bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production of Syrups from Corinthian Currant Industrial Finishing Side-Stream: Quality Evaluation and Volatilome
Authors: Plioni Iris , Panitsa Athanasia , Mallouchos Athanasios , Terpou Antonia , Tsogka Ioanna , Adamopoulou Vasiliki , Bekatorou Argyro
Published: December 2022

The industrial finishing side-stream (FSS) of premium-quality Corinthian currants was used to produce syrups with/without pigment- and tartrate-reduction treatments. The chemical composition, total titratable acidity (TTA; % w/w as tartaric acid), volatile acidity (VA; % w/w as acetic acid), total phenolic content (TPC; as gallic acid, GA), antioxidant capacity (AC; as ascorbic acid, AA), volatilome (SPME GC-MS), sensory properties, and microbial stability were compared. All syrups had similar average sugar content (65.4–69.4% w/w), and no sucrose. Those not treated for tartrate reduction were more acidic (pH ~4.5) than those treated (pH > 5.6), while all syrups had higher pH than similar commercial products (3.0–4.5). On the other hand, the FSS syrups had similar TTA (<1.2 ± 0.3%) despite the applied treatment, and had low VA (0.08–0.27%). The blonde syrups had a lower average TPC (134–143 mg GA/100 g) and AC (0.90–1.0 mg AA/100 g) than the brown syrups (185–213 and 0.3–0.6, respectively), due to the removal of phenolics in the clarification treatments. Totally 144 headspace aroma volatiles were identified, deriving either from the grapes or the raisin-drying process. HMF was not detected. The sensory, microbiological, and VA analyses indicated that FSS can be used to produce high-quality, preservable, and added-value syrups.
Circular Economy Implementation Based on ISO 14001 within SME Organization: How to Do It Best?
Authors: Kafel Piotr , Nowicki Paweł
Published: December 2022

The circular economy (CE) has become an important issue within the European Union due to the Green Deal regulations. A CE makes sustainable development feasible by creating value in the economy and by closing the energy and materials loops. The aim of the study is to predict the most effective functioning of CEs at the macro-level by the selection of the best possible requirements addressed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as an extension supplement of a voluntary environmental management system—ISO 14001. For such aim, researchers developed a two-stage Delphi study. According to the performed Delphi study, the main conclusion is that a more circular management system is possible and needed in SME organizations. Two ISO 14001 sub-requirements were considered as definitely contributing to the implementation of the CE concept at the macro- and meso-levels. Those were: The scope of the CE system and communication. The most discussed requirements that should be further studied in that context were internal audits and managerial reviews. The most difficult goals to implement by SMEs were: limiting the use of primary raw materials, striving for the implementation of climate neutrality and sustainable development as well as closing the material loop.
Healthcare Recommender System Based on Medical Specialties, Patient Profiles, and Geospatial Information
Authors: Torres-Ruiz Miguel , Quintero Rolando , Guzman Giovanni , Chui Kwok Tai
Published: December 2022

The global outburst of COVID-19 introduced severe issues concerning the capacity and adoption of healthcare systems and how vulnerable citizen classes might be affected. The pandemic generated the most remarkable transformation of health services, appropriating the increase in new information and communication technologies to bring sustainability to health services. This paper proposes a novel, methodological, and collaborative approach based on patient-centered technology, which consists of a recommender system architecture to assist the health service level according to medical specialties. The system provides recommendations according to the user profile of the citizens and a ranked list of medical facilities. Thus, we propose a health attention factor to semantically compute the similarity between medical specialties and offer medical centers with response capacity, health service type, and close user geographic location. Thus, considering the challenges described in the state-of-the-art, this approach tackles issues related to recommenders in mobile devices and the diversity of items in the healthcare domain, incorporating semantic and geospatial processing. The recommender system was tested in diverse districts of Mexico City, and the spatial visualization of the medical facilities filtering by the recommendations is displayed in a Web-GIS application.
Geo-Environmental Evaluation of the Kaakia Landfill, Southwest Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Morsy Essam A.
Published: December 2022

The environmental control and management of municipal solid waste (MSW) dumping sites is considered one of the sensitive challenges faced by executive municipalities. This is especially true in Makkah due to the gradual increase in urban population and visitors, with an overall MSW generation of about one million tons per year. Consequently, the geo-environmental evaluation of the Kaakia dumping site shed light on the potential environmental threats, in terms of ambient air quality levels and meteorological parameters, in addition to geophysical inspection. An air quality survey discussed the major trends of ambient air pollutants (SO2, NO2, CO, O3, CH4, and PM10) downwind from the Kaakia dumping site. It indicated the presence of a significant increase in sporadic plumes of Methane concentration. The maximum hourly averages ranged between 22.9–26.6 µg/m3 for SO2, 44.4–64.0 µg/m3 for NO2, 0.86–1.38 mg/m3 for CO, 150.2–158.8 µg/m3 for O3, 5.09–5.9 ppm for CH4, and 955–994 µg/m3 for PM10. The ground penetrating radar (GPR) geophysical survey indicated the subsurface sequence of three geological layers, as confirmed by nearby bores of the investigated site: (1) a surface layer formed of alluvial sediments of sand, which were 2.5–3.1 m thick; (2) a second layer represented by sand and gravel, with a thickness of 4.6–6.5 m; and (3) a third layer equivalent to saturated alluvial sediments mixed with rock fragments that extended to a depth of 13 m. The signals of the GPR were attenuated at the base of the conducted profiles due to the percolation of generated leachate to the subsurface sequence and contaminated groundwater aquifer.
Sustainable Additive Manufacturing and Environmental Implications: Literature Review
Authors: Gopal Mahesh , Lemu Hirpa G. , Gutema Endalkachew Mosisa
Published: December 2022

