bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimization and utilization of waste fly ash and silica fume based eco-friendly geopolymer mortar using response surface methodology
Authors: Sadiq A N , Ariffin M A M , Anwar M K , Lee H S , Singh J K 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Cement is the primary ingredient in concrete, which is one of the crucial building materials. The evolution of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, which is produced during the hydration stage, has increased because of excessive use of concrete. Geopolymer, an alumina-silicate based bonding substance is made up of waste materials such as Fly ash (FA) or Silica Fume (SF) in the presence of alkaline solutions has been developed to reduce the effect of carbon emissions on the environment. This paper studied the optimization and utilization of FA and SF replacement as pozzolanic materials for the development of sustainable geopolymer mortar and to achieve optimal mechanical strength using response surface methodology (RSM). According to the study, with the addition of 90% FA and 10% SF content to the geopolymer design mix significantly improves their mechanical properties. When SF and sodium hydroxide are combined to create geopolymer mortar, they work as an alkaline catalyst, dramatically reducing carbon emission of the waste materials and providing it an edge over cement-based mortar. The construction of self-sustaining infrastructures ensuring human safety and eco-friendly practices will be encouraged by the multi-objective approach of RSM.
Isolation and characterization of biological soil crust forming algae from Malaysia
Authors: Jusoh N , Rahim M Q F A , Othman F S , Mohamad S E , Abdullah N 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Soil erosion permanently reduces the quality of physicochemical and biological properties, soil fertility, and land productivity, all of which have a significant impact on cultivated areas. Communities that live on the top few centimetres of soil surfaces, are known as “biological soil crust” (BSC). This microorganism is essential for soil stabilisation, water retention, and soil fertility. A case study of a Japanese company that uses these organisms to combat soil erosion has inspired this study. Ground covers, slope drains, silt fences, blankets, and plastic covers are currently used to reduce soil erosion which are expensive and less environmentally friendly. An artificially induced BSC can be created on the specific targeted area. The first step in implementing this strategy in Malaysia is to collect, isolate, and identify the BSC-forming algae species. Our findings show that the isolated algae (C3 strain), based on its morphology, has been identified as the Tribonema species and has a yellow-green filament under a microscope. The C3 strain therefore, has been chosen as the potential native BSC forming algae. This research aims to provide information on isolated strains of Malaysian algae for application as BSC in tropical settings.
A feasibility study on the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using Chlorella vulgaris extract for photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet
Authors: Mohamad Rodzi U S , Kiew P L , Lam M K , Tan L S 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Iron oxide nanoparticles have recently been proposed as an efficient and environmentally friendly material for wastewater treatment. In comparison to chemical and physical approaches, green nanoparticles synthesis method that employs microalgae or plant extract is regarded as more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesised using Chlorella vulgaris extract, and their feasibility in removing crystal violet dye from wastewater via photocatalytic degradation was investigated. Iron oxide nanoparticles was synthesized by adding C. vulgaris extract to 0.1 M iron (III) chloride solution. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks revealed that the iron oxide nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. The nanoparticles were also analysed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), revealing a sphere with cylindrical shape of about 109 nm in size, with the Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) elemental analysis showing the highest proportion of O followed by Fe. The ability of iron oxide nanoparticles to remove crystal violet dye in the dark and in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light was investigated. The percentage removal was consistently higher under the presence of UV lamp at all durations tested (30 – 90 minutes), indicating the feasibility of iron oxide nanoparticles to photodegrade crystal violet dye.
Preliminary study on the occurrence of microplastics in a local sewage treatment plant
Authors: Liew W L , Hee Y Y , Mohd Nazri N A , Muda K , Zaidi N S 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Recent studies have found that sewage treatment plants are potential source of microplastics pollution to its receiving freshwaters, which potentially affect freshwater ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of microplastics in sewage treatment plant, i.e., outlet of a primary clarifier and within an activated sludge system. A digestion method (oxidation digestion using Fenton’s reagent coupled with wet peroxide oxidation technique) followed by microplastics extraction were attempted. Microplastics were detected, through instrumental characterizations, in all sewage samples in this study with microplastics found in the primary clarifier included polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyethylene terephthalate, while microplastics in the activated sludge system were polyamide, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. Results indicated that the sewage treatment plant successfully reduced microplastics from the primary clarifier to the activated sludge system by retaining bigger sizes of microplastics during early treatment stages of the system.
