Life Processes Research Articles

Revaluation of occupancy duration for live load using big data of enterprise credit information

The occupancy duration is an essential variable in establishing the time-varying model of the live load. The manual questioning and inquiries, which are the common survey methods for occupancy duration, suffer from being expensive and time-consuming. This has hindered the updating of the data basis and progress in live load research. This study proposes a novel big data survey method, which utilizes 210 million enterprise credit information to collect occupancy duration samples. Along with the big data survey method, an address-oriented mining method is presented to efficiently extract duration samples of the target type from big data. Based on the actual distribution of the extracted duration data, a more general time-varying model, called the compound renewal process, is suggested to describe the live load. The stochastic harmonic function representation method and probability density evolution method are then adopted to access the maximum load distribution of the live load process. The maximum load distributions of the sustained and combined loads are calculated and compared with previous studies to evaluate the impact of the new survey results. Comparison shows that the occupancy duration of office buildings is significantly shorter, resulting in an increase in the maximum load. The proposed data survey method enables continuous updating of duration samples, and the compound renewal process allows better compatibility for new survey data. The up-to-date duration data and a realistic time-varying model provide new ideas for determining the design live load.

Towards an ecological mathematics

Mathematics plays a fundamental role in ecological research, yet its uses remain strikingly separate from advances in the environmental social sciences and humanities. In this paper, I work to address this impasse and outline the motivation and scope for an ‘ecological mathematics’, an approach to doing mathematics in environmental research which foregrounds relationship, embodiment and human difference. I begin by tracing the historical emergence of mathematics in ecology, noting how life processes have been conceptualised in a way which forces them to fit the ideals of mathematical models transplanted from the physical sciences. I then investigate the cultural factors shaping the evolution of mathematical thought, eliciting a malleability in how mathematical knowledge relates to the more-than-human world. This provides a place from which to rethink the role of abstraction in ecological thought, and develop mathematical methods grounded in ecological concepts. Drawing on ethnographic and perceptual accounts of space and time, I work with topological concepts from both mathematics and the social sciences to suggest a new correspondence between these subjects, elaborating a way of employing mathematical techniques which enliven, rather than deaden, the ecologies under study. The paper concludes with important philosophical clarifications to the approach of an ecological mathematics.

Dual Energy Storages by Sequential “Rocking Chair” and “Dual Ion” Processes of LiFe0.6Mn0.4PO4/Carbon Modified Graphite Flakes

Dual Energy Storages by Sequential “Rocking Chair” and “Dual Ion” Processes of LiFe_0.6Mn_0.4PO₄/Carbon Modified Graphite Flakes

Perfluorooctanoate and nano titanium dioxide impair the byssus performance of the mussel Mytilus coruscus

