bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Bioactive Metabolite Production in Aerva sanguinolenta Callus Cultures through Silver Nanoparticle and Salicylic Acid Elicitation
Authors: Maqbool Mehwish , Ishtiaq Muhammad , Mazhar Muhammad Waqas , Casini Ryan , Mahmoud Eman A. , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: June 2023

Callus elicitation is advantageous for metabolite production due to its ability to increase yield, provide controllable conditions, and allow for genetic manipulation, offering a sustainable and scalable alternative to traditional plant-based extraction methods for the production of bioactive substances. In this research, in vitro callus cultures (CCs) of the wild medicinal plant Aerva sanguinolenta were used to evaluate the efficacy of various elicitation regimes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and salicylic acid (SA) to evoke an increased production of secondary metabolites, such as aervine and antioxidant metabolites. Three concentrations of SA (i.e., 20, 50, and 100 µM) and three concentrations of AgNPs (i.e., 30, 60, and 90 µg/L) were used on shoot explant cultures using MS (Murashige and Skoog) media. All the SA and AgNP elicitation treatments significantly increased the production of antioxidant metabolites, total phenolic contents (TPCs), and total flavonoid contents (TFCs) compared to the control treatment experiments. The contents of aervine were increased significantly upon elicitation compared to the control trial. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the test extract was enhanced compared to the control treatment. Comparatively, the AgNPs were more beneficial as elicitors than the SA treatments. The elicitation treatments with about 90 µg/L AgNPs and 100 µM SA were the best among all elicitation regimes. Callus elicitation with SA and AgNPs can stimulate increased metabolite production and be used as a sustainable practice in the welfare and service industries for drug development and drug discovery.
A Vehicle Detection Method Based on an Improved U-YOLO Network for High-Resolution Remote-Sensing Images
Authors: Guo Dudu , Wang Yang , Zhu Shunying , Li Xin
Published: June 2023

The lack of vehicle feature information and the limited number of pixels in high-definition remote-sensing images causes difficulties in vehicle detection. This paper proposes U-YOLO, a vehicle detection method that integrates multi-scale features, attention mechanisms, and sub-pixel convolution. The adaptive fusion module (AF) is added to the backbone of the YOLO detection model to increase the underlying structural information of the feature map. Cross-scale channel attention (CSCA) is introduced to the feature fusion part to obtain the vehicle’s explicit semantic information and further refine the feature map. The sub-pixel convolution module (SC) is used to replace the linear interpolation up-sampling of the original model, and the vehicle target feature map is enlarged to further improve the vehicle detection accuracy. The detection accuracies on the open-source datasets NWPU VHR-10 and DOTA were 91.35% and 71.38%. Compared with the original network model, the detection accuracy on these two datasets was increased by 6.89% and 4.94%, respectively. Compared with the classic target detection networks commonly used in RFBnet, M2det, and SSD300, the average accuracy rate values increased by 6.84%, 6.38%, and 12.41%, respectively. The proposed method effectively solves the problem of low vehicle detection accuracy. It provides an effective basis for promoting the application of high-definition remote-sensing images in traffic target detection and traffic flow parameter detection.
The p-Numerical Semigroup of the Triple of Arithmetic Progressions
Authors: Komatsu Takao , Ying Haotian
Published: June 2023

For given positive integers a1,a2,⋯,ak with gcd(a1,a2,⋯,ak)=1, the denumerant d(n)=d(n;a1,a2,⋯,ak) is the number of nonnegative solutions (x1,x2,⋯,xk) of the linear equation a1x1+a2x2+⋯+akxk=n for a positive integer n. For a given nonnegative integer p, let Sp=Sp(a1,a2,⋯,ak) be the set of all nonnegative integer n’s such that d(n)>p. In this paper, by introducing the p-numerical semigroup, where the set N0\Sp is finite, we give explicit formulas of the p-Frobenius number, which is the maximum of the set N0\Sp, and related values for the triple of arithmetic progressions. The main aim is to determine the elements of the p-Apéry set.
Investigation of Perturbations Arising from Temperature Shock with a Symmetrical Arrangement of Flexible Elements of a Small Spacecraft
Authors: Bormotov Alexei , Orlov Denis
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the effect of a temperature shock on a small spacecraft with symmetrically arranged flexible elements. A two-dimensional thermoelasticity problem is posed. The disturbing effect of temperature shock on a small spacecraft has been determined. The assessment of the main disturbing factors arising from the temperature shock of flexible elements of a small spacecraft was carried out. Approximate dependences were obtained for the components of the displacement vector of the flexible element points. Numerical simulation was carried out for the symmetric scheme of the small spacecraft with two and four flexible elements. The dependence of the inertia force on temperature shock for the simulated small spacecraft at various initial deflections of the flexible element was constructed. Conclusions were drawn about the significance of the temperature shock influence on the dynamics of a small spacecraft. The results obtained were compared with the results of other studies and can be used in solving problems of remote sensing of the Earth and the implementation of gravity-sensitive processes on board small spacecraft.
A Symmetry Concept for the Self-Assembly Synthesis of Mn-MIL-100 Using a Capping Agent and Its Adsorption Performance with Methylene Blue
Authors: Song Guolin , Shen Chengzhu , Bassir David , Li Qiulin
Published: June 2023

