bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual Role Of Streptomyces Strains: Reduction of Aeromonas Counts In Both Culture Water And The Intestine, And Growth Enhancement of Discus Fish (Symphysodon sp.)
Authors: Phuc T. D. , Huong N. T. , Dan P. T. T. , Linh B. T. H. , Loan V. T. T. , Hang N. T. B.
Published: May 2024

Discus fish (Symphysodon sp.) brings the largest export turnover to the ornamental fish industry in Vietnam. The intensive farming of discus fish to meet export market demand leads to a higher risk of bacterial disease, with Aeromonas being the main infectious agent. Continuous antibiotic use exerts selective pressure, fostering the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains capable of causing diseases in fish. Streptomyces sp. considered as probiotics with the role of replacing antibiotics in applications such as promoting growth, improving survival rates, and controlling pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture. The primary objective of this study was to assess the influence of Streptomyces sp. on the growth performance, and Aeromonas density in intestine of discus fish and in culture water. Discus fish fed diets containing Streptomyces sp. TM1, TM7, and TM22 showed significantly higher growth parameters (45.24 - 58.72% of final body weight - FBW, 14.8 - 16.66% of final body length -FBL, 16.03 – 20.87 % of specific growth rate of weight – SGRW, 10.79 - 12.05 % of specific growth rate of length – SGRL, and 41.48 – 46.54 % of feed conversion ratio – FCR) compared to the control. Additionally, total Aeromonas densities of the fish treated with TM1, TM7, and TM22 showed a notable decrease compared to the control treatment in the rearing water with log CFU/ml values of 4.517 (Control), 2.554 (TM1), 2.571 (TM7), 2.222 (TM22) and in the intestines of fish with log CFU/g values of 5.597 (Control), 3.828 (TM1), 3.806 (TM7), 3.648 (TM22). Streptomyces sp. TM1, TM7, and TM22 could decreased total Aeromonas count in the gut of discus fish and in the rearing water, and boost the growth performance of discus fish (Symphysodon sp.).
Optimization of Piperine Extraction Process from Vietnamese White Pepper
Authors: Le Xuan-Tien , Nguyen Ngoc-Thanh , Nguyen-Thi Bich-Tuyen , Dang Minh-Khanh , Ngo-Thi Thanh-Ngan , Vu Duc-Phuong , Duong-Nguyen Hong-Nhung , Pham-Vu Minh-Chau
Published: May 2024

The primary theme of this research was to consider and examine the piperine extraction process conditions from white pepper Piper nigrum L. The extraction method was carried out using a solvent cyclic extraction system with the same operating principle as the industrial apparatus and widely used in actual production. First, the one-factor-at-a-time method was used to determine the effects of the parameters on each process. The extraction conditions such as the ethanol concentration (90% v/v), solvent/solid ratio (3:1 mL/g), 3 times extraction per batch, each time at 70 °C for 60 minutes were found. The expected value of piperine yield from white pepper was 38.7 mg piperine/g of dry material and piperine content in oleoresin was 519.2 mg piperine/g of oleoresin. However, this method did not include the interaction effects between the research variables, which has not fully described the impact of the parameter for the response. Therefore, the study has successfully built a process for extracting oleoresin by Response Surface Methodolody (RSM) based on optimal conditions for 3 factors: ethanol concentration (85% v/v); solvent/solid ratio (3.4:1 mL/g), and extraction time (78 minutes). The results showed that the piperine extraction efficiency had a significant improvement (51.99%) compared with the variable-by-variable method (38.7%). This study proved the potential application of white pepper for the purpose of extracting active ingredients and economic. In other words, the entire skull of this pepper, which contained an abundant amount of piperine, was utilized to the maximum without wasting any leftover material after the extraction process.
Investigation of biological activities of essential oil obtained from peel of wild orange in Quang Ngai by steam distillation
Authors: Phan-Nguyen Quynh-Anh , Tran-Le Thien-Thu , Nguyen Huy-Hoang , Le Vu-Ha
Published: May 2024

Wild orange abundantly and naturally occuring in mountainous regions of Western Quang Ngai (Vietnam) has been commonly collected and consumed as a unique fruit with a low economic value. In this study, to propose the healthy benefits from this wild fruit, steam distillation was applied to extract essential oil from its peel with an extraction efficiency of approx. 3.85 wt.%. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to evaluate the chemical makeup of the essential oil obtained, in which, D-limonene (78.4%) and β-myrcene (2.4%) were found to be the most significant among 44 detected compounds. The in vitro antifungal activity of the essential oil against Candida Albicans (C.albicans) and Malassezia Furfur (M.furfur) was discovered using the zone-of-inhibition (ZOI) method. The experimental result showed that the inhibition to C.albicans was significant at a high concentration of the essential oil while the inhibition to M.furfur was better even at a low concentration (2.5 mg/mL) with an inhibitory ring diameter of 27 ± 0.3 mm, proving the great potential of this essential oil towards pharmaceutical and biological applications.
A Study on Synthesis of para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) - A Safe Mosquito Repellent Active Ingredient
Authors: LE Xuan-Tien , VU Duc-Phuong , NGUYEN Dinh-Khai , Ngoc NGUYEN Thanh , TONG Thanh- Danh
Published: May 2024

