bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary History of Periodontitis and the Oral Microbiota—Lessons for the Future
Authors: Shanmugasundaram Shashikiran , Nayak Namratha , Karmakar Shaswata , Chopra Aditi , Arangaraju Ramya
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

Currently, periodontal disease is the sixth most prevalent disease in the world. Emerging evidence suggests the possibility of pre-historic humans having relatively low occurrences of oral diseases, particularly periodontitis when compared to modern humans. In this review, we look back into the history of Homo sapiens and explore the emerging scientific literature to discuss the evolution of the human oral microbiota and the prevalence of periodontitis from pre-historic to modern times.

Recent Findings

Most of the scientific literature points to a more health-associated, eubiotic oral microbiota and a seemingly lower prevalence of periodontitis in pre-historic humans compared to modern times. The oral microbiome has evolved along with humans. Humans of the contemporary era are exposed to a far greater number of risk factors for periodontal disease. Also, major lifestyle changes induced by the agricultural revolution and the industrial revolution have led to the development of a more dysbiotic oral microbiota and a rise in the prevalence of periodontitis in modern humans.

An understanding of the prevalence of periodontitis across human history, the evolution of the oral microbiota, and the factors that influenced its nature and complexity helps identify and modify the disease-associated lifestyle factors acquired through modernization to manage the common worldwide problem of periodontitis.
Finite Element Modelling of Geogrids Reinforced Ballasted Tracks
Authors: Ngo Trung , Hasan Maheer
Published: February 2024

This paper presents results obtained from three-dimension finite element modelling (FEM) to study the effects of geogrids on the deformation responses of ballasted tracks. In this study, a series of numerical simulations are carried out on track sections with and without the inclusion of geogrids. Sensitivity analysis was carried on parameters affecting the performance of geogrid, including the axial stiffness, interface property and the location of geogrid placement in the track substructure. The tracks are subjected to moving train loading under 150 kN wheel load travelling at a given speed of 72 km/h. Based on simulation results, it is found that geogrid provides a reinforcing function to rail track primarily in the form of confinement which resulted in reduced lateral displacement in a reinforced track compared to a traditional track. A significant reduction in vertical and lateral displacement is found from the inclusion of a geogrid layer at the ballast and capping interface while the effect of geogrid reinforcement is more pronounced with increased loading cycles. The effects of geogrid stiffness, interface conditions and geogrid placement are studied and it is found that the axial stiffness of geogrid is found to impact overall track deformation while the optimum placement of geogrid is found to directly at the ballast and capping interface.
Relationships between obesity markers and bone parameters in community-dwelling older adults
Authors: Lemoine L. , Buckinx F. , Aidoud A. , Leroy V. , Fougère B. , Aubertin-Leheudre M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Osteoporosis is an age-related condition that can lead to fragility fractures and other serious consequences. The literature data on the impact of obesity on bone health are contradictory. The main reasons for this discrepancy could be the imperfect nature of the body mass index (BMI) as a marker of obesity, the metabolic status (inflammation and metabolically healthy obesity), and/or heterogeneity in bone variables and architecture or sex.

Aims

To examine the relationship between bone variables and three validated obesity criteria.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, participants were classified as obese according to their BMI, waist circumference (WC), and fat mass (FM). Bone variables and architecture were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography, respectively.

Results

One hundred sixty-eight adults aged 55 or over (men: 68%) were included. 48 (28%) participants were obese according to the BMI, with 108 (64%) according to the FM, and 146 (87%) according to the WC. Bone variables were positively correlated with WC and BMI (Pearson’s r = 0.2–0.42). In men only, the obesity measures were negatively correlated with cortical bone density (Pearson’s r = − 0.32 to − 0.19) and positively correlated with cortical bone area (Pearson’s r = 0.22–0.39).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that independent of sex and obesity criteria, when significant, being obese seems to lead to higher bone parameters than being non-obese, except for cortical bone density. Thus, in the obese population, assessing cortical density might help the physician to identify bone alteration. Further researches are needed to confirm our findings.
Comparison of three frailty measures for predicting hospitalization and mortality in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Pasquet Romain , Xu Mengting , Sylvestre Marie-Pierre , Keezer Mark R.
Published: February 2024

Background

Few studies have compared different measures of frailty for predicting adverse outcomes. It remains unknown which frailty measurement approach best predicts healthcare utilization such as hospitalization and mortality.

Aims

This study aims to compare three approaches to measuring frailty—grip strength, frailty phenotype, and frailty index—in predicting hospitalization and mortality among middle-aged and older Canadians.

Methods

We analyzed baseline and the first 3-year follow-up data for 30,097 participants aged 45 to 85 years from the comprehensive cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Using separate logistic regression models adjusted for multimorbidity, age and biological sex, we predicted participants' risks for overnight hospitalization in the past 12 months and mortality, at the first 3-year follow-up, using each of the three frailty measurements at baseline. Model discrimination was assessed using Harrell’s c-statistic and calibration assessed using calibration plots.

