bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Occurrence Mechanism and Prevention Technology of Rock Burst in Narrow Coal Pillar Working Face under Large Mining Depth
Authors: Gu Shitan , Chen Huaixu , Li Wenshuai , Jiang Bangyou , Chen Xiang
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a collaborative control scheme involving “unloading-solidifying” to prevent rock bursts during narrow pillar recovery at large mining depths. In this study, the stress distribution rule of coal rock mass during the excavation and mining process is studied, and the energy accumulation characteristics of the overlying hard and thick roof structure are investigated. In this way, the rock burst inducing mechanism of the narrow coal pillar working face under complex conditions is investigated. The results show that the peak lateral bearing pressure of the goaf and the maximum horizontal principal stress provide the static load condition for the occurrence of rock burst during roadway excavation. Affected by the superposition of “near-field high static load + far-field dynamic load”, it is extremely easy to reach the critical destabilization value during the mining period at the narrow coal pillar working face. According to the monitoring results, the developed coordinated control scheme, which focuses on the strong pressure relief and strong support in near-field high-bearing pressure coal mass and the pressure relief in far-field high-level hard roof with an advanced pre-cracking roof, can effectively avoid the occurrence of rock burst accidents on narrow coal pillar working face.
Symmetrical Control Law for Chaotization of Platform Vibrations
Authors: Andrievsky Boris , Zaitceva Iuliia
Published: November 2022

The paper proposes an experimentally validated method of chaotization of the platform movement process based on the principle of feedback control using a symmetrical (bidirectional) controller. The significance is shown and the prospect of chaotization of platform oscillations for vibration technologies, in particular, mixing of bulk materials, is disclosed. The proposed algorithm was comprehensively experimentally studied with a laboratory vibratory setup, and the results of experiments demonstrating its efficacy are presented.
Ulam–Hyers Stability via Fixed Point Results for Special Contractions in b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Bota Monica-Felicia , Micula Sanda
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we present some fixed point results for Subrahmanyan contraction in the setting of a b-metric space. We consider the case of multivalued operators. We also deduce the Ulam–Hyers stability property of the fixed point inclusion. The notion of b-metric generalizes the one of a metric, as in the third condition, the right-hand side is multiplied by a real number greater than 1. We remark that the second axiom, i.e., the one which shows the symmetry of the b-metric, remains unchanged. The findings presented in this paper extend some recent results which were proved in the context of a metric space. Some open questions are presented at the end of the paper.
A New Numerical Approach for Variable-Order Time-Fractional Modified Subdiffusion Equation via Riemann–Liouville Fractional Derivative
Authors: Fathima Dowlath , Naeem Muhammad , Ali Umair , Ganie Abdul Hamid , Abdullah Farah Aini
Published: November 2022

Fractional differential equations describe nature adequately because of the symmetry properties that describe physical and biological processes. In this paper, a new approximation is found for the variable-order (VO) Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative (RLFD) operator; on that basis, an efficient numerical approach is formulated for VO time-fractional modified subdiffusion equations (TFMSDE). Complete theoretical analysis is performed, such as stability by the Fourier series, consistency, and convergence, and the feasibility of the proposed approach is also discussed. A numerical example illustrates that the proposed scheme demonstrates high accuracy, and that the obtained results are more feasible and accurate.
DOCS: A Data Ownership Confirmation Scheme for Distributed Data Trading
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Yang , Yang Yongsheng , Ma Yan
Published: November 2022

Data assets trading can encourage owners to distribute data and achieve large-scale data aggregation to promote the development of the supply chain system. Blockchain is a promising platform for constructing a decentralized data marketplace. The data may face risks in the marketplace, such as illegal theft, malicious tampering, or illegal distribution in the transactions process. The data ownership confirmation in a blockchain-empowered marketplace has attracted much attention in recent years. However, challenges still remain, including maintaining data integrity, traceability of illegal data, and accountability. In this paper, we propose a new data ownership confirmation scheme (DOCS) in the transaction scenario of blockchain-empowered distributed data assets trading. It integrates smart contracts, data-embedding technology, and data fingerprint to realize ownership confirmation and protection of data assets in transactions. DOCS ensures reliable mapping between on-chain data ownership information and off-chain data entities, which assists with the accurate prosecution of the illegal distribution of data assets. We demonstrate that DOCS can have desirable security properties in multiple attack models.
Smart Fabric Textiles: Recent Advances and Challenges
Authors: Júnior Heitor Luiz Ornaghi , Neves Roberta Motta , Monticeli Francisco Maciel , Dall Agnol Lucas
Published: November 2022

