bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of functional defecation disorders in European children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bloem Michelle N. , Baaleman Desiree F. , Thapar Nikhil , Roberts Stephen E. , Koppen Ilan J. N. , Benninga Marc A.
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Functional defecation disorders (FDDs) are common among children worldwide. The prevalence of these disorders has not been clearly described in Europe. This study performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis on the prevalence of FDD in European children and assessed geographical, age, and sex distribution and associated factors.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Psycinfo, Cochrane Library, and Cinahl were searched from 1999 to July 2023. Included studies were (1) prospective or cross‐sectional studies of European population‐based samples; (2) reporting the prevalence of infant dyschezia (ID) according to Rome II, III, or IV criteria or functional constipation (FC) or functional non‐retentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI) according to Rome III or IV criteria; (3) aged 0–18 years; and (4) published in English, Dutch or Spanish. PRISMA guidelines for extracting data and assessing data quality were followed.

Results

Twenty‐eight studies were included. Pooled prevalence was 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1%–11.9%) for ID in infants 0–12 months (9 studies, n = 5611), 8.17% (95% CI: 6.33%–10.22%) for FC in children <4 years (25 studies, n = 35,189), 11.39% (95% CI: 9.34%–14.11%) for FC in children 4–18 years, and 0.24% (95% CI: 0.07%–0.49%) for FNRFI in children 4–18 years (7 studies, n = 16,873). No sex predominance was found for FC. FC prevalence did not differ significantly when diagnosed according to Rome III versus IV. FC prevalence differed between countries, with greatest rates in Italy, Germany, and Spain. No meta‐analysis could be performed on other factors associated with FDD.

Conclusions

FDD is common in European children. Future longitudinal studies are needed to provide better insight into associated factors in pathogenesis.
NIR‐to‐NIR Lifetime Based Thermometry with the Thermally Elongated Luminescence Kinetics Driven by Structural Phase Transition in LiYO2:Yb3+
Authors: Abbas Muhammad T. , Szymczak Maja , Kinzhybalo Vasyl , Drozd Marek , Marciniak Lukasz
Published: January 2025

Among the various techniques used in luminescence thermometry, luminescence kinetics is considered the least sensitive to perturbations related to the optical properties of the medium containing the phosphor. For this reason, temperature sensing and imaging using lifetime‐based luminescence thermometers are of high interest for a wide range of specific applications. However, for most such thermometers, an increase in temperature leads to a shortening in lifetime, which can hinder the specificity and accuracy of the readout. In this work, an approach is presented that utilizes a thermally induced increase in the symmetry of the host material associated with a structural phase transition in LiYO2:Yb3+. Consequently, the lifetime of the excited level 2F5/2 of the Yb3+ ion is thermally prolonged, achieving a relative sensitivity of 0.5%/K. The phase transition temperature can be controlled by adjusting the dopant concentration. Additionally, thermal changes in the emission spectrum enable the use of LiYO2:Yb3+ for ratiometric temperature readout with a relative sensitivity of 5.3%/K at 280K for LiYO2:5%Yb3+.
Chemical cross‐linking facilitates antigen uptake and presentation and provides improved protection from Mpox with a dual‐antigen subunit vaccine
Authors: Chen Long , Shang Chao , Wang Zihao , Zheng Mengzhu , Zhang Cuiling , Li Dapeng , Yang Zhanqun , Dong Yuchao , Xu Yuru , Yuan Yunsheng , Fan Shiyong , Zhong Wu , Lin Jian , Li Xiao
Published: January 2025

Antigen uptake, processing, and presentation are crucial for the immune responses of protein‐based vaccines. Herein, we introduced a reversible chemical cross‐linking strategy to engineer protein antigens, which can be tracelessly removed upon antigen‐presenting cell (APC) uptake and cellular reduction. The chemically cross‐linked antigen proteins presented significantly enhanced uptake and epitope presentation by APC. We applied this strategy to monkeypox virus antigens A29L and A35R to construct dual‐antigen subunit vaccines. Our results revealed that chemical cross‐linking was robust enough to improve both proteins' APC uptake and lymph node accumulation, with each protein being chemically cross‐linked and administered separately. In vivo validation revealed that the chemical cross‐linking of the two antigen proteins improved immune responses, with increases in antigen‐specific antibody and live virus‐neutralizing antibody production. Monkeypox virus challenge experiments revealed that dual‐antigen vaccines prepared via the chemical cross‐linking strategy mitigated tissue damage, reduced the virus load, and extended mouse survival, which proved that the chemical cross‐linking strategy is valuable for protein‐based subunit vaccine development. In consideration of the current threats from the monkeypox virus and potential future emerging pathogens, the chemical cross‐linking strategy provide powerful tools.
Optimization of Robin Laplacian Eigenvalue With Indefinite Weight in Spherical Shell
Authors: Schneider Baruch , Schneiderová Diana , Zhang Yifan
Published: January 2025

