bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental remediation and the efficacy of ceramic membranes in wastewater treatment—a review
Authors: Jarrar Rouzait , Abbas M. K. G. , Al-Ejji Maryam 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCeramic membranes are gaining rapid traction in water and wastewater treatment applications due to their inherent advantages, such as chemical/thermal stability, low fouling propensity, and extended lifespan. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of ceramic membranes, exploring their composition, fabrication techniques, filtration principles, and diverse applications. Various types of ceramic membranes, including alumina, zirconia, titania, silica, and zeolite, are discussed. As global challenges related to water scarcity and pollution intensify, the implementation of ceramic membranes offers a sustainable and effective approach for water and wastewater treatment and safeguarding vital water resources. Despite the dominance of polymeric membranes in the field, the constant pursuit of reduced production costs and the apparent benefits of ceramic membrane are fueling their rapid growth. The review also examines applications that demonstrate the effectiveness of pressure-driven ceramic membrane technology for treating industrial wastewaters from diverse industries, including textile, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical. While the technology shows efficiency in various wastewater treatment scenarios, future research should focus on optimizing investment costs through new fabrication technologies, improving selectivity, permeability, and packing densities, minimizing fouling, and proposing scale-up strategies based on experimental research results. The collective findings reveal the potential of ceramic membranes to revolutionize wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.
Recent trends on energy-efficient solar dryers for food and agricultural products drying: a review
Authors: Venkateswarlu Kavati , Reddy S. V. Kota 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe energy efficiency enhancement of solar dryers has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide because of the need for energy storage in solar drying applications, which arises primarily from the irregular nature of solar energy that leads to improper drying which will reduce the quality of the products being dried. This work comprehensively reviews the state-of-the-art research carried out on solar dryers for energy efficiency enhancement using various alternative strategies, including hybrid solar dryers that use auxiliary heating sources, such as electric heaters or biomass heaters, solar-assisted heat pump dryer, use of desiccant materials, and heat storage systems that use both sensible and latent heat storage. The advent of phase change materials (PCM), such as thermally and chemically stable PCMs, for long-term storage, bio-degradable and bio-compatible PCM materials to alleviate the negative environmental impact of conventional PCMs is also presented. The performance parameters considered for evaluating dryers include the maximum temperature attained inside the drying chamber, drying time and efficiency, specific moisture extraction rate (SMER), energy and exergy efficiency and CO2 mitigation effect. The factors considered to analyze the PCMs application in solar dryers include cost and sustainability of PCMs, and both energy and exergy analyses of dryers using PCMs. The gaps in current knowledge and future scope for further improvement of solar dryers are also elucidated.
Graphical abstract
aiWATERS: an artificial intelligence framework for the water sector
Authors: Vekaria Darshan , Sinha Sunil 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) applications has led to its widespread adoption across diverse domains. AI is making its way into industry, beyond research and academia. Concurrently, the water sector is undergoing a digital transformation. Water utilities in the United States are at different stages in their journey of digital transformation, and the decision makers in water sector, who are non-expert stakeholders in AI applications, need to better understand this technology to make informed decisions. While AI has numerous benefits to offer, there are also many challenges related to data, model development, knowledge integration and ethical concerns that should be considered before implementing it for real world applications. Civil engineering is a licensed profession where critical decision making is involved. Therefore, trust in any decision support technology is critical for its acceptance in real-world applications. Therefore, this research proposes a framework called aiWATERS (Artificial Intelligence for the Water Sector) which can serve as a guide for the water utilities to successfully implement AI in their system. Based on this framework, we conduct pilot interviews and surveys with various small, medium, and large water utilities in the United States (US) to capture their current state of AI implementation and identify the challenges faced by them. The research findings reveal that most of the water utilities in the United States are at an early stage of implementing AI as they face concerns regarding the black box nature, trustworthiness, and sustainability of AI technology in their system. The aiWATERS framework is intended to help the utilities navigate through these issues in their journey of digital transformation.
Glioma-associated macrophages: unraveling their dual role in the microenvironment and therapeutic implications
Authors: Wang Jiachen , Li Shenglan , Lan Yanjie , Liu Xinrui , Li Wenbin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain glioma characterized by a high number of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) within its tissues. These TAMs have a close relationship with tumor grade and prognosis. Targeting TAMs has been identified as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, TAM cells play both tumor-killing and tumor-promoting roles, making them a double-edged sword in the immune environment. The different subtypes of macrophages and their effects on the tumor microenvironment remain poorly understood. This study comprehensively elucidates the immunobiology of glioma-associated macrophages (GAMs), including their origin, classification, molecular mechanisms underlying glioma promotion and inhibition, polarization strategies, targeted therapy for GAMs and the current challenges and perspectives in immune modulation. Further research on macrophage function and mechanism may provide a new immunological basis for treating GBM patients and enhancing the efficacy of glioma immunotherapy.
