Small Units Research Articles

Spectroscopy-Guided Discovery of Three-Dimensional Structures of Disordered Materials with Diffusion Models

Abstract Spectroscopy techniques such as X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) provide valuable insights into the atomic structures of materials, yet the inverse prediction of precise structures from spectroscopic data remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we introduce a framework that combines generative artificial intelligence (AI) models with XANES spectroscopy to predict three-dimensional atomic structures of disordered systems, using amorphous carbon ($a$-C) as a model system. In this work, we introduce a new framework based on the diffusion model, a recent generative machine learning method, to predict 3D structures of disordered materials from a target property.For demonstration, we apply the model to identify the atomic structures of $a$-C as a representative material system from the target XANES spectra. We show that conditional generation guided by XANES spectra reproduces key features of the target structures. Furthermore, we show that our model can steer the generative process to tailor atomic arrangements for a specific XANES spectrum. Finally, our generative model exhibits a remarkable scale-agnostic property, thereby enabling generation of realistic, large-scale structures through learning from a small-scale dataset (i.e., with small unit cells). Our work represents a significant stride in bridging the gap between materials characterization and atomic structure determination; in addition, it can be leveraged for materials discovery in exploring various material properties as targeted.

Maternity Care Sustainability in Rural Australia

Introduction: In recent years there has seen significant closure of small maternity units particularly in rural regions of Australia. Those small maternity units that do continue to care for childbearing women may only provide antenatal and postnatal care with women giving birth in a larger maternity unit often some distance away. There are some small maternity units that continue to provide complete care to childbearing women which is the focus of this research. The issue here is that these small rural maternity units tend to only cater for women who are having a low-risk pregnancy. When the women is deemed ‘high risk’ they will need to transfer to a larger maternity unit for their ongoing antenatal visits and to birth. These larger maternity units are often some distance away requiring women to travel for each antenatal care visit and for birth. This research aims to explore women’s experience of having to transfer their care to a larger maternity unit due to being deemed at risk through interview of 40 women deemed at risk. Methods: Focus of the research was women’s experiences of needing to transfer their maternity care and used a qualitative descriptive phenomenology approach. To date seven women have been interviewed. Results: This paper presents the preliminary findings from the interviews that have been undertaken to date on seven women. The data is presented under emerging themes which will be refined with further interviews. The emerging themes are ‘women had no agency’, ‘the hidden cost’ and ‘the journey continues’. Conclusion: The paper presents the preliminary findings from these interviews. Ultimately the aim is to assess how care can be improved for these women and potential options/models of care and make these small rural maternity units sustainable.

An Advanced DEM-FEM Method for Herringbone Gear in Shot Peening

Introduction: The complex geometry of herringbone gear can lead to uneven surface strengthening, which affects the overall effect of treatment. Methods: A discrete element model (DEM) of shot peening for herringbone gears was developed, incorporating accurate gear surface parameters to study impact characteristics along the tooth profile. A finite element model (FEM) was created for small local units of the gear surface to calculate the residual stress and roughness. Results: There are a large number of low-velocity shots at the root of the gear, and the closer to the top of the gear, the higher the impact velocity of the shots, but the number of impacts also decreases. The surface roughness Sa near the root of the tooth is the smallest, the Sa at the pitch circle is the largest, and the Sa at the top of the tooth is intermediate. However, the residual stress levels at different positions of the tooth surface are not significantly different. Conclusion: The difference in tooth surface roughness of herringbone gear is the synergistic effect of shot impact velocity and shot frequency, but this synergistic effect has no significant effect on the stress after shot peening.