This study’s objective is to review the literature on the environmental impact of the additive manufacturing process. When this new manufacturing technology is employed, it aims to create a healthy environment free of pollutants. The work is motivated by the lack of universal guidelines on new design approaches, the classification of manufacturing materials, and processes that address environmental concerns. Using additive manufacturing over traditional subtractive technologies may result in considerable material and energy resource savings, especially if the component is appropriately designed for manufacture. In this scenario, additive manufacturing, regarded as a potential breakthrough innovation, has grown in popularity in producing parts with complex geometry. AM encourages constant product development and flexible modifications that enable stakeholders to create better products faster. This study examines the state-of-the-art essentials of the fast-expanding manufacturing technique known as additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) and compares the environmental impact caused due to environmental issues. With increasing pressure on firms to provide transparency in their product sourcing and manufacturing processes, sustainability is no longer a distant goal but a strategic requirement. Manufacturers must also pay particular attention to their products’ total energy usage and overall environmental impact.
Big Data Analysis and Prediction of Electromagnetic Spectrum Resources: A Graph Approach
Authors: Zhang Han , Peng Siqi , Zhang Jingyu , Lin Yun
Published: December 2022

In the field of wireless communication, the increasing number of devices makes limited spectrum resources more scarce and accelerates the complexity of the electromagnetic environment, posing a serious threat to the sustainability of the industry’s development. Therefore, new effective technical methods are needed to mine and analyze the activity rules of spectrum resources to reduce the risk of frequency conflict. This paper introduces the idea of graphs and proposes a spectrum resource analysis and prediction architecture based on big data. In this architecture, a spatial correlation model of spectrum activities is constructed through feature extraction. In addition, based on this correlation model, a depth learning network based on graph convolution is designed, which uses the prior information of spatial activity to achieve the efficient prediction of spectrum resources. Numerical experiments were carried out on two datasets with different spatial scales. Compared with the best baseline model, the prediction error is reduced by 8.3% on the small-scale dataset and 11.7% on the large-scale dataset. This shows that the proposed method is applicable to different spatial scales and has more obvious advantages in complex scenes with large spatial scales. It can effectively use the results of spatial domain analysis to improve the prediction accuracy of spectrum resources.
Energy and Water Saving Potential in Commercial Buildings: A Retrofit Case Study
Authors: Ahmed Wahhaj , Alazazmeh Ayman , Asif Muhammad
Published: December 2022

The global building sector has great potential for energy savings. Retrofitting of existing buildings can effectively improve their energy and environmental sustainability. However, retrofitting is a complex task and requires proper Measurement & Verification (M&V) to validate the process for various building types and locations. Such M&V studies for commercial buildings in the studied region are missing and a critical gap exists. This paper addresses this gap by discussing the effectiveness of retrofit energy and water efficiency measures implemented in a commercial building in Saudi Arabia. At first, a thorough energy audit is conducted and then five Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) and a water conservation measure is implemented. A post-retrofit M&V exercise is conducted to measure and validate the savings along with respective economic benefits. The results indicate that the implemented EEMs reduced the building’s annual energy consumption by 27%. The overall compound payback period for the investments is found to be six years. The study successfully validates the energy and water savings achievable through retrofitting by presenting the first M&V case study of a post-retrofit commercial building in the country. Thus, it proves that implementation of EEMs and water saving measures are effective strategies to retrofit commercial buildings in the region.
Automatic Fault Plane Solution for the Provision of Rapid Earthquake Information in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jimin , Lee Duk Kee , Ahn Jae-Kwang
Published: December 2022

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) provides detailed hypocenter information after the earthquake early warning (EEW) service, due to increased public interest and for the study of fault movements. However, the rapid production of hypocenter information has limitations, including the necessity for the calculation of focal mechanisms, which requires expertise in seismology. Therefore, we developed automatic focal mechanisms (AFMs) based on the time domain moment tensor inversion method. A key feature of AFMs is the automatic collection and reforming of waveform data using information for EEW. Furthermore, we propose an additional module of the iterative inversion by reducing the low variance reduction data. This shows the increased variance reduction value rather than that of the first inversion. The variance reductions for the first inversion results were between 59 and 94%, whilst the results of the second inversion using the additional module were increased to 79–97%. The accuracy of the automatic results was similar to that of the manually determined results and was well adapted to the local earthquakes in and around the Korean Peninsula. The KMA provided the focal mechanisms of local earthquakes that could then be automatically determined using the EEW information within approximately 6–8 min and subsequently reported.
Complex Linear Diophantine Fuzzy Sets over AG-Groupoids with Applications in Civil Engineering
Authors: Guan Hao , Yousafzai Faisal , Zia Muhammad Danish , Khan Murad-ul-Islam , Irfan Muhammad , Hila Kostaq
Published: December 2022

Intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFS), Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFS), and q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets (q-ROFS) are among those concepts which are widely used in real-world applications. However, these theories have their own limitations in terms of membership and non-membership functions, as they cannot be obtained from the whole unit plane. To overcome these restrictions, we developed the concept of a complex linear Diophantine fuzzy set (CLDFS) by generalizing the notion of a linear Diophantine fuzzy set (LDFS). This concept can be applied to real-world decision-making problems involving complex uncertain information. The main motivation behind this paper is to study the applications of CLDFS in a non-associative algebraic structure (AG-groupoid), which has received less attention as compared to associative structures. We characterize a strongly regular AG-groupoid in terms of newly developed CLDF-score left (right) ideals and CLDF-score (0,2)-ideals. Finally, we construct a novel approach to decision-making problems based on the proposed CLDF-score ideals, and some practical examples from civil engineering are considered to demonstrate the flexibility and clarity of the initiated CLDF-score ideals.
Markov Moment Problems on Special Closed Subsets of Rn
Authors: Olteanu Octav
Published: December 2022

First, this paper provides characterizing the existence and uniqueness of the linear operator solution T for large classes of full Markov moment problems on closed subsets F of Rn. One uses approximation by special nonnegative polynomials. The case when F is compact is studied. Then the cases when F=Rn and F=R+n are under attention. Here, the main findings consist in proving and applying the density of special polynomials, which are sums of squares, in the positive cone of Lν1(Rn), and respectively of Lν1(R+n), for a large class of measures ν. One solves the important difficulty created by the fact that on Rn, n≥2, there exist nonnegative polynomials which are not expressible in terms of sums of squares. This is the second aim of the paper. On the other hand, two types of symmetry are outlined. Both these symmetry properties appear naturally from the thematic mentioned above. This is the third aim of the paper. They lead to new statements, illustrated in corollaries, and supported by a few examples.
Global Existence to Cauchy Problem for 1D Magnetohydrodynamics Equations
Authors: Zhong Jianxin , Xie Xuejun
Published: December 2022

Magnetohydrodynamics are widely used in medicine and biotechnology, such as drug targeting, molecular biology, cell isolation and purification. In this paper, we prove the existence of a global strong solution to the one-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamics system with temperature-dependent heat conductivity in unbounded domains and a large initial value by the Lagrangian symmetry transformation, when the viscosity μ is constant and the heat conductivity κ, which depends on the temperature, satisfies κ=κ¯θb(b>1).
A Fuzzy Extension of Simplified Best-Worst Method (F-SBWM) and Its Applications to Decision-Making Problems
Authors: Amiri Maghsoud , Hashemi-Tabatabaei Mohammad , Keshavarz-Ghorabaee Mehdi , Kaklauskas Arturas , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Antucheviciene Jurgita
Published: December 2022

Today, most of the issues and challenges faced by managers and decision makers are complex and multifaceted. More clearly, due to the developments of technologies, emerging trends in various industries, competitive markets, and rapid and transformative changes in the business environment, managers and decision makers have faced an uncertain environments and issues that cannot be resolved definitively. The use of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods as a practical and decision-supporting tool allows managers to examine decision-making issues in various organizations and industries based on various criteria, alternatives, and objectives and make decisions with greater reliability. The use of fuzzy techniques and concepts in MCDM methods and their mathematical relationships makes it possible to consider complexities and uncertainties in decisions related to various issues and it can lead to better and more realistic decisions. In this paper, the simplified best-worst method (SBWM), which is one of the methods based on pairwise comparisons, has been developed using triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs) to propose a fuzzy extension of SBWM (F-SBWM). Triangular fuzzy numbers in different symmetric and asymmetric forms have widely been used in MCDM approaches and pairwise comparisons. It is noteworthy that symmetric numbers are used when we are using equal division of the domain due to an increased ambiguity and lack of information. The proposed approach as a simplified fuzzy MCDM method helps managers and decision makers in various industries to solve decision-making problems under uncertainty without the need for complex calculations, specialized skills, and software packages. To check the feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach, two numerical examples and a computational experiment with real data are presented, and the results are analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, to check the robustness of the results obtained from the proposed approach, sensitivity analysis and comparison of methods have been performed.
Research on the Relationship between Network Insight, Supply Chain Integration and Enterprise Performance
Authors: Lyu Tu , Geng Qixiang , Yu De
Published: December 2022

