bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of COVID-19 Control Measures on Air Quality in Guangdong Province
Authors: Li Lili , Mao Zhihui , Du Jianjun , Chen Tao , Cheng Lu , Wen Xiaocui
Published: June 2022

COVID-19 control measures had a significant social and economic impact in Guangdong Province, and provided a unique opportunity to assess the impact of human activities on air quality. Based on the monitoring data of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 concentrations from 101 air quality monitoring stations in Guangdong Province from October 2019 to April 2020, the PSCF (potential source contribution factor) analysis and LSTM (long short-term memory) neural network were applied to explore the impact of epidemic control measures on air quality in Guangdong Province. Results showed that during the lockdown, the average concentration of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 decreased by 37.84%, 51.56%, 58.82%, and 24.00%, respectively. The ranges of potential sources of pollutants were reduced, indicating that air quality in Guangdong Province improved significantly. The Pearl River Delta, characterized by a high population density, recorded the highest NO2 concentration values throughout the whole study period. Due to the lockdown, the areas with the highest concentrations of O3, PM2.5, and PM10 changed from the Pearl River Delta to the eastern and western Guangdong. Moreover, LSTM simulation results showed that the average concentration of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 decreased by 46.34%, 54.56%, 70.63%, and 26.76%, respectively, which was caused by human-made impacts. These findings reveal the remarkable impact of human activities on air quality and provide effective theoretical support for the prevention and control of air pollution in Guangdong Province.
Georesources as an Alternative for Sustainable Development in COVID-19 Times—A Study Case in Ecuador
Authors: Morante-Carballo Fernando , Gurumendi-Noriega Miguel , Cumbe-Vásquez Juan , Bravo-Montero Lady , Carrión-Mero Paúl
Published: June 2022

Georesources comprise spaces of relevant geological value with the potential to be used and managed as a resource. Therefore, georesources are an essential development factor in the world, mainly oriented to their rational use to improve the quality of life of the surrounding population. This work aims to analyze the main applications, conservation strategies and sustainable use of georesources in the rural area of Manglaralto (Ecuador) through their inventory, assessment and analysis for the adaptation of alternative uses to particular circumstances (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). The method used consists of four phases: (i) inventory and mapping of georesources; (ii) description and assessment of georesources using international methodologies (e.g., GtRAM for georoute assessment, hydrogeological characterization using GeoModeller for groundwater assessment, GIS tools for assessing materials with industrial–artisanal interest, and KFM matrix method for the assessment of the level of construction difficulty of sanitary landfills); (iii) georesources complementary applications and (iv) SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and TOWS matrix preparation (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Strengths), seeking strategies to guarantee the viability of the use of georesources. As a main result of the investigation, the geolocation of the georesources of the area was obtained. In addition, the assessment of the main georesources such as (i) potential geosites and sites of geological interest (e.g., beaches, cliffs, waterfalls, capes), (ii) groundwater (aquifers), and (iii) materials with artisanal and industrial interest (e.g., clays, sands). Finally, the study allowed us to define areas to develop landfill infrastructure, identify ecosystem services, and construct tsunami refuge site proposals. The case study addressed shows that the inventory and definition of the use of geological resources constitute a fundamental process for the economic, social, and environmental development of the population.
Development of a Methodology for Assessing Workload within the Air Traffic Control Environment in the Czech Republic
Authors: Hoskova-Mayerova Sarka , Kalvoda Jan , Bauer Miloslav , Rackova Pavlina
Published: June 2022

The increase in civil aviation traffic and, in general, in aviation traffic going through airspace or a military terminal control area, and the increase in military operations in temporarily reserved areas bring higher requirements for airspace throughput and for the workload of military air traffic controllers. For an objective assessment of the military air traffic controllers’ workload, it is desirable to set the maximum level of workload that can be required of such personnel. This assessment is also important for planning staffing and training. In the civil air traffic control environment, the workload of air traffic controllers is clearly determined by the complexity and density of air traffic, i.e., the throughput capacity of sectors. However, this method is not suitable for measuring the workload of military air traffic controllers, because the nature of military flight activities requires solving different situations in the airspace and thus generates a different workload. One way of obtaining more objective data on the actual workload of military air traffic controllers is to accurately determine the difficulty of individual air traffic control activities, i.e., the most common activities carried out by military air traffic controllers in the course of their duty. The difficulty of a selected air traffic control activity will be represented by a weight. A method for determining this weight is presented, including the proposal of specific weights for the calculation of the military air traffic controllers’ workload during simulation training, using the functionality “Workload”.
The Nature, Causes and Extent of Land cover Changes in Gamtoos River Estuary, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: 1991–2017
Authors: Ndude Mhlanganisi Africa , Gwena Kudzanai Rosebud , Hamandawana Hamisai
Published: June 2022

