bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimum Plot Size for Banana Trials
Authors: Nokoe Sagary , Ortiz Rodomiro
Published: October 2024

Bananas (Musa spp. AAA group) are an important food and a source of income for farmers in tropical countries. Black sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), a fungal leaf spot disease, is the major production constraint worldwide. The replacement of most of the susceptible banana landraces requires the proper assessment of host plant response to black sigatoka and the determination of yield potential (per unit area and time) of the new selections. Although optimum plot sizes have been reported earlier for banana trials, the number of plants per plot was determined primarily by using a subjective visual assessment, based on the point of maximum curvature. This paper presents an objective method to determine optimum plot size using segmented models. Data on host response to black sigatoka, and growth and yield characteristics recorded in the plant crop and first ratoon on competing plants of the widely grown banana cv. Valery, provided the sample to illustrate the proposed method. With few exceptions, feasible solutions were obtained after <10 iterations. The approximate solutions suggested that nine to 33 plants per plot could be optimal for banana trials. The optimum number of plants per plot depended on the characteristic of interest and the production cycle. About 13 ± 1 plants may suffice to assess the host response to black sigatoka, whereas 16 ± 3 plants per plot are needed to evaluate growth characteristics and yield potential of cultivars. The optimum number of plants needed to assess the performance of genotypes had lower coefficients of variation in the plant crop than in the ratoon crop. Hence, the recommended optimum plot size consisted, on average, of 13 ±3 plants per plot for the plant crop, and 15 ±2 plants per plot for the ratoon crop. The suggested procedure to determine optimum plot sizes may prove useful for other crops.
PLACE OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE SPINAL INFECTIONS: ABOUT 14 CASES
Authors:   Centre dExpertise Mdicale du Personnel Navigant / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc., EL Ghazi Mouna , Echchachoui Houda ,   Centre dExpertise Mdicale du Personnel Navigant / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc., a Meryemzerrik ,   Centre dExpertise Mdicale du Personnel Navigant / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc., Bennanismires Fahd ,   Centre dExpertise Mdicale du Personnel Navigant / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc., Iloughmane Zakaria ,   Centre dExpertise Mdicale du Personnel Navigant / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc., Chemsi Mohamed ,   Centre dExpertise Mdicale du Personnel Navigant / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc., Mandour Cherkaoui ,   Service de Neurochirurgie / Hopital Militaire dInstruction Mohammed V/ Universit Mohammed V / Facult de Mdecine et de Pharmacie de Rabat /Universit Mohammed V / Rabat / Maroc.
Published: October 2024

Background: The prevalence of post-operative spinal infections is constantly on the rise, linked to the increasing age of the population. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality, high costs and altered well-being, hence the need to assess the efficacy of adjunctive treatments, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in increasing the chances of successful overall management of this type of infection. Materials and methods: A retrospective study spread over a period of 04 years, including 14 patients referred to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy department for postoperative spinal infections: spondylodiscitis and surgical site infections. The indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy was based on the lack of favorable clinical and biological evolution after first-line treatment. Results: The clinical and paraclinical evolution was considered favorable in all patients in our series, with radiological resolution of the infection at the end of hyperbaric treatment in 11 patients, and within 2 months in the others. Conclusion: this study shows the beneficial action of HBOT in post-operative spinal infections refractory to first-line treatment, and suggests the systematic introduction of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in post-operative patients predisposed to infectious complications, particularly in cases of associated comorbidities.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF ENERGY AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE OF AN INDIRECT SOLAR DRYER FOR AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS: STUDY, REALIZATION AND EXPERIMENTAL TESTS
Authors:   Laboratoire des Procedes et Innovations Technologiques de Lokossa, UNSTIM, Benin., Mathias Vissoh Leandre , Anicet Sagnon Yamonche Jules ,   Laboratoire des Procedes et Innovations Technologiques de Lokossa, UNSTIM, Benin., Adomou Alain ,   Laboratoire des Procedes et Innovations Technologiques de Lokossa, UNSTIM, Benin., Chegnimohan Victorin ,   Laboratoire des Procedes et Innovations Technologiques de Lokossa, UNSTIM, Benin.,   Lten, Laboratoire de thermique et Energie de Nantes, rue Christian Pauc, 44300 France.
Published: October 2024

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, during periods of high production abundance, the losses of agri-food products observed in West Africa amount to 25% for cereals and 50% for fruits and vegetables. Strengthening agri-food preservation techniques through solar drying is a major challenge for African countries with high solar energy resources. This study contributes to the improvement of the energy and technical performance of indirect solar dryers for packaging agri-food products on a small scale. The objective achieved is the design and realization of an indirect solar dryer with forced convection with chimney effect for a better evacuation of the moisture extracted from food products. With a solar collector of 136W of thermal power, the dryer made allows to remove 0.85kg of water from a unit of a kilogram of tomatoes at a temperature not exceeding 60Â°C for thirteen hours (13 hours) of time. In this way, the nutritional properties of the products are preserved and any microbial proliferation is inhibited. This work includes an experimental part which consists of studying the evolution of the thermo-physical parameters of the drying air (temperature and degree of humidity) in the drying box during characteristic days. The analysis of the data and its interdependencies makes it possible to select the types of agri-food products that can be effectively dried with this device. The study also shows that the air path in the dryer and its temperature are the most important parameters to be optimized for good drying kinetics.
PREVALENCE OF DRY EYE IN PATIENTS ON ANTIGLAUCOMA MEDICATION AND EFFECT WITH DURATION OF THERAPY
Authors:   Ophthalmology Resident JNU Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur., Singh Pannu Sehajbir , Verma Sanjeev ,   Ophthalmology Resident JNU Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur., Prabha Prasad Shashi ,   Ophthalmology Resident JNU Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur., Swati Deepika and ,   Ophthalmology Resident JNU Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur.
Published: October 2024