Active ingredient para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) is evaluated as effective in repelling insects in general and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an insect repellent, especially against mosquitoes worldwide. The present study attempted to evaluate the suitable conditions for the synthesis of PMD from two sources of materials that are pure (±)-citronellal (∼ 96%) and lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) essential oil (∼ 60% citronellal) by treatment of sulfuric acid in a biphasic medium (H2O/essential oil). The one-factor-at-a-time method was used to determine the optimal conditions for the synthesis of PMD from pure (±)-citronellal. The effect of various factors such as oil-to-water ratio (citronellal to sulfuric acid aqueous solution), acid concentration (sulfuric acid), reaction temperature, and reaction time on the PMD yield and conversion of citronellal was investigated. The highest PMD yield (95.6%) with excellent conversion of citronellal (98.5%) was obtained at optimal conditions such as, oil to water ratio of 1:2, acid concentration of 0.75% (w/w), reaction temperature of 60°C, and reaction time of 6 h. These optimal conditions were applied to synthesize PMD from Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil. From 200 grams of essential oil and applied optimal conditions, PMD was obtained with a yield of 91.5%.
Effects of varieties, pre-treatment and ultrasound assisted extraction on yields and characteristics of essential oils from young pomelo (Citrus Grandis L.) peels
Authors: Bui Vu Anh , Nguyen Thuong Hoai , Phan Hoa Ngoc , Chau Ai Tran Diem
Published: May 2024

Essential oils were extracted from two Vietnam local varieties of pomelo namely Citrus Grandis L. CV Nam Roi and Citrus Grandis L. CV Da Xanh. Storage methods by freezing or drying of young fruit peels affect the yield of extracted essential oils. The yield of essential oils obtained from Da Xanh variety was higher in Nam Roi variety. The extraction under ultrasound assisted condition increased the yield by two folds. The composition of volatile compounds in pomelo essential oils varied with different pomelo varieties and storage methods of the materials. The dominant compound in young peels essential oils Nam Roi, Da Xanh is limonene (55 – 90%). Nam Roi peels essential oils have antioxidant and antimicrobial activities (inhibition ability against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) higher than Da Xanh peels’ essential oils.
New 4D hyperchaotic system’s application in image encryption
Authors: Xu Heming , Wang Jian
Published: May 2024

In order to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and illegal copy during network transmission, storage and processing, we propose a new four-dimensional hyperchaotic system (4DHS) and apply it to encryption algorithm. Firstly, the dynamical properties of 4DHS are analyzed according to the structure, and the chaotic properties are verified by dissipation, equilibrium point and lyapunov exponent. Secondly, the chaotic sequence combined with Arnold scrambling method is adopted to scramble the pixel values of the plaintext image, and the scrambled pixel matrix is diffused into the ciphertext image matrix by XOR operation. Finally, we conduct the experiments to validate the effectiveness of the proposed encryption algorithm and achieve satisfactory results. At the same time, we compare the proposed encryption algorithm with other encryption algorithms, and the excellent encryption effect of our encryption algorithm can be proved.
Coexistence of varied intensities, phases, and polarization states along the direction of beam propagation
Authors: Yang Jianhe , Tao Shaohua
Published: May 2024

Polarization state, as one of the fundamental properties of light fields, has found widespread applications across various domains. The control of intensity, phase, and polarization state along the direction of beam propagation has opened up new avenues for beams. In this work, we generated a beam in which different intensities, phases, and polarization states can simultaneously appear at different positions along the direction of beam propagation. In other words, varied intensities, phases, and polarization states can coexist in the direction of beam propagation. The correctness of this method is validated through theoretical analysis and experimental results. This approach expands the application scope of light beams and provides a favorable path for exploring the optical characteristics of beams.
Yellow light privacy protection with anti-reflection structure based on photonic band gap principle
Authors: Pei Na , Wan Bao-Fei , Xie Sun-Xin , Zhang Ting-Hao , Zhang Hai-Feng
Published: May 2024

This paper delves into the one-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) privacy protection structure (PPS), emphasizing a layered structure with polarization-independent angular response characteristics tailored to meet the need for PPS in various situations. Introducing a specialized design for photonic band gap (PBG), the PPS adheres to the principles of PBG. This design comprises a host structure and an anti-reflection structure carefully selected within the yellow light band (frequency range spans from 530 THz to 510 THz). The given PPS creates an angle selection (AS) window exhibiting transmittance consistently above 0.85 within −29° to 29° while ensuring transmittance drops to 0.1 within the −90° to −46° and 46°–90° range. This arrangement effectively achieves the desired PPS. The effects of the host structure on the four key parameters of refractive index and thickness of the two media on PPS properties were studied in detail. The influence of these parameters mainly involves the transmittance of the visible area, the AS, and the transmittance of the protected area.
Experimental investigation of producer gas effects on coated pipelines in biomass downdraft gasifier system
Authors: C M Vivek , P K Srividhya
Published: May 2024

