Evaluation of Radon Concentration and the Health Risk in the Offices of the Institute of Science and Technology of the “École Normale Supérieure”, Burkina Faso

The second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking is radon gas. Thus, the determination of indoor radon concentrations in residential buildings and workplaces is an important public health concern. The purpose of this research was to measure the concentration of radon gas in the offices of the Institute of Science and Technology and to evaluate the effective dose in the lungs and the risk of cancer. This study used Corentium’s AIR THINGS digital radon detector to determine the radon concentration in sixteen (16) offices. The digital radon detector air Things of Corentium was placed in each office for a minimum period of one week and the concentration values were recorded every 24 hours. The values recorded in each office were the short-term average and the long-term average during seven days of measurement. The short-term radon concentrations vary between 5.286 Bq/m3 and 192.714 Bq/m3 with an average of 48.01 Bq/m3 and those in the long-term were between 6.143 Bq/m3 and 172.571 Bq/m3 with an average of 52.46 Bq/m3. The measurements in office N°6 and 13 were above the lower limit of 100 Bq/m3 proposed by the WHO. The short-term and long-term effective doses in the lungs for offices N°6 and 13 were above the “normal” background level of 1.1 mSv/year proposed by UNSCEAR-2000. The short-term effective dose in the lungs for office N°6 was above the lower limit of 3 mSv per the ICRP-23 recommendation. The average number of lung cancer cases per year per million people was 15.

An explorative study on document type assignment of review articles in Web of Science,Scopus and journals’websites

Purpose:Accurately assigning the document type of review articles in citation index databases like Web of Science(WoS)and Scopus is important.This study aims to investigate the document type assignation of review articles in Web of Science,Scopus and Publisher’s websites on a large scale.Design/methodology/approach:27,616 papers from 160 journals from 10 review journal series indexed in SCI are analyzed.The document types of these papers labeled on journals’websites,and assigned by WoS and Scopus are retrieved and compared to determine the assigning accuracy and identify the possible reasons for wrongly assigning.For the document type labeled on the website,we further differentiate them into explicit review and implicit review based on whether the website directly indicates it is a review or not.Findings:Overall,WoS and Scopus performed similarly,with an average precision of about 99% and recall of about 80%.However,there were some differences between WoS and Scopus across different journal series and within the same journal series.The assigning accuracy of WoS and Scopus for implicit reviews dropped significantly,especially for Scopus.Research limitations:The document types we used as the gold standard were based on the journal websites’labeling which were not manually validated one by one.We only studied the labeling performance for review articles published during 2017-2018 in review journals.Whether this conclusion can be extended to review articles published in non-review journals and most current situation is not very clear.Practical implications:This study provides a reference for the accuracy of document type assigning of review articles in WoS and Scopus,and the identified pattern for assigning implicit reviews may be helpful to better labeling on websites,WoS and Scopus.Originality/value:This study investigated the assigning accuracy of document type of reviews and identified the some patterns of wrong assignments.

Research on flexible display at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

Displays represent information visually,so they have become the fundamental building block to visualize the data of current electronics including smartphones.Recently,electronics have been advanced toward flexible and wearable electronics that can be bent,folded,or stretched while maintaining their performance under various deformations.Here,recent advances in research to demonstrate flexible and wearable displays are reviewed.We introduce these results by dividing them into several categories according to the components of the display:active-matrix backplane,touch screen panel,light sources,integrated circuit for fingerprint touch screen panel,and characterization tests;and we also present mechanical tests in nano-meter scale and visual ergonomics research.

Panel Discussion on“Development Trends of Computer Science in the New Era”

At the panel session of the 3rd Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science,attendees had an opportunity to deliberate recent issues affecting computer science departments as a result of the recent growth in the field.6 heads of university computer science departments participated in the discussions,including the moderator,Professor Andrew Yao.The first issue was how universities are managing the growing number of applicants in addition to swelling class sizes.Several approaches were suggested,including increasing faculty hiring,implementing scalable teaching tools,and working closer with other departments through degree programs that integrate computer science with other fields.The second issue was about the position and role of computer science within broader science.Participants generally agreed that all fields are increasingly relying on computer science techniques,and that effectively disseminating these techniques to others is a key to unlocking broader scientific progress.

