An assessment of regional variations in cloud characteristics using machine learning models: a case study over north-western and north-eastern regions of India

Effect of therapeutic storytelling on intramuscular injection-related pain, anxiety, and fear in children: A randomized controlled trial.

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is a major temperate fruit crop of the north-western Himalayan region and holds significant importance for both fresh consumption and processing industries. However, the predominance of traditional cultivars and changing climatic conditions have necessitated the evaluation of improved cultivars with better fruit quality and productivity under specific agro-climatic conditions. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical parameter of thirty apple cultivars belonging to delicious group, spur type and colour strains at ICAR- Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Regional Station, Mukteshwar, Nainital, Uttarakhand from 2023-25. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Result showed that among all cultivars, the highest fruit weight (209.35 g), fruit volume (226.67 cc), fruit length (7.27 cm) and fruit diameter (8.37 cm) was recorded in cultivar Mollies Delicious while the lowest fruit weight (54.46 g), fruit volume (53.33 cc), fruit length (4.46 cm) and fruit diameter (5.48 cm) was recorded in Early Shanburry cultivar. The highest T.S.S. was recorded in Stark Spur (13.60 °B) while lowest in Vermont Spur (8.20 °B), whereas highest acidity was recorded in Lord Lambourne (1.07%) and lowest in Chaubattia Anupam (0.10%). The highest values for ascorbic acid (17.49 mg/100 g) were recorded in Red Chief, Rich-A-Red and Bright-N-Early while lowest in Red Spur (3.28 mg/100 g). The highest reducing sugar (7.58%) and total sugars (8.75%) was recorded in Tydeman Early Worcester. The highest carotene content (242.73 µg/100 g) was recorded in Lord Lambourne. The highest total anti-oxidant activity (45.11 mMTE/L) was recorded in Royal Delicious while lowest in Golden Delicious (34.44 mM TE/L). From the investigation it can be inferred that the cultivar Mollies Delicious, Chaubattia Princess, Oregon Spur, Golden Delicious performed better in the region under prevailing climatic conditions. From the investigation, it can be inferred that the cultivars Mollies Delicious, Chaubattia Princess, Oregon Spur, and Golden Delicious performed better under the prevailing climatic conditions of the region. These findings can be effectively utilized by farmers, horticulturists, and extension agencies for selection of suitable cultivars to enhance productivity and fruit quality. Therefore, these cultivars are recommended for commercial cultivation in similar agro-climatic conditions.

Introduction Food production systems are a significant source of carbon emissions, and optimizing agricultural infrastructure is crucial for advancing low-carbon food systems. This study investigates how different configurations of agricultural infrastructure contribute to lower carbon intensity in 30 Chinese provinces between 2013 and 2022. Methods We employ fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to analyze the combined effects of farmland water conservancy, rural transportation, digital infrastructure, agricultural electrification, cultivation scale, and technological progress on agricultural carbon emissions. Results Our findings reveal that no single infrastructure type is necessary for emission reduction. Instead, two dominant pathways emerge. The scale expansion pathway involves the joint presence of farmland water conservancy, rural transportation, and large-scale grain cultivation. The technological progress pathway combines digital infrastructure, farmland water conservancy, and advances in grain production technology. The technological progress pathway demonstrates slightly stronger consistency (0.9813) than the scale expansion pathway (0.9674). Discussion Regional analysis shows that scale-driven pathways are more common in southeastern coastal provinces, whereas technology-driven pathways dominate in northwestern and southwestern regions. These findings provide actionable guidance for region-specific, policy-driven low-carbon transitions in Chinese agriculture.

he experiment was conducted at the Horticulture research field in the Department of Crop Science and Technology in the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, during the rabi season from October 2021 to February 2022. In this study, the effect of varieties, different doses of potassium and boron fertilisers and their combinations were evaluated to determine the optimum combination for enhancing the growth and yield of potato. The experiment was conducted as a factorial randomised block design with three replications. Two varieties; Lal Sheal (V1) and BARI Potato-7 (V2) and five different combination of fertiliser application; T1 = control (0 kg MP and 0 kg boric acid)/ha, T2 = (120 kg MP + 14 kg boric acid)/ha, T3 = (140 kg MP + 16 kg boron) /ha, T4 = ( 160 kg MP + 18 kg boric acid)/ha and T5 = (180 kg MP + 20 kg boric acid)/ha and the interaction of varieties and different fertiliser dozes were evaluated. The results showed that varietal differences were significant for all measured traits. The V2 variety consistently exhibited higher plant height, more leaves, larger tuber length and width, maximum number of fresh and defected tuber and higher yield compared to V1. Among fertiliser treatments, T5 (the highest mixed fertiliser dose) significantly improved plant height (59.95 cm), leaf number (57.83 per plant) and tuber size (11.56 cm length, 12.67 cm diameter), resulting in the maximum yield (19.75 kg/plot, 24.47 t/ha). The combined effect of variety and fertiliser treatments revealed that the V2T5 interaction produced the highest yield (20.23 kg/plot, 28.65 t/ha), while V1T1 produced the lowest yield. These results indicate that both genetic potential and balanced nutrient management significantly influence potato growth and productivity. Therefore, the use of BARI Potato-7 with optimised mixed synthetic fertiliser combinations can enhance tuber yield and quality in the northwestern region of Bangladesh. Further studies are recommended to refine fertiliser optimization for sustainable and region-specific potato production.

