bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
QUANTITATIVE SIGNATURES OF BRAIN COGNITION IN YOUNG CHILDREN USING TASK-BASED EEG SIGNALS
Authors: DIVYA B. , SREE R. ANANDHA , KAVITHA A.
Published: April 2023

Cognition is the practice of processing knowledge through mental processes. Understanding cognitive functions of the brain in young children helps in identifying neurodevelopmental disorders at early stages. Most studies used to diagnose neurodevelopmental disorders are based on behavioral scales. But most children with neurodevelopmental disorders are non-verbal. Thus, the goal of this research is to perform a task-based analysis of cognitive skills in children using electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. Spectral and fractal features of the EEG signals were acquired from pre-primary school children ([Formula: see text]) during arithmetic and path-finding cognitive tasks. The acquired signals were decomposed into various sub-bands. Investigations on the time-domain Higuchi Fractal Dimension (HFD) analysis and frequency domain Power Spectrum Analysis features demonstrated the dominance of the Theta band over the other subbands. The frontal electrode exhibited more workload in the arithmetic task, indicating the involvement of frontal regions and the temporal areas (T8) which were actively involved throughout the path-finding task, showing the activity related to spatial perception and navigation. Thus, the statistical information obtained from the spectral and fractal analyses seems to provide quantitative evidence of the variations in cognitive skills of young children thereby enhancing inferences about neurodevelopmental disorders.
GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN MICROSCOPIC NUCLEI IMAGES FOR DRUG-INDUCED CYTOTOXIC ASSESSMENT
Authors: MURALI DIKSHITHA CHINTAMANI , GOVINDARAJAN SATYAVRATAN , SWAMINATHAN RAMAKRISHNAN
Published: April 2023

Investigation of drug-induced structural changes in cell lines at different concentrations using microscopic images is essential to understand their cytotoxic effects. In this study, geometric shape descriptors to evaluate the toxicity effects of a particular drug in cell images are formulated. For this, fluorescence microscopic images of drug-untreated and drug-treated mouse cardiac muscle HL1 cells are considered. Ratiometric index of cellular to non-cellular area and, Zernike moment measures are calculated for three different thresholds at different drug concentrations namely 0.6, 1.2, 2.5, 5, and 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M. Statistical analysis is performed to find the significant features. Classification is performed using Support Vector Machine (SVM) to differentiate drug untreated with treated cells at different concentrations. Results demonstrate that the proposed features are able to characterize the shape variations in cell images at different concentrations, and validates the efficacy of segmentation. Mean cellular area ratio is found to decrease from drug-untreated to drug-treated at various concentrations. Significant shape alterations in cellular structures are also obtained using Zernike moment measures for these cases. The machine learning approach using SVM provides better performance in classifying the drug untreated with progressively increasing drug concentrations. Hence, the proposed pipeline of methods could be clinically used to determine the maximum permissible drug tolerance levels during the development of new drugs.
Eigenform product identities of genus two Siegel modular forms of general congruence level
Authors: Brown Jim , Dell Justine , Griesbach Hanna Noelle , Hernandez Amanda
Published: April 2023

Given two eigenforms, it is a natural question to ask if the product of the eigenforms is again an eigenform. In the case of elliptic modular forms, this was answered in the full level case by Duke and Ghate and in the general level case by Johnson. In this paper, we consider the case of genus two Siegel modular forms with general congruence level.
Analogue of Ramanujan’s function k(τ) for the cubic continued fraction
Authors: Park Yoon Kyung
Published: April 2023

We study the modularity of the function [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is Ramanujan’s cubic continued fraction. It is an analogue of Ramanujan’s function [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the Rogers–Ramanujan continued fraction. We first prove the modularity of [Formula: see text] and express [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of [Formula: see text]. Subsequently, we find modular equations of [Formula: see text] of level [Formula: see text] for every positive integer [Formula: see text] by using affine models of modular curves. Finally, we demonstrate that the value of [Formula: see text] generates the ray class field over an imaginary quadratic field modulo 2 for some [Formula: see text] in an imaginary quadratic field.
Cu/C Composite Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Production of Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Hu Junhua , Han Tao , Liu Hui , Wang Xiao Xia
Published: April 2023

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O[Formula: see text] is an important chemical with wide fields of applications in the chemical industry, medicine and environmental protection. The preparation of H2O2by the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via the two-electron pathway has the advantages of simple operation and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, the kinetics of ORR is relatively slow, and the energy efficiency of electrochemical synthesis of H2O2is seriously limited by the competitive four-electron pathway. Therefore, the electrosynthesis of H2O2requires an electrocatalyst with both high catalytic activity and selectivity. In this study, Cu nanoparticles supported on carbon composites (Cu/C) were proposed and had been applied as the catalysts for the electrochemical synthesis of H2O2. Taking advantage of the cross-linking reaction between sodium alginate (SA) and metal ions, Cu nanoparticles were directly supported on carbon materials. The porous structure of carbon materials and the introduction of Cu improved the H2O2selectivity of the catalysts. In O2-saturated 0.1[Formula: see text]M KOH, the optimized catalyst exhibited good activity with a selectivity of 88–90% in the potential range of 0.2–0.6[Formula: see text]V for the electrosynthesis of H2O2, and the selectivity remained 70% after 6[Formula: see text]h of operation.
Eternal feedback vertex sets: A new graph protection model using guards
Authors: Dyab Nour , Lalou Mohammed , Kheddouci Hamamache
Published: April 2023

