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In order to protect the ecological environment of the Yangtze River and promote the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, this paper analyzed the current situation and existing problems of the treatment of rural sewage pollutants in Wuhu City, an important city along the Yangtze River. And it summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the main technologies of ecological treatment of rural domestic sewage (artificial wetland, soil filtration, stabilization pond, septic tank) and biological treatment (biofilm treatment, A²O process) and their applicability in Wuhu City. The results showed that the pollutant discharge of rural domestic sewage was significantly different among counties and districts in Wuhu City. The pollutant discharge was in the order of Wuwei City > Nanling County > Yijiang District > Jiujiang District > Wanzhi District > Fanchang District > Jinghu District. The main pollutants were chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen. The combination of biological treatment technology and ecological treatment technology had greater advantages than the single treatment technology, however, there were still some problems in the selection and use of rural domestic sewage treatment technology, such as funding gap and imperfect supervision operation and maintenance. In this way, suggestions were put forward to innovate the investment operation and management mode, strengthen the linkage between government enterprises and villagers, coordinate the construction, operation and transfer of domestic sewage treatment projects, and select sewage treatment technical solutions according to local conditions. This study provides a reference for the treatment of rural domestic sewage in Wuhu City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological properties of lubricants containing the same additives often vary with varying hardness and composition of the frictional parts. This means that, in terms of the effectiveness of lubricant additives, most of current researches using GCr15 steel to assemble the frictional pair could not be directly cited by the moving parts made of other materials. Aiming at verifying if RNS‐1A‐PIBSA (referring to amino‐functionalized silica nanoparticle [RNS‐1A] after secondary surface‐capping by polyisobutylene succinic anhydride [PIBSA]) is suitable for multiple frictional parts made of different materials with varying hardness and composition, herein we investigate its applicability an additive in poly‐alpha‐olefin 6 (PAO6) base oil to three types of sliding pairs constructed from GCr15 steel, #45 steel, and ductile iron with much different hardness and composition by SRV‐5. A series of analyses of worn surface morphology and composition demonstrate that, independent of the composition and hardness of the frictional pairs, RNS‐1A‐PIBSA added in PAO6 base oil can form silica deposition film on the rubbed surfaces of the three kinds of sliding pairs, thereby effectively reducing friction and wear. Besides, we also examine the effect of RNS‐1A‐PIBSA on the thermal stability of the PAO6 base oil, and found the nano‐additive RNS‐1A‐PIBSA can delay the thermal decomposition of PAO6 base oil to some extent, which is favourable for its application in lubrication engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rural Water & Hydropower is the property of China Rural Water & Hydropower Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Petroleum Machinery is the property of China Petroleum Machinery Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Electric Power Automation Equipment / Dianli Zidonghua Shebei is the property of Electric Power Automation Equipment Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Children and pregnant and lactating women, as two special groups, could face certain risks from blindly consuming various foods. To explore the proportion of suitability labeling for these two groups in health food products, analyze the reasons, and propose suggestions from multiple perspectives to improve the safety of health food consumption for these special groups. Methods: The data on health food products with top 10 function claim registrations were retrieved from the Special Food Information Query Platform of the State Administration for Market Regulation and Administration spanning from June 1996 to December 2022. The study was conducted from functional claims, approval timelines, and ingredient compositions. Chi-square tests and regression analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics 26 software to scrutinize the composition of special populations in relation to inappropriate labeling. Results: Special populations accounted for over 30% of inappropriate labeling in the ten product categories. There was a significant disparity in the composition ratio of special populations in similar products with inappropriate labeling (P

The goals of the law are unattainable by any rule and with any quality; therefore, observing criteria in legislation is necessary. In order to increase the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of legal rules, the main goals of the legislator can also be realized. Based on this, paragraph 9 of the general legislative policies has established a set of criteria to determine the necessary policies in the legislative field for the approval of desired laws. By paying attention to these criteria, we can consider "transparency," "applicability," and "goal provision" among the basic benchmarks of ideal law.Tracking the legislative process reveals the legislator's lack of attention to these criteria in some cases. One such case is the rule of material multiplicity of punishment crimes. Additionally, due to the intensified enforcement of plurality in crime cases and their connection to public order, compliance with these standards becomes even more important. Therefore, this research, using a descriptive-analytical method and library data, aims to answer the question of how the rule of plurality of discretionary crimes is evaluated concerning the requirements of "transparency," "applicability," and "goal provision." The results of this research indicate that these criteria have not been observed in many instances regarding the rule of plurality of discretionary crimes.

