bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasensitive, Label-Free Voltammetric Detection of Dibutyl Phthalate Based on Poly-l-lysine/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-porous Graphene Nanocomposite and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers
Authors: Zhang Chuanxiang , Li Song , Tang Lingxiao , Li Shuo , Hu Changchun , Zhang Dan , Chao Long , Liu Xueying , Tan Yimin , Deng Yan
Published: February 2024

Development of an efficient technique for accurate and sensitive dibutyl phthalate (DBP) determination is crucial for food safety and environment protection. An ultrasensitive molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) voltammetric sensor was herein engineered for the specific determination of DBP using poly-l-lysine/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/porous graphene nanocomposite (PLL/PEDOT−PG) and poly(o-phenylenediamine)-imprinted film as a label-free and sensing platform. Fabrication of PEDOT−PG nanocomposites was achieved through a simple liquid–liquid interfacial polymerization. Subsequently, poly-l-lysine (PLL) functionalization was employed to enhance the dispersibility and stability of the prepared PEDOT−PG, as well as promote its adhesion on the sensor surface. In the presence of DBP, the imprinted poly(o-phenylenediamine) film was formed on the surface of PLL/PEDOT−PG. Investigation of the physical properties and electrochemical behavior of the MIP/PLL/PEDOT−PG indicates that the incorporation of PG into PEDOT, with PLL uniformly wrapping its surface, significantly enhanced conductivity, carrier mobility, stability, and provided a larger surface area for specific recognition sites. Under optimal experimental conditions, the electrochemical response exhibited a linear relationship with a logarithm of DBP concentration within the range of 1 fM to 5 µM, with the detection limit as low as 0.88 fM. The method demonstrated exceptional stability and repeatability and has been successfully applied to quantify DBP in plastic packaging materials.
The Effect of Emotional Labor on Psychological Well-Being in the Context of South Korean Firefighters: The Moderating Role of Transformational Leadership
Authors: Lim Jaeyoung , Moon Kuk-Kyoung
Published: February 2024

Drawing on insights from the conservation of resources theory and the job demands–resources theory, our study investigates the association between two types of emotional labor—surface and deep acting—and the psychological well-being of firefighters. In addition, it investigates the moderating effect of transformational leadership within this context. To this end, this study utilizes ordinary least squares models to analyze survey data from 1453 firefighters in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea’s largest province by population. The findings reveal a negative association between both types of emotional labor and the psychological well-being of firefighters. The study further demonstrates that transformational leadership mitigates the adverse effects of surface acting on psychological well-being. Our research indicates that transformational leadership plays a pivotal role in replenishing lost emotional resources, thereby enhancing the mental and emotional health of those engaged in demanding roles such as firefighting and emergency medical services. Accordingly, the study highlights a vital strategy for maintaining the psychological well-being of firefighters.
Could Having Access to Real-Time Data on Your Emotions Influence Subsequent Behavior? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Japanese Office Workers
Authors: Kadoya Yoshihiko , Fukuda Sayaka , Khan Mostafa Saidur Rahim
Published: February 2024

Improvements in mental health through real-time feedback on emotions have consequences for productivity and employee wellness. However, we find few extant studies on how real-time feedback on emotions can influence subsequent behavior modification in the Japanese workplace. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 30 employees of an insurance company in Japan and observed their emotions for 10 working days using a wearable biometric device. We compared the emotions of employees who had access to real-time emotional states (treatment group) with those of employees who did not (control group). The results of the panel regression analysis showed that access to real-time emotions was negatively associated with happy emotions and positively associated with angry and sad emotions. The results indicated that even after having access to the objective statuses of emotions, participants were unable to continue with happy emotions and reverse angry and sad emotions to other comfortable emotions. Our findings imply that feedback on real-time emotional states should be associated with appropriate training and motivation to utilize feedback for behavioral modification.
The Utilization of Crushed Corn Cob as a Sand Substitute in Portland Cement Mortars for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Torre Ana , Ramirez Sorin , Moromi Isabel , Basurto Ladislao , Reyes Carmen
Published: February 2024

