bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Ex Vivo Animal Study of a Biological Heart Valve Prosthesis Sensorized with Intravalvular Impedance
Authors: Cercenelli Laura , Gironi Camilla , Bortolani Barbara , Marcelli Emanuela
Published: April 2023

IntraValvular Impedance (IVI) sensing is an innovative concept for monitoring heart valve prostheses after implant. We recently demonstrated IVI sensing feasible in vitro for biological heart valves (BHVs). In this study, for the first time, we investigate ex vivo the IVI sensing applied to a BHV when it is surrounded by biological tissue, similar to a real implant condition. A commercial model of BHV was sensorized with three miniaturized electrodes embedded in the commissures of the valve leaflets and connected to an external impedance measurement unit. To perform ex vivo animal tests, the sensorized BHV was implanted in the aortic position of an explanted porcine heart, which was connected to a cardiac BioSimulator platform. The IVI signal was recorded in different dynamic cardiac conditions reproduced with the BioSimulator, varying the cardiac cycle rate and the stroke volume. For each condition, the maximum percent variation in the IVI signal was evaluated and compared. The IVI signal was also processed to calculate its first derivative (dIVI/dt), which should reflect the rate of the valve leaflets opening/closing. The results demonstrated that the IVI signal is well detectable when the sensorized BHV is surrounded by biological tissue, maintaining the similar increasing/decreasing trend that was found during in vitro experiments. The signal can also be informative on the rate of valve opening/closing, as indicated by the changes in dIVI/dt in different dynamic cardiac conditions.
Research on Field Source Characteristics of Leakage Current of Arrester Based on TMR Sensor
Authors: Fu Yameng , Li Tanxiao , Li Yongfu , Hu Xiaoxu , Jiang Xiping , Dong Yiran , Zhao Pengcheng , Yu Chuanxiang , Wang Jingang
Published: April 2023

The status of zinc oxide (ZnO) arresters is directly related to the safety of power grids. However, as the service life of ZnO arresters increases, their insulation performance may decrease due to factors such as operating voltage and humidity, which can be identified through the measurement of leakage current. Tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors with high sensitivity, good temperature stability, and small size are excellent for measuring leakage current. This paper constructs a simulation model of the arrester and investigates the deployment of the TMR current sensor and the size of the magnetic concentrating ring. The arrester’s leakage current magnetic field distribution under different operating conditions is simulated. The simulation model can aid in optimizing the detection of leakage current in arresters using TMR current sensors, and the findings serve as a basis for monitoring the condition of arresters and improving the installation of current sensors. The TMR current sensor design offers potential advantages such as high accuracy, miniaturization, and ease of distributed application measurement, making it suitable for large-scale use. Finally, the validity of the simulations and conclusions is verified through experiments.
Learning-Based Approaches to Current Identification from Magnetic Sensors
Authors: Barmada Sami , Di Barba Paolo , Formisano Alessandro , Mognaschi Maria Evelina , Tucci Mauro
Published: April 2023

Direct measurement of electric currents can be prevented by poor accessibility or prohibitive technical conditions. In such cases, magnetic sensors can be used to measure the field in regions adjacent to the sources, and the measured data then can be used to estimate source currents. Unfortunately, this is classified as an Electromagnetic Inverse Problem (EIP), and data from sensors must be cautiously treated to obtain meaningful current measurements. The usual approach requires using suited regularization schemes. On the other hand, behavioral approaches are recently spreading for this class of problems. The reconstructed model is not obliged to follow the physics equations, and this implies approximations which must be accurately controlled, especially if aiming to reconstruct an inverse model from examples. In this paper, a systematic study of the role of different learning parameters (or rules) on the (re-)construction of an EIP model is proposed, in comparison with more assessed regularization techniques. Attention is particularly devoted to linear EIPs, and in this class, a benchmark problem is used to illustrate in practice the results. It is shown that, by applying classical regularization methods and analogous correcting actions in behavioral models, similar results can be obtained. Both classical methodologies and neural approaches are described and compared in the paper.
Real-Time Stereo-Based Ocean Surface Mapping for Robotic Floating Platforms: Concept and Methodology
Authors: Greenberg Or , Ben-Moshe Boaz
Published: April 2023

Consider the case of a small, unmanned boat that is performing an autonomous mission. Naturally, such a platform might need to approximate the ocean surface of its surroundings in real-time. Much like obstacle mapping in autonomous (off-road) rovers, an approximation of the ocean surface in a vessel’s surroundings in real-time can be used for improved control and optimized route planning. Unfortunately, such an approximation seems to require either expensive and heavy sensors or external logistics that are mostly not available for small or low-cost vessels. In this paper, we present a real-time method for detecting and tracking ocean waves around a floating object that is based on stereo vision sensors. Based on a large set of experiments, we conclude that the presented method allows reliable, real-time, and cost-effective ocean surface mapping suitable for small autonomous boats.
Enhancing Spam Message Classification and Detection Using Transformer-Based Embedding and Ensemble Learning
Authors: Ghourabi Abdallah , Alohaly Manar
Published: April 2023

