bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grassroots Mirroring under COVID-19: Does Community Resilience Affect Residents’ Responses? The Case of Shenzhen, China
Authors: Xu Jing , Zeng Zhenjian , Hong Yu , Xi Zhenhua , Zhu Xiting , Peng Zhencong
Published: August 2022

In the face of the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, the community has played a large role in stemming the impact of COVID-19, and community resilience has become a key part of community governance. Community resilience is the ability of a community to respond effectively to risk and keep the community functioning by strengthening governance and leveraging community relationships in the face of external-disaster disruptions; this gives community participants a real sense that the community is equipped to face adversity and challenges. However, the evasive response of some residents is an important factor that hinders the community’s emergency response capabilities. Therefore, this study selected different types of communities in Shenzhen, China, from 9–23 July 2021, conducted a field survey, and obtained 2256 questionnaires using multi-segment random sampling. Based on the questionnaire data, this study uses factor analysis, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and cluster analysis to explore the mechanisms of community resilience on residents’ risk coping styles, and the differences between community resilience and residents’ risk coping styles in different types of communities. The study found that, first, community resilience has a significant positive impact on proactive risk response, among which governance performance has a more significant impact; second, community resilience has a negative correlation with evasive coping styles, in which governance performance has a more significant impact; third, there are obvious differences in the level of resilience between different types of communities, with urban communities being the best, mixed communities being second, and transition communities being last. The government’s role in guiding and organizing the population was extremely significant during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the superiority of the socialist system. The role of the community in social management has become increasingly prominent, and community resilience has become a key factor in controlling COVID-19.
Threats of Internet-of-Thing on Environmental Sustainability by E-Waste
Authors: Modarress Fathi Batoul , Ansari Alexander , Ansari Al
Published: August 2022

Human activities are at the heart of interactions between physical and digital spheres enabled by the Internet and the proliferation of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices destined to be discarded. The rejected devices, called e-waste, contain toxic substances that negatively impact environmental sustainability. There are no studies to examine the impacts of the Internet and IoT on the sheer volume of e-waste, which is the objective of this paper. Based on an extensive literature review, two propositions were advanced, and three secondary datasets were used to test the propositions from 2000 to 2021. The first dataset relates to the world Internet penetration through variables associated with network accessibility. The second dataset is linked to the global proliferation of the IoT through its technological functionality. The third dataset is the worldwide volume of e-waste measured in millions of metric tons. Our findings indicate that the Internet and the IoT play pivotal roles in the e-waste crisis. Network accessibility and technological functionality significantly and positively influence the variability in the volume of e-waste, thus threatening environmental sustainability. Several actionable recommendations encourage developers, politicians, policymakers, and users of electronic devices to pay closer attention to the escalating size of e-waste threatening environmental sustainability.
Incentive-Based Schema Using Game Theory in 5/6G Cellular Network for Sustainable Communication System
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Rehman Eid , Saleem Tahir , Abid Muhammad , Habib Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad , Jilani Syeda Fizzah
Published: August 2022

Due to the technological advancement in cellular networks, massive data traffic appends to the existing digital technologies. These emerging digital technologies face quality of service (QoS) challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining the tradeoffs between customers and service providers. The cellular service providers are trying to meet the needs of end users by handling four substantially different types of data, i.e., Real Time, Video, Audio, and Text, with each type having its own requirements. To achieves an efficient QoS, different incentive-based algorithms were proposed. However, these schemes do not ensure a fair distribution of profit among the mobile network operator and access points. Furthermore, these schemes do not provide efficient QoS to the end user and cannot ensure a fair distribution of channels in crowning time. We propose an incentive-based scheme using game theory and two-stage Stackelberg approach for integrated data, offloading the decision-making process in a heterogeneous network. A single mobile base station and some integrated access points in a crowded metropolitan area are modeled in our proposed scheme. This station offers an economic incentive based on traffic types, and access points compete with each other to earn incentives for offload traffic. A mathematical game is derived to analyze the real-world scenario through simulation. The experimental method is applied to validate the numerical outcomes by comparing the results with other models.
Expressing OsiSAP8, a Zinc-Finger Associated Protein Gene, Mitigates Stress Dynamics in Existing Elite Rice Varieties of the ‘Green Revolution’
Authors: Krishnan Subramanian Radhesh , Muthuramalingam Pandiyan , Priya Arumugam Mohana , Prasanth Mani Iyer , Gopinath Krishnasamy , Mohan Chakravarthi , Muthusamy Karthikeyan , Balamurugan Krishnaswamy , Gupta Aditya Kumar , Ramesh Manikandan
Published: August 2022

