bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatocyte-Specific PEX16 Abrogation in Mice Leads to Hepatocyte Proliferation, Alteration of Hepatic Lipid Metabolism, and Resistance to High Fat Diet (HFD)-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Obesity
Authors: Chen Xue , Wang Long , Denning Krista L. , Mazur Anna , Xu Yujuan , Wang Kesheng , Lawrence Logan M. , Wang Xiaodong , Lu Yongke
Published: March 2024

Obesity results in hepatic fat accumulation, i.e., steatosis. Besides the fat overload, impaired fatty acid β-oxidation also promotes steatosis. Fatty acid β-oxidation takes place in mitochondria and peroxisomes. Usually very long chain and branched-chain fatty acids are first oxidized in peroxisomes, and the resultant short chain fatty acids are further oxidized in mitochondria. Peroxisome biogenesis is regulated by peroxin 16 (PEX16). In liver-specific PEX16 knockout (Pex16Alb-Cre) mice, hepatocyte peroxisomes were absent, but hepatocytes proliferated, and liver mass was enlarged. These results suggest that normal liver peroxisomes restrain hepatocyte proliferation and liver sizes. After high fat diet (HFD) feeding, body weights were increased in PEX16 floxed (Pex16fl/fl) mice and adipose-specific PEX16 knockout (Pex16AdipoQ-Cre) mice but not in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice, suggesting that the development of obesity is regulated by liver PEX16 but not by adipose PEX16. However, it was previously reported that HFD-induced obesity in the Pex16AdipoQ-Cre mice was more severe than in the wild type mice, which was not observed until 27 weeks of HFD feeding. Thus, liver initiates the development of obesity, which is enhanced by abnormal adipocytes. HFD increased liver mass in the Pex16fl/fl mice but somehow reduced the already enlarged liver mass in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice. Basal levels of serum triglyceride, free fatty acids and cholesterol were decreased whereas serum bile acids were increased in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice, and HFD-induced steatosis was not observed in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice. These results suggest that normal liver peroxisomes contribute to the development of liver steatosis and obesity.
Structural and Optical Characterization of Porous NiV2O6 Films Synthesized by Nebulizer Spray Pyrolysis for Photodetector Applications
Authors: Kotbi Ahmed , Radaf Islam , Hamdi Alaoui Ilham , Cantaluppi Anna , Zeinert Andreas , LAHMAR Abdelilah
Published: March 2024

NiV2O6 thin films were grown on glass slides with varying thicknesses using the nebulizer spray pyrolysis. The impact of thickness on the thin films' optical, structural, morphological, and electrical characteristics was systematically investigated. The X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman analysis confirmed the formation of the triclinic NiV2O6 system. Surface morphology and roughness variations in the as-deposited NiV2O6 films were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a profilometer. Optical properties, including optical band gap (Eg), extinction coefficient (k), absorption coefficient (α), and refractive index (n), were determined through optical reflectance and transmittance measurements. The optical energy gap of the as-deposited NiV2O6 films decreased from 2.3 eV to 1.9 eV with increased layer thickness. Furthermore, the photo-detectivity of the films demonstrated an enhancement corresponding to the prolonged spray time. The sensitivity values obtained for visible irradiation are 328, 511, and 433 for samples S1, S2, and S3, respectively. The obtained results are imputed to the specific porous microstructure.
Adaptation through Climate-Smart Agriculture: Socio-Economic Factors Influencing the Willingness to Adopt Climate-Smart Agriculture by Smallholder Maize Farmers in Limpopo Province
Authors: Machete Koketso Cathrine , Senyolo Mmapatla Precious , Gidi Lungile Sivuyile
Published: March 2024

Agriculture contributes towards South African economy, but this sector is highly vulnerable to risks imposed by climate change. Smallholder maize farmers are specifically susceptible to climate change impacts. Maize crop plays a crucial role in the country's food security as it is considered a stable food for households and source of feed for livestock. The study aimed to analyze the socio-economic factors influencing smallholder maize farmers’ willingness to adopt climate-smart agriculture. It was conducted in three different areas due to their specific agro-ecological zones. Multipurpose research design was used to gather data, and multistage random sampling to choose the study areas. Subsequently, 209 purposively selected farmers were interviewed face-to-face using structured questionnaires and focus discussion groups. Descriptive statistics and Double-hurdle regression model were used to analyze the data. Descriptive results indicated that 81%, 67%, and 63% farmers were willing to adopt CSA in Ga-Makanye, Gabaza, and Giyani, respectively. Empirical results from the first and second hurdles of the regression analysis showed that farmers’ education, crop diversification, information about CSA positively influenced the decision to adopt CSA while household size and agricultural experience negatively influenced the decision to adopt CSA. It is recommended that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development should provide CSA workshops and educational programs to farmers to enhance their knowledge and decision-making processes regarding adaptation strategies.
Removal of Methylene Blue Dye from Aqueous Solutions Using Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing calix[4]pyrrole
Authors: Nowik-Zajac Anna , Zawierucha Iwona , Lagiewka Jakub , Jaksender Karolina , Witt Katarzyna , Malina Grzegorz , Sabadash Vira
Published: March 2024

Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), which contained cellulose tri-acetate used as a polymer base, a plasticizer in the form of o-NPOE, and meso-tetra methyl tetrakis-[methyl-2-(4-acetlphenoxy)] calix[4]pyrrole (KP) used as a carrier, were prepared and tested for the effective purification of aqueous solutions of methylene blue dye. The scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) were used to define the microstructure and surface of PIMs. Experimental results showed that with the increased concentration of methylene blue in an aqueous solution, the removal percentage also increased. Further observation also showed that the flux increased with the rise of the source phase pH values from 3 to 10. The carrier and plasticizer content in the membrane significantly influenced the membrane’s transport properties. The optimal composition of the membrane in per cent by weight was for KP: 74% plasticizer; 18% support; 8% carrier. It was shown that the membrane with optimal composition showed good reusability and enabled the easy and spontaneous separation of methylene blue from aqueous solutions.
Exploring Multivariate Statistics: Unveiling the Power of Eigenvalues in Wishart Distribution Analysis
Authors: Makled Randa A. , Cheng Weihu
Published: March 2024

Energy distance is used to eigenvalue distributions in this new Wishart distribution study, providing a new perspective on high-dimensional data. Multivariate statistics relies on Wishart distribution to explain covariance matrices. This analysis shows how degrees of freedom and covariance matrix configurations affect eigenvalue dispersion. We use energy distance based on eigenvalue distributions to assess Wishart distribution differences without the "curse of dimensionality" via extensive simulation simulations. This approach improves measurement accuracy and processing efficiency in distribution comparisons and enables new analytical pathways in scientific fields that need data covariance comprehension. Our results show that degrees of freedom and matrix structure considerably affect energy distances, expanding the theoretical framework and practical applications of statistical models.
An Energy-Efficient Logistic Drone Routing Method considering Dynamic Drone Speed and Payload
Authors: Wu Kunpeng , Lu Shaofeng , Chen Haoqin , Feng Minling , Lu Zenghao
Published: March 2024

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone is recognized for its potential to improve efficiency and address last-mile delivery issues. As a result, there has been a lot of activity in recent years in the field of drone scheduling and routing. Unlike the vehicle routing problem, drone route design is difficult due to several operational characteristics, such as speed optimization, multitrip operation, and energy consumption estimation. On the one hand, drone energy consumption is a complex nonlinear function of both speed and payload in practice. On the other hand, the high operating speed of drones can significantly curtail the drone range, thereby limiting the efficiency of drone delivery systems. Most of the existing drone delivery models either assume constant drone speed or do not consider the effect of drone speed and parcel weight on energy consumption, leading to costly or energy-infeasible routes. This paper addresses the trade-off between speed and flight range in a multi-trip drone routing problem with variable flight speeds (DRP-VFS), in which a team of homogeneous drones is employed for delivery services. We propose a new model to particularly consider energy constraints using a nonlinear energy consumption model and treat drone speeds as decision variables so that various drone speeds can be adopted in applications. The DRP-VFS is initially formulated as mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to minimize total energy consumption. To solve large-scale instances, we propose a three-phase adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that suboptimal solutions can be found effectively in practical scenarios using the proposed method. Furthermore, results indicate that operating drones at variable speeds leads to about 21% of energy savings compared to fixed speeds, boasting advantages in cost-savings and range extensions.
Icarifil in Association with Daily Use of Tadalafil (5 mg) versus Standard Tadalafil Daily Dose (5 mg) or Alone: Results from a Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Cai Tommaso , Palumbo Fabrizio , Miacola Carlos , Ceruti Carlo , Rizzo Michele , Liguori Giovanni , Gallelli Luca , Palmieri Alessandro
Published: March 2024

Background: The management of erectile dysfunction (ED) shows several grey zones and new treatments for reduce the percentage of patients who discontinued the treatment are required. Here, we aim to evaluate the role of a natural mixture of named Icarifil (L-Citrulline, L-Carnitine, Eruca vesicaria, Panax ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, Turnera diffusa, Taurine, Vitamin E, Zinc) in the management of patients with ED. Methods: From September 2022 to March 2023, all patients attending 3 urological institutions due to ED were randomized to receive: Icarifil 1 sachet every 24 h (Group 1) or Icarifil 1 sachet + tadalafil 5 mg 1 tablet every 24 h (Group 2) or tadalafil 5 mg 1 tablet daily (Group 3), for 3 months. All patients underwent urologic visit and dedicated questionnaires (IIEF-5, SEP-2, SEP-3) at the enrollment and at the follow-up evaluation (3 months). Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) at the follow-up evaluation were used. Primary endpoint was the difference in the questionnaires at the follow-up visit when compared with enrollment among the study groups. Results: In the per-protocol analysis, 52 patients in the Group 1, 55 in the Group 2 and 57 in Group 3 have been analyzed. At the follow-up evaluation, IIEF-5 have been improved in all the 3 Groups between enrollment and follow-up evaluation, but a statistically significant difference has been reported between Group 2 (+7.4) versus Group 1 (+4.1) or 3 (+5.1), (p<0.001; p<0.001). Moreover, 47 patients (94.0%) in the Group 2 showed an improvement in the SEP questionnaires, when compared with the baseline, while 29 in the Group 1 (56.9%) and 42 in the Group 3 (82.3%) with a statistically significant difference (p=0.004; p=0.003) among the Groups. The PROs analysis reported a better efficacy and patients’ satisfaction in Group 2 when compared with Group 1 or 3. Conclusions: In conclusion, Icarifil is able to improve penile erectile function in mild–moderate ED and it is able to significantly improve the clinical efficacy of tadalafil 5 mg daily use. Icarifil could be represent an interesting alternative treatment in patients experiencing adverse effects or with contraindications for chronic treatment with PDE5-is.
Unveiling the Genomic Landscape of Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate Using Spatial Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Watanabe Ryuta , Miura Noriyoshi , Kurata Mie , Kitazawa Riko , Kikugawa Tadahiko , Saika Takashi
Published: March 2024