Most agricultural soils exhibit minimal recovery of sulfate (S), the accuracy of isotherms to describe anion desor-ption data is very useful in establishing the fertilization schedule to promote optimal crop yield. The desorption of S by savanna soils and its applicability to isotherm equations in reserve form are both poorly understood. To fill this gap, soil samples were collected from three distinct parent materials: Basement Complex Rock, Chad Formation Rock, and Kerri-Kerri Formation Rock. Experimental soils were mixed with a 15 ml solution of Cal-cium dihydrogen phosphate containing 500 mg P/l for sulfate desorption analysis. Mixed samples were then shaken for different durations (30, 60, 150, 180, and 240 minutes). The data indicate a significant va-riation in soil pH among different parent materials. The isotherm equations were successfully applied to the de-sorption data of sulfur, with R2 values exceeding 0.98 for both Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The Langmuir equation proved to be the most suitable for the desorption data, as evidenced by low standard error. The order of desorption and fitness was found to be CFR > BCR > KKFR. Langmuir desorption qmax and KL were found to be favorably and significantly associated with pH, ​​Org C, and Alox. A negative and statistically significant relationship between Alox and Freundlich desorption nF was observed. The results showed that different mechanisms contribute to sulfate desorption from soils. To use fertilizers in the soil more efficiently, it is necessary to consider contact time, add forms of oxides as a filler to the S-formulated fertilizer, and apply organic management methods to support sustainable agriculture in the studied area.

Background and purpose: The rapidly evolving landscape of effective treatment options in multiple sclerosis has led to a shift of treatment objectives towards a treat‐to‐target approach aiming to suppress disease activity below the level of detectability early during the disease. To enable treat‐to‐target, a thorough reappraisal of available outcome measures with respect to their ability in this regard is required. Methods: To that end, we conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review of more than 1000 studies using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) 2020 methodology focusing on underlying evidence as well as utility and implementability in clinical practice. Results: From there, we propose a set of measurable outcomes for everyday routine clinical practice as well as advanced/aspirational measurables requiring additional resources. We also outline remaining knowledge/technology gaps that need to be overcome to enable a treat‐to‐target approach. Conclusions: This work provides the basis for an evidence‐based definition of outcome targets for relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to expand the understanding of mental health, its importance, and the promotion of mental health services within barangays in the Philippines. 16 barangay healthcare workers in Bacoor City participated in a questionnaire survey, with five individuals undergoing follow-up interviews. The researcher used a self-made 5-point Likert-scale to measure the level and relationship of accessibility, awareness, and applicability of mental health services. The findings of this study revealed a significant positive correlation among the key factors of applicability, awareness, and accessibility of mental health services. This correlation underscores the potential for substantial enhancements in mental health services through targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Unhealthy diet is a key risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that contribute to increased morbidity and premature mortality. With increased computer literacy and mobile phone penetration, there is a high opportunity for mobile application-based interventions. The current study was conducted to develop a mobile application to monitor dietary intake and to assess its acceptability and effectiveness in diet control compared to a similar paper-based intervention. A mobile application was developed based on research evidence and opinions of local experts. The mobile application was introduced to a selected group of office workers who were in preparation, action, and maintenance stages of the Trans Theoretical Model (TTM) and a paper-based intervention was used as the comparator. Socio-demographic data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were followed up for three months for adherence. The effectiveness of interventions was assessed at the end of three months by comparing the progressive change in the stage of change and the change from unhealthy to healthy dietary intake between two groups as primary and secondary outcomes respectively. Results Among 123 office workers who participated in the study, 19.5% preferred the mobile intervention over the paper-based intervention. Younger, unmarried office workers and those who do not have children, had a higher acceptance for the mobile intervention (p

