bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Biomarkers in Monitoring Chronic Fatigue Among Male Professional Team Athletes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Soler-López Alejandro , Moreno-Villanueva Adrián , Gómez-Carmona Carlos D. , Pino-Ortega José
Published: October 2024

This systematic review synthesizes evidence on biomarker responses to physiological loads in professional male team sport athletes, providing insights into induced fatigue states. Structured searches across major databases yielded 28 studies examining various biomarkers in elite team sport players. Studies evaluated muscle damage markers, anabolic/catabolic hormones reflecting metabolic strain, inflammatory markers indicating immune activity and tissue damage, immunological markers tied to infection risk, and oxidative stress markers showing redox imbalances from excessive physiological load. Responses were examined in official matches and training across competitive seasons. The evidence shows that professional team sports induce significant alterations in all studied biomarkers, reflecting measurable physiological strain, muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunosuppression during intensive exercise. These effects tend to be larger and more prolonged after official matches compared to training. Reported recovery time courses range from 24-h to several days post-exercise. Monitoring biomarkers enables quantifying cumulative fatigue and physiological adaptations to training/competition loads, helping to optimize performance while mitigating injury and overtraining. Key biomarkers include creatine kinase, testosterone, cortisol, testosterone/cortisol ratio, salivary immunoglobulin-A, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Further research should extend biomarker monitoring to cover psychological stress and affective states alongside physiological metrics for deeper insight into athlete wellness and readiness.
Research on Obstacle-Avoidance Trajectory Planning for Drill and Anchor Materials Handling by a Mechanical Arm on a Coal Mine Drilling and Anchoring Robot
Authors: Sun Siya , Mao Sirui , Xue Xusheng , Wang Chuanwei , Ma Hongwei , Guo Yifeng , Yuan Haining , Su Hao
Published: October 2024

At present, China’s coal mine permanent tunneling support commonly uses mechanized drilling and anchoring equipment; there are low support efficiency, labor intensity, and other issues. In order to further improve the support efficiency and liberate productivity, this paper further researches the trajectory planning of the drilling and anchoring materials of the robotic arm for the drilling machine “grasping–carrying–loading–unloading” on the basis of the drilling and anchoring robotic system designed by the team in the previous stage. Firstly, the kinematic model of the robotic arm with material was established by improving the D-H parameter method. Then, the working space of the robotic arm with the material was analyzed using the Monte Carlo method. The singular bit-shaped region of the robotic arm was restricted, and obstacles were removed from the working space. The inverse kinematics was utilized to solve the feasible domain of the robotic arm with material. Secondly, in order to avoid blind searching, the guidance of the Bi-RRT algorithm was improved by adding the target guidance factor, and the two-way tree connection strategy for determining the feasible domain was combined with the Bi-RRT algorithm’s feasible domain judgment bi-directional tree connection strategy to improve the convergence speed of the Bi-RRT algorithm. Then, in order to adapt to the dynamic environment and avoid the global planning algorithm from falling into the local minima, on the basis of the above planning methods, an improved Bi-RRT trajectory planning algorithm incorporating the artificial potential field was proposed, which takes the planned paths as the guiding potential field of the artificial potential field to make full use of the global information and avoid falling into the local minimization. Finally, a simulation environment was built in a ROS environment to compare and analyze the planning effect of different algorithms. The simulation results showed that the improved Bi-RRT trajectory planning algorithm incorporating the artificial potential field improved the optimization speed by 69.8% and shortened the trajectory length by 46.6% compared with the traditional RRT algorithm.
Assessing Compliance with Indigenous Self-Determination Standards: A Comparative Analysis of Chile, Colombia, and Mexico
Authors: Ramírez Salazar Martha Angélica , Guirette Barbosa Omar Alejandro , Castañeda-Burciaga Selene , García Estrada Leticia I. , Villanueva-Maldonado Juvenal , Celaya-Padilla José M.
Published: October 2024

Recent advancements have been observed in the global legal framework, particularly in the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights, among which the right to self-determination stands out. This right encompasses the ability to define their political status and to pursue economic, social, and cultural development autonomously. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has identified six criteria to evaluate adherence to these rights. This study aims to assess the progress made by Chile, Colombia, and Mexico in meeting these criteria. Employing a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and exploratory research design, the study utilized a questionnaire based on a Likert scale to gather data from residents of Indigenous communities within the three countries under consideration to measure the perception that these individuals have regarding the compliance with the six standards of the IACHR, and specific questions have been designed based on the content of each standard. Once the degree of self-determination is understood, a multivariate analysis technique (Principal Component Analysis) will be used to compare the level of progress by country. The data collection instruments were applied in 2023 (September/November), with the results processed and the final report drafted in early 2024. Findings suggest that the criterion most adequately met is that of cultural identity and non-discrimination, whereas the criterion pertaining to the right to prior, free, and informed consultation and consent is the least fulfilled. Through principal component analysis, it was noted that Colombia exhibits a higher level of compliance with the right to self-determination, followed by Mexico, with Chile demonstrating a divergence and lagging in progress. The study concludes that a significant challenge for these countries lies in continuing efforts to effectively meet these standards and ensure the right to self-determination for Indigenous and tribal peoples.
Strategic Management Control Tools for the Sustainability of Seaports: A Scoping Review
Authors: Martins Jorge , Costa Ana , Campos Carla , Sousa Ana , Faria Inês
Published: October 2024

