bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DSMZCellDive: Diving into high-throughput cell line data
Authors: Koblitz Julia , Dirks Wilhelm G. , Eberth Sonja , Nagel Stefan , Steenpass Laura , Pommerenke Claudia
Published: April 2022

Human and animal cell lines serve as model systems in a wide range of life sciences such as cancer and infection research or drug screening. Reproducible data are highly dependent on authenticated, contaminant-free cell lines, no better delivered than by the official and certified biorepositories. Offering a web portal to high-throughput information on these model systems will facilitate working with and comparing to these references by data otherwise dispersed at different sources.

We here provide DSMZCellDive to access a comprehensive data source on human and animal cell lines, freely available at celldive.dsmz.de. A wide variety of data sources are generated such as RNA-seq transcriptome data and STR (short tandem repeats) profiles. Several starting points ease entering the database via browsing, searching or visualising. This web tool is designed for further expansion on meta and high-throughput data to be generated in future. Explicated examples for the power of this novel tool include analysis of B-cell differentiation markers, homeo-oncogene expression, and measurement of genomic loss of heterozygosities by an enlarged STR panel of 17 loci.

Sharing the data on cell lines by the biorepository itself will be of benefit to the scientific community  since it (1) supports the selection of appropriate model cell lines, (2) ensures reliability, (3) avoids misleading data, (4) saves on additional experimentals, and (5) serves as reference for genomic and gene expression data.
pubassistant.ch: consolidating publication profiles of researchers
Authors: Gerber Reto , Robinson Mark D.
Published: April 2022

Online accounts to keep track of scientific publications, such as Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) or Google Scholar, can be time consuming to maintain and synchronize. Furthermore, the open access status of publications is often not easily accessible, hindering potential opening of closed publications. To lessen the burden of managing personal profiles, we developed a R shiny app that allows publication lists from multiple platforms to be retrieved and consolidated, as well as interactive exploration and comparison of publication profiles. A live version can be found at pubassistant.ch.
Interplay among positive and negative symptoms, neurocognition, social cognition, and functioning in clinically stable patients with schizophrenia: a network analysis
Authors: Charernboon Thammanard
Published: April 2022

Background: Schizophrenia has a broad range of interrelated symptoms and impairment in functioning. The objective of the study was to explore the interplay between positive symptoms, negative symptoms, neurocognition, social cognition and real-life functioning in patients with schizophrenia using network analysis.

Methods: Participants were 64 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia. Psychopathologic, neurocognition, social cognition, and functioning were measured using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III, Faces test, Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, and Personal Social Performance scale.

Results: The network analysis suggested that functioning was the most central in the network followed by avolition and asociality. Functioning was directly connected to avolition, asociality, blunted affect, neurocognition and emotion recognition. The positive symptoms were the most remote and therefore the least important node.

Conclusion: The high centrality of functioning suggests the need for improving of everyday life skills for patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, treatment of specific negative symptoms, neurocognition and emotion recognition could also enhance functional outcome.
Palliative care and good death in acute diseases: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Widyaningsih Vitri , Febrinasari Ratih Puspita , Suwandono Adji , Bhima Sigid Kirana Lintang , Padmawati Retna Siwi , Probandari Ari
Published: April 2022

Increasing cases of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, requires healthcare systems to provide essential palliative care for critically ill patients and their families. With the rapid onset and often accelerated deterioration in patients with acute conditions, palliative and supportive care for these patients have different characteristics compared to those for chronic diseases. Furthermore, providing end-of life services for critically ill patients with acute diseases and their families to ensure good death for the patients, will also have its own challenges. This scoping review aims to explore the concept of palliative care and good death for acute diseases.

This scoping review will be conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley's framework for scoping reviews: identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data, collating, summarizing, reporting results, and conducting consultation. All original research with a focus on palliative care and good death due to acute diseases will be included. This review will include all original research designs published between the period of 2000–2021 that describe a measure of palliative care management for and good death due to acute diseases. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method studies will be included in order to consider different aspects of healthcare services. This review will also include guidelines and gray literature on palliative care and good deaths. The search will be conducted through PubMed, Scopus Database, and ScienceDirect using the key terms related to acute disease palliative care and the concept of good death due to acute diseases. Two authors will screen the titles and abstracts of the studies. Two authors will review the full text of selected studies independently and extract the data. All selected studies will be synthesized qualitatively, and the results will be consulted with experts through discussion and depict the current concept of palliative care and good death in acute diseases.
Catering
Authors: Vlasova Natal'ya , Bashin Yuriy
Published: April 2022

