bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tissue Distribution of Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) in Experimentally Infected Young and Adult Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Authors: Petzold Jana , Gartner Anna Maria , Malberg Sara , Link Jessica Bianca , Bücking Bianca , Lierz Michael , Herden Christiane
Published: October 2022

Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) caused by parrot bornavirus (PaBV) infection is an often-fatal disease known to infect Psittaciformes. The impact of age at the time of PaBV infection on organ lesions and tissue distribution of virus antigen and RNA remains largely unclear. For this purpose, tissue sections of 11 cockatiels intravenously infected with PaBV-4 as adults or juveniles, respectively, were examined via histology, immunohistochemistry applying a phosphoprotein (P) antibody directed against the bornaviral phosphoprotein and in situ hybridisation to detect viral RNA in tissues. In both groups of adult- and juvenile-infected cockatiels, widespread tissue distribution of bornaviral antigen and RNA as well as histologic inflammatory lesions were demonstrated. The latter appeared more severe in the central nervous system in adults and in the proventriculus of juveniles, respectively. During the study, central nervous symptoms and signs of gastrointestinal affection were only demonstrated in adult birds. Our findings indicate a great role of the age at the time of infection in the development of histopathological lesions and clinical signs, and thus provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis, possible virus transmission routes, and the development of carrier birds posing a risk to psittacine collections.
Human Herpesvirus 8 in Australia: DNAemia and Cumulative Exposure in Blood Donors
Authors: Speicher David J. , Fryk Jesse J. , Kashchuk Victoria , Faddy Helen M. , Johnson Newell W.
Published: October 2022

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the causative agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma, multicentric Castleman’s disease and primary effusion lymphoma, predominantly manifests in immunocompromised individuals. However, infection in immunocompetent individuals does occur. The prevalence of HHV-8 exposure in blood donors from non-endemic countries ranges between 1.2% and 7.3%. Nothing was known about the prevalence in Australian blood donors. Therefore, this study investigated the active and cumulative exposure of HHV-8 in this cohort. Plasma samples (n = 480) were collected from eastern Australian blood donors and were tested for HHV-8 DNA by qPCR, and for HHV-8 antibodies by two different ELISAs. Samples initially positive on either ELISA were retested in duplicate on both, and on a mock-coated ELISA. Any samples positive two or three out of the three times tested on at least one ELISA, and repeat negative on the mock-coated ELISA, were assigned as repeat positive. None of the 480 samples tested contained HHV-8 DNA. Serological testing revealed 28 samples (5.83%; 95% CI: 3.74–7.93%) had antibodies to HHV-8. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in seropositivity between sex or with increasing age. This is the first study to show serological evidence of cumulative HHV-8 exposure and no HHV-8 DNAemia within a select blood donor population in Australia. Our molecular and serological data is consistent with published results for blood donors residing in HHV-8 non-endemic countries, which shows the prevalence to be very low.
Brazilian Populations of Aedes aegypti Resistant to Pyriproxyfen Exhibit Lower Susceptibility to Infection with Zika Virus
Authors: Campos Kauara Brito , Alomar Abdullah A. , Eastmond Bradley H. , Obara Marcos Takashi , Alto Barry W.
Published: October 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has caused devastating consequences in Brazil as infections were associated with neurological complications in neonates. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of ZIKV, and the evolution of insecticide resistance (IR) in this species can compromise control efforts. Although relative levels of phenotypic IR in mosquitoes can change considerably over time, its influence on vector competence for arboviruses is unclear. Pyriproxyfen (PPF)-resistant populations of Ae. aegypti were collected from five municipalities located in Northeast of Brazil, which demonstrated different resistance levels; low (Serrinha, Brumado), moderate (Juazeiro do Norte, Itabuna), and high (Quixadá). Experimental per os infection using ZIKV were performed with individuals from these populations and with an insecticide susceptible strain (Rockefeller) to determine their relative vector competence for ZIKV. Although all populations were competent to transmit ZIKV, mosquitoes derived from populations with moderate to high levels of IR exhibited similar or lower susceptibility to ZIKV infection than those from populations with low IR or the susceptible strain. These observations suggest an association between IR and arbovirus infection, which may be attributable to genetic hitchhiking. The use of PPF to control Brazilian Ae. aegypti may be associated with an indirect benefit of reduced susceptibility to infection, but no changes in disseminated infection and transmission of ZIKV among PPF-resistant phenotypes.
Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks in Africa, Europe, and Asia (2005–2022): Multiple Change Point Analysis and Time Series Forecast
Authors: Anwar Ayesha , Na-Lampang Kannika , Preyavichyapugdee Narin , Punyapornwithaya Veerasak
Published: October 2022

