bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Networking between Entrepreneurial Alertness and the Success of Entrepreneurial Firms
Authors: Satar Mir , Alharthi Sager , Asad Muzaffar , Alenazy Amer , Asif Muhammad Uzair
Published: May 2024

Entrepreneurial firms’ success is significantly influenced by their capacity to seize market opportunities. At the same time, little is known about when and how entrepreneurs’ alertness to the potential for business opportunities and how it influences their success. To fill this vacuum in the literature on entrepreneurship, the current study focused on identifying the impact that fluctuations in the degree of entrepreneurial networking cause on the relationship between three pertinent dimensions of entrepreneurial attentiveness and the success of entrepreneurial firms. Based on primary data collected from 384 entrepreneurial firms that are operating in Pakistan, using an adapted questionnaire, this study discovered that improvements in dimensions of entrepreneurial alertness have a beneficial impact on the success of entrepreneurial firms. Moreover, the moderating role of entrepreneurial networking has proved significant in the relationships. The effect size of the moderator is also significant and large. This study is also important for the sustainability of entrepreneurial firms because the more they are successful in their mission, the more they will be sustainable. Moreover, the moderating role of entrepreneurial networking that helps them in times of crisis also improves their sustainability. This study also revealed how entrepreneurial alertness works as a driver of entrepreneurial business success and how success is magnified in the presence of a higher degree of entrepreneurial networking. The theoretical, managerial, and policy ramifications of the study are explained at the end, along with limitations and recommendations for future researchers.
Study on the Urban Expansion of Typical Tibetan Plateau Valley Cities and Changes in Their Ecological Service Value: A Case Study of Xining, China
Authors: Zhi Zemin , Liu Fenggui , Chen Qiong , Zhou Qiang , Ma Weidong
Published: May 2024

The accelerated urbanization process drives urban spatial expansion, making it essential to clarify the driving factors of this expansion and the corresponding ecosystem service value (ESV) response for effective regional urban planning. We selected Xining City, a typical plateau valley city with a spatial layout constrained by mountainous and riverine topography, as our study area. We analyzed land changes in Xining City over the past 20 years using the land transfer matrix and the PLUS model, and predicted land use changes under different scenarios for 2030. By combining these analyses with the improved unit area equivalent factor method, we quantitatively assessed the drivers of urban expansion in the main urban area of Xining City from 2000 to 2030 and estimated the ESV. The results showed that: (1) Over the past two decades, Xining City has experienced notable urban expansion, particularly along the Huangshui River, Beichuan River, and Nanchuan River. The urban construction land is mainly converted from cropland and grassland, and the simulation results under different scenarios in the future of 2030 show that the area of cropland and grassland continues to decrease. (2) The spatial expansion of urban areas in Xining City is primarily influenced by topographical factors, with urban transportation planning exerting a secondary influence. Distinct levels of roads exhibit varying degrees of impact on the expansion of constructed areas, with tertiary roads demonstrating the most widespread and substantial influence. Conversely, factors such as population density, GDP, and proximity to government have lesser influence on urban expansion. (3) The ecosystem service value (ESV) of Xining City exhibits a general decline from 2000 to 2030, marked by a significant loss of arable land and grassland and substantial shifts in ESV. Simulated ESV outcomes under diverse scenarios for 2030 consistently underscore that, irrespective of policy orientations, urban expansion and development, despite guarantees for urban, cropland, and ecological preservation, inevitably engender diminishing ecosystem service functionalities.
Microplastic Evaluation in Water and Sediments of a Dam Reservoir–Riverine System in the Eastern Carpathians, Romania
Authors: Pojar Iulian , Dobre Oana , Lazăr Constantin , Baboș Teodora , Ristea Oana , Constantin Alina , Cristoiu Nicoleta
Published: May 2024

The complex aquatic system of dam reservoirs is known to trap emerging pollutants as microplastics (MPs) in sediments and water column. Considering the knowledge gaps in this type of environment, we investigated the amount and distribution of MPs in the surface water layer, as well as in the surface and deep sediments of the Siriu Reservoir in the Buzău River system, which is located in the southern area of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania. There was a discrepancy between MP abundancy in both water and sediment samples collected near the reservoir (5.3 MPs/m3, 315.5 MPs/kg) and at several kilometers downstream of the dam (1.4 MPs/m3, 132.5 MPs/kg). The chronological accumulation of MPs in the lacustrine sediments was determined by analyzing 5 cm intervals of a 50 cm length core extracted from the reservoir bed. By comparing the concentration of MPs identified in each interval with the solid debit volumes registered in the last decade, we found that flood events could be traced easily due to abundant MP accumulation. Morphologically, the particles were observed mainly as fibers and fragments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-iR) investigations identified most of the MPs as polypropylene (28%), polyethylene (26%), and polyethylene terephthalate (19%).
Low-Carbon Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Tang Yimin , Shen Lihong , Han Shuguang
Published: May 2024

