bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Mauritia flexuosa and Carapa guianensis Oils and Menta piperita and Eugenia caryophyllus Essential Oils Added to Ozone
Authors: Marinho Fernando Antonio Madeira , Carvalho Ana Flávia Machado De , Batista Hebert Lima , Niculau Edenilson Dos Santos , Viana Bruno Leonardo Almeida , Almeida Natália Ferreira
Published: March 2024

Ozonated oil has several benefits for humans, as it contributes to numerous interventions, maintaining the quality of life and the well-being of individuals. Being a natural product, it has few or almost no side effects. Thus, the study aimed to verify the sensitivity and/or resistance of fixed o “Ozonated” and “Non-Ozonated” oils from Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti), Carapa guaianensis (Andiroba) and essential “Ozonated” oils from Menta piperita (Mint), Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove) in different concentrations, against internationally known bacteria from the American Type Culture Collection – ATCC, comparing with the “Non-Ozonated” versions of the respective oils, using the Agar diffusion technique. Thus, it is evident that the ozonation of the fixed oils of Buriti and Andiroba, as well as the essential oils of Mint and Clove, provided significant results, although they were statistically different. The Buriti and Andiroba oil were ineffective in inhibiting microorganisms. On the other hand, the essential oil of Mint and Clove obtained similar activity of inhibition of microorganisms. With regard to Ozonation, the Essential Oil of “Ozonated” Clove provided greater activity than the “Non-Ozonated” one, which inhibited only one tested microorganism, in addition to producing changes in its chemical composition, requiring individualized studies for the ozonation of each essential oil.
Modelling and Validation of the Derna Dam Break Event
Authors: Annunziato Alessandro , Santini Marzia , Proietti Chiara , Lorini Valerio , Gerhardinger Andrea , Tucci Michele
Published: March 2024

The catastrophic failure of two dams in Libya in the night of 10th and 11th September 2023, resulted in a significant amount of water and debris destroying a large part of the city of Derna, which is located downstream of the two dams. The flood caused more than 6000 fatalities and the dis-placement of thousands of people from the city. The dams failed due to heavy rainfall caused by the Medicane Daniel, resulting in intense precipitation and the dams overspilling after reaching full capacity. This paper analyses the consequences of the dam breach by modelling the flow discharge and the flooding of the city of Derna. The analysis compares the computed quantities with the findings of the post-event satellite image analysis from UNOSAT and Copernicus, the field reports, and information gathered from the social media through AI detection. The results allows to better understand the dynamics of the dam breach, its initial parameters and an assessment of the accu-racy of the results.
Barriers to the Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Late-Adopting Countries in the European Union: The Case of Portugal
Authors: Lourenço Miguel Pereira , Arantes Amílcar , Costa António Aguiar
Published: March 2024

Adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry presents an opportunity to address enduring challenges, including chronic productivity deficits and emerging imperatives such as cleaner production and sustainability. However, the pace of BIM implementation (BIMI) across European Union (EU) countries is uneven due to varying contexts and the inherent complexity of BIM adoption. Notably, Portugal lags in BIMI among these countries. Using the Portuguese context, the manuscript endeavours to identify the main barriers to BIMI by the late-adopting countries in the EU and, based on the dynamics of their relationships, design effective mitigation measures to lessen their impact and eventually leverage BIMI. A comprehensive list of barriers was compiled from the literature and ranked by experts through a Delphi survey, resulting in 15 critical barriers. Subsequently, an Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) model was constructed to elucidate the hierarchical relationships among these barriers, while a fuzzy Impact Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analysis was employed to determine their driving and dependence powers. The resulting main barriers were the lack of evaluation and feedback mechanisms on BIMI, ignorance of BIM capabilities/benefits, scarcity of BIM-capable professionals, lack of experience and cooperation in BIMI, resistance to change, and lack of support from top management. Finally, experts formulated mitigation measures aimed at tackling these main barriers. These measures were designed to not only address each barrier individually but also to have a comprehensive and practical impact on the entire barrier system as a whole. These findings will assist researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in comprehending the barriers and hierarchical structures affecting BIMI in EU late-adopting countries.
Enhanced Vascular Bifurcations Mapping: Refining Fundus Image Registration
Authors: Ochoa-Astorga Jesús Eduardo , WANG LINNI , Du Weiwei , Peng Yahui
Published: March 2024

Fundus image registration plays a crucial role in the clinical evaluation of ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, necessitating meticulous monitoring. The alignment of multiple fundus images enables the longitudinal analysis of patient progression, widening the visual scope, or augmenting resolution for detailed examinations. Currently, prevalent methodologies rely on feature-based approaches for fundus registration. However, certain methods exhibit high feature point density, posing challenges in matching due to point similarity. This study introduces a novel fundus image registration technique integrating U-Net for the extraction of feature points employing FIVES for its training and evaluation, a novel and large dataset for blood vessels segmentation, prioritizing point distribution over abundance. Subsequently, the method employs medial axis transform and pattern detection to obtain feature points characterized by the Fast Retina Keypoint (FREAK) descriptor, facilitating matching for transformation matrix computation. Assessment of the vessel segmentation achieves 0.7559 for Intersection Over Union (IoU), while evaluation on the Fundus Image Registration Dataset (FIRE) demonstrates the method’s comparative performance against existing methods, yielding a registration error of 0.596 for area under the curve, refining similar earlier methods and suggesting promising performance comparable to prior methodologies.
Arguments for a Community Based Approach to the Geothermal Energy Development
Authors: Kurek Katarzyna A. , Strojny Jacek , Ophem Johan van
Published: March 2024

