bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilimsel Araştırma Proje (BAP) İhalelerinde Yetki Sorunu ve Çözüm Önerileri
Authors: Ercan Erdem
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı hem ihale süreçlerinin hem de mali işlemlerin sıhhati bakımından kritik öneme sahip BAP ihale yetkilisi ile harcama yetkilisinin aynı kişi olup olmadığı ile görev ve yetkileri konularındaki belirsizliğin incelenmesidir.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Çalışmada konuyla ilgili yürürlükteki mevzuat tarihsel süreç içerisindeki gelişimi de gözetilerek ele alınmıştır. Mevzuattaki veriler ve yorum ilkeleri kullanılarak inceleme konusu problem analiz edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Analizler sonucunda; BAP ihale yetkilisi ile harcama yetkilisinin aynı kişi olup olmadığı ve görev ve yetkileri konusundaki belirsizlik BAP ihale ve harcama yetkisinin 5018 sayılı Kanun’un yürürlüğe girmesiyle birlikte aynı kişide olamayacağı sonucuna varılmak suretiyle giderilmiştir.
Sınırlılıklar: Son yıllarda konuya ilişkin önemli yasal değişiklikler yapılmış olmasına karşın Yüksek Öğretim Kurulu mevzuatının yeterince güncellenmemiş olması ve bazı düzenleyici işlemlere erişimin güçlüğü en önemli sınırlılıklardır.
Özgünlük/Değer: İncelemeye konu mevzuatın yıllar içerisindeki değişimi ve bunun bir sonucu olarak normlar arasında oluşan çatışmalar nedeniyle uygulamada gelişen tereddütleri gidermek ve aynı mevzuatın farklı yorumları nedeniyle farklı uygulamalar gerçekleştiren yükseköğretim kurumlarında konuya ilişkin farkındalık yaratmak çalışmanın özgün değerini oluşturmaktadır.
Kurumsal Sürdürülebilirlik Üzerinde Cinsiyet ve Kültürel Çeşitliliğin Etkisi
Authors: Ünal İsmail Hakkı , Temiz Hüseyin , Özdemir Fevzi Serkan
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, kuruluşların sürdürülebilirlik raporlamalarındaki performanslarının açıklanmasında, kuruluşların yönetim kurullarında görev alan bireylerin cinsiyet ve kültürel çeşitliliklerinin etkisinin tespit edilmesidir.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Araştırmanın amacı doğrultusunda 35 ülkeden 436 kuruluşun 2015-2020 yılları arasındaki toplam 1612 kuruluş-yıllık veri seti kullanılmış ve panel regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Kuruluşların sürdürülebilirlik performanslarının ölçülebilmesi için ESG bilgilerini yayınlama konusundaki niteliksel anlamdaki performansları ve ESG bilgilerini niceliksel olarak açıklama düzeyleri ayrı ayrı değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca temel ESG boyutunun yanı sıra ESG boyutunun alt bileşenleri kapsamında da modeller oluşturulmuş ve analiz edilmiştir. İlgili kuruluşlarda görev alan bireylerin cinsiyet ve kültürel çeşitlilikleri ise çeşitlilik skoru (diversity score) ile ölçülmüştür. Analizlerin daha açıklayıcı olabilmesi için kontrol değişkenleri ve kukla değişkenler de kullanılmıştır. Veri setinin yapısı gereği analizlerde standart hataların ortaya çıkabilmesi olasıdır. Bu nedenle modeller standart hatalara karşı dirençli olacak şekilde sağlamlaştırılmıştır.
Bulgular: Analiz sonucunda, ilgili kuruluşların yönetim kurullarında görev alan bireylerin cinsiyet ve kültürel çeşitliliklerinin, kuruluşların sürdürülebilirlik performansının açıklanmasında anlamlı bir etkisinin olduğuna ulaşılmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulguların hassaslığı, standart hatalara karşı dirençli alternatif tahmin yöntemleri aracılığıyla da değerlendirilmiş ve bu kapsamda elde edilen bulgularla tutarlı olduğu gözlenmiştir.
Sınırlılıklar: Bu araştırmada, gözlemlenmeyen değişkenlerin potansiyel etkisi ve bulguların farklı bağlamlara genelleştirilebilirliği gibi belirli sınırlamalar kabul edilmiştir.
Özgünlük/Değer: Bu araştırma, paydaşlar tarafından finansal olmayan bilgilere yönelik artan talep ve kuruluşlar tarafından gönüllü raporlamaya artan odaklanma nedeniyle önemlidir. Bu araştırma, sürdürülebilirlik performansında bireysel özelliklerin, özellikle cinsiyet ve kültürel çeşitliliğin rolünü inceleyerek mevcut literatürdeki bir boşluğu doldurmayı amaçlamaktadır.
MODERNIZATION OF THE REAR THREE-JOINT SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR TRACTOR SELF-PROPELLED CHASSIS T-16MG
Authors: Podryhalo Mykhailo , Krasnokutskyi Volodymyr , Pelypenko Yevhen , Busylko Oleh
Published: November 2024

