bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Large Variation in Atmospheric CO2 Concentration at Shangdianzi GAW Station during Two Dust Storm Events in March 2021
Authors: Li Xiaolan , Quan Weijun , Hu Xiao-Ming , Jia Qingyu , Ma Zhiqiang , Dong Fan , Zhang Yimeng , Zhou Huaigang , Wang Dongdong
Published: August 2023

Dust storms have large impacts on air quality and meteorological elements; however, their relationships with atmospheric greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2) and radiation components remain uncertain. In this study, the co-variation of dust and CO2 concentrations and its possible influencing mechanism are examined using observations at the Shangdianzi (SDZ) regional Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station along with simulations of the Vegetation Photosynthesis and Respiration Model coupled with the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-VPRM), during two dust storm events on 15 and 28 March 2021. During these events, hourly CO2 concentrations decreased by 40–50 ppm at SDZ while dust concentrations increased to 1240.6 and 712.4 µg m−3. The elevated dust increased diffusive shortwave irradiance by 50–60% and decreased direct shortwave irradiance by ~60% along with clouds. The dust events were attributed to the passages of two cold front systems over northern China. At SDZ, during the frontal passages, wind speed increased by 3–6 m s−1, and relative humidity decreased by 50–60%. The CO2 variations associated with the frontal systems were captured by the WRF-VPRM despite the overestimated surface CO2 level at SDZ. Biogenic CO2 flux plays an indistinctive role in the large CO2 variation at SDZ, as it is weak during the non-growing season. The cold fronts pushed polluted air southeastward over the North China Plain and replaced it with low-CO2 air from Northwest China, leading to the decline in CO2. These findings demonstrate that mesoscale synoptic conditions significantly affect the regional transport and dispersion of CO2, which can influence the prediction of terrestrial carbon balance on a regional scale.
Extreme Precipitation Events Variation and Projection in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin Based on CMIP6 Simulations
Authors: Liu Jing , Liu Yanli , Chen Xin , Zhang Jianyun , Guan Tiesheng , Wang Guoqing , Jin Junliang , Zhang Ye , Tang Liushan
Published: August 2023

In recent years, global climate change causes more extreme precipitation events in Lancang-Mekong River Basin (Lancang-Mekong Basin). It leads to the increase of rainstorm and flood risk, which poses a threat to the flood control safety of Lancang-Mekong Basin. Based on the precipitation data of four global climate models of CMIP6, this paper selected six indexes, including PRCPTOT and R10, to study the change characteristics of the extreme precipitation indexes in the Lancang-Mekong Basin during 1980–2020 and predicted the development trend of the extreme precipitation indexes in the Lancang-Mekong Basin during 2021–2050. The results show that from 1980 to 2020, the extreme precipitation events in regions I and IV showed an increasing trend, while those in regions II and III showed a decreasing trend. From 2021 to 2050, the extreme precipitation events in all regions of the Lancang-Mekong River show an upward trend, and most indexes increased compared with the historical period. The extreme precipitation indexes in most regions increases the most under the scenario of SSP5-8.5, while the increase is small under the scenario of SSP2-4.5; The six extreme precipitation indexes selected in the paper can better reflect the trend of extreme precipitation events and floods. The trend of extreme precipitation indexes in the Lancang-Mekong River basin in the future is more significant, which indicates that it may be affected more frequently by extreme precipitation events and floods.
Can Artificial Neural Networks Be Used to Predict Bitcoin Data?
Authors: Kristensen Terje Solsvik , Sognefest Asgeir H.
Published: August 2023

Financial markets are complex, evolving dynamic systems. Due to their irregularity, financial time series forecasting is regarded as a rather challenging task. In recent years, artificial neural network applications in finance for such tasks as pattern recognition, classification, and time series forecasting have dramatically increased. The objective of this paper is to present this versatile framework and attempt to use it to predict the stock return series of four public-listed companies on the New York Stock Exchange. Our findings coincide with those of Burton Malkiel in his book, A Random Walk Down Wall Street; no conclusive evidence is found that our proposed models can predict the stock return series better than that of a random walk.
Improved Cartilage Protection with Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel
Authors: Brackin Riley B. , McColgan Gail E. , Pucha Saitheja A. , Kowalski Michael A. , Drissi Hicham , Doan Thanh N. , Patel Jay M.
Published: August 2023

