Extensive Survey Research Articles

Biogeographic and seasonal differences in consumer pressure underlie strong predation in the tropics.

Biotic interactions play a critical role in shaping patterns of global biodiversity. While several macroecological studies provide evidence for stronger predation in tropical regions compared with higher latitudes, results are variable even within the tropics, and the drivers of this variability are not well understood. We conducted two complementary standardized experiments on communities of sessile marine invertebrate prey and their associated predators to test for spatial and seasonal differences in predation across the tropical Atlantic and Pacific coastlines of Panama. We further tested the prediction that higher predator diversity contributes to stronger impacts of predation, using both direct observations of predators and data from extensive reef surveys. Our results revealed substantially higher predation rates and stronger effects of predators on prey in the Pacific than in the Atlantic, demonstrating striking variation within tropical regions. While regional predator diversity was high in the Atlantic, functional diversity at local scales was markedly low. Peak predation strength in the Pacific occurred during the wet, non-upwelling season when ocean temperatures were warmer and predator communities were more functionally diverse. Our results highlight the importance of regional biotic and abiotic drivers that shape interaction strength and the maintenance of tropical communities, which are experiencing rapid environmental change.

Current Landscape of Various Techniques and Methods of Gene Therapy through CRISPR Cas9 along with its Pharmacological and Interventional Therapies in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is frequently referred to as a "lifestyle illness". In 2000, India (31.7 million) had the greatest global prevalence of diabetes mellitus, followed by China (20.8 million), the United States (17.7 million), and other countries. In recent years, the treatment of gene therapy (T2DM) has attracted intensive interest. We aimed to critically review the literature on the various techniques and methods, which may be a possible novel approach through the gene therapy CRISPR Cas9 and some other gene editing techniques for T2DM. Interventional and pharmacological approaches for the treatment of T2DM were also included to identify novel therapies for its treatment. An extensive literature survey was done on databases like PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct and Springer. It can be concluded from the study that recent advancements in gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR Cas9, have opened new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for T2DM. CRISPR Cas9 is a powerful tool that enables precise and targeted modifications of the genome.

Pest categorisation of Coniella castaneicola.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct a pest categorisation of Coniella castaneicola (Ellis & Everh) Sutton, following commodity risk assessments of Acer campestre, A. palmatum, A. platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus, Quercus petraea and Q. robur plants from the UK, in which C. castaneicola was identified as a pest of possible concern to the EU. When first described, Coniella castaneicola was a clearly defined fungus of the family Schizoparmaceae, but due to lack of a curated type-derived DNA sequence, current identification based only on DNA sequence is uncertain and taxa previously reported to be this fungus based on molecular identification must be confirmed. The uncertainty on the reported identification of this species translates into uncertainty on all the sections of this categorisation. The fungus has been reported on several plant species associated with leaf spots, leaf blights and fruit rots, and as an endophyte in asymptomatic plants. The species is reported from North and South America, Africa, Asia, non-EU Europe and Oceania. Coniella castaneicola is not known to occur in the EU. However, there is a key uncertainty on its presence and geographical distribution worldwide and in the EU due to its endophytic nature, the lack of systematic surveys and possible misidentifications. Coniella castaneicola is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and there are no interceptions in the EU. Plants for planting, fresh fruits and soil and other growing media associated with infected plant debris are the main pathways for its entry into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability in parts of the EU are favourable for the establishment and spread of the fungus. Based on the scarce information available, the introduction and spread of C. castaneicola in the EU is not expected to cause substantial impacts, with a key uncertainty. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent its introduction and spread in the EU. Because of lack of documented impacts, Coniella castaneicola does not satisfy all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Exploration in Deep Reinforcement Learning: From Single-Agent to Multiagent Domain.

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) and deep multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL) have achieved significant success across a wide range of domains, including game artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles, and robotics. However, DRL and deep MARL agents are widely known to be sample inefficient that millions of interactions are usually needed even for relatively simple problem settings, thus preventing the wide application and deployment in real-industry scenarios. One bottleneck challenge behind is the well-known exploration problem, i.e., how efficiently exploring the environment and collecting informative experiences that could benefit policy learning toward the optimal ones. This problem becomes more challenging in complex environments with sparse rewards, noisy distractions, long horizons, and nonstationary co-learners. In this article, we conduct a comprehensive survey on existing exploration methods for both single-agent RL and multiagent RL. We start the survey by identifying several key challenges to efficient exploration. Then, we provide a systematic survey of existing approaches by classifying them into two major categories: uncertainty-oriented exploration and intrinsic motivation-oriented exploration. Beyond the above two main branches, we also include other notable exploration methods with different ideas and techniques. In addition to algorithmic analysis, we provide a comprehensive and unified empirical comparison of different exploration methods for DRL on a set of commonly used benchmarks. According to our algorithmic and empirical investigation, we finally summarize the open problems of exploration in DRL and deep MARL and point out a few future directions.

