bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Lithium Storage Performance of Si/C Composites as Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries: A Review
Authors: Liu Jingbo , Liu Yanxia , Guo Zhenzhen , Qian Cheng , Liu Fan , Chai Fengtao , Zhao Chongchong , Huo Feng
Published: December 2024

Silicon offers a theoretical specific capacity of up to 4200 mAh g−1, positioning it as one of the most promising materials for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, during lithium insertion and deinsertion, Si undergoes significant volume expansion, leading to rapid capacity degradation, which has limited its application as an anode material in LIBs. To address this issue, coupling Si with carbon enables the combination of the high lithiation capacity of Si with the excellent mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of carbon. This synergy makes silicon/carbon composites (Si/C) ideal candidates for LIB anodes. In this review, recent advancements in Si/C composite materials for LIBs are categorized based on synthesis methods and design principles. The review also summarizes the morphological characteristics and electrochemical performance of these materials. Additionally, other factors influencing the performance of Si/C anodes are discussed, and future development prospects for Si/C anodes are briefly explored.
Progress to Develop Globally Harmonized International Testing Standards for Large Outdoor Fires, Including Wildland‐Urban Interface Fires
Authors: Manzello Samuel L.
Published: December 2024

The wildland‐urban interface (WUI) fire problem continues to perplex governments around the world. The WUI fire situation is not becoming better across the earth and globally harmonized test standards are required to help lessen the destruction in the event of WUI fire disasters. In this brief overview, a review of activities undertaken in ISO TC92/WG14, the Large Outdoor Fires and the Built Environment Working Group, under ISO TC92, is provided. Specifically, the genesis of how this working group came to be formed is provided as well as an overview of current documents that have been published by ISO TC92 and developed by ISO TC92/WG14. The review closes with recently added new work items in ISO TC92/WG14 and some possible future challenges.
Vorschlag zur Beschreibung des einaxialen Druckverhaltens von hochverformbaren Dichtwandmassen im Modell der inneren Struktur
Authors: Ramler‐Kowollik Marcel , Quarg‐Vonscheidt Jürgen
Published: December 2024

Eine Arbeitsgruppe der DWA (Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e. V.) erarbeitet momentan Empfehlungen für die Planung und die Zusammensetzung von hydraulisch gebundenen, hochverformbaren Dichtwandmassen für den Einsatz im Wasserbau. Ein wichtiges Ziel ist die Ausnutzung des plastischen Materialverhaltens von hochverformbaren Dichtwandmassen. In diesem Kontext soll nachfolgend ein Vorschlag präsentiert werden, das plastische Spannungs‐Verformungsverhalten, speziell im einaxialen Druckversuch, über ein neuartiges „Modell der inneren Struktur“ zu beschreiben. Das „Modell der inneren Struktur“ in dieser Ausprägung greift grundlegende Beschreibungen aus Modellen zur gerichteten Lastweiterleitung anhand konkreter Kontaktorientierungen in trockenen granularen Haufwerken auf, welche speziell in Japan in den 1960er‐ und 1970er‐Jahren entwickelt wurden, und erweitert diese um einen Ansatz zur Berücksichtigung kohäsiver Materialeigenschaften.
Multi Layered Omics Approaches Reveal Glia Specific Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Future Prospects
Authors: İş Özkan , Min Yuhao , Wang Xue , Oatman Stephanie R. , Abraham Daniel Ann , Ertekin‐Taner Nilüfer
Published: December 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative dementia with multi‐layered complexity in its molecular etiology. Multiple omics‐based approaches, such as genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics are enabling researchers to dissect this molecular complexity, and to uncover a plethora of alterations yielding insights into the pathophysiology of this disease. These approaches reveal multi‐omics alterations essentially in all cell types of the brain, including glia. In this systematic review, we screen the literature for human studies implementing any omics approach within the last 10 years, to discover AD‐associated molecular perturbations in brain glial cells. The findings from over 200 AD‐related studies are reviewed under four different glial cell categories: microglia, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and brain vascular cells. Under each category, we summarize the shared and unique molecular alterations identified in glial cells through complementary omics approaches. We discuss the implications of these findings for the development, progression and ultimately treatment of this complex disease as well as directions for future omics studies in glia cells.
Insuring for cyclone events: What matters to small business owners?
Authors: Edobor Edeoba W. , Marshall Maria I. , Katare Bhagyashree , Valdivia Corinne
Published: December 2024

Using a discrete choice experiment, we examined the impact of previous disaster experiences, charity hazard, and temporal orientation on willingness to pay (WTP) for hypothetical cyclone insurance. We found that business owners preferred policies that covered flood, windstorm, and business interruption regardless of the combination. They also preferred shorter waiting periods and higher coverage levels. Respondents who had previously experienced cyclones were more willing to pay for the presented insurance policies than those who had not. Furthermore, future‐orientated owners were more likely to pay for the presented policies, while charity hazard was positively correlated with WTP for government‐provided insurance.
Factors associated with DPP4i or SGLT2i utilisation: a retrospective cohort study among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Sim Ruth , Chong Chun Wie , Loganadan Navin Kumar , Adam Noor Lita , Hussein Zanariah , Lee Shaun Wen Huey
Published: December 2024

Background

Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (DPP4i) and sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are increasingly used as glucose‐lowering therapies in Malaysia.

