bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesized Approach for Evaluating the Integral Suspension Pressure (ISP) Method and the Hydrometer in the Determination of Particle Size Distribution
Authors: Olarte Maria Camila , Ruge Juan Carlos , Rodriguez-Rebolledo Juan Félix
Published: April 2023

Different techniques have been developed in the 20th and 21st centuries to address the study of particle size distribution in fine materials. Most of these techniques are based on gravitational sedimentation processes. The modern method used in this research bases the measurement on the change in pressure of the aqueous medium caused by the progressive settling of fine particles. Different materials were evaluated within the study to compare the results of the integral suspension pressure (ISP) method with a traditional approach used worldwide, such as hydrometers. Although the ISP method is considered promising and reliable in measuring the particle size distribution of the fine fraction, current literature lacks comparisons with traditional methods. This aspect would help in the definitive validation of the technique and its use in practical engineering. The hydrometer recorded silt content was greater than ISP over the whole range of measurements, especially in yellow kaolin, in which the silt content is more than 40%. Compared to the hydrometer method, the ISP presented a tendency to misclassify the soil texture of bentonite due to the high clay content. The considerable differences, especially in clays with finer particles such as bentonite, demonstrate that the modern ISP technique can detect very fine projected materials within the particle size distribution compared to conventional methodologies. The study’s objective is mainly to compare both methods, given the important technological evolution that the ISP method presents in relation to the hydrometer.
The Influence of Cultural Factors on Choosing Low-Emission Passenger Cars
Authors: Iancu Ioana Ancuta , Hendrick Patrick , Micu Dan Doru , Stet Denisa , Czumbil Levente , Cirstea Stefan Dragos
Published: April 2023

The decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by passenger cars is one of the key factors for climate protection measures. Besides EU strategies for low-emission mobility, policy makers must consider the behavioural factors of buyers. This study aims to cover this gap by investigating the relation between the national cultural dimensions (Hofstede model) and car adoption by fuel type in EU countries. This could help car sellers to find better solutions for advertising cars with medium and low greenhouse gas emissions. To find better ways to increase the usage of medium- and low-emission cars using targeted advertising, correlations and a multiple regression analysis were used. The results show that the consumer preference for one type of fuel is correlated with at least one of Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions: the power distance index; individualism versus collectivism; masculinity versus femininity; the uncertainty avoidance index; long-term orientation versus short-term normative orientation; indulgence versus restraint. The major conclusion of the study underlines that, with increases in the individualism versus collectivism and indulgence versus restraint scores, the usage of low- and medium-emission cars also increases, and with the increase in the power distance and uncertainty avoidance index, the usage of low- and medium emission cars decreases. At the same time, the driving preference for low- and medium-emission vehicles decreases with the tendency towards collectivism and restraint of EU countries.
The Effect of Sequential and Simultaneous Supplementation of Waste-Derived Volatile Fatty Acids and Methanol as Alternative Carbon Source Blend for Wastewater Denitrification
Authors: Sapmaz Tugba , Manafi Reza , Mahboubi Amir , Koseoglu-Imer Derya Y. , Taherzadeh Mohammad J.
Published: April 2023

Supplementation of alternative carbon sources is a technological bottleneck, particularly in post-denitrification processes due to stringent effluent nitrogen levels. This study focuses on enhancing the sustainability of wastewater treatment practices by partially replacing conventionally used fossil-derived methanol with organic waste-derived volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs). In this regards, results of denitrification batch assays with sequential or simultaneous addition of VFA effluent from acidogenic fermentation of potato starch residue (AD-VFAPPL) and chicken manure (AD-VFACKM), simulated synthetic VFAs solutions (sVFAs), and methanol as carbon source were presented and discussed. Although methanol has proven superior in the conversion of nitrate to nitrite, VFAs are more effective when it comes to reducing nitrite. Although solely added AD-VFAPPL had a slower denitrification capability (0.56 ± 0.13 mgNOx-N removed/m2/day) than methanol (1.04 ± 0.46 mgNOx-N removed/m2/day), up to 50% of the methanol can be replaced by waste-derived AD-VFAPPL and achieve comparable performance (1.08 ± 0.07 mgNOx-N removed/m2/day) with the pure methanol. This proves that the co-addition of VFAs together with methanol can fully compete with pure methanol in performance, providing a promising opportunity for wastewater treatment plants to potentially reduce their carbon footprint and become more sustainable in practice while benefiting from recovered nutrients from waste.
The Scenarios of Artificial Intelligence and Wireframes Implementation in Engineering Education
Authors: Gudoniene Daina , Staneviciene Evelina , Buksnaitis Vytautas , Daley Nicola
Published: April 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies have become important components of the digital economy and affect core areas of our increasingly technologically networked lives. Specific AI technology can support diverse learners and how AI is used in particular in the context of Adult Education to provide a more inclusive and flexible learning environment. Artificial intelligence has been changing education for a long time now, and it is becoming more pervasive in our lives. The authors analyzed many advantages of using AI as an educational tool, such as increasing student engagement by improving grading accuracy by automatically scoring essays with machine learning algorithms. We present a case on how wireframes can be used in website design. Several existing tools have been examined, and their ability to generate interfaces from sketches has been explored. Creating wireframes, prototypes, design mock-ups, and layouts followed the web development process and is now a significant part of website development in engineering education. The paper aims to give the direct opportunity to observe examples of AI wireframes for engineering education.
Hemp Fiber-Modified Asphalt Concretes with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement for Low-Traffic Roads
Authors: Buritatum Apinun , Suddeepong Apichat , Akkharawongwhatthana Kongsak , Horpibulsuk Suksun , Yaowarat Teerasak , Hoy Menglim , Arulrajah Arul , Rashid Ahmad Safuan A.
Published: April 2023