Results

The predictive performance of all three measures of frailty were roughly similar when predicting overnight hospitalization and mortality risk among CLSA participants. Model discrimination measured using c-statistics ranged from 0.67 to 0.69 for hospitalization and 0.79 to 0.80 for mortality. All measures of frailty yielded strong model calibration.

Discussion and conclusion

All three measures of frailty had similar predictive performance. Discrimination was modest for predicting hospitalization and superior in predicting mortality. This likely reflects the objective nature of mortality as an outcome and the challenges in reducing the complex concept of healthcare utilization to a single variable such as any overnight hospitalization.
Association Between Changes in Racial Residential and School Segregation and Trends in Racial Health Disparities, 2000–2020: A Life Course Perspective
Authors: Siegel Michael , Nicholson-Robinson Vanessa
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Most studies of the relationship between racial segregation and racial health disparities have focused on residential segregation. School-based racial segregation is an additional form of segregation that may be associated with racial disparities in health. This study examines the relationship between both residential segregation and school segregation and racial health disparities among non-Hispanic Black compared to non-Hispanic White persons at the county level in the United States. It also examines the relationship between changes in residential and school segregation and subsequent trajectories in a variety of racial health disparities across the life course.

Methods

Using the CDC WONDER Multiple Case of Death database, we derived an annual estimate of race-specific death rates and rate ratios for each county during the period 2000–2020. We then examined the relationship between baseline levels of residential and school segregation in 1991 as well as changes between 1991–2000 and the trajectories of the observed racial health disparities between 2000 and 2020. We used latent trajectory analysis to identify counties with similar patterns of residential and school segregation over time and to identify counties with similar trajectories in each racial health disparity. Outcomes included life expectancy, early mortality (prior to age 65), infant mortality, firearm homicide, total homicide, and teenage pregnancy rates.

Results

During the period 1991–2020, racial residential segregation remained essentially unchanged among the 1051 counties in our sample; however, racial school segregation increased during this period. Increases in school segregation from 1991 to 2000 were associated with higher racial disparities in each of the health outcomes during the period 2000–2020 and with less progress in reducing these disparities.

Conclusion

This paper provides new evidence that school segregation is an independent predictor of racial health disparities and that reducing school segregation—even in the face of high residential segregation—could have a long-term impact on reducing racial health disparities. Furthermore, it suggests that the health consequences of residential segregation have not been eliminated from our society but are now being exacerbated by a new factor: school-based segregation. Throughout this paper, changes in school-based segregation not only show up as a consistent significant predictor of greater racial disparities throughout the life course, but at times, an even stronger predictor of health inequity than residential segregation.
Complex networks after centrality-based attacks and defense
Authors: Zafar Maham , Kifayat Kashif , Gul Ammara , Tahir Usman , Ghazalah Sarah Abu
Published: February 2024

Exploration in complex networks has surged. Centrality measures play a pivotal role in pinpointing essential components within these networks. Previous work focus on nodes with the highest Betweenness centrality through extensive simulations. This paper analyzes the attack and/or defense strategy using one more centrality metric, bridging centrality and Bridging-Betweenness Fusion Attack (combination of both betweenness and bridging centrality). Our two-fold contribution is (1) Using high centrality removal as an attacking strategy and inspired by the dynamic node removal process, recalculated node method after each node removal is proposed. (2) In our defense techniques, new nodes are added to existing lower centrality nodes. They are added after attacks to restore the graph’s connectivity according to proposed defense strategies. Note that some attacks and defense techniques were already introduced while others are presented first time, e.g., the combination of two centrality measures for attack and a bridging-based defense strategy. This innovative approach presents a promising advancement in enhancing the resilience and fortification of complex networks against potential attacks, signifying a notable advantage of this work.
VoxelPlane-Reloc: an indoor scene voxel plane relocalization algorithm
Authors: Suo Lulu , Wang Bin , Huang Longxiang , Yang Xu , Zhang Qian , Ma Yan
Published: February 2024

We present VoxelPlane-Reloc, a novel indoor plane relocalization system based on voxel point clouds, designed for use with depth cameras. First, we propose an adaptive weighted plane extraction model that allows for dynamic adjustment of the correlation between points and plane accuracy. Second, we construct a plane merging model based on voxel growth, which employs a voxel neighborhood growth strategy to handle unmerged planes and allows for the merging of under-growing planes. Third, we present an incremental approach for plane input and propose a strategy for triplet selection and evaluation based on the structural constraints of the planes. This system relies solely on point clouds for relocalization and does not depend on other information, such as RGB data. We extensively evaluate the system on four datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate that the system can accurately and quickly perform relocalization with an average precision of $$99.37\%$$