Multi-date remotely sensed SPOT images of 1991, 2000, 2009 and 2017 were used to reconstruct changes in land cover in the Gamtoos River Estuary, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. These images were complemented by near-anniversary aerial photographs and Google Earth images that were used as ancillary sources of ground truth. The long-term trend direction of change was determined by calculating percentage changes and performing linear trend analysis. The magnitude of change was established by calculating Sen Slope estimates (SSE) and the influence of climate change on changes in land cover tested by correlating changes in rainfall and different cover types. The greatest and lowest changes were for noncultivated land and surface water (−7.94%, y = −1.2032x + 21.275, SSE = −0.292, and 0.44%, y = −0.4261x + 9.657, SSE = 0.007, respectively). Correlations between rainfall and all cover types were weak and ranged between 0.453816 and −0.643962. Rainfall exhibited a significant decrease (p = 0.0411, σ 0.05; y = −7.175x + 734.55, SSE = −11.130) that was highly correlated with changes in surface water distribution (0.813709, Critical R = 0.805). Overall, the results of this investigation point to the combined influence of climate change and human agency, with the latter tending to play a more prominent role by exerting increasing pressure on the environment’s natural supporting potentials. We therefore urge the scientific community to continue exploring actionable interventions that can be used to enhance the sustainability of this ecosystem and others elsewhere.
Domestic and Imported Food Product Recalls in Japan: Trend Analysis and Preventive Measures
Authors: Matsumoto Takashi
Published: June 2022

In Japan, 700–800 food products are recalled each year. Food product recalls affect consumer health as well as businesses, depending on the content and scale of the recalls. Approximately 10% of food loss from food manufacturers was generated in 2018 and 2019. In Japan, food product recalls and measures to prevent them have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, to investigate this issue, about 2300 recalls instigated by regulatory bodies in Japan from 2018 to 2020 were classified based on product category, responsibility, reason for recall, and violation of laws and regulations, and the trends were analyzed. Recalls were primarily associated with violation of the Food Sanitation Law and Food Labeling Act, due to contamination by microorganisms or foreign materials, mis- or non-declaration of expiration or best-before date, and mis- or non-labeling of allergens. Therefore, better management by adopting the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and food safety management systems as preventive measures and the design review of ISO 9001: 2018 may be effective in reducing recalls. Moreover, better communication between manufacturing and importing countries to ensure compliance with laws on safety limits of ingredients and label preparation may reduce the number of recalls.
Evaluation of the Aging Properties of Terminal Blend Hybrid Asphalt Based on Chemical and Rheological Methods
Authors: Wang Sheng , Huang Weidong , Liu Xueyan , Lin Peng
Published: June 2022

The chemical and rheological properties of terminal blend hybrid asphalt (TBHA) contributing to the consumption of waste tires before and after aging were studied. Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer, sulphur, crumb rubber (CR), and neat asphalt were chosen to prepare the TBHA. The short-term aging (STA) and long-term aging (LTA) of TBHA were simulated using a rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) and pressure aging vessel (PAV), separately. The chemical and rheological properties of the TBHA were tested. The results show that the G* and G*/sin δ of TBHA ares generally lower than SBS-modified asphalt (SBSMA) at 76 °C, and the δ, Jnr0.1, and Jnr3.2 of TBHA are generally higher than SBSMA at 76 °C. Additionally, with the decrease of CR, the G* and G*/sin δ of TBHA decreased more obviously, and the G* and G*/sin δ of 5T_3S_0.2Sul (5 wt% CR, 3 wt% SBS, and 0.2 wt% sulphur) were the smallest. Moreover, during the STA, the SBS modifier in the TBHA degraded and made the bitumen predominantly soft; however, during the LTA, the hardening of the bitumen played a dominant role and increased its elasticity. The superior anti-aging properties of TBHA (both STA and LTA) are further demonstrated.
Evolution of Ecological Patterns of Poyang Lake Wetland Landscape over the Last One Hundred Years Based on Historical Topographic Maps and Landsat Images
Authors: Wan Zhiwei , Wu Hongqi
Published: June 2022