Are Solar Active Regions Born with Neutralized Currents?

Solar active regions (ARs) are formed by the emergence of current-carrying magnetic flux tubes from below the photosphere. Although for an isolated flux tube the direct and return currents flowing along the tube should balance with each other, it remains controversial whether such a neutralization of currents is also maintained during the emergence process. Here we present a systematic survey of the degrees of the current neutralization in a large sample of flux-emerging ARs which appeared on the solar disk around the central meridian from 2010 to 2022. The vector magnetograms taken by Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager onboard Solar Dynamic Observatory are employed to calculate the distributions of the vertical current density at the photosphere. Focusing on the main phase of flux emergence, i.e., the phase in which the total unsigned magnetic flux is continuously increased, we statistically examined the ratios of direct to return currents in all the ARs. Such a large-sample statistical study suggests that most of the ARs were born with currents close to neutralization. The degree of current neutralization seems to be not affected by the active-region size, the active-region growing rate, and the total unsigned current. The only correlation of significance as found is that the stronger the magnetic field nonpotentiality is, the further the AR deviates from current neutrality, which supports previous event studies that eruption-productive ARs often have non-neutralized currents.

Exploring the Synergy of Web Usage Data and Content Mining for Personalized Effectiveness

In light of the exponential growth of web data and user volume, individuals are increasingly overwhelmed by information overload on the internet. Addressing this challenge, our study focuses on enhancing web information retrieval and presentation by leveraging web data mining techniques to uncover intrinsic relationships within textual, linkage, and usability data. Specifically, we aim to improve the performance of web information retrieval and presentation by analysing web data features. Our approach centres on web usage mining to identify usage patterns and integrate this knowledge with user profiles for personalized content delivery. Personalization, tailored to user’s characteristics and behaviours, serves to enhance engagement, conversion, and long-term commitment to websites. The objective of our research is to develop a web personalization system that enables users to access relevant website content without the need for explicit queries. This paper presents an extensive survey of various approaches proposed by researchers in the field of web personalization. It highlights the diverse methodologies and techniques employed to enhance user experience and engagement on the web. The paper identifies key challenges that require urgent attention to advance the field of web personalization.

CosmoMIA: cosmic web-based redshift space halo distribution

Modern galaxy surveys demand extensive survey volumes and resolutions surpassing current dark matter-only simulations' capabilities. To address this, many methods employ effective bias models on the dark matter field to approximate object counts on a grid. However, realistic catalogs necessitate specific coordinates and velocities for a comprehensive understanding of the Universe.In this research, we explore sub-grid modeling to create accurate catalogs, beginning with coarse grid number counts at resolutions of approximately 5.5 h -1 Mpc per side. These resolutions strike a balance between modeling nonlinear damping of baryon acoustic oscillations and facilitating large-volume simulations. Augmented Lagrangian Perturbation Theory (ALPT) is utilized to model the dark matter field and motions, replicating the clustering of a halo catalog derived from a massive simulation at z = 1.1.Our approach involves four key stages: Tracer Assignment: Allocating dark matter particles to tracers based on grid cell counts, generating additional particles to address discrepancies. Attractor Identification: Defining attractors based on particle cosmic web environments, acting as gravitational focal points. Tracer Collapse: Guiding tracers towards attractors, simulating structure collapse. Redshift Space Distortions: Introducing redshift space distortions to simulated catalogs using ALPT and a random dispersion term. Results demonstrate accurate reproduction of monopoles and quadrupoles up to wave numbers of approximately k = 0.6 h Mpc-1. This method holds significant promise for galaxy surveys like DESI, EUCLID, and LSST, enhancing our understanding of the cosmos across scales.

Ethnoveterinary practices by local people of Raigad district Maharashtra

A field research extensive survey was undertaken during the years 2021-2023. This kind of to learn about medicinal plants advantages. The Palghar district of this study has provided the use of 38 plant species under 35 genera belonging to 28 families. Plant species, local names, families’ usable parts and ethnoveterinary remedies are listed alphabetically. The members of Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae lead with three each, followed by Annonaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Moraceae, and Zingiberaceae with two each and the remaining with one to each. The traditional medicinal practitioners and the local people of the Raigad area of Maharashtra used plants and to cure diarrhoea, dysentery arthritis, eye damage, skin diseases, milk problem, wounds, bone fractures, fever, and other illnesses in animals.

