bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights into the Bioactivities and Chemical Analysis of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle
Authors: Caramelo Débora , Pedro Soraia I. , Marques Hernâni , Simão Ana Y. , Rosado Tiago , Barroca Celina , Gominho Jorge , Anjos Ofélia , Gallardo Eugenia
Published: November 2021

Many species of the so-called exotic plants coexist with native species in a balanced way, but others thrive very quickly and escape human control, becoming harmful—these are called invasive alien species. In addition to overcoming geographic barriers, these species can defeat biotic and abiotic barriers, maintaining stable populations. Ailanthus altissima is no exception; it is disseminated worldwide and is considered high risk due to its easy propagation and resistance to external environmental factors. Currently, it has no particular use other than ornamental, even though it is used to treat epilepsy, diarrhea, asthma, ophthalmic diseases, and seborrhoea in Chinese medicine. Considering its rich composition in alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, and flavonoids, doubtlessly, its use in medicine or other fields can be maximised. This review will focus on the knowledge of the chemical composition and the discovery of the biological properties of A. altissima to understand this plant better and maximise its possible use for purposes such as medicine, pharmacy, or the food industry. Methods for the extraction and detection to know the chemical composition will also be discussed in detail.
Comparison of Culturing and Metabarcoding Methods to Describe the Fungal Endophytic Assemblage of Brachypodium rupestre Growing in a Range of Anthropized Disturbance Regimes
Authors: Durán María , San Emeterio Leticia , Canals Rosa Maria
Published: November 2021

Fungal endophytes develop inside plants without visible external signs, and they may confer adaptive advantages to their hosts. Culturing methods have been traditionally used to recognize the fungal endophytic assemblage, but novel metabarcoding techniques are being increasingly applied. This study aims to characterize the fungal endophytic assemblage in shoots, rhizomes and roots of the tall grass Brachypodium rupestre growing in a large area of natural grasslands with a continuum of anthropized disturbance regimes. Seven out of 88 taxa identified via metabarcoding accounted for 81.2% of the reads (Helotiaceae, Lachnum sp. A, Albotricha sp. A, Helotiales A, Agaricales A, Mycena sp. and Mollisiaceae C), revealing a small group of abundant endophytes and a large group of rare species. Although both methods detected the same trends in richness and fungal diversity among the tissues (root > rhizome > shoot) and grasslands (low-diversity > high-diversity grasslands), the metabarcoding tool identified 5.8 times more taxa than the traditional culturing method (15 taxa) but, surprisingly, failed to sequence the most isolated endophyte on plates, Omnidemptus graminis. Since both methods are still subject to important constraints, both are required to obtain a complete characterization of the fungal endophytic assemblage of the plant species.
FAK Regulates VEGFR2 Expression and Promotes Angiogenesis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Shiau Jun-Ping , Wu Cheng-Che , Chang Shu-Jyuan , Pan Mei-Ren , Liu Wangta , Ou-Yang Fu , Chen Fang-Ming , Hou Ming-Feng , Shih Shen-Liang , Luo Chi-Wen
Published: November 2021

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant clinical challenge because of its high vascularity and metastatic and recurrent rates. Tumor angiogenesis is considered an important mediator in the regulation of tumor cell survival and metastasis in TNBC. Angiogenesis is induced by the binding of vascular endothelial growth factor to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays an important role in regulating various cell functions in normal and cancer cells. Previous studies have focused on investigating the function of endothelial FAK in tumor cell angiogenesis. However, the association between tumor FAK and VEGFR2 in tumor angiogenesis and the possible mechanisms of this remain unclear. In this study, we used a public database and human specimens to examine the association between FAK and VEGFR2. At the same time, we verified the association between FAK and VEGFR2 through several experimental methods, such as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and next-generation sequencing. In addition, we used the endothelial cell model, zebrafish, and xenograft animal models to investigate the role of FAK in TNBC angiogenesis. We found that FAK and VEGFR2 were positively correlated in patients with TNBC. VEGFR2 and several other angiogenesis-related genes were regulated by FAK. In addition, FAK regulated VEGFR2 and VEGF protein expression in TNBC cells. Functional assays showed that FAK knockdown inhibited endothelial tube formation and zebrafish angiogenesis. An animal model showed that FAK inhibitors could suppress tumor growth and tumor vascular formation. FAK promotes angiogenesis in TNBC cells by regulating VEGFR2 expression. Therefore, targeting FAK could be another antiangiogenic strategy for TNBC treatment.
An Inspection of the Life Cycle of Sustainable Construction Projects: Towards a Biomimicry-Based Road Map Integrating Circular Economy
Authors: Beermann Kimberly , Chen Austin Miguel
Published: November 2021

