bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple stem-loop primers induced cascaded loop-mediated isothermal amplification for direct recognition and specific detection of circular RNAs
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhang Pengbo , Gao Kejian , Wang Xiaoyu , Li Zhengping
Published: April 2022

Through specific recognition of circRNA's unique junction sequence, a multiple stem-loop primers induced cascaded loop-mediated isothermal amplification method is designed for sensitive and specific quantification of sequence-specific circRNAs.
Electrochemiluminescent sensor based on an aggregation-induced emission probe for bioanalytical detection
Authors: Lv Xiaoyi , Li Yanping , Cui Bo , Fang Yishan , Wang Lishi
Published: April 2022

In recent years, with the rapid development of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors, more luminophores have been designed to achieve high-throughput and reliable analysis.
Water-in-salt electrolytes achieve high energy densities at an ultralow-temperature for aqueous symmetrical supercapacitors
Authors: Zhu Jiajing , Sun Yi , Gao Jie , Qin Zhanbin , Zhou Yanan , Tian Ran , Gao Yun
Published: April 2022

LiTFSI/H2O water-in-salt electrolytes with different concentrations show high energy densities for capacitive charge storage at sub-zero-temperatures.
From flat to deep concave: an unusual mode of facet control
Authors: Yang Shenghao , Zheng Yonglong , He Guangyu , Zhang Mengmeng , Li Hongyan , Wang Yawen , Chen Hongyu
Published: April 2022

We show a “wrapping” mode of growth that transforms nanoplates into hollow rhombic dodecahedra. With l-cysteine promoting (110) facets, the site-specific growth pushes the acutely tilted (110) facets inward, wrapping up the cavity from the edges.
Self-assembling figure-of-eight and pseudoplectoneme aromatic oligoamide ribbons
Authors: Yao Chenhao , Kauffmann Brice , Huc Ivan , Ferrand Yann
Published: April 2022

Two oligoamide macrocycles composed of eight and twelve 7-amino-8-fluoro-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid monomers were synthesised despite the propensity of their acyclic precursors to fold and self-assemble into double helices.
Carbonate doped NiCo-LDH modified with PANI for high performance asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Shi Zhicheng , Yuan Yuan , Xiao Qindan , Li Zhong , Zhu Jiliang
Published: April 2022

The as-prepared PANI-NCLDH/CO32− composite has two forms: linear and clustered. The good combination style makes the prepared composite electrode and the assembled device have excellent electrochemical performance.
Discrimination of two crystal forms of a DyBa2Cu3O7−δsuperconductor: tetragonal and orthorhombic forms having very close lengths of the axis
Authors: Kimura Fumiko , Adachi Shintaro , Horii Shigeru , Kimura Tsunehisa
Published: April 2022

The oxygen content in DyBa2Cu3O7−δ(0 ≤δ≤ 1) greatly affects superconductivity.
Current understanding and insights towards protein stabilization and activation in deep eutectic solvents as sustainable solvent media
Authors: Yadav Niketa , Venkatesu Pannuru
Published: April 2022

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as a new class of green, designer and biocompatible solvents, an alternative to conventional organic solvents and ionic liquids (ILs) which are comparatively toxic and non-biodegradable.
Accounting for molecular flexibility in photoionization: case of tert-butyl hydroperoxide
Authors: Bourgalais Jérémy , Jiang Zhongming , Bloino Julien , Herbinet Olivier , Carstensen Hans-Heinrich , Garcia Gustavo A. , Arnoux Philippe , Tran Luc-Sy , Vanhove Guillaume , Nahon Laurent , Battin-Leclerc Frédérique , Hochlaf Majdi
Published: April 2022

We use synchrotron-based VUV single photon ionization and advanced theoretical simulations to unravelling the dissociative ionization of tert-butyl hydroperoxide where special treatment is undertaken because of the flexibility of this molecule.
Influence of pH and electrolyte on the deposition of cerium oxide nanoparticles on supported lipid bilayers
Authors: Gu Wenyu , Liu Xitong , Yi Peng
Published: April 2022

The deposition of CeO2 nanoparticles on supported lipid bilayers was governed by DLVO interactions at various pH values and electrolyte concentrations.
Systematic investigation of the adsorption potential of lignin- and cellulose-based nanomaterials towards pharmaceuticals
Authors: Agustin Melissa B. , Mikkonen Kirsi S. , Kemell Marianna , Lahtinen Panu , Lehtonen Mari
Published: April 2022

Understanding the interaction of wood-based nanomaterials with different pharmaceuticals is basic for future engineering of nanostructured wood-based adsorbents for pharmaceutical pollutants.
Sustainable preparation of photoactive indole-fused tetracyclic molecules: a new class of organophotocatalysts
Authors: Bae Jaehan , Iqbal Naeem , Hwang Ho Seong , Cho Eun Jin
Published: April 2022