Over the last decade, the Short Message Service (SMS) has become a primary communication channel. Nevertheless, its popularity has also given rise to the so-called SMS spam. These messages, i.e., spam, are annoying and potentially malicious by exposing SMS users to credential theft and data loss. To mitigate this persistent threat, we propose a new model for SMS spam detection based on pre-trained Transformers and Ensemble Learning. The proposed model uses a text embedding technique that builds on the recent advancements of the GPT-3 Transformer. This technique provides a high-quality representation that can improve detection results. In addition, we used an Ensemble Learning method where four machine learning models were grouped into one model that performed significantly better than its separate constituent parts. The experimental evaluation of the model was performed using the SMS Spam Collection Dataset. The obtained results showed a state-of-the-art performance that exceeded all previous works with an accuracy that reached 99.91%.
Special Issue “Frontiers in Organizing Processes: Collaborating against Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery for Impact and Sustainability”
Authors: Foot Kirsten , Van der Watt Marcel , Parks Elizabeth Shun-Ching
Published: April 2023

Multiprofessional, interorganizational, and cross-sector collaboration is widely recognized as essential to counter human trafficking [...]
Human Rights Violations and Mistrust among Refugees in South Africa: Implications for Public Health during the COVID Pandemic
Authors: Tesfai Aron , Hynie Michaela , Meyer-Weitz Anna
Published: April 2023

Despite the open policy of integration, refugees in South Africa have been experiencing increasing exclusion and discrimination in socio-economic development and from social services. State-sanctioned discrimination contributes to mistrust among marginalized groups toward the government and its institutions. However, public trust towards healthcare authorities and government institutions is critical during pandemic outbreaks to ensure the population’s willingness to follow public health initiatives and protocols to contain the spread of a pandemic. Eleven key informants, including refugee community leaders and refugee-serving NGOs, were virtually interviewed about refugees’ access to healthcare in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of inconsistent access and discrimination on their trust of public healthcare initiatives. Interviews were analyzed using critical thematic analysis. The results suggest that refugees’ access to public healthcare services were perceived as exclusionary and discriminatory. Furthermore, the growing mistrust in institutions and authorities, particularly the healthcare system, and misperceptions of COVID-19 compromised refugees’ trust and adherence to public health initiatives. This ultimately exacerbates the vulnerability of the refugee community, as well as the wellbeing of the overall population.
The Changing Landscape in Upper Limb Sports Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention
Authors: Paraskevopoulos Eleftherios , Pamboris George M. , Papandreou Maria
Published: April 2023

This editorial aims to feature authors who intend to submit their research to this Special Issue of Sports entitled “Clinical Advances in Upper Limb Sports Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention” in areas that need special consideration [...]
Study on Water Quality Change Trend and Its Influencing Factors from 2001 to 2021 in Zuli River Basin in the Northwestern Part of the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Zhang Zhenghong , Zhang Fu , Zhang Zhengzhong , Wang Xuhu
Published: April 2023

The Zuli River is in the northwest of the Loess Plateau. As an important center of production and domestic water source, variations in the water quality of this basin and their influencing factors are important considerations for improving the river water environment. In order to identify and predict changes in the water quality of the watershed, the following water quality indicators, namely, dissolved oxygen content (DO), five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia nitrogen concentration (NH3-N), the high-manganese salt index (CODMn), volatile phenol concentration (VP), total phosphorus (TP), fluoride concentration (F−), and nitrite nitrogen concentration (NO3-N), were studied together with their change trends, influencing factors, and main variation cycles in the basin from 2001 to 2021. The results were as follows: (1) All the water quality indicators except for DO and F- showed an increasing trend before 2011, and DO showed an extreme, significant downward trend. There was an increase in the content of pollutants in the water caused by chemical fertilizer and aquaculture, resulting in a decrease in the DO content. (2) There was an extreme, significant upward trend in DO after 2011, while a significant downward trend was observed in the other water quality indicators except for NO3-N. (3) According to the main variation cycle of the other water quality indicators, the DO will remain in its peak period, while the other water quality indicators except for NO3-N will remain in a trough period (which began in 2021). The increase in precipitation and runoff reduced the content of pollutants in the water. Therefore, the overall water quality of the Zuli River Basin gradually improved after 2011. This may be due to (1) increased precipitation and runoff, thereby diluting the concentration of pollutants in the river, or (2) a decreased concentration of pollutants entering the river with the decrease in soil erosion.
Factors That Boost the Technological Capability of Malaysian Food Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Jenatabadi Hashem Salarzadeh , Radzi Che Wan Jasimah Wan Mohamed , AbdManap Nursyakirah , Abdullah Nor Aishah
Published: April 2023