According to the National Energy Plan in Panama, the construction sector is one of the most prosperous and impactful sectors in the economy and it is expected to expand due to population growth by almost 300% by 2050. However, this sector must work on the transition towards sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change, since its growth implies a high consumption of resources and the contribution of greenhouse gases. The need to establish practices and strategies that embrace the dimension of sustainability and a circular economy is imminent. Currently, there is little guidance in the reference framework beyond certifications in planning, management and evaluation tools for its implementation. Different studies vary in the number of phases and considerations for projects. Therefore, the present work proposes the development of a unified road map, with defined phases, practices and indicators based on principles inspired by nature, such as biomimicry (Greek words: “bio” means life and “mimesis”, imitation), and focuses on a circular economy, validated by construction professionals, where strengths, opportunities, skills and threats are identified with a high level of acceptance. This contributes to strengthening the field of sustainable construction project management and a precedent for Panama.
Emotions and the Right Hemisphere: Editorial
Authors: Gainotti Guido
Published: November 2021

The hypothesis assuming that the right hemisphere may play a critical role in emotional processing was raised by clinical data which showed that patients with right brain lesions often show abnormal patterns of emotional behavior [...]
VDS and VGS Depolarization Effect on SiC MOSFET Short-Circuit Withstand Capability Considering Partial Safe Failure-Mode
Authors: Barazi Yazan , Richardeau Frédéric , Jouha Wadia , Reynes Jean-Michel
Published: November 2021

This paper presents a detailed analysis of 1200 V Silicon Carbide (SiC) power MOSFET exhibiting different short-circuit failure mechanisms and improvement in reliability by VDS and VGS depolarization. The device robustness has undergone an incremental pulse under different density decreasing; either drain-source voltage or gate-driver voltage. Unlike silicon device, the SiC MOSFET failure mechanism firstly displays specific gradual gate-cracks mechanism and progressive gate-damage accumulations greater than 4 µs/9 J·cm−2. Secondly, a classical drain-source thermal runaway appears, as for silicon devices, in a time greater than 9 µs. Correlations with short-circuit energy measurements and temperature simulations are investigated. It is shown that the first mechanism is an incremental soft gate-failure-mode which can be easily used to detect and protect the device by a direct feedback on the gate-driver. Furthermore, it is highlighted that this new mechanism can be sufficiently consolidated to avoid the second drain-source mechanism which is a hard-failure-mode. For this purpose, it is proposed to sufficiently depolarize the on-state gate-drive voltage to reduce the chip heating-rate and thus to decouple the failure modes. The device is much more robust with a short-circuit withstand time higher than 10 µs, as in silicon, no risk of thermal runaway and with an acceptable penalty on RDS-ON.
Sinusoidal Noise Removal in PD Measurement Based on Synchrosqueezing Transform and Singular Spectrum Analysis
Authors: Qin Shaorui , Zhou Siyuan , Zhu Taiyun , Zhu Shenglong , Li Jianlin , Zheng Zheran , Qin Shuo , Pan Cheng , Tang Ju
Published: November 2021

In electrical engineering, partial discharge (PD) measurement has been widely used for inspecting and judging insulation conditions of high voltage (HV) apparatus. However, on-site PD measurement easily becomes contaminated by noises. Particularly, sinusoidal noise makes it difficult to recognize real PD signal, thus leading to the misjudgment of insulation conditions. Therefore, sinusoidal noise removal is necessary. In this paper, instantaneous frequency (IF) is introduced, and the synchrosqueezing transform (SST) as well as singular spectrum analysis (SSA) is proposed for sinusoidal noise removal. A continuous analytic wavelet transform is firstly applied to the noisy PD signal and then the time frequency representation (TFR) is reassigned by SST. Narrow-band sinusoidal noise has fixed IF, while PD signal has much larger frequency range and time-varying IF. Due to the difference, the reassigned TFR enables the sinusoidal noise to be distinguished from PD signal. After synthesizing the signal with the recognized IF, SSA is further applied to signal refinement. At last, a numerical simulation is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and its robustness to white noise is also validated. After the implementation of the proposed method, wavelet thresholding can be further applied for white noise reduction.
Energy Efficiency and Limitations of the Methods of Controlling the Hydraulic Cylinder Piston Rod under Various Load Conditions
Authors: Stawinski Lukasz , Skowronska Justyna , Kosucki Andrzej
Published: November 2021

The article is an overview of various methods of braking and controlling the movement of the piston rod under various load conditions. The purpose of this review is to systematize the state of the art in terms of efficiency, energy consumption and limitations of each method. The article discusses systems with different types of hydraulic actuators, operating under passive, active and variable load during the duty cycle of the piston rod. The existing literature was analysed in terms of applicability, reduction of energy consumption of the systems and even the possibility of energy return. Attention was paid to the costs and the need for additional power sources, as well as the problems and limitations of the presented methods. Based on the simulation model, energy consumption tests were carried out in systems with an actuator loaded with a variable force. There is a comparison of all methods in terms of actuator type, load, energy consumption and the possibility of energy recovery.
Transport Performance of a Steeply Situated Belt Conveyor
Authors: Hrabovský Leopold , Fries Jiří
Published: November 2021

