Deep Areas Research Articles

Social inclusive approach by developing women entrepreneurship

Abstract: Nestlé Pakistan is a subsidiary of Swiss multinational company Nestlé. The company is known for its quality food products throughout the world. It commits to help shape a better and healthier world and inspire people to live healthier lives. Nestlé Pakistan shares the Nestlé Global’s three overarching ambitions for 2030 to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by helping 50 million children live healthier lives, help to improve 30 million livelihoods in communities directly connected to its business activities and strive for zero environmental impact in its operations. Nestlé also have a global commitment towards 100% recyclable or reusable plastic by 2025. This exploratory case study looks into the ethical practices under which Nestlé contributes to the social cause in Pakistan. Rural women’s enrolment as sales agents for Nestle products initiative under its CSV (Community Shared Values) project starts with the Nutrition, Health and Wellness (NHW) awareness of women in rural setting of Punjab Province. The program was designed with two objectives, mainly: a) Better livelihood for financially disadvantaged women and their families and b) Demand generation of Nestle products in deep rural areas of Pakistan. This case has been written in the context of UNGC’s ten principles of ethical businesses. This case informs the reader the innovative business development with social initiatives by extending Nestlé International’s legacy of socially responsible business with a focus at enterprising rural women of Pakistan.

Distribuição do ictioplâncton determinada por diferentes ambientes em uma lagoa costeira de água doce

Abstract Aim This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of ichthyoplankton in the Peri Lagoon, a coastal freshwater lagoon in Brazil. Methods Ichthyoplankton samples were collected every two months from June 2008 to April 2010 with 500 µm conical-cylindrical planktonic nets at five sampling stations. Results In total, 181 fish eggs and 1,315 larvae, representing estuarine and freshwater species, were captured. The most representative species were Awaous tajasica, Ctenogobius sp1, and Platanichthys platana. Significant differences were found in temporal egg distribution and larval spatiotemporal distribution (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05). Eggs were predominantly captured during the autumn, winter, and spring Neotropical seasons. Geospatial analysis demonstrated spatial segregation in the distribution of larval assemblages, with higher abundances in areas adjacent to riparian forests, following stream mouths, and deeper areas with rocky substrates. Conclusions Proximity to streams and areas surrounded by dense forests is crucial for the spawning and development of fish species in the Peri Lagoon. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the conservation of the ichthyofauna in this unique environment.

Continental depositional record of climate and tectonic evolution around the Eocene-Oligocene transition in southeast France: perpectives from the Vistrenque Basin (Camargue)

Based on detailed sedimentological analyses of cores, interpretation of well logs and a set of geochemical measurements performed on lacustrine sedimentary rocks, the palaeoenvironmental evolution and the sedimentary architecture of the Paleogene continental Vistrenque Basin (SE France) have been reconstructed. The analysis of sedimentary archives revealed three main stages of basin infill evolution: (1) a deep-lake basin (Priabonian-earliest Rupelian) whose sedimentation was dominated by terrigenous gravity-driven deposits during a period of high subsidence rate and strike-slip fault activity and under a prevailing humid climate; (2) an evaporative deep lake (early Rupelian) characterized by a drastic reduction in lake volume (forced-regression), terrigenous supplies and deposition of evaporites in disconnected sub-basins; (3) an overall long-term normal regressive stage (middle Rupelian to earliest Chattian) of lake infill characterized by an increase in terrigenous supplies and a vertical upward transition from deep-lake gravity-driven deposits to marginal lake and floodplain sedimentation. The onset of lake volume reduction and forced regression during the early Rupelian is associated with (1) the reworking of marginal lake carbonates into the deep lake areas, (2) the deposition of organic-rich sediments (TOC > 10%) coupled with sulphate-reduction processes in the deepest areas of the lake, (3) an important decrease in terrigenous supplies and (4) a long-term increase in δ18O of matrix-supported carbonates. This early Rupelian forced regression of the Vistrenque lacustrine system is interpreted to result from a regional decrease in precipitation in response to global cooling during the Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT). The final infill of the Vistrenque lake system (late Rupelian-early Chattian) and the onset of a floodplain occurred in more humid conditions during a stage of decreased activity of the Nîmes Fault, prior to or during an early stage of the Liguro-Provençal rifting.

