bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of the Impacts of Tourism by the Administrations of Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism (Un)Development in Slovakia
Authors: Štrba Ľubomír , Kolačkovská Jana , Kršák Branislav , Sidor Csaba , Lukáč Marián
Published: May 2022

Sustainable tourism development within protected areas has been a subject of interest for professionals. The effective development of nature-based tourism can be beneficial to both the environment and people. This work presents the results of research on the positive and negative impacts of tourism in protected areas of Slovakia as perceived by the administrations of individual protected areas of the country. Subsequently, the paper highlights the major issues affecting sustainable tourism development in protected areas in Slovakia, based on a review of recent legislation and strategic documents. The results of the study indicate that the status of a large-scale protected area does not play a role in the perception of the impact of tourism. The most significant impacts of tourism in protected areas, according to their administrations’ perceptions, include an increase in waste production, informing local people about the value of the natural and cultural heritage, the education of visitors, the conflict of interest in using natural resources when doing business in a protected area, and the destruction of natural habitats. However, when linking the impacts of tourism to sustainable tourism development in these areas, current Slovak legislation does not allow for the sufficient development of nature-based tourism in protected areas in Slovakia. In this regard, appropriate measures are required to positively change the recent situation in this field.
Analyzing the Level of Detail of Construction Schedule for Enabling Site Logistics Planning (SLP) in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Environment
Authors: Kolarić Sonja , Vukomanović Mladen , Ramljak Antonio
Published: May 2022

As Building Information Modeling (BIM) becomes the predominant technology in the construction industry, contractors, amongst other activities, need to conduct Site Logistics Planning (SLP) in the BIM environment during different project phases. 4D BIM modelling is an important step towards developing BIM models ready for the construction execution phase. However, in developing such models, currently no standard exist which would guide contractors towards a thorough analyses of site logistics. Moreover, there is a scarcity of studies and research on level of detail of construction schedules, which makes SLP hard to implement in a BIM environment. We addressed this problem by employing a case-study method for understanding how 4D BIM models should be designed to enable effective SLP and dynamic site layout creation. The results show that the following input data for SLP in the BIM environment is needed: hierarchically structured 3D BIM model, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), detail schedule, resources constraints, and defined onsite temporary facilities. Additionally, we have found that the activities should be further divided into work operations to enable SLP. Our results enable contractors to create a dynamic site layout according to the BIM principles. Moreover, the findings are an initial step for the further standardization of the BIM model for the SLP in the BIM environment.
Advanced System Determined for Utilisation of Sustainable Biofuels in High-Performance Sport Applications
Authors: Puškár Michal
Published: May 2022

It is of current importance to reach carbon neutrality in various transport sectors as soon as possible, with regard to the fact that transport, characterized by the utilization of piston combustion engines, is one of the main polluters in urban agglomerations. Piston combustion engine pollution also significantly influences the quality of the living environment and human health. The application of biofuels containing bioethanol or biodiesel essentially contributes to the reduction of air pollution caused by exhaust gases, also taking into consideration the renewability of these fuels. Therefore, the modification of spark ignited engines is necessary for the correct operation of ethanol combustion and to remove risks during operation and combustion, mainly the possibility of detonation combustion. To date, there has been a gradual development of engines intended for the combustion of the fuel mixture gasoline–bioethanol, mainly the fuel E85. This fuel mixture contains 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. This paper is focused on construction modifications of a specific combustion engine, which operates with a two-stroke working cycle, which is predominantly intended for installation in category L motor-sport vehicles and kart race vehicles. A new construction solution specifically for this engine was developed and consequently patented. The results obtained while testing this engine in real racing conditions confirmed the correctness and purposefulness of the proposed engine concept.
Geomechanical Behaviour of Recycled Construction and Demolition Waste Submitted to Accelerated Wear
Authors: Secco Marina Paula , Bruschi Giovani Jordi , Vieira Castorina S. , Cristelo Nuno
Published: May 2022

The construction industry is one of the most important sectors for economic and social development. However, it is responsible for more than 50% of the depletion of natural resources, for 40% of the energy consumption and construction and demolition waste (CDW) accounting for 30–60% of the total municipal solid waste generated worldwide. In this sense, the recycling of CDW is considered a safe alternative to the current trend, which can produce environmental and economic benefits, namely the reduction of the depletion of natural resources and the volume of waste sent to landfills. Some studies have shown promising results in the use of recycled CDW as geotechnical materials. However, the degradation performance induced by the construction procedures and weather conditions on the geotechnical behaviour of recycled CDW is still a research gap, creating an obstacle for its regular use in general engineering practice. This work evaluated the mechanical performance of recycled CDW over time when subjected to wetting–drying degradation cycles under different temperature and pH conditions. The effects of such degradation were then evaluated qualitatively (changes in particle size distribution and Proctor parameters) and quantitatively (stress–strain response and permeability). The results showed that 10 wetting–drying cycles and different compaction energies have no change in the particle size distribution of CDW compared to the original CDW. The shear strength parameters were very similar for the different degradation conditions except when different pH values were used, which may have weakened the grains and decrease the friction angle of the material. Regarding the permeability, all tested samples were classified in the same hydraulic conductivity range (very low) without significant changes induced by the degradation mechanisms.
Current Situation and Sustainable Renewal Strategies of Public Space in Chinese Old Communities
Authors: Zhang Bowen , Guo Weimin , Xing Zhaolian , Zhou Ren
Published: May 2022

