bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Rice Husk Biochar and Lime in Reducing Phosphorus Application Rate in Acid Soil: A Field Trial with Maize
Authors: Mosharrof Mehnaz , Uddin Md. Kamal , Mia Shamim , Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus , Shamsuzzaman Shordar M. , Haque Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul
Published: June 2022

Biochar has been suggested for application in acidic soils for increasing agricultural productivity, as it may result in the benefits of sustainable carbon offset into soils and of increasing soil fertility improvement. However, the role of biochar in enhancing nutrient bioavailability and plant performance is manifested through the complex interactions of biochar-soil-plant. Moreover, it is not yet known how a crop-residue-derived biochar would perform in acidic soil when applied with a reduced rate of lime and phosphorus. Here, we examined the performance of maize with different combinations of biochar, lime, and phosphorus (P) application rates under field conditions. Specifically, rice husk biochar (10 t ha−1) was applied with 75% of the required lime and three rates of phosphorus fertilizer (100%, 75%, and 50%). The results showed that incorporation of biochar and lime, irrespective of the rates of P application, significantly increased soil nutrient (nitrogen and P) availability, while aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) concentrations in soil were reduced. Furthermore, when biochar was combined with a lower amount of lime (75% of the recommended amount) and half of the required P, maize production increased by 62.38% compared to the control. Similarly, nutrient uptake in plants increased significantly in the same treatment (e.g., P uptake increased by 231.88%). However, soil respiration (CO2 emission) increased with lime only and the combined application of lime with biochar compared to the control; these treatments resulted in a higher carbon loss, as CO2 from the soil (84.94% and 67.50% from only lime treatment (T2), and rice husk biochar (RHB) and lime with 50% triple superphosphate (TSP) (T5), respectively). Overall, our findings imply that biochar application may sustain productivity in acid soils even when lime and P fertilizer applications are made at a reduced rate.
Community-Supported Agriculture Networks in Wales and Central Germany: Scaling Up, Out, and Deep through Local Collaboration
Authors: Bonfert Bernd
Published: June 2022

Multiple systemic crises have highlighted the vulnerabilities of our globalised food system, raising the demand for more resilient and ecologically sustainable alternatives, and fuelling engagement in practices such as community-supported agriculture (CSA). In CSA, local farmers and households share the costs and products of farming, allowing them to organise food provision non-commercially around short supply chains. While this may prefigure alternatives to the dominant food system, CSA is considered limited in regard to its scalability and accessibility. While these shortcomings apply to individual CSAs, we know little about whether multi-CSA networks can tackle them by expanding and institutionalising their practices at scale. This paper alleviates this blind spot by investigating local CSA networks in Wales and Germany through a lens of ‘food movement networks’, identifying their scaling practices and encountered challenges. It draws on semi-structured interviews with CSA actors and observations at network gatherings. The paper shows that local collaboration enables CSAs to integrate their supply chains (scaling out), engage their communities (scaling deep), and participate in food councils (scaling up), while further networking at regional level helps new initiatives start up. It also reveals competitive tensions between neighbouring CSAs, which constitutes a hitherto unknown challenge to CSA’s potential scalability.
Environmental Performance Reporting and Assessment of the Biodegradable Waste Treatment Plants Registered to EMAS in Italy
Authors: Castelluccio Stefano , Comoglio Claudio , Fiore Silvia
Published: June 2022

This study investigates how the environmental performances of biodegradable waste (e.g., organic fraction of municipal solid waste, green waste, agro-industrial waste) treatment plants are reported and how their improvement is planned by the managing companies, and assesses current key quantitative data versus the Best Available Techniques associated emission levels (BAT-AELs). Based on their Environmental Statements (ESs), 16 installations registered to EMAS in Italy in 2021 were analyzed. A set of 15 technical-environmental-social key aspects was described through 131 different indicators. Emissions to air, odor emissions, energy consumption/production, waste production and water consumption were the only key aspects considered significant and quantified by at least 50% of the ESs. Improvement targets were set by 38% of the companies for process management, and by 25% for emissions to air, for a total allocated budget of 25.2 M€. Odor emissions were mostly below the lower BAT-AELs, while NH3 concentration values were slightly above the lower BAT-AELs, demonstrating good performance levels and an overall improvement trend in the period 2018–2020 (−6% and −33.6%, respectively). This study provides interesting hints on the environmental performances of biodegradable waste treatment plants, also contributing to raise the trust of the wide public towards this waste treatment sector.
Distinctive Features of Composts of Different Origin: A Thorough Examination of the Characterization Results
Authors: Silva Ana Catarina , Teixeira Ana , Antelo Juan , Valderrama Patrícia , Oliveira Rui , Cunha Ana , Gley Renaud , Pinheiro José Paulo , Fiol Sarah , Bento Fátima
Published: June 2022