Aim

To examine factors associated with the initiation of DPP4i or SGLT2i among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Malaysia.

Method

A retrospective cohort study was conducted from 1 January 2012–30 December 2020 in two tertiary Malaysian hospitals. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with DPP4i or SGLT2i initiation. The impact of treatment initiation on glycaemic control, anthropometric and lipid levels at 6 and 12 months were also measured. Ethical approval was granted by the Malaysian National Medical Research Register (Reference no: NMRR‐20‐662‐52570), the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference no: 2020‐24900‐45575), the Ministry of Health Malaysia Medical Research and Ethics Committee, and the study conforms with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results

This study included 1628 patients. Patients with co‐existing dyslipidaemia (odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.73), cardiovascular disease (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.1–1.87), and microalbuminuria (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.42–4.3), with ≥5‐year history of T2DM (years of T2DM 5–14 OR 1.67, 95% CI1.18–2.38; years of T2DM ≥15 OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.39–3.07), who had a body weight of ≥100 kg (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.26–2.45), and baseline use of three or more glucose‐lowering medicines (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.74–4.91) had higher odds of being prescribed with SGLT2i. Patients aged ≥65 years old (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50–0.93), presented with a family history of diabetes (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47–0.89), an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (eGFR 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m2 OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39–0.90; eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34–0.87), with serum creatinine ≥120 μmol/L (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.17–0.58), and had baseline usage of sulfonylureas (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.19–0.4) and insulin (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.35–0.72) were more likely to receive DPP4i. Glycated haemoglobin of patients receiving these medicines reduced significantly at 6 months (DPP4i: −0.61%, p < 0.001; SGLT2i: −0.66%, p < 0.001) and 12 months (DPP4i: −0.62%, p < 0.001; SGLT2i: −0.74%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Treatment choice with pharmacotherapy was associated with many clinical risk factors presented by patients.
Consumer attitudes, willingness to pay and hedonic evaluations of innovative legume gnocchi products
Authors: Mustapa Muhammad Adzran Che , Kallas Zein , López‐Mas Laura , Alamprese Cristina , Contiero Silvia , Aguiló‐Aguayo Ingrid
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

With growing concerns over the adverse effects of animal‐derived products on health, animal welfare and the environment, the rising popularity of plant‐based foods underscores the importance of understanding consumer preferences and determining acceptance. The present study takes the form of a case study that utilized innovative legume‐based flours to develop multiple gnocchi products. The Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) mechanism as an auction method was employed to elicit consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) following a hedonic evaluation test involving 127 Spanish consumers.

RESULTS

The findings indicate that a majority of consumers exhibit a high level of environmental concern, coupled with increased trust in, as well as perceptions of, the benefits of consuming plant‐based products. However, they demonstrated moderate attitudes with regard to plant‐based products. Notably, product sample tasting had a negative impact on consumers’ WTP for legume‐based gnocchi. The respondents' education level, income, financial situation, government support, environmental concerns, perceived risks, flavor and color significantly influenced consumers’ WTP.

CONCLUSION

The present study offers initial insights into consumer attitudes and WTP for legume‐based products in Spain. The findings are of relevance for producers and marketers aiming to promote environmentally‐sustainable food production and consumption. They may also play a pivotal role in facilitating the successful introduction and sale of such plant‐based products in the Spanish market. Going forward, addressing any limitations of this study and exploring further research avenues will be crucial for refining our understanding of consumer behavior in this context. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Clinical Effects and Response Time of Biological Drugs in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps Patients: Real‐life Experience
Authors: De Santis Sante , Galassi Stefania , Cambi Jacopo
Published: December 2024

Objective

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) is a challenging condition often managed with biologic therapies. This study compares the clinical effects and response times of dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab in Italian patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP.

Methods

This bicentric, retrospective study included 33 patients treated at two Italian hospitals between April and December 2023. Inclusion criteria followed EPOS 2020 guidelines, focusing on adults with bilateral polyposis, history of endoscopic sinus surgery, and evidence of type 2 inflammation. Patients self‐administered biologics according to AIFA protocols. Outcomes were assessed using SNOT‐22 for quality of life, Nasal Polyp Score (NPS) for polyp size, and Sniffin’ Sticks‐12 for olfactory function at baseline, 4 weeks, 3, 6, and 9 months.