Old community renovation is now gradually receiving attention in China's urban construction development, and how to make its public space sustainable has become a research topic. This paper conducts a study of the current situation of public space in old communities from the surface to the deep through field research methods. This paper has summarized four spatial characteristics of public space in old communities, including the increase of boundary space; spatial function is polarized between context-specific user groups and complex but sustainable symbiotic systems. Based on these findings, this paper proposes three sustainable renovation considerations and strategies, which include respecting the rationales of the original space, stimulating the cooperation of stakeholders, and recreating the daily life of residents.
A Systematic Literature Review on Packaging Sustainability: Contents, Opportunities, and Guidelines
Authors: Sastre Ricardo Marques , de Paula Istefani Carísio , Echeveste Marcia Elisa Soares
Published: May 2022

The relationship between packaging and sustainability has caused the evolution of literature towards the minimization of environmental damage. The task of packaging professionals is becoming more demanding, as they need to collect information from distinct topics to stay up to date. The aim of this research is to gather information on packaging in the sustainability context to provide a systemic view of the contents, to identify opportunities, and define guidelines for packaging design. A systematic literature review of 472 papers was performed. The first step was a bibliographic search using Pack *, Sustainab *, and eco * as keywords. Secondly, the content analysis revealed the emergence of nine categories grouped in four clusters. These categories and nineteen subthemes were considered research opportunities. Going beyond the coding units of the content analysis, we have used context units to propose (i) the gathering of technical procedures to support the design phases of sustainable packaging; and (ii) the proposition of a framework based on the life cycle stages and design phases. At last, we have provided insights and guidelines that can be useful for packaging professionals.
A Game Analysis-Based Behavioral Interaction Framework between Governments and Innovative Enterprises for Intellectual Property Regulation Policies
Authors: Gu Qianqian , Hang Lei
Published: May 2022

Although the Chinese government has issued and revised a series of policies and regulations on intellectual property, infringement still repeatedly occurs. China is in a critical period of economic transformation and upgrading, and the problem of intellectual property infringement is becoming increasingly prominent. Accordingly, in this study, an evolutionary game analysis-based behavioral interaction framework between innovative enterprises and local government regulators, based on evolutionary game theory, was constructed. The strategy choice of both sides of the game and the evolutionary stability of the system were analyzed, and the evolutionary path of each equilibrium point was verified by simulation. The results show that the proposed framework is complex; the dynamic evolutionary system has different evolutionary equilibrium states under different institutional environments. Profit is not the only factor affecting the behavior decision of enterprises; the behavior strategies of governments also have an effect, and the interaction is mutual. Under the government supervision mode, innovative enterprises gradually evolve into the non-infringement strategy under the pressure of external supervision. However, the policy cost of this mode is too high for it to be the optimal solution for regulatory policy. Under the mode of no government supervision, the innovation incentive policy gives enterprises the internal motivation to innovate, results in a relative reduction in the infringement income, and blocks the inducement of infringement. This can effectively control enterprise infringement to realize the sustainable development of enterprises and ultimately achieve the desired objectives of government regulatory policy.
Prediction of Permeability Coefficient k in Sandy Soils Using ANN
Authors: Wrzesiński Grzegorz , Markiewicz Anna
Published: May 2022

The paper presents a method of application of an ANN (Artificial Neural Network) to predict the permeability coefficient k in sandy soils: FSa, MSa, CSa. To develop an ANN the results of permeability coefficients from pumping and consolidation tests were applied. The proposed ANN with an architecture 6-8-1 predicts the value of permeability coefficient k based on the following parameters: soil type, relative density ID, void ratio e and effective soil diameter d10. The mean relative error and single maximum value of the relative error for the proposed ANN are following: Mean RE = ±4%, Max RE = 7.59%. The use of the ANN to predict the soil permeability coefficient allows the reduction of the costs and time needed to conduct laboratory or field tests to determine this parameter.
A Review on the Effect of Mechanical Properties and Durability of Concrete with Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) and Fly Ash in the Production of New Cement Concrete
Authors: Da Silva Sérgio Roberto , Andrade Jairo José de Oliveira
Published: May 2022