This paper is concerned with an optimization problem of Robin Laplacian eigenvalue with respect to an indefinite weight, which is formulated as a shape optimization problem thanks to the known bang–bang distribution of the optimal weight function. The minimization of the principal eigenvalue of the problem in a spherical shell of an arbitrary dimension is fully solved.
X‐Band Air‐Filled Coaxial Bandpass Filter With Wideband Input‐Reflectionless Performance
Authors: Li Zhe‐Ming , He Ying‐Qian , Lin Jing‐Yu , Zhang Zhi‐Cong , Zhang Xiao , Zhu Lei , Wong Sai‐Wai
Published: January 2025

Reflectionless bandpass filters (BPF) have been realized in the waveguide and planar circuits; however, the literature does not report reflectionless air‐filled coaxial BPF. In this article, an X‐band input‐reflectionless air‐filled coaxial BPF is presented. The proposed filter has two transmission zeros (TZs) at the lower and upper stopband, respectively, to improve the selectivity. An equivalent circuit of this filter is provided to explain its reflectionless filtering response, which contains a BPF section and a bandstop filter (BSF) section. For verification, a reflectionless BPF centered at 10.2 GHz with an in‐band fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 6.39% has been designed and fabricated. The frequency range of measured 10‐dB return loss is from 4.75 to 13.00 GHz (10‐dB‐absorption FBW of 80.9%), showing a very attractive wideband reflectionless filtering behavior.
Psychometric Testing of the Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patient Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) in Patients With Heart Failure and Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Thapa Ashmita , Rayens Mary Kay , Chung Misook Lee , Biddle Martha J. , Wu Jia‐Rong , Lin Chin‐Yen , Kang JungHee , Moser Debra K.
Published: January 2025

The social determinants of health (SDOH) have been recognized as an important contributor to an individual's health status. A valid and reliable instrument is needed for researchers and clinicians to measure SDOH. However, there is considerable variability in the screening methodologies, as well as a lack of standardization in definitions and methods for capturing and reporting SDOH data for both electronic health record software vendors and national experts on SDOH. The Protocol for
Responding to and
Assessing
Patient
Assets,
Risks, and
Experiences (PRAPARE) is a commonly used instrument for measuring SDOH. We evaluated the psychometric properties of the PRAPARE instrument in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and heart failure (HF), focusing on its reliability and validity for assessing SDOH. We assessed internal consistency, test‐retest reliability, and construct validity using data from 234 patients with CHD and/or HF recruited from outpatient clinics in Kentucky. The PRAPARE instrument demonstrated high internal consistency (KR‐20 score: 0.76) and test‐retest reliability (correlation coefficient: 0.88). Factor analysis identified three distinct factors (Factor I: basic necessities and services, Factor II: housing and personal well‐being, and Factor III: insurance, education, and work situation) of SDOH. PRAPARE scores were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9 scores) and functional outcomes of sleep (FOSQ‐10 scores). PRAPARE is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing SDOH in patients with CHD and HF, highlighting its potential for clinical and research applications.
Toughened polyolefin alloys of core‐shell morphology: Correlations among processing, microstructure, micromechanics, and macroscopic mechanical performance
Authors: Mazidi Majid Mehrabi , Razavi Aghjeh Mir Karim , Arezoumand Sahar , Pegoretti Alessandro
Published: January 2025

Polyolefin alloys with superior balance of stiffness, toughness, and processability properties are progressively being developed for structural applications. The technologies employed and design strategies utilized for producing these multicomponent systems have brought about the formation of specific morphological structures in these materials, which are responsible for their far advantageous overall characteristics compared with traditional toughened binary blends. This review examines the state‐of‐the‐art and recent developments in the field of such high‐performance toughened polyolefin (mostly polypropylene‐based) alloys showing encapsulated (core‐shell) morphology. Two families of toughened polyolefin alloys are examined in‐detail in this paper: physical blends and reactor alloys. In the case of physical blending approach, the necessity for modification of interfacial and/or rheological characteristics of blends' systems has triggered the formation of composite dispersed droplet morphology in the resulting alloys. The reactor alloy technology usually offers materials with a multi‐layered core‐shell structure. The impacts of manufacturing parameters, processing conditions, and various microstructural (molecular, architectural, compositional, rheological, and physical) characteristics involved in the production technologies of these multiphase systems on the morphology evolution of resulting alloys are reviewed thoroughly. Then, the impact of ultimate morphology on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the resulting alloys is discussed. The involved nano‐ and micro‐mechanics of deformations associated with different phase structures and dispersion states of core‐shell micro‐structures during both high‐speed impact and quasi‐static fracture mechanics tests are demonstrated. The advantages of reactor alloying method over physical blending, in terms of having far better control over the interfacial interactions, morphological features, and rheological properties for specific applications, are highlighted. This is accomplished through proper design and/or manipulation of polymerization conditions/sequences and engineering the chain architectures. Finally, research perspectives and possible directions for further progress in this field are outlined.

Highlights

Toughened polyolefin alloys of core‐shell morphologies are reviewed.

Both melt blending and reactor alloy technologies are considered.

Processing‐microstructure‐micromechanics‐property correlations are presented.

