bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep CNNs for glioma grading on conventional MRIs: Performance analysis, challenges, and future directions
Authors: Saluja Sonam , Trivedi Munesh Chandra , Saha Ashim
Published: March 2024

The increasing global incidence of glioma tumors has raised significant healthcare concerns due to their high mortality rates. Traditionally, tumor diagnosis relies on visual analysis of medical imaging and invasive biopsies for precise grading. As an alternative, computer-assisted methods, particularly deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), have gained traction. This research paper explores the recent advancements in DCNNs for glioma grading using brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) from 2015 to 2023. The study evaluated various DCNN architectures and their performance, revealing remarkable results with models such as hybrid and ensemble based DCNNs achieving accuracy levels of up to 98.91%. However, challenges persisted in the form of limited datasets, lack of external validation, and variations in grading formulations across diverse literature sources. Addressing these challenges through expanding datasets, conducting external validation, and standardizing grading formulations can enhance the performance and reliability of DCNNs in glioma grading, thereby advancing brain tumor classification and extending its applications to other neurological disorders.
Confrontation de l’examen macroscopique à l’étude radiographique, microtomodensitométrique et histologique de l’os et implications en paléopathologie des immatures
Authors: Bédécarrats Samuel , Bougault Denis , Cazin Antoine , Chapelain de Seréville-Niel Cécile , Elie Nicolas , Goux Didier , Lemonnier Florian , Naveau Mikael , Pacory Julia , Skeif Hanadi
Published: March 2024

La paléopathologie des enfants se confronte à la difficulté d'établir des diagnostics fiables et précis. Les modifications de la couche superficielle de l’os, premier signe observable par le paléopathologiste, peuvent témoigner de modifications inflammatoires, infectieuses, carentielles, traumatiques ou être physiologiques. La caractérisation de l’os sous-jacent est donc souvent indispensable pour affiner le diagnostic. En mettant en place un protocole descriptif standardisé, nous avons cherché à identifier le pouvoir prédictif de l’aspect de surface du périoste sur les aspects osseux visibles par radiographie, microtomodensitométrie et histologie. Pour cela, nous nous sommes appuyés sur un corpus de 39 individus décédés avant l’âge de 3 ans et inhumés dans des cimetières normands médiévaux et modernes. Les résultats montrent que les descriptions macroscopiques sont faiblement associées aux autres descriptions et que la combinaison de plusieurs méthodes d’analyse est indispensable pour établir un lien entre l’aspect de surface et les modifications tissulaires.
Les argiles utilisées au Moyen Âge et à l’époque moderne par l’industrie tuilière de Barbery (Calvados)
Authors: Bocquet-Liénard Anne , Bataillé Marie-Paule , Davidson Robert , Dupré Juliette , Leclerc Mathilde , Thierry Marc-Antoine , Savary Xavier , Dubois Adrien , Vincent Jean-Baptiste , Maquaire Olivier , Cantin Nadia
Published: March 2024

Entre le xive et le xviiie siècle, à Barbery (Calvados), plusieurs tuileries ont produit les matériaux destinés à la couverture d’un grand nombre d’édifices de la plaine de Caen et du Pays de Falaise. La richesse des sources écrites (tabellionage, comptabilités, iconographie) a incité à la mise en place d’un programme de recherche pluridisciplinaire visant à étudier la totalité de la chaîne opératoire depuis l’extraction de la matière première jusqu’à la diffusion des produits finis. Cet article présente le croisement des résultats d’approches géologique, géomécanique, pétrographique et géochimique, croisement qui a permis d’identifier les lieux d’extraction de la matière argileuse, dont ceux indiqués par les sources écrites, de caractériser ses propriétés et de mettre en lumière les choix opérés par les tuiliers pour les terres cuites et la construction des fours.
Stratigraphie et matière orange-rouge de la paroi ornée paléolithique de la grotte de Font-de-Gaume, Dordogne, France
Authors: Reiche Ina , Tapia Reguera José , Trosseau Antoine , Coquinot Yvan , Maigret Anne , Müller Katharina , Tranchant Laurent , Schoeder Sebastian , Cretin Catherine
Published: March 2024

Dans le cadre des analyses in situ des grottes paléolithiques ornées, la compréhension de la stratigraphie complexe est primordiale afin de pouvoir interpréter le plus correctement possible les données analytiques. À cet effet, une roche équivalente de la paroi, des traces de matière orange et un fragment d’une concrétion calcitique de la grotte de Font-de-Gaume ont été analysés par des méthodes d’analyse sensibles et complémentaires en laboratoire et au synchrotron. Les données obtenues sur les fragments sont comparées à celles de la couleur rouge de deux bisons polychromes de la grotte de Font-de-Gaume dont provient probablement le fragment pour évaluer le potentiel informatif des analyses non-invasives in situ à l’aide d’appareils portables. Grâce à cette comparaison il a été possible de mieux caractériser la stratigraphie de la paroi, de déterminer les faciès taphonomiques de la paroi ornée et d’identifier des marqueurs potentiels au niveau des éléments traces contenus dans la matière colorante rouge-orange qui permettent de mieux discriminer les différentes figures préhistoriques entre elles.
La grotte de La Garma (Cantabrie, Espagne) : identification, structuration et spatialisation des aménagements souterrains depuis le Paléolithique
Authors: Kemper Jules , Delannoy Jean-Jacques , Jaillet Stéphane , Ontañon-Peredo Roberto , Arias Pablo
Published: March 2024

