Sensitive Areas Research Articles

Cerebrospinal fluid CXCL13 concentration for diagnosis of neurosyphilis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo systematically assess the diagnostic accuracy of CXCL13 testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for neurosyphilis diagnosing.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases from their...

Comparative models of support-vector machine, multilayer perceptron, and decision tree ‎predication approaches for landslide ‎susceptibility analysis

Abstract Naqadeh Region (NR) is one of the most sensitive regions regarding geo-hazards ‎occurrence in Northwest of Iran. The landslides triggering parameters that ‎identified for the studied region are classified as elevation, aspect, slope angle, ‎lithology, drainage density, distance to river, weathering, land-cover, ‎precipitation, vegetation, distance to faults, distance to roads, and distance to ‎the cities. These triggering factors are selected based on conducting field ‎survey, remote-sensing investigation, and historical development background ‎assessment. Regarding the investigations, 12 large-scale, 15 medium-scale, and 30 small-scale historical landslides ‎(57 in total) were recorded in the NR. The historical landslides were used to provide ‎sensitive area with high probability of ground movements. The objectives of this study are multifaceted, aiming to address critical gaps in understanding and predicting landslide susceptibility in the NR. First, the study seeks to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of ‎support-vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and decision tree ‎‎(DT) algorithms in predicting landslide susceptibility. So, as methodology, the ‎presented study used comparative models for landslide susceptibility based on ‎SVM, MLP, and DT approaches. The predictive models were compared based on model ‎accuracy as the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic ‎curve. According to the estimated results, MLP is the highest rank of overall ‎accuracy to provide susceptibility maps for landslides in NR. From a perspective of ‎the risk ability, the west and south-west sides of the county were identified within ‎the hazard area.

Sustainable Calcite Scale Inhibitors via Oxidation of Lignosulfonates.

Deposition of inorganic scales in wells, flow lines, and equipment is a major problem in the water treatment, geothermal, or upstream oil and gas industries. Deployment of scale inhibitors has been adopted worldwide for oilfield scale prevention. Commercial synthetic scale inhibitors such as polymeric carboxylates and sulfonates or nonpolymeric phosphonates offer good scale inhibition performance but often suffer from one or more limitations including biodegradability, calcium compatibility, and thermal stability. Lignin-based biomaterials such as sodium lignosulfonates are natural, sustainable, and widely available polymers that are accepted for use in environmentally sensitive areas. Here we show that, although lignosulfonates perform relatively poorly as calcite scale inhibitors in dynamic tube blocking tests, oxidized lignosulfonates show a much improved inhibition effect by a factor of 20-fold. The oxidized lignosulfonates are easy to prepare in a 1-step reaction and show excellent calcium compatibility and thermal stability, useful for downhole squeeze treatments in high temperature wells. This present study unequivocally establishes oxidized lignosulfonates as a new class of sustainable green scale inhibitors, thereby bridging the gap between materials derived directly from nature and the classic synthetic polymeric scale inhibitors.

Planning in Ghana: analysis of the various forms of professional misconduct from the perspective of professional planners

ABSTRACT A study of 46 professional planners across Ghana, found that 60% of those interviewed are unaware of the prescribed codes of ethics. Respondents identified prevalent forms of professional misconduct including bribery, corruption, and unfair dealing among others. Factors contributing to this misconduct are political interference, weak enforcement of ethics codes, poor working conditions, and low incomes. The participants of the study also identified that unethical behaviour among planners can result in the development of unapproved structures, encroachment on ecologically sensitive areas, and low confidence in the planning system. The study suggests the need for a more comprehensive ethical code of conduct for professional planning practice in Ghana with effective enforcement mechanisms.

Human Detection and Counter

Implementing human detection and counter in Python offers several advantages in various applications. Firstly, it enhances security systems by providing the capability to identify and monitor human presence in restricted or sensitive areas. This is crucial for surveillance in places such as airports, banks, and government facilities, where unauthorized access must be prevented. Secondly, human detection and counting in Python can be applied in retail analytics to analyse customer behavior and improve store layouts. By tracking the number of people entering and exiting a store, businesses can optimize their operations, manage queues effectively, and make data-driven decisions to enhance the overall shopping experience. Moreover, in smart buildings and home automation, Python-based human detection enables the creation of intelligent systems that can adjust lighting, temperature, and other environmental factors based on the occupancy of a room. This not only contributes to energy efficiency but also enhances user comfort. Additionally, the implementation of human detection and counting in Python is valuable in the field of computer vision and robotics. It facilitates the development of applications such as social robots that can interact with humans, or autonomous vehicles that need to be aware of pedestrian presence for safe navigation. In summary, the advantages of human detection and counter in Python extend across security, retail, smart buildings, and robotics, contributing to enhanced safety, efficiency, and user experiences in diverse domains