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) contributes substantially to the volume of recycled waste in the world. This research aims to evaluate the mechanistic performance of asphalt concrete with 100% RAP (RAP-AC) modified with natural hemp fiber (HF) reinforcement. The effects of HF lengths and HF contents on the mechanistic performance were investigated. The static tests included Marshall stability, strength index (SI), and indirect tensile strength (ITS), whilst the cyclic tests included indirect tensile resilient modulus (IT Mr), indirect tensile fatigue life (ITFL), and rutting resistance tests. The microstructural analysis revealed that HF could absorb more asphalt cement and function as a reinforcement. The 0.05% HF with a 24 mm HF length was suggested as the best ingredient. For various stress levels, the higher resilience properties—due to the addition of HF—contribute to higher levels of ITFL and rutting resistance. Based on a critical analysis of the cyclic test data, the distress model for HF-RAP-AC was developed for mechanistic pavement design. The outcome of this research promotes the usage of HF-RAP-AC as a greener material for low-traffic roads, which account for over 70% of the total roads worldwide.
Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services
Authors: Bispo Diêgo Faustolo Alves , Guimarães Danielle Vieira , Marques João José Granate de Sá e Melo , Beniaich Adnane , Acuña-Guzman Salvador Francisco , Silva Marx Leandro Naves , Curi Nilton
Published: April 2023

The proper management of soil, in order to improve ecosystem services, requires knowledge of how different fractions of carbon respond to land use/land cover changes. This study aimed to evaluate the responses of total soil organic carbon, and its fractions, to reforestation age and land use changes in an Ultisol in the Posses catchment, a pilot area of the Brazilian program of Payment for Environmental Services, located in Southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted using field plots with various treatments, including native forest, old and young reforestation, well-managed pasture, subsistence farming, degraded pasture, and bare soil. Results showed that soil organic carbon increased with reforestation age and that original soil carbon stocks were restored after eight years of reforestation. Short-time pasture management increased the carbon pool by 10% compared to degraded pasture. The Carbon Management Index (CMI) was able to distinguish the effects of converting degraded pasture to either subsistence farming or bare soil. The CMI is a useful tool for determining the effects of land use/land cover changes, reforestation age, and native forest preservation on soil quality. Adequate management of soil fertilization is an immediate option for restoring the quality of Ultisols under degraded pastures in the Posses sub-basin.
Charged Hybrid Microstructures in Transparent Thin-Film ITO Traps: Localization and Optical Control
Authors: Shcherbinin Dmitrii , Rybin Vadim , Rudyi Semyon , Dubavik Aliaksei , Cherevkov Sergei , Rozhdestvensky Yuri , Ivanov Andrei
Published: April 2023

In the present study, we propose a new transparent thin-film ITO surface radio-frequency (RF) trap. Charged hybrid microstructures were localized in the developed ITO trap. We show, analytically and experimentally, that the position of the localization zones in the trapped hybrid structure are stable. The transfer of charged particles between localization zones was studied under the action of gravity-compensating laser radiation. We highlight the advantages of transparent thin-film ITO traps to investigate and manipulate charged particles.
Symmetrically Construction Monitoring Analysis and Completed State Evaluation of a Tied Steel Box Arch Bridge Based on Finite Element Method
Authors: Pan Jian , Wang Xirui , Huang Kainan , Wang Wensheng
Published: April 2023

Because of their beautiful appearance, strong crossing ability, and reasonable stress performance, the application of tied steel box arch bridges is becoming more and more extensive. Bridge construction monitoring can control and adjust the deviation state to ensure the stress and linear state of the bridge after completion. This study carried out a symmetrical construction monitoring analysis and completed state evaluation of the newly built Dafeng River Bridge in Guangxi Province based on the finite element method. MIDAS Civil finite element software is used for simulation analysis to calculate the deformation and stress of the tied steel box arch bridge at the construction and completion stages. The tensile and compressive stress of the main arch and transverse brace, as well as the cumulative displacements of the main arch and lattice beam, are symmetrically distributed. The maximum tensile and compressive stresses are 15.1 MPa and 74.6 MPa, respectively, less than the specification’s allowable value. Meanwhile, for the completed bridge under the loading combinations of serviceability limit state and bearing capacity ultimate limit state, the stress of the main arch, transverse brace, and lattice beam meets the specification requirements. The maximum cable forces of the suspender and tie rod under the bearing capacity ultimate limit state are 2189.4 kN and 2991.2 kN, and their corresponding minimum safety factors are 3.2 and 2.7. In addition, the deviations between the on-site monitoring and the finite element theoretical values are within the specification allowable range for the cable force of the suspender and tie rod and the bridge deck alignment. It indicates that the bridge construction monitoring effect is reasonable and ideal, and the symmetrically finite element simulation analysis can provide a theoretical basis for construction monitoring.
Review of Contributions to the Special Edition: Symmetry in Integrable Systems: Theory and Application
Authors: Ren Bo
Published: April 2023

