bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Industry Counteract the Ecological Crisis? An Approach for the Development of a New Circular Bioeconomic Model Based on Biocomposite Materials
Authors: Fernández Fortunato Eliana , Jiménez-Sáez Fernando , Hontoria Eloy
Published: February 2023

The ecological crisis we are facing, in addition to depleting non-renewable raw materials, has driven the emergence of biocomposite (BC) materials as a sustainable alternative that can create new opportunities for industrial product design and development. The use of biological resources in economic processes, as the bioeconomic (BE) model proposes, can lead to a transformation from the traditional linear extractive production logic to a new productive paradigm. This paper analyses technical and scientific information on the valorisation of agri-food waste to which innovative and efficient techniques and technologies have been applied, resulting in natural resource use in new products. Our review aims to explore and assess the production, development and industrial exploitation of renewable biological resources as a way to bridge the transition from the linear economic model to a circular bioeconomy (CBE) paradigm shift. For a detailed exploration and assessment of the research problem, this paper presents a comparative study between two paradigmatic projects organised and financed by different R&D programmes of the European Union (EU). We identify the agents and strategies of a potential BC innovation system, and we propose a conceptual model for the creation of an innovative and alternative industrial-scale productive value chain to replace petrochemical-based composite materials with BC and establish a new paradigm of production and consumption.
Unraveling the Effect of Kraft and Organosolv Processes on the Physicochemical Properties and Thermal Stability of Cellulose and Its Microcrystals Produced from Eucalyptus Globulus
Authors: Bessa Wissam , Trache Djalal , Tarchoun Ahmed Fouzi , Abdelaziz Amir , Hussin Mohd Hazwan , Brosse Nicolas
Published: February 2023

Eucalyptus Globulus (EG) is a virtually untapped forest source that belongs to the hardwood family. The objective of this research is to understand the effect of two different isolation techniques, i.e., kraft and organosolv procedures, followed by either acidified sodium chlorite or alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment on the properties of cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from EG. The MCC samples were successfully prepared from cellulose via acid hydrolysis. A comparative study was carried out on the extracted cellulose fibers and MCC samples through deep characterizations of lignocellulosic content, functional groups, crystallinity, thermal properties, and surface morphology. The detailed analyses exhibited that the prepared MCC samples using various approaches are similar to those of commercial MCC. It is revealed that the organosolv treatment followed by acidic bleaching provides the purest MCC with good thermal features, where the obtained cellulose has a glucose content of more than 97% and a degradation temperature of around 343 °C. The present work provides new insight into the effect of various extraction procedures on EG-MCC; these procedures are expected to be used in different industrial applications such as in biorefinery, dietary food, packaging, films, or reinforcement of polymer matrices.
Non-Linear Determinants of Developing Countries’ Sovereign Ratings: Evidence from a Panel Threshold Regression (PTR) Model
Authors: Ben Mim Sami , Nouira Ridha , Mabrouk Fatma
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the non-linear effects produced by the main determinants of the sovereign ratings issued by Moody’s agency. Using a sample of 29 countries observed over the 2000–2019 period, we identify the factors leading a country to be classified, respectively, in the speculative, moderately speculative, and highly speculative grades. The fixed effect logit estimates reveal that the effects produced by the independent variables on the ratings are largely different from one class of assets to another. The second and main contribution of this study is that it highlights the non-linear effects produced by macroeconomic variables on the probability of downgrading a country from the investment to the speculative grade and from the moderately speculative to the highly speculative grade. Panel threshold regression (PTR) results reveal that control of corruption, external debt, government effectiveness, and domestic credits are the main variables producing such non-linear effects.
Farm to Fork: Balancing the Needs for Sustainable Food Production and Food for Health Promotion
Authors: Byrne Kenneth A. , Zabetakis Ioannis
Published: February 2023

Food is an essential human need underpinning health and wellbeing, while also having the potential to support environmental sustainability [...]
Academic Person-Environment Fit towards Sustainable Work-Life Balance and Reduced Turnover Intention Moderated by Job Opportunities
Authors: Ahmad Saufi Roselina , Che Nawi Noorshella Binti , Permarupan P. Yukthamarani , Zainol Noor Raihani Binti , Aidara Samsidine , Kakar Abdul Samad , Jothi Braveena A/P
Published: February 2023

