bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Care Task Division in Familialistic Care Regimes: A Comparative Analysis of Gender and Socio-Economic Inequalities in Austria and Slovenia
Authors: Rodrigues Ricardo , Ilinca Stefania , Hrast Maša Filipovič , Srakar Andrej , Hlebec Valentina
Published: August 2022

Demographic aging has led to an increase in the number of people with multiple needs requiring different types of care delivered by formal and informal carers. The distribution of care tasks between formal and informal carers has a significant impact on the well-being of carers and on how efficiently care is delivered to users. The study has two aims. The first is to explore how task division in care for older people differs between two neighboring countries with different forms of familialism: Slovenia (prescribed familialism) and Austria (supported familialism). The second is to explore how income and gender are associated with task division across these forms of familialism. Multinomial logistic regression is applied to SHARE data (wave 6, 2015) to estimate five different models of task division, based on how personal care and household help are distributed between formal and informal carers. The findings show that the task division is markedly different between Slovenia and Austria, with complementation and supplementation models more frequent in Austria. Despite generous cash benefits and higher service availability in Austria, pro-rich inequalities in the use of formal care only are pervasive here, unlike in Slovenia. Both countries show evidence of pro-poor inequalities in the use of informal care only, while these inequalities are mostly absent from mixed models of task division. Generous cash transfers do not appear to reduce gender inequalities in supported familialism. Supported familialism may not fundamentally improve inequalities when compared with less generous forms of familialism.
Has the Opening of High-Speed Rail Promoted the Balanced Development between Cities?—Evidence of Commercial and Residential Use Land Prices in China
Authors: Chen Jiansheng , Chen Xin , Li Ting
Published: August 2022

The impact of high-speed rail (the following text is written as HSR) on regional economy has become an important research hotspot in the world. Using the Difference in Differences (DID) method, this paper analyzes the influence of HSR opening in 223 cities from 2011 to 2018, considering the time delay effect of HSR opening. After the Propensity Score Matching Difference in Differences (PSM-DID) method and counterfactual regression for robustness test, and we analyzed the mechanism of the urban resident population and financial activities; the results show that: (1) The impact of HSR opening on residential land price is more positive than commercial use land price. (2) For residential land price, the opening of HSR has a greater positive effect on the land in urban areas. (3) The HSR has a more significant impact on the price of residential land in high-tier (second-tier and first-tier) cities, especially on urban area in first-tier cities (including new first-tier cities), and then their city area, followed by second-tier cities. (4) In addition to the impact starting time first, the impact coefficient of HSR on the land price in high-tier cities is higher than that in low-tier cities. (5) From the perspective of residential land price, within 5 years from opening, HSR plays a constant role in developed cities’ economy.
Potential Sources of Heavy Metals in Sediments of an Urban‒Agricultural Watershed and Relationship with Land Use Using a Statistical Approach
Authors: Yang Hae Jong , Kang Tae-Woo , Choi Byungwoong , Hwang Soon Hong , Shin Dongseok , Park Won-Pyo
Published: August 2022

This study verified pollution levels through evaluation of the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) by analyzing the concentrations of heavy metals in sediments of an urban‒agricultural watershed in the Yeongsan River basin, South Korea. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the relationships between pollution levels and land use, and potential sources of pollution were identified. For spatial distributions, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Hg concentrations were highest at mid-upstream, but As, Cr, and Ni concentrations were similar at most sites. The polluted sites, which showed the potential toxicity toward benthic organisms in comparison to SQGs, were most frequently observed at mid-upstream. Moreover, PLI and PERI evaluations also confirmed levels of high anthropogenic pollution and the potential ecological risk at mid-upstream. The mid-upstream sites with high heavy metal pollutions showed high correlations with urban land use, which showed the highest distribution, implying a close relationship with anthropogenic impacts such as high population density and industrial complexes. Statistical analyses also confirmed that high heavy metal concentrations in the mid-upstream were closely related to urban land use. These findings suggest that urban areas are highly likely to cause anthropogenic heavy metal pollution in sediments as point or non-point sources such as domestic sewage and industrial wastewater flow into rivers.
Two-Dimensional Solitons in Nonlocal Media: A Brief Review
Authors: Malomed Boris A.
Published: August 2022

