bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small Heterodimer Partner Modulates Macrophage Differentiation during Innate Immune Response through the Regulation of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase, and Nuclear Factor Kappa B Pathways
Authors: Ahamed Forkan , Eppler Natalie , Jones Elizabeth , He Lily , Zhang Yuxia
Published: August 2023

Hepatic macrophages act as the liver’s first line of defense against injury. Their differentiation into proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory subpopulations is a critical event that maintains a delicate balance between liver injury and repair. In our investigation, we explored the influence of the small heterodimer partner (SHP), a nuclear receptor primarily associated with metabolism, on macrophage differentiation during the innate immune response. During macrophage differentiation, we observed significant alterations in Shp mRNA expression. Deletion of Shp promoted M1 differentiation while interfering with M2 polarization. Conversely, overexpression of SHP resulted in increased expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (Pparg), a master regulator of anti-inflammatory macrophage differentiation, thereby inhibiting M1 differentiation. Upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, there was a notable increase in the proinflammatory M1-like macrophages, accompanied by exacerbated infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) into the livers of Shp myeloid cell specific knockout (Shp-MKO). Concurrently, we observed significant induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnfa) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2) expression in LPS-treated Shp-MKO livers. Additionally, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways were activated in LPS-treated Shp-MKO livers. Consistently, both pathways were hindered in SHP overexpression macrophages. Finally, we demonstrated that SHP interacts with p65, thereby influencing macrophage immune repones. In summary, our study uncovered a previously unrecognized role of SHP in promoting anti-inflammatory macrophage differentiation during the innate immune response. This was achieved by SHP acting as a regulator for the Pparg, MAPK, and NF-κB pathways.
A Fluid-Driven Loop-Type Modular Soft Robot with Integrated Locomotion and Manipulation Capability
Authors: Sui Xin , Lai Mingzhu , Qi Jian , Yang Zhiyuan , Zhao Ning , Zhao Jie , Cai Hegao , Zhu Yanhe
Published: August 2023

In nature, some animals, such as snakes and octopuses, use their limited body structure to conduct various complicated tasks not only for locomotion but also for hunting. Their body segments seem to possess the intelligence to adapt to environments and tasks. Inspired by nature, a modular soft robot with integrated locomotion and manipulation abilities is presented in this paper. A soft modular robot is assembled using several homogeneous cubic pneumatic soft actuator units made of silicone rubber. Both a mathematical model and backpropagation neural network are established to describe the nonlinear deformation of the soft actuator unit. The locomotion process of the chain-type soft robot is analyzed to provide a general rhythmic control principle for modular soft robots. A vision sensor is adopted to control the locomotion and manipulation processes of the modular soft robot in a closed loop. The experimental results indicate that the modular soft robot put forward in this paper has both locomotion and manipulation abilities.
Molybdenum Disulfide as Tunable Electrochemical and Optical Biosensing Platforms for Cancer Biomarker Detection: A Review
Authors: Qin Ziyue , Zhang Jiawei , Li Shuang
Published: August 2023

Cancer is a common illness with a high mortality. Compared with traditional technologies, biomarker detection, with its low cost and simple operation, has a higher sensitivity and faster speed in the early screening and prognosis of cancer. Therefore, extensive research has focused on the development of biosensors and the construction of sensing interfaces. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a promising two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial, whose unique adjustable bandgap shows excellent electronic and optical properties in the construction of biosensor interfaces. It not only has the advantages of a high catalytic activity and low manufacturing costs, but it can also further expand the application of hybrid structures through different functionalization, and it is widely used in various biosensors fields. Herein, we provide a detailed introduction to the structure and synthesis methods of MoS2, and explore the unique properties and advantages/disadvantages exhibited by different structures. Specifically, we focus on the excellent properties and application performance of MoS2 and its composite structures, and discuss the widespread application of MoS2 in cancer biomarkers detection from both electrochemical and optical dimensions. Additionally, with the cross development of emerging technologies, we have also expanded the application of other emerging sensors based on MoS2 for early cancer diagnosis. Finally, we summarized the challenges and prospects of MoS2 in the synthesis, functionalization of composite groups, and applications, and provided some insights into the potential applications of these emerging nanomaterials in a wider range of fields.
Recent Advances of Biosensors for Detection of Multiple Antibiotics
Authors: Lu Ning , Chen Juntao , Rao Zhikang , Guo Boyu , Xu Ying
Published: August 2023