Key message: Overexpression of OsiSAP8 driven by Port Ubi2.3 from Porteresia coarctata imparts drought and salinity stress tolerance in transgenic rice. Stress associated proteins (SAPs) possess the zinc-finger domains that are wildly evolving functional and conserved regions/factors in plants to combat abiotic stresses. In this study, the promoter region of OsiSAP8, an intron-less, multiple stress inducible gene, was compared in silico with a strong constitutive promoter, Port Ubi2.3. This resulted in developing rice, resistant to drought and salinity expressing OsiSAP8 promoted by Port Ubi2.3. (Porteresia coarctata), through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in the popular rice varieties, IR36 and IR64. Southern blot hybridization confirmed the integration of OsiSAP8, and the T0 transgenic lines of IR36 and IR64 were evaluated for their drought and salinity tolerance. The IR36-T1 progenies showed an enhanced tolerance to water withhold stress compared to wild type and IR64-T1 progenies. Physiological parameters, such as the panicle weight, number of panicles, leaf wilting, and TBARS assay, showed the transgenic IR36 to be superior. The transgenic lines performed better with higher 80–95% relative leaf water content when subjected to drought for 14 days. Gene expression analysis of OsiSAP8 in IR36 T1 showed a 1.5-fold upregulation under mannitol stress. However, IR64 T1 showed a two-fold upregulation in NaCl stress. An enhanced drought and salinity stress tolerance in the transgenic IR36 cultivar through overexpression of OsiSAP8 was observed as it had a native copy of OsiSAP8. This is perhaps the first study using a novel ubiquitin promoter (Port Ubi2.3) to generate drought and salinity stress-tolerant transgenic rice. Thus, we report the overexpression of a rice gene (OsiSAP8) by a rice promoter (Port Ubi2.3) in rice (IR36) to resist drought and salinity.
Subjective Bodily Experiences of Island Cyclists in Different Contexts: The Case of Hainan Island, China
Authors: Lin Minhui , Xu Haichao
Published: August 2022

A single subjective bodily experience is at the core of sports tourism activities, but the current literature on sports tourism largely ignores both the continuous and ephemeral experiential processes of individuals in mobile sports activities from a bodily perspective. In this study, we developed a “context–body–perception” framework and selected a sample of tourists from Hainan Island, China, in order to explore the embodied experience of cycling tourists, using a qualitative approach. We found that the contexts encountered by island cyclists could be divided into a human context and nonhuman context. The human context included the companion context, pan-companion context, and host context, and the nonhuman context comprised the natural context, mediated facility context, and digital technology context. The cyclists’ physical experiences and perceptions in multiple different contexts were inseparable from each other, and both were embedded in a specific context through the five senses, through the state of body and activity, through emotions and memories, and through interaction with a specific context, all of which formed a dynamic feedback system. Through bodily practices in different contexts, cyclists acquired meaningful representations of their bodies, social relationships, and self-worth. The findings of this study can enrich the study of embodiment in sports and recreation areas, as well as provide an initial foray into bodily research in island-based cycling.
Efficient Production of Wild and Non-Edible Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. Seed Oil into High-Quality Biodiesel via Novel, Green and Recyclable NiSO4 Nano-Catalyst
Authors: Akhtar Maryam Tanveer , Ahmad Mushtaq , Asma Maliha , Munir Mamoona , Zafar Muhammad , Sultana Shazia , Mujtaba M. A. , Mohamed Abdullah , Kalam Md Abul
Published: August 2022

In the current study, a novel green nano-catalyst from Tragacanth gum (TG) was synthesized and used for sustainable biodiesel production from Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. seed oil. Brassica juncea (L.) Czern contains 30% oil on dry basis and free fatty acid content of 0.43 mg KOH/g. Physiochemical characterization of a newly synthesized nano-catalyst was performed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. The XRD results showed an average crystalline size of 39.29 nm. TEM analysis showed the cluster form of NiSO4 nanoparticles with a size range from 30–50.5 nm. SEM analysis of the catalyst showed semispherical and ovoid shapes with surface agglomeration. The synthesized catalyst was recovered and re-used in four repeated transesterification cycles. Maximum biodiesel yield (93%) was accomplished at 6:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration of 0.3 wt%, at 90 °C for 120 min at 600 rpm using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) coupled with central composite design (CCD). Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. biodiesel was characterized by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), FT-IR, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (1H, 13C), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) analytical techniques. The major fatty acid methyl esters were 16-Octadecenoic acid and 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester. The fuel properties, i.e., flash point (97 °C), density (825 kg/m3 at 40 °C), kinematic viscosity (4.66 mm2/s), pour point (–10 °C), cloud point (–14 °C), sulfur content (66 wt.%), and total acid number (182 mg KOH/g) were according to the International biodiesel standards. The reaction kinetic parameters were determined, and all the reactions followed Pseudo first-order kinetics. It was concluded that non-edible Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. seed oil is one of the sustainable candidates for the future biofuel industry using a cleaner, reusable, and highly active Ni-modified TG nano-catalyst.
Development and Application of Models for Landslide Hazards in Northern Pakistan
Authors: Akbar Tahir Ali , Ullah Siddique , Ullah Waheed , Ullah Rafi , Sajjad Raja Umer , Mohamed Abdullah , Khalil Alamgir , Javed Muhammad Faisal , Din Anwarud
Published: August 2022