Introduction:Anti-glaucoma drug therapy is the most effective initial treatment for glaucoma, an ocular neuropathy that progresses over time. Chronic or long duration of use of antiglaucoma medications may result in changes to the ocular surface, including altered tear breakup times, decreased tear output, and corneal and conjunctival epithelium alterations . Aim:To study prevalence of dry eyes in patients using topical anti glaucoma medications. Methodology:This was a prospective observational study at the Department of Ophthalmology, JNU Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India July 2022- June 2023 on 150 patients using anti-glaucoma medication for more than 6 months were taken. Results:The prevalance of dry eye among study subjects at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months of follow up was 24%, 52.7% and 60.7% respectively in both the eyes. Conclusion:Glaucoma affects large population worldwide, and long-term use of anti-glaucoma medications can negatively impact the surface of eye and may affect the patients vision. Understanding the pathogenesis of OSD and identifying its risk factors will improve patient care along with strategies to diagnose and treat and maintain homeostasis of ocular surface.
Automated Workflow of the Re-Design and Topology Optimization of a Wrist Hand Splint for Additive
Authors: Farih M. , Ouardouz M.
Published: October 2024

In recent years, additive manufacturing has emerged as a revolutionary technology, opening up new design possibilities. In this article, we examine the redesign and optimization of a wrist splint topology for additive manufacturing techniques. By taking advantage of the capabilities of this advanced manufacturing method. This study proposes to improve the functionality, ergonomics and overall performance of the wrist splint. The design process includes customized measurements based on CT scan or 3d scan, 3D modeling, and simulation to ensure optimal fit and structural integrity of the device. After finite element analysis, we evaluate the mechanical properties of the topologically optimized design. The results confirm that the proposed approach offers significant improvements in raw material consumption while maintaining the strength and ventilation required for patient comfort. Compared with the solid splint, the weight of the optimized wrist and hand splint is reduced by 46%.
Finite Element Modeling (FEM) of the thermal behavior of 3D printed parts during Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
Authors: Zoubeir Adnane , Radi Bouchaib
Published: October 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an innovative and promising technology that can create complex geometries with great precision. However, parts manufactured using this technology exhibit residual stresses and distortions, which hinder widespread adoption. Directed energy deposition (DED) stands out as a promising AM technique, offering a high deposition rate compared to other AM processes. DED uses a focused energy source, such as a laser or electron beam, to melt material as it is deposited, enabling the creation and repair of complex geometries. The flexibility in material usage and the ability to control the microstructure during the process makes DED suitable for high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries. Finite element modeling (FEM) of the DED process can predict the melt pool, and temperature profile without extensive experimentation, saving considerable time, material, and money. In the current study, the FEM of a high-layer thickness DED process is developed using the Gaussian heat source model to investigate the effect of different process parameters. The model aims to enhance understanding of the thermomechanical behavior during the DED process and to optimize process parameters for improved part quality and performance.
Comparison of Innovation Performances of BRICS Countries through CRITIC and GRA Methods
Authors: Baki Rahmi
Published: October 2024

BRICS countries’ recent investments in technology have attracted attention, and they have become a part of the nations that conduct research around the world. The European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), accepted as an effective benchmarking tool for technology policies, provides a comparative analysis of the innovation performances of many countries, including BRICS. In the current research, the innovation performances of BRICS countries were compared through EIS data, one of the most adopted benchmarking tools in technology policy discussions. Thus, it was aimed to determine the importance levels of the criteria used in the EIS data and to analyze the innovation processes of the countries in question. In this study, an integrated framework using CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) methods is presented to compare the innovation performances of BRICS countries. In the first stage of the application, the importance levels of the criteria are obtained using the CRITIC method, while in the second stage, countries are ranked according to their innovation performance through GRA. Data are obtained by compiling statistics from the EIS database created by the Commission of the European Communities. The results obtained in the practical application of the model rank the criteria according to their weights as follows: higher education (0.249), international joint publications (0.176), medium and high technology exports (0.122), frequently cited publications (0.113), PCT patents (0.094), public-private joint publications (0.085), designs (0.083) and trademarks (0.078). In addition, the BRICS countries are ranked according to their innovation performance as China (0.76), Russia (0.6), South Africa (0.516), Brazil (0.426), and India (0.378).
Ali Rıza YALGIN’nın İzinde, Oğuzeli’nde Kırsal Seramik Üretiminin Etnoarkeolojik Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Demir Timur
Published: October 2024