The Role of the Ministry of Industry as the Main Stakeholder in the Development of IKM Centers in Indonesia

Small and medium industries (SMEs) are vital sectors in Indonesia's economy, with significant contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and job creation. The IKM Center, which groups small and medium-sized business units in one location, is expected to improve production efficiency and industrial competitiveness. However, many centers are experiencing problems in management and revitalization. This research aims to explore the role of the Ministry of Industry as the main stakeholder in the development of IKM Centers in Indonesia. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study examines the role of the Ministry of Industry as a regulator, facilitator, catalyst, investor, and strategic planner in developing SME Centers. The results of the study show that although the IKM Center has great potential, there are still challenges in policy implementation and management that require revitalization. The government is expected to continue to strengthen its role to support the sustainability and growth of the IKM Center in the long term

Participation of the Mari in the Livonian (1558–1583) and Russo-Swedish (1589–1595) Wars

This article discusses the history of the participation of the Mari warriors on the side of the Russian state in the wars in the Baltic states in the second half of the 16th century. Their number in the ranks of thousands of Moscow troops did not exceed several hundred people, however, but in all cases the Mari warriors were assigned to the Advanced regiment. The participation of the Mari in the Livonian War was mainly limited to horse raids and skirmishes with small enemy units. During the Russo-Swedish War (1589–1595) Mari for the first time took part in the storming of the fortress. Also, the Cheremis, like the rest of the warriors of the Moscow army, participated in the robbery and devastation of the Baltic lands. For citation: Svechnikov S.K. Participation of the Mari in the Livonian (1558–1583) and Russo-Swedish (1589–1595) Wars. From History and Culture of Peoples of the Middle Volga Region. 2024, vol.14, no.3, pp.34–51. https://doi.org/10.22378/2410-0765.2024-14-3.34-51 (In Russian)

The role of Teff crop in Ethiopian life: consumption and contribution to rural livelihoods

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is believed to be the smallest grain in the world. It is the most important crop in Ethiopia in terms of production and consumption. Smallholder farmers produce Teff, and it is the main source of income for farmers in comparison to other cereal crops. Teff is the daily staple food for over 50 million Ethiopians. There is a need for information on agricultural consumption, disaggregated at district level, to support evidence-based decision-making at local level. The objective of this paper is to understand the consumption of Teff among rural smallholder producers at district level and assess the position of Teff among cereals in the lives of Ethiopian rural farmers. The study employed a multistage sampling technique to select the top Teff producing regions, districts, and kebeles (small administrative units) and collected primary data through focus group discussions (FGDs), key informants, and questionnaire respondents. The survey collected qualitative and quantitative data from 357 households. FGD, key informant interview (KII) participants and survey respondents were drawn from the same areas where the survey was conducted. The quantitative and qualitative data were subjected to statistical and content analysis respectively. The study findings revealed that on average households consume 26.92% of their Teff production per year. Moreover, there is a shift in the consumption of Teff which might be due to improved standards of living among the farmers, a health-conscious community, and improved income from Teff sales. Although Teff is a staple grain in Ethiopia, there is a statistically significant variation in Teff consumption among districts.

Connectomic reconstruction predicts visual features used for navigation

Many animals use visual information to navigate1–4, but how such information is encoded and integrated by the navigation system remains incompletely understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, EPG neurons in the central complex compute the heading direction5 by integrating visual input from ER neurons6–12, which are part of the anterior visual pathway (AVP)10,13–16. Here we densely reconstruct all neurons in the AVP using electron-microscopy data17. The AVP comprises four neuropils, sequentially linked by three major classes of neurons: MeTu neurons10,14,15, which connect the medulla in the optic lobe to the small unit of the anterior optic tubercle (AOTUsu) in the central brain; TuBu neurons9,16, which connect the AOTUsu to the bulb neuropil; and ER neurons6–12, which connect the bulb to the EPG neurons. On the basis of morphologies, connectivity between neural classes and the locations of synapses, we identify distinct information channels that originate from four types of MeTu neurons, and we further divide these into ten subtypes according to the presynaptic connections in the medulla and the postsynaptic connections in the AOTUsu. Using the connectivity of the entire AVP and the dendritic fields of the MeTu neurons in the optic lobes, we infer potential visual features and the visual area from which any ER neuron receives input. We confirm some of these predictions physiologically. These results provide a strong foundation for understanding how distinct sensory features can be extracted and transformed across multiple processing stages to construct higher-order cognitive representations.