The textbook contains and structures the information necessary for a student to understand the essence of catering, the mechanisms and features of its work, current problems and trends in the development of the domestic market of catering services. The tasks for self-examination and control materials are given.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For bachelor students studying in the areas of training 43.03.02 "Tourism" and 43.03.03 "Hotel business".
State and municipal procurement: in 2 parts
Authors: Mel'nikov Vladimir
Published: April 2022

The second part of the textbook "State and municipal procurement" is devoted to the theoretical and methodological aspects of reforming the procurement system of products for public needs in Russia as a distribution mechanism that contributes to the achievement of economic policy goals. Special attention is paid to the institutional and behavioral factors of economic reforms, the place and role of public procurement in the structure of state regulation of the economy. A comparative analysis of conceptual approaches to the organization of the procurement is given, allowing the use of the state contract system as a mechanism of proactive economic policy aimed at the formation of economic orders.
For master's degree students of economic specialties of higher educational institutions, as well as for training in the framework of retraining programs for state and municipal employees.
Tactical and forensic support of investigative activities
Authors: Shishkina Elena
Published: April 2022

The textbook is devoted to the study of the main means of tactical support for the activities of the investigator in the investigation of crimes. The author's position on the concept, essence and content of tactical means of investigative activity — tactical techniques, tactical operations and tactical combinations, tactical decisions and tactics of individual investigative actions is presented. The paper deals with the issues of tactical and forensic support of individual, the most common investigative actions - inspection, interrogation, verification of testimony on the spot, etc.
It is intended for law students studying in the specialties 40.05.01 "Legal support of national security", 40.05.04 "Judicial and prosecutorial activities", as well as for undergraduates studying in the areas of training in the field of jurisprudence.
The origin and evolution of the Universe
Authors: E'kov Evgeniy
Published: April 2022

The monograph examines a wide range of problems related to the origin and development of the Universe. An overview of the history of the study of astronomy from Stone Age observatories to modern space telescopes is given. The theories of the origin of the Universe are analyzed, evidence of the Big Bang, the expansion of the Universe, the cosmic effects of dark energy and dark matter are given. The origin and causes of the existence of planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies and other cosmic bodies in the Universe are considered. A large place is given to the analysis of the origin and development of the Solar system. The origin and functioning of the Sun, planets and other objects located in its gravitational field are considered. Among the planets of the Solar System, the greatest attention is paid to the Earth and the analysis of the factors that ensured the emergence and maintenance of various forms of life on it.
For a wide range of readers interested in the origin and evolution of the universe. It can be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of physics and mathematics universities.
Fundamentals of eco-sociohumanism
Authors: Golubev Vladimir
Published: April 2022

The monograph presents the doctrine of ecosociohumanism from the standpoint of the new natural-humanitarian science of ergodynamics and the science of harmony. Ecosociohumanism acts as a resolution of the "capitalism—socialism" opposition on the basis of their harmonious synthesis. At the same time, the goal of harmonious human development is taken from socialism, and the way of its realization from capitalism is a regulated market. The main components of eco—sociohumanism are: the theory of socio-natural development, trialectics - the doctrine of harmony, the science of man (human studies), the concept of national wealth and quality of life, the theory of the socio-humanitarian state, the ideology of sociohumanism. The essence of the socio-humanitarian transition: from the "consumer society" to the "society of eco-sociohumanism", from the social to the socio-humanitarian state, from the "social man" to the "socio-spiritual man" ("Harmonious Man"). The evolutionary trajectory of the development of "liberalism — integralism — ecosociohumanism" is scientifically substantiated.
The interpretation of national wealth as a potential for the development of society is given. The quality of life index is proposed. Based on the calculation of national wealth and the quality of life index of Russia and the countries of the world, it is shown that the country is experiencing an acute socio—humanitarian crisis - the crisis of a person and a development model. The human crisis is associated with a deepening techno-humanitarian imbalance. The crisis of the social model is caused by the fact that the laws of socio-natural development are ignored in domestic policy. The economy, social policy, culture, geopolitics of a socio-humanitarian state are considered. The scientific foundations of the new peace movement are given. The attitudes of eco-sociohumanism are compared with a number of existing social concepts.
It is popular in nature (without mathematical apparatus, often inaccessible to humanities) and is designed for a wide range of readers.
Metaphorical parallels of the neutral nomination "man" in modern English
Authors: Bavaeva Ol'ga
Published: April 2022