Les grottes ornées impressionnent par l’ampleur et la force des œuvres pariétales. Mais il ne s’agit que de la face spectaculaire d’une fréquentation probablement plus diversifiée des milieux souterrains. Depuis plusieurs années, l’étude de plusieurs sites emblématiques (grotte Chauvet, Nawarla Gabarnmang, grotte de Bruniquel) a démontré la modification volontaire de ces espaces par les sociétés et a ouvert la porte à de nouveaux regards sur l’appropriation spatiale des sites ornés, au cours du temps. La Galerie Inférieure de la grotte de la Garma (Cantabrie, Espagne), fermée par un effondrement du porche à la fin du MIS2, a permis une conservation exceptionnelle des sols : ossements, sols d’occupation, empreintes, art pariétal, spéléothèmes brisés, mais aussi structures anthropiques. Si ces dernières ont été étudiées dès leur découverte en 1995, une approche intégrée basée sur un inventaire exhaustif des morphologies, dépôts et vestiges de la galerie et de leur superposition constitue un outil pertinent d’analyse de ces modifications anthropiques, parfois importantes, de l’espace investi par les sociétés passées. Au-delà de l’identification du geste humain en lui-même, une approche cartographique à haute résolution peut également permettre de discuter la cohérence spatiale de ces actions, leur complémentarité, leur chronologie et leur rapport au volume dans lequel ils s’insèrent. À terme, au-delà d’une documentation exhaustive, l’objectif de ce travail est de donner à voir l’héritage morphologique de l’humain dans le paysage souterrain et souligner la diversité des formes d’appropriation de l’espace souterrain par les sociétés anciennes.
Anthropisation passée et impacts historiques en grotte ornée : une lecture croisée des parois de la grotte de la Mouthe (Dordogne, France)
Authors: Robert Eric , Le Fillâtre Virginie , Calligaro Morgane , Lesvignes Emilie , Garate Maidagan Diego , Rivero Vila Olivia , Muth Xavier , Petrognani Stephane
Published: March 2024

Les occupations des galeries, la sélection et l’investissement des parois par les sociétés passées sont autant de témoignages des choix réalisés par des groupes préhistoriques au sein du paysage souterrain. Les traces et marques parvenues jusqu’à nous sont le produit de ces actions, modifiées ou altérées par des processus géologiques, biologiques et humains à l’œuvre sur la « matière première » que constitue la grotte. La grotte de la Mouthe (Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, France) présente un exemple caractéristique de l’ensemble de ces processus. Site de référence pour la reconnaissance de l’art préhistorique en 1902, 7 ans après sa découverte, il fut aussi le lieu de nombreuses innovations méthodologiques au carrefour du xixe et du xxe siècle. Depuis sa formation au Paléo-Eocène jusqu’au développement d’un abondant concrétionnement holocène dans plusieurs des salles ornées, les changements morphologiques du réseau karstique et des paysages extérieurs ont conditionné la fréquentation et influencé le décor des parois. Lieu de fréquentations répétées du Paléolithique moyen au Néolithique, elle recèle de nombreux indices du passage et de l’investissement des sociétés préhistoriques. Par une démarche intégrative associant géomorphologie, taphonomie et analyse des tracés paléolithiques au travers de relevés croisés, notre programme de recherche pluridisciplinaire vise à restituer les différentes phases de l’histoire du site sur le temps long. Nous présentons ici l’approche méthodologique originale autour des parois, et les premiers résultats observés au sein de « La Salle des Taureaux », l’une des salles ornées de la grotte de la Mouthe, où apparaissent des indices d’une construction graphique structurée au sein de l’espace souterrain, à travers les altérations géologiques et anthropiques accumulées au fil du temps.
Premiers résultats d’une approche archéo-chimique sur l’habitat rural des alpages de la vallée de la Biaysse (Freissinières, Hautes-Alpes, France)
Authors: Cesarini Roxanne , Laenger Arthur
Published: March 2024

Les auteurs de cette publication proposent une nouvelle méthode d’étude de l’habitat rural de montagne en couplant une approche archéologique classique à une étude élémentaire des sols. Cette expérimentation a lieu dans le cadre de deux thèses de doctorat. Elle a été motivée par la difficulté que rencontrent les archéologues pour caractériser l'habitat rural de montagne. Les sites étudiés, le Pré Gauthier et Chichin I, se trouvent dans la vallée de la Biaysse, dans un massif bien connu des scientifiques. La méthode d’étude ici développée a eu lieu en deux temps : les sites archéologiques ont d’abord été prospectés au cours de l’été 2020 puis sondés l’année suivante. Les résultats de cette étude sont pluriels. De nouveaux marqueurs d’activité humaine ont été repérés dans les unités d’habitation étudiées. Leur analyse met en évidence la fonction de certaines d’entre elles. L’analyse élémentaire des sols apparaît ici comme un outil pertinent pour interpréter la fonction de l’habitat rural en contexte archéologique. Il est cependant nécessaire de fouiller les sites étudiés pour comprendre la superposition des éléments chimiques observés en prospection et saisir la durée de leur occupation. La constitution d’un référentiel de marqueurs chimiques s’avère aussi importante pour mieux définir les activités humaines.
L’Inquisition romaine dans les guides et récits de voyage français (1595-1797)
Authors: Brizay François
Published: March 2024

