Present Research Research Articles

Gender-Based Driving Behavior Patterns in the Context of Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: Road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of deaths in all ages. Considering the fact that driving is a social context with different rules and behaviours, the present study was aimed to explore the patterns of gender-based driving behaviours focusing on women driving in the context of Iran. Methods: Through a conventional content analysis, overall, 30 participants with different social and educational levels were recruited. A purposeful sampling method was used in which 7 males and 23 females were included because of sample triangulation. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews and analysed through inductive content analysis. Results: Overall, three main categories and 10 subcategories were extracted from the data including unsafe risky behaviours against female drivers (subcategories of scary behaviours, aggression and violence against female drivers, ignoring women and revenge-based behaviours), protective and friendly behaviours (helping and caring for women drivers, respecting women drivers, being patient for women driving subcategories) and specific driving behaviours of women (preventive and cautious behaviours, driving based on traffic rules and cultural characteristics subcategories). Conclusion: Different patterns of driving behaviors focused on female drivers were found in the present research. Reducing the aggressive gender-based driving behaviors against female drivers and strengthening the protective behaviors for women can be achieved through establishing appropriate rules and public education. Further research is required to explore the process of gender-based driving behaviours, as well as identifying different consequences of such behaviours on communities.

A Systematic Review of Ship Wake Detection Methods in Satellite Imagery

The field of maritime surveillance is one of great strategical importance from the point of view of both civil and military applications. The growing availability of spaceborne imagery makes it a great tool for ship detection, especially when paired with information from the automatic identification system (AIS). However, small vessels can be challenging targets for spaceborne sensors without relatively high resolution. Moreover, when faced with non-cooperative targets, hull detection alone is insufficient for obtaining critical information like target speed and heading. The wakes generated by the movement of ships can be used to solve both of these issues. Several interesting solutions have been developed over the years, based on both traditional and learning-based methodologies. This review aims to provide the first thorough overview of ship wake detection solutions, highlighting the key ideas behind traditional applications, then covering more innovative applications based on deep learning (DL), to serve as a solid starting point for present and future researchers interested in the field.

From marine neglected substrata new fungal taxa of potential biotechnological interest: the case of Pelagia noctiluca

IntroductionThe marine environment is extremely complex and exerts strong evolutionary pressure often leading to the appearance of microbial strains with new metabolic competencies. Microorganisms in marine ecosystems are still largely unknown and should be explored and conserved for biodiversity preservation, possible ecosystem restoring, and other applications. Biodiversity conservation should become a basic ecological strategy of particular significance in relation to global change. In this context, the present research aimed at exploring the culturable mycobiota associated with the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca, never studied before. In addition, the isolated strains were tested for potential application (antimicrobial activity and presence of genes related to the production of secondary metabolites).MethodsFive jellyfishes were collected in the coastal area of Giglio Island and processed to isolate epizoic fungi. The strains were identified using a polyphasic approach (morphological, physiological, and molecular) and their salt preference was also investigated. The antifungal and antibacterial activity were tested for each strain with agar plug diffusion test. The presence of some key genes related to the main pathways for the production of secondary metabolites in fungi, polyketide synthases (PKSs), and non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPSs), was also assessed.ResultsA total of 164 isolates were obtained; after the dereplication, 40 morphotypes, and 23 species were identified. The phylogenetic analyses suggested the presence of new taxa belonging to Pleosporales: two new genera and species, and a new species of Tamaricicola. The detected mycobiota showed a relatively high diversity, if compared to other epizoic fungal communities. All isolated strains were marine fungi as confirmed by their salt preference and marked euryhalinism. The genes related to the two main pathways for the production of secondary metabolites in fungi, PKSs and NRPSs, were identified in four and nine strains, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was revealed in 70% of the strains, including the new taxa. The abundance of bioactive strains may be related to the potential involvement of epizoic fungi in host defense strategies. Moreover, these strains could show a high potential for further biotechnological applications particularly in the case of new taxa. All strains are maintained in culture collections.