The abuse of antibiotics has caused a serious threat to human life and health. It is urgent to develop sensors that can detect multiple antibiotics quickly and efficiently. Biosensors are widely used in the field of antibiotic detection because of their high specificity. Advanced artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms have allowed for remarkable achievements in image analysis and face recognition, but have not yet been widely used in the field of biosensors. Herein, this paper reviews the biosensors that have been widely used in the simultaneous detection of multiple antibiotics based on different detection mechanisms and biorecognition elements in recent years, and compares and analyzes their characteristics and specific applications. In particular, this review summarizes some AI/ML algorithms with excellent performance in the field of antibiotic detection, and which provide a platform for the intelligence of sensors and terminal apps portability. Furthermore, this review gives a short review of biosensors for the detection of multiple antibiotics.
Single-Cell Spatial MIST for Versatile, Scalable Detection of Protein Markers
Authors: Meah Arafat , Vedarethinam Vadanasundari , Bronstein Robert , Gujarati Nehaben , Jain Tanya , Mallipattu Sandeep K. , Li Yueming , Wang Jun
Published: August 2023

High-multiplex detection of protein biomarkers across tissue regions has been an attractive spatial biology approach due to significant advantages over traditional immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods. Different from most methods, spatial multiplex in situ tagging (MIST) transfers the spatial protein expression information to an ultrahigh-density, large-scale MIST array. This technique has been optimized to reach single-cell resolution by adoption of smaller array units and 30% 8-arm PEG polymer as transfer medium. Tissue cell nuclei stained with lamin B have been clearly visualized on the MIST arrays and are colocalized with detection of nine mouse brain markers. Pseudocells defined at 10 μm in size have been used to fully profile tissue regions including cells and the intercellular space. We showcased the versatility of our technology by successfully detecting 20 marker proteins in kidney samples with the addition of five minutes atop the duration of standard immunohistochemistry protocols. Spatial MIST is amenable to iterative staining and detection on the same tissue samples. When 25 proteins were co-detected on 1 mouse brain section for each round and 5 rounds were executed, an ultrahigh multiplexity of 125 proteins was obtained for each pseudocell. With its unique abilities, this single-cell spatial MIST technology has the potential to become an important method in advanced diagnosis of complex diseases.
Development of an Innovative Colorimetric DNA Biosensor Based on Sugar Measurement
Authors: El Aamri Maliana , Khalki Yasmine , Mohammadi Hasna , Amine Aziz
Published: August 2023

The development of biosensors for target detection plays a crucial role in advancing various fields of bioscience. This work presents the development of a genosensor that exploits the colorimetric phenol—sulfuric acid sugar reaction for the detection of DNA, and RNA as specific targets, and DNA intercalator molecules. The biosensor combines simplicity and reliability to create a novel bioassay for accurate and rapid analysis. A 96-well microplate based on a polystyrene polymer was used as the platform for an unmodified capture DNA immobilization via a silanization process and with (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). After that, a hybridization step was carried out to catch the target molecule, followed by adding phenol and sulfuric acid to quantify the amount of DNA or RNA sugar backbone. This reaction generated a yellow-orange color on the wells measured at 490 nm, which was proportional to the target concentration. Under the optimum conditions, a calibration curve was obtained for each target. The developed biosensor demonstrated high sensitivity, good selectivity, and linear response over a wide concentration range for DNA and RNA targets. Additionally, the biosensor was successfully employed for the detection of DNA intercalator agents that inhibited the hybridization of DNA complementary to the immobilized capture DNA. The developed biosensor offers a potential tool for sensitive and selective detection in various applications, including virus diagnosis, genetic analysis, pathogenic bacteria monitoring, and drug discovery.
Enzyme-Assisted Amplification and Copper Nanocluster Fluorescence Signal-Based Method for miRNA-122 Detection
Authors: Qing Yang , Fang Haobin , Yang Yuxing , Liao Yazhen , Li Haiyu , Wang Zhencui , Du Jie
Published: August 2023

At present, a large number of studies have demonstrated that miRNAs can be used as biological indicators for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as tumours and cancer, so it is important to develop a new miRNA detection platform. In this work, miRNA-122 is used as the basis for targeting detection agents. We have designed an unlabelled DNA1 that undergoes partial hybridisation and has a 20 T base long strand. The fluorescent signal in this experiment is derived from copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) generated on the circular T-long strand of DNA1. At the same time, DNA1 is able to react with miRNA-122 and achieve hydrolysis of the part bound to miRNA-122 via the action of nucleic acid exonuclease III (Exo III), leaving a part of the DNA, called DNA3, while releasing miRNA-122 to participate in the next reaction, thus achieving circular amplification. DNA3 is able to react with DNA2, which is bound to streptavidin magnetic beads (SIBs) and separated from the reaction solution via the application of a magnetic field. Overall, this is a fluorescence signal reduction experiment, and the strength of the fluorescence signal from the copper nanoclusters can determine whether the target miRNA-122 is present or not. The degree of fluorescence reduction indicates how much DNA1, and thus the amount of target miRNA-122, has been hydrolysed. By evaluating the variations in the fluorescence signal under optimised conditions, we discovered that this method has good sensitivity, with a detection limit as low as 0.46 nM, better than many other previous works on fluorescence signal-based biosensors for miRNA detection. This technique offers high discrimination and selectivity and can serve as a persuasive reference for early diagnosis.
Postural Instability and Risk of Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Treated with Deep Brain Stimulation: A Stabilometric Platform Study
Authors: Leodori Giorgio , Santilli Marco , Modugno Nicola , D’Avino Michele , De Bartolo Maria Ilenia , Fabbrini Andrea , Rocchi Lorenzo , Conte Antonella , Fabbrini Giovanni , Belvisi Daniele
Published: August 2023