99.37
%

. The time for relocalization is improved by $$92.43\%$$

92.43
%

compared to previous plane relocalization systems, and it exhibits strong robustness to indoor plane structures.
Leveraging pre-trained language models for code generation
Authors: Soliman Ahmed , Shaheen Samir , Hadhoud Mayada
Published: February 2024

Code assistance refers to the utilization of various tools, techniques, and models to help developers in the process of software development. As coding tasks become increasingly complex, code assistant plays a pivotal role in enhancing developer productivity, reducing errors, and facilitating a more efficient coding workflow. This assistance can manifest in various forms, including code autocompletion, error detection and correction, code generation, documentation support, and context-aware suggestions. Language models have emerged as integral components of code assistance, offering developers the capability to receive intelligent suggestions, generate code snippets, and enhance overall coding proficiency. In this paper, we propose new hybrid models for code generation by leveraging pre-trained language models BERT, RoBERTa, ELECTRA, and LUKE with the Marian Causal Language Model. Selecting these models based on their strong performance in various natural language processing tasks. We evaluate the performance of these models on two datasets CoNaLa and DJANGO and compare them to existing state-of-the-art models. We aim to investigate the potential of pre-trained transformer language models to revolutionize code generation, offering improved precision and efficiency in navigating complex coding scenarios. Additionally, conducting error analysis and refining the generated code. Our results show that these models, when combined with the Marian Decoder, significantly improve code generation accuracy and efficiency. Notably, the RoBERTaMarian model achieved a maximum BLEU score of 35.74 and an exact match accuracy of 13.8% on CoNaLa, while LUKE-Marian attained a BLEU score of 89.34 and an exact match accuracy of 78.50% on DJANGO. Implementation of this work is available at https://github.com/AhmedSSoliman/Leveraging-Pretrained-Language-Models-for-Code-Generation.
International and European Institutions and Catalan Nationalism
Authors: Arenas García Rafael
Published: February 2024

The exercise of public power by substate entities poses a challenge for international law. Although such entities lack international legal personality, their actions can have international significance and, because they are state organs, must always adhere to the international obligations assumed by the state. In Spain, the autonomous communities exercise broad powers, which, in the case of Catalonia (via the Generalitat), include education, healthcare, prisons and police. Research shows that the Generalitat has exercised – and, to some extent, continues to exercise – some of its powers in disregard of certain constitutional and legal obligations. This action by public authorities in disregard of the law can have international consequences, and various international organizations have expressed positions on it through their bodies. This paper examines these positions on the Generalitat’s actions in connection with the secession process and other related policies, including both those that have been critical of this behaviour and those that have expressed direct or indirect support for it. The practice of the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the UN Human Rights Council through its Special Rapporteur on minority issues is analysed.
Numerical conformal mapping for underground unlined tunnels with arbitrary shapes based on Symm’s method
Authors: Chengzhang Jianing , Cheng Jun , Jiang Quan
Published: February 2024

Conformal mapping technique is important in theoretical analysis and numerical computation for the fields of stress and displacement. In general, a unlined tunnel with arbitrary shape has no analytical solution for conformal mapping. Therefore, the study of numerical method for conformal mapping has great significance. The basic functions of numerical conformal mapping are given based on Symm’s method in this paper. Furthermore, the inverse mapping functions were deduced according to the relationships between the boundary nodes in physical and mapped plane. Compared to the other numerical methods, the presented method has some advantages such that, it is simple in concept to be understood, and can give the mapping function without iteration process. The method can be used to the forward and inverse numerical conformal mappings for multiple underground unlined tunnels with arbitrary shapes in finite and infinite domains. With the help of method of fundamental solutions (MFS), the interpolation equations were proposed for multiple underground unlined tunnels with arbitrary shapes. Finally, several numerical examples for the groups of U-shaped and rectangle tunnels have been given to verify the effectiveness of this method. The numerical results can convergent to real cases, which show that the proposed method has the properties of good accuracy and strong adaptability.
Cellulose based adsorbent for cationic methylene blue dye removal
Authors: Melese Hana , Tsade Hizkeal
Published: February 2024

New chemically amended (sodium periodate cellulose nanoparticle (NaIO4-CNP) adsorbent material was synthesized from dried fibers of cotton. The synthesized NaIO4-CNP adsorbent material was characterized for functional groups, crystallite size, surface morphology, morphological structure, and particle size) by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), instruments, respectively. Then it was investigated to eliminate methylene blue (MB) dye from textile secondary runoff wastewater (SERWW). The physicochemical properties of textile SERWW including organic matter (OM) and inorganic nutrients on the removal capabilities of MB dye was investigated. The adsorption mechanism study was shown that Freundlich isotherm fitted with a maximum removal capability (qmax) of 62.91 mg g−1. The elimination kinetic mechanism fits well to pseudo-second-order and its data recommended the materials (NaIO4-CNP) are effective for wastewater treatment. The MB dye uptake capacities were influenced by the presence of positively charged ions. The NaIO4-CNP adsorbent indicated excellent reproducibility considered as capable adsorption resources to eliminate MB dye from textile SERWW.
Evaluating mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of biocomposites with Opuntia cladode fiber and palm flower biochar for industrial applications
Authors: Natrayan L. , Chinta Neelima Devi , Teja Nalla Bhanu , Muthu G. , Kaliappan S. , Kirubanandan S. , Paramasivam Prabhu
Published: February 2024

