bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Recovery from Waste Paper and Deinking Sludge to Support the Demand of the Paper Industry: A Numerical Analysis
Authors: Di Fraia Simona , Uddin M. Rakib
Published: April 2022

The recovery of fibres from waste paper (WP) and deinking sludge (DIS) reduces the stress on nature compared to the collection of virgin pulp for paper production. Moreover, if not recycled, WP and DIS are mainly landfilled and incinerated, being thus responsible for the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. In this context, energy recovery from WP and DIS would contribute to increasing energy independence and improving waste management in the pulp industry. From a broader perspective, it would increase renewable energy generation, supporting the paper industry in reducing fossil fuel consumption and GHGs emissions, in line with the goals of the European Union (EU) Green Deal 2021. For these reasons, in the present study, the combined heat and power generation potentiality of WP–DIS blends through gasification in combination with an internal combustion engine is numerically assessed for the first time. The air gasification process is simulated by applying a restricted chemical equilibrium approach to identify the optimum operating temperature (850 °C) and equivalence ratio (0.2). Electrical and thermal energy generation potentiality, considering WP and DIS production in the EU in 2019, is estimated to be in the ranges of 32,950–35,700 GWh and 52,190–56,100 GWh, respectively. Thus, it can support between 25 and 28% of the electrical and 44–48% of the thermal energy demand of the paper manufacturing sector, reducing the CO2 emission in the range of 24.8–28.9 Gt.
Assessment of Climate Change Impact on the Annual Maximum Flood in an Urban River in Dublin, Ireland
Authors: Sarkar Basu Arunima , Gill Laurence William , Pilla Francesco , Basu Bidroha
Published: April 2022

Hydrological modelling to address the problem of flood risk corresponding to climate change can play an important role in water resources management. This paper describes the potential impact of climate change on an urban river catchment using a physically based hydrological model called Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The study area considered is the Dodder River basin located in the southern part of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. Climate projections from three regional climate models and two representative concentration pathways (RPC 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were used to evaluate the impact of flooding corresponding to different climate change scenarios. Annual maximum flow (AMF) is generated by combining the bias-corrected climate projections with the calibrated and validated SWAT model to understand the projected changes in flood patterns for the year 2021–2100. The expected changes in flood quantiles were estimated using a generalised extreme value distribution. The results predicted up to 12% and 16% increase in flood quantiles corresponding to 50 years and 100 years return periods. Based on the flood quantiles, flood inundation maps were developed for the study area.
Root Traits and Erosion Resistance of Three Endemic Grasses for Estuarine Sand Drift Control
Authors: Lee Jung-Tai , Shih Cheng-Ying , Wang Jia-Tsung , Liang You-Hua , Hsu Yu-Shan , Lee Ming-Jen
Published: April 2022

In southern Taiwan, rivers sporadically cease to flow and dry up in winter. The exposed dry riverbeds are very vulnerable to wind erosion. The strong northeast monsoon often induces serious estuarine sand drift and fugitive dust, which cause damages to agricultural crops, human health and infrastructures. Giant reed (Arundo formosana), common reed (Phragmite australis) and the wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum) are pioneer grass species in estuary areas. They have great potential to reduce wind erosion and control windblown dust on agricultural lands. Nevertheless, their root traits, biomechanical characteristics and wind erosion resistance have not been investigated. In this research, the root traits were investigated utilizing the hand digging technique and the WinRHIZOPro System. Root pullout resistance and root tensile strength were estimated using vertical pullout and root tensile tests. Wind tunnel tests were executed to evaluate the wind erosion resistance using six-month-old plants. The results demonstrated that the growth performance and root functional traits of S. spontaneum are superior to those of A. formosana and P. australis. Additionally, the root anchorage ability and root tensile strength of S. spontaneum plants are notably greater than those of A. formosana and P. australis plants. Furthermore, the results of the wind tunnel tests showed that the wind erosion resistance of A. formosana is remarkably higher than those of S. spontaneum and P. australis. This study demonstrates that A. formosana and S. spontaneum are superior to P. australis, considering root traits, root anchorage ability, root tensile strength and wind erosion resistance. Taken together, our results suggest that S. spontaneum and P. australis are favorable for riverbed planting, while A.formosana is applicable for riverbank planting in estuary areas. These results, together with data on the acclimation of estuarine grasses in waterlogged soils and brackish waters, provide vital information for designing planting strategies of estuary grasses for the ecological engineering of estuarine sand drift control.
Study on the Effect of Bio-Based Materials’ Natural Degradation in the Environment
Authors: Bogacka Magdalena , Salazar Gildaiden Longinos
Published: April 2022

