4th International Research Articles

Introduction to special issue '12th International Botanical Microscopy Meeting'.

Introduction to special issue '12th International Botanical Microscopy Meeting'.

Predictive analysis of fuel oil consumption in vessels: interpretable modelling with emphasis on load conditions

ABSTRACT Fuel oil consumption (FOC) in vessels is influenced by various factors, with vessel load conditions being a critical determinant. This research aimed to develop an interpretable regression-based machine learning model, specifically an XGBoost Regressor, to predict FOC, and leveraged the analysis with Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques to enhance transparency and understanding of the factors affecting FOC in maritime operations. Hyperparameter tuning optimized model parameters, achieving a high R-squared (R2) value of 0.99. XAI methods clarified how operational (e.g., speed, load, draft) and environmental factors (e.g., wind, wave, current, sea state) contribute to FOC increases. As a result, operational factors, notably average draft, exerted a substantial influence, with an average draft of 18.425 m resulting in a significant increase in predicted FOC to 1,729.40 kg/h during the laden condition, compared to the base value of 1,496.82 kg/h. Additionally, environmental factors, particularly Relative Wind Angle, significantly impacted FOC prediction, with a Mean Absolute SHAP Value of 11.97 kg/h, notably higher than in ballast (2.59 kg/h) and empty (2.85 kg/h) conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored fuel efficiency strategies, as operational and environmental factors may vary in their impact across different loading conditions. ‘This article is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled “Predictive Analysis of Fuel Oil Consumption in Vessels: Interpretable Modeling with Emphasis on Load Conditions” presented at The 11th International Conference on Logistics and Maritime Systems (LOGMS 2023) on 6 September 2023 at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center (BPEX)’

Preface: 6th International Conference on Materials Science, Resource and Environmental Engineering (MSREE 2024)

This proceeding includes original and peer-reviewed research papers from the 6th International Conference on Materials Science, Resource and Environmental Engineering (MSREE 2024: http://www.msree.org), held on December 16-17, 2023 in Xi'an, China. The MSREE 2024 conference had three main topics: 1. Material Science and Engineering Applications; 2. Energy Science and Power Engineering; 3. Resource and Environmental Engineering. The aim of MSREE 2024 is to provide a platform for researchers, engineers, and academicians, as well as industrial professionals, to present their research results and development activities in materials science, energy technology, power engineering. It provides opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas and application experiences, to establish business or research relations and to find global partners for future collaboration. By submitting a paper to MSREE 2024, the authors agreed to the review process and understood that papers undergo a peer-review process. Manuscripts were reviewed by appropriately qualified experts in the field selected by the Conference Committee, who gave detailed comments and-if the submission was accepted the authors would submit a revised version that took into account this feedback. All papers were reviewed using a double-blind review process: authors declared their names and affiliations in the manuscript for the reviewers to see, but reviewers did not know each other’s identities, nor did the authors receive information about who had reviewed their manuscript. The Committees of MSREE 2024 invested great efforts in reviewing the papers submitted to the conference and organizing the sessions to enable the participants to gain maximum benefit. Qingwei Liu, Willie Jefferson Xi’an, China

Ultra Thin Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Development in South Africa

Ultra thin continuously reinforced concrete pavements (UTCRCP), in literature also referred to as Ultra Thin Heavy Reinforced High Performance Concrete (UTHRHPC), have been used in Europe successfully as a rehabilitation measure on steel bridge decks and reported on at the 5th International CROW workshop in Istanbul (2004). This concept has been explored further in South Africa for use as a road strengthening measure by constructing experimental sections of 50 mm UTCRCP directly on top of both natural gravel and cement-treated natural materials. During the experiment the composition of the UTCRCP layer was varied in terms of mix design, steel fibre type and content, reinforcing steel mesh diameter and spacing. To date a total of 10 experimental sections have been tested using the Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) and rendered structural lives that varied from 5 million to 90 million equivalent standard (80 kN) axles on medium to weak support structure. The results obtained were then evaluated through 3D-finite element modelling and the design was refined using laboratory tests. The refined UTCRCP design was then subjected to further HVS testing. The paper discusses the above process in more detail.

Conference report from the abstracts of the canine section at The 9th International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion, Utrecht 2023.

This conference report summarises the abstracts on canine locomotion research presented in The 9th International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion, discusses the most relevant literature in relation to the topics presented in the meeting and highlights the importance of canine locomotion in veterinary medicine.

