bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Nano-Silica and Nano-Alumina with Polypropylene Fiber on the Chemical Resistance of Alkali-Activated Mortar
Authors: Dheyaaldin Mahmood Hunar , Mosaberpanah Mohammad Ali , Alzeebaree Radhwan
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the simultaneous effect of nano-silica and nano-alumina with and without polypropylene fiber on the chemical-resistant of alkali-activator mortar (AAM) exposed to (5% Sulfuric Acid, 5% Magnesium Sulphate, and 3.5% Sodium chloride) attack. Design-expert software provided the central composite design (CCD) for mixed proportions. Nano-silica (NS) and nano-alumina (NA) at 0, 1%, and 2%, and with polypropylene fiber (0, 0.5%, and 1%) were used in the production of AAM. The alkali activator mortar mixes were created using an alkaline activator to binder ratio of 0.5. The binder materials include 50% fly ash Class F (FA) and 50% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). A sodium silicate solution (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) were combined in the alkaline activator at a ratio of 2.5 (Na2SiO3/NaOH). The mechanical properties of AAM were tested via compressive strength and flexural strength tests. The results show that the acid attack, more than the sulphate and chloride attacks, significantly influenced the AAM. The addition of both nanomaterials improved the mechanical properties and chemical resistance. The use of nanomaterials with PPF showed a superior effect, and the best results were indicated through the use of 2%NA–1%PPF.
Geopolymeric Composite Materials Made of Sol-Gel Silica and Agroindustrial Wastes of Rice, Barley, and Coffee Husks with Wood-Like Finishing
Authors: Rodríguez Espejel Karina , Pérez Bueno José de Jesús , Magdaleno López Coraquetzali , Mendoza López Maria Luisa , Algara Siller Marcos , Reyes Araiza José Luis , Manzano-Ramírez Alejandro , Morales Hernández Jorge
Published: December 2022

Geopolymers have been mainly utilized as structural materials; their chemical structure and morphologies have been explored for their potential as a high-performance material in emerging applications. Geopolymer composites reinforced with materials based on agro-waste are attracting interest in engineering applications due to their easy processing, low cost, low density, and high strength-to-weight ratio. This investigation pursues an experimental methodology that consists of a scheme to make composites with a geopolymer matrix and agro-waste (rice husk, barley, and coffee) as aggregate material, that can be applied in various fields of construction. The study was intended to determine the influence of adding various agro-wastes on the mechanical properties of the geopolymer. According to the respective ASTM standards, the materials obtained were prepared and analyzed to determine their compressive strength, flexural strength, hardness and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-determined characteristics. The results revealed that, for the compression tests, the composites formed by a sol-gel matrix and barley husk showed a better yield, obtaining the highest value of 3.5 N/mm2. Concerning hardness testing, the composites with a geopolymer matrix and coffee husks obtained higher values compared to the other composites. For the flexural tests, the compounds with the sol-gel/fly ash matrix obtained the highest yield stress value, which was 5.25 MPa with an elastic modulus of 7.59 GPa. The results of the microstructural analysis showed good husk-matrix interaction, together with failure mechanisms. The conformation of such waste-based compounds may enable them to replace natural wood in some applications, such as in the finishing of interiors of homes, during the final stages in the construction of buildings, or in the decoration of inhabited houses, as well as in finishing in the manufacture of furniture.
The Impact of Sustainability Performance on Financial Performance: Does Firm Size Matter? Evidence from Turkey and South Korea
Authors: Kılıç Meltem , Gurler Hasan Emin , Kaya Ahmet , Lee Chang Won
Published: December 2022

This study investigated the effect of sustainability performance on financial performance in developed and developing countries. It also aimed to determine the moderator effect of firm size. The factor for sustainability performance was listed in the BIST Sustainability Index for Turkey and the Dow Jones Sustainability Korea Index for South Korea. ROE, ROA, ROS, and MV/BV were used as financial performance factors. Companies included in the KOSPI 100 index for South Korea and the BIST 100 index for Turkey were examined. Panel regression analysis and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) analysis were performed to determine the effect of the past value of financial performance factors on their current value. The results show that the impact of sustainability performance on financial performance differs between South Korea and Turkey. In addition, the moderator variable has a significant effect only on ROA (return on assets) for Turkey and on ROE (return on equity) and ROS (return on sales) for South Korea. The results of the GMM analysis show that the past ROA and ROE values affect the current values statistically and positively for South Korea. For Turkey, the past ROE, ROS, and MV/BV (Market Value/Book Value) positively affect the current values. In addition to theoretical implications, implications for policy-makers and practitioners are also presented. Finally, this study provides significant insights for decision-makers and policy-makers to improve sustainability and corporate responsibility in financial and other similar settings.
Grid Connected Microgrid Optimization and Control for a Coastal Island in the Indian Ocean
Authors: Ishraque Md. Fatin , Rahman Akhlaqur , Shezan Sk. A. , Muyeen S. M.
Published: December 2022

