bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Segmentation and deep learning to digitalize the kinematics of flow-type landslides
Authors: Choi Clarence E. , Liang Zhengyu
Published: April 2024

Flow-type landslides, including subaerial and submarine debris flows, have poor spatiotemporal predictability. Therefore, researchers rely heavily on experimental evidence in revealing complex flow mechanisms and evaluating theoretical models. To measure the velocity field of experimental flows, conventional image analysis tools for measuring soil deformation and hydraulics have been borrowed. However, these tools were not developed for capturing the kinematics of fast-moving soil–water mixtures over complex terrain under non-uniform lighting conditions. In this study, a new framework based on deep learning was used to automatically digitalize the kinematics of experimental flow-type landslides. Captured images were broken into sequences and binarized using a fully convolutional neural network (FCNN). The proposed framework was demonstrated to outperform classic image processing algorithms (e.g., particle image velocimetry, trainable Weka segmentation, and thresholding algorithms) over a wide range of experimental conditions. The FCNN model was even able to process images from consumer-grade cameras under complex shadow, light, and boundary conditions. This feature is most useful for field-scale experimentation. With fewer than 15 annotated training images, the FCNN digitalized experimental flows with an accuracy of 97% in semantic segmentation.
Analysis of genes related to xylem cell wall development based on transcriptomics in Populus alba ‘Berolinensis’ tension wood
Authors: Feng Lin , He Youchao , Li Xu , Zhou Meiqi , Wang Chao
Published: April 2024

Populus alba ‘Berolinensis’ is a fast-growing, high-yielding species with strong biotic and abiotic stress resistance, and widely planted for timber, shelter belts and aesthetic purposes. In this study, molecular development is explored and the important genes regulating xylem formation in P. alba ‘Berolinensis’ under artificial bending treatments was identified. Anatomical investigation indicated that tension wood (TW) was characterized by eccentric growth of xylem and was enriched in cellulose; the degree of lignification was lower than for normal wood (NW) and opposite wood (OW). RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis was performed using developing xylem from three wood types (TW, OW and NW). A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and 4889 counted. In GO and KEGG enrichment results, genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and cell wall and secondary cell wall biogenesis play major roles in xylem development under artificial bending. Eight expansin (PalEXP) genes were identified from the RNA-seq data; four were differentially expressed during tension wood formation. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PalEXLB1 belongs to the EXPB subfamily and that the other PalEXPs are members of the EXPA subfamily. A transcriptional regulatory network construction showed 10 transcription factors located in the first and second layers upstream of EXP, including WRKY, ERF and bHLH. RT‒qPCR analysis in leaves, stems and roots combined with transcriptome analysis suggests that PalEXPA2, PalEXPA4 and PalEXPA15 play significant regulatory roles in cell wall formation during tension wood development. The candidate genes involved in xylem cell wall development during tension wood formation marks an important step toward identifying the molecular regulatory mechanism of xylem development and wood property improvement in P. alba ‘Berolinensis’.
Hyperbolic problems with totally characteristic boundary
Authors: Ruan Zhuoping , Witt Ingo
Published: April 2024

We study first-order symmetrizable hyperbolic $$N\times N$$

N
×
N

systems in a spacetime cylinder whose lateral boundary is totally characteristic. In local coordinates near the boundary at $$x=0$$

x
=
0

, these systems take the form $$\begin{aligned} \partial _t u + {{\mathcal {A}}}(t,x,y,xD_x,D_y) u = f(t,x,y), \quad (t,x,y)\in (0,T)\times {{\mathbb {R}}}_+\times {{\mathbb {R}}}^d, \end{aligned}$$

∂
t

u
+
A

(
t
,
x
,
y
,
x

D
x

,

D
y

)

u
=
f

(
t
,
x
,
y
)

,

(
t
,
x
,
y
)

∈

(
0
,
T
)

×

R
+

×

R

d

,

where $${{\mathcal {A}}}(t,x,y,xD_x,D_y)$$

A
(
t
,
x
,
y
,
x

D
x

,

D
y

)

is a first-order differential operator with coefficients smooth up to $$x=0$$

x
=
0

and the derivative with respect to x appears in the combination $$xD_x$$

x

D
x

. No boundary conditions are required in such a situation and corresponding initial-boundary value problems are effectively Cauchy problems. We introduce a certain scale of Sobolev spaces with asymptotics and show that the Cauchy problem for the operator $$\partial _t + {{\mathcal {A}}}(t,x,y,xD_x,D_y)$$

∂
t

+
A

(
t
,
x
,
y
,
x

D
x

,

D
y

)

is well-posed in that scale. More specifically, solutions u exhibit formal asymptotic expansions of the form $$\begin{aligned} u(t,x,y) \sim \sum _{(p,k)} \frac{(-1)^k}{k!}x^{-p} \log ^k \!x \, u_{pk}(t,y) \quad \hbox { as}\ x\rightarrow +0 \end{aligned}$$

u

(
t
,
x
,
y
)

