bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Assembling Protein Nanoparticles in the Design of Vaccines: 2022 Update
Authors: Morales-Hernández Sergio , Ugidos-Damboriena Nerea , López-Sagaseta Jacinto
Published: September 2022

Vaccines constitute a pillar in the prevention of infectious diseases. The unprecedented emergence of novel immunization strategies due to the COVID-19 pandemic has again positioned vaccination as a pivotal measure to protect humankind and reduce the clinical impact and socioeconomic burden worldwide. Vaccination pursues the ultimate goal of eliciting a protective response in immunized individuals. To achieve this, immunogens must be efficiently delivered to prime the immune system and produce robust protection. Given their safety, immunogenicity, and flexibility to display varied and native epitopes, self-assembling protein nanoparticles represent one of the most promising immunogen delivery platforms. Currently marketed vaccines against the human papillomavirus, for instance, illustrate the potential of these nanoassemblies. This review is intended to provide novelties, since 2015, on the ground of vaccine design and self-assembling protein nanoparticles, as well as a comparison with the current emergence of mRNA-based vaccines.
Recent Advances in Glioma Cancer Treatment: Conventional and Epigenetic Realms
Authors: Karami Fath Mohsen , Babakhaniyan Kimiya , Anjomrooz Mehran , Jalalifar Mohammadrasoul , Alizadeh Seyed Danial , Pourghasem Zeinab , Abbasi Oshagh Parisa , Azargoonjahromi Ali , Almasi Faezeh , Manzoor Hafza Zahira , Khalesi Bahman , Pourzardosht Navid , Khalili Saeed , Payandeh Zahra
Published: September 2022

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most typical and aggressive form of primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis. Successful glioma treatment is hampered by ineffective medication distribution across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the emergence of drug resistance. Although a few FDA-approved multimodal treatments are available for glioblastoma, most patients still have poor prognoses. Targeting epigenetic variables, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and different vaccine- and peptide-based treatments are some innovative approaches to improve anti-glioma treatment efficacy. Following the identification of lymphatics in the central nervous system, immunotherapy offers a potential method with the potency to permeate the blood-brain barrier. This review will discuss the rationale, tactics, benefits, and drawbacks of current glioma therapy options in clinical and preclinical investigations.
The Immune Subtypes and Landscape of Advanced-Stage Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Zhang Minjie , Shi Mengna , Yu Yang , Sang Jianmin , Wang Hong , Shi Jianhong , Duan Ping , Ge Renshan
Published: September 2022

Immunotherapy has played a significant role in the treatment of a variety of hematological and solid tumors, but its application in ovarian cancer (OC) remains unclear. This study aimed to identify immune subtypes of OC and delineate an immune landscape for selecting suitable patients for immunotherapy, thereby providing potent therapeutic targets for immunotherapy drug development. Three immune subtypes (IS1–IS3) with distinctive molecular, cellular, and clinical characteristics were identified from the TCGA and GSE32062 cohorts. Compared to IS1, IS3 has a better prognosis and exhibits an immunological “hot”. IS3, in contrast, exhibits an immunological “cold” and has a worse prognosis in OC patients. Moreover, gene mutations, immune modulators, CA125, CA199, and HE4 expression, along with sensitivity either to immunotherapy or chemotherapy, were significantly different among the three immune subtypes. The OC immune landscape was highly heterogeneous between individual patients. Poor prognosis was correlated with low expression of the hub genes CD2, CD3D, and CD3E, which could act not only as biomarkers for predicting prognosis, but also as potential immunotherapy targets. Our study elucidates the immunotyping and molecular characteristics of the immune microenvironment in OC, which could provide an effective immunotherapy stratification method for optimally selecting patients, and also has clinical significance for the development of new immunotherapy as well as rational combination strategies for the treatment of OC patients.
Can Catch-Up Vaccinations Fill the Void Left by Suspension of the Governmental Recommendation of HPV Vaccine in Japan?
Authors: Yagi Asami , Ueda Yutaka , Nakagawa Satoshi , Ikeda Sayaka , Kakuda Mamoru , Hiramatsu Kosuke , Miyoshi Ai , Kobayashi Eiji , Kimura Toshihiro , Mizushima Taichi , Suzuki Yukio , Sekine Masayuki , Hirai Kei , Nakayama Tomio , Miyagi Etsuko , Enomoto Takayuki , Kimura Tadashi
Published: September 2022