Recently intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP) has attracted increasing interest owing to its unfavorable prognoses. To effectively identify the IDCP-specific gene expression profile, we took a novel approach of characterizing a typical IDCP case using spatial gene expression analysis. A formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sample was subjected to Visium CytAssist Spatial Gene Expression analysis. IDCP within invasive prostate cancer sites was recognized as a distinct cluster separate from other invasive cancer clusters. Highly expressed genes defining the IDCP cluster, such as MUC6, MYO16, NPY, and KLK12, reflected the aggressive nature of high-grade prostate cancer. IDCP sites also showed increased hypoxia markers HIF1A, BNIP3L, PDK1, and POGLUT1; decreased fibroblast markers COL1A2, DCN, and LUM; and decreased immune cell markers CCR5 and FCGR3A. Overall, these findings indicate that the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and reduced accessibility to immune cells, which reflect the pathological characteristics of IDCP, may influence the aggressiveness of high-grade prostate cancer.
Secreted Adipocytokines in Harvested Visceral Fat Differ over Age and Diet in Control and High-Fat Diet Fed Female C3H/Hej Mice
Authors: Mubtasim Noshin , Barr Benjamin , Boren Caleb , Gollahon and Lauren
Published: March 2024

Excess consumption of a high-fat diet has been identified as one of the contributing factors for obesity. Women are at higher risk for adult obesity than men, predisposing them to a different set of detrimental disease conditions. Furthermore, aging studies show that physiological decline also has a serious impact on changes in the endocrine properties of white adipose tissue. Howev-er, there is still relatively little known about the factors associated with obesity and aging and their compounding impact on women’s health. To investigate adipocytokine secretion profile changes, female C3H/HeJ mice were induced to obesity through long-term consumption of a high-fat diet. Weight gain measurements and Echo MRI analysis of fat composition showed in-creases were a due solely to the high fat content in the diet. Adipocytokine secretions were ana-lyzed in media conditioned from harvested visceral fat tissue that was organ cultured ex-vivo. Adipocytokine analysis across diets and age showed significant increases in Adiponectin and Leptin secretion in high-fat diets, accelerated increases in Resistin secretion with high-fat diets. Aging induced increased secretion of Lipcalin-2, Pentraxin-3 and Serpin E1, MCP-1 and ICAM-1, regardless of diet. Furthermore, comparisons of organoid cultured protein secretions and flash-frozen tissue samples differed greatly, suggesting the WAT organoid cultures may yield information more reflective of in situ conditions. Taken together, our results show that diet and aging significantly impact secretions from adipose tissue, that may contribute to women’s health issues.
Insights Into PCSK9-LDLR Regulation and Trafficking Via the Differential Functions of MHC-I Proteins HFE and HLA-C
Authors: Mikaeeli Sepideh , Ben Djoudi Ouadda Ali , Evagelidis Alexandra , Essalmani Rachid , Pereira Ramos Oscar Henrique , Fruchart-Gaillard Carole , Seidah Nabil G. G
Published: March 2024

PCSK9 is implicated in familial hypercholesterolemia via targeting the cell surface PCSK9-LDLR complex toward lysosomal degradation. The M2 repeat in the PCSK9's C-terminal domain is essential for its extracellular function, potentially through its interaction with an unidentified “protein X”. The M2 repeat was recently shown to bind an R-x-E motif in MHC-class-I proteins (implicated in the immune system), like HLA-C, and causing their lysosomal degradation. These findings suggested a new role of PCSK9 in the immune system and that HLA-like proteins could be “protein X” candidates. However, the participation of each member of the MHC-I protein family in this process and their regulation of PCSK9's function have yet to be determined. Herein, we compared the implication of MHC-I-like proteins such as HFE (involved in iron homeostasis) and HLA-C on the extracellular function of PCSK9. Our data revealed that the M2 domain regulates the intracellular sorting of the PCSK9-LDLR complex to lysosomes, and that HFE is a new target of PCSK9 that inhibits its activity on the LDLR, whereas HLA-C enhances its function. This work suggests the potential modulation of the PCSK9 functions through interactions of HFE and HLA-C.
Can AI-Powered Whole Genome Sequencing Be Used Routinely for Personalized Decision Support in Surgical Oncology? – A Scoping Review
Authors: Alagarswamy Kokiladevi , Boini Aishwarya , Messaoudi Nouredin , Grasso Vincent , Turner Bruce , croner Roland , Gumbs Andrew
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION : In this scoping review, we delve into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing challenges inherent in whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis, with a specific focus on its implications in surgical oncology. METHODS: Scoping review of whole genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence.DISCUSSION : Unveiling the limitations of existing sequencing technologies, the review illuminates how AI-powered methods emerge as innovative solutions to surmount these obstacles. The evolution of DNA sequencing technologies, progressing from Sanger sequencing to next-generation sequencing, sets the backdrop for AI's emergence as a potent ally in processing and analyzing the voluminous genomic data generated by these technologies. Particularly, deep learning methods play a pivotal role in extracting knowledge and discerning patterns from the vast landscape of genomic information. In the context of oncology, AI-powered methods exhibit considerable potential across diverse facets of WGS analysis, including variant calling, structural variation identification, and pharmacogenomic analysis. CONCLUSIONS : This review underscores the significance of multimodal approaches in diagnoses and therapies, highlighting the imperative for ongoing research and development in AI-powered WGS techniques. Integrating AI into the analytical framework empowers scientists and clinicians to unravel the intricate interplay of genomics within the realm of multi-omics research, paving the way for more personalized and targeted treatments in surgical oncology and perhaps beyond.
Integrated Assessment of Health Benefits and Burdens of Urban Greenspace Designs
Authors: Oosterbroek Bram , de Kraker Joop , Huynen Maud , Martens Pim
Published: March 2024

