bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Cost of Self-Supply Water in Metro City
Authors: Jauhari Ikhtiar , Budhi Soesilo Tri Edhi , Priadi Cindy R
Published: June 2021

Self-supply of drinking water is implemented in areas where the coverage of piped water services is inadequate, low incomes residents, and poor performance of piped water supply. The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) is a method of evaluating all costs incurred and is used to track the financing of the drinking water sector. This study analyses LCC of self-supply water in the Metro City, Indonesia. A field survey was conducted using a questionnaire in October 2020 for households in Metro City that captured information on costs incurred for household water use. It was observed that self-supply water uses in Metro City accounts for 92.86.30% of all water supplies. The average recurrent expenditure is Rp.224,344/ year with mean of capital cost is Rp.275,273. Most expensive cost for self-supply is borehole. High cost of borehole due deeper groundwater source, borehole use more pump electricity and higher drilling cost. This funding for selfsupply water is carried out independently by the households. These results highlighted the importance of self-financing for the water supply sector. Increased reliability and safety of self-supply require a better awareness of the costs and benefits of developing water sources. Furthermore, selfsupply water requires better governance to achieve safe water access.
Binary goal programming model for optimizing tire selection using branch and bound algorithm
Authors: Aly Shady
Published: June 2021

The problem of assessment and adoption of automotive tyre design specifications has not been addressed sufficiently in literature. This is in spite of its significance as a crucial component relevant to design and safety of the automobile. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization model of the tyre design trademark adoption decision is proposed. Multi-attribute or multi-criterion decision making techniques are heuristics providing good solution, but do not guarantee optimum solution. Up to date, there is no optimal yielding method for selection of vehicle tyre manufacturer or trademark based on prespecified design targets. The proposed model is formulated as a binary goal programming model for optimizing tyre trademark design selection decision by adopting an optimal tyre design trademark that best achieve design targets. The model is solved by the branch and bound algorithm. One advantage of the proposed model is flexibility to incorporate multiple design targets, tolerance limits and different constraints. The proposed model can support efficient and effective decision making concerning the adoption of tyre trademark design for new automobile or to re-adopt new design for new road vehicle operating conditions.
Elastic response of wire frame glasses. I. Two dimensional model
Authors: King David A. , Doi Masao , Eiser Erika
Published: June 2021

We study the elastic response of concentrated suspensions of rigid wire frame particles to a step strain. These particles are constructed from infinitely thin, rigid rods of length L. We specifically compare straight rod-like particles to bent and branched wire frames. In dense suspensions, the wire frames are frozen in a disordered state by the topological entanglements between their arms. We present a simple, geometric method to find the scaling of the elastic stress with concentration in these glassy systems. We apply this method to a simple 2D model system where a test particle is placed on a plane and constrained by a random distribution of points with number density ν. Two striking differences between wire frame and rod suspensions are found: (1) The linear elasticity per particle for wire frames is very large, scaling like ν2L4, whereas for rods, it is much smaller and independent of concentration. (2) Rods always shear thin but wire frames shear harden for concentrations less than ∼K/kBTL4, where K is the bending modulus of the particles. The deformation of wire frames is found to be important even for small strains, with the proportion of deformed particles at a particular strain, γ, being given by (νL2)2γ2. Our results agree well with simple numerical calculations for the 2D system.
A hybrid method for short-term wind speed forecasting based on Bayesian optimization and error correction
Authors: Guo Xiuting , Zhu Changsheng , Hao Jie , Zhang Shengcai , Zhu Lina
Published: June 2021

Accurate wind speed forecast plays an important role in the safe and stable operation of large-scale wind power integrated grid system. In this paper, a new hybrid model for short-term wind speed forecasting based on hyperparameter optimization and error correction is proposed, where the forecasting period is 5, 10, and 15 min, respectively, for three sites. The empirical wavelet transform is used to decompose the original wind speed series. Then, the Elman neural network and kernel extreme learning machine, which adopt Bayesian optimization algorithm for hyperparameter optimization, are used as predictors for wind speed prediction and error processing, respectively. In addition, a new error correction model using wind speed as model input is proposed. In order to verify the performance of the proposed model, three datasets collected from different real-world wind farms in Gansu and Xinjiang were considered as a case study to comprehensively evaluate the prediction performance of ten forecasting models. The results reveal that the proposed model has higher prediction accuracy and better prediction performance than the contrast models.
Ferroelectric transition and structural modulation in Sr2Na(Nb1−xTax)5O15 tungsten bronze ceramics
Authors: Wang Ying , Sun Tu Lai , Zhu Xiao Li , Liu Lu , Chen Xiang Ming
Published: June 2021

