bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Diagnostic Precision: Assessing Tumor Differentiation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Multi-Slice Spiral CT Texture Analysis
Authors: de Oliveira Lays Assolini Pinheiro , Lopes Diana Lorena Garcia , Gomes João Pedro Perez , da Silveira Rafael Vinicius , Nozaki Daniel Vitor Aguiar , Santos Lana Ferreira , Castellano Gabriela , de Castro Lopes Sérgio Lúcio Pereira , Costa Andre Luiz Ferreira
Published: July 2024

This study explores the efficacy of texture analysis by using preoperative multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) to non-invasively determine the grade of cellular differentiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In a retrospective study, MSCT scans of patients with HNSCC were analyzed and classified based on its histological grade as moderately differentiated, well-differentiated, or poorly differentiated. The location of the tumor was categorized as either in the bone or in soft tissues. Segmentation of the lesion areas was conducted, followed by texture analysis. Eleven GLCM parameters across five different distances were calculated. Median values and correlations of texture parameters were examined in relation to tumor differentiation grade by using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests. Forty-six patients were included, predominantly female (87%), with a mean age of 66.7 years. Texture analysis revealed significant parameter correlations with histopathological grades of tumor differentiation. The study identified no significant age correlation with tumor differentiation, which underscores the potential of texture analysis as an age-independent biomarker. The strong correlations between texture parameters and histopathological grades support the integration of this technique into the clinical decision-making process.
Long-Term Outcome and Predictors of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Chronic Post-Hernioplasty Pain
Authors: Freo Ulderico , Furnari Maurizio
Published: July 2024

Background/Objectives: Different analgesic techniques have been used in the clinical management of chronic post-hernioplasty pain (CPHP), with variable results. This study aimed to investigate clinical factors associated with long-term outcome of the transversus abdominal plane (TAP) block for CPHP. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 26 patients with CPHP who were treated with single or multiple TAP blocks with local anesthetic and steroid. Patients were evaluated for pain and neuropathic pain intensity by a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ), for anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and for quality of life by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF12). Results: At 6 months post-treatment, 20 patients (77%) presented substantial (>50%) or moderate (30–50%) CPHP relief and were considered responders. In responders, the 24-h average and maximum NRS pain significantly declined (p < 0.01) from 7.3 ± 1.3 to 2.6 ± 2.1 and from 8.8 ± 1.5 to 5.1 ± 2.0, and the neuropathic PDQ score from 9.1 ± 3.2 to 6.1 ± 1.3; the physical SF12 score improved from 36.5 ± 5.8 to 44.3 ± 7.5 (p < 0.01). Six patients failed to achieve a significant CPHP improvement and were considered non-responders. Non-responders presented a significantly (p < 0.05) longer CPHP, higher body mass index and neuropathic symptoms, and more frequent anxiety, depression, diabetes, and fibromyalgia. Conclusions: The TAP block with local anesthetic and steroid should be considered as a therapeutic option for CPHP. However, medical and psychiatric comorbidities negatively impact the TAP block effectiveness for CPHP.
Retrospective Evaluation of Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Allografts in the Supplementation of Cartilage Defects Associated with Hip Osteoarthritis
Authors: Lai Albert , Tamea Conrad , Shou John , Okafor Anthony , Sparks Jay , Dodd Renee , Lambert Naomi , Woods Crislyn , Schulte Orion , Kovar Sarah , Barrett Tyler
Published: July 2024

Background: Osteoarthritis is a chronic disorder that affects the synovial joints by the progressive loss of articular cartilage. In the hip, the largest weight-bearing joint, the deterioration of articular cartilage and acetabular labrum can cause pain, diminishing the quality of life for patients. This study presents changes in reported pain scales from patients who received Wharton’s jelly applications to cartilage deterioration in the hip from the observational retrospective repository at Regenative Labs. Methods: Sixty-nine patients were selected based on inclusion criteria with patient-reported pain scales, including the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, collected at the initial application, 30, and 90-day follow-up visits. Thirteen patients received a second allograft application and had additional follow-up visits at 120 and 180 days. Results: Five of the six scales used showed a statistically significant improvement in average scores across the cohort. The greatest improvements were observed in the NPRS with a 31.36% improvement after 90 days and a 44.64% improvement for patients with two applications after 180 days. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was also calculated to determine the perceived value of care for each patient with 44.9% of patients exceeding the MCID and 78.3% reporting at least one level of improvement. Conclusions: The positive outcomes for the patients in this cohort suggest WJ to be a promising alternative care option for patients with structural tissue degeneration in the hip refractory to the current standard of care.
The Impact of the Dermal Matrix in Tissue Reconstruction: A Bibliometric Perspective in Plastic Surgery
Authors: Pit Daniel , Hoinoiu Bogdan , Bardan Razvan , Hoinoiu Teodora
Published: July 2024

