bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The battle of the sexes in humans is highly polygenic
Authors: Cole Jared M. , Scott Carly B. , Johnson Mackenzie M. , Golightly Peter R. , Carlson Jedidiah , Ming Matthew J. , Harpak Arbel , Kirkpatrick Mark
Published: September 2024

Sex-differential selection (SDS), which occurs when the fitness effects of alleles differ between males and females, can have profound impacts on the maintenance of genetic variation, disease risk, and other key aspects of natural populations. Because the sexes mix their autosomal genomes each generation, quantifying SDS is not possible using conventional population genetic approaches. Here, we introduce a method that exploits subtle sex differences in haplotype frequencies resulting from SDS acting in the current generation. Using data from 300K individuals in the UK Biobank, we estimate the strength of SDS throughout the genome. While only a handful of loci under SDS are individually significant, we uncover highly polygenic signals of genome-wide SDS for both viability and fecundity. Selection coefficients of

s
=

10

-
3

may be typical. Despite its ubiquity, SDS may impose a mortality load of less than 1%. An interesting life-history tradeoff emerges: Alleles that increase viability more strongly in females than males tend to increase fecundity more strongly in males than in females. Finally, we find marginal evidence of SDS on fecundity acting on alleles affecting arm fat-free mass. Taken together, our findings connect the long-standing evidence of SDS acting on human phenotypes with its impact on the genome.
未來不等於非現實語氣
Authors: Chen Sihwei
Published: September 2024

抽象的

台灣南島語言在構詞上沒有顯性的時制範式，但有不同形式的未來標記，在時間系統上呈現非未來和未來二分。過去文獻因為這些未來標記具有情態性，認為非未來/未來的區分可由真實/非真實事態的區分來推導，主張它們代表非現實語氣且台灣南島語言是所謂的非現實語氣顯著語言。本文根據泰雅語的第一手語料、以及詳細檢視鄒語和邵語的材料，證明這些語言的未來標記是帶有未來性的情態詞，不適宜分析為非現實語氣這個語法範疇。迥異於跨語言非現實語氣的表現，這些未來標記在各種非真實環境不是不能出現就是侷限於未來性，它們也不能出現或不必然使用在反事實條件句的結論句。跨南島語來看，台灣南島語言與具有現實/非現實語氣範式的大洋洲語言在焦點和語氣的有無上形成顯著對比。在理論分析的意義上，真實性是結合時間與情態的廣義語法範疇，但在這三個台灣南島語言，未來標記的功能僅為非現實語氣的下位詞。釐清未來標記不等於非現實語氣後，未來更多的研究可關注其他可能表達非真實事態的標記及時制的有無。
Corpus-based contrastive studies and AI-generated translations
Authors: Ebeling Signe Oksefjell
Published: September 2024

This article addresses the issue of using AI-generated translations to perform contrastive analysis. The aim is to
establish whether bidirectional translation corpora (and by extension human translators) have become superfluous, given the
success of AI-generated translations. To investigate this, results from a previous study of English bring and Norwegian
bringe based on bidirectional data are compared with results from a study based on AI-generated data. The
AI-generated translations show a markedly higher Mutual Correspondence between the verbs than the human translations. This
AI-translation effect may give an inaccurate picture of how equivalent the verbs really are. In cases where AI and human
translations deviate, the latter are characterised by semantically more specific verbs. The study highlights some features only
available in bidirectional corpora, including the possibility of taking individual variation into account. The findings suggest
that bidirectional corpora (and human translators) still have a role to play in contrastive studies.
Nuevos datos sobre la pronunciación de /tʃ/ en Granada
Authors: Fernández de Molina Ortés Elena
Published: September 2024

Abstracta

El análisis de la pronunciación de los segmentos consonánticos en ataque silábico como la neutralización /θs/ o la
conservación de /x/ en Granada han permitido comprobar la convergencia lingüística de esta variedad hacia el español común. Sin
embargo, desde los años noventa no se ha realizado una nueva investigación para comprobar la situación de la pronunciación de
/tʃ/, que tradicionalmente, en Granada, se pronunciaba como fricativa [ʃ]. En esta investigación, a partir del análisis del corpus
PASOS-GR, recopilado entre los años 2007 y 2009, se ha analizado la posible variación de la /tʃ/ según variables lingüísticas y
extralingüísticas y los resultados se han comparado con trabajos anteriores (Moya Corral y G.
Wiedemann 1995). Se han utilizado, también, otros factores como el barrio de residencia de los informantes, así como el
análisis individual. En los resultados se han advertido conclusiones relevantes: la variante [ʃ] aún pervive en Granada, con
resultados similares a estudios anteriores. Además, los factores sociales son fundamentales para advertir la variación de la
/tʃ/.
Feedback control of the heat shock response by spatiotemporal regulation of Hsp70
Authors: Garde Rania , Dea Annisa , Herwig Madeline F. , Ali Asif , Pincus David
Published: September 2024