Results

All three treatment groups (dupilumab, omalizumab, mepolizumab) showed significant improvements in SNOT‐22 scores from baseline to 9 months, with no significant differences between groups. Dupilumab showed the most rapid and sustained improvement in NPS, with significant reductions observed from 4 weeks onward. Both omalizumab and mepolizumab showed significant NPS reductions by 6 months. Olfactory function improved significantly in the dupilumab group, with a notable decrease in anosmic patients from 64.3% to 28.6% at 9 months. Asthma control, measured by Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, improved across all groups.

Conclusion

Dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab significantly improve quality of life and reduce nasal polyp size in CRSwNP patients, with dupilumab showing the fastest response. These findings support the effectiveness of biologics in real‐world settings for managing severe CRSwNP.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 2024
An In‐Depth Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Ovarian Follicle Proteome Reveals Coordinated Changes Across Diverse Cellular Processes during the Transition From Primary to Secondary Growth
Authors: Timmins‐Schiffman Emma , Telish Jennifer , Field Chelsea , Monson Chris , Guzmán José M. , Nunn Brook L. , Young Graham , Forsgren Kristy
Published: December 2024

Teleost fishes are a highly diverse, ecologically essential group of aquatic vertebrates that include coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Coho are semelparous and all ovarian follicles develop synchronously. Owing to their ubiquitous distribution, teleosts provide critical sources of food worldwide through subsistence, commercial fisheries, and aquaculture. Enhancement of hatchery practices requires detailed knowledge of teleost reproductive physiology. Despite decades of research on teleost reproductive processes, an in‐depth proteome of teleost ovarian development has yet to be generated. We have described a coho salmon ovarian proteome of over 5700 proteins, generated with data independent acquisition, revealing the proteins that change through the transition from primary to secondary ovarian follicle development. This transition is critical during the onset of puberty and for determining egg quality and embryonic development. Primary follicle development was marked by differential abundances of proteins in carbohydrate metabolism, protein turnover, and the complement pathway, suggesting elevated metabolism as the follicles develop through stages of oogenesis. The greatest proteomic shift occurred during the transition from primary to secondary follicle growth, with increased abundance of proteins underlying cortical alveoli formation, extracellular matrix reorganization, iron binding, and cell–cell signaling. This work provides a foundation for identifying biomarkers of salmon oocyte stage and quality.
Anthromes and forest carbon responses to global change
Authors: Hogan J. Aaron , Lichstein Jeremy W. , Helmer Eileen H. , Craig Matthew E. , Fricke Evan , Henrich Viola , Kannenberg Steven A. , Koven Charles D. , Goldewjik Kees Klein , Lapola David M. , Li Yue , Malhi Yadvinder , Quinn John , Roe Stephanie , Terrer Cesar , Vilanova Emilio , Walker Anthony P. , Zhu Kai , Ellis Erle C.
Published: December 2024

Societal Impact Statement

Forest ecosystems absorb and store about 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions annually and are increasingly shaped by human land use and management. Climate change interacts with land use and forest dynamics to influence observed carbon stocks and the strength of the land carbon sink. We show that climate change effects on modeled forest land carbon stocks are strongest in tropical wildlands that have limited human influence. Global forest carbon stocks and carbon sink strength may decline as climate change and anthropogenic influences intensify, with wildland tropical forests, especially in Amazonia, likely being especially vulnerable.

Human effects on ecosystems date back thousands of years, and anthropogenic biomes—anthromes—broadly incorporate the effects of human population density and land use on ecosystems. Forests are integral to the global carbon cycle, containing large biomass carbon stocks, yet their responses to land use and climate change are uncertain but critical to informing climate change mitigation strategies, ecosystem management, and Earth system modeling.

Using an anthromes perspective and the site locations from the Global Forest Carbon (ForC) Database, we compare intensively used, cultured, and wildland forest lands in tropical and extratropical regions. We summarize recent past (1900‐present) patterns of land use intensification, and we use a feedback analysis of Earth system models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 to estimate the sensitivity of forest carbon stocks to CO2 and temperature change for different anthromes among regions.

Modeled global forest carbon stock responses are positive for CO2 increase but neutral to negative for temperature increase. Across anthromes (intensively used, cultured, and wildland forest areas), modeled forest carbon stock responses of temperate and boreal forests are less variable than those of tropical forests. Tropical wildland forest areas appear especially sensitive to CO2 and temperature change, with the negative temperature response highlighting the potential vulnerability of the globally significant carbon stock in tropical forests.