Localization of ganglionated plexi by high density mapping: an atropine-response analysis

Abstract Introduction Growing interest has emerged around cardiac autonomic nervous system driven by ablation approaches for the treatment of neurally-mediated syncope (NMS). Ganglionated-plexi (GPs) located in the epicardial fat pads are the main target of ablative therapies, but little is known about the finest method to track their location from the endocardium. Most current techniques rely on empirical research of signal fragmentation and/or vagal response at anatomical landmarks. A poor accuracy in targeting GPs may lead to the risk of incomplete or over-extensive ablation. Purpose We analyzed the atrial electrograms (EGMs) in healty subjects and their response to atropine to describe physiological fragmentation and the relationship with vagal output. Methods Study partecipants were selected from young patients without structural heart desease who underwent electrophysiological study (EPS) for standard indications. High-density mapping of right atrium was performed before and after administration of 2 mg atropine at the end of the planned procedure. Offline analyses were performed comparing the two maps of each patient focusing on the fragmentation of the atrial EGMs. Results The study cohort comprised 10 patients (mean age of 39±11 years, 6 males). The indication for EPS was: supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablation in 9 patients, syncope in 1 patient. High density three-dimensional electro-anatomic maps (EAM) were all obtained with a multipolar catheter during sinus rhythm (number of points: 8794±937 in basal maps and 9007±1296 after atropine, p=0,87). The response to atropine was documented by an increase in heart rate (mean increase 59 ± 19% of basal cycle length). All basal maps showed a similar pattern of fragmentation in the posterior-septal wall reflecting the anatomical distribution of right GPs. In particular, three main stations were identified in the supero-, mid- and infero-posterior regions. Fragmentation of EGMs was found to progress from the edge to the core of each area. After administration of atropine, a reduction in fractionated area was observed in all patients. Filtering the maps according to a cut-off of fragmentation ≥ 6 peaks allowed identification of the nucleus with the highest degree of variation after atropine injection (mean basal area = 0,89 ± 0,81 cm2 ; mean atropine area = 0,44 ± 0,56 cm2 p<0,001). Conclusion Fragmentation of atrial electrograms is a dynamic property related to vagal output. High density mapping with a high pass filter of 6 peaks allows to identify the smallest vagal sensitive area in the anatomical stations of the GPs.

Impact of Land Use and Climate Change on Streamflow: An Assessment Using a Semi-Empirical Model in the Guishui Watershed of North China

Land-use change may significantly influence streamflow. The semi-empirical model PhosFate was used to analyze the impact of land use and climate change on streamflow by choosing the Guishui watershed as a pilot site and then expanding, applying it to all of North China. The Guishui watershed (North Beijing, China) has experienced a dramatic decline in its streamflow in recent decades. Parallel to this, significant land-use change has happened in this area; afforestation programs have increased forest cover from 41% (1980) to 59% (2013) and a similar increase in forest cover can also be observed in North China. Managing flow decline requires separating climatic and direct human-influenced effects. The results showed the following: (1) Afforestation is a major factor that decreased total flow in the Guishui watershed from 1996 to 2014; total flow increased by around 24% more than the actual dataset in the constant scenario (no afforestation) and decreased by 5% more than the actual dataset in the forest scenario (all agriculture land use transferred to forests). (2) When forest coverage increases, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau are the most sensitive areas regarding total flow in North China; the total flow change rate increased by up to 25% in these two areas when land use shifted from sparse vegetation to mixed forests. After analyzing the contributions of these two factors, we formulated recommendations on future afforestation practices for North China. In the central–north and northwest districts, the annual precipitation is under 520 mm and 790 mm, respectively, and the practice of afforestation should be more carefully planned to prevent severe damage to streams. This research also proved that the PhosFate model can be used in North China, which would be a practical tool for watershed management.