The conducted analysis showed that with the wide distribution of wheeled tractors, self-propelled tractor chassis are widely used, which ensure the effective implementation of technological processes in agriculture, vegetable growing, animal husbandry, personal peasant and farm farms. Also, the analysis of publications showed that the issue of the rear hinged system for the TRS has not been paid attention to in the last 30 years. The main goal is to modernize the rear mounted system of the TSSH - T-16MG, which will allow it to be used effectively when working with various mounted units, which is very important for personal peasant and farm households. One of the reasons for the development was that in the T-16MG self-propelled chassis, the rear axle housing was cast from updated lightweight alloys, which caused a number of problems with the use of the suspension for the SSh-25. Having worked out all the shortcomings of the three-point hitch system for the SSh-25 self-propelled tractor chassis, the rear hydraulic hitch for the T-16MG tractor self-propelled chassis was developed. To transport trailers, the auto-coupling triangle is removed and placed crosswise in ball joints to the right and left cheek on which the coupling device is attached. With frequent replacement of mounted and trailed units, this crossbar can be welded into the lower part of the auto-clutch triangle. The developed rear attachment allows to improve the conditions of use of the T-16MG self-propelled chassis, using the attachment of agricultural implements (one- and two-body plows, cultivators and other machines and tools). The device also allows you to use trailed agricultural machines and implements (rollers, harrows, rakes, dump trailers, and others). Hydraulic mounted equipment allows you to transfer machines and tools from the transport position to the working position and vice versa, ensures the correct position of the working bodies of mounted machines and tools relative to the soil when performing various agricultural works. Reinforced fastening of the attached equipment increases its reliability and allows you to avoid breakdowns that require complex and expensive repairs. For greater strength and to reduce the number of malfunctions of the rear hitch, fastening was added with the help of longitudinal spars, and not only to the rear axle, as was the case with the hitch before the SH-25
DEVELOPMENT A MODEL FOR THE DETERMINATION THE LOSS COEFFICIENTS OF VOLUME AXIAL PISTON HYDRAULIC DRIVES
Authors: Trembach Oleksiy , Kozhushko Andrii
Published: November 2024

In recent decades, agricultural vehicles equipped with a power transmission unit consisting of a hydraulic drive have become widely used. Thus, in agricultural tractors, the hydraulic drive implements one of the energy flows in the hydraulic-mechanical transmission. Axial-piston hydraulic machines, which can be controlled or uncontrolled, are introduced in such means. During the operation of agricultural tractors with hydraulic-mechanical transmissions, a wide range of dynamic loads is applied to the hydraulic transmission, which causes the appearance of jump-like values of torque and angular velocity. This leads to a more accurate determination of energy losses in the hydro-displacement drive. Therefore, the material of this article is aimed at providing recommendations for specifying the values of the volumetric loss coefficients in the hydro-displacement transmission, using a mathematical model for determining the volumetric efficiency and an optimization method for finding the optimal value of the objective function. In solving the set objective, a technique was used that consists of finding the optimal value of volumetric loss coefficients using the optimization method with a linear objective function and comparing the theoretical result with experimental data. As a result, scientifically based recommendations for the selection of volume loss coefficients in a regulated hydraulic pump and an unregulated hydraulic motor, which have nonlinear dependencies, are provided. The practical significance of the work lies in the technically justified choice of the values of the coefficients of volumetric losses of the regulated hydraulic pump and the unregulated hydraulic motor, which increases the accuracy of the calculation of the efficiency of the hydrostatic transmission.
Yönetici Asistanlarının Dijital Mobbing ve Sessiz İstifa Deneyimlerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: Karaca Hatice , Açıkel Ayşenur , Ay Hatice
Published: November 2024

2019 yılında ortaya çıkan Covid-19 Pandemisi nedeniyle çalışma koşullarında ve prosedürlerinde oldukça köklü değişiklikler meydana gelmiş ve bu durum pandemi sonrasında da ortadan kalkmamış, aksine kalıcı hale gelmiştir. Yönetici asistanları, yöneticilerin tüm işlerini organize eden, iletişim teknolojileri aracılığıyla kurum içi ve dışı iletişimi sağlayan, mesai saatleri dışında da her an işle ilgilenmeye maruz kalan büro çalışanlarıdır. Böylesi bir yoğunluk ve iş yükü düşünüldüğünde yönetici asistanlarının dijital mobbinge maruz kalma ihtimalleri artmakta ve işlerini yavaşlatabilmektedirler. Bu araştırma yönetici asistanlarının dijital mobbing ve sessiz istifa deneyimlerini ortaya koymak amacıyla hazırlanmıştır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenoloji deseni ve amaçlı örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 11 yönetici asistanı oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak elde edilmiş olup veriler içerik analizi yöntemi ile çözümlenmiştir. Dijital mobbingin hayata etkilerini deneyimleyen katılımcılar iş-yaşam dengesinin bozulduğunu ve motivasyonlarının azaldığını belirtmiştirler. Katılımcıların sessiz istifa algılarının “daha çok çalışmamak”, “susmak/kendini geri çekmek” ve “ruhen işten kopmak” olduğu tespit edilmiş olup, sessiz istifa katılımcılar tarafından, “çalışanın kendine zarar vermesi/kendine haksızlık etmesi” olarak açıklanmıştır.
INSTITUCIONÁLNÍ VÝVOJ PŘEDNEMOCNIČNÍ NEODKLADNÉ PÉČE V ČESKÝCH ZEMÍCH (1792–2003): OD DOBROVOLNÝCH ZÁCHRANNÝCH SPOLKŮ KE ZDRAVOTNICKÉ ZÁCHRANNÉ SLUŽBĚ
Authors: Závadová Irena , Hlaváček Jiří
Published: November 2024

