, and analyse its change from 2010 to 2100 under different climate scenarios. Based on different factors (topography, land cover, climate and location) and global permafrost distribution status, logistic regression model (LRM) is chosen and constructed to simulate and predict the global permafrost distributions. Thus, the global permafrost distributions at T1 (2010–2040), T2 (2040–2070) and T3 (2070–2100) are predicted under different climate scenarios (RCP26, RCP45 and RCP85). From T1 to T3, the area of global permafrost has the largest degradation under RCP85 scenarios. From RCP26 to RCP85 at T3, the area of the degraded permafrost reached 0.671 × 108 km2. The degraded permafrost mainly distributes in east Asia, west Asia, north Europe and north America. The west Asia has the highest degrading distance, about 600 km under the situations of both RCP85 from T1 to T3 and from RCP26 to RCP85 at T3. • Global permafrost is simulated and predicted from 2010 to 2100. • Global permafrost degradation various largely under different climate scenarios. • West Asia has the highest degrading distance under RCP85 scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• European option datasets were time-sequenced by maturity to extract time information. • Two deep learning models were built for the option pricing tasks. • Our models can price option accurately without volatility calibration and simulation. • An interpretable method was used to find how models improved the pricing results. • Accumulate local effect range method was proposed to get feature emphasis of models. In this paper, we investigated the feasibility of pricing European options with time-sequencing data processing method and deep learning models, based on two European options, the ETF50 options of China and the S&P 500 options of America. Four competing models were built to verify the improvement of the 1D-CNN and LSTM models on the option pricing task. Methods like cross-validations and statistical tests were also used to make our experiments more robust. Besides, in order to increase the stability and the interpretability of our pricing models, we selected the ALE method to interpret and analyze the behavior of the deep learning models. The empirical results indicate that, in both ETF50 option and S&P500 option pricing tasks, the 1D-CNN and LSTM models had significant advantages in forecasting accuracy and robustness under moneyness, trading date or maturity dimension irrespectively. Especially for the LSTM model, which has robust performance using different kinds of cross-validation methods. With the help of ALE method, we proved that the improved performance brought by the 1D-CNN and LSTM models could be attributed to their capability of capturing time-series information and their different emphasis on input features and lags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 caused an unprecedented lockdown measures in most countries with consequences on the world society, economy, and sanitary systems. This situation provided an opportunity to identify the effects of human confinement on natural environments, like touristic sandy beaches, which are stressed due to anthropogenic pressures. Based on previous articles about heavy metals sources and levels in these ecosystems, this paper discusses the dynamic of these pollutants and a regulatory scenario associated with COVID-19 sanitation policies. The main findings suggest that 39% of the studies were on Asian sandy beaches, 16% from Europe, while America and Africa with 23% each. Also Co, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe and Mn were the most frequently analyzed metals in sediments and in several cases their concentrations exceed international guidelines assessment. Finally, even though beaches are under several metals inputs, tourism plays a key role in these ecosystems quality. After analyzing the potential indirect effect of COVID-19 measures on metals dynamics, we propose some key recommendations and management strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution on sandy tourist beaches. These proposals are useful for decision-makers and stakeholders to improve sandy beach management, mainly those beaches not addressed from a management perspective; and their implementation should be adapted according to the regulations and legislation of each country. • Because of tourism, heavy metal pollution, threatens sandy beaches' sustainability. • Metal pollution data on touristic sandy beaches still lacks systematization and is scarce. • COVID-19 pandemic measures indirectly affect metals sources and levels in these environments. • Management tools are proposed to mitigate metal pollution in touristic sandy beaches. • The "new normality" offers a unique opportunity to design the transition towards sustainable tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the similarities and differences of American, European and Chinese standard for railway concrete sleeper. As an integral part of railway structure, concrete sleeper which is widely used in railway engineering plays an important role in the stability of the railway structure. To ensure the quality of concrete sleeper, different regions stipulate standard for concrete sleeper on the basis of technology development and geographical environment. A comparative review on concrete sleeper standard from America, China and Europe in terms of requirements on cement, aggregate, reinforcement, manufacturing and concrete properties has been conducted. The review shows that all of three regions have similar requirement on cement in terms of compressive strength and SO 3 content. The aggregate requirement for both American and Chinese standard specifies the upper (D) and lower (d) limits of sieve size while the European standard which provides more flexible requirement specifying only the ratio D/d. Both of European standard EN 13230-1 and American standard AREMA CHAPTER 30 focus more on prestressing reinforcement including wire, strand and bar, while the Chinese standard GBT 37330 has more specific requirement for manufacturing process of concrete sleeper on the basis of steel reinforcement. The value of compressive strength of concrete stipulated by GBT 37330 is the highest. This paper could provide clear understanding of the production requirements of concrete sleeper in America, China and Europe which can be used as guide for further concrete sleeper development in the future. • Concrete railway sleepers