LSD is an important transboundary disease affecting the cattle industry worldwide. The objectives of this study were to determine trends and significant change points, and to forecast the number of LSD outbreak reports in Africa, Europe, and Asia. LSD outbreak report data (January 2005 to January 2022) from the World Organization for Animal Health were analyzed. We determined statistically significant change points in the data using binary segmentation, and forecast the number of LSD reports using auto-regressive moving average (ARIMA) and neural network auto-regressive (NNAR) models. Four significant change points were identified for each continent. The year between the third and fourth change points (2016–2019) in the African data was the period with the highest mean of number of LSD reports. All change points of LSD outbreaks in Europe corresponded with massive outbreaks during 2015–2017. Asia had the highest number of LSD reports in 2019 after the third detected change point in 2018. For the next three years (2022–2024), both ARIMA and NNAR forecast a rise in the number of LSD reports in Africa and a steady number in Europe. However, ARIMA predicts a stable number of outbreaks in Asia, whereas NNAR predicts an increase in 2023–2024. This study provides information that contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of LSD.
Current In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study MCPyV-Associated MCC
Authors: Loke Amanda S. W. , Lambert Paul F. , Spurgeon Megan E.
Published: October 2022

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the only human polyomavirus currently known to cause human cancer. MCPyV is believed to be an etiological factor in at least 80% of cases of the rare but aggressive skin malignancy Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In these MCPyV+ MCC tumors, clonal integration of the viral genome results in the continued expression of two viral proteins: the viral small T antigen (ST) and a truncated form of the viral large T antigen. The oncogenic potential of MCPyV and the functional properties of the viral T antigens that contribute to neoplasia are becoming increasingly well-characterized with the recent development of model systems that recapitulate the biology of MCPyV+ MCC. In this review, we summarize our understanding of MCPyV and its role in MCC, followed by the current state of both in vitro and in vivo model systems used to study MCPyV and its contribution to carcinogenesis. We also highlight the remaining challenges within the field and the major considerations related to the ongoing development of in vitro and in vivo models of MCPyV+ MCC.
The Vaccinia Virus DNA Helicase Structure from Combined Single-Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy and AlphaFold2 Prediction
Authors: Hutin Stephanie , Ling Wai Li , Tarbouriech Nicolas , Schoehn Guy , Grimm Clemens , Fischer Utz , Burmeister Wim P.
Published: October 2022

Poxviruses are large DNA viruses with a linear double-stranded DNA genome circularized at the extremities. The helicase-primase D5, composed of six identical 90 kDa subunits, is required for DNA replication. D5 consists of a primase fragment flexibly attached to the hexameric C-terminal polypeptide (res. 323–785) with confirmed nucleotide hydrolase and DNA-binding activity but an elusive helicase activity. We determined its structure by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. It displays an AAA+ helicase core flanked by N- and C-terminal domains. Model building was greatly helped by the predicted structure of D5 using AlphaFold2. The 3.9 Å structure of the N-terminal domain forms a well-defined tight ring while the resolution decreases towards the C-terminus, still allowing the fit of the predicted structure. The N-terminal domain is partially present in papillomavirus E1 and polyomavirus LTA helicases, as well as in a bacteriophage NrS-1 helicase domain, which is also closely related to the AAA+ helicase domain of D5. Using the Pfam domain database, a D5_N domain followed by DUF5906 and Pox_D5 domains could be assigned to the cryo-EM structure, providing the first 3D structures for D5_N and Pox_D5 domains. The same domain organization has been identified in a family of putative helicases from large DNA viruses, bacteriophages, and selfish DNA elements.
Molnupiravir When Used Alone Seems to Be Safe and Effective as Outpatient COVID-19 Therapy for Hemodialyzed Patients and Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Poznański Paweł , Augustyniak-Bartosik Hanna , Magiera-Żak Anna , Skalec Karolina , Jakuszko Katarzyna , Mazanowska Oktawia , Janczak Dariusz , Krajewska Magdalena , Kamińska Dorota
Published: October 2022

Background: Molnupiravir demonstrated an in vitro antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The study aimed to present the results of outpatient molnupiravir use in kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients during the first months of 2022 in Poland. Methods: The retrospective observational cohort study at one kidney transplant center included 36 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with an automated nucleic acid amplification test on nasopharyngeal swab specimens. All patients received molnupiravir for home-based therapy at a dose of 800 mg every 12 h orally for 5 days. Both kidney transplant recipients (n = 16) and hemodialysis patients (n = 20) presented a lot of comorbidities with a Charlson comorbidity index of 4.1 and 5.1, respectively. Results: Patients presented with fever, cough, and weakness followed by muscle and joint pain. Five kidney transplant recipients experienced acute kidney injury with a rise in serum creatinine level from 0.4 to 1.9 mg/dL. No serious side effects of molnupiravir therapy or interactions with immunosuppressive medications were observed. Symptoms of COVID-19 improved rapidly or resolved within 24–48 h of starting treatment. Conclusion: The study suggests the safety and efficacy of molnupiravir therapy alone early after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but further investigations should be performed to confirm our preliminary results. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first published report on molnupiravir use in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on hemodialysis and the third concerning kidney transplant recipients.
Construction and Transcriptomic Study of Chicken IFNAR1-Knockout Cell Line Reveals the Essential Roles of Cell Growth- and Apoptosis-Related Pathways in Duck Tembusu Virus Infection
Authors: Xiang Chengwei , Yang Zekun , Xiong Ting , Wang Ting , Yang Jie , Huang Mei , Liu Dingxiang , Chen RuiAi
Published: October 2022