This is a review addressing soliton-like states in systems with nonlocal nonlinearity. The work on this topic has long history in optics and related areas. Some results produced by the work (such as solitons supported by thermal nonlinearity in optical glasses, and orientational nonlinearity, which affects light propagation in liquid crystals) are well known, and have been properly reviewed in the literature, therefore the respective models are outlined in the present review in a brief form. Some other studies, such as those addressing models with fractional diffraction, which is represented by a linear nonlocal operator, have started more recently, therefore it will be relevant to review them in detail when more results will be accumulated; for this reason, the present article provides a short outline of the latter topic. The main part of the article is a summary of results obtained for two-dimensional solitons in specific nonlocal nonlinear models originating in studies of Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs), which are sufficiently mature but have not yet been reviewed previously (some results for three-dimensional solitons are briefly mentioned too). These are, in particular, anisotropic quasi-2D solitons supported by long-range dipole-dipole interactions in a condensate of magnetic atoms and giant vortex solitons (which are stable for high values of the winding number), as well as 2D vortex solitons of the latter type moving with self-acceleration. The vortex solitons are states of a hybrid type, which include matter-wave and electromagnetic-wave components. They are supported, in a binary BEC composed of two different atomic states, by the resonant interaction of the two-component matter waves with a microwave field that couples the two atomic states. The shape, stability, and dynamics of the solitons in such systems are strongly affected by their symmetry. Some other topics are included in the review in a brief form. This review uses the “Harvard style” of referring to the bibliography.
Security Verification of Social Network Model Using Improved Three-Party Authenticated Key Exchange Protocol
Authors: Sinha Vivek Kumar , Anand Divya , Kaur Sandeep , Singh Pankaj , Noya Irene Delgado
Published: August 2022

The proper verification of users plays a vital role during communication over a social network to protect the personal data of users. Multifarious protocols have been implemented to secure the confidential data of the users, but these protocols have various limitations and are incapable of providing secrecy of data against various attacks, such as replay and cryptanalysis attacks. In this article, the authors proposed a novel method for security verification of the social network model using an improved three-party authenticated key exchange (3PAKE) protocol based on symmetric encryption and (ECC) elliptic curve cryptography. The outcome of the paper demonstrates that our proposed algorithm provides the desired secrecy to the confidential data exchange over social networks in real-time and consumes less time in comparison to existing protocols. Our protocol consumes a search time of 0.09 s, overall communication steps took 2 during the verification, and depth plies was 3 along with 20 visited nodes. The 3PAKE protocol has been considered a suitable approach for social network secrecy during information exchange between user and server, thereby providing greater secrecy to the user in data exchange over social networks and more robustness against multifarious known attacks, such as cryptanalysis and replay attacks in real-time.
Multi-Channel Data Aggregation Scheduling Based on the Chaotic Firework Algorithm for the Battery-Free Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Lu Yao , Wu Xianming , Yao Liguo , Zhang Taihua , Zhou Xiaosong
Published: August 2022

The emergence of battery-free wireless sensor networks (benefiting from the ability to collect energy from the surroundings) has broken through the energy and lifetime limitations of traditional wireless sensor network systems, but also brings challenges to the sharing of network resources. In the multi-channel wireless communication environment, in particular, how to coordinate the communication time and occupied channels of a large number of sensor nodes from the perspective of optimizing the global network has become a research problem that must be solved. To reduce the transmission delay and the usage of wireless channels, a new multi-channel data aggregation scheduling method based on the chaotic firework algorithm is proposed in this paper. With the help of the generation function of feasible solutions, one scheduling set and a firework individual can be rapidly converted to each other. By the operations of firework explosions, the Gaussian mutation, and chaotic exploration, a sub-optimal scheduling set could be found during an acceptable time period. Finally, simulation results show that the new scheduling method has advantages in aggregation delay and occupied channels when compared with existing methods.
Graph Coloring via Clique Search with Symmetry Breaking
Authors: Szabó Sándor , Zaválnij Bogdán
Published: August 2022

It is known that the problem of proper coloring of the nodes of a given graph can be reduced to finding cliques in a suitably constructed auxiliary graph. In this work, we explore the possibility of reducing the search space by exploiting the symmetries present in the auxiliary graph. The proposed method can also be used for efficient exact coloring of hyper graphs. We also precondition the auxiliary graph in order to further reduce the search space. We carry out numerical experiments to assess the practicality of these proposals. We solve some hard cases and prove a new lower limit of seven for the mycielski7 graph with the aid of the proposed technique.
Stock Price Crash Warning in the Chinese Security Market Using a Machine Learning-Based Method and Financial Indicators
Authors: Deng Shangkun , Zhu Yingke , Duan Shuangyang , Fu Zhe , Liu Zonghua
Published: August 2022

Stock price crashes have occurred frequently in the Chinese security market during the last three decades. They have not only caused substantial economic losses to market investors but also seriously threatened the stability and financial safety of the security market. To protect against the price crash risk of individual stocks, a prediction and explanation approach has been proposed by combining eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). We assume that financial indicators can be adopted for stock crash risk prediction, and they are utilized as prediction variables. In the proposed method, XGBoost is used to classify the stock crash and non-crash samples, while NSGA-II is employed to optimize the hyperparameters of XGBoost. To obtain the essential features for stock crash prediction, the importance of each financial indicator is calculated, and the outputs of the prediction model are explained by SHAP. Compared with the results of benchmarks using traditional machine learning methods, we found that the proposed method performed best in terms of both prediction accuracy and efficiency. Especially for the small market capitalization samples, the accuracy of classifying all samples reached 78.41%, and the accuracy of identifying the crash samples was up to 81.31%. In summary, the performance of the proposed method demonstrates that it could be employed as a valuable reference for market regulators engaged in the Chinese security market.
Dissipation and Distribution of Prochloraz in Bananas and a Risk Assessment of Its Dietary Intake
Authors: Huang Jiajian , Lin Sukun , Zhou Jingtong , Chen Huiya , Tang Shiqi , Wu Jian , Huang Suqing , Cheng Dongmei , Zhang Zhixiang
Published: August 2022