Postural instability (PI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) exposes patients to an increased risk of falls (RF). While dopaminergic therapy and deep brain stimulation (DBS) improve motor performance in advanced PD patients, their effects on PI and RF remain elusive. PI and RF were assessed using a stabilometric platform in six advanced PD patients. Patients were evaluated in OFF and ON dopaminergic medication and under four DBS settings: with DBS off, DBS bilateral, and unilateral DBS of the more- or less-affected side. Our findings indicate that dopaminergic medication by itself exacerbated PI and RF, and DBS alone led to a decline in RF. No combination of medication and DBS yielded a superior improvement in postural control compared to the baseline combination of OFF medication and the DBS-off condition. Yet, for ON medication, DBS significantly improved both PI and RF. Among DBS conditions, DBS bilateral provided the most favorable outcomes, improving PI and RF in the ON medication state and presenting the smallest setbacks in the OFF state. Conversely, the more-affected side DBS was less beneficial. These preliminary results could inform therapeutic strategies for advanced PD patients experiencing postural disorders.
Metabolite Variations in the Hippocampus and Corpus Callosum of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy with Three-Dimensional Chemical Shift Images
Authors: Kau Yen-Lon , Lin I-Hung , Juang Chi-Long , Chang Chao-Kai , Ho Wen-Hsiang , Wen Hsiao-Chuan
Published: August 2023

This study compared the metabolites in the brain regions of hippocampus and corpus callosum between patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls using no-radiation and high-sensitivity magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) with three-dimensional chemical shift images (3D-CSI). Twenty volunteers (seven patients with MCI and 13 healthy controls) aged 50–71 years were recruited for this prospective study. MRS with 3D-CSI images of a variety of metabolites was collected from the hippocampus and corpus callosum. Sex and weight showed no significant differences between the two groups. The metabolite levels in the hippocampus and corpus callosum of the MCI group were generally lower than in those of the healthy group, especially for creatine (p < 0.001 in the hippocampus and p = 0.020 in the corpus callosum) and N-acetyl aspartate/creatine (p < 0.001 in the hippocampus and p = 0.020 in the corpus callosum); however, choline/creatine showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) only in the hippocampus, and myo-inositol/creatine showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) only in the corpus callosum. Our study demonstrated that MRS with 3D-CSI can be used to measure these metabolite levels to determine the differences between patients with MCI and healthy individuals. This would aid early diagnosis of MCI in clinical practice, and patients could receive prompt intervention to improve their quality of life.
Collecting Contributions for a Critical Issue: Progressing from Bench to Bedside in Bipolar Disorders
Authors: Strawbridge Rebecca
Published: August 2023

It was a joy reading the submissions for the Brain Sciences Special Issue that I edited, entitled “Bipolar Disorders: Progressing from Bench to Bedside” [...]
Clinical Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis: Cognitive Reserve and Motor Impairment along Disease Duration
Authors: Maffezzini Sabrina , Pucci Veronica , Riccardi Alice , Montemurro Sonia , Puthenparampil Marco , Perini Paola , Rinaldi Francesca , Gallo Paolo , Arcara Giorgio , Mondini Sara
Published: August 2023

(i) Background: Cognitive impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied in relation to certain clinical variables (e.g., motor disability and disease duration) and lifestyle factors such as cognitive reserve (CR). However, only very few studies have considered the interaction of clinical variables and cognitive reserve in preserving the integrity of the neuropsychological profile. In this paper, we hypothesised that a higher level of CR might predict good cognitive efficiency by modulating the clinical outcome of the disease. (ii) Methods: A sample of 100 participants with MS (age range 30–74), was recruited and assessed remotely with a questionnaire to measure CR and a cognitive screening test. Data were analysed through generalized additive models. (iii) Results: We found that the model analysing the interaction between CR and disease duration, and between CR and motor disability, was able to explain a significant percentage of cognitive performance. In particular, higher levels of CR predicted a better cognitive performance despite a long disease duration, unless the motor disability was severe. (iv) Conclusion: This study highlights the crucial role of CR in modulating cognitive efficiency in people with MS.
The Impact of Regular Exercise on Life Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, and Self-Efficacy in Older Adults
Authors: Toros Turhan , Ogras Emre Bulent , Toy Ali Burak , Kulak Abdulaziz , Esen Huseyin Tolga , Ozer Sevket Cihat , Celik Talip
Published: August 2023