Abstract Background The aim of the current study was to assess the accuracy of expert predictions, which were derived using a Delphi panel foresight study between 2009 and 2011, on a variety of drug-related topics in Finland in 2020. Methods The material used to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions consists of published reports on statistics, survey results, official register data, wastewater analyses and official documents. Whenever possible, we used multiple information sources to ascertain possible changes related to the predictions. Results Between 2009 and 2011, the majority – but not all – of the experts accurately predicted an increase in drug use. Indeed, more people experimented with or used drugs, and more drug residues were found in wastewater monitoring. The experts also correctly predicted an increase in population-level approval of drug use, but this development has been rather slow. Contrary to predictions, there was no marked increase in the use of new synthetic drugs. However, the misuse of buprenorphine increased during the 2010s. In the drug market, unit prices were surprisingly stable over the ten-year period. There were no changes in legislation related to the legal status of drugs, as was foreseen by the experts. However, enforcement moved in the direction foreseen by the experts: more lenient measures have been taken against users. Drug care system reforms favored a combination of mental health and addiction care units between 2009 and 2011, and 2020, as foreseen by the experts. Conclusions It seems to have been easier for the experts to foresee the continuation of existing trends, e.g., increasing use of drugs or widening approval of drugs, than to predict possible changes in the popularity of distinct groups of drugs such as new psychoactive substances (NPS). Even armed with the prediction that drug imports and wholesale would increasingly fall into the domain of organized crime, this undesirable development could not be stopped. Expert disagreement can also be seen as a valuable indication of uncertainty regarding the future. Foresight related to drug-related issues can produce relatively accurate and realistic views of the future at least up to ten years ahead.

Background: Unhealthy diet is a key risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that contribute to increased morbidity and premature mortality. With increased computer literacy and mobile phone penetration, there is a high opportunity for mobile application-based interventions. The current study was conducted to develop a mobile application to monitor dietary intake and to assess its acceptability and effectiveness in diet control compared to a similar paper-based intervention. A mobile application was developed based on research evidence and opinions of local experts. The mobile application was introduced to a selected group of office workers who were in preparation, action, and maintenance stages of the Trans Theoretical Model (TTM) and a paper-based intervention was used as the comparator. Socio-demographic data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were followed up for three months for adherence. The effectiveness of interventions was assessed at the end of three months by comparing the progressive change in the stage of change and the change from unhealthy to healthy dietary intake between two groups as primary and secondary outcomes respectively. Results: Among 123 office workers who participated in the study, 19.5% preferred the mobile intervention over the paper-based intervention. Younger, unmarried office workers and those who do not have children, had a higher acceptance for the mobile intervention (p < 0.05). There was no difference in adherence (in all three months) or outcomes between the two groups of intervention. Conclusion and recommendations: Mobile application-based interventions are better accepted among the young age group and further studies are recommended to explore their applicability. Trial registration: The study was registered in the Sri Lankan Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. SLCTR/2020/025; Date 15th December 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do researchers in psychology view the relation between scientific knowledge, its applicability, and its societal relevance? Most research on psychological science and its benefits to society is discussed from a bird's eye view (a meta-scientific perspective), by identifying general trends such as psychology's dominant focus on lab-based experiments and general descriptive theories. In recent years, several critics have argued that this focus has come at the cost of reduced practical and societal relevance. In this study, we interviewed Dutch psychology professors to gauge their views about the relation between psychological research and its relevance to society. We found that psychology professors engaged in a variety of activities to engage science with society, from work in clinical and applied settings, to consultancy, education, and science communication. However, we found that the role of theory when applying scientific knowledge to practical problems is far from straightforward. While most participants regarded theories as relevant to understanding general contexts of application, psychological theories were seldom directly related to specific applications. We compare and discuss our findings in the light of recent discussions about the lack of applicability and societal relevance of psychological science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupling solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) with gross primary productivity (GPP) for ecological function integration research presents numerous uncertainties, especially in ecologically fragile and climate-sensitive arid regions. Therefore, evaluating the suitability of SIF data for estimating GPP and the feasibility of improving its accuracy in the northern region of Xinjiang is of profound significance for revealing the spatial distribution patterns of GPP and the strong coupling relationship between GPP and SIF in arid regions, achieving the goal of "carbon neutrality" in arid regions. This study is based on multisource SIF satellite data and GPP observation data from sites in three typical ecosystems (cultivated and farmlands, pasture grasslands, and desert vegetation). Two precision improvement methods (canopy and linear) are used to couple