The monograph is devoted to a multidimensional analysis of metaphor in modern English as a parallel nomination that exists along with a neutral equivalent denoting a person. The problem of determining the essence of metaphorical names and their role in the language has attracted the attention of many foreign and domestic linguists on the material of various languages, but until now the fact of the parallel existence of metaphors and neutral nominations has not been emphasized.
The research is in line with modern problems of linguistics related to the relationship of language, thinking and reflection of the surrounding reality. All these problems are integrated and resolved within the framework of linguistic semantics, in particular in the semantics of metaphor. Multilevel study of language material based on semantic, component, etymological analysis methods contributed to a systematic and comprehensive description of this most important part of the lexical system of the English language.
Metaphorical parallels are considered as the result of the interaction of three complexes, which allows us to identify their associative-figurative base, as well as the types of metaphorical parallels, depending on the nature of the connection between direct and figurative meaning. Based on the analysis of various human character traits and behavior that evoke associations with animals, birds, objects, zoomorphic, artifact, somatic, floral and anthropomorphic metaphorical parallels of the neutral nomination "man" are distinguished. The social aspect of metaphorical parallels is also investigated as a reflection of gender, status and age characteristics of a person.
It can be used in the training of philologists and translators when reading theoretical courses on lexicology, stylistics, word formation of the English language, as well as in practical classes, in lexicographic practice.
Financial management in small business
Authors: Morozko Nina , Didenko Valentina
Published: April 2022

The textbook discusses the main provisions of the financial policy of the organization. The peculiarities of the functioning of small business in Russia are highlighted. The problems of the formation of financial resources of small organizations, the insolvency of organizations, the financial equivalent of the security of the functioning of small businesses are disclosed. The methods of financial management in small business, the provisions of the mechanism for ensuring the financial stability of the functioning of small organizations are considered in detail. The main directions of financial management for the organization of the functioning of small organizations in the conditions of diversified financial services are systematically determined. Special attention is paid to the specifics of the functioning and financing of Start-up companies.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students, postgraduates studying financial management issues, as well as specialists and managers of organizations who need to make rational management decisions.
Competitiveness in the Russian civil process
Authors: Alieskerov Mizamir
Published: April 2022

The monograph is devoted to scientific and applied problems related to the implementation of adversarial principles in the Russian civil process.
Taking into account the historical traditions of Russia, world experience and modern Russian realities, the questions of the necessary and permissible degree of activity of the court in adversarial civil proceedings,
on ensuring equality of procedural opportunities of persons participating in the case, on forms and means of judicial assistance to persons participating in the case in the exercise of their procedural rights and performance of procedural duties, on the peculiarities of the manifestation of adversarial principles at different stages of civil proceedings and in different types of civil proceedings.
For researchers, teachers, graduate students and law students, practicing lawyers and anyone interested in this issue.
The effects of the pandemic
Authors: Penfold Sophie
Published: April 2022

The following article discusses the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the mental well-being and development of emotional literacy in children in the early years. It includes data collected from a study asking early years practitioners, working throughout the pandemic, about the effects they saw first-hand and their opinions on whether emotional literacy has been affected.
Artist involvement in settings
Authors: Wickett Karen
Published: April 2022

This is the first in a series of three articles, which explores artist involvement in early years settings. In this article I turn to academic theory, English early years policy and the inspiring practices of the pre-schools of Reggio Emilia to gain insights into how artists are involved in and collaborate with those in early years settings.
Development of a nanoscale displacement sensor based on the shadow method
Authors: Yang Yong , Zhao Meirong , Huang Yinguo , Li Dantong , Zheng Yelong , Tian Yu
Published: April 2022

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, bionic coaxial micro-displacement sensor based on the shadow method is developed and experimentally demonstrated inspired by the water strider walking on the water. The water is used as the sensitive element to measure the micro- displacement. A meniscus is formed by the superhydrophobic circular plate subjected to a coaxial displacement excitation. Then a shadow is formed because of the refraction when the parallel light illuminates the meniscus. A maximum coaxial displacement sensitivity of 62 nm/pixel over the displacement range of 50 µm is achieved experimentally. The linearity error in the measurement range was 1.58%. Therefore, it is expected that this displacement sensor can be used in many important ultraprecision measurement fields because of the advantages of the easy structure and high resolution.
High spectral resolution compact Offner spectrometer based on the aberration-reduced convex holographic gratings recorded by spherical waves under Rowland circle mounting
Authors: Feng Anwei , Zhao Shijia , Han Jizhou , Tan Fenli , Zeng Chenxin , Ji Yiqun
Published: April 2022