In the vast field of medical scientific research, few topics have managed to attract as much attention and mobilise academic resources as the use of dermal matrices in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. In this study, we used bibliographic metrics such as co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, and citations per document to analyse the relationship between the use of dermal matrices to reconstruct soft tissue defects caused by burns, tumours, and trauma. In addition, keyword analysis has highlighted the crucial role of technology in recent studies and the innovation brought about by the use of dermal matrices in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. Keywords used in recent studies have revealed the critical role of technology in the development of the field. We extracted a set of 1329 research papers from the Web of Science Core Collection database between 2010 and 2024 that met our criteria. Through keyword analysis, we identified technology as a significant factor in recent studies. Our results showed that there is very little collaboration between authors on the topic and that most of them are from Asia. A significant number of articles on this topic come from the USA, China, Japan, Germany, the UK, and France. We discovered the top ten most cited sources analysing the use of dermal matrices in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. Finally, we think that this study will be beneficial for our further research.
Antibacterial Effect of Silver Nanoparticles against Oral Biofilms in Subjects with Motor and Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Holguín-Meráz Carolina , Martínez-Martínez Rita Elizabeth , Zaragoza-Contreras Erasto Armando , Domínguez-Pérez Rubén Abraham , Reyes-López Simón Yobanny , Donohue-Cornejo Alejandro , Cuevas-González Juan Carlos , Silva-Benítez Erika de Lourdes , Molina-Frechero Nelly , Espinosa-Cristóbal León Francisco
Published: July 2024

Background: Motor and intellectual disabilities (MIDs) represent a great challenge for maintaining general health due to physical and cognitive limitations, particularly in the maintenance and preservation of oral health. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic tool for bacterial control, including oral biofilms; however, knowledge of the bactericidal effectiveness of oral biofilms from patients with MIDs is insufficient. This study aims to determine the antimicrobial effect of AgNPs on different oral biofilms taken from patients with and without MIDs. Methods: Two sizes of AgNPs were prepared and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Through consecutive sampling, biofilm samples were collected from 17 subjects with MIDs and 20 subjects without disorders. The antimicrobial effect was determined by obtaining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AgNPs, and the identification and distribution of oral bacterial species were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, correlations between sociodemographic characteristics and the antimicrobial levels of AgNPs were also explored. The values of the MIC results were analyzed with IBM-SPSS software (version25) using non-parametric tests for independent groups and correlations, with statistical significance being considered as p < 0.05. Results: Both sizes of AgNPs exhibited tight particle size distributions (smaller: 10.2 ± 0.7 nm; larger: 29.3 ± 2.3 nm) with zeta potential values (−35.0 ± 3.3 and −52.6 ± 8.5 mV, respectively) confirming the stability that resulted in little to no agglomeration of nanoparticles. Although both sizes of AgNPs had good antimicrobial activity in all oral biofilms, the smallest particles had the best antimicrobial effects on the oral biofilm samples from patients with and without MIDs, even better than chlorhexidine (CHX) (p < 0.05). Likewise, the patients with disabilities showed higher levels of antimicrobial sensitivity to AgNPs compared with CHX (p < 0.05). Although the microorganisms included in the biofilms of females had a statistically higher growth level, the AgNP antimicrobial effect was statistically similar in both genders (p > 0.05). The most frequent bacteria for all oral biofilms were S. mutans (100%), P. intermedia (91.6%), T. forsythia (75.0%), T. denticola (75.0%), P. gingivalis (66.6%), F. nucleatum (66.6%), S. sobrinus (50.0%), and A. actinomycetemcomitans (8.3%). Conclusions: AgNPs exhibited considerable antimicrobial potential to be used as a complementary and alternative tool in maintaining and preserving oral health in patients with MIDs.
Grounding Cognition in Perceptual Experience
Authors: Bianchi Ivana , Actis-Grosso Rossana , Ball Linden J.
Published: July 2024

The aim of this Special Issue was to put forward a multifaceted reflection on the relevance of perceptual experience in affecting and modeling various aspects of cognitive performance [...]
A 1.87 µW Capacitively Coupled Chopper Instrumentation Amplifier with a 0.36 mV Output Ripple and a 1.8 GΩ Input Impedance for Biomedical Recording
Authors: Tran Xuan , Kieu Xuan , Pham Xuan , Pham Duy , Hoang Manh
Published: July 2024