This study employed the correlational survey model to examine how regular exercise influenced life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in men over 65. The study sample included a total of 215 participants, of whom 110 exercised regularly (for at least 45 min, three times a week), while 105 engaged in no physical exercise. Regular exercisers were found to score significantly higher on life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-efficacy scales as compared to non-exercisers. These scores also increased significantly with age and prolonged exercise history. A moderate and positive correlation was detected between life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-efficacy among regular exercisers, while non-exercisers showed low to moderate correlations. The findings suggest that regular exercise can enhance life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in the elderly male population. Such effects appear to be associated with greater age and lifetime exercise history, highlighting the value of regular physical exercise in improving the quality of life among older adults.
The Influence of Workplace Envy on Employees’ Knowledge-Hiding Behavior Based on a Comparative Analysis between Generation Cohorts
Authors: Su Xiaoyan , Chen Chufu
Published: August 2023

How to promote the free flow of knowledge among employees is the core factor used to improve the innovation ability and even competitive advantage of an organization. Research on how to reduce knowledge-hiding behavior and promote knowledge sharing among employees becomes the key to enhancing the technological innovation capability of enterprises and effectively responding to the VUCA environment at present. Based on social comparison theory and regulatory focus theory, this study uses 402 enterprise employees as samples to deeply study the influence mechanism of workplace envy on their knowledge-hiding behavior and compare the differences between new-generation employees and non-new-generation employees. The research results show that: (1) employee’s benign envy has a significant negative effect on knowledge-hiding behavior, while malicious envy has a significant positive effect on knowledge-hiding behavior. (2) Promotion regulatory focus plays a partly mediating effect between benign envy and employee knowledge-hiding behavior, while prevention regulatory focus also plays a partly mediating effect between malicious envy and employee knowledge-hiding behavior. (3) Generation not only has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between benign envy and promotion regulatory focus but also has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between malicious envy and prevention regulatory focus. This study further found that the younger the employee generation cohort, the more substantial the effect of benign envy on the promotion regulatory focus, while the older the employee generation cohort, the more substantial the effect of malicious envy on the prevention regulatory focus.
How Building Energy Use Reacted to Variable Occupancy Pre- and Post- COVID-19 Pandemic—Sensitivity Analysis of 35 Commercial Buildings in Canada
Authors: Awad Hadia , Ashouri Araz , Rizvi Farzeen
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and global shutdown and work-from-home order for non-essential businesses and employees led to a substantial decline in energy usage in the commercial building sector. However, the magnitude of decline was not equivalent to what would be expected for unoccupied spaces. The energy performance of low/unoccupied commercial buildings, particularly in the context of new minimum requirements to maintain indoor air quality, is an intriguing research question. In this study, we developed a numerical model that measures electricity usage sensitivity to occupancy (ESTO) where we compare the business-as-usual energy performance with unoccupied energy performance. Two years of COVID-time (in addition to a pre-COVID control year) hourly energy use (electricity (plug loads, lighting, and fans), heating, and cooling) using data from 35 commercial buildings (i.e., buildings with HVAC and other building systems typical of commercial rather than residential buildings) are analyzed to quantify those changes. A change point model is used to assess thermal load intensities, change point temperature, and off-season unoccupied baseloads. Finally, we suggest a generic framework for building scoring based on selected performance parameters. Results indicate that the suggested scoring system is robust and replicable and is reliable for ranking buildings within a given portfolio from best- to worst- performing, thus prioritizing buildings that are best candidates for retrofits.
Integration of Solar Cooling Systems in Buildings in Sunbelt Region: An Overview
Authors: Bonomolo Marina , Jakob Uli , Neyer Daniel , Strobel Michael , Vasta Salvatore
Published: August 2023

This paper presents the results of the activities related to the subtask “Building and process optimization” of the IEA SHC Task 65. The main topic of this activity was the integration of solar cooling in retrofitted HVAC systems. Based on the current conventional HVAC systems, the integration may present difficulties concerning cold distribution and refrigerants. Cold supply systems can also reduce airflow in air-based systems and enhance thermal comfort in buildings. The best technical actions for specific scenarios were mentioned considering both technical and economic aspects. Unfortunately, not all the analyses that were planned provide useful data. Results show that there are few recent projects that consider the application of solar cooling systems in buildings and most of them are based on simulation. Moreover, not much data about the characteristics of the buildings (envelope, other cooling systems, comfort conditions, etc.) are reported in the studies. This is because many of them are more focused on the plants’ configurations, and the performance of the different plants is in general assessed by testing the prototype in a single room. Despite this, the information provided could be used as baseline cases in order to study the potential energy savings achievable by applying solar cooling systems.
Energy Efficiency in Dome Structures: An Examination of Thermal Performance in Iranian Architecture
Authors: Heidari Ali , Olivieri Francesca
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the energy efficiency of dome-shaped structures in traditional Iranian architecture in regions with cold winters and hot summers against the backdrop of rising energy consumption and environmental concerns. The present study employed Design Builder software to simulate three discrete models of Nowzari Caravanserai, featuring dome, flat, and sloping roofs. It was compared to the original model’s dome-shaped roof in terms of energy consumption and internal temperature. The objective was to investigate the potential differences in thermal energy consumption across these distinct roof designs in all months of the year. The results indicate that the dome-shaped structures exhibit better efficacy in controlling indoor temperatures, as demonstrated by a marked increase in indoor temperatures during colder months and a decrease in indoor temperatures during hotter months, relative to alternative structures. Moreover, the results of the simulation of two domed-roof models with ventilation and without ventilation showed that in this climate zone, the ventilation holes built into the roof have a unique efficiency in adjusting the internal temperature. The implications of this research include that traditional architectural features such as domed structures can be incorporated into contemporary construction practices to foster energy-efficient buildings and sustainable urbanization. This holds true not only for hot and desert climate regions but also for areas characterized by both hot summers and cold winters. The integration of traditional expertise and modern technology can help create buildings that balance aesthetics and sustainability, creating a cleaner, more sustainable built environment.
Coupled Analysis of Safety Risks in Bridge Construction Based on N-K Model and SNA
Authors: Shan Zhi , Qiu Lijie , Chen Huihua , Zhou Jingshen
Published: August 2023