An Insight into developmental changes in reasoning skills among Indian Preschoolers: A cross-sectional study using a story-based approach

Background: Considering the importance of exploring the development of reasoning skills during preschool period and the suitability of using a culturally linguistically relevant story-based approach for the same, the present research intended to profile the reasoning skills in typically developing Indian preschool children between 36 and 72 months using a story-based approach. The specific objectives were to develop explanation, prediction, and inference based reasoning tasks around a story and assess the reasoning skills in typically developing Indian preschool children using the same. Method: Reasoning tasks across explanation, prediction, and inference domains were developed based on a story and evaluated for its psychometric properties. The developed tasks were then administered to 63 typically developing Indian preschool children attending English medium schools in Mangalore. The preschoolers were equally divided into three age groups, and the responses obtained across the age groups were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: The developed tasks were confirmed to have good psychometric properties like content validity and reliability. The age comparisons of reasoning abilities using one-way ANOVA suggested an increase in reasoning abilities with age during the preschool period. The qualitative analysis further suggested that with increasing age, the nature of reasoning changed from content-based reasoning to reasoning based on prior knowledge which was integrated with the story content. Conclusion: The study describes reasoning skill development using a story-based task in Indian preschoolers. The study findings further provide clinical and educational implications to assess and foster reasoning abilities among preschoolers.

How Perceived Similarity between Travel Destinations and Hometowns Influences Consumer Experience in Online Travel Blind Boxes: The Mediating Role of the Aha Moment

The blind box market is fast-growing, from toys, baseball cards, and vibrant second-hand products to the recent growing tourism market, becoming the latest trend sweeping through China, not only in offline retailing but also online businesses and e-commerce. For young consumers, the element of mystery is a big part of the fun that not everyone can obtain the most special and desirable products. The present research aims to elucidate how travel blind boxes attract young consumers in terms of their psychological connections to travel destinations. In particular, building upon psychological distance theory, this study examines the relationship between perceived similarities between travel destinations and hometowns and the attraction of travel blind boxes. Contributing to the existing literature that mainly describes the phenomenon of the blind box craze but often fails to identify its underlying mechanisms, the present study advances our understanding of such trendy marketing practices by investigating the mediating role of the “aha moment” and the boundary conditions of electronic word-of-mouth recommendations and price sensitivity.

Performance optimization for solar photovoltaic thermal system with spiral rectangular absorber using Taguchi method

Solar collector systems efficiently transform sunlight into energy that may be used to meet various needs. This research aimed to use the Taguchi method to determine the ideal operating parameters for a solar thermal collector with a rectangular spiral absorber. Controllable parameters including mass flow rate, solar radiation, and absorber design were manipulated during the energy recovery process, and features like PV temperature and outlet water temperature were used to assess the system’s effectiveness. The findings indicate that certain criteria significantly affect response indicators. The observed percentage contribution of absorber design, solar radiation, and the mass flow rate was 69.19%, 27.99%, and 2.83% in PV surface temperature. In comparison, the individual percentage contributions were 73.63%, 13.51%, and 10.57% for absorber design, solar radiation and mass flow rate for water output temperatures. The present model’s R2 values for PV and outlet water temperatures are 97.24% and 99.67%, respectively. The Predictive regression model was found in fine harmony and the maximum percentage error is limited to 0.68%. The maximum analytical electrical efficiency was observed with a spiral rectangular absorber of 14.57% at the lowest mass flow rate of 0.04 kg/s at the lowest radiation level of 600 W/m2. In comparison, maximum analytical thermal efficiency was observed with a spiral rectangular thermal absorber of 63.56% at the highest flow rate of 0.06 kg/s and the highest solar radiation level of 1000 W/m2. The analytical and experiment findings were in better agreement in this study, with the highest relative error of 7.52%. According to the study’s findings, the rectangular absorber-based PVT system is at its best at a higher mass flow rate to lower PV temperature and boost thermal energy recovery via water. The present research work can be extended for exergy, environmental, and economic feasibility analysis.