Effects of B-site Ta5+ substitution on the ferroelectric transition and crystal structure modulation were investigated for Sr2Na(Nb1−xTax)5O15 (x = 0–0.5) tungsten bronzes. The weakened ferroelectricity and enhanced relaxor behaviors were observed with increasing Ta, while the room temperature crystal structure changed from non-centrosymmetric to centrosymmetric. Raman spectra showed a decreasing intensity of the internal vibrations with increasing Ta, revealing different bonding mechanisms between Nb/Ta cations and O anions with reduced covalence by Ta-substitution, which resulted in weakened polarization. Two sets of superlattice reflections were detected in the selected area electron diffraction patterns: commensurate modulation for all compositions (type I), described by the wave vectors q1=14(a0∗+b0∗)+12c0∗ and q2=12(a0∗+b0∗); extra reflections of 1/2[0 0 l] at some local areas for Ta-containing compositions (type II), indicating the possible ordering of B-site cations. The distinct bonding state between the B-site cation and the O anion dominates the crossover from ferroelectric to relaxor behaviors in the present compounds.
Development and application of a multi-sensor integration detection and analysis device for metro gauge and track geometric state
Authors: Chen Wei , Li Dongbai , Liu Yaoqiang , Zhu Zhihui , Huang Zhen , Yan Junxiong
Published: June 2021

In order to ensure the safe operation of subways, it is necessary to detect the metro gauge and track geometry in time. However, the manual detection and the large rail inspection car is inefficient and expensive. Therefore, we have developed a multi-sensor integration detection and analysis device. Sensors, such as a laser scanner, a gauge sensor, an angle sensor, and a single-chip computer, are integrated into a rail inspection trolley, and the functions of gauge detection, gauge analysis, rail gauge calculation, and superelevation calculation are realized. Through the calibration of an odometer and a sensor, the accuracy of the device can meet the requirements of the standard. The device is applied to Changsha Metro Line 3 to detect and analyze the gauge and track geometry state. Finally, the device realizes the functions of the gauge intrusion alarm, automatic input of graphics and gauge intrusion data, automatic identification of sleepers, and automatic collection of track geometry data.
Solutions of the imploding shock problem in a medium with varying density
Authors: Giron Itamar , Balberg Shmuel , Krief Menahem
Published: June 2021

We consider the solutions of the Guderley problem, consisting of an imploding strong shock wave in an ideal gas with a power law initial density profile. The self-similar solutions, and, specifically, the similarity exponent that determines the behavior of the accelerating shock, are studied in detail, for cylindrical and spherical symmetries and for a wide range of the adiabatic index and the spatial density exponent. We then demonstrate how the analytic solutions can be reproduced in Lagrangian hydrodynamic codes, thus demonstrating their usefulness as a code validation and verification test problem.
Colossal magneto-resistive relaxation effects in La0.9Ce0.1Fe12B6
Authors: Diop L. V. B. , Isnard O.
Published: June 2021

The study of the magnetic, electronic transport, and magnetotransport properties of La0.9Ce0.1Fe12B6 itinerant-electron system has been performed by combining magnetization, electrical resistivity, and magnetoresistance experiments. Along with the antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering at TN = 35 K, two consecutive magnetic transformations, antiferromagnetic–ferromagnetic (AFM–FM) and ferromagnetic–paramagnetic (FM–PM), occur upon heating under certain magnetic field values. At fixed temperatures, it is revealed that both AFM and PM phases can be converted into the FM phase irreversibly and reversibly via a first-order metamagnetic transition associated with a large hysteresis. Below 8 K, the metamagnetic transition is discontinuous, manifesting itself by multiple sudden jumps in magnetoresistance and magnetization. A giant negative magnetoresistance effect of about −78% is found. We further demonstrate that the time dependencies of the electrical resistivity and the magnetization exhibit colossal spontaneous steps after an incubation time in conditions where both the applied magnetic field and temperature are constant. Another intriguing observation in the phase diagram is the presence of a critical point at the crossover of the three distinct PM, FM, and AFM magnetic states.
Dual oxidase 1 promotes antiviral innate immunity
Authors: Sarr Demba , Gingerich Aaron D. , Asthiwi Nuha Milad , Almutairi Faris , Sautto Giuseppe A. , Ecker Jeffrey , Nagy Tamás , Kilgore Matthew B. , Chandler Joshua D. , Ross Ted M. , Tripp Ralph A. , Rada Balázs
Published: June 2021

Significance

Influenza infections kill millions of people worldwide. Current prophylactic treatment options are limited due to viral strain–specific vaccinations and emerging drug resistance. It is important to discover new immune mechanisms that can fight the influenza virus. Our work presented here identifies such a mechanism. The Duox1 protein helps the airways to clear influenza virus and to reduce infection-related death and sickness in an animal model. Duox1 delays the infection process by directly targeting the virus. Unlike current vaccines, this mechanism is effective against several influenza strains. Our study identifies the function of theDuox1gene and suggests that it has a therapeutic potential against influenza and potentially other respiratory pathogens, worth exploring in the future.
Interaction between the type 4 pili machinery and a diguanylate cyclase fine-tune c-di-GMP levels during early biofilm formation
Authors: Webster Shanice S. , Lee Calvin K. , Schmidt William C. , Wong Gerard C. L. , O’Toole George A.
Published: June 2021