High spectral resolution, excellent imaging quality, and compact configuration have become a recent trend in push-broom imaging spectrometers. The concentric Offner imaging spectrometer has become popular due to its high optical performance and compactness. However, astigmatism is the dominant residual aberration in the Offner imaging spectrometer, which makes the meridional and sagittal images unable to be focused well and causes a deterioration in image quality and spectral resolution. In this paper, we present a compact Offner imaging spectrometer with a high resolution based on an aberration-reduced convex holographic grating (ACHG), which is recorded by spherical waves under Rowland circle mounting. The holographic aberration coefficients of ACHG and geometric aberration coefficients of the Offner imaging spectrometer are derived based on the analysis of the light-path function. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between holographic aberration coefficients and holographic recording parameters of ACHG under Rowland circle mounting. To balance the geometric aberration of the Offner imaging spectrometer, proper holographic aberration coefficients of the ACHG are achieved through adjusting the holographic recording parameters. The design result indicated that the Offner imaging spectrometer with ACHG provides better images than those with mechanically ruled convex grating (MRCG). Moreover, the spectral resolution is significantly improved. This lays down a theoretical basis for subsequent construction work in the Offner imaging spectrometer with holographic aberration-reduced gratings.
Cybersicherheit in Krankenhäusern – Teil 1: IT-Compliance als Leitungsaufgabe
Authors: Nadeborn Diana , Dittrich Tilmann
Published: April 2022

Die Gefahr von Cyberangriffen ist aktuell in sämtlichen Branchen allgegenwärtig. Bei Krankenhäusern kann ein Cybervorfall neben dem Verlust von Patientendaten sogar zu einer Gefahr für Leib und Leben der Patienten führen. Krankenhäuser sind daher durch eine Vielzahl von Gesetzen zur Vorhaltung ausreichender Schutzmaßnahmen verpflichtet. Die Kontrolle der Einhaltung dieser Vorschriften obliegt den Leitungspersonen in Krankenhäusern. Es handelt sich hierbei um eine wichtige Compliance-Aufgabe. Ein Baustein kann in diesem Zusammenhang der Abschluss einer Cyberversicherung sein. Besondere Vorsicht ist bei der Zahlung von Lösegeldern im Fall einer Ransomware-Attacke geboten.
Factors associated with the lethality of patients hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 in Brazil
Authors: Dias Custódio Ana Cristina , Ribas Fábio Vieira , Toledo Luana Vieira , de Carvalho Cristiane Junqueira , Lima Luciana Moreira , Freitas Brunnella Alcantara Chagas de
Published: April 2022

Due to the high rates of transmission and deaths due to COVID-19, understanding the factors associated with its occurrence, as well as monitoring and implementing control measures should be priority actions in health surveillance, highlighting the use of epidemiological surveillance information systems as an important ally. Thus, the objectives of this study were to calculate the mortality rate of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 and to identify factors associated with death, in the period corresponding to epidemiological weeks 01 to 53 of the year 2020. This was a longitudinal study, using the national influenza epidemiological surveillance information system database, routinely collected by healthcare services. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 563,051 hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 in the five regions of Brazil were analyzed. Cox regression was performed to assess factors associated with patient death during hospitalization. The national lethality rate was 35.7%, and the highest rates of lethality occurred in the Northeast (44.3%) and North (41.2%) regions. During the hospital stay, death was associated with older age (Hazard Ratio—HR = 1.026; p<0.001); male sex (HR = 1.052; p<0.001); living in the North (HR = 1.429; p<0.001), Northeast (HR = 1.271; p<0.001) or Southeast regions of Brazil (HR = 1.040; p<0.001), presenting any risk factor (HR = 1.129; p< 0.001), the use of invasive (HR = 2.865; p<0.001) or noninvasive (HR = 1.401; p<0.001) mechanical ventilation devices. A high case lethality rate was evidenced in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19, however, deaths were not evenly distributed across the country’s regions, being heavily concentrated in the Northeast and North regions. Older male patients living in the North, Northeast, or Southeast regions of Brazil, who presented any risk factor and were submitted to the use of invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation devices, presented a higher risk of evolving to death.
Effect of gluten-free diet and antibiotics on murine gut microbiota and immune response to tetanus vaccination
Authors: Kihl Pernille , Krych Lukasz , Deng Ling , Hansen Lars H. , Buschard Karsten , Skov Søren , Nielsen Dennis S. , Kornerup Hansen Axel
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a gluten-free diet and/or antibiotics on tetanus vaccine induced immunoglobulin G titers and immune cell levels in BALB/c mice. The gluten-free diet was associated with a reduced anti-tetanus IgG response, and it increased the relative abundance of the anti-inflammatoryBifidobacteriumsignificantly in some of the mice. Antibiotics also led to gut microbiota changes and lower initial vaccine titer. After a second vaccination, neither gluten-free diet nor antibiotics reduced the titers. In the spleen, the gluten-free diet significantly increased regulatory T cell (Treg) fractions, CD4+T cell activation, and tolerogenic dendritic cell fractions and activation, which extend the downregulating effect of the Treg. Therefore, the systemic effect of the gluten-free diet seems mainly tolerogenic. Antibiotics reduced the fractions of CD4+T and B cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes. These results suggest that vaccine response in mice is under influence of their diet, the gut microbiota and the interplay between them. However, a gluten-free diet seems to work through mechanisms different from those induced by antibiotics. Therefore, diet should be considered when testing vaccines in mice and developing vaccines for humans.
Japanese traditional Kampo medicine bofutsushosan improves body mass index in participants with obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Uneda Kazushi , Kawai Yuki , Yamada Takayuki , Kaneko Akira , Saito Ryuji , Chen Lin , Ishigami Tomoaki , Namiki Takao , Mitsuma Tadamichi
Published: April 2022