The increasing urbanization of the world has created new issues and challenges for the modern food industry to meet customers’ changing demands. To address these issues, these firms need to invest in technological capability development. This study examines factors that affect the technological capability of food manufacturing firms. A large-scale survey of a sample of 270 food manufacturing firms in Malaysia was conducted. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the observed variables. The result shows that organizational innovation fully mediates the relationship between organizational learning and technological capability. Overall, the findings suggest that food manufacturing firms in Malaysia that want to enhance their technological capability should focus on developing and implementing organizational innovation practices, in addition to other strategies and practices that aim to promote organizational learning and innovation. This research contributes to the development of related theories and has practical implications for the stakeholders in the food manufacturing industry.
Relationships among Experience Economy, Tour Quality, Tour Satisfaction, and Word-of-Mouth in the Senior Tourism Context in Korea: The Moderating Role of Tour Guiding Services
Authors: Hwang Jinsoo , Joo Kyuhyeon , Moon Joonho
Published: April 2023

The senior tourist market is growing, because the number of elderly people is increasing in Korea. It is widely accepted that experience in travel is more important than any other factor. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the importance of the experience economy and its impact on outcome variables with the moderating role of tour guiding services in the senior tourism industry. This study more specifically proposed that there is a positive relationship between the four dimensions of the experience economy, which include education, entertainment, aesthetics, and escapism, and tour quality. In addition, it was proposed that tour quality has a positive influence on tour satisfaction and word-of-mouth. Lastly, this study investigated the moderating role of a tour guide service in the relationship between the experience economy and tour quality. The data were collected from 323 seniors who had experienced an overseas package tour in Korea. In order to test the proposed model, this study employed confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling analysis. The data analysis results indicated that entertainment and aesthetics play a significant role in the formation of tour quality. The results of the data analysis also showed that tour quality has a positive influence on tour satisfaction, which in turn positively affects word-of-mouth. Furthermore, a tour guide service moderated the relationship between aesthetics and tour quality.
Bridging the Gap: The Affective Dimension of Learning Outcomes in Environmental Primary and Secondary Education
Authors: Lovren Violeta Orlovic , Jablanovic Milica Marusic
Published: April 2023

There is growing evidence of the power of the affective dimensions for pro-environmental behavior, as well as of existing gaps between the dimensions of learning outcomes in recent environmental education literature. Based on the need to address that gap, this article explores the integration of the cognitive (ecological knowledge and cognitive skills), the affective and the behavioral domain in the learning outcomes of subjects related to the environment within Serbian elementary and general secondary education. This analysis was performed on the second cycle of the elementary school curricula and the general secondary education curricula for the following compulsory subjects: biology, chemistry and geography. It uses the holistic framework of EE goals, as defined by the Tbilisi Declaration as well as the concept of environmental literacy, as defined by the authors of the National Environmental Literacy Assessment used in the US, which distinguish four components of environmental literacy: ecological knowledge, cognitive skills, environmental affects and pro-environmental behavior. The results clearly show the dominance of the cognitive when compared with the affective and behavioral dimensions in both primary and secondary education. The focus of education on measurable outcomes offers firm structure for planning and evaluation, but underestimates the importance of preferences, values, enjoyment and does not facilitate rewarding the main source of pro-environmental behavior. Starting from the holistic and whole school approach to environmental education, the authors re-emphasize the need to bridge the existing gap and to provide policy support to teachers in developing their own as well as students’ environmental engagement and resilience.
Was Chinese “Double-First Class” Construction Policy Influential? Analysis Using Propensity Score Matching
Authors: Liu Shengbo , Luo Xiaoting , Liu Miaomiao
Published: April 2023

The “double first-class” construction policy is an educational policy in China for building the world first-class universities and disciplines. The research objective of this paper is to verify the effect of “double first-class” construction policy. The Propensity Score Matching–Difference in Differences (PSM–DID) method was employed to gauge the academic influence of the policy. PSM–DID is a metering method specifically used to analyze the effectiveness of the policy to determine whether the impact of the policy has significant statistical significance. The panel data, covering the years 2016–2020, was derived from 122 universities in China and the United States, indicating the experimental and control data, respectively. The results show that the “double first-class” construction policy promotes the international academic influence of Chinese universities, but this promotion effect is not sustainable.
Predictors Affecting Effects of Virtual Influencer Advertising among College Students
Authors: Um Namhyun
Published: April 2023

