bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurological Consequences of Pulmonary Emboli in COVID-19 Patients: A Study of Incidence and Outcomes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bakhsh Ebtisam , Shaban Mostafa , Alzoum Mohammad Abdullah , AlNassir Areej M. , Bin Hamad Aliah A. , Alqahtani Munira S. , AlAyoubi Leenah Ayman F. , Alamri Raghad Mohammed , Alamri Nasser F.
Published: February 2023

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant consequence that is becoming more common in COVID-19 patients. The current study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors for PE in a study population of COVID-19 patients, as well as the relationship between PE and neurological sequelae. The research also sought to analyze the consistency of neurological examination and imaging techniques in detecting neurological problems. The research comprised a total of 63 individuals with COVID-19. The incidence of PE in the study group was 9.5% for smokers, 23.8% for obese patients, 33.3% for hypertensive patients, and 19% for diabetic patients, according to the findings. After adjusting for possible confounders such as age, gender, BMI, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes, a logistic regression analysis indicated that the probabilities of having neurological complications were 3.5 times greater in individuals who had PE. In conclusion, the present study highlights the high incidence of PE among patients with COVID-19 and the association between PE and neurological complications. The study also emphasizes the importance of a thorough neurological examination and imaging studies in the detection of neurological complications in patients with PE.
EEG Features in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Analysis in a Cohort of Preschool Children
Authors: Santarone Marta Elena , Zambrano Stefania , Zanotta Nicoletta , Mani Elisa , Minghetti Sara , Pozzi Marco , Villa Laura , Molteni Massimo , Zucca Claudio
Published: February 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that can be associated with intellectual disability (ID) and epilepsy (E). The etiology and the pathogenesis of this disorder is in most cases still to be clarified. Several studies have underlined that the EEG recordings in children with these clinical pictures are abnormal, however the precise frequency of these abnormalities and their relationship with the pathogenic mechanisms and in particular with epileptic seizures are still unknown. We retrospectively reviewed 292 routine polysomnographic EEG tracings of preschool children (age < 6 years) who had received a first multidisciplinary diagnosis of ASD according to DSM-5 clinical criteria. Children (mean age: 34.6 months) were diagnosed at IRCCS E. Medea (Bosisio Parini, Italy). We evaluated: the background activity during wakefulness and sleep, the presence and the characteristics (focal or diffuse) of the slow-waves abnormalities and the interictal epileptiform discharges. In 78.0% of cases the EEG recordings were found to be abnormal, particularly during sleep. Paroxysmal slowing and epileptiform abnormalities were found in the 28.4% of the subjects, confirming the high percentage of abnormal polysomnographic EEG recordings in children with ASD. These alterations seem to be more correlated with the characteristics of the underlying pathology than with intellectual disability and epilepsy. In particular, we underline the possible significance of the prevalence of EEG abnormalities during sleep. Moreover, we analyzed the possibility that EEG data reduces the ASD clinical heterogeneity and suggests the exams to be carried out to clarify the etiology of the disorder.
The Resting State of Taiwan EEG Normative Database: Z-Scores of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder as the Cross-Validation
Authors: Wu Yin-Chen , Lin I-Mei
Published: February 2023

This study referred to the standard of electroencephalography (EEG) collection of normative databases and collected the Taiwan normative database to examine the reliability and validation of the Taiwan EEG normative database. We included 260 healthy participants and divided them into five groups in 10-year age-group segments and calculated the EEG means, standard deviation, and z-scores. Internal consistency reliability was verified at different frequencies between the three electrode locations in the Taiwan normative database. We recruited 221 major depressive disorder (MDD) patients for cross-validation between the Taiwan and NeuroGuide normative databases. There were high internal consistency reliabilities for delta, theta, alpha, beta, and high-beta at C3, Cz, and C4 in the HC group. There were high correlations between the two z-scores of the Taiwan and NeuroGuide normative databases in the frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes from MDD patients. The beta z-scores in the frontal lobe and central area, and the high-beta z-scores in the frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes were greater than one for MDD patients; in addition, the beta and high-beta absolute value z-scores in the whole brain were greater than the ones of MDD patients. The Taiwan EEG normative database has good psychometric characteristics of internal consistency reliability and cross-validation.
Pathophysiology and Treatment of Functional Paralysis: Insight from Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Authors: Pisano Giada , Ercoli Tommaso , Latorre Anna , Rocchi Lorenzo
Published: February 2023