For industrial vaccine production, overwhelming the existing antiviral innate immune response dominated by type I interferons (IFN-I) in cells would be a key factor improving the effectiveness and production cost of vaccines. In this study, we report the construction of an IFN-I receptor 1 (IFNAR1)-knockout DF-1 cell line (KO-IFNAR1), which supports much more efficient replication of the duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and gammacoronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Transcriptomic analysis of DTMUV-infected KO-IFNAR1 cells demonstrated that DTMUV mainly activated genes and signaling pathways related to cell growth and apoptosis. Among them, JUN, MYC and NFKBIA were significantly up-regulated. Furthermore, knockdown of zinc-fingered helicase 2 (HELZ2) and interferon-α-inducible protein 6 (IFI6), the two genes up-regulated in both wild type and KO-IFNAR1 cells, significantly increased the replication of DTMUV RNA. This study paves the way for further studying the mechanism underlying the DTMUV-mediated IFN-I-independent regulation of virus replication, and meanwhile provides a potential cell resource for efficient production of cell-based avian virus vaccines.
The Relationship between DUGBE Virus Infection and Autophagy in Epithelial Cells
Authors: Moroso Marie , Rozières Aurore , Verlhac Pauline , Komurian-Pradel Florence , Ferraris Olivier , Peyrefitte Christophe N. , Paranhos-Baccalà Glaucia , Viret Christophe , Faure Mathias
Published: October 2022

Dugbe orthonairovirus (DUGV) is a tick-borne arbovirus within the order Bunyavirales. Although displaying mild pathogenic potential, DUGV is genetically related to the Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), another orthonairovirus that causes severe liver dysfunction and hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate in humans. As we previously observed that CCHFV infection could massively recruit and lipidate MAP1LC3 (LC3), a core factor involved in the autophagic degradation of cytosolic components, we asked whether DUGV infection also substantially impacts the autophagy machinery in epithelial cells. We observed that DUGV infection does impose LC3 lipidation in cultured hepatocytes. DUGV infection also caused an upregulation of the MAP1LC3 and SQSTM1/p62 transcript levels, which were, however, more moderate than those seen during CCHFV infection. In contrast, unlike during CCHFV infection, the modulation of core autophagy factors could influence both LC3 lipidation and viral particle production: the silencing of ATG5 and/or ATG7 diminished the induction of LC3 lipidation and slightly upregulated the level of infectious DUGV particle production. Overall, the results are compatible with the notion that in epithelial cells infected with DUGV in vitro, the autophagy machinery may be recruited to exert a certain level of restriction on viral replication. Thus, the relationship between DUGV infection and autophagy in epithelial cells appears to present both similarities and distinctions with that seen during CCHFV infection.
Performing under Pressure: Insights into the Diagnostic Testing Burden at a UK National Health Service Clinical Virology Laboratory during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Bird Paul William , Taylor Georgina , Cafferata Jessica , Gardener Judi , McMurray Claire L. , Fletcher Oliver , Toovey Oliver T. R. , Holmes Christopher W. , Tang Julian W.
Published: October 2022

UK National Health Service (NHS) Clinical Virology Departments provide a repertoire of tests on clinical samples to detect the presence of viral genomic material or host immune responses to viral infection. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged which quickly developed into a global pandemic; NHS laboratories responded rapidly to upscale their testing capabilities. To date, there is little information on the impact of increased SARS-CoV-2 screening on non-SARS-CoV-2 testing within NHS laboratories. This report details the virology test requests received by the Leicester-based NHS Virology laboratory from January 2018 to May 2022. Data show that in spite of a dramatic increase in screening, along with multiple logistic and staffing issues, the Leicester Virology Department was mostly able to maintain the same level of service for non-respiratory virus testing while meeting the new increase in SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Reverse Genetics and Artificial Replication Systems of Borna Disease Virus 1
Authors: Kanda Takehiro , Tomonaga Keizo
Published: October 2022

Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) is a neurotropic RNA virus belonging to the family Bornaviridae within the order Mononegavirales. Whereas BoDV-1 causes neurological and behavioral disorders, called Borna disease (BD), in a wide range of mammals, its virulence in humans has been debated for several decades. However, a series of case reports in recent years have established the nature of BoDV-1 as a zoonotic pathogen that causes fatal encephalitis in humans. Although many virological properties of BoDV-1 have been revealed to date, the mechanism by which it causes fatal encephalitis in humans remains unclear. In addition, there are no effective vaccines or antiviral drugs that can be used in clinical practice. A reverse genetics approach to generating replication-competent recombinant viruses from full-length cDNA clones is a powerful tool that can be used to not only understand viral properties but also to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs. The rescue of recombinant BoDV-1 (rBoDV-1) was first reported in 2005. However, due to the slow nature of the replication of this virus, the rescue of high-titer rBoDV-1 required several months, limiting the use of this system. This review summarizes the history of the reverse genetics and artificial replication systems for orthobornaviruses and explores the recent progress in efforts to rescue rBoDV-1.
Global Wetland Governance: Introducing the Transboundary Wetlands Database
Authors: Rosenblum Zoe Hoffman , Schmeier Susanne
Published: October 2022

