bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Ecological Value Co-Creation of Tourism Enterprises in Protected Areas: Scale Development and Test
Authors: Nie Kang , Tang Xiaojing
Published: August 2022

The ecological value co-creation of protected areas needs to be constructed in a multi-dimensional way. By referring to relevant foreign and domestic literature reviews, it is found that value co-creation theory has not been applied in eco-tourism research yet. The ecological value of protected areas is a combination of environmental value, social value and economic value. Stakeholders in protected areas including the government, stewardship agency, local community, tourism enterprises, tourists and so on interact with each other with different interests and have an impact on the ecosystem, eventually influencing the whole ecological value of protected areas. Among them, tourism enterprises play an important role and function as a double-edged sword. On one hand, they bring human resource, logistics, capital flow, information flow and energy into the ecosystem to create social and economic benefits. On the other hand, they pursue maximum profits which may cause the irreversible destruction of natural resources. The fact that all the stakeholders rely largely on natural resources and the other stakeholders makes ecological value co-creation become the possible best solution for the sustainable development of protected areas. The key is to study the characteristics and patterns of value co-creation behaviors of those tourism enterprises; thus, its scale development is of great importance. On the basis of the literature review and in-depth interviews with stewardship agencies and tourism enterprises in protected areas, this study develops a scale of ecological value co-creation behaviors from the perspective of small tourism enterprises. Then, with an investigation of tourism enterprises in protected areas, it validates ecological value co-creation behaviors by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The results show that tourism enterprise ecological value co-creation behavior is a construct consisting of four dimensions: environmental citizenship behavior, dialogue and communication behavior, knowledge-sharing behavior and co-petition behavior, which could be measured by 12 items. The reliability and validity test presents good internal consistency, reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the scale. In the end, the relationship of interdependency between tourism enterprises and other stakeholders in the protected area with ecological value co-creation behaviors is examined, which shows good predictive validity of the scale. Given these results above, this scale can not only be used as a measuring tool in future research but can also be provided as a reference to authorities to manage the tourism enterprises in protected areas. Finally, the study discusses the limitations and future research directions.
Green Customer and Supplier Integration for Competitive Advantage: The Mediation Effect of Sustainable Product Innovation
Authors: Awwad Abdulkareem , Anouze Abdel Latef M. , Ndubisi Nelson Oly
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study is two-fold: first is to examine the direct effect of green customer integration, green supplier integration, and new product flexibility on sustainable green product innovation (henceforth sustainable innovation), and the second is to assess the mediating role of sustainable green product innovation in the relationship of the independent variables on competitive advantage of the firm. To test these relationships, a quantitative method is used, employing a cross-sectional survey targeting the senior managers of the manufacturing sector in Jordan. Out of 750 surveys administered to respondents, 378 complete responses were obtained, yielding a response rate of 50.4%. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (CBSEM) using AMOS 28 is utilized to analyse the data. The results suggest that green customer integration, green supplier integration, and new product flexibility have a significant impact on sustainable green product innovation. The results also suggest that sustainable green product innovation has a significant mediating effect on the relationship between the three predictor variables and competitive advantage. In addition, new product flexibility partially mediates the relationship between green supplier integration and sustainable green product innovation.
A Review of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics in Singapore: Status, Barriers, and Prospects
Authors: Chen Tianyi , An Yaning , Heng Chye Kiang
Published: August 2022

Energy consumption enhancement has resulted in a rise in carbon dioxide emissions, followed by a notable greenhouse effect contributing to global warming. Globally, buildings consume one-third of the total energy due to the continued expansion of building areas caused by population growth. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) represent an effective technology to attain zero energy buildings (ZEBs) via solar energy use. This research begins with the tropical green building concept in Singapore associated with renewable energy and gives an overview of the potential of solar photovoltaic energy. Strategies for BIPV spread in Singapore are also provided. Considering both BIPV system life cycle assessment (LCA) and BIPV industry standards and recent developments, this research determines whether Singapore should adopt this technology. Although the BIPV product market has expanded regarding BIPV products, systems and projects, there remain certain barriers to BIPV adoption in Singapore. Additionally, future research directions for tropical BIPV applications are outlined. The Singapore BIPV system serves as an example for a number of other tropical countries facing comparable challenges.
Blockchain and Firm Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from China
Authors: Cao Qilong , Li Jinglei , Zhang Hongru , Liu Yue , Luo Xun
Published: August 2022

