bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agri-Food Markets towards Sustainable Patterns
Authors: Borsellino Valeria , Schimmenti Emanuele , El Bilali Hamid
Published: March 2020

In recent decades, the confluence of different global and domestic drivers has led to progressive and unpredictable changes in the functioning and structure of agri-food markets worldwide. Given the unsustainability of the current agri-food production, processing, distribution and consumption patterns, and the inadequate governance of the whole food system, the transition to sustainable agriculture and food systems has become crucial to effectively manage a global agri-food market able in supporting expected population growth and ensuring universal access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all. Based on a critical review of the existing international literature, the paper seeks to understand the evolutionary paths of sustainability issues within agri-food markets by analyzing their drivers and trends. An extensive analysis was conducted highlighting the development and importance of the body of knowledge on the most important sustainability transition frameworks, focusing mainly on the relationship between markets, trade, food and nutrition security, and other emerging issues within agri-food markets. Finally, the study makes suggestions to extend the research in order to improve basic knowledge and to identify opportunities to design meaningful actions that can shape agri-food markets and foster their transition to sustainability.
Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Local Development Plans for Rural Tropical Africa: A Systematic Assessment
Authors: Tiepolo Maurizio , Braccio Sarah
Published: March 2020

Disaster risk reduction in rural Africa can contribute to reducing poverty and food insecurity if included in local development plans (LDPs). Five years after the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), we do not know how much risk reduction is practiced in rural Africa. The aim of this assessment is to ascertain the state of mainstreaming DRR in development planning in the rural jurisdictions of tropical Africa. One hundred and ninety-four plans of 21 countries are considered. Ten characteristics of the plans are examined: Climate trends, hydro-climatic hazards, vulnerability and risk assessments, alignment with Sendai Framework, vision, strategies and objectives, DRR actions, internal consistency, DRR relevance and funding sources, local and technical knowledge integration, public participation. It is found that local climatic characterization is almost always absent and risk reduction is an objective of the plans in one case out of three. Prevention actions prevail over those of preparedness. There is poor participation in the plan preparation process and this limits the implementation of the actions. A modification of the national guidelines on the preparation of LDPs, the orientation of official development assistance towards supporting climate services and the training of local planners, together with the increase of financial resources in local jurisdictions are essential for improving DRR at local scale.
CSR Remanufacturing Supply Chains under WTP Differentiation
Authors: Dai Lili , Shu Tong , Chen Shou , Wang Shouyang , Lai Kin Keung
Published: March 2020

With the shortage of global resources and the call for sustainable development, the remanufacturing supply chain and the corporate social responsibility of enterprises have attracted extensive attention from scholars. This paper studies a manufacturer-retailer corporate social responsibility (CSR) remanufacturing supply chain in which the manufacturer collects the used products grounded in the willingness to pay (WTP) differentiation. Different from previous literature, this paper first adds WTP differences to the CSR remanufacturing supply chain. Next, we analyze the manufacturer exhibiting CSR activity by Stackelberg game theory in both centralized and decentralized models with a consideration of prices, recycling, consumer surplus, and profits for the chain players in the two models with different CSR ratios. Through calculation and analyses of the models, we note that the chain members have the best status when the consumers’ WTP for new and remanufactured products is within a threshold. Subsequently, we compare the optimal price decisions and the expected profits in the decentralized and centralized systems, and we find that the retail price, wholesale price, and recycling rate decrease with a rising CSR under WTP differentiation. The centralized retail price is lower than the decentralized one. Conversely, the profit is higher when the increment of demand is higher. On top of that, in common cases, the pure and total profits of manufacturing are ascending while the retailer’s profit is descending. We also find that the consumer surplus is increasing in two cases. Finally, to motivate the players in the supply chain to engage in CSR activity, we consider the revenue sharing contract. From the perspective of WTP differences, this paper studies CSR remanufacturing, which has certain influences on the sustainable development of the economy.
Decision Simulation of Construction Project Delivery System under the Sustainable Construction Project Management
Authors: Zhu Ji-Wei , Zhou Li-Nan , Li Liang , Ali Wajhat
Published: March 2020

Choosing an appropriate project delivery system (PDS) directly affects the achievement of performance goals, and at the same time it is of great significance for sustainable construction project management (SCPM). This paper took the PDS of construction engineering as the research object, took the Design-Build (DB) and the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) as examples, and established the indicator system for determinants of the PDS decision. Based on Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), a decision-making simulation model of the PDS decision was constructed, and this paper analyzed the influence of the project attribute characteristics, policy and market environment, owner ability and preference, and contractor technology and capabilities of the PDS decision. While analyzing the circumstances under which the owners tend to choose DB or DBB, the following conclusions were reached: (1) the contractor technology and capabilities increase faster in DB than in DBB. (2) The PDS with policy and market environment preferences has an advantage in the PDS decision, and the owners are more willing to choose the PDS which was selected previously. (3) The competition mechanism in the construction market will eliminate contractors whose growth rate is too low to meet the needs of projects in the market. The research provides theoretical references for the scientific decision-making of construction enterprises.
Computation of Global and Local Mass Transfer in Hollow Fiber Membrane Modules
Authors: Lukitsch Benjamin , Ecker Paul , Elenkov Martin , Janeczek Christoph , Haddadi Bahram , Jordan Christian , Krenn Claus , Ullrich Roman , Gfoehler Margit , Harasek Michael
Published: March 2020