Exploring the nexus between exports’ economic complexity and institutional quality: insights from Italian provinces

ABSTRACT The present research aims to investigate the determinants of economic development and productivity by proposing an empirical analysis of the economic effects of institutional quality on the economic complexity of export at the intra-national level, focusing on 103 Italian provinces from 2004 to 2016. Using the System Generalised Method of Moments (System-GMM) estimator, the study assesses the influence of various institutional dimensions on provincial economic complexity, as measured by the Economic Complexity Index (ECI). The findings indicate that institutional quality, particularly rule of law, regulatory quality, and voice and accountability, significantly enhances economic complexity. Better formal and informal institutions such as completeness of contracts, social cohesion, contract enforcement, by reducing transaction costs and uncertainty, and by favouring knowledge dissemination and security of investments, are source of comparative advantage in complex industries that lead to diversified and sophisticated production, fostering economic growth and innovation. Moreover, the study emphasises the importance of related activities, which interact with institutions to support complex and innovative export-related activities through knowledge spillovers and related diversification. The analysis also highlights the pivotal role of human capital, social capital, and innovation, which should remain focal points for policymakers.

First Report on Taxonomic Significance of Foliar Microanatomy of Lamiaceae Taxa from Pakistan; A Correct Tool for Taxa Authentication

The foliar epidermal, stomatal and trichome properties are frequently used as plant microscopic attributes from a taxonomic or ecological perspective. Among the angiosperm families, the Lamiaceae is one of the most taxonomically difficult, economically significant, and medicinally important families. To better understand the foliar microanatomy of Lamiaceae taxa obtained from Northern Pakistan, this study attempts to determine the variational and diagnostic features of 27 species that were analyzed using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UPGMA cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and semantic differential chart (SDC) were used to characterize, visualize, and compare the leaf micromorphology across all species. Three different types of epidermal cell types were examined on both foliar surfaces i.e., irregular, hexagonal, and polygonal. Anticlinal wall pattern also shows variation. Anomocytic stomata is dominant in 8 studied species followed by paractic in 5 species, anisocytic in 4 species and diacytic in 2 species. The trichomes could be broadly classified into two groups, glandular trichomes (GTs) and non-glandular trichomes (NGTs). Lamiaceae has two types of glandular trichomes, small capitate and large peltate, which differ in size, structure, and distribution. In present research five distinct forms of non-glandular trichomes are unicellular, multicellular, stellate, branched, and unbranched trichomes. The results that characterized, illustrated, and contrasted the leaf anatomical characteristics of the Lamiaceae taxa can be better understood with the aid of statistical analysis. Future research will depend on these findings to improve the systematics of Lamiaceae taxa. These characteristics have a large taxonomic potential when considered as a whole.

(Conceptual) explanations in logic

Abstract To explain phenomena in the world is a central human activity and one of the main goals of rational inquiry. There are several types of explanation: one can explain by drawing an analogy, as one can explain by dwelling on the causes (see e.g. see [Woodward (2004, Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation. Oxford University Press, Oxford)]. Amongst these different kinds of explanation, in the last decade, philosophers have become receptive to those explanations that explain by providing the reasons (or the grounds) why a statement is true; these explanations are often called conceptual explanations (e.g. see [Betti (2010, Explanation in metaphysics and Bolzano's theory of ground and consequence. Logique et analyse, 211:281316)]). The main aim of the paper is to propose a logical account of conceptual explanations. We will do so by using the resources of proof theory, in particular sequent rules analogous to deep inferences ([e.g. see Brunnler (2004, Deep Inference and Symmetry in Classical Proofs. Logoc Verlag)]). The results we provide not only shed light on conceptual explanations themselves, but also on the role that logic and logical tools might play in the burgeoning field of inquiry concerning explanations. Indeed, we conclude the paper by underlining interesting links between the present research and some other existing works on explanations and logic that have arise in recent years, e.g. see [Arieli et al. (2022, Explainable logic-based argumentation. Computational Models of Argument, 353:3243); Darwiche and Hirth (2023, On the (complete) reasons behind decisions. Journal of Logic Language and Information, 32:6388); Piazza, Pulcini, and Sabatini (2023, Abduction as deductive saturation: a proof-theoretic inquiry. Journal of Philosophical Logic, 52:15751602)]. For here it is for the empirical scientist to know the fact and for the mathematical to know the reason why (our emphasis) [Aristotle (1993, Posterior Analytics. Oxford University Press, Oxford)].