In this paper, new models were investigated and developed for landslide hazards in Muzaffarabad District, located in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan. The influential factors used in the landslide modelling were land use/landcover (LULC), elevation, slope, slope aspect, rainfall, drainage, road, surface roughness, and topographic index. The GIS-based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was applied by utilizing the database of 35 active landslides and their pixels present in classes of all influential factors. The mean landslide hazard values, obtained from the mean landslide hazard analysis, were used as hazard weightages in the AHP model for development of a landslide hazard zone map. The highest mean hazard values for: (i) bare soil in LULC was 14.6%; (ii) 600–800 m in elevation was 6.89%; (iii) 30°–35° in slope was 6%; (iv) S and SW in slope aspect was 9.01%; (v) 1350–1405 mm/yr in rainfall was 9.03%; (vi) 40–80 m in buffered drainage was 12.83%; (vii) 40–80 m in buffered road was 12.48%; (viii) 60–138 in surface roughness index was 10.99%; (ix) −1.74–−1.25 in topographic position index was 13.07%. The percentages of very low, low, moderate, high, and very high landslide hazard zones were 1.48%, 11.80%, 39.36%, 37.36%, and 9.57% respectively. The co-efficient of the determination (r2) value of 0.96 indicated a strong relationship between the model development and validation. Thus, landslide hazard zone map models and methodology indicated a very high accuracy. This landslide hazard zone map could be utilized for the landslide damages’ reduction and the planning and development of road and building infrastructures in the study area. Additionally, this research could be replicated in other landslide prone areas of Pakistan for the minimizing the damages of landslides.
Multi-Factor Design for a Vacuum Ejector Improvement by In-Depth Analysis of Construction Parameters
Authors: Macia Llorenç , Castilla Robert , Gamez-Montero Pedro Javier , Raush Gustavo
Published: August 2022

A vacuum supersonic ejector is an indispensable pneumatic device placed in nearly all industrial production lines. This device, also called a zero-secondary flow ejector, is characterized by the maximum entrained flow and the minimum secondary pressure. Numerical simulations were carried out by means of the CFD toolbox OpenFOAM v8 and its solver HiSA, which uses the AUSM+up upwind scheme. A single-factor analysis of eight parameters was performed to find how the ejector’s performance was enhanced or decreased, while other parameters were fixed. Four parameters were subject to further analysis to find the geometry that improves the standalone performance of the ejector. The mixing chamber length is the parameter that most improves its performance; alone it leads to a 10% improvement. A multi-factor analysis, based on a fractional factorial design, is carried out with the four relevant parameters. Results indicate that the multi-factor analysis enhances the performance of the ejector by 10.4% and the mixing chamber length is the factor that most influences the improvement. Although a multi-factor design improves the performance, no significant relevance has been detected with respect to the mixing chamber length improvement alone. The improved performance of this device leads to a reduction in operating time and, as a consequence, results in significant energy savings.
Impact of Farmers’ Climate Risk Perception and Socio-Economic Attributes on Their Choice of ICT-Based Agricultural Information Services: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Khan Nasir Abbas , Shah Ashfaq Ahmad , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Chowdhury Ataharul , Khanal Uttam
Published: August 2022

In Pakistan, research on information and communication technologies-based agricultural information services (ICTbAIS) have gained significant attention owing to the overwhelming population of smallholder farmers (whose information needs are unable to be met by the conventional extension services) and the increasing incidence of climatic risk. This study is, therefore, conducted in the Punjab province of Pakistan (mixed cropping region) to explore farmers’ use of ICTbAIS and understand the relationship between farmers’ socio-economic attributes, risk perception, and choices of ICTbAIS. A sample of 480 farmers was drawn using a multistage sampling approach, and farmers were interviewed face-to-face. To analyze the dataset, a multivariate Probit (MVP) model was employed. The results show that Television (TV) and mobile-based advisory and mobile-based consultations appeared to be the most used ICTbAIS, followed by radio and internet-based advisory. The estimates of the MVP model showed that farmers’ age, education, farmland, tenancy status, off-farm income, and climate risk perception are significant determinants of their choices of ICTbAIS. Based on our results, we suggest policymakers and extension agencies to improve the content of ICTbAIS and make efforts for the awareness and training of farmers regarding the use of contemporary ICTs.
Decay Conditions for Antiplane Shear of a High-Contrast Multi-Layered Semi-Infinite Elastic Strip
Authors: Prikazchikova Ludmila
Published: August 2022

The antiplane shear of a semi-infinite multi-layered elastic strip with traction free faces and edges subject to prescribed stress is studied. A high contrast is assumed in the stiffnesses of two types of homogeneous isotropic layers. Explicit conditions on the edge load are derived, ensuring the decay of stress components at the distance of order strip thickness. One of these conditions corresponds to the canonical Saint-Venant’s principle, manifesting the self-equilibrium of the load. The rest of the decay conditions consider the presence of high contrast and are of an asymptotic nature, in contrast to the exact former condition. The number of asymptotic conditions is the same as that of soft layers. An example of the implementation of the proposed decay conditions for calculating the solution for the interior (outside of a boundary layer zone) domain of a three-layered semi-strip, considering geometric asymmetry, is presented.
Direct and Fixed-Point Stability–Instability of Additive Functional Equation in Banach and Quasi-Beta Normed Spaces
Authors: Pasupathi Agilan , Konsalraj Julietraja , Fatima Nahid , Velusamy Vallinayagam , Mlaiki Nabil , Souayah Nizar
Published: August 2022

