bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Transformer and YOLOv5-Integrated Visual Defect Detection Method for Mechanic Parts
Authors: Han Susu , Gao Xintao
Published: December 2024

The defect detection of mechanical parts is a key link in industrial production, but traditional manual detection methods are inefficient and difficult to meet the needs of modern manufacturing. To overcome this challenge, this paper proposes a mechanical part visual defect detection method based on deep vision sensing technology, which integrates Transformer and YOLOv5 models. First, the YOLOv5 model has improved its ability to extract part features. Subsequently, a new detection model was constructed by combining the pre-trained transformer structure with the improved YOLOv5. To validate the performance of the proposed method, we selected two real datasets for experimentation. First, we evaluated the improvement of key elements in the model and found that the improvement of certain elements can significantly improve the average detection accuracy. Next, we compared the proposed model with several typical detection methods, including SSD, Faster R-CNN and RetinaNet. The experimental results show that under the same dataset and measurement standards, the performance of this scheme is superior to the comparative methods, with higher detection accuracy and faster detection speed. The contribution of this paper lies in proposing an innovative visual defect detection method for mechanical parts, which combines the advantages of Transformer and YOLOv5 to achieve efficient and accurate detection of mechanical part defects. This method not only improves detection efficiency, but also provides strong technical support for quality control in industrial production.
Zeeman effect in nuclei
Authors: Balbutsev E. B. , Molodtsova I. V.
Published: December 2024

The antiferromagnetic properties of nuclei are studied within the Wigner function moments method. The solution of the time dependent Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov equations predicts four low-lying [Formula: see text] states. Three of them are known as various scissors modes. Fourth state is disposed below all scissors modes and represents one of three branches of [Formula: see text] multiplet which can exist in spherical nuclei and which is split in deformed nuclei. It is discovered, that the antiferromagnetic properties of nuclei lead to the splitting of [Formula: see text] states already at the zero deformation. It is shown that the splitting caused by nuclear antiferromagnetism is comparable to the Zeeman splitting in an external uniform magnetic field.
SOME CHARACTERIZATION RESULTS FOR NONSMOOTH INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY OPTIMIZATION VIA SYMMETRIC gH-DIFFERENTIABILITY
Authors: AN YANRONG , GUO YATING , LIU WEI , LI HUIYUN
Published: December 2024

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in optimization problems with uncertainty. Intuitionistic fuzzy optimization is one of the approaches for investigating such real-world optimization problems that contain uncertain data and, therefore, that are not well defined. Nonetheless, there is not enough discussion on the optimality conditions for optimal solutions in intuitionistic fuzzy optimization problems (IFOPs) and methods for solving such uncertain extremum problems. Although the derivative notion is a very important property of optimization models, there are many real-world problems and processes with uncertainty that cannot be modeled as differentiable intuitionistic fuzzy functions (IFFs). In this work, therefore, a new notion of generalized derivative is defined. Namely, the definition of symmetric gH-derivative is introduced for nonsmooth IFOPs and some properties of this concept are analyzed. Further, the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions are established for an optimal solution in an intuitionistic fuzzy extremum problem with symmetric gH-differentiable IFFs and inequality constraints. Meanwhile, several examples are given to illuminate the obtained results.
Wavelet Total Variation Fusion and Fuzzy Logic Decision-Based Haze Density and Sky Region-Aware De-Hazing
Authors: Nnolim Uche A.
Published: December 2024

In this study, we present a fuzzy logic-based classifier with a decision-based partial differential equation (PDE) for single image de-hazing. This enhanced partitioning is achieved via adaptive segmentation and morphological region-growing processes. Also, the first stage fusion of enhanced inverted log illumination and log reflectance components leads to minimization or elimination of edge artifacts. Additionally, improved scene discrimination between sky and non-sky regions due to the fuzzy logic decision-based approach is achieved. This results in effective de-hazing without sky region over-enhancement. Furthermore, a modified wavelet multi-level decomposition-based de-hazing algorithm is presented. It improves details and local contrast in de-hazed images, especially for images with thick haze. Ultimately, these algorithms are fused to obtain the best and most consistent results for all images. Experimental comparisons with the state-of-the-art algorithms show improved sky discrimination and improved clarity.
Medical Image Analysis Methods for Accurate Segmentation and Quantification of Acute-Subacute Ischemic Stroke Lesion — A Systematic Review
Authors: Kumar Meriga Kiran , Godandapani Zayaraj
Published: December 2024

