Unfavorable Position Research Articles

From Transgenesis to Genome Editing in Crop Improvement: Applications, Marketing, and Legal Issues.

The biotechnological approaches of transgenesis and the more recent eco-friendly new breeding techniques (NBTs), in particular, genome editing, offer useful strategies for genetic improvement of crops, and therefore, recently, they have been receiving increasingly more attention. The number of traits improved through transgenesis and genome editing technologies is growing, ranging from resistance to herbicides and insects to traits capable of coping with human population growth and climate change, such as nutritional quality or resistance to climatic stress and diseases. Research on both technologies has reached an advanced stage of development and, for many biotech crops, phenotypic evaluations in the open field are already underway. In addition, many approvals regarding main crops have been granted. Over time, there has been an increase in the areas cultivated with crops that have been improved through both approaches, but their use in various countries has been limited by legislative restrictions according to the different regulations applied which affect their cultivation, marketing, and use in human and animal nutrition. In the absence of specific legislation, there is an on-going public debate with favorable and unfavorable positions. This review offers an updated and in-depth discussion on these issues.

Influence of long-span bridge deformation on driving quality of high-speed trains

ABSTRACT Bridge time-varying deformation is the time-spatial dynamic deformation of a bridge excited by train motion, which serves as the direct alignment affecting a train’s dynamic response and usually moves ahead of the train. In this study, we investigated the influence of the bridge time-varying deformation on the vertical acceleration of a train with 16 cars on a long-span suspension bridge through the train-track-bridge coupled vibration analysis and chord measurements of dynamic spatial alignment. The analysis and measurements reveal the mechanism of the influence of different bridge positions on the car-body acceleration of different cars. Furthermore, we developed a simple method to identify the most unfavourable intersection position of multi-line driving based on the observed mechanism. In single-line operation, the maximum curvature of the main girder caused by bridge deformation with wavelengths above 200 m appears at the bridge tower and mid-span, while the maximum chord-measurement alignment with wavelengths below 200 m appears at the bridge tower, showing that the deformation at the tower area is more significant and that first car or sixteenth car will experience the maximum acceleration. For the multi-line operation, the curvature and chord measurements can be calculated by the superimposition of alignment with the wavelengths above and below 200 m, consecutively; hence, the most unfavourable intersection can be predicted according to the location and intersection of the maximum value. The intersection of two trains can increase the train’s centrifugal and vibration accelerations, causing the maximum acceleration to occur at the tower, where two trains meet at the most unfavourable one-fourth span of the bridge, which is verified by the train-track-bridge system.

Peculiarities of Аpplication of the Institution of Exemption from Liability to Administrative Offenses in the Field of Road Safety, Recorded Automatically

The article analyzes the current state of administrative and legal regulation of the institute of exemption from liability for minor administrative offenses. The author notes that there are a number of problematic aspects of application of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (hereinafter – CUAO) in the area under study, which is explained by the uncertainty of the legal nature of minority of an administrative offense. The lack of legislative definition of the term "minority offense", the criteria for distinguishing such an act from others, and the lack of regulation of misdemeanors which fall under the signs of minority cause problems of a law enforcement nature. The purpose of the article is to determine the shortcomings of the legal regulation of the procedure for exempting a person from responsibility for committing an administrative offense recorded in the automatic mode, due to the insignificance of the offense and formulating proposals for improving the current legislation in this area. In order to achieve the specified goal, the authors analyzes the legislation which regulates the procedure for dismissal of offenders referred to in Art. 14-2 of the CUAO in the field of road traffic safety. As a result, it has been established that despite the additional enshrinement of exceptional grounds for exemption from liability in Article 279-3 of the CUAO, the above category of persons is in a more unfavorable position than other subjects of administrative offenses. Although the general ground for exemption from administrative liability set out in Article 22 of the CUAO, which is the insignificance of an act, does not contain any restrictions on its application to automatically recorded offenses, the impossibility of its implementation is due to the specifics of the provisions of Articles 33, 268, 280 of the CUAO. The author formulates proposals for improving the legal regulation of application of Article 22 of the CUAO to offenses in this area, which will form the basis for further developments.