Textiles have been used in our daily life since antiquity in both economies and social relationships. Nowadays, there has never been a greater desire for intelligent materials. Smart fabric textiles with high-quality and high-performance fiber manufacturing with specific functions represented by clothing and apparel brands (such as astronaut suits that can regulate temperature and control muscle vibrations) are becoming increasingly prominent. Product applications also extend from the field of life clothing to the medical/health, ecology/environmental protection, and military/aerospace fields. In this context, this review proposes to demonstrate the recent advances and challenges regarding smart fabric textiles. The possibilities of innovative smart textiles extending the overall usefulness and functionalities of standard fabrics are immense in the fields of medical devices, fashion, entertainment, and defense, considering sufficient comfort as a parameter necessary for users to accept wearable devices. Smart textile devices require a multidisciplinary approach regarding the circuit design of the development of intelligent textiles, as the knowledge of intelligent materials, microelectronics, and chemistry are integrated with a deep understanding of textile production for optimum results.
Predicting Dose-Range Chemical Toxicity using Novel Hybrid Deep Machine-Learning Method
Authors: Limbu Sarita , Zakka Cyril , Dakshanamurthy Sivanesan
Published: November 2022

Humans are exposed to thousands of chemicals, including environmental chemicals. Unfortunately, little is known about their potential toxicity, as determining the toxicity remains challenging due to the substantial resources required to assess a chemical in vivo. Here, we present a novel hybrid neural network (HNN) deep learning method, called HNN-Tox, to predict chemical toxicity at different doses. To develop a hybrid HNN-Tox method, we combined two neural network frameworks, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and the multilayer perceptron (MLP)-type feed-forward neural network (FFNN). Combining the CNN and FCNN in the field of environmental chemical toxicity prediction is a novel approach. We developed several binary and multiclass classification models to assess dose-range chemical toxicity that is trained based on thousands of chemicals with known toxicity. The performance of the HNN-Tox was compared with other machine-learning methods, including Random Forest (RF), Bootstrap Aggregation (Bagging), and Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost). We also analyzed the model performance dependency on varying features, descriptors, dataset size, route of exposure, and toxic dose. The HNN-Tox model, trained on 59,373 chemicals annotated with known LD50 and routes of exposure, maintained its predictive ability with an accuracy of 84.9% and 84.1%, even after reducing the descriptor size from 318 to 51, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. Further, we validated the HNN-Tox with several external toxic chemical datasets on a large scale. The HNN-Tox performed optimally or better than the other machine-learning methods for diverse chemicals. This study is the first to report a large-scale prediction of dose-range chemical toxicity with varying features. The HNN-Tox has broad applicability in predicting toxicity for diverse chemicals and could serve as an alternative methodology approach to animal-based toxicity assessment.
Diffusion of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Cyanide to Muscles and Blood—An Experimental Study
Authors: Baj Jacek , Buszewicz Grzegorz , Przygodzka Dominika , Forma Alicja , Flieger Jolanta , Teresiński Grzegorz
Published: November 2022

Postmortem carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) diffusion under ambient conditions was assessed in a human cadaver model. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the postmortem diffusion of HCN and CO greatly affected the determination of HCN, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), and carboxymyoglobin (COMb). Layered samples of blood, musculocutaneous, and muscular specimens were collected from the adult cadavers and placed in the tight chambers designed for the purpose of this experiment. The specimens were treated with CO and HCN for 24 h. COHb and COMb were determined using headspace gas chromatography (GC) with an O-FID detector while the HCN values were assessed using a GC headspace with an NPD detector. It was shown that the skin substantially limited the diffusion of CO which penetrated the superficial layers of the muscle very slightly, all the while not affecting the blood level of COHb in the 4.5 cm layer of the muscle located underneath. There were no differences regarding the CO diffusion between superficially charred and thermally coagulated compared to that observed in intact integuments. In addition, the cutaneous sample deprived of the adipose layer was not shown to be a barrier to the moderate diffusion of CO into the blood layer below. HCN was found to easily diffuse from the skin to the blood vessels (vein specimens), and partial charring and thermocoagulation of the superficial muscular layer favored the diffusion of cyanides into the tissues. Similarly to CO, HCN diffusion to the blood and muscles was greatly limited by the adipose layer.
Insight into the Burden of Malignant Respiratory Tumors and their Relationship with Smoking Rates and Lead Contamination in Mexico
Authors: Mendoza-Cano Oliver , Murillo-Zamora Efrén , Ochoa-Martínez Ángeles Catalina , Mendoza-Olivo Valeria Argentina , Ríos-Silva Mónica , Trujillo Xóchitl , Huerta Miguel , Bricio-Barrios Jaime Alberto , Benites-Godínez Verónica , González-Curiel Irma , Pérez-Rodríguez Rebeca Yasmín , Pelallo-Martínez Nadia Azenet , Lugo-Radillo Agustín
Published: November 2022

We aimed to report the results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 related to respiratory malignant tumors (tracheal, bronchial, and lung) in Mexico. We also evaluated the relationship between the burden of these neoplasms and the proportion of daily smokers and total lead emissions in 2019. A cross-sectional analysis of ecological data was performed. The burden of these tumors was 152,189 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and years of life lost (YLL) contributed to 99% of them. The highest DALYs rates (per 100,000) were observed in the states of Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Nayarit. We documented a linear relationship between the DALYs rates and the prevalence of daily smokers (β = 8.50, 95% CI 1.58–15.38) and the total lead emissions (tons/year: β = 4.04, 95% CI 0.07–8.01). If later replicated, our study would provide insight into the major relevance of regulating tobacco use and the activities associated with the production of lead dust and other hazardous contaminants.
Epidemiology of Chemical Poisoning among Adults in Qassim Region: An Eight-Year Study
Authors: Alnasser Sulaiman Mohammed , Kordi Tamader Saeed , Asiri Ali Ahmad , Gupta Dhirendra Kumar , Alfadl Abubakr Abdelraouf , Hussain Abubakar Siddiqui Mustafa
Published: November 2022