As the focus on environmental sustainability sharpens, the significance of low-carbon manufacturing and energy conservation continues to rise. While traditional flexible job shop scheduling strategies are primarily concerned with minimizing completion times, they often overlook the energy consumption of machines. To address this gap, this paper introduces a novel solution utilizing deep reinforcement learning. The study begins by defining the Low-carbon Flexible Job Shop Scheduling problem (LC-FJSP) and constructing a disjunctive graph model. A sophisticated representation, based on the Markov Decision Process (MDP), incorporates a low-carbon graph attention network featuring multi-head attention modules and graph pooling techniques, aimed at boosting the model’s generalization capabilities. Additionally, Bayesian optimization is employed to enhance the solution refinement process, and the method is benchmarked against conventional models. The empirical results indicate that our algorithm markedly enhances scheduling efficiency by 5% to 12% and reduces carbon emissions by 3% to 8%. This work not only contributes new insights and methods to the realm of low-carbon manufacturing and green production but also underscores its considerable theoretical and practical implications.
A Knowledge-Guided Approach for Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Using Convolutional Neural Network and Graph Contrastive Learning
Authors: Liu Huimin , Ding Qixuan , Yang Xuexi , Liu Qinghao , Deng Min , Gui Rong
Published: May 2024

Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) constitutes a valuable analytical instrument for estimating the likelihood of landslide occurrence, thereby furnishing a scientific foundation for the prevention of natural hazards, land-use planning, and economic development in landslide-prone areas. Existing LSM methods are predominantly data-driven, allowing for significantly enhanced monitoring accuracy. However, these methods often overlook the consideration of landslide mechanisms and uncertainties associated with non-landslide samples, resulting in lower model reliability. To effectively address this issue, a knowledge-guided landslide susceptibility assessment framework is proposed in this study to enhance the interpretability and monitoring accuracy of LSM. First, a landslide knowledge graph is constructed to model the relationships between landslide entities and summarize landslide susceptibility rules. Next, combining the obtained landslide rules with geographic similarity principles, high-confidence non-landslide samples are selected to optimize the quality of the samples. Subsequently, a Landslide Knowledge Fusion Cell (LKF-Cell) is utilized to couple landslide data with landslide knowledge, resulting in the acquisition of informative and semantically rich landslide event features. Finally, a precise and credible landslide susceptibility assessment model is built based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), and landslide susceptibility spatial distribution levels are mapped. The research findings indicate that the CNN-based model outperforms traditional machine learning algorithms in predicting landslide probability; in particular, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the model was improved by 3–6% after sample optimization, and the AUC value of the LKF-Cell method was 6–11% higher than the baseline method.
A Systematic Review of the Different Methods Assessing Sustainability Integration in Engineering Curricula
Authors: Nakad Mantoura , Gardelle Linda , Abboud Rami J.
Published: May 2024

Over the last two decades, numerous studies have highlighted the significance of integrating sustainability into higher education. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in the literature on engineering education for sustainable development, emphasizing the inclusion of this concept within engineering curricula and recognizing the pivotal role that engineers play in achieving the sustainable development goals. Therefore, sporadic engineering faculties worldwide have begun acknowledging and assessing issues related to sustainability in their curricula. As several methods have been employed to assess its inclusion, the aim of this paper is to review the various methods used to gauge how sustainability is incorporated in their respective engineering curricula. We carried out a systematic review of the literature regarding sustainability as assessed specifically in engineering curricula using the Scopus and ERIC databases. We applied PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology and, as a result, 30 papers were included. The results produced 14 methods with the articles highlighting existing limitations. Therefore, the authors recommend the combination of at least two of the methods to efficiently evaluate sustainability in engineering curricula.
Effect of the Replacement of Wheat Straw by Spent Mushroom Substrate in the Diet of Dairy Ewes during Late Lactation on Milk Production, Composition, Oxidation Stability and Udder Health
Authors: Karageorgou Agori , Hager-Theodorides Ariadne-Loukia , Goliomytis Michael , Politis Ioannis , Konstantas Dimitrios , Massouras Theofilos , Papanikolaou Seraphim , Diamantopoulou Panagiota , Simitzis Panagiotis
Published: May 2024

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different dietary levels of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) at the expense of wheat straw (WS) on milk characteristics in dairy sheep. Thirty ewes at their final stage of lactation (145 ± 5 days after parturition) were randomly assigned into three groups; control (C), provided with a diet consisting of concentrates, alfalfa hay and WS, and SMS1 and SMS2, where WS was replaced by SMS at 50 or 100%, respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days, and milk yield, composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and oxidative stability were monitored weekly, while milk fatty acid and immune cell profile were also determined on day 28. No significant differences were found in produced milk quantity, fat, protein, lactose, total solids non-fat, SCC and fatty acid profile between the experimental groups. However, milk oxidative stability was significantly improved as an effect of SMS (p < 0.001). At the same time, milk polymorphonuclear leukocyte percentage was decreased in SMS2 group (p < 0.05). As indicated, SMS seems to be a promising agro-industrial by-product for ewes’ diet that could improve milk oxidative stability, without negatively affecting milk yield, composition and ewe health status, contributing in the context of sustainability, circular economy and protection of natural resources.
Optical Characteristics of Directly Deposited Gold Nanoparticle Films
Authors: Parramon Jordi Sancho , Švarc Tilen , Majerič Peter , Jelen Žiga , Rudolf Rebeka
Published: May 2024

