bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Failure Mechanism of Methane Hydrate-Bearing Specimen Based on Energy Analysis Using Discrete Element Method
Authors: Gong Bin , Ye Ruijie , Zhang Ruiqi , Golsanami Naser , Jiang Yujing , Guo Dingrui , Negahban Sajjad
Published: January 2023

Studying the failure mechanism of methane hydrate specimens (MHSs) is of great significance to the exploitation of methane hydrate. Most previous studies have focused on the macro or micromechanical response of MHS under different conditions. However, there are a few studies that have investigated the mechanical response mechanism of MHS based on energy evolution. Therefore, in this study, a numerical model of the methane hydrate-bearing sediments was constructed in the particle flow code (PFC) environment. Then, the numerical model was validated using the conducted laboratory tests; and a series of numerical tests were conducted under different methane hydrate saturation conditions, and the obtained results were analyzed. These results qualitatively describe the main mechanical properties of the methane hydrate-bearing sediments from the viewpoint of energy evolution. The simulation results indicated that during the shear test, the bond breaks at first. Then, the soil particles (sediments) start to roll and rarely slid before shear strength arrives at the highest value. Around the highest shear strength value, more soil particles begin to roll until they occlude with each other. Strain softening is induced by the combined action of the breakage of the hydrate bond and the slipping of soil particles. The higher the hydrate saturation is, the more obvious the strain softening is. Considering that a good agreement was observed between the numerical simulation results and the laboratory test results, it can be concluded that the numerical simulation approach can complement the existing experimental techniques, and also can further clarify the deformation and failure mechanism of various methane hydrate-bearing sediments. The results obtained from the present study will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of the gas hydrate-bearing sediments during hydrate dissociation and gas exploitation.
Panic Buying Behavior Analysis according to Consumer Income and Product Type during COVID-19
Authors: de Brito Junior Irineu , Yoshizaki Hugo Tsugunobu Yoshida , Saraiva Flaviane Azevedo , Bruno Nathan de Campos , da Silva Roberto Fray , Hino Celso Mitsuo , Aguiar Larissa Limongi , Ataide Isabella Marrey Ferreira de
Published: January 2023

In 2020, just before measures were established by governments to minimize the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as social distancing, quarantine, lockdowns, and internal movement restrictions, people began to buy some products in quantities much superior to their regular needs. This behavior is called panic buying and is a typical human response in times of crisis and uncertainty. This study compares retail sale levels during the period in which panic purchases occurred to the sales levels before and after that period. We analyzed the sales of five groups of products from 144 stores of two major retailers in São Paulo, Brazil. Several regression models were used to evaluate the data obtained from demographic information, actual sales, per capita income, and product sales transactions. The results show that sales before, during, and after the panic buying period varied according to the product type and increased according to the average per capita income of each store’s influence area. These results may assist policymakers in introducing public policies and managing resources during a crisis that requires social distancing and lockdowns.
An Empirical Analysis of E-Governments’ Cookie Interfaces in 50 Countries
Authors: Alharbi Juna Alhumaidi , Albesher Abdulmohsen Saud , Wahsheh Heider Ahmad
Published: January 2023

Cookies have been used by websites to store information about user behavior. Although they provide several benefits, including improving user experience, they can threaten user privacy, particularly when websites use third-party cookies for data analysis. Websites must inform their users about what data are collected and how they are used through the cookie interface. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of cookie interface design on user behavior to verify whether these interfaces provide users with the required information to make an informed decision. In this paper, we evaluated the cookie interfaces of 243 E-Government websites based on well-defined guidelines to understand the critical factors designers should consider when designing cookie interfaces. To evaluate the cookies interfaces’ usability, we selected one of the inspection-based methods called the individual expert review method. The results showed that European websites are more compliant with the adopted guidelines. Surprisingly, more than 50% of the websites did not provide a cookie interface to their users, while more than 40% did not provide a privacy policy. The primary finding of this study is that over 90% of the websites use dark patterns in their interfaces. The study concludes with some recommendations to help in designing a usable privacy interface.
Active Mitigation Strategy of Structure-Borne Vibration with Complex Frequency Spectra from Asymmetric Plate-like Mounting Systems in Next Generation Mobilities
Authors: Qiu Yang , Hong Dongwoo , Kim Byeongil
Published: January 2023

The complicated spectrum produced by electric and hybrid car engines is particularly sensitive to the mid-frequency range. Furthermore, sensor placement in future mobility is crucial because when the positions and orientations of sensors are altered by excessive vehicle vibration, it results in the malfunctioning of autonomous driving systems. Smart structure-based active mounting approaches have been developed to reduce engine-induced vibration. These are made to continually adjust the mounts’ dynamic properties and enhance their performances in terms of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) under diverse operating circumstances. It can take the place of the engine support system’s current mount technique. The performance of the source part for reducing vibration when the structure is triggered by a sinusoidal and multi-frequency signal is the main subject of this study. The overall structure, which has two active mounts based on the source-paths-receiver structure, was modeled using a lumped parameter model. In the source section, sinusoidal, amplitude modulation (AM), and frequency modulation (FM) signals were used in order to assess the effectiveness of vibration reduction in the mid-frequency band. The normalized least mean-square (NLMS) technique was utilized to assess the effectiveness of an active mounting system, and a tracking signal was employed as a control signal. The algorithm was further expanded to the multi-NLMS algorithm to monitor the complex spectral signal. This demonstrates how an active mounting system can successfully reduce vibrations when the structure is activated by many mid-frequency complex signals.
Geodesic and Newtonian Vector Fields and Symmetries of Mechanical Systems
Authors: Cariñena José F. , Muñoz-Lecanda Miguel-C.
Published: January 2023

