bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental Impact Assessment of Buildings with Steel-Intensive Façade Systems – A Case Study
Authors: Buzatu Raluca , Ungureanu Viorel , Ciutina Adrian , Both Ioan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGlobal concerns about environmental sustainability have escalated in the last three decades, forcing industries to critically examine their practices and their contribution to the overall ecological footprint. The construction sector has become a significant contributor to environmental deterioration due to its extensive energy consumption, raw material extraction, and waste generation. One of the ways to reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector is to decrease the embodied carbon footprint of buildings using the three R approaches – reduce, reuse, recycle and by using renewable construction materials. The paper focusses on the evaluation of the behaviour of steel-intensive façade systems from an environmental impact perspective. The research presented in the paper shows a comparative Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of industrial buildings that have envelopes consisting of liner tray cladding systems and sandwich panel cladding systems. The results of this comparison show that when different envelope solutions are considered, the highest potential benefits (8–25% higher) occur for structures that have liner tray cladding systems and the highest loads (11–19% higher) appear for structures that have sandwich panel cladding systems. Moreover, the potential for repeated reuse in the case of claddings based on steel liner trays is superior to the potential for repeated reuse of sandwich panels, helping to reduce the environmental impact of the cladding system even after its second life cycle.
Italian Regulations and Local Initiatives for Circular Economy in the Construction Sector
Authors: Giorgi Serena , Lavagna Monica 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEuropean Member States are required to promote initiatives and programs to shift their traditional linear economy into circular economy. The paper shows the Italian initiatives towards circular economy in the built environment, across different application level (national and local) and different drivers (top-down and bottom-up). The method of investigation regards an on-field research based on direct dialogue with various stakeholders of construction sector in the national context. The results show the current barriers to circular material flows and the successful initiatives in Italy. Firstly, the top-down strategies are reported, as well as existing standards, national regulations and local policy. Secondly, the bottom-up strategies are shown, stressing the local stakeholders involvement. Based on the discussion, potential improvements are highlighted to align the current Italian initiatives with the broader European Commission circular economy objectives, considering also the best practices developed in other European countries.
Analysis of the Pavement Response with Total/Partial Link Between Layers to the Action of Traffic Load
Authors: Stirb Adelin , Ciutina Adrian , Forton Andrei , Costescu Ciprian , Marc Paul 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe paper investigates the response of the pavement of a road sector analyzed to the traffic load that was determined numerically by using Abaqus numerical modelling software. This tool offers advanced analysis options in comparison with the normative road structure dimensioning tool. Thus, in contrast to the current use road structure dimensioning program, the FEM software allows the definition of the interfaces between layers and switch loads from static load to moving load, based on the determination of the resilient stresses and deformations in road structures by using the classical linear elastic multilayer model. The aim of this study was to determine whether the road pavement with deficiencies of adhesion between asphalt layers can take over the calculated traffic load considered in the study, or the proportion of design traffic load that can be taken over. That would allow an assessment of the service operation life of the road pavement and, implicitly, of the possibility of its yielding before the end of the perspective period considered.
The Role of BIM in Supporting Circularity: A Conceptual Framework for Developing BIM-Based Circularity Assessment Models in Buildings
Authors: Askar Rand , Karaca Ferhat , Bragança Luís , Gervásio Helena 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe simultaneous evolution of the construction sector towards the circular economy and digitalization is widely recognized and endorsed by both policy initiatives and academic discourse. In this dynamic landscape, research efforts are focused on creating automated tools and models to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of circularity in buildings, thereby enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making processes. Building Information Modelling (BIM) stands out for its acknowledged capabilities in data storage and process automation, making it a compelling platform for achieving these objectives. This paper aims to establish a conceptual framework that addresses the challenge of developing BIM-supported tools and models for promoting circularity in buildings. The primary goal of the proposed framework is to assist tool developers and professionals in the construction sector, providing them with a systematic approach to integrate circularity aspects into BIM for efficient and automated assessment processes. To achieve this, the study critically analyzes five existing BIM-based circularity tools and models from previous studies, elucidating the key stages and providing detailed steps for their development. The paper concludes by emphasizing the main barriers hindering the development and automation of circularity tools within the BIM framework. This comprehensive exploration contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable construction practices, offering valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers striving to advance the integration of circular and digital principles in the construction industry.
