bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation Between Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound and Immune Response of Distant Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radiofrequency Ablation in a Murine Model
Authors: Wang Peng , Tian Mi , Ren Weidong 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationships between contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and the immune status of a distant tumor after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsTwenty‐four mice with two liver tumors were randomized into two groups. RFA was performed on the left tumor in the RFA group. Growth of the right tumors in both groups was monitored after RFA. According to tumor growth, two time points at which tumor growth was halted and restored were selected for study. Then, another 24 mice were randomized into RFA and non‐RFA groups. The CEUS parameters, apoptosis, CD8+ T cell, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) of the right tumors were analyzed on the two aforementioned time points in each group.ResultsDays 3 and 6 were selected as the time points of tumor retardation and progressive growth, respectively. The different immune status of the distant tumors at the two time points after RFA was confirmed by CD8+ T cell and apoptosis (both P < 0.001). Peak intensity, time to peak, area wash‐in, and area wash‐out of the CEUS parameters increased significantly in the day‐6 RFA group versus the day‐3 RFA group (P < .001, P = .017, P = .005, P = .002, respectively). VM of the day‐6 RFA group was higher than that of the day‐3 RFA group (P = .003).ConclusionsCEUS maybe a good method to follow the immune response after RFA in an advanced HCC mouse model.
Alkaline hydrogels as ion‐conducting coupling material for electrochemical chloride extraction
Authors: Jung Andre , Faulhaber Armin , Weichold Oliver 
Published: May 2021

AbstractOne method to rehabilitate chloride‐contaminated reinforced concrete structures is electrochemical chloride extraction, by which chloride ions are extracted from the pore system of the concrete using an externally applied voltage. Although many factors influence the efficacy of electrochemical chloride extraction, a number of these, such as the concrete cover and the chloride profile, are predefined by the structure. One factor with major influence that can be improved is the coupling material. In this contribution, we present a suitable coupling material in the form of a highly alkaline hydrogel, with which the applied voltage can be reduced from 40–50 to 1 V under laboratory conditions. The reduction is due to the high conductivity of the gel and its excellent electrolytic contact with concrete. In a field test on chloride‐infested car‐park columns, more than 95% of the chloride could be extracted with 2–3 cycles, each comprising of 21 days of extraction and 7 days of rest. During the entire treatement, the gel did not require any attending to, such as replacing evaporated moisture.
The VANGL1 P384R variant cause both neural tube defect and Klippel‐Feil syndrome
Authors: Cheng Chen , Zhao Sheng , Zhu Xia , Yang Fan , Wang Weiyun , Feng Qian , Liu Ya , Huang Hui , Chen Xinlin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundNeural tube defect (NTD) is a common birth defect causing much death in the world. Variants in VANGL1 lead to NTD and caudal regression syndrome. NTD displays a complex phenotype encompassing both genetic and environmental factors.MethodsThe fetus was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound examination. Postnatal CT and autopsy were performed. Genetic testing was conducted in the family and Sanger sequencing was validated. Multiple prediction soft‐wares were used to predict the pathogenicity of the variant.ResultsThe VANGL1 gene variant c.1151C>G (P384R) was detected in a fetus diagnosed with tethered spinal cord and sacrococcygeal lipoma. The VANGL1 variant c.1151C>G (P384R) was reported in a Klippel‐Feil syndrome patient. The VANGL1 variant was validated in the trio‐family but the mother showed no abnormalities.ConclusionOverall, this study presents fetal NTD caused by the same VANGL1 variant found in a Klippel‐Feil syndrome patient with complete clinical information of prenatal ultrasound, postnatal CT, and genetic results as early as 25 GW. Our study not only expands the VANGL1 mutational spectrum but also sheds light on the important role of the VANGL1 P384R variant in human development.