Cumhuriyet’in ilk yıllarında Anadolu’da yaşayan Halk Kültürü üzerine çalışmalar yapan araştırmacılardan biri de Ali Rıza Yalgın’dır. 1940 yılında Oğuzeli’nde gerçekleştirdiği çalışmalarda bölgede artık günümüzde terk edilmiş seramik üretimine yönelik belgeleme çalışmaları gerçekleştirmiştir. “Çok İptidai Çömlekçilik” başlığı altında yayınlanan bu küçük çalışma, Anadolu’daki geleneksel seramik üretimini ele alan farklı disiplinlerden gelen araştırmacılar için temel kaynaklardan biri olmuştur. 2016-2018 yılları arasında Gaziantep Oğuzeli İlçesinde gerçekleştirdiğimiz arkeolojik yüzey araştırmalarında artık sonlanan geleneksel seramik üretimlerine ait son örnekleri belgeleme fırsatı yakaladık. Çalışmamız Gaziantep ilinin güneybatısında Türkiye-Suriye sınırında yer alan Oğuzeli’nde binlerce yıllık seramik üretim geleneklerinin son temsilleri ışığında geçmiş seramik üretim süreçlerinin, kullanım alanlarının ve günlük yaşamdaki yerlerinin tespitinde etnoarkeolojik yaklaşımlarla incelenmesine odaklanmıştır. Çalışmamızda Oğuzeli’ndeki geleneksel seramik üretimleri ile paralellikler gösteren Anadolu ve Suriye’deki çeşitli geleneksel seramik üretim ve kullanım süreçlerine de yeri geldiğince değinilmiştir. Çalışmada yakın zamana değin devam eden geleneksel seramik üretimi, kırsal hane ve ticari üretim olarak ikiye ayırmaktadır. Bu açıdan kent ve kırsal toplumlardaki üretim farklıklarının üzerinde de durulmuştur. Çalışmada ele alınan Oğuzeli’ndeki seramik üretimi kırsal hane üretimi kapsamındadır. Çalışmada kırsalda seramik üretiminin sonlanmasına yönelikte göçebe kültürün etkisi ile üretim ilişkilerinin değişmesi bağlamında bir kültürel örüntü modeli ortaya konmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu açıdan göçebe kültürlerin yerleşik yaşama geçiş sürecindeki maddi kültürdeki değişim üzerine de çeşitli gözlemler aktarılmıştır.
Schelling'in Transandantal İdealizm Dizgesi ve Başlangıç İlkesi Sorunu
Authors: Gültekin Ahmet Cüneyt
Published: October 2024

Düşünmenin bir başlangıç ilkesi ile harekete geçmesi ve bu ilke yoluyla felsefenin bir dizge içinde kendini sunması Schelling’in transandantal idealizmini belirler. Filozofun dizgesinde koşulsuz bir ilke olarak ortaya konulan özbilinç, başlangıç sorununa ilişkin bir çözüm girişimidir. En yüksek ilke olarak özbilinç, öznel ve nesnel olanın birliğinin sağlanmasına dönük bir nihai zemin ile kendisinin nedeni ve sonucu olan bir mutlak ortaya koyar. Bu birlikte ben (zihin) ve doğa birbirlerini gerektiren bir ilişkide çakışmakta ve ‘ben’ hem özne hem de kendisi için bir nesne olmaktadır. Bu transandantal birlik, bilginin de bir koşulu olarak, başlangıç ilkesinden bütün bir dizgeyi türetmeyi olanaklı kılar. Dolayısıyla ilk ilkenin bulgulanışı ve ne olduğu dizgenin genel karakterini ve yapısını da belirlemektedir. Bu bağlamda bu çalışmada Schelling’in dizgesinin ilk ilkesine ilişkin bir çözümleme yapılarak başlangıç ilkesi sorununun önemi gösterilecektir. Transandantal İdealizm Dizgesi yapıtı çerçevesinde filozofun özellikle Spinoza’dan farkı ortaya konulacak, böylece düşüncenin ve bilginin kendini meşrulaştırma zemini açığa çıkarılacaktır. Bu çerçevede Schelling’in yaklaşımı Spinoza’nın açıklamakta eksik bırakmış olduğu öznelliğin öne çıkarılışı olarak da okunabilir. Ayrıca varolma ve bilmenin başlamasının olanağı olarak bir ilkenin bulgulanması düşünme süreçlerinin işleyişinin koşulu olarak tespit edilmekte ve ontolojik ve epistemolojik açıklamalar için kökensel bir zemin olarak kritik bir önem taşımaktadır.
Cumhuriyetçi ve Liberal Bağlamda Hobbes ve Rousseau'nun Yurttaşlık Yaklaşımları
Authors: Kasımoğlu Alper
Published: October 2024