Nonlinear partial differential equations (NPDEs) are widely used to describe complex phenomena in various fields of science [...]
Long-Term Muscular Atrophy and Weakness Following Cessation of Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections in the Flexor Digitorum Muscle of Musicians with Focal Hand Dystonia
Authors: Ioannou Christos I. , Hodde-Chriske Franziska L. , Altenmüller Eckart
Published: April 2023

The present study assessed muscular atrophy and weakness of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and profundus (FDP) muscle as possible long-term side effects of botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections in hand dystonia patients after the termination of their treatment. For the assessment of both parameters, a group of 12 musicians diagnosed with focal hand dystonia was compared with a group of 12 healthy matched musicians. The minimum and maximum times since the last injection across patients were 0.5 to 3.5 years, respectively. The thickness and strength of the FDS and FDP were assessed via ultrasonography and a strength measurement device. Group differences were estimated through the calculation of the symmetry index between the dominant and non-dominant hand. The results revealed that compared to the control group, thickness and flexion strength of the injected FDS and FDP were decreased by 10.6% ± 5.3% (95% CI) and 12.5% ± 6.4% (95% CI), respectively, in the patient group. The amount of weakness and atrophy was predicted significantly by the total amount of BoNT injected throughout the entire treatment period. In contrast, the time after the last injection did not predict the amount of strength and muscle mass recovery after the cessation of the treatment. The current study revealed that even up to 3.5 years after the termination of BoNT injections, long-term side effects such as weakness and atrophy can still be observed. We suggest that the total BoNT dose should remain as small as possible to reduce long-lasting side effects to the minimum. Although side effects differ significantly among patients, a potential full recovery of atrophy and weakness after the cessation of BoNT treatment might be observed after periods longer than 3.5 years.
An Orf-Virus (ORFV)-Based Vector Expressing a Consensus H1 Hemagglutinin Provides Protection against Diverse Swine Influenza Viruses
Authors: do Nascimento Gabriela Mansano , Bugybayeva Dina , Patil Veerupaxagouda , Schrock Jennifer , Yadagiri Ganesh , Renukaradhya Gourapura J. , Diel Diego G.
Published: April 2023

Influenza A viruses (IAV-S) belonging to the H1 subtype are endemic in swine worldwide. Antigenic drift and antigenic shift lead to a substantial antigenic diversity in circulating IAV-S strains. As a result, the most commonly used vaccines based on whole inactivated viruses (WIVs) provide low protection against divergent H1 strains due to the mismatch between the vaccine virus strain and the circulating one. Here, a consensus coding sequence of the full-length of HA from H1 subtype was generated in silico after alignment of the sequences from IAV-S isolates obtained from public databases and was delivered to pigs using the Orf virus (ORFV) vector platform. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the resulting ORFVΔ121conH1 recombinant virus were evaluated against divergent IAV-S strains in piglets. Virus shedding after intranasal/intratracheal challenge with two IAV-S strains was assessed by real-time RT-PCR and virus titration. Viral genome copies and infectious virus load were reduced in nasal secretions of immunized animals. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the frequency of T helper/memory cells, as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), were significantly higher in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the vaccinated groups compared to unvaccinated animals when they were challenged with a pandemic strain of IAV H1N1 (CA/09). Interestingly, the percentage of T cells was higher in the bronchoalveolar lavage of vaccinated animals in relation to unvaccinated animals in the groups challenged with a H1N1 from the gamma clade (OH/07). In summary, delivery of the consensus HA from the H1 IAV-S subtype by the parapoxvirus ORFV vector decreased shedding of infectious virus and viral load of IAV-S in nasal secretions and induced cellular protective immunity against divergent influenza viruses in swine.
Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Exposed Seronegative Individuals
Authors: Norton Natasha J. , Holder Kayla A. , Ings Danielle P. , Harnum Debbie O. A. , Russell Rodney S. , Grant Michael D.
Published: April 2023

Some SARS-CoV-2-exposed individuals develop immunity without overt infection. We identified 11 individuals who were negative by nucleic acid testing during prolonged close contact and with no serological diagnosis of infection. As this could reflect natural immunity, cross-reactive immunity from previous coronavirus exposure, abortive infection due to de novo immune responses, or other factors, our objective was to characterize immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in these individuals. Blood was processed into plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and screened for IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies (Ab) against SARS-CoV-2 and common β-coronaviruses OC43 and HKU1. Receptor blocking activity and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in plasma were also measured. Circulating T cells against SARS-CoV-2 were enumerated and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses discriminated after in vitro stimulation. Exposed uninfected individuals were seronegative against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and selectively reactive against OC43 nucleocapsid protein (N), suggesting common β-coronavirus exposure induced Ab cross-reactive against SARS-CoV-2 N. There was no evidence of protection from circulating angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) or IFN-α. Six individuals had T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2, with four involving CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We found no evidence of protection from SARS-CoV-2 through innate immunity or immunity induced by common β-coronaviruses. Cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 were associated with time since exposure, suggesting that rapid cellular responses may contain SARS-CoV-2 infection below the thresholds required for a humoral response.
Evaluating Novel Quantification Methods for Infectious Baculoviruses
Authors: Lothert Keven , Bagrin Elena , Wolff Michael W.
Published: April 2023