Significance

Type 4 pili (T4P) of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
are important for surface sensing and regulating intracellular c-di-GMP levels during biofilm formation. This work supports a role for the T4P alignment complex, previously known for supporting pili biogenesis, in surface-dependent signaling. Our findings indicate that
P. aeruginosa
uses a diguanylate cyclase, via a complex web of protein–protein interactions, to integrate signaling through the T4P and the flagellar motor to fine-tune c-di-GMP levels. A key implication of this work is that more than just regulating signal levels, cells must modulate the dynamic range of c-di-GMP to precisely control the transition to a biofilm lifestyle.
Design of prototype readout electronics system for gamma-gamma collider
Authors: Shui Y. , Shen Z. , Zhu D. , Feng C. , Liu S.
Published: June 2021

The γγ collider is proposed in China to observe γγ scattering and the Breit Wheeler (BW) pairs production.This paper presents a prototype readout electronics system that is intended to provide a suitable readout solution for the γγ collider. The paper analyzes the readout requirements of electronics such as implementation of 1426 electronical channels in a limited space, stability in vacuum working environment and incident particle discrimination. To meet the requirements, the paper proposes a high-density, low-power and high-sampling-rate (1 GHz) prototype readout electronics system using waveform digitization technology based on switch capacitor array (SCA) DRS4 chips and analog-to-digital converters (ADC). The prototype readout system is composed of 8 front-end electronics (FEE) boards and a data acquisition (DAQ) board. The FEE board can digitize 180-channel signals from the collider and send packaged data to the DAQ board via high-speed optical fiber. The paper proves the particle discrimination ability and the stability of the prototype electronics system in the joint-test with other detectors, which provides a strong guarantee for the subsequent development of the γγ collider.
The MOUSE project: a meticulous approach for obtaining traceable, wide-range X-ray scattering information
Authors: Smales Glen J. , Pauw Brian R.
Published: June 2021

Herein, we provide a “systems architecture”-like overview
and detailed discussions of the methodological and instrumental
components that, together, comprise the “MOUSE” project
(Methodology Optimization for Ultrafine
Structure Exploration). The MOUSE project provides
scattering information on a wide variety of samples, with traceable
dimensions for both the scattering vector (q) and the absolute
scattering cross-section (I). The measurable scattering
vector-range of 0.012≤ q (nm-1) ≤ 92, allows
information across a hierarchy of structures with dimensions
ranging from ca. 0.1 to 400 nm. In addition to details that
comprise the MOUSE project, such as the organisation and traceable
aspects, several representative examples are provided to demonstrate
its flexibility. These include measurements on alumina membranes,
the tobacco mosaic virus, and dual-source information that overcomes
fluorescence limitations on ZIF-8 and iron-oxide-containing carbon
catalyst materials.
The roles of residential greenness in the association between air pollution and health: a systematic review
Authors: Son Ji-Young , Choi Hayon Michelle , Fong Kelvin C , Heo Seulkee , Lim Chris C , Bell Michelle L
Published: June 2021

While a growing body of literature suggests beneficial impacts of greenness on several health outcomes, relatively few studies have examined greenness as an effect modifier to impacts of air pollution on health outcomes, and results from the existing studies are inconclusive. We performed a comprehensive, systematic review of previous literature on greenness as a potential effect modifier for associations between particulate matter air pollution and health. After initial screening of 7814 studies, we identified 20 eligible studies. We summarized findings on study characteristics based on several criteria: health outcome, air pollution exposure, source of air pollution data, study location, study period, and median year of the study period. We evaluated characteristics of effect modification by greenness on air pollution and health associations based on the number of greenness metrics applied, type of greenness metric (e.g. normalized difference vegetation index, land use), data source for greenness, and spatial resolution and buffer size. We also summarized evidence for effect modification by greenness based on strength and direction of evidence for each study and overall evidence of effect modification by greenness by several study characteristics. Our systematic review showed that only a limited number of studies have been conducted on greenness as an effect modifier for air pollution-health associations. We found differences in several study characteristics such as greenness assessment (e.g. greenness metrics applied, spatial resolution, and data sources) across studies. Collectively, the studies provide suggestive evidence for the hypothesis that areas with high greenness have lower impacts of air pollution on health, although some studies reported inconsistent findings. The findings from our review provide valuable knowledge on how greenness affects associations between air pollution and health and could help identify critical areas for future study.
Gravitational effective field theory islands, low-spin dominance, and the four-graviton amplitude
Authors: Bern Zvi , Kosmopoulos Dimitrios , Zhiboedov Alexander
Published: June 2021