Enhancing Security Within Restricted Hospital Zones by Integrating Finger Vein Authentication

The integration of finger vein authentication technology to enhance security measures within restricted zones in hospital environments, is the aim of this project. An advanced biometric technique called finger vein authentication uses each person's individual vein patterns to confirm their identification. It is especially desirable for applications where security is critical, such financial transactions, healthcare, and access control, because it provides a very safe and non-intrusive means of authentication. Although there has been considerable success with traditional finger vein authentication methods, deep learning techniques have completely changed this field. A branch of artificial intelligence called deep learning has shown impressive results in pattern recognition and picture analysis, which makes it a prime contender for improving the precision and dependability of finger vein authentication systems. Finger vein authentication utilizes biometric characteristics unique to everyone, providing a highly secure method of identity verification. By implementing this technology, hospitals can bolster access control, prevent unauthorized entry into sensitive areas, and safeguard patient information and critical resources. The project aims to implement finger vein authentication systems to regulate access to restricted areas such as operating rooms, medication storage areas, and patient information sections. Authorized personnel will undergo authentication via finger vein scans for entry, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access these zones.

Electromagnetic analysis on conceptual design of the EU DEMO EC equatorial laucher

The EU DEMO Tokamak is foreseen to be equipped with Electron Cyclotron (EC) launching systems for plasma heating, MHD control and thermal instability suppression. Up to six launchers will be installed into equatorial ports with the aim to inject a maximum of 130 MW millimeter wave power at dedicated positions into the plasma. The integrated design of the EC launcher is made of two equatorial port plug modules mounted into the equatorial port extensions of the vacuum vessel that mainly serve as housing for the eight optical system´s mirrors.To guarantee reliable operation of the launcher, in the latest year, a structural system has been designed which provides secure fastening and alignment of the optical components, sufficient heat dissipation and protection of sensitive areas against nuclear loads from neutrons by adequate shielding capability.To prove the fastening concept of the port plug modules and mirrors, a set of mechanical loads acting on these components is essential. EM loads caused by plasma instabilities are major contributions of mechanical load set for components close to the plasma.The present paper describes the EM analysis carried out to support the assessment of the pre-conceptual design solution. A dedicated Finite Element (FE) model was developed using ANSYS® solid236 element type (edge-based formation). Transient electromagnetic analysis was performed under centered plasma disruption event. Total force and moment due to Lorentz and ferromagnetic loads on the EC launcher port plugs and mirrors were computed. The resulting EM loads can be used for the preliminary design assessment.

A landscape index for indicating the spatio-temporal dynamics of carbon storage in an opencast coal mine

Coal is China’s main resource, with open-pit mining accounting for a significant portion of global production. However, this activity, including mining and ecological restoration, can have a definite impact on ecosystem carbon storage and its distribution; its associated factors are also unclear. In this paper, we quantify the carbon storage changes in Haerwusu coal mine, a typical large-scale coal mine in China, based on land use/land cover (LULC) characteristics, and analyze the impact factors of carbon density from 2007 to 2022 by integrating the InVEST model with the landscape ecological function contribution ratio and multiple regression model. The results are as follows. (1) Carbon storage decreased from 159.95 × 104 to 147.51 × 104 from 2007 to 2017 and then increased to 151.91 × 104 to 2022. (2) The degree of coordination between carbon storage forest and grassland area landscape pattern coupling ranged from 0.887 to 0.867 from 2007 to 2022, with the lowest point at 0.720 in 2012. (3) Carbon storage was significantly related to vegetation indices, temperature, and elevation, and these factors can explain 37.5% of the carbon storage spatial variability; stepwise regression analysis showed that the integration of landscape patterns, such as Shannon’s diversity index (SHEI) and the aggregation index (AI), could improve the explanation by 1.4%. (4) Based on the analysis of the landscape ecological function contribution ratio, the carbon storage-sensitive areas can be classified into three levels: extremely sensitive areas ranging 0 to 4 km from the mine, sensitive areas ranging 4 to 8 km, and insensitive areas ranging beyond 8 km. This study proposes a strategy for analyzing changes of carbon storage in coal mines, highlights the important role of landscape patterns in influencing carbon storage, and provides a reliable reference support for the ecological management of coal mines.