A medical emergency, acute ischemic stroke necessitates immediate treatment as the longer the neural is without blood flow, the greater the risk of irreversible neural damage and disability. Depending on the extent, the lesion may vary in size and location and location of the blood flow blockage, and can have significant effects on a person’s cognitive, motor, and sensory function. The process of identifying and classifying regions of affected neural tissue during a ischemic stroke is referred to as “ischemic stroke lesion segmentation.” Medical imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are typically used to accomplish this specialized software tools. The goal of segmentation is to provide a detailed and accurate map of the extent and location of the stroke damage, which can be used to guide treatment decisions and monitor the patient’s recovery. Although manual segmentation is regarded as the most accurate method, it takes time and is subject to variability between observers, which leads to inconsistent results. There are a few unique ways to deal with dividing ischemic stroke sores, ranging from manual delineation by trained clinician to fully automated algorithms that use machine learning and other advanced techniques. Automated segmentation methods are faster and more objective, but they may require large training sets and can be sensitive to imaging artifacts and other sources of noise. Although fully automatic methods hold promise, semi-automatic methods remain the preferred approach in clinical research. We performed a systematic review of the literature to explore the latest advancements and trends in analyzing ischemic stroke lesions using automated methods developed in the past five years. Our search of IEEE explores, Springer, Science Direct, Taylor & Francis, etc. yielded 1580 papers, from which we selected 50 for detailed analysis. Of these studies, 12 employed supervised segmentation, 12 used unsupervised segmentation and 27 employed deep learning segmentation methods. Only a limited number of studies have validated their fully automatic methods using longitudinal samples, and a mere eight studies included validation using clinical parameters. Furthermore, only 23 of the 50 studies made their methods publicly available. To advance the field, there is a need for fully automatic methods that are validated with longitudinal samples and clinical parameters. Moreover, making methods publicly available is essential for promoting reproducibility and facilitating comparison of results.
Extremal solutions for nonlocal dispersal equations
Authors: Sun Jian-Wen
Published: December 2024

This paper is devoted to the study of the extremal (global maximal or minimal) solutions for some nonlocal dispersal equations. We investigate sufficient conditions for the existence of extremal solutions. In addition, we establish the uniqueness of positive solution and obtain various uniqueness results when the nonlinearity satisfies specific monotone conditions.
Twisted shift preserving operators on L2(ℝ2n)
Authors: Ramakrishnan Radha , Velsamy Rabeetha
Published: December 2024

In the first part of the paper, we prove that a twisted shift-invariant subspace of [Formula: see text] can be decomposed as a direct sum of mutually orthogonal principal twisted shift-invariant spaces such that the respective system of twisted translates forms a Parseval frame sequence. Later, we introduce twisted shift preserving operators and the corresponding range operators. We establish that the twisted shift preserving operators and the corresponding range operators simultaneously share some properties in common, namely, self-adjoint, unitary, range of the spectrum and bounded below properties. Finally, we prove that the frame operator and its inverse associated with a system of twisted translates of [Formula: see text] are shift preserving and investigate their corresponding range operators.
TimbreSense: Timbre Abnormality Detection for Bel Canto with Smart Devices
Authors: Zhu Yuzheng , Luo Chengzhe , Zou Yongpan , Chen Dongping , Wu Kaishun
Published: December 2024

With the rise of mobile devices, bel canto practitioners increasingly utilize smart devices as auxiliary tools for improving their singing skills. However, they frequently encounter timbre abnormalities during practice, which, if left unaddressed, can potentially harm their vocal organs. Existing singing assessment systems primarily focus on pitch and melody and lack real-time detection of bel canto timbre abnormalities. Moreover, the diverse vocal habits and timbre compositions among individuals present significant challenges in cross-user recognition of such abnormalities. To address these limitations, we propose TimbreSense, a novel bel canto timbre abnormality detection system. TimbreSense enables real-time detection of the five major timbre abnormalities commonly observed in bel canto singing. We introduce an effective feature extraction pipeline that captures the acoustic characteristics of bel canto singing. By applying temporal average pooling to the Short-Time Fourier Transform spectrogram, we reduce redundancy while preserving essential frequency-domain information. Our system leverages a transformer model with self-attention mechanisms to extract correlation and semantic features of overtones in the frequency domain. Additionally, we employ a few-shot learning approach involving pre-training, meta-learning, and fine-tuning to enhance the system’s cross-domain recognition performance while minimizing user usage costs. Experimental results demonstrate the system’s strong cross-user domain recognition performance and real-time capabilities.
Quantification of Epigenetic Aging in Public Health
Authors: Kusters Cynthia D.J. , Horvath Steve
Published: December 2024

Estimators of biological age hold promise for use in preventive medicine, for early detection of chronic conditions, and for monitoring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving population health. Among the promising biomarkers in this field are DNA methylation–based biomarkers, commonly referred to as epigenetic clocks. This review provides a survey of these clocks, with an emphasis on second-generation clocks that predict human morbidity and mortality. It explores the validity of epigenetic clocks when considering factors such as race, sex differences, lifestyle, and environmental influences. Furthermore, the review addresses the current challenges and limitations in this research area.
Novel Methodology of General Scaling-Approach Normalization of Impedance Parameters of Insertion Battery Electrodes – Case Study on Ni-Rich NMC Cathode: Part II. Detailed Analysis Using a Transmission Line Model
Authors: Firm Marko , Moškon Jože , Dominko Robert , Gaberšček Miran
Published: December 2024