In this study, a facile strategy of regulated self-assembly synthesis of Mn-MIL-100, using sodium acetate (CH3COONa) as a mono-dentate ligand capping agent (CA), was proposed. The as-prepared product is denoted Mn-MIL-100-CA. The coordination modulation of CH3COONa, led by its interference in the connectivity and symmetry of the metal centers and organic nodes, plays a vital role in the synthesis process. The crystallinity, morphology, topology, and properties of such MOF products were improved, since the self-assembly process of Mn-MIL-100-CA was promoted and regulated effectively. The materials were systematically characterized via XRD, SEM, N2 isotherms, XPS, and TGA in terms of crystallization behavior, morphology, topology, chemical composition, and thermal and water stability. The ability of Mn-MIL-100 and Mn-MIL-100-CA to remove methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution was investigated using a UV–vis spectrophotometer. The results indicate that with the addition of a molar ratio of 50% CH3COONa, Mn-MIL-100-CA particles developed a regularly symmetrical morphology, i.e., ‘spherical pyramid-like structure’ crystals with a dimension of 2~5 μm. Their specific surface area and pore volume increased by 59.2% and 56.7%, respectively. The increased proportion of Mn3+ implies reduced crystal defects and improved crystal structural order and integrity, and therefore an enhanced water stability. Mn-MIL-100-CA exhibited excellent adsorption performance towards MB from aqueous solution. The equilibrium adsorption value was as high as 1079.9 mg/g, which is 44.7% higher than that of Mn-MIL-100 without the addition of CA. The good adsorption capacity and excellent water stability mean that Mn-MIL-100-CA has great potential for the practical removal of MB dye pollutants from water.
Nonlinear Dynamics of a Piecewise Modified ABC Fractional-Order Leukemia Model with Symmetric Numerical Simulations
Authors: Khan Hasib , Alzabut Jehad , Alfwzan Wafa F. , Gulzar Haseena
Published: June 2023

In this study, we introduce a nonlinear leukemia dynamical system for a piecewise modified ABC fractional-order derivative and analyze it for the theoretical as well computational works and examine the crossover effect of the model. For the crossover behavior of the operators, we presume a division of the period of study [0,t2] in two subclasses as I1=[0,t1], I2=[t1,t2], for t1,t2∈R with t1<t2. In I1, the classical derivative is considered for the study of the leukemia growth while in I2 we presume modified ABC fractional differential operator. As a result, the study is initiated in the piecewise modified ABC sense of derivative for the dynamical systems. The novel constructed model is then studied for the solution existence and stability as well computational results. The symmetry in dynamics for all the three classes can be graphically observed in the presented six plots.
Weakly Coupled System of Semi-Linear Fractional θ-Evolution Equations with Special Cauchy Conditions
Authors: Mohammed Djaouti Abdelhamid
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we consider a weakly system of fractional θ-evolution equations. Using the fixed-point theorem, a global-in-time existence of small data solutions to the Cauchy problem is proved for one single equation. Using these results, we prove the global existence for the system under some mixed symmetrical conditions that describe the interaction between the equations of the system.
Dietary Challenges for Parasitoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea); Coping with Toxic Hosts, or Not?
Authors: Quicke Donald L. J. , Ghafouri Moghaddam Mostafa , Butcher Buntika A.
Published: June 2023

Many insects defend themselves against predation by being distasteful or toxic. The chemicals involved may be sequestered from their diet or synthesized de novo in the insects’ body tissues. Parasitoid wasps are a diverse group of insects that play a critical role in regulating their host insect populations such as lepidopteran caterpillars. The successful parasitization of caterpillars by parasitoid wasps is contingent upon their aptitude for locating and selecting suitable hosts, thereby determining their efficacy in parasitism. However, some hosts can be toxic to parasitoid wasps, which can pose challenges to their survival and reproduction. Caterpillars employ a varied array of defensive mechanisms to safeguard themselves against natural predators, particularly parasitoid wasps. These defenses are deployed pre-emptively, concurrently, or subsequently during encounters with such natural enemies. Caterpillars utilize a range of strategies to evade detection or deter and evade attackers. These tactics encompass both measures to prevent being noticed and mechanisms aimed at repelling or eluding potential threats. Post-attack strategies aim to eliminate or incapacitate the eggs or larvae of parasitoids. In this review, we investigate the dietary challenges faced by parasitoid wasps when encountering toxic hosts. We first summarize the known mechanisms through which insect hosts can be toxic to parasitoids and which protect caterpillars from parasitization. We then discuss the dietary adaptations and physiological mechanisms that parasitoid wasps have evolved to overcome these challenges, such as changes in feeding behavior, detoxification enzymes, and immune responses. We present new analyses of all published parasitoid–host records for the Ichneumonoidea that attack Lepidoptera caterpillars and show that classically toxic host groups are indeed hosts to significantly fewer species of parasitoid than most other lepidopteran groups.
Correction: Alathari et al. A Multiplexed, Tiled PCR Method for Rapid Whole-Genome Sequencing of Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV) in Tilapia. Viruses 2023, 15, 965
Authors: Alathari Shayma , Chaput Dominique L. , Bolaños Luis M. , Joseph Andrew , Jackson Victoria L. N. , Verner-Jeffreys David , Paley Richard , Tyler Charles R. , Temperton Ben
Published: June 2023