Accurate and rapid quantification of (infectious) virus titers is of paramount importance in the manufacture of viral vectors and vaccines. Reliable quantification data allow efficient process development at a laboratory scale and thorough process monitoring in later production. However, current gold standard applications, such as endpoint dilution assays, are cumbersome and do not provide true process analytical monitoring. Accordingly, flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction have attracted increasing interest in recent years, offering various advantages for rapid quantification. Here, we compared different approaches for the assessment of infectious viruses, using a model baculovirus. Firstly, infectivity was estimated by the quantification of viral nucleic acids in infected cells, and secondly, different flow cytometric approaches were investigated regarding analysis times and calibration ranges. The flow cytometry technique included a quantification based on post-infection fluorophore expression and labeling of a viral surface protein using fluorescent antibodies. Additionally, the possibility of viral (m)RNA labeling in infected cells was investigated as a proof of concept. The results confirmed that infectivity assessment based on qPCR is not trivial and requires sophisticated method optimization, whereas staining of viral surface proteins is a fast and feasible approach for enveloped viruses. Finally, labeling of viral (m)RNA in infected cells appears to be a promising opportunity but will require further research.
Virulence Profiles of Wild-Type, P.1 and Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variants in K18-hACE2 Transgenic Mice
Authors: da Silva Santos Yasmin , Gamon Thais Helena Martins , de Azevedo Marcela Santiago Pacheco , Telezynski Bruna Larotonda , de Souza Edmarcia Elisa , de Oliveira Danielle Bruna Leal , Dombrowski Jamille Gregório , Rosa-Fernandes Livia , Palmisano Giuseppe , de Moura Carvalho Leonardo José , Luvizotto Maria Cecília Rui , Wrenger Carsten , Covas Dimas Tadeu , Curi Rui , Marinho Claudio Romero Farias , Durigon Edison Luiz , Epiphanio Sabrina
Published: April 2023

Since December 2019, the world has been experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and we now face the emergence of several variants. We aimed to assess the differences between the wild-type (Wt) (Wuhan) strain and the P.1 (Gamma) and Delta variants using infected K18-hACE2 mice. The clinical manifestations, behavior, virus load, pulmonary capacity, and histopathological alterations were analyzed. The P.1-infected mice showed weight loss and more severe clinical manifestations of COVID-19 than the Wt and Delta-infected mice. The respiratory capacity was reduced in the P.1-infected mice compared to the other groups. Pulmonary histological findings demonstrated that a more aggressive disease was generated by the P.1 and Delta variants compared to the Wt strain of the virus. The quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 viral copies varied greatly among the infected mice although it was higher in P.1-infected mice on the day of death. Our data revealed that K18-hACE2 mice infected with the P.1 variant develop a more severe infectious disease than those infected with the other variants, despite the significant heterogeneity among the mice.
Discovery of Highly Potent Small Molecule Pan-Coronavirus Fusion Inhibitors
Authors: Curreli Francesca , Chau Kent , Tran Thanh-Thuy , Nicolau Isabella , Ahmed Shahad , Das Pujita , Hillyer Christopher D. , Premenko-Lanier Mary , Debnath Asim K.
Published: April 2023

The unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and its highly transmissible variants, led to massive human suffering, death, and economic devastation worldwide. Recently, antibody-evasive SARS-CoV-2 subvariants, BQ and XBB, have been reported. Therefore, the continued development of novel drugs with pan-coronavirus inhibition is critical to treat and prevent infection of COVID-19 and any new pandemics that may emerge. We report the discovery of several highly potent small-molecule inhibitors. One of which, NBCoV63, showed low nM potency against SARS-CoV-2 (IC50: 55 nM), SARS-CoV-1 (IC50: 59 nM), and MERS-CoV (IC50: 75 nM) in pseudovirus-based assays with excellent selectivity indices (SI > 900), suggesting its pan-coronavirus inhibition. NBCoV63 showed equally effective antiviral potency against SARS-CoV-2 mutant (D614G) and several variants of concerns (VOCs) such as B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.1.529/BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (Omicron), and K417T/E484K/N501Y (Gamma). NBCoV63 also showed similar efficacy profiles to Remdesivir against authentic SARS-CoV-2 (Hong Kong strain) and two of its variants (Delta and Omicron), SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV by plaque reduction in Calu-3 cells. Additionally, we show that NBCoV63 inhibits virus-mediated cell-to-cell fusion in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) data of NBCoV63 demonstrated drug-like properties.
The Role of Airborne Particles in the Epidemiology of Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus in Commercial Poultry Production Units
Authors: James Joe , Warren Caroline , De Silva Dilhani , Lewis Thomas , Grace Katherine , Reid Scott , Falchieri Marco , Brown Ian , Banyard Ashley
Published: April 2023