Cells maintain homeostasis via dynamic regulation of stress response pathways. Stress pathways transiently induce response regulons via negative feedback loops, but the extent to which individual genes provide feedback has not been comprehensively measured for any pathway. Here, we disrupted the induction of each gene in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae heat shock response (HSR) and quantified cell growth and HSR dynamics following heat shock. The screen revealed a core feedback loop governing the expression of the chaperone Hsp70 reinforced by an auxiliary feedback loop controlling Hsp70 subcellular localization. Mathematical modeling and live imaging demonstrated that multiple HSR targets converge to promote Hsp70 nuclear localization via its release from cytosolic condensates. Following ethanol stress, a distinct set of factors similarly converged on Hsp70, suggesting that nonredundant subsets of the HSR regulon confer feedback under different conditions. Flexible spatiotemporal feedback loops may broadly organize stress response regulons and expand their adaptive capacity.
Complete Universal Scaling in First-Order Phase Transitions
Authors: Zhong 钟 Fan 凡
Published: September 2024

Phase transitions and critical phenomena are among the most intriguing phenomena in nature and society. They are classified into first-order phase transitions (FOPTs) and continuous ones. While the latter shows marvelous phenomena of scaling and universality, whether the former behaves similarly is a long-standing controversial issue. Here we definitely demonstrate complete universal scaling in field driven FOPTs for Langevin equations in both zero and two spatial dimensions by rescaling all parameters and subtracting nonuniversal contributions with singular dimensions from an effective temperature and a special field according to an effective theory. This offers a perspective different from the usual nucleation and growth but conforming to continuous phase transitions to study FOPTs.
Highly efficient removal of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions by APTES/ATP
Authors: Chen Kai , Lv Xinyi , Zhang Yishuo , Xin Yan , Zhou Zhongkui , Chen Ying
Published: September 2024

Uranium-containing wastewater poses a significant threat to both the ecological environment and human health. Adsorption is a crucial method for purifying uranium wastewater. Using 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to modify attapulgite (ATP), we successfully prepared a cost-effective and high-performance adsorbent material, APTES-modified attapulgite (APTES/ATP). This material was utilized for the purification of uranium-containing wastewater. Characterization techniques were employed to study the structure and surface properties of the material. The adsorption performance of the material was investigated using single-factor experiments. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics were also studied and discussed. The results indicated that APTES/ATP exhibited an adsorption capacity of 382.13 mg·g−1 for uranium at room temperature. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption model and pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating that the adsorption of uranium by the material was a monolayer chemisorption. Adsorption thermodynamics revealed that the process was endothermic and spontaneous. The adsorption mechanism primarily involved electrostatic attraction and interactions between −NH2, Si-O, and −OH groups with uranium. In summary, the prepared APTES/ATP demonstrated excellent adsorption capacity for uranium and shows promise for the purification of uranium-containing wastewater.
Tunable optical properties of BAs/ZnO vdW heterostructure
Authors: Wang Fangyan , Yu Heng , Wei Dong , Ma Yaqiang , Li Yi , Tang Yanan , Dai Xianqi
Published: September 2024

Stacked heterostructures is an effective strategy for physical property modulation and application of novel two-dimensional materials. In this study, a heterostructure consisting of two-dimensional III-V group hexagonal BAs and monolayer of ZnO is presented. The minimum value of binding and cohesive energies screened the BB’ configuration. Phonon spectra and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations further demonstrated the kinetic and thermodynamic stability of the selected model. Most notably, the formation of the heterostructure greatly improves the optical absorption performance of the monolayer, especially in the infrared (IR) regions. At a compressive strain of −6%, the band alignment shifts from type I to type II, while the bandgap becomes dramatically smaller. Refraction and reflection coefficients in the IR region under compressive strain (−2% and −4%) modulation were enhanced significantly. Our results provide theoretical guidance for the design of high-performance photovoltaic devices and solar cells based on BAs/ZnO heterostructures.
Biological activity of MgO nanoparticle synthesis by plasma-assisted reduction method
Authors: Ahmed Rasha S , Mohammed Raghad S , Abdul Majeed Aseel Mustafa , Sudhakaran Allwin
Published: September 2024

In the current report, MgO nanoparticles are synthesized by the plasma-assisted reduction method. This method is eco-friendly due to its safety, not use of toxic reducing agents, low cost, and rapid synthesis. Several techniques were employed to determine the crystalline size, particle size, morphology, elemental analysis, and optical properties of the MgO NPs. MgO nanoparticles had a semi-spherical particle structure with diameters ranging from 30.40 to 39.57 nm. The average crystalline size was measured to be 23.7 nm. An analysis using a UV–vis spectrophotometer reveals that the absorbance of MgO nanoparticles results in a significant peak at 354 nm, indicating an energy band gap of 3.2 eV. Subsequent detailed analysis was performed utilizing Rietveld refinement to accurately determine the crystallographic parameters. Additionally, electron density mapping was scrutinized to provide further insights into the atomic arrangement. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of MgO NPs was assessed against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli (gram-negative), and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) bacteria at a dose concentration of 10 mg l−1. The antibacterial activity (zone of inhibition) and inhibition biofilm rate of MgO NPs against S aureus were more effective than those of K peneumoniae and E. coli. Consequently, this investigation demonstrates that the MgO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial properties and exhibited significant potential for the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria.
Unveiling novel drug delivery mechanism: Cisplatin’s bonding behaviour with BC4N Nanostructure
Authors: Lakshmy Seetha , Mondal Brinti , Trivedi Ravi , Kalarikkal Nandakumar , Garg Nandini , Chakraborty Brahmananda
Published: September 2024