∼

∑

(
p
,
k
)

(
-
1
)

k

k
!

x

-
p

log
k

x

u

pk

(
t
,
y
)

as

x
→
+
0

where $$(p,k)\in {{\mathbb {C}}}\times {{\mathbb {N}}}_0$$

(
p
,
k
)

∈
C
×

N
0

and $$\Re p\rightarrow -\infty $$

ℜ
p
→
-
∞

as $$|p|\rightarrow \infty $$

|
p
|
→
∞

, provided that the right-hand side f and the initial data $$u|_{t=0}$$

u
|

t
=
0

admit asymptotic expansions as $$x \rightarrow +0$$

x
→
+
0

of a similar form, with the singular exponents p and their multiplicities unchanged. In fact, the coefficients $$u_{pk}$$

u

pk

are, in general, not regular enough to write the terms appearing in the asymptotic expansions as tensor products. This circumstance requires an additional analysis of the function spaces. In addition, we demonstrate that the coefficients $$u_{pk}$$

u

pk

solve certain explicitly known first-order symmetrizable hyperbolic systems in the lateral boundary. Especially, it follows that the Cauchy problem for the operator $$\partial _t+{{\mathcal {A}}}(t,x,y,xD_x,D_y)$$

∂
t

+
A

(
t
,
x
,
y
,
x

D
x

,

D
y

)

is well-posed in the scale of standard Sobolev spaces $$H^s((0,T)\times {{\mathbb {R}}}_+^{1+d})$$

H
s

(

(
0
,
T
)

×

R
+

1
+
d

)

.
Cytogenetic and pathologic characterization of MYC-rearranged B-cell lymphomas in pediatric and young adult patients
Authors: Gagnon Marie-France , Bruehl Frido K. , Sill Daniel R. , Meyer Reid G. , Greipp Patricia T. , Hoppman Nicole L. , Xu Xinjie , Baughn Linda B. , Peterson Jess F. , McPhail Ellen D. , Ketterling Rhett P. , King Rebecca L.
Published: April 2024

MYC-rearranged B-cell lymphoma (BCL) in the pediatric/young adult (YA) age group differs substantially in disease composition from adult cohorts. However, data regarding the partner genes, concurrent rearrangements, and ultimate diagnoses in these patients is scarce compared to that in adult cohorts. We aimed to characterize the spectrum of MYC-rearranged (MYC-R) mature, aggressive BCL in the pediatric/YA population. A retrospective study of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results of patients age ≤ 30 years with suspected Burkitt lymphoma (BL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL), and a MYC-R by FISH between 2013–2022 was performed. Two-hundred fifty-eight cases (129 (50%) pediatric (< 18 years) and 129 (50%) YA (18–30 years)) were included. Most MYC-R BCL in pediatric (89%) and YA (66%) cases were BL. While double-hit (DH) cytogenetics (MYC with BCL2 and/or BCL6-R, HGBCL-DH) was rare in the pediatric population (2/129, 2%), HGBCL-DH increased with age and was identified in 17/129 (13%) of YA cases. Most HGBCL-DH had MYC and BCL6-R, while BCL2-R were rare in both groups (3/258, 1%). MYC-R without an IG partner was more common in the YA group (14/116 (12%) vs 2/128 (2%), p = 0.001). The pediatric to YA transition is characterized by decreasing frequency in BL and increasing genetic heterogeneity of MYC-R BCL, with emergence of DH-BCL with MYC and BCL6-R. FISH to evaluate for BCL2 and BCL6 rearrangements is likely not warranted in the pediatric population but should continue to be applied in YA BCL.
The impacts of host association and perturbation on symbiont fitness
Authors: Hoang Kim L. , Salguero-Gómez Roberto , Pike Victoria L. , King Kayla C.
Published: April 2024

Symbiosis can benefit hosts in numerous ways, but less is known about whether interactions with hosts benefit symbionts—the smaller species in the relationship. To determine the fitness impact of host association on symbionts in likely mutualisms, we conducted a meta-analysis across 91 unique host-symbiont pairings under a range of spatial and temporal contexts. Specifically, we assess the consequences to symbiont fitness when in and out of symbiosis, as well as when the symbiosis is under suboptimal or varying environments and biological conditions (e.g., host age). We find that some intracellular symbionts associated with protists tend to have greater fitness when the symbiosis is under stressful conditions. Symbionts of plants and animals did not exhibit this trend, suggesting that symbionts of multicellular hosts are more robust to perturbations. Symbiont fitness also generally increased with host age. Lastly, we show that symbionts able to proliferate in- and outside host cells exhibit greater fitness than those found exclusively inside or outside cells. The ability to grow in multiple locations may thus help symbionts thrive. We discuss these fitness patterns in light of host-driven factors, whereby hosts exert influence over symbionts to suit their own needs.
Pediatric congenital pulmonary malformations: key findings at imaging
Authors: Fichera Giulia , Cavaliere Annachiara , Causin Francesco , Zuliani Monica , Bisogno Gianni , Rea Federico , Stramare Roberto , Giraudo Chiara
Published: April 2024

