bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engrafted IL-15 Transgenic NSG Mice Support Robust NK Cell Responses and Sustained HIV-1 Infection
Authors: Abeynaike Shawn A. , Huynh Tridu R. , Mehmood Abeera , Kim Teha , Frank Kayla , Gao Kefei , Zalfa Cristina , Gandarilla Angel , Shultz Leonard , Paust Silke
Published: January 2023

Mice reconstituted with human immune systems are instrumental in the investigation of HIV-1 pathogenesis and therapeutics. Natural killer (NK) cells have long been recognized as a key mediator of innate anti-HIV responses. However, established humanized mouse models do not support robust human NK cell development from engrafted human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). A major obstacle to human NK cell reconstitution is the lack of human interleukin-15 (IL-15) signaling, as murine IL-15 is a poor stimulator of the human IL-15 receptor. Here, we demonstrate that immunodeficient NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice expressing a transgene encoding human IL-15 (NSG-Tg(IL-15)) have physiological levels of human IL-15 and support long-term engraftment of human NK cells when transplanted with human umbilical-cord-blood-derived HSCs. These Hu-NSG-Tg(IL-15) mice demonstrate robust and long-term reconstitution with human immune cells, but do not develop graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), allowing for long-term studies of human NK cells. Finally, we show that these HSC engrafted mice can sustain HIV-1 infection, resulting in human NK cell responses in HIV-infected mice. We conclude that Hu-NSG-Tg(IL-15) mice are a robust novel model to study NK cell responses to HIV-1.
From Field Tests to Molecular Tools—Evaluating Diagnostic Tests to Improve Rabies Surveillance in Namibia
Authors: Freuling Conrad M. , van der Westhuizen Jolandie , Khaiseb Siegfried , Tenzin Tenzin , Müller Thomas
Published: January 2023

Rabies is endemic in Namibia and is present both in wildlife carnivores and domestic free-roaming dogs. The disease thus represents a challenge for public human and veterinary disease control. Namibia has implemented a national strategic plan to control rabies and the country’s activities are supported by international organizations. To this end, rabies diagnosis at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) was improved in the frame of a World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) laboratory twinning program: from practical sampling techniques and the use of lateral flow devices to a novel universal and discriminatory quantitative real-time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), which easily identify dog-associated rabies viruses. The procedures applied and the results can be used as a template to improve rabies laboratory diagnosis.
SARS-CoV-2 Genome Variations in Viral Shedding of an Immunocompromised Patient with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Authors: Villaseñor-Echavarri Rodrigo , Gomez-Romero Laura , Martin-Onraet Alexandra , Herrera Luis A. , Escobar-Arrazola Marco A. , Ramirez-Vega Oscar A. , Barrientos-Flores Corazón , Mendoza-Vargas Alfredo , Hidalgo-Miranda Alfredo , Vilar-Compte Diana , Cedro-Tanda Alberto
Published: January 2023

Background. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most transmissible ß-coronavirus in history, affecting all population groups. Immunocompromised patients, particularly cancer patients, have been highlighted as a reservoir to promote accumulation of viral mutations throughout persistent infection. Case presentation. We aimed to describe the clinical course and SARS-CoV-2 mutation profile for 102 days in an immunocompromised patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and COVID-19. We used RT-qPCR to quantify SARS-CoV-2 viral load over time and whole-virus genome sequencing to identify viral lineage and mutation profile. The patient presented with a persistent infection through 102 days while being treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and received targeted therapy for COVID-19 with remdesivir and hyperimmune plasma. All sequenced samples belonged to the BA.1.1 lineage. We detected nine amino acid substitutions in five viral genes (Nucleocapsid, ORF1a, ORF1b, ORF13a, and ORF9b), grouped in two clusters: the first cluster with amino acid substitutions only detected on days 39 and 87 of sample collection, and the second cluster with amino acid substitutions only detected on day 95 of sample collection. The Spike gene remained unchanged in all samples. Viral load was dynamic but consistent with the disease flares. Conclusions. This report shows that the multiple mutations that occur in an immunocompromised patient with persistent COVID-19 could provide information regarding viral evolution and emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Comparative Genomics of a Polyvalent Escherichia-Salmonella Phage fp01 and In Silico Analysis of Its Receptor Binding Protein and Conserved Enterobacteriaceae Phage Receptor
Authors: Vasquez Ignacio , Retamales Julio , Parra Barbara , Machimbirike Vimbai , Robeson James , Santander Javier
Published: January 2023

The polyvalent bacteriophage fp01, isolated from wastewater in Valparaiso, Chile, was described to have lytic activity across bacterial species, including Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovars. Due to its polyvalent nature, the bacteriophage fp01 has potential applications in the biomedical, food and agricultural industries. Also, fundamental aspects of polyvalent bacteriophage biology are unknown. In this study, we sequenced and described the complete genome of the polyvalent phage fp01 (MH745368.2) using long- (MinION, Nanopore) and short-reads (MiSeq, Illumina) sequencing. The bacteriophage fp01 genome has 109,515 bp, double-stranded DNA with an average G+C content of 39%, and 158 coding sequences (CDSs). Phage fp01 has genes with high similarity to Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Shigella sp. phages. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the phage fp01 is a new Tequintavirus fp01 specie. Receptor binding protein gp108 was identified as potentially responsible for fp01 polyvalent characteristics, which binds to conserved amino acid regions of the FhuA receptor of Enterobacteriaceae.
Sequelae and Animal Modeling of Encephalitic Alphavirus Infections
Authors: Reyna Rachel A. , Weaver Scott C.
Published: January 2023

