bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Insights into the Nature of Intraspecific Genome Size Diversity in Cannabis sativa L.
Authors: Balant Manica , Rodríguez González Roi , Garcia Sònia , Garnatje Teresa , Pellicer Jaume , Vallès Joan , Vitales Daniel , Hidalgo Oriane
Published: October 2022

Cannabis sativa has been used for millennia in traditional medicine for ritual purposes and for the production of food and fibres, thus, providing important and versatile services to humans. The species, which currently has a worldwide distribution, strikes out for displaying a huge morphological and chemical diversity. Differences in Cannabis genome size have also been found, suggesting it could be a useful character to differentiate between accessions. We used flow cytometry to investigate the extent of genome size diversity across 483 individuals belonging to 84 accessions, with a wide range of wild/feral, landrace, and cultivated accessions. We also carried out sex determination using the MADC2 marker and investigated the potential of flow cytometry as a method for early sex determination. All individuals were diploid, with genome sizes ranging from 1.810 up to 2.152 pg/2C (1.189-fold variation), apart from a triploid, with 2.884 pg/2C. Our results suggest that the geographical expansion of Cannabis and its domestication had little impact on its overall genome size. We found significant differences between the genome size of male and female individuals. Unfortunately, differences were, however, too small to be discriminated using flow cytometry through the direct processing of combined male and female individuals.
Application of Rhizobacteria, Paraburkholderia fungorum and Delftia sp. Confer Cadmium Tolerance in Rapeseed (Brassica campestris) through Modulating Antioxidant Defense and Glyoxalase Systems
Authors: Raihan Md. Rakib Hossain , Rahman Mira , Mahmud Nur Uddin , Adak Malay Kumar , Islam Tofazzal , Fujita Masayuki , Hasanuzzaman Mirza
Published: October 2022

We investigated the role of two different plant growth-promoting probiotic bacteria in conferring cadmium (Cd) tolerance in rapeseed (Brassica campestris cv. BARI Sarisha-14) through improving reactive oxygen species scavenging, antioxidant defense, and glyoxalase system. Soil, as well as seeds of rapeseed, were separately treated with probiotic bacteria, Paraburkholderia fungorum BRRh-4 and Delftia sp. BTL-M2. Fourteen-day-old seedlings were exposed to 0.25 and 0.5 mM CdCl2 for two weeks. Cadmium-treated plants resulted in a higher accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, increased lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll damage, and impaired antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems. Consequently, it reduced plant growth and biomass production, and yield parameters. However, probiotic bacteria-inoculated plants significantly ameliorated the Cd toxicity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) and glyoxalase enzymes (glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II) which led to the mitigation of oxidative damage indicated by reduced hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage that ultimately improved growth, physiology, and yield of the bacterial inoculants rapeseed plants. When taken together, our results demonstrated the potential role of the plant probiotic bacteria, BRRh-4 and BTL-M2, in mitigating the Cd-induced damages in rapeseed plants.
The Global Assessment of Oilseed Brassica Crop Species Yield, Yield Stability and the Underlying Genetics
Authors: Zandberg Jaco D. , Fernandez Cassandria T. , Danilevicz Monica F. , Thomas William J. W. , Edwards David , Batley Jacqueline
Published: October 2022

The global demand for oilseeds is increasing along with the human population. The family of Brassicaceae crops are no exception, typically harvested as a valuable source of oil, rich in beneficial molecules important for human health. The global capacity for improving Brassica yield has steadily risen over the last 50 years, with the major crop Brassica napus (rapeseed, canola) production increasing to ~72 Gt in 2020. In contrast, the production of Brassica mustard crops has fluctuated, rarely improving in farming efficiency. The drastic increase in global yield of B. napus is largely due to the demand for a stable source of cooking oil. Furthermore, with the adoption of highly efficient farming techniques, yield enhancement programs, breeding programs, the integration of high-throughput phenotyping technology and establishing the underlying genetics, B. napus yields have increased by >450 fold since 1978. Yield stability has been improved with new management strategies targeting diseases and pests, as well as by understanding the complex interaction of environment, phenotype and genotype. This review assesses the global yield and yield stability of agriculturally important oilseed Brassica species and discusses how contemporary farming and genetic techniques have driven improvements.
Boundary Layer Transition Prediction on Planar Turbine Cascade Using Temperature-Sensitive Paint and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Ke Wenliang , Wang Hongbiao , Zhang Wenwu , Huang Kang , Zhu Baoshan
Published: October 2022

Advanced measurement technology on boundary layer transition is an effective means to study the flow mechanism and the performance of the cascade. In this research, to investigate the boundary layer transition of transonic VKI-RG turbine cascade, a noncontact measurement technique named temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) that is capable of quantitatively measuring the surface temperature of a model is used. Under the conditions of outlet Mach number (Ma2) = 0.4, 1.03, and 1.2, the transitional location of a cascade is accurately measured by TSP technique. Moreover, a numerical study on the transitional location of a planar cascade was conducted with the conditions of Mach number (Ma) and attack angle (α). The numerical results show that the transitional location moved forward with the increase in Ma2 and α at Ma2 < 1; otherwise, the transitional location moved backward with increasing Ma2 (Ma2 > 1). Lastly, a strong adverse pressure gradient was formed behind the shock wave, which led to the beginning of the transition.
Additively Manufactured Robot Gripper Blades for Automated Cell Production Processes
Authors: Biermann Ferdinand , Gräfe Stefan , Bergs Thomas , Schmitt Robert H.
Published: October 2022