The utilization of mineralized sandy shredded corn cob (SCC) as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in Portland cement mortars (PM) presents an innovative opportunity for sustainable construction and organic waste reutilization. This study aims to assess the impact of SCC, with granulometric variations G1 and G2, on eight mortar formulations (PM, SCC-G1-5%, SCC-G1-10%; SCC-G2-5%, SCC-G2-10%, SCC-G2-15%, SCC-G2-20%, and SCC-G2-30%) with a consistent water-to-cement ratio of 0.55. Fresh-state properties (flowability, temperature, pH, unit weight, and setting time) and hardened-state characteristics (compressive strength at 4, 7, 14, and 28 days) were evaluated. Notably, flowability decreased by 90% for G2 designs with up to 15% SCC, unit weight decreased by up to 12% with SCC-G2-30%, setting time was delayed, and compressive strength for all SCC mortars up to 20% exceeded 21.9 MPa. In conclusion, the partial replacement of sand with a G2 particle-size distribution of SCC is feasible, with an optimal performance observed in SCC-G2-5%.
Evolution of Laboratory Diagnosis of Tuberculosis
Authors: Zaporojan Natalia , Negrean Rodica Anamaria , Hodișan Ramona , Zaporojan Claudiu , Csep Andrei , Zaha Dana Carmen
Published: February 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of global public health importance caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, this disease has worsened with the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of tuberculosis. We aim to present and review the history, progress, and future directions in the diagnosis of tuberculosis by evaluating the current methods of laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis, with a special emphasis on microscopic examination and cultivation on solid and liquid media, as well as an approach to molecular assays. The microscopic method, although widely used, has its limitations, and the use and evaluation of other techniques are essential for a complete and accurate diagnosis. Bacterial cultures, both in solid and liquid media, are essential methods in the diagnosis of TB. Culture on a solid medium provides specificity and accuracy, while culture on a liquid medium brings rapidity and increased sensitivity. Molecular tests such as LPA and Xpert MTB/RIF have been found to offer significant benefits in the rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB, including drug-resistant forms. These tests allow the identification of resistance mutations and provide essential information for choosing the right treatment. We conclude that combined diagnostic methods, using several techniques and approaches, provide the best result in the laboratory diagnosis of TB. Improving the quality and accessibility of tests, as well as the implementation of advanced technologies, is essential to help improve the sensitivity, efficiency, and accuracy of TB diagnosis.
Effect of Y2O3 Concentration on the Surface and Bulk Crystallization of Multicomponent Silicate Glasses
Authors: Beniaiche Akram , Tamayo Aitana , Belkhir Nabil , Rubio Fausto , Chorfa Abdellah , Rubio Juan
Published: February 2024

Multicomponent silicate glasses are crystallized by Y2O3 addition. Depending on the Y2O3 concentration, different crystalline phases evolve. In the absence of Y2O3, a multicomponent glass crystallizes as ZnSnO3, while with the addition of just 3% of this oxide, ZnSnO3 no longer crystallizes and ZrSiO4 appears instead. Different yttrium silicate crystals are formed in all glasses containing Y2O3, but, while α-Y2Si2O7 and β-Y2Si2O7 are favored at low Y2O3 concentrations, the γ-Y2Si2O7 and y-Y2Si2O7 phases are favored at the maximum Y2O3 content. At a 12% Y2O3 concentration, barium and calcium silicate crystalline phases also evolve. Interestingly, the crystalline phases appearing on the surface of the material present different microstructures compared to crystals developed in the bulk. While the crystallized surface presents a tabular-shape type, crystallization in the bulk is of a prismatic type at low Y2O3 concentrations and of a globular (spherical) type at higher concentrations. The main crystal size ranges between 0.85 and 0.75 micrometers, but most of the crystals coalesce to form larger superstructures depending on the Y2O3 concentrations.
Spatially Resolved Microglia/Macrophages in Recurrent Glioblastomas Overexpress Fatty Acid Metabolism and Phagocytic Genes
Authors: Mistry Akshitkumar M. , Daneshmand Jonah , Seo SeonYeong Jamie , Lehman Norman L. , Miller Donald M. , Goodin Dylan A. , Frieboes Hermann B. , Chen Joseph , Masters Adrianna , Williams Brian J. , Yaddanapudi Kavitha
Published: February 2024

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) tumors are rich in tumor-associated microglia/macrophages. Changes associated with treatment in this specific cell population are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied changes in gene expression of tumor-associated microglia/macrophages (Iba1+) cells in de novo versus recurrent GBMs. Methods: NanoString GeoMx® Digital Spatial Transcriptomic Profiling of microglia/macrophages (Iba1+) and glial cells (Gfap+) cells identified on tumor sections was performed on paired de novo and recurrent samples obtained from three IDH-wildtype GBM patients. The impact of differentially expressed genes on patient survival was evaluated using publicly available data. Results: Unsupervised analyses of the NanoString GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiling data revealed clustering based on the transcriptomic data from Iba1+ and Gfap+ cells. As expected, conventional differential gene expression and enrichment analyses revealed upregulation of immune-function-related genes in Iba1+ cells compared to Gfap+ cells. A focused differential gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of phagocytosis and fatty acid/lipid metabolism genes in Iba1+ cells in recurrent GBM samples compared to de novo GBM samples. Importantly, of these genes, the lipid metabolism gene PLD3 consistently correlated with survival in multiple different publicly available datasets. Conclusion: Tumor-associated microglia/macrophages in recurrent GBM overexpress genes involved in fatty acid/lipid metabolism. Further investigation is needed to fully delineate the role of PLD phospholipases in GBM progression.
Chorioretinitis among Immigrant and Travellers. Comment on Mansour et al. Presumed Onchocerciasis Chorioretinitis Spilling over into North America, Europe and Middle East. Diagnostics 2023, 13, 3626
Authors: Otiti-Sengeri Juliet , Sube Kenneth Lado Lino , Siewe Fodjo Joseph Nelson , Otabil Kenneth Bentum , Colebunders Robert
Published: February 2024

