bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of subsidies on tecnical efficiency of Algerian agricultural sector: using stochastic frontier model (SFA)
Authors: Moulay Ali Houari , Guellil Mohammed Seghir , Mokhtari Fayçal , Tsabet Abderrahmane 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study seeks to determine the impact of agricultural subsidies on the efficiency of Algerian farms. To do so, we estimated a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) for Algerian data covering the period from1970 to 2020. Two variables were used to describe the agricultural subsidy: the first is total agricultural support, and the second is a dummy variable that takes the values 0 and 1 to express the coupling of subsidies to production. The variable of support for agriculture production and producers takes the value of one (1) in the era when the support is not related to production (decoupled support). It takes the value zero (0) when there is explicit support for production and producers (coupled support).The findings revealed that total subsidies had a negative impact and statistically significant on the technical efficiency of Algerian farms. While, the decoupling has a positive effect on efficiency (negative on inefficiency), but without significance.
A hybrid approach for rice crop disease detection in agricultural IoT system
Authors: Wang Yu , Rajkumar Dhamodharan Udaya Suriya , Sarwar Nadeem , Almalki Faris A. , Naith Qamar H. , R Sathiyaraj , D Mohan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAgriculture is an essential sector that plays a necessary role in the economic improvement of a country. Prediction of plant diseases at the earliest stage may result in better yield and sustainable for growing population. The conventional method necessitates highly skilled inspectors to identify the phenotypic expression of different diseases. Alternatively, biochemical technologies offer more precise means of obtaining crop disease information by analyzing susceptible rice. However, these methods are time-consuming, expensive, reliant on laboratories, and require skilled professionals, rendering them unaffordable for most farmers. The paper aims to propose a solution to prevent infection at the earliest stage for the benefit of farmers. A novel crop disease detection model deploying a deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DC-GAN) and with multidimensional feature compensation Residual Neural Network (MDFC-ResNet) and named as DC-GAN-MDFC–ResNet, which aims at fine grained disease identification system detects from three aspects, bacterial leaf blight, leaf streak and panicle blight. Initially the input data undergone preprocessing using the several processes like data improvement, data normalization, and Singular value decomposition (SVD) to reduce the negative influence that the data set has on the training of the model. When compared to traditional convolution models, the suggested DC-GAN-MDFC–ResNet architecture exhibits in terms of highest classification accuracy, Segmentation free methodology and training stability. The experiments done in this work using Plant Village dataset which show the proposed technique offering improved recognition with the rate of 95.99% accuracy and generating higher quality samples compared to other well-known deep learning models.
Delineating the uranium anomalous zones using remote sensing and radiometric data: a case study from Gabal Umm Tinassib area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Assran Assran Sayed Mohamed , El Qassas Reda Abdu Yousef , Ahmed Mohamed Salaheldin Zakaria , Abdel-Fattah Tharwat Ahmed , el Maghrapy Magdy Mahmoud Samy , Diab Hassan Ibrahim , Othman Manal Mohamed 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRemote sensing (RS) and airborne gamma-ray spectrometric (AGS) methods are utilized to delineate significant uranium zones and altered mineralization areas in Gabal Umm Tinassib and its surrounding region, situated in the northern section of the Egyptian Eastern Desert. AGS serves as a valuable tool for mapping surface geology and conducting mineral exploration. It assesses the concentrations of radioactive elements such as potassium (K), equivalent uranium (eU), and equivalent thorium (eTh). The concentration of radioelements exhibits measurable and significant variation according to lithology. On the other hand, several processing steps are employed for the RS data to generate high-quality images for geological mapping and to identify the mineralized alteration zones. The analysis of RS and AGS data in this study led to insightful conclusions. The utilization of False Color Composite (FCC) with the three best bands derived from the Optimum Index Factor (OIF), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to extract two highly informative datasets, and the application of two band ratios contributed to accurate geological mapping. These band ratios notably identified identical alteration locations on both younger and older granite basement rocks. Additionally, the constrained energy minimization (CEM) technique effectively pinpointed alterations across these strata. The statistical analysis of AGS data revealed that radioactivity levels in the region range from 1.3 to 19.3 Ur for the total-count (TC), 0.2–3.6% for K, 0.09–11.6 ppm for eU, and 1.1–30.0 ppm for eTh. The estimated coefficient of variability (CoV) demonstrated that the three radio-elements exhibited normal distribution patterns across different rock units, with CoV values of less than 100%, except for K in the Malha Formation. High radiometric readings are observed in the outcroppings of younger and older granites. However, the lowest readings are recorded over undifferentiated Upper-Cretaceous sediments, Abu Rimth Formation, Galala Formation, and some parts of Quaternary sediments. The derived ternary radio-elements map highlights significant radiometric and related uranium anomalous zones as bright white regions. A strong correlation was found between high radiometric anomalous zones and the presumed occurrence of alteration zones in the study area.