This study offers an analysis of existing research on sustainability and its link to accounting and management control in the port sector. Existing studies do not provide a comprehensive discussion of management accounting and control tools in this context, despite recognizing the relevance of the topic. A scoping review was used as a methodological basis, with the aim of mapping the literature on the role of accounting and management control, as well as their relationship with the triple bottom line associated with the various levels of sustainability in this sector. The results point to a diversity of tools used in developed countries, where interest in efficiency, sustainability, and strategic alignment stands out.
Fractional Flow Analysis of Foam Displacement in Tight Porous Media with Quasi-Static Pore Network Modeling and Core-Flooding Experiments
Authors: Yang Jun , Shakib Iftekhar Ahmed , Lin Zeyu , Song Yunan , He Yanfeng , Zhang Bo , Zhao Jing
Published: October 2024

Fractional flow analysis is an efficient tool to evaluate the gas-trapping performance of foam in porous media. The pore-scale simulation study and the core-scale experimental work have been bridged via the fractional flow analysis to distinguish the characteristics of foam displacement inside the tight porous media with varying absolute permeability, injection rate, and foam quality. In this work, the combined investigation suggests that conventional foam-enhancing strategies, pursuing higher foam quality and stronger foam regime, are inefficient and restricted in tight reservoirs that the critical Sw corresponding to the limiting capillary pressure has increased around 37~43%, which indicates severely weakened gas-trapping capacity as permeability reduces one order of magnitude. The moderate mobility adjustment and corresponding optimized fluid injectivity exerting from the “weak foam” flow presents a staged decline feature of decreasing water fractional flow, which implies the existence of the delayed gas-trapping phenomenon when water saturation reduces to 0.5~0.6. The finding has supported the engineering ideal of promoting low-tension gas (LTG) drive processes as a potential solution to assist field gas injection applications suffering from gas channeling. Also, the validation with core-flooding experimental results has revealed several defects of the current pore network model of foam displacement in tight porous media, including exaggerated gas trapping and overestimated confining water saturation. This study has innovatively demonstrated the feasibility and potential of optimizing the foam performance of gas trapping and mobility control in tight reservoirs, which provides a clue that may eventually boost the efficiency of the gas injection process in enhanced oil recovery or CO2 sequestration projects.
Comparative Study of Life-Cycle Environmental and Cost Performance of Aluminium Alloy–Concrete Composite Columns
Authors: Ali Shafayat Bin , Kamaris George S. , Gkantou Michaela , Huang Yue
Published: October 2024

As is widely known, the construction industry is one of the sectors with a large contribution to global carbon emissions. Despite numerous efforts in the construction industry to develop low-carbon materials, there is a limited number of studies quantifying and presenting the overall environmental impact when these materials are applied in a construction project as structural members. To address this gap, this study focuses on assessing the life-cycle performance of novel structural aluminium alloy–concrete composite columns. In this paper, the environmental impacts and economic aspects of a concrete-filled aluminium alloy tubular (CFAT) column and a concrete-filled double-skin aluminium alloy tubular (CFDSAT) column were assessed using life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) approaches, respectively. The cradle-to-grave system boundary is considered for these analyses to cover the entire life-cycle. A concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column is also assessed for reference. All columns are designed to have the same load-carrying capacity and, thus, are compared on a level-playing basis. A comparison is also made of the self-weight of these columns. In particular, the self-weight of the CFST column is reduced by around 17% when the steel tube is replaced by an aluminium alloy tube, and decreased by 47% when the double-skin technique is adopted in CFDSAT columns. The LCA results indicate that the CO2 emission of CFST and CFAT is almost the same, which is 21% less than the CFDSAT columns due to the use of high aluminium in the latter. The LCCA results show that the total life-cycle cost of CFAT and CFDSAT columns is around 29% and 14% lower, respectively, than that of the CFST column. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of data and assumptions on the life-cycle performance of the examined columns.
Adsorption of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution Using Hydrochar Produced from Agricultural Wastes
Authors: Shrestha Esha , Manandhar Ashish , Shah Ajay
Published: October 2024