Geodesic vector fields and other distinguished vector fields on a Riemann manifold were used in the study of free motions on such a manifold, and we applied the geometric Hamilton–Jacobi theory for the search of geodesic vector fields from Hamilton–Jacobi vector fields and the same for closed vector fields. These properties were appropriately extended to the framework of Newtonian and generalised Newtonian systems, in particular systems defined by Lagrangians of the mechanical type and velocity-dependent forces. Conserved quantities and a generalised concept of symmetry were developed, particularly for Killing vector fields. Nonholonomic constrained Newtonian systems were also analysed from this perspective, as well as the relation among Newtonian vector fields and Hamilton–Jacobi equations for conformally related metrics.
Nanoscale Bending Dynamics in Mixed-Chain Lipid Membranes
Authors: Kelley Elizabeth G. , Frewein Moritz P. K. , Czakkel Orsolya , Nagao Michihiro
Published: January 2023

Lipids that have two tails of different lengths are found throughout biomembranes in nature, yet the effects of this asymmetry on the membrane properties are not well understood, especially when it comes to the membrane dynamics. Here we study the nanoscale bending fluctuations in model mixed-chain 14:0–18:0 PC (MSPC) and 18:0–14:0 PC (SMPC) lipid bilayers using neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy. We find that despite the partial interdigitation that is known to persist in the fluid phase of these membranes, the collective fluctuations are enhanced on timescales of tens of nanoseconds, and the chain-asymmetric lipid bilayers are softer than an analogous chain-symmetric lipid bilayer with the same average number of carbons in the acyl tails, di-16:0 PC (DPPC). Quantitative comparison of the NSE results suggests that the enhanced bending fluctuations at the nanosecond timescales are consistent with experimental and computational studies that showed the compressibility moduli of chain-asymmetric lipid membranes are 20% to 40% lower than chain-symmetric lipid membranes. These studies add to growing evidence that the partial interdigitation in mixed-chain lipid membranes is highly dynamic in the fluid phase and impacts membrane dynamic processes from the molecular to mesoscopic length scales without significantly changing the bilayer thickness or area per lipid.
Phylogenomic Analysis Supports the Transfer of 20 Pathovars from Xanthomonas campestris into Xanthomonas euvesicatoria
Authors: Harrison Jamie , Hussain Rana M. F. , Aspin Andrew , Grant Murray R. , Vicente Joana G. , Studholme David J.
Published: January 2023

The Gram-negative bacterial genus Xanthomonas includes numerous infra-specific taxa known as pathovars, which are defined primarily on host range and disease symptoms. With the advent of molecular sequence data, many pathovars have been transferred from X. campestris into other Xanthomonas species to better harmonise taxonomy and phylogeny. We performed whole-genome shotgun sequencing on pathotype strains of the following X. campestris pathovars: blepharidis, carissae, clerodendri, convolvuli, coriandri, daturae, euphorbiae, fici, heliotropii, ionidii, lawsoniae, mirabilis, obscurae, paulliniae, pennamericanum, spermacoces, uppalii, vernoniae, viegasii and zingibericola. These genomes showed more than 98% average nucleotide identity with the type-strain of X. euvesicatoria and less than 88% with the type-strain of X. campestris. We propose the transfer of these pathovars into X. euvesicatoria and present an emended species description for X. euvesicatoria.
Assessment of Xenoestrogens in Jordanian Water System: Activity and Identification
Authors: Akkam Yazan , Omari Derar , Alhmoud Hassan , Alajmi Mohammad , Akkam Nosaibah , Aljarrah Islam
Published: January 2023

Sex hormone disruptors (xenoestrogens) are a global concern due to their potential toxicity. However, to date, there has been no study to investigate the presence of xenoestrogen pollutants in the Jordanian water system. Samples in triplicates were collected from six locations in Jordan, including dams, surface water, tap or faucet water, and filtered water (drinking water—local company). Xenoestrogens were then extracted and evaluated with a yeast estrogen screen utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Later, possible pollutants were mined using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with a Bruker impact II Q-TOF-MS. Possible hits were identified using MetaboScape software (4000 compounds), which includes pesticide, pharmaceutical pollutant, veterinary drug, and toxic compound databases and a special library of 75 possible xenoestrogens. The presence of xenoestrogens in vegetable samples collected from two different locations was also investigated. The total estrogen equivalents according to the YES system were 2.9 ± 1.2, 9.5 ± 5, 2.5 ± 1.5, 1.4 ± 0.9 ng/L for King Talal Dam, As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant, King Abdullah Canal, and tap water, respectively. In Almujeb Dam and drinking water, the estrogenic activity was below the detection limit. Numbers of identified xenoestrogens were: As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant 27 pollutants, King Talal Dam 20 pollutants, Almujeb Dam 10 pollutants, King Abdullah Canal 16 pollutants, Irbid tap water 32 pollutants, Amman tap water 30 pollutants, drinking water 3 pollutants, and vegetables 7 pollutants. However, a large number of compounds remained unknown. Xenoestrogen pollutants were detected in all tested samples, but the total estrogenic capacities were within the acceptable range. The major source of xenoestrogen pollutants was agricultural resources. Risk evaluations for low xenoestrogen activity should be taken into account, and thorough pesticide monitoring systems and regular inspections should also be established.
Neuromuscular Weakness and Paralysis Produced by Snakebite Envenoming: Mechanisms and Proposed Standards for Clinical Assessment
Authors: Bickler Philip E. , Abouyannis Michael , Bhalla Ashish , Lewin Matthew R.
Published: January 2023