For the suggested site in the Maldives, this research paper analyzes the possibility of a hybrid renewable microgrid that is dispatch strategy-governed in both off-grid and on-grid scenarios. The planned microgrid’s techno-environmental-economic-power-system responses have been assessed. Both the power system response study and the techno-environmental-economic study of the modelled microgrid were carried out using the software platforms DIgSILENT PowerFactory and HOMER Pro respectively. Cycle charging (CC) dispatch technique had the lowest performance for both on and off-grid modes, according to the research, with cost of energy (COE) of 0.135 and 0.213 dollars per kWh, and net present costs (NPC) of 132,906 and 147,058 dollars respectively. With an NPC of 113,137 dollars and a COE of 0.166 dollars/kWh, the generator order strategy operates optimally while in on-grid mode. On the other hand, load following operates at its finest in off-grid mode, with a COE of 0.024 dollars/kWh and a NPC of 141,448 dollars. The microgrid’s reactive power, different bus voltages and frequency responses demonstrate how the proposed system, which employs the dispatch approach, voltage Q droop, and input mode PQ controller, operates steadily. For the purpose of illustrating the importance of the research effort, a comparison section between the planned HOMER optimizer and other optimization approaches is also included. The research was done with the Maldives in mind, but it offers a general notion for setting up a microgrid anyplace in the world with comparable weather and load circumstances. The research was done with the Maldives in mind, but it offers a general notion for setting up a microgrid anyplace in the world with comparable weather and load circumstances.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Car-Following Model Considering Longitudinal and Lateral Control
Authors: Qin Pinpin , Tan Hongyun , Li Hao , Wen Xuguang
Published: December 2022

The lateral control of the vehicle is significant for reducing the rollover risk of high-speed cars and improving the stability of the following vehicle. However, the existing car-following (CF) models rarely consider lateral control. Therefore, a CF model with combined longitudinal and lateral control is constructed based on the three degrees of freedom vehicle dynamics model and reinforcement learning method. First, 100 CF segments were selected from the OpenACC database, including 50 straight and 50 curved road trajectories. Afterward, the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) car-following model and multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG) car-following model were constructed based on the deterministic policy gradient theory. Finally, the models are trained with the extracted trajectory data and verified by comparison with the observed data. The results indicate that the vehicle under the control of the MADDPG model and the vehicle under the control of the DDPG model are both safer and more comfortable than the human-driven vehicle (HDV) on straight roads and curved roads. Under the premise of safety, the vehicle under the control of the MADDPG model has the highest road traffic flow efficiency. The maximum lateral offset of the vehicle under the control of the MADDPG model and the vehicle under the control of the DDPG model in straight road conditions is respectively reduced by 80.86% and 71.92%, compared with the HDV, and the maximum lateral offset in the curved road conditions is lessened by 83.67% and 78.95%. The proposed car following model can provide a reference for developing an adaptive cruise control system considering lateral stability.
Optimal Recycling Channel Selection of Power Battery Closed-Loop Supply Chain Considering Corporate Social Responsibility in China
Authors: Tian Tianle , Zheng Chuiyong , Yang Liguo , Luo Xiaochun , Lu Lin
Published: December 2022

With economic development and societal progress, the supply chain should not only focus on profitability, but also environmental protection, as well as undertake corresponding corporate social responsibility (CSR). The operational decisions of the closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) in the power battery industry should rather consider the impact of CSR. Thus, this paper studies the optimal recycling channel selection and coordination of CLSC in the power battery industry under the consideration of CSR efforts and uncertain demand. By considering the CSR efforts taken by the manufacturer, decentralized and coordination decision-making models under different recycling modes (including manufacturer recycling, retailer recycling and third-party recycling) are constructed to analyze the optimal decision of CLSC. After that, the models were validated through numerical and sensitivity analysis, followed by discussion and management insights. It is found that when consumers are sensitive to the level of CSR effort, CSR effort has a positive impact on the profits of participants in CLSC. Additionally, the coordination decision-making model always outperforms the decentralized decision-making model under the same recycling mode, so reasonable profit-sharing contracts are developed to ensure the implementation of coordination decision-making. Moreover, transfer price plays different roles in different decision situations and recycling modes, while recycling cost is critical to the overall profit of the supply chain and influences the choice of recycling channel.
A Review of Green Supplier Evaluation and Selection Issues Using MCDM, MP and AI Models
Authors: Tronnebati Imane , El Yadari Manal , Jawab Fouad
Published: December 2022