Failure Analysis of Damaged High-Strength Bolts under Seismic Action Based on Finite Element Method

Damage of high-strength bolt (DHSB) is inevitable during long-term use. Such damage is irreversible that may not be replaced in time, and the potential danger is proven by the changes of the mechanical properties of DHSB. To investigate the mechanical properties of DHSB, this paper uses the software ABAQUS to simulate the stress of various types of DHSB under earthquake, and compares with undamaged high-strength bolts (UDHSB). The results show that the most unfavorable position of the crack is at the bottom of the second ring thread. The model with shorter crack length will have greater stress concentration and displacement deformation. The more the number of cracks, the greater the concentrated stress value. The concentrated stress generated by the tooth deformation is at the top of the thread tooth, and the concentrated stress generated by the crack is at the bottom of the thread tooth. Changing the tooth shape in the appropriate position is beneficial to reduce the degree of bolt damage. Bolt damage will double the harm, and timely replacement of damaged bolts is very time-sensitive and necessary.

An Experimental Study of Non-Gaussian Properties of Tornado-like Loads on a Low-Rise Building Model

This paper focuses on the non-Gaussian properties of tornado pressure loading on a Texas Tech University (TTU) building model. External pressures of the model were measured at multiple radial positions in a two-celled tornado-like vortex generated by a tornado-like vortex simulator. High-order statistical moments of pressure coefficients were studied. The spatial distributions of non-Gaussian zones were presented and compared with the figure for boundary layer wind. Four exponential models were used to fit the probability density of tornado pressures. The peak factors obtained by five methods were also investigated. Results indicate that non-Gaussian regions of a low-rise building in a tornado-like vortex significantly differ from that in boundary layer wind. The peak pressure coefficients exhibit a maximum value near the end of windward eaves when the model is located at a tornadic core radius. The probability density of tornado pressure time series cannot be fitted by a single exponential distribution. The gamma distribution and generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution can describe the probabilistic behavior of pressure coefficients at the most unfavorable load position. Compared with other methods, the skewness-dependent peak factor method exhibits the advantages of reliable results, easy calculation, and wide applicability.

Digital Ethnic Enclaves: Mate Preferences and Platform Choices Among Chinese Immigrant Online Daters in Vancouver

In light of the growing racialized immigrant population in Canada and advances in dating technologies, this study examines Chinese immigrants' partner preferences and mate selection processes through the lens of online dating. We draw on in-depth interviews with 31 Chinese immigrants who have used online dating services in Metro Vancouver to search for different-sex partners. Chinese immigrant online daters show strong preferences for dating Chinese. They emphasize permanent residency status and similarity in age at arrival when evaluating potential partners. Given their preferences, Chinese immigrants strategically choose the dating platforms they primarily use. Men exhibit higher selectivity in their preferences and choices of platforms. Notably, platforms catering to Chinese users create "digital ethnic enclaves" where Chinese immigrant daters congregate. The findings illuminate the intersection of race, gender, immigrant status, and age at arrival in shaping divergent experiences of mate selection and immigrant assimilation in the digital era.

Combined transrectal and vaginal manual detorsion of pre-cervical uterine torsion in cows.

The pre-cervical uterine torsion is a rotation of a pregnant uterine horn on its longitudinal axis with the point of rotation located cranial to the cervix. After diagnosis based on vaginal and rectal examination, uterine detorsion was first transrectal approached because the cervix was not open and blocked. Five cases are described. The direction of rotation in all 5 cows was clockwise. The head of the calf was manually caught with the left hand per rectum and the entire uterus swayed several times in a left-right direction. During left-right swinging of the pregnant uterus and fetus, manually through the rectum, when the right swing tip reached, then abruptly tried to turn anti-clockwise. The procedure was repeated several times. After partial transrectal detorsion, we could access the calf, vaginally, and detorsion with the right hand and the same procedure of swinging the calf were started, but vaginally. Even if the uterus was restored to the normal position, sometimes the calf remained in an unfavourable position; therefore, it was corrected in the dorsal position and prepared for a forced extraction. This is the first report of a successful combination of transrectal and vaginal manual detorsion of a rare pre-cervical uterine torsion in cows.