Chemical poisoning is considered a common medico-social problem that, in addition to causing extensive morbidity and mortality, dominates the valuable health care service resources. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the extent and frequency of chemical poisoning events among adults in Qassim region as well as the most common poisoning agents involved. A retrospective method of data collection was used employing medical record review for chemical poisoning cases that occurred in Qassim region during the 8-year period from January 2008 to December 2015. Data were collected using a standardized, validated data collection sheet. The study revealed that there is no steady trend (either decreasing or increasing) of the number of poisoning cases through time. There is a statistically significant association between the type of poisoning agent and gender (χ2 = 14.3104, p < 0.05). Moreover, there is a statistically significant association between the type of poisoning agent and period in years (χ2 = 19.7565, p < 0.05). It can be concluded that poisoning cases are distributed, to some extent, evenly between males and females, with no pattern through time. Educational programs are needed to raise public awareness about poisoning, especially among women.
Fumonisin B Series Mycotoxins’ Dose Dependent Effects on the Porcine Hepatic and Pulmonary Phospholipidome
Authors: Ali Omeralfaroug , Mézes Miklós , Balogh Krisztián , Kovács Melinda , Turbók Janka , Szabó András
Published: November 2022

Male weaned piglets n = 6/group were fed Fumonisin B1+2+3 (FBs) mycotoxins at 0, 15, or 30 mg/kg diet for 3 weeks to assess the fatty acid (FA) composition of membrane lipid classes, lipid peroxidation, and histomorphological changes in the liver and lung. Growth performance and lipid peroxidation were unaltered, but histomorphological lesion scores increased in the liver. Linear dose–response was detected in liver phosphatidylcholines for C16:1n7, C18:1n9, and total monounsaturation and in lungs for C22:6n3, total n-3 and n-3:n-6, in pulmonary phosphatidylserines C20:0 and C24:0. Alterations associated with the highest FBs dose were detected in sphingomyelins (liver: total saturation ↓, total monounsaturation ↑), phosphatidylcholines (liver: total n-6 ↓, n-6:n-3 ↑; in lungs: total monounsaturation ↑, total polyunsaturation ↑), phosphatidylethanolamines (liver: total n-3 ↓; in lungs: total monounsaturation ↑ and n-6:n-3 ↑), phosphatidylserines (liver: n-6:n-3 ↑; in lungs: total saturation ↓, total polyunsatuartion ↑, and total n-6 and its ratio to n-3 ↑), and phosphatidylinositol (n-6:n-3 ↑; lungs: C22:1n9 ↑, C22:6n3 ↓, total saturation ↓, total monounsaturaion ↑). In conclusion, FBs exposures neither impaired growth nor induced substantial lipid peroxidation, but hepatotoxicity was proven with histopathological alterations at the applied exposure period and doses. FA results imply an enzymatic disturbance in FA metabolism, agreeing with earlier findings in rats.
Molnupiravir: From Hope to Epic Fail?
Authors: Focosi Daniele
Published: November 2022

Molnupiravir has been the first oral antiviral authorized for COVID-19 outpatients, reporting extraordinary sales and preserved in vitro efficacy against Omicron sublineages so far. However, it has recently been associated with very poor clinical efficacy, the risk of creating novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and long-term risk for mutagenicity in humans. The latter two are severe concerns, especially in the indicated population, i.e., long-replicating, immunodeficient patients. We conclude that, at this point, alternative antivirals should be preferred over molnupiravir.
Isolation and Characterization of a Phapecoctavirus Infecting Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in A549 Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Authors: Wintachai Phitchayapak , Surachat Komwit , Chaimaha Ganyalak , Septama Abdi Wira , Smith Duncan R.
Published: November 2022

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR A. baumannii) is an emerging pathogen in the ESKAPE group. The global burden of antimicrobial resistance has led to renewed interest in alternative antimicrobial treatment strategies, including phage therapy. This study isolated and characterized a phage vB_AbaM_ ABPW7 (vABPW7) specific to MDR A. baumannii. Morphological analysis showed that phage vABPW7 belongs to the Myoviridae family. Genome analysis showed that the phage DNA genome consists of 148,647 bp and that the phage is a member of the Phapecoctavirus genus of the order Caudovirales. A short latent period and a large burst size indicated that phage vABPW7 was a lytic phage that could potentially be used in phage therapy. Phage vABPW7 is a high-stability phage that has high lytic activity. Phage vABPW7 could effectively reduce biofilm formation and remove preformed biofilm. The utility of phage vABPW7 was investigated in a human A549 alveolar epithelial cell culture model. Phage vABPW7 was not cytotoxic to A549 cells, and the phage could significantly reduce planktonic MDR A. baumannii and MDR A. baumannii adhesion on A549 cells without cytotoxicity. This study suggests that phage vABPW7 has the potential to be developed further as a new antimicrobial agent against MDR A. baumannii.
The Impact of Urbanization and Human Mobility on Seasonal Influenza in Northern China
Authors: Yang Jiao , Guo Xudong , Zhang Ting , Wang Qing , Zhang Xingxing , Yang Jin , Lai Shengjie , Feng Luzhao , Yang Weizhong
Published: November 2022