Graph protection using mobile guards has received a lot of attention in the literature. It has been considered in different forms, including Eternal Dominating set, Eternal Independent set and Eternal Vertex Cover set. In this paper, we introduce and study two new models of graph protection, namely Eternal Feedback Vertex Sets (EFVS) and m-Eternal Feedback Vertex Sets (m-EFVS). Both models are based on an initial selection of a feedback vertex set (FVS), where a vertex in FVS can be replaced with a neighboring vertex such that the resulting set is a FVS too. We prove bounds for both the eternal and m-eternal feedback vertex numbers on, mainly, distance graphs, circulant graphs and grids. Also, we deduce other inequalities for both parameters on cycles, complete graphs and complete bipartite graphs.
Spatial Language of Dissent in New Delhi: Public Space, Protests, and the National Capital (c. 1947–2022)
Authors: KAUR HARLEEN
Published: April 2023

After independence, early decades in the Indian capital city were marked by ceremonials, demonstrations and politico-religious addresses. The enthusiasm of the nascent state trying to forge a shared public sphere was dampened by voices of dissent from different opposition groups. These voices took the form of demonstrations and sit-ins in New Delhi, especially around the Parliament Street. Thus, challenging elected government’s use of space for functional and ceremonial purposes through such acts. However, the government, in order to contain protesting publics, could not continue to deploy the measures of colonial crowd control, and had to come up with means suitable for its democratic setup. Over years these contestations regarding defining use of public spaces between state and public(s) resulted in the development of guidelines and defining of designated sites of protest. In this view, the purpose of this paper is to contribute toward understanding of New Delhi’s space post-1947 and explain how certain demonstrations led to shaping of the government’s approach regarding protest sites. The same will be done by bridging the gap between spatial and socio-cultural theorists to study the capital city beyond its architectural grandeur and theoretical claims about public space. Overall, the paper is organized into four parts: the first section explores the idea of public space in the national capital with focus on importance of the Parliament House; the second and third sections study specific sites like Boat Club, Ramlila Maidan and Jantar Mantar in association with protests like JP Movement; and the final part looks at the evolution of government guidelines and the emergence of contained protest sites.
“Many Truths Make the Big Truth.”: Magical Realism in O. V. Vijayan’sThe Legends of Khasak
Authors: SEMWAL SAKSHI , JHA SMITA
Published: April 2023

This paper intends to explore Magical Realism in the Indian context through O. V. Vijayan’s novel, The Legends of Khasak, initially published in Malayalam in 1969; later in 1994, Vijayan himself translated it into English. This regional novel might not have fetched global recognition, but it remains one of the most influential magical realist texts in Malayalam literature. Intriguingly though, the novel was published just two years after García Márquez’s magnum opus, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and almost a decade and a half before Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. Salman Rushdie’s commercial success in this genre popularized South Asian Magical Realism in the West. However, many regional writers from India had employed Magical Realism’s stylistic paradox in their works before the term officially originated in the European and Latin American contexts. Through Vijayan’s novel, this study explores how, in the Indian context, the paradoxical impulse to naturalize the supernatural deeply exists in realism’s stylistic undercurrents. The research further uses the critical framework of trauma and memory to analyze how the author attempts to recuperate the indigenous cultural identity of the natives, lost due to colonialism and capitalism, and simultaneously historicize the onset of colonial modernity and industrialization in India.
Passages
Authors: Groce Alex
Published: April 2023

Seymour Papert's Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas is many things, though most strikingly, seen in the right light, a tragedy: it showed a world on the cusp of a revolution in how we learn and how we live, brought about by the computer. That world did not, so far as I can tell, come to be, though the reasons it did not come to be are not entirely clear. Perhaps the failure was overdetermined; a case where, as Robert Irwin says in The Arabian Nightmare, the tragedy "was determined and more than determined. There are always more causes than events." I prefer not to think about it, really.
A Multi-tenant Key-value SSD with Secondary Index for Search Query Processing and Analysis
Authors: Min Donghyun , Kim Kihyun , Moon Chaewon , Khan Awais , Lee Seungjin , Yun Changhwan , Chung Woosuk , Kim Youngjae
Published: April 2023