The manuscript presents the optical properties of directly deposited films of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by the Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) technology. Four samples were produced, with AuNP deposition times on the glass substrate of 15 min, 30 min, 1 h and 4 h. The morphological characterisation of the deposited films showed that the size of the first deposited AuNPs was between 10 and 30 nm, while, with a longer duration of the deposition process, larger clusters of AuNPs grew by coalescence and aggregation. The prepared layers were characterised optically with Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) and ellipsometry. The ellipsometric measurements showed an increasingly denser and thicker effective thickness of the AuNP layers. The extinction spectra displayed a clear local surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) signature (peak 520–540 nm), indicating the presence of isolated particles in all the samples. For all AuNP layers, the imaginary part of the parallel and perpendicular components of the anisotropic dielectric function was dominated by a central peak at around 2.2 eV, corresponding to the LSPR of isolated particles, and a high-energy shoulder due to Au interband transitions. It was shown that, as the density of particles increased, the extinction cross-section grew over the whole spectral range where measurements are taken. Thus, the response can be explained with an enhanced electromagnetic response between the AuNPs that can be connected to the increase in particle density, but also by the formation of clusters and irregular structures.
The Nuclear Physics of Neutron Stars
Authors: Moustakidis Charalampos
Published: May 2024

Neutron stars are considered extraordinary astronomical laboratories for the physics of nuclear matter as they have the most fascinating constitution of energy and matter in the Universe [...]
The Additive Xgamma-Burr XII Distribution: Properties, Estimation and Applications
Authors: Mohammad Hebatalla H. , Alamri Faten S. , Salem Heba N. , EL-Helbawy Abeer A.
Published: May 2024

This paper introduces a new four-parameter additive model, named xgamma-Burr XII distribution, by considering two competing risks: the former has the xgamma distribution and the latter has the Burr XII distribution. A graphical description of the xgamma-Burr XII distribution is presented, including plots of the probability density function, hazard rate and reversed hazard rate functions. The xgamma-Burr XII density has different shapes such as decreasing, unimodal, approximately symmetric and decreasing-unimodal. The main statistical properties of the proposed model are studied. The unknown model parameters, reliability, hazard rate and reversed hazard rate functions are estimated via the maximum likelihood method. The asymptotic confidence intervals of the parameters, reliability function, hazard rate function and reversed hazard rate function are also obtained. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the performance of the maximum likelihood estimates. In addition, three real data are applied to show the superiority of the xgamma-Burr XII distribution over some known distributions in real-life applications.
Stacked Noise Reduction Auto Encoder–OCEAN: A Novel Personalized Recommendation Model Enhanced
Authors: Wang Bixi , Zheng Wenfeng , Wang Ruiyang , Lu Siyu , Yin Lirong , Wang Lei , Yin Zhengtong , Chen Xinbing
Published: May 2024

With the continuous development of information technology and the rapid increase in new users of social networking sites, recommendation technology is becoming more and more important. After research, it was found that the behavior of users on social networking sites has a great correlation with their personalities. The five characteristics of the OCEAN personality model can cover all aspects of a user’s personality. In this research, a micro-directional propagation model based on the OCEAN personality model and a Stacked Denoising Auto Encoder (SDAE) was built through the application of deep learning to a collaborative filtering technique. Firstly, the dimension of the user and item feature matrices was lowered using SDAE in order to extract deeper information. The user OCEAN personality model matrix and the reduced user feature matrix were integrated to create a new user feature matrix. Finally, the multiple linear regression approach was used to predict user-unrated goods and generate recommendations. This approach allowed us to leverage the relationships between various factors to deliver personalized recommendations. This experiment evaluated the RMSE and MAE of the model. The evaluation results show that the stacked denoising auto encoder collaborative filtering algorithm can improve the accuracy of recommendations, and the user’s OCEAN personality model improves the accuracy of the model to a certain extent.
An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Heterogeneous Local Government Land Supply Behavior and Industrial Transfer Competition
Authors: Hu Liming , Wang Huilin , Zhao Ruixia
Published: May 2024

The implicit assumption of homogeneity in traditional economics fails to adequately explain the complex and contradictory behavior exhibited by different local governments in China during the land supply process. The issue of land supply is characterized by practical chaos and has fallen into a theoretical research dilemma. Starting from two dimensions of heterogeneity—preferences and income—this study establishes an evolutionary game model of the limited rationality of local governments. It explores the behavioral evolution process of local governments in the context of industrial competition for land supply and its convergence trends. The research findings indicate that the land supply behavior of local governments is primarily determined by the degree of heterogeneity in preferences and income, as well as the level of compensation for losses to cooperative partners and the severity of penalties for non-cooperative behavior. If local governments’ preferences converge towards a certain threshold or if their income continually increases, they are more inclined towards cooperative behavior; otherwise, they tend to act non-cooperatively. If local governments’ revenues are heavily reliant on industrial transfers, they are more likely to engage in non-cooperative land supply behavior. This research offers theoretical insights and policy recommendations to enhance the optimal allocation of land resources in China.
Effect of Oscillating Area on Generating Microbubbles from Hollow Ultrasonic Horn
Authors: Hasegawa Kodai , Yabuki Nobuhiro , Makuta Toshinori
Published: May 2024