Interpreting Russian aims to control the Black Sea region through naval geostrategy (Part One): ‘The Azov-Black Sea basin as a whole […] This is, in fact, a zone of our strategic interests’

ABSTRACT This article is the first of two that examine the influence of naval geostrategy in Russian policy and military action in the Black Sea region. Following the dissolution of the USSR, the Russian Federation inherited an unfavorable geostrategic position in the Black Sea theater. Applying models used in naval geostrategy, this article interprets Russian efforts during the twenty-first century’s first decade and a half that aimed at improving the country’s geostrategic position in this region. In a series of consecutive steps, the Kremlin secured and expanded Russian access to sea zones and naval bases at the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea and, simultaneously, minimized Georgia’s and Ukraine’s conditions to develop sea power.

Equity fare system: Ranking of transport development criteria in integrated passenger transport

The purpose of the use of equity fare systems lies in preventing transport marginalization by means of favouring participants in an unfavourable position with the aim of ensuring equality. In integrated passenger transport, equity is characterized by the specificities of the region where such a system is either planned or already carried out. The criteria that describe said specificities are the development of fare zones from the transport, economic, and demographic aspects. This paper assesses the transport development criteria in integrated passenger transport. The Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology was used to determine the relevance. It is based on the rankings made by 117 European experts on transport, economy and demography. The assessment of the criteria will ensure the development of a new equity fare model for calculating fares in integrated passenger transport.

Obrazovanje - put izvođenja iz senke nevidljivog i neplaćenog rada

The goal of this empirical research is to examine the assessments of the possible impact of education on overcoming the practice of "invisible" and unpaid labour of employees. We have analyzed the phenomenon of "invisible" and unpaid labour in two contexts: (1) In the global context, this phenomenon is understood as a general situation on the labour market, where forms of non-standard, more flexible forms of work engagement are increasingly present, including informal work and the categories of "invisible" and digital workers, the modern slavery phenomenon, as well as the phenomenon of precarious work, which is mainly characterized by temporary workers' insecure and uncertain positions, limited access to and inadequate coverage provided by the systems of legal, social, and health protection; (2) In the work context, by "invisible" and unpaid work we mean "hidden", overtime, unrecognized, and unpaid unpaid daily tasks and activities performed by employees, which. This situation particularly affects certain categories of employees. In this context, forced labour is also explained as part of modern slavery. Our research was conducted by using a sample of 428 employed respondents in Belgrade during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the research provide answers to several questions: to what extent respondents assess their work as "invisible" and unpaid, what possibilities for overcoming the practice of such work, in their assessment, education provides, and whether, in relation to their assessment of the extent of performing "invisible" and unpaid labour, the respondents participated in an educational activity that thematically touched upon introducing them to the ethical code of their organization and sanctions in case of its violation. In the context of a continuing review of the level of democracy in society, we believe that the issue of the visibility of the unfavorable position and value of certain categories of employees is important and calls for responsibility and active engagement of work organizations, legislation, and society. To emerge from the shadow of this important issue, we view education as the torch that, first of all, can point to the facts that were "invisible" up until now, shed a light, and show us the path to resolve this issue in the future

Numerical studies on Re-independence and influence region definition for flow and dispersion within street-indoor scale model

To reduce modeling errors and save computing resources, the reduced-scale numerical models may sometimes be used. This study conducted the numerical models validated by wind-tunnel tests to investigate Re-independence issue and influence region definition for flow and dispersion within the target street-indoor scales. The window Re (Rew) was specified to characterize the indoor flow and dispersion, and the indicator of DR was applied to quantitatively determine Rew,crit. The ventilation modes (cross ventilation, CV or single-sided ventilation, SSV) and the surrounding building effect on Re-independence of indoor flow and dispersion were examined. Then ACH (air exchange rate) varying with the increasing layer number (n) of surrounding buildings was applied to derive the required size of influence region. Results show that it needs different Rew,crit to ensure the indoor flow structures at different positions to enter the Re-independence regimes, that is, the Rew,crit is a position-dependence quantity. Taking difference ratio (DR) ≤ 5% as the threshold, Rew,crit (=15,000) at the most unfavorable position should be selected as the optimal value to ensure Re-independence of indoor flow and dispersion, and the suggested Rew,crit is independent of ventilation modes and surrounding buildings. The ACH distributions show the required size of influence region to ensure the flow structures within the target street-indoor scales remain unchanged is n = 5. The contours of normalized velocity and pollutant concentration further confirm this required layer number. This study can provide significant guidelines for accurately modeling the flow and dispersion within the coupled indoor-outdoor scales by reduced-scale numerical model.