For any industry to improve and expand, the proper evaluation and selection of suppliers is essential. In order to establish whether a supplier is appropriate for working with a company, a system for selecting green suppliers is required. A variety of Decision-Making (DM) models have been created by researchers to address the problems associated with evaluating and choosing green suppliers. In order to address the Green Supplier Evaluation and Selection (GSES) challenge, we did a thorough investigation of ten works of literature, in order to find out which approach is the most widely used and which is more efficient. This study primarily focuses on the findings of ten reviews that examined 1098 research publications from academic journals between 1990 and 2020. 271 DM models examined that were broken down into 170 individual models and 101 combination models, our analysis only looked at the single models. The method of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the dominant model used by 160 articles, 122 studies used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and finally 101 research works that utilized the Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. In addition, we found that the biggest percentage “62%” of studied articles used multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models. As a result, the most widely utilized Decision Making models to address the evaluation and selection of green supplier were found to be AHP, DEA, and TOPSIS.
An Empirical Investigation on Plastic Waste Issues and Plastic Disposal Strategies to Protect the Environment: A UAE Perspective
Authors: Abu Jadayil Wisam , Qureshi Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed , Ajaj Rahaf , Aqil Eman , Shawahin Ghada , Anver Hamna , Aljeawi Safa
Published: December 2022

Due to the rise in waste, both developed and developing countries’ municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal systems are overburdened. The increased inflow of used plastic water bottles has rendered the situation difficult. Plastic usage in several forms is becoming indispensable in daily life, despite its harmful effects on humans and animals in general. Government bodies are eager to cut plastic usage in several forms, but the manufacturing costs and selling prices make it difficult to replace plastic with materials that are safe for living bodies. One such problem lies in the form of the water bottle. The use of plastic in water bottles is much more common in Gulf countries because of their geographical position and the scarcity of potable water. The large amount of plastic waste created by used water bottles is a very critical issue, as it has a severe environmental effect and is a hurdle in efforts to foster sustainable development and green initiatives. The present research undertook an empirical investigation on plastic waste issues, environmental concerns, and various mitigating initiatives. It further investigated the waste management system using closed-loop recycling for water bottles as an efficient means of managing MSW and protecting the environment in the UAE. A survey was initiated and distributed among the UAE population to study the feasibility of building such a system. The responses to the plastic waste issue and mitigating solutions were found to be encouraging. The statistical analysis showed a higher mean value of up to 4.47 on the 5-point Likert scale.
Impacts of Certain Meteorological Factors on Atmospheric NO2 Concentrations during COVID-19 Lockdown in 2020 in Wuhan, China
Authors: Ju Tianzhen , Geng Tunyang , Li Bingnan , An Bin , Huang Ruirui , Fan Jiachen , Liang Zhuohong , Duan Jiale
Published: December 2022

The concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air is one of the important indexes for evaluating air quality. At the beginning of 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak suddenly hit Wuhan, China. To effectively control the epidemic, Wuhan was put under a 76-day lockdown, during which we collected tropospheric column amounts in the atmosphere and NO2 concentrations measured at ground monitoring stations, and we reviewed the ground NO2 concentrations in 2019 and the tropospheric NO2 concentrations between 2012 and 2019. Using the random forest (RF) model, we predicted the impact of the tropospheric NO2 concentration during the lockdown period without the occurrence of the COVID-19 epidemic and analyzed the impact of multiple certain meteorological factors on tropospheric and ground NO2 concentrations. The results showed that the tropospheric and ground NO2 concentrations were reduced by 11.04~53.36% and 21.96~65.04%, respectively. The main factors affecting the tropospheric NO2 concentration were wind velocity, land surface temperature, surface lifted index, precipitable water volume and tropospheric relative humanity. The main factors affecting the ground NO2 concentration were tropospheric relative humanity, surface lifted index, land surface temperature and tropospheric temperature. The development of different emission reduction and control measures under different meteorological conditions and the formulation of more refined policies will play positive roles in improving the efficiency of air pollution control.
An Expert Decision-Making System for Identifying Development Barriers in Chinese Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Industry
Authors: Wang Qixiang , Wang Xiaobo
Published: December 2022

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become one of the fastest growing waste streams around the world, putting tremendous pressure on the environment, resources, and public health. A practically driven question about how to promote the development of the WEEE recycling industry plagues many countries, especially in developing economies such as China. This study uses an expert decision-making system based on the fuzzy Delphi technique and improved Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method to identify the critical barriers and their cause–effect relationships in the Chinese WEEE recycling industry. First, using the fuzzy Delphi technique, we find that nine barriers significantly impact the development of the Chinese WEEE recycling industry. Then, three critical barriers which include the implementation of policies and regulations, qualified disassembly, and unqualified disassembly are identified by employing the improved DEMATEL method. Furthermore, implementation of policies and regulations belong to the cause group, and the other two barriers belong to the effect group. Finally, some practical implications are proposed to promote the sustainable development of the Chinese WEEE recycling industry. To be specific, the Chinese government should optimize the implementation details of the e-waste take-back legislation, establish a flexible reward–supervision–penalty mechanism to support the formal collector, and improve the collection efficiency. The results of this paper are of value to firms that participate in WEEE recycling and to the government that aims to promote the sustainable development of the WEEE recycling industry.
A Scoping Review of Pipeline Maintenance Methodologies Based on Industry 4.0
Authors: Naranjo Jose E. , Caiza Gustavo , Velastegui Rommel , Castro Maritza , Alarcon-Ortiz Andrea , Garcia Marcelo V.
Published: December 2022

