bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of two hypotheses on the maintenance mechanism of fruit color dimorphism of Viscum coloratum in northeastern China
Authors: Sun Qi , Wu Lei , Zhao Jimin , Zhang Yanwen
Published: May 2024

Viscum coloratum, a semi-parasitic evergreen shrub exhibiting fruit color dimorphism, was investigated in this study to test the two hypotheses of forager preference and habitat heterogeneity selection. A study in northeastern China examined frugivorous bird preferences for color morphs and seed germination performance across three populations. Observations were conducted from November 2018 to March 2019, focusing on fruit removal rates and seed collection. Fruit counts and seed germination experiments were conducted to assess color morph preferences and germination rates at different observation stages and under various temperature conditions. Results indicated no preference for frugivorous birds between color morphs, contrary to the forager preference hypothesis. However, in the northern population (FY), the germination speed of red morph seeds was slightly faster under low-temperature conditions (15°C). In contrast, in the southern population (FC), seeds of the yellow morph germinated slightly faster under higher temperatures (20°C). These differences in germination speed were attributed to fitness differences among populations, supporting the habitat heterogeneity selection hypothesis. Frugivorous birds didn’t favor specific color morphs, but seed germination rates vary subtly with local conditions, indicating adaptation to habitat differences. This underscores how habitat variation influences V. coloratum’s ecological dynamics.
Advancing Frontline Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection using Within-Class Feature Extraction in FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Tang Zheng , Duckworth Edward , Mora Benjamin , Al-Sarireh Bilal , Roy Debdulal , Mortimer Matthew
Published: May 2024

This study introduces a novel approach for the early detection of pancreatic cancer through biofluid spectroscopy, leveraging a unique machine learning pipeline comprising class-specific principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and support vector machine (SVM) in both real patient and synthetic data. By conducting separate PCA on cancerous and non-cancerous samples and integrating the projections prior to LDA and SVM classification, we demonstrate significantly improved diagnostic accuracy compared to traditional methods. This methodology not only enhances predictive performance but also offers deeper insights into the influence of molecular spectra on model efficacy. Our findings, validated on real patient data, suggest a promising avenue for developing non-invasive, accurate diagnostic tools for early-stage pancreatic cancer detection.
Bearing fault diagnosis method based on multi-domain feature fusion and heterogeneous network under small sample conditions
Authors: Zhao Xiaoqiang , Li Sen
Published: May 2024

To solve the problems of insufficient feature extraction of the current methods under small sample conditions and loss of information in the process of signal transformation from different domains, a bearing fault diagnosis method based on multi-domain feature fusion and heterogeneous networks under small sample conditions is proposed. The method firstly designs the data preprocessing module to transform and combine the raw vibration signals into multi-domain signals by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Gram Angle Field (GAF), which provides rich feature conditions for the subsequent feature extraction. Then, heterogeneous branch networks are designed for different domain signals used in low-dimensional feature extraction in the high-dimensional nonlinear space of fault data. When the inputs or intermediate processes of one branching network is interfered by the outside world, another branching network will play the role of error correction, which enhances the fault-tolerance of the proposed method. Next, in order to enhance the critical feature extraction capability of the heterogeneous network, the Location-Aware Channel Enhancement Block (LACEB) is designed. The LACEB learns the unique weights for different channels and different locations in the feature map by adaptively adjusting the dynamic factors and feature location parameters. Further, the memory unit in the global feature extraction module is used to learn the context information of each time step, and the dependency between the global features and the local features is effectively established. Finally, in order to prevent the model from falling into local optimal, a learning rate adaptive optimization algorithm is designed to optimize the model training process. A variety of strictly comparative experiments were tested on the CWRU dataset and the MFS dataset, concluding that this method is capable of performing fault diagnosis tasks in different environments and devices.
Jacobi Set Simplification for Tracking Topological Features in Time-Varying Scalar Fields
Authors: Meduri Dhruv , Sharma Mohit , Natarajan Vijay
Published: May 2024

The Jacobi set of a bivariate scalar field is the set of points where the gradients of the two constituent scalar fields align with each other. It captures the regions of topological changes in the bivariate field. The Jacobi set is a bivariate analog of critical points, and may correspond to features of interest. In the specific case of time-varying fields and when one of the scalar fields is time, the Jacobi set corresponds to temporal tracks of critical points, and serves as a feature-tracking graph. The Jacobi set of a bivariate field or a time-varying scalar field is complex, resulting in cluttered visualizations that are difficult to analyze. This paper addresses the problem of Jacobi set simplification. Specifically, we use the time-varying scalar field scenario to introduce a method that computes a reduced Jacobi set. The method is based on a stability measure called robustness that was originally developed for vector fields and helps capture the structural stability of critical points. We also present a mathematical analysis for the method, and describe an implementation for 2D time-varying scalar fields. Applications to both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the method for tracking features.
Molecular Characterization of Taro (Colocasia Esculenta (L.) Schott) Using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers
Authors: Amoako Francis Anti , Koomson Isaac Appiah-Asare , Ashiagbor Enock , Adjei Angela , Akakpo Kwame , Nabadam Samuel Pwawari , Bismark Bernard Awaitey , Arthur Gilbert , Fuseini Mohammed , Nyadanu Daniel
Published: May 2024

Taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott is one of the most valued crops for economic, medicinal, and nutritional roots and tubers globally. However, the crop has not received pronounced research attention to enhance its production and utilization potential, which has resulted in insufficient planting materials for utilization by breeders in Ghana. Genetic diversity characterization of taro at molecular level is important and crucial step for their utilization in breeding and conservation. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the genetic diversity and relationships of 26 accessions of Taro, C. esculenta (L.) Schott collected from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. A total of 38 putative alleles were amplified at 4 SSR loci with an average of 9.50 alleles per locus. PIC value ranged from 0.44 with primer XUQTEM 97 to 0.89 with primer XUQTEM 73 with an average value of 0.73. Expected Heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.59 to 0.92. Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) clustering using Jaccard's similarity coefficient grouped 26 accessions into eight clusters. The information generated from this investigation will be useful for researchers and breeders for their conservation, Molecular Breeding-based Research & Development and their sustainable future utilization.
Lyapunov control strategy for low-frequency offshore wind power based on hexagonal converters
Authors: shen zhichao , cheng qiming
Published: May 2024

The low-frequency transmission system (LFTS) for offshore wind power is a promising integrated solution. Hexverter, as a topology derived from the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (M3C), exhibits certain advantages in low-frequency transmission. However, its application in offshore wind power faces challenges due to the stochastic nature and nonlinear characteristics of renewable energy, making linear PID control less effective. In contrast, the Lyapunov control strategy has shown better performance in controlling nonlinear systems than PID control. Therefore, this paper proposes a Lyapunov control strategy for Hexverter. Firstly, the global asymptotic stability of the Lyapunov control strategy for Hexverter is analyzed. Then, based on the topology of Hexverter, the control laws for bilateral Lyapunov control of Hexverter are derived, and the parameter selection problem for Lyapunov control is discussed. Subsequently, a Lyapunov control system for Hexverter is established using Simulink and RT-LAB platforms. The operating results under various conditions are simulated, and the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed Lyapunov control strategy are validated by comparing the simulation results with PID control.
Driver Attention Prediction based on Multi-ScaleFeature Fusion
Authors: Yu Chengbin , Feng Jianwen , Yan Liqi , Zhang Jianhui
Published: May 2024

Driver attention prediction plays a crucial role in the developing intelligent driving and assisted driving systems. However, this task presents several challenges to researchers, including the difficulty of effectively utilizing driving scene information and the lack of driver attention prediction models that can accurately predict driver’s multiple regions of fixation. To address these challenges, this work proposes a novel multi-scale feature fusion network (MSFFDAP) for driver attention prediction. MSFFDAP uses a convolutional neural network to extract multi-scale features, takes into account the strong complementarity between multi-scale features and adopts a two-stage approach to multi-scale fusion to fully exploit the information in the driving scene and more accurately predict the driver’s multiple fixation locations. In the first stage, the network fuses the features of each two adjacent scales separately. In the second stage, a bidirectional densely connected network is employed to fuse the multi-scale features, enabling the extraction of comprehensive contextual information. Furthermore, effective integration of coordinate attention with Conv-LSTM is applied to accurately capture spatialtemporal relationships. Experimental results on two challenging datasets show that the proposed MSFFDAP adequately fuses information from driving scenarios and is able to predict multiple critical areas occurring at the same time more accurately than state-of-the-art methods.
The Effects of Apocynin on Selenite-induced Cataract Established in Rats
Authors: Oksar Hulya Adiguzel , Soydan Adem , Tek Semih , Ulaş Fatih , Oksar Metin
Published: May 2024

Purpose
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of apocynin, a natural methoxy-substituted catechol, have been demonstrated in various cell and animal models of inflammation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential protective effects of apocynin on selenite-induced cataract formation, and to examine the effect of apocynin on the morphological grade of the cataract formation and on the biochemical parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT) in the lens.
Methods
Twenty-five rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 (n = 5). The control group was administered saline only. Sodium selenite at a dose of 30nmol/gr was administered to Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, then Group 2 received dimethyl sulphoxide, Group 3 received 10 mg/kg apocynin and Group 4 received 20 mg/kg apocynin.
Results
Both the low and high doses of apocynin were found to decrease the cataract grade in the lenses (p < 0.001, p < 0.05 respectively). Low- dose apocynin was determined to increase CAT and GR levels in lens tissue (p = 0.003, p = 0.002, respectively) but did not change MDA levels (p = 0.99). High- dose apocynin was found to increase MDA levels (p = 0.04).
Conclusion
Low doses of apocynin may prevent cataract by increasing antioxidant capacity and high doses may be partially toxic by increasing MDA levels, a marker of oxidation. The results of this preliminary study are encouraging, but further investigations should be designed to show whether a similar anti-cataractogenic potential can be revealed in humans.
Generalizable Denoising of Microscopy Images using Generative Adversarial Networks and Contrastive Learning
Authors: Fuentes-Hurtado Félix , Sibarita Jean-Baptiste , Viasnoff Virgile
Published: May 2024