Siyasal düşünce tarihinin önemli kavramlarından biri olarak karşımıza çıkan yurttaşlık, Thomas Hobbes ve Jean-Jacques Rousseau tarafından liberalizm ve cumhuriyetçilik çerçevesinde ifade edilen temel kuramlarda farklılaşmaktadır. Cumhuriyetçi ve liberal düşünce okulları, modern politikanın temel taşları olarak kabul edilmekte ve yurttaşlık kavramı üzerinde önemli etkileri bulunmaktadır. Hobbes'un “Leviathan” ve Rousseau'nun “Toplumsal Sözleşme” adlı eserleri başta olmak üzere, bu iki düşünürün çalışmaları incelendiğinde yurttaşlığın doğası, devletin rolü ve bireylerin toplum içindeki hak ve yükümlülüklerine ilişkin farklı bakış açılarının bulunduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada, literatür taraması yöntemiyle, Hobbes ve Rousseau'nun eserleri üzerinden karşılaştırmalı bir analiz yapılması hedeflenmektedir. Çalışmanın temel sorusu, bu iki filozofun cumhuriyetçi ve liberal yurttaşlık bağlamında düşünceleri arasındaki temel farkların ve gerilimlerin ne(ler) olduğudur. Toplumsal sözleşme teorisinin önemli savunucularından birisi olan Hobbes, bireyin kendini koruma arayışına ve toplumsal düzeni sağlamak için mutlak egemenliğin gerekliliğine dayanan otoriter bir yurttaşlık anlayışı ortaya koyar. Buna karşılık Rousseau, halkın kolektif iradesini ve genel idareyi, yönetimin şekillendirilmesinde sivil katılımın hayati önemini vurgulayarak daha katılımcı ve demokratik bir yurttaşlık biçimini savunur. Devletin kişi üzerindeki otoritesi, kişilerin sahip olduğu veya olması gereken haklar ve toplumsal sorumluluklar konusunda da bu iki düşünür arasında belirgin farklılıklar bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışma, etkili siyaset filozoflarından Hobbes ve Rousseau'nun bakış açılarından hareketle her birinin yurttaşlık kavramını nasıl ele aldığı, cumhuriyetçi ve liberal yurttaşlık anlayışları arasındaki temel gerilimleri çözümlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu gerilimlerin modern siyaset kuramı ve pratiği üzerindeki tesirlerinin detaylı bir incelemeye tabi tutulması çalışmanın bir diğer amacıdır. Bu suretle, Hobbes ve Rousseau'nun fikirlerinin günümüz politik bağlamındaki yansımaları ve geçerliliklerinin de tartışılması amaçlanmaktadır.
Eski Mezopotamya’da Susam ve Susam Yağının Kullanımı
Authors: Akkuş Mutlu Suzan , Naimioğlu Reyhan
Published: October 2024

İnsanoğlunun yaşamını sürdürebilmesi için en temel ihtiyaçlarından biri de beslenmedir. Protein, lif, mineral ve vitaminler açısından zengin olan susamın besleyici değeri oldukça yüksektir. Susamdan elde edilen yağ Eski Mezopotamya’da yemeklerin pişirilmesini kolaylaştırmak ve lezzetini artırmak amacıyla kullanılan yağlar arasında yerini almıştır. Günlük enerji gereksinimlerinin sağlanması ve sağlıklı bir yaşam tarzının sürdürülmesi açısından hayati öneme sahip olan susam Antik Mezopotamya toplumlarında kutsal bir bitki olarak kabul edilmiş ve dinî ritüellerde yaygın bir şekilde kullanılmıştır. Bu durum susamın sadece bir besin kaynağı olarak değil, aynı zamanda dinî bir sembol olarak da kabul edildiğini göstermektedir. Tıbbi açıdan, susamın sağlık yararları da göz ardı edilemez. Antik dönemlerden beri, susamın çeşitli tıbbi amaçlar için kullanıldığı bilinmektedir. Susam yağı, geleneksel tıp uygulamalarında cilt bakımı, masaj ve bazı hastalıkların tedavisi için kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca, susamın antioksidan özellikleri ve içerdiği bazı bileşenlerin sağlık üzerinde olumlu etkileri olduğu bilinmektedir. Dolayısıyla, tarih boyunca susamın hem insanların fiziksel sağlığına katkıda bulunduğu hem de kültürel açıdan çok önemli bir konuma sahip olduğu söylenebilir. Makalede çivi yazılı kaynaklar ışığında Mezopotamya toplumlarının temel besin kaynaklarından olan susamın beslenme, din, yemek kültürü ve tıp gibi çeşitli alanlarda kullanımına yer verilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı dünya kültür mirasının oluşmasında önemli katkılar sağlayan Eski Mezopotamya’da susamın kullanım alanlarını incelemektir.
Bir Akıllı Kent Uygulaması Olarak Dijital İkiz Teknolojisinin Kent Planlaması ve Yönetimi Sürecindeki Rolü
Authors: Aslan Muhammed Miraç
Published: October 2024

Kentlerin artan nüfusu, genişleyen hizmet alanı, konjonktürel gelişmelere bağlı olarak insan ihtiyaçlarının kentlerde yeni hizmetleri ortaya çıkarması, göç, iklim değişikliği, dirençlilik vb. birçok etmen kentlerin üzerindeki baskıyı artırmaktadır. Kentlerde artan baskıya bağlı olarak kent yönetimleri birçok sorunla karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Gelinen bu durumda kentlerin sorun ve ihtiyaçlarına cevap verebilmeleri için hizmet sunumunda geleneksel yöntemler yerine yenilikçi ve sürdürülebilir yöntemlere başvurmaları gerekmektedir. Akıllı kent uygulamaları, kentlerin sorun ve ihtiyaçlarına sunmakta oldukları yenilikçi ve sürdürülebilir çözümlerle, kentlerin yeni çözüm ortağını oluşturmaktadır. Bir akıllı kent uygulaması olarak dijital ikizin kentlerde kullanımı ve sağladığı katkılar bu çalışmada incelenmektedir. Altyapı, ulaşım, çevre, enerji yönetimi, vb. birçok alanda sunulan hizmetlerin doğrudan ve dolaylı olarak içerisinde yer alan dijital ikiz, üretmiş olduğu çözümlerle etkin hizmet sunumuna katkı sağladığı gibi yanlış yatırımların da önüne geçilmesini sağlamaktadır. Dünya’da ve Türkiye’de kullanılmakta olan dijital ikize ilişkin iyi uygulama örnekleri, kentsel hizmet alanlarında kentlerin ihtiyaçlarına uygun çözümler üretildiğini göstermektedir. Buradan hareketle kentlerin planlanmasından, kentsel hizmetlerin uygulamaya alınması ve geliştirilmesi sürecine kadar birçok aşamada dijital ikiz teknolojisinden yararlanıldığı görülmektedir. Dolasıyla bu çalışmada, dijital ikiz, kentlerin planlaması ve yönetimi sürecinde etkin rol üstlenmekte olduğu sonucu ortaya çıkmaktadır. Çalışmanın sonuç bölümünde dijital ikizin kullanımında karşılaşılabilecek sorunlara ve engellere yer verilerek, birtakım çözüm önerileri sunulmaktadır.
History Teaching as a Tool of Patriotic Education and Political Propaganda in the Russian Education System – Patterns of the Past and Modern Tendencies
Authors: Matolinets Tatiana
Published: October 2024

