General Terms Research Articles

Transport accessibility and efficiency of PHC location in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu

Transportation is an essential feature of modern economics. In general terms, as an economy grows and develops, it becomes more dependent on its transport sector. The efficient location of any PHC center mainly depends on the network pattern. The study area, Kanniyakumari, is the southernmost district of Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari District lies between 77°15’ and 77°36’ of eastern longitude and 8°03’ and 8°35’ of northern longitude. The study area has 83 nodes and 120 edges in the transport network system. The main objectives of the paper are to analyze the variation in the degree of connectivity, accessibility, and nodal efficiency of the network pattern and to assess the relationship between road network structure and the location of the PHC center. (Primary Health Care). The present study depends on secondary data. The secondary sources were collected from various transport offices and institutions. Cartography mapping and buffer analysis are used by GIS software. The quantitative research approaches in network analysis were measures to determine the spatial structure, associate number, route development, nodal efficiency, and accessibility of a given PHC location. The Shimbels shortest path matrix was used to identify the health centrality of a node in the network, and its minimum accessibility was found for each PHC center. The detour index was computed based on knowing the route for existing network systems. The present study aims to understand the characteristics of the road transport network in relation to the structural location of the PHC of connectivity, accessibility, and route efficiency in Kanniyakumari district.

Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries

ABSTRACT In the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arctic regions of Nordic countries. Our analysis focuses on central government white papers that address the older adults in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. A review of such policy documents provides insights into the predominant understandings of older adults and healthy ageing. Moreover, such analysis may identify “blind spots” in the national policies, especially regarding the sparsely researched northernmost and rural Arctic territories. Our results demonstrate how the older populations in the Nordic Arctic and their access to outdoor spaces are addressed in the policy documents. We found that with few exceptions, the older people of the rural Arctic is strikingly absent in the Nordic national governmental papers. Moreover, access to outdoor spaces is mentioned in general terms, and specific challenges of the rural Arctic context, such as the harsh climate, long winters and geographical distances are not addressed. The noticed omissions might be the result of “urban-rural”, “south-north”, “indoor-outdoor”, and “generalisation” biases.

Organizational ambidexterity: A reconceptualization and research agenda for the VUCA international context

AbstractThe literature confirms that organizational ambidexterity (OA) is the key to increasing an organization's prospects for survival and success in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) international environment. A critical review of this literature reveals that the conceptualization of OA is disorganized and ambiguous when it establishes and labels relevant aspects of this construct, such as its development and implementation. This study provides a conceptual framework for OA and its dimensions and explains the mechanisms for building and implementing OA. The most important contribution resides in providing research guidelines to improve the consistency and rigour of OA conceptualization in the VUCA international context. To develop this research agenda, we use the VUCA framework, which allows us to identify possible future research and the application of theories and methodologies not previously used. Thus, in general terms, to respond to volatility, studies must be carried out on the agility of organizations. For uncertainty, the topics of knowledge and information management are interesting. To respond to the complexity, topics on restructuring are interesting. And to avoid ambiguity, studies on experimentation would be ideal. Based on this generality, this study proposes multiple future lines of research.

The Effect of Enteric-Derived Lipopolysaccharides on Obesity

Endotoxin is a general term for toxic substances in Gram-negative bacteria, whose damaging effects are mainly derived from the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria, and is a strong pyrogen. Obesity is a chronic, low-grade inflammatory condition, and LPS are thought to trigger and exacerbate it. The gut flora is the largest source of LPS in the body, and it is increasingly believed that altered intestinal microorganisms can play an essential role in the pathology of different diseases. Today, the complex axis linking gut flora to inflammatory states and adiposity has not been well elucidated. This review summarises the evidence for an interconnection between LPS, obesity, and gut flora, further expanding our understanding of LPS as a mediator of low-grade inflammatory disease and contributing to lessening the effects of obesity and related metabolic disorders. As well as providing targets associated with LPS, obesity, and gut flora, it is hoped that interventions that combine targets with gut flora address the individual differences in gut flora treatment.

ChatGPT/GPT-4 (large language models): Opportunities and challenges of perspective in bariatric healthcare professionals.