Effects of environmental metal and metalloid pollutants on plants and human health: exploring nano-remediation approach
Authors: Rajput Priyadarshani , Singh Abhishek , Agrawal Shreni , Ghazaryan Karen , Rajput Vishnu D. , Movsesyan Hasmik , Mandzhieva Saglara , Minkina Tatiana , Alexiou Athanasios 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMetal and metalloid pollutants severely threatens environmental ecosystems and human health, necessitating effective remediation strategies. Nanoparticle (NPs)-based approaches have gained significant attention as promising solutions for efficient removing heavy metals from various environmental matrices. The present review is focused on green synthesized NPs-mediated remediation such as the implementation of iron, carbon-based nanomaterials, metal oxides, and bio-based NPs. The review also explores the mechanisms of NPs interactions with heavy metals, including adsorption, precipitation, and redox reactions. Critical factors influencing the remediation efficiency, such as NPs size, surface charge, and composition, are systematically examined. Furthermore, the environmental fate, transport, and potential risks associated with the application of NPs are critically evaluated. The review also highlights various sources of metal and metalloid pollutants and their impact on human health and translocation in plant tissues. Prospects and challenges in translating NPs-based remediation from laboratory research to real-world applications are proposed. The current work will be helpful to direct future research endeavors and promote the sustainable implementation of metal and metalloid elimination.
Psychological distress, wellbeing and resilience: modelling adolescent mental health profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Butter Sarah , Shevlin Mark , Gibson-Miller Jilly , McBride Orla , Hartman Todd K. , Bentall Richard P. , Bennett Kate , Murphy Jamie , Mason Liam , Martinez Anton P. , Levita Liat 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThere has been concern about adolescent mental health during the pandemic. The current study examined adolescent mental health during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Using indicator of psychological distress, wellbeing and resilience, latent profile analysis was used to identify homogeneous mental health groups among young people aged 13–24 (N = 1971). Multinomial logistic regression was then used to examine which sociodemographic and psychosocial variables predicted latent class membership. Four classes were found. The largest class (Class 1, 37.2%) was characterised by moderate symptomology and moderate wellbeing. Class 2 (34.2%) was characterised by low symptomology and high wellbeing, while Class 3 (25.4%) was characterised by moderate symptomology and high wellbeing. Finally, Class 4 was the smallest (3.2%) and was characterised by high symptomology and low wellbeing. Compared to the low symptomology, high wellbeing class, all other classes were associated with less social engagement with friends, poorer family functioning, greater somatic symptoms, and a less positive model of self. A number of unique associations between the classes and predictor variables were identified. Although around two-thirds of adolescents reported moderate-to-high symptomology, most of these individuals also reported concurrent moderate-to-high levels of wellbeing, reflecting resilience. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate how a more comprehensive picture of mental health can be gained through adopting a dual-continua conceptualisation of mental health that incorporates both pathology and well-being. In this way, at-risk youth can be identified and interventions and resources targeted appropriately.