This study is devoted to the role of history as a tool of patriotic education and political propaganda in the modern system of Russian education. The article aims to analyze the structure and relationship of political propaganda and patriotic education in history lessons in Russian schools, observing the principle of historicism and the value approach. Russia's ideological and political peculiarities within the country and in the world are considered. The study applies the content analysis of Russian history textbooks for 10th grade after the unified concept of studying history which brought to a uniform learning history system in all schools (2013), revealing changes in the content of patriotic education and political propaganda. This method is used to analyze the characteristics of information sources and assess whether the content corresponds to accurate historical sources in the light of modern domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation.
Stylistic Development of Ragamala Paintings in 17th Century Mewar
Authors: Lahoti Supriya
Published: October 2024

The state of Mewar was known for its resistance against the Mughals, a defiance also reflected in its art. The narrative painting style in Mewar, rooted in the indigenous Chaurapanchasika style, resisted adopting the Mughal visual idiom for most of the 17th century. In this study, we discuss the origins of the Mewar school of art, exemplified by one of the earliest folios, the Bhairavi Ragini from the 16th century, and trace the evolution of this art form in conjunction with political developments. The emergence of a distinct Mewari style began with the Chawand Ragamala of 1605. By 1628, a ‘mature Mewar’ style developed under artist Sahibdin, who assimilated diverse influences to create a unique local style. However, after Sahibdin, there was a decline in artistic innovation. During the reigns of Rana Raj and Jai Singh (1652-98), the school progressed a little, continuing along the trends set by Sahibdin. The Gem Palace and Boston Ragamalas later emerged as significant works due to their innovative reinterpretation of the Ragamala theme. By the end of the 17th century, while court art and portraiture thrived, traditional subjects like the Ragamala remained conservative and were less influenced by Mughal styles. This study posits that Mewar’s Ragamala paintings highlight Mewar’s cultural resilience and selective adaptation of external artistic elements and examines the stylistic development of Ragamala paintings in 17th-century Mewar, contextualising artistic explorations within political factors and patronage.
Stone and Beyond: Early Assimilative Approaches in Contemporary Indian Stone Sculpture with Reference to Latika Katt, Pandeya Rajivanayan, Brij Mohan Sharma, and Valsan Koorma Kolleri
Authors:   Department of Plastic Art, Faculty of Visual Art, Banaras Hindu University. Presently on deputation as Principal & Centre Director, Stone Artisan Park Training Institute (SAPTI), Ambaji, Gujarat, Dutt Dr. Nitin
Published: October 2024

In a globalized world, the exchange of ideas, awareness, technology, economic liberalization, and the downfall of paradigms have led to the collapse of boundaries between various forms of visual arts. Achieving a communicable expression has attained primacy for practitioners of visual arts. In India, the practice of stone sculpture-making stands witness to some unique instances of stone being juxtaposed with other mediums and forms of expression. While material exploration and understanding of the medium is inherent to the practice of sculpture, the paper investigated how some of the contemporary sculptors engaged with stone, further refined their expression and possibilities of stone by assimilating it with other materials and forms of expression. Driven by their organic and inner compulsion, these sculptors meaningfully extended the medium of stone by imparting their expression with a strong sense of contemporaneity and sculptural inquiry.
Monitoring meteorological drought in Hoa Vang district, Da Nang City, using Google Earth Engine and satellite-derived precipitation data combined with ground-based weather stations
Authors: Hanh Le Ngoc , Thi An Tran , Son Nguyen Hoang , Lang Le Phuc Chi , Van An Nguyen , Thuy Linh Nguyen
Published: October 2024