This study addresses the development of environmentally friendly biocomposites using Opuntia cladode fiber and palm flower biochar for industrial applications. Derived sustainably, these materials significantly enhance mechanical properties, exemplified by Composite C3 (Resin 57wt.%, Fiber 40 wt%, Biochar 3 wt%) with notable flexural strength (217 MPa), tensile strength (178 MPa), impact strength (7.2 J), and hardness (92 Shore-D). However, a 5% biochar concentration led to a slight property decline. Thermal conductivity increased proportionally with biochar concentration, ranging from 0.36 to 0.49 W/mK, with biochar acting as an effective lubricant. Opuntia cladode fiber and biochar influenced water absorption rates, mitigated by silane surface treatment. The biocomposites show promise for electronics, spacecraft, automotive components, and packaging. The specific problem addressed is the need for sustainable materials. Opuntia cladode fiber and palm flower biochar offer a focused solution, yielding composites with improved mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties for targeted industrial applications.
Analytical and numerical solution and multi-objective optimization of tetra-star-chiral auxetic stents
Authors: Behinfar Parsa , Nourani Amir
Published: February 2024

The present study examines the mechanical properties of auxetic stents with the tetra-star-chiral structure. The tetra-star-chiral geometry is parametrically modeled. Then, the design of experiments (DOE) is developed by defining the elastic properties of the stents and using the response surface method (RSM). Finite element (FE) analysis is performed in order to find a polynomial relationship between the geometric parameters as inputs and the elastic parameters as the outputs. Then, the optimal stent is found in terms of elasticity parameters by using RSM and NSGA-II methods and the two-dimensional Pareto front is plotted. The optimal parameters of the stent including flexural stiffness, axial elasticity modulus, radial elasticity modulus and Poisson’s ratio are obtained as 10.66 mPa m4, 5.37 MPa, 33.2 MPa and − 0.41, respectively. Moreover, a method is proposed to find an analytical solution for metal elastic stents in order to verify the FE model results, and also the blood vessel compliance of the optimal stent is examined.
Exploring marine algae-derived phycocyanin nanoparticles as a safe and effective adjuvant for sunscreen systems
Authors: Cao Jin , Zheng Xiaodan , Li Zhiye , Zheng Mingxue , Qian Chenyao , Shen Song , Qi Xueyong
Published: February 2024

Background

UV radiation (UV) exposure risks skin damage and cancer due to DNA damage and oxidative stress. Synthetic chemical sunscreens that protect against UV radiation can have health and environmental concerns. This study explores phycocyanin (PC), a marine algae-derived natural photoprotective compound, and its crosslinked nanoparticles (PCNP) as safe and effective adjuvants for sunscreen systems.

Methods

PCNP was synthesized via genipin-crosslinking. PC and PCNP biocompatibility were assessed on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. ABTS evaluated antioxidant activity, and the UV absorption capacity of PC and PCNP were analyzed. PCNP skin permeability was tested in vitro and in vivo. Gel formulations with PCNP were examined for UV absorption effects.

Results

PCNP showed good biocompatibility, maintaining cell viability above 90% across concentrations. Both PC and PCNP demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, efficiently scavenging free radicals. PCNP exhibited enhanced UV absorption in the UVB range compared to PC alone. Skin permeation studies displayed limited PCNP penetration through skin layers. In vivo, absorption assessments indicated PCNP localized mainly in the stratum corneum. PCNP-containing gels displayed improved UV absorption compared to gels without PCNP.

Conclusion

This study showcases PCNP’s potential as a natural and safe adjuvant for sunscreen with enhanced UV protection capabilities. PCNP preserved antioxidant activity, displayed limited skin penetration, and enhanced UV absorption. The findings suggest PCNP’s promise as a viable alternative to synthetic sunscreen agents, delivering effective photoprotection while minimizing health and environmental concerns.
Volunteer dispatch considering fatigue effect and satisfaction in emergency situation
Authors: Ren Zongwei , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: February 2024