Water in Yorùbá (Southwest Nigeria) religious belief and practices
Authors: Raheem Oluwafunminiyi Wasiu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAmong the Yorùbá, one of the three largest ethnic groups primarily based in southwest Nigeria, water holds several meanings which are usually demonstrated in its capacity as a regenerating and degenerating power. To draw upon its affirming quality and elude its caustic powers, the Yorùbá exhibit strong reverence for water and, therefore, give critical attention to it. This reverence manifests through various ritual observances and religious rites that may include the presentation of non-human life or blood or any other acceptable ritual material. In the literature, water is presented ordinarily in its fluid state or as a ‘staple’ consumed to sustain human, animal and plant life as well as satisfy all kinds of human needs. Among the Yorùbá, however, water is approached in a different light and beyond its mere physical state. Drawing on Yorùbá verbal texts such asodù ifá(divinatory poems or texts) andòwe(proverbs), oral interviews and secondary sources, I present a hermeneutic approach to the intrinsic capacity of water within the context of Yorùbá religious belief and practices. I also examine water as a numinous power in Yorùbá culture and myths. I argue that the Yorùbá people’s reverence for water informs the diverse religious and cultural practices that manifest across sites where sacred water bodies are situated and why verbal formulations have been developed to explain water’s ‘extraordinary’ powers.
Utilization of waste marble dust as cement and sand replacement in concrete
Authors: Ali Sajjad , Ahmad Salar , Ullah Ikram 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn this paper, CaCO3 waste marble dust (WMD) has been utilized in the production of concrete. Raw materials (Cement, Sand, WMD and Crush) were collected from Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Concrete cubes were molded in the laboratory and investigated by XRD. Effect of WMD addition to the concrete was studied. It was reported that 10% addition of WMD as cement replacement showed enhanced performance of the compressive strength as compared to sand replaced WMD blended concrete. Increment in WMD contents beyond 10% resulted in significant decrement of compressive strength. Substituting WMD with cement resulted in a decrement of 29.76%, while with sand, the decrement was 6.09%. Concrete made with cement replaced WMD showed the lowest water absorption rate over 7 days curing as compared to sand replaced (intermediate water absorption) and clean concrete (highest water absorption) samples.
Graphical Abstract
Líĺwat Climbers Could See the Ocean from the Peak of Qẃelqẃelústen: Evaluating Oral Traditions with Viewshed Analyses from the Mount Meager Volcanic Complex Prior to Its 2360 BP Eruption
Authors: Angelbeck Bill , Springer Chris , Jones Johnny , Williams-Jones Glyn , Wilson Michael C. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAmong Líĺwat people of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia, an oral tradition relays how early ancestors used to ascend Qẃelqẃelústen, or Mount Meager. The account maintains that those climbers could see the ocean, which is not the case today, because the mountain is surrounded by many other high peaks, and the Strait of Georgia is several mountain ridges to the west. However, the mountain is an active and volatile volcano, which last erupted circa 2360 cal BP. It is also the site of the largest landslide in Canadian history, which occurred in 2010. Given that it had been a high, glacier-capped mountain throughout the Holocene, much like other volcanoes along the coastal range, we surmise that a climber may have reasonably been afforded a view of the ocean from its prior heights. We conducted viewshed analyses of the potential mountain height prior to its eruption and determined that one could indeed view the ocean if the mountain were at least 950 m higher than it is today. This aligns with the oral tradition, indicating that it may be over 2,400 years old, and plausibly in the range of 4,000 to 9,000 years old when the mountain may have been at such a height.