Respiratory and airway-protective muscle weakness caused by the blockade of neuromuscular transmission is a major cause of early mortality from snakebite envenoming (SBE). Once weakness is manifest, antivenom appears to be of limited effectiveness in improving neuromuscular function. Herein, we review the topic of venom-induced neuromuscular blockade and consider the utility of adopting clinical management methods originally developed for the safe use of neuromuscular blocking agents by anesthesiologists in operating rooms and critical care units. Failure to quantify neuromuscular weakness in SBE is predicted to cause the same significant morbidity that is associated with failure to do so in the context of using a clinical neuromuscular block in surgery and critical care. The quantitative monitoring of a neuromuscular block, and an understanding of its neurophysiological characteristics, enables an objective measurement of weakness that may otherwise be overlooked by traditional clinical examination at the bedside. This is important for the initial assessment and the monitoring of recovery from neurotoxic envenoming. Adopting these methods will also be critical to the conduct of future clinical trials of toxin-inhibiting drugs and antivenoms being tested for the reversal of venom-induced neuromuscular block.
CDT of Clostridioides difficile Induces MLC-Dependent Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in HT-29/B6 Epithelial Cell Monolayers
Authors: Heils Lucas , Schneemann Martina , Gerhard Ralf , Schulzke Jörg-Dieter , Bücker Roland
Published: January 2023

Background: Clostridioides difficile binary toxin (CDT) defines the hypervirulence of strains in nosocomial antibiotic-induced colitis with the highest mortality. The objective of our study was to investigate the impact of CDT on the intestinal epithelial barrier and to enlighten the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Functional measurements of epithelial barrier function by macromolecular permeability and electrophysiology were performed in human intestinal HT-29/B6 cell monolayers. Molecular analysis of the spatial distribution of tight junction protein and cytoskeleton was performed by super-resolution STED microscopy. Results: Sublethal concentrations of CDT-induced barrier dysfunction with decreased TER and increased permeability for 332 Da fluorescein and 4 kDa FITC-dextran. The molecular correlate to the functional barrier defect by CDT was found to be a tight junction protein subcellular redistribution with tricellulin, occludin, and claudin-4 off the tight junction domain. This redistribution was shown to be MLCK-dependent. Conclusions: CDT compromised epithelial barrier function in a human intestinal colonic cell model, even in sublethal concentrations, pointing to barrier dysfunction in the intestine and leak flux induction as a diarrheal mechanism. However, this cannot be attributed to the appearance of apoptosis and necrosis, but rather to an opening of the paracellular leak pathway as the result of epithelial tight junction alterations.
Mpp23Aa/Xpp37Aa Insecticidal Proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) Are Highly Toxic to Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae
Authors: de Oliveira Jéssica A. , Negri Bárbara F. , Hernández-Martínez Patricia , Basso Marcos F. , Escriche Baltasar
Published: January 2023

The beetle Anthonomus grandis Boheman, 1843, is the main cotton pest, causing enormous losses in cotton. The breeding of genetically modified plants with A. grandis resistance is seen as an important control strategy. However, the identification of molecules with high toxicity to this insect remains a challenge. The susceptibility of A. grandis larvae to proteins (Cry1Ba, Cry7Ab, and Mpp23Aa/Xpp37Aa) from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, 1915, with toxicity reported against Coleopteran, has been evaluated. The ingestion of different protein concentrations (which were incorporated into an artificial diet) by the larvae was tested in the laboratory, and mortality was evaluated after one week. All Cry proteins tested exhibited higher toxicity than that the untreated artificial diet. These Cry proteins showed similar results to the control Cry1Ac, with low toxicity to A. grandis, since it killed less than 50% of larvae, even at the highest concentration applied (100 μg·g−1). Mpp/Xpp proteins provided the highest toxicity with a 0.18 μg·g−1 value for the 50% lethal concentration. Importantly, this parameter is the lowest ever reported for this insect species tested with B. thuringiensis proteins. This result highlights the potential of Mpp23Aa/Xpp37Aa for the development of a biotechnological tool aiming at the field control of A. grandis.
Does Blast Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Have an Impact on PTSD Severity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Borinuoluwa Raphael , Ahmed Zubair
Published: January 2023