The automation of cell production processes demands strict requirements with regard to sterility, reliability, and flexibility. Robots work in such environments as transporting devices for a huge variety of disposables, e.g., cell plates, tubes, cassettes, and other objects. Therefore, the blades of their grippers must be designed to hold all of these different materials in a stable, gentle manner, and in defined positions, which means that the blades require complex geometries. Furthermore, they should have as few edges as possible, so as to be easy to clean. In this report, we demonstrate how these requirements can be met by producing stainless steel robot grippers by additive manufacturing.
Contrast Maximization-Based Feature Tracking for Visual Odometry with an Event Camera
Authors: Gao Xiang , Xue Hanjun , Liu Xinghua
Published: October 2022

As a new type of vision sensor, the dynamic and active-pixel vision sensor (DAVIS) outputs image intensity and asynchronous event streams in the same pixel array. We present a novel visual odometry algorithm based on the DAVIS in this paper. The Harris detector and the Canny detector are utilized to extract an initialized tracking template from the image sequence. The spatio-temporal window is selected by determining the life cycle of the asynchronous event streams. The alignment on timestamps is achieved by tracking the motion relationship between the template and events within the window. A contrast maximization algorithm is adopted for the estimation of the optical flow. The IMU data are used to calibrate the position of the templates during the update process that is exploited to estimate camera trajectories via the ICP algorithm. In the end, the proposed visual odometry algorithm is evaluated in several public object tracking scenarios and compared with several other algorithms. The tracking results show that our visual odometry algorithm can achieve better accuracy and lower latency tracking trajectory than other methods.
Kinetic Model of Moisture Loss and Polyphenol Degradation during Heat Pump Drying of Soursop Fruit (Annona muricata L.)
Authors: Vu Ngoc Duc , Tran Nhi Thi Yen , Le Truong Dang , Phan Nguyet Thi Minh , Doan Phu Le An , Huynh Long Bao , Dao Phat Tan
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of time and temperature of the heat pump drying process of soursop slices at different levels on moisture content and total polyphenol content (TPC). Twelve types of classical kinetic models have been used in this work to describe the suitability of experimental data with models. The conformity is assessed based on statistical values (e.g., coefficient of determination (R2), Chi–square value (X2), etc.). The loss of moisture in the material is described in accordance with Fick’s diffusion law. Value of moisture rate (MR), and effective moisture diffusivities (Deff) have been identified. Experimental results show that MR value depends on the time and drying temperature, Deff increases when increasing the drying temperature from 20–50 °C with values of 1.24 × 10−9, 1.85 × 10−8, 7.69 × 10−8, and 5.54 × 10−7 m/s2. The Singh et al. model is the best option to describe the moisture of the sliced soursop drying process at 30 °C (R2 = 0.97815). The largest TPC decomposition occurs at a temperature of 50 °C. The ability to decompose TPC is proportional to the drying temperature. The TPC decomposition dynamic model follows a first–order reaction when drying at 20 °C with a determinant coefficient R2 = 0.9693.
Modeling the Transient Flow Behavior of Multi-Stage Fractured Horizontal Wells in the Inter-Salt Shale Oil Reservoir, Considering Stress Sensitivity
Authors: Huang Ting , Guo Xiao , Peng Kai , Song Wenzhi , Hu Changpeng
Published: October 2022

Oil flow in inter-salt shale oil reservoirs is different from that of other oil fields due to its high salt content. Dissolution and diffusion occur when the salt minerals meet the water-based working fluid, resulting in drastic changes in the shale’s permeability. In addition, ignoring the stress-sensitive effect will cause significant errors in naturally fractured reservoirs for a large number of the natural fractures developed in shales. This study presents a transient pressure behavior model for a multi-stage fractured horizontal well (MFHW) in inter-salt shale oil reservoirs, considering the dissolution of salt and the stress sensitivity mentioned above. The analytical solution of our model was obtained by applying the methods of Pedrosa’s linearization, the perturbation technique and Laplace transformation. The transient pressure of a multi-stage fractured horizontal well in an inter-salt shale oil reservoir was obtained in real space by using the method of Stehfest’s numerical inversion. The bi-logarithmic-type curves thus obtained reflected the characteristics of the transient pressure behavior of a MFHW for the inter-salt shale oil reservoirs, and eight flow periods were recognized in the type curves. The effects of salt dissolution, stress sensitivity, the storativity ratio and other parameters on the type curves were analyzed thoroughly, which is of great significance for understanding the transient flow behavior of inter-salt shale oil reservoirs.
The Effect of Sodium Tetrafluoroborate on the Properties of Conversion Coatings Formed on the AZ91D Magnesium Alloy by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation
Authors: Florczak Łukasz , Nawrat Ginter , Darowicki Kazimierz , Ryl Jacek , Sieniawski Jan , Wierzbińska Małgorzata , Raga Krzysztof , Sobkowiak Andrzej
Published: October 2022