Efficient and sustainable preparation of photoactive indole-fused tetracyclic molecules and their application as organophotocatalysts have been developed.
Improvement of collagen self-assembly and thermal stability in the presence of trehalose
Authors: Zhang Juntao , Huang Yaozhi , Liu Wei , Xie Lvqin , Wei Benmei , Xu Chengzhi , Xu Yuling , Zheng Mingming , Wang Haibo
Published: April 2022

Trehalose, as a compatible osmolyte, can stabilize collagen and is beneficial to the self-assembly and mechanical properties of its products.
The strategy of precise targeting and in situ oxygenating for enhanced triple-negative breast cancer chemophototherapy
Authors: Wu Manxiang , Chen Tianxiang , Wang Lianfu , Akakuru Ozioma Udochukwu , Ma Xuehua , Xu Jinshan , Hu Jiapeng , Chen Jia , Fang Qianlan , Wu Aiguo , Li Qiang
Published: April 2022

The absence of effective therapeutic targets and tumor hypoxia are the main causes of failure in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Brewery spent grain derived carbon dots for metal sensing
Authors: Nkeumaleu Aurel Thibaut , Benetti Daniele , Haddadou Imane , Di Mare Michael , Ouellet-Plamondon Claudiane M. , Rosei Federico
Published: April 2022

This article presents a proof-of-concept to recycle microbrewery waste as a carbon source for synthesizing carbon dots (CDs).
Bimetallic IrxPb nanowire networks with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Tian Hangyu , Zhu Wenlei , Shi Qiurong , Ding Shichao , Lyu Zhaoyuan , Xu Mingjie , Pan Xiaoqing , Engelhard Mark H. , Dan Du , Lin Yuehe
Published: April 2022

A unique metallic IrxPb network structure with high Ir atomic utilization and enhanced performance for oxygen evolution.
Cross-linker-free sodium alginate and gelatin hydrogels: a multiscale biomaterial design framework
Authors: Basu Tithi , Bhutani Utkarsh , Majumdar Saptarshi
Published: April 2022

The perspective of this research was to design cross-linker-free hydrogels with an in-depth analysis of polymer restructuring and hydrogen bond formation by introducing a novel 2D analysis and MD simulation.
Diesel engine diagnosis based on entropy of vibration signals and machine learning techniques
Authors: Hernández Juan Camilo Mejía , Madrid Federico Gutiérrez , Quintero Héctor Fabio , Alzate Juan David Ramírez
Published: April 2022

Compression‐ignition (CI) engines, aka diesel engines, are responsible for an essential percentage of the world‐polluting emissions. Moreover, bearings installed in industrial machinery constitute the most common failure affecting global energy consumption. Since industries’ energy demand has a growing tendency, efficient maintenance is a must. Maintenance requires a fast and accurate diagnosis, commonly based on an intrusive or expensive sensor to capture monitoring signals, i.e. pressure, emissions, temperature, fuel consumption and rotational speed. Here, a vibration signal‐based approach is introduced to combustion engines and bearings diagnosis. Namely, a multi‐scale permutation entropy (MPE)‐based feature extraction is conducted within a variability‐based relevance analysis (VRA) stage to feed a straightforward classifier, the K‐nearest neighbours (KNN). Accuracy was validated using a signals’ database from a single‐cylinder engine under multiple work conditions. Also, the methodology is compared through classification accuracy of a widely known bearing vibration signal database obtaining an outstanding performance.
Reliability analysis of concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars
Authors: Mohamad Firass , Leblouba Moussa , Barakat Samer , Al-Sadoon Zaid A. , Taklas Mohamad
Published: April 2022

The strength reduction factors (ϕ) adopted by ACI-440.1R-15 standard code for the flexure design of Fiber Reinforced Polymers Reinforced Concrete (FRP-RC) beams are calibrated in this study. The code calibration process aims to achieve a particular target reliability index (βT) for the selected FRP-RC rectangular beams. An extensive experimental database is collected and used in the calibration process of the resistance factors. It was found that the calibratedϕled to a more economical and less conservative design while satisfying the safety requirements imposed by the design code. To meet theβT, a recommended value ofϕ, is found to be 0.70 for cast-in-situ beams failing in compression and 0.65 for tension-controlled cast-in-situ beams. Thus, the proposed values are slightly greater than comparable factors adopted by the ACI code of 0.65 for compressioncontrolled and 0.55 for tension-controlled cast-in-situ beams.
BIM implementation in Sarawak construction industry: Awareness, readiness and challenges
Authors: Lee Yee Yong , How Law Andrew Kah , Ting Sim Nee , Gui Hun Chuen , Zaini Afzan Ahmad
Published: April 2022