ChatGPT/GPT-4 is a conversational large language model (LLM) based on artificial intelligence (AI). The potential application of LLM as a virtual assistant for bariatric healthcare professionals in education and practice may be promising if relevant and valid issues are actively examined and addressed. In general medical terms, it is possible that AI models like ChatGPT/GPT-4 will be deeply integrated into medical scenarios, improving medical efficiency and quality, and allowing doctors more time to communicate with patients and implement personalized health management. Chatbots based on AI have great potential in bariatric healthcare and may play an important role in predicting and intervening in weight loss and obesity-related complications. However, given its potential limitations, we should carefully consider the medical, legal, ethical, data security, privacy, and liability issues arising from medical errors caused by ChatGPT/GPT-4. This concern also extends to ChatGPT/GPT -4's ability to justify wrong decisions, and there is an urgent need for appropriate guidelines and regulations to ensure the safe and responsible use of ChatGPT/GPT-4.

Transnational Private Regulation of Environmental Sustainability through Commercial Contracts. Reassessing Contractual Governance in Global Supply Chains

Abstract Sustainability standards are integrated and applied in global supply chains through transnational commercial contracts that have come to play a regulatory function in addition to the conventional exchange task. The design of the architecture of contracting, the coordination among contracts, and the content of sustainability terms along the chain is the result of the cooperation of different actors, led by one or more transnational corporations. The paper describes the distribution of private regulatory power according to the structures of the chains- hierarchical, relational, market -and its impact on the compliance with sustainability standards. It considers the qualification system that regulates entry, exit, and permanence in the chain and the Suppliers codes and General principles of sustainability specified in the general terms and conditions. These represent complementary direct and indirect private regulatory instruments that can be deployed to ensure compliance. The choice of instruments depends on the distribution of regulatory power among the private actors and their exercise. Privity of contract makes it often difficult if not impossible direct regulation by the chain leader and obliges decentralization of regulatory power. The analysis shows that only the complementarity between the two sets of instruments enables control of compliance in complex chains whose actors operate across different jurisdictions with the use of sanctioning and remedial powers. The article analyzes how26 principles of effectiveness, proportionality and dissuasiveness may contribute to a fair and non discriminatory exercise of private regulatory power related to the implementation of sustainability standards through contracts.

The Effects of Slope-Adaptive Prosthetic Ankle-Feet on Sloped Gait Performance and Quality in Unilateral Transtibial Prosthesis Users: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT Introduction In nonimpaired human locomotion, sagittal-plane slope adaptation of the ankle-foot complex is a function driven by neuromotor control to support upright posture and forward ambulation. Loss of this adaptation due to transtibial amputation can lead to instability and compensatory motions as most commercially available prosthetic feet do not permit automatic slope adjustments. A selection of slope-adaptive ankle-feet (SAAF) has been developed to promote biomimetic ankle motion while ambulating over slopes. This review evaluated the current literature to assess the effects of SAAF prostheses on sloped gait performance in unilateral transtibial prosthesis users. Methods Four databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, IEEE Xplore) were searched on April 28, 2022, for relevant articles. Search keywords covered the general terms “transtibial,” “amputation,” “slope,” “adaptive,” and “gait,” and included articles comparing an SAAF prosthesis to a non-SAAF prosthesis condition. Data were extracted for analysis, and results were grouped according to outcomes to identify trends and aid interpretation of slope adaptation effects on gait. Results Of the 672 articles screened, 24 met the selection criteria and were included in this review, published between 2009 and 2022. The non-SAAF condition included dynamic response feet and SAAF prostheses with the adaptability function inactive. Outcomes included biomechanical variables (joint dynamics, gait symmetry, toe clearance), clinical outcome measures, and energy expenditure. All SAAF demonstrated some form of foot-ankle slope gradient adaptability, but effects on other joint dynamics were inconsistent. Minimum toe clearance during incline and decline walking was greater when using SAAF compared with non-SAAF in all reporting studies. Conclusions Results generally suggest improvements in gait quality, comfort, and safety with use of SAAF compared with non-SAAF during sloped walking. However, variations in tested SAAF and walking gradients across studies highlight the need for research to elucidate walking condition effects and advantages of specific designs. Clinical Relevance Slope-adaptive prosthetic ankle-feet may improve user gait quality and comfort and enhance gait safety by increasing minimum toe clearance. Patients who encounter slopes regularly should be considered as potential users of SAAF if indicated appropriately.