This paper creatively constructs blockchain development indicators using geographical characteristics to investigate the influence of blockchain development on the total factor productivity of listed companies. Our findings reveal that local blockchain development can significantly promote the improvement of the firms’ total factor productivity. To alleviate endogeneity, this paper combines exogenous policy and geographic distance to construct instrumental variables. Moreover, the positive influence is more pronounced in non-SOEs, non-excess capacity industries, and samples with high initial productivity. After the robustness test, the results are still valid. The aforementioned results provide practical implications for Chinese listed companies to lay out digital business.
Green Technology Innovation, Energy Consumption Structure and Sustainable Improvement of Enterprise Performance
Authors: Wang Chenggang
Published: August 2022

In order to promote the coordinated development of social and economic development and the natural environment, high-end equipment manufacturing (HEM) enterprises should promote the sustainable development of the green economy. In this process, HEM enterprises need to strengthen the green technology innovation ability and optimize the energy consumption structure. In this way, it will be beneficial to the sustainable improvement of HEM enterprise performance. On the basis of sorting out relevant research literature, this study uses structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis to systematically study the impact of green technology innovation on the continuous improvement of HEM enterprise performance. Currently, there are many difficulties in the research of this paper, such as variable selection, index measurement, empirical testing process and so on. However, based on the success of previous academic research, this paper overcame the difficulties and completed this research. In this study, the energy consumption structure is an intermediary variable, and the government policy support is a moderator variable. A relationship model of the impact of green technology innovation on the continuous improvement of HEM enterprises’ performance is constructed. In addition, the author conducts a confirmatory analysis of the relationship between multiple variables. The conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) Green technology innovation has a significant positive impact on the performance improvement of HEM enterprises. (2) Energy consumption structure plays a partial mediating role between green technology innovation and enterprise performance improvement. (3) Government policy support regulates the relationship between green technology innovation and HEM enterprise performance improvement. That is to say that the stronger the government’s policy support for green technology innovation, the stronger the green technology innovation impetus of HEM enterprises, and the better the effect of HEM enterprise performance improvement.
Dimensioning of Cycle Lanes Based on the Assessment of Comfort for Cyclists
Authors: Šemrov Darja , Rijavec Robert , Lipar Peter
Published: August 2022

In a century where mobility is becoming more sustainable in terms of energy transition, emissions reduction, and a healthy quality of life, the use of bicycles is increasing and has many advantages over other modes of transport that have been underused. The bicycle is an excellent alternative for short distances of up to five kilometers. In combination with public transportation, it can also successfully compete with motorized transport for longer distances. For the adequate development of cycling, it is necessary to create the right conditions in terms of accessibility and road safety. This means planning appropriate cycling infrastructure where cyclists feel comfortable and safe, which can lead to additional increased use in bicycles for everyday trips. Comfort for cyclists is a concept supported by road safety, a pleasant environment, connectivity, and the attractiveness of cycling infrastructure. In other words, cyclists respond to the physical, psychological, and sociological aspects of the cycling experience that are also related to the cycling infrastructure and environment: where I am, what I see and perceive, and how I feel. This paper presents the concept of the level of service for cyclists (BLOS) as a unified method for defining the comfort of cyclists. This paper presents the method for determining the level of service or comfort for bicyclists as a function of road width, width of the cycling area, traffic volume, and the speed and structure of motorized traffic flow. The result of BLOS, the mathematical model used, is graphically presented and allows decision-makers and designers of cycling infrastructure to easily assess the suitability of cycling infrastructure. Different diagrams for different input data are presented in the paper.
Decarbonization and Transition to the Post-Lignite Era: Analysis for a Sustainable Transition in the Region of Western Macedonia
Authors: Tranoulidis Apostolos , Sotiropoulou Rafaella-Eleni P. , Bithas Kostas , Tagaris Efthimios
Published: August 2022

For many decades, the Region of Western Macedonia has been Greece’s energy hub, contributing significantly to electricity supply and national growth with the exploitation of lignite deposits for power generation. Lignite, though, has been banned from EU energy source policies towards achieving CO2 emissions reduction, with profound implications on the economy of the region. Despite the importance of this energy transition, a combinatorial analysis for the area in the coal phase-out regime is missing. Therefore, a combined analysis is performed here, and more specifically, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis in all the affected sectors, in combination with the examination of the degree of satisfaction with the EU’s energy priorities. The results of the study show that the Region of Western Macedonia has profound strengths and offers many new opportunities during its transition to a new production model. On the other hand, it has high unemployment rates and low rates of competitiveness and innovation. The main threat is the Region’s desertification due to the inability to find sufficient jobs. Considering the Energy Union’s priorities, the Region of Western Macedonia satisfactorily follows the priorities of Europe in its transition to the new production model, with plenty of room for improvement. The analysis performed allows for a just transition strategic planning to minimize social, economic and energy challenges while maximizing sustainable power generation and has implications for all relevant stakeholders, contributing to the implementation of Energy Union governance and climate actions.
Blue Nitrogen: A Nature-Based Solution in the Blue Economy as a Tool to Manage Terrestrial Nutrient Neutrality
Authors: Hughes Adam D. , Charalambides George , Franco Sofia C. , Robinson Georgina , Tett Paul
Published: August 2022