Specific attention is paid to the (micro)‐mechanical deformation processes.

Role of structural and technological factors on properties is discussed in detail.
Cover Image
Authors: Irimia‐Vladu Mihai , Sariciftci Niyazi Serdar
Published: January 2025

The cover image is based on the article Natural polymers for emerging technological applications: cellulose, lignin, shellac and silk by Mihai Irimia‐Vladu et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.6697.

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First‐Principles Study of Mechanical Properties, Electronic Structure, High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Properties of Au–Ga Intermetallic Compounds
Authors: Wang Li , Huang Yaoxuan , Guo Shihao , Leng Guocai , Sui Caiquan , Sun Yiming , Wang Yunpeng , Ma Haitao
Published: January 2025

Based on density functional theory, four Au‐Ga intermetallic compounds (IMCs: AuGa2, Au7Ga2, AuGa, Au2Ga) are explored. First‐principles calculations disclose that among them, AuGa boasts the optimal thermal stability, whereas Au7Ga2 has the poorest. The large bulk modulus of Au7Ga2 implies strong compression resistance. In contrast, AuGa2 shows inferior mechanical properties. These IMCs, with relevant values greater than 1.75 (for modulus values) and Poisson's ratios above 2.6, are ductile. Analyses of density of states suggest Au7Ga2 and Au2Ga form sturdier bonds. Debye temperature results show Au7Ga2 has the strongest interatomic bonding, Au2Ga the weakest. Thermal expansion of AuGa2/Au7Ga2 aligns with Au, and Au2Ga is less stable. This study guides medium‐to‐high temperature Au–Ga welding.
Acetylshikonin Derived From Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst Kills Multidrug‐Resistant Gram‐Positive Pathogens In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Xiao Xia , Huang Yanhu , Liu Wei , Liu Yuan , Zhang Haijie , Meng Chuang , Wang Zhiqiang
Published: January 2025

The rising prevalence of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) Gram‐positive bacteria threatens the effectiveness of current antibiotic therapies. However, the development of new antibiotics has stagnated in recent years, highlighted the critical need for the discovery of innovative antimicrobial agents. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of naphthoquinones derived from Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst (ADNs) and elucidate their underlying mechanisms. The antibacterial efficacy of ADNs was assessed using the microbroth dilution method. The antibacterial mechanism of acetylshikonin (ASK) was further explored through scanning electron microscopy, RNA‐Seq and transcriptomic analysis, fluorescent probes, high‐performance liquid chromatography, qRT‐PCR and molecular docking. The results demonstrated that all the ADNs exhibit potent antibacterial activity against MDR Gram‐positive pathogens, including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus, and linezolid‐resistant Enterococcus. Notably, ASK showed minimum inhibitory concentration of 1–2 μg/mL against MRSA. Mechanistic investigations revealed that ASK operates through a multifaceted antibacterial mechanism. First, ASK disrupts bacterial membrane integrity and dissipates proton motive force by targeting membrane phospholipids. Further analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in oxygen consumption and ATP production, indicative of respiratory chain inhibition. Additionally, ASK interferes with bacterial cell wall synthesis, as evidenced by reduction of peptidoglycan precursors and downregulated expression of genes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis. In conclusion, ASK represents a promising antimicrobial agent with potential efficacy against infections caused by MDR Gram‐positive bacteria and offers valuable insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
An Improved Uncertainty Calibration Approach for Reliable Satellite Temperature Interval Prediction
Authors: Xu Yingchun , Zheng Xiaohu , Yao Wen , Zhang Xiaoya , Xie Yang
Published: January 2025

Precise forecasting of satellite temperature interval prediction is essential for assessing the reliability and health of satellites. Yet, traditional methods for quantifying uncertainty often fall short when it comes to the intricate challenge of satellite temperature prediction, leading to less accurate estimates. Consequently, there is a pressing need to refine the accuracy of uncertainty quantification by readjusting the uncertainty outcomes. This paper presents a sophisticated approach to calibrating model uncertainty for satellite temperature forecasting, utilizing Monte Carlo dropout (MCD) and quantile calibration techniques. The MCD technique is used to estimate model uncertainty by generating samples of the output distribution. Simultaneously, the quality of uncertainty estimation is improved by fine‐tuning the quantile levels through quantile calibration, leading to a more precisely calibrated forecast interval. The effectiveness of this proposed methodology is confirmed through two simulation scenarios and a practical engineering application, showing that the calibrated forecast interval's coverage probability is more closely aligned with the desired confidence levels, thus enhancing the credibility of the projected uncertainty range.
Privacy Preservation by Public Design in Cloud‐Based Cooperative LQG Control Systems
Authors: Lin Wenhao , Ni Yuqing , Ren Xiaoqiang , Yang Wen , Yang Chao
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we study a cooperative linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control system realized by a cloud‐based structure, consisting of a user and a server. In this system, the user runs a plant to control and employ the server, sharing necessary information with it to obtain the optimal LQG control inputs. However, the user considers its state trajectories as private. Therefore, we propose a privacy scheme utilizing a public privacy processor, whose certain parameters are also open to the server. This scheme manages to make the server unable to directly access the states of the user, so that the user's privacy is preserved; meanwhile, the server's public knowledge of the privacy processor allows the user to have satisfactory performance of LQG control. We then analyze the performances of privacy preservation and LQG control. Lastly, we propose an optimization problem to analyze the trade‐off between privacy and LQG control, which we solve using an efficient numerical method.
Bumpless Transfer Control for Synchronization of Switched Neutral‐Type Neural Networks With a Reachable Set Strategy
Authors: Li Fang , Sang Hong , Wang Peng , Zhao Ying , Ma Yajing , Dimirovski Georgi M.
Published: January 2025