Pediatric congenital pulmonary malformations are rare abnormalities which may affect airways, pulmonary parenchyma, and vasculature and diagnostic imaging plays a significant role in their identification and characterization. Although, nowadays, often the diagnosis of this heterogeneous group of malformations is performed prenatally by ultrasound and/or fetal magnetic resonance, after birth, computed tomography represents the main technique. Radiographs are often used as first line diagnostic tool while magnetic resonance demonstrated to be especially beneficial to investigate some malformations such as bronchogenic cysts. Therefore, radiologists should be aware of the main features associated with such alterations to guarantee a prompt diagnosis and, if necessary, guide towards the optimal treatment. Aim of this pictorial review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the typical features of congenital pulmonary malformations at imaging supporting general and pediatric radiologists in the diagnostic process.
Modeling and prediction of tribological properties of copper/aluminum-graphite self-lubricating composites using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Ning Huifeng , Chen Faqiang , Su Yunfeng , Li Hongbin , Fan Hengzhong , Song Junjie , Zhang Yongsheng , Hu Litian
Published: April 2024

The tribological properties of self-lubricating composites are influenced by many variables and complex mechanisms. Data-driven methods, including machine learning (ML) algorithms, can yield a better comprehensive understanding of complex problems under the influence of multiple parameters, typically for how tribological performances and material properties correlate. Correlation of friction coefficients and wear rates of copper/aluminum-graphite (Cu/Al-graphite) self-lubricating composites with their inherent material properties (composition, lubricant content, particle size, processing process, and interfacial bonding strength) and the variables related to the testing method (normal load, sliding speed, and sliding distance) were analyzed using traditional approaches, followed by modeling and prediction of tribological properties through five different ML algorithms, namely support vector machine (SVM), K-Nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and least-squares boosting (LSBoost), based on the tribology experimental data. Results demonstrated that ML models could satisfactorily predict friction coefficient and wear rate from the material properties and testing method variables data. Herein, the LSBoost model based on the integrated learning algorithm presented the best prediction performance for friction coefficients and wear rates, with R2 of 0.9219 and 0.9243, respectively. Feature importance analysis also revealed that the content of graphite and the hardness of the matrix have the greatest influence on the friction coefficients, and the normal load, the content of graphite, and the hardness of the matrix influence the wear rates the most.
A real-world exploration into clinical outcomes of direct oral anticoagulant therapy in people with chronic kidney disease: a large hospital-based study
Authors: Nwanosike Ezekwesiri Michael , Merchant Hamid A. , Sunter Wendy , Ansari Muhammad Ayub , Conway Barbara R. , Hasan Syed Shahzad
Published: April 2024

Background

There is limited evidence to support definite clinical outcomes of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD). By identifying the important variables associated with clinical outcomes following DOAC administration in patients in different stages of CKD, this study aims to assess this evidence gap.

Methods

An anonymised dataset comprising 97,413 patients receiving DOAC therapy in a tertiary health setting was systematically extracted from the multidimensional electronic health records and prepared for analysis. Machine learning classifiers were applied to the prepared dataset to select the important features which informed covariate selection in multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

For both CKD and non-CKD DOAC users, features such as length of stay, treatment days, and age were ranked highest for relevance to adverse outcomes like death and stroke. Patients with Stage 3a CKD had significantly higher odds of ischaemic stroke (OR 2.45, 95% Cl: 2.10–2.86; p = 0.001) and lower odds of all-cause mortality (OR 0.87, 95% Cl: 0.79–0.95; p = 0.001) on apixaban therapy. In patients with CKD (Stage 5) receiving apixaban, the odds of death were significantly lowered (OR 0.28, 95% Cl: 0.14–0.58; p = 0.001), while the effect on ischaemic stroke was insignificant.

Conclusions

A positive effect of DOAC therapy was observed in advanced CKD. Key factors influencing clinical outcomes following DOAC administration in patients in different stages of CKD were identified. These are crucial for designing more advanced studies to explore safer and more effective DOAC therapy for the population.