Background: As a systematic fungicide, prochloraz is often used to control banana freckle disease, and it is significant to assess the safety and risk of prochloraz. Methods: The dissipation kinetics and distribution of prochloraz in bananas were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The results showed that the fortified recoveries in bananas were 83.01–99.12%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 2.45–7.84%. The half-life of prochloraz in banana peel (3.93–5.60 d) was significantly lower than it was in whole banana (8.25–10.80 d) and banana pulp (10.35–12.84 d). The terminal residue of prochloraz in banana fruits was below the maximum residue level (MRL, China) at pre-harvest intervals (PHI) of 21 d. Moreover, the residue of prochloraz in banana peel was always 1.06–7.71 times greater than it was in banana pulp. The dietary risk assessment results indicated that the prochloraz residue in bananas at PHI of 21 d was safe for representative populations. (4) Conclusions: We found that a 26.7% prochloraz emulsion oil in water (EW) diluted 1000-fold and sprayed three times under field conditions was safe and reliable, providing a reference for the safe application of prochloraz in bananas.
Current Progress for Retrospective Identification of Nerve Agent Biomarkers in Biological Samples after Exposure
Authors: Wang Jin , Lu Xiaogang , Gao Runli , Pei Chengxin , Wang Hongmei
Published: August 2022

Organophosphorus neurotoxic agents (OPNAs) seriously damage the nervous system, inhibiting AChE activity and threatening human health and life. Timely and accurate detection of biomarkers in biomedical samples is an important means for identifying OPNA exposure, helping to recognize and clarify its characteristics and providing unambiguous forensic evidence for retrospective research. It is therefore necessary to summarize the varieties of biomarkers, recognize their various characteristics, and understand the principal research methods for these biomarkers in the retrospective detection of OPNA exposure. Common biomarkers include mainly intact agents, degradation products and protein adducts. Direct agent identification in basic experimental research was successfully applied to the detection of free OPNAs, however, this method is not applicable to actual biomedical samples because the high reactivity of OPNAs promotes rapid metabolism. Stepwise degradation products are important targets for retrospective research and are usually analyzed using a GC–MS, or an LC–MS system after derivatization. The smaller window of detection time requires that sampling be accomplished within 48 h, increasing the obstacles to determining OPNA exposure. For this reason, the focus of retrospective identification of OPNA exposure has shifted to protein adducts with a longer lifetime. Compared to the fluoride-induced reactivation method, which cannot be used for aged adducts, digestive peptide analysis is the more elegant method for detecting various adducts, identifying more active sites, exploring potential biomarkers and excavating characteristic ions. Retrospective identification of biomarkers after OPNA poisoning is of primary importance, providing unambiguous evidence for forensic analysis in actual cases and judgment of chemical accidents. At present, degradation products, the nonapeptide from BChE adducts and Y411 from human serum adducts are used successfully in actual cases of OPNA exposure. However, more potential biomarkers are still in the discovery stage, which may prove inconclusive. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research that screens biomarker candidates with high reactivity and good reliability from the potential candidates. In addition, mass spectrometry detection with high resolution and reactivity and an accurate data processing system in the scanning mode must also be further improved for the retrospective identification of unknown agents.
Assessing the Impact of Meteorological Factors on COVID-19 Seasonality in Metropolitan Chennai, India
Authors: Suman Thodhal Yoganandham , Keerthiga Rajendiran , Remya Rajan Renuka , Jacintha Amali , Jeon Junho
Published: August 2022

Meteorological factors may influence coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. Due to the small number of time series studies, the relative importance of seasonality and meteorological factors is still being debated. From March 2020 to April 2021, we evaluated the impact of meteorological factors on the transmission of COVID-19 in Chennai, India. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic spreads over the year is critical to developing public health strategies. Correlation models were used to examine the influence of meteorological factors on the transmission of COVID-19. The results revealed seasonal variations in the number of COVID-19-infected people. COVID-19 transmission was greatly aggravated by temperature, wind speed, nitric oxide (NO) and barometric pressure (BP) during summer seasons, whereas wind speed and BP aggravated COVID-19 transmission during rainy seasons. Furthermore, PM 2.5, NO and BP aggravated COVID-19 transmission during winter seasons. However, their relationships fluctuated seasonally. Our research shows that seasonal influences must be considered when developing effective interventions.
Pooled Analysis of Real-World Evidence Supports Anti-CGRP mAbs and OnabotulinumtoxinA Combined Trial in Chronic Migraine
Authors: Scuteri Damiana , Tonin Paolo , Nicotera Pierluigi , Vulnera Marilù , Altieri Giuseppina Cristina , Tarsitano Assunta , Bagetta Giacinto , Corasaniti Maria Tiziana
Published: August 2022