Blast mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a unique injury in the military population and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is shown to be linked with it. The main purpose of the systematic review was to understand the impact of blast mTBI on PTSD symptom severity. We systematically searched Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase (Ovid), APAPsycINFO (Ovid) and Medline (R) and In-Process, In-Data-Review and Other Non-Indexed Citations (Ovid). Data extraction and quality assessment was completed using the AXIS tool. Statistical analysis was undertaken to determine differences between blast mTBI and the control group (no blast and no TBI in military personnel) and a meta-analysis using the random effects model was used to calculate between-study heterogeneity and variance through I2 and Tau2, respectively. Additionally, the likelihood of PTSD, analysed using the average PTSD Checklist (PCL) score, was also determined based. Statistically higher PCL scores were found in the blast mTBI group compared to control groups, but high heterogeneity was found between the studies (p < 0.001, I2 = 84%, Tau2 = 0.44). Furthermore, all studies reported that blast mTBI had probable PTSD, but this was not the case for the control group. Blast mTBI appears to impact on PTSD symptom severity and the likelihood of developing PTSD, which healthcare professionals need to be aware of. The high heterogeneity present in the studies means that caution must be exercised when interpreting the data from this study. However, future studies require more well-defined, high-quality studies to answer the question of how blast mTBI affects PTSD symptom severity.
Echinococcus multilocularis Calreticulin Interferes with C1q-Mediated Complement Activation
Authors: Xian Siqi , Chen Lujuan , Yan Yan , Chen Jianfang , Yu Guixia , Shao Yuxiao , Zhan Bin , Wang Yanhai , Zhao Limei
Published: January 2023

As a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis larvae, alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is one of the most severe forms of parasitic infection. Over a long evolutional process E. multilocularis has developed complex strategies to escape host immune attack and survive within a host. However, the mechanisms underlying immune evasion remain unclear. Here we investigated the binding activity of E. multilocularis calreticulin (EmCRT), a highly conserved Ca2+-binding protein, to human complement C1q and its ability to inhibit classical complement activation. ELISA, Far Western blotting and immunoprecipitation results demonstrated that both recombinant and natural EmCRTs bound to human C1q, and the interaction of recombinant EmCRT (rEmCRT) inhibited C1q binding to IgM. Consequently, rEmCRT inhibited classical complement activation manifested as decreasing C4/C3 depositions and antibody-sensitized cell lysis. Moreover, rEmCRT binding to C1q suppressed C1q binding to human mast cell, HMC-1, resulting in reduced C1q-induced mast cell chemotaxis. According to these results, E. multilocularis expresses EmCRT to interfere with C1q-mediated complement activation and C1q-dependent non-complement activation of immune cells, possibly as an immune evasion strategy of the parasite in the host.
Clinical Features of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease in the Yangtze River Delta of China: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Observational Study
Authors: Lou Hai , Zou Ansheng , Shen Xiaona , Fang Yong , Sun Qin , Zhang Fen , Sha Wei
Published: January 2023

With increased focus on nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), and the improvement in detection methods, the global incidence continues to increase every year, but the diagnosis and treatment are difficult with a high misdiagnosis rate and poor curative effect. This study aimed to analyze the clinical indicators of different pathogenic NTM in the Yangtze River Delta. The study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with NTM-PD, who resided in the Yangtze River Delta and were diagnosed using sputum or bronchial lavage fluid and hospitalized in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from March 2017 to February 2019. The clinical data of confirmed patients were collected. Among the 513 cases of NTM-PD, 482 cases were infected by four common bacteria: Mycobacterium intracellulare (224, 46.5%), M. abscessus (138, 28.6%), M. kansasii (84, 17.4%), and M. avium (36, 7.5%). The analysis found that different NTM strains have their corresponding positive and negative correlation factors (p < 0.05). M. intracellulare, M. abscessus, M. kansasii, and M. avium were the main pathogenic bacteria isolated from patients with NTM-PD in the Yangtze River Delta were. Different strains resulted in different clinical features, assisting in the early diagnosis and treatment of NTM-PD.
Effectiveness of a Phage Cocktail as a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Saprophytic Bacteria in Ready-To-Eat Plant-Based Food
Authors: Wójcicki Michał , Świder Olga , Gientka Iwona , Błażejak Stanisław , Średnicka Paulina , Shymialevich Dziyana , Cieślak Hanna , Wardaszka Artur , Emanowicz Paulina , Sokołowska Barbara , Juszczuk-Kubiak Edyta
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the phage cocktail to improve the microbiological quality of five different mixed-leaf salads: rucola, mixed-leaf salad with carrot, mixed-leaf salad with beetroot, washed and unwashed spinach, during storage in refrigerated conditions. Enterobacterales rods constituted a significant group of bacteria in the tested products. Selected bacteria were tested for antibiotic resistance profiles and then used to search for specific bacteriophages. Forty-three phages targeting bacteria dominant in mixed-leaf salads were isolated from sewage. Their titer was determined, and lytic activity was assessed using the Bioscreen C Pro automated growth analyzer. Two methods of phage cocktail application including spraying, and an absorption pad were effective for rucola, mixed leaf salad with carrot, and mixed leaf salad with beetroot. The maximum reduction level after 48 h of incubation reached 99.9% compared to the control sample. In washed and unwashed spinach, attempts to reduce the number of microorganisms did not bring the desired effect. The decrease in bacteria count in the lettuce mixes depended on the composition of the autochthonous saprophytic bacteria species. Both phage cocktail application methods effectively improved the microbiological quality of minimally processed products. Whole-spectral phage cocktail application may constitute an alternative food microbiological quality improvement method without affecting food properties.
Development and Characterization of Phage Display-Derived Monoclonal Antibodies to the S2 Domain of Spike Proteins of Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2 and Multiple Variants
Authors: Kim Ji Woong , Cho Ah Hyun , Shin Ha Gyeong , Jang Sung Hoon , Cho Su Yeon , Lee Ye Rim , Lee Sukmook
Published: January 2023