Monitoring the drought progression over time is a critical responsibility to identify the changing trends of this phenomenon. This study aims to assess drought hazard based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) using satellite-derived precipitation combined with ground station data on the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform. The study employs the Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope method to evaluate the reliability of the SPI 1, 3, 6, 9, and SPI12 indices. The results show that SPI12 values have the highest reliability, 12/12 months having p values <0.05. In addition, the study also combines rainfall data collected from the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS) and field observational data to assess the correlation with SPI calculated from CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation). Results demonstrate that the SPI12 derived from CHIRPS correlates well with SPI12 from CHRS and observational data, as evidenced by the statistical coefficients. Furthermore, the study simulated the characteristics of droughts across the Hoa Vang district based on the Inverse Distance Weighting interpolation to assess the fluctuations of SPI values. The research findings facilitate understanding the impacts of droughts on the natural environment and socio-economics, especially in the agricultural sector in Hoa Vang district, Da Nang City.
Hydro-meteorological drought predictions and trend analysis for ungauged watersheds in the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia, under future climate change impact scenarios
Authors: Wubneh Melsew A. , Alemu Mikhael G. , Sahlu Dejene , Kifelew Mekash S.
Published: October 2024

Climate-change risks impact nations and it is essential to model climates to investigate potential meteorological and hydrological droughts at the selected ungauged watersheds (Gilgel Abay, Gumara, Megech, and Ribb). The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) were used to analyze meteorological droughts for six- and 12-month periods and for hydrological droughts, the Streamflow Drought Index (SDI) was used. All indices were studied under near (2020–2049) and mid-future (2050–2079) periods using representative concentration pathways (RCPs) of 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The result shows that 18.10% of maximum hydrological drought (SDI12) frequency occurred for all scenarios and time-domains except RCP8.5 in the near-period. The highest drought annual time-scale (SPI12) and regional time-scale (RDI12) droughts were recorded at close intervals at 19.83% frequency under the near-period of both scenarios, respectively. The spatiotemporal distribution of meteorological drought at ungauged Megech is more vulnerable to extreme drought with the maximum magnitude recorded in SPI6 and RDI6 (about 3.5) by 2060 under RCP4.5. The SDI6 index also indicates that ungauged Gilgel Abay may experience acute drought shortly. This study is highly significant, particularly for climate researchers looking to implement climate-adaptation mechanisms in the Lake Tana sub-basin.
Predicting possible bank erosion and bed incision in the Zhengzhou Reach of the Yellow River with hydrodynamic modeling
Authors: Yan Chaode , Boota Muhammad Waseem , Soomro Shan-e-hyder , Xia Haoming , Qin Yaochen , Azeem Syed Shahid , Dou Ming , Yan Xu , Wang Linyao
Published: October 2024

The Zhengzhou Reach of the Yellow River (YR) frequently undergoes significant channel changes during flooding, leading to bank erosion, deposition, and bed incision. These changes result in adverse impacts such as land loss, channel movement, and overbank flooding. This study proposes a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model combined with rough set theory (RST) to simulate these phenomena in the alluvial channel of the YR. The model was calibrated and validated using data from 2006 to 2018. Results demonstrate that the model accurately predicts bank erosion and bed incision, with predicted widths closely matching measured data. The mean error was 14 m in 2006 and 18 m in 2018. The most severe erosion was observed 78 m downstream of Huayuankou, with the river bed incised by 3.7–4.9 m along the right bank. Based on RST, the shear stress, velocity, width/depth ratio, gradient, suspended sediment, and bed load are the dominating factors that affect the channel-shape changes. These findings will aid in implementing river-engineering strategies and provide guidance for managing similar channel reaches. This research highlights the effectiveness of a coupled model for predicting morphological changes in river systems, thereby contributing to better flood management and river bank protection strategies.
Gene Augmentation Techniques to Stimulate Wound Healing Process: Progress and Prospects
Authors: Dwivedi Jyotsana , Kaushal Shubhi , Jeslin D. , Karpagavalli L. , Kumar Rajesh , Dev Dhruv , Wal Pranay
Published: October 2024

Gene therapy has traditionally been used to treat individuals with late-stage cancers or
congenital abnormalities. Numerous prospects for therapeutic genetic modifications have emerged
with the discovery that gene therapy applications are far more extensive, particularly in skin and exterior
wounds. Cutaneous wound healing is a complex, multistep process involving multiple steps
and mediators that operate in a network of activation and inhibition processes. This setting presents
a unique obstacle for gene delivery. Many gene delivery strategies have been developed, including
liposomal administration, high-pressure injection, viral transfection, and the application of bare
DNA. Among several gene transfer techniques, categorical polymers, nanoparticles, and liposomalbased
constructs show great promise for non-viral gene transfer in wounds. Clinical experiments
have shown that efficient transportation of certain polypeptides to the intended wound location is a
crucial factor in wound healing. Genetically engineered cells can be used to produce and control the
delivery of specific growth factors, thereby addressing the drawbacks of mechanically administered
recombinant growth factors. We have discussed how repair mechanisms are based on molecules
and cells, as well as their breakdown, and provided an overview of the methods and research conducted
on gene transmission in tissue regeneration.
Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Mortality Rates Among the Elderly Populations Across the United States: An Analysis of Demographic and Regional Disparities from 1999 to 2020
Authors: Khan Abdul Hadi , Ijaz Eman , Ubaid Bushra , Eddaki Ilias , Edhi Maliha , Shah Muhammad Nauman , Perry George
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and a significant
public health concern, characterized by high incidence, mortality, and economic burden. This
study analyzes the mortality patterns and demographic disparities in Alzheimer's disease-related
deaths among the elderly population in the United States from 1999 through 2020.

