bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of ballistic resistance of cementitious composites
Authors: Vojtisek J , Bystrianska E , Koutny O , Kratochvil J , Drdlova M 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
The paper describes the possibility of using the DOP test, standardly used to evaluate the ballistic resistance of ceramics, to determine the ballistic resistance of cement composites. DOP - Depth of penetration test - is based on measurement of residual penetration of projectile in witness system after the sample perforation; this parameter is used to determine differential efficiency factor (DEF), characterizing the ballistic resistance of the particular material. To verify the method for non-ceramic materials, four variants of cementitious composites with compressive strengths in the range of 30–150 MPa have been tested. The obtained results confirm the method’s suitability for determining the ballistic resistance of cement composites in terms of ease of implementation, sensitivity, and accuracy of the obtained results for both composites of common strengths and high-performance variants. The paper also discusses some aspects of the relationship between the mechanical parameters of cement composites under static loading and their ballistic resistance.
Development of lightweight structural concrete with the use of aggregates based on foam glass
Authors: Zach J , Bubeník J , Sedlmajer M 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Lightweight concretes are increasingly being used in the construction industry, either for the overall lightweighting of the structure itself, reducing material consumption for construction and thus CO2 emissions, or for specific reasons such as improving the thermal insulation properties of the structure or acoustic properties. Today, lightweight concretes with lightweight expanded aggregates (expanded clay, agloporite) are most commonly used. This paper deals with the production of lightweight concretes lightweighted with foamed glass-based aggregates. Foamed glass is a lightweight material characterised by a very good ratio of thermal insulation and mechanical properties. Foamed glass is made of approximately 90% recycled glass waste (mostly mixed), which cannot be used in any other way, as well as water glass and glycerine. When concrete is lightened with foamed glass, these concretes achieve unique properties while conserving primary aggregate resources, avoiding landfilling of glass waste and efficiently using the waste material to produce lightweight concrete with higher added value. The paper discusses the possibilities of developing lightweight structural concretes using glass foam-based aggregates to achieve higher strength classes while reducing the weight and thermal conductivity of the concrete. As part of the research work, new types of lightweight concrete with a bulk density in the range of 1750–1930 kg/m3 and a thermal conductivity from 0.699 to 0.950 W/(m·K) were developed.
Décalcification resistance of various alkali-activated materials
Authors: Hruby P , Bilek V , Topolar L , Kalina L , Marko M , Soukal F , Dvorak R , Hercik T 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
The resistance of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) to degradation processes, particularly the decalcification, was studied in this paper. The ground granulated blast furnace slag was alkali-activated using various activators with the same activator dosage 6% Na2O by slag weight (sodium hydroxide, sodium waterglass and sodium carbonate) and subjected to testing of decalcification resistance (immersion in 6M NH4 NO3) for 84 days. The reference samples were stored in water. The progress of degradation was studied using the phenolphthalein technique, mechanical properties testing (compressive and flexural strength), and dilatometry analysis or weight measurements. The results obtained were compared to the CEM III/A 32.5R. The significant loss of mass along with the deterioration of mechanical properties were observed for all binder types, still some of the AAMs showed better durability than the cementitious one.
Testing of biocidal properties of thermal insulation system during material life cycle
Authors: Kukletova I , Chromkova I 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
With the growing number of realized thermal insulation systems, fast growing number of buildings with facades attacked by microorganisms occurs. Such surface attack can occur even in the first years after thermal insulation completion, and it can be a serious problem in a very short time. Problem is both in realization and maintaining of thermal insulation, and directly in the used material. The paper presents results of laboratory experiments on resistance to biological attack, carried out for five commercial materials available on the Czech market. Before the experiments, materials were subjected to accelerated ageing for 4 and 10 years. Resistance testing comprises regulated application of algae and mould strains on samples and incubation in a defined environment. Materials resistant after ageing simulation of the longer time period were found as well as materials susceptible to attack already after completion of a facade set.