Excess phosphorus (P) in agricultural runoff can cause eutrophication in nearby waterbodies. Therefore, it is crucial to remove P from agricultural runoff before it reaches aquatic environments. This study evaluated the P adsorption potential of adsorbents prepared via co-hydrothermal carbonization of multiple agricultural wastes, including dairy manure (DM), corn stover (CS), and eggshell (ES), followed by thermal activation. The performance of the prepared adsorbents was investigated by both batch and column experiments. The activated hydrochar (AHC) with a DM/CS/ES ratio of 1:0:1 showed the highest P adsorption capacity of 209 ± 0.6 and 65.97 ± 9.04 mg/g in batch and column experiments, respectively. The P adsorption mechanism was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.8802) and the pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R2 > 0.8989). The adsorbent indicated the longest breakthrough and exhaust time of 210 and 540 min, respectively, with an adsorbent dose of 1 g and an initial concentration of 25 mg P/L. The breakthrough curve was well described by the Thomas model (R2 > 0.971). Thus, this study indicates that AHC with eggshell has high potential for use as an adsorbent for P removal from agricultural runoff.
Isolation and Identification of Multi-Traits PGPR for Sustainable Crop Productivity Under Salinity Stress
Authors: Injamum-Ul-Hoque Md. , Imran Muhammad , Zainurin Nazree , Shaffique Shifa , Kang Sang-Mo , Ahsan S. M. , Odongkara Peter , Lee In-Jung
Published: October 2024

High salinity poses a significant threat to arable land globally and contributes to desertification. Growth-promoting rhizobacteria assist plants in mitigating abiotic stresses and enhancing crop productivity through the production of siderophores, exopolysaccharides (EPS), solubilisation of phosphate, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and other secondary metabolites. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and characterise bacteria that exhibit robust growth-promoting properties. A total of 64 bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sinensis were evaluated for plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, including IAA, EPS, siderophores, and solubilisation of phosphate. Among them, five isolates were selected as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) based on their PGP features and identified via 16S rRNA sequencing: Enterococcus mundtii strain INJ1 (OR122486), Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain INJ2 (OR122488), Lysinibacillus sphaericus strain MIIA20 (OR122490), Pseudomonas qingdaonensis strain BD1 (OR122487), and Pseudomonas qingdaonensis strain MIA20 (OR122489), all documented in NCBI GenBank. BD1 demonstrated a higher production of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (17.93 U/mg mL), catalase (CAT) (91.17 U/mg mL), and glutathione (GSH) (0.18 U/mg mL), along with higher concentrations of IAA (31.69 µg/mL) and salicylic acid (SA) (14.08 ng/mL). These isolates also produced significant quantities of amino and organic acids. BD1 exhibited superior PGP traits compared to other isolates. Furthermore, the NaCl tolerance of these bacterial isolates was assessed by measuring their growth at concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 mM at 8-h intervals. Optical density (OD) measurements indicated that BD1 and INJ2 displayed significant tolerance to salt stress. The utilisation of these isolates, which enhances plant growth and PGP traits under salt stress, may improve plant development under saline conditions.
Investigating the Multifaceted Impact of Urban Environment on Winter Green Travel in Cold Regions: An Empirical Study of Shenyang, China
Authors: Du Yu , Wang Xinyao , Dou Chenxi , Wu Yongjian , Li Jiayi
Published: October 2024

Green travel offers significant benefits, including reducing pollution and alleviating traffic congestion. Despite these advantages, green travel is less popular in cold regions, particularly during winter, due to comfort, convenience, and safety concerns. While climate factors are immutable, enhancing the urban environment can promote winter green travel. This paper examines the impact of urban environments on residents’ willingness to engage in green travel in cities located in cold regions during winter. Using data from Shenyang, China, a comprehensive structural equation model based on the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) theory was constructed, revealing the causal relationships and underlying structure between environmental factors and green travel willingness. The model demonstrates that social, built, natural, and travel environments collectively shape residents’ willingness to engage in green travel, with the social environment emerging as the most impactful factor. Additionally, this study identified two crucial mediating variables, travel perception evaluation and attitude towards green travel, which indirectly influence green travel willingness. This study also identifies nine critical factors—often underappreciated in traditional analyses—that should be prioritised in urban planning. These findings advance the understanding of green travel behaviour in winter cities by illustrating the complex interplay between environmental factors and individual attitudes while providing actionable guidance for fostering supportive social environments and strategically enhancing built and travel environments to promote green travel in cold climates.
Potential Sites for Rainwater Harvesting Focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals Using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System
Authors: Ullah Sadiq , Iqbal Mudassar , Waseem Muhammad , Abbas Adnan , Masood Muhammad , Nabi Ghulam , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Sadam Muhammad
Published: October 2024

