bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparative study on NLOS error elimination methods based on channel measurement experiment
Authors: CHANG Tiantian , WANG Wei , GAO Jingjie , SHEN Xiaohong , JIANG Suying , XIE Jingli
Published: September 2022

In order to study the performance of different elimination methods on the distance estimation forward error caused by the non-line-of-sight (NLOS) propagation of radio signals, this paper is based on the mean value, root mean square delay spread, skewness, kurtosis and peak-to-average ratio extracted from the channel state information (CSI), and combine it with the logarithmic estimated distance based on the time of arrival (TOA) as the feature input vector, through the establishment of Gaussian process regression (GPR), least square support vector machine regression (LS-SVMR) and BP neural network training model for experimental performance comparison. Through the actual measurement of the 2.4 to 5.4 GHz wireless propagation channel in the typical indoor environment, the error elimination experiment is carried out to compare the NLOS error elimination performance under different input characteristics, different bandwidths and different frequency bands. The experimental results show that the GPR model has the best NLOS error elimination performance, and the extracted CSI multi-features as the input of the GPR model can reduce the average absolute error and root mean square error by 71.12% and 81.36%, respectively. As the bandwidth continues to increase, the error elimination performance is gradually optimized. By increasing the bandwidth, the NLOS positioning error when the input features are less can be effectively improved. The positioning error of the low frequency band is smaller than that of the high frequency band under the multi-features, so the combination of all available frequency bands can eliminate the NLOS positioning error better than a single frequency band.
Cathodic Protection Of Reinforcement In Concrete – Overview And Experience Over 30+ Years
Authors: Polder Rob B. , van den Hondel Anthony W.M.
Published: September 2022

This paper gives an overview of long term performance up to 30 years in the field of cathodic protection of steel reinforcement in concrete in The Netherlands, focusing on impressed current systems based on activated titanium anodes. Case studies are presented including applications to large numbers of precast elements corroding due to mixed-in chloride with drilled in titanium anodes, parking garages with titanium strips in cementitious overlays and industrial floors with titanium mesh in overlay. Based on observed failures and replacements, analysis of working life of various types of systems and components and end-of-life considerations are given. CP has become a fully accepted method of securing safety and serviceability of buildings and infrastructure that are prone to corrosion. Observations show that with activated titanium based systems, very long service lives can be obtained. The activated titanium itself keeps working well beyond the observed period of 30 years. Some other components have relatively higher failure rates. The repairs that were required in the cases discussed are dominated by failing anode-copper connections and to a minor extent power sources and potential sensors.
Fly ash geopolymer concrete durability to sulphate, acid and peat attack
Authors: Patrisia Yulin , Law David W. , Gunasekara Chamila , Wardhono Arie
Published: September 2022

The durability of concrete has a profound impact on the service life of structural elements. Indonesia has extensive peat soils, which provide a highly aggressive environment for concrete structures. Geopolymer concrete has demonstrated good durability when exposed to acid /sulphate conditions similar to those encountered in peat soils. This paper investigates the performance of geopolymer concretes produced using Indonesian type F fly ash under sulphate and acid chemical attack. Geopolymer concrete specimens have been exposed for 12-months in a range of solutions: 5% sodium sulphate, 5% magnesium sulphate, 1% and 3% sulphuric acid, and simulated peat solution. The mechanical and durability properties of specimens together with a control concrete have been monitored for compressive strength, change in mass, water absorption and volume of permeable voids, ultra pulse velocity, air and water permeability, pH profile, and microstructural analysis (XRD, SEM/EDS). The control immersed in water achieved 56.93 MPa at 12-months of age. Magnesium sulphate exposure had a significant deterioration impact on the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete, demonstrating an 11% reduction in strength, while those exposed to sodium sulphate had an 8.9% increase in strength. Specimens exposed to peat solution displayed a slightly increased strength and those in acid conditions a 1.2% and 4.5% decrease in 1% acid and 3% acid, respectively. In general, the geopolymer concrete displayed a high level of resistance against sodium sulphate, 1% sulphuric acid and simulated peat attack.
Towards understanding the influence of metakaolin in the prevention of alkali-silica reaction
Authors: Prinsloo Grant , Pourbehi Mohammad S. , Babafemi Adewumi J.
Published: September 2022

The role of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) in the prevention and mitigation of the Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) in concrete materials and structures is becoming increasingly significant and relevant in the civil engineering. The use of SCMs in South Africa is limited to Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBS) and Fly Ash (FA) as they are readily available. With recent advancements in concrete technologies, it has been found that calcined clays such as Metakaolin (MK) have been useful in concrete to improve the chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of concrete material. Deposits of MK have been found in some regions of South Africa and are now available for consumption with various applications but have not yet been widely accepted as conventional SCM within the concrete ready-mix industry. This article aims to summarise state-of-the-art and existing knowledge gaps in the application of SCMs in concrete material and identify the feasibility and benefits of extending the use of SCMs with MK in a comparative study with FA Class F and SF. The performance of MK with respect to the key variables such as exposure conditions, reaction mechanisms and pore solution composition in the prevention of ASR in concrete material relative to the mentioned SCMs is discussed.
The Effect of Cement Reduction and Substitution on the Mechanical and Durability Properties of Concrete
Authors: Ram Kiran , Londono-Zuluaga Diana , Serdar Marijana , Scrivener Karen
Published: September 2022

