Periphery Of Region Research Articles

Peri-Urban Floodscapes: Identifying and Analyzing Flood Risk Areas in North Bhubaneswar in Eastern India

Peri-urban catchment areas are increasingly susceptible to floods due to rapid land use transformations and unplanned urban expansion. This study comprehensively examines flood vulnerability in the rapidly developing peri-urban areas of North Bhubaneswar, focusing on significant changes in Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and hydrological dynamics from 2004 to 2024, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The analysis reveals substantial shifts in land use patterns, with the urban footprint expanding by 71.8%, cropland decreasing by 21.7%, and forest areas by 13.6%. These changes have led to increased impervious surfaces, resulting in higher surface runoff and decreased groundwater recharge, thereby exacerbating flood risks in the region. The GRID-based vulnerability analysis classifies 90 villages within the catchment area based on their vulnerability levels, identifying 20 villages as high-risk areas requiring urgent attention, 44 villages as medium vulnerable, and 26 villages as low vulnerable. These classifications are based on factors such as proximity to drainage networks, slope, geomorphology, and LULC characteristics, with areas near drainage channels and low-lying regions being prone to flooding. The analysis integrates multiple factors to provide a comprehensive assessment of flood risk, highlighting the need for sustainable land use planning, conservation of vegetated areas, and the implementation of advanced flood prevention strategies in the peri-urban areas. Extending this research to other fringe regions could offer further valuable insights, guiding flood prevention and sustainable development strategies for areas undergoing significant land use transformations to effectively mitigate future flood risks.

Direct Imaging of Charge/Dopant Distribution in PANI/PSS Thin Films Using Advanced Frequency Modulation Electrostatic Force Microscopy.

This paper presents a detailed study that maps the surface charges and dopant distribution on the electropolymerized thin film of polyaniline-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PANI/PSS). The focus is on two distinct states of PANI/PSS: the fully doped emeraldine salt (ES/PSS) and the dedoped emeraldine base (EB/PSS). This investigation utilizes advanced frequency modulation electrostatic force microscopy (FM-EFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polymer film comprises polymer grains, and FM-EFM data suggest a non-uniform distribution of dopants on the grain surface, with a higher doped periphery than the core. Quantifying the charge at the periphery and core of ES/PSS and EB/PSS grains provides unique insight into the charge distribution within the polymer film. The charge density is estimated to be 10 times higher in the periphery region (∼120 μC/cm2) than in the core region (∼11 μC/cm2) and 100 times higher than EB/PSS (∼0.8 μC/cm2). We have directly observed the morphological changes of PANI/PSS from the ES/PSS state to the EB/PSS state using the AFM topographic profile. These findings provide a better understanding of the behavior of the charge/dopant distribution on the surface of the polymer films and pave the way for further research and development of PANI/PSS-based electronic devices.

Fine-scale phylogeography of Tripneustes gratilla revealed a core-periphery pattern in the South China sea

The Core-Periphery Hypothesis (CPH) is a theoretical framework in phylogeography used to examine the spatial distribution of genetic diversity. The tropical Indian-Western Pacific (IWP), serving as a prominent marine biodiversity hotspot, constantly exports species and evolutionary novelties to peripheral habitats. Many species display genetic patterns consistent with CPH predictions from the IWP to periphery regions. However, the presence of CPH’s genetic signals in intermediate distribution zones remains underexplored. Here, we collected four sea urchin populations of Tripneustes gratilla in the South China Sea and analysed their population structure and evolutionary patterns using 13 morphological parameters, one mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and nine polymorphic microsatellites. The results revealed substantial genetic homogeneity among the populations, implying a single origin from a glacial refugium. Nonetheless, morphological and microsatellite data distinctly differentiate the northernmost Fengjiawan population from the others, which could be attributed to increased environmental selection pressures such as temperature. Analysis of genetic diversity variation along latitudinal gradients and the relationship between geographic and genetic distances align with CPH expectations for both 16S and microsatellites, albeit to varying degrees of significance. This study enhances our understanding of tropical marine invertebrate evolution and supports the applicability of the CPH model at a fine-scale level.

Evaluating the dynamics of human-water symbiosis using the water-human harmony model in the fringe region of the Chhotanagpur Plateau, Eastern India

Evaluating the dynamics of human-water symbiosis using the water-human harmony model in the fringe region of the Chhotanagpur Plateau, Eastern India

Giant cell tumor of bone of temporal bone and skull base: report of 6 cases.