Toward understanding the role of genomic repeat elements in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases cause great medical and economic burdens for both patients and society;however, the complex molecular mechanisms thereof are not yet well understood. With the development of high-coverage sequencing technology, researchers have started to notice that genomic repeat regions, previously neglected in search of disease culprits, are active contributors to multiple neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we describe the association between repeat element variants and multiple degenerative diseases through genome-wide association studies and targeted sequencing. We discuss the identification of disease-relevant repeat element variants, further powered by the advancement of long-read sequencing technologies and their related tools, and summarize recent findings in the molecular mechanisms of repeat element variants in brain degeneration, such as those causing transcriptional silencing or RNA-mediated gain of toxic function. Furthermore, we describe how in silico predictions using innovative computational models, such as deep learning language models, could enhance and accelerate our understanding of the functional impact of repeat element variants. Finally, we discuss future directions to advance current findings for a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and the clinical applications of genomic repeat elements.

Structure and electrochemical performance of delafossite AgFeO_(2)nanoparticles for supercapacitor electrodes

Delafossite AgFeO_(2)nanoparticles with a mixture of 2H and 3R phases were successfully fabricated by using a simple co-precipitation method.The resulting precursor was calcined at temperatures of 100,200,300,400,and 500℃to obtain the delafossite AgFe0_(2)phase.The morphology and microstructure of the prepared AgFeO_(2)samples were characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),N_(2) adsorption/desorption,X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS),and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)techniques.A three-electrode system was employed to investigate the electrochemical properties of the delafossite AgFeO_(2)nanoparticles in a 3 M KOH electrolyte.The delafossite AgFeO_(2)nanoparticles calcined at 100℃(AFO100)exhibited the highest surface area of 28.02 m^(2)·g^(-1)and outstanding electrochemical performance with specific capacitances of 229.71 F·g^(-1)at a current density of 1 A·g^(-1)and 358.32 F·g^(-1)at a scan rate of 2 mV·s^(-1).This sample also demonstrated the capacitance retention of 82.99% after 1000 charge/discharge cycles,along with superior specific power and specific energy values of 797.46 W·kg^(-1)and 72.74Wh·kg^(-1),respectively.These findings indicate that delafossite AgFeO_(2)has great potential as an electrode material for supercapacitor applications.

Science-management Partnerships as Catalysts for Governance Reform of National Parks in China

Protected areas have long been considered a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation by policy-makers and the conservation community.Yet,despite ongoing efforts,many countries,including China,continue to face persistent challenges in effectively managing these areas.Here we examine how science-management partnerships,particularly those headed by Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS),have catalyzed governance reforms of protected areas in China.The integration of scientific research with policy action has enabled the establishment of a unified national park system,mitigating management inefficiencies and enhancing ecosystem resilience.We propose strategies for CAS to consolidate its leadership in this domain.These partnerships might offer global insights into evidence-based protected area management.

Data-Driven Healthcare:The Role of Computational Methods in Medical Innovation

The purpose of this review is to explore the intersection of computational engineering and biomedical science,highlighting the transformative potential this convergence holds for innovation in healthcare and medical research.The review covers key topics such as computational modelling,bioinformatics,machine learning in medical diagnostics,and the integration of wearable technology for real-time health monitoring.Major findings indicate that computational models have significantly enhanced the understanding of complex biological systems,while machine learning algorithms have improved the accuracy of disease prediction and diagnosis.The synergy between bioinformatics and computational techniques has led to breakthroughs in personalized medicine,enabling more precise treatment strategies.Additionally,the integration of wearable devices with advanced computational methods has opened new avenues for continuous health monitoring and early disease detection.The review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to further advance this field.Future research should focus on developing more robust and scalable computational models,enhancing data integration techniques,and addressing ethical considerations related to data privacy and security.By fostering innovation at the intersection of these disciplines,the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery and outcomes becomes increasingly attainable.