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides a flexible tool for investigation of separation processes within membrane hollow fiber modules. By enabling a three-dimensional and time dependent description of the corresponding transport phenomena, very detailed information about mass transfer or geometrical influences can be provided. The high level of detail comes with high computational costs, especially since species transport simulations must discretize and resolve steep gradients in the concentration polarization layer at the membrane. In contrast, flow simulations are not required to resolve these gradients. Hence, there is a large gap in the scale and complexity of computationally feasible geometries when comparing flow and species transport simulations. A method, which tries to cover the mentioned gap, is presented in the present article. It allows upscaling of the findings of species transport simulations, conducted for reduced geometries, on the geometrical scales of flow simulations. Consequently, total transmembrane transport of complete modules can be numerically predicted. The upscaling method does not require any empirical correlation to incorporate geometrical characteristics but solely depends on results acquired by CFD flow simulations. In the scope of this research, the proposed method is explained, conducted, and validated. This is done by the example of CO2 removal in a prototype hollow fiber membrane oxygenator.
Modeling Formation and Operation of Collaborative Green Innovation between Manufacturer and Supplier: A Game Theory Approach
Authors: Li Qian , Kang Yuanfei , Tan Lingling , Chen Bo
Published: March 2020

Prior research has mainly emphasized the strategic importance of a collaborative green innovation (CGI) between the manufacturer and supplier in a supply chain, leading to an overlook at the decision-making mechanism and determinants of CGI. Guided by the transaction cost economics and social exchange theory, our study constructs a mathematical game model to incorporate the key dimensions of an effective inter-firm collaboration for green innovation. Applying the Nash game bargaining principles, our evolutionary game model analysis provides an analytic system to understand the mechanisms of forming and operating a collaboration partnership between the manufacturer and supplier for green innovation. Based on various scenarios from the numerical simulation parameters for the involved influencing factors, our simulation has produced the Nash equilibrium solutions and identified the major determining factors for successfully forming and operating CGI. They are the trust level between the manufacturer and supplier as the CGI partners, value/profit sharing ratio between the partners, knowledge complementarity of the partners, and product type for the green innovation.
Effects of Seasonality, Tree Species and Urban Green Space on Deciduous Leaf Litter Decomposition in Lithuania
Authors: Vaidelys Tadas , Straigytė Lina , Manton Michael
Published: March 2020

Understanding ecological processes and environmental change in different urban green spaces is an important challenge to secure human well-being. The variety of urban green spaces provides a platform to generate knowledge on how urban environments affect tree leaf decomposition and quality. We measured the leaf litter decomposition of four dominant native deciduous tree species from five different urban green spaces over three time periods in Kaunas, Lithuania. Using the modified litter bag technique, we calculated the decomposition of 60 leaf litter samples for 4, 8, and 12 months respectively. For each leaf litter sample, we determined total N, total P, and organic C. Results indicated that the decomposition of leaf litter amongst tree species, urban green spaces and seasonality (time) were significantly different. The leaf litter of Betula pendula and Acer platanoides from street green spaces decomposed fastest during the spring-summer period. Quercus robur showed small but significant leaf litter loss differences between the green spaces, with the leaf litter from peri-urban forest decomposing the fastest. A decreased C:N ratio for Q. robur leaf litter showed accelerated leaf litter decay. In conclusion, our results show that the ecological processes of leaf litter decomposition, differs between tree species, type of urban green spaces and seasonality and thus must be considered in urban town planning to help maintain urban environments.
Concreteness Fading Strategy: A Promising and Sustainable Instructional Model in Mathematics Classrooms
Authors: Kim Hee-jeong
Published: March 2020

Conceptual understanding has been emphasized in the national curriculum and principles and standards across nations as it is the key in mathematical learning. However, mathematics instruction in classrooms often relies on rote memorization of mathematical rules and formulae without conceptual connections. This study considers the concreteness fading instruction strategy—starting with physical activities with manipulatives and gradually fading concreteness to access abstract concepts and representations—as a promising and sustainable instructional model for supporting students in accessing conceptual understanding in mathematics classrooms. The results from the case study support the validity of the concreteness fading framework in providing specific instructional strategies in each phase of concept development. This study implies the development of sustainable teacher education and professional development by providing specific instructional strategies for conceptual understanding.
Fueling Pro-Environmental Behaviors with Gamification Design: Identifying Key Elements in Ant Forest with the Kano Model
Authors: Wang Xiaolun , Yao Xinlin
Published: March 2020