Rescue organization scheduling is a hot issue in the field of emergency management, in which the participation of volunteer rescue organizations, a social force, is of great significance to improve the efficiency of emergency rescue. In the case of known rescue services required by the affected place and the information of rescue services provided by volunteer rescue organizations, the goal is to maximize the satisfaction of the victims and minimize the fatigue of the volunteer rescue organizations. The volunteer rescue organization scheduling problem is an NP-hard problem. To solve the studied problem model, two multi-objective optimization algorithms are applied in this article. With the goal of improving the overall rescue efficiency of volunteer rescue organizations implementing rescue at the disaster site during a single emergency, this study analyzes the practical problems related to emergency rescue, taking into account the effects of the time sensitivity of the disaster victims, the preference of the rescue services, the fatigue accumulation rate of the volunteer rescue organizations, and the matching of the rescue skills. Finally, this article distills some scheduling strategies applicable to emergency volunteer rescue organizations, hoping to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the Emergency Management Center and related emergency management departments to better configure and optimize emergency human resource scheduling problems.
Significance of synthesized digenite phase of copper sulfide nanoparticles as a photocatalyst for degradation of bromophenol blue from contaminated water
Authors: Abd ElRahman Aref M. E. , Osman Khaled H. , Hassan Nazly , Abd El-Naeem Gamal , El Bardan Aly A. , Khalil Marwa
Published: February 2024

Organic pollutants such as phenolic compounds have received global interest since they are harmful, toxic, and carcinogenic. This work aimed to synthesize copper sulfide nanoparticles in digenite phase (Cu1.8S) via sol–gel method and apply it as a photocatalyst to remove a phenolic contaminate, bromophenol blue (BPB) dye, from water. The copper sulfide nanoparticles were prepared by the sol–gel technique under different conditions, such as reaction temperature, reactant concentration, and aging time, in the presence of a stabilizing agent (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB). The synthesized nanoparticles were then described using different characterization techniques. Then these nanoparticles were applied as a photocatalyst for the degradation of bromophenol blue (BPB) under different conditions, including photo-irradiation time, catalyst dosage, dye concentration and power lamp. The aimed copper sulfide digenite nanoparticles (Cu1.8S) were obtained at a 3 h aging time, exhibiting a cubic crystal structure and a size of 8 nm in a 3-dimensional closed-packed structure model with an energy band gap of 1.82 eV. This material has the ability to absorb visible light and thus can be a superior candidate for photocatalysis, demonstrating strong photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of the phenolic dye (i.e., BPB). Excellent results were achieved at a contact time of  3 h, 7 ppm of BPB, 50 mg catalyst dose, and 32 W power lamp. As a consequence, about 96.7% of the contaminants were removed. The photocatalytic degradation was found to obey the Langmuir postulate and exhibit pseudo first order kinetics.
Exploring the impact of input variables on option value: a study using experimental design and analysis techniques
Authors: Dar Amir Ahmad , Khan Mohammad Shahfaraz , Azad Imran , Jayaraman Gopu , Farooqi Ataur Rahman
Published: February 2024

The Black Scholes Model (BSM), a well-known approach for determining the fair value of options, has a long history. The price of the underlying asset, the strike price, volatility, time period, interest rates, and dividend yields are several of the input variables that have an impact on option pricing. This study intends to investigate the effects of these variables on option values. Taguchi’s methodology of design of the experiment is used for the experimental setup and to optimize the factors for option values. Taguchi method L27 design of experiment (DOE), analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analysis, and analysis of means (ANOM) were used to investigate the effects of these input parameters on option values. MINITAB 18 software is used to carry out the analysis. The factors, in order of their significance from highest to lowest, were identified as: strike price, time period, interest rate, underlying asset price, volatility and dividend concerning to call option value for the given dataset. This technique can be used by traders to determine how various factors impact option values. The proportion contribution of these factors to the call values is also quantified using ANOVA.
Insecticidal activities of the ethanolic extract of citrus fruit seeds for the control of Culex mosquitoes
Authors: Lagundoye Yemi Olajumoke , Simon-Oke Iyabo Adepeju , Akeju Adebayo Victor
Published: February 2024

Mosquitoes are among the significant vectors of public health concern. Culex mosquitoes have been implicated in spreading disease pathogens that inflicted both animal and man. The Hazards caused by using synthetic insecticide in controlling this vector cannot be overlooked. Thus, there is need to find alternative control method that is harmless and environment friendly. This research aimed to study the insecticidal activities of extract from four Citrus species seeds in the control of larval and adult stages of Culex mosquitoes. Different concentrations (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0%) of the extract was prepared using extraction solvent (ethanol) The highest percentage mortality of Culex larval was observed from application of 3.0% concentration of C. paradisi seeds extract within the period of exposure, 35.00%, 58.33%, 80.00%, and 100.00% larval mortality was recorded respectively. There is a significant difference (p < 0.05) comparing control and all the concentrations of Citrus seeds extract. Larvicidal potency of 3.0% seed extract concentration of C.sinensis, C.aurantium, C.aurantifolia, and C.paradisi are not statistically different (p > 0.05). The adulticidal potency of the seed oil varies with Citrus species. Citrussinesis seed oil gave higher percentage of adult Culex mortality in all the period of exposure. Statistically, the adulticidal potency of 2.5% concentration of all the Citrus seed oil are not different significantly (p > 0.05), expect the potency of C.aurantium seed extract. The lethal concentration requires for 50% (LC50) and 90% (LC90) of Citrus seeds oil extract varies with respect to period of exposure. Extract from Citrus seeds should be adopted for the control and management of insect vectors and it should be incorporated to integrated vector management (IVM) program.
Landslide vulnerability mapping using multi-criteria decision-making approaches: in Gacho Babba District, Gamo Highlands Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Lemma , Uncha Abera , Toma Thomas
Published: February 2024

