Index Range Research Articles

The effects of evaporation and precipitation on droughts under global change

Drought can be defined as a kind of natural disaster, with a series of effects in different aspects of human life, including environment, economic, ecosystem and agriculture. Previous studies has delved more deeply into the impact of drought, examining it through a range of drought indices, including PEI, SPEI, PDSI, and others. Our study is aims to analyze and research the effects of evaporation and precipitation on droughts under global climate change. Through the temperature changing data research the global climate change feature, analyzing the development of droughts using a drought assessment index (P-E) and making use of bucket model to analyze the relationship between precipitation rate and soil moisture. Research found that the average land temperature is increasing. On the context of this change, the change of evaporation and precipitation causes dry regions to become drier and wet regions wetter. Furthermore, the 20% decrease of precipitation leads to about a one-fifth decline in soil water content, and a lower precipitation rate would speed up the drought states. Meanwhile, soil moisture can also lead to an increase in precipitation. A coupling phenomenon between precipitation rate and soil moisture is exist. This study provides a new point for predicting future droughts conditions.

Digital Convergence and Divergence in EU and ASEAN Economies

Abstract This study examines the evolving digital economy in terms of convergence and divergence in European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries over the period from 2010 to 2024, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research uses a range of digital economy indices, including the ICT Development Index, E-Government Development Index, Online Service Index, Telecommunication Infrastructure Index, and Human Capital Index. It aims to identify and compare the patterns of convergence or divergence in digital indicators within and between the EU and ASEAN regions. The study employs beta convergence analysis, sigma convergence analysis, and difference-in-difference analysis to compare digital performance and assess the impact of the pandemic on the digital economy. By contrasting the digital development paths of the EU and ASEAN, the study provides insights into the digital gap and offers policy recommendations to promote more equitable digital development in both regions. The findings indicate that while the EU demonstrates more consistent convergence across digital indices, ASEAN exhibits both convergence and divergence, particularly during the post-pandemic period. The results reveal the urgent need for policy interventions aimed at reducing regional digital gaps, especially by enhancing digital infrastructure and improving human capital. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers in both regions, providing actionable strategies to foster inclusive digital development, enhance resilience in the face of global crises, and bridge the digital divide in an increasingly interconnected world.

Rapid and Efficient Ring‐Opening Homo‐ and Co‐polymerization of Cyclohexene Oxide with Glutaric Anhydride using Titanium Promoter under Solvent‐Free Conditions

A novel β‐ketimine ligand supported titanium complex, [Ti (DippNHC(Me)=CHC(Me)O2)Cl2] (2) enabling competent ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and copolymerization (ROCOP) of CHO and glutaric anhydride (GA) is unveiled. Incredibly well‐controlled poly(cyclohexene oxide) (PCHO) with a range of molecular weights and narrow polydispersity index (PDI) is achieved. The ROP reaction proceeded under mild reaction conditions without the aid of any exogenous initiator. The thermal properties of the polyethers showed a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from 60‐69˚C in the DSC curve and high thermal stability of the polymers up to 387˚C in the TGA curve. The Ti(IV) catalyst additionally showed superior activity in the ROCOP of CHO and GA. ROCOP reactions were performed using a diverse range of CHO and GA monomer equivalents, demonstrating the random insertion of epoxide units per glutaric anhydride and forming a random copolymer.

Reliability of cushion construction for a low-cost pressure-reducing wheelchair cushion for less-resourced settings

Purpose: In less-resourced settings, 80% of people with spinal cord injuries die from pressure ulcer complications within two years. Appropriately constructed wheelchair cushions are effective in reducing incidence and severity of pressure ulcers. The Tuball is an inexpensive wheelchair cushion designed for users in less-resourced settings, which can be reproduced by local clinicians using locally sourced materials. This paper aimed to assess whether different individuals with limited knowledge of cushion construction could reliably construct the Tuball cushion. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of eleven occupational therapy students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Six participants constructed a Tuball and completed a subjective workload assessment. Five different participants sat on each cushion while pressure distributions were mapped. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for reliability of construction of each cushion using data from a range of pressure indices: dispersion index (primary outcome), peak pressure index, contact area, and seat pressure index (secondary outcomes) across all six cushions. Results and Conclusions: The ICC across all cushions was 0.745 (95% CI 0.103–0.970) for dispersion index. ICCs across cushions for secondary outcomes ranged from 0.879 to 0.951. Good-moderate reliability was found for the reliability in cushion construction as measured by the dispersion index. Excellent reliability in cushion construction was found as measured by peak pressure index, contact area, and seat pressure index. Data indicates individuals can reliably construct the Tuball given equivalent materials and instructions.

