Search Results (164)

The precise identification of hydrocarbon-rich zones is crucial for optimizing exploration and production processes in the oil industry. Magnetotelluric (MT) surveys play a fundamental role in mapping subsurface geological structures. This study presents a novel methodology for automatically delineating resistivity contrasts in MT models by employing advanced machine learning and computer vision techniques. This approach commences with data augmentation to enhance the diversity and volume of resistivity data. Subsequently, a bilateral filter was applied to reduce noise while preserving edge details within the resistivity images. To further improve image contrast and highlight significant resistivity variations, contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) was employed. Finally, k-means clustering was utilized to segment the resistivity data into distinct groups based on resistivity values, enabling the identification of color features in different centroids. This facilitated the detection of regions with significant resistivity contrasts in the reservoir. From the clustered images, color masks were generated to visually differentiate the groups and calculate the area and proportion of each group within the pictures. Key features extracted from resistivity profiles were used to train unsupervised learning models capable of generalizing across different geological settings. The proposed methodology improves the accuracy of detecting zones with oil potential and offers scalable applicability to different datasets with minimal retraining, applicable to different subsurface environments. Ultimately, this study seeks to improve the efficiency of petroleum exploration by providing a high-precision automated framework with segmentation and contrast delineation for resistivity analysis, integrating advanced image processing and machine learning techniques. During initial analyses using only k-means, the resulting optimal value of the silhouette coefficient K was 2. After using bilateral filtering together with contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) and validation by an expert, the results were more representative, and six clusters were identified. Ultimately, this study seeks to improve the efficiency of petroleum exploration by providing a high-precision automated framework with segmentation and contrast delineation for resistivity analysis, integrating advanced image processing and machine learning techniques. Full article

In recent years, the open data initiative has led to the willingness of many governments, researchers, and organizations to share their data and make it publicly available. Healthcare, disease, and epidemiological data, such as privacy statistics on patients who have suffered from epidemic diseases such as the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are examples of open big data. Therefore, huge volumes of valuable data have been generated and collected at high speed from a wide variety of rich data sources. Analyzing these open big data can be of social benefit. For example, people gain a better understanding of disease by analyzing and mining disease statistics, which can inspire them to participate in disease prevention, detection, control, and combat. Visual representation further improves data understanding and corresponding results for analysis and mining, as a picture is worth a thousand words. In this paper, we present a visual data science solution for the visualization and visual analysis of large sequence data. These ideas are illustrated by the visualization and visual analysis of sequences of real epidemiological data of COVID-19. Through our solution, we enable users to visualize the epidemiological data of COVID-19 over time. It also allows people to visually analyze data and discover relationships between popular features associated with COVID-19 cases. The effectiveness of our visual data science solution in improving the user experience of visualization and visual analysis of large sequence data is demonstrated by the real-life evaluation of these sequenced epidemiological data of COVID-19. Full article

The Palearctic region is characterised by high endemism in the west and east, and a low endemism centre. The endemic lineages occurring at the two ends are largely distinct, and eastern endemics are typically associated with humid climates and forests, representing the start of a continuum from temperate to tropical forest groups and leading to Indo-Malay endemics. In contrast, western Palearctic endemics are typically associated with arid or seasonally dry (Mediterranean) climates and vegetation. Those lineages occurring in the central Palearctic are typically of western origin. Here, we use phylogenetic age (older than 34 million years (My)) to define a list of tetrapod and vascular plant lineages endemic to the western and central Palearctic, map their distributions at the ecoregion scale, and combine these maps to illustrate and understand lineage richness and endemism patterns. Sixty-three ancient lineages were recovered, approximately half of them reptiles, with several herbaceous and shrubby angiosperms, amphibians, and rodents, and single lineages of woody conifers, insectivores, and birds. Overall, we show high lineage richness in the western Mediterranean, eastern Mediterranean, and Iran, with the highest endemism values recorded in the western Mediterranean (southern Iberian Peninsula, southern France). This paints a picture of ancient lineage survival in areas of consistently dry climate since the Eocene, but also in association with persistent water availability (amphibians in the western Mediterranean). The almost complete absence of ancient endemic bird lineages is unusual and perhaps unique among the world’s biogeographic regions. The factors accounting for these patterns include climate since the end of the Eocene, micro-habitats and micro-climates (of mountain terrain), refugia, and patchiness and isolation (of forests). Despite their aridity adaptations, some of the lineages listed here may be tested under anthropogenic climatic change, although some may extend into the eastern Palearctic. We recommend using these lineages as flagships for conservation in the study region, where their uniqueness and antiquity deserve greater recognition. Full article