The search for new alternative materials for employment in the construction industry is necessary for more sustainable development. The construction demolition waste (CDW), as well as by-products generated by initiatives, such as slag, fly ash (FA), palm oil fuel ash (POFA), metakaolin (MK), silica fume (SF), and rice husk ash (RHA), are objects of studies in several segments of the civil construction sector. The addition of these wastes to the materials currently used to produce concrete and mortar can be one of the significant efforts to achieve more sustainable construction. The use of these wastes in the construction sector can bring considerable benefits in terms of costs, energy efficiency, and environmental and ecological benefits. Over the years, many types of research have been developed aiming at the possibility of a practical use of CDW as an aggregate and industrial by-product (FA, POFA, MK, SF, RHA) as pozzolans. Based on recent studies, this paper reviews the current state of knowledge about the production of concrete with partial replacement of natural aggregates by recycled aggregates from CDW and the use of fly ash (FA) as pozzolan in partial replacement with Portland cement. This work discussed the following concrete properties: compressive strength, water absorption, chloride penetration, carbonation, and modulus of elasticity.
The Effects of Business Strategy and Organizational Culture of Korean Companies on Market Satisfaction: The Case of the African Market
Authors: Kim Woohyuk , Lee Miae , Lee Chunghee , Kim Sungsoo
Published: May 2022

The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between business strategy, organizational culture, and market satisfaction. This study focused on Korean companies entering Africa and companies wishing to enter Africa and analyzed the satisfaction of companies with the African market focusing on internal environmental conditions. In terms of data, we collected 183 usable samples from companies. In order to analyze the data, we used structural equation modeling using AMOS 25.0. Based on the results, first, we can see that there is a positive relationship between business strategy and organizational culture. Moreover, there is also a positive relationship between business strategy and market satisfaction. Lastly, we found a positive relationship between organizational culture and market satisfaction. These study results give the following implications in establishing investment strategies for Korean companies entering Africa or willing to enter, which are in the midst of macroscopic environmental changes.
Cross-Leg Prediction of Running Kinematics across Various Running Conditions and Drawing from a Minimal Data Set Using a Single Wearable Sensor
Authors: Chow Daniel , Iqbal Zaheen , Tremblay Luc , Lam Chor-Yin , Zhao Rui-Bin
Published: May 2022

The feasibility of prediction of same-limb kinematics using a single inertial measurement unit attached to the same limb has been demonstrated using machine learning. This study was performed to see if a single inertial measurement unit attached to the tibia can predict the opposite leg’s kinematics (cross-leg prediction). It also investigated if there is a minimal or smaller data set in a convolutional neural network model to predict lower extremity running kinematics under other running conditions and with what accuracy for the intra- and inter-participant situations. Ten recreational runners completed running exercises under five conditions, including treadmill running at speeds of 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 m/s and level-ground running at their preferred speed. A one-predict-all scheme was adopted to determine which running condition could be used to best predict a participant’s overall running kinematics. Running kinematic predictions were performed for intra- and inter-participant scenarios. Among the tested running conditions, treadmill running at 3 m/s was found to be the optimal condition for accurately predicting running kinematics under other conditions, with R2 values ranging from 0.880 to 0.958 and 0.784 to 0.936 for intra- and inter-participant scenarios, respectively. The feasibility of cross-leg prediction was demonstrated but with significantly lower accuracy than the same leg. The treadmill running condition at 3 m/s showed the highest intra-participant cross-leg prediction accuracy. This study proposes a novel, deep-learning method for predicting running kinematics under different conditions on a small training data set.
Machine-Learning-Based DDoS Attack Detection Using Mutual Information and Random Forest Feature Importance Method
Authors: Alduailij Mona , Khan Qazi Waqas , Tahir Muhammad , Sardaraz Muhammad , Alduailij Mai , Malik Fazila
Published: May 2022

Cloud computing facilitates the users with on-demand services over the Internet. The services are accessible from anywhere at any time. Despite the valuable services, the paradigm is, also, prone to security issues. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack affects the availability of cloud services and causes security threats to cloud computing. Detection of DDoS attacks is necessary for the availability of services for legitimate users. The topic has been studied by many researchers, with better accuracy for different datasets. This article presents a method for DDoS attack detection in cloud computing. The primary objective of this article is to reduce misclassification error in DDoS detection. In the proposed work, we select the most relevant features, by applying two feature selection techniques, i.e., the Mutual Information (MI) and Random Forest Feature Importance (RFFI) methods. Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), Weighted Voting Ensemble (WVE), K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Logistic Regression (LR) are applied to selected features. The experimental results show that the accuracy of RF, GB, WVE, and KNN with 19 features is 0.99. To further study these methods, misclassifications of the methods are analyzed, which lead to more accurate measurements. Extensive experiments conclude that the RF performed well in DDoS attack detection and misclassified only one attack as normal. Comparative results are presented to validate the proposed method.
The Numerical Investigation of a Fractional-Order Multi-Dimensional Model of Navier–Stokes Equation via Novel Techniques
Authors: Mukhtar Safyan , Shah Rasool , Noor Saima
Published: May 2022

