bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-invasive analyses of a multi-stratified archaeological and historical site: the Crypta Balbi case-study
Authors: Fioriti Vincenzo , Roselli Ivan , Forliti Sara , Tatì Angelo , Colucci Alessandro , Baldini Massimiliano , Picca Alessandro , Cataldo Antonino , Marzullo Mauro
Published: April 2022

A number of non-invasive techniques were used to study the state of conservation of an important archaeological site in the centre of Rome, the Crypta Balbi (part of the Museo Nazionale Romano), so-called after proconsul Lucio Cornelio Balbo, who in the year 13 BC built here a theatre in the Campus Martius [1]. Excavations are still ongoing, so new relevant archaeological findings could still be discovered. At the same time, this involves that each new finding must be conserved and preserved. To this aim, extensive monitoring campaigns are essential. The reconstructions in Figure 1 and 2 show the structure of the monument during the II century (imperial age) and after, until the 15th century [1]. Figure 3 shows the studied site as it is today. The theatre and the Crypta (a kind of courtyard) are located within the red dotted circles. Today it is close to a tramway in the city centre, that induces air pollution and vibrations potentially putting at risk this unique archaeological site. In order to study its various layers, a number of non-invasive techniques have been used. Among them: infrared cameras for the thermographic analysis, velocimeters to evaluate impact of vibrations, microclimatic parameters acquisition, kinematic analysis, digital video elaboration by motion magnification method. Substantially, this monitoring campaign was based on non-contact investigations in order to eliminate any danger to damage the elements of the monument, which provided useful insights. Thermal images of the monument were captured using a Flir T440 thermal infrared camera. Microclimatic parameters and data of weather stations were collected for correlation to experimental ambient vibration and NDTs data. In particular, air temperature and humidity were monitored by two MSR145 mini data loggers. Seismographs type SL06 SARA Instruments digital recorders equipped with SS02 triaxial velocimeters were used for the vibration monitoring. Each seismograph is independent and provided with battery for the energy supply and with a GPS antenna for synchronization, so that data from different instruments can be compared in the time domain. The instrumentation is very accurate, in fact the sensitivity is 400 V/m/s and the frequency range from 0.2 to 50 Hz, sampling frequency set at 200 Hz. Data were acquired from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Motion Magnification (MM) is a recently developed video processing methodology [2, 6, 5]. MM [2 - 6] acts like a microscope in digital videos, magnifying motions hardly visible with the naked eye, but leaving unchanged the topology of the images.
Evaluation of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for distinguish anthropogenic and geogenic calcite.
Authors: Calandra Sara , Cantisani Emma , Salvadori Barbara , Barone Serena , Liccioli Lucia , Fedi Mariaelena , Garzonio Carlo Alberto
Published: April 2022

Infrared spectroscopy allows to reliably distinguish between calcites formed by different processes, e.g. geogenic and anthropogenic calcite. This approach can be used for rapid sample analysis in the radiocarbon dating of mortars. The datable component is represented by anthropogenic calcite, that results from the reaction of calcium hydroxide with the atmospheric CO2 during the hardening of the material. However, different possible sources of contamination can alter the true radiocarbon concentration and can thus make the mortar appearing either older or younger. The preventive identification of the origin of calcite present in the sample allows to measure only anthropogenic calcite, reducing the time and cost of Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) measurements. Many papers are present in the literature discussing the use of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) with the KBr pellet method, to distinguish the origin of calcite. In this paper, the use of attenuated total reflectance mode (ATR-FTIR) is evaluated since it may present valuable advantages such as non-destructivity, in the perspective of sample reuse for dating.
Application of a non-invasive measurement technique to detect anomalies in frescoes at the US Capitol
Authors: Vignola A , Corvaro F , Vignola J , Turo D , Marchetti B , Vitali M
Published: April 2022

Delamination is one of the most common issue that can affect frescoes and wall painting in general. Non-destructive techniques (NDT) are considered an effective analysis method for frescoes conservation status detection. The objective of this work was to determine the structural integrity of plaster in the United States Capitol Building through structural vibration analysis. The plaster was excited with sound, causing it to vibrate at a miniscule level. The resulting vibrations were measured using a laser vibrometer and then utilized to reveal the location and size of unseen irregularities in the structure. More than 50 individual scans were performed and analyzed using scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). The analysis identified many anomalies and assessed the status of some areas that were intact. This procedure was performed on each of the frescoes adorning the walls and ceiling of the rooms to discover areas where the painted plaster has lost adherence to the underlying architecture. The frescos were classified into three categories: intact, anomalous, in need of further analysis. A comparison with data recorded in 2004 of the same frescoes has been also performed.
Documenting Cultural Heritage in very hostile fruition contexts: the synoptic visualization of Giottesque frescoes by Multispectral and 3D Close-range Imaging
Authors: Grifoni E , Gargano M , Melada J , Interlenghi M , Castiglioni I , Romano Gosetti di Sturmeck S , Ludwig N
Published: April 2022