A method for analyzing the impact of SEUs on satellite networks from the perspective of distributed routing

Single event upset (SEU) refers to the change in the state of a digital circuit caused by a single, energetic particle passing through the sensitive area of semiconductor components. In the space environment, cosmic rays and high-energy particles may lead to SEUs, which can cause failures of routing functions, such as forwarding errors, in satellite networks. This paper focuses on the impact of SEUs on satellite networks from the perspective of distributed routing. The influence of SEUs on a single satellite can easily spread to the entire satellite network through distributed routing, which can influence the reliability of the satellite network. We propose a framework for the reliability analysis of satellite networks under the impact of SEUs. According to the influence of SEUs on the execution of routing programs in different routing phases, we present the error propagation model of satellite networks for understanding SEUs in satellite network routing. We found that all the influences on program execution ultimately converge on data forwarding and can be reflected in the proposed path topology graph. Therefore, we propose an algorithm that can evaluate the impact of SEUs on satellite networks by analyzing the path topology graphs in both normal and SEU scenarios. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by experiments. The proposed method could provide a new perspective and theoretical basis for research on secure routing mechanisms and program/instruction reinforcement.

Navigating Land Conservation, Utilization, and Market Solutions: Insights from the Lanyang River Watershed, Taiwan

In the current fraught relationship between nature and human society, land conservation and utilization have spawned intensive conflicts that require mediation. The present study explores this issue of coordination between nature and society in a fragile watershed located in northeastern Taiwan: the Lanyang River Watershed. Land zoning in this area has been historically classified and legally implemented, and additional development is constrained by an application review process. Currently, additional land utilization is still in demand in sensitive areas of this watershed, such as for mining and tilling. Due to the geographically, geologically, and climatically fragile characteristics of the watershed, the hillside residents have benefited from the conservation of nature with comprehensive ecosystem services but are at the forefront of the loss of life and property caused by forest ecosystem degradation. They are one of the key local resource users and main stakeholders. Applying the contingent valuation method to survey the hillside residents, the present study assessed the economic value they receive from the comprehensive ecosystem services offered by the natural forest ecosystems. Their opinions are explored using a survey on their awareness of ecosystem damage, their opinions on damage compensation, and on the feasible compensation channels for damage. As the study results ascertained the high value of the comprehensive ecosystem services continuously delivered by the conserved forest ecosystem, the study affirmed that conservation in the area classified and zoned as sensitive is an economic beneficial policy. With a high regard for ecosystem services and awareness of the impact of degradation and of the general agreement for the feasibility of channels of damage compensation, the continuity of conservation for these comprehensive ecosystem services is the preferred strategy for the local hillside residents. To emphasize this further, the opinions of the local community at the intersection of nature and society, where there is a delineated land zoning framework, strongly favor conservation over intensive resource exploitation and agricultural expansion, making further development an unfavorable strategy.

Aboriginal Self‐determination, Land Rights, and Recognition in the Whitlam Era: Laying Groundwork for Power Sharing and Representation

The Whitlam Labor government (1972–75) is remembered for ushering in a new era in Indigenous affairs, with the move to “self‐determination”, abandoning the longstanding insistence on “assimilation”. The new government intended to deploy the Commonwealth's new legislative power established in the 1967 constitutional referendum to bring in a range of reforms, responding to consistent demands from Indigenous leaders, activists, and supporters through the previous decade. Whitlam's campaign speech promised anti‐discrimination legislation, provisions to allow Aboriginal communities to incorporate, and legislation of a system of land tenure. The government faced considerable political obstacles, ultimately curbing the ambitious reform agenda. Nevertheless, these initial efforts to conceptualise representation, recognition, and compensation laid important foundations for the current public debate about “Voice, Treaty, Truth”, following the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This paper explores self‐determination through the path‐breaking work of the Woodward Aboriginal Land Rights Commission and the establishment of well‐resourced land councils as authoritative and legitimate representatives of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The Whitlam government's willingness to experiment with power‐sharing in the sensitive area of land ownership provided a valuable prototype for genuine engagement with First Nations people today, as Australia contemplates the failure of the constitutional referendum around a Voice to parliament.