The overview study focuses on the issues of institutional and organizational
development of the pre-hospital emergency care system in the Czech lands in a broad
time frame from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 21st century. The
main attention is paid to the processes of gradual institutionalization, professionalization
and modernization, the result of which is the transition from originally voluntary rescue
associations to a fully professional emergency medical service at the regional level. Based
on selected milestones, the process is divided into several development phases, placed in
the relevant contemporary social framework and supplemented with statistical data with
an emphasis on selected demographic processes.
Distribution of Temperature Zones during Electrolytic Plasma Heating of Titanium Alloys
Authors: Astashinskiy V. M. , Korolyov A. Yu. , Ivanov A. I. , Niss V. S. , Kalinichenko A. S.
Published: November 2024

. Electrolytic-plasma treatment (EPT) is a promising method for improving the operating characteristics of metal materials. Anodic electrolytic-plasma hardening is a variation of EPT. This technology makes it possible to saturate the surface of the processed parts with atoms of light non-metallic elements, included in the composition of the electrolyte used. Limitations to the widespread use of electrolytic-plasma hardening in industry are associated with a number of process features, expressed in the uneven heating of the workpieces, as well as the need for them to be slowly immersed into the electrolyte to avoid disruption of the heating process. The paper presents the results of a study of the influence of operating voltage on the maximum heating temperature and the distribution of temperature zones during electrolytic-plasma heating of cylindrical samples made of VT6 titanium alloy. It has been established that electrolytic-plasma treatment in an ammonium chloride solution at an operating voltage of 200 to 260 V ensures heating of samples to a temperature of 1200 °С. The highest heating temperature is observed at a voltage of 260 V, and the lowest at 200 V. At the same time, samples undergoing processing are characterized by the presence of a temperature gradient along the height (maximum heating is observed in the most submerged part of the sample). During the EPT process, up to six distinct temperature zones are identified , but no more than five such zones exist simultaneously. Reducing the length and diameter of the samples leads to their more uniform heating. In this case, the size of the zones with the highest temperature increases due to the reduction or disappearance of the least low temperature zones. The opposite pattern is observed with increasing sample length.
Evaluation of Real Operating Conditions and Actual Temperature Changes when Modeling the Composition of Asphalt Concrete Structural Layers
Authors: Khroustalev B. M. , Liu Tingguo , Sizov V. D. , Li Zhongyu , Yatsevich P. P. , Afanasenka A. A. , Hou Dehua
Published: November 2024

All types of improved pavements operate under extreme conditions in terms of loads and temperatures. The degree of these influences is modeled by standardized tests, which, as a rule, reproduce only the load at a constant temperature. Based on these results, requirements are imposed on the materials of structural layers that do not fully reflect a number of features of their performance in road pavements. In fact, the main temperature effects and temperature-physical changes occurring in asphalt concrete are not taken into account, which can lead to insufficient durability and reliability. These changes include the material's response to temperature fluctuations, which can cause infrastructural changes and lead to increased cracking and poor performance. In our work, we conducted research to determine the thermophysical parameters of the material of the upper structural layers of road pavement, such as the coefficients of thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and thermal expansion (compression). A distinctive feature of our experiments was the tracking and determination of thermophysical indicators in the dynamics of the process of temperature changes. The article presents the results of local experimental studies of prototypes of asphalt concrete to determine the coefficients of thermal linear expansion, thermal conductivity and heat capacity at given temperature differences. Given the importance of these characteristics, it is necessary to reconsider the requirements for materials of structural layers in order to ensure that realistic operating conditions are simulated and actual temperature changes are taken into account. The main result of the research can be considered the developed methodology for further work, in which it is planned to take into account the gradient and rate of temperature change, the size of the stone aggregate, and the change in rheological characteristics depending on the temperature change.
Impact of Gender on Self-Assessment Accuracy Among Fourth-Year French Medical Students on Faculty's Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
Authors: Bodard Sylvain , Bouzid Donia , Ferré Valentine Marie , Carette Claire , Kivits Joelle , Nguyen Yann , Thy Michael , Marchèse Ugo , Oulès Bénédicte , Khider Lina , Tymowski Christian , Burnichon Nelly , Mirault Tristan , Faye Albert , Levi Laura I.
Published: November 2024