Functional paralysis (FP) or limb weakness is a common presentation of functional movement disorders (FMD), accounting for 18.1% of the clinical manifestations of FMD. The pathophysiology of FP is not known, but imaging studies have identified changes in structural and functional connectivity in multiple brain networks. It has been proposed that noninvasive brain stimulation techniques may be used to understand the pathophysiology of FP and may represent a possible therapeutic option. In this paper, we reviewed transcranial magnetic stimulation studies on functional paralysis, focusing on their pathophysiological and therapeutical implications. Overall, there is general agreement on the integrity of corticospinal pathways in FP, while conflicting results have been found about the net excitability of the primary motor cortex and its excitatory/inhibitory circuitry in resting conditions. The possible involvement of spinal cord circuits remains an under-investigated area. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation appears to have a potential role as a safe and viable option for the treatment of functional paralysis, but more studies are needed to investigate optimal stimulation parameters and clarify its role in the context of other therapeutical options.
Neurological Manifestations of Non-Severe COVID-19—A Multidirectional Approach
Authors: Udzik Jakub , Kowalczyk Anna , Waszczyk Aleksandra , Nowaczyk Zuzanna , Barczyszyn Andrzej , Działa Karolina , Mularczyk Maciej , Niekrasz Małgorzata
Published: February 2023

COVID-19 remains a significant clinical issue worldwide, with frequent neurological manifestations. In this study, the authors combine data obtained from the patient’s medical history, physical examinations, and additional test results in the pursuit of any clinically relevant connections. Fifty-eight adult patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology and Infectiology over a five-months period were retrospectively enrolled in this study. On admission, all patients included in this study were classified as mild or moderate COVID-19 cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Laboratory tests, Electroencephalography (EEG), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were performed. There was no statistically significant difference in the Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients who reported to the hospital within a week from the symptoms’ onset and in those who reported later. In total, 49.06% of patients with eligible EEG recordings presented abnormal brain activity, while 27.59% of the study population had COVID-19-associated MRI findings. EEG and MRI abnormality occurrence did not correlate with the incidence of mild neurological symptoms (headache, olfactory, and gustatory disorders) of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. In three patients in this study population, unprovoked generalized epileptic seizures occurred for the first time in their life. Non-severe SARS-CoV-2 infection causes functional and structural abnormalities within the central nervous system. Brain microhemorrhages are frequently present in non-severe COVID-19 patients. There is no significant association between mild neurological symptoms of COVID-19 and additional test abnormalities. The time from SARS-CoV-2 infection’s onset to hospital admission does not seem to influence the prognostic value of CRP, IL-6, and NLR in non-severe COVID-19. Mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection can be a trigger factor for epilepsy and epileptic seizures.
The Effect of Situational Experiment Conditions on Hasty Decision Making in the ‘Beads Task’
Authors: Klevjer Kristoffer , Pfuhl Gerit
Published: February 2023

‘Jumping to Conclusions’, or hasty decision making, is widely studied within clinical and computational psychology. It is typically investigated using the ‘beads task’, a sequential information sampling paradigm, and defining one or two draws as jumping to conclusion. Situational experimental conditions, e.g., group vs. individual testing, abstract vs. cover story, show-up fee or course credit, frequently vary between studies. Little effort has been dedicated to investigating the potential effects of demand characteristics on hasty decision making. We explored this in four samples of participants (n = 336), in different situational experiment conditions, with two distinct variations of the beads task. An abstract ‘Draws to Decision’ (DtD) variant, and a cover story combined DtD and probabilistic inferences variant. Situational conditions did not have a significant effect on overall DtD for either variant. However, when using ‘extreme scores’ (DtD of 1 or 1 to 2) as a measure of hasty decision making, situational conditions had an effect for the abstract variant, with individual testing having the fewest hasty decision makers (DtD1: Mann–Whitney U = 2137.5, p = 0.02; DtD1-2: Mann–Whitney U = 2017.5, p < 0.01), but not for the cover story variant. Our results suggest that the abstract variant is more susceptible to test conditions, especially if a categorisation is used to classify hasty decisions. This does not imply that the cover story variant is better suited to capturing jumping to conclusions behaviour, but highlights the importance of mirroring the situational conditions between different samples. We recommend that testing conditions should be fully disclosed.
Prevalence and Psychiatric Correlates of Illicit Substance Use in UK Undergraduate Students
Authors: Foster Holly , Stevenson Jodie , Akram Umair
Published: February 2023

This study examined the prevalence of illegal drug use in UK students and motivators behind such behavior. Additionally, we explored possible relationships between substance use, psychosocial motivators, and psychiatric distress. A group (n = 543) of students completed online measures of substance use, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and insomnia. A series of reasons behind their use were ranked based on importance. Reported cannabis, cocaine, nitrous oxide, ketamine, and MDMA use were most prevalent based on lifetime, past year, and month assessments. The experience of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and insomnia were related to increased reports of substance use. Poor self-confidence and self-medication were key motivators of illicit drug use in those presenting greater psychiatric distress. These outcomes add to the sparse body of literature concerning illicit substance use in relation to psychiatric distress amongst UK students. Furthermore, we provided novel insight into the psychosocial motivators of such use.
Prospective, Cross-Sectional Study Finds No Common Viruses in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Pseudotumor Cerebri
Authors: Cohen Rony , Mahajnah Muhammad , Shlonsky Yulia , Golan-Shany Orit , Romem Azriel , Halevy Ayelet , Natan Keren , Genizi Jacob
Published: February 2023

