bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the relationship between the intensity of zero-point fluctuations of an electromagnetic field (ZPFs) and the magnitude of an elementary electric charge
Authors: Koltsov Vladimir V
Published: February 2024

The consequences of the idea of stimulation of spontaneous emission of photons and scattering of particles in quantum electrodynamics by zero-point fluctuations of an electromagnetic field (ZPFs) are considered. It is shown that this idea leads to a connection between the magnitude of the elementary electric charge and the intensity of the ZPFs, leads to the idea of the stochastic nature of the electromagnetic interaction in time, and due to this, to the possibility of “classical” passage of particles through a potential barrier.
Life as the Explanation of the Measurement Problem
Authors: Łukaszyk Szymon
Published: February 2024

This study argues that a biological cell, a dissipative structure, is the smallest agent capable of processing quantum information through its triangulated, holographic sphere of perception, where this mechanism has been extended by natural evolution to endo and exosemiosis in multicellular organisms and further to the language of Homo sapiens. Thus, life explains the measurement problem of quantum theory within the framework of the holographic principle, emergent gravity, and emergent dimensionality. Each Planck triangle on a black hole surface corresponds to a qubit in an equal superposition, attaining known bounds on the products of its energies and orthogonalization interval. Black holes generate entropy variation shells through the solid-angle correspondence. The entropic work introduces the bounds on the number of active Planck triangles dependent on the information capacity of the black hole generator. The velocity and dissipativity bounds and the bounds on the theoretical probabilities for active, energy-carrying Planck triangles were derived. In particular, this study shows that black holes, Turing machines, and viruses cannot assume the role of an observer. The entropy variation shells and black-body objects may hint at solutions to ball lightning and sonoluminescence unexplained physical spherical phenomena.

“It is also possible that we learned that the principal problem is no longer the fight with the adversities of nature but the difficulty of understanding ourselves if we want to survive” [1].
Planckian effects on Ising model in an external electric field
Authors: Twagirayezu Fidele J.
Published: February 2024

In this article, we study Planckian effects on statistical thermodynamic properties of one dimensional polarized Ising model with an external electric field. We introduce Planckian effects by rewriting the Lagrangian of a static electromagnetic field in terms of deformed operators to obtain the corrected Lagrangian for a static electric field, and then deduce the corrected static electric field. Then we write down the corrected Ising model Hamiltonian in terms of the corrected static electric field. Corrected quantities such as the mean energy, Helmholtz free energy, and entropy are derived using the corrected Ising model Hamiltonian. Also, corrected quantities such as the polarization, dielectric constant, and polarizability tensor are derived. The expressions for the upper bounds of the deformation parameter α and the minimal length are written in terms of the dielectric constant. Using some experimental inputs we obtain the upper bound on the minimal length.
Quantum solution of the relationship between the 19-vertex model and the Jones polynomial
Authors: Kassenova T K
Published: February 2024

The challenge is to create an efficient quantum algorithm for the bosonic model capable of calculating the Jones polynomials for a knot resulting from interweaving or interlacing n-vertices. This weave is the construction of braid group representations from nineteen-vertex model. We present eigenbases and eigenvalues for lattice generators and their usefulness for the direct computation of Jones polynomials. The calculation shows that the Temperley-Lieb operators can be used for any braid word. Therefore, we propose a quantum sequence using these singular operators as quantum gates operating on the state of n qubits. We show that quantum calculations give the Jones polynomial for achiral knots and links.
Optimized PID and NN-based Speed Control of a Load-coupled DC Motor
Authors: Encalada-Dávila Ángel , Mohamed Ellithy Kareim , Salah AbdElhalim Mariam , Shalaby Raafat
Published: February 2024

In this work, three control strategies are presented, compared, and discussed, applied on a load-coupled DC motor. The purpose is to control in an optimal way the motor speed in terms of the armature voltage. Two strategies are based on PID control, working on the classical PID controller and the optimized one by using particle swarm optimization (PSO) to tune the PID controller parameters. The other strategy is based on neural networks (NNs) where two NNs are built to model and control the system. Based on the results, all the strategies reach excellent performances, however, in terms of system response characteristics like rising time or settling time the PID-based controllers show faster responses than the NN controller. Moreover, by comparing these results with other studies that are working with an unloaded DC motor and even when the working system is more complex, the obtained results have a better performance.
Quantum and quantum-inspired optimization for solving the minimum bin packing problem
Authors: Bozhedarov A A , Usmanov S R , Salakhov G V , Boev A S , Kiktenko E O , Fedorov A K
Published: February 2024

