bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of FRCM–Concrete Bond Strength with Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Kumar Aman , Arora Harish Chandra , Kumar Krishna , Mohammed Mazin Abed , Majumdar Arnab , Khamaksorn Achara , Thinnukool Orawit
Published: January 2022

Fibre-reinforced cement mortar (FRCM) has been widely utilised for the repair and restoration of building structures. The bond strength between FRCM and concrete typically takes precedence over the mechanical parameters. However, the bond behaviour of the FRCM–concrete interface is complex. Due to several failure modes, the prediction of bond strength is difficult to forecast. In this paper, effective machine learning models were employed in order to accurately predict the FRCM–concrete bond strength. This article employed a database of 382 test results available in the literature on single-lap and double-lap shear experiments on FRCM–concrete interfacial bonding. The compressive strength of concrete, width of concrete block, FRCM elastic modulus, thickness of textile layer, textile width, textile bond length, and bond strength of FRCM–concrete interface have been taken into consideration with popular machine learning models. The paper estimates the predictive accuracy of different machine learning models for estimating the FRCM–concrete bond strength and found that the GPR model has the highest accuracy with an R-value of 0.9336 for interfacial bond strength prediction. This study can be utilising in the estimation of bond strength to minimise the experimentation cost in minimum time.
The Impact of Hotel Customer Experience on Customer Satisfaction through Online Reviews
Authors: Kim Yae-Ji , Kim Hak-Seon
Published: January 2022

With the growing popularity of the internet, customers can easily share their experiences and information in online reviews. Consumers recognize online reviews as a useful source of information prior to consumption, and many online reviews influence consumer purchasing decisions. Understanding the customer experience in online reviews is thus necessary to maintain customer satisfaction and repurchase intention for the sustainable development of the hotel business. This study assessed the fundamental selection attributes of customers from online reviews reflecting the hotel customer experience, and investigated their association with customer satisfaction. A total of 8229 reviews were collected from Google travel websites from December 2019 to July 2021. Text mining and semantic network analysis were adopted for big data analysis. Factor and regression analyses were then used for quantitative analysis. Based on linear regression analysis, the Service and Dining factors significantly affected customer satisfaction. Service is a critical selection attribute for customers, and the provision of more particular services is necessary, especially after COVID-19. These results indicate that understanding online reviews can provide theoretical and practical implications for developing sustainable strategies for the hotel industry.
Innovative and Sustainable Technologies to Enhance the Oxidative Stability of Vegetable Oils
Authors: Fadda Angela , Sanna Daniele , Sakar El Hassan , Gharby Said , Mulas Maurizio , Medda Silvia , Yesilcubuk Nese Sahin , Karaca Asli Can , Gozukirmizi Celale Kirkin , Lucarini Massimo , Lombardi-Boccia Ginevra , Diaconeasa Zorita , Durazzo Alessandra
Published: January 2022

To meet consumers’ demand for natural foods, edible oil producers and food processing industries are searching for alternatives to synthetic antioxidants to protect oils against oxidation. Antioxidant compounds extracted from different plant parts (e.g., flowers, leaves, roots, and seeds) or sourced from agri-food industries, including residues left after food processing, attract consumers for their health properties and natural origins. This review, starting from a literature research analysis, highlights the role of natural antioxidants in the protection of edible oils against oxidation, with an emphasis on the emerging and sustainable strategies to preserve oils against oxidative damage. Sustainability and health are the main concerns of food processing industries. In this context, the aim of this review is to highlight the emerging strategies for the enrichment of edible oils with biomolecules or extracts recovered from plant sources. The use of extracts obtained from vegetable wastes and by-products and the blending with oils extracted from various oil-bearing seeds is also pointed out as a sustainable approach. The safety concerns linked to the use of natural antioxidants for human health are also discussed. This review, using a multidisciplinary approach, provides an updated overview of the chemical, technological, sustainability, and safety aspects linked to oil protection.
Magnetic Field Evolution in Neutron Star Crusts: Beyond the Hall Effect
Authors: Gourgouliatos Konstantinos , De Grandis Davide , Igoshev Andrei
Published: January 2022

Neutron stars host the strongest magnetic fields that we know of in the Universe. Their magnetic fields are the main means of generating their radiation, either magnetospheric or through the crust. Moreover, the evolution of the magnetic field has been intimately related to explosive events of magnetars, which host strong magnetic fields, and their persistent thermal emission. The evolution of the magnetic field in the crusts of neutron stars has been described within the framework of the Hall effect and Ohmic dissipation. Yet, this description is limited by the fact that the Maxwell stresses exerted on the crusts of strongly magnetised neutron stars may lead to failure and temperature variations. In the former case, a failed crust does not completely fulfil the necessary conditions for the Hall effect. In the latter, the variations of temperature are strongly related to the magnetic field evolution. Finally, sharp gradients of the star’s temperature may activate battery terms and alter the magnetic field structure, especially in weakly magnetised neutron stars. In this review, we discuss the recent progress made on these effects. We argue that these phenomena are likely to provide novel insight into our understanding of neutron stars and their observable properties.
Group Theoretical Description of the Periodic System
Authors: Varlamov Vadim V. , Pavlova Larisa D. , Babushkina Olga S.
Published: January 2022