Lack of coordination and fragmentations have always existed among the stakeholders and parties involved in the implementation of planning, design and construction process of construction projects, especially in the aspects of information transfer. In the recent trends, Building Information Modelling, BIM has been introduced to address the fragmentation issues. The BIM framework is based on the notion of coordination between stakeholders in digital format for information exchange throughout the construction progress. Although BIM technology has been implemented in Malaysia for several years, low adoption is found within the Sarawak construction industry. This paper aims to assess the awareness and readiness for BIM implementation in the Sarawak construction industry. The study was carried out using questionnaire survey across the districts in the Southern Region, Central Region and Northern Region of Sarawak. There are in total 404 responses received, and it is revealed that only 14% of the participants have experience in BIM-related projects. This is still far from the goals set by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia. Meanwhile, 63% of respondents had heard of BIM and 46% of them had attended some seminar or program related on BIM. The investigation of awareness, readiness and challenges of BIM implementation has been further inferred and compiled as a foundation guideline for the proposed solution framework to increase BIM usage in the state. It is hopeful that proposed solution framework can help in overcoming BIM implementation barriers in the Sarawak Construction Industry.
An analysis study of COVID-19 pandemic impact on transport system
Authors: Rahmat Lyshaida , Khoo Hooi Ling
Published: April 2022

Covid-19 has impacted the world at a devastating level, with many sectors had been damaged quite badly, especially the transport sector. Transport provides basic movement that connects people and goods. With the lockdown and travel restriction, this sector has been hit badly. The travel and mobility pattern in Malaysia are changed as well. This paper studies the impact of various mode of transportation in Malaysia due to the lockdown which was implemented since March 2020. Results show that air transportation and land public transportation (such as LRT and bus) are impacted badly.
Adverse weather impact on driver performance in the UAE
Authors: Kaisari Nafisa Khalid , Abuzwidah Muamer , Elawady Ahmed , Zeiada Waleed
Published: April 2022

Road traffic accident is a significant cause of death around the world. Many factors cause accidents, such as demographic factors, humane factors, road design factors, and weather factors. This paper will investigate the adverse weather impact on driver performance by analyzing the impact of weather conditions on drivers' behaviors. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA test, correlation analysis, and Artificial Neural Network. The data was collected using a questionnaire for the people live in the United Arab Emirates. The survey includes two parts; the first part is about driver characteristics (Gender, Age, Nationality, Marital status, Education level, Monthly income, and Driver experience). The second part contains three questions related to the reaction and attitude of drivers due to bad weather conditions. The results showed that 45% of drivers involved in accidents during bad weather conditions although the majority (more than 75%) of them reduced the speed during the bad weather conditions. Overall, more research is needed to be done to evaluate the dust impact on driver performance as well as using real traffic accident data and compare it with this study to reach a solid conclusion and recommend the best solutions to improve traffic safety.
The mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete incorporated with different proportions of oil palm shell
Authors: Lim Zhi Heng , Lee Foo Wei , Mo Kim Hung , Yew Ming Kun , Kwong Kok Zee
Published: April 2022

Malaysia is an eminent exporter nation of palm oil, which generated 19.14 million tonnes of the resource in solely year 2020. Nevertheless, massive amount of oil palm shell has been generated as the by product from the manufacturing of palm oil. Over the past decades, numerous researches have ascertained the possibilities of converting the oil palm shell to something beneficial, for instance its adoption as lightweight aggregate in construction industry. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of oil palm shell proportions (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) on the mechanical properties of oil palm shell lightweight foamed concrete (OPSLFC). Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of OPSLFC possessing various oil palm shell proportions. Generally, the strength properties improve as the oil palm shell replacement level increases. In comparison between OPSLFC-0 and OPSLFC-50 samples, the increment percentages of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength are 18.89 % (10.48 MPa to 12.46 MPa), 22.28 % (1.84 MPa to 2.25 MPa) and 26.74 % (7.03 MPa to 8.91 MPa), respectively. Furthermore, the employment of oil palm shell enhances the flexural strength of the OPSLFC remarkably.
An investigation on the performance of 1200 kg/m3 lightweight foamed concrete incorporated with calcium stearate
Authors: Lee Yee Ling , Leong Kar Sing , Lim Ming Han , Lim Siong Kang , Yew Ming Kun
Published: April 2022

Lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) is normally used on the exterior of buildings such as walls and roof slabs, which causes it to be often exposed to natural weathering such as rain. Since water is an agent of deterioration towards the durability of LFC in long term, calcium stearate, is introduced into LFC. Calcium stearate (CS) is a type of water repellent agent that reduces the penetration of water into LFC. This research aims to investigate the effect of incorporating CS into the LFC mix in terms of its strength performance. Four types of LFC containing different percentages of CS ranging from 0 % to 0.6 % of cement weight were cast and water cured for 7, 28 and 56 days before being tested for its strength properties. It was found that adding CS into the LFC does not affect the workability of fresh concrete. The finding also showed that CS only retards the strength development rate of LFC during the early ages of LFC instead of reducing its overall strength. Under continuous curing, LFC with CS can achieve strength similar to the strength obtained by the control mix. If the early strength of LFC is not a major concern, incorporating CS into LFC will have an added advantage of lower water absorption which improves the durability of LFC.
Experimental study on compressive strength of Interlocking Hollow Block System (IHBS) using fly ash
Authors: Kepli Muizzatun Nasirah , Shek Poi Ngian , Tahir Mahmood Md , Mohd.Sam Abdul Rahman , Abdul Shukor Lim Nor Hasanah , Aminudin Eeydzah
Published: April 2022