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have opened avenues to address the selectivity challenges in targeted drug delivery systems, minimizing adverse effects. While carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained traction as drug carriers, their B, N-containing counterpart, pristine boron carbonite (p-BC4N), remains underexplored. This study investigates the possibility of pristine boron carbonite (p-BC4N) nanotubes as a drug carrier for the anticancer medication cisplatin (CPT). Using first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations, we examined the interaction between CPT and p-BC4N nanotubes, revealing favourable adsorption energies (−0.523 eV) due to orbital interactions and charge transfer between the C 2p orbitals of BC4N and the 1 s orbitals in H of CPT. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations confirmed the stability of the system at room temperature. Furthermore, pH and temperature-dependent desorption measurements demonstrated the effectiveness of p-BC4N nanotubes as a promising candidate for CPT drug delivery, highlighting their potential in targeted cancer therapy. This work opens up new avenues for the development of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems.
The data-driven solutions and inverse problems of some nonlinear diffusion convection-reaction equations based on Physics-Informed Neural Network
Authors: He Ao , Shi Jianping , Chen Jiajun , Fang Hui
Published: September 2024

The Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) has achieved remarkable results in solving partial differential equations (PDEs). This paper aims to solve the forward and inverse problems of some specific nonlinear diffusion convection-reaction equations, thereby validating the practical efficacy and accuracy of data-driven approaches in tackling such equations. In the forward problems, four different solutions of the studied equations are reproduced effectively and the approximation errors can be reduced to 10−5. Experiments indicate that the PINNs method based on adaptive activation functions (PINN-AAF), outperforms the standard PINNs in dealing with inverse problems. The unknown parameters are estimated effectively and the approximation errors can lower to 10−4. Additionally, training rules for both PINN and PINN-AAF are summarized. The results of this study validate the exceptional performance of the data-driven approach in solving the complex nonlinear diffusion convection-reaction equation problems, and provide an effective mechanism for dealing with analogous, intricate nonlinear problems.
Most general isotropic charged fluid solution for Buchdahl model in ℱ(𝒬) gravity
Authors: Chaudhary Sourav , Maurya Sunil Kumar , Kumar Jitendra , Mustafa Ghulam
Published: September 2024

In this work, we investigated a most general isotropic charged fluid solution for the Buchdahl model via a two-step method in ℱ(𝒬)-gravity framework for the first time. In this context, a linear function of the form ℱ(𝒬) = ζ
1
𝒬 + ζ
2 and a particular transformation is used to solve the Einstein-Maxwell Equations (EMEs) employing the Buchdahl ansatz: e
Υ(r) = μ(1+λ r
2)/μ+λ r
2, where ζ
1, ζ
2, λ and μ are constant parameters. The Schwarzschild de Sitter (AdS) exterior solution is joined to the interior solution at the boundary to determine the constant parameters. It should be emphasized that, for a given transformation, the Buchdahl ansatz only offers a mathematically feasible solution in the context of electric charge, where pressure and density are maximum at the center and decrease monotonically towards the boundary when 0 < μ < 1. We taken into account the compact star EX01785-248 with M = (1.3±0.2)M
⊙; Radius = 12.02+0.55
-0.55 km for graphical analysis.
The physical acceptability of the model in the context of ℱ(𝒬) gravity has been evaluated by looking at the necessary physical properties, including energy conditions, causality condition, hydrostatic equilibrium, pressure-density ratio, etc. Additionally, we predicted the maximum mass limit of different compact objects for various parameter values along with the mass-radius relation. The maximum masses range (1.927 - 2.321) M
⊙ are obtained for our solution. It can be observed that when the coupling parameter ζ
1 for ℱ(𝒬 gravity is smaller, then our solution yields massive stars. The present investigation provides novel insights and realistic implications regarding the formation of compact astrophysical objects.
Spherical-like spectra for the description of the normal states of 108-120Cd in the SU3-IBM and the
anomaly*
Authors: Wang 王 Tao 涛 , Chen 陈 Xin 鑫 , Zhang 张 Yu 宇
Published: September 2024

The Cd puzzle implies that the phonon excitation of a spherical nucleus should be questioned and refuted. To understand the newly and experimentally discovered spherical-like γ-soft mode, the SU3-IBM was recently proposed. In this study, the evolutions of the normal states in

