bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability Enhancement and Skin Permeation Application of Nicotine by Forming Inclusion Complex with β-Cyclodextrin and Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin
Authors: Chulurks Sorrawee , Jitapunkul Kulpavee , Katanyutanon Sasimas , Toochinda Pisanu , Lawtrakul Luckhana
Published: September 2021

Nicotine is widely used in pharmaceutical industries, especially for smoking cessation in the form of transdermal patches. Nicotine gel in the patches has limitations from nicotine instability and high volatility. Thus, a nicotine preservation technique is needed. In this study, a nicotine encapsulation process using methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) is investigated and compared with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) to evaluate the preservation and skin permeation of nicotine. The M06-2X/6-31G(d,p) density functional theory calculations indicate a 1:1 host–guest molar ratio for the inclusion complex of nicotine with βCD and MβCD, which have been validated by experimental studies. The encapsulation efficiencies of βCD and MβCD to encapsulate nicotine are 59.96% and 63.76%, respectively. The preservation study of the inclusion complexes compared to pure nicotine shows a stability improvement of nicotine after being encapsulated. After 21 days, the percentages of the nicotine/βCD and nicotine/MβCD inclusion complexes that remain are 89.32% and 76.22%, while only 65.56% of pure nicotine remains. Besides the one-hour skin permeation tests, the amounts of nicotine permeated through pig skin from the nicotine/βCD and nicotine/MβCD inclusion complex gels are 14 and 10 times as much as the pure nicotine gel, respectively. Therefore, the encapsulation of nicotine with βCD and MβCD can be used to enhance the stability and skin permeation application of nicotine-containing products.
Distribution, Source and Potential Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments from the Liaohe River Protected Area, China
Authors: Zhang Yun , Wang Chuyuan , Du Liyu
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to assess the occurrence, distribution, toxicity equivalency and health risks of dl-PCBs (dioxin-like PCBs) from nine sites collected in surface sediments from Liaohe River Protected Area. ∑dl-PCBs concentrations in sediments range from 79.2 to 365.1 pg/g. Sediment profiles showed that pentachlorobiphenyl is the most abundant congener among all sampling sites. The results of principal component analysis and cluster analysis indicated that PCBs were mainly derived from electronic waste and paint additives in the sediments of Liaohe River Protected Area. Toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values of the PCBs in the Liaohe River Protected Area sediments are at comparatively lower levels compared with the previously reported data. Hazardous ratio (HR) for human health risk assessment allied to cancer was found to be lower than the non-carcinogenic risk assessment within an acceptable range.
Aging Characteristics of Asphalt Binder under Strong Ultraviolet Irradiation in Northwest China
Authors: Zou Ling , Zhang Yan , Liu Bangyi
Published: September 2021

Asphalt pavement is significantly affected by ultraviolet (UV) aging. Therefore, the establishment of an asphalt UV aging evaluation system is desirable for highway construction in areas which experience strong UV radiation. In this study, Dunhuang City in Gansu Province (northwest China) was used as the research site. Base and SBS modified asphalts were selected, and their performance changes before and after UV aging were studied. An asphalt UV aging evaluation system was established, including the conditions for an indoor, accelerated UV aging test as well as evaluation indicators. The results showed that the adverse effect of UV aging on asphalt performance was greater than that of RTFOT and PAV, and that the low-temperature performance of asphalt degraded most rapidly. SBS modified asphalt was more resistant to UV aging than base asphalt, while 60/80 pen grade base asphalt was found to be unsuitable for use on pavements which are exposed to strong UV radiation. The residual penetration, penetration attenuation index at 25 °C, and residual ductility of the asphalt were used as indicators to characterize the aging of asphalt, while the fracture energy method was used as a supplementary evaluation method.
Exploring the Strategic Intent and Practices of University Accelerators: A Case of Australia
Authors: Maritz Alex , Nguyen Quan , Hsieh Hsin-Ming
Published: September 2021

University accelerators are a recent but rapidly growing phenomenon that not only enhance regional entrepreneurial ecosystems but influence the success of university startups and regional development and prosperity. The aim of this research is to explore the alignment of university strategic intent and practices with the impact and outcomes of university startup accelerators. The research design includes emergent enquiry perspectives aligned to inductive and nascent exploratory research. This is the first global algorithmic study using Leximancer techniques to examine the integration of university intent and accelerator impact using institutional theory as a foundation. Neoteric reviews provide conflicting points of view regarding university accelerators as startup launchpads or vehicles for entrepreneurial learning, and the findings suggest a disparity between university accelerators and university strategic intent, primarily a result of the incongruent interplay of substantive and symbolic management practices. The findings provide not only critical grounding and insights for researchers, practitioners, and university leaders in their quest to engage with successful nascent entrepreneurs and university startups but, also, practical implications to align the strategic intent.
An Innovative Simulation Agent-Based Model for the Combined Sea-Road Transport as a DSS
Authors: Renna Alessandra , Petrelli Marco , Carrese Stefano , Bertocci Riccardo
Published: September 2021