Ecological pattern evolution of Poyang Lake wetland, the largest freshwater lake in China, is critical for regional ecological protection and sustainable development of migratory bird habitats; however, this information is still not fully explored. In this study, we quantitatively reconstructed the spatial distribution and landscape ecological pattern of Poyang Lake wetlands in three periods in the past 100 years based on the military topographic map in the 1930s and the Landsat satellite remote sensing image data in 1979 and 2021. Further, use the Fragstats software to analyze the ecological pattern index of wetland reconstruction results. The results show that the wetland area in the Poyang Lake region has experienced a continuous reduction process over the past 100 years, and it decreased from 3857 km2 in the 1930s to 3673 km2 in the 1970s, and then to 3624 km2 in the 2020s. The current wetland area has decreased by about 6.04% compared with the 1930s. The general trend of changes in the spatial pattern of Poyang Lake wetlands is that the surface water decreases and the open land increases. Nevertheless, the trend has certain spatial differences as a large area of wetlands disappeared in the southwest and west of Poyang Lake and the areas with enlarged wetland density values mainly appeared in the northeastern and northern parts of the study area. The NP (number of patches) in the wetlands of Poyang Lake over the past 100 years showed a downward trend during the 1930s–1970s, and an increasing trend during the 1970s–2010s. Due to the increases of constructed wetlands, the number and density of patches also increased, and PD (patch density) reached a maximum value of 0.142 in 2020s. The LPI (largest patch index) has shown a gradual downward trend in the past 100 years. Compared with the 1930s, the wetlands in 2020s dropped by about 26.64%, and the wetlands further showed a trend of fragmentation. The AI index, which indicates the concentration of wetland patches, reached the maximum value in 2020s, but the LSI (landscape shape index) showed a downward trend in general, indicating that the shape of wetland patches has been simplified over the past 100 years. The research results can provide basic data and decision-making basis for Poyang Lake wetland protection, construction of migratory bird reserve and regional sustainable development.
A Real-Time Control Strategy for Bus Operation to Alleviate Bus Bunching
Authors: Xue Yunqiang , Zhong Meng , Xue Luowei , Tu Haokai , Tan Caifeng , Kong Qifang , Guan Hongzhi
Published: June 2022

In order to alleviate bus bunching and improve the balance and punctuality rate of bus operation, a single-line real-time control strategy based on Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) was proposed. The strategy took three measures: controlling the cruising speed, dwell time, and the bus load rate to improve the stability of bus operations and to ensure its running speed. At the same time, the proposed strategy was compared with the literature on the traditional single-point control strategy based on timetable (S1 for short) and the multi-point control strategy based on time headway (S2 for short). Finally, the No. 245 bus line in Nanchang City, China, was selected as a case. It was modeled and simulated by Python programming software, and the control effects of the three control strategies were analyzed. Compared with the uncontrolled bus operations, the simulation results show that: under the control of S1, the bus operation stability is improved, but the bus operation efficiency is reduced; under the control of S2, the problem of S1 operation efficiency reduction can be solved, and the operation stability can be improved at the same time to achieve the effect of preventing bunching. For the real-time control strategy (S3 for short), the average bus travel time is the smallest, the distance between the buses is maintained the best, and the running stability is also the best, which avoids the bus bunching to the greatest extent. Among them, the average travel time is reduced by about 34% compared with the second strategy. This study provides a theoretical basis and strategy reference for bus operators to ensure balanced bus operation.
Intercropping of Cauliflower with Lettuce Is More Effective for Sustainable Fertilizer Management and Minimizing Environmental Risks
Authors: Turan Metin , Erenler Seda , Ekinci Melek , Yildirim Ertan , Argin Sanem
Published: June 2022

Intercropping systems are one of the sustainable agricultural models as they play an important role in protecting soil fertility, efficient use of resources, maintaining stable yields, and reducing the effectiveness of diseases and pests. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intercropping (IC) cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) with leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) on the yield and quality parameters of cauliflower and to evaluate the overall productivity of the system under different nitrogen fertilization rates (160, 200, and 240 kg N ha−1). Our results showed that the leaf chlorophyll value (SPAD), plant weight, leaf weight, head diameter, head height, head weight, and total yield of cauliflower were found to increase as the nitrogen dose increased in both the monocropping (MC) and IC systems. The most efficient nitrogen fertilizer doses for cauliflower were 234.7 kg ha−1 for MC and 176.6 kg ha−1 for IC, respectively. When the intercropping system was used the total yield (cauliflower and lettuce) was higher than the yield of cauliflower (MC) for the same total area and fertilizer amount. The land equivalent ratio (LER) values were greater than 1 in the intercropping system at all fertilization rates, which indicated that the IC system was more productive than the MC system for the same unit of land. Our findings also showed that intercropping was an effective method to increase fertilizer use efficiency and the soil organic matter, nitrogen content, plant available P, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu. In conclusion, while intercropping cauliflower with lettuce did not adversely affect the yield of cauliflower, it enabled harvesting more plants (cauliflower and lettuce) from the same land area by using the same amount of fertilizer, which makes intercropping a sustainable, economical, and ecological model that increases the land-use and fertilizer-use efficiencies.
Exploring the Dynamic of a Circular Ecosystem: A Case Study about Drivers and Barriers
Authors: Barquete Sophia , Shimozono Ana Hiromi , Trevisan Adriana Hofmann , Castro Camila Gonçalves , Gomes Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos , Mascarenhas Janaina
Published: June 2022