Quantum computing devices are believed to be powerful in solving hard computational tasks, in particular, combinatorial optimization problems. In the present work, we consider a particular type of the minimum bin packing problem, which can be used for solving the problem of filling spent nuclear fuel in deep-repository canisters that is relevant for atomic energy industry. We first redefine the aforementioned problem it in terms of quadratic unconstrained binary optimization. Such a representation is natively compatible with existing quantum annealing devices as well as quantum-inspired algorithms. We then present the results of the numerical comparison of quantum and quantum-inspired methods. Results of our study indicate on the possibility to solve industry-relevant problems of atomic energy industry using quantum and quantum-inspired optimization.
Dynamic processes in the liquid crystal-water emulsion under shear flow and electric field
Authors: Vasileva Anastasiia , Pasechnik Sergey
Published: February 2024

We present the results of experimental investigation of dynamical processes arising in liquid crystal-water emulsion under action of a decay shear flow and ac electric field. The 10 : 1 emulsion, consisting of the well-studied nematic mixture E7 and ionized water was prepared by usage of ultrasonic (29 kHz) mixer. It made possible to get a number of water droplets with the distribution of diameters in the range 2… 20μm. So, the slow decreasing of sizes of these instabilities resulted in corresponding slow motion of the attracted water droplets. The strong electric filled, which stabilized the initial homeotropic orientation of LC suppressed the flow induced instabilities and the slow motion of water droplets mentioned above. It also induced the aggregation of droplets in the vicinity of boundary between regions with strong field and free of field. So, combined action of shear flow and electric field can be effectively used for manipulation of the motion and interaction of water droplets. The obtained results are discussed within the existing theory of liquid crystals.
Comparison of Computational Methods and Approaches Applied in Formulation of Boundary Conditions in Lagrange’s Ballistic Problem
Authors: Cichy D M , Fikus B , Trębiński R K
Published: February 2024

This paper compares algorithms for constructing a differential solution to the gas dynamics equations in the surrounding of a moving boundary. In order to compare the algorithms, the Lagrange problem, also known as the piston problem, was chosen as a test problem. A comparison was made between the author’s algorithm based on the method of characteristics and the classical approach with a fictitious cell using the solution of the Riemann problem. Calculations were carried out for the case of subsonic and supersonic gas motion. Comparisons were made on a fixed grid with a dynamically expanding cell (Euler grid) and on a uniformly expanding grid (Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian – ALE grid). The problem was solved using numerical schemes of second order in time and space Lax - Wendroff type: the Richtmyer scheme and the MacCormack scheme. The results of calculations using the characteristics method were used as a benchmark solution. The comparative analysis carried out allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the accuracy of the individual approaches, as well as the scope of their applicability.
Transformers in High-Frequency Trading
Authors: Kantoutsis Konstantinos T. , Mavrogianni Adamantia N. , Theodorakatos Nikolaos P.
Published: February 2024

Transformer is a deep learning model that, having an innovative performance in many tasks, has uniquely and significantly modified all the cast of mind of the AI scientific community. In this paper, we introduce a Transformer model that is applied to 1-minute timescale in the EURUSD and GBPUSD instruments of forex trading. We use the classical Transformer architecture without the Decoder since the Encoder is enough. Moreover, the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) model is applied to the input, while different values of its smoothing factor α are tested. With cross-entropy training loss less than 0.2, it is exclamatory that Transformers are a promising tool for lucrative strategies in high-frequency trading.
Recognition of differential culture conditions with dimensional reduction approach
Authors: Ishiya Koji , Taniguchi Takeaki
Published: February 2024

Microorganisms constantly modify their gene expression and metabolic profiles in response to alterations in their surrounding environment. Monitoring these changes is crucial for regulating microbial production of substances. However, it remains challenging to identify differential culture conditions through the extraction of differentially expressed genes and clustering of gene expression profiles. In this study, we employed a dimensionality reduction technique for yeast gene expression data obtained under multiple culture conditions to visualize discrepancies among culture conditions. Our findings indicate that this approach is effective in identifying multiple culture conditions.
Modeling of the beam core in phase space using kernel density estimation
Authors: Haba Yasuaki
Published: February 2024

Phase space is a mathematical construct that encompasses particle positions and their corresponding momenta. In general, discrete phase space structures are experimentally measured due to the limited spatial and angular resolutions of individual devices. From the perspective of beam focusing characteristics, beams are discussed in terms of core components and halo components. While the beam core is typically the primary component with low divergence, it may occasionally consist of multiple components with different velocity distributions. Mathematical modeling of the beam core in phase space is essential for accurately quantifying beam divergence and emittance. This paper presents a model that can be applied to beam cores with inner structures and reconstructs the phase space structure using kernel density interpolation. The reconstructed phase space structure is then utilized to determine beam divergence and emittance with greater precision. Additionally, these insights contribute to an enhanced understanding of beam physics.
Processing and re-interpretation of gravity bouguer map of a selected area in the W-NW of Iraq
Authors: Al-Saadi O S , Al-Saady H A
Published: February 2024