The fourth industrial revolution was a milestone at the industrial level. It forced most industries to evolve technically and for their collaborators to prepare and advance together with technology; the oil industry was no exception. It develops its activities in dangerous and dynamic environments and needs to protect its human resources, equipment, and infrastructure. This article presents a scoping review, based on the PRISMA guidelines, of pipeline maintenance methodologies based on Industry 4.0. From the first collection of 123 articles from prestigious databases such as SpringerLink, MDPI, Scopus, IEEEXplore and ACM, a final sample of 31 articles was obtained. Here, technologies that enhance preventive and predictive maintenance systems are discussed. The results show that predictive maintenance compared to preventive maintenance has a percentage difference in upkeep time optimization of 38% in the last five years. This difference was corroborated with a Student’s t-test for independent samples, with a significance of 0.023. Likewise, the most used technologies were analyzed, with artificial intelligence standing out with 45.16%.
The Influences of Different Sensory Modalities and Cognitive Loads on Walking Navigation: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Zhang Xiaochen , Jin Lingling , Zhao Jie , Li Jiazhen , Luh Ding-Bang , Xia Tiansheng
Published: December 2022

External cognitive burden has long been considered an important factor causing pedestrian navigation safety problems, as pedestrians in navigation inevitably acquire external information through their senses. Therefore, the influences of different types of sensory modalities and cognitive loads on walking navigation are worthy of in-depth investigation as the foundation for improving pedestrians’ safety in navigation. This study investigated users’ performance in visual, auditory, and tactile navigation under different cognitive loads by experimental simulation. Thirty-six participants were recruited for the experiment. A computer program simulating walking navigation was used, and three different cognitive task groups were set up. Participants’ reaction times and performances were recorded during the experiment, and a post-test questionnaire was administered for evaluation purposes. According to the tests, the following points are summarized. First, visual navigation performed the best in load-free conditions, which was significantly faster than auditory navigation and tactile navigation, but the difference between the latter two was not significant. There was a significant interaction between navigation types and cognitive load types. Specifically, in the condition without load, reaction time in auditory navigation was significantly slower than those in visual navigation and tactile navigation. In the condition with auditory load, reaction time in visual navigation was significantly faster than those in auditory navigation and tactile navigation. In the condition with visual load, there were no significant differences among the three navigations.
Modeling and Analysis of Car-Following for Intelligent Connected Vehicles Considering Expected Speed in Helical Ramps
Authors: Jin Shuang , Yang Jianxi , Liu Zhongcheng
Published: December 2022

In this paper, to explore the influence of expected speed on traffic flow in helical ramps, a new car-following model for intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) was established for helical ramps, mainly considering the expected speed provided in the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) environment. On this basis, sufficient conditions to ensure the stability of the traffic stream were met and the congestion propagation mechanism was discussed by using a linear stability analysis and nonlinear stability analysis. The results showed that the ICVs can effectively increase the stability of the traffic flow by considering the expected speed of the helical ramps. When the feedback coefficients of the expected speed of the helical ramps were 0.3 and 0.5, the stability of the traffic flow changed significantly, especially in the uphill section; the feedback coefficient was 0.5 when the traffic flow was completely restored to the initial steady state even under the action of small disturbances. In a difficult field-driving test, this paper showed through a numerical simulation that broadcasting an expected speed to the ICVs in the helical ramps can effectively improve the stability of traffic flow, which provides a theoretical basis for future landing applications of ICVs in complex road scenarios.
Risk Assessment of Falling from Height in the Construction Industry in the Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia Using Structural Equation Modelling
Authors: Abdul Halim Nur Nadia Adila , Abdullah Faris , Amil Norhaniza , Khalid Nur Ajrun , Arifin Kadir , Jaafar Mohd Hafiidz
Published: December 2022

Falls, including falls from height and the same level, have among the highest occurrence rate in the construction industry. They are also the highest contributor to fatalities in the construction industry. The objective of this research is to determine the factors that contribute to a falling hazard. This research was conducted by distributing a survey questionnaire among OSH regulators in the northern region of Malaysia. A total of 130 respondents from enforcement bodies were involved in the study. From the factors contributing to occupational accidents and illnesses in general, worksite conditions (3.92), worksite arrangements (4.08) and resource management (4.07) were perceived as the most significant variables by the respondents. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis was applied to validate the relationship between the observed and latent variables in testing the hypothesis. Falls from height (R2 = 0.214; T = 5.600; p = 0.000) and falls at the same level (R2 = 0.150; T = 5.061; p = 0.000) had the most significant relationship with worksite, management and external elements.
Effects of the Application of Nutrients on Soil Bacterial Community Composition and Diversity in a Larix olgensis Plantation, Northeast China
Authors: Cui Jinyao , Sun Zhihu , Wang Zixuan , Gong Lifang
Published: December 2022