Traumatic joint injuries are common, leading to progressive tissue degeneration and the development of osteoarthritis. The post-traumatic joint experiences a pro-inflammatory milieu, initiating a subtle but deteriorative process in cartilage tissue. To prevent or even reverse this process, our group previously developed a tissue-penetrating methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) hydrogel system, crosslinked within cartilage to restore and/or protect the tissue. In the current study, we further optimized this approach by investigating the impact of biomaterial molecular weight (MW; 20, 75, 100 kDa) on its integration within and reinforcement of cartilage, as well as its ability to protect tissue degradation in a catabolic state. Indeed, the low MW MeHA integrated and reinforced cartilage tissue better than the high MW counterparts. Furthermore, in a 2 week IL-1β explant culture model, the 20 kDa MeHA demonstrated the most protection from biphasic mechanical loss, best retention of proteoglycans (Safranin O staining), and least aggrecan breakdown (NITEGE). Thus, the lower MW MeHA gels integrated better into the tissue and provided the greatest protection of the cartilage matrix. Future work will test this formulation in a preclinical model, with the goal of translating this therapeutic approach for cartilage preservation.
Localized Refractive Changes Induced by Symmetric and Progressive Asymmetric Intracorneal Ring Segments Assessed with a 3D Finite-Element Model
Authors: García de Oteyza Gonzalo , Álvarez de Toledo Juan , Barraquer Rafael I. , Kling Sabine
Published: August 2023

To build a representative 3D finite element model (FEM) for intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation and to investigate localized optical changes induced by different ICRS geometries, a hyperelastic shell FEM was developed to compare the effect of symmetric and progressive asymmetric ICRS designs in a generic healthy and asymmetric keratoconic (KC) cornea. The resulting deformed geometry was assessed in terms of average curvature via a biconic fit, sagittal curvature (K), and optical aberrations via Zernike polynomials. The sagittal curvature map showed a locally restricted flattening interior to the ring (Kmax −11 to −25 dpt) and, in the KC cornea, an additional local steepening on the opposite half of the cornea (Kmax up to +1.9 dpt). Considering the optical aberrations present in the model of the KC cornea, the progressive ICRS corrected vertical coma (−3.42 vs. −3.13 µm); horizontal coma (−0.67 vs. 0.36 µm); and defocus (2.90 vs. 2.75 µm), oblique trefoil (−0.54 vs. −0.08 µm), and oblique secondary astigmatism (0.48 vs. −0.09 µm) aberrations stronger than the symmetric ICRS. Customized ICRS designs inspired by the underlying KC phenotype have the potential to achieve more tailored refractive corrections, particularly in asymmetric keratoconus patterns.
The Effect of Month of Harvesting and Temperature–Humidity Index on the Number and Quality of Oocytes and In Vitro Embryo Production in Holstein Cows and Heifers
Authors: Morales-Cruz Juan L. , Calderon-Leyva Guadalupe , Angel-García Oscar , Guillen-Muñoz Juan M. , Santos-Jimenez Zurisaday , Mellado Miguel , Pessoa Luiz Gustavo , Guerrero-Gallego Hugo Z.
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the month of oocyte harvesting and the temperature–humidity index on oocyte number and quality harvested from Holstein cows and heifers, oocyte developmental competence, and total embryos produced in an area of intense ambient temperature for most of the year. A total of 5064 multiparous lactating cows and 2988 nulliparous heifers were used as oocyte donors and distributed across the months of the year. Overall, total oocytes per collection did not differ (p > 0.05) between cows (16.6 ± 2.7) and heifers (15.1 ± 1.8), but oocyte developmental competence was lower (p < 0.05) in cows (21.3 ± 5.4) than heifers (25.5 ± 4.0). For cows, the total number of oocytes harvested was two-fold higher (p < 0.05) in November than in May. For heifers, the total number of oocytes harvested was highest in April (17.19 ± 0.53) and lowest in May (10.94 ± 0.32; p < 0.05). For cows, total embryos were highest in November (2.58 ± 0.42) and lowest in August (1.28 ± 0.10; p < 0.05). Thus, taken together, these results indicate that severe heat stress impaired the number and quality of oocytes harvested from donor Holstein multiparous cows and heifers, oocyte developmental competence, and total embryos produced in this area of intense ambient temperature for most of the year.
Establishment of a Coilia nasus Spermatogonial Stem Cell Line Capable of Spermatogenesis In Vitro
Authors: Gu Kaiyan , Zhang Ya , Zhong Ying , Kan Yuting , Jawad Muhammad , Gui Lang , Ren Mingchun , Xu Gangchun , Liu Dong , Li Mingyou
Published: August 2023