Semantic analysis of two-syllabic terms of metrology. Part 2: Risk in measurements and calculations

Prior to the requirement for testing and calibration laboratories to take into account the risk of statistical assumptions, false positive and false negative decisions in international documents, it was found that the methodology of the “Guide to Expressing Measurement Uncertainty” based on the Bayes approach and the Monte Carlo method for calculating probabilistic risk characteristics is not applicable. A later draft revision of the “Manual on the Expression of Measurement Uncertainty” attempted to shift the interpretation of measurement uncertainty from the scattering parameter to the probability distribution. An attempt to contribute to solving the problem of definitional uncertainty in the International Dictionary of Basic and Basic Terms of Metrology was also unsuccessful. In the new version of the dictionary of general statistical terms and probability theory terms, the term measurement uncertainty is excluded, and one of the notes states that “the probability distribution fully describes the probabilistic properties of the uncertainty of the result”. However, due to the new requirements for risk calculations, international documents were urgently put into effect without radical assessments of the inapplicability of the Bayes approach and the Monte Carlo method, the disadvantages were renamed limitations, but there are no specific instructions for calculating risks. Based on the experience of the compositional approach to estimating accuracy, a procedure based on the convolution of probability distributions in the form of a modified reversal formula is recommended, which allows taking into account the definitive uncertainty in the moment approach. It is established that the method of accounting for the definitive uncertainty by convolution of uniform distributions is practically suggested in the text of the “Manual on the expression of measurement uncertainty”, but not used.

Discontinuity waves in temperature and diffusion models

We analyse shock wave behaviour in a hyperbolic diffusion system with a general forcing term which is qualitatively not dissimilar to a logistic growth term. The amplitude behaviour is interesting and depends critically on a parameter in the forcing term. We also develop a fully nonlinear acceleration wave analysis for a hyperbolic theory of diffusion coupled to temperature evolution. We consider a rigid body and we show that for three-dimensional waves there is a fast wave and a slow wave. The amplitude equation is derived exactly for a one-dimensional (plane) wave and the amplitude is found for a wave moving into a region of constant temperature and solute concentration. This analysis is generalized to allow for forcing terms of Selkov–Schnakenberg, or Al Ghoul-Eu cubic reaction type. We briefly consider a nonlinear acceleration wave in a heat conduction theory with two solutes present, resulting in a model with equations for temperature and each of two solute concentrations. Here it is shown that three waves may propagate.

Hybrid model for speech emotion recognition of normal and autistic children (SERNAC)

Since the last decade, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been used as a general term to describe a wide range of conditions, including autistic syndrome, Asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disability. This problem emerges as a decreased ability to share emotions and a greater difficulty understanding others' feelings, leading to increased social communication difficulties. To assist patients with ASD, we proposed a concept that incorporates speech emotion detection technologies, which are widely used in the field of human-computer interaction (particularly youngsters). An algorithm based on a novel method for classifying normal and autistic children's speech emotions is implemented in this article. The training data set is treated to a new approach after all features have been extracted. The technique discussed in this study is the creation of a hybrid algorithm that serves as a classifier for normal and autistic children's speech emotions. Voice emotion recognition can be identified accurately and with a lower error rate. The data collection includes speech samples from 200 normal and 250 autistic groups in four moods (Angry, Happy, Neutral and Sad). As per research findings, the implemented hybrid algorithm for Normal and Autistic Children Speech Emotions (SERNAC) outperformed the existing classifiers by increasing accuracy.

