Analyzing China’s Influence by China’s High-Speed Railway Diplomacy in Southeast Asia Countries

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has drawn tremendous global attention since 2013 and the land-based Silk Road Belt is seen as the most significant part of BRI. As part of these initiatives, Chinese government has been keen to expand its high-speed railway across the country’s borders into Southeast Asia countries. In addition, China’s ambitious global infrastructure investment is backed by massive financial resources which is an endeavor to cooperate with developing countries in Asia and beyond to fortify its rising role as a global power. Yet, such cooperation is not guaranteed and some arguments claim that the debt trap and far-reaching influence over Chinese infrastructure projects are increasingly having negative impacts, even dominating the international perceptions of overseas infrastructure projects including high-speed railways implemented by Beijing. In spite of the power asymmetry between China and partner nations as well as the latter’s infrastructure investment needs, these countries need to be induced about the significant benefits of China’s high-speed railways and this creates a bargaining opportunity for developing countries in Southeast Asia. Thus, these countries could offer a sense of agency in the context of China’s influence in this region. The paper will seek to answer the following questions: What are the driving forces behind the land-based Silk Road Belt; What is the motivation for rail projects of China toward Southeast Asia nations? These findings reflect on whether we witness China’s high-speed railway diplomacy to obtain economic goals to serve their interests as well as to support China’s rising role in Southeast Asia

Exploring consumer behaviour in the Saskatoon area at the turn of the twentieth century.

In 1881, an Ontario-based group known as the Temperance Colonization Society began looking towards the Canadian West with a speculative eye. Interested in acquiring tracts of land from the Canadian Government, the Temperance Colonization Society hoped to one day establish a new colony free from the temptations of alcohol and the troubles associated with older colonies. By 1884, a settlement was established along the south shore of the South Saskatchewan River. This was the beginning of Saskatoon. As Saskatoon grew from a small settlement founded on temperance ideals to a recognized municipal corporation, the meaning of the material culture associated with this transition also changed. Two archaeological sites pertaining to this transition, the Marr Residence at 326 11th Street East (FaNp-5) and the 11th Street Privy site (FaNp-31), currently comprise the only excavated privy assemblages in the city and hold rich potential for shedding light on urban consumption behaviour at the turn of the 20th century. This study will analyze the archaeological assemblages recovered from these excavations under the scope of consumer behaviour. By orienting the essence of this study towards an archaeology of consumerism, information regarding the dimensions of everyday life in the Saskatoon area at the turn of the 20th Century can be ascertained

ANALYZE THE TREATMENT REGIMENS AND THROMBOSIS PROPHYLAXIS USED IN CORONARY ARTERY INTERVENTION AT INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY UNIT IN CAN THO CENTRAL GENERAL HOSPITAL

Objective: The study was conducted to analyze the rationality of treatment regimens and thrombosis prophylaxis used in coronary artery intervention to compare to guidelines for treatment according to VNHA and recommendation of ACC/AHA at Interventional cardiology in Can Tho Central General Hospital. Methods: The cross-sectional study was based on the data collected from entire medical records of patients at Interventional cardiology in Can Tho Central General Hospital from August 2017 to February 2018. The rationality of the antithrombotic regimen used at the Hospital is assessed through criteria such as medical combination, dosage, time to take medicine, clinical trials during the treatment. Results: The study found that 95.6% and 90.7% were suitable for medical combination before and after PCI; 100% fit for the use of medicine; and 100% was suitable for antithrombotic agents and clinical trials during treatment time; in terms of dosage, the result showed that entrance and maintenance were 84.9% and 100% for aspirin respectively; 71.7% and 100% for clopidogrel; 100% and 94.7% for ticagrelor; 90.2-92.8% and 98.1% for enoxaparin; especially, heparin-100% anticoagulant was appropriate to recommend. Conclusion: The study showed that treatment regimens and thrombosis prophylaxis in percutaneous coronary intervention at Interventional cardiology in Can Tho Central General Hospital were quite suitable compared to the recommendations of the Heart Association. The results from the study are a scientific basis for the Hospital to maintain or consider adjustments to improve the quality of treatment, ensure the effectiveness and safety of patients

Revisiting conventional noncovalent interactions towards a complete understanding: from tetrel to pnicogen, chalcogen, and halogen bond

Typical noncovalent interactions, including tetrel (TtB), pnicogen (PniB), chalcogen (ChalB), and halogen bonds (HalB), were systematically re-investigated by modeling the N⋯Z interactions (Z = Si, P, S, Cl) between NH$_3$ – as a nucleophilic, and SiF$_4$, PF$_3$, SF$_2$, and ClF – as electrophilic components, employing highly reliable ab initio methods. The characteristics of N⋯Z interactions when Z goes from Si to Cl, were examined through their changes in stability, vibrational spectroscopy, electron density, and natural orbital analyses. The binding energies of these complexes at CCSD(T)/CBS indicate that NH$_3$ tends to hold tightly most with ClF (−34.7 kJ mol$^{−1}$) and SiF$_4$ (−23.7 kJ mol$^{−1}$) to form N⋯Cl HalB and N⋯Si TtB, respectively. Remarkably, the interaction energies obtained from various approaches imply that the strength of these noncovalent interactions follows the order: N⋯Si TtB > N⋯Cl HalB > N⋯S ChalB > N⋯P PniB, that differs the order of their corresponding complex stability. The conventional N⋯Z noncovalent interactions are characterized by the local vibrational frequencies of 351, 126, 167, and 261 cm$^{−1}$ for TtB, PniB, ChalB, and HalB, respectively. The SAPT2+(3)dMP2 calculations demonstrate that the primary force controlling their strength retains the electrostatic term. Accompanied by the stronger strength of N⋯Si TtB and N⋯Cl HalB, the AIM and NBO results state that they are partly covalent in nature with amounts of 18.57% and 27.53%, respectively. Among various analysis approaches, the force constant of the local N⋯Z stretching vibration is shown to be most accurate in describing the noncovalent interactions