This paper investigates the theoretical foundation for developing renewable geothermal resources locally. For this reason, we pay attention to the role of communities in geothermal development. This study presents arguments for a framework that approaches the geothermal resources as an endogenous factor of community development. To analyse it, we create a model that explains the local economic characters of the geothermal exploitation beyond its geological conditions. It aims to conceptualise a community based geothermal development standard referring to the endogeneity principle. Geothermal energy is given attention since the characteristics of this resource determine its use locally. We argue that the role of communities in geothermal exploitation is pivotal in the process of green growth for further expansion of geothermal energy use.
Research on MODIS Satellite Three-Dimensional Cloud Structure Retrieval and Fusion Technology
Authors: Qin Yu , Liu Yubao , Wang Fengxian , Fan Hang , Zhou Yongbo , Duan Jing
Published: March 2024

This study extends the CGAN-based MODIS cloud vertical-profile (64×64-scene, about 70km width×15km height) retrieval technique developed by Leinonen et al. (2019) [1] to construct seamless 3D cloud fields for the MODIS granules [2]. Firstly, the accuracy and spatial continuity of the Leinonen et al. [1] retrievals are statistically evaluated. Then, according to the characteristics of the retrieval error, a spatially overlapping-scene ensemble generation method and a bi-directional Ensemble Binning Probability Fusion (CGAN-BEBPF) technique are developed, which improves the CGAN retrieval accuracy and support to construct seamless 3D clouds. The CGAN-BEBPF technique involves three steps: cloud masking, intensity scaling, and optimal value selection. It ensures adequate coverage of the low reflectivity areas while preserving the high reflectivity cloud cores. The technique is applied to retrieve the 3D cloud fields of Typhoon Chaba and a multi-cell convective system. The cloud structures of the CGAN-BEBPF results are highly consistent with the ground-based radar observations. It can retrieve weak clouds at the top levels of convective storms and hurricanes that were missed by ground-based radars and fill the gaps of the ground-based radar lower-level PPI scan. Overall, CGAN-BEBPF can be automated to retrieve the rich informative 3D structures of typhoons and severe convective systems over the oceans along the MODIS swath, which certainly presents great value for improving maritime and near-shore typhoons and convection prediction and other cloud-sensitive applications.
Impact of Temperature, Solar Irradiation and Wind Dust on the Production of Solar Energy and the Assessment of Water Quality Used for Cooling and Cleaning Photovoltaic Panels
Authors: Ait Ali Ali , Ouhassan Youssef , Abouyaakoub Mohcine , CHAHBOUN Mbarek , Hihi Hicham
Published: March 2024

The aim of this research work is to study the influence of temperature, solar irradiation and wind dust on the production of solar energy. In addition, it aims to study the assessment of water quality, in particular groundwater used for cooling and cleaning photovoltaic panels (quality analysis). it's an important source, stable and sustainable can be used entirely for cooling and cleaning PV modules from the sales dust, in order to improve their performance. To date, all research studies carried out in this context of cooling and cleaning using water have not taken account of the nature of this water. We have taken a sample of water from a well in a rural area in the Darra Tafilalet region of Morocco. This region has an arid and semi-arid climate, with very high temperatures and dust-laden winds, particularly in summer. These meteorological characteristics influence the efficiency of cells, particularly photovoltaic (PV) panels, reducing their performance. Next, the water sample was analysed in the laboratory. The results obtained show that the groundwater in this area is very sensitive to cooling and cleaning photovoltaic panels. Moreover, these results indicate that the temperature, solar irradiation and wind-blown dust have a significant influence on energy production.
Deep Learning-Based Approach for Optimizing Urban Commercial Space Expansion Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Yang Dawei , Zhao Jiahui , Xu Ping , Du Bin , Dong Jiahua
Published: March 2024

Amid escalating urbanization, devising rational commercial space layouts is a critical challenge. Leveraging machine learning, this study uses a Back-propagation (BP) neural network to optimize commercial spaces in Weinan City's central urban area. The results indicate an increased number of commercial facilities with a trend of multi-centered agglomeration and outward expansion. Based on these findings, we propose a strategic framework for rational commercial space development emphasizing aggregation centers, development axes, and spatial guidelines. This strategy provides valuable insights for urban planners in small and medium-sized cities in the Yellow River Basin and metropolitan areas, ultimately showcasing the power of machine learning in enhancing urban planning.
The Relationship between Indoor and Outdoor PM2.5 in a High-Rise Building in Chicago Monitored by PurpleAir Sensors
Authors: Wenner Megan M. , Ries-Roncalli Anna , Whalen Mena C. R. , Jing Ping
Published: March 2024