Graphical Abstract
Race and indigeneity in human microbiome science: microbiomisation and the historiality of otherness
Authors: Núñez Casal Andrea
Published: April 2024

This article reformulates Stephan Helmreich´s the ¨microbiomisation of race¨ as the historiality of otherness in the foundations of human microbiome science. Through the lens of my ethnographic fieldwork of a transnational community of microbiome scientists that conducted a landmark human microbiome research on indigenous microbes and its affiliated and first personalised microbiome initiative, the American Gut Project, I follow and trace the key actors, experimental systems and onto-epistemic claims in the emergence of human microbiome science a decade ago. In doing so, I show the links between the reinscription of race, comparative research on the microbial genetic variation of human populations and the remining of bioprospected data for personalised medicine. In these unpredictable research movements, the microbiome of non-Western peoples and territories is much more than a side project or a specific approach within the field: it constitutes the nucleus of its experimental system, opening towards subsequent and cumulative research processes and knowledge production in human microbiome science. The article demonstrates that while human microbiome science is articulated upon the microbial ‘makeup’ of non-wester(nised) communities, societies, and locales, its results and therapeutics are only applicable to medical conditions affecting rich nations (i.e., inflammatory, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases). My reformulation of ¨microbiomisation of race¨ as the condition of possibility of human microbiome science reveals that its individual dimension is sustained by microbial DNA data from human populations through bioprospecting practices and gains meaning through personalised medicine initiatives, informal online networks of pseudoscientific and commodified microbial-related evidence.
Hybrid regularization inspired by total variation and deep denoiser prior for image restoration
Authors: Liang Hu , Zhang Jiahao , Wei Daisen , Zhu Jinbo
Published: April 2024

Image restoration is a fundamental problem in computer vision, with the goal of restoring high-quality images from degraded low-quality observation images. However, the ill-posedness of restoration problem often leads to artifacts in the results. It inspires us to study the combination of prior, effectively restrict the solution space and improving the quality of the restored image. In this paper, a novel hybrid regularization method for image restoration is proposed, which adopts both internal and external image priors into a unified framework. Specifically, a new hybrid regularization model is designed. The TV model and a deep image denoiser are inserted into the restoration model using the plug-and-play framework, protecting image details while implicitly using external information for deep denoising. Moreover, in order to make the proposed hybrid regularization operable, an adaptive parameter method is proposed to adaptively balance the TV model and learned model in iteration. Experiments show that the proposed method surpasses the performance of existing image restoration techniques.
Category-Level Contrastive Learning for Unsupervised Hashing in Cross-Modal Retrieval
Authors: Xu Mengying , Luo Linyin , Lai Hanjiang , Yin Jian
Published: April 2024

Unsupervised hashing for cross-modal retrieval has received much attention in the data mining area. Recent methods rely on image-text paired data to conduct unsupervised cross-modal hashing in batch samples. There are two main limitations for existing models: (1) learning of cross-modal representations is restricted to batches; (2) semantically similar samples may be wrongly treated as negative. In this paper, we propose a novel category-level contrastive learning for unsupervised cross-modal hashing, which alleviates the above problems and improves cross-modal query accuracy. To break the limitation of learning in small batches, a selected memory module is first proposed to take global relations into account. Then, we obtain pseudo labels through clustering and combine the labels with the Hadamard Matrix for category-centered learning. To reduce wrong negatives, we further propose a memory bank to store clusters of samples and construct negatives by selecting samples from different categories for contrastive learning. Extensive experiments show the significant superiority of our approach over the state-of-the-art models on MIRFLICKR-25K and NUS-WIDE datasets.
Computational Thinking During a Short, Authentic, Interdisciplinary STEM Experience for Elementary Students
Authors: Cantlon Jessica F. , Becker Katherine T. , DeLong Caroline M.
Published: April 2024

STEM experiences that capture students’ curiosity have a unique role in inspiring awe in science, enculturing science engagement, and recruiting students to pursue STEM careers. Here, we present a unique interdisciplinary STEM experience for elementary school students that teaches them to write computer code to test primate intelligence at a zoo where they test their code with real monkeys. In a pilot study involving 3rd to 6th grade students, we find that students can acquire “hard skills” in computational thinking during this short-term immersive STEM experience, with a significant increase in accuracy and problem-solving attempts at post-test. Furthermore, students’ interests in animal science, computers, and robots remain stable or even increase following this experience, demonstrating the project’s capacity to blend technical skills with authentic scientific exploration. Teachers’ feedback highlights the positive impact on critical thinking and leadership. This research underscores the potential of free-form, authentic, interdisciplinary STEM experiences to simultaneously nurture computational skills and a passion for science.
Determination of chemical compositions of rosemary and sweet marjoram essential oils and their blends and their antifungal potential against potato rubbery rot disease agent Geotrichum candidum
Authors: Kara Merve
Published: April 2024