An innovative way to combat water scarcity brought on by population increase and climate change is rainwater harvesting (RWH), particularly in arid and semiarid areas. Currently, Pakistan is facing major water issues due to underprivileged water resource management, climate change, land use changes, and the sustainability of local water resources. This research aims to find out the suitable sites and options for RWH structures in the Quetta district of Pakistan by integrating the depression depth technique, Boolean analysis, and weighted linear combination (WLC) with hydrological modeling (HM), multicriteria analysis (MCA), a geographic information system (GIS), and remote sensing (RS). To find suitable sites for RWH, a collection of twelve (12) thematic layers were used, including the slope (SL), land use land cover (LULC), subarea (SA), runoff depth (RD), drainage density (DD), lineament density (LD), infiltration number (IFN), distance from built-up area (DB), distance from roads (DR), distance from lakes (DL), maximum flow distance (MFD), and topographic wetness index (TWI). The Boolean analysis and WLC approach were integrated in the GIS environment. The consistency ratio (CR) was calculated to make sure the assigned weights to thematic layers were consistent. Overall, results show that 6.36% (167.418 km2), 14.34% (377.284 km2), 16.36% (430.444 km2), 18.92% (497.663 km2), and 18.64% (490.224 km2) of the area are in the categories of very high, high, moderate, low, and very low suitability, respectively, for RWH. RWH potential is restricted to 25.35% (666.86 km2) of the area. This research also identifies the five (5) best locations for checking dams and the ten (10) best locations for percolation tanks on the streams. The conducted suitability analysis will assist stakeholders in selecting the optimal locations for RWH structures, facilitating the storage of water, and addressing the severe water scarcity prevalent in the area. This study proposes a novel approach to handle the problems of water shortage in conjunction with environmental and socioeconomic pressures in order to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Exploring the Temporal, Spatial and Characteristic Trends and Key Influencing Factors of Tianjin’s Industrial Heritage
Authors: Liu Yu , Luo Tai
Published: October 2024

Tianjin is currently in the phase of urban stock renewal, yet its industrial heritage encounters significant challenges, including constrained spatial development, a misalignment between industrial progress and the reuse of industrial heritage, and an understated cultural representation. This study utilized geospatial analysis methods, including kernel density analysis, standard deviation ellipse analysis, and gravity migration model analysis, to elucidate the distribution characteristics of Tianjin’s industrial heritage across temporal, spatial, and typological dimensions. Moreover, a geographic detector was employed to assess the impact of various factors on the development of Tianjin’s industrial heritage, ultimately elucidating the correlations between existing challenges and objective patterns. The conclusion of this paper presents three strategic approaches for the renewal of industrial heritage, emphasizing historical culture, environmental space, and sustainable development. These strategies are designed to provide a solid research foundation for protecting and revitalizing Tianjin’s industrial heritage resources.
Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprints from Away and Home Matches: A Study on Leading Basketball and Football Teams in Türkiye
Authors: Cetin Arif , Pekel Aydın , Ozman Cemal , Ozgur Beyhan , Demir Ayse
Published: October 2024

Problem: Basketball and football teams in Türkiye have the capacity to travel hundreds of kilometres for league matches. In general, such major leagues and leading teams travelling from Türkiye have not been sufficiently researched in the context of Türkiye’s leading leagues and teams. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess and compare the carbon footprint of the transport activities of basketball and football teams in Türkiye for their home and away matches for the 2023–2024 season. Methods: The research is based on EN 16258 and ICAO carbon emissions methodologies. This study aims to calculate and compare the carbon footprint of different transport methods, including bus and plane, used by five basketball and football teams in Türkiye. Results: The findings show that there are significant differences between the teams in terms of travelling distances and carbon footprints. Trabzonspor from the Black Sea region released the highest CO2 emissions from air travel with a total of 91,667.1 kgCO2e, while Fenerbahçe Beko had the lowest CO2 emissions with 5316.72 kgCO2e. In terms of bus travel, Gaziantep FK led the CO2 emissions with 4356.45 kgCO2e, while Türk Telekom was the team with the lowest CO2 emissions with 1233.225 kgCO2e. The findings also reveal a notable difference in the number of trees teams need to plant to offset their carbon emissions. Because of their travel patterns, Antalyaspor would need to plant 3481 trees, whereas Fenerbahçe Beko would only need to plant 348 trees. Conclusions: Air travel is emerging as the dominant source of CO2 emissions and has a greater impact on the environmental impact of teams that rely heavily on airplanes. In this study, the league structure and duration play a critical role in shaping the carbon footprint of sports teams. The football season, which is longer compared to basketball, requires more frequent travel, especially for teams in more remote regions, resulting in higher carbon emissions than basketball. The dominance of Marmara region teams in basketball has a negative impact on the carbon footprint since these teams generally have shorter travel distances.
Embedding Sustainability in Tourism Education: Bridging Curriculum Gaps for a Sustainable Future
Authors: Fernández-Villarán Asunción , Guereño-Omil Basagaitz , Ageitos Nagore
Published: October 2024