The paper presents a methodology for determining the volume of a batch of conveyed material located before a transverse partition of a certain height and the distance over which the batch of material extends on the working surface of the conveyor belt along its longitudinal axis. Knowing the geometric dimensions of the transported batch of material makes it possible to appropriately set the spacing of the belt cleats and thereby to optimally determine the conveying performance of the inclined belt conveyor. When the angle of inclination of a conveyor with a straight idler frame is equal to the angle of surcharge of the conveyed material, then no layer of material is carried on the surface of the belt. If the conveyor belt is guided along a trough idler frame, only the lower cross-section of the filling of material is used. An increase in the cross-section of the belt load of a conveyor inclined at an angle, which exceeds the angle of repose of the conveyed material, can be achieved by installing regularly spaced belt cleats around the circumference of the working surface of the endless loop of the conveyor belt. The volume of the batch of material retained by the belt cleat depends on the height and width of the cleat and whether or not the conveyor belt is provided with corrugated side edges. The paper presents theoretically determined relationships that can be used to determine the size of the transverse and longitudinal area and the volume of the batch of material spread on the surface of the conveyor belt in front of the cleat. The experiments performed provide the distances of the material distribution on the surface of the conveyor belt depending on the height of the cleat and the angle of inclination of the conveyor belt.
Waste Heat Recovery by Air-to-Water Heat Pump from Exhausted Ventilating Air for Heating of Multi-Family Residential Buildings
Authors: Kowalski Piotr , Szałański Paweł , Cepiński Wojciech
Published: November 2021

The paper presents an analysis of the application of an air-to-water electric compressor heat pump (AWHP) for the recovery of waste heat from the exhaust air in a typical multifamily residential building and the use of this heat for space heating, as well as the impact of this solution on the building energy performance (the PPR index). Simulations were performed in TRNSYS for five locations in Poland (Koszalin, Wrocław, Lublin, Białystok, Suwałki), for various heating system parameters (80/60 °C, 75/65 °C, 70/50 °C, 55/45 °C, 35/28 °C), for various temperature limitations of heat pump operation. It was shown that the analyzed system has great potential from an energy and environmental point of view. It can provide significant benefits in terms of the energy performance of the building, depending on the system parameters. The results show that the most energy-efficient system is the one with the lowest heating system temperatures. Moreover, implementing a temperature limitation on the heat pump operation improves its efficiency, but the higher the design parameters of the heating installation and the lower the limitation, the lower the heat pump contribution, and the higher the SCOP and the PPR. The energy effect is also influenced by location, but its scale depends on the parameters of the heating system and the temperature limitation of the heat pump’s operation. It is more significant for lower heating system parameters. This system enables the possibility of further reducing the demand for nonrenewable primary energy by powering the heat pump with photovoltaic cells.
Forecasting Brazilian Ethanol Spot Prices Using LSTM
Authors: Santos Gustavo Carvalho , Barboza Flavio , Veiga Antônio Cláudio Paschoarelli , Silva Mateus Ferreira
Published: November 2021

Ethanol is one of the most used fuels in Brazil, which is the second-largest producer of this biofuel in the world. The uncertainty of price direction in the future increases the risk for agents operating in this market and can affect a dependent price chain, such as food and gasoline. This paper uses the architecture of recurrent neural networks—Long short-term memory (LSTM)—to predict Brazilian ethanol spot prices for three horizon-times (12, 6 and 3 months ahead). The proposed model is compared to three benchmark algorithms: Random Forest, SVM Linear and RBF. We evaluate statistical measures such as MSE (Mean Squared Error), MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error), and accuracy to assess the algorithm robustness. Our findings suggest LSTM outperforms the other techniques in regression, considering both MSE and MAPE but SVM Linear is better to identify price trends. Concerning predictions per se, all errors increase during the pandemic period, reinforcing the challenge to identify patterns in crisis scenarios.
Heat Transfer, Refrigeration and Heat Pumps
Authors: Ally Moonis R. , Fricke Brian
Published: November 2021

The Special Issue entitled “Heat Transfer, Refrigeration and heat Pumps” accepted papers covering a wide range of topics related to heat pumps, thermal energy storage, and low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternative refrigerants [...]
Acute Effect of Riceberry Waffle Intake on Postprandial Glycemic Response in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Tongkaew Patthamawadee , Purong Deeyana , Ngoh Suraida , Phongnarisorn Benjapor , Aydin Ebru
Published: November 2021

Gluten-free products have been developed due to increasing consumer demand. The improvement of the sensory quality and nutritional value of these products may support functional food development and provide health benefits. The purpose of this study was to develop a gluten-free waffle formulation with Riceberry rice flour by replacing the sucrose with maltitol and palm sugar powder. Evaluations of the sensory acceptability of these products and the blood glucose levels of healthy volunteers after consuming Riceberry and wheat flour waffles were carried out. The glycemic responses of the volunteers to the Riceberry and wheat flour waffles at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min were monitored. In addition, the glycemic index of the products was calculated. The finding revealed that replacing sugar with 50% (w/w of total sugar) palm sugar powder and 50% maltitol was the most acceptable formulation that received the highest acceptability scores in terms of overall acceptability and texture. The blood glucose levels of both Riceberry waffle and wheat flour were not significantly different. The glycemic index of Riceberry waffle and wheat flour waffle were 94.73 ± 7.60 and 91.96 ± 6.93, respectively. Therefore, Riceberry waffle could be used as an alternative gluten-free product for celiac patients, but not for diabetic patients.
Effect of Mixed Starters on Proteolysis and Formation of Biogenic Amines in Dry Fermented Mutton Sausages
Authors: Wang Debao , Hu Guanhua , Wang Huiting , Wang Limei , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zou Yufu , Zhao Lihua , Liu Fang , Jin Ye
Published: November 2021