Dix-sept guides et récits de voyage publiés par des Français sur Rome et l’Italie entre 1595 et 1797 invitent à s’interroger sur le type d’informations qu’ils donnent sur l’Inquisition romaine. De la fin du XVIe siècle aux années 1680, les voyageurs français ont décrit le Saint-Office comme une institution coercitive en mettant l’accent sur les châtiments qu’elle infligeait. Des années 1690 aux années 1770, ils ont eu tendance à en banaliser la présentation en s’intéressant à sa composition et à son fonctionnement, sans perdre toutefois de vue la peur qu’elle inspirait encore. Les voyageurs français se sont largement inspirés des écrits d’auteurs italiens.
Dictionnaire géographique de l’Afrique médiévale
Authors: Ducène Jean-Charles , Prevost Virginie
Published: March 2024

Au XIIIe et au XIVe siècle, trois géographes arabes ont consacré une part de leurs dictionnaires aux territoires africains. Les villes, les montagnes, les fleuves et les mers y sont décrits au lecteur de façon très vivante, fournissant quantité de détails historiques, géographiques ou économiques, un nombre important de realia, des poèmes surprenants et tant de savoureuses anecdotes qui accroissaient l’horizon des lecteurs contemporains tout comme elles élargissent aujourd’hui le nôtre. Ces textes révèlent une société ouverte sur les mondes lointains. Les articles regroupés ici concernent le Maghreb, la Libye, l’Afrique occidentale et orientale, mais pas l’Égypte qui a déjà été traitée ailleurs. Ce vaste corpus, comptant plus de 800 articles, a été réuni jadis par Jacques Thiry (Université libre de Bruxelles) qui avait entrepris de l’étudier avant son décès en 2012. Il a été revu et abondamment commenté par deux de ses anciens étudiants pour lui rendre un chaleureux hommage.Ce volume permet de relire les grands épisodes de l’histoire du Maghreb et de découvrir de nombreuses précisions ethnographiques. Le lecteur y voyage de Fès au fleuve Niger, d’Alger au pays des Zanğ et jusqu’à la fameuse île de Wāqwāq où l’or abonde à ce point que les habitants s’en servent pour fabriquer les chaînes de leurs chiens et les colliers de leurs singes.Cet ouvrage s’adresse aux africanistes, aux spécialistes du monde musulman, aux historiens médiévistes et à un vaste public curieux.
Les cathédrales du savoir ou les bibliothèques universitaires de recherche aux États-Unis
Authors: Reboul Jacquette
Published: March 2024

Les cathédrales du Savoir sont les grandes bibliothèques d’étude et de recherche dont s’enorgueillissent les Etats-Unis. A la fois conserva­toires du savoir et de tout l’acquis de la culture, centres de documenta­tion, institutions pédagogiques et de recherche ainsi que foyers culturels vivants, elles représentent dans la civilisation anglo-saxonne ce qu’ont symbolisé les cathédrales pour le Moyen-Age chrétien. Ces « universi­tés sans professeurs » sont appelées à jouer un rôle de plus en plus considérable dans l’avenir où elles détermineront en grande partie par la maîtrise des banques de données en particulier - le développement économique, social et culturel d’un pays. C’est dire que cet ouvrage vient à son heure en traitant d’un sujet à peu près inédit en France. Très clair, illustré de nombreuses figures, tableaux et photographies, il sera utile non seulement aux bibliothécaires, aux documentalistes et aux étudiants, mais il apporte une contribution non négligeable à l’étude de la civilisation américaine.
“Arabic Pop Art” on Instagram: Questioning the Representations of Arabness and Khaleejiness in Digital Art
Authors: Chaveneau Clio
Published: March 2024

Instagram, the second most widely used social networking platforms in the world, is a privileged place for artists and art lovers to showcase artworks and visual content to a larger audience. In the Middle East and North Africa region, one Instagram account, @arabic.pop.art, currently gathers 399,000 followers by reposting daily various forms of digital work produced in the region. Based on the analysis of all the posts published there from March 2019 to March 2020, I discuss the important presence of Gulf citizens and residents among both the artists and the followers of this Instagram account and how Arab and gulfic/khaleeji symbols, icons and consumerist items are being used in the published artworks. Through its content and given its popularity, this account is actively participating in highlighting Arab youth pop culture and shaping representations of Arab and regional identities (Arabness and Khaleejiness).
Ma fi gerger ziyada: the South Asian Character in Gulf Cultural Productions
Authors: Lagrange Frédéric
Published: March 2024