Since October 2021, Europe has experienced the largest avian influenza virus (AIV) epizootic, caused by clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 high pathogenicity AIV (HPAIV), with over 284 poultry infected premises (IPs) and 2480 dead H5N1-positive wild birds detected in Great Britain alone. Many IPs have presented as geographical clusters, raising questions about the lateral spread between premises by airborne particles. Airborne transmission over short distances has been observed for some AIV strains. However, the risk of airborne spread of this strain remains to be elucidated. We conducted extensive sampling from IPs where clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIVs were confirmed during the 2022/23 epizootic, each representing a major poultry species (ducks, turkeys, and chickens). A range of environmental samples were collected inside and outside houses, including deposited dust, feathers, and other potential fomites. Viral RNA (vRNA) and infectious viruses were detected in air samples collected from inside and outside but in close proximity to infected houses, with vRNA alone being detected at greater distances (≤10 m) outside. Some dust samples collected outside of the affected houses contained infectious viruses, while feathers from the affected houses, located up to 80 m away, only contained vRNA. Together, these data suggest that airborne particles harboring infectious HPAIV can be translocated short distances (<10 m) through the air, while macroscopic particles containing vRNA might travel further (≤80 m). Therefore, the potential for airborne transmission of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV between premises is considered low. Other factors, including indirect contact with wild birds and the efficiency of biosecurity, represent greater importance in disease incursion.
Identification and Evaluation of Novel Antigen Candidates against Salmonella Pullorum Infection Using Reverse Vaccinology
Authors: Jiang Zhijie , Kang Xiamei , Song Yan , Zhou Xiao , Yue Min
Published: April 2023

Pullorum disease, caused by the Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum, is a highly contagious disease in the poultry industry, leading to significant economic losses in many developing countries. Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, immediate attention is required to prevent their endemics and global spreading. To mitigate the prevalence of MDR S. Pullorum infections in poultry farms, it is urgent to develop effective vaccines. Reverse vaccinology (RV) is a promising approach using expressed genomic sequences to find new vaccine targets. The present study used the RV approach to identify new antigen candidates against Pullorum disease. Initial epidemiological investigation and virulent assays were conducted to select strain R51 for presentative and general importance. An additional complete genome sequence (4.7 Mb) for R51 was resolved using the Pacbio RS II platform. The proteome of S. Pullorum was analyzed to predict outer membrane and extracellular proteins, and was further selected for evaluating transmembrane domains, protein prevalence, antigenicity, and solubility. Twenty-two high-scored proteins were identified among 4713 proteins, with 18 recombinant proteins successfully expressed and purified. The chick embryo model was used to assess protection efficacy, in which vaccine candidates were injected into 18-day-old chick embryos for in vivo immunogenicity and protective effects. The results showed that the PstS, SinH, LpfB, and SthB vaccine candidates were able to elicit a significant immune response. Particularly, PstS confers a significant protective effect, with a 75% survival rate compared to 31.25% for the PBS control group, confirming that identified antigens can be promising targets against S. Pullorum infection. Thus, we offer RV to discover novel effective antigens in an important veterinary infectious agent with high priority.
Pharmacokinetics, Milk Residues, and Toxicological Evaluation of a Single High Dose of Meloxicam Administered at 30 mg/kg per os to Lactating Dairy Cattle
Authors: Fritz Scott A. , Ensley Steve M. , Lawrence Jay R. , Van Engen Nicholas , Lin Zhoumeng , Kleinhenz Michael D. , Wulf Larry W. , Rice Somchai , Gorden Patrick J. , Peterson Jackie , Coetzee Johann F.
Published: April 2023

Adverse effects associated with overdose of NSAIDs are rarely reported in cattle, and the risk level is unknown. If high doses of NSAIDs can be safely administered to cattle, this may provide a longer duration of analgesia than using current doses where repeated administration is not practical. Meloxicam was administered to 5 mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows orally at 30 mg/kg, which is 30 times higher than the recommended 1 mg/kg oral dose. Plasma and milk meloxicam concentrations were determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed by using noncompartmental analysis. The geometric mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 91.06 µg/mL at 19.71 h (Tmax), and the terminal elimination half-life (T1/2) was 13.79 h. The geometric mean maximum milk concentration was 33.43 µg/mL at 23.74 h, with a terminal elimination half-life of 12.23 h. A thorough investigation into the potential adverse effects of a meloxicam overdose was performed, with no significant abnormalities reported. The cows were humanely euthanized at 10 d after the treatment, and no gross or histologic lesions were identified. As expected, significantly higher plasma and milk concentrations were attained after the administration of 30 mg/kg meloxicam with similar half-lives to previously published reports. However, no identifiable adverse effects were observed with a drug dose 30 times greater than the industry uses within 10 days of treatment. More research is needed to determine the tissue withdrawal period, safety, and efficacy of meloxicam after a dose of this magnitude in dairy cattle.
Effect of Particulate Matter on Biofilm Stability in a Water Supply Network
Authors: Zhao Zhiling , Wang Lu , Sun Xiyu , Lai Tianneng
Published: April 2023