The paper reports the results obtained from the digital survey of Giottesque frescoes in the Archiepiscopal Palace of Milan. Multispectral Imaging and Image Based Modelling techniques have allowed the study, the high-resolution documentation and the virtual reassembly of the fragmented frescoes: the integration of spectral data with RGB ortho-images and 3D models has supported the interpretation of the pictorial cycle by virtually relocating the fresco fragments and evaluating their consistency from a technical, iconographic and art-historical point of view. The experimental results show that the proposed approach has great potential for the documentation of wall paintings preserved in highly hostile contexts of fruition. Due to its versatility and portability in the field, its sub-millimetric accuracy, and the different outputs that can be generated, Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry has proven to be the ideal tool in case of scattered and difficult-to-access data.
A procedure to monitor the critical aspects of the sampling in the authenticity tests by TL
Authors: Gueli A M , Stella G , Pasquale S , Politi G , Trigona C
Published: April 2022

This work addresses a contribution to specific objectives of a wide research project aimed at making operator-independent and at having an automatic system during the collection phase in authenticity test by Thermoluminescence. Here we dealt with critical aspects of the sampling regard the temperature monitoring during the drilling. A homemade system is built up to carry out the experiments and allow assessing correlation between the temperatures evaluated by elaboration of thermal images and the values of force measured from 5N to 30N in correspondence of hole generated in the brick and of the drill bit.
From Point Cloud To Video Projection Mapping: Knowing Modern Architecture By Using Light Projection
Authors: Martino A , Balletti C
Published: April 2022

The ClusterLab HeModern of the Università Iuav di Venezia has been working in recent years on the study, knowledge and conservation of 20th century architecture. This interdisciplinary research group (History of Architecture, Geomatics, Building Technology, Restoration Project) intends to investigate how to analyse and evaluate the state of conservation of the materials of which the modern architectural cultural heritage is composed by identifying specific application protocols for intervention, preservation and valorisation. In 2018, the collaboration between the above-mentioned ClusterLab, the LéaV of the Ecole nationale supérieure d’architecture in Versailles and the Archivio del Moderno of the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio - Università della Svizzera italiana, culminated in the identification of the works and career of André Bloc as a case study. In the context of this study, the Tour, the Engineer’s posthumous work, was selected to serve as a sample for research on the methods of communication of the contents of the architecture, the survey procedures used and the elaborations obtained. So, after the survey campaign, which took place via topographic, laser scanning and photogrammetric methods, two different levels of restitution were conceived: the first, made according to the canonical graphic paper methods, represents the procedural and surveying information, the material characterisation and the state of decay; the second elevates the same contents by applying them to physical reality. In this phase, the research focused on the possibility of making the different projects collaborate through the technique of rapid prototyping and video projection mapping. This particular form of augmented reality was used to enrich, through the mediation of light projections, the sensory perception of the observers by adding more information and emphasising those of greatest interest, proposing an alternative way of storytelling. In fact, unlike other forms of augmented reality, in the case of video projection mapping, the observer has the possibility to interact continuously with the physical reality, whose character is static, while the transmission of data is dynamic and can range in heterogeneity. The elaborations produced were presented in form of a museum exhibit at the international conference “Arti e architettura. Il contributo di André Bloc 1950-1970”, which took place in the exhibition rooms of the Università Iuav di Venezia.
Identification of natural dyes in historical tapestries, a LC-MS/MS approach.
Authors: Baroni Anna , Comite Valeria , Guglielmi Vittoria , Casanova Mattia , Redegalli Paolo , Fermo Paola
Published: April 2022

The present study concerns the identification of the colouring matter in ancient tapestries of different historical periods. The investigation was performed using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and the results were compared with a previously created reference database. Furthermore, the characteristic fragmentation pathway provided additional information for the identification of the dyes employed.
Glass-gems from the National Archaeological Museum in Aquileia: a PIXE/PIGE compositional study
Authors: Di Martino D , Gagetti E , Marcuccci G , Lemasson Q , Riccardi MP
Published: April 2022

A total of 100 investigated coloured/colourless opaque and transparent glass-gems of the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia (Italy) have been analyzed with a non-invasive approach, at the AGLAE facility (Centre de Recherche et Restauration des Musées de France - C2RMF), located at the Palais du Louvre in Paris (France).

The collection represents a “unicum” in terms of number of finds and richness of typologies. Almost all the glass-gems were discovered in the Roman site of Aquileia, known as an important center of glass working, and are dated between the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century CE. Their safe provenance from the city and cemeteries of Roman Aquileia, and their number, offer an unparalleled statistical sample.