The water governance discourse focuses on the use of water from rivers—and increasingly lakes and aquifers—for a variety of human uses, often in a competing manner. Largely missing from this discourse are wetlands. Despite an increased understanding of the benefits of wetlands, global wetland area continues to decrease. Particularly in international river basins, upstream water withdrawals are having negative impacts on wetlands, and the communities that rely on them downstream. Following the framework of transboundary water cooperation, the joint management of transboundary wetlands in the context of integrated basin management may prevent conflict and lead to further collaboration. As a first step to understand how wetlands may fit into water cooperation, this research employs spatial analysis and document analysis to identify transboundary wetlands and possible institutions to manage them, providing a basis for analyzing conflict and cooperation dynamics in them. The products of this research are a database and map of 300 transboundary wetlands, including the river basins (and, when applicable, the River Basin Organizations) they fall within.
Assessment of Migration of PAHs Contained in Soot of Solid Fuel Combustion into the Aquatic Environment
Authors: Szatyłowicz Ewa , Hawrylik Eliza
Published: October 2022

In the thermal processes of fossil fuel and biomass combustion, organic compounds are formed, belonging to the family of so-called Persistent Organic Pollutants. Among them, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of particular importance. Due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties, these compounds seriously threaten living organisms. PAHs are formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter in natural and anthropogenic processes. They are present in soot. Nevertheless, their combustion by-products from individual heat sources are not controlled. They are often used in horticulture or stored in arbitrary places. Collecting or using this waste without determining its toxicity carries the risk of contaminating the land and the water into which the pollutants enter. PAHs pose a severe threat to the aquatic environment as the pollutants contained in the soot are washed away. Therefore, it seemed advisable to conduct research on the combustion of solid fuels such as hard coal with particle sizes above 60 mm, hard coal with a granule size of 25–80 mm, hard coal with a granule size of 8–25 mm, pellets, and mixed firewood. Through the experiments, soot samples were obtained, and a leaching process was performed, thereby extracting eluents from the soot. The results of this work allowed for the determination and assessment of the degree of leachability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from by-products of combustion of solid fuels, such as soot. The influence of the type of solid fuel burned on the mobility of PAHs in the aquatic environment was determined. The carcinogenicity equivalents of carbon black extracts obtained from the combustion of solid fuels were also determined, as well as the acute toxicity of the tested media by performing biotests using the Microtox kit and Aliivibrio fischeri luminescent bacteria.
The Current State-Of-Art of Copper Removal from Wastewater: A Review
Authors: Ab Hamid Nur Hafizah , bin Mohd Tahir Muhamad Iqbal Hakim , Chowdhury Amreen , Nordin Abu Hassan , Alshaikh Anas Abdulqader , Suid Muhammad Azwan , Nazaruddin Nurul ‘Izzah , Nozaizeli Nurul Danisyah , Sharma Shubham , Rushdan Ahmad Ilyas
Published: October 2022

Copper is one of the chemical elements that is widely used in various sectors nowadays together with the development of civilization especially in agricultural and industrial sectors. Copper is also considered as one of the heavy metals that is commonly present in wastewater. This preliminary study conducted is mainly focused on the techniques of removal of copper in wastewater. There are a variety of approaches for treating industrial effluent contaminated with heavy metals such as copper. Copper separation can be accomplished using a variety of technologies, each of which has advantages that vary depending on the application. Chemical removal techniques that are commonly used for copper removal are adsorption, cementation, membrane filtration, electrochemical method, and photocatalysis. This study compares the fundamentals and performances of the treatment techniques in addition to the future perspective of copper removal in detail. The study highlights the present research in terms of its strengths and shortcomings, pointing out deficiencies that need to be addressed in future studies, pointing to future research prospects.
Potential Contribution of Coastal Upwelling to Carbon Sink through Interaction between Cyanobacteria and Microbial Eukaryotes
Authors: Liu Xiuping , Xie Ningdong , Li Jiaqian , Bai Mohan , Sen Biswarup , Wang Guangyi
Published: October 2022