In this study, numerical results of a fractional-order multi-dimensional model of the Navier–Stokes equations will be achieved via adoption of two analytical methods, i.e., the Adomian decomposition transform method and the q-Homotopy analysis transform method. The Caputo–Fabrizio operator will be used to define the fractional derivative. The proposed methods will be implemented to provide the series form results of the given models. The series form results of proposed techniques will be validated with the exact results available in the literature. The proposed techniques will be investigated to be efficient, straightforward, and reliable for application to many other scientific and engineering problems.
Radiation Backreaction in Axion Electrodynamics
Authors: Patkós András
Published: May 2022

Energy–momentum conservation of classical axion electrodynamics is carefully analyzed in the Hamiltonian formulation of the theory. The term responsible for the energy transfer between the electromagnetic and the axion sectors is identified. As a special application, the axion-to-light Primakoff process in the background of a static magnetic field is worked out and the radiative self-damping of the axion oscillations is characterized quantitatively. The damping time turns out comparable to the age of the Universe in the preferred axion mass range.
Temporally Multi-Modal Semantic Reasoning with Spatial Language Constraints for Video Question Answering
Authors: Liu Mingyang , Wang Ruomei , Zhou Fan , Lin Ge
Published: May 2022

Video question answering (QA) aims to understand the video scene and underlying plot by answering video questions. An algorithm that can competently cope with this task needs to be able to: (1) collect multi-modal information scattered in the video frame sequence while extracting, interpreting, and utilizing the potential semantic clues provided by each piece of modal information in the video, (2) integrate the multi-modal context of the above semantic clues and understand the cause and effect of the story as it evolves, and (3) identify and integrate those temporally adjacent or non-adjacent effective semantic clues implied in the above context information to provide reasonable and sufficient visual semantic information for the final question reasoning. In response to the above requirements, a novel temporally multi-modal semantic reasoning with spatial language constraints video QA solution is reported in this paper, which includes a significant feature extraction module used to extract multi-modal features according to a significant sampling strategy, a spatial language constraints module used to recognize and reason spatial dimensions in video frames under the guidance of questions, and a temporal language interaction module used to locate the temporal dimension semantic clues of the appearance features and motion features sequence. Specifically, for a question, the result processed by the spatial language constraints module is to obtain visual clues related to the question from a single image and filter out unwanted spatial information. Further, the temporal language interaction module symmetrically integrates visual clues of the appearance information and motion information scattered throughout the temporal dimensions, obtains the temporally adjacent or non-adjacent effective semantic clue, and filters out irrelevant or detrimental context information. The proposed video QA solution is validated on several video QA benchmarks. Comprehensive ablation experiments have confirmed that modeling the significant video information can improve QA ability. The spatial language constraints module and temporal language interaction module can better collect and summarize visual semantic clues.
An a Priori Discussion of the Fill Front Stability in Semisolid Casting
Authors: Jarfors Anders E. W. , Zhang Qing , Jonsson Stefan
Published: May 2022

Metal casting is an industrially important manufacturing process offering a superior combination of design flexibility, productivity and cost-effectiveness, but has limitations due to filling related defects. Several semisolid casting processes are available capable of casting at a range of solid fractions to overcome this. The current communication aims to review the filling front behaviour and give a new perspective to the gate design in semisolid processing compared to conventional high-pressure die-casting. It is shown that solid fraction and gate widths are critical to avoid instability and spraying.
Ginsenoside Rg1 Mitigates Porcine Intestinal Tight Junction Disruptions Induced by LPS through the p38 MAPK/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway
Authors: Kang Jian , Zhou Yanhong , Zhu Chunyang , Ren Tian , Zhang Yong , Xiao Longfei , Fang Binghu
Published: May 2022

Inflammation leads to porcine tight junction disruption of small intestinal epithelial cells, resulting in intestinal dysfunction. Herein, we established lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced in-vivo and in-vitro inflammatory models. The results revealed that LPS induced tight junction disruption in IPEC-J2 cells by downregulating tight-junction-related protein zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin and claudin-1 expression, while ginsenoside Rg1 rescued such inhibition and abrogated the upregulated expression of phosphorylation p38 MAPK. The p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) showed a similar effect with Rg1 and attenuated the LPS-induced inhibition of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 expression, which is consistent with the reduced expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β. Furthermore, the specific inhibitors of NLRP3 and IL-1β result in increased expression of tight-junction-related protein, demonstrating that p38 MAPK signaling was associated with Rg1 suppression of tight junction disruption. Besides, LPS treatment decreased the expression of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 through p38 MAPK signaling, and caused abnormal morphological changes in murine ileum. Meanwhile, Rg1 attenuated the decreased expression of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 and partially alleviated LPS-induced morphological changes in murine ileum. In summary, these findings characterized a novel mechanism by which Rg1 alleviates LPS-induced intestinal tight junction disruption by inhibiting the p38 MAPK-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.
Acute and Subacute Safety Evaluation of Black Tea Extract (Herbt Tea Essences) in Mice
Authors: Ding Xiaoyan , Han Changshun , Hu Weiping , Fu Chengqing , Zhou Yixi , Wang Zheng , Xu Qingyan , Lv Rongfu , He Chengyong , Zuo Zhenghong , Huang Jiyi
Published: May 2022