Bridge construction accidents are often caused by a variety of factors, so it is particularly important to explore the role mechanism of bridge construction accident risk factors to effectively prevent construction safety accidents and ensure the smooth construction of bridges. We collect the causes of bridge construction accidents in China from 2006 to 2023, take 126 typical cases as research samples, analyze the primary risk factors of bridge construction from four aspects (human factors, equipment factors, management factors, and environmental factors), establish a library of secondary risk factors with reference to the literature research, introduce the theory of risk coupling, and analyze the coupling mechanism and types of risk factors of bridge construction accidents. The N-K random Boolean network model (N-K model) quantifies the coupling relationship between risk factors, assesses the risk level, and uses social network analysis (SNA) to analyze the network of bridge construction accident risk factors. The results indicate that the more factors involved in risk coupling, the greater the safety risks in bridge construction. Human factors are susceptible to the influence of other elements, and environmental and management factors can directly or indirectly impact other factors. In addition, operational errors, a lack of supervision and management, inadequate safety inspections, poor management personnel, and insufficient technical capabilities are also key risk factors that need to be prevented and controlled.
Experimental and Analytical Study on the Axial Behavior of Circular High-Strength Concrete Columns with Hybrid Carbon Fibers and Steel Confinement System
Authors: Shachar Yedidya M. , Eid Rami , Dancygier Avraham N.
Published: August 2023

This paper describes a work that examines a new solution to the problem that arises from the relatively high amount of transverse reinforcement required in HSC columns. It presents an alternative to common transverse steel reinforcement, a dual system comprising steel ties and a carbon-fiber mesh (CFM) applied internally together with steel ties. The behavior of the proposed system was examined in this work in a series of twelve laboratory tests of circular stub column specimens. The experiments performed in this work focused on the columns’ load and displacement capacities. The tests were planned with the aid of an analytical model that was originally developed for a hybrid system of external fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets and internal steel, and was adapted for the current system. An analysis of the results shows that for a given amount of conventional transverse steel, the application of the carbon-fiber meshes adds efficiency to the rebar confinement system, in terms of both the load bearing capacity and the ductility, and for specimens with the hybrid confinement system, the higher the carbon fiber amount the larger the ductility improvement. Furthermore, fair to good agreement was observed between the model and the measured stress–strain curves, especially those of the peak stresses. Based on the above findings and the added benefit of fire resistance, the hybrid method appears to be promising for confining HSC columns.
An IoT-Enabled Sensing Device to Quantify the Reliability of Shared Economy Systems Using Intelligent Sensor Fusion Building Technologies
Authors: H. Assaad Rayan , Mohammadi Mohsen , Chang Aichih (Jasmine)
Published: August 2023

The concept of smart sustainable cities—as a favorable response to different challenges faced in urban areas—is rapidly gaining momentum and worldwide attention. This trend has driven the exploration of various technologies to improve the utilization of limited resources and idling capacities (i.e., underutilized physical assets such as buildings or facilities). In fact, a new business model has been introduced recently to smart cities, known as “shared economy”. The shared economy is a socioeconomic system that enables intermediary exchanges of goods and services between people and/or organizations, which boosts productivity and leverages underutilized resources to maximum potential. However, one of the inherent issues hindering the wide adoption of shared economy systems is the lack of trust between the providers and users of such systems. To this end, this study focuses on long-term shared properties/buildings and proposes an intelligent, IoT-enabled device and dynamic pricing model to address the issue of information asymmetry. First, 10 indicators were identified to assess the condition of the shared property. Next, multiple sensors were used, calibrated, and integrated into an IoT-enabled sensing device where the collected data was combined using intelligent sensor fusion technologies in a real-time manner. Third, a survey was developed and distributed to examine the significance of the 10 indicators, and an innovative reliability index was created accordingly to reflect the overall condition of the shared property. Fourth, a dynamic pricing model was developed to reward condition-conscious property users and penalize condition-unconscious ones. To ensure applicability and robustness of the proposed device and model, a pilot project was implemented in a smart long-term rental property in Newark, NJ, United States. Ultimately, this research provided insights on how to improve the operational efficiency of shared economy systems by offering (1) the providers of shared properties visibility over the condition of their properties through real-time assessment of the user reliability, and (2) the users of shared properties assured safety and monetary incentives to maintain the shared environment in a good condition.
Shear Behavior and Analytical Method of Vertically Corrugated Steel Plate Shear Walls with Inelastic Buckling of Infilled Plates
Authors: Cao Qiang , Huang Jingyu
Published: August 2023