The process by which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) continuously go through mitosis, meiosis, and differentiation to produce gametes that transmit genetic information is known as spermatogenesis. Recapitulation of spermatogenesis in vitro is hindered by the challenge of collecting spermatogonial stem cells under long-term in vitro culture conditions. Coilia nasus is a commercially valuable anadromous migrant fish found in the Yangtze River in China. In the past few decades, exploitation and a deteriorating ecological environment have nearly caused the extinction of C. nasus’s natural resources. In the present study, we established a stable spermatogonial stem cell line (CnSSC) from the gonadal tissue of the endangered species C. nasus. The cell line continued to proliferate and maintain stable cell morphology, a normal diploid karyotype, and gene expression patterns after more than one year of cell culture (>80 passages). Additionally, CnSSC cells could successfully differentiate into sperm cells through a coculture system. Therefore, the establishment of endangered species spermatogonial stem cell lines is a model for studying spermatogenesis in vitro and a feasible way to preserve germplasm resources.
X-ray Crystallographic Study of Preferred Spacing by the NF-κB p50 Homodimer on κB DNA
Authors: Zhu Norman , Mealka Matthew , Mitchel Shane , Milani Christy , Acuña Lisa M. , Rogers Eric , Lahana Ashlee N. , Huxford Tom
Published: August 2023

Though originally characterized as an inactive or transcriptionally repressive factor, the NF-κB p50 homodimer has become appreciated as a physiologically relevant driver of specific target gene expression. By virtue of its low affinity for cytoplasmic IκB protein inhibitors, p50 accumulates in the nucleus of resting cells, where it is a binding target for the transcriptional co-activator IκBζ. In this study, we employed X-ray crystallography to analyze the structure of the p50 homodimer on κB DNA from the promoters of human interleukin-6 (IL-6) and neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) genes, both of which respond to IκBζ. The NF-κB p50 homodimer binds 11-bp on IL-6 κB DNA, while, on NGAL κB DNA, the spacing is 12-bp. This begs the question: what DNA binding mode is preferred by NF-κB p50 homodimer? To address this, we engineered a “Test” κB-like DNA containing the core sequence 5′-GGGGAATTCCCC-3′ and determined its X-ray crystal structure in complex with p50. This revealed that, when presented with multiple options, NF-κB p50 homodimer prefers to bind 11-bp, which necessarily imposes asymmetry on the complex despite the symmetry inherent in both the protein and its target DNA, and that the p50 dimerization domain can contact DNA via distinct modes.
Phylogenetic Analysis Guides Transporter Protein Deorphanization: A Case Study of the SLC25 Family of Mitochondrial Metabolite Transporters
Authors: Byrne Katie L. , Szeligowski Richard V. , Shen Hongying
Published: August 2023

Homology search and phylogenetic analysis have commonly been used to annotate gene function, although they are prone to error. We hypothesize that the power of homology search in functional annotation depends on the coupling of sequence variation to functional diversification, and we herein focus on the SoLute Carrier (SLC25) family of mitochondrial metabolite transporters to survey this coupling in a family-wide manner. The SLC25 family is the largest family of mitochondrial metabolite transporters in eukaryotes that translocate ligands of different chemical properties, ranging from nucleotides, amino acids, carboxylic acids and cofactors, presenting adequate experimentally validated functional diversification in ligand transport. Here, we combine phylogenetic analysis to profile SLC25 transporters across common eukaryotic model organisms, from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Danio rerio, to Homo sapiens, and assess their sequence adaptations to the transported ligands within individual subfamilies. Using several recently studied and poorly characterized SLC25 transporters, we discuss the potentials and limitations of phylogenetic analysis in guiding functional characterization.
Should Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Be Performed Prior to Orthodontic Miniscrew Placement in the Infrazygomatic Crest Area?—A Systematic Review
Authors: Stasiak Marcin , Adamska Paulina
Published: August 2023