Evaluation of the vulnerability and resilience towards urban flash floods in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Authors: Rosedi N , Ishak M Y 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The effects of extreme events such as flooding vary across different urban settings, causing vulnerability to differ spatially. The frequency and intensity flood pose debilitating challenges to economies, infrastructure, communities, households, and individuals across various regions, drawing considerable research attention into the vulnerability and resilience towards the deleterious impacts. This research investigates vulnerability and resiliency of urban villagers in response to the increasing threats from floods. Using structured questionnaire distributed among household from urban villagers in Malaysia, this research examines their dimensions of resiliency in facing flood. A hundred and ten respondents identified as the head of the affected households took part in the study where their resource allocation due to floods over a year was determined and their resilience towards floods was also analyzed. The findings reveal the households demonstrating an intricate relationship where despite being urban poor, they do not consider the recurring event as the most major daily threat. Instead, they prioritize safety, health, and sufficient food supply as most of them have made a resource allocation for these items. Social adaptation, particularly comfortable neighbourhood, the duration of stay in the area, and network among the community became the key factors of staying within the same area despite the recurring flash floods. This research recommends that it is equally important to consider the resiliency in disaster planning and policies. By critically consider this complex relationship between household vulnerability and resiliency, would help in formulating effective flood management and town planning for sustainable development.
2023 roadmap for potassium-ion batteries
Authors: Xu Yang , Titirici Magda , Chen Jingwei , Cora Furio , Cullen Patrick L , Edge Jacqueline Sophie , Fan Kun , Fan Ling , Feng Jingyu , Hosaka Tomooki , Hu Junyang , Huang Weiwei , Hyde Timothy I , Imtiaz Sumair , Kang Feiyu , Kennedy Tadhg , Kim Eun Jeong , Komaba Shinichi , Lander Laura , Le Pham Phuong Nam , Liu Pengcheng , Lu Bingan , Meng Fanlu , Mitlin David , Monconduit Laure , Palgrave Robert G , Qin Lei , Ryan Kevin M , Sankar Gopinathan , Scanlon David O , Shi Tianyi , Stievano Lorenzo , Tinker Henry R , Wang Chengliang , Wang Hang , Wang Huanlei , Wu Yiying , Zhai Dengyun , Zhang Qichun , Zhou Min , Zou Jincheng 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The heavy reliance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has caused rising concerns on the sustainability of lithium and transition metal and the ethic issue around mining practice. Developing alternative energy storage technologies beyond lithium has become a prominent slice of global energy research portfolio. The alternative technologies play a vital role in shaping the future landscape of energy storage, from electrified mobility to the efficient utilization of renewable energies and further to large-scale stationary energy storage. Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are a promising alternative given its chemical and economic benefits, making a strong competitor to LIBs and sodium-ion batteries for different applications. However, many are unknown regarding potassium storage processes in materials and how it differs from lithium and sodium and understanding of solid–liquid interfacial chemistry is massively insufficient in PIBs. Therefore, there remain outstanding issues to advance the commercial prospects of the PIB technology. This Roadmap highlights the up-to-date scientific and technological advances and the insights into solving challenging issues to accelerate the development of PIBs. We hope this Roadmap aids the wider PIB research community and provides a cross-referencing to other beyond lithium energy storage technologies in the fast-pacing research landscape.
Carbon nanotube branch-grown nickel nanoparticles/graphene composites for a high-capacitance electrode
Authors: Jung Mingyu , Sivakumar Periyasamy , Park Ho Seok 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Despite the high capacitance and low cost, transition metal oxides have the limitation of low electrical conductivities and structural instability. In order to resolve these problems, herein, we propose a one-pot facile synthesis approach to construct a hierarchically structured nanohybrid material, where carbon nanotube (CNT) branches encapsulate NiO nanoparticles inside the tubes and interconnect them with steam-activated reduced graphene oxide. This unique hierarchical structure is attributed to large accessible surface areas, rapid electronic conduction, fast ion diffusion, and buffering effects. Moreover, the mixed Ni and NiO particles acts as catalysts to grow CNT branches and high capacitance redox active materials. In particular, the resulting composite electrode deliver a high specific capacitance of up to 1605.81 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 as well as, an excellent cycle stability with 71.56% capacitance retention after more than 10 000 cycles. Consequently, this research provides a rational material design chemistry to construct hierarchical architectures and multiple compositions of CNT/graphene/metal oxide nanoparticle hybrids for high-capacitance electrodes of composite capacitors.