We analyze constraints from perturbative unitarity and crossing on the leading contributions of higher-dimension operators to the four-graviton amplitude in four spacetime dimensions, including constraints that follow from distinct helicity configurations. We focus on the leading-order effect due to exchange by massive degrees of freedom which makes the amplitudes of interest infrared finite. In particular, we place a bound on the coefficient of the R
3 operator that corrects the graviton three-point amplitude in terms of the R
4 coefficient. To test the constraints we obtain nontrivial effective field-theory data by computing and taking the large-mass expansion of the one-loop minimally-coupled four-graviton amplitude with massive particles up to spin 2 circulating in the loop. Remarkably, we observe that the leading EFT coefficients obtained from both string and one-loop field-theory amplitudes lie in small islands. The shape and location of the islands can be derived from the dispersive representation for the Wilson coefficients using crossing and assuming that the lowest-spin spectral densities are the largest. Our analysis suggests that the Wilson coefficients of weakly-coupled gravitational physical theories are much more constrained than indicated by bounds arising from dispersive considerations of 2 → 2 scattering. The one-loop four-graviton amplitudes used to obtain the EFT data are computed using modern amplitude methods, including generalized unitarity, supersymmetric decompositions and the double copy.
Physical and mechanical properties of hybrid-reinforced decorative concrete
Authors: Dovgan A D , Vyrovoy V M , Sukhanova S V
Published: June 2021

The article presents the results of studies of the influence of alkali-resistant glass fibers of different lengths on the functional properties of decorative concrete. It is based on the data of an experiment carried out according to the optimal unsaturated plan, which includes 27 different compositions of the material. The combinations of the decorative compositions had equal mobility of the mixture, with the minimum and maximum water-cement ratio of 0.36 and 0.55, respectively. Based on the results of the experiment, the primary experimental-statistical models describing the effect of composition factors on the properties of the material made it possible to reveal that an increase in the level of plasticization of the compositions allows to increase the utilization factor of the strength of glass fibers. The efficiency of hybrid reinforcement of decorative composites with glass monofilaments has been confirmed through the implementation of a number of computational experiments (CE). The analysis of the CE results showed that the introduction of hybrid highly dispersed fibers into the initial composition of polystructural decorative concrete, with their different quantitative combinations, makes it possible to improve a number of its functional characteristics and thereby ensure the preservation of the artistic and aesthetic expressiveness of products.
Generalized optimality criteria of energy-efficient composites
Authors: Kersh V , Kolesnikov A , Khlytsov N , Foshch A
Published: June 2021

The article discusses generalized optimality criteria of energy-efficient materials. The task of choosing an optimality criteria of a composite is considered as a step-by-step, hierarchical transition from individual criteria of the first level - operational characteristics to combined ones, related to subsequent levels and then to the general one. At each hierarchical level, the criteria become more complicated as it considers the criteria of the previous levels. The criteria constructed in this way are classified into structural, relative and conditional. It is shown that the softening coefficient and the water resistance index correspond to the criteria of the second and third levels, respectively. Some of the new combined criteria, having the character of efficiency were reviewed. As an example of a combined criteria, the criterion of the effectiveness of the realization of the strength-thermal conductivity ratio was considered. Examples of its use for evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of materials with significantly different properties and areas of use were given. It is shown that the efficiency criterion has similar values for materials with equal properties combination. On the basis of the proposed criterion, the problem of optimizing the efficiency of the plaster material is considered. As a result of numerical optimization, compositions with the maximum efficiency of the considered type were obtained. The possibility of further application of this and other combined optimality criteria in the problems of quality assessment and optimization of composite materials was shown.
Research of crack formation in inseparable double-span reinforced concrete elements
Authors: Krantovska O , Ksonshkevych L , Petrov M , Synii S
Published: June 2021

According to the results of the conducted, experimental researches empirical dependences of crack formation and width of opening of normal and inclined cracks of inseparable double-span reinforced concrete beams. A reliable quantitative and qualitative assessment of the impact of structural factors, as well as external factors on the crack resistance of inseparable elements, both separately and in interaction with each other. An improved deformation method (implemented in the PC MATLAB) for calculating the crack resistance of reinforced concrete elements. Based on the comparative analysis of the obtained empirical dependences and calculated values according to normative methods: DSTU B B.2.6-156: 2010 (Ukraine), previously acting SNiP 2.03.01-84 *, SR 63.13330.2012 (SET OF RULES, actualized) Russian standard, as well as the deformation model of Scientific Research Institute of Building Constructions (SRIBC), town of Kyiv, the coefficient of variation of crack resistance and width of opening of normal and inclined cracks is determined. The comparative analysis is carried out and informative graphic drawings are presented.
Steel fibrous concrete with high-early strength for rigid pavements repair
Authors: Kroviakov S , Kryzhanovskyi V , Zavoloka M
Published: June 2021