Retaining and maintaining adequate academic talents are the primary discourse topic among corporate executives and human resource specialists. Academic institutions are struggling to attract and retain top talents due to the increasing academic turnover in the educational field. Furthermore, lifestyle transformation has impacted the human resource environment, which focuses on developing alternative values, achieving work–life balance, and performing successful retention strategies. To achieve a sustainable work–life balance practice, the current study aims to examine the relationship between the academic human resource strategy and person–environment fit aspects mediated by sustainable work–life balance and moderated by external job opportunities. The theoretical foundations are the theory of work adjustment and social exchange theory. A cross-sectional research methodology was implemented to collect data from 466 participants through an online survey. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was subsequently conducted to analyse the collected data. The study results revealed that person-organisation fit and person-vocational fit significantly influenced employees’ turnover intention. Furthermore, sustainable work–life balance was not only significantly related employees’ turnover intention, but also significantly mediated the relationship between person–environment fit dimensions and employees’ turnover intention. The findings also discovered that job opportunities significantly moderated the association between sustainable work–life balance and turnover intention. Resultantly, the current study’s thorough retention strategy model could be highly beneficial to the human resource industry, decision-makers, and educational management in developing an effective recruitment and retention plan.
Propensity for Self-Employment in a Model of Occupational Choice: Evidence from a Cohort of Recent University Graduates in Spain
Authors: Salas-Velasco Manuel
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a microeconomic analysis of the occupational choices that individuals make after graduating from higher education. Specifically, a binomial logit model of the self-employment decision, which can be seen as a special case of a model of utility maximization, is estimated for a large, nationally representative sample of Spanish bachelor’s degree holders. The estimation of the logit model allows one to analyze the influence of the university degree and individual sociodemographic characteristics on the probability of becoming self-employed five years after graduation. Results show that graduates in Odontology, Physiotherapy, Architecture, Law, Fine Arts, Pharmacy, and Psychology are the most likely to become self-employed. Surprisingly, financially literate individuals (economics and finance-related undergraduate degree holders) are less likely to start their own businesses. The paper also shows that women are less likely to be self-employed than men, but those graduates whose mothers obtained a university degree have an increased likelihood of being self-employed. The paper highlights the need for career guidance for undergraduates contemplating a career in self-employment.
A Study on the Evolution of Competition in China’s Auto Market Considering Market Capacity Constraints and a Game Payoff Matrix: Based on the Dual Credit Policy
Authors: Xie Ying , Wu Jie , Zhi Hannian , Riaz Muhammad , Wu Liangpeng
Published: February 2023

The dual credit policy is currently the main starting point for China to achieve the green and sustainable development of the auto market. However, the policy’s impact on future market development remains unclear. It is necessary to consider the market capacity constraints and the market competition environment. By researching the impact of the dual credit policy on the micro-decision-making of automakers and the long-term evolution of the macro-auto market, the effect of the dual credit policy on the Chinese auto industry is obtained. This paper considers the market capacity constraint, combines the competitive relationship and game payment matrix between NEV makers and CFV makers, constructs a game model of the competition density between NEVs and CFVs, simulates the development and evolution of China’s auto market size, and analyzes the effect of the quantitative parameters of the dual credit policy on the auto market. The results show that: (1) the increase in NEV makers’ sale of credits will stimulate their production incentives, and the increase in conventional fuel vehicle (CFV) makers’ cost of purchasing credits will reduce their production incentives; (2) tightened fuel consumption standards for CFVs has an enhanced stimulating effect on the increase in the market share of NEVs, which can effectively reduce the market share of CFVs; (3) the price of credits facilitates the growth of the NEV market share, but credit prices that are too high do not stimulate the growth of the NEV market share to a significant degree; (4) the increase in the proportion of credits required for NEVs and the increase in the price of credits together help to reduce the market share of CFVs and increase the market share of NEVs.
The Impact of Digital Environment vs. Traditional Method on Literacy Skills; Reading and Writing of Emirati Fourth Graders
Authors: Alneyadi Saif , Abulibdeh Enas , Wardat Yousef
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to determine the extent to which fourth-grade students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are able to develop their reading comprehension and creative writing abilities. The study used a quasi-experimental approach to achieve the study objectives, and the sample included (120) male and female students, who were divided equally into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. As a result of the differences observed between the tribal and remote measurements, favoring the dimensional measurements of the experimental group, the results of the study indicated that the use of digital learning platforms (Teams, platform LMS, Nahla and Nahil) led to an improvement in the students’ levels of achievement in reading and writing. The results showed statistically significant differences in the students’ performance in literacy skills, reading and writing, between students learning via digital environment and those learning using traditional methods, with these differences favoring the digital environment. It is recommended that students’ needs and learning styles be met by shifting towards a digital environment, but gradually and cautiously.
Parametric Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of Pentamode Metamaterial
Authors: Zou Zhen , Xu Fengxiang , Pan Yuxiong , Niu Xiaoqiang , Fang Tengyuan , Zeng Chao
Published: February 2023