In 2013, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan announced a suspension of the governmental recommendation for routine HPV vaccinations. In 2020, MHLW started individual notifications of HPV vaccine to the targeted girls. In April 2022, the governmental recommendation was restarted, and catch-up vaccinations started. We evaluated the benefits and limitations of the MHLW’s new vaccination strategies by estimating the lifetime risk for cervical cancer for each birth FY under different scenarios to suggest a measure for the vaccine suspension generation. It was revealed that catch-up immunization coverage among the unvaccinated must reach as high as 90% in FY2022, when the program begins, in order to reduce the risk of the females already over the targeted ages to the same level or lower than that of women born in FY1994-1999 who had high HPV vaccination rates. For women whose vaccination coverage waned because of their birth FYs, strong recommendations for cervical cancer screening should be implemented.
Relative Vaccine Effectiveness of Adjuvanted Trivalent Influenza Vaccine over Three Consecutive Influenza Seasons in the United States
Authors: Boikos Constantina , McGovern Ian , Ortiz Justin R. , Puig-Barberà Joan , Versage Eve , Haag Mendel
Published: September 2022

Traditional influenza vaccines may be less immunogenic in adults ≥65 years of age due to immunosenescence. Two influenza vaccines—MF59®-adjuvanted trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3) and high-dose influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3)—were developed to overcome this problem. We summarize estimates of the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of aIIV3 vs. HD-IIV3 and aIIV3 vs. standard, egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines (IIV4e) during the 2017–2018, 2018–2019, and 2019–2020 US influenza seasons using the same underlying electronic medical record and linked claims dataset for all three seasons. The primary outcome was influenza-related medical encounters (IRMEs), defined by diagnostic codes specific to influenza (ICD J09*-J11*). rVE was estimated using propensity score methods adjusting for demographics and health status. rVE estimates demonstrated consistent benefit for aIIV3 over IIV4e in the overall and at-risk populations. Relative to HD-IIV3, aIIV3 provided improved benefit in the overall study population and comparable benefit in the at-risk population across each season.
Durability of Protection Post–Primary COVID-19 Vaccination in the United States
Authors: Zheutlin Amanda , Ott Miles , Sun Ran , Zemlianskaia Natalia , Meyer Craig , Rubel Meagan , Hayden Jennifer , Neri Breno , Kamath Tripthi , Khan Najat , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Sarsour Khaled
Published: September 2022

The durability of immune responses after COVID-19 vaccination will drive long-term vaccine effectiveness across settings and may differ by vaccine type. To determine durability of protection of COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and Ad26.COV2.S) following primary vaccination in the United States, a matched case-control study was conducted in three cohorts between 1 January and 7 September 2021 using de-identified data from a database covering 168 million lives. Odds ratios (ORs) for developing outcomes of interest (breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, or intensive care unit admission) were determined for each vaccine (no direct comparisons). In total, 17,017,435 individuals were identified. Relative to the baseline, stable protection was observed for Ad26.COV2.S against infections (OR [95% confidence interval (CI)], 1.31 [1.18–1.47]) and hospitalizations (OR [95% CI], 1.25 [0.86–1.80]). Relative to the baseline, protection waned over time against infections for BNT162b2 (OR [95% CI], 2.20 [2.01–2.40]) and mRNA-1273 (OR [95% CI], 2.07 [1.87–2.29]) and against hospitalizations for BNT162b2 (OR [95% CI], 2.38 [1.79–3.17]). Baseline protection remained stable for intensive care unit admissions for all three vaccines. Calculated baseline VE was consistent with published literature. This study suggests that the three vaccines in three separate populations may have different durability profiles.
Longitudinal Comparison of Neutralizing Antibody Responses to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines after Second and Third Doses
Authors: Roeder Alexa J. , Koehler Megan A. , Jasbi Paniz , McKechnie Davis , Vanderhoof John , Edwards Baylee A. , Gonzalez-Moa Maria J. , Seit-Nebi Alim , Svarovsky Sergei A. , Lake Douglas F.
Published: September 2022

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines protect against severe disease and hospitalization. Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are a first-line defense mechanism, but protective NAb responses are variable. Currently, NAb testing is not widely available. This study employed a lateral flow assay for monitoring NAb levels postvaccination and natural infection, using a finger-stick drop of blood. We report longitudinal NAb data from BNT162b2 (Pfizer) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) recipients after second and third doses. Results demonstrate a third dose of mRNA vaccine elicits higher and more durable NAb titers than the second dose, independent of manufacturer, sex, and age. Our analyses also revealed that vaccinated individuals could be categorized as strong, moderate, and poorly neutralizing responders. After the second dose, 34% of subjects were classified as strong responders, compared to 79% after the third dose. The final months of this study coincided with the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and symptomatic breakthrough infections within our study population. Lastly, we show that NAb levels sufficient for protection from symptomatic infection with early SARS-CoV-2 variants were not protective against Omicron infection and disease. This work highlights the need for accessible vaccine response monitoring for use in healthcare, such that individuals, particularly those in vulnerable populations, can make informed vaccination decisions.
A Systematic Review on the Emergence of Omicron Variant and Recent Advancement in Therapies
Authors: Konyak Beyau M. , Sharma Mohan , Kharia Shabnam , Pandey Ramendra Pati , Chang Chung-Ming
Published: September 2022