Preface: 7th International Conference on Advances in Materials, Machinery, Electronics (AMME 2024)

This conference proceedings includes original and peer-reviewed research papers from the 7th International Conference on Advances in Materials, Machinery, Electronics (AMME 2024), and it was held on November 29-30, 2024 in Wuhan, China. The aims of the conference are to provide an interactive platform for the academicians, R & D organizations, industries, innovators, entrepreneurs, government agencies and policy-makers etc., from both China and abroad to exchange ideas on recent researches and advances in the domain of materials, machinery, electronics with its prospective application in the various interdisciplinary domains of engineering. This two-day conference is being organized in technical association with Research Center of Engineering and Science and include invited keynote talks and oral paper presentations from both academia and industry to ignite our young minds, to initiate them in the field of meaningful research and thereby enrich their existing knowledge. All full paper submissions to the AMME 2024 must be written in English and were sent to at least two reviewers and evaluated based on originality, technical or research content, correctness, relevance to conference, contributions, and readability. The full paper submissions were chosen based on technical merit, interest, applicability, and how well they fit a coherent and balanced technical program. The Committees of AMME 2024 invest great efforts in reviewing the papers submitted to the conference and organizing the sessions to enable the participants to gain maximum benefit. Hopefully, all participants and other interested readers benefit scientifically from the proceedings and find it stimulating in the process. With our warmest regards, Lin Liu, Jiaru Wu Conference Organizing Committee Wuhan, China

Novel classification system and high-risk categories of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.

The prognosis of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains poor compared with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); accurate diagnosis and treatment strategies based on the genomic background are strongly needed. Recent advances in sequencing technologies have identified novel pediatric AML subtypes, including BCL11B structural variants and UBTF tandem duplications (UBTF-TD), associated with poor prognosis. In contrast, these novel subtypes do not fit into the diagnostic systems for AML of the 5th edition WHO classification or International Consensus Classifications (ICC) released in 2022. In this review, we describe the current state of pediatric AML classification in the context of a new classification framework based on the findings of updated genomic profiling. Molecular categories in the new classification system are associated with unique transcriptional, mutational, and clinical characteristics, which can be leveraged for predicting clinical outcomes and developing molecular-target therapies based on the initiating driver alterations. We also highlight four high-risk subtypes of pediatric AML, namely CBFA2T3::GLIS2, BCL11B, UBTF-TD, and ETS family fusions, focusing on their disease mechanisms, clinical associations, and possible therapeutic strategies to overcome the dismal clinical outcomes associated with these alterations.

Behavioral interventions-past, present, and future: Proceedings of the 5th International Behavioural Trials Network International Hybrid Meeting.

Behavioral interventions-past, present, and future: Proceedings of the 5th International Behavioural Trials Network International Hybrid Meeting.

Imported Systemic Endemic Mycoses in Spain 1997-2021: An Analysis of a National Hospital Database.

Systemic endemic mycoses are systemic fungal infections typically found in tropical and subtropical regions. Their global incidence is rising, including in nonendemic countries, mainly due to migration and international travel. They are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to analyse incidence trends of endemic mycoses and their presentation in hospitalised patients in Spain from 1997 to 2021. This retrospective, observational study drew data from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. We used the diagnostic codes of the 9th and 10th International Classification of Diseases for histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis and talaromycosis, retrieving systemic endemic mycoses cases from the national public registry. Over the study period, 646 cases of histoplasmosis, 138 of coccidioidomycosis, 47 of paracoccidioidomycosis and 24 talaromycosis were reported, with a rising number of cases annually, driven mainly by an increase in histoplasmosis. A segmented linear regression predictive model with a 10-year forecast showed a steady increase, reaching 128 hospitalisations (95% confidence interval [CI] 87-168) in Spain in 2031. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 10.9%, higher in histoplasmosis (11.3%) and coccidioidomycosis (10.9%) and independently associated with immunosuppression for both histoplasmosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.28, 95% CI 1.72-6.24; p < 0.001) and coccidioidomycosis (aOR 4.05, 95% CI 1.22-13.44; p = 0.022). Hospitalisations for systemic endemic mycoses, especially histoplasmosis, are on the rise in Spain. Mortality is significant and primarily associated with immunosuppression. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years, underscoring the importance of maintaining hospital-based surveillance of endemic mycoses in nonendemic regions.

Preface of 14th International Conference on Green Technology 2024 (ICGT 2024)

Preface of 14th International Conference on Green Technology 2024 (ICGT 2024)

Unravelling Uncertainty Inception: When We Really Know That We Don't Know?