Microbubbles, which are tiny bubbles with a diameter of less than 100 µm, have been attracting attention in recent years. Conventional methods of microbubble generation using porous material and swirling flows have problems such as large equipment size and non-uniform bubble generation. Therefore, we have been developing a hollow ultrasonic horn with an internal flow path as a microbubble-generating device. By supplying gas and ultrasonic waves simultaneously, the gas–liquid interface is violently disturbed to generate microbubbles. Although this device can generate microbubbles even in highly viscous fluids and high-temperature fluids such as molten metals, it has the problem of generating many relatively large bubbles of 1 mm or more. Since the generation of a large amount of microbubbles in a short period of time is required to realize actual applications in agriculture, aquaculture, and medicine, conventional research has tried to solve this problem by increasing the amplitude of the ultrasonic oscillation. However, it is difficult to further increase the amplitude due to the structural reasons of the horn and the behavior of bubbles at the horn tip; therefore, the oscillating area of the tip of the horn, which had not received attention before, was enlarged by a factor of 2.94 times to facilitate the ultrasonic wave transmission to the bubbles, and the effect of this was investigated. As a result, a large number of gases were miniaturized, especially at high gas flow rates, leading to an increase in the amount of microbubbles generated.
A Rapid In Vivo Toxicity Assessment Method for Antimicrobial Peptides
Authors: Chi Yulang , Peng Yunhui , Zhang Shikun , Tang Sijia , Zhang Wenzhou , Dai Congjie , Ji Shouping
Published: May 2024

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising antibiotic alternative to overcome drug-resistant bacteria by inserting into the membrane of bacteria, resulting in cell lysis. However, therapeutic applications of AMPs have been hindered by their ability to lyse eukaryotic cells. GF-17 is a truncated peptide of LL-37, which has perfect amphipathicity and a higher hydrophobicity, resulting in higher haemolytic activity. However, there is no significant difference in the cytotoxicity against human lung epithelial cells between the GF-17 and LL-37 groups, indicating that there are significant differences in the sensitivity of different human cells to GF-17. In this study, LL-37 and GF-17 were administered to mouse lungs via intranasal inoculation. Blood routine examination results showed that LL-37 did not affect the red blood cells, platelet, white blood cells and neutrophil counts, but GF-17 decreased the white blood cells and neutrophil counts with the increasing concentration of peptides. GF-17-treated mice suffer a body weight loss of about 2.3 g on average in 24 h, indicating that GF-17 is highly toxic to mice. The total cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from GF-17-treated mice were 4.66-fold that in the untreated group, suggesting that GF-17 treatment leads to inflammation in the lungs of mice. Similarly, the histological results showed the infiltration of neutrophils in the lungs of GF-17-treated mice. The results suggest that the administration of GF-17 in the lungs of mice does not affect the red blood cells and platelet counts in the blood but promotes neutrophil infiltration in the lungs, leading to an inflammatory response. Therefore, we established a mouse acute lung injury model to preliminarily evaluate the in vivo toxicity of AMPs. For AMPs with a clinical application value, systematic research is still needed to evaluate their acute and long-term toxicity.
Effects of 6PPD-Quinone on Human Liver Cell Lines as Revealed with Cell Viability Assay and Metabolomics Analysis
Authors: Qi Yunqing , Qiu Aiqing , Wei Xinyue , Huang Yiting , Huang Qing , Huang Wei
Published: May 2024

N-(1,3-Dimethyl butyl)-N′-phenyl-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-Q) is a derivative of the widely used rubber tire antioxidant 6PPD, which was first found to be acutely toxic to coho salmon. Subsequent studies showed that 6PPD-Q had species-specific acute toxicity in fishes and potential hepatotoxicity in mice. In addition, 6PPD-Q has been reported in human urine, demonstrating the potential widespread exposure of humans to this chemical. However, whether 6PPD-Q poses a higher risk to humans than its parent compound, 6PPD, and could cause adverse effects in humans is still unclear. In this study, we utilized two human liver cell models (the human proto-hepatocyte model L02 and the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2) to investigate the potentially differential effects of these two chemicals. Cell viability curve analysis showed that 6PPD-Q had lower IC50 values than 6PPD for both liver cell lines, suggesting higher toxicity of 6PPD-Q to human liver cells than 6PPD. In addition, L02 cells are more sensitive to 6PPD-Q exposure, which might be derived from its weaker metabolic transformation of 6PPD-Q, since significantly lower levels of phase I and phase II metabolites were detected in 6PPD-Q-exposed L02 cell culture medium. Furthermore, pathway analysis showed that 6PPD-Q exposure induced changes in phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism pathways in L02 cells, which might be the mechanism underlying its liver cell toxicity. Gene expression analysis revealed that exposure to 6PPD-Q induced excessive ROS production in L02 cells. Our results further supported the higher risk of 6PPD-Q than 6PPD and provided insights for understanding the effects of 6PPD-Q on human health.
Associations of Insecticide Exposure with Childhood Asthma and Wheezing: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Sanya, China
Authors: Hu Yabin , Yang Guiyan , Wang Dan , Gu Wangyang , Xie Dan , Huang Tingyue , Xue Peng , Tang Jingyi , Wei Hui , Li Shenghui , Tong Shilu , Liu Shijian
Published: May 2024