The potential of composts produced from different origin residues to be used in environmentally friendly agriculture is addressed in this work. Seven composts obtained from different raw materials and composting methodologies are compared using elemental, thermal and spectroscopic characterization data. Despite the stabilization of the organic matter in all composts being adequate for agricultural applications, they display distinct elemental and structural compositions. Likewise, the fertilisers have very different effects on lettuce growth. Despite the observed differences, some common features were found, namely a mass loss (TGA) of 25.2 g per mol C, association between groups of elements (Fe, Al, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu and S; Mg, Na, K and P, C, Coxi, N and Pb) and correlations between the amount of carbon nanostructures and the characteristic aromaticity parameters. These results suggest that the tuning of the compost features for specific cultures may be possible for sustainable food production.
The Trends and Gaps in the Sensitivity of Investment to Cash Flow: Evidence from China
Authors: Sun Jianjun , Zu Nannan , Liu Zhifeng
Published: June 2022

The ability of using internally generated funds to finance investments affects corporate sustainability. We empirically examine trends and gaps in the reliance of company’s investments on internally generated funds. We collect financial data of Chinese listed companies from 1998 to 2020, use corporate cash flow as a proxy for internally generated funds, control for corporate investment opportunity Q, and specify a two-way fixed effects model of investment on cash flow. We find that investment-cash flow sensitivity exhibits a decreasing trend over time; firm size, government equity, and the HP and WW indices effectively explain the gaps in the sensitivity of investment to cash flow between two types of firms with tighter and looser financing constraints, but cash dividends do not explain the gaps; and the gaps in the sensitivity of investment to cash flow are narrowing in the long term. These empirical findings indicate that compared to external funding, internal funding is becoming less important in supporting a firm’s investment-induced sustainability.
Mandating Gender Diversity and the Value Relevance of Sustainable Development Disclosure
Authors: Lim Won-Kyu , Park Cheong-Kyu
Published: June 2022

This study investigates whether investors react to disclosures of sustainable development. The study further examines if the legislative change has affected investors’ perception on sustainability disclosure via the corporate governance mechanism. With the recent legislative change in Korea, the gender quota may have negatively impacted corporate governance due to tokenism. In this study, we employ a natural experiment and event study with the 72 largest Korean firms listed in the stock market. Findings indicate that firms with female directors experience significant abnormal returns around event days, and that the firms meeting the minimal gender quota requirement indicate insignificant abnormal returns. This implies that firms with female directors provide better governance with diversity in the boardroom. However, the benefits from gender diversity become weak when tokenism is applied to them. The study makes several contributions to the governance and sustainability literature by providing additional evidence on tokenism. Findings have implications about the relationship between corporate governance and sustainable development for academia and practitioners.
Dynamic Monitoring of Desertification in Ningdong Based on Landsat Images and Machine Learning
Authors: Li Peixian , Chen Peng , Shen Jiaqi , Deng Weinan , Kang Xinliang , Wang Guorui , Zhou Shoubao
Published: June 2022

The ecological stability of mining areas in Northwest China has been threatened by desertification for a long time. Remote sensing information combined with machine learning algorithms can effectively monitor and evaluate desertification. However, due to the fact that the geological environment of a mining area is easily affected by factors such as resource exploitation, it is challenging to accurately grasp the development process of desertification in a mining area. In order to better play the role of remote sensing technology and machine learning algorithms in the monitoring of desertification in mining areas, based on Landsat images, we used a variety of machine learning algorithms and feature combinations to monitor desertification in Ningdong coal base. The performance of each monitoring model was evaluated by various performance indexes. Then, the optimal monitoring model was selected to extract the long-time desertification information of the base, and the spatial-temporal characteristics of desertification were discussed in many aspects. Finally, the factors driving desertification change were quantitatively studied. The results showed that random forest with the best feature combination had better recognition performance than other monitoring models. Its accuracy was 87.2%, kappa was 0.825, Macro-F1 was 0.851, and AUC was 0.961. In 2003–2017, desertification land in Ningdong increased first and then slowly improved. In 2021, the desertification situation deteriorated. The driving force analysis showed that human economic activities such as coal mining have become the dominant factor in controlling the change of desert in Ningdong coal base, and the change of rainfall plays an auxiliary role. The study comprehensively analyzed the spatial-temporal characteristics and driving factors of desertification in Ningdong coal base. It can provide a scientific basis for combating desertification and for the construction of green mines.
Metrology Process to Produce High-Value Components and Reduce Waste for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Authors: Junaid Ahmad , Siddiqi Muftooh , Tariq Sundas , Muhammad Riaz , Paracha Ubaidullah , Ullah Nasim , Al Ahmadi Ahmad , Suleman Muhammad , Habib Tufail
Published: June 2022