The net effect of anthropogenic activities—including land‐use intensification and environmental change and their interactions with natural forest dynamics—will shape future forest carbon stock changes. These interactive effects will likely be strongest in tropical wildlands.
Pesticide use in integrated pest and pollinator management framework to protect pollinator health
Authors: Phan Ngoc T , Biddinger David J , Rajotte Edwin G , Smagghe Guy , Reddy Gadi VP , Ren Zong‐Xin , Joshi Neelendra K
Published: December 2024

Agricultural pesticides have historically been a critical tool in controlling pests and diseases, preventing widespread suffering and crop losses that led to catastrophes such as the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852) and the Cotton Boll Weevil Infestation (1915–1916). However, their usage has brought challenges, including resistance development, secondary pest outbreaks, harm to non‐target organisms like pollinators, and environmental contamination. In response to these concerns, integrated pest management (IPM) has emerged as a comprehensive approach, emphasizing non‐chemical pest control methods such as cultural practices, biological control, and crop rotation, with pesticides as the last resort. IPM has evolved, influenced by regulations like the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which prioritizes human health protection, especially for children. The development of systemic pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, introduced a more efficient and targeted pest control method within the IPM framework. However, they have also raised concerns due to their potential adverse effects on pollinators. In recent years, integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) has emerged as an enhanced approach, integrating pollinator health considerations into pest management strategies. In this article, we discuss this new approach, and briefly present an example of a modifying pesticide program in Pennsylvania apple orchards to illustrate the application of IPPM, in order to highlight the importance of IPPM in sustaining agriculture, protecting vital pollinators, and maintaining effective pest control practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Isolated p‐Block Antimony Atoms Activated CuO@Co‐CN Enable High Performances for Water Splitting and Zn‐Air Batteries
Authors: Zhu Xinfeng , Dong Kaixuan , Tran Duy Thanh , Sidra Saleem , Nguyen Dinh Chuong , Kim Do Hwan , Kim Nam Hoon , Lee Joong Hee
Published: December 2024

This study reports an effective strategy for designing 3D electrocatalyst via the deposition of ZIF67‐derived Co–CN shell layer over CuO nanoarrays to form a CuO@Co–CN hybrid, followed by incorporation with p‐block Sb single atoms (CuO@Co–CN/Sb) to obtain highly activated catalytic behaviors. Inheriting both the excellent intrinsic catalytic activity of the components and their synergy, the CuO@Co–CN/Sb material serves as a high‐efficiency multifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting and zinc (Zn)–air batteries. The material yields a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low overpotential of 72 and 250 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, respectively. Furthermore, an electrolyzer based on CuO@Co–CN/Sb shows remarkable performance with a derived current density of 0.5 A cm−2 at low cell voltage of 2.67 V and good stability for 50 h continuous operation at a high current density of 0.5 A cm−2. Simultaneously, Zn–air battery using the CuO@Co–CN/Sb material as air cathode yields a high open circuit voltage of 1.455 V and a discharge power density of 131.07 mW cm−2.
Scent as a trigger of feline hyperaesthesia syndrome
Authors: McPeake Kevin J. , Peregrin Maria , Hepple Alexandra , Gunn‐Moore Danièlle
Published: December 2024

This is the first documented case of scent triggering episodes of feline hyperaesthesia syndrome (FHS). A 1‐year and 5‐month‐old cat was referred to the feline clinic with a 5‐month history of generalised twitching of the dorsum, vocalising, compulsive grooming and darting/running episodes. A diagnosis of FHS was made following exclusion of other differential diagnoses. The cat had co‐morbid behaviour problems and was referred to the behaviour clinic. Triggers for FHS were explored: most episodes were unpredictable and without a consistent trigger; the cat was diagnosed with attention seeking and frustration‐related problems. A behaviour modification programme was developed, and a detailed diary was kept. Improvements were reported in general behaviour, as well as frequency and intensity of episodes of FHS. Episodes of FHS continued sporadically and were clearly linked to scent triggers (scented candles, cigarette smoke, cooking spices). Scent should be therefore be considered as a potential trigger for episodes of FHS.
Cases
Authors: Bacher Klaus , Bartow Ann , Ge Lanqing , Huang Pengfei , Jin Lu
Published: December 2024

The case illustrates that the patentee’s possibilities to avoid exhaustion by tailoring the patent claims are limited. It is generally up to the patentee to define the product for which he claims protection. As long as the patent covers products which are available on the market, the patentee’s decision may be relevant for the question of exhaustion.
Service Life Prediction of Fatigue Damaged Reinforced Concrete Beams Under Seawater Erosion and Freeze–Thaw Cycles
Authors: Liu Zijian , Cao Huiyun
Published: December 2024

A reasonable and applicable chloride ion diffusion model for fatigue damaged concrete structures exposed to seawater freeze–thaw environments was proposed, And the service life of reinforced concrete beams with fatigue load levels of 0.2 and 0.3, fatigue loading times of 200,000–400,000 under seawater immersion alternating freeze–thaw cycle environment were predicted. Results show that the expected service life of concrete beams without fatigue damage under seawater immersion alternating freeze–thaw cycle was 6.0 years, respectively, which was far less than the requirements of existing specifications for the service life of concrete structures. The service life of concrete structures further decreased as the fatigue load increased. For concrete beams with a fatigue load level of 0.3 loaded 400,000 times, under the alternating freeze–thaw cycles of seawater immersion, the expected service life is only one year.
Research on Fatigue Rigidity Degradation of Prestressed Concrete Box Girders
Authors: Zhou Hongyu , Wang Haoda , Ma Quanzhou , Han Shuai
Published: December 2024