Based on the resource orchestration theory, this study built a research model to understand the effect of supply chain network insight and supply chain integration on enterprise performance. We also involved the contingency theory to investigate the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty on supply chain integration and enterprise performance. We collected the data samples from 405 enterprises and used the SEM approach to verify the model. Results demonstrated the direct path of network insight to promote enterprise performance, the indirect path of supply chain integration as a mediating factor, and the role of environmental uncertainty as a boundary condition for the relationship between supply chain integration and enterprise performance, thus making theoretical and practical contributions to the management of supply chain resources and relationships and the performance enhancement of manufacturing.
Electrical Discharge Machining of Alumina Using Cu-Ag and Cu Mono- and Multi-Layer Coatings and ZnO Powder-Mixed Water Medium
Authors: Okunkova Anna A. , Volosova Marina A. , Hamdy Khaled , Gkhashim Khasan I.
Published: December 2022

The paper aims to extend the current knowledge on electrical discharge machining of insulating materials, such as cutting ceramics used to produce cutting inserts to machine nickel-based alloys in the aviation and aerospace industries. Aluminum-based ceramics such as Al2O3, AlN, and SiAlON are in the most demand in the industry but present a scientific and technical problem in obtaining sophisticated shapes. One of the existing solutions is electrical discharge machining using assisting techniques. Using assisting Cu-Ag and Cu mono- and multi-layer coatings of 40–120 µm and ZnO powder-mixed deionized water-based medium was proposed for the first time. The developed coatings were subjected to tempering and testing. It was noticed that Ag-adhesive reduced the performance when tempering had a slight effect. The unveiled relationship between the material removal rate, powder concentration, and pulse frequency showed that performance was significantly improved by adding assisting powder up to 0.0032–0.0053 mm3/s for a concentration of 14 g/L and pulse frequency of 2–7 kHz. Further increase in concentration leads to the opposite trend. The most remarkable results corresponded to the pulse duration of 1 µs. The obtained data enlarged the knowledge of texturing insulating cutting ceramics using various powder-mixed deionized water-based mediums.
Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Mechanism of Enzymatic Degradation of Zearalenone in Degummed Corn Oil
Authors: Zhao Chenwei , Xie Pengkai , Jin Jun , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: December 2022

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the enzymatic degradation of zearalenone (ZEN) in degummed corn oil were investigated by analyzing the impacts of temperature, pH, ZEN hydrolase dosage and ZEN concentration on the initial reaction rate. The kinetic study found that the maximum reaction rate was 0.97 μmol × kg−1 min−1, the Michaelis constant (Km) was 11,476 μmol × kg−1 and the Michaelis equation was V = 0.97[S]/(11,476 + [S]). The thermodynamic study showed that the activation energy (Ea) was 70.37 kJ·mol−1, the activation enthalpy change of the reaction (ΔH) > 0, the free energy of activation (ΔG) > 0 and the activation entropy change (ΔS) < 0, indicating the reaction could not be spontaneous. The reaction mechanism of ZEN was studied by a hybrid quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometer. It was found that ZEN first generated the intermediate G/L/D/W-ZEN+H2O, followed by generating the intermediate W-ZEN-H2O under the action of a degrading enzyme. Then, the lactone bond was opened to produce C18H24O6, and finally the decarboxylation product C17H24O4 formed automatically.
Prediction Model for Identifying Computational Phenotypes of Children with Cerebral Palsy Needing Neurotoxin Treatments
Authors: Bertoncelli Carlo M. , Latalski Michal , Bertoncelli Domenico , Bagui Sikha , Bagui Subhash C. , Gautier Dechelle , Solla Federico
Published: December 2022

Factors associated with neurotoxin treatments in children with cerebral palsy (CP) are poorly studied. We developed and externally validated a prediction model to identify the prognostic phenotype of children with CP who require neurotoxin injections. We conducted a longitudinal, international, multicenter, double-blind descriptive study of 165 children with CP (mean age 16.5 ± 1.2 years, range 12–18 years) with and without neurotoxin treatments. We collected functional and clinical data from 2005 to 2020, entered them into the BTX-PredictMed machine-learning model, and followed the guidelines, “Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis”. In the univariate analysis, neuromuscular scoliosis (p = 0.0014), equines foot (p < 0.001) and type of etiology (prenatal > peri/postnatal causes, p = 0.05) were linked with neurotoxin treatments. In the multivariate analysis, upper limbs (p < 0.001) and trunk muscle tone disorders (p = 0.02), the presence of spasticity (p = 0.01), dystonia (p = 0.004), and hip dysplasia (p = 0.005) were strongly associated with neurotoxin injections; and the average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity was 75%. These results have helped us identify, with good accuracy, the clinical features of prognostic phenotypes of subjects likely to require neurotoxin injections.
The Non-Muscle-Splitting Mini-Incision Donor Nephrectomy Remains a Feasible Technique in the Laparoscopic Era of Living Kidney Donation
Authors: Habets Lex J. M. , Baranski Andrzej G. , Ramdhani Khalil , van der Helm Danny , Haasnoot Ada , de Vries Aiko P. J. , van der Bogt Koen E. A. , Braat Andries E. , Dubbeld Jeroen , Lam Hwai-Ding , Nieuwenhuizen Jeroen , Nijboer Willemijn N. , de Vries Dorottya. K. , Alwayn Ian P. J. , Schaapherder Alexander F. M. , Huurman Volkert A. L.
Published: December 2022