The group theoretical description of the periodic system of elements in the framework of the Rumer–Fet model is considered. We introduce the concept of a single quantum system, the generating core of which is an abstract C*-algebra. It is shown that various concrete implementations of the operator algebra depend on the structure of the generators of the fundamental symmetry group attached to the energy operator. In the case of the generators of the complex shell of a group algebra of a conformal group, the spectrum of states of a single quantum system is given in the framework of the basic representation of the Rumer–Fet group, which leads to a group-theoretic interpretation of the Mendeleev’s periodic system of elements. A mass formula is introduced that allows giving the termwise mass splitting for the main multiplet of the Rumer–Fet group. The masses of elements of the Seaborg table (eight-periodic extension of the Mendeleev table) are calculated starting from the atomic number Z=3 and going to Z=220. The continuation of the Seaborg homology between lanthanides and actinides is established with the group of superactinides. A 10-periodic extension of the periodic table is introduced in the framework of the group-theoretic approach. The multiplet structure of the extended table’s periods is considered in detail. It is shown that the period lengths of the system of elements are determined by the structure of the basic representation of the Rumer–Fet group. The theoretical masses of the elements of 10th and 11th periods are calculated starting from Z=221 and going to to Z=364. The concept of hypertwistor is introduced.
A Vibration Similarity Model of Converter Transformers and Its Verification Method
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhang Li , Sun Youliang , Wang Guan , Zou Liang
Published: January 2022

According to the vibration characteristics of converter transformers, considering the Maxwell equation, magnetostrictive effect, Lorentz force and structural mechanics, the similarity criterion suitable for converter transformers is deduced in this paper. Using the finite element simulation platform, the multi physical field coupling model of converter transformers is constructed, and the scale coefficient is 0.1. The magnetic flux density distribution, stress distribution, shape variable and vibration characteristics of the model before and after the similarity are analyzed. The results show that the variation law of the model before and after the similarity conforms to the similarity criterion, and the correctness of the similarity criterion is verified. The converter transformer vibration similarity model and its verification method can effectively reduce the unnecessary waste of resources before the preparation of converter transformers and have important reference value for the analysis and improvement of converter transformer vibration characteristics.
Potential Risks of PM2.5-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals from Inland and Marine Directions for a Marine Background Site in North China
Authors: Xue Qianqian , Tian Yingze , Liu Xinyi , Wang Xiaojun , Huang Bo , Zhu Hongxia , Feng Yinchang
Published: January 2022

Ambient PM2.5-bound ions, OC, EC, heavy metals (HMs), 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 7 hopanes, and 29 n-alkanes were detected at Tuoji Island (TI), the only marine background atmospheric monitoring station in North China. The annual PM2.5 average concentration was 47 ± 31 μg m−3, and the average concentrations of the compositions in PM2.5 were higher in cold seasons than in warm seasons. The cancer and non-cancer risks of HMs and PAHs in cold seasons were also higher than in warm seasons. BaP, Ni, and As dominated the ∑HQ (hazard quotient) in cold seasons, while the non-carcinogenic risk in warm seasons was mainly dominated by Ni, Mn, and As. The ILCR (incremental lifetime cancer risk) values associated with Cr and As were higher in the cold season, while ILCR-Ni values were higher in the warm season. The backward trajectory was calculated to identify the potential directions of air mass at TI. Through the diagnostic ratios of organic and inorganic tracers, the sources of particulate matter in different directions were judged. It was found that ship emissions and sea salt were the main sources from marine directions, while coal combustion, vehicles emissions, industrial process, and secondary aerosols were the main source categories for inland directions. In addition, potential HM and PAH risks from inland and marine directions were explored. The non-cancerous effects of TI were mainly affected by inland transport, especially from the southeast, northwest, and west-northwest. The cancerous effects of TI were mainly simultaneously affected by the inland direction and marine direction of transport.
Excess Zinc Supply Reduces Cadmium Uptake and Mitigates Cadmium Toxicity Effects on Chloroplast Structure, Oxidative Stress, and Photosystem II Photochemical Efficiency in Salvia sclarea Plants
Authors: Sperdouli Ilektra , Adamakis Ioannis-Dimosthenis , Dobrikova Anelia , Apostolova Emilia , Hanć Anetta , Moustakas Michael
Published: January 2022