Most of the objects belong to the natron-glass group. The families of HIMT glass and glass made from plant ashes are also represented. This compositional variety of glass supports the hypothesis that Aquileia was an important glass working center in the Roman age.
Mapping large surfaces of cultural heritage buildings by infrared thermography
Authors: Cadelano G , Ferrarini G , Bortolin A , Bison P
Published: April 2022

Thermographic mapping of cultural heritage buildings is nowadays a key technique to evaluate the status of a building, thanks to its non-destructive and non-invasive nature. Infrared thermography allows both to study the structure of the building itself, looking for hidden elements and defining the stratigraphy, and to assess the building status, checking for damages such as detachments or degradation due to ageing or humidity. The need for a fast thermographic scanning procedure, useful for investigating large surfaces, led to the creation and refinement of the IRpano device, that allows a rapid and complete thermal scanning of building surfaces and the visualization of results in a 360° panoramic environment. This work presents the conceptual framework of the IRpano device and the results of thermal scanning on cultural heritage buildings.
Historical proteinaceous-based pictorial binders’ analysis: a novel proteomic minimally invasive approach
Authors: Rigante Elena C L , Calvano Cosima D , Sabbatini Luigia , Cataldi Tommaso R I
Published: April 2022

Operating micro-invasive sampling when dealing with the chemical investigation of precious historical works of art is, without doubts, mandatory. Recently, scientific research in the field of Cultural Heritage has been often devoted to the development of innovative strategies for quasi non-invasive sampling on works of art to extract, for example, proteins and/or lipids composing the pictorial binders gaining extensive awareness about the materials employed by the artist. In this work, we propose a novel minimally invasive method for the sampling and characterization of protein-based painting binders. We apply a hydrophilic gel, previously functionalized with trypsin and chymotrypsin, on the artwork surface to perform an in-situ digestion of proteinaceous binders. Peptides are identified by means of a proteomic bottom-up approach combined with a high resolution/accuracy mass spectrometry technique. A wooden polychrome statue belonging to the XV century was chosen as a sample to assess the proposed protocol on a historical painting layer, as illustrated herein.
A computer-based method for the accurate analysis of the trilobate spouts found in the cathedral of Amiternum
Authors: Di Angelo L , Di Stefano P , Forgione A , Guardiani E. , Pane C
Published: April 2022

The traditional manual method of analysis of ceramic finds involves expert operators in long and routine activities whose results depend on their subjectivity, specialization, and professional experience. This implies that the analysis of sherds is carried out using few data affected by high uncertainty. These limitations are even more clear with fragments with small axially symmetric portions whose elements of the investigation are not axially symmetric, such as handles, spouts, decorations. In this way both the axis of symmetry of the original object and the reference planes and/or axes of the characteristic dimensions of the elements are identified with such approximations as to compromise subsequent analyses and comparisons. To overcome these limitations, in this paper a new computer-based procedure is proposed. As a case study, the analysis fragments of jugs/bowls with trilobed spouts found in the site of Amiternum, coming from 12th-13th century contexts are considered; their analysis is fundamental to analyze the site where they were found since there is no archival documentation about their use.
Chemical Analysis of prehistoric pottery complex of Valcorrente - Sicily (Italy)
Authors: Gueli Anna Maria , Palio Orazio , Turco Maria , Pasquale Stefania , Stella Giuseppe , Lemasson Quentin , Pacheco Claire , Pichon Laurent , Moignard Brice , Politi Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

This paper is aimed at studying different pottery sherds excavated in the site of Valcorrente, located in Sicily, occupied in three main periods, dating respectively to the end of the Neolithic period, to the end of the Chalcolithic period, and to the Early Bronze Age. The chemical composition of the pottery sherds has been analysed with Ion Beam techniques at AGLAE facility at Centre de Recherche et Restauration des Musées de France and the results have been treated with principal component analysis in order to extract indications about the ceramic production technology in the area and the evolution in time.
Integrated Geophysical And Geomatics Study At Xrobb L-Ghagin Archaeological Site: Preliminary Results
Authors: Colica E. , D’Amico S. , Luciano G. , Cardona D. , Caruana J. , Straud K. , Leucci G. , Farrugia D. , Galea P.
Published: April 2022

This study reports the results obtained by combining geophysical methods and geomatis techniques to study the Xrobb l-Ghagin archaeological site. We use unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with different sensors in order to reconstruct the 3D digital model of the area with the main goal of obtaining quantitative information. In particular, we used optical and Lidar sensors mounted on our drone and we perform also ground-based topographic survey in order to properly georeferenced the obtained 3D digital model. Geophysics data (e.g. ambient noise vibration, electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar) have been collected to study potential buried features present at the site. The 3D model and geophysical investigations helped in identifying potential buried archeological structures as well as the mapping of shallow geological features as fractures, faults and caves.
A brief on tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) functionalized-adsorbents in CO2 capture application
Authors: Tan K. W. , Ruhaimi A.H. , Hitam C.N.C. , Taib M.R.
Published: April 2022