There are now several initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production, such as the use of alternative binders for clinker. However, reducing the carbon emissions of the cement sector will only be possible when design optimization is combined with other measures. The construction industry is reluctant to reduce the cement content of concrete mixes and is not encouraged to use performance-based design for concrete. In most cases, these steps will negate the benefits of using alternative binders in concrete. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of lowering the cement content and additionally substituting part of the cement on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. The reference mix was taken from a real bridge recently built in Croatia, and the alternative combination was prepared with a reduced cement content of 22%. All mixes were evaluated based on their mechanical strength and resistance to chloride penetration. The carbon footprint of each mix was also studied. The study concluded that the alternative mix with lower cement content had comparable durability and a significantly lower carbon footprint, meaning that the alternative mix proved to be a more sustainable option.
Effects of sodium oxide content on the durability of alkali-activated mortar utilizing botswana copper mine tailings and fly ash
Authors: Sannoh Abraham V. J. , Malumbela Goitseone , Gilayeneh Victor S.
Published: September 2022

This investigation aims to provide experimental data on the performance of alkali-activated mortar made of copper mine tailings (CMT) and fly ash (FA) exposed to acid-sulphate attacks and elevated temperature environments as a measure of durability. FA was used as a replacement material, substituting 20 to 40% of the CMT by mass, and sodium hydroxide was the alkaline activator, which was added in terms of Na2O content by mass of the total binder at 5%, 10%, and 15%. The durability performance of alkali-activated mortar was evaluated against 5 % and 10% concentrations of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids, and magnesium and sodium sulphates up to 180 days of exposure, as well as elevated temperature environment. The specimens were first visually examined, and weight change was measured before being exposed to an elevated temperature environment and the residual compressive strength was measured. It was observed that Na2O content and elevated temperature environment influence the residual compressive strength of alkali-activated mortar. Increasing the Na2O content for all CMT-FA-based mortar samples performed well in sulphates and acids mediums in terms of durability, but with a slight reduction in its durability performance in terms of residual compressive strength. However, these effects were more profound in samples exposed to acids, particularly those with lower FA replacement levels and sodium oxide content. For the high-temperature exposure, the residual compressive strength of all CMT-FA samples was much higher than the initial values. The findings also revealed that the partial replacement of CMT by FA significantly improved the residual compressive strength in terms of the durability performance of the alkali-activated mortar
The influence of temperature on the cracking of plastic concrete
Authors: Meyer Marnu , van Zyl Juandré , Combrinck Riaan
Published: September 2022

High early age concrete temperatures can lead to many problems such as an increased rate of cement hydration, as well as an increased rate of moisture loss from fresh concrete which can ultimately lead to the occurrence of plastic shrinkage cracking. Concrete is also batched and cast at various ambient temperatures which greatly influences the temperature development of the concrete after placement. There is a need to understand the influence of concrete temperature on the plastic cracking of concrete. This study investigated the temperature development over the thickness of a concrete slab when exposed to different initial concrete and ambient temperatures as well as the effect these factors have on plastic shrinkage cracking. This was achieved by experiments on concrete samples at varying temperatures while measuring the concrete temperature, pore water evaporation, shrinkage, settlement, setting times and plastic shrinkage cracking magnitude. These tests were conducted in a climate controlled chamber. It was concluded that exposure to higher initial concrete and ambient temperatures significantly increases the average temperature over the thickness of the concrete. The evaporation of pore water was higher when exposed to higher evaporation conditions. The plastic shrinkage, settlement and plastic shrinkage cracking were more severe in the presence of higher initial concrete and ambient temperatures even though the critical period and setting times were reduced due to an increase in the concrete temperature. Finally, the surface temperature of the concrete as tested in slabs up to 100 mm in thickness can be used as a good indication of the temperature development in the lower layers of the concrete.
Condition assessment of two prestressed concrete slabs after 60 years in service
Authors: Tawil Dana , Kristufek Leah , Martin-Perez Beatriz , Sanchez Leandro F.M , Noël Martin
Published: September 2022