Upwelling, a common oceanographic event, can make great contributions, directly or indirectly, to deep ocean carbon sequestration. However, the extent of its contribution indirectly depends on the composition of microbial communities and the interactions between bacterioplankton and other microorganisms. This study provides insights into the influence of upwelling on bacterioplankton at the whole community level and predicts their potential functional profiles. The α diversity of the bacterial community exhibited no significant differences between the upwelling area and non-upwelling area, while the community composition varied clearly in different habitats. Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were the five dominant phyla in all of the habitats. The proportions of members of Firmicutes were increased whereas Cyanobacteria were reduced in upwelling water. However, the percentage of Cyanobacteria was enhanced in the upwelling deep water. Functional genes that are involved in signal transductions, which belong to environmental information processing, were more active in upwelling surface water than in the other habitats. Closer and more complex relationships between bacterioplankton and microbial eukaryotes were found in the upwelling area, which altered with the variation of the external environmental conditions. Cyanobacteria showed a positive correlation with microbial eukaryotes in upwelling deep water. Combined with the high proportions of Cyanobacteria in upwelling deep water, this might be strong evidence that Cyanobacteria contribute to a deep ocean carbon sink. Overall, our study reveals the impacts of upwelling on the bacterial community composition, metabolic functions, and microbial interactions, which are significant to further understanding the carbon sink effects of upwelling.
Analysis of the Cooperative Carrying Capacity of Ulan Suhai Lake Based on the Coupled Water Resources–Water Environment–Water Ecology System
Authors: Ren Beibei , Sun Biao , Shi Xiaohong , Zhao Shengnan , Wang Xiao
Published: October 2022

In order to maximize the carrying benefits of Ulan Suhai Lake and utilize the important role of the Inner Mongolia plateau lake basin in restoring its ecology and conserving water, the carrying capacity of the water resources, water environment, and water ecology of Ulan Suhai Lake was determined using system theory and synergy theory, and a 17-item evaluation index system of the three levels of the water resources, water environment, and water ecology (including the ice-covered period) was established using hierarchical analysis. In addition, a system dynamics model of the synergistic carrying capacity of the water resources–water environment–water ecology of Ulan Suhai Lake was constructed. A principal component analysis was conducted on the indicators of the Ulan Suhai Lake survey; six main sensitive factors were selected, and five simulation scenarios (status continuation mode, development continuation mode, conservation continuation mode, comprehensive mode I, and comprehensive mode II) were designed to regulate the configuration, taking into account the actual local development needs. Using 2014 as the base year and 2014–2020 as the validation period, a dynamic simulation analysis of the carrying capacity of the Ulan Suhai Lake from 2014 to 2050 was carried out. The results show that Ulan Suhai Lake has a poor carrying capacity level and a fragile carrying state. Three of the five simulated scenarios lead to severe water shortages, while the others affect economic growth. Considering these aspects, it was found that comprehensive mode I performed better, and for the configuration of this scheme, the following countermeasures, and suggestions to enhance the carrying capacity of the Ulan Suhai Lake are proposed. The rate of change in the industrial water use should be reduced by 20%, the discharge coefficients of the domestic and industrial wastewater should be reduced by 10% and 50%, respectively, the effective utilization coefficient of agricultural irrigation should be increased to 0.71, and the wastewater treatment rate should be increased by 30%. These measures can ensure the protection of the water resources while ensuring economic development.
Quantitative Study of Climatic and Anthropogenic Contributions to Streamflow and Sediment Load in the Yangtze River, China
Authors: Qian Honglu , Liu Jinxin , Yang Yunping , Liu Yunjia , Chai Yuanfang
Published: October 2022

Under intensifying human activities and climate change, runoff and sediment load have changed significantly in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Daily discharge data at six hydrological stations and daily precipitation at 175 weather stations from 1961–2020 were collected to analyze the changes in hydrological regimes. Two periods, namely the natural period (1961–1980) and the impacted period (1981–2020), were proposed to estimate the impacts of climate change and human activities by using regression analysis to reconstruct the natural runoff and the natural sediment load. The results show that there was a 0–3% difference in runoff reduction in the affected period, compared with the natural period at the five hydrological stations, except for the Datong station, while the sediment load in the whole river basin shows a downward trend varying from 17% to 40%. Human activities are the main reason for the reduced annual runoff at the other five stations during the impacted period, while climate change is the dominant factor for the increased runoff at Datong stations. This is because the precipitation-increased runoff in the basin of Lake Poyang exceeded the human-decreased runoff in the upper reaches. Human activities are the reason for the reduced sediment load in the mainstream during the impacted period, and their effects enhance over time, while climate change brings the opposite.
Research on Fine Ship Sewage Generation Inventory Based on AIS Data and Its Application in the Yangtze River
Authors: Chen Rongchang , Liu Chen , Xue Qingqing , Rui Rui
Published: October 2022

Inland waterway transport is an essential element of integrated transport systems, and the inland waterway freight volume accounts for about 50% of the total waterway freight volume in China. During the navigation, anchoring, and operation of ships, various water pollutants are generated, and the pollution generated by sewage is receiving more and more attraction. To prevent and control pollution from ships, it is important to estimate the amount of sewage and pollutants involved. In this study, the data preparation process is established to generate the Degree of Ship Activity (DSA) data pool after cleaning and thinning the massive original Automatic identification System (AIS) data, and then the data fusion method of a fine GIS grid is established to integrate the DSA data into each grid. The total DSA in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River is 37.14 million h/a. The sewage and pollutant generation inventories for the lower reaches of Yangtze River are estimated and analyzed spatiotemporally. It is estimated that the generations of sewage are 1,768,600 t/a in total. After spatial analysis, it is revealed that the water areas with a relatively large amount of pollutant generation are mainly related to ports distributed along the channel and the DSA density. Finally, based on the spatial distribution characteristics of the estimated inventories, the countermeasures of “zero discharge” for inland ships, the receiving facility system improving, and prevention and control at the river basin level are proposed.
The Characteristics of Lipid Biomarkers from the Abyssal and Hadal Sediments of the Yap Trench and the Influence of V-Shape Topography
Authors: Khuhawar Aftab Hussain , Sun Chengjun , Yang Gui-Peng , Ding Haibing
Published: October 2022