Background: Historically, women have been shown to underestimate their abilities, while men often assess themselves more accurately or overestimate. This study aims to determine self-assessment accuracy during Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) according to gender.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted among fourth-year medical students at Paris Cité University during faculty training OSCEs, utilizing Zoom® software for remote participation. Students and evaluators assessed performances using 5-point Likert scales for medical knowledge, interpersonal skills, and overall performance. Additionally, students predicted their grade out of twenty. The assessment covered three independent stations.
Results: This study included 259 medical students (177 women, 81 men, one non-binary (excluded from further analyses)) evaluated by 130 physicians. Evaluator scores did not differ according to students’ gender (total score out of 20: men: 10.25 ± 3.45, women: 10.23 ± 3.44 p=0.817) nor students’ self-assessments (total score out of 20: men: 11.22 ± 3.02, women: 11.00 ± 3.03; p=0.466) whatever the domains and stations (all p>0.05). The difference (delta) between self-assessment and evaluator scores for medical knowledge (men: 0.73 ± 1.00, women: 0.64 ± 1.02; p=0.296), interpersonal skills (men: 1.02 ± 1.06, women: 0.93 ± 1.09; p=0.296), and total score (men: 0.98 ± 3.41, women: 0.68 ± 3.42; p=0.296) showed no gender differences.
Further analysis categorized students based on their self-assessment accuracy, revealing that both men and women displayed a high ratio of accurate self-assessments (78.1% for overall performance across all stations), with minimal overestimation observed in both genders (20.9% for overall performance across all stations). Instances of overestimation or underestimation were rare and not consistent over the 3 stations, indicating that such misjudgments are likely situational rather than inherent traits.
Discussion: This study reveals similar self-assessment accuracy according to gender suggesting a shift towards gender-equitable self-perceptions among medical students compared to previous studies. Research remains necessary to corroborate these results and explore the underlying factors contributing to this shift in self-perception.
A radiological study on the relationship between the novel acromial angle and rotator cuff injuries
Authors: Hou Zhipeng , Dong Jiabao , Shang Wenzhao , Wan Quqiao , Huang Haoxin
Published: November 2024

To investigate the relationship between the novel acromial angle and rotator cuff tears through imaging studies. We retrospectively selected 148 patients who underwent complete imaging examinations including scapular outlet X-rays and shoulder MRIs from January 2023 to September 2024 at our hospital. Based on whether the subjects had rotator cuff tears, they were divided into an injury group and a normal group, and the differences in the novel acromial angle between the two groups were compared. The novel acromial angle in the normal group was (149.1±5.957)°, while in the injury group, it was (142.3±6.558)°, showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The probability of rotator cuff injury was 79.07% for individuals with a novel acromial angle smaller than the average in the injury group. The novel acromial angle in the injury group was generally smaller than that in the normal group. A novel acromial angle smaller than the average was associated with a higher probability of rotator cuff injury, and smaller angles were more likely to lead to more severe rotator cuff tears. Therefore, the novel acromial angle may serve as a simple and objective method to predict the probability of rotator cuff tears.
Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of an ancient hexaploid wheat species Triticum sphaerococcum using SNP markers
Authors: Mazumder Amit Kumar , Budhlakoti Neeraj , Kumar Manjeet , Pradhan Anjan Kumar , Kumar Sundeep , Babu Prashanth , Yadav Rajbir , Gaikwad Kiran B
Published: November 2024

Background:
Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is crucial for strategizing and enhancing breeding efficiency. Wheat, a globally cultivated crop, is a significant source of daily calories for humans. To overcome challenges such as extreme climatic fluctuations, stagnant yields, and diminishing genetic variation, it is essential to develop diverse germplasms with new alleles. Triticum sphaerococcum, an underutilized ancient hexaploid wheat species, shows promise for contributing beneficial alleles. However, the genetic diversity of its germplasms remains unstudied. This is the first report where we have examined the genetic diversity and population structure of 116 T. sphaerococcumaccessions using a 35K SNP Array. The objective of this study is to apply these findings to improve wheat breeding programs.
Results:
Analysis of the population's genetic structure identified four potential subpopulations, which was supported by principal coordinate analysis. Allele neutrality tests showed an abundance of intermediate genotypes, suggesting that many beneficial alleles are maintained through balancing selection. Among the three subgenomes, subgenome B exhibited the highest genetic diversity. AMOVA (Analysis of Molecular Variance) revealed significant variation both among (35%) and within (65%) the four subpopulations. The high genetic differentiation between subpopulations was corroborated by a moderate level of haploid migrant numbers (Nm = 1.286), indicating sufficient gene flow. SP4 emerged as the most diverse subpopulation, showing the highest values for allelic pattern indices due to its larger size and higher percentage of polymorphic loci. The D subgenome displayed a faster linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay rate compared to the A and B subgenomes. Haplotype block analysis identified 260 haplotype blocks of varying sizes distributed across the genome.
Conclusions:
This research demonstrates that Indian dwarf wheat accessions, sourced from three distinct gene banks and local collections, possess considerable genetic diversity. These germplasm collections offer valuable opportunities to investigate their unexplored genetic potential. They can be utilized in wheat improvement initiatives to tackle both present and future breeding challenges. Furthermore, these accessions can introduce new alleles to broaden the genetic base of modern wheat varieties, enhancing their overall diversity.
Nano silica reinforces the tolerance of the wheat plant against drought stress
Authors: Elsayed Nesma , Mehasen Sadiek , Khalil Radwan , Al-Musawi Hayder , Gamal Amina
Published: November 2024