How is the noncitizen subaltern Other portrayed in Gulf cultural productions? While sociological studies argue that Gulf states have defined a national narrative centered on a purely Arab-Islamic identity excluding the Persian, African and South Asian heritage, the way in which cultural productions of the region address the citizen vs. non-citizen divide, the local vs. foreign hierarchy and implicitly question the construction of identity and the position of foreigners in the region is more nuanced. National identity and otherness are more perceived as a continuum than air-tight categories. These “mixed signals” sent by Gulf region cultural productions are analyzed here through their portrayal of the historical relationships between the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent and the way language reflects porosity. The article finally examines the tight rope walked by cultural productions between the need to “discipline the Khaleeji self” and root out racism toward South Asians, and the temptation to “discipline the other” so as to render him suitable for the type of modernity Gulf states and societies aspire to.
Regard d’étudiants en éducation physique sur l’usage d’un carnet de cours dans un cycle de handball
Authors: Theunissen Catherine , Foulon Robin , Cloes Marc
Published: March 2024

Selon Guibault et Viau-Guay (2017), la méthode de la classe inversée semble efficace sans pour autant représenter un remède miracle à l’échec. Centrée sur les apprenants, elle permet d’adapter le travail aux spécificités de la population, favorise les interactions entre les acteurs tout en assurant une diversité des séances. Sur base de l’expérience acquise lors d’un cycle de gymnastique proposé à des étudiants en éducation physique (Theunissen et al., 2020), l’utilisation originale d’un fascicule pédagogique exigeant une implication de l’étudiant avant, pendant et après les séances pratiques a été transposé sous forme d’un carnet de suivi de cours dans un cycle de handball dispensé en 2019-2020 à des étudiants en Sciences de la motricité. Au total, 22 étudiants ont répondu à une interview semi-structurée de fin d’année portant sur des thèmes tels que le principe de la classe inversée, la manière d’utiliser notre outil, les difficultés et les aspects positifs rencontrés. Les données qualitatives récoltées ont fait l’objet d’une analyse de contenu où chaque idée a pris la forme d’un code, avec une vérification des fidélités inter- et intra-analyste(s), complétée par une restitution des résultats. Les étudiants valident l’outil en soulignant une plus grande autonomie, le plaisir éprouvé grâce à cette approche et un lien étroit avec le cours pratique. Ils déclarent souhaiter transposer cette méthode lors de leurs stages. En temps de pandémie, le carnet les a soutenus dans le suivi des apprentissages entre le travail à domicile et en présentiel.
Global Perspectives on the Impact of Climate Change on Quality of Life
Authors: Shukla Kasturi , Patil Yogesh B. , Estoque Ronald C. , de Haro Pedro Lopez
Published: March 2024

The negative impact of climate change on Quality of Life (QoL) has become an issue of major concern that transcends national boundaries. Unprecedented changes in the Earth's climate have created a variety of effects at different geographical locations, thus impacting the welfare of inhabitants. The impacts are wide ranging—from severe weather that interrupts livelihoods to rising sea levels that endanger coastal towns. Furthermore, food security, water availability, and public health are all impacted by ecological changes brought on by climate change. In order to solve these complex concerns and promote a shared commitment to resilience and sustainable practices, international collaborative efforts are crucial. This will eventually protect the QoL on a global scale from the growing risks posed by climate change. This introductory chapter of the book provides a global perspective on the impact of climate change on the quality of life both in urban and rural settings.
The Economic Impact of Stenocereus montanus Fruit in Rural Areas of the Northeast of Sinaloa, Mexico
Authors: Ocampo Reyna , Ibarra Soledad
Published: March 2024

The Stenocereus montanus plant is a wild cactus that is widely distributed in the arid and semi-arid territories of northwestern Mexico. It provides the inhabitants of the region with a fruit whose collection and sale is economically profitable for the families that dedicate themselves to it during the almost three months that the annual season lasts; the economic spillover that this entails hasn't been studied. Therefore, its analysis in this chapter serves as a frame of reference for a change of vision regarding its potential use as a trigger for economic, social, and sustainable development.
Industry 5.0, Quality of Life, and Sustainable Adaptation to Climate Change
Authors: Satheesh Surabhee , Shukla Kasturi
Published: March 2024

Globalization and industrialization have exposed the world to the exacerbating issue of sustainability. With the occurrences of climate related extreme events increasing the world over in the last decade, climate change has come to be recognized as the most profound concern staring in the face of mankind. There have been many separate studies addressing climate change and an equally good number of research in the domain of quality of life. But there is a dearth of research linking climate variability and quality of life. Climate uncertainties have led to loss of lives. Settlements and employments, material living conditions, physical and economic security, natural environment, health, basic rights, and social exchanges among communities stand impacted. All of these metrics are important determinants of quality of life (QoL). Also, alarming is the fact that QoL indicators remain poorly connected to climate change related concerns. This is an important research gap and calls for urgent attention.
Advocating for Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Veld-Fire Reduction in Mitigating Climate Change in Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe
Authors: Musendekwa Menard , Tatara Liveson
Published: March 2024