This investigation primarily centers on the reachable‐set‐based bumpless transfer control (BTC) for the synchronization of switched neutral‐type neural networks (SNNNs). In order to mitigate the conservatism inherent in the traditional state‐dependent switching strategies (SDSSs) and combined switching strategies (CSSs), an improved CSS leveraging the historical information of neuron states and neutral delay is developed. By constructing a time‐dependent multiple Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional (TDMLF) technique, a less conservative criterion for reachable set estimation (RSE) is first established. In the subsequent, the established design framework is further employed by the BTC for the synchronization of SNNNs. The corresponding synchronization criterion is derived, which ensures that the resultant synchronization error influenced by bounded external inputs can be confined to an anticipated bounded set. Also, the underlying control bumps at switching instants during switching instants are effectively constrained to a specific level. Ultimately, the practicability and superiority of the proposed design framework are confirmed via two simulation examples.
A Map Segmentation Method Based on Image Processing for Robot Complete Coverage Operation
Authors: Si Haojun , Miao Zhonghua , Zhang Wen , Sun Teng
Published: January 2025

Path planning is crucial for autonomous robot navigation and operation. Tasks like cleaning, inspection, and mining, all require complete coverage operation. For maps of convex regions, a reciprocating coverage method can be used. However, for maps of concave shapes, it is unsuitable. For this purpose, this paper proposes an image‐based map segmentation method for complete coverage path planning. Taking the grip map as an image, it is used to divide a concave map into convex subregions. For each convex region, it will generate a batch of waypoints for the robot controller. The subregions are then connected to achieve a complete coverage of the entire region. On the basis of a global path planning, a local path following, and real‐time obstacle avoidance methods, the complete coverage operation is achieved. Moreover, a coverage ratio calculation method is proposed and shown real‐timely in a visual interface. Extensive experiments in simulations and real‐world environments demonstrate the effectiveness of this method, achieving an average coverage ratio of 97.89% and a maximum of 92.19% in the presence of obstacles. Most importantly, this method has been successfully tested on an autonomous mining vehicle, achieving an average coverage ratio of 96% in given maps.
Mechanical Testing and Microstructural Characterization of Bimetallic Structure of Austenitic Steel Fabricated via Wire plus Arc Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Veeman Dhinakaran , Subramaniyan Mohan Kumar
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the manufacturing and mechanical performance of bimetallic structure (BMS) walls created using wire plus arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology, specifically incorporating SS347 and SS304 stainless steel filler wires. BMS represents an advanced material approach designed to address the challenges of conventional multimaterial joining, offering a seamless gradient of properties across its structure. The research reveals that SS347 provides superior mechanical properties compared to SS304, including higher tensile strength and exceptional ductility. By combining SS347 and SS304, BMS harnesses the benefits of both materials while minimizing their individual drawbacks, resulting in a robust and adaptable structure. Notably, compared to WAAM‐fabricated SS304 alone, the BMS consistently exhibits enhanced tensile strength without compromising ductility, attributed to the cyclic thermal effects that refine the microstructure. This work demonstrates the potential of WAAM‐produced BMS for applications requiring tailored mechanical properties, advancing the versatility and applicability of additive manufacturing in complex structural engineering.
Investigation of the mechanical characteristics of hollow reinforced concrete columns under impact loading
Authors: Fei Honglu , Duan Guangyan , Zhang Zhiqiang , Liu Shuwang , Guo Jiwei
Published: January 2025

In order to explore the mechanical characteristics of hollow reinforced concrete (RC) columns under impact loading, seven hollow RC column specimens were prepared to perform drop hammer impact tests. Impact force–time, mid‐span displacement–time, and steel bar strain–time curves were recorded, and their crack morphologies were observed. Axial compression tests were performed by a 5000 kN testing machine, and the failure modes and axial force–displacement curves of the specimens were drawn. Finite element model of hollow RC columns under impact loading was developed according to drop hammer test results. The obtained results showed that hollow RC member crack patterns under different impact velocities were mainly consisted of inclined cracks and a combination of inclined and vertical cracks. At constant impact velocity, an increase in concrete strength improved the impact resistance of the specimen while decreasing ductility. Replacing the inner steel cage with the same amount of steel tube increased ductility, but decreased residual load capacity. Finite element simulation results presented good agreement with impact test results.
Leishmaniasis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A National Multicenter Study of GETECCU
Authors: Madero‐Velázquez L , Mínguez A , Mayorga L , Ramírez JJ , Moreno N , Amorós C , Nieto MA , Mena R , Benítez JM , Gimeno‐Pitarch L , Maroto N , Suria C , Rodríguez‐Moranta F , Ordás I , Ruiz L , García‐Brenes MA , Martín‐Cardona A , de Célix C Rubín , Cárdenas K , Ginard D , Medina L , Pedrero N , Plaza R , Salmoral R , Martínez‐Pérez TJ , Algara V , Merino E , Zabana Y , Gutiérrez A ,   Young Group of GETECCU
Published: January 2025