Bacteria are among the most critical components in soil. The application of nutrients as an important management measure to maintain soil fertility can affect the structure of soil bacterial communities. The objective of this study was to explore the influence of the application of nutrients on the soil bacterial community composition and diversity in a Larix olgensis Henry plantation after thinning using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. In July 2015, a middle-aged (27 years old) Larix olgensis forest, afforested in the spring of 1988 (thinning was conducted in the winter of 2012), in MengJiagang National Forest Farm, Jiamusi City, China, was assessed. Four fertilizer treatments were applied, each replicated three times: nitrogen (N, 250 kg/ha); nitrogen + phosphorus (NP, nitrogen 250 kg/ha + phosphorus 50 kg/ha); nitrogen + phosphorus + potassium (NPK, nitrogen 250 kg/ha + phosphorus 50 kg/ha + potassium 30 kg/ha); and a control (CK, no fertilizer). In mid-August 2018, soil samples of a 0–10 cm soil layer were collected; the diversity and composition of soil bacteria under different the application of nutrients conditions were determined by Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology on the MiSeq platform. Our results found that: (1) compared with the CK treatment, long-term the application of nutrients significantly reduced the soil pH and soil total potassium content (p < 0.05); and (2) the continued application of nutrients increased the Chao1 richness index of the soil bacteria in the Larix olgensis plantation (p < 0.05); (3) soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen were key drivers of the soil bacterial community structure. Therefore, the different long-term the application of nutrients regimes did not affect the stability of the soil ecosystem in the Larix olgensis plantation.
Nanosphere Lithography-Based Fabrication of Spherical Nanostructures and Verification of Their Hexagonal Symmetries by Image Analysis
Authors: Domonkos Mária , Kromka Alexander
Published: December 2022

Nanosphere lithography (NSL) is a cost- and time-effective technique for the fabrication of well-ordered large-area arrays of nanostructures. This paper reviews technological challenges in NSL mask preparation, its modification, and quality control. Spin coating with various process parameters (substrate wettability, solution properties, spin coating operating parameters) are discussed to create a uniform monolayer from monodisperse polystyrene (PS) nanospheres with a diameter of 0.2–1.5 μm. Scanning electron microscopy images show that the PS nanospheres are ordered into a hexagonal close-packed monolayer. Verification of sphere ordering and symmetry is obtained using our open-source software HEXI, which can recognize and detect circles, and distinguish between hexagonal ordering and defect configurations. The created template is used to obtain a wide variety of tailor-made periodic structures by applying additional treatments, such as plasma etching (isotropic and anisotropic), deposition, evaporation, and lift-off. The prepared highly ordered nanopatterned arrays (from circular, triangular, pillar-shaped structures) are applicable in many different fields (plasmonics, photonics, sensorics, biomimetic surfaces, life science, etc.).
A Fast CU Partition Algorithm Based on Gradient Structural Similarity and Texture Features
Authors: Jing Zhiyong , Li Peng , Zhao Jinchao , Zhang Qiuwen
Published: December 2022

The H.266/Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard poses a great challenge for encoder design due to its high computational complexity and long encoding time. In this paper, the fast partitioning decision of coding blocks is investigated to reduce the computational complexity and save the coding time of VVC intra-frame predictive coding. A fast partitioning algorithm of VVC intra-frame coding blocks based on gradient structure similarity and directional features is proposed. First, the average gradient structure similarity of four sub-coding blocks under the current coding block is calculated, and two thresholds are set to determine whether the current coding block terminates the partitioning early or performs quadtree partitioning. Then, for the coding blocks that do not satisfy the above thresholds, the standard deviation of the vertical and horizontal directions of the current coding block is calculated to determine the texture direction and skip unnecessary partitioning to reduce computational complexity. Based on the VTM10.0 platform, this paper evaluates the performance of the designed fast algorithm for partitioning within the VVC coding unit. Compared with VTM10.0, the encoding rate is improved by 1.38% on average, and the encoder execution time is reduced by 49.32%. The overall algorithm achieves a better optimization of the existing VVC intra-frame coding technique.
New Approach for Quality Function Deployment Using an Extended CoCoSo Method with Spherical Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Xu Xue-Guo , Zhang Ling , Mao Ling-Xiang , Li Ke
Published: December 2022

Quality function deployment (QFD) is a customer-driven quality management tool that can improve system quality, promote innovation, and enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises. Nonetheless, the traditional QFD method has defects in handling the experts’ assessments, measuring customer requirement importance, and prioritizing engineering characteristics, which affect its efficiency and limit its application in the real world. In this study, a new QFD approach based on spherical fuzzy sets (SFSs) and a combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) method is proposed to overcome the shortcomings associated with the traditional QFD. To be specific, the linguistic relationship assessments between the customer requirements and engineering characteristics provided by the experts were described by the SFSs, the relative weights of the customer requirements were obtained via the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method, and the importance ranking orders of the engineering characteristics were determined with an improved CoCoSo method. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed QFD approach are illustrated by an empirical case of accommodation service design. The results show that the new QFD approach provides a useful and practical way to represent the relationship assessment information of experts and determine the priority of engineering characteristics in product development.
Molecular Design and Mechanism Analysis of Phthalic Acid Ester Substitutes: Improved Biodegradability in Processes of Sewage Treatment and Soil Remediation
Authors: Sun Shuhai , Zuo Qilin , Du Meijin , Li Yu
Published: December 2022