We read, with interest, the paper by Mansour et al [...]
Radiomics-Based Prediction of Collateral Status from CT Angiography of Patients Following a Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke
Authors: Avery Emily W. , Abou-Karam Anthony , Abi-Fadel Sandra , Behland Jonas , Mak Adrian , Haider Stefan P. , Zeevi Tal , Sanelli Pina C. , Filippi Christopher G. , Malhotra Ajay , Matouk Charles C. , Falcone Guido J. , Petersen Nils , Sansing Lauren H. , Sheth Kevin N. , Payabvash Seyedmehdi
Published: February 2024

Background: A major driver of individual variation in long-term outcomes following a large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is the degree of collateral arterial circulation. We aimed to develop and evaluate machine-learning models that quantify LVO collateral status using admission computed tomography angiography (CTA) radiomics. Methods: We extracted 1116 radiomic features from the anterior circulation territories from admission CTAs of 600 patients experiencing an acute LVO stroke. We trained and validated multiple machine-learning models for the prediction of collateral status based on consensus from two neuroradiologists as ground truth. Models were first trained to predict (1) good vs. intermediate or poor, or (2) good vs. intermediate or poor collateral status. Then, model predictions were combined to determine a three-tier collateral score (good, intermediate, or poor). We used the receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate prediction accuracy. Results: We included 499 patients in training and 101 in an independent test cohort. The best-performing models achieved an averaged cross-validation AUC of 0.80 ± 0.05 for poor vs. intermediate/good collateral and 0.69 ± 0.05 for good vs. intermediate/poor, and AUC = 0.77 (0.67–0.87) and AUC = 0.78 (0.70–0.90) in the independent test cohort, respectively. The collateral scores predicted by the radiomics model were correlated with (rho = 0.45, p = 0.002) and were independent predictors of 3-month clinical outcome (p = 0.018) in the independent test cohort. Conclusions: Automated tools for the assessment of collateral status from admission CTA—such as the radiomics models described here—can generate clinically relevant and reproducible collateral scores to facilitate a timely treatment triage in patients experiencing an acute LVO stroke.
Developing a Project-Based Learning Course Model Combined with the Think–Pair–Share Strategy to Enhance Creative Thinking Skills in Education Students
Authors: Li Meng-Meng , Tu Chia-Ching
Published: February 2024

The aim of this research was to produce a project-based learning (PjBL) course model that combines with the Think–Pair–Share (TPS) strategy and to determine its effectiveness in improving the creative thinking skills of education students. The sample of participants comprised 100 students from a university in Bangkok, Thailand. Five main elements comprised the PjBL-TPS course: 1. Project Preparation (including an introduction, pairs formation, and an understanding of the project); 2. Project Pair Cooperation (including discussion, knowledge framework development in pairs, practice analysis, brainstorming, and pair feedback); 3. Project Production (including its development, testing, refinement, and presentation); 4. Project Evaluation (including giving feedback on the work of the other pairs); and 5. Project Conclusion (including reflecting on the overall experience of the project). The results show that, in their post-course exercises, the students displayed enhanced creativity in all areas of creative skills (involving fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration). The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher creativity levels compared to the control group. In addition, the post-course assessments of the self-perceived creativity improvements of the students revealed that, post-course, most of the students perceived improvements in every aspect of their creativity.
Urban Rail System Modeling and Simulation Based on Dynamic Train Density
Authors: Yu Xinyang , Wang Xin , Qin Yuxin
Published: February 2024

To further improve the simulation calculation ability of urban rail traction systems during the peak operation period and provide an accurate and reliable simulation tool for the subsequent train schedule and energy storage system design, a multi-train circuit model with a bilateral power supply was established in this paper, and a power calculation algorithm based on dynamic train density was designed. The circuit topology in the model can be dynamically adjusted according to the number of trains to improve the operation rate. Based on the spatial and electrical data of a real section of the subway, the urban rail circuit model was built on the MATLAB platform, and the actual operation data of the subway was imported for verification. The experimental results show that the multi-train model can accurately reflect the influence of voltage fluctuations on the traction system under different train running conditions, and the results fit the actual operation conditions. By comparing the influence of different train intervals on the RBE (regenerative braking energy) utilization, the results show that the optimal RBE utilization rate can be achieved by adjusting the train interval in the peak period.
Multi-Modal Sarcasm Detection with Sentiment Word Embedding
Authors: Fu Hao , Liu Hao , Wang Hongling , Xu Linyan , Lin Jiali , Jiang Dazhi
Published: February 2024