multiple indicators to determine the suitability of multisource SIF data for GPP estimation and the operability of accuracy improvement methods in arid regions reveal the spatial characteristics of SIF (GPP). The results indicate the following. (1) The interannual variation of GPP shows an inverted "U" shape, with peaks values in June and July. The cultivated and farmland areas have the highest peak value among the sites (0.35 gC/m2/month). (2) The overall suitability ranking of multisource SIF satellite products for GPP estimation in arid regions is RTSIF > CSIF > SIF_OCO2_005 > GOSIF. RTSIF shows better suitability in the pasture grassland and cultivated and farmland areas (R2 values of 0.85 and 0.84, respectively). (3) The canopy method is suitable for areas with a high leaf area proportion (R2 improvement range: 0.05–0.06), while the linear method is applicable across different surface types (R2 improvement range: 0.01–0.13). However, the improvement effect of the linear method is relatively weaker in areas with high vegetation cover. (4) Combining land use data, the overall improvement of SIF (GPP) is approximately 0.11%, and the peak values of its are mainly distributed in the northern and southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, while the low values are primarily found in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The annual mean value of SIF (GPP) is about 0.13 mW/m2/nm/sr. This paper elucidates the applicability of SIF for GPP estimation and the feasibility of improving its accuracy, laying the theoretical foundation for the spatiotemporal coupling study of GPP and SIF in an arid region, and providing practical evidence for achieving carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2020, the REACh regulation requires toxicological data on nanoforms of materials, including the assessment of their skin-sensitizing properties. Small molecules' skin sensitization potential can be assessed by new approach methodologies (NAMs) addressing three key events (KE: protein interaction, activation of dendritic cells, and activation of keratinocytes) combined in a defined approach (DA) described in the OECD guideline 497. In the present study, the applicability of three NAMs (DPRA, LuSens, and h-CLAT) to nine materials (eight inorganic nanomaterials (NM) consisting of CeO2, BaSO4, TiO2 or SiO2, and quartz) was evaluated. The NAMs were technically applicable to NM using a specific sample preparation (NANOGENOTOX dispersion protocol) and method modifications to reduce interaction of NM with the photometric and flowcytometric read-outs. The results of the three assays were combined according to the defined approach described in the OECD guideline No. 497; two of the inorganic NM were identified as skin sensitizers. However, data from animal studies (for ZnO, also human data) indicate no skin sensitization potential. The remaining seven test substances were assessed as "inconclusive" because all inorganic NM were outside the domain of the DPRA, and the achievable test concentrations were not sufficiently high according to the current test guidelines of all three NAMs. The use of these NAMs for (inorganic) NM and the relevance of the results in general are challenged in three ways: (i) NAMs need modification to be applicable to insoluble, inorganic matter; (ii) current test guidelines lack adequate concentration metrics and top concentrations achievable for NM; and (iii) NM may not cause skin sensitization by the same molecular and cellular key events as small organic molecules do; in fact, T-cell-mediated hypersensitivity may not be the most relevant reaction of the immune system to NM. We conclude that the NAMs adopted by OECD test guidelines are currently not a good fit for testing inorganic NM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the current study was to assess the accuracy of expert predictions, which were derived using a Delphi panel foresight study between 2009 and 2011, on a variety of drug-related topics in Finland in 2020. Methods: The material used to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions consists of published reports on statistics, survey results, official register data, wastewater analyses and official documents. Whenever possible, we used multiple information sources to ascertain possible changes related to the predictions. Results: Between 2009 and 2011, the majority – but not all – of the experts accurately predicted an increase in drug use. Indeed, more people experimented with or used drugs, and more drug residues were found in wastewater monitoring. The experts also correctly predicted an increase in population-level approval of drug use, but this development has been rather slow. Contrary to predictions, there was no marked increase in the use of new synthetic drugs. However, the misuse of buprenorphine increased during the 2010s. In the drug market, unit prices were surprisingly stable over the ten-year period. There were no changes in legislation related to the legal status of drugs, as was foreseen by the experts. However, enforcement moved in the direction foreseen by the experts: more lenient measures have been taken against users. Drug care system reforms favored a combination of mental health and addiction care units between 2009 and 2011, and 2020, as foreseen by the experts. Conclusions: It seems to have been easier for the experts to foresee the continuation of existing trends, e.g., increasing use of drugs or widening approval of drugs, than to predict possible changes in the popularity of distinct groups of drugs such as new psychoactive substances (NPS). Even armed with the prediction that drug imports and wholesale would increasingly fall into the domain of organized crime, this undesirable development could not