Theabrownin (TB) is a heterogeneous biomacromolecule, extracted from tea, with many functional groups. Importantly, TB possesses diverse health benefits, such as antitumor activity and blood lipid-lowering effects. Presently, the content of TB in tea extract is relatively low. Here, we obtained a deep-processed black tea extract with a high content of TB (close to 80%), which was named Herbt Tea Essences (HTE). Currently, this study was designed to evaluate the biosafety of high-content TB products on mice. We implemented acute and subacute toxic experiments to assess its safety on organs, the serum biochemical and molecular levels. In the acute exposure study, we found that the median lethal dose (LD50) value of HTE was 21.68 g/kg (21.06–24.70 g/kg, greater than 5 g/kg), suggesting that HTE had a low acute toxicity. In the 28-day subacute exposure study, our results showed that no abnormal effects were observed in the 40 and 400 mg/kg/day HTE-treated groups. However, we observed slight nephrotoxicity in the 4000 mg/kg/day HTE-treated group. The HTE-induced nephrotoxic effect might involve the inflammatory response activation mediated by the nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. This study would provide valuable data for the TB safety assessment and promote this natural biomacromolecule application in daily drinking.
The Mixture of Bisphenol-A and Its Substitutes Bisphenol-S and Bisphenol-F Exerts Obesogenic Activity on Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Reina-Pérez Iris , Olivas-Martínez Alicia , Mustieles Vicente , Salamanca-Fernández Elena , Molina-Molina José Manuel , Olea Nicolás , Fernández Mariana F.
Published: May 2022

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its substitutes, bisphenol F (BPF) and S (BPS), have previously shown in vitro obesogenic activity. This study was designed to investigate their combined effect on the adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). Cells were exposed for 14 days to an equimolar mixture of bisphenols (MIX) (range 10 nM–10 µM). Oil Red staining was used to measure intracellular lipid accumulation, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to study gene expression of adipogenic markers (PPARγ, C/EBPα, LPL, and FABP4), and Western Blot to determine their corresponding proteins. The MIX promoted intracellular lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal response at 10 µM. Co-incubation with pure antiestrogen (ICI 182,780) inhibited lipid accumulation, suggesting that the effect was mediated by the estrogen receptor. The MIX also significantly altered the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, LPL, and FABP4 markers, observing a non-monotonic (U-shaped) dose-response, with maximal gene expression at 10 nM and 10 µM and lesser expression at 1 µM. This pattern was not observed when bisphenols were tested individually. Exposure to MIX (1–10 µM) also increased all encoded proteins except for FABP4, which showed no changes. Evaluation of the combined effect of relevant chemical mixtures is needed rather than single chemical testing.
Association of Urinary Phthalate and Phthalate Replacement Metabolite Concentrations with Serum Lipid Biomarker Levels among Pregnant Women Attending a Fertility Center
Authors: Mínguez-Alarcón Lidia , Williams Paige , James-Todd Tamarra , Souter Irene , Ford Jennifer , Rexrode Kathryn , Calafat Antonia , Hauser Russ , Chavarro Jorge
Published: May 2022

We examined whether urinary concentrations of phthalate and phthalate replacement metabolites were associated with lipid biomarker levels among pregnant women. This cross-sectional study included 175 women who enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study (2005–2017). We used linear regression models to assess the relationship between urinary phthalates and lipid biomarkers [triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol] levels while adjusting for confounders. Pregnant women in the highest quartile of urinary mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) had, overall, 14% [31 (95% CI = 6.56) mg/dL], 21% [33 (95% CI = 9.57) mg/dL] and 25% [30 (95% CI = 8.53) mg/dL] higher serum total, non-HDL and LDL cholesterol, respectively, compared to women in the lowest quartile of MECPP. Similar positive associations were found for urinary concentrations of other metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate. Pregnant women with urinary mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) in the highest quartile had higher triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol compared to women with MBP in the lowest quartile. Women with detectable concentrations of two phthalate replacement metabolites had lower HDL cholesterol compared to women with non-detectable concentrations. Gestational urinary concentrations of certain phthalate and phthalate replacement metabolites were associated with lipid levels among these women.
Urinary Malondialdehyde (MDA) and N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG) Associated with Exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Underground Water
Authors: Lin Wen-Yu , Tu Chun-Ping , Kuo Hsien-Hua , Kuo Hsien-Wen
Published: May 2022