Two concrete deck slabs extracted from a Canadian bridge have been evaluated using non-destructive testing (NDT), followed by destructive testing. Throughout its service life, the bridge experienced harsh environmental conditions with frequent freeze-thaw cycles, hot and humid summers, and the use of de-icing salts during winters. This study presents the preliminary results of an exhaustive condition assessment of two prestressed concrete slab panels, where NDT techniques (visual assessments, electrochemical and concrete soundness tests) have been conducted prior to destructive testing. Although visual inspection did not indicate poor concrete quality, the results of the ultrasonic pulse velocity testing showed that both concrete slabs are of poor quality and may be suffering from internal defects. Chlorides may have also been introduced through the strand conduit anchor points. These findings raise concerns regarding the structural integrity of corrosion-affected members.
Evaluation of corrosion damage in reinforced concrete structures in terms of the rebar’s residual cross-section
Authors: Gilayeneh Victor S. , Nwaubani Sunday O.
Published: September 2022

Corroding reinforced concrete structures are frequently assessed to determine the rate of corrosion propagation and the level of deterioration, which might compromise the structure’s reliability. Appropriate measures should be considered in deciding when and how to implement maintenance if safety must be ensured. However, the influential factor that governs or informs such decisions is corrosion damage quantification. Nonetheless, the current non-destructive methods of corrosion damage quantification often lead to ambiguity, and most do not evaluate corrosion damage in terms of the rebar’s cross-section loss, which is the primary effect of corrosion. To address these shortcomings, this paper proposes an effective, reliable, and less-complicated model for quantifying corrosion damage in reinforced concrete structures based on the cross-sectional area of the corroding bar. The study was conducted through experimental (laboratory-based) and numerical investigations of the relationship between the level of corrosion and the corrosion-induced crack width. Based on the investigations’ findings, appropriate relationships and essential parameters were identified, and the model was derived analytically. The derived model assesses corrosion damage in terms of the corroding bar’s residual cross-section and requires only a few input parameters, which can be obtained by non-destructive testing if not known. The model was tested against data obtained from the laboratory experiment and against other experimental and analytical data from the literature, and the results showed a good correlation.
Practical procedure for the precise measurement of geometrical tendon positions in concrete with ultrasonic echo
Authors: Maack Stefan , Küttenbaum Stefan , Niederleithinger Ernst
Published: September 2022

Existing concrete structures were usually designed for lifetimes of several decades. The current and urgently required efforts to increase sustainability and protect the environment will likely result in extended service lives up to 100 years. To achieve such objectives, it is required to assess structures over their entire lifecycles. Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods can reliably support the assessment of existing structures during the construction, operational, and decommissioning phases. One of the most important and safety-relevant components of a prestressed concrete structure are the tendons. NDT methods such as the ultrasonic echo method are suitable for both the detection and the localization of the tendons, i.e., the measurement of their geometrical position inside the component. The uniqueness of structures, concrete heterogeneity, and varying amounts of secondary components such as the reinforcement represent obstacles in the application of these methods in practice. The aim of this contribution is to demonstrate a practicable procedure, that can be used in the field to determine the parameters required for the measuring data analysis without extensive knowledge about the investigated components. For this purpose, a polyamide reference specimen is used to show which steps are required to obtain reliable imaging information on the position of tendons from the measurement data. The procedure is then demonstrated on a concrete test specimen that covers various relevant and practice-oriented test scenarios, such as varying tendon depths and component thicknesses.
A long-term study on the effect of a hydrophobic treatment on the moisture balance and durability of a reinforced concrete structure in a road tunnel
Authors: Brem M. , Lohner J. , Büchler M.
Published: September 2022

Concrete structures in the vicinity of seawater or deicing salts on roads in regions with cold climatic conditions, are exposed to chlorides. Transport of chlorides in concrete due to capillary suction during drying and wetting cycles as well as diffusion in combination with carbonation tends to result in corrosion of the rebar and loss of structural integrity. This damage mechanism mainly applies to directly weathered components. After a longer service life, however, components that are not directly exposed, such as concrete surfaces outside the spraying water area of a tunnel, are also affected. A long-term study over 12 years was performed to investigate the effect of hydrophobic treatment on the moisture balance and durability of a suspended tunnel ceiling compared to an untreated surface with the same exposure. Embedded sensors installed in the concrete structure and an online monitoring system were used to measure the electrical resistivity of the concrete and the corrosion rate of the steel reinforcement over time. Furthermore, the data obtained were combined with climate measurements in the tunnel to gain new insights on the effect of tunnel climate on the damage mechanism. The measurements allowed to prove the long-term effect and correct application of hydrophobic treatment. With these results it is possible to make a more precise estimation of the condition and the deterioration process of the tunnel ceiling and to optimize the rehabilitation schedule.
Sustainable Concrete Repair & Protection Products – The Impact on Renovation Works
Authors: Donadio Michel , Nüsslein Josefa , Agapitos Katherine , Smithers Wayne , Lohner Johannes
Published: September 2022