There is growing concern about the impact of rising nutrient loading on aquatic ecosystems and on human health, due to increased urbanisation and associated sewage effluents. This has led to a policy focus on land-use change or agricultural practice change as nutrient mitigation strategies, but these fail to consider the ultimate downstream receiving environments such as marine ecosystems. Within the UK there has been increasing recognition that housing density in certain sensitive locations is impacting the conservation status of marine features, through the increase in nutrient loading to the marine environment. In order to comply with the statutory obligations to protect these marine features, the competent authorities have required developers to mitigate the impact of these additional nutrients. Current approaches include converting agricultural land to woodland and wetland habitats that release less nitrogen than the agricultural land they replace. This difference is used to offset the nutrient loading from the new development, but such a terrestrial-focused catchment-based mass balance approach has a number of limitations. Current solutions for nutrient neutrality in the UK take a narrow land-focused approach that fails to acknowledge the potential contribution of the marine environments to mitigate nutrient enrichment. We propose that marine nature-based solutions offer an economically and ecologically viable alternative to terrestrial schemes, that can reduce the nitrogen loading to the marine environment, increase ecosystem service provision and increase biodiversity.
Buy Three to Waste One? How Real-World Purchase Data Predict Groups of Food Wasters
Authors: Merian Sybilla , Stöeckli Sabrina , Fuchs Klaus Ludwig , Natter Martin
Published: August 2022

Approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption is either lost or wasted. Given the central position of retailers in the supply chain, they have the potential to effectively reduce consumer food waste by implementing targeted interventions. To do so, however, they should target distinct consumer groups. In this research, we use a unique data set comprising the grocery shopping data of customers who use loyalty cards, complemented with food waste reports, to derive three distinct target groups: traditionals, time-constrained, and convenience lovers. Based on the general behavioral change literature, we discuss diverse target group-specific interventions that retailers can implement to reduce consumer food waste. Overall, we pave a research path to examine how retailers and marketing can effectively shift consumer behavior toward more sustainable food and shopping practices and assume responsibility within the food supply chain.
The Impact of Perceived Self-Efficacy and Satisfaction on Preservice Teachers’ Well-Being during the Practicum Experience
Authors: García-Lázaro Irene , Colás-Bravo María Pilar , Conde-Jiménez Jesús
Published: August 2022

Teachers’ psychological and social well-being has become a relevant concern for the educational community. Specifically, damage to it affects preservice teachers (PSTs) when confronting educational challenges during their initial teacher education. PSTs’ well-being is related to self-perceptions of professional worth, which impacts their emotional states, actions, and beliefs. Perceived self-efficacy is a well-known indicator to measure these self-perceptions, allowing us to explore PSTs’ valuation of their competence during experiential opportunities for professional development. The practicum is considered for investigating perceived self-efficacy predictors, since direct professional performance can be observed. This context also allows the exploration of their satisfaction with their competence development and the training environment. This study analyzes PSTs’ perceived self-efficacy predictors and job satisfaction during practicum experiences. A mixed methodological design was selected with 258 PSTs participating in the quantitative part and nine PSTs in the qualitative part. Descriptive, correlational, and inferential statistical analyses and two focus group sessions were conducted. The findings show changes in perceived self-efficacy are generated by social interactions and mastery experiences. Changes in perceived self-efficacy, satisfaction with one’s competence, and the school environment are related significantly. Our conclusions highlight the role of mentoring during the practicum in caring for PSTs’ self-perceptions and improving their satisfaction with the experience. The importance of caring for well-being to avoid stressful situations during the first training stages and prevent burnout in teachers in service is considered. Research implications in the lines proposed are further discussed.
The Multi-Depot Traveling Purchaser Problem with Shared Resources
Authors: Hasanpour Jesri Zahra Sadat , Eshghi Kourosh , Rafiee Majid , Van Woensel Tom
Published: August 2022

Using shared resources has created better opportunities in the field of sustainable logistics and procurement. The Multi-Depot Traveling Purchaser Problem under Shared Resources (MDTPPSR) is a new variant of the Traveling Purchaser Problem (TPP) in sustainable inbound logistics. In this problem, each depot can purchase its products using the shared resources of other depots, and vehicles do not have to return to their starting depots. The routing of this problem is a Multi-Trip, Open Vehicle Routing Problem. A tailored integer programming model is formulated to minimize the total purchasers’ costs. Considering the complexity of the model, we have presented a decomposition-based algorithm that breaks down the problem into two phases. In the first phase, tactical decisions regarding supplier selection and the type of collaboration are made. In the second phase, the sequence of visiting is determined. To amend the decisions made in these phases, two heuristic algorithms based on the removing and insertion of operators are also proposed. The experimental results show that not only can purchasing under shared resources reduce the total cost by up to 29.11%, but it also decreases the number of dispatched vehicles in most instances.
Sustainability in International Business: Talent Management, Market Entry Strategies, Competitiveness
Authors: Visvizi Anna
Published: August 2022