This research examines the performance of epoxy, ceramic, and graphene coatings on stainless steel 316 in a producer gas environment, focusing on corrosion and erosion resistance. This research aimed to identify the most effective coating for applications in harsh gasification environments. In this research, various analyses, including microstructural examination, hardness and weight measurements, FESEM analysis, and EDAX analysis, were conducted to evaluate the performance of the coatings. The producer gas was passed on to all the coated samples for a period of 100 h. The significant findings include the superior corrosion and erosion resistance of ceramic-coated stainless steel, as evidenced by low weight fluctuations, maintained hardness levels, and elemental stability. Graphene coatings exhibit high hardness but increased porosity, raising concerns about durability, while epoxy coatings are vulnerable to gas-induced structural alterations. The inclusion rating analysis underscored the ceramic coatings’ ability to preserve consistent material properties. Overall, ceramic coatings have emerged as the preferred option for gasification environments due to their structural resilience, inclusion integrity, and elemental stability. Considering the inclusion integrity, mechanical strength, weight stability, and elemental stability, ceramic-coated stainless steel 316 samples exhibit better resistance toward producer gas influence. This research contributes valuable insights for material selection in applications exposed to harsh gasification environments, emphasizing the importance of coating selection for long-term durability and performance.
Synthesis of 2D yttrium zinc oxide nanosheets via simple chemical route toward high performance Schottky diode based on large charge carriers density and photoresponsivity
Authors: Siddiq Miad Ali
Published: May 2024

Yttrium zinc oxide (Zn0.85Y0.15O) nanostructures were stoichiometrically prepared by co-precipitation method. XRD, EDX, XPS, SEM, and TEM spectroscopy were examined to investigate structure, composition, and morphological characteristics. The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited polycrystalline structure with small crystallite size ∼

27

nm in which the particles appeared in sheets like shape with high atomic density on surface. The optical parameters including energy gap

(

E

g

)

and refractive index

(
n
)

were investigated from (T%) and (R%) measurements through wavelength range from 300–900 nm. Al/Y:ZnO/p-Si/Ag Schottky diode was fabricated using thermal evaporating technique and its current–voltage

(
I
–
V
)

was analyzed using different models. The photodiode showed non-ideal behavior with ideality factor greater than unity and small potential barrier. Under various illuminations, the photodiode has revealed high photosensitivity attributed to trapped charge carriers at the interface. The charge carrier density

N

d

and built-in voltage

V

bi

were estimated from Mott Schottky (M–S) function suggesting high Schottky diode efficiency.
Potential use of silane-modified oyster shell powder in hydrophobic concrete
Authors: MR Lavanya , V Johnpaul , N Balasundaram , G Venkatesan
Published: May 2024

This article describes the laboratory-scale manufacture of hydrophobically modified oyster shell powder (mOSP) via a silane coupling agent and used as cement substitutes at 0% to 2.5%. Hydrophobic chemicals have been used in concrete to minimise capillary action by researchers. Although hydrophobic fillers improve concrete’s water repellency, replacing fine particles with them in higher proportions has a negative effect. We can use hydrophobically modified fillers in smaller amounts to replace cement while maintaining its critical properties. When mOSP is added in various quantities to binary and ternary mixes with natural zeolite, concrete hydration, mechanical strength, and durability are examined. At a 1.5% replacement ratio, mOSP improved concrete characteristics and durability. With free water and the hydrophobic modified nOSP, concrete mixes were consistently more workable. A gliding effect on the cementitious matrix caused by the surface roughness and hydrophobicity of the developed silane-coated nOSP increases the slump value. The 28-day compressive strength of concrete containing modified nOSP ranged from 39 to 42 MPa without zeolite and 43 to 46 MPa with it. Compressive strength increased more when 10% natural zeolite (NZ) was added with different amounts of mOSP. The RCPT values of the concrete series without zeolite dropped until 1% mOSP replacement (mOSCII), while the 1.5% mix (mOSZIII) had the lowest value. The angularly modified nOSP aggregates interlocked, improving the migration coefficient of mOSP concrete.
Investigation of microbiologically influenced corrosion of low alloy steels with different Cr contents in simulated oilfield produced water
Authors: Zhang Huihui , Xin Tong , Yuan Juntao , Feng Wenhao , Huang Jufeng , Tan Fengling , Li Xuanpeng , Fu Anqing
Published: May 2024