Magnesium and its alloys are widely used in many areas because of their light weight, excellent dimensional stability, and high strength-to-weight ratio. However, the material exhibits poor wear and corrosion resistance, which limits its use. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is an effective surface modification method for producing ceramic oxide layers on Mg and their alloys. The influence of the additions of sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) and sodium fluoride (NaF) into alkaline-silicate electrolyte on the properties of the conversion layers formed in the magnesium AZ91D alloy has been investigated. Surface morphology and chemical composition were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The anticorrosive properties of the layers were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) methods in simulated body fluid (SBF). The presence of NaBF4 or NaF in the electrolyte increases the corrosion resistance of the protective layer. However, the best anticorrosive properties show the layers obtained in the presence of NaBF4. This is probably caused by the incorporation of boron and fluorine in the form of Mg (BF4)2 mainly in the barrier layer.
Experimental Studies and Condition Monitoring of Auxiliary Processes in the Production of Al2O3 by Sol–Gel Technology
Authors: Sklabinskyi Vsevolod , Liaposhchenko Oleksandr , Piteľ Ján , Pavlenko Ivan , Skydanenko Maksym , Ostroha Ruslan , Yukhymenko Mykola , Simeiko Kostiantyn , Demianenko Maryna , Volf Michal , Starynskyi Oleksandr , Yurchenko Oleksandr , Mandryka Oleksandr
Published: October 2022

Powders and granules of heavy metal oxides produced through condition monitoring are in high demand as intermediate products for obtaining fine-grained ceramics for a wide range of applications, i.e., nuclear fuel and fuel elements for nuclear power plants. Sol–gel technology to produce nuclear fuel (UO2), as well as catalysts (ThO2) for organic synthesis in the form of granules from pressed microspheres, is a promising method to obtain powders and granules of heavy metal oxides (fine-graded ceramics). Al2O3 was selected as the model analog at the stages of obtaining a solution of heavy metal and sol, the formation and gelation of droplets, and the preparation of gel spheres and their further washing and drying, as well as recovery and firing of particles. In the study, the main parameters were substantiated, e.g., the diameter and angle of inclination of the axis for the holes in the perforated shell, the multiplicity of sol circulation before the holes, the coefficients of liquid (sol) flow rate, the oscillation frequency of the disperser, and the concentration of surfactant and acid in sol. All of these parameters affect the characteristics of the granules that are obtained by sol–gel technology. Moreover, recommendations to increase productivity and the energy efficiency of production were also given. In particular, it was found that oscillation frequency in a range of 70–80 Hz leads to a granulometric composition of the obtained granules of 2.0–2.2 mm. A hole of 0.85 mm and a frequency of 100 Hz slightly change this range to 1.2–2.0 mm, while maintaining monodispersity.
Revitalizing Unfermented Cabernet Sauvignon Pomace Using an Eco-Friendly, Two-Stage Countercurrent Process: Role of pH on the Extractability of Bioactive Phenolics
Authors: Pinton Sophia , Furlan Goncalves Dias Fernanda , Lerno Larry A. , Barile Daniela , Leite Nobrega de Moura Bell Juliana Maria
Published: October 2022

As the major byproduct of the winemaking industry, grape pomace remains an untapped source of valuable bioactive phenolic compounds. This study elucidated the optimal aqueous extraction parameters for maximizing phenolic extractability, while avoiding the use of harsh conventional solvents and limiting water usage, from Cabernet Sauvignon grape pomace in which the red grape was processed for white wine. In the single-stage aqueous extraction process (AEP), the concurrent impact of pH (2.64–9.36), solids-to-liquid ratio (SLR, g pomace/mL water) (1:50–1:5), and temperature (41.6–58.4 °C) on the total phenolic content (TPC) of Cabernet Sauvignon pomace was evaluated alongside a kinetic study (15–90 min). Optimal single-stage extraction conditions (pH 9.36, 1:50 SLR, 50 °C, 75 min) guided the development of a two-stage countercurrent extraction process (pH 9.36, 1:10 SLR, 50 °C, 75 min) to further reduce water consumption without compromising overall extractability. The countercurrent process reduced fresh water usage by 80%, increased the TPC of the extracts by 18%, and improved the in vitro antioxidant activities (ABTS and ORAC) of the extracts. Untargeted metabolomics enabled the identification of a diverse pool of phenolics, especially flavonol glycosides, associated with grape pomace, while further phenolic quantitation detected improvements in the release of commonly bound phenolics such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, and protocatechuic acid in alkaline extracts compared to the ethanolic extract. This investigation provides an efficient, eco-friendly extraction strategy suitable for applications in functional food, beverage, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.
The Optimization of Machining Parameters on Cutting Force during Orthogonal Cutting of Graphite/Polymer Composites
Authors: Wang Wei , Yang Dayong , Wang Rui , Wei Furui , Liu Min
Published: October 2022