Interlocking Hollow Block System (IHBS) is a reasonable solution for conventional block masonry due to its structural ability and building capability. In addition, economic and ecological building of brickwork can be achieved by incorporating fly ash into IHBS. The main aim of the research is to produce interlocking compressed hollow block that satisfy the standard requirement as in Eurocode 6. The study is essentially divided into 2 phases, block production and block compression testing. This paper studies on the compressive strength of interlocking hollow clay block with various compositions including laterite soil, cement, sand and fly ash. The optimum mix design is achieved with minimum compressive strength of 7 MPa, which comply with the standard BS 5628-1:1992 Code of practice for Use of masonry – Part 1: Structural use of unreinforced masonry. Test result on addition of fly ash revealed that the optimum fly ash content was 2% with the highest compressive strength of 10 MPa. The results of this study show that the proposed block mixture meets the standard strength requirements and the structural performance of the masonry block is improved by adding fly ash into the mix design.
The differences between the worldwide certification system and the Japanese local system for well-being and usage practically
Authors: Otsu Kazuki , Shide Kazuya
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study is to identify the difference between WELL Building Standard (WELL) and CASBEE-wellness office (CWO) for well-being and to provide a key to apply them effectively. The research methodology can be summarized into two steps. The first step is to compare the WELL and CWO to identify the strengths of these certifications. The second step is to conduct interviews with construction firms which obtain WELL certification and CWO, suppliers, and a consultant which provide these certifications. The results of the investigation show that WELL is focused on both building environment and services. On the other hand, CWO affects buildings more than services for workers. In addition, according to the results of the interviews, CWO has not been introduced by owners because the effects of the certification have not proven. The effects of CWO should be obvious just as they are in WELL. If the thresholds of CWO are fixed, the certification should be used as the well-being certification that affects buildings strongly in the first step when the project starts. We concluded that both certifications will be utilized effectively by using their strengths.
Housing energy-related renovations from a lifestyle and social standards perspective:insights from Portuguese homeowners
Authors: Abreu Maria Isabel , de Oliveira Rui A. F. , Lopes Jorge
Published: April 2022

Recent studies argue that energy-related renovations which are not distinctive from other house improvements must be socially contextualized and intercepted with the householders’ daily social practices. Within a practice-theory approach, this study aims to explore how tastes, lifestyles and social values and norms can be brought into the understandings of energy renovation practices of Portuguese homeowners. The outcomes disclosed differentiated taste-motivated issues which boost homeowners to renovate. This highlighted the importance of energy policy-makers understand the diversity of homeowners’ desires and preferences regarding house renovation activities. Reflecting upon this diversity inside the household domain, gender differences revealed to be a significant factor, being women an undervalued resource despite their key influence on domestic energy management. Results also reinforce previous theories about how home renovations decisions reflects societal values and norms which determined “what would look nice” to have in a house and which determine, in part, why visible renovations are so prioritized, frequently not energy-related. Findings suggested also that energy policies should be drawn making energy efficiency in houses as fashionable as other consumer goods related with home design. Innovative partnerships between energy policy-makers and household products industries, home design magazines, marketing experts or real estate experts, which have the know-how on shaping people’s tendencies and tastes, are needed.
Life-cycle assessment of compressed bricks using Cameron Highlands reservoir sediment as primary material
Authors: Ong Chuan-Fang , Ean Lee-Woen , Lau See-Hung , Tan Jia-Hui
Published: April 2022

Disposal of dredged sediments has recently been linked to environmental and health issues, rather than bringing any economic value to the country. Furthermore, the overexploitation of clay for brick production is destructive to the environment. Hence, it is essential to develop a decisive method to minimize the land and water pollution resulting from improper disposal as well as lessening the consumption of natural resources in the brick production. The key objective of this study is to identify environmental impacts of compressed bricks using Cameron Highlands reservoir sediment to replace clay in the compressed brick. The life cycle assessment is conducted in a cradle-to-gate manner. This study also presents the avoided process of recycled sediments in the life cycle assessment. The damage categories are quantified in terms of human health, ecosystem and resource availability by using ReCiPe Endpoint indicators. According to the results of the life cycle assessment, the compressed sediment brick is favourable from an environmental perspective. In comparison to compressed clay brick, the compressed sediment brick offers promising options for the long-term because it contributes high environmental performance among all the impact and damage categories assessed in this study.
Correlation between undrained shear strength and liquidity index of soils in Malaysia
Authors: Habibullah Hafiy Syafiqy , Lee Min Lee , Wong Soon Yee
Published: April 2022