The safety of water supply networks has always been a concern. The biofilm attached on the pipes will fall into pipe water when disturbed, which is a potential threat to human health. Particulate matter can contain bacteria, and most bacteria in water will adhere to the surface of particulate matter, are not easy to kill using disinfectants. Therefore, the effect of particulate matter and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the stability of biofilm was investigated. This study revealed that biofilm without particulate matter had the highest biomass, at an order of magnitude higher than biofilm with particulate matter and bacteria, while biofilm with abundant particulate matter and bacteria were more stable. The effect of shear stress on the biofilm attached on the pipes was investigated through rotational speed experiments, and the results implied that the collision between bacterial polymers increased with an increase in rotational speed and the formation of stale biofilm adhered inside the pipes. Further, instead of protein and fatty chains, the hydroxyl bonds played vital roles in the combination of particulate matter and EPS.
Effect of Moisture Sources on the Isotopic Composition of Precipitation in Northwest China
Authors: Kong Yanlong , Wang Ke , Pan Sheng , Ren Yaqian , Zhang Weizun
Published: April 2023

Stable isotopes (18O/16O and 2H/1H) are fingerprints of water molecules and thus can be used to gain insight on water circulation. Especially, the factors controlling the isotopic composition of precipitation should be identified because they act as baseline determinants of the isotopic variations of surface water and groundwater. Here, using the HYSPLIT model, we attribute observed isotope variations to different moisture sources and characterize the isotopic composition of meteoric precipitation in Northwest China. Results show that the westerlies play a dominant role across the region throughout the year, while other moisture sources only affect some parts of the region during a specific season, i.e., Arctic airflow only affects the Altay Mountains as far as the Middle Tianshan Mountains; the East Asia Monsoon only affects the region east of 100° E longitude during the summer; and summer rainfall of local origin may contribute to the precipitation budget of basin areas. Given the different moisture sources across Northwest China, a local meteoric water line (NWMWL) of δ2H = 6.8δ18O − 1.6 is observed. Our findings not only can provide valuable insights into the mechanism of precipitation isotope fractionation in Northwest China but also can contribute to a better understanding of regional climate and hydrological studies.
Evaluation of Artificial Precipitation Enhancement Using UNET-GRU Algorithm for Rainfall Estimation
Authors: Liu Renfeng , Zhou Huabing , Li Dejun , Zeng Liping , Xu Peihua
Published: April 2023

The evaluation of the effects of artificial precipitation enhancement remains one of the most important and challenging issues in the fields of meteorology. Rainfall is the most important evaluation metric for artificial precipitation enhancement, which is mainly achieved through physics-based models that simulate physical phenomena and data-driven statistical models. The series of effect evaluation methods requires the selection of a comparison area for effect comparison, and idealized assumptions and simplifications have been made for the actual cloud precipitation process, leading to unreliable quantitative evaluation results of artificial precipitation effects. This paper proposes a deep learning-based method (UNET-GRU) to quantitatively evaluate the effect of artificial rainfall. By comparing the residual values obtained from inverting the natural evolution grid rainfall of the same area under the same artificial rainfall conditions with the actual rainfall amount after artificial rainfall operations, the effect of artificial rainfall can be quantitatively evaluated, effectively solving the problem of quantitative evaluation of artificial precipitation effects. Wuhan and Shiyan in China are selected to represent typical plains and mountainous areas, respectively, and the method is evaluated using 6-min resolution radar weather data from 2017 to 2020. During the experiment, we utilized the UNET-GRU algorithm and developed separate algorithms for comparison against common persistent baselines (i.e., the next-time data of the training data). The prediction of mean squared error (MSE) for these three algorithms was significantly lower than that of the baseline data. Moreover, the indicators for these algorithms were excellent, further demonstrating their efficacy. In addition, the residual results of the estimated 7-h grid rainfall were compared with the actual recorded rainfall to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial precipitation. The results showed that the estimated rainfall was consistent with the recorded precipitation for that year, indicating that deep learning methods can be successfully used to evaluate the impact of artificial precipitation. The results demonstrate that this method improves the accuracy of effect evaluation and enhances the generalization ability of the evaluation scheme.
Energy Use Patterns of Pearl Millet (Pennisetumglaucum (L.)) Production in Haryana, India
Authors: Kargwal Raveena , Yadvika  , Singh Vijay Kumar , Kumar Anil
Published: April 2023