There is no unequivocal scientific consensus for the temporary anchorage device (TAD) positioning in the infrazygomatic crest area (IZC). The two principal aims of this systematic review were to assess bone availability in the IZC and to establish both the target site and the need for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) prior to miniscrew placement. The study was performed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42023411650). The inclusion criteria were: at least 10 patients, three-dimensional radiological examination, and IZC assessment for the TAD placement. ROBINS-I tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used for quality evaluation. No funding was obtained. The study was based on the information coming from: PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science Core Collection, MDPI, Wiley, and Cochrane Libraries. The last search was carried out on 1 August 2023. Fourteen studies were identified for analysis. A narrative synthesis was performed to synthesize the findings of the different studies. Unfortunately, it is not possible to establish the generally recommended target site for IZC TAD placement. The reasons for this are the following: heterogeneity of available studies, inconsistent results, and significant risk of bias. The high variability of bone measurements and the lack of reliable predictors of bone availability justify the use of CBCT for TAD trajectory planning. There is a need for more high-quality studies aiming three-dimensional bone analysis of the IZC.
Chronic Endometritis and Uterine Endometrium Microbiota in Recurrent Implantation Failure and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Takimoto Kanako , Yamada Hideto , Shimada Shigeki , Fukushi Yoshiyuki , Wada Shinichiro
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether chronic endometritis (CE) and uterine endometrium microbiota were associated with repeated implantation failures (RIFs) and recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs). In this prospective study, uterine endometrial specimens were obtained from 24 women with RIF, 27 with RPL, and 29 fertile control women. Immunohistochemical staining of CD138 for CE and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing analysis for uterine endometrium microbiota were performed simultaneously. To assess CE, Liu’s method, McQueen scores and plasma cell count/10 mm2 were used. The frequency of CE (plasma cells > 5.15/10 mm2) was higher in women with RPL (29.6%) than in fertile controls (6.8%, p < 0.05). The plasma cell count/10 mm2 in women with RPL (median 1.53, range 0–252.6, p < 0.01) and women with RIF (median 0.6, range 0–6.98, p < 0.05) was higher than in fertile controls (median 0, range 0–29). The uterine endometrium microbiota in women with RPL or RIF was not significantly different from that in fertile controls. However, the relative dominance rate of Lactobacillus iners (median 4.7%, range 0–99.9 vs. median 0%, range 0–100, p < 0.001) and the positive rate of Ureaplasma species (36.3% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.05) were higher in 11 women with CE than in 69 women without CE. The results suggest that CE may be involved in the pathophysiology of RPL and RIF. Lactobacillus iners and Ureaplasma species may be associated with the etiology of CE.
Cognitive Functions following Trigeminal Neuromodulation
Authors: Mercante Beniamina , Enrico Paolo , Deriu Franca
Published: August 2023

Vast scientific effort in recent years have been focused on the search for effective and safe treatments for cognitive decline. In this regard, non-invasive neuromodulation has gained increasing attention for its reported effectiveness in promoting the recovery of multiple cognitive domains after central nervous system damage. In this short review, we discuss the available evidence supporting a possible cognitive effect of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS). In particular, we ask that, while TNS has been widely and successfully used in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions, as far as research in the cognitive field is concerned, where does TNS stand? The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve, conveying the sensory information from the face to the trigeminal sensory nuclei, and from there to the thalamus and up to the somatosensory cortex. On these bases, a bottom-up mechanism has been proposed, positing that TNS-induced modulation of the brainstem noradrenergic system may affect the function of the brain networks involved in cognition. Nevertheless, despite the promising theories, to date, the use of TNS for cognitive empowering and/or cognitive decline treatment has several challenges ahead of it, mainly due to little uniformity of the stimulation protocols. However, as the field continues to grow, standardization of practice will allow for data comparisons across studies, leading to optimized protocols targeting specific brain circuitries, which may, in turn, influence cognition in a designed manner.
Establishing Molecular Subgroups of CD8+ T Cell-Associated Genes in the Ovarian Cancer Tumour Microenvironment and Predicting the Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Zhu Yunshu , Liang Leilei , Li Jian , Zeng Jia , Yao Hongwen , Wu Lingying
Published: August 2023

Background: The mechanism by which infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes in the tumour microenvironment influence the survival of patients with ovarian cancer (OC) remains unclear. Methods: To identify biomarkers to optimise OC treatment, 13 immune-cell-line-associated datasets, RNA sequencing data, and clinical data from the GEO, TCGA, and the ICGC were collected. Gene expression in OC was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Results: We identified 520 genes and three immunological clusters (IC1, IC2, and IC3) associated with CD8+ T cells. Higher IFN scores, immune T cell lytic activity, and immune cell infiltration and upregulated expression of immune-checkpoint-related genes indicated that IC3 is more responsive to immunotherapy, whereas IC1 and IC2 have a poorer prognosis. A 10-gene signature, including SEMA4F, CX3CR1, STX7, PASK, AKIRIN2, HEMGN, GBP5, NSG1, and CXorf65, was constructed, and a multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between the 10-gene signature-based risk model and overall survival (p < 0.001). A nomogram was constructed with age and the 10-gene signature. Consistent with the bioinformatics analysis, IHC and qRT-PCR confirmed the accuracy of the signatures in OC tissue samples. The predictive ability of the risk model was demonstrated using the Imvigor210 immunotherapy dataset. Conclusions: The development of a novel gene signature associated with CD8+ T cells could facilitate more accurate prognostics and prediction of the immunotherapeutic response of patients with OC.
Multi-Faceted Role of Cancer-Associated Adipocytes in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Grigoraș Adriana , Amalinei Cornelia
Published: August 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer, especially in obese patients, and the second cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Based on these data, extensive research has been performed over the last decades to decipher the pivotal role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its cellular and molecular components in CRC development and progression. In this regard, substantial progress has been made in the identification of cancer-associated adipocytes’ (CAAs) characteristics, considering their active role in the CCR tumor niche, by releasing a panel of metabolites, growth factors, and inflammatory adipokines, which assist the cancer cells’ development. Disposed in the tumor invasion front, CAAs exhibit a fibroblastic-like phenotype and establish a bidirectional molecular dialogue with colorectal tumor cells, which leads to functional changes in both cell types and contributes to tumor progression. CAAs also modulate the antitumor immune cells’ response and promote metabolic reprogramming and chemotherapeutic resistance in colon cancer cells. This review aims to report recent cumulative data regarding the molecular mechanisms of CAAs’ differentiation and their activity spectrum in the TME of CRC. A better understanding of CAAs and the molecular interplay between CAAs and tumor cells will provide insights into tumor biology and may open the perspective of new therapeutic opportunities in CRC patients.
The Involvement of the Multiple Demand and Default Mode Networks in a Trial-by-Trial Cognitive Control
Authors: Jung Shinyoung , Kim Joo Yeon , Jo Suhyeon , Han Suk Won
Published: August 2023

