bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Construction Risks in Projects Funded by External Sources in Jordan during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Abu Qalbin Rusl , Rabayah Hesham , Darwish Motasem , Abendeh Raed
Published: July 2023

In general, construction projects are vulnerable to various risks during their life cycle. These risks may negatively affect the project cost and duration, in addition to other factors, including environmental impact, health and safety, and quality of construction work. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought more challenges to construction projects. This study presents an assessment of 47 major risks affecting construction projects. The research investigates and assesses the risk factors associated with a special type of construction project, namely, projects funded by external sources, due to their importance, characteristics, and sensitivity. Furthermore, the study was carried out under the impact of the special conditions and constraints associated with the COVID-19 health pandemic. These conditions provided specific types of risks, results of risk assessment, and recommended responses to the risks. The studied risks were categorized using the PESTLE technique, an external factor analysis technique, which includes six groups of Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental risks. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 34 construction organizations that implemented or supervised projects funded by external sources. The aim of the survey was to assess the risks affecting the construction projects in terms of probability of occurrence and severity on the projects’ cost and time schedule. Then, the importance of each risk was calculated, and the risks were ranked according to their importance. The results showed the high importance of environmental and legal risks and indicated that the most important risk factors are the difficulty of issuing licenses and permits and the inappropriate definition of the scope of work. This study would help managers and fund providers make decisions regarding risks during uncontrolled pandemic or disastrous circumstances. Although the current study was conducted in Jordan, its procedures and results can be useful in other locations with different properties and conditions.
Identification of Various Execution Modes and Their Respective Risks for Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Akhtar Muhammad , Mufti Nadeem Ahmad , Mubin Sajjad , Saleem Muhammad Qaiser , Zahoor Sadaf , Ullah Sanna
Published: July 2023

The public–private partnership (PPP) based model for the execution of infrastructure projects originated from Anglo-Saxon countries and was initially used in 1977 by the United Kingdom (U.K). Since then, its popularity has increased worldwide. Earlier studies by researchers and many other professional sectors and departments have introduced PPP contracts into different execution modes like Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT); Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT); and Build, Lease, and Transfer (BLT), etc. All definitions of PPP contracts are different but have a few common characteristics and risks. Previously, numerous pieces of literature were available on these common risks for various execution modes of PPP contracts. However, each PPP mode still has unique risks that must be identified to understand and successfully implement the PPP projects properly. This paper fills the gap mentioned above and aims to identify various commonly used PPP execution modes in infrastructure projects and their corresponding risks after placing the different PPP execution modes into four (04) different categories. Identified risks for the corresponding PPP categories were also divided into seven (07) stages of the PPP life cycle. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather information from thirty-four (34) PPP experts worldwide. Accordingly, interviews are transcribed and processed for thematic analysis in academic NVIVO software. These identified risks are further placed in the respective PPP category for the convenience and better understanding of the study’s outcome to the users and for the subsequent prioritization and allocation of these identified risks accordingly to the PPP parties during the finalization of the PPP execution mode.
PET/CT Imaging in Treatment Planning and Surveillance of Sinonasal Neoplasms
Authors: Akay Sinan , Pollard Janet H. , Saad Eddin Assim , Alatoum Aiah , Kandemirli Sedat , Gholamrezanezhad Ali , Menda Yusuf , Graham Michael M. , Shariftabrizi Ahmad
Published: July 2023

Sinonasal cancers are uncommon malignancies with a generally unfavorable prognosis, often presenting at an advanced stage. Their high rate of recurrence supports close imaging surveillance and the utilization of functional imaging techniques. Whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT has very high sensitivity for the diagnosis of sinonasal malignancies and can also be used as a “metabolic biopsy” in the characterization of some of the more common subgroups of these tumors, though due to overlap in uptake, histological confirmation is still needed. For certain tumor types, radiotracers, such as 11C-choline, and radiolabeled somatostatin analogs, including 68Ga-DOTATATE/DOTATOC, have proven useful in treatment planning and surveillance. Although serial scans for posttreatment surveillance allow the detection of subclinical lesions, the optimal schedule and efficacy in terms of survival are yet to be determined. Pitfalls of 18F-FDG, such as post-surgical and post-radiotherapy crusting and inflammation, may cause false-positive hypermetabolism in the absence of relapse.
PTHrP Regulates Fatty Acid Metabolism via Novel lncRNA in Breast Cancer Initiation and Progression Models
Authors: Zhang Rui , Li Jiarong , Badescu Dunarel , Karaplis Andrew , Ragoussis Jiannis , Kremer Richard
Published: July 2023