Two new species of Phylloporus (Boletaceae) from the montane cloud forest of Eastern Mexico

Phylloporus represents a group of fungi belonging to the lamellate Boletineae, which despite not having been exhaustively documented worldwide, most of its species have been recognized in tropical regions. The present research proposes the description of Phylloporus montanus and P. xalapensis as new species to science. Both were discovered in Mexico through a sampling focused on the study of the genus in the montane cloud forest from the east region of the country. The new species were recognized based on a morpho-anatomic study and supported by a phylogeny inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS rDNA), nuclear large ribosomal subunit (nLSU) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) sequences. Descriptions of each species are detailed, accompanied by illustrations and photographs.

Flood frequency analysis in the lower Burhi Dehing River in Assam, India using Gumbel Extreme Value and log Pearson Type III methods

Flood is a widespread climate-related hazard with the potential to occur in almost any geographical location where fluvial processes are active and can occur due to the involvement of multiple factors. Flood frequency analysis (FFA) is considered a valuable hydrologic tool to know the magnitude and frequency of the recurrence of floods. In this research, we have examined the Lower Burhi Dehing River (LBDR) in Assam, India, which frequently experiences severe flooding due to its meandering course induced by heavy monsoon rainfall. Therefore, the present research aims to analyze past flood events and current trends and predict future flood frequencies using Gumbel’s extreme value distribution and Log Pearson Type III Method. In this particular investigation, 25 years of annual maximum peak discharge data from 1972 to 1997 was employed to examine the discharge records of LBDR. This research estimated the return periods of different flood magnitudes, quantifying the likelihood of future floods with varying degrees of severity. In this regard, the return periods are estimated at 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 years. The study reveals that the largest flood event occurred in 1972, with a discharge of 1134.4 m3/s, and the smallest flood event occurred in 1997, with a discharge of 214.65 m3/s. The 2-year flood is a relatively common event with a 50% probability of occurring in any given year, characterized by a moderate discharge of 1384.90 m3/s and minor impacts of 0.3665. The 5-year flood, occurring with a 20% chance annually, brings a significantly higher water level of 2008.81 m3/s and moderate-to-severe impacts of 1.4999, potentially causing widespread flooding. In the 10-year and 50-year return period, which has a probability of returning 10% and 2% chance annually, the discharge will reach 2421.89 m3/s and 3331.01 m3/s, respectively. The outcome of this research will sustainably guide policymakers and environmental planners to mitigate flood hazards.

Maintenance plan adaptation based on health ratings of servitised machines through a fleet-wide machine clustering method

The increased requests for value-added services to integrate product performance push manufacturing companies to extend their service offerings to meet customers’ needs. In this context, maintenance planning can leverage new possibilities offered by digital technologies for data analytics services. The present research then proposes an approach for maintenance plan adaptation based on a data-driven method applied over a fleet of machines installed in different production sites. The method relies on collaborative prognostics to develop a clustering of machines’ behaviour aimed at providing the health ratings of the machines and the subsequent maintenance plan adaptation due to the deviation from the expected behaviour. The method is adopted from the perspective of an Original Equipment Manufacturer, as part of a transformation path towards an advanced provision of digitalization for maintenance service offerings. The method is validated in the context of two lines at selected customer’s premises. This demonstrates the viability and effectiveness of adapting the maintenance plans thanks to the data analytics in light of the current behaviour of the machines within the lines.

Experimental and finite element studies on the mechanical properties of high-strength concrete using natural zeolite and additives

Addressing high carbon footprints is a critical global problem in cement production. Using environmentally friendly materials has proven to be a solution to environmental challenges. In this study, High-Strength Concrete of M60 is produced with Natural Zeolite and industrial waste materials. The combinations of 5 % zeolite and varying percentages of industrial wastes such as Silica Fume, Metakaolin, and Fly Ash are tested for mechanical properties. The laboratory test data is compared with numerical simulations to assess the accuracy and determine the error percentage for concrete strength predictions. The process involves the development of numerical solutions by ANSYS to predict strength. The developed numerical solution determines the accuracy of identifying the difference between the experimental and numerical data. The present research on the comparison of experimental and numerical data by ANSYS showed the lowest error percentage, which is acceptable for all the strength properties of concrete.