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is the current gold standard in kidney donation. Mini-incision open donor nephrectomy (MINI) techniques have been used extensively but have become less popular. The aim of the present study was to compare the results and safety of a non-muscle-splitting MINI technique with the current gold standard of LDN. A single center retrospective cohort study of all living donor nephrectomies between 2011 and 2019 was used for the study. The primary outcome of this study was short term (<30 days) with Clavien–Dindo grade complications. Secondary outcomes included multivariable regression analysis of perioperative data. No differences in complication rates were observed between MINI and LDN and also after correction for known confounders. As expected, the operative time and first warm ischemia were significantly shorter in the MINI group and less blood loss was observed in the LDN group. Complications and conversion rate (LDN to open) among the LDN patients were in line with recent published meta-analyses. This study confirms the perioperative safety of living kidney donation in modern practice. Complication rates of both MINI and LDN procedures are limited and not different between procedures. In specific circumstances, the MINI procedure can still be considered a safe and feasible alternative for living kidney donation.
Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infections: A Population-Based Study in Phra Lap Sub-District, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand
Authors: Boonjaraspinyo Sirintip , Boonmars Thidarut , Ekobol Nuttapon , Artchayasawat Atchara , Sriraj Pranee , Aukkanimart Ratchadawan , Pumhirunroj Benjamabhorn , Sripan Panupan , Songsri Jiraporn , Juasook Amornrat , Wonkchalee Nadchanan
Published: December 2022

Intestinal parasitic infections are still a crucial problem among communities in Northeast Thailand. Misuse of antiparasitic drugs and unhealthy food behaviors are known. This study aimed to explore the prevalence, behavioral health factors, and motivation for self-treatment of anti-parasitic drugs in this area. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Phra Lap sub-district, Mu Khon Kaen district, Khon Kaen province, Northeast Thailand, in 2016. A total of 419 participants were recruited to complete a self-administered questionnaire and stool examination. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between the risk factor and parasitic infection. Forty-two participants (10%; 95%CI 7.5–13.3) were positive for at least one parasite species. In this community, the most detected intestinal parasite was Opisthorchis viverrini (5.3%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (3.1%). A total of 67.5% of the participants had the experience of anti-parasitic drug treatment within previous 1 year, and “Often eat raw food” was the most common reason for the use of anti-parasitic drugs. On multivariate analysis, parasitic infections were significantly associated with male gender (ORadj. 2.42; 95%CI 1.00–5.85), age ≥ 60 years (ORadj. 7.55; 95%CI 1.60–35.76), and often consuming raw food of at least one type (ORadj. 2.37; 95%CI 1.03–5.44). Given these findings, correction of the dietary habit of eating raw fish/meat, which is the most important measure, and limitation of the use of anthelmintic treatment for individuals with stools positive for ova as well as emphasis on sanitary toilets will be implemented for the prevention and control of parasitic infection in endemic communities.
Penile Implants: A Lesson from the First 50 Years
Authors: Giordano Alessandro , Capece Marco , D’Alterio Carlo , di Giovanni Angelo , Zimarra Assunta , Napolitano Luigi , Marino Claudio , La Rocca Roberto , Creta Massimiliano , Cai Tommaso , Palmieri Alessandro
Published: December 2022

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first implant of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP). The authors of this paper want to celebrate the event with a narrative review of the current literature. The main scopes are antibiotic prophylaxis, patient satisfaction, and future developments. The implant of the first IPP in 1973, performed by Branteley Scott was a turning point in the history of penile prosthesis, revolutionizing the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Since then, the idea of an inflatable device has not changed much. However, the innovations in design, materials, surgical techniques, and perioperative management led to a more natural, durable, and reliable device featuring fewer complications and greater patient satisfaction. Currently, IPP is associated with high patient satisfaction and excellent long-term outcomes, remaining the gold standard for men with refractory ED. Several strategies are under investigation to improve the technology of penile prosthesis, and we expect in the next future the introduction of new devices that are easier to activate, discreet, comfortable when deflated, and durable in time, mimicking a more physiological erection.
Aedes aegypti Strain Subjected to Long-Term Exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis svar. israelensis Larvicides Displays an Altered Transcriptional Response to Zika Virus Infection
Authors: Carvalho Karine S. , Rezende Tatiana M. T. , Romão Tatiany P. , Rezende Antônio M. , Chiñas Marcos , Guedes Duschinka R. D. , Paiva-Cavalcanti Milena , Silva-Filha Maria Helena N. L.
Published: December 2022