The landslide has been a life-threatening natural disaster in most districts of Gamo Highlands. This study was conducted to assess the status of landslide vulnerability in the Gacho Baba district of the Gamo zone in southern Ethiopia. The Geographic Information System Analytical Hierarchy Process and Weighted Linear Combination multi-criteria decision-making approaches were applied. Eight causative factors of landslide, namely, slope, elevation, aspect, distance from the stream, drainage density, soil type, distance from the road, and land use/cover were considered. The weight values of each causative factor were determined by previous studies, field observations, and experts’ judgment. The calculated weight of each causative factor is the slope (23%), elevation (21%), aspect (8%), stream distance and drainage density each (12%), soil type and road length each (9%), and land use/cover (6%). Moreover, the Consistency Index (0.13) and Consistency Ratio (0.08%) were calculated with acceptable values for comparison to weighted overlay analysis to produce a landslide vulnerability map of the study area. The result shows that the vast majority of the study district (86.6%) falls within a very high to moderate landslide susceptibility class and only (13.4%) falls within a very low and low susceptibility. This indicates that almost all the 11 villages in the district, are found within the high to moderate landslide vulnerability class which alerts responsible community and zonal disaster risk prevention and related offices to take action on the identified causative factors to reduce the occurrences of landslide hazard in the study district.
Economic analysis of potential of citrus and walnut fruits by artificial neural network
Authors: Bhagat Vipal , Dwivedi Sudhakar , Shams Rafeeya , Dash Kshirod K. , BhagyaRaj G. V. S. , Kovács Béla , Mukarram Shaikh Ayaz
Published: February 2024

South Asian countries have a wealth of opportunities to use the rainfed lands to the farmers’ advantage with the largest amount of rainfed land. The economic circumstances of the farmers operating in these areas are appalling due to the inefficient use of these lands. The work reported in this paper was carried out in the Jammu, Kathua, and Udhampur districts of the Jammu division. Two horticultural crops, viz., citrus and walnuts, were discovered to be cultivated in the chosen sample location. The influence of several elements to the financial potential of these horticultural crops was investigated using production functional analysis and marginal value productivity (MVP). The use of artificial neural networks (ANNs) further assisted this. According to a production functional analysis, the main variables in the districts of Udhampur and Kathua are machine labour and fertilisers, followed by human labour and fertilisers in the Jammu district. However, sensitivity analysis revealed the importance of manure, fertilisers, and manpower. In the rainfed portions of Jammu division, manpower combined with fertilisers is often thought of as the key determining factor for the profitability of horticulture crops like citrus and walnut. The absence of better varieties was identified via Garett ranking as the main restriction, followed by a lack of knowledge and expensive inputs, respectively.
Development of remote-controlled solar-powered pesticide sprayer vehicle
Authors: Kayode Joseph Friday , Amudipe Samuel Olufemi , Nwodo Chubike William , Afolalu Sunday Adeniran , Akinola Adebisi Olayinka , Ikumapayi Omolayo Michael , Oladapo Bankole Ibrahim , Akinyoola John Olaoluwa
Published: February 2024

Pest species pose a significant threat to the agricultural industry as they can negatively impact crop productivity and result in potential financial losses due to damage. This research aims to address agricultural challenges in the local area and improve the efficiency of pesticide application. A solar-powered, remote-controlled, semi-automated knapsack sprayer vehicle has been developed to address this issue.  It operates using a 100 AH battery that is charged by four 30W solar panels connected in tandem to produce 120 W, providing power to the motors and pump. The vehicle uses a 12 V hub motor to drive the back and steer the front and is equipped with a 12 V window regulator/wiper motor. The vehicle is controlled by a remote control and an HC-05 transmitter and receiver, programmed with an ATMEGA32A linked to a relay board. The vehicle utilizes a 116 psi ≈ 799.8 kPa pump for the sprayer. Results indicate that as the feed pressure increases, the flow rate steadily rises and reaches 4 L per minute at the 799.8 kPa pump. With a pump spray rate of 5 L per minute when increased and a pesticide tank capacity of 20 L, the vehicle can spray for a total of 4 min and cover 159 m. Employing a remote control reduces the need for manual labour, making pesticide spraying more consistent, efficient, and productive. The sprayer also saves time compared to traditional methods and poses no harm to the operator.
The role of cognitive control and naming in aphasia
Authors: Kiss Annamária , Csépe Valéria
Published: February 2024