Pentamode metamaterial (PM) has enormous application potential in the design of lightweight bodies with superior vibration and noise-reduction performance. To offer systematic insights into the investigation of PMs, this paper studies the various effects (i.e., unit cell arrangement, material, and geometry) on bandgap properties through the finite element method (FEM). With regards to the influences of unit cell arrangements on bandgap properties, the results show that the PM with triangular cell arrangement (PMT) possesses better bandgap properties than the others. The effects of material and geometry on bandgap properties are then explored thoroughly. In light of the spring-mass system theory, the regulation mechanism of bandgap properties is discussed. Multi-objective optimization is conducted to further enhance the bandgap properties of PMT. Based on the Latin hypercube design and double-points infilling, a high-accuracy Kriging model, which represents the relationship between the phononic bandgap (PBG), single mode phononic bandgap (SPBG), double-cone width, and node radius, is established to seek the Pareto optimal solution sets, using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). A fitness function is then employed to obtain the final compromise solution. The PBG and total bandgap of PMT are widened approximately 2.2 and 0.27 times, respectively, while the SPBG is narrowed by about 0.51 times. The research offers important understanding for the investigation of PM with superior acoustic regulation capacity.
Energy Cost Assessment and Optimization of Post-COVID-19 Building Ventilation Strategies
Authors: Stamatellou Antiopi-Malvina , Zogou Olympia , Stamatelos Anastassios
Published: February 2023

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic puts stress on the requirements of indoor air quality. Significant improvements in the design of building ventilation systems have become necessary, as this allows for the supply of higher quantities of outdoor air in buildings. Additional capital investment is necessary for increases in the size of ventilation fans and ducts, as well as for the installation of efficient air-to-air recuperators, to recover the enthalpy of the rejected air. To address the increased operation costs, smart strategies are necessary to make rational use of the ventilation system. The required modifications are studied in the example of an 18-zone office building located in Volos, Greece. The building’s energy performance is studied by means of transient simulation. Operation of the ground-coupled heat pump, the upgraded ventilation system and the high-performance recuperators and filters’ interactions is presented in detail at various time scales. The results show the effect of increased ventilation requirements of new and renovated office and commercial buildings in the post-COVID era. The added capital equipment and operation costs must be met with a strong and sustained engineering effort. Especially in the case of nZEB buildings, the protection of public health must be attained, with reduction of the added electricity consumption penalties, in order to keep the nZEB character of the building.
Fractals as Julia and Mandelbrot Sets of Complex Cosine Functions via Fixed Point Iterations
Authors: Tomar Anita , Kumar Vipul , Rana Udhamvir Singh , Sajid Mohammad
Published: February 2023

In this manuscript, we explore stunning fractals as Julia and Mandelbrot sets of complexvalued cosine functions by establishing the escape radii via a four-step iteration scheme extended with s-convexity. We furnish some illustrations to determine the alteration in generated graphical images and study the consequences of underlying parameters on the variation of dynamics, colour, time of generation, and shape of generated fractals. The black points in the obtained fractals are the “non-chaotic” points and the dynamical behaviour in the black area is easily predictable. The coloured points are the points that “escape”, that is, they tend to infinity under one of iterative methods based on a four-step fixed-point iteration scheme extended with s-convexity. The different colours tell us how quickly a point escapes. The order of escaping of coloured points is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, that is, the red point is the fastest to escape while the violet point is the slowest to escape. Mostly, these generated fractals have symmetry. The Julia set, where we find all of the chaotic behaviour for the dynamical system, marks the boundary between these two categories of behaviour points. The Mandelbrot set, which was originally observed in 1980 by Benoit Mandelbrot and is particularly important in dynamics, is the collection of all feasible Julia sets. It perfectly sums up the Julia sets.
Novel Mean-Type Inequalities via Generalized Riemann-Type Fractional Integral for Composite Convex Functions: Some Special Examples
Authors: Mukhtar Muzammil , Yaqoob Muhammad , Samraiz Muhammad , Shabbir Iram , Etemad Sina , De la Sen Manuel , Rezapour Shahram
Published: February 2023

This study deals with a novel class of mean-type inequalities by employing fractional calculus and convexity theory. The high correlation between symmetry and convexity increases its significance. In this paper, we first establish an identity that is crucial in investigating fractional mean inequalities. Then, we establish the main results involving the error estimation of the Hermite–Hadamard inequality for composite convex functions via a generalized Riemann-type fractional integral. Such results are verified by choosing certain composite functions. These results give well-known examples in special cases. The main consequences can generalize many known inequalities that exist in other studies.
Halo Orbits under Some Perturbations in cr3bp
Authors: Albidah Abdulrahman B. , Abdullah Abdullah
Published: February 2023