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of the novel Omicron variant in November 2021 has created chaos around the world. Despite mass vaccination, Omicron has spread rapidly, raising concerns around the globe. The Omicron variant has a vast array of mutations, as compared to another variant of concern, with a total of 50 mutations, 30 of which are present on its spike protein alone. These mutations have led to immune escape and more transmissibility compared to other variants, including the Delta variant. A cluster of mutations (H655Y, N679K, and P681H) present in the Omicron spike protein could aid in transmission. Currently, no virus-specific data are available to predict the efficacy of the anti-viral and mAbs drugs. However, two monoclonal antibody drugs, Sotrovimab and Evusheld, are authorized for emergency use in COVID-19 patients. This virus is not fading away soon. The easiest solution and least expensive measure to fight against this pandemic are to follow the appropriate COVID-19 protocols. There is a need to strengthen the level of research for the development of potential vaccines and anti-viral drugs. It is also important to monitor and expand the genomic surveillance to keep track of the emergence of new variants, thus avoiding the spread of new diseases worldwide. This article highlights the emergence of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, Omicron (B.1.1.529), and the vast number of mutations in its protein. In addition, recent advancements in drugs approved by FDA to treat COVID patients have been listed and focused in this paper.
Assessment of Postvaccination Neutralizing Antibodies Response against SARS-CoV-2 in Cancer Patients under Treatment with Targeted Agents
Authors: Zagouri Flora , Papatheodoridi Alkistis , Liontos Michalis , Briasoulis Alexandros , Sklirou Aimilia D. , Skafida Efthymia , Fiste Oraianthi , Markellos Christos , Andrikopoulou Angeliki , Koutsoukos Konstantinos , Kaparelou Maria , Gkogkou Eirini , Trougakos Ioannis P. , Dimopoulos Meletios-Athanasios , Terpos Evangelos
Published: September 2022

The administration of a third dose of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has increased protection against disease transmission and severity. However, the kinetics of neutralizing antibodies against the virus has been poorly studied in cancer patients under targeted therapies. Baseline characteristics and levels of neutralizing antibodies at specific timepoints after vaccination were compared between patients suffering from breast, ovarian or prostate cancer and healthy individuals. Breast cancer patients were treated with cyclin D kinase 4/6 inhibitors and hormonal therapy, ovarian cancer patients were treated with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors and prostate cancer patients were treated with an androgen receptor targeted agent. Levels of neutralizing antibodies were significantly lower in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals at all timepoints. Antibodies’ titers declined over time in both groups but remained above protective levels (>50%) at 6 months after the administration of the second dose. The administration of a third dose increased neutralizing antibodies’ levels in both groups. The titers of protective against SARS-CoV-2 antibodies wane over time and increase after a third dose in cancer patients under treatment.
Effects of Prior Infection with SARS-CoV-2 on B Cell Receptor Repertoire Response during Vaccination
Authors: Fraley Elizabeth R. , Khanal Santosh , Pierce Stephen H. , LeMaster Cas A. , McLennan Rebecca , Pastinen Tomi , Bradley Todd
Published: September 2022

Understanding the B cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is a high priority. High-throughput sequencing of the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire allows for dynamic characterization of B cell response. Here, we sequenced the BCR repertoire of individuals vaccinated by the Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. We compared BCR repertoires of individuals with previous COVID-19 infection (seropositive) to individuals without previous infection (seronegative). We discovered that vaccine-induced expanded IgG clonotypes had shorter heavy-chain complementarity determining region 3 (HCDR3), and for seropositive individuals, these expanded clonotypes had higher somatic hypermutation (SHM) than seronegative individuals. We uncovered shared clonotypes present in multiple individuals, including 28 clonotypes present across all individuals. These 28 shared clonotypes had higher SHM and shorter HCDR3 lengths compared to the rest of the BCR repertoire. Shared clonotypes were present across both serotypes, indicating convergent evolution due to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination independent of prior viral exposure.
Differences in Long-COVID Symptoms between Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated (BNT162b2 Vaccine) Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors Infected with the Delta Variant
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo , Fuensalida-Novo Stella , Martín-Guerrero José D. , Pellicer-Valero Oscar J. , Torres-Macho Juan
Published: September 2022