Promoting the Renewable Energy Zones by implementing the photovoltaic panels in an industrial building

Abstract Environmental protection depends on energy production and use, which are responsible for ∼94% of carbon emissions. The lack of sufficient energy resources has led EU countries to alternatives for Green Energy production. Albania’s national response to climate change has been limited to some small changes mainly in the sector of the integrated water and environmental management legislation. However, in terms of changing the energy law, no effort has been made to prioritize green energy production. Doing so it is expected to contribute to the overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the integration of clean energy solutions. The paper is referred to a specific case study focused on renewable energy using photovoltaic panels in an industrial building in Saranda, as the city with the most hours of sunshine per year in Albania. To support renewable energy initiatives, it is being emphasized with the help of statistical methods that Saranda has strong potential to invest in energy production through solar panels, which give rise to long-term renewable energy solutions. In summary, there are being identified three main factors that seemed to contribute to the results of national renewable energy solutions: 1) Creating renewable energy zones, 2) Installing solar panels for electricity generation 3) Enforcing regulations. In such conditions when energy of any kind is the most demanded product, green energy is the best way to manage it. It is being used in any country, but especially in Albania, which has a high average of sunny days, compared to other European countries, is an immediate requirement and, as such it should be stripped of it all useless bureaucracies to enable a higher production of it, even with state subsidies. But development will also have to overcome the above issue by adapting to energy production in small units where bureaucratic hurdles are even smaller.

Natural Hazard Induced Coastal Vulnerability in Indian Sundarbans: A Village-level study by using Geospatial and Statistical Techniques

The Sundarbans, an area with a history dating back to the dawn of civilization, has faced numerous environmental hazards that have remarkably affected the lives and livelihoods of its natives. Strom surge and Tropical cyclones are the most substantial natural hazards, causing severe damage to local communities by affecting food security, the economy, shelter and health. By defining vulnerability as a function of exposure, sensitivity, and resilience capacity, we calculated a composite vulnerability index (CVI) using equal weight method (EWM) to assess the vulnerability of mouzas (small administrative units) to natural hazards in the Sundarbans, India. The vulnerability map has been drawn based on composite value of CVI which shows 30.50% of villages falling into the high vulnerability category and 12.06% in the very high vulnerability category. The mouza-level analysis also indicates that 22.62% of Sundarbans’s villages are highly exposed to natural hazards and 19.70 % of villages are classified as being at Very high sensitive. Only 7.07% villages have very high adopted capacity against these natural hazards. Villages in the southern parts and along the coast were found to be more vulnerable to storm surges. Conversely, those situated at higher elevations in the central area exhibited lower vulnerability. In the northern part of the region, several villages faced high to very high vulnerability due to low-lying, waterlogged wetlands. This study offers vital insights for decision-makers, government planners, and disaster management professionals, assisting in the identification of high-risk populations and areas that require immediate preservation efforts.

Optical Activities of Organic Crystals: Crystal Orbital Formulation of Anisotropic Gyration.

To describe the optical activities of crystals, gyration tensors are necessary for all wavelengths of incident light. To date, few studies on direct calculations of gyration tensors from Bloch states have been conducted. Herein, a practical procedure to obtain gyration tensors of organic crystals is presented using the crystal orbital method. The extended Hückel method was adopted to evaluate the gyration tensors, epitomizing the one-electron formulation. To confirm the validity of the formulation, the optical rotatory power of alanine and γ-glycine was examined. The reproduced profiles of the optical rotatory power were consistent with the results of recent experiments. This is a general formulation of the one-electron theory of optical activities for three-dimensional crystals. In principle, the optical rotatory strength tensor is not invariant with translation. For systems with small unit cells, however, the formalism is quasi-invariant with respect to translation. The quasi origin-independent formalism is sufficiently substantial to be applicable to modern crystal optics.

Small molecular weight alginate gel porogen for the 3D bioprinting of microvasculature.