be stopped. Expert disagreement can also be seen as a valuable indication of uncertainty regarding the future. Foresight related to drug-related issues can produce relatively accurate and realistic views of the future at least up to ten years ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting data from the oasis agricultural area 11 stations of Northern Xinjiang from 1961 to 2020, five drought indices were calculated on a monthly scale, including the precipitation anomaly percentage (PA), standardized precipitation index (SPI), standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), K index and meteorological drought composite index (MCI). By comparing the correlation, frequency of drought occurrences at different levels and the ability to identify typical drought years among these indices, we analyzed their applicability in the region. The result showed that PA and SPI were sensitive to precipitation deficits but had a weaker correlation with temperature, failing to fully consider the impact of warming on droughts; MCI also had weaker correlations with temperature and precipitation, tending to underestimate severe and exceptional drought situations; both SPEI and K index showed a better correlation with temperature and precipitation, but the K index reported moderate to severe droughts excessively, while SPEI more comprehensively considered the combined effect of temperature and precipitation on droughts, making its results more realistic. However, due to the Thornthwaite method used by SPEI, which may overestimate the impact of temperature on drought, in cases of significantly less precipitation and minor temperature deviations, SPI’ s monitoring results may be more severe than SPEI’s. Therefore, it was recommended to use SPI in conjunction with SPEI to compensate for this shortcoming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, more people are living into advanced old age, with age-associated frailty, disability and multimorbidity. Achieving equity for all ages necessitates adapting healthcare systems. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have an important place in adapting evidence-based medicine and clinical care to reflect these changing needs. CPGs can facilitate better and more systematic care for older people. But they can also present a challenge to patient-centred care and shared decision-making when clinical and/or socioeconomic heterogeneity or personal priorities are not reflected in recommendations or in their application. Indeed, evidence is often lacking to enable this variability to be reflected in guidance. Evidence is more likely to be lacking about some sections of the population. Many older adults are at the intersection of many factors associated with exclusion from traditional clinical evidence sources with higher incidence of multimorbidity and disability compounded by poorer healthcare access and ultimately worse outcomes. We describe these challenges and illustrate how they can adversely affect CPG scope, the evidence available and its summation, the content of CPG recommendations and their patient-centred implementation. In all of this, we take older adults as our focus, but much of what we say will be applicable to other marginalised groups. Then, using the established process of formulating a CPG as a framework, we consider how these challenges can be mitigated, with particular attention to applicability and implementation. We consider why CPG recommendations on the same clinical areas may be inconsistent and describe approaches to ensuring that CPGs remain up to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The widespread adoption and utilization of drones often raise questions regarding what exactly constitutes a drone and the characteristics that categorize a device into this category. In the first section, we attempt to define the concept of a drone, emphasizing its diversity and the misconceptions surrounding its terminology. The second section introduces classifications based on the main features of drones to better understand their application areas. The third and fourth sections examine daily and military uses, as well as the logistical role of drones, highlighting emerging challenges and limitations. Finally, we summarize the potential dangers of drone use, legal restrictions, as well as public opinion and cybersecurity concerns, which frequently hinder their broader adoption and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentinel-1A satellite data is characterized by its broad coverage, rapid revisit periods, and cost-effectiveness, allowing for the efficient acquisition of large-scale surface deformation information along pipelines through interferometric synthetic aperture radar ( InSAR) technology. However, with complex terrain, large topographic relief and lush vegetation, phenomena such as layover, shadow, and incoherence commonly arise during monitoring. The applicability of Sentinel-1A satellite data in different sections of the pipeline is different. To evaluate the applicability of Sentinel-1A data in surface deformation measurements, three pipeline sections in varying mountainous terrains were selected as study areas. Correlation analyses were conducted by combining Sentinel-1A data, Sentinel-2 data, and ALOS DEM data, in order to construct applicability evaluation indexes. The results show that the ratio of layover and shadow regions to the total areas in Sentinel-1A images along the pipelines is significantly negatively correlated with the slope, with Pearson correlation coefficient of - 0. 914 and Spearman correlation coefficient of - 1. Likewise, there was a significant negative correlation between image coherence and normalized vegetation index, with Pearson correlation coefficient of - 0. 