OnabotulinumtoxinA, targeting the CGRP machinery, has been approved for the last two decades for chronic migraine prevention. The recently approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed towards the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway open a new age for chronic migraine control. However, some 40% patients suffering from chronic migraine is still resistant to treatment. The aim of this work is to answer the following PICOS (participants intervention comparator outcome study design) question: Is there evidence of efficacy and safety of the combined administration of anti-CGRP mAbs and onabotulinumtoxinA in chronic migraine? A systematic review and meta-analysis [Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations] was made up to 19 April 2022. The results are encouraging: the combined treatment proved to afford ≥50% monthly headache days (MHDs)/frequency reduction respect to baseline in up to 58.8% of patients; in comparison, anti-CGRP mAbs reduce MHDs of 1.94 days from baseline and botulinum toxin of 1.86 days. Our study demonstrates for the first time that the combination therapy of onabotulinumtoxinA with anti-CGRP mAbs affords a reduction of 2.67 MHDs with respect to onabotulinumtoxinA alone, with moderate certainty of evidence. Adequately powered, good-quality studies are needed to confirm the response to combination therapy in terms of efficacy and safety. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022313640.
New Insights into Zika in Infants and Children
Authors: Mulkey Sarah B. , DeBiasi Roberta L.
Published: August 2022

In the original article [...]
Anisotropic Multiverse with Varying c and G and Study of Its Thermodynamics
Authors: Debnath Ujjal , Nag Soumak
Published: August 2022

We assume the anisotropic model of the Universe in the framework of a varying speed of light c and a varying gravitational constant G theories and study different types of singularities. We write the scale factors for the singularity models in terms of cosmic time and find some conditions for possible singularities. For future singularities, we assume the forms of a varying speed of light and varying gravitational constant. For regularizing the Big Bang singularity, we assume two forms of scale factors: the sine model and the tangent model. For both models, we examine the validity of null and strong energy conditions. Starting from the first law of thermodynamics, we study the thermodynamic behaviors of a number n of universes (i.e., multiverse) for (i) varying c, (ii) varying G and (iii) varying both c and G models. We find the total entropies for all the cases in the anisotropic multiverse model. We also find the nature of the multiverse if the total entropy is constant.
General Thermodynamic Properties of FRW Universe and Heat Engine
Authors: Debnath Ujjal
Published: August 2022

In this work, the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) Universe is considered a thermodynamic system, where the cosmological constant generates the thermodynamic pressure. Using a unified first law, we have determined the amount of energy dE crossing the apparent horizon. Since heat is one of the forms of thermal energy, so the heat flows δQ through the apparent horizon = amount of energy crossing the apparent horizon. Using the first law of thermodynamics, on the apparent horizon, we found TdS=A(ρ+p)Hr˜hdt+Aρdr˜h where T,S,A,H,r˜h,ρ,p are respectively the temperature, entropy, area, Hubble parameter, horizon radius, fluid density and pressure. Since the apparent horizon is dynamical, so we have assumed that dr˜h cannot be zero in general, i.e., the second term Aρdr˜h is non-zero on the apparent horizon. Using Friedmann equations with the unified first law, we have obtained the modified entropy-area relation on the apparent horizon. In addition, from the modified entropy-area relation, we have obtained modified Friedmann equations. From the original Friedmann equations and also from modified Friedmann equations, we have obtained the same entropy. We have derived the equations for the main thermodynamical quantise, such as temperature, volume, mass, specific heat capacity, thermal expansion, isothermal compressibility, critical temperature, critical volume, critical pressure and critical entropy. To determine the cooling/heating nature of the FRW Universe, we have obtained the coefficient of Joule–Thomson expansion. Next, we have discussed the heat engine phenomena of the thermodynamical FRW Universe. We have considered the Carnot cycle and obtained its completed work. In addition, we studied the work completed and the thermal efficiency of the new heat engine. Finally, we have obtained the thermal efficiency of the Rankine cycle.
Identifying HIV-1 Transmission Clusters in Uzbekistan through Analysis of Molecular Surveillance Data
Authors: Lebedev Aleksey , Kuznetsova Anna , Kim Kristina , Ozhmegova Ekaterina , Antonova Anastasiia , Kazennova Elena , Tumanov Aleksandr , Mamatkulov Adkhamjon , Kazakova Evgeniya , Ibadullaeva Nargiz , Brigida Krestina , Musabaev Erkin , Mustafaeva Dildora , Rakhimova Visola , Bobkova Marina
Published: August 2022