The article presents an analysis of the impact of bio-based materials on the environment, with a special focus on polylactic acid (PLA), as it is considered one of the most popular bioplastics in the market. The results show that there are several factors that must be taken into account when choosing the best end-of-life option for this type of material, in agreement with the newly introduced concept of the circular economy, according to the physical–chemical analysis obtained at the end of this study. The ecotoxicity tests showed that all tested materials (PLA spoon, PLA filament, b2w technology bag and cocoa paper tray) could be suitable for incineration with energy recovery without producing dioxines during combustion (chlorine content in all tested materials was below 1.00% w/w). It was also determined that PLA was the material with the highest potential for energy recovery since it presented the highest calorific value and highest carbon content (18.73 MJ/kg and 52.23%, respectively). The biodegradation rate of the different bio-based materials was also tested under different environments during three months, with Baltic Sea water and medium-grain sand being the environments in which the majority of the bio-based materials showed the lowest degradation rates. An additional test in a small-scale electric composter with microbe technology was carried out in order to evaluate the degradation of the studied materials in an environment with controlled conditions, and results showed high values of weight loss for the majority of the bio-based materials (all above 80% weight loss) due to the high temperature that the device could reach during the composting process. Finally, a strategy for providing guidance in selecting routes for the waste management of bioplastics, depending mainly on the available infrastructure and material properties, was proposed as a result of this work. For the case of low- and medium-income countries, an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy is proposed as a provisional solution to control plastic waste pollution, which should be complemented by regulations and systems aimed at the successful introduction of bioplastics.
Asymmetric Laplace Distribution Models for Financial Data: VaR and CVaR
Authors: Jing Huiting , Liu Yang , Zhao Jinghua
Published: April 2022

In the field of financial risk measurement, Asymmetric Laplace (AL) laws are used. The assumption of normalcy is used in traditional approaches for calculating financial risk. Asymmetric Laplace distribution, on the other hand, reveals the properties of empirical financial data sets much better than the normal model by leptokurtosis and skewness. According to recent financial data research, the regularity assumption is frequently broken. As a result, Asymmetric Laplace laws offer a simple, creative, and useful option to normal distributions when it comes to modeling financial data. We here engage AL distribution to explore specific formulas for the two commonly used risk measures, Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). The currency exchange rates data are used to and worked out to illustrate the proposed methodologies.
Observational Constraints and Some Toy Models in f(Q) Gravity with Bulk Viscous Fluid
Authors: Mandal Sanjay , Parida Abhishek , Sahoo Pradyumn Kumar
Published: April 2022

The standard formulation of general relativity fails to describe some recent interests in the universe. It impels us to go beyond the standard formulation of gravity. The f(Q) gravity theory is an interesting modified theory of gravity, where the gravitational interaction is driven by the nonmetricity Q. This study aims to examine the cosmological models with the presence of bulk viscosity effect in the cosmological fluid within the framework of f(Q) gravity. We construct three bulk viscous fluid models, i.e., (i) for the first model, we assuming the Lagrangian f(Q) as linear dependence on Q, (ii) for the second model the Lagrangian f(Q) as a polynomial functional form, and (iii) the Lagrangian f(Q) as a logarithmic dependence on Q. Furthermore, we use 57 points of Hubble data and 1048 Pantheon dataset to constrain the model parameters. Then, we discuss all the energy conditions for each model, which helps us to test the self-consistency of our models. Finally, we present the profiles of the equation of state parameters to test the models’ present status.
Directional-Sensitive X-ray/Gamma-ray Imager on Board the VZLUSAT-2 CubeSat for Wide Field-of-View Observation of GRBs in Low Earth Orbit
Authors: Granja Carlos , Hudec Rene , Maršíková Veronika , Inneman Adolf , Pína Ladislav , Doubravova Daniela , Matej Zdenek , Daniel Vladimir , Oberta Peter
Published: April 2022

We present a miniaturized and wide field-of-view X-ray and Gamma-ray imager consisting of a segmented 2D optics-collimator coupled to the high-sensitivity semiconductor pixel detector Timepix equipped with a high-Z sensor (CdTe 2000 μm thick). The compact payload has been deployed in low-Earth orbit (LEO) onboard the 3U Cubesat VZLUSAT-2 which was launched on 13 January 2022. The instrument is designed to verify small spacecraft borne observation in open space of hard X-ray and Gamma-ray sources both of celestial and atmospheric origin. High-resolution spectral-sensitive X-ray and Gamma-ray images are provided with enhanced event discrimination and wide field-of-view up to 60°. Description of the instrument together with response evaluation and tests in ground with well-defined sources are presented. The intended observational plan for in-orbit measurements is outlined along with astrophysical goals and issues.
Potential Role of Epstein–Barr Virus in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Scoping Review
Authors: Rahman Rifat , Gopinath Divya , Buajeeb Waranun , Poomsawat Sopee , Johnson Newell W.
Published: April 2022

