Partial Description Research Articles

Morphological Characterization of Culex Quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Pupae in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Over the last 30 years, several mosquito-borne diseases have spread worldwide, threatening human and animal health, including lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis is a major public health issue in tropical regions like Saudi Arabia, caused by parasitic worms. The parasitic worms Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi are transmitted by Culex quinquefasciatus. Cx. quinquefasciatus is a potential vector for various arboviruses like encephalitis virus and West Nile virus, along with protozoa like Plasmodium relictum that cause bird malaria. With the increasing number of mosquito species, there is an increased need for additional species identification. More attention is being directed to the immature stage, specifically the pupae, due to their valuable characteristics for species identification. Cx. quinquefaciatus, one of the nine Culicine species found in Saudi Arabia, lacks a complete description of its pupal stage and only has partial descriptions of other developmental stages, making identification challenging. This study aimed to investigate the morphological characteristics of Cx. quinquefaciatus pupae, focusing on the cephalothorax, trumpet, abdomen, paddle, and genital lobes, as well as the distribution and arrangement of setal branching and chaetotaxy. The pupae were collected from Qaryat Al Ulya Governorate, Eastern region, KSA, and maintained in a Biology Laboratory at the University of Hafr Al Batin from September to October 2022. The findings of this study have provided the essential characteristics regarding the distinguishing features of Cx. quinquefaciatus pupae to distinguish it from other closely related species. This identification could assist field entomologists in enhancing their efficiency by classifying mosquitoes during virus outbreaks.

Text2Face: Text-Based Face Generation With Geometry and Appearance Control.

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of various techniques proposed for text-based human face generation and manipulation. Such methods, targeting bridging the semantic gap between text and visual contents, provide users with a deft hand to turn ideas into visuals via text interface and enable more diversified multimedia applications. However, due to the flexibility of linguistic expressiveness, the mapping from sentences to desired facial images is clearly many-to-many, causing ambiguities during text-to-face generation. To alleviate these ambiguities, we introduce a local-to-global framework with two graph neural networks (one for geometry and the other for appearance) embedded to model the inter-dependency among facial parts. This is based upon our key observation that the geometry and appearance attributes among different facial components are not mutually independent, i.e., the combinations of part-level facial features are not arbitrary and thus do not conform to a uniform distribution. By learning from the dataset distribution and enabling recommendations given partial descriptions of human faces, these networks are highly suitable for our text-to-face task. Our method is capable of generating high-quality attribute-conditioned facial images from text. Extensive experiments have confirmed the superiority and usability of our method over the prior art.

Probabilistic Performance-Pattern Decomposition (PPPD): Analysis framework and applications to stochastic mechanical systems

Numerous research efforts have been devoted to developing quantitative solutions to stochastic mechanical systems. In general, the problem is perceived as “solved” when a complete or partial probabilistic description on quantities of interest (QoIs) is determined. However, in the presence of complex system behavior, there is a critical need to go beyond computing probabilities. In fact, to gain a better understanding of the system, it is crucial to extract physical characterizations from the probabilistic structure of the QoIs, especially when the QoIs are computed in a data-driven fashion. Motivated by this perspective, the paper proposes a framework to obtain structuralized characterizations on behaviors of stochastic systems. The framework is named Probabilistic Performance-Pattern Decomposition (PPPD). PPPD analysis aims to decompose complex response behaviors, conditional to a prescribed performance state, into meaningful patterns in the space of system responses, and to investigate how the patterns are triggered in the space of basic random variables. To illustrate the application of PPPD, the paper studies three numerical examples: (1) an illustrative example with hypothetical stochastic processes input and output; (2) a stochastic Lorenz system with periodic as well as chaotic behaviors; and (3) a simplified shear-building model subjected to a stochastic ground motion excitation.

Hans Jonas’s image theory

ABSTRACT This essay explores Jonas’s multifaceted and rich enquiries into the notion of image. In particular, it argues that reflecting on the “image” helps Jonas clarify the unique condition of human existence, where the twine of thought and being reveals a paradoxical (and yet crucial) relationship between time and eternity, change and permanence, immanence and transcendence. The employ of the interpretative device provided by the image enables a nuanced understanding of the human complexity which goes beyond the partial and reductive descriptions of relativistic immanentism, on the one hand, and immutable transcendence, on the other. By commenting upon its anthropological, aesthetic, and ethical significance, we propose that the study of Jonas’s thoughts on the image not only offers valuable insights into the philosophical understanding of such a fascinating object, but also sheds a new and interesting light on the unity of his oeuvre.