The CRF02_AG and sub-subtype A6 are currently the predominant HIV-1 variants in the Republic of Uzbekistan, but little is known about their time-spatial clustering patterns in high-risk populations. We have applied molecular evolution methods and network analyses to better understand the transmission patterns of these subtypes by analyzing 316 pol sequences obtained during the surveillance study of HIV drug resistance. Network analysis showed that about one third of the HIV infected persons were organized into clusters, including large clusters with more than 35 members. These clusters were composed mostly of injecting drug users and/or heterosexuals, with women having mainly high centrality within networks identified in both subtypes. Phylogenetic analyses of the ‘Uzbek’ sequences, including those publicly available, show that Russia and Ukraine played a role as the main sources of the current subtype A6 epidemic in the Republic. At the same time, Uzbekistan has been a local center of the CRF02_AG epidemic spread in the former USSR since the early 2000s. Both of these HIV-1 variants continue to spread in Uzbekistan, highlighting the importance of identifying transmission networks and transmission clusters to prevent further HIV spread, and the need for HIV prevention and education campaigns in high-risk groups.
Regulatory T Cells Decreased during Recovery from Mild COVID-19
Authors: Seepathomnarong Purilap , Ongarj Jomkwan , Sophonmanee Ratchanon , Seeyankem Bunya , Chusri Sarunyou , Surasombatpattana Smonrapat , Pinpathomrat Nawamin
Published: August 2022

Depending on the intensity and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the host immune response plays a significant role in immunological protection. Here, we studied the regulatory T-cell (Treg) response in relation to kinetic change and cytokine production in patients with mild COVID-19. Nineteen SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recruited, and blood was collected at four time points, i.e., seven days after admission, after discharge, and one and three months after recovery. CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127low was marked as the Treg population, with IL-10 and TGF-β used to study cytokine-producing Tregs. IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells were observed for an effector response. The Treg percentage in patients with mild COVID-19 increased during hospitalization compared to during the recovery period. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were quantified, and the T-cell response was characterized by re-stimulation with S1 and N peptides. IL-10 and TGF-β were produced by CD25+CD127low T cells during the active infection phase, especially with N peptide stimulation. Compared to N peptide stimulation, S1 peptide stimulation provided superior IFN-γ-secreting CD8+ T-cell responses. Our results suggest that while IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells confer antiviral immunity, cytokine-producing Tregs may have a substantial role in regulating inflammatory responses in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Novel vaccine development may also consider enhancing T-cell repertoires.
A Proteomic Approach to Study the Biological Role of Hepatitis C Virus Protein Core+1/ARFP
Authors: Vrazas Vasileios , Moustafa Savvina , Makridakis Manousos , Karakasiliotis Ioannis , Vlahou Antonia , Mavromara Penelope , Katsani Katerina R.
Published: August 2022

Hepatitis C virus is the major cause of chronic liver diseases and the only cytoplasmic RNA virus known to be oncogenic in humans. The viral genome gives rise to ten mature proteins and to additional proteins, which are the products of alternative translation initiation mechanisms. A protein—known as ARFP (alternative reading frame protein) or Core+1 protein—is synthesized by an open reading frame overlapping the HCV Core coding region in the (+1) frame of genotype 1a. Almost 20 years after its discovery, we still know little of the biological role of the ARFP/Core+1 protein. Here, our differential proteomic analysis of stable hepatoma cell lines expressing the Core+1/Long isoform of HCV-1a relates the expression of the Core+1/Long isoform with the progression of the pathology of HCV liver disease to cancer.
The Emergence and Pathogenesis of Recombinant Viruses Associated with NADC34-like Strains and the Predominant Circulating Strains of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Southern China
Authors: Wang Xindong , Zhang Kang , Mo Qingrong , Chen Guochang , Lv Jing , Huang Jing , Pang Yanli , Wang Hao , Liu Wenbo , Huang Kai , Min Xiangling , Ren Tongwei , Ouyang Kang , Chen Ying , Huang Weijian , Wei Zuzhang
Published: August 2022