Microbiologically influenced corrosion has become a predominant cause of pipeline and equipment failure in oil and gas fields. This research examines the corrosion behavior of steels with varying chromium contents in simulated shale gas formation water environments. Weight loss testing, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive x-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and x-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were employed. The findings suggest that an elevated Cr content in steel results in a gradual reduction in its uniform corrosion rate in a CO2-SRB coexistence environment. This can be primarily attributed to the significant distribution of Cr content throughout the entire product film, including both biofilm and corrosion products, thereby enhancing the product film’s protectiveness. Additionally, the competitive corrosion between CO2 and SRB, as well as the influence mechanism of Cr on corrosion, were discussed.
Active dual-control electromagnetically induced transparency analog in metal- vanadium dioxide-photosensitive silicon hybrid metamaterial
Authors: Shu Chang , Sun Hongyi
Published: May 2024

We investigate an active dual-control metamaterial leveraging electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), exploiting near-field interactions between electric and magnetic dipole resonances. Our hybrid strip element, combining metal and vanadium dioxide, generates electric dipole resonance, while split-ring resonators integrating metal and photosensitive silicon induce magnetic dipole resonance. Simulations confirm coupling validity and demonstrate dynamic adjustability of EIT via temperature and light intensity changes. EIT modulation transitions between transparent and non-resonant states due to temperature fluctuations, or resonant states with varying light intensity. Temperature adjustments dominate when both factors are altered. Analysis via a coupled oscillator model reveals modulation of damping rates as the origin of disappearance curve variations. This innovative design enhances tunable EIT metamaterial versatility, with implications for high transmission ratios and adaptable slow-light effects in terahertz applications.
Thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) in a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment: implications for personnel exposure monitoring
Authors: Mehrara Esmaeil
Published: May 2024

Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) serve as compact and user-friendly tools for various applications, including personal radiation dosimetry and radiation therapy. This study explores the potential of utilizing TLD-100 personal dosimetry, conventionally applied in PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) settings, in the PET/MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) environment. The integration of MRI into conventional radiotherapy and PET systems necessitates ionizing radiation dosimetry in the presence of static magnetic fields. In this study, TLD-100 dosimeters were exposed on the surface of a water-filled cylindrical phantom containing PET-radioisotope and positioned on the patient table of a 3 T PET/MRI, where the magnetic field strength is around 0.2 T, aiming to replicate real-world scenarios experienced by personnel in PET/MRI environments. Results indicate that the modified MR-safe TLD-100 personal dosimeters exhibit no significant impact from the static magnetic field of the 3 T PET/MRI, supporting their suitability for personal dosimetry in PET/MRI settings. This study addresses a notable gap in existing literature on the effect of MRI static magnetic field on TLDs.
Tribological and mechanical exploration of polymer-based hemp and colemanite composite as a friction material
Authors: Karakaş Hamdi , Öktem Hasan , Uygur Ilyas
Published: May 2024

Natural and organic-based composite materials are widely used in many industrial applications due to their low cost, easy recyclability, economic feasibility, and ready availability. In this study, a polymer-based composite friction material consisting of Hemp-Colemanite composition (HCFCo) has been developed for the automotive sector to exhibit lower cost, environmentally friendly characteristics, and suitable friction-wear behaviors. For this purpose, three different ratios (%4, %8 and %12) of HCFCo composites were produced using a coating technique called impregnation process with a specially designed device. During the production stage, homogeneity of the composites was ensured, and then the final shape was given by the hot pressing method. Local based natural materilas frequently used for as anon-asbestos friction materails. For this reason, hemp and colomanited based composites were tested. Properties such as hardness, density, water and oil absorption, friction coefficient, and specific wear of HCFCo samples were examined. In addition, the microstructures of HCFCo composites were investigated to determine the bonding form between hemp fiber and colemanite. The results obtained revealed that the friction coefficient values decreased with an increase in temperature, while no significant change was observed in hardness and density values. Throughout the entire testing process, the friction coefficients varied between 0.14 and 0.29 on average. It was concluded that the developed fiber-reinforced composite can be reliably used in industrial applications and can contribute significantly to innovations in the literature.
Enhancing high-speed CNC milling performance of Ti6Al4V alloy through the application of ZnO-Ag hybrid nanofluids
Authors: Asalekar Amol J , Rama Sastry D V A
Published: May 2024