Though the oral cavity is anatomically proximate to the nasal cavity and acts as a key reservoir of EBV habitation and transmission, it is still unclear whether EBV plays a significant role in oral carcinogenesis. Many studies have detected EBV DNA in tissues and exfoliated cells from OSCC patients. However, very few studies have investigated the expression of functional EBV proteins implicated in its oncogenicity. The most studied are latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1), a protein associated with the activation of signalling pathways; EBV determined nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1, a protein involved in the regulation of gene expression; and EBV-encoded small non-polyadenylated RNA (EBER)-2. LMP-1 is considered the major oncoprotein, and overexpression of LMP-1 observed in OSCC indicates that this molecule might play a significant role in oral carcinogenesis. Although numerous studies have detected EBV DNA and proteins from OSCC and oral potentially malignant disorders, heterogeneity in methodologies has led to discrepant results, hindering interpretation. Elucidating the exact functions of EBV and its proteins when expressed is vital in establishing the role of viruses in oral oncogenesis. This review summarises the current evidence on the potential role of EBV in oral oncogenesis and discusses the implications as well as recommendations for future research.
Incidence and Risk Factors of COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections: A Prospective Cohort Study in Belgium
Authors: Stouten Veerle , Hubin Pierre , Haarhuis Freek , van Loenhout Joris , Billuart Matthieu , Brondeel Ruben , Braeye Toon , Van Oyen Herman , Wyndham-Thomas Chloé , Catteau Lucy
Published: April 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections. We included all persons ≥18 years that had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for ≥14 days, between 1 February 2021 and 5 December 2021, in Belgium. The incidence of breakthrough infections (laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infections) was determined. Factors associated with breakthrough infections were analyzed using COX proportional hazard models. Among 8,062,600 fully vaccinated adults, we identified 373,070 breakthrough infections with an incidence of 11.2 (95%CI 11.2–11.3)/100 person years. Vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S (HR1.54, 95%CI 1.52–1.56) or ChAdOx1 (HR1.68, 95%CI 1.66–1.69) was associated with a higher risk of a breakthrough infection compared to BNT162b2, while mRNA-1273 was associated with a lower risk (HR0.68, 95%CI 0.67–0.69). A prior COVID-19-infection was protective against a breakthrough infection (HR0.23, 95%CI 0.23–0.24), as was an mRNA booster (HR0.44, 95%CI 0.43–0.45). During a breakthrough infection, those who had a prior COVID-19 infection were less likely to have COVID-19 symptoms of almost all types than naïve persons. We identified risk factors associated with breakthrough infections, such as vaccination with adenoviral-vector vaccines, which could help inform future decisions on booster vaccination strategies. A prior COVID-19 infection lowered the risk of breakthrough infections and of having symptoms, highlighting the protective effect of hybrid immunity.
Gastric Cancer and Viruses: A Fine Line between Friend or Foe
Authors: Firoz Ahmad , Ali Hani , Rehman Suriya , Rather Irfan
Published: April 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant health concern worldwide, with a GLOBOCAN estimate of 1.08 million novel cases in 2020. It is the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost to cancer, with the fourth most common cancer in males and the fifth most common cancer in females. Strategies are pursued across the globe to prevent gastric cancer progression as a significant fraction of gastric cancers have been linked to various pathogenic (bacterial and viral) infections. Early diagnosis (in Asian countries), and non-invasive and surgical treatments have helped manage this disease with 5-year survival for stage IA and IB tumors ranging between 60% and 80%. However, the most prevalent aggressive stage III gastric tumors undergoing surgery have a lower 5-year survival rate between 18% and 50%. These figures point to a need for more efficient diagnostic and treatment strategies, for which the oncolytic viruses (OVs) appear to have some promise. OVs form a new therapeutic agent class that induces anti-tumor immune responses by selectively killing tumor cells and inducing systemic anti-tumor immunity. On the contrary, several oncogenic viruses have been shown to play significant roles in malignancy progression in the case of gastric cancer. Therefore, this review evaluates the current state of research and advances in understanding the dual role of viruses in gastric cancer.
Trends in HPV and HPV Vaccine Awareness among Gay and Bisexual Males in the U.S
Authors: Chidobem Ikechukwu , Tian Fan , Ogbuokiri Esther , Mgbodile Francis , Mgbodile Chisom , Jokar Tahereh Orouji , Shah Muhammad Ahsan , Pierre-Louis Frantz
Published: April 2022

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (US). It is often discussed within the context of women’s sexual health due to its association with cervical cancer. However, HPV is also associated with other cancers and conditions which affect men. Gay and bisexual males (GBM) in the US have higher risks of HPV infection and a higher incidence of HPV-associated anal cancer than heterosexual males. In addition, GBM in the US have a higher prevalence of some high-risk strains of HPV than in other regions. HPV vaccination is highly effective at preventing HPV-associated cancers and genital warts. Several resources have been directed towards improving HPV awareness in the US over the past couple of years to improve vaccination rates. Given the low rates of HPV vaccination among GBM in the US, this study aimed to assess the trends in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness using a nationally representative sample of GBM. We found an overall increase in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness between 2017 and 2020. However, the sociodemographic differences in awareness levels highlight the need for more interventions to improve vaccination rates, especially in this high-risk population.
Immunosenescence and Altered Vaccine Efficiency in Older Subjects: A Myth Difficult to Change
Authors: Fulop Tamas , Larbi Anis , Pawelec Graham , Cohen Alan A. , Provost Guillaume , Khalil Abedelouahed , Lacombe Guy , Rodrigues Serafim , Desroches Mathieu , Hirokawa Katsuiku , Franceschi Claudio , Witkowski Jacek M.
Published: April 2022