Since its recent appearance in China, the NADC30-like strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 (PRRSV-2) have caused an expanding epidemic, and this has further expanded the genetic diversity of PRRSV. In this study, three NADC30-like strains—GXFCG20210401, GXQZ20210403 and GXNN20210506—were isolated from pig serum samples obtained in Guangxi, and their genomes were sequenced. A comparative analysis of the whole genomes showed that the three strains were most similar to NADC30 (88.3–88.7%). In particular, the non-structural protein coding regions (nsp1, nsp4-5, nsp7-8 and nsp9) showed the highest similarities to JXA1, and the ORF2a-ORF5 regions showed the highest similarities to NADC34. The three strains had same discontinuous deletions of 111+1+19 amino acids in the nsp2 region, which were similar to the NADC30-like strains. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the ORF5 gene showed that the three PRRSV isolates were divided into lineage 1.5 along with the representative NADC34-like strains, but they were classified as NADC30-like strains with respect to the whole genome and nsp2 evolutionary trees. Recombinant analysis revealed complex recombination patterns in the genomes of the three strains, which likely originated from multiple recombination events among JXA1-like, NADC30-like and NADC34-like strains. The results from animal experiments showed that the GXQZ20210403 strain was 20% lethal to piglets and caused more severe clinical reactions than GXFCG20210401, and both recombinant strains were similar in terms of pathogenicity to the previously reported NADC34 strains. This study demonstrates that NADC34-like strains of PRRSV have been circulating in the southern provinces of China and have exchanged genomes with several other indigenous strains. In addition, differences in recombination patterns may cause different clinical pathogenicity and indicate the importance of the surveillance and preventive control of recombinant strains.
Behavioural and Cognitive Attitudes of Paediatricians towards Influenza Self-Vaccination—Partial Mediation Model
Authors: Sobierajski Tomasz , Bulińska-Stangrecka Helena , Wanke-Rytt Monika , Stefanoff Paweł , Augustynowicz Ewa
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: This study aims to analyse the attitudinal components influencing paediatricians’ self-vaccination. (2) Methods: The national-cross survey was conducted among paediatricians involved in childhood vaccination within the immunisation program. (3) Results: A hypothetical model indicating the influence of cognitive and behavioural factors on influenza vaccination among paediatricians was verified based on a survey of Polish paediatricians. A simple mediation model, based on Triandis’ Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour, reflects a relationship in which knowledge and beliefs about outcomes contribute to whether paediatricians vaccinate against influenza. (4) Conclusions: The presented research shows that the pro-vaccination behaviours of paediatricians are not only influenced by cognitive factors but also the behavioural components of attitudes, which are equally important. The conclusions point to the pivotal role of shaping both knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness of immunisation programmes in building the pro-vaccination attitudes of paediatricians. (5) Practical Implications: This is the first representative study of Polish paediatricians to demonstrate how their attitudes and behaviour are related to self-vaccination. Its conclusions allow policymakers to develop programmes to support effective measures against the spread of infectious diseases through the self-vaccination of medical professionals.
Alum/CpG Adjuvanted Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine with Protective Efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 and Variants
Authors: Zhang Yuntao , Zheng Xiaotong , Sheng Wang , Liang Hongyang , Zhao Yuxiu , Zhu Xiujuan , Yang Rong , Zhang Yadan , Dong Xiaofei , Li Weidong , Pei Fei , Ding Ling , Chang Zhen , Deng Li , Yuan Guangying , Yang Zhaona , Zhu Di , Yang Xiaoming , Wang Hui
Published: August 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged, including five variants of concern (VOC) strains listed by the WHO: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. Extensive studies have shown that most of these VOC strains, especially the currently dominant variant Omicron, can escape the host immune response induced by existing COVID-19 vaccines to different extents, which poses considerable risk to the health of human beings around the world. In the present study, we developed a vaccine based on inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and an adjuvant consisting of aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG. The immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine were investigated in rats. The candidate vaccine elicited high titers of SARS-CoV-2-spike-specific IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody in immunized rats, which not only neutralize the original SARS-CoV-2, but also showed great cross-neutralization activity against the Beta, Delta and Omicron variants.
Comparative Characterization of Human Antibody Response Induced by BNT162b2 Vaccination vs. SARS-CoV-2 Wild-Type Infection
Authors: Lagousi Theano , Routsias John , Mavrouli Maria , Papadatou Ioanna , Geropeppa Maria , Spoulou Vana
Published: August 2022

Humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 immunization or natural infection is thought to be evanescent. In our study, we aimed to longitudinally characterize the kinetics of antibody titers after dual BNT162b2 immunization or wild-type infection. Vaccinated and recovered individuals displayed distinct antibody kinetics, as convalescents had detectable RBD-, S1-specific, and neutralizing IgG antibody titers two weeks post-infection that gradually increased longitudinally, while RBD-, S1-specific, and neutralizing IgG were detected in vaccinees after the first dose, increased significantly 3 weeks post the second dose and decreased significantly 4–5 months thereafter. Neutralizing IgG was significantly higher initially in convalescent individuals; however, vaccines displayed significantly higher neutralizing antibodies 4–5 months post the second dose. In both groups, there was a strong negative association between elapsed time and antibody levels. The avidity of anti-RBD antibody titers increased significantly in patients longitudinally, while in vaccinees initially increased, with subsequent decrease, remaining however higher than antibody avidity of recovered individuals at all time-points. Anti-RBD antibodies were strongly correlated with neutralizing and anti-S1 antibodies in both groups at all time-points. This study facilitates our further understanding of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccines.
Protective Effect of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines against Progression of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta Variant Infections to Pneumonia in Beijing, China, in 2022
Authors: Li Juan , Song Rui , Yuan Zheng , Xu Zheng , Suo Luodan , Wang Qing , Li Yuan , Gao Yanlin , Li Xiaomei , Chen Xiaoyou , Wu Jiang
Published: August 2022