The intercity high-speed railway is developing towards an operating mode of ultra high speed, large capacity, and high frequency, and the frequency of driving loads borne by structures has also significantly increased, which is bound to accelerate the accumulation and development process of fatigue damage on elevated bridge vehicles. Therefore, this article takes the 32 m prestressed concrete box girder of Tianjin High Speed Railway as the research object, and uses similarity theory to design and manufacture three model test beams. To study the fatigue stiffness degradation of prestressed concrete box beams.
Recent Advance of Vibration Control Techniques in Structures
Authors: Yuan Junming
Published: December 2024

The demand of seismic resistance in structures and constructions is increasing, the Vibration control techniques are gaining more attention. Many researchers have investigated different vibration control systems to reduce the response of structures in earthquakes, including passive, active, semi-active, and hybrid vibration control systems. This paper represents the historical background and development of each technique is represented. Moreover, the advantage and limits of these devices are argued. Finally, the applications and the future prospects of these techniques are discussed.
Flutter Control Effect and Mechanism of Closed Railing Aerodynamic Measure for Bridge
Authors: Jiang Xiujuan , Wu Junyan , Ning Xiaoxia , Liu Xu
Published: December 2024

Through the wind tunnel test, the flutter control effect and mechanism of partly closed railing aerodynamic measure were studied. After taking effective pneumatic measures, the aerodynamic derivative $$A_{2}^{*}$$

A

2

∗

was changed from positive to negative forming aerodynamic damping, which increases the total damping of the bridge. The flutter frequency reduced and the critical wind speed of the flutter increased. The flutter type of the bridge is a damp driving in which the reversal of implicated movement is dominant. The performance of the main beam flutter was improved through increasing torsional movement of pneumatic positive damping A and reducing torsional coupling movement implicated generated aerodynamic negative damping term D. The degree of participation of the vertical bending freedom and the bending-torsion coupling was increased when the flutter occurs of the partly closed railing aerodynamic measures beam, and the fluttering shape was transferred from the single degree of freedom torsional vibration to the bending and torsional coupled vibration. Thereby, the flutter frequency was reduced and the critical flutter wind speed was improved.
Research on Non-destructive Identification Technology of Hidden Pavement Damage Based on Radar
Authors: Li Chunliang , Fang Heguang , Li Xian , Zhai Gongning
Published: December 2024

Using 3D ground-penetrating radar to detect the structural layer is a non-destructive and efficient detection method, but analyzing the collected radar data is highly complex work, and there is a lack of adequate data processing methods for analyzing the structural damage of the pavement layer using radar data. To solve the above problems, this study starts from the propagation characteristics of the radar in the pavement layer, analyses the influence of structural damage of the pavement layer on the radar signal, then proposes the corresponding eigenvalues, and develops an algorithm that can effectively extract the eigenvalues, and then carr.
Effect of Pit System Stiffness on Force and Deformation of Adjacent Monopile
Authors: Jiang Minmin , Wang Di , Li Yu , Xiao Zhaoran
Published: December 2024

The soil displacement caused by the foundation excavation will impose additional stresses on the pile foundations within its influence range, resulting in lateral displacement or insufficient bearing capacity of the pile foundations, which will adversely affect the pile foundations and cause uneven settlement of the structures in the long run, triggering local damage to the soil below the pile foundations and even distorting the deformation of the upper structures, affecting their safety in use. In this paper, the two-stage method is used to analyze the lateral displacement of pile foundations. The free displacement field of the soil during the excavation of the foundation pit is used as the input condition, and the lateral displacement and internal force of the monopile are solved by introducing the improved foundation reaction modulus into the Winkler foundation model. Combined with the numerical model, the effects of pit excavation on the surrounding soil, supporting structure, and adjacent pile foundations are investigated. The effects of different factors on the force and deformation pattern of pile foundations are analyzed, the degree of influence of different comprehensive stiffness of pit support on pile foundations is explored, and the comprehensive stiffness is related to the maximum horizontal displacement of pile foundations to propose a method for predicting the maximum horizontal displacement of pile foundations, which can be a reasonable reference for similar pile foundation projects.
Study of Difference in Dynamic Response of Underground Structure at Different Blast Angles
Authors: Lin Qindong , Feng Chun , Gan Yundan , Yuan Jianfei , Jiao Wenjun , Yang Ying
Published: December 2024