In this study, by comparing the four groups of sausages, namely, CO (without starter culture), LB (with Lactobacillus sakei), LS (with L. sakei 3X-2B + Staphylococcus xylosus SZ-8), and LSS (with L. sakei 3X-2B + S. xylosus SZ-8 + S. carnosus SZ-2), the effects of mixed starter cultures on physical–chemical quality, proteolysis, and biogenic amines (BAs) during fermentation and ripening were investigated. Inoculation of the mixed starter cultures increased the number of lactic acid bacteria and staphylococci in sausages during fermentation and ripening for 0 to 5 days. The L. sakei 3X-2B + S. xylosus SZ-8 + S. carnosus SZ-2 mixed starter accelerated the rate of acid production and water activity reduction of sausages and improved the redness value. Compared with CO, the mixed starter effectively inhibited Enterobacteriaceae. At the end of ripening, the LSS group was approximately 1.25 CFU/g, which was less than the CO group, thereby reducing the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) in the LSS group. The free amino acids in the LS and LSS groups (224.97 and 235.53 mg/kg dry sausage, respectively) were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that in the CO group (170.93 mg/kg dry sausage). The level of histamine, cadaverine, putrescine, and common BAs showed an opposite trend to the increase of the corresponding precursor amino acid content, which were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the LS and LSS sausages than in CO. This study showed that L. sakei 3X-2B + S. xylosus SZ-8 + S. carnosus SZ-2 is a potential mixed starter for fermented meat products.
High-Pressure-Induced Sublethal Injuries of Food Pathogens—Microscopic Assessment
Authors: Nasiłowska Justyna , Kocot Aleksandra , Osuchowska Paulina Natalia , Sokołowska Barbara
Published: November 2021

High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) technology is considered an alternative method of food preservation. Nevertheless, the current dogma is that HHP might be insufficient to preserve food lastingly against some pathogens. Incompletely damaged cells can resuscitate under favorable conditions, and they may proliferate in food during storage. This study was undertaken to characterize the extent of sublethal injuries induced by HHP (300–500 MPa) on Escherichia coli and Listeria inncua strains. The morphological changes were evaluated using microscopy methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Epifluorescence Microscopy (EFM). The overall assessment of the physiological state of tested bacteria through TEM and SEM showed that the action of pressure on the structure of the bacterial membrane was almost minor or unnoticeable, beyond the L. innocua wild-type strain. However, alterations were observed in subcellular structures such as the cytoplasm and nucleoid for both L. innocua and E. coli strains. More significant changes after the HHP of internal structures were reported in the case of wild-type strains isolated from raw juice. Extreme condensation of the cytoplasm was observed, while the outline of cells was intact. The percentage ratio between alive and injured cells in the population was assessed by fluorescent microscopy. The results of HHP-treated samples showed a heterogeneous population, and red cell aggregates were observed. The percentage ratio of live and dead cells (L/D) in the L. innocua collection strain population was higher than in the case of the wild-type strain (69%/31% and 55%/45%, respectively). In turn, E. coli populations were characterized with a similar L/D ratio. Half of the cells in the populations were distinguished as visibly fluorescing red. The results obtained in this study confirmed sublethal HHP reaction on pathogens cells.
Analysis of the Cultured Meat Production System in Function of Its Environmental Footprint: Current Status, Gaps and Recommendations
Authors: Rodríguez Escobar María Ignacia , Cadena Erasmo , Nhu Trang T. , Cooreman-Algoed Margot , De Smet Stefaan , Dewulf Jo
Published: November 2021

Cultured meat has been presented as an environmentally friendlier option to conventional meat, but due to the limited data, the studies related to its performance are scarce and based on hypothetical production processes. This work provides a short literature review of the published environmental assessments of cultured meat. The main findings of this critical analysis showed that the lack of real data related to cultured meat decreased the level of accuracy of each study. The missing environmental profile of the process itself, including the proliferation and differentiation phases in bioreactors, along with key ingredients such as growth factors and other recombinant proteins, increase the difficulty of achieving reliable conclusions. In order to bridge the highlighted gaps, a complete production system is modelled and analysed from an engineering and life-cycle perspective. Furthermore, an overview of the supply chains of different products used in the process is provided, together with recommendations on how they should be considered in future life-cycle assessments. In essence, this work provides a structured pathway for upcoming consistent environmental assessments in this field, with the objective of setting the basis to understand the potential of cultured meat.
Climate Change Adaptation of Geo-Structures in Europe: Emerging Issues and Future Steps
Authors: Insana Alessandra , Beroya-Eitner Mary Antonette , Barla Marco , Zachert Hauke , Žlender Bojan , van Marle Margreet , Kalsnes Bjørn , Bračko Tamara , Pereira Carlos , Prodan Iulia , Szymkiewicz Fabien , Löfroth Hjördis
Published: November 2021