In order to recreate the complexity of human organs, the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has been focusing on methods to build organs from the bottom up by assembling distinct small functional units consisting of a biomaterial and cells. This bottom-up engineering requires bioinks that can be assembled by 3D bioprinting and that permit fast vascularization of the construct to ensure survival of embedded cells. To this end, a small molecular weight alginate (SMWA) gel porogen is presented herein. Alginate is a biocompatible biomaterial, which can be easily converted into small porogen gels with the procedure reported in this article. The SMWA porogen is mixed with photo-crosslinkable hydrogels and leached from the hydrogel post-crosslinking to increase porosity and facilitate vascularization. As a proof of concept, this system is tested with the commonly used biomaterial Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA). The SMWA porogen-GelMA blend is proven to be bioprintable. Incubating the blend for 20min in a low concentration phosphate buffered saline and sodium citrate solution significantly reduces the remaining porogen in the hydrogel . The intent to completely leach the porogen from the hydrogel was abandoned, as longer incubation times and higher concentrations of phosphate and citrate were detrimental to endothelial proliferation. Nonetheless, even with remnants of the porogen left in the hydrogel, the created porosity significantly improves viability, growth factor signaling, vasculogenesis, and angiogenesis in 3D bioprinted structures. This article concludes that the usage of the SMWA porogen can improve the assembly of microvasculature in 3D bioprinted structures. This technology can benefit the bottom-up assembly of large scaffolds with high cell density through 3D bioprinting by improving cell viability and allowing faster vascularization.

The 500-meter long-term winter wheat grain protein content dataset for China from multi-source data

In China, the exigency for precise wheat grain protein content (GPC) data rises with growing food consumption demands and global market competition. However, due to the lack of extensive, prolonged high-resolution benchmark data, previous GPC studies have primarily focused on experimental fields, small geographic units, and limited temporal scopes. Additionally, the diverse geographical terrain in China exacerbates the challenges of large-scale GPC estimation. To address this challenge and the data gap, the first 500-meter spatial resolution, long-term winter wheat dataset covering major planting regions in China (CNWheatGPC-500) was created by integrating multi-source data from ERA5 and MODIS. The results demonstrate that the GPC estimation model based on hierarchical linear model significantly outperformed other conventional models. The validation dataset exhibited an R2 of 0.45 and an RMSE of 0.96%. In cross-validation, the RMSE values ranged from 0.90% in Gansu to 1.32% in Anhui. For leave-one-year-out cross-validation, the RMSE values ranged from 0.77% to 1.11%. CNWheatGPC-500 offers valuable insights for enhancing wheat production, quality control, and agricultural decision-making.

Study Quality on Groundwater Consumtion for Households at Economic Development Zone, Saythany District, Vientiane Capital

Water is an important factor for economic-social development, which many countries in the world give importance to the drinking water supply of the people. Drilling underground water to bring water to various activities of households and small business units are many and have a tendency to increase in the future. This study aims to evaluate the quality of underground water by collecting water samples in both seasons at 10 points, 4 of which were analyzed in the field and 12 of which were analyzed in the laboratory. The results of the study found that: in the dry season, the (pH: Potential of Hydrogen Ion) value at points 1, 2, 5-7, 9 and 10 is lower than the standard threshold. (EC: Electrical Conductivity), (TDS: Total Dissolved Solids), Salinity, (TSS: Total Suspended Solids), Turbidity, (NH4-N: Ammonium), (Cl- Chloride), (NO3-N: Nitrate), (As: Arsenic), (Mn: Manganese), (Zn: Zinc), (T-H: Total Hardness as CaCO3), (Fe: Iron) and (F-: Fluoride) all 10 points are within the national environmental standards; (Coliform Bacteria) values ​​at points values ​​at points (2, 4-6 and 8-10) exceed the standard. In the rainy season, the (pH: Potential of Hydrogen Ion) value at point 6 lowers the standard threshold. Salinity, (TSS: Total Suspended Solids), Turbidity, (NH4-N: Ammonium), (NO3-N: Nitrate), (As: Arsenic), (Mn: Manganese), (Zn: Zinc), (Fe: Iron) and (F-: Fluoride) which are within the standard range; In which (Coliform Bacteria) all 10 points and (T-H: Total Hardness as CaCO3), (EC: Electrical Conductivity), (TDS: Total Dissolved Solids), (Cl- Chloride) in the 8th point have high values ​​beyond the national environmental standards.