Chopper and capacitively coupled techniques are employed in instrumentation amplifiers to create capacitively coupled chopper instrumentation amplifiers (CCIAs) that obtain a high noise power efficiency. However, the CCIA has some disadvantages due to the chopper technique, namely chopper ripple and a low input impedance. The amplifier can easily saturate due to the chopper ripple of the CCIA, especially in extremely low noise problems. Therefore, ripple attenuation is required when designing CCIAs. To record biomedical information, a CCIA with a low power consumption and a low noise, low output ripple, and high input impedance (Zin) is presented in this paper. By introducing a ripple attenuation loop (RAL) including the chopping offset amplifier and a low pass filter, the chopping ripple can be reduced to 0.36 mV. To increase the Zin of the CCIA up to 1.8 GΩ, an impedance boost loop (IBL) is added. By using 180 nm CMOS technology, the 0.123 mm2 CCIA consumes 1.87 µW at a supply voltage of 1 V. According to the simulation results using Cadance, the proposed CCIA architecture achieves a noise floor of 136 nV/√Hz, an input-referred noise (IRN) of 2.16 µVrms, a closed-loop gain of 40 dB, a power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of 108.6 dB, and a common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) of 118.7 dB. The proposed CCIA is a helpful method for monitoring neural potentials.
Expanding the Availability of Scalp Cooling to All Patients at Risk of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia
Authors: Lagmay-Fuentes Portia , Smith Andrea , Krus Shannon , Lewis Laurie , Latif Asma , Gagliardo Tiffany , Kohli Manpreet
Published: July 2024

Alopecia is an undesirable side effect of cancer chemotherapy. The mitigation of alopecia is a desirable adjunct treatment for patients with cancer. FDA-cleared scalp cooling (SC) devices have been successfully used to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). This paper provides an understanding of the implementation and value of the new Insurance-Based Billing Model used in the USA for SC and its benefits compared with the original self-pay model. This improved compensation change will result in all patients in need, including underserved and disadvantaged populations, receiving equitable healthcare by allowing access to this valuable supportive care technology.
A Study of the EH36 Surface Sediment Layer under Joint Protection from Seawater Electrolysis Antifouling and Impressed Current Cathode Protection (ICCP) in a Marine Environment
Authors: Hu Jiezhen , Wang Peilin , Deng Peichang , Geng Baoyu , Zeng Junhao , Hu Xin
Published: July 2024

A joint protection device for seawater electrolysis antifouling and ICCP was constructed, and comparative experiments were conducted to study the composition of the EH36 surface deposition layer under joint protection in a marine environment. Surface morphology analysis, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) imaging analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) composition analysis were performed on the surface deposition layers of the experimental samples. The experimental results showed that under joint protection, a sedimentary layer was rapidly formed on the surface of EH36 to isolate the seawater medium, and this layer was mainly composed of Mg(OH)2 and a small amount of CaCO3. There was no corrosion on the surface of the EH36 substrate. When only ICCP was used, a relatively thin layer of calcium magnesium was deposited on the surface of EH36. Marine fouling organisms adhere to the surface of calcium and magnesium sedimentary layers and the EH36 substrate, and their attachment affects the formation of calcium and magnesium sedimentary layers. Moreover, marine fouling organisms cause corrosion on the surface of the EH36 substrate. The joint protection of seawater electrolysis antifouling and ICCP can simultaneously prevent electrochemical corrosion and marine biological fouling corrosion on the surface of EH36.
Numerical Simulation and Application of Vortex Field Monitoring near Islands in Straits
Authors: Luo Chuanzeng , Wang Xianzhong , Yu Min , Meng Qingjie , Liu Hang
Published: July 2024

This study addresses the issue of vortex current fields near the islands and reefs in China’s straits, which pose significant challenges to engineering construction and navigation safety in the surrounding waters. To monitor these vortex fields, the study proposes an innovative method utilizing acoustic signals. The study utilizes the numerical simulation and phase feature extraction of acoustic signals in the vortex current field, based on ray acoustic theory and time-reversal mirror technology. The study successfully monitored the central position of the vortex core and characteristic radius of the vortex current field near Barley Straw Reef using HYCOM data for the first time. Furthermore, the performance of the method was analyzed under different acoustic phase perturbations and signal-to-noise ratios. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the acoustic method is effective in monitoring near-shore vortex fields, and the time-reversal mirror technique is useful in extracting phase difference information from acoustic signals generated by vortex currents.
USVs Path Planning for Maritime Search and Rescue Based on POS-DQN: Probability of Success-Deep Q-Network
Authors: Liu Lu , Shan Qihe , Xu Qi
Published: July 2024

Efficient maritime search and rescue (SAR) is crucial for responding to maritime emergencies. In traditional SAR, fixed search path planning is inefficient and cannot prioritize high-probability regions, which has significant limitations. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) path planning for maritime SAR based on POS-DQN so that USVs can perform SAR tasks reasonably and efficiently. Firstly, the search region is allocated as a whole using an improved task allocation algorithm so that the task region of each USV has priority and no duplication. Secondly, this paper considers the probability of success (POS) of the search environment and proposes a POS-DQN algorithm based on deep reinforcement learning. This algorithm can adapt to the complex and changing environment of SAR. It designs a probability weight reward function and trains USV agents to obtain the optimal search path. Finally, based on the simulation results, by considering the complete coverage of obstacle avoidance and collision avoidance, the search path using this algorithm can prioritize high-probability regions and improve the efficiency of SAR.
Ice-Induced Vibration Analysis of Fixed-Bottom Wind Turbine Towers
Authors: Wang Bin , Yin Haoyang , Gao Shan , Qu Yan , Chuang Zhenju
Published: July 2024