Through technical rationality, healthcare professionals address instrumental problems by applying the theory and technique arising from scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, the divergent situations of practice characterised by uncertainty, instability, and uniqueness place nurses in a positivist epistemological dilemma. Decision-making under uncertainty is a challenge that nurses face in clinical practice daily. Nurses anticipate critical events based on the interaction between (un)known factors of clinical reasoning, putting uncertainty tolerance into perspective. With undeniable epistemological relevance, few nursing researchers have addressed this issue. Based on the insights garnered from the panel held at the 26th International Nursing Philosophy Conference, this discussion paper examines the inception of uncertainty within nursing reasoning, intertwining introspection, abstraction, and the rich discussions from the conference. Accordingly, the philosophical underpinnings of the perceived experience of uncertainty will be briefly addressed, while framing the decision-making challenges faced by nurses. A compelling dimension of nursing care emerges when we delve into the inception of uncertainty, prompting a deeper examination of the interplay between its perception and consciousness in clinical practice, and the gravitation of uncertainty in the process of empirical reasoning. Navigating uncertainty involves varying individual responses, influenced by tolerance levels. Moral appropriateness is determined by their adaptability rather than solely their positivity or logical consistency, highlighting constancy as a quality demanding alignment with an understanding of challenges.

Predictors of county-level diabetes-related mortality risks in Florida, USA: a retrospective ecological study.

Diabetes is an increasingly important public health problem due to its socioeconomic impact, high morbidity, and mortality. Although there is evidence of increasing diabetes-related deaths over the last ten years, little is known about the population level predictors of diabetes-related mortality risks (DRMR) in Florida. Identifying these predictors is important for guiding control programs geared at reducing the diabetes burden and improving population health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify geographic disparities and predictors of county-level DRMR in Florida. The 2019 mortality data for the state of Florida were obtained from the Florida Department of Health. The 10th International Classification of Disease codes E10-E14 were used to identify diabetes-related deaths which were then aggregated to the county-level. County-level DRMR were computed and presented as number of deaths per 100,000 persons. Geographic distribution of DRMR were displayed in choropleth maps and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was used to identify county-level predictors of DRMR. There was a total 6,078 diabetes-related deaths in Florida during the study time period. County-level DRMR ranged from 9.6 to 75.6 per 100,000 persons. High mortality risks were observed in the northern, central, and southcentral parts of the state. Relatively higher mortality risks were identified in rural counties compared to their urban counterparts. Significantly high county-level DRMR were observed in counties with high percentages of the population that were: 65 year and older (p<0.001), current smokers (p=0.032), and insufficiently physically active (p=0.036). Additionally, percentage of households without vehicles (p=0.022) and percentage of population with diabetes (p<0.001) were significant predictors of DRMR. Geographic disparities of DRMR exist in Florida, with high risks being observed in northern, central, and southcentral counties of the state. The study identified county-level predictors of these identified DRMR disparities in Florida. The findings are useful in guiding health professionals to better target intervention efforts.

Preface: 6th International Conference on Energy Material, Chemical Engineering and Mining Engineering (EMCEME 2024)

The 2024 6th International Conference on Energy Material, Chemical Engineering and Mining Engineering (EMCEME 2024), as an international forum aiming at presenting and exchanging technological advances and research results in the broad fields of energy material, environmentally friendly materials, chemical engineering, biological chemistry, resource exploration, and mining engineering, was held during December 14-15, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland. EMCEME 2024 brought together leading researchers, engineers, and scientists in the domain of interest from around the world. During the conference, the participants shared their research results and discussed the development and research applications. Accepted papers after proper registration and presentation will be published into conference proceedings. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to the reviewers of these manuscripts, who provided constructive criticism, stimulated comments, and suggestions to the authors. We are extremely grateful as organizers, technical program committee and editors, and extend our most sincere thanks to all the authors for their excellent contribution and work. EMCEME Organizing Committees Zurich, Switzerland

Preface: 5th International Conference on Medical Imaging, Sanitation and Biological Pharmacy (MISBP 2024)

The 2024 5th International Conference on Medical Imaging, Sanitation and Biological Pharmacy (MISBP 2024) was successfully held during November 23-24, 2024 in Osaka, Japan. This conference aims to provide a platform for researchers and engineers to share their ideas, recent developments, and successful practices in medical imaging, sanitation, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, pharmacy, and human health. The conference had 4 technical session and 4 poster sessions. Each keynote speech lasted 30-40 minutes, and authors presentation 8-10 minutes. Each presentation was included with questions and answers. MISBP 2024 became an effective communication platform for all the participants over the world. The conference proceeding is a compilation of the accepted papers and represent an interesting outcome of the conference. We would like to acknowledge all of those who supported MISBP 2024. Especially we would like to thank the committee members and reviewers for their tremendous contribution in conference organization and peer review of the papers. We are sure that the proceedings will serve as an important research source of references and the knowledge, which will lead to not only scientific and engineering progress but also other new products and processes. MISBP Conference Organizing Chair Osaka, Japan

Preface: 5th International Conference on World Economy and Project Management (WEPM 2024)