Geophysical data interpretation is crucial in characterizing the subsurface structure. The Bouguer gravity map analysis of the W-NW region of Iraq serves as the basis for the current geophysical research. The Bouguer gravity data were processed using the Power Spectrum Analysis method. Four depth slices have been acquired after the PSA process, which are: 390 m, 1300 m, 3040 m, and 12600 m depth. The gravity anomaly depth maps show that shallow-depth anomalies are mainly related to the sedimentary cover layers and structures, while the gravity anomaly of the deeper depth slice of 12600 m is more presented to the basement rocks and mantle uplift. The 2D modeling technique was used for the quantitative interpretation of a selected Gravity profile along the study area. The model section of the gravity profile illustrated the relatively high density of subsurface basement rocks and/or upward mantle process which causes the effect of positive gravity values. Furthermore, several faults are indicated in the sedimentary sections by potential gravity methods such as several grabens, half grabens, and horst structures which are identified in Bouguer depth maps by relatively high and low gravity values, these structures were also affected by the basement rock uplift and/or Mantle upwards.
Assessment of Land-sat Satellite Images used to calculate Land Surface Temperature(LST): A case study in Adhamiya Baghdad
Authors: Hussain Raghad Nasier , mozahim Rana
Published: February 2024

With the help of this study, a method for extracting temperature of the land surface (LST) using data from thermal band 10 of LAND-SAT9 collection 1 levels -1 and collection 2 level 2 is described. This method uses satellite data from thermal infrared sensors (OLI & TIRS). This research aims to estimate the LST over the AL-Adhamiya area on the image date 02/20/2023 to retrieve and compare the (LST) including real-time measurements made while taking the images using an infrared thermometer camera, readings were made in direct contact with the object using ( K-type thermocouple ). The findings demonstrated that the LST varies depending on whether there is vegetation, bare soil, asphalt, or a residential area.=11 C°, 14-16 C°,13.9- 15.5 C° and 19.1 – 20.7 C° resprctivly. This study compares the association between different forms of land cover and (LST) and assesses how well land cover temperature amounts are described using LAND-SAT-9 data.
Delineation Suitable Rainwater Harvesting Sites in Wadi Al-Mohammadi, Iraq
Authors: Al-Kubaisi Mahmood H. D. , Al-Kubaisi Qusai Y.
Published: February 2024

Water harvesting has become one of the topics of concern to most water specialists, due to its importance in managing water and preserving it from squandering. Wadi Al-Mohammadi is an example of a valley that needs the application of water harvesting and the exploitation of rainwater at all levels, being one of the main valleys in the Iraqi desert where surface water is lacking. The outcomes for water harvesting were derived using the SWAT model. Morphometric, the basin’s shape is far from being circular. Climatologic, the trend line indicates a clear increase in the total rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, and solar radiation, while the trend line indicates a decrease in the wind speed during the observed period. The main contributor to the total flow of Wadi Al-Mohammadi basin was surface runoff of about 99%, the base flow of about 1%, while the groundwater flow did not contribute any amount of that water. The annual average flow discharge was 0.138 m3/s with the average annual water volume being about 4.366 Mm3, while the average annual water volume calculated from runoff was about 4.651 Mm3. Dam 1 is the best-selected site with a suitable index of 97.5 followed by Dam 5, and Dam 2 with a suitable index of 95 and 90, respectively. Hence it falls under the category of highly suitable. The Dam 3 site falls within the modestly suitable category. Finally, the site of Dam 4 could not be established, because they had a suitability index of less than 70.
Geochemistry and Reservoir Properties of the Upper Jurassic Formations, in Selected Oilfield Central Iraq
Authors: Khudhair Marwah H. , Idan Rami M.
Published: February 2024

Geochemical analysis of subsurface organic matter in the most productive source rocks, the Sargelu and Naokelekan formations, has provided insight into the potential of hydrocarbon production in the Jurassic strata of the selected oil field in central Iraq.

The aim of this study is to conclude if the source rock can provide reservoir properties such as porosity and permeability. This attempt is made to support petroleum production from both reservoir and source rocks. The cause of this idea was adopted due to some of very good source rock were kept the produced hydrocarbons within the thin impermeable layers.

Rock Eval pyrolysis returned high total organic carbon ranging from 0.55 to 34.82 wt%, Type II kerogen with a hydrogen index of up to 368 mg HC/gTOC, and a rock potential of 0.58 to 50.9 kghc/ton rock. Mature organic material was found in both formations, with a Tmax between 434 and 450 °C. This study of source rock properties shows that the rocks have good properties that need to be considered as the Sargelu and Naokelekan formations are the main sources of hydrocarbons in the studied area.