Insecticide exposure may affect childhood asthma/wheezing, but evidence is scarce in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Sanya, China. Generalized linear models were adopted to assess the associations of insecticide exposure with childhood asthma/wheezing, reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A subgroup analysis was performed to explore the possible effects of sociodemographic and environmental factors on these associations. The median age of the 9754 children was 6.7 years, and 5345 (54.8%) were boys. The prevalences of ever asthma (EA), ever wheezing (EW), and current wheezing (CW) were 7.4%, 5.3%, and 2.9%, respectively. We found a greater prevalence of childhood EA with insecticide exposure (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.38). Outdoor insecticide exposure was associated with elevated ORs for EA (1.24, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.50), EW (1.27, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.57), and CW (1.38, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.81). The p for the trend in insecticide exposure frequency was significant for EA (p = 0.001) and CW (p = 0.034). These adverse impacts were pronounced in girls who were exposed to low temperatures. Our findings suggest adverse effects of insecticide use, especially outdoors, on childhood asthma/wheezing. Further studies are warranted to verify this association and develop tailored prevention measures.
Glycan Profile and Sequence Variants of Certified Ricin Reference Material and Other Ricin Samples Yield Unique Molecular Signature Features
Authors: Josuran Roland , Wenger Andreas , Müller Christian , Kampa Bettina , Worbs Sylvia , Dorner Brigitte G. , Gerber Sabina
Published: May 2024

A certified reference material of ricin (CRM-LS-1) was produced by the EuroBioTox consortium to standardise the analysis of this biotoxin. This study established the N-glycan structures and proportions including their loci and occupancy of ricin CRM-LS-1. The glycan profile was compared with ricin from different preparations and other cultivars and isoforms. A total of 15 different oligomannosidic or paucimannosidic structures were identified in CRM-LS-1. Paucimannose was mainly found within the A-chain and oligomannose constituted the major glycan type of the B-chain. Furthermore, the novel primary structure variants E138 and D138 and four different C-termini of the A-chain as well as two B-chain variants V250 and F250 were elucidated. While the glycan proportions and loci were similar among all variants in CRM-LS-1 and ricin isoforms D and E of all cultivars analysed, a different stoichiometry for isoforms D and E and the amino acid variants were found. This detailed physicochemical characterization of ricin regarding the glycan profile and amino acid sequence variations yields unprecedented insight into the molecular features of this protein toxin. The variable attributes discovered within different cultivars present signature motifs and may allow discrimination of the biotoxin’s origin that are important in molecular forensic profiling. In conclusion, our data of in-depth CRM-LS-1 characterization combined with the analysis of other cultivars is representative for known ricin variants.
Effects of Scallop Mantle Toxin on Intestinal Microflora and Intestinal Barrier Function in Mice
Authors: Geng Xiong , Lin Ran , Hasegawa Yasushi , Chao Luomeng , Shang Huayan , Yang Jingjing , Tian Weina , Ma Wenting , Zhuang Miaomiao , Li Jianrong
Published: May 2024

Previous studies have shown that feeding mice with food containing mantle tissue from Japanese scallops results in aggravated liver and kidney damage, ultimately resulting in mortality within weeks. The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of scallop mantle in China’s coastal areas and explore the impact of scallop mantle toxins (SMT) on intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota in mice. The Illumina MiSeq sequencing of V3-V4 hypervariable regions of 16S ribosomal RNA was employed to study the alterations in gut microbiota in the feces of SMT mice. The results showed that intestinal flora abundance and diversity in the SMT group were decreased. Compared with the control group, significant increases were observed in serum indexes related to liver, intestine, inflammation, and kidney functions among SMT-exposed mice. Accompanied by varying degrees of tissue damage observed within these organs, the beneficial bacteria of Muribaculaceae and Marinifilaceae significantly reduced, while the harmful bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae and Helicobacter were significantly increased. Taken together, this article elucidates the inflammation and glucose metabolism disorder caused by scallop mantle toxin in mice from the angle of gut microbiota and metabolism. SMT can destroy the equilibrium of intestinal flora and damage the intestinal mucosal barrier, which leads to glucose metabolism disorder and intestinal dysfunction and may ultimately bring about systemic toxicity.
Identifying Protein Interactions with Viral DNA Genomes during Virus Infection
Authors: Packard Jessica E. , Kumar Namrata , Weitzman Matthew D. , Dembowski Jill A.
Published: May 2024