Cd are investigated and compared with the experimental results. To better explain the nearly zero B(E2) values between the

and

states, SU(3) higher-order interactions except for the SU(3) second-order and third-order Casimir operators are also considered in detail. We find that the results of theoretical fitting and experimental data agree well with simple parameter selection, and the spherical-like spectra truly exist. The deficiency may arise from the lack of configuration mixing. The realistic spectra characteristics of the spherical-like spectra are found for

Cd, and the electric quadrupole moments of the

state are predicted. The

anomaly in

Cd is also discussed.
High Speed Tracking of the Helicopter Ditching
Authors: Faiella Edoardo , Grizzi Silvano , Passacantilli Fabio , Santic Ivan , Sellini Massimiliano
Published: September 2024

This paper presents the tracking method and results of the model tests of helicopter ditching, aimed at the study and certification of a helicopter for marine missions. The experiment, realized by Institute of Marine Engineering (CNR-INM), requires the design of a specific set-up to guarantee free ditching according to specific parameters and assuring the repeatability, required accuracy of the measurements and scalability of the results. Such kind of experiment is not a standard task of a hydrodynamic model testing institution, so it brings an innovation in the testing methodology. Tests were performed both in calm water both in regular wave conditions, main aim of the set-up is to synchronize the model free-fall with wave phase to ensure the correct water entry in specific wave positions. The paper presents the details of the test stand and the model itself, design of the experiment, as well as an overview of the results. The following figures shows some preliminary results of a wave-ditching parameters obtained with high-speed image tracking technique.
Non-invasive inspection methods for the defect analysis of filament wound composite cylinders and the process optimization
Authors: Chiominto Luciano , D’Emilia Giulio , Natale Emanuela , Stamopoulos Antonios
Published: September 2024

Filament winding is a manufacturing process used to produce cylindrical shapes pieces like pipes or pressure vessels for pressurized fluids, where high strength and stiffness are required. However, the manufacturing process often make the products susceptible to many defects, such as delaminations, voids, cracks, or fibre misalignments. The identification of these defects by non-destructive inspection methods is essential, also in the preliminary process optimization phase. This paper assesses some metrological characteristics of an ultrasonic inspection technique applied to composite filament wound cylinders. In particular, the ultrasonic technology is used to measure the thickness and determine the presence and the depth of gaps between layers, before and after a compression test. Interesting aspects about the uniformity of the fabrication are also looked at, useful for the production process optimization.
Characterisation of hydrophobic surfaces by droplet impact
Authors: Amoresano Amedeo , Roscioli Silvia
Published: September 2024

The paint industry constitutes a fundamental part of the entire industrial landscape. The primary role of paint is to preserve and protect a product from external sources such as weathering, vegetation, and rust. The maritime sector is particularly sensitive to this issue, as fouling on the hull can lead to a 40% increase in resistance, resulting in higher fuel consumption and the potential transportation of invasive species from one ecosystem to another. Paints used for ships have the characteristic of releasing biocides, primarily represented by copper and zinc, inhibiting life forms from adhering to the hull but at the same time causing a gradual “poisoning” of the ecosystem. For these reasons, new types of paints that exploit the principle of anti-adhesion rather than the release of biocides are being studied. This paper presents and characterizes epoxy-based surfaces with EPO-TQ, HDTMS, and PFOTES through experimental tests. Laboratory tests have highlighted the hydrophobicity level of each surface by evaluating the recovery time of a droplet impacting it and the final wetting angle. It has been demonstrated that among the three, the PFTOS surface exhibits the best performance and has the potential to be used as a surface/paint for naval vessels.
Flow field and acoustic assessment of twin rotors in hover conditions
Authors: De Gregorio F , Candeloro P , Ceglia G , Pagliaroli T
Published: September 2024

The paper presents part of the experimental activities in the GARTEUR Action Group RC/AG-26 framework to study the acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of small rotors, including the influence of the rotor-rotor interactions. Two rotors with three-bladed propellers with a diameter D=393.7 mm were tested at a constant rotational speed of 5200 RPM, for different rotating verses and geometry configurations. Two rotor configurations were assessed in hover, i.e., either a baseline comprised of one isolated rotor, or two rotors arranged side-by-side. The aerodynamic loads, flow field velocity and acoustics emissions, were investigated using a six-component load cell, Particle Image Velocimetry and microphone array measurements, respectively. The aerodynamic characterisation of the isolated rotor was performed for a variety of rotating speeds. The interference between the slipstreams due to the side-by-side rotors was studied for co-rotating and counter-rotating verses at distances between the rotor axes of d=1.02D, d=1.1D, and 1.2D. The results showed that the slipstreams of the side-by-side rotors deflect and vary with the inter-axial distance. The rotor-rotor interaction, which is found to be related to the rotor distance, affects also the acoustic emissions. A remarkable loss of thrust is observed for the closest distance d=1.02D. Regarding acoustic emissions, the overall sound pressure level increases as the rotors run in counter-rotating verses compared to the co-rotating.
A review of source-sink association for enhancing yield of fruit vegetables
Authors: Tsan F Y , Reeza A A , Daud M F , Jaafar M Z , Nik Adli N M , Nur A’zam N N
Published: September 2024