The intensity of influenza epidemics varies significantly from year to year among regions with similar climatic conditions and populations. However, the underlying mechanisms of the temporal and spatial variations remain unclear. We investigated the impact of urbanization and public transportation size on influenza activity. We used 6-year weekly provincial-level surveillance data of influenza-like disease incidence (ILI) and viral activity in northern China. We derived the transmission potential of influenza for each epidemic season using the susceptible–exposed–infectious–removed–susceptible (SEIRS) model and estimated the transmissibility in the peak period via the instantaneous reproduction number (Rt). Public transport was found to explain approximately 28% of the variance in the seasonal transmission potential. Urbanization and public transportation size explained approximately 10% and 21% of the variance in maximum Rt in the peak period, respectively. For the mean Rt during the peak period, urbanization and public transportation accounted for 9% and 16% of the variance in Rt, respectively. Our results indicated that the differences in the intensity of influenza epidemics among the northern provinces of China were partially driven by urbanization and public transport size. These findings are beneficial for predicting influenza intensity and developing preparedness strategies for the early stages of epidemics.
Longitudinal Dynamics of HPV16 Antibodies in Saliva and Serum among Pregnant Women
Authors: Pirttilä Tiina , Syrjänen Stina , Louvanto Karolina , Loimaranta Vuokko
Published: November 2022

Oral infections with high-risk (hr)HPV genotypes are associated with a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Oral hrHPV infections may result from having oral sex, but also from horizontal infection from mouth to mouth. In such cases, saliva can serve as a vehicle for HPV transmission. Still, the prevalence and dynamics of salivary HPV antibodies in healthy non-vaccinated individuals are poorly known and the role of the salivary antibodies in protection from oral HPV infection is unclear. We used an ELISA assay to evaluate the dynamics and correlation of oral HPV16 infection and HPV16L1 and E7 specific antibody levels in saliva and serum samples among 39 women, 13 of which had persistent oral HPV16 infection. The women were mothers-to-be, sampled before delivery and followed up for 36 months postpartum. HPV16L1 IgG and sIgA antibodies were regularly detected in saliva. Antibody levels in serum remained stable during the 36-month follow-up, while antibody levels in saliva fluctuated. There was considerable individual variation in salivary HPV16L1 antibody levels, and some women had persistent oral HPV16 infection but no salivary antibodies. No differences in salivary HPV16L1 levels were found between the women with persistent or transient oral HPV16 infection.
Change in Nutritional and Biochemical Status in People Living with HIV-1 on Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: de Souza Ranilda Gama , Lima Sandra Souza , Pinto Andresa Corrêa , Souza Jacqueline Silva , Moura Tuane Carolina Ferreira , da Silva Graça Amoras Ednelza , Machado Luiz Fernando Almeida , Guerreiro João Farias , Vallinoto Antonio Carlos Rosário , Queiroz Maria Alice Freitas , Ishak Ricardo
Published: November 2022

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves the quality of life of people living with HIV-1 (PLHIV) and reduces the mortality rate, but some individuals may develop metabolic abnormalities. This study evaluated changes in the nutritional status and biochemistry of PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy in a cohort that had not previously received ART and to follow up these individuals for 24 months after starting treatment. The initial cohort consisted of 110 individuals and ended with 42 people, assessed by a physical examination. A biochemical assay was performed using the colorimetric enzyme reaction technique, the proviral load was detected by qPCR and the quantification of the CD4/CD8 T lymphocytes was conducted by flow cytometry. PLHIV had increased levels of total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, ALT, urea and creatinine after 24 months of ART use (p < 0.05). In the assessment of the nutritional status, PLHIV had increased measures of Triciptal Skinfold, body mass index and arm circumference after the use of ART (p < 0.05). The viral load levels decreased and the CD4 levels increased after 24 months of ART use (p < 0.05). The change in the nutritional status in PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy seems to be a slow process, occurring in the long term, therefore, there is the need for a constant evaluation of these people to identify patients who need a nutritional intervention.
Bursal-Derived BP7 Induces the miRNA Molecular Basis of Chicken Macrophages and Promotes the Differentiation of B Cells
Authors: Cai Jiaxi , Zhang Ze , Li Chenfei , Hao Shanshan , Lu Anran , Huang Xiangyu , Feng Xiuli
Published: November 2022