972 and Spearman correlation coefficient of - 0. 99. Applicability evaluation indexes for slope and vegetation were established for Sentinel-1A data along pipelines in mountainous areas using the method of regression analysis and normalization, which can evaluate the applicability of Sentinel-1A data for deformation monitoring along the mountainous pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil is in a small strain state in most areas during the shield construction process, which is different from the soil properties of the commonly used intrinsic model. Therefore, in order to study the static-dynamic behaviour and engineering applicability of typical silty clay in the area of Jinan Jinluo Road Tunnel passing under Yellow River, the basic physical property parameters of silty clay and tangential stiffness Eref oed, natural stiffness Eref 50, unloading / reloading reference stiffness Eref ur were determined by laboratory soil tests, confined consolidation tests, standard triaxial consolidation tests, and dynamic triaxial tests. Then the obtained parameters were applied in the settlement analysis of the north bank embankment under the tunnel project of Jinan Tunnel through Yellow River. The obtained parameters were applied to the settlement analysis of the Jinan Jinluo Road Tunnel Project passing under the north bank embankment, and the accuracy of the HSS principal model in the deformation analysis of the area was verified by comparing the simulation results of the hardening soil model with small strain stiffness( HSS) model and the Mohr-Coulomb( M-C) model with the field measurement results. The results show that when the perimeter pressure is certain, the vertical strain of the silty clay specimens in this area is dominated by plastic strain, and with the increase of dynamic stress, the longer time is needed for the soil to reach the stability. When the cyclic load is certain, increasing the perimeter pressure of the soil could improve the stability of the soil. The deformation of the ground layer of the Jinan Jinluo Road Tunnel through the Yellow River Tunnel Project passing under the embankment, which is simulated based on the parameters of the HSS model obtained from laboratory experiments, is in good agreement with the measured values in the field. The research results could enrich the study of the stratigraphic parameters of silty clay in Jinan Yellow River area, and provide reference for the selection of the soil model and stratigraphic parameters for the numerical simulation and analysis of geotechnical engineering in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic payments are the cornerstone of web-based commerce. A steady decrease in cash usage has been observed, while various digital payment technologies are taking over. They process sensitive personal information raising concerns about its potentially illicit usage. Several payment models that confront this challenge have been proposed. They offer varying levels of anonymity and readiness for adoption. The aim of this study was to broaden the portfolio with a solution that assures the highest level of anonymity and is well applicable. An empirical design research study with prototyping and conceptual research with a proposed construct were employed for this purpose. As a result, the Activity-Based Payment (ABP) model was proposed. It introduces a different mode of completing a payment transaction based on performing specific activities on a web location indicated by the payee. The anonymity properties of the solution, as well as its performance and applicability have been evaluated showing its particular suitability to micropayment and small payment scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative care is characterised by heterogeneous patient and caregiver populations who are provided care in different health systems and a research base including a large proportion of observational, mostly retrospective studies. The inherent diversity of palliative care populations and the often inadequate study descriptions challenge the application of new knowledge into practice and reproducibility for confirmatory studies. Being able to define systematically study populations would significantly increase their generalisability and effective translation into practice. Proposal: Based on an informal consensus process by active palliative care researchers challenged by this problem and a review of the current evidence, we propose an approach to creating more comparable cohorts in observational (non-randomised) palliative care studies that relies on defining the study population in relation to a fixed, well-defined event from which analyses are built ('anchoring'). In addition to providing a detailed and complete description of the study population, anchoring is the critical step in creating more comparable cohorts in observational palliative care studies. Anchoring can be done with respect to a single or multiple data points, and can support both prospective and retrospective data collection and analysis. Discussion: Anchoring the cohort to reproducible data points will help create more comparable cohorts in palliative care whilst mitigating its inherent heterogeneity. This, in turn, will help optimise the generalisability, applicability and reproducibility of observational palliative care studies to strengthen the evidence base and improve practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter begins with an overview of recent developments that have encouraged and facilitated greater use of research syntheses, including Meta-Analysis, to guide public policy and practice in education, workforce development, and social services. It discusses the role of Meta-Analysis for improving knowledge of the effectiveness of