Salvia sclarea L. is a Cd2+ tolerant medicinal herb with antifungal and antimicrobial properties cultivated for its pharmacological properties. However, accumulation of high Cd2+ content in its tissues increases the adverse health effects of Cd2+ in humans. Therefore, there is a serious demand to lower human Cd2+ intake. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the mitigative role of excess Zn2+ supply to Cd2+ uptake/translocation and toxicity in clary sage. Salvia plants were treated with excess Cd2+ (100 μM CdSO4) alone, and in combination with Zn2+ (900 μM ZnSO4), in modified Hoagland nutrient solution. The results demonstrate that S. sclarea plants exposed to Cd2+ toxicity accumulated a significant amount of Cd2+ in their tissues, with higher concentrations in roots than in leaves. Cadmium exposure enhanced total Zn2+ uptake but also decreased its translocation to leaves. The accumulated Cd2+ led to a substantial decrease in photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and disrupted the chloroplast ultrastructure, which coincided with an increased lipid peroxidation. Zinc application decreased Cd2+ uptake and translocation to leaves, while it mitigated oxidative stress, restoring chloroplast ultrastructure. Excess Zn2+ ameliorated the adverse effects of Cd2+ on PSII photochemistry, increasing the fraction of energy used for photochemistry (ΦPSII) and restoring PSII redox state and maximum PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm), while decreasing excess excitation energy at PSII (EXC). We conclude that excess Zn2+ application eliminated the adverse effects of Cd2+ toxicity, reducing Cd2+ uptake and translocation and restoring chloroplast ultrastructure and PSII photochemical efficiency. Thus, excess Zn2+ application can be used as an important method for low Cd2+-accumulating crops, limiting Cd2+ entry into the food chain.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans as the Aetiological Cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Are the Unsolved Puzzles?
Authors: Looh Sung Cheng , Soo Zoey May Pheng , Wong Jia Jia , Yam Hok Chai , Chow Sook Khuan , Hwang Jung Shan
Published: January 2022

Leukotoxin A (LtxA) is the major virulence factor of an oral bacterium known as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). LtxA is associated with elevated levels of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. LtxA targets leukocytes and triggers an influx of extracellular calcium into cytosol. The current proposed model of LtxA-mediated hypercitrullination involves the dysregulated activation of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes to citrullinate proteins, the release of hypercitrullinated proteins through cell death, and the production of autoantigens recognized by ACPA. Although model-based evidence is yet to be established, its interaction with the host’s immune system sparked interest in the role of LtxA in RA. The first part of this review summarizes the current knowledge of Aa and LtxA. The next part highlights the findings of previous studies on the association of Aa or LtxA with RA aetiology. Finally, we discuss the unresolved aspects of the proposed link between LtxA of Aa and RA.
Temporal Prediction of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Using a LSTM Neural Network Model from Environmental Data
Authors: Shin Jisun , Kim Soo Mee
Published: January 2022

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are produced mainly by Alexandrium catenella (formerly A. tamarense). Since 2000, the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS) has been providing information on PST outbreaks in Korean coastal waters at one- or two-week intervals. However, a daily forecast is essential for immediate responses to PST outbreaks. This study aimed to predict the outbreak timing of PSTs in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in Jinhae Bay and along the Geoje coast in the southern coast of the Korea Peninsula. We used a long-short-term memory (LSTM) neural network model for temporal prediction of PST outbreaks from environmental data, such as water temperature (WT), tidal height, and salinity, measured at the Geojedo, Gadeokdo, and Masan tidal stations from 2006 to 2020. We found that PST outbreaks is gradually accelerated during the three years from 2018 to 2020. Because the in-situ environmental measurements had many missing data throughout the time span, we applied LSTM for gap-filling of the environmental measurements. We trained and tested the LSTM models with different combinations of environmental factors and the ground truth timing data of PST outbreaks for 5479 days as input and output. The LSTM model trained from only WT had the highest accuracy (0.9) and lowest false-alarm rate. The LSTM-based temporal prediction model may be useful as a monitoring system of PSP outbreaks in the coastal waters of southern Korean.
Knockout of ABC Transporter ABCG4 Gene Confers Resistance to Cry1 Proteins in Ostrinia furnacalis
Authors: Gao Qing , Lin Yaling , Wang Xiuping , Jing Dapeng , Wang Zhenying , He Kanglai , Bai Shuxiong , Zhang Yongjun , Zhang Tiantao
Published: January 2022

Ostrinia furnacalis is an important borer on maize. Long-term and large-scale planting of transgenic corn has led O. furnacalis evolving resistance and reducing the control effect. Recently, high levels of resistance to Bt Cry1 toxins have been reported to be genetically linked to the mutation or down-regulation of ABC transporter subfamily G gene ABCG4 in O. furnacalis. In order to further determine the relationship between ABCG4 gene and the resistance to Cry1 toxins in O. furnacalis, the novel CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering system was utilized to successfully construct ABCG4-KO knockout homozygous strain. Bioassay results indicated that an ABCG4-KO strain had a higher resistance to Cry1 proteins compared with a susceptible strain (ACB-BtS). The result indicates that the ABCG4 gene may act as a receptor of the Bt Cry1 toxin in O. furnacalis. Furthermore, the development time was significantly changed in the early stage ABCG4-KO larvae, and the population parameters were also significantly changed. In summary, our CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing study presents evidence that ABCG4 gene is a functional receptor for Bt Cry1 toxins, laying the foundation for further clarification of the Bt resistance mechanism.
Establishing Cell Models to Understand Cellular Toxicity: Lessons Learned from an Unconventional Cell Type
Authors: Vollmer Tino , Stegmayr Bernd
Published: January 2022

