bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corrections on the Distribution of Nuclei Due to Neutron Degeneracy and Its Effect on R-Process in Neutron Star Black Hole Mergers
Authors: Lau Rita K. Y.
Published: October 2024

The r-process is one of the processes that produces heavy elements in the Universe. One of its possible astrophysical sites is the neutron star–black hole (NS-BH) merger. We first show that the neutrons can degenerate before and during the r-process in these mergers. Previous studies assumed neutrons were non-degenerate and the related rates were calculated under Maxwell–Boltzmann approximations. Hence, we corrected the related rates with neutron degeneracy put in the network code and calculated with the trajectories of NS-BH mergers. We show that there are differences in the nuclei distributions. The heating rates and the temperature at most can be two times larger. The change in heating rates and temperature can affect the light curves of the kilonovae. However, this has little effect on the final abundances.
Deciphering the Genetic Architecture of Staphylococcus warneri Prophage vB_G30_01: A Comprehensive Molecular Analysis
Authors: Pu Fangxiong , Zhang Ning , Pang Jiahe , Zeng Nan , Baloch Faryal Babar , Li Zijing , Li Bingxue
Published: October 2024

The current knowledge of Staphylococcus warneri phages is limited, with few genomes sequenced and characterized. In this study, a prophage, vB_G30_01, isolated from Staphylococcus warneri G30 was characterized and evaluated for its lysogenic host range. The phage was studied using transmission electron microscopy and a host range. The phage genome was sequenced and characterized in depth, including phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses. The linear dsDNA genome of vB_G30_01 contains 67 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), classifying it within Bronfenbrennervirinae. With a total of 10 ORFs involved in DNA replication-related and transcriptional regulator functions, vB_G30_01 may play a role in the genetics and transcription of a host. Additionally, vB_G30_01 possesses a complete set of genes related to host lysogeny and lysis, implying that vB_G30_01 may influence the survival and adaptation of its host. Furthermore, a comparative genomic analysis reveals that vB_G30_01 shares high genomic similarity with other Staphylococcus phages and is relatively closely related to those of Exiguobacterium and Bacillus, which, in combination with the cross-infection assay, suggests possible cross-species infection capabilities. This study enhances the understanding of Staphylococcus warneri prophages, providing insights into phage–host interactions and potential horizontal gene transfer.
Patterns of HIV-1 Drug Resistance Observed Through Geospatial Analysis of Routine Diagnostic Testing in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Gounder Lilishia , Khan Aabida , Manasa Justen , Lessells Richard , Tomita Andrew , Pillay Melendhran , Manyana Sontaga C. , Govender Subitha , Francois Kerri-Lee , Moodley Pravi , Msomi Nokukhanya , Govender Kerusha , Parboosing Raveen , Moyo Sikhulile , Naidoo Kogieleum , Chimukangara Benjamin
Published: October 2024

HIV-1 drug resistance (HIVDR) impedes treatment and control of HIV-1, especially in high-prevalence settings such as KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa. This study merged routine HIV-1 genotypic resistance test (GRT) data with Geographic Information Systems coordinates to assess patterns and geographic distribution of HIVDR in KZN, among ART-experienced adults with virological failure. We curated 3133 GRT records generated between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2022, which includes the early phase of dolutegravir (DTG) rollout, of which 2735 (87.30%) had HIVDR. Of the 2735, major protease, nucleoside, and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor mutations were detected in 41.24%, 84.97% and 88.08% of GRTs, respectively. Additional genotyping of HIV-1 integrase for 41/3133 (1.31%) GRTs showed that 17/41 (41.46%) had integrase strand transfer inhibitor resistance. Notably, of 26 patients on DTG with integrase genotyping, 9 (34.62%) had DTG-associated resistance mutations. Dual- or triple-class resistance was observed in four of every five GRTs. The odds of HIVDR increased significantly with age, with ≥60 years having 5 times higher odds of HIVDR compared to 18–29 years (p = 0.001). We identified geospatial differences in the burden of HIVDR, providing proof of concept that this could be used for data-driven public health decision making. Ongoing real-time HIVDR surveillance is essential for evaluating the outcomes of the updated South African HIV treatment programme.
Rabies in Cats—An Emerging Public Health Issue
Authors: Fehlner-Gardiner Christine , Gongal Gyanendra , Tenzin Tenzin , Sabeta Claude , De Benedictis Paola , Rocha Silene Manrique , Vargas Alexander , Cediel-Becerra Natalia , Gomez Luis Carlos , Maki Joanne , Rupprecht Charles E.
Published: October 2024