This research investigates the performance of high-speed CNC milling operations on Ti6Al4V alloy by employing a novel ZnO-Ag hybrid nanofluid. The study involves the preparation and characterization of nanofluids with varying concentrations of nanoparticles, focusing on thermal conductivity and stability. The machining experiments encompass four critical input parameters: Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) flow rate, cutting speed, nanofluid concentration, and feed rate. Performance evaluation is based on average surface roughness (Ra) and cutting temperature. Key findings include a remarkable 21.05% improvement in thermal conductivity for the ZnO-Ag-based sunflower oil at 0.2% volume concentration compared to 0.05% concentration. The prepared nanofluids exhibit good stability. Moreover, cutting speed and MQL flow rate emerge as significant contributors to Ra, accounting for 35.62% and 34.82%, respectively. Interestingly, MQL flow rate is identified as the most influential factor, surpassing even cutting speed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images for tool wear reveals that the ZnO-Ag based sunflower oil reduced tool wear significantly. In conclusion, the proposed ZnO-Ag-based sunflower oil at 0.2% concentration emerges as the good best for sustainable high-speed machining of Ti6Al4V alloy.
Deep learning based fault detection of automobile dry clutch system using spectrogram plots
Authors: Sai S Aditya , Sridharan Naveen Venkatesh , Chakrapani Ganjikunta , Sugumaran Vaithiyanathan
Published: May 2024

Dry friction clutches are extremely important in the context of power transmission systems. Continuous exposure to extreme heat and loading makes clutch extremely susceptible to various faults. The timely detection and diagnosis of such faults are of utmost importance to prevent any damage to internal components and also helps in avoiding transmission system failures. In this research study, a novel approach that leverages the power of transfer learning (a famous deep learning technique) is proposed to diagnose multiple types of clutch faults including, worn release fingers, fractured pressure plates, deteriorated pressure plates, loss of friction material and distorted tangential strips using spectrogram plots. To train and validate the diagnostic system, vibration readings were taken from a specially designed test rig with the help of piezoelectric accelerometer while the clutch system was operated under different load conditions of 0 (no load), 5 and 10 kg This procedure of data collection was then repeated to acquire the vibration data for all of the fault conditions by replacing the good with fault components individually. These vibration signals were further processed and transformed into spectrogram plots that serves as the input data for the deep learning models considered. Fine-tuning techniques were applied on pretrained networks to maximise the prediction accuracy of the models to effectively determine and diagnose faults in the clutch system. For this study 12 pre-trained networks were chosen namely, Xception, InceptionResNet, DenseNet, AlexNet, VGG16, GoogLeNet, VGG19, ResNet101, ResNet50, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2 and ShuffleNet. To optimize the performance of deep learning models, a systematic adjustment of hyperparameters such as the train-test split ratio, learning rate, optimizer and batch size for each network model was carried out. Through careful experimentation and analysis, significant improvements in fault classification accuracy were achieved thereby enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of the diagnostic system. From the results it was noted that 100% classification accuracy was displayed by AlexNet (for the no load condition and the 10 kg load condition) and GoogLeNet (for 5 kg load condition) with extremely low computation times.
Role of charge-compensation process on the structural, microstructure and electrical properties of pure and Nb-doped Sr2SnO4
Authors: Jatiya Manisha , Yadav Vedika , Singh Abhishek Kumar , Kumar Upendra
Published: May 2024

This article explores the charge compensation method by synthesising Sr2SnO4, Sr2Sn0.99Nb0.01O4, and Sr1.995Sn0.99Nb0.01O4. The synthesis of a monophasic, tetragonal sample was achieved using a typical ceramic approach and high-temperature heat treatment. The XRD followed by Rietveld refinement, confirmed the crystallization of material under the space group I4/mmm. The crystallite sizes for all samples determined to be less than 50 nm, while the micro-strain falls within the range of (1.78–2.93) × 10–3. The microstructure exhibits a cuboidal shape for all samples, and the grain size is observed to decrease with the addition of Nb. The dielectric characteristics of the samples indicate the existence of Maxwell-Wagner and Orientational polarization in the sample. The sample Sr2Sn0.99Nb0.01O4 demonstrates a greater conductivity value compared to Sr1.995Sn0.99Nb0.01O4. This is attributed to the presence of excess electrons that compensate for the overall charge, as opposed to Sr1.995Sn0.99Nb0.01O4 where the extra charge is compensated by a cationic vacancy

V

Sr

″

.

The time-temperature-superposition principle (TTSP) is applicable to all compositions and indicates that similar sources are responsible for both conduction and relaxation processes. The dielectric permittivity and dissipation factor are found to be in the range of 150 to 175 and 0.2 to 0.5, respectively. This suggests that they have potential for future use in millimeter-wave communication with dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs). Due to the presence of oxygen ions and the ability to conduct both ions and electrons, at temperatures above 400 °C, it is a suitable choice for electrode materials in the application of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFCs). Exploring the manipulation of defects using electrical and ionic charge compensation methods shows potential for enhancing materials in semiconductor technology.
Finite dimension of the ion pathway networks in conducting glasses
Authors: Sanchez-Varretti Fabricio O , Iguain José L , Alonso Juan M , Frechero Marisa A
Published: May 2024