Repair and protection systems can have a positive impact on sustainability by prolonging the life of a structure and reducing the amount of new construction works. Over recent years, new products and technologies for use as concrete repair mortars and protective coatings, have been developed and launched on the market with lower environmental footprints than their traditional counterparts. To help visualise the environmental impact of these new technologies and products with improved environmental footprints, this paper will use a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of a repair project in Johannesburg, South Africa, which was completed in 2021. Two different scenarios will be compared and assessed – the first, is an existing product range for concrete repair and protection works that was used on the project, and the second is an alternative solution using the new and more sustainable technologies-based product range. This paper will provide an example of the positive environmental impact for such asset owners, by using more sustainable concrete repair and protection materials, by focusing on the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Abiotic Depletion Potential fossil (ADP fossil) indicators.
Product Data Templates of Repair Products for Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Authors: Schröter Norbert , Thome Marieke
Published: September 2022

Building Information Modeling (BIM) describes the digital and collaborative planning, construction and management of buildings by all stakeholders by means of a digital 3D building (data) model. This enables complex analyses, simulations and optimizations of cost, time and quality. For these reasons, BIM is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry and brings changes along the entire “construction value chain”. Such changing and unclear (data) requirements are major challenges for the manufacturers of construction chemicals, e.g. for products for “Concrete Repair and Protection”. As harmonized standards are still lacking and a wide variety of concepts are available on the market today. Therefore, demand-oriented BIM product data templates for two pilot groups of construction chemicals products were developed by the German association of manufacturers of construction chemical products (Deutsche Bauchemie e. V.). With all parties involved in the process, from planning to construction, the information requirements were recorded. Furthermore, characteristics were defined using existing standards and structured in an extensive list of characteristics. In addition, software templates were created in native but also in open file formats. The development of further lists of characteristics is currently in preparation, in addition to other product groups, also for repair mortars and other repair products.
History, diagnosis and repair of the Corniche Kennedy in Marseilles
Authors: Pace Loriana , Leconte Renaud , De Folleville Tancrède
Published: September 2022

The Corniche Kennedy is an emblematic road of the city of Marseilles in France. Located on the seafront, it was built in the 19th century and widened in the 1960s to create a corbelled pedestrian promenade. Its widening structure, made of slabs resting on corbels anchored in a retaining wall or on crossing structures, has been subjected for more than 60 years to a very aggressive marine environment and presents many damages. After having carried out the diagnosis of the structure, the Infrastructure Department of the Metropole of Aix-Marseille-Provence selected the engineers of the Setec Group to carry out the complete project management for the rehabilitation of the Corniche Kennedy. Between 2018 and 2022, the Corniche Kennedy underwent major rehabilitation work, using modern techniques to prevent and treat the main pathology of the structure, the corrosion. This article presents all the steps of the rehabilitation of the Corniche Kennedy from diagnosis to maintenance of the structure after renovation.
The performance of cement-based coatings for drinking water reservoirs: a case study
Authors: Paglia Christian , Mosca Cristina , Jornet Albert
Published: September 2022

Drinking water reservoirs are often made of cementitious materials. The inorganic mineral phases exhibit a similar chemical composition as the natural rocks. This enables the concrete in contact with drinking water to be a safe material with respect to the human health. The carbonate or the free-CO2 content of the water control the extent of the concrete deterioration. To increase the durability, cement-based mortars are applied as a coating. In this work, the damage on site and in laboratory, such as bubbles, cracks and microcracks formation, leaching effects and detachments of three cement-based coatings were investigated. The coating systems exhibited conventional mechanical parameters, such as the compressive and flexural strength, but a different behavior with respect to the cracks formation. This fact was dependent from the coating thickness, application features, water content, superplasticizer dosage, environment parameters and mortar quality. The damage was less related to the mechanical properties, in particular the compression strength. The coatings generally exhibited a dense compact microstructure. The addition of superplasticizers promoted the segregation of the aggregates. The fine particles were concentrated along the surface layers, which in turn, were more susceptible to the environmental changes. The coatings adhesion strength was always above 2 N/mm2 for the coatings tested in laboratory. A reliable and acceptable adhesion that increased the durability.
Practical service life assessment and rehabilitation strategy development for hyperbolic shell natural draft cooling towers
Authors: Gries Matthew B. , Michols Kevin A. , Lawler John S. , Wagner Elizabeth I. , Dennis Anthea , Kgatle Koketso , Pretorius Marita
Published: September 2022

Years of service in industrial plant operating environments can cause varying types and degrees of concrete deterioration on reinforced concrete hyperbolic shell natural draft cooling towers. Exposure to plant operating cooling water can potentially result in concrete material erosion and corrosion of embedded reinforcing steel and associated concrete delamination and spalling over time. Such deterioration can affect the integrity of the structure to the degree that repair programs are required to reliably maintain the towers for their required service life. Condition assessment of natural draft cooling towers is challenging due to their massive size, hyperbolic geometry, and plant operational considerations (i.e. schedule, risk and cost). A case history is presented illustrating a rational and targeted investigation approach that included a combination of field condition survey, laboratory materials testing, consideration of operational constraints, probabilistic-based concrete deterioration service life modeling, and structural analysis. Existing degradation as well as predicted conditions from service life modeling informed structural analyses that were performed to identify risk-based limit states over time. The multi-faceted approach provided information critical to understand degradation mechanisms, characterize structural health, and develop prioritized repair strategies to obtain the desired service life extension.
A Novel Approach for the Consolidation of Sand by MICP Single Treatment
Authors: Nagy Brigitte , Baptist Savannah , Kustermann Andrea
Published: September 2022