Lipid biomarkers from deep-sea sediments have been observed in several studies, but little is known about their occurrence in trench system sediments. Here, we determined the concentrations of lipid biomarkers (fatty acids and neutral lipids) in sediments from the north Yap Trench. Our results showed that short-chain (C12–20) saturated fatty acids (SFAs) contributed more than (C12:1–23:1) monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and (C16:3–24:4) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Most fatty acids (FAs) suggest that bacteria and algae were the main contributors to marine organic matter. In contrast, terrestrial organic matter (OM) was a minor contributor to long carbon chain fatty acids greater than C20. On the other side, the observed neutral lipids such as alkanes (C14–C27), alkanols (C12–C20), alkenes (C17:1–C26:1), phytol and sterol (C27–29) indicate that phytoplankton and bacteria were the main contributors of organic materials in the sediments, and the carbon chain of neutral lipids C20–29 offering the sources of terrestrial organic matter. The extremely depleted δ13C values of fatty acids give the sources of organic carbon in the sediments from bacteria, algae, and methane-related microbes. This study is important for understanding the biogeochemical activities in deep-sea environments, particularly in the abyss and hadal zones. It will be helpful to understand the sources, transfer, and deposition of organic matter in marine trenches.
Odonata Assemblages in Anthropogenically Impacted Habitats in the Drava River—A Long-Term Study
Authors: Vilenica Marina , Mihaljević Zlatko
Published: October 2022

Lotic freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide due to the effects of multiple stressors, such as intensive land use in their catchments, morphological alterations, flow regulation, pollution, and climate change. Odonata are often used as valuable indicators of ecological integrity and anthropogenic disturbance of freshwater habitats. Here, we present the results of a study on Odonata assemblages in anthropogenically impacted habitats (hydropower plant reservoirs, tailrace canals, drainage ditches, and old river channels) conducted over a nine-year period. The negative impacts of anthropogenic activities on inhabiting biota were confirmed—with only 11 species recorded, the Odonata assemblages were species-poor and had low population densities. Although most species recorded were generalists, some species of national conservation concern were detected. Among the physico-chemical water parameters, the concentrations of ammonium, orthophosphates, nitrates, and mineral oils in the water were found to be the most important determinants of Odonata assemblages. The preservation of near-natural sites in the vicinity of anthropogenically impacted and man-made habitats is important for maintaining the local Odonata fauna and for the preservation of rare species. Our results highlight the importance of long-term data for determining the occurrence of Odonata species and monitoring their population dynamics.
The Impact of Floating Raft Aquaculture on the Hydrodynamic Environment of an Open Sea Area in Liaoning Province, China
Authors: Wang Kun , Li Nan , Wang Zhaohui , Song Guangjun , Du Jing , Song Lun , Jiang Hengzhi , Wu Jinhao
Published: October 2022

The sea area of Changhai County in Dalian City is a typical floating raft aquaculture area, located in Liaoning Province, China, where a key issue in determining the scale and spatial layout of the floating raft aquaculture is the assessment of the impact of aquaculture activities on the hydrodynamic environment. To address this issue, we established depth-averaged two-dimensional shallow water equations and three-dimensional incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations for the open sea area described in this paper. The impact of floating rafts for aquaculture on hydrodynamic force was reflected in the numerical model by changing the Manning number, where scenarios with different aquaculture densities were taken into account. Finally, the water exchange rate of the floating raft aquaculture area in the study area was calculated. It was found, through a comparison between the simulated value and the measured value obtained via layered observation, that the two values were in good agreement with each other, indicating that the model exhibits great accuracy. In addition, the calculation results for scenarios before and after aquaculture were compared and analyzed, showing that from low-density to high-density aquaculture zones, the variation in flow rate was greater than 80% at the peak of a flood tide. The water exchange rates of the water body after 1 day, 4 days, and 8 days of water exchange were also calculated, and the results show that they had been reduced by 17.92%, 13.59%, and 1.63%, respectively, indicating that the existence of floating rafts for aquaculture indeed reduced the water exchange capacity of the water body. The model described in this paper can serve as a foundation for other studies on aquaculture in open sea areas, and it provides a theoretical basis for the scientific formulation of marine aquaculture plans and the rational optimization of the spatial layout.
The Recharge Channels of the Sierra Nevada Range (Spain) and the Peruvian Andes as Ancient Nature-Based Solutions for the Ecological Transition
Authors: Jódar Jorge , Martos-Rosillo Sergio , Custodio Emilio , Mateos Luciano , Cabello Javier , Casas Jesús , Salinas-Bonillo María Jacoba , Martín-Civantos José María , González-Ramón Antonio , Zakaluk Thomas , Herrera-Lameli Christian , Urrutia Javier , Lambán Luis Javier
Published: October 2022