Key-value SSDs (KVSSDs) introduced so far are limited in their use as an alternative to the key-value store running on the host due to the following technical limitations. First, they were designed only for a single tenant, limiting the use of multiple tenants. Second, they mainly focused on designing indexes for primary key-based searches, without supporting various queries using a combination of primary key and non-primary attribute-based searches. This article proposes
Cerberus
, a Log Structured Merged (LSM) tree-based KVSSD armed with (1) namespace and performance isolation for multiple tenants in a multi-tenant environment and (2) capability for processing non-primary attribute-based search queries. Specifically,
Cerberus
identifies the tenant’s namespace and splits a single large LSM-tree into namespace-specific LSM-tree indexes for tenants.
Cerberus
also manages secondary LSM-tree indexes to enable non-primary attribute-based data access and fast search query processing. With the SSD-internal CPU/DRAM resources,
Cerberus
supports non-primary attribute-based search queries and handles complex queries that are combined with search and computing operations. We prototyped
Cerberus
on the Cosmos+ OpenSSD platform. When there are multiple tenants,
Cerberus
exhibits up to 2.9× higher read throughput and negligible write overhead compared to existing KVSSD.
Cerberus
also shows lower latency by up to 9.31× for non-primary attribute-based queries.
Hopcroft’s Problem, Log* Shaving, Two-dimensional Fractional Cascading, and Decision Trees
Authors: Chan Timothy M. , Zheng Da Wei
Published: April 2023

We revisit Hopcroft’s problem and related fundamental problems about geometric range searching. Given
n
points and
n
lines in the plane, we show how to count the number of point-line incidence pairs or the number of point-above-line pairs in
O
(
n
4/3
) time, which matches the conjectured lower bound and improves the best previous time bound of

\(n^{4/3}2^{O(\log ^*n)}\)

obtained almost 30 years ago by Matoušek [
58
].

We describe two interesting and different ways to achieve the result: The first is randomized and uses a new two-dimensional version of fractional cascading for arrangements of lines; the second is deterministic and uses decision trees in a manner inspired by the sorting technique of Fredman [42]. The second approach extends to any constant dimension.

Many consequences follow from these new ideas: For example, we obtain an
O
(
n
4/3
)-time algorithm for line segment intersection counting in the plane,
O
(
n
4/3
)-time randomized algorithms for distance selection in the plane and bichromatic closest pair and Euclidean minimum spanning tree in three or four dimensions, and a randomized data structure for halfplane range counting in the plane with
O
(
n
4/3
) preprocessing time and space and

\(O(n^{1/3})\)

query time.
Tiny, Always-on, and Fragile: Bias Propagation through Design Choices in On-device Machine Learning Workflows
Authors: Hutiri Wiebke (Toussaint) , Ding Aaron Yi , Kawsar Fahim , Mathur Akhil
Published: April 2023

Billions of distributed, heterogeneous, and resource constrained IoT devices deploy on-device machine learning (ML) for private, fast, and offline inference on personal data. On-device ML is highly context dependent and sensitive to user, usage, hardware, and environment attributes. This sensitivity and the propensity toward bias in ML makes it important to study bias in on-device settings. Our study is one of the first investigations of bias in this emerging domain and lays important foundations for building fairer on-device ML. We apply a software engineering lens, investigating the propagation of bias through design choices in on-device ML workflows. We first identifyreliability biasas a source of unfairness and propose a measure to quantify it. We then conduct empirical experiments for a keyword spotting task to show how complex and interacting technical design choices amplify and propagatereliability bias. Our results validate that design choices made during model training, like the sample rate and input feature type, and choices made to optimize models, like light-weight architectures, the pruning learning rate, and pruning sparsity, can result in disparate predictive performance across male and female groups. Based on our findings, we suggest low effort strategies for engineers to mitigate bias in on-device ML.
Transcription-Coupled Nucleotide Excision Repair and the Transcriptional Response to UV-Induced DNA Damage
Authors: Nieto Moreno Nicolás , Olthof Anouk M. , Svejstrup Jesper Q.
Published: April 2023

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and other genotoxic stresses induce bulky DNA lesions, which threaten genome stability and cell viability. Cells have evolved two main repair pathways to remove such lesions: global genome nucleotide excision repair (GG-NER) and transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER). The modes by which these subpathways recognize DNA lesions are distinct, but they converge onto the same downstream steps for DNA repair. Here, we first summarize the current understanding of these repair mechanisms, specifically focusing on the roles of stalled RNA polymerase II, Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB), CSA and UV-stimulated scaffold protein A (UVSSA) in TC-NER. We also discuss the intriguing role of protein ubiquitylation in this process. Additionally, we highlight key aspects of the effect of UV irradiation on transcription and describe the role of signaling cascades in orchestrating this response. Finally, we describe the pathogenic mechanisms underlying xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome, the two main diseases linked to mutations in NER factors.
Computational Methods for Single-Cell Proteomics
Authors: Guldberg Sophia M. , Okholm Trine Line Hauge , McCarthy Elizabeth E. , Spitzer Matthew H.
Published: April 2023