Hybrid of multi‐dimensional fillers for thermally enhanced polyamide 12 composites fabricated by selective laser sintering
Authors: Yuan Yue , Hu Huanbo , Wu Wei , Zhao Zhengbai , Du Xiangyun , Wang Zhengyi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSelective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technology that can provide a novel strategy to manufacture complex polymer‐based composites with tailored properties. In this study, polyamide 12 (PA12) composite powders based on Al2O3, boron nitride (BN), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared via a two‐step mixing approach. Morphology characterization techniques indicated that the fillers were uniformly dispersed in the PA12 matrix as expected. Under the optimum 3D‐printing parameters, the fabrication of SLS parts with high filler loading could be obtained. With 40 wt% Al2O3, 8 wt% BN, and 2 wt% CNT hybrid fillers, the thermal conductivity of PA12 composites could reach 1.09 W/mK. It could be attributed to the synergistic effect of multi‐dimensional fillers to form dense and continuous thermal conduction paths. The factors influencing the performance of PA12 composites such as melting and crystallization behaviors, dielectric properties, and mechanical properties were also discussed. The results show that these composites have favorable dielectric and mechanical properties. Overall, the PA12 composites fabricated by SLS technology in this study exhibit excellent thermal management ability.
Synthesis of CO2‐based functional poly(carbonate‐co‐lactide)
Authors: Chen Yao , Wang Wenchuan , Xie Dong , Wu Lili , Zhang Chaocan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTPPAlCl‐PPN+Cl− binary catalyst (where TPPAlCl is 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenylporphyrin aluminum chloride, PPN+Cl− is bis[triphenylphosphine] iminium chloride, the molar ratio of TPPAlCl to PPN+Cl− is 1 to 0.5) can initiate the effective one‐pot/one‐step ternary copolymerization of CO2, lactide and 4‐vinyl‐1‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐epoxide, and the quaternary copolymerization of CO2, propylene oxide, lactide, 4‐vinyl‐1‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐epoxide, to form multiblock poly(carbonate‐co‐lactide) products with pendant vinyl group. The ternary copolymerization product composes of polylactide (PLA) block and poy(vinylcyclohexylene carbonate) (PVCHC) block, and the quaternary copolymerization product composes of poy(propylene carbonate) (PPC) block, PLA block and PVCHC block, which are verified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H‐1H cosy, hetero‐nuclear multiple bond correlation, DTG, and Gel permeation chromatography analysis. The functionality and glass‐transition temperature of the products can be easily adjusted by the copolymerization variables, such as the molar ratio of comonomers, copolymerization temperature, pressure of CO2, the concentration of the catalyst.
Malicious attacks on the web and crawling of information data by Python technology
Authors: Fu Rui , Li Xinyu 
Published: May 2021

AbstractOn the Internet full of big data, crawlers can greatly improve the efficiency of information search. This paper briefly introduced Python and the hacker attack technology and crawler program based on Python. After that, the web hacker attack program was embedded into the crawler program to crawl the deeper hidden information restricted by permission. Then, the conventional crawler program, C language crawler program, and Python‐based crawler program were tested. The results showed that the normal crawler program failed to crawl the complete information data when facing the web page with permission restriction; the C language crawler program has a low efficiency though it could crawl the hidden information; the Python‐based crawler program obtained the complete information data after bypassing the permission by Structured Query Language (SQL) injection of the web hacker attack module. To sum up, applying Python can write crawler programs in a relatively simple way and embed a hacker attack program to crawl the hidden information on the web.
Scale‐dependent maximum reinforcement percentage in reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Carpinteri Alberto , Accornero Federico , Cafarelli Renato 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe Cohesive/Overlapping Crack Model is able to describe the transition between cracking and crushing failures occurring in reinforced concrete beams by increasing beam depth and/or steel percentage. Within this Nonlinear Fracture Mechanics model, the tensile and compressive ultimate behaviors of the concrete matrix are modeled through two different process zones that advance independently one of another. Moreover, this model is able to investigate local mechanical instabilities occurring in the structural behavior of reinforced concrete structures: tensile snap‐back and snap‐through, which are due to concrete cracking or steel fracture, and the compressive snap‐back occurring at the end of the plastic plateau, which is generated by the unstable growth of the crushing zone. In this context, the application of the Cohesive/Overlapping Crack Model highlights that the ductility, which is represented by the plastic rotation capacity of a reinforced concrete element subjected to bending, decreases as reinforcement percentage and/or beam depth increase. Thus, a scale‐dependent maximum reinforcement percentage beyond which concrete crushing occurs prior to steel yielding is demonstrated to exist. In particular, the maximum steel percentage results to be inversely proportional to h0.25, h being the beam depth. In this way, a rational and quantitative definition of over‐reinforcement is provided as a steel percentage depending on the beam depth.