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is the primary cause of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH). We previously showed that PTHrP ablation, in the MMTV-PyMT murine model of breast cancer (BC) progression, can dramatically prolong tumor latency, slow tumor growth, and prevent metastatic spread. However, the signaling mechanisms using lineage tracing have not yet been carefully analyzed. Here, we generated Pthrpflox/flox; Cre+ mT/mG mice (KO) and Pthrpwt/wt; Cre+ mT/mG tumor mice (WT) to examine the signaling pathways under the control of PTHrP from the early to late stages of tumorigenesis. GFP+ mammary epithelial cells were further enriched for subsequent RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analyses. We observed significant upregulation of cell cycle signaling and fatty acid metabolism in PTHrP WT tumors, which are linked to tumor initiation and progression. Next, we observed that the expression levels of a novel lncRNA, GM50337, along with stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase 1 (Scd1) are significantly upregulated in PTHrP WT but not in KO tumors. We further validated a potential human orthologue lncRNA, OLMALINC, together with SCD1 that can be regulated via PTHrP in human BC cell lines. In conclusion, these novel findings could be used to develop targeted strategies for the treatment of BC and its metastatic complications.
Imidazole-4-N-acetamide Derivatives as a Novel Scaffold for Selective Targeting of Cyclin Dependent Kinases
Authors: Rusina Polina , Gandalipov Erik , Abdusheva Yana , Panova Maria , Burdenkova Alexandra , Chaliy Vasiliy , Brachs Maria , Stroganov Oleg , Guzeeva Ksenia , Svitanko Igor , Shtil Alexander , Novikov Fedor
Published: July 2023

The rational design of cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) inhibitors presumes the development of approaches for accurate prediction of selectivity and the activity of small molecular weight anticancer drug candidates. Aiming at attenuation of general toxicity of low selectivity compounds, we herein explored the new chemotype of imidazole-4-N-acetamide substituted derivatives of the pan-CDK inhibitor PHA-793887. Newly synthesized compounds 1–4 containing an aliphatic methyl group or aromatic radicals at the periphery of the scaffold were analyzed for the prediction of relative free energies of binding to CDK1, -2, -5, and -9 using a protocol based on non-equilibrium (NEQ) thermodynamics. This methodology allows for the demonstration of a good correlation between the calculated parameters of interaction of 1–4 with individual targets and the values of inhibitory potencies in in vitro kinase assays. We provide evidence in support of NEQ thermodynamics as a time sparing, precise, and productive approach for generating chemical inhibitors of clinically relevant anticancer targets.
Vessel Delineation Using U-Net: A Sparse Labeled Deep Learning Approach for Semantic Segmentation of Histological Images
Authors: Glänzer Lukas , Masalkhi Husam E. , Roeth Anjali A. , Schmitz-Rode Thomas , Slabu Ioana
Published: July 2023

Semantic segmentation is an important imaging analysis method enabling the identification of tissue structures. Histological image segmentation is particularly challenging, having large structural information while providing only limited training data. Additionally, labeling these structures to generate training data is time consuming. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of a semantic segmentation using U-Net with a novel sparse labeling technique. The basic U-Net architecture was extended by attention gates, residual and recurrent links, and dropout regularization. To overcome the high class imbalance, which is intrinsic to histological data, under- and oversampling and data augmentation were used. In an ablation study, various architectures were evaluated, and the best performing model was identified. This model contains attention gates, residual links, and a dropout regularization of 0.125. The segmented images show accurate delineations of the vascular structures (with a precision of 0.9088 and an AUC-ROC score of 0.9717), and the segmentation algorithm is robust to images containing staining variations and damaged tissue. These results demonstrate the feasibility of sparse labeling in combination with the modified U-Net architecture.
Prognostic Factors for Postoperative Bleeding Complications and Prolonged Intensive Care after Percutaneous Hepatic Chemosaturation Procedures with Melphalan
Authors: Struck Manuel Florian , Werdehausen Robert , Kirsten Holger , Gössmann Holger , Veelken Rhea , van Bömmel Florian , Stehr Sebastian , Denecke Timm , Ebel Sebastian
Published: July 2023

Percutaneous hepatic melphalan perfusion (chemosaturation) in patients with liver metastases is known to be associated with procedure-related hemodynamic depression and coagulation impairment, which may cause bleeding complications and/or a prolonged intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS). We retrospectively analyzed possible predictive factors for bleeding complications and an ICU LOS > 1 d in a cohort of 31 patients undergoing 90 chemosaturation procedures. Using a multivariable mixed-model approach, we identified the amount of perioperative fluid volume (OR 12.0, 95% CI 2.3–60.0, p = 0.003) and protamine (OR 0.065, 95% CI 0.007–0.55, p = 0.012) to be associated with bleeding complications. Furthermore, the amount of perioperative fluid volume was associated with an ICU LOS > 1 d (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.4–19.0, p = 0.011). Heparin dosage, melphalan dosage, extracorporeal circulation time, and noradrenaline dosage had no significant effects on outcomes. Protamine use was not associated with anaphylactic or thromboembolic complications. Despite the limited sample size, these results suggest a restrictive perioperative fluid regime to be beneficial, and support the use of protamine for heparin reversal after chemosaturation procedures. Further prospective randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.
The Immune Cells in the Development of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Caponio Vito Carlo Alberto , Zhurakivska Khrystyna , Lo Muzio Lorenzo , Troiano Giuseppe , Cirillo Nicola
Published: July 2023