Bioanalytical technologies using temperature-responsive polymers
Authors: Nagase Kenichi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn recent decades, various bioanalytical technologies have been investigated for appropriate medical treatment and effective therapy. Temperature-responsive chromatography is a promising bioanalytical technology owing to its functional properties. Temperature-responsive chromatography uses a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAAm) modified stationary phase as the column packing material. The hydrophobic interactions between PNIPAAm and the analyte could be modulated by changing the column temperature because of the temperature-responsive hydrophobicity of PNIPAAm. Thus, the chromatography system does not require organic solvents in the mobile phase, making it suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring in medical settings such as hospitals. This review summarizes recent developments in temperature-responsive chromatography systems for therapeutic drug monitoring applications. In addition, separation methods for antibody drugs using PNIPAAm are also summarized because these methods apply to the therapeutic drug monitoring of biopharmaceutics. The temperature-responsive chromatography systems can also be utilized for clinical diagnosis, as they can assess multiple medicines simultaneously. This highlights the significant potential of temperature-responsive chromatography in medicine and healthcare.
Graphical abstract
Developing campus digital twin using interactive visual analytics approach
Authors: Ye Xinyue , Jamonnak Suphanut , Van Zandt Shannon , Newman Galen , Suermann Patrick 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDigital Twins (DTs) are increasingly recognized for their potential to improve efficiency and decision-making in various domains of the built environment. Despite their promise, challenges like cost, complexity, interoperability, and data integration remain. This paper introduces a novel interactive visual analytics system that tackles these issues, using a case study of simulating class distribution and campus building capacity at a large public university. The system leverages enrollment data, converting it into a spatial-temporal format for interactive exploration and analysis of class distribution and resource utilization. Through case studies, we demonstrate the system's effectiveness, adaptability, and real-world applicability, highlighting its role in practical DT implementation for built environments.
Effect of ultrasound-guided recruitment maneuver on atelectasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xu Yi , Han Yang , Zhuang Huijia , Fei Fei , Zheng Tingting , Yu Hai 
Published: April 2024

AbstractTo summarize the existing evidence on the effects of ultrasound-guided recruitment maneuver (RM) during perioperative period on atelectasis, oxygenation and other clinical outcomes in adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases were searched from inception to May 2023 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the perioperative use of ultrasound-guided RM with a control group in adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of early postoperative atelectasis (within 24 h after surgery). A total of 12 RCTs with 895 patients were included. The ultrasound-guided RM significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative atelectasis (RR [risk ratio]: 0.44, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 0.34 to 0.57, P < 0.001), with a median fragility index of 4. Prespecified subgroup analyses demonstrated the consistent findings. Additionally, ultrasound-guided RM could decrease postoperative lung ultrasound score (MD [mean difference]: − 3.02, 95% CI: − 3.98 to − 2.06, P < 0.001), reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia (RR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.56, P < 0.001), improve postoperative oxygenation index (MD: 45.23 mmHg, 95% CI: 26.54 to 63.92 mmHg, P < 0.001), and shorten post-anesthesia care unit (MD: − 1.89 min, 95% CI: − 3.14 to − 0.63 min, P = 0.003) and hospital length of stay (MD: − 0.17 days, 95% CI: − 0.30 to − 0.03 days, P = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of atelectasis at the end of surgery between two groups (RR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.14, P = 0.89). The use of ultrasound-guided RM perioperatively reduced the risk of atelectasis and improve oxygenation after abdominal surgery. Strategies to reduce the development of perioperative atelectasis are presented to highlight areas for future research.
Boosting the intra-African digital trade in the AfCFTA context: does regulatory framework matter?
Authors: Kouty Manfred 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDigital trade is one of the promising areas for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and a factor of success of the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (DTS) for Africa (2020–2030). However, the benefits of digital trade are not automatic and require an adequate regulatory environment. The objective of this study is to show how an adequate regulatory framework can boost the intra-African digital trade in the AfCFTA context. Our descriptive analysis shows that digital trade has increased across all regions in the world particularly in Africa since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. As a share of digitally deliverable services in total export services, digital trade represents 35% of total export services in Africa. Digital trade expansion faces regulatory barriers and the lack of a harmonized regulatory framework. Our econometrics results shows that digital trade and digital trade regulatory barriers (RDTII) are strongly negatively correlated in Africa. This result establishes the need to improve digital trade regulations framework in Africa.