Background

The number of people with obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide. Since obesity is a critical risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and mortality, the management of obesity is an urgent issue. However, anti-obesity drugs are insufficient in current clinical settings. Bofutsushosan (BTS, Fang-Feng-Tong-Sheng-San in China) is a traditional Japanese Kampo formula for patients with obesity. Recent basic studies have indicated that BTS potentially improves the pathophysiology of obesity. However, it is still unknown whether BTS clinically reduces body mass index (BMI) in patients with obesity.

Methods

We searched electronic databases, including the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Japanese/Chinese/Korean databases, on June 15, 2021. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of BTS on BMI, waist circumference, glycolipid metabolism, and blood pressure in participants with obesity. The primary outcome was change in BMI.

Results

We included seven studies and 679 participants (351 in the BTS group and 328 in the control group). In participants with obesity, BTS significantly reduced BMI relative to controls (mean difference, MD [95% confidence interval]: −0.52 kg/m2 [−0.86, −0.18], P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in waist circumference, glycolipid parameters, or blood pressure. Sensitivity analyses showed robust outcomes for the primary endpoint, although the heterogeneity was considerable. Moreover, no serious adverse events were observed in the BTS group.

Conclusion

BTS showed a potential benefit in safely and tolerably improving BMI in participants with obesity.
Morphology of foveal hypoplasia: Hyporeflective zones in the Henle fiber layer of eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia
Authors: Bringmann Andreas , Barth Thomas , Ziemssen Focke
Published: April 2022

Background

Foveal hypoplasia is characterized by the persistance of inner retinal layers at the macular center. We evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) morphological parameters of the macular center of eyes with foveal hypoplasia and describe the presence of hyporeflective zones in the Henle fiber layer (HFL) of eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia.

Methods

Eyes with foveal hypoplasia were classified into two groups: high-grade foveal hypoplasia with thick inner retinal layers at the macular center (thickness above 100 μm; 16 eyes of 9 subjects) and low-grade foveal hypoplasia with thinner inner retinal layers at the macular center (thickness below 100 μm; 25 eyes of 13 subjects). As comparison, SD-OCT images of normal control eyes (n = 75) were investigated.

Results

Eyes with foveal hypoplasia displayed shorter central photoreceptor outer segments (POS), a thinner central myoid zone, and a thicker central HFL compared to control eyes. Eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia also displayed a thinner central outer nuclear layer (ONL) compared to eyes with low-grade foveal hypoplasia and control eyes. There was a negative correlation between the thicknesses of the central ONL and HFL in eyes with foveal hypoplasia; however, the total thickness of both ONL and HFL was similar in all eye populations investigated. Visual acuity of subjects with foveal hypoplasia was negatively correlated to the thickness of the central inner retinal layers and positively correlated to the length of central POS. In contrast to central POS, the length of paracentral POS (0.5 and 1.0 mm nasal from the macular center) was not different between the three eye populations investigated. The paracentral ONL was thickest in eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia and thinnest in control eyes. Hyporeflective zones in the HFL were observed on SD-OCT images of eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia, but not of eyes with low-grade foveal hypoplasia and control eyes. OCT angiography images recorded at the level of the HFL of eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia showed concentric rings of different reflectivity around the macular center; such rings were not observed on images of eyes with low-grade foveal hypoplasia and control eyes.