The circular economy (CE) aims to minimize the environmental impact caused throughout the entire production chain, which can be achieved by implementing circular strategies in collaboration with different actors within a business ecosystem. Although the close relationship between CE and business ecosystem concepts, which originated the term “circular ecosystem”, research about this subject is necessary, given the scarcity of empirical studies addressing the phenomenon. Therefore, this study aims to contribute by investigating a Brazilian circular ecosystem specialized in the manufacture of ecological tiles through recycled carton packages. The exploratory case study method was selected to characterize the ecosystem and identify 27 drivers and 17 barriers that enhance and hinder the ecosystem’s existence and functioning. Our findings, summarized by a framework, demonstrate the need for integration among the ecosystem’s actors so that its value proposition can be delivered. This issue is crucial for collecting post-consumer packaging for recycling and manufacturing ecological tiles. However, actors within the circular ecosystem face some obstacles to collecting the amount of packaging post-consumer material, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, this work generates discussions and future studies on circular ecosystems, especially in the Brazilian context, where there is little evidence in this research field.
Are Winegrowers Tourism Promoters?
Authors: Senkiv Mariana , Schultheiß Jörn , Tafel Maximilian , Reiss Martin , Jedicke Eckhard
Published: June 2022

Winegrowers are significantly shaping the landscapes of wine regions around the world. These landscapes are often the most important reason why tourists decide to visit. Although it could be concluded that winegrowers play a central role in attracting tourists, the question of whether they can be considered tourism promoters remains unanswered. This paper aims to develop a theoretical framework to better understand the function of winegrowers in relation to tourism promotion. In doing so, the different disciplines of wine production, tourism, and landscape research are brought together. The created framework shows a variety of positive touristic influences that can be attributed to winegrowers, such as developing cultural landscapes, promoting regional identity, and furthering intersectoral cooperation. More importantly, it allows for a holistic assessment of a relatively unexplored research field. This is vital to understanding the impact that winegrowers have on the touristic success of wine regions. Based on careful consideration of individual factors, compensating winemakers for their yet little-recognized function as landscape stewards could be appropriate. In this context, the concept of ecosystem services may be helpful to monetize services for public goods.
An Iteration Algorithm for American Options Pricing Based on Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Li Nan
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we present an iteration algorithm for the pricing of American options based on reinforcement learning. At each iteration, the method approximates the expected discounted payoff of stopping times and produces those closer to optimal. In the convergence analysis, a finite sample bound of the algorithm is derived. The algorithm is evaluated on a multi-dimensional Black-Scholes model and a symmetric stochastic volatility model, the numerical results implied that our algorithm is accurate and efficient for pricing high-dimensional American options.
Cosmic Neutrinos as a Window to Departures from Special Relativity
Authors: Carmona José Manuel , Cortés José Luis , Relancio José Javier , Reyes Maykoll A.
Published: June 2022

We review the peculiarities that make neutrinos very special cosmic messengers in high-energy astrophysics, and, in particular, to provide possible indications of deviations from special relativity, as it is suggested theoretically by quantum gravity models. In this respect, we examine the effects that one could expect in the production, propagation, and detection of neutrinos, not only in the well-studied scenario of Lorentz Invariance Violation, but also in models which maintain, but deform, the relativity principle, such as those considered in the framework of Doubly Special Relativity. We discuss the challenges and the promising future prospects offered by this phenomenological window to physics beyond special relativity.
A Joint Positioning Algorithm in Industrial IoT Environments with mm-Wave Communications
Authors: Chen Hua-Min , Huang Siyu , Wang Peng , Chen Tao , Fang Chao , Lin Shaofu , Li Fan
Published: June 2022

With the real restriction of packet size and transmission power, a joint UL-AoA (Uplink Angle of Arrival) and UL-TDOA (Uplink Time Difference of Arrival) positioning method is discussed for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which demands high accuracy of position information. One motivation of the UL positioning method of IIoT is an asymmetric network and uplink traffic is dominant in most identified scenarios. Further, IIoT sensors are power limited for low cost, compared to the transmission power of base stations and other normal user equipment. This paper considers an environment of a 5G-enabled IIoT network with massive Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antennas, beamforming and millimeter operating bands. After reviewing downlink positioning reference signal (PRS) and uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (SRS-Pos), a general system model and a theoretical localization problem is derived under the joint positioning method. The provided simulation results help to investigate the impact of system configurations on positioning measurements. Further, through the test in this paper, it is proved that joint positioning outperforms that of the time only or angle only method.
Effects of Adversarial Training on the Safety of Classification Models
Authors: Kim Handong , Han Jongdae
Published: June 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most important topics that implements symmetry in computer science. As like humans, most AI also learns by trial-and-error approach which requires appropriate adversarial examples. In this study, we prove that adversarial training can be useful to verify the safety of classification model in early stage of development. We experimented with various amount of adversarial data and found that the safety can be significantly improved by appropriate ratio of adversarial training.
Tryptophan Residues Are Critical for Portal Protein Assembly and Incorporation in Bacteriophage P22
Authors: Woodbury Brianna M. , Motwani Tina , Leroux Makayla N. , Barnes Lauren F. , Lyktey Nicholas A. , Banerjee Sanchari , Dedeo Corynne L. , Jarrold Martin F. , Teschke Carolyn M.
Published: June 2022