Conventionally, a manufactured product undergoes a quality control process. The quality control department mostly ensures that the dimensions of the manufactured products are within the desired range, i.e., the product either satisfies the defined conformity range or is rejected. Failing to satisfy the conformity range increases the manufacturing cost and harms the production rate and the environment. Conventional quality control departments take samples from the given batch after the manufacturing process. This, in turn, has two consequences, i.e., low-quality components being delivered to the customer and input energy being wasted in the rejected components. The aim of this paper is to create a high-precision measuring (metrology)-based system that measures the dimension of an object in real time during the machining process. This is accomplished by integrating a vision-based system with image processing techniques in the manufacturing process. Experiments were planned using an experimental design which included different lightning conditions, camera locations, and revolutions per minute (rpm) values. Using the proposed technique, submillimeter dimensional accuracy was achieved at all the measured points of the component in real time. Manual validation and statistical analysis were performed to check the validity of the system.
Harmonic Balance Method to Analyze the Steady-State Response of a Controlled Mass-Damper-Spring Model
Authors: Kandil Ali , Hamed Y. S. , Awrejcewicz Jan
Published: June 2022

This research is concerned with extracting the approximate solutions of a controlled mass-damper-spring model via the harmonic balance method. The stability of these solutions was checked with the aid of Floquet theory. A nonlinear saturation controller (NSC), a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) and a servo-controlled linear actuator (SCLA), were applied to suppress the undesired oscillations of the harmonically-excited car. 2D and 3D graphical plots are included based upon the equations resulting from the harmonic balance method. Moreover, a numerical simulation was established using the fourth order Rung–Kutta technique in order to confirm the overall controlled behavior of the studied model.
Symplectic Dynamics and Simultaneous Resonance Analysis of Memristor Circuit Based on Its van der Pol Oscillator
Authors: Yang Baonan , Wang Zhen , Tian Huaigu , Liu Jindong
Published: June 2022

A non-autonomous memristor circuit based on van der Pol oscillator with double periodically forcing term is presented and discussed. Firstly, the differences of the van der Pol oscillation of memristor model between Euler method and symplectic Euler method, four-order Runge–Kutta method (RK4) and four-order symplectic Runge–Kutta–Nyström method (SRKN4), symplectic Euler method and RK4 method, and symplectic Euler method and SRKN4 method in preserving structure are compared from theoretical and numerical simulations, the symmetry and structure preserving and numerical stability of symplectic scheme are demonstrated. Moreover, the analytic solution of the primary and subharmonic simultaneous resonance of this system is obtained by using the multi-scale method. Finally, based on the resonance relation of the system, the chaotic dynamics behaviors with different parameters are studied.
ShChain_3D-ResNet: Sharding Blockchain with 3D-Residual Network (3D-ResNet) Deep Learning Model for Classifying DDoS Attack in Software Defined Network
Authors: Fenil E. , Mohan Kumar P.
Published: June 2022

The distributed denial of service (DDoS) vulnerabilities have rapidly extended and have been given different possibilities for even more advanced assaults on specific targets in recent times, thanks to the growth of innovative technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN). The attack patterns route comprises unprotected and susceptible IoT systems that are internet-connected, as well as denial of service weaknesses in the SDN controllers, such as southbound connection exhaustion. (1) Background: The review does not go into detail about the symmetry blockchain approaches used to mitigate DDoS attacks, nor does it classify them in IoT; (2) To overcome the privacy issues, a novel deep learning-based privacy preservation method was proposed named ShChain_3D-ResNet. This novel method combines Sharding, blockchain and Residual Network for securing the SDN. Under this network, the proposed efficient attention module jointly learns attention to enforce the symmetry on weights for various channels in spatial dimension as well as attention weights of multiple frames in temporal dimension assistance of pre-training, updating, and dense convolution process; (3) Results: the proposed ShChain_3D-ResNet achieves 95.6% of accuracy, 97.3% of precision, 95.2% of recall, 94.4% of F1-score, 32.5 ms of encryption time and 35.2 ms of decryption time for dataset-1. Further, it achieves 97.3% accuracy, 95.3% precision, 96.1% recall, 98.2% F1-score, 32.1 ms of encryption time, and 36.2 ms of decryption time for dataset-2; (4) Conclusions: The Sharding strategy can increase ShChain performance while simultaneously utilizing Multi User (MU) resources for SDN.
Study of Weak Solutions for a Class of Degenerate Parabolic Variational Inequalities with Variable Exponent
Authors: Sun Yudong , Wang Huan
Published: June 2022

The authors of this text study weak solutions to the variational inequalities with degenerate parabolic operators and symmetric structure in Sobolev spaces with variable exponent. The existence and uniqueness of the solutions are treated by using the penalty method and the reduction method in the weak sense. The authors also discuss the nonexistence and long-time behavior of solutions.
A Scent of Peppermint—A Microwave Spectroscopy Analysis on the Composition of Peppermint Oil
Authors: Krin Anna , Quesada Moreno María Mar , Pérez Cristóbal , Schnell Melanie
Published: June 2022