Climate change is already being felt in Europe, unequivocally affecting the regions’ geo-structures. Concern over this is rising, as reflected in the increasing number of studies on the subject. However, the majority of these studies focused only on slopes and on a limited geographical scope. In this paper, we attempted to provide a broader picture of potential climate change impacts on the geo-structures in Europe by gathering the collective view of geo-engineers and geo-scientists in several countries, and by considering different geo-structure types. We also investigated how geo-structural concerns are being addressed in national adaptation plans. We found that specific provisions for geo-structural adaptation are generally lacking and mainly come in the form of strategies for specific problems. In this regard, two common strategies are hazard/risk assessment and monitoring, which are mainly implemented in relation to slope stability. We recommend that in future steps, other geo-structures are likewise given attention, particularly those assessed as also potentially significantly affected by climate change. Countries considered in this study are mainly the member countries of the European Large Geotechnical Institutes Platform (ELGIP).
Examination of in Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin II Thrombophilic Mutations in Czech Young Women Using ddPCR—Prevalence and Cost–Benefit Analysis
Authors: Riedlova Petra , Kramna Dagmar , Ostrizkova Silvie , Tomaskova Hana , Jirik Vitezslav
Published: November 2021

Background: Thrombophilic mutations in genes for factor V Leiden and factor II prothrombin are among the most important risk factors for developing the thromboembolic disease (TED), along with the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) or smoking. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of risk factors in young women using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and, based on the results of this investigation, to perform a cost–benefit analysis of ddPCR-based screening in young women starting to take OCs compared to the treatment costs of patients who develop preventable TED in the Czech Republic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, female university students filled in a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for DNA isolation and ddPCR analysis of both aforementioned genetic risk factors. The results, along with data from literature and web search, were used for cost–benefit analysis valid for the Czech Republic. Results: Out of 148 participants, 30 (20%) were smokers and 49 (33%) took OCs. A mutation was confirmed in 6 women (4.1%) in the factor V gene and in 3 women (2%) in the factor II gene, respectively. A model calculation on a cohort of 50,000 women starting to use contraceptives in the Czech Republic every year showed that at maximum compliance, (i.e., non-use of OC and smoking cessation), screening could prevent 68 cases of TED over the course of the mean period of OC use (5.7 years). Economically, the costs of testing in this cohort (2.25 mil. USD) would be significantly lower than prevented treatment costs (16 mil. USD at maximum compliance); the cost–benefit break-even point would be at 14.1% compliance. Conclusion: The cost–benefit analysis based on our results indicates that screening for factor V Leiden and factor II prothrombin in young women before starting to use OCs would, in the conditions of the Czech Republic, likely be highly economically effective.
Why Are the Proportions of In-Vitro Fertilisation Interventions for Same Sex Female Couples Increasing?
Authors: Meads Catherine , Thorogood Laura-Rose , Lindemann Katy , Bewley Susan
Published: November 2021

Same-sex female couples who wish to become pregnant can choose donor insemination or in-vitro fertilization (IVF)—a technique intended for infertile women. In general, women in same-sex female partnerships are no more likely to be infertile than those in opposite sex partnerships. This article investigates data available from the Government Regulator of UK fertility clinics—the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, which is the only data available worldwide on same-sex female couples and their fertility choices. IVF is increasing both in absolute numbers and relative proportions year on year in the UK, compared to licensed donor insemination for same-sex female couples. As IVF has greater human and financial costs than donor insemination, policies should not encourage it as the first choice for fertile women requiring sperm. Commercial transactions are taking place where fertile lesbians receive cut price, and arguably unnecessary, IVF intervention in exchange for selling their eggs to be used for other infertile customers. If women are not told about the efficacy of fresh vs. frozen semen, and the risks of egg ‘sharing’ or intra-couple donation, exploitation becomes possible.
Research on Best Solution for Improving Indoor Air Quality and Reducing Energy Consumption in a High-Risk Radon Dwelling from Romania
Authors: Mareș Ion-Costinel , Catalina Tiberiu , Istrate Marian-Andrei , Cucoș Alexandra , Dicu Tiberius , Burghele Betty Denissa , Hening Kinga , Popescu Lelia Letitia , Popescu Razvan Stefan
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this article is the assessment of energy efficiency and indoor air quality for a single-family house located in Cluj-Napoca County, Romania. The studied house is meant to be an energy-efficient building with thermal insulation, low U-value windows, and a high efficiency boiler. Increasing the energy efficiency of the house leads to lower indoor air quality, due to lack of natural ventilation. As the experimental campaign regarding indoor air quality revealed, there is a need to find a balance between energy consumption and the quality of the indoor air. To achieve superior indoor air quality, the proposed mitigation systems (decentralized mechanical ventilation with heat recovery combined with a minimally invasive active sub-slab depressurization) have been installed to reduce the high radon level in the dwelling, achieving an energy reduction loss of up to 86%, compared to the traditional natural ventilation of the house. The sub-slab depressurization system was installed in the room with the highest radon level, while the local ventilation system with heat recovery has been installed in the exterior walls of the house. The results have shown significant improvement in the level of radon decreasing the average concentration from 425 to 70 Bq/m3, respectively the carbon dioxide average of the measurements being around 760 ppm. The thermal comfort improves significantly also, by stabilizing the indoor temperature at 21 °C, without any important fluctuations. The installation of this system has led to higher indoor air quality, with low energy costs and significant energy savings compared to conventional ventilation (by opening windows).
Impact of Job Resources and Job Demands on Burnout among Physical Therapy Providers
Authors: Patel Rupal M. , Bartholomew John
Published: November 2021