In the original publication [...]
Prediction of Antigenic Distance in Influenza A Using Attribute Network Embedding
Authors: Peng Fujun , Xia Yuanling , Li Weihua
Published: June 2023

Owing to the rapid changes in the antigenicity of influenza viruses, it is difficult for humans to obtain lasting immunity through antiviral therapy. Hence, tracking the dynamic changes in the antigenicity of influenza viruses can provide a basis for vaccines and drug treatments to cope with the spread of influenza viruses. In this paper, we developed a novel quantitative prediction method to predict the antigenic distance between virus strains using attribute network embedding techniques. An antigenic network is built to model and combine the genetic and antigenic characteristics of the influenza A virus H3N2, using the continuous distributed representation of the virus strain protein sequence (ProtVec) as a node attribute and the antigenic distance between virus strains as an edge weight. The results show a strong positive correlation between supplementing genetic features and antigenic distance prediction accuracy. Further analysis indicates that our prediction model can comprehensively and accurately track the differences in antigenic distances between vaccines and influenza virus strains, and it outperforms existing methods in predicting antigenic distances between strains.
In Silico Substrate-Binding Profiling for SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) Using Hexapeptide Substrates
Authors: Zabo Sophakama , Lobb Kevin Alan
Published: June 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is essential for the life cycle of the COVID-19 virus. It cleaves the two polyproteins at 11 positions to generate mature proteins for virion formation. The cleavage site on these polyproteins is known to be Leu-Gln↓(Ser/Ala/Gly). A range of hexapeptides that follow the known sequence for recognition and cleavage was constructed using RDKit libraries and complexed with the crystal structure of Mpro (PDB ID 6XHM) through extensive molecular docking calculations. A subset of 131 of these complexes underwent 20 ns molecular dynamics simulations. The analyses of the trajectories from molecular dynamics included principal component analysis (PCA), and a method to compare PCA plots from separate trajectories was developed in terms of encoding PCA progression during the simulations. The hexapeptides formed stable complexes as expected, with reproducible molecular docking of the substrates given the extensiveness of the procedure. Only Lys-Leu-Gln*** (KLQ***) sequence complexes were studied for molecular dynamics. In this subset of complexes, the PCA analysis identified four classifications of protein motions across these sequences. KLQ*** complexes illustrated the effect of changes in substrate on the active site, with implications for understanding the substrate recognition of Mpro and informing the development of small molecule inhibitors.
Inactivated and Immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 for Safe Use in Immunoassays and as an Immunization Control for Non-Clinical Trials
Authors: Gomes Mariana Pierre de Barros , Linhares José Henrique Rezende , dos Santos Tiago Pereira , Pereira Renata Carvalho , Santos Renata Tourinho , da Silva Stephanie Almeida , Souza Marta Cristina de Oliveira , da Silva Juliana Fernandes Amorim , Trindade Gisela Freitas , Gomes Viviane Silva , Barreto-Vieira Débora Ferreira , Carvalho Milena Mouta Verdan França , Ano Bom Ana Paula Dinis , Gardinali Noemi Rovaris , Müller Rodrigo , Alves Nathalia dos Santos , Moura Luma da Cruz , Neves Patrícia Cristina da Costa , Esteves Gabriela Santos , Schwarcz Waleska Dias , Missailidis Sotiris , Mendes Ygara da Silva , de Lima Sheila Maria Barbosa
Published: June 2023

Successful SARS-CoV-2 inactivation allows its safe use in Biosafety Level 2 facilities, and the use of the whole viral particle helps in the development of analytical methods and a more reliable immune response, contributing to the development and improvement of in vitro and in vivo assays. In order to obtain a functional product, we evaluated several inactivation protocols and observed that 0.03% beta-propiolactone for 24 h was the best condition tested, as it promoted SARS-CoV-2 inactivation above 99.99% and no cytopathic effect was visualized after five serial passages. Moreover, RT-qPCR and transmission electron microscopy revealed that RNA quantification and viral structure integrity were preserved. The antigenicity of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed by ELISA using different Spike-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. K18-hACE2 mice immunized with inactivated SARS-CoV-2, formulated in AddaS03TM, presented high neutralizing antibody titers, no significant weight loss, and longer survival than controls from a lethal challenge, despite RNA detection in the oropharyngeal swab, lung, and brain. This work emphasizes the importance of using different techniques to confirm viral inactivation and avoid potentially disastrous contamination. We believe that an efficiently inactivated product can be used in several applications, including the development and improvement of molecular diagnostic kits, as an antigen for antibody production as well as a control for non-clinical trials.
A Novel, Precise and High-Throughput Technology for Viroid Detection in Cannabis (MFDetectTM)
Authors: Fernandez i Marti Angel , Parungao Marcus , Hollin Jonathan , Selimotic Berin , Farrar Graham , Seyler Tristan , Anand Ajith , Ahmad Riaz
Published: June 2023