Adaptive behavior in the environment requires a high level of cognitive control to bias limited processing resources to behaviorally significant stimuli. Such control has been associated with a set of brain regions located in the fronto-parietal cortex (multiple demand network), whose activity was found to increase as the control demand for a task increases. In contrast, another set of regions, default mode network regions, were found to be deactivated during top-down processing of task stimuli. Despite this dissociation in their activation amplitudes, it is possible that activation patterns of these regions commonly encode specific task features. In two independent neuroimaging datasets, involving a total of 40 human samples, we found that the performance of an attentional task evoked positive activity of the MDN and deactivation of the DMN. Consistent with previous studies, task features could be decoded from the fronto-parietal cognitive regions. Importantly, the regions of the DMN also encoded task features when the task set had to be rapidly reconfigured in a transient, trial-by-trial manner, along with the MDN regions. These results suggest that the two separate brain networks ultimately co-ordinate for the effective establishment of top-down cognitive control.
Competition Anxiety in Combat Sports and the Importance of Mental Toughness
Authors: Mojtahedi Dara , Dagnall Neil , Denovan Andrew , Clough Peter , Dewhurst Stephen , Hillier Matthew , Papageorgiou Kostas , Perry John
Published: August 2023

Combat sports require participants to engage in potentially dangerous forms of contact-based competition. Pressure to succeed, coupled with the risk of severe injury can induce significant levels of anxiety, which if uncontrolled, can negatively impact performance and possibly promote unsporting conduct. The present study examined competitive anxiety levels of combat sports athletes and determined whether self-reported scores were associated with mental toughness and Sportspersonship attitudes. A cross-sectional survey design was used whereby participants (N = 194) completed a battery of questionnaires measuring competitive combat sport experiences, demographic details, Sportspersonship traits (compliance towards rules, respect for opponents, and game perspective), and competition anxiety (somatic, cognitive, and self-confidence; reported retrospectively). Results suggest that mentally tough athletes experience lower levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety, and higher self-confidence, prior to competitions. Findings also found that athletes endorsing more altruistic and respectful attitudes in sport (Sportspersonship) reported higher levels of competition anxiety. The findings demonstrate that mental toughness is allied to positive attributes and could potentially be operationalized to improve both the retention and performance of combat sports athletes. Thus, the authors advocate the use of mental toughness coaching interventions within combat sports.
Building Energy-Saving Technology
Authors: Lin Yaolin , Yang Wei
Published: August 2023

Buildings consume about 40% of the global energy. Therefore, the building sector plays a key role in achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Various energy-saving technologies for buildings, such as building envelops, mechanical systems, and energy resources, have been developed to help to achieve zero- or even net-energy buildings while maintaining comfort and a healthy indoor environment. This Special Issue on building energy-saving technology was open to all contributors in the field of building engineering. The original experimental studies, numerical simulations, and reviews in all aspects of building energy utilization, management, and optimization have been considered. For this event, all of these topics were covered in the extensive submissions which were accepted, but interesting papers on other aspects of building energy efficiency were also received. The purpose of this editorial is to summarize the main research findings of the accepted papers in this Special Issue, including the energy-saving technologies involved in building envelops, mechanical systems, and occupant behaviors, and to identify a number of research questions and research directions.
Predicting the Energy Consumption of Commercial Buildings Based on Deep Forest Model and Its Interpretability
Authors: Zheng Guangfa , Feng Zao , Jiang Mingkai , Tan Li , Wang Zhenglang
Published: August 2023