The 2024 5th International Conference on World Economy and Project Management (WEPM 2024) was successfully held from 21-22, December, 2024 in Singapore. This conference is the premier forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the fields of world economy, economic policy, financial investment, project management, innovation management, e-business management, and social science. The events brought together researchers, scientists, experts, and scholars from various areas to discuss problems and solutions in these fields, to identify new issues, and to shape future directions for research. WEPM 2024 was composed of 3 sessions with 6 keynote speeches and 27 oral reports presented in this conference. Each keynote speech and oral report took 20-30 minutes and 5-10 minutes, respectively. All papers included in the conference proceedings were peer reviewed according to international standards. We would like to deeply acknowledge all the parties involved in making WEPM 2024 successfully held. Besides, we wish to thank all authors and participants for providing their valuable contributions for this proceeding as well as the reviewers for their constructive recommendations and criticism aiding to improve the presented papers. With best regards, WEPM Conference Organizing Committees Singapore

The 'Brussels 4': essential requirements for implantable brain-computer interface user autonomy.

Implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) hold great promise for individuals with severe paralysis and are advancing toward commercialization. The features required to achieve autonomous use of an iBCI may be under recognized in traditional academic measures of iBCI function and deserve further consideration to achieve successful clinical translation and patient adoption. Here, we present four key considerations to achieve autonomous use, reflecting the authors' perspectives based on discussions during various sessions and workshops across the 10th International BCI Society Meeting, Brussels, 2023: (1) immediate use, (2) easy to use, (3) continuous use, and (4) stable system use.

A REVIEW OF CONCEPTUAL METONYMY - METHODS, THEORY AND DESCRIPTION

This paper systematically reviews the main content and academic contributions of Conceptual Metonymy - Methods, Theory and Description. As Volume 60 of the "Human Cognitive Processing" series, this book collects research findings on metonymy from the 12th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference. Through detailed analysis, this paper highlights the book's significant value in several aspects: First, the metonymy corpus and its 14-field description system established by Barcelona's team laid the methodological foundation for metonymy typology research; Second, the book's in-depth discussion of metonymy properties reveals characteristics such as the contingency and indexicality of metonymic reasoning, as well as the dual role of metonymic source in conceptual integration; Third, through multilingual empirical research, it demonstrates the universality of metonymy in constructional development, emotion construction, lexical morphological changes, and sign language construction, while highlighting metonymy's emotional, evaluative and social functions. This book not only advances the theoretical depth of metonymy research but also points out directions for future research, such as metonymy inhibiting factors and cross-linguistic metonymic features that still require further exploration. KEYWORDS: conceptual metonymy; metonymy corpus; metonymy properties; metonymic reasoning; pragmatic rhetorical functions; cognitive linguistics

Editorial: Advances in crustacean research from the 10th International Crustacean Congress

Editorial: Advances in crustacean research from the 10th International Crustacean Congress

Accounting for the Different Propagation Velocities for the Focusing and Time–Depth Conversion in a Layered Medium

This contribution deals with the focusing and time–depth conversion of GPR data in a two-layer scenario. In a layered scenario, the different propagation velocities of the electromagnetic waves in different layers can induce distortion in the reconstruction. In particular, it is not possible, with common data processing, to achieve the focusing of both the targets embedded in the upper and deeper layers at the same time. We will present a strategy for mitigating this problem. The strength points of this strategy are its simplicity and the fact that it only requires a commercial code for the GPR data processing plus some steps easily implementable through a homemade code. This work extends a contribution of the same authors at the 20th International GPR conference held in Chanchung, China, in June 2024, and the conclusions are updated with three-dimensional numerical results, including depth slices determined directly in the spatial domain. Both numerical and experimental data will be shown.

Preface: 5th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications (AIEA 2024)

2024 the 5th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications (AIEA 2024) was held in Guilin, China during November 16-17, 2024. AIEA 2024 is a platform for presenting excellent results and new challenges facing the field of the artificial intelligence and engineering applications, especially in the field of unmanned vehicles and aircraft, infrared identification, radar detection and so on. It brings together experts from industry, governments and academia, experienced in engineering, design and research. We appreciate that if you disseminate this flyer to your friends, colleagues, disciples and others who might interests to AIEA Conference Series. The conference received 91 manuscripts, by submitting a paper to AIEA, the authors agree to the review process and understand that papers undergo a peer-review process. Manuscripts will be reviewed by appropriately qualified experts in the field selected by the Conference Committee, who will give detailed comments and-if the submission gets accepted-the authors submit a revised version that takes into account this feedback. All papers are reviewed using a double-blind review process: authors declare their names and affiliations in the manuscript for the reviewers to see, but reviewers do not know each other's identities, nor do the authors receive information about who has reviewed their manuscript. The Committees of AIEA 2024 invest great efforts in reviewing the papers submitted to the conference and organizing the sessions to enable the participants to gain maximum benefit. With our warmest regards, Kaisen Li, Truman Pan Conference Organizing Committees