The evolving challenges in the tourism industry, particularly those related to sustainability, demand significant revisions to current degree programs. This paper presents the design of a higher education curriculum for tourism studies at a Spanish university, responding to industry needs for broader, high-level knowledge and skills, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, digital transformation, and socially responsible practices. The curriculum prioritizes critical and strategic thinking alongside liberal reflection to empower students to lead in sustainable tourism development. Developed collaboratively with the entire tourism faculty, the curriculum design was informed by an extensive analysis of 105 international university courses, 204 job offers, feedback from 195 alumni, and ongoing consultations with professionals and community partners. Grounded in the concept of curriculum space and the philosophic practitioner framework, the curriculum integrates knowledge, soft skills, and attitudes to foster an innovative, sustainable learning ecosystem that prepares graduates to tackle the complexities of modern tourism with a focus on long-term environmental and social impacts.
Assessing Regional Economic Performance in Romania Through Panel ARDL and Panel Quantile Regression Models
Authors: Georgescu Irina , Nica Ionuț , Delcea Camelia , Chiriță Nora , Ionescu Ștefan
Published: October 2024

This study aims to address the persistent regional economic disparities in Romania by evaluating economic performance through Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (pARDL) and panel quantile regression (PQR) models. The analysis focuses on the impact of key economic variables, including research and development expenditures (CTCRD), IT infrastructures (IT), the number of universities (FCL), and the average number of employees (NMSP), on regional gross domestic product (GDPR). Using data from the Romanian National Institute of Statistics for the period 2003–2022, this research seeks to understand how targeted investments and policy interventions can stimulate growth and reduce inequalities across regions. The findings highlight the important role of R&D, IT infrastructures, and technological advancements in driving economic growth, especially in less developed areas. The study also emphasizes the importance of region-specific strategies in fostering sustainable growth, promoting economic resilience, and bridging the gap between more and less prosperous regions.
Land Use Change in a Typical Transect in Northern China and Its Impact on the Ecological Environment
Authors: Yang Yanru , Ma Enpu , Liao Liuwen , Wu Man
Published: October 2024

This paper uses seven periods of land use/cover data from 1990 to 2020 to investigate the spatio-temporal features of land use change in a typical transect in northern China. By using the land use transfer matrix, transect analysis, and ecological contribution rate, image interpretation data obtained from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Resource and Environmental Science Data Platform were analyzed using a spatial overlay to quantitatively examine the transect’s land use changes and their impact on the eco-environment. The results indicate that (1) the transect’s land use is dominated by cropland and grassland. (2) Cropland, forest land, and waters experienced significant transitions in 1995 and 2000, which was linked to socio-economic development and policy factors. (3) The total dynamic percentage of land use change is 4.52%, with built-up land and cropland showing the highest change. (4) The transect’s eco-environmental quality (EQ) has significantly declined, with the quality index dropping from 0.3839 to 0.3773. The transformation of cropland to forest land improves the eco-environment, while the transformation to built-up land has negative impacts. Human activities adversely affect the EQ. The findings are promising for leading the development of conserving the eco-environment and supporting the formation of regionally differentiated paths of ecological civilization construction in the transect.
Grid-Based Precipitation Quantile Estimation Considering Homogeneity Using ERA5-Land Data for the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Lee Jinwook , Oh Sejeong , Baik Jongjin , Jun Changhyun , Seo Jungho , Lee Eui Hoon
Published: October 2024

In this study, a grid-based precipitation quantile was estimated using long-term reanalysis precipitation data, considering the homogeneity of the annual maximum series (AMS) for the Korean Peninsula. For regions where significant changes in homogeneity were observed, the precipitation quantile was estimated using only the AMS from after the change point, and these results were compared with those from the original AMS. The examination of homogeneity revealed a significant increasing trend in homogeneity variability in the southeastern region of Korea. This change was particularly pronounced in the location parameter of the Gumbel distribution, resulting in an improved model fit. The change in precipitation quantile was most noticeable for a 2-year return period with a 36 h duration, with an average increase of approximately 11.5%. The results obtained from this study are anticipated to offer crucial foundational data for the design of hydraulic structures in regions with insufficient long-term ground observation data.
Riemann Problem and Elementary Wave Interactions for a Simplified Magnetic Fluid Model
Authors: Yu Kangning , Li Shuo , Li Guodong
Published: October 2024

In the present paper, we mainly studied the Riemann problem and wave interaction of a simplified magnetohydrodynamic equation system. Due to the complex Riemann problem and wave interactions in the magnetohydrodynamic equations, most previous studies either did not investigate the interaction of elementary waves or, if they did, lacked supporting numerical experiments. This paper simplifies the magnetohydrodynamic equations using variable substitution. Using the characteristic line method to solve the Riemann problem and elementary wave interaction of the simplified magnetohydrodynamic equations, the form of the solution is more symmetrical and the interaction between waves has also become more regular. The correctness of the results was verified by numerical experiments.
Operational Strategy Analysis of Fashion Brands to Develop Digital Assets Under the Sustainability Goals
Authors: Liu Yazhou , Wang Wenjie , Liu Junhua
Published: October 2024