Spectrum of Respiratory Viral Illness in the Northwestern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Molecular Multiplex PCR-Based Study in a Tertiary Care Setting

Ecosystem services (ES) link ecosystems and human societies, yet approaches to ecosystem service flow (ESF) are constrained by ambiguous definitions and limited process-oriented and scale-sensitive classifications. Here, we developed a "supply-demand-flow" framework distinguishing potential and actual supply and demand, and classifying ESF into in situ, interior, and exterior flows. Integrating multi-source datasets, biophysical models (InVEST, RUSLE, i-Tree), and socio-economic accounting based on population-consumption dynamics and sectoral statistics, we mapped nine ES across China from 2000 to 2020 at 1km resolution. Results revealed pronounced ES supply and demand spatio-temporal heterogeneity. While the national ESF pattern remained stable, most services showed increasing exterior reliance, whereas water yield and tourism recreation became more locally sustained. Using flow balance and demand fulfillment as policy-proximal indicators, five management zones were delineated: local-sustained counties dominated southern China (∼30%); local-pressured types occurred in the Northeast, Qinghai-Tibet, and southwestern areas (∼15%); external-pressured types occurred in arid northwestern regions (1%-3%); southeastern coasts shifted toward external-sustained types (∼30%); and dynamic-transitional counties (∼20%) were scattered nationwide. By decomposing supply-demand relations into supply realization, spatial reallocation, and demand fulfillment, our framework helps align ecological functions with management priorities and offers insights for reconciling development and conservation in comparable socio-ecological contexts.

Analysis of spatial distribution and host selection characteristics of ticks parasitizing rodents in China.

The Greater Himalaya "Third Pole", covering the Hindu Kush-Himalaya-Karakoram (HKH) ranges, represents intricate lithology, abrupt altitudinal gradients, and climate-driven geochemical fluxes that affect metal mobilization. Hence, for sustainable food safety, identifying metal dynamics in these fragile ecosystems is essential. This study evaluated spatial distribution, soil-plant transfer and ecological risk of heavy metals (HMs) using Sea buckthorn as a bioindicator across the high mountain ecologies of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), north Pakistan. Composite samples of soil, leaves and fruits were collected from 20 sites across five regions (Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Astore). Standard analytical procedures with appropriate quality control were applied to quantify HMs, followed by interpolation to assess geospatial heterogeneity. Ecological risk was evaluated employing contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and potential ecological risk index (PERI). Spatial analysis showed elevated levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb in north-western regions (Ghizer and Gilgit), while Zn enrichment was higher in the south-eastern sites (Astor and Skardu). Matrix-specific partitioning emphasizes Zn dominance among essential metals, while of Pb among toxic metals. Correlation and factor analysis exhibited substantial inter-metal positive associations (r > 90) imply shared lithogenic origins, while Cu-Zn antagonism suggests competitive uptake and selective translocation. Ecological indices consistently indicated low contamination with negligible ecological risk across studied sites of HKH ranges, with marginal Cd-associated risk. Collectively, EF, CF, Igeo, PERI, TF, and PCA suggest lithogenic, geomorphological, and pedogenic processes are the key drivers of HMs concentrations instead of sustained anthropogenic inputs. Overall, Sea buckthorn exhibited low bioaccumulation potential and efficiently exposed regional geochemical gradients, emphasizing it as a reliable bio-monitor in high-altitude ecosystems. Longterm temporal analysis with integrated human health risk modelling are recommended in this climate-sensitive region.

Critical thresholds in urbanization-vegetation dynamics: Multiscale remote sensing evidence from Chinese cities.