Application of Social Space as a Tool for Physical Planning: Case Study of Mymensingh Town

Space has a social dimension. Social space consists of physical space and mental space. Physical and mental perspectives are only able to achieve partial description or cross-sections of space. The general approach of physical planning is concentrated only on physical dimension of space. Most city planners deal with essentially static concepts with land use maps and plans they prepare. They tend to view the city as a static arrangement of physical objects which lacks in mental space. Again, mind is spatially oriented. Hence, there is a gap between the ways our cities have been built and the way people perceive them. Above all, neither the plan nor their underlying studies have successfully depicted the city as a social process operating in space. In the course of time, every section and part of the city takes on something of the character and qualities of its inhabitants. In current (urban) planning process, space is dealt to offer on facilities and services people require to have a better life. It is ignored to explore how they perceive their surrounding and every day’s space domain. This paper explores ‘social space’ as a planning tool and examines its potential application in the physical planning process.

On correlation functions for the open XXZ chain with non-longitudinal boundary fields: The case with a constraint

This paper is a continuation of [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 55, 405203 (2022)], in which a set of matrix elements of local operators was computed for the XXZ spin-1/2 open chain with a particular case of unparallel boundary fields. Here, we extend these results to the more general case in which both fields are non-longitudinal and related by one constraint, allowing for a partial description of the spectrum by usual Bethe equations. More precisely, the complete spectrum and eigenstates can be characterized within the Separation of Variables (SoV) framework. One uses here the fact that, under the constraint, a part of this SoV spectrum can be described via solutions of a usual, homogeneous, TQ-equation, with corresponding transfer matrix eigenstates coinciding with generalized Bethe states. We explain how to generically compute the action of a basis of local operators on such kind of states, and this under the most general boundary condition on the last site of the chain. As a result, we can compute the matrix elements of some of these basis elements in any eigenstate described by the homogenous TQ-equation. Assuming, following a conjecture of Nepomechie and Ravanini, that the ground state itself can be described in this framework, we obtain multiple integral representations for these matrix elements in the half-infinite chain limit, generalizing those previously obtained in the case of longitudinal boundary fields and in the case of the special boundary conditions considered in [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 55, 405203 (2022)].

CAPTVRED: an automated pipeline for viral tracking and discovery from capture-based metagenomics samples

Abstract Summary Target Enrichment Sequencing or Capture-based metagenomics has emerged as an approach of interest for viral metagenomics in complex samples. However, these datasets are usually analyzed with standard downstream Bioinformatics analyses. CAPTVRED (Capture-based metagenomics Analysis Pipeline for tracking ViRal species from Environmental Datasets), has been designed to assess the virome present in complex samples, specially focused on those obtained by Target Enrichment Sequencing approach. This work aims to provide a user-friendly tool that complements this sequencing approach for the total or partial virome description, especially from environmental matrices. It includes a setup module which allows preparation and adjustment of the pipeline to any capture panel directed to a set of species of interest. The tool also aims to reduce time and computational cost, as well as to provide comprehensive, reproducible, and accessible results while being easy to costume, set up, and install. Availability and implementation Source code and test datasets are freely available at github repository: https://github.com/CompGenLabUB/CAPTVRED.git

MULTI-KEY FULLY HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION FOR PRIVACY-PRESERVATION WITHIN FEDERATED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Despite the need for data from multiple sources in machine learning, privacy constraints limit data sharing. Federated Learning (FL) addresses this by allowing clients to share locally trained model parameters without disclosing sensitive data, however, recent research highlights data leakage risks. This paper investigates multi-key fully homomorphic encryption, specifically MK-CKKS, to enhance data privacy in FL. The study demonstrates MK-CKKS’s effectiveness in protecting model parameters transmission and preventing external access to private information. Nonetheless, precautions are needed during decryption, as vulnerabilities may allow the aggregator server and external adversaries to infer personal data from shared partial descriptions, impacting the client’s data privacy and security.