Conclusions

It is suggested that the hyporeflective zones in the HFL of eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia represent cystoid spaces which are surrounded by Henle fiber bundles. Cystoid spaces are likely formed because there are fewer Henle fibers and a thinner central ONL despite an unchanged thickness of both ONL and HFL. Cystoid spaces may cause the concentric rings of different reflectivity around the macular center in the HFL of eyes with high-grade foveal hypoplasia.
Device-based measurement of physical activity in pre-schoolers: Comparison of machine learning and cut point methods
Authors: Ahmadi Matthew N. , Trost Stewart G.
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Machine learning (ML) accelerometer data processing methods have potential to improve the accuracy of device-based assessments of physical activity (PA) in young children. Yet the uptake of ML methods by health researchers has been minimal and the use of cut-points (CP) continues to be the norm, despite evidence of significant misclassification error. The lack of studies demonstrating a relative advantage for ML approaches over CP methods maybe a key contributing factor.

Purpose

The current study compared the accuracy of PA intensity predictions provided by ML classification models and previously published CPs for preschool-aged children.

Methods

In a free-living study, 31 preschool-aged children (mean age = 4.0 ± 0.9 y) wore wrist and hip ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers while completing a video recorded 20-minute free play session. Ground truth PA intensity was coded continuously using the Children’s Activity Rating Scale (CARS). Accelerometer data was classified as sedentary (SED), light intensity (LPA), or moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA) using ML random forest PA classifiers and published CPs for preschool-aged children. Performance differences were evaluated in a hold-out sample by comparing weighted kappa statistics, classification accuracy for each intensity band, and equivalence testing.

Results

ML classification models (hip: κ = 0.76; wrist: κ = 0.72) exhibited significantly higher agreement with ground truth PA intensity than CP methods (hip: κ = 0.38–0.49; wrist: κ = 0.31–0.44). For the ML models, classification accuracy for SED and LPA ranged from 83% - 88%, while classification accuracy for MVPA ranged from 68% - 78%. For the CP’s, classification accuracy ranged from 50% - 94% for SED, 19% - 75% for LPA, and 44% - 76.1% for MVPA. ML classification models showed equivalence (within ± 0.5 SD) with directly observed time in SED, LPA, and MVPA. None of the CP’s exhibited evidence of equivalence.

Conclusions

Under free living conditions, ML classification models for hip or wrist accelerometer data provide more accurate assessments of PA intensity in young children than CP methods. The results demonstrate the relative advantage of ML methods over threshold-based approaches and adds to a growing evidence base supporting the feasibility and accuracy of ML accelerometer data processing methods.
Exploring young consumers’ perceptions towards sustainable practices of fashion brands
Authors: Copeland Lauren
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study is to bridge the gap between sustainable fashion and customer purchase intentions by analysing the current trends and offering techniques to increase sustainable fashion awareness and overcome price consumption issues among Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers. A mixed methods approach was employed in this study consisting of online surveys and focus groups surrounding the topic of sustainable apparel consumption among the Gen Z age group. Focus groups served to lead to an online survey of questions to help better understand the phenomena on an exploratory scale. Three focus groups of eight to ten volunteers each aged 18–25 from a large Midwestern university took part in 60-minute discussions regarding their understanding of fast fashion and their purchase intentions/awareness of ethical issues within the apparel industry. Online surveys were conducted through the online platform Qualtrics consisting of 29 questions with a total of 445 participants ranging from 18 to 23 years old taking part in the online survey. Main themes found in the focus groups are the idea of shopping second hand, laziness among consumers and the quality of garments. Surveys found that this age group was willing to pay up to 25 per cent more for a sustainable apparel item and that uniqueness of the item was of utmost importance. Implications for brands and retailers as well as academics are presented.
Candelariella xanthostigmoides (Candelariaceae, Ascomycota) – a new lichen record to East Asia from Japan
Authors: Yakovchenko Lydia S. , Давыдов Evgeny A. , Ohmura Yoshihito
Published: April 2022

Candelariella xanthostigmoides is newly reported from East Asia. It was collected on bark of Tsuga diversifolia in Honshu (Japan) at elevations between 900 and 1100 m. Characteristic features of the species, distribution and the comparison with the closest species are given.
Predicting leakage of the VERCORS mock-up and concrete containment buildings - a digital twin approach
Authors: Charpin Laurent , Haelewyn Jessica , El Idrissi Anass Cherki , Niepceron Julien , Masson Benoît , Toulemonde Charles , Boulant Guillaume , Mathieu Jean-Philippe , Hamon François , Michel-Ponnelle Sylvie , Hénault Jean-Marie , Taillade Frédéric , Adia Jean-Luc , Escoffier Florian
Published: April 2022