The oligomerization and incorporation of the bacteriophage P22 portal protein complex into procapsids (PCs) depends upon an interaction with scaffolding protein, but the region of the portal protein that interacts with scaffolding protein has not been defined. In herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), conserved tryptophan residues located in the wing domain are required for portal-scaffolding protein interactions. In this study, tryptophan residues (W) present at positions 41, 44, 207 and 211 within the wing domain of the bacteriophage P22 portal protein were mutated to both conserved and non-conserved amino acids. Substitutions at each of these positions were shown to impair portal function in vivo, resulting in a lethal phenotype by complementation. The alanine substitutions caused the most severe defects and were thus further characterized. An analysis of infected cell lysates for the W to A mutants revealed that all the portal protein variants except W211A, which has a temperature-sensitive incorporation defect, were successfully recruited into procapsids. By charge detection mass spectrometry, all W to A mutant portal proteins were shown to form stable dodecameric rings except the variant W41A, which dissociated readily to monomers. Together, these results suggest that for P22 conserved tryptophan, residues in the wing domain of the portal protein play key roles in portal protein oligomerization and incorporation into procapsids, ultimately affecting the functionality of the portal protein at specific stages of virus assembly.
Cardiopulmonary Injury in the Syrian Hamster Model of COVID-19
Authors: Xue Yi , Yang Dong , Vogel Peter , Stabenow Jennifer , Zalduondo Lillian , Kong Ying , Ravi Yazhini , Sai-Sudhakar Chittoor B. , Parvathareddy Jyothi , Hayes Ernestine , Taylor Shannon , Fitzpatrick Elizabeth , Jonsson Colleen B.
Published: June 2022

The Syrian hamster has proved useful in the evaluation of therapeutics and vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). To advance the model for preclinical studies, we conducted serial sacrifice of lungs, large pulmonary vessels, and hearts from male and female Syrian hamsters for days 1–4, and 8 post-infection (dpi) following infection with a high dose of SARS-CoV-2. Evaluation of microscopic lung histopathology scores suggests 4 and 8 dpi as prime indicators in the evaluation of moderate pathology with bronchial hyperplasia, alveolar involvement and bronchiolization being key assessments of lung disease and recovery, respectively. In addition, neutrophil levels, red blood cell count and hematocrit showed significant increases during early infection. We present histological evidence of severe damage to the pulmonary vasculature with extensive leukocyte transmigration and the loss of endothelial cells and tunica media. Our evidence of endothelial and inflammatory cell death in the pulmonary vessels suggests endothelialitis secondary to SARS-CoV-2 epithelial cell infection as a possible determinant of the pathological findings along with the host inflammatory response. Lastly, pathological examination of the heart revealed evidence for intracardiac platelet/fibrin aggregates in male and female hamsters on 8 dpi, which might be indicative of a hypercoagulative state in these animals.
Inhibitors of Deubiquitinating Enzymes Interfere with the SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease and Block Virus Replication In Vitro
Authors: Große Maximilian , Setz Christian , Rauch Pia , Auth Janina , Morokutti-Kurz Martina , Temchura Vladimir , Schubert Ulrich
Published: June 2022