Background

Leishmaniasis (LI) is a vector‐borne illness caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania. Data on the features of LI in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scarce.

Aim

To describe the characteristics of patients with IBD who present with leishmaniasis, infection outcomes and the risk factors associated with developing visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

Methods

An observational retrospective study performed in 26 hospitals in Spain, including all adult patients with IBD who developed Leishmaniasis from 2012 to 2022.

Results

A total of 73 patients were included [mean age 48 years; 65% male; 68% Crohn's disease]. Sixty patients (82.2%) presented localized cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), 2 (2.7%) diffuse CL, 3 (4.1%) mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (MCL) and 8 (11%) VL. All patients were under biologicals (69 [94.5%]) or immunosuppressants (IMM) (4 [5.5%]) at Leishmaniasis diagnosis. AntiTNF was used in 97%, while 2 patients (3%) were receiving ustekinumab. Leishmaniasis resolution was achieved by 48% and 96% of the patients after 1 and 12 months, respectively. Biological withdrawal after Leishmaniasis diagnosis was not statistically related to increased rates of infection resolution among patients with localized CL. Age was the only risk factor associated with VL (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.04–1.39; p = 0.012).

Conclusions

Leishmaniasis in patients with IBD doesn't seem to follow a complicated clinical course, even in those with localized CL who do not discontinue biological therapy after infection diagnosis. Age might be a risk factor for developing VL. This infection should be considered for immunosuppressed patients with IBD and suggestive symptoms dwelling or travelling to endemic areas.
Hotelling tubes, confidence bands and conformal inference
Authors: Koenker Roger
Published: January 2025

Stochastic frontier models and methods as pioneered by Peter Schmidt in Aigner et al. (J Econom 6:21–37, 1977), Horrace and Schmidt (J Product Anal 7:257–282, 1996), Amsler et al. (J Econom 190:280–288, 2016) constitute a rare departure from the usual econometric obsession with models for conditional means. They also provided an early stimulus for the development of quantile regression methods. After a brief tutorial on Hotelling tube methods for constructing confidence bands for nonparametric quantile regression, strengthened performance guarantees for such bands are described based on recent developments in conformal inference. These methods may be considered to be a rather idiosyncratic new approach to nonparametric inference for stochastic frontier models.
Simultaneity in binary outcome models with an application to employment for couples
Authors: Honoré Bo E. , Hu Luojia , Kyriazidou Ekaterini , Weidner Martin
Published: January 2025

Two of Peter Schmidt’s many contributions to econometrics have been to introduce a simultaneous logit model for bivariate binary outcomes and to study estimation of dynamic linear fixed effects panel data models using short panels. In this paper, we study a dynamic panel data version of the bivariate model introduced in Schmidt and Strauss (Econometrica 43:745–755, 1975) that allows for lagged dependent variables and fixed effects as in Ahn and Schmidt (J Econom 68:5–27, 1995). We combine a conditional likelihood approach with a method of moments approach to obtain an estimation strategy for the resulting model. We apply this estimation strategy to a simple model for the intra-household relationship in employment. Our main conclusion is that the within-household dependence in employment differs significantly by the ethnicity composition of the couple even after one allows for unobserved household specific heterogeneity.
Composite Facade with Timber and Concrete Connected by Bonding
Authors: Assal Roufaida , Michel Laurent , Ferrier Emanuel
Published: January 2025

The harmonious integration of wood and concrete in facade elements represents a breakthrough in construction, offering a synergistic combination of their respective properties. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the field of building emphasizes the need for developing structures including more wood. The facade elements including wood as a structural component will also reduce the thermal insulation of the walls.