Job burnout is a threat for physical therapists. Little research has been conducted to identify possible protective factors against burnout in this population. Accordingly, we utilized the job demands-resources (JD-R) model and self-determination theory to guide our examination of basic psychological needs as factors to predict burnout in physical therapists. One hundred and two licensed physical therapists completed surveys. Higher levels of autonomy, competence and relatedness predicted burnout, even after accounting for job demands. Job resources, such as the basic psychological needs outlined by the self-determination theory, along with perceived respect, buffer the negative effects of secondary trauma on burnout. The job resource of perceived respect also buffers the negative effects of the physical demands of the job on burnout. These findings suggest that while job demands can be difficult to change, increasing the fulfillment of job resources can help ameliorate burnout in physical therapists. The present findings highlight the need for workplace interventions which cultivate the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to address burnout among physical therapists.
How Do Teleworkers and Organizations Manage the COVID-19 Crisis in Brazil? The Role of Flexibility I-Deals and Work Recovery in Maintaining Sustainable Well-Being at Work
Authors: Latorre Felisa , Pérez-Nebra Amalia Raquel , Queiroga Fabiana , Alcover Carlos-María
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the economic market and labor contexts worldwide. Brazil has suffered one of the worst social and governmental managements of the COVID-19 crisis, forcing workers and organizations to develop coping strategies. This environment can affect both well-being and performance at work. Sustainable well-being at work refers to different patterns of relationships between performance and well-being. It may include eudaimonic (e.g., Meaning of Work—MOW) or hedonic (e.g., emotions) forms of well-being. This study tests the moderating role of recovery from work stress in the relationship between flexibility i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work in Brazilian teleworkers. We relied on two studies to achieve this objective. In Study 1, conducted during the pandemic’s first outbreak in Brazil (N = 386), recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and clusters formed by performance and MOW (eudaimonic happiness). In Study 2, conducted during the second outbreak (N = 281), we identified relationships between clusters of emotions (hedonic happiness) and MOW (eudaimonic) with performance. The results supported the idea that recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work differently. Our findings have implications for Human Resource Management and teleworkers, especially for employee behaviors to deal with stress.
Size-Adaptive Texture Atlas Generation and Remapping for 3D Urban Building Models
Authors: Zhang Xuequan , Liu Wei , Liu Bing , Zhao Xin , Hu Zihe
Published: November 2021

A high-fidelity 3D urban building model requires large quantities of detailed textures, which can be non-tiled or tiled ones. The fast loading and rendering of these models remain challenges in web-based large-scale 3D city visualization. The traditional texture atlas methods compress all the textures of a model into one atlas, which needs extra blank space, and the size of the atlas is uncontrollable. This paper introduces a size-adaptive texture atlas method that can pack all the textures of a model without losing accuracy and increasing extra storage space. Our method includes two major steps: texture atlas generation and texture atlas remapping. First, all the textures of a model are classified into non-tiled and tiled ones. The maximum supported size of the texture is acquired from the graphics hardware card, and all the textures are packed into one or more atlases. Then, the texture atlases are remapped onto the geometric meshes. For the triangle with the original non-tiled texture, new texture coordinates in the texture atlases can be calculated directly. However, as for the triangle with the original tiled texture, it is clipped into many unit triangles to apply texture mapping. Although the method increases the mesh vertex number, the increased geometric vertices have much less impact on the rendering efficiency compared with the method of increasing the texture space. The experiment results show that our method can significantly improve building model rendering efficiency for large-scale 3D city visualization.
Students’ Reactions to Virtual Geological Field Trip to Baengnyeong Island, South Korea
Authors: Lee Woo-Hee , Kim Cheolhong , Kim Heejung , Kim Hee-Soo , Lim Chungwan
Published: November 2021