Accuracy of soil undrained shear strength measurement is often governed by the quality of undisturbed soil sampling. Numerous previous attempts have been made to establish correlations between the undrained shear strength and various soil physical parameters. This paper aims to determine a correlation between the undrained shear strength (cu) and liquidity index (IL) based on 34 soil samples collected from selected sites in Peninsular Malaysia. Sieving, hydrometer analysis and Atterberg limit tests were performed to determine physical properties of the soils. The undrained shear strengths were determined using the Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) triaxial test. An attempt was made to correlate the undrained shear strength with liquidity index of all the soil specimens. However, the correlation was found to be considerably weak (r2 = 0.47). The correlation was improved significantly (r2 = 0.82) by limiting the data to soils with fines content of more than 65% only. The proposed equation was in the form cu = a exp(-bIL) where the values of constants a and b were determined empirically as 72.9 and 1.95, respectively.
Review of classification methods to determine expansion degree of expansive soils in Indonesia
Authors: A Putri Christy , A Prakoso Widjojo , Rahayu Wiwik
Published: April 2022

Expansive soils are one of the problematic soils that can cause damage to structures, such as buildings and roads. In Indonesia, the geographical distribution of expansive soils is quite widespread, in many regions including Java, Sumatera, and Papua. This study was conducted by reviewing previous research on the expansion degree of expansive soils. The suitability of the expansion degree indicated by the activity method, Van der Merwe’s criteria, and Chen’s criteria were evaluated by comparing a series of laboratory test results to these criteria. It was observed that the expansion degree indicated by these criteria did not necessarily reflect the actual swelling potential. Other indicators, other than typical index properties, are needed to predict the expansion degree more accurately.
Parametric study of tensegrity structures under seismic loading
Authors: Al Azem Raneem , Elleithy Wael , Lau Teck Leong , Anwar Mohammed Parvez
Published: April 2022

Tensegrity structures are spatial structures made up of an assembly of pin-jointed, prestressed continuous tension members and discontinuous compressive members, arranged in different complex shapes. Limited research has been carried out to analyse the dynamic response of these structures under seismic loading. This paper presents a parametric study to identify the suitability of different forms of these structures under combined vertical gravity and lateral seismic loadings. Different tensegrity shapes were analysed, as simplex and complex structures, under wind and earthquake loadings. These responses of the structures were also compared to that of conventional steel structures of the same shapes. Different parameters such as the effect of varying bar diameter, bar thickness, cable diameter, and tower height, were studied, and behavioural trends were identified. It was found that if a suitable tensegrity shape is chosen and optimized, its behavioural trends can be very similar to that of the conventional steel structures, while saving materials and therefore cost. Modal frequencies of the structure were also identified and found to be low, which is beneficial under earthquake loading. Thus, these systems can prove to be a valuable replacement to conventional systems under adverse dynamic loading.
Feasibility of bootstrap aggregating to enhance extreme learning machine for reference evapotranspiration estimation
Authors: Chia Min Yan , Huang Yuk Feng , Koo Chai Hoon , Lai Lik Sheng
Published: April 2022

Estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is a challenging, yet important task as the ET value can be used to predict many other natural phenomena. In this work, the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) was estimated using the extreme learning machine (ELM) at two meteorological stations located in the northern region of the Straits of Malacca. Optimum designs of the ELM were first determined and it was found that the different number of hidden neurons and activation functions were favourable to various input combinations. In order to enhance the performance of the ELM, the bootstrap aggregating algorithm was integrated to resample the original dataset. However, the performance of bagged-ELM was found to be poorer than the base ELM. This could be attributed to the high stability of the base ELM model whereby the training size already overwhelmed the dimensionality of the problem itself. The bootstrap aggregation data fusion technique produced a “backfire” effect that degraded the accuracy and generalisability of the base ELM model.
Numerical modelling of urban stormwater management with grassed road divider as bioretention system
Authors: Lim Jin Sian , Tan Cha Yao , Mah Yau Seng , Lee Min Lee , Teo Fang Yenn
Published: April 2022

Bioretention system is one of the best management practices for rainwater runoff redirecting and storing before discharge into existing stormwater system. On the other hand, road divider is designed for dividing the traffic flow for road safety. However, it may be a blockage for surface runoff on road and possibly created ponding during heavy rainfall event. This scenario could become a hazard for motorised vehicles. In this study, a grassed road divider in Broga Road, Semenyih, Malaysia, is modelled as bioretention system by EPA's Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to investigate the performance of its application. A case of grassed road divider without bioretention cell was also modelled for comparison. A series of simulations were carried out for the ARI of 2, 5, and 10 years to further study the performance of grassed road divider as a bioretention system. Four different types of soil including sand, loamy sand, loam, and sandy loam are selected as filler soil in the bioretention cell. Results from the model simulations showed that the performances of grassed road divider as a bioretention system can reduce the surface runoff into the stormwater system up to 49.9% and 56.77% for different ARIs. The effect of this implication is more significant on the reduction as the ARI increased. Results also showed that the impact of soil types is insignificant. The findings show that a bioretention system in a grassed road divider may supplement conventional urban road drainage and provide an effective stormwater management.
Social impact assessment of construction of hill road (Ghatiabagarh-Lipulekh road of 76 km) on green field alignment in Dharchula, India
Authors: Phogat Virender Singh , Singhal Anupam , Mittal Ravi Kant , Singh Ajit Pratap
Published: April 2022