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) is widely used as a surfactant and has metabolic, immunologic, developmental, and genetic toxicity on marine organisms. However, the effects of PFOA on individual defense functions in mussels in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) are poorly understood. To investigate the defense strategies and regulatory mechanisms of mussels under combined stressors, the thick-shell mussels Mytilus coruscus were exposed to different PFOA concentrations (0, 2 and 200 μg/L) and nano-TiO2 (0 and 0.1 mg /L, size: 25 nm) for 14 days. The results showed that, compared to the control group, PFOA and nano-TiO2 significantly reduced the number of byssal threads (NBT), byssal threads length (BTL), diameter of proximal threads (DPB), diameter of middle threads (DMB), diameter of distal byssal threads (DDB), adhesive plaque area (BPA), and breaking force of byssal threads (N). Under the influence of PFOA and nano-TiO2, the morphological surface smoothness of the fractured byssal threads surface increased, concurrently inducing an increased surface roughness in the adhesive plaques. Additionally, under the presence of PFOA and nano-TiO2, the foot displayed dispersed tissue organization and damaged villi, accompanied by an increased incidence of cellular apoptosis and an upregulation of the apoptosis gene caspase-8. Expression of the adhesion gene mfp-3 and byssal threads strength genes (preCOL-D, preCOL-NG) was upregulated. An interactive effect on the performance of byssal threads is observed under the combined influence of PFOA and nano-TiO2. Under co-exposure to PFOA and nano-TiO2, the performance of the byssal threads deteriorates, the foot structure is impaired, and the genes mRNA expression of byssal thread secretory proteins have compensated for the adhesion and byssal threads strength by up-regulation. Within marine ecosystems, organic and particulate contaminants exert a pronounced effect on the essential life processes of individual organisms, thereby jeopardizing their ecological niche within community assemblages and perturbing the dynamic equilibrium of the overarching ecosystem. Environmental ImplicationPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is prone to accumulate in marine organisms. TiO2 nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) are emerging environmental pollutants frequently found in marine environment. The effects of PFOA and nano-TiO2 on marine mussels are not well understood, and their toxic mechanisms remain largely unknown. We investigated the impacts of PFOA and nano-TiO2 on mussel byssus defense mechanisms. By assessing byssus performance indicators, morphological structures of the byssus, subcellular localization, and changes in byssal secretion-related genes, we revealed the combined effects and mechanisms through which these two types of pollutants may affect the functional capabilities and survival of mussels in the complex marine ecosystem.

Departing from stigma and secrecy and elevating stories of agency: Narrative practice in the voices of sex workers

This paper explores the use of narrative therapy and community work to respond to the complexities surrounding women’s experiences in the sex industry. It offers practices for therapists and community workers seeking to engage with sex workers in ways that are respectful of their hard-won knowledge and seek to elicit double-storied accounts in relation to hardship, thicken stories of preferred identities, and explore absent-but-implicit values, hopes and commitments. These practices include an innovative use of re-membering questions and a collective Tree of Life process adapted to the specific experiences of women in the sex industry. The paper elevates the insider knowledge of sex workers, particularly the lived experience of women engaged in sex work in which they have a high degree of choice and autonomy. It includes a collective document of sex workers’ insider knowledge about confronting stigma and isolation, addressed to people whose work intertwines with sex workers in some way: therapists, support workers, lawyers, police, activists.

Periampullary cancer and neurological interactions: current understanding and future research directions.

Periampullary cancer is a malignant tumor occurring around the ampullary region of the liver and pancreas, encompassing a variety of tissue types and sharing numerous biological characteristics, including interactions with the nervous system. The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating organ development, maintaining physiological equilibrium, and ensuring life process plasticity, a role that is equally pivotal in oncology. Investigations into nerve-tumor interactions have unveiled their key part in controlling cancer progression, inhibiting anti-tumor immune responses, facilitating invasion and metastasis, and triggering neuropathic pain. Despite many mechanisms by which nerve fibers contribute to cancer advancement still being incompletely understood, the growing emphasis on the significance of nerves within the tumor microenvironment in recent years has set the stage for the development of groundbreaking therapies. This includes combining current neuroactive medications with established therapeutic protocols. This review centers on the mechanisms of Periampullary cancer's interactions with nerves, the influence of various types of nerve innervation on cancer evolution, and outlines the horizons for ongoing and forthcoming research.

Gender Tapestry: gender classification as color assignation

AbstractGender Tapestry is a multi-stage interactive AI art project, challenging traditional gender classification systems. This project diverges from binary approaches by recognizing the individuality of the gender experience and expression. This paper draws parallels to the ways color perception differs amongst people and how gender is also experienced in different ways due to lived experiences. Gender Tapestry uses a multi-label classification system, with predictions extending across six gender categories, with a custom RGB color generated based on the outcomes. Participants receive binary images of their face in their personalized colors and styles, while their uploaded photos contribute to a live Generative Adversarial Network training process. This work was created in response to the very binary representations of gender in AI and the lack of representation for genders outside of the binary. The culmination is an evolving mosaic artwork, incorporating all users' custom colors, illustrating gender as a fluid construct. The mosaic gains in complexity as more images are added and more colors enter the mix, creating a community artwork on gender as a 3D color spectrum. This work contributes to the discourse on diversity and inclusion in AI, emphasizing the fluidity of gender and fostering unconventional artistic representations.