Survey on set‐based design (SBD) quantitative methods
Authors: Dullen Shawn , Verma Dinesh , Blackburn Mark , Whitcomb Cliff 
Published: May 2021

AbstractProduct development efforts now more than ever are in need of methodologies that can address the challenges of increased system complexities, shortening time to market, increased demands in mass customization, market instabilities, geographical barriers, improved innovation, and adaptability to emerging technologies. To address these challenges most companies will need to make key decisions early in the product development life‐cycle. In this early phase there are high levels of information uncertainty and information ambiguity. Under these circumstances many companies will converge too early to a point design (Point Based Design—PBD) which will lead to increased cost and schedule delays due to reworking the design later in the product development life cycle. To overcome these challenges many researchers have proposed the Set‐Based Design (SBD) methodology. However, there has been limited guidance on how to define, reason, and narrow sets while improving the level of abstraction of the design. To address such concerns, a literature review was conducted. The contributions of this research include: (1) aggregated literature from over 100 sources on quantitative methods (QM) that has not been considered SBD but does support set‐based thinking, (2) consolidated body of knowledge on QM to help industrial practitioners implement SBD, (3) ​defined gaps and opportunities for future research, and (4) defined strengths and limitations of QM and techniques to define, reason and narrow sets.
Mimicking of the histidine brace structural motif in molecular copper(I) compounds
Authors: Peifer R. , Müller L. , Hoof S. , Beckmann F. , Cula B. , Limberg C. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractL‐Nτ‐methylhistidine methyl ester, MeHisOMe, has been employed as a potential ligand to mimic the histidine brace‐type coordination of copper ions in enzymes such as the particulate methane monoxygenase or lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. MeHisOMe was prepared by double‐methylation of histidine methyl ester. Subsequently, its complexation by diphosphine copper(I) precursors [Cu(P^P)(MeCN)2]BF4 was tested, which led to the complexes [Cu(P^P)(MeHisOMe)]BF4 (P^P=dpePhos: 1, P^P=XantPhos: 2, P^P=dppf: 3). 1–3 were fully characterized, also by single crystal X‐ray analysis, thus providing first structural data for copper complexes with a synthetic, authentic histidine brace. The complexes proved inert in contact with dioxygen. To improve the biomimetic character attempts were made to formally replace the diphosphine ligands by bis(pyrazolyl)methanes, Bpm. Correspondingly, [BpmCu(NCMe)x]BF4 precursors were synthesized, with different substituents at the 3‐positions of the pyrazolyl (i. e. Bpm=di(3‐(phenyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)diphenylmethane, di(3‐(mesityl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)methane and di(3‐(tert‐butyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)diphenylmethane). Addition of MeHisOMe to these complexes led to products that were so sensitive towards oxidation by the environment that they eluded isolation. One experiment provided blue crystals as a product of such a reaction. They belonged to a salt with a complex cation consisting of a Cu(μ‐OH)2Cu core ligated by two MeHisOMe ligands, which dimerises in the solid state to give [Cu4(OH)4(MeHisOMe)4]4+.