This research proposes an innovative approach to evaluate modal shift from the road-only to the combined sea-road transport in order to implement new policies and introduce a Decision Support System (DSS) for the transportation planner’s decision. The impact of these is carried out by using an innovative simulation tool which has the capability to simulate the real choice process of all stakeholders involved, specifically modelling the freight forwarder’s point of view. The model runs as a single-agent based simulation which uses a multimodal network with detailed zoning. The simulation tool, capable of simulating the assignment of the whole network simultaneously, consists of a path choice model and a mode choice model for each o/d pair considered, establishing o/d pairs suitable and not suitable for modal shift. Three policies have been designed and tested through the simulation tool with an application in the Italian context: (1) internalization of the external costs of heavy vehicles; (2) introduction of a bonus for shipping companies; (3) design of new Ro-Ro services. The most affecting policy concerns an increase of speed of some Ro-Ro services to 22 kn, proposing a good balance between the navigation costs and the potential demand attracted.
A Holistic View on Sustainability in Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing: A Comparative Empirical Study of Eyewear Production Systems
Authors: Solaimani Sam , Parandian Alireza , Nabiollahi Nabi
Published: September 2021

To achieve sustainability across the product life cycle, attention to the production process is a prerequisite. As a result of technological advancements, innovation and inventions in production methods are in full swing. Production methods that enable mass customisation (MC) are one of the recent developments in the production domain. This study aims to empirically explore the sustainability impact of two MC-oriented production methods, namely, additive manufacturing (i.e., Selective Laser Sintering) and subtractive manufacturing (Computer Numerical Control Milling) within two complete production lines (i.e., from raw material to assembly) for a wearable product. In the context of the triple bottom line framework, the production lines are analysed from an economic, environmental, and social standpoint. A Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) is used to quantify and compare both production systems with their inherent variability in a dynamic setting of fluctuating order volume and diversity. The findings of the simulation are qualitatively evaluated using expert interviews. This study provides a detailed insight into several sustainability trade-offs in production systems where additive and subtractive manufacturing are involved.
A Dragonfly Optimization Algorithm for Extracting Maximum Power of Grid-Interfaced PV Systems
Authors: Lodhi Ehtisham , Wang Fei-Yue , Xiong Gang , Mallah Ghulam Ali , Javed Muhammad Yaqoob , Tamir Tariku Sinshaw , Gao David Wenzhong
Published: September 2021

Currently, grid-connected Photovoltaic (PV) systems are widely encouraged to meet increasing energy demands. However, there are many urgent issues to tackle that are associated with PV systems. Among them, partial shading is the most severe issue as it reduces efficiency. To achieve maximum power, PV system utilizes the maximum power point-tracking (MPPT) algorithms. This paper proposed a two-level converter system for optimizing the PV power and injecting that power into the grid network. The boost converter is used to regulate the MPPT algorithm. To make the grid-tied PV system operate under non-uniform weather conditions, dragonfly optimization algorithm (DOA)-based MPPT was put forward and applied due to its ability to trace the global peak and its higher efficiency and shorter response time. Furthermore, in order to validate the overall performance of the proposed technique, comparative analysis of DOA with adaptive cuckoo search optimization (ACSO) algorithm, fruit fly optimization algorithm combined with general regression neural network (FFO-GRNN), improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO), and PSO and Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm were presented by using Matlab/Simulink. Subsequently, a voltage source inverter (VSI) was utilized to regulate the active and reactive power injected into the grid with high efficiency and minimum total harmonic distortion (THD). The instantaneous reactive power was adjusted to zero for maintaining the unity power factor. The results obtained through Matlab/Simulink demonstrated that power injected into the grid is approximately constant when using the DOA MPPT algorithm. Hence, the grid-tied PV system’s overall performance under partial shading was found to be highly satisfactory and acceptable.
The Influence of War and Conflict on Infectious Disease: A Rapid Review of Historical Lessons We Have Yet to Learn
Authors: Goniewicz Krzysztof , Burkle Frederick M. , Horne Simon , Borowska-Stefańska Marta , Wiśniewski Szymon , Khorram-Manesh Amir
Published: September 2021

Armed conflicts degrade established healthcare systems, which typically manifests as a resurgence of preventable infectious diseases. While 70% of deaths globally are now from non-communicable disease; in low-income countries, respiratory infections, diarrheal illness, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDs are all in the top 10 causes of death. The burden of these infectious diseases is exacerbated by armed conflict, translating into even more dramatic long-term consequences. This rapid evidence review searched electronic databases in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Of 381 identified publications, 73 were included in this review. Several authors indicate that the impact of infectious diseases increases in wars and armed conflicts due to disruption to surveillance and response systems that were often poorly developed to begin with. Although the true impact of conflict on infectious disease spread is not known and requires further research, the link between them is indisputable. Current decision-making management systems are insufficient and only pass the baton to the next unwary generation.
Potential Contribution of Sponsoring State and Its National Legislation to the Deep Seabed Mining Regime
Authors: Xu Xiangxin , Xue Guifang (Julia)
Published: September 2021