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) in children is a rare condition whose underlying cause remains largely unknown. No study has yet systematically examined viral infection as a cause of PTC. The current study aimed to characterize PTC in children and investigate the possible role of acute viral infection of the central nervous system in its pathogenesis. A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in three centers in Israel. Participants were 50 children aged 0.5–18 years, of whom 27 had a definitive diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri (the study group) and 23 comprised a control. Data collected included clinical presentation, imaging, treatment, ophthalmic findings, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Using the ALLPLEXTM meningitis panel, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to test for the presence of 12 common viruses. PTC patients (mean age 12 ± 4.3 years; 14 males, 13 females) had mean opening pressure of 41.9 ±10.2 mmH2O. All PTC patients had papilledema, and 25 (93%) had PTC symptoms. No viruses were found in the PTC group, while in the control group, one patient tested positive for Epstein–Barr virus and another for human herpesvirus type 6. Overall, in our study, PTC was not found to be associated with the presence of viruses in CSF.
A Comparison of the Safety, Efficacy, and Accuracy of Frame-Based versus Remebot Robot-Assisted Stereotactic Systems for Biopsy of Brainstem Tumors
Authors: Li Chaoxi , Wu Shiqiang , Huang Kuan , Li Ran , Jiang Wei , Wang Junwen , Shu Kai , Lei Ting
Published: February 2023

Background: Brainstem tumors are rare and extremely heterogeneous and present significant challenges in surgical treatment. Thus, biopsies often set the foundation for the diagnosis of brainstem tumors. Multimodal, image-guided, robot-assisted frameless stereotactic biopsies are increasingly popular in neurosurgery centers. This study aimed to compare the safety, efficacy, and duration of the Remebot robot-assisted (Remebot) frameless brainstem tumor biopsy versus those of frame-based stereotactic biopsy. Method: A retrospective analysis of 33 patients with brainstem tumors who underwent stereotactic brainstem biopsies in the department of neurosurgery from January 2016 to January 2021 was conducted. The patients were divided into two groups: the Remebot group (n = 22) and the frame-based group (n = 11). The clinical characteristics, trajectory strategy, duration of procedure, diagnostic yielding, histopathological diagnosis, and postoperative complications were retrospectively analyzed and compared between the groups. Results: More pediatric patients performed Remebot frameless brainstem tumor biopsy than frame-based biopsy, with a mean age of 17.3 ± 18.7 vs. 32.8 ± 17.1 (p = 0.027). The diagnostic yield had no significant difference in the two groups, with the diagnostic yield of frame-based biopsy and Remebot frameless brain biopsy being 90.9% and 95.5%, respectively. The time of the total process was 124.5 min for the frame-based biopsy and 84.7 min for the Remebot frameless brain biopsy (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences with respect to the occurrence of complication or the duration of the operation between the two groups. Conclusion: Remebot frameless stereotactic brainstem biopsy is as safe and efficacious as frame-based stereotactic biopsy. However, Remebot frameless biopsy can reduce the total duration of the procedure and has better application in young pediatric patients. Remebot frameless stereotactic biopsies can be a better option towards the safe and efficient treatment of brainstem tumors.
Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Biomarkers in Patients with Post-Traumatic Disorders of Consciousness: A Scoping Review
Authors: Bagnato Sergio , Boccagni Cristina
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood biomarkers are emerging tools used to obtain information on secondary brain damage and to improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy for patients with prolonged post-traumatic disorders of consciousness (DoC). We synthesized available data from studies evaluating CSF and blood biomarkers in these patients. (2) Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist to identify and synthesize data from relevant studies. Studies were identified by PubMed and manual searches. Those involving patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or in a minimally conscious state for >28 days, evaluating CSF or blood biomarkers, and conducted on patients with traumatic brain injuries older than 16 years were included in the review. (3) Results: In total, 17 studies were included. Findings on neurofilament light chain, proteins, metabolites, lipids, amyloid-β, tau, melatonin, thyroid hormones, microtubule-associated protein 2, neuron-specific enolase, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were included in the qualitative synthesis. (4) Conclusions: The most promising applications for CSF and blood biomarkers are the monitoring of secondary neurodegeneration, support of DoC diagnoses, and refinement of prognoses, although current evidence remains too scarce to recommend such uses of these biomarkers in clinical practice.
ERP and Behavioural Correlates of Prospective Memory in Bilinguals during L1 and L2 Processing
Authors: López-Rojas Cristina , Csilinkó Anikó , Bajo Mª Teresa , Marful Alejandra
Published: February 2023