Eastern (EEEV), Venezuelan (VEEV), and western equine encephalitis viruses (WEEV) are members of the genus Alphavirus, family Togaviridae. Typically spread by mosquitoes, EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV induce febrile illness that may develop into more severe encephalitic disease, resulting in myriad severe neurologic sequelae for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics. Here, we summarize the clinical neurologic findings and sequelae induced by these three encephalitic viruses and describe the various animal models available to study them. We emphasize the crucial need for the development of advanced animal modeling combined with the use of telemetry, behavioral testing, and neuroimaging to facilitate a detailed mechanistic understanding of these encephalitic signs and sequelae. Through the use of these systems, much-needed therapeutics and vaccines can be developed.
Phylogeography as a Proxy for Population Connectivity for Spatial Modeling of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks in Vietnam
Authors: Gunasekara Umanga , Bertram Miranda R. , Van Long Nguyen , Minh Phan Quang , Chuong Vo Dinh , Perez Andres , Arzt Jonathan , VanderWaal Kimberly
Published: January 2023

Bayesian space–time regression models are helpful tools to describe and predict the distribution of infectious disease outbreaks and to delineate high-risk areas for disease control. In these models, structured and unstructured spatial and temporal effects account for various forms of non-independence amongst case counts across spatial units. Structured spatial effects capture correlations in case counts amongst neighboring provinces arising from shared risk factors or population connectivity. For highly mobile populations, spatial adjacency is an imperfect measure of connectivity due to long-distance movement, but we often lack data on host movements. Phylogeographic models inferring routes of viral dissemination across a region could serve as a proxy for patterns of population connectivity. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the effects of population connectivity in space–time regressions of case counts were better captured by spatial adjacency or by inferences from phylogeographic analyses. To compare these two approaches, we used foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) outbreak data from across Vietnam as an example. We identified that accounting for virus movement through phylogeographic analysis serves as a better proxy for population connectivity than spatial adjacency in spatial–temporal risk models. This approach may contribute to design surveillance activities in countries lacking movement data.
Propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in a Closed Cell Culture Device: Potential GMP Compatible Production Platform for Live-Attenuated Vaccine Candidates under BSL-3 Conditions?
Authors: Klessing Stephan , Peter Antonia Sophia , Fraedrich Kirsten , Wagner Jannik T. , Kummer Mirko , Deutschmann Janina , Steininger Philipp , Steibl Hans-Dieter , Überla Klaus
Published: January 2023

Live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines present themselves as a promising approach for the induction of broad mucosal immunity. However, for initial safety assessment in clinical trials, virus production requires conditions meeting Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards while maintaining biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) requirements. Since facilities providing the necessary complex ventilation systems to meet both requirements are rare, we here describe a possibility to reproducibly propagate SARS-CoV-2 in the automated, closed cell culture device CliniMACS Prodigy® in a common BSL-3 laboratory. In this proof-of-concept study, we observed an approximately 300-fold amplification of SARS-CoV-2 under serum-free conditions with high lot-to-lot consistency in the infectious titers obtained. With the possibility to increase production capacity to up to 3000 doses per run, this study outlines a potential fast-track approach for the production of live-attenuated vaccine candidates based on highly pathogenic viruses under GMP-like conditions that may contribute to pandemic preparedness.
Recent Advances in PROTAC-Based Antiviral Strategies
Authors: Ahmad Haleema , Zia Bushra , Husain Hashir , Husain Afzal
Published: January 2023

Numerous mysteries of cell and molecular biology have been resolved through extensive research into intracellular processes, which has also resulted in the development of innovative technologies for the treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Some of the deadliest diseases, accounting for a staggering number of deaths, have been caused by viruses. Conventional antiviral therapies have been unable to achieve a feat in combating viral infections. As a result, the healthcare system has come under tremendous pressure globally. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover and develop newer therapeutic approaches against viruses. One such innovative approach that has recently garnered attention in the research world and can be exploited for developing antiviral therapeutic strategies is the PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTAC) technology, in which heterobifunctional compounds are employed for the selective degradation of target proteins by the intracellular protein degradation machinery. This review covers the most recent advancements in PROTAC technology, its diversity and mode of action, and how it can be applied to open up new possibilities for creating cutting-edge antiviral treatments and vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Italian Healthcare Workers: Latent Profiles and Their Relationships to Predictors and Outcome
Authors: Portoghese Igor , Siddi Melinda , Chessa Luchino , Costanzo Giulia , Garcia-Larsen Vanessa , Perra Andrea , Littera Roberto , Sambugaro Giada , Giacco Stefano Del , Campagna Marcello , Firinu Davide
Published: January 2023