Here, we extend the general approach shown in PART-1 to a detailed analysis of the measured data using our previously published physics-based transmission line model (TLM). We construct general relationships between the TLM parameters and the electrode mass. We then systematically check the scaling properties of all model parameters by fitting the measured impedance responses of 8 NMC-NMC cells with different masses (thicknesses) of NMC cathodes ranging from 2.3 to 58.5 mg per 2 cm2 of geometric electrode surface. We consider in detail all deviations of the measured spectra from the idealized spectra predicted by the model. Among other things, we discuss the high-frequency inductive effects, the ambiguities in the analysis of the low-frequency diffusion phenomena, and the effects of non-ideal capacitive properties (the so-called constant-phase elements) on the shape of the measured spectra. We also report an unexpected additional feature observed in measurements on thin (light) electrodes: a diffusion arc due to the diffusion of lithium in the electrolyte in the micropores of the NMC aggregates in the material used. Finally, we present a detailed dependence of all model parameters on the mass (thickness) of the electrode and discuss the potential practical significance of such an analysis.
Synthesis and Characterization of Multifunctional Cu2NiSnSe4 Thin Films and ITO/CdS/Cu2NiSnSe4/Au Solar Cell
Authors: Alsulami Abdullah , Alsalme Ali
Published: December 2024

The goal of this work is to produce innovative copper nickel tin selenium layers (Cu2NiSnSe4) with different thicknesses (217, 329, 431, and 542 nm) by using a thermal evaporation approach. According to the X-ray diffraction results, the as-prepared Cu2NiSnSe4 thin films are polycrystalline, with a single Cu2NiSnSe4 phase with a tetragonal structure present in all films. Meanwhile, FE-SEM was used to examine the Cu2NiSnSe4 films’ morphology and the uniformity of their surface. The optical parameters of the Cu2NiSnSe4 samples were estimated by the Swanepoel envelope method. Additionally, the refractive index of the thin Cu2NiSnSe4 layers grows when the thickness of these layers’ increases. The energy gap characterization showed a direct optical transition in Cu2NiSnSe4 samples and as the thickness of these samples increased, the energy gap decreased from 1.49 to 1.41 eV. Moreover, enlarging the thickness of the Cu2NiSnSe4 samples improved their optoelectrical indices and nonlinear optical characteristics. Further, the DC conductivity analysis exposed that the values of the activation energy of the thin Cu2NiSnSe4 films diminished as the sample thickness grew from 217 to 542 nm. Furthermore, an ITO/CdS/Cu2NiSnSe4/Au heterojunction with an efficiency of 6.44% was created using the Cu2NiSnSe4 film of thickness 542 nm.
Forecasting the Mass Activity of Platinum Anode Catalysts on Various Carbon Nanostructures in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Using Machine Learning
Authors: Raman Ganesan
Published: December 2024

Anode catalyst loading in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) is extremely high at around 4.5 mgPtRu cm−2, which increases cost and inhibits commercialization. Several carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, mesoporous carbon, and carbon quantum dots, are used to support platinum as well as platinum with other metals and metal oxides to reduce the platinum content of catalysts. Optimizing the catalyst composition for DMFC requires extensive trial and error experiments due to the complex electrochemical and thermodynamic processes, which demands considerable time. We present here machine learning-aided models that correlate the composition of platinum-based catalysts on different carbon nanostructures with the mass activity of DMFC. Various machine learning techniques are employed to predict the mass activity of platinum-based catalysts using data from published literature. These models demonstrate a good level of predictive accuracy (R2 > 0.85) with the available datasets and show that even basic models can provide reliable forecasts. The SHapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) summary plot reveals that graphene’s weight fraction is the most significant feature among all carbon nanostructures, followed by the weight fractions of cobalt and platinum. Hence, machine learning has demonstrated significant effectiveness in predicting platinum’s mass activity based on catalyst composition and process parameters.
Multihost/Multivector Community Network: Disentangling Sandfly Species and Host Interactions in Avian Habitats
Authors: Veiga J. , Collantes F. , Hernández-Triana L. M. , Prosser S. W. J. , Valera F.
Published: December 2024