Building energy assessment models are considered to be one of the most informative methods in building energy efficiency design, and most of the current building energy assessment models have been developed based on machine learning algorithms. Deep learning models have proved their effectiveness in fields such as image and fault detection. This paper proposes a deep learning energy assessment framework with interpretability to support building energy efficiency design. The proposed framework is validated using the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey dataset, and the results show that the wrapper feature selection method (Sequential Forward Generation) significantly improves the performance of deep learning and machine learning models compared with the filtered (Mutual Information) and embedded (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) feature selection algorithms. Moreover, the Deep Forest model has an R2 of 0.90 and outperforms the Deep Multilayer Perceptron, the Convolutional Neural Network, the Backpropagation Neural Network, and the Radial Basis Function Network in terms of prediction performance. In addition, the model interpretability results reveal how the features affect the prediction results and the contribution of the features to the energy consumption in a single building sample. This study helps building energy designers assess the energy consumption of new buildings and develop improvement measures.
Climate Adaptation Measures for Enhancing Urban Resilience
Authors: Rezvani Seyed , de Almeida Nuno , Falcão Maria
Published: August 2023

Climate change threatens urban areas globally. Enhancing resilience is crucial, yet the comprehensive clustering of practical climate adaptation measures for use in construction industry decision-making is notably absent. This study investigates and categorizes various climate adaptation measures, justifying each through a lens of risk management, asset management, and previous scientific work. It takes advantage of the innovative digital platform Netobra, which offers an ecosystem for the construction industry, to provide real-world, practical implications of these measures. Informed by the Urban Resilience Evaluation System, ISO 31000 (risk management), and ISO 55000 (asset management), the study sets out to demonstrate the value of these measures in bolstering urban resilience and improving decision-making in the construction industry. Moreover, the study integrates a hotspot detection mechanism for areas at high risk of climate impacts, using multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA)—analytic hierarchy process (AHP) mapping on Netobra. These identified hotspots and corresponding climate adaptation measures will further be incorporated into a Risk-Informed Asset-Centric (RIACT) process, providing valuable insights for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in urban development. Through its in-depth analysis, the study aims to contribute to the understanding of how diverse climate adaptation measures can be practically applied in various sectors, thereby enhancing urban resilience and effective risk and asset management.
Analysis and Comparison of the Infrastructure Report Cards as a Decision Making Tool for Sustainable Development
Authors: Boix-Cots David , Pardo-Bosch Francesc , Pujadas Pablo
Published: August 2023

Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in a nation’s economic and societal progress. However, due to the substantial expenses and the constraints of a limited government budget, the need to assess the condition of each infrastructure and identify those requiring utmost attention has become imperative. To address the challenge of assessing and prioritizing infrastructure, national civil engineering associations have developed infrastructure report cards (IRCs) following diverse methodologies. The objective of this paper is to present and compare the existing IRCs, analysing their key characteristics and comparing them through the developed comparison guidelines. The findings offer valuable insights into IRCs, encompassing general knowledge, diverse practices, and areas for improvement. Furthermore, it provides guidance to civil engineering associations in nations lacking an infrastructure report card, as well as to governments and national infrastructure planners. Recommendations highlight the importance of government collaboration without direct control, transparent methodology explanations, and accessible results presentation. Enhancing IRCs based on these recommendations can facilitate structured, rational, realistic, and sustainability-based decision making. The study acknowledges limitations, including the challenge of assessing IRCs’ real impact and the limited dataset. Despite these limitations, this paper provides a crucial step toward improving IRCs and fostering informed infrastructure decisions.
An Open Database to Evaluate the Fundamental Frequency of Historical Masonry Towers through Empirical and Physics-Based Formulations
Authors: Montabert Arnaud , Giry Cédric , Limoge Schraen Claire , Lépine Jade , Choueiri Clarisse , Mercerat E. , Guéguen Philippe
Published: August 2023

The fundamental frequency plays a primary role in the dynamic assessment of Cultural Heritage towers. Local and global features may impact its value: geometric, material features, interaction with the soil and adjacent buildings, aging, the construction phase, and repairs. A database is assembled to study the relationship between the fundamental frequency and the slender masonry structure features. Empirical and physics-based approaches were developed to assess the fundamental frequency from different sources of information. A Rayleigh–Ritz approach is proposed and compared with a 3D finite element model. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to quantify the contribution of each feature. As expected, it is shown that the height of the tower contributes the most to the fundamental frequency. The other tower features have a second-order impact on both the fundamental frequency and the mode shape. A comparison between the different approaches shows that the Rayleigh–Ritz drastically minimizes the difference between numerical and experimental frequencies when all information is available. Empirical relations are a good compromise when less information is available.
Residential Interior Design for People with Special Needs in Thailand Based on Physical Abilities: Age, Gender, and Living Environment Considerations
Authors: Selanon Pattamon , Chuangchai Warawoot
Published: August 2023