Organismal ageing is associated with many physiological changes, including differences in the immune system of most animals. These differences are often considered to be a key cause of age-associated diseases as well as decreased vaccine responses in humans. The most often cited vaccine failure is seasonal influenza, but, while it is usually the case that the efficiency of this vaccine is lower in older than younger adults, this is not always true, and the reasons for the differential responses are manifold. Undoubtedly, changes in the innate and adaptive immune response with ageing are associated with failure to respond to the influenza vaccine, but the cause is unclear. Moreover, recent advances in vaccine formulations and adjuvants, as well as in our understanding of immune changes with ageing, have contributed to the development of vaccines, such as those against herpes zoster and SARS-CoV-2, that can protect against serious disease in older adults just as well as in younger people. In the present article, we discuss the reasons why it is a myth that vaccines inevitably protect less well in older individuals, and that vaccines represent one of the most powerful means to protect the health and ensure the quality of life of older adults.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Current and Future Perspectives
Authors: Soraci Luca , Lattanzio Fabrizia , Soraci Giulia , Gambuzza Maria Elsa , Pulvirenti Claudio , Cozza Annalisa , Corsonello Andrea , Luciani Filippo , Rezza Giovanni
Published: April 2022

Currently available vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are highly effective but not able to keep the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic completely under control. Alternative R&D strategies are required to induce a long-lasting immunological response and to reduce adverse events as well as to favor rapid development and large-scale production. Several technological platforms have been used to develop COVID-19 vaccines, including inactivated viruses, recombinant proteins, DNA- and RNA-based vaccines, virus-vectored vaccines, and virus-like particles. In general, mRNA vaccines, protein-based vaccines, and vectored vaccines have shown a high level of protection against COVID-19. However, the mutation-prone nature of the spike (S) protein affects long-lasting vaccine protection and its effectiveness, and vaccinated people can become infected with new variants, also showing high virus levels. In addition, adverse effects may occur, some of them related to the interaction of the S protein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2). Thus, there are some concerns that need to be addressed and challenges regarding logistic problems, such as strict storage at low temperatures for some vaccines. In this review, we discuss the limits of vaccines developed against COVID-19 and possible innovative approaches.
Effects of Oceanic–Atmospheric Oscillations on Rivers
Authors: Wrzesiński Dariusz , Sobkowiak Leszek
Published: April 2022

In this Special Issue, we invited scientists devoted to research on the impacts of the ocean and atmosphere oscillations on the climate and weather patterns, resulting in disturbances in the hydrological phenomena. In our view, the main goal has been successfully reached. This Special Issue received investigations based on measurements, modelling and experiments, related to a wide array of changes in river and lake hydrology on different scales, from local and regional to global approaches. We strongly believe that the readers of journal Water can benefit from these new findings and learn more about effects of the ocean and atmosphere on hydrology using the published papers and share the presented results with the scientific community, policymakers and stakeholders [...]
Mitigation Techniques for Water-Induced Natural Disasters: The State of the Art
Authors: Chen Wei-Bo
Published: April 2022

According to the 2020 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (UN WWDR 2020), about 74% of all-natural disasters were water-related between 2001 and 2018 [...]
Spatiotemporal Distribution of Water and Nitrogen in Border Irrigation and Its Relationship with Root Absorption Properties
Authors: Wan Fa , Wu Wenyong , Liao Renkuan , Wang Yong
Published: April 2022

The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of water and nitrogen in the soil profile are essential influencing factors that determine the development of crop root systems. The purpose of this study was to clarify the inter-row and inter-tree variability in soil moisture in the apple root zone, and to determine the effective root diameter ranges of apple trees that influence water and nitrogen absorption. The method used was a 2-year border irrigation experiment carried out in a traditional apple orchard in Zuncun, Shanxi Province, China. Dynamic variations in the soil moisture between trees within the row (perpendicular to the direction of border irrigation) and between rows (along the direction of border irrigation) were continuously measured from 2015 to 2016, and a specific soil profile was excavated to analyze the distribution characteristics of soil water, nitrogen, and roots with different diameters. The results showed obvious variations in soil moisture in the surface soil of 0–30 cm, and the soil moisture content between rows was 5% higher than that between trees within the row. The root length density in the soil between trees within the row was 33.5% higher than that in the soil between rows. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that the correlation between the root system and nitrogen and water was ranked from highest to lowest: total nitrogen (0.741) > nitrate nitrogen (−0.36) > soil moisture (−0.273). The correlation coefficient between trees within the row was higher than that between rows. Lower soil moisture between trees within the row resulted in increased root biomass and more active uptake activity between trees within the row. There were different significant correlations between the specific root diameter and the contents of soil water and nitrogen, showing that the 1.5 mm diameter roots correlated with the water content, whereas the 2.0 mm diameter roots correlated with the nitrogen content. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of the absorption mechanism of crop roots for soil water and nitrogen.
Study of Identification and Classification Models of Urban Black and Odorous Water Based on Field Measurements of Spectral Data
Authors: Zhou Yaming , Meng Bin , Wang Nan , Yin Shoujing , Feng Aiping , Zhao Huan , Zhu Li , Zhang Rong
Published: April 2022