Physical therapy after femur fracture in elderly patients at the long-term rehabilitation stage

Femoral neck fractures are the leading cause of disability among the elderly. Rehabilitation is fundamental to restore functionality that was before the fracture. Aim. To conduct an observational cohort study to compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in different therapeutic settings. Materials and methods. Elderly patients who underwent surgical stabilization of femur fracture were included in the study. The participants were divided into 3 groups: group 1 – outpatient rehabilitation; group 2 – inpatient rehabilitation; group 3 – rehabilitation at home. Rehabilitation results were determined at the initial stage, 3 and 6 months after the fracture. The Barthel index, passive and active range of motion in hip flexion and extension, and the muscle strength in flexion, extension, and extension of the knee joint were assessed. Results. In 6 months, all three groups showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in all indices compared to baseline. Considering the intergroup analysis, the final Barthel index score was significantly higher in patients who were treated as outpatients (88.00 ± 9.6) than inpatients (68.57 ± 11.7), but no statistical difference was found between patients who were treated as outpatients and at home (82.5 ± 10.4). In general, patients who were treated in outpatient settings showed better functional outcomes, while patients who were rehabilitated in inpatient settings had worse outcomes. Patients treated at home showed intermediate final functional outcomes more similar to outpatients. Patients with hip fracture undergoing outpatient rehabilitation were more likely to have better long-term effects of the rehabilitation protocol regarding the functional status, muscle strength in hip flexion, hip extension, and knee extension. Patients referred to home rehabilitation showed intermediate results, closer to outpatients, although they started rehabilitation treatment faster after the hospital discharge. Conclusions. The data obtained indicate that rehabilitation leads to significant functional recovery after femur fracture in elderly patients. Both outpatient and home-based rehabilitation are acceptable rehabilitation options for femoral fractures.

A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors

With increasing research on geological hazards and the development of geographic information technology, slope units play an increasingly important role in landslide susceptibility assessment and prevention work. The scientific and reasonable division of slope units directly impacts the accuracy and practicality of analysis results. Despite the significant progress in slope unit division techniques, most existing methods still have certain limitations, such as a strong dependence on manually set thresholds during the division process, resulting in low levels of automation and efficiency. To address this issue, a new parameter-free slope unit extraction algorithm that integrates terrain factors, called Terrain Factor Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division (TFPF-SU), is introduced. This eliminates the issue of manually setting parameter thresholds during the slope unit division process. This algorithm fully utilizes the terrain information provided by digital elevation models (DEMs) to accurately calculate the curvature, slope, and aspect data for each point. On the basis of the inherent consistency principles among slope, aspect, and curvature, object-oriented image segmentation technology is used to achieve slope unit division. We select Dongchuan District in Yunnan Province, China, as a test area to verify the TFPF-SU algorithm and conduct a detailed comparative analysis and validation of the results with those obtained via traditional hydrological analysis methods from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In the quantitative analysis, we utilize the size and shape of the slope units. The results indicate the following: ① the slope units obtained with the TFPF-SU method are more uniform in size, avoiding issues with oversized or irregularly shaped units; ② the slope unit shapes obtained with the TFPF-SU method are more reasonable, with about 70% of the units falling within a reasonable shape index range, compared to only about 32% with the hydrological method; and ③ the slope units produced by the TFPF-SU method align more closely with terrain authenticity, exhibiting a higher degree of topographical conformity.