Human rabies cases today are predominantly associated with infection from rabid domestic dogs. Unlike dogs, a common global reservoir species that perpetuates rabies viruses (RABV) within their populations, domestic cats are much less frequently reported or vaccinated. Epidemiologically, cats are important vectors of lyssaviruses but are not viral reservoirs. Typically, cats are incidental hosts only, infected with the predominant lyssavirus in their geographic locale. Human cases associated with rabid cats have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe and throughout the Americas. As adept, solitary hunters, wild and domestic felids are at risk of lyssavirus infection based upon interactions with infected prey, such as bats, or from transmission by other mesocarnivores, such as rabid dogs, foxes, jackals, raccoons, and skunks. Current veterinary vaccines provide safe and effective immunity in cats against phylogroup I lyssaviruses, such as RABV, but not against divergent lyssaviruses in phylogroups II-IV. With the focus upon the global elimination of canine rabies, the emergence of rabies in cats represents a concerning trend. Clearly, education about the occurrence of rabies in cats needs to be improved, as well as the routine vaccination of cats to reduce the associated risks to public health, agriculture, and conservation biology from a One Health perspective.
The State of the Art of Plant Virus Research in China
Authors: Li Feng
Published: October 2024

Plant viruses impose serious threats to agriculture in China and worldwide [...]
Leveraging Synthetic Virology for the Rapid Engineering of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)
Authors: Moles Chad M. , Basu Rupsa , Weijmarshausen Peter , Ho Brenda , Farhat Manal , Flaat Taylor , Smith Bruce F.
Published: October 2024

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a prototype RNA virus that has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of viral molecular biology and has applications in vaccine development, cancer therapy, antiviral screening, and more. Current VSV genome plasmids for purchase or contract virus services provide limited options for modification, restricted to predefined cloning sites and insert locations. Improved methods and tools to engineer VSV will unlock further insights into long-standing virology questions and new opportunities for innovative therapies. Here, we report the design and construction of a full-length VSV genome. The 11,161 base pair synthetic VSV (synVSV) was assembled from four modularized DNA fragments. Following rescue and titration, phenotypic analysis showed no significant differences between natural and synthetic viruses. To demonstrate the utility of a synthetic virology platform, we then engineered VSV with a foreign glycoprotein, a common use case for studying viral entry and developing anti-virals. To show the freedom of design afforded by this platform, we then modified the genome of VSV by rearranging the gene order, switching the positions of VSV-P and VSV-M genes. This work represents a significant technical advance, providing a flexible, cost-efficient platform for the rapid construction of VSV genomes, facilitating the development of innovative therapies.
Inflammasome-Driven Fatal Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Triggered by Mild COVID-19
Authors: Chen Vivian Chih-Wei , Joseph Craig Ryan , Chan Wharton O. Y. , Sia Wan Rong , Su Qi , Sam Xin Xiu , Tamilarasan Hemavathi , Mah Yun Yan , Ng Wei Lun , Yeong Joe , Wang Lin-Fa , Krishnamoorthy Thinesh L. , Leow Wei-Qiang , Ahn Matae , Chow Wan Cheng
Published: October 2024

Inflammasome is linked to many inflammatory diseases, including COVID-19 and autoimmune liver diseases. While severe COVID-19 was reported to exacerbate liver failure, we report a fatal acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in a stable primary biliary cholangitis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome patient triggered by a mild COVID-19 infection. Postmortem liver biopsy showed sparse SARS-CoV-2-infected macrophages with extensive ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) speck-positive hepatocytes, correlating with elevated circulating ASC specks and inflammatory cytokines, and depleted blood monocyte subsets, indicating widespread liver inflammasome activation. This first report of a fatal inflammatory cascade in an autoimmune liver disease triggered by a mild remote viral infection hopes to elucidate a less-described pathophysiology of ACLF that could prompt consideration of new diagnostic and therapeutic options.
The Global Burden of Absenteeism Related to COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Politis Marios , Rachiotis Georgios , Mouchtouri Varvara A. , Hadjichristodoulou Christos
Published: October 2024

Background: A rise in absenteeism among healthcare workers (HCWs) was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccine-related side effects may have also contributed to absenteeism during this period. This study aimed to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects among HCWs. Methods: The inclusion criteria for this review were original quantitative studies of any design, written in English, that addressed absenteeism related to the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the Web of Science) were searched for eligible articles on 7 June 2024. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Narrative synthesis and a meta-analysis were used to synthesize the evidence. Results: Nineteen observational studies with 96,786 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects was 17% (95% CI: 13–20%), while 83% (95% CI: 80–87%) of the vaccination events did not lead in any absenteeism. Study design, sex, vaccination dose, region, and vaccine type were identified as significant sources of heterogeneity. Conclusions: A non-negligible proportion of HCWs were absent from work after reporting side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. Various demographic factors should be considered in future vaccination schedules for HCWs to potentially decrease the burden of absenteeism related to vaccine side effects. As most studies included self-reported questionnaire data, our results may be limited due to a recall bias. Other: The protocol of the study was preregistered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42024552517).
Impact of Infections During Pregnancy on Transplacental Antibody Transfer
Authors: Coler Celeste , King-Nakaoka Elana , Every Emma , Chima Sophia , Vong Ashley , Del Rosario Briana , VanAbel Roslyn , Adams Waldorf Kristina M.
Published: October 2024