IOT Based Air Quality Monitoring System Using Arduino

In the present time, more and more people are becoming concerned about air quality because of its negative impact on health and the environment. It is important that we have to monitor the levels of pollution in the air, temperature, and humidity to understand how clean. The paper discusses how to design and implement an air monitoring system using Arduino technology. Hence, this system enables users to have knowledge on their air condition. The ability for real time surveillance will enable quick response to changes in levels of pollution thereby helping people living around such areas together with authority take appropriate measures that will reduce health hazards as well as impacts caused by environmental problems. Moreover, it can be used as a tool for collecting data hence acting as a resource for data collection analysis, and interpretation which can assist planners or policy makers come up with informed decisions regarding the air quality management strategies. In general terms therefore, it is economical and easily accessible way for assessing pollution in air temperatures as well as moisture content humidity among others hence contributing towards public safety and preservation of nature from pollution. Key Words: Air Quality, Temperature, Humidity, IOT, Arduino UNO

Online RL-based cloud autoscaling for scientific workflows: Evaluation of Q-Learning and SARSA

Q-Learning and SARSA are two well-known reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms that have shown promising results in several application domains. However, their approach to build solutions is quite different. For example, SARSA tends to be more conservative than Q-Learning while exploring the solution space. Motivated by such differences, in this paper, we conducted an evaluation of both algorithms in the context of online workflow autoscaling in pay-per-use Clouds, where the goal is to learn optimal virtual machine scaling policies to optimize metrics such as execution time and monetary costs. To do so, we based our experiments on a state-of-the-art scaling strategy with encouraging results in learning optimal scaling policies for reducing execution time and monetary cost. We conducted experiments on simulated environments with four widespread benchmark workflows and two types of virtual machines. Results show that SARSA outperforms Q-Learning in almost all cases. For two workflows SARSA obtains significant gains of up to 40.8% in the first 100 and 300 episodes respectively and losses less than 6% in all episodes observed. In one workflow SARSA achieves significant gains up to 13.9% and no significant losses were observed. There was only one workflow with no significant gains and one significant loss (16.2%) in 1 of 50 observations. In summary, we found multiple stages where SARSA achieves significant and remarkable gains, and the rest of the time both algorithms had a similar performance. In general terms, we can observe that SARSA performs better for learning scaling policies in the Cloud considering workflow applications commonly used by the community to benchmark Cloud workflow resource allocation techniques. These represent interesting results to further drive the design and selection of RL-based autoscaling strategies to schedule workflow executions in the Cloud.

Environmental impact assessment of the electrokinetic adsorption barriers to remove different herbicides from agricultural soils

In this study, the sustainability of the electrokinetic remediation soil flushing (EKSFs) process integrated without and with adsorption barriers (EKABs) have been evaluated for the treatment of four soils contaminated with Atrazine, Oxyfluorfen, Chlorosulfuron and 2,4-D. To this purpose, the environmental effects of both procedures (EKSFs and EKABs) have been determined through a life cycle assessment (LCA). SimaPro 9.3.0.3 was used as software tool and Ecoinvent 3.3 as data base to carry out the inventory of the equipment of each remediation setup based on experimental measurements. The environmental burden was quantified using the AWARE, USEtox, IPPC, and ReCiPe methods into 3 Endpoint impact categories (and damage to human health, ecosystem and resources) and 7 Midpoints impact categories (water footprint, global warming potential, ozone depletion, human toxicity (cancer and human non-cancer), freshwater ecotoxicity and terrestrial ecotoxicity). In general terms, the energy applied to treatment (using the Spanish energy mix) was the parameter with the greatest influence on the carbon footprint, ozone layer depletion and water footprint accounting for around 70 % of the overall impact contribution. On the other hand, from the point of view of human toxicity and freshwater ecotoxicity of soil treatments with 32 mg kg−1 of the different pesticides, the EKSF treatment is recommended for soils with Chlorosulfuron. In this case, the carbon footprint and water footprint reached values around 0.36 kg of CO2 and 114 L of water per kg of dry soil, respectively. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed assuming different scenarios.