Advances in single-cell proteomics technologies have resulted in high-dimensional datasets comprising millions of cells that are capable of answering key questions about biology and disease. The advent of these technologies has prompted the development of computational tools to process and visualize the complex data. In this review, we outline the steps of single-cell and spatial proteomics analysis pipelines. In addition to describing available methods, we highlight benchmarking studies that have identified advantages and pitfalls of the currently available computational toolkits. As these technologies continue to advance, robust analysis tools should be developed in tandem to take full advantage of the potential biological insights provided by these data.
Challenges and Opportunities for Data Science in Women's Health
Authors: Edwards Todd L. , Greene Catherine A. , Piekos Jacqueline A. , Hellwege Jacklyn N. , Hampton Gabrielle , Jasper Elizabeth A. , Velez Edwards Digna R.
Published: April 2023

The intersection of women's health and data science is a field of research that has historically trailed other fields, but more recently it has gained momentum. This growth is being driven not only by new investigators who are moving into this area but also by the significant opportunities that have emerged in new methodologies, resources, and technologies in data science. Here, we describe some of the resources and methods being used by women's health researchers today to meet challenges in biomedical data science. We also describe the opportunities and limitations of applying these approaches to advance women's health outcomes and the future of the field, with emphasis on repurposing existing methodologies for women's health.
Stalled CARs: Mechanisms of Resistance to CAR T Cell Therapies
Authors: Salas-Benito Diego , Berger Trisha R. , Maus Marcela V.
Published: April 2023

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a new opportunity for cancer treatment; however, resistance can occur due to intrinsic (T cells), extrinsic (tumors), or acquired (tumors) factors. In many cases, the knowledge of these mechanisms comes from clinical observations of patients treated with CAR T cells. In addition, the structure of the CAR molecule and the manufacturing process can impact CAR T cell efficacy. Extrinsic factors such as the mutations in the tumor cell, or cells in the tumor microenvironment, can also play a role. Tumor cells may exhibit acquired antigen loss or heterogeneity that enables resistance to CAR T cell killing; additionally, myeloid cells, T regulatory cells, and fibroblasts can exert an immunosuppressive effect and abrogate CAR T cell antitumor efficacy. We will discuss these mechanisms of resistance and the novel approaches being used to overcome them to improve the widespread use of this promising cancer therapy.
Sustainability Careers
Authors: Boone Christopher G. , Bromaghim Erin , Kapuscinski Anne R.
Published: April 2023

Addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development are the grand challenges for this century. This review assesses how sustainability and green jobs are changing in response to these formidable challenges, with a focus on energy transitions and responsible production and consumption. The energy transition to renewable sources will generate a net increase in employment, although some regions of the world may see net losses. Jobs in responsible consumption and production, motivated by changing consumer demand and savings from circular economy strategies, will increase the number of green and sustainability jobs. Since sustainability and green jobs require higher levels of creative problem-solving, more nonroutine activities, formal education, and on-the-job training than traditional jobs, more training will be necessary to meet skills demands in green and sustainability positions. We review how competency and capacity approaches to learning, credentialing, and on-the-job training have been employed to meet growing demand for sustainability and green jobs.
A Fast Recurrent Model for High-current PEM Fuel Cell Impedance
Authors: Kulikovsky Andrei
Published: April 2023

A novel method for calculation of PEM fuel cell cathode impedance from charge and mass conservation equations is developed. The cathode catalyst layer is separated into N sub–layers. Assuming that the steady–state variables along the sub–layer are constant, linearized and Fourier–transformed problem for the overpotential and oxygen concentration perturbations is solved analytically on a single sub–layer. The solution leads to recurrent formulas expressing the perturbation amplitudes on the left side of the sub–layer through the values on its right side. Starting from the CCL/GDL interface, N–fold application of the recurrent relations gives the parameters at the membrane surface, leading to the system impedance. Comparison of impedance spectra obtained using this technique with the spectra obtained from solution of classic boundary–value problem for the whole CCL shows high accuracy of the method already with 10 sub–layers. The method is applicable at arbitrary cell current. The advantage of this approach is tenfold acceleration of spectra calculations.
A Highly Reliable Nanoscale Biodevice Benefitting from the Charge Plasma Concept – Si and InAs Source
Authors: Anvarifard Mohammad K.
Published: April 2023

A nanoscale biodevice based on the tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) has been reported for the detection of the target biomolecules. Two kinds of materials in the cases of silicon and InAs have been incorporated inside the source region for the sensitivity performance comparison. In order to prevent the diffusion of the impurities in the nanoscale biodevice during thermal proceeding, whole the structure has been doped at a N-type doped same level forming a junctionless device. The approach that we have benefited is the utilization of the charge plasma for converting the N-type source into the P-type source resulting in the creation of the TFET device, electrically. Indeed, the hole plasma will be appeared inside the source by the auxiliary plasma gate electrodes. The obtained results performed by the SILVACO simulator has shown the improvement of the sensitivity of the proposed biodevice while keeping the reliability high. Also, the fill-factor impact and trap-assisted-tunneling (TAT) issue as serious challenges on sensing performance are monitored for the biodevices under the study and the interesting results are presented.
Influence of Nafion-Coating of Ag/Ag2O/C Electrodes on Long-Term Performance of an Electroosmotic Pump
Authors: Kim Jae Hong , Lee Mi Hyun , Chang Young Wook , Song Yong Chul , Kim Chang Jung
Published: April 2023