Ascertaining the feeding behavior of vectors is a key for understanding epidemiology of the infections they transmit. For some host–vector–parasite systems, this information is biased towards human and peridomestic habitats, frequently underestimating the likely role of wildlife. In addition, studies on vector interactions often focus on a one‐to‐one host–vector relationship, even though it is crucial to analyze how multiple vector species interact with multiple hosts. These biases particularly affect our knowledge of sandflies, the main vector of Leishmania spp. and various phleboviruses, that are rarely explored in non‐peridomestic habitats and in the context of multiple interactions with various hosts. To reveal the multihost/multivector network involving phlebotomine sandflies in a semiarid and poorly populated area of Spain, we sampled the sandfly community close to avian nests by means of two trapping methods (Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and sticky traps) during 3 years and identified the blood‐meal source of all engorged sandflies. We detected six phlebotomine species with Phlebotomus perniciosus, P. papatasi, and Sergentomyia minuta being the most abundant ones. We identified 13 blood source species, with humans being the most common one, followed by Coracias garrulus (European roller) and Sus scrofa (likely wild boar). Five of the six sandfly species fed largely on wild mammals, although, three also fed on wild birds. Phlebotomus sergenti only fed on birds based on this analysis. Phlebotomus papatasi and P. sergenti were common visitors of bird nests suggesting an endophagic behavior. A network analysis showed a highly‐connected and poorly‐specialized network wherein sandflies shared most of the blood source and showed an opportunistic feeding behavior with marked anthropophilia. Our results obtained close to avian nests show that sandfly populations are maintained by various wild animals, which will greatly complicate the management and control of the pathogens they transmit to humans and domestic animals.
Pharmacologic Management of Obesity in Neuro-Oncology: A Case Report
Authors: Lardieri Alexandra , Thaker Vidhu , Citron-Zafrin Kate , Garvin James H. , Zacharoulis Stergios , Ladas Elena J.
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in pediatric oncology. Advances in the treatment of childhood brain tumors have led to increased survival; however, treatment-related morbidity remains high. The risk of developing overweight/obesity or significant weight gain is commonly observed in children with a brain tumor often due to hypothalamic damage as a result of radiation therapy, surgery, or the tumor itself. This may be accompanied by endocrinopathies such as diabetes insipidus and central precocious puberty in survivors of a childhood brain tumor. Lifestyle intervention strategies are often ineffective in preventing and managing obesity. Patients have difficulty with adherence to dietary interventions due to prolonged exposure to high-dose steroids, compromised physical health due to the disease process, or limitations in mobility as a result of excessive weight gain or the sequelae of the tumor management. There are no effective interventions to prevent or manage obesity in this patient population. Case Presentation: We describe a case report of a 11-year-old female who underwent treatment for a ganglioglioma, WHO grade 1, and simultaneously experienced nearly 100-kg weight gain. After several unsuccessful attempts at lifestyle interventions, she was referred to endocrinology and prescribed a GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide. Following treatment with semaglutide, significant weight loss was observed. Importantly, the patient reported enhanced quality of life and social activity. Conclusion: Anti-obesity medications are promising treatment options for this vulnerable patient group. Additional research is warranted to examine their use for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children with a brain tumor.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT 0N GREEN LOGISTIC? EVIDENCE FROM OECD COUNTRIES
Authors: Özaytürk İbrahim , Yılmaz Özekenci Süreyya
Published: December 2024

The aim of the study is to reveal the relationship between green logistics and financial development using data from OECD countries between 2000-2020. The Panel ARDL approach was used in the study to display the relationship between non-stationary series of the same degree in both the short and long terms. The findings show that there is a statistically significant and positive relationship between green logistics and financial development in the long run, while a negative relationship with trade openness. In addition, no statistically significant relationship was found between foreign direct investments and green logistics. Based on previous research, the previous research have reported that the relationship between green logistics and economic indicators is generally highlighted. However, this study investigates the relationship between financial development, a financial indicator, and green logistics. Thus, it is believed that this study will fill a gap in the literature.
THE NEW PARADIGM SHIFTS IN INNOVATION POLICIES AND THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE STATE
Authors: Kaymak Yiğit , Erçakar Mehmet Emin
Published: December 2024

A new paradigm shift in innovation policies has taken place in recent years across the globe. Additionally, notably after 2008 global crisis, a return to industrial policies has begun in the World, even in developed countries. In this paper, we study the evolutionary development of innovation policies and state intervention rationales until today. In this context, to develop technological and innovative solutions to new complex societal problems, it is realized that the level of state intervention should move beyond what orthodox and evolutionary economics advocate. This new policy orientation also requires more holistic and multilateral cooperation among a wide variety of actors, including government and private sector, as well as consensus on policy objective. However, it seems unresolved where the state will be positioned in this new policy framework. At this point, a more context-specific government intervention may be recommended for the countries depending on their innovation capability level.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN R&D INDICATORS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE PROCESS OF TÜRKİYE’S FULL MEMBERSHIP TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: Özer İbrahim Yusuf , Zafir Bahçekapılı Ceran Zeynep
Published: December 2024