The syndrome of uremic toxicity comprises a complex toxic milieu in-vivo, as numerous uremic substances accumulate and harm the organ systems. Among these substances, toxic and non-toxic players differently interfere with human cells. However, results from animal experiments are not always compatible with the expected reactions in human patients and studies on one organ system are limited in capturing the complexity of the uremic situation. In this narrative review, we present aspects relevant for cellular toxicity research based on our previous establishment of a human spermatozoa-based cell model, as follows: (i) applicability to compare the effects of more than 100 uremic substances, (ii) detection of the protective effects of uremic substances by the cellular responses towards the uremic milieu, (iii) inclusion of the drug milieu for cellular function, and (iv) transferability for clinical application, e.g., hemodialysis. Our technique allows the estimation of cell viability, vitality, and physiological state, not only restricted to acute or chronic kidney toxicity but also for other conditions, such as intoxications of unknown substances. The cellular models can clarify molecular mechanisms of action of toxins related to human physiology and therapy. Identification of uremic toxins retained during acute and chronic kidney injury enables further research on the removal or degradation of such products.
Extremely Metal-Poor Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
Authors: Cirillo Mario , Piersanti Luciano , Straniero Oscar
Published: January 2022

Little is known about the first stars, but hints on this stellar population can be derived from the peculiar chemical composition of the most metal-poor objects in the Milky Way and in resolved stellar populations of nearby galaxies. In this paper, we review the evolution and nucleosynthesis of metal-poor and extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars with low and intermediate masses. In particular, new models of 6 M⊙ with three different levels of metallicity, namely Z=10−4, 10−6 and 10−10, are presented. In addition, we illustrate the results obtained for a 2 M⊙, Z=10−5 model. All these models have been computed by means of the latest version of the FuNS code. We adopted a fully coupled scheme of solutions for the complete set of differential equations describing the evolution of the physical structure and the chemical abundances, as modified by nuclear processes and convective mixing. The scarcity of CNO in the material from which these stars formed significantly affects their evolution, their final fate and their contribution to the chemical pollution of the ISM in primordial galaxies. We show the potential of these models for the interpretation of the composition of EMP stars, with particular emphasis on CEMP stars.
Endoscopic Treatment of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Challenging the Definition of the Maximal Lesion Size for Safe Ablation
Authors: Barghouthy Yazeed , Corrales Mariela , Sierra Alba , Kamkoum Hatem , Capretti Camilla , Somani Bhaskar , Compérat Eva , Traxer Olivier
Published: January 2022

Introduction: With advances in endoscopic treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) lesions, the recommended upper limit of lesion size amenable to laser ablation was set to 2 cm. However, this limit is based on expert opinion only, and debate still exists regarding this definition. Objective: To determine the maximal size of the tissue, for which total endoscopic ablation with laser energy is achievable, from a laser performance perspective. Materials and Methods: Simulating endoscopic surgery conditions, renal tissue blocks from pork kidneys in growing size from 1 cm3 to 3 cm3 were totally ablated with Ho:YAG laser (1 J, 10 Hz). The time to ablation was recorded for each tissue mass. Following the ablation, each sample was inspected microscopically by an expert pathologist to determine the extent to which the tissue was destroyed. Results: Time to ablation ranged from 16.4 min for a 1 cm3 mass, to 69.7 min for a 3 cm3 mass. Histologic evaluation after laser ablation showed that ablation was achieved in all tissue masses, and no “unaffected” tissue was present, even for lesions with a size of 3 cm3. Conclusions: This study showed that laser ablation can be achieved for tumor lesions up to a size of 3 cm3. The results of this study can contribute to the debate regarding the limits of endoscopic management of UTUC lesions and strengthen the recommended upper limit of 2 cm3 for endoscopic treatment of tumor lesions.
Impact of Combined Antiretroviral Therapy on Metabolic Syndrome Components in Adult People Living with HIV: A Literature Review
Authors: Sapuła Mariusz , Suchacz Magdalena , Załęski Andrzej , Wiercińska-Drapało Alicja
Published: January 2022

The development of metabolic derangements as a result of HIV treatment has been an important area of research since the introduction of zidovudine in the 1980’s. Antiretroviral therapy has intensely evolved in the last three decades, with new drugs gradually incorporated into everyday clinical practice. With the life expectancy of people living with HIV rapidly approaching that of their HIV-negative counterparts, the influence of these antiretrovirals on the development of the components of the metabolic syndrome remains of major interest to clinicians and their patients. In this review, we aimed to discuss the impact of cART on components of the metabolic syndrome, i.e., weight, plasma lipid levels, plasma glucose levels, and blood pressure, describing the influence of cART classes and of individual antiretrovirals. We also aimed to outline the limitations of the research conducted to date and the remaining knowledge gaps in this area.
Detection of Low-Copy Human Virus DNA upon Prolonged Formalin Fixation
Authors: Mielonen Outi I. , Pratas Diogo , Hedman Klaus , Sajantila Antti , Perdomo Maria F.
Published: January 2022