Over the last few decades, a certain interesting class of functional equations were developed while obtaining the generating functions of many system distributions. This class of equations has numerous applications in many modern disciplines such as wireless networks and communications. The Ulam stability theorem can be applied to numerous functional equations in investigating the stability when approximated in Banach spaces, Banach algebra, and so on. The main focus of this study is to analyse the relationship between functional equations, Hyers–Ulam–Rassias stability, Banach space, quasi-beta normed spaces, and fixed-point theory in depth. The significance of this work is the incorporation of the stability of the generalised additive functional equation in Banach space and quasi-beta normed spaces by employing concrete techniques like direct and fixed-point theory methods. They are powerful tools for narrowing down the mathematical models that describe a wide range of events. Some classes of functional equations, in particular, have lately emerged from a variety of applications, such as Fourier transforms and the Laplace transforms. This study uses linear transformation to explain our functional equations while providing suitable examples.
Stability of Peakons and Periodic Peakons for the mCH–Novikov–CH Equation
Authors: Zhang Kelei , Yu Jianguo , Tang Shengqiang
Published: August 2022

Peakons and periodic peakons are two kinds of special symmetric traveling wave solutions, which have important applications in physics, optical fiber communication, and other fields. In this paper, we study the orbital stability of peakons and periodic peakons for a generalized Camassa–Holm equation with quadratic and cubic nonlinearities (mCH–Novikov–CH equation). It is a generalization of some classical equations, such as the Camassa–Holm (CH) equation, the modified Camassa–Holm (mCH) equation, and the Novikov equation. By constructing an inequality related to the maximum and minimum of solutions with the conservation laws, we prove that the peakons and periodic peakons are orbitally stable under small perturbations in the energy space.
Finite-Time Disturbance Observer of Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Fang Yunmei , Chen Yun , Fei Juntao
Published: August 2022

In practical applications, for highly nonlinear systems, how to implement control tasks for dynamic systems with uncertain parameters is still a hot research issue. Aiming at the internal parameter fluctuations and external unknown disturbances in nonlinear system, this paper proposes an adaptive dynamic terminal sliding mode control (ADTSMC) based on a finite-time disturbance observer (FTDO) for nonlinear systems. A finite-time disturbance observer is designed to compensate for the unknown uncertainties and a dynamic terminal sliding mode control (DTSMC) method is developed to achieve finite time convergence and weaken system chattering. Moreover, a dual hidden layer recurrent neural network (DHLRNN) estimator is proposed to approximate the sliding mode gain, so that the switching item gain is not overestimated and optimal value is obtained. Finally, simulation experiments of an active power filter model verify the designed ADTSMC method has better steady-state and dynamic-steady compensation effects with at least 1% THD reduction in the presence of nonlinear load and disturbances compared with the simple adaptive DTSMC law.
Characterizations of Γ Rings in Terms of Rough Fuzzy Ideals
Authors: Pushpanathan Durgadevi , Devarasan Ezhilmaran
Published: August 2022

Fuzzy sets are a major simplification and wing of classical sets. The extended concept of set theory is rough set (RS) theory. It is a formalistic theory based upon a foundational study of the logical features of the fundamental system. The RS theory provides a new mathematical method for insufficient understanding. It enables the creation of sets of verdict rules from data in a presentable manner. An RS boundary area can be created using the algebraic operators union and intersection, which is known as an approximation. In terms of data uncertainty, fuzzy set theory and RS theory are both applicable. In general, as a uniting theme that unites diverse areas of modern arithmetic, symmetry is immensely important and helpful. The goal of this article is to present the notion of rough fuzzy ideals (RFI) in the gamma ring structure. We introduce the basic concept of RFI, and the theorems are proven for their characteristic function. After that, we explain the operations on RFI, and related theorems are given. Additionally, we prove some theorems on rough fuzzy prime ideals. Furthermore, using the concept of rough gamma endomorphism, we propose some theorems on the morphism properties of RFI in the gamma ring.
Security Enhanced Symmetric Key Encryption Employing an Integer Code for the Erasure Channel
Authors: Mihaljević Miodrag J. , Radonjić Aleksandar , Wang Lianhai , Xu Shujiang
Published: August 2022

An instance of the framework for cryptographic security enhancement of symmetric-key encryption employing a dedicated error correction encoding is addressed. The main components of the proposal are: (i) a dedicated error correction coding and (ii) the use of a dedicated simulator of the noisy channel. The proposed error correction coding is designed for the binary erasure channel where at most one bit is erased in each codeword byte. The proposed encryption has been evaluated in the traditional scenario where we consider the advantage of an attacker to correctly decide to which of two known messages the given ciphertext corresponds. The evaluation shows that the proposed encryption provides a reduction of the considered attacker’s advantage in comparison with the initial encryption setting. The implementation complexity of the proposed encryption is considered, and it implies a suitable trade-off between increased security and increased implementation complexity.
Aγ Eigenvalues of Zero Divisor Graph of Integer Modulo and Von Neumann Regular Rings
Authors: Rather Bilal Ahmad , Ali Fawad , Ullah Asad , Fatima Nahid , Dad Rahim
Published: August 2022