Language influences how we process information from multiple domains. Thus, working in first (L1) or second language (L2) can modulate bilinguals’ performance on basic activities, such as visual search, decision-making, or reading. However, few studies have explored the role of L1 and L2 processing during an essential ability, such as Prospective Memory (PM). This type of memory allows us to set intentions to perform in the future (e.g., to attend an appointment). Thus, this is a novel study that allows us to explore the influence of bilingual language processing on certain cognitive abilities, which have not been deeply studied yet, such as the recall of future intentions. Thereby, this study aimed to explore the neural and behavioural correlates of bilinguals during L1 and L2 processing in a PM task where participants had to carry out an ongoing task while recovering a prospective intention given a PM cue. Importantly, the nature of the PM cue (focal or non-focal) varied the monitoring demands of the task. Behavioural and Event-Related Potential (ERP) results indicated greater engagement of monitoring processes in the PM task during L2 processing. Specifically, in L2, we found lower accuracy rates in the ongoing task and smaller amplitude differences between the focal and non-focal conditions in the P3b. Altogether, these findings suggest an impairment in prospective processing due to working in L2 contexts, supporting previous research on the impact of the bilingual experience over PM.
Non-Angry Superficial Draining Veins: A New Technique in Identifying the Extent of Nidus Excision during Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation Surgery
Authors: Zhu Jiandong , Chen Zhouqing , Zhai Weiwei , Wang Zhong , Wu Jiang , Yu Zhengquan , Chen Gang
Published: February 2023

Background: As essential techniques, intraoperative indocyanine green video angiography (ICG-VA) and FLOW 800 have been widely used in microsurgery for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). In the present report, we introduced a supplementary technical trick for judging the degree of lesion resection when there were superficial drainage veins. FLOW 800 analysis is used to verify our conjecture. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a 33 case cohort treated surgically from June 2020 to September 2022 was conducted and their lesions were removed by superficial drainage veins as a supplementary technical trick and analyzed with FLOW800. Results: In our 33 AVMs, the feeding artery was visualized earlier than the draining vein. Intraoperatively, the T1/2 peak and slope of the draining vein were significantly higher than that of the lesion. However, the maximum fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the draining vein decreased as the procedure progressed (p < 0.001). After reducing the blood flow to the nidus by progressive dissection of the feeding artery, the arteriovenous transit time (AVTT) decreased from 0.64 ± 0.47 s, was prolonged to 2.38 ± 0.52 (p < 0.001), and the MFI and slope of the nidus decreased from the pre-resection 435.42 ± 43.90 AI and 139.77 ± 27.55 AI/s, and decreased to 386.70 ± 48.17 AI and 116.12 ± 17.46 AI/s (p < 0.001). After resection of the nidus, the T1/2 peak of the draining vein increased from 21.42 ± 4.70 s, prolonged to after dissection of the blood feeding artery, 23.07 ± 5.29 s (p = 0.424), and after resection of the lesion, 25.13 ± 5.46 s (p = 0.016), with a slope from 135.79 ± 28.17 AI/s increased to 210.86 ± 59.67 AI/s (p < 0.001). Conclusions: ICG-VA integrated with FLOW 800 is an available method for determining the velocity of superficial drainage veins. Whether the color of the superficial drainage veins on the cortical surface returns to normal can determine whether the lesion is completely resected and can reduce the possibility of residual postoperative lesions.
Factors Associated with Fertility Intention among Chinese Married Youth during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Peng Ruicheng , Mou Wei , Xu Peng
Published: February 2023

Using the childbearing survey data from Hubei Province in March 2022, this article empirically analyzed the status quo of fertility intention and its influencing factors among Chinese married youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our analysis, fertility intention was operationalized as the ideal number of children and short-term fertility plan. Statistical results showed that the average ideal number of children stood at 1.652, which was lower than the population replacement level, whilst only 16.4% of married youth had a short-term fertility plan. By utilizing a binary logit regression model and the sheaf coefficient technique, we found that COVID-19-induced factors (i.e., change in the marital relationship during the epidemic, delayed pregnancy preparation due to vaccination) had a more stable effect on fertility intention, especially on short-term fertility planning. Parenting perception characteristics exerted a great impact on the ideal number of children but a relatively small impact on short-term fertility planning. Meanwhile, married youth with stable jobs and a high family income did not necessarily show stronger fertility intentions than those with fewer socioeconomic resources. In addition, the findings also reveal that the relative importance of fertility-influencing factors could vary at different fertile stages, which have valuable implications for population policy in Chinese contexts.
Does Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem Play a Role in the Stress to Impaired Control Pathway to Alcohol-Related Problems in a College Student Sample?
Authors: Kalina Elena , Boyd-Frenkel Krystina , Patock-Peckham Julie A. , Schneidewent Lauren , Broussard Matthew L. , Leeman Robert F.
Published: February 2023