This research presents a synthesis of social entrepreneurship (SE) in rural communities with a tourism vocation, adopting a systemic perspective applied to the case of Yecapixtla, Morelos, Mexico. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was used to diagnose the current state of the SE system in the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector, considering its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study included direct observation, field notes, and systemic modelling tools such as the structured problem situation and the rich picture, in order to interpret the relationships among the actors involved. The results show that SE plays a strategic role in the sustainability of the destination, but it faces conflicting relationships with government actors and structural limitations that hinder its consolidation. Optimal relationships were identified among community actors, as well as opportunities to improve tourism governance. The study concludes that the systemic approach enables a clearer view of the conflicts, capacities, and opportunities within the system, highlighting the need to create systemic strategies that strengthen SE as a driver of sustainable development. Full article

From the Christian heartland of Europe emerged the techno-scientific culture borne from the Enlightenment movement. Prior to this cultural outlook that severed culture from its foundational roots in religion, it was the case that religion was not only a crucial agent in the shaping of culture, but in many ways, the heart of culture. With secular rationality and its underscoring of the techno-scientific mindset, a growing privatization of religion has become the acceptable ethos of contemporary Western culture. Secularism, largely understood in terms of a naked public sphere, is increasingly perceived to be the only form of rationality that can guarantee societal cohesion and the democratic spirit. But as Ratzinger pointed out in his 1993 Hong Kong Address to the Doctrinal Commissions of the Bishops Conferences of Asia, this Western understanding of culture that is governed by a hermeneutic of suspicion towards religion, and which seeks to replace the heart of culture with autonomous reason a la Kant, ends up leaving culture in a winter land of existential frostiness. By depriving culture of its roots in the transcendental dimensions of human experience, much of the wisdom and riches that have been accumulated in the pre-techno-scientific cultures—regarding fundamental questions such as “Who am I?”, “Why am I here?”, “What is the meaning of life?”, “What happens when I die?”, “Does life make sense?”, “Do I have a destiny?” and more—are now left to the manufactured logic of the techno-scientific with its anthropological reductionism that fails to offer the big picture of the cultural outlook that did not construe the scientific and the technological as antithetical to religion. This essay seeks to unpack the arguments Ratzinger made in this Address at Hong Kong, with the hope that this theological exegesis of the Hong Kong lecture could once again offer an invitation to the world of the techno-scientific, the world of secular rationality, to open up to the world of faith, so that together, the breadth and depth of the human culture would once again flourish in its greatness. Full article

Reighardia sternae is a pentastomid parasitising the respiratory system of larids and skuas, the pathological significance of which is still poorly understood. In this study, pentastomes found in the interclavicular air sac of a deceased and necropsied yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) were identified by parasitological and molecular methods and associated gross and histopathological lesions were evaluated. After morphological evaluation and molecular characterisation, the species R. sternae was identified. This is the first report of R. sternae infecting L. michahellis in Italy. Gross pathology showed generalised aerosacculitis, parabronchial edema, and enlargement of the heart, liver, and spleen. The systemic lesions found at histopathological examination were indicative of chronic cardiocirculatory failure, which led to the death of the gull. Moreover, inflammation was present throughout the lungs and air sacs in the form of some granulomas and diffuse small nodular aggregates rich in lymphocytes. The remnants of a parasite were observed within a granulomatous lesion in the lung, suggesting a primary host response to the parasite. These latter findings may suggest that the migration of R. sternae was the cause of the pathological granulomatous pictures in the examined yellow-legged gull. Full article

Researchers focused on assessing differences in gene diversity within and between populations, whether cosmopolitan or local. However, the identification of patterns of variation in non-random heterozygous genomic stretches, known as Heterozygosity-Rich regions (HRRs), has not yet been determined in European local pig breeds. A total of 23 pig breeds (20 local and 3 cosmopolitan) were assessed and compared in terms of heterozygosity-rich regions. The breeds with the highest number of HRRs were Large White, Lithuanian Old type, and Landrace, followed by Lithuanian Native, Mora Romagnola, and Duroc. The breeds with the lowest number were Alentejana, Iberian, and Majorcan Black. No shared HRR islands were found in all breeds, but gene enrichment analysis performed in the most common HRRs revealed several biologically important genes that cluster together and play significant roles, primarily related to the immune system. Permutation analysis indicated that some local breeds serve as true reservoirs of genetic diversity, displaying distinct and unique characteristics in terms of heterozygosity. This study suggests the importance of investigating heterozygosity to develop a comprehensive picture of pig breeds, regardless of the production system, country of origin, or population size. Full article