Formalin fixation, albeit an outstanding method for morphological and molecular preservation, induces DNA damage and cross-linking, which can hinder nucleic acid screening. This is of particular concern in the detection of low-abundance targets, such as persistent DNA viruses. In the present study, we evaluated the analytical sensitivity of viral detection in lung, liver, and kidney specimens from four deceased individuals. The samples were either frozen or incubated in formalin (±paraffin embedding) for up to 10 days. We tested two DNA extraction protocols for the control of efficient yields and viral detections. We used short-amplicon qPCRs (63–159 nucleotides) to detect 11 DNA viruses, as well as hybridization capture of these plus 27 additional ones, followed by deep sequencing. We observed marginally higher ratios of amplifiable DNA and scantly higher viral genoprevalences in the samples extracted with the FFPE dedicated protocol. Based on the findings in the frozen samples, most viruses were detected regardless of the extended fixation times. False-negative calls, particularly by qPCR, correlated with low levels of viral DNA (<250 copies/million cells) and longer PCR amplicons (>150 base pairs). Our data suggest that low-copy viral DNAs can be satisfactorily investigated from FFPE specimens, and encourages further examination of historical materials.
Immunity to Sda1 Protects against Infection by Sda1+ and Sda1− Serotypes of Group A Streptococcus
Authors: Bi Shuai , Wang Jie , Xu Meiyi , Li Ning , Wang Beinan
Published: January 2022

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes a variety of diseases globally. The DNases in GAS promote GAS evasion of neutrophil killing by degrading neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Sda1 is a prophage-encoded DNase associated with virulent GAS strains. However, protective immunity against Sda1 has not been determined. In this study, we explored the potential of Sda1 as a vaccine candidate. Sda1 was used as a vaccine to immunize mice intranasally. The effect of anti-Sda1 IgG in neutralizing degradation of NETs was determined and the protective role of Sda1 was investigated with intranasal and systemic challenge models. Antigen-specific antibodies were induced in the sera and pharyngeal mucosal site after Sda1 immunization. The anti-Sda1 IgG efficiently prevented degradation of NETs by supernatant samples from different GAS serotypes with or without Sda1. Sda1 immunization promoted clearance of GAS from the nasopharynx independent of GAS serotypes but did not reduce lethality after systemic GAS challenge. Anti-Sda1 antibody can neutralize degradation of NETs by Sda1 and other phage-encoded DNases and decrease GAS colonization at the nasopharynx across serotypes. These results indicate that Sda1 can be a potential vaccine candidate for reduction in GAS reservoir and GAS tonsillitis-associated diseases.
Using a Machine Learning Approach to Monitor COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events (VAE) from Twitter Data
Authors: Lian Andrew T. , Du Jingcheng , Tang Lu
Published: January 2022

Social media can be used to monitor the adverse effects of vaccines. The goal of this project is to develop a machine learning and natural language processing approach to identify COVID-19 vaccine adverse events (VAE) from Twitter data. Based on COVID-19 vaccine-related tweets (1 December 2020–1 August 2021), we built a machine learning-based pipeline to identify tweets containing personal experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations and to extract and normalize VAE-related entities, including dose(s); vaccine types (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson); and symptom(s) from tweets. We further analyzed the extracted VAE data based on the location, time, and frequency. We found that the four most populous states (California, Texas, Florida, and New York) in the US witnessed the most VAE discussions on Twitter. The frequency of Twitter discussions of VAE coincided with the progress of the COVID-19 vaccinations. Sore to touch, fatigue, and headache are the three most common adverse effects of all three COVID-19 vaccines in the US. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of using social media data to monitor VAEs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify COVID-19 vaccine adverse event signals from social media. It can be an excellent supplement to the existing vaccine pharmacovigilance systems.
Early Activation of the Innate Immunity and Specific Cellular Immune Pathways after Vaccination with a Live Intranasal Viral Vaccine and Challenge with Bovine Parainfluenza Type 3 Virus
Authors: Nuijten Piet , Cleton Natalie , van der Loop Jeroen , Makoschey Birgit , Pulskens Wilco , Vertenten Geert
Published: January 2022