Assessing the role of reinforcement size and weight percentage on the mechanical and wear characteristics of Al7050‐TiO2‐hBN hybrid composites
Authors: Srivallirani K , Rao M Venkateswara 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In the present study, hybrid composites of Al7050 reinforced with TiO2 (1, 3 and 5%) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN, 2, 4 and 6%) have been developed by using two different sized reinforcing particles (∼ 40 μm and ∼ 20 μm) through stir casting route with an aim to investigate the role of particles size within the micrometer level on mechanical and wear characteristics. From the microhardness measurements, higher hardness was measured for the composites with the increased content of the reinforcement. Similar trend was observed for the composites with both the reinforcement sizes. From the impact strength measurements, more values were observed for the composites having 20 μm sized reinforcements. With the increased fraction of hBN (6%), no significant improvement in the impact strength was noticed for the composites with 40 μm sized reinforcements. On the other hand, significant increase in the impact strength was measured for the composites with 20 μm sized reinforcements. Increased tensile strength (from 95 ± 4.6 up to 156.8 ± 6.1 MPa) with the higher fraction of reinforcements was measured at the cost of losing ductility as reflected in the decreased % of elongation (from 15.2 to 11.65). With the decreased size of reinforcement from 40 to 20 μm, the composites exhibited more strength and lower ductility. From the wear studies, it was clearly observed a decreased trend in the wear rate and increased coefficient of friction with the increased reinforcement content. Compared with 40 μm reinforcements, adding 20 μm sized reinforcements has shown higher level of impact on reducing the wear rate. The results demonstrate that the size difference of reinforcing particles in the level of a few micrometers also significantly affects the performance of the composites.
A comparative study of scour around various shaped bridge pier
Authors: Baranwal Anubhav , Shankar Das Bhabani , Setia Baldev 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The study of scouring around bridge piers is very significant and plays a very important role in the safe and economical design of bridge piers. The term scouring is a process by which bed particles around the periphery of the pier get eroded and removed over a certain depth resulting in the formation of a scour hole around the bridge piers. This paper presents a detailed investigation of local scouring around six different shapes namely rectangular, circular, chamfered, joukowsky, oblong, and sharp-nosed of bridge pier models for selecting the best and most economical bridge pier shapes based on local scouring. For the experimental studies, local scour depth is measured around all six different shapes of bridge piers with varying discharges and velocities of 0.0169 m3 s−1 to 0.0355 m3 s−1 and 0.17 m s−1 to 0.30 m s−1 respectively. It is found that scour depth around the rectangular shape of bridge pier is larger due to development of strong intensity of horseshoe vortex caused by flat exposed frontal area and scour depth around the sharp nose shape of the pier is smaller because of flow is bifurcated due to smooth curvature caused less intensity of development of horseshoe vortex. In the comparison of obtained results, it is reported that scour depth around a pier is exactly proportional to velocity of approach flow and exposed frontal area of the bridge pier. The result of this study can be likely used to help in selecting the best shape of the bridge piers as sharp nose shape of bridge piers is better among the other six bridge pier shapes for design purposes.
Temperature tunable Bragg transmission multichannel filters made of two quarter-wave stacks separated by defect layers
Authors: Netheti V S Bhagavan , Kumar B Santosh , Kumar M M Sandeep , Chandrasekhar A , Raju P Kanaka , Podagatlapalli G Krishna 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
We report on simulated temperature-tunable single-channel/multichannel transmission filters with 0.37 nm/K shift in the peak wavelength is observed in the infrared region (1300 nanometers −1650 nanometers) using a one-dimensional photonic crystal structure. A single channel can be selected in the photonic bandgap region based on the thickness of the quarter wave stacks and temperature. The transmission coefficient of the transmitted defect modes is approximately the same as that required for telecommunication. For 20000 defect layers, 4000 channels were created with full width at half maximum of 0.7 picometers at the center wavelength of ∼1550 nm and channel separation of ∼0.18 nanometer between 1500 nanometers-1600 nanometers.