Microfluidic technology combined with density functional theory for investigating terahertz spectral characteristics of hyaluronic acid and its constituent monomers

Terahertz spectroscopy offers a valuable approach for material research, particularly in identifying unique characteristics of biological macromolecules within the terahertz band. Hyaluronic acid, a polysaccharide involved in vital life processes within the human body, holds significant application potential in medicine and healthcare. In this study, we employed a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system combined with microfluidic chip to investigate the terahertz absorption spectra of hyaluronic acid and its constituent monomers, namely D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. The analysis covered solid state under vacuum and humidity of 19.8% environment , as well as solution state, spanning a frequency range of 0.5 ∼ 2.5 THz. In addition, using CASTEP software package and PBE density functional, the molecular structures of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine were simulated using periodic boundary conditions, and the vibrational modes of absorption peaks were assigned to determine their sources. The results indicate that terahertz spectroscopy is highly sensitive to the structure and environment of substances, and the absorption peaks of materials in a vacuum are primarily attributed to interactions both between molecules and within molecules.

The role of lateral hypothalamic nucleus in mediating locomotive behaviors in pigeons (Columba livia)

The lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LHy) is located in the dorsolateral hypothalamus of birds, and it is essential to many life processes. However, limited information is available about the role of LHy in mediating locomotive behaviors. In this work, we investigated the structure and function of LHy in pigeons (Columba livia) by Nissl staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, insituhybridization (ISH) staining and constant current stimulation methods. The results showed that LHy appears crescent in shape, and three-dimensional coordinate value range of LHy is: A: 5.0–8.0 mm, L: 0.7–1.2 mm, D: 9.5–10.3 mm. The dopaminergic neurons in LHy were distributed in small amount and concentrated manner, while the glutamatergic neurons were distributed in a large number and uniform manner. The distribution of the above two neurons at each coronal level showed a significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.7516, P < 0.001). Our work demonstrated that LHy mainly mediates forward movement (P < 0.01) and ipsilateral lateral movement (P < 0.001), and these movements were significantly effected by electrical stimulation intensity. Our results showed that LHy can mediate the generation of directional behavior and this will provide technical support for the study of locomotor behavior regulation in birds.

SISTEM INFORMASI PENJUALAN SPECIALIZED IN PLASTIC CONTAINERS AND PACKAGINGS BERBASIS WEB

Recent developments in all fields have provided many advantages in various aspects of human life. These developments have brought people to always move dynamically because they are required to always follow it. The ability to access information will be very helpful in the development process of human life itself. In line with the advancement of information technology today, all business fields are required to be able to keep up with very rapid and fast developments. In the preparation of the thesis carried out at PT. ILUFAK Plaskaging Semarang authors can conclude that there are many benefits of making a web-based Sales information system. The benefit is that it can help smooth, precise and work efficiency in the system of selling goods. In making this Web-based sales information system, the author uses the application program Macromedia Dreamwever MX 2004, Adobe Photoshop CS2, to support the creation of online sales programs.

Predicting lncRNA–protein interactions through deep learning framework employing multiple features and random forest algorithm

RNA-protein interaction (RPI) is crucial to the life processes of diverse organisms. Various researchers have identified RPI through long-term and high-cost biological experiments. Although numerous machine learning and deep learning-based methods for predicting RPI currently exist, their robustness and generalizability have significant room for improvement. This study proposes LPI-MFF, an RPI prediction model based on multi-source information fusion, to address these issues. The LPI-MFF employed protein–protein interactions features, sequence features, secondary structure features, and physical and chemical properties as the information sources with the corresponding coding scheme, followed by the random forest algorithm for feature screening. Finally, all information was combined and a classification method based on convolutional neural networks is used. The experimental results of fivefold cross-validation demonstrated that the accuracy of LPI-MFF on RPI1807 and NPInter was 97.60% and 97.67%, respectively. In addition, the accuracy rate on the independent test set RPI1168 was 84.9%, and the accuracy rate on the Mus musculus dataset was 90.91%. Accordingly, LPI-MFF demonstrated greater robustness and generalization than other prevalent RPI prediction methods.