This article examines how participating in a cervical cancer prevention program affects women's social lives. A generic qualitative study was carried out in a gynecology unit of a public hospital in the northwestern region of Spain. Using purposive sampling, 21 women aged between 21 and 52 years diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of varying degrees, were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis, based on a poststructuralist feminist perspective. Verification of doubts during data collection, triangulation of researchers' perspectives in data analysis and reflexivity and positionality strategies were employed to ensure study rigor. Two significant themes were identified: (a) the social effects of a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnostic and subsequent follow-up for heterosexual couples within a biomedical healthcare system in a patriarchal society and (b) the social effects of a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnostic and subsequent follow-up for relationships with family members and friends in a patriarchal society. Participants' relationships with partners, relatives and friends were impacted by cervical cancer prevention, revealing an emphasis on the treatment of the physical body and disregard for other dimensions of human life. Two dominant discourses, biomedicine and patriarchy, intersected the care delivery processes, adversely affecting patients' lives. Nurses should broaden their understanding of the social dimensions of cervical cancer prevention and treatment to encompass the multifaceted impact on various individuals, including patients, their partners, family members and friends. The social effects of the diagnostic and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia should be included in care plans.

The Alpine Fault is a major transpressive right-lateral fault at the intracontinental plate boundary between the Australian and Pacific Plates. Inversion tectonics are inferred to affect a sizable proportion of the active faults in the crust of the Australian Plate, west of the Alpine Fault. However, the relationship between seismic activity and active faulting in this region remains poorly understood. This study presents new data to estimate the stress tensor in the northern South Island and to assess whether historical and recent earthquakes occurred on faults that were favorably oriented to slip. The estimated stress field in the northwestern region of the South Island favors reverse faulting, with dominant N-S faults dipping approximately 30°–60° and being the most favorably oriented for the slip. Both compressionally reactivated normal faults and newly developed reverse faults were found to be favorably oriented to slip under the current stress regime. In contrast, the estimated stress field in the northeastern part of the South Island favors strike-slip faulting, with NE-SW faults dipping approximately 75°–90°, which is the most favorable orientation for slip. Therefore, faults in the Australian and Pacific crusts have the most favorable geometry for being seismically reactivated in the current stress field. However, suboptimal fault clusters were identified west of the Alpine Fault. A previous study observed elevated Vp/Vs ratios extending continuously from the top of the subducting Pacific Plate into the crust in the northwestern South Island, suggesting that crustal overpressured fluid migration may have locally triggered fault activity. • Transpressive stress fields dominate the South Island west of the Alpine Fault. • A strike-slip stress field prevails in the Pacific crust to the northeast. • Active reverse faults are well oriented for reactivation under today's stress field. • Active unfavorably oriented faults suggest overpressured fluid in reactivation.

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), caused by rapid urbanization, is crucial to mitigating the negative impacts of urban growth, threatening agricultural sustainability and ecological balance. This research was conducted on the Lower Turag River Basin in the northwestern region of Dhaka, Bangladesh and aims to quantify the built-up area changes along with population changes from 2001 to 2021, evaluating the nature of urban expansion by calculating the ratio between Land Consumption Rate and Population Growth Rate (LCRPGR) following the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) metadata used for the indicator 11.3.1. Here, satellite imagery, including Landsat 5, Landsat 8, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, was used in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, where the Random Forest algorithm was incorporated to classify LULC into five distinct categories. The high kappa values (>0.87) ensured the accuracy and the reliability of the classification. The results show that built-up areas increased by 139.39%, while the total population grew by 163.71% between 2001 and 2021, largely replacing agricultural land and natural vegetation. The urban expansion outpaced population growth, with a land consumption to population growth ratio of 1.775 for the period of 2001 to 2011 and 0.513 for the period of 2011 to 2021, indicating critical urban expansion. Besides, the LULC patterns found that the expansion occurred towards the north of the Turag basin with high growth of population, which increased the land consumption. Furthermore, the findings of this study will help policymakers and researchers to understand the spatio-temporal changes of urban expansion, population growth, and land consumption with a sustainable policy framework.

The Neolithic transition in Europe, marked by the shift from foraging to farming, has traditionally been explained through models of either cultural or demic diffusion. However, emerging evidence suggests more complex, regionally specific interactions between incoming farmers and local foragers. In Liguria, a coastal region in northwestern Italy, the Neolithic adoption appears later than in southern regions, and the scarcity of Mesolithic sites raises questions about potential interactions, though this may be due to preservation bias. To investigate the biological origins and history of Neolithic populations in Liguria, this study applies craniofacial morphometric analysis to 27 adult individuals from Early, Middle and Late Neolithic contexts. Two datasets including comparative samples ranging from the Upper Paleolithic to recent periods were employed, one with 30 measurements (n = 629) and one with 10 (n = 2178). Morphometric relationships were analyzed using multiple multivariate techniques, including Principal Coordinate Analysis, Neighbor-Joining clustering, Principal Component Analysis, and Discriminant Function Analysis. The results indicate that while Ligurian Neolithic individuals are part of the broader European Neolithic variability, Early Neolithic individuals show a certain morphological affinity with Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, suggesting possible genetic admixture. In contrast, Middle Neolithic individuals appear more homogeneous and less influenced by forager ancestry, suggesting population continuity without further admixture. These findings differ from the broader European trend of increasing hunter-gatherer ancestry over time. Although paleogenomic data from Liguria are currently lacking, this morphometric study provides critical insight into regional population dynamics during the Neolithic and highlights the need for integrated genetic and archaeological approaches in future research.