Hop latent viroid (HLVd) is a severe disease of cannabis, causing substantial economic losses in plant yield and crop value for growers worldwide. The best way to control the disease is early detection to limit the spread of the viroid in grow facilities. This study describes MFDetectTM as a rapid, highly sensitive, and high-throughput tool for detecting HLVd in the early stages of plant development. Furthermore, in the largest research study conducted so far for HLVd detection in cannabis, we compared MFDetectTM with quantitative RT-PCR in a time course experiment using different plant tissues, leaves, petioles, and roots at different plant developmental stages to demonstrate both technologies are comparable. Our study found leaf tissue is a suitable plant material for HLVd detection, with the viroid titer increasing in the infected leaf tissue with the age of plants. The study showed that other tissue types, including petiole and roots, were equally sensitive to detection via MFDetectTM. The assay developed in this research allows the screening of thousands of plants in a week. The assay can be scaled easily to provide growers with a quick turnaround and a cost-effective diagnostic tool for screening many plants and tissue types at different stages of development.
Detection and Genetic Characterization of Astroviruses in Brain Tissues of Wild Raccoon Dogs
Authors: Chae Su-Beom , Jeong Chang-Gi , Park Jun-Soo , Na Eun-Jee , Oem Jae-Ku
Published: June 2023

Astroviruses (AstVs) have been detected in a wide range of animal species, including mammals and birds. Recently, a novel AstV associated with neurological symptoms has been detected in the brains of some mammals. Raccoon dog AstV has been reported recently in China. However, there have been no reports in South Korea. Therefore, the present study aimed to detect and genetically characterize AstVs in the intestine and brain tissues of 133 wild raccoon dogs collected in Korea between 2017 and 2019. Of the seven raccoon dogs, AstVs were detected in six intestinal tissues and four brain tissues. Analysis of the capsid protein amino acid sequences of raccoon dog AstVs detected in Korea revealed a high similarity to canine AstVs, suggesting possible interspecies transmission between raccoon dogs and dogs. Phylogenetic and capsid protein amino acid sequence analysis of raccoon dog AstVs detected in the brain the 17-148B strain belonging to the HMO clade and exhibiting conserved sequences found in neurotropic AstVs (NT-AstVs), indicating their potential as NT-AstVs. However, the pathogenicity and transmission routes of the raccoon dog AstV detected in Korea have not yet been elucidated, so further research and continued surveillance for AstV in wild raccoon dogs are needed.
Humoral Immune Response of Mice against a Vaccine Candidate Composed of a Chimera of gB of Bovine Alphaherpesviruses 1 and 5
Authors: Quintero Barbosa Juan Sebastian , Alméciga-Díaz Carlos Javier , Pérez Sandra E. , Gutierrez María Fernanda
Published: June 2023

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine meningoencephalitis are caused by Bovine alphaherpesvirus (BoHV) types 1 and 5, which seriously threaten the global cattle industry. Vaccination to improve immunity is the most direct and effective means to prevent these conditions. Glycoprotein B (gB) is essential for the attachment of both viruses to permissive cells, and is a major target of the host immune system, inducing a strong humoral response. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a murine model, the immune response of a candidate vaccine formulation composed of a chimeric BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 gB (DgB), expressed in Komagataella phaffii. The chimeric DgB vaccine adjuvanted with Montanide 50 ISA V2 or aluminum hydroxide was administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. A control group and a group that received a commercial vaccine were inoculated subcutaneously. Higher titers of neutralizing antibodies against BoHV-1, BoHV-5, and a natural BoHV-1/5 recombinant strain were obtained with the oil-based candidate vaccine formulation administered intramuscularly. The results demonstrated that the chimeric DgB conserved important epitopes that were able to stimulate a humoral immune response capable of neutralizing BoHV-1, BoHV-5, and the recombinant strain, suggesting that the vaccine antigen is a promising candidate to be further evaluated in cattle.
COVID-19 Booster Dose Coverage and Hesitancy among Older Adults in an Urban Slum and Resettlement Colony in Delhi, India
Authors: Sharma Nandini , Basu Saurav , Lalwani Heena , Rao Shivani , Malik Mansi , Garg Sandeep , Shrivastava Rahul , Singh Mongjam Meghachandra
Published: June 2023