The use of aluminum slag waste in the preparation of roof tiles
Authors: Ahmed M M , Abadir M F , Yousef Ayman , El-Naggar K A M 
Published: November 2021

Abtract
Aluminum slag waste generated from the smelting process of bauxite was used to prepare roof tiles samples. Clay was substituted by slag waste in percentages reaching 40% in the basic mix and the plasticity of the obtained mud was determined. This was followed by pressing the mud in steel molds and drying. The effect of waste addition on drying shrinkage was subsequently assessed. Firing of the green bodies was carried out at three temperatures (900, 1000 and 1100 °C) and hour soaking at each temperature. Fired roof tile properties improved on increasing the percentage of alumina sludge and firing temperature possibly because of the presence of high amounts of fluxing oxides in aluminum slag. This caused a drop in porosity that increased the mechanical strength of tiles. The results showed that the substitution of clay by 40% waste and firing at 1100 °C resulted in products conforming to ASTM C-1167 for clay type roof tiles. Cold water absorption dropped to 12%, below the maximum permissible limit of 15%, the value of Saturation Coefficient was 0.83, below the 0.86 limit and the obtained breaking strength of 3370N significantly exceeded the minimum requirement of 890N.
Study on electrical conductivity and microwave absorption properties of CNTs/CB/PMMA nanocomposites foam
Authors: Mao Huajie , Zhong Xuliang , Liu Xiaorui , Guo Wei , Zhou Danfeng , Yuan Huan , Luo Guoqiang , Ruan Wei 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
In order to study the conductive and microwave absorption performance of multi-dimensional multiphase filler conductive foam composites, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/carbon black (CB)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites with different porosity were fabricated via supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) one-step physical constraint foaming technology. The effects of filler component and porosity on the conductivity and absorbing properties of CNTs/PMMA/CB composite foam were studied. The Monte-Carlo method was used to study the percolation of composites and the effect of introduced microcells on the conductive network of multi-dimensional fillers. The results revealed that the volume conductivity of CNTs(3 vol%)/PMMA composites increased from 0.88 S m−1 to 3.31 S m−1 after the addition of 1 vol% CB. CNTs and CB had obvious synergistic effect on improving the conductivity of the composites, and the microwave absorption efficiency rose from 12.6 dB to 17.2 dB. With the increase of porosity, the electromagnetic wave absorption peak of CNTs/CB/PMMA composite foam moved to low frequency, while the conductivity showed a first rise and then a decline. The simulated percolation probability obtained by representative volume element (RVE) with different porosity also showed a similar trend, which turned out that with the increase of porosity, the effect of microcells on the convertion of conductive network construction from promoting to inhibiting.
Facile thermal synthesis of g–C3N4/ZnO nanocomposite with antibacterial properties for photodegradation of Methylene blue
Authors: Hakimi-Tehrani Mohammad Javad , Hassanzadeh-Tabrizi S A , Koupaei Narjes , Saffar-Teluri Ali , Rafiei Mahdi 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Semiconductors as photocatalysts are ideal materials for wastewater remediation. A nanocomposite of g–C3N4 and ZnO was produced using a two-step in situ synthesis technique to achieve a better photocatalyst. The samples were assessed via UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, and x-ray diffraction. The photodegradation of methylene blue as an organic dye model was assessed to assess the photocatalytic characteristics of the fabricated samples. The antibacterial characteristics of synthesized samples were also investigated. The findings revealed that the photodegradation efficiency of the binary g–C3N4/ZnO systems was better than that of pure g–C3N4. Under irradiation, the photodegradation yield of g–C3N4/ZnO with a 15 wt.% of ZnO was up to 3.5 times better than that of pristine g–C3N4. The feature of enhanced separation of photoinduced holes and electrons resulting from heterojunction creation among g–C3N4 and ZnO surfaces might be attributed to this photocatalytic activity enhancement. The synthesized binary nanocomposites showed suitable antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria.