In this study, the chemical compositions of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis Spenn.) and sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) essential oils, both individually and in various blend ratios, were investigated by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Their antifungal activities were also determined against the potato rubbery rot disease agent, Geotrichum candidum, under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Camphor (20.69%) and terpinen-4-ol (35.13%) were determined as primary constituents in rosemary and sweet marjoram essential oils, respectively. Sweet marjoram and rosemary essential oils completely inhibited mycelial growth of G. candidum at 55.0 and 65.0 µL/Petri concentrations, respectively. Essential oils at these concentrations were found as fungicidal. Notably, a synergistic fungicidal antifungal effects were also observed in essential oil blends. Blend of sweet marjoram and rosemary essential oil in a 3:1 ratio (O75R25) significantly enhanced antifungal activity at the relatively lower concentration (45.0 µL/Petri). Microscopic observations revealed structural deformations in exposed hyphae, including cytoplasmic coagulation and vacuolization. Essential oil blend (O75R25), sweet marjoram and rosemary essential oils completely inhibited the disease lesion caused by G. candidum on potato tubers at concentrations of 100.0, 125.0, and 150.0 µL/L air, respectively. These findings emphasized that essential oil blends of rosemary and sweet marjoram have synergistic antifungal potential and can be used as effective biofungicides against plant fungal diseases.
Examining (in)justice, environmental activism and indigenous knowledge systems in the Indian film Kantara (Mystical Forest)
Authors: Karmakar Goutam , Pal Payel
Published: April 2024

The acquisition of knowledge encompasses various dimensions that should be consolidated to facilitate a comprehensive and holistic advancement of its trajectory. In this context, the article explores the film Kantara: A Legend (Shetty in Kantara: a legend [film], Hombale Films, 2022), a Kannada-language production from India and its significance in highlighting the importance of indigenous knowledge systems, local customs, demigods and the sacredness attributed to the forest. The article explicates the marginalization of these knowledge systems and the community’s vulnerability to epistemic and environmental injustices. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of the sacredness of their land and the community’s engagement in activism. The study concludes by examining how a film such as Kantara serves as a means to disseminate the notion of environmental activism to a wide audience.
An Open-Source R Package for Detection of Adverse Events Under-Reporting in Clinical Trials: Implementation and Validation by the IMPALA (Inter coMPany quALity Analytics) Consortium
Authors: Koneswarakantha Björn , Adyanthaya Ronojit , Emerson Jennifer , Collin Frederik , Keller Annett , Mattheus Michaela , Spyroglou Ioannis , Donevska Sandra , Ménard Timothé ,   On behalf of the IMPALA (Inter coMPany quALity Analytics) Consortium
Published: April 2024

Accurate and timely reporting of adverse events (AEs) in clinical trials is crucial to ensuring data integrity and patient safety. However, AE under-reporting remains a challenge, often highlighted in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) audits and inspections. Traditional detection methods, such as on-site investigator audits via manual source data verification (SDV), have limitations. Addressing this, the open-source R package {simaerep} was developed to facilitate rapid, comprehensive, and near-real-time detection of AE under-reporting at each clinical trial site. This package leverages patient-level AE and visit data for its analyses. To validate its efficacy, three member companies from the Inter coMPany quALity Analytics (IMPALA) consortium independently assessed the package. Results showed that {simaerep} consistently and effectively identified AE under-reporting across all three companies, particularly when there were significant differences in AE rates between compliant and non-compliant sites. Furthermore, {simaerep}'s detection rates surpassed heuristic methods, and it identified 50% of all detectable sites as early as 25% into the designated study duration. The open-source package can be embedded into audits to enable fast, holistic, and repeatable quality oversight of clinical trials.
Experimental investigation into the properties of crumb rubberized concrete incorporating corrugated round steel fibers
Authors: Ghoniem Amr , Aboul Nour Louay
Published: April 2024

This paper presents an experimental study on how crumb rubber particles from waste tires and corrugated round steel fibers affect the mechanical behavior of concrete. In addition to the standard plain mix and five combinations of mixes composed of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% ratios, three steel fiber and crumb rubber mixes, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% weight of sand, coarse aggregate, cement, and silica fume were evaluated. The percentage of silica fume that replaced the weight of the cement in this study was 8%. The fresh properties of the 12 mixtures in terms of slump and density were studied. After 28 days of curing 36 cubes, 36 cylinders, and 12 prisms, the hardened properties were determined by evaluating the mean compressive, split, and flexural strengths. The results indicate that a synergetic effect is observed for the combination of crumb rubber and corrugated round steel fibers to improve the fresh and hardened properties of concrete. Adding fiber reinforcement to concrete can mitigate the negative impacts of rubber, and vice versa. According to the combination content, increases in compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength of up to 49.04%, 38.60%, and 75.76%, respectively, were achieved compared with the control combination. This validates the applicability of the proposed mathematical prediction formulation to evaluate the compressive strength, split tensile strength, and modulus of rupture of rubberized fibrous concrete in terms of fiber and rubber ratios. Based on these results, a promising solution for tire disposal is to recycle waste rubber for fibrous concrete applications.
Effect of thermal environmental factors on female students during summer and spring season: promoting a sustainable campus initiative
Authors: Alkaabi Khaula , Mehmood Kashif , Hdhaiba Saif Obaid Bin , Aljaberi Sarah , Alkaabi Noora
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The present study was conducted at the female campus of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), with a specific emphasis on the outside environment. This study aims to explore the influence of external conditions, including AC (AC), Time of Day (TD) variations, and Landscape Sites (LS) differences, on changes in physiological temperatures. Specifically, the focus is on understanding the dynamics of skin and abaya temperature (AT) when exposed to transient thermal environments, considering factors such as AC, LS, and different TD. By investigating these parameters, the research aims to gain insights into the thermal dynamics experienced by female students at the UAEU campus which can further lead to evaluate the thermal comfort (TC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved three college-aged female participants simulating a daily walk to class on a arid tropical university campus. Real-time thermal measures were captured at 10-min intervals using the FLIR Thermal Camera. Statistical analyses, including the Kruskal–Wallis test and Don Bonferroni pairwise comparisons, were employed to assess significant differences in thermal conditions based on AC, TD, and LS. These tests rigorously analyzed the data to identify statistically significant variations in thermal conditions among the specified factors. Additionally, temperature data from the ECMWF ERA5 dataset, covering global climate from January 1940 to the present, was utilized. The GRADS application on a Linux-based system was used for data visualization and map chart creation.