Enhancing Visual Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Office Lighting Using Parametric-Generative Design Approach for Interactive Kinetic Louvers

The number of desk workers who frequently conduct their jobs at home has increased dramatically during Covid-19. Work-from-home flexibility makes it attractive for workers and companies, resulting in a “Work-Style Reform” after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the quick conversion of home spaces into workplaces cannot always sufficiently respond to users’ visual comfort and daylight performance needs which are primary contributors to occupant well-being and productivity. Therefore, this study adopts a mixed-methodology method that integrates parametric thinking, biomimetic, conceptual design, kinetic strategy and the DIVA approach to develop a real-time parametric-generative circular design for multi-objective adaptability that optimizes visual comfort and electric lighting energy efficiency for multiple occupants simultaneously. Parametric simulations of 1458 different options (five different runs per case: a total of 7290) were conducted to assess how the louvers perform regarding daylight, glare, and electric energy usage. Implementing an interactive kinetic louver greatly improved daylight performance in all orientations while simultaneously avoiding visual discomfort for multiple occupants. Furthermore, the use of this façade modification resulted in a substantial decrease in electrical lighting energy consumption, reducing the values from 14.22 to 0.2 kWh/m2/year, 8.1 to 0.18 kWh/m2/year, and 12.88 to 0.18 kWh/m2/year for South, East, and West orientations, respectively. Integrating users' lighting level preferences and the dynamic transitory sensitive area on the façade considerably reduces electric lighting consumption by around 99% compared to the ASHRAE 90.1 standard's lighting profile.

Neoadjuvant Photodynamic Therapy: An Updated Therapeutic Approach for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common malignancy and surgical excision is considered treatment of choice for the majority of cases. However, surgery can be very extensive in cases of large, multiple, or cosmetic-sensitive tumors located on areas such as scalp and face or genital region, leading to significant functional and cosmetic deficit. Aminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has emerged as a widely used approach in a variety of skin diseases, demonstrating remarkable efficacy in treatment of actinic keratosis, Bowen disease and basal cell carcinoma. Besides, when employed as a preoperative intervention, ALA-PDT effectively reduces tumor size and minimizes subsequent local surgical morbidity. With its minimally invasive nature and proven effectiveness, ALA-PDT holds significant promise as a neoadjuvant treatment option for NMSCs. In cases where the tumor is large, invasive, multiple, or located in cosmetically and functionally sensitive areas, or when considering patient factors such as age, comorbidity, willingness to undergo surgery, and post-operative quality-of-life, surgical intervention or radiotherapy alone may be impracticable or unacceptable. In such scenarios, neoadjuvant ALA-PDT can offer remarkable outcomes. In order to further ensure the maximum benefit of patients from neoadjuvant PDT, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and whole-process management may be in need.

Geoinformatics-Based Mapping of Environmental Sensitive Areas for Desertification over Satara and Sangli Districts of Maharashtra, India

Desertification processes in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid conditions have been enhanced in recent decades. The geospatial database and associated satellite data can be effectively employed for regional planning to address desertification and land degradation. In this study, the Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) model has been used to map environmentally sensitive areas due to desertification in the Satara and Sangli districts of Maharashtra, India. This was achieved by combining Landsat-8 multispectral data, Census data, soil data, and climatic variables like temperature, rainfall, and evapotranspiration. The algorithm of MEDALUS is the geometric mean of four indicators, namely soil quality index (SQI), climate quality index (CQI), vegetation quality index (VQI), and socio-economic quality index (SEQI). The findings indicated that the majority of the study area comes under the potential category of desertification (60.32%) followed by fragile (27.87%) and critical (11.81%). Areas with a high propensity for desertification were found over the low to very low climatic quality and moderate to high soil quality including lower socio-economic quality. The lower socio-economic quality is mainly due to high to very high population density (>100 people/km2), low to moderate illiteracy rate (<16%), and low to moderate work participation rate (<50%) that incentivize unsustainable land use practices. The study provides a valuable tool for understanding and managing natural resources. It offers a detailed analysis of the environmental sensitivity of the study area, taking into account various factors like land use, vegetation cover, slope, and soil erosion potential. The developed comprehensive map of the area helps in identifying the most sensitive regions and developing appropriate conservation strategies. The information obtained from the study can be utilized to develop and implement successful measures to prevent or alleviate desertification, which is crucial for sustaining the health of ecosystems and the welfare of local residents.