Vaccination in pregnancy is important to protect the mother and fetus from infectious diseases. The transfer of maternal antibodies across the placenta during pregnancy can continue to protect the neonate for several months after birth while the neonatal adaptive immune system develops. Several pathogens have been shown to impair the transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies, including human immunodeficiency virus, malaria, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and cytomegalovirus. This review discusses the mechanisms contributing to decreased transplacental antibody transfer in the setting of maternal infections, such as changes in antibody glycosylation profile, maternal hypergammaglobulinemia, and placental injury. The frequency of epidemics is increasing, and pregnant people are more likely to become exposed to novel pathogens now than they were in the past. Understanding the mechanisms by which infectious diseases impair maternal–fetal antibody transfer is important for pandemic preparedness to maximize the impact of maternal vaccination for child health.
In Situ Expression of Yak IL-22 in Mammary Glands as a Treatment for Bovine Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Mastitis in Mice
Authors: Wang Zening , Riqing Daojie , Ma Liangliang , Jiang Mingfeng , Zhuoma Ciren , Li Xiaowei , Liu Yili
Published: October 2024

Since the development of dairy farming, bovine mastitis has been a problem plaguing the whole industry, which has led to a decrease in milk production, a reduction in dairy product quality, and an increase in costs. The use of antibiotics to treat mastitis can cause a series of problems, which can bring a series of harm to the animal itself, such as the development of bacterial resistance and dramatic changes in the gut flora. However, the in vivo and in vitro antibacterial activity of yak Interleukin-22 (IL-22) and its application in mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus have not been reported. In this study, the mammary gland-specific expression plasmid pLF-IL22 of the yak IL-22 gene was constructed and expressed in MAC-T cells and mammary tissue of postpartum female mice. The coding region of the IL-22 gene in yaks is 573 bp, which can encode 190 amino acids, and the homology difference in the IL-22 gene in yaks is less than 30%, which indicates certain conservation. IL-22 is a hydrophilic protein with a total positive charge of four, the presence of a signal peptide, and the absence of a transmembrane domain. Sufficient expression of IL-22 effectively inhibited the high expression of inflammatory factors caused by Staphylococcus aureus, reduced the symptoms of mammary gland histopathology, and alleviated mastitis. Under the action of IL-22, the intestinal flora of mastitis mice also changed, the abundance of intestinal Bacilli, Prevotellaceae, and Alloprevotella in mice increased after treatment, and the pathogenic bacteria decreased. These findings provide new insights into the potential application of the yak IL-22 gene in the treatment of bovine mastitis in the future.
B-Flow and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Features of Subcutaneous Masses and Nodular Lesions in Dogs
Authors: De Bonis Andrea , Simeoni Francesco , Paolini Andrea , Rosto Martina , Del Signore Francesca , Bongiovanni Laura , Bianchi Amanda , Tamburro Roberto , Vignoli Massimo
Published: October 2024

Subcutaneous lesions in dogs are common in clinical practice. This prospective clinical study aims to compare B-flow and CEUS for the characterization of subcutaneous lesions evaluating their usefulness to distinguish benign subcutaneous lesions from malignant ones. Dogs were enrolled and ultrasound cine-loops were achieved in B-mode, Colour Doppler, Power Doppler, B-flow and CEUS. Lesions vascularisation highlighted through B-flow and CEUS were classified into five patterns: P1, absence of contrast uptake; P2, enhancement only in the peripheral area of the lesion; P3, thin (<2 mm) and few vessels (<5/field); P4, thicker (>2 mm) and more numerous vessels (>5/field); P5 enhancement with a reticular aspect and both thick and thin bands inside. Patterns highlighted with B-flow and CEUS were compared to a histological diagnosis of subcutaneous lesions. A total of 24 dogs and 30 subcutaneous nodules were included and divided into three groups: 3 non-neoplastic, 16 benign tumours and 11 malignant tumours. There was a statistically significant difference for B-flow and CEUS to differentiate benign tumours from malignant tumours. B-flow and CEUS had an excellent agreement. B-flow and CEUS displayed similar ability to evaluate different patterns and could be helpful in the evaluation of subcutaneous nodules.
Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis of the GeeSEBAL Model Using High-Resolution Remote-Sensing Data and Global Flux Site Data
Authors: Hu Shunjun , Tian Changyan , Jiao Ping
Published: October 2024

Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is an important component of the surface water cycle. The geeSEBAL model is increasingly being used to estimate ETa using high-resolution remote-sensing data (Landsat 4/5/7/8). However, due to surface heterogeneity, there is significant uncertainty. By optimizing the quantile values of the reverse-modelling automatic calibration algorithm (CIMEC) endpoint-component selection algorithm under extreme conditions through 212 global flux sites, we obtained the optimized quantile values of 11 vegetation types of cold- and hot-pixel endpoint components (Ts and NDVI). Based on the observation data of the global FLUXNET tower, the sensitivity of 20 parameters in the improved geeSEBAL model was determined through Sobol’s sensitivity analysis. Among them, the parameters dT and SAVI,hot were confirmed as the most sensitive parameters of the algorithm. Subsequently, we used the differential evolution Markov chain (DE-MC) method to analyse the uncertainty of the parameters in the geeSEBAL model used the posterior distribution of the parameters to modify the sensitive parameter values or ranges in the improved geeSEBAL model and to simulate the daily ETa. The results indicate that by analysing the end element components of the geeSEBAL model (Ts and NDVI), quantile numerical optimization and parameter optimization can be performed. Compared with the original algorithm, the improved geeSEBAL model has significantly improved simulation performance, as shown by higher R2 values, higher NSE values, smaller bias values, and lower RMSE values. The most suitable values of the predefined parameter Zoh were determined, and the reanalysis of meteorological data inputs (relative humidity (RH), temperature (T), wind speed (WS), and net radiation (Rn)) was also found to be an important source of uncertainty for the accurate estimation of ETa. This study indicates that optimizing the quantiles and key parameters of the model end component has certain potential for further improving the accuracy of the geeSEBAL model based on high-resolution remote-sensing data in estimating the ETa for various vegetation types.
Inversion Method for Material Parameters of Concrete Dams Using Intelligent Algorithm-Based Displacement Separation
Authors: Xu Jianrong , Gao Lingang , Li Tongchun , Guo Jinhua , Qi Huijun , Peng Yu , Wang Jianxin
Published: October 2024

Integrating long-term observational data analysis with numerical simulations of dam operations provides an effective approach to dam safety evaluation. However, analytical results are often subject to errors due to challenges in accurately surveying and modeling the foundation, as well as temporal changes in foundation properties. This paper proposes a concrete dam displacement separation model that distinguishes between deformation caused by foundation restraint and that induced by external loads. By combining this model with intelligent optimization techniques and long-term observational data, we can identify the actual mechanical parameters of the dam and conduct structural health assessments. The proposed model accommodates multiple degrees of freedom and is applicable to both two- and three-dimensional dam modeling. Consequently, it is well-suited for parameter identification and health diagnosis of concrete gravity and arch dams with extensive observational data. The efficacy of this diagnostic model has been validated through computational case studies and practical engineering applications.
The Water–Energy Nexus in 26 European Countries: A Review from a Hydrogeological Perspective
Authors: Rezaei Kalvani Somayeh , Pinardi Riccardo , Celico Fulvio
Published: October 2024

The significance of the interconnection between water and energy, known as the water–energy (WE) nexus, is highly regarded in scientific publications. This study used a narrative review method to analyze the existing WE nexus studies performed before 2024 in 26 European countries. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing WE nexus to identify research gaps and to report a conceptual overview of energy consumption related to groundwater use phases, ranging from the tapping to distribution. This information is valuable as a guideline for any future estimates in this field. The results indicate that the WE nexus in 26 European countries comprises a variety of topics, including the water supply system, wastewater treatment, hydropower, desalination, and biofuel production. Most of the focus has been on fossil fuel production, while water supply and desalination were considered rarely. Italy and Portugal had the largest WE nexus. It is highlighted that there have been no studies on the WE nexus focusing on the groundwater supply system that consider the conceptual hydrological model or hydrodynamic processes. In this work, a view of these aspects was provided by taking into account different hydrogeological and hydraulic scenarios that may affect the amount of energy required for groundwater exploitation. Most scientific publications have focused on quantitative analysis. In the future, it will be necessary for WE nexus models to place a greater emphasis on governance and the implications of the WE nexus approach.
Governance Conditions for a Successful Restoration of Riverine Ecosystems, Lessons from the Rhine River Basin
Authors: Fenten Twan , Dieperink Carel
Published: October 2024

Over the years, human impacts have resulted in great losses in riverine biodiversity. Ecosystem restoration could contribute to reversing this trend. Ecosystem restoration, however, involves many actors and perspectives and is, therefore, a complex governance challenge. So far, this governance challenge has been understudied, and it is not clear which governance conditions may contribute to a successful restoration of riverine ecosystems. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by developing an assessment framework that is applied in a critical case study. We first reviewed scientific papers and compiled governance conditions found in an assessment framework. The framework is tested and refined by conducting a case study on the ecosystem restoration process coordinated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine. This process aims to bring back the Atlantic salmon and other species in the basin. Our analysis revealed that despite efforts to reintroduce Atlantic salmon, a self-sustaining population is not present in the basin. Moreover, the governance structure in the basin only meets 13 out of 23 governance conditions. Challenges identified include slow decision-making, ambiguity in responsibilities, and limited financial incentives. Based on our case study, we have refined the framework to tailor it more for future research and policy development.
Analyzing Unimproved Drinking Water Sources and Their Determinants Using Supervised Machine Learning: Evidence from the Somaliland Demographic Health Survey 2020
Authors: Ismail Hibak M. , Muse Abdisalam Hassan , Hassan Mukhtar Abdi , Muse Yahye Hassan , Nadarajah Saralees
Published: October 2024