The general idea of this paper is to study the effect of mass variation of a test particle on periodic orbits in the restricted three-body model. In the circular restricted three-body problem (cr3bp), two bigger bodies (known as primary and secondary or sometime only primaries) are placed at either side of the origin on abscissa while moving in circular orbits around their common center of mass (here origin), while the third body (known as smallest body or infinitesimal body or test particle) is moving in space and varies its mass according to Jeans law. Using the Lindstedt–Poincaré method, we determine equations of motion and their solutions under various perturbations. The time-series and halo orbits around one of the collinear critical points of this model are drawn under the effects of the solar radiation pressure of the primary and the oblateness of the secondary. In general, these two dynamical properties are symmetrical.
Selection of Relative DEM Time Step for Modelling Fast Fluidized Bed of A-Type FCC Particles
Authors: Wu Guorong , Zuo Zhanfei , Li Yanggui
Published: February 2023

In chemical production processes, the most suitable operation regime for A-Type powders such as typical FCC particles is high-speed fast fluidization owing to their uniquely advantageous properties. Discrete element method (DEM) for modelling fast fluidization with A-Type powders has rarely been reported. How to appropriately select the DEM time step and the stiffness coefficient is one of the most critical problems for stable and accurate calculation. This article mainly discusses the effect of the stiffness coefficient and DEM time step on simulations of A-type FCC particles. In order to describe the effect of both parameters and their complex interaction, a dimensionless relative DEM time step is introduced. In total, nine cases with different numbers of relative time steps are adopted for modelling a microfluidized bed of A-Type FCC particles, the regime of which is proved to be fast fluidization. Results show that three bifurcations occur in all the simulations. Only the moderate relative time step possesses the capability of modelling the process of particle collision and thus predicts the right flow regime with asymmetric and heterogeneous typical fast fluidized structures. When the relative time step increases to large rank, simulations predict untrue fluidization regimes with symmetric and homogeneous structures. Moreover, both over-large and over-low relative time steps cause excessive particle overlap and thus a divergence of simulation. The further optimization of moderate relative DEM time step in relation to real particle property is unidentifiable and is thus an outstanding issue. That the range of the moderate relative time step is limited indicates that the common soft-sphere model is poor at modelling fast fluidization of A-Type particles. It is suggested that possible future work should be focused on improving the simulation frame and employing the molecular dynamics model to more appropriately deal with particle contact.
Monstrous M-Theory
Authors: Marrani Alessio , Rios Mike , Chester David
Published: February 2023

In 26+1 space–time dimensions, we introduce a gravity theory whose massless spectrum can be acted upon by the Monster group when reduced to 25+1 dimensions. This theory generalizes M-theory in many respects, and we name it Monstrous M-theory, or M2-theory. Upon Kaluza–Klein reduction to 25+1 dimensions, the M2-theory spectrum irreducibly splits as 1 ⊕ 196,883, where 1 is identified with the dilaton, and 196,883 is the dimension of the smallest non-trivial representation of the Monster. This provides a field theory explanation of the lowest instance of the Monstrous Moonshine, and it clarifies the definition of the Monster as the automorphism group of the Griess algebra by showing that such an algebra is not merely a sum of unrelated spaces, but descends from massless states for M2-theory, which includes Horowitz and Susskind’s bosonic M-theory as a subsector. Further evidence is provided by the decomposition of the coefficients of the partition function of Witten’s extremal Monster SCFT in terms of representations of SO24, the massless little group in 25+1; the purely bosonic nature of the involved SO24-representations may be traced back to the unique feature of 24 dimensions, which allow for a non-trivial generalization of the triality holding in 8 dimensions. Last but not least, a certain subsector of M2-theory, when coupled to a Rarita–Schwinger massless field in 26+1, exhibits the same number of bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom; we cannot help but conjecture the existence of a would-be N=1 supergravity theory in 26+1 space–time dimensions.
The Behavior of Shear Waves in the Composite Multi-Material Structure with the Periodic Asymmetric Surfaces
Authors: Bharti Uma , Vaishnav Pramod Kumar , Yao Shao-Wen , Ahmad Hijaz
Published: February 2023

The behavior of surface horizontally polarized shear waves (SH waves) in the composite multi-material structure with a periodic irregular surface and interface is investigated analytically in the present study. To unravel the enshrouded features of the SH-wave propagation in a multi-layer structure, we consider a model of three distinct composite materials. In the schematic of the problem, the guiding layer (M-I) contains fluid-saturated porous materials of finite thickness, the intermediate layer (M-II) contains fiber-reinforced composites, and the substrate contains the functionally graded orthotropic materials (M-III). The free surface of M-I and the upper interface of the medium are considered to be irregular on a periodic basis, but the interface of M-II and M-III is supposed to be regular. The dispersion relation is obtained analytically and demonstrated graphically for the phase velocity versus the wave number to analyze the propagation behavior of the SH-wave propagation in the proposed structure. The acquired results resemble the typical Love wave results, confirming the validity of the present work. The current work provides a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of regular and irregular boundaries of the composite materials on the phase velocity of the SH waves. It is notable that the behavior of the reinforced parameters, initial stress, and porosity on the phase velocity is consistent in both scenarios. More than the irregularity of the free surface, the periodic irregularity of the interface had an impact on the phase velocity. The obtained results are useful to understand the compositions of the materials on the mountain surface.
Blow-Up Criterion and Persistence Property to a Generalized Camassa–Holm Equation
Authors: Wang Ying , Guo Yunxi
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a generalized Camassa–Holm equation, which may be used to describe wave motion in the shallow water, is considered. Some dynamic properties are studied for the model. Firstly, a new blow-up criterion for the equation is established. Then, analytical solutions are presented for the first time by using a new method. Finally, we investigate the persistence property for strong solutions. The results we obtain complement earlier results in this direction.
Holistic System Modelling and Analysis for Energy-Aware Production: An Integrated Framework
Authors: Hehenberger Peter , Leherbauer Dominik , Penas Olivia , Delabeye Romain , Patalano Stanislao , Vitolo Ferdinando , Rega Andrea , Alefragis Panayiotis , Birbas Michael , Birbas Alexios , Katrakazas Panagiotis
Published: February 2023