The Aγ matrix of a graph G is determined by Aγ(G)=(1−γ)A(G)+γD(G), where 0≤γ≤1, A(G) and D(G) are the adjacency and the diagonal matrices of node degrees, respectively. In this case, the Aγ matrix brings together the spectral theories of the adjacency, the Laplacian, and the signless Laplacian matrices, and many more γ adjacency-type matrices. In this paper, we obtain the Aγ eigenvalues of zero divisor graphs of the integer modulo rings and the von Neumann rings. These results generalize the earlier published spectral theories of the adjacency, the Laplacian and the signless Laplacian matrices of zero divisor graphs.
All Is Perception
Authors: Friedman Robert
Published: August 2022

This editorial addresses the universality and importance of the science of perception. In particular, recently published studies in this journal illustrate the natural variations in perception. These articles are a reminder of perception as a natural process with inherent variations and that any two individuals are not guaranteed to form the same representation of an object, regardless of whether it originates from the senses or not. Since perception is a foundation for higher cognition, it also has an immense influence on studies of humanity and interpretations of natural processes.
Radiotherapy Target Volume Definition in Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma Using 18F-FET PET Imaging and Multiparametric MRI: An Inter Observer Agreement Study
Authors: Dissaux Brieg , Mazouz Fatmi Doria , Ognard Julien , Allard Bastien , Keromnes Nathalie , Latreche Amina , Lepeuve Amandine , Schick Ulrike , Bourbonne Vincent , Ben Salem Douraied , Dissaux Gurvan , Querellou Solène
Published: August 2022

Background: The aim of this prospective monocentric study was to assess the inter-observer agreement for tumor volume delineations by multiparametric MRI and 18-F-FET-PET/CT in newly diagnosed, untreated high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. Methods: Thirty patients HGG underwent O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine(18F-FET) positron emission tomography (PET), and multiparametric MRI with computation of rCBV map and K2 map. Three nuclear physicians and three radiologists with different levels of experience delineated the 18-F-FET-PET/CT and 6 MRI sequences, respectively. Spatial similarity (Dice and Jaccard: DSC and JSC) and overlap (Overlap: OV) coefficients were calculated between the readers for each sequence. Results: DSC, JSC, and OV were high for 18F-FET PET/CT, T1-GD, and T2-FLAIR (>0.67). The Spearman correlation coefficient between readers was ≥0.6 for these sequences. Cross-comparison of similarity and overlap parameters showed significant differences for DSC and JSC between 18F-FET PET/CT and T2-FLAIR and for JSC between 18F-FET PET/CT and T1-GD with higher values for 18F-FET PET/CT. No significant difference was found between T1-GD and T2-FLAIR. rCBV, K2, b1000, and ADC showed correlation coefficients between readers <0.6. Conclusion: The interobserver agreements for tumor volume delineations were high for 18-F-FET-PET/CT, T1-GD, and T2-FLAIR. The DWI (b1000, ADC), rCBV, and K2-based sequences, as performed, did not seem sufficiently reproducible to be used in daily practice.
Mayaro Virus: The State-of-the-Art for Antiviral Drug Development
Authors: Andreolla Ana Paula , Borges Alessandra Abel , Bordignon Juliano , Duarte dos Santos Claudia Nunes
Published: August 2022

Mayaro virus is an emerging arbovirus that causes nonspecific febrile illness or arthralgia syndromes similar to the Chikungunya virus, a virus closely related from the Togaviridae family. MAYV outbreaks occur more frequently in the northern and central-western states of Brazil; however, in recent years, virus circulation has been spreading to other regions. Due to the undifferentiated initial clinical symptoms between MAYV and other endemic pathogenic arboviruses with geographic overlapping, identification of patients infected by MAYV might be underreported. Additionally, the lack of specific prophylactic approaches or antiviral drugs limits the pharmacological management of patients to treat symptoms like pain and inflammation, as is the case with most pathogenic alphaviruses. In this context, this review aims to present the state-of-the-art regarding the screening and development of compounds/molecules which may present anti-MAYV activity and infection inhibition.
Effect of IL-10 Deficiency on TGFβ Expression during Fatal Alphavirus Encephalomyelitis in C57Bl/6 Mice
Authors: Martin Nina M. , Griffin Diane E.
Published: August 2022