The multi-story source-reservoir rocks are represented in this secession. The reservoir properties of the Naokelekan Formation are impressive in that it can draw crude oil from the underlying Sargelu Formation, which produces oil and releases it into the local petroleum system. The effective porosity in the Naokelekan Formation reached 14% in the main reservoir area, while permeability values mostly reached 4 mD. This indication potentially underscores the objective of this study to upgrade the oil-producing source rock into reservoir intervals.
Variable behaviour of Abu Jir fault zone, western Iraq
Authors: Alkhafaji Laith R. , Alhadithi Abdulkhaleq A.
Published: February 2024

This study sheds light on the dynamic nature of the Abu Jir fault zone, uncovering intriguing contrasts along its path. It was conducted to know the variation through the zone, western Iraq, that starts at Razzazah Lake’s west and continues to Anah city. It is divided into two parts, southern and northern, utilized seismic sections for the southern part whereas fieldwork for the northern part. Seismic sections indicate that the southern part of the fault zone is negative flower structure which develops depressions, while field studies reveal that the northern part is positive behaviour forms some structures such as ridges, relay ramps and controlled the distribution of valleys within its zone. The Abu Jir fault zone not continuous fault but consists of many segments that subject to differential forces of strike-slip movements during Early-middle Miocene. The variation of behaviours is attributed to the difference of the direction between the northern and southern parts of the fault with sense of movement.
Determining The Needs of Social Affordance in an Open Public Space for Gen Z
Authors: Almadina A F , Marcillia S R
Published: February 2024

Gen Z, who are adolescents, need places for social interaction, places for retreat, and places for restoration to support their development phase. Their needs could be settled by utilizing the space and perceiving the social affordances of open public spaces. The study examined the social affordances of open public space that sustain Gen Z’s development needs. The study was conducted in a famous open public space in Yogyakarta, Titik 0 km Yogyakarta. Questionnaires and observations were carried out for data collection from the visitors of Titik 0 km Yogyakarta between 12-25 years old. The result indicated that Gen Z tends to utilize the physical setting of the open public space to achieve social interaction needs. The variety of seating facilities, enclosure levels, and crowding influenced Gen Z’s decision to do activities in certain locations. The finding indicated the adolescent’s needs for social interaction, retreat, and restoration experiences could be obtained from perceived social affordances by doing social activities in open public spaces. More needs are achieved in open public spaces, more opportunities for Gen Z to enhance their development quality.
The Effect of Inlet-Outlet Position and Ratio on Airflow Patterns and Privacy in Low-Cost Flat Units in Surabaya
Authors: William R N , Hariyanto A D , Budhiyanto A
Published: February 2024

A low-cost rental flat is a vertical building with natural ventilation as the primary ventilation source for its units. In practice, residents do not use room openings optimally because it tends to reduce room privacy. The consideration of the position and inlet-outlet area ratio is essential to create better privacy with airflow patterns that support room activities. The research consists of two stages. The first stage was carried out using qualitative methods, which proved the utilization of openings in the hallway side influenced user privacy. This paper discusses the results of the second stage, which was carried out using quantitative methods. The research aims to solve low-cost flats’ cross-ventilation problem. Data collection using quantitative methods based on observations, data analysis using simulations of airflow patterns, and distribution analysis tables. The results show that the airflow pattern in the existing design does not support the resident’s activities with the applied room openings having poor privacy. The proposed designs with privacy parameters consideration, an opening area ratio of 1 (inlet): 1.6 (outlet) and a ratio of 1 (inlet): 2 (outlet) shows an average increase of 50% in airflow velocity and privacy in the unit room compared to the existing design.
Antibacterial, ROS scavenging and angiogenesis promoting ϵ-Polylysine/gelatin based hydrogel containing CTLP to regulate macrophages for pressure ulcer healing
Authors: Lin PinLi , Tang Xiaona , Zhong Jintao , Tang Fang , Liu Hanjiao , Peng Lu , Wan Biyu , Wang Mengya , Ye Yuling , Guo Rui , Liu Xusheng , Deng Lili
Published: February 2024

Pressure ulcers (PUs) have emerged as a substantial burden on individuals and society. The introduction of innovative dressings that facilitate the healing of pressure ulcer wounds represents a cost-effective alternative for treatment. In this study, the emphasis is on the preparation of Carthamus tinctorius L. polysaccharide (CTLP) as hydrogel microspheres (MPs), which are then encapsulated within a hydrogel matrix crosslinked with phenylboronic acid gelatin (Gelatin-PBA) and ϵ-polylysine-grafted catechol (ϵ-PL-Cat) to enable sustained release for promoting pressure ulcer healing. The presented Gelatin-PBA/ϵ-PL-Cat (GPL)/CTLP-MPs hydrogel demonstrated outstanding self-healing properties. In addition, in vitro experiments revealed that the hydrogel exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity, excellent biocompatibility. And it showed the capacity to promote vascular formation, effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species, and facilitate macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype. In vivo wound healing of mice PUs indicated that the prepared GPL/CTLP-MPs hydrogel effectively accelerated the formation of granulation tissue and facilitated the healing of the wounds. In summary, in vivo and in vitro experiments consistently highlight the therapeutic potential of GPL/CTLP-MPs hydrogel in facilitating the healing process of PUs.
Ultra-thin water-based metasurface with dual-broadband perfect absorption
Authors: Chen Ting , Shen Zhaoyang , Liu Han
Published: February 2024