Five cases of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) in the head and neck region were reported, with a main focus on the radiological findings to identify common characteristics for the diagnosis of GCTB in these sites. Five consecutive patients diagnosed with GCTB were retrospectively selected. Radiological features on conventional and advanced MR sequences and CT were analyzed. HE staining and immunohistochemical examination were performed using antibodies against p63 and CD68. The common clinical features were local mass (3/5), tinnitus (3/5) and headache (2/5). Radiologically, all the cases were well-circumscribed osteolytic lesion, majority of cases demonstrated an expansile growth pattern and "soap bubble" appearance on CT (4/5). On MRI, the tumors showed predominantly hypointensity both on T1WI and T2WI, and no evidence of restricted diffusion on DWI. Intratumoral hemorrhage (2/5), cystic alternation (2/5) and very low signal on T2WI in the periphery region of the tumor (4/5) was found. Fluid-fluid level was noted in one case, which was eventually verified to be GCTB with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). With contrast agent, all the cases showed striking (3/5) or mild to intermediate (2/5) enhancement. Although the above described radiological findings are not specific for GCTB in head and neck region, a well-defined osteolytic lesion in the bones of head and neck region with "soap bubble" appearance on CT and hypointensity on T2WI with very low signal in the peripheral region of the tumor on MRI highly suggest GCTB for patient ages 20 to 40.

Combustion characteristics analysis and performance evaluation of a hydrogen engine under direct injection plus lean burn mode

Direct injection plus lean burn technology can effectively control combustion processes and reduce carbon emissions of hydrogen engines. Hence, hydrogen direct injection strategy optimization is a key means to improve engine performance and achieve low emissions. Thus, a three-dimensional transient calculation model coupled chemical reaction mechanism is established, and its reliability and accuracy are systematically evaluated using experimental data. Then, the effects of hydrogen direct injection strategies on the hydrogen-air mixing and combustion process are investigated. The results indicate that the ideal mixture stratification law is that the gas fuel concentration is gradually stratified from the ignition center to the periphery region. The maximum indicated work is obtained for the B-60° scheme which its injection position is near the intake side and 7.5 mm from the cylinder center on the X-axis. The optimal hydrogen injection angles vary with different injection positions by evaluating engine performance, specifically, 60° is optimal for injection position B, while 30° is best for injection position C which is between intake and exhaust and 40 mm from the cylinder center on the Y-axis. Finally, the achieved maximum thermal efficiencies of 41% and indicated power of 4.29 kW for the B-60° scheme, and its nitric oxide can meet the Europe V emission standards (7.5 g/kWh). This research can offer theoretical guidance for designing and optimizing fuel injection strategies for hydrogen energy engines, and it is relevant for promoting carbon neutrality and cleaner production.

Phosphoglyceride crystal deposition with suspected malignant ovarian tumor: a case report and literature review.

Phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease is a rare condition occurring in soft tissues, resulting in scarring and affecting the bones, making preoperative differentiation from malignant tumors challenging. Here, we describe a case of phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease initially suspected to be a malignant ovarian tumor before surgery. A 50-year-old woman with a history of three cesarean sections presented with lower abdominal pain. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a 54 × 58mm tumor in the lower right abdomen. Pelvic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a thickened cystic wall with diffusion restriction, a low signal intensity region on T1-weighted images, and a slightly high signal intensity region on T2-weighted images. The tumor markers, cancer antigen 125 and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels, were within normal ranges; however, positron emitting tomography-computed tomography revealed fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation (SUVmax 31.28) in the tumor wall. Suspecting a malignant ovarian tumor, a laparoscopy was performed to observe the abdominal cavity. A 10cm white solid tumor was identified in the midline of the lower abdominal wall, leading to an open surgery recommendation. The tumor, adhering to the pubic bone, was excised. The tumor measured 9 × 7cm, with the cut surface showing a yellow brownish solid periphery and central region with liquefied degeneration. Histologically, radial basophilic deposits, dense infiltration of macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, and foam-like tissue spheres were observed. The central region exhibited cholesterol clefts, fibrin exudation, and necrosis, leading to a diagnosis of phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease. This disease is rare, occurring in patients with atypical fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation on positron emission tomography-computed tomography or with a history of tissue damage, such as abdominal surgery.