A still unresolved issue surrounding tumor formation concerns the role that the immune system plays in preventing the formation and progression of neoplasia, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Antitumor immunity has historically been seen as a critical barrier for cancer cells to develop, grow and spread, and this can be modulated using immunotherapies to achieve antitumor clinical responses. However, it has recently become clear that tumor-associated immunity, particularly the inflammatory microenvironment, has the paradoxical effect of enhancing tumorigenesis and progression. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted function of infiltrating immune cells in suppressing or promoting premalignancy and cancer. In particular, we report on the evidence supporting a role for T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, and neutrophils in the development and progression of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and OSCC. We also draw attention to the clinical relevance of immune cell phenotypes and associated molecules for use as biomarkers and to the translatability of current research findings to improve classification systems and precision medicine in patients with OSCC.
High BECN1 Expression Negatively Correlates with BCL2 Expression and Predicts Better Prognosis in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Role of Autophagy
Authors: Salwa Amreen , Ferraresi Alessandra , Secomandi Eleonora , Vallino Letizia , Moia Riccardo , Patriarca Andrea , Garavaglia Beatrice , Gaidano Gianluca , Isidoro Ciro
Published: July 2023

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by high molecular and clinical heterogeneity. Autophagy, a lysosome-driven catabolic process devoted to macromolecular turnover, is fundamental in maintaining normal hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors homeostasis, and its dysregulation plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of hematological malignancies. One main regulator of autophagy is BECLIN-1, which may interact alternatively with either BCL-2, thus allowing apoptosis, or PI3KC3, thus promoting autophagy. The altered expression of BCL2 and BECN1 correlates with lymphoma outcomes, but whether this is associated with dysregulated cross-talk between autophagy and apoptosis remains to be elucidated. Analysis of the TCGA database revealed that BCL2 and BECN1 mRNA expression were inversely correlated in DLBCL patients. In representative DLBCL cell lines exposed to doxorubicin, the cells highly expressing BCL-2 were resistant, while the ones highly expressing BECLIN-1 were sensitive, and this correlated with low and high autophagy flux, respectively. Venetoclax targeting of BCL-2 increased while the spautin-1-mediated inhibition of BECLIN-1-dependent autophagy reversed doxorubicin sensitivity in the former and in the latter, respectively. By interrogating the TCGA DLBCL dataset, we found that BCL2 and BECN1 acted as negative and positive prognostic markers for DLBCL, respectively. The differentially expressed gene analysis in the respective cohorts revealed that BCL2 positively correlated with oncogenic pathways (e.g., glucose transport, HIF1A signaling, JAK-STAT signaling, PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway) and negatively correlated with autophagy-related transcripts, while BECN1 showed the opposite trend. Notably, patients with high BECN1 expression displayed longer survival. Our data reveal, for the first time, that the modulation of BECLIN-1-dependent autophagy influences the prognosis of DLBCL patients and provide a mechanistic explanation supporting the therapeutic use of drugs that, by stimulating autophagy, can sensitize lymphoma cells to chemotherapy.
MAGI1 Prevents Senescence and Promotes the DNA Damage Response in ER+ Breast Cancer
Authors: Wörthmüller Janine , Disler Simona , Pradervand Sylvain , Richard François , Haerri Lisa , Ruiz Buendía Gustavo A. , Fournier Nadine , Desmedt Christine , Rüegg Curzio
Published: July 2023

MAGI1 acts as a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC), and its loss correlates with a more aggressive phenotype. To identify the pathways and events affected by MAGI1 loss, we deleted the MAGI1 gene in the ER+ MCF7 BC cell line and performed RNA sequencing and functional experiments in vitro. Transcriptome analyses revealed gene sets and biological processes related to estrogen signaling, the cell cycle, and DNA damage responses affected by MAGI1 loss. Upon exposure to TNF-α/IFN-γ, MCF7 MAGI1 KO cells entered a deeper level of quiescence/senescence compared with MCF7 control cells and activated the AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. MCF7 MAGI1 KO cells exposed to ionizing radiations or cisplatin had reduced expression of DNA repair proteins and showed increased sensitivity towards PARP1 inhibition using olaparib. Treatment with PI3K and AKT inhibitors (alpelisib and MK-2206) restored the expression of DNA repair proteins and sensitized cells to fulvestrant. An analysis of human BC patients’ transcriptomic data revealed that patients with low MAGI1 levels had a higher tumor mutational burden and homologous recombination deficiency. Moreover, MAGI1 expression levels negatively correlated with PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling, which confirmed our in vitro observations. Pharmacological and genomic evidence indicate HDACs as regulators of MAGI1 expression. Our findings provide a new view on MAGI1 function in cancer and identify potential treatment options to improve the management of ER+ BC patients with low MAGI1 levels.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Biosensing and Biopsy Technology
Authors: Chu Fengjian , Wei Wei , Shuaibu Nazifi Sani , Feng Hongru , Wang Xiaozhi , Pan Yuanjiang
Published: July 2023