The rapid development of the 5 G technology can be attributed to its outstanding penetration in the low frequency bands ranging from 600 MHz to 6 GHz, particularly in specific frequency ranges like 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, and 3.5 GHz. Simultaneously, the technology excels in the millimeter-wave spectrum, spanning from 24 GHz to 52 GHz, notably in bands such as 24.25–27.5 GHz and 37–40 GHz, showcasing impressive capabilities for high-speed data transmission. Nevertheless, these signals frequently encounter electromagnetic interference from electronic equipment in practical applications, which compromise the quality of communication. To address these issues, this paper presents the design, fabrication, and measure of a dual-broadband ultra-thin water-based metasurface absorber (WBMA). The unit cell is composed of a 4 mm thick photoresist shell encasing a water layer and metal plate, and features an irregular octagonal prism and a rectangular annulus cavity within the water layer. Simulation and experimental outcomes indicate that the proposed metasurface achieves near-perfect absorption at frequencies from 4.2 GHz to 4.8 GHz and from 23.6 GHz to 51.1 GHz in the transverse electric mode. Additionally, the proposed metasurface exhibits more than 90% absorption in the transverse magnetic mode for frequency ranges from 4.3 GHz to 4.9 GHz and from 23.2 GHz to 50.8 GHz. The designed water-based metasurface also exhibits features of polarization insensitivity and capability to handle wide-angle incidence. Analysis of the electric and magnetic field distribution within the metasurface suggests that the absorption mechanism is driven by strong magnetic resonance within the water layer’s structure. Furthermore, the effective impedance of the metamaterial absorber is explored. Given the unique absorption frequency bands, the proposed WBMA has potential applications in the realm of 5G communication.
Balance of strength and ductility for laser directed energy deposited Ta-containing Ti6Al4V via solution and aging treatment
Authors: Shang Chun , Hou Xiaodong , Zhang Shuyan , Li Xiangwei , Zhang Ruiyao , Paddea Sanjooram
Published: February 2024

The tensile properties of laser directed energy deposited (LDEDed) titanium (Ti) alloys are usually characterized by high strength and low ductility, which seriously limits their wide application prospects. In this study, a novel Ti6Al4V4Ta alloy is prepared using LDED technique and achieved excellent strength (UTS ∼ 990 MPa) and ductility (elongation ∼ 16%) through solution treatment at 930 °C and aging at 550 °C. The high strength is mainly attributed to the ultrafine micron-scale α
s while the good ductility results from equiaxed α
p, the increased β phase and weakened α-variant selection. The combination of appropriate elemental alloying and heat treatments could provide some guidance for LDED Ti alloys of good mechanical performance with potentials for wider applications.
Two-temperature modeling of lamellar cathode arc
Authors: LI 李 Yuanbo 渊博 , LIU 刘 Xing 兴 , YE 叶 Tao 韬
Published: February 2024

A three-dimensional, two-temperature (2T) model of a lamellar cathode arc is constructed, drawing upon the conservation equations for mass, momentum, electron energy, and heavy particle energy, in addition to Maxwell’s equations. The model aims to elucidate how the physical properties of electrons and heavy particles affect heat transfer and fluid flow in a lamellar cathode arc. This is achieved by solving and comparing the fields of electron temperature, heavy particle temperature, fluid flow, current density, and Lorentz force distribution under varying welding currents. The results show that the guiding effect of the lamellar cathode on current density, the inertial drag effect of moving arc, and the attraction effect of Lorentz force at the lamellar cathode tip primarily govern the distribution of the arc’s physical fields. The guiding effect localizes the current density to the front end of the lamellar cathode, particularly where the discharge gap is minimal. Both the inertial drag effect and the attraction effect of Lorentz force direct arc flow toward its periphery. Under the influence of the aforementioned factors, the physical fields of the lamellar cathode arc undergo expansion and shift counter to the arc’s direction of motion. A reduction in welding current substantially weakens the guiding effect, causing the arc’s physical fields to deviate further in the direction opposite to the arc motion. In comparison with a cylindrical cathode arc, the physical fields of the lamellar cathode arc are markedly expanded, leading to a reduction in current density, electron temperature, heavy particle temperature, cathode jet flow velocity, and Lorentz force.
Developing automated machine learning approach for fast and robust crop yield prediction using a fusion of remote sensing, soil, and weather dataset
Authors: Kheir Ahmed M S , Govind Ajit , Nangia Vinay , Devkota Mina , Elnashar Abdelrazek , Omar Mohie El Din , Feike Til
Published: February 2024