Vaccine hesitancy and conspiracy beliefs among healthcare workers (HCWs) represent operational priorities that require urgent attention. Identifying and classifying specific subpopulation of hesitancy is crucial to customize educational and intervention strategies to enhance the acceptance and uptake rate of vaccination. Thus, the main purpose of our study was to empirically identify latent profiles of vaccine hesitancy among Italian HCWs adopting a person-centered approach and investigating their relationships with antecedents and intention to get a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. We conducted latent profile analyses (LPA) to identify different configurations of vaccine hesitancy based on five antecedents of vaccination: confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility among a sample of Italian HCWs (n = 573). LPA revealed four distinct profiles: believer (61.5%), middler (24.7%), hesitant (9.00%), and rejecter (4.7%). Having conspiracy beliefs was associated with a greater likelihood of membership in all but believer. Finally, the likelihood of intention to get a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine was lowest in the rejector and hesitant profiles. Theoretical contributions and implications for practice are discussed.
Improved DNA Vaccine Delivery with Needle-Free Injection Systems
Authors: Ledesma-Feliciano Carmen , Chapman Ros , Hooper Jay W. , Elma Kira , Zehrung Darin , Brennan Miles B. , Spiegel Erin K.
Published: January 2023

DNA vaccines have inherent advantages compared to other vaccine types, including safety, rapid design and construction, ease and speed to manufacture, and thermostability. However, a major drawback of candidate DNA vaccines delivered by needle and syringe is the poor immunogenicity associated with inefficient cellular uptake of the DNA. This uptake is essential because the target vaccine antigen is produced within cells and then presented to the immune system. Multiple techniques have been employed to boost the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of DNA vaccines, including physical delivery methods, molecular and traditional adjuvants, and genetic sequence enhancements. Needle-free injection systems (NFIS) are an attractive alternative due to the induction of potent immunogenicity, enhanced protective efficacy, and elimination of needles. These advantages led to a milestone achievement in the field with the approval for Restricted Use in Emergency Situation of a DNA vaccine against COVID-19, delivered exclusively with NFIS. In this review, we discuss physical delivery methods for DNA vaccines with an emphasis on commercially available NFIS and their resulting safety, immunogenic effectiveness, and protective efficacy. As is discussed, prophylactic DNA vaccines delivered by NFIS tend to induce non-inferior immunogenicity to electroporation and enhanced responses compared to needle and syringe.
Mitigating Vaccine Hesitancy and Building Trust to Prevent Future Measles Outbreaks in England
Authors: Thompson Sarah , Meyer Johanna C. , Burnett Rosemary J. , Campbell Stephen M.
Published: January 2023

Measles, a highly infectious respiratory viral infection associated with severe morbidity and mortality, is preventable when coverage with the highly effective measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is ≥95%. Vaccine hesitancy is responsible for measles outbreaks in countries where measles had previously been eliminated, including in England, and is one of the ten threats to global public health identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Official administrative 2012–2021 data on measles incidence and MMR coverage in England were reviewed alongside a scoping literature review on factors associated with MMR uptake in England. Whilst measles incidence has reduced significantly since 2012, sporadic measles outbreaks in England have occurred with geographic disparities and variations in MMR coverage. Over the last decade, MMR uptake has fallen across all regions with no area currently reaching the WHO target of 95% coverage of both doses of MMR necessary for herd immunity. Factors associated with MMR coverage overlap with the 3C (convenience, complacency and confidence) model of vaccine hesitancy. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced pre-existing vaccine hesitancy. Increasing MMR uptake by reducing vaccine hesitancy requires allocated funding for area-based and targeted domiciliary and community-specific immunisation services and interventions, public health catch-up campaigns and web-based decision aid tools.
Non-Dexamethasone Corticosteroid Therapy’s Effect on COVID-19 Prognosis in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Souan Lina , Al-Khairy Zienab , Battah Abdelkader , Sughayer Maher A.
Published: January 2023

Background: Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids are used in cancer treatment and COVID-19 infections. Data on the impact of non-dexamethasone corticosteroids on COVID-19 infection severity in cancer patients are minimal. This study investigates if corticosteroid treatment affects the disease severity in adult cancer patients. Methods: A total of 116 COVID-19-infected cancer patients on hydrocortisone (H) or prednisone (P) were compared to 343 untreated patients. The study included patients who received corticosteroids before (B), after (A), or both before and after (B and A) COVID-19 infections. Ventilation support, hospitalization and mortality were investigated. Results: Our data showed that a significantly greater number of patients taking H or P required ventilation support and hospitalization and that mortality rates were higher than the control group. Patients who received H or P after COVID-19 infection had a significantly worse prognosis than the other sub-groups and the control group. Conclusion: Corticosteroids impacted cancer patients’ COVID-19 prognosis. Despite the limited sample size, H- and P-treated patients’ corticosteroids performed worse than the control, especially if treatments were received after COVID-19 infection. Hence, when a cancer patient already on H or P treatment is diagnosed with COVID-19, we recommend switching to a steroid treatment as suggested by international guidelines.
Effectiveness of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines against Delta-Variant COVID-19: Evidence from an Outbreak in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Authors: Ma Chao , Huang Chang , Wang Wenrui , Song Yudan , Jiang Xiaofeng , Tian Xiaoling , Liu Boxi , Chi Fuli , Lang Shengli , Liu Dongyan , Sun Weiwei , Tang Lin , Wu Dan , Song Yifan , Li Junhong , Rodewald Lance , Yin Zundong , An Zhijie
Published: January 2023