Findings

The study reveals a slight influence of AC on both Abaya temperatures (AT) and Skin temperatures (ST) during the summer, with more pronounced diurnal changes in the afternoon significantly affecting both metrics. Site characteristics minimally impact AT, but they have a noteworthy effect on ST. In the spring season, AT and ST remain unaffected by AC, while temporal fluctuations, particularly in the afternoon, exert a significant influence. LS variations show statistically insignificant impacts on both AT and ST. Additionally, temperature maps for specific 2023 dates provide distinctive trends in the UAE, offering insights into dynamic climatic conditions varying by season and TD.

Originality/value

The study aims to address a knowledge gap by investigating the influence of AC, TD, and LS variations on physiological temperature change, specifically focusing on skin and AT. This investigation is conducted in the context of individuals exposed to thermal environmental factors within a arid tropical university campus setting.

Practical implications

This research contributes to the existing knowledge by providing specific data on thermal conditions within the campus, enabling informed decision-making for creating a more comfortable and conducive environment for the students, thereby contributing to the goal of a sustainable campus.
India’s ancient philosophy on holistic education and its relevance for target 4.7 of the United Nations sustainable development goals
Authors: Babbar Shilpa Khatri , Johannsdottir Lara
Published: April 2024

The paper's objective is to study one of the world´s early living civilizations, i.e., India, focusing primarily on its rich ancient philosophy with specific reference to holistic education to understand how it may act as a prototype for target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The study uses Interpretive sociology to understand the meanings contextually from the insider's perspective. Extensive and intensive usage of symbolism in Indian philosophy is studied through social constructionism and phenomenology. India’s ancient philosophy on holistic education has a relevance to modern approaches to address sustainability issues such as by addressing specific aspects of the SDGs, or the SDGs holistically, given the goals interconnects, and potential synergies and trade-offs, thereby serving as a prototype for target 4.7 of SDG 4. The findings also revel a lack of connection to higher power of spirituality. The originality of the study is the effort enabling comparative analysis across contexts, by placing the SDGs in the context of India’s ancient philosophy on holistic education, befitting the expectations of SDGs, specifically target 4.7. Authors are aware of the tendency of the “book view” (Indological Approach) to homogenize but this is in tune with the papers objective as the intention is to draw an ideal–typical proto-type of holistic education.
Adoption of renewable energy to phase down fossil fuel energy consumption and mitigate territorial emissions: evidence from BRICS group countries using panel FGLS and panel GEE models
Authors: Dalei Narendra N. , Gupta Anshuman
Published: April 2024

The recognition of climate change as real and unprecedented has been acknowledged by global communities. Furthermore, fossil fuel energy consumption and territorial emissions are identified as major drivers of climate change. Data collected from the World Bank for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group of countries for the period from 1990 to 2018, and analyzed using Panel FGLS and Panel GEE models, revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between GDP per capita and its square with fossil fuel energy consumption in BRICS countries. However, this relationship was not observed with territorial emissions. It is indicated that the BRICS group of countries is making efforts to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption, but investment in green technology is insufficient to reduce territorial emissions. Therefore, it is recommended that climate policies need to be more aggressively implemented to support investment in clean and green energy technology.
Exploring the relationship between university students’ programme of study and orientation to environmental sustainability: the case of Al Baha University
Authors: Alsharif Mohammad A. , Ofori-Darko Jacob
Published: April 2024