A calibration framework for outdoor thermal comfort index and neutral range: Application in subtropical hot-humid campus

Outdoor thermal comfort affects occupants’ well-being and building energy use. A reliable thermal index tailored to diverse climates is crucial for improving outdoor conditions. Current calibration methods for the neutral thermal range typically set a Thermal Sensation Vote threshold between −0.5 and 0.5. However, this threshold was derived from the indoor-focused Predicted Mean Vote model, which may not be applicable to outdoor conditions. To address this limitation, a revised calibration framework for outdoor scenarios is proposed, taking subtropical hot-humid campus as a case study. The key aspect of this framework is refining the neutral Thermal Sensation Vote interval for outdoor settings. First, an evaluation of the original outdoor thermal comfort index identified the necessity for recalibration. Next, the correlation between Thermal Comfort Vote and Thermal Sensation Vote was established to accurately localize context-specific neutral Thermal Sensation Vote interval. Finally, the proposed framework was applied to UTCI calibration, yielding a modified neutral UTCI range of 4.5–27.2°C through localized regression analysis. This study also highlights the impact of spatial configurations on outdoor thermal comfort, finding higher thermal tolerance within natural landscapes. It provides insights into creating outdoor thermal settings in subtropical hot-humid locations, especially for campus construction or renovation.

Influence of inherent anisotropy on the mechanical properties of normally consolidated clays with a wide range of plasticity indices

Inherent (fabric) anisotropy is one of the most important properties of earthen materials which has a significant influence on their strength and stiffness characteristics. In this study, a comprehensive series of unconfined and constrained compression tests is performed on normally consolidated (NC) clay samples with different plasticity indices to examine the effect of inherent anisotropy on their mechanical characteristics. Accordingly, several cylindrical clay samples with different proportions of kaolinite and bentonite are reconstituted at a wide range of deposition angles and then subjected to both unconfined and constrained compressive loadings. According to the experimental results, for a clay sample with a particular plasticity index, the highest and lowest values of the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), the secant modulus (E50), and the constrained Young's modulus (Eoed) are observed to be associated with the deposition angles of 0o and 90o, respectively. The results also show that at a certain bedding plane angle, the sample containing 30% bentonite (PI = 110%) exhibits the highest UCS, E50, and Eoed values. Several practical empirical correlations are developed to estimate the strength and stiffness properties of NC clays using their plasticity indices and bedding plane directions. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis is also conducted to explore the microstructure of samples containing varying percentages of kaolinite and bentonite.

Sustainability assessment of low-impact development methods for urban stormwater management: A multi-criteria decision-making approach

Low-impact development (LID) methods are used in urban areas as sustainable stormwater management solutions. However, previous studies often lack situational scenario-based assessments and cover a limited range of criteria and indices, overlooking key factors, especially in developing countries facing significant sustainability challenges. This study addresses these gaps by assessing the sustainability of four LID alternatives, including novel combinations of rain barrels (RBs), rain gardens (RGs), permeable pavements (PPs), infiltration trenches (ITs), and vegetative swales (VSs), for inside and outside the house in a case study located in Tehran, Iran. In addition, 22 quantitative/qualitative indices were selected across environmental, social, economic, and technical criteria. The three-phase indices evaluation involved 1) simulating the study area by the stormwater management model (SWMM), 2) collecting quantitative data, and 3) scoring qualitative indices through questionnaires. A modified analytical hierarchy process model was employed to rank LID alternatives in difficult, poor, transition, satisfied, and ideal scenarios. Considering situational scenarios, the results showed that IT and VS for outside the house consistently performed best, adding novel contributions. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this finding despite changing criteria weights. This study provides a new framework for urban decision-makers in developing countries to adopt resilient stormwater solutions.

Characterization of the Liquid Fuel Produced from Catalytic Depolymerization of Polymeric Waste Using Batch Reactor