Phase 3 clinical trials and real-world effectiveness studies showed that China’s two main inactivated COVID-19 vaccines are very effective against serious illness. In November 2021, an outbreak occurred in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region that provided an opportunity to assess the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of these inactivated vaccines against COVID-19 caused by the delta variant. We evaluated VE with a retrospective cohort study of close contacts of infected individuals, using a generalized linear model with binomial distribution and log-link function to estimate risk ratios (RR) and VE. A total of 8842 close contacts were studied. Compared with no vaccination and adjusted for age, presence of comorbidity, and time since last vaccination, full vaccination reduced symptomatic infection by 62%, pneumonia by 64% and severe COVID-19 by 90%; reductions associated with homologous booster doses were 83% for symptomatic infection, 92% for pneumonia and 100% for severe COVID-19. There was no significant decline in two-dose VE for any outcome for up to 325 days following the last dose. There were no differences by vaccine brand. Inactivated vaccines were effective against delta-variant illness, and were highly effective against pneumonia and severe COVID-19; VE was increased by booster doses.
A Bibliometric Visualization Analysis on Vaccine Development of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Zeng Dequan , Wang Jie , Xiao Bin , Zhang Hao , Ma Xingming
Published: January 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), beginning in December 2019, has spread worldwide, leading to the death of millions. Owing to the absence of definitive treatment, vaccination against COVID-19 emerged as an effective strategy against the spread of the pandemic. Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine has advanced considerably, and vaccine-related research has significantly increased over the past three years. This study aimed to evaluate the content and external characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine-related literature for tracking research trends related to the global COVID-19 vaccine with the means of bibliometrics and visualization maps. A total of 18,285 records in 3499 journals were retrieved in the Web of Science Core Collection database and included in the final analysis. China was the first to focus on COVID-19 vaccine research, while European and American countries started late but developed rapidly. The USA and the UK are the top contributors to COVID-19 vaccine development, with the largest number of publications. The University of Washington and Harvard Medical School were the leading institutions, while Krammer, F. from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai was the author most active and influential to the topic. The New England Journal of Medicine had the highest number of citations and the highest TLS, and was the most cited and influential journal in the field of COVID-19 vaccine research. COVID-19 vaccine research topics and hotspots focused on populations’ attitudes towards vaccination, immunity-related information analysis of spike proteins, the effectiveness and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the public management of epidemic transmission. The findings of this study provide the global status, research hotspots and potential trends in the field of COVID-19 vaccine research, which will assist researchers in mastering the knowledge structure, and evaluating and guiding future developmental directions of COVID-19 vaccine
Scientific Misinformation and Mistrust of COVID-19 Preventive Measures among the UK Population: A Pilot Study
Authors: Siani Alessandro , Green Imogen
Published: January 2023

The popularisation of complex biomedical concepts brought about by COVID-19 has led to the rapid proliferation and diffusion of scientific misinformation, particularly among individuals with inadequate levels of scientific and digital literacy. A cross-sectional online survey of a UK population sample was conducted to address three key aims: to verify whether there is a correlation between participants’ belief in false information around COVID-19 and adherence to preventive measures; to investigate whether participants’ scientific misinformation and preventive behaviour are associated with their demographic characteristics; and to evaluate whether participants’ scientific misinformation and preventive behaviour can predict their likelihood of having contracted COVID-19. Non-parametric data analysis highlighted a strong negative correlation between participants’ belief in misinformation and their trust in preventive measures. Both variables were significantly associated with participants’ education levels, but not with their religious beliefs. Remarkably, neither science misinformation levels nor the trust in preventive measures were statistically associated with the likelihood of having contracted COVID-19. Taken together, these findings reinforce the urgency of ensuring that the population is equipped with adequate scientific literacy to enable them to evaluate the reliability of scientific information and recognise the importance of individual preventive behaviours to minimise community spread of infectious diseases.
Sero-Epidemiological Study of Varicella in the Italian General Population
Authors: Gabutti Giovanni , Grassi Tiziana , Bagordo Francesco , Savio Marta , Rota Maria Cristina , Castiglia Paolo , Baldovin Tatjana , Napolitano Francesco , Panico Alessandra , Ogliastro Matilde , Trombetta Claudia Maria , Ditommaso Savina , Tramuto Fabio ,   Sero-Epidemiological Study Group
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of varicella in Italy and to evaluate the impact of varicella vaccination, which has been mandatory for newborns since 2017. The levels of VZV-specific IgG antibodies were determined by the ELISA method in residual serum samples obtained from subjects aged between 6 and 64 years and residing in 13 Italian regions. Overall, 3746 serum samples were collected in the years 2019 and 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 91.6% (89.9% in males and 93.3% in females; p = 0.0002). Seroprevalence showed an increasing trend (p < 0.0001) starting in the younger age groups: 6–9 years: 84.1%; 10–14 years: 88.7%; 15–19 years: 89.3%; 20–39 years: 93.1% and >40 years: 97.0%. The seroprevalence data obtained in the present study were compared with those relating to previous sero-epidemiological surveys conducted, respectively, in the years 1996–1997, 2003–2004 and 2013–2014, taking into consideration only data from regions monitored in all surveillance campaigns. The comparison highlighted for the period 2019–2020 showed significantly higher values in the age groups 6–9 (p < 0.001), 10–14 (p = 0.018) and 15–19 years (p = 0.035), while in adults, the trend did not change over time (ns). These results highlight the positive impact of varicella vaccination in Italy.
Meningitis without Rash after Reactivation of Varicella Vaccine Strain in a 12-Year-Old Immunocompetent Boy
Authors: Bierbaum Sibylle , Fischer Veronika , Briedigkeit Lutz , Werner Claudius , Hengel Hartmut , Huzly Daniela
Published: January 2023