Saving natural resources has become increasingly important. In construction, research has been done on alternative methods to replace conventional building materials. One of those novel methods is MICP (microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation). In this process, calcium carbonate crystals are precipitated with the help of ureolytic bacteria. A cementation solution consisting of urea and calcium salt is used. This precipitation can be used for solidification. In the field of MICP research, there exist multiple publications with several kinds of tests, but no verifiable compressive strength test. However, most researchers are concerned with soil improvement or self-healing methods, to fill cracks in concrete. Similarly, column tests are mainly conducted to investigate the strength. This study presents, a new method of strength assay that uses hardened sand samples of 3 cm edge length. This allows for an accurate compressive strength verification and thus the effect of the biocementation treatment. In addition, this method applies a single treatment method with a novel type of formulation of the MICP components. The results show that a single MICP treatment is sufficient for the consolidation of various sands. Compressive strength of up to 1.8 N/mm2 was achieved in the process tests in the uniaxial strength test.
Behaviour of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Pavements on A Single Fibre Level
Authors: Makara ’Nyane , Combrinck Riaan , Fataar Humaira
Published: September 2022

Concrete is a popular construction material used all around the globe. It is strong in compression and weak in tension. To mitigate this tensile weakness, various reinforcement methods have been used over the years, of these, fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) has gained popularity. Fibres not only improve the tensile strength of the concrete matrix, but also control crack propagation through crack bridging action. The goal of this study is to investigate the long-term behaviour of FRC pavements through conduction of static and fatigue meso-scale level tests using different steel fibres. To achieve this goal, the influence of different fibre geometries and embedment angles on the pull-out behaviour of fibres in FRC was investigated first. This was carried out by examining 60mm Dramix 3D steel and 5D steel fibres at single fibre level. The embedment depth was kept constant at half the fibre length, and the fibre embedment angles were tested at 0°, 15° and 30°. The average maximum pull-out load, Amax, was determined first through static tests then fatigue tests were carried out using 85% of the Amax value on pre-damaged samples. These tests indicated that an increase in fibre embedment angle and number of hooks leads to additional anchorage of the fibre. Fibre pull-out was found to be the dominant fibre failure mechanism for the static single fibre pull-out tests (SFPTs).
Protagonist der Sozialepidemiologie: Laudatio zu Ehren von PD Dr. PH
Thomas Lampert – Träger der Salomon-Neumann-Medaille
2022
Authors: Dragano Nico
Published: September 2022

Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozialmedizin und Prävention
(DGSMP) ehrt mit der Salomon-Neumann-Medaille Personen und Institutionen, die
besonderes für die Präventiv- und Sozialmedizin geleistet haben.
Im Jahr 2022 wurde die Medaille an Privatodozenten Dr. Thomas Lampert, Robert
Koch-Institut verliehen, der sich seit vielen Jahren mit Nachdruck für
eine soziallagenbezogene Gesundheitsberichterstattung in Deutschland eingesetzt
hat. Sein umfangreiches Werk ergibt in der Zusammenschau eine genaue
Kartographie der sozialen Determinanten der Gesundheit in Deutschland nach der
Jahrtausendwende.
Homoeopathic Simillimum in Treatment of Verruca Plana (Flat Wart): A Case Report
Authors: Maity Tanmoy
Published: September 2022

Verruca plana are also known as flat warts present as small slightly raised papule often a few millimetres wide in diameter with smooth surface, reddish-brown or flesh-coloured, appearing on the dorsum of hands, shins and face. They are caused by human papillomavirus type 3 and less often type 10, 27 and 41. Conventional treatment methods include applying salicylic acid, liquid nitrogen and podophyllin, 5% fluorouracil ointment, carbon dioxide cryotherapy, interferon injections and loop electrosurgical excision procedure. A 26-year-old female teacher presented with small numerous flat brown-coloured papules over the whole face for 1 year. She was successfully treated by individualised homoeopathic single medicine Calcarea phosphorica (200C) selected on a holistic approach. This case report suggests that homoeopathic intervention may be useful in the treatment of Verucca plana.
High L21-atomic ordering and spin-polarization in Co2MnZ (Z = Ge, Sn) Heusler thin films with low-temperature annealing process
Authors: Kushwaha Varun Kumar , Sakuraba Yuya , Nakatani Tomoya , Sasaki Taisuke , Kurniawan Ivan , Miura Yoshio , Tajiri Hiroo , Hono Kazuhiro
Published: September 2022