In Zimbabwe, vast tracks of vegetation are destroyed by veld fire annually, thereby facilitating the occurrence of climate change. According to the environmental management agency in Zimbabwe, veld fire gutted 165 352 94 hectares of land since the onset of the 2020 fire season, which mainly stretches from 31 July to 31 October every year. To reduce uncontrolled veld fires, this chapter makes a case for Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) as a viable means of addressing the issue. Findings reveal that households employ various strategies such as evoking taboos that prevent destruction of sacred forests, among others, to reduce veld-fire in their community, which in turn enables them to maintain sources of their livelihood annually. Implications of these findings are discussed broadly in terms of the ways in which IKS can contribute towards governing of veld fire in Zimbabwe.
How Caste Comes Into Play When Climate Changes
Authors: Cherechés Bianca
Published: March 2024

Climate change has diverse impacts that disproportionately affect marginalised communities, exacerbating existing inequalities. In the Indian context, climate change has been experienced for decades, particularly affecting Dalits and Adivasi communities who rely on nature for sustenance but have limited resources to adapt. Thus, recognition of caste as a significant factor in climate action policies is crucial. In the same vein, environmental literature in India has often neglected the ecological perspectives of marginalised castes. This oversight stems from the assumption that Dalits are subsumed within broader categories of poverty and vulnerability. This chapter aims to examine Dalit literature, often viewed as protest literature, as a valuable insight into the interactions between Dalits and their environments. By exploring Baby Kamble's The Prisons We Broke and Bama's Karukku the intricate relationship between Dalits and nature can be illuminated, contributing to ecological, literary, and cultural theories.
Navigating the Metaverse
Authors: Srivastava Arpita , Srivastava Nidhi , Saha Sunetra
Published: March 2024

The metaverse is regarded as the forthcoming advancement in the realm of the internet, representing a collaborative environment wherein physical and digital domains intersect to provide heightened levels of immersion and interactivity for users, frequently encompassing both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The Metaverse is poised to usher in a transformative era for the field of travel and tourism management. It empowers destination awareness, strategic positioning, and brand enhancement while also facilitating efficient coordination through the use of digital twins. Utilizing a systematic review of scholarly literature, media articles, and industry reports, this chapter establishes a comprehensive definition and conceptual framework for the Metaverse ecosystem within the context of tourism and travel. Additionally, this research also underscores the capabilities inherent in the Metaverse and sheds light on the emerging opportunities it presents. Furthermore, it discerns and identifies the challenges that lie ahead for the future development of this domain.
Bitcoin's Genesis
Authors: Singh Shailey
Published: March 2024

This chapter traces the transformative journey of Bitcoin, exploring its historical inception, technological foundations, and profound influence on the financial landscape. Unveiling the motivations and challenges faced by Satoshi Nakamoto, the chapter navigates through the birth of Bitcoin, detailing key events and initial skepticism. Examining blockchain technology, it unravels the decentralized nature and cryptographic principles that distinguish Bitcoin. The impact on the global financial stage is analyzed, addressing Bitcoin's role as a store of value, medium of exchange, and implications for central banking. The chapter also explores the evolving ecosystem, challenges, and future possibilities, serving as a comprehensive resource for researchers, professionals, and enthusiasts in the digital currency space. Readers gain profound insights, ready to navigate the complex world of decentralized cryptocurrencies and understand Bitcoin's enduring legacy.
Navigating the Digital Paradigm Shift
Authors: Kumar Pawan , Taneja Sanjay , Bhatnagar Mukul , Kaur Arvinder K.
Published: March 2024

Key drivers of banking reform include central bank digital currencies. When building central bank digital currencies, central banks and regulators have to negotiate essential characteristics and strategic design features to adapt to the digital revolution. CBDCs digitize fiat currency in a revolutionary central bank-supervised fashion. CBDCs may improve financial inclusion, payments, and monetary policy. The complex design of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) includes wholesale and retail businesses, technology, and regulatory frameworks. Central banks worldwide handle central bank digital currencies differently in pilot projects and research. Confidentiality, cyber security, and traditional banking are covered in the chapter. Central bank digital currencies and digital technology are changing banking. Carefully constructed central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) may unleash their revolutionary potential.
The Technological Foundations of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
Authors: Eskandarzadeh Azadeh
Published: March 2024

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are being recognized as a possible advancement in sovereign money. Although CBDCs have the potential to bring about positive changes such as enhanced financial inclusion and updated payment infrastructures, there are still important considerations regarding the suitable designs of the underlying technology. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the current state of technological research and experimentation in order to assess architecture options and considerations for CBDCs.
CBDCs Around the Globe
Authors: Shilina Maria
Published: March 2024

CBDCs have taken center stage in the digital finance arena, as central banks worldwide explore the advantages and challenges they present. The number of CBDC projects has increased significantly over the past few years, encompassing 131 countries that collectively represent 98% of the global economy. This chapter delves into the dynamic landscape of CBDCs worldwide, exploring various scenarios, ongoing experiments, and implementation efforts. The research sheds light on the motivations behind CBDC initiatives, examines the practical experiments conducted by central banks (from launched to pilot and developing programs), and explores cross-border projects and collaborations. Through a comparative analysis of various approaches to CBDCs, the chapter uncovers a nuanced narrative of economic, social, and political factors that influence the design and deployment of CBDCs. This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the CBDCs landscape, assisting policymakers, financial institutions, and the general public in understanding the potential future of digital currencies.
Accounting for CBDCs
Authors: Singh Jaspal
Published: March 2024