Bovine parainfluenza type 3 (BPIV3) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) may cause bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in very young calves, and therefore vaccination should induce protection at the youngest age and as quickly as possible. This can be achieved by intranasal vaccination with a vaccine containing live attenuated BRSV and BPIV3 virus strains. The objective of this study was to measure gene expression levels by means of RT-qPCR of proteins involved in the innate and adaptive immune response in the nasopharyngeal mucosae after administration of the above-mentioned vaccine and after challenge with BPIV3. Gene expression profiles were different between (i) vaccinated, (ii) nonvaccinated-challenged, and (iii) vaccinated-challenged animals. In nonvaccinated-challenged animals, expression of genes involved in development of disease symptoms and pathology were increased, however, this was not the case after vaccination. Moreover, gene expression patterns of vaccinated animals reflected induction of the antiviral and innate immune pathways as well as an initial Th1 (cytotoxic) cellular response. After challenge with BPIV3, the vaccinated animals were protected against nasal shedding of the challenge virus and clinical symptoms, and in parallel the expression levels of the investigated genes had returned to values that were found before vaccination. In conclusion, in comparison to the virulent wild-type field isolates, the two virus strains in the vaccine have lost their capacity to evade the immune response, resulting in the induction of an antiviral state followed by a very early activation of innate immune and antiviral responses as well as induction of specific cellular immune pathways, resulting in protection. The exact changes in the genomes of these vaccine strains leading to attenuation have not been identified. These data represent the real-life situation and can serve as a basis for further detailed research. This is the first report describing the effects on immune gene expression profiles in the nasal mucosae induced by intranasal vaccination with a bivalent, live BRSV-BPI3V vaccine formulation in comparison to wild-type infection with a virulent BPI3V strain.
Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy among College Students in Nevada: A State-Wide Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Elliott Leslie , Yang Kanyeemengtiang
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in a diverse state-wide population of students. An electronic survey was emailed to students in the Nevada System of Higher Education to assess effects of the pandemic. The survey included questions related to vaccine status, interest in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, factors influencing these decisions, and sources of health information. Among the 3773 respondents, over half (54%) were accepting of the vaccine, including vaccinated students (18.9%). Nearly one quarter (23.5%) expressed hesitancy to receive the vaccine, citing concerns about side effects and the need for more research. Factors related to hesitancy included female gender, increasing age, place of residence, marital status, and Black or Native American race. Vaccine hesitant respondents were less likely than other respondents to rely on public health agencies or newspapers for health information, and more likely to rely on employers, clinics, or “no one”. Culturally appropriate efforts involving COVID-19 vaccine information and distribution should target certain groups, focusing on factors such as side effects, development and testing of the vaccine. Research should investigate sources of health information of people who are hesitant to receive vaccines.
The Effectiveness of a Diverse COVID-19 Vaccine Portfolio and Its Impact on the Persistence of Positivity and Length of Hospital Stays: The Veneto Region’s Experience
Authors: Cocchio Silvia , Zabeo Federico , Facchin Giacomo , Piva Nicolò , Furlan Patrizia , Nicoletti Michele , Saia Mario , Tonon Michele , Mongillo Michele , Russo Francesca , Baldo Vincenzo
Published: January 2022

The vaccination campaign for the Veneto region (northeastern Italy) started on 27 December 2020. As of early December 2021, 75.1% of the whole Veneto population has been fully vaccinated. Vaccine efficacy has been demonstrated in many clinical trials, but reports on real-world contexts are still necessary. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 2,233,399 residents in the Veneto region to assess the reduction in the COVID-19 burden, taking different outcomes into consideration. First, we adopted a non-brand-specific approach borrowed from survival analysis to estimate the effectiveness of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in preventing infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. We used t-tests and multivariate regressions to examine vaccine impact on breakthrough infections, in terms of the persistence of positivity and the length of hospital stays. Evidence emerging from this study suggests that unvaccinated individuals are significantly more likely to become infected, need hospitalization, and are at a higher risk of death from COVID-19 than those given at least one dose of vaccine. Cox models indicate that the effectiveness of full vaccination is 88% against infection, 94% against hospitalization, and 95% against death. Multivariate regressions suggest that vaccination is significantly correlated with a shorter period of positivity and shorter hospital stays, with each step toward completion of the vaccination cycle coinciding with a reduction of 3.3 days in the persistence of positivity and 2.3 days in the length of hospital stay.
Acaricidal Efficacy of Plants from Ecuador, Ambrosia peruviana (Asteraceae) and Lepechinia mutica (Lamiaceae) against Larvae and Engorged Adult Females of the Common Cattle Tick, Rhipicephalus microplus
Authors: Guzmán Lucía , Malla Jorge Luis , Ramírez Jorge , Gilardoni Gianluca , Calva James , Hidalgo Daniel , Valarezo Eduardo , Rey-Valeirón Catalina
Published: January 2022