In this study, we evaluated affective components of the learning processes of students after being exposed to a virtual geology field trip of the Baengnyeong Island, South Korea. Changes in students’ cognition of and interest in science and scientific attitude were measured before and after exposure to the virtual field trip. We exposed 106 middle school students to the program and our results revealed that this program had a positive impact on their scientific attitude (p value = 0.014) but no significant changes were observed in the students’ cognition of and interest in science (p value = 0.166). The significant finding from this study was that the VFT program can bring positive scientific attitude as a component of affective learning process. The affective learning process influences the cognitive learning processes and eventually the academic achievement of the students can be improved. In the students’ satisfaction survey, the highest satisfaction level was in the convenience of the program. As access to Baengnyeong Island is limited, though the island is an ideal location for studying geological phenomena, the VFT can be a useful tool for instilling a positive scientific attitude in students via indirect field experience. It can be a good alternative to bridge the education gap between students with special needs who are less mobile and other students.
Assessment of Corrosion Performance of Steel Rebar in Snail Shell Ash Blended Cements under Marine Environments
Authors: Raghav Muralidharan , Karthick Subbiah , Park Taejoon , Lee Han-Seung
Published: November 2021

An attempt has been made on a constructive approach to evaluate the performance of snail shell ash (SSA) for its corrosion performance under marine environments. Corrosion performance of steel rebar in chloride-contaminated SSA with (0% to 50%) replacement levels of cement extract medium was examined through electrochemical and weight loss techniques. Initially, snail shell powder (SSP) is made by pulverizing and subsequently SSA is by thermal decomposition methods. Both SSP and SSA were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy. Concrete cubes with 0% to 50% replacement levels of cement by SSA were evaluated for their mechanical properties. A critical level of 20 to 30% SSA improved both corrosion resistance and strength of concrete. Extrapolation modeling for the strength and corrosion rate with respect to later age were made. SSA is a suitable replacement material for natural limestone in cement productions.
Fabrication of Antibacterial Metal Surfaces Using Magnetron-Sputtering Method
Authors: Markowska-Szczupak Agata , Paszkiewicz Oliwia , Michalkiewicz Beata , Kamińska Adrianna , Wróbel Rafał Jan
Published: November 2021

One-hundred-nanometer films consisting of silver, copper, and gold nanocrystallites were prepared, and their antibacterial properties were quantitatively measured. The magnetron-sputtering method was used for the preparation of the metallic films over the glass plate. Single- and double-layer films were manufactured. The films were thoroughly characterized with the XRD, SEM, EDS, and XPS methods. The antibacterial activity of the samples was investigated. Gram-negative Escherichia coli, strain K12 ATCC 25922 (E. coli), and Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis, ATCC 49461 (S. epidermidis), were used in the microbial tests. The crystallite size was about 30 nm in the cases of silver and gold and a few nanometers in the case of copper. Significant oxidation of the copper films was proven. The antibacterial efficacy of the tested samples followed the order: Ag/Cu > Au/Cu > Cu. It was concluded that such metallic surfaces may be applied as contact-killing materials for a more effective fight against bacteria and viruses.
Wear and Airborne Noise Interdependency at Asperitical Level: Analytical Modelling and Experimental Validation
Authors: Lontin Kevin , Khan Muhammad A.
Published: November 2021

Generation of wear and airborne sound is inevitable during friction processes. Previously, the relationship between the wear and the sound has only been determined experimentally. Analytical models do exist, but they remain rare and do not fully account for the wear and the airborne sound generation especially at the asperitical level. This model attempts to fill the gap by providing a quantifiable relationship at an asperitical level between the wear generated and the sound emitted in a simple pin-on-disc setup. The model was validated for three materials (iron, mild steel, and aluminium T351) under two loads (10 N and 20 N) at 300 RPM. The theoretical model agrees with the experimental results with a varying error of 10 to 15% error in iron and aluminium. However, a larger error is observed in the case of mild steel. The model could be refined to improve the accuracy as it assumes point impacts on the asperities where a distributed impact would be more suitable. Furthermore, the pin is assumed a single asperity to simplify the model at the expense of accuracy. Overall, the experimental results are in good correlation with the theoretical results and this model provides the first step in quantifying wear using only the recorded sound pressure.
The Implementation of Industrial Byproduct in Malaysian Peat Improvement: A Sustainable Soil Stabilization Approach
Authors: Ahmad Afnan , Sutanto Muslich Hartadi , Ahmad Niraku Rosmawati binti , Bujang Mastura , Mohamad Mazizah Ezdiani
Published: November 2021

Peat is a well-known problematic soil associated with poor engineering properties. Its replacement with an expensive competent foundation material is practiced for road embankment construction which is costly and causes greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this paper investigated the effectiveness of a byproduct from a metal industry (silica fume) to stabilize peat along with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) through a series of experimental tests. After peat-indexed characterization, a number of standard compaction and mechanical tests were performed on the stabilized and parent peat. For this purpose, nine designated mixes were prepared possessing various combinations of silica fume (SF) and 10–20% OPC. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were carried out after 7, 14, and 28 days of curing to assess strength enhancement and binder effectiveness, and the microstructural evolution induced by the binders was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis revealed a substantial improvement in mechanical properties with the incorporation of SF and OPC, ultimately meeting the minimum strength requirement for highway construction (i.e., 345 kPa). A peak UCS of 1063.94 kPa was recorded at 20% SF, and an unsoaked CBR value of 42.95 was observed using 15% SF and 15% OPC after 28 days of curing. Furthermore, the increasing percentage of hydraulic binders exhibited brittle, collapsible failure, while the microstructural study revealed the formation of a dense matrix with a refined pore structure in the treated peat. Finally, a significant statistical analysis was carried out by correlating the test parameters. In this way, rather than stockpiling and dumping, an industrial byproduct was implemented in peat stabilization in an eco-friendly manner.
Lattice Phase Field Model for Nanomaterials
Authors: Wu Pingping , Liang Yongfeng
Published: November 2021