Although an enhanced magnetoresistance (MR) has been observed in many Co2-based Heusler alloys by promoting their structural ordering from B2 to L21 by post-annealing at higher temperatures (Tann > 500 °C), it is desirable to search for other Heusler alloys that crystallize in L21-order below 300 °C, as the maximum Tann is restricted for processing devices. For Co2MnZ (Z = Ge, Sn) Heusler alloys, an L21-order is expected to appear even in the as-deposited state or by a low-temperature annealing process due to their very high L21 to B2-order transition temperature (>1500 K). Here, epitaxial Co2MnZ films were grown on MgO (001) substrate at room temperature (RT) and post-annealed at Tann = 200–500 °C. Interestingly, as-sputtered films exhibit L21-ordering, which improves systematically upon increasing Tann. The spin-polarization of electric current (β) was estimated at RT using nonlocal spin-valve (NLSV) devices by measuring the spin-accumulation signal in a copper (Cu) channel. It was found that at Tann = 300 °C, the β value of Co2MnGe films is higher (∼0.65) than that of Co2FeGe0.5Ga0.5 films due to a higher degree of L21-order, which makes the Co2MnGe alloy a promising ferromagnetic electrode for spintronic device applications.
Technical and economic analysis, and benchmarking associated with dairy farms in Minas Geraiz, Brazil
Authors: Pinheiro Jardeson de Souza , Matias Lucas Henrique de Souza , Sampaio Claudia Batista , Marcondes Marcos Inácio
Published: September 2022

Context Dairy operations have adopted benchmarking as a methodology to rank farms and establish target indexes; however, a connection between benchmarking and farms in the tropics is still warranted. Aims To evaluate the technical and economic quartiles based on farm return on assets (ROA) of three regions (Centre, South and Triangle) of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and use them to establish benchmarks for dairy farms. Methods We collected data from 128 dairy farms (from January to December of 2019). All properties were part of the Educampo® project/Sebrae-MG. Farms were grouped into the Centre, South and Triangle regions, and subdivided into three groups within each region according to their ROA, where 25% of the farms that presented the lowest ROA were classified as the first quartile, 50% of farms were classified as interquartile and the 25% remaining farms were classified as the fourth quartile. Data were analysed as a randomised block design in a split-plot scheme, where the production systems were blocks, the regions were the main plots and the groups were the split plots. Differences were declared when P ≤ 0.10. Key results Total operating cost ($/L; $ – this currency is in US dollars and it applies throughout the paper); accrual operating cost ($/L); production costs, such as roughage ($/L), hired labour ($/L), percentage of concentrate and hired labour in accrual operating cost (%), were affected by regions and groups. The South and fourth quartile had the greatest total operating cost (0.24 $/L; 0.26 $/L) and accrual operating cost (0.27 $/L; 0.30 $/L), respectively. The majority of economic indexes were higher for Triangle than South and Centre, respectively. The fourth quartile had the greatest net margin (0.09 $/L), profit (0.07 $/L), return on assets (2%) and assets turnover rate (24%). Conclusions We suggest that benchmarks should be established by region, as there were too many variations among regions. In addition, this study demonstrated the importance of understanding the behaviour of the technical and economic indicators to stratify farms based on their return on assets. Implications We evaluated technical and economic indexes from three regions and stratified by ROA. Then, we established benchmarks by regions to better guide the producer in decision-making in dairy operations.
Locational pointing in Murrinhpatha, Gija, and English conversations
Authors: de Dear Caroline , Blythe Joe , Possemato Francesco , Stirling Lesley , Gardner Rod , Mushin Ilana , Kofod Frances
Published: September 2022

It has been suggested that the gestural accuracy used by speakers of Australian Aboriginal languages like Guugu
Yimidhirr and Arrernte to indicate directions and represent topographic features is a consequence of absolute frame of reference
being dominant in these languages; and that the lackadaisical points produced by North American English speakers is an outcome of
relative frame being dominant in English. We test this claim by comparing locational pointing in contexts of place reference in
conversations conducted in two Australian Aboriginal languages, Murrinhpatha and Gija, and in Australian English spoken by
non-Aboriginal residents of a small town in north Western Australia. Pointing behaviour is remarkably similar across the three
groups and all participants display a capacity to point accurately regardless of linguistic frame of reference options. We suggest
that these speakers’ intimate knowledge of the surrounding countryside better explains their capacity to accurately point to
distant locations.
Corpus-based analysis of honorifics in Korean and its pedagogical implication
Authors: Kim HwanHee
Published: September 2022