Predicting CBR value of stabilized pond ash with lime and lime sludge using multivariate adaptive regression splines
Authors: Xing-xing Shen , Wei-wei Cao , Kai Li 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
In this study, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model with order two and three were developed for predicting the California bearing capacity (CBR) value of pond ash stabilized with lime and lime sludge. To this aim, the model had five variables named maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, lime percentage, lime sludge percentage, and curing period as inputs, and CBR as output variable. MARS-O3 has the best results, which its R2 stood at 0.9565 and 0.9312, and PI 0.0709 and 0.1061 for the training and testing phases, respectively. In both developed models, the estimated CBR values in training and testing stages specify acceptable agreement with experimental results, representing the workability of proposed equations for predicting the CBR values with high accuracy. Comparison of two developed equations supplied that MARS-O3 has a better result than MARS-O2. Based on error curves, the MARS-O3 model results in the lowest error percentage in the CBR predicting process, providing roughly accurate prediction than those of the rest developed methods specified. Therefore, MARS-O3 could be recognized as the proposed model.
Miniaturizing neural networks for charge state autotuning in quantum dots
Authors: Czischek Stefanie , Yon Victor , Genest Marc-Antoine , Roux Marc-Antoine , Rochette Sophie , Camirand Lemyre Julien , Moras Mathieu , Pioro-Ladrière Michel , Drouin Dominique , Beilliard Yann , Melko Roger G 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
A key challenge in scaling quantum computers is the calibration and control of multiple qubits. In solid-state quantum dots (QDs), the gate voltages required to stabilize quantized charges are unique for each individual qubit, resulting in a high-dimensional control parameter space that must be tuned automatically. Machine learning techniques are capable of processing high-dimensional data—provided that an appropriate training set is available—and have been successfully used for autotuning in the past. In this paper, we develop extremely small feed-forward neural networks that can be used to detect charge-state transitions in QD stability diagrams. We demonstrate that these neural networks can be trained on synthetic data produced by computer simulations, and robustly transferred to the task of tuning an experimental device into a desired charge state. The neural networks required for this task are sufficiently small as to enable an implementation in existing memristor crossbar arrays in the near future. This opens up the possibility of miniaturizing powerful control elements on low-power hardware, a significant step towards on-chip autotuning in future QD computers.
Predicting Injury Risk Over Changes in Physical Activity in Children Using the Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio
Authors: Wang Chinchin , Stokes Tyrel , Vargas Jorge Trejo , Steele Russell , Wedderkopp Niels , Shrier Ian 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Limited research exists on the relationship between changes in physical activity levels and injury in children. In this study, we investigated the prognostic relationship between changes in activity, measured by the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), and injury in children. We used data from the Childhood Health, Activity, and Motor Performance School Study Denmark (2008–2014), a prospective cohort study of 1,660 children aged 6–17 years. We modeled the relationship between the uncoupled 5-week ACWR and injury, defined as patient-reported musculoskeletal pain, using generalized additive mixed models. These methods accounted for repeated measures, and they improved model fit and precision compared with previous studies that used logistic models. The prognostic model predicted an injury risk of approximately 3% between decreases in activity level of up to 60% and increases of up to 30%. Predicted risk was lower when activity decreased by more than 60% (minimum of 0.5% with no recreational activity). Predicted risk was higher when activity increased by more than 30% (4.5% with a 3-fold increase in activity). Girls were at significantly higher risk of injury than boys. We observed similar patterns but lower absolute risks when we restricted the outcome to clinician-diagnosed injury. Predicted increases in injury risk with increasing activity were much lower than those of previous studies carried out in adults.