The bonding between the two materials not only guarantees resistance to environmental and mechanical stresses but also minimizes the risk of premature deterioration, even though it can accede a lot of advantages, this method needs to be studied, particularly in the case of wood–concrete facades. Analysis of the mechanical response to thermal load becomes an essential aspect in the design of glued wood–concrete facades. When a facade is subjected to thermal loading with a difference between internal and external walls, the materials of which it is composed, such as wood and concrete, may react in different ways due to their different coefficients of thermal expansion, these materials can expand or contract at distinct rates in response to a temperature change. This dimensional variation can lead to stress concentration at the interface, which can affect bond quality. This research presents in detail the experimental results of wood–concrete façade panels and aims to understand the thermal responses and expansions induced by a thermal gradient applied to façade panels. It also involved targeted heating of the concrete and cooling of the wood to create a controlled thermal gradient. The results were analyzed in terms of temperature variations observed on the facade surface, as well as thermal expansion measurements taken on both the wood and concrete sections. These observations revealed distinct behaviors between the two materials in response to thermal variations, underlining the importance of judicious design to ensure the stability and durability of composite façade panels.
Resource-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Design of Concrete Structures Through Advanced Structural Safety Concepts
Authors: Hingorani Ramon , Köhler Jochen
Published: January 2025

As the bones and muscles of our built environment, engineering structures support all kind of societal activities. However, they consume huge amounts of resources and significantly contribute to impact on our environment. Structural design codes play an important matter in this regard since they regulate the use of materials by use of prescribed decision rules. These relatively simple and generalized rules offer significant potential for improvement. Grounded on risk-based optimization approaches, this paper explores this potential in connection with the design of reinforced concrete floor systems. Assuming a large variety of realistic design situations, representative sets of such members are defined and designed according to the semi-probabilistic safety concept in the Eurocodes. The benefits of a risk-informed structural design compared to the use of these standardized decision rules are demonstrated in terms of material consumption and CO2 emissions.
Dynamic Behavior of Imperfect FGM Beams with Various Porosity Distribution Rates: Analysis and Modeling
Authors: Hadji Lazreg , Plevris Vagelis , Madan Royal
Published: January 2025

This study delves into the ramifications of manufacturing-induced defects, particularly porosities, on the dynamic behavior of functionally graded material (FGM) beams. These defects possess considerable potential to alter the structural integrity and performance of such elements. The principal objective of this investigation is to examine the free vibration properties of FGM beams incorporating porosities. A power-law formulation is employed to delineate the distribution of Young’s modulus across the beam thickness, while Poisson’s ratio is held constant. Diverse configurations of porosity distribution are thoroughly explored, and the fidelity of the proposed model is rigorously evaluated through comparative assessments. Additionally, this research endeavors to elucidate the effects of variations in porosity distribution rate, power-law index, and thickness ratio on the fundamental frequency of the beams.
Design Optimization to Minimize Material Usage in Steel Buildings Subjected to Lateral Loads
Authors: Dokhaei Bahareh , Saini Dikshant , Shafei Behrouz , Alipour Alice
Published: January 2025

This chapter presents a comprehensive approach to optimizing steel usage for reducing the environmental impact of building structures, aligned with sustainable development goals. The study focuses on developing the structural design of members with optimization methods to reduce steel usage, leading to lightweight structural systems while minimizing carbon footprints in the built environment. This study identifies optimum cross-sectional dimensions of structural sections to withstand lateral wind loads. For that purpose, a nonlinear programming solver is used. This solver is robust in finding the minimum of a constrained nonlinear multivariate function. The volume of the structural steel is taken as the objective function to ensure sustainability, while two constraints of demand to capacity indices of structural members as a strength condition and inter-story drift ratio as a serviceability constraint are taken to meet performance criteria, such as safety and cost-effectiveness designing process. The results show that this optimized design tool can effectively reduce the weight of structural steel usage, paving the way to achieve both sustainable and resilient buildings.
Emission-Based Relocation Strategies for Mobile Prefabrication Factories
Authors: Ma Jianxiang , Revolti Andrea , Benedetti Lorenzo , Escamilla Edwin Zea , Habert Guillaume
Published: January 2025

Complex linear infrastructure projects have a unique characteristic that the construction site moves as the project progresses, necessitating that off-site manufacturing should be mobile. A mobile prefabrication factory is a promising distributed production facility that meets such requirements and offers benefits such as carbon emissions reduction by shortening the distance between the construction site and the off-site prefabrication facility. However, factory relocations introduce significant variability in the distances for transporting materials to the factory and delivering the completed prefabricated elements from the factory to the construction site. This paper presents an integer linear programming model to identify a feasible relocation strategy that reduces the overall transportation carbon emissions. A case study of hyperloop construction, an ultra-high-speed vacuum ground transportation infrastructure, is conducted as a demonstration. The results show that using mobile prefabrication factories to supply linear infrastructure projects can significantly reduce the overall transportation carbon emissions by around 50% compared to the fixed factory scenario. The primary factor to optimize this problem is the total transportation distance of the prefabricated elements. Relocating the mobile factory four to six times aligns with achieving efficient performance in terms of reducing carbon emissions. This analysis offers insights into developing feasible factory relocation strategies for decision-makers in complex linear infrastructure projects.
Prefabricated Vertical Drain-Supported Railway Embankment on Thick Marshy Deposit: A Case Study of Udaipur Railway Station Project, Tripura, India
Authors: Ghose Samrat , Dey Arindam
Published: January 2025