This research tackles the challenge of ice-induced vibrations in fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines, particularly the risk of frequency lock-in (FLI), a critical loading condition arising from slow ice movement against structures. We introduce an innovative FLI analysis process grounded in the ductile damage–collapse (DDC) mechanism, which offers a more accurate and significantly lower probability of FLI occurrence than conventional methods. Through dynamic evaluations employing a time-domain ice load model and FLI displacement analyses, we demonstrate that FLI can lead to higher structural vibrations than those caused by continuous brittle ice crushing. A case study of a 5 MW monopile wind turbine tower utilising Abaqus confirms the necessity for incorporating FLI considerations into structural design to ensure safety and performance in ice-prone environments. Comparing the DDC mechanism with the ISO method, our study reveals that the DDC approach predicts higher displacement and acceleration values during FLI, nearly an order of magnitude greater than those induced by ice loads with a 50-year return period. The research underscores the importance of robust ice-load integration in design strategies for offshore wind turbines, especially in regions susceptible to ice. It highlights the DDC mechanism as a novel strategy for enhancing structural resilience against ice-induced hazards.
Numerical Study of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Three-Dimensional Oscillating Water Column Wave-Power Device
Authors: Zhu Jun-Lin , Tang Peng , Zhang Hong-Sheng , Zheng Peng-Bo
Published: July 2024

The impact of wave-induced forces on the integrity of stationary oscillating water column (OWC) devices is essential for ensuring their structural safety. In our study, we built a three-dimensional numerical model of an OWC device using the computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) software OpenFOAM-v1912. Subsequently, the hydrodynamic performance of the numerical model is comprehensively validated. Finally, the hydrodynamic performance data are analyzed in detail to obtain meaningful conclusions. Results indicate that the horizontal wave force applied to the OWC device is approximately 6.6 to 7.9 times greater than the vertical wave force, whereas the lateral wave force is relatively small. Both the horizontal and vertical wave forces decrease as the relative water depth increases under a constant wave period and height. In addition, the highest dynamic water pressure is observed at the interface between the water surface and device, both within and outside the front wall of the gas chamber. The dynamic water pressure at different locations on the front chamber increases and subsequently decreases as the wave frequency increases.
Understanding Salinity Intrusion and Residence Times in a Small-Scale Bar-Built Estuary under Drought Scenarios: The Maipo River Estuary, Central Chile
Authors: Soto-Rivas Karina , Flores Raúl P. , Williams Megan , Escauriaza Cristián
Published: July 2024

The Maipo River estuary is a low-inflow bar-built estuary that includes a protected wetland, which harbors a rich ecosystem. The estuary and wetland have been threatened by a persistent drought for more than a decade, which has resulted in greater salinity intrusion and increased residence times. Previous studies have described salinity and pollutants in estuaries; however, almost all have focused on deeper and/or wider estuaries with dimensions much larger than those of the small-scale Maipo River estuary. In this study, we used the numerical model FVCOM to simulate the dynamics of the Maipo River estuary under drought scenarios and explored the interactions between river discharge and tides in terms of saline intrusion and particle dispersal. The model was validated against observations collected during a field campaign near the river mouth. The simulations successfully reproduced the water surface elevation but underestimated salinity values, such that the vertical salinity structure observed in the field was not captured by the model in this shallow and morphologically complex estuary. Consequently, our model results provide qualitative insight related to salinity and baroclinic dynamics. Results of maximum saline intrusion showed an exponential decay with increasing river discharge, and the analysis of salinity intrusion time series revealed that droughts may cause permanent non-zero salinity levels in the estuary, potentially affecting ecological cycles. The incorporation of passive tracers showed that decreasing river discharge increases the residence time of particles by allowing the tracers to re-enter the estuary. Model results showed the formation of accumulation zones (hotspots) in the shallower zones of the estuary.
Method of Plotting Fundamental Diagrams of Waterway Traffic Flow—Shipping-Lane Subdivision
Authors: Zhuang Siqing , Liu Yihua , Xu Zhiyuan
Published: July 2024