In urban areas like Chicago, daily life extends above ground level due to prevalence of high-rise buildings where residents and commuters live and work. This study examines the variation in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations across building stories. PM2.5 levels were measured using PurpleAir sensors, installed between April 8 and May 7, 2023, on floors one, four, six, and nine of an office building in Chicago. Additionally, data were collected from a public outdoor PurpleAir sensor on the fourteenth floor of a condominium located 800 meters away. Results show that outdoor PM2.5 concentrations peak at 14 meters height, then decline by 0.11 μg/m3 per meter elevation, especially noticeable from midnight to 8 AM under stable atmospheric conditions. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations increase steadily by 0.02 μg/m3 per meter elevation, particularly during peak work hours, likely caused by greater infiltration rates at higher floors. Both outdoor and indoor concentrations peak around noon. We find that indoor and outdoor PM2.5 are positively correlated, with indoor levels consistently remaining lower than outside levels. These findings align with previous research suggesting decreasing outdoor air pollution concentrations with increasing height. The study informs decision-making by community members and policymakers regarding air pollution exposure in urban settings.
Safety Standards And Their Relevance for Ergonomic Risk Assessment in Slovak Republic
Authors: Onofrejova Daniela , Andrejiova Miriam , Porubcanova Denisa , Pačaiová Hana , Sobotova Lydia
Published: March 2024

Attention to the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) involve also statistical surveys showing an increasing trend in the incidence of WMSDs. Technological development retrieves new tools and methods for the assessment of physical load at work. In addition to the conventional questionnaires and scaling assessment systems, these methods are mostly based on the direct sensing of appropriate parameters, which allows more precise quantification. The aim of this paper is to compare the assessment of ergonomic risk through current legislative regulations. A Captiv wireless sensor system was used at a car headlight quality control assembly workplace for sensing, data acquisition and data processing. During the evaluation of the postures and movements at work, we discovered differences in the applicable standards: Decree 542/2007 Coll. (Slovak legislation), STN EN 1005-4+A1, French standards default in the Captiv system. Standards define the thresholds for hazardous postures with significant differences in several evaluated body segments, which also affects the final evaluation of the measurements. Based on the results of our research, we found that respondents were in an acceptable position for approximately 63% of the total duration of the work activity in terms of the Legislative method, 44% with Captiv and 27% with Standards method.
Efficient Pipeline Conflict Resolution for Layered QC-LDPC Decoders in OFDM-PON
Authors: Wang Zhijie , Xu Zhengjun , Chen Kun , Qu Yuanzhe , Liu Xiaoqun , Li Yingchun , Zhang Junjie
Published: March 2024

Pipeline conflicts arising from data dependencies are a common issue encountered in the hardware implementation of layered QC-LDPC decoders. This paper proposes an efficient layered decoding architecture to reduce pipeline conflicts without introducing stall cycles, by reordering the processing order offline and using the patch method based on variable-to-check message. The experimental results on the LDPC code of the IEEE802.16 standard in the OFDM-PON system demonstrate that the proposed architecture has a sensitivity improvement of 0.125 dBm and 0.375 dBm, respectively, compared with our previous work and the method described in the other work.
Bacterial Metabarcoding of Raw Palm Sap Samples From Bangladesh With Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Ábrahám Ágota , Islam Md Nurul , Gazdag Zoltán , Khan Shahneaz Ali , Chowdhury Sharmin , Kemenesi Gábor , Akter Sazeda
Published: March 2024

The traditional practice of harvesting and processing raw date palm sap is not only culturally significant but also an essential nutritional source in South Asia. Yet, the potential for bacterial or viral contamination from animals and environmental sources during its collection remains a real and insufficiently studied risk. Implementing improved food safety measures and collection techniques could mitigate the risk of these infections. Additionally, the adoption of advanced food analytical methods has the potential to identify pathogens and uncover the natural bacterial diversity of these products. The advancement of NGS technologies, particularly nanopore sequencing, offers rapid and highly mobile capabilities. In this study, we employed nanopore sequencing for bacterial metabarcoding of a set of raw date palm sap samples collected without protective coverage against animals in Bangladesh in 2021. We identified several bacterial species with importance in the natural fermentation of the product and demonstrated the feasibility of this NGS method in the surveillance of raw palm sap products. We revealed two fermentation directions dominated by either Leuconostoc species or Lactococcus species in these products at the first 6 hours from harvest along with opportunistic human pathogens in the background, represented with low abundance. Plant pathogens, bacteria with the potential for opportunistic human infections and the sequences of the Exiguobacterium genus were also described and their potential role is discussed.
Human Sexuality from A to Z: Notation, Modelling, and Explanation
Authors: Saint-Mont Uwe
Published: March 2024