Optimizing and predicting the energy consumption of industrial manufacturing can increase its cost efficiency. The interaction of different aspects and components is necessary. An overarching framework is currently still missing, and establishing such is the central research approach in this paper. This paper provides an overview of the current demands on the manufacturing industry from the perspective of digitalization and sustainability. On the basis of the developed fundamentals and parameters, a superordinate framework is proposed that allows the modelling and simulation of energy-specific properties on several product and process levels. A detailed description of the individual methods concludes this work and demonstrates their application potential in an industrial context. As a result, this integrated conceptual framework offers the possibility of optimizing the production system, in relation to different energy flexibility criteria.
Localization of Multiple Jellyfish Toxins Shows Specificity for Functionally Distinct Polyps and Nematocyst Types in a Colonial Hydrozoan
Authors: Klompen Anna M. L. , Travert Matthew K. , Cartwright Paulyn
Published: February 2023

Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus is a colonial hydrozoan that displays a division of labor through morphologically distinct and functionally specialized polyp types. As with all cnidarians, their venoms are housed in nematocysts, which are scattered across an individual. Here, we investigate the spatial distribution of a specific protein family, jellyfish toxins, in which multiple paralogs are differentially expressed across the functionally specialized polyps. Jellyfish toxins (JFTs) are known pore-forming toxins in the venoms of medically relevant species such as box jellyfish (class Cubozoa), but their role in other medusozoan venoms is less clear. Utilizing a publicly available single-cell dataset, we confirmed that four distinct H. symbiolongicarpus JFT paralogs are expressed in nematocyst-associated clusters, supporting these as true venom components in H. symbiolongicarpus. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to localize the expression of these JFTs across the colony. These expression patterns, in conjunction with known nematocyst type distributions, suggest that two of these JFTs, HsymJFT1c-I and HsymJFT1c-II, are localized to specific types of nematocysts. We further interpret JFT expression patterns in the context of known regions of nematogenesis and differential rates of nematocyst turnover. Overall, we show that JFT expression patterns in H. symbiolongicarpus are consistent with the subfunctionalization of JFT paralogs across a partitioned venom system within the colony, such that each JFT is expressed within a specific set of functionally distinct polyp types and, in some cases, specific nematocyst types.
Automated Classification of Auroral Images with Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Shang Zhiyuan , Yao Zhonghua , Liu Jian , Xu Linli , Xu Yan , Zhang Binzheng , Guo Ruilong , Wei Yong
Published: February 2023

Terrestrial auroras are highly structured that visualize the perturbations of energetic particles and electromagnetic fields in Earth’s space environments. However, the identification of auroral morphologies is often subjective, which results in confusion in the community. Automated tools are highly valuable in the classification of auroral structures. Both CNNs (convolutional neural networks) and transformer models based on the self-attention mechanism in deep learning are capable of extracting features from images. In this study, we applied multiple algorithms in the classification of auroral structures and performed a comparison on their performances. Trans-former and ConvNeXt models were firstly used in the analysis of auroras in this study. The results show that the ConvNeXt model can have the highest accuracy of 98.5% among all of the applied algorithms. This study provides a direct comparison of deep learning tools on the application of classifying auroral structures and shows promising capability, clearly demonstrating that auto-mated tools can help to minimize the bias in future auroral studies.
Short-Term Outcomes of Phage-Antibiotic Combination Treatment in Adult Patients with Periprosthetic Hip Joint Infection
Authors: Fedorov Eugeny , Samokhin Alexander , Kozlova Yulia , Kretien Svetlana , Sheraliev Taalai , Morozova Vera , Tikunova Nina , Kiselev Alexey , Pavlov Vitaliy
Published: February 2023