Concurrent functional ultrasound imaging with graphene-based DC-coupled electrophysiology as a platform to study slow brain signals and cerebral blood flow under control and pathophysiological brain states.

Current methodology used to investigate how shifts in brain states associated with regional cerebral blood volume (CBV) change in deep brain areas, are limited by either the spatiotemporal resolution of the CBV techniques, and/or compatibility with electrophysiological recordings; particularly in relation to spontaneous brain activity and the study of individual events. Additionally, infraslow brain signals (<0.1 Hz), including spreading depolarisations, DC-shifts and infraslow oscillations (ISO), are poorly captured by traditional AC-coupled electrographic recordings; yet these very slow brain signals can profoundly change CBV. To gain an improved understanding of how infraslow brain signals couple to CBV we present a new method for concurrent CBV with wide bandwidth electrophysiological mapping using simultaneous functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) and graphene-based field effect transistor (gFET) DC-coupled electrophysiological acquisitions. To validate the feasibility of this methodology visually-evoked neurovascular coupling (NVC) responses were examined. gFET recordings are not affected by concurrent fUS imaging, and epidural placement of gFET arrays within the imaging window did not deteriorate fUS signal quality. To examine directly the impact of infra-slow potential shifts on CBV, cortical spreading depolarisations (CSDs) were induced. A biphasic pattern of decreased, followed by increased CBV, propagating throughout the ipsilateral cortex, and a delayed decrease in deeper subcortical brain regions was observed. In a model of acute seizures, CBV oscillations were observed prior to seizure initiation. Individual seizures occurred on the rising phase of both infraslow brain signal and CBV oscillations. When seizures co-occurred with CSDs, CBV responses were larger in amplitude, with delayed CBV decreases in subcortical structures. Overall, our data demonstrate that gFETs are highly compatible with fUS and allow concurrent examination of wide bandwidth electrophysiology and CBV. This graphene-enabled technological advance has the potential to improve our understanding of how infraslow brain signals relate to CBV changes in control and pathological brain states.

Gamma Knife treatment strategies for paediatric AVMs: approaches to refractory cases

Abstract Introduction: While paediatric arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) often require aggressive therapeutic intervention due to their high bleeding incidence, choosing a course of treatment for deep and eloquent areas and asymptomatic cases is difficult. Sequelae are a concern in children, as they survive for longer after treatment. The authors have long recommended and implemented staged Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in their treatment guidelines to maximise therapeutic effects. Methods: Fifty-eight paediatric patients with AVM and ≤15 years old who underwent GKRS under general anesthesia from 2002 to 2020 were followed up for an average of 81·5 months. Obliteration dynamics and clinical outcomes were analysed. Results: The mean patient age was 10·5 years. The mean nidus volume was 6·6 cm3, the complete occlusion rate was 69%, the annual post-irradiation bleeding rate was 2·19% and nine (16%) cases had transient radiation-induced changes. One (1·7%) patient had sequela, and three (5·1%) developed encapsulated hematomas and cysts. Additionally, the 3- and 5-year cumulative occlusion rates were 39·0% and 53·3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed significantly higher occlusion rates in patients ≤12 years old and with a nidus volume of ≤4 cm3. Conclusions: GKRS is a useful treatment for paediatric AVM; however, its use poses some challenges.

Prognostication of the development of septic complications in children with burn injuries.

Aim: To determine the prognostic criteria for the development of septic complications in children with thermal injury. Materials and Methods: A single-center retrospective-prospective cohort study included a retrospective analysis of 98 medical histories of children of different ages with severe burns who were treated from 2007 to 2017. A prospective study was conducted among children (n=63) from 1 to 5 years old, who received various degrees severity burn injury, according to an open comparative method in the period from 2018 to 2021. Results: Indicators of a high risk of developing sepsis were burns by flames of any etiology, damage severity index ≥75 units, total burn surface ≥25 %, deep burn area ≥ 5%. The threshold value of procalcitonin (PCT) ≥ 0.86 ng/ml on the 1st-3rd day and PCT > 0.51 ng/ml on the 7th day of burn disease, had a prognostic value for assessing the probability of sepsis. On the 1st day of hospitalization, the development of sepsis was predicted if the C-reactive protein (CRP) value was higher than 6.98 ng/ml, on the 3rd - the CRP level was above 7.43 ng/ml, on the 7th day - above 7.28 ng/ml. Conclusions: Based on the obtained data, we selected the criteria with the best prognostic characteristics, which allows us to predict and prevent the development of sepsis in the early stages of burn disease in children.