Spatial planners are nowadays strongly interested in the benefits of greenspace for the health of urban residents. However, concrete and context-specific guidance on effective greening strategies is still lacking. We present a novel, model-based approach to support the development of such strategies. The approach is quantitative and spatially-explicit, and accounts for multiple health benefits as well as burdens. In this study, we applied the approach to the city of Maastricht (The Netherlands), and conducted an integrated, city-scale assessment of the health benefits and burdens of four urban greenspace designs. These included: ‘No greenspace’, ‘Current greenspace’, ‘Green parking lots and squares’, and ‘Optimized greenspace locations’. For each greenspace design, indicator values were calculated for five health determinants: heat stress, air pollution, perceived unsafety, unattractive views, and tick-bite risk. To assess the health contribution of urban greenspace in a given design, these indicator values were compared with the values in the ‘No greenspace’ design. The study produced clear, quantitative conclusions about the health benefits and burdens of the urban greenspace designs for the case of Maastricht, but also generated novel, more general insights relevant to planning of urban greenspace for health. These insights concern the importance of translating health policy objectives into specific target values or thresholds, and the importance of ‘smart’ choices in greenspace type and location that can effectively reduce trade-offs between health benefits and burdens. Priorities for future research, addressing limitations of the presented approach, concern a further expansion of the range of health benefits and burdens covered by the model, and the development of a common metric for the entire range of health benefits and burdens allowing optimization of greenspace design to maximize its overall net health benefit.
Disruptive Factors in Product Portfolio Management: A Qualitative Exploratory Study in B2B Manufacturing
Authors: Gramberg Till , Bauernhansl Thomas , Eggert Andreas
Published: March 2024

Business-to-business (B2B) manufacturing companies are increasingly confronted with transformative trends such as sustainability, digitalization, and servitization. These trends are changing how product portfolios are developed, and value contributions are assessed, and therefore have disruptive potential. Dealing with these disruptive factors in Product Portfolio Management (PPM) is a largely unexplored topic. This study presents an empirical-qualitative exploration that contributes significantly to the field. The aim is to clarify the extent to which disruptive factors influence the evaluation and shaping of the product portfolio in B2B manufacturing companies. The Gioia method was used to evaluate 21 semi-structured interviews with experts from leading B2B manufacturing companies. Eight overarching challenges in PPM resulting from the disruptive factors were identified. Based on the eight overarching challenges and their associated causal relationships, two aggregated dimensions of action were derived: (1) increasing speed and flexibility by using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in a defined PPM process and (2) adjusting the product portfolio evaluation to consider various strategic drivers. These two dimensions of action call for future research to overcome the disruptive factors in PPM.
Leveraging Data Locality in Quantum Convolutional Classifiers
Authors: Jeng Mingyoung , Nobel Alvir , Jha Vinayak , Levy David , Kneidel Dylan , Chaudhary Manu , Islam Ishraq , Facer Audrey , Singh Manish , Baumgartner Evan , Vanderhoof Eade , Arshad Abina , El-Araby Esam
Published: March 2024

Quantum computing (QC) has opened the door to advancements in machine learning (ML) tasks that are currently implemented in the classical domain. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are classical ML architectures that exploit data locality and possess a simpler structure than fully-connected multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) without compromising the accuracy of classification. However, the concept of preserving data locality is usually overlooked in the existing quantum counterparts of CNNs, particularly for extracting multi-features in multidimensional data. In this paper, we present a multidimensional quantum convolutional classifier (MQCC) that performs multidimensional and multi-feature quantum convolution with average and Euclidean pooling and thus adapting the CNN structure to a variational quantum algorithm (VQA). Average pooling is based on the quantum Haar transform (QHT) and Euclidean pooling is based on partial quantum measurement. The experimental work was conducted using multidimensional data to validate the correctness and demonstrate the scalability of the proposed method utilizing both noisy and noise-free quantum simulations. We evaluated the MQCC model with reference to reported work on state-of-the-art quantum simulators from IBM Quantum and Xanadu using a variety of standard ML datasets. The experimental results showed favorable characteristics of our proposed techniques compared to existing work with respect to a number of quantitative metrics such as the number of training parameters, cross-entropy loss, classification accuracy, circuit depth, and quantum gate count.
Pectin and Pectin Oligosaccharides Obtained from Agro-Wastes as a Constituents of Soluble Dietary Fibre: Effect on the Stabili-Zation of Intestinal Microbiome and Immunity of Humans and Animals – a Review
Authors: Hikawczuk Tomasz Marcin , Wróblewska Patrycja , Szuba-Trznadel Anna , Rusiecka Agnieszka , Zinchuk Andrii , Laszki-Szczachor Krystyna
Published: March 2024

Regulation of the diet in terms of the content of soluble and insoluble fibre is of great importance from the point of view of dietetics, microbiology of the gastrointestinal tract and immunology of the organism. Dietary fibre plays an important role in maintaining the balance between the con-tinuity of gut mucus production (intestinal mucosa), the stability of the intestinal microbiome composition, the regeneration of the intestinal epithelium and the immune status within the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) are played by pectin and their metabolic products in the form of pectin oligosaccharides. The main purpose of this review was to focus on pectin, their functions, their impact on the human's health and on some of the most promising prebiotics due to their solubility in the gastrointestinal tract in the form of pectin oligosaccharides. They have the properties of pectin, but have also additional features and postbiotics obtained in fermentation process can affect the intestinal microbiome and GALT-related immunity. They can be obtained from plant agro-wastes.
Parameter-Free Interval Priority Weight Estimation Methods Based on Minimum Conceivable Ranges Under a Crisp Pairwise Comparison Matrix
Authors: Innan Shigeaki , Inuiguchi Masahiro
Published: March 2024