Environmental Impacts of the Brazilian Egg Industry: Life Cycle Assessment of the Battery Cage Production System.

Brazil stands as one of the world's leading producers of animal protein, ranking sixth in global egg production. However, estimated growth in production demand, along with environmental impacts, represents a potential threat to the sustainability of the food system. Methods for assessing and quantifying the environmental impacts generated by Brazilian egg production remain scarce, lacking current reports on comparative effects or guiding standards. The objective of this study was to conduct a life cycle assessment from cradle to farm gate, adhering to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, for the battery cage egg production systems and associated products in Brazil, with the aim of supporting and promoting sustainability improvements in the Brazilian egg industry. The entire life cycle modeling and process sustainability analysis were executed using the openLCA software, integrated with the Ecoinvent database. Emissions related to egg production yielded results of 65.06 kg SO2 eq., 27.74 kg N eq., 3086.71 kg CO2 eq., 75,152.66 CTUe, 2.75 × 10-5 CFC-11 eq., and 10,044.68 kg MJ eq. per ton of eggs produced. These findings can serve as comparative benchmarks for future studies and for analyzing data across different egg production systems in Brazil.

Herbal Hand Wash Composition Enriched with Michelia Champaca L Leaves Extract

Herbal Drugs -Herbs are usually made from parts of plants obtained from sources that have good medicinal value. Main products include flowers, leaves, bark, roots, and stems. Plants play an important role in human life and help maintain good health. Hand Wash – Hand washing is a very important process in daily life and should be done when necessary.

Friction and wear behaviors of boron-containing high entropy alloy/diamond composites

In present work, FeCoCrNiB0.15 high-entropy alloy (HEA) with its diamond composite were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique at 950 °C. FeCoCrNiMo0.15 and its diamond composite samples were prepared for comparison. The phase composition and microstructures of FeCoCrNiMo0.15 and FeCoCrNiB0.15 HEAs and diamond composite samples were investigated, and the friction and wear behaviors of the HEAs and diamond composites against Si3N4 balls under dry sliding condition in ambient air were compared on a ball-on-disk tester. The results showed that, Cr-rich phase precipitated from the metastable FCC matrix was observed in both HEAs. The relative density of the FeCoCrNiMo0.15 and FeCoCrNiB0.15 alloy samples was ∼93.1 % and ∼ 98.4 %, respectively, while the Vickers hardness of the samples was 309.7 ± 10.6 HV1 and 317.5 ± 8.4 HV1, respectively. The wear resistance of FeCoCrNiB0.15 was higher than that of FeCoCrNiMo0.15 alloy, and the grinding rate of FeCoCrNiB0.15/diamond composite against Si3N4 was higher than that of the FeCoCrNiMo0.15/diamond composite. With detailed microstructural analyses, the possible friction and wear mechanism were discussed. Present study shows that the boron-doped HEA matrix in diamond composites is a promising candidate for fabricating diamond tools with long service life and high processing efficiency.