Efficient fixation of CO_(2) to cyclic carbonates and oxazolidinones with multi-hydroxyl bis-(quaternary ammonium) ionic liquids as catalysts under mild conditions

A series of multi-hydroxyl bis-(quaternary ammonium)ionic liquids(Ils1‒7)was prepared as bifunctional catalysts for the chemical fixation of CO_(2).All these ionic liquid compounds were efficient for the catalytic synthesis of cyclic carbonates and oxazolidinones via the cycloaddition reactions between CO_(2) and epoxides or aziridines with excellent yield and high selectivity in the absence of co-catalyst,metal and solvent.Due to the synergistic effects of hydroxyl groups and halogen anion,the cycloaddition reactions proceeded smoothly either at atmospheric pressure or room temperature.The selectivity for substituted oxazolidinones at 5-and 4-positions can be tuned via changing the reaction conditions.Finally,possible mechanisms including the activation of both CO_(2) and epoxide or aziridines were proposed based on the literatures and experimental results.

Atomic-scale insights into microscopic mechanisms of grain boundary segregation in Al−Cu alloys

This study aims to clarify the mechanisms for the grain boundary(GB)segregation through investigating the absorption of excess solute atoms at GBs in Al−Cu alloys by using the hybrid molecular dynamics/Monte Carlo simulations.Two segregation mechanisms,substitutional and interstitial mechanisms,are observed.The intergranular defects,including dislocations,steps and vacancies,and the intervals in structural units are conductive to the prevalence of interstitial mechanism.And substitutional mechanism is favored by the highly ordered twin GBs.Furthermore,the two mechanisms affect the GB structure differently.It is quantified that interstitial mechanism is less destructive to GB structure than substitutional one,and often leads to a segregation level being up to about 6 times higher than the latter.These findings contribute to atomic scale insights into the microscopic mechanisms about how solute atoms are absorbed by GB structures,and clarify the correlation among intergranular structures,segregation mechanisms and kinetics.

Ecological security pattern construction using landscape ecological quality:A case study of Yanchi County,northern China

Ecological security patterns are paramount to the advancement of an ecological civilization in China,aiming to enhance the stability and service functions of ecosystems to achieve sustainable regional development.However,current regional ecological protection efforts have not been effectively integrated into the regional development planning of ecological security pattern.This study systematically assessed the effectiveness of ecological protection projects in Yanchi County,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China,through the evaluation of landscape ecological quality.Based on the evaluation results of landscape ecological quality,this study used morphological pattern analysis(MSPA),minimum cumulative resistance(MCR)model,and gravity model together to construct the ecological security pattern of Yanchi County.The findings revealed that from 1990 to 2020,with the implementation of ecological protection projects started from 2000,the landscape stability of Yanchi County first decreased and then increased,and the intensity of landscape disturbance first intensified but then decreased,indicating an improvement in the landscape ecological quality and a significant enhancement of the ecological environment in Yanchi County.The ecological security pattern of Yanchi County consisted of 10 ecological sources,10 ecological source points,23 ecological corridors,and 27 ecological nodes.The ecological security pattern of Yanchi County exhibited distinct spatial variations,with stronger ecological security observed in the southern part than in northern part of the county.The ecological sources were denser in the southern part than in the northern part of the county,and accordingly,the length of ecological corridors was shorter and denser in the southern than that in the northern part of the county.Based on the spatial distribution of landscape ecological quality and the characteristics of ecological security pattern of Yanchi County in 2020,we suggested Yanchi County to build four zones to optimize the ecological security pattern construction:the Haba Lake ecological conservation zone,the urban ecological planning zone,the ecological environment restoration zone,and the ecological security improvement zone.This study can provide essential guidance for the construction of ecological security pattern in farming-pastoral areas both in China and worldwide.