Graphite/polymer composites are brittle materials, and tool wear, which has a significant impact on the quality of the machined surface of the material, is very serious during the cutting process. In general, the magnitude of the cutting force directly affects the tool wear; the larger the cutting force, the more severe the tool wear, which in turn affects the machined surface quality of graphite/polymer composites. Therefore, in this study, the effects of machining parameters on cutting forces during orthogonal cutting of graphite/polymer composites were investigated using single-factor and multifactor experiments with cutting speed, cutting thickness, tool rake angle, and rounded edge radius as influencing factors, and the parameters were optimized. The obtained results showed that reducing the cutting thickness and increasing the tool rake angle would significantly reduce the cutting force. During the orthogonal cutting process, when the tool had a small edge radius, the cutting force along the cutting direction was significantly larger than the cutting force along the vertical direction, and as the rounded edge radius increased, the cutting force in the vertical direction exceeded the cutting force in the cutting direction. Finally, the significance of the effect of different machining parameters on the cutting forces was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The obtained results showed that the cutting speed, cutting thickness, tool rake angle, and rounded edge radius were extremely significant for the cutting forces along the cutting direction as well as in the vertical direction during orthogonal cutting of graphite/polymer composites.
Escaping Plato’s Cave as a Mystical Experience: A Survey in Sufi Literature
Authors: Shadi Heydar
Published: October 2022

This paper puts forward a mystical reading of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave by comparing it with some allegories from Sufi literature, Islamic mystical tradition. The paper argues that the determining parts of the allegory, such as escaping the cave as the world of shadows; seeing the sun/truth and becoming a philosopher; and the necessity of returning to the cave, have significant similarities to what Sufis have said about their mystical experience and spiritual enlightenment. The paper compares the Allegory of the Cave with some similar allegories in Sufi literature, focusing on the allegories of prison, hunting the shadows of a flying bird, dying before dying, and the elephant in the dark Room in Rumi’s works. After an introduction to the reception of Plato in the Islamic intellectual tradition and different interpretations of the Allegory of the Cave, this paper discusses four similarities between these allegories. Finally, the paper supports the mystical reading of Plato’s Cave by using Pierre Hadot’s thesis on Philosophy as a Way of Life, which challenges the sharp dichotomy of philosophy and mysticism in mainstream intellectual historiography.
Unusual Case Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Young Woman
Authors: Almousa Samaher , Wannous Hala , Khedr Kamar , Qasem Heba
Published: October 2022

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease. Serositis occurs in 16% of SLE patients, and while cardiac tamponade and acute peritonitis with ascites can occur during the course of the disease, they are rare as the first presentation. A 25-year-old woman presented to the emergency department in Tishreen Hospital with complaints of dyspnea, fever, chills, and chest and abdominal pain. Two months prior, she suffered from musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss of about 15 kg, severe hair loss, and recurrent oral aphthous. On clinical examination, the patient was pale and tired with dyspnea and pitting edema (grade 3–4). Pericardiocentesis was emergently performed because there were signs of cardiac tamponade. Three days later, the patient developed an acute surgical abdomen due to acute peritonitis and ascites. Later, the patient was diagnosed with SLE after excluding malignant and infectious diseases. Consequently, methylprednisolone pulses, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine 200 mg/day were introduced immediately. The clinical status of the patient dramatically improved, and three months later, the patient was symptom-free with normal laboratory tests. In conclusion, although cardiac tamponade and acute surgical abdomen because of acute peritonitis and ascites as the initial presentation of SLE are very rare, they can occur coincidently.
A Reconfigurable Parallel Robot for On-Structure Machining of Large Structures
Authors: Rosyid Abdur , Stefanini Cesare , El-Khasawneh Bashar
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a novel walking hybrid-kinematics robot that can be reconfigured to have three, five, and six degrees of freedom (DOFs) for adsorption machining of large structures. A symmetric 3PRPR or 3PRRR parallel mechanism with three translational (3T) DOFs is used to perform three-axis machining tasks. Three attachment pads connected to passive spherical joints are used to attach the robot to the surface of a large structure. Two or three rotational degrees of freedom can be added to the robot to adapt to a large structure’s irregular surface geometry and perform five- or six-axis machining tasks. This is achieved through modular reassembly or joint locking that reconfigures the robot from a three-DOF robot to a five- or six-DOF robot. A serial module providing two rotational DOFs can be added to the 3T parallel mechanism to provide five DOFs. A parallel module, namely 3SPR or 3SU mechanism, can be added to the 3T parallel mechanism to provide six DOFs. The mobility, pose kinematics, differential kinematics, singularities, and workspace of the 3SPR and 3SU parallel mechanisms alone and combined with the 3T mechanism are discussed in this paper. It is shown that the singularities of the mechanism can be easily avoided by making the moving platform of the 3SPR or 3SU mechanism smaller than the base, limiting the range of some joints, and having an appropriate length of the links. Furthermore, a method to optimize the workspace of the mechanism was also discussed.
Deep-Learning-Based Character Recognition from Handwriting Motion Data Captured Using IMU and Force Sensors
Authors: Alemayoh Tsige Tadesse , Shintani Masaaki , Lee Jae Hoon , Okamoto Shingo
Published: October 2022