Bacillus thuringiensis svar. israelensis (Bti) larvicides are effective in controlling Aedes aegypti; however, the effects of long-term exposure need to be properly evaluated. We established an Ae. aegypti strain that has been treated with Bti for 30 generations (RecBti) and is still susceptible to Bti, but females exhibited increased susceptibility to Zika virus (ZIKV). This study compared the RecBti strain to a reference strain regarding: first, the relative transcription of selected immune genes in ZIKV-challenged females (F30) with increased susceptibility detected in a previous study; then, the whole transcriptomic profile using unchallenged females (F35). Among the genes compared by RT-qPCR in the ZIKV-infected and uninfected females from RecBti (F30) and the reference strain, hop, domeless, relish 1, defensin A, cecropin D, and gambicin showed a trend of repression in RecBti infected females. The transcriptome of RecBti (F35) unchallenged females, compared with a reference strain by RNA-seq, showed a similar profile and only 59 differentially expressed genes were found among 9202 genes analyzed. Our dataset showed that the long-term Bti exposure of the RecBti strain was associated with an alteration of the expression of genes potentially involved in the response to ZIKV infection in challenged females, which is an important feature found under this condition.
Structural Investigations on Novel Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors of Human Norovirus Polymerase
Authors: Giancotti Gilda , Nannetti Giulio , Padalino Gilda , Landini Martina , Santos-Ferreira Nanci , Van Dycke Jana , Naccarato Valentina , Patel Usheer , Silvestri Romano , Neyts Johan , Gozalbo-Rovira Roberto , Rodríguez-Díaz Jésus , Rocha-Pereira Joana , Brancale Andrea , Ferla Salvatore , Bassetto Marcella
Published: December 2022

Human norovirus is the first cause of foodborne disease worldwide, leading to extensive outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis, and causing around 200,000 children to die annually in developing countries. No specific vaccines or antiviral agents are currently available, with therapeutic options limited to supportive care to prevent dehydration. The infection can become severe and lead to life-threatening complications in young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, leading to a clear need for antiviral agents, to be used as treatments and as prophylactic measures in case of outbreaks. Due to the key role played by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in the virus life cycle, this enzyme is a promising target for antiviral drug discovery. In previous studies, following in silico investigations, we identified different small-molecule inhibitors of this enzyme. In this study, we rationally modified five identified scaffolds, to further explore structure–activity relationships, and to enhance binding to the RdRp. The newly designed compounds were synthesized according to multiple-step synthetic routes and evaluated for their inhibition of the enzyme in vitro. New inhibitors with low micromolar inhibitory activity of the RdRp were identified, which provide a promising basis for further hit-to-lead optimization.
#Stayathome If You Have a Cold: High SARS-CoV-2 Salivary Viral Loads in Pediatric Patients with Nasopharyngeal Symptoms
Authors: Monzani Alice , Borgogna Cinzia , Ferrante Daniela , Ciacchini Benedetta , Felici Enrico , Gariglio Marisa , Rabbone Ivana
Published: December 2022

The choice of the best SARS-CoV-2 detection approach is crucial to predict which children with SARS-CoV-2 are at high risk of spreading the virus in order to manage public health measures and policies. In this prospective observational study of 35 children admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Departments of two tertiary hospitals in Northern Italy who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by standard RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), we evaluated their presenting symptoms according to their salivary viral load (SVL) determined by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Despite an overall low concordance between SARS-CoV-2 detected by salivary ddPCR and NPS RT-PCR (54.3%), when only patients with nasopharyngeal symptoms were analyzed, the sensitivity of ddPCR in saliva specimens increased to 71.4%, and over half of these patients had high SVL (>105 copies/mL), which was significantly more frequent than in children without nasopharyngeal symptoms (57.1% vs. 14.3%, OR = 8, CI 95% 1.28–50.03, p = 0.03). All asymptomatic children had low SVL values. Our findings support the hypothesis that children with nasopharyngeal symptoms are at higher risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2 due to their high SVL and, conversely, asymptomatic children are unlikely to spread the virus due to their low SVL, regardless of their NPS positivity.
Construction of Novel Thermostable Chimeric Vaccine Candidates for Genotype VII Newcastle Disease Virus
Authors: Cao Yongzhong , Bo Zongyi , Ruan Baoyang , Guo Mengjiao , Zhang Chengcheng , Zhang Xiaorong , Wu Yantao
Published: December 2022

Genotype VII Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) has caused a pandemic in many countries and usually causes fatal consequences in infected chickens. Although current commercial attenuated NDV vaccines can provide an ideal protection against genotype VII NDV, they cannot completely prevent the infection and viral shedding, and the genotype of some vaccine strains cannot match with the prevalent strain. In this study, in order to construct a thermostable and genotype VII-matched live attenuated vaccine, we used a thermostable genotype VIII virulent HR09 strain as the backbone and replaced its F gene with that of the genotype VII DT-2014 strain. Meanwhile, the cleavage site of F gene of DT-2014 was mutated to that of class I F protein and avirulent class II F protein, respectively. The results showed that the two chimeric viruses, designated rcHR09-CI and rcHR09-CII, shared a similar growth kinetics and thermostability with their parental HR09 strain. Mean death time (MDT) and intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) tests showed that the two chimeric viruses were highly attenuated. Though both chimeric NDVs and La Sota vaccine strain could provide complete protection to immunized chickens against the challenge of virulent genotype VII ZJ1 strain, the two chimeric NDVs could induce a higher level of antibody response against ZJ1 strain and could significantly reduce the viral shedding compared with La Sota vaccine strain. In conclusion, our study constructed two chimeric thermostable genotype VII-matched NDV vaccine candidates, which provided complete protection against the challenge of virulent genotype VII NDV.
Development of a Novel Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for the Rapid Detection of Monkeypox Virus Infections
Authors: Yu Chao , Zuo Lulu , Miao Jing , Mao Lingjing , Selekon Benjamin , Gonofio Ella , Nakoune Emmanuel , Berthet Nicolas , Wong Gary
Published: December 2022