This study compared differences in the presence of post-COVID symptoms among vaccinated and non-vaccinated COVID-19 survivors requiring hospitalization due to the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. This cohort study included hospitalized subjects who had survived SARS-CoV-2 infection (Delta variant) from July to August 2021 in an urban hospital in Madrid, Spain. Individuals were classified as vaccinated if they received full administration (i.e., two doses) of BNT162b2 (“Pfizer-BioNTech”) vaccines. Other vaccines were excluded. Those with just one dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine were considered as non-vaccinated. Patients were scheduled for a telephone interview at a follow-up around six months after infection for assessing the presence of post-COVID symptoms with particular attention to those symptoms starting after acute infection and hospitalization. Anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were likely assessed. Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from medical records. A total comprising 109 vaccinated and 92 non-vaccinated COVID-19 survivors was included. Vaccinated patients were older and presented a higher number of medical comorbidities, particular cardiorespiratory conditions, than non-vaccinated patients. No differences in COVID-19 onset symptoms at hospitalization and post-COVID symptoms six months after hospital discharge were found between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. No specific risk factor for any post-COVID symptom was identified in either group. This study observed that COVID-19 onset-associated symptoms and post-COVID symptoms six-months after hospitalization were similar between previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors vaccinated and those non-vaccinated. Current data can be applied to the Delta variant and those vaccinated with BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine.
The Dynamic Relationship between the Intention and Final Decision for the COVID-19 Booster: A Study among Students and Staff at the University of Liège, Belgium
Authors: Paridans Marine , Monseur Justine , Donneau Anne-Françoise , Gillain Nicolas , Husson Eddy , Leclercq Dieudonné , Meuris Christelle , Darcis Gilles , Moutschen Michel , Saegerman Claude , Gillet Laurent , Bureau Fabrice , Guillaume Michèle , Pétré Benoit
Published: September 2022

While many studies have documented the intentions for the COVID-19 vaccine booster, few have explored the change from intention to final decision. This study explores the COVID-19 booster intentions and the change from intention to decision in a primo-vaccinated university population, with a distinction between staff members and students. It looks at the sociodemographic and medical characteristics, health literacy, personal COVID-19 infection and vaccination history, and attitudes/intentions regarding the booster, among the 1030 participants (64.4% staff members, 61.3% female, median age 36.0 years). Of the 8.7% who were initially hesitant, 72.7% ultimately got a booster and 27.3% did not. Another 84.2% intended to get a booster and 7.1% did not. Among the latter two groups, 88.9% maintained their intention and 11.1% changed their minds. The determinants associated with the intentions were health literacy and previous intentions regarding the COVID-19 primo-vaccination. The determinants associated with the change to non-vaccination were a previous COVID-19 infection, a past COVID-19 primo-vaccination intention, and a neutralizing antibody level. The results point to an opening for the support in decision-making, with a significant percentage of the study population potentially changing their mind between intention and final decision; this process should start early and be tailored to the individual’s COVID-19 history. A personalized approach seems necessary in order to ensure that individuals make an informed choice.
T-Cell Responses Induced by an Intradermal BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Booster Following Primary Vaccination with Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
Authors: Sophonmanee Ratchanon , Ongarj Jomkwan , Seeyankem Bunya , Seepathomnarong Purilap , Intapiboon Porntip , Surasombatpattana Smonrapat , Uppanisakorn Supattra , Sangsupawanich Pasuree , Chusri Sarunyou , Pinpathomrat Nawamin
Published: September 2022

A practical booster vaccine is urgently needed to control the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We have previously reported the safety and immunogenicity of a fractional intradermal booster, using the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in healthy volunteers who had completed two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In this study, an intramuscular booster at full dosage was used as a control, and a half-dose vaccination was included for reciprocal comparison. Detailed T-cell studies are essential to understand cellular responses to vaccination. T-cell immunity was examined using S1 peptide restimulation and flow cytometry. The fractional dose (1:5) of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine enhanced antigen-specific effector T-cells, but the responses were less remarkable compared to the intramuscular booster at full dosage. However, the intradermal regimen was not inferior to the intramuscular booster a month after boosting. An intradermal booster using only one-fifth of the standard dosage could provide comparable T-cell responses with the fractional intramuscular booster. This work confirms the efficacy of intradermal and fractional vaccination in terms of T-cell immunogenicity in previously immunised populations.
Acceptance, Hesitancy, and Refusal in Anti-COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cluster Analysis Aiming at the Typology behind These Three Concepts
Authors: Cristea Darie , Ilie Dragoș-Georgian , Constantinescu Claudia , Fîrțală Valeriu
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the findings of a study aiming at an innovative typology of attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. The proposed typology tries to go beyond the common sociological studies who divide the public into three categories: pro-vaxxers, anti-vaxxers, and hesitants. Our purpose is obtaining a more complex typology using cluster analysis. The article is based on a nation-wide survey conducted in Romania. The sample of the survey was statistically representative to the population of Romania and was composed of 1002 participants. A k-means algorithm for classifying cases was used to identify how the studied population structures itself when it comes to attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. We see hesitancy as an expression of concern or doubt about the value or safety of the vaccination, but also as fear or dis(trust) in the authorities, or as disinterest. We found out that the Romanian public falls into three categories regarding the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination: the “non-fanatical” pro-vaxxers, the anti-vaxxers, and those without a clear opinion (uninterested and/or undecided). What we usually call “vaccine hesitancy” can be found, depending on motivation or type of hesitancy, in both of the last two clusters.
Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of Fractional Intradermal COVID-19 Vaccines as a Booster: A Pilot Study
Authors: Niyomnaitham Suvimol , Chatsiricharoenkul Somruedee , Toh Zheng Quan , Senawong Sansnee , Pheerapanyawaranun Chatkamol , Phumiamorn Supaporn , Licciardi Paul V. , Chokephaibulkit Kulkanya
Published: September 2022