The Appraisal-Disruption Model (ADM) suggests that individuals use alcohol as a means of dampening negative self-talk. Relationship-contingent self-esteem (RCSE) emerges from validating one’s self-esteem depending on one’s romantic relationship(s) and is known to predict alcohol-related problems. We hypothesized that RCSE indirectly predicts drinking outcomes through the mediating mechanism(s) of stress and impaired control over alcohol (IC; drinking to excess beyond one’s own intentions). We fit a multiple-group structural equation model with self-report survey data from 479 college students. We used a 20,000 bootstrap technique to examine possible mediated pathways. Consistent with evolutionary theory, our model was moderated by sex: more variance in alcohol-related problems was explained for women (R2 = 0.479) than for men (R2 = 0.280). RCSE was directly linked to more stress. Furthermore, higher levels of RCSE were indirectly linked to more IC through increased stress, and in turn, more heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related problems for both men and women. Consistent with the ADM, those with higher levels of RCSE experienced more stress and, in turn, more IC and subsequent adverse alcohol outcomes. Thus, therapists targeting alcohol use disorders (AUDs) may wish to determine if their client’s self-esteem changes dramatically based on their moment-to-moment appraisal of their intimate relationships.
Untying the Text: Organizational Prosociality and Kindness
Authors: Hart Rona , Hart Dan
Published: February 2023

The scholarly field of organizational prosociality is experiencing a renewed interest, yet despite its long track record, researchers still disagree on the definitions of primary concepts. Two umbrella terms, prosocial behaviors and kindness, are particularly baffling, as they are defined similarly, at times used synonymously, yet the differences between them are unclear. Consequently, the field suffers from conceptual ambiguity, which hampers its development. In this brief critical paper, we provide a review of the definitions of prosocial behavior and kindness, in an attempt to semantically untie the text, unpack the context, and discuss the subtext that underlies these concepts. Our analysis suggests that the two concepts overlap in their emphasis on dispositions and actions that aim to promote the welfare of others. However, acts of kindness and prosocial behaviors differ in actors, their target recipients and scale. Acts of kindness are performed by an individual and directed at a person or a small group, while prosocial behaviors can be performed by a person or an organization, and can be directed at a person or a group, but may also be directed at a much larger entity: an organization, community, nation, or society at large.
Age-Related Associations of Altruism with Attitudes towards COVID-19 and Vaccination: A Representative Survey in the North of Italy
Authors: Barbieri Verena , Wiedermann Christian J. , Lombardo Stefano , Plagg Barbara , Piccoliori Giuliano , Gärtner Timon , Engl Adolf
Published: February 2023

Background: During the coronavirus pandemic, altruism has been linked to personal protective behavior, vaccine development, and vaccination intention. Studies of the moderating effects of age on altruism in pandemic preparedness have not yet been conducted. Methods: A representative cross-sectional survey of residents of South Tyrol, Italy, was conducted in March 2021. Among the participants, 1169 were aged 18–69 years, and 257 were aged ≥ 70 years. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic and individual characteristics, including comorbidities, COVID-19-related experiences, trust in information, the likelihood of accepting the national vaccination plan, and altruism. A linear regression analysis was performed. Results: Among 1426 participants, the median altruism sum score was 24 (interquartile range, 20–26). In the participant group aged ≥ 70 years, the median altruism score was significantly higher than that in the younger group. Participants living in a single household were significantly less altruistic than other participants, while participants working in the health sector, living in a household at risk from coronavirus disease 2019, or suffering from a chronic disease were found to be more altruistic. Altruism showed significant positive correlations with age and agreement with the national vaccination plan and was negatively correlated with well-being. Trust in institutions was positively correlated with altruism only in the younger age group but not in the elderly. Linear regression models confirmed female gender and identified trust in institutions as a positive predictor of altruism. In the younger age group, increased well-being and restricted individual sports activities were associated with reduced altruism, whereas support of compulsory self-isolation after contact with a SARS-CoV-2-positive person and handwashing as a personal protective measure were positively associated. Conclusion: Altruism is associated with various predictors of pandemic behavior and traits. The strengths of the identified positive and negative correlations support the modifying role of age in the effects of altruism on pandemic attitudes. Interventions that are likely to enhance altruism to improve pandemic preparedness in certain age groups require further study.
An Exploratory Investigation of Implementation of Building Information Modeling in Nepalese Architecture–Engineering–Construction Industry
Authors: Paneru Suman , Ghimire Prashnna , Kandel Ayushma , Thapa Sudhir , Koirala Nirmal , Karki Mahesh
Published: February 2023