The difference between waterway traffic and road traffic in terms of lane lines leads to the direct application of the method of plotting the fundamental diagram of road traffic flow to waterway traffic, and it is difficult to reveal the mechanism of waterway traffic flow operations. This study proposes a shipping-lane-subdivision approach to tackle this problem. Additionally, it introduces a more suitable fundamental diagram-plotting method for waterway traffic based on the aforementioned method. The southern channel in the estuary of the Yangtze River was taken as the research water, and the fundamental diagram of traffic flow in this water was plotted to verify the similarities between the fundamental diagram of waterway traffic flow and the fundamental diagram of road traffic flow. Upon evaluating the plotted fundamental diagram, it was determined that the blockage density of the subdivided shipping lane is around 6.5 vessels per nautical mile. This method has significant potential for its application in the theory of waterway traffic flow.
Impact and Technical Solutions of Hydrodynamic and Thermodynamic Processes in Liquefied Natural Gas Regasification Process
Authors: Bogdevicius Marijonas , Semaskaite Vigaile , Paulauskiene Tatjana , Uebe Jochen
Published: July 2024

Transporting natural gas in liquid form increases opportunities for storage and export worldwide, thus making transportation more sustainable. However, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is in an unsteady state, leading to LNG conversion to the gas state occurring throughout the storage, loading, unloading, and transportation processes. To observe the transition of LNG to natural gas, mathematical models are developed to monitor technical parameters. This research analyses a floating storage and regasification unit for and adopts a mathematical model of the LNG regasification system, aiming for improved observation of hydrodynamic, dynamic, and thermo-physical properties. The complex mathematical model of the system was implemented using the Fortran programming language and MATLAB R28a. From the investigation of the total LNG regasification system, it could be concluded that increasing the outlet pressure of the system results in a decrease in the velocity of LNG. It was found that the total hydraulic energy losses of the total LNG regasification system were approximately 41.3 kW (with outlet pressure of 2 MPa), 12.75 kW (with outlet pressure of 5 MPa), and 4.24 kW (with outlet pressure of 7 MPa).
Fluid–Structure Interaction Analysis of Manta-Bots with Self-Induced Vertical Undulations during Fin-Based Locomotion
Authors: Luo Ming , Wu Zhigang , Zhou Minghao , Yang Chao
Published: July 2024

Driven by the demands of ocean exploration, an increasing number of manta ray-inspired robots have been designed and manufactured, primarily utilizing flexible skeletons combined with motor-driven mechanisms. However, the mechanical analysis of these designs remains underdeveloped, often relying on simplistic imitation of biological prototypes and typically neglecting the vertical motion induced by pectoral fin flapping. This paper presents a fluid–structure interaction analysis framework that couples rigid body motion with elastic deformation using flexible multibody dynamics and the vortex particle method. An implicit iterative algorithm with Aitken relaxation is employed to address added-mass instability, and the framework has been validated against experimental data. An analysis of a representative manta-bot model shows that self-induced vertical undulations reduce the thrust coefficient by approximately 40% compared to fixed vertical degrees of freedom, while slightly improving overall propulsive efficiency. The study also highlights the critical role of mass distribution in manta-bots, noting that excessive focus on complex pectoral fin movements and large fin mass can significantly reduce thrust by increasing vertical displacement, ultimately proving counterproductive.
Response of Low Carbon Level to Transportation Efficiency in Megacities: A Case Study of Beijing, China
Authors: Gao Chang , Du Yueyang , Zhao Yuhao , Jia Yingqiao , Wu Jiansheng
Published: July 2024

Global warming caused by massive carbon dioxide emissions can lead to a chain of ecological disasters. As one of the main sources of carbon emissions, transportation is of great significance, and the evaluation of its connections with carbon emissions is necessary to achieve “carbon neutrality”. Taking Beijing as an example, this study evaluated traffic efficiency (TE) by utilizing principal component analysis and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. Using the Tapio decoupling model and coupling coordination degree model, the corresponding relationship between urban low carbon level (LCL) and TE was explored. The results showed the following: (1) The total carbon emission (CE) level exhibited fluctuating variation from increasing to decreasing. The carbon emission intensity (CEI) continued to slow down, and the rapid growth of population density played a key role in low-carbon development. (2) The traffic operations continually showed a positive trend in development. TE increased from a step-like to a slow shape, until it declined in 2020 due to the pandemic. (3) TE and LCL both developed from low coordination to an extreme level of coordination. Per capita carbon emission (CEP) and TE presented an inverted U-shaped curve; meanwhile, with increases in TE, the decline in CEI slowed. In addition, the weak decoupling of TE changed to become strong, due to CE and CEP, and maintained a strong decoupling state from CEI. (4) There is a necessity for the rational planning of land use for transportation infrastructure, the encouragement of a combination of public and private transportation, and the strengthening of the maintenance of the relative infrastructure and the management of traffic behaviors to attain a win–win situation. The results provide a reference for optimizing the traffic structure to achieve “carbon neutrality”.
China’s New Housing Security Model: Evaluation of the Job–Housing Balance in Affordable Rental Housing, Shanghai
Authors: Wang Peihong , Li Kerun , Zhang Wenbing
Published: July 2024