Sarcasm poses a significant challenge for detection due to its unique linguistic phenomenon where the intended meaning is often opposite of the literal expression. Current sarcasm detection technology primarily utilizes multi-modal processing, but the connotative semantic information provided by the modality itself is limited. It is a challenge to mine the semantic information contained in the combination of sarcasm samples and external commonsense knowledge. Furthermore, as the essence of sarcasm detection lies in measuring emotional inconsistency, the rich semantic information may introduce excessive noise to inconsistency measurement. To mitigate these limitations, we propose a hierarchical framework in this paper. Specifically, to enrich the semantic information of each modality, our approach uses sentiment dictionaries to obtain the sentiment vectors by evaluating the words extracted from various modalities, and then combines them with each modality. Furthermore, in order to mine the joint semantic information implied in the modalities and improve measurement of emotional inconsistency, the emotional information representation obtained by fusing each modality’s data is concatenated with the sentiment vector. Then, cross-modal fusion is performed through cross-attention, and, finally, the sarcasm is recognized by fusing low-level information in the cross-modal fusion layer. Our model is evaluated on a public multi-modal sarcasm detection dataset based on Twitter, and the results demonstrate its superiority.
RETRACTED: Aljohani et al. A Novel Deep Learning CNN for Heart Valve Disease Classification Using Valve Sound Detection. Electronics 2023, 12, 846
Authors: Aljohani Randa , Hosni Mahmoud Hanan , Hafez Alaaeldin , Bayoumi Magdy
Published: February 2024

The Electronics Editorial Office retracts the article, “A Novel Deep Learning CNN for Heart Valve Disease Classification Using Valve Sound Detection” [...]
Critical Review on the Sustainability of Electric Vehicles: Addressing Challenges without Interfering in Market Trends
Authors: Obrador Rey Sergi , Canals Casals Lluc , Gevorkov Levon , Cremades Oliver Lázaro , Trilla Lluís
Published: February 2024

The primary focus in electrifying the transportation sector should be sustainability. This can be effectively attained through the application of the seven eco-efficiency principles, which constitute the global standard for assessing the sustainability of products. Consequently, this framework should guide the development of current electric vehicle designs. The first section of the present article assesses the alignment of the automotive industry with these sustainability requirements. Results show that even though the electric vehicle promotes the use of cleaner energy resources, it falls short of adhering to the remaining principles. The implementation of advanced models in battery management systems holds great potential to enhance lithium-ion battery systems’ overall performance, increasing the durability of the batteries and their intensity of use. While many studies focus on improving current electric equivalent models, this research delves into the potential applicability of Reduced-Order Model techniques for physics-based models within a battery management systems context to determine the different health, charge, or other estimations. This study sets the baseline for further investigations aimed at enhancing the reduced-order physics-based modeling field. A research line should be aimed at developing advanced and improved cell-state indicators, with enhanced physical insight, for various lithium-ion battery applications.
Frequency Security Control Technology for Simulated Wind Storage Integrated Power Grid
Authors: Li Weichao , Wu Shouyuan , Zhang Feng , Shao Ning
Published: February 2024

Electronic control strategies are pivotal in the evolution of power systems, which have higher requirements for power leveling and optimization, frequency safety, and frequency stability. In contrast, the core objectives of existing energy storage services are mostly limited to one function, which cannot fully meet the operational requirements of power systems. This paper presents research on a frequency security controller based on digital twin technology and aimed to enhance the safety of the system. The proposed controller can simultaneously smooth out active wind power fluctuations and optimize reactive power, participate in system frequency regulation, and improve system damping to damp low-frequency oscillations based on simulating the actual operating environment. Simulations also verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller in DIgSILENT/PowerFactory based on a two-area system. This active/reactive power-based system support service will bring new economic benefits to wind energy storage systems.
Edge-Bound Change Detection in Multisource Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Su Zhijuan , Wan Gang , Zhang Wenhua , Wei Zhanji , Wu Yitian , Liu Jia , Jia Yutong , Cong Dianwei , Yuan Lihuan
Published: February 2024

Detecting changes in multisource heterogeneous images is a great challenge for unsupervised change detection methods. Image-translation-based methods, which transform two images to be homogeneous for comparison, have become a mainstream approach. However, most of them primarily rely on information from unchanged regions, resulting in networks that cannot fully capture the connection between two heterogeneous representations. Moreover, the lack of a priori information and sufficient training data makes the training vulnerable to the interference of changed pixels. In this paper, we propose an edge-oriented generative adversarial network (EO-GAN) for change detection that indirectly translates images using edge information, which serves as a core and stable link between heterogeneous representations. The EO-GAN is composed of an edge extraction network and a reconstructive network. During the training process, we ensure that the edges extracted from heterogeneous images are as similar as possible through supplemented data based on superpixel segmentation. Experimental results on both heterogeneous and homogeneous datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Bad Data Repair for New Energy Stations in Power System Based on Multi-Model Parallel Integration Approach
Authors: Li Chenghao , Liu Mingyang , Gao Ze , Wang Yi , Tian Chunsun
Published: February 2024