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is commonly used in various industries. If wastewater in factories is not effectively treated, the inflow into and subsequent contamination of underground water is likely. Our study assessed the association of exposure to TCE in underground water with oxidative stress and renal tubule damage. We selected 579 residents from areas with underground water contaminated with TCE. Each participant was interviewed via a questionnaire. We also assessed their urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) levels by gas chromatography (GC)-FID. Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were taken as indicators of oxidative stress and renal tubule damage. We found about 73% of the residents to have consumed underground water. The average duration of consumption was 26 years, with an average of 1.6 L per day. Currently, only 1.5% of the residents still continuously consume underground water. The consumption of underground water positively correlated with heightened urinary TCA levels (r = 0.554). Heightened urinary TCA levels, in turn, were positively associated with NAG levels (r = 0.180) but negatively associated with MDA levels (r = −0.193). The results held even after we had segmented urinary TCA levels into three groups of different levels. The elimination of the source of heightened TCE levels from various industrial effluents is essential. Residents exposed to TCE-laden underground water should periodically undergo health inspections.
Transcriptional Analysis of Cotton Bollworm Strains with Different Genetic Mechanisms of Resistance and Their Response to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac Toxin
Authors: Yu Shan , Wang Chenyang , Li Kaixia , Yang Yihua , He Ya-Zhou , Wu Yidong
Published: May 2022

Transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins are grown widely for pest control, but the evolution of resistance in target pests could reduce their efficacy. Mutations in genes encoding cadherin, ABC transporter or tetraspanin were linked with resistance to Cry1Ac in several lepidopteran insects, including the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), a worldwide agricultural pest. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which these mutations confer insect resistance to Cry1Ac remain largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the midgut transcriptomes of a susceptible SCD strain and three SCD-derived Cry1Ac-resistant strains of H. armigera (SCD-r1, with a naturally occurring deletion mutation of cadherin; SCD-KI, with a knock-in T92C point mutation in tetraspanin; and C2/3-KO, with both ABCC2 and ABCC3 knocked out). Evaluation of midgut transcript profiles of the four strains without Cry1Ac exposure identified many constitutively differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the resistant SCD-r1 (n = 1355), SCD-KI (n = 1254) and C2/3-KO (n = 2055) strains. Analysis of DEGs in the midguts of each strain after Cry1Ac exposure revealed similar patterns of response to Cry1Ac in the SCD and SCD-r1 strains, but unique responses in the SCD-KI and C2/3-KO strains. Expression of midgut epithelium healing and defense-related genes was strongly induced by Cry1Ac intoxication in the SCD and SCD-r1 strains, while immune-related pattern recognition receptor and effector genes were highly expressed in the SCD-KI strain after Cry1Ac exposure. This study advances our knowledge of the transcriptomic basis for insect resistance to Bt toxins and provides a valuable resource for further molecular characterization of insect response to Cry1Ac toxin in H. armigera and other pest species.
Validation of a Culturally Relevant Snakebite Envenomation Clinical Practice Guideline in Brazil
Authors: Rocha Gisele dos Santos , Farias Altair Seabra , Alcântara João Arthur , Machado Vinícius Azevedo , Murta Felipe , Val Fernando , Cristino Joseir Saturnino , Santos Alícia Cacau , Ferreira Mena Bianca , Marques Leonardo , Rocha Yasmim Vieira , Sachett André , Almeida Mailma Costa , Alencar Aline , Brasileiro Lisele , Carvalho Érica da Silva , Bisneto Pedro Ferreira , Lacerda Marcus , Tupetz Anna , Staton Catherine A. , Vissoci João R.N. , Teixeira Elizabeth , Gerardo Charles J. , Wen Fan Hui , Sachett Jacqueline , Monteiro Wuelton
Published: May 2022

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a neglected tropical disease with significant global morbidity and mortality. Even when antivenom is available in low-resource areas, health workers do not receive adequate training to manage SBEs. This study aims to develop and validate a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for SBE management across Brazil. A panel of expert judges with academic and/or technical expertise in SBE management performed content validation. The content validity index (CVI) score was 90% for CPG objectives, 89% for structure and presentation and 92% for relevance and classified the CPG as valid. A semantic validation was performed by analyzing focus group discussions with doctors and nurses from three municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon, after a 5-day meeting during which the CPG was presented. Two central themes emerged: knowledge acquired during the meeting and recommendations for improving the CPG. Based on these results, the CPG was revised into a final version. This study presents the successful development and validation process of a CPG for SBE management, which is targeted to a specific low-resource, high-burden setting. This development and validation process can be adapted to other settings and/or other neglected tropical diseases.
Crotoxin B: Heterologous Expression, Protein Folding, Immunogenic Properties, and Irregular Presence in Crotalid Venoms
Authors: Mejía-Sánchez Miguel Angel , Clement Herlinda , Corrales-García Ligia Luz , Olamendi-Portugal Timoteo , Carbajal Alejandro , Corzo Gerardo
Published: May 2022