Silicon nanoparticles have distinctive physicochemical characteristics and improve the plant growth and yield under unfavorable environmental conditions. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the impact of Nano Silica on drought resistance depending on the Nano-Silica dose and moisture levels. Nano Silica applied at different rates (0.0, 50 and 100 mg/l) and the water regime was 30, 50 and 70% of water holding capacity (WHC). Results indicated that, Si-NPs there was an ability to reduce the drought impact on wheat growth and improve the antioxidant system in plants. Besides, an increment in membrane stability index, chlorophyll, carbohydrates, protein and phenol content of wheat. In addition, spraying or watering of Si-NPs increased wheat tolerance to drought by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes; nitrate reductase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione s-transferase and guaiacol peroxidase, as well as reducing the oxidative pressure in leaves which was demonstrated by the diminished electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde and proline in plant tissue. Data indicated that most of the highest values of the growth parameters and biochemical estimation were recorded for the wheat with application of 100 mg/l nano silica. Overall, this study advanced our understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying drought stress and mitigating its impact using Si-NPs, which may reduce the environmental risks that negatively affect the growth and productivity of agricultural crops globally.
Utilization of Common Shell Wastes as a Limestone Alternative in Cementitious Materials
Authors: Rux Kylee , Tuen Montale , Suraneni Prannoy
Published: November 2024

Efforts to decarbonize the concrete industry have motivated the use of alternative sustainable materials. While limestone fillers are promising, reducing reliance on virgin materials and natural resources remains essential. Shell waste from seafood and egg production are available in large quantities and their disposal poses several environmental challenges. Utilizing these CaCO3-containing waste shells as an alternative to conventional limestone can divert shell waste from landfills while lessening cement demand. To test this hypothesis, five types of waste shells were ground into powder, including oyster shells, mussel shells, crab shells, shrimp shells, and eggshells. The raw shell powders were first characterized, followed by testing of hydration kinetics and mechanical properties. Results indicated that shell powders were analogous to limestone filler, consisting primarily of calcite, with the exception of shrimp shells. Small amounts of organics were also present in the shell materials. Incorporation of eggshell or oyster shell at a 20% cement replacement yielded compressive strengths similar to limestone after 28 days of curing, but other materials reduced strength. The mortar flow and compressive strength were likely influenced by morphology, size, chemical composition, and organics of the shell powders. The findings of this study indicate that substituting limestone filler in cementitious materials with recycled shell materials is feasible.
Preliminary validation for an online configuration determination method of a thin film buckling under point contact force
Authors: Kim Yeoun-Jae , Wi Daehan
Published: November 2024

The authors previously developed an online thin film buckling configuration determination method for a mini basket typemapping catheter prototype, which incorporates eight thin film sensor strips. In the prior study, no external force was appliedto the thin film, and only axial displacement was adjusted to induce buckling in the thin film. Extending this prior work, apreliminary methodological validation is conducted for an online configuration determination method of thin film buckling undera point contact force. The overall thin film configuration determination problem is formulated as a constrained optimizationproblem, involving five variables and five equality constraint functions. Before developing an actual online optimizationsolver, preliminary numerical calculations, Ansys simulations, and experiments are performed to verify the proposed problemformulation. The comparison between the numerical precalculations, Ansys simulations, and experimental results demonstratedthat the proposed problem formulation is consistent with Ansys simulations and experimental outcomes. This indicates that theproposed formulation is capable of calculating accurate solutions using appropriate optimization methodologies.
Disease diagnosis in Cassava leaves using CNN design and ResNet algorithm
Authors: L SnehaSnigdha M , Bandlamudi Srilakshmi , Polagani Roshini , Badugu Deva Harsha , Shaik Khajavali , Arepalli Gopi
Published: November 2024

Growth rate of crops is significantly lowered by illnesses that affect plants. It is impossible for anyone to eat the crops since they are tainted with various diseases. Farmers may suffer enormous losses as a consequence. Since cassava is an important food source in several countries, the financial system might be seriously damaged by the issue at hand. Traditional plant pathogen detection is labour-intensive and error-prone. It is not typically a dependable strategy to identify and stop the spread of plant viruses. Innovative technologies like deep learning as well as machine learning might aid in the early detection of plant diseases as an approach to get around these problems. The main goal of the work is to employ deep learning to image classification in order to accurately identify diseases that especially impact cassava plants. This recognition may make it possible to implement preventative measures like the specific application of chemical pesticides or confinement of contaminated crops. Each and every training and testing image comes from a rural area in the natural world. Using a specific collection of information, the simulation has been verified to ascertain its true results. The installation of a precise disease identification and mitigation model has the potential to significantly increase the durability of the cassava crop, improving food production and the quality of life for millions of people who are dependent upon this valuable crop.
Environmental conditions modulate hermaphroditic pathways in Salpa thompsoni near the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Pakhomov Evgeny A. , Müller Svenja J. , Meyer Bettina
Published: November 2024

Field observations during summer-fall of 2018 in the Antarctic Peninsula region provided the first morphological evidence that under certain environmental conditions Salpa thompsoni blastozooid development can deviate from its traditional “sequential protogynous hermaphroditism” (SPH). Early male testis development at female blastozooid stages points to a wide-spread “overlapping protogynous hermaphroditism” (OPH) in regions where warm Antarctic Circumpolar Current waters mix with colder Antarctic Coastal waters. Our findings highlight the importance of the environmental setting in determining the reproductive pathway in Salpa thompsoni. The OPH was observed in cooler and less productive waters, while SPH occured in both warmer and cooler productive waters. It appears that food availability may offset the effect of decreasing water temperatures for warm-water S. thompsoni. It is plausible that the OPH may permit the establishment of the S. thompsoni populations in the high Antarctic under the warming trend in the Southern Ocean.
Cortical Gray Matter Volume Associations with Dietary Fiber and Calorie Density: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pallapothu Raghav , Newman-Norlund Roger D. , Gibson Makayla , Kannan Pranesh Rajesh , Rorden Chris , Bonilha Leo , Fridriksson Julius
Published: November 2024