Among numerous carbon capture technologies, adsorption is considered one of the most effective approaches to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere. Various modification approaches of adsorbents have been introduced to enhance the CO2 adsorption ability. Recently, an amine such as tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) has been extensively used as an adsorbent’s promoter because of its high amine density, low viscosity, low cost, and low toxicity properties. This has added an advantage to the adsorbent in terms of economical and environmentally benign. Therefore, it is important to provide the latest review on TEPA-functionalized adsorbents, specifically on the effects of TEPA functionalization, different TEPA loading, diverse adsorption conditions, as well as the structure of adsorbents towards the CO2 adsorption capacity. Different adsorption conditions over a wide range of adsorption temperatures were thoroughly discussed and several recommendations for future studies were also been proposed.
Fabrication of self-cleaning bio-based plastic with antimicrobial properties via solution casting technique
Authors: Peter John C , Ali R R , Mohamed Isa E D , Salleh M S N , Burhanuddin M F B , Mohd Yunos D D
Published: April 2022

PLA/TiO2composite materials were created using solution casting approaches in this investigation. Water absorption and antimicrobial were examined by evaluating the interactions between the essential components of the film-forming materials. The overall performance of nanocomposites with varying TiO2concentration was investigated. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, a water absorption test, and antimicrobial analysis were used to conduct the studies. The water absorption of bioplastics was shown to be reduced when TiO2concentration was increased up to 5.0 wt%, with the lowest water saturation point of 17.93%. This is because the interaction between PLA and TiO2lowers the number of free OH groups in the resultant bioplastics. As a consequence, there was a decrease in water absorption-related deterioration, such tensile property degradation of the bioplastics. Furthermore, antibacterial activity enhanced under UV-A irradiation with a TiO2nanoparticles concentration of 5.0 wt%, and 1.0 wt% of the nanofilms displayed inhibitory zones of 10.49 ± 0.22 and 12.61 ± 0.78 mm and 6.83 ± 0.19 and 6.96 ± 0.62 mm for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Overall, the performance of the nanofilm with a higher TiO2concentration outperformed the pure film. Nonetheless, both nanocomposite membranes complied with the requirements of food packaging films.
Synthesis of potassium hydroxide-treated activated carbon via one-step activation method
Authors: Harimisa G E , Jusoh N W C , Tan L S , Shameli K , Ghafar N A , Masudi A
Published: April 2022

Physicochemical activation has been popular currently due to the incredible surface area of activated carbon produced. In the process, the step of activation has a significant role in influencing the characteristics of activated carbon. Previously, several studies conducted one-step activation in which potassium hydroxide (KOH) was impregnated with the precursors derived from agricultural biomass and wastes. Currently, the materials have been interesting due to their renewable and low-cost properties. This paper reviews the recent studies regarding the variables and the effect of one-step activation towards properties of KOH-impregnated adsorbents which were synthesized from agricultural biomass and wastes. The variables of one-step activation and pore development are compared in this paper. It was found that the increase of pore characteristics follows the increased amount of KOH concentration, ratio, carbonizing temperature and time until reaching the optimum level of variables. One-step activation has been proved by the studies to the successful activation of activated carbon with different excellent surface area, even up to approximately 2800 m2/g. In the future, it will be a great challenge to develop the efficient processes of synthesizing activated carbon with improved optimization to achieve incredible and maximum results of the surface area.
Prediction of CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia using Nonlinear Grey Bernoulli Model NGBM (1,1) compared with GM (1,1) model
Authors: Althobaiti Z F , Shabri A
Published: April 2022

One of the most critical solution for tackling the challenges of global warming and climate change is to study and know the accurate prediction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Thus, aid to develop appropriate strategic plans that will reduce future damages caused by these emissions into the atmosphere. This study utilizes annual time series data on CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia from 1970 to 2016. The goal of this study is to predict CO2 emissions using the Nonlinear Grey Bernoulli model NGBM (1,1), and compared with the GM (1,1) model based on MAPE metrics to achieve a high-accuracy prediction. The NGBM (1,1) is a newly created grey model with wide ranging applications in diverse fields due to its precision in handling small time-series datasets with nonlinear variations. The NGBM (1,1) with power γ is a nonlinear differential equation that can control the predicted result and adjust the solution to fit the 1-AGO of previous raw data. Thus, the findings show that at sample sizes of N=10 and N=5, the Nonlinear Grey Bernoulli Model (NGBM) is more precise than the Grey Model GM (1, 1). The findings could help the government develop future economic policies.
Preliminary study on Azolla cultivation and characterization for sustainable biomass source
Authors: Adzman N , Goh S J , Johari A , Zainal Alam M N H , Kamaruddin M J
Published: April 2022

