bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of alkali-activated green concrete using slag from electric arc furnaces as precursor and aggregate
Authors: Elfwal Mostafa S , El-Ashkar Nabil H , Nagy Nabil M , Shalan Ali H 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Alkali-activated materials (AAM) have gained popularity in research because of their lower carbon dioxide emissions than Portland cement. Electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) exceeds landfills. Moreover, electric arc furnaces emit less CO2 than oxygen-blast furnaces. This research is the first to suggest that mixing EAFS and metakaolin (MK) as AAM precursors could compensate for the deficiency of SiO2 and Al2O3 in the EAFS and CaO in the MK, which would produce better AAM properties than using either of them singularly. Furthermore, the utilization of EAFS aggregate instead of natural aggregate in alkali-activated concrete (AAC) reduces waste materials, consumes fewer natural resources, and solves the problem of natural aggregate scarcity. This study’s main objectives were to evaluate the effects of varying ratios of EAFS and MK as precursors and EAFS aggregate to natural aggregate ratios on the AAC’s fresh and hardened properties. The properties under consideration are workability and cube compressive strength. The outcomes showed that increasing EAFS with decreasing MK content increased AAC workability and cube compressive strength while increasing EAFS aggregate over natural aggregate improved AAC workability and decreased cube compressive strength.
Investigate the Effect of Curing Methods for Different Types of Binder Concrete
Authors: Elmasry Mohamed E , Kotb Amin A , Shaaban Walaa M 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Various curing techniques are typically used to achieve the required concrete strengths. The laboratory results of this study investigate the effects of curing techniques (namely water, air-dry, burlap, membrane, and chemical spray) on compressive strength (Fcu) and indirect tensile strength (Ft) using 200 specimens. To determine the optimum method for concrete curing, two different cement contents were used (350 kg/m3 450 kg/m3) with and without chemical admixture (superplasticizer, SP). Compressive and indirect tensile strengths were determined for the four different concrete mixes. Based on the experimental results, adding superplasticizer and increasing the cement content improved the mechanical properties of the concrete mix, as indicated by both compressive and tensile strength. Additionally, it was found that the longer the curing period of the concrete, the higher the Fcu. Furthermore, adding 1% SP has a more significant impact on Fcu than adding 100 kg of cement.
A Proposed Framework for integrating IVR Technology in Architectural Design courses; Application on architectural schools in Egypt
Authors: Salah Abdullah , Nabil Guirguis Marianne 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Visual communication has a vital role in the architecture. Virtual reality (VR) is one of the various methods of visual communication and interaction, especially during pandemics. Although it has many benefits such as improved space perception and dimension visualization etc., it’s not commonly used in Egyptian architectural schools. This research aims to investigate the integration of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) into the design curriculums in Egyptian architectural schools and to propose a framework for its integration. A mixed method approach was used in this study along with the literature data that was reviewed to identify the benefits, limitations and different IVR setups. First, an interview was conducted with one of the VRCAVE founders in an Egyptian private university to understand the effect of IVR and whether it has affected the students’ outcome. This was followed by conducting an experiment including an IVR setup along with a 3D Virtual model, to conduct semi-structured interview with the participants to analyse the use of IVR in the design modules and whether its integration in the architecture schools design curriculum would be beneficial
Investigating daylighting quality in educational spaces following building renovation
Authors: Ahmed Abdelhalim Eissa Omar , Ahmed Elakkad Norhan , Ismaeel Walaa S.E. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Daylighting is essential to the well-being of occupants in educational spaces. It increases students’ performance and provides an opportunity for achieving energy efficiency, as well as indoor visual and thermal comfort. However, daylight performance is rarely accounted for when taking decisions attributed to building renovation. This results in increased or decreased daylighting lighting levels and glare which jeopardizes the functional requirements of the space. Hence, this study adopted a mixed qualitative/quantitative approach to compare two recently renovated educational spaces (architectural design studio drawing halls) in terms of the effect of renovation activities on daylighting and visual comfort, noting that both spaces were located in the same building and subject to similar prevailing climatic conditions. This included a sequence of site measurements, surveys and simulations. The results showed great variation between both studied spaces in terms of daylight efficiency and visual comfort. Some design proposals were tested in order to deduct learnt lessons for proper accounting of daylight during building renovation plans.