Assessing soil productivity potential in arid region using remote sensing vegetation indices

Remote sensing techniques offer practical benefits, particularly in sensitive ecosystems or areas with limited accessibility. However, field surveys allow for more accurate and detailed information about soil properties and productivity. Therefore, it is often recommended to combine remote sensing techniques with field surveys in order to obtain comprehensive and reliable results. The underlying basis of this study involves analyzing vegetation indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), as indicators of soil productivity. By utilizing biomass density as an additional indicator, the study aims to provide valuable insights into the productivity potential of agricultural areas. The results demonstrate a positive association between the Soil Productivity Rating (SPR) and wheat yield values for the year 2022, as evidenced by a coefficient of determination (r2) value of 0.8214. This value indicates a moderately strong correlation between the SPR classes and wheat yields. Throughout the Ripening period, the NDVI and EVI indices exhibited a relatively strong correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.987 and 0.873, respectively). On the other hand, the SAVI index displayed moderate to strong accuracy in estimating crop yield, with a coefficient of determination (r2) ranging from 0.819 to 0.908. These results suggest that the NDVI index serves as the most dependable predictor of yield during all vegetation periods. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of soil productivity, but further research using controlled trial patterns with differential reference plants is needed for validation and improvement.

Infrastructural Development under BADP in Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh

Border Area Development Programme (BADP) was started in western international border with Pakistan, during the Seventh five-year Plan (1986-87) with the twin objectives of balanced development of sensitive border areas through adequate provision of infrastructure facilities and promotion of a sense of security amongst the local population. However, in the case of Arunachal Pradesh, BADP was first introduced in 1997-98, allocating Rs 4.00 crores for implementation across 33 schemes. This study made an attempt to investigate the overview infrastructure development status of BADP in Arunachal Pradesh. Further, the purpose of the study is to investigate the attitudes towards the assets created under BADP. The study is descriptive and analytical in nature.For the present study, Stratified Random Sampling under Probability Sampling Techniques was used. 40 samples were randomly taken from study areas

Asymmetric responses of summer soil moisture anomalies to the large-scale teleconnections on the Loess Plateau between 2000 and 2020

Soil moisture is a key regulator of hydrological cycle and is closely related to vegetation growth and climate changes, which is mainly replenished by summer precipitation on the Loess Plateau. However, the response of soil moisture content (SMC) anomalies during summer on the Loess Plateau to large-scale teleconnection remains unclear. Here, using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) method, this study extracted a homogenized area with significant variability of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (p<0.01), which was called sensitive areas for vegetation restoration (SAVR) of the Loess Plateau. Based on 1 km daily soil moisture dataset named SMCI1.0 at top 1 m, we demonstrated that there was an interannual fluctuation of summer SMC from 2000 to 2020 over the SAVR of the Loess Plateau. Spatially, SMC during summer in the SAVR of the Loess Plateau exhibited an enhanced regional difference characterized by ‘dry to drier and wet to wetter’. Importantly, abnormal SMC during summer in the SAVR of the Loess Plateau can been attributed to distinct circulation pattern and anomalous water vapor transport, which showed asymmetrical distributions between positive and negative anomalous years of summer SMC. Due to the activities of western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and low-pressure system around the Lake Baikal (an anomalous anticyclone prevailed over the western north Pacific), the positive (negative) anomalous years of summer SMC witnessed net water vapor influx (outflux) anomalies to the Loess Plateau compared to the climatology, corresponding to anomalous upward (sinking) motions, further leading to more (less) SMC in summer over the SAVR of the Loess Plateau, respectively. The conclusions of this study have implications for excavating early warning information of SMC anomalies and natural restoration sustainable management on the Loess Plateau.

Working Time Remedies Beyond Brexit: Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Another v Agnew and Others

Abstract On 4 October 2023, the ‘long-anticipated’ judgment in PCC v Agnew was handed down by the Supreme Court. This case concerned claims for holiday pay made by police officers and other civilian staff employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The Supreme Court had to decide two main issues. The first was whether police officers could take advantage of the more generous remedy provisions in respect of holiday pay claims in the Employment Rights Order 1996 (ERO) (which largely corresponds to the UK Employment Rights Act 1996) as opposed to the Working Time Regulations. The second issue was the correct interpretation of the ERO provisions. As well as the important practical implications of the case, there are also interesting jurisprudential issues that arise. The case deals with the interpretation of European Union (EU) derived rights in the labour context. This is a sensitive area, given that access to EU interpretive mechanisms usually equates to a more progressive reading of rights, and this fans the flame of UK government scepticism to both the EU and working time rights. This article discusses the particular approach to statutory interpretation taken by the Supreme Court and the implications of this approach for the progressive interpretation of EU-derived employment rights going forward.