Urban Black and Odorous Water (BOW) has become an environmental problem in many cities in China. The use of satellite remote sensing technology to identify BOW is still in its infancy, and there are many problems that need further solutions. In order to monitor BOW by satellite, between 2016 and 2017, the reflectance of remote sensing and some other parameters of 173 samples were collected from multiple field water experiments first. The samples were located at the major BOW in the urban areas of four Chinese cities, and the differences in remote sensing reflectance of severe BOW (SBOW), moderate BOW (MBOW), and general water (GW) were analyzed. Based on field measurements of spectral data, six remote sensing classification or identification models of BOW were compared in terms of their correct identification rate and reliability. The results show that compared with the GW in the study area, the urban BOW has the lowest reflectance. The peaks and valleys were not obvious in the visible band, especially the remote sensing reflectance of heavy BOW, which fluctuated very little in the visible band. Compared with the other five models, the H Index model had the best identification correctness and reliability.
Application of a Conceptual Hydrological Model for Streamflow Prediction Using Multi-Source Precipitation Products in a Semi-Arid River Basin
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Ndehedehe Christopher E. , Farah Humera , Ahmad Burhan , Wong Yongjie , Adeyeri Oluwafemi E.
Published: April 2022

Management of the freshwater resources in a sustained manner requires the information and understanding of the surface water hydrology and streamflow is of key importance in this nexus. This study evaluates the performance of eight different precipitation products (APHRODITE, CHRS CCS, CHRS CDR, CHIRPS, CPC Global, GPCC, GPCP, and PERSIANN) for streamflow prediction in two sub-catchments (Chirah and Dhoke Pathan) of the data-scarce Soan River Basin (SRB) in Pakistan. A modified version of the hydrological model HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) known as HBV-light was used to generate streamflow. The model was separately calibrated and validated with observed and estimated precipitation data for streamflow simulation with optimized parameterization. The values of R2, NSE, KGE and PBIAS obtained during the calibration (validation) period for the Chirah sub-catchment were 0.64, 0.64, 0.68 and −5.6% (0.82, 0.81, 0.88 and 7.4%). On the other hand, values of R2, NSE, KGE, and PBIAS obtained during the calibration (validation) period for the Dhoke Pathan sub-catchment were 0.85, 0.85, 0.87, and −3.4% (0.82, 0.7, 0.73 and 6.9%). Different ranges of values were assigned to multiple efficiency evaluation metrics and the performance of precipitation products was assessed. Generally, we found that the performance of the precipitation products was improved (higher metrics values) with increasing temporal and spatial scale. However, our results showed that APHRODITE was the only precipitation product that outperformed other products in simulating observed streamflow at both temporal scales for both Chirah and Dhoke Pathan sub-catchments. These results suggest that with the long-term availability of continuous precipitation records with fine temporal and spatial resolutions, APHRODITE has the high potential to be used for streamflow prediction in this semi-arid river basin. Other products that performed better were GPCC, GPCP, and CHRS CCS; however, their scope was limited either to one catchment or a specific time scale. These results will also help better understand surface water hydrology and in turn, would be useful for better management of the water resources.
Towards an Extension of the Model Conditional Processor: Predictive Uncertainty Quantification of Monthly Streamflow via Gaussian Mixture Models and Clusters
Authors: Romero-Cuellar Jonathan , Gastulo-Tapia Cristhian J. , Hernández-López Mario R. , Prieto Sierra Cristina , Francés Félix
Published: April 2022

This research develops an extension of the Model Conditional Processor (MCP), which merges clusters with Gaussian mixture models to offer an alternative solution to manage heteroscedastic errors. The new method is called the Gaussian mixture clustering post-processor (GMCP). The results of the proposed post-processor were compared to the traditional MCP and MCP using a truncated Normal distribution (MCPt) by applying multiple deterministic and probabilistic verification indices. This research also assesses the GMCP’s capacity to estimate the predictive uncertainty of the monthly streamflow under different climate conditions in the “Second Workshop on Model Parameter Estimation Experiment” (MOPEX) catchments distributed in the SE part of the USA. The results indicate that all three post-processors showed promising results. However, the GMCP post-processor has shown significant potential in generating more reliable, sharp, and accurate monthly streamflow predictions than the MCP and MCPt methods, especially in dry catchments. Moreover, the MCP and MCPt provided similar performances for monthly streamflow and better performances in wet catchments than in dry catchments. The GMCP constitutes a promising solution to handle heteroscedastic errors in monthly streamflow, therefore moving towards a more realistic monthly hydrological prediction to support effective decision-making in planning and managing water resources.
Study on Ecological Water Demand and Ecological Water Supplement in Wuliangsuhai Lake
Authors: Wan Fang , Zhang Fei , Zheng Xiaokang , Xiao Lingfeng
Published: April 2022