Control measures against common cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus are of the upmost importance because of considerable, deleterious impact on a farm’s economy. Due to resistance phenomena to synthetic acaricides being a constraint in affected farms, the search for plant derivatives as acaricides has increased dramatically in recent years. In this work, essential oils obtained from two Ecuadorian plants, Ambrosia peruviana and Lepechinia mutica (EOAp, EOLm), traditionally used as insecticides in indigenous communities, were studied on larvae and engorged females at the parasitic stages of R. microplus. Larvae and females were treated with five (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50 and 1%) and six concentrations (0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2 and 4%), respectively, of each EOsAp/Lm. A 98–99% larval mortality was achieved with 0.5% of both EOsAp/Lm. EOAp inhibited oviposition and egg hatching up to 82% and 80%, respectively, and had an overall efficacy of 93.12%. Efficacy of EOLm was 72.84%, due to the low influence of EOLm on reproductive parameters. By steam distillation and GC-MS analysis, γ-Curcumene was identified as the main constituent (52.02%) in the EOAp and Shyobunol (10.80%) in EOLm. The results suggest that major components of both essential oils should be further studied as promissory acaricides against R. microplus.
Comparison of Rainfall-Runoff Simulation between Support Vector Regression and HEC-HMS for a Rural Watershed in Taiwan
Authors: Chiang Shen , Chang Chih-Hsin , Chen Wei-Bo
Published: January 2022

To better understand the effect and constraint of different data lengths on the data-driven model training for the rainfall-runoff simulation, the support vector regression (SVR) approach was applied to the data-driven model as the core algorithm in the present study. Various features selection strategies and different data lengths were employed in the training phase of the model. The validated results of the SVR were compared with the rainfall-runoff simulation derived from a physically based hydrologic model, the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). The HEC-HMS was considered a conventional approach and was also calibrated with a dataset period identical to the SVR. Our results showed that the SVR and HEC-HMS models could be adopted for short and long periods of rainfall-runoff simulation. However, the SVR model estimated the rainfall-runoff relationship reasonably well even if the observational data of one year or one typhoon event was used. In contrast, the HEC-HMS model needed more parameter optimization and inference processes to achieve the same performance level as the SVR model. Overall, the SVR model was superior to the HEC-HMS model in the performance of the rainfall-runoff simulation.
Spatial Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen in a Ramsar Wetland, Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve
Authors: Yao Xiuying , Yan Dandan , Li Jingtai , Liu Yao , Sheng Yufeng , Xie Siying , Luan Zhaoqing
Published: January 2022

The invasion and expansion of Spartina alterniflora in coastal salt marsh wetlands have greatly affected the material cycle of the ecosystem. A total of 372 topsoil samples were collected from 124 sites representing two land-cover types by implementing an unprecedented high sampling density study in the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve. Classical statistics and geostatistics were used to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) spatial distribution. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to detect correlations between environmental factors, SOC, and TN. The results showed that SOC and TN have moderate variability. The spatial distributions of SOC and TN were similar, and the highest values were observed in the southwest of the study area. In different land cover types, the SOC and TN in the vegetation coverage areas with Spartina alterniflora as the dominant species were significantly higher than those in bare land. RDA showed that TN and aboveground biomass significantly affected the spatial distribution of SOC, while SOC and AGB dominated the spatial distribution of TN.
Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneity of Climate Warming in the Chinese Tianshan Mountainous Region
Authors: Li Xuemei , Zhang Bo , Ren Rui , Li Lanhai , Simonovic Slobodan P.
Published: January 2022

The Chinese Tianshan mountainous region (CTMR) is a typical alpine region with high topographic heterogeneity, characterized by a large altitude span, complex topography, and diverse landscapes. A significant increase in air temperature had occurred in the CTMR during the last five decades. However, the detailed, comprehensive, and systematical characteristics of climate warming, such as its temporal and spatial heterogeneity, remain unclear. In this study, the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of climate warming across the CTMR had been comprehensively analyzed based on the 10-day air temperature data gathered during 1961–2020 from 26 meteorological stations. The results revealed local cooling in the context of general warming in the CTMR. The amplitude of variation (AV) varied from −0.57 to 3.64 °C, with the average value of 1.19 °C during the last six decades. The lapse rates of the elevation-dependent warming that existed annually, and in spring, summer, and autumn are −0.5 °C/100 m, −0.5 °C/100 m, −0.7 °C/100 m, and −0.4 °C/100 m, respectively. The warming in the CTMR is characteristic of high temporal heterogeneity, as represented by the amplified warming at 10-d scale for more than half a year, and the values of AV were higher than 1.09 °C of the global warming during 2011–2020 (GWV2011–2020). Meanwhile, the amplitudes of warming differed greatly on a seasonal scale, with the rates in spring, autumn, and winter higher than that in summer. The large spatial heterogeneity of climate warming also occurred across the CTMR. The warming pole existed in the warm part, the Turpan-Hami basin (below 1000 m asl) where the air temperature itself was high. That is, the warm places were warmer across the CTMR. The cooling pole was also found in the Kuqa region (about 1000 m asl). This study could greatly improve the understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics, patterns, and regional heterogeneity of climate warming across the CTMR and even northwest China.
Integrated Ecohydrological Models in Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: Wu Naicheng , Wang Yixia , Wang Yaochun , Cai Qinghua , Ouyang Wei
Published: January 2022