Three-Dimensional Resistivity and Chargeability Tomography with Expanding Gradient and Pole–Dipole Arrays in a Polymetallic Mine, China

Three-dimensional resistivity/chargeability tomography based on distributed data acquisition technology is likely to provide abundant information for mineral exploration. To realize true 3D tomography, establishing transmitter sources with different injection directions and collecting vector signals at receiver points is necessary. We implemented 3D resistivity/ chargeability tomography to search for new ore bodies in the deep and peripheral areas of Huaniushan, China. A distributed data acquisition system was used to form a vector receiver array in the survey area. First, by using the expanding gradient array composed of 11 pairs of transmitter electrodes, we quickly obtained the 3D distributions of the resistivity and chargeability of the whole area. Based on the electrical structure and geological setting, a NE-striking potential area for mineral exploration was determined. Next, a pole–dipole array was employed to depict the locations and shapes of the potential ore bodies in detail. The results showed that the inversion data for the two arrays corresponded well with the known geological setting and that the ore veins controlled by boreholes were located in the low-resistivity and high-chargeability zone. These results provided data for future mineral evaluation. Further research showed that true 3D tomography has obvious advantages over quasi-3D tomography. The expanding gradient array, characterized by a good signal strength and field efficiency, was suitable for the target determination in the early exploration stage. The pole–dipole array with high spatial resolution can be used for detailed investigations. Choosing a reasonable data acquisition scheme is helpful to improve the spatial resolution and economic efficiency.

Role of collagen and immunostaining for TGF-β in the clinical and microscopic findings of pyogenic granuloma and peripheral ossifying fibroma.

Collagen is a component of Pyogenic Granuloma (PG) and Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma (POF) and performs different functions in these lesions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of collagen and immunostaining for Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β) in the clinical and microscopic findings of PG and POF. PG (n=20) and POF (n=20) were selected for clinical evaluation (sex, age, localization, size and evolution time) and microscopic analysis (picrosirius red staining for collagen analysis and immunohistochemistry for TGF-β) performed in the superficial and deep areas of the two lesions. ANOVA/Bonferroni and t-test, Pearson correlation and χ2 were used to compare the sites and parameters analyzed (p<0.05, GraphPad Prism 5.0). The depth of PG presented the highest amount of collagen (p<0.001), and its surface showed the lowest amount of type 1 collagen (yellow-red strong birefringence). Type 1 collagen gradually increased in depth of PG, surface and depth of POF (p<0.001). The number of TGF-β+ cells was lower on the surface of PG compared with the depth of PG and the two areas of POF (p<0.001). Sex and localization did not affect these parameters, but the profile of collagen and immunostaining for TGF-β suffered from modifications by the time of evolution and the size of the lesion. Although PG and POF are reactive gingival lesions, the expression of TGF-β and its role in collagen showed different biological behaviors in these lesions, suggesting different biological origins for its components.

Characteristics and factors affecting the outcomes of massive burn paediatric patients

This study investigated characteristics and factors affecting the outcome of massive burns in children. A retrospective study was conducted on 288 pediatric burn patients (=&lt;16 years old) with burn extent ≥ 30% of total burn surface area (TBSA) admitted to the Le Huu Trac National Burns Hospital from 1/1/2018 to 31/12/ 2022. Patients were divided into two groups of survival and death comparing demographic characteristics, burn features, and outcome. The results showed that most patients were under 6 years old (79.51%), boys (64.58%), due to scald (76.69%). Inhalation injury accounted for 6.25% and the overall mortality rate was 6.94%. There was no remarkable difference between survival and death groups in terms of age, gender, and admission time (p &gt; 0.05). Meanwhile, the death group had significantly greater burn extent, deep burn area as well as the rate of inhalation injury than the survival group (p &lt; 0.01). The most fatal causal agent was flame as compared to scald and other agents (18.75%; p &lt; 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that the increased deep burn area and the presence of inhalation injury were independent risk factors for mortality with AUC = 0.82; sensitivity: 80%; specificity: 91.42% in the case of combining both variates.