Porous liner coated inlet duct: a novel approach to attenuate automotive turbocharger inlet flow-induced sound propagation
Authors: Ravanbod Mohammad , Ebrahimi-Nejad Salman , Mollajafari Morteza , SalehiRad Bardia 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Automotive turbochargers generate high-frequency noise, especially at their inlet air duct, which has become a long-standing problem for both passengers and pedestrians and hence is required to be mitigated by provisions such as the use of absorptive materials and novel inlet duct designs. This paper proposes utilizing a thin porous material coating liner on the inlet duct of the turbocharger compressor in order to absorb the incident excitation and hence, broadband reduction of the flow-induced sound wave propagation. To this end, first, a sound-absorbing inlet duct model is designed based on efficient structural parameters. Then, three different types of absorptive materials are used as coating liners to analyze the impact of varying material properties on the acoustic absorption performance of the system. Meanwhile, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the influence of coating layer thickness on the system’s flow-induced sound insulation performance. The research involves applying a finite element approach to conducting acoustic pressure and poroacoustics studies over the desired frequency range of human hearing (1–20 kHz). In this regard, sound transmission loss (TL) and sound pressure level (SPL) are investigated for the models with and without liners. The results indicate that sound-absorbing materials can be employed to significantly diminish flow-induced sound levels in the turbocharger inlet duct. According to the results, absorptive liners would considerably increase the maximum TL and lessen the sharp drop in TL that appeared in the model without liners at around 4321 Hz. In addition, the average TL has increased due to the replacement of valleys with peaks. The sensitivity analyses demonstrated that denser absorptive materials and larger liner thicknesses are associated with higher TL levels and better sound attenuation response. By adding 15 mm of rock wool liner to the designed inlet duct, the average TL and root mean square of TL were increased up to

98

and

32

d
B
,

respectively. The proposed design procedure of this study unlocks a fundamental approach that can be practically applied to many promising fields, such as aerospace and automotive engineering.
Atypical cardiac amyloidosis phenotypes identified at transplant: a case series
Authors: Rushakoff Joshua A , Kransdorf Evan P , Kittleson Michelle M , Neyer Jonathan R , Luthringer Daniel , Patel Jignesh K 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundTransthyretin amyloidosis (TTR) is increasingly implicated as an aetiology of advanced cardiomyopathy. Typically, both genetic variant (TTRv) and wild-type (TTRwt) amyloidosis present with a restrictive phenotype. We present a series of three patients who were found to have cardiac amyloidosis on explant following heart transplant (HT) who had atypical, non-restrictive phenotypes.Case SummaryAll three patients were men, three were Black, and only one had an alternative pre-HT explanation for their advanced, dilated cardiomyopathy. Pre-HT transthoracic echocardiograms were notable for left ventricular (LV) dilation (&gt;95th percentile for height and gender), low EF, and normal LV wall thickness. Explants showed varying amounts of amyloid deposition, ranging from diffuse biventricular patterns to perivascular involvement. Mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of TTRv (two cases) and TTRwt (one case).DiscussionPatients with dilated cardiomyopathy may harbour cardiac amyloidosis. Uncertainty remains regarding the contribution of amyloidosis to the development of a dilated phenotype. The pathogenic Val142Ile variant seen in two of these patients, a variant common in Black patients, suggests a need for further investigation into the potential relationship between TTRv amyloidosis and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Difference in apical resorption activity during rat molar root formation in response to mechanical force
Authors: Lou Yixin , Matsumoto Yoshiro , Iseki Sachiko , Ono Takashi 
Published: February 2023

SummaryObjectiveTo investigate whether there is a difference in apical resorption activity during the development of roots in response to mechanical force in vivo.MethodsMaxillary first molars (M1) from postnatal day (PN) 21 and PN35 male rats were selected as representatives of the root-developing and root-completing groups, respectively. A mechanical force of 3 cN was applied to M1 on PN21 and PN35, and the maxilla was collected on PN28 and PN42. Odontoclastogenesis and root morphology were investigated using micro-focus X-ray computed tomography, followed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to clarify root resorption activity.ResultsDevelopment of the mesiobuccal root (MBR) preceded the mesial root (MR). In the PN28 force application (FA) group, the dentine was bent, but the histology, including Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath (HERS), was intact. No odontoclasts and resorption lacunae were found in the apical area of the MRs, and only lateral root resorption was observed. External apical root resorption (EARR) was observed in the MR of PN42 (FA) and in the MBR of both PN28 (FA) and PN42 (FA). The expression of osteopontin changed accordingly. No significant change occurred in osteoprotegerin or receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand expression in the MRs of the PN28 (FA) group.LimitationsOur animal model did not adequately simulate the clinical process of tooth movement in humans.ConclusionsForce application delayed HERS dissociation on the compression side of the developing roots, leading to inhibitory effects on cementogenesis, which resulted in decreased odontoclast differentiation and prevention of EARR.
Firm names and profitability in German food processing
Authors: Hirsch Stefan , Khalilov Murad , Dalhaus Tobias , Mishra Ashok K 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
We analyse the signalling effect of a strategy known as eponymy whereby owners integrate their name into the company name. Using microdata from German food processors, we find that eponymous companies generate 2.8 per cent-points higher return on assets, which implies additional yearly profits of €253,000 for a median-sized company. The eponymy effect increases with ownership concentration, indicating that the more control an owner holds over the company, the stronger the signalling. Long names ranking low in the alphabetical order mitigate the effect. This study applies a novel approach to investigate the causal effect of firm naming and thus has implications for food processors.