Ag/Ag2O electrodes were fabricated on both carbon fiber paper (CP) and carbon fiber cloth (CC) substrates via galvanostatic electrodeposition to develop an electroosmotic (EO) pump. The results showed that Ag was deposited along the carbon fibers and further grew into Ag particles. The Ag loading on CP was higher than that of CC at the same current density, and the difference increased further with the current density increase. Nafion coating was applied on the as-electrodeposited Ag/Ag2O/CP electrode to prevent the degradation of Ag particles using dip coating, followed by drop coating. The Nafion-coated Ag/Ag2O/CP electrodes showed much better electroosmotic pump performance and long-term stability than the uncoated electrodes, revealing that the Nafion ionomer can enhance the proton conductivity and mitigate the degradation of Ag particles during the electrochemical reactions. The EO pumps built with Nafion-modified Ag/Ag2O/CP electrodes with an active area of 0.28 cm2 generated a maximum pressure of 157 kPa and a maximum flow rate of 28.21 ul min−1. The Postmortem analysis of the pumped working fluids collected from the EO pumps operated at a constant potential for three days was performed to further investigate the effects of Nafion coating on Ag degradation.
Neuropharmacology Potential of the Hydroalcoholic Extract from the Leaves of Piper cernuum: Anxiolytic, Hypnotic, and Antidepressant‐Like Effects
Authors: Maia Marcel Andrigo , Jurcevic Jocilene Demétrio , Malheiros Angela , Cazarin Camila André , Dalmagro Ana Paula , Espírito Santo Camila do , Mota da Silva Luisa , Maria de Souza Márcia
Published: April 2023

Aim. The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of mental illnesses is a reality that accompanies the history of civilizations, and the Piper genus exhibits many species with pharmacologically proven central effects. Then, this study evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from Piper cernuum (HEPC) leaves to validate its uses in folk medicine. Materials and Methods. Primarily Swiss mice (female, 25–30 g) were pretreated with HEPC (50–150 mg/kg, p.o.), vehicle, or the positive control, and submitted to open‐field test (OFT), inhibitory avoidance test (IAT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swim test (FST). Also, mice were exposed to pentylenetetrazol‐ and strychnine‐induced seizure assay, pentobarbital‐induced hypnosis test, and elevated plus‐maze (EPM). The GABA levels and MAO‐A activity were measured in the animal’s brain after 15 days of HEPC administration (150 mg/kg, p.o.). Results. Mice pretreated with HEPC (100 and 150 mg/kg) and exposed to pentobarbital presented decreased sleep latency and increased sleep duration (HEPC 150 mg/kg). In EPM, the HEPC (150 mg/kg) increased the frequency of entry and the time of exploration of mice in the open arms. The antidepressant‐like properties of HEPC were demonstrated by the decrease in the mice’s immobility time when tested in FST and TST. The extract did not show anticonvulsant activity, in addition to not improving the memory parameters of animals (IAT) or interfering with their locomotor activity (OFT). Besides, HEPC administration decreased the MAO‐A activity and increased the GABA levels in the animal’s brain. Conclusion. HEPC induces sedative‐hypnotic, anxiolytic‐, and antidepressant‐like effects. These neuropharmacological effects of HEPC could be, at least in part, related to the modulation of the GABAergic system and/or MAO‐A activity.
Study on the Coupling Law between Pore-Scale Fluid Flow Capacity and Pore-Throat Configuration in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs
Authors: Gao Jie , Wei Hu , Zhou Ran , Ren Qiang , Tian Tao , Ning Bo , Ding Xiaojun , Zhang Zhifeng
Published: April 2023

As for the tight sandstones, pore-scale fluid flow ability is one of the most fundamental parameters that determine potential development capacity when compared to conventional reservoirs due to relatively tiny spaces. The determination of pore-throat structures and their impact on fluid flow behavior could improve the forecast ability for development. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to study the effects of differences in microscopic pore structures on moveable fluid saturation in tight sandstone reservoirs. Casting thin sections (CTS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), constant-rate mercury injection (CRMI), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), etc. are used as experimental methods to qualitatively describe the differences in accumulation space types and to quantitatively compare and analyze the differences in microscopic pore structures between reservoirs for Chang 6 formation in the Jiyuan and Heshui areas. The different characteristic parameters are chosen to analyze their correlations with moveable fluid saturation. Thus, as a result, due to good correlations with moveable fluid saturation, parameters such as throat radius, pore-throat radius ratio, and pore-throat amount allocation ratio are chosen to characterize the differences in microscopic pore structures between reservoirs in those areas. Differences in throat radius, pore-throat radius ratio, and a pore-throat amount allocation ratio of microscopic pore structure of Chang 6 members in these two areas have led to differences in moveable fluid saturation to some extent. This research provided the evidence about the coupling law between pore-scale fluid flow capacity and pore-throat configuration in tight sandstone reservoirs, and the results can provide theoretical guidance for field development of oil and gas fields.
Identification and Prevalence of Brucella Species Circulating among Cattle Slaughtered in the Douala and Buea Municipalities of Cameroon
Authors: Eko Seraphine Mojoko , Esemu Seraphine Nkie , Njouendou Abdel Jélil , Kfusi Achah Jerome , Anong Nota Damian , Ndip Lucy Mande
Published: April 2023