Cyber Threats and Implications: A Study from the Perspective of E-banking

E-banking refers to electronic banking. E-banking is a generic term for the delivery of banking services and products through the electronic medium. Internet banking allows a customer to perform banking transactions without visiting physically to the bank. At present, E-banking system is widely accepted because cost of transactions and cost of delivering in E-banking are significantly lower than in the traditional banking system. At the same time, E-banking enables to increase the efficiency of a banker that lowers the cost of operation. In India, the share of transaction volume was 15.6 per cent in the year 2020, whereas online payments and other electronic activities were registered 22.9 per cent in the same year. It is expected to reach 71% by 2025. Digitization is expanding and advancing forward in banking sector. While challenges are also mounting in securing the online banking transaction and financial information. E- banking shoulders to get the work done easier and fast. But simultaneously cybercrime paved the way for itself and has become a security threat. The study mainly emphasizes on cyber frauds in bank, online transaction, challenges in e-banking, impact of cybercrime. It also offers ample of useful suggestions on cyber security to avoid e-banking fraud.

Harmonization of Nordic coastal marsh habitat classification benefits conservation and management

Coastal marshes are productive and diverse habitats that act as essential linkages between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Although the Nordic region comprises diverse, unique marsh habitats along the Baltic coast and the Atlantic coast of Norway, they are not widely recognized as coastal marshes, e.g., salt marshes in other parts of the world. This may be partly due to inconsistency in habitat classification, use of terminology, and the heterogeneity of these habitats across the region, which limit overviews of their ecology, distribution, and management. Here, we aim to improve the basis for assessments of Nordic coastal marshes by providing an overview of terminology, distribution, area, and management practices of these habitats across the region. We use the general term coastal marsh to cover the variety of habitat types in the study area, which are covered mainly by the European Union's (EU's) Habitats Directive Annex I habitat classes 1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand, 1320 Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae), 1330 Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae), and 1630 Boreal Baltic coastal meadows. Based on input from national environmental officers, an expert survey, a workshop, and reviewing environmental databases, we compiled a comprehensive database on coastal marsh habitats regarding their distribution, classification, conservation status, management, and monitoring practices in four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) and Germany, covering wide environmental gradients in, e.g., salinity and tidal range. Overall, we found that the four Annex I classes cover an area of ∼900 km2 in the study region, one-fourth of the total area of these habitats in the EU, with an additional ∼450 km2 of other potential coastal marsh areas and 500 km2 of coastal reed beds. Beyond the variable terminology across the region, our study revealed a gap in the European habitat classification systems concerning the diversity of the Baltic Sea coastal marshes. Creating subtype(s) for the Annex I class 1630 would help to improve the conservation of the most threatened habitat types within the class. In addition, we found pronounced differences in monitoring and managing coastal marshes among countries, indicating that these important and diverse habitats between land and sea might receive insufficient attention and protection despite the multiple ecosystem services they provide. Coordinated harmonization of habitat classifications and monitoring across the Nordic countries could increase regional-scale coordination of the management of coastal marshes and facilitate comparative studies.

With a little help from our (AI) friend: A general transition state sampling method for tropospheric hydrogen abstraction reactions

Due to their pivotal role in atmospheric processes, hydrogen abstraction reactions are vital in the study of tropospheric chemistry. In this work, we present an algorithm that generates a large number of chemically sound geometries for the optimization of transition states (TSs) of tropospheric bimolecular H abstraction reactions. The code, which was developed in the early stages with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), automatically detects the active H atoms of the molecule and can be used with the OH, Cl, and NO3 oxidants. Given the ubiquity of H transfer reactions in various fields, the algorithm was designed in general terms to facilitate easy adaptation to other oxidants, thus allowing for a broader range of applications. As a result of its use, a much greater number of TSs is predicted when compared with previous theoretical studies of six oxidation reactions. In addition to improving our understanding of the H-abstraction process, obtaining an increased number of TSs is also fundamentally important in calculating more accurate rate constants and atmospheric lifetimes for volatile organic compounds. The simplicity and significance of such a tool in the context of environmental chemistry should make it appealing to researchers of all backgrounds.