The rapid emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has resulted in the ongoing global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, the rapid development of a platform to detect a broad range of SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential for successful COVID-19 management. In this study, four SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) were isolated from a synthetic antibody library using phage display technology. Following the conversion of these scFvs into monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (K104.1–K104.4) and production and purification of the mAbs, the antibody pair (K104.1 and K104.2) that exhibited the highest binding affinity (K104.1 and K104.2, 1.3 nM and 1.9 nM) was selected. Biochemical analyses revealed that this antibody pair specifically bound to different sites on the S2 subunit of the spike protein. Furthermore, we developed a highly sensitive sandwich immunoassay using this antibody pair that accurately and quantitatively detected the spike proteins of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and multiple variants, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa, and Omicron, in the picomolar range. Conclusively, the novel phage display-derived mAbs we have developed may be useful for the rapid and efficient detection of the fast-evolving SARS-CoV-2.
Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells in EBV-Associated Gastric Carcinomas Exhibit High Levels of Multiple Markers of Activation, Effector Gene Expression, and Exhaustion
Authors: Salnikov Mikhail , Prusinkiewicz Martin A. , Lin Sherman , Ghasemi Farhad , Cecchini Matthew J. , Mymryk Joe S.
Published: January 2023

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a gamma-herpesvirus associated with 10% of all gastric cancers (GCs) and 1.5% of all human cancers. EBV-associated GCs (EBVaGCs) are pathologically and clinically distinct entities from EBV-negative GCs (EBVnGCs), with EBVaGCs exhibiting differential molecular pathology, treatment response, and patient prognosis. However, the tumor immune landscape of EBVaGC has not been well explored. In this study, a systemic and comprehensive analysis of gene expression and immune landscape features was performed for both EBVaGC and EBVnGC. EBVaGCs exhibited many aspects of a T cell-inflamed phenotype, with greater T and NK cell infiltration, increased expression of immune checkpoint markers (BTLA, CD96, CTLA4, LAG3, PD1, TIGIT, and TIM3), and multiple T cell effector molecules in comparison with EBVnGCs. EBVaGCs also displayed a higher expression of anti-tumor immunity factors (PDL1, CD155, CEACAM1, galectin-9, and IDO1). Six EBV-encoded miRNAs (miR-BARTs 8-3p, 9-5p, 10-3p, 22, 5-5p, and 14-3p) were strongly negatively correlated with the expression of immune checkpoint receptors and multiple markers of anti-tumor immunity. These profound differences in the tumor immune landscape between EBVaGCs and EBVnGCs may help explain some of the observed differences in pathological and clinical outcomes, with an EBV-positive status possibly being a potential biomarker for the application of immunotherapy in GC.
Occurrence of Nine Grapevine Viruses in Commercial Vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina
Authors: Gomez Talquenca Sebastian , Alonso Rodrigo , Luna Facundo , Lanza Volpe Melisa , Buscema Fernando
Published: January 2023

Grapevine is a widely grown fruit crop that is seriously affected by different viruses, reducing grape yield and quality, as well as threatening profitability. Vineyard disease management requires accurate identification of viral infections. This study aimed to survey the presence of ten grapevine viruses in four geographic sites in the Mendoza province of Argentina. Two hundred twenty-three composite cane samples from 1060 plants of six cultivars were collected from 26 blocks distributed across 11 vineyards. The cane samples were screened by RT-PCR for the following viruses: grapevine leafroll-associated viruses 1–4 (GLRaV 1, 2, 3, and 4), grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), grapevine virus A (GVA) and B (GVB), grapevine rupestris stem pitting associated virus (GRSPaV), and arabis mosaic virus (ArMV). The results showed an uneven occurrence of viruses through the sampled regions, with GRSPaV being prevalent (71.1%), followed by GFLV (28.9%), GFkV (20.6%), and GLRaV-2 (14.7%). GVB was not detected. This study revealed a moderate prevalence of viruses associated with economically impactful diseases in the vineyards surveyed.
Development and Preliminary Application of a Droplet Digital PCR Assay for Quantifying the Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in the Clinical-Grade Production
Authors: Guo Miaomiao , Deng Li , Liang Hongyang , Du Yuyao , Gao Wenrui , Tian Na , Bi Ying , Li Jinghua , Ma Tiancong , Zhang Yuntao , Wang Hui
Published: January 2023

Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) is a type of virus that selectively targets and kills cancer cells, leaving normal cells unharmed. Accurate viral titer is of great importance for the production and application of oHSV products. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is known for having good reproducibility, not requiring a standard curve, not being affected by inhibitors, and being precise even in the detection of low copies. In the present study, we developed a droplet digital PCR assay for the quantification of HSV-1 and applied it in the oHSV production. The established ddPCR showed good specificity, linearity, a low limit of quantification, great reproducibility, and accuracy. The quantification result was well-associated with that of plaque assay and CCID50. Amplification of the purified virus without DNA extraction by ddPCR presented similar results to that from the extracted DNA, confirming the good resistance against PCR inhibitors. With the ddPCR, viral titer could be monitored in real time during the production of oHSV; the optimal harvest time was determined for the best virus yield in each batch. The ddPCR can be used as a useful tool for the quantification of oHSV and greatly facilitate the manufacturing process of oHSV products.
Decreased Clinical Severity of Pediatric Acute COVID-19 and MIS-C and Increase of Incidental Cases during the Omicron Wave in Comparison to the Delta Wave
Authors: Kenney Patrick O. , Chang Arthur J. , Krabill Lorna , Hicar Mark D.
Published: January 2023

This study describes differences in clinical presentation in hospitalized children with acute COVID-19 and MIS-C between the Delta and Omicron (BA.1.1) waves in a tertiary children’s hospital. This retrospective cohort study with case adjudication of hospitalized children with SARS-CoV-2-positive testing or MIS-C diagnosis occurred during the Delta and Omicron waves, from August 2021 until February 2022. There were no differences noted by race, but both waves disproportionally affected black children (24% and 25%). Assigned by a three-person expert panel, incidental diagnoses were higher in the Omicron wave (34% versus 19%). Hospitalization rates of non-incidental cases were higher during Omicron (3.8 versus 5.9 per 1000 PCR-positive community cases). Respiratory-related admissions were prominent during Delta, while Omicron clinical presentations varied, including a high number of cases of croup and seizures. Length of stay and ICU use during Omicron was significantly less than Delta for MIS-C and acute cases. Estimation of vaccination efficacy for preventing hospital admissions was 85.1–91.7% in the early Omicron period. Our estimates suggest that a protective role for vaccination continues into the Omicron wave. The high rate of incidental cases during the Omicron wave should be considered when reviewing more cursory summative data sets. This study emphasizes the need for continued clinical suspicion of COVID-19 even when lower respiratory symptoms are not dominant.
Human Infections with Borna Disease Virus 1 (BoDV-1) Primarily Lead to Severe Encephalitis: Further Evidence from the Seroepidemiological BoSOT Study in an Endemic Region in Southern Germany
Authors: Bauswein Markus , Eidenschink Lisa , Knoll Gertrud , Neumann Bernhard , Angstwurm Klemens , Zoubaa Saida , Riemenschneider Markus J , Lampl Benedikt M J , Pregler Matthias , Niller Hans Helmut , Jantsch Jonathan , Gessner André , Eberhardt Yvonne , Huppertz Gunnar , Schramm Torsten , Kühn Stefanie , Koller Michael , Drasch Thomas , Ehrl Yvonne , Banas Bernhard , Offner Robert , Schmidt Barbara , Banas Miriam C.
Published: January 2023

More than 40 human cases of severe encephalitis caused by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) have been reported to German health authorities. In an endemic region in southern Germany, we conducted the seroepidemiological BoSOT study (“BoDV-1 after solid-organ transplantation”) to assess whether there are undetected oligo- or asymptomatic courses of infection. A total of 216 healthy blood donors and 280 outpatients after solid organ transplantation were screened by a recombinant BoDV-1 ELISA followed by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (iIFA) as confirmatory test. For comparison, 288 serum and 258 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with a request for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) diagnostics were analyzed for BoDV-1 infections. ELISA screening reactivity rates ranged from 3.5% to 18.6% depending on the cohort and the used ELISA antigen, but only one sample of a patient from the cohort with requested TBE diagnostics was confirmed to be positive for anti-BoDV-1-IgG by iIFA. In addition, the corresponding CSF sample of this patient with a three-week history of severe neurological disease tested positive for BoDV-1 RNA. Due to the iIFA results, all other results were interpreted as false-reactive in the ELISA screening. By linear serological epitope mapping, cross-reactions with human and bacterial proteins were identified as possible underlying mechanism for the false-reactive ELISA screening results. In conclusion, no oligo- or asymptomatic infections were detected in the studied cohorts. Serological tests based on a single recombinant BoDV-1 antigen should be interpreted with caution, and an iIFA should always be performed in addition.
Attitude towards Intranasal Vaccines and Psychological Determinants: Effects on the General Population in Northern Italy
Authors: Boragno Paola , Fiabane Elena , Colledani Daiana , Dalla Gasperina Daniela , Setti Ilaria , Sommovigo Valentina , Gabanelli Paola
Published: January 2023