Acute neurologic complications from Varicella-Zoster-Virus reactivation occur in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. In this report, we describe a case of a previously healthy immunocompetent boy who had received two doses of varicella vaccine at 1 and 4 years. At the age of 12 he developed acute aseptic meningitis caused by vaccine-type varicella-zoster-virus without concomitant skin eruptions. VZV-vaccine strain DNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient made a full recovery after receiving intravenous acyclovir therapy. This disease course documents another case of a VZV vaccine-associated meningitis without development of a rash, i.e., a form of VZV infection manifesting as “zoster sine herpete”.
Full-Thickness Compressive Corneal Sutures with Removal of Anterior Chamber Air Bubble in the Management of Acute Corneal Hydrops
Authors: Ashena Zahra , Mukhija Ritika , Nanavaty Mayank A.
Published: January 2023

Acute hydrops is a rare complication of corneal ectatic disease, which occurs secondary to Descemet membrane break. Spontaneous resolution of this condition is associated with longstanding ocular discomfort and corneal scar. Intracameral gas/air injection with or without corneal suturing, anterior segment ocular coherence tomography (ASOCT)-guided drainage of intrastromal fluid, and penetrating keratoplasty are some of the described surgical interventions to manage this condition. The purpose of our study was to assess the effect of full-thickness corneal suturing as a solo treatment in the management of acute hydrops. A total of five patients with acute hydrops received full-thickness corneal sutures perpendicular to their Descemet break. A complete resolution of symptoms and corneal oedema was observed between 8 to 14 days post-operation with no complications. This technique is simple, safe, and effective in the management of acute hydrops and saves patients from a corneal transplant in an inflamed eye.
Increasing Risk of Spring Frost Occurrence during the Cherry Tree Flowering in Times of Climate Change
Authors: Hájková Lenka , Možný Martin , Oušková Veronika , Bartošová Lenka , Dížková Petra , Žalud Zdeněk
Published: January 2023

Climate change affects the agroecological conditions and persistence of cherry tree flowering. Detailed evaluation of minimum air temperature and occurrence of synoptic events occurrence during spring frosts within the cherry tree flowering in the Czech Republic (Central Europe) is missing. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the above-mentioned variables during the cherry tree flowering in different parts of the country from 1924 to 2012. Our question was how the frequency of frost days occurrence changed during the cherry tree flowering. A trend analysis was conducted with the Mann-Kendall test. The onset of the beginning of flowering and end of flowering shifted to an earlier date per the whole examined period (up to −13.9 and −8.1 days) and the period of flowering extended (up to 4.1 days). The shifts were more pronounced at higher elevations. During the period of the cherry tree flowering, the trend in change of the number of frost days was negative at the lowland station (−0.3 day) and positive at the highland station (+1.2 day). At all stations, “Ap3” synoptic event (anticyclone) occurrence during cherry tree flowering on days with the highest spring frost risk (Tmin at 2 m < −1.1 °C) prevailed. The positive trend of frost-day occurrence and the negative trend of minimum air temperature in cherry tree flowering indicate that blossoms are more endangered at higher elevations.
Forecasting of Rainfall across River Basins Using Soft Computing Techniques: The Case Study of the Upper Brahmani Basin (India)
Authors: Rao M. Uma Maheswar , Patra Kanhu Charan , Sasmal Suvendu Kumar , Sharma Anurag , Oliveto Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