Microscopy images often suffer from high levels of noise, which can hinder further analysis and interpretation. Content-aware image restoration (CARE) methods have been proposed to address this issue, but they often require large amounts of training data and suffer from over-fitting. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel framework for few-shot microscopy image denoising. Our approach combines a generative adversarial network (GAN) trained via contrastive learning (CL) with two structure preserving loss terms – Structural Similarity Index and Total Variation loss – to further improve the quality of the denoised images using little data. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on three well-known microscopy imaging datasets, and show that we can drastically reduce the amount of training data while retaining the quality of the denoising, thus alleviating the burden of acquiring paired data and enabling few-shot learning. The proposed framework can be easily extended to other image restoration tasks and has the potential to significantly advance the field of microscopy image analysis.
Genetic diversity of yam (Dioscorea sp.) through morphological and molecular markers
Authors: Santos Crislaine Alves , Gois Itamara Bomfim , Prata Laura Catharine Doria , Calazans Crislaine Costa , Silva Ana Veruska Cruz da , Silva-Mann Renata , Blank Arie Fitzgerald , Arrigoni-Blank Maria de Fatima
Published: May 2024

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of genotypes of Dioscorea sp. originating from states of the Brazilian Northeast region (Sergipe, Bahia, Alagoas, and Paraíba) through morphological and molecular characterization. For this evaluation, 52 yam genotypes were collected from market locations and directly from rural growers. Morphological characterization made use of 31 morphological descriptors for the yam crop. The environmental coefficient of variation (CVe) of most of the descriptors evaluated was greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (CVg), and heritability was high only for stem color (86.86%). The highest significant positive correlation was between the presence of the tuber and the presence of roots on the surface of the tuber (r = 1; p < 0.001). The genotypes were clustered in seven different groups based on the morphological descriptors evaluated. For molecular characterization, SSR (9) and ISSR (16) primers were used. The primers used were considered informative, showing high polymorphic information content; and 100% of the bands were polymorphic. Genetic diversity was estimated by the following parameters: number of alleles (2.00), effective number of alleles (1.30), expected heterozygosity (0.211), and the Shannon index (0.351). The 52 genotypes were clustered in seven groups according to the Jaccard distance. The genetic structure of the population in K = 2 reveals shared alleles among the genotypes of different geographic origins. Morphological and molecular characterization reveals the high genetic diversity among the 52 genotypes of Dioscorea sp. and low diversity among the collection sites.
Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Brains Assessed by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Campen Matthew , Nihart Alexander , Garcia Marcus , Liu Rui , Olewine Marian , Castillo Eliseo , Bleske Barry , Scott Justin , Howard Tamara , Gonzalez-Estrella Jorge , Adolphi Natalie , Gallego Daniel , Hayek Eliane El
Published: May 2024

Rising global concentrations of environmental micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) drive concerns for human exposure and health outcomes. Applying pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) methods to isolate and quantify MNPs from human samples, we compared MNP accumulation in kidneys, livers, and brains. Autopsy samples from the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque, NM, collected in 2016 and in 2024, were digested for Py-GC/MS analysis of 12 polymers. Brains exhibited higher concentrations of MNPs than liver or kidney samples. All organs exhibited significant increases from 2016 to 2024. Polyethylene was the predominant polymer; the relative proportion of polyethylene MNPs was greater in brain samples than in liver or kidney. Transmission electron microscopy verified the nanoscale nature of isolated particles, which largely appeared to be aged, shard-like plastics remnants across a wide range of sizes. Results demonstrate that MNPs are selectively accumulated into the human brain and concentrations are rising over time.
Foreign Direct Investment and Military Expenditure in the Face of Terrorism: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Authors: Alhaji Kabiru
Published: May 2024

This study examines the relationship between military expenditure and foreign direct investment (FDI) amid terrorism. The study used Mean Group, Pooled Mean Group, Dynamic Fixed Effect, and Panel Quantile estimations techniques on 23 terrorized countries in Sub-Sharan Africa from 1999 to 2019. The outcome of the estimate discovered that military expenditure in the absence of terrorism negates FDI flow. But, amid terrorism, military expenditure has a significant positive impact on FDI inflow. Also, the results show that the effect varies at different quantiles. The results are robust using death from terrorism attacks to measure terrorism on a different model. The study suggests that countries should desist from high military spending in the absence of terrorism to facilitate FDI flow. Countries in mid-life terrorism should enhance military spending and augment military strategy with other options to boost investors' confidence in the economy's high influx of FDI.
JEL Classification: C33, F21, F52, H53
Circulating inflammatory proteins and risk of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Zhichun , Li Guanglu , Zhou Liche , Zhang Lina , You Yong , Liu Jun
Published: May 2024