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) have the characteristics of environmental persistence. Therefore, improving the biodegradability of PAEs is the key to reducing the extent of ecological harm realized. Firstly, the scoring function values of PAEs docking with various degrading enzymes in sewage treatment were calculated. Based on this, a 3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model for PAE biodegradability was built, and 38 PAE substitutes were created. By predicting the endocrine-disrupting toxicity and functions of PAE substitutes, two types of PAE substitutes that are easily degraded by microorganisms, have low toxicity, and remain functional were successfully screened. Meanwhile, the differences in the mechanism of molecular degradation difference before and after PAE modification were analyzed based on the distribution characteristics of amino acid residues in the molecular docking complex. Finally, the photodegradability and microbial degradability of the PAE substitutes in the soil environment was evaluated. From the 3D-QSAR model design perspective, the modification mechanism of PAE substitutes suitable for sewage treatment and soil environment degradation was analyzed. We aim to improve the biodegradability of PAEs at the source and provide theoretical support for alleviating the environmental hazards of using PAEs.
In Vitro Biological Effects of E-Cigarette on the Cardiovascular System—Pro-Inflammatory Response Enhanced by the Presence of the Cinnamon Flavor
Authors: Michon Marine , Mercier Clément , Petit Claudie , Leclerc Lara , Bertoletti Laurent , Pourchez Jérémie , Forest Valérie
Published: December 2022

The potential cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes remain largely unidentified and poorly understood. E-liquids contain numerous chemical compounds and can induce exposure to potentially toxic ingredients (e.g., nicotine, flavorings, etc.). Moreover, the heating process can also lead to the formation of new thermal decomposition compounds that may be also hazardous. Clinical as well as in vitro and in vivo studies on e-cigarette toxicity have reported potential cardiovascular damages; however, results remain conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess, in vitro, the toxicity of e-liquids and e-cigarette aerosols on human aortic smooth muscle cells. To that purpose, cells were exposed either to e-liquids or to aerosol condensates obtained using an e-cigarette device at different power levels (8 W or 25 W) to assess the impact of the presence of: (i) nicotine, (ii) cinnamon flavor, and (iii) thermal degradation products. We observed that while no cytotoxicity and no ROS production was induced, a pro-inflammatory response was reported. In particular, the production of IL-8 was significantly enhanced at a high power level of the e-cigarette device and in the presence of the cinnamon flavor (confirming the suspected toxic effect of this additive). Further investigations are required, but this study contributes to shedding light on the biological effects of vaping on the cardiovascular system.
Deteriorative Effects of Radiation Injury Combined with Skin Wounding in a Mouse Model
Authors: Wang Li , Lin Bin , Zhai Min , Cui Wanchang , Hull Lisa , Zizzo Alex , Li Xianghong , Kiang Juliann , Xiao Mang
Published: December 2022

Radiation-combined injury (RCI) augments the risk of morbidity and mortality when compared to radiation injury (RI) alone. No FDA-approved medical countermeasures (MCMs) are available for treating RCI. Previous studies implied that RI and RCI elicit differential mechanisms leading to their detrimental effects. We hypothesize that accelerating wound healing improves the survival of RCI mice. In the current study, we examined the effects of RCI at different doses on lethality, weight loss, wound closure delay, and proinflammatory status, and assessed the relative contribution of systemic and local elements to their delayed wound closure. Our data demonstrated that RCI increased the lethality and weight loss, delayed skin wound closure, and induced a systemic proinflammatory status in a radiation dose-dependent manner. We also demonstrated that delayed wound closure did not specifically depend on the extent of hematopoietic suppression, but was significantly influenced by the toxicity of the radiation-induced systemic inflammation and local elements, including the altered levels of proinflammatory chemokines and factors, and the dysregulated collagen homeostasis in the wounded area. In conclusion, the results from our study indicate a close association between delayed wound healing and the significantly altered pathways in RCI mice. This insightful information may contribute to the evaluation of the prognosis of RCI and development of MCMs for RCI.
The Secret Life of the Inhibitor of Virus Replication
Authors: Palukaitis Peter , Akbarimotlagh Masoud , Baek Eseul , Yoon Ju-Yeon
Published: December 2022