This chapter initially explores the implementation of CBDCs, especially the plausible accounting treatments—from the central bank's perspective as well as the commercial banks it would normally transact with. Both real and perceived issues are analyzed, with emphasis placed on how such barriers can be overcome. Furthermore, noteworthy historical occurrences which have recently impacted central banks are discussed, such as the 2007-08 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. As it did with accounting treatments for CBDCs, this work projects the impacts of such events onto the current CBDC implementation struggles in Western economies. Traditional political stances against the central bank's actions, such as its balance sheet expansion and intervention in free-market economies, are balanced against newly developing public attitudes about digital currencies—their potential role in settling transactions, government regulations and controls, security of personal data, and the like.
Sustainable Agriculture and the SDGs
Authors: Asim Muhammad , Raza Aamir , Safdar Muhammad , Ahmed Mian Muhammad , Khokhar Amman , Aarif Mohd , Al Ansari Mohammed Saleh , Sattar Jaffar , Chowdhury Ishtiaq Uz Zaman
Published: March 2024

This chapter explores the connection between sustainable agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It discusses various practices like conservation agriculture, organic farming, agroforestry, and precision agriculture, and how they contribute to various SDGs. It focuses on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 15 (Biodiversity Preservation), and SDG 1 and 8 (Rural Development). The chapter also discusses barriers to widespread adoption, including economic, technological, and sociocultural factors. It uses case studies to illustrate successful models and offers policy recommendations, emphasizing national policies aligning with sustainable agriculture, fostering international cooperation, and investing in education and capacity building. The chapter provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in agriculture, sustainability, and development.
Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things-Enabled Smart Agriculture for the Modern Era
Authors: Reddy K.Shashidhar , Ahmad Sayed Sayeed , Tyagi Amit Kumar
Published: March 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) with related to smart agriculture has changes in a new era of efficiency and sustainability in farming practices. This abstract provides an overview of AI-IoT-enabled smart agriculture and its importance in addressing modern agricultural challenges. In today's rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, smart agriculture, driven by AI and IoT technologies, has emerged as a transformative solution. This synergy combines AI's data processing and analytical capabilities with the real-time connectivity of IoT devices to create a dynamic and data-driven agricultural ecosystem. The convergence of AI and IoT in agriculture not only empowers farmers with real-time information but also helps meet the growing demand for food in a more sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. However, as technology continues to evolve, challenges related to data security, interoperability, and accessibility need to be addressed to ensure the widespread adoption of smart agriculture practices.
Analysis of the Application Potential of English Translation Strategy Based on Wireless Widget Technology in 5G Technology Reports
Authors: Zhang Xinping
Published: March 2024

As technology continues to evolve, the process of English translation has become easier. A technology called widget, which is used in modern research, provides an efficient graphical user interface for the interaction between the user and the application. This paper compares the newly proposed wireless widget system with existing models of English translation strategies for internet of things (IoT), cloud computing (CC), artificial intelligence and edge computing (AI+EC), and pure internet concepts. These models were compared on metrics such as accuracy, search completion rate, and throughput. The results show that the proposed system outperforms the existing models with an accuracy rate of 98%, a search completion rate of 96%, and a maximum throughput of 96%. The model shows high performance advantages and can effectively improve the efficiency of translation work.
Supplier Evaluation in Supply Chain Environment Based on Radial Basis Function Neural Network
Authors: Liu Shilin , Yu Guangbin , Kim Youngchul
Published: March 2024

The comprehensive evaluation and selection of suppliers under the environment of supply chain management has become a key factor affecting the success of supply chain. How to select suppliers and the strategic partnership between suppliers under the environment of supply chain management has become an important challenge. To solve this problem, this paper takes the supplier evaluation and selection of Guangzhou Automobile Toyota Company as the research object, constructs the index system of supplier comprehensive evaluation and selection, uses the RBF neural network algorithm to establish the supplier evaluation and selection model, and makes an experimental study. The results show that radial basis function neural network is a local approximation network, which has a unique and definite solution to the problem, and there is no local minimum problem in BP network. It is a method that enables enterprises and suppliers to have a clear understanding and seek further promotion together. The research provides theoretical data support for enterprise managers to make decisions.
Affective Prompt-Tuning-Based Language Model for Semantic-Based Emotional Text Generation
Authors: Gu Zhaodong , He Kejing
Published: March 2024

The large language models based on transformers have shown strong text generation ability. However, due to the need for significant computing resources, little work has been done to generate emotional text using language models such as GPT-2. To address this issue, the authors proposed an affective prompt-tuning-based language model (APT-LM) equipped with an affective decoding (AD) method, aiming to enhance emotional text generation with limited computing resources. In detail, the proposed model incorporates the emotional attributes into the soft prompt by using the NRC emotion intensity lexicon and updates the additional parameters while freezing the language model. Then, it steers the generation toward a given emotion by calculating the cosine distance between the affective soft prompt and the candidate tokens generated by the language model. Experimental results show that the proposed APT-LM model significantly improves emotional text generation and achieves competitive performance on sentence fluency compared to baseline models across automatic evaluation and human evaluation.
Intrapleural Fibrinolysis with Urokinase versus Alteplase in Complicated Pleural Effusions and Empyema: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Adhikari Sudipt , Marwah Vikas , Choudhary Robin , Pandey Indermani , Kumar Tentu Ajai , Malik Virender , Pemmaraju Arpita , Vasudevan Shrinath , Kapoor Suraj
Published: March 2024