Universities are urged to promote environmental sustainability on campus and in nearby communities due to the growing desire for a sustainable society and their unique role as change agents. This research study explores the relationship between university students' programme of study and their orientation to environmental sustainability et al. Baha University in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the study sought to determine whether specific academic disciplines shape undergraduate students' attitudes and engagement with sustainable practices, and if variations exist across disciplines at the university. The study used a Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) to gather data on the association between students’ fields of study and orientation to environmental sustainability from a sample of 943 students at Al Baha University in Saudi Arabia who were randomly chosen from various programmes and levels of study. The data was collected face-to-face and electronically in 2021 and analysed using the Pearson Chi-Square (Χ2) test for independence at a 5% level of probability through IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21.0 software. The findings revealed a significant association between the university student’s programme of study and their orientation to environmental sustainability. Students from environmentally-focused disciplines exhibited higher levels of environmental sustainability orientation compared to others. The implications of these findings suggest the need for tailored sustainability initiatives and curriculum interventions across academic disciplines to foster a culture of sustainability within universities. By integrating sustainability-focused courses, and facilitating faculty development, educational institutions can inspire and empower students across all fields of study to actively contribute to environmental sustainability.
Applications of Finite Non-Abelian Simple Groups to Cryptography in the Quantum Era
Authors: Vasco María Isabel González , Kahrobaei Delaram , McKemmie Eilidh
Published: April 2024

The theory of finite simple groups is a (rather unexplored) area likely to provide interesting computational problems and modeling tools useful in a cryptographic context. In this note, we review some applications of finite non-abelian simple groups to cryptography and discuss different scenarios in which this theory is clearly central, providing the relevant definitions to make the material accessible to both cryptographers and group theorists, in the hope of stimulating further interaction between these two (non-disjoint) communities. In particular, we look at constructions based on various group-theoretic factorization problems, review group theoretical hash functions, and discuss fully homomorphic encryption using simple groups. The Hidden Subgroup Problem is also briefly discussed in this context.
Anesthesia for lung transplantation in children under 12 years of age: a single center experience of China
Authors: Yuan Shengjie , Zhou Yan , Chen Jingyu , Zhang Xin , Wang Guilong
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of anesthesia management strategies employed in pediatric lung transplantation.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 14 pediatric patients who underwent lung transplantation at the Wuxi Center between September 2019 and November 2022. Patient demographics, surgical particulars, airway management, utilization of extracorporeal support, fluid administration, blood gas and electrolyte profiles, and postoperative outcomes were systematically documented and subsequently summarized.

Results

Of the 14 patients, 7 received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and 1 received cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The average operation time was 303 ± 53 min, with the median extubation time of 26 h. The entirety of pediatric lung transplant procedures was executed successfully, resulting in the discharge of thirteen patients postoperatively. Regrettably, one patient died due to infectious shock on the fourth postoperative day.

Conclusion

The achievement of successful pediatric lung transplantation necessitates effective perioperative anesthesia management, with a focal emphasis on circulatory control. Real-time measurements serve as the cornerstone for decision-making. Proactive administration of vasoactive agents is integral to sustaining hemodynamic stability. The judicious assessment of ECMO necessity is paramount, favoring central ECMO during the surgical intervention.
Homologous seminal plasma efficiently activates epididymal tail sperm compared to traditional tris buffer and sperm-TALP in sheep
Authors: Singh Pawan Preet , Dar Rameez Ali , Lone Farooz Ahmad , Bhat Ghulam Rasool , Abdullah Muzamil
Published: April 2024

We hypothesized that ram epididymal tail sperm may be efficiently activated in homologous seminal plasma compared to tris and sperm-TALP. Eighty ejaculates were collectedfrom five healthy fertile rams by artificial vagina. Ejaculates with ≥ 3 mass motility and ≥ 70% initial motility score were considered and pooled. The seminal plasma was harvested by two-phase centrifugation (A-3000 g, 4 °C, 20 min; B-3600 g, 4 °C, 30 min). Sperm were collected by dissecting epididymal tail into 3 equal parts which were placed in three small (35 mm) petri dishes for activation in homologous seminal plasma (SP), sperm-TALP (TP) and tris buffer (TR). Sperm quality was assessed at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of cold storage on the basis of motility, viability, HOST and acrosomal integrity. In addition to subjective assessment of motility, acrosomal integrity and viability were evaluated using molecular florescent probe combinations-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated to peanut agglutinin (PNA) plus propidium iodide (PI) and carboxyflorescene diacetate (CFDA) plus propidium iodide, respectively. Motility, CFDA positive sperm (Viable) and HOST reacted sperm percentage were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for SP compared to both TP and TR at 48 and 72 h of cold storage. FITC-PNA negative sperm (Intact acrosomes) percentage did also differ significantly (p < 0.05) between SP, TP and TR at various hours of cold storage. In conclusion, homologous seminal plasma efficiently activated and preserved epididymal tail sperm compared to tris buffer and sperm-TALP. This study provides an opportunityto further explore the role of homologous seminal plasma in cryoprotection and fertilizing capacity of epididymal tail sperm.
A Folsom Foreshaft from the Blackwater Draw Site
Authors: Sellet Frederic , Garnett Justin
Published: April 2024