The bursa of Fabricius (BF) is a vital central humoral immune organ unique to birds. The bioactive peptide BP7 derived from bursa is reported to promote the vaccine immune response and antibody production. However, the regulatory effect on antigen presentation and B cell differentiation has been infrequently reported. In this paper, chicken macrophage HD11 cells were used for the cell model, and the cellular molecular expressions were determined by the fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) after BP7 treatment. Then, the miRNA expression profile was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. In addition, BALB/C mice were used as the animal model to detect B cell subtype with flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that the expressions of four immune active molecules, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and IFN-α, in HD11 cells were significantly increased with 100 ng/mL BP7 treatment. Compared with the control group, there were 58 up-regulated and 61 down-regulated miRNAs in HD11 cells with BP7 treatment. The gene ontology (GO) function analysis found that BP7 mainly affected the various biological processes, molecular function, and MHC protein complex. Pathway analysis showed that 100 ng/mL BP7 stimulated various physiological metabolic pathways and signal transduction pathways, including the intestinal immune network producing IgA in HD11 cells. Furthermore, it was found that BP7 in vitro stimulated B cell populations, as well as plasma cells in spleen cells from the immunized mice. Additionally, B cell activation subpopulations were increased in mice immunized with the AIV vaccine and BP7. These results proved that BP7 stimulated various differentially expressed genes in chicken macrophage HD11 cells, and induced B cell differentiation in the immunized mice, which suggested that BP7 might participate in the antigen presentation process, thereby promoting the differentiation of B cells. These results provide an important basis for the mechanism of bursal-derived peptide on B cell development, and offer the experimental basis for the development of adjuvants.
Plant-Produced S1 Subunit Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Elicits Immunogenic Responses in Mice
Authors: Panapitakkul Chalisa , Khorattanakulchai Narach , Rattanapisit Kaewta , Srisangsung Theerakarn , Shanmugaraj Balamurugan , Buranapraditkun Supranee , Ketloy Chutitorn , Prompetchara Eakachai , Phoolcharoen Waranyoo
Published: November 2022

SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus spreads rapidly with a high transmission rate among humans, and hence virus management has been challenging owing to finding specific therapies or vaccinations. Hence, an effective, low-cost vaccine is urgently required. In this study, the immunogenicity of the plant-produced S1 subunit protein of SARS-CoV-2 was examined in order to assess it as a potential candidate for SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 S1-Fc fusion protein was transiently produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Within four days of infiltration, the SARS-CoV-2 S1-Fc protein was expressed in high quantities, and using protein A affinity column chromatography, plant-produced S1-Fc protein was purified from the crude extracts. The characterization of plant-produced S1-Fc protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Immunogenicity of the purified S1-Fc protein formulated with alum induced both RBD specific antibodies and T cell immune responses in mice. These preliminary results indicated that the plant-produced S1 protein is immunogenic in mice.
Differential Cell Line Susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1.1 Variant of Concern
Authors: Dighe Hitesh , Sarkale Prasad , Patil Deepak Y. , Mohandas Sreelekshmy , Shete Anita M. , Sahay Rima R. , Lakra Rajen , Patil Savita , Majumdar Triparna , Gawande Pranita , Yemul Jyoti , Vedpathak Pratiksha , Yadav Pragya D.
Published: November 2022

The unique mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant are associated with increased transmissibility, immune escape, increased binding affinity to ACE-2, and increased viral load. Omicron exhibited a shift in tropism infecting the upper respiratory tract compared to other variants of concern which have tropism for the lower respiratory tract. The tropism of omicron variants in cell lines of different hosts and tissue origins still remains unclear. Considering this, we assessed the susceptibility of different cell lines to the SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.1.1 variant and permissiveness among different cell lines for omicron replication. Susceptibility and permissiveness of a total of eleven cell lines, including six animal cell lines and five human cell lines for omicron BA.1.1 infection, were evaluated by infecting individual cell lines with omicron BA.1.1 isolate at a 0.1 multiplicity of infection. Virus replication was assessed by observation of cytopathic effects followed by viral load determination by real-time PCR assay and virus infectivity determination by TCID50 assay. The characteristic cytopathic effect, increased viral load, and productive omicron replication was detected in Vero CCL-81, Vero E6, Vero/hSLAM, MA-104, and Calu-3 cells. Although LLC MK-2 cells showed an increased TCID50 titer at the second infection, the viral load did not show much difference in both infections. Caco-2 cells did not show evident CPE, but they supported omicron replication at a low level. A549, RD, MRC-5, and BHK-21 cells supported omicron BA.1.1 replication without the CPE. This is the first study on the comparison of susceptibility of different cell lines to Omicron variant BA.1.1, which might be useful for future studies on emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
A Reflection of Metabolic Syndrome through the Window of COVID-19
Authors: Ho Liam Pock , Tan Chuen Wen , Ng Heng Joo , Jason Chay Wai Mun , Tan Jing Yuan , Goh Su Yen
Published: November 2022

COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome, though seemingly different disorders, appear to share certain common pathogenic components, especially in the development of COVID-19-associated diabetes mellitus. The similarities include impairment in immunoendothelial, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, adipose and mitochondrial functions, with several critical micronutrients undergirding the intricate interactions among these dysfunctions. This discussion aims to highlight the parallels between COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome and to propose the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 being a prototype of an acquired etiological agent which can eventually lead to the development of classical metabolic syndrome. Based on the proposed model, the discussion will include the implication for early management of COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome.
Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among the Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Care Centre, South India
Authors: Elangovan Divyaa , Hussain Shifa Meharaj Shaik , Virudhunagar Muthuprakash Somasunder , Devi Periadurai Nanthini , Viswanath Nalankilli Ashok , Volvoikar Harshada , Ramani Preethy , Sivasubramaniam Jayanthi , Mohanram Kalyani , Surapaneni Krishna Mohan
Published: November 2022

Global vaccine development efforts have been accelerated in response to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among vaccine-naïve healthcare workers and to describe the impact of vaccination roll-out on COVID-19 antibody prevalence among the health care centers in tertiary care centers in South India. Serum samples collected from vaccinated and unvaccinated health care workers between January 2021 and April 2021were subjected to COVID-19 IgG ELISA, and adverse effects after the first and second dose of receiving the Covishield vaccine were recorded. The vaccinated group was followed for a COVID-19 breakthrough infection for a period of 6 months. Among the recruited HCW, 156 and 157 participants were from the vaccinated and unvaccinated group, respectively. The seroprevalence (COVID-19 IgG ELISA) among the vaccinated and unvaccinated Health Care Workers (HCW) was 91.7% and 38.2%, respectively, which is statistically significant. Systemic and local side-effects after Covishield vaccination occur at lower frequencies than reported in phase 3 trials. Since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has commenced in our tertiary care hospital, seropositivity for COVID-19 IgG has risen dramatically and clearly shows trends in vaccine-induced antibodies among the health care workers.
Strengthening the Link between Vaccine Predispositions and Vaccine Advocacy through Certainty
Authors: Paredes Borja , Cárdaba Miguel A. Martín , Moreno Lorena , Cano Nerea , Briñol Pablo , Cuesta Ubaldo , Petty Richard E.
Published: November 2022

Background. Instruments designed to assess individual differences in predispositions towards vaccination are useful in predicting vaccination-related outcomes. Despite their importance, there is relatively little evidence regarding the conditions under which these instruments are more predictive. The current research was designed to improve the ability of these kinds of instruments to predict vaccination advocacy by considering the certainty associated with the responses to vaccination scales. Method. Across two studies, participants completed the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire BMQ scale (Study 1) or the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale (Study 2). The certainty participants had in their responses to each scale was either measured (Study 1) or manipulated (Study 2). Intentions to advocate in favor of vaccination served as the criterion measure in both studies. Results. As expected, the scales significantly predicted vaccination advocacy, contributing to enhancing the predictive validity of the instruments used in the studies. Most relevant, certainty moderated the extent to which these scales predicted vaccination advocacy, with greater consistency between the initial scores and the subsequent advocacy willingness obtained for those with higher certainty. Conclusions. Certainty can be useful to predict when the relationship between vaccination-related cognitions (i.e., beliefs or attitudes) and advocacy willingness is likely to be stronger.
Freedom of Choice to Vaccinate and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Italy
Authors: Denu Mawulorm K. I. , Montrond Alberto , Piltch-Loeb Rachael , Bonetti Marco , Toffolutti Veronica , Testa Marcia A. , Savoia Elena
Published: November 2022

Despite the availability of effective vaccines that lower mortality and morbidity associated with COVID-19, many countries including Italy have adopted strict vaccination policies and mandates to increase the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Such mandates have sparked debates on the freedom to choose whether or not to get vaccinated. In this study, we examined the people’s belief in vaccine choice as a predictor of willingness to get vaccinated among a sample of unvaccinated individuals in Italy. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy in May 2021. The survey collected data on respondents’ demographics and region of residence, socioeconomic factors, belief in the freedom to choose to be vaccinated or not, risk perception of contracting and transmitting the disease, previous vaccine refusal, opinion on adequacy of government measures to address the pandemic, experience in requesting and being denied government aid during the pandemic, and intent to accept COVID-19 vaccination. The analysis employed binary logistic regression models using a hierarchical model building approach to assess the association between intent to accept vaccination and belief in the freedom to choose to vaccinate, while adjusting for other variables of interest. 984 unvaccinated individuals were included in the study. Respondents who agreed that people should be free to decide whether or not to vaccinate with no restrictions on their personal life had 85% lower odds of vaccine acceptance (OR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.09,0.23) after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors and their risk perception of contracting and transmitting COVID-19. Belief in the freedom to choose whether or not to accept vaccinations was a major predictor of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among a sample of unvaccinated individuals in Italy in May 2021. This understanding of how individuals prioritize personal freedoms and the perceived benefits and risks of vaccines, when making health care decisions can inform the development of public health outreach, educational programs, and messaging.
Detection and Characterization of a Novel Picornavirus in European Badger (Meles meles)
Authors: Palombieri Andrea , Fruci Paola , Sarchese Vittorio , Robetto Serena , Orusa Riccardo , Arbuatti Alessio , Martella Vito , Di Martino Barbara , Di Profio Federica
Published: November 2022