The main purpose of this study is to comparatively investigate the existence, direction and size of the possible relationship between R&D indicators and growth as a result of innovation and R&D policies in Türkiye's EU full membership negotiation process and to test the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between innovative R&D policies and economic growth. For this purpose, annual data for the period 2005-2021 on growth and five R&D indicators (R&D expenditures, number of researchers, number of patents, high technology exports, number of scientific publications) for Türkiye and the general average of 27 EU countries were compiled from the World Bank and Eurostat databases and their course was interpreted through figures. In addition, in accordance with the trend in applied studies, in this study, firstly, stationarity (KPSS unit root test) and cointegration (ARDL bounds test) analyzes from time series analyses were performed for the variables and then the relationship between R&D indicators and growth was estimated with a multiple regression model. According to the findings, it was determined that all series for the EU and Türkiye (except LnGSYHt for Türkiye) comply with the I(1) process and there are no long-term relationships between them.
Taxonomic and phylogenetic characterizations reveal two new species and a new record of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from the Mayao River Valley, Guizhou, China
Authors: CHEN WAN-HAO , LI DAN , SHU HUI-LIN , LIANG JIAN-DONG , HAN YAN-FENG
Published: December 2024

Simplicillium species are widely distributed and commonly found on various substrates or as a fungicolous fungi. In this research, three arthropod-associated specimens were collected. Two new species, Simplicillium neocoleopterorum and S. vallense, and a new record of S. formicae in China, were isolated, established and described according to a multilocus phylogenetic analysis and their morphological characteristics.
Supplementary description of the morphological characteristics of Hyalolaena zhang-minglii (Apiaceae)
Authors: WANG CHUCHU , LYSKOV DMITRY , LI WENJUN , MAMUT JANNATHAN
Published: December 2024

N/A
13. Genetic Narratology and the Novelistic Cycle across Versions
Authors: Bernaerts Lars
Published: December 2024

As an ambitious literary form, the novelistic cycle is often the product of careful design, even to the extent that the concept of the cycle in itself has an aesthetic value. Since the cycle often requires a great deal of planning, it is no suprise that the genetic dossiers contain notes, sketches, versions, and even drawings that support the narrative complexity of the whole as well as its parts. This chapter argues that genetic narratology can help to analyse and interpret the cycle and to recognise it as a conceptual art. First, it discusses the case of Beyond Me and True (Voorbij ik en waargebeurd, 2007-2010) by the Dutch author Herman Franke as an unfinished cycle in which the genetic process becomes part of the published version. Second, it illustrates how the features of the cycle (and those of its own genetic narrative) can be illuminated through a text-genetic narrative analysis.
15. Nanogenetic Econarratology
Authors: Bekius Lamyk
Published: December 2024

Genetic criticism explores the dynamics of the creative writing process through material traces, such as notes, drafts, versions, and manuscripts. Genetic narratology thus introduces different versions to the study of narratives. The digital environment in which present-day literature is composed commonly hides the writing operations useful for such analysis. This essay discusses a method that scholars can use – in collaboration with living authors – to provide a solution to this problem: the use of keystroke logging to log the writing process from the first character typed to the last revision. Keystroke logging data offer a wealth of possibilities for genetic criticism and allow for an analysis of the nanogenesis: the author’s movement through the text and the sequence of text production and revision. To investigate the use of keystroke logging for genetic narratology, this essay focuses on the creation of the story ‘Mondini’, written by the Flemish author David Troch. The story is set in a world after environmental collapse and its writing process was logged with the keystroke logger Inputlog. The keystroke logging data of this narrative, which deals with the effects of climate crisis, therefore allows for the study of the writing process from an econarratological perspective. As such, this essay looks at the visible dynamics of writing as Troch alternated between different genres and explores the ‘principle of minimal departure’ in the writing process. Marie-Laure Ryan’s ‘principle of minimal departure’ suggests that readers project their knowledge of the real world onto the world represented by the text. In addition, as this essay shows, it could also be used as a framework for understanding authorial decisions.
An Innovative Collaboration-Based Ozone and Aerosol Observation Network in Northeast Asia
Authors: Ji Dongsheng , Zhang Miao , Liu Yu , Xu Yang , Cong Chunhua , He Jun , Wang Lili , Tang Guiqian , Liu Zirui , Gao Wenkang , Li Yan , Zhang Xiaolin , Cui Jinmeng , Chen Jinmin , Wang Yuesi
Published: December 2024