Follow-up ASPECTS improves prediction of potentially lethal malignant edema in patients with large middle cerebral artery stroke

BackgroundRecent studies have shown that follow-up head CT is a strong predictor of functional outcomes in patients with middle cerebral artery stroke and mechanical thrombectomy. We sought to determine whether...

Dual-frequency transmitter configuration for shallow surface electromagnetic detection

In shallow surface electromagnetic detection, the square wave scheme is generally used in conventional transmission systems. Based on frequency-domain electromagnetic sounding theory, high-frequency measurement helps to improve vertical resolution. However, long grounded cable inductance produces severe reactive power suppression at high frequency transmission frequencies, which will reduce detection. To further improve detection accuracy and efficiency, a dual-frequency transmitter configuration is proposed in this article for shallow surface detection. The transmitter simultaneously powers two LC series resonant circuits for the detection of shallow and deep area. Dual-frequency control strategy is adopted, with both bridge arms being provided with constant switching frequency operation. According to the equivalent model of the transmission system, the control of the load branches is independent of each other. The LC series resonant circuit guarantees a wide passband to match long cable inductance that cannot be accurately estimated in advance. Simulations and experimental tests were carried out using this transmitter configuration and control technique. The simulation and experimental results are in general agreement, verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed dual-band transmitter configuration.

Methodology for Creating a Digital Bathymetric Model Using Neural Networks for Combined Hydroacoustic and Photogrammetric Data in Shallow Water Areas.

This study uses a neural network to propose a methodology for creating digital bathymetric models for shallow water areas that are partially covered by a mix of hydroacoustic and photogrammetric data. A key challenge of this approach is the preparation of the training dataset from such data. Focusing on cases in which the training dataset covers only part of the measured depths, the approach employs generalized linear regression for data optimization followed by multilayer perceptron neural networks for bathymetric model creation. The research assessed the impact of data reduction, outlier elimination, and regression surface-based filtering on neural network learning. The average values of the root mean square (RMS) error were successively obtained for the studied nearshore, middle, and deep water areas, which were 0.12 m, 0.03 m, and 0.06 m, respectively; moreover, the values of the mean absolute error (MAE) were 0.11 m, 0.02 m, and 0.04 m, respectively. Following detailed quantitative and qualitative error analyses, the results indicate variable accuracy across different study areas. Nonetheless, the methodology demonstrated effectiveness in depth calculations for water bodies, although it faces challenges with respect to accuracy, especially in preserving nearshore values in shallow areas.

A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer combined with recording electrodes for acute brain preparations in vitro

BackgroundUltrasound stimulation is used to noninvasively stimulate the local and deep areas of the brain. However, the detailed cellular mechanisms of neural activation are still unclear because studies on micro-stimulation at the cellular level are lacking. New methodTo modulate neural activity at the cellular level, we developed a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT), having circular diaphragms for application on acute brain slice preparations. To monitor neural activities, additionally, we fabricated recording microelectrodes onto the same PMUT device for closed-loop application. ResultsTo examine the PMUT-driven cellular responses of a brain slice, intracellular calcium signals in individual cells were measured using two calcium indicators. We successfully observed the intracellular responses triggered by the ultrasound of our novel PMUT. In addition, we performed recordings of local field potentials in a brain slice, demonstrating its usefulness as a simultaneous recording interface. Comparison with existing method(s)Conventional ultrasound stimulators are open-loop systems that risk inducing excessive neural activity because of the absence of neural activity monitoring. In contrast, our PMUT is packaged in a single device with both stimulation and sensor interface for neuromodulation. Further, there are no published reports on in vitro microdevices that can be used for ultrasound stimulation in rodent cortical slices that are several hundred micrometers thick, which maintain the cortical laminar structure and intrinsic neural networks. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that this novel PMUT device has the potential for being a powerful tool for in vitro brain slice applications and effective closed loop ultrasound stimulation.