The accurate and reliable acquisition of measurement information is very important for the stable operation of power systems, especially the operation status information of new energy stations. With the increasing proportion of new energy stations in power systems, the quality issues of data from these stations, caused by communication congestion, interference, and network attacks, become more pronounced. In this paper, to deal with the issue of low accuracy and poor performance of bad data restoration in new energy stations, a novel deep learning approach by combining the modified long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network and Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty (WGAN-GP) is proposed. The proposed method can be implemented in a parallel ensemble way. First, the normal data set acquired from multiple sections of new energy stations is utilized to train the modified LSTM and WGAN-GP model. Secondly, according to the data characteristics and rules captured by each model, the two models are systematically integrated and the bad data repair model pool is constructed. Subsequently, the results of model repair are screened and merged twice by the parallel integration framework to obtain the final repair result. Finally, the extensive experiments are carried out to verify the proposed method. The simulative results of energy stations in a real provincial power grid demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively repair bad data, thereby enhancing the data quality of new energy stations.
Beamforming Optimization with the Assistance of Deep Learning in a Rate-Splitting Multiple-Access Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer System with a Power Beacon
Authors: Camana Mario R. , Garcia Carla E. , Koo Insoo
Published: February 2024

This study examined the implementation of rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA) in a multiple-input single-output system using simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) technology. The coexistence of a base station and a power beacon was considered, aiming to transmit information and energy to two sets of users. One set comprises users who solely harvest energy, whereas the other can decode information and energy using a power-splitting (PS) structure. The main objective of this optimization was to minimize the total transmit power of the system while satisfying the rate requirements for PS users and ensuring minimum energy harvesting (EH) for both PS and EH users. The non-convex problem was addressed by dividing it into two subproblems. The first subproblem was solved using a deep learning-based scheme, combining principal component analysis and a deep neural network. The semidefinite relaxation method was used to solve the second subproblem. The proposed method offers lower computational complexity compared to traditional iterative-based approaches. The simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed scheme compared to traditional methods such as non-orthogonal multiple access and space-division multiple access. Furthermore, the ability of the proposed method to generalize was validated by assessing its effectiveness across several challenging scenarios.
Comparative Analysis of Acidic and Alkaline Pretreatment Techniques for Bioethanol Production from Perennial Grasses
Authors: Johannes Lovisa Panduleni , Xuan Tran Dang
Published: February 2024

This review paper examines acid and alkaline pretreatments on perennial grasses for second-generation (2G) bioethanol production, a relatively unexplored area in this field. It compares the efficiency of these pretreatments in producing fermentable sugar and bioethanol yield. This study finds that alkaline pretreatment is more effective than acidic pretreatment in removing lignin and increasing sugar yield, leading to higher ethanol yields. However, it is costlier and requires longer reaction times than acidic pretreatment, while acidic pretreatment often leads to the formation of inhibitory compounds at higher temperatures, which is undesirable. The economic and environmental impacts of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) are also assessed. It is revealed that LCB has a lower carbon but higher water footprint and significant costs due to pretreatment compared to first-generation biofuels. This review further explores artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies in optimizing bioethanol production and identified the gap in literature regarding their application to pretreatment of perennial grasses. This review concludes that although perennial grasses hold promise for 2G bioethanol, the high costs and environmental challenges associated with LCB necessitate further research. This research should focus on integrating AI to optimize the pretreatment of LCB, thereby improving efficiency and sustainability in 2G biofuel production.
Estimation of the Region of Attraction of Polynomial Swing Equation Using Sum of Squares Theory
Authors: Li Jing , Wu Hao , Zhan Xianwen , Gan Deqiang
Published: February 2024

Estimation of the region of attraction of the power system using sum of squares (SOS) programming theory is investigated in this paper. Firstly, the Taylor expansion formula is applied to explore the inherent polynomial structure of the swing equation. The single machine projection equation for a multi-machine system is proposed based on the amplitude characteristic of the rotor angle response in decoupled space. Secondly, the theory of SOS programming originating from the polynomial system is derived, and the theory about estimation of the region of attraction for the differential algebraic system is summarized. Thirdly, the method for estimating the region of attraction for the polynomial swing equation based on a V-S two-stage iterative procedure is proposed. Finally, a single machine infinite bus power system, an IEEE 3-machine power system, and an IEEE 4-machine power system are employed to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method and analysis.
Cost-Driven Assessment of Technologies’ Potential to Reach Climate Neutrality in Energy-Intensive Industries
Authors: Nagovnak Peter , Rahnama Mobarakeh Maedeh , Diendorfer Christian , Thenius Gregor , Böhm Hans , Kienberger Thomas
Published: February 2024