Experimental results, including the selection of repair concrete and steel-fiber-concrete mixtures for rigid pavement repair are presented. The complex effect of the superplasticizer, hardening accelerating agent and steel anchor fiber on the concrete mixture properties has been studied. Compressive and flexural strength characteristics of the repair material were determined in the early and design ages of hardening. Using the method of experimental statistical modeling, the optimal dosages of dispersed reinforcement in combination with accelerating agent and workability modifier have been determined.
Development of an analytical method for calculating beams on a variable elastic Winkler foundation
Authors: Krutii Yu , Surianinov M , Petrash S , Yezhov M
Published: June 2021

An analytical method has been developed for calculating beams lying on a continuous elastic Winkler foundation with a variable coefficient of subgrade resistance. The method is based on the exact solution of the differential equation of beam bending for the case when the bed coefficient is an arbitrary continuous function. In an analytical form, formulas for displacements and internal efforts are obtained. An analytical method for the numerical implementation of the exact solutions found is proposed.
Triad «Structure, Information, Fractality»
Authors: Martynov V
Published: June 2021

It is focused on the point that, factually, the material’s structure is a primary cause of its properties. The elements of hardened cement stone (inner interfaces), which are the source of its properties, are revealed. It is supposed that the inner interfaces branched chain (patterns) are carriers of certain information. It is proposed to describe this information in quantitative values by fractal dimensions. With such approach the research process is described by sole triad «structure-information-fractality». This article states experimental results proving the effectiveness of the approach proposed.
Analysis of the structure formation processes of building composites by geometric methods
Authors: Semenova S , Kolesnikov A , Kyrylenko G , Oliynik T
Published: June 2021

The work considers a method of structure formation modeling in composite materials based on geometric methods. For this purpose, a differential system is written for the fractions of the volume, surface, linear and point phase of the structure forming components of the material. To study it, a decomposition into a gradient and generalized-conservative component was used. Approaches to modeling of the processes of structure formation and destruction based on the theory of gradient systems, which take into account the structural potentials for the surface and volumetric components of the composite material, were proposed. The hypothesis according to which the formation of a high-strength structure of the material is associated with the implementation of the oscillatory mode for the indicator of the fraction of the volumetric phase was proposed. The mechanism of increasing the strength of the composite binder dough based on the selective preservation of the strongest intercrystalline contacts was discussed.
Increasing the water resistance of the composite gypsum binder for arbolito concrete due to hydrofobization
Authors: Shynkevich O S , Linnik D S , Zaginaylo I V , Bondarenko G G
Published: June 2021

The article discusses the problem of increasing the water resistance and strength of a composite gypsum binder for concrete. The effect of complex modification of a composite gypsum binder with a micro-reinforcing, polymineral micropuzzolanic additive filler and superplasticizer from Sika was investigated. The use of filler additives in optimal ratios made it possible to obtain a composite gypsum binder with a softening coefficient of 0.9.
Estimation of interface properties in epoxy-based barium titanate nanocomposites
Authors: Zafar Romana , Gupta Nandini
Published: June 2021

The study of the interface around a nanoparticle in a nanocomposite is crucial to understanding the performance of nanocomposites. In this work, an estimate of the interface thickness and interface permittivity is obtained based on the changes in dielectric properties in epoxy due to the introduction of nanofillers. Barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanofillers with an average diameter of 90 nm are used. Specimens with various filler loadings (1%–10% by volume) are used. Nanoparticles are used either as-received or surface-functionalized with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy-silane (GPS) before use. Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy is used to study the surface chemistry of BaTiO3 nanofillers after GPS functionalization. Reasonable uniformity of dispersion is observed from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images. Complex permittivity is measured using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy over a wide frequency range (10−3 Hz to 10+6 Hz). A unit cell-based Finite Element model is used to compute the effective permittivity of a nanocomposite, for a given interface thickness and interface permittivity. This method combines the experimental data obtained from dielectric spectroscopy with a unit cell-based Finite Element Method (FEM) for electric field computation. A match between experimental and computational data indicates that the interfacial thickness around the nanoparticle is approximately 200 nm and interface permittivity is slightly higher than that of neat epoxy resin over the given frequency range.
Nonequilibrium hybrid multi-Weyl semimetal phases
Authors: Umer Muhammad , Weda Bomantara Raditya , Gong Jiangbin
Published: June 2021

Multi-Weyl semimetals are variations of Weyl semimetals characterized by isolated band touching points, each carrying multiple topological charges. Given a plethora of exotic transport properties arising in such systems, it remains a longstanding interest to explore other variations of these semimetal phases. Of particular significance are hybrid multi-Weyl semimetal phases where various isolated band touching points, the number of which can be increased on-demand by tuning system parameters, carrying different topological charges coexist in the same setting. The experimental realization of such systems is expected to allow, in principle, clearer and more distinguishable signatures of isolated band touching points with various topological charges. In this work, we attempt to theoretically devise such systems by means of Floquet engineering. Specifically, we present three separate periodically driven systems displaying single-Weyl, double-single-Weyl, and triple-single-Weyl semimetal phases, each of which is capable of hosting a large number of isolated band touching points. We further report their intricate Fermi arc structures that result from the interplay between isolated band touching points of different charges. Moreover, we characterize these multi-Weyl nodes by use of a dynamical winding invariant.
Convergence, accelerated: introducing Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
Authors: Horvath Arpad
Published: June 2021