The Chinese government’s recent low-income housing scheme aims to tackle housing challenges faced by the urban floating population. A notable shift in this initiative is the focus on the job–housing balance. This study proposes that the spatial interaction between land designated for affordable rental housing and land for commercial facilities serves as a fundamental metric for evaluating this equilibrium, providing insights into the effectiveness of China’s nascent affordable housing efforts. Drawing on post-2021 data, when China’s revamped affordable housing policy took effect, our research examines the spatial distribution of affordable rental housing and commercial service land in Shanghai. By employing coupled coordination models and local entropy metrics, we delve into the supply equilibrium and pragmatic interrelation of these land types. Our findings reveal localized clustering in the spatial arrangement of rental and commercial land within Shanghai. Zones in the urban core exhibit a supply balance, while the peripheries display diminishing accessibility between these land types. Core urban areas have a lower supply balance but higher accessibility, whereas urban fringes face both low supply balance and low accessibility. These study outcomes have significant implications for strategic planning and the construction of affordable rental housing.
How Does Density Impact Carbon Emission Intensity: Insights from the Block Scale and an Optimal Parameters-Based Geographical Detector
Authors: Li Liutong , Yan Fengying
Published: July 2024

Density is a crucial indicator for urban sustainable development and is considered a critical factor influencing the carbon emission intensity of construction land (CICL). The impact of density on carbon emissions has been extensively explored, mainly focusing on grid-scale and single-factor effects. However, how density and its interactions affect carbon emissions at the block scale is unclear. Therefore, based on multiple data sources such as energy consumption, remote sensing, and the point of interest (POI) in the urban block of Changxing County, this study constructed a density system that reflects the block’s physical environment and socioeconomic characteristics. An optimal-parameters-based geographical detector was employed to investigate the effects and interactions of density factors on the carbon emission intensity of residential blocks (CIRB), carbon emission intensity of commercial blocks (CICB), and carbon emission intensity of public blocks (CIPB). The results indicate the following: (1) The impact of density factors on different types of CICL varied significantly. Physical environmental factors (PEFs) had greater explanatory power than socioeconomic factors (SEFs) across the CIRB, CICB, and CIPB, with the floor area ratio (FAR) being the most influential. The spatial morphology of blocks also influenced the relationship between density factors and the CICL. (2) The interactions between the FAR and building density (BD), the FAR and commercial outlet density (COD), and the FAR and population density (PD) had the strongest explanatory power for the CIRB, CICB, and CIPB, respectively, and all exhibited nonlinear enhancements. Some factors exhibited more significant effects only when interacting with others. (3) An association chain encompassing the interactions of multiple density factors was extracted for the CIRB, CICB, and CIPB, respectively, as the basis for conducting collaborative management and control in spatial planning. The research findings can provide decision support for urban planners to consider the comprehensive effects of density factors and promote the development of low-carbon urban spaces.
Construction of Ecological Security Patterns and Evaluation of Ecological Network Stability under Multi-Scenario Simulation: A Case Study in Desert–Oasis Area of the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Cheng Wenhao , Ma Caihong , Li Tongsheng , Liu Yuanyuan
Published: July 2024

Land use change has a significant impact on the sustainability of ecosystems, and ecological security patterns (ESPs) can improve environmental quality through spatial planning. This study explored a multi-scenario ESP framework by integrating future land use simulation (FLUS) and minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) for urban agglomeration along the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in Ningxia. The research involved simulating land use change in 2035 under four development scenarios, identifying ecological security networks, and evaluating network stability for each scenario. The study revealed that the ecological sources under different development scenarios, including a natural development scenario (NDS), an economic development scenario (EDS), a food security scenario (FSS), and an ecological protection scenario (EPS), were 834.82 km2, 715.46 km2, 785.56 km2, and 1091.43 km2, respectively. The overall connectivity values (OG) for these scenarios were 0.351, 0.466, 0.334, and 0.520, respectively. It was found that under an EPS, the ESPs had the largest area of ecological sources and the most stable ecological network structure, which can effectively protect natural habitats. This study provides a valuable method for identifying ESPs that can respond to diversity and the uncertainty of future development. It can assist decision-makers in enhancing the ecological quality of the study area while considering various development scenarios.
Landslide Distribution and Development Characteristics in the Beiluo River Basin
Authors: Liu Fan , Deng Yahong , Zhang Tianyu , Qian Faqiao , Yang Nan , Teng Hongquan , Shi Wei , Han Xue
Published: July 2024