(Invited) Novel Plasmonic Materials as Fluorescence Enhancers for Biosensing and Bioimaging in Near Infrared Window

Novel plasmonic nanostructures, which are near-IR active, has been developed in our group as powerful fluorescence enhancers. The technology is highly versatile for ultrasensitive diagnosis and deep tissue imaging-two key areas for future diagnostics. I will present some nanostructures we have designed and developed and then discuss their applications in biosensing and cell imaging in near infrared biological transparency window.

New and previously described species of Ameloblastella (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) parasitizing Hypophthalmus marginatus and Pimelodina flavipinnis (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the Tocantins River, Maranhão State, Brazil.

A new and two previously described species of Ameloblastella Kritsky, Mendoza-Franco & Scholz, 2000 were found in the gills of two pimelodid catfishes from the Tocantins River, Maranhão State, Brazil: Ameloblastella prima n. sp. from Pimelodina flavipinnis Steindachner, and A. edentensis Mendoza-Franco, Mendoza-Palmero & Scholz, 2016 and A. peruensis Mendoza-Franco, Mendoza-Palmero & Scholz, 2016 from Hypophthalmus marginatus Valenciennes. The new species differs from its congeners by having an accessory piece tubular, covered by a delicate membranous cap at 2/3 of the length, by the shape of the ventral and dorsal anchors, in which the ventral anchor is represented by a curved shaft in a position of 80° degrees, with delicate ornamentations located at the superficial and deep root areas, and the dorsal anchor with a long, well-developed and convex superficial root and short deep root, also presenting delicate ornamentations at the superficial and deep root areas. The present study provides new biogeographical data on the two previously described species of Ameloblastella and improves the knowledge on the species of Monogenoidea from the Neotropical Region, increasing to 14 the number of known species of Ameloblastella for this region.

A new approach to spatial localization of EEG-based electrical activity

Background. Accuracy and reliability of methods for spatial localization of brain activity based on electroencephalography (EEG) data do not lose relevance. Existing localization methods are coupled to specific difficulties due to ambiguity of the resulting solution.Ojective: verification of a new method for localizing brain activity using EEG data «Virtually Implanted Electrode» and demonstratoin of its capabilities.Material and methods. The new method was verified using deep brain stimulation (DBS) data. There were used the data from scalp electrical activity induced solely by potentials from two electrodes implanted into deep areas of human brain. It was achieved by filtering EEG signals at the stimulation frequency and excluding signals from other brain areas. A clinical case of applying the new method for EEG analysis of patient paroxysmal activity is presented as well.Results. «Virtually Implanted Electrode» method allowed to quite accurately determine the localization of DBS current sources. The effectiveness of using the method for analyzing the mechanisms of paroxysmal activity was demonstrated: based on change in potentials calculated in 33 sites of the brain (brain areas), three groups of areas were identified specifically contributing to development of paroxysmal activity. For comparison, the same artificial DBS sources were localized using other verified methods: the BrainLoc (Russia) and sLORETA (Switzerland) software providing substantially worse data.Conclusion. Identifying spatial localization of electrical potentials recorded on the scalp surface by using the new approach with the «Virtually Implanted Electrode» method shows high efficiency and reliability, demonstrating a clear advantage over other known localization methods.

Deep learning-based burned forest areas mapping via Sentinel-2 imagery: a comparative study.