Sensitive and accurate detection of biomolecules by multiplexed methods is important for disease diagnosis, drug research, and biochemical analysis. Mass spectrometry has the advantages of high sensitivity, high throughput, and high resolution, making it ideal for biomolecular sensing. As a result of the development of atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry, researchers have been able to use a variety of means to identify target biomolecules and recognize the converted signals by mass spectrometry. In this review, three main approaches and tools are summarized for mass spectrometry sensing and biopsy techniques, including array biosensing, probe/pen-based mass spectrometry, and other biosensor–mass spectrometry coupling techniques. Portability and practicality of relevant mass spectrometry sensing methods are reviewed, together with possible future directions to promote the advancement of mass spectrometry for target identification of biomolecules and rapid detection of real biological samples.
Study on Sports, Extracurricular Activities, Electronic Device Usage Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers
Authors: Huang Su-Fen , Duan Hui-Ying
Published: July 2023

Under the impact of the pandemic, electronic device usage has become the primary tool for learning. Due to social distancing restrictions, many sports facilities have been forced to close, resulting in changes in daily activities for preschool children. This research aimed to investigate the sports, extracurricular activities, and electronic device usage factors associated with chronic fatigue syndrome among Taiwanese preschoolers. Five-year-old preschoolers were randomly selected using a stratified multi-stage random cluster sampling method. The parents of the preschoolers completed the questionnaires, which contained items related to the symptoms of fatigue, extracurricular activities, and electronic device usage of their preschoolers. A total of 1536 valid questionnaires were returned. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. The following results were obtained: (1) the preschoolers who exercised at least three times per week, engaged in sweating exercise for at least 30 min at a time, had a continuous rhythmic exercise habit, and participated in a variety of exercise types experienced a lower degree of fatigue; (2) the preschoolers who engaged in extracurricular activities every day exhibited a higher degree of fatigue; (3) the preschoolers who watched television or used smartphones to pass the time due to boredom, watched television or used smartphones on holidays, played video games or surfed the Internet due to boredom, and played video games or surfed the Internet on holidays displayed a higher degree of fatigue. This research verified that regular exercise with various sports, extreme extracurricular activities, and laissez-faire electronic device usage are factors associated with fatigue syndrome in preschoolers. It is suggested to develop children’s regular exercise habits, avoid excessive extracurricular activities, and guide their electronic device usage.
Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Their Co-Occurrence among Orphaned Children in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province
Authors: Mokwena Kebogile Elizabeth , Magabe Success , Ntuli Busisiwe
Published: July 2023

Although both short- and long-term psychological challenges, specifically depression and anxiety, have been reported among orphans, there is a dearth of studies that quantify these disorders in rural settings. The aim of the study was to screen for symptoms of depression, anxiety and their co-occurrence among orphaned school-going children in rural Limpopo province, South Africa. Data were collected among primary school children in 10 schools in two villages in Limpopo province. The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) was used to screen for symptoms of depression, anxiety and their co-occurrence among 308 orphaned learners in the selected schools. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data. STATA 13 was used to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the symptoms and severity of depression, anxiety and their co-occurrence. The sample of 308 consisted of the majority (60.71%) residing in Maandagshoek and being female (54.22%). Their ages ranged from 8 to 12 years, with a mean of 10.51 years. The prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety and co-occurrence of anxiety and depression were 23.05%, 34.09% and 32.14%, respectively. The prevalence of mental health symptoms was high among the sample. There is a need to expand the care of orphans to include mental health and not just limit their care to provide food to vulnerable children.
Association of Stunting with Socio-Demographic Factors and Feeding Practices among Children under Two Years in Informal Settlements in Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Kubeka Zandile , Modjadji Perpetua
Published: July 2023