Implant-associated infections are the most costly problem in modern orthopedics due to the continued increase in the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains that requires the development of new effective antimicrobials. A non-randomized, prospective, open-label, with historical control study on the use of combined phage/antibiotic therapy of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) was carried out. Forty-five adult patients with deep PJI of the hip joint were involved in the study, with a 12-month follow-up after one-stage revision surgery. Patients from a prospective study group (SG, n = 23) were treated with specific phage preparation and etiotropic antibiotics, whereas patients from a retrospective comparator group (CG, n = 22) received antibiotics only. The rate of PJI relapses in the SG was eight times less than that in the CG: one case (4.5%) versus eight cases (36.4%), p = 0.021. The response rate to treatment was 95.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.7511–0.9976) in the SG and only 63.6% (95% CI = 0.4083–0.8198) in the CG. The odds ratio for PJI relapse in patients of the SG was 0.083 (95% CI = 0.009–0.742), which was almost 12 times lower than that in the CG. The obtained results support the efficacy of the combined phage-antibiotic treatment of PJI.
Understanding the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Neutralizing Antibody Response: Lessons to Be Learned from HIV and Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Authors: Dimmock Nigel J. , Easton Andrew J.
Published: February 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic commenced in 2019 and is still ongoing. Neither infection nor vaccination give long-lasting immunity and, here, in an attempt to understand why this might be, we have compared the neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 with those specific for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Currently, most of the antibodies specific for the SARS-CoV-2 S protein map to three broad antigenic sites, all at the distal end of the S trimer (receptor-binding site (RBD), sub-RBD and N-terminal domain), whereas the structurally similar HIV-1 and the RSV F envelope proteins have six antigenic sites. Thus, there may be several antigenic sites on the S trimer that have not yet been identified. The epitope mapping, quantitation and longevity of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein-specific antibodies produced in response to infection and those elicited by vaccination are now being reported for specific groups of individuals, but much remains to be determined about these aspects of the host–virus interaction. Finally, there is a concern that the SARS-CoV-2 field may be reprising the HIV-1 experience, which, for many years, used a virus for neutralization studies that did not reflect the neutralizability of wild-type HIV-1. For example, the widely used VSV-SARS-CoV-2-S protein pseudotype has 10-fold more S trimers per virion and a different configuration of the trimers compared with the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type virus. Clarity in these areas would help in advancing understanding and aid countermeasures of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Plant Defense and Viral Counter-Defense during Plant–Geminivirus Interactions
Authors: Zhang Jianhang , Ma Mengyuan , Liu Yule , Ismayil Asigul
Published: February 2023

Geminiviruses are the largest family of plant viruses that cause severe diseases and devastating yield losses of economically important crops worldwide. In response to geminivirus infection, plants have evolved ingenious defense mechanisms to diminish or eliminate invading viral pathogens. However, increasing evidence shows that geminiviruses can interfere with plant defense response and create a suitable cell environment by hijacking host plant machinery to achieve successful infections. In this review, we discuss recent findings about plant defense and viral counter-defense during plant–geminivirus interactions.
Updates and New Perspectives on Adenoviral Gene Therapy and Vaccine Vectors
Authors: Dobner Thomas , Bertzbach Luca D.
Published: February 2023

Adenoviruses are commonly used as efficient high-capacity vectors and excellent gene delivery vehicles [...]
Pseudomonas Phage ZCPS1 Endolysin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent
Authors: Abdelrahman Fatma , Gangakhedkar Rutuja , Nair Gokul , El-Didamony Gamal , Askora Ahmed , Jain Vikas , El-Shibiny Ayman
Published: February 2023

The challenge of antibiotic resistance has gained much attention in recent years due to the rapid emergence of resistant bacteria infecting humans and risking industries. Thus, alternatives to antibiotics are being actively searched for. In this regard, bacteriophages and their enzymes, such as endolysins, are a very attractive alternative. Endolysins are the lytic enzymes, which are produced during the late phase of the lytic bacteriophage replication cycle to target the bacterial cell walls for progeny release. Here, we cloned, expressed, and purified LysZC1 endolysin from Pseudomonas phage ZCPS1. The structural alignment, molecular dynamic simulation, and CD studies suggested LysZC1 to be majorly helical, which is highly similar to various phage-encoded lysozymes with glycoside hydrolase activity. Our endpoint turbidity reduction assay displayed the lytic activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Although in synergism with EDTA, LysZC1 demonstrated significant activity against Gram-negative pathogens, it demonstrated the highest activity against Bacillus cereus. Moreover, LysZC1 was able to reduce the numbers of logarithmic-phase B. cereus by more than 2 log10 CFU/mL in 1 h and also acted on the stationary-phase culture. Remarkably, LysZC1 presented exceptional thermal stability, pH tolerance, and storage conditions, as it maintained the antibacterial activity against its host after nearly one year of storage at 4 °C and after being heated at temperatures as high as 100 °C for 10 min. Our data suggest that LysZC1 is a potential candidate as a therapeutic agent against bacterial infection and an antibacterial bio-control tool in food preservation technology.
Innate and Adaptive Immunity during SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Biomolecular Cellular Markers and Mechanisms
Authors: Brown Brent , Ojha Vanshika , Fricke Ingo , Al-Sheboul Suhaila A , Imarogbe Chinua , Gravier Tanya , Green Michael , Peterson Lori , Koutsaroff Ivoyl P. , Demir Ayça , Andrieu Jonatane , Leow Chiuan Yee , Leow Chiuan Herng
Published: February 2023