This paper aims to carry out the social impact assessment (SIA) due to the construction of 76 Km hill road at Dharchula district of Uttarakhand, India. Development of the hinterland hinges on the efficient road network. All-round development, safe travel, reduced vehicle operating cost, reduced fuel consumption, a faster journey are immediate benefits. The road will enhance comprehensive national connectivity. It has given connectivity to more than fifty villages and settlements. The road has increased the women’s participation in society, as per NSF method 23.9%, Battelle method 60% and Checklist method 40% respectively. . Local population’s access to science and technology has increased by 16 % as per NSF method and Battelle method whereas 40% as per Checklist method . Health related impact is 48.5% as per NSF method, 72% as Battelle method and 60 % as per Checklist method. The study analysed NSF method holistically defines outcome for each social impact parameter while the Checklist method was found to be subjective. Battelle method too has an inherent advantage of comparing social impact situation with and without project. The study substantiated the outcome of Battelle method and Checklist method have almost similar results, assessment scores being 15.8 and 16.05 respectively.
Seasonal variation of size-fractionated particulate matter in residential houses in urban area in Vietnam: relationship of indoor and outdoor particulate matter and mass size distribution
Authors: Vo Le-Ha T. , Yoneda Minoru , Nghiem Trung-Dung , Sekiguchi Kazuhiko , Fujitani Yuji , Shimada Yoko
Published: April 2022

The study aims to determine the concentration, size distribution and analyze the relationship of indoor and outdoor particles in urban area, in Vietnam. One thousand two hundred daily samples of PM0.1, PM0.1-0.5, PM0.5-1, PM1-2.5, PM2.5-10, PM>10 were taken simultaneously at four residential houses in summer and winter by nano sampler (Model 3182, Kinomax). The average concentrations of indoor PM0.1, PM0.5, PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were in range of 5.3-8.9 μg/m3; 10.8-20.1μg/m3; 20.5-47.6 μg/m3; 33.7-105.9 μg/m3 and 44.7-135.0 μg/m3 among four houses, respectively. The concentrations of outdoor PM2.5, PM10 were considerately higher than those of indoor PM, whereas negligible differences on concentrations of PM0.1, PM0.5 and PM1 were observed. The significantly seasonal variation was observed for indoor PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, but not for PM0.1 and PM0.5. Majority of indoor fractions were origin from outdoor sources. Unimodal distributions of indoor particles determined the super-micron size (1 to 2.5 μm) with highest concentration and PM<0.5 and PM>10 with lowest concentration. Fine particles with interval sizes (PM0.5-1 and PM1-2.5) contributed to the predominance to coarse particles in both indoors and outdoors, suggesting serious threat on human health.
Application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in measuring the environmental impact of coalfired power plant - A review
Authors: Mardi Nurul Hani , Ean Lee-Woen , Chua Kok-Hua , Malek Marlinda Abd
Published: April 2022

Coal-fired power is among the most significant electric generated in most developed countries. The environmental impact of coal-fired power plants is usually associated with air, water and waste pollution. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standard method used to evaluate the potential of environmental impacts of a product or process over its life cycle stages. This paper aims to review the application of LCA in evaluating the environmental impact of coal-fired power plant fields. The results were summarised in term of goal, scope, functional unit, system boundaries, impact assessment method and impact category.
Disaster response network analysis in rural Temerloh, Pahang communities during the Malaysia 2020-2021 flood
Authors: Lam Foong Sin , Chow Boon Yew
Published: April 2022

Disaster risk reduction practices can be viewed as a collaborative environment managed by a diverse group of stakeholders including governments, private sectors and non-governmental organizations and research institutes as well as local communities. Insufficient collaboration and failure to coordinate across groups can lead to unsuccessful disaster recovery efforts. This study investigates the organizational roles and collaboration network among governmental and community organizations participating in Malaysia 2020-2021 flood response in rural Temerloh, Pahang. Social network analysis was conducted using Gephi open-source software to examine the general patterns of structures and the characteristics of the networks of stakeholders. News reports and organizational situation reports about the inter-organizational interaction and collaboration of stakeholders were identified using the manual coding analysis and analysed using Gephi, a social network analysis open-source software. The analysed results were ranked based on the categories of the centrality parameter, which highlights the extent of collaboration of key stakeholders in the network. The findings of this study indicate Malaysian Civil Defence (APM) and local government have high degree and betweenness centralities in the network. The number of private sectors active in disaster response was minimal, as were their centralities within the network, where they ranked last in every network measure. Rural communities and victims had lower betweenness centrality scores showed they had low network influence. NGOs are less involved in disaster response but are more involved in relief efforts such as cleaning muddy houses, recruiting medical and non-medical volunteers to help flood victims, distributing cleaning and healthcare supplies, and giving meals.
Geospatial analysis of river flood hazard assessment
Authors: Soomro Riaz Ahmed , Nizamani Zafarullah , Nakayama Akihiko , Tan Kok Weng
Published: April 2022