Constructing regulatory regimes for sustainable development: commitment to resolve, clarity, and reasonableness

ABSTRACT To be effective, a regulatory regime for sustainable development must demonstrate to the regulated entities its resolve to attain regulatory goals while avoiding an arbitrary exercise of authority. Yet many developing countries lack the robust political-administrative institutions to construct and maintain such regimes. The environmental reform in Guangdong, China, shows how, with underdeveloped formal political-administrative institutions, the regulatory regime must demonstrate commitment acts, including transparent enforcement, compliance benchmarking, expectation pacing, and third-party enforcement. These acts help, over time, to maintain enterprises’ perceptions of the regulatory regime’s resolve, clarity, and reasonableness. By analyzing primary data from extensive fieldwork and survey observations conducted at two separate times, we show that enterprises are more likely to adopt environmental management measures if they perceive higher regulatory resolve, clarity, and reasonableness. Their assurance needs vary at different stages of regime development. Establishing clear expectations matters at an earlier stage when regulatory goals are new and expectations relatively lax. Yet, as expectations become more stringent, maintaining reasonableness becomes essential. In both stages, a perception of resoluteness in enforcement matters.

A Systematic Survey on Biological Cell Image Segmentation and Cell Counting Techniques in Microscopic Images Using Machine Learning

A Systematic Survey on Biological Cell Image Segmentation and Cell Counting Techniques in Microscopic Images Using Machine Learning

Evidence-informed guidelines in oral health: insights from a systematic survey

BackgroundOral diseases are a major global public health problem, impacting the quality of life of those affected. While consensus exists on the importance of high-quality, evidence-informed guidelines to inform practice and public health decisions in medicine, appropriate methodologies and standards are not commonly adhered to among producers of oral health guidelines. This study aimed to systematically identify organizations that develop evidence-informed guidelines in oral health globally and survey the methodological process followed to formulate recommendations.MethodsWe searched numerous electronic databases, guideline repositories, and websites of guideline developers, scientific societies, and international organizations (January 2012–October 2023) to identify organizations that develop guidelines addressing any oral health topic and that explicitly declare the inclusion of research evidence in their development. Pairs of reviewers independently evaluated potentially eligible organizations according to predefined selection criteria and extracted data about the organization’s characteristics, key features of their guidelines, and the process followed when formulating formal recommendations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and summarize data.ResultsWe included 46 organizations that developed evidence-informed guidelines in oral health. The organizations were mainly professional associations and scientific societies (67%), followed by governmental organizations (28%). In total, organizations produced 55 different guideline document types, most of them containing recommendations for clinical practice (77%). Panels were primarily composed of healthcare professionals (87%), followed by research methodologists (40%), policymakers (24%), and patient partners (18%). Most (60%) of the guidelines reported their funding source, but only one out of three (33%) included a conflict of interest (COI) policy management. The methodology used in the 55 guideline document types varied across the organizations, but only 19 (35%) contained formal recommendations. Half (51%) of the guideline documents referred to a methodology handbook, 46% suggested a structured approach or system for rating the certainty of the evidence and the strength of recommendations, and 37% mentioned using a framework to move from evidence to decisions, with the GRADE-EtD being the most widely used (27%).ConclusionOur findings underscore the need for alignment and standardization of both terminology and methodologies used in oral health guidelines with current international standards to formulate trustworthy recommendations.

Digital solutions for workplace safety: An empirical study on their adoption in Italian metalworking SMEs

Occupational safety is a critical aspect of the manufacturing sector, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, which often face a safety divide compared to large companies due to significant differences in resources and awareness. Digital solutions can provide interesting support for dealing with specific hazardous situations and improving safety performance. However, there is a digital divide based on company size when it comes to the adoption of innovative digital solutions by small and medium-sized enterprises. This digital divide could widen the safety divide. To bridge these divides, the present research, through an extensive survey conducted among employers of Italian metalworking small and medium enterprises, explores various digital solutions and their potential to tackle hazardous situations in the workplace; it also addresses barriers and drivers influencing the adoption of the solutions and evaluates the results against different contextual factors characterizing the studied enterprises. Key barriers adopting digital solutions include the lack of perceived benefits, privacy concerns, implementation difficulties, and cost. On the other hand, the clarity and trustworthiness of the data collected and the ease of use of a digital solution can support the adoption. The study offers academic and managerial insights and contributes to the debate on the transition to Industry 5.0.