Fruit vegetables are a component in a healthy diet. The dry weight gain and fruit production in fruit vegetables, being dependent on their photosynthetic activities, have been studied, and strategies that enhance fruit development have been discussed based on their source-sink associations. The efficiencies of the photosynthetic leaves and green colour herbaceous stems as the source capacity are critical in influencing the fruit load as fruits and seeds within them are plant parts that demand the photosynthetic product. This review paper discusses light intensity and quality, mineral metabolism, notably nitrogen balance, and leaf-to-fruit rationing that affect the leaf area index and net assimilation rate in crops. Manual leaf removal is among the husbandry practices that reduce the shaded leaves enabling the crops to utilize the resources in their environment more effectively. However, the studies on the source-sink relationship have been focused on a limited number of fruit vegetables, namely tomato and capsicum. This paper aims to gather some useful insights on source-sink manipulation on crops for future studies on many other fruit vegetables like cucurbits, okra etc. This paper also mentions the application of source-sink interaction models as a potential tool in predicting the economic yield of the fruit crops.
Economic efficiency of beef cattle farms in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Radzil R H M
Published: September 2024

Numbers of beef cattle farmers in Peninsular Malaysia were decreasing from 2016 to 2018 but there were increasing number of beef cattle farms on the years. Beef cattle farming is a costly business to operate locally because of its low performance, strong competitions with other high value agricultural activities, especially palm oil, cheaper prices of imported beef, and price elasticity that leads consumers towards other protein sources substitutes such as fish, poultry, mutton, and pork. The objective of the study is to measure the economic efficiency of beef cattle farms and identifying its determinants. Farm level data from 334 of beef cattle farmers collected in year 2020 were being analysed by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for economic efficiency scoring. The determinants of the efficiency discovered using Tobit Model regression. The results show only 9.28 percent of the farms operate in the full economic efficiency while 44.31 percent of the firms were at the lowest range of economic efficiency score. The economic efficient farms depend on its financial aid, online networking, veterinary networking, job status, and the farm system. Government support by empowerment of smallholders through entrepreneurship skills were one of the suggestions for the industry to sustain economically. The research had justified the economic efficiency of beef cattle farms in Peninsular Malaysia with its determinants.
Using digital image correlation to evaluate fracture toughness and crack propagation in the mode I testing of concretes involving fly ash and synthetic nano-SiO2
Authors: Golewski Grzegorz Ludwik
Published: September 2024

This paper presents the experimental results and deep discussion on the simultaneous effect of fly ash (FA) and synthetic nano-SiO2 on the main strength parameters and fracture toughness expressed by critical stress intensity factor,

K

Ic

S

of a new concrete based on ternary blended cements (TC). Four series of concretes were made, one of which was the control concrete and the remaining three were TC. The effect of constant content of 5% nano-SiO2 and various FA contents such, i.e.: 0, 15 and 25% wt. as partial replacement of cement were studied. During the studies the DIC technique was applied to determine the deformation of the concrete beams in the propagation area of the modelled initial crack. Based on the studies it was found that the addition of 5% nano-SiO2 without FA increases the strength and fracture toughness of concrete by approx. 20%. On the other hand supplementing the composition of the binder with 5% nano-SiO2 in combination with the 15% FA additive causes an increase in all mechanical parameters by another approx. 20%. However, an increase in the FA content in the concrete mix by another 10% causes a smaller increase in the all analysed factors, i.e. by approx. 10% compared to composite with the addition of nano-SiO2 modifier only. In addition, based on the studies using DIC technique it was observed that in concrete including only nano-SiO2 the crack paths were almost perfectly rectilinear in shape, with a significant width of opening. However, in concrete containing 5% nano-SiO2 + 15% FA the crack paths were curvilinear with characteristic additional microcracks in the vicinity of the main crack, whereas in concrete with the addition of 5% nano-SiO2 + 25% FA the crack paths were very strongly curved and had pronounced branching and numerous additional microcracks in the vicinity of the main crack. From an application point of view, concretes involving FA and nano-SiO2 can be used in the execution of specific types of concrete and reinforced concrete structures that require a material with reduced brittleness and at the same time increased fracture toughness.
Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro studies of Selenium-substituted hydroxyapatite coatings
Authors: Zhang Chennan , Bai Yu , Li Ting , Li Jie , Gao Yuanming , Ma Wen
Published: September 2024