In disordered materials, the ordinary understanding is that charge carriers tend to occupy energetically favorable sites known as ion-conducting channels. Many studies have revealed that the inherent fractal properties of such pathways lead to a sub-diffusive behavior. The linearity or branching of these pathways is crucial for determining how the charge carriers move. It can be thought that as the space dimensionality decreases, the average distance between the highest energy barriers along the conduction paths increases. In this study the finite dimension of those pathways is computed using an extended version of the classical Hausdorff dimension. Also, the Arrhenius behavior of the most mobile lithium ions is proved, confirming that such are responsible for conductivity behavior. The lithium ions mobility behavior in response to temperature changes and the finite dimension allowed to identify the ion diffusion regions fractal features. The reported results demonstrate that as the temperature increases the conducting channels become broadener, facilitating the transfer of electrical charge through the glassy matrix, below the transition temperature. The pathways behavior confirms the increase of the ionic conductivity when the temperature increases as it is experimentally observed.
Translators, Compradors, or Ideological Labourers? The Role of the ICC’s Intermediaries
Authors: Ullrich Leila
Published: May 2024

This chapter examines the role of ‘local intermediaries’ in the ICC’s victim engagement. Intermediaries are diverse actors, ranging from victims to national NGOs, who help the Court with evidence collection, outreach, and victim engagement in its situation countries. While much controversy surrounds the ICC’s use of intermediaries, there is a shared analytical framework for making sense of this relationship: the ‘global–local divide’. Intermediaries either figure as ‘cultural translators’ who help the Court communicate with affected communities ‘in Africa’ or as ‘cunning compradors’ who help the Court produce and sell victims as commodities. Moving beyond this dichotomy, the chapter shows that the complexity of intermediaries lies in how they exploit and are exploited often along the very same classed, gendered, and racialized lines. Intermediaries ideologically manage victims for the Court, something they themselves have a stake in. Their ideological labour consists of mobilizing and disciplining waged and unwaged workers in the Global South—a class of hustlers—which capitalism can exploit through labour, debt, and by taking land and resources. Both intermediaries and victims participate in this ideological labour, but the former benefit from it more clearly than the latter. Eventually, they both lose as they reproduce their position at the bottom of a racial capitalist order.
Prologue
Authors: DiSalvo Carl
Published: May 2024

In this essay, I reflect on the collection and use of tree data in my hometown to think through the possibilities and limitations of civic data. Tree data and the associated technologies for collecting, storing, and sharing tree data call attention to how non-humans are enrolled into contemporary cities through data structures and practices. While this is entirely still an human-centered affair, reflecting on it gives us a glimpse into systems and services that would support a more-than-human city.
Participatory Design for Multispecies Cohabitation
Authors: Holland Alexander , Roudavski Stanislav
Published: May 2024

This chapter addresses the environmental crisis by empowering voices and actions of non-human lifeforms in more-than-human design. This work is significant because dominant approaches to sustainability remain limited by the knowledge of human experts, resulting in exclusion, bias, and inadequate outcomes. Seeking to address this gap, the chapter extends existing theoretical work on more-than-human communities by providing conceptual framing, tools, and examples that can inform design action. To do this, it examines a degraded site that already attracts substantial restoration efforts and contributes to them by designing artificial structures that can support arboreal wildlife. The described workflow scans trees that serve as habitat structures, uses field observations in combination with artificial intelligence to predict bird behaviours, and deploys computation to generate innovative designs. This process reframes trees as designers, birds as clients, and humans as assistants. The evidence contributes to knowledge by demonstrating the potential and practicality of more-than-human participation.
Justice by Design
Authors: Mancini Clara , Metcalfe Daniel , Hirsch-Matsioulas Orit
Published: May 2024

We extend to animal dwellers the values of equity and inclusivity, which inform existing conceptions of smart sustainable cities. Leveraging multispecies justice theory, we argue that just smart cities should offer animals opportunities to pursue biologically relevant goals and achieve basic species-specific capabilities. Through cases of human–animal cohabitation, we exemplify how just smart cities should: support animals’ sensemaking of and interaction with urban affordances, enabling them to autonomously pursue their biological goals; manage affordances by balancing the interests of one species against the interests of other species, as well as the interests of individuals against the interests of groups; and account for different perspectives and narratives on interspecies relationships, when making and implementing decisions. We propose an iterative design model in which technological interventions informed by multispecies justice principles and multispecies empirical data enable the emergence of incrementally equitable and inclusive cohabitation forms for increasing ranges of species and individuals.
Conceptualization: Understanding Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Authors: Oette Lutz
Published: May 2024

The chapter provides a conceptual analysis of the notions of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. It probes how conceptual, doctrinal, and empirical scholarship can inform and enrich the interpretation of torture, with a particular focus on the psychological dimension of torture, its application to non-state actors, and the notion of powerlessness. Building on these sources, the chapter sets out a relational understanding of torture based on power asymmetries, levels of degradation, and exclusion from humanity which forms part of wider structures marked by inequality, marginalization, and exclusion. It discusses the merits and challenges associated with developments towards a holistic conception of torture that moves beyond its conventional state-centric, method-specific, and detention-oriented focus. Equally, it explores the scope for transcending case-specific approaches to the value-laden notions of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by applying a conceptually grounded, contextual, and culturally-informed notion of the various forms of ill-treatment. The interpretation of the prohibition has significantly curtailed forms of punishment, including corporal punishment, the death penalty, and modalities of imprisonment. However, the chapter argues that jurisprudence and treaty body practice have privileged Western conceptions of imprisonment as normalized, ‘humane’ punishment, notwithstanding significant evidence that testifies to its detrimental, harmful, and frequently dehumanizing nature and impact.
Complexity: The Prohibition in International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Migration Law
Authors: Oette Lutz
Published: May 2024