in American, European and Chinese Standard. • Basis of technology in concrete sleeper development. • Way forward for further concrete sleeper development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is widely used as a dietary supplement in Europe and America. • A new supramolecular extractant was designed for the separation of PQQ from fermentation broth. • The extraction driving force was inferred as an ion-pair and π-π interaction between PQQ and BC. In this paper, new supramolecular extractants, which contained surfactant, alkane and alkanol, were designed and used to separate PQQ. After a series of tests, the optimal extractant composition was determined as benzalkalonium (C 8 -C 16) chloride (BC): n -hexane: n -pentanol, and the highest extraction rate could reach 98%. The extraction equilibrium could be reached in five minutes. The mechanism of the extraction selectivity was inferred as an ion-pair and π-π complexation interaction between PQQ and BC, which was indicated by UV and fluorescence quenching experiments. To recycle the organic extractant, the extract was back-extracted with sodium chloride solution. After extraction, back extraction and crystallization, an isolated product with a purity of 97.5% was obtained from G. oxydans fermentation broth. The product was identified as PQQ by HPLC analysis and MS. Above all, the present research developed a simple and efficient method for the separation of PQQ from fermentation broth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strengthening of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions meant that manufacturing scheduling had to acquire a green approach. The need to reduce energy consumption becomes necessary for companies to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, a new challenge for the scientific community was foreseen, researching new algorithms or knowledge hubs to achieve green scheduling. Green scheduling may be considered one of the principles of green manufacturing, aimed at minimizing environmental damage and energy waste. A review of the literature shows that there are no research works that analyze the scientific development carried out in "green scheduling" through methodologies based on bibliometric analysis, thus the need and the novelty of this research. Based on a dataset formed by 420 scientific documents published from 2006 to 2020 a bibliometric and network analysis is carried out to find the scientific trends, the main relationships according to collaborations and intermediaries, and the research hubs that help to establish the research agenda. The results show that "green scheduling" is a growing research area in the scientific community and in recent years the number of new research topics has experienced considerable growth. This research is developed in Asia, Europe and America, but China stands out as the most productive, collaborative, intermediary, influential and active country at present, through its organizations which are mainly universities, such as Huanzhong University of Science and Technology and Tongji University. However, research development related to green scheduling is carried out in a collaborative environment between institutions located in different countries, allowing countries that are not scientific powerhouses to develop research in the area. The network analysis makes it possible to define the research framework through the clustering of the dataset's research keywords, highlighting that the main areas of research focus on the development of new methods through algorithms aimed at improving energy efficiency in production environments, in areas of computational development such as cloud computing, and in transportation. The most cited research papers, considered the main drivers of knowledge, are published in high-quality research journals, and are mainly developments in scheduling algorithms for different work environments with a green approach. Research findings can provide the academic community with relevant information about green scheduling to make appropriate decisions and become a research agenda for future research. • China stands out as the most productive, collaborative, and influential country. • Research development is carried out in a collaborative environment. • The research is mainly linked to algorithms in production environments. • The application environments are production, computational areas, and transportation. • The most cited references support the conceptual framework related to scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel structure-adaptative grey model with a time power is proposed. • The Cultural Algorithm is employed for determining the optimal time power item. • Monte-Carlo Simulation and Probability Density Analysis are originally introduced to enhance the model's robustness. • Empirical results comprehensively verify the efficacy of our novel method. • The future demands for nuclear energy are predicted by using the promising model from 2019 to 2023. Accurate estimations of nuclear energy consumption are an essential process for formulating appropriate policies and plans in the energy sector and associated companies. This paper presents a novel structure-adaptive grey model with an adjustable time power based on the nonlinear and complicated characteristics of nuclear energy consumption, in which three core innovations are summarized below. Initially, the generalized time response function for projections is theoretically deduced, which overcomes the fundamental flaws in the conventional grey model. Subsequently, the Cultural Algorithm is employed to determine the optimum values of the time power item to improve the adaptability and flexibility to confront diverse forecasting issues. Further, Monte-Carlo Simulation and Probability Density Analysis (PDA) are originally introduced to enhance the robustness of the proposed model. For illustration and verification purposes, experiments on predicting nuclear energy consumption in China and America are conducted in comparison with a range of benchmark models, including other prevalent grey models, conventional econometric technology, and artificial intelligences. The performance of the novel technique is evaluated from two different perspectives of PDA and level accuracy, confirming that this model is a very promising and powerful tool for predicting nuclear energy demands in China and America from 2019 to 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]