It is the aim of this article to introduce a concise notation that is be able to capture the most important dimensions of sexuality and thus facilitate discussions. Moreover, the major three dimensions - sex, gender, and sexual orientation - lead to a straightforward classification which motivates the quest for stringent explanatory models, some of which are also discussed.
Interscapular Pain after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Does Zygapophyseal Joints over Distraction Play a Role?
Authors: Ricciardi Luca , Bongetta Daniele , Piazza Amedeo , Norri Nicolò , Mangraviti Antonella , Trungu Sokol , Belli Evaristo , Zanin Luca , Lofrese Giorgio
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical disc herniation (CDH) is commonly performed. Specific postoperative complications include dysphagia, dysphonia, cervicalgia, adjacent segment disorder, cage subsidence, and infections. However, interscapular pain is commonly reported by these patients after surgery, although its mechanisms have been not clarified yet. Methods: This retrospective series of 31 patients undergoing ACDF for CDH at a single Academic Hospital. Baseline and postoperative clinical, radiological, and surgical data were analyzed. The linear regression analysis was conducted to identify any factor independently influencing the occurrence rate of postoperative interscapular pain. Results: The mean age was 57.6±10.8 years, and the M:F ratio was 2.1. The preoperative mean VAS-arm was 7.15±0.81 among the 20 patients reporting brachialgia, and the mean VAS-neck was 4.36±1.43 among those 9 patients reporting cervicalgia. At 1 month interscapular pain was still reported by 8 out of the 17 patients who experienced it postoperatively, and it was recovered in all patients after 2 months. The regression analysis showed how the interscapular pain was not directly associated to age(p=0,74), gender(p=0,46), smoking status(p=0,44), diabetes(0,42), preoperative brachialgia(p=0,21) or cervicalgia(p=0,48), symptoms duration(p=0,13), baseline VAS-arm(p=0,11), VAS-neck(p=0,93), or mJOA(p=0,63) scores, or disc height modification(p=0,90). However, the postoperative increase of the mean zygapophyseal joint rims distance was identified as an independent factor in determining interscapular pain (p=0,02). Conclusions: Our study revealed that the onset of interscapular pain following ACDF may be determined by over-distraction of the zygapophyseal joints rim. Then, proper sizing of prosthetic implants could reduce this painful complication.
A Nonlinear ODE Model for a Consumeristic Society
Authors: Badiale Marino , Cravero Isabella
Published: March 2024

In this paper we introduce an ODE system to model the interaction between nature resources and human exploitation in a rich consumeristic society. In this model the rate of change of population depends on wealth per capita, and the rate of consumption has a quadratic growth with respect to population and wealth. As in our previous work \cite{BaCra_1}, we distinguish between renewable and non renewable resources, and we introduce a replenishment term for non renewable resources. We first get some information on the asymptotic behaviour of wealth and population, then we compute all the equilibria of the system and we study their stability when the parameter of exploitation of resources is small. Some numerical simulations confirm the theoretical results, and give suggestions for future research.
Plasma Metabolite Profiling in the Search for Early-Stage Biomarkers for Lung Cancer: Some Important Breakthroughs
Authors: Meynen Jill , Adriaensens Peter , Criel Maarten , Louis Evelyne , Vanhove Karolien , Thomeer Michiel , Mesotten Liesbet , Derveaux Elien
Published: March 2024

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. In order to improve its overall survival, early diagnosis is required. Since current screening methods still face some pitfalls, such as high false positive rates for low-dose computed tomography, researchers are still looking for early biomarkers to complement existing screening techniques in order to provide a safe, faster and more accurate diagnosis. Biomarkers are biological molecules found in body fluids, such as plasma, that can be used to diagnose a condition or disease. Metabolomics has already shown to be a powerful tool in the search for cancer biomarkers since cancer cells are characterised by impaired metabolism, resulting in an adapted plasma metabolite profile. The metabolite profile can be determined using nuclear magnetic resonance, or NMR. Although metabolomics and NMR metabolite profiling of blood plasma are still under investigation, there is already evidence for its potential for early-stage lung cancer diagnosis, therapy response, and follow-up monitoring. This review highlights some key breakthroughs in this research field, where the most significant biomarkers will be discussed in relation with their metabolic pathways and in light of the altered cancer metabolism.
Effects of Influenza Vaccine on the Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Riccomi A , Trombetta CM , Dorrucci Maria , Di Placido Daniela , Sanarico Nunzia , Farchi Francesca , Giuseppetti Roberto , Villano Umbertina , Marcantonio C , Marchi Serena , Ciaramella Antonio , Pezzotti P , Montomoli E , Valdarchi C , Ciccaglione AR , Vendetti S.
Published: March 2024

A number of studies suggested that influenza vaccination can provide protection against COVID-19 but the underlying mechanisms that could explain this association is still unclear. In this study, the effect of the 2021/2022 seasonal influenza vaccination on the immune response to the booster dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was evaluated in a cohort of healthy individuals. One hundred and thirteen participants were enrolled, and 74 of them with no prior COVID-19 diagnosis or significant co-morbidities were considered for the analysis. Participants received the anti-influenza tetravalent vaccine and the booster dose of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine alone. Blood was collected before and 4 weeks after each vaccination and 12 weeks after SARSCoV2 vaccination and analyzed for anti-flu and anti-spike-specific antibody titers and for in vitro influenza and SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capacity. Results indicated an increased reactivity in subjects who received both influenza and SARSCoV2 vaccinations, as compared to those who received only the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, with sustained anti-spike antibody titers up to 12 weeks post-vaccination. Immune response to influenza vaccine was evaluated and individuals were stratified as high or low responders. High responders showed increased antibody titers against SARSCoV2 vaccine both after 4- and 12-weeks post-vaccination. On the contrary, the individuals classified as low responders were less responsive to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. These data indicate that both external stimuli, such as influenza vaccination, and the host's intrinsic ability to respond to stimuli play a role in the response to vaccine.
Numerical Simulation and Modeling of Mechano–Electro–Thermal Behavior of Electrical Contact Using COMSOL Multiphysics
Authors: Andras Andrei , Popescu Florin Dumitru , Radu Sorin Mihai , Pasculescu Dragos , Brinas Ildiko , Radu Mirela Ancuta , Peagu Daniela (Furdui)
Published: March 2024