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right. Despite global efforts, including the UN’s “Water for Life” program, a significant portion of the population in developing countries, including Somaliland, continues to rely on unimproved water sources. These unimproved sources contribute to poor health outcomes, particularly for children. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the use of unimproved drinking water sources in Somaliland by employing supervised machine learning models to predict patterns and determinants based on data from the 2020 Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey (SHDS). Secondary data from SHDS 2020 were used, encompassing 8384 households across Somaliland. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to analyze the individual- and community-level factors influencing the use of unimproved water sources. In addition, machine learning models, including logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and K-nearest neighbor (KNN), were compared in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and other metrics using cross-validation techniques. This study uses supervised machine learning models to analyze unimproved drinking water sources in Somaliland, providing data-driven insights into the complex determinants of water access. This enhances predictive accuracy and informs targeted interventions, offering a robust framework for addressing water-related public health issues in Somaliland. The analysis identified key determinants of unimproved water source usage, including socioeconomic status, education, region, and household characteristics. The random forest model performed the best with an accuracy of 93.57% and an area under the curve (AUC) score of 98%. Decision tree and KNN also exhibited strong performance, while SVM had the lowest predictive accuracy. This study highlights the role of socioeconomic and community factors in determining access to clean drinking water in Somali Land. Factors such as age, education, gender, household wealth, media access, urban or rural residence, poverty level, and literacy level significantly influenced access. Local policies and resource availability also contribute to variations in access. These findings suggest that targeted interventions aimed at improving education, infrastructure, and community water management practices can significantly reduce reliance on unimproved water sources and improve the overall public health.
Spatial Distribution of Physical and Chemical Properties of Deep Sea Water in Xisha, South China Sea
Authors: Fang Xiaochen , Chen Mei , Lu Dongyu , Guo Xudong , Tian Fei , Li Xuelin , Huang Lei , Ji Chunsheng , Xia Changfa , Huang Mianyu , Wang Yanmei , He Xiaoyu , Tian Lieyu , Zhang Huiyin
Published: October 2024

Deep sea water (DSW) is a globally utilized source of renewable energy and other resources. To understand the characteristics of DSW resources in the South China Sea, in July 2022, the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS) investigated temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), inorganic salts (DIN, PO43−-P, and SiO3-Si), heavy metals (Hg, Pb, As, and Cd), trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se, and Mo), and other related indicators. The results of this investigation elucidate the horizontal and vertical changes in the physical and chemical properties of deep sea water in the Xisha Sea. The surface seawater quality in Xisha was found to be excellent and to meet first-class seawater survey standards. However, the concentrations of various nutrient salts in the surface layer were relatively low. As the seawater depth increased, different trace elements and heavy metals exhibited variations, and the concentrations of various nutrients also gradually increased.
Mitigation of Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water Supply Sources by Adsorption Using Bone Char: Effects of Mineral and Organic Matrix
Authors: Raoul Ibrahim Mohamed , Oyetade Joshua Akinropo , Dalhatou Sadou , Nikiforov Anton , Leys Christophe , Hilonga Askwar
Published: October 2024

This study focused on fluoride (F−) contamination of water sources in Bahimi village, Cameroon. After the first investigation, results revealed that all water samples collected had elevated concentrations of fluoride ions (2.3 ± 0.1) mg/L to (4.5 ± 0.2) mg/L above the WHO guidelines (less than 1.5 mg/L). To mitigate the F− levels, the use of bone char (BC) as an adsorbent material was proposed and its performance was tested. BC was prepared from bovine bones at different calcination temperatures (350 °C, 450 °C, 550 °C and 650 °C) and residence times (1 h and 2 h). The prepared materials were characterized in detail by SEM/EDS, BET, FTIR, and XRD. The BET findings indicated that the surface area of BC samples decreased with increasing calcination temperature and residence time. At a lower heating temperature and holding time (350 °C, 1 h), the prepared BC exhibited a higher specific surface area (112.3 ± 0.3) m2/g and adsorption capacity for F− in the sampled water. Also, the batch adsorption experiments showed that the optimized adsorbent dose of 8 g/L facilitates the reduction in the F− level of the sampled water below the acceptable limit level (1.5 mg/L) within 5 min of treatment. The presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in natural water has a positive effect on the removal of F− in BC resulting in a high adsorption performance range of (72.5 ± 1.4)% to (80.3 ± 0.6)%. It was found that the adsorption of Ca2+ on the BC surface occurs via cation exchange with Na+. However, an increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the treated water limited the application of BC. Overall, the study presented a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of this recalcitrant ion in the water source.
The Israeli Water Policy and Its Challenges During Times of Emergency
Authors: Cohen Erez
Published: October 2024