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia are associated with significant societal costs and economic burdens and have been associated with decreases in cortical gray matter volume. This pilot cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between total fiber concentration in diet, total calorie density per diet, and regional GMV in a cohort of 190 patients aged 20 to 79 years, utilizing data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey Supplement and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) collected at the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging. Gray matter volumes were quantified using the CAT12 voxel-based morphometry toolbox and statistical correlations between GMV and dietary measures were assessed using Spearman’s rank order correlation coefficient. Our exploratory analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between dietary fiber consumption and GMV in 16 different areas, including the right Hippocampus (r (190) = 0.196, p = 0.003) and left Hippocampus (r (190) = 0.135, p = 0.032), when controlling for age and race of participants. Our analyses revealed significantly negative correlations between total calorie density per diet and localized GMV in 3 different brain areas, including the right Precentral Gyrus (r (190) = -0.15, p = 0.039) and right Thalamic Pulvinar (r (190) = -0.155, p = 0.033), when controlling for participant race. Together, our initial findings suggest that dietary fiber and calorie density are associated with GMV even after controlling for relevant demographic variables. If replicated, these findings could have important implications for dietary advice given to individuals at risk for developing MCI or more serious forms of dementia.
Improving ROS and expression of SOD, APX, and CAT genes in pear seedlings inoculated with Erwinia amylovora through encapsulated bioactive compounds
Authors: Faramarzidozein Rouhollah , Motamedi Elaheh , Tarighi Saeed , Oskoueian Ehsan , Bostan Aram
Published: November 2024

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an encapsulated powder containing savory essential oil and calcium propionate salt on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of antioxidant genes (SOD, APX, CAT) in pear seedlings (cv. Spadona) inoculated with E. amylovora (ATCC 49946). To this goal, firstly, the antioxidant activity of 7 types of herbal essential oils (T. daenensis, T. vulgaris, S. hortensis, Z. multiflora, M. spicata, O. majorana, and T. ammi), with 10 types of different organic acid salts ) calcium acetate, calcium lactate, calcium citrate, calcium propionate, potassium acetate, potassium lactate, potassium citrate, magnesium acetate, magnesium lactate, and magnesium citrate) were separately evaluated in the laboratory. Next, the most effective candidates (calcium propionate salt + S. hortensis essential oil) were capsulated in maltodextrin and modified starch by spray drying technique. To evaluate the efficiency of the encapsulated powder, the greenhouse experiment was designed using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments. The findings demonstrated that increasing the concentration of the encapsulated powder treatment led to a relative increase in the expression of the antioxidant genes (SOD, APX, CAT) compared to the reference gene (GAPDH). The highest effect on SOD, APX, and CAT gene expression was seen in the third treatment (T3), while the first treatment (T1) had the lowest effect. Additionally, T1, T2, and T3 treatments decreased the amount of Malondialdehyde (MDA), but these treatments led to a relative increase in total phenolic content (TPC) in the pear leaves compared to the control treatment.
Machine learning to identify suitable boundaries for band-pass spectral analysis of dynamic [11C]Ro15-4513 PET scan and voxel-wise parametric map generation
Authors: Chang Zeyu , McGinnity Colm J , Hinz Rainer , Wang Manlin , Dunn Joel , Liu Ruoyang , Yakubu Mubaraq , Marsden Paul , Hammers Alexander
Published: November 2024

Background: Spectral analysis is a model-free quantification technique that treats the time-space signal as an impulse response to a bolus injection.Band-pass spectral analysis, considering specific frequency ranges, enables calculation of separate parametric maps of receptor subtype tracer binding for suitable radiopharmaceuticals. Frequency ranges are based on blocking studies. The process currently requires the manual selection of frequency ranges based on the data. To enhance the efficiency of band-pass spectral analysis and extend its application to a broader range of tracers, we propose employing machine learning to automate the selection of spectral boundaries. Based on these boundaries, voxel-wise parametric maps can be generated.Results:The best machine learning model agreed with the manual frequency boundary in 96.78% of the 3185 cases. The absolute mean error was 3.80% for slow component volume-of-distribution (V \(_s\) ) and 4.74% for fast component volume-of-distribution(V \(_f\) ), while the relative error was 2.83% ± 43.47% for V$_s$ and -2.01% ± 78.04% for V$_f$. The median intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) arross six representative regions was 0.770 for V$_s$, 0.670 for V$_f$, and 0.502 for total component volume-of-distribution(V \(_t\) ).Parameter maps applying different boundaries for different ROIs were generated.Conclusion: The machine learning model developed provided accurate boundary predictions in 96.78% of regions, with minimal average bias. However, when errors occur, they can be large, owing to the sparsity of peaks. The model enables setting boundaries automatically for the vast majority of regions, followed by manual checking of the outliers. It opens the possibility of accelerating analyses e.g. of GABA\textsubscript{A}\(\alpha\)1/2/3/5 subunit binding using [11C]flumazenil and of extending band-pass spectral analysis to other receptor systems.
The potential of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of fracture-related infection: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhu Hanxiao , Zhang Xiangfeng , Li Hang , Xie Lijun , Chen Erman
Published: November 2024