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease affecting the livestock sector in low‐income countries. Cameroon, a lower‐middle‐income country in sub‐Saharan Africa, has reported the prevalence of brucellosis in regions where livestock rearing is the principal economic activity. However, the presence of the disease has not been reported in southern regions receiving cattle for consumption by their population. In addition, there is no report on the Brucella species circulating in Cameroon. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in cattle slaughtered in the Buea and Douala slaughterhouses and identify the Brucella species circulating among these animals. A total of 576 cattle serum samples were collected from the Buea and Douala slaughterhouses and analysed by ELISA. Following the ELISA assay, all samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The bcsp31 gene primers were used for the genus‐specific PCR. All bcsp31‐positive samples were subjected to species‐specific PCR. Primers targeting the IS711 gene sequence were used to identify the abortus‐melitensis‐ovis‐suis species. The prevalence of brucellosis in both locations was 3.1% and 5.4% using the ELISA and PCR assays, respectively. Out of the 18 ELISA‐positive samples, 5 (27%) were positive with PCR, while 26 (4.7%) of the ELISA‐negative samples were positive with PCR. The Brucella species in circulation were identified using the Sanger sequencing technique. The sequences were 99.3% to 100% identical to the B. abortus strain BJ1‐23 and the B. abortus strain BJ1‐1 of the 31 kDa antigen (bcsp31) gene from India. This is the first report on the genotypic characterisation of Brucella species in Cameroon and confirms brucellosis in cattle at the Buea and Douala slaughterhouses.
LogPal: A Generic Anomaly Detection Scheme of Heterogeneous Logs for Network Systems
Authors: Sun Lei , Xu Xiaolong
Published: April 2023

As a key resource for diagnosing and identifying problems, network syslog contains vast quantities of information. And it is the main source of data for anomaly detection of systems. Syslog presents the characteristics of large scale, diverse types and sources, data noise, and quick evolvement, which makes the detection methods not generic enough. To effectively address problem of log anomaly labelling caused by massive heterogeneous logs, we propose LogPal, a generic anomaly detection scheme of heterogeneous logs for network systems, which innovatively combines template sequences and raw log sequences to construct and generate log pattern events. By improving the self-attention mechanism of transformer, LogPal proactively synthesizes self-attention and handles log pattern events in a unique way. The model can make full use of log template and sequence semantic information, by automatically becoming aware of the pattern of logs. We implemented experiments to evaluate the performance of LogPal on publicly available datasets, and the outcome of the experiments shows that LogPal automatically adapts to log type changes and improves precision, recall, and F1 score to 99% on publicly available datasets.
Biosynthesis and Anti‐inflammatory Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extract of Senecio chrysanthemoides
Authors: Zahoor Sana , Sheraz Sadia , Shams Dilawar Farhan , Rehman Gauhar , Nayab Saira , Shah Muhammad Ishaq Ali , Ateeq Muhammad , Shah Said Karim , Ahmad Tanveer , Shams Sulaiman , Khan Waliullah
Published: April 2023

Nanotechnology has recently appeared as an important study subject in modern material sciences. Greener synthesis of nanoparticles has gained the attention of many scientists because of its integral characteristics such as effectiveness, eco‐friendly, and low cost. In the present study by following the green synthesis approach, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were formed for the very first time by using Senecio chrysanthemoides leaf extract as a reducing agent. The UV‐Vis spectrophotometer was used to study the synthesized ZnO NPs, and the specific peak was found to be at 349 nm. The characteristic Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) peak was found to be at 449 cm-1 which displays the peak of ZnO molecules. The surface morphology of the ZnO NPs was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) study showed that the synthesized ZnO NPs are present at the weight percentage of 66.38%. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum confirmed the hexagonal phase wurtzite structure, with the average particle size of 31 nm, and demonstrated the crystalline structure of ZnO NPs. Additionally, to all these experiments, we compared the anti‐inflammatory properties of biogenic ZnO NPs to a standard drug. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs have revealed an effective anti‐inflammatory activity at a higher concentration (100 mL-1) and showed 73% inhibition in comparison with diclofenac sodium drug. Zinc oxide was shown to be compatible with diclofenac sodium, according to the results. The ZnO NPs produced using the greener synthesis process have the potential to be used in a broad range of fields and also used as a good anti‐inflammatory agent.
HLOChain: A Hierarchical Blockchain Framework with Lightweight Consensus and Optimized Storage for IoT
Authors: Xie Qingqing , Dong Fan , Feng Xia
Published: April 2023