Companies and legal persons intending to conduct activities in the Area must be sponsored by a State Party of the UNCLOS, which constitute a “dual-track mechanism” with ISA as a primary regulator and sponsoring state as a secondary regulator. This regime setting places companies and legal persons subject to international and national legislation simultaneously. The sponsoring state’s national legislation is thus an integrated part of the DSM regime. This resolves the defects that private entities in DSM are not subject to international law and weak enforcement of international organizations. However, UNCLOS neither draws a clear line of competence between the sponsoring state and the ISA nor provides compulsory components that national legislation should contain, resulting in the disparity between the objective of the establishment of sponsorship and the status quo of the sponsoring state’s role and its national legislation. This paper analyzes the competence of a sponsoring state and regulatory aspects it should focus on to assist the ISA and further proposes such components of the national legislation contributing to the DSM regime.
Contribution of Selected Factors on Farmers’ Work Performance towards Fertilizer Application in Rice of Bangladesh
Authors: Bagum Thahamina , Uddin Md. Kamal , Hassan Salim , Kamarulzaman Nitty Hirawaty , Rahman Md. Zulfikar , Haque Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul
Published: September 2021

There is enormous possibility to increase rice yield in Bangladesh. Inefficient and often imbalanced fertilizer use impedes farmers from achieving expected yields. It is evident from past research that farmers have resorted to applying fertilizers at inappropriate rates that do not match well with the nutrient requirement of certain crops. Therefore, this study explores the contribution of selected factors that influence farmers’ work performance and determine the highest contributing factors on farmers’ work performance towards fertilizer application in rice. This research used a multistage simple random sampling method to select 355 farmers from twenty-one rice production areas of Bangladesh. Data, collected using a structured questionnaire, were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis to explore the contribution of selected factors and identify the highest contributing factors towards farmers’ work performance. Results revealed that all the factors explained 56.1% of the variance in farmers’ work performance. Motivation of farmers was found to be the highest contributing factor, followed by knowledge that influences farmers’ work performance. The study concludes that farmers need to be equipped with essential knowledge and motivation crucial to strengthening their work performance as this will subsequently increase rice production.
LEED 2009 Recertification of Existing Buildings: Bonus Effect
Authors: Pushkar Svetlana
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to assess the impact of a four-point bonus system on recertification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) 2009 office space projects in four metropolitan cities: Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. We analyzed 123 paired LEED-EB 2009 projects where each pair (i.e., certification–recertification) was used on the same building. The percentage of average score was used to evaluate differences in certification–recertification strategies: (1) gold-gold with and without the bonus, (2) silver-gold with and without the bonus, and (3) platinum-platinum with the bonus. The replication method was used to evaluate the overall tendency for four metropolitan cities. We found that while LEED-EB 2009 projects used a four-point recertification bonus, achievements in the materials and resources (MR) and indoor environmental quality (EQ) categories declined in each of the four metropolitan cities. We identified this overall tendency at three levels of certification–recertification: gold-gold, silver-gold, and platinum-platinum. We hypothesized that if the use of a four-point recertification bonus in LEED-EB 2009 projects resulted in lower achievements in the MR/EQ categories, then the use of the 10-point recertification bonus in LEED-EB 4.1 projects could lead to a deterioration in the sustainability of existing office buildings.
An Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Publications on Open Educational Practices (OEP) from 2007 to 2020: A Bibliometric Mapping Analysis
Authors: Tlili Ahmed , Burgos Daniel , Huang Ronghuai , Mishra Sanjaya , Sharma Ramesh Chander , Bozkurt Aras
Published: September 2021

This study undertook a bibliometric mapping analysis of research papers on Open Educational Practices (OEP) in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. This study functions as a guide for new research, serving to identify trends in the OEP field and compare the existing research so as to identify gaps and promising future paths. A total of 635 studies were obtained; however, only 156 were finally selected for the analysis. VOSviewer software was used to identify the most frequently used keywords and terms in the abstracts and titles. This software was also used to analyse the studies for co-authorship and citations. The findings showed that research on OEP started in 2007 and focused on higher education, including open and distance higher education. Most of the OEP studies were published in English as journal articles, in particular, many were published in Distance Education, International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, and Open Praxis. The United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia were the top contributors to the OEP literature. The analysis of keywords and terms in the titles and abstracts revealed that current OEP trends covered only open pedagogy and open collaboration, suggesting a need for more research on other trends, such as open assessment, open data, and open science. The results also suggested that future research needs to focus more on inclusive open educational practices that accommodate students with disabilities.
Are Tourism and Energy Consumption Linked? Evidence from Australia
Authors: Khanal Avishek , Rahman Mohammad Mafizur , Khanam Rasheda , Velayutham Eswaran
Published: September 2021