Floods are potential natural disasters that might disrupt human activities, resulting in severe losses of life and property in a region. Excessive rainfall is one of the reasons for flooding, especially in the downstream areas of a catchment. Because of their complexity, understanding and forecasting rainfalls are challenging. This paper aims to apply the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in predicting average monthly rainfalls by considering several surface weather parameters as predictors. The Upper Brahmani Basin, which extends over 17,504 km2, was considered as a study area. Therefore, an ANFIS model was developed to forecast rainfalls using 37 years of climate data from 1983 to 2020. A hybrid model with six membership functions provided the best forecast for the area under study. The suggested method blends neural network learning capabilities with transparent language representations of fuzzy systems; 75% of data (from 1983 to 2006) was set aside for training and 25% (from 2006 to 2020) for testing. The Gaussian membership function with the hybrid algorithm provided satisfactory accuracy with R-values for training and testing equal to 0.90 and 0.87, respectively. Therefore, a new promising forecasting model was developed for the period from 2021 to 2030. The highest rainfall was forecasted for the period June–August, which is a striking characteristic of the monsoon climate. The study area is relatively close to the equatorial warm climate region. Hence, the proposed model might be of consistent use for regions lying in similar latitudes.
Study of the Process of Destruction of Harmful Microorganisms in Water
Authors: Abdykadyrov Askar , Marxuly Sunggat , Kuttybayeva Ainur , Almuratova Nurgul , Yermekbayev Muratbek , Ibekeyev Serikbek , Yerzhan Assel , Bagdollauly Yessen
Published: January 2023

In this scientific work, the problem of studying the process of destruction of microorganisms in water by an Etro-03 device based on electric corona discharge is considered. In the research, a special Etro-03 ozonator device was developed for clearing water of biological pollutants. Testing of the installation was carried out in order to disinfect surface water in the Kapshagai reservoir. During the research, various harmful microorganisms were found in the composition of the primary water that did not meet the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). For example, coliphages, coli-indices, and the number of microbes in general came across in large numbers. During the technological process, various amounts of ozone (O3) were released into the water, the amount and effective economic indicators of which were determined. In the same way, the effective time of the decontamination process was determined. During the research process, an algorithm of theoretical calculations was developed, and a mathematical model was given to bring 1m3 of surface water as the indicator for which sanitary rules and norms are approved.
Environmental Factors Controlling Zooplankton Communities in Thermokarst Lakes of the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra Permafrost Peatlands (NE Europe)
Authors: Sobko Elena I. , Shirokova Liudmila S. , Klimov Sergey I. , Chupakov Artem V. , Zabelina Svetlana A. , Shorina Natalia V. , Moreva Olga Yu. , Chupakova Anna A. , Vorobieva Taissia Ya.
Published: January 2023

Environmental physical and chemical factors controlling the abundance and biodiversity of zooplankton in permafrost-affected lakes are poorly known yet they determine the response of aquatic ecosystems to on-going climate change and water warming. Here, we assess the current status of zooplankton communities in lakes of the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra (permafrost peatlands of NE Europe), and provide new information about the composition and structure of zooplankton. The results demonstrate that the structure of zooplankton communities is influenced by the morphometric features of lakes and the degree of lake overgrowth by macrophytes. According to the level of quantitative development of zooplankton, most tundra lakes were of the oligotrophic type with an average wet biomass of up to 1 g/m3. The largest number of species was observed in zooplankton communities of small thaw ponds with an area of up to 0.02 km2 and overgrown with macrophytes. The analysis of factors that influence the formation of the lake zoocenosis demonstrated that the species composition and quantitative characteristics of zooplankton are chiefly controlled by pH and water mineralization. A comparison of the results obtained with the literature data on the lakes of this region collected 60 years ago suggests that the ecosystems of these lakes are in a stable state. Overall, these new insights will improve our knowledge of factors controlling the zooplankton spatial dynamics in unique but quite abundant thermokarst lakes of NE European Tundra, subjected to on-going climate warming.
Influence of the Oxic-Settling-Anaerobic (OSA) Process on Methane Production by Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge
Authors: Corsino Santo Fabio , Di Trapani Daniele , De Marines Federica , Torregrossa Michele , Viviani Gaspare
Published: January 2023

The present study evaluated different sludge-reduction mechanisms in the oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) process in terms of their effects on methane productivity by anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Two different layouts were investigated for the sludge return from an anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) to the anoxic (scheme A) or the aerobic (scheme B) reactor of a pre-denitrification plant. Biochemical methane-potential (BMP) assays performed on the excess sludge revealed that scheme A promoted an overall increase of methane production in the OSA (20 mLCH4 gVSS−1d−1, +19%), although compared with a control CAS plant a significant decrease in the excess sludge production (31%) was obtained. Operating conditions in scheme A caused the occurrence of cell lysis and EPS hydrolysis, thereby increasing the biodegradability of sludge. In contrast, scheme B favoured the occurrence of uncoupling and a maintenance metabolism that did not involve sludge hydrolysis. Consequently, despite a higher reduction of excess sludge (82%), a significant decrease in methane productivity in the OSA (4 mLCH4 gVSS−1d−1, −41%) was observed. Based on the results, implementing the OSA process may allow high levels of methane production by anaerobic digestion to be maintained if specific sludge-reduction mechanisms are triggered in the waterline, also raising the possibility of co-digestion with other feedstocks.
Photodegradation of Sulfamethoxazole and Enrofloxacin under UV and Simulated Solar Light Irradiation
Authors: Lin Xiaohu , Zhou Wenming , Li Shiyi , Fang Haifeng , Fu Shengjie , Xu Jingcheng , Huang Juwen
Published: January 2023