Currently, in many realms, such as entertainment and marketing communications, human influencers have been replaced by virtual ones. As a result, marketing researchers are devoting more attention to the use of virtual influencers. The current study investigates predictors affecting the effects of virtual influencer advertising. Specifically, this study is designed to examine the effects of para-social interaction as relationships between virtual influencer and audiences. In addition, this study delves into the effects of perceived human-likeness, perceived predictability, and perceived authenticity in the evaluation of virtual influencer advertising. For this study, a total of 179 college students majoring in advertising and public relations participated in exchange for course credits. To collect data, an online survey site was created through Qualtrics. This study found that parasocial interactions with a virtual influencer positively affect attitude toward a virtual influencer. Furthermore, perceived human-likeness, perceived predictability, and perceived authenticity also positively influence attitude toward a virtual influencer. Lastly, study findings suggest that attitude toward a virtual influencer has a positive impact on attitude toward adverts. Theoretical as well as practical implications are discussed.
Simulation Study of the Effect of Atmospheric Stratification on Aircraft Wake Vortex Encounter
Authors: Pan Weijun , Jiang Yanqiang , Zhang Yuqin
Published: April 2023

The atmospheric environment is an important factor affecting aircraft wake vortex decay and wake separation. In this paper, numerical calculations and strip modeling are combined to complete an analysis of wake encounter under three atmospheric stratifications expressed in Brunt–Väisälä (BV) frequencies. The SST k-ω turbulence model was chosen for the numerical simulation to complete the evolution of the wake vortex field of the A330 aircraft. The A320 and ERJ190 were selected as the aircraft for wake encounter analysis. The dimensionless roll moment coefficient (RMC) was selected as the indicator to construct a three-dimensional hazard zone for wake encounters and then calculate the wake separation. The results show that the higher BV frequencies correspond to faster wake vortex decay and hazard zone dissipation, and a slower decrease in the height of the hazard zone. The risk level of the ERJ190 is higher than that of the A320 with the same wake intensity, and the wake separation of the A320 following the A330 is 5516 m, which is 25.5% less than the ICAO RECAT separation standard, while the wake separation of the A330 following the ERJ190 is 5803 m, which is 37.6% less than the ICAO RECAT separation standard.
Does an Environmental Management System Affect Green Inno-Vation: The Role of Green Financing in China’s Tourism Sector in a Circular Economy
Authors: Ji Xiang , Zhang Shiqi , Lu Yuan
Published: April 2023

The occurrence of climate change is becoming a challenge for the survival of business organizations. These changes pressure business organizations to adopt strategies to protect the natural environment. In order to cope with these changes, business organizations concentrate on strategic decisions regarding the protection of the natural environment due to the demand of various stakeholders. Continuous and updated information on environmental issues is required to successfully formulate and implement decisions to protect the natural environment. Therefore, the environmental management system (EMS) is an important mechanism that enables business organization to collect information about the demands of various stakeholders regarding the natural environment. Most studies have examined the green innovation (GI) of the tourism sector and related the innovation of natural environmental protection activities with management’s capabilities and strategic decisions. Limited studieshave considered EMSs as important to bring GI into the tourism sector. GI comprises various environmental initiatives that play a vital role in impacting the GI of the tourism sector worldwide. However, these are ignored by researchers. Therefore, we examined the effect of the EMS on GI. Moreover, we also examined the extent to which green financing of the tourism sector intervenes in the EMS and GI link. Data were collected from 322 managers in the tourism sector. The collected data were analyzed with the help of correlation and regression techniques. The study findings confirmed that the EMS positively affects GI, while green financing mediates the connection between the EMS and GI. Hence, this study offers numerous practical suggestions for improving the GI of the tourism sector in the emerging circular economy.
Special Issue “Rural–Urban Transformation of Asian Megacities from a Social-Ecological Systems Perspective”
Authors: Schlecht Eva , Gaßmann Matthias , Altrock Uwe , Thiel Andreas
Published: April 2023

In 2021, 56% of the global population lived in cities, and by 2050 the ratio of urban-to-rural population is expected to reach 67% [...]
Taking Precautionary Approaches to the Governance of Commercial Deep Seabed Mining: Law-Making of International Seabed Authority and Multi-Subject Participation
Authors: Wang Jinpeng , Jiang Wenqi , Wang Chuanjuan , Liu Dahai
Published: April 2023

Although commercial deep seabed mining could provide the international community with new sources of metals and minerals, it can potentially cause adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity of the Area. To date, insufficient scientific knowledge has been obtained about the complex deep seabed ecosystems and the detailed impacts of deep seabed mining. The International Seabed Authority has begun to make provisions for exploiting mineral resources and related environmental protection requirements. The draft exploitation regulations take precautionary approaches such as stipulating rules, including environmental standards and guidelines, environment impact assessment, environmental management and monitoring plan, and regional environmental management plan. However, there are still apparent differences and controversies about these rules between States. This article elaborates on the evolution and content of drafted rules and explores the manifested specific divergences and interest conflicts in formulating these rules. Implementing precautionary approaches requires balancing potential serious environmental risks, available scientific evidence, and cost-effectiveness. This article also explores the essential requirements of taking precautionary approaches for governing commercial deep seabed mining. The ISA, sponsoring States, Contractors, scientists, experts, and public all play roles in the governance of imminent commercial deep seabed mining. Strengthening multi-subject participation in the ISA’s law-making process for deep seabed environmental protection can be conducive to promoting consensus on taking precautionary approaches to govern commercial deep seabed mining.
A Simplified Facility Management Tool for Condition Assessment through Economic Evaluation and Data Centralization: Branch to Core
Authors: Acampa Giovanna , Pino Alessio
Published: April 2023