The high rate of generation of plastic waste in the country and the fact that all other means of Municipal Plastic Waste (MPW) management techniques had failed leading to the requirement of efficient and alternative disposal technique-depolymerization. The technique involves heating the polymeric waste at an elevated temperature in an inert environment to produce condensable, non-condensable, hydrocarbon and biochar. The plastic waste was collected at the Ilokun dumpsite in Ado-Ekiti, southwest Nigeria. Each component of the waste samples was depolymerized in a batch reactor without the use of a catalyst and with the addition of 10 g of activated carbon (AC) and calcium oxide (CaO) as catalysts. The liquid fuels which were produced between the temperature range of 219 and 232 were blended with standard fuel. Fuel samples with conventional diesel and depolymerized plastic diesel were characterized based on ASTM standards. The results of the proximate and ultimate analysis indicated that percentage moisture content ranges from 0.00-0.18%, volatile matter ranges between 96.66-99.75% and percentage ash content ranges from 0.13-3.03%. Fixed carbon ranges from 0.004-0.31% while the Gross Heating Value (GHV) ranges from 42.66-45.87 MJ/kg. The CHONS analyzer indicated the percentage of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur content range 81.64-85.51%, 12-31-18.04%, 0.00-1.51%, 0.00-0.73%, and 0.10- 0.97% respectively. The results of the physiochemical properties of the samples show that the density, API gravity, Kinematic viscosity and Flash point vary from 0.76-0.83 (g/cm3), 38.98-54.68, 17-2.80 (cm2/s) and 50.0-70.0 (°C) respectively while Cloud point, Pour point, Fire point and Cetane index range from -20-15.0 (°C), -23-7 (°C), 61.0-79.0 (°C) and 38.50-47.0. The pH values of the liquid fuel samples vary from 6.60-3.30. The overall results of the characterization indicated the fuel samples have proximity to the properties of the conventional diesel following the ASTM D975, ASTM D4737, ASTM D1298, ASTM D445, ASTM D2709, and ASTM D482 standards. The depolymerized polymeric waste is sustainable, with a low cost of production. Hence a good substitute as an alternative fuel and means of wealth creation from waste.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor with 2D Materials for Enhanced Refractive Index Detection of Chemical Pollutants in Seawater

This paper introduces a highly sensitive, graphene-based, multilayer surface plasmon resonance (SPR) refractive index sensor is designed for the detection of chemical pollutants in seawater. The sensor structure consists of multiple layers, specifically BK7 glass, Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), MXene, and Graphene. SPR sensors have gained significant attention in the field of real-time chemical sensing due to their label-free detection capabilities, high sensitivity, and excellent reproducibility. In this sensor design, the refractive index (RI) of the sensing region is altered by the interaction of chemical pollutants present in the seawater. These variations in RI directly affect the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at the multilayer sensor interface. This interaction forms the basis for detecting chemical pollutants, as changes in RI modulate the sensor's optical response, which can be accurately measured. The performance of the proposed sensor is thoroughly evaluated using numerical simulations based on the Transfer Matrix Method (TMM). The simulations are carried out over a refractive index range of 1.329 to 1.433, covering the typical RI variations caused by chemical pollutants in seawater. The sensor demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving a maximum sensitivity of 186deg/RIU at an operational wavelength of 633nm. Additionally, the sensor is exhibited a high detection accuracy (DA) of 1.5deg⁻¹ and a figure of merit (FOM) of 205 RIU⁻¹, highlighting its ability to precisely distinguish small changes in refractive index. These results emphasize the potential of this graphene-based SPR sensor configuration for high-performance detection of chemical pollutants, making it an excellent candidate for environmental monitoring applications. Its robust design, combined with its high sensitivity and accuracy, positions it as a promising solution for addressing challenges in seawater pollution detection and monitoring.

Geotechnical and geophysical investigations for infrastructure safety zones: a case study of the supporting ring road, Cairo, Egypt