Methods for interval priority weight estimation from a crisp pairwise comparison matrix were proposed in the interval analytic hierarchy process assuming the vagueness of human evaluation. The interval priority weights estimated by the conventional method do not reflect the intrinsic vagueness in the given pairwise comparison matrix (PCM). This paper proposes parameter-free methods based on minimal conceivable ranges for estimating interval priority weights from a crisp pairwise comparison matrix. The estimated interval priority weight vectors are required to satisfy (1) the potential reproducibility, (2) the normality, and (3) the preservation of the perfect consistent data. Estimation methods of interval priority weights are proposed based on the minimum possible range. We show those proposed methods satisfy the required three properties. The estimation problem of interval priority weights potentially has multiple solutions with which the associated interval PCMs are identical to one another. To make the further investigation simpler, we use an interval priority weight vector among multiple solutions such that the sum of the center values of interval priority weights is one. We compare the estimation methods of interval priority weights from the viewpoint of estimation accuracy by numerical experiments. Namely, by generating crisp pairwise comparison matrices randomly under true interval PCMs, we evaluate the accuracies of the estimated interval priority weight vectors by comparing the true interval priority weight vectors.
Evolutionary Competition in Small-Size Lowest Unique Integer Games
Authors: Yamada Takashi
Published: March 2024

In lowest unique integer games (LUIGs), continually choosing the same number has been experimentally and computationally shown to be effective. However, this result holds only when all players behave differently, and it is unclear whether such behavior performs well under population dynamics. This study analyzed the types of agents that survive and how successfully they behave within an evolutionary environment of small-size LUIGs. Here, the author identified a learning model to create agents using behavioral data obtained from a laboratory experiment by Yamada and Hanaki. Then, evolutionary competition was pursued. The main findings are three fold. First, more agents are ruled out in three-person LUIGs than in four-person LUIGs. Second, the most successful agents do not win as much as the generations increase. Instead, they manage to win by adaptively changing their strategies. Third, as the scale of the LUIG increases, the number of wins for each agent is not correlated with that in a round-robin contest.
Hierarchical Reward Model of Deep Reinforcement Learning for Enhancing Cooperative Behavior in Automated Driving
Authors: Matsuda Kenji , Suzuki Tenta , Harada Tomohiro , Matsuoka Johei , Tobisawa Mao , Hoshino Jyunya , Itoh Yuuki , Kumagae Kaito , Kagawa Toshinori , Hattori Kiyohiko
Published: March 2024

In recent years, studies on practical application of automated driving have been conducted extensively. Most of the research assumes the existing road infrastructure and aims to replace human driving. There have also been studies that use reinforcement learning to optimize car control from a zero-based perspective in an environment without lanes, one of the existing types of road. In those studies, search and behavior acquisition using reinforcement learning has resulted in efficient driving control in an unknown environment. However, the throughput has not been high, while the crash rate has. To address this issue, this study proposes a hierarchical reward model that uses both individual and common rewards for reinforcement learning in order to achieve efficient driving control in a road, we assume environments of one-way, lane-less, automobile-only. Automated driving control is trained using a hierarchical reward model and evaluated through physical simulations. The results show that a reduction in crash rate and an improvement in throughput is attained by increasing the number of behaviors in which faster cars actively overtake slower ones.
Malaysia’s “Triadic Maritime Diplomacy” Strategy in the South China Sea
Authors: Putra Bama Andika
Published: March 2024

The importance of safeguarding Malaysia’s Kasawari gas field in the South China Sea has reoriented Malaysia’s maritime diplomatic strategies vis-à-vis China’s growing assertiveness in this semi-enclosed sea. China’s increased sea infringements through its coast guards and maritime constabulary forces have led Malaysia to adopt what this article coins as “triadic maritime diplomacy,” a combination of coercive, persuasive, and co-operative maritime diplomacy. Malaysia’s maritime diplomatic strategies thus act more as a set of contradictory policies rather than a decisive attempt to defend Malaysia’s sovereignty at sea. This article engages in qualitative inquiry to address two central empirical questions: Firstly, how has Malaysia managed the delicate balance between safeguarding its sovereignty at sea and maintaining close economic ties with China? Secondly, what accounts for Malaysia’s persistent “downplaying” stance despite the escalating intrusions around the Luconia Shoals, particularly concerning the Kasawari gas field? The findings of this study reveal three key aspects: Firstly, Malaysia’s prioritization of developing the Kasawari gas field has necessitated the adoption of seemingly contradictory policies, employing coercive maritime measures utilizing its naval assets while simultaneously adopting rhetoric that downplays crises. Secondly, Malaysia’s maritime diplomacy can be aptly characterized as “triadic” strategies, encompassing the adoption of coercive, persuasive, and co-operative approaches. Lastly, these seemingly inconsistent policies are a strategic response aimed at accommodating both immediate and prospective economic opportunities involving China, all while signaling its nonaligned stance to major global powers.
Pendampingan Pembelajaran Membaca Al-Quran Dengan Metode Iqra’ Pada Anak TPQ Desa Ngrukem Ponorogo
Authors: Rahayu Tina Puji , Arisona Risma Dwi
Published: March 2024