As emerging approaches, IT-based applications designed for encouraging pro-environmental behaviors have shown great potential. By focusing on Ant Forest, this study attempts to explore the embedded gamification design to identify key elements that lead to users’ long-term game participation which eventually fosters pro-environmental behaviors. First, a focus group interview was conducted to identify twenty-one gamification design elements in four modules: task design, social interaction, feedback, and reward. Furthermore, this study employed the Two-Dimensional Kano Model and better–worse analysis to classify and prioritize the gamification design elements that impact users’ attitudes toward Ant Forest. Five Attractive elements, five One-Dimensional elements, four Must-Be elements, and seven Indifferent elements were identified in Ant Forest from 207 questionnaires. The results emphasize the significant impact of gamification design elements that are highly correlated with environmental sustainability (i.e., green context, pro-environmental behaviors, plant a tree) in Ant Forest. In addition, users who are rewarded by both virtual medals and official certificates demonstrate higher satisfaction, whereas elements associated with social interaction and competition show trivial importance. This study has profound theoretical implications as an interdisciplinary study, and yields helpful insights for practice to improve Ant Forest design, promote Ant Forest usage and finally fuel pro-environmental behaviors.
Drought Tolerant Rice for Ensuring Food Security in Eastern India
Authors: Dar Manzoor H. , Waza Showkat A. , Shukla Sarvesh , Zaidi Najam W. , Nayak Swati , Hossain Mosharaf , Kumar Arvind , Ismail Abdelbagi M. , Singh Uma S.
Published: March 2020

Drought and limited availability of water serve as the serious limitation for rice production in rainfed ecosystems. Among the major rainfed rice-cultivating areas, states of eastern India occupy one of the largest drought-prone ecologies in the world. Cultivating drought tolerant rice varieties can serve as the most coherent approach to ensure food security in these areas. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), along with its national collaborators, has developed drought tolerant rice varieties possessing high yield along with desirable grain quality. One such conventionally bred line, IR74371-70-1-1, has been released with different names in the different countries: in India as Sahbhagi Dhan, in Nepal as Sukha Dhan 3, and in Bangladesh as BRRI Dhan 56. This indicates the suitability of this line to show better performance across the wide range of environments. Sahbhagi Dhan is a short duration variety that has genetic drought tolerance and is more efficient at extracting available moisture from the soil. During drought years, farmers cultivating Sahbhagi Dhan obtained the yield advantage of 0.8 to 1.6 t ha−1 over currently grown long duration as well as traditional varieties. In 2012, when the paddy crop was hit by drought, Sahbhagi Dhan revealed the yield advantage of more than a t ha−1, which reduced to 0.78 and 0.56 t ha−1 during non-drought years of 2013 and 2014, respectively. Data taken from head to head trials during 2017 showed that Sahbhagi Dhan exhibited better performance over the existing rice varieties grown by farmers even under non-drought conditions. The important feature of Sahbhagi Dhan is its evident impact under drought and no yield penalty under favorable conditions over the counterfactual varieties of the same duration. Along with better yield under drought, the important advantage of Sahbhagi Dhan is the short maturity duration of this variety. This allows the farmers to advance the succeeding crop and creates an opportunity for accommodating an additional crop under favorable rainfed ecology, thereby enhancing the cropping intensity. Since the majority of the farmers living in drought prone ecologies are socio-economically under privileged, Sahbhagi Dhan, along with other drought tolerant varieties, can serve as one of the most viable and deliverable technologies for eradicating poverty from these ecologies dependent on rainfed rice.
A Novel Hybrid Soft Computing Model Using Random Forest and Particle Swarm Optimization for Estimation of Undrained Shear Strength of Soil
Authors: Pham Binh Thai , Qi Chongchong , Ho Lanh Si , Nguyen-Thoi Trung , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Nguyen Manh Duc , Nguyen Huu Duy , Ly Hai-Bang , Le Hiep Van , Prakash Indra
Published: March 2020

Determination of shear strength of soil is very important in civil engineering for foundation design, earth and rock fill dam design, highway and airfield design, stability of slopes and cuts, and in the design of coastal structures. In this study, a novel hybrid soft computing model (RF-PSO) of random forest (RF) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) was developed and used to estimate the undrained shear strength of soil based on the clay content (%), moisture content (%), specific gravity (%), void ratio (%), liquid limit (%), and plastic limit (%). In this study, the experimental results of 127 soil samples from national highway project Hai Phong-Thai Binh of Vietnam were used to generate datasets for training and validating models. Pearson correlation coefficient (R) method was used to evaluate and compare performance of the proposed model with single RF model. The results show that the proposed hybrid model (RF-PSO) achieved a high accuracy performance (R = 0.89) in the prediction of shear strength of soil. Validation of the models also indicated that RF-PSO model (R = 0.89 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 0.453) is superior to the single RF model without optimization (R = 0.87 and RMSE = 0.48). Thus, the proposed hybrid model (RF-PSO) can be used for accurate estimation of shear strength which can be used for the suitable designing of civil engineering structures.
Carbon Footprint Evaluation Based on Tourist Consumption toward Sustainable Tourism in Japan
Authors: Kitamura Yusuke , Ichisugi Yuki , Karkour Selim , Itsubo Norihiro
Published: March 2020