This real-world study explores the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inactivated vaccines on the prevention of asymptomatic or mild Delta or Omicron variant infections progressing to pneumonia. Association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia cases and vaccination was measured with a multivariable logistic regression, stratified by genotype and age groups. We recruited 265 cases (111 (41.9%) infected with Delta and 154 (58.1%) with Omicron variants). There were 22 asymptomatic infected individuals, 156 mild cases without pneumonia, and 87 moderate cases with pneumonia. There was a markedly increased risk of progression to pneumonia in Delta infected cases, unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated COVID-19 patients with diabetes and those aged ≥60 years. Patients who had completed booster doses of inactivated vaccines had a reduced risk of 81.6% (95% CI: 55.6–92.4%) in progressing to pneumonia over those who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. The risk of progressing to pneumonia was less reduced by 88.7% (95% CI: 56.6–97%) and 73.9% (95% CI: 1.4–93.1%) among Delta and Omicron-infected patients, and was reduced by 78.5% (95% CI: 45.3–91.6%) and 94.1% (95% CI: 21.5–99.6%) among patients aged <60 and ≥60 years, respectively. Our data indicated that a complete vaccination with a booster reduced the risk of asymptomatic or mild Delta or Omicron variant COVID-19 progressing to pneumonia and, thus, reduced the pressure of severe illness on medical resources.
Reactogenicity to the mRNA-1273 Booster According to Previous mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Parés-Badell Oleguer , Zules-Oña Ricardo , Armadans Lluís , Pinós Laia , Borrás-Bermejo Blanca , Otero Susana , Rodrigo-Pendás José Ángel , Vivet-Escalé Martí , Cossio-Gil Yolima , Agustí Antònia , Aguilera Cristina , Campins Magda , Martínez-Gómez Xavier
Published: August 2022

The objective of this study was to assess the local and systemic adverse reactions after the administration of a COVID-19 mRNA-1273 booster between December 2021 and February 2022 by comparing the type of mRNA vaccine used as primary series (mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2) and homologous versus heterologous booster in health care workers (HCW). A cross-sectional study was performed in HCW at a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain. A total of 17% of booster recipients responded to the questionnaire. The frequency of reactogenicity after the mRNA-1273 booster (88.5%) was similar to the mRNA-1273 primary doses (85.8%), and higher than the BNT162b2 primary doses (71.1%). The reactogenicity was similar after receiving a heterologous booster compared to a homologous booster (88.0% vs. 90.2%, p = 0.3), and no statistically significant differences were identified in any local or systemic reactions. A higher frequency of medical leave was identified in the homologous booster dose group vs. the heterologous booster dose group (AOR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.00–2.07; p = 0.045). Our findings could be helpful in improving vaccine confidence toward heterologous combinations in the general population and in health care workers.
Correlation between Adverse Events and Antibody Titers among Healthcare Workers Vaccinated with BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Levy Itzchak , Levin Einav Gal , Olmer Liraz , Regev-Yochay Gili , Agmon-Levin Nancy , Wieder-Finesod Anat , Indenbaum Victoria , Herzog Karin , Doolman Ram , Asraf Keren , Halperin Rebecca , Lustig Yaniv , Rahav Galia
Published: August 2022

Objectives: The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has been found to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19 but is associated with increased reactogenicity. We aimed to examine the correlation between immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Methods: Subjects without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection that participated in active surveillance after being vaccinated with the BNT162b2 vaccine were included. Study participants reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) through questionnaires administered by text message after receiving each dose of the vaccine. A reactogenicity score was developed based on the type and duration of ADRs. In addition, anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) levels and neutralization assays were performed 7–21 and 7–38 days after the first and second vaccine doses, respectively. Associations between ADRs and antibody levels were assessed by Spearman correlations. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with ADRs. Results: A total of 831 health care workers were included. The mean age was 46.5 years (SD = 11.8) and 75.5% were females. 83.4% and 83.3% had at least one local ADR after the first and second doses, respectively. 33% and 83.2% had at least one systemic ADR after the first and second doses, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found a significant correlation between ADR score and anti-RBD-IgG titers (r = 0.366; p < 0.0001) after adjustment for age, gender, and days after the second vaccination. High anti-RBD-IgG levels, being younger than 55 and being female, were all correlated with increased rates of ADRs. Conclusion: BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reactogenicity appears to be correlated with higher post-vaccination antibody levels and is independently associated with younger age and female gender.
Immunogenicity and Safety of mRNA Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Mormile Ilaria , Della Casa Francesca , Petraroli Angelica , Furno Alessandro , Granata Francescopaolo , Portella Giuseppe , Rossi Francesca Wanda , de Paulis Amato
Published: August 2022

Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure to control the spread of COVID-19 and reduce associated complications. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 41 adult SLE patients receiving two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Comirnaty-BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine were enrolled. The quantitative determination of anti-trimeric spike protein-specific IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was assessed before (T0), 21 days after the administration of the first dose of the vaccine (T1), and between 21 and 28 days after the second dose (T2). They were compared with the same determinations from a cohort of 29 patients with C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency hereditary angioedema (C1-INH-HAE) as controls. All the SLE patients and controls demonstrated a positive serological response after a single dose of the vaccine (T1), which significantly increased after the second dose (T2). No significant difference was found between SLE patients and controls at T1 [t(52.81) = −0.68; p = 0.49] and at T2 [t(67.74) = −0.22; p = 0.825]. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) analysis showed that the vaccine did not influence SLE activity or caused disease flare in our cohort. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccines produced a satisfactory response in SLE patients without variation in the disease activity.
The Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Risk Stratification and Prognostication of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Parthasarathi Ashwaghosha , Padukudru Sunag , Arunachal Sumalata , Basavaraj Chetak Kadabasal , Krishna Mamidipudi Thirumala , Ganguly Koustav , Upadhyay Swapna , Anand Mahesh Padukudru
Published: August 2022