A methodological proposal for a social and multivariate analysis in peri-urban areas during the ‘golden age’ of suburbanisation in Andalusia (Spain)1

We apply social area analysis, traditionally used for intra-urban areas of cities, to a space in transformation: the peri-urban fringes of Andalusia (Spain). We also show that multivariate analysis (both exploratory factorial analysis and cluster analysis) is highly adaptable for use in peri-urban areas in the region. The suitability of exploratory factor analysis is confirmed, as it allows an optimal factorial structure for the spatial microanalysis of urban sections, which are the smallest units with official statistical information in Spain. This is done in order to reduce a large number of indicators to four factors: youth and recent urban expansion, traditional rural society, suburban society and residential recreational function. On the other hand, the last step, the cluster analysis, identifies that the phenomenon of suburbanisation was relevant in the region but was not the majority in the whole of the peri-urban fringes at the beginning of the millennium. From the factorial score of these clusters, it is possible to know the level of intensity of suburbanisation at one of the moments when suburbanisation was at its peak in Andalusia (Spain), just before the Great Recession.

The Possibility of Adapting Patchwork Techniques to Achieve Sustainable Development of Artworks Using Traditional Artistic Decorations in the Asir Region and Benefiting from them in the Field of Small Projects

Small projects are among the most important projects that bring economic benefit to societies, especially developing societies, because of their effective role in training young people, investing in their energies, and urging them to establish their own small production units, which contributes to eliminating the phenomenon of the unemployment problem. The current research aims to design works of art using Asiri art motifs by recycling scraps of fabric, ready-made clothes, and furnishings using a patchwork method. This has led to an interest in teaching industrial designers how to draw inspiration from Asiri art motifs and the different types that this art includes, whether geometric or floral, as a source of innovative and sustainable design in the field of artistic works using leftover factory fabrics. This is done through designs characterized by aesthetic and artistic values. Therefore, we made several designs suitable for use in artwork, inspired by the decorations of Asiri art in an abstract style, using the experimental descriptive approach. The research was based on three main axes: the axis of patchwork art techniques and the axis of sustainable development of the artwork. Focusing on Saudi traditional artistic decorations and combining them to develop small projects. The results of the research showed the possibility of utilizing leftover fabrics using the patchwork method to achieve sustainable development of artistic works derived from the decorations of Saudi Asiri art, benefiting from them in the field of small projects and employing them in innovative plastic compositions. Which combines simplicity and modernity, both in terms of design and performance.

TOURISM MANAGEMENT EXPLAINED BY THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE AVERAGE TOTAL INCOME PER PERSON AND THE NUMBER OF OVERNIGHT STAYS IN ACCOMMODATION UNITS

In Romania’s tourism industry, in the last decade, following the European trend, small dimensioned accommodation units have appeared, bearing the name of boutique guesthouses or boutique hotels, depending on their accommodation capacity. The boutique guesthouses offer both accommodation services in rooms with traditional Romanian boyar characteristics, with Saxon and Szechuan influences, as well as food services with the same culinary characteristics. A particularity of these accommodation units is that each room had been furnishing according to a traditional noble theme, using either furniture that has been produced in Romanian workshops. Roomꞌ s names have been inspired by the woody essences that can be found in the Romanian forests and a large part of the furniture is made of cherry, beech, fir, oak, elm wood. The specific architecture of the accommodation units has been established in 18th century specific to the rococo and baroque style, predominantly found in buildings constructions in Romanian towns where niche tourism is a small part of mass tourism industry.