СУЧАСНИЙ АРХІТЕКТУРНИЙ ПРОЦЕС ТА АКТУАЛЬНІ ЗАВДАННЯ АРХІТЕКТУРНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ

The article is devoted to the identification of the features of the modern architectural process and the establishment of actual tasks of architectural activity. Today's society, science, and practice are experiencing phenomena that radically change the approaches and paradigms of the architectural process. The paper highlights the contradictions in the theory and practice of architecture that need to be resolved; considers aspects of the modern ideology of architecture; develops certain provisions of the theory of the environmental approach, namely, the features of "understanding" design, the communicative component of architectural activity; emphasizes the interaction of various actors in the process of architectural activity, the dialogue of the architect with stakeholders. The author emphasizes the decisive role of the architect as an organizer and coordinator of the design process, the interpretation of the architectural process as a component of the overall socio-cultural process. The biggest shifts are taking place in the field of the environmental approach to architectural activity. Environmental issues, which bring people and their lifestyles to the forefront, give impetus to the development of architectural management and marketing. These changes in priorities have led to a problematic situation in the theory of architecture and opened up a new space of work: the identification and recording of environmental experiences and images, the production of these experiences and the management of this process. The environmental approach outlines the future trajectories of architectural work, the essence of which is the inclusion of the designer in the life of the population, the materialization of their own version of life processes, the identification of a set of specialized activities that support the ideology of social progress and cultural development. Scientific research and architectural practice should be based on the achievements of the philosophy of architecture, understanding of new value orientations, taking into account the differences and pace of social change, etc. There is a need to recognize the importance of such a factor as the subject of the architectural process. Changing the basic guidelines of the consumer of an architectural object requires ensuring at the design stage the possibility of transforming an architectural object in the process of its further operation, predicting the emergence of new functions and the formation of their new material shell. The article outlines the contours of scientific innovations in the field of architecture - the theory of architectural activity in the conditions of intersubjective interaction; suggests forms of correct introduction of the concept of "design subject", which is active in the architectural environment, into design practice and theory of architectural activity.

Kejadian Penyakit Kulit Akibat Kebiasaan Anak-Anak Mandi di Suangai Tello Kota Makassar

Clean and healthy living behavior is the main factor determining people's health status. Skin disease is a common disease that occurs at all ages. Skin diseases can be caused by several factors, namely living habits and the environment. Skin diseases can develop in poor personal hygiene and environmental hygiene conditions. Bathing habits are one of the factors associated with the incidence of dermatitis. Bathing is an important part of maintaining personal hygiene. Bathing can eliminate odors, remove dirt, stimulate blood circulation, and provide freshness to the body. It's best to shower twice a day, the main reason is to keep your body healthy and fresh. Many factors cause skin diseases, one of which is bathing habits. Water is the main requirement for life processes on earth, so there would be no life if there was no water on earth. However, water can be disastrous if it is provided in incorrect conditions, both in quality and quantity. Humans really need clean water, both for daily needs such as drinking, bathing, washing and so on. The target village is being revitalized with the aim of increasing public knowledge about the causes of dermatitis. Based on the results of interviews with village communities, the problem is the low level of public knowledge about the causes of dermatitis. To overcome the problems faced, namely outreach to increase public knowledge about the causes of dermatitis in the village.

Quantitative evaluation of keyhole stability during laser welding using optical coherence tomography

Online monitoring of keyhole during laser welding is of great importance to evaluate the stability of the live process and the final quality of the weld. Indirect methods based on visual imaging and thermal radiation are lack of strong correlations with keyhole behavior, resulting in a low accuracy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) shoots beam coaxially with the processing beam into the bottom of the keyhole, enabling direct monitoring of keyhole behavior. However, current OCT keyhole monitoring systems suffer from the harsh noise and are limited to only evaluating the keyhole depth through statistical analysis. In this paper, an enhanced OCT system was built with a capacity of capturing keyhole open/collapse behavior, opening a way of quantitatively evaluating the keyhole behavior. First, the signal was denoised and filled given the nature of fluid dynamics in time domain. Then an algorithm was developed to automatically detect the keyhole open/collapse behavior, based on which the weld status (heat conduction mode and keyhole mode) is determined, and the metrics of interests are characterized quantitatively. The proposed method provides a solid method to quantitatively evaluate the keyhole stability, which is well suited for developing new laser welding process and monitoring laser involved high volume manufacturing.