Background: Accumulating studies have suggested associations between peripheral inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Objective: To evaluate the causal associations between 91 plasma inflammatory proteins and 4 neurodegenerative disorders.
Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization studies were performed using summary statistics extracted from genome-wide association studies of 91 plasma inflammatory proteins and 4 neurodegenerative disorders.
Results: Genetically proxied tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 levels were causally associated with reduced risk of PD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74-0.92, p = 4.18 x 10-4, Bonferroni-corrected p < 0.05 for 91 proteins). Additionally, we identified potential causal associations between the levels of C-C motif chemokine 20 (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.03-1.25, p = 1.29 x 10-2) and Alzheimer’s disease, between levels of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (OR = 0.91, 95%CI = 0.84-0.98, p = 1.12 x 10-2) and tumor necrosis factor-β (OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.93-0.98, p = 1.01 x 10-3) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, between levels of adenosine deaminase (OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.71-0.94, p = 5.14 x 10-3) and interleukin-18 (OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.69-0.96, p = 1.68 x 10-2) and multiple sclerosis.
Conclusions: Our study unveils plausible causal associations between circulating inflammatory factors and risk of 4 neurodegenerative disorders. These findings hold promise for promoting risk assessment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders, meriting further exploration.
Cassiterite and Sn mineralization in the giant Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE deposit, Northern China
Authors: Xu Ya-Ting , Wang Ru-Cheng , Zhou Mei-Fu , Wu Fu-Yuan
Published: May 2024

Critical rare metal deposits are strategic resources as these metals have numerous applications in high-tech industries. Among the critical rare metals, natural stannum (Sn) is mainly found in the Sn-oxide mineral cassiterite (SnO2) and is closely associated with granite or pegmatite. Carbonatite and alkaline rocks are more likely to contain vast amounts of critical rare metals, especially REEs and niobium (Nb). Here we report the presence of abundant cassiterite (SnO2) and evaluate potential Sn mineralization in the Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE deposit in northern China, the largest REE deposit worldwide. This represents the first reported evidence of Sn enrichment in a carbonatite-hosted REE deposit.

REE-Fe ores are dominantly mined in the Bayan Obo deposit. Disseminated, banded, and massive ores contain tens to hundreds of parts per million Sn, and vein-type ores are notably rich in Sn (up to 1500 ppm). In-situ micro-zonation mineralogical analyses identified two occurrences of cassiterite and several Sn-rich minerals in these REE-Fe ores. Abundant early-stage nanoscale cassiterite inclusions are present within magnetite grains in banded and massive REE-Fe ores, and ubiquitous late-stage granular cassiterite, Sn-rich rutile, titanite, and bafertisite are present in vein-type REE-Fe ores. Multiple U-Th-Pb dating of monazite and columbite-Mn in association with cassiterite yields peak ages of 425 Ma and 419 ± 18 Ma, respectively, revealing coeval Sn and Nb mineralization. We conclude that Sn was derived from carbonatitic magmas, and the dense distribution of cassiterite inclusions in magnetite marked the pre-enrichment of Sn in the Bayan Obo deposit. Subsequent Early Paleozoic hydrothermal events led to reactivation and further Sn mineralization. Similar to Nb, Sn was mineralized in the Bayan Obo deposit, possibly forming economically important resources. Our study highlights the potential of Sn mineralization associated with carbonatite-hosted REE deposits.
Mushroom-shaped growth of crystals on the Moon
Authors: Xi Jiaxin , Yang Yiping , He Hongping , Xian Haiyang , Li Shan , Lin Xiaoju , Zhu Jianxi , Teng H. Henry
Published: May 2024

Over the past three decades, advances in crystal nucleation and growth have led to the understanding that crystallization proceeds through various pathways, ranging from the conventional atom-by-atom model to the particle aggregation- or amorphous transformation-based non-classical modes. Here, we present a novel mineralization mechanism exemplified by a lunar chromite formed via solid-liquid interface reactions through investigations of a lunar breccia returned by the Chang’e 5 mission. The chromite occurs in the middle of a whisker-shaped intergrowth structure made by olivine at the bottom and nanospheres of troilite and metallic iron at the top. Morphological observation and size statistics of the nanospheres, including those within the whisker structure and the others dispersed in glass, suggest the nanophases attached to olivine with coherent crystallographic orientations, possibly through an oriented aggregation process. The chromium deficiency in the olivine near the interface between olivine and chromite suggests that Cr in chromite originated from olivine, but the significantly reduced ferrous concentration in the glass surrounding chromite indicates the iron was derived from surrounding impact-induced glass. Based on laboratory observations and simulated calculations of energy and lattice mismatch, we propose that chromite crystallized at the interface between troilite and olivine in the impact melts, during which the nanospheres were lifted and transported away from olivine surface and formed a mushroom-shaped structure. This finding suggests that oriented attachment growth, chiefly confined to homogeneous systems thus far, can also occur in heterogeneous systems far from equilibrium, such as that produced by the impacts. It is conceivable that the studied crystallization pathway occurring on the heterogeneous interfaces may have been a common mineralization mode at highly nonequilibrium conditions.
comparative study to evaluate the subtractive and additive process in dentistry: a systematic review
Authors: Carreño Ana Milena , Torres Margy Estefany , Ramirez Rojas Marlon Stiven , Núñez Rodriguez Jairo
Published: May 2024