The increasing demand for hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings with enhanced functionality have led to novel materials with compositions that are more closely resembling those of natural bone apatites. In the present study, selenium-substituted (Se–HA) powders with various Se quantities were prepared by chemical precipitation. By applying suspension plasma spray (SPS), the surface of Ti substrates was coated with corresponding Se-HA coatings. The microstructural and physicochemical properties of the powders and the coatings were studied. Analysis by x-ray diffraction indicates that SeO3
2− replaced the PO4
3− groups, affecting the crystal structure and crystallinity of HA. As the extent of Se substitution increases, the lattice volume expands and the crystallinity decreases. The synthesized Se-HA powders were confirmed to be calcium-deficient apatite through energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. However, the high temperature of SPS accelerated volatilization of P, increasing the Ca/(P + Se) ratio of the coatings, whereas the chemical valence state of Se remained unchanged. The Se–HA coating exhibited a high bonding strength of >33 MPa, fully meeting the requirement of 15 MPa as coating implant materials. Dissolution behavior tests indicate that the Se–HA coatings had high solubility in comparison to the HA coating. As the substitution degree of Se increased, the dissolution rate also increased, which greatly enhanced the capacity to generate a bone-like apatite layer. In vitro cell experiments indicate that the Se–HA coatings exhibited excellent biocompatibility, and facilitated adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast MC3T3-E1, even in the presence of fluorine. Furthermore, antibacterial properties of Se–HA coatings were also indicated by inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, which is the main cause of most infections after orthopedic surgeries. Thus, the Se–HA coatings have potential as implant coating materials for orthopedic applications.
Green synthesis of Titanium dioxide nanoparticle using combination of plants and its antimicrobial study with their characterization
Authors: Ali Huma , Dixit Savita , Alarifi Saud
Published: September 2024

The characteristics and biological qualities of the nanomaterial rely heavily on how it was made. Green nanoparticle production has been developed to minimize pollution, cut expenses, and enhance safety for both human health and the environment by reducing metal ions using plant extracts as opposed to industrial chemical agents. The goal of the current work is to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles in an environmentally friendly manner by using an extract from the combined shells of Stone apples (Aegle marmelos) and Wood apples (Limonia acidissima). Titanium dioxide nanoparticle formation was verified using various characterization techniques. Well diffusion was used to measure the antimicrobial activity. The fungal strains that were employed were Aspergillus Niger, Candida Albicans, and Aspergillus Flavus. All fungul strains were successfully inhibited by both the crudely prepared extract and the biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles; however, the biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles exhibited a high zone of inhibition ranging from 25 to 30 mm, while the crudely prepared extract had a low zone of inhibition ranging from 13 to 19 mm. A moderately sized zone of inhibition was observed in both the crude produced extract and the biosynthesized Titanium dioxide nanoparticles at a dilution of 100 μg ml−1. Lower dilutions demonstrated less noticeable inhibition. Overall, these results showed that treatment with biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles significantly slowed the growth of many microorganisms.
Effect of nanoparticles reinforcement of silicon dioxide derived from prosopis juliflora on Silver-Grey magnesium nanocomposite: utilization of silicon dioxide mechanical and tribological properties
Authors: Arundeep M , Suresh V , Srinivasnaik M , Yuvaraj K P
Published: September 2024

The automotive and aviation industries require lightweight materials to enhance working efficiency. Composites combine materials such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium, steel, and copper with various forms of reinforcements to offer lightweight alternatives for a range of applications. The present investigation aims to fabricate a Silver-Grey Magnesium (Mg-25%Si) alloy-based nanocomposite with silicon dioxide (SiO2) nano reinforcement at weight % of 0, 3.25, 6.5 and 9.75 utilizing the two step stir casting method. Prosopis juliflora is utilized in the production of different weight percentages of SiO2 nano reinforcements. The microhardness, tensile, wear, and impact tests are performed on the Silver-Grey Magnesium nanocomposites (Mg-25%Si/SiO2) utilizing a computerized tensometer testing machine, a Vicker’s hardness tester, a pin-on-disc tribometer, and an Izod impact, respectively. The x-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), and Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) with elemental mapping microstructure were employed to scrutinize the tensile specimen fracture, EDAX, elemental mapping microstructure, wear, CoF, and worn surface characterization and impact strength analysis. When compared to the Silver-Grey Magnesium (Mg-25%Si) base alloy, the results of the Mg-25%Si/SiO2 nanocomposites demonstrated an increase in SiO2 nano reinforcements that significantly increased microhardness, tensile strength, wear resistance, and impact strength. The corresponding values are 113.36 VHN, yield and ultimate tensile strength of 603.25 MPa and 665.84 MPa, 0.00478 mm3 m−1, CoF of 0.38421 and 400 J m−1.
Life cycle assessment of electricity from wind, photovoltaic and biogas from maize in combination with area-specific energy yields – a case study for Germany
Authors: Böhm Jonas , Holzheid Fabian Michael , Schäfer Malte , Krexner Theresa
Published: September 2024