The increasing velocity of international transactions; the technology-enhanced growing interconnectedness of people, business, and societies; and, finally, the escalating density of the day-to-day business interactions are the key sources of challenges that organizations, both in public and private sectors, are facing today [...]
Case Study of the School Feeding Program in Distrito Federal, Brazil: Building Quality in Short Food Supply Chains
Authors: Souza Amanda , Fornazier Armando
Published: August 2022

This article seeks to analyze the public procurement program for school feeding in Distrito Federal, Brazil from the perspective of short food supply chains (SFSCs) and quality construction. Semi-structured interviews were applied to key actors involved in the Program. The results of this research show that, mainly through the regulations around Food and Nutritional Security and in the encouragement of local family farmer markets, the State has acted for a quality shift through public purchases and, mainly by means of norms such as laws, decrees, and normative instructions, induced a quality change in the production and consumption processes. This study contributed to an understanding of how Executing Entities such as states are working to acquire local and quality agricultural products, which benefits local farmers and improves the quality of school meals.
Spatial Distribution and Invasion Potential of the Naturalized Downy Thorn Apple (Datura innoxia): Evidence from Classification and Ordination
Authors: Ali Kishwar , Khan Nasrullah , Ullah Rafi , Gul Asma , Khan Muhammad Ezaz Hasan , Jones David Aaron , Ashraf Azad
Published: August 2022

The present study aimed to assess the spatial distribution and invasion potential of naturalized Datura innoxia Mill., a member of the family Solanaceae, across elevation, edaphic, and climatic gradients in invaded communities of semiarid regions in northern Pakistan. The species’ phytosociological attributes, diversity indices, and biotic and environmental factors were assessed in 21 sites (210 plots) and categorized into three elevation groups separated by Ward’s agglomerative cluster. The vegetation was dominated by annual species, which facilitated the naturalization and invasion of alien species. The groups were dominated by D. innoxia, having different codominant species Parthenium hysterophorus L. in Group I, Medicago denticulata in Group II, and Parthenium hysterophorus in Group III; however, the third codominant species of groups I and III were different. In addition, Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) unveiled that abiotic factors such as elevation (r = −0.65), mean yearly temperature (r = 0.79), annual yearly humidity (r = 0.76), and day length in hours (r = 0.79) and biotic factors such as cultivated fields (r = −0.83) and traffic density (r = 0.70) were strongly correlated on canonical axes, revealing their vital importance in determining vegetation structure. The study concluded that this naturalized species propagated efficiently in the present environmental conditions and if these conditions prevailed, the species would be established as an invasive species. Therefore, control of this naturalized species is critically important, including their exploitation for medicinal and phytochemical utilization, which will enhance the protection of native populations.
Does the Digital Economy Promote Upgrading the Industrial Structure of Chinese Cities?
Authors: Zhao Songqin , Peng Diyun , Wen Huwei , Song Huilin
Published: August 2022

As the driving force for the upgrading of the global industrial structure, digital technology has been at the helm of transforming the current economic and technological paradigm. This study empirically analyzes the role of the digital economy in the upgrading industrial structure using panel data from 237 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011–2019. Empirical results show that the development of the digital economy has a significant positive and direct effect on the upgrading of industrial structure, as measured by the two indicators of advancement and servitization. In addition, the digital economy significantly promotes upgrading of the technological progress and human capital of Chinese cities, thus promoting upgrading of the industrial structure. Moreover, the spatial autoregressive model (SAR) and the Spatial Durbin model (SDM) both show that the digital economy has a positive spatial spillover effect on upgrading of the industrial structure.
Green Taxes in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Environmental Protection, Sustainability, and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Mpofu Favourate Y.
Published: August 2022