Tourism contributes to the growth of an economy via earning foreign currencies and employment opportunities. However, tourism also contributes to greater energy consumption because of various tourist activities such as hotel accommodations and transportation. This study investigates the long-term cointegrating relationship between international tourist arrivals and primary energy consumption in Australia. In addition, the roles of gross domestic product, gross fixed capital formation, financial development, and total population on energy consumption are also examined. The study covered the last four decades (1976–2018) using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, BP Statistical Review, and the World Development Indicators. Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Phillips-Perron, Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound tests, Johansen and Juselius, Bayer-Hanck cointegration test, and several key diagnostic tests have been conducted to assess the relationship. The estimated results indicate that tourist arrivals, gross domestic product, and financial development have a significant long-run cointegrating relationship with energy consumption. Policy measures are suggested based on the findings of this study.
Phosphorus Governance within Planetary Boundaries: The Potential of Strategic Local Resource Planning in The Hague and Delfland, The Netherlands
Authors: Harseim Lisa , Sprecher Benjamin , Zengerling Cathrin
Published: September 2021

In recent years, a growing body of research has explored the urban dimension of the critical resource phosphorus with a focus on urban metabolism analysis, recovery technologies and governance frameworks. However, there has been no tangible and holistic attempt at choosing between available measures and instruments for their implementation in the urban realm. With the growing and increasingly urban world population, cities have become more and more important as actors in phosphorus governance by fueling global phosphorus flows, e.g., via the consumption of food, agricultural products, and phosphorus recycling. Globally, a future-proof phosphorus metabolism may be contributed to by strategic local phosphorus planning. This article systematically explores the purposive potential of local phosphorus planning using a case study of The Hague, The Netherlands. Looking across multiple administrative and spatial dimensions, the study combines quantitative analysis of phosphorus flows with qualitative investigation of their drivers, the actors involved, current regulations and local scope for action. The research reveals the feasibility of meaningfully impacting phosphorus flows through urban action. The potential for strategic local resource planning is demonstrated in a grid of policy options and in the assessment of their socio-economic and environmental benefits. Additionally, the study draws up a list of key recommendations to transfer to other urban settings. It encourages further research aimed at closing data gaps for local phosphorus inventories, collaborative approaches in strategic resource planning, scope for action in other cities or jurisdictions, as well as improved quantification of the outreach of policy effects.
Key Validity Using the Multiple-Parameter Fractional Fourier Transform for Image Encryption
Authors: Zhao Tieyu , Chi Yingying
Published: September 2021

As a symmetric encryption algorithm, multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform (MPFRFT) is proposed and applied to image encryption. The MPFRFT with two vector parameters has better security, which becomes the main technical means to protect information security. However, our study found that many keys of the MPFRFT are invalid, which greatly reduces its security. In this paper, we propose a new reformulation of MPFRFT and analyze it using eigen-decomposition-type fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) and weighted-type FRFT as basis functions, respectively. The results show that the effective keys are extremely limited. Furthermore, we analyze the extended encryption methods based on MPFRFT, which also have the security risk of key invalidation. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation verify our point of view. Our discovery has important reference value for a class of generalized FRFT image encryption methods.
The Relationship between Preseason Common Screening Tests to Identify Inter-Limb Asymmetries in High-Level Senior and Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Santos Fernando J. , Valido Aníbal J. , Malcata Inês S. , Ferreira Cátia C. , Pessôa Filho Dalton M. , Verardi Carlos E. L. , Espada Mário C.
Published: September 2021

This study sought to examine inter-limb asymmetries in common screening tests performed during preseason and to analyze the relationship between the performance in the different tests. Nineteen high-level senior and professional soccer players (age: 23.2 ± 3.1 years; height: 181 ± 0.06 cm; body mass: 75.2 ± 4.8 kg) performed several common screening tests during preseason: Dorsiflexion lunge test (DLT); bent knee fall out test (BKFO); y-balance anterior test (YBT A); y-balance posterolateral test (YBT PL); Y-balance posteromedial test (YBT PM); Heel-rise test (HRT) and single leg hamstring bridge test (SLHBT). High levels of reliability (ICC > 0.88 and <0.94) were observed in all the studied variables. Inter-limb significant differences were observed in DLT and YBT PM test (p < 0.01) but YBT A, HRT and SLHBT presented trivial effect size (ES) (0.03; 0.07 and 0.13, respectively), contrary to DLT, BKFO and YBT PL, all with small ES (0.20; −0.23 and −0.22) and YBT PM, which revealed very large ES (2.91). Considering all data, high-level senior and professional soccer players present fairly good mean values of lower limb symmetry. Performance considering all tests was different, a fact associated with different biomechanical dynamics (e.g., YBT), nonetheless, the correlations between tests underline the relationship between these, which could represent important evidence to consider for injury prevention and performance enhancement programs.
Study of Liquid Viscosity Effects on Hydrodynamic Forces on an Oscillating Circular Cylinder Underwater Using OpenFOAM®
Authors: Mao Hongfei , He Yanli , Wu Guanglin , Lin Jinbo , Ji Ran
Published: September 2021