The Beiluo River Basin, situated in the central region of the Loess Plateau, frequently experiences landslide geological disasters, posing a severe threat to local lives and property. Thus, establishing a detailed database of historical landslides and analyzing and revealing their development characteristics are of paramount importance for providing a foundation for geological hazard risk assessment. First, in this study, landslides in the Beiluo River Basin are interpreted using Google Earth and ZY-3 high-resolution satellite imagery. Combined with a historical landslide inventory and field investigations, a landslide database for the Beiluo River Basin is compiled, containing a total of 1781 landslides. Based on this, the geometric and spatial characteristics of the landslides are analyzed, and the relationships between the different types of landslides and landslide scale, stream order, and geomorphological types are further explored. The results show that 50.05% of the landslides have a slope aspect between 225° and 360°, 68.78% have a slope gradient of 16–25°, and 38.97% are primarily linear in profile morphology. Areas with a high landslide density within a 10 km radius are mainly concentrated in the loess ridge and hillock landform region between Wuqi and Zhidan Counties and in the loess tableland region between Fu and Luochuan Counties, with a significant clustering effect observed in the Fu County area. Loess–bedrock interface landslides are relatively numerous in the northern loess ridge and hillock landform region due to riverbed incision and the smaller thickness of loess in this area. Intra-loess landslides are primarily found in the southern loess tableland region due to headward erosion and the greater thickness of loess in this area. Loess–clay interface landslides, influenced by riverbed incision and the limited exposure of red clay, are mainly distributed in the northern part of the southern loess tableland region and on both sides of the Beiluo River Valley in Ganquan County. These results will aid in further understanding the development and spatial distribution of landslides in the Beiluo River Basin and provide crucial support for subsequent landslide susceptibility mapping and geological hazard assessment in the region.
Reconceptualizing Policing for Cybercrime: Perspectives from Singapore
Authors: Khan Azfer A.
Published: July 2024

As cybercrime proliferates globally, law enforcement agencies face significant challenges in responding effectively. This essay shares perspectives from Singapore, where cybercrime accounted for about 70% of the total annual crime in 2023, with no clear data on case resolution rates. This situation reflects a broader global trend and highlights the need to reconceptualize policing objectives in cyberspace. The fundamental differences between cybercrime and physical crime necessitate a shift from emphasizing the identification and prosecution of perpetrators to adopting a harm-centric perspective. Under this perspective, structures and policies should be implemented to disrupt financial flows, ensure data security, disrupt the spread of harmful content, and prevent physical damage. Once this is done, strategies such as public–private partnerships, international cooperation, and training and building capabilities to address specific harms can be more effectively implemented to mitigate the growing threat that cybercrime poses worldwide.
A Benchmark Test of High-Throughput Atomistic Modeling for Octa-Acid Host–Guest Complexes
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Huai Zhe , Zheng Lei , Liu Meili , Sun Zhaoxi
Published: July 2024

Years of massive applications of high-throughput atomistic modeling tools such as molecular docking and end-point free energy calculations in the drug industry and academic exploration have made them indispensable parts of hierarchical screening. While the similarities between host–guest and protein–ligand complexes lead to the direct extension of techniques for protein–ligand screening to host–guest systems, the practical performance of these hit identification tools remains unclear in host-–-guest binding. Recent reports on specific host–guest complexes suggest that the experience on the accuracy ladder accumulated from protein–ligand cases could be invalid in host–guest complexes, which makes it an urgent need to perform a systematic benchmark to secure solid numerical supports and guidance of practical setups. Concerning molecular docking, there still lacks a comprehensive benchmark considering popular docking programs. As for end-point reranking, quantitative and rigorous free energy estimation via end-point formulism requires establishing statistically meaningful measurements of uncertainties due to finite sampling, which is neglected or underestimated by a significant portion in almost all main-stream applications. Further, a face-to-face comparison between different screening tools is required for the design of a hierarchical workflow. To fill the above-mentioned critical gaps, in this work, using a dataset containing tens of host–guest complexes involving basket-like macromolecular hosts from the octa acid family, we extensively benchmark seven academic docking protocols and perform post-docking end-point rescoring with twenty protocols. The resulting comprehensive benchmark provides conclusive pictures of the practical value of docking and end-point screening in OA host–guest binding.
Machine Learning-Aided Analysis of the Rolling and Recrystallization Textures of Pure Iron with Different Cold Reduction Ratios and Cold-Rolling Directions
Authors: Sumida Takumi , Sugiura Keiya , Ogawa Toshio , Chen Ta-Te , Sun Fei , Adachi Yoshitaka , Yamaguchi Atsushi , Matsubara Yukihiro
Published: July 2024

We performed a machine learning-aided analysis of the rolling and recrystallization textures in pure iron with different cold reduction ratios and cold-rolling directions. Five types of specimens with different cold reduction ratios and cold-rolling directions were prepared. The effect of two-way cold-rolling on the rolling texture was small at cold reduction ratios different from 60%. The cold reduction ratio in each stage hardly affected the texture evolution during cold-rolling and subsequent short-term annealing. In the case of long-term annealing, although abnormal grain growth occurred, the crystal orientation of the grains varied. Moreover, the direction of cold-rolling in each stage also hardly affected the texture evolution during cold-rolling and subsequent short-term annealing. During long-term annealing, sheets with the same cold-rolling direction in the as-received state and in the first stage showed the texture evolution of conventional one-way cold-rolled pure iron. Additionally, we conducted a machine learning-aided analysis of rolling and recrystallization textures. Using cold-rolling and annealing conditions as the input data and the degree of Goss orientation development as the output data, we constructed high-accuracy regression models using artificial neural networks and XGBoost. We also revealed that the annealing temperature is the dominant factor in the nucleation of Goss grains.
Integrating Plastic Waste into Concrete: Sustainable Solutions for the Environment
Authors: Oddo Maria Concetta , Cavaleri Liborio , La Mendola Lidia , Bilal Hassan
Published: July 2024