Electrical contacts are important circuit components with diverse industrial applications, and their failure can lead to multiple unwanted effects. Hence, the behavior of electrical contacts is a widely studied topic in scientific literature based on various approaches, tools, and techniques. The present study proposes a numerical modeling and simulation approach based on the Holm contact theory to study the dependence between the electric potential and the temperature within an electrical contact. Structured in 5 sections, the research was conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics software and its solid-state mechanics, electric current, and heat transfer modules in order to highlight contact behavior from mechanical, electrical and thermal points of view: the von Mises stress, contact force, the electric field amplitude, the variation of the electrical potential along the current path, the temperature gradient, and dependence of temperature along the contact elements edges were obtained by simulation and graphically represented. The results are in line with the expectations and with past research that was studied in the literature review.
Series Production Data Set for 5-Axis CNC Milling
Authors: Schmitt Anna-Maria , Engelmann Bastian
Published: March 2024

The described data set contains features from the machine control of a five-axis milling machine. The features were recorded during thirteen series productions. Each series production includes a changeover process in which the machine was set up for the production of a different product. In addition to the timestamps and the twenty recorded features derived from Numerical Control (NC) control variables, the data set also contains labels for the different production phases. For this purpose, up to 23 phases were assigned, which are based on a generalized milling process. The data set consists of thirteen .csv files, each representing a series production. The data set was recorded in a production company in the contract manufacturing sector for components with real series orders in ongoing industrial production.
Shock Wave and Aeroelastic Coupling in Overexpanded Nozzle
Authors: Hu Haifeng , Gao Xinni , Gao YuShan , Yang Jianwen
Published: March 2024

The increasing demand for higher power in rocket launchers is driving the development of higher power nozzles, achieved essentially by increasing the expansion ratio. However, this can lead to flow separation and resulting unsteady, asymmetrical forces, called side loads, which can limit the life of both the nozzle itself and other engine components. If this problem can be overcome, engine performance can be significantly increased. Therefore, various separation control methods have been proposed, but none have been fully implemented to date due to the uncertainties associated with modeling and predicting the flow phenomena. A numerical study of high area ratio rocket engine is presented to analyze the aeroelastic performance of the structure under the condition of flow separation. The finite volume method, the 2nd order upwind scheme and the extended wall function are used to analyze the flow inside the rocket nozzle and the transition of the Free Shock Separation (FSS) to Restricted Shock Separation (RSS) separation pattern ) to be discussed in detail. Since the location of the flow separation point depends heavily on the flow.
A Simple Machine Learning-Based Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Model for Predicting pIC50 Inhibition Values of FLT3 Tyrosine Kinase
Authors: Alcázar Jackson J. , Sánchez Ignacio , Merino Cristian , Monasterio Bruno , Sajuria Gaspar , Miranda Diego , Díaz Felipe , Campodónico Paola R.
Published: March 2024

In this study, a simple machine learning-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed to predict the inhibitory potency (pIC50 values) of FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors, pivotal in treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Distinctively, our model leverages an extensive and diverse dataset, 14 times larger than those employed in prior studies within this field, enabling an unparalleled scope of compound analysis. This vast dataset, combined with further exploration of molecular descriptors, enabled predictions of extraordinary precision, covering a broader spectrum of FLT3 inhibitors than was previously possible. The Random Forest Regressor (RFR) algorithm, selected for its superior predictive performance, was trained with 1080 inputs and validated through comprehensive external and internal methods. It achieved an remarkable coefficient of determination (R^2) of 0.941 and a standard deviation of 0.235 on a test set of 270 compounds, highlighting the efficacy of model in predicting FLT3 inhibitory activity. Key molecular descriptors were identified, enhancing our understanding of structural requirements for inhibitor potency. Additionally, we developed a user-friendly computational tool that enables the rapid prediction of pIC50 values. Utilizing this tool, potential FLT3 inhibitors were identified through ligand-based virtual screening. This study represents a major advancement in FLT3 inhibitor discovery by utilizing a simple QSAR-machine learning model. It enables more efficient and precise identification of potential drug candidates at an early stage, promising a faster development of targeted therapies and streamlining the ligand-based drug design process.
Gifford McMahon Refrigerating Cycle for Liquefying Small Amounts of Hydrogen: Analysis of the Performances
Authors: Bartoli Carlo
Published: March 2024