Situated in close proximity to the Korea Peninsula and the Japan Islands, Shandong Province in China (SDP) has emerged as a focal point for global attention due to its significant surface ozone (O3) and aerosol pollution. Despite this attention, there are notable gaps in knowledge across various interconnected research domains, encompassing climate change, atmospheric circulation, anthropogenic emissions, and the chemistry of O3 and aerosols. The impact of frequent heat waves on regional O3 and aerosol pollution remains unclear, while our comprehension of atmospheric circulation dynamics and the chemistry involved with O3 and aerosols is still hampered by substantial limitations. The unique topography and geographical setting of SDP, with its complex interplay of factors like sea–land breezes, mountain–valley winds, and urban heat islands, make it an ideal location for investigating the dynamics of O3 and aerosol chemistry. Moreover, it is essential to explore the effects of transboundary transport on O3 and aerosol pollution and delve into the underlying mechanisms contributing to their combined pollution effects. To bridge these knowledge gaps, the Innovative Collaboration-Based Ozone and Aerosol Observation Network in Northeast Asia has been established through collaborative efforts involving the Bureaus of Ecology and Environment, Meteorology in SDP, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This network encompasses various components, including air quality and weather stations, a network of low-cost air quality sensors, monitoring stations focused on atmospheric photochemical smog and aerosol chemical speciation, and vertical measurement systems targeting O3 and its precursor gases (utilizing light detection and ranging, balloon sounding, and drone-based measurements), as well as measurements conducted via vehicles and ships. Additionally, preliminary findings from this comprehensive observational campaign will be shared.
Accelerating Community-Wide Evaluation of AI Models for Global Weather Prediction by Facilitating Access to Model Output
Authors: Radford Jacob T. , Ebert-Uphoff Imme , Stewart Jebb Q. , Musgrave Kate D. , DeMaria Robert , Tourville Natalie , Hilburn Kyle
Published: December 2024

Numerous artificial intelligence-based weather prediction (AIWP) models have emerged over the past 2 years, mostly in the private sector. There is an urgent need to evaluate these models from a meteorological perspective, but access to the output of these models is limited. We detail two new resources to facilitate access to AIWP model output data in the hope of accelerating the investigation of AIWP models by the meteorological community. First, a 3-yr (and growing) reforecast archive beginning in October 2020 containing twice daily 10-day forecasts for FourCastNet v2-small, Pangu-Weather, and GraphCast Operational is now available via an Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) bucket through NOAA’s Open Data Dissemination (NODD) program (https://noaa-oar-mlwp-data.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html). This reforecast archive was initialized with both the NOAA’s Global Forecast System (GFS) and ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) initial conditions in the hope that users can begin to perform the feature-based verification of impactful meteorological phenomena. Second, real-time output for these three models is visualized on our web page (https://aiweather.cira.colostate.edu) along with output from the GFS and the IFS. This allows users to easily compare output between each AIWP model and traditional, physics-based models with the goal of familiarizing users with the characteristics of AIWP models and determine whether the output aligns with expectations, is physically consistent and reasonable, and/or is trustworthy. We view these two efforts as a first step toward evaluating whether these new AIWP tools have a place in forecast operations.
The Limits of China’s Sharp Power in Israel’s Academic and Media Discourse
Authors: Chaziza Mordechai , Lutmar Carmela
Published: December 2024

The term ‘sharp power’ has become a widely used concept in international relations to describe external influence targeting democracies. China employs sharp power statecraft to shape public perceptions in target countries, aiming to alter opinions and behaviour, undermine political systems and create a favourable consensus by manipulating information. This study explores the nature and impact of China’s sharp power on the democratic resilience of Israeli society, particularly within academic and media discourse. The main argument is that China has attempted, albeit with limited success, to establish influence and shape public opinion in Israel through manipulation and censorship. However, these efforts have failed mainly due to the Israeli public’s scepticism and growing awareness of China’s broader geopolitical ambitions. Additionally, China’s pro-Palestinian stance and its alignment with Iran and the ‘axis of resistance’ have further hindered its ability to gain support, as these positions conflict with Israel’s core interests and values.
Nature, Buildings, and Humans: Residents’ Perceptions of Well-Being in Permanent Supportive Housing
Authors: Bianchi Eva , Correa Maria C. , Eichstaedt Johannes C. , Billington Sarah L.
Published: December 2024

Over half a million people in the U.S. experience homelessness. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) aims to house and support formerly unhoused individuals. Few studies have considered how PSH building design affects residents’ well-being. Our work investigates the impact of built features, particularly biophilic features (e.g., indoor greenery), on the stress and sense of belonging of PSH residents. We interviewed and surveyed 28 residents of two buildings on their well-being and their environment, and conducted thematic and content analyses. Among built features, participants mentioned building upkeep and noise as most consequential for their well-being. Biophilic features improved well-being by providing multi-sensory stimuli and increasing perceived control. Overall, interpersonal relationships and perceived safety were the most mentioned themes for well-being. While meeting basic needs is essential for residents’ well-being, our findings show that building design also matters. We provide recommendations to inform future PSH development.
Mitigating Historic Amnesia Through Youth Engagement in the City of Karachi
Authors: Junejo Rabela , Ahmed Noman
Published: December 2024

Karachi, a bustling metropolis of Pakistan, was once called a city of lights. It was known for its “cosmopolitan” nature and mercantile temperament. Many business-minded people were settled here establishing their enterprises along with their neighborhoods and communities. British developed it into a modern port and more people got attracted to the newly found business opportunities, city diversified further. With the passage of time and due to the major political shifts in the Indian subcontinent, Karachi began losing its cosmopolitan character especially a sizable religiously diverse population. The rich cultural heritage that was part and parcel of the diverse makeup of a city was gradually pushed into the back and somehow became invisible and forgotten. To reclaim the memory of the city and mitigate this historic amnesia, a project that was designed and conducted with school- and university-going students is presented as a viable method.
Uncovering the Intersections of Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in Climate Adaptive Capacities in Climate Hotspots for Women in Zambia
Authors: Kihoro Esther , Lecoutere Els , Mishra Avni
Published: December 2024