The objective of this study was focused on carrying out an analysis on the main contributions of additive manufacturing in dental pieces and the benefits of this procedure in dentistry, as well as establishing the advantages and limitations that this modality entails. The research was based on a systematic review with adaptability to Prisma and Tranfield methodology, through which the impact of additive manufacturing in dental clinics and in the various clients who acquire the pieces in terms of taste and adherence to product, likewise, in terms of contribution to knowledge, the study remains as a precedent for other investigations that are carried out later on this topic. Articles published in the last five years from the Scopus and Web of Science databases were reviewed. The process was developed through inclusion and exclusion criteria, wherein its final instance the material criteria, type of printing, and post-processing were reviewed, to which a final filter was made that yielded the articles for review of the literature. This project contributes to the knowledge of the processes that are carried out in additive manufacturing in dental pieces, the advantages and disadvantages, thus leaving a precedent for the adherence of dental clinics to this method.
Análise bromatológica e avaliação das propriedades antioxidantes do suco pasteurizado de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) fermentado por Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 9595
Authors: Guimarães Daniel dos Santos , Da Silva Camila Caetano , Aguiar Kátia Sayuri Aragão , Ferreira Alexia Figueiredo , Silva Marcos Andrade , Da Silva Luís Cláudio Nascimento , Zagmignan Adrielle
Published: May 2024

O presente trabalho realizou a análise bromatológica e avaliou as propriedades antioxidantes do suco pasteurizado de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) fermentado por Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 9595. Os sucos foram pasteurizados (80 °C/10 minutos), para posterior fermentação com L. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 (inóculo de 108 UFC). Após 48h, foi analisado a viabilidade de L. rhamnosus, produção de ácidos orgânicos e resistência à lisozima e sais biliares. As amostras foram mantidas sob refrigeração durante 28 dias para análises bromatológicas. Os sucos foram submetidos à extração com acetato de etila para avaliação da atividade antioxidante, dosagem de compostos fenólicos e flavonoides. L. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 cresceu no suco pasteurizado de cupuaçu (~9 Log UFC/mL), se mantendo estável durante os 28 dias (p>0,05). Todas as amostras estavam nos padrões microbiológicos estabelecidos pelas diretrizes brasileiras para sucos. De igual modo, não foram detectadas alterações significativas nos teores de Cinzas, umidade e B° nos períodos analisados (p>0,05). L. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 cultivado no suco ou MRS resistiu a ação da lisozima (100 mg/L) e sais biliares (0,5% e 1,0%). A capacidade antioxidante do suco de cupuaçu aumentou significativamente após a fermentação por L. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 e os teores de compostos fenólicos. As amostras de suco fermentados apresentaram valores de IC50 semelhantes durante o armazenamento, enquanto o extrato não fermentado apresentou variação a partir do 21º dia. Os resultados que a fermentação por L. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 é uma estratégia eficiente para aumentar as características antioxidantes do suco de cupuaçu.
A mechanistic deterioration point assignment model for water pipe condition assessment
Authors: Zhu Ziyi , Wang Chenwan , Feng Yijie , Xie Jialun
Published: May 2024

A pipe condition assessment model is required to implement effective and economical planned maintenance of the water distribution system. The application of such a model requires sufficient accuracy, which, however, is limited by the complexity of the pipe deterioration process and data storage capacity of the water utility. The majority of previous studies have focused on the improvement of assessment algorithms for data mining. In this study, a mechanistic deterioration point assignment (MDPA) model is developed to make advancements in the modes of data input and result output to enhance the model's accuracy and application scope for cast iron and steel pipes. In this MDPA model, (1) indicators/sub-indicators on external corrosion, external load, internal corrosion, and internal load are constructed and can be obtained by data estimation or techniques and (2) assessment results include both pipe overall condition and detailed conditions on corrosion and load, offering evidence for primary maintenance measures. The weights of the indicators/sub-indicators are estimated using the Bayesian statistics theory. The modelling results of pipe samples demonstrate that this MDPA model is an effective tool for pipe condition assessment.
Caste and class interactions in inequality in access to sanitation and hygiene services in India
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Kharb Suman
Published: May 2024