Background: The high prevalence of vaccine booster hesitancy, with the concomitant waning of humoral vaccine or hybrid immunity, and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern can accentuate COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to ascertain the COVID-19 vaccination coverage, including the administration of precaution (booster) dose vaccination, among the older population in an urban slum and resettlement colony population in Delhi, India. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an urban resettlement colony, slum, and village cluster in the Northeast district of Delhi among residents aged ≥50 years. Results: A total of 2217 adults (58.28%) had obtained a COVID-19 booster (precaution) dose vaccine, 1404 (36.91%) had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine without booster dose, 121 (3.18%) were unvaccinated, while 62 (1.63%) participants received a single dose. Based on adjusted analysis, older adults (>65 years), higher education, and higher per-capita income were statistically significant predictors of booster dose vaccination. Conclusions: More than four in ten adults in an urban slum and resettlement colony in Delhi lacked COVID-19 booster dose vaccination despite high rates of double-dose vaccination (~95%). Public health programming should provide an enhanced focus on reducing complacency with renewed prioritization for improving ease of access to COVID-19 vaccination services, particularly in underserved areas.
Community-Based Approaches to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Demand: Lessons Learned from Four UNICEF-Supported Interventions
Authors: Hopkins Kathryn L. , Underwood Talya , Iddrisu Iddi , Woldemeskel Hanna , Bon Helena Ballester , Brouwers Symen , De Almeida Sofia , Fol Natalie , Malhotra Alka , Prasad Shalini , Bharadwaj Sowmyaa , Bhatnagar Aarunima , Knobler Stacey , Lihemo Gloria
Published: June 2023

Vaccination is critical to minimize serious illness and death from COVID-19. Yet uptake of COVID-19 vaccines remains highly variable, particularly among marginalized communities. This article shares lessons learned from four UNICEF interventions that supported Governments to generate acceptance and demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Zambia, Iraq, Ghana, and India. In Zambia, community rapid assessment provided invaluable real-time insights around COVID-19 vaccination and allowed the identification of population segments that share beliefs and motivations regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Findings were subsequently used to develop recommendations tailored to the different personas. In Iraq, a new outreach approach (3iS: Intensification of Integrated Immunization) utilized direct community engagement to deliver health messages and encourage service uptake, resulting in over 4.4 million doses of COVID-19 and routine immunization vaccines delivered in just 8 months. In Ghana, a human-centered design initiative was applied to co-develop community-informed strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates. In India, a risk communication and community engagement initiative reached half a million people over six months, translating into a 25% increase in vaccination rates. These shared approaches can be leveraged to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage and close gaps in routine immunization across diverse and marginalized communities.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Dynamics after COVID-19 Vaccination and Infection: A Real-World Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Yorsaeng Ritthideach , Atsawawaranunt Kamolthip , Suntronwong Nungruthai , Kanokudom Sitthichai , Chansaenroj Jira , Assawakosri Suvichada , Nilyanimit Pornjarim , Aeemjinda Ratchadawan , Khanarat Nongkanok , Wongsrisang Lakkhana , Auphimai Chompoonut , Vichaiwattana Preeyaporn , Klinfueng Sirapa , Thongmee Thanunrat , Srimuan Donchida , Thatsanathorn Thaksaporn , Sudhinaraset Natthinee , Wanlapakorn Nasamon , Poovorawan Yong
Published: June 2023

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to surge despite the widespread use of vaccination. In Thailand, more than 77% and 39% of the population received two doses and three doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of December 2022, respectively. In addition, during the Omicron predominant period in 2022, more than 70% of Thai individuals have been infected. To gain comprehensive insight into SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics following vaccination or following vaccination and infection (hybrid immunity), we performed a cross-sectional analysis of sera samples from individuals who received COVID-19 vaccination and/or have been infected with COVID-19 in Thailand between January 2021 and December 2022. A total of 4126 samples were collected. Humoral immunity was evaluated by quantifying the immunoglobulin (including IgG, IgM, and IgA isotypes) specific to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) or Ig anti-RBD. The results showed that individuals who received two-dose vaccination alone had lower levels of Ig anti-RBD, which rapidly waned over time. To restore the waning antibody, a third dose vaccination is recommended for uninfected individuals who have only received 2 doses.
Green Turtle Fibropapillomatosis: Tumor Morphology and Growth Rate in a Rehabilitation Setting
Authors: Manes Costanza , Herren Richard M. , Page Annie , Dunlap Faith D. , Skibicki Christopher A. , Rollinson Ramia Devon R. , Farrell Jessica A. , Capua Ilaria , Carthy Raymond R. , Duffy David J.
Published: June 2023

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease most often found in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Afflicted turtles are burdened with potentially debilitating tumors concentrated externally on the soft tissues, plastron, and eyes and internally on the lungs, kidneys, and the heart. Clinical signs occur at various levels, ranging from mild disease to severe debilitation. Tumors can both progress and regress in affected turtles, with outcomes ranging from death due to the disease to complete regression. Since its official description in the scientific literature in 1938, tumor growth rates have been rarely documented. In addition, FP tumors come in two very different morphologies; yet, to our knowledge, there have been no quantified differences in growth rates between tumor types. FP tumors are often rugose in texture, with a polypoid to papillomatous morphology, and may or may not be pedunculated. In other cases, tumors are smooth, with a skin-like surface texture and little to no papillose structures. In our study, we assessed growth-rate differences between rugose and smooth tumor morphologies in a rehabilitation setting. We measured average biweekly tumor growth over time in green turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital in St. Augustine, Florida, and compared growth between rugose and smooth tumors. Our results demonstrate that both rugose and smooth tumors follow a similar active growth progression pattern, but rugose tumors grew at significantly faster rates (p = 0.013) than smooth ones. We also documented regression across several examined tumors, ranging from −0.19% up to −10.8% average biweekly negative growth. Our study offers a first-ever assessment of differential growth between tumor morphologies and an additional diagnostic feature that may lead to a more comprehensive understanding and treatment of the disease. We support the importance of tumor morphological categorization (rugose versus smooth) being documented in future FP hospital- and field-based health assessments.
Assessing Impacts of Human Stressors on Stream Fish Habitats across the Mississippi River Basin
Authors: Ross Jared A. , Infante Dana M. , Cooper Arthur R. , Whittier Joanna B. , Daniel Wesley M.
Published: June 2023