This study aims to evaluate the suitability of subsurface layers for infrastructure development using geophysical and geotechnical studies. Six seismic refraction and six 2D geoelectic profiles were conducted in the study area to analyze the geotechnical characteristics of the subsoil in order to assess its suitability for construction projects. According to the geophysical investigation, there are two main geoelectric strata, each with a different lithology and thickness. The first layer has high resistivity values of more than 200 (Ωm) and its thickness is between 3.5 and 6.3 m. The second layer's resistivity ranges from 0.3 to 200 (Ωm). The findings indicate that the near-surface area of the study site is composed of two layers in addition to the surface layer, which consists of semi-consolidated wadi fill deposits of gravel, sand, and silt with rock fragments. The first layer comprises fractured limestone with clay intercalation, followed by a second layer of marly limestone, which transitions into marl and clay. Both compressional (P) and shear (S) waves were detected and analyzed. The shallow seismic refraction technique indicates that the velocity waves (Vp) in the first and second layers range from 133 to 770 and 790 to 3100 m/s respectively. Various engineering parameters for the second layer were determined, including elastic moduli (bulk modulus, Poisson’s ratio, rigidity modulus, and Young’s modulus), competence scales (stress ratio, concentration index, material index and density gradient), and bearing capacity (ultimate and allowable). The average Poisson ratio for the first and second layers is 0.235. The ultimate bearing capacity (Qu) of the first layer ranges from 379.1 to 1031.2 gm/cm2 and between 1040.8 and 1548.5 gm/cm2 of the second layer. Allowable bearing capacity (Qall) for the first layer is between 126.4 and 343.7 gm/cm2, and for the second layer, it is between 346.9 and 516.2 gm/cm2. According to the geotechnical investigation's findings, the range of liquid limit (LL) values is between 41.20 and 86.30%, the range of plastic limit (PL) values is between 18 and 35.25%, the range of plasticity index (PI) values is between 14.17 and 51.45%, and the range of free swelling values is between 60 and 170%. However, the study identified high-risk areas in the study area. These zones are located in the first and second layers represented by strongly swelling clay layers and strongly fractured limestone, which will have a major impact on the road and buildings. Therefore, this study recommends addressing these problems before any development to protect these areas from subsidence and collapse.

Whispery gallery mode plasmonic biosensor based on intensifying graphene layer

This study presents a novel whispery gallery mode (WGM) biosensor based on a plasmonic nanoring structure. The biosensor's design incorporates a unique combination of gold-coated plasmonic nanoring and graphene in which graphene serves as both an intensifying and receptor layer, allowing binding and detection. According to the classification of essential biomolecules, the proposed biosensor is capable of different biomolecules detection including DNA, RNA, adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, and uracil. The biosensor's performance was optimized using the FEM solution method, simulating the optimal sizes of the plasmonic layer and the dimensions of the silicon nanoring. The obtained results confirm high sensitivity within the studied range of refractive index, around 105 nm/RIU. Additionally, the highest Q-factor, figure of merit and minimum detection limit are around 4179.078, 276.315 RIU−1and 3.619 ×10−3RIU, respectively. This biosensor demonstrates great potential in identifying biomolecular structures as presented in this paper, serving as a valuable tool for detecting and analyzing complex biological materials.

The steady-state pharmacokinetics of fixed-dose combination dolutegravir+rilpivirine in hemodialysis

Objective: Fixed dose combination (FDC) dolutegravir (DTG) plus rilpivirine (RPV) is an approved antiretroviral treatment regimen for people with HIV. The steady-state pharmacokinetics (PK) of FDC DTG+RPV in hemodialysis (HD) has not been previously studied. Design: We performed a single-center, prospective evaluation of the steady-state PK of FDC DTG +RPV in 4 adults without HIV either requiring HD and in 4 matched participants with normal renal function. Methods: All participants received FDC DTG(50mg)+RPV(25mg) daily for 10-14 days with food before undergoing an intensive 24-hour PK evaluation (performed between dialysis days for those requiring HD). Plasma drug and metabolite concentrations were measured using a validated UHPLC/MS/MS. Descriptive PK parameters were calculated. Results: The HD and normal renal function participants (each group with 2 men and 2 women) were of similar ages (range, 50-60 years) and body mass index (range, 18.5-34.5 kg/m2). No participant experienced serious or grade 3-4 adverse events; there were no study discontinuations. The AUC0-τ mean (SD) ratios of HD to normal renal function for DTG and RPV were 1.1 (0.4) and 1.1 (0.9), respectively. The mean (SD) Cmin for DTG and RPV in the HD group were 1033 (252) ng/mL and 49 (18) ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions: HD did not lead to clinically appreciable differential exposures to DTG and RPV. Exposures throughout the dosing interval were greater than the reported protein-binding adjusted IC90 efficacy values for DTG (64 ng/mL) and RPV (12 ng/mL) in all participants. These data suggest no dosing modifications are needed for the FDC DTG+RPV regimen in HD.