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), particularly its deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), play a key role in the replication cycle of coronaviruses. The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (Plpro) is known to process the viral polyproteins to form the replicase transcriptase complex and to counteract the host viral response. Recently, it was shown that this viral protease can also act as a deubiquitinating enzyme. In this study, we demonstrate that certain DUB-Inhibitors (DIs) interfere with SARS-CoV-2 replication. The DIs PR-619 and HBX41108 restrict SARS-CoV-2 in both Vero B4 and human Calu-3 lung cells where cells were infected with a Multiplicity of Infection (MOI) of 0.02. An in vitro protease assay using recombinant Plpro and Amido-4-methylcoumarin (AMC)-conjugated substrate revealed that PR-619 and HBX41108 are able to block the protease at concentrations where the interventions restricted virus replication. In contrast, DIs that do not inhibit Plpro had no influence on virus replication, which indicated that the protease might be at least one major target. Future vertical studies that would gain more insights into the mechanisms of how DUBs effect the replication of SARS-CoV-2 will further validate them as a potential therapeutic target.
Deletion of the ASFV dUTPase Gene E165R from the Genome of Highly Virulent African Swine Fever Virus Georgia 2010 Does Not Affect Virus Replication or Virulence in Domestic Pigs
Authors: Vuono Elizabeth A. , Ramirez-Medina Elizabeth , Pruitt Sarah , Rai Ayushi , Espinoza Nallely , Silva Ediane , Velazquez-Salinas Lauro , Gladue Douglas P. , Borca Manuel V.
Published: June 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is a frequently lethal disease of domestic and wild swine currently producing a pandemic affecting pig production in Eurasia. The causative agent, ASF virus (ASFV) is a structurally complex virus with a large genome harboring over 150 genes. One of them, E165R, encodes for a protein belonging to the dUTPase family. The fine structure of the purified protein has been recently analyzed and its dUTPase activity tested. In addition, it has been reported that a BA71 mutant virus, adapted to growth in Vero cells, lacking the E165R gene presented a drastic decreased replication in swine macrophages, its natural target cell. Herein, we report the development of a recombinant virus, ASFV-G-∆E165R, harboring the deletion of the E165R gene from the genome of the highly virulent field isolate ASFV Georgia 2010 (ASFV-G). Interestingly, ASFV-G-∆E165R replicates in primary swine macrophage cultures as efficiently as the parental virus ASFV-G. In addition, ASFV-G-∆E165R also replicates in experimentally inoculated domestic pigs with equal efficacy as ASFV-G and produced a lethal disease almost indistinguishable from that induced by the parental virus. Therefore, results presented here clearly demonstrated that E165R gene is not essential or important for ASFV replication in swine macrophages nor disease production in domestic pigs.
Examination of the Virome of Taro Plants Affected by a Lethal Disease, the Alomae-Bobone Virus Complex, in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Olmedo-Velarde Alejandro , Loristo Jarin , Kong Alexandra , Waisen Philip , Wang Koon-Hui , Hu John , Melzer Michael
Published: June 2022

Alomae-bobone virus complex (ABVC) is a lethal but still understudied disease that is limited to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The only virus clearly associated to ABVC is Colocasia bobone disease-associated virus (CBDaV). Taro (Colocasia esculenta) plants with and without symptoms of ABVC disease were sampled from two locations in Papua New Guinea and examined for viruses using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Similar to previous reports, isolates of CBDaV were present only in symptomatic plants, further supporting its role in the disease. The only other viruses consistently present in symptomatic plants were badnaviruses: taro bacilliform virus (TaBV) and/or taro bacilliform CH virus (TaBCHV). If ABVC requires co-infection by multiple viruses, CBDaV and badnavirus infection appears to be the most likely combination. The complete genomes of two isolates of CBDaV and TaBCHV, and single isolates of TaBV and dasheen mosaic virus, were obtained in this study, furthering our knowledge of the genetic diversity of these relatively understudied taro viruses. HTS data also provided evidence for an agent similar to umbra-like viruses that we are tentatively designating it as Colocasia umbra-like virus (CULV).
Special Issue “COVID-19 and Thrombosis”
Authors: Di Micco Pierpaolo , Imbalzano Egidio , Camporese Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Since the pandemic began, an association among COVID-19 and venous thromboembolism has been reported, in particular for inpatients [...]
The Effects of Different Geological Conditions on Landslide-Triggering Rainfall Conditions in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jae-Uk , Cho Yong-Chan , Kim Minseok , Jang Su-Jin , Lee Jongmyoung , Kim Sukwoo
Published: June 2022

How landslide-triggering rainfall conditions vary with geology is unclear. The effects of three different geological conditions (gneiss, GN; granite, GR; sedimentary rock, SR) on variations in intensity–duration (I-D) conditions and rainfall characteristics responsible for initiating shallow landslides were examined using data from 476 landslides in South Korea from 1963 to 2018 and detailed statistical analyses. Results from quantile regression and one-way analysis of variance analyses clearly showed that impermeable SR slopes result in smaller critical rainfall than permeable GN and GR slopes do, indicating a relatively high occurrence exceedance probability and susceptibility to landslides in SR slope. These findings suggest that geological conditions, particularly the relatively high susceptibility of SR slopes, should be considered when establishing rainfall information-based landslide warning criteria for South Korea. Our findings can contribute to the assessment of landslide susceptibility and probability based on geological conditions; however, they should be further investigated through in situ observations.
Study on Supply–Demand Balance Analysis and Service Flow of Water Resources in Dongjiang River Basin
Authors: Wang Xinyi , Zhang Zhengdong , Liu Fangrui , Chen Songjia , Dong Jianbin , Mao Yuanyuan , Cao Jun
Published: June 2022