The dynamic response of underground structures under blast loading is of great military significance to strategically valuable targets, and the difference in the dynamic response of underground structures at different blast angles is investigated based on a FEM-DEM coupled method. First, a full-time numerical simulation under blast loading is carried out. Then, the displacement and fracture characteristics of the underground structure are analyzed quantitatively. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of displacement and initial fracture type is closely related to the position of the explosive. The concrete at the top boundary and right boundary reaches the opposite boundary earliest at 90° and 0° respectively. The time-history curves of crack ratio have obvious stage characteristics, the maximum tensile crack ratio is obtained at 90°, and the maximum shear crack ratio is obtained at 0°.
Study on Progressive Collapse Resistance Performance of Main Building of Conventional Island in Nuclear Power Plant Based on Corner Column Removal Method
Authors: Di Jiaxing
Published: December 2024

In the event of an accidental collapse of the main plant of the conventional island, it could threaten the safe operation of the nuclear island and even cause a nuclear leakage accident. Therefore, the study of the collapse resistance of the main plant structure of a conventional island nuclear power plant should be of great interest. In this paper, the collapse resistance of conventional island main plant structure is analyzed by Pushdown analysis method, and the damage of beam and column members and the position of plastic hinge when the conventional island main plant structure is subjected to accidental action are simulated by the method of removing members. The analysis results show that the damage of the column increases with the increase of the column span after the removal of the corner columns, and the structural displacement of the upper floors within the beams and failed columns connected to the control nodes will be dispersed with the increase of the vertical load, and the damage will spread to the top of the structure; It can be concluded from the order of the appearance of the plastic hinge: the main plant structural system conforms to the principle of “strong columns and weak beams”, so the main nuclear power plant conventional island studied in this paper The progressive collapse resistance of dismantled corner columns of the structural system of plant has certain guiding significance for practical engineering.
Research and Application of Simple Concrete 3D Printer
Authors: Li Yilong , Chen Xiaoyu , Wei Yang , Zhu Di , Zhang Wenhe , Li Xin
Published: December 2024

In response to the call for the national concept of carbon neutrality, this paper made a simple concrete 3D printer by utilizing its principle, studied the mix ratio of printing materials, and applied the research results to the restoration and reconstruction of public service facilities in and around the campus to promote the green transformation of urban development.
Experimental Study on the Durability of High-performance Concrete Against Chloride Ions Penetrations
Authors: Ge Tao , Liu Chenxi
Published: December 2024

To study the durability of concrete structures against chloride ions penetrations under subway environmental conditions, permeability performance tests were conducted on high-performance concrete using the conductivity method and corrosions method, respectively. The experimental results show that the additions of fly ash, slag, and other admixtures in high-performance concrete have a significant effect on resisting the infiltrations and diffusions of chloride ions into the concrete. Considering the long-term durability of chloride ions penetrations, high-performance concrete with dual additions of fly ash and slag has better durability improvement than single additions. The durability life of high-performance concrete in chloride ions resistance test is 3–4 times longer than that of ordinary concrete.
Research on 3D Visualization Modeling Method of Pumped Storage Power Plant
Authors: Zhao Zengtao , Cao Feng , Chen Li , Huang Fanqi
Published: December 2024

Pumped storage plants usually occupy a large area and contain multiple components and facilities. The details and actual geomorphological features of the entire area are taken into account when modeling to provide comprehensive visualizations. However, dealing with large-scale scenarios increases the amount of data and computational complexity, further increasing the difficulty. Therefore, a new 3D visualization modeling method of pumped storage power plant is designed. BRCM software is selected as the 3D visualization dynamics modeling and analysis software to form an effective 3D visualization modeling design flow, transient analysis of 3D nonlinear dynamics, optimization of the accuracy of real scene 3D modeling, and finally the realization of 3D visualization modeling. The result of case analysis shows that the designed 3D visualization modeling method of pumped storage power plant has high modeling precision, good modeling effect, reliability, and certain application value, and has made a certain contribution to improving the operation safety of pumped storage power plant.
Numerical Simulation Study of Deformation Characteristics of Cement Fly-Ash Gravel Pile
Authors: Bai Jianguang , Zhou Tianping
Published: December 2024

With the rapid development of high-rise buildings and infrastructure construction, higher requirements for foundations have been put forward. Cement fly-ash gravel pile is widely used in foundation treatment projects because of their high bearing capacity, low settlement, and low cost. The article adopts FLAC3D to conduct a numerical simulation study of the deformation characteristics of cement fly-ash gravel pile, the results show that cement fly-ash grave pile composite foundation produces vertical displacement with obvious zoning phenomenon under the action of upper load, horizontal displacement mainly occurs in the area of soil between piles, and the soil is extruded dense. The displacement and separation phenomenon of the interface of cushion and foundation are significantly different in the position of the pile and the position of soil between piles. The deformation of the CFG pile composite foundation is influenced seriously by the cushion as the weak zone of the CFG pile. The findings provide a reference and basis for the design and application of cement fly-ash gravel piles.
Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Joint Parameters on the Mechanical Behaviors of the Fractured Sandstone
Authors: Zhang Yue , Du Miaoran , Yin Peijie
Published: December 2024