Blockchain can effectively deal with the security and trust issues in Internet of Things (IoT) due to its salient features including decentralization, immutability, traceability, openness, and transparency. However, most IoT devices have too limited computing, storage, and bandwidth resources to maintain the complete operation of a blockchain system. To this end, we propose a hierarchical blockchain framework called HLOChain for IoT scenarios. First, according to computing and storage capabilities, the IoT devices are classified into three levels, i.e., high, medium, and low. They are deployed on different layers. In this way, a hierarchical blockchain architecture is designed. Second, we propose a lightweight proof of random (PoR) consensus mechanism to provide low-energy block mining, so that even the medium nodes can participate in the consensus task. Third, in order to reduce the ledger storage overhead, we design a blockchain storage optimization strategy based on the account model. Finally, the security analysis demonstrates that our HLOChain is secure against double-spend attack, Sybil attack, and so on. The experimental evaluation shows that our HLOChain achieves better performance in ledger storage cost, consensus computing cost, throughput, and transaction confirmation latency.
3D Porous N and S Co-doped CNT Microspheres with Highly Dispersed CoP Nanoparticles: Toward an Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Zn-Air Batteries
Authors: Shim Min Sub , Hong Jeong Hoo , Kang Yun Chan
Published: April 2023

The design and efficient synthesis of oxygen redox electrocatalysts possessed with high activity are of the essence for advanced rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). In particular, porous architectures composed of transition metal compound and carbonaceous material have attracted significant attention owing to their enhanced electrocatalytic activity. This study reports the fabrication of metal-free N and S co-doped porous CNT microspheres (3DNSCNT) via spray drying and subsequent post-treatment. Moreover, to hybridize with metal phosphide, CoP nanoparticles are uniformly decorated on the microspheres (3DNSCNT/CoP) by the hydrothermal method and phosphidation treatment. Due to the effect of the combination of the porous architecture inside the entangled 3DNSCNT and uniformly deposited CoP nanoparticles, 3DNSCNT/CoP exhibits superior bifunctional electrocatalytic activities for oxygen redox reaction in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte compared with noble metal-based catalysts like Pt and Ru. Furthermore, as an air cathode for ZABs, 3DNSCNT/CoP exhibits a high-power density (177 mW cm-2), low polarization overpotential, and durable cycle performance (200 h).
Evaluation of Anti‐Candida albicans Activities of Herbal Preparations Sold at the Kumasi Central Market in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Authors: Domfeh Seth A. , Kyeremeh Godfred , Belifini Mark
Published: April 2023

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is predominantly the leading cause of candidiasis among women with urogenital candidiasis. Since most people in resource‐limited countries depend on herbal medicine for their primary care needs, many herbal drugs are sold to manage various infectious diseases. This study, therefore, evaluated the anti‐C. albicans activities of five selected herbal preparations indicated for treating candidiasis sold at the Kumasi Central Market in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The market was divided into five clusters, and one herbal preparation was randomly selected from each cluster. Using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility test, the herbal preparations were tested against clinically isolated C. albicans. Fluconazole, a standard antifungal drug, was included in the evaluation as a positive control. The experiments were performed on three different days and each in triplicates. Among the five selected herbal preparations, only one was effective against C. albicans with a mean inhibition zone of 19.1 mm. This effective herbal drug was prepared from Centella asiatica sap, Turnera microphylla leaves, and Vitex agnus-castus leaves. The results suggest that not all the herbal preparations selected were effective against C. albicans. Hence, we recommend that the authorities continually check the effectiveness of the herbal preparations on the market.
Bayesian Estimation of a Geometric Life Testing Model under Different Loss Functions Using a Doubly Type‐1Censoring Scheme
Authors: Akhtar Nadeem , Ahmad Khan Sajjad , Amin Muhammad , Khan Akbar Ali , Almaspoor Zahra , Ali Amjad , Manzoor Sadaf
Published: April 2023

In this article, we consider the doubly type‐1 censoring scheme that researchers frequently use in clinical trials and lifetime experiments. The Bayesian paradigm will be used to estimate the parameters of the Geometric Lifetime Model (GLTM) using a doubly type‐I censoring scheme. Bayes estimators and their associated Bayes risks are examined in terms of closed‐form algebraic expressions. This research also includes a strategy for eliciting hyperparameters based on prior prediction distributions. To evaluate the strength and effectiveness of the suggested estimating approach, thorough simulation studies as well as real‐life data analysis are presented. The results depict that Squared Error Loss Function (SELF) is more efficient, and the Beta prior is suitable while estimating the parameter of GLTM.
Preparation and Characterization of Polyurethane Rigid Foam Nanocomposites from Used Cooking Oil and Perlite
Authors: Sarim Muntajab , Alavi Nikje Mir Mohammad , Dargahi Maryam
Published: April 2023

Modern chemical industries trend towards industrial ecology to achieve a circular economy, because of increasing environmental and economic awareness jointly. One of the most important of these industries is polyurethane, accompanied by more and more interest in using renewable polyols. The study focuses on synthesizing and characterizing polyurethane rigid foams formulated by replacing 40%, 60%, and 100% of a petrochemical polyol with a bio-polyol derived from used cooking oil, and introducing perlite and modified perlite nanoparticles into the bio-polyol. The products were evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analyses, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The results indicate that the hydroxide value and viscosity at 25°C of the bio-polyol were around