Intradermal vaccination using fractional dosages of the standard vaccine dose is one strategy to improve access to COVID-19 immunization. We conducted a pilot study in healthy adults in Thailand to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of intradermal administration of fractional doses of ChAdOx1 (1/5th of standard dosage) or BNT162b2 (1/6th of standard dosage) to individuals previously vaccinated (prime) with two-dose intramuscular CoronaVac, ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2. Following an initial immunogenicity exploratory phase for each vaccine combination group (n = 10), a total of 135 participants (n = 45 per group) were recruited to 3 groups (CoronaVac prime-intradermal BNT162b2 boost, CoronaVac prime-intradermal ChAdOx1 boost and ChAdOx1 prime-intradermal BNT162b2 boost) and their immunogenicity data were compared to a previous cohort who received the same vaccine intramuscularly. Two weeks following booster vaccination, neutralizing antibodies against the delta variant were similar between the participants who received intradermal and intramuscular vaccination. However, neutralizing antibodies against the omicron variant in the intradermal BNT162b2 boost groups were ~6-fold lower, while the levels in the ChAdOx1 boost group were similar compared to their respective vaccine regimen given intramuscularly. The intradermal booster significantly increased spike-specific T cell responses in all three groups from pre-booster levels. Local and systemic adverse reactions were milder in intradermal compared to intramuscular injections. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical relevance of these findings and the feasibility of administration of intradermal COVID-19 vaccines.
Retrospective Cohort Study of COVID-19 in Patients of the Brazilian Public Health System with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection
Authors: Murari Thiago B. , Fonseca Larissa Moraes dos Santos , Pereira Hernane B. de B. , Nascimento Filho Aloísio S. , Saba Hugo , Scorza Fulvio A. , G. de Almeida Antônio-Carlos , Maciel Ethel L. N. , Mendes José F. F. , Rocha Filho Tarcísio M. , David John R. , Badaró Roberto , Machado Bruna Aparecida Souza , Moret Marcelo A.
Published: September 2022

Several vaccines against COVID-19 are now available, based on different techniques and made by different laboratories spread around the world. With the roll out of the vaccination process in an advanced stage in many countries, the reduced risk of hospitalization due to the Omicron variant relative to the Delta variant infection, despite the higher transmission risk of Omicron, may lead to a misinterpretation of the results, as infection by Omicron is associated with a significant reduction in severe outcomes and shorter hospitalization time than the Delta variant. We compared the in-hospital mortality due to the Omicron (Jan–Mar 2022) with Gamma (Jan 2021) and Delta (Oct–Dec 2021) variants of patients in the Brazilian public health system. This study also discusses the decrease in booster vaccine effectiveness in patients hospitalized due to the Omicron variant compared with the Delta variant. Without a remodeling of vaccines for new variants, booster doses may be necessary with a shorter time interval.
Written Briefing and Oral Counseling Increase the Willingness to Receive the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination among Women in Puerperium: A Qualitative Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Schirwani Nawa , Pateisky Petra , Koren Tamina , Farr Alex , Kiss Herbert , Bancher-Todesca Dagmar
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Vaccination rates for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are low in Austria. International obstetric societies recommend the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination for women in puerperium. (2) Methods: A prospective two-stage cohort study was conducted at the Medical University of Vienna between October 2022 and December 2022. Firstly, women in puerperium were assigned to the evaluation group (step 1), and secondly, another cohort of unvaccinated women were randomly assigned to study group A (written briefing) or B (written and oral briefing) (step 2). We evaluated the vaccination status among women in the evaluation group and the willingness to receive the vaccination in all three cohorts. (3) Results: We included 217 women in puerperium (evaluation: n = 69, A: n = 68; B: n = 80). In the evaluation group, 66.7% (n = 46/69) of the women were unvaccinated. A total of 45.7% (21/46) of the unvaccinated women categorically declined the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. A total of 26.5% (n = 18/68) of women in study group A, and 43.8% (n = 35/80) of women in study group B expressed their willingness to receive the vaccination (p = 0.029). There were no differences in willingness to receive the vaccination between different age strata of women in study groups A and B. (D) Conclusion: Our qualitative data demonstrate a benefit from oral counseling in addition to written briefing in order to increase the willingness to receive the vaccination among women in puerperium.
On the Efficiency Enhancement of an Actively Tunable MEMS Energy Harvesting Device
Authors: Aliasghary Mortaza , Azizi Saber , Madinei Hadi , Haddad Khodaparast Hamed
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we propose an active control method to adjust the resonance frequency of a capacitive energy harvester. To this end, the resonance frequency of the harvester is tuned using an electrostatic force, which is actively controlled by a voltage source. The spring softening effect of the electrostatic force is used to accommodate the dominant frequency of the ambient mechanical vibration within the bandwidth of the resonance region. A single degree of freedom is considered, and the nonlinear equation of motion is numerically integrated over time. Using a conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control mechanism, the results demonstrated that our controller could shift the resonance frequency leftward on the frequency domain and, as a result, improve the efficiency of the energy harvester, provided that the excitation frequency is lower than the resonance frequency of the energy harvester. Application of the PID controller in the resonance zone resulted in pull-in instability, adversely affecting the harvester’s performance. To tackle this problem, we embedded a saturation mechanism in the path of the control signal to prevent a sudden change in motion amplitude. Outside the pull-in band, the saturation of the control signal resulted in the reduction of harvested power compared to the non-saturated signal; this is a promising improvement in the design and analysis of energy harvesting devices.
Integrating Meteorological Forcing from Ground Observations and MSWX Dataset for Streamflow Prediction under Multiple Parameterization Scenarios
Authors: Hafizi Hamed , Sorman Ali Arda
Published: September 2022