Using Inclusive Finance to Significantly Scale Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: Wild Robert , Egaru Moses , Ellis-Jones Mark , Bugembe Barbara Nakangu , Mohamed Ahmed , Ngigi Obadiah , Ogwok Gertrude , Roberts Jules , Kutegeka Sophie 
Published: May 2021

AbstractReversing land degradation and achieving ecosystem restoration and management are routes to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The financial resources to achieve this are increasingly available. A major challenge is the absence of scalable mechanisms that can incentivize rapid change for rural communities at the decade-long time scale needed to respond to the climate emergency. Despite moves toward inclusive green finance (IGF), a major structural gap remains between the funding available and the unbankable small-scale producers who are stewards of ecosystems. This chapter reports on inclusive finance that can help fill this gap and incentivizes improved ecosystem stewardship, productivity, and wealth creation. A key feature is the concept of eco-credit to build ecosystem management and restorative behaviors into loan terms. Eco-credit provides an approach for overcoming income inequality within communities to enhance the community-level ecosystem governance and stewardship. The paper discusses the experience of implementing the Community Environment Conservation Fund (CECF) over a 8-year-period from 2012. The CECF addresses the unbankable 80% of community members who cannot access commercial loans, has c. 20,000 users in Uganda and pilots in Malawi, Kenya, and Tanzania. The model is contextualized alongside complementary mechanisms that can also incentivize improved ecosystem governance as well as engage and align communities, government, development partners, and the private sector. This complementary infrastructure includes commercial eco-credit as exemplified by the Climate Smart Lending Platform, and the community finance of the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) model upon which CECF builds. The paper describes the technologies and climate finance necessary for significant scale-up.
Agropastoralists’ Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Modeling: Software and Coding Method Accuracies for Best-Worst Scaling Data
Authors: Amadou Zakou 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInvestigating software and coding method accuracies are still a challenge when dealing with best-worst scaling data. Comparing various climate change policy estimates and their relative importance across different statistical packages has received little attention. In this chapter, we use best-worst scaling approach to determine agropastoralist preferences for 13 climate change adaptation policies across two popular statistical packages (R and SAS). While data were collected from 271 agropastoralists, mixed logit was used to analyze data. Results reveal that mean and standard deviation estimates for 13 climate change adaptation policies from R are higher and statistically significant than SAS estimates. Based on R estimates, prolific animal selection, vaccination, settlement, strategic mobility, and strategic destocking are the most popular climate change adaptation policies, and more than two-third of respondents are in favor of these policies.
Rainfall Variability and Quantity of Water Supply in Bamenda I, Northwest Region of Cameroon
Authors: Sedrique Zoyem Tedonfack , Nfor Julius Tata 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBamenda I municipality found in the humid tropic is endowed with a dense hydrological network which makes it a water catchment for the entire region. Paradoxically, the region still suffers problems of water shortage. This is due to the spatial and temporal variability in rainfall that greatly affects water supply through its impacts on surface and groundwater. For this reason, we came up with the research topic“Rainfall variability and quantity of water supply in Bamenda 1, Northwest Region of Cameroon.”The objective of this study is to examine the manifestations of rainfall variability, and how it affects quantity of water supply in the humid tropics. Rainfall data use for this study comprised of annual, monthly, and daily rainfall over a period of 55 years. Water supply data was made of monthly and annual supply. With these data, a Pearson’s correlation was computed, and it gave a value of 0.701, with a rainfall proportion of 49.14% and 50.86% for other factors. The seasonality and the Standardized Precipitation Index were equally analyzed. At the end of the study, results showed that rainfall events in Bamenda I fluctuates with time and in space. It equally presented a reduction in the number of rainy days from 204 days in 1663 to 155 in 2018. This led to a reduction in length of rainy season and in rainfall amounts. In addition, the area has witnessed sedimentation of riverbeds and water reservoirs due to erosion and deposition during high rainfall peaks. Equally, floods observed during high rainfall episodes have become a potential threat to water infrastructures imposing exceptional water shortages during the rainy seasons. Due to these, actors in the water supply sector are putting in measures to remedy the situation.