Wuliangsuhai Lake is the largest shore lake in the upper reaches of the Yellow River and has become an important ecological barrier and habitat for birds in northern China. In recent years, pollutants and nutrient loads have been partially reduced, and the water quality in the lake area has been alleviated to a certain extent. However, the overall water treatment of Wuliangsuhai Lake is worrying and needs to be improved urgently. In this paper, according to the current situation of water quality and the goal of ecological environment protection, the ecological water demand of Wuliangsuhai Lake was estimated by using the dynamic viewpoint. The calculation of ecological water demand mainly considered: water of evaporation and leakage in the lake, and water demand of pollutant dilution. The requirements of ecological water demand in Wuliangsuhai Lake were solved in four ways: agricultural wastewater in the irrigation area; strengthening water saving in the main canal; carrying out water-saving system reform; and transporting ecological water use for washing salt to Wuliangsuhai Lake during an irrigation gap period. For Wuliangsuhai Lake in the Mengxin Plateau, which is located in a serious water shortage area, it is of great significance to protect the ecological environment by ensuring the amount of water entering the lake, maintaining the existing water surface of the lake, and giving full play to its water ecological function.
Influence of N:P Ratio of Water on Ecological Stoichiometry of Vallisneria natans and Hydrilla verticillata
Authors: Dai Mingzhe , Xiao Yayu , Wang Tao , Xu Jun , Wang Yuyu
Published: April 2022

Eutrophication is one of the major threats to shallow lake ecosystems, because it causes large-scale degradation of submerged plants. N:P ratio is an important indicator to estimate nutrient supply to water bodies and guide the restoration of submerged plants. The massive input of N and P changes the structure of aquatic communities and ecological processes. However, the mechanism underlying the influence of changes in N and P content and the N:P ratio of a water body on the growth of submerged plants is still unclear. In this study, we simulated gradients of water N:P ratio in lakes in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River using outdoor mesocosm experiments. Using established generalized linear models (GLM), the effects of total nitrogen (TN) content and N:P ratio of water, phytoplankton and periphytic algae biomass, and relative growth rate (RGR) of plants on the stoichiometric characteristics of two widely distributed submerged plants, Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria natans, were explored. The results reveal that changes in water nutrient content affected the C:N:P stoichiometry of submerged plants. In a middle-eutrophic state, the stoichiometric characteristics of C, N, and P in the submerged plants were not influenced by phytoplankton and periphytic algae. The P content of H. verticillata and V. natans was positively correlated with their relative growth rate (RGR). As TN and N:P ratio of water increased, their N content increased and C:N decreased. These results indicate that excessive N absorption by submerged plants and the consequent internal physiological injury and growth inhibition may be the important reasons for the degradation of submerged vegetation in the process of lake eutrophication.
Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Wuliangsuhai Lake, Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Li Jialu , Zuo Qiting , Feng Feng , Jia Hongtao
Published: April 2022