This paper presents numerical investigations of the shear performance of vertically corrugated steel plate shear walls (CvSPSWs) with inelastic buckling of infilled plates under lateral loads. A numerical model was developed and verified by an experiment. Subsequently, a series of parametric analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of the concerned parameters on the shear performance of CvSPSWs, such as the connection type, height–thickness ratio, aspect ratio, horizontal subpanel width, and surrounding beam stiffness, in which the loading mechanism, buckling behavior, and failure modes of the corrugated steel plate (CSP) in the CvSPSW were discussed. The results show that CvSPSWs exhibit large initial stiffness, in-plane and out-of-plane strength, and good displacement ductility. Further, a formula for predicting the buckling strength of the CSP in the CvSPSW is proposed, and the effect of the section stiffness of the inclined subpanel on buckling strength and the development of the tension field of the CSP was investigated. In addition, simplified analytical models for CvSPSWs were examined to simplify the elastoplastic analysis of CvSPSWs. The results show that the plate-frame interaction model and the modified strip model can reproduce the shear performance of CvSPSWs with good accuracy.
Water Vapour Resistance of Ceiling Paints—Implications for the Use of Smart Vapour Barriers in Compact Wooden Roofs
Authors: Tomren Jørgen Haldorsen , Andenæs Erlend , Geving Stig , Kvande Tore
Published: August 2023

Smart vapour barriers enable building envelopes to dry toward the interior side. This property can be used in compact wooden roofs to create more slender structures by placing the wooden load-bearing elements inside the insulation layer. There is, however, some concern that the ceiling assembly on the interior side may inhibit inward drying by trapping moisture between the vapour barrier and the ceiling boards. This article examined the water vapour resistance of gypsum boards painted with two, four, and six layers of typical ceiling paints. WUFI® 2D simulations were conducted to assess the risk of mould growth in compact wooden roofs with painted board ceilings. It was found that a painted ceiling board may exhibit an equivalent stagnant air layer thickness (sd value) between 0.074 m for two layers of the most vapour-open paint and 0.53 m for six layers of the least vapour-open. For an unpainted board, the sd value was measured to be 0.071 m. The difference was not found to make a substantial impact on the drying of a typical compact wooden roof. The application of paint may cause the assembly to dry at a slightly slower rate but was not found to present a notably higher risk of mould growth, even under unfavourable conditions.
Design of Smart Cable for Distributed Cable Force Measurement in Cable Dome Structures and Its Application
Authors: Zhou Guangyi , Zhang Zhaobo , Ren Liang , Li Dongfang , Zhao Xuefeng
Published: August 2023

The stay cable is one of the most critical structural components of a cable dome structure. However, during its service life, it may lose its stiffness due to environmental factors and metal fatigue, thus making the structure a safety hazard. As the most important mechanical physical parameter of the cable, it is necessary to create a health-monitoring method to ensure the safety of the structure. In this study, a smart cable with a fiber optic Bragg grating (FBG) sensor is proposed. The sensor is embedded in the Z-shaped cable of the stay cable to ensure the simultaneous deformation of the sensor and cable. The monitoring of the cable force can be achieved after obtaining the relationship coefficient between the sensor and the cable force. In the rest of the paper, the sensing principle and fabrication procedure are described. A series of tests are conducted to verify the sensing performance of the smart cable. Finally, the dynamic monitoring and long-term monitoring of the cable force in the cable-supported grid system of Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium are carried out by using the smart cable, and the stability and safety of the structure are evaluated by the monitoring results.
Investigation of Uniaxial Compression Stress–Strain Relationship of Early Age Manufactured Sand Concrete and Its Application
Authors: Pu Guangning , Xiong Huaiyu , Li Ning , Liu Bin
Published: August 2023