Given moderate access to WASH services at the national level, widespread socio-economic inequality still exists in India. This study assesses the status of access to different types of sanitation and hygiene services in India and how the caste and class interactions are associated with them. We use nationally representative household survey data and the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) sanitation and hygiene framework. For descriptive analysis, frequency distribution is used. Multivariable logistic regression is applied, and caste interactions are used to estimate the probabilities. Overall, 51.2 and 71.8% of the households have access to safe sanitation and hygiene services. However, among the Scheduled Tribe households, only 36.6 and 58.7% have access to safe sanitation and hygiene. Findings show that class and caste interactions are strongly associated with WASH services. The probability of access to safe sanitation and hygiene is 16 and 15% points lower for the poorest Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes compared to ‘Other’ socially privileged but economically poor, after adjusting for other household sociodemographic characteristics. The finding suggests that an upscaling of the existing policies and programs alongside considering the caste and class intersectionality is required for equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services and to achieve SDG-6.
Changes in precipitation and air temperature over Turkey using innovative trend pivot analysis method
Authors: Ceyhunlu Ahmet Iyad , Ceribasi Gokmen
Published: May 2024

This study aims to investigate variability in precipitation and air temperature data of all provinces in Turkey. The Innovative Trend Pivot Analysis Method (ITPAM) was used to analyze the trend in precipitation (mm) and air temperature (oC) data of Turkey in this study. Analyzing the country as a whole using this method is one of the strengths of the study. 30-year data sets between 1991 and 2020 were analyzed. As a result of the study, trend analysis results of precipitation and air temperature data of 81 provinces in Turkey were obtained. The significance level in trends was determined as 5%. Forty-one percent of monthly total precipitation data of Turkey showed an increasing trend, 41% showed a decreasing trend, while 18% showed no trend in this study. In the standard deviation of precipitation data, 44% of the data showed an increasing trend, 42% showed a decreasing trend and 14% showed no trend. Moreover, it was concluded that there was an increasing trend of 67% in monthly average air temperature data and an increasing trend of 46% in the standard deviation data. According to these results, it is concluded that monthly average air temperature data has a largely increasing trend.
Double decomposition with enhanced least-squares support vector machine to predict water level
Authors: Someetheram Vikneswari , Marsani Muhammad Fadhil , Mohd Kasihmuddin Mohd Shareduwan , Mohd Jamaludin Siti Zulaikha , Mansor Mohd. Asyraf
Published: May 2024

As global climates undergo changes, the frequency of water-related disasters rises, leading to significant economic losses and safety hazards. During flood events, river water levels exhibit unpredictable fluctuations, introducing considerable noise that poses challenges for accurate prediction. A prediction of water level by using existing water level data makes a major contribution to forecasting flood. Enhanced least-squares support vector machine (ELSSVM) is utilized by integrating an additional extra bias error control term. In this study, least-squares support vector machine (LSSVM) and ELSSVM optimized by the genetic algorithm (GA) were chosen to be compared with the help of data decomposition methods to improve daily water level prediction accuracy. Double empirical mode decomposition (DEMD) will be integrated with LSSVM and ELSSVM. Thus, the models are named LSSVM-GA, ELSSVM-GA, empirical mode decomposition (EMD)-LSSVM-GA, EMD-ELSSVM-GA, DEMD-LSSVM-GA, and DEMD-ELSSVM-GA. The proposed models are used in forecasting the water level of Klang River in Sri Muda, Malaysia. The behavior proposed models are investigated and compared based on several performance metrics. The results demonstrated that the DEMD-ELSSVM-GA model outperformed the other models based on the performance analysis in forecasting the water level with RMSE = 0.2536 m and R2 = 0.8596 for testing data that indicate the forecasting accuracy.
Prediction of the flow resistance in non-prismatic compound channels
Authors: Kaushik Vijay , Naik Bandita , Kumar Munendra , Minocha Vijay K.
Published: May 2024

Achieving an accurate estimation of the flow resistance in open channel flows is crucial for resolving several critical engineering difficulties. In instances when there is excessive flow on both banks of a river, it results in the breach of the primary channel, leading to the discharge of water into the adjacent floodplain. The alteration of floodplain geometry occurs as a consequence of agricultural and developmental practises, leading to the emergence of compound channels that exhibit converging, diverging, or skewed characteristics throughout the course of the flow. The efficacy of conventional equations in accurately forecasting flow resistance is limited due to their heavy reliance on empirical approaches. As a result of this phenomenon, there persists a significant need for methodologies that possess both novelty and precision. The objective of this work is to use the support vector machine (SVM) technique for the estimation of the Manning's roughness coefficient in a compound channel with converging floodplains. Statistical indicators are used to validate the constructed models in the experimental investigation, enabling the assessment of their performance and efficacy. The findings indicate a significant correlation between the Manning's roughness coefficient predicted by SVM and both experimental data and prior research outcomes.
Movimento lésbico-interseccional no Nordeste
Authors: Sousa dos Santos José Adailton
Published: May 2024