By neglecting the viscosity of fluid and rotation in flow, the theory of potential flow cannot accurately predict the hydrodynamic forces on the structures under significant viscous effects. In this study, the effects of liquid viscosity on the hydrodynamic forces on a horizontal circular cylinder underwater with a large-amplitude forced oscillation were investigated. The study used a two-dimensional two-phase flow wave tank model based on the viscous fluid theory using the OpenFOAM® package. The numerical calculations were carried out under different types of liquid (i.e., liquid with different viscosities). The liquid viscosity effects are visually shown by comparison of the various frequency components of the hydrodynamic forces on the cylinder, and the magnitude and phase relations of the viscous shear forces and the pressure forces. By analyzing the distribution characteristics of the flow fields around the circular cylinder, the viscous-effect mechanisms are revealed. It is found that the discrepancies of the contributions of viscous shear forces, and the discrepancies of the vortex effects on the phase and magnitude of the pressure forces lead to the obvious differences among the results under different liquid viscosities.
Dependency of the Blast Wave Pressure on the Amount of Used Booster
Authors: Figuli Lucia , Zvaková Zuzana , Kavický Vladimír , Loveček Tomáš
Published: September 2021

Most of the damage caused by an explosion is caused by a pressure effect. The magnitude of the pressure generated by the explosion is influenced by the external characteristics of the environment (surrounding objects, their arrangement, geometry, etc.) and internal characteristics (type of explosive, type of charge, booster and others). An effective combination of internal factors creates a symmetry that results in the highest possible value of pressure generated by the charge explosion. The paper focuses on the influence of the booster reaction on this symmetry. The scope of the paper is to understand the dependency of the blast wave pressure on the amount of used blaster to increase the efficacy of explosions on the environment and structures to increase the protection of affected structures. The open-air field tests were conducted using different types of explosives: trinitrotoluene and three different types of industrially made ANFO explosives (pure ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil plus aluminum powder, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil mixed with trinitrotoluene). The obtained data were compared with the analytical approach for setting the generated maximal pressure on the front of the blast wave.
Network Intrusion Detection Algorithm Combined with Group Convolution Network and Snapshot Ensemble
Authors: Wang Aili , Wang Wenya , Zhou Huaming , Zhang Jian
Published: September 2021

In order to adapt to the rapid development of network technology and network security detection in different scenarios, the generalization ability of the classifier needs to be further improved and has the ability to detect unknown attacks. However, the generalization ability of a single classifier is limited to dealing with class imbalance, and the previous ensemble methods inevitably increase the training cost. Therefore, in this paper, a novel network intrusion detection algorithm combined with group convolution is proposed to improve the generalization performance of the model. The basic classifier uses group convolution with symmetric structure instead of ordinary convolution neural network, which is trained by the cyclic cosine annealing learning rate. Through snapshot ensemble, the generalization ability of the integration model is improved without increasing the training cost. The effectiveness of this method is proved on NSL-KDD and UNSW-NB15 datasets compared to six other ensemble methods, the classification accuracy can achieve 85.82% and 80.38%, respectively.
Astrovirus Infection in Cattle with Nonsuppurative Meningoencephalitis in South Korea
Authors: Lee Sook-Young , Kim Jong-Ho , Kim Yoon-Ji , Kim Young-Sik , Roh Su-Gwon , Lee Kyung-Hyun , Kim Heui-Jin , Shin Jae-Ho , Oem Jae-Ku
Published: September 2021

Neurological diseases in cattle can be caused by several infectious agents. Astroviruses are increasingly recognized as the causative agent of encephalitis in various animals, including humans. In this study, a neuroinvasive astrovirus (BoAstV 20B05) was discovered in the brain tissues of an 81-month-old Korean native cattle with neurological symptoms. Lymphocyte infiltration and multifocal perivascular cuffing were observed in the cerebrum and brain stem, and viral antigens were also detected in the meninges. In particular, the concentration of the astroviral genome was high in the brain tissues. Korean BoAstV 20B05 was classified into the CH13/NeuroS1 clade and was closely related to the Neuro-Uy and KagoshimaSR28-462 strains. Our evolutionary analysis showed that Korean BoAstV 20B05 belongs to the sub-lineage NeuroS1 and evolved independently of BoAstV KagoshimaSR28-462. These results suggest that neuroinvasive astroviruses were first introduced in Korea. However, analysis is limited by the lack of reference astrovirus sequences reported in various countries within Asia, and further analysis should be performed using more strains. In this study, we identified a neuroinvasive astrovirus infection with neurological symptoms for the first time in South Korea and confirmed that BoAstV 20B05 may have been introduced in South Korea a long time ago.
Recent Progress on Epidemiology and Pathobiology of Porcine Circovirus 3
Authors: Chen Si , Zhang Liying , Li Xue , Niu Guyu , Ren Linzhu
Published: September 2021