PD52 The Role Of Public Consultation In CONITEC Recommendations Between 2012 And 2020: An Introductory Analysis

IntroductionPublic consultation is a strategy for patient and public involvement (PPI) assured by the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation in Brazilian Public Health System (CONITEC)´s normative framework. It aims to obtain society’s views on the matters under evaluation. It is made available after CONITEC issues an initial recommendation, which will be reviewed in light of society contributions. This paper examines the cases where the final recommendations differed from the initial ones in technology assessments carried out between 2012 and 2020, taking into account the arguments used by the CONITEC Plenary to support the modification.MethodsFrom a total of 361 public consultations referring to the assessment of health technologies carried out by CONITEC between 2012 and 2020, 40 final reports of health technology assessment (HTA) processes that had changes from the initial to the final recommendation were examined. Then, analytical categories were built so that justifications for the change were investigated and the interpretations produced. The empirical approach excluded public consultations regarding clinical protocols and therapeutic guidelines.ResultsIt was observed that, in 39 cases, the change occurred from an unfavorable position to a favorable position for the technology incorporation. The main reasons for changing the plenary’s decision were proposals to renegotiate the prices of technologies (that generate changes in the results of economic evaluation and budget impact analysis), the receipt of new evidence and experience, and opinion arguments sent mainly by health professionals.ConclusionsThe analyzed data has shown that the changes in recommendations are mostly based on the content of contributions which led to changes in the assessment of clinical evidence, economic evaluation and budget impact. Thus, it appears that public consultation has been consolidated as a relevant instrument to inform the deliberative process in HTA in Brazilian Public Health System.

Discovering mechanisms for materials microstructure optimization via reinforcement learning of a generative model

The design of materials structure for optimizing functional properties and potentially, the discovery of novel behaviors is a keystone problem in materials science. In many cases microstructural models underpinning materials functionality are available and well understood. However, optimization of average properties via microstructural engineering often leads to combinatorically intractable problems. Here, we explore the use of the reinforcement learning (RL) for microstructure optimization targeting the discovery of the physical mechanisms behind enhanced functionalities. We illustrate that RL can provide insights into the mechanisms driving properties of interest in a 2D discrete Landau ferroelectrics simulator. Intriguingly, we find that non-trivial phenomena emerge if the rewards are assigned to favor physically impossible tasks, which we illustrate through rewarding RL agents to rotate polarization vectors to energetically unfavorable positions. We further find that strategies to induce polarization curl can be non-intuitive, based on analysis of learned agent policies. This study suggests that RL is a promising machine learning method for material design optimization tasks, and for better understanding the dynamics of microstructural simulations.

Effect of space for runway roughness evaluation

ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to develop a new index, the Airport Runway Roughness Index (ARRI), that considers the effect of runway space when evaluating airport runway roughness. The difference between roadway and runway roughness evaluations is analysed in detail and the spatial effect is considered for a proposed runway roughness evaluation model. The evaluation of runway roughness should fully account for the dynamic responses of different typical aircraft during taxiing at the most unfavourable speed for the full cross-section of the runway. ARRI is defined according to the normalised weighted average of the vibration responses of typical aircraft models at the most unfavourable excitation waveband, the most unfavourable taxiing speed, and the most unfavourable lateral offset position within the longitudinal distance of the runway. Using runway three-dimensional full-section unevenness data collection equipment, a runway roughness evaluation procedure that is based on ARRI is proposed. The ARRI system provides qualitative improvement in terms of its representation ability, the rationality of the evaluation criteria, and the correlation of the indicators.