The field of facility management, especially concerning condition assessment, is affected by two main issues: one is the incompleteness and heterogeneity of information transfer between the involved subjects; the other is the frequent lack of specific advanced skills needed for technically complex tools. The immediate consequences of this process inefficiency fall on economic and environmental aspects: the unavailability or incorrect structuring of data related to building conditions does not allow for making optimal choices concerning interventions on components. This paper attempts to provide a solution in this framework by presenting a methodology for simplified condition assessment, in which the evaluation of decay parameters draws from economic evaluation techniques, and which optimizes data collection, systematization, and elaboration, also integrating it with a mobile app for automatic data upload and centralization. The research underlying its development draws from decay evaluation criteria and national standards for the analysis and breakdown of buildings. The methodology was tested on a case study of the Cloister of Santa Croce in Florence, which also served as the client of the tool. The proposed methodology stands as an easily implementable integration to condition assessment for maintenance planning and building inspection activities.
Support Vector Machine-Based Energy Efficient Management of UAV Locations for Aerial Monitoring of Crops over Large Agriculture Lands
Authors: Al-Naeem Mohammed , Hafizur Rahman M M , Banerjee Anuradha , Sufian Abu
Published: April 2023

Crop monitoring and smart spraying have become indispensable parts of precision agriculture where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) play a lead role. In particular, in large agricultural fields, aerial monitoring is a sustainable solution provided it can be performed in an energy-efficient manner. The existing literature points out that the research on precision agriculture using UAVs is still very minimal. In this article, we propose a support vector machine (SVM)-based UAV location management technique where UAVs change position over various portions or regions of a large agricultural field so that crops are properly monitored in an energy-efficient manner. Whenever a processing request is generated from any sensor in a part of the field, the UAV investigates with an SVM to decide whether to move on to the center of that field based on various parameters or characteristics such as region-id, packet-id, time of day, waiting times of the packets, the average waiting time of others within a predefined time window, location of the UAV, residual energy of the UAV after processing the packet, and movement after processing the packet. We use 70% of our data for training and the other 30% for testing. In our simulation study, we use accuracy, precision, and recall to measure in both contexts to determine the efficiency of the model, and also the amount of energy preserved is computed corresponding to every move. We also compare our approach with current state-of-the-art energy-preserving UAV movement control techniques which are compatible with the present application scenario. The proposed technique produced 6.5%, 34.5%, and 61.5% better results in terms of percentage of successful detection (PSD), composite energy consumption (CEC), and average delay (ADL), respectively.
Determining Factors Affecting the Protective Behavior of Filipinos in Urban Areas for Natural Calamities Using an Integration of Protection Motivation Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Ergonomic Appraisal: A Sustainable Disaster Preparedness Approach
Authors: Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , Sobrevilla Ma. Daniella M.
Published: April 2023

The Philippines is considered one of the most vulnerable and susceptible countries to the effects of natural disasters due to its location. Therefore, the country needs to be resilient to the natural calamities it faces yearly. The research aimed to determine the factors that affect the protective behavior of Filipinos during natural disasters by integrating protective motivation theory, the theory of planned behaviors, and ergonomic appraisals, and by adding variables such as knowledge and geographical perspectives. PLS-SEM was used to determine the significant factors that affect protective behavior. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 302 Filipinos in the Philippines through a digital survey using Google forms. The analysis showed that the intention to prepare is the most significant factor affecting their protective behavior, followed by macro and physical ergonomics. Aside from this, attitudes, perceived severity, self-efficacy, response efficacy, response cost, and subjective norms were found to influence their intention to prepare significantly. Furthermore, understanding natural calamities significantly influences an individual’s perceived severity. However, the geographical perspective, perceived vulnerability, perceived behavioral control, and cognitive ergonomics were found to have an insignificant influence on protective behavior for natural calamities. The study findings could be used as a basis for household units or the national government to build disaster management plans and resilience programs. Aside from this, it can also be used by researchers as a basis for exploring other areas that may affect the protective behavior of individuals to prepare for natural calamities worldwide.
Special Issue “Trends in Fractional Modelling in Science and Innovative Technologies”
Authors: Hristov Jordan
Published: April 2023