Azolla is a freshwater fern that belongs to the Azollaceae family. It is easy to grow and is highly productive. It can fix atmospheric nitrogen due to the presence of Anabaena azollae. Azolla has been applied to the rice field as a classic fertilizer. It is a good source of protein and contains almost all essential amino acids and minerals. Various research has been done and is still ongoing to determine the capability of Azolla as a phytoremediator and to be used as a sustainable bioenergy source. This preliminary study investigated the ideal environment for Azolla cultivation in Malaysia (humid weather throughout the year with average daily temperature across Malaysia between 21°C and 32°C). To the best of our knowledge, there is no research conducted in Malaysia to study the optimum environment for Azolla cultivation. Therefore, determining the optimum condition for growing Azolla was done by manipulating parameters: water depth, nutrient concentration, pH, and sunlight exposure. Meanwhile, chemical compositions (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash, crude fibre, carbohydrate and energy) were determined using proximate analysis. Results obtained showed that Azolla growth was the best in water depth of 20 cm, the nutrient concentration of 812.5 ppm, pH of 7 and under 100% sunlight exposure. Dried Azolla had 6.38% moisture, 27.1% crude protein, 6.37% crude fat, 14.29% ash, 34.29% crude fibre, 45.86% carbohydrate and 349.17 kcal/100 g energy. Based on the result, Azolla cultivated in this experiment could be used as a sustainable biomass source to produce animal feed (high protein content) and bioenergy (high fibre content).
Environmental impacts of utilization of ageing fixed offshore platform for ocean thermal energy conversion
Authors: Zulkifli M A R , Husain M K Abu , Zaki N I Mohd , Jaafar A B , Mukhlas N A , Ahmad S Z A Syed , Soom E Mat , Azman N. U.
Published: April 2022

Most Malaysian jacket platforms have outlived their design life. As these old platforms have outlived their design life, other alternatives must be considered. As several offshore oil and gas extraction installations approach the end of their operational life, many options such as decommissioning and the development of a new source of energy such as wind farms are introduced. The objective of this paper is to investigate the environmental impacts of utilising ageing fixed offshore platform as a source for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). The environmental impact of utilising an ageing fixed offshore platform as an OTEC source is discussed. OTEC produces energy by taking advantage of temperature variations between the ocean surface water and the colder deep water through cold-water intake piping, which requires a seawater depth of 700 metres. The output of this study shows that OTEC is envisioned to preserve marine life, becoming a new and reliable source of energy, assist clean water production, and reduce the negative impact of climate change. OTEC platforms utilising ageing platforms may lead to 44 % of fish catch in the ocean, remove 13 GW of surface ocean heat for every GW of electricity production per year, generate 1.3105 tonnes of hydrogen per year for each GW of electricity generated. In addition, OTEC platforms can reduce approximately 5106 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the environment for 1 GW of electricity generated per year, and supply 2 million litres of water per day for a 1 MW platform. Since Malaysia’s seawater profile allows for installing a fixed offshore platform as an OTEC power plant, Malaysia has many potentials to profit from the OTEC process.
A short review on the promotional effects of ceria-based catalyst for dry reforming methane
Authors: Liew S Y , Jalil A A , Tan J S
Published: April 2022

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) appears as a promising process for the industrial production of syngas in comparison to other conventional reforming technologies. However, DRM process suffers from catalyst deactivation induced by carbonaceous species which reduces the catalyst lifespan. Currently, catalytic designs in DRM have trended towards the incorporation rare-earth metals. As such, ceria (Ce) based catalyst has recently attracted research interest for its key feature to mitigate catalyst deactivation owing to its complementary redox and oxygen storage properties for the removal of surface carbon deposit. The present short review summarizes on the recent catalytic performance of Ce-based catalyst and impact of ceria redox on the DRM mechanism. The utilization of oxygen vacancies introduced by the Ce redox support enhances the catalytic activity by providing additional bifunctional sites and intermediate species to facilitate the surface reaction rate. This perspective will elucidate the role of oxygen vacancies in Ce supports and fine tune the catalytic performance of DRM for industrial applications.
Data science application in structural integrity analysis of fixed offshore jacket platform
Authors: Yak X C , Soom E Mat , Quen L K , Husain M K Abu , Azahar M A , Zaki N I Mohd , Kang H S
Published: April 2022

Accuracy in analysing the integrity of a structure is critical for determining the structure’s fitness for service and reliability status. Today, a variety of techniques and approaches are applied, including the use of data science applications. Data science is a synthesis of computer science, mathematics, and statistics. Meanwhile, the integrity of a structure is susceptible to a mix of statistical and technical design uncertainties that may remain flexible as long as the structure is capable of successfully managing the encountered load. Numerous applications are used in the oil and gas sector to estimate the probability of failure (POF), but they all have a particular restriction. Integral interference equations based on load versus strength are reliable for determining the POF of fixed offshore structures. This study is a quantitative risk assessment, emphasising the Python application, an improved and reliable method for calculating the POF value. A representative sample of the monopod offshore structure was chosen and subjected to global non-linear analysis in this study. The most reliable form of distribution was predetermined, and the algorithm created using Python was used to apply and compute the suitable integral equation depending on the load and strength conditions. The Python method’s result demonstrated a high degree of confidence in calculating the new POF in intact condition from a design perspective, inspection interval, and risk to consider.
Improving time and position resolutions of RPC detectors using time over threshold information
Authors: John J.M. , Pethuraj S. , Majumder G. , Mondal N.K. , Ravindran K.C. , Datar V.M. , Satyanarayana B.
Published: April 2022