Background
Diagnosis of infective pathogen could be challenging in fracture-related infection (FRI). Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a new approach to identify the organism in bone infection disease. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of mNGS in determining the causative organisms of FRI.
Methods
From January 2021 to June 2023, a total of 105 cases with suspected FRI in our hospital were enrolled. Samples for mNGS, culture, and histopathological tests were collected surgically or by aspiration biopsy. mNGS was performed for diagnosis. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for mNGS and culture test, using histopathological results in conjunction with FRI criteria.
Results
According to FRI criteria, 96 of the 105 cases had infection, and 9 were classified in the aseptic group. Specificity of mNGS was 88.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 51.8–99.7%), sensitivity was 90.6% (95% CI, 82.9–95.2%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 98.9% (95% CI, 93.8–99.9%), and negative predictive value (NPV) was 47.1% (95% CI, 26.2–69.0%). Specificity of culture was 100% (95% CI, 66.4–100%), sensitivity was 50% (95% CI, 39.6–60.4%), PPV was 100% (95% CI, 92.6–100%), and NPV was 15.8% (95% CI, 7.5–27.9%). mNGS was more sensitive than culture (χ༒=9.931, P = 0.001), whereas the specificity of mNGS and culture was similar (P > 0.05). A total of 81.2% (39/48) of culture-negative patients had positive results on mNGS. Soft tissue specimen without pus was a risk factor for the negative result of mNGS (χ༒=5.693, P = 0.017). In FRI cases, open fracture was a risk factor for polymicrobial infection (χ༒=11.482, P = 0.001).
Conclusions
mNGS offers higher sensitivity for diagnosis and pathogen detection of FRI compared with microbiological culture. We believe that application of mNGS in the field of FRI would benefit more patients.
A Story about Optimism and Access to Healthcare Services Among Crisis Migrant Venezuelan Women Living in Peru
Authors: Scaramutti Carolina , Pesantes Maria Amalia , Cortez-Farfan Leonardo , Sahbaz Sumeyra , Montero-Zamora Pablo , Alpysbekova Aigerim , Vo Duyen H. , Penna Abby , PortoCarrero Jill , Brown Eric C. , Behar-Zusman Victoria , Schwartz Seth J.
Published: November 2024

Background
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has triggered a substantial migration exodus, with Peru emerging as a primary destination for Venezuelan refugees. Since 2016, approximately 1.8 million Venezuelans have migrated to Peru, resulting in significant challenges for both the migrants and the host country.
Objectives
This study, conducted in 2020–2021, investigates the interrelation between discrimination, mental health, and access to healthcare services among Venezuelan women residing in Peru. Specifically, it aims to elucidate how perceived cultural stressors (discrimination and negative context of reception) influence healthcare access, with a focus on the mediating roles of anxiety, depressive symptoms, optimism, and life satisfaction.
Methods
Data were collected in 2021 from 100 Venezuelan women (M age: 34 years) living in Peru through surveys that assessed cultural stressors, mental health indicators, well-being, and healthcare access. Using structural equation modeling, we explored the associations of cultural stressors with healthcare access. We also examined the mediating effects of anxiety, depressive symptoms, optimism, and life satisfaction.
Results
The analyses revealed that perceived discrimination was negatively associated with optimism and life satisfaction, and directly correlated with decreased access to healthcare. Furthermore, negative context of reception was positively associated with greater anxiety and depressive symptoms, which in turn indirectly reduced healthcare access by reducing levels of optimism.
Conclusion
The findings highlight the profound impact of social and psychological factors on healthcare access among Venezuelan women in Peru. The study underscores the critical need for fostering supportive environments to enhance the well-being of this population. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of optimism and life satisfaction in mitigating the adverse effects of discrimination and negative context of reception.
Ghosts of predators past remain in the spatial distribution and population density of the Japanese serow
Authors: Takada Hayato , Washida Akane , Yamasaki Shuhei
Published: November 2024

Some ungulate species select areas with abundant escape terrain despite the absence of predators, indicating that the ghosts of predators past continue to affect their spatial behavior. Population densities of such ungulates may also be influenced by the escape terrain; however, this has not been fully investigated. We examined spatial distribution and population density of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) at Mt. Fuji in the absence of predators in relation to abundance and quality of forage, vegetation, escape terrain (steep slopes), and other factors. Only escape terrain affected serow spatial distribution and their distribution was biased towards areas with steeper slopes, suggesting that the ghosts of predators past, i.e., wolves (Canis lupus) and serow-hunting humans, still influence serow spatial distribution. The population density of serows was higher in coniferous forests than in broad-leaved forests, and in areas with abundant dwarf bamboos and where high fecal nitrogen content was detected, suggesting that forage availability of dwarf bamboo and coniferous trees as well as forage quality influenced population density. Moreover, the population density of serows was higher in areas with abundant escape terrain, suggesting that the ghosts of predators past still affect their population density. Population densities of serows may be low because fewer individuals settle in environments with minimal escape terrain.
An optimal weighting scheme for a synthetic index of perception of inequality
Authors: Bavetta Sebastiano , Donni Paolo Li , Marino Maria , Ribaudo Francesco
Published: November 2024