Precipitation and near-surface air temperatures are significant meteorological forcing for streamflow prediction where most basins are partially or fully data-scarce in many parts of the world. This study aims to evaluate the consistency of MSWXv100-based precipitation, temperatures, and estimated potential evapotranspiration (PET) by direct comparison with observed measurements and by utilizing an independent combination of MSWXv100 dataset and observed data for streamflow prediction under four distinct scenarios considering model parameter and output uncertainties. Initially, the model is calibrated/validated entirely based on observed data (Scenario 1), where for the second calibration/validation, the observed precipitation is replaced by MSWXv100 precipitation and the daily observed temperature and PET remained unchanged (Scenario 2). Furthermore, the model calibration/validation is done by considering observed precipitation and MSWXv100-based temperature and PET (Scenario 3), and finally, the model is calibrated/validated entirely based on the MSWXv100 dataset (Scenario 4). The Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE) and its components (correlation, ratio of bias, and variability ratio) are utilized for direct comparison, and the Hanssen–Kuiper (HK) skill score is employed to evaluate the detectability strength of MSWXv100 precipitation for different precipitation intensities. Moreover, the hydrologic utility of MSWXv100 dataset under four distinct scenarios is tested by exploiting a conceptual rainfall-runoff model under KGE and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) metrics. The results indicate that each scenario depicts high streamflow reproducibility where, regardless of other meteorological forcing, utilizing observed precipitation (Scenario 1 and 3) as one of the model inputs, shows better model performance (KGE = 0.85) than MSWXv100-based precipitation, such as Scenario 2 and 4 (KGE = 0.78–0.80).
Application of Head Loss Coefficient for Surcharge Straight Path Manhole to Improve the Accuracy of Urban Inundation Analysis
Authors: Kwak Changjae , Kim Jungsoo , Lee Sungho , Yoo Ingi
Published: September 2022

Currently, adopted runoff analysis models focus on the characteristic factors of watersheds and neglect the analysis of the flow in conduits. Additionally, the usually employed XP-SWMM modeling package generally underestimates the flood area because it considers manholes as nodes and does not consider local head losses according to the shape and size of the nodes. Therefore, it is a necessity to consider the loss coefficient in surcharge manholes to improve inundation and runoff analysis methods. This study aims at improving the accuracy of discharge analysis before analyzing the storage and runoff reduction effects of storage facilities. Hydraulic experiments were conducted according to the changes in discharge and manhole shapes. We show that the flood area increases as the overflow discharge at manhole increases due to the application of the head loss coefficient. We demonstrate a concordance rate ≥95% between results and observed flood area when accurate input data (from the parameters of the target watershed) and the head loss coefficient (from hydraulic experiments) are applied. Therefore, we demonstrate that the result of our 2D inundation analysis, considering the head loss coefficient in surcharge manhole, can be used as basic data for accurately identifying urban flood risk areas.
Application of a New Architecture Neural Network in Determination of Flocculant Dosing for Better Controlling Drinking Water Quality
Authors: Luo Huihao , Li Xiaoshang , Yuan Fang , Yuan Cheng , Huang Wei , Ji Qiannan , Wang Xifeng , Liu Binzhi , Zhu Guocheng
Published: September 2022