Discussions on the impact of climate change and ways of protecting climate change impact driven by environmentally unfriendly activities have taken the center stage of global development agendas. The importance of environmental sustainability is also reflected in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Green taxes have become pivotal to protecting the environment, revenue generation and achievement of the SDGs. Through a critical literature review, this paper explores the opportunities and challenges associated with green taxes with respect to revenue mobilization, protection of the environment and delivery of the SDGs. The paper gives an insight to green taxes, exploring the motives of green taxes and the possible implications for environmental sustainability, sustainable development, and attainment of the SDGs in the African context. Fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil and natural gases are fundamental sources of energy for African countries. Therefore, the continent faces a dilemma of how to ensure green economic growth, reduce environmental and climate change problems, and at the same time foster effective revenue mobilization. The review established that while green taxes can provide an opportunity for green transformation policy reforms and boost revenue mobilization to stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth and economic recovery from the COVID-19-induced economic recession, the taxes can increase inequality, heighten the cost of energy, and increase energy poverty for those dependent on fossil fuel for energy. The lack of affordability and access would compromise SDGs such as 7 and 1 (access to clean energy and poverty reduction, respectively). The taxes could lead to a disjointed value chain with consumers disadvantaged and an increase in black market activities as people seek cheaper but unsafe alternatives, indirectly increasing the social costs such as health risks and challenges, poverty, and unemployment.
A Class of Adaptive Exponentially Fitted Rosenbrock Methods with Variable Coefficients for Symmetric Systems
Authors: Qin Tingting , Hua Yuchen , Zhang Mengyao
Published: August 2022

In several important scientific fields, the efficient numerical solution of symmetric systems of ordinary differential equations, which are usually characterized by oscillation and periodicity, has become an open problem of interest. In this paper, we construct a class of embedded exponentially fitted Rosenbrock methods with variable coefficients and adaptive step size, which can achieve third order convergence. This kind of method is developed by performing the exponentially fitted technique for the two-stage Rosenbrock methods, and combining the embedded methods to estimate the frequency. By using Richardson extrapolation, we determine the step size control strategy to make the step size adaptive. Numerical experiments are given to verify the validity and efficiency of our methods.
Quantum Spin-Wave Theory for Non-Collinear Spin Structures, a Review
Authors: Diep Hung T.
Published: August 2022

In this review, we trace the evolution of the quantum spin-wave theory treating non-collinear spin configurations. Non-collinear spin configurations are consequences of the frustration created by competing interactions. They include simple chiral magnets due to competing nearest-neighbor (NN) and next-NN interactions and systems with geometry frustration such as the triangular antiferromagnet and the Kagomé lattice. We review here spin-wave results of such systems and also systems with the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. Accent is put on these non-collinear ground states which have to be calculated before applying any spin-wave theory to determine the spectrum of the elementary excitations from the ground states. We mostly show results obtained by the use of a Green’s function method. These results include the spin-wave dispersion relation and the magnetizations, layer by layer, as functions of T in 2D, 3D and thin films. Some new unpublished results are also included. Technical details and discussion on the method are shown and discussed.
Highly Accurate Compact Finite Difference Schemes for Two-Point Boundary Value Problems with Robin Boundary Conditions
Authors: Malele James , Dlamini Phumlani , Simelane Simphiwe
Published: August 2022

In this study, a high-order compact finite difference method is used to solve boundary value problems with Robin boundary conditions. The norm is to use a first-order finite difference scheme to approximate Neumann and Robin boundary conditions, but that compromises the accuracy of the entire scheme. As a result, new higher-order finite difference schemes for approximating Robin boundary conditions are developed in this work. Six examples for testing the applicability and performance of the method are considered. Convergence analysis is provided, and it is consistent with the numerical results. The results are compared with the exact solutions and published results from other methods. The method produces highly accurate results, which are displayed in tables and graphs.
The Use of Human Biomonitoring to Assess Occupational Exposure to PAHs in Europe: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Louro Henriqueta , Gomes Bruno Costa , Saber Anne Thoustrup , Iamiceli Anna Laura , Göen Thomas , Jones Kate , Katsonouri Andromachi , Neophytou Christiana M. , Vogel Ulla , Ventura Célia , Oberemm Axel , Duca Radu Corneliu , Fernandez Mariana F. , Olea Nicolas , Santonen Tiina , Viegas Susana , Silva Maria João
Published: August 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the chemicals with proven impact on workers’ health. The use of human biomonitoring (HBM) to assess occupational exposure to PAHs has become more common in recent years, but the data generated need an overall view to make them more usable by regulators and policymakers. This comprehensive review, developed under the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) Initiative, was based on the literature available from 2008–2022, aiming to present and discuss the information on occupational exposure to PAHs, in order to identify the strengths and limitations of exposure and effect biomarkers and the knowledge needs for regulation in the workplace. The most frequently used exposure biomarker is urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR), a metabolite of pyrene. As effect biomarkers, those based on the measurement of oxidative stress (urinary 8-oxo-dG adducts) and genotoxicity (blood DNA strand-breaks) are the most common. Overall, a need to advance new harmonized approaches both in data and sample collection and in the use of appropriate biomarkers in occupational studies to obtain reliable and comparable data on PAH exposure in different industrial sectors, was noted. Moreover, the use of effect biomarkers can assist to identify work environments or activities of high risk, thus enabling preventive risk mitigation and management measures.
Real-World Longitudinal Experience of Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Parkinson and Essential Tremor
Authors: Samotus Olivia , Mahdi Yekta , Jog Mandar
Published: August 2022

Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) therapy for upper-limb tremor has emerged as a promising option. However, it is unclear in real-world practices whether a technology-guided approach can compare with expert clinical assessments (including surface anatomy and palpation) for improving outcomes. This retrospective study aims to review our clinical outcomes of treating essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) tremor using either clinical- or kinematic-based injection pattern determination methods. Methods: 68 ET and 45 PD patients received at least one injection for their upper-limb tremor (unilateral or bilateral) in the last 7 years. Demographics of patients and BoNT-A injections were collected. A Mann–Whitney U statistical test was used to compare outcome measures between ET and PD cohorts. Results: Mean age (72 ± 9 years), number of injections (5), years receiving therapy (~2 years), clinic- (~57%) or kinematic-based patterns, and self-paying (52%) were similar between both cohorts. BoNT-A as a monotherapy in both upper limbs was received in more ET than PD patients. Double reconstitution of Xeomin® in the wrist flexors/extensors, supinator, biceps, and triceps were most injected. Discontinuation due to no benefit/weakness was not dependent on the injection pattern determination approach. Conclusions: Kinematic-based BoNT-A injections produced similar treatment outcomes to injections based on the clinical expertise of the expert injector. This suggests that kinematics could be used by a non-expert to attain equivalent efficacy potentially improving access to this treatment.
Iridoid Glycosides Isolated from Bellardia trixago Identified as Inhibitors of Orobanche cumana Radicle Growth
Authors: Soriano Gabriele , Siciliano Antonietta , Fernández-Aparicio Mónica , Cala Peralta Antonio , Masi Marco , Moreno-Robles Antonio , Guida Marco , Cimmino Alessio
Published: August 2022

Orobanche cumana is an obligate holoparasitic plant with noxious effects in sunflower crops. Bellardia trixago is a facultative hemiparasitic plant that infects ruderal plants without noxious significance in agriculture and is known to produce a wide spectrum of bioactive metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic effects of B. trixago on the growth of O. cumana seedlings. Three different extracts using solvents of increasing polarity (n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate) were prepared from the flowers, aerial green organs and roots of two populations, a white-flowered and a yellow-flowered population of B. trixago, both collected in southern Spain. Each extract was studied using allelopathic screenings on O. cumana which resulted in the identification of allelopathic activity of the ethyl acetate extracts against Orobanche radicles. Five iridoid glycosides were isolated together with benzoic acid from the ethyl acetate extract of aerial green organs by bio-guided purification. These compounds were identified as bartsioside, melampyroside, mussaenoside, gardoside methyl ester and aucubin. Among them, melampyroside was found to be the most abundant constituent in the extract (44.3% w/w), as well as the most phytotoxic iridoid on O. cumana radicle, showing a 72.6% inhibition of radicle growth. This activity of melampyroside was significantly high when compared with the inhibitory activity of benzoic acid (25.9%), a phenolic acid with known allelopathic activity against weeds. The ecotoxicological profile of melampyroside was evaluated using organisms representing different trophic levels of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, namely producers (green freshwater algae Raphidocelis subcapitata and macrophyte Lepidium sativum), consumers (water flea Daphnia magna and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans) and decomposers (bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri). The ecotoxicity of melampyroside differed significantly depending on the test organism showing the highest toxicity to daphnia, nematodes and bacteria, and a lower toxicity to algae and macrophytes. The findings of the present study may provide useful information for the generation of green alternatives to synthetic herbicides for the control of O. cumana.
Chikungunya Immunopathology as It Presents in Different Organ Systems
Authors: Traverse Elizabeth M. , Millsapps Erin M. , Underwood Emma C. , Hopkins Hannah K. , Young Makenzie , Barr Kelli L.
Published: August 2022

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is currently an urgent public health problem as high morbidity from the virus leaves populations with negative physical, social, and economic impacts. CHIKV has the potential to affect every organ of an individual, leaving patients with lifelong impairments which negatively affect their quality of life. In this review, we show the importance of CHIKV in research and public health by demonstrating the immunopathology of CHIKV as it presents in different organ systems. Papers used in this review were found on PubMed, using “chikungunya and [relevant organ system]”. There is a significant inflammatory response during CHIKV infection which affects several organ systems, such as the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, and joints, and the immune response to CHIKV in each organ system is unique. Whilst there is clinical evidence to suggest that serious complications can occur, there is ultimately a lack of understanding of how CHIKV can affect different organ systems. It is important for clinicians to understand the risks to their patients.
Salmonella Enteritidis Bacteriophages Isolated from Kenyan Poultry Farms Demonstrate Time-Dependent Stability in Environments Mimicking the Chicken Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Mhone Amos Lucky , Makumi Angela , Odaba Josiah , Guantai Linda , Gunathilake K. M. Damitha , Loignon Stéphanie , Ngugi Caroline Wangari , Akhwale Juliah Khayeli , Moineau Sylvain , Svitek Nicholas
Published: August 2022