This article examines the narrative of migration that circulates among Oshwal Jains today. It does so by closely analyzing a varied corpus of memory-writing, including autobiographies, family histories, community histories, memoirs, and social media discussing the settlement of Oshwal Jains from British India in East Africa between 1890 and 1950, and their subsequent onward migration from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. This article first presents a brief historical overview of South Asians in East Africa, and pieces together a picture of how and where Oshwal and non-Oshwal Jains featured within this colonial history. Operationalizing concepts from the field of memory studies, it then discusses which stories and memories are shared, and shows how they combine to form and sustain a community-affirming rags-to-riches narrative. Although the materials in the corpus can certainly help fill in some of the under-researched aspects of South Asian cultural history in East Africa, the narrative(s) of migration they present, with their telling tropes and silences, are indicative of dynamics and developments within the contemporary Oshwal Jain community. Therefore, by way of conclusion, the article interrogates the timing and intergenerational dynamics of the recent surge in memory sharing and memory writing by Oshwals settled around the globe. Full article

Craft-based methodologies have emerged as a vital human-computer interaction (HCI) approach, bridging digital and physical materials in interactive system design. This study, born from a collaboration between two research networks focused on affective design and interaction design, investigates how diverse professionals use craft-based approaches to transform design processes. Through carefully curated workshops, participants from varied backgrounds worked to identify specific problems, select technologies, and consider contextual factors within a creative framework. The workshops served as a platform for observing participant behaviors and goals in real-world settings, with researchers systematically collecting data through material engagement and visual problem-solving exercises. Drawing inspiration from concepts like Chindogu (Japanese “unuseless” inventions), the research demonstrates how reframing interaction design through craft-based methodologies can lead to more intuitive and contextually aware solutions. The findings highlight how interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable and socially responsible design principles generate innovative solutions that effectively address user requirements. This integration of creative frameworks with physical and digital materials advances our understanding of meaningful technological interactions while establishing more holistic approaches to interactive system design that can inform future research directions in the field. Full article

Urban flora is a more and more interesting research subject, in light of the ongoing environmental change and biological homogenisation, since urban contexts are much more diversified that natural ones and, therefore, they offer much more colonisation possibilities to allochthonous species or unexpected refuges for endangered species. We have, therefore, added our own contribution by analysing the spontaneous vascular flora of 7 cities of the Emilia-Romagna Po Plain (northern Italy), one of the more culturally and economically developed areas in Europe. The global floristic list was 1305 species, spanning from 432 to 756 species in each individual city; 219 of them were constantly present in all cities examined. A notable richness in phytosociological classes (43 out of 75 known for the entire national territory) was observed. Therophytes were 35.4% of the spectrum, followed by hemicryptophytes, phanerophytes and geophytes. Eurasian and Mediterranean species dominated (average values 30 and 27%, respectively); exotic species were 26.8%, in line with the strong floristic pollution of Emilia-Romagna, with neophytes always prevailing over archaeophytes. Among neophytes, 44.8% came from the Americas and 26.2% from Asia. Some hydro-hygrophilous and halophilous species were found, owing to the presence of watercourses crossing the urban areas and coastal wetlands bordering one of the towns. The species new for the flora of Italy or Emilia-Romagna were 32, of which 24 were allochthonous. The species protected at a regional or national level were hardly present, which is normal in artificial environments. Despite the inevitable differences in exploration intensity and effort, this synthesis offers a picture of the contribution given by anthropogenic habitats to the global biological richness of the territory. Full article

This first-hand memoir essay offers a reflective narrative on the life and legacy of professor Leo Mazel, a prominent Soviet musicologist. Recounted by his stepson, the text weaves together personal memories, anecdotes, and cultural insights into Mazel’s professional contributions and personal life. As a pioneer in the field of music theory and analysis, Mazel’s rigorous approach blended mathematical precision with a deep commitment to artistic integrity. His unique scholarship extended to stylistic studies of composers like Beethoven, Chopin, and Shostakovich, with an emphasis on “holistic analysis”—a method that integrates historical and aesthetic contexts. Through rich storytelling, the memoir also provides glimpses into Soviet academic life, artistic censorship, and Mazel’s resilience against political pressures. Interactions with notable figures and intellectuals punctuate this account, painting a vivid picture of a life devoted to music, intellectual curiosity, and mentorship. Full article