Essential oils have a vast number of applications in different areas of our daily life. Detailed chiral analysis and structural characterization of their constituents remains an important subject in analytical chemistry. Here, we report on a broadband rotational spectroscopy study of peppermint oil in the frequency range 2–8 GHz. We focus on an unambiguous determination of the excess enantiomers of the oil constituents menthone and isomenthone in the oil by applying chirality-sensitive rotational spectroscopy, the so-called microwave three-wave mixing (M3WM) technique. Additionally, a new menthol conformer, not previously characterized, was experimentally observed, and the gas-phase structures of the two conformers of menthol and menthone were determined experimentally based on the assignment of their 13C-isotopologues in natural abundance.
Optimization for an Indoor 6G Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer System
Authors: Chiu Chien-Ching , Chien Wei , Chen Po-Hsiang , Cheng Yu-Ting , Jiang Hao , Chen En-Lin
Published: June 2022

Antenna beamforming for Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) and Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) in an indoor 6G communication system is presented in this paper. The objective function is to maximize the total harvesting power for the SWIPT and WPT nodes with the constraints of the bit error rate and minimum harvesting power. In the study, the power-splitting ratio between harvesting power and decoding information can be adjusted for the SWIPT node. Due to the non-convex problem, we use Self-Adaptive Dynamic Differential Evolution (SADDE) to optimize the designed multi-objective function. We use a symmetric antenna array to study three situations of distance—closer, farther, and similar—between the transmitting antenna and the individual SWIPT and WPT nodes in this paper. Experimental results show that the overall harvesting efficiency is improved, especially in the case of SWIPT nodes closer to the transmitter. The total harvesting power can be improved by 86.7% in the total short-distance case, and by 7.87% in the total long-distance case.
Cytotoxicity of 9,10-Phenanthrenequinone Impairs Mitotic Progression and Spindle Assembly Independent of ROS Production in HeLa Cells
Authors: Kim Seul , Leem Jiyeon , Oh Jeong Su , Kim Jae-Sung
Published: June 2022

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon quinone derivative 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ) is one of the most abundant and toxic components found in diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). These DEPs are created during diesel fuel combustion and are considered the main source of urban air pollution. As 9,10-PQ can produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) through redox cycling, it has been shown to exert potent cytotoxic effects against various cell types. However, the mechanisms underlying this cytotoxicity remain unclear. In this study, we showed that 9,10-PQ exerts cytotoxicity by impairing mitotic progression and spindle assembly in HeLa cells. Exposure to 9,10-PQ impaired spindle assembly and chromosome alignment, resulting in delayed mitotic entry and progression in HeLa cells. Furthermore, 9,10-PQ exposure decreased the CEP192 and p-Aurora A levels at the spindle poles. Notably, these mitotic defects induced by 9,10-PQ were not rescued by scavenging ROS, implying the ROS-independent activity of 9,10-PQ. Therefore, our results provide the first evidence that 9,10-PQ exerts its cytotoxicity through specific inhibition of mitotic progression and spindle assembly, independent of ROS.
Pathogenesis and Manifestations of Zika Virus-Associated Ocular Diseases
Authors: Labib Bisant A. , Chigbu DeGaulle I.
Published: June 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) is mosquito-borne flavivirus that caused a significant public health concern in French Polynesia and South America. The two major complications that gained the most media attention during the ZIKV outbreak were Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) and microcephaly in newborn infants. The two modes of ZIKV transmission are the vector-borne and non-vector borne modes of transmission. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the most important vectors of ZIKV. ZIKV binds to surface receptors on permissive cells that support infection and replication, such as neural progenitor cells, dendritic cells, dermal fibroblasts, retinal pigment epithelial cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, epidermal keratinocytes, and trophoblasts to cause infection. The innate immune response to ZIKV infection is mediated by interferons and natural killer cells, whereas the adaptive immune response is mediated by CD8+T cells, Th1 cells, and neutralizing antibodies. The non-structural proteins of ZIKV, such as non-structural protein 5, are involved in the evasion of the host’s immune defense mechanisms. Ocular manifestations of ZIKV arise from the virus’ ability to cross both the blood–brain barrier and blood-retinal barrier, as well as the blood-aqueous barrier. Most notably, this results in the development of GBS, a rare neurological complication in acute ZIKV infection. This can yield ocular symptoms and signs. Additionally, infants to whom ZIKV is transmitted congenitally develop congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The ocular manifestations are widely variable, and include nonpurulent conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, keratitis, trabeculitis, congenital glaucoma, microphthalmia, hypoplastic optic disc, and optic nerve pallor. There are currently no FDA approved therapeutic agents for treating ZIKV infections and, as such, a meticulous ocular examination is an important aspect of the diagnosis. This review utilized several published articles regarding the ocular findings of ZIKV, antiviral immune responses to ZIKV infection, and the pathogenesis of ocular manifestations in individuals with ZIKV infection. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the viral immunology of ZIKV, interactions between ZIKV and the host’s immune defense mechanism, pathological mechanisms, as well as anterior and posterior segment findings associated with ZIKV infection.
A Contemporary Exploration of Traditional Indian Snake Envenomation Therapies
Authors: Deshpande Adwait M. , Sastry K. Venkata , Bhise Satish B.
Published: June 2022