O texto se debruça sobre a história da formação e atuação política do Grupo Afirmativo de Mulheres Independentes - GAMI, atuante no Nordeste brasileiro. A partir da etnografia, busca-se à construção da história política e ação do GAMI, bem como descrever sua atuação enquanto coletivo que produz uma luta contra a lesbofobia, o racismo, o machismo e a outras formas de dominação que legitimam desigualdades para as mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais racializadas. Essas dimensões são construídas a partir da participação em atividades, formações e movimentações políticas realizadas pelo grupo. Os dados apontam o GAMI enquanto um coletivo importante, símbolo da luta pelos direitos das mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais no Nordeste, além de se constituir enquanto locus de afirmação das identidades lésbicas e bissexuais, é também um espaço de construção de novas agências para ressignificação de novas práticas de vida e luta.
NA CAPITAL NACIONAL DO AGRONEGÓCIO
Authors: Espimpolo Caio Marco , Araújo Elaine Sampaio
Published: May 2024

A partir de uma análise de dados oficiais de emprego, orçamentos e receitas do município de Ribeirão Preto, este ensaio pretende explorar as possibilidades teóricas de relação com a produção da desigualdade neste município do interior de São Paulo, no contexto de uma das mais importantes medidas de restrições de circulação devido à pandemia de COVID-19, quando atribui-se as contenções de gastos à diminuição da arrecadação de impostos. Pretende-se ainda relacionar a real situação de orçamentos e receitas com a educação pública de forma a compreender parte do desastre provocado neste setor pela não implementação dos dispositivos necessários para a manutenção da comunicação efetiva entre as escolas municipais e as pessoas que são usuárias deste serviço, como a contratação de serviço de internet e dispositivos eletrônicos que viabilizassem seu uso. A precarização ocorrida na educação pública municipal pretende desvelar-se como fruto de uma relação social excludente que privilegia as necessidades das poucas pessoas mais ricas em detrimento das possibilidades de produção de viver com dignidade a muitas outras pessoas mais pobres.
INTERVENÇÕES TERAPÊUTICAS NÃO FARMACOLÓGICAS PARA O TRATAMENTO DE ÚLCERAS NO PÉ DIABÉTICO: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
Authors: Coutinho Wesley Vanderson Vieira , Lira Rafaelle Cavalcante de , Assis Elisangela Vilar de
Published: May 2024

Introdução: As úlceras no pé diabético surgem da interação complexa entre neuropatia periférica e doença arterial periférica, comprometendo a cicatrização após traumas. Objetivo: Explorar a diversidade de intervenções terapêuticas não farmacológicas que têm sido estudadas e avaliadas quanto à sua eficácia e segurança no tratamento de úlceras no pé diabético. Metodologia: Pesquisa do tipo revisão integrativa da literatura. Para obtenção dos resultados foi realizado um levantamento nas plataformas PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Para elaboração dos resultados foram selecionados 21 artigos. Resultados: As intervenções encontradas foram oxigenoterapia hiperbárica, terapia de feridas por pressão negativa, uso de matriz dérmica, plasma rico em plaquetas, plasma atmosférico frio, tratamentos com curativos especiais e uso de solas rígidas, entre outros. Mostraram uma variabilidade na taxa de cicatrização e no tempo de fechamento da ferida, bem como na melhoria da regeneração tecidual. Conclusão: As pesquisas mostram uma diversidade de intervenções terapêuticas não farmacológicas utilizadas no tratamento de úlceras no pé diabético, ressaltando a necessidade de abordagens individualizadas e mais estudos para determinar a eficácia e segurança de cada intervenção.
Visceral Fat-associated Adipokines and Metabolic Variables in Central Obese
Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Shaheer Abid , Kumar Ashok , Jallo Mahir , Menon Palat
Published: May 2024

Background::

The association between visceral obesity and insulin resistance establishes an alternative risk for the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The
infiltration of macrophages in the visceral fatty tissue and the unreliable generation of adipokines are associated with mechanisms directing the
progress of insulin resistance.

Objective::

The objective of the study was to observe the relationship between visceral fat-associated adipokines and biochemical variables in central obese
type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods::

This study included 100 central obese subjects (both genders) aged 30-60 years newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Out of the 100
participants, 73 were male and 27 were female. Serum adipokines were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biochemical
parameters were assessed using the Cobas® 6000 analyzer, while HbA1c levels were determined through high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results::

The results showed a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between the adipokines and HbA1c, fasting, and postprandial blood glucose levels. The
results indicated a significant association (p < 0.05) between the adipokines and lipid profile with varying degrees in central obese type 2 diabetic
subjects.