Questions of sustainability and resilience surrounding the infrastructure that makes up our society are becoming ever-more relevant and increasingly important to address. Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability has been launched as a unique outlet for the publication of such work, bringing together a multidisciplinary, and in some places fragmented, community and creating a home journal for their research. Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability will focus on all kinds of infrastructure and all facets of sustainability, not just environmental assessment and protection but also economic and social factors. All research methodologies are encouraged including qualitative, quantitative, experimental, theoretical and applied work.

This editorial serves as an introduction to our new journal, lays out our aims and intentions, and introduces the first published articles which we hope will provide a flavour of what’s to come.
Environmental impacts and environmental justice implications of supplementary cementitious materials for use in concrete
Authors: Brinkman Leah , Miller Sabbie A
Published: June 2021

As the second most used material after water and the producer of 8%–9% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, concrete is a key target for environmental sustainability efforts. Of these efforts, a main focus has been the use of industrial byproducts as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to replace some of the cement binder, the source of most of the GHG emissions from concrete production. As byproducts, these SCMs are frequently assumed to have limited or no emissions from production. Our goal is to see if this assumption should continue to drive mitigation efforts and to arrive at a clearer understanding of the contribution of SCMs to the environmental impacts of concrete. Needing further examination are: (1) how environmentally beneficial SCMs are if some of the primary process impacts are attributed to them rather than considering them waste products; (2) whether transporting SCMs creates greater environmental impacts than the materials they are replacing; and (3) whether location of primary processes that result in SCMs as well as location of concrete production creates particular burdens on lower income and minority communities. This work focuses on three of the most common industrial byproduct SCMs, namely silica fume, fly ash (FA), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (BFS), exploring both GHG and particulate matter emissions. We show that allocation of impacts from primary processes dramatically increases emissions attributed to SCMs. High levels of transportation of FA and BFS typically do not result in these SCMs having higher GHG emissions than a 95% clinker-content Portland cement. We find that SCMs may be produced in areas with low income or minority populations then used to lower GHG emissions concrete in another location. As such, beyond common environmental impact assessment methods, the role of environmental justice should be incorporated into impact assessments.
Daily Instrumental and Affective Attitudes About Exercise: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
Authors: Emerson Jessica A , Dunsiger Shira , Lee Harold H , Kahler Christopher W , Bock Beth , Williams David M
Published: June 2021

Background

Daily decisions to exercise may be influenced by day-to-day changes in affective attitudes (AA) and instrumental attitudes (IA) toward exercise. However, the within-day association between AA, IA, and exercise behavior has received little attention.

Purpose

To examine the effects of more temporally proximal (daily) AA and IA on daily exercise behavior beyond traditionally assessed distal (at the beginning of an exercise program) AA and IA.

Methods

In the context of a 3-month exercise promotion program (N = 50), distal AA and IA were assessed at baseline. Ecological momentary assessment was used to assess proximal AA, IA, and exercise each day.

Results

Between-subject differences in distal AA (OR = 1.28, p = .03) and distal IA (OR = 1.34, p = .01) were predictive of average likelihood of exercise each day over the 3-month period. Within-subject differences in proximal AA (OR = 1.19, p = .007), but not proximal IA (OR = 1.11, p = .18), predicted exercise each day beyond the between-subjects effects of distal AA and IA. Exploratory analysis revealed an interaction, such that the within-subjects impact of proximal AA on daily exercise was most evident among individuals who held more negative distal AA at baseline (OR = 0.80, p < .0001).

Conclusions

Attitude type (affective versus instrumental) and temporality (distal versus proximal) are important to consider in attempts to predict and understand exercise behavior. In addition to targeting change in distal attitudes, exercise interventions should target changes in daily AA to impact exercise later in the same day.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Jain Anisha , Mazer Benjamin , Deng Yanhong , Ciarleglio Maria , Jain Dhanpat , Taddei Tamar , Zhang Xuchen
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The pathologic differences between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising in noncirrhotic and cirrhotic livers have not been well studied.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 378 HCC cases (95 in noncirrhotic, 283 in cirrhotic livers) from pathology archives (2010-2017).