: This study presents energy and exergy analyses conducted on a Gifford-McMahon cycle refriger-ator. Through detailed numerical simulations, the performance of the refrigerator is thoroughly assessed, with a particular focus on energy and exergy losses. The obtained results are compared with Sankey and Grassman diagrams, providing visual representations of energy and exergy flows within the system. The localization of exergy losses is carefully analysed to identify key areas for optimization aimed at enhancing efficiency and power output. By pinpointing sources of ex-ergy destruction, targeted improvements can be implemented to maximize the overall perfor-mance of the refrigerator. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the thermodynamic behaviour of Gifford-McMahon cycle refrigerators and provides valuable insights for optimizing their performance in practical applications.
Structural Health Monitoring for Prefabricated Building Envelope under Stress Tests
Authors: Vandi Laura , Calcagni Maria Teresa , Belletti Francesco , Pandarese Giuseppe , Martarelli Milena , Revel Gian Marco , Docter Vincent , Pracucci Alessandro
Published: March 2024

This paper details the comprehensive activities conducted in a laboratory setting to assess the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of prefabricated building envelopes. Aimed at enhancing the structural evaluation of buildings, the focus of this research lies in employing nondestructive sensors for SHM with the objective to advance in the understanding and assessment of facade conditions. The paper outlines the methodologies employed, starting with a modal analysis to define the structural vibration's modal frequency. Subsequently, tests were defined and executed to validate building envelope compliance in case of stress typical of high-rise building. Throughout these tests, continuous monitoring of the façade was conducted using both conventional (accelerometers, extensimeter washers) and non-conventional sensors (Fiber Optic Sensing) The gathered data underwent thorough processing and analysis to provide an overall perspective on the structure's behavior during the stress test. The investigation aimed to identify whether specific physical phenomena correlate with distinct signals and to evaluate if continuous façade monitoring over the building's lifespan aids in preventing potential structural damage. Moreover, two modal analyses were conducted to compare final data and frequencies with earlier data, enabling the detection of any structural alterations. The results from compliance testing and structural analysis yielded noteworthy insights contributing to the evolving field of structural health monitoring, offering valuable findings that advance our ability to proactively manage and maintain the integrity of building structures.
From Early Adoption to Mainstream Acceptance: A Case Study on the Distribution of Electric Vehicles in Sweden (2016-2020)
Authors: Levin Mikael , Sandberg Krister , Tano Björn
Published: March 2024

In this study, we investigate the growth of EV ownership among Swedish households. Through detailed socio-economic data and the Swedish vehicle register, we are able compare characteristics of households that bought an EV in 2016 with those that became EV owners in 2020. We are thus able to describe and analyse the transition from the early EV owners to the early majority. Unlike many prior studies in the field, which are based on surveys or interviews, this study relies on registry data, thereby encompassing all car owners in Sweden. In this study, we have also scrutinized the significance of ownership mode by distinguishing between households that have chosen to purchase a car and those that have chosen to lease one. The results show that the demand for EVs has reached new consumer groups, e.g. both younger and older car buyers, and that the option to lease a car privately has broadened the market for new cars in general, and for EV’s in particular.
Hepatitis C Virus E1E2 Structure, Diversity, and Implications for Vaccine Development
Authors: Pierce Brian G. , Felbinger Nathaniel , Metcalf Mathew , Toth Eric A. , Ofek Gilad , Fuerst Thomas R.
Published: March 2024

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major medical health burden and leading cause of chronic liver disease and cancer worldwide. More than 58 million people are chronically infected with HCV, with 1.5 million new infections occurring each year. An effective HCV vaccine is a major public health and medical need as recognized by the World Health Organization. However, due to the high variability of the virus and its ability to escape the immune response, HCV rapidly accumulates mutations making a vaccine a formidable challenge. An effective vaccine must elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in a consistent fashion. After decades of studies from basic research through clinical development, the antigen of choice is considered to be the E1E2 envelope glycoprotein due to conserved, broadly neutralizing antigenic domains located in the constituent subunits of E1, E2, and the E1E2 heterodimeric complex itself. The challenge has been elicitation of robust humoral and cellular responses leading to broad virus neutralization due to the relatively low immunogenicity of this antigen. In view of this challenge, structure-based vaccine design approaches to stabilize key antigenic domains have been hampered due to the lack of E1E2 atomic-level resolution structures to guide them. Another challenge has been development of a delivery platform in which a multivalent form of the antigen can be presented in order to elicit a more robust anti-HCV immune response. Recent nanoparticle vaccines are gaining prominence in the field due to their ability to facilitate a controlled multivalent presentation and trafficking to lymph nodes, where they can interact with both the cellular and humoral components of the immune system. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding the E1E2 heterodimeric structure to facilitate a rational design approach and the potential for development of a multivalent nanoparticle-based HCV E1E2 vaccine. Both aspects are considered important in the development of an effective HCV vaccine that can effectively address viral diversity and escape.
Optimal Battery Energy Storage Dispatch for the Day-Ahead Electricity Market
Authors: Gonzalez-Saenz Julio , Becerra Victor
Published: March 2024