The inhibitor of virus replication (IVR) is an inducible protein that is not virus-target-specific and can be induced by several viruses. The GenBank was interrogated for sequences closely related to the tobacco IVR. Various RNA fragments from tobacco, tomato, and potato and their genomic DNA contained IVR-like sequences. However, IVRs were part of larger proteins encoded by these genomic DNA sequences, which were identified in Arabidopsis as being related to the cyclosome protein designated anaphase-promoting complex 7 (APC7). Sequence analysis of the putative APC7s of nine plant species showed proteins of 558-561 amino acids highly conserved in sequence containing at least six protein-binding elements of 34 amino acids called tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs), which form helix–turn–helix structures. The structures of Arabidopsis APC7 and the tobacco IVR proteins were modeled using the AlphaFold program and superimposed, showing that IVR had the same structure as the C-terminal 34% of APC7, indicating that IVR was a product of the APC7 gene. Based on the presence of various transcription factor binding sites in the APC7 sequences upstream of the IVR coding sequences, we propose that IVR could be expressed by these APC7 gene sequences involving the transcription factor SHE1.
Maternal Immunization Using a Protein Subunit Vaccine Mediates Passive Immunity against Zaire ebolavirus in a Murine Model
Authors: Williams Caitlin A. , Wong Teri Ann S. , Ball Aquena H. , Lieberman Michael M. , Lehrer Axel T.
Published: December 2022

The Ebola virus has caused outbreaks in Central and West Africa, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials of recombinant virally vectored vaccines did not explicitly include pregnant or nursing women, resulting in a gap in knowledge of vaccine-elicited maternal antibody and its potential transfer. The role of maternal antibody in Ebola virus disease and vaccination remains understudied. Here, we demonstrate that a protein subunit vaccine can elicit robust humoral responses in pregnant mice, which are transferred to pups in breastmilk. These findings indicate that an intramuscular protein subunit vaccine may elicit Ebola-specific IgG capable of being transferred across the placenta as well as into the breastmilk. We have previously shown protective efficacy with these vaccines in non-human primates, offering a potential safe and practical alternative to recombinant virally vectored vaccines for pregnant and nursing women in Ebola endemic regions.
Vaccine Preparedness for the Next Influenza Pandemic: A Regulatory Perspective
Authors: Baylor Norman W. , Goodman Jesse L.
Published: December 2022

The response to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated the tremendous potential of investments in vaccine research and development to impact a global pandemic, resulting in the rapid development and deployment of lifesaving vaccines. However, this unprecedented speed was insufficient to either effectively combat initial waves of the pandemic or adapt in real time to new variants. This review focuses on opportunities from a public health oriented regulatory perspective for enhancing research, development, evaluation, production, and monitoring of safety and effectiveness to facilitate more rapid availability of pandemic influenza vaccines. We briefly review regulatory pathways and processes relevant to pandemic influenza, including how they can be strengthened and globally coordinated. We then focus on what we believe are critical opportunities to provide better approaches, tools, and methods to accelerate and improve vaccine development and evaluation and thus greatly enhance pandemic preparedness. In particular, for the improved vaccines needed to respond to a future influenza pandemic better and more rapidly, moving as much of the development and evaluation process as possible into the pre-pandemic period is critical, including through approval and use of analogous seasonal influenza vaccines with defined immune correlates of protection.
Immunostimulating Effect of Inactivated Parapoxvirus Ovis on the Serological Response to Equine Influenza Booster Vaccination
Authors: Carnet Flora , Paillot Romain , Fortier Christine , Hue Erika S. , Briot Laurie , de Geoffroy Frédéric , Vidalain Pierre-Olivier , Pronost Stéphane
Published: December 2022

Equine influenza virus (EIV) is responsible for recurring outbreaks that are detrimental to the equine industry. Vaccination is key for prevention, but the effectiveness and duration of protection provided by existing vaccines is often insufficient. In order to improve vaccine efficacy, we evaluated the benefit of immune stimulation with inactivated Parapoxvirus ovis (iPPVO) on the antibody response induced by a vaccine boost against EIV. A whole inactivated ISCOMatrix-adjuvanted equine influenza vaccine was administered alone (n = 10) or combined with iPPVO injections at D0, D2 and D4 post vaccination (n = 10) to adult horses that required a vaccine boost 6 months after the last immunization, as now recommended by the WOAH. Antibody levels were measured with the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay at 1, 3 and 6 months post-vaccination. Results revealed that horses that received iPPVO had higher antibody levels than the control group injected with the EI vaccine alone. Although the vaccine used contains only a clade 1 and European lineage strain, the increase in protective antibodies was also observed against a clade 2 strain. Thus, immune stimulation with iPPVO, a substance already marketed as an immunostimulant, could be used to improve vaccination protocols in horses and potentially other species.
High Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness and Absence of Increased Influenza-like-Illness Epidemic Activity in the 2021–2022 Influenza Season in Catalonia (Spain) Based on Surveillance Data Collected by Sentinel Pharmacies
Authors: Plans Rubió Pedro , Jambrina Anna , Rius Pilar , Carmona Gloria , Rabanal Manel , Gironès Montse
Published: December 2022