Joint design and load transfer capacity analysis of photovoltaic/thermal integrated pavement unit

The fossil energy on the earth is limited, and with the energy shortage and the environment deterioration, there is an urgent need to develop and use renewable energy. Therefore, solar roads came into being. The current research on the structural performance of solar pavement is relatively lacking, especially the joint design between photovoltaic (PV) pavement unit structures. In order to fill this research gap, in this study, two different PIPVT unit joint designs for photovoltaic/thermal integrated pavement (PIPVT) are proposed, namely, dowel bar joint design and tongue-and-groove joint design. The load transfer capacity of the two joint designs is compared and analysed by ABAQUS simulation. By the result of simulation, the most unfavourable load position was determined, and the load transfer coefficients of the two joint designs were calculated to verify the reasonability of the two joint designs, and to compare and select the scheme. The results showed that the load transfer coefficient of the dowel bar is 75.7%, and its load transfer grade is medium; the load transfer coefficient of the tongue-and-groove joint is 88.9%, and its load transfer grade is excellent. It is recommended to use the tongue-and-groove joint design.

Cognitive Remittances and the Reintegration ‘Hump’: Changing Self-Perceptions and Positionality among Roma Returnees in Albania and Kosovo

Using the innovative concept of cognitive remittances, this paper looks at the transformation of the self-perception and positionality of Roma returned asylum-seekers. The empirical evidence, in the form of interview narratives and focus group quotes, is drawn from two research projects based in Albania and Kosovo and the wider Western Balkan region. The findings show that the migration and asylum-seeking experience, in Germany and other EU countries, provide the Roma with a new lens through which they can view and appreciate their historical and contemporary belongingness in the Western Balkan countries. Having been exposed to different lifestyles and values, they face real challenges upon return, where they have to confront anew very low living standards, socio-economic marginalisation and unfavourable positioning in the social hierarchy. We label this the reintegration ‘hump’. A cognitive shift occurs and their self-perception changes, including a greater sensitivity to experiences of discrimination. Reintegration is both hampered and potentially enabled by their enhanced political literacy and agency.

Dental Implant and Natural Tooth Micro-Movements during Mastication-In Vivo Study with 3D VIC Method.

In the paper, using the video image correlation method, a study of the micro-movement pattern of the dental implant and of a normal was performed. It is revealed that there are great differences between these two situations. The linear displacement type of the dental implant refers to the linear elastic modulus of bone tissue in the case of normal bite forces. It seems that the major influencing factor regarding the type and value of implant micro-movement is defined by the underlying bone tissue. It is to be considered that masticator force transmission inside a more stiff and dense bone could be attenuated by the antagonist teeth parodontium, dental implant and abutment connection type, and the elastic modulus of material of the dental crown. Because of the elasticity of the periodontal ligament system, during the loading of the dental implant, the natural tooth has been displaced slightly more, leaving the dental implant in an unfavorable position, having to bear the full amount of loading forces. When comparing the relative displacements in the case of the loaded tooth, it is shown that the dental implant has been moving almost symmetrically with the tooth. This could mean that large amounts of forces are transmitted towards the periimplant bone tissue, but in a more optimal, parabolic manner due to the action of the periodontal ligaments surrounding the natural tooth.

Electrode Layout Optimization and Numerical Simulation of Cast Conductive Asphalt Concrete Steel Bridge Deck Pavement.

In order to obtain the optimal electrode layout and ice melting effect of cast conductive asphalt concrete steel bridge deck pavement, firstly, pouring conductive asphalt concrete was prepared; secondly, different electrode materials and layout methods were selected to test the heating rate of the specimen from start to 120 min, and the electrode materials and layout methods were optimized. Then, the finite element analysis software ANSYS was used to build the model for heating and ice melting simulation, and the indoor test was used to further verify the ice melting effect of the cast conductive asphalt coagulation with or without the insulation layer. Finally, the thermal-structural coupling analysis of cast conductive asphalt concrete steel bridge deck pavement was carried out using ANSYS finite element software. The results showed that the stainless steel electrode material had the best heating effect, and the electrode thickness in the range of 0.1~3mm had no effect on the heating effect. The intermediate heating rate of the upper surface of the stainless steel sheet electrode cast conductive asphalt concrete in the left and right external electrodes was 8 °C/h, while the intermediate heating rate of the upper surface of the stainless steel mesh electrode cast conductive asphalt concrete was 12.9 °C/h. The layout of the left and right buried stainless steel metal mesh was able to effectively improve the snow melting efficiency; ANSYS finite element ice melting simulation was used to obtain the variation law of ice melting efficiency and a temperature field of cast conductive asphalt concrete. The indoor ice melting test showed that when melting the same thickness ice layer at 50 V voltage, it took 240 min with an insulation layer and 720 min without an insulation layer, which was three times that of the ice with an insulation layer, which further verifies the superiority of its ice melting effect. The most unfavorable load position of pavement under load and temperature field was determined. The maximum tensile stress and compressive stress of the pavement surface were transverse, and the maximum shear stress of the pavement bottom was transverse.