Flow analysis of a two-layered micropolar fluid in a catheterized oesophageal tube under the influence of a dilating amplitude: Application to pre-diagnosis of oesophageal motility disorder

This study employs the Homotopy perturbation method to analyze the behavior of immiscible, incompressible fluids within a cylindrical coaxial tube, focusing on scenarios relevant to physiological fluid dynamics, particularly in the catheterized oesophagus and similar biological systems. Adopting long-wavelength and low Reynolds number approximations, a two-layered model is proposed with a micropolar fluid in the core and a Newtonian fluid in periphery regions. Parameters such as velocity, flux, friction, pressure, and impedance variations are formulated, particularly under the influence of dilating wave amplitude. Generally, when a catheter is introduced, pressure rises. It is further found that while pressure falls with increasing micropolar parameter, it rises with coupling number upon catheter insertion. Thus feeding patients with micropolar fluids during catheter-assisted pre-diagnosis is impractical due to associated pressure rise. Observations suggest a complex pressure profile during bolus passage through the oesophagus due to the broadening of the catheter size. Additionally, impedance exponentially increases with catheter size, influenced by the micropolar parameters and the coupling numbers, with micropolar fluids exhibiting higher impedance than that with Newtonian fluids. However, this study underscores the significant impact of catheterization on physiological fluid dynamics, notably increasing oesophageal impedance by two to threefold. This highlights the critical role of catheters in altering flow characteristics, emphasizing the need for a careful medical intervention during pre-diagnostic assessments.

Laser ablation behavior and mechanisms of 3D carbon fiber reinforced ZrB2-SiC composite

The high-performance 3D Cf-PyC/ZrB2-SiC composite was fabricated by vibration-assisted slurry impregnation and low-temperature hot pressing. The composite exhibited superior laser ablation resistance, leading to a low linear loss rate of 1.56×10−2 mm/s at laser power density of 4878 W/cm2 (Power 300 W, Laser beam diameter 2.8 mm) for 90 s. The coupling effect of a dense SiO2 layer in fringe region followed by dense ZrO2 layer in transitional region and next porous ZrO2 layer in center region achieved superior laser ablation resistance.

Similarity-Based Three-Way Clustering by Using Dimensionality Reduction

Three-way clustering uses core region and fringe region to describe a cluster, which divide the dataset into three parts. The division helps identify the central core and outer sparse regions of a cluster. One of the main challenges in three-way clustering is the meaningful construction of the two sets. Aimed at handling high-dimensional data and improving the stability of clustering, this paper proposes a novel three-way clustering method. The proposed method uses dimensionality reduction techniques to reduce data dimensions and eliminate noise. Based on the reduced dataset, random sampling and feature extraction are performed multiple times to introduce randomness and diversity, enhancing the algorithm’s robustness. Ensemble strategies are applied on these subsets, and the k-means algorithm is utilized to obtain multiple clustering results. Based on these results, we obtain co-association frequency between different samples and fused clustering result using the single-linkage method of hierarchical clustering. In order to describe the core region and fringe region of each cluster, the similar class of each sample is defined by co-association frequency. The lower and upper approximations of each cluster are obtained based on similar class. The samples in the lower approximation of each cluster belong to the core region of the cluster. The differences between lower and upper approximations of each cluster are defined as fringe region. Therefore, a three-way explanation of each cluster is naturally formed. By employing various UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository (UCI) datasets and comparing different clustering metrics such as Normalized Mutual Information (NMI), Adjusted Rand Index (ARI), and Accuracy (ACC), the experimental results show that the proposed strategy is effective in improving the structure of clustering results.