Little is known about the use of intranasal vaccines, but some studies have shown that this innovative way of administration is preferred over needle injection as it is considered both less painful and intrusive to the body, equally effective, and associated with fewer side effects. This study aimed to investigate specific psychological determinants (intolerance of uncertainty, persecutory ideation, perceived control, vaccine hesitancy) of attitude toward nasal vaccine delivery. A convenience sample including 700 Italian participants took part in this cross-sectional study and completed an online questionnaire. A structural equation model with a latent variable was performed to study the relationship between psychological variables, vaccine hesitancy, and attitude toward nasal vaccine delivery. The results indicate that both a hesitant attitude toward vaccination (β = 0.20, p = 0.000) and low perceived control (β = −0.20, p = 0.005) may directly increase preference for nasal administration; furthermore, high levels of persecutory ideation may indirectly influence the propensity for intranasal vaccine. These findings suggest that pharmaceutical companies could implement nasal vaccines and provide detailed information on these vaccines through informational campaigns. Hesitant individuals with low levels of perceived control could more easily comply with these types of vaccines.
How Do Users Respond to Mass Vaccination Centers? A Cross-Sectional Study Using Natural Language Processing on Online Reviews to Explore User Experience and Satisfaction with COVID-19 Vaccination Centers
Authors: Danek Stella , Büttner Martha , Krois Joachim , Schwendicke Falk
Published: January 2023

To reach large groups of vaccine recipients, several high-income countries introduced mass vaccination centers for COVID-19. Understanding user experiences of these novel structures can help optimize their design and increase patient satisfaction and vaccine uptake. This study drew on user online reviews of vaccination centers to assess user experience and identify its key determinants over time, by sentiment, and by interaction. Machine learning methods were used to analyze Google reviews of six COVID-19 mass vaccination centers in Berlin from December 2020 to December 2021. 3647 user online reviews were included in the analysis. Of these, 89% (3261/3647) were positive according to user rating (four to five of five stars). A total of 85% (2740/3647) of all reviews contained text. Topic modeling of the reviews containing text identified five optimally latent topics, and keyword extraction identified 47 salient keywords. The most important themes were organization, friendliness/responsiveness, and patient flow/wait time. Key interactions for users of vaccination centers included waiting, scheduling, transit, and the vaccination itself. Keywords connected to scheduling and efficiency, such as “appointment” and “wait”, were most prominent in negative reviews. Over time, the average rating score decreased from 4.7 to 4.1, and waiting and duration became more salient keywords. Overall, mass vaccination centers appear to be positively perceived, yet users became more critical over the one-year period of the pandemic vaccination campaign observed. The study shows that online reviews can provide real-time insights into newly set-up infrastructures, and policymakers should consider their use to monitor the population’s response over time.
Detection of Necrosis in Digitised Whole-Slide Images for Better Grading of Canine Soft-Tissue Sarcomas Using Machine-Learning
Authors: Morisi Ambra , Rai Taran , Bacon Nicholas J. , Thomas Spencer A. , Bober Miroslaw , Wells Kevin , Dark Michael J. , Aboellail Tawfik , Bacci Barbara , La Ragione Roberto M.
Published: January 2023

The definitive diagnosis of canine soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) is based on histological assessment of formalin-fixed tissues. Assessment of parameters, such as degree of differentiation, necrosis score and mitotic score, give rise to a final tumour grade, which is important in determining prognosis and subsequent treatment modalities. However, grading discrepancies are reported to occur in human and canine STSs, which can result in complications regarding treatment plans. The introduction of digital pathology has the potential to help improve STS grading via automated determination of the presence and extent of necrosis. The detected necrotic regions can be factored in the grading scheme or excluded before analysing the remaining tissue. Here we describe a method to detect tumour necrosis in histopathological whole-slide images (WSIs) of STSs using machine learning. Annotated areas of necrosis were extracted from WSIs and the patches containing necrotic tissue fed into a pre-trained DenseNet161 convolutional neural network (CNN) for training, testing and validation. The proposed CNN architecture reported favourable results, with an overall validation accuracy of 92.7% for necrosis detection which represents the number of correctly classified data instances over the total number of data instances. The proposed method, when vigorously validated represents a promising tool to assist pathologists in evaluating necrosis in canine STS tumours, by increasing efficiency, accuracy and reducing inter-rater variation.
Groundwater Management and Allocation Models: A Review
Authors: Norouzi Khatiri Khadijeh , Nematollahi Banafsheh , Hafeziyeh Samira , Niksokhan Mohammad Hossein , Nikoo Mohammad Reza , Al-Rawas Ghazi
Published: January 2023