In drinking water plants, accurate control of flocculation dosing not only improves the level of operation automation, thus reducing the chemical cost, but also strengthens the monitoring of pollutants in the whole water system. In this study, we used feedforward signal and feedback signal data to establish a back-propagation (BP) model for the prediction of flocculant dosing. We examined the effect of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and data type on the simulation performance of the model. The results showed that the parameters, such as the learning factor, population size, and number of generations, significantly affected the simulation. The best optimization conditions were attained at a learning factor of 1.4, population size of 20, 20 generations, 8 feedforward signals and 1 feedback signal as input data, 6 hidden layer nodes, and 1 output node. The coefficient of determination (R2) between the predicted and measured values was 0.68, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was lower than 20%, showing a good prediction result. Weak time-delay data enhanced the model accuracy, which increased the R2 to 0.73. Overall, with the hybridized data, PSO, and weak time-delay data, the new architecture neural network was able to predict flocculant dosing.
The Impacts of Climate Change on the Irrigation Water Demand, Grain Yield, and Biomass Yield of Wheat Crop in Nepal
Authors: Kaini Santosh , Harrison Matthew Tom , Gardner Ted , Nepal Santosh , Sharma Ashok K.
Published: September 2022

The Nepalese Sunsari Morang Irrigation district is the lifeblood of millions of people in the Koshi River basin. Despite its fundamental importance to food security, little is known about the impacts of climate change on future irrigation demand and grain yields in this region. Here, we examined the impacts of climate change on the irrigation demand and grain yield of wheat crop. Climate change was simulated using Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) of 4.5 and 8.5 for three time horizons (2016–2045, 2036–2065, and 2071–2100) in the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM). For the field data’s measured period (2018–2020), we showed that farmers applied only 25% of the irrigation water required to achieve the maximum potential grain yield. Actual yields were less than 50% of the potential yields. Projected irrigation water demand is likely to increase for RCP4.5 (3%) but likely to decrease under RCP8.5 (8%) due to the truncated crop duration and lower maturity biomass by the end of the 21st century. However, simulated yields declined by 20%, suggesting that even irrigation will not be enough to mitigate the severe and detrimental effects of climate change on crop production. While our results herald positive implications for irrigation demand in the region, the implications for regional food security may be dire.
The Northern Adriatic Forecasting System for Circulation and Biogeochemistry: Implementation and Preliminary Results
Authors: Scroccaro Isabella , Zavatarelli Marco , Lovato Tomas , Lanucara Piero , Valentini Andrea
Published: September 2022

This paper described the implementation of a forecasting system of the coupled physical and biogeochemical state of the northern Adriatic Sea and discussed the preliminary results. The forecasting system is composed of two components: the NEMO general circulation model and the BFM biogeochemical model. The BFM component includes an explicit benthic pelagic coupling providing fluxes at the sediment–water interface and the dynamic of the major benthic state variables. The system is forced by atmospheric forcing from a limited-area model and by available land-based (river runoff and nutrient load) data. The preliminary results were validated against available remote and in situ observations. The validation effort indicated a good performance of the system in defining the basin scale characteristics, while locally the forecasting model performance seemed mostly impaired by the uncertainties in the definition of the land-based forcing.
Aging of Carbon Nanotubes Increases Their Adsorption towards Tetracycline
Authors: Zhao Xinxin , Liu Huayu , Yan Zhen , Song Chao
Published: September 2022

Due to wide range of their applications, a large amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is discharged into natural water. As an inevitable environmental fate, aging changes the physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes, which in turn affects their interactions with other pollutants. In this study, the aging of CNTs accelerated with non-thermal plasma, and the interaction between aged CNTs and tetracycline were explored. The physicochemical properties of CNTs after aging were evaluated with specific surface area, zeta potential, FTIR, Raman, and XPS analysis. Adsorption and site energy distribution analyses were applied to explore the interaction between aged carbon nanotubes and tetracycline antibiotics. After aging, the specific surface area of carbon nanotubes decreases, defects increase, and the crystal morphology is disordered. More oxygen-containing functional groups are generated on the CNTs surface, including carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups. In addition, aged CNTs exhibited higher adsorption capacity for tetracycline. The results indicate that carbon nanotubes can adsorb more tetracycline after aging, which means that more antibiotics such as tetracycline may be enriched and transported on carbon nanotubes.
Inspection of Cracks in the Piston Rod of a Hydraulic Cylinder Using Injected Alternating Current-Field Measurement
Authors: Zhang Jikai , Huang Yuewen , Tang Jian , Zhou Fangfang , Kang Yihua , Feng Bo
Published: September 2022

This paper proposes a method of injected alternating current-field measurement (IAC-FM) for detecting orthogonal cracks in the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder in a gate hoist. Using this method, both longitudinal and transverse cracks can be detected at the same time. An alternating magnetic field is produced inside the steel rod by axially injecting an alternating current into the rod. The longitudinal crack perturbs the circumferential magnetic field, whereas the transverse crack perturbs the current in the axial direction. Analyses of the behaviors of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the cracks were proposed, using a three-dimensional finite element software. An experimental setup was built and validation experiments were performed. The effects of the operating frequency and scan path were also studied. The results verified the feasibility of the IAC-FM method and showed great potential for the inspection of in-service hydraulic cylinders of gate hoists.
Research on Financial Support, Technological Improvement and Marine Economic Development for China’s Coastal Regions
Authors: Liang Yingying , Zhang Shuang , Li Jianlu , Guo Liangliang
Published: September 2022