Floods are one of the most damaging natural disasters which occur frequently in the world. They occur every year in Malaysia due to higher precipitation rates, river meandering, and heavily populated suburban areas. Monsoon rains are the major cause of floods and occur two times per year. The heavy floods in the Kelantan River Basin have shown an increasing trend in recent years. Terrain characteristics of the land and meteorological properties of the region are the main natural factors for this disaster. In this study, the Kuala Krai district of the Kelantan River is selected to be reviewed as the case study for flood risk analysis. Geographical Information System (GIS) integrated with Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can be used to evaluate the potential flood risk areas. Historically flooded areas can be extracted from the satellite images to determine flood causing factors for the analysis. At the end of the study, a map of flood risk areas can be generated and validated to assist decisionmakers on the menace posed by the disaster. The expected results obtained from the study will help the guidance city planners and administrators to choose safe sites for construction and development. This study will also help to provide flood mitigation and quick relief response for the red zone areas which are more likely to hit badly from flood hazards. The study will help the Malaysian government to reduce natural flood risks in Malaysia which are one of the top causes of damage.
E-learning versus face-to-face civil and environmental engineering education: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Alaloul Wesam Salah , Qureshi Abdul Hannan
Published: April 2022

The Malaysian Government implemented a countrywide lockdown due to COVID-19, which also affected the educational institutes. Under these circumstances, the e-learning educational strategy was initiated for the resuming of educational activities. A need for the study was devised and performed to assess the students’ perspective on this transition from face-to-face learning to e-learning for the effective implementation of the system. Students’ feedback data was evaluated for the January 2020 semester, which was collected before the pandemic and the September 2020 semester, which was collected during the pandemic by the end of the semester. Both data were analysed by adopting parametric Student’s t-test and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Overall, it is concluded that students were comfortable with the e-learning educational system. However, the effectiveness of the e-learning system is dependent on the course type and requirements. This study will help the instructors to evaluate and improve their teaching strategy for the e-learning educational system by the preview of students for the deficiencies, in comparison to face-to-face learning, as the current lockdown situation is uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Challenges of cost management technique implementation during pre-tender in Klang valley construction project
Authors: Mohd Nor Mohd Shahraiz , Rahmat Mazianah , Azmi Nurdiana , Abd Rahim Mohd Hilmi Izwan
Published: April 2022

Poor cost management could lead to the jeopardize of the fundamentals of managing the construction project. Many countries are facing many problems with cost performance which one of them was a cost overrun in the construction projects. Cost variation from the initial cost budget and cost plan has been known as common in the construction industry and it creates a concern to stakeholders on needing maintaining cost projection. This paper aims to identify the challenges of cost management which effect project costing during the pre-tender for landed residential building construction projects in Klang Valley. The research methodology used for this research is the quantitative method. One hundred forty-seven (147) respondents from the industry such as Clients, Contractors, Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers and others from different organisations. The findings revealed that the challenges on cost management effecting to cost, is budgeting in a dynamic situation.
A methodology of critical evaluation of the contract selection process used in the construction industry of Kuwait
Authors: Almutairi Abdulaziz , Barhaim Nuhu , Fox Andrew
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates and critically evaluate the contract selection process employed in the construction industry of Kuwait. It will fully take into account the insights and opinions of engineers working on major construction projects in Kuwait. The different methods used to select the contract form in the Kuwaiti construction industry will be identified. Questionnaires, surveys and interviews will be used as a means of acquiring relevant information with regard to the country’s major construction industries, This information will be analysed in order to discover the best means to improve the existing system used in Kuwaiti construction contracts for the selection of contract forms and terms of payment which could be benefit by including steps to ensure that types of project delivery system and term of payment in the future construction projects in Kuwait.
Workplace safety and hazards awareness among the China construction companies in Malaysia
Authors: Ooi Wu Thorn , Tan Ooi Kuan , Low Mei Peng
Published: April 2022

Construction safety continues to be one of the issues that draw the attention of the public. This study aims to investigate the factors to improve awareness towards workplace safety and hazards among the China construction companies in Malaysia. Quantitative research method was adopted in this study. Self-administered questionnaire was extended to 79 workers in China construction company in Malaysia with the use of purposive sampling. Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) were used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results show perception and compliance of workers are positively related to the awareness of workplace safety and hazards. On top of that, the study present diverse perspectives towards awareness of workplace safety and hazards by examining the perception and compliance of the workers in the China construction companies in Malaysia. Moreover, high awareness was found to be a significant mechanism leading to lower accidental rates in construction. However, construction projects are getting more in quantity and getting bigger in scale all over the country, future research should consider more factors and include more construction companies. In overall, this study highlights the essential role of workers’ perceptions and compliance in raising their safety and hazards awareness in reducing accidental rates in the construction industry.
Long-term forecasting of climatic parameters using parametric and non-parametric stochastic modelling
Authors: Chia Min Yan , Huang Yuk Feng , Koo Chai Hoon , Chong Zheng Rong
Published: April 2022