The recent development of unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing has provided a richer view of the wild animal virome making it necessary to expand the knowledge about virus diversity in wildlife, as well as to monitor their potential transmission to domestic animals or humans. In the present study, by screening collections of enteric specimens from wild animals, a novel picornavirus was identified in the intestinal content of a badger (Meles meles). By enrichment with a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) approach and deep sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform, the genome sequence of a novel picornavirus strain, Badger/3A-2019/ITA, was reconstructed. On comparison based on the polyprotein sequences, the virus was distantly related (58.7% and 59.7% sequence identity at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively) to the feline picornavirus strain FFUP1, identified in 2012 in Portugal and classified into genus Sakobovirus within the species Sakobuvirus A. Upon phylogenetic, pairwise homology, and distance analyses performed on the P1, 2Chel, 3Cpro, and 3Dpol proteins and the complete genomic sequence, the badger picornavirus may be considered a member of a new sakobuvirus species, which we propose as Sakobuvirus B.
Impact of Water Sources and Shared Fence Lines on Bovine Respiratory Disease Incidence in the First 45 Days on Feed
Authors: Rojas Hector A. , White Brad J. , Amrine David E. , Larson Robert L. , Capik Sarah F. , Depenbusch Brandon E.
Published: November 2022

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a frequent disease in feedlot cattle, but little is known on the role of pen housing conditions. The objective of this research is to use a retrospective analysis with data from 10 U.S. feedlots to determine potential associations between BRD risk during the first 45 days after arrival with pen-level management factors including the number of water sources, shared water sources, and shared fence lines. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate associations between management factors, cattle demographics, and BRD incidence. The effect of shared water sources on BRD risk was modified by arrival weight and cohort size (p < 0.05). Cattle with two water sources had lower BRD morbidity (5.55% ± 0.98) compared to cattle with one water source (8.80% ± 1.50) when arrival weight was 227 kg to 272 kg, while there were few differences in heavier weight cattle. Cattle with two water sources had lower BRD morbidity (3.11% ± 0.56) compared to one water (5.50% ± 0.10) when cohort size was 100–175 head, but there were no BRD morbidity differences when bigger or smaller cohorts were evaluated. Shared fence lines and water sources were associated with BRD risk; however, no biologically meaningful results were identified. The number of water sources was associated with BRD risk, and effects were modified by cohort size and arrival weight.
A Deep Learning Method Based on Two-Stage CNN Framework for Recognition of Chinese Reservoirs with Sentinel-2 Images
Authors: Zhao Guodongfang , Yao Ping , Fu Li , Zhang Zhibin , Lu Shanlong , Long Tengfei
Published: November 2022

The development of effective and comprehensive methods for mapping and monitoring reservoirs is essential for the utilization of water resources and flood control. Remote sensing has the great advantages of broad spatial coverage and regular revisit to meet the demand of large-scale and long-term tasks of earth observation. Although there already exist some methods for coarse-grained identification of reservoirs at region-level in remote sensing images, it remains a challenge to recognize and localize reservoirs accurately with insufficiency of object details and samples annotated. This study focuses on the fine-grained identification and location of reservoirs with a two-stage CNN framework method, which is comprised of a coarse classification between aquatic and land areas of image patches and a fine detection of reservoirs in aquatic patches with precise geographical coordinates. Moreover, a NIR RCNN detection network is proposed to make use of the multi-spectral characteristics of Sentinel-2 images. To verify the effectiveness of our proposed method, we construct a reservoir and dam dataset of 36 Sentinel-2 images which are sampled in various provinces across China and annotated at the instance level by manual work. The experimental results in the test set show that the two-stage CNN method achieves an average recall of 80.83% nationwide, and the comparison between reservoirs recognized by the proposed model and those provided by the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research verifies that the model reaches a recall of about 90%. Both the indicator evaluation and visualization of identification results have shown the applicability of the proposed method to reservoir recognition in remote sensing images. Being the first attempt to make a fine-grained identification of reservoirs at the instance level, the two-stage CNN framework, which can automatically identify and localize reservoirs in remote sensing images precisely, shows the prospect to be a useful tool for large-scale and long-term reservoir monitoring.
Hydrophilic Antimicrobial Polyethersulfone Membrane for Removal of Turbidity of Well-Water
Authors: Arahman Nasrul , Jakfar Jakfar , Dzulhijjah Wafiq Alni , Halimah Nur , Silmina Silmina , Aulia Muhammad Prayogie , Fahrina Afrillia , Bilad Muhammad Roil
Published: November 2022