Viruses exploit the host cell machinery to enable infection and propagation. This review discusses the complex landscape of DNA virus–host interactions, focusing primarily on herpesviruses and adenoviruses, which replicate in the nucleus of infected cells, and vaccinia virus, which replicates in the cytoplasm. We discuss experimental approaches used to discover and validate interactions of host proteins with viral genomes and how these interactions impact processes that occur during infection, including the host DNA damage response and viral genome replication, repair, and transcription. We highlight the current state of knowledge regarding virus–host protein interactions and also outline emerging areas and future directions for research.
Two Concepts of Hepatitis B Core-Related Antigen Assay: A Highly Sensitive and Rapid Assay or an Effective Tool for Widespread Screening
Authors: Inoue Takako , Yagi Shintaro , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: May 2024

Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) reflects the activity of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA. HBcrAg can be detected even in chronic hepatitis B patients in whom serum HBV DNA or hepatitis B surface antigen is undetectable. The HBcrAg measurement system was developed based on two concepts. One is a fully-automated and highly-sensitive HBcrAg assay (iTACT-HBcrAg) and the other is a point-of-care testing (POCT) that can be used in in resource-limited areas. iTACT-HBcrAg is an alternative to HBV DNA for monitoring HBV reactivation and predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. This validated biomarker is available in routine clinical practice in Japan. Currently, international guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission recommend anti-HBV prophylaxis for pregnant women with high viral loads. However, over 95% of HBV-infected individuals live in countries where HBV DNA quantification is widely unavailable. Given this situation, a rapid and simple HBcrAg assay for POCT would be highly effective. Long-term anti-HBV therapy may have potential side effects and appropriate treatment should be provided to eligible patients. Therefore, a simple method of determining the indication for anti-HBV treatment would be ideal. This review provides up-to-date information regarding the clinical value of HBcrAg in HBV management, based on iTACT-HBcrAg or POCT.
Characterization of Two Novel Single-Stranded RNA Viruses from Agroathelia rolfsii, the Causal Agent of Peanut Stem Rot
Authors: Yu Dongyang , Wang Qianqian , Song Wanduo , Kang Yanping , Lei Yong , Wang Zhihui , Chen Yuning , Huai Dongxin , Wang Xin , Liao Boshou , Yan Liying
Published: May 2024

Peanut stem rot is a soil-borne disease caused by Agroathelia rolfsii. It occurs widely and seriously affects the peanut yield in most peanut-producing areas. The mycoviruses that induce the hypovirulence of some plant pathogenic fungi are potential resources for the biological control of fungal diseases in plants. Thus far, few mycoviruses have been found in A. rolfsii. In this study, two mitoviruses, namely, Agroathelia rolfsii mitovirus 1 (ArMV1) and Agroathelia rolfsii mitovirus 2 (ArMV2), were identified from the weakly virulent A. rolfsii strain GP3-1, and they were also found in other A. rolfsii isolates. High amounts of ArMV1 and ArMV2in the mycelium could reduce the virulence of A. rolfsii strains. This is the first report on the existence of mitoviruses in A. rolfsii. The results of this study may provide insights into the classification and evolution of mitoviruses in A. rolfsii and enable the exploration of the use of mycoviruses as biocontrol agents for the control of peanut stem rot.
Stimulator of Interferon Gene Agonists Induce an Innate Antiviral Response against Influenza Viruses
Authors: Lee Hyun Jung , Park Joo-Hoo , Park Il-Ho , Shin Ok Sarah
Published: May 2024

The devastating effects of COVID-19 have highlighted the importance of prophylactic and therapeutic strategies to combat respiratory diseases. Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) is an essential component of the host defense mechanisms against respiratory viral infections. Although the role of the cGAS/STING signaling axis in the innate immune response to DNA viruses has been thoroughly characterized, mounting evidence shows that it also plays a key role in the prevention of RNA virus infections. In this study, we investigated the role of STING activation during Influenza virus (IFV) infection. In both mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and monocytic cell line THP-1 differentiated with PMA, we found that dimeric amidobenzimidazole (diABZI), a STING agonist, had substantial anti-IFV activity against multiple strains of IFV, including A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria. On the other hand, a pharmacological antagonist of STING (H-151) or the loss of STING in human macrophages leads to enhanced viral replication but suppressed IFN expression. Furthermore, diABZI was antiviral against IFV in primary air–liquid interface cultures of nasal epithelial cells. Our data suggest that STING agonists may serve as promising therapeutic antiviral agents to combat IFV.
Analysis of Adverse Events Post-13-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccination among Children in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Wang Jing , Du Jian , Liu Yan , Che Xinren , Xu Yuyang , Han Jiayin
Published: May 2024