A systematic survey of 200 systematic reviews with network meta-analysis (published 2020–2021) reveals that few reviews report structured evidence summaries

ObjectivesTo map whether and how systematic reviews (SRs) with network meta-analysis (NMA) use presentation formats to report (a) structured evidence summaries – here defined as reporting of effects estimates in absolute effects with certainty ratings and with a method to rate interventions across one or more outcome(s) – and (b) NMA results in general. Study Design and SettingWe conducted a systematic survey, searching MEDLINE (Ovid) for SRs with NMA published between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021. We planned to include a random sample of publications, with predefined mechanisms in place for saturation, and included SRs that met prespecified quality criteria and extracted data on presentation formats that reported: (a) estimates of effects, (b) certainty of the evidence, or (c) rating of interventions. ResultsThe 200 eligible SRs, from 158 unique Journals, utilized 1133 presentation formats. We found structured evidence summaries in 10 publications (5.0%), with 3 (1.5%) reporting structured evidence summaries across all outcomes, including benefits and harms. Sixteen of the 133 SRs (11.7%) reporting dichotomous outcomes included estimates of absolute effects. Seventy-six SRs (38.0%) reported both benefits and harms and 26 SRs (13.0%) reported certainty ratings in presentation formats, 20 (76.9%) used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation and 6 (23.1%) used Confidence In Network Meta-analysis. Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve was the most common method to rate interventions (69 SRs, 34.5%). NMA results were most often reported using forest plots (108 SRs, 54.0%) and league tables (93 SRs, 46.5%). ConclusionMost SRs with NMA do not report structured evidence summaries and only rarely do such summaries include reporting of both benefits and harms; those that do offer effective user-friendly communication and provide models for optimal NMA presentation practice.

The Interactive Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy

In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy has become an important catalyst for social and economic transformation. Artificial intelligence, with its intelligence to mimic human thinking and learning, as well as its ability to perform complex tasks and massive calculations, is revolutionizing various industries, while reshaping the way we live and work. At the same time, the digital economy, driven by advances in information and communication technologies, is creating new prospects for growth, innovation and efficiency. This paper adopts literature analysis method, through extensive academic literature survey and review, as well as research reports in related fields, from both opportunities and challenges, uses a comprehensive literature review to study the interactive impact between artificial intelligence and digital economy, and further analyzes the risks brought by the integration of artificial intelligence and digital economy and the chain reaction caused by its wide application in reality.

Three bryophyte species new to türkiye and southwest asia

As a result of extensive bryophyte surveys across the different parts of the Karçal Mountain, Türkiye's first biosphere reserve area, Artvin region (Caucasus) in the East Black Sea region of Türkiye, Jungermannia pumila, Scapania uliginosa and Heterocladium flaccidum found as new to Türkiye. Moreover, these taxa are the first time reported for bryophyte flora of South-West Asia in this paper. Descriptions, illustrations, distributions, ecological characteristics, and comparisons with morphologically similar taxa were also provided. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 31(1): 25-32, 2024 (June)

Olfactory repellents decrease the number of ungulate-vehicle collisions on roads: Results of a two-year carcass study

An experimental study was conducted to test the effectiveness of olfactory repellents (ORE) as a mitigation measure to reduce ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVC). In the first phase, an extensive field survey was undertaken while employing the Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) study design. On the basis of ungulate mortality, 134 road sections were monitored on foot along both roadsides once a week. The monitoring lasted fourteen weeks per year in both 2021 (Before period) and 2022 (After period). In the after period, 2022, ORE were applied within the impact segments. The second phase consisted of data verification and statistical analysis. The data revealed a decrease in UVC of 68%. The confidence interval of this estimate suggested, however, a great deal of uncertainty about the true value. Therefore, the data were pooled, and the Bayesian inference was applied. On the level of moderate evidence, ORE decreased the number of UVC by at least 43% and at most 60%. We also observed that the ORE effect was more pronounced in the first seven weeks after installation than in the following seven weeks, suggesting ungulate habituation to ORE. We have therefore concluded that for a short period (ideally corresponding to UVC peaks) ORE could be considered an effective safety measure for secondary roads.