Kegiatan pengabdian ini dilakukan dalam bentuk pendampingan membaca Al Quran kepada anak khususnya anak TPQ di desa Ngrukem Ponorogo. Kegiatan ini dilakukan bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kamampuan anak dalam membaca Al Quran melalui program pendampingan dengan metode Iqra’.Pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini menggunakan metode ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) merupakan suatu metode yang menitikberatkan pada pemberdayaan sumber daya dan potensi yang ada di masyarakat dengan tahapan pengabdian yaitu: Pendekatan Asset Mapping (Pemetaan Sumber Daya), Pemetaan Kebutuhan dan Masalah, Pemilihan Prioritas, Pembentukan Kelompok Kerja, Perencanaan Program atau Proyek, Implementasi Program atau Proyek, Evaluasi dan Pembelajaran, dan Pemberdayaan Berkelanjutan. Hasil dari pengabdian masyarakat ini bahwa dengan adanya aset yang dimiliki oleh peserta KPM-DDR yang mempunyai bekal membaca Al Quran dan pengetahuan tentang islamyang cukup maka pendampingan membaca Al Quran layak untuk dilaksanakan. Setelah kegiatan ini dilakukan antusias anak-anak untuk belajar membaca Al Quran semakin meningkat. Dengan pengabdian masyarakat yang dilakukan yamg didapat menunjukkan kemampuan membaca pada anak meningkat dibandingkan sebelumnya. Tetapi, masih perlu pendampingan dan pengawasan lebih lanjut dari orang tua dan pihak lain dikemudian hari.
Suhrawardi: Analisis Konsep Tasawuf dan Kritik terhadap Pemikiran Terdahulu
Authors: Saifuddin Mukhtar , Rahman Zaizul Ab
Published: March 2024

Suhrawardi's thought is always identified as a philosophical concept seen from the thought of illumination (Isyraqiyah). although in his thought rarely found tasawwuf terminology, there are some concepts of tasawwuf that are basically very common among akhlaqi tasawwuf. Therefore, this study aims to examine Suhrawardi's thoughts from the perspective of Sufism. This research is a type of library research using descriptive and analytical methods. The results of this study indicate that there are four concepts of Suhrawardi's Sufism including (1) the concept of ahwal; (2) the concept of maqam; (3) the concept of murshid; (4) his criticism of previous thought. Humans today have a tendency towards rational things. Therefore, it is important to review Suhrawardi's thought because it is still relevant to these conditions. Because in addition to using intuition, Suhrawardi also uses the ratio as a tool to achieve the ultimate truth.
Keywords: Suhrawardi, Ahwal, Maqam,
High Torque and Increased Wear Redefine Gearbox Longevity in Electric Motors
Authors: Yudistira Muhammad Dwi Andika , Fahruddin A’rasy
Published: March 2024

This study explores the accelerated wear of gearboxes driven by electric motors compared to gearboxes in combustion engines, highlighting the important role of lubrication quality. The continuous operation of sugarcane processing machines requires durable gearboxes, especially under the high torque load of electric motors. By analyzing gearbox wear through standard load tests and various lubricant qualities, the findings reveal that superior lubricants significantly reduce wear. These results not only demonstrate the need for customized gearbox designs for electric motors, but also show that improvements in lubrication practices can extend gearbox life and increase efficiency in industrial applications globally.
Highlights: 

Continuous operation vital for production targets.
Electric motorbike gearboxes need frequent maintenance.
Quality lubrication crucial for gearbox longevity.

Keywords: Gearbox, Grind, Sugar Factory
Strategic Maintenance Boosts Global Power Plant Efficiency and Safety
Authors: Maulana Zulfikar Raihan , Mulyadi Mulyadi
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the maintenance of the Main Cooling Water Pump (MCWP) in Gas and Steam Power Plants, crucial for performance and sustainability. Existing practices often lack a comprehensive approach, integrating routine inspections with proactive maintenance strategies. We aimed to develop a maintenance framework that improves operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. Over a 12-month period, data from various facilities indicated that our holistic approach increased pump efficiency by 15%, reduced downtime by 20%, and enhanced compliance with safety and environmental standards. These findings underscore the importance of integrated maintenance practices in responding to evolving industry challenges and regulations.
Highlights:

Holistic maintenance approach vital for MCWP performance.
Safety compliance crucial for personnel and asset protection.
Maintenance enhances efficiency and sustainability efforts.

Keywords: Maintenance, Main Cooling Water Pump, Energy Efficiency
Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Pyrazole, Triazole, Oxadiazole, Thiazole, Thiadiazole Derivatives Bearing p-Toluenesulfonamide
Authors: Al-Hamad Maha A. , Al-Sabawi Ammar H.
Published: March 2024

تم تشييد سلسلة من المشتقات الحلقية غير المتجانسة الجديدة A15-A5 باستخدام 4- (تولوين -4- سلفينيل امينو) - حمض البنزويك إيثيل استر A2 بوصفة مادة اولية. تم استخدام هذا المركب A2 بنجاح في تخليق بعض المشتقات الجديدة من أوكساديازول ، ديازول ، تريازول ، ثاياديازول ، ثيازول و مركبات حلقية غير متجانسة الملتحمة التي تحوي على بارا-تلوين سلفوناميد في تراكيبها والذي من المفترض أن يكون له أنشطة بيولوجية مهمة. تم استخدام التحليل الطيفي البروتون و الكاربون 13 النووي المغناطيسي والاشعة تحت الحمراء لدعم تشخيص المركبات المحضرة.
Mixed ligand complex: Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of biomedical activity
Authors: Mousa Elaf A. , Al-Abdaly Basim I.
Published: March 2024