Data driven prediction of fragment velocity distribution under explosive loading conditions

This study presents a machine learning-based method for predicting fragment velocity distribution in warhead fragmentation under explosive loading condition.The fragment resultant velocities are correlated with key design parameters including casing dimensions and detonation positions.The paper details the finite element analysis for fragmentation,the characterizations of the dynamic hardening and fracture models,the generation of comprehensive datasets,and the training of the ANN model.The results show the influence of casing dimensions on fragment velocity distributions,with the tendencies indicating increased resultant velocity with reduced thickness,increased length and diameter.The model's predictive capability is demonstrated through the accurate predictions for both training and testing datasets,showing its potential for the real-time prediction of fragmentation performance.

Surface modification of fabrics using dielectric barrier discharge plasma for improved antifouling performance

Surface modification of fabrics is an effective way to endow them with antifouling properties while still maintaining their key advantages such as comfort,softness and stretchability.Herein,an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge(DBD)plasma method is demonstrated for the processing of silk fabrics using 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane(PFDS)as the precursor.The results showed the successful grafting of PFDS groups onto the surface of silk fabrics without causing damage.Meanwhile,the gas temperature is rather low during the whole processing procedure,suggesting the non-equilibrium characteristics of DBD plasma.The influence on fabrics of the processing parameters(PFDS concentration,plasma treatment time and plasma discharge power)was systematically investigated.An optimum processing condition was determined to be a PFDS concentration of 8wt%,a plasma processing time of 40 s and a plasma power of 11.87 W.However,with prolonged plasma processing time or enhanced plasma power,the plasma-grafted PFDS films could be degraded.Further study revealed that plasma processing of silk fabrics with PFDS would lead to a change in their chemical composition and surface roughness.As a result,the surface energy of the fabrics was reduced,accompanied by improved water and oil repellency as well as enhanced antifouling performance.Besides,the plasma-grafted PFDS films also had good durability and stability.By extending the method to polyester and wool against different oil-/water-based stains,the DBD plasma surface modification technique demonstrated good versatility in improving the antifouling properties of fabrics.This work provides guidance for the surface modification of fabrics using DBD plasma to confer them with desirable functionalities.

Evaluating the hydrocarbon generation potential of the Paleocene–Eocene carbonaceous rocks in the Barmer and Bikaner-Nagaur Basins, western Rajasthan, India

The Bikaner-Nagaur and Barmer Basins(Rajasthan)are the most important petroliferous sedimentary basins in India.For over a decade,the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons in these basins.Paleocene-Eocene age rocks bear organic-rich sediments in these basins,including lignite and carbonaceous shale deposits.The present research investigates the source rock properties,petroleum potential and thermal maturity of the carbonaceous shale partings from the lignite mines of Gurha(Bikaner-Nagaur Basin)and Kapurdi(Barmer Basin)using petrographical and geochemical tools.The carbonaceous shales have high organic matter(OM),with considerable total organic carbon(TOC)contents ranging from 13%to 39%.Furthermore,they contain hydrogen-rich kerogen,including types II and II/III,as evidenced by the Rock-Eval and elemental analysis results.The existence of these kerogen types indicates the abundance of reactive(vitrinite and liptinite)macerals.However,the carbonaceous shales from the Bikaner–Nagaur Basin have oil generation potentials,with a high hydrogen index(up to 516 mg HC/g TOC)and a H/C ratio(up to 1.5)along with a significant presence of oil-prone liptinitic macerals.Apart from the geochemical and petrological results,the studied shales have low huminite reflectance(0.31%–0.48%),maximum temperature(S_(2) peak;Tmax)between 419℃ and 429℃,and low production index values(PI:0.01–0.03).These results indicate that these carbonaceous shales contain immature OM,and thereby,they cannot yet release commercial amount of oil.This immaturity level in the studied outcrop section is due to the shallow burial depth.Geochemical proxies further indicate the presence of both oil and gas-prone source rocks.