The recently discovered porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) belongs to the Circovirus genus of the Circoviridae family together with the other three PCVs, PCV1, PCV2, and PCV4. As reported, PCV3 can infect pig, wild boar, and several other intermediate hosts, resulting in single or multiple infections in the affected animal. The PCV3 infection can lead to respiratory diseases, digestive disorders, reproductive disorders, multisystemic inflammation, and immune responses. Up to now, PCV3 infection, as well as the disease caused by PCV3, has been reported in many swine farms worldwide with high positive rates, which indicates that the virus may be another important pathogen in the swine industry. Therefore, we reviewed the current progress on epidemiology and pathobiology of PCV3, which may provide the latest knowledge of the virus and PCV3-related diseases.
Phylogenomic Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Type 31 and Cervical Carcinogenesis: A Study of 2093 Viral Genomes
Authors: Pinheiro Maisa , Harari Ariana , Schiffman Mark , Clifford Gary M. , Chen Zigui , Yeager Meredith , Cullen Michael , Boland Joseph F. , Raine-Bennett Tina , Steinberg Mia , Bass Sara , Xiao Yanzi , Tenet Vanessa , Yu Kai , Zhu Bin , Burdett Laurie , Turan Sevilay , Lorey Thomas , Castle Philip E. , Wentzensen Nicolas , Burk Robert D. , Mirabello Lisa
Published: September 2021

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 31 (HPV31) is closely related to the most carcinogenic type, HPV16, but only accounts for 4% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. Viral genetic and epigenetic variations have been associated with carcinogenesis for other high-risk HPV types, but little is known about HPV31. We sequenced 2093 HPV31 viral whole genomes from two large studies, one from the U.S. and one international. In addition, we investigated CpG methylation in a subset of 175 samples. We evaluated the association of HPV31 lineages/sublineages, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and viral methylation with cervical carcinogenesis. HPV31 A/B clade was >1.8-fold more associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and cancer (CIN3+) compared to the most common C lineage. Lineage/sublineage distribution varied by race/ethnicity and geographic region. A viral genome-wide association analysis identified SNPs within the A/B clade associated with CIN3+, including H23Y (C626T) (odds ratio = 1.60, confidence intervals = 1.17–2.19) located in the pRb CR2 binding-site within the E7 oncogene. Viral CpG methylation was higher in lineage B, compared to the other lineages, and was most elevated in CIN3+. In conclusion, these data support the increased oncogenicity of the A/B lineages and suggest variation of E7 as a contributing risk factor.
Uterine Injury Caused by Genotype 4 Hepatitis E Virus Infection Based on a BALB/c Mice Model
Authors: Yang Weimin , Chen Shuangfeng , Mickael Houfack , Xu Liangheng , Xia Yueping , Cong Chao , Zhang Yike , Qian Zhongyao , Li Tengyuan , Wei Daqiao , Yu Wenhai , Huang Fen
Published: September 2021

To evaluate whether uterine injury caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is responsible for adverse pregnancy outcomes. HEV-infected female BALB/c mice were coupled with healthy male BALB/c mice at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 91 dpi to explore the uterine injury caused by HEV infection. Mice were euthanized after 10 days of copulation, and uteruses were collected for HEV RNA and antigen detection and histopathological analysis. Inflammatory responses; apoptosis; and estrogen receptor ɑ (ER-ɑ), endomethal antibody (ERAb), cytokeratin-7 (CK7), vimentin (VIM), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels were evaluated. After 10 days of copulation, miscarriage and nonpregnancy, as well as enlarged uteruses filled with inflammatory cytokines, were found in HEV-infected mice. HEV RNA and antigens were detected in the sera and uteruses of HEV-infected mice. Significant endometrial thickness (EMT) thinning, severe inflammatory responses, and aggravated apoptosis in the uteruses of HEV-infected mice that experienced miscarriage might contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, significantly suppressed ER-ɑ expression and increased ERAb, CK7, VIM, and VEGF expression levels were found in the uteruses of HEV-infected mice that had miscarried. However, uterine damage recovered after complete HEV clearance, and impaired fertility was improved. EMT injury, severe inflammatory responses, and aggravated apoptosis in the uterus caused by HEV infection are responsible for poor pregnancy outcomes.
Dynamics of the Toxic Dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum in the Taiwan Strait and Its Linkages to Surrounding Populations
Authors: Liu Minlu , Zheng Jing , Krock Bernd , Ding Guangmao , MacKenzie Lincoln , Smith Kirsty F. , Gu Haifeng
Published: September 2021