In order to evaluate the effects of forest fires on the dynamics of the function and structure of ecosystems, it is necessary to determine burned forest areas with high accuracy, effectively, economically, and practically using satellite images. Extraction of burned forest areas utilizing high-resolution satellite images and image classification algorithms and assessing the successfulness of varied classification algorithms has become a prominent research field. This study aims to indicate on the capability of the deep learning-based Stacked Autoencoders method for the burned forest areas mapping from Sentinel-2 satellite images. The Stacked Autoencoders, used in this study as an unsupervised learning method, were compared qualitatively and quantitatively with frequently used supervised learning algorithms (k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), Subspaced k-NN, Support Vector Machines, Random Forest, Bagged Decision Tree, Naive Bayes, Linear Discriminant Analysis) on two distinct burnt forest zones. By selecting burned forest zones with contrasting structural characteristics from one another, an objective assessment was achieved. Manually digitized burned areas from Sentinel-2 satellite images were utilized for accuracy assessment. For comparison, different classification performance and quality metrics (Overall Accuracy, Mean Squared Error, Correlation Coefficient, Structural Similarity Index Measure, Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Universal Image Quality Index, and KAPPA metrics) were used. In addition, whether the Stacked Autoencoders method produces consistent results was examined through boxplots. In terms of both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the Stacked Autoencoders method showed the highest accuracy values.

Ultrasound-Induced Cascade Amplification in a Mechanoluminescent Nanotransducer for Enhanced Sono-Optogenetic Deep Brain Stimulation.

Remote and genetically targeted neuromodulation in the deep brain is important for understanding and treatment of neurological diseases. Ultrasound-triggered mechanoluminescent technology offers a promising approach for achieving remote and genetically targeted brain modulation. However, its application has thus far been limited to shallow brain depths due to challenges related to low sonochemical reaction efficiency and restricted photon yields. Here we report a cascaded mechanoluminescent nanotransducer to achieve efficient light emission upon ultrasound stimulation. As a result, blue light was generated under ultrasound stimulation with a subsecond response latency. Leveraging the high energy transfer efficiency of focused ultrasound in brain tissue and the high sensitivity to ultrasound of these mechanoluminescent nanotransducers, we are able to show efficient photon delivery and activation of ChR2-expressing neurons in both the superficial motor cortex and deep ventral tegmental area after intracranial injection. Our liposome nanotransducers enable minimally invasive deep brain stimulation for behavioral control in animals via a flexible, mechanoluminescent sono-optogenetic system.

Detection of Spontaneous Combustion Areas of Coal Gangue Dumps and Comprehensive Governance Technologies: A Case Study.

Spontaneous combustion of coal gangue dumps not only releases toxic and harmful gases, polluting the environment, but also leads to explosion accidents and casualties due to improper handling. This paper focuses on delineating the fire area, constructing a comprehensive fire prevention and extinguishing system, and restoring the ecological environment. Infrared thermal imaging was used to detect the shallow fire area, while intensive drilling was conducted to detect the deep fire area. The stability of the coal gangue dump was enhanced by perfusing three-phase foam for cooling and using a curing material to fill the cracks. Land reclamation was then performed to restore the ecological environment. The results indicate that spontaneous combustion of coal gangue dumps can trigger the spread of the fire area from the outside to the inside, gradually expanding due to the 'stack effect'. The sources of spontaneous combustion in gangue fire areas are mainly located 3-5 m below the flat surface, and the shallow and deep fire areas are interconnected, posing a significant danger. These research findings can serve as a reference for detecting fire areas in coal gangue dumps and controlling environmental pollution.

Passable area segmentation for open-pit mine road from vehicle perspective

Recognition of passable areas of mine roads based on vehicle perspective is crucial for autonomous vehicles to drive in unmanned open-pit mine scenes. In the past few years, deep learning-based passable area recognition methods have been proven feasible. However, these works have mainly focused on structured urban road environments. Few works designed for mine road region detection due to dataset scarcity. In this article, we propose the mine road scapes segmentation dataset, which is collected from open-pit mine road environments. The dataset is collected from different mine areas, covers different daytime and dusk periods, and annotates the road and non-road areas in detail. Besides, a novel transformer-based road segmentation network is proposed, which is designed for the mine road characteristics of texture and distribution. The segmentation network is composed of an improved transformer feature extraction backbone, which can simultaneously aggregate global context and local detail information, and realize pixel-level recognition. We solve the problem of mine road segmentation benchmark under vehicle perspective. Moreover, by comparing the results of current mainstream methods on the mine road dataset, our method obtains state-of-the-art performance.