Membrane-based technologies have been widely used for surface water treatment. Yet, many aspects of this technology can still be improved. This study aims to develop polyethersulfone (PES)-based phase-inverted membranes to improve the morphological structure, antimicrobial properties, and performance by incorporating Poloxamer 188 and patchouli oil as the dope solution additives. The performance of the membrane was assessed for filtration of well water and by evaluating the turbidity rejection. This study used a phase inversion technique in the membrane manufacturing process with PES, PES + P188 + 1 wt% PO, PES + P188 + 3 wt% PO, and PES + P188 + 7 wt% PO. The characteristics of the obtained membranes were studied in terms of structure and morphology, microbial growth prevention, hydrophilicity, filtration flux, and ability to reduce the turbidity of well water samples. Results show that the addition of Poloxamer 188 and patchouli oil in the dope solution turned the membrane more porous (up to 73.24% increase in porosity) and more hydrophilic (the water contact angle (WCA) was lowered from 70 to 37°). The additives also increased the antibacterial properties of the membrane, as shown by up to 97.5% reducing Escherichia coli colonies on the membrane surface. Overall, the results demonstrate significant improvements in the characteristics and performance of PES membranes by incorporating Poloxamer 188 co-polymer and patchouli oil as additives in the dope solution. The modified membrane was successfully applied to remove turbidity from a water sample. The turbidity parameters in well water samples could be fully reduced in nine out of ten samples by the membrane containing 7 wt% PO additives.
High-Frequency Square Wave Injection Sensorless Control Method of IPMSM Based on Oversampling Scheme
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Guo Qi , Xiao Jifeng , Liang Te , Lin Zhichen , Chen Wei
Published: November 2022

In view of the disadvantages of the traditional high-frequency square wave signal injection method in the low-speed operation of high-power interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM), such as the large error of rotor position calculation and delay of position update, a method based on high-frequency square wave signal injection is proposed to obtain an effective vector action current through oversampling. When the vector is zero, the current changes to not zero, but when the vector is effective, the current changes greatly. In the traditional sampling and calculation methods, the change of the zero-vector is ignored, resulting in errors, especially in the case of small power, and the errors are more obvious. Through the method of oversampling the current of the effective vector, the high-frequency response current of the effective vector is obtained. Through the reasonable demodulation method, the high-frequency response current of the effective vector is extracted, and then the rotor position information is obtained through the phase-locked loop. On this basis, the influence of the inherent nonlinear characteristics of the motor system and the sampling delay on the calculation of the rotor position is analyzed, and the error is compensated to obtain a more accurate rotor position.
Model-Based Fault Diagnosis of Actuators in Electronically Controlled Air Suspension System
Authors: Jiang Xinwei , Xu Xing , Shan Haiqiang
Published: November 2022

The air suspension adjusts the height of the vehicle body through charging and bleeding air to meet the high performance of the vehicle, which needs a reliable electronic control system. Through fault tree analysis of the electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS) system and considering the correlation between the duty cycle and flow rate of the air spring solenoid valve, the fault model of the solenoid valve is constructed, and the fault diagnosis design method of the ECAS system solenoid valve based on multiple extended Kalman filter banks (EKFs) is proposed. An adaptive threshold is used to realize fault diagnosis, and active fault-tolerant control is carried out based on an analytical model. The real controller based on d2p rapid prototyping technology and the vehicle model based on AMESim are further verified on the hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulation test platform and compared with the pure simulation results. The test results show that the fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control algorithm can work normally in the actual controller, and can effectively realize the fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control of the actuator in the vehicle ECAS system.
Development of a home health care service platform for ostomy patient management
Authors: Yang Seongwoo , Park Ji Won , Hur Hyuk , Kim Min Jung , Jeong Seung-Yong , Park Kyounghoon , Kim Ik Yong
Published: November 2022

Purpose: The use of an ostomy for urination and defecation leads to reduced quality of life. Although many ostomy management strategies are needed, such strategies are often implemented by patients. Thus, there is a need for a home health care service platform that can be used in ostomy patient management. Methods: We developed an ostomy patient management platform by identifying the needs of patients and medical staff through the Chronic Care Ostomy Self-Management Training Program in the United States and from studies conducted in Korea. Results: The platform encompassed physical management, psychological management, maintenance of social function, spiritual stability, and home medical care. These components were implemented through monitoring, self-care guidance, and a community platform. For the monitoring function, patients entered their health status in a mobile application (app); the medical staff at the affiliated hospital then monitored the stoma status through a web interface.Conclusion: Our platform allows medical staff to monitor ostomy patients through a web interface and help such patients to fully manage their ostomy at home using an app. We expect that the continued development of patient-oriented functions in our app will allow ostomy patients to experience quality-of-life improvements.
The Consensus Maastricht VI Is Published: What's New?
Authors:   A.S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Bordin D.S. , Livzan M.A. ,   A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry,   Tver State Medical University,   Omsk State Medical University
Published: November 2022

The analysis of the most important changes and the translation into Russian of the provisions of the Maastricht VI Consensus published in August 2022 are presented. The main provisions of the consensus are based on the results of scientific research and are primarily practical. They take into account regional peculiarities, local data on the resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antibiotics, and public health opportunities. Monitoring of the actual clinical practice of H. pylori diagnosis and treatment becomes a necessary part of the implementation of the recommendations of Maastricht VI