The chapter explores how developments in the field of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and international migration law have impacted the interpretation and application of the prohibition. It demonstrates both the emergence of distinctive features within legal regimes, particularly international criminal law, and increased interaction and cross-fertilization between the various fields of international law. The plurality inherent in this development, rather than constituting a case of problematic fragmentation, bears considerable potential for both tailored and integrated approaches. However, as the chapter demonstrates, each regime is characterized by thresholds, privileges, biases, and practices that are prescribed by or otherwise accepted by international law, which may condone if not facilitate torture or other ill-treatment. This applies in particular to the legitimate use of violence inflicting harm and suffering in armed conflicts and increasingly punitive and cruel migration control measures based on the exercise of state sovereignty. Immigration detention constitutes one of the most visible manifestations of a range of measures that dehumanize migrants as the targets of coercive measures based on a logic of deterrence. The chapter argues that harnessing the conception of the prohibition which focuses on cruelty, indifference, and power asymmetries bears considerable potential to interrogate the rationale for and legitimacy of a series of problematic practices in this context.
Conclusion
Authors: Oette Lutz
Published: May 2024

The conclusion reflects on the findings of the book. It draws out the implications of a relational, structural conception of torture and other ill-treatment that is informed by the experiences of torture survivors for the interpretation of the prohibition and approaches to prevention, accountability, and reparation. It argues that the transformation of the prohibition must be understood as an ongoing process rather than as a specific outcome. The nature and extent of this transformation is tied to how the multiple actors in the field handle the dialectic tension between traditional/narrow and progressive/broad conceptions inherent in the prohibition. This includes moving beyond the established paradigm to address myriad forms of suffering, which entails probing the potential of the prohibition to fulfil its role as an archetype in international law. Such archetype is not confined to a focus on brutality but should be considered as embodying having regard to human dignity in all situations of unjustifiable pain, suffering, or degradation. Developing a conceptual and contextual understanding of torture and other ill-treatment helps provide a framework for a tailored approach that navigates between the universal and the local to determine what is perceived as amounting to unjustified harm in the circumstances. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of the implementation of legal standards to ensure that the prohibition is effective. However, it equally acknowledges that the prohibition operates within a legal framework that has several problematic features. The book concludes by highlighting the fundamental, distinctive role played by the prohibition in the wider, ongoing struggle against torture and other ill-treatment worldwide.
A VHH single-domain platform enabling discovery and development of monospecific antibodies and modular neutralizing bispecifics against SARS-CoV-2 variants
Authors: Yang Marisa L , Yuan Tom Z , Chan Kara Y , Ding Lin , Han Zhen , Franco Hector , Holliday Carson , Kannan Shruthi , Davidson Edgar , Doranz Benjamin J , Chandran Kartik , Miller Emily Happy , Plante Jessica A , Weaver Scott C , Cho Eunice , Kailasan Shweta , Marsalek Lukas , Giang Hoa , Abdiche Yasmina , Sato Aaron K
Published: May 2024

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve, escape coronavirus disease 2019 therapeutics and vaccines, and jeopardize public health. To combat SARS-CoV-2 antigenic escape, we developed a rapid, high-throughput pipeline to discover monospecific VHH antibodies and iteratively develop VHH-Fc-VHH bispecifics capable of neutralizing emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. By panning VHH single-domain phage libraries against ancestral or beta spike proteins, we discovered high-affinity VHH antibodies with unique target epitopes. Combining two VHHs into a tetravalent bispecific construct conferred broad neutralization activity against multiple variants and was more resistant to antigenic escape than the monospecific antibody alone. Following the rise of the Omicron variant, a VHH in the original bispecific construct was replaced with another VHH discovered against the Omicron BA.1 receptor binding domain; the resulting bispecific exhibited neutralization against both BA.1 and BA.5 sublineage variants. A heavy chain-only tetravalent VHH-Fc-VHH bispecific platform derived from humanized synthetic libraries held a myriad of unique advantages: (i) synthetic preconstructed libraries minimized risk of liabilities and maximized discovery speed, (ii) VHH scaffolds allowed for a modular “plug-and-play” format that could be rapidly iterated upon as variants of concern arose, (iii) natural dimerization of single VHH-Fc-VHH polypeptides allowed for straightforward bispecific production and purification methods, and (iv) multivalent approaches enhanced avidity boosting effects and neutralization potency, and conferred more robust resistance to antigenic escape than monovalent approaches against specific variants. This iterative platform of rapid VHH discovery combined with modular bispecific design holds promise for long-term viral control efforts.
The False Hope of Stewardship in the Context of Controlling Shareholders: Making Sense Out of the Global Transplant of a Legal Misfit
Authors: Puchniak Dan W
Published: May 2024