As one of the eight largest freshwater lakes in China, Wuliangsuhai Lake is an extremely rare large lake with biodiversity and environmental protection functions in one of the world’s arid or semi-arid areas and it plays a pivotal role in protecting the ecological security of the Yellow River Basin. Heavy metals in sediment interstitial water, surface sediments, and sediment cores of Wuliangsuhai Lake were investigated and analyzed, and the pollution degree evaluated based on multiple assessment methods. The bioavailability of heavy metals of the surface sediments was evaluated by calculating the ratio of chemical fractions of heavy metals. The toxicity assessment of sediment interstitial water indicated that Ni, Zn, As, and Cd would not be toxic to aquatic ecosystems, however, Hg and Cr in some regions may cause acute toxicity to the benthos. The ecological assessment results of the surface sediments indicated that some areas of the lake are heavily polluted and the main polluting elements are Cd and Hg. Cd has the highest bioavailability because of its high exchangeable fraction ratio. In addition, exogenous pollution accumulated within 20 cm of the sediment cores, and then, with the increasing of the depth, the pollution degree and ecological risk decreased.
Outcomes following anastomotic leak from rectal resections, including bowel function and quality of life
Authors: Re Angelina Di , Tooza Salam , Diab Jason , Karam Charbel , Sarofim Mina , Ooi Kevin , Turner Catherine , Kozman Daniel , Blomberg David , Morgan Matthew
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Anastomotic leak (AL) is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication after rectal resection. We aim to provide an updated assessment of bowel function and quality of life after AL, as well as associated short- and long-term outcomes.Methods: A retrospective audit of all rectal resections performed at a colorectal unit and associated private hospitals over the past 10 years was performed. Relevant demographic, operative, and histopathological data were collected. A prospective survey was performed regarding patients’ quality of life and fecal continence. These patients were matched with nonAL patients who completed the same survey.Results: One hundred patients (out of 1,394 resections) were included. AL was contained in 66.0%, not contained in 10.0%, and only anastomotic stricture in 24.0%. Management was antibiotics only in 39.0%, percutaneous drainage in 9.0%, operative abdominal drainage in 19.0%, transrectal drainage in 6.0%, combination of percutaneous drainage and transrectal drainage in 2.0%, and combination abdominal/transrectal drainage in 1.0%. The 1-year stoma rate was 15.0%. Overall, mean Fecal Incontinence Severity Instrument scores were higher for AL patients than their matched counterparts (8.06±10.5 vs. 2.92±4.92, P=0.002). Patients with an AL had a mean EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) of 76.23±19.85; this was lower than the matched mean EQ-VAS for non-AL patients of 81.64±18.07, although not statistically significant (P=0.180).Conclusion: The majority of AL patients in this study were managed with antibiotics only. AL was associated with higher fecal incontinence scores in the long-term; however, this did not equate to lower quality of life scores.
Mussel-Inspired and Bioclickable Peptide Engineered Surface to Combat Thrombosis and Infection
Authors: Mou Xiaohui , Zhang Hongbo , Qiu Hua , Zhang Wentai , Wang Ying , Xiong Kaiqin , Huang Nan , Santos Hélder A. , Yang Zhilu
Published: April 2022

Thrombosis and infections are the two major complications associated with extracorporeal circuits and indwelling medical devices, leading to significant mortality in clinic. To address this issue, here, we report a biomimetic surface engineering strategy by the integration of mussel-inspired adhesive peptide, with bio-orthogonal click chemistry, to tailor the surface functionalities of tubing and catheters. Inspired by mussel adhesive foot protein, a bioclickable peptide mimic (DOPA)
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-azide-based structure is designed and grafted on an aminated tubing robustly based on catechol-amine chemistry. Then, the dibenzylcyclooctyne (DBCO) modified nitric oxide generating species of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelated copper ions and the DBCO-modified antimicrobial peptide (DBCO-AMP) are clicked onto the grafted surfaces via bio-orthogonal reaction. The combination of the robustly grafted AMP and Cu-DOTA endows the modified tubing with durable antimicrobial properties and ability in long-term catalytically generating NO from endogenous s-nitrosothiols to resist adhesion/activation of platelets, thus preventing the formation of thrombosis. Overall, this biomimetic surface engineering technology provides a promising solution for multicomponent surface functionalization and the surface bioengineering of biomedical devices with enhanced clinical performance.
Exploring Factors Associated With the Work Hours of Attending Physicians Working in Hospitals
Authors: Yu Tsung-Hsien , Hou Ying-Hui , Hsu Hui-Yi , Chang Ray-E
Published: April 2022

Background: Long work hours for physicians not only harm the health of physicians, but also endanger patient safety. Compared with resident physicians, attending physicians—especially hospital-employed attending physicians—assume more responsibilities but has not gotten enough attention. The purpose of this study was to explore whether a hospital’s geographic location and emergency care responsibility might influence the number of hours worked. Methods: The respondents of 2365 attending physicians from 152 hospitals in the 2018 survey of Taiwan physician work hours were used as the data source. The total work hour per week and its components, the regular scheduled shift and three types of on-call shifts, were used as outcome variables. Hospital geographic location and emergency care responsibility were the independent variables. The multilevel random effect model was employed to examine the study objective after adjusting for clinical specialty, hospital teaching status, and ownership. Results: The average number of total working hours was 69.09 hours per week; the regular scheduled shift was account for 75% of total work hours. The results showed the total work hours were only varied by the level of hospital’s emergency care responsibility. However, the results also demonstrated the hours of duty shifts were varied by hospital’s geographic location and emergency care responsibility. The results of the multilevel random effect model revealed that the hospital’s emergency care responsibility was the factor consistently associated with attending physician’s work hour, no matter the total work hours or its composition. Conclusion: In this study, we explored how a hospital’s location and its level of emergency care responsibility were associated with physicians’ work hours for each type of shift. Our findings offer an opportunity to review the rationality of physician workforce allocation, and financial incentives and administrative measures could be the next steps for balancing the work hours of attending physicians.
Premature cellular senescence in isolated chondrocytes from polydactyl cartilage in FBS containing serum in comparison to human serum
Authors: Shafaei Hajar , Farani Azam , Baghaei Zahra , Mortazavi Fatemeh
Published: April 2022