Results

Patients without cirrhosis were more likely to have hepatitis B (13.68% vs 2.83%, P < .001) or no known liver disease (30.53% vs 4.24%, P < .001), while hepatitis C was more common in patients with cirrhosis (65.72% vs 30.53%, P < .001). HCCs in noncirrhotic livers were larger in size (P < .001); were more likely to have a macrotrabecular histologic pattern (13.68% vs 4.95%, P < .01); were more likely to have fibrolamellar (3.16% vs 0%, P = .02), macrotrabecular-massive (13.68% vs 6.01%, P = .03), and clear cell (16.84% vs 6.71%, P < .01) subtypes; have a higher histologic grade (P < .01); be anaplastic tumor cells (P < .001); have a higher rate of vascular invasion (P < .01); and have a higher tumor stage (P = .04).

Conclusions

The findings indicate that HCCs in noncirrhotic livers demonstrate a larger tumor size; have a more macrotrabecular histologic pattern; have fibrolamellar, macrotrabecular-massive, and clear cell subtypes; have a higher tumor grade and stage; have a higher rate of vascular invasion; and have more anaplastic tumor cells compared with cirrhotic livers. Further studies to explore different pathways that promote oncogenesis in noncirrhotic livers are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of HCC.
Impact Evaluation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Policy: A Guide to Common Design Issues
Authors: Haber Noah A , Clarke-Deelder Emma , Salomon Joshua A , Feller Avi , Stuart Elizabeth A
Published: June 2021

Policy responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly those related to nonpharmaceutical interventions, are unprecedented in scale and scope. However, evaluations of policy impacts require a complex combination of circumstance, study design, data, statistics, and analysis. Beyond the issues that are faced for any policy, evaluation of COVID-19 policies is complicated by additional challenges related to infectious disease dynamics and a multiplicity of interventions. The methods needed for policy-level impact evaluation are not often used or taught in epidemiology, and they differ in important ways that may not be obvious. Methodological complications of policy evaluations can make it difficult for decision-makers and researchers to synthesize and evaluate the strength of the evidence in COVID-19 health policy papers. Here we 1) introduce the basic suite of policy-impact evaluation designs for observational data, including cross-sectional analyses, pre-/post- analyses, interrupted time-series analysis, and difference-in-differences analysis; 2) demonstrate key ways in which the requirements and assumptions underlying these designs are often violated in the context of COVID-19; and 3) provide decision-makers and reviewers with a conceptual and graphical guide to identifying these key violations. Our overall goal is to help epidemiologists, policy-makers, journal editors, journalists, researchers, and other research consumers understand and weigh the strengths and limitations of evidence.
Associations Between Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution and Congenital Hypothyroidism
Authors: Harari-Kremer Ruthie , Calderon-Margalit Ronit , Korevaar Tim I M , Nevo Daniel , Broday David , Kloog Itai , Grotto Itamar , Karakis Isabella , Shtein Alexandra , Haim Alon , Raz Raanan
Published: June 2021

Adequate thyroid hormone availability is required for normal brain development. Studies have found associations between prenatal exposure to air pollutants and thyroid hormones in pregnant women and newborns. We aimed to examine associations of trimester-specific residential exposure to common air pollutants with congenital hypothyroidism (CHT). All term infants born in Israel during 2009–2015 were eligible for inclusion. We used data on CHT from the national neonatal screening lab of Israel, and exposure data from spatiotemporal air pollution models. We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate associations of exposures with CHT, adjusting for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical area, conception season, conception year, gestational age, birth weight, and child sex. To assess residual confounding, we used postnatal exposures to the same pollutants as negative controls. The study population included 696,461 neonates. We found a positive association between third-trimester nitrogen oxide exposure and CHT (per interquartile-range change, odds ratio = 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.41) and a similar association for nitrogen dioxide. There was no evidence of residual confounding or bias by correlation among exposure periods for these associations.
S2L-PSIBLAST: a supervised two-layer search framework based on PSI-BLAST for protein remote homology detection
Authors: Jin Xiaopeng , Liao Qing , Liu Bin
Published: June 2021

Motivation

Protein remote homology detection is a challenging task for the studies of protein evolutionary relationships. PSI-BLAST is an important and fundamental search method for detecting homology proteins. Although many improved versions of PSI-BLAST have been proposed, their performance is limited by the search processes of PSI-BLAST.

Results

For further improving the performance of PSI-BLAST for protein remote homology detection, a supervised two-layer search framework based on PSI-BLAST (S2L-PSIBLAST) is proposed. S2L-PSIBLAST consists of a two-level search: the first-level search provides high-quality search results by using SMI-BLAST framework and double-link strategy to filter the non-homology protein sequences, the second-level search detects more homology proteins by profile-link similarity, and more accurate ranking lists for those detected protein sequences are obtained by learning to rank strategy. Experimental results on the updated version of Structural Classification of Proteins-extended benchmark dataset show that S2L-PSIBLAST not only obviously improves the performance of PSI-BLAST, but also achieves better performance on two improved versions of PSI-BLAST: DELTA-BLAST and PSI-BLASTexB.