Digitizing handwriting is mostly performed using either image-based methods, such as optical character recognition, or utilizing two or more devices, such as a special stylus and a smart pad. The high-cost nature of this approach necessitates a cheaper and standalone smart pen. Therefore, in this paper, a deep-learning-based compact smart digital pen that recognizes 36 alphanumeric characters was developed. Unlike common methods, which employ only inertial data, handwriting recognition is achieved from hand motion data captured using an inertial force sensor. The developed prototype smart pen comprises an ordinary ballpoint ink chamber, three force sensors, a six-channel inertial sensor, a microcomputer, and a plastic barrel structure. Handwritten data of the characters were recorded from six volunteers. After the data was properly trimmed and restructured, it was used to train four neural networks using deep-learning methods. These included Vision transformer (ViT), DNN (deep neural network), CNN (convolutional neural network), and LSTM (long short-term memory). The ViT network outperformed the others to achieve a validation accuracy of 99.05%. The trained model was further validated in real-time where it showed promising performance. These results will be used as a foundation to extend this investigation to include more characters and subjects.
Fiber Lateral Pressure Sensor Based on Vernier– Effect Improved Fabry–Perot Interferometer
Authors: Guo Xu , Wu Rui , Zhou Jingcheng , Biondi Andres , Cao Lidan , Wang Xingwei
Published: October 2022

A fiber optic pressure sensor that can survive 2200 psi and 140 °C was developed. The sensor’s pressure sensitivity was measured to be 14 times higher than bare FBG when tested inside stacks of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite fabric. The sensitivity can be further improved 6-fold through the Vernier effect. Its tiny sensing length (hundreds of microns) and uniform outer diameter (125 µm) make it a suitable candidate for real-time point pressure monitoring under harsh environments with limited space, such as in composite-forming procedures.
Application of Humic and Fulvic Acids as an Alternative Method of Cleaning Water from Plant Protection Product Residues
Authors: Makrigianni Eirini A. , Papadaki Eirini S. , Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Bozinou Eleni , Lalas Stavros I.
Published: October 2022

Humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) are naturally occurring compounds that influence the fate and transportation of various compounds in the soil. Although HAs and FAs have multiple uses, the reports about their sorbent potential for environmental pollutants are scanty and sparse. In this study, HA and FA, isolated from lignite samples from two mines in Greece, were studied as sorbent materials for three active compounds of plant protection products, namely glyphosate (herbicide), cypermethrin (pyrethroid insecticide), and azoxystrobin (fungicide). According to the results, both HA and FA are promising sorbent materials for these active compounds, with HA achieving better sorption for cypermethrin and azoxystrobin, while FA was found to be more efficient for glyphosate. Moreover, their performance was not compromised by other components commonly found in commercially available herbicides/insecticides/fungicides. In addition, no significant leaching of the sorbed compounds was recorded. Finally, the two materials achieved similar sorption efficiency of the compounds from lake water.
A Food Sovereignty Approach to Localization in International Solidarity
Authors: Oliver Beatriz , Deawuo Leticia Ama , Rao Sheila
Published: October 2022

Renewed calls for localization and the “decolonization of aid” are raising questions about whose knowledge and control are privileged. This article argues that in order to support local decision-making on food systems and agricultural aid, international solidarity work should look towards food sovereignty and agroecology approaches. Food sovereignty and agroecology, informed by feminist approaches, can provide important lessons for localization as they prioritize local knowledge and decision-making, and are based on social justice principles. They also provide alternatives to the problematic concept of “development”, particularly the agro-industrial development model which contributes to environmental and health crises, corporate concentration, colonialism and inequality. An example of the trajectory of the NGO SeedChange is provided to help illustrate how food sovereignty can: (1) provide an alternative to problematic development concepts, and (2) encourage localization and greater priority to global South perspectives. While acknowledging that there exist contradictions and challenges to shared decision-making, learning from partners in the global South working for seed and food sovereignty has been crucial to shaping the organization’s programs and policy advocacy.
On the Bivariate Composite Gumbel–Pareto Distribution
Authors: Badea Alexandra , Bolancé Catalina , Vernic Raluca
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we propose a bivariate extension of univariate composite (two-spliced) distributions defined by a bivariate Pareto distribution for values larger than some thresholds and by a bivariate Gumbel distribution on the complementary domain. The purpose of this distribution is to capture the behavior of bivariate data consisting of mainly small and medium values but also of some extreme values. Some properties of the proposed distribution are presented. Further, two estimation procedures are discussed and illustrated on simulated data and on a real data set consisting of a bivariate sample of claims from an auto insurance portfolio. In addition, the risk of loss in this insurance portfolio is estimated by Monte Carlo simulation.
Evaluating Compact City Model Implementation as a Sustainable Urban Development Tool to Control Urban Sprawl in the City of Jeddah
Authors: Shawly Hassan
Published: October 2022