Sindbis virus (SINV) causes viral encephalitis in mice with strain-dependent virulence. Fatal encephalomyelitis in C57Bl/6 mice infected with a neuroadapted strain of SINV (NSV) is an immunopathogenic process that involves Th17 cells modulated by the regulatory cytokine IL-10. To further characterize the pathogenic immune response to NSV, we analyzed the regulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-b in both wild-type (WT) and IL-10-deficient mice. NSV infection upregulated the expression of TGFb1 and TGFb3 in the central nervous system (CNS). In the absence of IL-10, levels of brain Tgfb1 mRNA and brain and spinal cord mature active TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 proteins were higher than in WT mice. Compared to WT mice, IL-10-deficient mice had more TGFβ1-expressing type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) and CD4+ T cells infiltrating the CNS, but similar numbers in the cervical lymph nodes. Expression of glycoprotein A repetitions predominant protein (GARP) that binds pro-TGFb on the surface of regulatory T cells was decreased on CNS cells from IL-10-deficient mice. Higher CNS TGFb was accompanied by more expression of TGFbRII receptor, activation of SMAD transcription factors, increased PCKα mRNA, and more RORγt-positive and IL-17A-expressing cells. These results suggest a compensatory role for TGFβ in the absence of IL-10 that fosters Th17-related immunopathology and more rapid death after NSV infection.
Computational and Experimental Approaches to Study the RNA Secondary Structures of RNA Viruses
Authors: Yang Siwy Ling , Ponti Riccardo Delli , Wan Yue , Huber Roland G.
Published: August 2022

Most pandemics of recent decades can be traced to RNA viruses, including HIV, SARS, influenza, dengue, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2. These RNA viruses impose considerable social and economic burdens on our society, resulting in a high number of deaths and high treatment costs. As these RNA viruses utilize an RNA genome, which is important for different stages of the viral life cycle, including replication, translation, and packaging, studying how the genome folds is important to understand virus function. In this review, we summarize recent advances in computational and high-throughput RNA structure-mapping approaches and their use in understanding structures within RNA virus genomes. In particular, we focus on the genome structures of the dengue, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses due to recent significant outbreaks of these viruses around the world.
Regulation of the Innate Immune Response during the Human Papillomavirus Life Cycle
Authors: Moody Cary A.
Published: August 2022

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR HPVs) are associated with multiple human cancers and comprise 5% of the human cancer burden. Although most infections are transient, persistent infections are a major risk factor for cancer development. The life cycle of HPV is intimately linked to epithelial differentiation. HPVs establish infection at a low copy number in the proliferating basal keratinocytes of the stratified epithelium. In contrast, the productive phase of the viral life cycle is activated upon epithelial differentiation, resulting in viral genome amplification, high levels of late gene expression, and the assembly of virions that are shed from the epithelial surface. Avoiding activation of an innate immune response during the course of infection plays a key role in promoting viral persistence as well as completion of the viral life cycle in differentiating epithelial cells. This review highlights the recent advances in our understanding of how HPVs manipulate the host cell environment, often in a type-specific manner, to suppress activation of an innate immune response to establish conditions supportive of viral replication.
Efficacy of Hepatitis B Virus Vaccines HBVaxpro40© and Fendrix© in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease in Clinical Practice
Authors: Horta Diana , Forné Montserrat , Agustí Anna , Raga Agnes , Martín-Cardona Albert , Hernández-Soto Juana María , Ruiz-Ramírez Pablo , Esteve-Comas Maria
Published: August 2022

Chronic liver disease results in a low response rate to the hepatitis B virus vaccine. Information on the efficacy of the double adjuvanted vaccine FENDRIX® (3-O-desacyl-4’-monophosphoryl lipid A and aluminum phosphate) and single adjuvant HBVAXPRO®40 (aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate) in chronic liver disease is scarce. The primary aim of this prospective study in clinical practice was to evaluate the effectiveness of HBVAXPRO®40 and FENDRIX® in this setting. Patients received HBVAXPRO® (0, 1 and 6 months) or FENDRIX® (0, 1, 2 and 6 months) depending on availability. Clinical data and anti-HBs levels were collected at 2, 6 and 12 months. A total of 125 patients were included (mean age 61.8 years; 57.6% males; 43.2% liver cirrhosis; 75.9% Child A and 24.1% Child B): 76 were vaccinated with HBVAXPRO® and 49 with FENDRIX®. There were no significant differences between the two vaccines. The overall response rates at 2, 6 and 12 months were 76.8, 72.8 and 59.2%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, active alcohol intake, alcohol etiology, liver cirrhosis and ultrasound signs of portal hypertension were associated with a lower response to vaccination, whereas in the multivariate analysis, liver cirrhosis was the only factor that significantly increased the likelihood of nonresponse (OR 10.5). HBVAXPRO® and FENDRIX® are good options for HBV vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease.
Safety and Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Liver-Transplanted Adolescents Compared to Healthy Adolescents
Authors: Sintusek Palittiya , Buranapraditkun Supranee , Khunsri Siriporn , Saengchaisukhonkit Varattaya , Vichaiwattana Preeyaporn , Srimuan Donchida , Thongmee Thanunrat , Poovorawan Yong
Published: August 2022