In a time of growing climate crisis, and despite the global warming trend, Israeli citizens routinely enjoy a regular constant supply of clean fresh water thanks to local desalination plants. Establishment of the desalination plants has become a model of water management for many countries in an era of growing climate crisis. At the same time, Israel’s water sector is faced with challenges and threats related to earthquakes, various states of warfare, and security confrontations. In such times of emergency, Israel’s water sector is particularly vulnerable to disruptions of the water infrastructure and its adequate operation by both contamination of the water sources and damage to the desalination plants. This study examines the challenges of the Israeli water sector that require it to contend with these emergency situations in an era of reliance on desalination plants. The research findings lead to the conclusion that public policy on managing the water sector, manifested in the development and establishment of water desalination plants, has resolved Israel’s water crisis, put an end to its dependency on the amount of precipitation and on natural water sources, and allowed for an increase in water production to match the rise in consumption. Nonetheless, as successful as this public policy may be, it does not consider the possibility of extreme scenarios and does not develop the entire range of steps necessary to confront them, and thus it undermines the ability of the Israeli water sector to provide its citizens with water in times of emergency.
Evaluating Hydrologic Model Performance for Characterizing Streamflow Drought in the Conterminous United States
Authors: Simeone Caelan , Foks Sydney , Towler Erin , Hodson Timothy , Over Thomas
Published: October 2024

Hydrologic models are the primary tools that are used to simulate streamflow drought and assess impacts. However, there is little consensus about how to evaluate the performance of these models, especially as hydrologic modeling moves toward larger spatial domains. This paper presents a comprehensive multi-objective approach to systematically evaluating the critical features in streamflow drought simulations performed by two widely used hydrological models. The evaluation approach captures how well a model classifies observed periods of drought and non-drought, quantifies error components during periods of drought, and assesses the models’ simulations of drought severity, duration, and intensity. We apply this approach at 4662 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gages covering a wide range of hydrologic conditions across the conterminous U.S. from 1985 to 2016 to evaluate streamflow drought using two national-scale hydrologic models: the National Water Model (NWM) and the National Hydrologic Model (NHM); therefore, a benchmark against which to evaluate additional models is provided. Using this approach, we find that generally the NWM better simulates the timing of flows during drought, while the NHM better simulates the magnitude of flows during drought. Both models performed better in wetter eastern regions than in drier western regions. Finally, each model showed increased error when simulating the most severe drought events.
Iron–Cobalt Bimetallic Metal–Organic Framework-Derived Carbon Materials Activate PMS to Degrade Tetracycline Hydrochloride in Water
Authors: Liu Qin , Zhang Huali , Zhang Kanghui , Li Jinxiu , Cui Jiaheng , Shi Tongshan
Published: October 2024

Organic pollutants entering water bodies lead to severe water pollution, posing a threat to human health. The activation of persulfate advanced oxidation processes using carbon materials derived from MOFs as substrates can efficiently treat wastewater contaminated with organic pollutants. This research uses NH2-MIL-101(Fe) as a substrate, doped with Fe2+ and Co2+, to prepare Fe/Co-CNs through a one-step carbonization method. The surface morphology, pore structure, and chemical composition of Fe/Co-CNs were investigated using characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FT-IR, BET, and Raman. A comparative study was conducted on the performance of catalysts with different Fe/Co ratios in activating PMS for the degradation of organic pollutants, as well as the effects of various influencing factors (the dosage of Fe/Co-CNs, the amount of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), the initial pH of the solution, the TC concentration, and inorganic anions) on the catalyst’s activation of persulfate for TC degradation. Through radical quenching experiments and post-degradation XPS analysis, the active radicals in the FeCo-CNs/PMS system were investigated to explain the possible mechanism of TC degradation in the Fe/Co-CNs/PMS system. The results indicate that Fe/Co-CNs-2 (with a Co2+ doping amount of 20%) achieves a degradation rate of 93.34% for TC (tetracycline hydrochloride) within 30 min when activating PMS, outperforming other Co2+ doping amounts. In addition, singlet oxygen (1O2) is the main reactive species in the reaction system.
Factors Influencing Water Resource Levels Under the Water Resource Carrying Capacity Framework: A Dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data
Authors: Li Zehua , Wu Yanfeng , Li Zhijun , Zhang Wenguang , Yuan Yuxiang
Published: October 2024

Most existing evaluation frameworks for water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) neglect the interdependencies between subsystems. To fill this gap, we introduce a dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) model to evaluate WRCC and apply it to a vital economic development corridor, the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). Ecological, social, and economic subsystems are defined as condition subsystems, while the water resource subsystem is defined as the outcome subsystem. The entropy weight method is used to calculate and calibrate the comprehensive score of each subsystem. By analyzing the necessity of a single condition subsystem and the sufficiency of condition subsystem configuration via a dynamic QCA, we qualitatively analyze the impact extent and pathways of the ecological, social, and economic subsystems on the water resource subsystem within the WRCC framework. The results reveal generally stable water resource levels despite regional variances, thereby pinpointing the influence pathways, including ecological–social and ecological–economic configurations. The 2011–2015 period saw poor stability, which subsequently improved until 2019 before declining in 2020 in the YREB. The middle-reach urban cluster showed the highest stability, which was less impacted by condition subsystems. These findings could enable provinces and municipalities to tailor policies and enhance subsystem levels for better water resource management.
Land Reforestation and Its Impact on the Environmental Footprints Across Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Rahman Khalil Ur , Ullah Hidayat , Shang Songhao , Mao Deqiang , Han Mei
Published: October 2024