Rodents are reservoirs of zoonotic viruses that significantly threaten public health. This study investigated the RNA virome of 624 rodents collected across six ecological zones in Yunnan Province, China, using meta-transcriptomic analyses to explore viral diversity, regional distribution, and evolutionary characteristics. Higher virome diversity was observed in the north-eastern and central Yunnan Plateaus, and lower diversity was observed in the north-western cold-temperate region. Phylogenetic analyses identified a unique Seoul virus lineage that represents an ancestral strain, while highlighting cross-species transmission events. Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae exhibited enrichment in specific regions, and tissue-specific viral preferences were observed, such as rotavirus in the gut tissues and Seoul virus in the lung tissues. Four zoonotic viral strains were isolated and demonstrated efficient replication in rodent cells, with limited adaptability in human cell lines. These findings underscore the importance of ecological factors in shaping viral evolution and highlight the need for continuous surveillance.

The current understanding of microbiota–flavor correlations in Chinese sourdough steamed bread is predominantly derived from the central provinces, with comparatively limited investigation in northeastern and northwestern regions. This study bridges this gap by analyzing traditional starters from Heilongjiang (HLJ) and Ningxia (TX) versus an industrial starter (JM) through integrated metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics. HLJ was dominated by Limosilactobacillus fermentum (14.75%), while TX featured a synergistic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum–Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis consortium. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed enhanced glycolysis, amino acid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid transformation driving flavor biosynthesis and dough rheology improvement, supported by nitrogen-metabolizing Bradyrhizobium spp. (6.00–6.61%). Core pathway enrichment established molecular foundations for region-specific flavors: HLJ generated sulfury/pungent notes via the enzymatic conversion of pentyl glucosinolate to isothiocyanates, whereas TX developed caramel–roasted aromas through stachyose/xylose-derived Maillard reactions forming 2-(methylthiomethyl)furan. Both consortia exhibited higher bitterness and lower umami than JM, with HLJ showing marginally higher umami and lower bitterness than TX. These findings elucidate the microbial mechanisms underlying regional flavor differentiation.

Groundwater resource utilization in many developing countries, including Ethiopia, is significantly constrained by limited information on its quality and quantity, often due to challenges associated with geophysical and hydrogeological assessments. In recent years, geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies have emerged as valuable tools for understanding the spatial distribution of groundwater resources, aiding in their planning, exploration, monitoring, and management. Thus, this study aims to delineate potential groundwater availability zones in the Angereb Watershed, located in northwestern Ethiopia, using a geospatial approach integrated with multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) and the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) model. Multiple thematic layers were prepared from various data sources, including Landsat 8 OLI, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), geological maps, soil, and rainfall data. Key factors influencing groundwater availability namely drainage density, lineament density, lithology, slope, soil type, mean annual rainfall, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were selected and weighted using the AHP model within ArcGIS 10.3. The analysis identified lithology, lineament density, slope, and drainage density as dominant factors, collectively accounting for approximately 85.3% of the influence on groundwater potential. The final groundwater potential index (GWPI) map categorized the study area into four zones: very high (0.1%; 546ha), high (12.5%; 93,404ha), medium (79.4%; 592,302ha), and low (8%; 59,818ha) potential. The high-potential zones were primarily located in the northwestern and southern regions, influenced largely by favorable geological and physiographic conditions. The predictive performance of the GWPI map was validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) analysis, yielding an AUC value of 0.83, indicating strong model reliability. This study demonstrates that the integration of MCE with GIS and remote sensing techniques, supported by AHP, offers a cost-effective and reliable method for delineating groundwater potential zones and can serve as a valuable tool for groundwater management and planning in similar data-scarce environments.