Efforts towards climate neutrality in Europe must prioritise manufacturing industries, particularly the energy-intensive industry (EII) subsectors. This work proposes a novel approach to assessing transformation options for EII subsectors. At the center of this approach we position a potential analysis of technologies’ impact on subsector decarbonisation—an approach only known so far from the investigation of renewable energy potentials. These so-called technical climate neutrality potentials, supplemented by a set of indicators taking into account energy consumption, capital and operational expenditures, and GHG taxation programs per technology and subsector, enable cross-sector comparisons. The indicators allow the reader to compare the impact on GHG emission mitigation, energy demand, and cost for every considered technology. At the same time, we keep an open mind regarding combinations of technological solutions in the overall energy system. This ensures that the technology pathways with the greatest climate neutrality potential are easily identified. These focal points can subsequently serve in, e.g., narrative-driven scenario analyses to define comprehensive guides for action for policymakers. A case study of Austria for the proposed potential analysis demonstrates that bio-CH4 and electrolysis-derived H2 are the most economical green gases, but GHG certificate costs will be necessary for cost-competitiveness in high-temperature applications. Electrification offers advantages over conventional technologies and CO2-neutral gas alternatives in low-to-mid temperature ranges. Under the given assumptions, including GHG emission certificate costs of 250 EUR/t CO2, alternative technologies in the identified climate neutrality pathways can operate at total annual costs comparable to conventional fossil-based equivalents.
Scour Protection Measures for Offshore Wind Turbines: A Systematic Literature Review on Recent Developments
Authors: Wei Wenhui , Malekjafarian Abdollah , Salauddin M.
Published: February 2024

Offshore wind energy is considered as one of the most promising resources of clean and renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. Additionally, its cost is expected to be lower than onshore wind energy as the technology matures. Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) normally operate in harsh ocean environments, which could impact their structural integrity. Scour erosion around foundations of OWTs can substantially change the overall stiffness of these structures and shorten their lifetime. Currently, there are a limited number of studies on countermeasures and their engineering requirements for decreasing the scouring effect; this is due to their different hydraulic circumstances, such as their stability, reliability, and resistance capacity. To this end, advancements in scour protection measures in the offshore energy sector are evaluated in this paper through a thorough and critical review following the PRISMA systematic literature mapping approach. This includes 68 papers on scour protection and over 30 scour protection designs for various types of wind turbine foundations. Here, we aim to provide an overview of the latest scouring protection measures and their comprehensive assessment, as well as their prospects and future challenges. The findings of this study will provide key insights into scour protection measures for OWTs and will subsequently contribute to the future growth of the offshore renewable energy sector.
Simulation Study on Temperature and Stress and Deformation on Encapsulated Surfaces under Spray Cooling
Authors: Peng Yuhang , Niu Zhi , Zhu Shiquan , Qi Tian , Lv Cai
Published: February 2024

Spray cooling is an effective heat dissipation technology and is widely used in the heat dissipation of encapsulated structures, but most of the research has only focused on the heat transfer performance itself and has lacked the analysis of surface stress and deformation. In this paper, a thermal stress coupling model was established under spray conditions, and the influence of spray parameters such as the spray height, spray flow, and nozzle inclination on heat transfer, surface stress, and deformation were studied. The result indicated that the lower the surface temperature, the smaller the stress and deformation. What is more, there was an optimal spray height (15 mm) to achieve the best heat transfer, and the surface stress and deformation were also minimal at the same time which the values were 28.97 MPa and 4.24 × 10−3 mm, respectively. The larger the spray flow rate, the better the heat transfer effect and the smaller the surface stress and deformation. When the spray flow rate was 24.480 L/h, the minimum values of surface stress and deformation were 25.42 MPa and 3.89 × 10−3 mm, respectively. The uniformity of surface stress distribution could be effectively improved with the increase in flow rate. Compared to 10 and 15 degree nozzle inclination, when the nozzle was perpendicular to the cooling surface, the surface stress and deformation were minimal.
A New Method for Calculating the Influx Index in Gas-Drive Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Kela-2 Gas Field
Authors: Han Donghuan , Jiang Tongwen , Xiong Wei , Gao Shusheng , Liu Huaxun , Ye Liyou , Zhu Wenqing , An Weiguo
Published: February 2024