programs, policies, and practices and the applicability and generalizability of that knowledge to conditions other than those represented by the study samples and settings. The chapter concludes with recommendations for improving the potential of Meta-Analysis to accelerate knowledge development through changing how we design, conduct, and report findings of individual studies to maximize their usefulness in Meta-Analysis as well as how we produce and report Meta-Analysis findings. The paper includes references to resources supporting the recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to the study of the principle of the right to freedom of movement, as a concept of human rights that includes the right of people to move from one place to another on the territory of a country and to leave the country, including the possibility of returning, including change of place where the individual lives. This analysis required the study of the national jurisprudence and EEC, member states of the European Union of third countries, because this fundamental principle is one of the scientific freedoms that the European institutions are investigating, considering that visa restrictions may affect these freedoms. The author identified what implies the application of this principle in all the procedures regarding minors in close connection with respecting the principle of the best interest of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for promoting the closed-loop sustainable development of the LIB industry. However, progress in LIB recycling technologies is slow. There are significant gaps between academic research and industrial application, which hinder the industrialization of new technologies and the improvement of existing ones. Here we show a universal model for spent LIB-lithium recycling (SliRec) to evaluate the applicability and upgrading potential across various recycling technologies. Instead of modeling the entire recycling process, we focus on partial processes to enable a comparative analysis of environmental and economic impacts. We find a strong correlation between lithium concentration (LC) and the advancement of recycling technologies, where higher LC is associated with a reduced carbon footprint and increased economic benefits. The implementation of high-level recycling technology can result in an 85.91% reduction in carbon footprint and a 5.97-fold increase in economic returns. Additionally, we explore the effects of technological interventions through scenario analysis, demonstrating that while low-level recycling technology faces more substantial challenges in upgrading, it holds greater potential for reducing carbon emissions (−2.38 kg CO2-eq mol−1) and enhancing economic benefits (CNY 11.04 mol−1). Our findings emphasize the significance of process modeling in evaluating the quality of spent LIB recycling technologies, and can provide comparative information for the application of emerging technologies or the upgrade of existing ones.

Summary: Consideration of how applicable the results of surgical trials are to clinical practice is important to inform decision‐making. Randomized controlled trials comparing at least two surgical interventions (of gastric bypass, gastric band, and sleeve gastrectomy) for severe and complex obesity were examined using the PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary‐2 tool, to consider how applicable the trial results are to clinical practice, and the Risk of Bias 2 tool, to examine validity. MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched for studies published between November 2013 and June 2021, and 15 were identified. Using the PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary‐2 tool, three were classified as pragmatic, with good applicability to clinical practice. Ten had more explanatory domains but did include some pragmatic characteristics, and two were predominantly explanatory. This was due to some trial design features that would not be considered applicable to the wider clinical setting, including being single‐centered, having prescribed intervention delivery methods, and intensive follow‐up regimens. Only two trials had low risk of bias, of which one was considered pragmatic. Three had high risk of bias. Overall, few trials in bariatric surgery are pragmatic with low risk of bias. Well‐designed pragmatic trials are needed to inform practice and reduce research waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Allah Almighty revealed the Holy Qur'an to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the message of Islam to take humankind out of darkness into the light guidance. Translation effectively disseminates the divine message and the teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to humanity in various languages. Translating the Holy Qur'an is a challenging job. Only those scholars who have sufficient knowledge about the terminologies relating to Qur'anic studies in addition to other translation skills can carry out the translating process for Qur'an’s text. This research paper primarily discusses the importance of translation to disseminate the teachings of the Holy Qur'an to humankind. It also focuses on the answer of the question about the legitimacy of the translation of the Holy Quran through some arguments based on the Qur'anic verses, Hadiths and Juristic laws. In addition, it highlights various challenges and problems facing translators while translating the text of the Holy Qur'an. It also deliberates some translation strategies and methods by Mona Baker to deal with these challenges indicating to some adequate solutions for rendering the text of Qur'an. It mentions some reasons that cause mistakes while translating the text of the Quran. It contains some recommendations