INO-ICAL is a proposed underground experiment to study the oscillation parameters of neutrinos by detecting those produced in the atmospheric air showers. The Iron CALorimeter (ICAL) is to have 151 layers of iron plates stacked vertically corresponding to a height of ∼14.5 m, with active detector elements inserted between the iron layers. The iron layers will be magnetized with a maximum magnetic field of 1.5 T to enable the measurement of the charge and momentum of the μ
- (or μ
+) produced by ν

μ
(or ν̅

μ
) interactions inside the detector throughout the operation. Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) have been chosen as the active detector elements as they are amenable to large area coverage, as well as due to their high particle detection efficiency, long-term performance and low cost of production. The major factors that weigh in on the physics potential of the ICAL detector are the efficiency, position resolution and time resolution of the large area RPCs. A prototype detector called mini-ICAL (with 11 iron layers) was commissioned in order to understand the engineering challenges in building the large-scale electromagnet and its ancillary systems, and also to study the performance of the RPC detectors and readout electronics developed by the INO collaboration. As part of the performance study of the RPC detectors, an attempt is made to improve their position and time resolutions. The designed position resolution for the ICAL detector is of the order of 1 cm and the required time resolution is ∼1 ns. Even a small improvement in the position and time resolution will help to improve the measurements of momentum and directionality of the neutrinos in the ICAL detector. In ICAL detector simulation, where muons traverse in all directions with on average 20 RPC layers, a 30 % improvement in position resolution results in ∼10 % improvement in the momentum resolution at 3 GeV. Due to large iron materials in between two RPCs, the resolution is dominated by the effect of multiple scattering at this momentum. Also for a muon with 10 layer hit, the charge ambiguity reduces from 0.04 % to 0.001 % when the time resolution improves from 1 ns to 0.7 ns. The Time-over-Threshold (ToT) of the RPC pulses is recorded by the readout electronics. ToT is a measure of the pulse width and consequently the pulse amplitude. This information is used to improve the time and position resolution of RPCs and consequently INO's physics potential.
Dental resin composites with improved antibacterial and mineralization properties via incorporating zinc/strontium-doped hydroxyapatite as functional fillers
Authors: Li Yechen , Zhang Daixing , Wan Zhuo , Yang Xiaoping , Cai Qing
Published: April 2022

This study intends to improve the antibacterial and mineralization performance of photocurable dental resin composites (DRCs) to reduce the possibility of repair failure caused by secondary caries. To the end, functionalized hydroxyapatite (HAp), including Zn-doped (Zn/HAp) and Sr-doped HAp (Sr/HAp), were added into the bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate mixture, providing the DRCs with antibacterial and mineralization capacity, respectively. By controlling the total amount of inorganic filler at 70 wt%, these HAp powders were introduced into the resin matrix with barium glass powder (BaGP), while the ratios of HAp to aGP varied from 0:70 to 8:62. And the 8 wt% of HAp could be pure HAp, Zn/HAp, Sr/HAp, or Zn/HAp +Sr/HAp in different ratios (i.e. 2:6, 4:4, 6:2). Though the fillers varied, the obtained DRCs displayed similar micro-morphology, flexural strength (∼110 MPa) and modulus (∼7 GPa), and Vickers hardness (∼65). When the doping amounts of Sr2+/Zn2+ reached 15 mol% of Ca2+ in the Sr/HAp and Zn/HAp, the DRCs displayed a high antibacterial activity by killing ∼95% Staphylococcus aureus, and induced rich mineral deposition on surface in simulated body fluid. The incorporation of the Zn/HAp and Sr/HAp into the DRCs did not cause significant cytotoxicity, with L929 fibroblasts remaining >99% viability as cultured in extracts made from the DRCs. Therein, the DRC preparations containing both Zn/HAp and Sr/HAp have achieved improvements in both the biomineralization and antibacterial performance, as well as, having sufficient mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility for dental restoration.
Integrability breaking in the Rule 54 cellular automaton
Authors: Lopez-Piqueres Javier , Gopalakrishnan Sarang , Vasseur Romain
Published: April 2022