Estimating smallholder crop yields robustly and timely is crucial for improving agronomic practices, determining yield gaps, guiding investment, and policymaking to ensure food security. However, there is poor estimation of yield for most smallholders due to lack of technology, and field scale data, particularly in Egypt. Automated machine learning (AutoML) can be used to automate the machine learning workflow, including automatic training and optimization of multiple models within a user-specified time frame, but it has less attention so far. Here, we combined extensive field survey yield across wheat cultivated area in Egypt with diverse dataset of remote sensing, soil, and weather to predict field-level wheat yield using 22 Ml models in AutoML. The models showed robust accuracies for yield predictions, recording Willmott degree of agreement, (d > 0.80) with higher accuracy when super learner (stacked ensemble) was used (R2 = 0.51, d = 0.82). The trained AutoML was deployed to predict yield using remote sensing (RS) vegetative indices (VIs), demonstrating a good correlation with actual yield (R2 = 0.7). This is very important since it is considered a low-cost tool and could be used to explore early yield predictions. Since climate change has negative impacts on agricultural production and food security with some uncertainties, AutoML was deployed to predict wheat yield under recent climate scenarios from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). These scenarios included single downscaled General Circulation Model (GCM) as CanESM5 and two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) as SSP2-4.5and SSP5-8.5during the mid-term period (2050). The stacked ensemble model displayed declines in yield of 21% and 5% under SSP5-8.5 and SSP2-4.5 respectively during mid-century, with higher uncertainty under the highest emission scenario (SSP5-8.5). The developed approach could be used as a rapid, accurate and low-cost method to predict yield for stakeholder farms all over the world where ground data is scarce.
Experimental study on wire electric discharge machining of nimonic 90 using coated electrode
Authors: Khan Midthur A Salman , C Senthilkumar
Published: February 2024

WEDM machine is an unconventional machine that got accepted in the industries because of its skill to machine any material precisely in the required shape and size. Wire electric discharge machine uses electrical energy to cut hard conductive materials. In the present study, Nimonic 90 a nickel-based superalloy is machined in WEDM using a zinc-coated brass wire electrode to study its surface characteristics and its machinability. Experiments were carried out with a central composite design with controllable WEDM factors such as Pulse duration, Servo-voltage, and wire-tension were used to investigate machining performance such as material transfer rate (MRR) and average surface roughness (Ra). The second-order quadratic models are developed between WEDM parameters and responses by regression analysis. Analysis of Variance was employed to validate the accuracy of the established statistical models and the impact of the process variables. The RSM-based optimization was used to find the optimal process parameter of Wire Tension 11.962 N, Pulse on Time 79.785 μs and Servo Voltage 100 V to achieve a maximum MRR of 5.3574 (mm3 min−1) and minimal Ra of 2.6513 (μm). The validity of the response surface model is further verified by conducting confirmation experiments and found that errors are within the permissible limit. Further, the surface morphology of the WEDMed specimen was carried out through SEM to ascertain the mechanisms of material removal under the different settings of WEDM.
Forcing the weak Lefschetz property for equigenerated monomial ideals
Authors: Altafi Nasrin , Lundqvist Samuel
Published: February 2024

We classify the minimal number of generators of artinian equigenerated monomial ideals

I
I

such that

k
[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

/

I

\Bbbk [x_1,\ldots ,x_n]/I

is forced to have the weak Lefschetz property.
Embedding Sustainability in Teacher Education in Australia
Authors: Ryan Lisa D. , Ferreira Jo-Anne L.
Published: February 2024

The role of education in addressing environmental and sustainability concerns has been recognized since the 1960s, with contemporary education for sustainable development (ESD) approaches seeking to prepare students to be active citizens with the knowledge, skills, and capacities to successfully address sustainability challenges. Given the focus on education as a key strategy, there have also been numerous international initiatives seeking to reorient teacher education for sustainability (TEfS), including providing curriculum resources for teacher educators, upskilling teacher educators, building communities of practice, and developing ESD competency frameworks. Despite these efforts, few teacher education institutions embed such work, resulting in limited skills and capabilities among teacher educators to teach active citizenship for sustainability. Barriers to effective TEfS include compartmentalization of disciplines and the prioritization of other curriculum areas such as numeracy and literacy, and this has compounded the problem.

A case study of a decade-long project, Embedding Teacher Education for Sustainability in Australia, demonstrates how systems approaches to change that build common visions, identifying and working with all stakeholders within a system, can lead to positive TEfS outcomes. There are key lessons to be learned from this project, which might inform a future model for embedding sustainability in teacher education in other countries. Using a systems approach to change that recognizes key drivers of teacher education, such as governmental policy and teacher accreditation, and that advocates for the inclusion of ESD into teacher standards should be a key priority action if ESD is to be successfully embedded within teacher education.
Veterinary History in Southern Africa
Authors: Mwatwara Wesley
Published: February 2024