Urban sprawl is one of the most challenging urban phenomena. Many urban planners believe that it is difficult to achieve sustainable development without managing undesired urban growth. Since the 1960s, a wide range of urban planning policies have been introduced to manage urban sprawl. The concepts of New Urbanism, smart growth, and compact city started to be discussed and implemented in developed countries. Jeddah, as the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, is no exception. The planning authority has attempted to apply a compact city model to control urban sprawl. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the compact city model in Jeddah by comparing the outcomes to what was expected. It presents the historical urban growth pattern and discusses in detail the effect of the policy implementation on both district and city growth level. The main study findings are as follows: (i) While the compact city model depends on encouraging people to live in high-density districts and mixed-use development to reduce commuting time and increase the efficiency of public transport, Jeddah failed to provide an efficient public transportation system to encourage investments in mixed-use real-estate projects. (ii) A higher population density was achieved (from 44 to 155 person per hectare), but it came with many other infrastructure, social, and economic issues. (iii) The implementation failed to control the sprawl as was anticipated. The city grew within the study area by about 20% and the price per square m was increased by 300%. Thus, the main finding of the study shows that to achieve noticeable sustainable urban development—in the case of Jeddah—the planning authority should aim for more regulation of flat urban development and promote a more realistic and sustainable intensification policy. A well-designed approach to guide future development and provide functional open spaces to enhance the sense of community, reducing automobile dependency and respecting all other local social, economic, and environmental aspects, could be more effective in reducing and controlling the rate of urban sprawl.
Robust Variable Selection Based on Relaxed Lad Lasso
Authors: Li Hongyu , Xu Xieting , Lu Yajun , Yu Xi , Zhao Tong , Zhang Rufei
Published: October 2022

Least absolute deviation is proposed as a robust estimator to solve the problem when the error has an asymmetric heavy-tailed distribution or outliers. In order to be insensitive to the above situation and select the truly important variables from a large number of predictors in the linear regression, this paper introduces a two-stage variable selection method named relaxed lad lasso, which enables the model to obtain robust sparse solutions in the presence of outliers or heavy-tailed errors by combining least absolute deviation with relaxed lasso. Compared with lasso, this method is not only immune to the rapid growth of noise variables but also maintains a better convergence rate, which is Opn−1/2. In addition, we prove that the relaxed lad lasso estimator has the property of consistency at large samples; that is, the model selects the number of important variables with a high probability of convergence to one. Through the simulation and empirical results, we further verify the outstanding performance of relaxed lad lasso in terms of prediction accuracy and the correct selection of informative variables under the heavy-tailed distribution.
Total Coloring of Some Classes of Cayley Graphs on Non-Abelian Groups
Authors: Prajnanaswaroopa Shantharam , Geetha Jayabalan , Somasundaram Kanagasabapathi , Suksumran Teerapong
Published: October 2022

Total Coloring of a graph G is a type of graph coloring in which any two adjacent vertices, an edge, and its incident vertices or any two adjacent edges do not receive the same color. The minimum number of colors required for the total coloring of a graph is called the total chromatic number of the graph, denoted by χ″(G). Mehdi Behzad and Vadim Vizing simultaneously worked on the total colorings and proposed the Total Coloring Conjecture (TCC). The conjecture states that the maximum number of colors required in a total coloring is Δ(G)+2, where Δ(G) is the maximum degree of the graph G. Graphs derived from the symmetric groups are robust graph structures used in interconnection networks and distributed computing. The TCC is still open for the circulant graphs. In this paper, we derive the upper bounds for χ″(G) of some classes of Cayley graphs on non-abelian groups, typically Cayley graphs on the symmetric groups and dihedral groups. We also obtain the upper bounds of the total chromatic number of complements of Kneser graphs.
Noether Symmetries and Conservation Laws in Non-Static Plane Symmetric Spacetime
Authors: Farhan Muhammad , Hussain Tahir , Azmi Fatima , Mlaiki Nabil
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we find all nonstatic plane symmetric spacetime metrics whose corresponding Lagrangians possess Noether symmetries. The set of determining equations is analyzed through a Maple algorithm that restricts the metric coefficients to satisfy certain conditions. These restrictions on metric coefficients, while using them to solve the determining equations, give rise to a number of plane symmetric metrics admitting 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 11-, and 17-dimensional Noether algebras. The Noether theorem is used to find a conserved quantity corresponding to each Noether symmetry. Some physical implications are discussed by finding bounds for different energy conditions for the obtained metrics.
Development of an Analog Gauge Reading Solution Based on Computer Vision and Deep Learning for an IoT Application
Authors: Peixoto João , Sousa João , Carvalho Ricardo , Santos Gonçalo , Mendes Joaquim , Cardoso Ricardo , Reis Ana
Published: October 2022