The lattice phase field model is developed to simulate microstructures of nanoscale materials. The grid spacing in simulation is rescaled and restricted to the lattice parameter of real materials. Two possible approaches are used to solve the phase field equations at the length scale of lattice parameter. Examples for lattice phase field modeling of complex nanostructures are presented to demonstrate the potential and capability of this model, including ferroelectric superlattice structure, ferromagnetic composites, and the grain growth process under stress. Advantages, disadvantages, and future directions with this phase field model are discussed briefly.
Preparation and Flame Retardant Properties of Calcium–Aluminium Hydrotalcite with Root Cutting Silicate Layers as Bamboo Flame Retardants
Authors: Hu Ailian , Du Chungui , Hua Yating , Shan Yingying , Liu Chunlin , Chen Shiqin , Li Qi , Yu Hongwei
Published: November 2021

Bamboo has been widely used in architecture, decoration and other fields because of its advantages of short growth period, high strength and degradability. However, bamboo, as a combustible material like wood, are easy to burn and cause building fires. However, the existing bamboo water-based flame retardants have some shortcomings, such as strong hygroscopicity and easy loss, which limits the application of bamboo products. In order to improve the flame retardant performance of bamboo, CaAl-SiO2 layered double hydroxide (LDH) as bamboo flame retardant was synthesised by coprecipitation method. The influence of preparation technology on CaAl–SiO3–LDH structures and properties as well as the flame retardant and smoke suppression characteristics of flame retardant-treated bamboo was discussed. The results revealed that the crystallisation temperature, crystallisation time and crystallisation concentration of CaAl–SiO3–LDHs considerably affected its structure and properties. The optimum technological parameters for preparing CaAl–SiO3–LDHs by using the coprecipitation method are as follows: crystallisation temperature of 100 °C, crystallisation time of 9 h and Ca2+ solution molar concentration of 0.33 mol/L. Compared with nonflame-retardant wood, CaAl–SiO3–LDH flame retardant treatment delayed the peak time of the heat release rate by 20 s and the ignition time by 77.78% and increased the carbon residue rate by 9.54%. This study can provide reference for the research of new flame retardant for bamboo products.
Evaluation of Injectable Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogels for Endodontic Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Astudillo-Ortiz Esteban , Babo Pedro S. , Reis Rui L. , Gomes Manuela E.
Published: November 2021

Dental pulp tissue engineering (TE) endeavors to regenerate dentin/pulp complex by combining a suitable supporting matrix, stem cells, and biochemical stimuli. Such procedures foresee a matrix that can be easily introduced into the root canal system (RCS) and tightly adhere to dentin walls to assure the dentin surface’s proper colonization with progenitor cells capable of restoring the dentin/pulp complex. Herein was investigated an injectable self-setting hyaluronic acid-based (HA) hydrogel system, formed by aldehyde-modified (a-HA) with hydrazide-modified (ADH), enriched with platelet lysate (PL), for endodontic regeneration. The hydrogels’ working (wT) and setting (sT) times, the adhesion to the dentine walls, the hydrogel’s microstructure, and the delivery of human dental pulp cells (DPCs) were studied in vitro. Hydrogels incorporating PL showed a suitable wT and sT and a porous microstructure. The tensile tests showed that the breaking point occurs after 4.3106 ± 1.8677 mm deformation, while in the indentation test after 1.4056 ± 0.3065 mm deformation. Both breaking points occur in the hydrogel extension. The HA/PL hydrogels exhibited supportive properties and promoted cell migration toward dentin surfaces in vitro. Overall, these results support using PL-laden HA injectable hydrogels (HA/PL) as a biomaterial for DPCs encapsulation, thereby displaying great clinical potential towards endodontic regenerative therapies.
In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Investigation of Melting/Evaporation Kinetics in Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Yunjie , Yuan Huanhuan , Wang Hui , Wang Zhiwei
Published: November 2021

We report on thermal stability and phase transition behaviors of triangular Au nanoprisms through in situ heating transmission electron microscopy. With rising temperature, Au nanoprisms exhibit fluctuating surface reconstructions at the corner regions. When a quasi-melting state is reached at the temperature below bulk melting points, the evaporation is initiated commonly at a corner with low curvature and containing sharp intersection points. The subsequent annealing process leads to the gradual evaporation, which, in the absence of thick carbon coverages, is accompanied by marked shape reconstructions. The thermal stability and evaporation behaviors are not evidently regulated by nanoprism aggregations.