This study explores the speech level shifts from non-honorific to honorific situation by analyzing Korean spoken
corpora of conversations between native speakers of Korean through a discourse-analytic framework. Although non-honorific styles
(e.g., panmal) are used as frequently as honorific ones (e.g., contaysmal), little
attention has been paid to non-honorific expressions in Korean, let alone to the speech level shift between
non-honorific and honorific. Analyzing interactions between native speakers of Korean revealed that, depending on the change of their stance in response to the interlocutor’s utterance, speakers dynamically switched their speech levels not only within the boundary of non-honorifics or
honorifics, but also across the dichotomous categories, that is, they changed from non-honorific to honorific speech styles. In
general, speakers employed the speech level elevation from non-honorific to honorific when indexing a confrontational stance
toward a topic and an object, or when upgrading an epistemic stance in naturally occurring interactions. The findings of this
study encourage researchers to actively construct and use corpora of authentic/naturalistic conversations to explore the
dynamicity of the speech level shift and its functions, which in turn contributes to developing instruction materials that reflect
the dynamicity of the Korean honorific system.
A Low Cost Material for Treatment Wastewater Contained Petroleum Pollution
Authors: Mokif Layla Abdulkareem , Abdulhusain Noor Alaa
Published: September 2022

One of the major problems facing the water environment is the pollution resulting from petroleum, refineries and oil industries which resulting a great danger to humans, aquatic organisms and water resources in the world. In this study, Conocarpus plant was employed as natural adsorbent substance which performed to reduce the concentration of contaminates exiting in the petroleum wastewater. The pollutants that have been removed are phenol, grease and oil. The laboratory experiments using Bach technique. Maximum efficacy of phenols removal was (83.694 %) at pH of (3.7). The highest efficacy of oil and grease removal (99.861 %) achieved at adsorbent mass of (15g), pH (9.77) and time of (120 min.). The Conocarpus plant has been shown to be effective in removing of pollutants (phenols, oil and grease) from wastewater. Efficacy of phenol removing progressed in increasing with adsorbent mass. The acidic pH value contributes greatly to increasing the efficiency of removal for both phenols, oils and grease. Maximum. amount of oil and grease adsorbed in solid phase was (17.369 mg/g). The results demonstrated that Conocarpus plant as natural adsorbent can be efficiently applied in refiners, grease and petroleum industry for eliminating pollution.
Applicability of Chlorpromazine.HCl- lyotropic nanosystems into photogalvanic cells
Authors: Alhasan Huda S.
Published: September 2022

This paper reports on the development of liquid crystal for the electrochemical study of photo-induced electron transfer. This study covers the following studies: the description of the laminar liquid crystals (LLCs) system by using CPZ.HCl material, examining the lyotropic liquid crystal system of CPZ.HCl compound and its application in the photogalvanic cell. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ.HCl) was first shown to form a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) when the concentrations reached > 10 M in an aqueous solution. This self-assembly was revealed through the birefringence observed through cross-polarisers and the characteristic X-ray scattering. The electrochemistry of the CPZ.HCl- LLC system was probed through the use of cyclic voltammetry using different micro-electrode materials, diameters and CPZ.HCl concentrations. Following this, this system was fabricated into a photogalvanic cell that produced a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.58 %.
Okinawa: Territory as Monument
Authors: Dudden Alexis , Inthavong Kim
Published: September 2022

Our contribution to the AHR’s Monuments series consists of three interwoven sections spotlighting Japan’s southwestern Okinawa Island chain. We premise the islands themselves as monument to the present as well as their place in contemporary Japanese history. Annexed to the nascent Japanese empire in 1879, fast-forward to 1945, and Okinawa would be sacrificed by Japan’s wartime leaders in a desperate and violent effort to stave off America’s invasion of Japan’s main islands. What Okinawans know as the Typhoon of Steel, the Americans code-named Operation Iceberg. It was the final Allied assault in the Pacific theater of World War II and considered by many its bloodiest: one in four Okinawans died.
Initial detachment of the mouse oocyte from the zona pellucida is mediated by metallopeptidase activity
Authors: Macaulay Angus D , Ortman Chyna S , Moore Kevin R J , Baltz Jay M
Published: September 2022

The fully grown mammalian oocyte is tightly attached to its extracellular matrix shell, the zona pellucida (ZP), but the oocyte detaches from the ZP shortly after ovulation is signaled. The mechanism by which the oocyte detaches from the ZP is unknown. Because ZP proteins are initially secreted as transmembrane proteins, we hypothesized that attachment of the oocyte to the ZP is mediated by transmembrane ZP proteins and that detachment occurs when these proteins are cleaved by peptidases. To identify potential candidates for the type of peptidase, we used mouse oocyte transcriptome data sets to identify candidate peptidases localized to the exterior of the oocyte. Screening with a set of small molecule inhibitors that broadly target the families of peptidases represented by the candidates, we found that only inhibitors of the M10 and M12 families of metallopeptidases prevented detachment. Using more selective inhibitors indicated that detachment was prevented by an inhibitor, GI254023X, developed to be selective for ADAM10 in the M12 family but not by those considered selective for the M10 family or for other M12 metallopeptidases expressed in oocytes. Using an antibody that binds to an epitope just distal to the likely cleavage site of murine ZP3 showed that this site was gradually lost from the oocyte surface during the period when detachment occurs, and that inhibiting metallopeptidase activity prevented the loss of this epitope. Taken together, these results indicate that detachment of the oocyte from the ZP is mediated by a metallopeptidase.
Meta-Theatrical Comedy: Pirandello’s Existential Humour and the Italian Avant-Garde
Authors: Subialka Michael
Published: September 2022