‘Yes, I’m an Elite athlete and I’m Gay’: Experiences of elite gay male athletes in Spain

There is a broad academic consensus that sexual minorities have been marginalised in sports culture. The present research is the first to explore the experiences of gay male elite athletes in Spain. Drawing on 11 semi-structured interviews with these athletes, this paper focuses on the experiences of being gay in elite sport. Guided by Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity and the process of individualisation, our findings show that all the athletes have experienced or witnessed homonegativity, but at the same time have been empowered by sport. These athletes are paving the way for a more diverse masculinity in sport and making male homosexuality more visible. For continued improvements, it is important to implement more effective, inclusive sports policies and to introduce specific training for stakeholders.

Using constructed languages to introduce and teach linguistics

Abstract Introductory linguistics courses are a common component of general education curricula at many institutions of higher education, reaching tens of thousands of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Such courses provide a great opportunity for linguists to convey the field’s message and its values to a wider audience. We propose that it is possible to increase the public outreach of such courses by engaging not only the students in the course, but also the campus community at large. In this paper, we report on using constructed languages (conlangs) as a tool to help students understand course materials via active learning as well as present linguistic research to the wider community of college campuses.

Thermochemical Corrosion of Furnace Materials in Atmospheres Containing Ammonia

ABSTRACTFurnace components are made from heat‐resistant materials that must withstand the long‐term effects of the atmospheres used during heat treatment. In a nitriding furnace, the atmosphere usually consists of various gaseous media that react not only with the treated parts but also with the furnace equipment. This leads to thermochemical corrosion, even with carefully selected heat‐resistant and stainless steels or nickel‐based alloys. The present research focuses on determining the long‐term effects of ammonia‐containing atmospheres on the metallic furnace materials AISI 309, AISI 314, Alloy 600, and Alloy 601. The materials studied were exposed to numerous nitriding or nitrocarburizing treatments for more than 10 years to investigate the long‐term effects of repeated contact with ammonia‐containing atmospheres. The surface layers of the samples were characterized by several methods to determine the microstructural changes due to nitrogen absorption. A different nitrogen absorption of the metallic furnace materials from the heat treatment atmosphere, depending on the material properties, could be proven by the investigations.

Clerodane diterpene 3-deoxycaryoptinol (Clerodin) selectively induces apoptosis in human monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells and upregulates apoptotic protein caspase-3

3-deoxycaryoptinol (Clerodin) is a clerodane diterpene isolated from the leaves of Clerodendrum infortunatum. The present research investigates the anticancer therapeutic efficacy of clerodin in human monocytic leukemic (THP-1) cells for the first time. In vitro assay using THP-1 cells showed the cytotoxic ability of clerodin. Further, Annexin-V(FITC)/PI and intracellular ROS (DCFDA) assays carried out using flow cytometry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed the apoptotic potential of clerodin. Moreover, the western blot was used to detect mitochondrial apoptosis of THP-1 cells. RT-PCR, ELISA, and western blot analysis clearly indicated that clerodin significantly increased the expression of pro-apoptotic marker caspase-3 in THP-1 cells. clerodin also selectively targeted the G2/M phase of THP-1 cells, a key feature for anticancer molecules. Importantly, the clerodin did not exhibit cytotoxicity against human peripheral blood cells. These properties of clerodin make it a potential chemotherapeutic agent that can selectively induce apoptosis in leukemia-like cancer cells.

Investigation of unswept ramp system with lobe shape nozzle for fuel mixing of hydrogen jet at a scramjet engine

The role of efficient fuel mixing and a stable flame holder is crucial in enhancing the performance and capabilities of scramjet engines for high-speed flight. The present research paper has tried to disclose the fuel mixing efficiency of 3-lobe annular nozzle on the mixing mechanism of the fuel jet behind the strut. In addition, using internal air jet flow for increasing the circulation strength and fuel mixing behind the strut is also examined in this study. Numerical simulation of the flow and fuel jet behind the strut is done to reveal the main physics related to the mechanism of fuel mixing inside the combustor with the proposed injection system. The results of our simulation show that using annular 3-lobe fuel jet improve the fuel mixing via production of the multiple vortex pairs within the combustor behind the strut. The use of internal air jet also enhances the fuel mixing efficiency up to 90% in combustor of scramjet engine.