In many industries, analog gauges are monitored manually, thus posing problems, especially in large facilities where gauges are often placed in hard-to-access or dangerous locations. This work proposes a solution based on a microcontroller (ESP32-CAM) and a camera (OV2640 with a 65° FOV lent) to capture a gauge image and send it to a local computer where it is processed, and the results are presented in a dashboard accessible through the web. This was achieved by first applying a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to detect the gauge with the CenterNet HourGlass104 model. After locating the dial, it is segmented using the circle Hough transform, followed by a polar transformation to determine the pointer angle using the pixel projection. In the end, the indicating value is determined using the angle method. The dataset used was composed of 204 gauge images split into train and test sets using a 70:30 ratio. Due to the small size of the dataset, a diverse set of data augmentations were applied to obtain high accuracy and a well-generalized gauge detection model. Additionally, the experimental results demonstrated adequate robustness and accuracy for industrial environments achieving an average relative error of 0.95%.
Metric Gravity in the Hamiltonian Form—Canonical Transformations—Dirac’s Modifications of the Hamilton Method and Integral Invariants of the Metric Gravity
Authors: Frolov Alexei M.
Published: October 2022

Two different Hamiltonian formulations of the metric gravity are discussed and applied to describe a free gravitational field in the d dimensional Riemann space-time. Theory of canonical transformations, which relates equivalent Hamiltonian formulations of the metric gravity, is investigated in detail. In particular, we have formulated the conditions of canonicity for transformation between the two sets of dynamical variables used in our Hamiltonian formulations of the metric gravity. Such conditions include the ordinary condition of canonicity known in classical Hamilton mechanics, i.e., the exact coincidence of the Poisson (or Laplace) brackets which are determined for both the new and old dynamical Hamiltonian variables. However, in addition to this, any true canonical transformations defined in the metric gravity, which is a constrained dynamical system, must also guarantee the exact conservation of the total Hamiltonians Ht (in both formulations) and preservation of the algebra of first-class constraints. We show that Dirac’s modifications of the classical Hamilton method contain a number of crucial advantages, which provide an obvious superiority of this method in order to develop various non-contradictory Hamiltonian theories of many physical fields, when a number of gauge conditions are also important. Theory of integral invariants and its applications to the Hamiltonian metric gravity are also discussed. For Hamiltonian dynamical systems with first-class constraints this theory leads to a number of peculiarities some of which have been investigated.
Prevalence and Assessment of Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in an Ethnic Minority Oncology Patient Population
Authors: Lee Matthew , Miao Emily , Rapkin Bruce , Halmos Balazs , Shankar Viswanathan , Goel Sanjay
Published: October 2022

Background: Complicating the COVID-19 pandemic are the healthcare disparities experienced by ethnic minorities, especially those with comorbidities including cancer. The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines has been instrumental in blunting the morbidity and mortality from the pandemic; however, vaccine hesitancy, particularly among ethnic minorities, has been a major concern. Thus, we sought to evaluate the knowledge and perspectives of COVID-19 and vaccines among our ethnic minority cancer patient population. Methods: Following an IRB approved protocol, questionnaires were completed by patients in a predominantly ethnic minority population at a single institution between 1 February and 30 June 2021. Included were any adult cancer patients with either a solid or hematologic malignancy. Results: Among the 84 patients that were offered the questionnaires, 52 patients responded, with a median age of 63.5 years. Overall, 36% were non-Hispanic Blacks and 30% were Hispanics; 65% were receiving active treatment for their cancer. Seventy-nine percent believed COVID-19 to be dangerous or harmful to them, 61% were concerned about the side effects, yet 65% considered COVID-19 vaccines as safe. Among the seven patients that refused the vaccine, (71%, n = 5) cited side effects and/or (57%, n = 4) believed that the vaccine was not needed. Overall, there was a significantly higher chance of being vaccinated if patients were receiving active cancer treatment, believed COVID-19 was harmful, or that the vaccine was safe, and knew COVID-19 was a virus. Conclusions: This exploratory study demonstrates that most ethnic minority cancer patients are receptive to vaccines, with a majority being vaccinated. However, we also discovered various reasons why this group of patients may not want be vaccinated, including concerns about side effects and perception that COVID-19 is not harmful. These findings can help us further understand the complex nature of vaccine hesitancy in ethnic minority cancer patients, and aid in developing future vaccine awareness strategies as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.
Spanish Facebook Posts as an Indicator of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Texas
Authors: Aleksandric Ana , Anderson Henry Isaac , Melcher Sarah , Nilizadeh Shirin , Wilson Gabriela Mustata
Published: October 2022