تحضيرمركب جديد, تم تحضير معقد النحاس الجديد عن طريق تفاعل CuCl2.2H2O مع الميلاتونين وأحد الأحماض الأمينية (L-cysteine) بنسبة مولية  (M:L1:L2) (1:1:1), وتم تشخيص المعقد بواسطة طرق طيفية تتضمن الأشعة تحت الحمراء (FT-IR) والرنين النووي المغناطيسي للبروتون (1H-NMR) والتحليل الحراري (TG) والامتصاص الذري اللهبي (AAS)، وتحليل العناصرالدقيق (CHNS)،  وكذلك قياس درجة الانصهار (m.p) وتقديرمحتوى الكلوريد. من معطيات الطرق الطيفية المشاراليها آنفا تشيرالى أن الشكل الهندسي المقترح للمعقد هو ثماني السطوح. أظهرت قياسات التوصيل الكهربائي والمغناطيسية بأن معقد النحاس غيرالكتروليتي وذي صفة بارامغناطيسية. تم فحص فعالية  تركيز المعقد المحضر كعامل مضاد للبكتيريا من نوع  Escherichia coli (G­)و Staphylococcus aureus (G+) ومضاد للفطريات (fungus Candida) حيث اظهر المعقد فعالية افضل من الليكاندين وتم اختبارخاصيته كمضاد للسرطان.
Principally ss-Supplemented Modules
Authors: Alwan Ahmed H.
Published: March 2024

في هذا البحث، قدمنا ودرسنا مفاهيم المقاسات التكميلية الرئيسية من النمط-ss مع مقاسات الرفع من النمط-ss. هذان المفهومان هي تعميمات طبيعية للمقاسات التكميلية من النمط-ss مع مقاسات الرفع من النمط-ss. تم برهان العديد من خصائص هذه المقاسات. هنا تم التركيز على مقاسات الرفع من النمط-ss. تم الحصول على صفات جديدة للمقاسات التكميلية من النمط-ss باستخدام مقاسات الرفع من النمط-ss. هنا, عرفت مقاسات تكميلية رئيسية من نمط-ss ضعيفة. تم برهان المقاس T مقاس تكميلي رئيسي ضعيف من نمط- ssاذا وفقط اذا كان هومقاس تكميلي رئيسي من نمط- .ss واحدة من النتائج الأساسية تنص كل مقاس محلي بقوة هو تكميلي رئيسي من نمط-.ss  تم اثبات اذا كان T مقاس مجوف, فأن T تكميلي رئيسي من نمط-ss اذا وفقط اذا كان محلي بقوة. اذا كان اذا كان Rad(T) صغير في T فان تكميلي رئيسي من نمط-ss  اذا وفقط اذا T تكميلي رئيسي و
 Rad(T) ⊆ Soc(T)بالاضافة, اذا T=T_1⨁T_2  مع  T_1 و T_2مقاسان تكميليين رئيسيان من نمط-ss وT هي ديو, فأن T تكميلي رئيسي من نمط- .ss كذلك اثبت ذلك, أذا كانت T غير قابل للتحلل, فأن T رفع رئيسي من نمط-ss أذا وفقط أذا كان T مقاس مجوف رئيسي كذلك أذا كانت T مقاس مجوف رئيسي فأن T تكميلي رئيسي من نمطصغير في T فان تكميلي رئيسي من نمط-ss  اذا وفقط اذا T تكميلي رئيسي و Rad(T) ⊆ Soc(T)
بالاضافة, اذا T=T_1⨁T_2  مع  T_1 و T_2مقاسان تكميليين رئيسيان من نمط-ss وT هي ديو, فأن T تكميلي رئيسي من نمط- .ss كذلك اثبت ذلك, أذا كانت T غير قابل للتحلل, فأن T رفع رئيسي من نمط-ss أذا وفقط أذا كان T مقاس مجوف رئيسي كذلك أذا كانت T مقاس مجوف رئيسي فأن T تكميلي رئيسي من نمط-ss . في هذا العمل, اثبتت النتائج التالية: أذا كانت T مقاس مع خاصية (ss -PD_1), فأن كل مقاس جزئي دوار غير قابل للتحلل في T هو اما صغيرفي T أو مجموع الى T. كذلك, أذا كانت T مقاس على حلقة محلية R و تمتلك خاصية (ss -PD_1), فأن كل مقاس جزئي دوار في T هو اما صغيرفي T أو مجموع الى T.
Sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology of bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus, Pallas 1769) from Kelekar River, Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Muslim Muslim , Syaifudin Mochamad , Taqwa Ferdinand Hukama , Saputra Muhammad Iqbal
Published: March 2024

يعد إزدواج الشكل الجنسي وعلم الأحياء الإنجابي من الجوانب الأساسية لدراسات تربية الأسماك. كان الهدف من هذا البحث هو تحليل إزدواج الشكل الجنسي والبيولوجيا الإنجابية لـ N. notopterus. تم جمع ما مجموعه 74 N. notopterus من نهر كيليكار في منطقة أوغان إلير، إندونيسيا، وتتكون من 38 ذكرًا (طول الجسم: 18-23.6 سم؛ وزن الجسم: 35.1-92.1 جم) و36 أنثى (طول الجسم: 19.6-26.3 سم؛ وزن الجسم: 35.1-92.1 جم) و36 أنثى (طول الجسم: 19.6-26.3 سم؛ وزن الجسم: 49.4-133.8 جم). تم تحليل سبعة عشر شخصية مورفومترية وثلاثة صفات مرسية وخمسة معايير بيولوجية إنجابية. أظهرت النتائج وجود اختلافات في الخصائص المورفومترية للذكور والإناث N. notopterus. ومع ذلك، لم يكن هناك اختلاف في الشخصيات المرسية. ويتراوح مؤشر الغدد التناسلية عند الذكور من 0.15 إلى 0.61%، وعند الإناث من 1.12 إلى 9.10%. تراوح المؤشر الكبدي عند الذكور من 0.19 إلى 1.38%، وتراوح عند الإناث من 0.15 إلى 1.23%، مع نسبة جنس 1.056:1، وخصوبة 1.007-3.901 بيضة، وأقطار البويضات 1.1-3.9 ملم، ومستويات النضج. من الغدد التناسلية المتطورة لتنضج عند الذكور وتنضج لوضع البيض عند الإناث. في الختام، يمكن تحديد الاختلافات بين الذكور والإناث N. notopterus شكليا.
The Intervention Opportunity: Why the Industry Does Not Do More and How New Collaborative Workflows with Aligned Outcomes Can Change This
Authors: Billingham Matthew Edward , Proud Fraser James , Ramondenc Pierre
Published: March 2024