This paper analyzes the strategic decisions of fashion brands regarding the development of digital assets based on blockchain technology, with a focus on achieving both sustainability and profitability goals. We first consider foundational factors such as the fashion value of products, their life cycle, and environmental taxes to construct a traditional fashion system involving the government, fashion brands, and consumers. Subsequently, we introduce a blockchain model that incorporates the added value of digital assets, the cost of technology, and the proportion of fashion consumers. Both models—traditional and digital—are solved mathematically, and numerical experiments are conducted to compare and analyze the impact of developing digital assets by fashion brands. The findings suggest that leveraging digital assets to enhance the fashion value of products can increase the profitability of fashion brands while also reducing environmental pollution caused by leftover inventory. Additionally, the development of digital assets may extend the life cycle of a product, although this does not always lead to improved environmental performance, highlighting a trade-off between the two objectives. Ultimately, the development of digital assets by fashion brands can result in a win-win for both profit and environmental performance, but this outcome is contingent on the cost of blockchain technology meeting specific conditions.
A Mixed-Method Approach to Grounded Theory Regarding the MICE Industry at Busan Exhibition & Convention Center
Authors: Kim Seieun , Williady Angellie , Wang Jue , Kim Hak-Seon
Published: October 2024

The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) industry plays a crucial role in driving the rapid growth of the local economy, and Busan is emerging as a significant MICE destination in Asia. This study uses online customer reviews to acquire a more in-depth insight into BEXCO (Busan Exhibition & Convention Center)’s customer experiences and satisfaction levels. A meticulously curated dataset of 2339 Google Maps reviews was assembled using the Outscraper tool. KH Coder 3 software was employed for a comprehensive analysis, including word frequency and co-occurrence analysis. The co-occurrence analysis revealed three prominent clusters of keywords: ‘MICE’ (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), ‘Facility’, and ‘Environment’. This study also conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and identified six factors that play a significant role in shaping customer experiences at BEXCO. Using these six factors, this study performed regression analysis to determine their impact on customer satisfaction. The results show that Food and Beverage, Venue, Event Space, and Parking Facilities significantly affect customer satisfaction. This research aims to bridge existing knowledge gaps, offering valuable insights that can contribute to the strategic development and enhancement of BEXCO’s offerings, thereby influencing the overall impact on the MICE sector in Busan.
Surveillance for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in the Lombardy Region (Italy) in the Period 2022–2024
Authors: Trogu Tiziana , Bellini Silvia , Canziani Sabrina , Carrera Maya , Chiapponi Chiara , Chiari Mario , Farioli Marco , Fusaro Alice , Savegnago Enrico , Nucci Ambra , Soliani Laura , Bortolami Alessio , Lavazza Antonio , Terregino Calogero , Moreno Ana
Published: October 2024

Influenza A virus (AIV) circulation was investigated in the Lombardy region, during 2022–2024, in wild ducks (through hunting and sampling of faecal samples within natural parks) and wild birds found dead. Samples were analysed through real-time RT-PCRs for Influenza A virus, H5 and H7. Whole genome sequencing was performed on AIV-positive samples. Screening of 3497 hunted Anatidae revealed a total of 184 positive samples. Complete sequencing of 136 samples highlighted the presence of 21 different subtypes ranging from H1N1 to H12N5. The H5N1 HPAIV (high pathogenic AIV) subtype, clade 2.3.4.4b, was the most common during the 2022–2023 winter season (31.8%), while H5 LPAI (low pathogenic AIV) strains were the most prevalent (28.6%) in the 2023–2024 season. The molecular survey on wild birds found dead (n = 481) showed two positive buzzards (14%, 2/14), one grey heron (5.5%, 1/18) and one kestrel (7.6%, 1/13). Regarding the order of Charadriiformes, the dead gulls sampled in 2022 (17 birds) were all negative, whereas 85 out of 167 (51%) individuals were positive in 2023. All positives were caused by an H5N1 HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4b virus belonging to genotype BB. All the faecal samples (1699) received from passive surveillance in nature parks were analysed for AIV with negative results.
Coinfection with Canine Distemper Virus and Yellow Fever Virus in a Neotropical Primate in Brazil
Authors: Mares-Guia Maria Angélica Monteiro de Mello , Furtado Marina Carvalho , Chalhoub Flávia Löwen Levy , Portugal Maria Dulce , de Oliveira Coelho Janice Mery Chicarino , de Filippis Ana Maria Bispo , Naveca Felipe Gomes
Published: October 2024

We describe a natural coinfection with canine distemper virus (CDV) and yellow fever virus in a free-ranging neotropical primate of the genus Callithrix, found dead in the northeastern region of Brazil. The laboratory diagnosis included histopathology, immunohistochemistry, rRT-PCR, and phylogenetic analyses. The CDV sequences from this primate in Brazil represent a divergent lineage in Rio Grande do Norte, closely related to genotypes EU1/South America 1 and South America 2. To our knowledge, this is the first report of natural coinfection by CDV and yellow fever virus in a neotropical primate, underscoring the need to further investigate the circulation of this virus in Brazilian nonhuman primates and its potential implications for wildlife conservation.
Antiviral Peptide-Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (AVP-GPT): A Deep Learning-Powered Model for Antiviral Peptide Design with High-Throughput Discovery and Exceptional Potency
Authors: Zhao Huajian , Song Gengshen
Published: October 2024