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica Enteritidis is one of the major causes of foodborne illnesses worldwide. This non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovar is mainly transmitted to humans through poultry products. Bacteriophages (phages) offer an alternative to antibiotics for reducing the incidence of MDR NTS in poultry farms. Phages that survive the harsh environment of the chicken gastrointestinal tract (cGIT), which have low pH, high temperatures, and several enzymes, may have a higher therapeutic or prophylactic potential. In this study, we analysed the stability of 10 different S. Enteritidis phages isolated from Kenyan poultry farms in different pH-adjusted media, incubation temperatures, as well as simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF, respectively). Furthermore, their ability to persist in water sources available in Kenya, including river, borehole, rain and tap water, was assessed. All phages were relatively stable for 12 h at pHs ranging from 5 to 9 and at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 42 °C. At pH 3, a loss in viral titre of up to three logs was observed after 3 h of incubation. In SGF, phages were stable for 20 min, after which they started losing infectivity. Phages were relatively stable in SIF for up to 2 h. The efficacy of phages to control Salmonella growth was highly reduced in pH 2- and pH 3-adjusted media and in SGF at pH 2.5, but less affected in SIF at pH 8. River water had the most significant detrimental effect on phages, while the other tested waters had a limited impact on the phages. Our data suggest that these phages may be administered to chickens through drinking water and may survive cGIT to prevent salmonellosis in poultry.
Central Role of Ubiquitination in Wheat Response to CWMV Infection
Authors: Hu Haichao , Cai Linna , Zhang Tianye , Liu Tingting , Jiang Yaoyao , Liu Hanhong , Lu Qisen , Yang Jian , Chen Jianping
Published: August 2022

Ubiquitination is a major post-translational modification (PTM) involved in almost all eukaryotic biological processes and plays an essential role in plant response to pathogen infection. However, to date, large-scale profiling of the changes in the ubiquitome in response to pathogens, especially viruses, in wheat has not been reported. This study aimed to identify the ubiquitinated proteins involved in Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV) infection in wheat using a combination of affinity enrichment and high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. The potential biological functions of these ubiquitinated proteins were further analyzed using bioinformatics. A total of 2297 lysine ubiquitination sites in 1255 proteins were identified in wheat infected with CWMV, of which 350 lysine ubiquitination sites in 192 proteins were differentially expressed. These ubiquitinated proteins were related to metabolic processes, responses to stress and hormones, plant–pathogen interactions, and ribosome pathways, as assessed via Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. Furthermore, we found that the ubiquitination of Ta14-3-3 and TaHSP90, which are essential components of the innate immune system, was significantly enhanced during CWMV infection, which suggested that ubiquitination modification plays a vital role in the regulatory network of the host response to CWMV infection. In summary, our study puts forward a novel strategy for further probing the molecular mechanisms of CWMV infection. Our findings will inform future research to find better, innovative, and effective solutions to deal with CWMV infection in wheat, which is the most crucial and widely used cereal grain crop.
Usability of Immortalized Porcine Kidney Macrophage Cultures for the Isolation of ASFV without Affecting Virulence
Authors: Kameyama Ken-ichiro , Kitamura Tomoya , Okadera Kota , Ikezawa Mitsutaka , Masujin Kentaro , Kokuho Takehiro
Published: August 2022

Immortalized porcine kidney macrophage (IPKM) cells are highly susceptible to major African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates. To clarify the compatibility of this cell line for ASFV isolation from biomaterials, animal experiments and in vitro isolation were performed. Pork products seized at international airports were subjected to virus inoculation in pigs (in vivo) and IPKM cell cultures (in vitro) to examine the viability and virulence of the contaminating viruses. Moreover, the viruses isolated using IPKM cells were inoculated into pigs to assess the virulence shift from the original materials. All pigs that were inoculated with either homogenate samples of seized pork product or IPKM-isolated ASFVs developed typical symptoms of ASF and died (or were euthanized) within the term of the animal experiments. The success rate of virus isolation in IPKM cells was comparable to that observed in porcine primary alveolar macrophage (PAM) cells. The IPKM cell line would be an ideal tool for the isolation and propagation of live ASFVs with high efficiency and enhanced usability, such as immortal, proliferative, and adhesive properties. The isolated viruses retained biologically similar characteristics to those of the original ones during isolation in vitro.
First Isolation of Punique Virus from Sand Flies Collected in Northern Algeria
Authors: Manseur Hemza , Hachid Aissam , Khardine Ahmed Fayez , BENALLAL Kamal Eddine , Bia Taha , Temani Merbouha , HAKEM Ahcene , Sánchez-Seco Maria Paz , Bitam Idir , Vázquez Ana , LAFRI Ismail
Published: August 2022