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum can produce paralytic shellfish toxins and is mainly distributed in the Pacific. Blooms of A. pacificum have been frequently reported in offshore areas of the East China Sea, but not along the coast. To investigate the bloom dynamics of A. pacificum and their potential origins in the Taiwan Strait, we performed intensive sampling of both water and sediments from 2017 to 2020. Ellipsoidal cysts were identified as A. pacificum and enumerated based on microscopic observation. Their abundances were quite low but there was a maximum of 9.6 cysts cm−3 in the sediment near the Minjiang River estuary in May 2020, consistent with the high cell abundance in the water column in this area. Cells of A. pacificum were examined using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and they appeared to be persistent in the water column across the seasons. High densities of A. pacificum (103 cells L−1) were observed near the Jiulongjiang and Minjiang River estuary in early May 2020, where high nutrients (dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate), and relatively low temperatures (20–21 °C) were also recorded. Strains isolated from the East and South China Sea exhibited the highest division rate (0.63 and 0.93 divisions d−1) at 20 and 23 °C, respectively, but the strain from the Yellow Sea showed the highest division (0.40 divisions d−1) at 17–23 °C. Strains from the East and South China Sea shared similar toxin profiles dominated by the N-sulfocarbamoyl toxins C1/2, but the strain from the Yellow Sea predominantly produced the carbamoyl toxins GTX1/4 and no C1/2. Our results suggest that both cyst germination and persistent cells in the water column might contribute to the bloom formation in the Taiwan Strait. Our results also indicate that the East and South China Sea populations are connected genetically through similar toxin formation but separated from the Yellow Sea population geographically.
There Used to Be a River Ferry: Identifying and Analyzing Localities by Means of Old Topographic Maps
Authors: Dostál Ivo , Havlíček Marek , Svoboda Josef
Published: September 2021

River ferries were historically important in crossing medium- and large-sized watercourses, with rivers often a barrier to trade routes and journeys. Using old medium-scale Austrian military topographic maps from 1763–1768, 1836–1852, and 1876–1880, Prussian maps from 1825 and 1877, and Czechoslovakian maps from 1953–1955, we systematically localized the ferries within what is now the Czech Republic over a monitoring period between the mid-18th century and the present. We also analyzed the map keys of relevant surveys to examine ways of depicting the ferries in the maps. In this context, a database of river ferries in the Czech Republic was prepared in GIS, containing all localities where river crossing ferries were shown on the topographic maps. A total of 514 historical ferry sites were identified on the military mapping survey maps, with an additional 28 recognized from auxiliary sources that did not appear in the military topographic maps. The sample information obtained from the maps was also verified by using independent sources.
Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue
Authors: Domínguez Delfina C. , Chacón Luz María , Wallace D’Janique
Published: September 2021

Antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine and have been an excellent tool to fight infections. However, their overuse and misuse in different human activities such as health care, food production and agriculture has resulted in a global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Some regions such as Latin America present a more complex scenario because of the lack of resources, systematic studies and legislation to control the use of antimicrobials, thus increasing the spread of antibiotic resistance. This review aims to summarize the state of environmental antibiotic resistance in Latin America, focusing on water resources. Three databases were searched to identify publications on antimicrobial resistance and anthropogenic activities in relation to natural and artificial water ecosystems. We found that antibiotic resistant bacteria, mainly against beta lactam antibiotics, have been reported in several Latin American countries, and that resistant bacteria as well as resistant genes can be isolated from a wide variety of aquatic environments, including drinking, surface, irrigation, sea and wastewater. It is urgent to establish policies and regulations for antibiotic use to prevent the increase of multi-drug resistant microorganisms in the environment.
Multi Frequency Isotopes Survey to Improve Transit Time Estimation in a Situation of River-Aquifer Interaction
Authors: Poulain Angélique , Marc Vincent , Gillon Marina , Cognard-Plancq Anne-Laure , Simler Roland , Babic Milanka , Leblanc Marc
Published: September 2021

The Barthelasse alluvial aquifer is used to supply water to 180,000 inhabitants. The pumping field is located less than 200 m from the Rhône and is 100% fed by water from the Rhône, which makes it particularly vulnerable to any pollution from the Rhône. Between the Rhône and the pumping field is a Girardon unit, an arrangement that can be found regularly along the banks of the lower and middle reaches of the Rhône, and whose role is to stabilise the banks (alluvial deposits) and to facilitate river navigation. In order to know the transfer times between the Rhône and the pumping field, fortnightly monitoring was carried out over a hydrological year, as well as hourly monitoring during a flood in the winter of 2019. The Rhône shows a cyclicality in its isotopic signature with enrichment in heavy isotopes during the winter period, particularly during floods, and a depletion during the summer period. This variation is found well within the associated alluvial aquifer. The application of LPMs models showed that the average transfer time between the Rhône and the Girardon unit was 20 days and 50 days between the Rhône and the Barthelasse pumping. This study highlighted the importance of using several sampling frequencies to consider the diversity of hydrological situations. For the Rhône, event-based monitoring (flooding) proved to be relevant to account for isotopic variability throughout the year. This work also highlighted the impact of the disruption of hydraulic exchanges between the river and the water table caused by the presence of the Girardon unit in terms of the propagation of contaminants.
SHEET PILLING WITH INCREASE MOMENTUM FACTOR
Authors:   JSC “EVRAZ Nizhny Tagil Metallurgical Plant”, TYUTEREV V.V. , RUBTSOV V.YU. ,   JSC “EVRAZ Nizhny Tagil Metallurgical Plant”
Published: September 2021