Crotoxin complex CA/CB and crotamine are the main toxins associated with Crotalus envenomation besides the enzymatic activities of phospholipases (PLA2) and proteases. The neutralization at least of the crotoxin complex by neutralizing the subunit B could be a key in the production process of antivenoms against crotalids. Therefore, in this work, a Crotoxin B was recombinantly expressed to evaluate its capacity as an immunogen and its ability to produce neutralizing antibodies against crotalid venoms. A Crotoxin B transcript from Crotalus tzabcan was cloned into a pCR®2.1-TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Waltham, MA, USA) and subsequently expressed heterologously in bacteria. HisrCrotoxin B was extracted from inclusion bodies and refolded in vitro. The secondary structure of HisrCrotoxin B was comparable to the secondary structure of the native Crotoxin B, and it has PLA2 activity as the native Crotoxin B. HisrCrotoxin B was used to immunize rabbits, and the obtained antibodies partially inhibited the activity of PLA2 from C. tzabcan. The anti-HisrCrotoxin B antibodies neutralized the native Crotoxin B and the whole venoms from C. tzabcan, C. s. salvini, and C. mictlantecuhtli. Additionally, anti-HisrCrotoxin B antibodies recognized native Crotoxin B from different Crotalus species, and they could discriminate venom in species with high or low levels of or absence of Crotoxin B.
Introduction to Charged Lepton Flavor Violation
Authors: Ardu Marco , Pezzullo Gianantonio
Published: May 2022

Neutrino masses are evidence of lepton flavor violation, but no violation in the interactions among the charged leptons has been observed yet. Many models of Physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) predict Charged Lepton Flavor Violation (CLFV) in a wide spectrum of processes with rates in reach of upcoming experiments. The experimental searches that provide the current best limits on the CLFV searches are reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the muon-based experiments that give the most stringent constraints on the BSM parameter space. The next generation of muon-based experiments (MEG-II, Mu2e, COMET, Mu3e) aims to reach improvements by many orders of magnitude with respect to the current best limits, thanks to several technological advancements. We review popular heavy BSM theories, and we present the calculations of the predicted CLFV branching ratios, focusing on the more sensitive μ→e sector.
Unruh Effect for Mixed Neutrinos and the KMS Condition
Authors: Blasone Massimo , Lambiase Gaetano , Luciano Giuseppe Gaetano , Petruzziello Luciano
Published: May 2022

The quantization of mixed (neutrino) fields in an accelerated background reveals a non-thermal nature for Unruh radiation, which can be fitted by a Tsallis-like distribution function. However, for relativistic flavor neutrinos, which are represented by the standard Pontecorvo states, such a correction turns out to be negligible and thermality is restored. We show that the usage of Pontecorvo states for the calculation of the decay rate of an accelerated proton in the laboratory and comoving frames leads to consistent results and correctly implements the KMS thermal condition. Thus, the employment of these states in the above framework is not at odds with the principle of general covariance, in contrast to recent claims in the literature.
CAVES: A Novel Tool for Comparative Analysis of Variant Epitope Sequences
Authors: Li Katherine , Lowey Connor , Sandstrom Paul , Ji Hezhao
Published: May 2022

In silico methods for immune epitope prediction have become essential for vaccine and therapeutic design, but manual intra-species comparison of putative epitopes remains challenging and subject to human error. Created initially for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, comparative analysis of variant epitope sequences (CAVES) is a novel tool designed to carry out rapid comparative analyses of epitopes amongst closely related pathogens, substantially reducing the required time and user workload. CAVES applies a two-level analysis approach. The Level-one (L1) analysis compares two epitope prediction files, and the Level-two (L2) analysis incorporates search results from the IEDB database of experimentally confirmed epitopes. Both L1 and L2 analyses sort epitopes into categories of exact matches, partial matches, or novel epitopes based on the degree to which they match with peptides from the compared file. Furthermore, CAVES uses positional sequence data to improve its accuracy and speed, taking only a fraction of the time required by manual analyses and minimizing human error. CAVES is widely applicable for evolutionary analyses and antigenic comparisons of any closely related pathogen species. CAVES is open-source software that runs through a graphical user interface on Windows operating systems, making it widely accessible regardless of coding expertise. The CAVES source code and test dataset presented here are publicly available on the CAVES GitHub page.
Organic Electrochemical Transistors as Versatile Tool for Real-Time and Automatized Viral Cytopathic Effect Evaluation
Authors: Decataldo Francesco , Giovannini Catia , Grumiro Laura , Marino Maria Michela , Faccin Francesca , Brandolini Martina , Dirani Giorgio , Taddei Francesca , Lelli Davide , Tessarolo Marta , Calienni Maria , Cacciotto Carla , De Pascali Alessandra Mistral , Lavazza Antonio , Fraboni Beatrice , Sambri Vittorio , Scagliarini Alessandra
Published: May 2022