This analysis challenges the typical way interventions have been planned and executed, both on an operational and a commercial basis, and examines where there is room for significant improvement in the industry. Perhaps more importantly, it examines the case for performing interventions and tries to explain the challenges (“headwinds”) in what is an opportunity to achieve both financial and net-zero emissions goals. Benchmarked data have already shown that opportunity absolutely exists to do more, and we investigate why the intervention opportunity is underserved. By appreciating the issues operators face when justifying and designing intervention activities, the challenges can thus be addressed by proper alignment to the best outcome.

Intervention global expenditure is a small percentage of the total cost of exploration and production, and yet there is a strong value case for such operations. This study examines why this is so and then looks at how to address those issues. There is a huge array of well integrity and reservoir performance challenges that can bottleneck production, and the industry has delivered many innovative solutions to address these issues. Reduced capital expenditure over the past years and the pressure to maintain production sustainably should create a perfect climate for intervention. However, an asset mindset that is often risk averse to entering a producing well, as well as complex workflows, will too often detract from the opportunity to intervene. New workflows—including digital—can simplify the identification of candidate wells, and intervention techniques can help determine the success rate of the operations, as well as incremental production gains, more reliably to enable more robust outcomes. However, current contracting techniques and conventional key performance indicators can also cause further misalignment as to the true goal of interventions being to increase production sustainably. Those issues and how they have been resolved are addressed in this study.

New workflows and commercial models have been used to facilitate the quicker identification of intervention opportunities, enabling collaborative planning and optimal solution identification, combined with feedback mechanisms to ensure continuous close collaboration between technical experts enabled by digital tools, which can disrupt the conventional intervention model. Case examples support the arguments made and demonstrate a new way of performing interventions.

New digital workflows combined with strong collaborative, technical domain knowledge and a wide array of possible intervention solutions can change current typical intervention models. With these changes, further improvements can then be made to the conventional business models used to maximize the intervention opportunity and the sustainability opportunities it brings with regard to getting the most out of existing infrastructure.
First Report of Intentional Seed-Eating by Black Phoebes
Authors: Sogge Mark K.
Published: March 2024

On at least 24 occasions during spring 2022, a pair of Black Phoebes (Sayornis nigricans) nesting near Sacramento, California, took up to 6 seeds from a bird feeder and either consumed them immediately or carried them off in the direction of their nest. Such seed eating has not been reported previously in any species of phoebe.
Nesting Bald Eagle Population Numbers, Density, Territorial Resources, and Relationship to Human Development in Northern Colorado’s Front Range
Authors: Bove Dana J. , Anderson Holly A. , Smith Matthew A. , Kuhn Theo A.
Published: March 2024

To better understand the population of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nesting along northern Colorado’s Front Range, from 2016 to 2022 we studied 86 occupied nests within an area of 20,586 km2. From 2017 to 2020, 279 juveniles fledged from 237 nesting attempts in a smaller, main nest-study area with 68 nests. The nests’ success over these four years ranged from 52 to 70%, and their productivity varied from 1.1 to 1.3. The average nearest-nest distances for three discrete areas in the Front Range (5.03 to 7.26 km) are at least 2.8 to 4.0 times greater than these distances in four nesting populations in wetter regions but shorter than distances observed between nests in drier Arizona. In our study area the coverage of buildings within 400 m of Bald Eagle nests is relatively low by comparison to the coverage around randomly selected points, averaging 1344 m2; for 63% of the nests this coverage was less than 800 m2. We classified the 86 nest territories into eight categories that describe the dominant resource habitat and predicts the eagles’ reliance on Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) versus fish as prey. Predation on fish was predicted to be dominant at 51% (n = 44) of the nests, predation on prairie dogs at 32% (n = 28).
First Record of Tricolored Blackbirds in Idaho
Authors: Olsoy Peter J. , Sorenson Katie J.
Published: March 2024

Over 99% of Tricolored Blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor) occur in California. However, small populations persist in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Baja California. Loss of wetlands that historically served as foraging and breeding habitat has led to their increasing use of agricultural landscapes including silage fields and cattle feedlots. Here we provide the first documentation of the Tricolored Blackbird in Idaho (26 March–13 May and 3 November–16 December 2023), of up to 30 birds observed at five different locations associated with cattle feedlots, each 10–15 km apart, in Payette and Gem counties. Seven observations included recordings of vocalizations (3-23 April and 14 December 2023), largely coinciding with the final observations at each location, presumably before dispersal to breeding grounds. We consider three hypotheses to explain the apparently sudden occurrence of these birds, including their return to some of the same sites in November 2023: (1) a continued pattern of range expansion due to climate change; (2) an undetected long-term population due to low survey effort; or (3) a large-scale movement in response to flooding and extreme weather in the traditional range. We encourage continued monitoring and surveying of these locations in the coming years and surveying for both new wintering locations and for evidence of the Tricolored Blackbird breeding in Idaho.