Effective conservation of stream fishes and their habitats is complicated by the fact that human stressors alter the way in which natural factors such as stream size, catchment geology, and regional climate influence stream ecosystems. Consequently, efforts to assess the condition of stream fishes and their habitats must not only attempt to characterize the effects of human stressors but must account for the effects of natural influences as well. This study is an assessment of all stream fish habitats in the Mississippi River basin, USA. The basin supports over 400 stream fish species, drains a land area of 3.2 M km2, and includes a myriad of human stressors such as intensive agriculture, urbanization, nutrient loading, and habitat fragmentation by dams and road/stream crossings. To effectively characterize types and levels of human stressors specifically impacting the basin’s stream fish species, our assessment approach first accounted for the influence of natural landscape conditions on species abundances with multiple steps, including stratifying our analyses by region and stream size and quantitatively modeling the influences of natural factors on stream fishes. We next quantified individual fish species responses to explicit human stressors for different measures of land use, fragmentation, and water quality, including summaries of measures in local vs. catchment extents. Results showed that many species had negative threshold responses to human stressors and that impacts varied by species, by region, and by the spatial extents in which stressors were summarized. Our spatially explicit results indicated the degree of stream reach impairment for specific stressor categories, for individual species, and for entire assemblages, all of which are types of information that can aid decision makers in achieving specific conservation goals in the region.
Comparison of Hydraulic Travel Time and Attenuation Inversions, Thermal Tracer Tomography and Geostatistical Inversion for Aquifer Characterization: A Numerical Study
Authors: Song Yang , Hu Rui , Liu Quan , Qiu Huiyang , Hou Xiaolan , Qi Junjie , Konadu-Amoah Bernard
Published: June 2023

For the characterization of heterogeneous aquifers, transient hydraulic tomography (THT) was proposed as a promising method to obtain the distribution of hydraulic parameters with satisfying spatial resolution using different approaches. These include hydraulic travel time, attenuation inversions, thermal tracer tomography, and geostatistical inversion with successive linear estimator (SLE). For the same hydrogeological test, different inversion methods tend to use different sub-data sets to obtain different hydraulic parameters. Up to now, however, few studies have focused on revealing the respective characteristics of these inversion methods and attempted to improve the accuracy of aquifer characterization by bridging the shortcomings of the inversion methods. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of multiple inversion techniques on aquifer heterogeneity characterization. A series of warm water injection tests were first simulated in a fluvial aquifer analogue outcrop. The calculated head and temperature datasets from these tests were fully utilized to reveal the aquifer heterogeneity by using all of the four above-mentioned inversion methods. The results show that the thermal tracer tomography, hydraulic travel time, and attenuation tomography characterized the high permeability zones more accurately within the well area, whereas the geological statistical method tended to depict the overall distribution of K values for a larger area. By comparison analysis and combinations of the individual inversion results, the scientific and economic complementarity can be studied and some valuable advice for the choice of different inversion methods can be recommended for future practices.
Distribution of Nine Organic UV Filters along the Shore Next to the Harbor Canals in the Middle Pomeranian Region (Northern Poland)
Authors: Stec Marcin , Astel Aleksander Maria
Published: June 2023

Spatiotemporal changes in the concentration of UV filters were investigated along the shore according to increasing distance from breakwaters, from the shoreline, as well as according to seasonality in three locations of different anthropogenic pressures, involving those from cosmetic products being released during touristic activity. Nine organic UV filters (benzophenone-1 (BP-1), benzophenone-2 (BP-2), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), octocrylene (OCR), 4-methoxy benzylidene camphor (4-MBC), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS), homosalate (HMS), and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDM)) were determined in core sediments, and the range of determined concentrations above the limit of quantification was between 19.2 ng·kg−1 d.w. (HMS) and 539.5 μg·kg−1 d.w. (4-MBC). Unexpectedly, contrary to the level of anthropogenic pressure, the concentrations of four (BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, OCR) UV filters decreased in the following order: Darłówko > Ustka > Rowy. Higher concentrations of BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, and OCR were determined in spring than in summer and autumn. The maximal concentration of HMS and EHMC/EHS was found in the summer and in the autumn, respectively. BMDM was determined occasionally only in two samples collected in Ustka. The higher maximal concentration range of all UV filters was determined in core sediments taken from the eastern (539.5 μg·kg−1 d.w.) rather than from the western (11.3 μg·kg−1 d.w.) parts of the beaches. According to increasing distance from the breakwaters, higher concentrations of UV filters were determined in sites located up to 100 m away in all locations and seasons. Spatial variation in the concentration of UV filters was observed in profiles perpendicular to the water line. Typically, higher concentrations were determined at sites having contact with water, although incidentally, high concentrations were also noticed at sites located further into the beach. The Polish coast of the Baltic Sea is not free from organic UV filters, and expectations concerning the abundance of UV filters in a given location are far from recorded data due to the impact of hydro-technical treatments (i.e., stony and wooden breakwaters, artificial reefs, nourishment) and coastal littoral drift.
Shear Enhanced Flotation Separation Technology in Winery Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Vlotman David , Key David , Cerff Bradley , Bladergroen Bernard Jan
Published: June 2023