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has gained a lot of traction in Nepal lately due to many AEC firms’ desire to improve their productivity. This research explores the current state and potential of Building Information Modeling in the Nepalese context. The main objective of this research was to gain a holistic view of the digital design and construction approach in the AEC sectors and identify the current state of practice, future trends and opportunities, and challenges for the wider adoption of BIM in the AEC sector. A systematic survey was conducted among various AEC stakeholders; based on their responses, the status of BIM maturity is presented in this paper. We found that the lack of standards and guidelines slows stakeholders’ efforts to unify BIM implementation in projects. However, the survey results show that AEC stakeholders are eager to learn, explore, and implement BIM in their workflows of design and construction practices. The wider implementation of BIM can improve the productivity of design and construction in developing countries such as Nepal. The contributions of this research are methodological and practical. It is demonstrated in this study that qualitative and quantitative data can be integrated in different ways to allow for different avenues of analysis. The logistic regression model deployed in this study identifies the determinants of BIM use and the intensity of their effects on the future use of BIM in the Nepalese AEC industry. The findings of this study can help to formulate BIM standards and training materials that are specific to the Nepalese AEC industry.
High-Speed Videogrammetry for Seismic Performance of the Spherical Reticulated Shell Structure on the Shaking Table
Authors: Liu Xianglei , Zhang Pengfei , Jia Zhenkai , Chen Yuxin , Li Shenglong , Wang Runjie
Published: February 2023

Spherical reticulated shell structure is an important structural form of large-span space buildings. It is of great significance to monitor three-dimensional (3D) dynamic responses of spherical reticulated shell structure to better understand its seismic performances, which will be helpful in the future to ensure the healthy condition of large-span space buildings during their lifespan. In this study, with the advantages of non-contact and high accuracy, a high-speed videogrammetric measurement method is proposed for monitoring the 3D dynamic responses of the seismically isolated, spherical, reticulated shell structural model. Two issues—the high-speed videogrammetric acquisition system and network configuration, as well as image sequence target tracking and positioning—are emphasized to achieve a cache of high-speed images and to improve the accuracy of tracking and positioning target points. The experimental results on the shaking table from the proposed method have been compared with those from traditional Optotrak Certus and accelerometers. The results prove that the proposed method is capable and useful for analyzing the seismic performance of spherical reticulated shell structures, as the dynamic responses monitoring accuracy of the method can reach the submillimeter level, with root mean square error values of 0.32 mm, 0.7 mm and 0.06 mm in the X, Y and Z directions, respectively.
Utilizing Low Yield Point Steel to Improve the Behavior of the I-Shaped Shear Links as Dampers
Authors: Ghamari Ali , Thongchom Chanachai , Putra Jaya Ramadhansyah , Sithole Thandiwe
Published: February 2023

Concentrically braced frame (CBF) systems are susceptible to buckling (which causes a decrease in energy absorption), although this system has considerable lateral stiffness and strength. To over this shortcoming, researchers have suggested the use of I-shaped steel dampers as a practical idea that prevents buckling and increases the energy absorption but reduces the stiffness of the system. To increase the stiffness of the damper, the thickness of the web or the thickness of the flange can be increased, but by increasing their thickness the shear capacity of the damper also increases. Nevertheless, with the increase in the capacity of the damper, the forces created in the elements outside the damper will also increase, which is usually not a suitable solution. Therefore, in this paper, the use of the low yield point for the web plate of an I-shaped damper is proposed to compensate for it. Accordingly, its behavior is investigated parametrically and numerically and also requires equations to design the system proposed. Results indicated that utilizing an LYP damper improves the behavior of the system in the case of energy absorption, stiffness, and strength. Comparing the LYP damper and the conventional I-shaped damper (made of A36 steel) reveals that both dampers pertain to stable hysteresis loops without any degradation, which confirms the capability of the I-shaped damper to dissipate seismic energy. Although the flange plate properties contribute to the load-bearing of the damper, the A36 damper is more affected by the flange plate than the LYP damper that is concluded for LYP dampers the flange plate contribution in the shear strength of the damper is ignorable at the beginning of imposed loading.
Characterization of Mechanical Behavior of Ultra-Small Clearance Tunnel Construction in Upper Soil and Lower Rock Composite Strata
Authors: Zhang Xuemin , Fu Dong , Zhou Xianshun , Han Yuanyuan
Published: February 2023