Cellular automata have recently attracted a lot of attention as testbeds to explore the emergence of many-body quantum chaos and hydrodynamics. We consider the Rule 54 model, one of the simplest interacting integrable models featuring two species of quasiparticles (solitons), in the presence of an integrability-breaking perturbation that allows solitons to backscatter. We study the onset of thermalization and diffusive hydrodynamics in this model, compute perturbatively the diffusion constant of tracer particles, and comment on its relation to transport coefficients.
Engineering cryoelectrospun elastin-alginate scaffolds to serve as stromal extracellular matrices
Authors: Ramesh Pujhitha , Moskwa Nicholas , Hanchon Zachary , Koplas Adam , Nelson Deirdre A , Mills Kristen L , Castracane James , Larsen Melinda , Sharfstein Susan T , Xie Yubing
Published: April 2022

Scaffold-based regenerative strategies that emulate physical, biochemical, and mechanical properties of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the region of interest can influence cell growth and function. Existing ECM-mimicking scaffolds, including nanofiber (NF) mats, sponges, hydrogels, and NF-hydrogel composites are unable to simultaneously mimic typical composition, topography, pore size, porosity, and viscoelastic properties of healthy soft-tissue ECM. In this work, we used cryoelectrospinning to fabricate 3D porous scaffolds with minimal fibrous backbone, pore size and mechanical properties similar to soft-tissue connective tissue ECM. We used salivary glands as our soft tissue model and found the decellularized adult salivary gland (DSG) matrix to have a fibrous backbone, 10–30 μm pores, 120 Pa indentation modulus, and ∼200 s relaxation half time. We used elastin and alginate as natural, compliant biomaterials and water as the solvent for cryoelectrospinning scaffolds to mimic the structure and viscoelasticity of the connective tissue ECM of the DSG. Process parameters were optimized to produce scaffolds with desirable topography and compliance similar to DSG, with a high yield of >100 scaffolds/run. Using water as solvent, rather than organic solvents, was critical to generate biocompatible scaffolds with desirable topography; further, it permitted a green chemistry fabrication process. Here, we demonstrate that cryoelectrospun scaffolds (CESs) support penetration of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts 250–450 µm into the scaffold, cell survival, and maintenance of a stromal cell phenotype. Thus, we demonstrate that elastin-alginate CESs mimic many structural and functional properties of ECM and have potential for future use in regenerative medicine applications.
Innovation for forming aluminum alloy thin shells at ultra-low temperature by the dual enhancement effect
Authors: Xiaobo Fan , Shijian Yuan
Published: April 2022

Integral thin shells made of high strength aluminum alloys are urgently needed in new generation transportation equipment. There are challenges to overcoming the co-existing problems of wrinkling and splitting by the cold forming and hot forming processes. An innovative technology of ultra-low temperature forming has been invented for aluminum alloy thin shells by the new phenomenon of ‘dual enhancement effect’. That means plasticity and hardening are enhanced simultaneously at ultra-low temperatures. In this perspective, the dual enhancement effect is described, and the development, current state and prospects of this new forming method are introduced. This innovative method can provide a new approach for integral aluminum alloy components with large size, ultra-thin thickness, and high strength. An integral tank dome of rocket with 2 m in diameter was formed by using a blank sheet with the same thickness as the final component, breaking through the limit value of thickness-diameter ratio.
Preprint Highlight: Polarized Disheveled dissolution and condensation drives embryonic axis specification in oocytes
Authors: Dudin Omaya
Published: April 2022

Body axes establishment during animal embryogenesis often relies on the intrinsic asymmetry generated early on in the oocyte by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. However, it's still unclear how the initial asymmetry arises. Here imaging experiments show that in starfish embryos, Disheveled (Dvl), an essential cytoplasmic transducer of Wnt signaling, becomes polarized at the vegetal pole via a dissolution-condensation mechanism coupled to meiotic progression. The authors further show that Dvl reformation is dependent on a maternally expressed Wnt signaling receptor Frizzled (Fzd1). This study identifies a novel link between the cell cycle and the body plan establishment and thus is relevant to a broad audience of developmental and evolutionary cell biologists.
Preprint Highlight: Kinesin-binding protein remodels the kinesin motor to prevent microtubule binding
Authors: Herman Jacob
Published: April 2022

Kinesin-binding protein (KIFBP) interacts with a subset of 8 of the 45 human kinesin family members and prevents their binding to microtubules, yet it was unclear how KIFBP selectively binds to this subset. By combining cryoelectron microscopy and cross-linking mass spectrometry, it was revealed that KIFBP uses a multivalent interaction to bind to at least two different kinesins, Kif18a and Kif15. This confirms a recent study of Kif15, extends the structural analysis to Kif18a, and uses molecular dynamics simulations to suggest KIFBP selectivity is determined by whether a kinesin loop prefers secondary structure or disorder. This work will be important to researchers studying molecular motors and structural biologists because it reveals uncommon mechanisms for molecular interaction.
Application of an Environmental Monitoring to Assess the Practices and Control the Risk of Occupational Exposure to Cyclophosphamide in Two Sites of a French Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Acramel Alexandre , Fouque Julien , Blondeel-Gomes Sandy , Huguet Samuel , Rezai Keyvan , Madar Olivier , Escalup Laurence
Published: April 2022

Objectives

The risk of chronic exposure to antineoplastic agents in hospitals, mainly by skin contact with contaminated surfaces, is well established. The aim of this study was to assess indirectly the risk of occupational exposure to antineoplastics drugs at two hospitals by using an environmental monitoring, and to suggest ways of improving the exposure to healthcare workers.