‘Palermo is a mosaic’: cosmopolitan rhetoric in the capital of Sicily
Authors: Wyer Sean 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe political messaging of Leoluca Orlando, who served five terms as mayor of Sicily's capital, Palermo (most recently, until 2022), articulates a cosmopolitan vision of local identity. Orlando seeks to emphasise Palermo's ‘tolerant’ values, invoking the city's history to foster this image, as well as using a variety of rhetorical strategies. He portrays Palermo as having a true ‘essence’, which is necessarily multicultural. I analyse Orlando's pronouncements on his official Facebook page, as well as observing his audience's reactions to his messaging, both supportive and critical. I examine how Orlando articulates the narrative that Palermo has historically been a ‘mosaic’ of various cultural influences, proposing that the contemporary city is the ‘true’, welcoming face of the Mediterranean. As well as exploring the political utility Orlando sees in such arguments, I analyse the risks inherent in this essentialising project.
Rotation of the globular cluster population of the dark matter deficient galaxy NGC 1052-DF4: Implication for the total mass
Authors: Li Yuan , Brewer Brendon J. , Lewis Geraint 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
We explore the globular cluster population of NGC 1052-DF4, a dark matter deficient galaxy, using Bayesian inference to search for the presence of rotation. The existence of such a rotating component is relevant to the estimation of the mass of the galaxy, and therefore the question of whether NGC 1052-DF4 is truly deficient of dark matter, similar to NGC 1052-DF2, another galaxy in the same group. The rotational characteristics of seven globular clusters in NGC 1052-DF4 were investigated, finding that a non-rotating kinematic model has a higher Bayesian evidence than a rotating model, by a factor of approximately 2.5. In addition, we find that under the assumption of rotation, its amplitude must be small. This distinct lack of rotation strengthens the case that, based on its intrinsic velocity dispersion, NGC 1052-DF4 is a truly dark matter deficient galaxy.
Men of Color, Linked Fate, and Support for Women of Color Candidates
Authors: Matos Yalidy , Sanbonmatsu Kira 
Published: May 2024

AbstractScholars are increasingly interested in “of color” identities. Yet, studies of “of color” identities have neglected attention to the gendered identities of men who could be categorized as “of color.” Meanwhile, women of color are playing a growing role in US politics as candidates and elected officials but are underrepresented in comparison with their presence in the population. We investigate whether Black and Latino men express a “men of color” linked fate and whether it has implications for support for women candidates of color. We seek to understand how Black and Latino men’s gender, race, and “of color” identities impact their evaluations of women candidates who are Black, Latina, and “of color” to better understand coalitional possibilities across gender and race lines. We find that Black and Latino men subscribe to “men of color” linked fate, with political consequences.
Understanding the mechanisms underlying cognitive control in psychosis
Authors: Maitra R. , Lemmers-Jansen I. L. J. , Vooren M. , Vanes Lucy , Szentgyorgyi Timea , Crisp Charlotte , Mouchlianitis Elias , Shergill S. S. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundCognitive control (CC) involves a top–down mechanism to flexibly respond to complex stimuli and is impaired in schizophrenia.MethodsThis study investigated the impact of increasing complexity of CC processing in 140 subjects with psychosis and 39 healthy adults, with assessments of behavioral performance, neural regions of interest and symptom severity.ResultsThe lowest level of CC (Stroop task) was impaired in all patients; the intermediate level of CC (Faces task) with explicit emotional information was most impaired in patients with first episode psychosis. Patients showed activation of distinct neural CC and reward networks, but iterative learning based on the higher-order of CC during the trust game, was most impaired in chronic schizophrenia. Subjects with first episode psychosis, and patients with lower symptom load, demonstrate flexibility of the CC network to facilitate learning, which appeared compromised in the more chronic stages of schizophrenia.ConclusionThese data suggest optimal windows for opportunities to introduce therapeutic interventions to improve CC.
Control framework of the ROBILAUT soil sampling robot: system overview and experimental results
Authors: Di Vito Daniele , Di Lillo Paolo , Arrichiello Filippo , Ferone Cesare , Amico Raffaele , Antonelli Gianluca 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The paper presents the control architecture of a crawler mobile robot designed and developed to sample potentially contaminated lands. The robot, developed in the framework of an Italian national project named ROBILAUT, carries a driller with a customized sampling mechanism to implement on-site the required quartering, and it is controlled to move the drilling device on specific points acquired in real time before the mission starts. The paper describes the software architecture for the navigation and control, focusing on the control framework of the robotic platform. Specifically, the robot exhibits a differential drive kinematics with actuators’ constraints, and two different control strategies have been experimentally tested for comparison both in a structured environment and in the real site in May 2023.