Subordinasi Tokoh Perempuan dalam Novel Kenanga Karya Oka Rusmini : Kajian Feminisme Liberal

Abstract: The Subordination of Female Characters in Oka Rusmini's Kenanga Novel: A Study of Liberal Feminism. Department of Indonesian Language and Literature, Faculty of Language and Literature. Makassar State University (supervised by Dr. Juanda, M.Hum and Dr. Hajrah, S.S., M.Pd.). This study aims to describe the subordination experienced by female characters in the novel Kenanga by Oka Rusmini. This research is descriptive qualitative. The data source in this study is the novel Kenanga by Oka Rusmini published by Grasindo in 2017 with a thickness of 273 pages. The data of this research are in the form of words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs that show the subordination and forms of resistance of female characters in the novel Kenanga by Oka Rusmini. The approach used in data analysis is Naomi Wolf's Libral Feminism theory. The results of this study indicate that First, the subordination experienced by female characters causes them to be in an unfavorable position, both in the personal, public, educational and social shutters. Second, the resistance of female characters in the novel Kenanga is shown by opposing the acts of subordination carried out by the patriarchy. Keywords: Liberal Feminism, Subordination, Resistance

Comparative Study on Lower-Middle-, Upper-Middle-, and Higher-Income Economies of ASEAN for Fiscal and Current Account Deficits: A Panel Econometric Analysis

For the last three decades, ASEAN has been facing a persistent fiscal deficit. However, the impact of fiscal deficit on the current account deficit in the sub-groups of ASEAN is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the impact of fiscal deficit on current account deficit and their relationship among the three sub-groups of ASEAN which are based on gross national income (GNI), i.e., lower-middle-, upper-middle-, and higher-income countries. The analysis covers the panel data collected over the span of the last three decades (1990–2020) for ten Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN). The analyses incorporate the panel methodology for data analysis such as panel unit root for checking data stationarity, cointegration testing, panel autoregressive distributed lag (PARDL) for short- and long-run analysis, cointegration regression (fully modified and dynamic ordinary least squares) for significance, the panel Dumitrescu and Hurlin Granger causality test for examining causal relationships in tested variables, and stability diagnostics and CUMSUM and CUSUMSQ techniques for structural breaks and coefficient stability in the model. In lower-middle-income economies (LMIE), results indicate the existence of a unidirectional causal relationship from the current account deficit (CAD) to the fiscal deficit (FD), suggesting a reverse causal relationship from CAD to FD. In the long run, FD does not significantly induce CAD, while real interest rate (RIR) and exchange rate (EXC) influence CAD. In upper-middle-income economies (UMIE), results specify that there is no causality between FD and CAD. The RIR, EXC, and FD are significant to CAD in the long run. In higher-income economies (HIE), RIR and FD have an influence on CAD in the long run period. Moreover, from CAD to FD, a unidirectional causal association exists, and likewise for LMIE. This is a reverse causal relationship from CAD to the FD, supporting the current account targeting hypothesis (CATH) in both the LMIE and HIE groups. This study recommends that the LMIE and HIE groups can use the fiscal deficit as a tool to eliminate the unfavorable current account position. Policymakers can target EXC and RIR to stabilize CAD in long run. In UMIE and HIE, policymakers must consider FD alarming, as it can induce CAD in the long run. The RIR can be the targeted factor in the sub-groups of ASEAN.