The importance of the contribution of tourism to climate change has been noted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). By combining a process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) and input–output analysis, several researchers have attempted to evaluate the impacts of the tourism industry, as well as its products and services. Indeed, the tourism sector has a wide range of industries, including travel and tours, transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, amusement, souvenirs, etc. However, the existing cases do not show a breakdown of the impact on climate change. In this paper, the carbon footprint (CFP) of the Japanese tourism industry was calculated based on tourist consumption, using the Japanese input–output table and the Japanese tourism industry. We demonstrate that the total emissions were approximately 136 million t-CO2 per year. The contribution ratio of each stage is as follows: Transport 56.3%, Souvenirs 23.2%, Petrol (direct emissions) 16.9%, Accommodation 9.8%, Food and Beverage 7.5%, and Activities 3.0%. Then, in the breakdown, the impacts are in the following order: Air transport 24.7%, Petrol (direct emissions) 16.9%, Accommodation 9.8%, Food and Beverage 7.5%, Petrol 6.1%, Textile products 5.3%, Food items 4.9%, Confectionery 4.8%, Rail transport 3.9%, Cosmetics 1.9%, and Footwear 1.8%. In addition to transportation, this research also highlights the contribution from souvenirs, accommodation, and food and beverages.
Historic Environmental Vulnerability Evaluation of Traditional Villages Under Geological Hazards and Influencing Factors of Adaptive Capacity: A District-Level Analysis of Lishui, China
Authors: Liu Sheng , Ge Jian , Li Wangming , Bai Ming
Published: March 2020

The historic environmental vulnerability of traditional villages (HEVTVs) is distinctly differentiated; however, the priority of relevant emergency management practices still lacks appropriate evaluation. This study proposes a new assessment system to quantify HEVTVs at the district level and an extended analysis of the influencing factors of adaptive capacity. This provides a basis to classify the emergency management of villages under geological hazard risks. Based on the coupled human–environment system, this research designed the assessment with three criteria, six factors, and 13 indexes from the perspective of HEVTVs. Furthermore, a demonstration test was conducted of 148 traditional villages in Lishui, China. The results showed that 64.19% of HEVTVs in Lishui were moderate or above, and that villages with very high vulnerability were mainly distributed at mid-elevation of mountains with strongly sloping terrain. In contrast, low-vulnerability villages were generally on plains at low altitudes. Furthermore, three high-vulnerability clustering groups were identified as critical improvement targets for which special zoning strategies should be proposed. Five influencing factors were found to be strongly related to the adaptive capacity, indicating a spatial variation of the impact intensity. This could be applied to streamline vulnerability optimization strategies according to local conditions.
Analysis of Scale Factors on China’s Sustainable Development Efficiency Based on Three-Stage DEA and a Double Threshold Test
Authors: Zhang Jianqing , Wang Song , Yang Peilei , Fan Fei , Wang Xueli
Published: March 2020

Based on the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, this paper constructs the input, expected output, and unexpected output of China’s sustainable development. This paper calculates the sustainable development efficiency of 31 provinces and cities in China using a super-slack-based measure (SBM) model that eliminates the influence of scale factors through a three-stage data envelope analysis (DEA) approach. Taking the level of science and technology as the control variable, and the relative scale efficiency as the threshold variable, this paper calculates the effects of the absolute scale of labor force, education, economy, enterprise, and transportation on sustainable development efficiency. The results show that: (1) there is an upward trajectory for sustainable development efficiency of China’s provinces and municipalities overall from 0.65 in 2004 to 0.68 in 2017, with significant regional differences in which the ecological efficiency in the Eastern region is 0.26 higher than that of the Central region; (2) it enhances the absolute scale of the labor force, education, and transportation, in order to reduce the inhibition on sustainable development efficiency; and (3) shifts our attention to the promotion of absolute economic scale to the promotion of green economic development, and increases control of polluting enterprises.
Organizational Citizenship Behavior Motives and Thriving at Work: The Mediating Role of Citizenship Fatigue
Authors: Qiu Yang , Lou Ming , Zhang Li , Wang Yiqin
Published: March 2020

Employees can affect the sustainability of organizations, yet the different effects of employee organizational citizenship behavior motives on employee thriving at work, as elements of organization sustainability, are not clear. Based on self-determination theory and conservation of resource theory, this study examined whether organizational concern motives and impression management motives behind employees’ organizational citizenship behaviors are differently associated with their citizenship fatigue and their subsequent thriving at work, and whether task performance moderates these relationships. Results from a multi-wave and multisource study using a sample of 349 employees show that organizational concern motives had a positive indirect effect on thriving at work through reducing employees’ citizenship fatigue, while impression management motives will undermine thriving at work through inducing citizenship fatigue. This study further found that task performance strengthened the positive relationship between impression management motives and citizenship fatigue. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Effect of Leverage on Real Earnings Management: Evidence from Korea
Authors: Tulcanaza-Prieto Ana Belen , Lee Younghwan , Koo Jeong-Ho
Published: March 2020