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was caused by a positive sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, other human coronaviruses (hCoVs) exist. Historical pandemics include smallpox and influenza, with efficacious therapeutics utilized to reduce overall disease burden through effectively targeting a competent host immune system response. The immune system is composed of primary/secondary lymphoid structures with initially eight types of immune cell types, and many other subtypes, traversing cell membranes utilizing cell signaling cascades that contribute towards clearance of pathogenic proteins. Other proteins discussed include cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complexes (MHC), pleiotropic interleukins (IL), and chemokines (CXC). The historical concepts of host immunity are the innate and adaptive immune systems. The adaptive immune system is represented by T cells, B cells, and antibodies. The innate immune system is represented by macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and the complement system. Other viruses can affect and regulate cell cycle progression for example, in cancers that include human papillomavirus (HPV: cervical carcinoma), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV: lymphoma), Hepatitis B and C (HB/HC: hepatocellular carcinoma) and human T cell Leukemia Virus-1 (T cell leukemia). Bacterial infections also increase the risk of developing cancer (e.g., Helicobacter pylori). Viral and bacterial factors can cause both morbidity and mortality alongside being transmitted within clinical and community settings through affecting a host immune response. Therefore, it is appropriate to contextualize advances in single cell sequencing in conjunction with other laboratory techniques allowing insights into immune cell characterization. These developments offer improved clarity and understanding that overlap with autoimmune conditions that could be affected by innate B cells (B1+ or marginal zone cells) or adaptive T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and other pathologies. Thus, this review starts with an introduction into host respiratory infection before examining invaluable cellular messenger proteins and then individual immune cell markers.
Healthcare Access and Experiences of Racial Discrimination as Predictors of General Vaccine Hesitancy
Authors: CarlLee Sheena , Willis Don E. , Andersen Jennifer A. , Gurel-Headley Morgan , Kraleti Shashank S. , Selig James P. , Moore Ramey , Diaz-Cruz Alexandra , Macechko Michael D. , McElfish Pearl A.
Published: February 2023

The literature regarding vaccine hesitancy is limited to specific vaccines rather than general vaccine hesitancy. No studies have examined the relationship of general vaccine hesitancy to healthcare access and experiences of racial discrimination. This study fills gaps by examining: (1) socio-demographic factors; (2) associations between healthcare access; and (3) experiences with racial discrimination and general vaccine hesitancy. Survey data were obtained from 2022 US adults from 7 September to 3 October 2021. Racial and ethnic minority populations were oversampled. Age, gender, race, and education were predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Asian respondents had less than two-thirds the odds of being vaccine hesitant. Healthcare access was associated with vaccine hesitancy. Not having health insurance coverage, not having a primary care provider, and not seeing a provider for a routine check-up in the past two years were associated with higher vaccine hesitancy. For every one-point increase in racial discrimination score (0–45), the odds of being more vaccine hesitant increased by a factor of 1.03. The findings demonstrate that policy, systems, and environmental factors are critical to addressing vaccine hesitancy. Given the associations between vaccine hesitancy and racial discrimination and healthcare access, more attention should be given to inequities in the healthcare systems in order to address vaccine hesitancy.
Age and Cytokine Gene Variants Modulate the Immunogenicity and Protective Effect of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Based Vaccination
Authors: Scola Letizia , Ferraro Donatella , Sanfilippo Giuseppa Luisa , De Grazia Simona , Lio Domenico , Giammanco Giovanni Maurizio
Published: February 2023