This study integrates various remote sensing datasets to analyze environmental changes and their impacts on ecosystems across Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan. Precipitation data from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) dataset, along with vegetation health assessments using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) data from the Landsat dataset, were used to comprehensively analyze the impact of vegetation dynamics on environmental footprints (i.e., temperature, precipitation, and LST). Land use maps, generated through supervised classification of Landsat images from 1985 to 2023, highlight significant changes in different land use classes, including vegetation and forest cover. Bayesian Network Modelling (BNM) and Dummy Variable Regression (DVR) methods were employed to assess the impact of vegetation (using NDVI time series) on environmental footprint and forest cover in particular. The results suggest that the NDVI generally increase the cooling effect across most of the study area, indicating that higher vegetation density is linked to a decrease in temperatures. This inverse relationship is also apparent in the connection between the NDVI and the LST, depicting a negative trend in surface temperature over most of the pixels/districts. The regression coefficients for the NDVI and the LST vary across different pixels, ranging from −5.3839 °C to 5.2697 °C, with standard deviations from 2.057 °C to 5.138 °C, reflecting a variability in the strength of this cooling effect. Similarly, for the relationship between the NDVI and the LST, coefficients range from −7.1513 °C to 6.6322 °C, with standard deviations between 1.612 °C and 4.155 °C. In contrast, NDVI and precipitation show a positive relationship, with regression coefficients ranging from 4.1686 °C to 44.3932 °C and standard deviations between 2.242 °C and 8.224 °C, suggesting greater variability in precipitation corresponding to vegetation dynamics. Additionally, forest cover generally correlates positively with precipitation in most pixels, but the variability across pixels emphasizes the complex nature of these relationships. The study identified substantial fluctuations in land use categories over the decades, indicating environmental shifts driven by both natural and human factors. BNM demonstrated a positive impact of vegetation dynamics on precipitation and a negative impact on both temperature and LST. On the other hand, the increase in forest cover, particularly due to the Billion Tree Tsunami Project, has a significant impact on the environmental footprint identified through DVR. By combining high-resolution datasets with advanced statistical techniques, this study offers key insights into the dynamic interactions between land cover, vegetation, and climate in the study region, providing valuable information for sustainable environmental management.
A Extensão que fizemos, a Extensão que faremos: um novo tempo para Universidade Pública na sociedade brasileira (volume 3)
Authors: Sousa Fernanda Cunha , Coimbra Ana Lívia de Souza
Published: October 2024

A Extensão que fizemos, a Extensão que faremos: um novo tempo para Universidade Pública na sociedade brasileira (volume 3)
Cyberbullying Detection in Social Networks Using Deep Learning
Authors: Khafajeh Hayel
Published: October 2024

Cyberbullying causes significant harm, especially among adolescents and young adults. With the growth of social media, online harassment through platforms like Facebook and Twitter has also proliferated rapidly. Though social networks have reporting mechanisms, the volume of user-generated content makes manual moderation infeasible. This necessitates automated detection systems that can accurately identify cyberbullying at scale. Recent advances in deep learning provide promising techniques for text classification tasks. This paper explores Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and transformer models like Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) for cyberbullying detection in social networks. The models are evaluated on a benchmark dataset containing 11,000 Facebook comments labeled as clean or cyberbullying. Extensive experiments demonstrate that BERT achieves the highest accuracy of 87.3% followed by a hierarchical CNN-LSTM architecture with 86.5% accuracy. The former benefits from bidirectional context modeling using self-attention while the latter combines the strengths of convolutional layers and LSTMs. The results verify the effectiveness of deep learning methodologies for this problem. However, enhancements in multilingual, multimodal support and adversarial robustness are required. Testing on diverse platforms and content along with user privacy considerations remain as future research directions. This empirical study provides useful insights to build robust cyberbullying detection systems.
Estruturação de um sistema logístico para suprimentos de materiais e equipamentos para obras rápidas de infraestrutura elétrica, baseado no sistema Toyota de produção e princípio da Lean construction
Authors: Ribeiro Virgílio
Published: October 2024