EDF operates a nuclear power generation fleet made up of 56 reactors. This fleet contains 24 reactors designed as double-walled concrete containment building. The inner concrete containment vessel has no metallic liner and is a prestressed reinforced concrete building. The inner concrete containment vessel is designed to withstand a severe accident, in terms of mechanical and sealing behaviour. The tightness of the containment is tested every 10 years, by carrying out a pressurization test and by measuring the leak rate. The leak rate is required to be below a regulatory threshold to continue operation of the concrete containment building for the next ten years. Ageing of concrete due to drying, creep and shrinkage leads to increase prestress loss and then leak rate with time. For some containment buildings, the leak rate gets closer to the regulatory threshold with time, so important coating programs are planned to mitigate and limit the leak rate under the regulatory threshold. Therefore, it is very important for EDF to have a concrete containment building leak rate prediction tool. To address this issue, an important research program around a 1/3 scale concrete containment building mock-up called "VERCORS" have been launched at EDF. The mock-up is heavily instrumented, and its materials (concrete, prestressing cables) have been widely characterized and studied. An important numerical effort has also been made to implement structural computations of the mock-up and to capitalize these computations as well as their post-processing (so as to compare automatically with the monitoring data) in what can be called a digital twin of the mock-up. This digital twin is now used to predict the leakage of VERCORS mock-up before yearly pressure test, and also to optimize the repair programs on the real containments.
Contribution of fly ash to mortar strength development under steam and internal curing
Authors: Insako Ryo , Miyoshi Yuki , Huynh Phat Tan , Ogawa Yuko , Kawai Kenji
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the effects of steam curing and internal curing on contribution of fly ash to strength development of mortar by using cementing efficiency factor (k-value) that represents strength development performance as a binder of fly ash. In addition, the pozzolanic reaction of fly ash was evaluated from the viewpoint of calcium hydroxide consumption by using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis as well as the degree of fly ash reaction by using selective dissolution method. The result indicated that steam curing improved early compressive strength and internal curing improved compressive strength and k-value at all ages. Also, a linearrelationship between the degree of fly ash reaction and the k-value was shown regardless of the age and the replacement ratio of fly ash.
Influence on permeability and pore structure of polyolefin fiber reinforced concrete containing slag
Authors: Lin Wei-Ting , Cheng An , Korniejenko Kinga , Łach Michał
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study is to assess the mechanical and microscopic properties of concrete containing different dosages of polyolefin fibers and slag through tests of compressive strength, resistivity, water absorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Test results indicate that the specimens containing slag have higher compressive strength, lower absorption, lower resistivity and denser porestructures than the control and specimen made with fibers. The specimens containing slag and polyolefin fiber demonstrated better performances in fiber reinforced concrete. Scanning electron microscopy illustrates that the polyolefin fiber acts to arrest the propagation of internal cracks. Still, there are cracks and weaknesses between fiber and paste that cause harmful ions penetrated easier.
Properties of concrete using crushed stone powder with various specific surface areas
Authors: Matsuka Takeju , Suzuki Mariko , Matsushita Haruhiko , Yokota Hiroshi , Sakai Koji
Published: April 2022

Many countries use crushed stone and crushed sand as the aggregate for concrete. However, a large amount of crushed stone powder is produced as by-products in the manufacturing process. Unless effective utilization of crushed stone powder is considered, it is not a sufficient measure in terms of sustainability. In this study, the properties of concrete using crushed stone powders with different specific surface areas are investigated. As the results, a strong correlation was found between the unit water content of concrete and the total surface area of the crushed stone powder contained in the concrete. Furthermore, it was concluded that the correlation between the strength index, the CO2 index, and the virgin resource index of concrete using crushed stone powder depends on the types of crushed stone powder and crushed sand.
Structural flexural strengthening through material bonded to the concrete substrate
Authors: Oliveira Victor Hugo Dalosto de , Carvalho Rodolfo Alves , Neves Rodolfo Rabelo , Borges Luana Ferreira , Martins Paulo Chaves de Rezende , Oliveira Marcos Honorato de , Siqueira João Paulo de Almeida , Sobral Rafael de Almeida , Nazaré Sidney Luan Teixeira de , Cunhac Carlos Henrique de Moura
Published: April 2022

This article proposes an alternative method for the structural design of reinforced concrete elements strengthened in bending by metallic plates or fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bonded to the concrete substrate. It is proposed a new calculation procedure for the strengthening using thin adhered material bonded to the element surface that dispenses the iterative process generally used in the design. The proposed routine is validated by comparison with other methods. A practical example is also presented, applying the procedure to an element of a building where a load change was foreseen. As result, it was verified that the proposed procedure provides values similar to the trial-and-error method used in the FRP strengthening design. Results are also coherent with other methods available in the literature for metallic plates. Therefore, since this routine obtains similar values without using an iterative method, its applicability in the design becomes advantageous.
Engineering properties of geopolymer concrete: a review
Authors: Parcesepe Eliana , Lima Carmine , Maddaloni Giuseppe , Pecce Maria Rosaria
Published: April 2022