Traditional antiviral peptide (AVP) discovery is a time-consuming and expensive process. This study introduces AVP-GPT, a novel deep learning method utilizing transformer-based language models and multimodal architectures specifically designed for AVP design. AVP-GPT demonstrated exceptional efficiency, generating 10,000 unique peptides and identifying potential AVPs within two days on a GPU system. Pre-trained on a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) dataset, AVP-GPT successfully adapted to influenza A virus (INFVA) and other respiratory viruses. Compared to state-of-the-art models like LSTM and SVM, AVP-GPT achieved significantly lower perplexity (2.09 vs. 16.13) and higher AUC (0.90 vs. 0.82), indicating superior peptide sequence prediction and AVP classification. AVP-GPT generated a diverse set of peptides with excellent novelty and identified candidates with remarkably higher antiviral success rates than conventional design methods. Notably, AVP-GPT generated novel peptides against RSV and INFVA with exceptional potency, including four peptides exhibiting EC50 values around 0.02 uM—the strongest anti-RSV activity reported to date. These findings highlight AVP-GPT’s potential to revolutionize AVP discovery and development, accelerating the creation of novel antiviral drugs. Future studies could explore the application of AVP-GPT to other viral targets and investigate alternative AVP design strategies.
Humoral Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Boost in Cancer Patients: A Case Series from a Southern European Cancer Center
Authors: Oliveira Júlio , Cruz Pedro , Dias Tânia R. , Sousa-Pimenta Mário , Almeida Beatriz , Soares Bruno , Sousa Hugo , Costa Rui , Ochoa Carlos , Dias Francisca , Medeiros Rui
Published: October 2024

Background: Cancer patients face a greater risk of complications and death after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were suggested to provide additional protection. This study aimed to assess how cancer patients’ immune systems respond to the booster shots and categorize their responses. Methods: We analyzed 735 samples from 422 individuals, including patients followed at the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto). Three cohorts were recruited, and blood samples were collected 3- and 6-months post-booster dose: cohort 1 cancer patients (also collected before the booster); cohort 2 cancer patients; and cohort 3 (healthy individuals). Humoral immune response was evaluated by analyzing IgG levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein. IgG levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid(N) protein was also analyzed in order to address previous contact with the virus. Results: Among Cohort 1 patients with solid tumors, when compared to pre-boost, IgG S levels increased 3 months after the boost and remained high after 6 months. Patients with hematologic tumors demonstrated lower IgG S levels at both timepoints. Comparing the IgG S levels among hematological tumors, solid tumors, and healthy individuals in both timepoints we observed that the healthy individuals had the strongest IgG S response, followed by the solid, and, lastly, the hematologic tumors. Solid tumor patients undergoing chemotherapy had reduced IgG S levels, especially those on high febrile neutropenia risk regimens. Conclusions: In conclusion, cancer patients have a weaker immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, especially those with hematological cancers. Chemotherapy and febrile neutropenia risk further reduce booster effectiveness. Further research is needed to optimize vaccine timing for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Neutralizing Antibody-Mediated Protection from Prior Delta Variant Infection Against Omicron BA.5 Sub-Lineage Reinfection One Year Later: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Shihan , Wang Yin , Xu Guo , Dong Chen , Tian Hua , Li Chuchu , Kong Xiaoxiao , Peng Jiefu , Huang Haodi , Simayi Aidibai , Zhu Fengcai , Hu Jianli , Xu Ke , Bao Changjun , Jin Hui , Zhu Liguo
Published: October 2024

Background: Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection provides some level of protection against reinfection. However, few studies have evaluated the neutralizing antibody (NAb) response after Delta variant infection and its ability to prevent reinfection with Omicron BA.5 one year later. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 431 patients who recovered from Delta variant infection. We measured their serum NAb titers against both Delta and Omicron BA.5 using microneutralization tests. Results: Over a 17-month follow-up, 17.9% of the participants were reinfected with Omicron BA.5. Younger adults (18–65 years) and individuals who did not receive booster immunization had significantly higher reinfection rates than older adults (>65 years) and those who received boosters (p < 0.05). Notably, reinfection rates were higher in post-vaccination breakthrough cases than in individuals who were naturally infected. However, booster immunization reduced reinfection rates within the breakthrough group. We found no significant association between Delta NAb levels and protection against Omicron BA.5 reinfection (p > 0.05). Cross-neutralization assays showed a 7.1-fold reduction in NAb efficacy against Omicron BA.5. Conclusions: Delta-variant infection-induced NAbs did not strongly predict protection against Omicron BA.5 reinfection. However, booster immunization effectively reduced the reinfection rate approximately one year after the initial Delta infection.
Immunoreactivity Analysis of MHC-I Epitopes Derived from the Nucleocapsid Protein of SARS-CoV-2 via Computation and Vaccination
Authors: Jiang Dongbo , Ma Zilu , Zhang Junqi , Sun Yubo , Bai Tianyuan , Liu Ruibo , Wang Yongkai , Guan Liang , Fu Shuaishuai , Sun Yuanjie , Li Yuanzhe , Zhou Bingquan , Yang Yulin , Yang Shuya , Chang Yuanhang , Sun Baozeng , Yang Kun
Published: October 2024