In many parts of northeast India, in order to achieve a sustainable infrastructure based on minimal distance and gradient criteria, railway tracks often have to pass through a marshy deposit with significantly poor bearing capacity. Consequently, the laid tracks undergo significant long-term settlements due to creep-induced dissipation of excess pore pressure from the underlying low-permeable soft cohesive deposits, thereby necessitating ground improvement. Among several techniques, a sustainable one has to be decided to ensure long-term unhindered functionality of the adopted methodology. In lieu to this understanding, a case study of the Udaipur railway embankment in Tripura, India, is presented. The embankment, raised over a thick bed of soft soil, suffered extraordinary settlement. Consequently, prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) were used as a method of ground improvement. In this regard, a plane strain finite element (FE) analysis is carried out for predicting the consolidation settlement due to the staged loading of the embankment and the evolution of excess pore pressure dissipation from the layered substratum improved with PVDs. Mohr–Coulomb (MC) constitutive model is used for representing the embankment and cohesionless layers, while the soft cohesive soils are represented using Soft Soil model. The PVDs are simulated as ideal drains by employing 1D “drain” elements. In contrary to the conventional approach of considering layered horizontal substratum, the importance of considering the realistic undulated substratum is highlighted. It is exhibited that design based on the conventional approach might be insufficient in draining out the pore water in case a basin is formed in an undulating low-permeable layer beneath the designed length of the PVD, thereby elucidating the sustainability in the considered approach.
Leadership and Orchestration of PED Projects: An Organizational Perspective
Authors: Pezzotta Micol , Müller Anders Riel
Published: January 2025

Innovative ways of implementing renewable and distributed energy systems in the urban environment are necessary to reach climate goals. The realization of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) builds upon the willing participation of multiple stakeholders from both the private and public sectors. Stakeholders contribute to PED initiatives with resources, competencies, and time and can take on various and changing roles; however, they usually have different powers, goals, and interests. Thus, the efforts of actors belonging to different organizations need to be coordinated to reach tangible results within a given timeframe. This article argues that the co-creation processes across multiple stakeholders in PED projects require better knowledge of leadership roles and functions in PED projects. We seek to identify the extent to which leadership in PED projects has been addressed in the existing literature on PEDs via searches with Google Scholar and Scopus. It is found that, although collective governance is regarded as a major challenge, there is a lack of research on how the processes and people in PED development projects are coordinated, including how information is exchanged, responsibilities are distributed, and decisions are taken. To further our knowledge of leadership roles in PED projects, we suggest drawing lessons from strategic management literature and theories and a preliminary framework for studying leadership roles and co-creation processes in PEDs is proposed for future research.
CO2 Capturing of Aggregates Extracted from Alkali-Activated GGBS Concrete
Authors: Tavasoli Syamak , Breit Wolfgang
Published: January 2025

CO2-emissions as the main reason for global warming turn out to be a challenging issue in the twenty-first century. Reduction of CO2-emission in the cement and concrete industry by using low-carbon alternative binders on the one hand and carbon-capturing technique on the other hand is an innovative solution for this purpose. Using carbon-capturing techniques for recycled aggregates also leads to superior mechanical, as well as durability properties. The objective of this research is to assess the carbonation possibility of the aggregates extracted from alkali-activated concrete and its consequences on the concrete made with them. In this study, recycled aggregates extracted from alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) concrete produced with natural and recycled aggregates were carbonated. The CO2-absorption rate and its influence on the properties of aggregates were investigated. Recycled aggregates showed up to 4 wt.% CO2-capturing potential, which can result in up to 40% lower water absorption. Moreover, the effect of carbonated aggregates on the mechanical behavior of concrete made with them was investigated which showed an improvement of mechanical properties.
Strengthening Brick Masonry Structures with Natural Fiber Elements for Enhancing Earthquake Resistance
Authors: Kushwaha Manisha , Saini Kusum , Matsagar Vasant
Published: January 2025

Burned clay brick masonry is a commonly used building unit for structures. Improving the earthquake resistance of such structures is vital due to the increase in the occurrence of seismic events globally, affecting larger populations and aging/deterioration of the masonry. Generally, conventional synthetic material-based strengthening techniques are widely used for structures, which is carbon-intensive and not climate-friendly. Therefore, to strengthen brick masonry structures seismically, various techniques for enhancing earthquake resistance using locally available natural fibers are investigated and presented in this study. The use of locally available natural fibers helps in reducing emissions and carbon footprint overall, apart from providing good thermal insulation. In this study, a finite element model of a two-story brick masonry building strengthened with natural fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites subjected to earthquake ground motions is developed. Linear dynamic analysis of the buildings without and with strengthening is performed under uniaxial earthquake ground motion. The dynamic response of the buildings, i.e., peak shear force, acceleration time histories, stress distribution, crack propagation patterns, and overall earthquake resistance of the buildings is compared. An enhancement in the dynamic performance of the building is reported on the adoption of strengthening measures using a variety of natural fiber elements. The flax FRP composite is observed to be the most effective in strengthening the masonry structure under static and seismic load scenarios. The study contributes to proposing sustainable practices in seismic risk mitigation for existing as well as new structures.
Influence of Spatial Coarsening of Pore Space in Porous Asphalt on Simulated Infiltration for Enhanced Stormwater Management
Authors: Allen Rebecca
Published: January 2025