The methodology of health education programs in schools—Qualitative study

ObjectiveTo assess strengths and weaknesses of the methodology of health education programs, carried out in the period 2010–2020, in schools in Serbia. DesignQualitative study, a thematic analysis approach. SiteRepresentatives of Public Health institutions, Serbian biggest nongovernmental organization, Youth organization, Ministry of education and municipality. ParticipantsNine professionals working in the field of Public Health and Health education. MethodFocus group gathered nine health and non-health professionals in 2022 year. Focus group was recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed by three research team members. A coding template evolved through the analysis, providing the expansion of key concepts. Themes were, one by one, extracted, encoded, classified as the smallest units and interpretive, thematic analysis was applied. ResultsAlthough the Focus group in our study identified among other advantages, support of Health sector to Educational sector as crucial, it emphasized as well following weaknesses: Analyzed health education programs were implemented insufficiently as a separate process in schools, did not have the image of programs shared and integrated into community; Health education needs of schoolchildren, parents, and teachers should be examined prior the education implementation; Well-educated interdisciplinary educators have to be strengthened and supported; Parents participation is necessity; Standards and good practice guidelines are needed, and those developed through Health Promoting Schools program could be practiced. ConclusionIt is necessary to support cross-curricular competence, where health education should be integrated into all school subjects, and should go far beyond the school, grow into a culture of community life, which will interconnect all stakeholders in strong Public Health network.

Mechanisms that clear mutations drive field cancerization in mammary tissue

Oncogenic mutations are abundant in the tissues of healthy individuals, but rarely form tumours1–3. Yet, the underlying protection mechanisms are largely unknown. To resolve these mechanisms in mouse mammary tissue, we use lineage tracing to map the fate of wild-type and Brca1−/−;Trp53−/− cells, and find that both follow a similar pattern of loss and spread within ducts. Clonal analysis reveals that ducts consist of small repetitive units of self-renewing cells that give rise to short-lived descendants. This offers a first layer of protection as any descendants, including oncogenic mutant cells, are constantly lost, thereby limiting the spread of mutations to a single stem cell-descendant unit. Local tissue remodelling during consecutive oestrous cycles leads to the cooperative and stochastic loss and replacement of self-renewing cells. This process provides a second layer of protection, leading to the elimination of most mutant clones while enabling the minority that by chance survive to expand beyond the stem cell-descendant unit. This leads to fields of mutant cells spanning large parts of the epithelial network, predisposing it for transformation. Eventually, clone expansion becomes restrained by the geometry of the ducts, providing a third layer of protection. Together, these mechanisms act to eliminate most cells that acquire somatic mutations at the expense of driving the accelerated expansion of a minority of cells, which can colonize large areas, leading to field cancerization.

Community energy and socio-technical infrastructure resilience: analysis of mini/micro hydro power projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract In 2014–15, Pakistan’s provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) launched a decentralised power generation initiative, installing over 356 small hydro power units to provide electricity to over 2.5 million people in its mountainous regions. This initiative built on the foundation of prior community-based mini/micro hydro-power projects (MHPPs) deployed in the region since the 1980s that have experienced mixed success; by 2020, over 150 units were non-operational. This paper investigates the socio-technical factors influencing the success and failure of these projects, focusing on outcomes and processes integral to community MHPPs. The study analyses the critical implications of MHPPs for socio-economic welfare, gender equity and democratic governance through extensive primary research including field observations at 40 sites, questionnaire surveys with community residents in three in-depth case-studies, and expert interviews with local policymakers and project developers. Analysis shows that electricity provision from MHPPs has had positive outcomes for the communities in terms of improved education, poverty alleviation and economic growth, alongside enhanced access to information and gains in women’s entrepreneurship and health. Nonetheless, the study also identifies significant shortcomings in the processes involved in community MHPPs related to inadequate technical assessments, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as challenges arising from undemocratic governance mechanisms and inequitable participation. By teasing out the multiple socio-technical dimensions that shape infrastructure resilience of MHPPs in KPK, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable community energy projects and informs policy for decentralised energy transitions that ensure democratic alignment and inclusive design.

O57 - Investigating the experiences and impact of working in Small Maternity Units on Single Registered Midwives

O57 - Investigating the experiences and impact of working in Small Maternity Units on Single Registered Midwives