Heterogeneous coefficients, control variables and identification of multiple treatment effects
Authors: Newey W K , Stouli S 
Published: November 2021

Summary
Multi-dimensional heterogeneity and endogeneity are important features of models with multiple treatments. We consider a heterogeneous coefficients model where the outcome is a linear combination of dummy treatment variables, with each variable representing a different kind of treatment. We use control variables to give necessary and sufficient conditions for identification of average treatment effects. With mutually exclusive treatments we find that, provided the heterogeneous coefficients are mean independent from treatments given the controls, a simple identification condition is that the generalized propensity scores (Imbens, 2000) be bounded away from zero and that their sum be bounded away from one, with probability one. Our analysis extends to distributional and quantile treatment effects, as well as corresponding treatment effects on the treated. These results generalize the classical identification result of Rosenbaum & Rubin (1983) for binary treatments.
Insular dichotomy in the implicit detection of emotions in human faces
Authors: Frot Maud , Mauguière François , Garcia-Larrea Luis 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe functional roles of the insula diverge between its posterior portion (PI), mainly connected with somato-sensory and motor areas, and its anterior section (AI) connected with the frontal, limbic, and cingulate regions. We report intracranial recordings of local field evoked potentials from PI, AI, and the visual fusiform gyrus to a full array of emotional faces including pain while the individuals’ attention was diverted from emotions. The fusiform gyrus and PI responded equally to all types of faces, including neutrals. Conversely, the AI responded only to emotional faces, maximally to pain and fear, while remaining insensitive to neutrals. The two insular sectors reacted with almost identical latency suggesting their parallel initial activation via distinct functional routes. The consistent responses to all emotions, together with the absence of response to neutral faces, suggest that early responses in the AI reflect the immediate arousal value and behavioral relevance of emotional stimuli, which may be subserved by “fast track” routes conveying coarse-spatial-frequency information via the superior colliculus and dorsal pulvinar. Such responses precede the conscious detection of the stimulus’ precise signification and valence, which need network interaction and information exchange with other brain areas, for which the AI is an essentialhub.
Does mechanical dyssynchrony in addition to QRS area ensure sustained response to cardiac resynchronization therapy?
Authors: Wouters Philippe C , van Everdingen Wouter M , Vernooy Kevin , Geelhoed Bastiaan , Allaart Cornelis P , Rienstra Michiel , Maass Alexander H , Vos Marc A , Prinzen Frits W , Meine Mathias , Cramer Maarten J 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Aims
Judicious patient selection for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may further enhance treatment response. Progress has been made by using improved markers of electrical dyssynchrony and mechanical discoordination, using QRSAREA, and systolic rebound stretch of the septum (SRSsept) or systolic stretch index (SSI), respectively. To date, the relation between these measurements has not yet been investigated.

Methods and results
A total of 240 CRT patients were prospectively enrolled from six centres. Patients underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography, and echocardiography, at baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. QRSAREA was derived using vectorcardiography, and SRSsept and SSI were measured using strain-analysis. Reverse remodelling was measured as the relative decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume, indexed to body surface area (ΔLVESVi). Sustained response was defined as ≥15% decrease in LVESVi, at both 6- and 12-month follow-up. QRSAREA and SRSsept were both strong, multivariable adjusted, variables associated with reverse remodelling. SRSsept was associated with response, but only in patients with QRSAREA ≥ 120 μVs (AUC = 0.727 vs. 0.443). Combined presence of SRSsept ≥ 2.5% and QRSAREA ≥ 120 μVs significantly increased reverse remodelling compared with high QRSAREA alone (ΔLVESVi 38 ± 21% vs. 22 ± 21%). As a result, 92% of left bundle branch block (LBBB)-patients with combined electrical and mechanical dysfunction were ‘sustained’ volumetric responders, as opposed to 51% with high QRSAREA alone.

Conclusion
Parameters of mechanical dyssynchrony are better associated with response in the presence of a clear underlying electrical substrate. Combined presence of high SRSsept and QRSAREA, but not high QRSAREA alone, ensures a sustained response after CRT in LBBB patients.
Myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents after first and second doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
Authors: Foltran Déborah , Delmas Clément , Flumian Clara , De Paoli Pierre , Salvo Francesco , Gautier Sophie , Drici Milou-Daniel , Karsenty Clément , Montastruc François 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Aims
While some concerns about vaccination-related pericarditis and/or myocarditis have been raised, no published data are available on pericarditis and/or myocarditis with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the age group of adolescents, particularly 12–15 years. The objective of this study was to determine whether the risk of reporting pericarditis and/or myocarditis with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines varied according to dose of vaccination, age, sex, and type of pericarditis and/or myocarditis in adolescents between 12 and 17 years.

Methods and results
We performed an observational study reviewing all reports of adolescents vaccinated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and recorded in VigiBase®, the World Health Organization global database of individual case safety reports. We included all reports registered between 1 January 2021 and 14 September 2021. Reporting odds ratios (RORs) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the risk of reporting pericarditis and/or myocarditis. Among 4942 reports with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents, we identified 242 pericarditis and/or myocarditis. Compared with the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, the second dose was associated with an increased risk of reporting pericarditis and/or myocarditis (ROR 4.95; 95% CI 3.14, 7.89). The risk of reporting pericarditis and/or myocarditis was 10 times higher in boys than in girls and no difference between the two types of vaccines could be demonstrated.

Conclusion
This investigation including only adolescent data suggests for the first time that the second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines increases the risk of reporting myocarditis/pericarditis compared with the first dose particularly in boys without significant difference between tozinameran and elasomeran.
One Cell, Two Gears: Extensive Somatic Genome Plasticity Accompanies High Germline Genome Stability in Paramecium
Authors: Catania Francesco , Rothering Rebecca , Vitali Valerio 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Mutation accumulation (MA) experiments are conventionally employed to study spontaneous germline mutations. However, MA experiments can also shed light on somatic genome plasticity in a habitual and genetic drift-maximizing environment. Here, we revisit an MA experiment that uncovered extraordinary germline genome stability in Paramecium tetraurelia, a single-celled eukaryote with nuclear dimorphism. Our re-examination of isogenic P. tetraurelia MA lines propagated in nutrient-rich medium for &gt;40 sexual cycles reveals that their polyploid somatic genome accrued hundreds of intervening DNA segments (IESs), which are normally eliminated during germline-soma differentiation. These IESs frequently occupy a fraction of the somatic DNA copies of a given locus, producing IES excision/retention polymorphisms, and preferentially fall into a class of epigenetically controlled sequences. Relative to control lines, retained IESs are flanked by stronger cis-acting signals and interrupt an excess of highly expressed coding exons. These findings suggest that P. tetraurelia’s elevated germline DNA replication fidelity is associated with pervasive somatic genome plasticity. They show that MA regimes are powerful tools for investigating the role that developmental plasticity, somatic mutations, and epimutations have in ecology and evolution.
Pathobiology, Diagnosis, and Current Biomarkers in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Fiala Clare , Rotstein Dalia , Pasic Maria D 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly the optic nerves and spinal cord. Although it displays some clinical features similar to multiple sclerosis (MS), the etiology and treatment are distinct, and therefore accurate diagnosis is essential. Autoantibodies targeting the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and the myelin sheath protein myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein are the major antigen-specific serological biomarkers known to date, with destruction of astrocytes as the primary mode of CNS damage in AQP4-positive disease.ContentThis mini-review summarizes the pathobiology, clinical features, and current methods of serological testing used to assess NMOSD and differentiate this disorder from MS. A brief summary of emerging therapies is also presented.SummaryNMOSD can be distinguished from MS through a combination of clinical findings, imaging investigations, and serological analysis. Seronegative cases are particularly difficult to diagnose and can pose a challenge to clinicians. As knowledge deepens, new therapies and biomarkers are expected to improve treatment of this rare debilitating disease.