Dynamic changes in the bauxite trade competition network structure and its influencing factors: Based on temporal exponential random graph model

Global bauxite resource mismatch, limited resources and rising demand have led to intense import competition and export competition. Based on the bauxite trade data from 2005 to 2020, this study uses the complex network method to construct the bauxite import and export competition network, analyzes the evolution of the global bauxite competition pattern and influencing factors. The results show that: First, the density of global bauxite competition network as a whole is on the rise, and competition networks are somewhat resistant to destruction. Second, the import competition network shows a clear trend towards eastward migration, with China's competition strength standing out. Most of the competing economies in the export competition network are large bauxite resource economies. Third, both import and export competition networks show a tendency to spread from core and semi-periphery regions to periphery region. Finally, it can be seen from the influencing factors analysis, the competition network of bauxite has stability. GDP, population, and FTA significantly promote the formation of competition networks, while CO2 and geographic distance play the opposite role. In addition, the effects of industrial structure, common language and common colony on the import and export competition networks are not uniform.

Identification of a third myosin-5a-melanophilin interaction that mediates the association of myosin-5a with melanosomes.

Transport and localization of melanosome at the periphery region of melanocyte are depended on myosin-5a (Myo5a), which associates with melanosome by interacting with its adaptor protein melanophilin (Mlph). Mlph contains four functional regions, including Rab27a-binding domain, Myo5a GTD-binding motif (GTBM), Myo5a exon F-binding domain (EFBD), and actin-binding domain (ABD). The association of Myo5a with Mlph is known to be mediated by two specific interactions: the interaction between the exon-F-encoded region of Myo5a and Mlph-EFBD and that between Myo5a-GTD and Mlph-GTBM. Here, we identify a third interaction between Myo5a and Mlph, that is, the interaction between the exon-G-encoded region of Myo5a and Mlph-ABD. The exon-G/ABD interaction is independent from the exon-F/EFBD interaction and is required for the association of Myo5a with melanosome. Moreover, we demonstrate that Mlph-ABD interacts with either the exon-G or actin filament, but cannot interact with both of them simultaneously. Based on above findings, we propose a new model for the Mlph-mediated Myo5a transportation of melanosomes.

Assessing the land use dynamics and thermal environment using geospatial techniques in the industrial city of Chotanagpur Plateau Region, India.

The phenomenon of urban heat island (UHI) is characterized by industrial, economic development, unplanned and unregulated land use as well as a rapid increase in urban population, resulting a warmer inner core in contrast to the surrounding natural environment, thus requiring immediate attention for a sustainable urban environment. This study examined the land use/land cover (LULC) change, pattern of spectral indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI; Normalized Difference Water Index, NDWI; Normalized Difference Built-up Index, NDBI and Normalized Difference Bareness Index, NDBaI), retrieval of land surface temperature (LST) and Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) as well as identification of UHI from 2000 to 2022. The relationship among LST and LULC spectral indices was estimated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The Landsat-5 (TM) and Landsat-8 (OLI/TIRS) satellite data have been used, and all tasks were completed through various geospatial tools like ArcGIS 10.8, Google Earth Engine (GEE), Erdas Imagine 2014 and R-Programming. The result of this study depicts over the period that built-up area and water bodies increased by 119.78 and 35.70%, respectively. On the contrary, fallow and barren decreased by 55.33 and 32.31% respectively over the period. The mean and maximum LST increased by 3.61 °C and 2.62 °C, and the study reveals that a high concentration of UTFVI and UHI in industrial areas, coal mining sites and their surroundings, but the core urban area has observed low LST and intensity of UHI than the peripheral areas due to maintained vegetation cover and water bodies. An inverse relationship has been found among LST, NDVI and NDWI, while adverse relationships were observed among LST, NDBI and NDBaI throughout the period. Sustainable environment planning is needful for the urban area, as well as the periphery region and plantation is one of the controlling measures of LST and UHI increment. This work provides the scientific base for the study of the thermal environment which can be one of the variables for planning of Asansol City and likewise other cities of the country as well as the world.

Multiwavelength Observations of a Breakout Jet at an Active Region Periphery

Multiwavelength Observations of a Breakout Jet at an Active Region Periphery

Start-ups’ scaling-up strategies at the regional periphery

Start-ups’ scaling-up strategies at the regional periphery

Unbalanced Industrialisation and Geographic Peculiarities: A Study of India?