Linking Adaptation and Mitigation Toward a Resilient and Robust Infrastructure Sector in Kenya
Authors: Ruth Onkangi , Lagat David , Lilian Ondari 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSustainable city is an oxymoron to many especially in developing nations where the ever extending urban fabric has consequently degraded natural habitats, altered species composition, changed energy flows, and immensely affected biogeochemical cycles. This dims the vision of meeting the present needs with a nondecreasing level of well-being while not compromising that of the future generations to meet theirs. Nairobi as other cities in peer nations is associated with socioeconomic vulnerabilities as well as visible and “invisible” ecological problems such as pollution, climate change, spatial competition, dependency in natural capital use, and congestion. Nevertheless, this is uniquely both a problem and a solution.Nairobi has grown from a small railway station at the turn of the twentieth century to one of Africa’s largest cities. With this growth, comes an oversized ecological footprint and complex challenges of stresses and shocks. Infrastructure development in developing nations is gaining momentum. It is one of the development indicators and a major contributor to the GDP. However, it is very vulnerable financially and functionally to extreme weather events such as intense and prolonged periods of rainfall, inundation, low retreating rates of flood waters, increased temperatures, and unpredictable wind patterns. This study sought to establish the level of integration of adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change in selected infrastructure projects. It further evaluates the performance of key action plans, projects, and efforts made to enhance resilience to climate change. The study supports the integration of broad investment flows instead of the project-by-project approach.
Determinants of Cattle Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change in the Dry and Subhumid Tropical Zones of Benin (West Africa)
Authors: Idrissou Yaya , Assani Alassan Seidou , Baco Mohamed Nasser , Alkoiret Traoré Ibrahim 
Published: May 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the factors influencing the perception of climate change can help improve policies for strengthening the adaptive capacity of pastoralists with regard to climate change. Despite this importance, few studies have focused on this issue, especially among cattle farmers. In order to attempt filling this gap, this study analyzed the determinants of the perception of climate change by cattle farmers distributed in the dry and sub-humid tropical zones of Benin as well as the current adaptation strategies developed by these farmers. For this purpose, surveys were carried out through group discussions and an individual questionnaire administered to 360 cattle farmers in the two climatic zones. The data collected related to the sociodemographic characteristics of cattle farmers and their perception of climate change and adaptation strategies. A binary logit model has identified the factors that influence cattle farmers’ perceptions of climate change. The results of the study showed that cattle farmers perceive a drop in rain (at least 77%), an increase in temperature (at least 80%), and violent winds (at least 60%). Breeding experience, level of education of the farmer, household size, membership of a breeders’ organization, and cattle herd size determine these perceptions. Four major groups of adaptation strategies have been developed by farmers to cope with climate change. These are production adjustment strategies, activity diversification strategies, livestock management strategies, and selection strategies. The political implication of this study is that government and development partners should integrate these factors into projects and programs related to climate change.
Global Strategy, Local Action with Biogas Production for Rural Energy Climate Change Impact Reduction
Authors: Momodu A. S. , Aransiola E. F. , Adepoju T. D. , Okunade I. D. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGlobal climate change impact is predicted to affect various sectors including the energy demand and supply sectors respectively. Combating this impact will require adoption of both global strategy and localized actions. The use of low carbon strategy based on renewables is a global strategy, while waste management of biodegradable materials through the use anaerobic technology to meet energy demand is a local action. Nigeria is among the vulnerable countries to global climate change impact; this is even more aggravated by its dependence on fossil fuel usage as well as poor waste management, which two, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. This chapter presents analysis of purified compressed biogas production, a waste conversion option, as a local action to meet rural household energy demand and contribute to global strategy of reducing climate change impact. It discusses both technical and business model approaches to upscale a laboratory experimental procedure for biogas production through anaerobic digestion using vegetal wastes. It shows that using anaerobic technology can achieve efficient waste management and at the same time generate energy that can be used to achieve avoided emissions for climate change impact reduction. The study also concludes that upscaling the project will be sustainable for rural energy augmentation as it produces clean and renewable energy, reduces the use of fossil fuels, provides jobs for skilled and unskilled labor, and generates new return streams.