Background: Since 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been responsible for the global spread of respiratory illness. As of 1 September 2024, the cumulative number of infections worldwide exceeded 776 million. There are many structural proteins of the virus, among which the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein plays a pivotal role in the viral life cycle, participating in a multitude of essential activities following viral invasion. An important antiviral immune response is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted differentiation cluster 8 (CD8+) T cell cytotoxicity. Therefore, understanding the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 NP-specific MHC-I-restricted epitopes is highly important. Methods: MHC-I molecules from 11 human leukocyte antigen I (HLA-I) superfamilies with 98% population coverage and 6 mouse H2 alleles were selected. The affinity were screened by IEDB, NetMHCpan, SYFPEITHI, SMMPMBEC and Rankpep. Further immunogenicity and conservative analyses were performed using VaxiJen and BLASTp, respectively. EpiDock was used to simulate molecular docking. Cluster analysis was performed. Selective epitopes were validated by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay and flow cytometry in the mice with pVAX-NPSARS-CoV-2 immunization. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect whether the preferred epitope induced humoral immunity. Results: There were 64 dominant epitopes for the H-2 haplotype and 238 dominant epitopes for the HLA-I haplotype. Further analysis of immunogenicity and conservation yielded 8 preferred epitopes, and docking simulations were conducted with corresponding MHC-I alleles. The relationships between the NP peptides and MHC-I haplotypes were then determined via two-way hierarchical clustering. ELISA, ELISpot assay, and flow cytometry revealed that the preferred epitope stimulated both humoral and cellular immunity and enhanced cytokine secretion in mice. Conclusions: our study revealed the general patterns among multiple haplotypes within the humans and mice superfamily, providing a comprehensive assessment of the pan-MHC-I immunoreactivity of SARS-CoV-2 NP. Our findings would render prospects for the development and application of epitope-based immunotherapy in lasting viral epidemics.
Predictors of dental arch abnormalities in children with primary dentition (part two)
Authors: Danilova M. A. , Ishmurzin P. V. , Rudavina T. I.
Published: October 2024

Relevance. Assessing the influence of risk factors during the primary dentition period on the development of dental arch abnormalities is essential for planning preventive and therapeutic interventions, as well as encouraging compliance with these measures. The first part of this article focused on identifying predictors of malocclusion, while this second part aims to determine the predictors of dental arch abnormalities.

Purpose. To identify prognostic factors (predictors) of dental arch abnormalities in children during the primary dentition period.

Materials and methods. This study presents the results of a retrospective analysis of the oral health status of 123 children (55 boys and 68 girls). The initial examination took place when the children were between 4.0 and 5.5 years old (mean age 5.1 ± 0.6 years), with follow-up examinations conducted between the ages of 6.0 and 10.5 years (mean age 8.7 ± 1.3 years). The relationship between risk factors in primary dentition and the development of dental arch abnormalities in early mixed dentition was evaluated using Pearson's chi-squared test (χ2) and Welch's t-test (V). For each pair of "primary dentition risk factor – dental arch abnormality in early mixed dentition," the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated.

Results. Differentiating predisposing factors and analyzing the effects of their various combinations allowed the identification of predictor clusters in primary dentition, where the probability of developing dental arch abnormalities in mixed dentition exceeds 95%. For upper arch abnormalities, the cluster includes infantile swallowing and early extraction of deciduous molars in the lower jaw (χ2 = 19.67, V = 0.50); for lower arch abnormalities, the cluster consists of infantile swallowing, "lazy" chewing, sucking habits, and a deep bite in the anterior region (χ2 = 16.58, V = 0.67); For lower incisor crowding, the cluster includes "lazy" chewing, infantile swallowing, and a deep bite in the anterior region (χ2 = 17.54, V = 0.63); for diastema in the upper arch, the cluster includes an abnormal labial frenum and interdental tongue position (χ2 = 19.16, V = 0.49); for maxillary anterior spacing, early extraction of deciduous canines in the upper jaw is the primary factor (χ2 = 16.23, V = 0.46).

Conclusion. Identifying and addressing predictors of dental arch abnormalities in children during the primary dentition period can significantly reduce the risk of developing pathological conditions during the mixed dentition period.