The distribution of water resources is usually characterized by spatial heterogeneity, resulting in different water supply and demand pressures within the basin. Therefore, the analysis of water resources supply and demand balance and the mapping of water resources spatial flow can be an effective suggestion for the regional water resources allocation to relieve the regional water pressure. The uneven distribution of water resources in the Dongjiang River Basin is significant, and how to effectively allocate water resources in the Dongjiang River Basin has become a major focus of research. Based on the multi-source data of the Dongjiang River Basin from 2005 to 2020, this paper uses the SWAT model and water demand model to establish the spatial flow model of water resources supply and demand, and uses the subbasin-scale to explore the spatial distribution and flow of water resources supply and demand, obtaining the spatial scope and flow of water resources supply and beneficiary areas in the basin. The results show that (1) the water supply in the Dongjiang River Basin has been decreasing year by year, and the water demand has been increasing from 2005 to 2015, leading to an increase in the imbalance between supply and demand, and there is a significant reduction in industrial water use from 2015 to 2020, resulting in a reduction in the imbalance between water supply and demand; (2) the supply and demand pressure of water resources in the Dongjiang River Basin has obvious spatial heterogeneity, showing that the pressure of water use in the middle and upper reaches is small, while the pressure of water use in the lower reaches is large; (3) under the framework of spatial service flows of water resources supply and demand, this paper obtains three main beneficiary area ranges, which are Dongyuan County of Heyuan City, Yuancheng District of Heyuan City, and the main urban area of Shenzhen Dongguan Huizhou, and specifies the flow of service flows. This study can not only provide reasonable suggestions for water resources allocation in the Dongjiang River Basin but it also provides references for water resources management in other basins.
Mapping the Complex Journey of Swimming Pool Contaminants: A Multi-Method Systems Approach
Authors: Heilgeist Simone , Sahin Oz , Sekine Ryo , Stewart Rodney A.
Published: June 2022

Swimming pool owners worldwide face the challenging task of keeping their pool water balanced and free from contaminants. However, swimming pool water (SPW) quality management is complex with the countless processes and interactions of interlinked system variables. For example, contamination with sunscreen residues is inevitable as users apply sunscreen to protect their skin from damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Nanoparticulate titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) is one such residues that have received criticism due to potential human health and environmental risks. Despite ongoing research studies, management strategies of nano-TiO2 in swimming pools are still limited. Therefore, this paper focuses on developing a multi-method approach for identifying and understanding interdependencies between TiO2 particles and an aquatic environment such as a swimming pool. Given the complexity of the system to be assessed, the authors utilise a systems approach by integrating cross-matrix multiplication (MICMAC) and Systems Thinking techniques. The developed conceptual model visually depicts the complex system, which provides users with a basic understanding of swimming pool chemistry, displaying the numerous cause-and-effect relationships and enabling users to identify leverage points that can effectively change the dynamics of the system. Such systems-level understanding, and actions will help to manage nano-TiO2 levels in an efficient manner. The novelty of this paper is the proposed methodology, which uses a systems approach to conceptualise the complex interactions of contaminants in swimming pools and important pathways to elevated contaminant levels.
Biological Degradation of the Azo Dye Basic Orange 2 by Escherichia coli: A Sustainable and Ecofriendly Approach for the Treatment of Textile Wastewater
Authors: Ikram Muhammad , Naeem Mohammad , Zahoor Muhammad , Hanafiah Marlia , Oyekanmi Adeleke , Ullah Riaz , Farraj Dunia , Elshikh Mohamed , Zekker Ivar , Gulfam Naila
Published: June 2022

In this study, initially 11 different bacterial strains were tested for the degradation capabilities against Basic Orange 2 dye. In initial screening with 78.90% degradation activity, Escherichia coli emerged as the most promising strain to degrade the selected dye, and was then employed in subsequent experiments. For further enhancing the degradation capability of selected bacteria, the effects of various physicochemical parameters were also evaluated. Among the tested parameters, 20 ppm dye concentration, 1666 mg/L glucose concentration, a temperature of 40 °C, 666 mg/L sodium chloride concentration, pH 7, 1000 mg/L urea concentration, a 3-day incubation period and the use of sodium benzoate as a redox mediator (666 mg/L) were found to be ideal conditions to get the highest decolorization/degradation activities. Finally, all the mentioned parameters were combined in a single set of experiments, and the decolorization capacity of the bacteria was enhanced to 89.88%. The effect of pH, dye concentration, incubation time and temperature were found to be responsible for the optimum degradation of dye (p < 0.05), as predicted from the ANOVA (analysis of variance) of the response surface methodology. The metabolites were collected after completion of the process and characterized through Fourier transform irradiation (FTIR) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). From the data obtained, a proposed mechanism was deduced where it was assumed that the azo bond of the dye was broken by the azoreductase enzyme of the bacteria, resulting in the formation of aniline and 3, 4-diaminobezeminium chloride. The aniline was then further converted to benzene by deamination by the action of the bacterial deaminase enzyme. The benzene ring, after subsequent methylation, was transformed into o-xylene, while 3, 4-diaminobezeminium chloride was converted to p-xylene by enzymatic action. These findings suggest that Escherichia coli is a capable strain to be used in the bioremediation of textile effluents containing azo dyes. However, the selected bacterial strain may need to be further investigated for other dyes as well.
Improving Environmental DNA Sensitivity for Dreissenid Mussels by Targeting Tandem Repeat Regions of the Mitochondrial Genome
Authors: Marshall Nathaniel T. , Vanderploeg Henry A. , Chaganti Subba Rao
Published: June 2022