Background: Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT) has been used as an effective agent since 1949 for managing complicated pleural effusion and empyema. Several agents, such as streptokinase, urokinase (UK), and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), have been found to be effective with variable effectiveness. However, a head-tohead controlled trial comparing the efficacy of the most frequently used agents, i.e., UK and rt-PA (alteplase) for managing complicated pleural effusion has rarely been reported.Methods: A total of 50 patients were randomized in two intervention groups, i.e., UK and rt-PA. The dose of rt-PA was 10 mg, and that of UK was 1.0 lac units. UK was given thrice daily for 2 days, followed by clamping to allow the retainment of drugs in the pleural space for 2 hours. rt-PA was instilled into the pleural space twice daily for 2 days, and intercostal drainage was clamped for 1 hour.Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled into the study, of which 84% (n=42) were males and 16% (n=8) were females. Among them, 30 (60%) patients received UK, and 20 (40%) patients received alteplase as IPFT agents. The percentage of mean± standard deviation changes in pleural opacity was –33.0%±9.9% in the UK group and –41.0%±14.9% in the alteplase group, respectively (p=0.014). Pain was the most common adverse side effect, occurring in 60% (n=18) of the patients in the UK group and in 40% (n=8) of the patients in the alteplase group (p=0.24), while fever was the second most common side effect. Patients who reported early (within 6 weeks of onset of symptoms) showed a greater response than those who reported late for the intervention.Conclusion: IPFT is a safe and effective option for managing complicated pleural effusion or empyema, and newer agents, such as alteplase, have greater efficacy and a similar adverse effect profile when compared with conventional agents, such as UK.
Perceptual Evaluation of Sound Exposure Level in Annoyance Ratings to Helicopter Noise
Authors: Boucher Matthew A. , Christian Andrew W. , Krishnamurthy Siddhartha , Rizzi Stephen A.
Published: March 2024

A psychoacoustic test was performed to assess the effectiveness of sound exposure level (SEL) for indicating changes in annoyance to helicopter noise. SEL was evaluated for flyover auralizations of optimized rotor designs and for flyover recordings of different helicopters and maneuvers.
The test used paired comparisons of flyovers within 10 dB of the maximum A‐weighted sound pressure level. For stimuli of equal SEL, annoyance responses showed whether or not SEL is a good indicator of annoyance. While this work does not seek to determine specific attributes contributing
to annoyance that are not included in SEL, the magnitude of this offset is of primary interest. Specifically, annoyance responses to relative differences in SEL allowed the calculation of an equal annoyance point. Reductions in SEL lead to reductions in annoyance as expected, but for certain
cases, SEL can fail to capture perceptually significant features such as audible differences due to changes in tail rotor design or unsteadiness in the sound of the helicopter.
The efficacy and safety of prostatic urethral lift as a minimally invasive therapeutic modality to treat lower urinary tract symptoms while maintaining sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Warli Syah Mirsya , Ikram Muhammad Fahmi , Sarumpaet Raja Gerald , Tala Zaimah Zulkarnaini , Putrantyo Ignatius Ivan
Published: March 2024

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prevalent among elderly men, necessitating focused attention. The Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL) procedure, a minimally invasive intervention, has emerged as a promising option for BPH management. It has shown remarkable results in ameliorating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), enhancing quality of life, and preserving sexual function. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PUL in BPH patients. Methods: Key databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Google Scholar) were systematically searched using pertinent terms related to PUL and BPH. Following the PRISMA checklist, we considered only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2013 to 2023. The assessment focused on LUTS, quality of life, sexual function, and adverse events within three months. Follow-up post-treatment mean values compared with controls (Sham) and the improvement from baseline to post-treatment follow-up duration were considered. Statistical analysis and risk of bias evaluation were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1, presenting results as difference of mean values (MD) and risk ratios (RR). Results: A meta-analysis with a Random Effects Model of 7 RCTs involving 378 confirmed BPH patients demonstrated significant improvements in the PUL arm including International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (MD 5.51, p<0.0001), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) (MD 2.13, p=0.0001), BPH Impact Index (BPHII) (MD 2.14, p=0.0001), and IPSS-QoL (MD 1.50, p<0.0001), without significant increase of adverse events (RR 1.51; p=0.50). Positive outcomes were observed in sexual function variables and post-void residual measurements when post-treatment values were compared to baseline. Conclusions: PUL holds advantages over control interventions, providing encouraging prospects for BPH management. This study underscores the need for further exploration of PUL's efficacy and safety in BPH patients.
Paediatric Maxillofacial Trauma: An Overview of Incidence, Challenges and Management
Authors: Kumar Ravi , Singh Vishal , Dutta Kumar Durga
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

Paediatric maxillofacial trauma poses a significant threat to children and their well-being, with increasing incidence globally, particularly in developing nations. This study, conducted over 5 years at a private medical college and hospital in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, analysed 225 cases of paediatric maxillofacial injuries, providing a comprehensive overview of incidence, challenges and management strategies.