Since BNT162b2 was approved to prevent COVID-19 in children, we aim to compare the safety and immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccine in liver-transplanted (LT) and healthy adolescents. LT and healthy adolescents received two doses of 30 µg of BNT162b2. All were evaluated for total COVID-19 antibodies directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and interferon-γ using the ELISpot at all time points; anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulin was evaluated at week 8 and the surrogate virus-neutralizing antibody (sVN) to Omicron at day 0 and week 8. Adverse effects were recorded during days 0–7. In total, 16 LT and 27 healthy adolescents were enrolled (aged 14.78 ± 1.70 years). After completion, all LT and healthy adolescents were positive for anti-RBD immunoglobulin, with geometric mean titers of 1511.37 (95% CI 720.22–3171.59) and 6311.90 (95% CI 4955.46–8039.64)) U/mL (p < 0.001). All tested negative for anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulin, indicating no COVID-19 infection after vaccination. However, the sVNs to Omicron were positive in only nine (33.33%) healthy adolescents and none of the LT adolescents. Interferon-γ-secreting cells were lower in LT adolescents than healthy adolescents. The LT adolescents had a lower immunogenic response to BNT162b2 than the healthy adolescents. Administrating two doses of BNT162b2 was safe, but was less effective against the Omicron variant.
Short-Term Adverse Effects Immediately after the Start of COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Duy Cuong , Dao Thi Loi , Truong Thi Minh Dieu , Nguyen Thu Huong , Phan Thu Nga , Nguyen Ha My , Pham Thi Dung , Nguyen Xuan Bai , Nguyen Thanh Binh , Hoang Van Thuan
Published: August 2022

Background: Risk communication is necessary to improve the booster vaccination rate, but Vietnam does not have a system to collect and disclose such information. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify adverse reactions and their frequency in the early period after booster vaccination, and to obtain primary data for improving the booster vaccination rate. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged ≥18 years. Clinical data were collected 14 days after booster vaccination by using a standard questionnaire. Results: A total of 1322 participants were included with median age = 23 and sex ratio (Male/Female) = 0.53. AstraZeneca was the most commonly used vaccine for the first and second doses, while Pfizer was the most commonly used vaccine for booster shots. Injection site pain, fatigue, and myalgia were the most common side effect reported (71.9%, 28.1%, and 21.8%, respectively). Compared to previous COVID-19 vaccine injections, 81.9% of participants reported that their symptoms were similar or milder after receiving the booster dose. They were more likely to present injection site pain (OR = 1.43, p < 0.0001) and lymphadenopathy (OR = 4.76, p < 0.0001) after receiving the booster shot. Fever (OR = 0.33, p < 0.0001) and fatigue (OR = 0.77, p = 0.002) were less often reported after booster shots compared to the first and second injections. The severity of symptoms occurring after booster dose versus first and second doses increased significantly with each additional year of age and among participants receiving the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Conclusion: Adverse reactions to booster vaccination are minor and their incidence is the same as for the first or the second vaccination. Multicenter studies with larger sample sizes on the side effects and safety of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots need to be conducted to make the population less worried, in order to increase the vaccination rate, to protect individuals’ and communities’ health.
An Attenuated Strain of Human Cytomegalovirus for the Establishment of a Subviral Particle Vaccine
Authors: Krauter Steffi , Büscher Nicole , Bräuchle Eric , Ortega Iannazzo Samira , Penner Inessa , Krämer Nadine , Gogesch Patricia , Thomas Simone , Kreutz Marina , Dejung Mario , Freiwald Anja , Butter Falk , Waibler Zoe , Plachter Bodo
Published: August 2022

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with severe disease conditions either following congenital transmission of the virus or viral reactivation in immunosuppressed individuals. Consequently, the establishment of a protective vaccine is of high medical need. Several candidates have been tested in preclinical and clinical studies, yet no vaccine has been licensed. Subviral dense bodies (DB) are a promising vaccine candidate. We have recently provided a GMP-compliant protocol for the production of DB, based on a genetically modified version of the HCMV laboratory strain Towne, expressing the pentameric complex of envelope protein gH-gL-pUL128-131 (Towne-UL130rep). In this work, we genetically attenuated Towne-UL130rep by abrogating the expression of the tegument protein pUL25 and by fusing the destabilizing domain ddFKBP to the N-terminus of the IE1- and IE2-proteins of HCMV. The resulting strain, termed TR-VAC, produced high amounts of DB under IE1/IE2 repressive conditions and concomitant supplementation of the viral terminase inhibitor letermovir to the producer cell culture. TR-VAC DB retained the capacity to induce neutralizing antibodies. A complex pattern of host protein induction was observed by mass spectrometry following exposure of primary human monocytes with TR-VAC DB. Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) moderately increased the expression of activation markers and MHC molecules upon stimulation with TR-VAC DB. In a co-culture with autologous T cells, the TR-VAC DB-stimulated DC induced a robust HCMV-specific T cell-activation and –proliferation. Exposure of donor-derived monocytic cells to DB led to the activation of a rapid innate immune response. This comprehensive data set thus shows that TR-VAC is an optimal attenuated seed virus strain for the production of a DB vaccine to be tested in clinical studies.
The Correlation between Subolesin-Reactive Epitopes and Vaccine Efficacy
Authors: Contreras Marinela , Kasaija Paul D. , Kabi Fredrick , Mugerwa Swidiq , De la Fuente José
Published: August 2022