A recent outbreak of monkeypox virus (mpox) has prompted researchers to explore diagnostics as a means of impeding transmission and further spread. Rapid, sensitive, and specific methods are crucial for accurately diagnosing mpox infections. Here, we developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the specific detection of mpox. The primer sets were designed to target regions in and around the N4R gene, and results showed a detection limit of 2 × 100 DNA copies, which is comparable to the gold-standard qPCR method currently used to detect mpox. Particularly, the assay provides results visible to the naked eye within 30 min. This test specifically detects mpox DNA with no cross-reactivity to related DNA viruses including Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Vaccinia virus (VACV), Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), Human papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16) and Human papillomavirus-18 (HPV-18). Furthermore, the LAMP assay has been evaluated using clinical samples from laboratory-confirmed mpox patients and found to be consistent with the qPCR results. Our results show that this single-tube LAMP method can contribute to diagnosis of suspected mpox infections in the field and clinic, especially in regions with limited laboratory resources.
Generation and Characterization of a SARS-CoV-2-Susceptible Mouse Model Using Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV6.2FF)-Mediated Respiratory Delivery of the Human ACE2 Gene
Authors: Tailor Nikesh , Warner Bryce M. , Griffin Bryan D. , Tierney Kevin , Moffat Estella , Frost Kathy , Vendramelli Robert , Leung Anders , Willman Marnie , Thomas Sylvia P. , Pei Yanlong , Booth Stephanie A. , Embury-Hyatt Carissa , Wootton Sarah K. , Kobasa Darwyn
Published: December 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the aetiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has caused a pandemic with millions of human infections. There continues to be a pressing need to develop potential therapies and vaccines to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection to mitigate the ongoing pandemic. Epidemiological data from the current pandemic indicates that there may be sex-dependent differences in disease outcomes. To investigate these differences, we proposed to use common small animal species that are frequently used to model disease with viruses. However, common laboratory strains of mice are not readily infected by SARS-CoV-2 because of differences in the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cellular receptor for the virus. To overcome this limitation, we transduced common laboratory accessible strains of mice of different sexes and age groups with a novel a triple AAV6 mutant, termed AAV6.2FF, encoding either human ACE2 or luciferase via intranasal administration to promote expression in the lung and nasal turbinates. Infection of AAV-hACE2-transduced mice with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in high viral titers in the lungs and nasal turbinates, establishment of an IgM and IgG antibody response, and modulation of lung and nasal turbinate cytokine profiles. There were insignificant differences in infection characteristics between age groups and sex-related differences; however, there were significant strain-related differences between BALB/c vs. C57BL/6 mice. We show that AAV-hACE2-transduced mice are a useful for determining immune responses and for potential evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and antiviral therapies, and this study serves as a model for the utility of this approach to rapidly develop small-animal models for emerging viruses.
An Immunoinformatics Approach to Design a Potent Multi-Epitope Vaccine against Asia-1 Genotype of Crimean–Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus Using the Structural Glycoproteins as a Target
Authors: Shah Syed Zawar , Jabbar Basit , Mirza Muhammad Usman , Waqas Muhammad , Aziz Shahkaar , Halim Sobia Ahsan , Ali Amjad , Rafique Shazia , Idrees Muhammad , Khalid Asaad , Abdalla Ashraf N. , Khan Ajmal , Al-Harrasi Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), caused by Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), is a disease of worldwide importance (endemic yet not limited to Asia, Middle East, and Africa) and has triggered several outbreaks amounting to a case fatality rate of 10–40% as per the World Health Organization. Genetic diversity and phylogenetic data revealed that the Asia-1 genotype of CCHFV remained dominant in Pakistan, where 688 confirmed cases were reported between the 2012–2022 period. Currently, no approved vaccine is available to tackle the viral infection. Epitope-based vaccine design has gained significant attention in recent years due to its safety, timeliness, and cost efficiency compared to conventional vaccines. In the present study, we employed a robust immunoinformatics-based approach targeting the structural glycoproteins G1 and G2 of CCHFV (Asia-1 genotype) to design a multi-epitope vaccine construct. Five B-cells and six cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes were mapped and finalized from G1 and G2 and were fused with suitable linkers (EAAAK, GGGS, AAY, and GPGPG), a PADRE sequence (13 aa), and an adjuvant (50S ribosomal protein L7/L12) to formulate a chimeric vaccine construct. The selected CTL epitopes showed high affinity and stable binding with the binding groove of common human HLA class I molecules (HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-B*44:02) and mouse major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. The chimeric vaccine was predicted to be an antigenic, non-allergenic, and soluble molecule with a suitable physicochemical profile. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation indicated a stable and energetically favourable interaction between the constructed antigen and Toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4). Our results demonstrated that innate, adaptive, and humoral immune responses could be elicited upon administration of such a potent muti-epitope vaccine construct. These results could be helpful for an experimental vaccinologist to develop an effective vaccine against the Asia-1 genotype of CCHFV.
Prevalence of Comorbidities and Associated Factors among HIV Patients Attending Antiretroviral Clinics in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana
Authors: Hattoh Kingsley Aseye , Sienso Bryan Aapentuo , Kuugbee Eugene Dogkotenge
Published: December 2022