Alterations in wall tension and shear stress modulate tyrosine kinase signaling and wall remodeling in experimental vein grafts

AbstractPurpose: Hemodynamic alterations have been implicated as major stimuli for the development of intimal hyperplasia in vein grafts that are implanted in the arterial circulation. Tyrosine kinase is known to mediate cell signaling. However, its role with in vivo mechanotransduction is not yet well defined. We used a novel bioprosthetic collagen tube to provide an external support to vein grafts and examined the subsequent changes in hemodynamics, tyrosine kinase signaling, wall remodeling, and vasomotor function. Methods: Carotid interposition bypass grafting was performed with the reversed jugular vein in New Zealand white rabbits. In the experimental group (n = 15), after the completion of the proximal anastomosis, the vein was passed through a 4-mm collagen tube and the distal anastomosis was performed. The tube support was fashioned to completely cover the vein grafts. The control animals (n = 14) had no tube support. After surgery, the blood pressure and flow rate were measured and the wall tension and shear stress were calculated in the vein grafts on day 3 or day 28 (n = 5 per group). Tyrosine phosphorylation was assessed with the Western blot test in vein grafts at day 3 (n = 4 per group). The intimal and medial dimensions of the vein grafts were assessed with videomorphometry on day 28 (n = 5 per group). The cumulative dose response curves of the vein grafts to contractile and relaxant agonists were determined in isometric tension studies on day 28 (n = 5 per group). Results: The use of tube support reduced wall tension 1.7-fold (P < .01) and increased shear stress 4.8-fold (P < .001) without altering the flow rate or blood pressure. The tyrosine kinase activity was reduced 15-fold (P < .001) in the tube-supported vein grafts. The intimal thickness was reduced by 45% in the tube-supported vein grafts as compared with the control grafts (46 ± 2 mm vs 84 ± 5 mm, respectively; P < .0001), and the media thickness was reduced by 20% (63 ± 8 mm vs 79 ± 4 mm, respectively; P < .05). Isometric tension studies showed preservation of contractile function and modulation of endothelial-dependent dysfunctional relaxation in tube-supported vein grafts. Conclusion: These results show that reduced wall tension and increased shear stress with an external tube support can effectively modulate the signaling, functional, and hyperplastic responses in vein grafts. We conclude that this simple strategy deserves further study and clinical consideration. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:334-44.

Simulations of an OSNR-limited all-optical wavelength conversion scheme

We present simulations of a scheme to perform wavelength conversion of signals that eliminates phase-noise transfer from the pump to the converted signal. Nondegenerate four-wave mixing in a semiconductor optical amplifier is used to convert the signal to a new wavelength; and if an optical comb generator is used as the multiple-pump source, then the signal can be converted without incurring any phase-noise transfer from the pumps. We highlight the capabilities of this scheme by simulating the conversion of 16-QAM signals at 10 Gbaud and showing that errors due to phase-noise accumulation are eliminated thus enabling conversion whose only impairment would be the total additive optical noise

Copper Ferrite Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle-Catalyzed Cross-coupling Reaction to Form Diindolylmethane (DIM): Effect of Experimental Parameters

Superparamagnetic copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles were utilized as a heterogenous catalyst for the cross-coupling reaction of indole to form 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) as the desirable product. High reaction yield, at around 82%, was achieved under optimal conditions. The CuFe2O4 material could be easily separated from the reaction mixture by an external magnetic field and could be reutilized several times without a significant decrease in catalytic activity. We also showed that no sites of catalyst material leached into reaction solution was detected. To our best knowledge, the above cross-coupling reaction was not previously conducted under catalysis of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Employing DDBPSK in optical burst switched systems to enhance throughput

We demonstrate that doubly differential decoding can demodulate phase shift keyed data much faster after the switching event of a tunable laser than usual mth power single differential decoding. This technique can significantly improve throughput of optical burst switched networks

Analysis of Disaster Mitigation in IPAS Subject of High School Phases under Merdeka Belajar Concepts

Indonesia’s geographical condition is vulnerable to geological changes and prone to natural disasters. The Indonesian Government has made various efforts to reduce disaster risk by developing disaster-safe education units. Disaster education will be effective if it is integrated into the curriculum in the school subjects such as social studies from an early age. This study aims to provide ideas for implementing disaster mitigation learning for high school students based on the concept of Merdeka belajar in the digital age. To better understand disaster preparedness under the concepts of Merdeka belajar, we thoroughly examined the relevant databases. It was carried out within the education framework put out by Ki Hadjar Dewantara (1889–1959), Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776–1841), and Jan Komensky (1592-1670). Given that Indonesia has at least 13 disaster threats whose risks vary depending on the region, it is crucial to understand the local wisdom in disaster mitigation. This content is available in high school phases’ natural and social sciences subjects (ilmu pengetahuan alam dan sosial, IPAS). This research is crucial to successfully improve the teaching-learning quality to meet the needs of the Pancasila student profile. Keywords: disaster mitigation, IPAS, high school, merdeka belajar, digital learnin