Methods:

Alzheimer's disease mortality data for individuals 65 and older were obtained from the
CDC WONDER database, utilizing ICD-10 codes G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, and G30.9 for identification.
Demographic and regional variables included age, gender, race/ethnicity, place of death, urban-
rural status, and geographic region. Crude death rates (CR) and age-adjusted mortality rates
(AAMR) per 100,000 individuals were calculated. Joinpoint Regression Program 5.0.2 was used
to analyze trends, calculating Annual Percentage Changes (APCs) and Average Annual Percentage
Changes (AAPCs).

Results:

From 1999 to 2020, 1,852,432 deaths were attributed to AD among individuals aged 65
and older. The AAMR increased from 128.8 in 1999 to 254.3 in 2020, with an AAPC of 2.99%
(95% CI = 2.61-3.48). The age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) was higher in females (218.5)
than in males (163.5). Among racial and ethnic groups, non-Hispanic whites had the highest
AAMR, followed by Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics. Regionally, the West reported the highest
AAMR, while the Northeast recorded the lowest. Most deaths occurred in nursing homes
(57.3%), with a significant portion also occurring at decedents' homes (22.4%).

Conclusion:

AD mortality rates in the U.S. have risen significantly, with notable disparities
across age, gender, race, and geographic regions. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions
and research to address the growing burden of AD, particularly among the most affected
demographic groups.
Antioxidant and Chemopreventive Potential of Uraria picta Root Extracts against DMBA/croton Oil Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice
Authors: Kadian Jai P. , Kaushik Madan L.
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer and is a serious concern to
public health and the economy. Although, various treatment strategies are available but have several
undesirable side effects. To combat these drawbacks, phytoconstituents or herbs can be the best
choice. Uraria picta (prishniparni) is a potential herb used in various herbal formulations, important
of which is Dasmularishta.

Methods:

Thus, the present study aims to investigate the antioxidant and chemopreventive potential
of U. picta root extract as an alternative for skin cancer prevention or treatment. The powdered
plant material was successively extracted with petroleum ether, methanol, and water. The
obtained methanol and aqueous extracts were studied for antioxidant activity via DPPH free radical
scavenging assay using butylated hydroxytoluene as a standard. Both the extracts showed significant
antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 9.17 and 15.6 μg/mL, respectively while BHT had
IC50 value of 7.03 μg/mL. Female Swiss albino mice were selected for the study and randomly divided
into 7 groups having 6 animals each. The skin carcinogenesis was induced using a single application
of DMBA on dorsal shaved skin and promoted by applying croton oil twice weekly till
the end of the study i.e. 16 weeks.

Results:

Both the extracts showed the chemopreventive potential in a dose-dependent manner.
The most significant activity was observed with the methanol extract at 400 mg/kg, p.o. dose. The
present study showed significant antioxidant and antitumorigenic activity of the methanol extract
of U. picta roots against chemical-induced skin papillomagenesis.

Conclusion:

The precise mechanism of action and constituents responsible for the activity are still
under further study.
Study on the Influence of Curing Conditions on the Inhomogeneity of Lightweight Ceramsite Concrete Wallboard
Authors: Bu Changming , Yang Qian , Shi Yangxi , Zhu Dongxu , Sun Yi , Yang Haiyan , Zhan Jianchuan
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Due to the segregation of lightweight aggregate concrete, there is a phenomenon
of uneven distribution of ceramsite (aggregate) in commercial ceramsite concrete, lightweight
wallboard, which the specific performance of wallboard can reflect.

Method:

In this paper, the non-uniformity of six commercial ceramsite concrete wallboards with
different curing conditions was analyzed. Six wallboards were cut into 648 samples and photographed,
and ImageJ image analysis technology was combined to analyze the non-uniformity of the
ceramsite concrete wallboard under different curing conditions in terms of the proportion of ceramsite
particle area, density, compressive strength, and ultrasonic velocity. At the same time, the reasons
for the difference in wallboard performance under different curing methods were explained from the
microscopic perspective by investigating the ITZ interface.

Result:

Compared with natural curing, sealing curing can significantly optimize the performance
distribution of the wallboard and effectively improve the inhomogeneity of the wallboard. The average
density of the specimen is increased by about 13%, and the average compressive strength by
about 20%. The maximum density of the wallboard samples is increased by 105 kg/m3, which is
about 15% higher than that of the naturally cured wallboard.

Conclusion:

This paper quantifies the magnitude of the effect of sealing curing on wallboards and
provides a basis for the selection of curing methods for ceramsite concrete wallboards.
Apigenin's Influence on Inflammatory and Epigenetic Responses in Rat Lungs After Radiotherapy
Authors: Rajabinasab Fatemeh , Hajimirzaei Pooya , Ramezani Fatemeh , Moayer Fariborz , Gorjipour Fazel , Nikoofar Alireza , Hasanzadeh Leila , Hamblin Michael R. , Janzadeh Atousa , Paydar Reza
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

The lung is a moderately radio-sensitive organ. When cells are damaged
due to accidental radiation exposure or treatment, they release molecules that lead to the recruitment
of immune cells, accumulating inflammatory cytokines at the site of damage. Apigenin
(Api) is a natural flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated
the radioprotective properties of Api in the lung.

Methods:

Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned to nine groups: control, radiation (Rad),
CMC+Rad, Api10+Rad, and Api20+Rad. Api was administered with an intraperitoneal injection
for 7 days, after which the rats were irradiated with 6 Gy whole-body X-ray. At 6 and 72 hours
post-irradiation, the rats were euthanized, and their lung tissue was extracted.