This work presents an innovative application of optimal control theory to the strategic scheduling of battery storage in the day-ahead electricity market, with a focus on enhancing profitability while factoring in battery degradation. The study incorporates in the optimisation framework the cost of battery capacity degradation, the effects of capacity degradation and internal resistance degradation into dynamics. We employ a continuous-time representation of the dynamics, in contrast with many other studies that use a discrete-time approximation with rather coarse intervals. We adopt an equivalent circuit model coupled with empirical degradation parameters to simulate a battery cell’s behaviour and degradation mechanisms with good support from experimental data. Utilising direct collocation methods with mesh refinement allows for precise numerical solutions to the complex, nonlinear dynamics involved. Through a detailed case study of Belgium’s day-ahead electricity market, we determine the optimal charging and discharging schedules under varying objectives: maximizing net revenues, profits considering capacity degradation, and profits considering both capacity degradation and internal resistance increase due to degradation. The results demonstrate the viability of our approach and underscore the significance of integrating degradation costs into the market strategy for battery operators, alongside its effects on the battery’s dynamic behaviour. Our methodology extends previous work by offering a more comprehensive model that empirically captures the intricacies of battery degradation, including a fine and adaptive time domain representation, focusing on the day-ahead market, and utilising accurate direct methods for optimal control. The paper concludes with insights into the potential of optimal control applications in energy markets and suggestions for future research avenues.
The Effect of “Proanthocyanidin” on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Skeletal Muscles of Rats
Authors: Özer Abdullah , Koçak Başak , Sezen Şaban Cem , Arslan Mustafa , Kavutçu Mustafa
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND: Lower limb skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury associated with increased morbidity and mortality is common in several clinical situations such as aortic aneurysms repairment, peripheral arterial surgery, vascular injury repairment, and shock. Although it is generally accepted that oxidative stress mediators have a significant role in IR injury, its precise mechanism is still unknown. Anecdotally, it is sustained not only by structural and functional changes in the organ it affects but also by damage to distant organs. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the effect of proanthocyanidin on IR injury.
METHODS: In our study, 18 male Wistar albino rats were used. The subjects were divided into three groups of six each. (Group Control-C, Group Ischemia-Reperfusion -IR, Group Ischemia-Reperfusion and Proanthocyanidin-IR-PRO). Intraperitoneal proanthocyanidin was given to the IR and proanthocyanidin groups 30 minutes before laparotomy and 1-hour ischemia led to these two groups. After one hour, reperfusion started. Muscle atrophy-hypertrophy, muscle degeneration-congestion, fragmentation-hyalinization, muscle oval-central nucleus ratio, leukocyte cell infiltration, catalase enzyme activity, and TBARS were all examined in lower-limb muscle samples after one hour of reperfusion.
RESULTS: When skeletal muscle samples were evaluated histopathologically, it was discovered that muscle atrophy-hypertrophy, muscle degeneration-congestion, fragmentation-hyalinization, and leukocyte cell infiltration with oval-central nucleus standardization were significantly higher in the IR group than group control and group IR-proanthocyanidin. Besides, oval-central nucleus standardization was significantly higher in the IR and proanthocyanidin group than in the control group. TBARS levels were significantly higher in the IR group than in the control and IR-proanthocyanidin groups while, catalase enzyme activity was found to be significantly lower in the IR group than in the control and IR and proanthocyanidin groups.
CONCLUSION: As a consequence of our research, we discovered that proanthocyanidins administered before IR have a protective impact on skeletal muscle in rats. Further research in this area is required.
The UJI EFEKTIVITAS ANTIFUNGI EKSTRAK BIJI MIMBA (Azadirachta indica ) TERHADAP Trichophyton mentagrophytes SECARA IN VITRO
Authors: Sari Yuni Sartika
Published: March 2024

Infeksi jamur di daerah tropis termasuk Indonesia relatif tinggi. Salah satu jamur yang dapat menginfeksi yaitu Trichophyton mentagrophytes yang dapat menyebabkan penyakit kulit seperti tinea pedis, tinea kruris dan lainnya. Sebagai alternatif pengobatan digunakan ekstrak biji mimba. Salah satu manfaatnya sebagai antijamur. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui kemampuan ekstrak biji mimba dalam menghambat pertumbuhan Trichophyton mentagrophytes dan mengetahui perbandingan efektivitas masing-masing ekstrak biji mimba terhadap Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Metode ekstraksi yang digunakan yaitu maserasi bertingkat dengan menggunakan pelarut n-heksan, diklorometan dan metanol. Uji aktivitas antijamur menggunakan metode sumuran. Data yang dihasilkan di analisis menggunakan Post-Hoc Least Significant Difference (LSD ) dan kandungan senyawa pada masing-masing ekstrak di analisis menggunakan instrument GC-MS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak n-heksan memiliki daya hambat yang paling tinggi dibandingkan dengan ekstrak diklorometan dan metanol. Rata-rata diameter zona hambat ekstrak n-heksan yaitu 11,12 mm, ekstrak diklorometan 10,37 mm dan ekstrak metanol 9,75 mm. Hasil analisis senyawa menggunakan GCMS ekstrak biji mimba mengandung asam palmitat, asam stearat dan heptadecene-8-carbonic acid yang diduga memiliki sifat sebagai antijamur. Hasil analisis One Way Anova yang dilanjutkan dengan uji Post Hoc Least Significant Difference (LSD) menunjukkan ekstrak n-heksan, diklorometan dan metanol memiliki aktivitas yang sama dalam menghambat pertumbuhan jamur Trichophyton mentagrophytes (p>0,05).
ESTIMASI STOK KARBON MANGROVE STRATA POHON DI KELURAHAN TRIMULYO KOTA SEMARANG SEBAGAI UPAYA KONSERVASI MANGROVE
Authors: Arterio Furqon Hadidi
Published: March 2024