As a critical component of the global environment, aquatic ecosystems support a wide range of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, invertebrates, plants, and fish [...]
Assessment of Flood Risk Map under Climate Change RCP8.5 Scenarios in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yun-Ju , Lin Hsuan-Ju , Liou Jun-Jih , Cheng Chao-Tzuen , Chen Yung-Ming
Published: January 2022

Climate change has exerted a significant global impact in recent years, and extreme weather-related hazards and incidents have become the new normal. For Taiwan in particular, the corresponding increase in disaster risk threatens not only the environment but also the lives, safety, and property of people. This highlights the need to develop a methodology for mapping disaster risk under climate change and delineating those regions that are potentially high-risk areas requiring adaptation to a changing climate in the future. This study provides a framework of flood risk map assessment under the RCP8.5 scenario by using different spatial scales to integrate the projection climate data of high resolution, inundation potential maps, and indicator-based approach at the end of the 21st century in Taiwan. The reference period was 1979–2003, and the future projection period was 2075–2099. High-resolution climate data developed by dynamic downscaling of the MRI-JMA-AGCM model was used to assess extreme rainfall events. The flood risk maps were constructed using two different spatial scales: the township level and the 5 km × 5 km grid. As to hazard-vulnerability(H-V) maps, users can overlay maps of their choice—such as those for land use distribution, district planning, agricultural crop distribution, or industrial distribution. Mapping flood risk under climate change can support better informed decision-making and policy-making processes in planning and preparing to intervene and control flood risks. The elderly population distribution is applied as an exposure indicator in order to guide advance preparation of evacuation plans for high-risk areas. This study found that higher risk areas are distributed mainly in northern and southern parts of Taiwan and the hazard indicators significantly increase in the northern, north-eastern, and southern regions under the RCP8.5 scenario. Moreover, the near-riparian and coastal townships of central and southern Taiwan have higher vulnerability levels. Approximately 14% of townships have a higher risk level of flooding disaster and another 3% of townships will become higher risk. For higher-risk townships, adaptation measures or strategies are suggested to prioritize improving flood preparation and protecting people and property. Such a flood risk map can be a communication tool to effectively inform decision- makers, citizens, and stakeholders about the variability of flood risk under climate change. Such maps enable decision-makers and national spatial planners to compare the relative flood risk of individual townships countrywide in order to determine and prioritize risk adaptation areas for planning spatial development policies.
Mind the Gap! Reconciling Environmental Water Requirements with Scarcity in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Colloff Matthew J. , Pittock Jamie
Published: January 2022

The Murray–Darling Basin Plan is a $AU 13 billion program to return water from irrigation use to the environment. Central to the success of the Plan, commenced in 2012, is the implementation of an Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take (ESLT) and a Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) on the volume of water that can be taken for consumptive use. Under the enabling legislation, the Water Act (2007), the ESLT and SDL must be set by the “best available science.” In 2009, the volume of water to maintain wetlands and rivers of the Basin was estimated at 3000–7600 GL per year. Since then, there has been a steady step-down in this volume to 2075 GL year due to repeated policy adjustments, including “supply measures projects,” building of infrastructure to obtain the same environmental outcomes with less water. Since implementation of the Plan, return of water to the environment is falling far short of targets. The gap between the volume required to maintain wetlands and rivers and what is available is increasing with climate change and other risks, but the Plan makes no direct allowance for climate change. We present policy options that address the need to adapt to less water and re-frame the decision context from contestation between water for irrigation versus the environment. Options include best use of water for adaptation and structural adjustment packages for irrigation communities integrated with environmental triage of those wetlands likely to transition to dryland ecosystems under climate change.
The Effects of Depth-Related Environmental Factors on Traits in Acropora cervicornis Raised in Nurseries
Authors: Ruiz-Diaz Claudia Patricia , Toledo-Hernández Carlos , Sánchez-González Juan Luis , Betancourt Brenda
Published: January 2022

Populations of Acropora cervicornis, one of the most important reef-building corals in the Caribbean, have been declining due to human activities and global climate change. This has prompted the development of strategies such as coral farms, aimed at improving the long-term viability of this coral across its geographical range. This study focuses on comprehending how seawater temperature (ST), and light levels (LL) affect the survival and growth of A. cervicornis fragments collected from three reefs in Culebra, Puerto Rico. These individuals were fragmented into three pieces of the similar sizes and placed in farms at 5, 8, and 12 m depth. The fragments, ST and LL were monitored for 11 months. Results show that fragments from shallow farms exhibit significantly higher mortalities when compared to the other two depths. Yet, growth at shallow farms was nearly 24% higher than at the other two depths. Corals grew fastest during winter, when temperature and LL were lowest, regardless of the water depth. Fragment mortality and growth origin were also influenced by reef origin. We conclude that under the current conditions, shallow farms may offer a slight advantage over deep ones provided the higher growth rate at shallow farms and the high fragment survival at all depths.