Results:

Radiation led to increased alveolar wall thickness and the infiltration of macrophages and
lymphocytes. Furthermore, the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as a nuclear factor
of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NF-ĸB), Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta
(GSK-3β), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), and epigenetic factors including DNA
methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) and Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) were elevated in the lung
tissue following radiation. Meanwhile, the expression level of IκB-α decreased. However, administration
of Api (at both 10&20 mg/kg) reversed the adverse effects of radiation.

Conclusion:

Api administration mitigated radiation-induced lung damage by reversing inflammatory
and epigenetic changes.
PATCH BASED STEREO MATCHING USING CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK
Authors:   Jai Narain Vyas University, India, Verma Rachna , Verma Arvind Kumar ,   Jai Narain Vyas University, India
Published: October 2024

The paper presents a new Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture, called stacked stereo CNN, for computing disparity map from stereo images. In stacked stereo CNN, left and right image patches are stacked back-to-back and fed to a single tower CNN. This is in contrast to Siamese network where two towers are used, one for the left patch and other for the right patch. The proposed network is trained on a large set of similar and dissimilar image patches, which are generated from stereo images and their ground truth images from Middlebury stereo datasets. The network returns a dissimilarity score for a pair of image patch which is used to compute the cost volume. The cost volume is further refined using post processing steps before generating the final disparity map. The proposed network is evaluated on Middlebury datasets and achieves comparable results to the state-of-art algorithms.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB-GIS PLATFORM FOR MONITORING OF VEGETATION STATUS
Authors:   Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, India, V Gaikwad Sandeep , D Vibhute Amol ,   MIT World Peace University, India, V Kale Karbhari ,   Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, India
Published: October 2024

The systematic analysis of crop condition monitoring using high spatial resolution satellite images is significant for decision-making and agricultural food production management. In the present paper, the web-GIS system has been designed and developed to accumulate spatial information, computing vegetation indices, and highlight Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes. The developed system was tested using Landsat-8 satellite images. The system preprocesses the Landsat-8 images for obtaining better surface reflectance, spatial and temporal resolutions and computes vegetation indices for crop condition monitoring. The developed web-GIS system provides an online mapping tool, vegetation indices statistics, download function with various standard formats, opacity function, image overlay, project wizard, and Geo-Mapper Application. Additionally, the system also offers vegetation status maps and its statistical values, which utilizes in further applications. In conclusion, the web-GIS system affords a dynamic user interface, which is useful for decision support and near real-time data with its comprehensive abilities.
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS ON MEDICAL IMAGE CLASSIFICATION FOR DENGUE DETECTION USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK CLASSIFIER
Authors:   Government College of Engineering, Thirussur, India, P K Swaraj , G Kiruthiga ,   IES College of Engineering, India
Published: October 2024

Dengue is regarded as a serious threats to humanity, globally and this is a vital disease with huge spreading of virus that affects the health of humans. The virus is spreading at a rapid rate through mosquitoes that even may kill the one who is affected with dengue. In this paper, we develop a quick response system that certainly finds the disease through a faster validation process. The study uses artificial neural network (ANN) as a deep learning model that classifies and predicts the condition or the infection status of a patient. The study uses a pre-processing model and a feature extraction model to prepare the image datasets for classification. The simulation is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the model over dengue image datasets i.e. the blood samples of humans. The validation shows that the proposed method effectively classifies the patients in a faster manner than the other deep learning models.
CLASSIFICATION OF CERVICAL CANCER IN WOMEN USING CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK
Authors:   Gnanamani College of Technology, India, M Ramkumar , R Manikandan ,   The Quaide Milleth College for Men, India, M Punithavalli ,   Rathinam Technical Campus, India, V S Akshaya ,   Sri Eshwar College of Engineering, India, Madasamy Shanmugaraj ,   Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland
Published: October 2024

Cervical cancer is regarded as a serious threats to humanity, globally and this is a vital disease with huge spreading of virus that affects the health of humans. The virus is spreading at a rapid rate through mosquitoes that even may kill the one who is affected with cervical cancer. In this paper, we develop a quick response system that certainly finds the disease through a faster validation process. The study uses Deep Neural Network (DNN) as a deep learning model that classifies and predicts the condition or the infection status of a patient. The study uses a pre-processing model and a feature extraction model to prepare the image datasets for classification. The simulation is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the model over cervical cancer image datasets i.e. the blood samples of humans. The validation shows that the proposed method effectively classifies the patients in a faster manner than the other deep learning models.
FRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIATION-BASED EDGE ENERGY DRIVEN ACTIVE CONTOURS FOR ROBUST IMAGE SEGMENTATION
Authors:   Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, India, Khanna Srikanth , V Chandrasekaran ,   Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, India
Published: October 2024

In this paper, a new fractional differentiation-based active contour model for robust image segmentation is presented. A new edge energy is introduced, in which the contour evolution is driven by the difference between the fractional derivatives directed along the inward and outward normal directions of the evolving contour. We provide the level set formulation of this novel energy and show that this energy is minimized when there is an accurate alignment of the zeroth level set of the evolving contour with the actual object boundary. The proposed model outperforms other state-of-the-art active contour methods in eliciting weak/fuzzy boundaries in real world images and provides robust segmentation even under influence of various types of noise as quantified by segmentation metrics.