Multitrajectory Model Predictive Control for Safe UAV Navigation in an Unknown Environment

The problem of navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an unknown environment is addressed with a novel model predictive control (MPC) formulation, named multitrajectory MPC (mt-MPC). The objective is to safely drive the vehicle to the desired target location by relying only on the partial description of the surroundings provided by an exteroceptive sensor. This information results in time-varying constraints during the navigation among obstacles. The proposed mt-MPC generates a sequence of position set points that are fed to control loops at lower hierarchical levels. To do so, the mt-MPC predicts two different state trajectories, a safe one and an exploiting one, in the same finite horizon optimal control problem (FHOCP). This formulation, particularly suitable for problems with uncertain time-varying constraints, allows one to partially decouple constraint satisfaction (safety) from cost function minimization (exploitation). Uncertainty due to modeling errors and sensors noise is taken into account as well, in a set membership (SM) framework. Theoretical guarantees of persistent obstacle avoidance are derived under suitable assumptions, and the approach is demonstrated experimentally out-of-the-laboratory on a prototype built with off-the-shelf components.

Hochschild cohomology of generalised Grassmannians

We compute the Hochschild–Kostant–Rosenberg decomposition of the Hochschild cohomology of generalised Grassmannians, i.e., partial flag varieties associated to maximal parabolic subgroups in a simple algebraic group, in terms of representation-theoretic data.We explain how the decomposition is concentrated in global sections for the (co)minuscule and (co)adjoint generalised Grassmannians, and conjecture that for (almost) all other cases the same vanishing of the higher cohomology does not hold. Our methods give an explicit partial description of the Gerstenhaber algebra structure for the Hochschild cohomology of cominuscule and adjoint generalised Grassmannians. We also consider the case of adjoint partial flag varieties in type A, which are associated to certain submaximal parabolic subgroups.

A Metadata-Assisted Cascading Ensemble Classification Framework for Automatic Annotation of Open IoT Data

Public Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, such as Thingspeak, significantly increased the availability of open IoT data and enabled faster and cheaper development of novel IoT applications by reducing or even eliminating the need for deploying their own IoT sensors and platforms. However, open IoT data is often heterogeneous, sparse, fuzzy, and lacks accurate description (which we refer to as IoT metadata). These limitations make open IoT data challenging to integrate and use, and prevent the efficient development of IoT applications. In fact, while several sensor data description models have been proposed and standardized, open IoT data currently lack or include only partial metadata description. Therefore, novel techniques for automatically annotating open IoT data are needed to fully unleash the power of open IoT. This paper proposes a novel Metadata-Assisted Cascading Ensemble classification framework (MACE) for the automatic annotation of IoT data. MACE is capable of sequentially combining standalone classifiers, enabling it to cope with heterogeneous IoT data and different domains of information (e.g. numerical and textual), which have not been considered previously. MACE incorporates a novel ensemble approach for automatically selecting, sorting, filtering, and assembling classifiers in a way that improves annotation performance. The paper presents extensive experimental evaluations of MACE using public IoT datasets. Results demonstrate that the MACE framework significantly outperforms existing solutions for open IoT data by as much as 10% in classification accuracy.

Insights into The Diversity of Nepenthes L. (Nepenthaceae) Across Peninsular Malaysia, Including The First Sighting of an Undescribed Taxon with Flared Peristomes and Quadruple-Row Ventral Wings