Integrating BIMs in Construction and Demolition Waste Management for Circularity Enhancement-A Review
Authors: Karanafti Aikaterina , Trubina Nika , Giarma Christina , Tsikaloudaki Katerina , Theodosiou Theodoros 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHumanity in our days is fighting with climate change effects and the depletion of natural resources. In this direction, the adoption of sustainable and circular practices is considered vital and in most cases is prescribed by regulations. The construction sector is responsible for massive amounts of energy consumed during the extraction of raw materials, the production of building materials, the construction phase, the operating phase of the buildings, and also during their demolition and end-of-life. The latter one already gathers the scientific community’s interest with the efforts being focused on efficient Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) management solutions. Meanwhile, Building Information Modelling (BIM), as a storage medium of information about all building components, offers various advantages on a building’s optimum design and operation, allowing information exchange among all involved stakeholders. Although many studies demonstrate the effectiveness of BIMs in reducing construction waste for new buildings, there is not extensive research on how BIMs can contribute to CDW reduction for an existing building. In this review study, the existing studies addressing BIM integration on CDW management are analyzed, pointing out the advantages that this strategy offers on reducing CDW and managing them efficiently, increasing reuse and recycle rates, and promoting circularity. The main challenges this approach presents, mainly attributed to the difficulty of gathering the required information with the appropriate accuracy about an existing building, are extensively discussed, along with future research needs, necessary for a further enhancement of this technique.
Digital Technologies and Material Passports for Circularity in Buildings: An In-Depth Analysis of Current Practices and Emerging Trends
Authors: Trubina Nika , Leindecker Gerald , Askar Rand , Karanafti Aikaterina , Gómez-Gil Marta , Blázquez Teresa , Güngör Bengü , Bragança Luís 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe construction industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by digitalization and an unwavering commitment to implementing circular economy (CE) principles and sustainability into its core practices. Emerging digital technologies (DTs), such as Material Passports (MPs), Building Information Modelling (BIM) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Scanning technologies, Blockchain technology (BCT), the Internet of Things (IoT) stand out as pivotal tools capable of expediting the transition towards CE implementation in buildings. This study highlights the significant potential of six DTs to support CE application throughout the building lifecycle. Furthermore, it delves into the potential synergies among these diverse DTs, highlighting the additional benefits that collaboration can bring across different lifecycle stages of a building project. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of MPs with other DTs, showing promise in assessing resource availability, volumes, and flows. This integration optimizes waste reduction and recycling plans, contributing to more precise selective and smart deconstruction planning. The combined use of DTs offers substantial benefits to stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding maintenance and understand the current quality of specific materials. Through these means, the study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the array of DTs propelling circular building practices. It also explores emerging trends in this dynamic field, scrutinizing the effectiveness of adopting these technologies throughout the building life cycle stages, and anticipating potential challenges these technologies may face.
Digital Technologies for Inventory and Supply Chain Management in Circular Economy: A Review Study on Construction Industry
Authors: Güngör Bengü , Leindecker Gerald 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe characteristics of supply chains in the construction industry give rise to several information and collaboration system needs, such as system affordability and adaptability. The presence of several companies from a variety of industries in supply chains for the construction industry sets them apart. Information sharing and system integration therefore require cooperation and trust. In the manufacturing industry, a lot of efforts are being made to create tools, technologies, and strategies that would allow supply chain actors to communicate with one another and work together. However, it is more challenging to establish a solid environment for inventory and data management in the construction industry. The Internet and information technology are now being used in the construction industry to strengthen cross-organizational relationships. The employment of these tools in this industry is occasionally hampered by limitations like security worries, a lack of managerial commitment, high costs, and deployment rigidity. Additionally, a dynamic configuration of supply chains is required to integrate with more adaptable business models, increase internationalization, and enhance coordination. For this reason, this study primarily explores the inventory and supply chain tools currently in use in the construction industry and evaluates their functionality from a business and consumer perspective. Other areas of study are based on either inventory management for circular buildings or cross-organizational cooperation, and they include secure data storage, information exchange among stakeholders, and their modification. In the end, it aims to emphasize the key problems with data and inventory management in the construction industry, as well as inform about the potential technology solutions to make a guidance of academic and industry specialists within this study.
Numerical Investigation of Double-Skin Cold-Formed Steel Shear Wall Filled with Concrete
Authors: Žuvelek Vlaho , Ćurković Ivan , Lukačević Ivan , Rajić Andrea 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSteel and composite shear wall systems are used for vertical stabilisation of buildings and have been widely investigated in recent decades. Such systems provide excellent shear strength and ductility while allowing material savings due to optimal material usage and an increase in construction speed. A double-skin cold-formed steel shear wall filled with concrete is an innovative composite shear wall that is composed of cold-formed corrugated steel sheets and intermediate fasteners filled with concrete which is in turn bounded by a steel frame. Steel sheets are connected onto a concrete core with the help of intermediate fasteners behaving as shear connectors forming a sandwich Steel–Concrete–Steel panel. Compared to reinforced concrete shear walls, this type of wall has enhanced strength and ductility due to steel confinement while allowing for a reduction in construction time. The numerical simulation of double-skin cold-formed steel shear walls filled with concrete has been studied in this paper. The numerical parametric simulations are conducted in ABAQUS/CAE, where the influence of steel sheet thicknesses, concrete strength and the arrangement and diameter of the shear connectors were analysed. The wall shear capacities for all parameters were compared and the results provide suggestions for future investigations.