Residential interior design for people with special needs necessitates more specific research, especially with respect to physical abilities. Previous studies, as opposed to general people, have overlooked the nuanced requirements generated by age, gender, and living environment differences. This study aims to examine physical abilities across different ages, genders, and residencies and identify relationships between in-home mobility and physical abilities among people with special needs. A total of 384 participants (eight different types of disabilities) completed electronic questionnaires. Among young, adult, and older groups, physical abilities and self-support showed statistical differences. Males demonstrated higher physical ability levels but decreased hand–arm movements than females. Greater physical abilities and subjective health were found in urban residents compared to non-urban residents. Additionally, in-home mobility was positively associated with out-of-home mobility, physical abilities, independence, and subjective health (all p values < 0.05). Thus, physical abilities revealed disparities across ages, genders, and resident settings. Also, the greater the mobility inside the house, the more possibilities there are to enhance physical abilities both inside and outside the house, independence, and subjective health. Design recommendations are provided regarding layout, furniture, flooring, and lighting. The consideration of these specific requirements in residential interior design is encouraged.
Indoor Environmental Quality, Pupils’ Health, and Academic Performance—A Literature Review
Authors: Toyinbo Oluyemi
Published: August 2023

Classrooms have more students per square meter than other buildings such as offices, making them more crowded. In addition, children respire more than adults and are in contact with one another more often. For appropriate student comfort, wellbeing, and health, including reducing the risk of transferring communicable diseases (for example, COVID-19) in the school setting, adequate ventilation and thermal comfort is recommended, along with regular cleaning, especially of high-contact surfaces. However, this may lead to increased energy usage, especially in mechanically ventilated schools. While natural ventilation conserves energy, its usage may be limited in temperate regions, especially during the cold seasons, as more energy will be required for heating in order to achieve thermal comfort. In the tropics, natural ventilation alone may be insufficient for students’ thermal comfort due to the possibility of unconditioned warm or cold outdoor air entering the classroom environment. Additionally, natural ventilation is difficult to control, as there may be overventilation or underventilation due to the ventilation rate being dependent on the outdoor environmental condition such as windspeed. This current traditional literature review appraises previous indoor environmental quality (IEQ) literature on ventilation, thermal comfort, moisture and mold, and cleanliness in schools. Furthermore, a further review was performed on the effect of IEQ (indoor air quality and thermal comfort) on student health and academic outcomes in order to summarize existing knowledge that can help other researchers avoid research duplication and identify research gaps for future school IEQ studies.
Behavioral Analysis of a Mast with a Combined Prestressed Stayed Columns System and Core of a Spun Concrete Circular Cross-Section
Authors: Indriūnas Saulius , Kliukas Romualdas , Juozapaitis Algirdas
Published: August 2023

Widely used telecommunication structures are usually of the tower or mast type. For medium and tall telecommunications structures, tower-type constructions become less efficient compared to mast-type structures. The goal of our article is to discover a new, efficient telecommunication structure. For relatively low heights, tower systems can be designed with a continuous cross-section, in most cases using reinforced concrete elements. Among them, efficient spun concrete elements, whose load-bearing capacity is higher than that of ordinary solid reinforced concrete elements due to the technological features of their production, should be mentioned. A significantly higher efficiency of masts can be achieved by employing various combined structural systems that utilize a prestressed stayed columns system. It should be noted that there are not many solutions for prestressed stayed columns systems with spun concrete core elements and that research into their design and behavior is not yet sufficiently developed. The behavior of this combined structure is analyzed with regard to the geometric and physical nonlinearity of its elements. The strength and stability of the spun concrete core of such a combined system are evaluated. The impact of the prestressing of this prestressed stayed column structure on the internal forces and displacements of the reinforced concrete core is analyzed. The performance of the new structure compared to conventional tower and mast structures is presented. In the article, it has been determined that by applying the prestressed stayed columns system to telecommunication structures, the innovative structural system becomes 2.5 times more efficient than the classic mast and 5 times more efficient than the typical tower system on the mass criterion.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments for Loose Sandy Soils
Authors: Alsirawan Rashad , Alnmr Ammar , Koch Edina
Published: August 2023

This research focuses on advancing the geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankment technology over loose sandy soil. A small-scale laboratory model supported by floating piles and a geotextile layer was constructed, and a numerical model was validated against laboratory measurements. This study aims to achieve a more uniform distribution of the load over all piles of the system via a parametric study that analyzes the influence of embankment fill material, horizontal reinforcement scenarios, pile cap shape, and pile type. The results demonstrate that using embankment fill with high cohesion and internal friction properties leads to a significant reduction of 46% and 37% in maximum settlements, respectively, and similarly, results in a noteworthy reduction of 48% and 50% in differential settlements. The incorporation of two geotextile layers contributes to a reduction of up to 30% in maximum settlement. The utilization of plus-shaped caps in small areas, with an area equal to three times the cross-sectional area of the pile, has been substantiated as the preeminent approach for the reduction of settlements. Piles with caps also present better behavior regarding differential settlements compared to longer piles and piles with bigger diameters under the same volume condition.
Housing Quality Assessment Model Based on the Spatial Characteristics of an Apartment
Authors: Brkanić Mihić Ivana
Published: August 2023