Despite improvements in childhood undernutrition through integrated nutritional programs in South Africa, stunting among children remains persistent, and is attributed to poor socio-demographic status. This context has been implicated in disrupting mothers’ decisions regarding effective infant feeding, ultimately meaning that children’s nutritional demands remain unmet. In view of this, we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the association between socio-demographic factors and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and stunting among children under two years receiving primary health care in informal settlements in Gauteng, South Africa. A validated questionnaire was used to assess mothers’ socio-demographic status and feeding practices using WHO core indicators. Stunting was defined as length-for age z-scores (LAZ) below −2 standard deviation, computed using WHO Anthro software version 3.2.2.1 using age, sex, and anthropometric measurements of children. Univariate and multivariate analyses were stratified by stunting to determine the relationship with socio-demographic, infant, and IYCF factors using STATA 17. The prevalence of stunting was 16% among surveyed children under two years (with a mean age of 8 ± 5 months) living in poor socio-demographic households. Poor feeding practices were characterized by delayed initiation of breastfeeding (58%), sub-optimal exclusive breastfeeding (29%), discontinued breastfeeding (44%), early introduction of solid foods (41%), and low dietary diversity (97%). Significant differences in terms of child’s age, monthly household income, and ever being breastfed were observed (Chi square test and univariate analysis). After controlling for potential confounders, stunting was significantly associated with child’s age [12–23 months: AOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16–0.76], and monthly household income [ZAR 3000–ZAR 5000: AOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26–0.86]. Despite the few aforementioned socio-demographic and IYCF factors associated with stunting, this study reiterates stunting as the commonest poor nutritional status indicator among children under two years, suggesting the presence of chronic undernutrition in these poverty-stricken informal settlements. A multisectoral approach to address stunting should be context-specific and incorporate tailor-made interventions to promote optimal infant-feeding practices. Conducting future nutrient assessments focusing on children is imperative.
Formulation of Botanical Shampoo Infused with Standardised Mangosteen Peel Extract for Healthy Hair and Scalp
Authors: Sang Sze-Huey , Liew Kai Bin , Lee Siew-Keah , Keng Jing-Wen , Lee Sue-Kei , Akowuah Gabriel Akyirem , Tan Ching Siang , Chew Yik-Ling
Published: July 2023

In recent decades, there has been a growing demand for shampoos derived from botanical sources due to their avoidance of synthetic and highly allergenic chemicals used as bioactives and excipients. These hair care products are free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, synthetic fragrances, and artificial colours. Natural shampoos are sustainable, skin-friendly, and eco-friendly to the environment. Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen) peel is usually discarded as agricultural waste. It consists of numerous bioactives which exhibit promising activities for hair care and scalp maintenance. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a novel hair shampoo containing standardised mangosteen peel extract. The formulation of the mangosteen shampoo utilised botanical ingredients and naturally derived components. It underwent an evaluation to assess its physicochemical properties, including visual inspection, pH, surface tension, percentage solid content, wetting time, foam ability and stability, as well as dirt dispersion. These properties were then compared to those of two commercially available hair shampoos. Its antimicrobial activity towards Malassezia furfur ATCC 14521 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was also examined and compared with the commercial shampoo using the microbroth dilution method. Its antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay. It was noticed that all formulations (F1–F4) had acceptable physicochemical properties, and they fell within the standard range. F2 had the best antifungal activity (MIC 0.039 mg/mL, MFC 0.156 mg/mL), and moderate antibacterial (MIC 2.50 mg/mL, MBC 5.00 mg/mL) and antioxidant activities (IC50 21.9 ± 3.27 mg/mL; AEAC 26.3 ± 4.06 mg AA/100 g sample). A microscopic examination of hair strands after washing revealed the successful removal of artificial sebum, signifying a good detergency effect. The physical and chemical properties of the hair shampoo formula remained stable without phase separation. In conclusion, the formulated clean hair shampoo with standardised mangosteen peel extract has good cleansing properties, and it is effective in inhibiting dandruff-causing microbial and scavenging free radicals.
Controllable Synthesis and Surface Modifications of a Metastable O2-Type Li-Rich Cathode Material
Authors: Sun Yiming , Huang Junjie , Zhang Hongzhou , Zhang Lianqi , Wang Defa
Published: July 2023

Li-rich materials have become one of the most promising cathode candidates for next-generation lithium-ion battery systems due to their high capacity and operating voltage. Conventional O3-type Li-rich materials undergo a structural transition from a layered to a spinel phase during cycling, leading to the degradation in their electrochemical performance, especially in terms of their voltage decay. The oxygen atoms comprising the structure of O2-type Li-rich materials are stacked in the ABAC configuration, which can effectively suppress these harmful phase transitions. However, O2-type Li-rich materials are metastable structures and can only be synthesized via the means of complex ion exchange methods. In addition, the surface of the material is susceptible to side reactions with the electrolyte when charged to high voltages. Here, we explored the optimal conditions for the synthesis of O2-type Li[Li0.25Ni0.1Co0.05Mn0.6]O2 (LLNCM) in more detail by preparing the precursors using the sol-gel method. Meanwhile, the modification of the material’s surface via low-temperature hydrolysis of aluminum isopropoxide has been proposed for the first time in this study to avoid the damage of metastable materials by the high-temperature coating process. The surface-modified materials prepared under optimal conditions exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance, indicating that a highly stable O2-type bulk phase structure with effective surface modification is a potential way to promote the commercial applications of Li-rich cathode materials.
Echocardiography Imaging of the Right Ventricle: Focus on Three-Dimensional Echocardiography
Authors: Molnár Andrea Ágnes , Sánta Attila , Merkely Béla
Published: July 2023