The inter-regional disparity in economic indicators in India has increased by a considerable amount over the years. The current study is an attempt to highlight the inter-state industrialisation disparities in India. The study, based on the theoretic exposition of new economic geography, argues that the initial geographical (historical) advantage to the southern part of India has locked in industrial activities in that region (core), depriving the northern (periphery) regions of the similar benefits. Based on the Annual Survey of Industries data, the study validates that the southern regions are geographically advantageous in India and are better industrialised than the geographically disadvantaged northern regions. The study points towards the negligence of the union government in acknowledging and intervening into the industrialisation and developmental divides rampant in the latter regions. The study concludes by laying grounds open for the furtherance in the recognition of economic geography as one of the fundamental determinants of inter-regional inequalities across India, demanding immediate policy attention. JEL Codes: J61, O14

Cross-border regulatory spillovers and macroprudential policy coordination

We develop a core–periphery model with financial frictions and cross-border banking to assess the magnitude of regulatory spillovers and the gains from macroprudential policy coordination. A core global bank lends to its affiliates in the periphery and banks in both regions are subject to risk-sensitive capital regulation. Following an expansionary monetary policy in the core, a countercyclical response in capital requirements in that region induces the global bank to increase cross-border lending. We calculate welfare gains associated with countercyclical capital buffers under a range of policy regimes, including independent policymaking, full coordination, and reciprocity—a regime in which capital ratios set in the core are imposed on the global bank’s affiliates abroad. One of our key results is that, even when regulatory spillovers are strong, reciprocity can make all parties better off if regulators attach a sufficient weight to financial stability considerations. With a standard, utility-based welfare criterion, reciprocity may also perform better than independent policymaking when regulatory spillovers are weak.

Marginal Nodes Matter: Towards Structure Fairness in Graphs

In social network, a person located at the periphery region (marginal node) is likely to be treated unfairly when compared with the persons at the center. While existing fairness works on graphs mainly focus on protecting sensitive attributes (e.g., age and gender), the fairness incurred by the graph structure should also be given attention. On the other hand, the information aggregation mechanism of graph neural networks amplifies such structure unfairness, as marginal nodes are often far away from other nodes. In this paper, we focus on novel fairness incurred by the graph structure on graph neural networks, named structure fairness. Specifically, we first analyzed multiple graphs and observed that marginal nodes in graphs have a worse performance of downstream tasks than others in graph neural networks. Motivated by the observation, we propose Structural Fair Graph Neural Network (SFairGNN), which combines neighborhood expansion based structure debiasing with hop-aware attentive information aggregation to achieve structure fairness. Our experiments show SFairGNN can significantly improve structure fairness while maintaining overall performance in the downstream tasks.

Environmental Frameworks for the Gifted in the Periphery and Center Regions in Israel: Parents’ and Teachers’ Perceptions

This study aimed at mapping the environmental frameworks available for gifted children and their families in both the periphery and central regions in Israel, based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Twenty-six in-depth interviews were conducted with parents and educators from the two regions. The findings indicate that both groups of participants recognize the advantages of the pull-out programs and invest in family activities. However, in the periphery, parents spend more time with their children at home, have little or no contact with the teachers in the pull-out program, do not receive any guidance and support regarding their gifted child’s education, and perceive the governance and local authorities as less conducive to the education of their gifted children in comparison to parents from the center. The findings indicate the significant role of policymakers in the planning and development of frameworks at the individual and group levels for gifted children.

Xanthurenic acid: A role in brain intercellular signaling.

Xanthurenic acid (XA) raises a growing multidisciplinary interest based upon its oxidizing properties, its ability to complex certain metal ions, and its detoxifier capacity of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), its brain precursor. However, little is still known about the role and mechanisms of action of XA in the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, many research groups have recently investigated XA and its central functions extensively. The present paper critically reviews and discusses all major data related to XA properties and neuronal activities to contribute to the improvement of the current knowledge on XA's central roles and mechanisms of action. In particular, our data showed the existence of a specific G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for XA localized exclusively in brain neurons exhibiting Ca2+-dependent dendritic release and specific electrophysiological responses. XA properties and central activities suggest a role for this compound in brain intercellular signaling. Indeed, XA stimulates cerebral dopamine (DA) release contrary to its structural analog, kynurenic acid (KYNA). Thus, KYNA/XA ratio could be fundamental in the regulation of brain glutamate and DA release. Cerebral XA may also represent an homeostatic signal between the periphery and several brain regions where XA accumulates easily after peripheral administration. Therefore, XA status in certain psychoses or neurodegenerative diseases seems to be reinforced by its brain-specific properties in balance with its formation and peripheral inputs.