The process of wine making is well known to produce large amounts of wastewater with highly variable characteristics. The disposal of untreated winery wastewater is strictly prohibited since it adversely affects the recipient environment. Due to the variability in characteristics of winery wastewater, developing a treatment system which can handle high organic and inorganic loads, especially during the vintage season, is a complex challenge. This study investigated the theory, methodology and implementation of a wastewater treatment technology called shear enhanced flotation separation (SEFS) as a potential primary treatment stage towards the treatment of winery wastewater. Winery effluent was subjected to a coagulation process in a high shear environment, with and without the introduction of air, followed by flocculation. Upon successful optimization of operating parameters, a polymeric-based coagulant AB121 and polyelectrolyte flocculant AB796 yielded the highest reduction in turbidity (95%) with typical values of 630 NTU for the raw wastewater and 25 NTU for the SEFS-treated effluent. A substantial reduction in total suspended solids (97%) was achieved with average raw winery wastewater values of 2275 mg/L compared to the 50 mg/L obtained for the SEFS-treated effluent. Furthermore, a notable reduction (54%) in COD (from 11,250 mg/L to 5220 mg/L) using SEFS technology was achieved.
The Mechanism and Regularities of Ion Runoff Formation in the Ob River (Western Siberia) under the Influence of Its Tributaries and Underground Feeding
Authors: Zemtsov Valerii , Savichev Oleg , Petrova Vesta
Published: June 2023

An analysis of observation data was conducted on the chemical composition of river and groundwater in the Ob River basin, covering more than 23 thousand samples taken from the network of governmental monitoring of surface and groundwater, the materials of scientific research, and engineering surveys. A model was developed for computing the total content of major ions along a stem of the Ob River. As a result, quantitative estimates of the total ion runoff and its underground component were obtained. Conclusions were drawn relating to: (1) uneven distribution of the ion flow over the Ob basin; (2) the predominant removal of dissolved solids from mountain regions and adjacent forest steppe and southern taiga areas and their accumulation in the middle taiga subzone with the maximum thickness of sedimentary cover of Mesozoic–Cenozoic deposits; (3) the influence of the main tributaries on the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the Ob River, limited to only a few kilometers downstream of their mouths (the rivers of Irtysh, Chumysh, and Severnaya Sosva as exceptions); (4) the maximum impact of groundwater on river water TDS in the forest steppe and southern taiga areas of the upper and middle Ob basin and minimum impact in the flat part of the lower reaches of the Ob in forest–tundra and tundra.
Directing Shallow-Water Waves Using Fixed Varying Bathymetry Designed by Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Tang Shanran , Yang Yiqin , Zhu Liangsheng
Published: June 2023

Directing shallow-water waves and their energy is highly desired in many ocean engineering applications. Coastal infrastructures can be protected by reflecting shallow-water waves to deep water. Wave energy harvesting efficiency can be improved by focusing shallow-water waves on wave energy converters. Changing water depth can effectively affect wave celerity and therefore the propagation of shallow-water waves. However, determining spatially varying bathymetry that can direct shallow-water waves to a designed location is not trivial. In this paper, we propose a novel machine learning method to design and optimize spatially varying bathymetry for directing shallow-water waves, in which the bathymetry is assumed fixed in time without considering morphodynamics. Shallow-water wave theory was applied to establish the mapping between water wave mechanics and recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Two wave-equivalent RNNs were developed to model shallow-water waves over fixed varying bathymetry. The resulting RNNs were trained to optimize bathymetry for wave energy focusing. We demonstrate that the bathymetry optimized by the wave-equivalent RNNs can effectively reflect and refract wave energy to various designed locations. We also foresee the potential that new engineering tools can be similarly developed based on the mathematical equivalence between wave mechanics and recurrent neural networks.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Water Bodies of Dong Lake and Tangxun Lake, China: Spatial Distribution, Potential Sources and Risk Assessment
Authors: Yao Kuo , Xie Zhanling , Zhi Lihao , Wang Zefan , Qu Chengkai
Published: June 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of highly toxic organic pollutants. At present, there has only been limited research into PAH contamination in Tangxun Lake and Dong Lake, which are the first and second largest urban inland lakes in China, respectively. This study investigated the concentration, spatial distribution, sources, and ecological risks of PAHs in the water from Dong Lake and Tangxun Lake. The focus of this study is to use models to analyze the sources of PAHs, as well as their potential toxicity to humans, in the water bodies of Dong Lake and Tangxun Lake. This study performed liquid–liquid extraction to extract PAHs from lake water samples using dichloromethane and then used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to quantitatively analyze the PAHs in the samples. The total concentration of the ∑16PAHs showed high variability among different sampling points, ranging from 12.92 to 989.09 ng/L, with an arithmetic mean of 121.97 ng/L. The composition of the ∑16PAHs was mainly concentrated at a low molecular weight (>70%). The molecular distributions of PAH studies, combined with positive matrix factorization (PMF), indicate that oil and coal combustion are the main sources of PAHs in Dong Lake and Tangxun Lake. The model of PMF succeeded in identifying and quantifying five sources with similar contributions: the combustion of petroleum products, heavy oil burning, coal combustion, traffic emissions, and natural gas and oil combustion mixed. According to toxicity equivalency (TEQ) and lifelong cancer risk (ILCR) research, PAHs from traffic sources in the environment may be more toxic, and the potential carcinogenic risk of PAH pollution to humans in Tangxun Lake and Dong Lake water bodies is relatively inferior.
Evolution Pattern of Blue–Green Space in New Urban Districts and Its Driving Factors: A Case Study of Zhengdong New District in China
Authors: Niu Yanhe , Jiao Sheng , Tang Shaozhen , Tang Xi , Yin Jingwen
Published: June 2023