Pearl millet (Pennisetumglaucum (L.)) is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world after rice, wheat, maize and sorghum. A resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 3 March 2021 decided to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Millet has been promoted due to its nutritional value and low irrigation requirement. In this study, pearl millet was selected for energy auditing, and its production amount is a direct function of energy input. The production of pearl millet needs to be augmented to fulfill an increasing demand. Pearl millet is produced using various sources of energy. This study was conducted to examine the energy use pattern of different categories of farmers, such as small, medium and large, for pearl millet production in Hisar district, Haryana, India. The energy was distributed in different operations, including preparatory tillage, sowing, interculture, fertilizer, irrigation, pesticide, harvesting, threshing and transportation. The source-wise energy (direct and indirect) and operation-wise energy consumption were calculated for all categories of farmers. The average energy input of small, medium and large farmers was 2849.09 MJ.ha−1, 3027.21 MJ.ha−1 and 4021.50 MJ.ha−1, respectively. The highest energy was consumed in fertilizer application (52%), with the lowest in seed (2%). The energy ratios of small, medium and large farmers were 3.92, 9.40 and 13.80, respectively. This study could improve the agricultural production systems of pearl millet regarding the energy values of the inputs and outputs.
Neuroendocrine carcinoma associated with chronic ulcerative colitis: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Yokota Yumi , Anzai Hiroyuki , Nagai Yuzo , Sonoda Hirofumi , Shinagawa Takahide , Yoshioka Yuichiro , Abe Shinya , Yokoyama Yuichiro , Matsuzaki Hiroyuki , Emoto Shigenobu , Murono Koji , Sasaki Kazuhito , Nozawa Hiroaki , Ushiku Tetsuo , Ishihara Soichiro
Published: April 2023

Adenocarcinoma is a common histological type of ulcerative colitis-associated cancer (UCAC), whereas neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is extremely rare. UCAC is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage, even with regular surveillance colonoscopy. A 41-year-old man with a 17-year history of UC began receiving surveillance colonoscopy at the age of 37 years; 2 years later, dysplasia was detected in the sigmoid colon, and he underwent colonoscopy every 3 to 6 months. Approximately 1.5 years thereafter, a flat adenocarcinoma lesion occurred in the rectum. Flat lesions with high-grade dysplasia were found in the sigmoid colon and surrounding area. The patient underwent laparoscopic total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with ileostomy. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in the sigmoid colon and NEC in the rectum. One year postoperation, recurrence or metastasis was not evident. Regular surveillance colonoscopy is important in patients with long-term UC. A histological examination of UCAC might demonstrate NEC.
HUBUNGAN PENGGUNAAN APD, KEBIASAAN MEROKOK, KEBIASAAN OLAHRAGA, DAN KADAR DEBU YANG TERHIRUP TERHADAP TERJADINYA GANGGUAN FUNGSI PARU PADA PEKERJA
Authors: Pujiono Pujiono
Published: April 2023

Lingkungan kerja pekerja dapat mempengaruhi kondisi kesehatannya. Jika persyaratan lingkungan kerja tidak terpenuhi, maka dapat menimbulkan risiko terjadinya salah satu penyakit akibat kerja yang umum dialami, yaitu gangguan fungsi paru. Debu yang masuk melalui saluran pernapasan dan masuk ke paru-paru dapat mengakibatkan gangguan fungsi paru. Gangguan fungsi paru dapat menyebabkan masalah pernapasan dan tentunya mempengaruhi fungsi paru-paru. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross-sectional. Sampel penelitian terdiri dari 90 pekerja di industri yang terpapar debu di udara yangdipilih secara random sampling. Data penggunaan alat pelindung diri (APD), kebiasaan merokok, dan kebiasaan olahraga digunakan kuesioner, sedangkan pengukuran dilakukan untuk mendapatkan tingkat debu yang dihirup. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan adanya hubungan yang signifikan antara penggunaan APD dengan tingkat debu yang terhirup dengan terjadinya gangguan fungsi paru di kalangan pekerja di industri, sedangkan tidak ditemukan hubungan yang signifikan antara kebiasaan merokok dan kebiasaan olahraga dengan terjadinya gangguan fungsi paru di kalangan pekerja di industri. APD menjadi syarat utama digunakan bagi pekerja.
Unité lexicale, invariance et discrépance sémantiques dans la pratique traductive anglais/français
Authors: Szlamowicz Jean
Published: April 2023

Dans la traduction, l’interprétation repose sur des déterminations implicites, objets d’une visée pratique. L’herméneutique traductive prélève uniquement les éléments sémantiques pertinents dans la langue d’arrivée : l’identité du lexème passe par un ensemble d’usages (syntaxiques, stylistiques, culturels…) attachés au signe que l’acte traductif doit simultanément sacrifier et préserver en sélectionnant un signe dans un autre système. En analysant des unités sémantiques basiques, on constate que la traduction révèle des éléments de variation internes au domaine notionnel en sollicitant sa déformabilité. Les cas où le mot est identique dans les deux langues (rich, fresh, contemplate) montrent des phénomènes de divergence notionnelle et de rémanence diachronique. L’unité du signe linguistique repose sur son hétérogénéité, constituée d’usages stylistiques et culturels et non de la seule dimension dénotative. Cela permet de définir l’unité de la traductologie comme étude de l’opération tentant de résoudre l’hétérogénéité sémantique de l’unité lexicale.
De la granularité de l’original à la granularité de la version dans la traduction littéraire
Authors: Constantinescu Muguraş
Published: April 2023