To improve the construction efficiency of the manufactured sand concrete engineering at an early age, the uniaxial compressive stress–strain relationship of C50 manufactured sand concrete is investigated starting at 2 days to 28 days. With the characteristics of the stress–strain relationship, the uniaxial compression constitutive model is determined for the C50 manufactured sand concrete at early age. The influence of age, water-to-binder ratio, and fly ash admixture on the peak stress and peak strain of manufactured sand concrete is analyzed for the parameters of the constitutive model. Results show that the stress–strain curve of manufactured sand concrete is essentially similar to that of ordinary concrete. Via six typical constitutive models, the Sargin model produced the best fitting: its R2 mean is 0.9775, MAE mean is 0.1335, and MSE mean is 0.0175. Considering the influence of different factors, the early age uniaxial compressive constitutive models of manufactured sand concrete were proposed based on the Sargin model. Combined with the on-site construction process of the high pier formwork climb, the finite element analysis was carried out using the proposed early age uniaxial compressive constitutive model. Compared with the measured results of strain near the climbing cone, the error was less than 10% from the simulated value. The findings confirm that the proposed early age uniaxial compressive constitutive model presents great reasonableness for the manufactured sand concrete construction at an early age.
Carbon Capture and Storage through Upcycling of Suberinic Acid Residues in Wood Composites Finishing
Authors: Jeżo Aleksandra , Kowaluk Grzegorz
Published: August 2023

Finishing coatings used in the wood-based composite industry play a key role in the final appearance of the finished product. However, the use of such coatings is not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to protect the product against surface damage and moisture or to minimize the emission of harmful substances. The latter is an extremely important factor in terms of safety for both the manufacturer and the user, which is why the emissivity test is one of the most important tests conducted in this case. Carbon-rich materials, such as those remaining from the extraction of birch bark, can fulfill the role of minimizing the emission of harmful substances. In this article, an attempt to create coatings in the form of a film by combining a biopolymer with suberinic acid residues (SARs) was made. Two types of biopolymers were used, polylactide (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), in various polymer–SAR ratios. Suberinic acid as a residue is a raw material that can potentially contribute positively to the fixing of CO2 from the atmosphere, which creates the possibility for further use. As part of this study, the obtained coatings were tested in terms of scratch resistance, relative hardness, cold liquids, total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), formaldehyde emission, surface absorption, etc. Differences between the polymers used and the effect of the SAR additive on selected surface properties were demonstrated. The addition of carbon-rich SAR significantly improves gas barrier properties of the PLA- and PCL-based surface finishing materials. The relative hardness and scratch resistance also increased with rising SAR content. However, the increasing content of SAR filler acts as a limiter in the depth of penetration of the deposited surface finishing materials onto the wood surface. It is possible to state that this innovative approach regarding (1) the utilization of biopolymers as a matrix, instead of conventional, crude oil-based resins, and (2) the incorporation of post-processed carbon-rich waste lignocellulosic materials to produce the surface finishing and/or protective films has been confirmed.
Proton Therapy in the Adolescent and Young Adult Population
Authors: Ahmed Safia K. , Keole Sameer R.
Published: August 2023

Background: Adolescent and young adult cancer patients are at high risk of developing radiation-associated side effects after treatment. Proton beam radiation therapy might reduce the risk of these side effects for this population without compromising treatment efficacy. Methods: We review the current literature describing the utility of proton beam radiation therapy in the treatment of central nervous system tumors, sarcomas, breast cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma for the adolescent and young adult cancer population. Results: Proton beam radiation therapy has utility for the treatment of certain cancers in the young adult population. Preliminary data suggest reduced radiation dose to normal tissues, which might reduce radiation-associated toxicities. Research is ongoing to further establish the role of proton therapy in this population. Conclusion: This report highlights the potential utility of proton beam radiation for certain adolescent young adult cancers, especially with reducing radiation doses to organs at risk and thereby potentially lowering risks of certain treatment-associated toxicities.
Palladium-Rhenium Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural: Influence of Catalyst Preparation on Structure and Performance
Authors: Thompson Simon T. , Lamb H. Henry
Published: August 2023

PdRe/Al2O3 catalysts are highly selective for hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FAL). Moreover, the synergy between the metals can result in greater specific activity (higher turnover frequency, TOF) than exhibited by either metal alone. Bimetallic catalyst structure depends strongly on the metal precursors employed and their addition sequence to the support. In this work, PdRe/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by: (i) co-impregnation (CI) and sequential impregnation (SI) of γ-Al2O3 using HReO4 and Pd(NO3)2, (ii) SI using NH4ReO4 and [Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2], (iii) HReO4 addition to a reduced and passivated Pd/Al2O3 catalyst, and (iv) impregnation with the double complex salt (DCS), [Pd(NH3)4(ReO4)2]. Raman spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) evidence larger supported PdO crystallites in catalysts prepared using Pd(NO3)2 than [Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2]. Surface [ReO4]− species detected by Raman exhibit TPR peak temperatures from ranging 85 to 260 °C (versus 375 °C for Re/Al2O3). After H2 reduction at 400 °C, the catalysts were characterized by chemisorption, temperature-programmed hydride decomposition (TPHD), CO diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The CI catalyst containing supported Pd–Re alloy crystallites had a TOF similar to Pd/Al2O3 but higher (61%) FAL selectivity. In contrast, catalysts prepared by methods (ii–iv) containing supported Pd-Re nanoparticles exhibit higher TOFs and up to 78% FAL selectivity.
Self-Standing Hierarchical Porous Nickel-Iron Phosphide/Nickel Foam for Long-Term Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Han Qixian , Wu Hongmei , Li Feng , Liu Jing , Zhao Liping , Zhang Peng , Gao Lian
Published: August 2023