Snakebite being a quick progressing serious situation needs immediate and aggressive therapy. Snake venom antiserum is the only approved and effective treatment available, but for selected snake species only. The requirement of trained staff for administration and serum reactions make the therapy complicated. In tropical countries where snakebite incidence is high and healthcare facilities are limited, mortality and morbidities associated with snake envenomation are proportionately high. Traditional compilations of medical practitioners’ personal journals have wealth of plant-based snake venom antidotes. Relatively, very few plants or their extractives have been scientifically investigated for neutralization of snake venom or its components. None of these investigations presents enough evidence to initiate clinical testing of the agents. This review focuses on curating Indian traditional snake envenomation therapies, identifying plants involved and finding relevant evidence across modern literature to neutralize snake venom components. Traditional formulations, their method of preparation and dosing have been discussed along with the investigational approach in modern research and their possible outcomes. A safe and easily administrable small molecule of plant origin that would protect or limit the spread of venom and provide valuable time for the victim to reach the healthcare centre would be a great lifesaver.
Trends in Influenza Infections in Three States of India from 2015–2021: Has There Been a Change during COVID-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Jayaram Anup , Jagadesh Anitha , Kumar Ajay M. V. , Davtyan Hayk , Thekkur Pruthu , Vilas Victor J. Del Rio , Mandal Shrawan Kumar , Sudandiradas Robin , Babu Naren , Varamballi Prasad , Shetty Ujwal , Mukhopadhyay Chiranjay
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and public health response to the pandemic has caused huge setbacks in the management of other infectious diseases. In the present study, we aimed to (i) assess the trends in numbers of samples from patients with influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory syndrome tested for influenza and the number and proportion of cases detected from 2015–2021 and (ii) examine if there were changes during the COVID-19 period (2020–2021) compared to the pre-COVID-19 period (2015–2019) in three states of India. The median (IQR) number of samples tested per month during the pre-COVID-19 period was 653 (395–1245), compared to 27 (11–98) during the COVID-19 period (p value < 0.001). The median (IQR) number of influenza cases detected per month during the pre-COVID-19 period was 190 (113–372), compared to 29 (27–30) during the COVID-19 period (p value < 0.001). Interrupted time series analysis (adjusting for seasonality and testing charges) confirmed a significant reduction in the total number of samples tested and influenza cases detected during the COVID-19 period. However, there was no change in the influenza positivity rate between pre-COVID-19 (29%) and COVID-19 (30%) period. These findings suggest that COVID-19-related disruptions, poor health-seeking behavior, and overburdened health systems might have led to a reduction in reported influenza cases rather than a true reduction in disease transmission.
Strategies That Facilitate Extraction-Free SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests
Authors: Delgado-Diaz David J. , Sakthivel Dhanasekaran , Nguyen Hanh H. T. , Farrokzhad Khashayar , Hopper William , Narh Charles A. , Richards Jack S.
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented global demand for in vitro diagnostic reagents. Supply shortages and hoarding have impacted testing capacity which has led to inefficient COVID-19 case identification and transmission control, predominantly in developing countries. Traditionally, RNA extraction is a prerequisite for conducting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT); however, simplified methods of sample processing have been successful at bypassing typical nucleic acid extraction steps, enabling extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 NAAT workflows. These methods involve chemical and physical approaches that are inexpensive and easily accessible alternatives to overcome extraction kit supply shortages, while offering acceptable test performance. Here we provide an overview of three main sample preparation strategies that have been shown to facilitate extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 NAATs.
Immunometabolic Reprogramming in Response to HIV Infection Is Not Fully Normalized by Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Deme Pragney , Rubin Leah H. , Yu Danyang , Xu Yanxun , Nakigozi Gertrude , Nakasujja Noeline , Anok Aggrey , Kisakye Alice , Quinn Thomas C. , Reynolds Steven J. , Mayanja Richard , Batte James , Wawer Maria J. , Sacktor Ned C. , Saylor Deanna , Haughey Norman J.
Published: June 2022