Several studies have proposed that the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is one of the various biomarkers that can be useful in assessing COVID-19 disease-related outcomes. Our systematic review analyzes the relationship between on-admission NLR values and COVID-19 severity and mortality. Six different severity criteria were used. A search of the literature in various databases was conducted from 1 January 2020 to 1 May 2021. We calculated the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for the collected NLR values. A meta-regression analysis was performed, looking at the length of hospitalization and other probable confounders, such as age, gender, and comorbidities. A total of sixty-four studies were considered, which included a total of 15,683 patients. The meta-analysis showed an SMD of 3.12 (95% CI: 2.64–3.59) in NLR values between severe and non-severe patients. A difference of 3.93 (95% CI: 2.35–5.50) was found between survivors and non-survivors of the disease. Upon summary receiver operating characteristics analysis, NLR showed 80.2% (95% CI: 74.0–85.2%) sensitivity and 75.8% (95% CI: 71.3–79.9%) specificity for the prediction of severity and 78.8% (95% CI: 73.5–83.2%) sensitivity and 73.0% (95% CI: 68.4–77.1%) specificity for mortality, and was not influenced by age, gender, or co-morbid conditions. Conclusion: On admission, NLR predicts both severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, and an NLR > 6.5 is associated with significantly greater the odds of mortality.
Efficacy Studies of a Trivalent Vaccine Containing PCV-2a, PCV-2b Genotypes and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae When Administered at 3 Days of Age and 3 Weeks Later against Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV-2) Infection
Authors: Pleguezuelos Patricia , Sibila Marina , Cuadrado-Matías Raúl , López-Jiménez Rosa , Pérez Diego , Huerta Eva , Pérez Mónica , Correa-Fiz Florencia , Mancera-Gracia José Carlos , Taylor Lucas P. , Borowski Stasia , Saunders Gillian , Segalés Joaquim , López-Soria Sergio , Balasch Mònica
Published: August 2022

Four studies under preclinical and clinical conditions were performed to evaluate the efficacy of a new trivalent vaccine against Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) infection. The product contained inactivated PCV-1/PCV-2a (cPCV-2a) and PCV-1/PCV-2b (cPCV-2b) chimeras, plus M. hyopneumoniae inactivated cell-free antigens, which was administered to piglets in a two-dose regime at 3 days of age and 3 weeks later. The overall results of preclinical and clinical studies show a significant reduction in PCV-2 viraemia and faecal excretion, and lower histopathological lymphoid lesions and PCV-2 immunohistochemistry scores in vaccinated pigs when compared to non-vaccinated ones. Furthermore, in field trial A, a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of PCV-2-subclinical infection, an increase in body weight from 16 weeks of age to slaughterhouse and an average daily weight gain over the whole period (from 3 days of age to slaughterhouse) was detected in the vaccinated group when compared to the non-vaccinated one. Circulation of PCV-2a in field trial A, and PCV-2b plus PCV-2d in field trial B was confirmed by virus sequencing. In conclusion, a double immunization with a cPCV-2a/cPCV-2b/M. hyopneumoniae vaccine was efficacious against PCV-2 infection by reducing the number of histopathological lymphoid lesions and PCV-2 detection in tissues, serum, and faeces, as well as reducing losses in productive parameters.
Biowaste Valorization Using Hydrothermal Carbonization for Potential Wastewater Treatment Applications
Authors: Ţurcanu Anca Andreea , Matei Ecaterina , Râpă Maria , Predescu Andra Mihaela , Coman George , Predescu Cristian
Published: August 2022

In today’s world, due to population increase, there are many alarming and potential catastrophic problems like climate change, environmental pollution and an enormous mass of wastes constantly produced by humankind to find innovative solutions for the management, recycling, and valorization of biowaste from agricultural production, food processing, and organic household residues. The search for sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment technologies has gained scientific interest recently; particular focus is on using biowaste to produce hydrochars (HCs) via the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process used as adsorbent materials for dye, heavy metal, and emerging pollutant removal. HTC materials derived from renewable resources are an environmentally friendly and adequate way to adsorb pollutants such as organic and inorganic molecules from wastewaters. This review focuses on the advantages of the HTC process which lead to improved properties of the materials obtained, making them highly efficient in wastewater treatment. The information presented in this paper was derived from the most recent publications in the field. Future perspectives of HC materials should consider the possibilities of scale-up, pretreatment of biowastes, and the optimal parameters of the HTC process to produce HCs applied for pollutant removal from wastewaters.