The discoveries of six taxa between 2019 and 2022 have brought the total number of Nepenthesspecies occurring in Peninsular Malaysia to 18. This article serves as a comprehensive overview, incorporating the latest information and taxonomic insightsconcerningallspecies native to the peninsula. The information is derived from published taxonomic records and cumulative field observations conducted since 2013.Notably, it further reports heretoforeundocumented discoveries, making it a significant contribution to the current knowledgeof tropical pitcher plants. Theseinclude a sighting of a population of Nepenthes with unusual traits in the upper montane forest of Banjaran Titiwangsa, which may represent the 19thtaxonin Peninsular Malaysia. The plantsexhibit conspicuously expandedperistomes and an unusual wing morphology, which altogether provide compelling evidence supporting the recognition of these individuals as a distinct and previously unknown species. Therefore, a provisional taxonomic name—Nepenthessp. Titiwangsa (pesonawangsa_223) A. Amin—is assigned.The species is inferred to belongto the N. macfarlaneigroup based on its toothed peristome and the presence of fine hairs below the lid. The partial description, speciesnote, photographs,and a dichotomous keyof the proposednew speciesare provided.In addition, a velvety N. sanguineapopulation has been observed in northern Banjaran Titiwangsa and treated as a new natural variation (var. velutina) in this article.

Development of a three‐dimensional hydrogeological model for the island of Norderney (Germany) using GemPy

AbstractGeological information is required to parameterize hydrogeological properties in groundwater flow models. Our aim was to provide a hydrogeological model for the island of Norderney, Northwest Germany and the surrounding Wadden Sea for this purpose. The model focuses on Holocene, Pleistocene and Pliocene deposits which are the most relevant to groundwater flow in and around the island's freshwater lens. For these geological units, borehole data was available that allowed us to distinguish between sediments acting as aquifers and aquitards. Conceptual units were derived that comprise the most common stratigraphic and petrographic features into discrete entities. The borehole data was supplemented by maps of the pre‐Holocene surface as well as data from an existing stratigraphic model for deeper geological units. The model was developed and created using the open‐source geological modelling software GemPy. The resulting model contains major hydrogeological units that can be assumed continuous over a larger extent of the model area based on the available data. From the deeper geology, a possible range of locations of the aquifer base below Norderney was extracted. By integrating borehole data, existing geological models and geological interpretations available in the literature, this dataset complements the so far mainly cross‐sectional and partial descriptions of the hydrogeology below Norderney.

Super-spin chains for 6D SCFTs

Nearly all 6D superconformal field theories (SCFTs) have a partial tensor branch description in terms of a generalized quiver gauge theory consisting of a long one-dimensional spine of quiver nodes with links given by conformal matter; a strongly coupled generalization of a bifundamental hypermultiplet. For theories obtained from M5-branes probing an ADE singularity, this was recently leveraged to extract a protected large R-charge subsector of operators, with operator mixing controlled at leading order in an inverse large R-charge expansion by an integrable spin s Heisenberg spin chain, where s is determined by the su(2)R R-symmetry representation of the conformal matter operator. In this work, we show that this same structure extends to the full superconformal algebra osp(6,2|1). In particular, we determine the corresponding Bethe ansatz equations which govern this super-spin chain, as well as distinguished subsectors which close under operator mixing. Similar considerations extend to 6D little string theories (LSTs) and 4D N=2 SCFTs with the same generalized quiver structures.

A Complete Breakdown of Politics Coverage Using the Concept of Domination and Double Domination in Picture Fuzzy Graph

The notion of fuzzy graph (FG) is widely used in many problems arising from partial or incomplete descriptions of the real world and in particular from fields such as engineering, economics, computer science, social disciplines, or medical diagnostics, and has been used in many fields of pure mathematics as well as in several areas of applied sciences such as decision making, statistics and networking. In this paper we will deal with the graph of the picture fuzzy(symmetric) set using the notion of domination in picture fuzzy graph (PFG) as a generalization of both the concept of fuzzy graph domination and intuitionistic fuzzy graph (IFG) domination. The concepts of domination theory (DT) and double domination theory (DDT) of a PFG are introduced, studied and concretely applied to the real case of an election competition to determine the minimum number of citizens a politician should meet in person in order to win the election. The choice of fuzzification (symmetric) and defuzzification (anti-symmetric) methods depends on the specific application and the type of fuzzy sets being used, whether they are symmetric or anti-symmetric. There are various methods for each process, such as centroid, max-min, and weighted average methods for defuzzification. Finally, in the last section, drawing from the application example, the features and benefits of PFGs with respect to fuzzy graphs and intuitionistic fuzzy graphs are compared and discussed.