The source–sink relationship is critical for proper plant growth and development, particularly for vegetative axillary buds, whose activity shapes the branching pattern and ultimately the plant architecture. Once formed from axillary meristems, axillary buds remain dormant or become active to grow into new branches. This transition is notably driven by the regulation of the bud sink strength, which is reflected in the ability to unload, metabolize and store photoassimilates. Plants have so far developed two main mechanisms for unloading sugars (sucrose) towards sink organs, a symplasmic pathway and an apoplasmic pathway, but so far limited investigations have been reported about the modes of sugar uptake during the transition from the dormant to the active outgrowth state of the bud. The available data indicate that the switch from dormant bud to active outgrowing state, requires sugar and is shortly preceded by an increase in bud metabolic activity and a remobilization of the stem starch reserves in favor of growing buds. This activation of the bud sink strength is accompanied by an up-regulation of the main markers of apoplasmic unloading, such as sugar transporters (sucrose transporters—SUTs; sugar will eventually be exported transporters—SWEETs), sucrose hydrolyzing enzymes (cell wall invertase—CWINV) and sugar metabolic pathways (glycolysis/tricarboxylic cycle—TCA; oxidative pentose phosphate pathway—OPPP). As these results are limited to a few species, they are not sufficient to provide a complete and accurate picture of the mode(s) of sugar unloading toward axillary buds and deserve to be complemented by additional studies in a wide variety of plants using systems integration, combining genetic, molecular and immunolocalization approaches. Altogether, we discuss here how sugar is a systemic regulator of shoot branching, acting both as an energy-rich molecule and a signaling entity in the establishment of the bud sink strength. Full article

Background: Individuals with celiac disease (CD) often report the persistence of gastrointestinal symptoms despite adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). A diet rich in fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) could cause symptoms in CD on a GFD, and conversely a low-FODMAP diet could positively influence the therapeutic management of CD and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). The aim of this review was to explore the hypothetical impact of the FODMAD diet and the low-FODMAP diet (LFD) in CD and gluten-related disorders. Methods: A complete online search for FODMAP related to CD, NCGS, and the GFD was carried out using the Pubmed, Medline, and Cochrane databases. Results: Indeed, an LFD could successfully provide symptom relief in GFD-treated CD patients. Fructans, typical components of FODMAPs, have been associated with digestive symptoms in NCGS, and an LFD could improve the clinical picture. According to some evidence, an LFD could also improve the psychological status both in celiac patients on a GFD and in NCGS. However, an LFD should not have a significant impact on gut microbiota. Conclusions: Recent evidence supports the role of FODMAP restriction in CD patients with persistent symptoms on a GFD and in decreasing gastrointestinal disturbances in NCGS, although the GFD still represents the first-line therapy. Full article

With the decrease in fish diversity, the monitoring of fish has become a current research hotspot. Here, the fish diversity and spatial distribution along a salinity gradient (0.28‰–3.32‰) in Xinglinwan Reservoir, China, were investigated using eDNA and the TSM. With the combination of both methods, 12 species from 6 orders, 9 families, and 11 genera were observed. The invasive species Oreochromis niloticus had the highest relative abundance, accounting for 56.91% in the TSM and 89.80% in eDNA, respectively. eDNA detected 83.33% of the species detected using the TSM, and an additional six species (50.0% of the total species) were detected via only eDNA. Moreover, eDNA supplemented the unavailable abundance data from the TSM. The TSM revealed that the diversity and relative abundance of fish inhabiting seawater and brackish water increased with an increase in salinity, but this was not found using eDNA. Thus, our study highlights that Xinglinwan Reservoir has a low species richness and is suffering from the great harm of ecological invasion. Our findings also show that eDNA could be reliable for providing a comprehensive picture of fish, but discriminating the spatial heterogeneity of fish communities is a challenge for its widespread adoption in lentic brackish systems. Full article

Background: As a unique joint that facilitates the articulation of the upper and lower jaws, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is concerned with several critical functions, such as speech and mastication. Pain that can become incapacitating is a result of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), which are complex disorders affecting the masticatory muscles and the TMJ. Several anomalies and TMDs have an interdisciplinary relationship. Complementary and concurrent disorders may be caused by occlusal anomalies, psychological disorders, and changes in spine posture. Methods: This article examines the clinical characteristics of TMDs, their classification, their etiological factors, and the impact of TMJ disorders on the human body with reference to their anatomies and histological structures. Results: The clinical picture of some TMJ pathologies may be unknown, so certain biomarkers, such as cytokines, may be useful for an accurate diagnosis as they are frequently seen in TMJ disorders. Furthermore, novel therapeutic approaches that target pro-inflammatory cytokines and treat TMDs by using tissue engineering and regenerative medicine while permitting TMJ cartilage and bone regeneration may offer numerous benefits that require clinical translation. Conclusions: Implementation of recent modalities such as microvesicles and platelet-rich plasma in growth factors may provide a promising approach to enhance bone formation. In addition, we target different biological markers that give insights into the introduction of new pharmaceutical agents for therapy. Full article