With the widespread use of the 13-valent pneumonia vaccine (PCV13) in China, monitoring adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) is critical. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the AEFI occurrences reported within Hangzhou between the years 2020 and 2023, including the temporal trend of case reports and variables such as sex, age, type of PCV13, dose number, type of reporter, cause-specific classification, severity, and onset from vaccination. Vaccine safety signals were analyzed using reporting odds ratios (RORs). Over the 4 years analyzed in the study, 2564 AEFI cases were reported, including seven severe cases. Most AEFIs occurred within 0–1 days after vaccination (2398, 93.53%), with over half affecting infants aged 1.5–6 months of age. No statistically significant difference was observed between PCV13-TT and PCV-CRM197. Seasonal differences in AEFI reports were noted. Positive signals were detected for fever (ROR-1.96SE: 1.64) and persistent crying (ROR-1.96SE: 1.61). Four serious AEFI cases were coincidental events, while three others were considered vaccine-related cases (including one case each of allergic reaction, febrile seizure, and thrombocytopenia). The safety and tolerability of PCV13 are good, and attention should be paid to severe AEFIs, as well as long-term safety disparities between different types of PCV13.
Protective Efficacy of a Novel DNA Vaccine with a CL264 Molecular Adjuvant against Toxoplasma gondii in a Murine Model
Authors: Ju Kunping , Zhang Yunnan , Xu Zhaolin , Li Lingyu , Zhao Xiaoyan , Zhou Huaiyu
Published: May 2024

Toxoplasmosis is a significant global zoonosis with devastating impacts, and an effective vaccine against toxoplasmosis for humans has not yet been developed. In this study, we designed and formulated a novel DNA vaccine encoding the inhibitor of STAT1 transcriptional activity (IST) of T. gondii utilizing the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1 for the first time, with CL264 being a molecular adjuvant. Following intramuscular injection of the vaccine into mice, the levels of antibodies and cytokines were assessed to evaluate the immune response. Additionally, mice were challenged with highly virulent RH-strain tachyzoites of T. gondii, and their survival time was observed. The results show that the levels of IgG in serum, the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 and the levels of IFN-γ in splenocytes of mice were significantly higher in the pEGFP-TgIST group and the pEGFP-TgIST + CL264 group than in the control group. In addition, the proportion of CD4+/CD8+ T cells was higher in mice immunized with either the pEGFP-TgIST group (p < 0.001) or the pEGFP-TgIST + CL264 group (p < 0.05) compared to the three control groups. Notably, TgIST-immunized mice exhibited prolonged survival times after T. gondii RH strain infection (p < 0.05). Our findings collectively demonstrate that the TgIST DNA vaccine elicits a significant humoral and cellular immune response and offers partial protection against acute T. gondii infection in the immunized mice, which suggests that TgIST holds potential as a candidate for further development as a DNA vaccine.
Impact of HIV-Related Immune Impairment of Yellow Fever Vaccine Immunogenicity in People Living with HIV—ANRS 12403
Authors: Caetano Diogo Gama , Toledo Thais Stelzer , de Lima Ana Carolina Souza , Giacoia-Gripp Carmem Beatriz Wagner , de Almeida Dalziza Victalina , de Lima Sheila Maria Barbosa , Azevedo Adriana de Souza , Morata Michelle , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Cardoso Sandra Wagner , da Costa Marcellus Dias , Brandão Luciana Gomes Pedro , Bispo de Filippis Ana Maria , Scott-Algara Daniel , Coelho Lara Esteves , Côrtes Fernanda Heloise
Published: May 2024

The yellow fever (YF) vaccine is one of the safest and most effective vaccines currently available. Still, its administration in people living with HIV (PLWH) is limited due to safety concerns and a lack of consensus regarding decreased immunogenicity and long-lasting protection for this population. The mechanisms associated with impaired YF vaccine immunogenicity in PLWH are not fully understood, but the general immune deregulation during HIV infection may play an important role. To assess if HIV infection impacts YF vaccine immunogenicity and if markers of immune deregulation could predict lower immunogenicity, we evaluated the association of YF neutralization antibody (NAb) titers with the pre-vaccination frequency of activated and exhausted T cells, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and frequency of T cells, B cells, and monocyte subsets in PLWH and HIV-negative controls. We observed impaired YF vaccine immunogenicity in PLWH with lower titers of YF-NAbs 30 days after vaccination, mainly in individuals with CD4 count <350 cells/mm3. At the baseline, those individuals were characterized by having a higher frequency of activated and exhausted T cells and tissue-like memory B cells. Elevated levels of those markers were also observed in individuals with CD4 count between 500 and 350 cells/mm3. We observed a negative correlation between the pre-vaccination level of CD8+ T cell exhaustion and CD4+ T cell activation with YF-NAb titers at D365 and the pre-vaccination level of IP-10 with YF-NAb titers at D30 and D365. Our results emphasize the impact of immune activation, exhaustion, and inflammation in YF vaccine immunogenicity in PLWH.
Possible Changes and Trends in Non-COVID-19 Vaccine-Prescribing Patterns before and during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: van Rooyen Shirie , Lubbe Martie , Kotze Irma , Motaze Nkengafac Villyen
Published: May 2024