A new approach to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing: analysis of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
Authors: Yu Minna , Liu Xinyu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHarmful subsidies awarded by states facilitate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which causes negative impacts on ocean ecosystems, seafood value chains, society, and global food security. The World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted on June 17, 2022, aims to improve global fishery governance through trade measures and is regarded as a major step toward the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The objective of this study is to offer a better insight into the interpretation and future implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Based on the status quo of international and regional fishery governance legal systems and management regimes in the regulation of IUU fishing, this study reviews the legislative process of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, analyzes five main controversial issues, and explores the conflicts of interests of different countries during the discussion. In the future, states should promote the transformation of the fisheries sector by reducing harmful subsidies for IUU fishing and enhancing cooperation among coastal states, flag states, port states and relevant RFMOs.
ITERATED PRIORITY ARGUMENTS IN DESCRIPTIVE SET THEORY
Authors: DAY ADAM , GREENBERG NOAM , HARRISON-TRAINOR MATTHEW , TURETSKY DAN 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe present the true stages machinery and illustrate its applications to descriptive set theory. We use this machinery to provide new proofs of the Hausdorff–Kuratowski and Wadge theorems on the structure of
$\mathbf {\Delta }^0_\xi $
, Louveau and Saint Raymond’s separation theorem, and Louveau’s separation theorem.
Significant Reduction of Unequal Population Exposure to Climate Extremes by Achieving the Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Oh Seok‐Geun , Choi Jung , Kang Min‐Jee , Son Seok‐Woo , Jeong Sujong , Min Seung‐Ki , Yeh Sang‐Wook , Kim Yeon‐Hee 
Published: April 2024

AbstractClimate extremes, such as hot temperature and heavy precipitation events, have devastating effects on human societies. As the planet gets warmer, they have become more intense and more frequent. To avoid irreversible damages from climate extremes, many countries have committed to achieving net‐zero anthropogenic carbon emissions, or carbon neutrality, by the 2050s. Here, we quantify the impact of carbon neutrality on population exposure to climate extremes using multi‐model projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP)1‐1.9 and SSP3‐7.0 scenarios. It is found that the increasing population exposure to hot‐temperature and heavy‐precipitation extremes under SSP3‐7.0 scenario can be substantially reduced by 87%–98% in the late 21st century by achieving the carbon neutrality based on SSP1‐1.9 scenario. The benefits of carbon neutrality are particularly pronounced in Africa and Asia. The potential benefits of carbon neutrality are also significant in North America, Europe, and Oceania, where a reduction in climate extremes is more than twice as important as population decline in reducing population exposure to climate extremes. These results provide important scientific support for ongoing efforts to achieve net‐zero carbon emissions by the 2050s to reduce potential climate risk and its inequity across continents.
The X‐Pattern Merging of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly Crests During Geomagnetic Quiet Time
Authors: Laskar F. I. , Karan D. K. , Daniell R. E. , Codrescu M. V. , Eastes R. W. , Pedatella N. M. , Wang W. , Maute A. , Aryal S. , Rajesh P. K. , McClintock W. E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractA unique phenomenon—A geomagnetically quiet time merging of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) crests, leading to an X‐pattern (EIA‐X) around the magnetic equator—has been observed in the night‐time ionospheric measurements by the Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk mission. The pattern is also reproduced in an ionospheric model that assimilates slant Total Electron Content from Global Navigation Satellite System and Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate 2. A free‐running whole atmospheric general circulation model simulation reproduces a similar pattern. Due to the similarity between measurements and simulations, the latter is used to diagnose this heretofore unexplained phenomenon. The simulation shows that the EIA‐X can occur during geomagnetically quiet conditions and in the afternoon to evening sector at a longitude where the vertical drift is downward. The downward vertical drift is a necessary but not sufficient condition. The simulation was performed under constant low‐solar and quiescent‐geomagnetic forcing conditions, therefore we conclude that EIA‐X can be driven by lower‐atmospheric forcing.
Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
Authors: Tacza J. , Li G. , Raulin J.‐P. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe suppression of high‐energy cosmic rays, known as Forbush decreases (FDs), represents a promising factor in influencing the global electric circuit (GEC) system. Researchers have delved into these effects by examining variations, often disruptive, of the potential gradient (PG) in ground‐based measurements taken in fair weather regions. In this paper, we aim to investigate deviations observed in the diurnal curve of the PG, as compared to the mean values derived from fair weather conditions, during both mild and strong Forbush decreases. Unlike the traditional classification of FDs, which are based on ground level neutron monitor data, we classify FDs using measurements of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS‐02) on the International Space Station. To conduct our analysis, we employ the superposed epoch method, focusing on PGs collected between January 2010 and December 2019 at a specific station situated at a low latitude and high altitude: the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO) in Argentina (31.78°S, 2,550 m above sea level). Our findings reveal that for events associated with FDs having flux amplitude (A) decrease ≤10%, no significant change in the PG is observed. However, for FDs with A > 10%, a clear increase in the PG is seen. For these A > 10% events, we also find a good correlation between the variation of Dst and Kp indices and the variation of PG.