New conformal-like symmetry of strictly massless fermions in four-dimensional de Sitter space
Authors: Letsios Vasileios A. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
We present new infinitesimal ‘conformal-like’ symmetries for the field equations of strictly massless spin-s ≥ 3/2 totally symmetric tensor-spinors (i.e. gauge potentials) on 4-dimensional de Sitter spacetime (dS4). The corresponding symmetry transformations are generated by the five closed conformal Killing vectors of dS4, but they are not conventional conformal transformations. We show that the algebra generated by the ten de Sitter (dS) symmetries and the five conformal-like symmetries closes on the conformal-like algebra so(2, 4) up to gauge transformations of the gauge potentials. The transformations of the gauge-invariant field strength tensor-spinors under the conformal-like symmetries are given by the product of γ5 times a usual infinitesimal conformal transformation of the field strengths. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two sets of physical mode solutions, corresponding to the two helicities ±s of the strictly massless theories, form a direct sum of Unitary Irreducible Representations (UIRs) of the conformal-like algebra. We also fill a gap in the literature by explaining how these physical modes form a direct sum of Discrete Series UIRs of the dS algebra so(1, 4).
Influence of Different Rates of Plant-Based Compost on Clay Soil Metal Behavior and Human Health Risk Assessment in Moringa oleifera Leaf Biomass
Authors: Ngwenya N , Nuapia Y , Risenga I , Chimuka L 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAn investigation of the impact of adding plant-based organic compost to clay soil from a Moringa oleifera farm focusing on the metal content, bioavailability, and accumulation of nutrients in M. oleifera leaves was conducted. Clay soil was mixed with 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% plant-based organic compost (by volume) in 20 cm wide, 2 L pots. Moringa oleifera plants were planted in four replicates of each treatment and control group. Results revealed that the addition of compost significantly (P < 0.05) altered the concentration of metals in the soil. Correspondingly, accumulation of nutrients in M. oleifera leaves increased with the addition of compost to the soil, except for cobalt and chromium. Trace elements had minimal bioavailability in the amended soils, and their presence in the leaves was lower than the permissible trace metal levels in food. The 30% combination had the highest concentration of calcium (45 042.5 mg/kg), magnesium (17430.0 mg/kg) and phosphorous (8802. 5 mg/kg) in M. oleifera leaves. The study concluded the addition of compost improved bioavailability of nutrients in the soil and their concentration in M. oleifera leaves. The target hazard quotients for heavy metals was less than one, indicating that M. oleifera leaf biomass harvested from soil amended with plant-based compost is safe for human consumption. These results serve as guidelines for recommended organic certification requiremets where plant-based compost is often used in the fast-growing herbal industry.
Epidemiology of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in the Tacna Region of Peru, 2023
Authors: Sologuren-García Gema , Linares Carmen L. , Flores Jackeline R. , Escobar-Bermejo Gloria , Sotelo-Gonzales Soledad , Fagerstrom Cristhel K. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Introduction and hypothesis
Urinary incontinence (UI) is highly prevalent in the general population, with numerous studies conducted in Europe and North America. However, there is a scarcity of data regarding its prevalence and sociodemographic factors in the southern region of Peru. There is an association between sociodemographic factors—such as age, educational level, body mass index, number of pregnancies, parity, mode of delivery, weight of the newborn—along with lifestyle factors such as physical effort, coffee and tobacco consumption with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). We anticipate that this association will negatively impact women’s quality of life.

Methods
This was a quantitative study, with a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional correlational design. A sample consisting of 468 women between 30 and 64 years old. A previously tested survey was applied to explore prevalence, symptoms, associated factors, and quality of life.

Results
The prevalence of PFD was 73.9%. UI was the most common. There is a significant association with overweight, obesity, parity, route of delivery, and physical effort. Even though a large percentage of participants presented with PFD, they reported that their quality of life was not affected (65.9% urinary discomfort, 96.5% colorectal–anal discomfort and 92.2% pelvic organ prolapse discomfort) and only in the case of urinary discomfort did they state that the impact was mild (28.6%) and moderate (5.5%).