Background: HIV infection results in immunometabolic reprogramming. While we are beginning to understand how this metabolic reprogramming regulates the immune response to HIV infection, we do not currently understand the impact of ART on immunometabolism in people with HIV (PWH). Methods: Serum obtained from HIV-infected (n = 278) and geographically matched HIV seronegative control subjects (n = 300) from Rakai Uganda were used in this study. Serum was obtained before and ~2 years following the initiation of ART from HIV-infected individuals. We conducted metabolomics profiling of the serum and focused our analysis on metabolic substrates and pathways assocaited with immunometabolism. Results: HIV infection was associated with metabolic adaptations that implicated hyperactive glycolysis, enhanced formation of lactate, increased activity of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), decreased β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, increased utilization of medium-chain fatty acids, and enhanced amino acid catabolism. Following ART, serum levels of ketone bodies, carnitine, and amino acid metabolism were normalized, however glycolysis, PPP, lactate production, and β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids remained abnormal. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HIV infection is associated with an increased immunometabolic demand that is satisfied through the utilization of alternative energetic substrates, including fatty acids and amino acids. ART alone was insufficient to completely restore this metabolic reprogramming to HIV infection, suggesting that a sustained impairment of immunometabolism may contribute to chronic immune activation and comorbid conditions in virally suppressed PWH.
Prevention and Control of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea: The Development of Recombination-Resistant Live Attenuated Vaccines
Authors: Niu Xiaoyu , Wang Qiuhong
Published: June 2022

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), causing up to 100% mortality in neonatal pigs, is a highly contagious enteric disease caused by PED virus (PEDV). The highly virulent genogroup 2 (G2) PEDV emerged in 2010 and has caused huge economic losses to the pork industry globally. It was first reported in the US in 2013, caused country-wide outbreaks, and posed tremendous hardship for many pork producers in 2013–2014. Vaccination of pregnant sows/gilts with live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) is the most effective strategy to induce lactogenic immunity in the sows/gilts and provide a passive protection via the colostrum and milk to suckling piglets against PED. However, there are still no safe and effective vaccines available after about one decade of endeavor. One of the biggest concerns is the potential reversion to virulence of an LAV in the field. In this review, we summarize the status and the major obstacles in PEDV LAV development. We also discuss the function of the transcriptional regulatory sequences in PEDV transcription, contributing to recombination, and possible strategies to prevent the reversion of LAVs. This article provides insights into the rational design of a promising LAV without safety issues.
Cardiac Complications of COVID-19 in Low-Risk Patients
Authors: Srinivasan Akash , Wong Felyx , Couch Liam S. , Wang Brian X.
Published: June 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in over 6 million deaths and significant morbidity across the globe. Alongside common respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 is associated with a variety of cardiovascular complications in the acute and post-acute phases of infection. The suggested pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie these complications include direct viral infection of the myocardium via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein and a cytokine release syndrome that results in indirect inflammatory damage to the heart. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and co-morbidities are generally more susceptible to the cardiac manifestations of COVID-19. However, studies have identified a variety of complications in low-risk individuals, including young adults and children. Myocarditis and paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19 (PIMS) are among the adverse events reported in the acute phase of infection. Furthermore, patients have reported cardiac symptoms persisting beyond the acute phase in post-COVID syndrome. This review summarises the acute and chronic cardiac consequences of COVID-19 in low-risk patients, explores the pathophysiology behind them, and discusses new predictive factors for poor outcomes.
Influenza B: Prospects for the Development of Cross-Protective Vaccines
Authors: Tsybalova Liudmila M. , Stepanova Liudmila A. , Ramsay Edward S. , Vasin Andrey V.
Published: June 2022

In this review, we analyze the epidemiological and ecological features of influenza B, one of the most common and severe respiratory infections. The review presents various strategies for cross-protective influenza B vaccine development, including recombinant viruses, virus-like particles, and recombinant proteins. We provide an overview of viral proteins as cross-protective vaccine targets, along with other updated broadly protective vaccine strategies. The importance of developing such vaccines lies not only in influenza B prevention, but also in the very attractive prospect of eradicating the influenza B virus in the human population.
Developing Pseudovirus-Based Neutralization Assay against Omicron-Included SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Sun Hancong , Xu Jinghan , Zhang Guanying , Han Jin , Hao Meng , Chen Zhengshan , Fang Ting , Chi Xiangyang , Yu Changming
Published: June 2022

The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants poses a serious threat to human health worldwide. Recently, the emergence of Omicron has presented a new challenge to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenient and reliable in vitro neutralization assay is an important method for validating the efficiency of antibodies, vaccines, and other potential drugs. Here, we established an effective assay based on a pseudovirus carrying a full-length spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the HIV-1 backbone, with a luciferase reporter gene inserted into the non-replicate pseudovirus genome. The key parameters for packaging the pseudovirus were optimized, including the ratio of the S protein expression plasmids to the HIV backbone plasmids and the collection time for the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Kappa, and Omicron pseudovirus particles. The pseudovirus neutralization assay was validated using several approved or developed monoclonal antibodies, underscoring that Omicron can escape some neutralizing antibodies, such as REGN10987 and REGN10933, while S309 and ADG-2 still function with reduced neutralization capability. The neutralizing capacity of convalescent plasma from COVID-19 convalescent patients in Wuhan was tested against these pseudoviruses, revealing the immune evasion of Omicron. Our work established a practical pseudovirus-based neutralization assay for SARS-CoV-2 variants, which can be conducted safely under biosafety level-2 (BSL-2) conditions, and this assay will be a promising tool for studying and characterizing vaccines and therapeutic candidates against Omicron-included SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 Variants to Vaccine-Elicited Sera and Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Zhou Hao , Dcosta Belinda M. , Landau Nathaniel R. , Tada Takuya
Published: June 2022