This study examines how leverage affects real earnings management (REM) in non-financial firms listed on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index from 2010 to 2018 by employing total, short-term, and long-term debt ratios (i.e., leverage) as independent variables and four REM metrics as dependent variables. We find a significant positive relationship between leverage and REM in suspicious firms, whereas the effect of leverage is insignificant in non-suspicious firms. We also find that the positive relationship between both variables is stronger in the second half of the fiscal year, which shows the prevalence of the seasonality of REM, as managers collect high-frequency financial information during this period. These findings are consistent with those in the literature that managers increase firm leverage and REM activities to reduce their probability of being discovered, since financial statements in the interim quarters are not often audited. Our study complements the literature by introducing quarterly data to identify clearly REM activities and detect the strongest effect on the relationship between REM and leverage. Moreover, our results from the two-stage least square (2SLS) regression analysis are consistent with our previous findings.
Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ), Rebuilding Fisheries and Short-Termism: How Biased Reasoning Impacts Management
Authors: Garrity Edward J.
Published: March 2020

Recent research on global fisheries has reconfirmed a 2006 study that suggested global fisheries would collapse by 2048 if fisheries were not better managed and trends reversed. While many researchers have endorsed rights-based fishery management as a key ingredient for successful management and rebuilding fisheries, in practice the results are mixed and success varies by geographic region. Rights-based approaches such as individual transferable quota (ITQ) provide a necessary help to the important task of rebuilding fisheries, but we assert that they are sometimes less effective due to the human component of the system. Specifically, we examine the issue of setting an appropriate total allowable catch (TAC) in Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) systems. ITQ are designed on the premise that economic ownership is sufficient incentive to entice fishers to be stewards of the resource. However, an excessive short-term orientation and an affective risk response by fishers can overwhelm feelings of ownership. In such cases, fishers and fishing communities can exert sufficient pressure on TAC setting and reduce the effectiveness of ITQ fisheries toward rebuilding fish stocks. Based on our analysis that draws on cognitive psychology, short-termism, and affective risk, we suggest heightened and wider democratic involvement by stakeholders in co-managed ITQ fisheries along with potential pilot tests of government-assisted financial transfers to help in transitioning ITQ fisheries to sustainable states.
Strongyloides Hyperinfection Associated with Enterococcus faecalis Bacteremia, Meningitis, Ventriculitis and Gas-Forming Spondylodiscitis: A Case Report
Authors: Wee Liang En , Hnin Su Wai Khin , Xu Zheyu , Lee Lawrence Soon-U
Published: March 2020

An elderly Singaporean male with no travel history was hospitalized for fever and altered mental status. Blood cultures grew Enterococcus faecalis, and given a preceding history of steroid use and peripheral eosinophilia, Strongyloides hyperinfection was suspected. Stool specimens were positive for Strongyloides stercoralis larvae over four days, and larvae were also isolated in an early morning nasogastric aspirate specimen prior to initiation of ivermectin. A cerebrospinal fluid examination was consistent with partially treated bacterial meningitis and ventriculitis was demonstrated on neuroimaging. In view of a persistent fever, a further imaging evaluation was performed, which demonstrated bilateral pneumonia as well as the unusual finding of gas-forming emphysematous spondylodiscitis and left psoas abscesses. Despite the early suspicion of Strongyloides hyperinfection, commencement of appropriate antibiotics and anti-helminthics, microbiological clearance of bacteremia as well as clearance of S. stercoralis from the stool, the patient still succumbed to infection and passed away 11 days after admission.
Including Citizen Participation Formats for Drafting and Implementing Local Sustainable Development Strategies
Authors: Meschede Christine , Mainka Agnes
Published: March 2020

Since the publication of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, governance for sustainable development has grown and several national, regional and local sustainable development strategies have been adopted. A sustainable development strategy can serve as a political control instrument and management tool. For the development and implementation of such a strategy at the local level, municipalities might use citizen participation approaches. There exist manifold ways of consulting civil society, representing different levels of decision-making power. The analysis of this article is divided into two parts. First, we report on a case study of the pilot project “Global Sustainable Municipalities” located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and assess the current status of the use of citizen participation formats for adopting a local sustainable development strategy. Second, we developed a model of citizen participation approaches during different phases of adopting a sustainable development strategy. The purpose of this model is to assess the potential decision-making power of citizens during the phases and to help municipalities to get an orientation on participation possibilities. The results show that most municipalities count on participation mainly in the implementation phase of the strategy, less during developing it. Our model, however, demonstrates participation possibilities for each of the phases.
User-Friendly Reverse Genetics System for Modification of the Right End of Fowl Adenovirus 4 Genome
Authors: Yan Bingyu , Zou Xiaohui , Liu Xinglong , Zhao Jiaming , Zhang Wenfeng , Guo Xiaojuan , Wang Min , Lv Yingtao , Lu Zhuozhuang
Published: March 2020