Nature-Based Solutions for Integrated Water Resources Management (NbS-IWRM) involve natural, or nature-mimicking, processes used to improve water availability in quantity and quality sustainably, reduce the risks of water-related disasters, enhance adaptation to climate change and increase both biodiversity and the social-ecological system’s resilience. United Nations and the European Commission promote their research as a cornerstone in the changeover to the Ecological Transition. In the Sierra Nevada range (Spain) and the Andean Cordillera, there is a paradigmatic and ancestral example of NbS-IWRM known as “careo channels” and “amunas”, respectively. They recharge slope aquifers in mountain areas and consist of an extensive network of channels that infiltrate the runoff water generated during the snow-thawing and rainy season into the upper parts of the slopes. The passage of water through the aquifers in the slope is used to regulate the water resources of the mountain areas and thus ensure the duration of water availability for the downstream local population and generate multiple ecosystem services. This form of water management is known as Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H). As shown in this work, it is a living example of a resilience and climate change adaptation tool that can be qualified as a nature-based solution.
The Effect Review of Various Biological, Physical and Chemical Methods on the Removal of Antibiotics
Authors: Huang Saikai , Yu Jianping , Li Cong , Zhu Qijia , Zhang Yunshu , Lichtfouse Eric , Marmier Nicolas
Published: October 2022

Antibiotics are highly effective bactericidal drugs that are widely used in human medicine, aquaculture and animal husbandry. Antibiotics enter the aquatic environment through various routes due to low metabolic levels and increased use. Not only are antibiotics inherently toxic, but the spread of potential drug resistance introduced has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the major threats and risks to global public health security. Therefore, how to efficiently remove antibiotics from water and eliminate the ecological safety hazards caused by antibiotics has been a hot topic in recent years. There are various research methods for decontaminating water with antibiotics. This paper reviews the research and application of various biological, physical, chemical methods and combined processes in antibiotic pollution control. Moreover, this paper describes the degradation mechanism, removal efficiency, influencing factors and technical characteristics of different antibiotics by various methods in detail. Finally, an outlook on future research in antibiotic removal is provided to help promote the development of antibiotic removal technology.
Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer Performance of Double-Layer Pin-Fin Manifold Microchannel Heat Sinks
Authors: Li Yantao , Wang Qianxiang , Li Minghan , Ma Xizhen , Xiao Xiu , Ji Yulong
Published: October 2022

The manifold microchannel (MMC) heat sink is characterized by high heat transfer efficiency, high compactness, and low flow resistance. It can be an effective method for the high-flux removal of high-power electronic components. To further enhance the performance of the MMC, a double-layer pin–fin MMC structure was designed. The thermodynamic properties, including the flow and heat transfer characteristics, were numerically investigated using ANSYS Fluent with deionized water as the working liquid. Compared with the single-layer MMC, the temperature uniformity is better, the pressure drop is lower, and the comprehensive performance is improved at the cost of slightly larger thermal resistance for the double-layer MMC. The geometric effects on the thermodynamic performance were also analyzed. The results show that among the pin–fin structures with round, diamond-shaped, and rectangular cross-sections, the round pin–fins demonstrate the best comprehensive performance and the minimal thermal resistance. Under the same inlet velocity, the thermal resistance is decreased, and the comprehensive performance is first increased and then decreased as the pin–fin size increases. In addition, it is recommended to adopt a larger height ratio for low inlet velocity and a smaller height ratio for high inlet velocity.
Quantifying the City-Scale Impacts of Impervious Surfaces on Groundwater Recharge Potential: An Urban Application of WRF–Hydro
Authors: Pasquier Ulysse , Vahmani Pouya , Jones Andrew D.
Published: October 2022

Decades of urbanization have created sprawling, complex, and vulnerable cities, half of which are located in water-scarce areas. With the looming effects of climate change, including increasing droughts and water shortages, there is an urgent need to better understand how urbanization impacts the water cycle at city scale. Impervious surfaces disrupt the natural flow of water, affecting groundwater recharge in water-scarce cities, such as Los Angeles, looking to harness local water resources. In the face of growing water demand, informing on opportunities to maximize potential groundwater recharge can help increase cities’ resilience. WRF–Hydro, a physics-based hydrological modeling system, capable of resolving atmospheric, land surface, and hydrological processes at city scale, is adapted to represent urban impervious surfaces. The modified model is used to assess the hydrological implications of historical urbanization. Pre- and post-urban scenarios are used to quantify the impacts of impervious surfaces on the local water budget. Our results show that urbanization in LA has vastly decreased the potential for groundwater recharge, with up to half of the water inflow being redirected from infiltration in highly urbanized watersheds, while doubling surface runoff’s share of the city’s water budget, from ~15% to 30%. This study not only sheds light on the role of imperviousness on groundwater recharge in water-scarce cities, but also offers a robust and transferable tool for the management of urban land and water resources.
Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of a Multi-Layer Groundwater System in a Coal Mine Area: A Case Study
Authors: Xu Kaiqing , Qiao Wei , Zhu Guanghui , Feng Lushun , Wang Zhiwen , Li Wenping
Published: October 2022