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a chronic infectious disease, and without antiretroviral therapy (ART), it is associated with comorbidities. The prevalence of comorbidities, adherence to ART and quality of life (QoL) of HIV patients were studied. A cross-sectional study design involving 360 HIV patients from two ART clinics across the Tamale metropolis was employed. Socio-demography, adherence to therapy, and QoL data were taken with the help of a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 24. The prevalence of comorbidities was 30.3% (109), with Hepatitis B infection (73, 20.3%) being the most prevalent. Adherence levels were high (192, 53.3%), moderate (108, 30.0%) and low (60, 16.7%). Overall, QoL was excellent amongst 149 (41.4%), good in 169 (46.7%), and poor in 42 (11.7%) respondents. Marital status, presence or absence of HIV symptoms, adherence level to ART and overall QoL, especially Physical, Psychological, and independence domains (p < 0.05), were factors associated with the presence of comorbidities. There is a high level of comorbidities among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the Tamale metropolis influenced by QoL and adherence to ART. We recommend a multifaceted approach to the management of PLWH.
Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Diagonal Brush Fish Pass: Prototype Measurements
Authors: Kucukali Serhat , Verep Bulent , Albayrak Ismail
Published: December 2022

The present study investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics of the diagonal brush upstream fishway at the Incirli run-of-river hydropower plant on Iyidere River in Turkey. Three-dimensional velocity measurements were conducted in the fish pass using a Micro acoustic Doppler velocimeter under real-time operation conditions. The diagonal arrangement of brush blocks creates favorable hydrodynamic conditions (i.e., lateral momentum exchange) that allow fish to minimize swimming energy. We found that the spatially averaged lateral component of Reynolds shear stress is 2.2 times higher than spatially averaged vertical component of Reynolds shear stress, which could be due to the lateral velocity gradient in the vicinity of brush blocks. It is shown that the low-velocity zones behind the brush blocks constitute important resting sites for fish. The monitoring data showed that inlet water levels have considerable effects on the turbulence quantities. The brushes become submerged with the increased reservoir water level from 102 m to 102.05 m above sea level. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy was increased by a factor of three compared to unsubmerged conditions. We found a strong relationship between the average energy dissipation rate per unit mass and the Reynolds number. On the other hand, the prototype data reveal the inverse relationship between the Darcy-Weissbach friction factor and the relative submergence of bristles. The present results allow the efficient design of diagonal fish passes.
Fast Recognition on Shallow Groundwater and Anomaly Analysis Using Frequency Selection Sounding Method
Authors: Yulong Lu , Tianchun Yang , Tizro Abdollah Taheri , Yang Liu
Published: December 2022

The validity of the frequency selection method (FSM) in shallow (<150 m) groundwater exploration was illustrated by practical applications, and the relationship between potential electrode spacing MN and groundwater depth in FSM sounding method was analyzed and preliminary theoretical research was carried out by a simple geologic-geophysical model of sphere. Firstly, under the combined action of horizontal alternating electric field and alternating magnetic field, a simplified geophysical model of low resistivity conductive sphere in homogeneous half space was established, and the forward calculation was performed on the FSM sounding curve. Then, the water yield of 131 wells in the application of FSM in the Rural Drinking Water Safety Project of 12th Five-Year Plan in Guangxi Province was counted. In addition, detailed tabular statistical analysis was carried out on the drilling results of 98 drilling wells, and the relationship between potential electrode spacing MN at abnormal sounding curve and actual drilling water depth was compared and studied. Theoretical analysis and practical application show that FSM has obvious effectiveness in shallow groundwater exploration, and it is an effective method to determine shallow groundwater well locations in the future. The cause of FSM anomaly is the comprehensive effect of the natural 3D alternating electromagnetic signal underground. At the same time, the practical statistics show that there is 1:1 approximation between the size of potential electrode spacing MN at the anomaly curve of the frequency selection method and the actual drilling water depth, which verifies the correctness of the theoretical simulation results. FSM could be widely used in the shallow groundwater exploration in the future, and it is an effective, non-destructive, fast, and low-cost geophysical method.