Materials and Methods:

The male predominance (2:1 ratio) aligns with existing literature, emphasising the higher susceptibility of boys to traumatic injuries. A concerning 40% of cases involved a loss of consciousness, underscoring the severity of these incidents. Timely medical attention is crucial, as revealed by the finding that approximately 20% of patients sought help more than 24 h after the incident.

Results:

Head injuries, identified in 35 patients, exhibited a positive correlation with delayed admission times, emphasising the need for prompt evaluation, especially for potential intracranial complications. The study explored causes, with self-falls being the most prevalent (45%), while child abuse instances were absent. Age-specific patterns were noted, emphasising the need for targeted preventive measures. Soft-tissue injuries (58% of cases) were dominated by lacerations and abrasions, with age-specific correlations providing insights for clinicians. Hard-tissue injuries, including dentoalveolar and mandibular fractures (229 cases), showcased a prevalence of displaced fractures, primarily managed conservatively. Surgical interventions, especially open reduction and internal fixation, were common for mandibular fractures.

Conclusion:

This study contributes nuanced insights into paediatric maxillofacial trauma, informing clinical practices and guiding preventive strategies. Statistically significant associations between various factors offer a foundation for evidence-based practices, ultimately aiming to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in the paediatric population.
Desquamative Gingival Lesions: A New Index Proposal with Brief Review of Current Literature
Authors: Shah Monali , Poojary Megha , Nadig Prasad
Published: March 2024

Desquamative gingival lesions (DGLs) is non-specific response of gingiva to various mucocutaneous conditions. The prevalence of DGL is increasing and due to its complex clinical presentation, it is often diagnosed late, which in turns aggravates the disease progression, extra oral involvement and affects quality of life of the patient. It is important to understand the clinical presentation of DGL and quantify the severity of DGL. In existing literature, clinical signs, symptoms as well as the factors involved are well discussed. However, there is no index to measure severity of DGL which can be utilised for epidemiological purposes, clinical communication, patient education and patient motivation. Quantifying an entity requires an index which could help in better understanding for educational purpose for undergraduates. This article reviews current literature and aims to fill the current research gap by proposing an index which could be applied to measure severity, progression and extent of DGL.
Task Sharing for Managing Common Noncommunicable Disease in a Nurse Led Noncommunicable Diseases Clinic in Peri-Urban Community of Chandigarh
Authors: Kashyap Neha , Kavita Kavita , Saini Sushma Kumari , Singh Amarjeet
Published: March 2024

Background:

Nurse led noncommunicable diseases (NCD) clinic may address the significant shortage of human resource for health for managing common NCDs. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of nurse-led NCD clinic for identification, prevention, and management of common NCDs.

Materials and Methods:

A quasi experimental study was conducted at a Public Health Dispensary in periurban community of Northern India. Situational analysis and stakeholders’ interview were done based on which the clinic was setup and run over a period of 2 months by registered nurses and nursing students to offer screening, health education and appropriate referral. The primary outcome of study was proportion of population screened, prevalence of common NCDs, risk factors modification, medication adherence, and patient satisfaction.

Results:

It was feasible to run a nurse led clinic in terms of availability of space, equipment to run the clinic and human resource. A total of 455 individuals aged ≥30 years were enrolled using the total enumeration sampling technique. There was a significant increase in screening rates from 0.29% to 3.7% in nurse-led NCD clinic. There was significant mean change in systolic blood pressure (18.75 ± 6.92 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (4.4 ± 3.71 mm Hg), random blood sugar (33.36 ± 38.49 mg/dl) Body Mass Index, and waist circumference (P < 0.01) among the population screened. Medication adherence significantly increased from 7.8% to 76.4% (P < 0.01) after 2 months of nurse-led NCD clinic.

Conclusion:

Task sharing for managing common NCDs in nurse-led NCD clinic was feasible and effective in increasing screening rates, medication adherence, and risk factors modification among studied population.
Juvenile’s Delinquent Behavior, Risk Factors, and Quantitative Assessment Approach
Authors: Gupta Madhu Kumari , Mohapatra Subrajeet , Mahanta Prakash Kumar
Published: March 2024

Background:

Not only in India but also worldwide, criminal activity has dramatically increasing day by day among youth, and it must be addressed properly to maintain a healthy society. This review is focused on risk factors and quantitative approach to determine delinquent behaviors of juveniles.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 15 research articles were identified through Google search as per inclusion and exclusion criteria, which were based on machine learning (ML) and statistical models to assess the delinquent behavior and risk factors of juveniles.

Results:

The result found ML is a new route for detecting delinquent behavioral patterns. However, statistical methods have used commonly as the quantitative approach for assessing delinquent behaviors and risk factors among juveniles.

Conclusions:

In the current scenario, ML is a new approach of computer-assisted techniques have potentiality to predict values of behavioral, psychological/mental, and associated risk factors for early diagnosis in teenagers in short of times, to prevent unwanted, maladaptive behaviors, and to provide appropriate intervention and build a safe peaceful society.