Background. Transplantation of chondrocytes is one of the methods for treatment of articular cartilage defects. For this purpose, it is necessary to isolate these chondrocytes and expand in serum containing culture medium. Sera contain growth factors that are added to medium. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is used for standard cell culture. However bovine proteins of FBS are accompanied with risk of host immune system reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to replace FBS with human serum for clinical cases. In addition, infants have chondrocytes with high proliferation potency versus adults. In this study, the effects of FBS and human placental serum was investigated on morphology and cellular senescence related genes expression of chondrocytes of infants. Methods. Chondrocytes after isolation of from polydactyly cartilage tissue samples, were cultured in 10% FBS and human serum up to passage 5. Human placental serum was obtained from venous blood of embryonic surface of human placenta. Chondrocytes in two culture medium were compared morphologically by inverted microscope. For cellular senescence evaluation, relative expression of IGF1 and P16 genes were assessed by quantitative real-time RT PCR. Results. Proliferation of chondrocytes is markedly decreased in FBS groups in comparison with human serum. In FBS containing medium, phenotypes of cells were changed from spindle shape to flat appearance after five passages. The expression IGF1 and P16 genes are increased in chondrocytes grown in FBS containing medium and it was significant about P16. Morphologic results were in agreement with Real-time RT PCR results. Conclusion. Human placental serum has advantages such as high proliferation rate on human chondrocytes, prevention from cellular senescence and immunological problems in using cultured chondrocytes for cartilage tissue engineering.
Evaluation of job satisfaction and hopelessness in medical assistants of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Mohagheghi Arash , Hatam Nejhad Seyyed Jalal
Published: April 2022

Employee job satisfaction is one of the most important issues in any organization. Job satisfaction is described as general attitude of a person towards his job. Job satisfaction of medical assistants increases and promotes the quality of medical services and improves patients' satisfaction with medical services. The aim of this study was to determine the level of job satisfaction and hopelessness of medical assistants in educational centers of Tabriz. In this descriptive-analytical study, medical assistants of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were selected and assessed using the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) for Job Satisfaction and Beck Hopelessness Scale. Hopelessness decreases with increasing job satisfaction (P<0.001). There was a significant relationship between hopelessness and domesticity (P=0.017) and between job satisfaction and the level of hopelessness with the marital status of assistants (P<0.001) and (P=0.043).
Comparison of laboratory parameters in children admitted with febrile seizures and fever without localized sign in Urmia Motahari hospital, Iran, 2015 until 2020
Authors: Abbasi Ezatollah , Ghazavi Ahad , Firoozi Asma
Published: April 2022

Background. Febrile seizures are the most common childhood seizure disorder, occurring in 3 to 15% of children. The present study investigated the laboratory parameters in children admitted with febrile seizure and those with fever without localized sign (FWLS) in Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia. Methods. Demographic and clinical data of all patients admitted to the pediatric ward of Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia from 2015 to 2020 with febrile seizure and fever without localized sign (FWLS) were collected. Levels of BUN, creatinine, blood sugar, sodium, potassium , calcium , C reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, hematocrit, platelets, ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate ) and UA (urine analysis) and UC(urine cuiture), test results were also extracted from patients' file. Finally, the data extracted were compared between patients with febrile seizure and fever without localized sign (FWLS) cohort. Results. In this study, a total of 425 people were included, of which 185 were in the Febrile seizures group (case) and 240 were in the fever without localized sign (FWLS) (control) cohort, with 220 (51.8%) being male and 205 (48.2%) female. The mean age for all subjects was 20.62 ±4.84 months. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean levels of BUN (P=0.041), creatinine (P=0.006), ESR (P<0.001) and CRP (P<0.001); The mean levels of BUN and creatinine in patients with febrile seizures were significantly higher than patients with fever without localized sign (FWLS) and the mean ESR and CRP in patients with fever without localized sign (FWLS) were significantly higher than patients with febrile seizures. Conclusion. There is a significant difference in BUN, creatinine, ESR and CRP levels between patients with febrile seizure and fever without localized sign (FWLS), which can be used to predict the course of fever in children. Practical Implications. None of the laboratory parameters predict the onset of fever and seizures following a simple fever.
Micro-Level Factors that Affect Females’ Decisions Towards Leadership in Higher Education: a Literature Review
Authors: Yelibay Moldir
Published: April 2022

This paper is based on an ongoing PhD research named “Understanding the Lack of Female Leadership in Higher Education of Kazakhstan”. The aim of this study is to identify empirical studies that explored micro-level factors affecting female leadership in higher education. Thus, a systematic literature review technique was used to synthesise research from a gender perspective of leadership in higher education. An initial screening process resulted in a final sample of 37 appropriate studies. The synthesis of these empirical studies revealed that there are different leadership domains in higher education: academic and professional. Therefore, the micro-level factors that affect these domains include the purpose of doctoral studies, the change of interests, identity and gender, self-awareness, self-management, self esteem, self efficacy and work-life balance. This study contributes to the development of female leadership in higher education.