Due to the massive expansion of renewable energy-based production capacity, the benefits and drawbacks of wind turbines, ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) and biogas plants are currently being discussed in Germany and elsewhere. The expansion of renewable energy-based plants is competing with other uses for land area. In addition to area-specific energy yields, the environmental impact of renewables is increasingly gaining awareness. Existing research on the area-specific energy yields and environmental impact for wind, PV and biogas lacks comparability due to factors including time, location, and scale. This study addresses this research gap by combining life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare potential environmental impacts with an area-specific energy yield assessment of wind, ground-mounted PV and biogas from maize in Germany. The LCA includes an assessment of eleven midpoint and three endpoint impact indicators, while the area-specific energy yield is assessed on the basis of both gross and net area-specific energy yield. The LCA results indicate the lowest impact for wind, followed by PV and biogas. This ranking is consistent across all three endpoint and nine out of eleven midpoint categories. The same ranking also applies to the area-specific energy yield, with wind producing the most and biogas the least gross and net energy per area. These results indicate that the current political support in Germany for biogas from maize for electricity generation should be thoroughly re-evaluated in view of the more favourable alternatives, wind and PV. The findings also provide relevant insights for other regions with similar boundary conditions.
Urban trees left high and dry – Modelling urban trees water supply and evapotranspiration under drought
Authors: Kluge Björn , Kirmaier Margit
Published: September 2024

Long-lasting extreme weather conditions are expected to occur more frequently in the future owing to climate change, as demonstrated by the recent heat waves. In particular, the decrease in precipitation during the summer months had a significant impact on urban tree water availability. Therefore, it is imperative to develop methodologies for determining the available water supply and evapotranspiration rates for urban trees. We mapped data from 49 urban small-leaved linden trees with varying characteristics including groundwater levels, shading situations, tree pit sizes, pavement materials, and sealing ratios. By combining these data with an adapted Penman-Monteith method to calculate evapotranspiration, we simulated the soil water storage and evapotranspiration rates of these trees during the very dry year of 2018 as an example. Model validations were performed using lysimeter and sap-flow studies on Tilia cordata trees in 2022. During the growing season, most trees experienced water stress on > 85% of the days because of weak precipitation events that failed to refill soil water storage. In contrast, trees with additional water supply through capillary rise reached water stress approximately 45 days later. The model results suggest that many trees will require additional water supply during predicted droughts in the future, which could have significant implications for urban forestry management. This model approach can be used to test and refine future water supply management strategies, making it a useful planning tool for improving the water efficiency of trees in urban areas and blue-green infrastructure.
The effect of pulverized glass waste particle sizes on the mechanical properties of AA6061-T6 friction stir welded joints.
Authors: Umoru J O , Ogedengbe T I , Abioye T E , Ogunsemi B T
Published: September 2024

The study sought to investigate the effect of pulverized glass waste (PGW) particle size as reinforcement for AA6061-T6 joints produced by Friction Stir Welding (FSW). The study utilized three particle sizes of 15 microns, 45 microns and 75 microns of the PGW as reinforcement alongside established process parameters of 900 rpm, 1120 rpm, and 1400 rpm for rotational speed, 25 mm /mi n, 40 mm min−1 and 63 mm/min for traverse speed and 1°, 1.5° and 2.5° for tilt angle in a Taguchi L9 orthogonal array experimental design for the welding process. The welding experiments were repeated for each reinforcement particle size utilized in this work. Parallel-hole reinforcement strategy was used on all joints for the application of the PGW. Microstructural analysis, tensile strength and hardness tests were carried out on the welded joints. The volume percentage of the PGW in the aluminum alloy matrix at the welded joint were determined using Image J Processing software. A processing condition of 900 rpm rotational speed, 25 mm/min traverse speed and 1° tilt angle was found to produce the weldment (sample 4) that has a favourable combination of high tensile strength (77.3 MPa) and high hardness (87.3 BHN). The tensile strength was established to increase as the PGW size decreased. This correlation was found to be statistically significant. The hardness of the welded joint did not show any particular trend with the size of the PGW. However, the hardness of the welded joint increased with the increase in the volume percentage of the pulverized glass waste in the welded joint. A moderate Pearson correlation (0.615) between hardness and PGW volume percentage was found.
Lessons learnt from a real-time attribution and contextualisation trial in a National Meteorological and Hydrological Service
Authors: Hope Pandora , Nahar Jannatun , Tolhurst Gen C , Rauniyar Surendra P , McKay Roseanna C , Zhou Linjing , Grose Michael R , Trewin Blair C , Martin David J , Grainger Simon , Ramchurn Avijeet , Risbey James S , Jones David A
Published: September 2024