Immortalization of epidural fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells: In vitro characterization and adipocyte differentiation potential

BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)are promising candidates for regenerative therapy due to their self-renewal capability,multilineage differentiation potential,and immunomodulatory effects.The molecular characteristics of MSCs are influenced by their location.Recently,epidural fat(EF)and EF-derived MSCs(EF-MSCs)have garnered attention due to their potential benefits to the spinal microenvironment and their high expression of neural SC markers.However,their clinical applications are limited due to cell senescence and limited accessibility of EF.Although many studies have attempted to establish an immortalized,stable SC line,the characteristics of immortalized EF-MSCs remain to be clarified.AIM To establish and analyze stable immortalized EF-MSCs.METHODS The phenotypes of EF-MSCs were analyzed using optical microscopy.Cell immortalization was performed using lentiviral vectors.The biomolecular characteristics of the cells were analyzed by immunoblotting,quantitative PCR,and proteomics.RESULTS The immortalized EF-MSCs demonstrated a significantly extended lifespan compared to the control group,with well-preserved adipogenic potential and SC surface marker expression.Introduction of human telomerase reverse transcriptase genes markedly increased the lifespan of EF-MSCs.Proteomics analysis revealed substantial increase in the expression of DNA replication pathway components in immortalized EF-MSCs.CONCLUSION Immortalized EF-MSCs exhibited significantly enhanced proliferative capacity,retained adipogenic potential,and upregulated the expression of DNA replication pathway components.

Expert recommendation system based on analyzing expertise and networks of human resources in National Science & Technology Information Service

This work aims to implement expert and collaborative group recommendation services through an analysis of expertise and network relations NTIS. First of all, expertise database has been constructed by extracting keywords after indexing national R＆D information in Korea （human resources, project and outcome） and applying expertise calculation algorithm. In consideration of the characteristics of national R＆D information, weight values have been selected. Then, expertise points were calculated by applying weighted values. In addition, joint research and collaborative relations were implemented in a knowledge map format through network analysis using national R＆D information.

Significantly Improved High-Temperature Energy Storage Performance of BOPP Films by Coating Nanoscale Inorganic Layer

Biaxially oriented polypropylene(BOPP)is one of the most commonly used commercial capacitor films,but its upper operating temperature is below 105℃due to the sharply increased electrical conduction loss at high temperature.In this study,growing an inorganic nanoscale coating layer onto the BOPP film's surface is proposed to suppress electrical conduction loss at high temperature,as well as increase its upper operating temperature.Four kinds of inorganic coating layers that have different energy band structure and dielectric property are grown onto the both surface of BOPP films,respectively.The effect of inorganic coating layer on the high-temperature energy storage performance has been systematically investigated.The favorable coating layer materials and appropriate thickness enable the BOPP films to have a significant improvement in high-temperature energy storage performance.Specifically,when the aluminum nitride(AIN)acts as a coating layer,the AIN-BOPP-AIN sandwich-structured films possess a discharged energy density of 1.5 J cm^(-3)with an efficiency of 90%at 125℃,accompanying an outstandingly cyclic property.Both the discharged energy density and operation temperature are significantly enhanced,indicating that this efficient and facile method provides an important reference to improve the high-temperature energy storage performance of polymer-based dielectric films.

Thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical responses of a reservoir-induced landslide tracked by high-resolution fiber optic sensing nerves