Climate change risks exacerbating gender inequalities in agrifood systems; hence, the importance of understanding how women’s empowerment and gender equality of climate adaptive capacities relate. Using primary gender-disaggregated intrahousehold data collected in climate hotspots in Zambia, this study shows a positive relationship between women’s empowerment in the household and intrahousehold gender equality in access, knowledge and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Showing that different dimensions of women’s empowerment – gender norms, access to resources and group membership – relate differently with gender-equal adaptive capacities, the study emphasizes the importance of a contextual analysis, unpacking the prevailing key constraints to gender equality, and the need for simultaneous investments in women’s empowerment and gender-equitable access to climate information services and climate-adaptive practices.
Exploring Water Supply Challenges to Selected Villages of Greater Giyani Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Matimolane Selelo , Selane Lebogang , Mathivha Fhumulani I.
Published: December 2024

Limpopo Province faces significant water access challenges, with one-third of its population lacking sufficient domestic water supply. This study examines water access and supply-related challenges in selected villages in the Greater Giyani Municipality (GGM), which suffers from severe water shortages due to persistent drought. In 2008, water levels in the Nsami and Middle Letaba Dams dropped below 5% and 6%, respectively. An open-ended questionnaire survey of 638 households was conducted in 2021, and hydroclimatic data were used to achieve the aim of the study. The analysis revealed that the main water supply sources in GGM are boreholes, communal taps, bulk water through in-house connections, and water vendors. The estimated water demand for the selected villages is 3,230,600 L per day, while the total water supply is only 1,796,676 L per day, resulting in a 44.38% deficit. The questionnaire survey identified two key challenges: unreliable municipal water supply and a lack of access to water within 200 m of households. The study recommends prioritizing water management strategies, such as demand management, groundwater development, and supply innovations, to meet domestic water needs.
Authoritarian, But Not Nativist: Classifying Far-Right Parties in Latin America
Authors: Borges André , Zanotti Lisa
Published: December 2024

Research on far-right parties has mostly focused on Western Europe, where anti-immigration agendas and related nativist ideas have played a major role in right-wing radicalization. In this article, we analyze the rise of the far right in Latin America, a region where immigration has been much less prominent in public debates. Drawing on the 2020 Chapell Hill Expert Survey, we propose to assess the extent to which Latin American far-right parties fit existing conceptualizations that identify nativism and authoritarianism as the core characteristics of this party family. Given the relative unimportance of nativism as a distinguishing feature of cases of right-wing extremism/radicalism in the region, we propose a more parsimonious conceptualization of the far right. We also develop a typological classification and find that authoritarian-fundamentalist parties that embrace an extreme form of religious conservatism are the most common subtype of far-right party in Latin America.
From trauma to chronicity: Understanding the incidence and early immune changes of chronic complications in polytrauma patients
Authors: Zhang Cong , Chen Deng , Wan Qian , Yin Gang , Liu Yang , Luo Jialiu , Chen Shunyao , Lin Zhiqiang , Gu Shuaipeng , Li Hui , Chang Teding , Dong Liming , Zhang Peidong , Tang Zhaohui
Published: December 2024

Objective

Polytrauma is a complex condition associated with poor outcomes and high mortality rates resulting from severe damage and complicated complications. This study sought to ascertain the incidence of chronic complications in polytrauma patients, as well as the early immune changes and risk factors.

Methods

A multicenter, prospective and observational cohort study was conducted at the emergency surgery or traumatic intensive care unit (TICU) of the Advanced Trauma Center from August 2020 to July 2023. A total of 2033 consecutive trauma patients were included in the study. In the first 1, 7, and 14 days after admission, flow cytometry and immunoassay kits were used to examine cytokine release and lymphocyte count.

Results

Trauma patients were reported 33.8% (687/2033) chronic complication rates, with monotrauma patients reported 8.1% (55/683) and polytrauma patients reported 59.4% (802/1350). And the four most frequent chronic complications in polytrauma patients were chronic musculoskeletal pain (30.4%), post-traumatic osteoarthritis (27.2%), chronic wound (21.6%), and chronic lung injury (14.1.%) .There were significant differences in lymphocyte ratios and cytokine levels, at 1, 7, and 14 day of admission between chronic complication groups (CCP) and not chronic complication groups (N-CCP) in polytrauma. Polytrauma patients with characteristics of higher ratio of Ts7d ratio (95% CI: 2.01–6.21), Treg14d (95% CI: 1.12–5.43) and level of IL-67d (95% CI: 1.22–4.43), TNF-α7d (95% CI: 1.05–3.83), IL-1014d (95% CI: 2.01–6.84) were found to have a higher likelihood of experiencing a chronic complication. Conversely, a higher ratio of Tc1d (95% CI: 0.53–0.86), Th1d (95% CI: 0.64–0.95) and Th/Ts14d (95% CI: 0.21–0.64) were identified as independent protective factors against a chronic complication event.