Right ventricular function strongly predicts cardiac death and adverse cardiac events in patients with cardiac diseases. However, the accurate right ventricular assessment by two-dimensional echocardiography is limited due to its complex anatomy, shape, and load dependence. Advances in cardiac imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography provided more reliable information on right ventricular volumes and function without geometrical assumptions. Furthermore, the pathophysiology of right ventricular dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation is frequently connected. Three-dimensional echocardiography allows a more in-depth structural and functional evaluation of the tricuspid valve. Understanding the anatomy and pathophysiology of the right side of the heart may help in diagnosing and managing the disease by using reliable imaging tools. The present review describes the challenging echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle and tricuspid valve apparatus in clinical practice with a focus on three-dimensional echocardiography.
Cyberbullying: Education Research
Authors: Marín Suelves Diana , Rodríguez Guimeráns Ana , Romero Rodrigo Mª Mercedes , López Gómez Silvia
Published: July 2023

Today’s society is characterised by a high degree of digitisation and the use of electronic devices at an increasingly early age. Data from recent studies and news reports from different parts of the world have focused on the malicious use of these devices by some young people to engage in peer-to-peer bullying, now known as cyberbullying. Given the negative impact of exposure to these situations on the health and well-being of children and young people, we felt it was important to analyse the scientific evidence from a dual perspective. To this end, we carried out a bibliometric study of 131 articles selected from the Scopus database using the PRISMA method to quantify the scientific literature in terms of productivity, collaboration, impact and dissemination. In addition, we carried out a content analysis to explore this polyhedral reality further through three main categories. The results made it possible to identify the places, authors, and journals where useful information can be found. We were also able to highlight the need for training for the various educational and social actors and to identify risk factors associated with cyberbullying and the importance of primary prevention.
Optimal Volume Planning and Scheduling of Paper Production with Smooth Transitions by Product Grades
Authors: Voronov Roman , Shabaev Anton , Prokhorov Ilya
Published: July 2023

The article deals with the problem of calculating the volume calendar plan of a paper mill. The presented mathematical model and methods make it possible to schedule paper production orders between several paper machines (PM) to even their loading, devise cutting plans for each winder and arrange the order of their implementation. When forming cutting plans, orders are grouped in accordance with such parameters as grammage, roll diameter, core diameter, product type and number of layers. Deadlines and volumes in customer orders are taken into account. The cutting plans for each winder account for the allowable roll width limits and the maximum number of knives. To find the optimal schedule, a combination of the following criteria is used: minimal trim loss, minimal changes to the knives’ setup and smooth transitions by product grades. Solution algorithms are presented that use a combination of the simplex method, the column generation, the branch and bound methods, the greedy algorithm and the local search procedure. We tested the solution approach on real production data from a paper mill in European Russia and obtained the production sequence that better matches deadlines in customer orders compared to the plan devised manually by production planners.
Performance Assessment of Horizontal Ground Heat Exchangers under a Greenhouse in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Léveillée-Dallaire Xavier , Raymond Jasmin , Snæbjörnsson Jónas Þór , Fujii Hikari , Langevin Hubert
Published: July 2023

Among the various approaches to agriculture, urban greenhouse farming has gained attention for its ability to address food security and disruptions to global food supply chains. However, the increasing impact of climate change and global warming necessitates sustainable methods for heating and cooling these greenhouses. In this study, we focused on the potential of slinky-coil horizontal ground heat exchangers (HGHEs) to meet the energy demands of urban greenhouses, assuming they are installed beneath the greenhouse to optimize space utilization. Climate data, an energy consumption profile for a greenhouse being designed in La Pocatière (Québec, Canada) and in-situ ground thermal properties assessments were used to build numerical models using FEFLOW and to evaluate the performance of the HGHEs simulated. Four scenarios were simulated and compared to a base case, considering the greenhouse’s maintenance of a constant temperature above an HGHE limited to the greenhouse’s dimensions. Our findings reveal that a minimum of 7.1% and 26.5% of the total heating and cooling loads of a small greenhouse (133 m2 area) can be covered by HGHEs installed at a 1.5 m depth when there is no greenhouse above. When installed under a greenhouse with a constant inside temperature of 21 °C, the coverage for heating loads increases to 22.8%, while cooling loads decrease to 24.2%. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the constant temperature in the greenhouse reduces the system’s reliance on surface temperature fluctuations for both heating and cooling, albeit with reduced efficiency for cooling.
Optimal Participation of Co-Located Wind–Battery Plants in Sequential Electricity Markets
Authors: Zhu Rujie , Das Kaushik , Sørensen Poul Ejnar , Hansen Anca Daniela
Published: July 2023