Today more than ever, people are demanding higher-quality housing, and therefore, there is an increasing need for scientifically sound methods of systematic housing assessment that are capable of addressing multiple, conflicting, and irreconcilable aspects in both qualitative and quantitative terms. Existing studies and models often use a relatively small number of indicators and consider housing quality from a single perspective. This paper presents a methodology used to develop a model for assessing the quality of multiple conflicting spatial characteristics of an apartment. Through a literature review and a survey of 12 architects, 24 spatial indicators were identified and then classified into five categories: (i) additional rooms, (ii) room size, (iii) window orientation and ventilation, (iv) circulation, and (v) spatial organization. Finally, the overall rating of the apartment is calculated as the sum of the ratings of all indicator categories, where the share of each category in the overall rating and desirable characteristics of the apartment is determined by the user. The model was tested on the example of two apartments in the city of Osijek, Croatia.
Bridge Damage Detection Using Complexity Pursuit and Extreme Value Theory
Authors: Liu Xun , Zhuo Weidong , Yang Jie
Published: August 2023

Bridge structures are susceptible to environmental and operational variations (EOVs). Improperly handling these influences may result in incorrect assessments of the bridge’s health condition. Blind source separation (BSS) techniques show promising potential in suppressing the effects of EOVs. However, major challenges such as high data variability, difficulty in parameter selection, lack of reliable decision thresholds, and practical engineering validation have seriously hindered the application of such techniques in bridge health monitoring. Consequently, this paper proposes a new method for bridge damage detection that combines complexity pursuit (CP) and extreme value theory (EVT). This method first uses the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) technique to preprocess the measured modal frequencies. The CP algorithm and information entropy are then used to extract structural damage sources from the preprocessed data automatically. Based on the extracted structural damage sources, the damage index (DI) is defined using k-means clustering and Euclidean distance. Following that, the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution is used to fit the DI data under the normal condition of the bridge, and the damage detection threshold is given according to the fitted distribution. Benchmark data of the KW51 railway bridge are considered to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method along with several comparative studies. The results show that even under strong EOV influences, the proposed method still maintains good damage detection accuracy and robustness, and its effectiveness is superior to some well-known damage detection methods.
A Systematic Review of LET-Guided Treatment Plan Optimisation in Proton Therapy: Identifying the Current State and Future Needs
Authors: McIntyre Melissa , Wilson Puthenparampil , Gorayski Peter , Bezak Eva
Published: August 2023

The well-known clinical benefits of proton therapy are achieved through higher target-conformality and normal tissue sparing than conventional radiotherapy. However, there is an increased sensitivity to uncertainties in patient motion/setup, proton range and radiobiological effect. Although recent efforts have mitigated some uncertainties, radiobiological effect remains unresolved due to a lack of clinical data for relevant endpoints. Therefore, RBE optimisations may be currently unsuitable for clinical treatment planning. LET optimisation is a novel method that substitutes RBE with LET, shifting LET hotspots outside critical structures. This review outlines the current status of LET optimisation in proton therapy, highlighting knowledge gaps and possible future research. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a search of the MEDLINE® and Scopus databases was performed in July 2023, identifying 70 relevant articles. Generally, LET optimisation methods achieved their treatment objectives; however, clinical benefit is patient-dependent. Inconsistencies in the reported data suggest further testing is required to identify therapeutically favourable methods. We discuss the methods which are suitable for near-future clinical deployment, with fast computation times and compatibility with existing treatment protocols. Although there is some clinical evidence of a correlation between high LET and adverse effects, further developments are needed to inform future patient selection protocols for widespread application of LET optimisation in proton therapy.
Aggressive Prostate Cancer in Patients Treated with Active Surveillance
Authors: Tohi Yoichiro , Kato Takuma , Sugimoto Mikio
Published: August 2023

Active surveillance has emerged as a promising approach for managing low-risk and favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PC), with the aim of minimizing overtreatment and maintaining the quality of life. However, concerns remain about identifying “aggressive prostate cancer” within the active surveillance cohort, which refers to cancers with a higher potential for progression. Previous studies are predictors of aggressive PC during active surveillance. To address this, a personalized risk-based follow-up approach that integrates clinical data, biomarkers, and genetic factors using risk calculators was proposed. This approach enables an efficient risk assessment and the early detection of disease progression, minimizes unnecessary interventions, and improves patient management and outcomes. As active surveillance indications expand, the importance of identifying aggressive PC through a personalized risk-based follow-up is expected to increase.