In the last decade, several phleboviruses transmitted by sand flies were detected in the Mediterranean countries, with the health impact of some of them being unknown. From September to October 2020, a total of 3351 sand flies were captured in Kherrata (Bejaia, northern Algeria) and identified by sex, grouped in 62 pools, which were tested for the presence of phlebovirus RNA using endpoint RT-PCR. Two pools (male and female, respectively) were positive. The genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the two phleboviruses detected were closely related to the Punique virus (PUNV) isolated in Tunisia and detected in Algeria. Both PUNV strains were isolated on VERO cells from positive pools. Morphological identification of 300 sand flies randomly selected, showed a clear dominance of Phlebotomus perniciosus (98.67%). The dominance of this species in the study area was confirmed by PCR targeting the mitochondrial DNA. Our result represents the first isolation of PUNV and the second report in Algeria from two distinct regions which confirm its large circulation in the country and more broadly in North Africa. Further studies are needed to measure the impact on public health through seroprevalence studies in humans as well as animals and to investigate its potential involvement in neurological viral diseases.
Detection and Complete Genome Analysis of Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) and an Unclassified CRESS DNA Virus from Diarrheic Pigs in the Dominican Republic: First Evidence for Predominance of PCV2d from the Caribbean Region
Authors: Gainor Kerry , Castillo Fortuna Yussaira , Alakkaparambil Angeline Steny , González Wendy , Malik Yashpal Singh , Ghosh Souvik
Published: August 2022

We report here high rates (47.5%, 48/101) of detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in diarrheic pigs from three pig farms in the Dominican Republic. Seventeen of the PCV2 positive samples, representing the three pig farms, different age groups and sampling periods (2020–2021), were amplified for the complete PCV2 genome. Based on analysis of open reading frame 2 and complete genome sequences, the 17 PCV2 strains were assigned to the PCV2d genotype. Significant differences were observed in PCV2 detection rates between the vaccinated (20% (10/50)) and unvaccinated (62.5% (10/16) and 80% (28/35)) farms, corroborating previous observations that PCV2a-based vaccines confer protection against heterologous PCV2 genotypes. The present study is the first to report detection and molecular characterization of PCV2 from the Dominican Republic, warranting large-scale molecular epidemiological studies on PCV2 in pig farms and backyard systems across the country. For the first time, PCV2d was identified as the predominant PCV2 genotype in a study from the Caribbean region, suggesting that a genotype shift from PCV2b to PCV2d might be happening in the Caribbean region, which mirrored the current PCV2 genotype scenario in many other parts of the world. Besides PCV2, we also identified a pigeon circovirus-like virus, and a circular Replication-associated protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA virus, which was characterized for the complete genome. The CRESS DNA virus shared a similar genomic organization and was related to unclassified CRESSV2 DNA viruses (belonging to the Order Cirlivirales) from porcine feces in Hungary, indicating that related unclassified CRESS DNA viruses are circulating among pigs in different geographical regions, warranting further studies on the epidemiology and biology of these novel viruses.
Differential Expression of Genes between a Tolerant and a Susceptible Maize Line in Response to a Sugarcane Mosaic Virus Infection
Authors: Rodríguez-Gómez Gustavo , Vargas-Mejía Pablo , Silva-Rosales Laura
Published: August 2022

To uncover novel genes associated with the Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) response, we used RNA-Seq data to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and transcript expression pattern clusters between a tolerant/resistant (CI-RL1) and a susceptible (B73) line, in addition to the F1 progeny (CI-RL1xB73). A Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment of DEGs led us to propose three genes possibly associated with the CI-RL1 response: a heat shock 90-2 protein and two ABC transporters. Through a clustering analysis of the transcript expression patterns (CTEPs), we identified two genes putatively involved in viral systemic spread: the maize homologs to the PIEZO channel (ZmPiezo) and to the Potyvirus VPg Interacting Protein 1 (ZmPVIP1). We also observed the complex behavior of the maize eukaryotic factors ZmeIF4E and Zm-elfa (involved in translation), homologs to eIF4E and eEF1α in A. thaliana. Together, the DEG and CTEPs results lead us to suggest that the tolerant/resistant CI-RL1 response to the SCMV encompasses the action of diverse genes and, for the first time, that maize translation factors are associated with viral interaction.