MODIFIED METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A MULTIVARIATE LINEAR REGRESSION GIVEN BY A REDUNDANT DESCRIPTION

A number of scientific works of Prof. O. A. Pavlov and his disciples is devoted to the development of an original method of efficient estimation of coefficients at nonlinear terms of multivariate polynomial regression given by a redundant description under the conditions of an active experiment. The solution of the formulated problem is reduced to the sequential construction of univariate polynomial regressions (finding efficient estimates for the coefficients at nonlinear terms) and solving the corresponding systems of linear nondegenerate equations, the variables of which are the estimates for coefficients at nonlinear terms of the multivariate polynomial regression given by the redundant description. Thus, the problem was reduced to the estimation of the coefficients at linear terms of a multivariate linear regression given by a redundant description in the conditions of an active experiment. We have proposed an original method of its solution that uses a cluster analysis algorithm. The algorithm’s implementation significantly reduces the enumeration of partial descriptions of multivariate linear regression followed by the finding of the residual sum of squares for each of them. This allows using the chi-squared criterion to build a linguistic variable which value gives a qualitative assessment (high reliability, acceptable reliability, low reliability, unreliability) to the obtained result. The analysis of the computational experiments made it possible to modify the proposed method, which significantly increased its efficiency, first of all, of finding a reliable structure of the sought multivariate linear regression given by the redundant description. The method modification, in particular, has reduced the enumeration of partial descriptions and has led to a more efficient use of the general procedure of the least squares method.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination of laying hen eggshells by using a classic and fast method: first report in Algeria

Abstract. Chicken eggs are considered an important source of high-quality protein for humans. Many types of germs can contaminate eggshells, some of which are pathogenic. This survey aims to study the bacterial contamination of eggshells from ISA Brown laying hens of 56 weeks old. The study concerned a total of 100 eggs randomly collected. Two methods were used for investigation and enumeration of bacteria: a classical method and a rapid method Rida®Count. The classical method concerned: total bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.. The rapid method RIDA®COUNT concerned: Total bacteria count, total coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. In both methods, all eggshells were found to be contaminated with aerobic mesophilic bacteria. The average number revealed by the rapid method was 2.95 ± 1.06 Log CFU/cm² and by the classical method it was 2.85 ± 0.99 Log CFU/cm². The rapid method revealed a higher number of eggshells infected with total coliforms (90%) and Staphylococcus aureus (43%) compared to the classical method (56% and 19%, respectively). The average number of total coliforms (2.47 ± 0.95 Log CFU/cm²) and Staphylococcus aureus (1.67 ± 0.86 Log CFU/cm²) revealed by the classical method was close to the rapid method (2.35 ± 1.01 Log CFU/cm² and 1.43 ± 0.83 Log CFU/cm², respectively). Bacterial counts were not significantly different between the two diagnostic methods. The total absence of Salmonella spp. was confirmed. However, the presence of two eggs infected by Raoultella planticola (2%), and two eggs by Escherichia coli (2%) were found. This investigation provided the first partial description in Algeria of the bacterial contamination of laying hen eggshells using two methods: classic and rapid. The good hygiene and management can avoid contamination with dangerous bacteria represented mainly by Salmonella spp.. However, it is necessary to study the bacterial contamination inside the egg and to extend the research to other bacteria