Joint parameters affect the mechanical properties of sandstone significantly. This paper investigates the influence of fracture on the mechanical properties of roof plate bedded sandstone in Yuanjue Cave by using the Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) model. The effects of joint density and dip on the mechanical behavior of bedded sandstone under triaxial compression are first examined. And, the fractal dimension is used to quantify the relationship between joint density and strength parameters. The results show that: (1) The compressive strength and elastic modulus of bedded sandstone decrease with increasing joint density. The compressive strength shows a ‘U’ distribution with increasing joint dip from 0° to 90°, while the elastic modulus increases gradually. (2) The bedded sandstone shows a very high anisotropic characteristic, and the weak plane of the layers influences the strength and deformation damage of the bedded structure. (3) The fractal dimension has a significant negative correlation with rock strength and elastic modulus, with correlation coefficients of 0.834 and 0.965.
Novel endophytic fungus Leptosphaeria sp. strain T-2 improves plant growth and environmental stress tolerance
Authors: Yamaguchi Taku , Kataoka Ryota
Published: December 2024

Drought and salinity stress pose threats to agricultural production in drylands. Although breeding and genetic modification techniques have been employed to develop drought- and salt-tolerant crops, these methods are costly and risky. Hence, the potential application of endophytic fungi in dryland agriculture is being explored as a novel approach in improving plant tolerance to environmental stress. In this study, endophytic fungi with growth-promoting effects were isolated, characterized, and evaluated in terms of their ability to confer drought and stress tolerance to their host plants. Seventy-seven growth-promoting endophytic fungi belonging to 20 genera were isolated from barley roots; of these, strain T-2 elicited remarkable effects on plant growth parameters. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain T-2 belongs to genus Leptosphaeria, whose members are generally known as plant pathogens. Thus, Leptosphaeria sp. strain T-2 is a novel endophytic fungus that promotes plant growth. Moreover, it alleviated growth inhibition caused drought and salinity stress, as evidenced by the survival and maintained health of lettuce plants inoculated with strain T-2. The results of this study suggest that strain T-2 can be applied as a biofertilizer to improve agricultural production in drylands.
The multiple meanings of EU law: using sociological interpretivism to make sense of the Eurozone crisis
Authors: Haagensen Nicholas
Published: December 2024

In following the interdisciplinary spirit of this symposium, I emphasise the usefulness of the sociological approach of interpretivism, together with qualitative methods, by examining how EU legal actors perceived the Eurozone crisis and how they enabled policy solutions: financial assistance and policy conditionality. This case constitutes a legal conundrum because of how these solutions encompass and connect different forms of law – EU law, international law and private financial law – and how EU lawyers seek to protect the EU legal order from this hybrid arrangement by drawing the arrangement as closely as they can to the EU legal order. This in turn creates issues of accountability as the imposition of policy conditionality engenders litigation by EU citizens who were directly affected therein, raising the question of whether establishing liability for damages is possible in such a hybrid arrangement. Using interviews with legal actors and observations of court proceedings, I foreground the multiple meanings of EU law and explain how such an approach can expand our understanding of not only what EU law means to its practitioners, but also how these meanings give insight into the potential paths of EU law’s development. To interrogate these multiple meanings, I examine the crisis policy solutions as well as a set of court cases – Ledra Advertising, Mallis and Chrysostomides – that sought to hold the EU accountable for losses suffered because of these policies. Using these methods can partially overcome the opaqueness of judicial proceedings at the EU level, as well as give insight into the development of the legal arrangements being contested in court. A novel methodological element is the descriptive analysis of observations of court proceedings in Chrysostomides, where I demonstrate how the interactions between the lawyers and the judges shed light on how legal actors establish legal validity as a collective project.
Political, not (just) legal judgement: studying EU institutional balance
Authors: van den Brink Martijn
Published: December 2024

This article presents two related arguments. First, the limits of doctrinal analysis cut deeper than many EU lawyers realise. Most would probably accept that legal doctrine does not determine every legal dispute, but lawyers studying EU institutional balance often still assume that it can be deduced from the positive law what is good institutional practice. This paper argues instead that the allocation of EU institutional authority cannot be determined by the exercise of legal judgement, but instead requires the exercise of political judgement on the relative merits of different institutions. Second, this means that political and normative discourses and disciplines cannot be assumed to fall outside the domain of legal scholarship. What we need instead is a distinctive kind of legal scholarship that interweaves doctrinal analysis with normative political theory, broadly conceived. I will argue that political theory, in addition to evaluative value, has adjudicative value, provided that our theories are sensitive to the EU’s social and political setting and the constraints this setting imposes on what is realistically feasible.
The European Community of Law and the Communities of Case-law: Understanding legal concepts and processes through the lens of community detection algorithms
Authors: Šadl Urška , López Zurita Lucía , Piccolo Sebastiano
Published: December 2024