Vaccination is an environmentally-friendly alternative for tick control. The tick antigen Subolesin (SUB) has shown protection in vaccines for the control of multiple tick species in cattle. Additionally, recent approaches in quantum vaccinomics have predicted SUB-protective epitopes and the peptide sequences involved in protein–protein interactions in this tick antigen. Therefore, the identification of B-cell–reactive epitopes by epitope mapping using a SUB peptide array could be essential as a novel strategy for vaccine development. Subolesin can be used as a model to evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches for the identification of protective epitopes related to vaccine protection and efficacy. In this study, the mapping of B-cell linear epitopes of SUB from three different tick species common in Uganda (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. decoloratus, and Amblyomma variegatum) was conducted using serum samples from two cattle breeds immunized with SUB-based vaccines. The results showed that in cattle immunized with SUB from R. appendiculatus (SUBra) all the reactive peptides (Z-score > 2) recognized by IgG were also significant (Z-ratio > 1.96) when compared to the control group. Additionally, some of the reactive peptides recognized by IgG from the control group were also recognized in SUB cocktail–immunized groups. As a significant result, cattle groups that showed the highest vaccine efficacy were Bos indicus immunized with a SUB cocktail (92%), and crossbred cattle were immunized with SUBra (90%) against R. appendiculatus ticks; the IgG from these groups recognized overlapping epitopes from the peptide SPTGLSPGLSPVRDQPLFTFRQVGLICERMMKERESQIRDEYDHVLSAKLAEQYDTFVKFTYDQKRFEGATPSYLS (Z-ratio > 1.96), which partially corresponded to a Q38 peptide and the SUB protein interaction domain. These identified epitopes could be related to the protection and efficacy of the SUB-based vaccines, and new chimeras containing these protective epitopes could be designed using this new approach.
Improved SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization of Delta and Omicron BA.1 Variants of Concern after Fourth Vaccination in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Cheng Cho-Chin , Platen Louise , Christa Catharina , Tellenbach Myriam , Kappler Verena , Bester Romina , Liao Bo-Hung , Holzmann-Littig Christopher , Werz Maia , Schönhals Emely , Platen Eva , Eggerer Peter , Tréguer Laëtitia , Küchle Claudius , Schmaderer Christoph , Heemann Uwe , Renders Lutz , Protzer Ulrike , Braunisch Matthias Christoph
Published: August 2022

Hemodialysis patients are exposed to a markedly increased risk when infected with SARS-CoV-2. To date, it is unclear if hemodialysis patients benefit from four vaccinations. A total of 142 hemodialysis patients received four COVID-19 vaccinations until March 2022. RDB binding antibody titers were determined in a competitive surrogate neutralization assay. Vero-E6 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC), Delta (B.1.617.2), or Omicron (B.1.1.529, sub-lineage BA.1) to determine serum infection neutralization capacity. Four weeks after the fourth vaccination, serum infection neutralization capacity significantly increased from a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50, serum dilution factor 1:x) of 247.0 (46.3–1560.8) to 2560.0 (1174.0–2560.0) for the Delta VoC, and from 37.5 (20.0–198.8) to 668.5 (182.2–2560.0) for the Omicron VoC (each p < 0.001) compared to four months after the third vaccination. A significant increase in the neutralization capacity was even observed for patients with high antibody titers after three vaccinations (p < 0.001). Ten patients with SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection after the first blood sampling had by trend lower prior neutralization capacity for Omicron (p = 0.051). Our findings suggest that hemodialysis patients benefit from a fourth vaccination in particular in the light of the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-variants. A routinely applied four-time vaccination seems to broaden immunity against variants and would be recommended in hemodialysis patients.
Records of Human Deaths from Echinococcosis in Brazil, 1995–2016
Authors: Lise Michael , Widdicombe Jo , Lise Claudia , Oliveira Stefan , Pacheco de Caldas Eduardo , Entezami Mahbod , Prada Joaquín , Ghiotti Nilton , Rodrigues e Silva Rosângela , Vizcaychipi Katherina , Del Rio Vilas Victor
Published: August 2022

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease relevant to public health in many countries, on all continents except Antarctica. The objective of the study is to describe the registered cases and mortality from echinococcosis in Brazil, from 1995 to 2016. The records of two national databases, the Hospital Information System (HIS) and the Mortality Information System (MIS), were accessed during the period of 1995–2016. Demographic, epidemiological, and health care data related to the occurrence of disease and deaths attributed to echinococcosis in Brazil are described. The results showed that 7955 records of hospitalizations were documented in the HIS, during the study period, with 185 deaths from echinococcosis, and 113 records of deaths were documented in the MIS Deaths in every state of Brazil in the period. When comparing between states, the HIS showed great variability in mortality rates, possibly indicating heterogeneity in diagnosis and in the quality of health care received by patients. Less severe cases that do not require specialized care are not recorded by the information systems, thus the true burden of the disease could be underrepresented in the country. A change in the coding of disease records in the HIS in the late 1990s, (the integration of echinococcosis cases with other pathologies), led to the loss of specificity of the records. The records showed a wide geographic distribution of deaths from echinococcosis, reinforcing the need to expand the notification of the disease in Brazil. Currently, notification of cases is compulsory in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.