456
±
30

 mg KOH/g and 148 mPa s. Bio-polyol blends of 40% and 60% had no significant effect on the thermal properties of polyurethane systems. The lowest value of char yield was observed for the sample with a 100% bio-polyol content of 2.3%. The beneficial effects of both perlite and modified perlite particles on the 100% bio-polyol-based foam were observed as having an effective role in improving thermal stability and reconstructing cellular structure. The yield char increased to 13.2%, 14%, 14.7%, and 15% for the two filler contents 2.5% and 5%. However, the new bio-polyol has a fairly good value in industrial construction, and the perlite particles have enhanced and improved this value.
Study of Wear Behavior on AA6061 Reinforced with Hybrid Ceramic Composites through Optimization
Authors: Shabbir Omar , Alagarsamy S. V. , Krishnamurthy C. , Nagaraj A. , Singh Pradeep Kumar , Ketema Sida Sisay
Published: April 2023

This present work uses the three main components for alloying, silver nitrate, aluminium nitride, and titanium diboride. Stir casting was used to make AA 6061 composites with varying weights of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12%. Microhardness, tensile strength, and compressive strength of produced composites were evaluated. Several wear tests were performed on the composites to measure their resistance to abrasion and erosion. The mass loss was calculated because of wear testing. Conventional and unconventional methods like the Taguchi technique and analysis of variance were employed to study and analyze the abrasive and erosion wear test outcomes to obtain better wear resistance for different weight % of AA 6061 compounds and to investigate the most important input and output characteristics employing the said optimal strategies. Reinforcement percentages were raised to improve mechanical quality.
A Comparative Analysis of the Mamdani and Sugeno Fuzzy Inference Systems for MPPT of an Islanded PV System
Authors: Samavat Tina , Nazari Mostafa , Ghalehnoie Mohsen , Nasab Morteza Azimi , Zand Mohammad , Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban , Khan Baseem
Published: April 2023

With the maturation of nonlinear systems, considerable endeavors have been made to provide valid and high-speed controllers to supervise superior and more complex systems. Artificial intelligence has been remembered as the head topic among designers in the last decade. One of the popular control techniques is fuzzy logic, which is known to provide a controller that simulates the behavior of an expert operator. On the other hand, due to the necessity of change in human energy sources and the popularity of solar energy, attention to the greatest utilization of this category of green resources has significantly increased. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in solar systems is a headed topic, with innovative methods being presented every day despite numerous articles. However, the less discussed topic is the choice of a fuzzy inference system. In this article, the two classes of Mamdani and Sugeno are discussed to introduce the best controller for extracting more power from a solar system by implementing both types and gaining an understanding of their differences. In addition, the influence of the number of input membership functions on the controller performance is investigated. Therefore, two different input membership functions are given to each fuzzy system model. It should be noted that fuzzy system setup has been done by genetic algorithm to respond to the mortal desire to automate various processes, which is a subset of artificial intelligence. Accordingly, four different fuzzy systems have been designed and implemented on a solar system. The results were tested and summarized in various radiations in MATLAB Simulink.
Tailoring of Ag3PO4-Anchored Hydroxyapatite Nanophotocatalyst with Tunable Particle Size by a Facile Ion-Exchange Method for Organic Textile Dyes Photodegradation
Authors: Dhatchayani Surendran , Sankaranarayanan Krishnasamy , Kathiresan K.
Published: April 2023

Silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance but has limitation in its stability and reusability. To overcome the issue of reusability, composites of silver phosphate nanostructures are tailored. This paper elucidates the photocatalytic study of silver phosphate-anchored hydroxyapatite (HA) (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) on the degradation of commercial textile dye, Sunfix Red (SR) S3B 150% by changing the experimental parameters such as catalyst concentration, dye concentration, and pH of the dye solution under the sunlight. Silver phosphate-anchored HA (HA_Ag3PO4(x)) was prepared via a two-step process. HA was synthesized by a simple wet chemical precipitation and silver phosphate-anchored HA (HA_Ag3PO4(x)) via in situ ion-exchange method. The synthesized photocatalysts were subjected to characterization studies such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All the synthesized composites exhibited the bandgap of 2.34 eV and degraded SR in 45 min with the rate constant 0.07168 min−1 under sunlight. The trapping tests for radicals were done to study the role of free radicals in the degradation of the dye, SR, and the possible degradation mechanism was proposed. The postphotocatalytic analysis of XRD showed that the structure of Ag3PO4 remained intact declaring its structural stability. It was observed that the concentration of AgNO3 precursor influenced the number of nucleation over the surface of HA and the particle size of Ag3PO4. The applicability of the synthesized material was extended to other organic dyes such as Sunzol Black (SB) DN conc., methylene blue (MB), and rhodamine B (RhB) by the prepared composite and the findings were presented.