The classical aphasia literature has placed considerable emphasis on the language-centered understanding of aphasia and failed to consider the role of executive functions (EFs) regarding different aspects of patients’ performance. Many current studies suggest deficits in EFs in individuals with aphasia, however, the available data is still limited. Here, our aim was to investigate the impairment of EFs and its potential negative effects on naming (slower performance, increased reaction time and/or decreased accuracy). We sought to determine whether the poor performance observed in word fluency task correlated with similar outcomes in naming. Our study involved five Hungarian post stroke aphasic patients (2 males and 3 females) between the ages of 60 and 70, as well as a control group matched for age and gender. The participants were diagnosed with different types of aphasia (global, Wernicke’s, anomic and conduction). This study employed various neuropsychological and linguistic batteries. By comparing the patients’ performance to that of the control group, we aimed to investigate the impacts of stroke. Within the aphasia group, we observed difficulties in following complex commands and a connection between general slowness and reduced accuracy in naming. We concluded that impairment of executive functions may have a negative impact on naming, comprehension, and fluency. Therefore, it is important to consider functional variations in neural networks, and to base our interpretations on the available psychophysiological data in literature. Our findings provide an alternative perspective to the traditional assessment of aphasia and highlight the importance of considering the role of executive functions.
Integrating machine learning and genome editing for crop improvement
Authors: Chen Long , Liu Guanqing , Zhang Tao
Published: February 2024

Genome editing is a promising technique that has been broadly utilized for basic gene function studies and trait improvements. Simultaneously, the exponential growth of computational power and big data now promote the application of machine learning for biological research. In this regard, machine learning shows great potential in the refinement of genome editing systems and crop improvement. Here, we review the advances of machine learning to genome editing optimization, with emphasis placed on editing efficiency and specificity enhancement. Additionally, we demonstrate how machine learning bridges genome editing and crop breeding, by accurate key site detection and guide RNA design. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and prospects of these two techniques in crop improvement. By integrating advanced genome editing techniques with machine learning, progress in crop breeding will be further accelerated in the future.
Artificial intelligence at sentencing: when do algorithms perform well enough to replace humans?
Authors: Ryberg Jesper
Published: February 2024

Artificial intelligence is currently supplanting the work of humans in many societal contexts. The purpose of this article is to consider the question of when algorithmic tools should be regarded as performing sufficiently well to replace human judgements and decision-making at sentencing. More precisely, the question as to which are the ethically plausible criteria for the comparative performance assessments of algorithms and humans is considered with regard to both risk assessment algorithms that are designed to provide predictions of recidivism and sentencing algorithms designed to determine sentences in individual criminal cases. It is argued, first, that the prima facie most obvious assessment criteria do not stand up to ethical scrutiny. Second, that ethically plausible criteria presuppose ethical theory on penal distribution which currently has not been sufficiently developed. And third, that the current lack of assessment criteria has comprehensive implications regarding when algorithmic tools should be implemented in criminal justice practice.
Learning from machine learning: the case of band-gap directness in semiconductors
Authors: Ogoshi Elton , Popolin-Neto Mário , Acosta Carlos Mera , Nascimento Gabriel M. , Rodrigues João N. B. , Oliveira Osvaldo N. , Paulovich Fernando V. , Dalpian Gustavo M.
Published: February 2024

Having a direct or indirect band gap can influence the potential applications of a semiconductor, for indirect band gap materials are usually not suitable for optoelectronic devices. Even though this is a fundamental property of semiconducting materials, discussed in textbooks, no unified theory exists to explain why a material has a direct or indirect band gap. Here we used an interpretable machine learning model, the multiVariate dAta eXplanation (VAX) method, to gather information from a dataset of materials extracted from the Materials Project. The dataset contains more than 10000 entries, and atomic properties such as the number of electrons, electronic affinity and orbital energies were used as features to build random forest models that successfully explain the directness of the band gaps. Our results indicate that symmetry is an important feature that dictates the target property, which is the reason why our analysis is made based on sub-groups with similar structures. These sub-groups include materials with zincblende, rocksalt, wurtzite, and perovskite structures. Besides the symmetry of the materials, the existence or not of d bands and the relative energy of atomic orbitals were found to be important in defining whether a material’s band gap is direct or indirect. In conclusion, interpretable machine learning methods such as VAX can be useful in obtaining physical interpretation from materials databases.
Persistence of folk dishes in the Coastal Cilento's Culinary Culture: an ethnogastronomic approach
Authors: Motti Riccardo , Ercolini Danilo , Ricciardi Massimo , Gherardelli Mara , Iacomino Giuseppina , De Magistris Anna
Published: February 2024

Local gastronomy could be considered a relevant part of the more general concept of Traditional Knowledge, that recently has attracted increasing attention by researchers, especially if associated with conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. The present research was conducted using a semi-structured interview, 62 informants (39 women, 23 men) whose average age was 55 years (range 27–86 years) were interviewed. 109 traditional dishes are documented as still being prepared by people living along the Cilento coastal areas, 57 of which were reported by at least 5 people interviewed. The study reveals that despite the influence of globalization and modernization, traditional foodways and culinary practices continue to play an important role in the daily lives of the people in this region. Specifically, the study highlights the persistence of certain dishes, which are deeply rooted in the local culinary traditions and are still prepared and consumed by the people in this region.
Physician communication with families during pediatric ECMO: results from a Delphi study
Authors: Eaton Sarah M. , Kirsch Roxanne E. , Streuli Jürg C.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To develop physician recommendations for communicating with families during pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in Canada and the USA.