A novel fowl adenovirus 4 (FAdV-4) has caused significant economic losses to the poultry industry in China since 2015. We established an easy-to-use reverse genetics system for modification of the whole right and partial left ends of the novel FAdV-4 genome, which worked through cell-free reactions of restriction digestion and Gibson assembly. Three recombinant viruses were constructed to test the assumption that species-specific viral genes of ORF4 and ORF19A might be responsible for the enhanced virulence: viral genes of ORF1, ORF1b and ORF2 were replaced with GFP to generate FAdV4-GFP, ORF4 was replaced with mCherry in FAdV4-GFP to generate FAdV4-GX4C, and ORF19A was deleted in FAdV4-GFP to generate FAdV4-CX19A. Deletion of ORF4 made FAdV4-GX4C form smaller plaques while ORF19A deletion made FAdV4-CX19A form larger ones on chicken LMH cells. Coding sequence (CDS) replacement with reporter mCherry demonstrated that ORF4 had a weak promoter. Survival analysis showed that FAdV4-CX19A-infected chicken embryos survived one more day than FAdV4-GFP- or FAdV4-GX4C-infected ones. The results illustrated that ORF4 and ORF19A were non-essential genes for FAdV-4 replication although deletion of either gene influenced virus growth. This work would help function study of genes on the right end of FAdV-4 genome and facilitate development of attenuated vaccines.
Patterns of Autologous and Nonautologous Interactions between Core Nuclear Egress Complex (NEC) Proteins of α-, β- and γ-Herpesviruses
Authors: Häge Sigrun , Sonntag Eric , Borst Eva Maria , Tannig Pierre , Seyler Lisa , Bäuerle Tobias , Bailer Susanne M. , Lee Chung-Pei , Müller Regina , Wangen Christina , Milbradt Jens , Marschall Manfred
Published: March 2020

Nuclear egress is a regulated process shared by α-, β- and γ-herpesviruses. The core nuclear egress complex (NEC) is composed of the membrane-anchored protein homologs of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pUL50, murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) pM50, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) BFRF1 or varicella zoster virus (VZV) Orf24, which interact with the autologous NEC partners pUL53, pM53, BFLF2 or Orf27, respectively. Their recruitment of additional proteins leads to the assembly of a multicomponent NEC, coordinately regulating viral nucleocytoplasmic capsid egress. Here, the functionality of VZV, HCMV, MCMV and EBV core NECs was investigated by coimmunoprecipitation and confocal imaging analyses. Furthermore, a recombinant MCMV, harboring a replacement of ORF M50 by UL50, was analyzed both in vitro and in vivo. In essence, core NEC interactions were strictly limited to autologous NEC pairs and only included one measurable nonautologous interaction between the homologs of HCMV and MCMV. A comparative analysis of MCMV-WT versus MCMV-UL50-infected murine fibroblasts revealed almost identical phenotypes on the levels of protein and genomic replication kinetics. In infected BALB/c mice, virus spread to lung and other organs was found comparable between these viruses, thus stating functional complementarity. In conclusion, our study underlines that herpesviral core NEC proteins are functionally conserved regarding complementarity of core NEC interactions, which were found either virus-specific or restricted within subfamilies.
Study on the Antiviral Activities and Hemagglutinin-Based Molecular Mechanism of Novel Chlorogenin 3-O-β-Chacotrioside Derivatives against H5N1 Subtype Viruses
Authors: Shi Wan-Zhen , Jiang Ling-Zhi , Song Gao-Peng , Wang Sheng , Xiong Ping , Ke Chang-Wen
Published: March 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of chlorogenin 3-O-β-chacotrioside derivatives against H5N1 subtype of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses and its molecular mechanism. A series of novel small molecule pentacyclic triterpene derivatives were designed and synthesized and their antiviral activities on HPAI H5N1 viruses were detected. The results displayed that the derivatives UA-Nu-ph-5, XC-27-1 and XC-27-2 strongly inhibited wild-type A/Duck/Guangdong/212/2004 H5N1 viruses with the IC50 values of 15.59 ± 2.4 μM, 16.83 ± 1.45 μM, and 12.45 ± 2.27 μM, respectively, and had the selectivity index (SI) > 3, which was consistent with the efficacy against A/Thailand/kan353/2004 pseudo-typed viruses. Four dealt patterns were compared via PRNT. The prevention dealt pattern showed the strongest inhibitory effects than other patterns, suggesting that these derivatives act on the entry process at the early stages of H5N1 viral infection, providing protection for cells against infection. Further studies through hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibitory (NAI) assay confirmed that these derivatives inhibited H5N1 virus replication by interfering with the viral hemagglutinin function. The derivatives could recognize specifically HA protein with binding affinity constant KD values of 2.57 × 10−4 M and 3.67 × 10−4 M. In addition, through site-directed mutagenesis combined with a pseudovirion system, we identified that the high-affinity docking sites underlying interaction were closely associated with amino acid residues I391 and T395 of HA. However, the potential binding sites of the derivatives with HA did not locate at HA1 sialic acids receptor binding domain (RBD). Taken together, these study data manifested that chlorogenin 3-O-β-chacotrioside derivatives generated antiviral effect against HPAI H5N1 viruses by targeting the hemagglutinin fusion machinery.
Barriers to Hepatitis B Screening and Prevention for African Immigrant Populations in the United States: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Freeland Catherine , Bodor Sierra , Perera Udara , Cohen Chari
Published: March 2020