Understanding the spatial–temporal evolution of the blue–green space (BGS) is crucial for urban planning and ecological security protection. However, the evolutionary patterns and driving factors of the BGS in new urban districts remain unclear. Based on the classical qualitative models, “patch–corridor–matrix” and “sustainability prism”, this study adopted the land use transition matrix and landscape index to quantify evolution patterns, and Pearson correlation and geographical detector analysis methods to reveal the driving factors. Taking Zhengdong New District as a case study, the results indicated the following: (1) The BGS rate was reduced by 35% from 2003 to 2021, with the most significant decrease in cultivated lands. (2) The evolution pattern of BGS alternated sequentially among ecological, disorderly, and balanced states. Among them, urban green spaces tended towards a more stable and aggregated state. Other BGSs became more fragmented and discontinuous. (3) The “sustainability prism” model consists of four driving factors, including social economy, rainwater safety, ecological liveability, and physical geography. (4) Socioeconomic factors significantly decreased the BGS, as indicated by the correlation coefficients of −0.988 and −0.978 between built-up areas and population and gross domestic products, respectively. Physical geographic factors played weak roles in the evolution of the BGS. Meanwhile, rainwater safety and ecological liveability positively affected the BGS.
Temporal Evolution of Phytoplankton Metacommunity in a Disused Mediterranean Saltwork
Authors: Bolinesi Francesco , Talamo Annunziata , Mangoni Olga
Published: June 2023

Saltworks are interesting sites for aquatic ecology, where marine phytoplankton plays a fundamental role in regulating ecosystem processes and sustaining large-scale biodiversity. This paper presents successional, structural, and dynamical traits of a phytoplankton metacommunity in a disused saltwork, where the industrial hydraulic management has been changed, leading to a different overlapping of natural and anthropic induced scales. We have considered the total phytoplankton biomass, size classes, and chemotaxonomical composition in monitoring the metacommunity dynamics in a series of single ponds spanning from marine to hypersaline ones between July 2008 and October 2009. Results indicate a large accumulation of biomass during summer to early autumn in hypersaline ponds, with the prevalence of small-size cells (<20 μm) in the entire system. Despite severe salinity fluctuations as a consequence of rainy events and evaporating processes, chlorophytes represented the dominant group of hypersaline ponds, while diatoms were more abundant where the influence of seawater inflow was higher. Despite the absence of ordinary maintenance, the phytoplankton metacommunity dynamic and patterns observed suggest that the existing saline gradient ensures qualitative and quantitative aspects of the primary production usually found in active saltworks. This makes the Saline di Tarquinia an important site not only for the preservation of Mediterranean biodiversity and hypersaline biotopes but also for ecological studies dealing with the trait-based responses of the phytoplankton community to large environmental fluctuations.
Diel Variation of Phytoplankton Communities in the Northern South China Sea under the Effect of Internal Solitary Waves and Its Response to Environmental Factors
Authors: Guan Zhenyu , Ge Ruping , Li Yunxia , Zou Li , Yang Shimin
Published: June 2023

Internal solitary waves (ISWs) are a common marine internal wave phenomenon in the northern South China Sea that cause significant changes in environmental factors and affect phytoplankton communities. This study investigates the short-term response of phytoplankton communities affected by ISWs based on day–night continuous sampling analysis of the sea area following the passage of an internal wave. The results revealed that, due to the IW-mediated transport of nutrients from deeper to shallower layers, the cell abundance of most small- and medium-volume phytoplankton significantly increased after the passage of ISWs. Using a method based on functional traits, we categorized phytoplankton into four functional groups. Moreover, this study revealed the differences in functional group changes in phytoplankton before and after ISWs. The abundance of mixotrophic phytoplankton in the community decreased, whereas autotrophic and heterotrophic phytoplankton increased.