Antibiotics, as typical emerging contaminants, are frequently detected in the aquatic environment due to their widespread and massive use, posing potential risks to aquatic ecology and human health. To characterize the photodegradation behavior of typical antibiotics in water environment, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and enrofloxacin (ENR) were selected in this study, and the photodegradation behaviors of these two antibiotics under UV and simulated solar light irradiation were investigated. The degradation rates of SMX under the two light sources were 0.235 min−1 and 0.024 min−1, respectively, and ENR were 0.124 min−1 and 0.043 min−1, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of typical influencing factors including different light intensities, initial concentrations, inorganic anions, and natural organic matter on the photodegradation behaviors of these two antibiotics were studied. The effect of several active substances was explored by adding several quenching agents, and the photodegradation pathway was proposed. The study of the photodegradation characteristics and mechanisms of these two antibiotics may help to provide a reference for the subsequent development of innovative and efficient photocatalytic materials and techniques to remove antibiotics from water.
Research on Parameter Regionalization of Distributed Hydrological Model Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Wang Wenchuan , Zhao Yanwei , Tu Yong , Dong Rui , Ma Qiang , Liu Changjun
Published: January 2023

In the past decade, more than 300 people have died per year on average due to mountain torrents in China. Mountain torrents mostly occur in ungauged small and medium-sized catchments, so it is difficult to maintain high accuracy of flood prediction. In order to solve the problem of the low accuracy of flood simulation in the ungauged areas, this paper studies the influence of different methods on the parameter regionalization of distributed hydrological model parameters in hilly areas of Hunan Province. According to the terrain, landform, soil and land use characteristics of each catchment, we use Shortest Distance, Attribute Similarity, Support Vector Regression, Generative Adversarial Networks, Classification and Regression Tree and Random Forest methods to create parameter regionalization schemes. In total, 426 floods of 25 catchments are selected to calibrate the model parameters, and 136 floods of 8 catchments are used for verification. The results showed that the average values of the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients of each scheme were 0.58, 0.64, 0.60, 0.66, 0.61 and 0.68, and the worst values were 0.27, 0.31, 0.25, 0.43, 0.35 and 0.59. The random forest model is the most stable solution and significantly outperforms other methods. Using the random forest model to regionalize parameters can improve the accuracy of flood simulation in ungauged areas, which is of great significance for flash flood forecasting and early warning.
Interaction of Silica Nanoparticles with Microalgal Extracellular Polymers
Authors: Vukosav Petra , Pašalić Lea , Bakarić Danijela , Domazet Jurašin Darija , Mišić Radić Tea
Published: January 2023

The properties of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in the marine environment are influenced not only by the high ionic strength of seawater but also by the interaction of NPs with naturally occurring components of seawater, especially natural organic matter. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of engineered silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs, diameter of 12 nm) with microalgal extracellular polymers (EPS) released by the marine diatom Cylindrotheca closterium. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content of the prepared EPS suspension (200 μg mL−1) used throughout the study was 3.44 mg C L−1. The incorporation of individual SiO2 NPs (height range 10–15 nm) and their nanoscale aggregates (height up to 25 nm, length up to 600 nm) into the EPS network was visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), whereas their molecular-level interaction was unraveled by the change in the signal of the Si-O group in their FTIR spectra. AFM imaging of C. closterium cells taken directly from the culture spiked with SiO2 NPs (10 μg mL−1) revealed that the latter are bound to the EPS released around the cells, predominantly as single NPs (height range 10–15 nm). Since AFM and dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering results demonstrated that SiO2 NPs dispersed in seawater without EPS showed enhanced aggregation (aggregate diameter of 990 ± 170 nm) and a 2.7-fold lower absolute zeta potential value compared to that measured in ultrapure water, our findings suggest that the presence of EPS biopolymers alters the aggregation affinity of SiO2 NPs in the marine environment. This might be of outmost importance during microalgal blooms when increased EPS production is expected because EPS, by scavenging and stabilizing SiO2 NPs, could prolong the presence of NPs in the water column and pose a threat to marine biota.
Hybridizing Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for Forecasting of Sediment Load with Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Yadav Arvind , Ali Albahar Marwan , Chithaluru Premkumar , Singh Aman , Alammari Abdullah , Kumar Gogulamudi Vijay , Miro Yini
Published: January 2023