Since hybrid power plants (HPPs) play an intensive role in the energy supply balance of future energy systems, there is today increased attention on co-located wind–battery HPPs both in industry and academia. This paper proposes an energy management system (EMS) methodology for wind–battery plants participating in two sequential electricity markets, namely in the spot market (SM) and the balancing market (BM). The proposed and implemented EMS consists of day-ahead (DA) spot market optimization, hour-ahead (HA) balancing market optimization, and intra-hour re-dispatch optimization to allow HPPs to achieve energy arbitrage, to offer regulation power at the HA stage, and to reduce real-time imbalances. The optimization models used in the EMS incorporate an accurate battery degradation model and grid connection constraints. This paper presents a detailed case analysis of the profitability of HPPs in markets towards 2030 based on the proposed EMS. Furthermore, the value of intra-hour re-dispatch optimization in improving the feasibility of generation plans, as well as the impacts of overplanting on wind energy curtailment and battery degradation, is also investigated based on the proposed EMS.
Optimal Neural Network PID Approach for Building Thermal Management
Authors: Boutchich Noureddine , Moufid Ayoub , Bennani Mohammed , El Hani Soumia
Published: July 2023

The process of thermal control and regulation in buildings is considered complex. Its complexity lies in the various internal and external physical phenomena impacting its control, and also in the increasingly important requirements of occupant comfort, energy optimization and efficiency, and optimization of measuring and monitoring equipment. Recently, the establishment of technical rules for optimal building thermal control has gained interest in academia and industry. These rules have focused mainly on three aspects: the use of renewable energy, optimal management, and the use of equipment and materials allowing the optimization of energy. However, optimal control has not been addressed enough. In this article, we present a PID controller based on a Neural Network approach for thermal building management and control. The proposed approach is based on two processes: an optimal identification process dedicated to the thermal building behavior prediction impacted by variable and invariable elements, measured and unmeasured factors, and a control process to ensure the desired performance with optimal energy control. The results obtained show the advantages of the adopted system in terms of energy optimization, with an important energy gain of 8% to 11%, along with better regulation and control performance, and in terms of occupant comfort with minimal temperature variations.
The Effects of Different Doses of Organic Waste on Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina Pectinata L.) Yield and Selected Energy Parameters
Authors: Malinowska Elżbieta , Wiśniewska-Kadżajan Beata
Published: July 2023

Increasingly cultivated all over the world, energy crops, with their large biomass production, can be used to produce liquid biofuel and biogas. The aim of the research was to evaluate the yield and selected energy parameters of prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata L.) treated with different doses of municipal sewage sludge and mushroom substrate. Heat of combustion, calorific values and ash content were investigated in the first three years of its cultivation. Carried out between 2018 and 2020, the research was based on a field experiment established at an experimental facility in Central-Eastern Poland. Organic waste doses, each of them introducing 170 kg N ha−1, were applied once in spring 2018 before planting pieces of Spartina pectinata rhizomes. The experimental factors (organic waste doses and years of research) significantly affected the yield of prairie cordgrass. Significantly, the highest yield of its biomass was produced in response to municipal sewage sludge applied together with mushroom substrate (O25 + PP75) and in response to mushroom substrate applied on its own (SMS). Those values, averaged over three years of research, were, respectively, 4.23 and 4.18 Mg ha−1. Organic waste treatment had a significant impact on ash content in dry matter. On average, the highest ash content in dry matter was recorded in response to mushroom substrate (5.73%) and the lowest (4.98%) in plants treated with the highest dose of sewage sludge together with the lowest dose of mushroom substrate (O75 + PP25). The higher dry matter content in plant biomass was, the better the energy parameters were.
The Role of Cogeneration in the Electrification Pathways towards Decarbonization
Authors: Gambini Marco , Mazzoni Stefano , Vellini Michela
Published: July 2023

The global call for an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and reliable energy system looks for the optimal integration of different technologies to allow a smooth and economically viable transition towards electrification. In this context, small, medium, and large industrial processes are relevant contributors to global CO2 emissions production due to the simultaneous requirement of electricity, heating, and cooling power generally obtained through fossil fuel combustion. In this context, Combined Heat and Power Energy converters based on internal combustion engines, such as reciprocating engines, gas turbines, and gas turbine combined cycles, and external combustion, such as backpressure and condensing steam power plants, are the most suitable solutions for the efficient and reliable generation of the above-mentioned assets. Typically, the industrial demand for heat and electricity differs in terms of heat-to-power ratio when compared to the heat-to-power ratio of the CHP plant, and this has led to requiring the selection of a control strategy to follow, partially or fully, the heat load or the electric load. In this paper, the authors propose an operating and design strategy addressed to fully covering the heat load demands by the heat generated by the CHP, allowing the system to have an excess of electricity generated. This electricity can be used for different purposes, as regards the novel electrification roadmap. Indeed, the authors have explored four configurations in which the excess of the CHP-generated electricity can be exported to the national grid, used for high-tension fast-charging electromobility systems, for running reverse osmosis desalination plants, and for the production of alternative fuels such as hydrogen. The authors propose a methodology for providing an extensive environmental techno-economic assessment that looks at 2050 CO2 targets. Accordingly, the environmental techno-economic assessment results are presented and discussed by considering the Net Present Value, payback period, and CO2 emission savings.
Insight into the Optimization of Implementation Time in Cob Construction: Field Test and Compressive Strength Versus Drying Kinetics
Authors: Touati Karim , Al Sahmarany Baraa , Le Guern Malo , El Mendili Yassine , Streiff François , Goodhew Steve
Published: July 2023