In-vitro viral studies are still fundamental for biomedical research since studying the virus kinetics on cells is crucial for the determination of the biological properties of viruses and for screening the inhibitors of infections. Moreover, testing potential viral contaminants is often mandatory for safety evaluation. Nowadays, viral cytopathic effects are mainly evaluated through end-point assays requiring dye-staining combined with optical evaluation. Recently, optical-based automatized equipment has been marketed, aimed at the real-time screening of cell-layer status and obtaining further insights, which are unavailable with end-point assays. However, these technologies present two huge limitations, namely, high costs and the possibility to study only cytopathic viruses, whose effects lead to plaque formation and layer disruption. Here, we employed poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (Pedot:Pss) organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for the real-time, electrical monitoring of the infection of cytolytic viruses, i.e., encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and non-cytolytic viruses, i.e., bovine coronavirus (B-CoV), on cells. OECT data on EMCV were validated using a commercially-available optical-based technology, which, however, failed in the B-CoV titration analysis, as expected. The OECTs proved to be reliable, fast, and versatile devices for viral infection monitoring, which could be scaled up at low cost, reducing the operator workload and speeding up in-vitro assays in the biomedical research field.
Virucidal Activity of the Pyridobenzothiazolone Derivative HeE1-17Y against Enveloped RNA Viruses
Authors: Milan Bonotto Rafaela , Bonì Francesco , Milani Mario , Chaves-Sanjuan Antonio , Franze Silvia , Selmin Francesca , Felicetti Tommaso , Bolognesi Martino , Konstantinidou Soultana , Poggianella Monica , Márquez Chantal L. , Dattola Federica , Zoppè Monica , Manfroni Giuseppe , Mastrangelo Eloise , Marcello Alessandro
Published: May 2022

Pyridobenzothiazolone derivatives are a promising class of broad-spectrum antivirals. However, the mode of action of these compounds remains poorly understood. The HeE1-17Y derivative has already been shown to be a potent compound against a variety of flaviviruses of global relevance. In this work, the mode of action of HeE1-17Y has been studied for West Nile virus taking advantage of reporter replication particles (RRPs). Viral infectivity was drastically reduced by incubating the compound with the virus before infection, thus suggesting a direct interaction with the viral particles. Indeed, RRPs incubated with the inhibitor appeared to be severely compromised in electron microscopy analysis. HeE1-17Y is active against other enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, but not against two non-enveloped viruses, suggesting a virucidal mechanism that involves the alteration of the viral membrane.
Metabolomics Analysis of PK-15 Cells with Pseudorabies Virus Infection Based on UHPLC-QE-MS
Authors: Liu Panrao , Hu Danhe , Yuan Lili , Lian Zhengmin , Yao Xiaohui , Zhu Zhenbang , Li Xiangdong
Published: May 2022

Viruses depend on the metabolic mechanisms of the host to support viral replication. We utilize an approach based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/Q Exactive HF-X Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass (UHPLC-QE-MS) to analyze the metabolic changes in PK-15 cells induced by the infections of the pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant strain and Bartha K61 strain. Infections with PRV markedly changed lots of metabolites, when compared to the uninfected cell group. Additionally, most of the differentially expressed metabolites belonged to glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, purine metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. Lipid metabolites account for the highest proportion (around 35%). The results suggest that those alterations may be in favor of virion formation and genome amplification to promote PRV replication. Different PRV strains showed similar results. An understanding of PRV-induced metabolic reprogramming will provide valuable information for further studies on PRV pathogenesis and the development of antiviral therapy strategies.
The Penis, the Vagina and HIV Risk: Key Differences (Aside from the Obvious)
Authors: Kaul Rupert , Liu Cindy M. , Park Daniel E. , Galiwango Ronald M. , Tobian Aaron A. R. , Prodger Jessica L.
Published: May 2022

Globally, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV) transmission occurs through vaginal–penile sex (heterosexual transmission). The local immune environment at the site of HIV exposure is an important determinant of whether exposure during sex will lead to productive infection, and the vaginal and penile immune milieus are each critically shaped by the local microbiome. However, there are key differences in the microbial drivers of inflammation and immune quiescence at these tissue sites. In both, a high abundance of anaerobic taxa (e.g., Prevotella) is associated with an increased local density of HIV target cells and an increased risk of acquiring HIV through sex. However, the taxa that have been associated to date with increased risk in the vagina and penis are not identical. Just as importantly, the microbiota associated with comparatively less inflammation and HIV risk—i.e., the optimal microbiota—are very different at the two sites. In the vagina, Lactobacillus spp. are immunoregulatory and may protect against HIV acquisition, whereas on the penis, “skin type” flora such as Corynebacterium are associated with reduced inflammation. Compared to its vaginal counterpart, much less is known about the dynamics of the penile microbiome, the ability of clinical interventions to alter the penile microbiome, or the impact of natural/induced microbiome alterations on penile immunology and HIV risk.