The recent emergence of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants with heavily mutated spike proteins has posed a challenge to the effectiveness of current vaccines and to monoclonal antibody therapy for severe COVID-19. After two immunizations of individuals with no history of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection with BNT162b2 vaccine, neutralizing titer against BA.1 and BA.2 were 20-fold decreased compared to titers against the parental D614G virus. A third immunization boosted overall neutralizing titers by about 5-fold but titers against BA.1 and BA.2 remained about 10-fold below that of D614G. Both Omicron variants were highly resistant to several of the emergency use authorized therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. The variants were highly resistant to Regeneron REGN10933 and REGN10987 and Lilly LY-CoV555 and LY-CoV016 while Vir-7831 and the mixture of AstraZeneca monoclonal antibodies AZD8895 and AZD1061 were significantly decreased in neutralizing titer. Strikingly, a single monoclonal antibody LY-CoV1404 potently neutralized both Omicron variants.
The AI-Assisted Identification and Clinical Efficacy of Baricitinib in the Treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Richardson Peter J. , Robinson Bruce W. S. , Smith Daniel P. , Stebbing Justin
Published: June 2022

During the current pandemic, the vast majority of COVID-19 patients experienced mild symptoms, but some had a potentially fatal aberrant hyperinflammatory immune reaction characterized by high levels of IL-6 and other cytokines. Modulation of this immune reaction has proven to be the only method of reducing mortality in severe and critical COVID-19. The anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib (Olumiant) has recently been strongly recommended by the WHO for use in COVID-19 patients because it reduces the risk of progressive disease and death. It is a Janus Kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor approved for rheumatoid arthritis which was suggested in early 2020 as a treatment for COVID-19. In this review the AI-assisted identification of baricitinib, its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, and efficacy in clinical trials are discussed and compared with those of other immune modulators including glucocorticoids, IL-6 and IL-1 receptor blockers and other JAK inhibitors. Baricitinib inhibits both virus infection and cytokine signalling and is not only important for COVID-19 management but is “non-immunological”, and so should remain effective if new SARS-CoV-2 variants escape immune control. The repurposing of baricitinib is an example of how advanced artificial intelligence (AI) can quickly identify new drug candidates that have clinical benefit in previously unsuspected therapeutic areas.
Factors Influencing the Knowledge Gap regarding Influenza and Influenza Vaccination in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China
Authors: Yin Huimin , You Qingqing , Wu Jing , Jin Lianji
Published: June 2022

In the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, promoting influenza knowledge and vaccine helps reduce the risk of dual pandemics and relieve the pressure on healthcare systems. Due to the low rate of influenza vaccination in China, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to investigate whether a knowledge gap regarding influenza and influenza vaccine exists between Chinese groups of different socioeconomic statuses and then explore the possible factors influencing knowledge level. A total of 951 valid questionnaires were collected online in this study. Variance analysis shows a knowledge gap regarding influenza and influenza vaccination between different socioeconomic status groups. Correlation analysis shows that internet media, social media, public communication, and interpersonal communication are positively associated with the knowledge level. Multilevel regression analysis shows a significant interaction between internet media and educational level. This study finds that internet media use helps narrow the knowledge gap between groups with different education levels. This article recommends a multi-channel promotion of influenza and vaccine knowledge and better pertinence between contents and readers.
The Health Belief Model Applied to COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Limbu Yam B. , Gautam Rajesh K. , Pham Long
Published: June 2022

This study systematically analyzes the research that used the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical basis to examine the influence of HBM constructs on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched for quantitative studies. Sixteen studies with 30,242 participants met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 33.23% (95% CI 24.71–41.39%). Perceived barriers and perceived benefits were the most common HBM constructs that were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. While perceived benefits was inversely associated, a positive association was found between perceived barriers and vaccine hesitancy. Other HBM constructs that were frequently examined and inversely associated were perceived susceptibility, cues to action, perceived severity, and self-efficacy. The most common HBM modifying factor that was directly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was gender, followed by education, age, geographical locations, occupation, income, employment, marital status, race, and ethnicity; however, a few studies report inconsistent results. Other modifying variables that influenced vaccine hesitancy were knowledge of COVID-19, prior diagnosis of COVID-19, history of flu vaccination, religion, nationality, and political affiliation. The results show that HBM is useful in predicting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
The Haptomonad Stage of Crithidia acanthocephali in Apis mellifera Hindgut
Authors: Buendía-Abad María , García-Palencia Pilar , de Pablos Luis Miguel , Martín-Hernández Raquel , Higes Mariano
Published: June 2022