Mastering construction times is of paramount importance in making vernacular earth construction techniques attractive to modern clients. The work presented here is a contribution towards the optimization of the construction time of cob buildings. Therefore, this paper follows the evolution of a cob’s mechanical properties during its drying process in the case of a double-walling CobBauge system. Laboratory tests and in situ measurements were performed, and further results were described. Volumetric water content sensors were immersed in the walls of a CobBauge prototype building during its construction. The evolution of the cob layer’s compressive strength and Clegg Impact Value (CIV) as a function of its water content has been experimentally studied and discussed. These studies showed that compressive strength and CIV are correlated with water content, and both properties decrease exponentially with time. In this study, a new tool to evaluate cob’s mechanical performances in situ has been proposed, Clegg Impact Soil Tester. This was linked to compressive strength, and a linear relationship between these two properties was found. Finally, appropriate values of compressive strength and CIV to satisfy before formwork stripping and re-lifting were proposed. For this study’s conditions, these values are reached after approximately 27 days.
Association of Toll-Like Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Tuberculosis in HIV-Positive Participants
Authors: Salamaikina Svetlana , Korchagin Vitaly , Kulabukhova Ekaterina , Mironov Konstantin , Zimina Vera , Kravtchenko Alexey , Akimkin Vasily
Published: July 2023

Genetic factors in the HIV-background may play a significant role in the susceptibility to secondary diseases, like tuberculosis, which is the leading cause in mortality of HIV-positive people. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are considered to be receptors for adaptive immunity, and polymorphisms in TLR genes can influence the activity of the immune response to infection. We conducted a case–control study of the association of TLR gene polymorphisms with the risk of tuberculosis coinfection in a multi-country sample of HIV-positive participants. Our study revealed certain associations between TLR4 and TLR6 polymorphisms and HIV–tuberculosis coinfection. We also found that the analyzed TLR1 and TLR4 polymorphisms were linked with the decline in CD4+ cell count, which is a predictor of disease progression in HIV-infected individuals. Our findings confirm that TLR gene polymorphisms are factors that may contribute to development of HIV–tuberculosis coinfection. However, the essence of the observed associations remains unclear, since it can also include both environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression regulation.
Diversity of Phytophthora Species Involved in New Diseases of Mountain Vegetation in Europe with the Description of Phytophthora pseudogregata sp. nov.
Authors: Bregant Carlo , Rossetto Giovanni , Meli Letizia , Sasso Nicolò , Montecchio Lucio , Brglez Ana , Piškur Barbara , Ogris Nikica , Maddau Lucia , Linaldeddu Benedetto Teodoro
Published: July 2023

New and emerging Phytophthora-related diseases in small trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants typical of subalpine vegetation have recently been observed in Italy and Slovenia. Diseased plants showed a complex symptomatology including foliar necrosis, fruit rot, shoot blight and branch bleeding cankers. Since little information is available about the aetiology of these aerial Phytophthora diseases, from 2019 to 2022, field surveys were conducted in 54 sites to define the occurrence, distribution and impact of the Phytophthora species on mountain vegetation. A total of 360 Phytophthora isolates were obtained from 397 samples collected from 33 herbaceous and woody host species. Based on phylogenetic analysis and morphometric data, 17 Phytophthora species were identified: P. pseudosyringae (201 isolates), P. plurivora (54), P. gonapodyides (21), P. ilicis (20), P. alpina (17), P. acerina (11), P. cactorum (7), P. pseudocryptogea (6), P. cambivora (5), P. idaei (4), P. psychrophila (3), P. bilorbang (2), P. chlamydospora (2), P. hedraiandra (1), P. kelmanii (1), P. rosacearum (1) and P. syringae (1). In addition, three isolates of a new putative Phytophthora species obtained from Alnus viridis, Juniperus communis and Rhododendron ferrugineum are described here as Phytophthora pseudogregata sp. nov. Overall, the results highlighted an unexpectedly high diversity of Phytophthora species in mountain areas, with many species able to cause aerial infections due to the production of caducous sporangia.