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) could be a solution that uses a cementless binder and recycled materials for producing concrete, while reducing the carbon dioxide emission and the demand for raw materials. In addition to the environmental aspect, previous studies on GPC showed that it can achieve mechanical characteristics higher than those of ordinary Portland concrete (OPC) such as greater strength a few days after casting, and it can be suitable for structural applications. In this paper, the state-of-the-art review of GPC is presented through an extensive literature analysis to determine the most recent information regarding the engineering properties of geopolymer concrete and the critical issues that prevent its widespread use and to put forward suggestions for future research. In particular, the physical properties in both fresh and hardened states and the mechanical characteristics are investigated; the structural performance of geopolymer concrete elements is also outlined.
Forced carbonation of recycled concrete aggregates
Authors: Pfleger Marc-Patrick , Vill Markus
Published: April 2022

The production of concrete, especially the contained cement clinker, causes a high proportion of the manmade gaseous air pollution. Studies show that the decarbonation of limestone effects roughly 8% of worldwide CO2 emissions, which underlines the need for action and research. Due to the present building and infrastructure stocks and their obsolescence, or rather replacement, the amount of demolition material is permanently increasing. In many cases the demolition material consists of high-quality concrete, which could be used again as recycled aggregate in the production process to conserve sources of raw materials. Most of the concrete waste is not carbonated which means that the potential as CO2 sink can be exploited in the course of the recycling process. Since the recycled and carbonated material is used as a replacement for primary raw material, the state of carbonation itself is irrelevant to any steel corrosion or associated problems. The main objective of this work was to investigate the CO2 absorption of concrete waste, to investigate and prove its use as a possible carbon sink. At this point, the carbonation velocity had to be optimised by the use of special equipment. First test series show that the ecological footprint of concrete can be significantly reduced if concrete waste is used for carbon storage and admixed as recycled aggregate during the production process. The aim of this study was to point out further possibilities for the ecological optimisation of concrete besides alternative binders, which are the subject of research in various projects worldwide.
Determination of in-situ concrete compressive strength under consideration of rearrangement effects
Authors: Sefrin Rabea Anna , Glock Christian
Published: April 2022

For the design of existing structures the concrete compressive strength and the derived mechanical parameters are of central importance. Due to safety reasons the compressive strength of existing concrete is usually set comparatively low and thus underestimated. The reasons for this are the limited numbers and the large scatter of material properties of the drill cores, which are the basis for the experimental determination of the compressive strength. In contrast to experimental tests the load in structural components of buildings usually is transferred over the area with higher stiffness and consequently with higher compressive strength. Therefore, existing strength variations within a component only play a subordinate role due to rearrangement effects. This paper deals with the experimental and numerical analysis of such rearrangement effects in order to determine the concrete compressive strength of existing structures more realistic and lay a basis for a economical design. By considering these rearrangement effects more realistic during the design of existing concrete structures, a higher number of existing buildings can be maintained without structural measures. The preservation of existing structures is not only decisive from an economic, sustainable and resource-saving point of view, but also represents an added value for cultural and social aspects.
Mechanical and durability performance of cementitious matrices with low cement and different additions
Authors: Soldado Eliana , Antunes Ana , Costa Hugo , Carmo Ricardo , Júlio Eduardo
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, the decarbonization of the concrete sector is a priority to counteract the global environmental harmful. Knowing that Portland cement is responsible for significant anthropogenic emissions worldwide, the optimization of cement dosage on concrete mixtures is a key issue, combined with the mechanical and durability performances, allowing to improve its eco-efficiency. The goal of the present work consists in optimizing the formulation of concrete matrices, used to produce reinforced concrete poles for the electric lines, by increasing the packing density, reducing the cement dosage and incorporating different additions, in order to promote the performance. Two different formulations of matrices were considered, fresh moulded concrete with dry consistency and formwork moulded concrete with plastic consistency. For each one, different dosages of cement and various additions (limestone filler, fly ash, natural pozzolan, electric furnace slag) were considered to replace the cement, which were used single or combined. The mortar matrices of the concrete formulation were characterised regarding: fresh properties; mechanical properties (flexural and compressive strengths and Young’s modulus); shrinkage and durability properties (capillary water absorption, carbonation and chloride ingression resistances). The influence of the additions on those properties was analysed and compared with reference cement-based mixtures and the main conclusions are presented.