Conclusion::

The relationship between visceral fat-associated adipokines and metabolic variables may influence the metabolic pathways in central obese type 2
diabetic patients. The adipokines are strong predictors for the intensification of diabetic risk and can be used as a diagnostic tool for risk
assessment in the central obese population.
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Vesicular Nanocarrier Systems for Elimination of Skin Cancer
Authors: Kumar Lalit , Rana Ritesh , Komal Komal , Aggarwal Vikas , Kumar Sumit , Choudhary Neeraj , Fathima H. Aafreen , Lakhanpal Sorabh
Published: May 2024

Background:

Skin cancer, a common malignancy worldwide, has increased incidence
and mortality. Thus, it is a public health issue and a significant illness burden, which increases
treatment costs. Chemotherapy and surgery are used to treat skin cancer. However, conventional
skin cancer treatments have several limitations, demanding the development of innovative, safe,
and effective methods. To overcome these limitations of conventional topical dosage forms, many
nanocarriers have been developed and tested for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs.

Objective:

The main objective of the present review was to discuss the utility of various vesicular
nanocarrier systems to deliver anticancer drugs following topical administration to treat skin cancer.

Methods:

For this review article, we scoured the scholarly literature using Science Direct, Google
Scholar, and Pubmed.

Discussion:

The vesicular drug delivery system has been intensively explored and developed as
an alternative to conventional skin cancer drug delivery systems, especially for melanoma. They
improve the penetration of anticancer drugs via the skin, reaching the cancer area with enough and
killing cancer cells. Vesicles minimize skin irritation and drug degradation. This improves therapy
efficacy and reduces systemic toxicity.

Conclusion:

Utilizing the vesicular drug delivery system shows promise in treating skin cancer.
Therefore, further research and inquiries are necessary to explore the therapeutic potential of these
substances in treating skin cancer, intending to develop a personalized, efficient, and secure therapy
approach for patients with this condition.
Effect of Raltitrexed on ECA109 Cellular Radiosensitivity and its Mechanism
in Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Xu Li-Ben , Wu Chao-Yang , Wang Yan , Zhou Ju-Ying
Published: May 2024

Background:

To investigate the effect of raltitrexed + X-ray irradiation on esophageal cancer
ECA109 cells and analyze the potential action mechanism

Methods:

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to analyze
the inhibitory effect of raltitrexed on cell proliferation. The effect of raltitrexed on radiosensitivity was
studied through a clone-forming experiment. The scratch assay and invasion test were performed to understand
the cell migration and invasion abilities. The apoptosis rate change was measured using a flow cytometer,
and Western Blotting was used to determine the expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl2-associated
X protein (Bax) in each group.

Results:

Raltitrexed significantly inhibited ECA109 proliferation in a time-dose-dependent manner; there
were significant differences among different concentrations and times of action. The results of the clone-forming
experiment showed a sensitization enhancement ratio of 1.65, and this demonstrated a radiosensitization effect.
After the combination of raltitrexed with X-ray, the cell migration distance was shortened, and the number
of cells penetrating the membrane was reduced.

Conclusion:

Raltitrexed can inhibit the growth of esophageal cancer ECA109 cells and has a radiosensitization
effect.
One-pot Synthesis of Condensed Azepines
Authors: Bhardwaj Khushboo , Jaiswal Shivangi , Bhardwaj Annu , Kishore Dharma , Dwivedi Jaya , Sharma Swapnil
Published: May 2024

Azepine is a privileged nitrogen-containing ring that has been found to display a
wide range of biological activities. Azepine is a valuable skeleton in designing novel compounds
in medicinal chemistry due to its interesting chemical and biological properties.
The study on the synthesis of this ring system engenders a fascinating area of research owing
to its potential to form an active pharmacophore for De Novo exploration. In this study,
conventional and domino results were compared to access the diverse set of azepines in
high yield. The domino approach has revolutionized the way through which the previously
impossible yet significant transformations could be conceptualized, allowing the construction
of difficult materials in one step. The aim of the present mini-review is to highlight
the importance of the one-pot domino reaction for the synthesis of condensed azepines.
This review also presents research on this subject from the past two decades.
A Review on Piezoelectric-mediated Mechanoredox Reactions by Ball Milling in
Organic Synthesis
Authors: Jiang Shan , Wang Miao
Published: May 2024

Recently, the concept of mechanoredox chemistry has been proposed and welldeveloped
in organic synthesis. Mechanoredox chemistry is conceptually similar to a photocatalyst
reaction system, where piezoelectric materials are introduced to the reaction system
in a manner analogous to photoredox catalysis. These reactions feature the ability to
generate high-value radicals that do not require harsh reaction conditions of anhydrous and
anaerobic conditions, an expensive photocatalyst, and the use of solvents, which renders
these transformations highly industrially applicable. In addition, mechanoredox chemistry
is also an emerging interdisciplinary research field that combines material chemistry with
synthetic chemistry to create more useful reactions. This review provides a comprehensive
summary of progress to date in the specific transformation and related mechanisms of piezoelectric-
mediated mechanoredox reactions by ball milling in organic synthesis.