Fractional calculus has played an important role in the fields of mathematics, physics, electronics, mechanics, and engineering in recent years [...]
Bounds for Extreme Zeros of Classical Orthogonal Polynomials Related to Birth and Death Processes
Authors: Mondal Saiful R. , Das Sourav
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we consider birth and death processes with different sequences of transition rates and find the bound for the extreme zeros of orthogonal polynomials related to the three term recurrence relations and birth and death processes. Furthermore, we find the related chain sequences. Using these chain sequences, we find the transition probabilities for the corresponding process. As a consequence, transition probabilities related to G-fractions and modular forms are derived. Results obtained in this work are new and several graphical representations and numerical computations are provided to validate the results.
Evolutionary Analysis of the Regulation of Data Abuse in Digital Platforms
Authors: Wang Zhen , Yuan Chunhui , Li Xiaolong
Published: April 2023

This study proposes a tripartite evolutionary game model to investigate the interactions among digital platforms, governments, and users to address the negative consequences of data abuse. The paper identifies that the high tax incentives and low penalties set by the government will increase the incentive for data abuse by platforms of different sizes, and the government can try to set up a tax ladder policy for platforms of different sizes and a dynamic penalty amount based on platform revenue. The study also reveals that user participation in supervision can reduce information asymmetry, and decrease the cost of government regulation. However, the single constraint of users is less effective than government regulation or dual user-government regulation. Additionally, the presence of privacy leakage risks prompts digital platforms to adopt compound engines to implement data abuse. Hence, the relevant government regulatory policies should consider the efficiency and cost of data security technology for timely adjustments. This research contributes to understanding the complex relationships among digital platforms, governments, and users and highlights the need for appropriate measures to mitigate the negative effects of data abuse.
Clustering of Pediatric Brain Tumors in Texas, 2000–2017
Authors: Hoang Thanh T. , Rosales Omar , Burgess Elyse , Lupo Philip J. , Scheurer Michael E. , Oluyomi Abiodun O.
Published: April 2023

Risk factors for pediatric brain tumors are largely unknown. Identifying spatial clusters of these rare tumors on the basis of residential address may provide insights into childhood socio-environmental factors that increase susceptibility. From 2000–2017, the Texas Cancer Registry recorded 4305 primary brain tumors diagnosed among children (≤19 years old). We performed a spatial analysis in SaTScan to identify neighborhoods (census tracts) where the observed number of pediatric brain tumors was higher than expected. Within each census tract, the number of pediatric brain tumors was summed on the basis of residential address at diagnosis. The population estimate from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey of 0- to 19-year-olds was used as the at-risk population. p-values were calculated using Monte Carlo hypothesis testing. The age-standardized rate was 54.3 per 1,000,000. SaTScan identified twenty clusters, of which two were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Some of the clusters identified in Texas spatially implicated potential sources of environmental risk factors (e.g., proximity to petroleum production processes) to explore in future research. This work provides hypothesis-generating data for further investigations of spatially relevant risk factors of pediatric brain tumors in Texas.
Long-Term Toxicity of 50-nm and 1-μm Surface-Charged Polystyrene Microbeads in the Brine Shrimp Artemia parthenogenetica and Role of Food Availability
Authors: Shen Yu , Zhang Mingxing , Li Zhaochuan , Cao Shuo , Lou Yadi , Cong Yi , Jin Fei , Wang Ying
Published: April 2023

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) as emerging contaminants have become a global environmental issue due to their small size and high bioavailability. However, very little information is available regarding their impact on zooplankton, especially when food availability is a limiting factor. Therefore, the present study aims at evaluating the long-term effects of two different sizes (50 nm and 1 μm) of amnio-modified polystyrene (PS-NH2) particles on brine shrimp, Artemia parthenogenetica, by providing different levels of food (microalgae) supply. Larvae were exposed to three environmentally relevant concentrations (5.5, 55, and 550 μg/L) of MNPs over a 14-days of exposure with two food levels, high (3 × 105~1 × 107 cells/mL), and low (1 × 105 cells/mL) food conditions. When exposed to high food levels, the survival, growth, and development of A. parthenogenetica were not negatively affected at the studied exposure concentrations. By comparison, when exposed to a low food level, a U shape trend was observed for the three measured effects (survival rate, body length, and instar). Significant interactions between food level and exposure concentration were found for all three measured effects (three-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). The activities of additives extracted from 50 nm PS-NH2 suspensions were below toxic levels, while those from 1-μm PS-NH2 showed an impact on artemia growth and development. Our results demonstrate the long-term risks posed by MNPs when zooplankton have low levels of food intake.
A Realistic Mixture of Persistent Organic Pollutants Affects Zebrafish Development, Behavior, and Specifically Eye Formation by Inhibiting the Condensin I Complex
Authors: Guerrero-Limón Gustavo , Nivelle Renaud , Bich-Ngoc Nguyen , Duy-Thanh Dinh , Muller Marc
Published: April 2023