This study develops a composite index to measure perception of inequality (PI), focusing on two domains: inequality of opportunity and inequality of outcome. Using survey responses from 24 OECD countries within the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), we identify latent patterns in public perceptions of inequality and construct a PI score using a weighting scheme optimized through latent variable models. By aggregating various indicators related to societal and economic inequalities, we address multidimensionality and the inherent unobservability of PI, ensuring our index provides a nuanced and comprehensive representation. The optimal weighting methodology allows for clear comparisons across groups and over time, reflecting context-invariance in the outcome domain but multidimensional perceptions in the opportunity domain. Validations with objective inequality indicators, such as the Gini index and intergenerational mobility indices, confirm the robustness of our score. Our findings reveal the sensitivity of the perception of inequality to demographic and socioeconomic factors, aligning with previous research. This index offers a valuable tool for understanding public perceptions of inequality and its drivers, with implications for policy evaluation and social research.
JEL codes: D63, D31, D83
Strong Anonymous Batch Authentication Scheme Against Sybil Attack in VANET
Authors: Man Zeyu , Pan Senshan , Xu Zhiwei , Ye Mengping
Published: November 2024

Addressing the challenges of efficiency, security, and privacy protection in vehicle communication within the vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET), this study proposes a strongly anonymous privacy protection scheme based on group signatures. Our scheme supports batch verification and immediate revocation, making it suitable for the trusted authority-roadside unit-vehicle (TA-RSU-Vehicle) system architecture. By incorporating efficient batch verification technology, it enhances signature verification efficiency, reduces system overhead, and verifies its reliability. Combining the Chinese Remainder Theorem with Schnorr's signature idea, even a vehicle of limited resources can check by itself the legitimacy of the message signer in the system due to our instant revocation mechanism. Roadside units (RSUs) are introduced to alleviate the workload of the trusted authority (TA). The strong anonymity design protects vehicle privacy. After a comprehensive security analysis and performance evaluation, our scheme demonstrates reliable batch verification, immediate revocation, and a secure system structure with good performance.
Understanding the risk of breast cancer from population and geographic perspective
Authors: Xiao Chenchang , Chen Juan , Wang Kai , Xu Yunan , Wijayabahu Akemi , Yu Bin
Published: November 2024

Background
Breast cancer is one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States. This study aims to deepen the understanding of burden of breast cancer from a four-dimensional view based on population and geographic information to inform better evidence-based decision making and resource optimization.
Methods
Data of breast cancer in the study were derived from National Cancer Institutes’ State Cancer Profiles, including total count and age-standardized prevalence of breast cancer by state. Four indicators were estimated, including total count, population-based P rate, geographic-based G rate and population and geographic-based PG rate. The free software R was used to do the geographic mapping to visualize the pattern of the four indicators across states.
Results
The top five states with the largest count of breast cancer were California, Florida, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, informing the resources needed for treatment. The top five states with highest P rate were Maryland, Wyoming, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Oregon, while the top five states with highest G rate included New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland, revealing breast cancer risk from population and geographic perspective. When controlling for both population and geographic size, the states with highest PG rate were Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, and New Jersey, presenting a declining trend of breast cancer burden from Northeast to Southwest.
Conclusion
This study added two indicators to the conventional measures of disease risk to incorporate the influence of geographic information, presenting a four-dimensional national pattern of breast cancer risk. Study findings will provide evidence informing better decision making for optimal resource allocation.
Effects of Foliar Copper Supplementation on Metabolomic Profile of Garlic Bulb
Authors: de Almeida Natália Reis , Ikehara Brena Rodrigues Mota , Calácio Camila Cristina , Oliveira Thaísa Fernanda , Pinto Frederico Garcia
Published: November 2024

Introduction Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is renowned for its health-promoting properties, largely due to its sulfur-rich compounds. While copper is essential for plant growth and metabolism, excessive levels can disrupt cellular processes and lead to oxidative stress.Objectives This study aims to investigate the impact of copper supplementation on the metabolic profile of garlic, with a particular focus on changes in sulfur metabolism.Methods Using LC-MS metabolomics, the metabolic profile of garlic was analyzed after copper supplementation to assess changes, specifically in sulfur-containing compounds.Results Substantial decreases were observed in alliin-derived key sulfur compounds responsible for garlic's health benefits and aroma, including allicin, alliin, and γ-glutamyl-S-allylcysteine. Additionally, precursors of the antioxidant protein glutathione (GSH) were depleted, likely as a result of GSH sparing efforts to counteract copper-induced oxidative stress. This redirection may increase susceptibility to ferroptosis, a form of cell death linked to oxidative damage.Conclusion The findings suggest that even field-appropriate levels of copper could negatively affect sulfur compound biosynthesis in garlic, potentially reducing its quality and therapeutic value. This underscores the importance of balanced copper application in garlic cultivation to maintain both crop yield and quality.