This article describes a bison rib bone foreshaft from the Blackwater Draw site, New Mexico. The object was recovered by James Hester in 1963, during the excavation of locality 4, and it was subsequently cataloged as a modified bone tool but not recognized as a hafting element. It is currently held in the Blackwater Draw Museum collections. This analysis provides a detailed description of the artifact's features and establishes its provenience from a Folsom context. A survey of known Paleoindigenous hafting implements and a discussion of theoretical Folsom foreshaft designs serve to reinforce the classification of the tool as a component of the Folsom weapon delivery system. The tool was likely broken during use and later recycled as a pressure flaker or as a polishing instrument. With the help of 3D imagery, a reconstructed model was printed and fitted with large and small Folsom points to test ideas borrowed from the theoretical literature on Folsom foreshaft design.
Fiber Artifacts from the Paisley Caves: 14,000 Years of Plant Selection in the Northern Great Basin
Authors: Kallenbach Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

Paleoethnobotanical remains from basketry and cordage from the Paisley Caves offer an opportunity to explore how people engaged with plant communities over time. Fiber identification of textiles, together with radiocarbon dating, contributes new information about landscape use within the Summer Lake Basin. Expanded marshlands during the terminal Pleistocene / Early Holocene created suitable plant communities ideal for fiber technology, specifically wetland monocots and herbaceous dicots—including dogbane and stinging nettle—by 11,000 years ago. This technology is key to subsistence activities and craft production throughout the Holocene. Despite climatic events during the Middle Holocene, in which people transitioned from caves to sites centered on lakeshores and wetlands, the suite of fiber plants and their technological application remains constant. During the Late Holocene, bast fiber material diversified with the addition of flax and milkweed. The presence of flax in particular, a high-elevation plant, may reflect the increased use of upland root collection areas as populations increased. This research provides long-term data on culturally significant native plants used in the manufacture of fiber-based textiles over the last 14,000 years.
The Need for Transparency in Medicaid Managed Care: Section 1115 Waiver Requirements as a Blueprint
Authors: Doherty Nicole
Published: April 2024

Medicaid plays a significant role in the health care space, providing insurance coverage to nearly one quarter of the U.S. population. In recent years, managed care organizations have taken on an increasingly prominent role in the Medicaid space, and in many instances have become the sole insurance option for Medicaid recipients. The scale and method of implementation for managed care programs has varied widely from state to state. This Note discusses the many methods by which a state can enact managed care within its Medicaid program, and summarizes the challenges with assessing the success of such programs. It proposes a uniform approach to managed care reporting requirements designed to increase transparency and accountability across state lines, and in turn ensure quality care for Medicaid managed care beneficiaries.
Who Is a Health Care Provider?: Statutory Interpretation as a Middle-Ground Approach to Medical Malpractice Damage Caps
Authors: Margolis Isaac
Published: April 2024

Debates over the effectiveness, constitutionality, and fairness of medical malpractice damage caps are as old as the laws themselves. Though some courts have struck down damage caps under state constitutional provisions, the vast majority hesitate to invalidate malpractice reform legislation. Instead, statutory interpretation offers a non-constitutional method of challenging the broad scope of damage caps without fully invalidating legislative efforts to curtail “excessive” malpractice liability. This Note examines the term “health care providers” in construing malpractice reform laws and identifies two predominant forms of statutory interpretation that state courts apply. In doing so, this Note offers recommendations for courts and legislatures to best balance the goals of the malpractice reform movement with patients’ interests in recovery for medical injuries.
Against revolutions
Authors: Secord James A.
Published: April 2024

The history of science in public discussion is dominated by large-scale narratives of revolution. These locate epistemic violence within specialist communities, obscuring the role of science in environmental destruction and in silencing other ways of engaging with the world. At the same time, the language of revolution has fostered an unrealistic image of science, giving too much prominence to crisis, heroic challenges to authority and the wholescale abandonment of established theory. Revolutionary narratives in history of science were consolidated in the decades around 1900, as the genealogy for an emerging union of science, industry and imperial power. Even when explicitly rejected, they function as ‘ghost narratives’ within teaching and research. Relocating epistemic violence not only involves changing the geography and chronology of established narratives, a project that is well under way. It also requires understanding that revolution is the wrong category of event for communicating science and its history.
Entropy, virtual Abelianness and Shannon orbit equivalence
Authors: KERR DAVID , LI HANFENG
Published: April 2024

We prove that if two free probability-measure-preserving (p.m.p.)
${\mathbb Z}$
-actions are Shannon orbit equivalent, then they have the same entropy. The argument also applies more generally to yield the same conclusion for free p.m.p. actions of finitely generated virtually Abelian groups. Together with the isomorphism theorems of Ornstein and Ornstein–Weiss and the entropy invariance results of Austin and Kerr–Li in the non-virtually-cyclic setting, this shows that two Bernoulli actions of any non-locally-finite countably infinite amenable group are Shannon orbit equivalent if and only if they are measure conjugate. We also show, at the opposite end of the stochastic spectrum, that every
${\mathbb Z}$
-odometer is Shannon orbit equivalent to the universal
${\mathbb Z}$
-odometer.