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are posing major environmental and health threats due to their stability, ubiquity, and bioaccumulation. Most of the numerous studies of these compounds deal with single chemicals, although real exposures always consist of mixtures. Thus, using different tests, we screened the effects on zebrafish larvae caused by exposure to an environmentally relevant POP mixture. Our mixture consisted of 29 chemicals as found in the blood of a Scandinavian human population. Larvae exposed to this POP mix at realistic concentrations, or sub-mixtures thereof, presented growth retardation, edemas, retarded swim bladder inflation, hyperactive swimming behavior, and other striking malformations such as microphthalmia. The most deleterious compounds in the mixture belong to the per- and polyfluorinated acids class, although chlorinated and brominated compounds modulated the effects. Analyzing the changes in transcriptome caused by POP exposure, we observed an increase of insulin signaling and identified genes involved in brain and eye development, leading us to propose that the impaired function of the condensin I complex caused the observed eye defect. Our findings contribute to the understanding of POP mixtures, their consequences, and potential threats to human and animal populations, indicating that more mechanistic, monitoring, and long-term studies are imperative.
Potentially Toxic Element Contamination in Soils Affected by the Antimony Mine Spill in Northwest China
Authors: Chai Yongzhen , Guo Fei
Published: April 2023

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the potential ecological and health risks in the area of the antimony mine spill in Longnan, Northwest China, and identifies the sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil as a result of the spill. The geo-accumulation index and enrichment factor show that the study area is highly contaminated with arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and antimony (Sb). The ecological risk index in the tailings spill area ranged from 320.43 to 5820.46 (mean: 1489.82), indicating a very-high potential ecological risk, with mean values of 104.86, 1118.87 and 248.84 for As, Hg and Sb, respectively. The multivariate statistical analysis suggested that Sb and Hg come from tailings leakage, while copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) may be imported from natural sources, and As and lead (Pb) originate from agricultural activities. In addition As and Sb pose a high health risk. With the exception of the non-carcinogenic risk in adults, all other risks are significantly exceeded in other populations, with children being the highest-risk group. These findings provide important quantitative information for the assessment and management of PTE contamination in other tailings spill areas.
Whole-Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Reveals Simultaneous Circulation of Three Variants and a Putative Recombination (20B/20H) in Pets, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
Authors: Lenguiya Léadisaelle Hosanna , Fritz Matthieu , De Fonclare Daphné de Riols , Corbet Sandrine , Becquart Pierre , Mbou Christophe , Nguie Ruben Junias , Mouellet Wivine Salva , Demboux Jordy Exaucé Lyelet , N’kaya-Tobi  , Issamou Mayengue Pembe , Koukouikila-Koussounda Félix , Ar Gouilh Meriadeg , Leroy Eric M. , Niama Fabien Roch
Published: April 2023

Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, cases of pets infected with variants circulating among humans were reported. In order to evaluate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation among pets in the Republic of the Congo, we conducted a ten-month study of dogs and cats living in COVID-19-positive households in Brazzaville and neighboring localities. Real-time PCR and the Luminex platform were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 RBD and S proteins, respectively. Our results show for the first time the simultaneous circulation of several variants of SARS-CoV-2, including viruses from clades 20A and 20H and a putative recombinant variant between viruses from clades 20B and 20H. We found a high seroprevalence of 38.6%, with 14% of tested pets positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Thirty-four percent of infected pets developed mild clinical signs, including respiratory and digestive signs, and shed the virus for about one day to two weeks. These results highlight the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 interspecies transmission and the benefits of a “One Health” approach that includes SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and surveillance of viral diversity in pets. This approach aims to prevent transmission to surrounding wildlife as well as spillback to humans.
Isolation of Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses with Encephalitogenic Potential Diagnosed by Evandro Chagas Institute (Pará, Brazil) in the Period of 1954–2022: Six Decades of Discoveries
Authors: Wanzeller Ana Lucia Monteiro , da Silva Fabio Silva , Hernández Leonardo Henrique Almeida , Barros Landerson Junior Leopoldino , Freitas Maria Nazaré Oliveira , Santos Maissa Maia , Gonçalves Ercília de Jesus , Pantoja Jamilla Augusta Sousa , Lima Creuza de Sousa , Lima Maxwell Furtado , Costa Luiz Roberto Oliveira , das Chagas Liliane Leal , Silva Iveraldo Ferreira , da Cunha Tania Cristina Alves da Silveira , do Nascimento Bruna Lais Sena , Vasconcelos Helena Baldez , da Rosa Elizabeth Salbe Travassos , Rodrigues Sueli Guerreiro , Azevedo Raimunda do Socorro da Silva , Martins Lívia Carício , Casseb Lívia Medeiros Neves , Chiang Jannifer Oliveira , Nunes Neto Joaquim Pinto , Cruz Ana Cecília Ribeiro , Carvalho Valéria Lima , Vasconcelos Pedro Fernando da Costa , da Silva Eliana Vieira Pinto
Published: April 2023