Predicting Mechanical Properties of Carbonate Rocks Using Spectroscopy Across 0.4–12 μm

Determining the mechanical characteristics of rocks is crucial in various civil engineering sectors. Traditionally, the mechanical properties of rocks are determined through on-site and laboratory tests carried out during geotechnical surveys. However, these extensive surveys require considerable time and resources. In contrast, hyperspectral remote sensing techniques offer a rapid and simple means to determine the mineral composition and crystallographic structure of rocks. These features, in turn, influence the rocks' mechanical properties. This study focuses on characterizing the mechanical properties of carbonate rocks in a laboratory setting, using hyperspectral sensors. Approximately 150 cylindrical carbonate rock samples, spanning a wide strength range, were collected from diverse Israeli rock outcrops. Employing a point spectrometer (0.4 to 2.5 µm) and a spectral image sensor (8.0 to 12.0 µm), we captured samples' light reflections and spectral emissivity. Mechanical attributes, including density, porosity, water absorption, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), were measured. Advanced data mining techniques identified statistical correlations between hyperspectral signatures and mechanical properties, pinpointing key wavelengths for prediction. The developed models exhibited excellent predictability for the specified properties, attributing accuracy to discernible mineralogy and internal crystalline structure through spectroscopy. However, predicting UCS showed slightly weaker results due to influences from internal flaws not entirely reflected in spectroscopic data. Nonetheless, outcomes regarding rock UCS were deemed satisfactory. These findings open avenues for non-destructive tools in assessing the mechanical properties of rocks in quarrying operations.

The Construction and Application of a Model for Evaluating Tourism Climate Suitability in Terraced Agricultural Cultural Heritage Sites: A Case Study of Longji Terraced Fields in China

As one of the globally significant agricultural cultural heritages, Longji Terraced Fields in Longsheng, Guangxi, China, attract numerous tourists. This study aims to describe the weather phenomena and climate change characteristics of Longji Terraced Fields in recent years to reveal their impact on the tourism economy. Utilizing meteorological station data and considering the actual situation in Longsheng, Guilin, the existing models for evaluating tourism climate comfort are improved. The tourism climate comfort of Longji Terraced Fields from 2002 to 2022 is discussed. The results show that the improved model can better reflect the local situation. The results show that the current Holiday Climate Index and Modified Climate Index for Tourism are not suitable for evaluating the Longji Terraces. Adjustments were made to these indices to account for the high annual precipitation and relative humidity of Longsheng. Combining extensive questionnaire surveys, it was found that the improved evaluation model better reflects tourists’ perceptions of climate comfort. Analysis indicates that when the modified model value is above 70, tourist satisfaction exceeds 80%. The most comfortable tourism periods for the Longji Terraces are August, September, and October, while the least comfortable periods are January, February, and March. This study helps to understand the seasonal variations in tourism climate comfort at Longji Terraced Fields and provides a scientific basis for local tourism industry responses to climate change, thereby increasing tourism revenue.

Adipokine Modulation in Endometrial Hyperplasia by Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Background Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia, thereby increasing the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers. The precise mechanisms linking obesity to endometrial hyperplasia remain unclear, but dysregulation of adipose tissue homeostasis is known to play a significant role. Hypertrophied adipocytes in obese individuals secrete various bioactive substances, including cytokines, growth factors, hormones, and metabolites. Additionally, hyperplastic adipocytes exhibit enhanced aromatase activity, leading to increased estrogen synthesis, which further promotes the development of endometrial hyperplasia. Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of the poly unsaturated fatty acids. Methodology An extensive literature survey has been performed to identify the role of adipokines and elevated endogenous estrogen levels in activating cell survival signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MEK/ERK1, and JAK–STAT in endometrial cells and their possible role in Endometrial Hyperplasia. Further, the possible beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA) were explored. Results Numerous studies suggest the beneficial role of dietary fats, such as EPA, DHA, and AA in modulating the growth of endometrium in obesity-induced endometrial hyperplasia. PUFAs can activate adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which inhibits gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. It also phosphorylates acetyl-CoA, leading to a decrease in malonyl-CoA, which inhibits mitochondrial CPT1. Additionally, AMPK activation promotes β-oxidation, and PPAR-γ mechanisms by down regulating the NF-kB pathway involved in endometrial hyperplasia. Conclusion This review sheds light on the potential of PUFAs in mitigating estrogen synthesis, adipokine secretion, and endogenous aromatase activity in obesity induced endometrial hyperplasia. Furthermore, it critically evaluates the role and mechanisms of PUFAs in attenuating obesity-associated endometrial hyperplasia and reducing the risk of ovarian cancer.

Domain Adaptation and Generalization of Functional Medical Data: A Systematic Survey of Brain Data

Despite the excellent capabilities of machine learning algorithms, their performance deteriorates when the distribution of test data differs from the distribution of training data. In medical data research, this problem is exacerbated by its connection to human health, expensive equipment, and meticulous setups. Consequently, achieving domain generalizations and domain adaptations under distribution shifts is an essential step in the analysis of medical data. As the first systematic review of domain generalization and domain adaptation on functional brain signals, the article discusses and categorizes various methods, tasks, and datasets in this field. Moreover, it discusses relevant directions for future research.