and suggestions by mentioning some mechanisms at individual and collective level for taking initiatives towards the translating process for Quran’s text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we introduce a robust generalization of the generalized Topp-Leone-G (GEN-TL-G) family of distributions via the heavy-tailed technique, namely, heavy-tailed generalized Topp-Leone-G (HT-GEN-TL-G) family of distributions. Statistical properties of the HT-GEN-TL-G family of distributions including reliability functions, quantile function, density expansion, moments, moment generating function, incomplete moments, Rényi entropy, distribution of order statistics are derived. Different estimation methods including Maximum Likelihood, Anderson-Darling, Ordinary Least Squares, Weighted Least Squares, Cramér-von Mises and Maximum Product of Spacing are utilized to estimate the unknown parameters of the new distribution, and a simulation study is used to compare the results of the estimation methods. Risk measures for this distribution were also developed and finally the effectiveness of this new family of distributions was demonstrated using applications to two real data sets. Graphical and application results in this manuscript were obtained using R programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the deterioration of the structure of oil reserves, the demand for enhanced oil recovery technologies is increasing every year. These technologies are usually classified into the following: Chemical, gas, thermal and combined enhance oil recovery methods. Among the chemical methods, polymer flooding stands out. It has been actively studied since the middle of the last century and currently numbers hundreds of completed projects around the world. Despite the relatively long study period and the number of publications dedicated to polymer flooding, there is still a range of aspects requiring research and development as well as field testing. One of the crucial issues at the preparation stage of a polymer flooding project is necessity to select oilfield or pilot area to achieve the best possible technological and economic efficiency results. This article provides analysis of the key factors influencing effectiveness of polymer flooding implementation. The paper reflects historical evolution, i.e. expansion of the technology applicability limits. Their current values have been verified, based on the analysis of the experience of implementing the technology in extreme conditions. Applicability criteria has been established as well for the polymer flooding development. The paper includes development of a uniquely designed integrated methodology for screening, assessment and ranking of promising objects for the technology implementation. The methodology is designed on the basis of a background review of completed projects, as well as on the expertise of the specialists involved in the development and scientific support of chemical enhanced oil recovery projects implementation. The purpose of the methodology is to create a basic universal tool for an express assessment of the prospects for using polymer flooding in different fields, which a wide range of specialists in the oil and gas industry could apply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many drought indices have been developed to monitor drought conditions, their applicability differs across climatic regions, which results in different characteristics of drought index assessments at different timescales and over different record lengths. Therefore, the applicability of precipitation-based and precipitation-evapotranspiration/temperature-based drought indices was examined in this study using the Generalized Extreme Value Index (GEVI), Homogeneity Index (HI) of precipitation and temperature, K index (K), precipitation anomaly percentage (Pa), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), and China-Z Index (CZI) over different record lengths and at a timescale range of 1–24 months. In addition, the results that were obtained using these indices were compared with the Self-Calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI). The stability, accuracy, and consistency of the different drought indices were evaluated using precipitation and evapotranspiration/temperature data (1–24 months) collected from different climatic regions in the arid area of northwest China in the 1961–2017 period. The results indicated that the Pa, CZI, K, and SPEI were more stable; the SPI, SPEI, and HI were more accurate; and the GEVI, SPI, HI, and SPEI were more consistent with the scPDSI. In addition, the results indicated that it is more appropriate to select a long record length (> 35 years) to monitor drought when sufficient data are available. However, defining constant drought classes may not be appropriate for all drought timescales. In fact, precipitation and evapotranspiration data from different timescales had different optimal distribution functions. The drought indices also demonstrated that they were applicable to a temperate arid area in the study region. In addition, the HI and SPEI better captured the precipitation and evapotranspiration/temperature characteristics, while the CZI, K, and Pa overestimated or underestimated the frequency of different drought classes at different timescales to some extent in the study region. The results of this study suggest that greater priority should be given to the precipitation–evapotranspiration-based indices. In addition, it is suggested to change the drought index class thresholds in future related studies on drought event recognition at different timescales to ensure more accurate drought monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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