Community detection is a set of algorithms developed in network science to find meaningful sub-groups within larger groups. This article (1) outlines and evaluates the method and (2) shows how it can enrich ongoing debates about European integration. To this end, it uses the example of the approximation of laws, an enduring topic in European legal studies.
An Oligocene chimaeroid egg capsule from western Washington State, USA, and priority of Vaillantoonia Meunier, 1891
Authors: Kiel Steffen , Stevens Thomas , Goedert James L.
Published: December 2024

Fossil egg capsules of chimaeroids (holocephalian fishes), although rare, have been known for more than 150 years (Bessels, 1869; Meunier, 1891a) and have been found in rocks as old as Upper Triassic (Gottfried and Fordyce, 2014). Egg capsules of extant chimaeroids are spindle shaped, with a smooth central body where the embryo develops, an elongate anterior beak through which the hatchling emerges, and an elongate posterior pedicle. The capsules are flanked by a lateral membrane or web on both sides, and the web is reinforced with branching or unbranching rib-like costae that extend laterally from the central body, beak, and pedicle. Specimens are typically about 10–30 cm long. Egg capsules of extant chimaeroids are made of collagen (Hamlett et al., 2005) and as fossils, chimaeroid egg capsules are typically preserved as external casts (Fischer et al., 2014).
Awareness and acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccine in the Middle East: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of 159 studies
Authors: Gulle Bugra Taygun , Kiran Pinar , Celik Saadet Goksu , Varol Zeynep Sedef , Siyve Neslisah , Emecen Ahmet Naci , Duzel Hilal
Published: December 2024

Cervical cancer, closely linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is a major global health concern. Our study aims to fill the gap in understanding HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in the Middle East, where national immunization programs are often lacking and cultural perceptions hinder acceptance. This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive literature search across several databases was conducted on 5 September 2023. We included quantitative studies on HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in Middle Eastern countries. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by multiple reviewers to ensure accuracy. Statistical analyses, including subgroup analyses, were performed using R to calculate pooled estimates, assess heterogeneity, and publication bias. We reviewed 159 articles from 15 Middle Eastern countries, focusing on 93,730 participants, predominantly female and healthcare workers. HPV vaccine awareness was found to be 41.7% (95% CI 37.4%–46.1%), with higher awareness among healthcare workers. The pooled acceptance rate was 45.6% (95% CI 41.3%–50.1%), with similar rates between healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Our study highlights the critical need for increased HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of integrating the vaccine into national immunization programs and addressing cultural and religious factors to improve public health outcomes.
Influence of language dominance on crosslinguistic and nonlinguistic interference resolution in bilinguals
Authors: Gálvez-McDonough Andrea F. , Blumenfeld Henrike K. , Barragán-Diaz Anahy , Robinson Anthony Jonathan J.D. , Riès Stéphanie K.
Published: December 2024

We examined how relative language dominance impacts Spanish–English bilinguals’ crosslinguistic and nonlinguistic interference resolution abilities during a web-based Spanish picture-word interference naming task and a subsequent spatial Stroop paradigm, and the relationship between the two. Results show the expected interference and facilitation effects in the online setting across both tasks. Additionally, participants with greater English dominance had larger within-language, Spanish facilitation and marginally larger crosslinguistic (English to Spanish) interference effects reflected on accuracy performance. Similarly, participants with greater English dominance had larger nonlinguistic congruency facilitation effects. Our results are in line with other studies finding a relation between linguistic and nonlinguistic cognitive control. Correlated reaction time performance between the linguistic and nonlinguistic paradigms suggests that overcoming crosslinguistic interference may be partly based on cognitive control processes used outside of language. Modulations by language dominance underline the importance of accounting for relative language proficiency in bilinguals’ two languages when studying bilingualism.
Reading Chinese but with Korean in mind: ERP evidence for nonselective lexical access in sentence reading
Authors: Xue Jinyi , Chien Yu-Fu , Xu Kunyu
Published: December 2024

Previous studies have investigated whether lexical access in sentence reading is language-selective using interlingual homographs, but have yielded inconsistent results. In this study, event-related potentials were measured when Korean-Chinese bilinguals read the Chinese version of false-cognates (e.g., “放学”, after school) in Chinese sentence contexts that biased the meaning towards the Korean version (e.g., “방학”, school vacation). With the match words as the baseline, Chinese monolinguals elicited similar N400 and P600/LPC effects when reading the false-cognates and mismatch words, whereas Korean-Chinese bilinguals produced a smaller N400 effect for false-cognates than for mismatch words, indicating activation of the Korean version. The P600/LPC effect was observed for false-cognates in bilinguals, reflecting increased integration difficulties or enhanced cognitive control. The study supported the nonselective view and proposed a theoretical extension of the BIA+ model, claiming that bilingual interactive activation might be mediated by shared morphemic representations between languages.