Methods

An observational study of care practices on both sites was carried out. A wipe sampling campaign was then designed to study environmental contamination throughout the chemotherapy process: receipt, storage, compounding, transport, administration, and elimination areas. Samples were analyzed by a validated LC-MS/MS method allowing trace quantification of cyclophosphamide. A guidance ‘safe value’ of 0.10 ng/cm2 was considered.

Results

A total of 293 samples were analyzed, of which 58% were found to be positive. In the compounding units, the drug vials were contaminated before [range = (non-quantifiable [NQ]-0.71) ng/cm2] and after cleaning procedure [(NQ-0.62) ng/cm2], particularly when the flip-off lid was removed during cleaning. The contamination found on manual preparations was operator-dependent: [non-detectable (ND)-3.51] ng/cm2 on infusion bag surfaces; (780.61–24 698.98) ng/cm2 on medication ports. In the case of automated preparations, the average contamination was higher on infusion bag surfaces [(2.43–36.86) ng/cm2] and lower on medication ports [(0.43–7.65) ng/cm2] than manual preparations. Contamination of the analytical control area was also highlighted. In the daily care unit, the contamination was located near the infusion area (armchairs, infusion stands, floor, and patient toilets), and varied somewhat between the two sites, especially on the floor with (0.46–27.32) compared to (ND-0.18) ng/cm2. We did not detect contamination on the transport boxes, on the door handles or in the disposal areas.

Conclusions

The variability of contamination observed between the two sites can be explained in part by the difference in routine practices, especially training of the staff, and cleaning procedures. Findings were communicated to healthcare workers, and news interventions were implemented based on wipe sampling results. This study demonstrated a method for routine environmental monitoring and worker education as a strategy to reduce occupational exposure.
Small molecule generation via disentangled representation learning
Authors: Du Yuanqi , Guo Xiaojie , Wang Yinkai , Shehu Amarda , Zhao Liang
Published: April 2022

Motivation

Expanding our knowledge of small molecules beyond what is known in nature or designed in wet laboratories promises to significantly advance cheminformatics, drug discovery, biotechnology and material science. In silico molecular design remains challenging, primarily due to the complexity of the chemical space and the non-trivial relationship between chemical structures and biological properties. Deep generative models that learn directly from data are intriguing, but they have yet to demonstrate interpretability in the learned representation, so we can learn more about the relationship between the chemical and biological space. In this article, we advance research on disentangled representation learning for small molecule generation. We build on recent work by us and others on deep graph generative frameworks, which capture atomic interactions via a graph-based representation of a small molecule. The methodological novelty is how we leverage the concept of disentanglement in the graph variational autoencoder framework both to generate biologically relevant small molecules and to enhance model interpretability.

Results

Extensive qualitative and quantitative experimental evaluation in comparison with state-of-the-art models demonstrate the superiority of our disentanglement framework. We believe this work is an important step to address key challenges in small molecule generation with deep generative frameworks.

Availability and implementation

Training and generated data are made available at https://ieee-dataport.org/documents/dataset-disentangled-representation-learning-interpretable-molecule-generation. All code is made available at https://anonymous.4open.science/r/D-MolVAE-2799/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Determining four confounding factors in individual cognitive traits prediction with functional connectivity: an exploratory study
Authors: Feng Pujie , Jiang Rongtao , Wei Lijiang , Calhoun Vince D , Jing Bin , Li Haiyun , Sui Jing
Published: April 2022

Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) has been widely adopted for individualized trait prediction. However, multiple confounding factors may impact the predicted brain-behavior relationships. In this study, we investigated the impact of 4 confounding factors including time series length, functional connectivity (FC) type, brain parcellation choice, and variance of the predicted target. The data from Human Connectome Project including 1,206 healthy subjects were employed, with 3 cognitive traits including fluid intelligence, working memory, and picture vocabulary ability as the prediction targets. We compared the prediction performance under different settings of these 4 factors using partial least square regression. Results demonstrated appropriate time series length (300 time points) and brain parcellation (independent component analysis, ICA100/200) can achieve better prediction performance without too much time consumption. FC calculated by Pearson, Spearman, and Partial correlation achieves higher accuracy and lower time cost than mutual information and coherence. Cognitive traits with larger variance among subjects can be better predicted due to the well elaboration of individual variability. In addition, the beneficial effects of increasing scan duration to prediction partially arise from the improved test–retest reliability of RSFC. Taken together, the study highlights the importance of determining these factors in RSFC-based prediction, which can facilitate standardization of RSFC-based prediction pipelines going forward.