Influenza surveillance and influenza vaccination are the key activities for preventing and controlling influenza epidemics. The study assessed the influenza surveillance and influenza vaccination data obtained from sentinel pharmacies of Catalonia, Spain, in the 2021–2022 influenza season. The sentinel pharmacies were selected from all community pharmacies to report all influenza-like illness (ILI) cases detected during the 2021–2022 influenza season and collect influenza surveillance and influenza vaccination data. The ILI cases were identified based on European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) criteria. The moving epidemic method (MEM) was used to assess the ILI epidemic activity. The screening method was used to assess influenza vaccination effectiveness in patients aged 65-or-more years old. The sentinel pharmacies reported 212 ILI cases with a negative COVID-19 test and a total number of 402 ILI cases. An absence of increased ILI epidemic activity was observed in the 2021–2022 influenza season based on two criteria: (1) Number of ILI cases reported per week in the 2021–2022 influenza season significantly lower than the MEM-based epidemic threshold. (2) Mean number of ILI cases reported per week in the 2021–2022 influenza season significantly lower than during the ILI/influenza epidemic periods detected from 2017 to 2020 using the same methodology. Influenza vaccination was effective in preventing ILI among patients aged 65-or-more-years old. The absence of the influenza epidemic during the 2021–2022 influenza season could be explained by influenza vaccination and COVID-19 prevention measures (wearing face masks, social distancing). The sentinel pharmacies provided influenza surveillance data not provided by traditional influenza surveillance systems.
Ocular Vascular Events following COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review
Authors: Abu Serhan Hashem , Abdelaal Abdelaziz , Abuawwad Mohammad T. , Taha Mohammad J. J. , Irshaidat Sara , Abu Serhan Leen , Abu-Ismail Luai , Abu Salim Qusai Faisal , Abdelazeem Basel , Elnahry Ayman G.
Published: December 2022

The main aim of this study is to investigate the current evidence regarding the association between COVID-19 vaccination and ocular vascular events. The protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022358133). On 18 August 2022, an electronic search was conducted through five databases. All original articles reporting individuals who were vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines and developed ophthalmic vascular events were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the NIH tool. A total of 49 studies with 130 ocular vascular cases were included. Venous occlusive events were the most common events (54.3%), which mostly occurred following the first dose (46.2%) and within the first five days following vaccination (46.2%). Vascular events occurred more with the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines (81.6%), and mostly presented unilaterally (73.8%). The most frequently reported treatment was intravitreal anti-VEGF (n = 39, 30.4%). The majority of patients (90.1%) demonstrated either improvement (p = 0.321) or persistence (p = 0.414) in the final BCVA. Ophthalmic vascular events are serious vision-threatening side effects that have been associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Clinicians should be aware of the possible association between COVID-19 vaccines and ocular vascular events to provide early diagnosis and treatment.
Granulomatous Inflammation and Pericarditis Induced by Silk Granuloma Related to Previous Surgical Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in a Dog
Authors: Moon Chang-Hwan , Kim Woo-Jin , Lee Won-Jong , Kim Kyung-Min , Lee Hae-Beom , Jeong Seong-Mok , Kim Dae-Hyun
Published: December 2022

Surgical ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus is regarded as a standard treatment approach with a low complication rate if performed by experienced surgeons, and it has been performed successfully for decades in dogs. However, there are no reports describing the clinical symptoms related to granulomatous inflammation after the surgical ligation of the patent ductus arteriosus. This report describes the clinical symptoms caused by granulomatous inflammation and subacute pericarditis in a dog that had undergone the surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus 2 years previously. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed for subtotal pericardiectomy, and a biopsy was performed to obtain specimens for histopathological examination and culture tests. The clinical symptoms were relieved after surgery. The persistent leukocytosis improved with steroid administration. This case illustrates that the granulomatous inflammatory response associated with silk suture granuloma is a rare postoperative complication of ductal ligation. In such cases, pericardiectomy can help relieve the clinical symptoms.
Refractive Effect of Epithelial Remodelling in Myopia after Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy
Authors: de Ortueta Diego , von Rüden Dennis , Arba-Mosquera Samuel
Published: December 2022

(1) Introduction: We analysed epithelial changes after the treatment of moderate myopia with transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy. (2) Materials and Methods: We used optical coherence tomography data and analysed changes in the stroma and epithelium after ablation. We aimed to ascertain how much epithelium hyperplasia occurred after TransPRK; for this, we used data from 50 eyes treated with TransPRK with the AMARIS 1050 Hz, with a minimum follow-up of 4 months. (3) Results: The measured epithelial changes corresponded to a less than 0.1 ± 0.2D of spherical effect, less than 0.2 ± 0.2D of astigmatic effect, and less than 0.5 ± 0.2D of comatic effect. (4) Conclusions: The changes in epithelial thickness after aberration-neutral transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy for moderate myopia were very small, indicating a low level of epithelial hyperplasia without resembling a regression-inducing lentoid.