Thermo-poro-mechanical responses along sliding zone/surface have been extensively studied.However,it has not been recognized that the potential contribution of other crucial engineering geological interfaces beyond the slip surface to progressive failure.Here,we aim to investigate the subsurface multiphysics of reservoir landslides under two extreme hydrologic conditions(i.e.wet and dry),particularly within sliding masses.Based on ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating(UWFBG)technology,we employ specialpurpose fiber optic sensing cables that can be implanted into boreholes as“nerves of the Earth”to collect data on soil temperature,water content,pore water pressure,and strain.The Xinpu landslide in the middle reach of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China was selected as a case study to establish a paradigm for in situ thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical monitoring.These UWFBG-based sensing cables were vertically buried in a 31 m-deep borehole at the foot of the landslide,with a resolution of 1 m except for the pressure sensor.We reported field measurements covering the period 2021 and 2022 and produced the spatiotemporal profiles throughout the borehole.Results show that wet years are more likely to motivate landslide motions than dry years.The annual thermally active layer of the landslide has a critical depth of roughly 9 m and might move downward in warmer years.The dynamic groundwater table is located at depths of 9e15 m,where the peaked strain undergoes a periodical response of leap and withdrawal to annual hydrometeorological cycles.These interface behaviors may support the interpretation of the contribution of reservoir regulation to slope stability,allowing us to correlate them to local damage events and potential global destabilization.This paper also offers a natural framework for interpreting thermo-hydro-poro-mechanical signatures from creeping reservoir bank slopes,which may form the basis for a landslide monitoring and early warning system.

Dynamics and interactions of blog-based science communication:A case study of blogging activities in China related to 2011 Japanese seismic and nuclear power crisis

Purpose: This paper tries to understand the dynamics of scientific communication systems during crises by investigating as a case study the blogging activities that took place during the period of the 2011 earthquake and related events in Japan. Interactions between bloggers and registered users are studied quantitatively and qualitatively at Sciencenet.cn, an influential science-related blogosphere in China.Design/methodology/approach: The editors of Sciencenet.cn compiled a special issue of science blog articles under the title Analysis of the Japanese Earthquake. We developed a spider program and downloaded from this special issue the metadata about title, content,publishing time, total read count, reply count and recommendation count, and further collected information about bloggers and recommenders. We then sent a short message to the bloggers who wrote articles on these emergencies, asking for their educational and professional background.Findings: We found that knowledge reflected in the blog articles is strongly related to the educational and professional background of bloggers. Knowledge diffusion is facilitated by interactions, such as recommendations, comments and answers. Interactions via comments and recommendations are of an assortative nature: A blog article is more likelyto be commented on and recommended by those bloggers who write on the same or similar topics than by those writing on a different one. Registered users tend to give comments on articles dealing with the topic that they recommend, and vice versa.Interaction in the intersection of two or three topics is more intense than that within one topic. The impact of blog articles is also influenced by other factors, such as the reputation of the blogger and the type of information they contain.Implications and limitations: It is confirmed that studying blogs is a valid approach within informetric studies. Yet, we only studied one triple(earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster) event based on data originating from one Chinese blog website. More events should be studied.Originality/value: Informetric studies based on blogs are still relatively few. Using science blogs and combining comments on a triple event with the knowledge background of bloggers in China is even less common. As such this contribution enhances our knowledge on this new form of science communication activity.

Local dose-dense chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer via minimally invasive implantation of 3D printed devices

Dose-dense chemotherapy is the preferred first-line therapy for triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC),a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis.This treatment uses the same drug doses as conventional chemotherapy but with shorter dosing intervals,allowing for promising clinical outcomes with intensive treatment.However,the frequent systemic administration used for this treatment results in systemic toxicity and low patient compliance,limiting therapeutic efficacy and clinical benefit.Here,we report local dose-dense chemotherapy to treat TNBC by implanting 3D printed devices with timeprogrammed pulsatile release profiles.The implantable device can control the time between drug releases based on its internal microstructure design,which can be used to control dose density.The device is made of biodegradable materials for clinical convenience and designed for minimally invasive implantation via a trocar.Dose density variation of local chemotherapy using programmable release enhances anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo.Under the same dose density conditions,device-based chemotherapy shows a higher anticancer effect and less toxic response than intratumoral injection.We demonstrate local chemotherapy utilizing the implantable device that simulates the drug dose,number of releases,and treatment duration of the dose-dense AC(doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide)regimen preferred for TNBC treatment.Dose density modulation inhibits tumor growth,metastasis,and the expression of drug resistance-related proteins,including p-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein.To the best of our knowledge,local dose-dense chemotherapy has not been reported,and our strategy can be expected to be utilized as a novel alternative to conventional therapies and improve anti-cancer efficiency.