Forecasting of sediment load (SL) is essential for reservoir operations, design of water resource structures, risk management, water resource planning and for preventing natural disasters in the river basin systems. Direct measurement of SL is difficult, labour intensive, and expensive. The development of an accurate and reliable model for forecasting the SL is required. Sediment transport is highly non-linear and is influenced by a variety of factors. Forecasting of the SL using various conventional methods is not highly accurate because of the association of various complex phenomena. In this study, major key factors such as rock type (RT), relief (R), rainfall (RF), water discharge (WD), temperature (T), catchment area (CA), and SL are recognized in developing the one-step-ahead SL forecasting model in the Mahanadi River (MR), which is among India’s largest rivers. Artificial neural networks (ANN) in conjunction with multi-objective genetic algorithm (ANN-MOGA)-based forecasting models were developed for forecasting the SL in the MR. The ANN-MOGA model was employed to optimize the two competing objective functions (bias and error variance) with simultaneous optimization of all associated ANN parameters. The performances of the proposed novel model were finally compared to other existing methods to verify the forecasting capability of the model. The ANN-MOGA model improved the performance by 12.81% and 10.19% compared to traditional AR and MAR regression models, respectively. The results suggested that hybrid ANN-MOGA models outperform traditional autoregressive and multivariate autoregressive forecasting models. Overall, hybrid ANN-MOGA intelligent techniques are recommended for the forecasting of SL in rivers because of their relatively better performance as compared to other existing models and simplicity of application.
Green Infrastructure for Urban Flood Resilience: A Review of Recent Literature on Bibliometrics, Methodologies, and Typologies
Authors: Khodadad Mina , Aguilar-Barajas Ismael , Khan Ahmed Z.
Published: January 2023

Urban flood resilience can critically diminish the negative effects of extreme climatic conditions. In recent decades, green infrastructure has been gaining attention among researchers and authorities in terms of its use in urban contexts to enhance urban resilience. This paper tries to provide knowledge on how urban flood resilience has been recently approached through green infrastructure. To do this, the distribution of the topics of interest, authors, and sources/regions of publication are investigated through a systematic review of recent articles. Additionally, the methodological approaches and green infrastructure typologies are examined. Findings show an agglomeration of publications in developed countries. It was also observed that there is a predominance of quantitative methodological approaches and a low connectivity for some hot topics within this field of research (e.g., biodiversity). The most common green infrastructure typologies used in urban flood resilience research are also discussed. It is noticeable that more than half of the papers used general terms (e.g., urban park/open space) to describe green infrastructure rather than using technical typologies providing more information on water flow management characteristics. The outcomes are discussed to give an overview of the latest hotspots and gaps in this field of research, which gives some future directions/expectations to be followed in forthcoming investigations.
Increasing Maize Production and Advancing Rational Water Allocation and Usage Based on the Optimal Planting Density and Irrigation Levels in Northwest China
Authors: Shi Lei , Wang Qun , Zhang Guoqiang , Li Shaokun , Xue Jun
Published: January 2023

Increasing water-use efficiency by optimizing planting density and irrigation regimes in maize is crucial for food security under limited water resources. In this study, six plant densities (6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0, and 13.5 × 104 plants ha−1) and three irrigation amounts (300, 450, and 600 mm) were assessed to analyze the effects of planting density and irrigation amount on the yield and yield components. We also explored the combination of maize production capacity and maximizing economic returns in a planting region. The results demonstrated that as planting density increased, grain yield first increased and then decreased. The optimum planting density was 9 × 104 plants ha−1 when the irrigation amount was 300 mm, and 10.5 × 104 plants ha−1 under both 450 mm and 600 mm irrigation amounts. The relationship between planting density, irrigation amount, planting area, production capacity, and economic return showed that a current production capacity with 6.75 × 104 plants ha−1, 600 mm, and 1.066 million ha, could be achieved with 10.5 × 104 plants ha−1, 344 mm, and 1.1 million ha. The water-use efficiency of irrigation was increased by 74%. Current returns could be achieved with 10.5 × 104 plants ha−1, 405 mm, and 1.1 million ha, or by 9.0 × 104 plants ha−1, 449 mm, and 1.1 million ha. These observations demonstrated that appropriately increasing the planting area and reducing the irrigation amount per hectare under an optimal planting density could achieve a greater economic return and water-use efficiency than either increasing the planting density or reducing the irrigation volume alone in North Xinjiang. We concluded that concurrent optimization of the maize planting density, irrigation amount and plant area will not only meet the demand of food security but also achieve a rational use of water resources and farmland.
A Review of Membrane-Based Desalination Systems Powered by Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Kashif , Mainali Bandita , Rout Prangya Ranjan , Lim Jun Wei , Aslam Muhammad , Al-Rawajfeh Aiman Eid , Choi Younggyun
Published: January 2023

The rising demand for clean water and the environmental challenges associated with fossil fuels have encouraged the application of renewable and greener energy systems in desalination. Moreover, the small footprint and high productivity favored the membrane-based process in the water industry. In the past few decades, noticeable work has been performed on the development and applicability of membrane-based desalination processes powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal. Several integrated membrane desalination processes for producing clean water with sustainable and clean energy are introduced. This review details the source and performance efficiencies of existing renewable energy technologies and their application in membrane-based desalination processes, with a special focus on current advancements and challenges. This study reviews the interconnections between water, energy, and the environment and explores future energy-efficient desalination options for energy savings and environmental protection.