Vaccination represents a major public health intervention intended to protect against COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. However, vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation/disinformation, especially among ethnic minority groups, negatively impacts the effectiveness of such an intervention. The aim of this study is to provide an understanding of how information gleaned from social media can be used to improve attitudes toward vaccination and decrease vaccine hesitancy. This work focused on Spanish-language posts, and will highlight the relationship between vaccination rates across different Texas counties and the sentiment and emotional content of Facebook data, the most popular platform among the Hispanic population. The analysis of this valuable dataset indicates that vaccination rates among this minority group are negatively correlated with negative sentiment and fear, meaning that a higher prevalence of negative and fearful posts indicates lower vaccination rates in these counties. This first study investigating vaccine hesitancy in the Hispanic population suggests that observation of social media can be a valuable tool for measuring attitudes toward public health interventions.
Equine Influenza Virus: An Old Known Enemy in the Americas
Authors: Gonzalez-Obando Juliana , Forero Jorge Eduardo , Zuluaga-Cabrera Angélica M , Ruiz-Saenz Julián
Published: October 2022

Equine influenza is a highly contagious disease caused by the H3N8 equine influenza virus (EIV), which is endemically distributed throughout the world. It infects equids, and interspecies transmission to dogs has been reported. The H3N8 Florida lineage, which is divided into clades 1 and 2, is the most representative lineage in the Americas. The EIV infects the respiratory system, affecting the ciliated epithelial cells and preventing the elimination of foreign bodies and substances. Certain factors related to the disease, such as an outdated vaccination plan, age, training, and close contact with other animals, favor the presentation of equine influenza. This review focuses on the molecular, pathophysiological, and epidemiological characteristics of EIV in the Americas to present updated information to achieve prevention and control of the virus. We also discuss the need for monitoring the disease, the use of vaccines, and the appropriate application of those biologicals, among other biosecurity measures that are important for the control of the virus.
Exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Individuals Who Are Newly Diagnosed with HIV and Antiretroviral-Naïve from Belém, Northern Brazil
Authors: Góes Simone da Silva , Fonseca Ricardo Roberto de Souza , Avelino Maria Eduarda de Sousa , Lima Sandra Souza , Lima Misma Suely Gonçalves Araújo de , Laurentino Rogério Valois , Queiroz Maria Alice Freitas , Freitas Felipe Bonfim , Vallinoto Antonio Carlos Rosário , Ishak Ricardo , Machado Luiz Fernando Almeida
Published: October 2022

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacteria worldwide and may increase the risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study describes the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis infection among antiretroviral-naïve patients who are newly diagnosed with HIV in the city of Belém, Pará, in the Amazon region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out between January 2018 and January 2019 in 141 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) who were followed up in a specialized unit of the public health network of Pará. The investigation of IgG antibodies against C. trachomatis was performed by enzyme immunoassay. Sociodemographic and sexual behavior information were obtained through a questionnaire. The prevalence of IgG anti-C. trachomatis antibodies was 64.8% (92/141). The majority of individuals were young, heterosexual, single men who did not use condoms during sexual intercourse and had no history of STIs. No significant differences were found when comparing any clinical or demographic data between groups. Our results demonstrated a high rate of exposure to C. trachomatis in newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals in the Amazon region of Brazil, and all PLHA should be screened for C. trachomatis to decrease transmission of the bacteria and prevent the clinical manifestations of chronic infection.
Vaccinomics-Aided Development of a Next-Generation Chimeric Vaccine against an Emerging Threat: Mycoplasma genitalium
Authors: Khalid Kashaf , Hussain Tajamul , Jamil Zubia , Alrokayan Khalid Salman , Ahmad Bashir , Waheed Yasir
Published: October 2022

Mycoplasma genitalium, besides urethritis, causes a number of other sexually transmitted diseases, posing a significant health threat to both men and women, particularly in developing countries. In light of the rapid appearance of multidrug-resistant strains, M. genitalium is regarded as an emerging threat and has been placed on the CDC’s “watch list”. Hence, a protective vaccine is essential for combating this pathogen. In this study, we utilized reverse vaccinology to develop a chimeric vaccine against M. genitalium by identifying vaccine targets from the reference proteome (Strain G-37) of this pathogen. A multiepitope vaccine was developed using proteins that are non-toxic, non-allergic, and non-homologous to human proteins. Several bioinformatic tools identified linear and non-linear B-cell epitopes, as well as MHC epitopes belonging to classes I and II, from the putative vaccine target proteins. The epitopes that showed promiscuity among the various servers were shortlisted and subsequently selected for further investigation based on an immunoinformatic analysis. Using GPGPG, AAY, and KK linkers, the shortlisted epitope sequences were assembled to create a chimeric construct. A GPI anchor protein immunomodulating adjuvant was adjoined to the vaccine construct’s N-terminus through the EAAK linker so as to improve the overall immunogenicity. For further investigations of the designed construct, various bioinformatic tools were employed to study the physicochemical properties, immune profile, solubility, and allergenicity profile. A tertiary chimeric design was computationally modeled using I-TASSER and Robetta and was subsequently refined through GalaxyRefine. ProSA-Web was exploited to corroborate the quality of the construct by detecting errors and the Ramachandran plot was used to identify possible quality issues. Simulation studies of the molecular dynamics demonstrated the robustness and flexibility of the designed construct. Following the successful docking of the designed model to the immune receptors, the construct was computationally cloned into Escherichia coli plasmids to affirm the efficient expression of the designed construct in a biological system.