Chronic hepatitis B infection (HBV) disproportionately affects African Immigrant (AI) communities in the U.S., with a reported infection rate of 15%. HBV screening rates within these communities are low. This study sought to better understand the socio-cultural determinants associated with low HBV screening among AI communities and identify potential strategies to help inform the development of effective HBV education and screening interventions. Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with community health experts working in AI communities throughout the U.S. Interviews explored the potential impact of culture, perception of health, awareness of HBV, religious practices, current screening practice, provider relationship, and behaviors towards general prevention. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Religious preferences and cultural norms affect health care access, perceptions towards prevention, awareness of HBV, and contribute to myths and stigma within this population. Participants reported a lack of HBV knowledge and awareness and barriers to health care access including, cost, language, racism, understanding of Western Medicine, and usage of traditional medicine. This study elucidates the role of religious and cultural beliefs as barriers to HBV screening and care. Results can contribute to public health efforts to increase awareness, screening and vaccination efforts within AI communities.
Role of CARD Region of MDA5 Gene in Canine Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Fu Cheng , Ye Shaotang , Liu Yongbo , Li Shoujun
Published: March 2020

MDA5 belongs to the RIG-I-like receptor family, which is involved in innate immunity. During viral infection, MDA5 generates an antiviral response by recognizing the ligand to activate interferon. However, the role and mechanism of MDA5 in canine influenza virus (CIV) infection are unclear. To understand the mechanism of canine MDA5-mediated innate immunity during CIV infection, we detected the distribution of MDA5 in beagles, and the structural prediction showed that MDA5 was mainly composed of a CARD domain, RD domain, and DExD/H helix structure. Moreover, we found that MDA5 inhibits CIV replication. Furthermore, in the dual luciferase assay, we revealed that the CARD region of MDA5 strongly activated the IFN-β promoter and mainly transmitted signals through the CARD region. Overexpression of the CARD region of MDA5 revealed that the MDA5-mediated signaling pathway could transmit signals by activating the IRF3/NF-κB and IRF3 promoters, promoting the expression of antiviral proteins and cytokine release, thereby inhibiting CIV replication. Upon silencing of MDA5, cytokine production decreased, while the replication ability of CIV was increased. Thus, this study revealed a novel mechanism by which MDA5 mediated CIV infection and provided new avenues for the development of antiviral strategies.
Special Issue “Plant Virus Epidemiology and Control”
Authors: Tzanetakis Ioannis E. , Martin Robert , Koloniuk Igor
Published: March 2020

We recently completed the Special Issue on ‘Plant Virus Epidemiology and Control’ [...]
Safety of Administering Live Vaccines during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Laris-González Almudena , Bernal-Serrano Daniel , Jarde Alexander , Kampmann Beate
Published: March 2020

Live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) are currently contraindicated during pregnancy, given uncertain safety records for the mother–infant pair. LAV might, however, play an important role to protect them against serious emerging diseases, such as Ebola and Lassa fever. For this systematic review we searched relevant databases to identify studies published up to November 2019. Controlled observational studies reporting pregnancy outcomes after maternal immunization with LAV were included. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were obtained under a random-effects model. Of 2831 studies identified, fifteen fulfilled inclusion criteria. Smallpox, rubella, poliovirus, yellow fever and dengue vaccines were assessed in these studies. No association was found between vaccination and miscarriage (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.87–1.10), stillbirth (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.74–1.48), malformations (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.98–1.21), prematurity (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.90–1.08) or neonatal death (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.68–1.65) overall. However, increased odds of malformations (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.03–1.49) and miscarriage after first trimester immunization (OR 4.82; 95% CI 2.38–9.77) was found for smallpox vaccine. Thus, we did not find evidence of harm related to LAV other than smallpox with regards to pregnancy outcomes, but quality of evidence was very low. Overall risks appear to be small and have to be balanced against potential benefits for the mother-infant pair.
WEVJ Best Paper Awards 2019
Authors:   WEVJ Editorial Office
Published: March 2020

WEVJ has launched annual awards to recognize outstanding papers published in the journal [...]
RESULTS OF EXTENDED PELVIS LYMPHADENECTOMY IN RADICAL CYSTECTOMY PATIENTS FOR TREATMENT INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER
Authors: Le Luong Vinh , Hoang Van Tung , Tran Ngoc khanh , Ngo Thanh Liem , Le Dinh khanh
Published: March 2020

Background: For long time the standard lymphadenectomy is the part of radical cystectomy surgery for treament invasive bladder cancer. Some new research show the good result of extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in improving postoperative survival.
Purpose: Report techniques and results of extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer.
Material and method: Prospective descriptive study on 38 extended pelvic lymphadenectomy patients from January 2013 to April 2017 at Hue Centre Hospital.
Results: Mean of age: 63.45 ± 12.5 years old. Female/man: 3/38. Lymph nodes metastasis6/38 patients, 4 obturator lymph node positive and 2common iliac vessels lymph node positive. Mean time of pelvic lymphadenectomy: 78 ± 43 mins. Mean of blood loss: 120 ± 55ml. Mean of lymph node count: 13 ± 4.
Conclusion: Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy should be perform for all patients radical cystectomy to improve postoperative survival and It is safe when perform at a good surgery centre with experienced surgeon.