The introduction of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in late 2020 substantially changed the pandemic picture, inducing effective protection in the population. However, individual variability was observed with different levels of cellular response and neutralizing antibodies. We report data on the impact of age, gender, and 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers measured 31 and 105 days after administration of the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine to 122 healthy subjects from the health care staff of the Palermo University Hospital, Italy. The higher titers at 31 days were measured in the younger subjects and in subjects bearing T-positive genotypes of IL-1R1 rs2234650 or the GG homozygous genotype of IL-6 rs1800795 SNP. T-positive genotypes are also significantly more common in subjects with higher titers at day 105. In addition, in this group of subjects, the frequency of the CT genotype of IL-4 rs2243250 is higher among those vaccinated with higher titers. Moreover, these SNPs and TNFA rs1800629 are differently distributed in a group of subjects that were found infected by SARS-CoV-2 at day 105 of evaluation. Finally, subjects that were found to be infected by SARS-CoV-2 at day 105 were significantly older than the uninfected subjects. Taken together, these data seem to suggest that age and polymorphisms of key cytokines, which regulate inflammation and humoral immune response, might influence the magnitude of the antibody response to vaccination with BNT162B2, prompting speculation about the possible benefit of a genetic background-based assessment of a personalized approach to the anti-COVID vaccination schedule.
Policy Endorsement and Booster Shot: Exploring Politicized Determinants for Acceptance of a Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine in China
Authors: Zhang Ruifen , Yan Jun , Jia Hepeng , Luo Xi , Liu Qinliang , Lin Jingke
Published: February 2023

China’s recent termination of strict COVID-19 control necessitates taking a booster vaccine shot as a precaution against the pandemic as quickly as possible. A large body of research has examined people’s attitudes toward and intentions for the booster shot. However, most studies failed to explore how China’s sociopolitical context has shaped their attitude regarding the booster jab take-up. The current study utilizes data from a national survey adopting quota sampling to analyze the Chinese public’s medical and non-medical considerations to determine their intention for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The study found that thanks to China’s initial successful lockdown policies, personal risk and benefit perceptions did not dominate their views regarding booster vaccination. Instead, respondents’ gender, nationalism, endorsement of the zero-COVID policy, self-efficacy regarding vaccination, and perceived infection severity were the major factors underlying their booster shot intention. The situation highlights how the politicized context of China’s COVID-19 control has impacted people’s plans to practice preventive behaviors. It is necessary to offset the negative consequences. One strategy is to educate the Chinese public with more medically relevant information to help them make rational choices regarding vaccination and other protective measures. On the other hand, such education can utilize this nationalistic mental status to enhance the persuasion effect.
The Use of Adaptive Sampling to Reach Disadvantaged Populations for Immunization Programs and Assessments: A Systematic Review
Authors: Koyuncu Aybüke , Ishizumi Atsuyoshi , Daniels Danni , Jalloh Mohamed F. , Wallace Aaron S. , Prybylski Dimitri
Published: February 2023

Vaccines prevent 4–5 million deaths every year, but inequities in vaccine coverage persist among key disadvantaged subpopulations. Under-immunized subpopulations (e.g., migrants, slum residents) may be consistently missed with conventional methods for estimating immunization coverage and assessing vaccination barriers. Adaptive sampling, such as respondent-driven sampling, may offer useful strategies for identifying and collecting data from these subpopulations that are often “hidden” or hard-to-reach. However, use of these adaptive sampling approaches in the field of global immunization has not been systematically documented. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases to identify eligible studies published through November 2020 that used an adaptive sampling method to collect immunization-related data. From the eligible studies, we extracted relevant data on their objectives, setting and target population, and sampling methods. We categorized sampling methods and assessed their frequencies. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria out of the 3069 articles screened for eligibility. Peer-driven sampling was the most frequently used adaptive sampling method (57%), followed by geospatial sampling (30%), venue-based sampling (17%), ethnographic mapping (9%), and compact segment sampling (9%). Sixty-one percent of studies were conducted in upper-middle-income or high-income countries. Data on immunization uptake were collected in 65% of studies, and data on knowledge and attitudes about immunizations were collected in 57% of studies. We found limited use of adaptive sampling methods in measuring immunization coverage and understanding determinants of vaccination uptake. The current under-utilization of adaptive sampling approaches leaves much room for improvement in how immunization programs calibrate their strategies to reach “hidden” subpopulations.
An Economic Comparison in the Elderly of Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine with Recombinant Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine in Spain
Authors: Ruiz-Aragón Jesús , Márquez-Peláez Sergio
Published: February 2023

Influenza infections impose a high burden of morbidity and mortality among older adults, at great cost to individuals and society. Enhanced influenza vaccines, which contain either an immune adjuvant or higher than normal doses of influenza virus antigens, are recommended for older adults. We used a health economics model to evaluate the cost effectiveness in Spain of a recently licensed recombinant quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVr), which contains three times the standard dose of influenza virus hemagglutinin but no neuraminidase, compared with an MF59-adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV). Based on current tender prices in Spain and a conservative assumption that QIVr is 10.7% relatively more effective than aQIV, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for QIVr was EUR 101,612.41 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. To meet the Spanish willingness-to-pay threshold of EUR 25,000 per QALY gained, QIVr would need to be 34.1% relatively more effective than aQIV. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis conducted to confirm the robustness of the analysis, 99.7% of simulations for QIVr were higher than the willingness-to-pay curve. These findings suggest that QIVr is not currently a cost-effective influenza vaccine option relative to aQIV for older persons living in Spain.