Development progress that occurred in the city of Semarang has an impact on increasing community economic activity. This increasing carbon emissions in the air occured due to the use of fossil fuels. One of the efforts to reduce carbon emissions is by reforestation. The city of Semarang has 19.541 hectares (52.31%) of green open space out of 37.303,9 hectares of the total area of the city. However, the area of the mangrove ecosystem in Semarang City was only 68,13 Ha. Even though mangrove ecosystems have a higher ability to absorb carbon than other ecosystems. Based on these conditions, it was necessary to estimate mangrove carbon stocks as an effort to determine the potential of mangrove tree strata to absorb carbon. From the results, the value of mangrove carbon stocks in the Trimulyo mangrove ecosystem of 36,00 tons/ha had the potential to act as a carbon sink.
PENDEKATAN KOMUNIKASI ANTAR BUDAYA PADA PUBLIC RELATIONS KOMPAS GRAMEDIA DALAM MEMBANGUN KOMUNIKASI EMPATI
Authors: Novita  , Safitri Dini
Published: March 2024

Terciptanya suatu hubungan yang baik antara perusahaan dengan masyarakat sekitar adalah wujud dari keberhasilan public relations dalam menjalankan perannya dan mengoptimalkan fungsinya. Pada teori public relations budaya menjelaskan semua aktivitas public relations akan selalu dipengaruhi oleh budaya. Di era globalisasi pada saat ini budaya bisa dipelajari melalui proses belajar, proses belajar tersebut melalui empati. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pendekatan komunikasi antar budaya pada public relations Kompas Gramedia dalam membangun komunikasi empati. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, penelitian ini erat berkaitan dengan teknik wawancara mendalam yang melibatkan masyarakat Palmerah Selatan. Penelitian ini menggunakan studi etnografi public relations yaitu studi yang berfokus kepada perilaku komunikasi untuk membangun suatu hubungan. Komponen studi etnografi public relations meliputi Insight, Program Strategic, Program Implementation, Action and Reputation. Pada penelitian ini, metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah melalui wawancara. Hasil penelitian ini menemukan bahwa program CSR Kompas Gramedia dengan sasaran masyarakat di sekitar kantor operasional sudah bervariasi dan membuat masyarakat jadi tertarik untuk mengikuti program tersebut. Program CSR yang dilakukan oleh Kompas Gramedia membuat perubahan pada masyarakat dalam aspek sosial ataupun ekonomi.
Efektivitas Demand Creation & Product Placement Kopiko Dalam Meningkatkan Brand Awareness Pada Penikmat Drama Korea Vincenzo Di Semarang
Authors: Ertha Anggun Novalia  , Muhammad Hasan Basori
Published: March 2024

Di dalam dunia ekonomi dan bisnis, pemasaran menjadi aspek penting yang digunakan untuk meningkatkan penjualan. Penjualan dapat meningkat ketika konsumen telah mengenal, mengetahui dan mengingat suatu merek atau produk (brand awareness). Salah satu yang digunakan untuk menciptakan brand awareness adalah dengan demand creation (penciptaan permintaan dan kebutuhan dengan media promosi) dan product placement (teknik pemasaran dengan cara menempatkan produk pada suatu tayangan hiburan (film atau drama) tanpa mengganggu jalanya cerita dan tanpa memperlihatkan unsur promosi secara nyata). PT Mayora Indah, Tbk dengan produknya permen Kopiko menerapkan teknik demand creation dan product placement pada tayangan Drama Korea “Vincenzo”. Penerapan model pemasaran ini terbilang baru dan berani untuk ukuran produk lokal. Selain itu, pemasaran ini digunakan untuk memperkuat penjualan dalam dan luar negeri. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari tahu tingkat efektivitas demand creation dan product placement terhadap brand awareness permen Kopiko pada penikmat Drama Korea “Vincenzo” di Semarang. Penelitian ini menggunakan paradigma positivistik dan pendekatan kuantitatif yang menerapkan metode survei pada 100 responden yang merupakan penonton Drama Korea “Vincenzo” di Semarang dengan teknik penarikan data non probability sampling, yakni purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa demand creation dan product placement yang dilakukan PT Mayora Indah, Tbk pada produknya permen Kopiko memberi kontribusi sebesar 40,2% terhadap peningkatan brand awareness penonton Drama Korea “Vincenzo” di Semarang dan 59,8% lainnya dipengaruhi faktor-faktor selain variabel pada penelitian ini. Dapat pula disimpulkan bahwa demand creation dan product placement terbukti dapat membantu meningkatkan brand awareness permen Kopiko pada penonton Drama Korea “Vincenzo” di Semarang.