Southern Africa’s veterinary history underwent different epochs ranging from pre-colonial to colonial and post-colonial stages. Changes within the Southern African livestock economies were informed by changing animal-human relations over time that characterized such phases as pastoralism; the rise of more sedentary livelihoods; the rise of colonial economies that depended on livestock for transport, draught power, and the creation of beef industries; and finally, the sustenance of such colonial structures in post-colonial settings punctuated by economic collapse and political volatility. Despite a potpourri of post-colonial administrative systems and a variety of colonial experiences ranging from settler colonies and peasant-agricultural colonies to concession company colonies, the trajectory of veterinary history in post-colonial Southern Africa is generally uniform. Veterinary sources are scarce for the pre-colonial period, and when they become relatively abundant in the colonial and post-colonial periods, there is a general bias toward biomedical approaches rather than African livestock regimes. In historiography, the trajectory has generally followed that of African history, from colonial history to Africanist historiography and, finally, revisionist and environmental discourses. Each of these analytical approaches has its own intrinsic weaknesses, yet in their various ways they have contributed to and enriched conversations around veterinary issues in Southern Africa.
Italian Settlers in the Horn of Africa
Authors: Morone Antonio M.
Published: February 2024

Colonial settlement, understood as the emigration of Italians to the colonies, was an essential element in the history of Italian colonialism, for both the political planning and the socio-cultural processes that settlers from the mother country triggered in Africa. This was not a linear process. At the end of the 19th century, the intention of founding colonization on pre-existing migratory networks and communities in the Mediterranean was thwarted by the shift of Italian expansionist efforts to the Horn of Africa. When fascism attempted to organize a state colonization in the 1930s, it was the poor living and working conditions of many new settlers that forced the regime to bring those who ran the risk of “insabbiarsi” (literally being quagmired), that is, falling to the level of colonial subjects, back to Italy. In the post–Second World War period, Italy based much of its efforts to reclaim its colonies on the labor of its settlers in Africa but ended up politically ditching them and blotting them from historical memory. By 1949, any chance of returning to an old colonial policy was irrevocably gone. The settlers helped impose colonial order on the basis of the supposed racial and social superiority of Italians to their African subjects. It was precisely the end of colonialism and the departure of many settlers for Italy that called into question their own identity construct as champions of Italianness when they found themselves being discriminated against in their homeland for not being completely or sufficiently “Italian.” For those who decided to remain in Africa, the only thing left was to reshape their relationship with Africans and seek a space of economic and social action with the new postcolonial leaders. On the other side of colonial society, colonial subjects were not just subordinated to the colonizers but also became intermediaries in both their public and private relations, pursuing their own paths of social mobility. For this reason, the history of the colonial subjects is in many ways the other side of the coin from that of the Italian settlers.
Persistence Change and Segmented Cointegration Testing
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo M. M.
Published: February 2024

The change in persistence of a time series refers to a shift in the order of integration. Rather than displaying stationary or nonstationary behavior throughout the whole sample period, as is frequently considered in empirical work, many time series display changes in persistence over time. The analysis and impact of possible changes in persistence has been an important topic of research and has led to a large literature devoted to the development of procedures to detect such behavior. This review explores different tests designed to detect changes in the persistence and in the long-run equilibrium of time series.
Portuguese America and the Vocabulary of Colonial Poverty (1500–1750)
Authors: Franco Renato
Published: February 2024

At the beginning of the modern era, in Catholic spaces, the lexicon of poverty was linked to a vast semantic repertoire related to scarcity, impotence, and inferiority that was reorganized in theological and judicial sources after intellectual debates in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the 16th century, when it was possible to observe another moment of change in reflections on the poor in Europe, the political incorporation of the natives of the New World and the advance of the enslavement of Africans added new challenges to governing the “poor.” Not only because it was necessary to extend the use of the vocabulary of poverty to populations that were little or not at all known, but also because the experience of the Americas presented an ethnical dimension of previously unexperienced proportions. In this way, whether in the Iberian peninsula or in the Americas, references to the poor assumed political perspectives that sought to intervene in the daily life of communities and which organized themselves under the ethical and moral precepts of second scholasticism.

In Portuguese America, as colonization advanced, religious orders, ecclesiastic institutions, establishments that provided care and welfare, municipal councils, and administrative bodies formulated their own uses of this vocabulary through an intellectual heritage which added new forms of identification of shortage and necessity. Initially, this did not involve recognizing the material penury of city populations. Rather, it was concerned with developing justifications for governing free populations—whether Portuguese, Indigenous, African, or mestizo—which composed the political vocabulary of colonial spaces. In turn, enslaved Africans and indigenous people were integrated into specific social groups, defined by their judicial status and their moral minority, which excluded them from the civic language that characterized reflections on poverty in the Western tradition.
Arbela
Authors: MacGinnis John , Michelmore David
Published: February 2024