Conclusions
Pelvic floor dysfunction in women is very common and it is strongly associated with overweight, obesity, parity, route of delivery, and physical exertion. The impact on quality of life was mild and moderate for those who had urinary discomfort.
Systematic evaluation of high-throughput PBK modelling strategies for the prediction of intravenous and oral pharmacokinetics in humans
Authors: Geci René , Gadaleta Domenico , de Lomana Marina García , Ortega-Vallbona Rita , Colombo Erika , Serrano-Candelas Eva , Paini Alicia , Kuepfer Lars , Schaller Stephan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPhysiologically based kinetic (PBK) modelling offers a mechanistic basis for predicting the pharmaco-/toxicokinetics of compounds and thereby provides critical information for integrating toxicity and exposure data to replace animal testing with in vitro or in silico methods. However, traditional PBK modelling depends on animal and human data, which limits its usefulness for non-animal methods. To address this limitation, high-throughput PBK modelling aims to rely exclusively on in vitro and in silico data for model generation. Here, we evaluate a variety of in silico tools and different strategies to parameterise PBK models with input values from various sources in a high-throughput manner. We gather 2000 + publicly available human in vivo concentration–time profiles of 200 + compounds (IV and oral administration), as well as in silico, in vitro and in vivo determined compound-specific parameters required for the PBK modelling of these compounds. Then, we systematically evaluate all possible PBK model parametrisation strategies in PK-Sim and quantify their prediction accuracy against the collected in vivo concentration–time profiles. Our results show that even simple, generic high-throughput PBK modelling can provide accurate predictions of the pharmacokinetics of most compounds (87% of Cmax and 84% of AUC within tenfold). Nevertheless, we also observe major differences in prediction accuracies between the different parameterisation strategies, as well as between different compounds. Finally, we outline a strategy for high-throughput PBK modelling that relies exclusively on freely available tools. Our findings contribute to a more robust understanding of the reliability of high-throughput PBK modelling, which is essential to establish the confidence necessary for its utilisation in Next-Generation Risk Assessment.
The relationship between branch scar attributes and knot features in birch (Betula pendula and B. pubescens)
Authors: Kuehne Christian , Zimmer Katrin , Smith Aaron 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThere is currently no quality sorting of harvested hardwood timber in Norway on a national scale. Medium- and high-quality logs including those from birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh., B. pendula Roth) are thus not utilized according to their potential monetary value. Increased domestic utilization of quality birch timber requires that the quality of harvested logs be properly assessed for potential end uses. A preferred sorting procedure would use visually detectable external log defects to grade roundwood timber. Knots are an important feature of inner log quality. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether correlations between branch scar size and knot features could be found in Norwegian birch. Using 168 knots from seven unpruned birch trees, external bark attributes often showed strong correlations with internal wood quality. Both length of the mustache and length of the seal performed well as predictors of stem radius at the time of knot occlusion. The presence of a broken off branch stub as part of an occluded knot significantly increased the knot-effected stem radius, proving that the practice of removing branches and branch stubs along the lower trunk is a crucial measure if quality timber production is the primary management goal.
Sediment DNA Records the Critical Transition of Bacterial Communities in the Arid Lake
Authors: Hu Yang , Cai Jian , Song Yifu , Li Guoqiang , Gong Yi , Jiang Xingyu , Tang Xiangming , Shao Keqiang , Gao Guang 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIt is necessary to predict the critical transition of lake ecosystems due to their abrupt, non-linear effects on social-economic systems. Given the promising application of paleolimnological archives to tracking the historical changes of lake ecosystems, it is speculated that they can also record the lake’s critical transition. We studied Lake Dali-Nor in the arid region of Inner Mongolia because of the profound shrinking the lake experienced between the 1300 s and the 1600 s. We reconstructed the succession of bacterial communities from a 140-cm-long sediment core at 4-cm intervals and detected the critical transition. Our results showed that the historical trajectory of bacterial communities from the 1200 s to the 2010s was divided into two alternative states: state1 from 1200 to 1300 s and state2 from 1400 to 2010s. Furthermore, in the late 1300 s, the appearance of a tipping point and critical slowing down implied the existence of a critical transition. By using a multi-decadal time series from the sedimentary core, with general Lotka-Volterra model simulations, local stability analysis found that bacterial communities were the most unstable as they approached the critical transition, suggesting that the collapse of stability triggers the community shift from an equilibrium state to another state. Furthermore, the most unstable community harbored the strongest antagonistic and mutualistic interactions, which may imply the detrimental role of interaction strength on community stability. Collectively, our study showed that sediment DNA can be used to detect the critical transition of lake ecosystems.