Availability and implementation

http://bliulab.net/S2L-PSIBLAST.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Toward comprehensive functional analysis of gene lists weighted by gene essentiality scores
Authors: Fan Rui , Cui Qinghua
Published: June 2021

Motivation

Gene functional enrichment analysis represents one of the most popular bioinformatics methods for annotating the pathways and function categories of a given gene list. Current algorithms for enrichment computation such as Fisher’s exact test and hypergeometric test totally depend on the category count numbers of the gene list and one gene set. In this case, whatever the genes are, they were treated equally. However, actually genes show different scores in their essentiality in a gene list and in a gene set. It is thus hypothesized that the essentiality scores could be important and should be considered in gene functional analysis.

Results

For this purpose, here, we proposed weighted enrichment analysis tool (WEAT) (https://www.cuilab.cn/weat/), a weighted gene set enrichment algorithm and online tool by weighting genes using essentiality scores. We confirmed the usefulness of WEAT using three case studies, the functional analysis of one aging-related gene list, one gene list involved in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma and one cardiomyopathy gene list from Drosophila model. Finally, we believe that the WEAT method and tool could provide more possibilities for further exploring the functions of given gene lists.

Availability and implementation

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available on our website at https://www.cuilab.cn/weat/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Determination of 15 + 1 European Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Smoked Meat Products by Saponification/Solid-Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Liqun , Wu Pinggu , Zhou Hua , Hu Zhengyan , Zhang Nianhua , Wang Liyuan , Zhao Yongxin
Published: June 2021

A method for the determination of 15 + 1 European priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (EUPAHs) in smoked meat samples by saponification/solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry has been developed. Both saponification and solid-phase extraction conditions were optimized, which lead to shorter sample preparation time and excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The optimal saponification condition for the lipid extract of 5.00 g smoked food sample was 5 mL KOH (1.5 mol/L)–ethanol at 70°C for 5 min, and the shorter alkaline treatment time avoided the loss of volatile EUPAHs such as Benzo[c]fluorene. All the EUPAHs showed good linearity in the range between 5.0 and 50.0 ng/mL with correlation coefficients between 0.997 and 1.00. The estimated LODs for the EUPAHs were 0.15–0.30 μg/kg, while the LOQs were 0.50–1.0 μg/kg. The three spiking levels of EUPAHs were 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 μg/kg, and the average recovery was between 75.2 and 99.6%, while the RSD were 2.3–12.4%. This sensitive and rapid method was successfully applied to smoked meat samples from Zhejiang Province of China, and the results revealed the presence of 13 EUPAHs. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was found in 19 out of 20 samples, with concentration ranging from 0.51 to 4.57 μg/kg. The sum of concentrations of PAH4 (summation of benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene) were 2.40–53.56 μg/kg.
Patterns of Antibiotic Nonsusceptibility Among Invasive Group A Streptococcus Infections—United States, 2006–2017
Authors: Fay Katherine , Onukwube Jennifer , Chochua Sopio , Schaffner William , Cieslak Paul , Lynfield Ruth , Muse Alison , Smelser Chad , Harrison Lee H , Farley Monica , Petit Susan , Alden Nisha , Apostal Mirasol , Snippes Vagnone Paula , Nanduri Srinivas , Beall Bernard , Van Beneden Chris A
Published: June 2021

Background

Treatment of severe group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections requires timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy. We describe the epidemiology of antimicrobial-resistant invasive GAS (iGAS) infections in the United States (US).

Methods

We analyzed population-based iGAS surveillance data at 10 US sites from 2006 through 2017. Cases were defined as infection with GAS isolated from normally sterile sites or wounds in patients with necrotizing fasciitis or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. GAS isolates were emm typed. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using broth microdilution or whole genome sequencing. We compared characteristics among patients infected with erythromycin-nonsusceptible (EryNS) and clindamycin-nonsusceptible (CliNS) strains to those with susceptible infections. We analyzed proportions of EryNS and CliNS among isolates by site, year, risk factors, and emm type.

Results

Overall, 17 179 iGAS cases were reported; 14.5% were EryNS. Among isolates tested for both inducible and constitutive CliNS (2011–2017), 14.6% were CliNS. Most (99.8%) CliNS isolates were EryNS. Resistance was highest in 2017 (EryNS: 22.8%; CliNS: 22.0%). All isolates were susceptible to β-lactams. EryNS and CliNS infections were most frequent among persons aged 18–34 years and in persons residing in long-term care facilities, experiencing homelessness, incarcerated, or who injected drugs. Patterns varied by site. Patients with nonsusceptible infections were significantly less likely to die. The emm types with >30% EryNS or CliNS included types 77, 58, 11, 83, and 92.

Conclusions

Increasing prevalence of EryNS and CliNS iGAS infections in the US is predominantly due to expansion of several emm types. Clinicians should consider local resistance patterns when treating iGAS infections.