In recent years, global climate change, combined with increased human activities, has led to habitat degradation and range shifts in rare medicinal plants, potentially affecting the quality of medicinal herbs. In this study, we assessed how key environmental variables shape the potential distribution of Apocynum venetum L. based on 281 wild occurrence records and nine environmental variables using the MaxEnt model. The results revealed that the mean temperature of the coldest quarter, solar radiation in June, and elevation are the most significant factors affecting the distribution of A. venetum, with optimal values ranging from -10 to 5 °C, 21,000 to 23,000 kJ m-2 day-1, and 200 to 1500 m, respectively. Ecological niche modeling indicated that highly suitable habitats are primarily located in Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Inner Mongolia. However, future projections under climate change suggest an expansion of these suitable areas, shifting towards higher latitudes in the northwestern regions and high-altitude mountains. These findings provide a scientific basis for guiding the production and sustainable utilization of A. venetum resources.

Objectives: Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is the leading cause of post-thyroidectomy hospitalization, adversely affecting patient quality of life. The current study sought to determine the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, identify risk factors and their clinical significance, and provide an overview of the incidence in different Saudi Arabian cities. Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients who underwent thyroidectomies at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital Northwestern Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia between 2015 and 2021 and had available pre- and post-operative calcium levels and clinical, surgical, and pathological data. Various risk factors were evaluated using binary logistic regression to determine their impact on the development of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Results: A total of 153 patients were enrolled, and most (n = 128, 83.7%) were women; 88 patients (57.5%) received a malignant diagnosis. The overall incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia was 70.6%. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, female gender (adjusted odds ratio [ORA] = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–7.6), the presence of diabetes mellitus (ORA = 4.9; 95% CI, 1.2–20.5), and the failure to identify the parathyroid glands in the operative report (ORA = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2–6.7) significantly correlated with a higher risk of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Redo surgery was the sole factor significantly correlated with permanent hypocalcemia (p = 0.048). Conclusion: Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is a serious condition that should be evaluated at each center to provide patients with accurate risk assessments prior to surgery. Further studies are required to overcome this surgically challenging condition.

ОБОСНОВАНИЕОБОСНОВАНИЕ. В различных регионах Российской Федерации колебания медико-биологических характеристик носят неоднозначный, а зачастую и разнонаправленный характер, при этом одним из путей к пониманию значимости действия данных компонентов является изучение их влияния на метаболическое состояние человека, в частности на углеводный обмен в идентичных по образу жизни группах, но проживающих в различных климатогеографических условиях.ЦЕЛЬЦЕЛЬ. Оценка основных показателей углеводного обмена у молодых жителей различных климатогеографических зон проживания (северо-восток, северо-запад, средняя полоса России).МАТЕРИАЛЫ И МЕТОДЫМАТЕРИАЛЫ И МЕТОДЫ. Проведена оценка ключевых характеристик метаболизма углеводов у 243 лиц мужского пола, проживающих в различных регионах Российской Федерации: северо-восток России (г. Магадан) — 119 юношей, северо-запад России (г. Мурманск) — 72 юноши и средняя полоса России (г. Ульяновск) — 52 юноши. В работе использовали иммунохемилюминесцентный ферментативный метод и иммунохроматографический анализ.РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫРЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. Установлено, что при сопоставимых рационах питания средние величины показателей метаболизма углеводов у обследуемых жителей различных регионов обследования соответствовали оптимальным физиологическим диапазонам с формированием региональных особенностей метаболического профиля. Выявлено смещение уровня гликемии и гликированного гемоглобина в сторону больших значений при низких концентрациях инсулина лишь в группе юношей северо-востока России на фоне повышенных значений сывороточного кортизола, наблюдаемых только в группах юношей-северян. Уроженцам северо-запада и средней полосы России была свойственна активация инсулярного аппарата поджелудочной железы, сопровождающаяся повышением уровня инсулина, высокой долей встречаемости признаков инсулинорезистентности (до 40% в выборке) при выраженной компенсаторной секрецией β-клеток поджелудочной железы.Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что метаболические паттерны, наблюдаемые у северян, отличаются от классических критериев «полярного метаболического типа», которые обычно ассоциируются с гипогликемией, гипоинсулинемией на фоне повышенных значений сывороточного кортизола. При этом наличие признаков инсулинорезистентности в выборке юношей северо-запада России может быть обусловлено дисбалансом в сторону большего доминирования симпатического отдела вегетативной нервной системы.ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют о том, что изменения в углеводном обмене имеют ярко выраженные «северные» особенности, но по-разному проявляющиеся у жителей северо-западных и северо-восточных регионов России. Установлено, что проживание в различных климатогеографических регионах Российской Федерации с их уникальными климатическими, географическими и широтными условиями приводит к формированию разнообразных вегетативных, эндокринных и метаболических профилей.