Multioptical bottles from the chirped circular Bessel Gaussian beams carrying annular spiral-zone power-exponent-phase

In this paper, we introduce a new structure of multioptical bottles formed by the chirped circular Bessel Gaussian beams carrying annular spiral-zone power-exponent-phase (ASP). The ASP is a general term for complex phases composed of the radial phase, equiphase, and power spiral phase. By combining the influence of autofocusing properties, chirp factor, and ASP mode, the propagation dynamics of the proposed multioptical bottles beam such as the sizes, lengths, number and locations can be flexibly manipulated. Intriguingly, the effect of the power order of ASP mode on the beam propagation dynamics is firstly introduced and examined. The proposed beams can enable diversification the optical tweezers system in multiparticle manipulation, which is verified by the radiation force analysis on a Rayleigh particle.

Percentage of using formulaic language in media discourseA comparison between the visual media and the written press

the language we use daily; A product of society, but each of us embodies it in his  way. Therefore, the speaker produces the language, but there is another aspect of the language, which is ready-made linguistic pieces, used directly by the individual owned by the linguistic group. Formulaic language is a general term for ready-made phrases in the language that have previously been produced and stored in human memory. This language usually has a fixed grammatical formula and a special meaning according to the situation and context in which it is presented. The use of this language leads to the coordination of sentences in the process of writing and communication, as well as adopting the eloquence of the sender and can influence the recipient more and convince him of his ideas, as well as help in logical intentions, automatic translation, and smart answers. This research, titled "Percentage of using formulaic language in media discourse: A comparison between the visual media and the written press", sheds light on the intensity of the formal language in the visual media and the written press. In the beginning, the formulaic language was explained, and then its use in the Kurdish media was explained. The importance of research in linking the media discourse with  formal language, the purpose of which is to know the percentage of using this language on the one hand, and on the other hand, to know the percentage of its use between the two types. To conduct the research, (18) interviews and articles were taken from the visual media and the written press. After that, six components of the grammatical language were extracted, which are (linguistic accompaniment, coins (expressions), metaphor, proverbs, phrasal verbs, and lexical expressions) according to (Wadi), and the use of each one of them was indicated in a table.

Postępowanie zabezpieczające wobec osoby stosującej przemoc w rodzinie

The article has a scientific and research character. Its purpose is to discuss the protective proceedings against the perpetrator of domestic violence in the area of Polish civil procedure and to answer questions about the method of such security, its subject, purpose, course of the proceedings and the provision of security. The answers to these questions may have not only doctrinal but also practical value, especially since there are no scientific studies on this topic. Although the basic research method used in the article is a formal and dogmatic analysis, the practice of applying the law was also taken into account, using the analysis of the jurisprudence of common courts and the scientific discussion conducted on the basis of these judgments. This new method of securing non-monetary claims of a novation nature serves to protect people affected by domestic violence and to provide temporary legal protection by isolating the victim from the violence offender in situations where he poses a threat to the life or health of household members. Securing is subject to the prior issuing of an order or prohibition by the competent authority (Police, Military Police or court). If such an order or prohibition has been issued, the court may grant security on the terms set out in Articles 7552 to 7554 of the Civil Procedure Code; if there is no prior order, the security is granted on general terms (Article 755 of the Code).

Experimental Evaluation of an Empirical Equation in a Gaseous Flow

In this paper, the estimation error of Dr. Pole's empirical equation was evaluated using copper pipes of different diameters (0.00953, 0.0127, 0.01588 m), under different flow pressure conditions (0, 300, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 L/h). To carry out the experiments, the following instruments were used: an air compressor, 2 flow valves, a needle valve, a gas rotameter, copper piping, pressure gauges and transmitters, a Norus data logger with 4 to 20 mA output signals, thermocouples, and thermoresistors. They allow us to establish that the air pressure drops when the flowing through the pipes is higher (380 Pa) for small diameter pipes (0.00953 m), compared to larger diameters (0.01270 m and 0.01588 m) with a maximum of 54 and 28 Pa, respectively; and in relation to the flow rates, the pressure drop increases with a quadratic trend with respect to the flow rate. Finally, the residual errors that the empirical equation has in the pressure drop calculations, in general terms, are not of great magnitude.