The influence of incorporating urban identity components in neighbourhood design for attaining environmental sustainability criteria
Authors: Hisham Elmasry T , Fahmy M , Mokhtar H 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
In recent decades, research has shown that to implement a sustainable neighbourhood, traditional urban and architectural typologies that reflect our identity has a role in the ecological urbanism framework. The research investigates how incorporating elements of urban identity, such as environmental, cultural, historical, and social aspects, can contribute to the creation of environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods. By aligning design principles with the unique characteristics of the community, a harmonious balance between ecological preservation and human well-being. Many cases across time show that clustered residential buildings with a courtyard, which is considered the development of courtyard homes, can achieve function and sustainability. This paper outlines a comparative study for the urban identity components in neighbourhood design in three countries that have different climates: Greece, the Netherlands, and Turkey. The study has a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating urban planning and environmental factors by Envi-Met software to analyse the influence of urban identity on sustainable neighbourhood design. Findings from this research aim to provide valuable insights for urban planners, and placemakers, guiding them towards more holistic and sustainable approaches to neighbourhood development in Egypt. and confirming the importance of urban identity in achieving environmental sustainability criteria within the context of contemporary urban planning.
Applying Sustainability and Liveability Principles in Planning a Residential Neighbourhood in an Arid Climate in Egypt
Authors: Shaker M. , Omar M. , Alaa Eldin F. , Mohammed G. , Yousry E. , Hussien N. , El Sheikh D. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This study introduces a comprehensive framework for assessing residential neighbourhoods, focusing on sustainability and liveability indicators in hot arid climates. Utilizing quantitative analysis, a residential neighbourhood model situated near Cairo International Airport, between Nasr City and Fifth Settlement, was developed to gauge sustainable and liveable indicators. The evaluation encompasses various sustainable indicators including housing typology, density, mixed-use zoning, education access, transportation infrastructure, parking management, green space provision, and sustainable materials adoption. Liveability was evaluated by analysing thermal comfort metrics such as wind direction, wind speed, air temperature, and relative humidity using ENVI-met software. Results indicate successful achievement of sustainability indicators, illustrating the efficacy of implemented strategies in fostering sustainable residential environments. However, inadequacies in meeting liveability standards underscore the need for additional sustainable solutions to address escalating air temperatures and enhance resident satisfaction. Proposed solutions include enhancing accessibility, promoting sustainable transportation, diversifying land uses, implementing eco-friendly materials, and augmenting green spaces. Prioritizing shaded areas and increasing tree coverage are recommended to alleviate temperature levels and ensure thermal comfort and community engagement.
Blockchain Technology as an Approach for Enhancing Communication in the Construction Industry
Authors: Elsaeidy Yomna A. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The construction industry has long grappled with the challenge of establishing effective communication and collaboration systems among its stakeholders. Consequently, there is a pressing need for a digital platform that can seamlessly connect all relevant parties and enhance communication. One promising solution lies in the adoption of blockchain technology (BCT), which operates as a distributed ledger system supporting triple-entry accounting. The problem that motivated this work is the inefficient communication between multiple parties within a specific part of the chain. This inefficiency results in the exchange of erroneous and outdated documents, including frequent design changes and engineering drawing errors. The research aim is to investigate the role of BCT in enhancing communication within the construction industry. To achieve this aim, a qualitative approach is employed. First, a comprehensive literature review explores the impact of BCT on communication enhancement in construction. Second, a case study is presented, focusing on the implementation of BCT during the construction of a new bridge. The results from both the literature review and the case study underscore the strong correlation between BCT adoption and improved communication and collaboration among diverse stakeholders in the construction industry.
Crop yield prediction with environmental and chemical variables using optimized ensemble predictive model in machine learning
Authors: Krishnadoss Nivethitha , Ramasamy Lokesh Kumar 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Enhanced crop yield prediction is necessary for agronomists to make dynamic premonsoon decisions. The input variables precipitation, temperature, evaporation, wind speed, and chemical use influence crop yield estimations. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between crop yield and input features, and scaled up the prediction power of the crop yield model using optimized ensemble learning for machine learning. The proposed model is expected to deal with the limitations of existing models by minimizing effort and data requirements. It achieved better performance than the other approaches with a MSE (Mean Squared Error) of 42963, MAE (Mean Absolute Error) of 87, and R
2 (Coefficient of Determination) of 0.96. The findings of this study have important suggestions for agricultural management and policy-making. The proposed model offers possible applications for enhancing crop yield prediction across various perspectives, thereby assisting more informed decision-making in agriculture.