It is hard to grasp the deformation law of the surrounding rock and the force characteristics of the support structure during the construction of ultra-small clearance tunnels in upper soil and lower rock composite strata. Based on the ultra-small clearance tunnel in Li Shuping, Tongxin Expressway, Guizhou, this paper adopted a combination of numerical simulation and field monitoring to analyze the influence of different burial depths and soil-rock interface positions on the deformation of the surrounding rock and the internal forces of the support structure of the ultra-small clearance tunnel. The conclusions are: (1) the monitoring data show that the stress in the steel frame of the leading tunnel increases first by the influence of proximity construction, and then decreases and reaches a stable value after the secondary lining is applied, and the stress at the arch waist of the soft soil layer furtherest from the side of the middle rock column is greater than that in the rock layer on the side of the middle rock column; (2) the position of the soil-rock interface has a significant influence on the initial support force of the first tunnel, and the bending moment of the structure increases with the downward movement of the soil-rock interface and the increase in the burial depth; (3) the influence of the soil-rock interface position on the initial support moment of the first tunnel is greater than the influence of proximity construction, a point to which attention should be paid during construction; and (4) when the soil-rock interface is located below the foot of the arch, the deformation of the surrounding rock of the following tunnel will be larger than that of the first tunnel. The results can provide a reference for the design and construction of ultra-small clearance tunnels in upper soil and lower rock composite soft strata and soil strata.
Interfacial Effect on Quantitative Concrete Stress Monitoring via Embedded PZT Sensors Based on EMI Technique
Authors: Liu Qunfeng , Dai Guangdi , Wang Chang , Wu Xing , Ren Xiang
Published: February 2023

Sensing performance is crucial for real-world applications of the embedded piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors in concrete structures. Based on the electromechanical impedances (EMIs) obtained numerically and experimentally from the embedded PZT sensors, effects of installation orientation and interfacial roughness were investigated on their sensitivity and reliability for quantitative concrete stress monitoring. The numerical results suggest a better sensitivity in the embedded 90° PZT sensors, with planar normal perpendicular to the loading direction, where the conductance amplitude variation is 6.5 times of that of the 0° PZT sensors, with normal parallel to load direction. Further, the improved reliability of the PZT sensors with rough interfaces is observed experimentally, which makes them robust for concrete stress monitoring over a wider sensing range from 0 to 20 MPa. Based on the static analyses, it is noted that the sensing performance of the embedded sensor is significantly affected by the interfacial stiffness degradation induced by the enhanced strain surrounding the sensor. These findings suggest that delaying the interfacial stiffness degradation, i.e., with proper installation orientation and interfacial treatment, could improve the sensing performance of the embedded sensors for quantitative concrete stress monitoring.
Seismic Fragility Assessment of Inner Peripheries of Italy through Digital Crowd-Sourcing Technologies
Authors: Sandoli Antonio , Lignola Gian , Prota Andrea , Fabbrocino Giovanni
Published: February 2023

The structural and seismic fragility assessment of minor historical centers of the Inner Peripheries of Italy is a key phase of the preservation process of the historical and cultural features of a portion of the Italian building stock, whose reuse is crucial for the reversal of shrinking trends and the stimulation of population growth. In this framework, the opportunities offered by digital crowd-sourcing technologies with respect to performing probabilistic structural safety assessment at a large scale are investigated herein. The objective of this research was to exploit data and information available on the web such that the key building features of an area of interest are collected through virtual inspections, historical databases, maps, urban plans, etc. Thus, homogeneous clusters of buildings identified in the area of interest are catalogued and associated with specific building classes (chosen among those available in the literature), and the buildings’ levels of seismic fragility are determined through the development of fragility curves. The research outcomes show that the proposed approach provides a satisfactory initial screening of the seismic fragility level of an area, thus allowing for the identification of priority zones that require further investigations or structural interventions to mitigate seismic risk.
Predicting the Influence of Soil–Structure Interaction on Seismic Responses of Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Wang Jishuai , Xie Yazhou , Guo Tong , Du Zhenyu
Published: February 2023

Most regional seismic damage assessment (RSDA) methods are based on the rigid-base assumption to ensure evaluating efficiency, while these practices introduce factual errors due to neglecting the soil–structure interaction (SSI). Predicting the influence of the SSI on seismic responses of regionwide structure portfolios remains a challenging undertaking, as it requires developing numerous high-fidelity, integrated models to capture the dynamic interplay and uncertainties in structures, foundations, and supporting soils. This study develops a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) model to efficiently predict to what degree considering the SSI would change the inter-story drifts and base shear forces of RC frame buildings. An experimentally validated finite element model is developed to simulate the nonlinear seismic behavior of the building-foundation–soil system. Subsequently, a database comprising input data (i.e., structural and soil parameters, ground motions) and output predictors (i.e., changes in story drift and base shear) is constructed by simulating 1380 pairs of fixed-base versus soil-supported structures under earthquake loading. This large-scale dataset is used to train, test, and identify the optimal hyperparameters for the 1D-CNN model to quantify the demand differences in inter-story drifts and base shears due to the SSI. Results indicate the 1D-CNN model has a superior performance, and the absolute prediction errors of the SSI influence coefficients for the maximum base shear and inter-story drift are within 9.3% and 11.7% for 80% of cases in the testing set. The deep learning model can be conveniently applied to enhance the accuracy of the RSDA of RC buildings by updating their seismic responses where no SSI is considered.
Optimization of the Composition of Cement Pastes Using Combined Additives of Alumoferrites and Gypsum in Order to Increase the Durability of Concrete
Authors: Samchenko Svetlana V. , Kozlova Irina V. , Korshunov Andrey V.
Published: February 2023