In 2010, the United Kingdom issued the world’s first stewardship code. Since then, stewardship codes have been issued in many of the world’s leading economies and now exist in twenty jurisdictions on six continents, with more jurisdictions considering adopting them. In the United Kingdom, stewardship codes were promised to transform rationally passive institutional investors into actively engaged shareholders to prevent another global financial crisis (GFC). More recently, the new 2020 U.K. Stewardship Code (U.K. Code) has been promoted as a mechanism to save the planet by incentivizing institutional investors to pressure listed companies to focus on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG).

There is a vigorous debate and developed literature on whether the U.K. Code will achieve these goals. However, what has been lost in this debate is that outside of the United Kingdom/United States it may not matter nearly as much if stewardship succeeds in changing the behavior of institutional investors. This is because, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom/United States, institutional investors are collectively minority shareholders in most listed companies in almost every jurisdiction in the world. Moreover, in almost every jurisdiction, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom/United States, most listed companies already have a rationally active—non-institutional—controlling shareholder as their “steward.” Why then have jurisdictions around the world adopted U.K.-style stewardship codes which are designed based on the assumption that institutional investors collectively control most listed companies?

This Article answers this question by undertaking the first in-depth global comparative analysis of the curious transplant of U.K.-style stewardship codes into jurisdictions dominated by controlling shareholders and examines the role that stewardship plays in these jurisdictions. It does this by drawing on a unique collection of recent in-depth case studies on stewardship in twenty-two jurisdictions by leading corporate law experts, hand-collected data analyzing the content of every stewardship code that has ever been issued, and fresh hand-compiled data on shareholder ownership structures in listed companies around the world. It reveals that stewardship has been coopted by governments and institutional investors to serve their own diverse purposes—a troubling trend which will likely be exacerbated post-Covid-19, when an authentic focus on an inclusive society and the environment will be more critical than ever.
Ultrafast intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring system: prospective, multicentre, clinical validity study
Authors: Kurzawinski Tom R , Zielke Andreas , Busch Mirjam , Wagner Joachim , Soromani Christina , Abdelsalam Alaa , Abdel-Aziz Tarek , Garcia Virginia Rozalen , Matias Michelle , Morley Sujiwa , Barth Julian , Smaxwil Constantin A
Published: May 2024

Background

Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) monitoring is a proven and reliable adjunct to parathyroid surgery, able to improve the outcomes and efficiency of the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. This study evaluated the innovative, compact, fully automated NBCL CONNECT Analyzer, which can measure whole-blood PTH in 5 min.

Methods

A prospective multicentre study was conducted in stages: results reviews, recommendations, and implementation of improvements to the mechanical design, components of cartridges, calibration, and sampling protocols. Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy had PTH levels measured on the Analyzer and main laboratory platforms, either Roche or Abbott. The Miami criterion of a 50% drop in PTH concentration was used to define biochemical cure during surgery, and normal postoperative calcium level as cure of primary hyperparathyroidism. Measurements on the Analyzer were done by laboratory staff in London and nurses in Stuttgart. The Pearson coefficient (R) and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Some 234 patients (55 male, 179 female) with a median age of 58.5 (age full range 15–88) years underwent parathyroidectomy (195 minimally invasive, 38 bilateral neck exploration, 1 thoracoscopic; 12 conversions) for primary hyperparathyroidism between November 2021 and July 2022. Primary hyperparathyroidism was cured in 225 patients (96.2%). The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of the Analyzer assay in predicting biochemical cure were 83.9, 100, and 84.8% in phase 1; 91.2, 100, and 91.3% in phase 2; and 98.6, 100, and 98.6% in phase 3. There were no false-positive results (positive predictive value 100%). Correlations between Analyzer measurements and those obtained using the Roche device were very strong (R = 0.98, P < 0.001 in phase 1; R = 0.92, P < 0.001 in phase 2; R = 0.94, P < 0.001 in phase 3), and correlations for Analyzer readings versus those from the Abbott platform were strong (R = 0.82, P < 0.001; R = 0.89, P < 0.001; R = 0.91, P < 0.001). The Analyzer showed continued good mechanical performance, with stable and repeatable operations (calibrations, quality controls). Introducing a stricter sampling protocol and improvements in the clot-detecting system led to a decrease in the number of clotted samples and false-negative results. Outcomes were not affected by measurements performed either by nurses or laboratory staff.

Conclusion

Intraoperative PTH monitoring during parathyroid surgery can be done accurately, simply, and quickly in whole blood using the Analyzer.