When a record hot month occurs, timely and credible attribution and contextualisation information can enhance public understanding and future preparedness. This is particularly effective if provided in real time by a National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS). Many NMHSs are working to integrate research-based attribution methods into their operational services. In this study, researchers and climate service staff collaborated to assess the feasibility of delivering such information swiftly and aligned with standard NMHS data and procedures. The record warm July (winter) temperatures of Tasmania, Australia in 2023 were chosen to illustrate the trial. Rapid results were available three days after the event. Approximately half of the unusual warmth was attributed to climate change, with the likelihood of breaking the previous record at least 17 times higher in the current climate compared to a stationary pre-industrial climate (14% vs. 0.4%). The warming trend became evident in the 1980s, and by 2060, average July temperatures in Tasmania match the record temperature of July 2023 under a high emissions scenario. However, average July minimum temperatures were not well modelled, necessitating the addition of a higher-resolution forecast-based attribution method. In subsequent analysis, almost all the forecast temperature anomaly, and reduced storm activity, was attributable to climate change. Statistical analysis revealed that a weak El Niño partly offset the unusual warmth. To expedite these additional approaches, information drawn from real-time forecasts could be used. Lessons learnt from this trial include technical improvements to align better with NMHS protocols including using consistent datasets and baselines, and refining and automating the method suite. Logistical and communication enhancements included training staff to run the suite, improving communication materials, and developing delivery channels. These learnings provide key considerations for NMHSs as they move towards providing timely and credible climate attribution and contextualisation information as part of their operational services.
‘New mining scheme, same old problems?’; risk factors and health challenges in underground community mining in Ghana
Authors: Aram Simon Appah , Saalidong Benjamin M , Yankyera Akwasi , Akoto Akwasi Bamfo , Amoah Samuel Kofi
Published: September 2024

Ghana’s small-scale mining sector has long been a cornerstone of its economy and a vital source of livelihood for many communities. However, the sector is plagued by significant challenges, including environmental degradation, health and safety risks, and illegal practices. In response, the Ghanaian government introduced the Community Mining Scheme (CMS), a new mining model designed to promote local community participation in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM). This study examines the workplace risk factors and associated health challenges faced by ASGM miners under the CMS, drawing on interviews with fifty underground CMS miners in Ghana. Our findings reveal that miners continue to face numerous health and safety challenges, including inadequate lighting, poor ventilation, exposure to noise and odors, unsupported or poorly supported loose materials, non-use of personal protective equipment, high dust levels, and unsafe blasting practices. Additionally, health concerns such as skin rashes, musculoskeletal injuries, and the risk of mercury poisoning persist. These challenges mirror those reported in the literature on unregulated and illegal ASGM in Ghana, indicating that existing issues remain unresolved under the CMS. To prevent the undermining of this initiative, it is crucial to adopt progressive practices, such as localized coping strategies and the recruitment of trained professionals to lead ASGM operations within the CMS. Enhancing miners’ risk perception through targeted outreach and awareness campaigns is also essential. Further recommendations for mitigating safety risks and health challenges are discussed in the article.
Isolating the Distinction between Acts and Pure Omissions
Authors: Steel Sandy
Published: September 2024

Tort law purports to attach significance to a distinction between ‘acts’ and certain kinds of ‘omissions’. Holding everything else fixed—the type of damage or outcome caused, fault with respect to that outcome, and so on—liability is claimed to hinge upon whether the outcome came about by an act or a ‘pure’ omission. This chapter examines the way the distinction is drawn in the current law and the significance attached to it. It is in nine sections. The first three are concerned with providing a more precise statement of the significance of the distinction, a preview of the situations in which duties to act arise in the current law, and an analysis of how the distinction is ordinarily drawn in the current law. The next three sections examine alternative ways of understanding the distinction that the law is seeking to capture—primarily the distinction between making worse and not benefiting. It is argued that the distinction between acts and pure omissions should be replaced with, or at least supplemented by, a particular version of this distinction. The final two substantive sections respond to objections.
Statute
Authors: Steel Sandy
Published: September 2024

The first section of this chapter considers express statutory rights to compensation for breach of P-duties. A central example is the liability to compensate for breach of P-duties under the Human Rights Act 1998. It is shown that these P-duties cannot be fully rationalised as situations in which a special fact recognised by the common law is in place. The argument will show that, if the liability to compensate for breach of P-duties under the Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998 is justified, then the absence of certain special P-duties at common law cannot be justified on substantive grounds. This lays the foundation for Chapter 10’s consideration of the extent to which tort law should recognise more extensive actionable P-duties against public bodies. The second section of the chapter considers the extent to which the tort of breach of statutory duty has been recognised to give rise to actionable P-duties beyond the special facts recognised by the common law.
Beyond Duty Issues: Breach, Causation, Remedies
Authors: Steel Sandy
Published: September 2024

Almost all of this book has focussed on when a person has a P-duty, that is, on the existence conditions of a P-duty in tort. This penultimate chapter examines the extent to which P-duties involve, and should involve, distinctive rules in relation to other liability-related questions in tort. It considers three central matters: the standard of the duty (what the duty requires of the duty-bearer), causation (whether distinctive causal rules apply in relation to P-duties), and remedies (whether the P-duty/N-duty distinction bears on what remedies courts will order upon breach). In relation to standard of duty, this will be shown to depend on why the P-duty arises: assumed P-duties should be treated differently from non-assumed P-duties, and in relation to the latter, a distinction should be drawn between innocent risk cases and cases in which the duty-bearer is not responsible for the initial risk. In relation to causation and remedies, the chapter argues against sharp distinctions being drawn between P-duties and N-duties.