Crithidia acanthocephali is a trypanosomatid species that was initially described in the digestive tract of Hemiptera. However, this parasite was recently detected in honey bee colonies in Spain, raising the question as to whether bees can act as true hosts for this species. To address this issue, worker bees were experimentally infected with choanomastigotes from the early stationary growth phase and after 12 days, their hindgut was extracted for analysis by light microscopy and TEM. Although no cellular lesions were observed in the honey bee’s tissue, trypanosomatids had differentiated and adopted a haptomonad morphology, transforming their flagella into an attachment pad. This structure allows the protozoa to remain attached to the gut walls via hemidesmosomes-such as junctions. The impact of this species on honey bee health, as well as the pathogenic mechanisms involved, remains unknown. Nevertheless, these results suggest that insect trypanosomatids may have a broader range of hosts than initially thought.
Flies as Vectors and Potential Sentinels for Bacterial Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Review
Authors: Yin Ji-Hang , Kelly Patrick John , Wang Chengming
Published: June 2022

The unique biology of flies and their omnipresence in the environment of people and animals makes them ideal candidates to be important vectors of antimicrobial resistance genes. Consequently, there has been increasing research on the bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes that are carried by flies and their role in the spread of resistance. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the transmission of bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes by flies, and the roles flies might play in the maintenance, transmission, and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.
Quantifying the Contributions of Climate Change and Human Activities to Maize Yield Dynamics at Multiple Timescales
Authors: Li Pei , Huang Shengzhi , Huang Qiang , Zhao Jing , Zheng Xudong , Ma Lan
Published: June 2022

Under a changing environment, the effect of climate change and human activities on maize yield is vital for ensuring food security and efficient socio-economic development. The time series of maize yield is generally non-stationary and contains different frequency components, such as long- and short-term oscillations. Nevertheless, there is no adequate understanding of the relative importance of climate change. In addition, human activities on maize yield at multiple timescales remain unclear, which help in further improving maize yield prediction. Based on the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method (EEMD), the method of dependent variable variance decomposition (DVVD) and the Sen-slope method, the effect of climate change including growing-season precipitation and temperature (i.e., GSP, GEP, CDD, GST, GSMAT, and GSMT) and human activities including effective irrigation area (EIA) and the consumption of chemical fertilizers (CCF) on maize yield were explored at multiple timescales during 1979–2015. The Heilongjiang Province, a highly important maize production area in China, was selected as a case study. The results of this work indicate the following: (1) The original maize yield series was divided into 3.1-, 7.4-, 18.5-, and 37-year timescale oscillations and a residual series with an increasing trend, where the 3.1-year timescale (IMF1), the 18.5-year timescale (IMF3), and the increasing trend (R) were dominant; (2) the original sequence was mainly affected by human activities; (3) climate change and human activities had different effects on maize yield at different timescales: The short-term oscillation (IMF1) of maize yield was primarily affected by climate change. However, human activities dominated the mid- and long-term oscillations (IMF3 and R) of maize yield. This study sheds new insight into multiple timescale analysis of the role of climate and human activities on maize yield dynamics.
Coupling Two-Stage Stochastic Robust Programming with Improved Export Coefficient for Water Allocation among Industrial Sectors
Authors: Zhao Hang , Tan Qian , Zhang Shan , Zhang Tong , Zhang Tianyuan , Hu Kejia
Published: June 2022

Water scarcity and water pollution are essential factors limiting coordinated regional development, especially in water-deprived regions. Industrial restructuring is an effective water management solution to alleviate water scarcity and mitigate water pollution. However, due to widely existing inexact parameter information in the water resource management system, it is challenging to allocate water resources among industrial sectors. To address these problems, an export coefficient coupled with a two-stage stochastic robust programming method (EC-TSRP) was developed through integrating an export coefficient model (ECM), two-stage stochastic programming (TSP) and robust optimization. The proposed EC-TSRP model could effectively deal with the multiple uncertainties expressed as stochastic and the intervals with fluctuation ranges, and enhance the robustness of optimal plans for supporting water resource allocation among industrial sectors under complex uncertainties. It was then applied to Bayan Nur City, in arid north-west China. The optimization alternatives indicate that wheat, sheep and services would be the most sensitive sectors among all industrial sectors, when non-point source (NPS) pollution exports are restricted. In addition, comparing the EC-TSRP results with the deterministic model, the reliability of the system could be improved significantly, while the value of the objective function would be decreased slightly. The simulation results were also compared with the historical data from 2012 to 2016. Although the total revenue of Bayan Nur City would decrease by 1.52%, the pollutant loads of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand (TN, TP and COD) would decrease by 14.5%, 7.75% and 2.07%, respectively, and total water allocation also would decrease from 4.6 billion m3 to 4.23 billion m3.