Plastic waste management has received significant attention in recent decades due to the urgent global environmental crisis caused by plastic pollution. The versatile and durable nature of plastic has led to its widespread usage across various sectors. However, its nonbiodegradable nature contributes to unsustainable production practices, leading to extensive landfill usage and posing threats to marine ecosystems and the food chain. To address these environmental concerns, numerous challenges have been recently addressed through investigating alternative approaches for disposing of plastic waste, with the construction sector emerging as a promising option. Incorporating plastic waste materials into concrete not only offers economic benefits but also provides a valid alternative to conventional disposal methods. This paper presents the results of different experimental studies, some of them available in the literature and others new, discussing the feasibility of integrating plastic waste into concrete and its impact on mechanical properties. The influence of different sizes, natures, treatments, and percentages of plastic waste in the concrete mixtures is dealt with in order to provide further data for helping to understand the nonunivocal results in the literature, under the conviction that only further observations can help to understand the mechanics of concrete with plastic aggregates. The experimental investigation highlighted that one parameter that is better than others and can be considered to compare different experimental investigations is the variation in weight (due to the effective volume of plastics in the mix), determining a sort of increasing of porosity that degrades the mechanical characteristics. However, this seems inconsistent in some cases. Therefore, the need for further research is highlighted to refine production methods and optimize mix designs.
The Irradiation Effects in Ferritic, Ferritic–Martensitic and Austenitic Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Alloys: A Review
Authors: Luptáková Natália , Svoboda Jiří , Bártková Denisa , Weiser Adam , Dlouhý Antonín
Published: July 2024

High-performance structural materials (HPSMs) are needed for the successful and safe design of fission and fusion reactors. Their operation is associated with unprecedented fluxes of high-energy neutrons and thermomechanical loadings. In fission reactors, HPSMs are used, e.g., for fuel claddings, core internal structural components and reactor pressure vessels. Even stronger requirements are expected for fourth-generation supercritical water fission reactors, with a particular focus on the HPSM’s corrosion resistance. The first wall and blanket structural materials in fusion reactors are subjected not only to high energy neutron irradiation, but also to strong mechanical, heat and electromagnetic loadings. This paper presents a historical and state-of-the-art summary focused on the properties and application potential of irradiation-resistant alloys predominantly strengthened by an oxide dispersion. These alloys are categorized according to their matrix as ferritic, ferritic–martensitic and austenitic. Low void swelling, high-temperature He embrittlement, thermal and irradiation hardening and creep are typical phenomena most usually studied in ferritic and ferritic martensitic oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys. In contrast, austenitic ODS alloys exhibit an increased corrosion and oxidation resistance and a higher creep resistance at elevated temperatures. This is why the advantages and drawbacks of each matrix-type ODS are discussed in this paper.
Performance Optimization and Simulation Test of No-Tillage Corn Precision Planter Based on Discrete Element Method (DEM)
Authors: Yang Jingyu , Wu Hailong , Guo Anfu , Rugerinyange Regis , Liu Chang , Zhao Zhengyu , Han Wenchao , Yin Lvfa
Published: July 2024

In order to test the influence of the structural design of a no-tillage corn precision planter on vibration stability performance, a vibration model was constructed with the help of MATLAB/Simulink, and it was concluded that the vibration response curve of the no-tillage corn precision planter was relatively smooth. Based on the theory of the discrete element method (DEM), taking the planting apparatus of the no-tillage corn precision planter as the research object, firstly, a DEM single-factor test was carried out to investigate the effects of the slot inclination angle, number of slots, and rotational speed of the planter plate on the disturbance performance. Then, a three-factor, three-level orthogonal test was conducted with the maximum amount of seed discharging, the minimum average speed, and the minimum average kinetic energy as the final optimization objectives, and the qualified rate of seed discharging and the leakage rate as the evaluation indexes. The results show that the larger the inclination angle, the higher the number of slots, and the faster the rotational speed, the more violent the particle disturbance. At the same time, when the slot inclination angle of the planter plate is 60°, the number of slots is 20, and the rotational speed is 55 rpm, the seed discharge efficiency is the highest, at this time, the seed discharge qualification rate of maize particles is 95%, and the leakage rate is 3%; the results of this test can provide technical support for the research of the same kind of precision sowing equipment in the future.