MODELING OF LOGISTICS STRATEGIES OF ENTERPRISES

The article provides a review and an extensive analysis of the latest literature, which highlights the latest developments and work of scientists in the theory of logistics, in particular, those whose object of research is the formation of logistics strategies of the enterprise. As a result of the consideration of a set of publications from various scientific sources, the need for the formation and selection of optimal logistics strategies as one of the ways of timely response to constant changes in a highly competitive environment, as well as preservation, strengthening and development of relevant competitive advantages, was established and substantiated. To facilitate and enable the implementation of such a choice, in particular, in conditions of market volatility, it is advisable to use modeling of such strategies. Therefore, at present, an urgent task in this field is to build a model for the selection of certain (optimal) logistics strategies, taking into account the key factors influencing it.
 The main purpose of the article is to develop a model for choosing logistics strategies of an enterprise.
 A careful analysis of scientific works devoted to the modeling of logistics strategies made it possible to formulate the following problems: firstly, the developed models of the formation/selection of these strategies are presented mainly in a rather general form, which necessitates their detailing; secondly, there is insufficient and/or partial description of the proposed models for choosing logistics strategies; thirdly, the indicators, on the basis of which the model for choosing a logistics strategy is built, need to be substantiated.
 The study found that the logistics strategy is built on the basis of maximizing or minimizing certain key indicators that exert the greatest influence on its content. First of all, it is appropriate to consider the results of previous author's studies of certain aspects of the development of the logistics strategy of the enterprise as the basis for the selection and justification of the specified indicators, in particular: the clarified essence of the term “logistics strategy of the enterprise” and their improved classification.
 A model for choosing the optimal logistics strategies of the enterprise has been built, whose key parameters are the logistics costs that outline the financial support of the strategy; the quality level of logistics service, which characterizes consumer satisfaction; the level of innovation, which determines the ability to quickly adapt and make changes in accordance with the latest trends and modern requirements in the logistics activities of the enterprise. Depending on the level of the specified parameters, a general set of logistic strategy options is outlined.

Anatomy and behavior of Laternula elliptica, a keystone species of the Antarctic benthos (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Laternulidae).

Laternula elliptica (P. P. King, 1832) is the sole representative of the anomalodesmatan family Laternulidae and the largest bivalve in the Antarctic and Subantarctic. A keystone species of the regional benthic communities, it has reached model status, having been studied in hundreds of scientific works across many biological disciplines. In contrast, its anatomy has remained poorly known, with prior published data limited to partial descriptions based on chemically preserved specimens. Based on observations of aquarium-maintained living animals at the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station, gross-morphological dissections, and histological sectioning, the comparative anatomy, functional morphology, and aspects of behavior of L. elliptica are described and discussed. Special focus is placed on the pallial organs (including elucidation of cleansing and feeding sorting mechanisms in the mantle cavity) and the musculature. Among the noteworthy findings are the presence of well-developed siphons furnished with sensory tentacles at its tips, some of which bearing eyes; large, folded gills and labial palps capable of sorting the material entering the mantle cavity; an inter-chamber communication in the posterior region of the mantle cavity; an ample ventral mantle fusion with an anterior pedal gape; the absence of a 4th pallial opening; and the absence of a ligamental lithodesma in adult specimens. This study reevaluates the available anatomical data in the literature, both supplementing and correcting previously published accounts.

Multidisciplinary Insights into the Structure-Function Relationship of the CYP2B6 Active Site.

Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) is a highly polymorphic human enzyme involved in the metabolism of many clinically relevant drugs, environmental toxins, and endogenous molecules with disparate structures. Over the last 20-plus years, in silico and in vitro studies of CYP2B6 using various ligands have provided foundational information regarding the substrate specificity and structure-function relationship of this enzyme. Approaches such as homology modeling, X-ray crystallography, molecular docking, and kinetic activity assays coupled with CYP2B6 mutagenesis have done much to characterize this originally neglected monooxygenase. However, a complete understanding of the structural details that make new chemical entities substrates of CYP2B6 is still lacking. Surprisingly little in vitro data has been obtained about the structure-function relationship of amino acids identified to be in the CYP2B6 active site. Since much attention has already been devoted to elucidating the function of CYP2B6 allelic variants, here we review the salient findings of in silico and in vitro studies of the CYP2B6 structure-function relationship with a deliberate focus on the active site. In addition to summarizing these complementary approaches to studying structure-function relationships, we note gaps/challenges in existing data such as the need for more CYP2B6 crystal structures, molecular docking results with various ligands, and data coupling CYP2B6 active site mutagenesis with kinetic parameter measurement under standard expression conditions. Harnessing in silico and in vitro techniques in tandem to understand the CYP2B6 structure-function relationship will likely offer further insights into CYP2B6-mediated metabolism. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The apparent importance of cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) in the metabolism of various xenobiotics and endogenous molecules has grown since its discovery with many in silico and in vitro studies offering a partial description of its structure-function relationship. Determining the structure-function relationship of CYP2B6 is difficult but may be aided by thorough biochemical investigations of the CYP2B6 active site that provide a more complete pharmacological understanding of this important enzyme.