Methods

We used the Delphi methodology, which consists of 3 iterative rounds. During Round 1, we conducted semi-structured interviews with each panelist, who were pediatricians from the USA and Canada from the following pediatric specialties: intensive care, cardiac intensive care, and neonatology. We then used content analysis to code the interviews and develop potential recommendations. During Round 2, panelists evaluated each item via a Likert scale as a potential recommendation. Before Round 3, panelists were provided personalized feedback reports of the results of Round 2. During Round 3, panelists re-evaluated items that did not reach consensus during Round 2. Items that reached consensus in Rounds 2 and 3 were translated into the final framework.

Results

Consensus was defined as (1) a median rating ≥ 7 and (2) ≥ 70% of the panelists rating the recommendation ≥ 7. The final framework included 105 recommendations. The recommendations emphasized the importance of clarifying the goal of ECMO, its time-limited nature, and the possibility of its discontinuation resulting in patient death. The recommendations also provide guidance on how to share updates with the family and perform compassionate discontinuation.

Conclusion

A panel of experts from Canada and the USA developed recommendations for communicating with families during pediatric ECMO therapy. The recommendations offer guidance for communicating during the introduction of ECMO, providing updates throughout the ECMO course, and during the discontinuation of ECMO. There are also points of disagreement on best communication practices which should be further explored.
Ground collision avoidance system with multi-trajectory risk assessment and decision function
Authors: Chen R. , Zhao L.
Published: February 2024

The traditional ground collision avoidance system (GCAS) makes avoidance decisions based on predicted collision time, without considering the impact of terrain environment and dynamic changes in load factor on avoidance decisions. This increases the risk of ground collisions for the aircraft. To solve the problem, a GCAS with multi-trajectory risk assessment and decision function is proposed. Firstly, a variety of predicted flight avoidance trajectories are established within the final manoeuvering capability of the aircraft. Secondly, for each predicted trajectory, the uncertain length between adjacent prediction points is used to construct a rectangular distance bin, and the terrain data below the avoided trajectory is extracted. Finally, the regret theory is used to establish a multi-attribute avoidance decision model to evaluate and prioritise the risk of collision avoidance trajectories, to provide effective collision avoidance decision for pilots. The algorithm is tested and verified with real digital elevation model and simulated flight data, and compared with traditional GCAS. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can comprehensively consider manoeuvering performance and threatening terrain, and provide safe and effective avoidance decisions for pilots.
Contact precautions as a barrier to hand hygiene: The Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) framework to improve compliance with gloved hand hygiene
Authors: Bailey Pamela , Cooper Kaila , Stevens Michael P. , Bearman Gonzalo , Doll Michelle
Published: February 2024

In an identified quality improvement effort, nurses were observed regarding their workflow while in contact precaution rooms. Multiple opportunities for hand hygiene were missed while nurses were in gloves, predominantly while moving between “dirty” and “clean” tasks. An education initiative afterward did not show improvement in hand hygiene rates.
Population structure of three invasive congeneric teasel (Dipsacus) species
Authors: Gaskin John F. , West Natalie , Rector Brian G.
Published: February 2024

Three species of the Old World genus Dipsacus L. are considered invasive in the Americas, yet they may differ in how they spread and reproduce and in their genetic diversity. Differences in invasion method may suggest that different management techniques are needed for each species. We performed genetic analyses on 572 plants in 69 populations from the United States, Argentina, and Eurasia with the goals of analyzing taxonomy, diversity, mode of reproduction, population structure, and founder effect of each of these species’ invasions, as well as looking for evidence of recent or ongoing hybridization. We found Indian teasel [Dipsacus sativus (L.) Honck.] to be lowest in diversity and possibly reliant on self-pollination more than the other species, Fuller’s teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.) and cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus L.). We found no evidence of hybridization within the invasions and no support for D. sativus as a subspecies of D. fullonum. The closest genetic matches of D. fullonum from the United States to the native range were with Hungary and Spain, while the closest match for D. fullonum between Argentina and the native range was with Spain. Dipsacus laciniatus from the United States most closely matched with samples from Russia. Population structure information regarding these three weedy Dipsacus species can help us understand their invasive processes as well as give insight into their management and the development of a biological control program.