Financial support (capital) and technological improvement are the crucial factors in any industry, and they are also the major factors of marine economics. However, the government has supplied a great deal of capital and the marine economy has been deeply explored and researched using advanced technology. The marine industry is still not the mainstay industry in Chinese industry. Considering this, the issues of how to address financial support, technical improvement and marine economics are common foci within the government and society, especially regarding the economic growth of China. It is necessary to develop the marine economy. However, many scholars only pay attention to the aspects of marine financial support, marine technology and marine economic development separately, and no scholars have studied the relationship between the three at present. Therefore, this article establishes a model to conduct empirical tests regarding the relationship between financial support, technological improvement and marine economic development using panel data from 11 coastal regions in China. The results show that financial support has a negative impact on technological improvement, but it has a positive impact on marine economic efficiency. Technological improvement has a positive impact on financial support and marine economic efficiency. However, marine economic efficiency has a negative impact on financial support, and it has a positive impact on technological improvement. Through impulse response analysis, there is a significant correlation between them. This article calculates marine economic efficiency with the SBM-DEA model and analyzes relationships with the BVAR model, which is proposed to improve the development and efficiency of the marine economy. Financial support should be used in the rather important parts of the marine economy so that the marine economy can achieve returns in the short-term and attract more circulating funds to enter the marine economy, which impacts the long-term stable and sustainable growth of the marine economy. Moreover, financial support, financial liberalization, technological research and technological creation in the progress of marine economic construction should focus on effectively using circulating funds, which provides geo-advantages and aids in building a new marine economic ecological circle.
A Quick Survey of the Most Vulnerable Areas of a Water Distribution Network Due to Transients Generated in a Service Line: A Lagrangian Model Based on Laboratory Tests
Authors: Meniconi Silvia , Maietta Filomena , Alvisi Stefano , Capponi Caterina , Marsili Valentina , Franchini Marco , Brunone Bruno
Published: September 2022

This paper analyses the propagation and mechanisms of interaction of a pressure wave in a looped water distribution network by means of laboratory and numerical tests. Transients are generated by the complete and fast closure of a valve, simulating an end-user maneuver, located at the downstream end section of a service line. The adequate length of the service line allows capturing each single pressure wave inserted into the network. The executed tests and successive analysis by means of a Lagrangian model (LM) highlight the effect of the network topology and the location of the transient generation point but in a more expeditious way with respect to the use of a complete transient model. The most excited part of the system is the one in close proximity of the end-user and then the corresponding service line. Within the network, pressure waves accumulate in the areas with the smallest diameter pipes. By means of the refined LM—which is able to capture the pressure extreme values occurring in the first phases of the transient—the vulnerability maps of the network are provided. Such maps identify the nodes subjected to the most severe pressure waves in terms of both frequency and amplitude. The exposure level to transients of each node is synthesized by the value of the vulnerability index proposed in this paper.
Performance Enhancement of Specific Adsorbents for Hardness Reduction of Drinking Water and Groundwater
Authors: Ghanbarizadeh Parnian , Parivazh Mohammad Mehdi , Abbasi Mohsen , Osfouri Shahriar , Dianat Mohammad Javad , Rostami Amir , Dibaj Mahdieh , Akrami Mohammad
Published: September 2022

One of the most advantageous methods for lowering water hardness is the use of low-cost adsorbents. In this research, the effectiveness of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite type), activated carbon, and activated alumina was evaluated. These adsorbents were sequentially modified by NaCl, HCl, and NaCl-HCL to improve their ability to adsorb. The contact time and the amount of adsorbent used in the adsorption process were investigated experimentally to determine their effects. The results indicated that the best contact time for hardness reduction was 90 min, and the best concentrations of adsorbents in drinking water for zeolite, activated carbon, and activated alumina were 40, 60, and 60 g/L, respectively. In addition, for groundwater, these figures were 60, 40, and 40 g/L, respectively. The greatest possible decreases in total hardness under the best conditions by natural zeolite, activated carbon, and activated alumina adsorbents were 93.07%, 30.76%, and 56.92%, respectively, for drinking water and 59.23%, 15.67 %, and 39.72% for groundwater. According to the results obtained from experiments, NaCl-modified zeolite, natural zeolite, and NaCl-HCl-modified activated carbon performed better in terms of parameter reduction. The equilibrium data were well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model, whereas the kinetic data for the adsorption process were consistent with the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium study of the adsorption process by the Morris–Weber model revealed that both chemical and physical adsorption are involved.