The recent genetic revolution through the analysis of aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a powerful tool for improving the detection of rare and/or invasive species. For the majority of eDNA studies, genetic assays are designed to target mitochondrial genes commonly referred to as “barcode” regions. However, unlike the typical structure of an animal mitochondrial genome, those for the invasive zebra and quagga mussels are greatly expanded with large extended tandem repeat regions. These sections of repeated DNA can appear hundreds of times within the genome compared to a single copy for the mitochondrial barcode genes. This higher number of target copies per mitochondrial genome presents an opportunity to increase eDNA assay sensitivity for these species. Therefore, we designed and evaluated new eDNA assays to target the extended repeat sections for both zebra and quagga mussels. These assays lower the limit of detection of genomic DNA by 100-fold for zebra mussels and 10-fold for quagga mussels. Additionally, these newly developed assays provided longer durations of detection during degradation mesocosm experiments and greater sensitivity for eDNA detection from water samples collected across western Lake Erie compared to standard assays targeting mitochondrial genes. This work illustrates how understanding the complete genomic structure of an organism can improve eDNA analysis.
Analyzing the Benefit-Cost Ratio of Sediment Resources by Remote Sensing Data in the Ping River Basin, Thailand
Authors: Rangsiwanichpong Prem , Melesse Assefa M.
Published: June 2022

Sediment is one of the important natural resources on the Earth. Information on sediment resources is key to making decisions regarding soil resources management and mitigation during sediment hazard events. Thus, this research analyzed and mapped the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of sediment in the Ping River using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Furthermore, the benefit of sediment was analyzed using a new application of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) with a spatial resolution of 1 km2. The results reveal that the potential of annual soil loss and sediment deposition in the Ping River Basin (PRB) were approximately 825 and 530 m3/km2·y, respectively. In addition, the results indicated that there was a higher BCR in the upstream area of the PRB where there was greater sediment deposition. The average benefit of sediment in the PRB is USD 4280/km2·y. It is expected that the BCR of the sediment resources map analyzed in this research will help policy-makers for decision-making on the benefits of sediment resources in Thailand.
Microtonal Guitar Culture in Turkey
Authors: EREN Ozan , GÜVEN Uğur Zeynep
Published: June 2022

The main objective of this article is to analyze the development and the contemporary artistic milieu of microtonal guitar culture in Turkey. With a particular focus on the adjustable microtonal guitar developed by Tolgahan Çoğulu, we examined musicians’ experiences and the ways that they relate to this musical instrument. We used qualitative research methods and conducted in-depth interviews with our key informant and adviser Tolgahan Çoğulu as well as eight musicians who specialize in microtonal guitar. We utilized Bennett and Peterson’s definition of ‘scene’ to discuss microtonal guitar culture in Turkey. After briefly presenting the development of guitar music and questioning the nature of its representation in Istanbul, we analyzed the themes that emerged in conversation with the guitar players. We determined that our interviewees, who are educated, enthusiastic and committed musicians, are all influenced by Tolgahan Çoğulu’s efforts to shape the microtonal guitar world and are driven by their own artistic motivations. We found that musicians shared views on the innovative and promising qualities as well as certain live performance-related difficulties of this instrument –including the need to hammer new frets for different tuning systems on stage and the necessity of sharing microtonal guitar music recordings or videos using new media technologies. Although musical pieces in the microtonal guitar repertoire are mainly rooted in Turkish music, many consider this instrument to be an attempt towards overcoming the generally accepted distinctions between Western and Eastern music. We aim to contribute to further analysis of this flourishing music culture through our discussions on future implications of the current situation and our projections for the growing interest in microtonal music in Turkey.
Marketing Internet communications of service enterprises
Authors:   Department of Service and Hotel Business, Mikhail Tugan-Baranovsky Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade, Krylova L. V. , Volozhaninova T. V. ,   Department of Service and Hospitality, Mikhail Tugan-Baranovsky Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade
Published: June 2022

Today the Internet is a business tool that satisfies information needs and creates an effective system of relationships between enterprises and consumers, as well as all elements of the external business environment. This actualizes a comprehensive study of the conceptual foundations of Internet marketing and its communication, the role of the Internet in the processes of business globalization and acquires important scientific and practical significance. The use of the Internet brings new features and benefits compared to marketing based on traditional technologies and the classic marketing mix. There is a combination of conventional marketing methods and the latest information technology. The Internet combines the interactive nature of communication, hypermedia nature and the ability to build individual interaction. The article considers the concept of Internet marketing communications of service enterprises. The principles of activity in this area are systematized, the main tasks and functions of Internet technologies for service enterprises are highlighted, and the main tools of online dialogue for the implementation of customer-oriented service are presented.