Viruses with encephalitogenic potential can cause neurological conditions of clinical and epidemiological importance, such as Saint Louis encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, Mayaro virus and West Nile virus. The objective of the present study was to determine the number of arboviruses with neuroinvasive potential isolated in Brazil that corresponds to the collection of viral samples belonging to the Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute (SAARB/IEC) of the Laboratory Network of National Reference for Arbovirus Diagnosis from 1954 to 2022. In the analyzed period, a total of 1,347 arbovirus samples with encephalitogenic potential were isolated from mice; 5,065 human samples were isolated exclusively by cell culture; and 676 viruses were isolated from mosquitoes. The emergence of new arboviruses may be responsible for diseases still unknown to humans, making the Amazon region a hotspot for infectious diseases due to its fauna and flora species characteristics. The detection of circulating arboviruses with the potential to cause neuroinvasive diseases is constant, which justifies the continuation of active epidemiological surveillance work that offers adequate support to the public health system regarding the virological diagnosis of circulating arboviruses in Brazil.
Efficacy and Safety of Two-Drug Regimens with Dolutegravir plus Rilpivirine or Lamivudine in HIV-1 Virologically Suppressed People Living with HIV
Authors: Dueñas-Gutiérrez Carlos , Buzón Luis , Pedrero-Tomé Roberto , Iribarren José A. , De los Santos Ignacio , De la Fuente Sara , Pousada Guillermo , Moran Miguel Angel , Moreno Estela , Ferreira Eva , Gómez Julia , Troya Jesús
Published: April 2023

Background: The high effectiveness and safety of the two-drug (2DRs) strategy using dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) have led to international guidelines recommending their use for treatment-naive HIV patients. In virologically suppressed patients, de-escalating from 3DRs to DTG plus either rilpivirine (RPV) or 3TC has shown high rates of virological suppression. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the real-life data of two multicenter Spanish cohorts of PLWHIV treated with DTG plus 3TC (SPADE-3) or RPV (DORIPEX) as a switch strategy, not only in terms of virological suppression, safety, and durability but also in terms of immune restoration. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with virological suppression on DTG plus 3TC and DTG plus RPV at weeks 24 and 48. The secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients who experienced the protocol-defined loss of virological control by week 48; changes in immune status in terms of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio; the rate, incidence, and reasons for discontinuation of treatment over the 48-week study period; and safety profiles at weeks 24 and 48. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, multicenter study of 638 and 943 virologically suppressed HIV-1-infected patients in two cohorts who switched to 2DRs with DTG plus RPV or DTG plus 3TC. Results: The most frequent reasons for starting DTG-based 2DRs were treatment simplification/pill burden or drug decrease. The virological suppression rates were 96.9%, 97.4%, and 99.1% at weeks 24, 48, and 96, respectively. The proportion of patients with virological failure over the 48-week study period was 0.01%. Adverse drug reactions were uncommon. Patients treated with DTG+3TC increased CD4, CD8, and CD4/CD8 parameters at 24 and 48 weeks. Conclusions: We conclude that DTG-based 2DRs (combined with 3TC or RPV) in clinical practice were effective and safe as a switching strategy, with a low VF and high viral suppression rates. Both regimens were well tolerated, and ADR rates were low, including neurotoxicity and induced treatment discontinuations.
Evaluation of Container Clinics as an Urban Immunization Strategy: Findings from the First Year of Implementation in Ghana, 2017–2018
Authors: Shaum Anna , Wardle Melissa T. , Amponsa-Achiano Kwame , Aborigo Raymond , Opare Joseph , Wallace Aaron S. , Bandoh Delia , Quaye Pamela , Osei-Sarpong Fred , Abotsi Francis , Bonsu George , Conklin Laura
Published: April 2023

Background: In 2017, the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Ghana opened two container clinics in Accra, which were cargo containers outfitted to deliver immunizations. At each clinic, we assessed performance and clinic acceptance during the first 12 months of implementation. Methods: We employed a descriptive mixed-method design using monthly administrative immunization data, exit interviews with caregivers of children of <5 years (N = 107), focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers (n = 6 FGDs) and nurses (n = 2 FGDs), and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with community leaders (n = 3) and health authorities (n = 3). Results: Monthly administrative data showed that administered vaccine doses increased from 94 during the opening month to 376 in the 12th month across both clinics. Each clinic exceeded its target doses for the 12–23 month population (second dose of measles). Almost all (98%) exit interview participants stated that the clinics made it easier to receive child health services compared to previous health service interactions. The accessibility and acceptability of the container clinics were also supported from health worker and community perspectives. Conclusions: Our initial data support container clinics as an acceptable strategy for delivering immunization services in urban populations, at least in the short term. They can be rapidly deployed and designed to serve working mothers in strategic areas.