Holocene fringing reef along southern Andaman and Swaraj Dweep shoreline

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are rimmed by discontinuous fringing reef that is in general wider on western margin vs the eastern margin. This study characterizes the facies updip from the modern fringing reefs to the present shoreline of south Andaman and Swaraj Dweep, and describes in detail the coral terraces/carpets within and above the inter-tidal zone representing the Holocene Fringing reef. Field studies, satellite, and drone datasets have been utilized to map different facies, that include: coralgal boundstone, biodetrital-grainstone, beachrock, and coralgal rudstone. Multiple exposed microatolls as well as coral terraces (coral carpets) of Acropora and Porites (dated 8.7-8.4 ka BP) have been identified within the intertidal zone (Radhanagar Beach, Swaraj Dweep) indicating that Holocene fringing reef have down-stepped offshore to the current location of modern fringing reefs owing to either tectonics or eustasy. The eustatic sea-level fluctuations are relatively well established for the Holocene and we compute the tectonic uplift rates utilizing the stream-power-incision and linear-inversion model. A tectonic uplift rate of ~ 0.05 mm/yr (for Swaraj Dweep) during the past 100 ka is estimated, while taking into account a wide range of erodibility indexes and response time intervals. It is identified that the computed uplift rate is an amalgamation of the coseismic deformation along with the interseismic and aseismic surface deformation. Thus, not all exposed coral terraces/microatolls are exposed due to coseismic deformation (for example uplift in parts of Andaman due to earthquake in 2004). The average long-term uplift rates are a magnitude lower than the eustatic sea-level fall rates during Holocene, thus, we suggest that most of the Holocene fringing reefs are exposed due to eustatic sea-level fall and down-stepped to the current location of the modern fringing reefs. This would entail that the eustatic sea-level change rates would play a significant role in determining future of the modern fringing reef (catch-up vs keep up vs give up), and the coastal morphology of south Andaman and Swaraj Dweep, with implications for coastal inundation and stability in the scenario of climate change.

Superior Control of Spacecraft Re-Entry Trajectory

This paper focuses on the re-entry phase of lunar return spacecraft and addresses the design optimization of their re-entry trajectories in real-world conditions. Considering various constraints of re-entry flights, this study introduces a refined superior control theory, drawing from Xuesen Qian’s descriptions in engineering control theory, and presents a specific superior control algorithm. The designed superior control algorithm and the traditional weighted optimal control algorithm were employed to simulate the lunar return and re-entry processes. Two representative trajectories were selected for a comparative analysis to obtain various parameters. Results indicate that the trajectory optimized using the weighted optimal control algorithm can only ensure that multiple performance indexes are optimized according to preset weights but cannot achieve superior performance in all metrics. In contrast, trajectories optimized using the superior control algorithm effectively leverage the permissible floating range of performance indexes without exceeding the maximum limit, thereby ensuring superior performance in all metrics. This paper is the first to refine the superior control theory proposed by Xuesen Qian, to design a specific algorithm theory for superior control, and to apply it to aerospace re-entry trajectory optimization—providing a theoretical foundation for future non-weighted control algorithm developments.

Evaluation of Drought Tolerance Ability in Wheat Genotypes Through Comprehensive Stress Indices

The objective was to assess a range of stress indices to discern wheat genotypes resilient to drought stress, so forty-nine genotypes underwent scrutiny in both drought stress in rainfed conditions and non-stress settings (with supplementary irrigation), employing a 7 × 7 lattice layout with two replicates across years 2019 and 2020. The evaluation incorporated twenty stress indices anchored in yield under water stress (YS) and potential (YP) circumstances. Primary analysis indicated that eight indices (RDI, YSI, YI, K2STI, MRP, REI, RR and SSPI) did not give any new information, so they were eliminated in further analysis. Genotypes G33 (4234 kg ha-1) and G9 (2227 kg ha-1) were the best genotypes based on YP in 2019 and 2020, respectively. A positive association was observed between ATI and YP and between YS with DI and K1STI in the year 2019, while in the second year, such positive associations were not seen. We found some wheat genotypes G6, G9, G10 and G11 demonstrated high performance in both potential and rainfed conditions across two years, showing yield higher than 1,800 and 2,700 kg ha-1 for YS and YP, respectively, across both years. These genotypes were detected as the most tolerant genotypes by mean-based indices (TOL, HM, GMP, and MP) as well as SSI and ATI indices, so it can be concluded that these indices are more useful than other indices for identifying the most tolerant as well as the high yielding genotypes.