Porous asphalt is a road material that allows rainwater to infiltrate through the top layer of a road in an effort to handle stormwater on the spot rather than through drainage piping and infrastructure. Good design of porous asphalt requires understanding the relationship between porosity, permeability, as well as durability. In this work, the pore space is modelled via imaging and digital construction of the total and connected pore space. Then, the infiltration behaviour through the pore space is simulated via lattice Boltzmann modelling, which allows for the calculation of saturated-permeability values. Spatial coarsening tests are performed to assess its impact on permeability results. It is in understanding the top-to-bottom connected pores that the permeability of the asphalt can be better assessed, leading to improved design of porous asphalt.
Corrosion Risk Assessment of Bridges in Oslo, Norway, Based on Visual Inspection
Authors: Shabani Amirhosein , Amin Wahid , Kirschhausen Sven
Published: January 2025

Corrosion can have several detrimental effects on bridges, impacting both the structural integrity and long-term durability of the infrastructure. The risk of corrosion for structures like bridges can vary depending on several factors, and different elements of a bridge may be exposed to different levels of risk. In addition to humidity and rainfall, which elevate the risk of corrosion, another contributing factor is road salt, commonly employed for de-icing roads in cold-climate regions during winter. Proper corrosion protection measures, including coatings, cathodic protection, and material selection, can help extend the service life of bridge structures and ensure their safety and durability over time. A risk assessment was performed to evaluate the risk of corrosion of different components of bridges in Oslo, Norway, based on visual inspection data registered in the Brutus online system. The Brutus system, specifically developed for bridge maintenance in Norway, has recorded various information about the bridges. This information encompasses various details, including geometry, construction year, location, material type, and bridge type. In this study, bridges under the maintenance responsibility of the Oslo municipality were classified according to their material type and construction year. Afterward, the level of corrosion damage to each component and its possible consequences were evaluated. The study pinpointed components of bridges exhibiting corrosion damage and categorized the Oslo region according to the corrosion risk index. Finally, preventive measures were suggested to decrease the corrosion risk of bridges.
Multicriteria Performance Index Analysis of Geopolymeric and Cementitious Screed Flooring Materials
Authors: Hwalla Joud , El-Hassan Hilal , Assaad Joseph , El-Maaddawy Tamer
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a comprehensive multicriteria performance index analysis to find the most suitable screed composite to be used in flooring applications. The mechanical and durability properties and the economic and environmental impact of various screed mixes were considered. The screed composites were prepared by varying the mix design parameters, including the binder (cementitious and geopolymeric), fine aggregates (crushed sand or dune sand), solution-to-binder ratio, and binder-to-aggregate ratio. Compared to cementitious mixes, geopolymer screeds demonstrated higher production costs but remained competitive in terms of cost per unit strength and durability–cost relationship. Geopolymer screeds also exhibited lower global warming potential values, highlighting their environmental advantage over cementitious counterparts. Upon synergic consideration of the examined response criteria, the multicriteria performance index analysis showed that geopolymer screeds produced with crushed sand demonstrated superior performance among the different screed mixes for category A types of screeds. At the same time, cement-based mix produced with crushed limestone performed the best as a category B type of screed. However, the geopolymer screed produced with a binder-to-crushed sand ratio of 1:7 was superior to all category B screed mixes when cost and environmental impact were considered solely.
Performance Evaluation of Recycled Concrete Aggregates as Drainage Material in Combination with Geosynthetics for Landfill Cover Systems
Authors: Syed Sayeeda , Mishra Anumita
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the integration of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in landfill cover systems as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregates. The research primarily examines the interaction of RCA with geomembranes by determining the interface friction angle between RCA drainage layers and geomembranes through large-scale direct shear testing. A Finite Element Method (FEM) model of a municipal solid waste landfill in Este, Italy, was developed and validated against the analytical two-wedge theory for veneer shear failure in layered systems. The results demonstrate that RCA outperforms traditional aggregates as a drainage layer material. It also highlights the limitations of commercial FEM software in identifying weak interfaces in landfill cover systems.
Optimizing the Embodied Carbon of Concrete, Timber, and Steel Piles with a Case Study
Authors: Abushama Kareem , Hawkins Will , Pelecanos Loizos , Ibell Tim
Published: January 2025

The construction industry is responsible for a considerable share of the carbon emissions annually. Despite the wide body of literature addressing the embodied carbon of superstructures, limited attention is given to the embodied carbon of substructures. This research introduces an optimization algorithm to minimize the embodied carbon of deep foundations. The algorithm is used to optimize and then compare the embodied carbon of concrete, timber, and steel piles at different pile capacities. Results show that for clay soils and low pile capacities, timber piles are the least emitting compared to other materials, while steel piles are the highest emitting. The algorithm is then applied to a case study in London clay and demonstrated embodied carbon savings of up to 76% compared to current pile designs showing a high potential to reduce the embodied carbon and achieve the net-zero future goal in the construction industry.