Housing Instability and Policy Considerations for Equitable Aging in Place in Canada
Authors: Wyndham-West C. Michelle , Dunn James R. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundIn this article, we apply a gender-based analysis plus framework to research the housing experiences of older, low-income adults living and aging in Hamilton. Low-income older adults with intersectional identities are at risk of not aging in place due to marginalization and housing instability.ObjectivePolicy currently homogenizes the experience of aging by sidelining intersectional factors that have a bearing on aging well in place. The research aims to develop policy recommendations to address this gap.MethodsSeveral methods captured the housing experiences of low-income older adults, including interviews, participant observation, and arts-based techniques.FindingsFindings illustrate how gender and intersectional factors shape both housing trajectories and agentive practices low-income adults utilize to try to age well and in place. These strategies encompass practicing cultural citizenship, which is a claim for inclusion when excluded from mainstream ideals of aging in place.DiscussionWe provide policy recommendations informed by participants’ lived experiences aimed at promoting equitable aging in place as fundamental to full citizenship.
The Association between Residential Environment and Self-Rated Mental Health among Older Canadians: The Moderating Effects of Education and Gender
Authors: Cheung Ethan Siu Leung 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study examined the associations between residential environment and self-rated mental health (SRMH) among Canadians aged 65 or older (n = 16,304) and whether education and gender moderated the associations. Data came from the 2018 Canadian Housing Survey. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to test the associations. Analyses revealed that increased dwelling size was associated with better SRMH among older women with high school education. Older adults with higher satisfaction with their dwelling design were more likely to report better SRMH, except for women with some college education. Feeling safer in the community was uniquely associated with better SRMH for men with high school education and women with a university degree. Results confirmed significant associations between specific home and residential environment features and SRMH for each gender-by-education group. Environmental programs designed to improve SRMH for older adult populations should consider within- and between-group diversity.
Increased difficulty accessing food and income change during the COVID-19 pandemic among youth living in the eThekwini district, South Africa
Authors: Jesson Julie , Zulu Bongiwe , Closson Kalysha , Basham C Andrew , Beksinska Mags , Dong Erica , Zharima Campion , Singh Rishav , Pakhomova Tatiana , Dietrich Janan , Kaida Angela 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective:
To estimate the effect of income change on difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic for South African youth and evaluate whether this effect was modified by receiving social grants.

Design:
A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Primary outcome was increased difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic. Income change was categorised as ‘Decreased a lot’, ‘Decreased slightly’ and ‘Unchanged or increased’. Multivariable logistic regressions were used, with an interaction term between social grant receipt and income change.

Setting:
eThekwini district, South Africa.

Participants:
Youth aged 16–24 years.

Results:
Among 1,620 participants, median age was 22 years (IQR 19–24); 861 (53 %) were women; 476 (29 %) reported increased difficulty accessing food; 297 (18 %) reported that income decreased a lot, of whom 149 (50 %) did not receive social grants. Experiencing a large income decrease was highly associated with increased difficulty accessing food during the COVID-19 pandemic (adjusted OR [aOR] 3·63, 95 % CI 2·70, 4·88). The aOR for the effect of a large income decrease on difficulty accessing food, compared to no income change, were 1·49 (95 % CI 0·98, 2·28) among participants receiving social grants, and 6·63 (95 % CI 4·39, 9·99) among participants not receiving social grants.

Conclusions:
While social grant support made a great difference in lowering the effect of income decrease on difficulty accessing food, it was insufficient to fully protect youth from those difficulties. In post-pandemic recovery efforts, there is a critical need to support youth through economic empowerment programming and food schemes.