Nous proposons dans notre article une réflexion sur la traduction des textes à granularité différente, textes arborescents de Proust et textes lapidaires de Cioran, à travers des analyses comparatives de l’original et de ses traductions. Le point de départ de notre étude est l’affirmation de la traductrice Irina Mavrodin sur la difficulté de passer d’un texte à phrases amples, comme celui de Proust, à un autre très concis, comme celui de Cioran, mais aussi sur l’opportunité de traduire Cioran, ayant comme toile de fond la traduction de la Recherche de Proust. Nous envisageons une lecture critique de la traduction du micro-texte et du macrotexte et surtout de leur relation d’équilibre et de complémentarité. Nous verrons comment, par l’utilisation de techniques traductives appropriées à chaque texte et à la langue traduisante, les traducteurs réussissent à ce que les unités de rythme se confondent avec les unités de pensée, rendant dans les textes traduits la granularité spécifique des textes proustiens et cioraniens. L’expérience traductive sur des textes à granularité différente nous permettra d’envisager aussi l’idée d’une unité du traduire.
Du paratexte au texte, l’unité composite de l’oeuvre traduite
Authors: Mallet-Collins Alexandra
Published: April 2023

The unity of the translation is seen here as encompassing both the translated text and its paratext. Indeed, the paratext is a key component to the reception of the original work abroad and also contains different translation units. These micro-units are the result of different strategies and differ from one person to another, from one publishing company to another. Our hypothesis is that the macrostructural interpretation of the translation is affected by these different micro-units which can be found in the paratext. It is therefore necessary to question the seeming unity of the translation, as, beyond the translator’s choices, editorial strategies also pave the way for our understanding of the translation.
Alibaba, ou la nouvelle Utopie – De la traduction française des métaphores structurantes dans les textes pragmatiques chinois
Authors: Henry Kevin
Published: April 2023

Dans cet article, en prenant pour illustration l’ouvrage Le modèle Alibaba (Lowrey 2014, 2016), présentation apologétique du modèle commercial de la société Internet chinoise Alibaba, dont nous avons personnellement réalisé la traduction en français, nous nous proposons de montrer les intrications et les subtilités que peut rencontrer le traducteur dans un texte véritablement structuré par la phraséologie et les culturèmes et rédigé dans une langue source sans aucun dénominateur commun avec la langue cible. Nous indiquerons ainsi comment, dans notre corpus de base, un ensemble de références diverses mais cohérentes participe de la construction de l’identité marketing de l’entreprise décrite, et pourquoi nous avons dû nous soucier de ces diverses allusions dans notre traduction. À partir de ces exemples, nous postulerons l’existence de ce que nous appellerons «métaphores structurantes» dans les textes pragmatiques et envisagerons certaines implications de ce concept en traductologie.
L’«appli-livre» : un nouveau défi pour la traduction de la littérature d’enfance
Authors: Amadori Sara
Published: April 2023

Digital natives are more and more experiencing new ways of reading. They are offered a vast number of exciting and captivating digital literary products, that need consideration first of all from a pedagogical point of view. This research will focus on the most recent of these products, the Book Apps, so as to analyze the kind of immersive reading experience they offer as well as their pedagogical value. These Book Apps are also interesting from a linguistic point of view because readers can choose to use them in two or more languages. Therefore, the translation of Book Apps becomes an interesting issue, calling for further research. Book Apps’ translators have to deal with a complex mix of elements such as texts, images, animations, sounds, music. The pluri-semiotic environment in which these translations are produced has been here defined as Book App “icono”-letter.
The Dynamics of Power Flow From the Global Health Financing Comment on "Power Dynamics Among Health Professionals in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Global Fund Policy Process"
Authors: Brown Garrett Wallace , Rhodes Natalie
Published: April 2023

This article agrees with Lassa et al that biomedical paradigms and medical professionals are a dominating force within the policy dynamics of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and that there needs to be greater community involvement in how global health initiatives (GHIs) are adopted, designed, implemented and evaluated. However, we argue that many of the conditions identified are entrenched and perpetuated by how GHIs are financed and the financing modalities employed in Development Aid for Health (DAH), particularly in low resource settings. As a result, the dynamics of power not only flow from traditionally entrenched epistemic authorities but are disproportionally sustained by global health financing modalities that favour particular GHIs over others. As we argue, these DAH modalities can exert forms of power with problematic effects on policy-making.
Evaluation of CD133 expression rate in colon cancers with immunohistochemistry method and its relationship with colon cancer prognosis
Authors: Sanei Mohammad Hossein , Foodeh Tina , Sanei Maryam
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death, worldwide. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the CD133 expression rate in colon cancers and determine its relationship with colon cancer prognosis. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in AL-Zahra hospital in Isfahan from April 2008 to April 2014 on 80 patients with CRC. In this study demographic profile such as age and gender, clinicopathologic profile including tumor grade, size, stage, metastasis, 5-year survival and their relation with CD133 expression in form of diffuse, weakly and negative were investigated. Results: From the 80 investigated patients, 47 (58.8%) were male and rest were female. The most common type of CD133 was diffuse type with the 43.8% of cases. Mean age of patients was 61.4±14.12 years. This study showed a significant difference between type of CD133 in regards of tumour size (from 23.11 mm in negative cases to 38.85 in weakly cases, P = 0.047). Moreover, the 5-year survival in the three groups of CD133 were significantly different (from 22.54 months in diffuse to 34.42 months in negative cases, P = 0.025). Conclusion: CD133 may be considered as an important tumor marker and a prognostic and diagnostic marker, as well as a therapeutic approach in patients with CRC.