The article presents development of Larsen system sheet pilling new design with increased material using coefficient. The Larsen type sheet pile construction, produced at the Nizhny Tagil Metallurgical Plant is based model. As an additional element of sheet pilling, special flanges were developed, which allows increasing inertial characteristics, which made it possible to shift gravity center closer to walls, increased plastic moment of resistance, and as a result, material-using coefficient was increased. The proposed design of sheet pile has increased inertial characteristics, while maintaining rigidity of sheet pile wall. Usematerial coefficient Increased may be with utilization lighter sheet pile to hold sheet pile wall more loaded from ground and created more rigid sheet pile system.
DYNAMICS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE NON-BEAM FRAMES IN CASE OF DAMAGE TO SLABS PUNCHING
Authors:   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, ALEKSEYTSEV A.V. , ANTONOV M.D. ,   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering
Published: September 2021

An approach to the assessment of dynamic effects for reinforced concrete non-beam frames of structures under combined emergency actions is considered. Primary impacts imply an excess of operational loads, which causes damage to the slab-column junction from punching to the onset of a secondary impacts. Secondary impacts include considering the removal of any column from the design model over a finite time. The analysis of dynamic effects based on two approaches: the first is based on the energy method of G.A. Geniev and assumes a quasi-static assessment of the stress-strain state of the damaged system; the second is the analysis of the transient dynamic process taking into account physical and geometric nonlinearity. An approximate approach to modeling the damage of a reinforced concrete slab from punching is proposed and further prospects for its improvement are considered. The degree of danger at emergency impacts for structures pre-damaged by punching, as well as the influence of these damages on the survivability of frames under these effects, has been established. An example of assessing survivability on a model of an underground parking frame in the presence of damage from punching for one of the column-slab joints is considered.
COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF METHODS FOR PROTECTING MONOLITHIC FRAMES OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS WITH FLAT FLOORS FROM PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE
Authors:   South-Western State University, KOLCHUNOV V.I. ,   NRU ",   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering", MOSKOVTSEVA V.S. ,   South-Western State University, BUSHOVA O.B. ,   NRU "Moscow State University of Civil Engineering", ZHUKOV D.I. ,   NRU "Moscow State University of Civil Engineering"
Published: September 2021

The paper presents new design solutions for the protection of monolithic frames of multi-storey buildings with flat floors from progressive collapse. At the same time, two variants of strengthening the support zones - the zones of coupling of the plate with the column, providing the perception of peak bending moments in the event of a sudden change in the force flows of the structural system caused by the removal of one of the supporting columns, are considered: the 1st variant-reinforcement with the use of metal insert plates, the 2nd variant - reinforcement with the use of support frames with inclined reinforcing rods. Numerical studies of a fragment of the considered monolithic frame of a building according to the primary design scheme for the effect of the design load and according to the secondary design scheme for the out-of-design impact show the effectiveness of the proposed design solutions for strengthening the interface zones of flat slabs with columns to protect the monolithic frames of buildings from progressive collapse. It is established that in the considered numerical example, the steel consumption when using the option of reinforcing the support zone with frames with inclined rods, other things being equal, is reduced to 46%.
RESISTANCE OF THE PRECAST - CAST-IN-SITU REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMES OF CIVIL BUILDINGS UNDER SPECIAL EMERGENCY IMPACT
Authors:   V.I. Vernadsky Сrimean Federal University, KORENKOV P.A. , FEDOROV S.S. ,   Moscow State University of Civil Enginieerig
Published: September 2021

The paper obtained and analyzed the results of a numerical analysis of the survivability of a new industrial structural system of residential and public buildings that meets modern requirements for protection against progressive collapse, improved space-planning, architectural and thermal protection solutions. The presence of a significant number of enterprises with technological lines for the production of structures for large-panel housing construction and their market share, combined with a number of disadvantages of the applied technical and space-planning solutions, indicates the need to modernize these enterprises in order to produce products that meet modern requirements. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively study the parameters of the stress-strain state of the industrial structural system of civil buildings proposed by the authors with increased resistance to progressive collapse, the production of which would not require expensive modernization of the construction industry enterprises. On the basis of multi-level design schemes, an algorithm for calculating such a system for a special emergency effect is proposed. Numerical studies have established the compliance of the developed structural system with the requirements of a special limiting state under design loads and emergency effects caused by the sudden removal of a vertical load-bearing element.