A study on the subchronic toxicity of triclocarban to the early-life development of oryzias melastigma and focused on the analysis of osmoregulatory regulation mechanisms

Triclocarban (TCC), a novel antimicrobial agent found in personal care products, has been extensively detected in marine environments. However, research on the toxic effects of TCC on marine organisms remains inadequate. This study delved into the subchronic toxic effects of TCC on the early life stages of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma, O. melastigma), revealing that TCC could reduce embryo heart rate and hatching rate while diminishing the survival rate of larvae. Biomarker assays indicated that TCC could inflict damage on the embryos' antioxidant and nervous systems. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that TCC could impact cell growth, reproduction, and various life processes, activating cancer signaling pathways, increasing the likelihood of cancer, and exerting toxic effects on the immune and osmoregulatory systems. To validate and enhance our understanding of TCC's unique toxic impact on the osmoregulatory system of O. melastigma, we conducted homology modeling and molecular docking analyses on the protein involved in osmoregulation. The study intuitively revealed the potential binding affinity of TCC to sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit alph (ATP1A1), indicating its ability to disrupt osmotic balance in marine fish by affecting this target protein. In summary, the results of this study will further enhance our comprehension of the potential toxic effects and mechanisms of TCC on the early stages of marine fish, with a specific focus on its unique toxic effects in osmoregulation.

Preface

Providing the national and world economy with mineral raw materials is an integral part of development and scientific and technological progress. The modern world is moving to new forms of interaction, concentrating its trends on digitalization, computerization and automation of all processes of human life. However, these trends require the use of strategically important minerals (coal, natural gas, ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, rare earth metals, construction raw materials, etc.), as well as critical raw materials, the list of which is supplemented every year in accordance with the trends of scientific and technological progress and the development of the state’s economy.About half of the industrial potential of Ukraine and up to 20% of its labor resources are related to the mining and use of minerals. Due to the export of mineral raw materials and products of their processing, Ukraine receives about 60% of the total amount of export revenues. At the same time, the subsoil of Ukraine still has a significant potential for building up the mineral and raw material base.The issue of mining and processing of minerals during the war requires special attention in Ukraine. The conference “Challenges of ensuring Ukraine’s mineral resources in the context of post-war reconstruction - 2023” is designed to contribute to solving the urgent issues of reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine after the end of the war and the country’s integration into the European Union.List of the committee members who organized the conference is available in the pdf.

KEARIFAN TEMPATAN DALAM PENGGUNAAN AIR SEMBILAN KETIKA PROSES MEMANDIKAN JENAZAH MASYARAKAT MELAYU

Death is a matter of great significance in Malay society. It depicts the final process of life in this world. Death marks the first step in traversing the afterlife. Therefore, Malay society places great emphasis on the perfection of funeral management to provide a final tribute to the deceased. Starting from the death throes until after the burial is carried out, various practices based on Sharia and local wisdom are implemented to ensure the perfection of funeral management. Among the practices rich in local wisdom is the use of nine waters in the process of bathing the deceased. The use of these nine waters is widespread among Malay Muslim corpse washers. This writing focuses on the function and reasons behind the implementation of this practice. The study only focuses on local wisdom in the use of nine waters during the bathing of the deceased in Malay society. This study describes the practice of the implemented rituals and explains the reasons and functions of each practice. To achieve this objective, the writing will focus on a literature review of existing literature from electronic journals, classical Arabic-language books, and two manuscripts that serve as basic references for the management of Malay Muslim corpses in the Nusantara, namely Sabil al-Muhtadin and Bughyah al-Thullab, as well as practices carried out in the field. To achieve this objective, the study will combine literature and field research based on interview methods. Qualitative data collected will be thematically analyzed to formulate local wisdom in the use of nine waters during the process of bathing the deceased. The findings of the study indicate variations in the way nine waters are used, but their usage has four functions of local wisdom, namely cleansing the body of the deceased, releasing spiritual and mystical practices, eliminating the effects of bathing water used for the beginning of magic in the Malay world, and healing some physical and spiritual ailments.