Love, Joy, and Hope
Authors: Ramey Jessie B , Golcheski Amelia 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
What does resilience look like in social movements? How do activists keep going when times are hard? What tools have people used to form movements that could thrive despite constant setbacks and repression? This digital history piece examines these questions through the life of Kipp Dawson, who built coalitions for over sixty years in some of the nation’s largest movements for freedom and equality. Her astonishing career stretched from the frontlines of the US Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam anti-war movement to the women’s movement, gay liberation movement, labor movement, and education justice movement. She helped to lead some of the largest and most well-known sit-ins, marches, and campaigns that led to crucial victories. Yet the movements sustained devastating defeats, and Dawson’s own marginalized identities—as a lesbian, Jewish, working-class woman from a multiracial family—frequently meant she confronted government surveillance, intra-movement bigotry, and even violent resistance. However, Dawson and her collaborators persisted. They drew strength from each other and were buoyed by a sense of possibility for the future. This digital piece demonstrates the significance of love, joy, and hope as tools of resilience through a re-creation of a larger multimedia, open educational site (KippDawson.com) built using interactive platforms from the digital humanities.
A self-training interpretable cell type annotation framework using specific marker gene
Authors: Chen Hegang , Lu Yuyin , Rao Yanghui 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Motivation
Recent advances in sequencing technology provide opportunities to study biological processes at a higher resolution. Cell type annotation is an important step in scRNA-seq analysis, which often relies on established marker genes. However, most of the previous methods divide the identification of cell types into two stages, clustering and assignment, whose performances are susceptible to the clustering algorithm, and the marker information cannot effectively guide the clustering process. Furthermore, their linear heuristic-based cell assignment process is often insufficient to capture potential dependencies between cells and types.

Results
Here, we present Interpretable Cell Type Annotation based on self-training (sICTA), a marker-based cell type annotation method that combines the self-training strategy with pseudo-labeling and the nonlinear association capturing capability of Transformer. In addition, we incorporate biological priori knowledge of genes and pathways into the classifier through an attention mechanism to enhance the transparency of the model. A benchmark analysis on 11 publicly available single-cell datasets demonstrates the superiority of sICTA compared to state-of-the-art methods. The robustness of our method is further validated by evaluating the prediction accuracy of the model on different cell types for each single-cell data. Moreover, ablation studies show that self-training and the ability to capture potential dependencies between cells and cell types, both of which are mutually reinforcing, work together to improve model performance. Finally, we apply sICTA to the pancreatic dataset, exemplifying the interpretable attention matrix captured by sICTA.

Availability and implementation
The source code of sICTA is available in public at https://github.com/nbnbhwyy/sICTA. The processed datasets can be found at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jbqSxacL_IDIZ4uPjq220C9Kv024m9eL. The final version of the model will be permanently available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13474010
How do hydroelectric dams affect non-migratory fish?: genomic evidence for Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in the Uatumã River, Amazonas, Brazil
Authors: Escobar Maria D , Barroco Lorenzo , Martínez José G , Bertuol Fabricio , Pouilly Marc , Freitas Carlos E , Hrbek Tomas 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The Balbina hydroelectric dam was built in the 1980s on the Uatumã River to supply electricity to Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, Brazil. Its construction caused a drastic change to the alluvial landscape, forming a large, lentic, artificial reservoir rather than a previously dynamic river system. The objective of our research was to evaluate the impact of the hydroelectric dam on the microevolutionary processes of fish, taking as a model Cichla temensis, an iconic non-migratory fish from the Amazon, abundant in this ecosystem. We collected double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data and extracted single nucleotide polymorphisms, which we identified at neutral and adaptive loci, for subsequent analyses. The results showed that the connectivity of the population was affected historically by natural physical barriers, before the construction of the hydroelectric dam, recognizing two independent population units. We detected that the hydroelectric dam increased the differentiation between populations and affected the genetic diversity and effective population sizes, in addition to promoting a recent population expansion upstream of the dam, as a consequence of adaptation to the new environment. This study provides the first evidence that hydroelectric dams can promote local adaptation in some fish, such as non-migratory ones.