The calculation of the influx index is one of the most contentious issues in dynamic reserve evaluation of gas reservoirs’ development. For the influx index, it is key to obtain information on the pore compressibility coefficient under realistic gas reservoir pressure. So far, little is known about the assessment of the pore compressibility coefficient at a laboratory scale. Here, we combine observations of gas flowmeter, ISCO booster pump, intermediate container, and rock samples to quantify the pore compressibility coefficient from the KL2-13 well in the Kela-2 reservoir. Additionally, the iterative method (combined the static and dynamic methods) is proposed based on the experimentally obtained pore compressibility coefficient (Cf), dynamic reserve (G), water body multiple (β), and material balance equation to calculate the influx index. The combined iterative method adjusts the values of G and N by comparing the results of the static and dynamic methods, and iteratively corrects Cf using a binary search method until the results of the static and dynamic methods are consistent. The results of our study reveal that the influx index calculated by the dynamic and static methods was consistent, and the gas production per unit pressure drop matched the actual production. These results strongly suggest that there exists a correlation between formation pressure and the influx index, wherein the latter exhibits a gradual decrease as the former decreases. Conversely, the displacement index of both the rock and connate water do not demonstrate a significant dependence on pressure. Furthermore, the impact of pressure on the pore compressibility factor and reservoir water compressibility factor appears to be minimal. These findings hold substantial implications for understanding the behavior of gas reservoirs under varying pressure conditions.
Evaluating the Impact of Using HEFA Fuel on the Particulate Matter Emissions from a Turbine Engine
Authors: Jasiński Remigiusz , Przysowa Radosław
Published: February 2024

The dynamically growing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry and the implemented European policy create the need for conducting research on the actual benefits of using alternative fuels in aviation. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) fuel on the particulate matter emission indicators of an aircraft engine. This article presents the results of the measurements of particle emissions from a jet engine fueled by a blend of aviation kerosene and HEFA fuel (with HEFA content at 5%, 20%, and 30% by volume). A positive effect of HEFA on both the number and mass indices of particles was observed. The use of SAF fuel led to a reduction in the particulate number index by 90% and the particulate mass index by 75%. The Particle Number Emission Index (EIN) for an engine fueled with Jet A-1 exhibited values ranging from 5.23 × 1016 to 1.33 × 1017 particles per kilogram. The use of HEFA fuel (30% content) allowed for a reduction in the EIN to the range of 2.83 × 1015 to 1.04 × 1016 particles per kilogram. A detailed analysis of particle size distribution (PSD) for both the number and volume of particles was conducted. It was noted that neither the fuel composition nor the engine operating parameters significantly affected the shape of the PSD, but the use of HEFA fuel distinctly reduced the values of the number-based PSD. It was observed that the volume-based PSD had a bimodal shape, indicating a significant contribution of particles larger than 100 nm, forming the so-called soot mode. Our findings suggest that even a small amount of HEFA fuel yields satisfactory results in reducing particulate matter emissions.
Asbestos Bodies in Human Lung: Localization of Iron and Carbon in the Coating
Authors: Croce Alessandro , Gatti Giorgio , Calisi Antonio , Cagna Laura , Bellis Donata , Bertolotti Marinella , Rinaudo Caterina , Maconi Antonio
Published: February 2024

Asbestos is a term that includes six fibrous mineral phases related to different lung diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM). Since the last century, these minerals have been widely studied under their mineralogical/chemical and physical aspects with in vivo and in vitro studies to understand the mechanisms of their carcinogenicity. There are several techniques described in the literature, as optical and electron microscopies, for the identification of coated (asbestos bodies, ABs) and uncoated fibers, but only micro-Raman spectroscopy permits a sure characterization of these minerals—and of the related phases—directly in the histological sections of pulmonary parenchyma without any manipulation. In this case, the risk of the loss of associated inorganic phases from asbestos bodies (ABs) and fibers (e.g.: iron or carbonaceous micro-particles) is avoided. Asbestos bodies are produced by the activity of alveolar macrophages with degradation/inactivation of asbestos fibers. Inside the alveolar macrophages, organic and inorganic material settles on the foreign fibers forming an iron-rich proteic and carbonaceous coating. In this study, Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy with annexed Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy (VP-SEM/EDS) and micro-Raman spectroscopy were applied to the characterization of the phases in the ABs. Characterization of carbonaceous materials (CMs), observed in pristine asbestos phases in previous works, was therefore performed, addressing the micro-Raman laser beam on different points of the asbestos bodies, and Raman mappings on ABs were carried out for the first time. Coupling the data obtained by VP-SEM/EDS and micro-Raman spectroscopy, it was possible to collect information about the iron and carbonaceous phases adhered to the fibers, probably lost during the classical tissue digestion procedures. Information about both mineral and carbonaceous components might be useful to understand the whole structure of “asbestos bodies” and the inflammogenic and carcinogenic effects of the asbestos phases coupled to CMs, that might derive from cigarette smoke or from environmental pollution; this study might be useful to deepen also the possible detrimental role of ABs in the tissues.
Seeps and Tectonic Structure of the Hydrothermal System of the Panarea Volcanic Complex (Aeolian Islands, Tyrrhenian Sea)
Authors: Spagnoli Federico , Romeo Teresa , Andaloro Franco , Canese Simonepietro , Esposito Valentina , Grassi Marco , Biscotti Erik Delos , Giordano Patrizia , Bortoluzzi Giovanni
Published: February 2024