Climatic parameters fluctuate dynamically and their turbulences become more significant as the influence of the climate change increases. A robust model that is able to factor in the recent climate change for long-term climatic parameters forecasting is desired to strategically plan for future anthropogenic activities. In this study, two stochastic time series model, namely the seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model and the artificial neural network (ANN) model are used to predict monthly mean temperature (Tmean), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (u) and pan evaporation (Epan) up to 12 months ahead. This study is conducted using data collected from three meteorological stations in the northern region of the Peninsular Malaysia. The stochastic models forecasted the Tmean with the highest accuracy, followed by RH, u and Epan. Besides, despite the increasing time step (from 1 to 12 months), the accuracy of the models remain consistent. However, both of the models are susceptible to the occurrence of extreme climates. In general, the SARIMA model performs better than the ANN model, probably attributed to its ability to consider the seasonality of the climatic data rather than depending solely on black-box computation.
A novel rapid visual detection assay for Toxoplasma gondii combining recombinase-aided amplification and lateral flow dipstick coupled with CRISPR-Cas13a fluorescence (RAA-Cas13a-LFD)
Authors: Zhao Jinhong , Li Yuanyuan , Xue Qiqi , Zhu Zhiwei , Zou Minghui , Fang Fang
Published: April 2022

Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease resulting from Toxoplasma gondii infection, remains prevalent worldwide, and causes great harm to immunodepressed patients, pregnant women and newborns. Although various molecular approaches to detect T. gondii infection are available, they are either costly or technically complex. This study aimed at developing a rapid visual detection assay using recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) and lateral flow dipstick (LFD) coupled with CRISPR-Cas13a fluorescence (RAA-Cas13a-LFD) to detect T. gondii. The RAA-Cas13a-LFD assay was performed in an incubator block at 37 °C within 2 h, and the amplification results were visualized and determined through LFD by the naked eye. The detection limit was 1 × 10−6 ng/μL by our developed RAA-Cas13a-LFD protocol, 100-fold higher than that by qPCR assay (1 × 10−8 ng/μL). No cross-reaction occurred either with the DNA of human blood or Ascaris lumbricoides, Digramma interrupta, Entamoeba coli, Fasciola gigantica, Plasmodium vivax, Schistosoma japonicum, Taenia solium, and Trichinella spiralis, and the positive rate by RAA-Cas13a-LFD assay was identical to that by qPCR assay (1.50% vs. 1.50%) in detecting T. gondii infection in the unknown blood samples obtained from clinical settings. Our findings demonstrate that this RAA-Cas13a-LFD assay is not only rapid, sensitive, and specific and allows direct visualization by the naked eye, but also eliminates sophisticated and costly equipment. More importantly, this technique can be applied to on-site surveillance of T. gondii.
Clinical safety and outcomes of glucagon use during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Authors: Perisetti Abhilash , Goyal Hemant , Sharma Neil
Published: April 2022

Background and study aims Injectable glucagon enables easier biliary cannulation by inhibiting gastrointestinal motility and decreasing the frequency and amplitude of phasic activity of the sphincter of Oddi during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Data about the safety profile of glucagon use and patient clinical outcomes are scarce.

Patients and methods We used a federated cloud-based network research database, TriNetX, comprising 92 US healthcare organizations to find adult patients undergoing ERCP with glucagon use (Group A) vs. without using glucagon (Group B) from August 1, 2010, to August 1, 2021. The primary outcomes were rates of gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal perforation, post-ERCP pancreatitis, inpatient hospitalizations, and 30-day overall mortality measured after 1:1 propensity matching of the groups based on the baseline demographics and comorbidities.

Results There were 9,008 patients in Group A compared to 256,597 in Group B. After matching, Group A patients had lower rates of gastrointestinal bleeding (risk ratio [RR], 0.68; CI, 0.52–0.86), post-ERCP pancreatitis (RR, 0.64; CI, 0.58–71), inpatient hospitalization (RR 0.34; CI:0.32 to 0.36) and overall mortality (RR, 0.81; CI, 0.66–0.99). The rates of gastrointestinal perforation (RR, 0.64; CI: 0.34 to 1.19), hyperkalemia (RR, 0.83; CI, 0.64–1.09) and hyperglycemia (RR, 0.65; CI, 0.41–1.03) did not differ between the two groups.

Discussion Glucagon use during ERCP was associated with low rates of gastrointestinal bleeding, post-ERCP pancreatitis, inpatient hospitalization, and overall mortality. Moreover, the rates of hyperkalemia and hyperglycemia did not differ between the two groups even after matching for diabetes, indomethacin use, obesity, and chronic kidney disease.