Short-term impact of cardiovascular screening by traditional risk assessment or coronary artery calcium score on health-related quality of life: the ROBINSCA trial
Authors: Moldovanu Dana , de Koning Harry J , Vonder Marleen , Gratama Jan Willem C , Adriaansen Henk J , Roeters van Lennep Jeanine E , Vliegenthart Rozemarijn , van der Harst Pim , Braam Richard L , van Dijkman Paul R M , Oudkerk Matthijs , van der Aalst Carlijn M 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Aims
Evidence on the impact of screening for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for policy decisions about screening implementation and to uncover teachable moments to motivate healthy lifestyle choices. It is unknown whether screening by cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan has a stronger impact on HRQoL than screening by traditional risk prediction models. The study aims to investigate differences in HRQoL across the screening process between participants who were randomized to CVD risk estimation by coronary artery calcium score or Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation.

Methods and results
A subset of 2687 ROBINSCA participants filled in questionnaires at (T0) randomization, (T1) invitation, (T2) 1–3 days before screening, (T3) 1–3 days after, and (T4) screening result. Generic HRQoL (SF-12; EQ-5D) and anxiety (STAI-6) were measured. We investigated the differences in changes in HRQoL across the screening process with linear mixed models. We found comparable levels of HRQoL at all screening moments for the two intervention groups. Mental health scores were worse at invitation and randomization than at the later time points, irrespective of screening group (all P &lt; 0.001). A result indicating a heightened CVD risk was associated with increased anxiety in the CT screening group.

Conclusion
Computed tomography screening for CVD risk has no detrimental impact on HRQoL and anxiety levels compared to screening by traditional risk assessment. Receiving an invitation to screenning or a result implying increased CVD risk could function as teachable moments for high-risk individuals.

Registration
ROBINSCA trial registration number: NTR6471 in Dutch Trial Register (NTR).
Selection on the vascular-remodeling BMPER gene is associated with altitudinal adaptation in an insular lizard
Authors: Serén Nina , Pinho Catarina , Megía-Palma Rodrigo , Aguilar Prem , Žagar Anamarija , Andrade Pedro , Carretero Miguel A 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
High altitude imposes several extreme constraints on life, such as low oxygen pressure and high levels of ultraviolet radiation, which require specialized adaptations. Many studies have focused on how endothermic vertebrates respond to these challenging environments, but there is still uncertainty on how ectotherms adapt to these conditions. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing of low-altitude (100–600 m) and high-altitude (3,550 m) populations of the wide-ranging Tenerife lizard Gallotia galloti to uncover signatures of selection for altitudinal adaptation. The studied populations show reduced differentiation, sharing similar patterns of genetic variation. Selective sweep mapping suggests that signatures of adaptation to high altitude are not widespread across the genome, clustering in a relatively small number of genomic regions. One of these regions contains BMPER, a gene involved with vascular remodeling, and that has been associated with hypoxia-induced angiogenic response. By genotyping samples across 2 altitudinal transects, we show that allele frequency changes at this locus are not gradual, but rather show a well-defined shift above ca. 1,900 m. Transcript and protein structure analyses on this gene suggest that putative selection likely acts on noncoding variation. These results underline how low oxygen pressure generates the most consistent selective constraint in high-altitude environments, to which vertebrates with vastly contrasting physiological profiles need to adapt in the context of ongoing climate change.
Whole-genome sequencing of the invasive golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata from Asia reveals rapid expansion and adaptive evolution
Authors: Lu Yan , Luo Fang , Zhou An , Yi Cun , Chen Hao , Li Jian , Guo Yunhai , Xie Yuxiang , Zhang Wei , Lin Datao , Yang Yaming , Wu Zhongdao , Zhang Yi , Xu Shuhua , Hu Wei 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Pomacea canaliculata, an invasive species native to South America, is recognized for its broad geographic distribution and adaptability to a variety of ecological conditions. The details concerning the evolution and adaptation of P. canaliculate remain unclear due to a lack of whole-genome resequencing data. We examined 173 P. canaliculata genomes representing 17 geographic populations in East and Southeast Asia. Interestingly, P. canaliculata showed a higher level of genetic diversity than other mollusks, and our analysis suggested that the dispersal of P. canaliculata could have been driven by climate changes and human activities. Notably, we identified a set of genes associated with low temperature adaptation, including Csde1, a cold shock protein coding gene. Further RNA sequencing analysis and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments demonstrated the gene’s dynamic pattern and biological functions during cold exposure. Moreover, both positive selection and balancing selection are likely to have contributed to the rapid environmental adaptation of P. canaliculata populations. In particular, genes associated with energy metabolism and stress response were undergoing positive selection, while a large number of immune-related genes showed strong signatures of balancing selection. Our study has advanced our understanding of the evolution of P. canaliculata and has provided a valuable resource concerning an invasive species.