Electrolytic water splitting is a promising path for the production of clean hydrogen when combined with green electric power, such as photovoltaic and wind power; however, the high current water electrolysis is mainly dependent on the utilization of Pt, Ru, and other expensive materials, while the transition metal-based catalysts still need improvement in electrocatalytic activity and stability. Here, we present the preparation of economic and scalable electrode materials, Nickel-Iron phosphide/Nickel foam (NiFeP/NF), with a hierarchical porous structure for overall water splitting as both the anode and cathode. An overall potential of 1.85 V for the current density of 100 mA cm−2, and a long lifetime of 700 h, were achieved by using NiFeP/NF as both the anode and cathode. The nanostructures of the composite phosphides were investigated and the spent electrode after long-term electrolysis was characterized to investigate the long-term failure mechanism of the phosphides. Surface shedding and reconstruction theories were proposed for the failure of the NiFeP/NF cathode and anode in long-term electrolysis, respectively. Furthermore, TiO2 coating was proved to be an efficient strategy to elongate the lifetime of the phosphide electrodes, which shows a slow current decline rate of 0.49 mA·cm−2 h−1.
Copper-Catalyzed/Hypervalent Iodine-Mediated Functionalization of Unactivated Compounds
Authors: Papis Marta , Foschi Francesca , Colombo Sara , Beccalli Egle Maria , Loro Camilla , Broggini Gianluigi
Published: August 2023

The functionalization of unactivated substrates through the combination of copper catalysts and hypervalent iodine reagents represents a versatile tool in organic synthesis to access various classes of compounds. The hypervalent iodine derivatives can be used simply as oxidizing agents to regenerate the catalytic species or they can associate the functionalization of the starting material. In this review, special attention will be paid to methodologies which provide the introduction of nucleophiles into the reagent by use of suitable benziodoxol(on)es or iodonium salts. Many reactions concern C- and N-arylations, but may also involve formation of different carbon–carbon and carbon–nitrogen bonds, carbon–oxygen as well as carbon–halogen and carbon–phosphorus bonds.
Mechanism of Methanol Synthesis from CO2 Hydrogenation over Cu/γ-Al2O3 Interface: Influences of Surface Hydroxylation
Authors: Zhou Hegen , Jin Hua , Li Yanli , Li Yi , Huang Shuping , Lin Wei , Chen Wenkai , Zhang Yongfan
Published: August 2023

The adsorption and hydrogenation of carbon dioxide on γ-Al2O3(110) surface-supported copper clusters of different sizes are investigated using density functional theory calculations. Our results show that the activation of CO2 is most obvious at the Cu/γ-Al2O3 interface containing the size-selected Cu4 cluster. It is interesting that the CO2 activation is more pronounced at the partially hydroxyl-covered interface. The catalytic mechanisms of CO2 conversion to methanol at the dry and hydroxylated Cu4/γ-Al2O3 interfaces via the formate route and the pathway initiated through the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide produced by the reverse water–gas shift reaction are further explored. On both interfaces, the formate pathway is identified as the preferred reaction pathway, in which the hydrogenation of HCOO to H2COO is the rate-limiting step (RLS). However, since the surface OH group can act as a hydrogen source in some elementary reactions, unlike the dry surface, the production of H2COOH species along the formate pathway is found at the hydroxylated interface. In addition, the introduction of OH at the interface leads to an increase in the kinetic barrier of the RLS, indicating that surface hydroxylation has a negative effect on the catalytic activity of CO2 conversion to CH3OH at the Cu/γ-Al2O3 interface.
RuNi/MMO Catalysts Derived from a NiAl-NO3-LDH Precursor for CO Selective Methanation in H2-Rich Gases
Authors: Li Zhihui , Zhao Xinyuan , Ma Jiteng , Dong Xinfa
Published: August 2023

CO selective methanation (CO-SMET) is a promising method for deep CO removal from H2-rich gases. In this study, a series of RuNi/MMO catalysts are prepared using the support MMO-N derived from NiAl-NO3-LDHs, which was prepared from NiAl-CO3-LDHs via an acid–alcohol ion-exchange reaction. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, H2-TPR, CO-TPD, CO2-TPD, NH3-TPD, and TG. The RuNi/MMO-N catalyst demonstrated excellent CO-SMET performance, successfully reducing the CO to less than 10 ppm with a selectivity greater than 50% in a reaction temperature window ranging from 180 °C to 260 °C. Compared with similar catalysts derived from NiAl-CO3-LDHs, the exceptional CO-SMET capability of the RuNi/MMO-N catalyst is suggested to be associated with a more effective hydrogen spillover, a larger number of electron-rich Ni sites, and a higher density of acid sites on the surface of RuNi/MMO-N, which are conducive to CO adsorption and the inhibition of CO2 methanation.