Effective groundwater management and allocation are essential from economic and social points of view due to increasing high-quality water demands. This study presents a review and bibliometric analysis of the popular techniques in groundwater management and allocation models, which have not yet been captured in the literature, as our knowledge allows. To this extent, the literature on this state-of-the-art is categorized based on four primary sectors intervening in efficient groundwater management. The first sector discusses the simulation and surrogate models as the central groundwater predictive models, wherein quantitative and qualitative groundwater models are scrutinized. The second section is dedicated to applying different classic and smart optimization models, followed by a summary of state-of-the-art works on applying accurate and heuristic optimization models in groundwater management. Third, uncertainty analysis techniques in conjunction with groundwater modeling are studied as analytical tools, approximation methods, and simulation methods to identify the most exciting subject fields. The fourth section reviews decision-making models coupled with groundwater models as multi-criteria decision-making, social choice, and game-theory models. Finally, a summary of this review and goals for future studies are presented. Additionally, several new ideas are recognized, advising scholars to find critical gaps in the field.
Brazilian Annual Precipitation Analysis Simulated by the Brazilian Atmospheric Global Model
Authors: Bresciani Caroline , Boiaski Nathalie Tissot , Ferraz Simone Erotildes Teleginski , Rosso Flávia Venturini , Portalanza Diego , de Souza Dayana Castilho , Kubota Paulo Yoshio , Herdies Dirceu Luis
Published: January 2023

The strategy for assessing simulations produced by climate models established as part of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) delivers an outline for model analysis, verification/validation, and intercomparison. Numerical models are continuously being developed to find the best representation for the amount and distribution of precipitation in Brazil to improve the country’s precipitation forecast. This article describes the key features of the Brazilian Global Atmospheric Model (BAM) (developed by the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies of the National Institute for Space Research (CPTEC/INPE)) and analyses of its performance for annual rainfall climate simulations. This study considered the representation of the annual precipitation in Brazil mainly during the rainy season in the central part of Brazil by the BAM. The model was run over the 1990 to 2015 period using spectral Eulerian model dynamics with a 70-horizontal resolution of approximately 1.0∘× 1.0∘ and 42 vertical sigma levels. The analysis was divided into two stages: the annual precipitation and the rainy season precipitation. Model precipitation analyses were performed using statistical methods, such as the mean and standard deviation, comparing modeled data with observed data from two datasets, data from the XAV (observed data from INMET, ANA, and DAEE), and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). In general, the BAM model simulations reasonably replicated the configuration of the spatial distribution of precipitation in the Brazilian territory almost entirely, especially compared with the XAV. The accumulated precipitation in the southern region presented great variation, accumulating from 750 mm year−1 in the extreme south to 1750 mm year−1 in the north of this region. Average values of the BAM accumulated precipitation ranged from 1000 to 2000 mm year−1, within the expected average, compared to observed values of 750–1500 mm year−1 (CPC and XAV, correspondingly). Although there was an underestimation of the accumulated precipitation by the model, the model reasonably reproduced the precipitation during the rainy season. The performed assessment identified model aspects that need to be improved.
Development of ZnFeCe Layered Double Hydroxide Incorporated Thin Film Nanocomposite Membrane with Enhanced Separation Performance and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Balcik Cigdem , Ozbey-Unal Bahar , Sahin Busra , Buse Aydın Ecem , Cifcioglu-Gozuacik Bengisu , Keyikoglu Ramazan , Khataee Alireza
Published: January 2023

Developing thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes by incorporating nanomaterials into the selective polyamide (PA) layer is an effective strategy to improve separation and antibacterial properties. In this study, TFN nanofiltration (NF) membranes were fabricated by interfacial polymerization of piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) with the addition of Zinc-Iron-Cerium (ZnFeCe) layered double hydroxide (LDH). The improved surface hydrophilicity of TFN membranes was investigated by water contact angle analyses and pure water flux measurements. Successful production of the PA layer on the membrane surface was determined by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) images showed that the addition of LDH into the membrane resulted in a smoother surface. The scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) mapping of TFN membrane proved the presence of Ce, Fe, and Zn elements, indicating the successful addition of LDH nanoparticles on the membrane surface. TFN 3 membrane was characterized with the highest flux resulting in 161% flux enhancement compared to the pristine thin film composite (TFC) membrane. All membranes showed great rejection performances (with a rejection higher than 95% and 88% for Na2SO4 and MgSO4, respectively) for divalent ions. Additionally, TFN membranes exhibited excellent antibacterial and self-cleaning properties compared to the pristine TFC membrane.
Zeolite Adsorbents for Selective Removal of Co(II) and Li(I) from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Díez Eduardo , Redondo Cinthya , Gómez José María , Miranda Ruben , Rodríguez Araceli
Published: January 2023

Cobalt and lithium are critical metals because of its shortage, difficulty of extraction and huge economic impact due to their market value. The purpose of this work is to study their selective removal from aqueous solutions in different conditions using two commercial FAU zeolites as adsorbent materials. These solids were characterized by XRD, XRF and BET analysis, to follow up of their FAU structure integrity, their Si/Al ratio, and their specific surface area evolutions through their preparation process. The kinetic study indicates that using both zeolites with a dosage of 5 g/L a 100% cobalt removal from aqueous solutions is achievable, while lithium removal is kept around 30% (separation factor of 3.33). This selectivity is important as these two metals frequently appear together in leaching solutions form, for example, ion-Li batteries. In relation to the adsorption equilibrium, cobalt adsorption presents a finite adsorption capacity while this behavior is not observed in lithium adsorption. For this reason, Langmuir model is the most adequate to represent cobalt adsorption, while lithium adsorption is better represented by Freundlich model.