High-definition bathymetry mapping, combined with the measurement of dissolved benthic fluxes and water column biogeochemical properties, allows for a description of new biogeochemical processes around the Panarea Volcanic island. Investigations focused on the CO2 releases from the bottom sea on the east of the Panarea volcanic complex provided insights into the geological setup of the marine area east and south of the Panarea Island. Between the Panarea Island and the Basiluzzo Islet lies a SW-NE-stretching graben structure where a central depression, the Smoking Land Valley, is bounded by extensional faults. Abundant acidic fluids rich in dissolved inorganic Carbon are released on the edges of the graben, along the extensional faults, either diffusely from the seafloor, from hydrothermal chimneys, or at the center of craters of different sizes. The precipitation of iron dissolved in the acidic fluids forms Fe-oxyhydroxides bottom sea crusts that act as a plug, thus preventing the release of the underlying gases until their mounting pressure generates a bursting release. This process is cyclic and results in intermittent gas release from the bottom, leaving extinct craters and quiescent chimneys. The measurement of dissolved benthic fluxes allowed us to estimate the volcanic DIC venting at 15 Mt of CO2 over the past 10,000 years. The fluxes are not distributed homogeneously but rather concentrate along fractures and fault planes, which facilitate their rise to the seafloor. The acidic fluids released affect the chemical properties and structure of the water column through the formation of layers with a lower pH under the pycnocline, which can limit volcanic CO2 release to the atmosphere. Further and continuous monitoring and investigation of the area are needed in order to complete a thorough picture of the variations in fluid releases through time and space. The importance of such monitoring lies in the development of a new method for detecting and quantifying the diffusive dissolved benthic fluxes on a volcanic sea bottom affected by hydrothermal seeps.
The Impact of Environmental Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene Exposure on Blood-Based DNA Methylation Profiles in Pregnant African American Women from Detroit
Authors: Straughen Jennifer K. , Loveless Ian , Chen Yalei , Burmeister Charlotte , Lamerato Lois , Lemke Lawrence D. , O’Leary Brendan F. , Reiners John J. , Sperone F. Gianluca , Levin Albert M. , Cassidy-Bushrow Andrea E.
Published: February 2024

African American women in the United States have a high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. DNA methylation is a potential mechanism by which exposure to BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data are from the Maternal Stress Study, which recruited African American women in the second trimester of pregnancy from February 2009 to June 2010. DNA methylation was measured in archived DNA from venous blood collected in the second trimester. Trimester-specific exposure to airshed BTEX was estimated using maternal self-reported addresses and geospatial models of ambient air pollution developed as part of the Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium. Among the 64 women with exposure and outcome data available, 46 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were associated with BTEX exposure (FDR adjusted p-value < 0.05) using a DMR-based epigenome-wide association study approach. Overall, 89% of DMRs consistently exhibited hypomethylation with increasing BTEX exposure. Biological pathway analysis identified 11 enriched pathways, with the top 3 involving gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor signaling, oxytocin in brain signaling, and the gustation pathway. These findings highlight the potential impact of BTEX on DNA methylation in pregnant women.
Is COVID-19 as Lethal as the Spanish Flu? The Australian Experience in 1919 and 2020 and the Role of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs)
Authors: Vicziany Marika , Piterman Leon , Wattanapenpaiboon Naiyana
Published: February 2024

We conducted a comparative historical study to interrogate Professor Peter Doherty’s warning to Australians in April 2020 that ‘COVID-19 is just as lethal as the Spanish flu’. We identified the epicentres of both pandemics, namely, metropolitan Sydney in 1919 and metropolitan Melbourne in 2020 and compared the lethality of the Spanish Flu and COVID-19 in these two cities. Lethality was measured by the number and rate of hospital admissions, death rates, age-specific death rates and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs). Using these measures, we demonstrated the strikingly different waves of infection, their severity at various points in time and the cumulative impact of the viruses by the end of our study period, i.e., 30 September in 1919 and 2020. Hospital admissions and deaths from the Spanish Flu in 1919 were more than 30 times higher than those for COVID-19 in 2020. The ASMR per 100,000 population for the Spanish Flu was 383 compared to 7 for COVID-19: The former was about 55 times higher than the latter. These results suggest that the Spanish Flu was more lethal than COVID-19. Professor Doherty’s warning was perhaps taken seriously and that partly explains the findings of this study. Containing infection in 1919 and 2020 threw the burden on nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as ‘protective sequestration’ (quarantine), contact tracing, lockdowns and masks. It is likely that the persistent and detailed contact tracing scheme provides the best possible explanation for why NPIs in 2020 were more effective than in 1919 and therefore contributed to the lower lethality of the COVID-19 pandemic in its first year.