The Yanzhou coalfield is an important coal production base in north China, wherein a huge amount of mine drainage has occurred; however, there has been relatively little research on the multi-layer groundwater system. In this study, the Dongtan Coal Mine was considered as the research object and a total of 95 samples were collected. Furthermore, hydrogeochemical and statistical methods were employed to better understand the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the groundwater system in the Yanzhou coalfield. The results show that the groundwater in the area is alkaline. The Ordovician limestone aquifer is quite different from the other aquifers, and the karst herein shows regional distribution characteristics. During the hydrogeochemical evolution of the groundwater, more carbonate and sulfate dissoluted, more cation exchanged, and a lesser extent of silicate weathering and halite dissolution occurred. A conceptual hydrogeological model was created. It shows that the changes in the drainage conditions further resulted in the water chemistry being complex, and induced the hydrogeochemical evolution. The changes in the groundwater dynamic field and the hydrochemical field should be studied to better understand the evolution of the hydrogeochemical properties and accordingly make preparations for preventing mine water disasters and environmental pollution.
Optimized Removal of Azo Dyes from Simulated Wastewater through Advanced Plasma Technique with Novel Reactor
Authors: Liu Yang , Song Jia-Wei , Bao Jia , Shen Xin-Jun , Li Cheng-Long , Wang Xin , Shao Li-Xin
Published: October 2022

Increasing attention has been paid to removal of aqueous contaminations resulting from azo dyes in water by plasma technology. However, the influence factors and removal mechanism of plasma technology were still obscure, moreover, energy consumption and oxidized degradation efficiency of plasma reactor were also inferior. In the present study, a comparative analysis was performed using 100 mg/L of Methyl Orange (MO) in the simulated wastewater with a novel plasma reactor to achieve the ideal parameters involving voltage, discharge gap, and discharge needle numbers. Therefore, the optimal removal rate for MO could be up to 95.1% and the energy consumption was only 0.26 kWh/g after the plasma treatment for 60 min, when the voltage was set as 15 kV, the discharge gap was 20 mm, and the discharge needle numbers was 5. Based upon the response surface methodology (RSM), the removal rate of MO was predicted as 99.3% by massive optimization values in software, and the optimum conditions were confirmed with the plasma treatment period of 60 min, the voltage of 14.8 kV, the discharge gap of 20 mm, and the discharge needles of 5. Plasma associated with catalysts systems including plasma, plasma/Fe2+, plasma/PS, and plasma/PS/Fe2+ were further investigated, and the best removal rate for MO reached 99.2% at 60 min under the plasma/PS/Fe2+ system due to simultaneously synergistic reactions of HO• and SO4•−. Moreover, it was also revealed that –N=N– bond was attacked and broken by active species like HO•, and the oxidized by-products of benzenesulfonic acid and phenolsulfonic acid might be generated, via the analysis of the variation in the absorbances through UV-Vis spectrophotometry during the plasma treatment. As a result, the advanced plasma technique in this study presented excellent efficacy for MO removal from simulated wastewater with low energy consumption.
Romanian Danube River Hydrocarbon Pollution in 2011–2021
Authors: Radu Crina , Manoiu Valentina-Mariana , Kubiak-Wójcicka Katarzyna , Avram Emilia , Beteringhe Andreea , Craciun Alexandru-Ioan
Published: October 2022

This review paper aims to analyze studies conducted over recent years (2011–2021) on hydrocarbon pollution in the Danube’s Romanian sector. This involves looking at three main issues: Space-related Romanian Danube hydrocarbon pollution; the nature of samples and the types of tests used for hydrocarbon authentication; hydrocarbon effects on bioindicators and fish cell lines. The papers extracted for this review were selected from three scientific article platforms: Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, by using keywords, a specific search protocol and various selection filters. The main results of the present analysis are the following: the highest levels of hydrocarbon contamination in suspended particulate matter and sediments were found in the sector Iron Gates-Călărași (2013), and the main pollution sources were industry, navigation and wastewater discharges; sediment and biological samples accumulate higher concentrations of hydrocarbons than water samples, and are a good indicator for these pollutants’ presence; the most widely used bioindicators are aquatic worms, mollusks, crustaceans, the wild common bleak, and, in the laboratory, fish cells; various methods are used in order to confirm hydrocarbon presence and/or their effects on biota: fluorescence, comet assay technique, micronucleus test, complementary passive samplers, in vitro bioassays, fugacity-based calculation model, sensors, oil spill modeling.