The history of Arbela (cuneiform Urbilum/Urbel/Arbail, modern Erbil) is documented in archaeological and textual sources. From the point when it first entered history in the middle of the 3rd millennium, the city’s fortunes alternated between periods of independence and incorporation within the super-regional states of Mesopotamia, including the Ur III kingdom and, more briefly, the Upper Mesopotamian empire of Shamshi-Adad I. In the later 2nd millennium the city was incorporated within the Assyrian Empire, rising to become a regional capital of major importance. Following the fall of Assyria, the city was incorporated within the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Arsacid, and Sasanian empires. A period of independence as an emirate in the early mediaeval period was a golden age. This came to an end with the city’s submission to the Mongols, after which it came under the control of the Black Sheep and White Sheep Turcomans and the Safavid and Ottoman empires.
A People-Centered Urban Recovery Strategy for Karantina (Beirut, Lebanon) in the Aftermath of the Beirut Port Blast
Authors: Al-Harithy Howayda , Yassine Batoul
Published: February 2024

On August 4, 2020, a huge blast at the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, devastated the city and severely impacted people’s lives. Accordingly, the urban recovery team at the Beirut Urban Lab in the American University of Beirut immediately mobilized its resources and expertise to respond to the blast. Based on the early observations of the team, some of the typical practices and challenges associated with post-disaster responses were identified. The Lebanese government was largely absent and did not provide a recovery plan for the devastated neighborhoods next to the Beirut port. As such, public institutions played a limited role and failed to position themselves as the custodians of the common good. The efforts of many actors on the ground—for example, nongovernmental organizations that provided emergency relief and short-term humanitarian aid—were also not coordinated and lacked a shared vision and a common framework.

The de facto postwar reconstruction approach that was previously adopted in Lebanon was primarily physical, in which buildings were the focus. Accordingly, the Beirut Urban Lab provided an alternative, based on its approach to urban recovery that is people-centered, holistic, and multilayered; it stressed the need for long-term sociocultural and economic recovery. The Lab worked on different initiatives, from collecting and sharing data to coordinating with multiple partners, establishing an Observatory of Reconstruction, carrying out spatial interventions, and proposing a neighborhood-scale urban recovery strategy. The urban recovery strategy focused on one of the neighborhoods next to the Beirut port, Karantina, to serve as a pilot. This urban recovery strategy adopted the participatory City Development Strategy (CDS) model and combined it with the citizen science method to maximize community engagement. The Lab’s work in Karantina demonstrates the importance of CDSs as strategic planning models that should be part of urban recovery at a neighborhood scale. As opposed to the dominant approaches to postwar reconstruction in Lebanon, they aim to enhance participation and engagement with local community groups. The paper also details the steps of the proposed urban recovery strategy in Karantina and explores ways to sustain it on the long-term in situations of compounded crises like in Lebanon.
Selfing in epiphytic bromeliads compensates for the limited pollination services provided by nectarivorous bats in a neotropical montane forest
Authors: Núñez-Hidalgo Stephanie , Cascante-Marín Alfredo
Published: February 2024

Abstract. Plants with specialized pollination systems frequently exhibit adaptations for self-pollination, and this contradictory situation has been explained in terms of the reproductive assurance function of selfing. In the neotropics, several plant lineages rely on specialized vertebrate pollinators for sexual reproduction, including the highly diverse Bromeliaceae family, which also displays a propensity for selfing. Thus far, the scarce evidence on the role of selfing in bromeliads and in other neotropical plant groups is inconclusive. To provide insights into the evolution and persistence of self-fertilization in the breeding systems of Bromeliaceae, we studied four sympatric epiphytic species from the genus Werauhia (Tillandsioideae) in Costa Rica. We documented their floral biology, pollination ecology and breeding systems. We estimated the contribution of selfing by comparing the reproductive success between emasculated flowers requiring pollinator visits and un-manipulated flowers capable of selfing and exposed to open pollination across two flowering seasons. The studied species displayed specialized pollination by nectar-feeding bats as well as a high selfing ability (auto-fertility index values > 0.53), which was attained by a delayed selfing mechanism. Fruit set from natural cross-pollination was low (<26% in both years) and suggested limited pollinator visitation. In line with this, we found a very low bat visitation to flowers using video-camera recording, from 0 to 0.24 visits per plant per night. On the contrary, the contribution of selfing was comparatively significant since 54–80% of the fruit set from un-manipulated flowers can be attributed to autonomous self-pollination. We concluded that inadequate cross-pollination services diminished the reproductive success of the studied Werauhia, which was compensated for by a delayed selfing mechanism. The low negative effects of inbreeding on seed set and germination likely reinforce the persistence of selfing in this bromeliad group. These results suggest that selfing in bat-pollinated bromeliads may have evolved as a response to pollinator limitation.
Inference for partial correlations of a multivariate Gaussian time series
Authors: Dilernia A S , Fiecas M , Zhang L
Published: February 2024

We derive an asymptotic joint distribution and novel covariance estimator for the partial correlations of a multivariate Gaussian time series under mild regularity conditions. Using our derived asymptotic distribution, we develop a Wald confidence interval and testing procedure for inference of individual partial correlations for time series data. Through simulation we demonstrate that our proposed confidence interval attains higher coverage rates and our testing procedure achieves false positive rates closer to the nominal levels than approaches that assume independent observations when autocorrelation is present.