The reliability of concrete structures is closely related to the durability of the concrete materials stable under external environmental conditions. The present study is aimed at analysing the effect of a prospective hardening additive containing calcium alumoferrites and calcium sulfate (AFCS) as a substitute (5–15%) for Portland cement. The hardened cement pastes were characterized by water absorption, shrinkage, strength and corrosion resistance. It was shown that replacing a part of Portland cement with the AFCS additive results in an increase in the strength of fine-grained concrete and in the water resistance grade of concrete. The use of the AFCS additive in the mixed cements reduces the shrinkage of cement stone, resulting in shrinkage-free fine-grained concretes. The increased corrosion resistance of the hardened cement paste is caused by a chemical (saturation) equilibrium between corrosive medium and a cement stone. Penetration of sulphate ions from corrosive solution into the hardened cement paste is much lower, unlike Portland cement. Following saturation of the hardened cement paste with sulphate ions, their further penetration into the cement stone does not occur. Based on the results of the study, recommendations were developed for the use of the hardening alumoferrite-gypsum additive to Portland cement, which allows to improve the mechanical and corrosion characteristics of concrete.
Numerical Investigation on the Pulling Resistant Capacity of Steel Beam-Concrete Wall Joints with T-stub Connectors
Authors: Zhao He , Sun Long-Hui , Chen Hong-Bing , Liu Xiao-Gang
Published: February 2023

The steel frame-reinforced concrete core tube structural system is widely used in mid-rise and high-rise buildings due to its good seismic behaviour and high construction efficiency. Since the steel frame and the reinforced concrete core tube are supposed to deform synergistically under earthquake action, the steel beam-concrete wall joint (SBCW joint for short) will be subjected to a significant pull-out force. Therefore, the pulling resistant capacity of the SBCW joint is quite important for the seismic performance of the overall structure. In response to the shortages of the existing SBCW joint types, a new SBCW joint with a T-stub connector was proposed and studied. The experimental and analytical research has indicated that there are different failure modes and force mechanisms of the SBCW joint under pull-out load, and further studies are required for the pulling resistant capacity. On the basis of recent research findings, a numerical investigation on the pulling resistant capacity of the joint is conducted in this study. An elaborate 3D finite element model of the SBCW joint is proposed, and the load performance, strain and stress development, deformation characteristics and failure modes are analysed in detail. Then, a series of parametric analyses are carried out based on the finite element model, indicating that the length and the web height of the T-stub connector, the number of shear studs on the connector and the reinforcement ratio of stirrups have an obvious effect on the pulling resistant capacity. Finally, the critical value of the embedded depth of the connector, which is found to be one of the most important parameters for the failure mode and pulling resistant capacity of the joint, is determined, and design recommendations are proposed for the SBCW joints with T-stub connectors.
A Fast Method for Calculating the Impact of Occupancy on Commercial Building Energy Consumption
Authors: Gu Jiefan , Xu Peng , Ji Ying
Published: February 2023

Occupancy, which refers to the occupant count in this paper, is one of the main factors affecting the energy consumption of commercial buildings. It is important for both building managers and energy simulation engineers to understand how an entire building’s energy consumption varies with different occupancy levels in the process of building automation systems or in assessments of building performance with benchmarking lines. Because commercial buildings usually have large scales, complex layouts and a large number of people, it is a challenge to simulate the relationships between an entire building’s energy consumption and occupancy. This study proposes a fast method for calculating the influence of occupancy on the energy consumption of commercial buildings with different building layouts and existing occupancies. Other occupant behaviors, such as the opening of windows and adjustment of shading devices, are comprehensively reflected in two basic building parameters: the balance point temperature and the total heat transmission coefficient of the building. This new method can be easily used to analyze how building energy varies with occupancy without a physical building’s energy model. An office building in Shanghai is taken as a case study to validate the proposed method. The results show that the coefficient of determination R2 between the calculated value and actual value is 0.86, 0.8 and 0.71 for lighting, cooling and heating energy, respectively, which is suitable in engineering applications.