This article examines modernist meta-theatre as a reconfiguration of classical tragedy. While many critics have rejected modernist aesthetics for emptying out the content of artistic representation, and accounts of modernist comedy frequently focus on its negative (even nihilistic) dimensions, this article argues that Luigi Pirandello’s theory of humour provides an alternative vision of how modernist theatre can transform comedy in a way that aligns with an ethics of compassion. This sets Pirandello apart from more reactionary contemporaries like the teatro grottesco and the Futurists as well as revolutionary contemporaries like Brecht. Pirandello’s compassionate humour is tied to modernist meta-representation, which for him, as for contemporaries like Edward Gordon Craig, is typified in the figure of the marionette; the marionette epitomizes the tragicomic situation of the modern subject. For Pirandello, modernist humour allows the self-aware subject to be decentred in a way that nevertheless maintains the value of the human being and human experience, opening to a shared understanding of suffering and an ethics of compassion.
Reproduction numbers of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants
Authors: Wang Shuqi , Zhang Fengdi , Wang Zhen , Du Zhanwei , Gao Chao
Published: September 2022

Estimating the effective reproduction number of Omicron subvariants is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of control measures, and adjusting control measures promptly. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the evidence from estimates of the reproduction numbers for Omicron subvariants, and estimated their effective reproduction number.
Cut-free sequent-style systems for a logic associated to involutive Stone algebras
Authors: Cantú Liliana M , Figallo Martín
Published: September 2022

In [4, 5], it was introduced a logic (called Six) associated to a class of algebraic structures known as involutive Stone algebras. This class of algebras, denoted by S, was considered by the first time in [6] as a tool for the study of certain problems connected to the theory of finite-valued Łukasiewicz–Moisil algebras. In fact, Six is the logic that preserves degrees of truth with respect to the class S. Among other things, it was proved that Six is a 6-valued logic that is a Logic of Formal Inconsistency (LFI ); moreover, it is possible to define a consistency operator in terms of the original set of connectives. A Gentzen-style system (which does not enjoy the cut-elimination property) for Six was given. Besides, in [5], it was shown that Six is matrix logic that is determined by a finite number of matrices; more precisely, four matrices. However, this result was further sharpened in [17], proving that just one of these four matrices determine Six, i.e. Six can be determined by a single 6-element logic matrix. In this work, taking advantage of this last result, we apply a method due to Avron, Ben-Naim and Konikowska [3] to present different Gentzen systems for Six enjoying the cut-elimination property. This allows us to draw some conclusions about the method as well as to propose additional tools for the streamlining process. Finally, we present a decision procedure for Six based in one of these systems.
Tourism and Transport
Authors: Pearson Jessica Lynne
Published: September 2022

Transportation for tourists is inextricably linked to broader power structures in modern global society. Histories of empire building, nationalism, and decolonization overlap with histories of sea, highway, rail, and air travel, demonstrating the roles that transport has played in building and dismantling systems of inequality on a global scale. Tourism plays a key role in forging collective identities, but leisure travel, historically, was beyond the reach of all but the most privileged groups. Revolutions in transportation—in step with broader political and social shifts—have contributed to the slow but ongoing democratization of travel. Tourist transport in the second half of the twentieth century became a key site in the battle for desegregation and served as a platform for recently decolonized nations to pursue political independence and economic autonomy from their former colonizers.
Equitable ownership, butter and donkeys: Setting out a vision for the future of the Hague Trust Convention
Authors: Noseda Filippo
Published: September 2022

This article builds on the author’s closing remarks at a symposium organised by the Hague Conference on Private International Law on the future of the Hague Trust Convention (HCCH) and other issues of Digital, Commercial and Financial Law (CODIFI Conference).1 The author was asked to ‘set out a vision for the future of the Hague Trust Convention, with particular focus on how the Convention has impacted non-Contracting Parties and how their interest in the Convention can be developed’. To do this, the author dusted off the dictionary and has come up with a few action points.
Identification, Characterization, and Detection of a Novel Strawberry Cytorhabdovirus
Authors: Medberry Ava , Tzanetakis Ioannis E.
Published: September 2022

In 2020, a novel agent was discovered in strawberry, a rhabdovirus closely related to lettuce necrotic yellows virus. The new virus, named strawberry virus 2 (StrV-2), was discovered in an accession of the Fragaria virus collection of the National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR), and for this reason, it was studied in-depth. The complete StrV-2 genome was obtained and investigated in silico. Transmission was assessed using two aphid species whereas a multiplex RT-PCR test targeting plant and virus genes was developed and used to screen the NCGR Fragaria virus collection.