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many children missed their routine vaccinations globally. There is insufficient evidence on the trends in vaccination coverage in the private healthcare sector in South Africa. This study explored the changes in childhood vaccination patterns (non-COVID vaccines) in the private healthcare sector in South Africa using medicine claim data. Using the information on medication claims from a South African pharmaceutical benefit management (PBM) company, we performed a quantitative cross-sectional analysis comparing the period before (2018–2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). All patients who made claims within the study period were included. This study included 67,830 children aged two years and younger. In particular, from 2018 to 2021, boys (52%) outnumbered girls (48%). Pharmacists consistently held the predominant prescriber role before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proportion of children receiving non-COVID-19 vaccines was higher before the pandemic (60%) than during the pandemic (55%). Furthermore, there was a notable decline of 5% in measles vaccination rates during the children’s first year of life, while a notable increase was observed for measles (5%), hepatitis A (7.7%), and the pentavalent vaccine (5%) during the second year of life. Governments and private healthcare providers must take action to enhance vaccination coverage rates for children in their first year of life to prevent a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. The results obtained in this study underscore the significance of implementing vaccine catch-up campaigns to address missed vaccination opportunities arising from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, pharmacists emerged as the predominant healthcare providers responsible for administering vaccinations within the private healthcare sector in South Africa, both prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their pivotal role in the vaccination process warrants due recognition and should not be underestimated.
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Resilience: A Stakeholder Surveys
Authors: Roukounis Charalampos Nikolaos , Tsihrintzis Vassilios A.
Published: May 2024

We studied the significance of stakeholder engagement in climate change adaptation within the context of coastal resilience. Our approach aimed to enhance collaboration in environmental planning processes by leveraging modeling tools to facilitate learning about the complexity of the socioecological system. A comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted using Google Forms. The questionnaire included clear instructions and structured response formats, aiming to gather stakeholder perspectives on adaptation measures and define action thresholds in response to climate uncertainties. A total of 47 responses were received and included consulting firm professionals, freelance engineers, local authority professionals, port authority professionals, researchers, and university professors in the field of coastal management. The survey data were analyzed using statistical methods in SPSS to identify key insights and patterns. The survey findings offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of adaptation measures, threshold perceptions for initiating adaptation actions, and the dynamics of stakeholder perspectives. Therefore, the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives in climate change adaptation efforts is highlighted. As answers tend to vary for different stakeholder occupations, the urge for collaboration in future decision-making procedures is highlighted. By bridging the gap between stakeholder input and climate change adaptation measures, this study demonstrates the potential of participatory approaches in enhancing resilience and fostering sustainable development in coastal regions vulnerable to climate change.
Role of Snow in the High-Mountain Hydrologic Cycle
Authors: Li Hongyi
Published: May 2024

Snow is a crucial component of the cryosphere and plays a vital role in the hydrological cycle, energy balance, and ecosystem function of mountainous regions [...]
Stream Algal Biomass Associations with Environmental Variables in a Temperate Rainforest
Authors: Toskey Elsa K. , Bollens Stephen M. , Rollwagen-Bollens Gretchen , Kiffney Peter M. , Martens Kyle D. , Bormann Bernard T.
Published: May 2024

Benthic algae and autotrophic seston are important bases of stream food webs, and several different environmental factors may influence their biomass. We explored how benthic algae and autotrophic seston biomass (using chlorophyll-a as a proxy for algal biomass) were associated with stream temperature, channel width, canopy cover, stream cardinal orientation, benthic macroinvertebrate functional feeding group abundance, salmonid biomass, and water velocity in 16 small, fish-bearing streams in the temperate rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, USA, in the summer of 2020. We performed a mixed-effects regression analysis of extracted chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and then used model averaging to determine significant (α = 0.05) algal–environmental associations for benthic algae and autotrophic seston separately. We found that benthic algae chl-a concentration increased significantly with stream temperature (p = 0.0085) and decreased significantly with water velocity (p = 0.0053). For autotrophic seston, we found that chl-a concentration increased significantly with benthic macroinvertebrate predator abundance (p = 0.0007) and stream temperature (p = 0.0160). This study underscores the need to consider a broad range of environmental variables when making research and management decisions concerning stream ecology.
Reach-Based Extrapolation to Assess the Ice-Jam Flood Hazard of an Ungauged River Reach along the Mackenzie River, Canada
Authors: Lindenschmidt Karl-Erich , Coles Anna , Saade Jad
Published: May 2024

Many communities along rivers in the Northwest Territories do not have water-level gauges, making flood hazard analyses difficult at these sites. These include the communities of Jean Marie River, Tulita and Fort Good Hope on the Mackenzie River, Nahanni Butte on the Liard River and Fort McPherson on the Peel River. However, gauges do exist at other sites upstream and downstream of these communities, from which flood hazard assessments can be extrapolated to the ungauged communities. Reach-based extrapolation becomes particularly challenging when analysing ice-jam flood hazards since data sparsity is an additional challenge at these locations. A simple empirical approach using non-dimensional stage and discharge was implemented, which allowed only a minimum of the required data from all sites to be extracted. From the gauged sites, water-surface elevations and slopes from digital elevation models, channel widths, thalweg elevations and ice thicknesses from under-ice flow measurement surveys and recorded water levels were obtained. As a test case, results from the gauged reach of Fort Simpson were extrapolated to the ungauged reach of Jean Marie River and are presented in this technical note.