Comprehensive Analysis of Optical Resonances and Sensing Performance in Metasurfaces of Silicon Nanogap Unit

Metasurfaces composed of silicon nanogap units have a variety of optical resonances, including bound states in the continuum (BIC). We show comprehensive numerical results on metasurfaces of Si-nanogap units, analyze the optical resonances, and clarify optically prominent resonances as well as symmetry-forbidding resonances that are the BIC, based on the numerical analyses of optical spectra and resonant electromagnetic field distributions. Introducing asymmetry in the unit cell, the BIC become optically allowed, being identified as magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, and magnetic quadrupole resonances. Moreover, the optical resonances are examined in terms of refractive index sensing performance. A pair of the resonances associated with electric field localization at the nanogap was found to be sensitive to the refractive index in contact with the metasurfaces. Consequently, the gap mode resonances are shown to be suitable for a wide range of refractive index sensing over 1.0–2.0.

The Prevalence of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia and the Relationship with Inflammation and Anemia Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Older people are more likely to have poor nutrition and low muscle mass, which leads to poor physical performance and anemia, resulting in a poor quality of life and risks to mobility and mortality. Furthermore, malnutrition may, in part, raise the level of inflammatory biomarkers as well as muscle catabolism. Moreover, a range of indices related to systemic inflammation, obtained from routine complete blood count (CBC) tests, have been applied to inflammation markers. However, these biomarkers remain insufficiently addressed in the evidence supporting the presence of sarcopenia and malnutrition. This study aimed to explore sarcopenia in terms of malnutrition, anemia, and inflammation among Thai community-dwelling older people. Methods: This study enrolled community-dwelling older people aged 60 years and above. All participants were requested to complete a questionnaire assessing for sarcopenia (SARC-F) and nutritional status using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA). In addition, blood samples were obtained for the CBC test. Logistic regression analysis explored the risk of sarcopenia, CBC, and malnutrition status. Results: Of 126 older people (aged 62-88 years) enrolled, 12 individuals (9.52%) had sarcopenia. Furthermore, 34.9% and 5.56% of the participants were demonstrated to have anemia and malnutrition, respectively. Nutrition status was positively associated with hemoglobin levels (r = 0.241, p = 0.007) and negatively related to SARC-F scores (r = -0.190, p = 0.034). Older people with anemia show an increased risk of malnutrition at an odds ratio (OR) of 3.375. Moreover, individuals with anemia were at a higher risk of developing sarcopenia (OR 4.982) than those with no anemia. However, individuals with a high level of inflammatory markers, e.g., a high systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), had a higher risk of sarcopenia than those with low SIRI and MLR values. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were also positively associated with SARC-F scores. Conclusions: The association between sarcopenia, malnutrition status, and anemia might overlap in clinical manifestation. In addition, future research directions regarding the utility of routine CBC testing should focus on sarcopenia and malnutrition status.

Fabrication of silicon microparticle dispersion as terahertz wave refractive index control material

Optical systems utilizing terahertz waves hold significant potential across various fields; however, the materials for the optical elements that constitute such systems are currently scarce and the range of refractive indices that can be handled is limited. In the visible light region, there are refractive index control materials made of nanocomposites with dispersed dielectric nanoparticles. However, few technologies for refractive index control materials exist in the terahertz wave region. In this study, we developed an Si microparticle dispersion in which Si microparticles are dispersed in a cycloolefin polymer (COP) matrix as a high refractive index material for terahertz waves. Results showed that a material with a refractive index between that of Si and COP can be designed by changing the volume fraction of the Si cube, a subwavelength structural particle, in the dispersion. A method in which Si cubes werefabricated by dicing with COP and using a mold was implemented to produce four types of Si microparticle dispersions with Si concentrations of 1 vol%, 5 vol%, 15 vol%, and 25 vol%. The effective refractive index was evaluated, and results demonstrated that in the 0.1–0.2 THz range, including the D band of the Beyond 5G/6G communication band, the effective refractive index values were according to the concentration, achieving control in the range of 1.53–1.96. Additionally, the Si cubes were uniformly dispersed in the dispersion with random orientations in three dimensions, making them an optical material with minimal polarization dependence. The proposed Si microparticle dispersion can be used as a new refractive index control material in the terahertz band.