Examining the Relationship Between the Dimensions of the Triarchic Model of Psychopathy and Externalizing Disorders in Male Adolescents

ABSTRACT The Triarchic model of psychopathy posits that psychopathy is a composite of phenotypic constructs related to boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. The present research aimed to examine the relationship between behavioral problems (e.g. externalizing disorders) and the dimensions of the Triarchic model of psychopathy (i.e. boldness, meanness, and disinhibition) in adolescents. Most research on psychopathy has focused on adults. In order to understand the origins and predictors of the emergence of psychopathy, there is a need for a study of predictors of the dimensions of psychopathy before adulthood, including adolescents. The study population consisted of 341 male high school students in MASKED FOR REVIEW, who were selected through convenience sampling. The participants completed the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) questionnaire and The Achenbach Self-Report Form for Behavioral Problems. The results were analyzed using stepwise regression analysis with SPSS version 23. Among the study variables, Disinhibition was most closely related to externalizing disorders. The stepwise regression analysis also showed a significant relationship between externalizing disorders and meanness. However, there was no significant relationship between boldness and externalizing disorders. The Psychopathy Measure holds promise for better assessment and understanding of the behavior problems potentially predictive of the dimensions of psychopathic personality in institutions and clinics.

Causes and Diagnostic Significance of Coughing in Dogs with Endocardiosis

Introduction. Endocardiosis is the most widespread acquired cardiac disease in small dog breeds, characterised by the valvular degeneration leading to mitral insufficiency. Progression of mitral regurgitation leads to cardiac remodeling, increased left ventricular filling pressures, pulmonary hypertension and, eventually, myocardial dysfunction. Decreased exercise tolerance, dyspnea, anorexia, and coughing are the most often reported signs in dogs with endocardiosis. Coughing is often reported as the primary clinical sign of congestive heart failure in dogs with endocardiosis. The concomitant respiratory tract disease and compression of the left mainstem bronchus by the giant left atrium have also been suggested as the potential causes of coughing in these patients. However, the absence of relief from cough in dogs with endocardiosis when treated with calcium sensitizers and the registered improvement in systolic cardiac function makes doubtful the cardiogenic nature of coughing in endocardiosis. In other words, the clinical and diagnostic significance of coughing in dogs with endocardiosis has not been sufficiently studied. The aim of the present research is to determine the frequency of cough incidence in dogs with endocardiosis and to establish the pathognomonic nature of this symptom in endocardiosis, its clinical significance.Materials and Methods. The medical records of 49 dogs that have attended to the veterinary clinics of the “Vita” network (Rostov region) for cardiological examination in the period from September 1, 2021 to July 31, 2024 were analysed. The research was carried out using the following equipment: premium ultrasound scanner with improved image quality on the ZST+ Mindray Vetus 9 platform, Maxivet 400 veterinary X-ray digital DR system, and Poli-Spectrum–8/V computerassisted electrocardiograph.Results. The research allowed us to find out the following: although the cardiomegaly and the increase in the size of the left ventricle in endocardiosis can aggravate and intensify the clinical manifestation of coughing in dogs with degenerative diseases of the upper respiratory tract, they are not the necessary condition for the occurrence of coughing. Coughing in dogs with endocardiosis should be considered as a clinical sign of the concomitant inflammatory or degenerative disease of the upper respiratory tract, which should be taken into account in therapy and in the attempt to improve the quality of life of these animals.Discussion and Conclusion. We have found that only 57% of the dogs with clinically evident endocardiosis suffer from coughing, whereas it does not have the uniform nature. In dogs with cardiogenic pulmonary edema, a cough is not loud, is usually acute and is associated with the flow of fluid into the medium and large-sized bronchi. The chronic loud, hoarse cough, intensifying in the morning, is typical for dogs with endocardiosis and chronic bronchitis: these animals at the same time have the non-specific inflammatory lesion of the bronchial tree and lesion of the mitral valves. Most severe coughing, with the characteristic loud sound, is observed in dogs suffering from the elements of the upper respiratory tract collapse and cardiomegaly due to endocardiosis.