Conclusion

Polytrauma patients exhibit a notable prevalence of chronic complications. Some immune and inflammatory indicators can be observed early in combination after injury to predict the risk of chronic complications after polytrauma.
Embodied spiritualities: Beliefs, practices, and contributions of women’s spiritualities in Latin America
Authors: Ramírez Morales María del Rosario
Published: December 2024

The analysis of women and their ways of experiencing embodied spirituality has revealed novel forms in the configurations of believing, practicing, and belonging to spiritual communities. Through the systematization of ethnographic and multi-sited explorations conducted in women’s circles in Mexico, this article reflects on how the rise of what is now known as feminine spirituality has contributed to shaping forms of belief, practice, and belonging to spiritual communities outside institutional margins. It analyzes the impact of feminine spirituality and its approach to understanding contemporary spiritualities in Latin America, as well as some of its challenges, themes, and key issues. It shows how women’s spiritual expressions generate epistemic and theoretical-methodological questions, but also allow for the articulation of socio-anthropological approaches to spirituality and religion with other perspectives of social analysis.
Colonoscopy Screening Behavior in First-Degree Relatives of Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Zhang Ruihuan , Fu, MS Cong , Yuan Jing , Li Wenwen , Du Chang , Chen Shuang , Liu Kaihua , Yin Xiaoping
Published: December 2024

To investigate the factors influencing the colonoscopy screening behavior of first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients and to provide a basis for formulating screening intervention strategies. In this study, 15 first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients in the Department of Medical Oncology of a tertiary hospital in Baoding City from May to July 2024 were selected as the research subjects, and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. The theme was analyzed and summarized based on the theory of planned behavior and Colaizzi’s 7-step analysis method. Results of this study identified 12 themes from 3 aspects. For behavioral attitudes, 4 themes emerged: (1) Negative screening emotions caused by psychological stress, (2) Lack of awareness of the importance of screening due to cognitive biases, (3) Screening behavior caused by fatalistic views is systematically underestimated, and (4) Affirm the value of early screening. For subjective norms (The impact of external information on screening behavior), 4 themes emerged: (1) Family support, (2) Advice from a healthcare professional, (3) information support from online media, (4) Personal experience and suggestions from friends. For perceived behavior control, 4 themes emerged: (1) Unbearable pain and embarrassment, (2) Busyness of life and work, (3) Medical treatment process and transportation convenience, and (4) Screening costs. The colonoscopy screening behavior of first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients is affected by behavioral attitudes, subjective norms (The impact of external information on screening behavior), and perceived behavior control. Clinical medical staff should correct their behavioral cognitive biases from the perspective of first-degree relatives, use positive belief factors to avoid wrong cognition, pay attention to a variety of sources of support, stimulate the self-efficacy of first-degree relatives, and create a suitable environment for colonoscopy screening, to promote the change of colonoscopy screening behavior of first-degree relatives.
Perceptions of Women in U.S. Army Combat Units: A Mixed-Methods Study Post-Gender Integration
Authors: Miller Catherine Johanna
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to serving with women on male opinions about gender integration in the formerly all-male Infantry and Armor branches of the U.S. Army. This mixed-methods study used primary survey data collected in 2021 from soldiers serving in the 33 active-duty Army brigade combat teams. A total of 8,798 respondents answered the anonymous electronic questionnaire. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, regression, and content analysis of qualitative comments. Results indicated that the presence of women within an infantry or armor platoon or squad, or exposure to a female leader, predicted that a male respondent was significantly more likely to support gender integration in combat arms and less likely to worry about effects on unit cohesion and performance. Qualitative analysis of 1,121 comments from infantry and armor men revealed five main themes about gender integration in combat arms and offer insight into quantitative findings.
Applied fault diagnosis with distributed monitoring systems: Bridging theory with practice
Authors: Kwao Vincent , Raptis Ioannis , Workneh Hilina
Published: December 2024

We address the feasibility of the pragmatic implementation of monitoring systems for real-time distributed fault diagnosis in complex processes. We delve into the integration of theoretical distributed estimation methods and practical distributed embedded systems. This study emphasizes the merger of distributed computing and signal processing to augment fault diagnosis in dynamic systems. We introduce a generic mathematical model for distributed fault diagnosis algorithms, laying the groundwork for a reference network computing architecture that details the essential components, organization, and operational characteristics necessary for distributed monitoring systems. Subsequently, we evaluate existing software and hardware solutions that facilitate the realization of these systems. The theoretical framework and system design are empirically validated through an experimental setup involving a liquid-level control system, demonstrating the efficacy and applicability of our approach.