Este trabalho aplica os princípios e conceitos do Sistema Toyota de Produção (STP) na Indústria da Construção Civil, bem como, a filosofia Lean Construction. O objetivo foi desenvolver intervenção baseado nos princípios do STP e filosofia Lean Construction que contribuíram para melhoria da qualidade, da produtividade e da eficiência da obra como um todo. O setor de suprimentos para obras é o foco deste trabalho. O Sistema Toyota de Produção é uma metodologia estruturada que objetiva reduzir as perdas produtivas (e com isto os custos). A filosofia Lean Construction surgiu como forma de minimizar os desperdícios durante o processo produtivo, reduzir as atividades que não agregam valor ao produto, melhorar o controle e a estabilidade dos processos na construção civil.
O método de pesquisa adotado no trabalho foi à pesquisa-ação que permitiu a interação entre os diferentes elementos envolvidos na pesquisa.
Em relação aos objetivos propostos neste trabalho, confirma-se que a sua maioria foi atingida, embora alguns tenham sido atingidos com maior eficácia do que outros. 
O principal resultado obtido com o trabalho foi à ferramenta do Macrocontrole de Estoque, ferramenta simples que na sua simplicidade provocou observações, discussões e novas propostas de melhoria.
O uso de biogás de aterro como combustível renovável para frota de caminhões
Authors: Romanholi Wiliam Michel de Moura , Ávila Giovani Manso
Published: October 2024

O gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos contribui significativamente para as emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) devido ao biogás não controlado em aterros sanitários e ao uso de combustíveis fósseis em caminhões de coleta e compactação. Este estudo avalia a viabilidade de utilizar o biogás gerado em aterros sanitários como combustível renovável para esses caminhões, considerando seu alto valor calorífico e seu potencial para reduzir tanto os custos de combustível quanto os impactos ambientais. Foi realizada uma análise qualitativa dos benefícios e uma avaliação quantitativa do potencial de produção de biogás no aterro sanitário do Jardim Gramacho, no Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados indicam que apenas 5% do biogás gerado diariamente poderia abastecer toda a frota de caminhões de coleta, demonstrando a viabilidade dessa abordagem.
Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes: orientação jurídica na perspectiva da concessão de benefícios previdenciários aos segurados especiais no projeto de assentamento Nossa Senhora Aparecida II no município de Redenção - PA
Authors: Noleto Ana Clara Queiroz , Aquino Daniesla Batista de , Silva Edinalva Souza Santos , Silva Geraldo Jacinto da , Parente Marcos do Vale , Silva Maria Alice da Silva e , Silva Maryanne Souza e , Silva Richardson Ribeiro da
Published: October 2024

O presente artigo busca promover informação sobre orientação jurídica na perspectiva da concessão de benefícios previdenciários aos segurados especiais e assim o alcance do objetivo definido. Este trabalho apresentará discussões acerca do direito de desenvolvimento sustentável, igualdade no acesso à justiça e proteção das liberdades fundamentais.  O  interesse  no  estudo  do  tema  se  aprofunda  a  proporção que a situação se agrava devido à carência de informações claras sobre a documentação necessária para a concessão de aposentadorias, resultando em obstáculos significativos para a efetivação de seus direitos, a qual é  constantemente  instigada  e  desafiada  por  essas  novas  questões  que se demonstram vigentes e efetivas em meio a essa nova Sociedade da Informação.
Investigating the effect of implementing continuous care model on fatigue and quality of life of patients with COVID-19 disease
Authors: Rezaee Maryam , Shaikhy Rahimali , Raeesi-Shahraki Hadi , Lalegani Hedayat Allah , Hafizi-Isfahani Masood , Davoodvand Shirmohammad
Published: October 2024

Background and aims: Chronic fatigue and decreased quality of life are complications of COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the impact of the continuous care model implementation on fatigue and quality of life of patients with COVID-19. Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted with pre-test and post-test design in Shahrekord, Iran, 2022. The study was conducted on 80 patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at Hajer hospital in Shahrekord and Seyed al-Shohda hospital in Farsan. They entered the study by convenient sampling and were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using cards. The continuous care model was implemented in 4 stages for the intervention group for three months. Data were gathered using the demographic data questionnaire, Krupp et al.’s fatigue intensity questionnaire (1989), and St. George’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (SGRQ) (1991), then analyzed with SPSS19 software. Results: Before the intervention, both groups had no statistically significant difference between fatigue intensity (P=0.65) and quality of life (P=0.47). The fatigue intensity immediately after the intervention and three months later in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.001). The quality of life immediately after the intervention and three months later in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of the continuous care model in COVID-19 complications, it is recommended that healthcare professionals train and use it to take care of these patients and in similar cases.
Lignocellulosic characterisation of Pinus patula wood from Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Hidalgo Flora Apolinar , Honorato-Salazar J. Amador , Hernández Gertrudis Colotl
Published: October 2024

Wood is mainly composed of carbohydrates, lignin, and smaller proportions of extractives and minerals. The products that can be obtained and derived from wood depend directly on its chemical composition. This work aimed to determine the contents of α-cellulose, holocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and the extractives in ethanol-benzene and ethanol of the wood of six Pinus patula trees. An analysis of variance was performed on the obtained data, followed by a multiple comparison of means (LSD, α = 0.05). The results indicated significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the chemical compounds among the six trees. On average, P. patula wood contained 67.93% holocellulose, 43.28% α-cellulose, 24.65% hemicellulose, 28.08% lignin, 2.30% ethanol-benzene extractives, 0.32% ethanol extractives, and 2.62% total extractives.