Ultrafast laser state active controlling based on anisotropic quasi-1D material
Authors: Yang Zixin , Yu Qiang , Wu Jian , Deng Haiqin , Zhang Yan , Wang Wenchao , Xian Tianhao , Huang Luyi , Zhang Junrong , Yuan Shuai , Leng Jinyong , Zhan Li , Jiang Zongfu , Wang Junyong , Zhang Kai , Zhou Pu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractLaser state active controlling is challenging under the influence of inherent loss and other nonlinear effects in ultrafast systems. Seeking an extension of degree of freedom in optical devices based on low-dimensional materials may be a way forward. Herein, the anisotropic quasi-one-dimensional layered material Ta2PdS6 was utilized as a saturable absorber to modulate the nonlinear parameters effectively in an ultrafast system by polarization-dependent absorption. The polarization-sensitive nonlinear optical response facilitates the Ta2PdS6-based mode-lock laser to sustain two types of laser states, i.e., conventional soliton and noise-like pulse. The laser state was switchable in the single fiber laser with a mechanism revealed by numerical simulation. Digital coding was further demonstrated in this platform by employing the laser as a codable light source. This work proposed an approach for ultrafast laser state active controlling with low-dimensional material, which offers a new avenue for constructing tunable on-fiber devices.
Efficient and bright broadband electroluminescence based on environment-friendly metal halide nanoclusters
Authors: Zhang Dingshuo , Zhu Meiyi , He Yifan , Cao Qingli , Gao Yun , Li Hongjin , Lu Guochao , Cui Qiaopeng , Shen Yongmiao , He Haiping , Dai Xingliang , Ye Zhizhen 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBroadband electroluminescence based on environment-friendly emitters is promising for healthy lighting yet remains an unprecedented challenge to progress. The copper halide-based emitters are competitive candidates for broadband emission, but their high-performance electroluminescence shows inadequate broad emission bandwidth of less than 90 nm. Here, we demonstrate efficient ultra-broadband electroluminescence from a copper halide (CuI) nanocluster single emitter prepared by a one-step solution synthesis-deposition process, through dedicated design of ligands and subtle selection of solvents. The CuI nanocluster exhibits high rigidity in the excitation state as well as dual-emissive modes of phosphorescence and temperature-activated delayed fluorescence, enabling the uniform cluster-composed film to show excellent stability and high photoluminescent efficiency. In consequence, ultra-broadband light-emitting diodes (LEDs) present nearly identical performance in an inert or air atmosphere without encapsulation and outstanding high-temperature operation performance, reaching an emission full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ~120 nm, a peak external quantum efficiency of 13%, a record maximum luminance of ~50,000 cd m−2, and an operating half-lifetime of 137 h at 100 cd m−2. The results highlight the potential of copper halide nanoclusters for next-generation healthy lighting.
In vivo femtosecond laser nanosurgery of the cell wall enabling patch-clamp measurements on filamentous fungi
Authors: Pajić Tanja , Stevanović Katarina , Todorović Nataša V. , Krmpot Aleksandar J. , Živić Miroslav , Savić-Šević Svetlana , Lević Steva M. , Stanić Marina , Pantelić Dejan , Jelenković Brana , Rabasović Mihailo D. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractStudying the membrane physiology of filamentous fungi is key to understanding their interactions with the environment and crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies for disease-causing pathogens. However, their plasma membrane has been inaccessible for a micron-sized patch-clamp pipette for pA current recordings due to the rigid chitinous cell wall. Here, we report the first femtosecond IR laser nanosurgery of the cell wall of the filamentous fungi, which enabled patch-clamp measurements on protoplasts released from hyphae. A reproducible and highly precise (diffraction-limited, submicron resolution) method for obtaining viable released protoplasts was developed. Protoplast release from the nanosurgery-generated incisions in the cell wall was achieved from different regions of the hyphae. The plasma membrane of the obtained protoplasts formed tight and high-resistance (GΩ) contacts with the recording pipette. The entire nanosurgical procedure followed by the patch-clamp technique could be completed in less than 1 hour. Compared to previous studies using heterologously expressed channels, this technique provides the opportunity to identify new ionic currents and to study the properties of the ion channels in the protoplasts of filamentous fungi in their native environment.