Key words: Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy; invasive bladder cancer; Radical cystectomy
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL CONDITIONS AND RATE OF PROTEIN DEGRADATION LEVELS IN PATIENTS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE HEMODIALYSIS
Authors: Vo Thanh Hung , Hoang Bui Bao , Cao Minh Chu
Published: March 2020

Objectives: To investigate malnutrition and the correlation between nutrient status and rate of protid degeneration (nPCR) in end stage renal disease patients undergoing dialysis.
Object and method: A crosssectional study of 207 hemodialysis patients in the Department of Internal Medicine - Urology - Hemodialysis, Can Tho General Hospital.
Results: The malnutrition rate according to SGA_3 for cyclic renal dialysis patients was severe malnutrition (27.8%), with statistically significant difference (p <0.05), severe body mass index (BMI) was 2.9% in dialysis patients. The difference between men and women was statistically significant (p <0.05) Serum malnutrition, 4.8% in patients with cyclic human nephropathy, was statistically significant (p <0.05) between levels of malnutrition and concentration Serum prevalence, severe malnutrition, accounted for 17.9% in patients with cyclic human renal disease, statistically significant (with p <0.05) among malnutrition groups. The nPCR concentration was positively correlated with serum albumin concentration. In multivariate logistic regression, nPCR concentrations correlated with BMI.
Conclusion: Severe malnutrition according to SGA_3 accounts for 27.8%, there is a difference between men and women, severe BMI malnutrition accounts for 2.9%, Serious albumin malnutrition accounts for 4.8 % and severe malnutrition under serum prealbumin accounted for 17.9% between the different methods, the difference was statistically significant when p <0.05. The level of nPCR is positively correlated with serum albumin. In multivariate logistic regression, nPCR concentrations correlated with BMI.

Key words: nPCR, BMi, SGA_3, serum albumin, serum albumin, serum leptin, end stage renal disease, renal dialysis, malnutrition
STUDY OF LEFT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC FUNCTION ON TISSUE DOPPLER
Authors: Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong , Nguyen Anh Vu
Published: March 2020

Background: There are many new methods for evaluating the left ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study was to compare the methods, which evaluate the systolic function such as M-modeTeichholz method, tissue Doppler imaging with Sm wave.
Methods: 65 patients hospitalized with hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy. All patients underwent echocardiographic examination by M-mode, two- dimensional, Doppler and tissue Doppler Imaging.
Results:When left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) reduced, TDI with Sm velocity were also lower (p<0.001). When lateral Sm of mitral valve ring were > 7.7 cm/s and septal Sm mitral valve ring were > 6cm/s, EF ≥ 50% with the sensitivity 96,2% and the specificity 89.7%.
Conclusions: Sm wave velocity may be used reliably to assess the left ventricular performance regardless of the patient’s echogenity.

Key words: Tisue Doppler, Systolic left ventricular function
EVALUATING FACTORS RELATED TO THE RESULT OF OPEN OPERATION ON COMPLEX RENAL STONE TREATMENT WITH MULTIPLE STONES
Authors: Nguyen The Huynh , Le Dinh khanh
Published: March 2020

Objective: To evaluate factors related to stone - free rate of open operation for treatment of multiple/ staghorn kidney stones. Materials and Methods: Prospective study comprises of 56 patients with multiple/ staghorn kidney stones underwent open surgery at Hue Central Hospital and Hue University Hospital from April 2016 to June 2017. We evaluate the relationship between age, gender, surgical history, hydronephrosis, location of stones, size of stones, number of stones, renal pelvic aspect and stone – free rate after surgery. Results: Male/female ratio is 35/21 (62.5%/27.5%). The average age is 52.3 ± 15.3, (the youngest age is 12, the highest is 76). The stone – free rate is 62.5%, the rate of stone residue is 37.5%. The factors related to surgical result are gender, history of urinary tract surgery, hydronephrosis, location and size of stones, number of stones, renal pelvic aspect and methode (pyelotomy/nephrostomy) for removing stones. There is no relation between age of the patient and result of operation. Conclusion: The factors related to surgical result are gender, history of urinary tract surgery, hydronephrosis, location and size of stones, number of stones, renal pelvic aspect and methode (pyelotomy/nephrostomy) for removing stones. There is no relation between age of the patient and result of operation.

Key words: Renal stone, multiple/staghorn kidney stones